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thesmokingguns · 2 years

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The Meeting

Warning: mention of age gap.

Izzy didn’t know why he had agreed to tour with Guns n Roses again. He liked to think that he had hit a midlife crisis point at 60 or maybe he was bored. He definitely wouldn’t blame it on the divorce he had gotten and the fact that he was lonely. As a lifelong, serial monogamous person he didn’t handle not being in a relationship well. And the fact that he had turned 60 the same year the divorce was stamped final.

Yeah, he was not handling it well.

Slash could see that Izzy was uncomfortable. It didn’t matter that they were all sober now and that life of tour was very different in 2022 than it was in 1990. Izzy was the only one traveling without someone. Fuck, even Axl brought along friends to tour with. Izzy used to be the one to always have a girl backstage, even when they all were fucking different groupies every night he was faithful. Like a puppy.

“Susan, Duff.” Slash looked at his friends, rubbing the stubble on his face as he looked at the happy couple,cozied up on a backstage couch. “We need to find Izzy a girlfriend.” the pair of them exchanged a look and laughed before Susan turned her phone and showed the guitarist that she was in the process of making an online dating site.

Izzy would be furious if he knew. They all were well aware of his silent but deadly temper but the trip was all planned on making sure that he absolutely did not find out about this. None of them wanted to go down for it.

They matched with a girl that afternoon, invited her to the show and figured what was the harm of introducing her to Izzy. Susan had sent her a message on Instagram once the match was made. She wanted to make sure the girl knew that it was the three of them setting Izzy up and the reason behind it.

Blindsiding Izzy was one thing but blind siding the girl seemed mean.

That night Izzy was on stage when Slash walked over to him between songs. He motioned over to where Susan was standing with Meegan and there was a mystery girl with them. She was pretty but young and Izzy silently wondered if she was one of their bastards from another life.

“Susan has someone for you to meet after the show.” Izzy blinked several times as he tried to make sense of being set up with someone. He even tried to get angry about it all but in the back of his mind all he was thinking about was how he wouldn’t have to eat alone tonight and how nice it would be to talk to someone, even if it was a stranger.

Her name was Eva and she was 31 with a track record of loving men too much only to be given heartache in return. She liked to wear blue jeans that were similar to the color of the American flag. She grew up in a small trailer park where her best friend was named Martha, a 55 year old chain smoker who always smelled like tuna casserole and palmal cigarettes. She vowed to escape and now as she stood in London as an ex-pat who wrote freelance for a variety of magazines and had her own blog.

She was on dating apps to write about experiences with men but when Susan had sent her the message on instagram and explained this was on the hush-hush she had explained the situation about how she wanted to write about things. So Susan had asked her to not write about it and despite her better judgment she agreed.

Now she was standing backstage in high heel booties, tight blue jeans stretched over the ample hips and a black bodysuit tucked into her pants. She had this high ponytail that swayed along with her hips as she danced to the music. Susan and her had made friends already, dancing together as if they were old friends.

Izzy caught sight of her, the way she was laughing with everyone. She seemed more comfortable on this tour than he was. This girl who he was getting set up with. And yet Izzy smiled, tucking his head down. Trying not to think about how beautiful she was or how excited he was about this date.

Was it a date?

“Izz, I want you to meet someone.” Susan was pulling the girl into backstage, she slung her arm around the girls hip, both of the women sharing a smile as they bumped together with this familiarity that Izzy wished he could share with people.

“I’m Eva.” her voice was bubbly and sultry at the same time and as she sat down beside him her knee touched his in the small space. “First time seeing Guns N Roses and I get to see them with almost the original lineup.” she joked with a smile that Izzy felt comfortable in.

“Was the original band even together when you were born?” he joked back, everyone looking at the pair of them as Izzy talked to her, seeming more comfortable with this strange girl than he did with anyone on tour.

Slash, Duff and Susan all gave themself a knowing look as Eva rested her hand on Izzy’s thigh, the pair of them laughing together like they had known each other forever.

What everyone didn’t expect was a half hour for Izzy to stand up, offering Eva his hand. They shared a look. The pair of them both had eyes that were heavy in lust as they walked away from everyone without a goodbye.

The pair of them ready to get to know each other better.

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idv-thespians · 1 year

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OMG liam lore??¿¿??

He was raised by his mother! His parents divorced and his ma got custody of both kids. His elder sister was 6 when he was born, and look how cute he is

As a child, he wanted to be a librarian, since he was so fond of literature, but his sister convinced him that his talents and love for the arts could be put to better use, and he ultimately chose the career of an actor, that would be his job for the next 12 years.

ANDREA!! AND LIAM!! They got to know each other through Eva, Liam’s sister and Andrea’s best friend, and they hit it off super well! Very quickly, Liam actually proposed to her, and they were engaged!!

Now for the lowest of his lows, Liam and Andrea had a big argument because of Liam’s focus of his work, to the point it seemed they were no longer talking even for days on end. The fight ended with Andrea running out, eyes blocked by her tears and the rain, and a bright flash of light that was an oncoming car.

Liam watched it happen, watched Andrea get smacked by the vehicle and fall to the ground. He held her during her last moments, apologising through tears. This image, his bloodied love weakly holding his hand, would be burned in his mind.

The next year or two Liam fell into an alcoholic state, constantly trying to drown his sorrows of losing his loved one. No matter how much wine bottles he had, he could never empty the sight of that night from his mind. He had been recovering, slowly with the help of his sister. He was slowly coming to terms with everything, trying to pull himself out of that dark place, when the infamous ‘accident’ occured.

We all know the tale of Liam not knowing what happened the night he ‘attacked’ Shiloh. In a drunken stupor, he lashed out for no clear reason, disfiguring the other. Once he sobered up, and found out what happened, he was racked by guilt. He didn’t even want to live. He’d rather be dead in the moment. The guard who gave him what was his last meal seemed more on edge than usual.

As he was being escorted to the courtroom, a most strange phenomenon occured. Blood oozed from his mouth, his knees weak and his stomach was flooded in agony. He felt his hands and feet go numb, as he couldn’t support his body, feeling everything go numb.

That was the fall, of the Star.

#dimmed lights // liam hubert #behind the scenes // lore #i didnt know i had a lore tag /j #tw death #tw car accident #tw suicidality #tw poison #i wanted to draw more but i was tired so

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alma-andrada · 1 year

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eva noblezada, bisexual, nonbinary + she/they ― hey look, it’s alma andrada! they’re twenty-five years old, they’ve lived in shrike heights for all their life, and they’re currently working at applebee’s, art murmur and karaoke dokie . i heard they’re pretty short tempered, but i think they’re so reliable at the same time. can they make it out alive?

tw: mentions of prison/arrest

hello friends! finally felt a little balanced enough to go for a fourth and like dhruv alma is brand new to me so there’s lots to still discover but there’s a bit (I always say a bit and then write a bunch so here ya go LOL) about them below!!

About Alma:

Born and raised in Shrike to two very in love parents. The youngest of two siblings. She has an older brother who’s she’s grown to have a complicated relationship with for various reasons.

Her family didn’t come from much and relied very heavily on her mother’s job as a waitress and her father’s construction jobs. But both could be unsteady from time to time and her parents did their best to fill the house with as much love as possible. they were experts at making something out of nothing. But towards her pre-teen years they started to struggle more and her father picked up more shifts, more work, mostly work they weren’t supposed to know anything about.

In an effort to help provide for his family, Alma’s father got caught up with all of the wrong people and ended up getting arrested for driving the getaway car during a robbery.

It hit her family hard and there was a very quick shift in the house where her brother dropped out of school and started working until Alma was old enough and went to work as well, though she managed to graduate high school before doing that. She’s always generally been a hard worker and juggles a few part time jobs currently to help her mother keep their house. She’s a waitress at applebee’s, a cashier at art murmer (mostly so she can get discounts on art supplies) and has just recently started a part time role at karoke dokie because she felt like she needed something fun in her life.

Alma is the only person in her family who still visits her father in prison. He’s serving a clearly unfairly long sentence and more than anyone else involved but her mom held on as much as she could. Eventually she grew resentful and filed for divorce, started dating again which has only meant the weirdest of men ending up in their household. Her mother is still pretty present and watchful of Alma and her brother but has for the most part lost herself in working and men.

Alma on the other hand, always had a better relationship with her father who she goes to visit on a two hour bus ride there and back every Sunday and she has for as long as she’s been able to. She’s his connection to the world. Always telling him about new music or movies. Writing him letters to hold onto during the week. Keeping him entertained with stupid customer stories and the worst jokes she could think of. She makes sure he has money in his commissary and is trying her best to save up for a good lawyer so she can get him out of there. He’s definitely the one thing she refuses to give up on but she often doesn’t talk about him to people in her life. And if she does she always pretends like he just lives out of state.

Alma and their brother have tension over their own opinions of their father and they stay pretty pissed that he won’t go to visit their Dad. They try to still be their for one another regardless and still care about each other but have overall taken to mostly interacting when it comes to their mom or if one of them is in trouble.

But when Alma isn’t working her ass off or stressing tf out about family they’re spending their time on their truest passion: pottery. As a kid they had the chance to engage in an afterschool program which is where they were first introduced to clay art and pottery. They really took to it and the older they got the more they sought out learning it on their own. They used to save as much as they could to splurge at art murmur before there was an opening there and it became a bit easier. It’s not like they have access to a studio to work in so they do their best in their garage at home in what used to be their father’s work station. They started with little things. Bowls for jewelry, a mug or cup and have since grown into make larger vases and full dish sets. It brings them joy and whenever there’s a flea market or chance to sell their work they’ll take it.

They’re generally handy. Knows how to work a tool set. Their love language is very much “hey alma can you come fix this for me/help me out” especially if it requires building anything and using a hammer. They are all in and will build it well. They’ve been thinking about branching out into furniture making/woodwork but they only have so much time in the day.

Alma isn’t anti-social but mostly relies on work to make friends since her free time is usually spent in the garage, sleeping or trying to keep her fmaily together. But I imagine she has a good group of friends and people she’s known basically all her life. She loves making gifts for the people she loves and is super loyal and will show up when she says she will. But she’s also terrible at letting other people be there for her even if she is 100% a mess 100% of the time.

Possible Connections:

Co-Workers!!

Childhood/Highs School Friends

Best friends (like 1-2??)

Exes ( probably like one long term ex where they ended on not the best terms and one that was more of a cute fling and now they’re friends)

Someone who also takes the bus every sunday but probably to go somewhere different (or not!)

This may sound weird but kids of single dads who may temporarily date alma’s mom LOL that could be interesting

Older brother!! Eventually I’ll put up a WC for that but putting that out there.

Neighbors (i imagine the andrada’s probably live in old shrike)

#shrikeintro #about alma

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iambutabranch · 8 months

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My sims game got a little crazy on me

Not sure if i should delete or see where it goes?

I moved my sims, Alex and Presley, their daughter Mikayla and Alex's mother Eva into their new home. The welcome wagon shows up and its Marcel and Janae Price. I forgot all my MCCC settings were on this laptop lol, and so the first thing Presley, the wife, does is bang Marcel in the photo booth (copperdale) and while she's gone her husband Alex hits on Janae while his mom babysits his kid around the corner of the house. Marcel and Presley had 0 romance but Alex and Janae did. Eva really hit it off with Janae during the welcome wagon and later Janae called her to go sneak a peek at a celebrity in town. While they were out together Janae asked if she could stay a few days and Eva said yes. During Janae's stay over she and Alex hooked up in the same photo booth and she got pregnant with a boy. Alex also got Presley pregnant with a girl shortly after that. Presley went to visit and check on Marcel while Janae was at the stay over and during her visit Marcel's daughter caught the kitchen on fire and Marcel died in it. A day or two later Janae heads home to her burnt house and heartbroken family. During her 3rd trimester she has a miscarriage and loses the baby. In the emotional time after the loss of the new baby, and her husband, Janae decides to ask Alex to go steady. Alex agrees and divorces Presley the same day. A very pregnant Presley and her toddler Mikayla move into a small apartment with few funds, but determined to make it on their own. Because of all the stress and the move, Presley also loses her baby with Alex during her 3rd trimester. Alex and Janae continue to date and go on to get pregnant with another baby boy in the week after their miscarriage. Alex comes to visit Presley to tell her the news and see his daughter Mikayla, but also ends up hooking up with Presley while he's there, who conceives another baby girl. So after all that Alex is still living in the original home with his mother, Presley and Mikayla are together raising the new baby, Daphne. And Janae is back at her rebuilt house with her original 3 kids, and her new boy with Alex.

I have no idea where this mess is going , but i think I might keep playing it to see.

#sims4 #sims4 gameplay #sims4 story #sims 4 storytelling #the sims 4 #the sims 4 story #the sims 4 gameplay

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wikibiofact · 1 year

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Eva Marcille Net Worth 2023: Biography, Husband, Movie, Age, House

Eva Marcille net worth is of $7 million dollars — she is an award-winning actress, model and television personality. She has become a role model to many aspiring women across America,

From being crowned Miss USA to landing roles on hit TV shows such as The Young & The Restless; Eva Marcille’s journey to fame was no easy path.

But having dedicated herself to hard work since she was young, it’s no surprise that this phenomenal woman has achieved so much throughout her life and continues to do so today.

So what exactly does Eva Marcille’s biography look like? What drives her ambition and how did she manage to accumulate such wealth? Read further for all the details about Eva Marcille’s impressive career and net worth!

Also Read- Ella Balinska net worth Also Read-Noah Jupe net worth

Eva Marcille was born in Los Angeles, California on October 30th 1984. She attended Clark Atlanta University and majored in Business Management. Eva’s career began when she won third place in the third cycle of America’s Next Top Model.

After her victory, she signed with Ford Models and then went onto to appear on magazine covers such as Essence and King Magazine. Her success has led to a successful modeling career that spans over decade and has earned her an impressive net worth estimated at $4 million dollars.

Moving forward, Eva made the transition into acting with appearances on shows like Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne and The Young And The Restless. This marked the beginning of her rise to fame.

Unlike her early life and education, Eva Marcille’s career beginnings were far from conventional. She first rocketed to fame after winning the third cycle of America’s Next Top Model in 2004:

1. Winning a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl cosmetics;

2. A fashion spread in Elle magazine;

3. Six-page spread and cover for Beauty in Vogue Italia.

This win opened up doors for her as an actress, model and television personality. Her acting credits range from guest appearances on shows such as Smallville, Everybody Hates Chris and Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, to recurring roles in The Young & The Restless and Girlfriends.

From there she moved onto hosting duties on BET’s Rip the Runway show, co-hosting 106 & Park alongside Terrence J and Rocsi Diaz, becoming a correspondent on Extra TV, among other things. With each move proving successful, Eva Marcille has solidified her spot at the top of entertainment circles across multiple disciplines.

As her success continued to grow so did her net worth which is estimated to be around $4 million dollars today. This sets the stage for exploring Eva Marcille’s impressive list of acting credits next!

Eva Marcille’s acting career has spanned over a decade, with notable appearances in many television shows and films. She began her professional acting career following the success of America’s Next Top Model in 2005.

Her first role was as Tyra Hamilton on The Young and the Restless from 2006–2008. Since then, she has gone on to appear in several other productions including Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, Who’s Your Daddy?, and Love by Chance 2.

She also starred alongside Idris Elba in the American romantic comedy film Baggage Claim (2013) and portrayed Rachel Robinson in the biographical sports drama 42 (2013).

In addition, Eva had recurring roles as Megan West in Meet the Browns (2010–2011), Tondi Weakleyin Let’s Stay Together (2012–2014), Donna Duncan in Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce (2015–2017), and Layne Keefe in Ambitions (2019).

Moving forward into modeling work, Eva Marcille continues to be successful both on screen and off.

Aside from her diverse acting roles, Eva Marcille has also built a successful modeling career. In 2005, she won the third cycle of America’s Next Top Model. She then went on to become a face for CoverGirl Cosmetics and gained contracts with major companies such as:

* Toyota Motors

* Red by Marc Ecko

* Samsung

She was even featured in magazines like Vogue Italia, IONA, King Magazine and so many more. Additionally, Eva signed an exclusive contract with visionary icon Tyra Banks which granted her numerous opportunities within reality television.

Eva Marcille has had several reality television appearances over the years. She began her career in 2004 on America’s Next Top Model, where she won the third season and launched her modeling career. Her win also earned her a CoverGirl cosmetics contract.

After that, Eva appeared as a guest judge on ANTM for seasons 10 and 17. In 2007, she was part of The Real Housewives of Atlanta cast from its fourth season through its eighth season.

In 2010, she participated in VH1’s Scream Queens to support breast cancer awareness but ultimately did not make it into the final round.

During her time on the show, however, Eva made an impression with viewers due to her comedic timing and willingness to test boundaries when it came to performance artistry.

This led to other opportunities such as acting roles in series like Smallville and Single Ladies. As well as hosting duties on BET’s Rip the Runway and 106 & Park: Wild-Out Wednesday.

With all these accomplishments under her belt, Eva has managed to amass a sizable net worth throughout her long entertainment career thus far. Transitioning now into Eva’s music career…

Marcille’s foray into music began in 2005, when she released her debut single “Luv Ya Girl”. She followed this up with a full-length album titled “The Eva Show” the same year. The album featured collaborations with artists such as Fabolous and T-Pain, and it peaked at number 59 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

Marcille also toured extensively to promote the album, performing at several music festivals across the country. After taking a break from music for a few years, Marcille returned in 2018 with her second studio album ‘Songs of Eva’.

Despite receiving generally positive reviews, the album failed to make much impact commercially due to lack of promotion. Nonetheless, Marcille has continued to pursue her musical career over the years and is currently working on new material.

Her estimated net worth stands at around $2 million dollars, mainly accumulated through her reality television appearances and music career.

With an ever expanding portfolio of business ventures, there’s no doubt that this figure will continue to rise in coming years.

Eva Marcille’s estimated net worth currently stands at a whopping $2.5 million, and it continues to grow with her many business ventures.

One of the most successful was the launch of her own clothing line in 2018. The collection included stylish lounge-wear for women that sold out within its first week on the market.

She has also partnered up with major fashion brands like Revlon and Pantene to help promote their products. |

In addition to these partnerships, she is also an ambassador for several different charities and organizations such as Mentoring USA and Dress For Success.

These efforts have helped her become even more successful in her career while making a positive impact in the world around her.

With all this success behind her, it’s no wonder why Eva Marcille is considered one of today’s top entrepreneurs. Transitioning now into discussing her philanthropic efforts…

Eva Marcille has been actively involved in philanthropic efforts throughout her career. Her work with the following organizations have helped to make a difference in many people’s lives:

1. The American Red Cross

2. St Jude Children’s Research Hospital

3. Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

4. Feeding America

In addition, she regularly volunteers her time and resources to help support causes close to her heart such as child homelessness and cancer research.

Eva also started an organization called ‘The BOSS Network’ which provides mentorship for women entrepreneurs of color who are looking to break into the business world.

She is truly passionate about making an impactful change in other people’s lives and does so through her various charity initiatives.

As we move on, let us take a look at awards and accolades that Eva Marcille has achieved during her lifetime.

Marcille’s achievements have been nothing short of staggering, as she has achieved a level of success few could dream of. Various awards and accolades are testament to her hard work and dedication.

She received the 2017 Women’s Entrepreneurial Achievement Award by the Young Professionals Network for her business accomplishments in fashion and beauty.

In addition, Marcille was presented with an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role on The Rickey Smiley Show.

Her impressive résumé also includes being named one of Ebony magazine’s Power 100 honorees in 2018, a BET Honors awardee in 2019, and an International Social Icon at the Global Beauty Awards held in Monaco that same year.

Her career successes prove that she is an unstoppable force who continues to break boundaries within both Hollywood and beyond. With such tremendous success, it is no wonder Eva Marcille’s net worth is estimated to be $4 million dollars.

As if this wasn’t enough, she paves the way for other women to do more than what society expects from them. Taking all these accomplishments into consideration, Eva Marcille stands out as an inspirational figure whose influence will continue to grow even further over time.

Seamlessly transitioning into marcille’s personal life, let us now explore how much she values family above all else…

Eva Marcille has had an interesting personal life. She was previously married to Kevin McCall and they have a daughter together, Marley Rae McCall. They split in 2014 after numerous public disputes between the two.

She is currently married to Michael Sterling, the two married in the year 2018. Eva’s been overjoyed with her relationship with him and often speaks about how much she loves him publicly on social media platforms such as Instagram or Twitter.

Overall, despite previous issues in her love life, Eva seems content with where it stands today. Additionally, Eva is active philanthropically and works closely with organizations like Dreams for Kids DC which helps encourage youth leadership development through service learning experiences associated with community service projects.

Her passion for helping others shines brightly through these endeavors. Transitioning into recent projects, Eva…

Eva Marcille has been busy lately, proving that her star power is still on the rise. She’s been a force in the entertainment industry since she won the third season of ‘America’s Next Top Model’ in 2004.

Recently, Eva has taken on numerous projects that have earned her both fame and fortune:

* Hosting Fox Soul’s ‘Dish Nation’

* Co-hosting NBC Universal’s syndicated show ‘The Real’

* Starring as Tyra Hamilton in BET’s comedy series ‘In Contempt’.

Additionally, she penned a book about motherhood and released two fashion lines — Minnie Rose and Tori Hendrix by Eva Marcille. Her business acumen is evident from these ventures alone.

As if all this wasn’t enough, Marcille recently served as an executive producer on the Netflix film ‘Breaking Brooklyn’.

This was just another example of how far-reaching her career aspirations are; it seems there isn’t anything Eva can’t do! Moving forward to her estimated earnings and net worth, we can see where most of this success came from.

Eva Marcille Net Worth and Earnings

Eva Marcille boasts an impressive estimated net worth of $7 million. The majority of her fortune comes from her career as a television host and model, with additional income sources being endorsements and business ventures.

In terms of modeling, Eva has landed high-……..Read more

#EvaMarcille #Evamarcillenetworth #celebrity news #hollywood icons #celebrity biography #net worth

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apinchofm · 2 years

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Miriam and Baldwin in my modern!AU

Miriam's life was perfect. At least, as close to perfect as she needed.

Bertrand, her fantastic and funny husband adored her and his books. Marrying young, at 19 seemed foolish, but they were a happy couple. Matthew was the last person to criticise, as he too just had Marcus

Then one day, after a lecture, her entire world falls apart with one phone call.

"Miriam..." Matthew is crying. He doesn't cry. Miriam always joked that he had his tear ducts removed, despite his kind and romantic

When she arrives at the hospital, everyone is looking at her with pity and sympathy. Matthew is bruised up. Godfrey and Baldwin are watching sympathetically.

Hit and run by some drunk idiot. Bertrand had pushed Matthew out of the way. Because he was like that. Miriam didn't blame Matthew, not at all. But she couldn't look at him. So she leaves.

.....

Baldwin, too, had a perfect life. Divorce wasn't ideal, but it was for the best. Eva wasn't happy, he wasn't happy and more importantly, their daughter wasn't happy. It made sense.

But he was back in London, where he hoped to raise their daughter. Miyako enjoyed her school, as much as five year old could enjoy school.

A welcome surprise was Miriam, who he hadn't seen since last year, at his door.

"I'm sorry, I didn't..." Miriam knows from Matthew how Miyako gets used as a chess piece and time together is precious.

"We're making hot chocolate." Baldwin said with a small smile, "Come in."

Miyako is happy to see Miriam, making sure to sit next to her and blow dramatically to cool down her mug of cocoa. Not much made Miriam smile, but seeing Miyako and Baldwin did.

"It's a stupid question, but how are you?" Baldwin asked later, "Matthew said you were back at Oxford for your PhD?"

"Better, I suppose." Miriam shrugged, "As much as I love my parents, Harvard isn't home."

"Well, welcome back." Baldwin smiled, "I know how difficult being back in England is for you."

"It's home. And I miss working with Matt." Miriam said.

"What about you? Who is the famous bachelor seeing now?" Miriam teased, "You can't be single forever!"

"So are you!" Baldwin said.

"Yes, but I saw Eva with the Prince of Monaco's brother." Miriam teased, "It's time to get back out there."

Baldwin huffs a laugh, "She does it to provoke me. But she can see whomever she pleases. I'm still richer. And it gives me more time with Miyako before she decides to uproot her to Germany or Switzerland,"

"Is she still doing that?" Miriam asked, "What about school? Her friends?"

"She wants me to do the cruel and perhaps the easiest thing. I could easily get sole custody."

"But then you become the bad guy who took Miyako from her mum,"

"Exactly. I'm a bastard, yes. But not to my child."

"Why not have Miyako at Sept-Tours? Matthew said that Marcus adores being with your parents." Miriam asked. She had stopped in France to see her toddler godson, he seemed great.

"Marcus is two and barely has time to realise his father can't look at him," Baldwin said, "It will come back to bite him in the arse."

"I can help." Miriam offered, "I have a lot of free time now, and well, I love Miyako, she cheers me up. If you need someone to help out, even Matthew would offer. You know how much he hated Eva."

"I know. Matthew has offered but I don't want her to hear her uncle arguing with her mother. As entertaining as I find it."

"Well, I'm in London for the next five weeks before my house in Oxford is ready. I can have Miyako with me if you need to go anywhere, and help her get ready for school here?"

"You would do that?" Baldwin asked surprised.

"Yes. The two of you mean a lot to me." Miriam admitted, "And Switzerland is really cold in September. I don't want Miyako getting frostbite."

"Mimi?" Baldwin calls her over from her drawing and she bounces over happily, "You know how I'm going to Paris next week? Would you like to stay with Miriam?"

"Do I get to go to the same school?" She asked hopefully.

"Yes." Miriam promised, "And I think I can braid hair better than your dad."

Miyako giggles and nods, "Thank you!" She gives Miriam a big hug that she has no idea makes her feel better.

Miriam and Baldwin smile at each other, unaware of the shift between them.

#adow au #modern au #all souls trilogy #miriam shephard #baldwin montclair #baldwin x miriam #matthew clairmont #bertrand

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procrastinatorimagines · 4 years

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Family

Fandom: Chicago PD / One Chicago

Character/s: Antonio Dawson x Reader

Warning/s: kidnapping

Word Count: 4,407

Request: Hi there, can I get an Antonio Dawson x reader, please? Along the lines of Antonio and reader work together and started dating a while after his divorce and his kids love you (more than their own mum who has been mistreating them esp. since she started dating some guy). Laura's bf is in some shady stuff and Diego gets kidnapped (or hurt) and when they find him, he screams for him mummy and daddy and Laura moves forward but he pushes past her and runs for reader & Antonio. TQ x

Note: this got away from me a little but I never liked Laura, not after the way she treated Sylvie, and I just really miss Antonio, so here you go!

“You can’t move it like that,” Diego told you, watching as you picked up your knight tentatively, glancing up at him before you played each move to see his reaction, usually he just laughed.

“Can’t I?” You replied, looking back at the board and the piece in your hand, hovering over the square you thought you could put it on. No matter how many times you played against Diego, you never even got close to winning.

“No, you definitely can’t,” he informed you with a smile, shifting in his seat so that he could lean over the chess board and take a better look at what you were doing.

“Huh,” you clicked your tongue, thinking, “well, what if I do this?” You moved your piece back to where it had been, moving it one space to the side and two up. He nodded and you grinned triumphantly, a look which only lasted a few seconds.

“I mean you can, but then I can do this,” he took your piece with ease and added it to his growing pile as you glanced back at the measly two pawns you’d managed to take from him, or, more accurately, that he had sacrificed. “See?” He made a show of it when he plucked the piece from the board and you heard Eva laughing behind you.

“Funny homework?” You asked, looking back to where she sat at the dining table, chewing her pen with books spread around her.

“Oh yeah, it’s my homework that I’m laughing at,” she joked, earning a small cushion tossed in her general direction. “Hey!” She yelled as it hit her shoulder, throwing it straight back as she laughed, “I’m just saying, how many games has it been now? I’d say quit while you’re ahead, but maybe you should quit before you’re too far behind?”

“Y/N’s already too far behind,” Diego added and you look between the two of them with fake shock and hurt.

“Antonio!” You called, putting on a whiny voice as you leaned back to look through the kitchen door at your boyfriend who was facing away from you tooking dinner, “Antonio your kids are bullying me!”

“Constructive critism!” Diego yelled back as his dad headed into the main room, wooden spoon in hand as he pointed it at the both of them.

“Hey, hey, hey,” he started and Diego and Eva tried to suppress their smiles, but instead of even pretending to come to your defense he said, “does she deserve it?” You blinked at him as the siblings burst out laughing and Antonio winked at you.

“Traitor,” you gasped, but soon all of you were laughing as Antonio told you dinner was about to be ready. You and Diego paused your game and you helped the kids set the table.

You and Antonio had been dating since soon after his divorce, but it had been a while before he introduced you properly to his children. Technically, you’d already met both of them, having been brought into Intelligence around the same time as Adam. After you’d started seeing each other you’d kept it on the down-low, and you’d never dreamed of pushing Antonio about it, he was going through a messy divorce and he had to put his kids first.

It was a rocky start, but when Antonio had found out that Laura had not only already introduced her new boyfriend to Eva and Diego, but had left them with him on multiple occasions, he didn’t see the point in keeping your relationship a secret anymore.

They’d warmed up to you pretty quickly, even if Laura never had, and setting the table with them now, as you did whenever you came over for dinner with them, you fell in sync like it’d always been that way. Previously, you’d have left after dinner, but you’d started spending the night with the kids around more and more, often going so far as to spend the weekend with them.

The kids were happy about, much to yours and Antonio’s delight, especially when you’d started making pancakes for them Saturday mornings, it’d become tradition. When Diego had first mentioned it to Laura, however, it hadn’t gone down well. Apparently, she didn’t like a woman she barely knew watching her kids, and she definitely didn’t like Antonio pointing out that her boyfriend, Todd, had been doing the same thing, and at least he’d introduced you to her first.

It had put a bit of a strain on your relationship for a while, you remembered as Antonio brought out dinner, but sat here now, you couldn’t have been more glad that you’d both decided to stick it out.

“It looks amazing,” you told him as he took his seat, the smell of rice and chicken in the air as you all filled up your plates.

“Yeah, thanks dad,” both children chorused their thanks as they tucked in, Diego bulldozing food into his mouth like he hadn’t eaten all day. Eva rolled her eyes at her younger brother, but you just smiled, appreciating the normalcy of a family dinner like this, with the man you loved. You weren’t their mother, you knew that, but these kinds of nights made you realise just how much you loved them.

“Oh dad after this-” Diego started through a mouth full of food, stopping and swallowing it with a pointed look from Antonio, “sorry, but after this you should watch me finish beating Y/N at chess yet again.”

Antonio chuckled and you shook your head. “I’d love to, but don’t you have homework to finish first?” Diego shook his head, mouth full of food again.

“Finished it,” he said at last, Antonio glancing at you quickly to check if he was telling the truth, you gave him a slight nod. “Yeah we had less today because it’s the science fair on Monday,” he explained and Antonio did his best to hide the look on his face that showed he’d forgotten.

“Right of course, that came by quickly,” he said, “what time was that again?” Chances were, he’d be stuck on at work. You knew how much Antonio loved his job, but it was things like this that made him miss the steady hours of the State’s Attourney’s office.

“It’s okay, I know you have to work, mom and Todd said they could make it,” Diego tried to reassure him but you could tell he was disappointed.

“I’ll try,” Antonio promised anyway, most likely remembering the parent teacher night that Laura had brought Todd to without telling him, causing several of the teachers to think he was, in fact, Diego’s actual dad.

“Are you going to come Y/N?” Diego turned to you hopefully, “if you can, of course.” God you could never say no to that face, not that you’d want to right now, it warmed your heart that Diego was including you in this, that he actually wanted you there.

“I’ll try my best, wouldn’t want to miss it,” you replied, patting his shoulder as he smiled at you. Eva looked at you with a look of appreciation; no matter what she said, she was protective of her brother, and she’d been at the age where she actually knew what was going on throughout the divorce.

It had taken her much longer to warm up to you than her younger brother, mostly because of how attached to you he’d seemed to get, and she’d always worried you’d leave and hurt him, and her dad.

You finished the rest of dinner with relatively unimportant chatter, Eva explained her homework for the night and you offered to help her with it while Antonio asked for Diego’s help tidying up after dinner. You weren’t spending the entire weekend with them, you had to be back at your apartment for some maintenance work on Sunday, but you promised you’d still be making pancakes for them in the morning. Even though Eva protested that she was getting too grown up for funny shaped pancakes, that turned around very quickly when Antonio suggested she not eat them then.

The rest of the night went by happily, Diego beat you at chess, obviously, and by the time you’d helped Eva with her homework the kids had gone up to their respective rooms.

“I’m glad he wants you there,” Antonio said, unprompted as you snuggled up to him on the sofa to watch some mindless television before bed. You moved your head so that your chin was resting on his shoulder as you looked up at his face. He smiled as he looked back at you.

“Yeah?” You were too, but your mind had kept wandering to the fact that Laura was going to be there, obviously, she was his mother afterall, but you knew she wasn’t going to be happy to see you. It was Diego’s night, and you didn’t want to do anything to ruin it.

“Of course,” he replied, kissing you sweetly, “you’re family now if you hadn’t realised.” The way he was looking at you made you melt, so full of love as he put his arm around you, drawing you closer.

“I love you,” you told him, the only response you thought worthy of his statement.

“I love you too,” he kissed you on the head as you snuggled back into his side, how had you gotten so lucky?

Monday came by quickly, and mercifully you and Antonio had managed to head out early, having done all you could do on the case you were working until the morning. You were still going to be late to the fair, but Laura and Todd would already be there, and you knew Diego wouldn’t be disappointed, he’d just be glad you’d both managed to show.

While you knew you’d have to deal with Laura tonight, you hadn’t expected her to be waiting in the parking lot, practically marching over to the car before Antonio had even finished putting it into park. She made it to you just as you were climbing out the car, sharing a look of confusion with one another.

“Where is he?” She demanded, no greeting or politeness as she looked in the car and then back at Antonio.

“Who?” Antonio asked, just as confused as you were.

“What do you mean who? Diego, your son,” Laura snapped, clearly exasperated, concern covering her face.

“He’s supposed to be inside,” you told her, earning a deadly glare as she focused her attention back on Antonio, clearly not wanting you to have any input in this.

“Well he isn’t,” she replied. What did she mean? You were both late, and he had volunteered to set up before the parents arrived so he never should have even left the school.

“Okay, Laura, you need to take a breath and explain what the hell is going on,” Antonio said, his calm starting to slip, “why would we know where Diego is? We came straight from the district and as far as we knew, Diego was supposed to be inside.”

Laura swallowed hard, concern turning to fear, but she didn’t reply. You headed around to the other side of the car. “Laura,” you said with force, putting a hand on her shoulder to try and snap her out of it, “from the beginning.”

Antonio ran his hands through his hair, taking a deep breath as Laura explained what she knew. “I got here a little late, about five minutes, but when I got in his stall hadn’t been set up, I asked the teachers and they told me that his dad had picked him up straight after school and he hadn’t come back.”

“What? Laura I swear that wasn’t me, I’ve been at the district all day,” Antonio swore, looking back to the entrance of the school. You reached into the inside coat pocket of your jacket for your badge, having a dreadful feeling you were going to need it before too long.

“Then who took him?!” Laura practically yelled, earning looks from the other parents as they headed in to the fair. “Not again...” she mumbled as Antonio checked his phone for any missed calls, you and Laura doing the same before you headed inside.

Laura pointed you both in the direction of the teacher she had spoken with. “Mr Wright,” Antonio got his attention, pulling out his badge when he tried to tell him that he was busy talking to other parents at the minute.

“Is everything okay?” The man asked, excusing himself from the conversation. He was a bit of a younger teacher, you remembered Diego telling you that it was his first year, the old physics teacher retiring before Summer.

“Antonio Dawson,” he introduced himself quickly, “I’m looking for my son,” he told him, Wright looking to you before his eyes went to Laura, apparently clocking something as he looked back at Antonio.

“Your son?” He questioned and Antonio nodded. “No, no, Diego?”

“Yes, Diego, Diego Dawson,” Antonio said impatiently and the teacher, at least, looked equal parts confused and guilty.

“But his father picked him up,” Mr Wright tried, “I mean- he said he was his father.”

“And you took his word for it?” Laura demanded and Mr Wright looked to her puzzled.

“Well, yes, I mean I’d seen him with Diego before, and you Ms. Dawson, he came to the parents evening just last month, I had no reason to...” he trailed off, clearly apologetic as Antonio practically whirled on Laura.

“Todd?” You had to put your hand on his arm, reminding him that you were in a very public place and you were already drawing attention to yourselves.

“Why would he?-” She wondered, “that doesn’t make any sense, Todd wouldn’t do something like that.”

“Isn’t he supposed to be here tonight?” You realised, cutting in to what was clearly about to turn into a heated argument, Antonio already getting angry, and rightfully so, at the whole situation.

“Yeah, he said something came up so he couldn’t make it,” Laura said finally, “but he wouldn’t do anything to Diego,” you knew she was saying that more to herself than anyone else as you let Mr. Wright get back to the fair.

“’Something’? What is ‘something’ Laura?” Antonio demanded, getting his phone out to try and call Diego, but it told him that the line was disconnected.

“I don’t- I don’t know, he didn’t say!” She fumbled, trying to call Todd too.

Both their phones had been disconnected.

“This can’t have been him, whatever this is,” she tried to reason but neither you or Antonio looked a little convinced.

“Then how do you explain all of this?” He snapped back, barging past her towards the entrace, you hot on his heels as you dialed the only number that could help you now, Hank Voight’s.

Laura followed quickly, still trying to wrap her head around the whole situation as Antonio made her get into the back of the car. Laura tried Eva, but she didn’t pick up, so you decided to head back to the house, where she was supposed to be studying.

“Hey Serg, yeah we have a situation,” you filled him in on what had just happened as Antonio peeled out of the car park, barely acknowledging Laura as he drove, anger and worry making him grip the steering wheel until his knuckles went white.

Voight said he’d call the rest of the team as you put it on speaker, and you’d all meet at Antonio’s ASAP, this had become top priority now.

Kim and Adam had arrived first, Eva had been plugged into her laptop and missed the call, but she was okay. Antonio breathed a sigh of relief as he ran up the steps to meet his daughter at the door. The tears she had clearly tried to clear from her face told you she’d been at least partially filled in as the rest of Intelligence arrived.

“Everyone, gather around,” Voight called everyone into the living room as you took Antonio’s hand, giving it a squeeze for support as Voight continued, “Diego Dawson is our priority right now, we need to find him, so far all we know is Todd Richards, Laura’s boyfriend, was seen taking him out of school at around 4 claiming to be his father, so, where would he take Diego?”

“Wait, Todd did this?” Eva interrupted, listening from the other room as she walking.

“We think so,” Antonio told her honestly, “but we’re going to find him sweetie,” Laura went to comfort her daughter but Eva pulled back, barely even looking at her as she leans into Antonio. Laura turns to where they are stood, clearly hurt but not entirely surprised, still looking guilt about the fact that her boyfriend was most likely responsible.

Antonio hugged his daughter as you filled the rest of the unit in about what you knew about Todd, which wasn’t much honestly. “Okay, well what does Todd do for a living? Who are his friends?” Jay asked, mostly looking to Antonio and Laura.

“Er, construction, he runs a construction company, his friends are mostly his workers,” Laura informed you all.

“He working on anything at the moment?” Kev asked and Laura shrugged a little.

“Sort of,” she replied vaguely.

“What does that mean?” Antonio asked, sending a reluctant Eva out the room with a uniform while you all worked.

“He had a project in the works, but something was up with it, I think an investor pulled out, that might have been where he was supposed to be today,” Laura explained the best she could.

“So he didn’t have enough money? Or any?” You guessed as a map was passed to the unit so Laura could point out the spot.

“They were going under,” she admitted, pulling at a thread of her shirt subconsciously. If they were going under... they’d need money.

“Random?” Hailey guessed, saying what you were all thinking.

“But why? Why take my son?” Laura sounded so lost, but you knew why, and it had nothing to do with her. No doubt she’d told Todd all about her divorce, Antonio, the unit, he must have seen an opportunity to make real cash, but it was hardly very premeditated.

“Look, this was all quick, and so far seems pretty unplanned to me, so he won’t be at some unknown location, he’ll do somewhere familiar, somewhere he feels safe,” you voiced your theory as you stared at the map.

“If construction was halted he’s probably holed up there, it’s his home ground, he’ll be comfortable there and his crew are probably in on it too,” Vanessa continued as Laura sobbed.

Antonio was trying to hold it together Diego, and Eva, but you could tell this who situation was getting to be too much, Diego being snatched by Pulpo was bad enough, but by someone who was supposed to be trustworthy? You didn’t know what he would do to Todd when you found him, so you were going to make sure you were by his side, just in case.

“Well, whatever he was thinking it wasn’t smart, he hasn’t called to make demands yet and he had to know that cops look out for their own, taking a detective’s son is a deadly game,” Voight said.

“He’s desperate,” Antonio added, “might even be hesitating now he’s actually past the point of no return, wondering what’s going to happen to him if he makes that call.” Nothing good, that much you knew.

“So we head to the site, stake it out, if he’s there, we move in carefully, grab Diego, he’s not going to want to hurt him, he’s his only security in this situation,” Voight decided and Laura pointed with a shaky finger to the spot on the map where the construction site was.

Hailey got a quick call from the district, confirming that both Todd and Diego’s phones had last pinged within a mile or so of that location, it had to be where they were.

Laura tried to apologise as you all suited up to leave but Antonio didn’t want to hear it right now, they could talk about Todd when their son was safe. You’d been pretty new to the unit when Diego had been taken by Pulpo, but you remembered the grief Laura had given him about it around the divorce, knew how Antonio had blamed himself. Diego had to be okay, you thought, strapping on your vest and double checking your gun, he had to be.

You didn’t say much to Antonio during the drive, but you kept your hand in his all the way, reminding him that you were there with him no matter what. Laura and Eva had insisted on coming, so they’d been positioned with some uniforms outside the perimeter what was now being set up.

“Ready?” Voight asked, more to Antonio and even you than anyone else. You were trying to be as there for Antonio as you could be, and that meant staying calm and steady, but damn it if you weren’t scared for Diego, you loved that kid, you loved the family you were making with them, and you were terrified that something might go wrong.

“Le’ts get my son back,” Antonio addressed the unit, you were more than ready to risk their lives for one of their own, as were you, as you double checked your weapon yet again.

Before long you were moving stealthily into positions along the site, keeping your eyes out for movement, careful not to attract attention to yourselves. You ad Antonio stopped by a window, carefully looking in to assess the situation, signaling to the others when you spotted movement inside. Heat sensors put about 5 men in this building, the offices for the site it seemed, and one of the figures was definitely smaller than the others, Diego.

Hank positioned himself with you and Antonio by the main door, Diego looked to be in the back, but the order was still as few bullets as possible. Hailey and Jay had taken the back entrace and the others were ready to get anyone who managed to get away, but the look on Antonio’s face told you that that wouldn’t be a problem.

Voight signaled a three second countdown on his fingers as you gripped your gun tighter, your heart thumping in your ears as you tried to steady your breathing. Nothing could go wrong.

Antonio was more than happy to kick the door in when Voight got down to zero, “hit it,” he told the others over comms, and you were in. They’d got speedy approval from a judge before the op, but extenuating circumstances would have to be a good enough explanation as the door came off the hinges in splinters. Either the door wasn’t very strong, Antonio was very angry, or a little of both.

Needless to say, the men, who had clearly not thought this all the way through, were startled by your sudden entrace, most dropping any weapons they had pretty quickly when they saw your guns and badges. They tried to run, but quickly saw this wasn’t a fight they were going to win.

Todd tried to keep his gun up the longest, and honestly you thought that Antonio was hoping he’d do as much. Antonio disarmed the panicking man with ease, knocking him onto the ground and jamming his gun in his face.

“You thought you could take my kid!” He yelled, practically spitting on the man in anger. You took a step forward to stop him but Voight grabbed your arm lightly, stopping you. But you the second hit into his face with the back of Antonio’s gun, you were shoving past Voight and grabbing your boyfriend.

When Antonio tried to resist you said into his ear: “Diego’s here, he’s all that matters, don’t let him see you like this,” you pulled his gun from his hand carefully and he let you, standing up as Jay and Hailey cuffed Todd and the others.

You and Antonio ran to the back room as Voight was signalling an all clear. Pulling open the door you saw Diego sat on the floor, hands, feet and mouth covered in ducktape. Carefully, Antonio freed his son, who immediately rushed into his arms, shaking as his tears wet his father’s shoulder.

“Oh my boy, oh I got you, I’m so sorry, you’re okay,” Antonio soothed as you breathed a sigh of relief, not realising how tense you yourself had been at the situation.

“We got him,” you said into your comms, not being able to take your eyes off father and son being reunited. You headed back to drag out the perps as Antonio lifted Diego still in his arms, and carried him outside.

“Diego!” Eva and Laura were already running to him, Laura not even acknowledging Todd as she ran to her son. Antonio puts Diego down so he can see his family as you hauled the last of the kidnappers into squad cars.

Just as you shut the door you felt something slam into your back, nearly toppling over as you turned to see Diego wrapping his arms around you. You bent down so that you were at his level, glancing back to see a shocked looking Laura, arms still out slightly to catch him as he’d run past her to you.

Pulling Diego into a hug he let out a sob, Antonio and Eva heading over to where you both were. “You’re okay, I got you,” you whispered to him, trying not to look at Laura as you did. You felt a little guilty, sure, but he’d come to you, and you weren’t about to send him away, not when you loved him this much.

“Hey,” Antonio ruffled Diego’s hair as you stood up, wiping his tears with your thumb.

The four of you together, after the day you’d just had, made you start to well up a little as you blinked away tears, glad everyone was back together.

“Can we go home?” Diego asked and Antonio agreed, “you’re coming too right?”

“Always,” you told him, putting your arm around Eva as you took Antonio’s hand. Antonio put his hand on Diego’s shoulder, keeping him close as he led you all back to the car.

“Let’s go home,” Antonio agreed and despite all the time you’d spend at that house, for the first time, it really was your home, your family.

#antonio dawson #chicago pd #one chicago #antonio dawson imagine #chicago pd imagine #antonio dawson imagines #chicago pd imagines #antonio dawson one shot #chicago pd one shot #one chicago imagine #one chicago imagines #one chicago one shot #one shot

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myfriendthedictionary · 3 years

Note

Okay, I’m intrigued by your summer camp posts, do you have any more Evaleigh stuff

I’m glad you asked! *drops my several page doc of HCs that hits the floor with a small explosion* Okay, not really, haha, I will spare you that. But, here’s some of the ones I’ve thought about.

Evaleigh HCs:

- Eva can play the guitar and the bass and Annleigh plays the piano (she grew up playing it and performing in church). They cover songs together on YouTube and just for fun and really love doing it... duet partners...!!

- Annleigh likes the idea of cooking but is just. She is so bad at it. Eva, who’s been helping her mom cook to ease some of the stress for years, finally relents to Annleigh’s pleading and starts teaching her. Generally, she’s pretty good as long as Eva’s helping (read: doing) the work.

- Outside of Eva actually being in the kitchen with her and helping, Annleigh takes it upon herself to try and make a cake for their anniversary. It goes. So terribly. She mixes up cornstarch and powdered sugar but doesn’t realize it. Eva takes one bite and immediately almost dies, but Annleigh looks so, so proud of herself that she can’t bring herself to tell her. Eva eats an entire slice before Annleigh ends up tasting it and realizing how disastrous it was.

- They like to go on bike rides together! Not ones that are super complicated, but more in parks and around the neighborhoods and stuff.

- Annleigh loves to take pictures, so she’s constantly bringing her polaroid camera around everywhere. Eva (though she would not admit it) thinks its very fun to pose for stupid polaroids, so they have like 800 pictures of Eva in a park flashing a peace sign while squatting next to ducks. Annleigh keeps all of them.

- The O’Daniels love Eva. I mean, how could you not, but Annleigh constantly jokes that they would side with Eva if there was a divorce. She’s invited to all the family events and they’re constantly asking about her, which Eva finds very flattering. Farrah gets along really well with Eva too, since she tends to be the middle ground between Annleigh and her stepsister.

- On the reverse, the Eva’s family also really loves Annleigh, especially Eva’s younger siblings. Annleigh is really good with little kids from all the years helping run the church summer camps, so she always knows the coolest games to play.

- Annleigh doesn’t like to read, but Eva does. She does, however, like to be read to. Anyway, any time Eva wants Annleigh to also read a book or they’re studying, she reads the chapter out loud. It helps her girlfriend learn and (though again she would not admit it) Eva thinks its really fun to do the character’s voices.

:]]]] them,,,,,,,,,,,,, i have brainrot but i love them. Thanks for asking, anon!

#i pspspsps at the fandom to get on my brainrot train.... please i would like them #adsjjas thats a joke i will still produce the content for me and me alone if i have to /lh #watt #we are the tigers #paige answers #paige.txt #watt eva #watt annleigh #annleigh o'daniel #eva sanchez #evaleigh #food tw

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aaliyah-babe · 3 years

Text

The One With The Butt: Part One

pairings: eventual joey x reader, jamie x reader

authors note: i own nothing from friends, all credit goes to their respective owners. feedback is always appreciated!

feedback is the glue that holds my writing together!

you guys had gotten invited to the play that joey was in, you were sat next to pheobe on the end,

“oh look! look, there’s joeys picture! this is so exciting!” rachel squealed, showing you all joeys picture.

“you can always spot who’s never seen one of his plays before, notice no fear, no sense of impending doom...” chandler trailed off,

“the exclamation point in the titles scares me. you know, it’s not just freud, it’s freud!” pheobe exclaims, and you giggle at her.

the lights went down as you readied yourself for joeys plays, they weren’t all bad, but they weren’t all good, don’t get yourself wrong he was a good actor, he just chose the wrong stuff to act in.

“shh. the magic is about to happen!” ross shushed everyone

“well, eva,” you heard joey say with a german accent and you sighed, knowing it was gonna be another bust. “we’ve done some excellent work here,”

you looked at pheobe and she gave you the same look before you started giggling quietly, and ross gave you a warning look which made you stop.

“and i would have to say your problem is quite clear,” joey said before stopping. a piano intro started playing before joey got up from his seat and began singing, “all you want is a dinkle, what you envy’s a schwang! a thing through which you can tinkle, or play with or simply let hang,”

you looked at ross before whispering, “now can we laugh,” and he started chuckling aswell.

the play went on for what felt like hours, you had looked through the cast around five times, pheobe nudging you to look at joeys dancing and singing at times which made you both laugh quietly, before the show was finished.

everybody on the stage took a bow before you all got up and started clapping, yelling at the cast,

“yes! excellent!”

they walked off the stage as you all groaned, sitting back down,

“oh my god, that was nauseating,” you sighed into pheobes shoulder,

“i feel violated,” rachel agreed,

“did anybody else feel like they wanted to peel the skin off their body to have something else to do?” monica asked,

“ross, 10:00,” chandler nudged ross,

“i’d it? feels like 2:00,” ross groaned,

“no, 10:00,”

“what?”

“there’s a beautiful woman at 8, 9, 10:00!” chandler sighed which made you all look in his direction and see a very beautiful woman touching up her lipstick.

“wow she is pretty,” you agreed with chandler,

“she’s amazing! she makes the women i dream about look like short, fat, bald men,”

“well, go over to her. she’s not with anyone,” monica said to him,

“oh yeah, right. and what would my opening line be? “excuse me..” chandler said before blubbering words,

“oh come on! she’s a person, you can do it,” rachel encouraged,

“oh please could she be more out of my league? ross back me up here,” chandler patted ross on the back,

“he could never get a woman like that in a million years,” ross agreed,

“thank you,”

“oh, oh! but you know you always see these really beautiful women with these really nothing guys, you could be one of those guys!” pheobe encouraged him,

“oh yeah! come on chandler, do it!” you told him.

“you think?” he asked you all,

“oh yeah!”

“oh, god. i cant believe i’m even considering this. i’m very, very aware of my tongue,”

“come on!”

“here it goes,” chandler walked away and started talking to the woman,

he started saying a few things before he started walking back over,

“chandler?” the woman asked, making him go back over,

“wow, go chandler,” you nudged monica.

joey walked out and you all said hey.

“i didn’t know you could dance!” ross said,

everybody else said stuff to him about the play,

“was it good?” he asked, hopeful. your heart hurt for the boy.

everybody was silent before they all said the same things they did before.

“come on you guys, it wasn’t that bad, i was the lead! it was better than that thing with the trolls!” he argues,

“you’re right joey, you are, come here,” you hugged him,

“did you at least like it?” he asked, still hopeful,

“i’m not gonna lie to you joe. it wasn’t the best play,” his face fell, “but! you’re a good actor i just think your always going for the wrong roles!” you said and he smiled a little,

“thanks y/n/n,” he hugged you again, before letting you go not completely and just let his arm drape around your shoulder.

“she said yes! she said yes!” chandler ran over before turning to joey, “awful play man! woah!”

you rubbed joeys back, feeling bad for him a little.

“her names aurora and she’s italian and she pronounces my name “chand-ler,” “chand-ler,” he was proud of himself you could see, “i think i like it better that way- oh listen! the usher gave me this to give to you.” he gave joey a card.

“what is it?” rachel asked,

joey read the card as his face lit up, “estelle leonard talent agency, an agency left me its card!” he smiled,

“told you,” you whispered to him and he smiled at you.

“maybe they want to sign me!” he smiled happily,

“based on this play?” pheobe asked and joey frowned, “based on this play!”

you guys were hanging out at the coffee house and jamie had joined you, and once again joey distanced himself from you and him. what the hell was his problem? it pissed you off that your bestfriend clearly didn’t like your boyfriend and didn’t even try to hide it!

“hey, kids,” chandler walked in, after his date with aurora.

“hey, chandler,” jamie said to him,

“well this line is passion, and this is just a line,” phoebe read monica’s hand,

“wow i can’t believe i’ve been here seven seconds and you haven’t asked me about my date,” chandler said,

“how was your date chandler?” everybody asked,

“yeah, chand-ler?” monica said, making you smile.

“it was unbelievable! i’ve never met anyone like her. she’s had the most amazing life! she was in the israeli army...”

“luckily, none of the bullets hit the engine block. so, we made it to the border. but just barely and i... i’ve been talking about myself all night long, i’m sorry. what about you? tell me one of your stories!” aurora said to chandler, who smiled at the woman in front of him.

“alright, once.... once, i got on the subway, right? and it was at night and i rode it all the way to brooklyn, just for the hell of it,” he said which made aurora laugh and he smiled again,

“we talked till like 2:00,” chandler said, “it was this perfect evening... more or less,”

“all of the sudden we realise we’re in yemen!” aurora exclaims,

“i’m sorry we is?” chandler asked,

“we would be me and rick,” she answered,

“who’s rick?” joey asked,

“who’s rick?” chandler asked her,

“my husband,” she answered.

“ew,” everyone groaned for chandler,

“oh, so your divorced?” chandler asked,

“no,” she said,

“oh, i’m- i’m sorry your widowed... hopefully?” he asked again,

“no, i’m still married.”

“so uh, tell me. how do you think your husband would feel about you sitting here with me, sliding your foot so far up my pant leg you can count the change in my pocket?”

“don’t worry. i imagine he’d be okay with you because really with ethan,” she giggled,

“ethan? there’s an ethan?” chandler asked,

“ethan is my... boyfriend,” she answered

“what?!” everyone exclaimed.

“explain something to me. what kind of relationship do you imagine us having if you already have a husband and a boyfriend?” chandler asked,

“i suppose, mainly sexual,” she offers.

“huh,”

“aw, i’m sorry it didn’t work out,” monica apologised,

“what not work out? i’m seeing her again on thursday,” everyone looked at him confused, “didn’t you listen to the story?”

“didn’t you listen to the story?” you asked,

“yeah, this is twisted! how could you get involved with a woman like this?” monica asked,

“i had some trouble with it at first too, but the way i look at it, i get all of the good stuff, all the fun, all the talking, all the sex and none of the responsibility! i mean this is every guys fantasy,”

“that is not true,” phoebe said, “ross, jamie, is this your fantasy?”

“no,” they both said,

you smiled at your boyfriend before kissing his cheek, he looked at ross before they both nodded their heads, “yeah, it is,”

you glared at jamie.

“maybe somebody shouldn’t be with somebody then,” joey muttered but you heard him anyways, what is his deal? you were so going to talk to him after this.

“so you guys don’t mind going out with someone else, who’s going out with someone else?” monica asks.

“i couldn’t do it,” joey says,

“good for you, joe,” pheobe says to him,

“when i’m with a woman, i need to know that i’m going out with more people than she is,” that made you sigh,

“well, you know monogamy can be a tricky concept. i mean anthropologically speaking...” everybody pretended to sleep and fake snore as ross bored everyone,

“fine, fine. now you’ll never know,” he sighs,

“we’re kidding, go! tell us,” monica says,

“all right, there’s a theory put forth by richard leakey...” and there goes everybody snoring again,

let me know if you want to be mentioned in future taglists!

taglist: @zestygingergirl

#chandler bing #friends #friends series #joey tribbiani #monica geller #pheobe buffay #rachel green #ross geller #x reader #funny

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downwiththeficness · 4 years

Text

A Need So Great-Chapter 8.5

Summary: Eva Moore is assigned to work the last year of her contract with the DEA in Colombia. She just wants to get to the end of her tenure, but she keeps getting drawn further into a string of murders in the city. It isn’t long before she’s forced to face the ghosts of her past.

Word Count: ~2,700

Warnings: Smut

A/N: For the purposes of this story, Carrillo isn’t married--or, if you like, divorced. A/B/O dynamics are prevalent, and they come with their own warning. The overall rating for this story is Explicit, although not every chapter will contain adult themes.

Taglist: @dirtynerdy98 @1zashreena1 @heresathreebee @deliciouslyclassytrash @maybege @kid-from-new-zealand

Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10.5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

Eva woke alone. Groggy, she rubbed her eyes and squinted against the morning sun. She rolled to the side and instantly regretted it. The inside of her thighs, the muscles over her ribs all cried out, telling her that she’d overexerted herself. Experimentally, she reached down and pressed four fingers of one hand against her folds, wincing just a bit. She’d definitely overworked it.

Rising, she pulled on a too baggy t-shirt from her dresser and wrapped her hair up into a bun. She could smell coffee and it drew her out to the kitchen. Horacio was sitting at the bar the ran along the back of the sink, sipping from one of her souvenir mugs—Las Vegas Welcomes You!

“You’re one of those people who wakes up early and goes to the gym, aren’t you?” She deadpanned as she crossed the kitchen to make her own cup.

He laughed softly and even though she wasn’t looking at him, she knew he was shaking his head. Coffee made, she turned and circled the bar, sitting on the stool next to him. He hadn’t bothered to pull on more than his boxer briefs, and she took a moment to just look at him. Taking a sip, she reached out to smooth an errant curl. He smiled and took her hand.

For a long while, they were just...there. Sitting, drinking coffee, holding hands. Eva didn’t think that she’d done this, well, ever. With anyone. And, it was so, so nice, this feeling.

Setting his cup down, Horacio placed both hands on her knees, thumbs tracing little circles on the outside, “How are you feeling?”

She knew what he was asking, and she wondered when she’d gained the ability to read his intent so clearly. Eva covered his hands with her own, “I’m sore, but its been a while, so that’s to be expected.”

Though he said nothing, there was doubt in his expression. And then, his eyes narrowed, “You just had an inside thought.”

Eva blinked, startled, “I did.”

He shot her a look that she was coming to understand as, ‘tell me, or I will make you tell me.’ For a very short three seconds or so, she considered diverting his attention in some way. But, something told her to just get it out there. It wasn’t worth it to avoid the conversation, not when it was ruining a perfectly good hand hold.

She ran a hand up his arm, “You’ve had this conversation before, haven’t you?” He didn’t answer, but his eyes did glance to the side and back. She was right. “And, it did not go well.” Not a word, but she’d hit the nail on the head.

“You like me?” She asked, a twinge of anxiety hitting her in the stomach.

Releasing a breath, he nodded, “I like you.”

She didn’t really want to admit how relieved she was to hear it, “And, you don’t want to scare me.”

Another nod. She wondered what had happened to make him think that she could be scared of him. What had he done that was any worse than what she had done?

“When we first met, you asked me why I wasn’t scared of you. Do you remember what I said?”

One side of his mouth quirked up, “Because I wasn’t a threat to you.”

“That’s right,” she said, “Has anything really changed since then? Leave the sex out of it, for a minute. Have you suddenly begun to regard me maliciously?”

“No.”

“Do you want to hurt me?”

“No.”

“Alright, then why do you think that you would while we were—while…” A flush crept up her neck as she stumbled over her words. Eva took a breath, then said, “What’s the difference?”

He pulled his lips between his teeth while he thought, “I don’t always have the best control when I’m…”

She smiled, “You seemed to do just fine last night.”

And, he had. He’d been attentive and considerate, warm in a way that she hadn’t ever had in a partner. That he was so unsure only solidified her resolve to clear up whatever hesitations he might have.

His brows lifted and he gave a little nod, “Barely.”

Running her tongue along her bottom lip, Eva decided to go with a different tactic. She slid from the stool and stood between his legs, cupping his face.

“Horacio,” she breathed, skimming her thumbs over the stubble on his jaw, “I’d like to ask you a question, and I hope that you’ll be able to answer me.”

His lids fell to half mast, arms coming up and around her hips. Eva kissed him sweetly, letting him pull her deeper into his body.

“Tell me,” she murmured, “How many times did you make me come last night?”

Eva didn’t give him the time to answer, kissing him deeply. Hands in his hair, she kept kissing him until she had to break away for air.

“Are you going to answer me?” She asked, rising up on her toes to kiss him again. “Do you remember?”

He nodded, capturing her lips again, nipping at them with his teeth, soothing them with his tongue. In between one kiss and the next, he choked out the number ‘three’.

“Mmhmm,” she hummed, sighing when he palmed her breasts over her shirt, “Three. All with you barely holding it together. Now, I want you to imagine how many I would have had if you hadn’t.”

Every muscle in his body tightened, eyes alight. Eva couldn’t be sure, but she might have actually shocked him. Patting his chest, she grabbed her cup, intending to get a refill. When she turned from him, his arm enveloped her waist, pulling her back. He took her cup and set it pointedly on the bar.

Dropping his hand, Horacio traced up the side of her thigh until he reached her hip. Eva was pretty sure he’d just discovered she wasn’t wearing underwear. Eyes forward, she remained still as she waited for him to process and react.

His hand changed course, moving to cup her firmly. Breath hitching, she widened her stance. Next to her ear, he muttered something in Spanish, tone hot.

“What was that?”

Tucking his nose behind her ear, he said, “You have the sweetest little pussy.”

Jaw dropping, she looked over her shoulder at him, “Really?”

Eva might have had it in her to feel embarrassed by the way she desperately wanted validation from him—might have, if he wasn’t caressing her so nicely. He rubbed with just enough pressure to coax her arousal along at a steady pace, mindful that she might be sensitive. She sucked in a breath, rocking on the balls of her feet, her toes curling on the hardwood.

He hummed his assent, “I love how wet you get for me.” He plunged two fingers inside, inhaling, “I love how you smell.”

Suddenly, she was being lifted up and thrown over the back of the couch. She landed with a sharp yelp, her eyes wide with surprise.

He leaned over her, smiling wide, “Don’t move.”

And then he was gone. Chuckling, Eva stayed right where she was, listening to his footsteps fade and then come back. He stepped around the end of the couch, tossed a condom onto the coffee table, and crawled over her. Pulling her thighs up and around him, he kissed her softly. One kiss blended into the next, growing deeper, hotter. Eva couldn’t stop touching him, couldn’t stop her hands from running over every inch of exposed skin.

Pulling the t shirt off her body, Horacio threw it aside and looked down the length of her, hands smoothing along her sides. He eased her hips open, thumbs slipping down to hold her open.

“Pretty,” he breathed.

Eva, feeling just a bit exposed, gave a nervous chuckle, “First I’m sweet, now I’m pretty.”

Looking up at her from beneath his lashes, half smiling, he said, “You’re both. Sweet, pretty.” He leaned down and licked—too light to give her any real stimulation, but the visual made her suck in a breath, her heart stuttering. “Tasty.” He ran the flat of his tongue over her again, swirling it over her clit, “Hot. Wet.”

His words trailed off as he got honest about it, two fingers pushing inside. Eva’s eyes closed, a low moan sounding. Against all reason, the wave of her orgasm rose fast and hard. She cried out, head tipped back, hands gripping the cushion beneath her. He worked her through it and kept going, slowing only long enough for her to get her breath.

“I can’t,” she said hoarsely, “I can’t so soon.”

He groaned against her, lifting up just enough to say, “I disagree.”

The fingers inside her curled, pressing hard against a spot inside her that made her vision go completely black as her eyes rolled back. A strangled squeak eeked out of her throat, her muscles burning from being held so damn tightly. Her body obeyed him without having to be told, and she was soon coming again, her face buried against the back of the couch.

When she could see again, Eva pushed him to sit back into the couch cushions. She leaned over and grabbed the condom, rising to straddle him. He held her hips, steadying her as she rested most of her weight on the back of the couch, keeping distance between them.

She kissed him, dipping her tongue inside to taste a mix of them both. Mouthing down his jaw, she rasped her lips against his stubble. He dropped his chin and nuzzled into her breasts, reaching down to grab a handful of her ass.

Eva traced the waistband of his briefs, “Off.”

He slid them off, kicking them to the side while she opened the packet. She rolled on the condom, giving him a firm stroke. When she went to lower herself down on him, he grasped her hips. He held her gaze as he guided her down slow. She was wet enough that the glide was only hampered by the need to pause and let her body adjust to him. The full light of the day told her that she hadn’t been wrong when she’d felt how big he was the night previous. He stretched her wide with every push downwards, pressing against her walls deliciously.

As she took the last few inches, Eva let her forehead fall to his, their noses brushing against one another. She let herself just sit there for a minute, soaking in the heat of his skin, the way they breathed the same air. Her body was so full that she could feel his heartbeat from the inside. Though he had to be needing her to move, he didn’t pull at her, didn’t try to push her to start rocking on him. She could kiss him for that—so she did.

Long, slow kisses that poured out from her like honey, making her feel drugged. She was absolutely steeped in his scent, anchored down by it. Eva thought that she could stay just like this forever. It was a dangerous thought, one that Eva set aside as she laid kisses down his neck and over to the sensitive skin behind his ear.

Beneath that skin was a little ridge, a scent gland that told the world what he was and signaled all kinds of information—his moods, his bond status, his wants and needs. For an omega, for this omega, it drew attention and care. She pressed her tongue to it, pulling the taste of him into her mouth.

Groaning, Horacio’s grip tightened, but she felt him breathe deep, visibly centering himself. This was disappointing. She should try again. Eva rolled her tongue over the gland again, ending it with a firm suck, the sound of it loud in the quiet of the room.

He exclaimed harshly, hips driving up hard once, twice. He held her to him, one hand buried in her hair, the other wrapped around her waist. Seeming to catch himself, he rested his head on her shoulder, mumbling a sincere ‘lo siento’. He whispered it again, using the leverage of his grip on her hair to pull her face to his. She smiled, kissing him briefly, wordlessly letting him know that she was fine.

And then she went right back to what she was doing. His entirely body went lax and somehow clenched at the same time, his hands squeezing into fists. He groaned her name. He panted against her skin. But, he didn’t move. Eva marveled at the sheer amount of control he had—if the situation had been reversed, she would have done anything to get the stimulation she needed.

As it was, she could feel her body pulse with want, all her senses inundated with the feeling of the strong, aroused alpha beneath her.

“You’re doing so good.”

The thought came out as soon as it entered her mind, along with the need to reward him for everything that he was trying to do. She nosed over to the other side of his neck, thumb rubbing at the gland on that side. A rumbling growl vibrated against her chest, his heart hammering underneath. Eva leaned down and let him feel her breathe against it. God, but he smelled good everywhere. She took in deep lungfuls, fingers curling over his shoulders to hold him still—not that she needed to.

“So good,” she repeated, drawing the gland gingerly between her lips.

His chin tipped back, allowing her all the access she wanted. His moans sounded in time with her kiss, interrupted by little growls that she could tell he was fighting to hold back.

Pulling away, she looked at him. He was biting his lip so hard, she thought he might actually draw blood. Brows together, she ran a thumb over his chin, pulling gently. When he released it, she drew the reddened skin into her mouth, running her tongue over it.

Horacio kissed her hard, hands cupping either side of her head. Eva swiveled her hips a little, enjoying the little gasp he made when she ground down on him. The movement was smooth, her slick running down his cock with every pass. Unable to keep the slow pace, it wasn’t long before Eva was rocking her hips over him, angling to hit her g spot with every downward thrust.

Her entire world narrowed down on the way her body was lighting up with pleasure, tightening around him. Little groans grew into high pitched rhythmic moans. Fuck, she was going to come again. He seemed to know it, too.

Horacio helped her along, when her hips started to falter, “I got you. Wanna feel it. I wanna feel you come on me.”

Fire burned low in her belly, billowing out so that her whole body felt encompassed by blistering heat. Eva felt a kind of ragged scream scrape past her vocal chords. She threw back her head, hair falling over her shoulders. This was different than when he made her come on his fingers or mouth. Now, she had something hard to fill her up, to crash against. There was no room inside her to push down, so the contractions rippled out, shaking her down to her bones.

He supported her through it, his own orgasm following not far behind. She sighed at the feeling, arms wrapping around his shoulders as her muscles gave out. For a long time, they just sat there, holding each other. Eva was pretty sure she’d lost all feeling below the waist. There was nothing but tingles all over her body, and this nice, lazy relaxation. She enjoyed it immensely.

Later, when they’d finally gotten dressed, he’d told her that he did need to go raid that bar, but that he’d call her later to see if she wanted him to come by. By the door, he kissed her over and over, before saying that he really did need to go, and that he would try to get back before sun down.

When he did actually leave (several kisses later), Eva laid back on her bed. She could still smell him in the sheets. She lazed for most of the day, smiling wide when the phone rang in the late afternoon.

#narcos #horacio carrillo #carrillo #A Need So Great

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goggles-mcgee · 4 years

Text

How the Poison Apple Falls

Finally came up with a title for my Evil Apple White Au!!! I am pleased with it for now XD

Anyways! Like I said in the ask I got I decided to merge the 2nd and 3rd versions of my Evil White au, so this post is to just basically explain what that'll look like and what not.

So like the 3rd version, Snow, or Diana as I have seen that name floating around and I like it, had kept the original mirror from her story, everyone thought it had gone missing or had been broken but she had kept a piece and secretly had it made into a hand mirror. She had completely forgotten about it but after talking to Apple and hearing how Legacy Day went, she remembers the mirror and digs it out, though not before making sure her husband is busy in a meeting or something.

She promised herself she wouldn't use it, that she merely kept it as a precaution but she can't deny the rush she feels holding it in her hands, and well, better safe than sorry right? So she asks who the fairest of them all is with baited breath. She is fully expecting herself or even Apple as the answer, but she is completely dumbfounded when the mirror answers back with Evangeline "Eva" Queen (aka the Evil Queen, as much as I like the name Mira I don't think that's her actual name as no one recognized the name and you would think people would if it was actually her name). Snow nearly drops the mirror at that. She nearly throws it because there is no way that it true, but...the mirror can't lie.

Eva had actually started to change during her time in the Mirror Prison after her visits with Raven after Legacy Day. She was upset that Raven didn't want to be Evil like her and it had led to many fights between them but Raven snapped one visit and basically told her mom she wouldn't visit anymore if her mother didn't listen to her. Eva loves her daughter and the thought of her not visiting scared her to death so she let Raven speak. Raven goes on about how hellish school was and kinda still is when people expect her to just be some awful person. She breaks down to her mom that she didn't want to end up in the Mirror Prison if she was only doing what was expected of her, she cried to her mother that she didn't want to marry a man old enough to be her dad if the book decided to follow the previous story exactly (I like to think it doesn't exactly as there are many versions of fairy tales, but it depends on the tale or rather the characters and what not)

Raven also snaps that her mom doesn't have to keep being Evil, her story played out, no one was there to judge, she could be herself again. And that makes Eva pause because....when was the last time she could be herself? It was before she signed the book, thinking back on it she hadn't been that excited to sign either, but she was pressured to and once she did, she didn't feel like herself...not at all...the book changed her accordingly for the story. She became...angrier...meaner....all her negative thoughts and emotions were turned up. She cries and admits just that to Raven and the two become closer than ever. Eva stops wearing the dramatic makeup and the evil wardrobe, not fully as she does like the aesthetic and she begins to heal.

She apologized to Raven about her upbringing and she starts to get the Good King (James) to visit her more and the two talk and they agree to divorce, but they remain really good friends after it is done. Sometimes Raven and James visit together which is always nice.

Snow doesn't know any of that, she's furious and she has to make things right. How could Apple let things get this bad? So she goes to EAH under the guise of visiting her daughter and wanting to reminisce. She lies to Apple and tells her daughter that the mirror said that Raven was the fairest and does Apple know what that will do to their story? To their legacy? Apple doesn't want to believe it but her mom has to be right, right? She starts to try and make Raven put to be a bad person, with her mom continuing to poison her mind, she goes further and pulls pranks on her and her friends and tries to say it's Raven. It starts to escalate.

Apple accuses Raven of ruining her things in their room, even bringing "evidence" there's a fight because Raven has had enough. Snow leaves thinking destiny will sort itself out now that Raven "hates" Apple. But Raven had been hanging out outside with a bunch of others during the time she was supposedly "ruining" Apple's things. The Charming siblings come to Raven's defense and Darling is really worried about Apple and why she's doing what she's doing. Apple is furious and tells that Raven could poison her and everyone would still think she's some kind of saint.

Apple decides to poison herself to frame Raven, she makes sure it'll happen during lunch, she made sure someone would deliver the apple tart to her, she had taken a little note from a gift Raven had given her and added it to the box holding the tart. She is getting impatient waiting for it but then she hears a scream, she turns and sees Raven on the floor with Maddie and Cerise trying to wake her up, her face pales as she sees the tart. She tries to run but it quickly comes to light what happened. Blondie is livestreaming, Cerise yells at Apple asking why she did it, and Apple busts out in tears and tries to go check on Raven, because this wasn't supposed to happen and she shouts out how this is all her mom's fault and spills everything.

Snow isn't held accountable but her reputation takes a big hit and she has to try and lie her way out but her husband found the mirror and it reveals the truth. James rushes to the school as he had been watching the livestream and Eva is banging on the mirror begging to be let put because she had been watching too, the Grimm brothers let her out because...that's her child...and they can see her tear stained cheeks and they had seen how she's changed. She rushes to Raven, everyone is of course shocked to see the Evil Queen but they have no fear for her after seeing her scream and drop to her knees and scoop up her daughter in her arms.

A glass coffin is made. Raven is laid inside, many princes and princesses try to awaken her but to no avail, finally Darling and Daring convince Dexter to try, he only kisses her on the cheek but she awakens!

Snow White becomes known as Evil White and Apple, Apple gets the name Poison Apple

SORRY IT'S SO LONG BUT ASKS ARE VERY WELCOME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AU

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cateringisalie · 3 years

Text

9 years later and we have at last got a new Eva film and the end of the Rebuild project.

Much was made at the start of Rebuild of the desire to introduce Eva to a new audience. 1.0 more or less leant into its original goal and restaged episodes 1 to 6 of the TV series with a bigger budget, CGI, some more blunt and early reveals and a few weird alterations for the existing fan base. The Angel numbering was off; everyone knows Lilith is stuck in the basement, Seele just default to their monoliths. Kaworu is actively introduced at the tail-end rather than alluded to in the opening titles. As an intro, its fine (though most would agree the equivalent stage of the TV series isn’t really a struggle to cope with either), though a few stylistic and environmental changes lead many to conclude this was a direct sequel to End of Evangelion. 2.0 seemed content to build off of the intro but steer away from the relevant section of episodes – roughly 8 to 17. Recognisable moments like the falling Angel, the corrupted Unit 03 and the ribbon angel and Unit 01’s impossible reactivation share the screen with altered relationship dynamics. Now we get Mari one of the few wholly new characters who gets to open the second film in a wildly dramatic fashion. The key of Nebuchadnezzar (which does at least re-enter proceedings in the final film, but I am even shakier on what it is or used for – even fandom seem to have struggle to explain this as anything other than a blunt drop-in replacement for the Adam embryo in the TV series). And come the end its time for Third Impact already, Shinji altering the world around him to rescue Rei from the depths of an Angel. Kaworu uses an unfamiliar spear to incapacitate Shinji and the preview hints at a story further from the rails than ever. 3.0 is as promised more or less completely divorced from anything Eva had done before. Just not the off-the rails version 2.0 advertised. Some will be quick to note that none of the Rebuild previews have entirely accurately advertised their subsequent instalment; 1.0’s features at least one key scene that never happened (Mistao slapping Ristuko in a seeming allusion to the Sea of Dirac Angel) while even the sequences of animation that did make it look nothing alike. Which is fair, but even then 2.0’s bears absolutely no resemblance to 3.0 and even 3.0’s very strange preview doesn’t really jibe with 3.0+1.0 ultimately. 3.0 is post-post-apocalypse and with a whole 14 years just evaporated between films. There’s a distinct last third of Nadia feel to it. About the only part similar to a former incarnation is Kaworu and Shinji’s relationship which while not even roughly mapping to episode 24 serves the same function; to make Shinji distraught before the climax of this story. But 3.0 is also the point where that initial premise of the series slams headlong into the drift from familiar territory. Where the film is a quantum leap away from the mystery terms and slow reveals. The oddities and confusions pile up given the glimpsed state of the world, the strange gridded moon, the sea of Eva corpses, the strange state of Lilith in the depths of Nerv. An awful lot happened while Shinji was (for reasons no one has explained or seems to care about except me) IN SPACE and the film only ever alludes to the sequence of events occurring between these two films in the broadest of strokes. Which if done a certain way can be compelling though I did not find it to be the case here in the slightest. It’s a huge struggle to build up even a vague idea of what went down and that’s with heavy deferral back to the TV series again. If you’re new, none of this means much of anything. Even mixed media doesn’t help. The reveal there was a limited run manga of events prior to 3.0 had a potential for answers, but upon reading a synopsis... Nope. Helps not even a tiny amount. Also this mixed media attitude is never to be encouraged. So, I didn’t like film 3 much at all. Film 4 does little to not be based on where it left off. Which is a small mercy that it doesn’t effectively toss everything out again and skip further ahead in time. And 3.0+1.0 does at least make use of some of what 2.0 revealed and setup in the spirit of trying to get this into something cohesive. It fails, but it tried. Maybe the points it touches on were the intended direction of the films. Maybe Anno changed his mind on this one. It’s not like Rebuild’s failure to cohere should be a surprise – the title of the film is simply confusing in sequence. Titled neither 4.0 nor 4.44, instead we have the pretty inexplicable 3.0+1.0 which is just annoying to type. Even thematically this doesn’t feel right given its more like 2.0 mushed into 3.0 but I suppose that’s technically film 5 so... Unless, 1.0 here is supposed to mean the original TV series or EoE, which... End of Evangelion figures unexpectedly largely in the film. Could be that its meant to infer some collection of the Eva cast (the original pilots + Mari? The Ikari family + Mari? The pilots from 1.0 (Shinji and Rei) plus the pilots from 3.0 (Asuka and Mari)?). The other part of course, is that the three prior films had titles in the form of [Thing](Not)]Thing]. 3.0+1.0 decides to dispense with this entirely and instead is titled “Thrice Upon a Time”. Nothing like confusing matters (and instead media library ordering) by not only giving the film a title that puts it before the 3rd film (since prior to this cinema releases are .0 and the home media (excepting the first release of 1.0) are triple digits of their instalment number) but also has another reference to three within it. It might be some kind of holy trinity allusion, some play on Third Impact, or an acknowledgement that this is theoretically the third version of events surrounding the end of the world (if you take TV series as 1, EoE as 2, and Rebuild as 3). Also potentially a literary reference about cyclical time and messages from the future which is all well and good and fits into a whole other essay about how Rebuild and FFVII Remake are operating on the same basis and making many of the same mistakes by both trying to be fan-service for the new fans and draw in new ones and do the big fan-moments similarly but diverge wildly off in others. Good start! The final film starts with bombast as per 2 and 3 (and thus focused on Mari) though the setup and point of the action is possibly more confused and less explicable (which is saying something given 3.0 opened with retrieving Unit 01 from space. No, I will continue to complain about not getting this. Yes it was very exciting but why was Unit 01 in space? In a strange crucifix coffin. Anyone at all?) – and only vaguely connected to anything resembling the plot. At least 2.0 and 3.0 had some immediate and long term stakes with a cover for Kaji stealing something and bringing Shinji into the plot. This film opens with a scrounge for spare parts in a red Paris that the tertiary cast make no longer red while Mari fights off a massed horde of Evas while battleships are puppeteered from orbit. It’s all terrible cool and everything, but given at no point do we even begin to understand what is going on or what the stakes even are. Which is a problem with the latter half of the sequence. 2.0 might have started with an Eva vs Angel fight but while there was ambiguity over the situation it at least seemed to lead into the eventual plot. Here we’re getting Eva spare parts for later and a whole dose of new terminology the film has no interest in explaining. Which is par for the course for prior Eva incarnations but again, I feel there was more explanation setting the weirdness up. Here we are reduced to keywords that sound important. The film proper opens with our familiar trio of Eva pilots winding up at a village with their old classmates (which of course, to follow the proliferations of 3 all the way down and also match to Tokyo-3, is in fact, Village 3. The far future sequel to Resident Evil 8 presumably). Who are necessarily now 14 years older than them. Asuka is naked (in a sequence to contrast to 1.0 and 2.0) or in her underwear for far too much of this sequence (and just as creepy as 2.0 got with this) as Shinji struggles in the aftermath of Kaworu’s death, Ayanami (critically not the Rei of 2.0) learns about life (and visits a library with – I’m not kidding – a poster for Sugar Sugar Rune on display. I like to think not many in the audience caught this slightly odd reference). 30 minutes of the film are taken up with Rei being happy and contented with her life while Shinji slowly recovers and re-enters polite society (sulks, throws up at the sight of the DSS collar, is insulted and force-fed). There’s a good case for this section just being an unnecessary time filler, though you don’t need to fill time in a film that is 2 ½ hours. But if it was cut down, perhaps it would have the same strange feeling as 1.0 had where the aftermath of Shinji’s second Angel fight lead was mostly skipped and left that part of 1.0 feeling strangely hasty and actively (and badly) abridged. Maybe that’s just my familiarity with the source material again. There’s still an edge of weirdness in the air on the film hits the 45 minute mark; even prior to this gigantic sections of the land are missing, and some things just float around now (apparently because). Past this mark is where weirdness creeps in; the barriers keeping the village from suffering the fate of Paris – the structures a curious match to the Cocytus facility at the start of 2.0. There are headless Eva copies who roam the landscape. An indicator on Ayanami’s suit runs down. Shinji is advised to talk to his father before he loses the opportunity forever. This one made me laugh, and even Asuka comments that given who Shinji’s father is and what he’s done don’t really make this plausible (or sensible). Ayanami concludes her pastoral life and this stage of the film by transforming back to her original white plug-suit; her AT Field then dissipates and she bursts in a familiar spill of LCL. For such a previously central character, Rei or Ayanami or Lilith will have exceptionally little bearing on the remainder of the film. The plot now kicks in properly as Gendo decides enough is enough and he’s going to be doing some world ending. Our Eva pilots are ready but not the same; we have Asuka, Mari and Shinji. And standing orders for Shinji to be shot if he tries to pilot anything (but given we’re at the end of the world and basically the original plan fails to stop Nerv bringing about the end of the world, that people still try to shoot him is... a little weird and an almost pointless resolution of factors the quaternary cast brought up in 3.0). The entire rest of the film is even more impenetrable and confusing than Kaworu’s sweeping explanations of what happened between films 2 and 3. If 3.0 fumbled the ball on being newcomer friendly 3.0+1.0 actively doesn’t care. Not that familiarity with series helps since so much new terminology is thrown at the audience. The entire cast – literally the entire cast – are not only caught up on but also understand the varying levels of psychological, biological and religious nonsense that Eva has formerly wielded as something almost coherent. You, as audience member, are not privy to a fraction of this understanding and thus left to flail for the remainder of the film making what you can of the maddening breadcrumb trail of exclamations and partial explanations. Shinji is no help here and infuriatingly asks barely a single question about what is going on (thankfully he does prompt Gendo to explain a few things – presumably where even the staff had gotten lost on what was supposedly going on). For existing fans, you might get a sense of it by application of known quantities from the previous incarnations (I pity newcomers struggling to make sense of this). What the Lance of Cassius is a thing introduced abruptly into the series – and contrasted with the Lance of Longinus you can muddle through to get some idea of what was going on. 3.0+1.0 however, decides that even that grip on its story is too much and adds a bunch more unnamed spears. Some of them formed from Lilith. This is a thing of some import apparently, though ultimately is effectively buzzword name-checking. We know who Lilith is in context from both 1.0 and the TV series but how that relates to spear formation is beyond me. And then there’s the part where one of the flying ships (there were four made according to Seele’s plan. Seele, the former sinister puppet-masters, who died in film 3, and if the flying ships were their idea or this stated at all, I had totally forgotten it in the last 9 years (checking wikia seems to indicate no one else knew this either so I feel vindicated). Seele feel an artefact of the old Eva Anno has no time for – EoE had what equated to three groups vying for control of the process of human instrumentality. Seele are adhering to a prophecy of sorts, Gendo is trying to subvert that process for his own ends, and Misato is trying to stop it. In terms of economical story-telling, the distinction between Seele and Gendo’s goals in causing Third Impact are so slim as to be basically zero (few critical differences though), I suspect Seele were deemed unnecessary and shuffled out of proceedings hastily despite their continued name-checking at this late stage) is turned into another spear because if all the spears are used up, the end of the world can’t be averted. You will have to forgive me for failing to notice how and where most of these spears (save three) wound up or what most of that means or why or how or anything. But we have a budget to squander and why not channel the Gurren Lagann energy for action one last time? And there is some action, this presumably part of what a good section of the audience have waited for with baited breath, that thing the TV series so rapidly lost interest in; that EoE staged for narrative cruelty. Smashy giant robot action time! So we get billions of Eva enemies for Asuka and Mari to cut through without problem. They explode and fall away despite exhaustively overwhelming numbers. There is a palpable lack of threat here. A few hitches but nothing the pilots can’t cope with. It’s just empty fan-service, a boast about how much can be rendered into a single frame. We get Asuka, unable to stab critically important Unit 13 (looking distinctly Unit 01-like just with four arms), and then hooking into an odd leftover thread from 2.0. Her accident in the activation test of Unit 03 has left her with a part of herself now more correctly classified as an Angel. And like 2.0 for surprise value, her Eva has special Angel blood injectors to again overcharge her Eva (which seems to be a thing in the latter three films – turn the Eva safety off and go beserk. As if Unit 01 didn’t do that all on its own in the first and second film). And this too fails. But this too is just another moment of important and pretention. Where the audience is meant to gasp at Eva/Angel hybridisation (not that the dividing line between Angles and Evas is ever completely clear (not least Unit 03)), at Asuka revealing herself to be part Angel (as if Kaworu and Rei weren’t established examples). So her Eva bloated and animalistic is... just another moment. We saw this in 2.0 with Mari releasing her limiters. We saw it in 3.0 in almost the same way. The distinction isn’t meaningfully different to the last few times the Evas were let off the leash and became more brutal. And just like the prior times this escalation of Eva body horror, ferocity, blood and over-indulged violence doesn’t actually help the situation. Asuka fails in her task as the Unit 13 counter-attacks. She’s saved by getting pulled out of reality moments before her end. Of course this being narrative, this being Eva; Gendo, the architect of this situation, is three steps ahead. Misato’s flying ship is badly and perhaps critically damaged so Gendo can retrieve the limbless body of Unit 01 formerly powering the flying ship. Shooting Gendo doesn’t work thanks to the key of Nebuchadnezzar (which did... Uh. Something? Kaji noted it as the lost number kept as a spare in 2.0 which implied Angel or Eva or... No I don’t know nor can I make sense of what it’s done to Gendo. Wikia informs me that while it’s never seen on-screen past the one time, its case is in some shots of 3.0. How amazing) and he leaves. And thus, of course, Shinji must get in the f-ing robot once more. But we’re back to the confident, more certain Shinji who 2.0 birthed as we enter the last (but still very long) final stage of the film – and restage End of Evangelion. Curious of course; EoE by turns can feel like a legitimate replacement for the final two TV series episodes or a bleakly, darkly, disturbing and flippant retort to the low-budget metaphysic version of the TV apocalypse. EoE to some has been not so much the intended ending (though buying a complete set of the old Eva in Japan will always net you the 26 original TV episodes, the four amended episodes and EoE), but more a poisoned chalice for the people who wanted a less introspective version of the end of the world and the process of human instrumentality. Anno was free to do what he wanted and veer off the tracks here – he can’t get away from the end of the world – this is integral to Eva’s base concept. 2.0’s glimpse of Second and the starts of Third Impact depict a process completely unfamiliar from the TV series’s version (reading Wikia explains some of 2.0’s imagery but is still bewildering with reference to 3.0+1.0’s reveals). In Rebuild, the end of the world is staged in the space below the strange aftermath of Second Impact, in an anti-universe where humans cannot venture. And yet, we are still clearly revisiting End of Evangelion. Not exactly the same, but a lot of imagery (the symbols in the sky, the gigantic form of Lilith at multiple points, the crucifix explosions across Earth’s surface) – to say nothing of some actual sections of animation – are taken straight from the 1997 film. Those moments and images were haunting and disturbing (the more overtly sexualised imagery has been completely removed). Clearly no matter what was said at the time or in the interim, EoE is in fact how the ending must play out; this is, or has become, what happens externally and internally when these characters attempt to force a next stage of evolution. The End of Evangelion will always be the end. ...just not quite the same. Not least it is missing most of the infamous moments (Shinji in Asuka’s hospital room is notably completely absent). There’s no moment where Shinji strangles Asuka, Komm Susser Tod is missing entire (in favour of something similar sounding but in Japanese), the live-action sequences of the empty cinema or the world without Evas aren’t utilised (though some live action footage is included), Rei betraying Gendo and beginning Third Impact outside his control etc. It's actively absurd to type this, but Lilith – Lilith! – has less character here. Which is so astonishingly absurd given the only depiction of Lilith we get is effectively Rei/Rei was Lilith the entire time, but those introspective sequences hinting at something more involved with Rei or the points Lilith does talk directly to Shinji are gone too. This shouldn’t be a surprise – we are after all missing a Rei character at the climax. Mostly. 3.0+1.0 almost expects you to remember the last time you saw Eva end the world and contrast it to this new version. The EoE imagery, the footage of Lilith descending from the crucifix, the looming figure of Lilith rising as humanity ends. Even something like the sequence of the backsides of cels running backward is reused – this footage also cribbed from EoE and played out on a wall between two characters. The animation breaks down into scratchy storyboards and later degenerates from finished footage down to outlines, animatics, and storyboard. The end of the world is this time around is more heavily meta. Both EoE and the TV episodes “staged” the process of Instrumentality (or parts of it) for Shinji. It occurs in filming spaces and on sets, there’s lighting equipment and dolls as stand-ins. The strange artificiality of pulling back the curtain on the TV or film production, or else the effect of setting the camera back further than you should for filming a theatrical experience. But even that’s a false layer given a true pull-back would be to people in front of computers or previously drawing key-frames. Here the staging is more blunt still. It begins with an Eva vs Eva fight between Gendo and Shinji in the anti-universe where their brains make sense of the impossible space with artificially staged areas of familiar locations. A fight in a city has a huge sheet as a backdrop and carboard buildings the Evas kick around. They fight in front of Nerv headquarters and in Misato’s kitchen. A blow knocks over a section of scenery and sprawls Shinji in the studio space surrounding the set. A crossroads of sort where Shinji will move on from Gendo to meet with Rei, Kaworu and Asuka. The major difference to EoE is that the end here is much more concerned with Gendo; we dive into his psyche and his past. His isolation and desire for it. This feels extremely confessional for Anno all things considered given Gendo was always previously kept at arm’s length. This feels revealing about the man behind it all, a reflection of the director. He has admitted during production that at his stage of life he is far closer to Gendo than Shinji – I think this is barely obfuscated here. The flashback is more about understanding Gendo and how Yui changed him than anything about Evas or the end of the world. Gendo’s motivation is revealed to be the same as always; this is how he gets to be with Yui again. Odd details catch as this past plays out. And is that Mari in his memories? Mari, who Fuyustuki calls Mary Iscariot upon meeting her and has prepared something for her. Which feels much more like religious buzz words; there’s an obvious implication coached in that selection of a name, but how it actually relates to the story or the circumstances is really unclear. Nor am I clear on what Fuyutsuki prepared. He explodes into LCL like last time too. The process is so close to EoE but the mood is lighter and the reasoning behind the cast a little different. Asuka is part of a clone series – same as Rei. Just without the physical signifiers that Kaworu and Rei exhibit and the prior short-hand for clones in this universe (as noted, their design is intended to invoke lab rats). Nice consistency there. The beach ending from EoE is re-done under a blue sky; Asuka is saved thanks to Shinji and Mari working in concert. Kaworu’s beach meeting with Shinji is restaged, the newer, confident Shinji discussing the circular system that delivers Kaworu into his place at the end of the world. So Eva has happened before, meta-wise or time-wise or dimensionally. Take it as you will, no interpretation is more valid than another. Only that Kaworu remembers them all. It’s happened before and it’s expected to happen again. But Shinji’s different now, so the end of the world is different. Now it’s time to move on; Kaworu is left with Kaji to tend the earth assured the cycle of Eva productions is at an end – both have been dead all this time. Anno’s attitude to his seeming forever association with this one franchise his and his desire to set it down and move on? EoE finished in space; 3.0+1.0 finishes beneath the Antarctic. The idea of Unit 01 living forever as a testament to humanity is no factor at all Shinji intending (and his parents possibly driving) the final riddance of the Evas from reality – none can be allowed to remain. But now, the film takes an odd turn, and as with EoE, there’s the coda. In EoE this was the beach scene. For Rebuild: The sun shines, the sky is blue. An adult Shinji sits in a train station and meets with Mari. She’s older too now; the pair share a kiss and run from the station hand in hand. So. Uh. Yeah. That happened. There’s Kaworu and Rei seemingly alive and well as adults. And Asuka of course. But Shinji winds up with Mari. Mari who knew everything the whole time and might somehow have been part of Gendo’s group at university and known Yui and no, we are not getting any insight into those peculiarities! (or more plausibly it could be Mari’s mother who looks near identical to Mari but... What are we meant to take from this, really?). Mari who met Shinji in a handful of brief moments and has never spent any actual time with him. Mari won the love-triangle! But this is not some simple alternate reality, a different better take world where the cast existed in something resembling our reality; Shinji still wears the exploding DSS collar given to him before rejoining the giant robot fray. Mari effortlessly removes it from his neck. The film ends with a live-action sequence – this is reportedly Anno’s hometown. The world without Evas; we passed the relevant date while 3.0+1.0 was stalled. Shinji made it to 2014, or more plausibly past it in a world without Second Impact. And he’s happy, well-adjusted, and... Not really recognisable as Shinji. Shinji now exists in the present, not the future as he had for so long in pop-culture. But he’s in a different 2021; a world without the pandemic. And that was Rebuild; a project intended as a new introduction to Evangelion that blatantly had its entire core conceit revised at least twice (the 4th film delayed because of Shin Godzilla and then a struggle to write at all) that increasingly and confusingly leant more and more on its famed initial incarnation even as it veered increasingly and erratically away from the familiar sequences. I liked 3.0+1.0 more than 3.0, but can’t help but still bemoan whatever 3.0 was going to be when 2.0 happened. The alternate other sequence. And despite it all, despite the allusions to a repetition of Eva and of this being the break in the chain, even those working on and involved with the film see even this as a definitive end. Even Anno’s not convinced that’s the last word. Eva will come back all over again; naturally – there’s money to be made here, and what’s yet another alternate take to add to the TV series, the manga, the games, the other manga, EoE, Rebuild and so on. Kaworu apparently is indeed doomed to revisit this forever alongside everyone else and also remember that for once he was gifted a true end. An impossible conclusion for modern pop-culture it feels.

#long post

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beneaththetangles · 3 years

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Otaku Reader’s Corner: Komi Can’t Communicate, Love Me Love Me Not, and Fly Me to the Moon

Fly Me to the Moon (Tonikawa), Vol. 3

Season one of Tonikawa may be complete, but Fly Me to the Moon, the manga on which its based, is continuing to roll out, and it remains superior to the show in virtually every facet. Volume three, released yesterday, focuses on Tsukasa and Nasa’s trip to visit his parents, in the process leading the couple through some friction and opening up the questions about Tsukasa’s background and identity more and more. However, never fear ye readers looking for your regular dose of sugary sweetness; the series still lives mostly in the world of cute interactions between the young couple and in plentiful humor, the latter of which was unexpectedly missing from the anime. ~ Twwk

Fly Me to the Moon Vol. 3 is available through Viz.

Love Me, Love Me Not, Vol. 6

Having been thoroughly captivated by the five previous volumes of Love Me, Love Me Not, I expected to enjoy volume six just as well—but I didn’t. What changed? Sakisaka-sensei’s technique and style certainly didn’t, as these chapters are in all ways a continuation of all that’s gone before. But while I’ve argued that the poor decisions and mental lapses of the four main characters are authentic to how 16-year-olds act, the characterizations have started becoming stale, with progressions only being very primary and obvious in nature, and little “true” character growth to speak of, and now joining the already weak and rehashed plots of the story in leading to a most mediocre volume. Seeing unexpected sides of the boys, however, counter some of the issues in volume six, which relies too much on mistaken interpretations for its shoujo angst (it should consult Maison Ikkoku for a more masterful way to achieve this). Most of all, I fear that Sakisaka is going down the familiar Ao Haru Ride route and creating “bad guys that really aren’t bad” characters; the earlier chapters had emanated something special, and I hope for a return to form by volume seven. ~ Twwk

Love Me, Love Me Not Vol. 6 is available through Viz.

The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten, Vol. 1

In this high school romantic comedy, next door neighbors Amane and Mary Poppins Mahiru grow closer to each other. The laid-back pace of their relationship’s development is lovely, and they have some genuinely sweet moments, but the story still left me underwhelmed. First, why do they get together? I don’t know. They’d never spoken before, but then Amane shoves an umbrella into Mahiru’s hand and runs off, and next thing you know, she’s cooking for him on a daily basis. Huh? This relates to a second issue: I don’t know who these characters are. Why does Mahiru take such care of Amane? Do they have any common interests or life experiences? Why are they both living on their own? And so on. The two leads eventually start to get characterization beyond “He’s slob who can’t cook and she’s practically perfect in every way,” but not nearly enough. The narration is also annoyingly heavy-handed at times: specifically, it dwells on Mahiru’s looks way more than necessary. The story also has excessively frequent claims that there’s absolutely not anything romantic about their relationship and they don’t have and can’t possibly develop any feelings toward each other beyond neighborly friendship; it felt like the author kept turning my way and giving these exaggerated winks. The second half of the book is noticeably better than the first, with more humor, more characters, more chemistry between the leads, etc. I can’t exactly recommend this on its own merits as a standalone volume, but there’s enough potential here that this might turn out to be a weak start to a worthwhile series. I think I’ll at least want to try vol. 2. ~ jeskaiangel

The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten Vol. 1 is published by Yen Press.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project, Vol. 1

About a year ago I was back in my hometown at the town video game store. It has a manga section where they will re-sell used manga for usually around $1 a piece. I saw a single copy of volume 1 of Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project sitting there and had to go for it. An Alternate Universe (AU) version of Evangelion? Sold. This series follows an AU where Shinji and company are not piloting Evas and Angels aren’t attacking Tokyo-3. His parents, both of whom are still alive, are working for the Artificial Evolution Research Center for some, at present, unknown purpose. Then, suddenly, Rei shows up in Shinji’s life and is living at his house. The first volume shows a Shinji that is oblivious to the love of his childhood friend (Asuka) and living a relatively normal teenage life in Tokyo-3. It’s weird seeing them in this context as it’s mostly a silly romance story with some future science fiction elements hidden in the background. The jokes hit well especially if you’ve recently watched the original series. I’m onto volume 2 now and interested to see where this goes. ~ MDMRN

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project Vol. 1 is available through Dark Horse.

Our Crappy Social Game Club Is Gonna Make The Most Epic Game, Vol. 1

First of all, a “social game” is basically a mobile game, playable on various social media platforms (hence the name), and often with gacha elements. This light novel gives us a world where high school students actually form clubs to develop said games, and at least when it comes to the actual game development aspect, it’s very good. There’s quite a lot of detail on what actually goes into developing such a game and how they can be successful, and the titular club’s struggle to overcome their issues to make a game is likewise a good read and allows for good character development. This novel is also part romantic comedy, and while that aspect is more standard fare, it’s decent enough with a solid rapport between the main leads. Overall I definitely enjoyed this volume a lot, especially the game development part, and will be looking forward to more. ~ stardf29

Our Crappy Social Game Club Is Gonna Make The Most Epic Game Vol. 1 is available from J-Novel Club.

Reincarnated as the Last of My Kind, Vol. 1

Behold, a new entry in the reincarnation-type isekai sub-genre. What distinguishes this slice-of-life story is it’s focus on unconventional family relationships. Marcus the knight came home one day to find his wife had abandoned him, taking their daughter with her and leaving behind divorce papers; soon after, he also loses an arm in battle. In the process of retiring and returning to run his parents’ inn, he comes across the protagonist, a baby girl whom he adopts and calls Tina (short for Tinaris); while Tina’s species is still unclear, one can deduce from the title alone that she’s not human. Then Nakona, Marcus’s estranged daughter by his ex-wife, tracks down her father. The last major character is Lico (short for Licorice), a knight, alchemist, divorcee, and potential mother-figure for Tina and Nakona; her ex-husband abandoned her to marry Marcus’s ex-wife. Along with familial interactions full of challenges, complications, and heartwarming moments, as well as Tina’s efforts to mastery alchemy, there are also indications that a save-the-world plot might be brewing. As an added bonus, the hints that Lico will be a love interest for Marcus give me hope that this story will avoid a certain unsavory pitfall some other single-man-adopts-little-girl stories have wrecked themselves with. I quite enjoyed this volume and look forward to seeing how the story progresses. ~ jeskaiangel

Reincarnated as the Last of My Kind Vol. 1 is published by Cross Infinite World.

Komi Can’t Communicate, Vol. 1

Komi Can’t Communicate is a cute, mostly wholesome series about a girl who can’t communicate. Yea, the premise is literally the title of the series. Upon entering high school, Tadano finds himself drawn to the very quiet Komi who happened to sit next to him. Over a series of chapters, he tries to get the nerve to talk to her only to find out she has a hard time talking to anyone. Her anxiety gets the better of her when she tries to even state her name in front of the class. Through a series of goofy stories, Tadano is trying to help Komi make friends. It is a lot cuter than I expected and a very fast read. I was through the first volume before I knew it with how easy it read. I definitely enjoyed the volume and am interested to see where it goes as Komi tries to make new friends. ~ MDMRN

Komi Can’t Communicate Vol. 1 is available through Viz.

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