#yes I know caleb is bisexual just let me do this for the bit

[erandraws]

MLM/WLW hostility

[literalite]

caleb (he/him masc leaning bisexual cis ish man)

townie, deutagonist of meet me in the woods, its mr vatore himself. visually one of my best townie makeovers if i do say so myself sometimes white boys can get it

was born sometime in florence during the italian renaissance, the younger twin. lilith will not let him forget it either

pretty and knows it, has gone through A Lot and has adopted a pretty pacifist nature as a result of it. always on the side of hearing someone out before reacting. went through waves of grief and torment as the world passed him by and he did not age but has reached a stage where hes quite satisfied with his vampire state and actively abhors death. the benefits outweigh the downsides

i think overall one of my most anxious ocs he is just riddled with it. chronic overthinker in every direction he needs a lot of reassurance and stability before he decides to commit to anything. my silly

nervous subject (he/him ???)

side character in the wolfgang strangerville arc of @gunthermunch 's munch. he was very popular 🥰 which i am very grateful for thank you for loving him you guys. a creature of great renown

an amount of years old

physically decaying a bit but its okay. he has a one demonia each planted firmly in the planes of life and death except they don't fit so he's super shaky in there. he likes skirts because he gets kind of icky when he overheats so he needs a good airflow. smells like lots and lots of deodorant because he's insecure about the decaying part. yes his dad is the grim reaper i am capable of adhering to maxis lore. his mum is really cool. ingame he's actually a vampire. don't ask after his dark form

a statement from ai: "he was pretty much the star of munch's strangerville arc" i personally think wolfgang's arms were the star of the strangerville arc but we can agree to disagree

[hymn-of-muse]

Hey I saw requests were open. Are you still doing matchups? If so would I be able to request one for critical role?

I'm a 5'4 girl with very straight and thin brown hair. I'm a bit on the leaner side but with some muscle from farming and martial arts.

I'm quite socially anxious and a general worrywart. I often seem stilted and overly formal in conversation as I suck at small talk unless I'm more comfortable with those people. When I'm in a familiar environment or with people I'm comfortable with I'm much louder and tend to ramble. I do enjoy talking and making shitty jokes. I'm a bit of a mum friend, practical and grounded. I enjoy any sort of physical affection ranging from hugs, to play fights, high fives and even light head butting. I also like being able to cook or buy food for others. I enjoy both reading, writing and love nature and animals of all kinds.

I'm bisexual with not much of a preference for gender.

Thank you!

hi! im sorry its taken me so long to get to this but yes! im still doing matchups!

sorry to everyone requesting critical role, ive only been assigning for c1&2 and left out 3 because i haven't caught up with it so i dont know enough about the ne cast of characters to assign for them ^^;

you sound like someone i'd be friends with

right away i think caleb or jester from c2

or

vex from c1

caleb- he's not the type to complain much over physical affection in fact hes shown to like it, even from small pda to other stuff. he wouldnt initiate it much but would probably hold your hand for reassurance and catch on quick to your anxiety in social situations. hes not too social himself so he'd ask if its okay to pull you aside so you guys can relax together in a corner and either ramble to each other about your interests or cuddle up with a book with frumpkin in your lap to help you calm down. wouldnt say it directly but would enjoy your humour, would also tell you he likes how small you are cuz its easier to cuddle you better. might get distracted staring at you during a fight or when youre engaging in something youre passionate about

jester- short buddies! will use any and all excuse to tease you and lift you up. she would absolutely join you in the kitchen if you let her. expect a lot of kisses if shes patching you up after a fight or vice versa, she thinks your worrying is very sweet and adorable. your humor matches so she'll not just join you she'll egg you on and keep it going. probably will adopt any animal with you if you ask all the phys touch and pda, she will squeeze you in a hug and braid your hair.

vex'ahlia- nonstop teasing. teases you for your height, your nerves etc whatever she can. subtle touches are her thing so she'll probably have an arm on or around you if youre close enough. if you get seriously worried or anxious about something she'll take you aside by the hand and help you calm down, she can be very convincing. she'll probably have you sit down with her and put your head in her lap so she can play with your hair till you feel better, maybe even put her feathers behind your hair after braiding it so you match. will hold your face and tease you for being cute trinket is now your best friend and will nudge you for headpats you guys get to tease vax together and vax will go from being skeptical of you and giving you the brother talk to eventually seeing you as family even. hes kinda protective of his sister and very scared of loosing her again but once he knows he can trust you and gets used to you and vex being that close you guys are buds and even sparing partners. vex encourages your humor and bugs you while youre cooking.

[wizard-hubris]

Hi! You seem like someone who really likes Orym and also gets a lot of different perspectives. I have been wanting to get a bit of input to my "problems" with him and why I can't enjoy his character, from someone who has a different opinion.

The thing that bothers me is that I have to say, I do find him boring but not in the 'he's basic and not interesting' way at all. It's more that all three of Liam's main characters so far have been gloomy and had tragic backstories. Obviously Liam has a lot of fun with the last part mainly and it always makes for amazing storylines but as Orym his behavior just doesn't feel all that different to Caleb/Vax. You can do only so much different kinds of acting sad/moody and it just honestly got boring to me.

In short, I know Liam likes tragic backstories and he does it very well, they just all seem to react to their trauma in the same way and behave similarly and this time around nothing about it feels different or special about his behavior which just makes me like him less than the rest.

Hey anon! Looks like I poked some kind of nest with that first answer, haha ^-^" (so many asks! I've never had three anons in my mail at the same day before! Exciting! :D) Thanks for reaching out, let's see what I can do to offer a new perspective for you.

First off, I get that sad and moody isn't for everybody, especially not all the time. That's completely fair and valid. There are tropes and things I get tired of, too, and don't want to focus on in media. If you find it difficult to care for Orym because of that, that is okay. Please don't think it isn't.

That said, I'm really curious how you see Caleb and Vax's personalities because those two seem very different to me, which makes "Orym doesn't feel all that different to those two" already a strange point to me.

First off, I have to admit, I'm not done watching Vox Machina yet by a long shot, so I haven't gotten to Vax's "real doom & gloom phase" yet. He's a laid-back guy who loves playing pranks on his friends. He's fallen in love with a girl and tells the guy he's on-and-off been flirting with about it, so there is no dishonesty between them. He'd do anything for his sister and bickers with her constantly. He's outgoing, a bit (excuse the pun) rogueish and a hopeless bisexual disaster pretty gung-ho about his own safety at times. Yes, he and his sister have a gloomy, dramatic backstory. One that's brought the two of them incredibly close together - you could talk about unhealthy co-dependence there if you wanted, maybe. I know things about that change in some capacity, I've heard about the problems Liam had in that time, but I haven't seen it myself yet, so I'm reserving judgement. But an interesting point maybe: the "main" trauma that most critters seem to have in mind when talking about Vax happens during the game.

Caleb, on the other hand, has his trauma baked into his tragic backstory so wholeheartedly and all-consumingly, that he cannot exist without it. Caleb is all about recovery, growth and forgiving yourself. He is a broken man in the beginning and we see him heal - messily at times and with setbacks inbetween - throughout the game. Caleb is also very different from the person he was before. I feel like I should compare Vax with Bren because, as I said, I'm basically still looking at a Vax "pre-trauma" from what I understand about the VM campaign. But the thing is, we never really get to know Bren. We only know Caleb, although I think we see some aspects of Bren shining through the more Caleb heals. Yes, Caleb gets often painted as the sadboi(tm) but he has a fun streak. It's far less pronounced than Vax's, though, for example. Caleb is a reserved person, a paranoid, desperate man who - for the longest time - thinks of himself first and is hard to trust. He is, in some points a harder, more jagged person than Vax (again, as far as I can tell). There is nobody who hates Caleb more than Caleb. But he's also sort of proud, he carries a lot of hubris despite his self-doubts. I could write an entire essay dissecting Caleb's personality and especially his character arc, but I think I am sort of bringing my point across that Caleb and Vax are vastly different and - at least to me - feel vastly different, too, when I watch the game?

And compare that to Orym - what do we know about Orym so far?

-He's on the quieter side - which is, granted, a bit like Caleb (especially how Caleb started out), but in a much more understated and chill way, whereas Caleb was desperate to get noticed as little as possible.

-He has a bit of a melancholic air to himself, I suppose, but that's just very Liam O'Brien, I'd say. Again, it comes across in a far less raw and hurting way as Caleb, for example, did. It's also not always terribly pronounced, I'd say, it feels more present than it is because he tends to be quiet overall, so we also don't get much of any joy, mirth or other fun.

-He does not want responsibility, he does not want leadership to fall in his hands. That is probably less of an issue with Vax since the group was already established when we met them, but Vax has no problem speaking his mind when he doesn't like something. From what I know of Vax and Orym so far, I'd say it's far more likely for Vax to go do something different from the group than Orym.

-Orym was conceptualised as a support character. First of all, that is a fascinating choice for a Battle Master Fighter, but I think it works with him. Orym isn't afraid to put himself between his friends and something dangerous. He doesn't even really think about it, it seems to be more instinct. He protecc.

-Of course, we don't actually know anything about Orym's backstory yet, but I believe in the "dead husband theory" pretty firmly. Recovery from grief (and maybe growing/stepping out of the shadow a beloved person is/was casting on you? who knows??? I certainly don't, only Liam knows at the moment lol) is still about trauma and drama, but it focuses on very different aspects of tragedy than, say, Caleb's story does.

-Orym is a loyal supporter. He's created for that purpose. It's okay if you like others better or think they're more interesting. Liam wanted Orym so he can help the others shine. Personally, I love that idea very much. And you can also see that in some aspects. Orym is (or tries to be) very conscious about the people around him. He often asks for their opinions to help the group come to a decision. You could call him somewhat of a mediator, bringing people together.

-He has Tired/Exasperated Dad Energy. That's probably partially because the ExU gang is chaotique af. But as the designated person to hold the braincell, he has that right. Orym is the one with the common sense. Only, it's not so common with the people around him. He's a bit of an everyday man, and that might seem boring to some, but it also makes him actually pretty relatable. Something that Caleb (and probably also Vax) are far less so to a certain extent (saying this as somebody who immediately imprinted on Caleb because of his social anxiety).

-Something Liam does really well is putting these "straight-played" characters (not as in sexuality but regarding their function) in absolutely whacky situations. Did you watch ExU? If not, you don't have to, but if you did - please remember not only Nancy, but Orym's pie tasting and how Liam put Orym in Cinna Brightbow's performance as "the victim" (I hope you know what I mean when I choose that word ^-^") for example. Some of the most hilarious scene only work comedy-wise because Orym is involved. And Liam knows that. Liam plays to that.

-We've only had one fight so far, so for anyone who hasn't seen ExU, there's no idea yet what Liam can do when describing fighting moves. I know it might seem very reminiscent of his describing of Caleb using spell components in a certain way, but - idk, there's something about his descriptions that make me excited to play a fighter. And I'm not someone who would usually consider playing a fighter.

I just can't agree with your opinion that Liam's characters feel similar. Quite the contrary. They may deal with similar themes, but the characters feel very varied and nuanced to me. Then again, there is so much we don't know about Orym yet. So much of his personality we haven't discovered yet. We've seen him in one main campaign episode and eight for a mini-campaign with very different circumstances. Do you remember how Fjord was ten episodes into C2? How Caleb was? Yasha?

Give Orym a bit time. I'd say, especially because he is so unterstated, he can pale next to the more colourful cast around him, but that is the same thing that makes him a grounding presence. We don't all vibe immediately with all the characters, but he's someone where I suspect he'll worm his way into many hearts over time. Because that's who Orym is. Steadfast and dependable. A rock. A foundation. Not something you might take note of as special immediately, but something you'd miss as soon as it's gone. He sticks maybe out because he seems a bit "too" normal. But honestly, in a game that's as zany as D&D can be, that can also be a very interesting thing.

[cadaceus]

C2E141

One last time, y’all. This campaign and these characters have meant so much to me, and this seven hour finale was definitely an emotional rollercoaster. (Yes, I shed actual tears at one point, which rarely happens to me with media. But this is a special occasion.) These liveblogs are nearly as long as the episode itself, so grab a snack! With that being said, here are my very last liveblogs for Campaign 2 of Critical Role. As always, major spoilers below, so beware. 

- Veth taking a level in Wizard, god I am really gonna cry ten minutes into this thing...  😭

- We got our first “stay with us” to Essek, I am emo...

- I was fully not expecting to say goodbye to Frumpkin, but now I’m on the verge of tears... farewell dear fey friend (Marisha saying “that wasn’t supposed to be what broke me” me too me too)

- “You’re a good person.” “I could be.” “You are.”

- “I think you’re a good person” I never thought that I’d hear Beau say that about Essek and this genuinely might be what breaks me... she thinks he’s a good person.... redemption is possible.... maybe love is real....

- If I end up crying over wizards, look away

- Jester lifting up Fjord’s arm to snuggle beneath it made me say “awww” out loud  🥺

- VETH GOING FOR A DIP IN THE POND, I AM GENUINELY SO PROUD OF HER

- “Aahhh!! It’s me! Your wife!” I am going to miss Jester’s sending so much

- Okay that accent bit was so funny, I am going to miss all of them so much

- REAL MOLLY IS BACK REAL MOLLY IS BACK REAL MOLLY IS BACK

- Oh but he doesn’t remember them... and Yasha is trying so hard to help him remember, it’s so so sweet 

- Something about the way he said “Tealeaf’s nice” made me tear up... I was neutral on Mollymauk early campaign because I went into things knowing that he passed away, but this whole conversation with the Mighty Nein is So Much. Also “Kingsley Tealeaf” 

- “Everyone should have a brother” as someone with three of them, I vouch for this  🥺

- a) I love Marion Lavorre (and Jester ofc!) so very much and b) I can’t believe that Jester’s parent trap actually worked??

- “I do not think Exandria is ready for how you’re going to change it” got to me... and it’s also so true. jester has already changed the world just by being kind.

- Good bye Marion... I love and will miss you so much! (And many thanks to Laura and Matt for creating an agoraphic single mother who raised a wonderful child <3)

- Beau and Jester teasing Marion for having a complicated relationship with Babenon reminds me of Caleb saying he has a complicated relationship with Essek...

- LEAVE CALEB ALON E FUOIKJLKGKNL 

- THIS IS ....... SO MUCH WORSE THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

- Caleb’s biggest trauma(s) coming back to haunt him, I am genuinely going to cry I’m not ready for this I’m not okay

- Beau saying to Jester “Thanks, cutie” I love themmmmm

- INITIATIVE AAGJASKHDKJ AAAAAHHHH

- Essek’s Gravity Sinkhole did nothing? uhhhhh Mr Stark...

- EADWULF???? HELLO?????

- Essek using his entire turn to save Caleb last battle 🤝 Caleb using his entire turn to save Essek this battle

- ASTRID???? I TRUSTED YOU??? WE ALL TRUSTED YOU????

- Another Counterspell chain sdfdghjkdl wizards !!!

- “It’s just business” is literally the Neutral Evil line, it always gives me chills when any character says it

- This hurts more after Liam confirming on Twitter that Astrid/Caleb/Eadwulf were all three a romantic item... please stop hurting Caleb, you loved him  😭

- THE FJORD VS EADWULF SWORD FIGHT IS SO CINEMATIC I LOVE IT HERE ACTUALLY

- Essek taking every opportunity to pull Caleb to safety makes me so emotional...  😭

- “You’re not the first student I’ve had to put down” I am burning with my anger for you, old man 

- THE DISPEL WORKED LET’S GO CALEB.....

- Remember when Matt said that Essek doesn’t openly show concern/emotion? And now he’s saying “I’m scared” in front of his closest friends and his worst enemies.... growth my love.....

- BEAU AND VETH LETS GO CHAOS CREW LETS MF GO BABEYYYY!!!

- FJORD COUNTERSPELLING THE DIMENSION DOOR..... and Matt having him describe it.... is this taking the place of a “HDYWTDT” *eyes emoji*

- CALEB GOING DOWN NO, THANK GOD FOR THAT DEATH WARD

- Veth’s illusion of Caleb’s parents flanking Caleb in the flames.... that got me too, Liam

- “Stay down.” yeah, okay, that was sexy

- ASTRID BEING THE ONE TO ACTIVATE THE COLLAR IS LITERALLY POETIC JUSTICE... Trent being beaten by the student who stuck with him longest I love this so much, she deserved that moment honestly

- Break Time, AKA Emma Makes Her Weekly Mug Brownie Interlude

- Sometimes I feel like “death is too good for you” is a copout, but in this case it fits so well, I want this mf’s reputation destroyed and the entire operation exposed and overthrown let’s goooo

- “I loved you both so much”.... Astrid and Eadwulf walking away.... oh, Blumendrei... I know this is not the end of your story. What’s past is prologue, loves

- The Empire Siblings are gonna burn down the whole system because it’s the system that enables individual corruption... I am so fulfilled by this, god i love them

- “I love you too” OH MY GOD I LOVE THEM SO MUCH, FJORESTER ARE THE CUTEST FOR REAL

- Jester and Essek’s friendship still means so much to me btw just in case anyone wanted a check-in

- Veth giving the flask to Kingsley!! Good for her, good for her!

- OH Blumenduo are back already! I truly thought that was going to be their last appearance of the Campaign, why is this taking me more by surprise than Trent’s appearance

- “[Caleb] notes how similar Eadwulf and Fjord are” this is Widofjord adjacent... this episode we have gotten Widomauk-adjacent, Widojest-adjacent, and Widofjord-adjacent (and Blumentrio ofc), now come through Shadowgast and we can get a full Bingo on the “Bisexual Maelstrom” card

- Speaking of relationships, I am lowkey into the Fjord/Jester/Kingsley dynamic LOL no one look at me I’m in hiding

- I’M NOT READY TO SAY GOODBYE TO VETH AND CAD 😭 It makes sense and the fact that they have their families back is beautiful but also consider this: I’m sad and I will miss them 

- The goodbyes to Caduceus..... I am going to cry aren’t I?

- “If he’s anything like his mom, you won’t see him until it’s too late” Okay that made me giggle, I love Veth and I love Luc and I love their little family

- IS ESSEK LEAVING TOO? THAT’S GONNA BE WHAT BREAKS ME ISN’T IT

- If Essek leaves and we never see him again, getting a triple whammy of goodbyes I will be so incredibly sad, I cannot do this  😭

- If anyone is interested, no I am not doing well

- I was lowkey ready to get an Essek’s feelings for Caleb confirmation tonight, I guess it makes sense that we didn’t but I hope that this is not the last time we see Essek... I want to write another emo post about him and about how much he means to me but I will refrain

- CALEB BEING A TEACHER IS THE ENDGAME I WANT FOR HIM PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

- Wow, I really was not ready to see Caduceus and Essek go for some reason... I really wanted this Campaign to end on the image of the Mighty Nein together as all nine of them... I’m feeling so numb right now having to say goodbye  😭

- Oh, we’re in the epilogue now!

- When Fjord said “[the sea] is my favorite place to be” I genuinely felt that on a spiritual level... the ocean is home, it truly is and always will be for me as well

- “I CAST MODIFY MEMORY” FJORD LMAOOOOOOO

- Okay, that Widobrave ending is what made me shed tears for the first time this episode... not to be Personal but my biological brother graduates High School tomorrow, and for some reason this conversation just reminded me so much of me and him and now I’m emotional

- NOT THE SYPHILIS BANDITS DSYUHDFJKLSFJ;DS OKAY I NEEDED THAT LAUGH

- “I’d like to hear about your friend” Kingsley aww

- Beau giving Kingsley her first diary to help him realize who they all are is actually so perfectly fitting, I love that!

- “The other eight and I, yes” Caleb counting all nine of them again  😭

- CALEB BEING OFFERED AN ASSEMBLY SEAT WTF AAAHHH

- Oh shit, Astrid took the Assembly seat... I’m not sure how I feel about this, I feel so bad for her for having to stay in the system that abused her for so long and I would have loved to see her burn the whole thing down, but I hope that she at least has a sense of contentment with this title

- “I go where you go, baby” Beauyasha.... my darling loves....

- Beau’s dad??? But also Beau being the one with power over her father is so Good, I’m glad that she got justice on that front as well!

- This talk with Artagan... “I didn’t want you to be a god. I wanted you to be my friend.” and in the process my love you created divinity... maybe divinity is the friends we made along the way

- OH SHIT WE ARE GETTING ALL THE VANDRAN LORE TONIGHT I’M READY LET’S GO LET’S GO

- VANDRAN AND AVANTIKA WERE AN ITEM???

- Wait crack theory: Sabian was a half elf right? Could he be the son of Vandren and Avantika? Or is that too much of a stretch? 

- Vandran going with them!!! Also I feel like that moment between Fjord and Vandran was lowkey a tease to a post-campain Uk’otoa one shot and I am ready for it already 

- THIS BEAUYASHA MOMENT... “i’ve never known anyone as deeply as i know you” & “explore every bit of you in multiple ways ;)” & “your past doesn’t scare me, it only makes you beautiful” .... this is so much they are so much i love them so much

- “I will have you and then some” Beauyasha   😭

- I’m torn between “oh my god there’s still half an hour left?” and “how is there only half an hour left??”

- “You will let this Skyspear live at least?” oh my god so Yasha killed the last Skyspear then? Oof...

- YASHA GIVING ZUALA(’S GRAVE) THE BOOK OF FLOWERS, OH DEAR HEART

- And Beau’s talk to Zuala about being the luckiest woman alive and sacrifice.... 😭  

- PLANTING FLOWERS AT ZUALA’S GRAVE... “NO BETTER GRAVE MARKER” THIS IS MAKING ME SO EMOTIONAL, I KNOW I’VE SAID THIS A LOT THIS EPISODE BUT THIS TRULY IS SO BEAUTIFUL

- So... I may or may not be crying again

- Shadowgast with a steel chair??

- Caleb’s plan for saving his parents... it’s clear he has thought of this so much, oh my darling love  😭

- Caleb burning down his chance to change his past is so symbolic and something he really needed to do, it does make me emotional though

- The other book was him writing to his parents?? Oh bby boy  😭  

- While I would have loved for Caleb to open his own magic school (especially with Essek, or the Mighty Nein, or someone else as well), I am so pleased that he stays with Veth and that their friendship continues for the rest of their life because again: they mean so so much to me, and in a way they remind me of me and my biological brother (which I never realized before this episode) and yeah. They just make me Emo

- Also. Caleb being a professor was my Number One Endgame Hope for him and the fact that it came true is just so surreal in the best way possible. I’m so used to being robbed of happy endings. The fact that the Mighty Nein all got theirs makes me incredibly happy. A story does not have to be sad to be impactful. Happy stories and happy endings, especially during a time period of tumultuous real life circumstances, have just as much value and meaning and they always will. Caleb is teaching the next generation magic, and he is teaching them to be Good, and he is nurturing them, and that just means so much

- MATT CRYING IS GONNA GET TO ME

- “Let’s do it again” Please, let’s.

- Okay, everyone. I made it all seven hours in one piece with surprisingly minimal tears (though who knows, this might all sink in tomorrow.) I already wrote my thoughts earlier today about how much the Mighty Nein mean to me and how much this show and these characters have kept me holding on during quarantine and today... I’m still not ready to let them go, but I know that I can always revisit to say hello and to say thank you for changing me. Until then though... I love you all more than you could ever know. And for the last time of Campaign 2... is it Thursday yet?

Good night 💗

[sovvannight]

Edge of Great Novelization vs. Season 1 - Episodes 6-7

My library has Edge of Great on Overdrive, so I thought it would be interesting to check it out and see how it compares to season 1 of Julie and the Phantoms, given that it’s a novelization of the season.  I’m comparing it to my memories of the show and resisting doing another rewatch, so keep that in mind.

Episode 6

When they’re pairing up in dance class, Julie thinks about Nick: “I’ve loved you since you were in kindergarten and you cried when you couldn’t get your glue stick uncapped.”  Again, I say no.  How is that consistent with “You know who I’m liking, way before I like them because you like them first?”  Them, not him, not I’ve had a crush on one single guy since age 5.  And what, Flynn liked him at age 4?  Makes no sense and I reject it.

Alex’s reaction to the amp in the rain comment is gone

little scene with Willie and Caleb in the alley is gone

Alex says the jolt felt like when they got stamped, no mention of food being to blame

“Not our favorite part of the day” is now Luke’s line, think it’s Alex’s in the show?

When Alex and Reggie talk to her, she says she saw Unsaid Emily in Luke’s book - wasn’t part of the scene where she tells them about Trevor

At the end of that scene outside his house, she says she’ll have to welcome Luke back to the band and tell him happy birthday, but we don’t actually see it

At Eats n’ Beats, Alex doesn’t dance with Dirty Candy (Candi in the book)

Julie gives more of a speech before Finally Free and is less awkward

Episode 7

Reggie doesn’t haunt Carlos - that whole subplot is basically gone, other than the thing near the beginning about orbs

Over breakfast when Ray tells Julie about the garage party, Reggie isn’t there

Luke, at Julie’s locker: “we need to talk about what song to open with” (which is good, because seriously, yes, invite a bunch of people to your house for a 5 minute song and then send them home?  really?  made no sense, and I’ve always assumed they did a whole set of songs)

Julie says “I think Great is perfect” instead of the awkward “I think Great is...great” which I think is cute, so thumbs down on that.

Whole thing with Luke trying to get her to skip class to rehearse is gone

bit at the end of that scene “we’ll carry you like always” and “I know you’re smiling” is gone

GUYS THE PERFECT HARMONY DANCE IS GONE

Like, you still get Julie confessing to Flynn in the music room that she was thinking about Luke while dancing with Nick, but that scene does NOT come across from just that line of dialogue.  Given that Madison and Charlie wrote that song, maybe that scene was added relatively late and wasn’t in the version of the script the author was given?

guys rehearsing - “let’s try ‘great’ from the top with the new harmony”

After Alex talks to Willie, he stars off into space rather than drumming out his depression

Whole thing with Luke singing to Reggie & Reggie’s bisexual awakening is gone

No description of the actual Edge of Great performance, instead it skips straight to the pizza after; also confirms that they opened with ‘Great’

“Don’t poke the bear is gone,” thing with Julie distracting her dad with camera talk is gone

Alex is sad he’s missing the post-party pizza.

In front of the Orpheum, after Willie says, “Because I care about you Alex.  And I hate that I led you and your friends into this mess.”  Alex snaps, “Me, too,” so he’s still angry, vs. on the show that line isn’t there and he seems more sad to me

[captainsspnanon]

C2E29 - The Stalking Nightmare - rewatch/liveblog

I forgot to mention it before, but it still applies.  This little arc really does show off how well Caleb is capable of being a leader.  He avoids it, he does not want it, but he’s GOOD at is.  While the Nein are very good about being a group without a real leader, there definitely are the arcs where one or two PCs really pick up the charge.  Starts out with Fjord, then Caleb, then Fjord again, then Caleb/Beau during Xhorhas, then Jester for Travelercon.  I really do like it, it’s a very realistic way that a group would function.  No one standing up and saying ‘you follow me and do what I say’, but people recognizing when one is more capable in a certain situation than others and defaulting to them, or at least letting their opinions have a bit of a greater weight.

Watching the fireside chat a bit early because I misjudged the timing (should have watched after the liveshow), first time I’m seeing this!  I’m LOVING seeing the creation of Orly (WHO IS AMAZING AND I LOVE HIM SO MUCH) and hearing Matt kinda play with a voice and it not being Orly’s voice at all, but seeing how it’ll get there.  UGH, I love him sooo much, and I’m so excited because Matt has no idea that he will become such a big NPC.  Especially considering the fan created NPC and monster for C1 were pretty shortly there and very forgettable (at least for me), to have this one become essentially a second-rank core NPC is so incredibly heartwarming.  (first rank NPCs are like the Gentleman, Essek, Pumat Sol, second rank are like Yussa, Orly, Allura, third rank are like Bryce, Darrow, Marius, and lower rank NPCs I don’t consider ‘core’)

Awww, I really like the fireside chats.  I always want them to be like an hour longer at least!  That might just be my love of behind-the-scenes stuff though. The c2 wrap up was four hours long and I felt like it wasn’t nearly enough.  I kept hoping they’d do a second one, like how there was the official c1 wrap up, but then there was a c1 fireside chat wrap up because there were still so many questions left over.

ALRIGHT.  LET’S DO THIS LIVESHOOOOWWWWW!!!!!  I can’t remember if they wear costumes or not!  I’m so excited!!!!

(I miss the liveshows so much, even though yes, at times they were hard to hear and at times the playing to the audience was a little over the top, but a handful of liveshows a campaign just add so much to it I feel, I really hope we can get these back with c3.  Go away pandemic, stop ruining things)

Wait, does this mean I’ll be ringing in the new year by watching the live show?  ...I’m cool with that.  I’m in a CR mood today, definitely want to keep watching.  Gonna go make me a boozy drink :)

WAIT BRIAN HAS A GLITTER BEARD I NEVER NOTICED THIS

Ah, no full on costumes, but Liam, Marisha, and Taliesin hitting me with ALL the bisexual glory.  UNF.  I am respectfully thirsty.  (Ashly and Matt looking great too, but not as dressy.  Sam is…...well.  Look, there are times where I can admire Sam’s attractiveness.  But 99% of the liveshows I cannot because the OUTFITS.  So I am admiring his absurdity instead.)

(also apparently I’m having Matt hair envy this episode.  SO FLUFFY!!!!!   I know, I know, why is this episode different than any other episodes.  But it just looks REALLY GOOD to me right now!)

MATT’S REVENGE WITH THE SAM SHIRT YEEESSSSSSS

I love Caleb using the Invisibility scroll, and I LOVE Keg not having object permanence.

The audience shouting “don’t fuck me Gil”, and Marisha guiltily having to inform them that it wasn’t a Gil die.  MY HEART MAY NOT SURVIVE THIS EPISODE.  I feel like these liveshows mean so much more to me now, just because of all the context I’ve now gone through of all of C2, C1, and C3.

It makes sense that it wasn’t really RPed, but I am kinda sad that it was never really gone into about what Yasha, Jester, and Fjord had suffered during their time.  Maybe they got lucky and because it was only a day/day and a half that they were there that they were just put into cages and not dealt with, but maybe they were.  And I don’t think it’s ever touched upon.  But like I said, the show – despite getting into dark shit – never actually goes THAT dark.  Injuries to the PCs are all resolved in a long rest without real repercussion, emotional trauma from the in game activities is glossed over (backstory emotional trauma is different), and it makes sense in the fact that it’s just a GAME that they play for fun.  But I admit, this is where the appeal of fanfic comes in, to touch on the heavier and darker aspects that they don’t play out.

THE AUDIENCE FREAKING OUT AT THE SHAKASTE REVEAL, AND THEN EVEN MORE WHEN KHARY COMES ON STAGE

I do with the Nefertiti statue’s face was more visible.  (also why the fuck did I struggle with how statue is spelled?  I’ve had less than a shot of alcohol, I shouldn’t be that affected yet!)

I…...forgot this episode is almost entirely combat.  I’m still focused, but not much to say.  It’s combat.  Not feeling the need to speed it up, so that’s good.

Insect Swarm!!!! Used a good handful of times, but much more a flavor aspect of Cad rather than a primary combat.

LOL new years hit riiight after break.  Paused to text friends/family and get a call from the parents, and now waiting for some of the cheering outside to die down.  I think I’ll take a quick shower then get into the second half.

(also I want a shiny party hat wurmple, but this’s not about that right now.  I didn’t get a shiny spheal with scarf, which genuinely makes me sadface because spheal with the scarf is so fucking cute.  There aren’t many costumed pokes that I love, but there are a few and these are two of them)

Mmmm, I think I’m starting to lose focus now.  And as I haven’t been saying much because it’s just combat, I think I’ll head off for the night, finish this tomorrow.  Lorenzo has been revealed, and Cad has just shown why you don’t make him do wisdom saving throws (casual 27, anyone?), so that’s a good place to pause.

Poor Shakaste, I forgot that he struggled so much during this fight!

Wondered why Caleb didn’t use Shield, but maybe he’s out of first level spells?  I know he kills Lorenzo with a cantrip, so he was pretty dry at that point….  According to the critrolestats, Caleb went into this episode with two first level spells only, however, after the Scorching Ray he only uses cantrips, so maybe he thought he only had one first level spell left?  Or maybe he was saving it for Shield in case he thought he may be at further risk?  (I’m leaning towards the former)

Sharp toothed fairies for Spirit Guardians???  Okay…..I feel like he moves towards the insects and beetles for the Guardians soon.  It’s interesting, this doesn’t seem to fit Caduceus at ALL, but I wonder how his character would have adjusted had this been the theme for his Guardians going forwards.

Ah, there’s the remembering that Firbolgs don’t have Darkvision.

Spare the Dying and max healing for an unconscious person.  Taliesin discussed in the last Talks how he decided to make a cleric to help the party from getting gunshy because of the death, to be able to give them a bit of comfort making more risky decisions, and this here is exactly the display they need.

I get really happy with the audience chanting Beau Beau Beau after Marisha stuns Lorenzo.  I know from her interviews that she seems to be able to let the internet hatred roll off of her back, but GOD the hate that she got for Keyleth. And then even some for Beau!  I’ve seen a good chunk of people feel about Beau how I feel about Molly.

Oh hey, they fuck up the Stun here.  Stun is supposed to last until the end of Beau’s next turn, not the stunned person’s turn.  OH WELL STILL WORKS OUT. (also lol at me actually knowing shit.  During first watch I was slowly gaining the ability to understand rules and shit while watching, but 100% would not be able to say when they were ‘wrong’ or not XD)

Mass Healing Word – you can heal everyone but Caleb.  XDDDDDDDDDD

This may be my bias, but I HAVE to give props to Liam for this episode.  This is a very very combat heavy episode, and while there is some RP, there’s not much.  That tends to lose me, as I’m much more interested in the RP than combat.  But Liam is RPing his ass off this entire episode, just by his little monologues and nervousness and EVERYTHING that he is putting into basically every turn.  And yes, the other players are certainly doing some, and I appreciate it every time it happens.  But Liam is just FEEDING ME and I can’t help but to love him so much for it.

Keg’s ‘what the FUCK?!’ after Liam describes the HDYWTDT is PERFECTION.  The perfect little tension release after the very descriptive and violent end.

“You shouldn’t have killed my cat” oh I have THOUGHTS about that line.  Honestly, the first time watching that was even more confirmation for me that Caleb couldn’t have actually cared about Molly dying because duh. Yeah….I admit that was my bitter biasness there.  Rewatch though? It’s very powerful about the connection that Caleb has with Frumpkin and what Frumpkin means to him, connecting to his childhood and trying for redemption, it’s also this level of disconnect about avenging Molly because the emotion is there but he just can’t focus on it in the moment (alright that’s speculation but it seems to fit), and then lastly, if you watch Liam, Caleb is starting to risk dissociating HARD with the rapid blinking and somewhat vacant gaze (wisdom saving throw coming up), so it makes sense that his immediate thought would be about something that just happened a few minutes ago, rather than the bigger thing that could be too hard to think about in the moment.   (I’ll also admit I still have a very biased headcanon for the moment, but I won’t share that because no-one needs to hear it)

“Case closed” SERIOUSLY heartbreaking and heartwarming at the exact same time

Also rescued prisoners coming down right after the battle ended, y’all are dumb fucks and could haven ended up dead, wtf.  Stay upstairs where they told you to.

Also also, this is now the start of an AU, as the end of this episode and beginning of next episode get into wonky changing what happened stuff, but that’s okay. XD

MATT AND SAM’S FACES WHEN BEAU PROPOSITIONS KEG

Sam on those skates is TOWERING over everybody omg

Also I am just barely taller than Ashly Burch, so that’s a perspective on heights.

@suicidallyreckless

[poesparakeet-fics]

Here it is! Dopamine please! :P

Chapters: 2/2 Fandom: Critical Role (Web Series) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast, The Mighty Nein & Caleb Widogast Characters: Essek Thelyss, Caleb Widogast Additional Tags: no beta we die like men, Polyamory Negotiations, Tickling, Romance, New Relationship, Caleb Widogast Has a Crush, Caleb has a 16 charisma, shadow-hoe essek thelyss, Sub Caleb Widogast, Switch Essek Thelyss, Caleb Widowgast IS the Bisexual maelstrom, The Poly Nein, but only in the background - Freeform, minus veth, because it’s cool if your friends just wanna be with their bomb-ass husband, ya know?, Blow Jobs, Hand Jobs, Bondage Summary:

Essek’s slow approach across the bed was making Caleb recall, vividly , why he never started tickle fights with the Nein. Goosebumps raced across every inch of exposed skin and his joints felt like jelly. He was terrified .

And very, very turned on. Gods help him.

“So tell me,” purred Essek as he loomed over Caleb, “why does Jester call that maneuver you used just now ‘mage-breaker’?”

Caleb was almost stunned out of his nerves.

“Well it makes it hard to… oh! Ah…” Caleb’s voice trailed off to an embarrassing squeak when he realized what was happening.

Essek’s smile turned wicked, and that was very charming, mostly because Caleb had never known what was good for him.

“But what mage has she been breaking, hmm?”

He rested his chin on his one hand and lounged conversationally next to Caleb, but never touched him. Delicate midnight-blue fingers that washed out to a smoky purple on his palms floated, almost lazily, inches from the hills and valleys of his ribcage.

Caleb could only whimper, sure that if he opened his mouth a flood of nervous laughter would rush out before Essek even touched him. Caleb was a familiar fan of being made helpless, something his lovers in the Nein were generally happy to oblige, and he had a tiny little inkling of pride in his ability to take whatever his lovers dished out. He found himself wanting to show off a little bit for Essek. With a steadying breath, he opened his eyes and relaxed into the covers, meeting Essek’s gaze.

“Let us start with an easier question, hmm?” said Essek “A question I know you may not want to answer, and that I will only make you answer once tonight. A necessary question. Do you understand?”

Caleb still didn’t feel like talking, so he nodded mutely.

“Nodding is fine, yes. Do you like that I’ve restrained you?”

Heat immediately rushed into Caleb’s cheeks, and he winced at the question, but gave one short nod.

“Now, I assume you have a safeword, yes? Is it obvious enough that I’ll know it when I hear it?”

Caleb nodded, his flush abating. Essek’s brow furrowed with hesitation.

“Ah… just for clarity… is it in Zemnian?”

That made Caleb snicker, and not from ticklishness. He shook his head, his earlier discomfort made worth it when Essek’s hand reached for his hairline, stroking cool fingers through mussed hair and setting off a visible full-body shiver.

“Thank you. That was very good.”

Caleb felt a little dizzy from affection, arousal and whatever brain chemicals came with them. It hadn’t even crossed his mind to ask Essek to tie him up and torment him. Now he was floored to end up at the drow’s mercy anyway, and that Essek was so good at this .

“Now that we have that out of the way, I think I’ll ask my other questions properly.”

j Read the rest on AO3

[crystalstar8]

Knights of the Night (Epilogue)

Epilogue

Ch 1, ch 2, ch 3, ch 4, ch 5, ch 6, ch 7, ch 8, ch 9, ch 10, ch 11, ch 12, ch 13, ch 14, ch 15, ch 16, ch 17, ch 18, ch 19, ch 20, ch 21, ch 22, ch 23, epilogue 

https://archiveofourown.org/works/29139240/chapters/71536491

pairing: Jungkook x oc

genre: vampire au, college au, twilight, romance

word count: 1,587

warnings: blood (obviously), kidnapping, child kidnapping, needles, France, human trafficking

notes: vampires, vampire au, college, college au, so many twilight references, blood, needles, kidnapping, children, homelessness, dance, ballet, flashbacks, romance, slow burn, probably no smut, idk yet tho, France, French things, attempted genocide, inaccurate French history, bisexual main character, @strawberriewithchocolate-blog @mozy-j  @daechwitad-2​ @zobadak​ @fallenstar-7​​​

summary: Catalina starts college in a small town all the way across the country. She doesn’t know anyone and isn’t exactly looking for friends. She just wants to focus on dance. But when she meets fellow dance major, Jimin, and adventurous, fellow freshman, Jungkook, Catalina ends up discovering a whole new side to the small college town; one that is dangerous but oh so enticing...

                 Catalina took one last glance around her room before heading downstairs. She heard Jimin’s voice, which put a wide smile on her face. Him and Taehyung were back on time, which meant they’d be able to come with everyone that afternoon.

               She ran down the stairs, taking them two at a time, before landing in the foyer. Taehyung and Jimin were taking their shoes off and setting their bags down, chatting with Hoseok and Namjoon. Catalina threw her arms around Jimin and asked him, “How was your trip?”

               He pulled away and smiled wide, his eyes disappearing. “It was incredible. I’ll tell you all about it later.”

               “I can’t wait,” Catalina said, smiling just as wide.

               “We were gonna go to the beach later,” said Hoseok. “Do you want to go with us?”

               “Sure! I think we’ll mostly just relax, though,” said Taehyung.

               “Here, I’ll help you unpack so you can get yourselves settled before we go,” Hoseok said, following them back out the car. Catalina left the foyer and went into the kitchen. The kitchen was beautiful, so different from when she first came into this house. They had it remodeled, actually, they had a lot of the house remodeled. Everything was a bit more modern, but their antiques were mostly still around. Even Yoongi redid his bedroom, saying he didn’t want to sleep in a rat’s nest anymore. He made an incredible amount of money on the antiques in that room, the museums practically begging him to part with them.

               The light was on in the kitchen when Catalina entered, which meant Jungkook was in there. Sure enough, he was standing in front of the fridge, staring into its contents with bleary eyes. His hair was a floof on top of his head and his pajamas were rumpled. Catalina came up behind him and wrapped her arms around him. She laid her head on his back and listened to the steady rhythm of his heart, something she’s become so very familiar with.

               “What will you have for breakfast?” she asked. He grunted in response, shifting some containers around on the shelf. He finally chose a container of leftovers and cracked the lid to sniff it. He sniffed it three times before deciding it was edible and dumping it on a plate. While it was heating up, he turned and opened his arms, letting Catalina settle into him.

               “Are you gonna surf today?” he asked.

               “You asked me that yesterday,” Catalina said with a giggle.

               “And you said no yesterday!” he said. She could feel his laughter in his chest where her head was resting.

               “Maybe,” she said. “I heard the teaching process is very hands on.”

               He chuckled and said, “Where did you hear that?”

               “Hm, I don’t remember,” she said. The microwave beeped and Jungkook let Catalina go so he could grab his food. She pulled a blood bag out of the fridge and sat down with him at the dining table, sipping at her drink while he ate.

               “What are you guys doing up so early?”

               Yoongi wandered into the kitchen with messy hair and tired eyes.

               “It’s beach day!” Jungkook said, much more awake now that he was eating. “You’re coming, right?”

               “No.”

               “Yoongi, you don’t have to swim or surf or anything,” said Catalina. “You can just sleep on the beach. Or drink wine on the beach. You need the fresh air, you’ve been at your piano for days. Plus, I think everyone would really like to spend some time with you.”

               “When are you going?” he asked.

               “We’re heading out around eleven,” said Catalina.

               “Oh. I’ll think about it,” Yoongi said. “Are Taehyung and Jimin back yet?”

               “Yes, they just walked in a little while ago,” said Catalina.

               “Good,” he said. “I’m glad their flight wasn’t delayed.”

               With that, he left the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

               During the drive to the beach, Catalina made sure to sit in the back of the Jeep with Jimin.

               “So, tell me about the trip,” she said, a giddy smile on her face.

               “Ah, it was perfect!” said Jimin. “I’ve never been to Arizona before so I didn’t really know what to expect about the weather or anything. It really is very dry there. The heat is like heat from an oven. And the places we saw were so beautiful. We camped in the Grand Canyon and… it was insane. The Grand Canyon is insane. Everything was so incredible. And at night, you could see the stars perfectly. When we camped in Death Valley, there was absolutely no light pollution for miles so the sky was amazing. We saw the Milky Way.”

               “Oh wow,” Catalina sighed.

               “You and Jungkook should go next summer,” said Jimin. “You’d love it.”

               “Yeah, I would do that,” said Catalina. “That sounds like a lot of fun. We need to make up for our last trip.”

               They sat in silence for a while before Jimin said, “I can’t believe we’re going to France in two weeks.”

               “I know!” said Catalina. “I can’t believe it! This is something I’ve been waiting for my entire life and I’ll finally be able to do it!”

               “Is your solo ready?” Jimin asked.

               “I mean, as ready as it’ll ever be,” said Catalina. “You know how it is.”

Her and Jimin had both taken the winter semester off to recover from their transformations and to get used to their new bodies. Catalina used that time to choreograph a solo worthy of an audition in France. By now, the beginning of summer, she had perfected it as much as she could.

“I’m going to the studio to practice it tomorrow,” said Catalina. “You should come with me. You can help, or just watch. You haven’t seen it finished yet.”

“What time? I’m babysitting tomorrow,” said Jimin.

“Oh right! You’re doing that every Tuesday now, aren’t you?” said Catalina.

Jimin nodded and said, “Yep, Caleb’s sister has dance on Tuesdays, so I’ll just be there for a few hours.”

“Are you still gonna do that when classes start? You’re signing up for classes in the fall, right?” she asked.

“Yeah, I don’t want to fall behind any more than I am,” said Jimin.

“Me too,” said Catalina. Then she smiled and grabbed Hoseok’s shoulder over the driver’s seat. “And you’re starting classes with us too, aren’t you?”

He laughed and said, “I sure am!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The weather was perfect, and according to Jungkook, the water was ideal for beginner’s surfing. They got set up on a relatively empty patch of the beach. The family closest to them had a few kids, who were building a sandcastle near the water. It was Monday, so thankfully there weren’t too many other people there. Yoongi laid out a beach blanket and immediately laid down, covering his face with his sun hat. He was almost completely covered, with long sleeves and long pants. Catalina figured he was trying to protect his pasty white skin.

               Jimmy K settled down beside Yoongi with a thick book. Catalina had assumed he would be surfing with them that day; he seemed like the type to surf. Jimin and Taehyung lathered themselves in sunscreen and took their spots near the cooler, relaxing and watching the fun just like they promised. After shedding her shorts and tank top to reveal her new white bikini, Catalina lathered herself in sunscreen, since she could already feel herself burning. Then she grabbed her board and met the others down by the water.

At some point, the family next to them left and they were left to themselves on their private stretch of beach.

Catalina, Namjoon, and Hoseok kept their eyes on Jungkook and Jin, who were teaching them the basics of how to surf. They all had boards, rented ones for the newbies, and Catalina was excited to get out on the water. With every glance at the ocean behind her, she felt nervousness twist in her stomach. She had to keep reminding herself that she wouldn’t drown and she wouldn’t get hurt. Her body was stronger than it used to be, which was something she still hadn’t completely gotten used to.

                They were standing on their boards, Jin showing them how to position their feet. Jungkook went to each of them, giving them pointers or fixing their positions. He stepped onto Catalina’s board behind her and nudged her right foot forward a bit, hands on her bare waist.

               “Just keep your knees bent and your legs spread a bit more,” he said. His bare chest was pressed up against her back.

               “…And if you guys fall off, just let the current roll you until it’s settled, then come up,” Jin was saying. “But you guys won’t drown anyway, so no harm.”

               “Right, no harm,” Jungkook said, his hand sliding down to her butt.

She giggled and turned around to face him.

“Did Hoseok get this treatment when you helped him?” she asked with a wide smile on her face.

“He would probably like that,” Jungkook said with a laugh. “But this is only reserved for my favorite students.”

“Ooh, so Namjoon got this too,” Catalina said, winding her arms over his bare shoulders. He threw his head back and laughed. This was her favorite song. The sounds of his laughter, the waves hitting the beach, The seagulls calling overhead, his heart beating in his chest.

Catalina leaned up to press her lips against his, the board wobbling in the sand beneath their feet.

She never wanted this song to end.

[between-two-fandoms]

I wanted to ask for a fic set before the guys died where maybe Luke and Alex realized that Reggie has some sort of PTSD maybe?? (If possible, I'd like Reggie and Luke to be together 👉🏼👈🏼) 💜

Oof. 

This ask has been staring at me for weeks and I’ve been staring back at it, then ignoring it exists because for the life of me I couldn’t figure out what the hell to write. I’m so sorry it took me this long to figure it out! Hopefully you like it! The fic’ll be under the cut, it got away from me... as do most of my prompted works, lmao.

Is This Real Life?

Summary:

Luke knew something was going on with Reggie, but it wasn’t until the bassist broke down during rehearsal did he realize how bad Reggie was really getting. Luckily Julie and Alex were there to help, because Luke didn’t know Reggie’s flashbacks could still happen since they became ghosts, and he definitely wouldn’t have been able to help Reggie through this one alone.

Luke didn’t notice it until after they were all dead and playing with Julie in the studio one day. They were running through a few newer songs he and Julie had written over the weekend. The songs were all set up to be anthems, upbeat and energetic. Luke was positive they’d get their audience dancing on their feet by the end of the first verse. It happened just as he strummed the last chord of the song though… Reggie’s thing. The bassist flinched when Alex slammed his drumsticks onto the cymbals with a tad more aggression than necessary. When Luke met Reggie’s eyes he could tell something was off. He couldn’t pinpoint it, the exact moment the usual light in Reggie’s eyes dimmed, but it happened. “Reggie, everything okay?” Luke asked as Julie switched her sheet music for a different song. He took note of Reggie’s right hand shaking as he tried to re-tune the bass. Reggie nodded and plastered on a painfully fake smile.

“Of course I’m okay Luke!” Reggie exclaimed with a bit too much excitement. “Why wouldn’t I be?” Luke frowned as Reggie started looking around the studio, like he was confused about where he was. It was painfully similar to how they all looked when they first appeared at Caleb’s club the night of the Orpheum performance. Reggie was getting jittery… and anxious… something was very clearly not right. Alex stopped drumming his slow beat and glanced at Luke in concern.

“Reggie,” Luke said, taking a slow step forward. He took off his guitar and rested it against it’s stand. Reggie winced and took a tripped backwards, foot catching on a loose amp chord. We really should tape those down, Luke reminded himself, before turning his attention back to his now-terrified friend. Reggie hit the ground with a thunk and instantly curled into himself. He was shivering like it was freezing in the room, even though the sun was up and shining through the windows.

“‘M sorry,” Reggie mumbled, trying to reel in whatever composure he thought passed as normal. “‘M not a fag, not a fag,” Reggie said, and it sounded like he was pleading with someone. Luke’s heart clenched when Reggie flinched back, as though he was expecting to get hit by something. Julie let out a gasp of surprise, and Luke looked to Alex for help. Alex poofed next to Luke and the two of them sat close enough to their bandmate so he’d know they were there, and that they weren’t trying to hurt them. Luke’s heart ached at the sight of his friend, Reggie was the youngest out of the three of them, even if it was only by a few months.

“Luke,” Julie said quietly, not wanting to scare Reggie anymore than he already was. “What’s going on?” She stayed by the piano, but he could tell she was concerned. Luke just looked at her helplessly as Alex tried to calm Reggie down.

“‘M sorry!” Reggie yelled suddenly, then threw himself backwards like he got slapped across the face. Luke tensed as he realized what was happening. Reggie’s parents fought constantly when they were alive, about every little thing that could possibly be fought about. He remembered when Alex had come out to everyone, and to their parents. “Not sick, ‘m not sick,” Reggie muttered as Alex failed to get through to him. Emily and Mitch were supportive and understanding, but Reggie’s parents… from what little Luke actually remembered about them… they seemed indifferent about the whole Alex-being-gay thing. It was like they were fine with it as long as if their own son wasn’t gay… Realization dawning on Luke he knelt down and reached forward with his hand hesitantly, but he inevitably rested it on Reggie’s shoulder. Reggie tried to get away from his touch, thrashing around on the floor. Luke held his own though as he shifted so Reggie could see him.

“Reggie it’s Luke,” Luke said, trying to stay as calm as he could. Alex backed away to give them space, which he appreciated. Reggie’s hitched and the terrifying, shuddering breaths started to slow down. “Yeah, there you go. You’re safe remember? You’re here with me and Alex, in the studio.” He continued on, comforting, grounding words that were safe. Words that he knew reminded Reggie of times where he felt safe.

“Luke?” Reggie asked, a hint of doubt in his voice. Luke shifted his hand from Reggie’s shoulder to cupping the bassist’s cheek. Reggie was too exhausted to fight back, instead leaning into the palm of his hand. Luke eyed him carefully, watching for any signs of any sort of panic or anxiety attack. Reggie’s hands were still shaking slightly, but other than that he seemed to be doing a million times better than he was before. Luke let out a shaky laugh as he rested his forehead against Reggie’s.

“Yeah bud,” Luke said as he ran a hair through Reggie’s hair. “Hey,” Luke said, trying to keep Reggie talking. “Remember that time when we swapped Bobby’s guitar with a uke?” He asked, causing Julie to snort from across the room. Reggie gave him a wobbly smile in response, and Luke knew he was going in the right direction.

“He was -” Reggie coughed, “he was so bad at it.” Luke nodded as Alex somehow managed to dig out Reggie’s flannel from whatever pile of crap it was hiding under. Alex draped it over Reggie’s shoulders and he pulled it around him tightly.

“He had to play all of his solos on it during the gig, remember? His face got so red during the performance. I thought he was going to turn into a tomato,” Alex recalled with a light chuckle. Luke looked at Julie then nodded, and she bolted across the studio to where they were sitting. She knelt behind Reggie then said,

“Reggie, it’s Julie.” Reggie sagged, like a heavyweight was just lifted from them. She hummed, “You’re going to be okay. Can I play with your hair?” To Luke’s surprise, Reggie answered verbally with a whispered,

“Yes.” Taking her position, Julie settled in as she started running her hands through Reggie’s hair. The effect was imminent, and Reggie fell into her arms as she continued to murmur hushed words of comfort into his ears. Luke smiled gratefully at her and she smiled back at him. When five minutes passed and Reggie was obviously passed out in Julie’s lap she kept her hand in his hair.

“You don’t have to tell me anything…” Julie assured both Luke and Alex, who were both trying to figure out how to explain the situation without outing Reggie to her. Luke watched as Reggie slept peacefully, more relaxed than he ever did before they died. Sighing Luke nodded and ran a hand through his hair,

“Yeah. We do…” He exchanged a look with Alex, who nodded in support. They fell into a sort of uncomfortable silence as Luke tried to compile a comprehensive story to explain how shitty Reggie’s parents were. Alex took the lead,

“His parents used to fight… a lot. We knew it was bad, but he never let us go to his house or even be in the same room as his parents for longer than ten minutes. They barely went to our gigs… unless you count the one we accidentally booked in the bar his dad drank in.” Reggie made a soft noise of content when Julie resumed petting his hair. Luke couldn’t help but let a smile curve at the corners of his lips. Julie really was their saving grace... He picked up the story where Reggie left off,

“They weren’t the best but they were supportive when the could be… until Alex came out.” A look of guilt crossed Alex’s face. Luke quickly glared at him, “it’s not your fault and you know that Alex. They were shit parents, it would’ve happened even if you hadn’t.” Alex looked slightly less guilty, and Luke took it as a win. He could only handle one crisis at a time. Julie cleared her throat,

“So Reggie’s parents were homophobic?” Luke winced at the word,

“Not exactly. They were fine with Alex being gay, as long as he didn’t spread his ‘disease’ to their son.” An angry look crossed Julie’s face and Luke set a mental reminder to never make her pissed of at him.

“They what?” She asked, hissing the words. Luke nodded as Reggie shifted in his feet. His flannel fell slightly off him so Luke pulled it back over his shoulders.

“He didn’t want you to find out like this… but he’s bisexual. We both are… we’re exes,” Luke said tripping over his words as he did so. Julie’s eyebrows furrowed together in brief confusion, then her eyes widened.

“Oh… oh, you know I was wondering what those angsty-pondering looks were about.” Luke frowned,

“You don’t care?” He asked, confusion evident in his voice. Julie’s soft grin made Luke feel warm again, like he did back when she gave them her hug of life.

“I’m glad you told me, but it doesn’t change who you are.” She glanced at Alex then said, “just like how being gay doesn’t change who Alex is. You’re you and well… there’s always going to be assholes out there but as long as you remember who you are, then that’s enough.” A melody started working it’s way into Luke’s head. He started to hum it and Alex lounged on the floor next to Julie, he joined the three of them and curled into her other side. Reggie was sandwiched between them all, and Luke wrapped him and Julie up in his arms.

“You three really love each other, don’t you?” Julie asked as Alex’s soft snores filled the air. Luke hummed in response, then combed a hand through his hair instead of Reggie’s.

“We love you too Jules,” Luke promised, basking in her soft touches. Julie let out a soft chuckle,

“I know Luke. I love you guys too.” She started humming a song, he caught the words perfect harmony here and there and realized it was the same song that he thought of earlier. Luke didn’t want to think much of it though, he just wanted to hold his boys and his girl in his arms and keep them safe for a few hours longer.

[theoriginalladya]

Okay, @wrexidentalinsurance, you get a completely new thread for the answers to these!  I’ll put your questions in bold to make them easier to find the answers.

From what I’ve read that you have figured out, I know he has amnesia of some sort, cannot recall his last name. 

He does have amnesia of a sort.  Caleb is Earthborn, and I started his background story, Seeing Reds, with his first experiences after that happens, and moving forward.  His last name doesn’t even get discussed until a fic I’m working on right now which immediately follows Reds.    

He’s Irish?? (Pls don’t shoot me if I get that one wrong) 

Most definitely Irish!  In my head as I’m playing the games, I’m imagining Mark Meer’s voice with that sweet Irish lilt ...  ;)

He doesn’t seem to get kissed often but when he does, he kind of throws all caution to the wind. Seems inexperienced in romance. 

Okay, now this I haven’t gone into too much just yet because I haven’t decided if it’s going to come up in discussion between him and Kaidan (not that it really matters, I suppse).  It isn’t that Caleb is inexperienced - far from it - it’s just been a long while since he’s been involved with anyone, certainly anyone in what might be considered a ‘long term relationship.’  Caleb is bisexual, and back in his Reds days, he was in relationships with a couple of girls; one dies young (after their relationship is over), the other survives.  Neither of those relationships was what he would call ‘serious’ in adult terms, though he is a rather loving, affectionate person and isn’t afraid to show it.  After events in Seeing Reds, however, he tends to veer away from serious attachments, romantic in nature or not, because of what happens to him back in Ireland.  

Has he had experience with guns or violence prior to enlisting? Or did he even enlist? Street fights? He seems like a scrapper.  

Oh, hell yes!  lol  Essentially, as he grows up in Ireland and becomes a member of the Reds, he starts honing his skills that will develop into his Infiltrator class.  His Irish name is sealgaire, hunter, for a reason (and this will still play out in stores as he moves through the Alliance years, too).  He enlists at first because it’s a means to and end - a place to sleep, three meals a day, a job, etc.  He’s surprised to discover fairly early on that he actually likes it. 

Will he regain his memories? 

The first big story for him and Kaidan I’ve been plotting out since creating them that happens post-ME3 will revisit this issue, I promise!  The problem will come up once or twice in the stories leading up to then, but it will get resolved in that story (when he, Kaidan and a few others return to Shannon, Ireland)

What’s his perspective of Kaidan? What was his first impression of K? 

*rubs hands together*

His perspective of Kaidan is:  he’s a life saver.  Literally.  I headcanon that Kaidan and Caleb actually meet at the tail end of Caleb’s mission on Akuze (story forthcoming).  They serve together on the same ship, and Kaidan is part of the medical team sent down to help evac Caleb’s unit.  They don’t actually know one another before then even though they’ve been on the same ship, and the reality of the situation is they won’t actually meet (with Caleb conscious, that is) in person for a couple more months after that, but they do meet prior to ME1.  I can’t say anymore than that right now because I haven’t written any of it and I know their muses like to throw me curve balls, so ... yeah.  Essentially when they get to the Normandy, they’re being reunited, after a fashion, and it’s their first chance to actually work together.  

Is he even tempered or a bit quick to wrath? 

Depends.  For the most part, I’d say he’s pretty even tempered.  There have been a few moments when his temper is swift, sure and deadly (okay, I may have started drafting one of those last week), and especially when he’s younger, but for the most part he has a long fuse.  

Paragon or more of a renegade style?  

When I finished writing Reds, I was almost positive that he’d come out of the experience as Renegade.  Like, 99.9% positive.  (He actually comes out of his ME1 game more paragon because he saves the Council - for writing purposes, I consider him to be a pretty even split at that point)  But as time goes on, much to my surprise, he turned more Paragon.  By the end of ME2, he’s got almost a full bar more of Paragon than Renegade (P = nearly full, R = one bar plus a tick short of full).  ME3, despite returning to far more of his Renegade type tendencies, he still ends up much more Paragon than I thought he would. To put it very simply and plainly, he surprised me.  Of course, by then he’s involved with Kaidan (romance doesn’t start for them until ME3), so that may have affected things, too.

There were times he seems heart-broken and down-trodden. I got this sense of loss when he spoke to Anderson about his father.

Caleb is a product of his Irishness, for lack of a better way to describe it.  Though not very open about it most of the time (Kaidan has to go digging sometimes to figure out what the real problem is,etc.), that doesn’t mean he isn’t emotional.  He’s always been ‘tough’ and ‘stoic’, I suppose, but losing the Reds the way he did was really traumatic for him.  Nan and Ned, the Reds, they’re all his found family after a child of about six years walks out of the Shannon River dripping wet and with no memory of anything before.  Nan tells him that he needs to fill that space with new memories and he does.  He grows up living and loving with every fiber of his being, fighting hard for everything he has, and then has it all stolen away from him.  He is not a happy camper when he leaves for the Alliance, I can assure you!  However, he is smart enough to realize that there is a time and a place to do what needs to be done, and he isn’t afraid to do that either.  I won’t go so far as to say he wears his heart on his sleeve - he doesn’t, not really - but he is extremely careful about those he lets in close to him and how many.  (note:  it isn’t until he’s on the SR2 with the doctor and Joker around that he realizes just how close he let the people from the SR1 get.  At the time, it didn’t seem all that close - they were a team, they did their job, but the level of relief he feels when he gets Garrus and Tali back floors him.  Especially Tali, because she reminds him of Aoife back in Ireland).

[poemsforpersephone]

The third and final book rec list for fans of The Last Sun!

The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen has really cool empathy powers which, although not the two way bond Brand and Rune share, does remind me of the emotion reading aspect in TLS. The m/m relationship in it is also super sweet. 

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee. This one I’m recommending because the protagonist is a snarky asshole just like Rune, and the writing style is so well done. It’s m/m and genuinely such a fun and quirky book. Also the cover art is gorgeous!

Silver in the wood by Emily Tesh. This is an LGBT novella where a wild man called Tobias lives in a place called “Greenhollow,” , where, and I quote, “Old secrets better left buried are dug up, and Tobias is forced to reckon with his troubled past—both the green magic of the woods, and the dark things that rest in its heart.” So im recommending this one simply because of the involvement of secrets and troubled pasts haha. 

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. The front cover of this one gives me The Hanged Man vibes like, all the way to the bone, which is initially what prompted me to rec it on this list. But also: “Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead bullshit.” Idk about the dirty magazines but the rest of it scREAMS Rune. and the main character is a lesbian!!! yay!! 

The Black Veins by Ashia Monet. “In a world where magic thrives in secret city corners, a group of magicians embark on a road trip—and it’s the "no-love-interest", found family adventure you’ve been searching for.” It’s like someone looked into my heart and picked out my deepest desire and then wrote it and gave it life. This book is super diverse and super awesome. 

The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave is a f/f take on Dracula basically. I’m recommending it because the main character and her sister go through a traumatic event similar to the loss of the sun court, when men come and burn their home to the ground along with their people and they’re captured and taken as slaves. It’s about family, friendship and survival, and it’s beautiful. 

The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco. An LGBT book where climate change deniers are the villains? ... you have my atttention. 

Prosper’s Demon by K.J. Parker. This is about a morally questionable exorcist!  It’s a satirical, interesting take on the topic of possession with a kick ass cover. 

The Wishing Heart by J.C Welker. An LGBT fantasy novel where our protag, Rebel, finds a jinni’s vessel and is thus thrust into a whole new world of trying to keep said jinni from everyone else and find a way to free her! The world building is awesome and so are the characters.

Tarnished are the Stars by Rosiee Thor. “A secret beats inside Anna Thatcher's chest: an illegal clockwork heart. Anna works cog by cog -- donning the moniker Technician -- to supply black market medical technology to the sick and injured, against the Commissioner's tyrannical laws.” i have the hardbook version of this and the cover??? is so?? beautiful.

The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum. TALKING OF PRETTY COVERS. “Ryann Bird dreams of traveling across the stars. But a career in space isn’t an option for a girl who lives in a trailer park on the wrong side of town. So Ryann becomes her circumstances and settles for acting out and skipping school to hang out with her delinquent friends.”

Predatory by Brooklyn Ray. WERELEOPARDS FRIENDS!!!! god damn wereleopards im?? so happy. m/m 

The Lost Coast by Amy Rose Capetta. FOUND FAMILY QUEER WITCHES. need i say more. 

Portraits of a Faerie Queen by Tay LaRoi. The fey run amok in this one! f/f with a gorgeous front cover.

Unbroken by Brooklyn Ray. step 1: rent haunted house. step 2: fall in love with witch-turned-demon who inhabits it. step 3: profit???

The High King’s Golden Tongue by Megan Derr. This one is lovely! Nice world building with an emphasis on languages and kingdoms, and a lovely m/m romance that builds from kind-of-enemies-but-not-really to lovers. the audiobook of this is great. 

Salt Magic, Skin Magic by Lee Welch. SORRY YOUR BOOK IS SET WHERE? MY HOMELAND? MY COUNTRY MY COUNTY MY HEART? we never get any attention imma go cry in the corner. its a historical fantasy m/m romance in YORKSHIRE gosh im here for it. And let me tell you... this is one fantastic book. I really, really enjoyed it.

Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner. fantasy, m/m, lotsa swords!

Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst. f/f fantasy with a princess who has fire magic in a kingdom where magic is forbidden! 

Freedom’s Fate by Jennie Taylor. SPAAAAAAACE i love books in space.

Pegasi and Prefects by Eleanor Beresford. “Charley's final year at Fernleigh Manor is complicated by a runaway pegasus, unwanted Games Captainship, a dangerous new rival and, most of all, falling head over heels in love with another girl. What is a reluctant Senior Prefect to do?” catch me while i swoon.

The Necromancers Dance by SJ Himes. m/m vampire/necromancer romance, urban magic and fantasy, very fun and smooth read, a little bit insta love but not totally. 

The Star Host by F.T. Lukens. “Ren grew up listening to his mother tell stories about the Star Hosts – a mythical group of people possessed by the power of the stars.” a m/m fantasy book set to a sci fi fantasy background.

Empty Vessels by Nicholas Williams. “Lucas Mahler babysits clones all day, but he's trapped under the legacy of his body-builder father and his genius girlfriend. When Lucas tries to rise above, he's murdered. Waking up in the body of a clone, Lucas embarks on a mystery full of blood, old friends and lost loves.” idk the whole clone thing in this just always reminds me of lord tower making all the different fake versions of people he knows lmao. 

BOOKS NOT YET OUT

So, the thing is. 2020 is very close friends, and some awesome books are even closer. These below are books I’ve not read yet, since they’re not out and I am a poor ARCless girl, but they’re books you definitely want to keep an eye on.

Witches of Ash and Ruin by E. Latimer. Bisexual OCD protagonist who is a witch D: its everything i could want. 

Wild Sky by Zaya Feli. LGBT fantasy with dragons! It sounds so, so fun.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust. “A captivating and utterly original fairy tale about a girl cursed to be poisonous to the touch, and who discovers what power might lie in such a curse...”

The Fascinators by Andrew Eliopulos. “The Raven Boys meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, about an openly gay high school senior in small-town Georgia.” m/m fantasy which looks super sweet.

Cemetery Boys by Auden Thomas. “Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him.” THIS SOUNDS SO COOL oh my god. Yes PLEASE. 

When We Were Magic by Sarah Gailey. “A sly, witchy dark comedy about four teens whose magic goes wildly awry.” Magic, darkness, comedy, what’s not to love for fans of the tarot sequence??

The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune. I absolutely love T.J.  Klune’s writing so I can’t wait to get my hands on this. m/m superheros!! friends!!! get excited!! I think anyone who likes how witty K.D. is will enjoy this writing style. 

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune. YES ANOTHER ONE this looks so good too we are BLESSED. “A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.”

Fragile Remedy by Maria Ingrande Mora. “Sixteen-year-old Nate is a GEM—Genetically Engineered Medi-tissue created by the scientists of Gathos City as a cure for the elite from the fatal lung rot ravaging the population. As a child, he was smuggled out of the laboratory where he was held captive and into the Withers—a quarantined, lawless region.” The idea of the Withers kind of reminds me of the westlands.

The Fell of Dark by Caleb Roehrig. UHM im always here for lgbt vampires in young adult fantasy fiction. The author says that “this book is gay and filled with monsters” which also fits the last sun so i figured it belongs on the list lmao. 

Ruinsong by Julia Ember. “In a world where magic is sung, a powerful mage named Cadence is forced to use her power to torture her country’s disgraced nobility at her ruthless queen’s bidding.”

[dj-syrup]

The Unnamed, Episode 01x01: Pilot

I’ve never done this before, and I don’t know what I’m doing in a lot of this. If I get stuff wrong, please tell me.

I would like it noted that while I am part of the LGTBQIAP+ community, and while I am on that spectrum, I haven’t been for very long. There are things I don’t understand yet. Please don’t judge me too hard.

All of my posts for this series will be tagged as both #the unnamed and #social justice special forces.

Of course, the only way I know of to make sure you see every episode is to either come to my page once a week, or follow my blog. Your choice. Either way.

Anyway. Enjoy...

"You know, it scares me every time you leave."

Caleb turned away from the door and looked Josh, his partner, in the eye.

"I'll be safe," Caleb replied. "Don't worry about me. Worry about you."

"Are you ever going to tell me what it is you do for work?"

"No, I'm not. You worry enough as it is."

They kiss, and Caleb leaves, a quiet, worn expression on his face. Josh would never know what his boyfriend did for a living, and that was as it should be.

That was as it had to be.

Caleb climbed into his car, started the engine, and left. He followed the coastal roads up the Eastern seaboard, plying his route from his New York suburb into the crowded heart of New York City. The perks of having a wealthy employer (more to the point, a wealthy employer who didn't mind sharing his money with his employees) included being able to drive your own car to work, and being able to park it too. Most ordinary people rode the bus or the subway or some other form of public transit, but being able to drive was a luxury that only the rich could usually afford.

Mr. Caleb Donnelly was not rich, at least not by the usual metrics like net value or available liquid assets. His employment contract spelled out that anything he needed would be provided to him. Furthermore, if Caleb wanted something, all he had to do was ask for it, within reason.

He didn't usually ask. He had what he needed, and that was enough.

The office looked very much like any other: desks, computers, cubicle walls. Nothing strange or out of the ordinary, except that it was completely empty. No-one worked in this office, with the obvious exception of the one messy desk in the corner.

That was Caleb's desk.

This is where he came, every weekday. It was boring. It was a paycheck, kind of, but it was boring.

As Caleb approached his desk, he noticed an something odd; there was a white envelope, made of expensive paper, with his name engraved on it in flowing italic script.

Caleb opened it.

Dear Mr. Donnelly. Your services are no longer required here, for I have need of you elsewhere. There is a helicopter on the roof of this building waiting to take you to your next assignment.

It is a matter of some urgency. Do not delay. Do not call anyone. Do not talk to anyone.

Sincerely, your employer.

A helicopter.

Caleb sunk into his chair. This was most unusual.

"Whatever," he muttered to himself. "It's not the craziest thing I've done."

The pilot wasn't talking. Of course, he was a little busy trying to get a civilian helicopter through a thunderstorm. He was a little occupied.

"Are you sure you can't tell me where we're going?" Caleb yelled over the storm.

"No, sir. I'm under direct orders from the boss to not tell you."

Caleb rollded his eyes. Yes sir. No sir. Three bags full sir. This whole "not knowing where I'm going" bit was getting old.

Time passed.

Before he knew it, the wind died down outside and gave place to steady, beating rain. The copter was losing altitude, and headed toward a landing pad in a New England forest.

Sir Patrick Stewart was waiting for the helicopter, holding the umbrella from a Rolls-Royce.

Caleb stood there, in the rain, stunned for a moment. Sir Patrick Stewart, in the flesh, waiting for him.

"Come inside, before you catch cold. Nasty bit of weather we're having here."

Caleb obliged.

Inside, wherever it was, was a wonderful place. It looked like a production floor, except that there was no assembly line; just vast amounts of computers, milling and manufacturing machines, welders, the whole nine yards. And everywhere, there were people, all of them busy, all of them working on something.

"I see you've found my inventing studios." Stewart had piped up. "This is where the tools that you will be using are made. I have some of the best minds in the business here, poached from all the prime companies: Google, Tesla, Intel, Dassault Systemes, the whole set."

"What exactly do you have me doing?" Caleb asked.

"I'm getting to that. Let's make our way to one of the conference rooms."

They walked to the back of the invention floor, up a couple flights of stairs, and into a mostly bare conference room. The whiteboard contained a long list of calculations, including a fair number of Greek characters (as well as some that Caleb had never seen before.)

Stewart pushed a button at the top of the whiteboard and the contents vanished.

"I keep telling my engineers that they need to erase their boards before leaving the room." Stewart looked back at Caleb's vaguely stunned expression. "It's an e-ink board. They're not commerically viable, at least, not yet, but they are incredibly useful. One of my people from Amazon figured it out." He paused for a second, letting Caleb collect himself. "You're probably wondering what you're doing here."

"Yep."

"Sit down. This is going to take some explaining.”

Caleb sat. Stewart followed suit.

"One of the places that I recruit people from is the US Government. The people at the FBI and the CIA have higher mental and emotional standards than I do, and so if someone is fired for emotional or mental reasons, I'll arrange to interview them."

Caleb nodded, but with a wrinkled expression on his face. He wasn't sure what the point here was.

"I noticed a pattern, though: there were a lot of people who left the government because they were no longer welcome there. Some of them were gay. Some of them were bisexual. Transgender people in particular were at risk. They weren't pushed out, per se, but they were unwelcome, and people were unkind to them, and when they were offered a way out they took it."

"Sir, I'm gay," Caleb responded. "I was one of those people."

"Two things, Caleb. First of all, as long as you work with me, my name is Mr. Stewart. I have a knighthood. That's pretty cool. But I don't insist on being talked up to. Always speak your mind around here.

"Second, I'm gay. I knew you were gay when I hired you. I also know that you left the SEALS because your crewmates weren't comfortable with you around."

"I felt that, in order to win the conflicts out there, there had to be peace between us. I was disturbing that peace. So I left."

"A noble aspiration, to be sure, but ultimately not always true. Some of the people I work with best are the ones I spend the most time arguing with. They force me to strengthen my arguments, and they weed out my poor logic."

"True."

They sat in silence for a moment, both of them mulling over their respective thoughts.

"Well," said Mr. Stewart. "It's time that you met your teammates." He turned toward the door, to open it, and then paused. "But don't worry about introducing yourself -- they already know who you are." He opened the door.

Great, thought Mr. Donnelly.

A tall, Asian woman walked through the door. She was strong, her arms and legs toned with the kind of muscle that came from real-world practice, not time lifting weights. Her wrists were punctuated by matched scars, circling her arms like a pair of bracelets. Her face, while untouched by scar or blemish, told a tale of too many days being strong, and not too many days with enough to eat.

"This is Ms. Zhi Ling, long range tactics. Shotgun mics, sniper rifles, tin-can Wi-Fi antennaes, the whole set."

Caleb attempted to formulate a pleasantry, but failed, This woman could turn him inside out without thinking twice about it, and Caleb knew it.

She didn't bother with niceties either.

"You've seen women like me, haven't you?" she started. "In movies? Wearing skintight clothes and throwing hook kicks in heels? I'm not one of those people. If I want you dead, you'll be dead and you'll never see it coming."

Mr. Stewart cleared his throat and then turned back toward the door. Apparently he didn't see her statement as an issue.

"Ms. Sydney Port, logistics."

Mr. Stewart had opened his mouth to say more, but Ms. Port picked up where he hadn't left off and continued.

"My job is to keep all these crazy people grounded. They need to get somewhere? I find a way to get them there." She extended a hand to Mr. Donnelly. The hand was thin, lithe; clearly not accustomed to physical work. Her clothing, while not opulent, was well-considered and tasteful.

He shook it. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he said. And it was. Ms. Port seemed like a very solid, practical beaver of a woman, shoehorned into a lightweight frame.

She sat down, across the table from Ms. Ling.

A projector clicked on in the conference room, putting a Skype video feed up on the wall. A man smiled back from the feed. He was probably around 25, with a scraggly beard and unkempt hair. Despite his grubby appearance, his eyes glinted with intelligence, making it clear that he saw and understood deeply.

Mr. Stewart sighed and put his head in his hand.

"Mr. Thomas, we've had this conversation before. I need you to actually physically come down here."

Mr. Thomas' smile disappeared. "Do I have to?"

"Yes, you do."

"Okay. I'll be there in a second."

Mr. Stewart sighed again and turned back to Caleb. "That was Mr. Brandon Thomas. He used to work for DARPA's computer science division, before he got kicked out for editing his personnel record without permission. He's kind of high maintenance; I had to talk him out of a caffeine IV a while back, for instance. As far as hacking and computer programming and all that jazz goes, though, there's no-one better."

Mr. Thomas came in and took a seat, putting his 48-ounce coffee mug on the table in front of him, along with two laptops.

"You can keep going, you know. I've got stuff to work on and I'll keep an ear on the conversation."

Mr. Stewart rolled his eyes and continued the introductions.

That is to say, he meant to continue the introductions, but the next person didn't show up for 20 minutes.

"I'm sorry everyone, I was watching a turtle eating watermelon and lost track of time."

For twenty minutes?" Mr. Stewart had a hint of sarcasm and a bit of steel in his voice.

"That and I didn't want to come. People make me nervous."

"Mr. Donnelly, this is the last member of your team, Ms. Alex Winn. Ms. Winn is a master researcher and analyst. If there's a pattern or a precedent, she'll find it.

Ms. Winn seemed comfortable above all, at least in a physical sense. She was dressed in soft clothes that prioritized feel over form: sweat pants and a t-shirt that was a size too big for her. She had a comfortable build too; she didn't worry about eating chocolate too late at night. She was heavyset, but not overweight.

"Now that we're all here, let's have a chat."

Ling threw a venomous glance at Winn.

"Some of my researchers have located a gay conversion facility with a reputation for cruelty. I need you to go in and blow the place wide open. I want proof of every human rights violation you can spot. This place needs to go out of business, permanently, but I can't do that without proof for the courts.

"Mr. Donnelly, we're having you pose as a gay man who has decided that being gay is just too much work. We'll implant you with a bone conduction communication device, so that we can hear you and you can hear us.

"Ms. Ling will be on the other side of a nearby hill, using an array of surveillance devices to keep an eye on whatever is going on inside. Ordinarily we wouldn't risk sending someone in, but the way the building is built we can't see perfectly clearly.

"While Mr. Donnelly and Ms. Ling are on the ground, Winn and Port will be running logistics and analysis. Thomas will be attempting to hack into their security systems, although I don't have much hope there. He'll also be prepping for your next mission.

"You all clear on your assignments?"

Everyone nodded, except Thomas, whose nod lagged a bit behind the others.

"Sounds good. Donnelly, Ling, you have a plane to catch."

"Ouch!" yelped Mr. Donnelly as a tech inserted his bone conduction headset into his head. "You told me that wouldn't hurt."

"I'm sorry, sir, I probably miscalculated your anesthetic dosage."

Donnelly and Ling were on a plane, halfway to their target in the Deep South. Mr. Donnelly rubbed his face and waited for the stinging sensation to fade.

He turned to Ling.

"Do you make that little speech to every new recruit that you work with?"

"Only to the ones that look like they might come on to me too hard. Being a lesbian is hard enough; being a beautiful, troubled Asian lesbian is even harder."

"You needn't have bothered; you're not exactly my type."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm gay."

"Oh."

There was an awkward silence, neither quite sure where to go with that.

"Mr. Stewart said that you were fragile, a statement that I don't understand. Can you shed some light on the topic?"

It was a statement, an observation that struck Donnelly as odd. Fragile... what was that supposed to mean?

"I've been out of action for a while. I'm a little out of shape, I haven't been to a shooting range in ages... That's probably what he meant."

Ling nodded.

"I first saw action as part of a resistance cell in China," started Ling. Sensing a long story, Donnelly sat down and turned his chair to face her.

"My group was working toward a free China -- a China free of censors, free of bondage, free of the fear that comes when people just disappear in the middle of the night.

"None of us knew the real names of any of the others, and we all wore masks or shrouds when we met in person. We planned attacks against installations, humiliated the Red Army during parades... We once sabotaged a number of tanks the night before a parade, so that they would stop in the middle of the parade and not start again. We did our best to poke holes in the public perception of the government -- all seeing, all knowing.

"Then one by one, my crew started disappearing. As the weeks went by, fewer and fewer people showed up to meetings, until the rest of us decided to break up the cell and try to get out of the country. I went back to my parents, explained what had happened, and asked for help. They were proud of me, but they were scared, and so they gave me some money and told me to figure it out myself.

"I took a train to the southern border and escaped to Vietnam.

"Once I got there, I started looking for work. Vietnam was too close. I needed to get further awau. I had heard of America, and I started looking at once for a way to get here.

"Along the way, I got picked up by some thugs who sold me to a human trafficking ring. After a few hellish days in chains, I pulled and tore at my chains so hard that I completely wore through the skin and muscle on my wrists. That's where I got my scars."

Donnelly remembered seeing scars around her wrists, and had wondered where they came from. Now he knew.

"I escaped by killing one of the clients of the trafficking ring. I then took the key from his pocket, picked my locks with the wire from his glasses, and made a run for it. Stowed away on a cargo ship and ended up in San Francisco. Three years and a handful of gigs later, I got noticed by Mr. Stewart. He promised me a stable paycheck, a place to live, and a guarantee that I would never have to break the law again.

"And now I'm here."

Donnelly gave a low whistle. "That's some story."

"It's my story."

There was a click from the intercom and the pilot's voice sounded. "We're coming in for a landing -- buckle up."

They did.

"I'll be on a hillside about half a mile to the south," said Ling. "If you're in trouble, tap three times on your jawbone, and I'll come in and get you."

Donnelly thanked her.

If only things would be that simple.

"How are things going?" Mr. Stewart asked.

"Things are fine. The electroshock therapy is a bit painful, and the daily exorcisms are a bit much, but the group meetings aren't so bad.

"The food is awful."

"I'm sorry to hear that -- do you want me to drop a steak and some baked potatoes to you?"

"That won't be necessary -- I'll get over it."

Donnelly looked over his shoulder.

"I have to go. Private time is incredibly limited. I have a lot of time where there's no-one else in my room, but everything except the bathrooms are on a CCTV setup."

"Ok. Pay attention. Take notes. Get names from the staff, and pass them on to Ling. We'll dig up whatever we can find."

"Sounds good. Donnelly out."

The line went quiet.

This place was a mess. Everyone on staff kept intoning that this was done in love, but it was hard to believe when they strapped you into a tank full of water and ran electricity through it. Knowing the human psyche as well as Donnelly did, it was clear that a number of these people took a grim, sadistic pleasure in their work.

Donnelly kept getting names. Jim Douglas. Jeremy Bonzo. Zach Blaine.

He talked to people who claimed to counselors, but who had no real credentials and spent most of their sessions intentionally causing mental anguish.

He spent time in a room outfitted with strobe lights, surrounded by staff screaming at him, telling him that he was going to hell for being gay, commanding the demons that were controlling him and making him gay to come out.

The group meetings were painful in their own way. Donnelly was placed with a group of men that were near his age and social standing, who spent hours upon hours telling him of how much better it was being straight.

Things got worse on the third day.

"Hi Caleb. My name is Joseph, and I'm one of the administrators here."

"Hi Joseph," said Caleb. "Do you have a last name?"

"See, Caleb, I wanted to talk to you about that. Let's go to my office."

They went to his office, and Joseph locked the door behind them. Locked it with a key on the inside, so that Caleb couldn't get out.

"We don't like people who ask to many questions around here. You're not here to ask us questions; you're here to move on, to make a change. You don't need to know my name to accomplish what you want to here.

"For the next 24 hours, we will be placing you in solitary confinement."

"What if I don't want to go into solitary confinement?"

"Then we will sedate you and place you there anyway."

He went willingly.

Caleb woke from a deep sleep to Winn's voice in his ear.

"Wake up, Donnelly. Wake up!"

It had been several days since solitary confinement, and Donnelly was finally getting used to things. The staff didn't want him comfortable, and they continued to find ways to make him miserable, but he had made a friend of misery. He knew what he was doing, and he made piece with his lot for the time being.

"Wake up, Caleb! Crying out loud..."

"I'm awake, I'm awake. What's up?"

"We're almost ready to get you out of there, but there's one more thing that we need you to do first."

"K, what is it?"

"We need some of the computer records from the center. We've dropped a flash drive from a drone into the compound. You need to go find it, get into the administration offices, plug it into one of the computers, and do a couple of things to the computer. Then, once we have the files, we'll send some people in there to pull you out. Clear?"

"As mud."

"Get going, then -- you need to find that flash drive before the guards do."

The drive wasn't hard to find. The drone had dropped it in the northeast corner of the interior yard, and, made of metal, it shone in the light of the full moon. The administration offices also weren't hard to get into, at least not for someone of Caleb's considerable skills. This wasn't much harder than anything he'd had to do while working with his SEAL team; the security systems were adequate, but nothing special.

Once he was inside he tapped his mic and asked for the next set of instructions. The USB stick was actually a cellular modem, so that the home team could work on the computer from a distance without worrying about the internal internet security. Donnelly dug around the office until he found a sticky note with a password on it, under the mousepad; he signed in using the password, inserted the flash drive into a port on the back of the computer, and got to work.

He was almost finished when he heard the security sirens go off. He hit the last button, turned off the screen, and ducked under the desk.

The security team knew exactly where to find him, and it suddenly dawned on him: he hadn't gotten to a secure location before talking on his mic. He had what appeared to be a very involved conversation with himself, while being watched on CCTV by a security guard. They had then allowed him to access their office, get into their computer, and start working on it.

It was very bad.

Joseph, the administrator from earlier, was the one who rolled out of bed to take control of the situation.

"We have two options, Caleb. You can either tell me who you really are, and what you're really doing here, or we can stick you in cold storage until you are ready to talk.

"And before you decide, here's another bit of information. We found your friend, the Asian, up on that nearby hill where she has been keeping track of you. You have no friends, no help. You <i>will</i> tell us what you're doing, or you will never leave this compound."

Caleb's training snapped into play.

"My name is Caleb Donnelly, I have no rank, I have no serial number, and I am giving you no further information."

"So be it."

Joseph opened his office door and gestured for two of the guards to come in. He then opened his closet and pulled out a collapsible wheelchair with restraints. The guards forced Donnelly into the chair, and Joseph cinced the restraints down hard. He was then wheeled into the basement, where they had a room outfitted in a way similar to a morgue. They strapped him to one of the drawers, and then closed and locked the drawer shut.

He was restrained, locked up, inside a space not much larger than a coffin. He was wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt. In a space this small, his body heat would make the already-warm space unbearably hot.

He had no guarantee of food.

He had no guarantee of water.

He knew that there was a team coming in, but he didn't know when, and there was no-one listening on the other end of his phone now. Ling had been his link to the outside world, and she was probably in a similar pickle (if not worse).

And so Caleb Donnelly did the only thing he could -- he screamed, and he pounded the table as hard as he could, until the bruises on his hands were too painful to continue.

"We have to get them out of there now." Winn was insistent.

"I know, we're working on it," Mr. Stewart replied. "You've listened to the tapes; you know that things went sideways."

"Don't abandon them. I'll go in myself if I have to."

"I won't."

"I can't."

[kingsterracerp-blog]

Thank you for applying, SILVER. You have been accepted as RANDALL BUCKLEY. Just don’t forget to check out our CHECKLIST and send in your account within 24 HOURS. If you have any questions then let us know!

OUT OF CHARACTER.

NAME: Silver AGE: 19 TIMEZONE: GMT +2:00 ACTIVITY LEVEL: 7/10, I am generally online on mobile when I’m in class and on the computer at least four hours every day. Now, when exam time times, my activity goes down a bit but it still remains at least one hour and it’s only a few weeks out of the year - thankfully. PRONOUNS: they/them SHIPS: chemistry ANTI-SHIPS: no chemistry TRIGGERS: Removed. PASSWORD: Removed. ANYTHING ELSE: Removed.

IN CHARACTER.

DESIRED CHARACTER: Randall Cash Buckley, Jr. NICKNAMES: Rand, Randy, Junior AGE/BIRTH ORDER: 25, oldest FACECLAIM: Liam Hemsworth GENDER IDENTITY/PRONOUNS: male, he/him SEXUAL/ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: Bisexual (closeted), biromantic (closeted) HOMETOWN: Goss, Mississippi OCCUPATION/EDUCATION: Carpenter and wood carver

(MORE) IN CHARACTER.

POSITIVES: handy, creative and trustworthy NEGATIVES: traditionalist, secretive and proud

@buckleyinboston: Nothing better than some Conway Twitty and a cold one. @buckleyinboston: Don’t know if I’ll ever get used to the northern accent. @buckleyinboston: At least I can still go fishing in this city. Buildings as a backdrop, but I guess we all gotta compromise.

BIOGRAPHY.

** TW COT DEATH, HOMOPHOBIA **

Randall Cash Buckley, Jr. was born on a hot August day in 1991 at his parents’ house in Goss, Mississippi. He was the first born and to this day, still annoys his twin sibling with that fact and the fact that he must have been loved more from the start, because he got their daddy’s first name.

The Buckley’s were dirt poor; they really were. His father helped out on the tree farms whenever he could for minimum wage and his mother worked at the local diner. It simply wasn’t enough to keep the family afloat. His parents were too proud to use food stamps, something young Randall couldn’t understand when they went to sleep hungry - again. He was never one to sit idly by, though and when he was seven, he asked his uncle to teach him how to fish after school. They went down to the river and when he was ten, he simply started to go alone. He had an old bike, a bike trailer he’d begged his other uncle to make him and some rope. That was enough to carry all his fishing supplies. After school, when he could, he went down there to fish and more often than not, he brought home fish for dinner. They weren’t the biggest fish and weren’t always that tasty but they weren’t hungry and in his family, that was rare.

His father got a job at a local lawnmower shop and because of the steady income, they finally managed to have some security. They still got by on a minimum and couldn’t even think of saving money, but at least the days of going to bed hungry and no electricity were behind them. His parents still worked long hours and aside from about an hour in the evening, Randall and his sibling were often left to fend for themselves. It made Randall feel lost and lonely, especially because he really didn’t have friends his own age. He was quite a shy child and always looked shabby in his hand me downs and dirty shoes. He really didn’t have anyone aside from his uncles to hang out with.

That changed when Randall was twelve. An elderly man named Billy moved to the town with his bloodhound, Ed. He took Randall under his wing and paid him a few dollars to do little jobs around the house, which Randall saved in case one day, he really needed them. Growing up the way he did, taught him not to waste his money on things such as candy and toys, which other children did do. The old man often carved wood as Randall was fixing and cleaning things around his house. Randall was simply fascinated by it. When Billy asked him if he wanted to learn how to do it, Randall happily said yes.

That is where Randall’s love for wood started. He first learned how to carve and later, the older man taught him how to make furniture as well as widow and door frames. Randall had never really known what would come of him as he wasn’t very good at school work nor at sports but this was something he was good at, working with his hands and using wood to make useful and beautiful things.

At 15, his life was turned upside down. A new boy moved to town to live with his aunt, after his parents had passed away. He was an African-American guy named Caleb and Randall felt things for him he had never felt before. They were fishing buddies at first, as they discovered they both liked to do that, but Caleb wasn’t just a friend. Once they were by the river side, they were more than friendly. Maybe even flirty. Randall couldn’t keep his eyes off the gorgeous other boy’s flawless dark skin, pearl white teeth and beautiful dark eyes. There were many nights when he couldn’t sleep and thought of Caleb in ways no man should, at least in the eyes of God and his parents. He felt ashamed and distanced himself from Caleb, he simply couldn’t be gay, not in this town. To this day, he regrets not kissing Caleb back when the guy tried to show him what Randall meant to him. He just pushed him away, wiped his mouth and called him a fag. The hurt he saw in his friends face broke his heart. He told the other guy that he was disgusting and walked back towards his bike. He cried until he reached town.

It took him months to emotionally recover from that and it was hard seeing Caleb now hanging out with another guy, named Marcus. They were found out to be gay and bullied by all neighborhood kids and even some adults. Randall didn’t stand up for his old friend, in fear of being grouped in with him and his boyfriend. He was disgusted with himself, not only for what he felt but because he was such a coward.

Randall met Dixie when he was sixteen and developed feelings for her. It was such a relief. This meant he wasn’t gay, that he was normal and that all would be okay. She was a beautiful girl with red hair and brown eyes. They were high school sweethearts and he didn’t have eyes for any girl other than her. When he was 18, he bought a ring with half of the money he’d saved up from working for Billy and proposed to her. She said yes and he had never been happier.

He started two years of vocational training to become a carpenter, which he finished at the top of his class. Two weeks after graduation, when he was a month shy of turning 21, they got married at the local Baptist church. He wore borrowed clothes, as did she but they didn’t mind. The clothes didn’t matter, their love did.

He got a job as an assistant carpenter in town and while it didn’t make too much money, it covered half the bills they had to pay at her parents’ house where they were living and they could save Dixie’s paycheck in full. She made quite a bit working as a secretary at a local business.

Ten months after their wedding, their little girl was born and they named her Magnolia Lou. She had red hair just like her mother. Randall felt pride he hadn’t felt before. He just strutted around town, telling anyone who wanted to hear (and even those who didn’t) that he was a father of the most beautiful little girl in the world.

He was a father for four months. Then he found his daughter with a blue face. Cot death, they told him. It wasn’t his fault, they said but that was his daughter, his little girl. It was his responsibility to keep her safe and he hadn’t. He had failed as a father and a man.

He was 24 when he got divorced from Dixie, another failure but one he knew that he had created himself. He was inconsolable and lashed out at Dixie over everything. When he went for the bottle to drown his sorrows, she decided that enough was enough and filed for divorce. He didn’t fight it. He just signed whatever he had to sign and moved back to his parents’ house. People around town were sympathetic and he hated it. Everyone knew his story, everyone knew about his failures and he felt suffocated. He needed to get away.

He went to a local internet cafe to look for a job that suited him and had decent pay. He finally found an opening at Tailgate Carpentry & Home Repair in Boston. He applied and after a Skype call in which he showed some of his own work, he got hired.

He found King’s Terrace and when he saw there was an option to have a roommate he decided he wouldn’t mind living there. He needed a roommate to be able to split the costs and he wasn’t really able to move there and pay rent by himself until he found one. Here he’d be matched to someone, which was a lot easier. He hopes he’ll have someone he can stand rooming with him and if he doesn’t, well, then he’ll just lock himself in his room. He doesn’t really mind. It isn’t as if he’s here to make any friends. He is running away from something, not towards anything. He just wants to earn a living and other than that, he really has no idea what he’s doing with his life. He’ll figure it out… hopefully.

IN CHARACTER QUESTIONNAIRE.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST STRENGTH? HOW DOES IT COME IN HANDY?

I can survive. You can drop me anywhere in the world, and I’ll find a way to get food, water and what I need to survive. It’s something all of these city boys ain’t got a clue about.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WEAKNESS? HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOUR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE?

That’s between me and God and it damn sure ain’t none of your business. Drinking, it messed up my marriage but I’m tryin’ to beat it. Maybe I’ll go to AA, I don’t know yet.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN TEN YEARS?

Back in good ole’ Mississippi. I ain’t made to live in a city. Too much concrete and there ain’t enough clean air. I hope to still be practicin’ my craft and maybe even find love again. Maybe there is a city girl out there that ain’t afraid of country livin’.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO KING’S TERRACE?

Fit in my budget and wasn’t too far from my new job. That’s all you need to know. I wanted to get away from Goss. Everything reminded me of my Dixie and Magnolia… and everyone looked at me like a failure and I couldn’t stand it anymore. That is why I came here, but I do miss Mississippi.

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME AND TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Hold your little girl just a little bit longer.

[crystalstar8]

Knights of the Night (ch 20)

Chapter 20

Ch 1, ch 2, ch 3, ch 4, ch 5, ch 6, ch 7, ch 8, ch 9, ch 10, ch 11, ch 12, ch 13, ch 14, ch 15, ch 16, ch 17, ch 18, ch 19, ch 20

https://archiveofourown.org/works/29139240/chapters/71536491

pairing: Jungkook x oc

genre: vampire au, college au, twilight, romance

word count: 1,193

warnings: blood (obviously), kidnapping, child kidnapping, needles, France, human trafficking

notes: vampires, vampire au, college, college au, so many twilight references, blood, needles, kidnapping, children, homelessness, dance, ballet, flashbacks, romance, slow burn, probably no smut, idk yet tho, France, French things, attempted genocide, inaccurate French history, bisexual main character, @strawberriewithchocolate-blog @mozy-j  @daechwitad-2​ @zobadak​ @fallenstar-7​​​

summary: Catalina starts college in a small town all the way across the country. She doesn’t know anyone and isn’t exactly looking for friends. She just wants to focus on dance. But when she meets fellow dance major, Jimin, and adventurous, fellow freshman, Jungkook, Catalina ends up discovering a whole new side to the small college town; one that is dangerous but oh so enticing...

              “Whoa! Is this your house?!” Caleb screeched as they got out of the car.

               “No, I wish,” said Jimin. He pointed to Yoongi and said, “It’s his house.”

               “Wow! You must be super rich or something!” Caleb said to Yoongi. Jimin took his hand as they walked up to the front door. “You paid that guy fifty thousand dollars, and you live in this big house!”

               “Yeah, and apparently you’re more valuable than I am,” Jimin said, swatting Yoongi across the shoulder.

               Yoongi didn’t respond to any of this as he unlocked the front door and stepped inside. Footsteps pounded through the house towards the foyer, revealing a frazzled Taehyung. He took one look at the group before pushing his way through to wrap Jimin up in a tight hug. Taehyung pulled away with damp eyes.

               “Oh! You brought someone with you,” Taehyung said between sniffles, reaching out to shake Caleb’s hand and wiping his eyes with the other hand. “Hello little one. Forgive me for not greeting you before. If you like, we have some cold soda pop or I can get you a wine-“

               “He’s eight,” said Jimin.

               “Oh…um,” sniffle, “Can you not have caffeine?”

               “I’ll have wine please!” Caleb said with a giggle. Jimin shushed him.

               “He’s fine,” he said.

               Just then, Namjoon and Hoseok came around the corner, their eyes widening when they saw the child.

               “Yoongi…” Namjoon said.

               “I know! They were in the same cell, what was I supposed to do?” Yoongi snapped.

               “I’m not…I’m not opposed,” said Namjoon. “Here, let’s move to the lounge. We can look at the recording there as well.”

               “And we’ll find your parents,” Jimin said to Caleb.

               Everyone piled into the lounge to watch the recording. Jungkook connected to the TV and played it. Namjoon took notes and sketched a rough map. Since Jimin no longer had a phone, he took Hoseok’s phone and stepped out with Caleb to call his parents. Catalina stepped out with them. She wasn’t keen on watching their journey again.

               Jimin was opening Hoseok’s phone while Caleb examined the ceramic vase on display in the hallway.

               “Do you know their phone numbers?” Jimin asked. Caleb nodded and took the phone. He typed in a phone number and held it up to his ear. It sounded like whoever it was picked up immediately.

               “Hi mom!” Caleb greeted. He held the phone away from his ear as a cacophony of voices shouted and cried on the other end. Jimin kneeled beside Caleb and took his hand as tears gathered in his eyes. “I’m okay mom…I’m with Jimin right now…no he’s my friend, we were roommates at the bad guy’s place. His friends saved us…we’re at his friend’s house…um…”

               Caleb turned to Jimin and asked, “Where is this place? My mom says they’re gonna pick me up.”

               “Tell her we can text her our location from this phone,” said Jimin. “I don’t know the address.”

               “Jimin says that we’re gonna text you the location,” said Caleb. “He says he doesn’t know the address…okay I won’t…yeah, they’re all in the room, they’re making a plan to kill the bad guys…”

               “Caleb!” Catalina whispered. She shook her head.

               “Oh right,” Caleb said. “Never mind, it’s top secret…no, they’re not killing anyone, they’re not doing anything, it’s top secret…okay…”

               “Jimin, you should call your mom as well,” Catalina said, handing her phone over.

               As Jimin called his mother and had a very similar conversation with her as Caleb, Jungkook came out of the room and joined Catalina. His face was pale.

               “You okay?” she asked. He nodded.

               “I hate seeing it again,” said Jungkook. “I can’t wait to get those people out.”

               “Yeah, me too,” said Catalina. They both spoke quietly, as to not disturb the two phone calls happening next to them.

               “But I learned something interesting in there,” said Jungkook. “Apparently Yoongi used to go around finding organizations like this and he would buy all the kids from them.”

               “Like, he’d just go around rescuing kids?” Catalina asked. Jungkook nodded. “Yoongi? I can’t picture that.”

               “I know right?” said Jungkook.

               An hour later, there was a knock at the door. Jimin went with Caleb to greet his parents. After their tearful reunion, Caleb said, “Am I gonna see Jimin again?”

               His parents agreed to keep in contact with Jimin before going on their way. Jimin’s mom showed up shortly after with another tearful reunion.

               “I should probably go home,” Jimin said to Catalina and Jungkook.

               “Yeah, ya think?” Catalina said. Jimin rolled his eyes.

               “Anyway, make sure you guys kill all those sons of bitches,” he said.

               “You know we will,” said Jungkook. Jimin hugged them both before leaving with his mom. Once they were out of sight, Catalina and Jungkook went back inside.

               The vampires were still sitting around the coffee table in the lounge, planning for their next step when Jungkook and Catalina arrived and sat down.

               “Jimmy K and Jin should be here any minute to help us plan this out,” said Namjoon.

               “Is Jin fighting with us?” asked Jungkook. “Can he handle that?”

               “Come on, he’s not even here to defend himself,” said Catalina. Jungkook snickered.

               “You’ll have to ask him yourself when he gets here. I’m not sure,” said Namjoon.

               “Well, in the meantime, would anyone like some tea to calm our nerves?” Taehyung asked, standing up. “Ever since Jimin came back safely, I’ve just been feeling a bit murderous.”

               “That’s the spirit!” said Jungkook.

               “I’ll just make some for everyone,” Taehyung said, leaving the room.

               He came back several minutes later carrying a large tray filled with teacups and a fancy teapot. He served everyone, then sat back down, sighing and sinking into the couch with his first sip.

               Jimmy K and Jin arrived after that, taking seats in the lounge.

               “Alright, down to business,” Jimmy K said, rubbing his hands together.

               “My ears were ringing on the way here,” said Jin. “Who was talking shit about me?”

               He eyed the group, his narrowed gaze finally landing on a giggling Jungkook. Jin pointed a finger at him and whispered, “You’re dead meat,” which only served to make Jungkook laugh harder.

               “So, what’s the plan so far?” asked Jimmy K.

               “We’re thinking about splitting up into two groups: one to fight off the vampires, the other to evacuate the hostages,” said Namjoon. “I hate working with police, but we’ll have emergency services waiting above ground.”

               “It’s unavoidable,” said Jimmy K. “Those people will need medical attention when we get them out. Have we considered backup? By that, I mean other vampires.”

               “Yes,” said Namjoon. “I called a few friends from up north. They should be flying in by tomorrow at the latest.”

               “Good,” said Jimmy K. “We’ll need all the help we can get. As for the police, I’m sort of buddies with the Sheriff in this town. I’ll talk to him and explain what’s going on so that they don’t mess up our plan. In the meantime, how about some more training, guys?”

               Catalina and Jungkook stood up.

               “Is it flamethrower day?” Jungkook shouted.

               Jimmy K laughed and said, “Sure, why not?”

[theoriginalladya]

Everything under "General" for Caleb and Kaidan. :)

from this list

ROFL  So, I’ve got you hooked on them too???  ;)

Okay, let’s see here ...

1. Who initiated the relationship, and how did it go?

Flip a coin.  Technically, you could say Kaidan ‘initiated’ it because he was tasked with bringing Caleb’s belongings off the SSV London to him at the hospital on Arcturus when the ship docked a couple months after Akuze.  On the other hand, Caleb is the one who insists on buying him a drink after they leave the hospital and he is heading to catch a shuttle back to Earth to Rio for ICT.  So, yeah, six-and-one-half-dozen-of-the-other.  They stay in contact after that, but not very often, until they end up on the SR1 together.  

As for how it went?  There wasn’t a whole lot of time for much to happen:  just enough to get a round of drinks and for Caleb to toast to Kaidan’s health, down it and rush off to catch his flight.  (okay, maybe they have a FEW minutes to chat :P )  Pretty unremarkable, actually.  Like I said, they do stay in touch, run into each other a couple of times in the intervening years, and little by little they get to know one another better.  By the time they get to the SR1, they have a decent understanding of the other; grounds to call one another ‘friends’ and not just ‘acquaintances’.  

Now, if you’re talking a more personal relationship?  That happens once the war starts.  Post Clone-Incident, Kaidan stops by the apartment to pick up something he left behind, he and Caleb have a beer together, talk, and “stuff” happens.  By “stuff” I mean Caleb let’s Kaidan know he’s interested, Kaidan lets Caleb know he’s interested and .. well ... yeah.  There ya go. :P

2. Did they have an official first date? If so, what was it like?

answered here

3. What was their first kiss like?

Let’s see if this answers the question:

He forces himself to step closer until only a few inches separate them.  Cautiously, he searches Kaidan’s face, finds nothing but encouragement and support. He hesitates one last time, running a hand through his hair.  “Kaidan, I –.”

The smile widens, perhaps a hint of smugness in it but nothing ill-intentioned, as he replies, “Your call, Shepard.  We’ll do this however you want or not at all.”

Your call. The suggestion leaves Caleb shuddering, his eyes closing tight.  He knows. By all that’s holy, he KNOWS. “Stay,” he rasps, pleadingly. It’s all he can manage.

Warmth tickles along his cheek as Kaidan trails his fingers along his jaw.  Caleb cannot stop himself from leaning toward the touch.  “You’re sure?” Kaidan breathes.

“Yes.”

In less than a heartbeat, Kaidan closes the distance, his lips covering Caleb’s.  His touch is slow but sure, gentle but firm, and Caleb’s chest tightens.  Awkwardly, he wraps an arm around his shoulders, tugging him closer, unable or unwilling to release him.  Time losing meaning until Kaidan breaks the kiss.  Both of them, Caleb notices immediately, have trouble catching their breath, and in Kaidan’s eyes he sees curiosity as he waits …

4. Were they each other’s first anything (kiss, relationship, etc.)?

The only ‘first’ involved for them is that falling in love with Kaidan is the first time that Caleb realizes he is bisexual.  Now, love as a teenager is far different from love as an adult, and what he feels for Kaidan is far more than anything he’s ever felt before, so in a sense Kaidan is his ‘first’ real love, but he did care for Ciara and Moira, too, in his own way, and he wouldn’t cheapen that.  Basically, they are each other’s ‘only’ from the moment they decide to pursue a relationship.  How does that sound?

5. What’s their height difference? Age difference?

Hmm ... They are about the same height I think, whatever difference there is, it’s minimal and Caleb certainly doesn’t care about it.  Neither does Kaidan.  

As for age difference?  Technically it’s three years, according to Caleb’s records (despite the 2 years he was ‘dead’).  However, Caleb doesn’t know how old he really is.  It could be a wider gap, it could be a narrower one.  He doesn’t know for sure ... (yet .....) :P

6. What’s their relationship with each other’s families?

Okay, very briefly, Caleb gets the chance to meet Kaidan’s parents post ME1.  They’re back in Vancouver, following up with Command after the Battle of the Citadel.  Caleb is told that Ashley’s name has been placed on the memorial to the fallen, so he goes to pay his respects (and also meets Abby Williams who will play into the future stories).  Sometime later, Kaidan shows up and he’s with his parents.  They go out for drinks and a chat and spend a bit of time together.  That’s the only time Caleb meets Kaidan’s dad until ... SEE THIS POST.  Caleb gets along very well with Kaidan’s mom, too.

Now, as for Kaidan, since Caleb has no real ‘family’ to speak of, we’ll refer to the Reds, Coats and Abby Williams as they are the closest thing to family he has.  (Honestly, if you ask Caleb, he’d say his family consists of Kaidan, the kids, Kaidan’s parents, Coats, Abby and the Reds in that order).  For the most part, Kaidan likes the former Reds.  There are a couple of exceptions, but SPOILER, so not going to say just yet.  He adores the kids as well.  Coats ... I’m not sure of yet because he and Kaidan started chatting at me earlier this evening.  I have to see where that goes first.  Abby, Kaidan adores as much as he did Ashley.  

7. Who takes the lead in social situations?

Depends on the situation and who is involved.  I’d say it’s about an even 50/50 split.

8. Who gets jealous easier?

LOL  OMG I laughed at this one for a good three minutes solid, don’t ask me why.  

I have to say I /think/ it’s Kaidan.  Caleb ... just has no reason to be jealous?  By the time they get together, the way they get together, he trusts Kaidan with all that he is - and that’s saying A LOT.  Trust is a big deal for Caleb, and when he gives it to Kaidan, it’s like tossing the key out the window because he just doesn’t need it anymore, that’s how secure he feels with him.  Kaidan, on the other hand, there is a little jealousy at least.  Definitely with Coats, possibly with Abby, too.  That I need to play with a bit more.  I do know that any jealousy of Abby comes from the fact that she is there for Caleb in ME2 timeline events when Kaidan isn’t.  As for Coats, it deals with the fact that he and Shepard have been best friends for so damned long.