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m1d-45 · 1 year

Text

reverse isekai but it’s me at 6:45 pm in a car

-> warnings: spoilers for inazuma archon quest, depictions of modern organized religion(none are specified, none are in great detail, but talks of restrictions within those are mentioned. it’s only one paragraph but still), this is unedited and with zero (0) plot to it :))

-> lowercase intended

taglist: @samarill || @thenyxsky

your world is loud.

from the moment the favored could see it, this was clear. it was loud, filling with screaming machinery that left trails of dust and buildings so tall it made their neck hurt to view.

it was bright, with lights that shone through the darkest of nights, reflecting off glass and the speeding machines and reflecting reflecting reflecting back into eyes to sting. your sun is so harsh, so unpleasant and overbearing, hot instead of warm and burning instead of soothing.

it’s cluttered, wires suspending from towers and running along your roads. glittering signs point out things they can’t read, the sacred script only giving them a headache. at night, they can find no comfort in the stars, something that sends them into a panic the first time they see it. it’s not clouds, it’s not anything worldly blocking their view, it’s that they’re gone, the ones they can see washed out and faded. they wonder how anybody can live like this, and if you blessed them with a night sky of such beauty because yours was so…

they can recognize some of it, the plants and trees and flowers, wild or not, call to them in recognition, but so much is frighteningly new. the style of the clothing, the kinds of jewelry on the people you pass. try as they might, they can’t locate a single vision anywhere, not even on you. they wonder if people hide them, like during the vision hunt decree, but even at home you don’t reach for it, you start fires with odd devices and plants grow slowly, the air and stone unmoving to your desires. you spill drinks. you freeze water using more strange machinery.

it’s so strange, because they can feel your world brim with elemental energy. their vision beams, shining so brightly with all of the potential suspended in your world. no matter how poor their elemental sight, your world glows, the air itself carrying a blue tinge. they try, in a world without visions, to use theirs, and their power springs in an instant to their fingertips. it dances across their hands, enveloping when they barely intended for a small spark, a small flame jumping across the dry grass of unspent energy in your world. they extinguish it quickly, tightening their hand into a fist to stamp it out before they damage something, and something like awe shines in their eyes. there’s so much, their vision so eagerly lapping it up, and you.. don’t use it?

you have machines for everything, devices to harness the wind and waves, boats to travel across water at impossible speeds, strange flying machines that you can hear from the ground, mere specks in the sky, and yet… you have yet to capture them in their most essential forms. you speak of elements, sometimes, but you use different names and there seems to be many, many more. you say that the air holds ‘nitrogen’, that you seal things with foil of ‘aluminum’, and you even say that water itself is composed of ‘hydrogen’ and ‘oxygen’, something that they struggle to understand. how can water be made of something else? how can hydro users bend more than one thing to their will? how can anemo wielders command such a broad spectrum of things? you speak of other elements in the earth, and though some are familiar, such as iron and gold, others’ names hold no meaning. you say potassium is in fruit, that there’s multicolored rocks called bismuth and poisonous liquids named mercury. you say that there’s 118 elements, when all they’ve known is 7.

it takes them a while to come to terms with that one, and even then they settle on it being inherently outside of their understanding. after all, they are in a world crafted by a god.

speaking of..

there are multiple religions in your world?

and it’s not as if they’re different ways or interpretations of the same god, no, it’s entirely different ones. not in the ways of teyvat, where everybody’s aware of all seven and follows the one of their nation, not even that much. they’re wildly different, with different policies and ways of worship, some with multiple gods and others with just one. some are strict, ways of lifestyle chosen and laid out, whilst others are lax. and even within the same religion, it varies from one place of worship to another? somehow? some religions specify clothing, disallowing certain parts of the body to be exposed- which they can understand to an extent. it’s when they learn of religions that police love, ones that write in harsh lines where and when and who somebody can love, that they need to take a step away.

so many parts of your world are confusing. so bright, flashy, new, rumbling in the walls and barreling down the roads with nothing but a scream to warn. lights are everywhere, every sign and post and building vying for your attention. this they could understand, as who wouldn’t wish to be the object of your interest, but the most dizzying fact that they learn during their stay is that you are no different than anybody else. everybody is subject to these sights, everybody is pulled in by a particular shade or cut of cloth, everybody is startled by the bright lights and loud announcements. everybody. you’re lost in the ocean of people so different and yet endlessly identical, nobody’s eyes lingering on you or calling your name specifically. when you step into a crowd, nobody notices you, save for the select, precious few to whom you are known. you have to carve out a place in your world, go out of your way to make sure your name, your face, your interests are kept in somebody’s mind, and even then people dare to forget.

that’s the worst of all. overwhelming lights, sounds, smells: nothing. it makes sense that they’d be out of their depth in a world built for the divine. but to know that you’re not receiving any of the recognition you deserve, to know that nobody thinks highly of your work in teyvat, to know that you were kind enough descend and build yourself a new life amongst the world, and to share your creation across said world, only for nobody to appreciate it. nobody thinks twice. people dare to complain over something you’ve hand-crafted, over something that, even after completion, you revisited with a traveller, doing your best to save one sibling and fix the problems that had cropped up in your wake. you’ve done so much, you’ve cared after it so lovingly, and you boosted the power of some of those you granted a vision to. as somebody who had experienced this love first hand, the favored could not find the words to express their anger at the situation. your world was wrong, it was cruel, and though they found beauty in the most hidden of places, it didn’t change the fact that it didn’t love you.

it only strengthened their desire to take you back to teyvat, where you would be truly loved.

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hualianff · 3 years

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Thinking about HuaLian doing couples’ yoga outback behind Puqi Shrine. Both of them wearing minimal clothing–loose pants and sleeveless tunics. XL is the one holding HC up, laying flat on his back with his hair splayed out underneath him. Both of XL’s arms and legs lift vertically where they suspend HC up with ease because he’s a strong, powerful, and capable martial god, goddamnit-

“San Lang, look! You’re floating!” XL laughs out, having a fun time supporting HC in the air.

“It’s all thanks to gege’s impressive strength,” HC says calmly, admiring XL beneath him. He remains unbothered by the balls of XL’s feet digging into his hip bones. XL giggles happily, realizing that looking at HC’s peaceful face makes him want to kiss his husband.

Super bad.

It seems HC has the same desire for closeness, shifting his weight down a bit. As a matter of fact, HC’s face seems to be getting closer on its own—

“Wait-” XL shouts in a panic. “San Lang, no no NO!”

“-Gege!!”

HC tips forward.

It turns out, gravity is not impartial to their height difference. XL finds his balance point too late and HC comes crashing down. In a flash, they are just a heap of limbs and bruises, collapsed on the warm grass, under the unforgiving heat of the summer sun.

It’s right at this moment that MQ and FX descend from heaven and find the couple letting out twin groans from the impact.

“What the hell are you two doing!?” FX yells as he walks up the hill where XL and HC sprawl bonelessly. XL sputters a bit, HC’s full weight on his chest not a light pressure by any means.

“We were trying to do yoga,” XL wheezes out, hand automatically coming up to pat the back of HC’s head, then transitions to smoothing down the length of his hair. HC hums in approval.

“Doesn’t look like you were very successful,” MQ comments snidely, arms crossed while circling the pair on the ground.

“As if you could even dream of doing better,” HC grumbles, turning his face slightly so he can glare at the intruders while still nuzzling against XL’s neck. FX merely snorts, placing his hands on his hips.

“It’s fucking yoga, how did you guys even end up like this?” he questions incredulously.

“None of your fucking business,” HC shoots back. XL sighs, closing his eyes in fatigue. HC’s eye widens and he pushes himself off of his husband, flopping onto his side next to XL. “My point still stands.”

HC then ignores the other heaven officials in favor of gently pushing back XL’s sweaty locks from his forehead. XL smiles thoughtfully, leaning into HC’s touch.

Off to the side, MQ and FX gape in disbelief, then face each other: And we took that personally.

The two of them begrudgingly join the yoga session, struggling just as much–if not more–than XL and HC. One hour later, all four entities cramp in places they’ve never been before, also throbbing from hitting the ground numerous times.

“You’re dropping me on purpose!” FX sneers at his yoga partner.

“Not my fault you won’t keep still while I’m trying to support you!” MQ growls back.

As they go through a couple of final stretches, HC sneakily approaches XL from behind, encircling his arms around XL’s waist.

“Gege, we’ll continue this later, at home,” HC whispers in XL’s ear, tucking a long strand behind his ear. XL’s initial response is a bodily shiver, then burrowing back into his husband’s embrace, where it’s familiar and secure.

“I can’t wait, San Lang,” XL says, a content smile on his face.

#tgcf #heaven offical's blessing #hualian #fengqing #xie lian #hua cheng #mu qing #feng xin #couples' yoga #cerdrabbles #tian guan ci fu #I'm so sorry I just don't stop but come on couple's yoga is a cute concept

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cassnottiel · 4 years

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a s7 freddyxdeke au? but also totally ignore this if u dont feel for the ship lol. maybe something like deke and freddy highkey fall for eachother during the first trip, things still end up the same way they did but its a bit more tragic. then deke meets old freddy and he recognizes him asap this time. and he's such a shattered and different person deke's heart is highkey broken by who he's become. maybe some hurt/comf with the whole team of emm. or the team attempting with varying results lol

"Deke, how do you do this?" Daisy smiled at herself, clad in a green very nice dress.

"I've always had great style." He said indignantly. "I still have the leather jacket from the future."

Daisy nodded and fixed her neck line, before offering her arm. "Shall we?"

Deke and Daisy, arm in arm, walked through the party of politicians and jazz music, up to the bar Mack was standing behind.

"Two of your finest Zimas, please." Deke said in his own version of suave. He would have made another joke, but someone caught his eye.

A man his age, standing behind the bar with Mack and Coulson, stocking the liquor. His hair was slicked back, like Dekes, but he wasn't wearing a tuxedo, favoring a regular white shirt with brown suspenders and tie. Deke really wanted that Zima, his mouth had gone dry.

When Mack assigned their stations, Deke made up a reason to walk around the bar area, wanting to look for that man again.

He was back behind the bar when Deke got back, and Daisy and Coulson were gone. He took a seat at the bar.

"Zima doesn't exist." Mack told him, sliding over a glass of clear liquid.

"What's this?" Deke brought the beverage up to his nose and smelled it.

"Water." Mack answered. "Basically Zima."

Deke rolled his eyes and pushed the glass away. "I'll take a martini."

Mack gave a weird look. "You don't even like beer, how would you like vodka?"

"I told you," Deke shrugged, "boot juice."

It was Mack's turn to roll his eyes. "In the normal world, we call it moonshine."

Deke sighed dramatically and slumped against the bar. Mack wasn't going to make the drink.

A glass with a tall stem and an olive was slid across the bar. Deke looked up and met eyes with the other man behind the counter, who winked and smiled.

Deke switched seats so he was sitting in front of the other bartender. "Thank you, how much is this?" He reached into his pocket.

"On the house." The man shook his head. "Because your friends are working." He added as an afterthought.

"What's your name?" Deke asked, then took a drink of the martini.

"Freddy." The bartender answered. "You?"

"D-"

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Governor Franklin Roosevelt." The band stopped playing and the crowd applauded.

Deke turned and watched a man walk stiffly up to the microphone and started talking.

"He's really here." Mack was smiling slightly, watching the politician up on the stage.

"The governor?" Freddy started cleaning a glass. "What's the big deal?"

Mack kept talking, and Deke didn't listen until he heard the words "way ahead of his time." He whipped his head around and met Macks eyes.

"Or, will be, someday." Mack covered badly. Freddy gave him a weird look, before turning his attention back to Deke.

"So, Freddy, anyway," Deke changed the subject quickly, "how'd you fall into this shifty line of work?"

Freddy shrugged and leaned against the bar. "Well, after my dad kicked the bucket, I was hustling work in the streets. Mr. Koenig offered me some."

Deke nodded solemnly in understanding. "I lost my dad, too." Images of the Lighthouse in over one hundred years flashed through his mind, and he remembered some of the things he did to survive. "You do what you gotta do."

Freddy understood. Maybe not all of it, but he knew Deke and him were thinking along the same lines.

The party went on, FDR hadn't died yet, and conversation fizzled out. Deke drank the water when his martini was gone, stealing glances at Freddy every now and again.

"Deke." Mack nodded to the other side of the room, where Coulson and Daisy were moving. The two men at the bar left Freddy to follow.

The service hallway was empty, except for the four S.H.E.I.L.D agents. FDR wasn't the target.

"The Chronicoms are after someone else, named Freddy." Jemmas voice crackled over the radio

"Freddy?" Dark hair and sharp features flashed to the front of Dekes mind.

The four took off running down the hallways, then they heard a suppressed gunshot. Daisy quaked the robots away and went to finish them off. They rounded the corner and saw a woman bleeding on the ground and Freddy sitting against the wall.

"What is all this?" Freddy asked breathlessly, staring at the three men.

"We're saving your life." Deke answered and held his hand out. "Let's go."

Freddy looked at him for a second, then took his hand and stood up. Deke might have held on for a second longer than needed, but nobody noticed.

"We'll keep him safe. Meet back at Koenigs." Mack said, then followed Deke and Freddy down the hallway to the back exit. Their stolen truck was back there. Mack got in the drivers seat, Deke in the passengers, and Freddy in the back.

"The cops will be on us any minute," Deke turned in his seat to look out the back window.

"Any idea why they're after you, kid?" Mack glanced in the rear view mirror as he drove.

"No, none." Freddy leaned forward. "I-I'm just supposed to make a delivery tonight."

"Well, if they wanted to stop him, we better make sure they don't." Deke looked to Mack.

"Tell us where you need to go." Mack said to Freddy.

A siren flared to life behind them, the cops were chasing them.

"Faster!" Freddy yelled, looking out the back window. "They're gaining on us!"

"This boat won't go any faster!" Mack yelled back.

"We gotta give 'em the slip." Freddy told the other two.

"Yeah, and we gotta lose them, too." Deke suggested. He felt Freddys eyes on him, and the look on his face told him they had said virtually the same thing.

Mack turned off the engine and drifted into an abandoned alley. the three ducked down under the line of sight from the windows. The police car sped off down the street, and the three men sat up in their seats.

Freddy laughed. "So long, Coppers."

"Where do we go now?" Mack asked.

Freddy smiled and clapped them both on the shoulder. "Gotta deliver the goods." Then he opened the door and jumped out of the car.

Mack and Deke made eye contact, then followed. Freddy opened the bed of the truck, revealing their other clothes. "Might wanna get out of those fancy duds, you kinda stick out."

As Mack grabbed his other shirt and jacket, Deke snatched up the radio. "This is Deke." He said into it. "Hello? Is anyone there?" Nobody answered.

"What's that?" Freddy nodded to the device Deke was holding.

"It's like a, uh, telephone." Mack tried to explain. "Deke's an inventor."

"Hello? Is anyone out there? Daisy?" Deke wasn't paying attention to the others. "Jemma? Coulson?" A beat, and still no answer. "These things suck." Deke tossed the walkie down into the truck. "They have, like, zero range."

"It's gotta be plugged into something." Freddy said, like it was the most obvious thing.

"No, I know how they're supposed to work" Deke picked up his clothes. "I can fix it."

"This is the delivery?" Mack picked up a bottle. "More booze? They'd kill you over this?"

"This is the highest grade giggle juice ever made." Freddy took the bottle. "A lot of people would kill to get their paws on the formula."

Mack sighed. "If we're going to protect you, you need to be honest with us."

Then Freddy said something Deke couldn't understand even if he tried, and then they started driving again, to a train yard.

They carried the four cases of alcohol out of the car and set them on the ground.

"Who's the buyer for all this?" Mack asked as Deke looked up at the night sky and fixed his tie.

"Some guy, I dunno." Freddy shrugged.

"What's he look like?" Mack tried.

"No idea." Freddy slipped his hands into his pockets.

"When does he get here?" Deke asked.

Freddy smiled, like he just said something funny. "He doesn't. The meet-up is 500 miles away."

Deke and Mack shared a look. "That's a lot of miles, we don't have time for that."

"Why'd you have us unload this, then?" Mack sounded close to angry.

"So you can take the car and go." Freddy told them. "This is where we go our separate ways, fellas." A train whistle blew in the distance, getting closer. "That's my ride. I appreciate you saving my life," he looked right at Deke as he said that, "I owe you one."

"We're not leaving you." Deke said before he knew what he was doing. Luckily, Mack nodded.

"I don't need no body guard." Freddy shook his head, the train rumbling closer.

"The cops that are after you, they're not the type to give up." Deke said seriously. "They're gonna keep coming until they finish you off."

Freddy stared into Dekes eyes for a long, silent moment. Then he nodded wordlessly, and the three men got on the train.

Freddy was fiddling with the small radio, Mack was sitting on the floor of the box car, and Deke was looking out at the passing scenery.

"You really invented these?" Freddy asked. Deke looked back, met Macks eyes, who nodded, then back to Freddy.

"Yeah, I did." Deke took off his hat and sat next to Freddy. "It's just a prototype."

"And you can talk to someone on it?" Freddy was smiling in disbelief. "It doesn't have to be plugged in?" He met Dekes eyes. "You must be real smart."

Mack sighed, got up, and walked to the other side of the car. "I'm going to get some rest." The look he gave Deke conveyed: don't do anything stupid.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Freddy spoke.

"Deke." He said the name like it was a foreign word. "That's a funny name. Where're you from?"

"Upstate," Deke said, the answer he gave anyone who asked that same question, "near lake Ontario."

Freddy smiled. "Is that why you don't understand any slang from the city? You've never been?"

"I think the slang is horrible and I'm not even going to try to understand, but I like the accent." Deke laughed.

Freddy nodded. There was another stretch of awkward silence.

"So, uh," Freddy scratched his head, "at the party, you walked in with a real pretty lady."

Deke furrowed his brow in confusion, then realized who he was talking about. "Oh, that's just Daisy. She's a friend."

Freddy laughed quietly. "Just a friend? You mean she's not your girl?"

Deke shook his head with a smile. "No, Daisy isn't anyones girl."

"That's too bad," Freddys smile sent something through Deke, "I would've thought a handsome guy like you would have girls lined up."

Deke flushed and looked away. "You're really smooth, you know that?"

"I should hope so." Freddy leaned forward and offered the Walkie-Talkie. When Deke took it, their hands brushed. Freddy leaned farther forward and placed his hand on Dekes arm.

The next thing Deke knew, a pair of lips were on his. Something that surprised him very much. The kiss short, but it was hot.

Seconds after it started, it stopped. Freddy pulled back, looking slightly sheepish, leaving Deke red and breathless. "Sorry, I shouldn't have-"

Deke grabbed Freddy by his tie and pulled him in again, capturing his lips in his own. They almost fell back, but Freddy braced his hand on the wall of the car, bringing his other hand up to Dekes hair, still stiff from the gel. Deke hummed and opened his mouth into the kiss, screwing his eyes shut.

Freddy got off his chair and climbed into Dekes lap, straddling his hips, never breaking the kiss in the process. He leaned a little too far forward, and Dekes chain fell back. The two fell to the floor in a crash, and they laughed breathlessly as they lay on the uncomfortable wood. Deke was about to lean up for another kiss, when--

"Hey, are you--?" Mack stood up in a hurry, and stopped dead when he saw the two men on the floor. "Deke!" Freddy pushed himself up and away from Deke.

"Whaaaat?" Deke dragged out the word with a sigh and let his head fall to the floor.

"Hey, if you got a problem with--" Freddy stood up and tried to look threatening, but Mack waved him off.

"I don't care, just don't do that while I'm in the room!" Mack ran a hand down his face.

"Do you want us to jump cars?" Deke sat up shook his head, showing off his messily ruffled hair.

Mack looked away from the two. "Either that or stop."

"It's a box car, there aren't doors on the end you can just jump between." Freddy piped up, fixing his tie.

Mack shook his head and gestured vaguely to the opposite end of the car, walking back to where he dropped his coat and hat.

Deke pushed himself off the floor and offered his hand to Freddy, pulling him behind a stack of boxes that were there before they got on. They both sat on the floor, Freddy with his back to the boxes and Mack, and Deke against the wall.

"So," Freddy started awkwardly, "your friend doesn't mind all . . ." he gestured between the two.

Deke shook his head nonchalantly. "No, he's fine." He smiled jokingly. "He just thinks I'm annoying." The rumble of the train and the slight shaking of the cargo drowned out whatever noise Mack was making, so their hushed voices wouldn't reach him. At Freddys unconvinced expression, Deke gave a more serious answer. "Where we grew up, it was different. It was like a different time," he smiled softly at his own joke, "it wasn't exactly New York City."

"Greatest city in the world." Freddy smiled sadly. "My old man took a walk off a tall building after the market crashed. I'm kinda glad he never found out about this."

"I'm sorry." Deke reached out and placed his hand on Freddys knee, trying to be comforting. "My dad, he . . . he left when I was twelve. Died a few years ago."

Freddy placed his hand on top of Dekes and smiled sadly. Something crossed his face, and he shifted himself forward. "When I make this delivery, come with me."

Deke tilted his head slightly. "What?"

"It's not just whiskey." Freddy whispered excitedly. "There's something else, and when I give it to the buyer, I'm going to get back everything my family lost and more. Come with." He kissed Deke quickly. "We can--"

"Mackenzie . . ." The radio crackled to life. ". . . can you . . . information . . ."

Deke and Freddy quickly stood up and ran around the pile of boxes. Freddy stopped short, staring at his open crates of liquor.

". . . Wilfred . . ." Enochs voice fizzled out as Mack picked up the walkie.

"Enoch, I copy, do you hear me?" Mack waited for a response, but none came. Freddy slowly stepped around Deke and toward his shipment. "Enoch, do you copy? Over."

"What the hell was he doing?" Freddy pointed to the alcohol crates and spoke to Deke. He started rifling through them, making sure everything was there while Mack spoke into the radio. "Wanna tell me why you're snooping through my goods?"

Mack lowered the radio with a sigh, stepping closer to Freddy. "I need to know who and what we're dealing with. You may not think there's more to this, but I do."

Freddy turned back to Deke. "So, was that just to distract me?" His face went from suspicious to angry. "Keep me busy while your friend looks through my cargo?" The last few words grew to a yell and Deke shook his head.

"Just let me inspect the bottles." Mack said calmly.

"And get me killed?" Freddy whipped back around. "I deliver open bottles. What's that say about me? That I'm a snoop?"

"You're not curious?" Mack asked.

"Curious'll get you kill faster than trust." Freddy looked back at Deke as he said that.

"Let's just get him there and be done with it." Deke said to Mack. "It's ripples, not waves, right?"

Mack ignored Deke, instead stepping closer to Freddy. "Step aside."

The two stood in a silent challenge for a moment, then Freddy stepped aside.

"Deke, give me a hand." Mack said and picked up a bottle. Deke hesitated, looking back at Freddy, before slowly following the order.

A gun clicked. "Like I said," Freddys voice was quiet, "I can't let you do that."

"Put the gun down." Mack said evenly.

"You need to listen to Deke, here." Freddy gestured to the man in question with the gun. "Just let me do my job, and we can all go home."

There was a long, excruciating moment of silence. Finally, Freddy stepped back and pointed to two boxes. "Both of you, sit down." His voice was shaking, barely noticeable, but it was there.

Slowly, the three men all sat down. Freddy refused to look at Deke. They sat. Time passes. The sun rose over the horizon. All in silence. All with Freddy pointing that gun.

"Why don't you come clean." Freddy said suddenly, the train still rumbling along the tracks. "You ain't bootleggers, and you definitely ain't from around here."

"Okay, you're right." Deke sat up straighter. "We were sent a very, very, very long way to make sure that you don't die."

"Why?" Freddy asked, leaning forward slightly. "'Cause I'm this 'thread'? What does that even mean?"

"It's complicated," Mack looked up from his hands, "but Deke's right. Our job is to protect you. How do you know your buyer?"

"I know her, the lady who sent me to do this." Freddy gripped the revolver tighter. "She knew my father. And she's giving me a chance to be something he never could." He looked at Deke, then, a question in his eyes. A question of, would you still go with me?

Before Deke could do anything to answer, the whistle ripped through the air and the train car shook. Mack leapt forward, tackling Freddy. The gun fell from his hand, and Deke picked it up.

They brought the crates of alcohol out to the pier. As Mack started looking for whatever was hidden inside, someone spoke from the other end of the radio.

"Mack? Deke?" It was Daisy. "Are you there?"

"Hey, it's Deke." He picked it up and answered.

"Finally. We're on our way to you. You guys have to be ready to leave as soon as we arrive. We have no time. Where's Mack?"

"He's with Freddy." Deke walked a little farther away from the pair, but kept his eyes on them. Freddy spared a glance every now and then.

"Freddy is not what he seems. He is very dangerous."

"Freddy?" Deke turned around and watched the water, squinting against the sun. "Nah, he's alright. He's just in a tight spot. We kind of have a lot in common, actually." Thoughts of the previous night made themselves known in his head.

"No, you don't. Trust me." Daisy cut him off quickly. "Do not let him out of your sight."

"Okay, don't worry." Deke said nervously, looking back at the man in question, who was staring back at him. "I-I got him in my sight and my finger on the trigger."

A beat of silence. "You have a gun?"

"Yeah, it's Freddys."

Another beat. "Take the shot."

Dekes eyes widened and he stared down at the radio. "Pardon?"

"That's Wilfred Malick, future head of Hydra." Daisy said. "If you kill him now, you'll save thousands of lives in the future."

Dekes stomach dropped. He stared down at the gun, not listening to Daisy anymore. He set the radio down and approached the others.

"Mack." Deke said seriously. "They're on their way, and we have to leave as soon as possible."

Mack nodded and popped the cork of one of the bottles, and started pouring. "We'll be ready."

"One more thing." Deke looked at Freddy, then back at Mack. "Daisy says this is Wilfred Malick."

Freddy looked between them. Dekes hesitation and Macks shock. "My name, so what?"

"She told me to kill him." Deke couldn't look at Freddy, not even when he heard the sputtering questions.

Mack thought for multiple seconds, paying no mind to the vial of green liquid that falls out of the bottle in his hand. "She did?"

Deke nodded, glancing at Freddy. He was staring in horror back.

"Watch him." Mack said and walked over to where the radio was set down.

Mack started talking into the radio, and Freddy started talking to Deke.

"My guy's here in a few minutes," Freddy sounded desperate, "we can still go, get everything we want in life."

"Freddy," Deke closed his eyes, "I can't leave my team."

"They want to kill me." Freddy stepped forward and gripped the other man's arm.

"They're my family." Deke hissed. "Would you leave your family on a whim?"

Freddy gripped Dekes hand tightly. "Please, Deke."

He sighed. Then his head jerked up when he heard something. A car. A car with multiple police officers in it.

"Get down!" Deke yelled and fired Freddys gun at the Chronicoms before ducking behind the wooden boxes.

By the end of the fight, Freddy was on his way to creating Hydra, Enoch was gone, and the rest of the team was in 1955.

- - -

"Deke, I gave you an order." Daisy said over without looking up from the file she was reading. "Why didn't you follow it?"

"It was murder." He responded plainly, tossing aside his own file and picking a new one up. "You ordered me to murder a guy who hadn't done anything wrong yet."

"It was a tough call, but--"

"I couldn't do it." Deke cut her off. His cheeks seemed to go slightly pink.

Daisy scoffed. "Why not? You never used to shy away from this kind of stuff."

"Daisy, he kissed me." Deke looked at her and tossed the file down. She froze and looked up. He was definitely flustered, and he looked away as soon as she met his eyes.

"You're serious?" Daisy lowered her voice to a whisper. When his face just got more red, she laughed in disbelief. "Oh, God, you're serious. You made out with the father of the guy who sent your grandparents to a different planet."

"Don't mock me, I'm having a personal crisis!" Deke hissed and glanced at the door to the lab.

"Does Mack know?" Daisy leaned forward. If possible, his face got even more flushed. "I'm so sorry." They went back to reading the files in silence. Suddenly, Daisy spoke again; "So . . . if it was still 2019 and you met Freddy Malick, would you go out with him?"

"Daisy!" Deke pinched the bridge of his nose.

"What?" She glanced up from her file. He was glaring at her. "That's not a no."

Deke groaned and tossed his file aside. "This crisis kind of ongoing, so id you can stop making fun of me--"

"Wait, shut up." Daisy picked up his discarded file and stared at the name. "We can talk more about this later."

"What is it?" Deke leaned over to see what he missed.

"Daniel Sousa."

This man turned out to be important, and they needed to help him. So, Yo-Yo and Deke went out to retrieve a device for Coulson and Sousa.

After the only words exchanged through the otherwise silent car ride were the directions read from a map, Yo-Yo tried to start a conversation. "You're quiet." She pointed out.

Deke tried to play it off as not being an experienced driver, but she could tell he was lying.

"In the 30s, you drove fine." She leveled him with a look. "Is it what Daisy asked you to do?"

Deke sighed an closed his eyes for a second. "A little."

Elena waited. And waited. "And?"

"Promise not to laugh." Deke glanced out the window at the houses. "Daisy laughed and now I just feel worse."

"I promise." Elena glanced at the street map again.

Deke blew a long sigh out of his mouth. "In the 30s, Freddy Malick kissed me." He was met with stunned silence.

"Is that why you didn't shoot him?" Elena asked after a minute. Deke shook his head.

"Not the whole reason." He glanced out the windows again. "He was scared, asked me to go with him to start Hydra. I couldn't shoot him."

Elena sighed and studied the map again. "Is that why Mack is acting weird around you? He caught you two?" Deke nodded wordlessly. "Wow. If you need to . . . talk about it, or something, you can talk to me."

"Thanks." Deke smiled slightly. "How close are we?"

"We . . ." she dragged the word out. "We just passed it."

They split up as soon as they entered the house, searching for whatever briefcase they were supposed to get. Elena drew her gun and walked up the staircase, while Deke explored the ground level.

Deke was walking through one of the bathrooms when he heard a floorboard creak on the other side of the wall. A man stepped into view, and Deke started backing away, searching his pockets for a weapon that wasn't there without taking his eyes off the person in front of him. He should have been more worried about the man behind him.

There was a sharp pain on the back of his head, and Dekes world went sideways and dark.

He woke up to someone slapping him, and he gasped and sat up. He had been lying across the back seat of a car.

"Rise and shine, big brain." One of his assailants said. Deke was seeing starts, and not just because it was night.

He was dragged out of the car and into a large house, to a fancy looking study with a man sitting behind a desk. As soon as the door closed, Deke jerked his arm out of the grip of the men who kidnapped him.

"Here's your scientist, boss." One of them said. The man behind the desk was shrouded in darkness, so Deke couldn't make out his face.

He stood up and slowly made his way around the desk. He stared at Deke for several seconds. "Leave us," he said to the two men behind the guest, "I want to speak to him alone."

This man knew who Deke was, but Deke did not know him. The two men left the room, and now Deke was alone with this stranger.

The man reached out his hand to touch Dekes face. Deke took a step back. He wouldn't flinch, no matter how creepy this got. The man seemed slightly hurt.

"Deke." He knew his name. How did this man know his name? "Take a seat."

"I'll stand, if that's alright with you." Deke tried to sound confident, smoothing out his jacket.

"You look exactly the same." The man chuckled. When Deke didn't laugh along, he frowned. "Do you remember me?"

"Can't say I do, no." But Deke was getting a feeling in his gut that he knew the man in front of him.

"That's fine, it's been a long time." The man unbuttoned his blazer. "The name is Wilfred."

"Freddy . . ." It clicked immediately. This was Hydra.

Freddy smiled. He reached out, grabbed Dekes tie, and pulled him in. Deke did not expect to meet Malick again, and he certainly didn't expect resuming whatever they started in that train car.

The kiss was just as it had been twenty years ago (two days for Deke), hot and short. Deke had no idea what to do. He had to get back to the Zypher, back to the team. But Freddy had him by the back of his neck and was biting his bottom lip.

Freddy moved his hand up until his fingers were tangled in Dekes hair and worked to loosen his tie with the other hand. Malick had a beard now, and way more confidence. Deke tried to pull away, but Freddy just gripped his hair tighter and kissed harder.

Deke gasped from the pain on his scalp, and Freddy took that as an invitation to use tongue.

Dekes tie had been fully undone and tossed aside, and the top buttons on his shirt were next. The encounter had become sufficiently uncomfortable, seeing as he was now more than twenty years younger than the other man. Deke needed to get out before this went any further.

Deke brought his hands up to Malicks chest and pushed. "Freddy," he tried to say, "Freddy, stop." Freddy did not stop, but he slowed down. Deke could finally pull his head fully away. "I can't be here."

Malick sighed and bowed his head, catching both Dekes wrists when he tried to pull his hand away. If he felt Deke flinch, he didn't care, because he didn't let go. "So, you're a S.H.I.E.L.D scientist now?"

"Something like that." Deke said stiffly, trying to free his right hand.

"I'm guessing Agent Sousa told you about his suspicions?" Malick squeezed the other mans wrists tighter.

Deke had never met Daniel Sousa, but he had to play along to get out of this alive. "I guess this is it." He blinked and looked around the room. "Hydra?"

Malick hummed and brought Dekes right hand up to his mouth, kissing it softly. "I can make a spot for you. It's not to late." When he got no answer, he continued. "You saved my life twenty-four years ago. I want to repay you."

"Not like this, Freddy." Deke whispered. "How did your life get here?"

Malick finally let of him. "You do what you gotta do."

Deke remembered those words vividly, it felt like he said those words years ago, and not just days. "I can't be a part of this." He said. "My team--"

Malick scoffed and started rummaging around his desk. "The same team that ordered you to kill me?"

"That was just one persons order." Deke knew what he was about to say was completely stupid, but he said it anyway. "Maybe . . . maybe she knew what you would go on to do."

A gun clicked. The revolver looked so much like the one Malick pointed at Mack and Deke on that train. Deke threw his hands out in front of him, he didn't know what for, though. The gesture was useless.

"You're a smart guy. Start making smart decisions." Malicks voice didn't shake, and neither did his hand, not anymore. "I offered you multiple chances to join me. And you turned down every single one."

"Freddy, please," Deke kept his voice as steady as possible, "put that down." Malick pulled back the hammer. "What happened to wanting to repay me?"

Malick thought on that. Slowly, he lowered the gun. "Fine. Get out." Deke let a relieved smile cross his face, before turning to the door to the study and fumbling with the handle. "One thing before you go." Deke froze. "If I ever see you again, I won't be so generous."

Deke nodded slowly and opened the door.

- - -

Back on the Zypher, Deke was sitting in the lab by himself, rubbing his head where he had been hit. He groaned softly when he touched the wrong spot and his head throbbed with pain again.

Soft footsteps made their way into the dimmed lab. "Do you think you have a concussion?"

Deke squinted up at Yo-Yo and shrugged. "Maybe. He hit me pretty hard."

Elena walked over so she was sitting next to him. She placed a hat on his knee. "You left this behind."

Deke smiled slightly and picked it up. "Thanks."

They sat in silence for a minute, then, "You okay?"

Deke nodded and winced again. "Yeah, I think so."

"So, Malick again?" Elena crossed her arms and leaned against the wall.

"Yeah." Deke sighed. "I don't really want to talk about it."

"Your tie is crooked and your hair is messy." She pointed out. "What happened in there?"

"I said I don't want to talk about it." Deke tried to smooth out his hair but flinched. From the pain of the wound or the memory of Malick, he didn't know.

"Deke, did you and him--?"

"I didn't want to!" Deke said suddenly, refusing to look at her. "But he . . . he wouldn't stop."

Elena stared in shock. "He forced himself on you?"

It took a moment, but Deke nodded. "It didn't go that far, but," he sighed, "it was really uncomfortable."

Elena hesitantly brought her hand up and placed it on his. "I'm sorry." She said quietly. "That's messed up."

"At least he let me go." Deke rubbed his eyes. "He said he wouldn't be so generous next time he sees me."

"That's still not okay." Elena frowned. "You're lucky he didn't kill you."

Deke held his right wrist in his left hand, as if protecting himself. "It felt so . . . wrong." He whispered. "He wouldn't let go of me, and he grabbed right where my metric was."

Elena looked down at where hers would have been, but there was no scar. Those arms were long gone. Instead, she wrapped her new arms around Deke, her friend. They hadn't been close before, but she was willing to change that.

"You'll be okay." She told him. "What's that thing Jemma always says?"

Deke huffed out a laugh and returned the hug the best he could in their awkward position. "The steps you take don't have to be big, they just have to take you in the right direction."

#high class writing #deke shaw #elena rodriguez #daisy johnson #alphonso mack mackenzie #freke #agents of shield #asks

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idga-buck · 4 years

Text

use somebody || six

pairing: harry x plus-size!reader

word count: 2,700

warnings: mentions of sex, douchebaggery, and shitty attitudes toward women

summary: this thing with harry is about to take a turn as long as his friends don’t get into his head

challenge: @baezen‘s the Other Guys Writing Challenge

gif: @sebastiansource (I know it’s TJ, okay? There is 9 minutes worth of Harry in Spread and not a lot of gifs to back it up, so suspend your disbelief)

Back in the Present

“Marissa’s pissed at me, so-“

“Maritza,” Harry corrected mindlessly and Nikki waved him off.

“Whatever… I’ll be over,” he looked around the open aired dance floor for a few seconds before selecting a hiding space, giant smirk on his face. “there.” Harry didn’t bother looking. “Don’t let them get too close.”

“Sure, man, just-“ Harry didn’t have to finish his sarcastic drone before the last of his friends had disappeared between writhing bodies. He was avoiding a woman he exploited and Harry had no moral obligations to help Nikki stay invisible so he could keep playing his dangerous game. Finding wealthy women and using them for sex and a comfortable place to stay as long as the sex was still good. It wasn’t the most honorable living, but the guy hadn’t fallen into the six figure modeling contract he expected when he stepped off the bus from Kansas. “Sorry, Dorothy,” Harry scoffed.

“Dorothy…” your voice had Harry scrambling to find you behind him, relieved to see your face and to see you in a good mood. “How many girls you got on the hook, Harry?” You were teasing him and he would welcome that on any holy or unholy day.

“Just enough,” he responded, taking hold of your arm and shuffling himself closer to you rather than pulling you towards him.

“I’ll bet,” you laughed and he felt the overwhelming urge to kiss you right then. He probably would have too, if Marcus with his beautiful dark skin and his velvety voice hadn’t slid in just to disrupt him. He started to introduce himself, but Harry jumped in, speaking over his friend and reclaiming the power position as he made short and meaningless introductions for you. You smiled, but took a step toward Harry and it didn’t go unnoticed by either man. Harry tossed his arm around your shoulders proudly, more than pleased with the impressed smirk on Marcus’ perfect face.

Another voice jumped into the fray, pulling your attention, as your friend Maritza came barreling through the crowd, visibly upset. She’d just seen Nikki’s ass hanging out over his jeans while pinning someone new to the side of a jacuzzi tub and was making no efforts to hide his sluttiness from the strangers around her. You shrugged and let her pull you away from the men, sympathizing as best you could, but Harry could tell you were as annoyed by the situation as he was. Like middle school, but worse. Horny Patron soaked middle schoolers.

“So,” Marcus crossed arms and nodded to where you’d disappeared, knowing smile on his face. You don’t know anything.

“Shut up,” Harry grumbled without letting his friend speak and turned away to find the bar, unfortunately finding Nikki in the process.

“Hey, have you seen-“

“Yeah,” Marcus laughed. “And she’s pissed.”

“She’s always pissed at stupid shit,” Nikki insisted while stripping off his sweater in the middle of the party to flip it right side out again. In true Nikki fashion, he took his time doing so, pausing to wink at a couple girls caught ogling him. Classy.

“Because that’s what you do,” Harry pointed out. “Stupid shit. I mean, this is a new record. Kicked out in a week?”

“Three,” Nikki corrected, making Marcus laugh and clap him on the back of the head.

“So who’s next, Don Juan, got yourself another pretty woman in need of her own Julia Roberts?” Marcus probed, wiggling his eyebrows while he surveyed the party scene as if looking for clues.

“I thought Julia Roberts was Pretty Woman,” Nikki tried to defend himself.

“Yeah,” Harry piped up, “but you’re the whore.” Nikki’s very fake laugh was aggressive, but not as loud as Marcus’ real one. Soon their attention was turned to Harry, whose sudden silence was easily noted.

You’d emerged from whatever corner Maritza had you in and without your friend in distress, Harry was ready to get back to you.

“Harry’s the one with a mark,” Nikki teased, clicking his tongue against the inside of his teeth and Harry wanted to punch him for it. “Hear she’s got expensive taste though.”

“It’s not like that,” Harry insisted.

“It should be,” Nikki’s hand on his shoulder, stopping him as he tried to leave. “I wouldn’t roll around with all that, but-“

“Hey, now!” Marcus was quick to smack Nikki at the base of his skull.

“Shut up,” Harry snapped, but even Marcus came to your defense and he was pleased. Not all the guys he hung out with were terrible. It made him feel less terrible too.

“I’m serious man,” Nikki urged again, rubbing the back of his head and ignoring everything else. “She could buy out Marissa-“ there was no point in correcting him again. “Like that,” Nikki snapped his fingers and laid his hand on Harry’s chest, like they were having a heart to heart. “Play your cards right,” Harry shook his head no. “Think about it. Quit the job you hate, get a nicer place, import another Bolivian tree frog or whatever you’re into-” What an ass. Harry threw his arms up to shove Nikki away, but the wannabe model persisted. “Seal the deal, man, girls like that…” he shook his head and Harry frowned at it. “She’d be lucky to have a face like this wanting her,” Harry pulled away but Nikki was quicker, shooting up a hand to cup his jaw and squeeze his cheeks.

“I’m out of here.” He pushed past his friends, ignoring the continued encouragement and annoying conversation as he slipped through the crowd. He knew where to find something better. And a much better ending to his night if everything went well. He wanted to talk to you again, hang out again. He definitely wanted to kiss you again. More if you’d allow it.

You looked happy to see him and after three random encounters that always left his chest feeling heavy and his pants feeling betrayed, it was really all he could ask for. After informing him that his friend was a tool, to which Harry emphatically agreed, you two lingered on the topic of their short lived relationship. He’d seen you at her place a couple times over the course of Nikki’s scam and despite the messy ending, he was thankful to have had those chances to get even closer to you.

Once you were stretched out on the couch, making yourself at home, when the couple in question got into a fight that led them into another room for some screaming followed by loud make up sex. Harry stumbled upon the scene accidentally, but was driven directly into your side without hesitating. You laid next to each other on the ridiculously deep modular sectional, heads meeting in the corner of the L shape with your legs tossed out perpendicular to each other. He mimicked an awkward grunting noise that made you laugh and you responded with an exaggerated sigh that was pornographic on all counts, he had the semi to prove it. Not wanting to act on it in the middle of a stranger’s giant sunken living room, Harry laughed it off. Soon both of you were moaning loudly and obnoxiously in the hopes of embarrassing your friends into finishing quickly, but it didn’t work. Your stomachs ached, full with laughter, and soon enough, you -inspired by elation and the gentle warmth of amusement- had rolled over to kiss Harry right there. Without pausing to question the gift, he grabbed at the back of your neck and tried to maneuver his body under yours, but slid off the sofa as a result of his wiggling. You giggled at him and stayed on the cushions above him, while he stayed seated on the floor, leaning back into the corner of the sectional to kiss you again. It was slower and more focused than before and soon both of you were lost in it. By the time Nikki and Maritza emerged from whatever sex closet they’d just destroyed, your hand was under his zipper, rubbing him gently over his boxers. Harry had murder in his eyes when you jumped back, pulling away your wet lips and soft hand at the sound of their vengeful moaning- returning the favor for their friends at the worst possible moment.

The next was a dinner, small and remarkably classy for a shit like Nikki to pull off. Over cheese plates and fruit bowls and wine he’d probably never get again, Harry got to know the people in your circle better. They all smelled like money and he smelled like the CK One his grandmother sent him two Christmases ago. It was cheap next to them, but again your presence pulled him out of the sense that he didn’t belong. Your dry humor and willingness to call someone out for being ridiculous was the best part of the night. At least until he found you just outside the bathroom and pushed you back in for a moment alone. He kissed you hard and eager and your fingers curled around the embroidery on the front of his best shirt. You stayed like that, hushing each other as he pushed your dress up over your thick thighs until someone knocked and Harry’s fingers froze between your legs. In a moment of teasing bravery, he pushed hard against you, hoping his fingers would land in the vicinity of something good. Mid sentence, asking whoever it was for a few more minutes, you gasped and dug your nails into the back of his neck. Found it. The interruption left, but the moment was quickly closing in around him. Are we doing this? He’d asked hopefully. Not here. You were pulled out of dinner early by a phone call and Harry kicked his tires when he finally left, the night taking a swift nosedive after you were gone.

Harry would have liked to revisit that moment or any of the ones before it. Talk about going somewhere private so as not to be interrupted like usual. But you were too annoyed at your friends’ naivety and he let you vent. It sounded like you’d seen it happen to more than one of your friends and he was just thankful they weren’t all with Nikki. He was sure it would kill his chances, just by association. A cute guy with nothing, but his smile, charms his way into a big open floor plan and a cozy bed. After a couple months of endless sex and pricey accommodations, feeling like the real California king and not having to worry for anything, he’d find some extracurricular activities and engage until he was caught. Your friends were the ones left to foot the bill, emotionally and physically. You calmed yourself down quickly and apologized for shitting on his friend. Harry said it was fine and he meant it.

He liked you. It was simple enough. He liked talking to you, liked imagining what it would be like to get you naked again. You made him laugh and made him nervous in ways he didn’t expect. He’d really liked kissing you and while admittedly not great at reading women, he’d bet you liked kissing him too. It was sort of a risky move, but he didn’t have any others so when you didn’t turn down the friendly hug he went in for, he swallowed the minuscule amount of pride he had left. Go for broke.

“Is your house ready?”

“Ready for what?” You laughed, pulling out of the hug, but keeping on hand on his ribs. If it was an attempt to keep him at arm's length, it backfired. He loved the feeling of you touching him so freely. You looked surprised that he recalling all the work being done and he hoped it sounded sincere, not creepy.

Harry recited what he remembered. Taking you back to a hotel, not your house. Then later, the first time you reconnected post awkward morning jilting, Harry had taken you back to a friend’s place. He also learned it was because a pipe burst in your master bathroom. After fighting and winning a drawn out claim with your insurance company, you’d been staying with Sherrie while you waited for fresh plumbing and new hardwood floors. When the damage had professionals tearing into your walls anyways, you jumped at the opportunity for a fresh layout and knocked down the wall between your kitchen and the rest of the house. That old college friend, Darius, offered up his kitchen as inspiration for the redesign and that was how Harry found you again. Over an expensive meal, he realized exactly how picky you were when it came to kitchens and he listened intently to everything wrong with your friend’s. Too commercial. Too impersonal. The soul of the home shouldn’t look like that. Harry offered the only plausible conclusion. Your friend Darius was a vampire, soulless and in need of many easy to clean surfaces. For the blood, of course. You’d been frozen in the warm candlelight and the seconds you took to process his joke felt like hours, but when you finally broke out into a laugh, a big one, Harry felt like he’d won a gold medal.

You were still listening to him go on with details from your own life, but he was running out. At least you weren’t running away.

“You remember all that?” You asked and Harry nodded, more than a little proud of himself.

“I listen,” he shrugged like it was nothing, but it wasn’t nothing. He had selective hearing, especially when it came to women. A habit he’d resigned himself to never breaking and always having to play catch up in a conversation. That’s how they ended up in arguments and how he was left looking dumb, nothing to say to someone who -to his knowledge- hadn’t said anything that required memorization. But he was really trying with you. Maybe the sting of a recent break up and her cruel words about his cavalier attitude had spurred him on. Being compared to his buddy, Nikki, was the nail in the coffin. He was trying to do better, be better. You were the first person to test his new efforts on and as he shamelessly glanced down to your chest, he didn’t mind the position he was in. “You’re easy to listen to,” he added and it felt more like the truth. You had a natural way about you and it made him feel like you were close friends after only just meeting. He felt it at Taix too, where it should have been awkward and stilted platitudes, stale get to know you questions. It wasn’t like that. He didn’t even know what you did for work, but he knew it had to be good money and that he’d call you if he ever got into a fight with his landlord. You seemed able to pull the best out of people without backing down or letting them walk all over you. It was hot. And sweet. Just like you.

The party was still ongoing and somewhere in the back of his mind, Harry registered that Garrett’s accent had slipped from some heavy northern english brogue into something offensively resembling Jamaican. He wasn’t bothered at his friend’s proximity and had no desire to look for them. Not when your hand was still on his ribs, absentmindedly thumbing the space just below his nipple. Your touch was both grounding and incredibly distracting. It took a lot of effort not to sound too eager when he asked to see the changes in your home. He had no idea what it looked like before, but he was very invested in this renovation project and was dying to see the results. He’d even ask for a tour of the whole place… stay too late, maybe pour a drink like he’d been there a hundred times just to make you laugh at him again. You were visibly thinking, milling the idea around while his hands slipped to your shoulders, thumbs resting against your collarbone.

He took his time leaning in, but when your fingers dipped under the waist of his jeans to pull him in closer he lost all restraint. Kissing you was way too good and if you said no now, Harry thought he might die. It’d been years since a girls lips got to him like this. The first wasn’t enough. Not he was being driven mad by all the build up, the accidental run ins, the inside jokes. He felt like a teenager again content to make out until his lips turned blue, terrified of what came next and whether or not he would be any good at it. You’d pulled away again and looked up with him, some unreadable glance that had him on pins and needles awaiting the final blow.

“Wanna get out of here?” you smiled suggestively.

And that gold medal feeling was back.

#use somebody #harry x reader #plus size!reader #sorry to all the hp blogs that get diverted to this shit show #sebastian stan character fic #sebastian stan imagine #sebastian stan characters #sebastian stan fanfiction #nerdy frog dad #you are a sensitive guy #togwc #the other guys writing challenge #baezen

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full-course-identity · 4 years

Note

Give me your thoughts on uuuh Jake

wew boy

okay. gonna word dump this, and probably other interpretation asks, so I can get the words out there.

from my POV, there’s 3 types of canon Jake + 1 fanon vers + my personal interpretation. lemme explain what they are;

Book Jake, who I don’t have enough experience with bc I STILL haven’t finished the book… >_>;

2River Jake, who is kinda oblivious and very in-the-moment impulsive (not so bad he’s jumping place to place ADHD like Rich, but like, not considering that maybe dropping everything to seduce Madeline or Christine is a bad idea when he clearly really likes Chloe). these are debatably survival mechanisms bc of his family (and wealth, if you want to go into the “being rich actually traumatizes you and locks you into dissociation” theory–but to be fair, this is partially reliant on thinking Jake is Genuinely Rich. … well, not Rich as in… yeah); ignoring any pain he feels in favor of getting dicked down and forgetting about everything for a while. very “I’m not sad, I’m busy!!!!!”

Bway (possibly the new canon general for all Jakes since it sounds like London’s is modeled after him but just… toned down), who is still oblivious, but towards other people’s emotions instead of himself; he’s manipulative, a little impulsive but a lot more malicious about it, and he knows exactly how hurt he is about his parents. this jake’s awareness of himself makes him act worse because he knows this is the only thing that seems to help and it’s basically the only thing he actually has control of. his wealthiness is undeniably present and Bad here because the reason taking what he wants and not caring that it hurts people is his main coping skill is pretty much only because he’s been allowed that privilege all his life. i tend to think this version of him should be done by a white cishet dude (despite jake’s actor on bway being genuinely FANTASTIC) bc being marginalized in a high school should’ve curved a lot of the “endless power and privilege” he gets for being rich (Not That One).

[i… think this jake has ‘better’/more nuanced writing in BWay… but i don’t think it fits the musical nor is it the overall direction i think it should’ve gone. BMC feels best to me when there’s a heavier element of Dark Humor that briefly nods to a Larger and more Fucked Up world behind the bit we see in the musical. making it largely a twisted comedy, maybe even ramping that up further with more whiplash lines like jake’s “which means the house is empty, so that’s fun”]

Fanon Jake is… like most of the fanon characters in BMC, a bit… “bipolar” (like, radically shifting depending on the situation). the BMC fandom has been born with heavy engagement from minors in the current fascist climate of fandom as a whole. as a result, you have three general uses of jake that as “approved of” by somehow the exact same people despite being conflicting in a lot of ways. THIS IS NOT ME SHITTING ON FANON, i actually think most of this fandom is just a casual romp for most people and that shouldn’t be snatched away from them nor mocked nor treated like you HAVE to be logically consistent when this is just a fun hobby for most… but there are still trends i notice:

1: Jake the sweet bi disaster who loves their significant other and is just a little bit hopeless in their silliness and Down For Whatever-esque personality. this is often used for shippy pictures and memes and cute little oneshots, plus, of course, fluff.

2: Jake the tragic abuse victim who is extremely sad and has to learn to love again and has always been selfless, plus or minus a permanent disability post-fire. this is of course used for hurt/comfort, plus in combination kinda with michael in the bathroom-esque posts and tragic art, often also used as an example of the squip being the worst for jeremy or rich guilt trauma. also: aesthetic and moodboard posts.

3: the one I have the least good will towards: Jake the “why does everybody woobify mlm? You can’t portray him without flaws! queer boys aren’t your fetish!!!” with an attached, clunkily written reasons why he was an asshole that is also simultaneously watered down so you don’t think he’s a Monster bc then you’d be vilifying queer men (well, more like they’d feel bad about their cutesy-er ‘emotional support’ art and writing which is Totally Different from all the other cutesy emotional support art and writing).

basically, Meta Trying To Make Jake Reasonably Flawed But Not Evil in this fandom is RARELY genuine–it’s more often than not moralistic hand-wringing made so that they can wash themselves of the guilt for actually enjoying something with a character they portray as mlm, or otherwise the guilt of enjoying anything romantic or sexual involving men or queer people period when we’re apparently not supposed to do that anymore, as decreed by the radfems infesting our spaces.

and, well, or you’re an mlm writing this post, you’re probably young and still feeling extremely sensitive and scared about your identity. i once saw a very wise post by a trans person who had been trans for a long time, who said that when you first come out as trans (or queer in general, but especially trans people who are beginning social or physical transition and coming to terms with themselves) you are obvs on High Fucking Alert and so you’re insecure and scared of anything, ranging from “obvious transphobia” to “just trans people enjoying themselves and exploring transphobia in fiction or else their own sexuality”. again, this can relate to a lot of identities tbh, and as such young mlm either cis or trans can get very Itchy about people enjoying mlm content.

anyway.

wrapping it back around to me: i edit jake on a case by case basis (sometimes i even make him eviler or meaner based on what’s set up during Bway, he’s just not my usual go-to villain), but i tend to think of him as a tragic Mr. Peanutbutter-y sweetheart who kinda knows he feels like shit yet also knows that if he stops to assess it, it would make his life a lot harder in a time where he can’t afford that. his relationship with chloe is extremely toxic (chloe abuses him horribly, specifically), and so he tries to claw his way out of it only to be continually back in by chloe and her bullshit.

this is why he doesn’t really get... well. he genuinely thought the thing with christine was going to be permanent; he wasn’t jerking her around, he thought he was over chloe and wanted a girl as cool and fun and genuinely nice as her. afterward he Gets It, and so feels Really Bad--at a time where he doesn’t have his house, his legs are broken (i don’t tend to put him in a perma-wheelchair), his parents have abandoned him, and he best friend is in the hospital. guilt crashes in on him from all sides, and he just has to... pretend it isn’t, even as he can no longer stop himself from thinking about it.

if i was to do a jake focused story, it’d probably be a dating sim where you play as him and watch his life change in conjunction with his attempts to find happiness again; you can either choose decisions that help him greatly or ruin his life so ver much... hmm. lets file that under hashtag “story ideas i’ll never use even though they could be great”

to wrap this up: i like jake. i don’t... really enjoy most of the written content (fanfic, meta, sometimes even the storylines on ask blogs) in this fandom about him or... really, most of the characters, which i feel bad about--i’d enjoy it more if it was every in conjunction with my usual Wants in a fic, which is, like. extreme angst.

BUT

i do still like jake, and i can super enjoy his portrayal in memes and visual art

he’s just not my total fave, but like, the reason he tends not to come up a lot in my content is more what i’m focusing on and why. i’d be happy to use him in stories if his presence fit.

as a bonus

here’s the ships i’m happy to use him for, generally: deere, michael/jake, brooke/jake, toxic chloe/jake, and of course, different ocs/jake

his identities/labels: cis, bisexual/romantic... tho sometimes i actually go for bisexual and aromantic! outside bway and eviler jakes, i’m good with him being any race, and even then it’s just a matter of suspending disbelief re: privilege theory. also, PTSD probably, and maybe generalized anxiety as a result. maaaaaybe autistic too? adhd would be a hard sell for me since he seems super put together in a way that’d be extremely difficult for every form of adhd, but i can see him being neurodivergent on the spectrum + like dyslexia maybe. oh, and i sorta-kinda think he may be color blind? but really i’d drop that at a moment’s notice if it’d be easier to write him without it lol.

his interests: one is more or less sports in general, tho i think that, unless he went straight for track or swimming or something Olympics (which he probably can’t do now...), that’s a high school or some college only focus for him. so, besides sports, i think he’d kinda like the satisfaction and steady growth of Collecting Rare Things That You Have To Look For, like cool rocks, bugs, etc.

as for careers... some form of doctor something, maybe a businessman of some sort but he’d likely try to curve his power in that field as much as possible; he inherits his parents' assets and company or whatever, but he probably takes a backseat to that and only really has it out of a sense of ‘it’s my job as my parent’s kid to keep the company going--without engaging in the same awful legal issues they did--for as long as i can’. one of my fave jake-is-there stories, vanceypant’s spicy bis-focused fic 1999, has him owning a restaurant, and that was cool as hell.

also jake loves dogs. especially golden retrievers. yes.

#be more chill #bmc #jake dillinger #kadabralin #bmc meta #meta #character interpretations #wow this... is long #holy shit sorry about that

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kiligaus · 5 years

Text

Better With You

Summary

Y/n a great ballet dancer, Jihoon an amazing hip hop dancer. Both are on their school's dance team, and both are top tier dancers. Except, Jihoon HATES the sight of Y/n and vice versa. The two can't stand being in the same room with each other until they are forced to. The next school dance competition is coming, and both were forced to compete as a duet. Oh, did I mention their both total opposites?

Genre: Fluff

Warnings: Cursing

Word count: 2.5k

moodboard // twt profiles // Part 1 //

I was packing my dance bag when suddenly I was knocked over from behind. Already knew who the culprit was, so I took my pointe shoe and launched it in the direction of where that person was walking. Just barely missing his head. “PARK JIHOON! WHY DON'T YOU WATCH WHERE YOU'RE WALKING NEXT TIME!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. I hated this guy, he’s so fricking cocky. He really thinks he's the best when he REALLY isn’t. There are way more talented people on the team.

Jihoon then picked up my shoe, dug his heel into the ground and turned to face me. Then suddenly he threw my shoe right back at me, hitting me in the arm. “WHY DON'T YOU, LEARN WHERE TO PROPERLY PUT YOUR SHOE!” He hissed. “Why don't you WATCH where your throwing.” I walked up to the boy with slightly damp hair, indicating he just came from practice. I took him by the collar and yanked him closer to my face, while he mirrored me. “Jihoon!” “Y/n!”

Suddenly, my younger brother Yeongue, my best friend Yeorum, Yedam and Yoonbin; Jihoons friends came to pull us apart. “Sis, stop not here..” Yeongue pleaded. “He's right Y/n, come let's go,” Yeoreum added. “But HE started it.” I whined. “I started, more like YOU started it.” Jihoon scoffed. “Dude come let's go….” Yoonbin pulls Jihoon towards the exit.

Suddenly the tall boy broke away from his friends, coming at me with hands ready to be thrown. While I did the same. As our friends scramble to break us up.

~~~~~~~

“Mr. Park, Ms. Kim. You know why I’ve called you both here today, right?” Silence. “If it were up to me I would have you both suspended.” He sighs. Both of us tense up. I tightened my grip on my pants when suddenly I felt a hand over mine. I take a peek under the table, it was Jihoons. I glance over at the boy next to me, he didn't seem phased at all, eyes were focused on the principle. “But, since you guys are apart of our beloved dance team, so I won't. Instead, you must compete as a duet in the upcoming competition.”

Our eyes shot open. By this time Jihoon lets go of my hand. “B-but Mr. Yang I can't work with her, she's a complete snob.” “And I can't work with him he's way to cocky.” “Well, guess you have to make due. You two are dismissed.” He bluntly states, leaving both of us in complete utter shock. I can't believe this actually happening.

Both of us exited the principal's office.

I sprinted to the dance room, bursting into our dance captains office, Jihoon shortly trailing in after. “Herin, PLEASE tell me you’ll talk to the principal and convince him to pull me out of this duet” I whine. “This isn’t fair she’s too uptight to work with.” Jihoon shoots his hand up pointing towards me, pouting. “Hey!!”

“I was the one who suggested it.” She said nonchalantly. Our jaws fell open. I can't believe she would suggest such a thing.

“HERIN!” “I am aware that both of you hate each other, but I am also aware that both of you are the best dancers this school has. And with both of you competing, I am positive we can secure a win. And I also know both of you will do anything to win, am I right.” She clasps her hands together.

“Yes….” We mumble. “Glad I made my reason clear.” Jihoon leaves her office first, clearly resentful to the idea. Why of all days, why now why do this me, what have I done. Besides the fact, I fight with him all the time. I hated the idea of having to work him, our styles, so different how would this duet work? How would we work?

“Y/n.” I turned around. “Yes, Herin?” “I know you don't like this idea but, believe me, working with him will make you a stronger dancer.” Herin puts a hand on my shoulder. “Yeah, right.” I say sarcastically brushing her hand off and walking out of her office.

“They'll thank me later.”

~~~~~~

I walk back into the change room, as I forgot to pick up the pointe shoe that Jihoon chucked back at me when I hear pop music coming from one of the smaller dance rooms.

I decided to sneak a peek at who was dancing in the room. So I tiptoed my way to the door frame and opened the door enough for me to see who was dancing. To my surprise, it was none other than Jihoon.

I stand there watching his every move, every turn, and every facial expression. This was my first time to see him dance, well not first time but you know what I mean. His movements were so strong, so fluid, filled with so much emotion. I have to admit, he was good. No extremely good, I guess he is worthy of “the best dancer” title.

I stood there for what seems like forever until he was finished his set. Sweat drops forming on his forehead, his dark hair, damp from the sweat. He stood there trying to catch his breath. Dare I say, he kinda looks good. None the less he really was an amazing dancer.

“Cat got your tongue?” A voice spoke. “W-what the fuck- no. I was just passing by.” Lie. It was Yoonbin one of Jihoons friends. “Hmm, sure. Jihoon is a good dancer, ya know.” Yes, he was. “I mean, he could use more work but.” “Yoonbin? I that you? Whos there?” It was Jihoon, I can't let him find me here. “Shit, I wasn't here, got it?” I glare at Yoonbin. With that, I hid behind one of the lockers.

I peek behind to see what was happening. Jihoon walks out of the room, running his hands through his dark locks. “Was there someone with you.” He looks around the room. “Nope, just me.” Thank god. “I saw your dance, powerful as always.” Yoonbin complements. “Thanks, Bin just getting my anger out.” “Hmm?” “Y/n and I are the duet for the competition, by force.” He sighs. “Hey, at least your working with one of the best.” He pats is back. “Sure. Make sure your movements are sharp. AGAIN.” He mocks. First of all, I do not sound like that. Second of all, he isn't the only one sulking about this. But we need to suck it up for the sake of the team.

~~~~~~

“So noona, what happened in there.” My brother questions. “I'd rather not say.” “Oh come on, I'm sure it isn't something bad.” He pesters. “If you call, me and Jihoon the duet for the competition, “not bad” then I have no clue what is.” I complain. Silence. I turn to face my brother. His mouth agape. “What?’’ “ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS, MY SISTER AND HER SWORN ENEMY, IN THE SAME DUET. WE’RE DOOMED. THERE GOES OUR WIN!” He whines. I could not believe what just unfolded in front of me. “Listen here you brat, I’m sure the both of us can find a way to work things out.” I say with no confidence in my voice what so ever.

“Hmm, sure.” Yeongue crosses his arm. I smack him in the head lightly. “Come on, let's get home before I beat your ass.” “What!?! What did I do?” He whines. “Everything, that's what you did.” “Hmph…. What's for dinner.” “We’ll see.”

~~~~~~

I was sitting at my desk doing my homework when I heard my text tone went off.

‘Y/n, I have a good feeling there is no way we can get out of this, meet me at the studio at XXXX address, so we can TRY to work on this. -jihoon’

I didn't want to deal with this at the moment. So I simply ignored it.

‘Ik you saw this Y/n as much as I don't wanna work with you, the captain is right I will do will anything to win. Ik you would do anything too, so pls’

‘Ps I got ur number from ur bro:)’

I ran my hand through my hair and responded.

‘What if I said no?:)’

‘Come on Y/n… don't you wanna win?’

‘...fine as long as you pick me up’

‘Fuck no.’

‘Then consider this duet, through’

I saw the familiar three dots appear, signaling that he was thinking about it

‘Fine, be ready in 15’

‘XXX, the address’

I leaned back in my chair and sighed. I can not believe this is actually happening. I gathered the rest of my pride to get my stuff together. I packed my bag with pointe shoes, got dressed and headed downstairs. “And where are you going?” Yeongue questioned. “None of you business traitor.” I glared plopping on the couch. “I literally breathed what did I do?” “You gave him my number that's what you did” “Huh, oh what was I supposed to do? Say “Sorry, she doesn't have a phone” When ur literally on it 25/8.” He talks back.

“And where did you learn that sass from?” I question. “Learned from the best.” He makes a face at me. I return the favor.

My phone rings.

“I'm, outside come out loser.”

“Whatever.”

I hung up the phone. “Call me when mom gets home, or if she doesn't, kay.” “Yup, now be nice.” He mocks. “I am.”

I head out the door. And I come face to face with Jihoon and his Audi. “Get in.” He demands. And I comply. The whole ride there was silence. This was the first he and I have been alone together, not counting the times we were in detention. I sat there silently in the passenger seat looking out the window. While looking out the window I remembered, how Jihoon had his hand over mine in the principal's office.

“So.” I started. “Back in the office, uhh why did you hold my hand?” I look over to the boy who was driving the Audi, eyes focused on the road. “Hmm, I thought, Mr. Yang would notice and go easy on us, but as you can see that didn't happen.” He sighs. I scoff in disbelief. “In short, you attempted to use me to get out of there, fucking selfish. “Hey, in my defense you also did not want to be there.”

There goes my attempt at holding a conversation. All he cares about is himself, no one else. I can't believe I’m actually complying to this. With that, the rest of the car ride there was in silence.

~~~~~~

At the studio

“We’re here.” I get out of the car. Wow, this place is amazing. I look at the building standing in front of me in awe. Jihoon and I enter through the full glass entrance with matching doors to go with it. And came face to the modernized lobby. Jihoon went to the front desk to ask if there was a dance studio available for us to use, giving me time to look around.

I walk around and look at all of the amazing dancers in the paintings that were hung in the lobby. One day I’ll be just like them, just wait and see. “Loser!” Jihoon yells pulling me back into reality. “One day I’ll be just like them.” That's what I said. “Pfft, in your dreams.” I humor. He pushes me causing me to stumble backward.

“Anyways I got us a room.” “Sweet.” Jihoon guides me up the stairs and into the dance studio he managed to get us. “How you even know about this place? I mean like it's like so high class.” I questioned, attempting at another conversation. “Cousin works here. Get changed there's a change room over there.” He bluntly states and heads towards the guys change room. Nice going Y/n, if you can't hold a conversation with him how can you even dance with him. I go grab my stuff and get changed.

I exited the change room wearing my leggings and loose crop top with my sports bra under and my pointe shoes on of course. I walked back into the dance studio where Jihoon was already warming up.

He was wearing a plain white shirt and grey Nike sweats. “So, I was thinking we go with a ballad song, like this.” I say pulling out my phone. “Uhh, here's what we’re not gonna do, we are going to an energetic piece.” “Uhh, how bout not. I don't DO energetic.” I say. “And I don't DO ballad songs. We glare at each other. This is the exact reason why I did not to work with him, he never listens to me.

He puts on a song over the speakers. “Dance, we’ll see what fits and what doesn’t.” He suggests. I raised my hands in the air and back off to the other side of the studio.

I started to dance, he did too. Anyone could tell that our styles did not mesh. Suddenly Jihoon bumped into me for like the 100th time today, I looked over at him and he just smirked. This bastard, if he wants to go let's go.

I walk over to him and shoved him, and signaled him to bring it on. And he did pulling off his best moves in order to out dance me, oh I was not going to let him beat me. He stopped dancing indicating it was my turn, I took this opportunity to pirouette towards him backing him out of my space. I pulled my sharpest moves, even throwing some flips that Yeorum taught me, all going to the song of course. The suddenly Jihoon joined in. Both of us battling to see who was better, but it was clearly both of us were tied went it came to the technique, but neither of was wanted to admit it.

“THAT'S IT! I had enough, we aren't going anywhere! All we’ve done is compete! We are not going to get anywhere!” I yelled. “It's your fault, you got in my way!” He huffs. “I did not you bumped into me!” “Hah, funny I’m totally laughing right now.” “If you would just listen to me, we would probably be down!” I scream.

“Not everything is about you! I can't help that you can’t let loose!” Jihoon yells out. That's it he drew the line I’m out. I can’t work with this BS. I grabbed my bag and shoes and left the studio. “And where do you think you're going?” Jihoon follows me out. “Home.” I deadpanned.

“We just got here, you can't leave.” “Just watch me try.” I stormed down the stairs and left the place. I can’t believe that he said that, he's spouting complete and utter bullshit. I walked outside, then walked back Jihoon. “Drive me home.”

(a/n sksks this the first time im letting the world see my writing, dw im planning to get better,, ignore the mistakes ive made in the story. part 2 will be out soon <3 luv yall please continue to support)

#ygtb #ygtb fluff #ygtb imagines #ygtb au #ygtb jihoon #ygtb yoonbin #ygtb yedam #ygtb yeongue #yg treasure box #treasure box #treasure13 #treasure box scenarios #kpop #kpop fic #kpop fluff #kpop imagines #kpop au #ygtb fake texts #better with you fic

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a-roomba · 4 years

Text

Petty Thief

Matt had been fairly productive that day. Something about parties made him like that. The beautiful people, the great conversation, there was this air of elegance not usually found in ‘middle of nowhere’ type resorts. Most days in a hotel lobby there would be a something a little oppressive hanging in the air; something about the knowledge that your holiday would end soon enough bothered people. But every so often, some snarky Wall Street wannabe would get bored of swimming in gold or feasting on swans, or whatever the insanely wealthy did, and then it came time to throw a party.

This one was supposedly an annual affair. Matt wouldn’t know himself, since this was his first visit. Perhaps he’d return if this trip proved profitable. Not too soon, though. He liked to be careful. A good trait in a thief. Regrettably, he would have to pass on next year, even if that lovely lady at the reception was true to her word and kept him a room aside. Coming back too often was likely to get him arrested, and that meant prison- especially once they connected the dots and found how much he had... ‘liberated' from bigshots over the years.

One of the newcomers running this was a fresh face for him. Spencer Baldwin, some douchebag who got rich buying shares in technology companies and would never have to worry about where his next yacht was coming from ever again. The one next to him on the flyer was worrying, though. Hayden Ross made a name for himself running a law firm for fellow rich douches to put guys like Matt in prison for a very long time, and Matt had made it a point to stay very much off his radar. If there was one thing that would probably get a case brought against him, it would be stealing from anyone Ross cared about- or rather, acknowledged the existence of. So if Ross got a new drinking buddy, they were safe...for the most part.

Big events were the exception. Since there were plenty of people around, he could grab some devices, maybe a wallet or two, and then bounce, with the excuse that he had indulged in a little too much free champagne. That would sort him for a while. Geek conferences were always easy money anyway. Nobody wanted to show up to one of these brandishing a Nokia, so the latest huge smartphones jutted out of every pocket. Come on. How was he supposed to resist? Granted, having thousands of pounds worth of hardware vanish from Ross’ conference might piss him off a little, but again, there were plenty of people around. Nobody could pin it on a guy who didn’t even have a ticket, right?

With that worry out of his mind, Matt grabbed a glass of champagne as he passed a waiter, then a tablet from the man next to him. Smashed screen, tut tut tut. That thing was easily worth $500 second hand, but his best bet now was to sell it for parts. Oh well. He slipped back into the crowd as the man snapped his head up to shout about his missing property.

Another phone had been left on a table with no-one in sight to supervise. That was just asking for it, right? While walking past, he slid it into his laptop bag. There was no actual laptop in there. Unfortunate, but the only people who had brought computers down to the conference room were working on them. The crowd was helpful for hiding, but it probably wouldn’t do much if he wandered up to someone and took something straight out of their hands.

He’d done that once, when he was much younger. Some television show or another had tried to warn people that they needed to mind their phones, to keep a vice grip on them while scrolling in public spaces. A clip had played of some shady figure in a hoodie snatching up a precious device and sprinting away. Matt had taken it as a suggestion, with only some cosmic coincidence letting him get away.

Thinking about it, he got away with a lot that he really shouldn’t have been able to. With all the impromptu chases he’d ended up in over the years, it was a miracle nobody had…caught him on tape or something.

“Excuse me, sir?” a slim finger poked him hard in the shoulder and it took all his willpower not to jump. Millions of possibilities flashed through his mind as he turned around. He really hoped this wasn’t security, coming to kick him out. How ironic. Much as he wanted to scoff at the idea of tempting fate, he was willing to suspend his disbelief for a moment in favor of trying to plan ahead. Then again, it might not even be them.

“Excuse me?”

Maybe it was an ex? That could get awkward fast. Matt had briefly skimmed through the guest list before coming, and none of the names rang a bell, so he assumed he was going to be safe. But then again, it wasn’t that hard to get in unnoticed. Might as well get it out of the way. Reluctantly, he turned around.

“You dropped this.”

Oh. Stood in front of him was a young woman with a dark fringe covering her eyes. The rest of her hair hung down to her knees like a silk curtain, wrapped around her back protectively. Quick glances told him everything he needed to know. Red uniform, sensible shoes, neutral stance. Hotel staff. Nothing about her said that she was missing anything valuable (at least, as far as she knew). She held out a crumpled drinks receipt.

Time for an intelligent response. “Huh?”

What could be seen of her face was unimpressed. “The receipt. It’s yours, isn’t it, sir?”

“Well then. Thanks for...bringing it back. Guess I’ll just...” Matt reached out to take the paper, unconsciously shielding his bag. His hand only got so far before it was locked in a vice grip.

Uh-oh.

“Speaking of returning property,” the woman began. Pulling at his arm got him nowhere. “How about you be a good boy and put back all the nice people’s things?”

What?

Matt realized, after half a second of blissful ignorance, that she knew something. His mind instantly entered panic mode. Was she following him around? Did he steal something from her? Had she called anyone else?

Regardless- not good, not good, not good! He went pale, before defaulting to the usual plan: play dumb. Still tugging as inconspicuously as possible, Matt answered: “Wh-What are you talking about? What things?”

Somehow, she managed to look even less impressed. Sighing, she continued in a voice you might use for a particularly slow child. “The things you stole. Put them back and we’ll have no further issues. Keep your voice down while you’re at it, too. Wouldn’t want to make a scene, after all.”

Matt froze. She didn’t just know something, she knew everything. He was, in a word, screwed. “Look, s-seriously! Let go! I don’t know what you’re talking about!” He stepped back a little, and she came with him, eyebrows raised. It felt like trying to tow a bus. Those uniforms must have been extremely flattering.

“Please don’t insult my intelligence. And as I said, keep. It. Down.” She practically growled the last word. Seemed like she was more worried about drawing attention to herself than he was. With that in mind, he re-assessed.

Playing dumb wasn’t working, clearly. Time for a change of tactics. He pulled one more time, just on the off chance she might have gotten bored of slowly breaking his wrist, and gave up on the idea of disappearing. Instead, he summoned up the power of every Karen, Janet and Linda who’d ever asked to speak to the manager.

“Look, I don’t know where you got these ridiculous accusations from, but if you don’t let go immediately, I will report you to your supervisor!”

With a slight sigh, she shook her head. “Feel free. I would have to have them check your suspiciously computer-free laptop bag, though.” Shit. She wasn’t buying it, was she? He got the distinct sense she was rolling her eyes behind the fringe. Maybe not the best idea, then. And now there were people beginning to notice their odd conversation. Occasional glances slid over to them before none-too-subtly slipping over to a very interesting section of carpet. “We can talk elsewhere if you really want to keep going with this.”

Suddenly, being in the dead center of a crowd was less appealing than it had been earlier.

“Actually, I’d kinda prefer it if you could just...let me go?”

“I’m afraid there’s very little chance of that, my sticky-fingered friend,” someone said right next to his ear. Matt let out a noise akin to what you might hear if you accidentally sat on a pet, or a small child. When he whipped around to look, he was greeted by a young man also in hotel uniform. At a glance, the two seemed almost identical. Unlike the girl, however, his mouth was tilted upwards in a grin- though his eyes were also covered by a thick fringe. “Apologies for Noel. She’s a little uptight when it comes to hotel security.”

He turned to her. “Surely it would have been faster to simply take the devices back?”

“Not if it means this little rat comes back to steal things from the paying clientele again. And if word gets out…”

“Then why not simply bar him? I can handle public relations. Especially as far as Misters Baldwin and Ross.”

Noel’s face flushed red. She didn’t answer, but finally let go. Something about it made Matt think of the bullying older sibling getting told off by Dad, and he snickered as he moved closer to the newcomer. Much as he wanted to, he didn’t pull a face at Noel. “Wasn’t so hard, was it? Now, you, follow me,” he gestured in Matt’s general direction and didn’t wait for a response before heading for the balcony.

#oc #oc writing #matthew gilardi

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emmelfish · 6 years

Text

‘After woohoo, I like to celebrate with a long hike to ponder the fact that my wife being pregnant means it’ll be a while before we can have more babies.’

Pfft, keep dreaming John. Like that want about playing for tips, nice try – you have zero creativity points. Stick to wanting to praise Tabby, becoming besties with Lucy, and befriending Darren. Also if it’s so hot maybe you should take off your outerwear when you get inside?

FACK

John: What’s the best thing about gardening? Getting down and dirty with your hoes!

Jen: These interactions ALWAYS result in one of us walking away with minus points, why would you think this one would be any different? Anyway, come look at this, you’ll like this.

Jen: LOOK! He’s watching sports on TV like he’s people!

John: Oh that’s adorable! Hey speaking of sports, how is woohoo like a game of bridge?

Jen: *screams internally*

Finally, Jen gets to hang out with some intelligent lifeforms.

Jen: Alright. ‘Examine the lives of the best and the most fruitful sim and sims and ask yourself whether a tree which is supposed to grow to a proud height could do without bad weather and storms: whether misfortune and external resistance, whether any kinds of hatred, jealousy, stubbornness, mistrust, hardness, greed and violence do not belong to the favorable conditions without which any great growth even of virtue is scarcely possible?’

Tabby: Screw this.

Jen: ‘The poison from which the weaker nature perishes strengthens the strong sim – and he does not call it poison.’

John: My wife! I am so proud of you for reading to our child and furchildren and yet-to-be-born children AND getting a golden ticket to My Muse from the spiky-haired man because of your musical talent.

(Hey it’s Justin Kim again! Wonder if he’s come searching for his Hot Tub Time Machine mom.)

Justin: I’m a child and even I know that if you jump on her like that it’s not good for your yet-to-be-born children.

Pop

Jen: The hell is this?

John: You said you wanted new clothes.

Jen: But blue is so not my color.

John: But darling, now you match my shorts! 🎵Off to tend to my peppers I shall go...

Glitches

John: 🎵 With a broken arm, yes oh-ee-oh

Another day, another dollar simoleon...

Jen: TUCKER II! You lucrative little furball, thank you so much for pulling your weight while Mommy is carrying so much of it and thus can’t work herself, all thanks to that great big tit I’m married to.

John: What’s that?

Jen: I said is that the Greater Blue-Tit you’ve spotted there dear?

John: I think it is!

Jen: YAY I am so proud of you!

John: Me too!

John: Unff

I’m sorry, I can’t suspend my disbelief with this game any longer because Lucy IS the classmate that saw the rated R movie, and would be the one describing boobies and butts and bloody violence to the innocent child this chance card was actually meant for. So I picked Ignore, because a) no, and b) chance cards are bullshit, they have a 99.999999999999% chance of undoing all your good work in any scenario.

Oh looky who it is! Everyone’s favorite Desiderata resident. And, three nanoseconds of a chat with Jen results in Jen’s crumpled face of confusion and Natasha’s hatred thought bubble. Shame, really.

I’ve noticed the community tends to call her Nat, but all the Natashas I’ve known in my life (all two of them) go for Tash or Tasha. I’m torn. I’ll tell you what I’m NOT torn on. Her exquisite grilled cheese dress by the exquisite @strangetomato, amirite? 🧀

GO TABS!

Good: Tabby promoted Good: Smart investing Bad: Justin falling out with Lucy, probably because he was the kid the chance card was meant for and she was traumatizing him with talk of blood and boobies. I’m not gonna lose sleep over it, he’s all the way out in Viper Canyon so it wasn’t like they were gonna be besties in childhood. Maybe at college or something.

This family, I swear. They’re like the sim embodiment of Bender’s ‘impression of life at big Bri’s house’ in The Breakfast Club.

youtube

That’s if, uh, Bri’s parents constantly make sexually-charged advances toward one another.

Meanwhile, dat text doe! Brandi Broke Hair Hour is upon us.

Jen: Sweetie I’ve found myself wearing something I wouldn’t choose even if it were the last garment on the planet and I’m scared.

Lucy: It’s okay Mom, if I’ve lost all respect for you it’s primarily because I’m on the precipice of puberty and that’s what’s supposed to happen.

John: The heck is this? I’m the Family sim here. You can’t have it both ways.

John: THAT’S more like it. Hai little bestie!

Lucy: Hai Dad! Why are all these people in our house?

John: Oh, well Brandi Broke was on a walkby so I wanted to paint a picture of what your hair will look like tomorrow so that you’re prepared. And I got one of those annoying messages about whether I’d been abducted by aliens from Darren even though I spoke to him yesterday, so I felt guilty.

Meanwhile, Jennifer stares longingly at her guitar and gets all introspective about this five-minute lack of romance in her life, exacerbated by Brandi heartfarting at Darren. That Family/Knowledge attraction, it never fails. And yet, somehow I can’t see Dustin and Dirk as stepbrothers, but we need to find Brandi someone soon as she needs to up her brood to six for that stupid LTW about marrying off multiple kids. WHAT IF UNBORN BABYBROKE ISN’T THE MARRYING KIND, Brandi, ever think of that?!

(Makes mental note to create drahmz by making Unborn Babybroke a Romance sim who constantly disappoints its mother)

Jen: Oh that DOES it. You lot might be able to sit around waiting for these babies to fall out of me but I have to DO something.

Brandi you utter utter terrible stupid moron you are PENNILESS WHY are you tipping Jen all those simoleons 😱

Lucy meanwhile stares at her father and tries to picture Brandi’s hair on his face in a vain attempt to glimpse into her near future.

And yet... are these two meant to be though? The synchronized terrible dancing and constant thoughts of one another may be a sign. That said, Dina Caliente does that with Darren too and, much as I love Darren and Dina as individuals, the thought of that is so godawfully wrong that I always have to direct sims to speak with each of them separately in an attempt to stop them autonomously eating one another’s faces whenever they always show up in the same GD welcome wagon. #StopDinarren #SaveTheDreamers #ACRYouMonster

Lucy manages to alienate yet another boy from districts afar (like does her schoolbus refuel in Viper Canyon or something?) by saying things about art or theater that offend Gallagher Newson so deeply, he launches a tirade of vitriolic mansplaining at her while she checks her nails, unfazed. Atta girl.

Brandi: I wish we could all get along like we used to in middle school... I wish I could bake a cake filled with rainbows and smiles and everyone would eat and be happy...

Best not look outside then Bran.

Tabby: Huh? Yeah? You want some o’ this? Come at me bro!

Tabby: Oh you think I can’t take you? Think again assclown, I’m a stunt double now, I eat fear FOR BREAKFAST.

And so the thrill ride begins. Lucy’s face is that unique mixture of anxiety and resignation that plainly says, ‘Well, my reign is at an end. It’s been real, friends.’

I love Tucker II, but the fact that he chooses THIS moment to act out for the first time in his life and start destroying the furniture is far from cool. Clearly he too is worried about upcoming changes in the pack hierarchy.

Stone cold Tabs meanwhile favors staying outside in the rain and having no part in any of this.

Tabby: 🎵 Hello darkness my old friend...

Urgh

IS NOOBOO TIME!

Spoiler alert: this nooboo actually ends up with blue eyes because I quit without saving to roll the pacifier a couple times, which is sad because neither nooboo has black hair now. But we’ll survive. Somehow. I just liked this snap.

When both your dog and your seconds-old nooboo are thinking about Brandi, it’s probably time for her to leave the house. But she won’t, because she’s a Family sim who subscribes to the stereotype of only caring about other people’s children. And pets.

3 days off? Pahaha. I don’t even have any hacks installed to share parental leave (I really should), and Jen was somehow still back at work the next day.

Poor Babygirl Burb (not her permanent name) isn’t getting a great start in life considering everybody’s just yelling about Babyboy Burb and not even acknowledging her. Well, except Jen, who hasn’t yet put her down. See that, Family sims?! That’s how to do it.

Case in point.

Brandi: Congrats!

John: Oh yeah, the nooboos? Great aren’t they. I’m sure I dropped The Boy around here somewhere.

The Boy: And my suffering beginneth...

John: The Boy! Ah, The Boy. There you are. The Boy.

(If you can’t already tell, John will be saying ‘The Boy’ in the same relieved and happy voice as the dad from 8 Simple Rules for the rest of his natural life, primarily because both of his daughters are genetically engineered to make his hair grey.)

Hey Brandi, ever feel like you’re intruding on an intimate family moment?

Brandi: Nup!

Lucy: I just can’t picture it ON me...

Brandi: Kid, what is it with you and my hair?

John: I’VE LOST THE BOY AGAIN

Lucy: Haha, my parents can be so incompetent sometimes.

Lucy: Actually... where are my parents?

Well Lucy, get ready to upscale that judgment of incompetence because...

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME. John’s face. John’s face right there. Is the most smackable face I’ve ever seen.

Not only did Jennifer Burb give birth TO TWINS less than five minutes ago...

... but they unceremoniously dumped both twins in the Bouncinators, and they’re now screaming.

To which, their creators remain oblivious. There are some pretty terrible parents out there in the Sims universe BUT THESE TWO ARE HOT ON THEIR HEELS right now.

Hey, while these poor minutes-old creatures are stuck screaming in their Bouncinators while John presumably tries to create more problems for the family with his testicles, why don’t we meet them?

This is not at all named solely to give Alexander Goth a younger wife one day Cecilia! You can’t see them here because they’re squeezed shut in agony and anguish, but her eyes are deep blue, presumably from her grandfather Jeff Pleasant. Perhaps upon looking at her, her uncle Daniel will be overcome with the guilt referenced in his bio and try to send her to Mars.

And here’s Patrick! With his skintone plus the brown eyes and brown hair, he’s probably destined to be a John / Lucy clone, but we shall see. Let’s get one thing straight though (or should I say curly), when these anklebiters transition they are both leaping right into Jennifer Burb tousled waves territory.

Lucy: WHAT DO I DO

Don’t worry Lucy, we’ll pause this one here as it’s already been far too long a round and no doubt everyone involved is tired as hell.

Until next time!

#sims2 #pleasantview #john burb #jennifer burb #lucy burb #patrick burb #cecilia burb #brandi broke #darren dreamer #justin kim #gallagher newson #tucker burb #tabby burb #sims 2 premades #maxis premades #emmelfishuberhood #Pleasant Family #Pleasant Household #Tucker II Burb

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wolven0ne-universe · 6 years

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On Writing Fiction: The Smell Test

I once heard a self-proclaimed storytelling expert say that you could do anything you want in a story, so long as it's creative. Well, I am here to tell you all that that isn’t wholly true.

The problem with this is that no matter how much you like an idea if it doesn’t seem plausible to your audience, it WILL break the suspension of disbelief. This is important for one very simple reason. Without that willful suspension, readers will notice every mistake you make, every inaccuracy and inconsistency. Everybody makes those mistakes when writing a story. There’s no such thing as a writer whose attention to detail is so great that they can avoid every plot hole or inaccuracy. But, when people are suspending their disbelief, they’ll overlook these things in favor of being engrossed in your tale. This, of course, begs the question, how do you convince your readers to ignore your flaws and maintain their disbelief. This is where the smell-test comes in. For purposes of demonstration, I’ll throw out some examples of writing decisions that wouldn’t pass the smell test, and then show you ways to fix them.

Say you’re reading a story about fantasy Viking’s, and one of the characters states that they’re a vegetarian and objects to how everyone eats meat. This is something that wouldn’t pass the smell test for most people. Generally, most readers realize that behavior like that doesn’t really fit the era or setting being depicted. So it comes across as the writer making a statement, and that’s very immersion breaking.

If you really wanted to make that statement though, you could have one character being visibly uncomfortable with the idea, while lamenting it’s necessity. That gets the message across while fitting that sort of setting. Let's take another fantasy setting that’s very Tolkienesque. This setting has very few big cities, most the cultures appear to be built around hunting or agriculture, and are overall fairly primitive compared to what we’re used to. Then, in this setting, posit that your character’s an Other. Something that would mark them as being extremely unusual by the standards of the culture of this world. Say, they’re a foreigner, mixed race, an odd skin color, are homosexual or whatever. But, utterly nobody cares about this, at all. (Note: it pained me to make this example because I hate touching on controversial topics. However, it’s a good world building exercise so please bear with me for just a moment.) Now, in that sort of setting you could definitely do that, but it might seem odd if nobody in that world had a problem with it. After all, we do have our own history as an example here, and pre-industrial revolution Europe wasn’t exactly very tolerant. So, how do you write a fantasy story like this, if you want your character to be a societal other, but don’t want them to be a complete and utter outcast? Well, you could either have some people indeed have an issue with it to a less severe degree, and have this character overcome that adversity. Or, you could pick a setting where this sort of thing wouldn’t be as unusual. (Personally, if it was me I’d go with a combination of the two.) For example, instead of fantasy Tolkien land, how about fantasy Rome, or maybe a fantasy version of Victorian-era England? While the later may not be the best example of a tolerant society, readers generally have an easier time accepting non-brutish behavior in a richer more prosperous culture. That may not be fair, but that’s generally how people think in my experience. Better yet, these are two settings that aren’t actually used all that often. That presents its own set of storytelling opportunities for you to explore. How would a fantasy style Rome deal with things like supernatural monsters roaming about? How would elves and dragons and all that fit into a country that’s in the earliest stages of industrialization? Would the presence of magic and monsters change naval warfare Change how combat was done? Questions like these are a whole lot more interesting from a world-building point of view. And they wouldn’t have even been asked unless the hypothetical person creating it hadn’t wondered if there was a setting that would make more sense for the story they’d like to tell. So in short, yeah you can ultimately put anything you want into your story. But, if you want it to be really good you’ll take the time and work through questions like these. Better yet, find somebody you trust and bounce your world building ideas off them, as well. Asking questions and working through the implications is all well and good. But, it pays to get an outside perspective from time to time as well.

#story telling #world building #the small test #fair warning #if people object to my examples I may delete this later.#Suffice to say #I really don't want to get into any heated discourse #I actually held off on writing this for a week for this reason #that example of mine has simply been on my mind lately #so it was hard for me to ignore it

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recentanimenews · 5 years

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THE GREAT CRUNCHYROLL NARUTO REWATCH Goes Full-On Scooby-Doo with Episodes 162-168!

Welcome to the Great Crunchyroll Naruto Rewatch! I'm Joseph Luster and I'll be your host this week as we continue ninja-running through all 220 episodes of the original Naruto anime adaptation. After last week's spicy blend of the conclusion to the Curry of Life arc and a handful of one-offs in episodes 155 - 161, it's time to get downright spooky with the Land of Birds arc in episodes 162-168.

This time around we have a storyline that's almost beefy enough to take up the entire seven episode bundle. It's also one of the few times a filler story has focused on a baddie who isn't really connected to Orochimaru in anyway, but it still gives Naruto and his team the opportunity to evoke some of the emotions that run through the core of the show, reminding us that Sasuke is still out there somewhere.

Before Naruto can get to him, he's gonna have to solve a straight-up Scooby Doo mystery. Thus, without further ado… Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society, I call this Naruto filler arc… The Tale of the Phantom Samurai.

*sprinkles magical dust all over the post*

* *

The Cursed Warrior opener felt like a more natural and interesting introduction to a mission, with Naruto getting the opportunity to feel a personal connection to it and pushing to take it on. Let's start off with a State of the Filler report: How are you feeling about the structure of the series at this point?

Paul: The overall structure would be better without entire seasons' worth of filler, but to abuse the phrase that gives pro translators headaches, “it can't be helped.” The filler itself varies wildly in quality. Most of us found Raiga and Ranmaru and the Curry of Life insufferable, but I really enjoyed the Land of Birds, with its combination of low stakes, simple motives, a Scooby-Doo style mystery, and ninja actually acting like ninja.

Jared: It is what it is. We are stuck in the filler mines, but one day we will free ourselves from them. I think overall it’d be better if the longer filler arcs didn’t feel so formulaic at this point, but I doubt that’s going to change anytime soon.

Kara: With a couple of minimal gripes that don’t even really count as gripes, I really enjoyed this. It had ties back to our standard story and characterization but was content to be its own thing.

Noelle: It’s still not good; I’d rather not have any filler overall. Still, they are trying, and it is worth noting some more effort. In terms of filler, it’s pretty okay.

David: I think the structure of the series can be most cleanly explained by the whiplash between how the current opening sequence shows a highlight reel of all the coolest moments from the show so far, and the sinking feeling I get when the episode actually starts.

Carolyn: Yeah, I can’t necessarily get behind entire seasons of filler, either. That being said, I do like that we’re getting away from the Sasuke drama just a little bit and seeing a little bit more humor again.

Danni: I’m still very much dreading more seasons of pure filler, but this arc was actually... pretty good??? The Land of Birds arc stands pretty well on its own on account of not tying itself into the Sasuke plotline at all. It’s able to end on a satisfying conclusion without the caveat of “Well we didn’t come any closer to finding Sasuke.” On top of that it was a pretty interesting little side story in its own right, even if it did tip its hand a little too much with the twist. We also got a fun little absurd precursor to Food Wars which was justified entirely by seeing Naruto use Rasengan to make ramen.

Kevin: I like that they’re at least trying out new stuff. It adds a bit more to the world (even if that information later becomes contradictory) and allows for new stories. Hoki became more of a standard ninja enemy eventually, but when he was first revealed, he was using trickery to mimic more famous jutsu, which I don’t think we’ve seen as a main villain’s gimmick thus far.

We've encountered a few characters like Lady Toki in the past. The story of she and her brother Sagi—her unwavering need for revenge—adds another layer to the Sasuke parallels that drove Naruto to become invested in this mission in the first place. Did these characters work for you, and was the villain at the story’s core a suitable antagonist for a whopping six-episode arc?

Paul: I wasn't deeply emotionally invested in Ladi Toki's storyline, but her motives were clear, and so were the motives of Hoki, the opposing protagonist and the leader of the Wandering Ninja. I think Hoki works for me because he doesn't have a super-villain's goals: he just wants to take over a small, defenseless country and seize power so his clan can stop being homeless. Hoki and company also behave like actual ninja, complete with deception, thievery, dirty tricks, and subterfuge, and that's some of my favorite stuff in Naruto.

Jared: I think the character arc of Toki would have been better if it wasn’t so blatantly obvious what the twist was going to be. The villains could have been interesting with the idea of "here’s some folks that are just this mix of random jutsu." They’re unfortunately undercut from the start when they mention that while they steal their jutsu, it’s basically bad Genjutsu. So all the villains end up looking like jobbers. I mean, Kakashi literally tells one of the bigger ones that using the sharingan on him would have been a waste because of how much of a scrub this dude was.

Kara: Any villain without an upline to Orochimaru is already several points ahead in my book. I get that he’s the show’s Big Bad, but it’s easier to suspend disbelief for a world where sometimes bad things just happen and not all of it feeds back into The Ultimate Evil. As others have mentioned, the Twelfth Nightery of the whole thing is pretty heavily broadcast from the get-go, which meant I was largely distracted by wondering when the other characters were going to catch up. Even so, the story of Toki’s need for revenge and Naruto’s ability to speak to that intelligently from another POV was still good. That doesn’t change.

Noelle: Personally, I didn’t care too much for Toki, and the surprise was relatively predictable. It’s not up to the threat level of say, the Akatsuki or Orochimaru, but that’s fine—not everyone can be world-shattering cataclysmic villains. While not entirely engaging, it set out to do something and in that sense, I’ll say that it worked.

David: It absolutely didn’t have to be six whole episodes long, as evidenced by how much the plot drug its feet to get to the conclusion we all knew was coming in the first place. However, I did appreciate how Naruto himself actually seemed to be connected, at least thematically, to the story, which is the best part of the show proper and something most of the filler arcs forget to include.

Carolyn: I do agree with the previous points that I wasn’t really invested in the characters and the twist was not at all surprising. That being said, I do actually like the idea of stealing jutsu. We watch Naruto and Rock Lee and friends work so hard. Even if it’s just some lame, not very good jutsu, I like seeing the other side.

Danni: I found myself surprisingly satisfied by this arc’s cast of characters. None of them were really deeply characterized, but they were written well enough to justify the time devoted to them. It was like ninja Scooby-Doo with more political intrigue. And while I did see some of the twists coming, Moso being the real villain actually caught me pleasantly by surprise.

Kevin: In short: not really, but he could’ve been. There are several things that could’ve gotten me to like this arc more. A better twist would’ve been if Toki’s voice was always at least a bit feminine, rather than outright changing from a male voice to a female one when she is revealed. We also haven’t seen much in the way of political villains before, so Hoki being a corrupt advisor trying to gain power was actually more interesting than when his full intentions were revealed later. It wasn’t bad, it just had more interesting aspects that were ignored in favor of what ended up being a fairly standard “good guys fight single bad guy” fight.

The Land of Birds arc hinted at horror in the beginning, but it basically ended up being a beat-for-beat Scooby-Doo saga. How did your expectations of this arc pan out, and is there a particular type of direction you wish they had taken instead?

Paul: While the mystery wasn't extremely intricate—I knew as soon as they mentioned that Sagi had a twin sister that she had already disguised herself and taken her elder brother's place—the presentation sold me on this story arc. I liked how it kept creating scenarios that seemed spooky and supernatural, only to reveal them to be nothing more than smoke and mirrors. I prefer that to everyone having X-Men level mutant powers.

Jared: If they didn’t keep beating home the point of Sagi and Toki being twins, it probably would’ve been better for the twist. I liked the idea of Naruto being grounded in the sense that ghosts are the one thing he just wants to nope out on. Maybe the arc as a whole would’ve been better if it leaned more into the supernatural element and have that be the big baddie.

Kara: I actually think there’s a lot of merit to playing out Scooby-Doo stories in settings that already accept at least some degree of the supernatural. Like, we’ve got people who go to school to learn to turn into snakes and possess other people. It’s entertaining to see not only a subversion of that, but also where the “spooky” line is for characters whose entire lives are pretty darn weird already.

Noelle: I live off horror, I want fully horror! But in all seriousness, having the ghosts not necessarily be truth is fine. That being said… I wouldn’t mind more horror, considering that we know spirits and souls do exist.

David: I honestly didn’t even consider that it wouldn’t technically be out of place in-universe for there to be a ghost. Now I wish that had actually happened.

Carolyn: First off, I’m so glad I wasn’t the only one who saw a Scooby-Doo parallel here. I even wrote a meddling kids joke in my notes. This arc was ridiculous and I loved it. I’m a big horror nerd, too. But when I was little, Scooby-Doo was as close as I could get to ghosts and demons, so I’m here for it.

Danni: Literally as soon as I saw it was about unmasking a ghost, I made a Scooby-Doo joke in our Slack channel, so that was exactly what I expected and honestly hoped for. We even got a talking dog at one point!

Kevin: I direct you to my previous answer. For those that don’t want to scroll back up, the basic version is that the arc had a lot of promise in the beginning, with a character reveal that could’ve been foreshadowed more interestingly and a type of villain we haven’t really seen in the show before… and then decided to not develop any of the interesting aspects and instead go for filler that isn’t outright bad, but just didn’t live up to what it could’ve been.

Naruto's afraid of spirits, but what about you? Are ghosts real? Regale us with your own spiritual encounters if you've had any!

Paul: When I was younger, I dabbled in occultism: seances, automatic writing, Tarot cards, transcendental meditation, etc. I used to believe in ghosts and was at one point convinced that I had actually seen and interacted with a few, but that was just the prelude to a full-on psychotic episode brought on by a combination of not eating, not sleeping, and intense grieving over the death of a close friend. Not a fun time. TL;DR version: sometimes my mind plays tricks on me, and ghosts aren't real.

Jared: I can’t say I’ve ever really had any experiences with ghosts, spirits, or what have you. So, I’m not going to sit here and say they aren’t real, but I just don’t know. Plus, I try not to mess around with things that are spooky in general, so ghosts, if you’re out there, we don’t have to cross paths if necessary.

Kara: Oh, fine, I’ll pop the seal, I guess. I went to a very old college. Declared majors could use their student IDs to get into the main building for their major 24 hours a day, so I’d abuse the privilege to take my gaming group into the English building for game night. The college has about 75 ghost stories, with the English department’s concerning a student who threw herself out the window of the third-floor study lounge (now classrooms and offices) after an especially bad year. You know the kind of story—she’d allegedly haunt happy students with good grades because she resented them. One night we’re in a second floor classroom playing whatever it was we were playing at the time. Something cracked us up enough that all of us started laughing, and a few seconds later every door on the floor above us slammed one after the other in rapid succession. I’m sure there’s some sort of explanation for it (wind, other students playing a prank), but we started gaming elsewhere regardless.

Noelle: I’m a little conflicted, because I haven’t had any supernatural experiences myself, but considering that I’ve been raised on a mix of Shinto-Buddhist and Christian beliefs, I do somewhat believe that supernatural phenomena is out there. It’s just normal to me to think that maybe there is something beyond science, that something spiritual could actually exist (also denying it and denying that many people take comfort in the existence of the supernatural feels kind of like overstepping my boundaries). Even if I’ve never seen a ghost, it would be pretty cool to see one.

David: My grandfather has had a life-sized harlequin doll for as long as I can remember, and it has always creeped me out. It’s placed in his room in such a way that when I go up the stairs to my room, I am forced to see it every single time, even at night because he leaves the TV on when he sleeps. Last week it was about 3 in the morning and I was coming upstairs with a late night snack, and as soon as I got to the top of the stairs and looked at the doll the TV flashed a bright white and I couldn’t see the doll anymore, but the sound on the TV was still going. I’m sure there’s a real explanation for this but some part of me believes the doll turned off the TV so I couldn’t see it moving.

Carolyn: Yes. They are real. Really-real real. I had one friend who was part of a Rocky Horror cast that just about everyone had a story about some weird encounter connected to him in some way. I didn’t believe it for a second, but one day I was showering and a wind-up baby doll I had as a kid started playing music. It had stringy yarn hair, which was the part that made me rethink my skepticism of everyone else’s stories. A yarn wig had spawned a kind of inside joke between him and I. That being said, I have a lot of reasons I personally believe that witchcraft/spiritualism/religion are a psychological means of coping with stress and trauma. But ghosts are totally real.

Danni: Nah.

Kevin: I’ve never encountered a ghost, and if pressed into picking a side, would probably say that they don’t exist. If definitive scientific evidence comes out though, I’ll switch sides in a heartbeat.

Enough about the supernatural, because this set of episodes ended with a mission starring Naruto and Choji, AKA The Hungry Boiz™ (feat. Sakura). Did this need the tired “Are you a bad enough dude to rescue my daughter?” setup, or would you have been perfectly happy with The Hungry Boiz™ Ramen Roundup Noodle Spectacular®?

Paul: Ayame being kidnapped felt like a superfluous detail, and the concluding fat-phobic joke (complete with piggy squealing sound effects) dampened my enjoyment of the episode. Naruto and Choji don't need a reason to get worked up over ramen, and a Ninja Chef cooking competition is compelling enough without adding an abduction subplot. Naruto and company using their combat techniques to knead noodles is more than enough for me.

Jared: It absolutely didn’t need the setup of having to save Ayame. If you take that out and the weird fat shaming near the end and instead make this into basically a cooking reality show episode, it would’ve been great. Ninja Chef is a fun and dumb concept and you don’t need to make it so there’s a conflict in order to introduce them or give Naruto and company a reason to go after them. Just have the ramen place sponsor a cooking competition with the Ninja Chefs and split everyone into teams and have at it.

Kara: I don’t need a reason for Naruto to suddenly become a food reaction anime, and “ninja ramen making” came at least 150 episodes later than I was expecting. Also you know this entire episode came about solely because someone was proud of the “ryo-nin” pun. I was all in until the very end so basically that didn’t exist and Team Nart won, the end.

Noelle: Just stick to one plotline at a time, Naruto filler. I’d gladly watch a food cooking competition instead of oh no my random daughter is now the crux of an issue.

David: I had all but forgotten what the point of the whole competition was until the terrible ‘twist’ at the end, so overall it was entertaining and definitely didn’t need that bit of motivation.

Carolyn: Ha! You keep hitting my notes on the head with a ginormous hammer. I was very happy to see ramen front and center again.

Danni: This episode made me want to get ramen, and I can actually go get ramen for lunch as soon as I’m done here, so the episode has justified itself already in my opinion.

Kevin: This is the kind of insane setup that I honestly always forget I love about this show. Sure, the dramatic moments can be great and the combat can be downright spectacular, but seeing a team of ninjas use legendary and superhuman techniques to make ramen noodles is just fun. As for the setup itself, I can go either way. Just an in-shop “Naruto tries to help ramen guy make a new recipe” would’ve worked just as much as what the show actually ended up doing.

(SIDE NOTE: As evidenced below, Danni did indeed go get ramen after this)

And now it's highs and lows time! What was your favorite aspect of this set of episodes, and what was just the absolute paranormal pits?

Paul: My favorite element was how Hoki and the Wandering Ninja claimed to be stealing techniques from other clans, but really they were just using a combination of Genjutsu and sleight of hand to trick people into thinking they had replicated powerful Ninjutsu techniques. I really dug that every visually impressive move turned out to be a dime-store imitation. Honorable mention goes to Naruto hitting noodle dough with a Rasengan. My least favorite bit was “too fat / too skinny” gags at the end of Episode 168, and I wish there were a more elegant way to localize the “aku no recipe” joke as well.

Jared: Naruto coming up with the idea to just use everyone’s jutsu to make noodles was pretty good. I found it very funny that they titled an episode “The Death of Naruto” in the midst of this filler and expected people to buy that. Low points would be just how easy it was to deduce the twist in Land of Birds and how they kind of ruined the last episode we watched with bad jokes at the end, which they’ve done quite a bit on these one-off episodes.

Kara: High point was the ramen-making sequence itself, especially Naruto deliberately cheesing Sakura off to get her “cha” on for the dough-pounding. Low point was what came right after. Special honorable mention goes to the ED going from “smol ninja being happy” to “everyone’s a dog now.”

Noelle: The ramen-making scenes! It’s just fun to see how ninjutsu can work in doing relatively mundane things. Bad side, some of this humor is very deliberately dated. Come on.

David: My high point was actually Tenten and Neji getting some much needed screentime, even if it’s in filler. They’re good characters and it reminded me of the Rock Lee spinoff show that I highly recommend if you’re fond of the side characters in Naruto. As seems common, my low point was the very end of the otherwise pretty amusing food episode.

Carolyn: High point was definitely the Scooby Gang arc. Low point, I’m not sure anything necessarily stands out this time other than generally not being interested in many of the new characters. Also, I was very confused by the dog ED and some of those poses were … interesting. Actually, I take that back, the pig noises were my low point.

Danni: My high point was most of the Land of Birds arc. It wasn’t spectacular, but it was surprisingly compelling as far as Naruto filler goes. The low point was the sudden cacophony of fat jokes and “women love to diet” jokes shoved into the ramen episode at the end. Ramen’s good, yo. Eat as much as you want. If you’ll excuse me I’m about to go have some now.

Kevin:

High - Naruto fighting in a straightjacket. One of the best ways to make fight scenes more interesting is to throw in some new variable for either side to deal with, be it terrain, a handicap or a new powerup or some kind. Seeing Naruto need to fight while essentially being unable to fight back or use jutsu was probably the most engaged I was throughout the majority of the arc.

Low - Chishima in the last act of the arc. He gets hit once or twice by shuriken (thrown by the ninja equivalent of Storm Troopers, given how many they threw at him), and he is so egregiously injured that he’s on a medical bed with IVs giving him blood. Why is he so hurt?! Give him a bandage and maybe some pain killers and he shouldn't be having any problems at all! And if he’s more seriously injured, show it as more than a shoulder cut!

COUNTERS: Bowls of Ramen: 121 bowls “I'm Gonna be Hokage!”: 0 Shadow Clones Created: 26 + 2 uncountable scenes Total so far: Bowls of Ramen: 171 bowls, 9 cups “I'm Gonna be Hokage!”: 55 Shadow Clones Created: 661

And that’s it for this week! Remember that you’re always welcome to watch along with the Rewatch, especially if you’ve never seen the original Naruto! Watch Naruto today!

Here’s our upcoming schedule: - Next week, DANNI WILMOTH gets nautical in the Land of the Seas! - July 12th, JARED CLEMONS leads us to the Hidden Village of Star! - July 18th, JOSEPH LUSTER is back to continue the Star Guard mission!

CATCH UP ON THE REWATCH!

Episodes 155 - 161: Quickfire Curry

Epsiodes 148 - 154: The Forest is Abuzz With Ninjas

Episodes 141-147: Mizuki Strikes Back!

Episodes 134-140: The Climactic Clash

Episodes 127-133: Naruto vs Sasuke

Episodes 120-126: The Sand Siblings Return

Episodes 113-119: Operation Rescue Sasuke

Episodes 106-112: Sasuke Goes Rogue

Episodes 99-105: Trouble in the Land of Tea

Episodes 92-98: Clash of the Sannin

Episodes 85-91: A Life-Changing Decision

Episodes 78-84: The Fall of a Legend

Episodes 71-77: Sands of Sorrow

Episodes 64-70: Crashing the Chunin Exam

Episodes 57-63: Family Feud

Episodes 50-56: Rock Lee Rally

Episodes 43-49: The Gate

Episodes 36-42: Through the Woods

Episodes 29-35: Sakura Unleashed

Episodes 22-28: Chunin Exams Kickoff

Episodes 15-21: Leaving the Land of Waves

Episodes 8-14: Beginners' Battle

Episodes 1-7: I'm Gonna Be the Hokage!

Thank you for joining us for the Great Crunchyroll Naruto Rewatch! Have a great weekend, and we'll see you all next time!

Have anything to say about our thoughts on Episodes 162-168? Let us know in the comments! Don't forget, we're also accepting questions and comments for next week, so don't be shy and feel free to ask away!

-------

Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine. You can read his webcomic, BIG DUMB FIGHTING IDIOTS at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter @Moldilox.

By: [email protected]

#Anime #News #Latest in Anime News by Crunchyroll!

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purple-pen-reviews · 7 years

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Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Rating: 8.3/10

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a 2011 sci-fi action movie directed by Rupert Wyatt. It stars James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Brian Cox, Tom Felton, and Andy Serkis, along with David Oyelowo, Karin Konoval, Terry Notary, Tyler Labine, and Richard Ridings. The film is a second reboot of the Planet of the Apes franchise, based on the premise presented in the French novel La Planète des Singes (Planet of the Apes or Monkey Planet in English), and is similar in premise to the fourth movie in the original Planet of the Apes series, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. The film is about a doctor (Franco’s character) researching a cure for Alzheimer’s using apes as test subject, whose cure accidentally makes one of the test chimpanzee’s children, Caesar, much smarter than average apes, to the point where he begins to question his own existence, among other things.

Much like the series it rebooted, Rise of the Planet of the Apes shines as well as innovates as a visual production. Though at times the CGI does not pass very well, there are certain scenes that work, particularly action scenes and scenes that emphasize Caesar’s facial expressions. Speaking of, Serkis’ performance as Caesar is absolutely stellar. Just as the original Planet of the Apes made waves in Hollywood for its makeup and visual effects, Rise of the Planet of the Apes proved to the movie-making community that motion-capture actors deserve as much commendation for their work as their non-computer-generated counterparts. Though other performances, such as Lithgow’s and Felton’s, were noteworthy, it is Andy Serkis as Caesar who truly stands above the rest in this movie.

The only thing holding this movie back from getting a higher score is that its plot at times can become a little far-fetched. This is not a major problem - only at certain times did the events of the movie make me lose my suspension of disbelief. However, I’ve seen worse plots for better premises, and the story isn’t completely appalling. Though the plot isn’t super great, the focus is taken off of it by its action scenes. In particular, the scene on the Golden Gate Bridge stands out to me as one of the best in the movie. There are also a few dramatic scenes that kept me looking past the plot holes. So, in the end, even though the story could use work, the other aspects of the movie outshine it well enough to ignore it.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a worthy reboot to the sci-fi classic. Its action and dramatic scenes are great, being extremely noteworthy in that they were mostly created through computer-generated imagery. Though certain events in the story are hard to believe, the plot is not completely outlandish for a sci-fi film. Andy Serkis’ performance is outstanding, eclipsing any of the other actors in this film by a wide margin, an especially commendable statement considering his entire performance was done in motion-capture. I would personally recommend seeing this movie for its excellent imagery, if not necessarily for its story.

I cannot heap enough praise upon Andy Serkis for his role in this film. Though the effects have not aged terribly well - even for a movie that came out less than a decade ago - it did something more than put on a visually stunning show. It proved to Hollywood that a motion-capture performance is just as viable as a normal performance. Honestly, I thought this would’ve been proven already by Serkis’ portrayal of Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but I suppose Hollywood needed a little more. Serkis wasn’t the only good performance in the movie though - John Lithgow’s portrayal of a man in the increasingly destructive late stages of Alzheimer’s was emotionally reminiscent of my own grandfather, who suffers from Alzheimer’s as well. I can’t say the same about Franco’s performance however. It wasn’t terrible, I’ll grant him that, and I commend him for showing his range, however he didn’t necessarily give a stand-out performance, and is in many ways outshined by Serkis. One of the scenes that stands out in my mind is when he attacks one of his neighbors to defend Lithgow’s character, who he perceived was in danger, but soon realizes his mistake, the way Caesar’s eyes and face move is actually moving. You can see the visible regret on his face - a chimpanzee’s face. In this moment, the CGI does not enhance Serkis’ performance, but rather Serkis enhances the CGI with his performance. It’s honestly amazing.

Another scene I liked was the skirmish on the Golden Gate Bridge - it was just really cool. The way Caesar used the different species of apes’ different abilities to strategize how best to defeat the humans was really fun to watch. That’s the best I can say about this movie’s third act - it’s definitely fun to watch. Though the story leading up to it has some holes, its worth suspending your disbelief to get to the final product - all-out ape action.

My favorite scene in the movie comes at the turning point of the film, when Tom Felton’s character begins tormenting Caesar, and Caesar grabs his hand and yells “NO!” It gave me goosebumps. The silence following it, along with the shocked expressions on the faces of both apes and men alike make it an almost perfect scene - almost. Only one thing keeps this scene from being absolutely perfect, and that is the way Felton delivers the line, “get your paws off me, you damn dirty ape!” It’s a reference to the first Planet of the Apes movie, but within the context of the scene, quoting it verbatim doesn't really work. It sounds awkward, and forced. This is not Felton’s fault, however, it has more to do with the way the dialogue was originally written. When the original Planet of the Apes movie came out, Hollywood tended to favor the grandiose over the realistic. The way Charlton Heston was supposed to deliver the dialogue is different than what would have made sense for Felton to deliver it as. It just doesn’t work in this context - which is a hard-to-ignore blemish on an otherwise incredible scene.

I also commend the film for its messages about animal rights. It presents its morals in a way that doesn’t beat the viewer over the head, yet at the same time makes sure it gets its message across.

Overall, Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a great movie. Not a perfect movie, but a great movie. It has its ups, as well as its downs, but it’s definitely worth the price of whatever you usually pay to watch movies, if not more.

#Rise of the Planet of the Apes #Planet of the Apes #2011 Movies #movies #sci-fi films #action films #Rupert Wyatt #James Franco #Freida Pinto #John Lithgow #Brian Cox #Tom Felton #Andy Serkis #David Oyelowo #Karin Konoval #Terry Notary #Tyler Labine #Richard Ridings #entertainment

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