#I get it’s harder to write people being intelligent than it is for them to be dumb
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DP x DC worlds greatest detectives ramble
You ever just get a bit tired of the batfamily being dumb?
Sure I appreciate a good “Danny is weird and the Bats try to figure out his deal and draw wrong conclusions based on incomplete evidence” fic as much as the next guy, and I’m definitely not saying not to write them
But the thing is, they’re all really smart. It’s their whole thing, they’re a family of detectives that dress up in colorful costumes and fight crime, but detectives nonetheless
And I get it’s for humorous effect to have otherwise intelligent people be incredibly dumb about one thing, but it’d just be nice to see them be smart sometimes. Even in a fic where they’re drawing the wrong conclusions, it’d be nice to see them use their detective skills
Like build a case so solid Danny questions whether they’re actually right about him and if he’s just confused
Or just apply it to more conventional situations/crimes
Because frankly it’s funnier if you show they’re smart before having them do something really stupid
If you build them up a bit, then it’s funnier when they fall down.
“Where did he go? It’s like he vanished into thin air!?”
“Don’t be silly, see these scuff marks? Someone recently went down this way. The gravel here has been disturbed indicating this manhole cover has been moved recently. Now if we just prop this up…”
“…huh, is that…?”
“Killer Croc and not the twink we were just tracking?”
“Yeah, that”
“Yeah, that’s killer croc… hi Waylon”
*large scaly hand darts out and drags Bat in question down in the sewers while Danny watches invisibly*
#dp x dc#dp x dc crossover#dpxdc#dp x dc ramble#just some thoughts#it’s just getting a little old to see them mainly used in idiot plots#they’re extremely intelligent people#I get it’s harder to write people being intelligent than it is for them to be dumb#but it’d be nice to acknowledge that they are actually successful detectives sometimes#they have their issues#stubbornness and not always communicating#but they’re clever
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CONGRATS!!! 1000 FOLLOWERS IS SO AWESOME AND I'M HAPPY FOR YOU!!🥰🩷
For the celebration I'm thinking Joel has lived in Jackson for months and has a bad reputation so people mostly avoid him and he always keeps to himself. BUT reader is the exception, always with a big smile and really polite to him (and he has a terrible crush on her). She always sees him alone at the bar looking around and seeming dislocated and decides to ask him "may I have this dance" cause she likes him too, but he panic and refuses. Later he realizes he's missing his chance with her and tries to fix it. Just some nice fluff (with age gap please🙏)
HIIIII SO SORRY FOR THE WAIT NONNIE
(okay so I'm back-ish, I apologize to everyone for disappearing but i had a rough couple of weeks and had to deal with a lot of stuff. i actually finished this fic some time ago but didn't have strength to post it but i'm more ready now so here you go <3 i hope you'll like it, i had a lot of fun writing it!! and thank you for requesting!! love you 🥰)
Joel Miller was a recluse. Everyone knew that, though not many were aware that he didn’t exactly choose this kind of life for himself.
He really hoped that things would get better after he settled down in Jackson with Ellie, but the residents of the town made it very clear that they didn’t want his company. It stung a little, especially since Joel didn’t think he gave them any reason to be wary of him, but he hid his hurt well. With time he got used to nasty whispers, people giving him a wide berth and basically everyone but Tommy and Ellie avoiding him. It was unpleasant, sure, but he learned to just deal with it.
Well, there was also you.
Joel had no clue what your deal was. Why you weren’t shying away from him like your fellow peers and why you went out of your way to always catch him into a conversation or smile at him whenever you saw him.
“I think she’s crushin’ on ya,” Tommy told him once during a dinner at his house. Ellie and Maria weren’t present, the latter showing the teen some clothes she might want – and thank fuck for that. Joel would murder his little brother if he said such nonsense in their presence.
“The hell you’re talkin’ about?” he spluttered, his eyebrows furrowed when Tommy sent him a smug, knowing grin. The question was completely unnecessary, of course, since they were already talking about you, but still Joel hoped he somehow misinterpreted his brother’s words.
“Don’t play dumb with me, Joel.” He sprawled out on the chair, still with that stupid smirk. “I really think she’s into you. I’d ask her out if I were you.”
“There’s no… I assure you she isn’t.”
“But if she was–”
“She’s not. Now can I eat my meal in peace?” Joel placed his hands on the table, but Tommy shook his head.
“But you like her, right? She’s nice.”
Joel sighed. “Yeah, she is.”
“And pretty.”
That Joel didn’t fall for. He glared at his brother.
“Jesus, Tommy, let me have it. I’m lucky she even wants to talk to me, with all her friends tellin’ her I’m bad news and me being half her age older.”
His eyes became solemn and voice took a lower, quieter tone, which told Tommy the matter was hitting Joel harder than he let on. He sat up straight, getting rid of the teasing smile.
“Alrigh’. Sorry for bringin’ it up.” Joel sighed and nodded, signifying that everything was okay. “I just want you to be happy, y’know. Maybe you should give yourself a chance.”
The older Miller didn’t answer and took a big swig of whiskey out of his glass.
The problem was, he didn’t need Tommy to tell him all that. Joel would have to be blind and stupid not to notice how breathtakingly beautiful you are, and this, combined with your intelligence, passion and sense of humor, was his ultimate undoing. Every time he talked with you, it was all he could do to hide the redness in his cheeks and the weakness in his knees.
But he did. ‘Cause, let’s be real – even though Joel recognized he had a terrible crush on you (though it took him weeks to make peace with this fact) he knew there was no way in hell you’d find him even a fraction as attractive as he found you. He was almost twice your age, for heaven’s sake, and such a young, gorgeous woman as you would never agree to throw her life away to be with an old man.
But God knew that with each day you broke down his walls, the desire to kiss you was becoming more and more agonizing. Every smile you sent his way worked only to feed his imagination of how soft your lips would surely be if he could only brush his thumb across it, not to mention touch them with his own. He wondered how your hands, so much smaller than his calloused ones, would feel on his stomach or shoulders. How it would be to embrace you with his arms, skin to skin and without any layers in-between.
Those were not the thoughts he should be having, especially in public – yet here he was, several days after his conversation with Tommy, imagining impossible while he watched you laughing on the dance floor with your friend. You looked so carefree, so happy and full of life, your energy only reminding Joel sourly of his own old age.
He noticed you glancing his way several times throughout the evening but he knew it didn’t mean anything, it would never mean anything other than your innocent friendliness. So he just quickly looked away lest you realize he was staring.
Joel took a swing from his glass and looked around the bar, trying to take his mind off you – fruitlessly. His eyes still darted back to you every few seconds, involuntarily roaming over your exposed skin visible under the nice outfit you picked for tonight. It was driving Joel insane with longing and need, and all he could think of was the mental image of how kissing and touching you gently would feel like.
Bet you’d feel so perfect under his palms.
He closed his eyes and propped up his forehead on his fist, trying to tune out the music and all the distracting background noises.
Keep it together.
He had to remember that he was way too old to be this enamored with a young, pretty girl like you. You would surely be repulsed if you had any clue about what was going on in his head, and some of the thoughts he had–
Then, Joel felt a light touch on his shoulder and lo and behold – there you were, standing right in front of him with a bright smile, as if summoned by his thoughts.
“Hi,” you said, tilting your head in that endearing way that made his insides tighten. “What are you doing here alone, cowboy?”
Joel prayed that he wasn’t blushing, though his hope diminished increasingly when your eyes wandered curiously across his features. Your eyebrows rose slightly and he cursed internally.
Fuck, you were so beautiful.
“M’not…” He cleared his throat and started again. “M’waitin’ for Tommy. He had to sort somethin’ out with… uh, someone.” He drummed his fingers against the table but stopped immediately, not wanting to give you an impression that the conversation with you was boring him. “You don’t have to do it, darlin’.”
You gave him a puzzled look, and he explained. “Y’know. Hang out with me. The people like to talk nasty things and I don’t wanna expose you to that.”
“It doesn’t bother me.” You shrugged with a sweet smile which Joel could kill for just to see it one more time. “And I… enjoy spending time with you.“
It didn’t mean anythin’. You were just bein’ friendly.
But even though he kept repeating it to himself like a mantra, Joel could not take his eyes off you. You were a vision – your profile bathed in the soft lights of the bar, your bottom lip between your teeth as you looked over your shoulder, deep in thought, at the stereo tower. The current song’s notes died down and a new one, much slower and romantic, started to play. You took a deep breath and let out a nervous laugh. “Actually I wanted to ask you something. If you don’t mind.”
“Ask away, darlin’.” He offered you a small smile, hoping to put you at ease, and you wetted your lips – which nearly gave him a heart attack and caused him to almost miss your next words.
“May I have this dance?”
Joel’s world stopped for a moment. He was in the middle of lifting the glass of whiskey to his lips but his muscles stiffened and the tumbler slipped out of his cold fingers. It didn’t shatter, but the rich liquid spilled all over the table. Your eyes flickered to the overturned glass, but Joel didn’t pay it any mind, too stunned to look at anything else but you.
“C-come again?” he stuttered, his voice strained and small. In the corner of his eye he noticed people at the next table glancing their way, alarmed by the noise, but he forced his attention back to you.
“This is my favorite song,” you explained shyly, an adorable blush spreading across your cheeks and neck. “So… may I have this dance, Joel?”
Now the people sitting around them definitely heard that, because they started smirking and whispering, and one person went to another group standing nearby on the dance floor. Joel felt his own face growing hot as he watched them pointing not-so-discreetly in his direction.
It was like the most wonderful dream and the most horrible nightmare come true at the same time.
He couldn’t do it. There was no way, not in front of all the people of Jackson who hated and despised him. He didn’t want to give them a show to gossip about or worse, subject you to their disdain.
But you still stood in front of his chair with an innocent, hopeful smile, though you started to shuffle the longer Joel was silent. The song – your favorite, supposedly – was passing in the background but you kept waiting patiently for an answer to your question.
He had to come up with something. Or just explain to you that he doesn’t dance – the sweet little thing you were, you’d probably understand and not pressure him into doing it. At least he hoped so.
C’mon, say somethin’.
“No.”
Your face fell instantly and Joel’s eyes widened at the mortifying realization of what just came out of his mouth.
Anythin’ but THAT.
You stared at him for a couple of seconds in the silence of the bar before your eyes started to glisten and you averted your gaze. Someone to Joel’s left snickered derisively and in the next second whispers erupted all around you two. You seemed to shrink in yourself, embarrassment and regret marking your beautiful face, and Joel’s heart almost broke when a tear slipped from your eye, and then another one fell down your other cheek.
“Okay,” you murmured, wiping the treacherous tears quickly and keeping your gaze trained on the floor. “Sorry. Sorry.”
You turned on your heel and went to exit the establishment, your step gradually turning into a run when the giggles and whispers around you became louder. The door swung open on the winter wind and just like that, you were gone.
Then all eyes turned to Joel – and the shame Joel felt increased at least tenfold.
He saw Tommy standing up and walking toward him from the other side of the room with worry written all over his face, but Joel didn’t stick around to hear what he had to say. He stood up and left through the same door you did, glaring threateningly at anyone stupid enough to still snicker at the situation they witnessed.
Ten minutes later Joel was standing in front of your door, trying to keep his knocking below the ‘desperate’ level.
He realized that he had to tell you. He intended to keep the feelings he harbored for you bottled up for the rest of his life but you needed to know the reason why he turned you down. You needed to hear from him that he cared about you, that it wasn’t some malicious act toward you but sheer cowardice stemming from the problem that he was madly in love with you.
“Hello? It’s… it’s Joel,” he choked out through his tight throat as he knocked again, a little louder this time. “Darlin’, can I talk to you?”
No response came, though he saw the lights in your house were on, and Joel had to take a deeper breath to calm his nerves. He prayed that he hadn’t completely screwed it up, but for now all the evidence spoke against him.
You wanted to dance with him. You gathered your courage just to ask him for a dance and he said no.
Joel knew he lost his chance. He lost you. You were his only friend in town and he somehow managed to fuck everything up with just one word.
He was so lost in his wallowing in despair that he almost missed the door opening slightly. In the gap of the doorway he caught a glimpse of your iris – and though it was only for a split second, Joel could clearly see that your eye was red. A pang of guilt pierced his chest but once you saw it was him, you shut the door again.
“No, darlin’, please. Please, just let me explain.” A wave of desperation and fear threatened to drown him and Joel’s heart clenched in his chest. “I’m so sorry, I acted like an asshole but I never wanted to hurt you, I just… I-I panicked.”
He was babbling, not even knowing if you were still there on the other side of the door, but the desperate and remorseful words were spilling out of him like a waterfall.
“I’m so sorry. Sweetheart…” Joel sighed, putting his hand on the cold wood of the door and listening for a couple of seconds, but there was no sound coming from inside. “Please. I’m beggin’ you, open the door.”
Then he heard something – a sound like blowing one’s nose. Joel froze for one, two… three seconds, and nearly collapsed in relief when you unlocked the door.
“You can come in,” you said, but didn’t meet his eyes. “You’re probably freezing, no?”
Joel nodded, feeling his throat going dry at the sorrowful sight of you. He crossed the threshold, closing the front door quietly behind him and looked you over. You hadn’t changed out of that pretty outfit of yours yet, although it was now covered by a long cardigan that you draped over your shoulders. In your hand you held a crumpled tissue but quickly pocketed it when Joel’s eyes fell on it.
He opened his mouth with a sharp inhale but before he could apologize, you beat him to it.
“I’m sorry for that,” you blurted out and glanced up at him but quickly looked down at the floor again. “I shouldn’t have asked you to dance in front of all those people and I overreacted because then everyone was looking at me… Look, it wasn’t even that big of a deal so don’t read into it. Everything is fine.”
“No, it’s not,” he said softly and you pressed your lips into a thin line. “You have nothin’ to apologize for. I’m sorry for embarrassin’ you. I panicked ‘cause I–”
“It’s fine,” you muttered again. “Just forget it.”
“I can’t. Listen, sweetheart, I panicked ‘cause I wish I could let myself read into it.”
Your head snapped up and Joel swallowed heavily, realizing how stupid that sounded.
“What I mean–” Fuck, he really was shit at talking so openly about these stuff. “I… I have feelings for ya. Had ‘em for a long time now but I never planned on actin’ on ‘em ‘cause I know I’m too old and you’d never…”
“You’re… really?” you asked with wide eyes, but he tuned your words out, fearing that you were going to kick him out at any second.
“I’m only tellin’ you all this ‘cause I need you to know I care about ya and I didn’t say ‘no’ outta malice or… or ‘cause I don’t like you. I do. Too much, I’m afraid.”
You were staring at him, mouth agape and silent. Joel didn’t move, awaiting your reaction – whether you tell him to get out or scream how disgusting he was, he was going to take it. And then, if you never want to see him again, he’ll accept it. One day. But he doubted his heart would ever recover.
“Let me fix it,” he begged, his voice just above a whisper when you didn’t give any reaction to his confession. “Please, darlin’.”
Your eyes skimmed over his face as you hummed to yourself, almost irritably calm. Joel swallowed, the weight of guilt and anticipation pulling him down – and he was ready to fall to his knees before you when finally you lifted your hand to brush his lower lip with your fingertips, so delicately he could barely feel it. He froze and tried not to breathe, not wanting to cause you to pull away.
“I noticed something when you were rambling,” you said with a hint of reflection. Joel had no idea what was happening or why were you acting that way, but he daren’t move. He briefly entertained a thought that he was dreaming, but then his attention got caught by the sight of the corner of your lips twitching slightly, as if you were keeping yourself from laughing.
His chest expanded with hope so strong, it was almost unbearably painful.
“What is it?” he forced himself to speak, the nerves making his voice weak and raspy.
“Your accent gets heavier when you’re nervous,” you mused, as though to yourself, now trailing your fingertips down his stubbly cheek. “It’s cute.”
His heart lurched at your words. You gazed up at him and absently bit your lip, which Joel found downright sinful.
“Do you have any idea how long it took me to gather the courage to make the first move?” Your words were bitter, but there was a trace of relief in your voice. Joel let your fingers wander across the lines of his jaw and cheekbones, wishing he had enough boldness to touch you like that, too, but suddenly, your hand stilled and your eyes met his again. “Did you mean it? The things you said?”
“Yes,” he answered without hesitation, his own fingers twitching as he restrained himself from reaching for you. His head was spinning, trying to comprehend the meaning of your actions and words. “But do you–”
You touched his lips lightly again, silencing his question, and your features slowly were overtaken by a large, bright smile, which seemed to lift all the heavy weight of worry from Joel’s shoulders.
“You wanted to fix it, right?” you asked in a teasing whisper. He nodded. “Then just ask me.”
You weren’t angry. You weren’t pulling away.
You wanted to dance with him and you gathered the courage to do so, and now Joel had to do the same. He couldn’t waste this second chance you gave him.
The corner of his lips quirked upwards and he exhaled shakily.
“May I have this dance?”
You pursed your lips to hide your joy and side-eyed him, but your eyes were sparkling with playfulness. “You know, I think I should respond the same way you did. Just to be fair.”
“Sweetheart, don’t play with this old man’s heart,” he whispered and smiled shyly when you giggled at the exasperation but also uncertainty in his voice. Joel still felt kind of out of it, too stunned to trust his mind that this was really happening – but the sound of your laughter brought him right back to Earth, to the place he wanted to be more than anywhere else.
“You’re lucky I’m feeling generous tonight, Miller.” You took his hand and brought it to your hip, making Joel’s breath hitch in his throat and cheeks grow warm. His reaction didn’t get past you, and you smiled at him so radiantly that his world started to spin. Then your arms wrapped around his neck and you pressed your body against his. “But you’ll have some atoning to do.”
His throat was dry, but Joel returned your shy smile, stepping to the side and guiding you carefully to the thumping rhythm of his heart.
And a couple of minutes later, after more hushed apologies and assurances during your slow-dancing, Joel placed his hand on your cheek, almost letting out a relieved whimper when you nuzzled your face into his palm.
And after another few minutes went by, when he leaned in and you didn’t stop his lips from meeting yours, he knew he was a goner.
He couldn’t get rid of the big smile on his face – perhaps the first real one since arriving in Jackson all those months ago.
#bluebeary-jay's 1k party#pedro pascal x reader#joel miller x reader#joel miller#pedro pascal#joel miller fluff#peepaw needs some love and we need a volunteer#joel miller x you#the last of us#i love writing joel so shy and fumbling over his words#he might be an unstoppable force and ready to kill people without batting an eye but he WILL blush while talking to a pretty girl
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Can you please write relationship headcanons with könig 🙏🏿🙏🏿 I'm so desperate
RELATIONSHIP HEADCANONS FOR KÖNIG (NSFW at the end)
A/n: sorry anon I got a bit carried away because he’s my lover.
Warning: Minors DNI after the NSFW border.
When I tell you this man is anxious, he’s ANXIOUS. König needs constant reassurance that he’s doing the right thing. He makes sure you are the top priority, going out of his way to make you happy and feel loved.
König is secretly an artist, he enjoys drawing and painting. If he could get away with it, he’d paint you for hours, his eyes soft while he studies your features.
Expect comfort when it comes to being with König, he’s 6’10, and the best damn snuggle partner ever. You had to buy an extra large blanket so he could keep his feet warm at night.
He’s only comfortable with you seeing him out of his hood. Because he was so bullied in his childhood he found it hard to believe that he was beautiful in your eyes. It means everything to him when you kiss his face, his cheeks, lips, forehead, anything. This man yearns to feel wanted.
König gets quite anxious in crowds, people are always tending to look at how absolutely giant he is, but it makes him feel better when you’ll hold his hand and bump against his shoulder.
König loves to give his S/O little presents, whenever it be small souvenirs from a time on tour to little chocolates and flowers he’d think you’d like.
When he breaks out of his bubble, he’s extremely intelligent and loves to spit out random facts. He spent most of his childhood readying fantasy books about knights and dragons, you jokingly call him your knight in shining armor.
König is a blusher, and gets super flustered when you show him PDA or sexual attraction.
He keeps a Polaroid of you in his breast pocket while he’s on missions, says it’s his best good luck charm. After he comes home he always greets you in a crushing hug, spinning you around in the air as your feet leave the ground.
König is super good with children, you don’t know why, but he’s very attuned to them. Maybe it’s because they have yet to see the horrors and bullying of the world. He usually always leaves them laughing, never wanting a child to go through what he did.
König tries to teach you little sayings in German/Austrian, sitting down with you and pronouncing the words slowly. He gives you a peck on the lips whenever you say it right.
NSFW (Leant more towards F!Readers)
König is a mountain, he’s big, really fucking big. He’s always very gentle with you, even when you tell him not to be. He cares too much to even think of hurting you.
What he refuses to do with his dick, he’ll do with his mouth. Like stated earlier, König is a people pleaser, and nothing makes him harder than hearing you moan as he’s eating you out.
The big guy is stupid strong, he can hold you up for hours, so it’s no surprise he likes to effortlessly pick you up with your legs wrapped around his hips and go to town.
He isn’t a talker, like at all. It’s embarrassing to him. However, he can’t help moaning and grunting. (Especially when you give him head)
He started off very timid when it came to sex, now he knows what pleases. He catches on quick and is a good listener. He was fast to learn where your clit was just based on your expressions and feedback.
König is a sweetheart, but we know he deals with a lot of trauma and anxiety. You couldn’t believe how many times he said sorry after having sex, even if it was for nothing. It took a long time to condition him to realize he had NO reason to apologize and it was a thing both of you wanted.
You’re usually the one that takes care of him afterwards. Rubbing his back after a hot shower. You wear his shirts afterwards and would kiss him until he was flushing red.
#cod#konig#könig#call of duty modern warfare#modern warfare#konig x reader#könig x reader#cod headcanons
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What are your thoughts on vampires that turn into fruit bats?
I could go on about the geographical origins of certain folklore, the choices in film adaptations and the logic of turning into an animal that comes from a completely different continent, but where's the fun in that? So here are my worldbuilding thoughts on vampires that turn into fruit bats:
• Very funny if the vampire is physically imposing in their human shape and they turn into a little leaf-nosed fruit bat. On the other hand, these look much more like strange creatures and less like goofy puppies.
• Very impressive if a vampire turns into a large megabat/old world fruit bat. It makes sense to pick the largest type of bat from an intimidation point of view, but it's not very helpful for being sneaky. And once you get up close they do look like goofy puppies.
• Very useful if turning into a fruit bat also means they can eat fruit while in that shape! Great way to allow for vegan vampires. Possibly with some repercussions, like having to eat very often to get enough nourishment for the human shape or losing some vampire powers that come only from drinking blood.
• An excellent confusion for biologists if the vampire takes on the shape of the bat, but does not have to follow fruit bat rules. In most media vampires in bat shape do not seem to lose their intelligence or reason, so they might just go hunting in bat shape and attack people for their blood, upsetting the entire chiropterologist community.
Personally I rarely write vampires that can shapeshift - whether it's into wolves, bats, or mist - because it makes them even more powerful and it's ever harder to explain away than "undead sustained by blood". I do really like it as a concept though and in stories that are leaning into horror or comedy without trying to give explanations it's a delightful thing to play with.
I support horrific bat vampires fluttering at the edge of their victim's vision and cuddly bat vampires napping the day away in someone's coat pocket~
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Generous | Attuma
Attuma x reader
Summary: Attuma helps you to train in the surface.
Warnings: None.
A/N: I just needed to write about him again. Like I said before, English is not my first language, there may be things written wrong, I hope you can understand
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Oh, that feeling that you're capable of eating the world. To do anything, to be invincible.
You remembered from a very young age receiving a ridiculous amount of compliments. For your intelligence, for your great physical performance, for the way you could function with people. There was no one who knew you and did not mention some of your many good skills.
Growing up with the ego you had grown up with was simply the obvious consequence of all those words of encouragement spoken during your growth. According to you, there was no being that stopped you. No matter how young you were or how little experience you had, you were absolutely sure that nothing was impossible.
Or well, you thought so until you joined Talokan's army.
Maybe because of your father's wishes, maybe because of your own need to excel in everything, but you ended up joining the great ranks of the warriors of Talokan. And like everything, at first you only thought about receiving your good amount of do them and being better than others, but great was the surprise when you realized that before the warriors of Talokan you were nothing more than a tiny ant.
You didn't remember ever having such a bad time. It was one thing to excel in sports and physically, and quite another to train to be part of an army. Your life, in a matter of months, had been reduced to training and learning. Learning again, from scratch, like a child who barely discovers a different world and must understand how it works.
In your stressful present, it was training day on the surface. The worst workouts. Spend your whole life in the water, then go out and learn to move there. And not just move, fight there. You felt that everything was heavier and that in turn it went faster, on the surface you became a zero to the left that could barely maintain stability.
You had been trying for an unknown amount of time to get your spear, your favorite weapon on the surface, to hit the point at the distance where it should hit. The theory was simple, aim and throw, but your body was so unaccustomed that it was harder than you wanted to admit. Already at that point the arms were beginning to give you the sign of fatigue, not to mention that the sun was not being a particular ally for those who trained; It shone so brightly that it would not have been a surprise if you ended up fainting in the heat.
And of course, the icing on the cake, the two most feared superiors, Namora and Attuma, were there, watching. Seeing you all, seeing you. You could feel General Attuma's gaze fixed on your person. It was not a surprise, he always saw you and paid more attention than others. In his words, you were nothing more than a spoiled egocentric. You felt that it wouldn't take long for him to come to you.
You were already sweating, your skin technically burned and you kept not getting the spear to hit the target set. Frustration was taking hold and the thought of leaving Talokan's army was no longer heard as a joke.
"You're not tired, are you?"
Oh, that voice. You knew that voice.
"No, sir." You answered by pulling the spear out of the sand.
Attuma, the great Attuma. The general who made your life impossible and who you didn't seem to like too much. There he was, another day watching closely what you were doing, ready to let out any scolding or acidic comments that came to his mind.
"You've been here for a long time, why don't I see any progress?" he asked, pacing around you and your space.
You didn't know what to answer to that, so feigning deafness was the best option. Or that's what you thought.
You prepared to launch the spear again, to follow the cycle you hadn't left since the day started, but a hand on your shoulder stopped you.
Turning your head, you ran into the giant figure of Attuma behind you. You could compare it to a huge mountain, or a god, if your mind got too creative.
His face didn't look very friendly.
"I don't like to be ignored." He threatened, with the firm tone that characterized him and that expression that made several of your comrades break in the first day there.
You swallowed hard. You managed to nod your head, probably timorous to speak in his presence.
He moved the corner of his lips in something that could have been a smile.
"Now, let's fix this mess." he said, causing confusion in you.
Without understanding what he meant, you just watched and felt his big hands line up your body.
"Starting with the position. You're very badly placed." he corrected, taking the liberty of grab your hips and aligning them in the right direction "Remember, we are no longer in the water." His hands went up shamelessly to your shoulders, finally straightening them and putting you in the right position.
Even though Attuma lived near you to watch you train, he had never been so close before. You no longer only felt his touch and look, now you also felt his warmth and even the rubbing between his chest and your back. It would sound crazy, but you would swear that his vibe and everything his being meant was being transmitted to you as if they were waves
You didn't realize it, but your heart started pumping blood exaggeratedly fast.
"Well, kiddo, at least your feet are in the right position." he said, running his big hands across your arms. His fingers leading the way to your hands, which he didn't bother to take firmly. "Take it, but don't take it so hard." he referred to the spear "there is no need for that here."
You listened, probably without believing that General Attuma was really trying to help you. The situation sounded even unreal in your head.
"That's right, that's fine," he commended, helping to increase your surprise. Sounded perhaps very satisfied. "Bring your hand to the back of your head, like this." He positioned the hand in which you had the spear, leaving it well behind and a little high.
Your heart threatened to pop out of your chest when Attuma, in an unexpected move, brought one of his hands to your abdomen. Hot and immense, it rushed to put pressure on your stomach, making you straighten up even more.
Never before did you think of being able to experience that sensation, the sensation of having the palm of Attuma lodged so perfectly on your abdomen. You could swear, with no intention of lying, that there was electricity in those fingers that landed on your skin.
"Stand firm, kiddo." he said, like someone who knows that caused a disaster and stays there to admire it. It was the first time you heard Attuma with that tone, it almost seemed... flirtatious "Look straight ahead, don't get sidetracked." He ordered, bringing his free hand to your jaw and forcing you to raise your face.
Amazing how he could be so abrupt and soft at the same time.
"You already have everything, you just need to visualize. Look at the target, don't see any piece of wood, look at an enemy" You could feel how it stuck more to you, how its skin finally touched yours. "Imagine someone, someone you don't like... Imagine me, if that's what you want."
You couldn't be totally sure, but you bet that out of the corner of your eye you had seen a little smile as soon as he said that last thing. However, there was no time to corroborate it.
"Spear, kiddo. Don't let me down." He warned, saying the latter much lower than all the other instructions.
Afraid of not follow his orders, you thought of someone and saw him as a target. You used the electricity that Attuma circulated through your body and gathered the adrenaline that made your heart beat so fast. You threw the spear, you carried out the order.
A big smile made its way between your lips as you saw your gun stuck in the piece of wood.
"You see that when you listen to me and you are not an arrogant insufferable, you can achieve things." He whispered in your ear.
That made the taste of victory taste a bit bitter, but you accepted it.
Between the surprise of having achieved it and the rarity of having had Attuma's help to do it, you turned around.
You knew Attuma was one of the best warriors Namor possessed, but you still kept surprising yourself whenever you saw him. As tall as trees and a dangerously strong presence.
The fact that he continued having his hands on your body did nothing to calm those new emotions that were beginning to be born in you.
He looked entertaining. You had never seen him like this, you wouldn't had the opportunity to know a version of him different from the so terrifying one he used to show.
"Keep practicing." He said as a last order, finally letting go of you and walking away from you.
Your face was a poem, a poem that brought satisfaction to Attuma. No one could have imagined that you would enjoy his company so much. In fact, no one would have ever thought that you, his less supporter, would come to enjoy his touch so much.
"Maybe I'll come back later, the smug like you always end up failing again." he joked when he saw that expression of discontent on your face. He was so good at his job that he had no hard time understanding that you didn't want him to leave. "You have this time to train on your own and calm that accelerated heart a little."
Your cheeks were colored red. He, for the first time, cracked a smile. A real one, maybe sarcastic, but honest.
It was the first time you wanted Attuma to come back. First time of many others that followed.
#attuma x reader#attuma fic#attuma#alex livinalli#Alex livinalli x reader#namor#namor x reader#tenoch huerta namor#tenoch huerta#black panther#black panther 2#wakanda forever
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Alright, guys, it’s been more than six months but it is time for a Radskier meta essay on why their storyline isn’t as badly written as many people say. (Includes spoilers)
Is it rushed? Yes. It’s a side-story of a side character and actually Jaskier’s first side-story on the show. Is it cliché? Yes. When I first watched the season I was terrified about where their story would be going, knowing what happened in the book and knowing how mainstream media treats queer storylines. (I did not know about Joey’s deep involvement in the writing until later.) But once I knew how it all ended, I was entirely sold. Of course, that’s a question of taste, Radovid just turned out to incorporate so many tropes I am obsessed with, but I am trying to say that compared to the overall writing of the show, their story is not particularly badly written, which blew me away considering it’s a queer storyline in a mainstream medieval fantasy show.
Yes, they gave Jaskier a queer story for the sake of having a queer story. That was another reason I was very anxious about it. But what they (read: Joey, and let’s be honest, Hugh too) made of it is so exciting to me.
Here’s the thing about them ageing up Radovid and making him Vizimir’s brother. I have seen people complaining that they could’ve introduced an OC instead of changing source material like that. But to me, the fact they chose Radovid makes it so much more than a queer storyline for the sake of having a queer storyline. He’s the prince and later the king of Redania. He is entangled in the greater scheme of things. He is /on/ the same chessboard as the main characters. Turning him into Vizimir’s brother rather than son is way less forced than introducing an OC to be Jaskier’s love interest. Because he is more than Jaskier’s love interest. He is the King of Redania, played by Dijkstra and Philippa. Also, he cannot be killed off.
As I already said because it’s obvious, their story is rushed. That’s just the fate of side stories in TV shows (that are not masterfully written, lbr). But to me at least it is amazing how much they managed to convey in these few scenes.
You have Jaskier’s role as a spy for the Redanian Intelligence. That begins his own side story where he has a role of his own, that has nothing to do with Geralt. He meets this guy who actually appreciates his music and openly flirts with him, showing that he is desirable, something new to the character of the comic relief (although he is the romancer but you know, we never saw it on screen, also this time he is being romanced). He is suspicious, because he knows the Intelligence is not to be trusted, and the Prince of Redania is kind of the enemy. But he is also Jaskier, and his interest is caught. Besides this interest, Radovid’s suggestion to bring Ciri to supposed safety is right up Jaskier’s alley, because he is one to rather avoid battles if possible. He ponders on whether it is a possibility.
Later, he uses this vague connection to Radovid to have some agency of his own. He negotiates with him about Rience without discussing it with Geralt. He’s following his own plan, checking out the possibilities. He’s like alright, this guy at least pretends to be into me, let’s see if I can put that to good use to help Geralt. He sweeps Radovid off his feet with his ballad, and then Radovid says things that blow Jaskier away. He speaks of his talents, of determination to get to know more about him, of how Geralt should be grateful for his loyalty and friendship. Jaskier, the comic relief, has never heard this before. He’s Weak and he’s Wanting™️. But he still knows that he is Jaskier, easily fooled by romance, and that there are great things at stake. At the same time, Geralt is also treating him with more respect to make the decisions harder on him. But Radovid stays on his mind, he doesn’t know what to make of it and discusses it with Vespula, and she knows. She sees what’s going on.
Then, Radovid shows up while he is looking after Ciri. He is still suspicious. But Radovid is different from the last time he saw him. He is scared and he is vulnerable, and Jaskier can see that the mask is gone, and that what lies beneath it is not a villain. He is still cautious, until Radovid sings him his own song and he cannot take it any longer. He is giving in, and he struggles still as he does, but he is Jaskier. He’s Weak and he’s Wanting™️.
The next morning, he is not surprised. Of course, stupid Jaskier got himself fooled by some pretty eyes once again. Of course such blatant desire and affection for him could have only been a lie. He never knew romance like this and he does not hesitate to believe it was simply not real.
But then, he finds Radovid surrounded by his dead guards, alone. The people he was supposedly scheming with left him behind, so he was not all that involved, maybe he really was their puppet. He’s scared and he’s full of regret, he’s a helpless prince in the middle of the outbreak of a war, but he’s telling Jaskier to not waste more time on him because he knows he fucked up beyond redemption. But he’s Jaskier. He has endless capacity for forgiveness. And now that their plans had failed and Radovid has no more reason to lure him in, he’s still begging for a second chance. He still wants to be with him. He wants to prove himself to him, even if that means leaving the court behind. Jaskier has other priorities right now and he’s still hurt, but if there is a chance that this affection he never knew before was real, he is taking it.
And Radovid? He’s the spoiled prince brat, underestimated by everyone (just like Jaskier), and he’s riding that wave, because he does not really care about state affairs. He likes Jaskier’s music, and when he sees him he thinks he’s hella fine. He has his fun and at the same time tries to show Philippa he’s capable of more than she thinks, but he was not expecting that Jaskier would blow him away like that. That he would challenge him (the Prince), that he would be honest with him, that he would see through his act and by doing that NOT underestimate him. Radovid is Vibing and he decides to enter Dijkstra’s and Philippa’s game until he realizes he Fucked Up with his arrogance and being a prince is actually worth shit. He knew everything going on in the castle is pretense, but he was not prepared for this level of violence. He is terrified when he meets Jaskier, and Jaskier is good to him. And, again, honest. Unlike anything he had known up to now, the courtly schemes that had only recently culminated to him being scared for his life. He is still a spoiled brat prince and wants to be with Jaskier very badly, so he Fucks Up again. It is that last mistake that makes him understand his faults. But when he sees that Jaskier still does not hate him, he is determined to fix it, and he will do anything. Fuck being a prince, I will leave everything I know behind to show this man that my feelings were true.
Jaskier changes this man’s entire life and Radovid is willing to do everything for him. Yes, the idea to just go off and find him WHEREVER was kind of idiotic, but that’s the beauty of these two. They are both smart and idiotic at the same time, and they let their actions be led mainly by emotions, which sometimes adds up to the idiocy of it all. But Jaskier has more experience, and Radovid learns from him how to be less selfish, he grows as a person through knowing him.
So yes, the love-betrayal-redemption story is hollywood cliché, but it fits the characters and leads to interesting character growth. And honestly, as a queer woman I enjoy seeing some queers having a cliché storyline in a mainstream media piece. Geralt and Yennefer had a similar story. It raises the queer love story to the level of the hetero story. They struggle and they suffer just as much as anyone else, and they have something that connects them, a story that has potential to be continued in an interesting way. They don’t just exist as the obligatory queers, and their storyline isn’t inherently queer either, to a point where it feels like they’re only queer so Jaskier’s love interest can be the gods forsaken King. (At the same time, the story has queer coded themes, like having to pretend to be someone else, but the way it is portrayed, it can be relatable to non-queers as well.) The cliché of it all does not feel more cliché than other storylines on the show (to me). Its not queered cliché, it’s just a story, and I love that.
Also, Joey and Hugh have actual chemistry. And - and no one really argues with that - immense talent that filled these few scenes with so many layers in the first place. We owe it to Hugh that Radovid is not just a romantic interest, but a layered, flawed character (although Hugh attributes it to the writing but he’s too modest).
The last thing I want to say is that I feel we are generally overly critical of queer storylines, which is not a bad thing per se, because we know how many harmful storylines there are, but I struggle to see how this one is harmful in any way. You have to relate them to the straight romances. The straights will just randomly smile at each other and then they will date, but no one complains about it being rushed.
I am obviously not saying everyone has to ship them, I genuinely do not care. I just think it’s unfair to drag their storyline when it is nothing but normal that they didn’t have enough time for an elaborate story, but they (meaning Joey and Hugh) put a lot of work into making it a good one regardless, an effort no one would have put into a straight love story, because they would not have had to.
#this turned out extremely long but cousin i had to get it out of my system#i already wrote a novel length fanfic about radovid but it was not enough#my opinions are my own make of them what you will#radskier#the witcher#the witcher meta#jaskier#radovid#twn#twn s3 spoilers#witcher#s: the witcher#otp: radskier#wiedzmin
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I've done some reading challenges before and I think they can be fun if they have a purpose: for instance, something like the Read Harder challenge, ones that encourage you to read from different genres or read more diverse books, etc. I have a sort of evergreen challenge where I encourage myself to read more books written by authors from different countries, and keep a spreadsheet of which countries I've "read." (I also do this with other kinds of entertainment like movies.) But it's definitely true that some of them just seem to be for the gimmick and aesthetic, and for people who prize quantity over quality of reading in a sort of commodity-fetishism (as they're prizing books as markers of intelligence over the actual experience of learning and expanding your world via reading). Like when the challenges start to be things like "read a book with an orange cover" that's where I start to roll my eyes a bit, haha.
I will say that while I try not to be a snob about reading, it does drive me nuts when I've had people lord over how many more books they've read or how many more pages when they're reading beach reads and YA and other easily digestible stuff whereas I'm reading stuff that is heavier. One time when I was working some crappy minimum-wage job in college, I was reading this big omnibus of all Jane Austen's works (because I was taking a class on her where I was required to read those, not that I wouldn't read Austen otherwise lol) on my break, and one of the other employees asked me how many pages it was and I answered and he was like "pfft, that's nothing, I read all the Harry Potter books in a week and they're more than that!" And I wanted to be like.... yeah, me too, dipshit. I mean, I didn't literally read them in one week, but when each one came out, I devoured it within a day or two like a lot of people did, despite it being 800 pages. Because Rowling's prose is really easy to gobble up like that. Not that Austen is impenetrable or anything (I don't think she is and I think that's precisely why she remains so evergreen popular), but she does require more effort than *that*, particularly when you're reading her work for a literature class where you're expected to write a paper analyzing it, so you want to linger to make sure you really deeply understand it.
I've read academic monographs that were 150 pages long that took me weeks to get through, and I've read 800-page bestsellers that I ripped through in a few days. Pure page length does not determine how long it takes to actually read something. I mean.... in fandom we should all be aware of this, how many of us have devoured some 100k fic in a night or two? As someone who has written some of those academic monographs myself and therefore is familiar with how word count tends to relate to book page length, I can verify for you that that is the equivalent of devouring a novel in the same time frame. But it's a lot easier to do that when you're reading relatively invisible prose and are invested in your OTP getting together (or whatever) vs. if you're trying to digest someone's very dry and convoluted argument about Foucault.
--
I just read all of Scum Villain in about five minutes, yeah. And it was great, but nothing to brag about as an achievement.
I've got this friend who goes on about reading sooooo fast but then admits to often rereading to catch things that she missed the first time. It came up when I was explaining how seldom I reread or rewatch anything. I tend to remember it far, far too keenly after one time through, and it just doesn't hit the same a second time. I still read pretty fast, but not that fast.
I don't think it's snobby to roll your eyes at people who clearly don't grasp the difference between different difficulties of reading and—this is key—who are trying to wave their dick at you about how great they are. They started it!
The time I do roll my eyes is when people think you should read mega hard prose in order to learn, especially in order to learn vocabulary or get faster at reading. That's not what the science says. (Apparently, the fastest way to improve on that kind of thing is to read mass quantities of faintly hard-for-you stuff, not stuff that's hard hard.) But to learn how to decode confusing arguments? Yes, absolutely.
I do wish people would put a little more effort into unwinding their own tortured syntax on Foucault though.
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one thing I was thinking about today is the...coagulation? of characterization and headcanons in new fandoms. I feel like I see this...idk, arc, when a fandom is getting started, where there's a wide range of perspectives and ways of writing a character and headcanons that are directly contradictory/go in different directions, and over time things sort of coalesce and...congeal, perhaps, into a loose/fuzzy kind of "fandom consensus" (never actually a consensus, to be clear; but a dominant singular interpretation), and once that takes hold it begins to exert a strong gravitational pull on everything around it such that, I think even unconsciously, people start to curve toward that "consensus" understanding. like, the clearest example of what I'm talking about is how this is how popular fanons spread, but I feel like I also see it in finer points of characterization and the way people choose to write/the things people choose to write.
the positive side of this is the way it can work in a very "yes, and" sort of way, where people are close enough to each other to feel like they're talking about the same character, and there's a general feeling that the character is recognizable in fandom as themselves (or, alas, not recognizable). it's the same potential benefit of any kind of standardization, I guess.
the drawback is that this is where I'd attribute the kind of cross-fandom generic sameness people complain about. because, by nature, a "consensus" kind of build is going to simplify a character in order to make them more broadly intelligible (it's harder to get people to agree on specific details about a character than it is about broad strokes). and thus. and on an individual level people can find that very frustrating and irritating but at the same time I think it's hard to break out of, for the same reason breaking out of any standard configuration is hard - human beings have an urge to conform and it can feel bad not to. and sometimes it's the thing where somebody might not even realize what they're doing.
none of this is particularly revolutionary, I think; the thing I haven't seen people talk about is the way that this feels like a bit of a time-triggered phenomenon - a fandom starts out with more variety and, as it ages, begins to narrow into a more set form. and I wonder how many fandom fights might be...better...if there was less of a pressure to shape characters (or stories) into a suitable mold for the sake of seeking a consistent base mold that very few people are actually happy about.
I see this in myself on and individual level, too, the way that I feel like I start with much more fluid and flexible ideas of a character that gradually over time become more fixed, and I don't necessarily know that I feel like that's a good thing - I think there's a loss in there. but I don't know that it's necessarily a completely bad thing, either.
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you're my favourite blog and I NEED more of your demarco/macon headcanons [normal][im normal]..........maybe nsfw too if you've got them
hi!!! that is soooo very sweet of you to say considering the only vibes i bring to this fandom is deranged overfilled tags and unneeded breakdowns over callum turners face 😭🫰❤️
this is my previous demacon hcs post and the is this a modern au? a post war au? a no pow au? i literally cannot tell you because i do not know is still in effect here very sorry :')
apologies for like taking A While because i really squeezed out my creative juices for this SO:
‘he fell first’ benny vs ‘he fell harder’ macon yeah
i see benny as being free with his feelings, with his affections, there isn't a single person who doesn't get a bit of his heart with them when they leave. his parents' are designers, artists, and they teach him that to create is to love and when he creates bonds he pours love and never feels left with wanting. the minute macon opens his mouth, perfectly civil in taking down people down a notch with his intelligence and an extra brand of fuck you in his voice? he's instantly enamored.
macon, far more closed off—cautious to the point of near callousness, perfectly polite and tiring of talking to new people because more often than not he's being looked down upon and invisible, he doesn't think much of these 100th boys—until bennys there with an easy grin and easier hands, at the end of the day macons left admiring at bennys unflinching steadiness and unconditional kindness.
now for more silliness:
for some strange reason (he was forced.) benny confides about his crush to bucky. which is kind of weird because he's usually closer to buck—except one random day bucky sees benny—steady handed, light fingered benny demarco—grip at meatballs fur a tad too tightly and then stumbles on thin fucking air. he follows benny's unchanging gaze to: one richard macon. from that point on benny's fucked on a biblical proportion.
why he continues to seek out love advice from someone who doesn’t even have his shit together enough to notice his best friend is as in love with him as he is and also a known manwhore (because the conversation went sideways within two sentences) he does not know. it goes a bit like this:
okay, yes, i have a crush on macon.
……oh wow did you sleep with him? was it nice?
why would you ask me that?
you’re right im sorry i just tried to act cooly supportive and that came out. i have had sex before dw.
I’m not worried bucky but thank you.
but was it?
i didn’t have sex with him jesus.
oh wow you’re really bad at this
….please self reflect.
but the talk actually genuinely calmed him down 😭 bucky purposefully winding the conversation up down and sideways so benny could focus on the fact that crushes are supposed to be fun and electric and not the end of the world, benny laughing a bit and confiding more on what he thinks of macon—god i spent last weekend with him to his kid sister's science convention. i met his entire family, what the fuck. he's so soft with his little sister, he knows three languages, he's won every science competition he's ever entered, he's watched casablanca 3 times, he knows every star in the sky and their lores—
the two start out a mini mindmapping plan out for seducing macon, but like completely shit at keeping it a secret so the entire base finds out within 24hrs. benny kind of wants to die from this but when kidd actually starts vetoing buckys plans that benny couldn't for the life of him say no to, he's thankful
do not steal a b-17 to write your confessions on the sky with smoke what the fuck is wrong with you
......blakely's advice is actually not half bad, go on get some photos taken and printed
the entire shit i wrote out on the previous hcs list is a product of this full on 100th written plan out btw, but buckys ideas are very summarily buried never to be thought of again, except for this one thing
benny ties a ribbon around meatballs neck. attached to the ribbon is a letter. inside the letter is a request for a date. a date where meatball chaperones.
macon writes back, ribbon and meatball and all.
(meatball gets used as a conversation starter so fucking often macon thinks benny birthed the dog himself ffs)
god i am so fond of the idea of benny coming by the tuskegee base (again, please pretend their bases are like half a day away) and taking the effort to meet all of macons friends, charming every inch of the base, shooting the shit with alex and daniels again (daniels being initially a staunch demacon anti bc he's overprotective is a whole other thing aaa), making nice with his superiors that they are literally gunning for macon to court the guy back
the drawing that alex did of the two in the officers club is kept carefully pressed between the pages of macon's journal. he commissions another drawing of them for benny's birthday, pressed dried flowers himself around the watercolor sketch, and wrote winding letters in the back, of wanting a future outside of planes and skies he didn't think he'd ever want with someone else. he frames it and ships it to benny, who's in chicago at the moment and is geared for a roadtrip to birmingham, alabama the day after his birthday. times it perfectly so when its the day of his birthday, benny reads it, and whatever his answer is it'll be known in two-three days time: if he does arrive at macon's doorstep with a ring he hid on the side of the wooden frame—a little puzzle that only benny could solve.
now for something a bit more nsfw but like only a few bc i embarrassed myself writing this without the cover of anonymity
do i believe that they're switches? yes.
do i believe that their sex scene mainly revolves around benny face down ass up moaning like a whore while macon drives into him with the sole intent of making benny see galaxies? also yes.
do i believe that richard wakes him up via trailing fingers up from bennys ass, spanning the width of his marked up back, and scratching at bennys hair that when benny finally wakes up its to a gasp and to ground down his hips on the bed? ....yes.
do i also believe that benny spent an inordinate amount of time just worshipping richards cock with his mouth, pushing him back down by the chest when richard tries to rise and pull him off? grinning and humming when richards spluttering and panting and keening, legs hooked around his back like a vice and hands gripping at his hair? very much yes.
will richard bring forth physics talk to the bed? .....yeah.
also: macons a grunter, bennys a moaner 🤗
i am soo sorry for this btw but also thank you for letting me yap about demacon my beloveds <33333
#demacon#benny demarco#richard macon#look at that i called him richard right at the very end#this is honestly kind of superficial bc i can't write all these emotions i have 😭 but anon have at it anyway#and also shit at physics sorry can't write shit abt that#eganeyes
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if you could write natasha x super soldier!reader. natasha just absolutely smitten with reader. loves her abs and muscles and just gets shy and stuff when reader flirts with her or does something to show off her muscles and stuff example carrying something super heavy like it weighs nothing 😄 maybe reader is working on a car or something and nat sees her and just some teasing and flirting with them getting together in the end
Super super soldier
You yourself didn’t even quite know how you ended up here, at the avengers as a super soldier. It was crazy and it seemed like HYDRA took part in it, but you didn’t know.
You were a normal girl from New York, sporty and smart but still trying to survive college. Until one night someone seemed to kidnap you and the next morning you woke up in the avengers tower. To say you were confused was a big understatement. They explained to you that they were rescuing experiments from a HYDRA base where they also found you and that it seems like they gave you the same powers as Steve Rogers.
You didn’t wanna believe it until you got frustrated and hit a table causing it to break. So there you were between heroes as someone who didn’t even know themself before this and now you had to start from zero.
And while you were happy that they rescued you so fast it did make things harder. You didn’t have terrible memories like Wanda, Pietro and all the other enhanced individuals, so often you just stood at the side and listened to them.
But it did have a good thing, your game was even more up than before. Nearly all the girls wanted you which was, not gonna lie, pretty cool until you got close to Romanoff. Damn Romanoff. You might think being able to have every women is cool, but that’s only until you realize that there’s only one woman you want.
But lucky enough your charm also kinda worked on her. You didn’t quite notice but it did. People always said you had “game” which confused you as your only “game” was being nice and worshiping the other person.
“We need someone to seduce him” Tony said in one of the meetings. “What about Nat? She’s beautiful, has a nice character and is a great spy. There’s nothing that could go wrong right?” You said looking around the group seeing everybody nod and a bright red Natasha. “Thank you y/n” she mumbled and you gave her a quick nod.
When the meeting was over you made your way to the trainings room only to be stopped by Natasha. “Y/n, thank you for saying what you said in there, you know…. Not only seeing my body” she mumbled the last part but due to your super-hearing you heard it anyways. “Well, sweetheart, it’s just the truth. You’re great and I’m sorry that all the males just see a beautiful face instead of the intelligent and nice personality” you told her laying one of your hands on her waist. You giggled when you saw her turn red and hugged her before making your way into the training room.
——————————————————————————
Natasha was more than happy when everybody agreed on Yelena moving into the compound but what she wasn’t happy about at all was the moving. There was nothing she hated more than carrying boxes upstairs but luckily for her you were never far.
“Romanoff, need help?” You called through the hall pausing your interaction with some shield agent who was clearly checking you out. “If you don’t mind” she said nearly letting the box fall so you jogged over and took it from her. “Why don’t you just accompany me while I carry the boxes huh?” You said and she nodded.
Tony and Sam were fascinated. The agent you just talked to was ‘incredibly hot’ and you didn’t even say goodbye or anything as you went to Natasha.
While they discussed about how someone could be so in love Nat was busy starring at your arms while you carried the boxes. You only wore a top so the spy could see your flexed mussels even better. After about 10 heavy boxes you finally met Yelena. “Omg, sestra. Is this the girl you always talk about? No wonder you like her, she’s hot” Yelena said before even greeting you causing you to giggle. “I’m y/n, it’s nice to meet you” you told her extending your hand. After shaking hands you noticed that the redhead left the room without you noticing.
As you were about to search for her Steve found you. “Y/l/n, so you think you could take a look at my car? I need it for my mission in two hours and it won’t turn on” he requested as you used to be a mechanic. “Uhm, sure. I’ll take a look” you decided to look for Nat after repairing Steve’s car.
You worked on Steve’s car for over an hour when you pulled off your top revealing your sports bra before rolling under the car again.
“Y/n?” You heard Romanoff say and you rolled out underneath the car. “Nat, hey, I wanted to look for you as you just disappeared, but then Steve found me and wanted me to repair his car asap. But before we talk can you maybe help me with something? I need a second pair of hands” you rambled getting even more nervous when you saw the redhead only stare at your abs and arms.
She came closer and you showed her what she had to do before standing behind her to do your thing as you had to work on something that was close to where she had to work. Your warm body was pressed against hers, your arms around her and she could feel your breath on the side of her neck. When you finished what you were doing you wrapped your arms around her waist pressing yourself even further into her.
The redhead slowly turned in your arms until you were face to face causing both of your breaths to hitch. “Why do you have to be so cute?” You asked her which made her giggle. “Romanoff” you called out and she hummed. “I’m in love with you” you finally admired. It felt better than anything else, ever. You finally felt free, if she didn’t like you then you could at least move on and if she did like you then it was finally your time.
But the silence made you regret your choice. “I-I am sorry, shouldn’t have said that” you unwrapped your arms from around her and were about to turn when her hand grabbed your upper arm to pull you back. When you turned around you saw her gaze fixed on your arm mussel before she snapped out of it. “I’m sorry, I just had to realize what you just said. I’m in love with you too, love” grabbing her waist you pulled her into a hug.
“You know that I won’t stop flirting with you right?” You asked her that night when you sat on the couch cuddled up closely. “I hope so. But I will kill everyone who looks at you, you know that right?” She grinned and you nodded. “Of course I know”
So, I had a lot to do lately but I hope this is okay
#reader insert#marvel#marvel x you#natasha romanoff#natasha romanoff x reader#brooooswriting#natasha romanoff x you#marvel x reader
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Ranulf is by far one of the characters with the most potential that I wish they went more in depth with. He's such an important and prominent character, but the fact that you don't even hear he's been having these nightmares for the past three or so years now unless you get this specific dialogue is such a shame.
I think he's a perfect comedy relief/plot serious balanced character, but the amount of personal information we have about him/his feelings/his life are minimal. We see a completely different side of him when they went to Gritnea Tower in PoR, but it's something we only see again one more time, and that's in this chapter.
It's basically like, he has a lot of depth and personality, but they only sprinkle it very sparingly. I just find that to be so odd considering his importance in both games, and the fact that he's one of the central characters in RD in general (that is, he's even more prominent in RD than he was in PoR, and he was still relatively important in PoR). He's no less filled with characterization than other main characters like Ike and Soren, but we're given it so infrequently that it's much easier to gloss over and not think much about again.
I wish they did more with the other facets of his character, outside of him being one of the most kind, intelligent and empathetic characters (especially among the beast laguz, since the general impression we're given is that the bird tribe uses logic over emotion in comparison to the usually emotional and erratic beast laguz, and those are the two most prominent laguz species in the story).
Like, it's great that he has those qualities, but people get angry. They get aggressive. They get enraged. No person is just a solid funny and nice person, and Ranulf has all of those kind and angry qualities, but they skimp so much on this amazing writing of him. You learn so much about him and what he's been going through from these few brief instances of him becoming angry, but they just don't touch on it enough. They had a chance to continue his first base conversation with Ike and bring it up to him. It would've been the perfect time, because we have this dialogue in their first conversation:
Ike: You can come talk to me anytime you want. Don’t think you’re alone in all this.
Ranulf: Heh… What are you, an inquisitor?
Ike: A guy’s got to do something between battles. Talk to you later.
Ranulf: …
At first Ranulf was talking about feeling bad for bringing beorc into a laguz affair, and then they discuss that Skrimir is giving Ranulf a headache with his behavior. That could've been their first conversation, but then they could've had a follow up based around the end of their conversation (the above). It would've been the perfect opportunity to give us another base conversation where Ranulf does go to talk to him because of these nightmares and all the stress he's been having. Imo the way they end the conversation with "...", makes it sound like there's more on Ranulf's mind than just what he was open about.
If you consider that he's been having nightmares about what he saw at Gritnea Tower for the past few years, then you consider that the laguz all just found out from Rafiel that the Begnion senators started the rumor about the herons to get them all killed, it's reasonable imo to consider that Ranulf is intelligent enough that he may have been starting to put the pieces together.
We learn late into part 3 that Izuka was working with the senators, and I feel like Ranulf's suspicions should've been raised. I don't think it's necessarily bad writing that he didn't catch on, but more of a missed opportunity. The whole situation affected him very deeply and they were very expressive about that in both games, but it's just that we don't see enough of that side of him, as in, we don't see it enough times.
In a way I feel like it also hits harder when you have the fun/funny, friendly, kind person experience something that tragic - witnessing the result of his race having been used for experiments and seeing their rotted corpses. Knowing people see his race as expendable and on top of that, left their carcasses to rot after pure torture. He saw innocent lives that had been taken and after all that horror, not even given any sort of burial, let alone a proper one.
There's also the fact that he's a cat - he has a very good sense of smell, and that's how he realized who the Black Knight was before anyone else. The smell of rotting corpses alone would be a lot to handle, but to be able to smell it better than anyone else in the room would have been absolutely traumatizing.
Again - the fun and funny, friendly, kind person experienced something horrible enough that he had a breakdown over it (and (presumably extreme based on context) subsequent emotional distress for years following). Tibarn and Reyson had their own ways of dealing with it that we were also shown (Tibarn was more much collected about it, and he put his rage into his strength, which Reyson similarly did, versus Ranulf's very outward emotional response), but Ranulf has never been subjected to anything that horrendous through the events of the game prior.
To have it be a one off situation in both games (as detailed as they were at the times they happened) is a huge shame imo and deserved to be expanded upon. It's clearly not something he got over over the years, and may never have gotten over post RD (even if he did feel better about it after killing Izuka or, if you didn't have him kill Izuka, if he felt better about it knowing Izuka had been killed for his crimes by the army Ranulf was part of).
I just wish they went more into detail about his feelings, because they were very powerful and emotional and felt like they should've been a stronger part of his character as a whole. Considering his role in RD is about as important if not more important than Elincia's PoR presence, it's something he really deserved as a central character. I love this battle dialogue because it shows you his raw feelings outside of that good ol' sweetheart guy. We can see something he's been struggling with, and we can see him express that so well in the scene they did give him that it would've been amazing to have more of that.
#DCB RD Run#Ranulf#Radiant Dawn#I have him kill Valtome in all my runs for the funsies but like. Izuka. Izuka tho.#I have him kill Izuka for the seriousies and for his own peace of mind#sorry Pelleas but like. Ranulf.
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True Peace: Ramattra x Reader (gender neutral)
Okay I decided to write it while this unfairly hot wizard looking robot has my attention by the throat so enjoy. And I’m sorry if it kind of drifts off in places especially at the end and if there’s things that don’t make sense I apologies for that too, writing full fics takes a lot of energy out of me ~Bambi
———
Epilogue
———
‘Too late, I’m too late’, he thought as he held you so gently in his arms, his hands fumbling at his robes to remove them and hold the fabric to your head in hopes to stop the bleeding.
If he could cry he swore tears would be pouring down his face beneath his mask plate. He stared at your paling skin as the wound on your forehead deeper into the cloth he held so firmly but so carefully to you. He desperately held you closer and closer praying to whoever would listen that your body wouldn’t grow cold.
‘I should have never left you alone! I should have tried harder to convince you to my side! I should have never let this happen…’ he thought as he carefully tucked your hair out of the way, wanting so badly to just clean your face of the blood like it was the paint you’d so often somehow manage to get smeared on yourself. Wanting so badly for you to just open your eyes as if you’d fallen asleep on the floor from overworking yourself.
He looked around at your once homely, welcoming workshop, a haven for Omnics of all kinds where they could come to be cared for and loved… now destroyed. Tools stolen, machines shattered and smoking despite the foam from the fire extinguisher he’d depleted in an attempt to save your home from further destruction…. It wasn’t safe here for you anymore… it’d never be safe, so long as the humans responsible, and those like them, continued to live…
“R-Ramy?…” your soft raspy voice hit his audio receptors like a choir of angels… his gaze snapped back to you, your broken, fragile, human body in his arms. And your perfect, kind smile, staring back up at him as you feebly reached out a hand to hold his face with your broken fingers…
If he had a heart he was certain it’d be beating uncontrollably in his chest, despite your knowledge of who he really is, despite your last encounter, here you were, smiling at him, reaching for him despite the pain you were undeniably in. “I’m here… I’m here y/n, don’t strain yourself…” he cooed so softly as he carefully adjusted the now soaked cloth on your forehead and took hold of your hand. “Th-they… my home…” you whimpered beginning to remember the horror you’d experienced.
Ramattra knew you’d hate him, he already knew you hated his actions. You’d made that very clear when you found out the truth… but it wasn’t safe here for you anymore. This world wasn’t safe for you, not yet… he’d need to keep you safe himself until then. Safe, with him…
———
Main story
———
Wasted. Wasted money, wasted time, wasted promises, wasted lives….
It had been less than a month since Ramattra joined forces with talon, less than a month and already their plans were under way, and already, being foiled.
First the Paris invasion, than Rio. In Akandes defence, none of them were prepared for Overwatch to rear their heads again after being disbanded almost a decade ago. But even still, Ramattras patience with talon was already growing thin.
The former shambali monk knew lives would be lost on the path to true peace for his people. But nothing prepared him for the pain he’d feel watching as his soldiers were so mercilessly cut down in the line of battle. How they were discarded into mass graves of metal and wires to be smelted down and reused. No care for their names, not a moment spared to find out if they had loved ones. Simply dumped and treated as machines gone rogue…
But even still, he expected nothing less from humanity…
Built for war, he sought peace after the fighting had ended. He longed for a world of unity where his people could coexist with humans. A world where they’d be recognised as sentient, intelligent beings to walk hand in hand with their flesh and bone counterparts. But it was not to be… humanity, has always been inherently cruel.
For years he watched helplessly as his people were violently mistreated. Abused, neglected, treated as objects, as slaves. He lost count of how many helpless Omnics he tried so desperately to repair in vain. How many he held in his arms as they shut down, how frightened they sounded as they entered the iris… But still he held strong to the path of unity through peace and communication. He followed Mondatta’s words and teachings, blindly believing that through acts kindness and selflessness things would change, his dream for a new world would be achieved.
But when the bullet struck through the shambali leaders head, when he was so mercilessly cut down and struck from existence… Ramattras hopes for unity through peace, died with him.
And now here he stood, perched on the rooftop of a building overlooking the city of New York. Originally he’d come here at the behest of Akande to meet with an arms dealer associate of his. One who held technology compatible with the first wave of Null sector Omnics. But as communications continued, his stay extended, and soon plans to conduct an invasion on the city began to form.
He stared down at the illuminated streets, mapping out the best and most optimal locations to drop in his troops. From up here the chaos of the city seemed almost peaceful, the colourful lights dancing off of shiny hover cars and wet pavement from the late afternoon rain fall. His only company the pigeons that seemed unbothered by his presence and cooed merrily to one another. How he wished he could capture this feeling, the feeling he felt when he imagined his perfect world…
“H-e-eel-elp m-eee!!!” A voice rang out breaking the calming ambiance of the city at night. Distant but distinctly omnic in nature, and undeniably one filled with fear.
Ramattras gaze immediately snapped towards the source of the sound. From his advantage point it was hard to make out but he could see the shape of an omnic staggering broken into an alleyway, and 3 very human figures chasing after it… all of them wielding blunt objects in hand.
“H-hE-EEelLp m-e-!” The omnic cried out with a severely damaged voice box, their body already having sustained damage from their attackers. They stumbled forward over and into trash cans desperately trying to make an escape as their assailants grew closer. “Where you think you’re going scrap heap?!” The leader of the group announced as he grabbed hold of the terrified machine by their head, slamming them into the stone wall of the alleyway.
“P-p-le-eaAse lE” the omnic begged as their face plate cracked and dented with the impact, too weak and too afraid to fight back. “Why are you screaming for help?? Nobodies coming to help you!” The second attacker laughed raising up a metal pipe to bash the poor Omnic further.
“Hold ‘em down I wanna get the copper out of his cables before you damage it ag-HUAAARGHHHH!” the third attacker said before groaning in pain as his spine and ribs cracked under the impact of a large, war built omnic dropping on him from a high advantage point. “Your deaths will not be mourned…” Ramattra hissed, his eyes flashing red from beneath his mask plate as he slammed his staff down, the orb at the helm glowing brightly before exploding and twisting into a hard light projection of two purple arms beneath plated armour, nemesis.
The humans didn’t get a chance to run, they didn’t even get a chance to scream or beg for their miserable lives, before they could even register the threat that had just crushed their partner the omnic grabbed hold of them by their face and crushed their skulls without mercy before discarding their bodies with their friend who lay there broken and wheezing as he struggled to breathe.
“Th-th-thAnK y-oooooouuuuU” the omnic he rescued said softly. Ramattra turned to face them and if he had a heart, he knew it’d be hurting at the sight before them. Their face plate badly dented, their chest smoking where their voice box hung from a wire and their uniform torn and stained with oil and grime. The poor thing had been walking home from work when they’d been mercilessly assaulted…
“It’s alright. Let’s get you home my friend.” Ramattra said as he carefully scooped up his fellow machine. The omnic shook their head and weakly pointed down the alleyway, “n-no. My wife w-will be d-diistrauGht if sh-sheEeee s-e-Es me l-like this. P-please ta-ake me t-oOOooooo y-y/n’s gara-age….” They groaned as their voice box began to finally give out.
“Y/n’s garage?… who is y/n?” Ramattra asked as he started searching coordinates for his location. “Th-Ey help omniI-iiiiiiiicsssssss…” the omnic croaked out as his voice box lost power. They looked up at ramattra and pointed back down the alleyway in desperation, unable to speak, to plead to beg any further.
Ramattra stared back at them and simply nodded, “direct me where I need to go.” He said softly before turning his gaze back to the thugs and the one still wheezing and gasping for breath on the ground. “If you are fortunate enough to live to see the next sunrise… take this opportunity to learn from your actions… and seek kindness beyond your hatred…” he said lowly.
The thug stared up at him with terror present in his eyes. The same terror he’d struck into the poor omnic Ramattra now held safely in his arms. He wheezed and squirmed helplessly unable to move or cry for help beyond a raspy death rattle as he watched the large omnic walk away, taking the other machine with him…. “Hhhhhhhel-lp…”
———
It took less than a few minutes for Ramattra to find the location in question. The omnic he held safely in his arms directed him through alleys and around buildings until finally he arrived at a forgotten neighbourhood tucked away beneath skyscrapers and overhangs. A place where those society abandoned went to when there was nowhere else left for them.
“This is the place?” Ramattra asked as he walked past rat infested gutters and stared at the dilapidated houses and graffitied walls before him. The omnic in his arms nodded and pointed to a small building in the distance, a sliding garage door illuminated by a yellow light, and outside it sat several Omnics, all in different stages of disrepair, all of them, waiting…
Ramattra approached slowly and felt a pain deep within himself as he saw how many other Omnics sat in similar states as the one in his arms did, all of them hurt by humanity, all of them afraid, all of them broken by the hands that built them.
The omnic in his arms gently tapped his chest and slid from his grasp, trying to thank him without a voice to speak anymore. “It’s alright my friend, please sit d-” “Okay next patient please.” A distinctly human voice called out, your voice.
Ramattra glanced over from the omnic and paused as he watched a repaired omnic walk out of the garage looking brand new, before turning his gaze and laying his ocular receivers upon you. Your body, your hair, your tired but gentle eyes, your beautiful smile…
“Whoever’s busted up the most step forward.” You said as you wiped the grease from your hands. “This one is very hurt.” Ramattra suddenly piped up gesturing to the omnic he’d rescued before immediately feeling his circuits shorten and his wires bunch as you turned your attention to him, your eyes locking with his for a brief moment and he was certain he’d gone into a momentary restart.
“Well everyone here’s pretty busted up but-Oh my GOD!!” You exclaimed noticing the state of the poor machine, their voice box dangling by a thread and their face smashed in. Ramattra stepped back for a moment as you bolted forward to examine the omnic, his eyes locked firmly onto you in concern and intrigue. “I think I have the parts to fix you… they might be a bit out dated but it’s better than nothing… You.” You said staring up at the former monk. “Can you help me get them inside please? I don’t want them using any unnecessary battery.”
Ramattra stood there for a moment before your request finally registered. He wordlessly scooped the omnic back up, watching you so closely like he was waiting for you to pull the rug out from under him and suddenly attack, like this kindness was all a ploy. “Thank you, I threw my back out trying lifting a B.O.B unit this afternoon and it’s made things tonight a bit slow…” you said with a tired but friendly smile.
“You are, y/n then?” Ramattra asked as he followed you into the garage. “Yes that’s what most folks call me at least. Can you put them on the table please?” You said gesturing to the work bench in the middle of the open room.
Ramattra did as asked and gently sat the omnic on the table. He watched curiously as they opened a latch on themselves to allow you to hook them up to your equipment. Like they’d done this before enough to become familiar with your work. “Okay systems online let’s plug you in and download you so we won’t have any hiccups getting you back online.” You said walking to the table and smiling warmly at the injured machine, “it’ll feel just like updating. Ready?” You said holding your hand out to them.
The injured omnic nodded and held your hand, squeezing it gently for reassurance, for comfort. You squeezed back and with your free hand plugged them into your equipment… and their lights went out. Ramattra resisted the instinct to leap forward and attack you. In that moment memories flashed before his eyes of his people laying dead, their lights flickering before shutting down forever. He remembered how they reached out for him in fear as their systems went offline, as their circuits died…
The soft blue light of a holo screen clashing against the warm yellow bulb buzzing overhead drew him back to the present. He turned his gaze to see the display showing the download progress of the omnic, any internal damages that needed to be repaired, what software was out of date, what hardware their system required. “Okay I’ll transfer this onto a secondary drive to be safe then get to work.” You said as you began to flick on other equipment ready for the repairs before heading over to the holo screen and loading in a few hard drives.
Bewildered was the only word to properly describe what Ramattra was feeling as he watched you. You were an enigma to him, a lone human living in a slum, in a crumbling building barely fit for human habitation, all so you could tend to his kind… and judging by the state of the place and your supplies on hand… you weren’t charging them for your services either like most establishments. “They… seem familiar with you.” Ramattra said gesturing to the now offline omnic.
“They probably are. I see so many Omnics daily now days that they’ve most likely been in here once or twice. Though their face plate is so disfigured I’m afraid I can’t recognise them. Especially since they can’t talk but I should be able to find their- Ah! Samson yes I remember him!” You said opening his memory file on screen showing his name, address, his spouse. “He works at a gas station, normally gets off around this time and ends up here needing repairs after getting jumped. I see a lot of service units like him around this time.” You sighed and began to copy the data over as it finished downloading, “Businesses make them work night shifts so humans don’t have to and they pay them dirt despite how dangerous it is for them… fuckin assholes.” You mumbled.
“I found him being assaulted by a group of thugs. After I… scared them off, they asked me to bring them to you.” Ramattra said staring out the garage door at all the other Omnics waiting their turn, all of them damaged but no where near as busted up as the one he brought in. “I apologise if I-huh?” He jumped slightly as his touch receptors felt your hands gently touching his.
“You’re not hurt too are you? Nobody goes up against the gangs around here and leaves unscathed.” You said gently inspecting his joints noticing some blood and hair under one of his knuckles, “heh, though there’s a first time for everything. Looks like you really did a number on them.” You said as you suddenly pulled a pair of tweezers from your tool belt and picked it out before grabbing a cloth and a can of cleaning solution.
“You’re?… not afraid of me? Of what I did to them?…” he asked in a mix of concern and surprise, “hm, do I need to be? As far as I’m concerned you just beat the hell out of some assholes who were planning on killing this poor guy. Why would I be afraid of you for that?” You said shrugging your shoulders slightly thinking that was literally all he did, “I’ll clean it out while I wait for the data transfer, I don’t want to start working and… risk losing them…” you said softly as you sprayed the cleanser into his joints.
“Thank you… I appreciate your kindness…” He whispered in response.
———
A few days had passed since then. Ramattra spent the remainder of the evening with you, watching you with a curiosity and interest he hadn’t held towards any human for a long time, maybe ever. You both talked as you worked, how long you’d been doing this for, why you started, what you did for a living to continue your efforts if you didn’t charge for your services. He found out you’d make artwork with unusable materials, statues, sometimes paintings, and would sell them online.
But when money got too tight, you’d try to fundraise to continue your efforts or at the very least, buy food to keep living, or electricity to keep the lights on and your equipment running. But even then, in your own words “these days at best I come back penniless, at worst it’s me on the repair table patching myself up… moment people find out I’m looking after Omnics I’m suddenly fair game to be attacked, sworn at and spat on…”
The anger he felt rising within him remembering your words, how you showed him the scars you’d sustained, how you still smiled stating it was worth it, was insurmountable. How anybody could sink so low as to harm someone as genuine and kind as you, all because you dared to associate yourself with his kind was beyond even his low views of the cruelty of humanity.
But then, he remembered your smile, your kind eyes, your gentle hands on his, how for the first time in his existence he wished he could truely feel beyond simply registering touch so he could experience your skin against him. Your body against him, safe in his arms…
“The new Null sector can fuck off!…” Your words suddenly echoed in his memory snapping him out of his musing. His system booted out of rest mode to find himself back in his room in Akandes New York estate. The cold air conditioned space quickly replacing the warmth of the yellow garage light and your face beneath its glow in his memory as he recalled your views on the latest Null sector invasions.
“Ever since they turned up attacks against normal civilian Omnics has only increased! Years of work to try and prove to everyone in my area that Omnics are good down the shitter! Now I’m seeing sometimes 50 of these guys a day! I’m running out of parts faster than I can buy them and scalpers keep buying the most useable parts and jacking up the resale value so people like me can’t afford them…” You said with such a hurt and tired voice. Like you were clinging onto your hope by a thread.
“If it keeps up like this… I’ll either starve or have to close my doors until I can afford to get more parts…” you said glancing out of the garage door at the few Omnics left for you to repair that night. “But if I do… what hope do they have then?…”
Ramattra recalled the heartache in your voice, the pain in your eyes and the heavy bags beneath them. Overworked, over tired, and yet you still kept going…
In that moment, he’d begun to reconsider his plans. For just a moment he considered calling off the invasions, disbanding the current troops and cancelling the production of any further machines talon intended to build… But he couldn’t. He knew suffering would come when he started this war, but in the end it would be less than what his people had already endured and would continue to without his action. But he couldn’t let you continue to suffer either.
After unplugging his cables from his charging station he stepped out into the living quarters to see Akande seated with another associate of his, a young human woman of around 30 that despite her friendly nature he would happily do without her constant hacking of his systems, Sombra. “Good afternoon…” Ramattra said as he approached the two.
Akande turned his gaze to him and smiled gesturing to sit with them, “Finally awake I see? I was just discussing your observations with Olivia. So far we’ve mapped out several optimal invasion points we can drop in.” He said glancing at Sombra.
“Mmhm, so far things are looking good. But in light of the new Overwatch being on our dicks it wouldn’t hurt to pick out some plan B options for the second wave of troops should we need to reposition the attack order.” She said turning her holo screen around to show him her mapped out areas of the city.
“You wish me to scout again?…” Ramattra asked tilting his head ever so slightly as he raised his hand making his staff lift from its place near the sofa and float to him. “Yes, as much as I’d like to get this plan under way now that we have the sufficient amount of soldiers prepared. Olivia is right in that we need an extra safety net to insure this plan goes ahead as smoothly as possible.” Akande said glancing at his staff before locking eyes with him. “I understand if you’re irritated by this decision but I believe it’s for the best.”
“I agree.” Ramattra said clicking his mask plate into place. “How long before you believe we’ll be ready?…” he asked. “2 months at least. Once we have a clear plan mapped out we will set about putting it into action as discreetly as possible. The less opportunities we give for Overwatch to catch wind, the better.” Akande said as he stared the omnic up and down, quietly observing his posture. “I sense, there is something you want?…”
“I do actually. I have an acquaintance here within the city whose in need of supplies.” Ramattra said twirling his staff slightly in his fingers before gripping it tight. “And I’m ready to receive my payment.”
———
It had been maybe a couple weeks or more since your first meeting with the strange but handsome omnic vigilante and since then, he was all you could think about… and the random gifts and shipments turning up at the garage certainly weren’t helping that case.
Just a few days after your initial encounter with him and suddenly a large truck arrived filled with parts for every model of omnic you could imagine. The next day a pallet loaded with sheet metal of varying materials turns up at your door. And the day after that you find a box of expensive paints seated on your desk next to your unfinished paintings and bags upon bags of fresh groceries.
You couldn’t be certain it was him leaving them, but part of you knew it just had to be. You were half tempted to spend the little money you had to buy a new security camera so you could maybe spy who your kindly donor was, you were fairly certain the one you had installed was broken, either that or the download cable was busted.
Even still, you found yourself eagerly glancing out the garage door as you worked, hoping to catch a glance at anyone coming by and hoping you’d see his tall strong frame and handsome face again. Hopefully, in one piece…
“I’m glad there is at least one kind heart left in this world…” his soft voice echoed in your head, you instinctively clenched your hand recalling how tenderly he held it, how the silicone pad of his thumb traced on your skin. And you felt your heart hurt wondering of the pain he’d experienced in his existence to be surprised by your kindness…
“All done for this evening I see?”
You almost thought you’d imagined it before hearing the rustling of a plastic bag behind you. Your eyes snapped up from the art piece on your desk and you spun around to see, him… Ramattra. “I?” You paused looking over to see you’d left the garage door open in case any more injured Omnics came knocking. “Oh… I could’ve had my head bashed in just now.” You said realising just how deep in thought you were.
“You shouldn’t be leaving that open so late in the evening whilst you’re distracted and alone.” He said reaching past you and grabbing the remote before pushing the button and lowering the door. “If I were a thug I could have done who knows what to you by now…” he said moving to out the remote back and leaning in close to you, “I don’t want you to get hurt y/n…” he said softly, his mask inches from your face.
“I-I know I should be more careful.., I just, wanted to make sure anyone whose hurt knows I’m still up y’know?” You said suddenly feeling very shy. Ramattra stared down at you, his mind wandering as his gaze took in your body. He’d been watching you from afar for several days and nights now, but up close, up this close, he wanted to take all of you in.
Your body so fragile compared to his. He could crush you in an instant, rip you to pieces if he wanted to, or pin you down until the light left your eyes… but all he wanted, all he craved for was to just hold you, bring you into his arms and feel your heartbeat against him, hear your breathing and feel your warmth as he held you safely and securely in his grasp. Safe from violence, safe from pain, safe from the world…
“I see… Well, you should also make sure you remember to eat…” he said holding up a bag, remembering why he actually came in the first place. “O-oh, r-right yeah. I guess I was so focused on working I forgot again.” You said staring up at him as he slowly stepped back and stood upright.
Ramattra glanced at you before glancing at the artwork next, another beautiful piece, but then again, he was so enamoured with you he considered everything you so much as touched beautiful too. “With how hard you work on your creations you really should charge more for your time.” He mused as he handed you the takeout and utensils to eat.
You gladly took the food and smiled as you opened the container to see your favourite meal inside, not even questioning how he knew what it was… “Yeah well, if I charged more I doubt anyone would be willing to buy it, I’m barely scraping by as is, if you hadn’t of dropped off all these supplies I think I’d have to close my doors for good this we-” you paused realising what you said. “I-I mean I assumed it was-” you stammered attempting to correct yourself before his gentle voice cut you off.
“You knew it was me? And here I was trying to be stealthy~” he chuckled and leaned against your desk. “Yes it was me. I saw how hard you work all by yourself to care for my kind, I couldn’t just not help you in some way… I hope you’re not mad I didn’t present them to you myself.” He said folding his arms around his staff hugging it to his chest and shoulder and resting his chin against it.
“Mad?! You kidding If you had lips and consented I’d kiss you!” You snorted and shook your head. “You’re the first real help I’ve had in… well… ever.” You said as you resumed eating, realising just how alone you’d been this whole time.
Ramattra stood there frozen for a moment trying to process the mental image of kissing you. While he didn’t have lips he could press his face to yours and imitate the action, maybe provide a little spark to your skin to stimulate the action while his hands did the work… elsewhere. It was only when he registered the sad lilt to your voice that he snapped back to the conversation and observed the expression on your face. “Ever?… not even from the Omnics who you assist?” He asked softly,
“Them? Take a look around. You think they can afford to pay for my services if they’re coming here in the first place?” You said gesturing to the garage, it’s leaky roof, the visible insulation on the walls, the boarded up windows, it was in shambles, but it was your home. “They come here to get repaired with whatever I’ve got on hand because they can’t afford to get any better. I’m the top care for the bottom of the rung that society wants to keep at the bottom… but since you suddenly showed up… I have hope again.” You smiled and finished your food not sparing a crumb.
“I decked out all the Omnics that’ve come through with the tech you gave me and nearly all of em have come back letting me know they got promotions or new jobs because of em. If I keep this up, maybe even with null sector kicking around I’ll still have a chance to give ‘em a better life, y’know?” You said glancing up at him.
Ramattra stood there silently, eyes locked onto yours through the cover of his mask. “Y/n… do you know what purpose I was built for?…” he whispered softly before slowly looking away feeling guilt bubble inside him, knowing deep down just how much you’d despise him if you knew the truth.
You sat there for a moment, observing his form, his make and design. “Hm, well I’ve never seen one of your units come through these doors before, you’re a rare build to me at least but… definitely not a custom one. You certainly don’t have a domestic build to you… you were built for the war. Weren’t you?…” you said softly watching him hug his staff closer in a more defensive stance.
“I was built as a ravager command unit to lead Omnics into battle… after the war I vowed to pursue peace. And I studied as a shambali monk…” he said softly, unable to bring himself to look at you. “But it’s a path I’ve found hard to continue following as I watch my people continue to fall victim to discrimination and cruelty…”
“That’s okay.” Your soft voice echoed so loudly in his audio receptors he felt it through his entire system. “I’m not a violent person, I fix things, I heal others… but my god trying to prove to bigoted folks that Omnics aren’t evil, or they aren’t objects or just machines is so mind numbingly hard and sometimes I just wanna punch them in the face because they just refuse to pull their heads out of their asses and smell something other than their own bullshit!” You scowled before breathing out a tired sigh as you relaxed back in your chair, “I know it’s hard, and it’s even harder knowing if you lose your temper or make the first swing then you’ll just be proving their ‘point’…” you said as you stared up at the flickering yellow bulb before looking back at him, “are you scared I’ll think less of you because of your initial purpose?…” you asked with such a gentle voice.
Ramattra stood there, posture relaxing as he took in every word you said. He felt understood in a way he didn’t think humans would understand, a connection he didn’t expect to share with you on such different but equal levels. He shifted his staff from his hold and carefully set it against the desk as he stood up straight before you. “Well?… do you?…” he asked, eyes locked intently onto yours awaiting your answer.
“No. The circumstances that created you were out of your control. The reason for your creation doesn’t define you, it’s what you do with your existence that makes you who you really are, Ramy.” You smiled up at him, not a hint of fear in your eyes, no judgment, only kindness.
“Ramy?…” ramattra said tilting his head in confusion. “Y’know, Ramy, it’s short for your name… I’ll stop if you want me to I just thought it was cute.” You said sheepishly. “Ramy… I like it.” He chuckled and leaned down gently placing his hands on the arm rests of your chair and holding his face inches from yours. “If, that kiss wasnt a joke…I consent…” he whispered looking so calm on the outside but inward his circuit board was overheating with anxiety and fearing he’d greatly misread human body language and nature.
“I…sure come here you.” You smiled gently grabbing his face and pulling him in as you planted a soft kiss to his mask plate. “Gladly…” he mused in response as he shuffled in closer to embrace you.
———
“Soft… you’re so very… soft…” ramattras words echoed in your head. Living on the streets, surviving muggings, assaults, overworking yourself to the point of collapse, barely scraping by enough to afford food and still pulling yourself up to help those around you, not once in your life had you ever been described as soft. Rugged maybe, strong too, definitely a long list of insults and slurs as well, but never something so, sweet…And yet he said he said it with such tenderness you found yourself even now melting at the memory even after a few days.
Metal against skin is often thought to be a cool sensation but Ramattra was warm to the touch. The silicone padding on his hands held you so firmly but caressed you so gently as he explored your body, his voice was like silk as he whispered compliments and sweet nothings into your ears, and the low rumble of his processors lulled you to sleep effortlessly as you rested your head against his chest.
You couldn’t help the smile that crossed your face as you remembered waking up to him beside you, the feeling of his fingers slowly tracing circles on your back as he waited for you to flutter open your eyes sent tingles across your brain and you sighed remembering how he stopped to gently stroke your cheek as he finally noticed you staring at him, “good morning, y/n…” he cooed so softly.
“Okay, all done.” You said finally snapping back to the present as you set your tools down and rebooted the omnic on the workbench. The omnic lay still for a moment before coming back online, they sat up slowly and stared down at themselves and their new, shiny, and working parts. “Thank you Y/n!” They exclaimed as they excitedly slid off the table. “Don’t mention it! You’re gonna nail that interview! Just try not to bump into anything on your way there, the white plating on those new parts scuff like a bitch.” You said as you cleaned up your work space.
The omnic nodded and waved as they turned to hurry off out of the garage,“I will! Thank you y/n! I’ll let you know ho-” the clanging of metal against concrete cut off their words. You quickly glanced up from cleaning to see a group of 4 men standing there after pushing the poor machine to the ground. “You y/n?” One of them, the leader of their group you assumed, said as they scanned the garage before locking onto you.
“…I am…How can I help you?…” you said stepping forward and helping the omnic to their feet as they scurried back in fear. “You can help us by doing as we tell you to and shutting this place down before you get hurt.” He grunted stepping forward, his associates following. “And why would I want to do that?” You said slowly moving the omnic behind you.
“Because dickheads like you are too stupid for your own good and you think you’re doing something great by helping these monsters but you’re just signing humanities death warrant. So I’ll say it one more time to get it through your thick head. Shut this place down. Or we shut it down ourselves and you with it.” He said pulling a metal bat out from behind himself.
Your eyes glanced at it for a moment but quickly shifted to the movement of a purple haze lurking up behind them. “I don’t take kindly to threats. Leave or-” “Or what? You’ll set your attack robot on us? Like you did on our associates? Have him bludgeon us and leave one to tell the tale?” He sneered cutting you off. “What?” You said with genuine confusion.
“Don’t play dumb you stupid b-” he growled raising his bat up only to freeze hearing the cracking of bone and the squelching of blood and flesh behind him, followed by the agonised scream of his friend as ramattra ripped their arm clean off. “This time. I won’t leave witnesses.” The war built omnic growled as his form shifted and a second set of arms erupted from his back.
He threw the thug missing an arm to the ground before stomping on their skull attempting to kill them only to be stopped as their leader swung his bat down hard connecting with his head but doing little except scratch his mask plate and annoy him. It took no effort for the omnic to yank it from his grasp and bludgeon him across the head with it before turning to do the same to his friends only to see them running away with their injured comrade.
He quickly turned his attention down to see only a pool of blood where they’d been and before he could move to pursue them the groan of their ringleader from behind him halted him in his tracks… He turned around slowly and stared down at the now now battered and bloodied man at his feet, struggling to get up to flee. “You.” Ramattra growled lowly, “Humans like you are the problem with this world…” he said kicking him down making him cower and whimper. “I’ll make you pay for what you’ve done!!!” He shouted raising the bat up and bringing it down to kill him only to strike, your shoulder…
He’d never forget the crack your bones made as you took the blow. The crunch of them giving way to the impact echoed in his head and all he heard beyond it was white noise, until your voice broke through, “SNAP OUT OF IT RAMY YOURE BETTER THAN THIS!!” You screamed shaking him with your now one good arm as the other fell slack at your side.
Ramattra stood there in shock as he stared into your eyes, watching in horror as he saw the pain in them mixing with your tears as they welled up and spilled over. His body shifted back to its normal resting state, the clang of hollow metal on concrete bounced off the garage walls as he dropped the bat and shakily reached out to you, “y-y/n I- I didn’t mean to I lost- I lost control I- he” he glanced past you to see the thug staring up at him in terror, and you in confusion.
You turned slowly and stared down at them, the pain and fear visible on your face as it was on theirs, “Get. Out.” You said with a tone that indicated you’d gladly let ramattra have his way if he didn’t comply. The thug didn’t wait a second more and frantically scrambled to his feet and limped off in a hurry after his friends. You watched him leave before looking up at ramattra as his hands gently touched your face. “…” you smiled up at him despite your tears and gently reached up your good hand stroking the scuff mark on his face plate, “shhh it’s okay…” you whispered.
Ramattra stared back at you in disbelief, his system freezing in utter confusion to your response. He fully expected you to be afraid of him, run away, side with the men he’d just attempted to murder but no, you stood there, smiling at him. “I didn’t mean to, I didn’t-” he practically whimpered reaching a hand out timidly to touch where he’d hurt you hoping in some way he could reverse time and fix it.
“I know you didn’t, I know you didn’t want to kill them.” You said so softly ramattra swore it physically hurt him. “No I did- I wanted to! I wanted to kill them I wanted to wipe them out of existence and I almost killed you- I almo-” he choked out in a panicked manner thinking you’d for sure hate him for the truth. “No you didn’t Ramy… they just, triggered old programming from when you were first made.” You whispered as you gently rubbed the cheek of his mask.
“Triggered? Old programming?…” he asked in genuine confusion. “Ptsd, I’ve worked with a lot of Omnics who suffer with it and can get set off over different things. All it takes is one though to trigger a bad memory and they can’t stop themselves…” you said looking down at the blood now splattered on the concrete floor before looking back up at him. “I know you’re not a violent person Ramy, you just wanted to protect us.” You said fully believing it was just ptsd like you’d seen countless times before in your life working to repair these machines.
Ramattra didn’t know how to respond. Part of him wanted to come clean and just confess it all while the blood was still warm and hope and pray you’d forgive him even though he knew you’d want him gone. Another part wanted to believe you, to believe he was good, to put his plans behind him and scrub the slate clean of his misdeeds and crimes and live a good life with you… But the other part, it knew you’d never forgive him, and it knew he couldn’t live without you in his life either, it wanted to let the truth fester and rot, and hopefully by the time it finally came to light? It’d be too late for you anyway.
“Y-y/n I-” he paused watching you turn your attention away from him and to the frightened omnic hiding behind your workbench, only now just slowly emerging seeing the coast was clear. “Anything broken?” You asked with a crack in your tone as you fought back the urge to scream in pain from your injury as it began to throb.
“N-no I-I’m okay.” The omnic said raising their arms a little in a waving motion allowing you to see a scuff mark or two on their once pristine new plating. “Hold up, Can’t have you rocking up to your interview like that. I’ll buff it out real quick.” You said as you pulled your hand from ramattras face only for the larger omnic to grab it gently. “Y/n you can’t be serious you need to go to the hospital-” he said with concern and panic evident in his tone as he shuffled to stand in front of your path.
“I’ll be fine. Go get me a sling from the first aid kit.” You smiled up at him reassuringly before walking over to the omnic with your arm hanging slack as you prepared a rag and some buffing clay.
Ramattra reached for you as you walked from his grasp, wondering how on earth you’d just deny medical care when you’re in such a state, “I- y/n you- your arm let me-” he said stepping closer only for you to point to the med kit again before proceeding to buff out the Omnics thankfully easy scuffs. “Okay that looks good, try to make it there in one piece alright?” You smiled. The omnic nodded and nervously looked at your arm before looking at ramattra then back at you, “I Will….I- I think you should listen to him about your arm.” They said nervously shuffling around the blood patches then out the door, “th-thank you!” They exclaimed before hurrying off.
Ramattra just stared at you in disbelief before finally doing as he was told and hurrying to the first aid kit and opening it to find… practically nothing… Some old bandages that had clearly been worn and sent through the wash a few times, an almost empty box of bandaids, a completely empty box of painkillers, a half empty bottle of alcohol and a very used sling… he pulled it out and unfurled it only for it to begin falling apart in his hands. “This is?… all you have?” He asked looking back at you.
“Yeah, haven’t had time or the money to refill it.” You said dipping the rag back into the clay. Ramattra looked back in the med kit and contemplated using the bandages for a quick solution but spied beneath it all some scissors. “…” he glanced down at the fabric tails that hung from his cowl and grabbed one cutting it off. “This will do.” He said holding the fabric out slightly as he walked to you.
“Y-you didn’t have to do that! I I can find something else let me fix i-o-ow!” You whined as he took hold of your arm and carefully looped it in the fabric before tying it into a sling. “It’ll do until we get to the hospital.” He said sternly. “I don’t need the hospital I’ll be fine…” you said looking down. “Y/n your shoulder is definitely broken you need medical attentio-”
“I can’t afford it…” your voice sounded so broken as you finally dropped the tough facade, no longer having to hold it together with a third party present, you’d always maintained a strong and reassuring exterior for the Omnics who relied on you but now, it was you who needed someone to rely on beyond yourself. “I I don’t have health insurance- I-if I get this fixed I’ll be homeless I c-can’t I can’t afford it I’ll be fine j-just pr-pretend this never happened!” You sobbed stepping away from him and picking up the clay rag before returning to him and placing it on the scuff mark on his face.
Ramattra stepped back in surprise at the fabric against his face but allowed you to fuss over him for just a moment if it meant he could calm you down enough for him to convince you that you were worth being cared for. “Darling…” he said grasping hold of your hand as you finished wiping his face clean. “Let me help you…”
Your heart practically stopped. His voice calling you something so endearing and loving, you stared up at him looking so broken, “I-I can’t I-I’m the one whose s-supposed to help people…” you whimpered. “Now let me be the one to help you, y/n” ramattra cooed.
“I can’t a-ask you to spend that much money on m-me you’ve already done so mu-ch-” you tried to speak but broke down into further sobs, the pain was unbearable, but the idea of asking him to spend that much on you was too. “I’ve already invested a lot into you y/n, your work, your art,” he said placing his other hand on your cheek. “Your health is far more important than all of that… let me fix what I’ve broken… let me repair you.” He said as his mask plate lifted, showing you his eyes as he stared into yours.
You stared back and simply nodded meekly, “I-I need help…” you cried.
———
It had been a week since then, and while most would struggle adapting to working with only one arm you’d gotten used to having a limb out of commission more than once. But then again, you didn’t have an annoying brace around your chest and a bulky sling restricting your injured arm to you then either.
“Damn it.” You grumbled bending down to pick up the screw driver you’d dropped for the hundredth time only for a familiar mechanical hand to grab it instead as another one slid around your waist helping you stand upright. “Y/n…” ramattras voice said softly with a slightly disappointed tone. Despite his instance for you to rest you repeatedly ignored him and continued about your duties repairing the Omnics of the city.
“Don’t give me that look…” you mumbled glancing away with a pout as you took the screwdriver from his hand. “You promised you’d at least sit down as you worked. You’re putting strain on your back and shoulders hunching over your desk like that.” He said gesturing to the workbench and the omnic resting on it waiting for their new parts to be installed.
“I’ll take a break in a minute.” You said stepping away slowly, unable to hide the slight smile that crept on your lips as you felt his hand squeeze just a little in resistance, wanting to hold you just a little longer. “Well you said that 3 hours ago and yet you’re still working so I’ve brought an excuse for you to sit down.” He said glancing over at your art desk. “Oh?” You said turning your whole body to look and see your favourite meal waiting for you. “Oh!” You exclaimed in surprise before turning back to the omnic and quickly finishing them up before beginning the reboot proceedings.
Ramattra watched as the omnic sat up and excitedly looked themselves over before getting up and moving their new limbs, seemingly very pleased with their fluid movement as they practically danced about. He couldn’t help but feel a strange feeling of familiarity in their appearance and motions and yet he couldn’t place it.
He watched as you waved goodbye to them with a smile, your beautiful smile, before pulling your chair out slightly from your desk as you turned to face him. “It’s getting cold.” He said gesturing to the food. You smiled and walked over taking your seat and letting him push you in as you began to eat, “fine I’ll fuel my flesh prison.” You snickered as you tucked in.
Ramattra simply hummed in response as he carefully adjusted your harness and so gently palpated the bruised area to see how you were healing, “does it hurt?…” he asked. You flinched a little in pain but mostly out of surprise to have such gentle touches to the back of your neck and shoulders, “a little… how’s it looking?” You said trying to glance back at him but quickly opting not to as you remembered how much turning your head hurt.
“Worse than yesterday but, I believe that’s normal for bruising.” He said inspecting the darker shades and colourations. “Yeah it feels a bit worse too…” you said as you continued to eat. Ramattra stood there for a moment, feeling the pain he’d felt when he first hurt you return. He carefully adjusted your harness back into place before pressing his face into the uninjured side of your neck and holding onto the chair with his hands, “I’m so sorry y/n…” he whispered.
“Don’t start with that again.” You smiled reaching your hand up and gently stroking your fingers through the cables on his head that oddly reminded you of hair. “It’s fine, what happened happened okay? I’m not mad or upset about it and I haven’t chased you out of here with a broom yet so relax~” you teased and moved to kiss him only to audibly wince in pain as you turned your neck.
Ramattra quickly shuffled around to the front of you and nervously held out his hands wanting to help but having no clue what to do, “y-y/n are you oka-” “yes I’m fine.” You huffed cutting him off as you looked up at him with a pout, “now bend down so I can kiss you damn it.”
“I? Oh- y-yes.” Ramattra stammered but gladly did as he was told. He carefully moved closer and leaned in supporting his weight on the rest of the chair as he pressed his face to your lips. You giggled feeling the fibreglass and metal rumble in response to your touch as if he were trying to replicate some form of stimuli to mimic a kiss, and sighed as he pulled away slightly. “You’re sure you’re not mad at me?…” he asked tilting his head slightly as he observed your face up close trying to read your expression but always ending back up at your eyes, your kind, warm eyes.
“Yes I’m sure.” You mused giving him another soft peck, “if anything you should be the one mad at me. You had to cut up your scarf to help me.” You said turning away in your chair and reaching under your desk. “To help you with an injury I gave you! Why on earth would I be mad at you for that if anything I was angry at myself for not considering your medical needs and replacing that medkit when I did the fire extinguishers!” Ramattra said gesturing over to the fire extinguisher in the corner.
“You replaced the fire extinguishers?” You asked turning in your chair to look as you retrieved a neat little bundle of fabric from beneath your desk. “Yes they expired you- you really didn’t notice?” He asked glancing at you then at the fabric. “Fire extinguishers can expire??” You asked getting a little kick out of winding him up, “YOU DIDNT KNOW THEY EXPIR-” he paused mid speech as you stood up and clumsily pulled off his damaged hood and cowl and replaced it with one youd made. “What do you think?” You asked as you sat back down to resume eating.
Ramattra stared at you for a moment before looking down at the gift draped over his shoulders. The fabric resembled his old one to some extent, it was difficult to replicate the texture of the shambali robes, and it was lined with nano technology you’d painstakingly hardwired into the material to better adapt to the Omnics transforming body when needed. But most importantly, it had your handy work visible in every seam, every detail, it was made by your hands… “y/n…” he whispered.
“Sorry if it’s a bit sloppy, I didn’t realise how hard steering a sewing machine with one hand would be. The tech was a breeze though, I was able to take the existing tech from the fabric you used for my sling and I upgraded it to be compatible with your current software. You should be able to transform a bit easier now if and when you need to ‘bust out the big guns’ an all.” You smiled as you finished your food in time for him to fall to his knees and hug you around the waist, “R-Ramy?!” You stammered in surprise.
Ramattra nuzzled his face slightly into your lap as his strong arms gently embraced you, “i love you y/n….” he whispered so softly you almost didn’t hear him over your heartbeat pounding in your ears, “wh-what?” You asked wanting him to repeat it, no, wanting to hear him repeat it.
“I love you, y/n.” He repeated gladly as he squeezed you a little tighter, just wanting so badly to be closer to you as if this little gift was the final pluck to his mechanical heart strings. “Th-that’s what I thought you said.” You whispered feeling your face flush as your fingers tangled themselves into his wires, just softly playing with them, “I love you too, Ramy.” You said with a gentle breathy sigh.
———
Peaceful, but not calm. Is how Ramattra would describe the street outside your favourite takeaway restaurant. He ignored the buzzing of his com and the attached call with it and watched as buskers of all kinds performed around him, from musicians belting out off key lyrics to Lucio’s latest songs, to caricature artists drawing at a speed he could only describe as carpal inducing, there was something for everyone to engage with. Though, most people simply kept walking.
Another call, more buzzing, he ignored it.
He could see why you liked it so much, it’s vibrancy, the energy, it suited you. But he had to admit, the image of you snuggled within his arms safe in your pjs and a cosy blanket suited you far better, even more so with nothing covering you at all…
“Order for Y/n??” The feminine omnic voice from within the restaurant called out snapping him back to reality, “ah yes- Gah-” he stammered bonking himself in the side of the head with his staff as he stood up right and hurried over taking it. “Here you go dear.” The omnic said with a soft blink to her forehead lights as she handed ramattra the food, “Thank you for taking care of our Angel, I’m glad they’ve finally got someone lookin after them like they do for all of us.” She mused as she wiped her hands on her apron.
“It’s the least I can do, they’re… truely remarkable.” He said with a soft love struck lilt to his voice. “That they are, there’s few folks like them around these days. Hopefully things will keep picking up for them with you around and… more people like them will come too… ah, but enough of my chit chat, hurry an get going before that gets cold!” She chuckled and waved her hand to him.
Ramattra nodded, “if there are good people around, they’ll want to show their faces soon… thank you, I’ll be back again tonight for their usual!” He said waving back as he hurried out and into the now… eerily quiet street.
He was a good few steps short of the alleyway that lead to your garage when he finally noticed the silence, because it was quickly replaced by an ungodly loud blast as smoke erupted from behind buildings and the blaring of car horns mixed with the distant screams of innocent civilians running for their lives.
Another buzz, he finally answered seeing Akandes name staring back at him, “Akande what’s going on?!” He shouted watching as people and vehicles began to rampage towards him in any attempt to get away from the invasion swooping in from the city paths he’d mapped out.
“I’ve been trying to call you since you took off this morning! The invasion’s begun! Overwatch found out about our plans we need you to get to position n-” Akandes voice was suddenly silenced as your number popped up in his vision. Without hesitation he ended Akandes call to answer yours and before he could speak your panicked voice sounded within his head along with the scraping and slamming of metal, “HEL-” was all you managed out before the line went dead.
His plans be damned, talon be damned, you were in danger. He bolted down the alleyway and scaled up and over buildings, leaping, ducking, anything he could to reach you faster until he finally staggered out into the garage street to see the horror before him.
Omnics. All the ones you’d repaired with the parts he’d given you, now either violently attacking the buildings doors to reach you inside, or the ones only partially repaired… he wanted to cover his vision as he watched them desperately rip themselves apart trying to fight the program overtaking them. He wanted to cover his ears hearing them scream and plead for it to stop, how they didn’t want to fight again…
But the Omnics breaking through the barrier keeping your safe quickly changed his mind. They were under null sectors control now, built with parts talon made for null sector, all of them infected… He stepped forward and raised his staff up making the orb glow brighter, he watched as they turned their gazes to him and backed away from the doors slowly, and he directed them all into a line up like soldiers… his soldiers. “the battle is that way…” he said pointing to the smoke rising up over the buildings, “go…” he said stepping aside to allow them passage through the narrow path.
They nodded and swiftly marched forward, to a death he knew none of them wanted, or signed up for, and he fought back the scream he wanted to cry out as he locked gazes with the last one who passed. A different body, but the face was unmistakable, as was the uniform & the name printed in perfectly readable text, Samson…
But still he composed himself and hurried to the garage opening the door with his key… a key you didn’t know he’d made. “Y/n?! Y/n where are y-Gaa-ahh..hahh-” he gasped in horror as his foot collided with the head of a now dismantled omnic… his gaze followed its pieces scattered across the floor, bolts and plating mixed with smatterings of blood, leading to the desk… And you hiding beneath it.
You sat there, forehead bleeding, eyes wide, arm still in a sling with your one useable one holding a bat, the very same bat the man had left, the very same bat ramattra had crushed your shoulder with, and now you sat pointing it directly at him. “You-” you choked out, the bat wobbling in your grasp as you visibly shook with fear, with anger.
Ramattra stepped forward cautiously, he recognised that expression, that look. He’d made countless humans wear the same look before, but seeing it on you, his human, his darling, it crossed his circuits and stung with an unimaginable pain, “y/n youre bleeding!” He said reaching his free arm out to you, hoping against all hope that you wouldn’t blame him for this, hoping you’d just let him take you into his arms.
The hollow clang of metal hitting metal was enough to dash his hopes entirely.
You didn’t even register youd moved until the rustling of plastic filled your ears. Ramattra reeled back from the hit dropping the lunch he’d bought you on the floor next to the dismembered omnic, the lights on his forehead flickered and sparked where he held the now dented part of his faceplate in shock. “Y-y/n you-” he whispered in disbelief and hurt only for your voice to erupt over his with an anger he never imagined you’d be capable of feeling.
“NO YOU! YOU USED ME!!” You screamed stepping further away from him all the while still holding the bat out towards him. “I REPAIRED ALL THESE ONNICS WITH THE PARTS YOU GAVE ME AND LOOK AT WHAT YOUVE DONE TO THEM!!” You cried gesturing to the omnic you killed to protect yourself.
Ramattra stepped forward again, reaching out as if he could just hold you and make things better, “I didn’t know I-I asked my associate to supply you with parts and software I didn’t know they’d send you the null sector armaments! I wanted to help you repair damaged Omnics not build more soldiers out of them when we already had willing ones to fi-…” he froze realising what he’d just said, he’d confirmed his guilt…
“You we’re working with null sector this entire time then?… to the point you had knowledge of their production…” you said with heartbreak in your voice and tears bubbling in your throat as you held back sobs. “Y/n…” Ramattra said taking another step forward.
“DONT COME ANY CLOSER TO ME!!” You yelled pointing the bat at him making him halt in place, “I dedicated my life to helping Omnics in a world who hated them. I helped them find jobs, I picked them up when they were down and I worked so, so hard to make humans see them as good people… all of that work… gone. Because of you…” you said looking at him, then at the omnic by his feet. “they’re all going to die because of you…”
Ramattra understood what heartbreak was, he’d felt it plenty of times before. He mourned with zenyatta over mondattas death, he desperately tried to save Omnics from passing away as he held them in his arms and felt agony as he watched them let go… but nothing hurt anywhere near as much as this, as seeing you hurting, as seeing you, of all people, hating him…
“I never meant to let it get this far…” he said softly as he picked up his staff, “I never meant to fall in love…” he whispered loud enough for you to hear before turning to leave, “I’m sorry you think I ruined your hard work and my methods are cruel and wrong, but I promise you…” he paused glancing back at you, “I Will fight until my death to create the perfect world we both want-?!” He dashed out of the way quickly as suddenly the bat came flying from your grasp smashing into the wall by where he stood a few seconds prior.
“GET OUT!!” You screamed… he gladly complied and rushed out without another word… You sighed and rubbed your face with your hand, wiping the blood back from your eyes as you looked at the destruction of your studio… your home… Then your eyes fell on the spilled bag of takeout left by your now ex boyfriend, and worst enemy… “all I wanted was to help…” you sobbed thinking of all the innocent lives now ruined because of your work, and the heartache you felt knowing you fell in love with the one who caused it all to go wrong…
———
Ramattra sat quietly in his room, his damaged faceplate replaced and his cables plugged into the charging station but his consciousness very much aware as he stared out at the city through his window. The smoke billowing up from buildings now slowly being extinguished. Overwatch arrived but far too late, the damage was done… far more damage than anyone intended.
“Where were you today?…” Akandes deep voice snapped his attention to the doorway. Ramattra focused on his figure framed by the warm light illuminating through from the hall. “I was visiting the associate I told you about… they almost died today because of you…” He said lowly, trying his best to convey his anger and displeasure.
“Because of me? You told me they needed parts and software. I provided.” Akande said showing genuine confusion. “DOMESTIC PARTS AND SOFTWARE!” Ramattra roared rising to his feet, “INNOCENT OMNICS WERE CORRUPTED BY THE PARTS YOU PROVIDED! THEY REPAIRED CIVILIANS! NOT SOLDIERS! AND NOW THEY DESPISE ME THEY-… they…” Ramattra paused unable to bring himself to admit the truth… he couldn’t say out loud that you hated him. The pain was too much to handle…
“Forgive me for the misunderstanding then.” Akande said glancing him up and down, trying to read his body language, “Had I of known you wished to mend the innocent I’d of provided the correct equipment, I was under the impression this associate was the same one who built your other null sector companion… but… I can see they were a lot more than just an associate to you…” he said standing up right as he pushed off of the door frame. “I apologise… but their deaths, weren’t in vain. We finally got one up on Overwatch and I’m certain your associates work assisted in that.”
Ramattra clenched his fists and turned his gaze back to the window, “your words bring me no comfort… their deaths should have never happened… leave. I need to think…” he sighed.
Akande, while not one to take orders or respect authority beyond his own, at least understood when it was best to avoid pressing further into a conversation that could turn an ally into a foe. “very well. Just remember we’re leaving in 2 hours… whatever you’re working through I suggest you sort it out fast…” he said pausing in the hall, “And your associate… if their reputation is ruined and their life destroyed because of ‘me’… They’ll be welcomed here with a full pay rate if it’ll keep peace between us.” He said with a deep sigh, not fully understanding but recognising the heartache the omnic is visibly presenting.
“They wouldn’t accept…” ramattra whispered in response hearing akande leave down the hall… “Y/n…” he whispered staring back out at the city and the carnage he caused in the name of peace, barely even noticing the alert message popping up in his sensor amongst the glow of the neon lights.
———
“Thank you John and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims in Rio still reeling from the tragedy. But back over to New York where the new Overwatch is still on the scene of the latest invasion. Hundreds of casualties line the streets from Omnics to humans, some of them civilians. Others-”
You choked back a sob and turned off the news seeing the familiar faces of one’s you’d repaired now laying dead. Nobody having the curtesy to cover them like they would humans, except a shambali monk and his ninja companion… you wanted to shrink into a ball and cry, to make yourself small in hopes you’d disappear from existence itself, to just squeeze your eyes shut and open them pretending like you never met that beautiful and cruel omnic who stole your heart and destroyed it and the life you’d worked so hard to build.
But the beeping of the microwave and the scent of your reheated favourite meal so gently reminded you there were still things in the present worth existing for. You sighed flicking on YouTube for something to watch as you got up to retrieve your meal, the same meal Ramattra had brought you and left spilled on the ground. You had to throw most of it away but a decent feed was still salvageable, even after you had to pick chips of fibreglass and bolts out of it.
You felt your stomach flip remembering the lifeless stare of the dismembered Omnics head staring up at you as you swept the food into a dustpan and cleaned up the mess. How you had to make yourself think they were just an object, a machine, so it wouldn’t make you feel sick as you gathered their parts up into a bag all the while remembering how they went from telling you how excited they were to propose to their human partner to them trying to dismember you like you had to them…
“Everything was going so… good…” you whispered pulling out the food and staring at it, remembering how ramattra would fuss at you to eat, before inevitably feeding you himself and visibly enjoying how shy the act alone made you, “I finally had a chance to help them, all of them…” you sighed stirring the food about slightly too make sure it was hot.
“But there was no helping someone like you…” you said thinking of ramattra but addressing your own reflection in the microwave door… not even noticing the voices outside your door, or the smell of gasoline slowly wafting in through the air vents.
“You sure this is the right place?…”
“Yeah, this is definitely the place. I told you they were building machines for null sector.”
“Fucking shut up and hurry before their body guard turns up.”
———
Ramattra stretched ever so slightly as he unplugged himself from the charging port and began gathering up his things to depart the city. He picked up his staff and grasped for his cowl, freezing as his fingers traced over your stitching and distinct handywork… he sighed and pulled it on, he knew it’d be best to move on and have it replaced but… He couldn’t.
His eyes scanned around the room ensuring he had no other items that could implicate him laying around before finally noticing the alert in the corner of his vision display…
“Hm?” He mused as he selected it only to feel his entire body lock up as he spotted your name staring back at him with a simple message. “Help.”
———
Ramattra didn’t even notice he was moving until he was already out of the building. Staff disassembled and nemesis active he scaled houses and walls and leapt over entire city blocks only stopping as he spotted a bright orange glow in the direction of your home from over the rooftops, “no, Y/N!!” He screamed as he hurled himself forward jumping over several more streets before landing down in the alley he’d first entered to find your sanctuary…
Landing right in front of not only the men he’d let get away the day he accidentally hurt you… but the man he’d left to die the day you two first met…
They stared up at him in horror as he stared back with murder in his soul, before his gaze slowly rose up to see the garage, your home, on fire… and as he glanced back down at them, the golden orange glow danced on his reflective finish as he grabbed each of them and tore them apart like wings from a butterfly, leaving them gargling and screaming in agony on the pavement as he strode toward the flames and staggered inside.
Smoke billowed from every where he turned, he had to try to save it, your home, save you, he’d already taken so much from he couldn’t take anymore. He hurried through the blaze searching for you for any sign of life he could, “Y/N! ANSWER ME! Y/N PLEASE ANSWER ME!!!” He screamed as he fumbled around.
The smog clouded his main vision, and the heat was too intense to pick up your body temperature beyond it, he released his main arms and desperately felt around, only momentarily feeling relief as he found a fire extinguisher, he sprayed it over your workbench, your main desk- you.
He dropped it in shock seeing you laying by your chair, body bloodied, mangled, burned, and your phone laying open beside you, he thought for a moment you were dead. From your injuries or smoke inhalation but your shallow raspy cries of pain managed to reach his audio receptors over the roar of the flames, “y/n… Y/N!” He cried out spraying more around you to keep you from the fire before tossing the empty canister away as he dropped to his knees and cautiously pulled you into his embrace as if he feared even touching you would be enough to kill you.
‘Too late, I’m too late’, he thought as he held you so gently in his arms, his hands fumbling at his robes to remove them and hold the fabric to your head in hopes to stop the bleeding.
If he could cry he swore tears would be pouring down his face beneath his mask plate. He stared at your paling skin as the wound on your forehead deeper into the cloth he held so firmly but so carefully to you. He desperately held you closer and closer praying to whoever would listen that your body wouldn’t grow cold.
‘I should have never left you alone! I should have tried harder to convince you to my side! I should have never let this happen…’ he thought as he carefully tucked your hair out of the way, wanting so badly to just clean your face of the blood like it was the paint you’d so often somehow manage to get smeared on yourself. Wanting so badly for you to just open your eyes as if you’d fallen asleep on the floor from overworking yourself.
He looked around at your once homely, welcoming workshop, a haven for Omnics of all kinds where they could come to be cared for and loved… now destroyed. Tools stolen, machines shattered and smoking despite the foam from the fire extinguisher he’d depleted in an attempt to save your home from further destruction…. It wasn’t safe here for you anymore… it’d never be safe, so long as the humans responsible, and those like them, continued to live…
“R-Ramy?…” your soft raspy voice hit his audio receptors like a choir of angels… his gaze snapped back to you, your broken, fragile, human body in his arms. And your perfect, kind smile, staring back up at him as you feebly reached out a hand to hold his face with your broken fingers…
If he had a heart he was certain it’d be beating uncontrollably in his chest, despite your knowledge of who he really is, despite your last encounter, here you were, smiling at him, reaching for him despite the pain you were undeniably in. “I’m here… I’m here y/n, don’t strain yourself…” he cooed so softly as he carefully adjusted the now soaked cloth on your forehead and took hold of your hand. “Th-they… my home…” you whimpered beginning to remember the horror you’d experienced.
Ramattra knew you’d hate him, he already knew you hated his actions. You’d made that very clear when you found out the truth… but it wasn’t safe here for you anymore. This world wasn’t safe for you, not yet… he’d need to keep you safe himself until then. Safe, with him… “I know, y/n…” he cooed softly knowing there was nothing he could say to fix the situation. The best he could do is make your life comfortable and keep you sheltered as he built your perfect peaceful world by tearing down this one like he did the monsters who hurt you…
You whimpered and clung onto him as he hoisted you up and carried you from the building as it began to finally give out. And the more you squeezed and held on tighter, Ramattra held you closer and closer until his forehead gently pressed to yours with a soft kiss like gesture.
And as the run down building youd called home for so long and made into a sanctuary for the downtrodden finally fell to the hatred that it once stood strong against, your phone buzzed one final time with a reminder notification from your messages. Ramattra replying to your s.o.s with a simple message sent before his rescue. “Im on my way darling…”
#overwatch#overwatch fanfic#ramattra#ramattra x gender neutral reader#gender neutral reader#mild yandere tendencies implied
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ok so like 2 people said they wanted to see the "ford is the most realistic genius" post and that's all the encouragement i need. i'm probably gonna sound pretty full-of-myself on this post but that's just how it be like sometimes.
a lot of the time, "intelligence" is assumed to mean "knows more things." fictional characters who are supposed to be geniuses typically just...miraculously Know information they have no real way of acquiring, anticipate events that cannot reasonably anticipated, or every other character just suddenly gets stupid when the genius character is around so that the "genius" character just doing the logical thing comes off as particularly smart.
so you have a character who supposedly has a really high iq, but in practice they may as well be psychic.
as someone who actually has an iq of 147 (bear with me, because this isn't a flexing post), being "really intelligent" does not mean Just Knowing Things. what it means is that someone who's "smart" (in the traditional sense) can process more information, draw more conclusions, and do so faster than most people. it also usually means being really good at rationalizing things.
so if you're someone who's well-adjusted and well-informed, that can definitely look like knowing all the right answers...but if you're someone who's not well-adjusted or well-informed, it can, if anything, make you even wronger. you get better at rationalizing your mistakes and digging yourself in deeper. and heaven help you if you have paranoid tendencies, because it's that much harder to convince someone they're being irrational when they're on a whole 'nother level of finding information to back up their irrationality.
ford is a genius. he learns incredibly fast and thoroughly. but he's also constrained by the information he has available to him, and by his own biases and past trauma and people issues.
that one writing advice post that made the rounds saying that a character's biggest flaw is usually their biggest strength in the wrong situation is very true of people who are very intelligent. it's why, for example, you'll sometimes see doctors, academics, experts buy into conspiracy theories. it's not because they're stupid; it's because they're smart enough to recontextualize all their knowledge to support their biases and beliefs.
and so many people do not understand this because they still think of "intelligence" as "knowing & being right about everything." so you get people arguing that ford isn't really a genius, because he was wrong and he made mistakes. but in my opinion, the mistakes he makes make perfect sense because he's a genius. that kind of recklessness is exactly what you get when you combine abnormally high iq with ford's myriad of personal issues. you get someone who's great at rationalizing, great at taking in information, and great at finding surprisingly well-thought-out reasons why their paranoia and antisocial tendencies are totally just the rational response.
think of it this way; the smartest people alive in the medieval era believed in the miasma theory. they weren't too stupid to understand what bacteria and viruses are; they just didn't have the tools needed to observe them. so they came up with a theory based on the information they did know, wrote essays and papers about it, made medical practices based on it...and it was completely incorrect, because genius without correct information leads to spectacular and very well-thought-out mistakes.
anyway, all this to say, as someone who could nominally be considered a "genius" but has been hella wrong about a lot of things in my life, i think ford is an incredibly realistic take on what most "geniuses" are really like. impressive in the right situations, not so much in the wrong ones, and very much not magical beings capable of mysteriously knowing all the correct information because they're Just That Smart. and very much not immune to emotional and personal issues getting in the way.
thanks for coming to my "i-just-slept-for-20-hours-and-my-brain-is-a-bit-scrambled-right-now" ted talk
#god this was way longer than i expected my brain really IS fried#anyway like i said the ''i have a 147 iq'' part is NOT a flex on my part#despite that high iq i was held back a year in high school then dropped out and am currently an unemployed loser living in my mom's basemen#so like. i'm not exactly the pinnacle of human achievement by any means#but i've always really related to ford in the sense of being able to pick up skills really fast except people skills#anyway#gravity falls meta#ford pines is the ''technically a genius personally a human disaster'' representation we need
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Seriously, what makes L so attractive to people? What makes him so attractive to you? Is it really just how fucking insanely intelligent he is? Like by all means he’s not that physically attractive unless you’re into that sickly-Victorian-dying-child-that-occasionally-lacks-eyebrows-in-some-panels thing (no judgement because apparently I myself am entirely into that), and he doesn’t look like he showers daily.
Is it just deadass because he’s that smart? And his unique personality? Because other than that he is most certainly not the most eligible bachelor out there.
I say this with more love towards L than anyone could ever dream of.
This is a totally valid question and I think we should talk about it, actually.
So, first things first, let’s take a second and acknowledge that the bar for romantically viable characters in Death Note is a bit low. We have Matsuda, sure, and Misa is obviously a goddess but, if we’re being honest with ourselves, Matsuda’s a cuck and Misa’s clearly red green colorblind, and unless you want to just completely disregard common sense and want to go with Light “Women are so simple” Yagami, the dating pool is shallow unless you want to add Soichiro or any of the characters outside of that main pool. Between the Wammy kids it’s an easy pick. Within the Kira task force it’s a slightly harder but still relatively easy pick.
Following up on that, he is solidly the second most relatable character in the cast from a personality perspective. He’s funny, sociable, and actually talks about embarrassing things that he’s done. He’s honest most of the time, clearly passionate about what he does (if only in regards to the Kira investigation) and is delightfully petty against someone that, if you like L and his moral ideals, you are going to hate. L, while eccentric, is still a relatively caring person who obviously can and is willing to attach himself to other people (albeit on a surface level) and doesn’t let that get in the way of things that need to be done, which is indicative of his strong work ethic and drive. Also he’s smart which makes the show less frustrating to watch.
Let’s talk brass tax here for a second. Let’s be selfish. Let’s acknowledge that the man has a stable job and an obvious sex drive and romantic desire. Let’s acknowledge the smoothness of “I could actually fall for you.” If you were to get into a permanent relationship with him, would you have to worry about your finances ever again? No, because even if you’re the main provider he is apparently so good with money that at the age of 26 he has enough savings to construct a building on his own and keep safety funds for the people around him. You never have to worry about him cheating, he’s gonna make sure you’re taken care of, and he is actually an active person which is just a wonderful thing to know.
Let’s not kid ourselves; L is hot. He is the alt boy ideal. That is the target demographic. He is so easy to dress and he looks so comfortable in his own skin and one could argue that his looking like that is a stylistic choice and not his just not washing. He is athletic to an extent and has proven his physical strength so you know he’s not just skin and bones under his clothes. He is very doll-like, which is my type and the type of a lot of the people who watch/read death note.
But why do I like L Lawliet? I like him because he’s smart and because he’s fun to write. I like him because he’s relatable and because you know that if he ever left the house long enough to actually get himself a spouse that he would treat them as well as he could manage and love them passionately. He’s fun to talk about and he’s fun to hang around and I’m a sucker for a good voice and that’s all I really need in a man. Is he eccentric? Yes. Do I think that there are aspects of his character which might impede his ability to be a 10/10 boyfriend/husband. Yes. Can I ignore those things because I like him so much? Absolutely.
#death note lawliet#death note x reader#death note x you#death note#death note x y/n#dn lawliet#l lawliet#lawliet x reader#l x reader#ryuzaki lawliet#oh and also#his backstory?#nonexistent#which adds to the mysterious vibe#but also means I can give him a backstory of my choosing#this is indeed build a bitch#but by bitch I mean an emotionally complex character.
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When I watched Amphibia, I kinda had a hard time understanding how certain headcanons were developed in the fandom. Especially Grime being Sasha's 'toad dad' and Olivia and Yunan being Marcy's 'newt moms.'
Like...by the end of the series, I totally bought Sasha and Grime as close friends (heck, they sold me as friends partway through season two), but Grime never gave 'adoptive dad' vibes to me. Putting aside the fact Grime's the reason Sasha spent her first month in Amphibia in a cell, he's also a pretty toxic influence on her, indulging her worst traits and only really improving as a person when he and Sasha form the resistance in season three.
And I'm confident viewers only started the 'newt moms' headcanon because of the episode Olivia & Yunan. Which is pretty ironic, since in that episode, Yunan initially objects to saving Marcy (she didn't even refer to Marcy by her name, just 'the human' XD), and like you said, Olivia explicitly states she's motivated to save Marcy because she trusts her and thinks her intelligence will help them defeat Andrias, not because Marcy is someone she's emotionally attached to.
Sure, in The Hardest Thing, Olivia and Yunan hug Marcy goodbye, so there was clearly some fondness for her by the end, but nowhere near familial feelings. And yeah, maybe you could argue Olivia cared for Marcy since she insisted on being 'gentle' when Marcy was being pulled out of the tank, but that's just basic decency; hardly 'adoptive mother' behaviour.
With all that in mind, why do you think so many got so hooked on the idea of these people being found families for Sasha and Marcy? Did they think Sasha and Marcy both 'deserved' a found family just because Anne got that with the Plantars? Did they just like the idea, even if canon did almost nothing to validate it?
I personally think it's because a lot of people thought Sasha and Marcy's parents were abusive (another headcanon I can't get behind), and believed they deserved to find 'better' families in Amphibia. But that's my take; what's yours?
So there's a LOT here to potentially discuss because you're not wrong in saying that it's a dubious claim. Let's start with just my thoughts on them being found families: I like Grime as Sasha's father figure in works but it is much more a mentor and student relationship but where who is doing which is very dubious. The two need each other but how much one or the other need each other is constantly shifting and it's part of what makes their dynamic interesting. Trying to place a specific label on them is rough and I'd agree that saying that Grime is Sasha's first healthy friendship would be accurate because of the push and pull there.
Yunan and Olivia are great in fanworks as having had a real relationship with Marcy but the show just doesn't support it. Yunan seems to look down on her and barely know her while Olivia is a very normal archtype of the proper, Victorian woman who has to deal with childish antics. Neither are bad characters for it but it does mean that the moment in the end with her hugging Yunan and Olivia is more for the sake of a curtain call than it is a big relationship being wrapped up. They honestly symbolize Newtopia, which Marcy definitely should still love, rather than their actual characters in that hug and I think that works.
Now, why are they called found families?
Well, the first reading for why is honestly what I'd probably put my money on: It's a popular trope and people liked the dynamics enough to want to push it into the box they wanted it to be. Like how TOH is praised for its found family despite the family doing so little together, it's a trope with poor definitions, is hard to disprove and is just roaring through fiction right now so its overuse as a term isn't surprising. The fact that it gets used to describe so many people with just dynamics in general (frankly, it feels like it's becoming harder to write best friends in fiction partially from this) makes me unsurprised that it is getting used here since Anne does absolutely get a found family with the Plantars.
Which does bring a second part in: It makes Sasha and Marcy more important. If they're going on similar journeys as Anne than they totally aren't there to help with the themes and the like, the journey is about them too! It brings them closer to being the focus of the story and as narratively important as Anne which, as we've seen, was a big deal to the fandom. I won't even call this bad, fandom will do as it does, but it does also end up diminishing just how big a deal it was for the Plantars to so thoroughly integrate Anne into their family and then how the Boonchuys recognize that work and accept them readily too. If it's as easy as it had to have been for Marcy, Yunan and Olivia, it kind of cheapens the core thrust of the show, almost like it focused on Anne for a reason.
The last one is... KIND OF what you brought up but I think it's a lot deeper than you frame it. I recognize that nowadays I am an outlier. I literally go and take a walk with my mom every morning, or I'm supposed to, to try and help her be more physically active. My problems with my parents are mostly due to my brain not being able to accept anyone actually approves of me, let alone people who's approval I care about. I am so very lucky to have good parents who I am happy to call my parents and who I am glad to have the support of.
All too many kids, even those not in the LGBTQIA+ but ESPECIALLY if they are, have bad family homes. They dream of being able to escape to a new world that's better than theirs, meet people who accept them for them and let them do cool things and be themselves. Escapism, especially isekai, is EXTREMELY popular for a reason, especially as just the world in general sucks, regardless of your relationship with your family.
So then we get Marcy and Sasha still going back. Them ALL going back because sometimes change is inevitable and not always can you bring the ones you care about with you. It's a powerful message that spits in the eye of that escapism and for a lot of people, that HURTS. Like for as much as I defend the choice, I do understand why so many in the fandom reacted negatively to it. For as much as they potentially didn't care about the Amphibians, they don't want to lose the froggy world that they wanted to live in themselves.
And so we get the projection of abusive parents. We get the toads and newts also being found families because it's so much worse to give those people up in your life than just saying bye to your friends. We get reasons why they should have stayed or at least been allowed to travel between worlds. This isn't even all inherently wrong, especially if you are willing to admit that there was a reason why the show chose the ending it did, even if you wish you could have the one that makes you happier.
Hell, we even see some of that with how people treat angst right here. They want Sasha and Marcy to have abusive parents... Because then they can be told it's okay to reject reality, be given a hug and then move on. Not to explore that abuse but to be given the wish fulfillment of that abuse being met with kindness which is admittedly how you should meet that stuff, please take abuse victims seriously and help them, but life is more complicated than that most of the time.
These are arguments I can understand and sympathize with though. I wish I could see someone using mental illness as now their superpower to be something that makes me happy because it WOULD be nice if my depression made me better than others. I just... don't quite engage with media that way though. It's actually part of what I think makes scripted content harder for me because I engage too genuinely and don't just want a pat on the head and a juice box.
And that isn't to say people who do want that are wrong. I still don't want to be actively hurt by the media I consume. I am still there to be entertained and happy and how that happens will be different for each person. That's part of the joy of life.
So I won't tell people who want Yunan and Olivia to be Marcy's lesbian moms they're bad for wanting that. Just don't tell me that's objectively what happened in the story since analysis and headcanon are genuinely different.
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I have a public Discord for any and all who want to join!
I also have an Amazon page for all of my original works in various forms of character focused romances from cute, teenage romance to erotica series of my past.
I have an Ao3 for my fanfiction projects as well if that catches your fancy instead.
If you want to hang out with me, I stream from time to time and love to chat with chat.
A Twitter you can follow too
And a Kofi if you like what I do and want to help out with the fact that disability doesn’t pay much.
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Well, since it seems that you like sibling-related scenarios, dear author, I'll keep writing them as an offering before dumping next bunch of questions on you.
No matter how passive-agressive L gets with MC, they don't seem to be bothered by it at all. Even worse, it looks like MC is acting even friendlier towards them than anyone else. L didn't have any high expectations for a human's intelligence, but no one can actually be that oblivious, right? One day they finally snap and ask MC what exactly is wrong with them and in return get hit with "Oh, you remind me of how my younger sibling was in their teenage years :D" (I fear A will have to look for a new human for their office after that one 😔)
And onto questions:
1) Would it be possible to befriend ??? without romancing them? Can we, like, fix them platonically?
2) There's "First love" in Val's trope list, and I assume it stays true for both same- and different-gendered romance, so with them being demi, were people they dated before a case of keeping appearances in their younger ages or a "Yeah, this is probably what love feels like"? (Because if that's the latter - oof, same)
3) This isn't exactly a question, but N/Val poly with same-sex/nb MC sounds like a wild ride. Hey, do you want to not only question your sexuality, but also end up in a relationship with a human and your nemesis?
Omg that'd be enough for L to stop being passive aggressive and just be aggressive 😭 They tend to be easily annoyed (more easily*) by positive/cheerful MCs too.
L is a younger sibling so that'd one would hit specially close to home.
1) Would it be possible to befriend ??? without romancing them? Can we, like, fix them platonically?
I think it'd be possible! A bit harder because ??? doesn't open up as easily, but possible.
2) There's "First love" in Val's trope list, and I assume it stays true for both same- and different-gendered romance, so with them being demi, were people they dated before a case of keeping appearances in their younger ages or a "Yeah, this is probably what love feels like"? (Because if that's the latter - oof, same)
Actually, Val hasn't dated that many people overall! Mostly because they haven't had much genuine interest toward anyone, but I'd say that most of the time those relationships were out of convenience + not understanding their own sexuality.
3) This isn't exactly a question, but N/Val poly with same-sex/nb MC sounds like a wild ride. Hey, do you want to not only question your sexuality, but also end up in a relationship with a human and your nemesis?
Agreed!! I love this so much, just their entire lives being flipped upside down fkwkfkw
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