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drabbles-mc · 4 months

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For the Record

Javier Peña x GN!Reader

For @pickled-pena's writing challenge!: resolutions, pickle/jar of pickles, "You stand there and accuse me, but where were you at the time?"

Warnings: 18+, language, mentions of injuries, angst/arguments

Word Count: 2.2k

A/N: This was such a fun challenge! Thank you to the mods for putting it together! It's also been a while since I've written for Javi so that was a treat too haha. Happy New Year, y'all! xo

Narcos Taglist: @garbinge @winchestershiresauce @sizzlingcloudmentality @panagiasikelia @616wilsons @hauntedforsst @mirabee @boomclapxox @nessamc @supersanelyromantic @padbrookcottage @mysun-n-stars @raincoffeeandfandoms @justreblogginfics @ashlingnarcos @proceduralpassion @artemiseamoon @narcolini @hausofmamadas @cositapreciosa @il0vebeingdelulu (If you want to be added to any of my taglists, please let me know!)

You were standing in the kitchen, holding the refrigerator door open as you looked inside it for the fifth time since you’d gotten home less than an hour before. No new food had appeared there in that span of time but you still kept coming back to check anyway just in case. You weren’t even actually hungry, although you should’ve been with how hectic the day had been and the fact that it led you to not being able to eat anything since your coffee and half of a pastry on the way to base that morning.

If you had still been back home, you would just be enjoying No Man’s Week—that week between Christmas and New Year’s when not much of anything gets done by anyone even if they have the best intentions. But you weren’t home. So instead of staying home and ditching work completely, or sitting in an office pretending to work but really getting nothing of the sort done, you had been running around the streets of Medellín trying to catch Escobar’s men and trying not to get shot in the process. Much less relaxing.

Along with your day being the opposite of relaxing, you also weren’t successful in either of the things that you had set out to do. The information that you’d been gathering had gotten you pretty far, but not quite far enough. The member of Pablo’s team that you’d been tracking for weeks slipped through your grasp, although it wasn’t without a fight. That much was evident because of the bullet that had gone clean through your bicep, and the other that had buried itself in your tac-vest. It was not a successful day.

Now, on top of your day being unsuccessful, everything else was infinitely more difficult to do when you only had full use of one arm and hand, and of course it wasn’t your dominant one. You should’ve taught yourself to be ambidextrous.

Then, as if all of that wasn’t enough salt rubbed into your very fresh wounds, you were about to make a final decision on what was going to pass for a very sad dinner when the lock flipped on the apartment door. You heard the click and you let out a sigh purely out of reflex as you let go of the fridge door to let it fall shut. Your jaw was clenched tight as you heard the apartment door swing open and quickly slam shut. Dramatic. He was always so dramatic.

“What the fuck was that?” he said as he started to storm into the kitchen.

You turned around to face him, your face as neutral as you could manage it. “Lock the door, Javi,” you instructed, purposely ignoring the question he’d just thrown at you.

He froze for a moment, hesitating. It took a second for him to process what you’d said, realizing that you weren’t giving him the argument that he’d been gearing up for the entire drive back to your place. He obliged, albeit begrudgingly. He was shaking his head the whole time, about two seconds away from stomping his foot like a toddler in the midst of his tantrum.

“Well?” he dove right back into it once the lock was in place.

“Well, what?” you asked, tone even as you turned back around to the fridge to open the door again, this time just to have an excuse not to look at him.

“You know what.” He wasn’t yelling, too exhausted for that, but even with how low his voice was it still held plenty of anger, still sharp enough to feel like it was cutting you. You heard his footsteps behind you even as you kept your eyes glued to the inside of the refrigerator. When he spoke up again you could practically feel his breath against the back of your neck. “You never should’ve been out there alone.”

You refused to turn around and look at him. “Some things can’t wait. You of all fucking people should know that. Plus it’s not like I didn’t try to get you to go with me, but no,” you dragged out that last word to twist the knife a little more. “Only you’re allowed to do that apparently.”

He scoffed. “What’s that supposed—”

“Don’t,” you cut him off, your laugh cruel enough to put you on even footing in the argument. “Don’t insult either of us by finishing that question.”

There was nothing in your fridge that would even come close to constituting a meal. You’d been living on takeout for the last few weeks because of how hectic everything had been. No time to grocery shop and definitely no energy left to cook. But you didn’t want to leave your apartment now that you were home, so you were just going to suffer through by grazing on the scraps that you had. You reached for the nearest jar on the refrigerator door, grabbing it with the one hand you still had full use of.

Javi watched as you side-stepped your way out of being boxed in by him. You moved to the side and set the jar on the counter, and Javi waited a second before he moved right along with you, trapping you between him and the counter now instead of the fridge.

As much as Javi wanted to plead ignorance, he knew exactly what you were talking about. It wasn’t something you brought up often, saving it for times when you needed a good card to play. This was one of those times. He was angry about it but he’d done it to himself in a way—he knew that. He tried to come to his own defense. “That’s not the same. You know that. What I did—”

“Was fucking reckless,” you snapped, slamming the jar down on the counter, not hard enough to break it, but hard enough to make both you and Javi flinch. You tightened your grip on the lid, not even trying to open the damn thing, just trying to channel all of your anger and exhaustion into something that would cause minimal damage. “You can’t stand there and be pissy at me for what I did today when your track record is what it is. It’s not,” you scoffed, “it’s not even fucking close.”

“You got fuckin’ shot!”

You turned around to face him, stanced up like you were ready to fight despite the fact that you were bandaged up and strapped down in a sling, a last-ditch effort from the doctors to try and remind you not to move your arm if you could help it. “And you got Steve fuckin’ kidnapped!”

Javi flinched at the accusation, the truth of it stinging just as much as the rest of it. “It’s not—”

“And, for the record,” you turned back around and set back to work on opening the jar on the counter, “I tried to fucking tell you. You didn’t wanna hear it. You didn’t think that I had anything. So don’t stand there and act like I just up and out of the blue decided to go rogue. I tried to make sure someone had my back and you bailed on me.”

You didn’t touch him. You weren’t even looking at him and yet he found himself taking a step backwards like you’d shoved him with both hands. “Hey.”

“No,” you refused to turn around and look at him, dedicated to the tear that you were about to go on, “no don’t give me that. You feel shitty about it? Good. You should feel shitty. Because it didn’t have to go down like that today. You wanna come in here and yell at me and say that I was acting stupid and reckless and I just—you didn’t leave me any other choice!” You tried and failed to twist the lid on the jar, only adding to the frustration that was stacking endlessly on your shoulders. “You stand there and accuse me of all this shit, but where were you at the time? What else was so promising that you just fucking hung me out to dry?”

“If you knew I couldn’t be there then you should never have gone out on your own.”

“But you could’ve been there! You were supposed to be there!” You wanted to throw your hands up in exasperation and you couldn’t. You turned around to look at him, hating that you could feel the tears in your eyes. “You promised. You can’t just treat your promises to me like, like the bullshit excuses you give our boss. They’re not just some red tape you have to find a way around. You owe me more than that.”

He frowned, the response that he’d been building up in his head evaporating completely the more he listened to you, not just to your words but to the sadness in your voice, the dejection. He never wanted to make you feel like that. Until recently he hadn’t ever been in the position to make someone feel that way—his relationships never unfolded the way that yours had.

He still wasn’t ready to spit out an apology, though.

“I don’t think they’re red tape,” he finally said. He took a deep breath as he reached around you and took the jar off the counter.

“Javi—”

“Let me finish,” he stopped you before you got on another tirade. He easily twisted and popped the lid off the jar you’d been struggling with before setting it back down on the counter. Neither of you commented on it. “I should’ve listened back then. But you didn’t say a damn word to me today once we left here. I had no idea where you were until I heard a call on the radio saying you got fuckin’ shot.”

“Would you have even shown up?”

“How can you ask me that?”

“Because you blew me off once.”

“In a fuckin’ meeting! In a conference room! I would never—” he stopped short, getting himself together. “No one goes out alone like that.” He paused, hurt crossing over his expression for a moment. “I don’t let you go out alone like that.”

If you hadn’t been so exhausted, you would’ve had more angry things to say. More cutting comments to make. But as it stood, you just wanted the day to be over with, wanted the argument to be over with or at least paused. There would be plenty of time tomorrow to keep hashing it out after a decent night’s sleep. You were trying to figure out a way to say all of that when the sound of your stomach growling cut through the tense silence of the apartment.

You sighed, about to cobble together a sentence of some kind when Javi spoke up for you. “Eat. Get some energy to yell at me more later.”

Despite the exhaustion and the stress, you managed a smile. “Tha—”

“That all you’ve had today?” he asked.

“Not really,” you said, your tone markedly different than it had been a few moments before, “but sort of, yeah.”

“I don’t think pickles count as dinner after the day you had.”

“Well,” you reached into the jar with your good hand and carefully pulled one out, “I don’t think that you brought home dinner.” You took a bite of it. “So this is gonna have to do.”

“I can run out and grab something,” he offered, not quite an olive branch but something close.

You appreciated the offer but you still shook your head no. “It’s fine. We’re both home. Let’s just…yeah.”

He knew that he should’ve fought you on it, gone out and gotten something more passable for dinner anyway despite your protest, but he didn’t. Of all the arguments the two of you were bound to get into, he didn’t think it was worth it to make this one of them.

“We gotta get better about cooking,” he said as he stepped over, reaching in and taking a pickle out of the jar.

You let out a tired laugh. “Next year, maybe.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Thought you didn’t do resolutions?”

“I don’t. But, you know, still sounds good.” You paused for a brief moment. “Yours should be to listen to me more.” There was no real malice behind it, almost like it was a real piece of advice.

He took it as such as he leaned back against the counter beside you, studying your sling, your face, your everything. “You alright?”

It wasn’t funny, per se, but you still had to laugh at the fact that it took you both this long to get to the point in the conversation where he was asking you that. Typically that’s the first thing someone asks when they hear you got shot.

“I will be,” you told him truthfully.

You leaned, letting your head drop against his shoulder. You let out a deep sigh, one that he mirrored soon after. Part of you felt like maybe there was something else that you should be saying, but when you felt the kiss that he pressed to the side of your head, you figured that whatever was left to say could wait until later.

#pickledpena #pickledpeña writing challenge #pickledpeña #javier peña #javier pena #narcos #narcos fanfiction #javier pena x you #javier pena x reader #x reader #x reader fic #javier pena fanfiction #javier peña x reader #javier peña x you #my writing #fanfiction #drabblesmc

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fizzigigsimmer · 5 months

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Fargo Season 5: Gator Speculation

Y’all I am starting to fear for this man’s life. 😂 If you have not watched episode 5 yet, warnings for spoilers ahead.

So my theory that Gator and Dot may have previously been romantically involved went from an itch based on tiny clues that might have been circumstantial, to a full on burn last night.

Up until now we haven’t had any confirmation of Dot/Nadine’s age. The actress is only a few years older than Joe, but Hollywood is notoriously gross about women not looking their age, so it was entirely possible Juno was playing much older than she actually is. But now we know Dot was a teenager when she was brought into Roy’s little cult and when she married him.

For me that pretty much confirms that she and Gator are peers, and that he was a teenager when his father married a child near his own age. 🤢

Another thing that went from an itch to a burn for me: During the home invasion, when Dot first sees Gator she says “shame on you there’s a baby in this house”. This struck me because it’s the first time that I can recall Dot using such infantile language to refer to her daughter. While it’s not strange at all or uncommon for people to infantilez children in general, typically that kind of perspective becomes part of your regular speech patterns. “Gotta get home to my babies” that sort of thing. But to my memory Dot has always referred to Scotty with very particular language, possessive language at that. Scotty is always her child, her cub - and they even have her remind us there isn’t anything a mother lion wouldn’t do to protect her cub.

Dot might have chosen to refer to Scotty as a baby in that moment out of calculation, in the hopes that it would prick Gator’s conscience - which naturally infers that she has reason to believe he has one to work over. It also can’t be ruled out either that the specific use of the word baby was an unconscious slip, due to her shock and the vulnerability of the moment. Because the last time she saw Gator she was pregnant with what might be his baby.

The other hint we got this week is Dot confirming that Roy is an abusive piece of shit. She says something along the lines of what is obvious about Roy - that when he’s happy and feels in control things were good, but the minute he feels challenged or insecure he’d hit her and climb all over her just to feel strong again. Only when she’s describing this behavior she specifically uses the word ‘they’. They don’t hit you at first. “They” turn on you and push you down when they need to feel strong.

Now of course, Dot could just be talking about men in general. Men like Roy. But well, Gator IS a man like Roy. He’s desperately trying to walk in his father’s shoes and be all of the things he’s not, and he lashes out on other people to build himself up. We know from his own lips what he did to another teenager who accidentally injured him during a high school football game and stole his (most likely imagined) future in football. Given how close he and Dot are in age and all the hints that we have that he feels something for her, I think it’s highly likely that something happened between them.

I think it’s very possible that they connected, and were able to be vulnerable with each other. Gator seems just as surprised that Dot has become a “tiger” as Dot was that he has become his daddy’s lacky. I think in the past, at first they were able to find comfort in each other and things were good but eventually Gator did something that scared Dot and she decided to run.

At this point, I am confident at the very least that Gator’s feelings for/about Dot are romantic. Whether or not Dot has ever reciprocated them is still 50/50 for me. Regardless I think Gator held a candle for her and that as the tensions rise in the final episodes and he sees just how far Roy is willing to go to hurt and control her it’s going to force him to take a hard look at Roy, the kind of man and father he is, and really ask himself if that’s what he wants to be.

The part that scares me is Roy. Because when he’s in control and he feels like he has power over you, he’s loving. But the minute you do something to rock the boat… 😩 I have this really bad feeling that Gator is going to make an effort to be his own man, just in time to learn a final lesson about just what type of monster he narrowly avoided becoming. That scene with the blindfold and the rope keeps coming back to me.

Of course, my anxieties about that little clip aside there is always the possibility of the narrative going full Shakespeare on us. Gator, bringing about the downfall of his father’s kingdom by falling in love with his step mother and killing his father. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Full on Oedipus.

#fargo s5 #gator tillman #speculation #character meta

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yowyowyaoi · 7 months

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Zetsu’s Daily Texts from the Akatsuki

From Nagato

You can’t keep eating them without checking to see if we’re using them first.

300 miles? Is that really the closest?!

I can put you with Tobi or Hidan. Take your pick.

Put the letters where they can find them, then stay somewhere hidden to see their reactions.

Keep an eye on them please. No explosions, no sacrifices. Nothing to draw attention.

I’ve been practicing every day. Legs feel stronger.

I’d only risk it if you also want to risk being placed in a gengetsu.

I’m sure I’ll be gone before her. All I ask is she be well taken care of. It’s all that matters.

No. Under no circumstances. I need them all ALIVE and able to work, please.

You can ask but she’ll probably hit you hard enough to REALLY split you in half.

From Kakuzu

Yes well your appetite is proving quite costly.

Find where he’s hiding and I’ll give you a third of his bounty.

I’m not so sure that “intelligence” is a quality I’d associate with any of them.

Actually if you could naturally produce that we could sell bottles and make some money 🤔

Much, much too expensive.

I don’t care if you eat him but wait until I get his heart out first.

I’d rather you ate me; my body won’t be on display for him to entertain Deidara with.

It’s complicated. And by complicated I mean I let a one time physical urge turn into a years-long relationship.

It’s the 1st. Rent and utilities are due.

If I didn’t we wouldn’t have *anything*. Be grateful.

I’m not sure if my threads would hold for plant-skin.

Stop losing them for God’s sake each one costs $50 in materials to make!!

I’ll take your word for it. That voice creeps me out.

From Konan

Please don’t ever do that again. Nagato almost had a heart attack. 😡

It’s funny in a shouldn’t be funny way.

Wait you’ve seen him without the mask 👀

No I don’t care if they’re annoying we don’t have the time to replace them now!!

Ask Sasori to take a look. He enjoys a challenge.

I don’t care how easy it was to get, I’m NOT cooking with that kind of “meat” 🤢

No offense but do you even have nails 🤔

I’d rather we didn’t need to pick up and move again unless absolutely necessary.

Since we were children 🥰

I’d kill anyone who tried. With my bare hands.

Kisame may be able to but the rest will need it cooked.

You’re THAT old?! 😵‍💫

Stick to guys. I will remain the only woman in this group.

Can’t you eat them? Aren’t you part Venus fly trap??

From Hidan

Freak.

Then stop watching, weirdo!

Because if you take the body before my praying is finished then the entire ritual is void!!

Not to be gay but yeah I see what he sees.

Then steal him some damn glasses next time!

But do plants even have dicks? Like is it green? Does it smell like grass? 🤔

He’s such a liar he wanted me since the day we met 😂

I saw you eyeing that cat and so did Itachi.

How do you say “Fuck you” in plant-speak?

They’re not “pink” they’re “rose”, heathen.

Ribs without sauce is like fucking without lube. Like what’s even the point?

If I could convert even one of those fucks I’d become a High Priest for Jashin.

Can’t. Kakuzu’s “withholding my paycheck” until I pay off that bounty of his that I killed. 🙄

So come with us. Everyone’s weird you’ll fit right in.

From Sasori

Elderberry, nightshade, and primrose. For now.

A mouse learns to fear other mice before it even thinks about predators.

Please stop that you gave him nightmares last time and I couldn’t work on my puppets for a whole week 😒

I don’t care as long as it has a big enough space for a lab.

Damn blue eyes trapped me for eternity.

An interesting experiment, certainly.

I have vague memories but that’s all.

You appear to be “friends” so talk to him and tell him to back off.

Who do you think I am? That freak Orochimaru?!

I don’t buy that stupid act for a second.

If I suggested aloe vera would you find that insulting?

You and I are the least bothersome in terms of eating. I don’t, and you hunt.

I’ll contribute when the expense is relative to me.

From Kisame

So far only Itachi knows about it but the water there is clear and beautiful.

Your way of thinking is truly fascinating.

Of course you’re welcome to join us but you’ve voiced objections before to both tea and sweets.

No, I’ll BURY him myself before I let you eat him.

Crab and shrimp. Especially crab.

I’m aware. His smell is getting weaker and his chakra is shaky.

I admire your patience for it but I don’t do so well in the sun for so long.

Again? Why?? Who attracted attention this time? 😒

I don’t but Samehada seems to.

The battlefield is empty. Care to join me at the buffet? 😋

Between the prayer rituals and the constant bombing I just can’t handle either of them.

Salt is for the weak. Pure fear flavors the meat better than any seasoning.

From Deidara

You can’t prove that was me, that could have been anyone!

If I’m successful there won’t BE anything left of me to eat so 🤷🏼

Idk you just look gray. Maybe stand in the sun for a while?

Ok we may eat more BUT his food costs more!

Wait is it real hair or like plant stuff 🤔

I didn’t this time he was dancing and he tripped on his cloak like an idiot.

Honestly not until I met Sasori lol

Omg where?! Riverbanks are always a goldmine of natural clay! 🤩

I get that but I’m just not interested, eternity is so boring.

Low key he goes into this voice sometimes that scares the piss out of me.

Bc it’s weird man it’d be like watching my mother shower or something 😖

Like usual he couldn’t shut up and almost got us killed on the spot 😡

Not unless you want to pick the lice out of my hair afterwards.

From Itachi

Not sure of the exact dynamics but I think it’s second or third cousins.

Maybe it’s best we all just live with our own partners. Too many in one area and eventually someone figures it out.

No he’s as gentle as possible. I just have sensitive skin.

Yes but cabbage is so versatile.

You saw him? Did he look well? 👀

The glasses help some but most everything is still a massive blur.

I tried. Nagato tried. He refuses to give up on the idea.

There is no “before” and there’s no “after0. There’s just NOW.

No I know he ate it because he had the jam smeared all over his collar.

22 doesn’t really interest me.

From Obito

The right arm still twitches if I try to lift too much.

Come on weren’t YOU happy when he died?!

He can’t turn me down forever. Just picture him with the Uchiha fan on his back 😍

Yeah well he’s still my little cousin and I still worry.

I think it scares him a little, he almost walked into a tree that first time I did it on accident.

It’s not excessive; the sugar is literally the only thing pushing me forward right now.

I would bet money that he’s the worst Sensei ever to those kids. No wonder Sasuke was so weak.

The constant money woes are so tedious.

Blind or not his reflexes are unmatched and he could still take me out in one move.

We should have put more emphasis on intelligent and less on “skills”.

You’ve gotta admit the explosions DO liven things up 🤷🏻

What if you ate him and he could still talk from inside of your stomach though? Is that a chance you want to take?

Bonus: From Madara

He stopped responding two years ago he acts like I’m dead.

What? That little shit. 😡

If the blonde is giving him too much of a distraction, dispose of him.

You don’t need to pre-chew my food I’m not a baby bird.

Have you seen my good blanket?

What happened to my slippers?

🍆 I want this. I’m craving this so bad. Please bring it to me.

Tell that boy to come back I need a good bath and a haircut.

Perhaps if you hadn’t recruited so many *brats* you wouldn’t be having such an issue.

Whatever you do, do NOT let them breed.

Did you remember where I stashed my last painting of Hashirama?

If I was younger I could have eliminated the entire group within seconds. They’d never even know what hit them.

Please procure a backscratcher and industrial grade toenail clippers.

Wait until he sleeps and move several large rocks into his room. I guarantee he’ll cry.

First that young lass, then the Hatake boy, now the blonde. He never learns his lesson does he?

What do you mean he cut it?? An Uchiha’s hair is his crown! Tell him to get back here NOW.

I should have chosen Fugaku’s son instead. Likely a lot less crying.

#texting #zetsu #Akatsuki Daily Texts Series #nagato uzumaki #konan #itachi uchiha #kisame hoshigaki #deidara #sasori #kakuzu #hidan #obito uchiha #madara uchiha

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fandoms-in-law · 1 month

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Come Play With Us

A second part to my story How I'll Play

Summary: Steve set his requests to play DnD and now Eddie needs to get everything arranged for him and Robin to join them

Authors Note: I've played very little DnD and my brother who's played more advised me only a few times but this really was a bit of fun for me to write

/\/\

Eddie had been planning the campaign ever since Steve first suggested he might play. He'd taken every opportunity given to go around Steve's and hang out with him looking around the Sylvanian families sets and characters and just asking about the things that would make the story interesting for both Robin and Steve to play. He wanted them to carry on playing the entire thing and maybe agree to doing more than just this first campaign so would do everything in his power to learn the type of players they might become and give them a first campaign they'd enjoy, while still including the elements Hellfire expected and enjoyed about his stories.

The only thing he'd shared with Steve so far was that he'd bring in 2 larger figures for battles but had picked ones which should still fit in with the Sylvanian Families characters and buildings.

Today was the bigger challenge however, and he genuinely wished to avoid doing it a little longer except they'd completely finished the campaign they were on.

/\/\

Eddie clapped twice, finishing the descriptive paragraph and signalling to the players the game was over, but standing to lean over his board to prevent anyone from packing their things away.

“Quiet everyone, before this session breaks up, I have news from the king.” He declared, making eye contact with as much of the table as allowed it.

Gareth narrowed his eyes at him before asking, “As part of the campaign or as part of like normal life?”

“Stop calling Steve that.” Dustin complained when meeting Eddie's eyes, sighing as if it was a burden to hear.

Mike immediately agreed, rolling his eyes, “Seriously Eddie, he's not and never has been a king.”

“He has sent us his demands should we wish for him to join a campaign and I have agreed to them.” Eddie continued speaking over them, and reaching for the pages he'd copied out the night before.

Jeff shook his head, scoffing playfully at the words. “Of course you have.”

“Not like he's been talking about the guy for years or anything. Should've expected this.” Gareth muttered back, already reaching for the pages as Eddie started separating them.

Dustin leant over to snatch the first before he got a grip of it. “Really? We can get him to play?”

“I thought he swore never to.” Lucas mused, waiting for more pages to be offered out but looking over Dustin's shoulder as they both expected the list to be Steve's demands.

Mike glared at his friends. “Like he's actually going to take this seriously. We're better off ignoring whatever stupid demands he has.” He grumbled, getting tongues stuck out in reply.

Eddie shook his head at the antics, finishing passing the pages out and handing the extra to Lucas. “Here are lists of the races you all need to make characters of. Pick one, anyone trying to insist on playing a human is stating they don't want to play our next campaign. I will contact you all with the dates when it can be arranged and the campaign will be taking place in Steve's house. No figurines needed as Steve is providing them and plenty of scenery.”

The older Hellfire teams read the lists quickly, curious for any hints over what the coming campaign could be. “We're playing a campaign where humans are extinct? That actually sounds awesome. Do we need to make our characters any particular level? Are you starting Steve off at level 1?” Jeff checked, picking up his pencil to star a couple of the races included.

“Damn, Eddie, are you going to tell us how we go extinct? Cause I want to know that.” Gareth asked before a reply could be given since none was really expected as he leant closer the other older members to start speculating what Eddie could be planning.

Dustin stared between the page and the Dungeon Master in shock, only stating, “What?”

“I guess Will wins that bet. He said Steve wouldn't have a human character the first time we got him to play.” Lucas smiled, copying Jeff's method of highlighting the races he was interested in using.

“Why the hell would Steve go straight for a different race? He already complains it's too complicated. This just makes it more so.” Mike challenged, looking to Dustin expectantly now he'd given up grumbling.

Dustin did then jump up, hands flat on the table before one came up to gesture wildly at Eddie, “It's happening guys! I told you Eddie could swing it for us! How did you convince him?”

“The king was the one to suggest it. Apparently a gift from family he scarcely knows inspired him. So you'll get your characters prepared?” Eddie confirmed, wide grin directed at his friends.

“If I have to” Mike sighed but had a smile hidden by his complaining.

Lucas nodded too, holding both pages up. “Yes and I'll ask Erica if she wants to get involved too. What type of figurines has Steve got?”

“One's you'll never expect or expect to be used for this. I'll get Steve to show Erica if she tries refusing. I bet it'll get her playing.” Eddie promised, having decided with Steve a few evenings back not to mention that to them before the campaign began.

“I already know which race and class I'm having. Can you get Steve to make me his characters brother?” Dustin decided, scanning down the list once before turning pleading eyes on Eddie.

He shook his head already, resolute not to give away much about the characters he'd been helping Robin and Steve to create. “Probably not. I think he's already having Robs as his team before joining the party.”

Grant looked over the page and back to Eddie, saying only, “Tell us you're making a full campaign and not one to pander to Steve? But yes, we'll all get our characters made.”

“It'll be a real campaign. Steve has included 'make it challenging and hellish' in his demands too. Not quite in that phrasing.” Eddie assured them all.

“Hell, looks like everyone's in.” Gareth surmised, looking around the interest everyone at the table had over the vaguely described campaign.

Eddie grinned, turning to packing his things up now he'd got that agreement. “It'll be one to remember, I know it.”

/\/\

Getting schedules matched up ended up being more difficult than Eddie expected. He'd been convinced that Steve and Robin had somehow put it in their contract that they couldn't be scheduled to work separately and realising it was more that they just bugged and supported each other in Family Video more often than not really messed the times the campaign could be up.

“Robin's closing that night, can't do it then.” Steve commented the first time he saw Eddie going over his calendar, circling a possible day based off the shifts noted on it. “How about Tuesday?”

“Lucas has practice and I've heard your lecture about excluding him enough for a lifetime.” Eddie countered, checking his notebook over when Hellfire had commitments.

For a moment they both looked at the calendar, before Steve huffed, pulling it down. “I'll write out Robin's shifts and then you can add on whatever things are in that notebook. We'll see what looks to be free after that.”

Eddie leant back gesturing for him to do so.

As much as he'd silently doubted the idea after Eddie had the plans of Hellfire all written out it was easy to plan two evenings a week for the campaign. Steve had suggested it, knowing how much the kids liked to complain over having to wait on cliffhangers for a week. It wasn't going to stop them, but Eddie was definitely bringing it up every time someone tried to complain.

That had been all he'd expected to do that afternoon, but Steve was scratching the back of his neck. “Shoot me down if it's stupid, but, well, Robs and I were talking about how easy it could be to make our own things for Sylvanians and I thought pipe cleaners are easy to shape.” He began rambling, going to one of the drawers in the kitchen Eddie had been sure was just for useless devices the Harrington's had brought. He pulled out a few different pipe cleaner weapons. “I know your figurines tend to have like weapons included in them so thought we could give our characters these to like show what they fight with or something?”

Eddie couldn't help beaming, picking up what had to be a bow. “This is adorable and you're entirely right. They'll be perfect for DnD Sylvanian Families style.”

“Cool, cool.” Steve nodded, still holding the rest out.

/\/\

“Okay, I don't know what these toys are, but they're brilliant and I better be leaving with a family of them, Harrington.” Erica declared, seeing the table already set up for their game.

The fact neither her brother or Mike had said anything got Steve to come through curiously. “I've got a few rabbit families, but if you want one of the other animals you're out of luck, Erica. You two okay?”

“We're playing DnD with kids toys?” Mike sneered, but put the cat figure Eddie claimed would suit his tabaxi character down carefully.

“With Sylvanian Families. A gift I got from a grandmother I barely know.” He explained easily, seeing no reason to hide it.

Before Lucas could react more there was a knock and Steve was letting the older Hellfire guys in, “Come on in. Eddie's set everything up and I think gave us set places by putting relevant animals in each place. Anyone want a drink?”

“Did Eddie repaint these buildings too?” Gareth asked, looking at the couple that were on the table and the others currently underneath or around it.

“Oh, Robin and I helped with that. Apparently while I can convince him to let us play a campaign just with Sylvanian Families the aesthetic of the buildings is too saccharine for it.” He agreed.

With everyone there, Eddie interrupted their chatter, clapping and gesturing over the table for everyone to sit down.

He'd loved Steve's limitations to the campaign and had found it gave him inspiration for what to do and ideas to explain the world their characters would inhabit, even before Gareth got excited about a human apocalypse.

Now, with Steve and Robin taking seats either side of him, and the rest of Hellfire spread along Harrington's dining table, he could only grin, standing and leaning over his shield with all attention on him.

“Adventurers, Welcome! Here you are in Sylvan, brought to town for your own reasons, some alone, some in pairs. Do you wish for the story to start after you've met or to tell me the tales of how your party will form?” He hoped they'd play through meeting and had included the option to give his new players a chance to get used to their stats and the reasons they might roll outside of combat.

Steve and Robin just looked to the rest silently, trying to figure out if this was a normal beginning. Dustin began gesturing to the other kids, entirely failing to communicate anything of what he wanted and confusing everyone who met his eyes so the older Hellfire members shared their own looks.

“Do you have a plan for when we introduce ourselves if we don't start as a group?” Gareth asked, looking over. “Cause that'd be fun to do for once.”

Eddie nodded, “Dustin will introduce himself first, then around the table until Robin and Steve. We'll take where you sit as your origin points in the town.”

“We're meeting as we play.” Jeff decided, nodding at everyone until they returned the gesture.

Eddie stood again, smiling. “Well then, Broc, you're in the shops of the Haregon town of Sylvan in search of supplies. Currently you are stood outside a tailors shop. Introduce yourself and tell us who you want to greet of the figures in your view.”

With that play began by Dustin talking to an NPC, hoping it would be Steve. Eddie had placed those figures precisely because he'd anticipated that choice but also to start feeding the story hooks to them. He'd checked that Steve and Robin were happy with their rabbits being hidden in a shop and they'd been relieved to hear his explanation that it should delay the party pulling them into gameplay immediately. Out of everyone, Eddie thought only Erica would have the wits to try going into the shops and the possible desire to get Steve and Robin playing before they introduced themselves.

/\/\

“We've got to go to the caves next.” Dustin insisted after Eddie had declared the campaign over for the day.

Mike and Will immediately started debating with him, pointing out other paths and leads they could follow and whether the caves were really the most important to head to.

Erica meanwhile was looking at the Sylvanian Families again, turning shrewd eyes onto Steve. “We're playing with these outside of DnD at some point.”

“Course, I've got a couple other buildings Eddie decided not to repaint we could use.” Steve agreed easily, glancing up from where he and Robin had decided to compare their notes from the session.

Eddie fidgeted with his hands, looking the pair over nervously. “And over continuing the campaign?” He asked.

“Definitely going to happen. It's been really interesting and I completely get why you're all kind of obsessed with it.” Robin agreed, looking over as Steve copied something she'd written down.

“Did you include that fight at the end just in case you couldn't convince us to continue?” Steve asked, a challenge in his eyes. “I told you I'd play the full campaign.”

“And you've said to basically everyone you've spent more than a few minutes hanging out with here that you'd never play.” Eddie countered, “I think being nervous about scaring you off from playing the game is valid.”

Steve rolled his eyes. “Valid shmalid, I'm looking forward to whatever the big bad in the cave is. I just hope we can keep Broc away from it long enough to know what dangers we'll be heading into in those caves.”

“You're referring to the characters not the players.” Eddie said, half amazed, “You really did enjoy the game.”

“Of course that's what you focus on.” Steve muttered, grinning before standing and getting the attention on him. “Alright, you can all do your arguing over next steps via walkies or at school. I know you kids have curfews and it's time I get to hang out with people my age for a bit. You guys are staying for a while longer, right?” The last question was directed to the rest of Corroded Coffin, a genuine invitation they all seemed stunned to receive.

Grant shrugged, “I've not got a set time to be home. Have either of you?”

“Nope, I'm free to hang out.” Jeff agreed too, looking to Gareth.

“Might as well get to know the king. It's not like Eddie hasn't been trying to figure out a way for us to do so since whatever happened in the Spring.” He reasoned, smirking as Eddie spluttered. “Doesn't surprise me that you failed until Steve had to be the one to invite us though.”

Steve rolled his eyes, but smiled sweetly at Eddie. “You never suggested that to me. Did you think they'd embarrass you, or that Robin would team up with them to tease you to hell?”

After spluttering to try and explain Eddie gave up, yelling to the kids, “If you want a ride home get your shit together already and lets go.”

Robin stared after Eddie as he herded the kids out, nudging Steve's shoulder. “Didn't they all ride here? Is Eddie really putting 5 bikes as well as 5 kids in that van to take them home?”

“Anything to avoid one of us pointing out his willingness to do anything to get Steve involved in his interests.” Gareth stated simply. “But if he tries convincing us to play anything top 40 then I'm gonna have a problem with you Harrington.”

Steve chuckled, nodding as he turned to face him, “I don't think I have that much influence, but noted. I'll pick songs that don't make the charts from those artists then.”

“Bastard.”

“And that's somehow less insulting than still referring to me as king. Knew I'd grow on you guys.” Steve smirked, leading the way through to the living room but not checking if any of them followed him.

#stranger things #steve harrington #eddie munson #robin buckley #pre steddie #hellfire club #steve plays dnd

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michelleelizabethtanner · 5 months

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16, 28, and 29 for AO3 wrapped!

Hey! Tyty for the ask ❤️❤️❤️

16. What’s your most common “Additional Tags” tag?

So far my most common addl tag has been “cannon compliant.” Which makes sense, because AU has been a journey for me. I just feel so rooted in who these characters are in canon, find that the magic centers around who they are in these particular circumstances, and I have a lot of trouble finding a connection to them in circumstances or settings that remove me too far from their canonic characterizations. There are fics by others that have immersed me and allowed my rigid mind to see the Brio magic in unlikely circumstances. But in my own writing, this has been difficult. I’ve been practicing though!!! I made that baby fic. Which kinda keeps them canonically themselves mostly, I think. Except they have a baby. So maybe that’s more canon divergent than straight AU. My current WIP is a full AU, though, and it’s breaking my brain. Part of my struggle is that I have such a hard time accepting Brio as not really Brio. Or Brio but different. The “Rio would never” runs through my mind incessantly and I keep having to set the work aside because I don’t like him like that. (I honestly just wanna post the done pieces of it already so there’s an element of not going back. Because otherwise I keep wanting to just scrap it.) So goal for 2024 is to finish that AU and get more comfortable with actually having an imagination. 😂

28. Favorite work you wrote this year?

I think My Girl is my favorite work of the year. It was the most challenging (at least of the completed works), and as I mentioned before, the most autobiographical. It’s so funny that the trope I was the most against has come to be my own favorite work. I think I also used the most sophisticated (and let’s not get too excited here, it still wasn’t anything that would pass a professional edit) writing conventions in this work. I really enjoy stories told from the present gazing into the past to give us a better perspective on the present. So I wanted to try that for myself and run it through an entire work. I had done some of that kind of style in Rough Night a bit, and those actually usually ended up being the best-received chapters that I liked the best too. So I gave it a shot. Some elements came out just as I had hoped and I’m really proud of myself for being able to “make a thing the way I think is a nice way to make a thing.” Other aspects didn’t come out quite so elegantly, and there are certainly plenty cringey, unreadable (to me) parts where it’s just so glaring where I went too heavy-handed on the descriptiveness, where quiet moments just stretch without much meaning because I wasn’t sure exactly how to give them appropriate weight.

29. Favorite line/passage you wrote this year?

Ok, I’m gonna seem so over the top here, but this one right here, from My Girl:

Not because it was some poignant piece or anything, but because this is the secret conversation, the unspoken sentiment I feel like I needed, and the type of support I needed in those middle-of-the-night hours when nothing’s really wrong, the baby is asleep, but you still don’t know how you can keep going on like this. When living “like this” is aaaaaalmost not worth it and maybe not living at all would finally allow you the reprieve and let you rest. I gave Beth the voice I couldn’t find for myself. And I gave Rio the emotional intelligence to really hear her without personalizing it. Anyway, super dramatic but definitely cathartic to write.

AO3 Wrapped

#ask games #asks #nbc good girls #ao3 wrapped 2023

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iamstartraveller776 · 1 month

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Not 500, but see below :P

"Oh, but Loki wasn’t ready for playtime to be over yet. He hurried to the door ahead of Jane, opening it hardly more than a crack to imply that his companion had to make herself presentable.

“Looking for your friend?” he asked the dark-haired girl in the hallway.

“Whoa! You’re actually kind of hot,” she said, sizing him up with the same kind of annoying interest the others had shown him earlier.

He gave her a wry smile. “Shocking, I know. But you’ve come for Jane.” He nudged the door all the way open and said conspiratorially, “She’s been keeping me company.”

Jane’s friend gasped as her gaze flicked between the two of them, very obviously drawing the conclusion he’d intended.

He let out a sigh. “It’s a pity we were interrupted when things were getting really fun.” To Jane, he gave a forlorn expression. “I suppose you have to leave now.”

She was gearing up to deny everything by the wild glint in her eyes, and on impulse, he took her face in both hands and drew her up to him for a kiss. He’d only meant to shut her up and perhaps lend weight to the misconceptions he’d been seeding, but damn. When she forgot herself and relaxed into him, tilting her head just the right way, he was tempted to slam the door shut on her friend and have a good snog. Who knew the teacher’s pet had it in her?

But despite his every instinct to deepen the kiss, he broke apart from her. Because—yes, that. The glazed-over look she gave him, rosy lips parted in an absolute stupor. That was worth cruelly ending their interlude too early.

“I’ll see you on Monday, then,” he said with another wistful sigh as he stepped back from her.

She nodded numbly, staggering as her friend dragged her out of the room. It wasn’t until they were halfway down the hall that he realized she still had something of his. A wondrously horrible idea came to him as he leaned out of the doorway.

“Oh, and Jane!” he called after her loudly, making sure to get the attention of everyone milling about nearby. “You can borrow my books any time you want.” He winked at her horrified expression before shutting the door and succumbing to another fit of laughter.

Finally something new. And he was only getting started."

Ah, yes! A New Kind of Fun. I had to switch over to my laptop to answer. (Because I hate typing longer things on my phone, lol.)

When I started Rumor Has it, what, 8 or so years ago, it was initially just an answer to a writing challenge—where I had to include four words given to me. It was only ever meant to be a little ficlet that went nowhere, and I don't recall how it grew to be a much longer story. But one thing has always remained true: even though it's written entirely in Jane's POV, I know why Loki does everything he does in it. In the back of my mind, there's always a version of events from his POV.

So, when I got your prompt ("Trouble" by Natalia Kills), it fit the vibe of Loki's choices in that first chapter. From Jane's POV, it appears that this whole exchange was purely a happenstance, that he was flying by the seat of his pants the entire time. We aren't sure if he felt anything with that kiss, even. Was he drunk? Had he intended it to be a silly little one-off then thought better of it over the weekend?

So yeah, here we have his POV. And while it was a happy accident for him to find Jane in his room, we learn that she has been on his radar already at least a little bit. We learn that it's here that he decides that he's not done with her after his shenanigans. And yep, he liked that kiss. But overall, the game is, at this point, what matters most to him. He can snog any number of girls. Messing with Jane Foster, though? That's far more interesting to him. In a way, she's been a challenge for him (academically), and now he's found a way to return the favor.

It was a lot of fun to write this from his POV. It's been my goal in RHI to keep some of his motivations a mystery to both Jane and the reader, and dole them out little by little. And it's only because of the seven chapters I've already posted that I felt comfortable sharing this version of the inciting incident without spoiling the overall story. We already know that he wasn't keen on his family's move to the States and he didn't have a high opinion of American girls thanks to his conversation with Thor in Hal's diner. We already know that he has a complicated relationship with his brother. We already know he is super aware that being wealthy doesn't equate to happiness thanks to his conversation with Jane at the butte. Perhaps here I revealed more clearly how much he puts on a front. But we've kinda already seen that with his private moments with Jane, when he lets the mask slip a little.

Anyway, I'm rambling, lol. Thank you again for playing!

Send me a 500 word or less snippet of one of my stories, and I'll give you a dvd commentary on it!

#ask game #star replies #averbaldumpingground #dvd commentary #fic commentary #lokane #loki x jane foster

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starrysnowdrop · 5 months

Note

Hello! Another little Hali question if I may?

Feeling a bit inspired by the screenshots you posted of Hali and Aymeric in Ishgard, I was wondering what Aymeric made of Sharlayan and it's culture?

I've really enjoyed reading about Hali's impressions of Ishgard, but I'm wondering how it went when she accompanied Aymeric to Sharlayan and how she might have helped him to make sense of any cultural differences?

Fortunately Aymeric has exquisite manners, so that probably helped, but were there any challenges (other than the cuisine I imagine!).

I expect that the scholarly proclivities of the Sharlayans were not entirely alien, given his familiarity with Saint Endalim's Scholasticate, but were there things that surprised him? Did Hali show him around the Noumenon? Or even take him to dance beneath the artificial stars of Labyrinthos?

After all the time she spent away from home, did she quite enjoy playing tour guide? Or did she feel somewhat ambivalent about her homeland and her connection with it?

Yay!! I’ve been blessed with another Mimble ask!! And this is a good one too, because I’ve been meaning to talk about Aymeric’s impressions of Sharlayan since I’ve talked extensively about Hali’s impressions of Ishgard already. So let’s jump right into it! 💖

Aymeric had heard so much about Sharlayan from Hali over the years, and he was familiar with the abandoned Sharlayan colony and Idyllshire, so he had seen ruins of Sharlayan architecture before, but it still didn’t prepare him for just how beautiful Sharlayan is (as were many of us too when the EW trailer came out). It was breathtaking, with the white marble buildings, the harbor with the Thaliak statue, and all of the water features found throughout the city. Aymeric appreciates fine art and architecture, so he was quite impressed with all the sights.

Another element that Aymeric was impressed by was that there was no class or caste system in Sharlayan society. Everyone was equal, and there was a true democracy in place that Aymeric really enjoyed seeing. It was prevalent everywhere he went, and all had an equal opportunity to make a good life for themselves. Well, unless you were an outsider that is.

You see, Aymeric was treated very well, and him being so polite, respectful, and dignified, most Sharlayans were very welcoming to him… until they found out that he was Ishgardian. He found out rather quickly that many Sharlayans are, well, snobby and think very highly of themselves. No one said anything to him directly, but he was well aware of the looks that they gave him. They were judging him for being an Ishgardian, and just as Fourchenault looked down on Eorzeans when he visited Gridania, it was likely due to fighting the Dragonsong War for a thousand years, something that Sharlayans frown upon.

Even with this, Aymeric still enjoyed himself overall, as Hali was happy to give him the full tour, showing him the Noumenon with more books than he ever could imagine, the Studium where Hali studied and graduated from, eating at the Last Stand where he ate some great food (as Hali made sure to keep Archon Loaf far away from him), and of course Labyrinthos, her actual home where she was born and grew up. He visited with Hali’s parents in their home in Labyrinthos, and he was fascinated with the artificial sky, but he quickly understood why Hali was so adamant about leaving Sharlayan and seeing the world. An artificial sky and artificial environment could never replace the real thing, and he was happy to finally see where a little girl who dreamed to see the real world had grown up to become the woman he fell in love with.

That’s about it for now! Thank you so much @mimble-sparklepudding for this amazing ask! It really helped me to brainstorm how Aymeric would feel about Sharlayan, and I might expand on all of this in the future. You also gave me some gpose ideas (dancing underneath the artificial night sky in Labyrinthos being at the top of the list), so thank you!!! 🥰💖

#asks and replies #mimble asks #hali x aymeric #ship: hold me closer #this was a fun one #I just love talking about this

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blackwell-academys-airdrop · 10 months

Note

For the ask game 6,8 and 25

6. which ship fans are the most annoying? uh. No offense intended whatsoever, but I simply do not vibe with Grahamscott (the gay one). I mean, I guess I see the appeal? But it just kinda rubs me the wrong way a little. I think it's cuz it's a very popular (I might even call it overrated) mlm ship in a very wlw-oriented game and fandom. It's like, there's 5 times more mlm on AO3 as opposed to wlw last I checked. Not that there's anything inherently wrong with mlm; it's just not for me, and it's something that gets hyped up a LOT in fandom spaces, often to the detriment of wlw, het, and other ships.

Anyway. Very popular ship for what I would go so far as to call a crack pairing. (The inherent homoeroticism of, uh... beating a guy up so hard he has to go to the hospital?) Want proof? Here are the most popular relationships (platonic inclusive) in the Life Is Strange fandom on AO3 as of the time of writing:

There are more Grahamscott fics than there are Marshfield fics (admittedly not by a lot), and that's a travesty.

FANDOM-WIDE CHALLENGE: Write >17 Marshfield fics so we can knock Grahamscott out of 4th place!

I reiterate: I do not hate Grahamscott, nor do I hate those who ship them. It's got a lot of (non-uwu softboy, mind you) potential. It simply isn't for me.

8. common fandom opinion that everyone is wrong about Bae or Bay Before the Storm is not a bad game. Actually no wait I'll save that one for 25.

Hm.

How bout this: William was NOT a perfect dad. He was a good one, for sure, but remember: our idea of his character is rose-tinted with Chloe's and Max's overwhelmingly positive memories of him. "That's one thing he left us: wonderful memories." (I paraphrase) I'd like to see his flaws explored a bit more.

25. common fandom complaint that you're sick of hearing I've said it already and I'll say it again: Before the Storm is not a bad game. It's not a great game, and it definitely doesn't live up to the original, but it's a good game.

High points of the game (keep in mind I haven't watched/played the game in about 4 years):

Steph

Interesting take on a young Nathan

CUNSn

The SMASH scene (brought me close to tears. The controllable helplessness of it all, God)

Steph and Mikey

Skip

EN FUEGO UTERO

I LOVE what they did with Samuel actually

The take on Rachel was really interesting, especially the whole backstory thing and the actress mindset

FIRE POWERS FIRE POWERS

I'm intrigued by the drawing of an older Max hanging from a noose in a tree in Chloe's journal. WHAT does that IMPLY, WHAT does that MEAN

Steph

Barb the Barbarian (I named one of my DnD characters that and made her a She-Ra expy)

Chloe's dream sequences and general sleepiness (reminiscent of depression)

PUTTING AN ENTIRE CAR BATTERY INTO HER PANTS POCKET

The snitch straight-up admitting to Damon that he snitched was not at all realistic but it was very funny

The play scene, especially if you get all the lines right

Victoria drinking the drugged tea

Farewell, especially the little choose-your-own squirrel story ^w^

Low points:

"tHe StArS aRe DeAd" THAT IS NOT ASTRONOMICALLY CORRECT (I have ranted about this before)

Damon. Everything about Damon. His character, his impact on the plot, everything.

The whole James and Sera backstory was really hackneyed

I am ambivalent about the Backtalk mechanic

The whole third episode was just such a letdown. So much wasted potential

Much like LIS, there are a lot of different subplots, but LIS wove them together well while BTS didn't.

I've reblogged a rant about this before, but Chloe has so very little agency while Max has loads of it! Admittedly, the game is a prequel so some things have to happen no matter what, and Chloe's lack of agency (and unwillingness to acquire it) is a big point of her character, but it does not make for a fun video game protagonist. There are way too many But Thou Must! moments in the story.

The friggin' end scene with Frank fighting off Damon

do NOT retcon that Pompidou was a gift from Damon. do NOT

I'm also ambivalent on the whole Max and Chloe text exchanges retcon. Like, I think Chloe miiiight have reached out to her, but Max would not have responded. The anxiety is simply Too Great.

I am also ambivalent about the Sam & Nathan thing. I wish she'd gotten more characterization than just "sweet kind girl who loves books".

Megan Weaver didn't show up. I wish she had, cuz she was evidently important to Chloe for at least a little while, and we know so little about her

I know there was a strike going on or something but I am sad we didn't have the original VAs :( (but they came back for Farewell, so rejoice!)

Chloe's VA's performance was kinda lackluster

Okay THAT got longer than I anticipated. Sorry. Anyway. There are a lot of good points to BTS. There are a lot of bad ones, too. But hey. Canon is a construct.

#ask #lis #life is strange #long post #lis bts #before the storm #grahamscott #marshfield #MARSHFIELD CALL TO ACTION #william price #sorry I ended up spending a lot more time on this ask than I anticipated #and thank you so much for being interested enough in my opinion to ask for it! :3

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darlingpoppet · 5 months

Text

Fic wrap-up 2023

Words published: 87,832 according to the AO3 stats… the first two chapters of WTDF were actually published last year but I guess since I also published some stuff not on AO3 yet it mostly makes up for it haha

3 fanfics with the most kudos in 2023:

1. Closest To My Heart (156)

2. Where The Dead Forget (137)

3. Flourishing Into Greatness (119)

(As of 12/29)

Your first fanfic in 2023:

I published WTDF Ch 3 in January, but the first new fic I started & finished in 2023 was LoveSick Arrows (wrote in Feb, submitted in March, published in May)

Your last fanfic in 2023:

WTDF Ch 6! Maybe not as far along as I originally envisioned but progress is progress! I’m doing my best uwu

Favorite opening line from a fic in 2023:

Zagreus stumbles upon the glade where Patroclus resides, and not for the first time, the sight of him makes his breath hitch a little. From chapter 2 of Closest To My Heart

I feel like I’m much better at writing endings than beginnings so answering this one was a bit tricky for me… I suppose I like this one best because it set the tone right away & has me asking questions about it (why does spotting Patroclus make Zagreus’ breath hitch? Why isn’t it the first time??) I also really like the ending to this chapter too but uhhh it’s kind of a bummer lmao

Favorite closing line from a fic in 2023:

At last. Everything will now be as it once was. From Closest To My Heart

I love it for all the layers of context that makes it hit harder, the contrast with a passage saying the opposite in the previous chapter, etc

My other favorite closing line is the one from LoveSick Arrows, which simply goes: “The pleasure is all mine,” he answers. But it doesn’t really have much impact out of context… you also need the question asked at the beginning of the scene & everything in between but it’s too long for purposes of this meme lol

Oh and since I mentioned it earlier, here’s also the ending to Closest To My Heart Ch 2: It is only when he spots a golden spear among the collection that his body catches up with the rest of him, and he vomits, suddenly and violently onto the ground before it, like a libation poured onto a sacred altar.

Fic I’m most proud of in 2023:

I’ve been saying all year that Closest To My Heart is the one I’m most proud of because I was totally ~in the zone~ the entire time I was writing it and it came out exactly the way I envisioned it, so I can say it’s the fic from 2023 I can look back on as representative of where my writing abilities were this year (like Upon A Lazy Bed was for 2022)

BUT when I really think about it I’m also super proud of myself for working so hard on Where The Dead Forget this year! It’s going gradually and seems to get longer the more I work on it but I spent a TON of time thinking about it, writing, taking notes, and doing my best to tell a long form narrative for the first time ever and I’m super proud of myself for simply attempting a challenge like this. I had to overcome a really nasty month-long case of writer’s block in order to finish chapter 4 which was AGONY since it still took another three months after that to finally complete… so overcoming all that felt SO good and I feel like if I could overcome that I can overcome anything. I said from the beginning that I don’t think it’ll reinvent the wheel or anything with this story, but I’m enjoying the process of telling a version of these tropes and myths.

#emica chat #my fics #where the dead forget #my 2023 fic recs is next!#i got this meme from jo a couple weeks ago but didn’t have time to answer since I was in editing hell #i wanted to get WTDF Ch 6 in under the wire lol #patrochilles #eruri #bottom erwin

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llitchilitchi · 2 years

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HELLO BESTIE

I said I was going to spam you questions about the vampire menace au and here I am :))))))))))

gosh i dont know where to start i want to know everything.

How do they meet? Did Dream know they where vampires right away? How did they figure out their uhhh (snack? supernatural??) dynamic? What's day to day life like for them?

You said this was a mostly soft au (:eyes: for now possibly, oh?), do you already have some ideas for those moments? Do you plan on writing anything for it or just art?

I am just :hearteyes: I love them so much your honour. They look so cute in your art style as well. I'm really out here giggling and twirling my hair.

- Uzumakifanfics

(I'll leave it at this for now........................ but I'll be back..........)

oh gosh hi!! hello!

thank you for all the questions :D I would love to answer all of them with full proper comics explaining some of the things, but there is only so many hours in the day

gonna give a little warning for some innuendos in the text :)

to start it all of, sapnap and george met dream in a nightclub. this is entirely for the purpose of the pun of sapnap asking dream if he could "suck him in the back".

in the universe of this au, supernatural beings kinda just live normally among regular humans, though there is not too many of them (to the point that some people doubt the existence of the supernatural), so sapnap and george came clear pretty early on. they took it slow, made extra sure that dream knows what he is getting into before properly going ahead and having a taste. and since the three of them got along quite well, it soon became a "friendship with benefits", so to speak. or as the vampire boys would say, "fresh blood tastes better than the packaged stuff they can get at the hospital."

by the current point in the au, their arrangement has been going on for quite a while, and sapnap and george offered that dream move in with them. george is pushing 200 years of age and sapnap is only about 20-30 years younger than him, and the two have been living together since around the 1890s, making them Practically Married. in short, they had a lot to offer to Dream, who definitely appreciates a proper house over a dorm room that doesn't have working heating half of the time.

Dream has certain obligations in the usual waking hours for humans and he has to be awake through the day, like classes and work, while sapnap and george tend to sleep. (they can still run errands. sunscreens and long sleeves, along with sunglasses and hats, do wonders for the vampires.) they like to participate in some ordinary human activities, especially when dream drags them along. the only thing they get mildly annoyed about is dream refusing to let them feed before he heads off to school or to work. but they are quite accomodating! and they enjoy the day to day life of the 21st century.

there is not too much of a routune to speak of, outside of dream's mortal life. I am still debating what to make of George and Sapnap, though I think twitch streamer Sapnap, a vampire born in the 19th century who now screams at Minecraft challenges, is too good to pass up.

I don't really have plans to write for this au and most of it will be limited to one off sketches and short comics of little snippets of their life (vast majority of which consists of Dream being far too easy to fluster and the vampire boys taking advantage of that). there might be further progress with a story once I introduce other characters, like Quackity, Karl and the rest of dtqk+, or Bad and Velvetfrost. for now though it will really just be them being cutesy together, unless a comment or asks gives me ideas to actually work on a plot.

#asks #vampire menace au #tldr this au has little to no plot and I just want dream being cute with snf #like dream dragging them into a halloween store #or the vampires dragging him to a vampire party #both of which will most likely be real mini comics #also by 'they get annoyed at dream not letting them feed' I just mean they whine or pout for half a second #theyd never force him to do anything hes uncomfortable with #so sorry for not replying sooner I typed my reply out and then my browser crashed and I lost it all

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quoteablebooks · 5 months

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Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Adult

Rating: 4 out of 5

Content Warning: Death, Animal death, Violence, Child death, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, War, Sexual content

Summary:

In this romantic new fantasy series from author Hannah Whitten, a young woman's secret power to raise the dead plunges her into the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King's royal court.

When Lore was thirteen, she escaped a cult in the catacombs beneath the city of Dellaire. And in the ten years since, she’s lived by one rule: don’t let them find you. Easier said than done, when her death magic ties her to the city.

Mortem, the magic born from death, is a high-priced and illicit commodity in Dellaire, and Lore’s job running poisons keeps her in food, shelter, and relative security. But when a run goes wrong and Lore’s power is revealed, she’s taken by the Presque Mort, a group of warrior-monks sanctioned to use Mortem working for the Sainted King. Lore fully expects a pyre, but King August has a different plan. Entire villages on the outskirts of the country have been dying overnight, seemingly at random. Lore can either use her magic to find out what’s happening and who in the King’s court is responsible, or die.

Lore is thrust into the Sainted King’s glittering court, where no one can be believed and even fewer can be trusted. Guarded by Gabriel, a duke-turned-monk, and continually running up against Bastian, August’s ne’er-do-well heir, Lore tangles in politics, religion, and forbidden romance as she attempts to navigate a debauched and opulent society.

But the life she left behind in the catacombs is catching up with her. And even as Lore makes her way through the Sainted court above, they might be drawing closer than she thinks.

*Opinions*

So I was influenced to read this not because of social media, but because social media influenced me to sign up for a book subscription box. This is the first of the fairyloot books that I have actually read (don’t ask me how many others I have in my TBR) and I was pleasantly surprised. Not only in this book beautiful, but the story inside was very enjoyable as well. I am the type of girl that loves a book that has any sort of necromancy or death magic, add political intrigue and the potential for a romantic subplot and I was all in.

I think my favorite part of this novel is the magic system and how Whitten described how it was used. It was easy to picture how Lore was manipulating Mortem and how the rules of magic in this world worked. The way that the magic affects the wielder was also well done and showed the risk of the magic to the wielder as well as those around them. While the magic was my favorite part, I feel as if Whitten created a very vivid world inside of the Citadel, a little fuzzier in regards to the city of Dellaire, and then the world at large was far less defined. I had a hard time caring about the possibility of war when all the issues seemed to be contained inside the Citadel walls for our main character.

My biggest frustration was that I was figuring out things in the story far quicker than Lore, Bastain, and Gabriel. I appreciate when foreshadowing pays off in a smart way, but I felt as if the characters weren’t listening to each other speak. I am pretty sure I have figured out the main plot and all the big reveals at least in the next book and none of the characters want to acknowledge any of it. While part of me understands that the characters wouldn’t think that they are something more than what they were born into, as things continue to get weirder and weirder around them, you’d think a few pieces would fall into place quicker than they did. This frustration is probably what kept this story at a 4-star and didn’t let it go higher. Also, the fact that Lore didn’t seem to be really good at anything except challenging Mortem and falling over constantly.

Something that was surprising to me was how much I enjoyed the possible love triangle that is forming between Gabriel, Bastian, and Lore. I, personally, think that there is enough emotion there for it to end up with the thruple, especially when it was made clear that Bastian invited numerous people to his bed no matter the gender or presentation. Usually, I am not one for Insta-love, but the way that Whitten wrote Insta-pull worked for me. They all know that they are bound to one another and it is causing emotions, but there are also events during the story that are pulling and pushing them to lean in or ignore that pull that made sense. I have a lot of theories that are related to the fact that I am pretty sure I’ve figured out the plot of the series, but I don’t want to provide spoilers. All I am going to say is that I hope we end with a thruple or even a ploycule with Alie.

Overall this is a pretty fascinating high fantasy world with an interesting magic system, but it didn’t reinvent the wheel. I think that this is a good stepping stone for YA readers getting into adult fantasy because it has some of the plot beats they will recognize. I am giving this 4 stars and I will be continuing in the series to see if all my theories are correct.

#the foxglove king #Hannah Whitten #booklr #book review #4 out of 5 stars #The Nightshade Crown Series

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gerec · 2 years

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Au-gust 2022

Previous prompts here: AU-gust Challenge 2022

10. Space Academy

Pairing(s): Cherik Warnings: None

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It’s been a long time since Erik walked the halls of the Academy on Helix Station, orbiting the Class Five planet of Earth II. His memories are fond - of both the place and the people – of a time when he was an orphan with a chip on his shoulder and a yearning to chart the stars. And though his friends scattered long ago to different posts across the galaxy, he’s never forgotten how they helped him through those difficult years, becoming the family he’d lost after the invasion of his home planet Edmos.

Pausing outside the Chancellor’s office, Erik takes a slow and calming breath, smoothing the lines of his dress uniform in anticipation. Though he’s not here in an official capacity, he’s still eager to impress the man seated just beyond the closed door. So much time has passed since they went their separate ways, having been assigned to different ships within the Fleet immediately after graduation. Charles’ aptitude for sciences led him to a posting on the Alliance’s most prestigious research vessel, while Erik set off to join the ranks of the Marine Corps. Their paths have crossed infrequently over the course of twenty years, their relationship remaining within the bounds of a profound friendship, no matter how he felt – how he still feels – about his best and oldest friend.

“Come in.”

The office is huge – befitting the Chancellor of the Alliance Academy – yet distinctively Charles in a way that makes Erik smile. It reminds him of the quarters they once shared as cadets, filled with textbooks and mementos collected from a hundred different planetary systems. And unlike other officers who might show off their medals and awards, Charles’ numerous accolades are nowhere to be seen, with only one thing prominently displayed in glass on his desk: a miniature of the AF-01 Genosha, the flagship of the Alliance Fleet under Erik’s command.

“Erik!” Charles says, grinning widely as he steps forward to embrace him. Unlike the last time they met, Charles is sporting new cybernetic legs in lieu of his hover chair, which would be imperceptible under his tailored uniform if not for Erik’s metal sense. “Or should I say, Admiral Lehnsherr.”

Rolling his eyes, Erik returns the hug and snorts, “Yes, so lovely to see you again, Chancellor Xavier.”

Laughing, Charles drags him into the office and pushes him into a chair, staring at Erik the entire time like he can’t believe he’s actually there. Erik happily returns the favor, noting the new silver at his temples and the crinkles around his eyes, older but no less beautiful than when they first met at the ripe age of seventeen.

“Alright, I’ll lay off with the title if you tell me what you’re doing here,” Charles asks, making his way over to the tiny kitchenette to turn on the coffee maker. “Aren’t you supposed to be reporting in for duty at Alliance Headquarters? Or did you stop in to see the twins before you headed planet side?”

“I did stop in to see them, but that’s not why I’m here,” he says, thinking about the dinner they just had together where Erik had told them his plans. “How are they doing with their classes?”

Charles beams. “At the risk of sounding biased…they’re doing marvellously well. Wanda has a real interest and aptitude for diplomacy, and I think Pietro is determined to follow in your footsteps.”

“That’s good to hear. Their mother will be pleased.”

“Oh, she was,” Charles says with an impish grin, “I just had lunch with Magda the other day when she came for a visit.”

With Magda living on Earth II and its proximity to Helix Station, it’s no wonder that the two have become fast friends since the twins enrolled in the Academy. Erik would be more concerned if he’d ever had anything but a fleeting romance with the twins’ mother, who had jokingly told him once that she preferred Charles’ boyish charms to Erik’s sexy broodiness by far.

Erik shakes his head. “I really don’t want to know what you two said about me behind my back. And I came here to see you, Charles, to ask you to dinner.”

Charles hands him the coffee – Erik’s favorite blend, which is hard to keep well stocked on his ship – with a smile. “Of course, we can have dinner. I don’t have any other appointments for the rest of the day. Why don’t I take off a bit early and we can grab a bite in the cantina?”

“Actually…I was thinking we could go to a nice little bistro I heard about planet side, not too far from HQ. I have a personal transport that can take us there in half the time it takes riding the public shuttle, which gets us there in plenty of time to sample the Chef’s famous chocolate soufflé.”

Still smiling, Charles takes a sip from his cup and leans back against his desk. “Careful Admiral. You’re making it sound like you’re asking me out for a date.”

“I am. Asking you out,” Erik says, watching intently as Charles’ expression shifts from teasing to surprise then to a soft, warm smile. “Since we’re finally going to be in the same solar system again, I just thought – maybe now’s a good time to tell Charles how I feel about him before another twenty years goes by?”

It’s everything and nothing like what Erik’s always imagined, when Charles leans forward to press their lips together in a sweet and tender kiss. “Of course, I’ll go out with you on a date,” he says, those blue eyes twinkling when he adds, “I mean, now that you’ve finally made Admiral, Erik, and I can show you off to all my snooty friends.”

Erik doesn’t bother to answer him, choosing to kiss him senseless instead.

#gerec writes #cherik #au-gust 2022 #space academy #day 10 #best friends to lovers

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skye-huntress · 1 year

Text

The Witch from Mercury Reaction

Episode 8: “Their Choice”

Seeing Suletta and especially Miorine in plain white shirts covered in paint is a treat.

Also, Earth House has now been “hired” as part of Mio-Mio’s new company. I adore Suletta apologising for her wife’s actions.

Still, it is a reminder that Miorine founded a whole company on the spot to protect her future wife and sister-in-law, but that doesn’t mean she knows what she’s actually going to do with the Gundams she plans to build

We have some mixed reactions among Earth House. Chuchu and Nika’s were predictable. Martin almost seems superstitious about the whole thing. Despite the bioethical concerns, the whole talk about “curses” and “witches” is obviously just Spacian propaganda for a superior Earthian technology. As for everyone else, they seem mostly unsure due to the lack of information

Looking for Miorine, I’d say ask her fiancée but they’re pretty much attached at the hip these days.

Seems we’re not getting any answers about how Aerial works from Prospera. Guess it will be up to Earth House to figure it out.

Prospera does have a point about the stigma against Gundams. It’s mostly propaganda but it’s still not something easily overcome.

As for Suletta, she’s far too trusting. Sure, keeping the secret probably did help protect Suletta since I don’t think she is even capable of telling a small fib. However, I do wonder about that, Suletta has been raised to be completely oblivious, yet she is still a key piece of Prospera’s plan. She’s far too innocent to be part of some elaborate revenge plot, and maybe that’s the point, she’d never be suspected.

Miorine is probably not sold on Prospera’s excuse, but it’s not like she can say anything without knowing what the real truth is.

Shaddiq is making his presence known more. Suppose he is about to make his move.

Seems not everyone in Earth House is cool with the idea of selling weapons of war. Chuchu’s idea is especially dangerous as the others pointed out, and I’m starting to wonder, with how extreme her views are, if she isn’t someone we should watch out for in the future.

So as part of the deal, she gets the Pharact and even Belmeria Winston, which makes me wonder how that will affect Peil’s whole Enhanced Person thing. It was probably a seperate team to the one that worked on the Pharact, and I doubt they’ll give up on building their own Gundams.

Belmeria is not a fan of the “witch” talk, and I find that perfectly understand. She properly has no trouble accepting the title for herself given what she was a part of, but she probably feels very highly of her former colleagues who were so unjustly persecuted.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen Guel, and unsurprisingly, he’s the laughingstock of the entire school. I’m sure there’s a lot of resentment for the three Houses, and Guel probably pissed off a lot of people over the years, so now that he lost all his privilege and protection, he’s become the favoured punching bag of bullies, metaphorically speaking. I got to give him credit for not giving those brats any satisfaction.

I know a lot of people have theorised him being “adopted” by Earth House, as unlikely as that seems. I don’t see Miorine and especially Chuchu going for that. I don’t think anyone called Shaddiq being the one to make an offer.

It seems Shaddiq turned down Guel’s challenges to duel, and based on his response, it seems it was because Shaddiq was content to let Guel be the one to lead the Benerit Group.

So Sarius Zenelli is hellbent on erasing Gundams from existence. Why, we do not know. He doesn’t seem the type to fall for the propaganda since he was in on the whole conspiracy 21 years ago. Shaddiq has other ideas. Now I know what his angle is, he wants the Gundam technology to revolutionise the industry. He wants Miorine’s new company to build new Gundams fit for combat, there’s just one issue.

Several Earth House members really think so low of Miorine to think she finally ran away again, but Suletta always believes the best in people. And she was so excited to be proven right that she goes to hug her Mio-Mio, only to be denied. Don’t worry, Suletta, she is thawing. Your time will come.

Miorine has decided to focus on medical technology, focusing on saving lives rather than build new suits. Meaning she turned down Shaddiq’s offer, and he would know she wasn’t going to go along with his ambitions.

Before we got to the serious thoughts, I’m glad we got a little bit of fluff towards the end there. I see you, Mio-Mio, resting your head against Suletta.

Let’s get this straight, Shaddiq sabotages Miorine’s plans so the school cannot accept her business and she can’t get it off the ground. She either takes his deal, and hands everything over to him, or he takes it by force. This likely means a duel. Miorine or rather Suletta’s stake is for Shaddiq to reverse his rule change so they can start the company their way. His stake, the company and Miorine’s hand in marriage.

I was confident that Suletta would beat Number 4. I am less confident that she can beat Shaddiq and Grassley’s anti-Gundam technology. Not saying that it would be impossible for her to win, I’m sure Prospera has some contingency for dealing with anti-Gundam technology if it was necessary. However, what is likely better for her plans? For Miorine’s company to focus on medical technology or building more Mobile Suits? It really depends on what her plan is. We also have to consider how the Gundams in the opening, Lfrith Ur and Lfrith Thorn, will come into play.

#the witch from mercury #g witch #g witch spoilers

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headspacedad · 10 months

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so i'm torn between ryou being rescued by the paladins or ryou getting rescued by romelle but then I thought... what if both. like, the first time he was captured by galra, he was rescued by romelle. he stayed on pollux for a bit, earned a place for himself but left to continue his quest for answers. then he got captured again, maybe on purpose, and was then rescued by the paladins.

I can completely and utterly guarantee you that by capture attempt number two Ryou would be So Done with This Shit. Let’s strip it down to basic though. Ryou has, for quite some time now, been pretty much at the top of his field. You make it up, he can build it. You ask for something, he can invent it. He’s really been in a position of leadership (albeit an entirely different version from Taka’s) and of being the one that’s ahead of everyone else and giving them hands up to catch up.

And then, suddenly, he’s at the very bottom of that pile, so far behind in knowledge and ability that he might as well be a first grader learning how to work simple addition all over again. He does not have a fancy lion, he does not have an Official Role, he does, honestly, not have much point or usefulness when he finds himself in space. This is a man that’s built himself from the ground up to be the one that can provide and create what everyone else needs and its been his goal as well as a huge purpose of his for years now. And it’s gone. Hell, he doesn’t even know which knobs to turn on things anymore or where the hell the nearest equivalent to a screwdriver is and if anything out here even uses screws. Yes, Hunk is shown pretty much understanding everything, including how to hotwire a drilling elevator or fix a junked up alien vessel, right off the bat without even scratching his head but lets be realistic here. In a civilization so advanced they’ve made a flying lion that can literally phase itself through solid objects without any harm to the pilot inside and I’m supposed to believe they’re still be using technology on a level that a human whose highest accomplishment isn’t even light speed yet could completely take apart and know exactly what they were doing right off the bat? Really? Look we all suspend a lot of disbelief for this show and that’s part of the fun but if you really look at the basics of it - Pidge can, quickly and with very little trouble, immediately crack code in an alien computer system that’s had longer to advance itself than the entire human race has had to evolve. Really? She can, and I’m still having a hard time swallowing this one, hijack Shiro’s arm with - a wifi signal? and shut it down when not a single other Galra grunt or scientist or soldier or Haggar have? Don’t get me wrong. In all honest, I love Hunk muttering to himself and hotwiring the elevator at the same time. It’s one of my all time favorite scenes from season one actually because it is so perfect in timing and delivery and tension and laughter and Hunkness but - the thing that challenges my suspension of disbelief most is how casual alien tech is treated and how easy it is to crack even by two beings I’m perfectly willing to acknowledge as complete geniuses. I realize, as writers, there’s a limited amount of time the VLD script crew have to pack all kind of information into things and they really do need to hit the ground running with the characters. Pidge and Hunk both need to have their skills shine just as bright as anyone elses and it would take a lot of time and slow the story way down if they were put on a learning curve. In fact, a hell of a lot of the situations that moved things along in the first couple of episodes (Pidge hijacking Rover, Hunk hijacking the lift) wouldn’t have happened at all if we had to stop and have them really wrestle with how utterly alien and outside of their usual pattern of programing and problem solving everything is. But dang. Are we going to upload a virus to the alien ship with a lap top next?

#Anonymous

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cassandra-goths-wife · 2 years

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Pride Month Writing Challenge, Day 13: Confidant (Gay Tank Grunt)

Important info: I hc that Tank’s real name is actually Theodore (inspired by @rascalcurious). Also, these are unrequited feelings he has. I don’t think they’d be together long term, which is why I’m not labeling this fic with the Tank/Johnny ship. If you like that ship, that’s fine. It’s just not my intention with this fic.

Tank Grunt did not get sick very often. He’d definitely had days where he would’ve preferred to stay in bed, but did not want to start an argument and turn a painful but manageable headache or stomach bug into something unbearable. Even his stubborn general of a father, however, couldn’t argue with the 101 degree fever and the guts he’d puked out that morning.

Tank couldn’t quite remember when, how, or why he left his house that morning. Apparently, he’d made his way all the way to the grocery store without being noticed. As he stumbled down the isles looking for antihistamines, he just so happened to run into Jenny Smith, who happened to be picking up a prescription. He hoped she meant that metaphorically.

Despite the reservations with Mr. Smith Tank had inherited from his father and his personal reservations with Johnny… he had no issues with Mrs. Smith whatsoever. No one did, really. What was there to dislike about her? She was a nice woman. She was caring; maternal. Tank didn’t know her that well personally, but… he knew his mom was friends with Mrs. Smith and had been for a long time. He trusted her.

Tank trusted her so much, even in his feverish frenzy, to let her take him home with her. That’s how he ended up on Smiths’ couch.

Between streams of consciousness, Mrs. Smith had managed to convince him to change into some pajamas (an old, oversized shirt and a pair of sweatpants) and gotten some fluids in him. When he sat up, he instantly started to shiver. He didn’t need Mrs. Smith to tell him that meant he still had a fever.

Mrs. Smith was by his side in nearly an instant. “Good morning, Teddy.” She smiled, removing the wet cloth from his forehead and replacing it with a newer, colder one.

For a moment, Tank doubted whether he was truly lying on the Smiths’ couch or if he was at home, in bed, and this was all just a fever dream. When he started sniffling and crying, he at first let himself believe it was because he was so feverish.

Mrs. Smith frowned, handing him an entire roll of paper towels. “I’m sorry,” She apologized earnestly. “did you want me to call you something else? If that’s a nickname only your mother can call you, I completely understand.”

Tank tried his hardest to ignore his pounding heart. He shook his head. “Can we just... keep it between us?” He asked hoarsely.

Mrs. Smith nodded before exchanging the paper towels for an oral thermometer. “I haven’t given you any medicine, but I figured we may as well check anyway.”

Tank frowned when he read the result.

100.8

Mrs. Smith stood. “Do you think you can eat something for me? I can give you some medicine that’ll help with your fever, but you need to eat something first.”

“I can try.” Tank shrugged.

While Mrs. Smith was busy in the kitchen, Tank sipped on the glass of water she’d placed on the side table. There was even a lemon wedge in there.

As far as Tank knew, the last time he was sick—or at least sick enough to notice—was before his parents’ divorce, five years ago. He’d never been sick without his mother there to coddle—to take care of him.

Could it really be considered coddling if she was a nurse? It was a part of her job as a nurse to take care of sick people, and part of her job as a mother to care for her sick child.

Even though it wasn't his mother who was here taking care of him… Tank was happy someone was here, and that he wasn’t stewing at home alone in his misery.

The front door opened just as Mrs. Smith returned with a bowl of soup and a package of crackers. Tank tried to focus on anything and anyone other than the person who’d just walked through the door. Mrs. Smith quickly yet calmly handed Tank the soup and crackers before turning around and approaching her son.

The conversation was all a blur. Tank was so focused about keeping one particular thought out of his mind that he couldn’t hear a word that was spoken. He knew Johnny could see him over his mother’s shoulder, in as vulnerable of a state as one could possibly be. For a brief moment, he and Johnny made eye contact. If Tank’s face wasn’t already red with fever, he would’ve given himself away completely.

Tank sighed in relief when Mrs. Smith finally got Johnny to go upstairs and leave them alone.

Mrs. Smith chuckled a bit as she approached him again, promptly covering her mouth. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have laughed.”

It was then that Tank remembered that Mrs. Smith was also a nurse. She and his mother had worked in the same hospital. While Tank may have evaded Johnny, he knew he hadn’t evaded his mother.

Mrs. Smith tapped Tank’s arm in reassurance. “Don’t worry. We’ll just keep this between us, won’t we Teddy?” She winked.

Tank smiled shyly and nodded.

#tank grunt #jenny smith #johnny smith #the sims 2 #sims 2 #ts2 #strangetown #strangetown premades #cgw #pride month writing challenge 2022

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