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#behold...the worst thing I've thought of
deltamachine2013 · 1 year
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ladykyriaa · 6 months
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In all my 19 years of living, I've finally realized how it feels to be sleep deprived.
Like actually full out not remembering a single shit the night you were sleep deprived.
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bangchansgirlsblog · 1 month
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The assistant.
**
"Chan?" Her footsteps followed quickly behind him trying to keep up with him as we walked into the dressing rooms.
"Yeah?" He replied dryly as he sat into the makeup artists chair after saying a quick hello.
"You have a meeting with Eunwo and the PR tea-"
"Y/n honestly I don't have time for this right now. You see I have a show in a few minutes and you decide to tell me all this now?" He scoffed and looked up from his phone.
"No Chan it's just that-"
"Just that what? Look your a great assistant and all but your sometimes so uncoordinated. Do you really expect me to remember all the meetings I have?" He glared up at her.
She was wearing her usual knitted sweater, tight pencil skirt and some lofers. Her hair was up in a bun and she held her IPad and Chan's bag one in each hand.
"I'm sorry, it won't happen again," she hung her head low and looked at the floor.
"Good, now go sit on the couch and sit there looking pretty," he stated and went back to scrolling on his phone. Y/n was so confused because he would be so nice to her and then be the worst person to her at the same time. It was so confusing- "oh and for God's sake Y/n what do I say about your sweater? It's ugly, I can't have my assistant walking around in such. Get rid of it. You know what, I'll even take you shopping,"
There it was, his sweet and sour side. Y/n was slowly getting tired of the abusive but at the same time she really didn't mind because she had the biggest crush on her boss. The biggest crush ever since she had join JYP and she walked into their first rehearsals as stray kids.
She basically watched him grow up and her feelings grew even more because of all the time she spent with him. Same hotel, same flight, same car, same house, same office. They were together 24/7 and not once did Chan ever try to make a move on her. He just became more and more bratty and even though she was okay with it, it hurt because she thought that maybe one day he would see her as something more but-
"Y/n get me water please," she heard his voice call for her.
Nope. He wouldn't see her as anything more. She accepted it and she was getting exhausted.
The rooms were all lit and they all had different people in them doing different things so it was very confusing for her to note where what was.
The crowded hallways and the lack of space was slowing her down from completing her task and it was frustrating her. Everyone was busy doing their own thing and wasn't bothering to help her out at all. It was almost like she was invisible.
"Can someone please show me where the water dispensers were set?" She asked anybody that could possibly hear her. No one dared to respond so she finally gave up and went into the other guys' rooms hopeful to find that they had accidentally set all of them there and low and behold a whole box of water was sat in Hyunjin's room.
He was getting his makeup aswell so she quickly slipped in then out. Making sure not to distract anyone and she run down the corridor and back to Chan's room where she found him done with his makeup and was now dressing up.
"Thank you love just drop it over there," he instructed. "Can you go pick up one of my friends from the backstage entrance. Her name is Min-Ji. Giver her this so they can let her in," he passed her another backstage pass with her name on it. His smile was very visible. Was this his new girlfriend?
Who was she? Was she pretty?
These thoughts run through her mind as she walked down the same corridors once again until she made it to the backstage door. She gave one of the body guards a high five with a bright smile and handed him the pass.
"I'm here to pick up Chan's friend," she smiled as she told one of the popular and most familiar guards.
"Oh, Chan has a new friend now?" He teased.
"Yeah I geuss, I've never met her before. Do you see her anywhere out there?"
"I'll have to make a call, one second," he Smiled and made his way back outside making sure to lock the door behind him for safety purposes and after what felt like hours but were actually 10 minutes, he came back with a girl. A really really skinny, pretty girl. Her eyes were perfectly shaped, he body was shaped like an hour glass, her skin was made of glass, her lashes were long and she had such beautiful lips.
She was dressed in a two piece and really looked/smelled good. Y/n was comparing herself so hard. The way she dressed was no way compared to the way this girl was dressed and her beauty was no way near the way this girl looked. Her heart was beating at a fast pace and now she knew that she had no chance against her. She knew Chan would never go for a girl like her when he was right next to whoever this was. It made her sad thinking about it.
"Hey! You must be Chan's assistant," ouch, assistant? Was that all she was? "I'm Min-Ji but everyone calls me Jiji," she smiled and put out her hand for a shake.
"I'm Y/n. The assistant," she shook the hand quickly and led her to Chan's changing room.
"This is really such a big place," Min-Ji commented as they where making their way down the corridors.
"Yeah it is,"
"How long have you been working for Chan?" She asked trying to make conversation.
"About 6 years,"
"Do you have any advice? You know...for me?" That made Y/n start to slow down her pace because what was she trying to say?
"What do you mean?"
"Well you know...I have a big crush on him and he invited me here tonight. Do you know how i can be different? Like catch his eye?" Her cheeks were red from all the blushing she was doing. Probably thinking about all the possible ways her and Chan could be together.
Oh.
"Well, I don't know really. Just be yourself I geuss," Ofcourse such a hot girl like her wanted Chan! It was Chan after all! Ugh! The hot tears started to build as she thought about the situation over and over again. 
"Chan she's here," y/n knocked on the door and slowly pushed it open.
"Ahhh, great! Min-Ji! Hey love," he smiled and moved away from the stylist to give her a hug,
"Hey Channie! Long time no see," she giggled.
"How are you? Please take a seat, I still have a lot before I get ready. Y/n please, get her a drink," Chan said.
"Ofcourse," she smiled through her teeth. Deep down she wanted to die as she watched the two interact and be all touchy. That should be her but..
She's just an assistant.
**
The show was great, everyone was happy with the outcome. Everyone had fun! Everyone enjoyed their time there and now it was wind down time. One of the trickiest parts of the day because everyone was shutting down so everyone was everywhere.
"Y/n you can go now, wait for us outside," Chan said shooing her away. She was shocked at this action. He wanted to spend some alone time with Min-Ji and it was so obvious. The both of them had been whispering and giggling with eachother for the past 30 minutes. It made sense for him to want her out. She wouldn't be surprised if they fucked.
The pain that she felt in her chest turned into anger and the tears that threatened to leave her eyes were not making it any better. Why? Why did she have to go and fall in love with her boss? Why her?
"Y/n!" Someone yelled for her making her jump a little, "what are you doing outside?! Get Chan and let's go!" One of the managers yelled as he walked up the corridor towards her.
"Sir? Sir he's in there with someone-"
"Did we hire you to be standing around all day?! I told you we're on a tight schedule! We should be in a bus right now because we have a flight in less that 4 hours," he run a hand through his hair as he continued to yell at the poor young girl.
"Sir I tried to tell him, but his with-"
"Get him in the bus now. I don't want your excuses," he shoved past her making sure to hit her shoulder. Her hand automatically rub the area. Her feelings were now even more emotional than before.
She had tried warning Chan but instead of understanding Chan yelled at and now she got yelled at again. Was anyone going to actually be nice for once?
She quickly knocked on the door and prayed that Chan wouldn't be pissed off. Maybe he would be in a good mood to be rushed.
"Chan we really need to go! Please just come out," she begged.
"5 more minutes!" He replied.
"Chan we need to go! Mr-" the door swung open and cut her off. Min-Ji came out with her hair a mess and her lipstick everywhere. Her cheeks were flustered as she quickly made her way out and past her. Seeing her like that was the last draw for Y/n as tears slowly started to roll down her cheeks. She looked back inside the room and saw that Chan was fixing himself.
The tears wouldn't stop as she looked at him, analyzing him and trying to find some type of reason to run away and hide.
"Hey, do you think that..." he trailed off as he turned to look at his assistant. Worry quickly filled him as he made his way to her. "Hey? What's wrong?"
Why did he care? Y/n thought.
"Did someone do something? Why are you crying?" He looked down both sides of the corridors and saw that no one was there, so what was really going on?
"N-nothing," she shrugged his hands off her body and made her way inside but was stopped by a hand grabbing her arm.
"I've never seen you cry before so something has to be wrong-"
"I'm just your assistant," she sobbed. Chan was taken back because yes she was his assistant but that's not what she was to him.
"What do you mean?" He asked. His feelings now getting worked up but he couldn't help but ask why? Why was he getting so worked up after seeing her upset.
"Chan just let it be, we're going to be late," she wriggled her hand out of his tight grip and put her iPad inside her bag. She grabbed everything and made sure everything was left in place before grabbing his bag but was quickly stopped again.
"Y/n, love. Tell me what the matter is, I won't tell anyone,"
The tears were heavy as they fell but nevertheless she still had shit to get done and Chan was shocked as to why she was still able to get shit done when she was having a mental breakdown. He felt bad.
"L-let's go," she breathed. Her chest pumping up and down at a high pace.
"Can we talk about what's made you upset?" Chan asked softly.
"Chan not now, please..."
"Later?" He asked hopeful and he got a head shake in response but he was satisfied with it.
"Can you atleast calm down for me? Just breathe," he took a few steps closer until he was towering over her. His hand land by her arms and he rubbed them trying to calm her down. It was working but the intense eye contact he was holding with her was scaring her. Her brain was foggy as she silently got lost into his eyes. Little did she know he was also getting lost in her eyes. He slowly analyzed her facial structure....he found her beautiful? The tension grew as he kept whispering encouraging words so she could calm down
until she did it.
She got on her tippy toes and kissed him he instantly kissed back and when she realized what she was doing she pulled away. Adrenaline run through her body as he looked at her shocked.
"Woah," was all he was able to say to her.
Embarrassment grew in her chest before she knew it she was running out with door. She run to fast that she couldn't hear Chan's calls for her.
She entered the bus and sat in one of the empty sits and covered her head with her hoodie and pretended to sleep.
What the hell was that?
**
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happilyfeatherafter · 2 months
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Happilyfeatherafter’s ficrec Fridays
It's February!! Welcome back to another week of ficrecs. A mix of post-confession therapy, poetry, and glorious AU this week. (I thought I'd not read much because this week has been, quite frankly, a bastard, but apparently this was a lie!)
If you missed last week’s you can find my previous rec lists here for more!
2 February 2024
maybe i like pleasure pain by tothewillofthepeople (@kvothes). After the perfect darkness of the Empty, Cas finds the world a little…overwhelming. Dean tries to help. Post 15x18, Cas is both touch starved and touch sensitive, and the sensory overload of the world can be a bit too much. He craves Dean's touch, but resists asking for it. A really beautifully written, metaphor laden examination of chronic pain, disability, trauma and the physicality of the body and nebulous presence of mind. All wrapped up in an abundance of love and devotion. Absolutely gorgeous.
Prayer to a False God by K_A_Mindin (@katerinaalianovamindin, art by @gaytedlasso for @spnbangbang) It’s been two years stuck in the Empty, where the Shadow showed him his worst mistakes over and over again. Then he's brought back, to Jack and to Dean, and silence continues to rein, the unspoken acknowledgement of the confession lingering in the air...until Cas decides he needs to stop letting silence rule. Alongside the emotional pull of this thread, the D/S dynamics which grant Dean the permission to speak his truths, through prayer, and through physical release, are a joy to behold.
i like your shoelaces (thanks! i stole them from the president) by @you-cant-spell-subtext-without is a brilliantly funny take on Misha's "Dean is a custodian in a fast food restaurant. Castiel is the President of the United States" fic prompt from a convention, told through the narrative hook of a Cinderella story. Delightfully tongue in cheek, and laugh out loud, this is currently a wip but a must read to bring joy to your inbox each update.
FROTUS by kathscradle takes the very same prompt but approaches it in a very well executed slowburn that says ok but seriously what if? My favourite thing about this fic is the importance of family, Cas being the widowed single parent of Jack and Claire, and Dean stepping up in his new role as step-Dad. Add in the slowburn relationship unfolding through long distance hyper-monitored correspondence, and all the national security matters at hand, this longfic gave my The West Wing/Scandal/Destiel brain a great big hug.
birthday candles by rhinestoneangels (almondrose/@pinknatural) is a super cute, ever so charming Dean's birthday ficlet in which Castiel's sister Anna drags him to a birthday party for a friend of hers who he has never met. He googles what to bring to a birthday party and settles on baking cookies...one fire later and fortunately, the firefighter who shows up to save Castiel from himself is very dreamy, and what a coincidence! It's his birthday, too….
I've also fallen down a rabbit warren of destiel and spn poetry, and I really really love this one by @whatladybird and this one by @eyelinerdean, @donestiel's incredible poetry gif edit series and I'm very excited to keep reading more on the @spnpoetryrenaissance blog. Has anyone seen a 2024 prompt list? Asking for reasons.
PS if you'd like to be added to a tag list for my ficrecs going forward please let me know!
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bangtanloverboys · 7 months
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dragonpants & winterflame // jjk
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summary - your professor assigns you to look after and help get the new kid, jungkook, settled in. you’d think it be easy, but he’s nothing like any of the other students
pairing - new student!jungkook x wizard!reader
genre - fluff; wizard 101 au
word count - 5.0k
warnings - dip’s made up lore, friendship, gay bears (oops a double entrendre), tending of the wounds(tm), nick jonas
guide - pyromancy = fire magic; thaumaturgy = ice magic; grizzleheim = viking bear, wolf, and raven world
author’s note - behold my last w101 au! i've had so much fun working on this and it's my pride and joy. thank you all for enjoying (and i'm sorry to the w101 fans who've had to deal with this in the tags 😅)
the seven schools of ravenwood masterlist
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Life in Wizard City was never something that you had expected for you, having grown up on the far edges of the spiral in Grizzleheim. All you’d ever known were the harsh winters of a world full of bears, wolves, and ravens. No one quite knew where you’d come from only being found the burnt remains of Draugarth as an infant. Sten and Bo Silverwood of Clan Ironclaw were the ones who took you in and raised you, calling you their hairless cub.
Growing up, you knew you were different. You didn’t have fur like a bear or a wolf, nor feathers like a raven. You were something else, even beyond your physical appearance. Despite having no fur, your skin bore to the elements, you were never cold. Chilly, yes. But in the cold winds that enveloped Grizzleheim, you never once shivered. But your Papa and Bubba never made you once feel as if you were an outcast, they loved you as their own and that’s all that would matter. 
As you reached your fifteenth year, more peculiarities began happening around you. Your body would grow warm, becoming unbearable to the point you’d wear the thinnest of your clothes in the midst of snow storms. When it was your turn to make dinner for your fathers, you’d burn the meat to charcoal, eventually banning you from the kitchen. However, the worst was yet to come.
You were huddled near a hearth in Northguard, knees pulled up to your chest as you stared into the fire. You watched the flames flicker and change, almost as if they were forming into small figures; you’d see bears and wolves talk amongst themselves, laughing heartily, ravens fly across the sky, and creatures of myth you’d heard as a young one. Creatures like dragons, imps, and centaurs. You’d thought you were only seeing these things in your mind's eye as you watched the fire, but as you focused more on the dragon, you watched as it grew larger. You rubbed your eyes, thinking it was a trick of the light, but it wasn’t. The fiery depiction of the creature grew and grew, spitting out flames from its mouth, catching onto the roof of a nearby hut. You screamed for help, but with each panicked cry, the fire grew larger and larger. Quickly, the clan rallied to put out the fire, but with each bucket of water thrown over it, it did not settle. Only when your papa had wrapped you into his arms, calming you down did the fire finally die. 
“This cub is a demon! We must free ourselves from it!” Kol Shadowsong accused, singling you out. The clan leaders gathered in the Great Hall to discuss what should be done with you, as you nearly burnt Northguard to the ground. Your fathers stood beside you, refusing to back down to let you stand alone. 
“Your Majesty, see reason! It’s clear they have no control over this affliction! They meant no harm! They’re practically still a cub!” Your papa shouted at King Valgard. 
“And that cub nearly burnt this stronghold to the ground!” The king growled. “If they cannot control it, they are a danger to the rest of us. I cannot allow them to endanger the rest of the clans.”
“But what if they could learn to?” Your bubba countered. 
“How?”
“I know.” All attention was turned toward a new voice, Bauldur Goldpaws, the trader. “I’ve heard of this affliction in my travels. It’s called pyromancy! The ability to control fire and summon creatures of that nature. It can be controlled, but only through hard work and training. There is a school that teaches how to control and master this very affliction. Ravenwood in Wizard City.”
You’d only vaguely remembered hearing those names. It sounded familiar, yet you did not know or understand why, like something from a dream.
“That’s halfway across the Spiral and the World Tree connection was severed centuries ago! How do you intend to even get there?” Your papa questioned. 
“The skyways, as our ancestors once did.” Bauldur turned to face your fathers personally. “King Valgard has already tasked me with the honor of re-establishing our trade routes. Wizard City is one of those stops. With your permission, I will ensure that your cub will get there safely. They will be enrolled and they will learn to control it.”
“Do they look like me?” You found yourself asking. All attention was returned back to you, and you felt small under everyone’s gaze. “These pyromancers. . . are they like me?”
Getting down on one knee, Bauldur met your gaze. “Yes, child. There are many that look like you. You will be safe and taught to control this,” he gestured to your hands. 
Looking between your fathers, you met their eyes. Papa clearly not wanting to let you go, to keep you safe by his side and protect you from the world forever. But Bubba, he knew. He knew this was what was best for you, best for the clan. Looking back to Bauldur, you nodded. “I’ll go.”
The trader looked back to the King, who sighed. “Fine,” he waved his hand. “Your cub may go and learn to control this. . . pyromancy. But they may only return, once they’ve mastered the ability. Then and only then may they return to Grizzleheim. Dismissed.”
Your fathers walked out of the Great Hall, bickering between themselves as you looked up at Bauldur. “We leave at first light, pack heavy. We’ll be traveling for a few moons.”
It was hard to say goodbye, having never left home before and to be gone for so long. . . You were scared. You didn’t want to leave, but you knew you had to. It was for the good of the clans. You packed all your belongings into several chests; your robes, your boots, helmets, hats, and swords. Anything you might’ve needed, you were packed and ready for. 
“Be good,” Papa said as he squeezed you tight against him. You buried your face into his fur, trying to memorize every last detail of him. 
“I will.”
Bubba hugged you just as hard, if not harder. He knew this was coming, that one day you’d leave, just never imagined it so soon. Pulling away from you, he placed his paw on your face and smiled at you. “My little cub, be proud of who you are and where you’re from.”
As Bauldur said, it took many months to reach Wizard City. Had you gone in a direct route, you might’ve gotten there faster, but unfortunately you were just a ride along. Bauldur had a job to do, re-establishing the long lost trade routes amongst the other worlds of the Spiral. You’d see places you’d never even imagine seeing; the evergreen world of Mooshu, the ancient sand covered temples of Krokotopia, and the endless fields of Zafaria. Until finally, Bauldur and landed at the edge of the world in Wizard City! 
Dozens of wizards gathered as the ship weighed its anchor against one of the stone towers. You’d been used to whispers and stares all your life, but this was different, you felt isolated and singled out, as if you were being peered at under an eye-glass. You hid behind Bauldur once he was beside you on the grass.
“Who goes there?” A man with hair on his face and dressed in strange armor questioned. 
“I am Bauldur Goldpaws, and this is my ward, Y/N Silverwood. We seek your Headmaster.” 
The guard looked between you and Bauldur, “Follow me.” Was all he said before he stiffly started walking towards a tunnel, burrowed deep into the cliffside. 
The Headmaster, Merle Ambrose, was stunned to learn that you were there to enroll. No one had ever traveled so far in order to attend. It was a first. But nevertheless, you were enrolled in the School of Fire. Professor Dalia Falmea took you under her wing, giving you private lessons until you’d caught up to your age group. You were a bit of an oddity at first, being the only one dressed in furs rather than the colored robes your peers wore. You’d even shocked everyone when you’d been able to pick up thaumaturgy as a secondary school. But eventually the intrigue and mystery died away as time went on.
You’d been at Ravenwood seven years now, almost finishing your mastery classes. You’d held onto this moment for years. Finally, you’d be able to go home! To see your fathers once again! You’d kept up correspondence with them, sending letters through the trade route you’d helped Bauldur set up. So they knew you were in good health and they were also happy for you. At least up until the past year, the former death professor unleashed monsters onto the city streets endangering the students and their livelihood. Papa almost wanted you back then and there, but there were also growing tensions amongst the clans (at least so you’d heard through Bauldur, your fathers did every attempt to keep it from you) so you stayed in Wizard City. However, none of you could’ve predicted what else was to come. 
It was like any ordinary day, you’d just finished your class with Professor Falmea when she called you up to speak with her before you could leave. Shouldering your pack, you walked up to her on the platform. 
“Yes, Professor?”
“Ah, Winterflame. You’ve advanced much in these past few years, becoming one of my star pupils.” 
Your face grew warm at her compliments. “Thank you, Professor.”
“And as my best student, there’s something I need to ask of you.” She motioned toward the door, glancing behind you, you watched as a bright red haired guy about your age walked in, dressed in red and orange robes. “This is my newest student, Jungkook Dragonpants.”
You furrowed your brows at the name, “Dragonpants?” Did you hear that right?
“Yup, that’s me,” the wizard winked at you. 
You’ve never met a student with a lastname like that, the weirdest one you think you’ve heard was Frogtamer. You were going to have to ask him about it later. You turned to Dalia to finish talking.
“Winterflame, I’d like you to help get him adjusted to life in Wizard City. In fact, Headmaster Ambrose suggested it, considering you know how it feels,” she explained. While you knew neither of them meant no ill will, it still felt slightly targeted. There’d been dozens of new students and transfers to Wizard City since you. But maybe he was from far out in the Spiral too, and there was the fact he was also a pyromancer.
“Okay,” you nodded before turning to Jungkook. He was near bouncing on his heels and his eyes. . .His eyes kept wandering around the room, between the professor, the walls, the chalkboard, the cauldron, everything. Okay, you could relate to that, seeing it all for the first time. Trying your best to hide your smile, you nodded to the door. “Come on, let’s go.” The two of you walked out of the school house, and still Jungkook was looking at everything. Bernie, Torrence, Bartleby, Arthur Wethersfield. You remembered being like that, taking everything in all at once. “So on either side of the tunnel are the dorms, yes it’s one door. But your key is what opens the door to your own room, specifically. You get your key from Lincoln,” you said, gesturing to him as he wrote in his booklet. “I can give you a more in depth tour later, so you’re getting the dry run. If that’s alright with you.”
“Yeah that’s fine,” he said, smiling as he looked up at the World Tree.
“So, where’re you from?”
“Oh, I’m from Eeeeerrrr. . .”
“Eeeerrr?” You raised a brow.
“It’s some place far away with a name you wouldn’t know or how to pronounce,” he waved his hand, trying to hand the subject. “What about you? You from around here or elsewhere?”
A bittersweet smile crossed your face. “Grizzleheim, a world tucked away in the farside of the Spiral.”
“Woah, that sounds. . . cool. What’s it like?”
Again, you were confused. How did he not know what Grizzleheim was? Since your arrival and the trade route was re-established, almost everyone knew what Grizzleheim was and how far it was. “It’s cold, a lot closer than here. It rains or snows most of the year, don’t get a lot of sun. But it’s beautiful and it’s. . . it’s my home.” You found yourself stopping on the sidewalk, reminiscing.
“Do you visit often?” 
You shook your head. “No, I haven’t been since. . . since I enrolled. It’s-it’s a long story.” You weren’t about to get all nostalgic with a stranger. “But anyways, are you a transfer? Novice, what?”
“I’m new.”
“. . . Are you in class with people our age or younger?”
“Oh, I’m not in class. Ambrose said I can do independent studies to help catch up. Like helping out around the city and anyone who needs it. Speaking of which, where’s Unicorn Way? I was told to go there as soon as I could.” He asked, his head glancing about, this time with intention rather than curiosity.
“Unicorn Way is crawling with monsters, are you sure you were asked to go there?”
Jungkook held up a letter, addressed to Private Connelly in the Headmaster’s handwriting. It was off, but if it was Ambrose. . .
“Through the Commons tunnel, turn left, go down the street, over the bridge, Unicorn Way is right there.”
“Great, thanks,” he smiled as he patted you on the shoulder. “Talk more later?” He asked as he started toward the tunnel. 
“Yeah, just uh, meet me in front of the Library, noon!” You called out after him.
“Awesome, see you then!” Then he vanished into the shadows. He was odd, but you were intrigued nonetheless. 
A few days later was your rest day, and you typically liked spending it in Olde Town,  sitting on the grass at the edge of the cliff, where Bauldur dropped you off. He wasn’t there, it wouldn’t be for another few weeks before he made his rounds back to Wizard City. When he was there, you’d catch up, then trade the dozens of letters your fathers would write to you and give to Bauldur yours. But days like this, you’d just sit and stare out into the skyways.
“Hey!” A voice pulled you out of your thoughts. Turning your head to the side, there stood the new kid, Jungkook. His face was littered with fresh cuts and bruises, but he still held that same cheery demeanor he had when you first met him. “Whatcha doing out here?”
“It’s my off-day, what happened to you?” You rose to your feet, immediately going to check his injuries.
“Oh, these? Just finished clearing up Unicorn way,” he said with a proud smile. 
His words took you aback, “You- you did what?”
“Well it’s not cleared up permanently. There’s still some ghosts, but the skeletons and dark fairies are all taken care of for the most part.” He shrugged as if it was no big deal. “But Prof Falmea said I’m almost to the level of her apprentice level class with how fast I’m progressing.”
“In just a few days?” You were baffled, no one has ever advanced that fast before! At least not without prior schooling.
“I’m a fast learner,” was all he said. “But really, why are you here on your off-day? Are there not a lot of exciting things to do around here?”
“No there are. There’s the Shopping District, Fairgrounds, dueling. . . But I like coming here, it’s where I first stepped foot in Wizard City.” You smiled softly at the memory, you felt so small then. Now no one even bats an eye at you, just another student walking the grounds. “But anyways, how are you finding it?”
“Well, I’ve done a lot of back and forth lately between places, but everyone is nice, given the circumstances. Sorry I had to rush off the other day, but the Headmaster said it was urgent. But I’m seeing a lot of the city, and this place is pretty cool.” He turned to look up at the cliffs of the city, and you followed his gaze. Just barely, you could see the overhead branches of Bartleby. Both of you stood there for a moment, enjoying the view. 
“Hey, I’m sorry if this is a weird question but how did you get Dragonpants?” You asked. It’s not exactly a common question to ask, but you were curious. You always were anytime someone gave their name. 
“What do you mean?” He furrowed his brows. 
“I mean how did you earn Dragonpants as a last name? I got Winterflame because I’m one of the few pyromancers that has thaumaturgy as a secondary. I know a guy broke his wand and earned his last name, another summoned Humongofrog. So how did you get yours?”
All Jungkook could do was stare at you blankly. “Uhhh, I- uh. . . that’s an interesting story. Oh, look at the sun! I need to rush to Firecat Alley. I’ll definitely tell you that story later. Bye!” He then ran down the street, but instead of Firecat Alley, it was towards Triton Avenue. 
And that’s not most of your interactions with Jungkook were. You’d see him randomly on the streets in between classes (in between quests for him), he’d always have a new cut or bruise somewhere on his skin. But he was advancing quickly. Every time you saw him, he was further and further along in his independent studies. Last you checked, he was nearing the adept level courses. Despite his quick advances, battles were getting harder and more difficult. So he started asking you for help, which you did. You helped him in Firecat Alley, Triton Avenue, and Cyclops Lane. Dueling beside him was incredible, he was focused and valiant. He didn’t let the enemies get to him, no matter how cruel their taunts grew.
“Doesn’t it ever bother you?” You found yourself asking, as the two of you tiredly made your back back towards the Commons.
“What do you mean?”
“What these- these villains are saying to you? Surely, it has to get under your skin sometimes?”
Jungkook paused, dark eyes almost hidden by his reddish-pink hair. “Sometimes. In the beginning, it did a lot. But the more I fight them off, it’s just becoming more and more. . . annoying than hurtful.”
“Annoying?” You asked, almost chuckling.
“I mean, yeah it’s annoying!” Jungkook’s face broke into an exasperated expression. “‘You won’t get away with this, Young Wizard!’, ‘Malistaire is coming!’,’No puny wizard has ever defeated me!’ Puh-lease! As soon as they start saying stuff like that, the more it motivates me to win out of spite.”
That had both of you peeling over in laughter, earning a handful of odd looks from your fellow students and passing citizens. 
The two of you grew closer and closer, but no matter what, he didn’t say much about his past. Nothing on where he was from, or how he got his last name or why he wasn’t properly enrolled in school. Nothing. It didn’t bug you much, you could understand not wanting to answer pestering questions about where you were from, so you didn’t ask. But with each quest the two of you completed, you only had more and more questions. You just felt out of the loop. 
However, once his quests started taking him outside of Wizard City, he had to continue going out alone. You didn’t have permission to leave the city, only Jungkook and a few select transfer students were granted that permission. You did your best to keep in touch still, he’d stop by your dorm and ask odd questions about Kroks and other things related to sorcery. You directed him to the library. There wasn’t much else you could do to help, as you had your own studies to focus on. 
The last time Jungkook came over though, it was the worst of them. It was already late at night, but you were still up, cram studying for your final mastery exam in two days. After re-reading the same sentence over and over about the differences between sunbirds and phoenixes, there was a harsh knock at the door. 
With a yawn, you walked over to the door, opening it to see Jungkook, battered and bruised. His left eye was dark and near swollen shut, his lip was busted, and he was leaning on the door frame for support. “H-hi.”
“Oh my stars!” Your body immediately woke up, helping him into your dorm. You set him down at your desk as you rushed to your trunk, digging through it for a healing potion. Instead you found an old salve from home. It would have to do for now, you hadn’t had a chance to stock up on potions. Jar in hand, you made your way over to Jungkook. Opening the jar, you dipped your fingers in and took out a small glob. “This’ll feel a bit chilly.” Jungkook winced as the balm touched his skin, but he remained still as you continued to apply it to his wounds. 
“Smells kinda funny.”
You chuckled at that. “Yeah, it does.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a yarrow-marshmallow salve. Honestly, I forgot I had it. My bubba probably packed it away for me.”
“Your bubba?”
You paused. You didn’t talk much about your homelife to anyone, no matter how much they asked. This was the first time you ever willingly brought it up. With a shaky breath, you continued. “Yea, he’s one of the men who raised me. They’re the only family I’ve ever known.”
“You weren’t raised by your parents?”
You shook your head. “I was found in the remains of an old village, it was attacked by these creatures called grendels. I was the only survivor. I was found, tucked away in a burnt down shack. Sten and Bo Silverwood, my papa and bubba. They found me, took me in, and raised me as their own. Don’t know who my birth parents were, all we could figure is they were pyromancers and traveling across the spiral, probably traders. But we’ll never know,” you shrugged. “And I’m okay with that, I love my dads. And I wouldn’t change anything about how I was raised.”
“You said you can’t go home.”
“Yes and no.” You huffed. “It’s not easy to get to Grizzleheim, it’s months of traveling the skyways. But even if the world door worked, I can’t go back. I was. . . I was a danger to the clan. I had no control over my magic and the king had no choice but to order me to attend Ravenwood until I learned to master it.” As soon as you started, you couldn’t stop. All these years, and you never shared your story with anyone, not outside Professor Falmea. “But my pyromancy mastery final is in a couple days. And next week, Bauldur Goldpaws will return to Wizard City and I’ll be able to go home again.”
Jungkook was quiet for a moment, his eyes downcast. “I’m also from far away but. . . I don’t think I’ll be able to return home.” You’re silent, waiting for him to continue. “I’m from Earth. Where I’m from there’s no magic or talking animals, or anything. It’s just people. Then one day, I almost set fire to my house with my bare hands. I don’t know what to do so I start running. And I ran, and ran and ran until my legs felt like jelly. It gets blurry from there but next thing I know, I’m in the Headmaster’s office.”
“You don’t know how you got here?”
Jungkook gnawed on his lower lip. “I can’t really talk about it. Ambrose said so.”
Orders from the Headmaster, so you let it drop. Maybe in time he’ll tell you in time, but until then, you’ll take what little answers you can. “Can you tell me about your last name?”
That had Jungkook break out into a grin. “He didn’t tell me there were reasons behind last names, just wanted me to have one to blend in. I just chose a random one, thought it was funny.” Now it was your turn to laugh. You smacked your hand over your mouth, trying to muffle your laughter. “Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. I’m dumb I know.”
“I’m sorry, it’s just, you’re-you’re going to endure weird looks for the rest of your life, you know that right?”
“I signed myself up for it, I just need to make up a convincing story for it.”
Once your laughter died down, you just smiled at Jungkook. With the salve applied, it was slowly bringing down the swelling and discoloration. Running a hand through his red hair, you sent him off. “It’s late. Get some rest.” He did as you were told, walking off toward his own dormitory. 
The next morning, you stopped by to check on him, wanting to see how he was faring the day after but he was gone again. That poor boy is gonna get dragged all over the Spiral if he doesn’t learn to say no to a favor. But Jungkook was the farthest thing on your mind as your exam date was coming up. Your nose was stuck in a book or a scroll, you didn’t have time to think of anything else except acing this test and finally going home. That was your sole motivation. 
The day of your final, Jungkook was outside your door.
“Hey-”
You cut him off before he could even begin. “Sorry, I really don’t have time.” 
“But-”
“Listen, Jungkook, I really don’t have time. I really gotta go, I’m sorry.” You gave him a sad smile as you made a beeline for the School of Fire. 
After three long agonizing hours of going through the different types of blade and shield combos, and the various types of spell casts from firecat to meteor strike to inferno salamander and their historical origins. You finally made it out. You answered every question to the best of your ability, and now all you had to do was wait for the results to be posted. 
As you left the school house, Jungkook was waiting outside, sitting on the steps of Professor Falmea’s office tower. 
“Jungkook, what are you doing here?”
“The door is open.”
His words puzzled you. “I’m sorry, what?”
“The door! You said the door to your home world was severed years ago yeah? Well it's open again.”
“What.”
“Ambrose just told me that the door to Grizzlehiem just opened, no one knows how or why, but it is. That’s what I tried telling you this morning!” He said, smiling. “You can go home.”
Dropping your items, you bolted. In the back of your mind, you knew that King Valgard wouldn’t be happy you weren’t a titled master yet, but damn him. Damn the technicalities, you knew you were a master. You just wanted to go home again. You pushed past all the other students as they entered the World Tree, not listening to their complaints as you rushed towards the door (you could vaguely hear Jungkook apologizing on your behalf as he ran after you). 
Hand on the nozzle, you thought of Grizzleheim. Home. The smell of the pines, the crisp snowy air, the laughter of the bears in the Great Hall. You could see it all perfectly in your mind's eye as you opened that door. And there you were, on the other side of the rainbow bridge, at the world tree door. 
“Oh, wow,” you heard Jungkook breathe out from behind you.
You took one step out the door; your boots crunched on the dirt beneath your feet as you stood there, taking it all in. “Papa! Bubba! I’m home!” You burst into another run, down the rainbow bride and towards the village, shouting at the top of your lungs. “Papa! Bubba! It’s me! I’m home!” Back on solid ground, you made your way towards your childhood home. Not one thing about this place changed, it was as if you’d stepped back into a memory. 
“Little cub?” Your papa’s head poked out from the hut. He looked older, white hairs gathering around his snout and ears. But it was still every bit your papa. 
“Papa!” You squealed, adrenaline pumping through your veins so hard, you couldn’t feel your lungs as they burned or how your legs ached with each step you stook. Your papa saw you in the nick of time, opening his arms wide enough for you to jump into his hold. Tears brimmed in your eyes as you dug your face into his chest.
“How- how can this be. . ?” 
“Bubba!” You turned to see your other father, standing speechless in the kitchen. You jumped into his arms next. He returned your hug instantly, with your papa returning to hug you from behind once again. Tears were now freely rolling down your cheeks as you held your dads tight as you possibly could.
“I don’t understand, how- what?”
“The world tree door has been re-opened. I- I don’t know how but, I- I needed to come home. It’s been so long.” You cried, your hands gripping tightly onto Bubba’s fur. “I can control my powers. I did it. I learned. I can come home now, yeah.”
“Oh cub, of course.” Papa answered. “You did as you were told by the king. You can come home.” The three of you said nothing further after that, crying and holding each other. Relieved to finally see each other again after seven whole years.
From behind your group hug, you could hear someone clear their throat. “Oh,” you pulled away from your dads, seeing Jungkook standing awkwardly in the door frame. “Bubba, Papa, this is Jungkook Dragonpants. He’s my friend.”
“Dragonpants? What kind of a name is that?” Your Bubba asked, voice low.
“Bubba,” you groaned.
“It’s my name, sir,” he said, not backing down from your father’s clear intimidation attempt. He certainly was brave, very few could stare him in the eyes and not back down. 
“Any friend of our cub’s is a friend of ours,” your papa said, narrowing his eyes at his husband. “Come in, tell us all your stories. Everything you left out in your letters.” With a smile, you nodded, turning back to Jungkook who was looking more outside. Wrapping a hand around his arm, you pulled him inside.
“Wait, hang on, is that Nick Jonas?”
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bluerose5 · 11 days
Note
Hmm how about Halsin and Iron Bull (in whatever relationship dynamic you like!) commiserating after a fight with some goblins?
The kind of ship that snuck up on me out of nowhere. These two 100% took control of the fic and made it longer than what I intended, although I'm not complaining. 😌
...
One thing the Iron Bull never expected was for Halsin to admit to being a lightweight of all things.
While the tieflings' party was in full swing, he made his rounds throughout camp, took note of where everyone else's minds were at, his companions' especially, and he drank.
That was, until Bull realized the liquor on hand was some of the weakest shit compared to back home.
Still, it was a celebration, so he accepted drinks when offered, disgruntled by the fact that he was barely breaking a sweat over it.
Sobriety aside, he waited to speak with Halsin last, mostly because he wasn't quite sure what to make of him yet.
For one, he was big. Probably a little shorter than your average Qunari, but bigger than any elf Bull encountered in Thedas at least.
Secondly, he wielded magic different from most that Bull was familiar with, and the fact that majority of spellcasters in Faerûn didn't have to struggle against demons and possession in order to control their power...
Strange. Reassuring in a sense, but very strange.
When all was said and done, Bull figured no harm could come from getting to know the newcomer. This esteemed, knowledgeable "Archdruid" of theirs.
Who happened to be easy on the eyes —well, eye, singular— as well, but that was neither here nor there.
The Iron Bull sauntered up to him with a friendly smile, his head held high in a show of confidence.
"Well, it looks like I saved the best for last!" Bull greeted. "Settling in okay?" Before Halsin could answer, Bull interrupted. "Wait! Wait." He gave a dramatic pause. "I couldn't bear it if you said 'no.' Haha!"
He beamed at Halsin, who couldn't resist a snort of amusement, the corners of his eyes crinkled in delight.
Bull could practically hear Krem grumbling from there.
"Do not concern yourself with me. I am settling in just fine," Halsin assured him. "Of course, it always helps to have a host as gracious as yourself."
"Let's see if you still think that by the end of the night," the Iron Bull joked. He stood at Halsin's side, giving him a playful nudge with his elbow. "Seriously, though, that fight at that temple was great, yeah?" His heart raced at the memory. He leaned in, his voice low, appreciative. "You were incredible."
"Oh, come now," Halsin said, brushing off the compliment. "I don't know about that. You and your companions did most of the heavy lifting, after all."
"Don't downplay your role in our victory," Bull told him. "The sheer amount of goblins alone would have proved a challenge for anyone, but you cut through them like it was nothing." Try as he may, Bull couldn't help it, his eye trailing up and down Halsin's body. "All of that fury and rage, unleashed, directed at our enemies. You were a sight to behold, but tell the truth. You enjoyed it, didn't you?"
Halsin glanced at him, not even bothering to hide how his eyes raked over his frame in return.
"Perhaps," he allowed, taking a second to clear his throat. "I must admit, I have come to expect at least a hint of fear from outsiders in response to my wild shape."
"Heh," Bull chuckled. "I fought dragons before, pal. It's gonna take more than a big teddy bear like you to scare me away."
"Is that so?" Halsin raised an eyebrow at him, surveying the area around them. "Maybe I should work on that then. Everyone should maintain a healthy balance of fear and respect for nature."
"Trust me, I respect it plenty," Bull said, "but by all means, do your worst."
Halsin shook his head, smiling to himself.
"Tempting as that is, you surely have others to go mingle with. Don't let me keep you."
"Nah." Bull waved off that concern without second thought. "I've done more than my fair share of mingling for tonight. I want to get to know you better."
He gave him a playful poke to the arm.
"Hmm..." Halsin hummed in contemplation. "I wouldn't want to be selfish and rob others here of your company. I can wait until morning to speak with you at the very least."
"Which is fine, if that's what you want," the Iron Bull whispered, "but what if I want you to be selfish?"
Halsin searched his expression for any sign of deceit.
When such scrutiny proved fruitless, his entire demeanor shifted, more open to the idea compared to before.
"In that case," he responded, "will you tell me about one of your dragon hunts then?"
"Fuck yeah, I will!" Bull exclaimed, his excitement radiant like a flame.
He clasped a hand onto Halsin's shoulder, giving it a warm, companionable squeeze.
A small shiver shot down his spine, one that Bull was quick to watch with keen interest.
The Iron Bull reckoned that Halsin didn't know many people who towered over him. It was almost funny how often his gaze would level with Bull's pecs or wander farther below before darting up to his face yet again, as if he had to constantly remind himself that he was the shorter one for once.
Then again, maybe he just liked the sight of his chest. Bull couldn't fault him for that.
"Let's see. Let's see," Bull said, rubbing at his chin while he thought it over. "I could go simple. The first dragon I ever hunted alongside the Inquisitor was terrorizing the countryside we were in at the time. It was a Fereldan Frostback."
Already, his eye was glazing over at the tale, his voice taking on a tinge of admiration that bordered on reverence. Or as close to it as he could get.
"Extremely territorial, those ones, and damn if she wasn't a beauty. All of that raw, untamed power, but unfortunately for her, her territory happened to include a few defenseless villages that couldn't ward her off on their own. That's where we came in."
He wrapped his arm around Halsin's shoulders, drawing him in closer as he spoke, staring off towards a faraway land that was well beyond their reach for now.
"That sharp burst of air that rushed past as she swiped her tail at us. That loud ringing in our ears when she screeched at the skies. That molten heat that radiated in the air when she snapped her teeth at us, so close that we would have been her next meal, had we not rolled out of reach in time."
He bared his teeth into a grin.
"That was a good day," he all but growled. "A good day, indeed!"
Halsin shifted in place. Of course, it didn't escape Bull's notice how he eased closer to him in the process.
He stared at the Iron Bull with a mixture of heat and shock.
"You almost sound excited," he said, hesitant, not wanting to overstep his bounds.
Not that it deterred Bull in the slightest.
"That's because I am," Bull stated, unashamed. "Even now, something about it gets my blood pumping and my heart racing, more so than any other fight." He grunted loudly as he lingered on the memory. "Maybe it's in my blood."
"Your blood?"
"Yeah," he said, "rumor has it that there might have been some dragon's blood mixed into the Qunari's somewhere along the way." He shrugged. "No one knows for certain. Would be pretty badass, though, wouldn't it?"
"Definitely."
"Okay, now it's your turn."
"My turn?" Halsin questioned.
"To share. Come on," Bull encouraged. "You can't tell me that you don't have some wild stories stashed away."
"Well," Halsin launched into his tale without missing a beat, "it's not too different from yours. Back in my youth—"
"Nuh-uh, none of that," Bull interrupted. "You're not that old."
"I'll have you know that I am three hundred and fifty years young."
"Hot."
Bull smirked when that got a laugh out of him.
"I can admire anyone who is so open with their desires," Halsin said, "but shall I continue the story?"
"Oh, alright, I'll behave."
"Somehow I doubt that," Halsin teased, "but as I was saying, I was young and impulsive at the time, traveling and exploring the world to my heart's content. After indulging in nature's gifts on land for so long, life led me to the sea. Throughout my journey, I heard about a string of pirate attacks, led by a rogue band of water genasi. Their greed had already impacted several coastal villages by the time I caught wind of it."
Bull made a mental note to ask more about the race later, too intent on listening to the current story to venture off on another tangent.
"People were being taken from their homes, everyone from their children to the elderly. Those who relied heavily on fish as a staple found themselves on the brink of starvation. Resources were being drained. Their valuables were looted. Any who fought against the genasi were executed or enslaved, made an example of."
"But you stopped them?"
"Eventually," Halsin sighed, it obviously taking a toll on him that he couldn't save more than what he did. "I studied their movements, their tactics. At first, I would rally others behind me, wait until the genasi tried for an ambush, and attack then. But there were still too many deaths for my liking, so I went on the offensive. The locals provided me with a vessel of my own, and I sailed out into the open waters. I took the fight to them, grew more and more cocky with each ship I took down. I believed myself to be invincible, and that made me reckless."
"What happened next?" Bull asked, although he already had an idea.
"You clearly survived, though."
"I was taken prisoner. One of my attacks went exactly as I planned, but I didn't know that the genasi had others lying in wait, holding back until they saw the perfect opportunity to strike. They outnumbered me, enough so that they were able to overpower me, and that was that."
"That, I did. With me as their trophy, the band that captured me left the coastland for quite some time. About a year and a half passed, give or take a few months, but I forced myself to be patient throughout that time of servitude, difficult as it was. I earned the trust of the crew. And later, the captain.
"Then one day, I felt it. There was something stirring in the water, restless, massive in size. I could sense it, and part of me knew that it was my time to act.
"I convinced the crew that there was treasure, worthy of the gods, in some nearby wreckage. I made up a lie, said I recalled the area from my studies, and they believed me."
"You led them right into a trap," Bull said, impressed.
Halsin nodded.
"It was a kraken's territory," he explained. "A sea monster of great power and might. It rose up from its dark depths to confront us. The waters turned rough and formed a large, gaping vortex that threatened to consume us all. The winds whipped at blinding speeds. Storms formed that spewed lightning everywhere you looked. The kraken even managed to charm some of the crew into fighting under its thrall, so you can imagine how everything turned into a bloodbath from there."
"Damn." Bull released a low whistle, recalling a few stories he heard of dreadnoughts encountering an aban-ataashi —a sea dragon— while out on their patrols.
He imagined this creature must have been similar to cause so much destruction.
"Nothing against you or your skills, but I'm surprised you survived."
"You and me both," Halsin agreed. "I was so weak that I couldn't switch forms all that much at the time, but I managed to rely on some basic spells to keep me safe long enough to escape. I fought alongside the crew for a while to discourage any suspicion, but I stole one of the ship's work boats the second it was clear that the crew and the kraken were going to go down destroying each other. Through the gods' mercy alone, I managed to make it out of there. I watched both ship and kraken sink into the sea from afar, and I somehow survived until I found land once again."
"Okay, now that story deserves a drink," Bull said. "Or several. Care to share one with me?"
"In truth, I rarely imbibe," Halsin answered. "The stuff goes right to my head."
The sounds of the party returned to them then. Voices rose and fell. Squeals of delight and the clink of tankards greeted their ears.
People danced and swayed, stumbling around without a care in the world.
"Wait, really?" Bull asked, incredulous. "You're telling me that you can't hold your liquor?"
Somehow, that was even more unbelievable than him fighting a kraken.
Halsin laughed, holding his hands up in surrender.
"All I'm saying is that it won't take long before I'm breaking into song or declaring love to the first person I lay eyes on."
"Well, I mean, if you need a target to focus that energy on..." Squeezing him up against his side, Bull flexed his free arm, waggling his eyebrows at him. "I'm your guy."
"A tempting offer, I'll admit," Halsin said, admiring him openly.
"Plus, I've also been known to break into song here and there."
"Now, that, I have to see."
"Find me something stronger than the swill they serve around here," Bull challenged, "and you're on."
"Ah." As understanding dawned on him, Halsin flashed Bull a secretive smirk. "You thought that I meant that I can't handle the spirits such as those at this party." At Bull's confused look, Halsin clarified. "I keep a, uh, personal flask on hand for special occasions."
"No shit," Bull said, watching him closely, unable to keep his curiosity at bay. "You have your own recipe or what?"
"Something like that, and I have my pipe on me too, if you're interested."
"Don't have to tell me twice. Let's go make a little music, yeah?"
Amused, Halsin readily agreed.
They didn't even try to hide it as they ditched the party in favor of the surrounding forests, neither of them the type to sneak about in such a manner anyways.
They spent the rest of the night in high spirits under the stars, drinking, smoking, trading stories. And yes, singing rather terribly as well.
They fell asleep bathed in moonlight, and only when the rising sun bid them to wake did they return to camp together to discuss their next move.
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toasterthievery · 3 months
Text
I READ MERE APPENDIX AND I HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT IT
The real gravity of Professor Honeycutt's situation doesn't get explored too often since everyone has bigger things to worry about when they're bring chased by Triceratons, and the identity crisis that goes down in this issue is just heartbreaking and really a sight to behold since he tends to get so little focus. It says a lot about him as a character in the best way possible.
Something that I really like is that time has passed since the accident that cost him his humanity in the first place, but that it's something that still affects him deeply. It's something he's come to terms with on a surface level so that he can continue to function day to day, but it weighs on him heavily.
You can feel his horror the moment when he realizes he never installed the component that would allow for a real transfer. He states later in this issue that he's been asking himself for years whether he's really Honeycutt or not, but speculation and evidence are two different things and his worst fear looks to be coming true.
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And the idea that Fugitoid does not equal Honeycutt is pervasive. It comes up again and again, making it impossible for him to ignore. Even small things, like his voice recognition software not recognizing him, keeps him at arm's length from the "real" Professor Honeycutt. It's so uncomfortable, like a constant ache, to not be recognizable as the person you are in any capacity.
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To wonder if your existence is even a scientific possibility.
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And I know he's dealing with the damage he sustained at the beginning of the issue, but it obviously goes deeper than that and everything is being exacerbated by it since he's been experiencing hallucinations and memory loss. It makes it kind of all come at him at once in a way that's impossible to deal with and brings all that pain fresh into his mind.
It makes him feel less human than ever, which is a hard pill to swallow. This side by side panel (that hurts me immensely) is just a great illustration of the identity problems that he's dealing with.
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He's reaching his limit and there's nothing that can really be done to fix his situation. It's a really cool thing to see Honeycutt's thoughts and feelings that haven't been filtered through the viewpoint of the turtles, and to see how acutely he feels the shockwave of everything that's happened to him. Where does the line lie between man and machine? How can he say with certainty that he's a real person when he's so familiar with the technology that caused the accident?
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The part right after this has my FAVORITE set of panels in this entire thing.
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It's very ironic that in having this crisis, he's proving he's more than just an unthinking object, but that's hard to see when everything is coming crashing down. I genuinely can't express enough how much I love that that he's reached this low where he can't think of himself as real, and because of that, it's fine if he simply takes himself apart until it's not a problem anymore. And in a way, it's easier for him to see himself that way because machines can be fixed; they don't deal with the messy, nonlinear recovery that real people have to face.
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THIS IS BRILLIANT and I'm in love with the ship of Theseus dilemma that's at play here.
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Even though Honeycutt comes out of it all right...there is still no easy solution for him, and the rock and hard place he finds himself wedged between won't give so easily. His struggles are fascinating and compelling, and getting to see them so up close and personal was a serious treat. Actually one of my favorite comics I've ever read. I'm never going to be normal again.
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pigeonwhumps · 3 months
Text
Christmas
Immortal Cannon Fodder masterlist
Taglist: @extrabitterbrain @wolfeyedwitch @fuckcapitalismasshole @painful-pooch @i-eat-worlds @a-funeral-romance @rainydaywhump
In medical training, Aaron tries to protect Joseph in what's possibly the worst way. Joseph is not happy.
Joseph belongs to @i-eat-worlds. Mention of the Pride Knights playing cards by @/prideknights.
2.9k
CWs: burns, power blocking, brief mention of past transphobia, fake medical stuff, emeto, past minor whump
It's Christmas Eve when Aaron finally finds the cuffs.
He's cleaning out an old storage cupboard in the HAL training centre, because someone needs to do it and also because he has his suspicions, and lo and behold there they are. The cuffs they need.
Their powers are getting stronger the more they use them, and they can't, they won't, hurt Joseph. They need to use their healing powers. But it's the Christmas holidays and he doesn't need his electrokinesis anyway.
He finishes the cupboard hurriedly and puts the cuffs in a pocket. He needs to find a bathroom, and there's one just down the corridor, which he barricades himself inside.
They pull out the cuffs with trembling hands and sit down on the toilet, trying to steady themself. They need to do this. It's the only way to stop them hurting Joseph.
But that doesn't mean it's going to be pleasant. It's not just the cuffs themselves, it's the memories, the staff with cold eyes boring into him, implacable as he asked them not to do this, not to make him so cold and burning and empty and hurting.
They seem to be moving in slow motion. The first one isn't too bad on its own. It makes them shiver, but it's okay. They can handle it easily, they're used to that feeling.
And then they snap the second one shut around their other wrist.
They feel empty all of a sudden. Something's gone, something integral, something that's been a part of them for so long they don't really know how to be without it. It's been years since they left school, after all.
The good thing about an oversized Christmas jumper is that it hides the cuffs when they pull the sleeves down, and they do so, hoping Joseph doesn't get suspicious. He shouldn't.
He almost falls over as he stands up. Woah. Did his balance really used to go like that when he wore the cuffs before? His stomach churns.
Back they go, back to the flat they share with Joseph. The world seems duller and more overwhelming at the same time, now, and the emptiness is turning into an aching burn.
He enters the largish studio flat, where Joseph's already sorting out his own bed. He turns around and smiles when he sees who it is.
"Thought you weren't coming. I've made you hot chocolate. It's still warm and everything."
"Thank you." Aaron's not sure he's up to drinking it right now but he takes the mug anyway, dropping onto the bed and warming his suddenly-cold hands on it.
Joseph frowns. "Are you okay?"
"Just a little tired. Cleaning that cupboard was really boring," Aaron lies.
Well. It's not quite a lie. The cupboard was boring. But most of the problem is the cuffs sapping his energy.
"Happy Christmas Eve. Did you want to play those games?"
"Yes, but not if you're not feeling great." Joseph's brow is crinkled in concern, and it occurs to Aaron that maybe he doesn't entirely believe them.
"I want to. Might make me feel better anyway."
"Knew it." Joseph pulls a colourful box off the shelf and holds it up. "Snakes and Ladders to warm up?"
"Sure, why not."
_
Aaron falls asleep as Joseph is preparing their third game of Cards Against Humanity. Just conks out right on the floor.
His dreams are confusing and strange, nightmarish in a way that makes him jerk awake, heart pounding, never wanting to sleep again.
Wait. Didn't he fall asleep on the floor? That's the last thing he remembers. What's he doing tucked up in bed?
Oh. Oh fuck. Did Joseph see? Did he–
No. No. They're still wearing their jumper. That makes it very unlikely. They hope, anyway.
They turn, looking over at Joseph, and a wave of nausea washes over them. They throw themself out of bed and dash to the bathroom, leaning over the sink to splash cold water over their face.
Oh god. Oh god. They feel cold, and hot, and hollow, and burning, burning, burning, nauseous but they can't throw up.
They press their forehead against the cold white ceramic of the sink. Their wrists. Their wrists. Surely a small break would be okay? They don't know what time it is but it's got to be early, Joseph isn't awake. Just five minutes.
Luckily the cuffs aren't locked, because his hands are shaking and he'd never unlock them without help.
He shoves them in his pocket.
His insides warm, filling with that intrisic part of him that was previously blocked, and... and the nausea's unlocked too.
He bends over the sink, retching, vomiting up what little's in his stomach until he's dry-retching. It feels like an eternity until he's able to stop.
"I didn't realise you were this ill," says a quiet voice behind them. They spin around and wobble, falling into the person's arms.
Pale skin... short brown hair... strong arms...
"Joseph?"
"Yeah, it's me. How are you feeling?"
"Like shit."
"Mmm. I'll fetch you some clean clothes. Do you want to clean yourself up a bit?"
Now Joseph mentions it, he notices the clammy stickiness everywhere. He nods.
"I'll be right back."
Aaron doesn't think he has the strength to stand in the shower. He wets a flannel with blissfully cold water and presses it to his forehead.
Oh. Oh, that's so much better. He wipes the rest of his body carefully, trying to ignore the pain in his wrists as he touches them. It's... nice, to cool down like this.
There's a knock at the door, and Aaron wraps a towel around himself before opening it. Joseph's left a pair of pyjamas outside, soft and short sleeved, with a fleece-lined jumper and underwear. Aaron picks them up, shuts the door again and puts them on.
That's better. They feel more like a person again now.
Whoever put them on their bed last night (because they're lucid and awake enough now to realise it must've been a person, probably Joseph) was thoughtful enough to put their hair in a silk wrap. So it's probably not too bad. They put their glasses on and blink a few times as everything becomes clearer.
Joseph is waiting to one side of the bathroom, unnoticed earlier, and gives Aaron a small smile.
"Feeling any better?"
Aaron nods. His head swims. Best not to do that for a while then.
"How did you find me?"
Joseph shrugs. "You'd vanished. You were ill last night, and the door was unlocked, the sounds of vomiting inside. It wasn't hard to deduce. Like you'd be up and about yet anyway, unless it was an emergency. Merry Christmas, I guess."
"Merry Christmas."
Joseph hands Aaron a tablet and a glass of squash. "Something to settle your stomach, and squash to take away the taste."
"Thanks."
"It's no problem, honestly." Aaron slumps back on his bed, noticing vaguely that Joseph seems to have changed the sheets and why is he so thoughtful anyway? It's warm in here, and they absently roll up their sleeves. "You're my friend, and ill. I'd be a poor medic if I didn't help. I have a present if you're up to opening it, let me just put this on your forehead, and– are those fresh burns on your wrists?"
Joseph says the last part with such force that Aaron flinches, rolling down his jumper hurriedly as if by doing that he can make Joseph forget the evidence of his lack of stamina. He shakes his head. Joseph raises an eyebrow. He looks away, ashamed.
"Dammit, Aaron. What the hell did you do with the cuffs?"
"Trouser pocket," he murmurs, biting his lip. Joseph picks them up and digs around until he finds them, then throws them across the room in disgust.
"Where did you even get them?"
"Old storage cupboard."
Joseph nods, looking unhappy. "Makes sense. But they should've got rid of them all years ago, the effects are well-known." He fetches the first aid kit, spreading it out on the bed. "Give me your wrist."
Aaron holds one out, and Joseph starts wrapping a clean bandage around it. After a moment, he says quietly, "Why?"
"My powers have been getting stronger. And the stronger they are, the more likely they are to get out of control, and I don't want to hurt you. These are the only things that make it better, and I– I don't care if it hurts, if it makes me feel ill, I don't care, as long as you're safe."
"They are not the only thing that works."
"But in school–"
"In school you were an untrained kid, and the staff slapped cuffs on you because they didn't care and didn't want to bother with referring you for training or anything else that might've actually helped," says Joseph tightly. "You do not need to severely injure yourself to control your powers. Other wrist."
Aaron holds it out. "What else is there?"
"Training. You've already had some. They're like a muscle, and now you're using your powers they'll be easier to control anyway. Please, Aaron. I don't want you getting permanent damage on my behalf, from something you don't even need. The cuffs have probably already made your control worse, from the excessive childhood use."
"What– how do you know–"
"Pat," Joseph says, simply but sadly. "Also, in the last chapter of our textbook it talks about the dangers. Must be a recent addition."
Aaron swallows. "Can you... will you read it to me?" They don't think they can do that themself right now.
"Sure."
Aaron slumps back as Joseph fetches his textbook. The burns hurt. The bandages aren't tight but even so.
He still thinks the cuffs would've been safer.
"Okay. Here we go. Ready?" Aaron nods. "Right. Power-restricting cuffs are a traditional way of blocking a patient's powers if they reach a point where they're dangerous to themself or others, however recent research has changed academic views on that. Most doctors believe that they should no longer be used in any circumstances due to the effects. In the short-term, these can include burns, nausea, fever, fatigue, seizures, overwhelm, and a feeling of emptiness and dullness. Long-term usage can cause these same effects to be exaggerated into chronic illnesses or disabilities even when the cuffs are removed, as well as mental illnesses such as depression, and making the patient's powers less predictable and harder to control.
"The effects of the cuffs varies based on the root of the patient's powers. For example... hang on... ah, here. For example, humourous-based powers, most commonly exhibited in healing form, are more likely to cause fevers and confusion, whereas... nosebleeds and severe burns are more likely to be caused by energy-based powers. For all patients, the higher the strength of their powers, the worse the effects of the cuffs."
"Wait."
Aaron pushes himself up and rubs his eyes. Joseph frowns.
"Yeah?"
"Stop. Stop. I can barely understand a word."
"Confusion's still getting to you then. Shall we do presents and Christmas pizza, and you can try again later if you like? Or another day, if you promise not to try and use the cuffs."
"Promise."
Aaron reaches under the bed to pull out their presents and almost throws up again. Joseph hauls them back upright and shoves one of those cardboard hat-like things under their mouth.
"'m okay. But thanks. Sorry for ruining Christmas."
"You haven't, I promise." Aaron makes a sceptical noise, and Joseph finishes ordering their planned pizza order (it's a lot) before chucking his phone down and coming over, two presents in hand. "I promise. And I always mean my promises." He brushes against Aaron's wrist as he sits down and they wince. His face turns a little harder. "Could you write me a list of everyone who made you think the cuffs were the best and only option? For academic purposes."
Aaron coughs out a laugh. "There's a lot of them. Anyway, it's okay, we settled in the court case. That's how I manage to afford half the things I do, and how I got in here – I didn't pass by nearly enough but they saw that, I think. It's fine. It's over now. You don't have to do whatever you were planning, they had consequences anyway." And they still don't think they were wrong to use the cuffs, but that's an argument for another day.
"It might be over, but it's not okay. It should never have happened in the first place. You were just a child."
Aaron swallows. He needed the cuffs, but it's true, to an extent. They were a child who no-one ever explained anything to. And there was discrimination going on, they know it, or they wouldn't have ended up sharing with Sophia (not that they disliked that specific effect exactly, but she is a girl and the dorms were meant to be single sex).
He still needs the cuffs, though.
"Presents?"
"Sure. Two each, perfect. We'll alternate."
Aaron passes a present over before Joseph can object. "Merry Christmas."
It's a fairly thin rectangle with a small square on top, and Joseph peels the tape off curiously.
Once he sees what it is, he looks up at Aaron, grinning, eyes bright and shining. "How did you know?"
"I saw you looking at the Kickstarter. You looked sort of sad that you couldn't afford them, and I still have settlement money left, so I thought why not?"
"And you– you got me a framed print of the trans card. Thank you."
"Well. I mean. Queer playing cards are nicer to play with than ordinary ones, right?"
"Right." He wipes his eyes. "You're making me feel outdone."
"I'm sure you're not." They take the large, light, lumpy package and tear off the paper.
It's a very large, very fluffy, deep blue blanket. Aaron wraps it tightly around himself, hugging it. It's so soft.
"I take it you like it then?"
Aaron nods, then remembers why he wasn't doing that as their head swims. "Thank you. I... you'll need to pick yours up."
"Okay." He frowns a little at Aaron and opens the parcel carefully. "It's... Aaron, oh my god." His laughter is a little choked. "This is... I didn't know these even existed."
"Is it okay? I was worried it might be a bit insensitive, but you were a bit insecure and I thought– maybe..."
"It's perfect. You're perfect. At buying presents, I mean. I... Aaron, I love it."
A weight lifts from Aaron's chest. They were very worried Joseph would find a toy testosterone hormone bad taste, because just because Aaron's trans and would like it doesn't mean Joseph's the same, but it turns out the worry was for nothing.
"You're way better at buying presents than I am, but here you go."
Inside the paper is a mug that changes when the temperature changes. According to the outside of the box, a TARDIS appears in the starry sky pattern when it's hot. And it's glow-in-the-dark too.
He opens the box, more careful than with the wrapping paper.
Joseph appears to have carefully unsealed the box, placed a marshmallow-filled hot chocolate bomb inside the mug, and resealed it. It's impressive. He smiles.
"Thank you. I'm going to try it out."
"Yeah, but you're going to let me make it. I'll get you a chair and you can watch the hot chocolate bomb melt."
Aaron nods, letting Joseph help him over to the countertop. They very rarely actually sit here, so a chair has to be fetched (and they rarely sit in those, either).
"Why is it so much worse today?" murmurs Aaron, as Joseph heats the milk. "It wasn't so bad when I was a kid."
Joseph's knuckles go white on the handle of the mug. "You hadn't used your powers so much then, I think. They've grown as you've used them, and so has the severity of the cuffs' side effects. At least you're not bad enough to have seizures. Right?"
"Right."
"I'm going to give them to a friend to destroy later. Please don't go looking for a new pair and hurt yourself further."
Aaron's not sure how to answer, watching the hot chocolate bomb bubble and melt instead. The mini marshmallows look very tasty. He's not going to have whipped cream today, he doesn't think.
"Aaron. Promise me."
"I promise."
Joseph nods firmly. "You'd better stick to that."
Afterwards, they eat most of the Christmas pizza order sprawled out on cushions and duvets on the floor, and play a few card games with Joseph's new cards (the present wasn't entirely selfless). Then Joseph boots up his laptop and they both climb onto his bed, Aaron wrapping their new blanket around Joseph too.
"Since you're hurt, you get first choice."
"The Muppet's Christmas Carol?" asks Aaron hopefully. He's in the mood for a light-hearted musical. Which is odd when the original isn't at all.
"Sure," smiles Joseph, loading it. Aaron leans on his shoulder to watch.
They make it as far as the Marley song, both of them singing along, before their eyes start to droop. They try to open them again but they just can't.
The last thing they hear before drifting off is Joseph's low chuckle.
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landwriter · 1 year
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I've been really enjoying hearing you talk about your writing :) But I was a bit ?! to hear that you've never read the comics, for no reason other than I love them and think you would enjoy them.
If you have the opportunity, I would 8000% recommend Season of Mists to you and your lovely followers. It's so fun, and has so many wonderful character cameos from Egyptian, Norse, Japanese mythology, plus the Fae, plus Angels!, plus OCs, PLUS Hob. And it's a fucking lovely storyline.
And I do think it's Dream at his most, well, Dream. The premise is literally just:
Desire: Honestly sending Nada to Hell was a dick move.
Dream: Oh, fuck off.
Death: I mean. It was though.
Dream: ??? Like, actually...???
Dream:
Dream:
Dream: Shit, my bad. Okay fuck it, guess I'm going to free Nada from Hell.
Everyone: You know Lucifer & co. are LITERALLY going to try to kill / imprison you, right? And like, will probably succeed?
Dream: ??? Okay, and...???
Thank you :) And I know, I know! I'm not averse to reading them at all but it's mostly a time thing. Maybe after next season or in preparation for it? I adore mythology and I'm sure I'd love it. Also that's an incredible pitch haha!
I did, actually, almost get into The Sandman comics once. It was a near miss. Years ago, I went on this date with a guy. From OkCupid. Remember OkCupid?? Longform online dating, what an era! And we had this super charming banter over messages. We talk about authors including Neil Gaiman (foreshadowing music). He riffs off of a dumb Shakespeare pun I had on my profile about my love for potatoes.* We decide to have a picnic.
There's a thunderstorm that day. Appropriately inauspicious. He invites me to his place to wait for the weather to improve. I head over to hang out.
It was not great. In hindsight, it was one of the worst dates of my life. (So far! Always room for improvement.) His personality was WILDLY divergent from what I had expected, and also generally enjoy being around. But I'm really good at muscling through awkward dates and really bad at being like "I never plan on seeing you again!" on the spot, so when he insisted on loaning me his Sandman comics as I was trying to leave, I took them. I took them. I'm sorry. I was in my early twenties. It's my only defense.
I went home, marinated, decided yes, I really do not want to go on another date with this guy, sent him a message politely saying as much, and said I'd return his books. He said he was home all weekend so I could just come by whenever. So I trek back to his a day or so later with the carrier bag of Sandman comics. I am not looking forward to this interaction. If the vibe wasn't so bad there would've been a second date you know? The vibe, it was bad.
But lo and behold, as I walk toward his apartment complex, I see someone a ways ahead going up the steps. I see them stop to fish out their keys. I see an opportunity. I walk faster. They open the door and go inside. I break into a Business Casual Sprint. I grab the door juuuust before it closes again. I'm breathing heavily. I try to breathe quieter. I tip-toe down the stairs to his basement unit (it was a basement unit) and delicately hang the bag on his doorknob like I'm playing a game of Operation. No buzzers go off. I turn on my heel and flee. My heart is soaring. The air tastes sweeter. I have pulled off my reverse heist. I text him from the warm comfort of public transportation that I left them outside his door.
And I never thought about The Sandman again for six years.
*'Stars, hide your fries' (He replied Let not oven black my deep desires. I mean, you can see why I went.)
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I kinda feel like I have to elaborate on that post I made last Wednesday about the shout-out to my therapist indulging my Hannibal hyperfixation because my experience with combining Hannibal with my therapy is actually really interesting.
So, I personally have really high empathy and a tendency to internalize other people's emotions and problems. It's manageable now but it was a lot worse when I was younger. And my whole life (especially before I realized I was autistic), I felt a lot of the times that there weren't a lot of people like me, at least not in the spaces around me or in the media I was viewing. Then lo and behold, I come across NBC Hannibal. And Will Graham changed everything for me.
I finally found someone who knew what it felt like to want to rip out of your own skin because your own thoughts and feelings don't seem to be yours, to want to hide from the world and from people because you definitely won't pick up on just their good habits, but their bad ones as well. I finally found someone who didn't know who they were except for a few key points, those being unstable and misunderstood and different. I see myself in Will Graham, but he's also important because I see him carrying out this violent sort of justice that I've always kind of wished I could act out on those who wronged me or misdiagnosed me or ostracized me.
And my therapist is just taking all this and running with it. She lets me read the poetry I write for the show, and infodump about things that happen in the show and theories and headcanons that I love. She's open to listening about the murders and how they're cool and sometimes beautiful and there's so much meaning in them that I wish I could apply to my own life at times. She's super cool because we've set this boundary of understanding that the way things are played out in Hannibal is unorthodox and fantastical and generally unrealistic, but also we understand that I can still relate to and deal with my worst feelings through this unreality.
And, I don't know, I guess what I'm trying to say is, sometimes we relate really heavily to something that might seem weird or unhealthy to others, but other times, good can be found in having a fictional outlet that takes the bad or overwhelming feelings away from us, and you shouldn't be ashamed if a piece of media is helping you in some way, even if the piece of media is dark, or silly, or romanticized. My therapist has helped me see that, and I thought it would be helpful for others to hear. 💗
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sparklinpixiedust · 8 months
Text
Stalking
Oof. I've had this idea since the day @uselessyellow requested a fic to be made on this prompt. Its taken me what, a month? But I finally got the time to sit down and type this out. Hope you like it.
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Bingo card by @badthingshappenbingo
Next up: Infected Wound or Thrown down the stairs. Idk, like the story is going to be the same regardless, just don't know what prompt to use.
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I've got a bad case of the 3:00 am guilts - you know, when you lie in bed awake and replay all those things you didn't do right? Because, as we all know, nothing solves insomnia like a nice warm glass of regret, depression and self-loathing. ~D.D. Barant
------x------x----------‐-----x---------x----------x-----
Benjamin pulled his hoodie closer to his body as the cold winter breeze hit him.
Just a few more minutes he thought, before he'd put an end to this madness.
See fame , while fun and exciting with it's exclusive parties and glory , had it's own downfalls.
That being , constantly being watched through a microscope. His rise to fame had brought in a lot of attention, especially the unwanted kind.
Eyes, eyes, eyes.
On him.
Everywhere.
All.the.time.
Be it at school , at home. Mr smoothies. Everywhere he went he could feel the gazes crawl up his skin, whispers buzzing in his ears like the mosquitos from summer camp.
He appreciated his fans, he really did, but it was becoming too much lately. It surprised him how something so mundane as having a nice little queit stroll around the block had become something he craved.
However that wasn't even the worst of it all. The worst was knowing that it wasn't just the fans who knew his whereabouts, it was his enemies too.
The horror of his fame had eventually dawned on him after his mother had been kidnapped. It had become too easy to to track him and his family down.
He hoped that it was a fluke, a one time thing. But when Psyphon came to earth after some stupid youtube show made by Cash and JT, it really pushed him over the edge. Psyphon got them from space. Space!
From freaking YOUTUBE!
So over the course of the coming year he became hyper vigilante, constantly running off to end crimes. Even the petty ones because he had to nip every little thing in the bud before it spiraled enough to hurt the people he loved. And truth be told , he was left exhausted.
The daily family checks ins , the constant checking of locks and bolts around his home. Whew.
When the insomnia hit, which happened more often than you'd imagine, he'd patrol bellwood by himself making sure the city was safe.
He hadn't told anyone , but he had installed GPS trackers on all his family members too. How had he managed that? Well that's a story for another day.
Gwen and Kevin tried to reassure him that things would be okay and they'd be around for anything. While initially unhelpful, he had begun to calm down a bit after they agreed to each take turns staying up at nights.
However 3 weeks ago he came home, and behold, something was off.
Someone had been in there. At first he tried to shrug it off but when he couldn't find his grey hoodie, he knew for sure that someone had broken in. He distinctively remembered giving it a sniff that proving and tossing it on his bed. It couldn't have just grown legs and walked away.
It terrified him. Despite all the precautions, someone has managed to break into his room.
Over the coming weeks he was extra cautious. He didn't go home often and kept his distance from gwen and Kevin too. He didn't want to involve them just yet, it was his problem. He was the hero.
he began to feel the unsettling presence more and more around him, as though stalking him from the shadows.
After 3 weeks of the lingering feeling around him , he decided enough was enough. The longer this went on, the better the chance it gave his stalker to plan an elaborate attack.
So tonight he grabbed a plumber gun , put on his new brown hoodie and and tried to lure the enemy into an ally.
He could feel the footsteps behind him. The brunet began to walk faster and faster , almost breaking into a sprint. The stalker followed suite, until Ben reached the familiar ally behind Mr Smoothie. He stopped in front of a dead end, making out a dark figure in his peripheral view.
So he wasn't imagining it! It was real !
The hero slowly pulled out his gun and shut his eyes.
It ends now.
Without hesitation spun around and wildly shot at his stalker.
" Leave me and my family alone!" he yelled.
It was only when he heard the thud of the body falling falling on the ground did he open his eyes to the horror that lay in front of him.
The blood drained from his face, leaving him pale.
For in front of him lay the body of a blonde teenage girl wearing his now blood stained grey hoodie, with a bracelet that read " #1 fan"
Oh what had he done?
_____________
" this just in, after a tireless search over the past week, we have finally recovered the body of 14 year Clara Simmons at the abandoned military site Los Soledad.
We are not sure why she was there but close friends suggest she could've been sneaking around the area in hopes to catch a glimpse of her favourite hero Ben Tennyson.
Clara Simmons is known among her peers to be a Ben 10 superfan, even as far as to occasional follow him around and has even reportedly broken into his room several times before. The most recent time being a month ago as told by her best friend Susy, where she stole a hoodie, the same hoodie that she was wearing when her body was found.
There is no indication of what truly happened but Gwen Tennyson, a fellow member of Team 10 has released statement, stating the area always has high alien activity and its possible Clara Simmons unfortunately got caught in a cross fire.
Folks , let this be a reminder to steer clear of Los Soledad. There are signs stating to keep out for a reason and the let hero's do their jobs.
Guards are to be placed at the site to avoid further inciden--"
Ben switched off the TV as he hopped off of his bed.
" I'll take of it, Gwen take him home" was all Kevin had said when Ben had called them that night sobbing.
Too bad there's wasn't anything to take care of the massive weight of guilt on him.
He quietly made his way down stairs as not to wake his cousin and best friend who had decided to take up residence at his house.
He walked up to the front door and slowly jiggled it. He sighed with relief when it didn't open at his attempt.
It just never ends does it?
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evmorfiad · 1 year
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Hello *waves* Since you wanted asks ... I'm curious, what are your top 3 Joseph Mawle characters? And what makes him so special in your eyes? Cheers!
Those are awesome questions! I suck at explaining my thoughts, sometimes I feel I don’t even know what they ARE exactly and I tend to give too much of a backstory, but I'll try my best.
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May be the second question first; What makes him so special in your eyes?
I'm from Germany, and though there are some good shows, I always find the actors performances lacking. I can 'feel' them acting, instead of 'being' the characters. No matter how good and experienced an actor is. It must be the German acting and directing culture, or may be the language, because when German actors are in international productions, they are so much better. Therefore, I tend to be very sensitive to people’s performances being natural.
I think Joseph Mawle is one of the most 'naturalistic' performers that I've ever seen. I can feel him 'be' that character. I think his 'disability' is what has let him grow into this, being hard of hearing and dyslexic. I think he's a master at non-verbal communication, and he conveys so much emotion through facial expressions and body language even in very fleeting moments, and it gives his characters so much depth. I think he's also forced to be very conscious of intonation, so every word carries very thought-out emotional meaning. In both cases you might not even catch it, but unconsciously it influences you. He's said himself that he takes longer to read and learn lines and I guess also to do research into a new character. I would also guess he therefore has to additionally use all other senses available to him very intensively to do so, and I think that can force an actor to get even more emotionally involved. I think that is reflected in the performances that I have seen so far, and it makes for an even more immersive experience of that story. It seems that he completely melts into his roles. It's so intense, you can't look away when he's on screen.
I also think the fact that he seems to avoid the limelight intentionally nowadays by more often than not choosing side characters or main ones in very niche genres, shows that he chooses his vocation for the sake of the art of acting itself, of wanting to tell and also experience that specific story arc of that specific character. He does not want to be side-tracked by anything else. This of course applies to many performers, but coupled with the above element, it makes for a very potent mix.
Therefore, I also think it is imperative to include many, many more people with 'disabilities' in any kind of art. It will make art bloom in full and reach its inherent potential of giving a unique kind of life to society.
I could say many, many more things about this unique individual, but I'll shut up … for now.
Now onto the first question: What are your top 3 Joseph Mawle characters?
HARD!!! So UNFAIR!!!
So far I've seen him in: Sir Gadabout, Soundproof, Silent Witness, The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton, Persuasion, Merlin, Sometimes the Moon is Velvet, Murder on the Orient Express, Made in Dagenham, Women in Love, The Cold Light of Day, Twelve, In the Heart of the Sea, Ripper Street, A Winter's Tale, Game of Thrones, Troy - Fall of a City, Mr. Jones, Land's End, the music video to 'Behold the Hurricane', the TOYOTA commercial, the documentary 'Words of the Titanic' and The Rings of Power.
WOW! I did not realise how much I already HAVE seen. And still there is SO much to STILL see!
Special mentions beforehand: Captain Harry Harville from 'Persuasion' (2007). It was the first role I ever saw him in, back in ca. 2009. He has a special place in my heart. Sir Tificate from 'Sir Gadabout - The worst Knight in the Land', because I just LOVE the fact that he was part of a children’s show, and I'd found it, unexpectedly, VERY entertaining. AND Michael from 'Land's End'. That performance. The eyeliner. Bronski Beat's 'Smalltown Boy' is finally a permanent fixture on my favorite songs playlist.
In no particular order … or … may be yes … or no …
Detective Inspector Jedediah Shine (Ripper Street Seasons 2 & 5)
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While only the first season existed, I'd loved Bennet Drake, such a sweety, but the MOMENT Jedediah arrived on screen I was HOOKED. HOOKED I tell you! He was SO fascinating! Such a bastard, so self-assured, so confident and stylish. He also had some of the best lines I ever heard in any series. He seemed vulnerable and such a hard ass at the same time. And he TERRIFIED me! I'd never been terrified of any fictional character THAT intensely before. I just didn't know what he would decide to do next. I wanted him to lose and win at the same time. SUCH a roller coaster ride of emotions. An amazing performance. - And I am SO not a fan of the bulky kind of man, but DAMN…!
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Dean Whittingham (Soundproof)
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What he managed to do here is special. Not only to him, since it was his breakout role, but his execution of the depiction of the 'disability' of being deaf. He was praised in an article written by a deaf person who saw the movie. That is a feat. This story was also a roller coaster ride of feelings. Is Dean the murderer or not? Experiencing WITH him the frustration and helplessness of being dependent on another person translating while being accused and interviewed by police. There is a scene where he does suddenly verbalise his frustration because he is SO desperate, and the way he was able to produce that 'sound' was AMAZEBALLS! I fell in love with Joe’s talent all over again.
Adar (The Rings of Power)
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I've loved the design of the Uruks ever since I saw 'The Fellowship of the Ring' back in 2002, but to feel FOR and identify WITH them took the appearance of Adar. I think it was only at the beginning of last year, that I read that Joseph was a part of The Rings of Power, and I'd been excited about it long before that, but this information just increased my excitement by a MASSIVE amount. I was not disappointed. Adar is by far my absolute favourite character of the show, and it's in no small part because of Mr. Mawle’s embodiment of him. The moment he was on screen and I saw those tears in his eyes when 'saying' goodbye to Magrot … I was IN LOVE! I KNEW that this storyline would be something special and unique, and I am so happy that Joe was a part of that. There is still so much mystery around who he used to be, and so many interesting theories about what will happen to/with him, that I am still HEARTBROKEN about the recast. The coming together, the amalgamation of THAT character with THAT artist was a chemical reaction that resulted in a unique and very impactful experience.
There you have it.
End of my two-and-a-half page essay. Ooops … sorry, not sorry.
Credits for the wonderful gifs featured here go to @joemawle
Thank you SO much for all the time and work you put into making them ❤️
And thank you @chris-pikes for these wonderful questions! 💗
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reileinaxiu · 2 years
Text
How I became Anti Jiang Cheng/Wanyin and Anti Jiang in General
Fair warning/s:
Dramatic story sharing. MDZS meta that blur with some fanon pet peeves. Jiang family bashing (yup includes YZY, JWY, JFM, and even JYL). Lengthy story/experience sharing. Some cursing/foul language, okay a lot of cursing that I censored might have missed just in case. Some ranting I guess. And maybe some leaps in logic. Chaotic writing.
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So long story short:
I've read a fic with the JC bashing tag, enjoyed it and browsed and read more content about it and I was thoroughly anti JC by the end of it all.
An example is
"All will be well when the day is done" by abCEE. If you haven't read it I recommend it if the Lan clan still hasn't been ruined in your eyes.
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Long story not so short:
Okay as you all might know or not know, I was introduced to the MXTX fandom through a fanfic crossover and entered through the donghua.
When I watched the donghua I was sort of indifferent to the Jiang family as a whole. I thought YZY was just this super stern drill sergeant type of woman. Maybe unfair to WWX because of her own bias towards his heritage. JFM was this timid person in front of his wife who doesn't want to get into conflicts. JWY was this broken grieving person after the Lotus Pier Massacre. And JYL was this mother/sister role model that had an unfortunate end.
I did not like them(probably never will at this point), I did not hate them (I should have hated them more), thought they were developmental to WWX as a character (still true but for a completely different reasons). But that was it, they were characters that had fulfilled a role.
Oh what a foolish uninformed lamb 🐑 I was back then.🥲 The donghua did not even begin to skim the surface of it all. Or maybe it did in an artistic license type of view and it was the kind people on the internet who analyzed the story and the original work that just pointed out to me what was obvious now. 🤔
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Thank yous especially to: @flautistsandpeonies ,
@jiaoji2 , @withthewindinherfootsteps , @ladypfenix, @ninjakk and many more that I might have missed or yet to discover. Your mxtx content are entertaining and enlightening.
And thank yous to your works on AO3: Hauntcats, Karmiya, FlautistsandPeonies, Vrischika, miixz, glitteringmoonlight, justdoityoufucker and many many more great writers out there.
I definitely 😁 recommend their works.
Their works and posts have opened my eyes. 👀 And many others who I might have missed.
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This was how knowing more both ruined and saved my love for MDZS.
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It started when I began delving for fanfic on ao3, after finishing the donghua. Naturally, I began with the fics with the most Kudos, so I set my filters with the most words or the most Kudos along with the WangXian tags (Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian).
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Lo and behold one of the top fics at that time was a Jiang Wanyin centric time travel fic that I shall not name but bury deep within my reading history/bookmarks. I do not want to horrify you guys too much who are anti JC like me but the short synopsis was JWY travels back in time and fully supported WWX 🤢 throughout the Sunshot Campaign doing all the the things JGY pointed out in the Guanyin Temple incident getting a happy ever after of everyone lives(even JGY 😰) and noone dies(except mostly the Wen Sect not the Dafans) and JWY marries WQ 🤮.
Yes. I can't believe myself to have thought that was actually good. I got ulcers just thinking about it 🤢. What's worse 😱 is that I've read through several similar fics with JWY as a good brother, anger misunderstood trope and thought nothing of it at the time.
One of the worse of the worst were my ignorance when reading fics with side JWY/LXC tag.☣️🤮 If I knew I would have never touched any of these fics. But I absorbed the MDZS content through various media sources so my understanding was obscured at best and completely reconceptualized at worst. I hope my realization wasn't too late that I ended up reading about a homophobe in a same-sex relationship.
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My poor ignorant self,😔 I forgive you for ever thinking any of those were acceptable homage to the masterpiece that is MDZS. Alas those fics in my read history will be part of a dark past that I might visit some day again only to treat it as the radioactive ☢️ toxic waste it truly should be handled as.
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Don't get me wrong. It doesn't make any of those God awful plot devices better but at least those fics were still very entertaining and I appreciate all the work and effort the author had put in to writing them despite their uh...😦 misconstrued outlook on the actual canon personalities of the characters. Some of those fics were really long and well-written at least. So I find it a shame their great writing skills have gone in this direction.
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Maybe 🤔 if I read those as extremely, extremely OOC then I guess they could be slightly acceptable. But till today there are plenty similar fic being written out there, and published everyday. I must sometimes cope by completely erasing JWY or any OOC Jiang from my mind whilst reading these types of mistagged fics. OOC JC tag should really be common so I can filter them out of my searches. I will always be grateful for ao3's sort and filter system.
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Another, when exploring the fandom at first was that I was intrigued, amused and even confused 🤔 by all the controversy. On youtube, there were content creators fawning over JWY. So hey, I thought he seemed like a decently popular character.
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Then someone pointed some things out to me and I was like " OMG 😱 What sort of deranged sick scum is this person and why the f*** out of all the villains that got their karma he still lives with a position of power".
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Then I realized again after reading more mdzs meta, "Almost everyone in the Cultivation World except WangXian, the juniors(of every sect), WN, WQ, LQY and maybe NHS at some point are all corrupt assholes that deserve some sort of karma still lives with positions of power" 😱😱😱
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So yeah. One of my problems when identifying good not OOC fanfics was because tags like the good sibling jc, yunmengbros reconciliation, etc.😖 was normalized by a lot of writers that other writers started referencing OOC fanfics as the true personality of those characters. That's why a newbie like me entering the fandom just binge read anything that was popular at the time and thought that it actually somehow corresponds to the original work. I am sometimes tempted to unsubscribe from certain MXTX content creators because they are JC stans. But I am conflicted cause they make really good WangXian content as well 😰.
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For example:
Like when writers completely disregarding WWX's most important character traits to fit him into an OOC template @withthewindinherfootsteps discusses this very soundly and points out WWX's core philosophy. Writers have gone to create completely new characters and stamped them with the same name. They have lots of reblogs and discussion with this particular post
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Maybe it's because I haven't read the entirety of the original work yet (I've only watched the donghua, the cql, followed the manhua, and skipping to favorite scene in thenovel translations) but further evidence pointed out by readers of the original work had thoroughly converted me. I do not commend any of the Jiang Family's treatment of WWX.
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Feel free to skip to the rabbits if you prefer not to read some of these heavy criticisms about the Jiang Family and some cursing. Oh and maybe a bit of conspiracy theory meta.
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Let's begin with this literal raging b*tch, YZY.
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YZY was a child abuser, a hypocrite, and liar.
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"What do you mean what do we do?! Can't you see yet? They came here prepared. Today's fight couldn't have been avoided. Soon afterward there'll be herds of those Wen-dog arriving. Leave first!"
"Shut your mouth! It's all because of you little...!"
-Exiled Rebel Scans Chapter Poisons (3)
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These lines had been itching at me from the very beginning so... This was the Lotus Pier Massacre. A lot of others (particularly those who stan her) might think it was a sad heroic sacrificing moment as a mother that made a lot of people misconstrue YZY's true nature. She was neither self-sacrificing nor a mother.
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She knew. She logically knew that the Wens were prepared and the fight couldn't have been avoided yet she still had the absolute gall to blame WWX of all the people present just because she can and just because she saw him beneath her. After punishing WWX herself as an act of 🤬 subservience to the Wen Clan she couldn't admit it that she herself was the one that escalated the entire situation to the Wen's advantage when WLJ taunted her about the supervisory office. She made everyone including the children to fight in that bloodbath just so her pride as a lady of a great sect remain unquestioned only saving her child and asking the disciple she abused mentally, emotionally and physically to give his life for JWY's sake. And look where it got her. If you ask me now, I'd say she totally deserved that humiliating death and WN should have left her and JFM's body to rot compared to my tragic first impressions.
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JFM is as much as an abuser as YZY was. He was an abuser through neglect, and some form of exploitation. A lot of context clues lead to YZY regularly punishing WWX excessively. It's never really mentioned that JFM stopped any of these especially since it is most likely those punishments were handed indiscriminately without just cause other than YZY's hate for WWX.
Shown in the Lotus Pod Extra where it's only WWX who gets punished despite every other disciple doing the same thing. Punished with a whip a that!😨 And that was just an Everyday probably casual occurence in the summer.
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The exploitation I have less evidence on that but from what I can understand (or don't) is that a disciple of a sect is more or less an employee and that they at least have some sort of regular stipend besides the facilities, housing and education given to them, otherwise why bother to become a cultivator of a sect when your financially challenged. I'm sure there's at least a few disciples who would send money back to their families because a cultivator's job has some monetary benefits that attracted them to Cultivation sects.
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(Ps. Someone argue the flaws in my logic or support it with further evidence that you can find, I'd be grateful)
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This isn't the case for WWX though. From the novel it was said that WWX explored the markets in Yunmeng and took whatever he pleased because the locals knew to send the bill to Lotus Pier and maybe he got an allowance that only equates to pocket money. It could be seen that he was well taken care of at least financially.
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But from my point view its an indirect form of exploitation. This could be seen as WWX not having his own money to spend for himself making him monetarily dependant on the Jiangs generosity (which was barely existent). It made WWX all the more differentiated from the other disciples who were compensated for their rendered services. Especially since he was made the head disciple at such a young age he should have gotten a comparatively larger paycheck(ancient china payrolls) maybe even equal to the senior disciples because he takes on a teaching job.
When WWX was in the Burial Mounds with the Wens I don't think he had his own assets to claim and fall back on when JWY removed him from the sect. He was one of the key figures to victory in the Sunshot Campaign don't tell me he wasn't properly compensated for his contributions? If someone out there thinks that he gave his spoils of war to the Sect, then f*** the Jiang Clan, I call fraud and exploitation.
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That's right folks! Lotus Pier was equivalent to a Japanese Black Company! Modern laws, on child labor and treatment addendums aside, at least in regards to WWX that is. Not only was WWX put to work in abhor conditions (abused; verbally and physically) he was also barely compensated, if not at all, for his services. YZY didn't make it any better siting unreasonable excuses of immeasurable debt that WWX took to heart. JWY also follows her mother's footsteps even when she died he also imposed this debt on WWX even when WWX already went above and beyond what stipulates on what a head disciple or even regular disciples owe to their sect. I could really care less how JFM didn't want to upset his wife or some other excuse, he is Sect Leader! He couldn't have not known what was going on. This has got to be some form of exploitation. 😡
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I should write a separate post for all the things messed up about JWY. But to sum it up he expected WWX to abandon his moral code to pander to his sect leader position and Sect's reputation and leave to the Cultivation World's bloodlusts what was essentially a village full of civilians, children or weakened cultivators. He blamed WWX for JYL's death when he clearly witnessed what actually happened, it wasn't WWX who landed the killing blow(WWX even killed that stupid attacker the moment that happened, JWY saw that as well). He went on torturing to death anyone who slightly resembled WWX or was suspected of practicing unorthodox cultivation (keywords on slightly resembled and suspected never proven or justified) for years! Also hellbent on torturing and killing WWX in his second life by using his fears and guilt and that d*mn whip he inherited from his b**** of a mother. And he is an overall bitter and unpleasant character to be in the presence of. I could keep going on and on because there's a whole lot more and there is not enough words to describe how much of a terrible person he was by the end of the book.
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Lastly, there is JYL. 🤨She wasn't very significant as the person WWX made her out to be. She wasn't a bad person but she also didn't make any strides to be better or do good. She always tried to make compromises but it was usually for the sake of others especially JWY and at the cost of WWX because she viewed him as being capable of carrying any burdens with a smile and not as a person that struggles or gets hurt by superficial or personal remarks. A peacemaker, timid like her father, avoiding conflicts instead of actually solving them. She claimed WWX a brother during the Phoenix Mountain Hunt and demanded an apology in the name of her sect but that all crumbled like a sandcastle on the beach and forgotten as dust in the wind when JZX confessed publicly and she secluded herself in her happy little married domestic life.😤 Either she was just an oblivious fool just like her husband and would have caused WWX's death by asking him to stand down when he was clearly being attacked or she really believed everything would go well if everyone calmed down or something. Or she was just incredibly gullible to the point of trusting her marital sect that repeatedly put down WWX. She is like LXC in this regard, and I have a lot of negatives and barely-there positives about him as well.
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What frustrates me in fanfics with her in it is that she acts like both her marital sect or natal sect could never be in the wrong and that it should be WWX who should adjust is behavior when they were literally trying to kill him.
Is it appropriate to rant about other fics that pissed me off on tumblr? I won't cause it feels rude on some level.
Also I hate the line she said about WWX being born with a smiling face. That's like putting unrealistic expectations on WWX's head. Just because he can bare a lot of things with a smile doesn't mean he cannot get hurt? Newsflash putting up a smiling front is just one way WWX protected himself emotionally from all the rumors and vitriol from YZY. I know I'm being overly harsh but I can't help but feel infuriated. WWX is a strong person for putting up with the Jiang's bull****, horse****, dog**** whatever **** I can think of under the sun and still manages to be an inherently good person but that doesn't really justify everything that was done to him.
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🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇
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@righteousinadversity sums it up pretty well WWX's sufferings in life and a good chunk of that list is because of the Jiangs or could be traced back to the Jiangs.
If these realizations weren't enough to get me to go anti Jiang Family, I'd be wondering where my common sense went. I became extra wary of those fics tags with something like Good parent YZY & JFM🤬, Good sibling JC 🤮, Yunmengbros feels🙄, and a surprisingly eye watering amount of word vomit. 🤢
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This doesn't mean I condemn all the fics out there that don't adhere to canon personalities even the ones I've already read. If the ficwriter was reasonable enough in writing a life altering event or tagging that the characters are going to act OOC. Then sure I might read a modern AU where JC is a reasonably less asshole of an adopted brother. Or an AU where the JWY and JYL try to makeup for their parents wrongs etc. I could probably stomach it with minimum nausea. Still doesn't mean I have to like it, I am just a poor deprived soul that seeks to consume as much mdzs media in my free time.😔
Although Post-canon fics where WWX or LWJ get along with JWY, 😑 yeah I'm drawing the lines where lines need to be drawn. I might make the time to delete a lot of bookmarks from my archives.
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The only thing that saved my love for MDZS was WangXian and that speaks for itself because there's a lots of scummy characters (scummy as irl people, they were perfectly fine characters that drove the plot) and WangXian happens to overturn all those flaws because they are the exact opposite to such toxic relationships and toxic people. Plus just because I bash the Jiang Family so much doesn't mean I should stan WWX for the novelty of getting behind the hero or protecting a victim.
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It's because WWX is genuinely a good person that I will stan him with all my squishy beating heart🫀!
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He sees injustice and seeks to correct it. He had literal life costing wrongs done to him and he does not seek further resentment . He knows not to forgive and not to forget but also knows when to let go. And LWJ learned a lot from WWX and he became his moral compass. God 🤩 they are just so good together, good for each other, and good for everyone.🥲
May they forever ♾️❤️ be a happy couple.🥰
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The rest of the trashy cultivators of the Cultivation World can get eaten by the Xuanwu for all I care. 🙄#turtlefood
I might get started about how I came to dislike the Lans in general or wished fiery deaths for most of Cultivation World. But that's for another time.
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Is it hypocritic of me to continue reading these awful OOC Jiang fics? Maybe a little. 😐
Does it take me away from potentially great reads?
On my sane days I'd avoid them like WWX avoids dogs. If I'm feeling curious or just really hoping to find something fresh to read, I'd suck it up and pretend the poorly characterized Jiangs are florid mouthpieces used by the author that I can probably forget and ignore.😖
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I think I have the same problem with Postcanon fics where WWX gets along with his in-laws. I read them ignorant of how the original work actually ended. Now I despair at how awful my reading history looks and I became very critical of the type of fanfics I presently enjoy.
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Taking a page out of @FlautistandPeonies
Jiang family stans don't shit my post. I have literally tagged this anti-everything I can think of the first few lines were literally in big font titled "How I became anti JC"
Fellow mdzs meta readers come at me with gentle criticisms or discussions or comments (emphasis on gentle please 🥺, I'm a sensitive soul that easily loses confidence)
I got the courage to post this after reading a fic with YZY being her petty bitchy self. It was gloriously infuriating that I console myself with the WangXian ending. I might recommend that fic after it's gotten more chapters out (I don't want anyone getting conniptions from the cliffhanger) along with other anti Jiang Family fics.
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stealing-your-kittens · 2 months
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20 Questions for Writers
Tagged by @oceangirl24❤️
❣️How many works do you have on AO3? 20
❣️What is your total AO3 word count? 375,648
❣️What fandoms do you write for?
BBC's My Hero
Yonderland
Phineas And Ferb
Jim Henson's The Storyteller
Anna Karenina
Tales From The Crypt
Memoirs Of A Geisha
Magnificent Century
The Painted Veil
Reefer Madness The Movie Musical
BBC's Ghosts
Once Upon A Time
❣️What are your top five fics by kudos?
Changes
Peaches And Concrete
Katherine
At The Curtains Of The Waterfall
A Mistake You Keep Making (Accidentally On Purpose)
❣️Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? Yes, though I'm a little behind right now. I love word vomiting my headcanons at people
❣️What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? That's very much up for debate since I tend to include a touch of angst in even my happiest stuff. And some of my worst isn't published yet. But, just for pure angst I'd have to go with...Only With Thine Eyes
❣️What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? Right now, hands down, I Thought I'd Ask (In Case I Stand One Little Chance). This is, however, very much subject to change in the Plex Expanded Universe.
❣️Do you get hate on your fic? Not in general, but one time I had someone go off on me for being sympathetic to Kitty -my LITERAL POV CHARACTER- in Changes, my Walter lives fix-it for The Painted Veil. I was a sickening hypocrite of a woman for refusing to call her a cheater. Because women won't ever call other women on that. Despite the fact that she spends the entire fic atoning for that very thing and thinks of herself as a 'humiliated adulteress.'
But, no, the chapter where she's having a massive self-pity party and fearing a miscarriage clearly revealed my true feelings on the subject.
❣️Do you write smut? Sometimes. I've never felt confident publishing any until recently, though, and usually draw the line at M. But it was about time I righted the 20 year wrong My Hero's canon did to my blorbo, Piers.
That man has been through enough and deserved to lose his virginity at a time and place of his choosing. AND have a good time with it. (Plus, I sort owed him and Lex that after how their first time went in Curtains.)
❣️Do you write crossovers? Normally, no. But I've got snippets of an iZombie/My Hero crossover that takes the premise Piers and Blaine are cousins. Because they had similar upbringings of being rich but having abusive POS fathers, and there's enough of a resemblance between David Anders and a younger Hugh Dennis for it to be plausible. I'd just have to bump My Hero's canon forward in time by a few years to keep everyone close enough in age to make it believable that they met a few times as kids despite Blaine being American and Piers being English.
Piers is canonically amoral enough that if he found himself in zombie-infested Seattle it wouldn't take much for him to go into the brain business with cousin Blaine. Use his job as a doctor to convince the patients with more interesting lives that they have something terminal and offer to help them end it all. Steady supply of cool brains to go tripping on right there in the city. Cuts down on smuggling risks. He'd be especially willing when his own survival and extra money are at stake. He might even get women out of it.
He definitely gets at least one. It takes very little rewriting to make Lex an American runaway instead of an English one, and have her running drugs with Blaine and Don E as a teen.
And Curtains is now technically a crossover between My Hero and Boy Meets World, given that I've swapped OC cameos with Oceangirl. I get Audrey for a scene, she gets Lex.
❣️Have you ever had a fic stolen? Not to my knowledge.
❣️Have you ever had a fic translated? Yes. Four or five of them are now in Russian.
❣️Have you ever co-written a fic? See above, re: Boy Meets World and My Hero crossover
❣️What's your all-time favorite ship? Behold, my Problem Children:
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Alexis and Piers
And I'm pretty invested in Jon/Audrey from BMW by now. But I don't have any canon ships at the moment.
❣️What's the WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? Freakin CURTAINS OMG! Not just the longfic, but the entire series of AU timelines. It was meant to be an established relationship ONE-SHOT, now we aren't even to that scene *breaks down sobbing in author* and it's not the ending, anymore...these assholes caused me to write an ANOTHER AU just last night.
❣️What are your writing strengths? I like dialogue. I'd say I'm pretty good at it after all the time I spend being an amateur actor in the shower to get the cadence right.
❣️What are your writing weaknesses? I keep forgetting to describe surroundings
❣️Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic? No. I can sing in several, but I'm not fluent enough to write dialogue. Though Piers, pretentious little arse that he is, canonically speaks French and thinks couples should have cringe nicknames. Like Squishy and Love Pump. (I'll never be over that.) So it became a character quirk that he keeps giving Lex mushy nicknames in French. Some of them not to be used outside the bedroom.
❣️First fandom you wrote for? It wasn't published, but...oh, dang. I can't remember if it was the Phantom Of The Opera fix-it, the Valjean/OC self-insert for Les Mis or the SI I paired with Long John Silver in Treasure Island (I used book canon, but he very much looked like Tim Curry). Maybe the SI I wrote as a love interest for Cedric in King Ralph? Those were all around the same time, age 12. So it's been twenty-seven years. I've no idea which came first.
❣️Favorite fic you've ever written? Literally everything in the overall world of Plex. I'm all alone in the My Hero tag, single-handedly improving Piers Crispin's life. Sometimes after wrecking it a little bit more.
It's for his own good.
No pressure tags to play for: I can't think of anyone, right now, cuz I'm very sleepy. Anyone who wants to, knock yourselves out and tag me so i'll see it.
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sgcairo · 1 year
Note
There’s no canon dottolone content can I bear you with the responsibility of writing their law?
I think I'm underqualified for this, but I will take this responsibility-
The sad truth of the matter is that there will likely be very little canon content, seeing the path Genshin is on. I could write a whole essay on why it's highly improbable that we'll ever get the content we desire, but I'll try my hand at writing the law.
From here's three fundamental laws to writing these two:
1. They hate each other's guts. If Dottore had to choose between scooping out his own organs with a spoon and being stuck in a room with Pantalone for more than five minutes, the spoon is about to get some serious use. They would rather bite out each other's tongues than mash face, the thought alone is mortifying.
2. Banter. They annoy the living shit out of each other, and it can be equated to two kindergartners fighting over one of them calling the other names. They have to literally be pulled apart before one of them ends up strangling the other in meetings. It might be a clone, but Dottore is still Dottore, and Pantalone has a vague murderous urge whenever he's in the vicinity.
3. They're absolutely obsessed with each other. Not necessarily in the romantic or even friendly way, in the I want you to choke and die and think about it every day way. It develops in other ways in the future, but these two hate each other's guts, and will go to a near extreme degree to irritate each other. They will not stop ranting about how much the other annoys them, and the other Harbingers are convinced that they're married at this point.
This might be a toxic relationship, but it's a sick bastard falling for another sick bastard. There are no expectations here.
As for other mini-laws I've given myself:
-Pantalone is absolutely crazy for Dottore's eyes. They might be red and considered absolutely terrifying for those that behold them, but Pantalone loses his mind over them. So cruel, but so beautiful. He kisses Dottore's eyelids even, to show how much he adores them.
-Dottore claims hates Pantalone's voice, but actually somewhat likes it. Sure, it sounds pretentious as hell, but when Pantalone gets into his droning, it's actually somewhat pleasant. Though he'll never admit that, he's too proud.
-Any physical encounters between these two always end with their faces inches away from mashing. I don't make the rules. Makes the tension go 📈📈📈📈📈.
-Pantalone has to either criticize or attempt to fix Dottore's horrendous fashion. He can't be seen with such an unruly mess of straps and buckles, now can he? So they must go-
-Violence is always the answer with these two. That's the only thing they'll ever agree on.
Honestly, these two are menaces to society and mashing them together is the worst possible thing you can do. And that's why I do it. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
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vioisgoinginsane · 1 year
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about the Gil vs Chev even
Feels like I should say a prayer and do a cross sign before i play the gil vs chev event.... But I've been an atheist for years now so...
I CANT. GIL'S EVIL THEME IS SO DRAMATIC I CAN ONLY LAUHH. LAKAKADtsadadxaaxaewnkjljljkkjpiipppjojkhlnjljljl
Nothing like the gool ol poor lil meow meow frown
Im sorry but if i turned around and chev was suddenly there i am punching him. Woulda done the same if it was clavis and I don't like picking favorites [lie]
I've actually been having a problem where they play the wrong voice line on sariel's route home screen etc and i didn't care enough to send an email till now BUT NOW ITS FUCKED UP AT THE EVENT LOVE POINTS CHECK TOO AND I WILL NOT BE DEPRIVED OF HEARING GIL'S VOICE NUH UH WE GOTT FIX THIS SHIT RIGJT THIS INSTANCE
Gil: *laughs in my face* me: ahh that's better
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You say that as if antagonizing you wouldn't be twice as stupid (not that I COULDN'T do that... If the other option was even worse...)
Chev: I thought i should escort you for once me: that's so-' chev: "there is no need to thank me" me: I was gonna say 'unusual"
I have a balchony?????? Since fuckin when?????
"Rude." "I didn't even say anything." "I did not invite you here. Appearing in a woman's room out of nowhere is rude no matter how you slice it. *turns around to chev who just sliced someone up*
Behold
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The most awkward love triangle one could possibly fall into. I already wanna trow myself off the balchony
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*glares* {GIL THAT'S NOT-}
"Should you glare at me like that?"
"You haven't been glared at enough. That's what's wrong with both of you."
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"Oooooh we're playing sherlock!!"
"I thought you don't find these things fun"
"..."
Gil:you should doubt everyone other than me" me: HAHAHAHAHHAHA that's a good one.
Chev: "the bunny is mine. You think you can steal her back from me? Ha. Nonsense" me:HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA that's funny too
Gil: she'll come to me of her own accord.
And the worst part is. He's right.
Gil: Did you sleep with Chev? Me: fuck no thank god i misunderstood this event's fan translation
Me: I hate hypocrites game: Gil's kind of a hypocrite in this event me: hey! Just cuz i love him that doesn't mean I don't wanna drive him into the wall skull first like a battering ran sometimes! Anwyas
THE WORLD'S DEADLIEST TIGHS!!!!!! AS A LAP PILLOW!!! FOR ME ONLY!!!!
"I don't tell lies, unlike you." "I'm not a hypocrite, unlike you."
Remember kids, anyone who says they never lie is already lying.
Gil:"I wouldn't kill a poor innocent woman" me:"what if i was like Reeaaaaally annoying, tho?"
Oh no. He's angy.
Oof. I do feel bad for those poor bastards, like shoulda at least looked gil in the eye in your last moment and told him he sucks at giving instructions just for the hell of it
Why's the villain giving me a motivational speech????
"Your way of thinking disgusts me, haha" me:??????? MUTUAL FEELINGS!!!!
*deep deep sigh* i impulse bought the epilogue
And the funny thing is that knowing me if i AM gonna go and get all the endings so i can have gil and clavis fight over me like in my deepest most shameless fantasies, I am also gonna ignore chev's ending till i have no other choice but to play it... And then I get to my boys and it's gonna feel like coming home straight after cheating.......
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