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harveywritings92 · 3 years

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MHA/BNHA: They get severely injured and you heal them

You're recovery Girl's granddaughter you have a healing quirk called Angel's Glow, which requires skin on skin contact to work, small wounds, bruises and bone fractures are healed in seconds just by placing your hands on the injured area which will glow blue and repair damage, however wounds that are near fatal are different story. In that case, it’s kind of embarrassing, but you treat it how you would hypothermia, stripping down to your panties (or naked) and lay down holding that person close letting your healing aura cover them, of course you've never been in a situation where you've had to do that, pretty much keeping it reserved for your romantic partner, So when you got a call that your boyfriend was severely injured in a fight and his chances of survival aren't looking to good.

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Fatgum/Taishiro:

Reader's age 26.

The last thing Taishiro remembered was fighting this crazy strong villain with an equally strong quirk! So, one can imagine his confusion when the last thing he remembered before blacking out; was fighting as Fatgum and then waking up after who knows how long as Fitgum and in a stranger's bedroom hooked up to a very annoying heart monitor that would not. stop. beeping! Taishiro slowly sat up; with a grimace expecting to feel pain shooting all throughout his body the second he moved, but to his astonishment nothing happened...

He was sure his left leg was broken during that fight! he cautiously wiggled his toes and jerk his left leg around, nothing no pain... in fact he felt great; giddy like he had just eaten an entire buffet of his favorite foods! But how did... His train thought was cut short when he felt an slender arm around his waist.

Taishiro suddenly became hyperaware of the other person, a woman. laying in the bed next to him! His heartrate spiked causing the monitor to start beeping rapidly!

The blond carefully reached over and gently pushed the woman's hair away from her face, the BMI hero felt a wave of relief wash over him upon seeing the calm sleeping face of his girlfriend Y/n starring back at him. But the relief quickly shifted to befuddlement, why was she here? he then noticed their apparent lack clothes, His yellow eyes widened and felt his face burn; Taishiro swallowed hard as he checked under blanket... why were they just wearing boxers and panties?

Spotting a some of his spare clothes in Y/n's closet, Taishiro quietly and carefully got out of the bed; unplugged the Heart monitor before taking it off, and got dressed in his track pants and T-shirt, then careful got Y/n dressed in one of his hoodies before tucking her into bed, Just as Recovery-Girl popped her head in to check on them as she couldn't hear the monitor beeping anymore, and got worried she smiled seeing her *hopefully* soon to-be Grandson-law alive and healthy.

"Oh thank goodness you're awake..."

"Yeah, I jus' woke up. Sorry for intruddin."

"It's nothing to be sorry for, though I'm sure you're confused how you aren't in a coma or dead."

"...What happened to me?"

Recovery-girl gave him the run down after he was put out of commission, Taishiro was in pretty bad shape, the out come was looking grim when Y/n ordered the ambulance be redirected to her private-practice which also doubled as her home, they got got one of her intern's to use their quirk which could burn off his fat, they cleaned his cuts and got him stitched up then the y/ht woman told everyone to go home; save for her grandmother and Kirishima who refused to leave his mentor until he was sure hew was going to be alright.

it was only when he saw Y/n taking her clothes off did the flustered teen ask about those guest rooms, she offered and recovery- Girl lead him out of the room, the y/ht woman slipped into bed next her her unconscious lover and activated her quirk, Tai's whole body was soon surrounded in veil of blue light that slowly started to repair and heal his broken body.

Taishiro smiled gently as he caressed Y/n's cheek making her wince in her sleep. "The poor thing must be exhausted over using her quirk for two days." the pride the tall man had felt to shifted into concern. "two days?!" he croaked he remembered Y/n telling him that her quirk can also transfer her patients pain onto her to the lessen their burdens, and if he was in really bad shape as recovery-girl described... "Is she gonna be okay?" he asked voice cracking, the old nurse frowned knowing that her granddaughter told him about her quirks pain absobtion. "Well, the next couple days won't be very pleasant for her, I may have to keep her sedated." the blond eyes started to burn as he watched Y/n sleeping soundly, vowing stay by her side and to take her on very nice vacation when this was all over, they could both use it.

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Shoto Todoroki:

Reader age 21, Shoto: 19

This poor touch-starved child was so confused and flustered when he woke up in a strange bed, wearing nothing but his boxers and y/n clinging to him very intimately, all while alarm-bells were going off in his head as part on his mind was still in fight or flight mode as he cautiously scanned his girlfriend expecting this to be a dream, and the villain that attacked him to pop-out at any moment...

After a few moments of waiting for the dream to end, Shoto cautiously used his fire to burn himself he winced feeling the pain burn his wrist, then the pain went numb the bi-colored haired man's brows furrowed before seeing the familiar blue aura from [y/wt] woman's quirk reverse the damage on his wrist, Shoto's stomach churred as realized what she had done, he carefully removed himself from the warm embrace of her bed and looked around the room for something to wear before spotting some a pair of sweat pants and a T-shirt left out for him, he changed then carefully got his girlfriend dressed into her PJs and her tucked in.

Shoto was the picture of calm as he kept a silent vigil over the [y/hc] woman carefully playing with her hair, but internally he was freaking out! Wondering how long had he been out for? and how long had Y/n been healing him? was she going to be okay?! he grimaced at he saw her wince in her sleep; even a blind man could see she was already suffering from the effects of over using her quirk! "Why would you do something so foolish?" he sighed using his cold half to keep Y/n's forehead cool he felt her temperature spike. "Love makes you do very rash decisions." Shoto jumped to see Recovery-Girl behind him and the dual quirked boy immediate bowed his head to her in forgiveness.

"Don't do that Todoroki, you don't need to apologize."

"But because me Y/n is..."

"It's not you're fault dear, Y/n knew the risks as soon as she heard you were in critical condition."

"How long were we like that?" he asked asked dreading the answer Recovery-Girl frowned as she checked her granddaughter's vitals over. "Four days, I won't lie the next couple days won't be kind to my Granddaughter." She saw Shoto wince knowing the guilt eating at him. "But knowing she has a handsome young man looking after her, should help her make a speedy recovery.~" the room's temperature suddenly spikes as a blush adorned Shoto's cheeks Recovery-Girl giggled jubilantly as she left the room leaving Y/n in Shoto's care.

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Touya/Dabi:

Reader age 25 (note you're quirk can't heal his scars (you've tried) you were childhood friends with him, he kidnapped you and keeps you in his safehouse!)

Dabi woke up that morning with a splitting headache, crap how much did he have to drink? he growled taking a sharp breath as his eyes adjusted to his dimly lit bedroom, trying to piece together what happened last night, when he caught something blue in the dim light at first he thought it was his quirk acting up, but then he noticed some of his staples were missing around his stomach...

The it all came flooding back to him one of the Nomus had gotten lose before it could be "trained" and went on a rampage the villains and a couple heroes on the league payroll stropped it, but not without consequences, the beast managed to take a bite out of Dabi's waist, the scarred man somehow managed to make it home... walking through the front door was the last thing he remembered before blacking out, then he felt his stomach drop when he realized that this blue glow wasn't his flames!

Dabi quickly turned the light on above his bed and found a sleeping Y/n hugging his waist her quirk overworking itself trying to fix his scars, which weren't healing because the tissue was to damaged to fix, "You idiot!" he barked getting out of bed, then paused when he felt a rush cold air on his everything, his teal eyes looked down... Yep, naked as the day he was born, he cussed and checked under the thin sheet Y/n had covered them in, same story.

He check her temperature she was freezing! "Tch" Dabi quickly readjusted the sheet around his girlfriend's shivering body then went and put on some black sweat pants, he quickly went to drawers and grabbed a pair of boxers and a t-shirt and put those on his y/ht girlfriend, then grabbed the discarded blanket from off the floor covering the couple.

Dabi used his quirk to boost up his body temp while rubbing Y/n’s arms trying warm her up. the last thing he needed was her getting sick, however he paused his ministrations and checked his burner phone... shit it been 2 days since the incident! He had a lot of messages from the league demanding to know where he was, He should probably get around to telling them he's alive... meh, maybe after Y/n recovered those f-ckers will live.

#boku no hero academia #bnha fanfiction #fatgum x reader #shoto todoroki x reader #dabi x reader #boku no hero x reader #my hero academy fanfiction #Healer! reader

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maxwell-grant · 3 years

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On Lord Hawthorne

A lot of what makes Lavender Jack special to me is the way it’s so masterfully able to create engaging, modern material out of it’s influences, and it’s creation of a genuinely timeless pulp icon that I think should serve as the ideal baseline for any and all creators who want to create stories based on pulp characters, old and new alike, in the future.

As I make my way through Season 2 and eagerly await Season 3 I’d like to take the time to talk a little about the often overlooked half of the villain duo of Season 1, Lord Hawthorne, and what I think is interesting about him. Out of the many ways pulp heroes have been reimagined into villains over the decades, Lord Hawthorne stands out to me as easily one of the best ones, as a thoughtful take on the Tarzan character.

Spoilers before the cut

The first thing everyone immediately picks about Lord Hawthorne is that he’s Tarzan, with hardly any ifs or buts about it. He’s Tarzan, and we quickly learn that he’s the villain, part of a villain duo with Lady Hawthorne, the real mastermind and kingpin in pearls behind the story’s events. Having Tarzan as the villain n a story that draws from pulp and Edwardian fiction is already an interesting start, as three of the most popular molds from which are pulp heroes are based on, three of the most popular characters as icons, are Tarzan, the Scarlet Pimpernel, and Sherlock Holmes, all three of which exist in some capacity in the world of Lavender Jack. The Gentleman Villain, The Great Detective, and The Wild Man.

Lavender Jack, as I’ve mentioned, is based on the Pimpernel, as well as other figures such as Spring-Heeled Jack and Bertie Wooster. Jack draws from icons that largely predate the pulp heroes because, in Schkade’s own reasoning, if you’re going to try and create an authentic pulp hero, it only makes sense to use as a base the characters that largely inspired them, and clearly that worked out very well. Jack is a Pimpernel remodeled and recontextualized into modern sensibilities, into an era of superheroes and webcomics.

In the Great Detective’s case, we have the figure of Madame Theresa Ferrier, who is called into the story by the Mayor to try and solve the mystery of Lavender Jack’s identity. Schkade describes Ferrier as a character that pulls from elements of detectives like Hercule Poirot and C.Auguste Dupin as well as Sherlock Holmes, in particular Jeremy Brett’s later year performances. As he describes:

In the series’ final years, Brett was getting older, sicker, hindered by bipolar medications that sapped his energy and caused him to gain weight, and he used it. His Holmes became a fading, melancholic shadow of his younger self, but with the spark of his brilliance showing through when it counted. I always found that so compelling

Ferrier is repeteadly described in-universe as “The Great Detective”, and she is both the oldest as well as the most brilliant character in the comic. Despite her age, despite her physical complications, and the tragedy that surrounds her love life, she is nonetheless incredibly skilled, strong and resourceful, able to unmask Jack and survive a confrontation with Lord Hawthorne and even nearly beat him. Ferrier draws from the Great Detectives of old, but this is a character that could never be mistaken for any of them. She’s not specifically based on any of them because, as Schkade puts it: “I wanted her to be someone I’d never get to draw in a leading role in most of my work-for-hire jobs”.

Her role in the comic ends up being one of mentorship to Jack, and despite her age being emphasized as well as the idea of her belonging to an older generation of great heroes that now gives way to the younger and hot-blooded Jack as well as Ferrier’s new partner in Honoria Crabb, Ferrier is very much another great example of where the old meets the new in Lavender Jack. Pulling from the great old archetypes but very much recognizable as her own thing.

Thing is, when it comes to Lord Hawthorne, we don’t really get that, because Lord Hawthorne isn’t really combining the idea of Tarzan with a splash of something new and outstanding and modern. He really is just Tarzan, and not a terribly layered character at that, for much of the story he’s largely just a voiceless bulldozer who exists to do the dirty work of Lady Hawthorne no matter how dirty. This isn’t at all a criticism, because I think Hawthorne being just Tarzan, with little to no bells and whistles and twists on it, is central to what makes him work not just as a great physical threat Jack must overcome (in a similar way to Bane as both a monstrous powerhouse and also having a strong connection to a powerful pulp hero), but also someone whose tragedy comes to light as we finally learn more about him. The fact that he is monosyllabic and largely devoid of any personal interests or life outside of being muscle for Lady Hawthorne is something deliberate, as outlined in a speech given by another character in Chapter 39

Her world's been changing for years, now. She's taking her place in a wider game. A more nuanced game. And you're still...Why, you're only good for one thing, aren't you? Well, maybe two, you old hound, you.

I know why you spend vast stretches of the year off in that jungle. It's not for sport, it's not to keep your edge...it's because when there's no need to fight, no struggle to win, no enemy...there's just...you.

And you know there's not really anything to you, underneath all those scars and muscles.

No dreams, no warmth, no depth. Nothing to love.

So you stay away...and that way, you can come when she calls you. You can sweep back to Gallery and show up all filthy and draw her into your powerful, savage embrace....and maintain your novelty.

All of this so you'll never have to endure a silent sunday afternoon where there's nothing to do, any no one to kill, and your lady simply...doesn't...need you.

You do know this word, don't you, Hawthorne, old fellow? "Novelty?"

And how does he respond?

Not with a denial, but an affirmation that this is ultimately all personhood amounts to, in his worldview. Just one more thing to be conquered and then used as a club to batter others with.

The very act of a character questioning their own worth and depth of personality usually tends to be a telling sign that they, in fact, have those things even if they are out of touch with them, but Hawthorne doesn’t particularly rebuff anything Van Lund’s saying. He just reaffirms his title as Lord while threatening him with violence, because violence is all he knows.

As we later learn, Lord Hawthorne isn’t, in fact, the real Lord Hawthorne, but instead he and his wife usurped the title from the real one as they escaped from the jungle, where he was only known as “the wild man”. A man who’s been forced his entire life to live in a kill-or-be-killed world, to live as an animal in constant conflict with humans, was then captured and then brutally tortured every day for over a month, and then found for the first time someone who treated him with something resembling affection, someone who ultimately turned him into a tool for her evil designs, and he readily accepts this because he has no life, no identity, outside of her. He doesn’t even know his own name.

In fact, for all we know, he might as well be John Clayton himself, except he was born in a world where being Tarzan is not the greatest thing ever and there was no Jane or ape mother to guide his malleable heart into something resembling good, and there was only Sarah to mold him into an instrument of murder at his lowest point.

I argue that Tarzan is a character that’s all about freedom and vitality, as a heroic take on an archetype that’s long been the missing link between superheroes and monsters, where the dual nature of mankind between person and ape acts not as a disorder or source of conflict but instead as the ultimate power fantasy in a character who gets the best of both with none of the downsides. Lord Hawthorne isn’t necessarily a return to form, because there is no dual nature to him. There is no gentleman, no Lord Greystoke descendant of nobility, romantic hero and great adventurer and leader of men and whatnot. There is only the ape, and what little façade has been grafted onto him by his master so he can pass off as a person, only long enough until he takes his shirt off and starts murdering people for her. While we get long extended close-ups of the icy cruelty in Lady Hawthorne’s eyes, there is none for Lord Hawthorne, because he is not cruel, he is an animal. He’s not a fighter, he’s a survivor. He lives to kill and serve the person who tells him who or what to kill.

Lord Hawthorne is what happens when you strip the Tarzan legend of the romanticism of fiction and you look at it for what it would likely result in: the tragic story of a child forced to grow in the jungle, where the concept of personhood and human decency are utterly meaningless and there is only survival, where his existence is at odds with the worlds of man and animal alike, and what happens when that sort of being receives a first contact with something resembling decency and love. Even if said first contact wasn’t with someone as evil as Lady Hawthorne, there was little chance Lord Hawthorne’s life was ever going to be anything other than just an extension of his life in the jungle, or end in anything other than tragedy, and ultimately even the characters start to pity the wild man.

Jack: All that power and stamina and fighting acumen, but yet all you seem to get to use it for is...this. Another laborious climb to another locked-room murder.

Ferrier: You've long passed the point where human lives hold any meaning. You are detached from our species, a...a stranger, loose among us. I thought the sight of you would stir distain in me, or even fear...but as I look at you now...I feel for you only the strangest sort of pity.

What I like most about Lord Hawthorne as a take on Tarzan is that, far too often, we see intended “deconstructions” or reinterpretations of the classic pulp heroes, or even superheroes, that largely just make them villainous by extrapolating the worst possible interpretations of the character’s traits or real-life circumstances around them to villainize them, or outright invent faults and problems that weren’t there in the source material, usually to put one character over the other. The entirety of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is built on this, as is a lot of Superman parodies built on getting the most graphically shocking results possible.

I'll admit it’s somewhat hypocritical of me to criticize this entirely, because it’s an impulse that I sadly admit I myself have fallen into in my own writings on characters not my own, as anyone who’s ever talked with me about Doc Savage, a character I do not like and cannot bring myself to like, can testify. I get why this happens, even if I understand why it’s shitty. Ultimately, the best “deconstructions” or reinterpretations will always come from people who are best familiar with the material they are using and know exactly the best ways to twist it, like with Mark Waid’s Irredeemable, an Evil Superman comic written by a huge Superman fan who knows exactly the absolute worst ways a Superman character can go sour, and was leagues ahead of works like The Boys and Brightburn who largely just take the “easy” pot shots.

With Lord Hawthorne, we get a character who’s an evil take on Tarzan, but whose evilness isn’t made from exaggerating or adding faults to the source material character, which could very easily be done. I never got the sense that the author hates Tarzan and wants everyone to hate Tarzan and is willingly to sacrifice immersion just to get across how much he hates Tarzan (again, something LOEG does way too often), in fact it really doesn’t matter how the author feels about Tarzan, because those feelings are irrevelant to what’s on the page.

Instead, Lord Hawthorne is an evil take on Tarzan whose characterization is largely based on just looking at the source material, the character’s origins, and extrapolating the circumstances in which that could go sour. What would a “wild man” forced to grow up and fight for survival every day in the jungle look like, what would that person look like when making it’s first contact with human affection, how could that person be twisted and manipulated into becoming a villain, what’s even left to that person outside of violent action scenes. How little it would take to twist a childhood hero into a brute that murders old women in their hospital beds, just by tweaking a few details about the context surrounding him.

He is not a caricature of Tarzan, he’s not a parody, he is just Tarzan, but no longer the power fantasy. No longer the center of fantastical adventures. No longer getting the best of both worlds, but instead having to contend with the worst of them. Ultimately only finding some dignity in death, with his nemesis expressing hope that, maybe somewhere else, he’s going to have better luck than what this world afforded him.

#lavender jack #pulp heroes #comics tag #lord hawthorne #dan schkade #far from my favorite thing about this comic but #that in itself should be a testament to just how amazing lavender jack is #please go read it

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mythgirlimagines · 3 years

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Spawning directly into your inbox, is this week’s talentswapped Myth. It’s Myth, former Ultimate Gamer. Or as the MMO circle calls her, [ATHENA] the Guardian.

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BACKSTORY AND TALENT

Being born with both scoliosis and a weak constitution, Myth spent most of her childhood bedridden and homeschooled. In order to entertain their daughter, Myth’s parents decided to gift her with their hand-me-down video game consoles and cartridges, and she managed to beat every single one of those console games with ease, breaking gaming records and forcing her parents to search online for some more games. Eventually, when Myth got her first laptop in her early teen years, she rose to the top of the MMORPG ranks, particularly with the famous MMORPG “Mythology and Mightiness” as [ATHENA] the Guardian. Myth was later accepting into Hope’s Peak for her skills and money earned in gaming competitions, but Myth doesn’t really attend much. Nowadays, Myth is trying her best to come out of her shell and socialize. Let’s just say that Myth encountered some eccentric colorful personalities, both in Mythology and Mightiness and the game’s group chat.

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RELATIONSHIPS

(Note: Because Myth’s never met any of them face to face, this section would only describe the clothes of their online persona.)

Wyre Anon, Former Ultimate Photographer, aka. [SNAPSHOT] the Grenadier

When ATHENA first joined the servers of Mythology and Mightiness, SNAPSHOT‘s party was the first party that accepted her. Even when the party disbanded later on, ATHENA and SNAPSHOT made quite the dynamic duo, with SNAPSHOT on offense and ATHENA on defense. Whenever SNAPSHOT gets a bit too reckless and goes off to fight bigger foes, ATHENA will always jump in front of Wyre and tank the damage. ATHENA would be lying if she said she didn’t have a slight online crush on SNAPSHOT. SNAPSHOT regularly shares the pictures she took around the world in the game’s group chat, much to IRL!Myth’s envy.

In-Game Outfit: Black vest over a tanned shirt with spiked shoulderpads, black fingerless gloves and matching polish, a camo-colored cannon strapped to her side.

Anon Scar, Ultimate Lucky Student, aka. [KUROBA] the Sorcerer

Myth first encountered KUROBA in the dark and spooky woods that are full of high level enemies. KUROBA then started spamming the messaging boards with dramatic monologues that would be right at home in a shonen anime. KUROBA refers to herself as “The Supreme High Sorceress” and refers to others by equally grandiose titles. It turns out later that she turns the dramatic theatrics off if one of her allies is in danger, being almost like a mother to her allies. ATHENA noticed that KUROBA has spectacularly bad luck when it comes to combat, and she often has to jump in to save her bacon, much to the sorcerer‘s dismay.

In-Game Outfit: A black hooded cape that is held by a green clover amulet, black face mask, sharp black eyeshadow, black fingerless gloves, black vest over a red shirt, torn black pants, black spiked boots.

Fusion Anon, Ultimate Mechanic, aka. [TECHNO] the Grenadier

Similar to KUROBA, TECHNO displays parental instincts beyond his age, constantly fretting over his teammates and offers support in times of need. If he sees a foe picking on one of his lower level friends/children, he will not hesitate to blast the foe from a distance. ATHENA and TECHNO bond over their love for technology and dad jokes, constantly exchanging each other some of their best jokes, much to the dismay of certain pun-hating people in the group chat. However, TECHNO seems to be be naive when it comes to modern internet culture and ATHENA tries her best to guide him through her meme and Vine references.

In-Game Outfit: Red armor, golden pauldrons, blue gloves with yellow details, a blue cape with an elaborate gear design on the back, brown goggles on his head, dual guns that are the same color as his outfit.

Fusion Anon II, Ultimate Gymnast, aka. [ROBBIN] the Thief

ATHENA and ROBBIN really make quite the pair when it comes to combat, with ROBBIN‘s speed and ATHENA’s durability being a nice combination to have. They also get along well in the group chat too, often exchanging memes and meme references, much to the confusion of TECHNO and LILAC. But they have an extra-special kinship that no one else in the group chat knows about. Deep down, they both feel like everyone would be disappointed if they found out about the awkward nerd playing the role of the awesome and confident online character, especially since Fusion II became an athlete to hide her nerdiness in the first place.

In-Game Outfit: A Robin Hood-esque hat, a black vest over a white dress shirt, red cape that covers her lower face, black pants, black heeled boots.

Just Anon, Ultimate Musician, aka. [ANON] the Bard

ANON seems to really have something against ATHENA, or anybody older than him, for that matter, for he always attacks his elder party members with his axe guitar and his dark bard magic. ANON regularly makes a point to brag about how edgy, cool and stoic he is, which seems to imply that he has a massive inferiority complex from being constantly underestimated for his class, which might have some basis in real life. However, she eventually found out that ANON has a real soft spot for people younger/weaker than him, such as MUSCLE and ODORI, and ANON was redeemed in ATHENA’s eyes, much to ANON’s dismay.

In-Game Outfit: Black and red dyed hair, smudged black makeup, a cape that’s black on the outside and red on the inside that his held by a pink bunny clasp, the formal wear from his original design, holds a black and red guitar that is also an axe.

Sparkle Anon, Former Ultimate Princess, aka. [LUMINA] the Guardian

When ATHENA first encountered a fellow guardian, she was overjoyed. That joy only skyrocketed when LUMINA was revealed to be Sparkle, the crowned princess of the tropical island known as “Lumina”. Myth feels like she doesn‘t deserve to be graced by the presence of a literal princess. Sparkle claims that she wants to make the most of her time, before she gets promoted to being Lumina’s queen and getting swamped with royal responsibilities. Similar to TECHNO, LUMINA isn’t very skilled in the realm of internet slang and culture due to being foreign, which means that ATHENA and ROBBIN have to teach her about it.

In-Game Outfit: Bulky blue armor and gauntlets covered in gemstones, pauldrons, leggings, cape and boots from original design.

Egg Anon, Former Ultimate Animal Breeder, aka. [YIN] the Ranger, and Wet Sock Anon, Former Reserve Course Student aka. [YANG] the Ranger

ATHENA regularly encounters this cursed duo in random places around the expansive map, and no matter where they are, the two are always prepared to spam her with cursed comments and images and then stealthily leave, as if nothing even happened, with one of YIN’s feather knives being their trademark calling card. Myth expresses annoyance at the duo for giving her even more nightmares than she already has with their unwarranted comments and presence. At least the two regularly remind their party members to get a good night’s rest, but the nightmarish and cursed comments kind of nullify the whole thing in ATHENA’s eyes.

In-Game Outfit: Egg wears a white hooded cloak with black fluff, over a white vest with a black undershirt, white pants, and saddle shoes, and Wet Sock wears the inverse.

Curious Anon, Jr. Ultimate Yakuza, aka. [MUSCLE] the Brawler

Originally from an abusive party, taken advantage of because their passive and gullible nature despite their talent, used purely as dumb muscle and a packmule, ANON quickly saved them from the abuse, and put on an actually helpful team, consisting of himself and ODORI. Upon finding out about MUSCLE’s backstory, ATHENA took pity on the small and probably traumatized child, and wishes for MUSCLE’s previous party to go up in flames or get smite by lightning. Imagine Myth’s surprise when this passive and kind-hearted child turned out to be next in line for one of the biggest yakuza branches in all of the country.

In-Game Outfit: A black vest and a green bandana over a sleeveless white top, wrapped up arms with brass knuckles, black pants and brown steel-toed boots.

Anon Nerd, Former Ultimate Chef, aka. [FLAMBÉ] the Mage

Nerd runs a famous cooking and food critiquing show, in which he is well known for both his temper and his wide range of insults. Imagine the surprise of his fans when they found out that he plays Mythology and Mightiness as FLAMBÉ, the Fire Mage, and happens to be a surprisingly great player. FLAMBÉ would rather not deal with his rabid and simping fanbase and will incinerate the next person with his ultimate attack who even looks in his direction. Usually, the one looking in his direction is ATHENA, who always manages to tank the damage from the fire blast and come back for more.

In-Game Outfit: A brown overcoat, darker brown pants, gold gauntlets and boots, a red cape with fluff that resembles smoke.

Eldritch Anon, Ultimate Animator, aka. [ROSWELL] the Sorcerer

Now ROSWELL certainly was one enigmatic sorcerer, for he seems to show hostile distrust to just about everybody in this world, particularly when it comes to people on the internet, often accusing them of committing hostile and unspeakable crimes when offline. ATHENA really doesn’t appreciate being accused of doing unspeakable and heinous crimes offline. She is just a bed-ridden sad sack after all. ATHENA only wishes to clear up any and all misunderstandings between her and ROSWELL. To this day, ROSWELL seems to only trust a certain energetic and hyperactive warrior, and will lay his life on the line to protect said warrior.

In-Game Outfit: A purple hooded cloak over copper-colored armor and orange boots and gloves, often carries a staff.

Dream Anon, Ultimate Swordswoman, aka. [TSURUGI] the Warrior

Despite being graceful and unparalleled in real-life swordplay, the same cannot be said for her prowess in video games, for she often requires ROSWELL to teach her the ropes. ATHENA regularly finds herself endeared by this childish, yet well-meaning, warrior, and yearns to take TSURUGI underneath her wing. But ROSWELL just wouldn’t trust his online girlfriend to a possible neckbeard. But TSURUGI trusts ATHENA just fine and views Myth like an older and wiser sister, and they regularly go into an isolated field spar together in order to level grind, much to the fear and paranoia of ROSWELL.

In-Game Outfit: Silver armor with a matching sword in a silver and gold scabbard, a golden headdress with a pink gem in the center.

Iris Anon, Jr. Ultimate Traditional Dancer, aka. [ODORI] the Cleric

What ODORI lacks in gracefulness, levels and combat prowess, she makes up for it in healing prowess and sheer optimism and energy, which helps with her dances in both real life and the game. ODORI is an expert motivator, in both the game and the group chat, especially in her special “Baby Squad”, consisting of her, ANON, and MUSCLE. However, ATHENA can’t help but wonder if ODORI’s player is suffering a similar situation to Myth, and her optimism and energy is merely a facade to cover an anxious and scared little girl. In the meantime, ATHENA tries her best to protect this clumsy and lovable cleric.

In-Game Outfit: Hair in a side plait, a blue qipao-esque top with a yellow flower pattern and detached sleeves, brown pants, yellow boots.

Purple Anon, Ultimate Nurse, aka. [LILAC] the Cleric

Often found hiding behind her good friend, TECHNO, LILAC is timid, yet kind-hearted, often not speaking in the game’s group chat. LILAC usually lets TECHNO do the talking for her. The few times she does choose to talk in the group chat, she uses heavily outdated and verbose vocabulary that only a few people are able to translate. Just like TECHNO and KUROBA, LILAC displays caretaker-like qualities, even if she isn’t in the hospital. LILAC is also the only one who knows about Myth‘s various health complications, often giving Myth tips to help make life a little easier to live.

In-Game Outfit: Basically what Elf!Purple wore.

This series takes place within the game as the Anons interact both here, and in the game’s group chat.

——————————————————-

APPEARANCE

Gamer!Myth has long and unkempt brown hair and bags under her eyes, from various sleepless nights. Gamer!Myth wears a Pikachu onesie, black fingerless gloves, black headphones with the X-Box logo on it, and slippers that resemble Piranha Plants.

ATHENA (not pictured) has long and wavy purple hair in a ponytail, and wears pink and silver armor with black gloves and leggings, and what appear to be small angel wings on the back of the armor.

——————————————————-

PERSONALITY

Because of a combination of her isolated upbringing and chronic nightmares, Gamer!Myth is very skittish and extremely withdrawn, and would be considered a NEET if she didn’t attend an online school. Because she builds up a more lovable persona online to compensate for her low self-image in real life, Gamer!Myth fears that people would be disappointed if they were to find out who the person behind ATHENA is. Luckily for her, in recent years, Gamer!Myth is working to become more confident and see the outside world, once her scoliosis and chronic nightmares get cured, one little baby step at a time. —————————————-—————

I hope you like this new talentswap! I based the plot off of ministarfruit’s V3 MMORPG AU, (I‘d happily recommend that you should check this blog out!). Let me know what you think of this talentswap!

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gaymortagokat · 4 years

Text

Sleepover at Camp Jupiter

Read the whole collection here

Reyna's place was quiet. Aurum and Argentum laid in front of the couch curled up together. While their owner sat on the couch reading The Great Gatsby while her girlfriend sat on her lap. A pastel blanket laid over them. It was an addition from Drew. Since her and Reyna began dating Drew would add or recommend things to make Reyna's place more homey.

They've been together for a little over a year now. Drew graduated from high school a week ago and will be attending UC Berkeley to study psychology and art. Reyna noticed how great Drew is at helping people believe in themselves and suggested she do something with that. And Drew ran with that idea deciding to become an art therapist, though she isn't sure if she wants to specialize in child psychology and development yet.

Drew pointed at a line of text. "Remember this, Reyna."

"Why? It's just a billboard?"

Drew turned to look at her girlfriend. "It's important if it was written in here. And it's a symbol of something mortals can't see. The eyes are judgmental like Hera."

Reyna nodded. "Juno isn't all that bad. What do you mean it's a symbol of something mortals can't see?"

"It's kind of like love. You can't physically see it. You can see it in things but you can't see it in things."

"Unless you've met Venus."

"Hmm. I guess so. But speaking of Venus she's a god. We can't see her true form just like mortals can't see the person in the billboard."

"So the billboard is a god judging American's."

"Capital 'g', Reyna. Fitzgerald is probably talking about the Christian god."

"And this Christian god doesn't like what Americans are doing."

"Yes that's what many readers believe."

"Does everything in this book have dual meanings?"

"No. I've found that only things that show up throughout or are highly detailed compared to others are symbols. Like if a detail is emphasized."

"So is the car a symbol?"

"Not sure. I know the billboard is because a teacher told me it was. Let's continue reading."

Reyna nodded and looked back at the book.

They continued reading occasionally pausing for discussion. Drew was the one who began these reading sessions. Reyna loved reading. It was how she grasped a better understanding of English. She has a high reading level despite reading mostly comic books. Because of this Drew decided to introduce Reyna to some classics and had created at least a page long list of literature she added to every few weeks.

They started with names Reyna knew like Plato and Homer. They read The Allegory of the Cave and pieces of The Odyssey where Reyna told her Circe no longer turns men into pigs but animals occasionally less smelly and easier to manage, Guinea pigs. She Also told her that Percy made a very cute Guinea pig. Drew wished Reyna had the opportunity to take a picture.

A knock on the door interrupted their quiet weekend. Reyna's dogs ears perked up and their ruby eyes turned towards the door watching to see if the person behind the door was a threat.

A key slipped into the lock and Reyna groaned. "I should have never given her a key."

"Who?"

"Your sister."

"Pretend we didn't notice?"

"Of course."

They returned to their book as the door opened. College aged Piper, Jason, Leo, Percy, and Annabeth walked in carrying bags for an impromptu sleepover (even though Percy and Annabeth live in New Rome and see Reyna nearly every day) with Nico.

"Why does Nick always describe Gatsby that way?"

"Cuz he's gay."

"Isn't the author straight?"

"Was anyone straight in the roaring 20's? When swing music existed and women wore more revealing clothing, smoked in public, cut their hair, and everyone lived in excess?"

Piper coughed.

Reyna looked up at her friends (except Leo he was still on thin ice). Percy looked like he just rolled out of bed sporting a five o' clock shadow while his girlfriend looked like she had been up for hours. Piper was as gorgeous as always wearing skinny jeans, a loose shirt, light sweater and vans. Jason looked like Annabeth, but he had done a better job at brushing his hair (his straight hair is easier to manage than Annabeth's curls), and much to Reyna's annoyance, Jason still had the rivet in his hair from the bullet Percy's brother fired at him. Jason had kept his hair trimmed like that for two years now. Reyna, Piper, Drew, and Nico were tempted to shave his hair while he slept. Nico wore the jacket Will gave him on their first Christmas together, and his mirrored sunglasses hung from the pocket. He had gotten a haircut. The sides of his hair did not touch his ears, but the top that he left long would in a few weeks. Leo looked exactly the same as he did two years ago with scorch marks on his fingers and arms and small bandages one a few of his fingers.

"Hey, what's up?"

"I wanna say that they made me come."

Reyna smiled at her little brother.

"Oh come on Nico. It's not like we had to force you." Jason said putting his arm around the fifteen year old who now reached his eyes.

"Friday night sleepover." Piper said. "We always have them."

"One, no we don't. It's more like twice a month. Two shouldn't most of you be at some college party? Three it's Wednesday."

"So we're a little early." She answered sitting on the only empty spot on the couch.

"Percy and I did all our homework that's due tomorrow early." Annabeth added taking a seat at Piper's feet with Percy close behind. She petted Aurum behind the ear muttering something about them being a good dog.

Nico sat on the other side of Reyna's dogs while Jason and Leo sat in front of him. Well, Leo sat closer to Percy than Nico. Reyna's dogs weren't his biggest fans and had no problems making it obvious to him.

"What piece of literature do you have Reyna reading this time, Drew?" Jason asked, adjusting his glasses like they would help him see the page better.

"Gatsby. We're almost done with this page. Do you mind being quiet for a few more minutes." Drew didn't wait for an answer; she turned all her attention to the small book.

Leo struggled to stay quiet. He kept opening his mouth to say something then quickly close it. He distracted himself the best he could by planning out the most fun night ever. First some of the greatest movies ever paired with the best snacks and drinks. Did Reyna even have the best snacks?

Leo didn't stay on that thought long. As soon as he heard the book close he spoke. "Okay! What movie does everyone want to watch." He dug through his bag. "I've got 50 First Dates, The Nanny Diaries, Love Actually-"

"Leo, I love you. But I don't think anyone wants to watch romcoms."

"What do you have in mind, Pipes?"

"Horror, action, thriller."

"Horror sounds fun." Nico stated.

"As long as no one throws their popcorn on me I'm good." Drew added.

"Reyna, got any horror movies?"

"The Sixth Sense, maybe Friday the 13th."

After a bit of arguing they settled on The Sixth Sense. The boys minus Nico prepared snacks. Nico and Annabeth made the hardwood floor more comfortable by adding a quilt Reyna had buried in a closet and laying out the blankets everyone brought.

Snacks were finished and everyone ended up with their own container. Nico with popcorn and chocolate chips, Jason with popcorn and m&m's, Annabeth with popcorn and butter fingers, Percy with blue m&m's, Piper with sour gummy bears, and Reyna and Drew sharing Jelly Beans and sour straws. Drew had made Piper make sure Aurum and Argentum had a plate with a few dog treats and marshmallows, and Nico had tossed a blanket over them.

As the movie played Leo Jason Percy and occasionally Annabeth yelled at the characters on screen. Piper occasionally stated behind the scenes facts.

During a particularly tense moment, Piper, realizing her hands were cold, poked her sister's foot that was barely out of the blanket making her yelp and Piper roar with laughter.

"Gods-damn it Piper!"

Piper waited a few minutes then did it again. Then a third time.

"Piper." Reyna warned.

"Alright, alright." She scooted closer to the arm of the couch and waited.

She looked over at Reyna and Drew. Drew was watching the movie one hand on the bowl of candy and the other on Reyna's, but Reyna on the other hand was watching Piper. She shook her head slowly with a slight glare. Drew, feeling Reyna move, looked up at Reyna then at Piper mimicking the Puerto Rican's glare.

Piper glared back then looked away pretending to barf. They were almost disgustingly cute.

A few minutes later she scared Drew again this time receiving a harsh kick.

"Ow! What was that for?" Piper yelped, rubbing her arm.

"I didn't kick you that hard."

"You totally did, Reyna."

Not even Reyna kicking her was enough to stop her. She tried one more time to scare Drew. This time she was unsuccessful.

"Hermanito." Reyna said.

And suddenly Piper was freezing then she found herself on the floor. She looked at the couch where she was once sitting and found Nico curled up with the darkness partially swirling around him. Actually, the dark in the entire room seemed to be moving as if Nico was making the room appear as dark as it did when she was afraid of it.

Piper settled in her new spot petting the nearest dog.

It was towards the end of the second movie when Drew tried scaring Piper. It worked only once. Piper nearly jumped out of her seat surprising Jason and Percy who were way more afraid of the movie than they let on.

Beginning of the third movie was when Reyna began to mess with Piper. She used a bit of magic she picked up from Circe and tried to make it feel like a spider was walking on her. It worked for a few moments then Piper figured it out and began ignoring the sensation.

Reyna switched tactics. She poked Aurum with her foot who pressed their cold nose into Piper's side hitting her ticklish spot.

Piper pressed her palm against the dog's nose and turned it's head away. "I know that was you, Reyna."

"I don't control their every move."

"Oh please. They would do whatever you asked."

Reyna opened her mouth to respond when Drew silenced her. "Ssshhhh. We're at the good part."

Reyna kissed her head and returned to watching the comedy. The older boys insisted on one happy movie to negate the scary before bed.

By the time the movie watching session ended Reyna was sitting between her girlfriend and her best friend/little brother. And both of them were nearly asleep on her shoulders.

"Nico, it's time for bed."

Nico nodded, sitting up and gathering his blanket. A second later he disappeared into the shadows and probably into Reyna's guest room / home office.

"Nico gone?"

"Sí, Amor. It's time for bed." Reyna told her standing up. She offered Drew her hand.

Her girlfriend shook her head. "Too tired. Carry me?"

Reyna smiled while rolling her eyes. "Alright." She picked up Drew with ease (something that made Jason and especially Percy jealous) and walked to her room. Aurum and Argentum followed, nudging the door open as they got closer.

Reyna set Drew down carefully. It wasn't the right moment to drop her on the bed. They were both too tired for the game that would begin if she did.

Reyna moved to the door and locked it.

"What kind of pajamas do you want today?" She asked, grabbing her own.

"I'm good."

Reyna turned around and saw her gorgeous girlfriend sitting on her bed shirtless. Today had been a stay at home no bra necessary day. Reyna looked down briefly and felt her cheeks grow warm. She put her pajamas away and joined Drew on the bed.

Drew kissed Reyna tugging on the edges of her shirt. “You don’t need this.”

Reyna let her pull her band tee (courtesy of Thalia) over her head. “What do you want to do?”

Drew ignored her and tugged at her shorts. “You don’t need these.”

Reyna slipped them off and tossed them aside. “What do you want to do?”

Drew rested against Reyna. “I’m too tired to want to do anything, but I’m too awake to sleep.”

Reyna turned off the lamp and rested her hand on Drew’s stomach. The pair laid down, and Reyna kissed Drew’s shoulder. “Thank you, for reading with me today.”

“No problem, Amore. I love reading. Especially with you.”

“What would you like to do tomorrow?”

“Walk on the beach?”

“Alright.” Reyna kissed Drew’s shoulder once more. “Want to go swimming?”

“Sounds nice.” Drew said quietly. “Hey, why did Annabeth say she and Percy had finished their homework early? Isn’t it summer?”

“It is. Annabeth convinced Percy to take a few summer classes so their schedule can be lighter during the year and they can graduate a bit early.”

“What is Percy studying again?”

“He started with Marine biology, but he realized it was going to be a lot of science. I think he’s doing physical therapy now and keeping Marine Biology as a minor.”

“Physical therapy?”

“Yeah. Annabeth showed him a video of a pool being used as part of someone’s therapy. He’s been interested ever since. That and he can heal using water.”

“I guess pool is not a bad thing to smell like.”

"Neither is the beach."

"Think we can leave everyone else out?"

"Maybe every one but Nico and Will."

"Will isn't here."

"For now. Nico will probably go get him to avoid being a third wheel."

"Double dates are fun."

"Glad you think so."

Reyna kissed Drew's shoulder blade and pulled her closer. She breathed in her scent noticing Drew's perfume and sweat. Reyna settled down more and closed her eyes and fell asleep.

As soon as Drew trusted Reyna wouldn't wake up at the slightest movement she changed positions to face her gorgeous girlfriend. She also moved Reyna's arm so she wouldn't be laying on it. Reyna often let her sleep on her arm only to later wake up because the limb had become painfully asleep. Then she settled down draping an arm across Reyna's ribs. Her fingers traced an old injury. She didn't know the story behind the scar but trusted one day Reyna would tell her.

She spent the next few minutes trying to relax enough to fall asleep. She loved snuggling with her girlfriend, but said girl was always a furnace. Don't get her wrong, she felt incredibly lucky to have someone as amazing as Reyna. She would have never expected to be this happy a year ago, and yet here she was laying with the hottest girl ever.

She adjusted the blanket so her feet would stick out and settled back down.

She was nearly asleep when a whimper startled her awake. She lifted her head and spotted the source. Two sets of glowing ruby eyes were watching her. "Come on." She whispered.

Given permission the two fully grown greyhounds jumped on the queen bed. The siblings spun around a several times (accidently hitting each other a few times) and plopped down laying on the teens' feet.

The cold metal was too cold for comfort; Drew pulled her feet out from under the dog and instead lowered the blanket uncovering her shoulders. Drew relaxed once more and fell asleep.

#dreyna #reyna avila ramirez arellano #Drew Tanaka #drew is introducing reyna to gay classics #and they snuggle while reading #my writing #shared secrets

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enbyleighlines · 4 years

Note

Please please please can we have some nie huaisang for the modern mdzs au? I would especially love to see either their confession to Jiang Cheng or, if the two of them are friends in the au, them coming out to Meng Yao? Your writing is amazing by the way.

Of course, anonymous!! But why did you have to put two prompts in one??? Now I have to choose one or the other ;_;

I decided to go with option #1. Since you typed that one first, I’m assuming it was your preferred option?? Hopefully??? If not you can send in the second prompt again and I’ll fill that, too!

I hope you enjoy~

—

Weddings are meant to be happy occasions, a celebration of love and fidelity.

Nie Huaisang hates weddings. Or rather, they WANT to hate weddings, because they remind them of how unbearably single they still are, and will likely remain to be for the foreseeable future. But it’s hard to hate a good excuse to get all dolled up.

Nie Huaisang studies their reflection. They’ve always had a steady hand, and an aesthetic eye. Even so, Nie Huaisang thinks they may have outdone themself this time.

The look is understated, but beautiful. Nie Huaisang’s eyes pop, framed with dark lashes. It’s not overly feminine. The gloss on their lips is a neutral tone, and the blush is subtle, almost unnoticeable. The bronzer is giving their skin a healthy, sun-kissed glow. The warm tones are only highlighted with the contrast of Nie Huaisang’s dark olive outfit: a matching dress shirt and high-waisted, a-line skirt.

In short, Nie Huaisang looks good.

They’re in the woman’s bathroom, although Nie Huaisang doesn’t like it any more than the men’s bathroom. The bride, Jiang (soon to be Jin) Yanli had tried to find a venue with a gender-neutral option, but unfortunately, there were none. In any case, Nie Huaisang appreciates the gesture. But when a woman Nie Huaisang doesn’t know enters, Nie Huaisang quickly packs up the rest of their makeup and skitters out.

Nie Yuyan, Huaisang’s cousin, is waiting outside. She’s one of the bridesmaids, and the pale violet dress looks odd on her. She brightens when she sees them.

“Huaisang! Look at you!” Nie Yuyan says.

“I can still do your makeup, if you want,” Huaisang offers.

But Nie Yuyan shakes her head, as they knew she would. “I just can’t get used to the feeling if it on my skin,” she explains, “I don’t want to be rubbing at my face all through the ceremony. Imagine how unattractive that would be!” She laughs, the way she usually does, without any restraint or attempt to cover her mouth.

They’re opposites, the two of them, as different as Huaisang and Mingjue. Nie Yuyan grew up on a dairy farm. She is strong, big-boned, and simple. She does not second-guess her words or actions.

Nie Huaisang is not like her. They are slim, fragile, clumsy, and too often wrapped up in their own inner world.

But they understand each other. Both of them defy expectations. Nie Yuyan is loud when she’s supposed to be quiet and demure. Nie Huaisang is cowardly when they’re supposed to be fearless and manly, like their Dage, Mingjue.

And today, they are on a dual mission.

“Have you seen either of them yet?” Nie Huaisang asks, as the two of them head back outside.

The bride and groom are going to exchange their vows outside, in the garden, underneath the branches of trees dangling twinkling fairy lights like halos over their heads. But the actual ceremony is still a little over an hour away. For now, the guests are mingling amongst the flowers.

“Yes,” Nie Yuyan whispers. Or at least, it’s her best attempt at a whisper. “I saw yours by the chocolate fountain.”

“Don’t call him ‘mine’,” Nie Huaisang sighs. They look off towards the chocolate fountain, and breathe softly in relief to find that Jiang Cheng is still there.

The man looks like a dream, in his rich purple tux. He is one of the groomsmen, along with his Gege, Wei Wuxian, who is also at the chocolate fountain. Both are partaking of the cookies, though Nie Huaisang is pleased to note that only one of them has crumbs all over their mouth— and it isn’t Jiang Cheng.

Nie Yuyan clutches at Nie Huaisang’s arm. “Ah, I see him! I see Lan Xichen!” She points in a different direction.

Nie Yuyan’s crush is dressed in a pale blue suit. He is surrounded by many of his friends, including Nie Mingjue. The man is indeed handsome, Nie Huaisang can admit, though his beauty is rather... sterile. That’s the only word Nie Huaisang can think to describe it.

But Yuyan is beside herself with lovesickness. “Look at him,” she coos, “He hasn’t aged a day since I last saw him.”

Nie Huaisang hums. Their gaze has already shifted back to Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng’s sleeves are rolled up and out of the way for easier snacking. It exposes a bit of his muscular forearms. Back in high school, he used to play soccer, so most of his strength is in his legs, Huaisang knows. Still, Jiang Cheng’s arm muscles are no laughing matter.

Huaisang wants Jiang Cheng to hand-feed them chocolate-dipped strawberries. They allow themself just a minute to imagine it.

“Alright,” Nie Yuyan says, “Are you ready?”

Huaisang startles. “We’re going to confess now?” They ask, “Before the ceremony even starts?”

“Well, when did you want to confess?”

“At the reception,” Nie Huaisang answers, “towards the end of the night. That way, if things go wrong, we can just leave. If we confess now, we’ll just make things awkward.”

“That’s so far from now,” Nie Yuyan complains, pouting. But she doesn’t even try to argue.

Nie Huaisang shakes their head. They can understand their cousin’s enthusiasm; after all, Lan Xichen is a kind man, he’s straight, and even if he turns her down, he’s bound to do so gently.

Confessing to Jiang Cheng will be a whole other beast. Nie Huaisang fully expects to be turned down. After all, Jiang Cheng is also straight, and he already has a girlfriend. Or, rather, he has Wen Qing. In fact, Nie Huaisang isn’t confessing in the hopes of getting a date. They just want to make their feelings known, at last, after all these years.

Maybe then, Nie Huaisang’s heart will finally let them move on.

“Well,” Nie Yuyan says, “I’m at least going to go and talk to him. I haven’t seen him since last summer! You should go catch up with your friends.”

Then she gives them an encouraging pat on the back which slaps all the air out of their lungs.

Nie Huaisang stumbles forward, and turns back to give her a scowl.

But Nie Yuyan has already disappeared.

—

At the chocolate fountain, Nie Huaisang slowly inches their way into the conversation between the two brothers.

“...like a Chinese Gordon Ramsey,” Jiang Cheng is saying, “She desperately needs to retire, but you know how she is. Unless she manages to find a new hobby, she’ll be haunting the kitchen even after she dies.”

Nie Huaisang immediately recognizes that they’re talking about Madam Yu, Jiang Cheng’s Muqin. Ever since Jiang Cheng has begun working at Lotus Soup, his family’s restaurant, he and Madam Yu have been butting heads more than usual. They love each other, Nie Huaisang knows, but they’re also a little too similar.

“You mean, a hobby other than drinking wine and gossiping with the other suburban moms?” Wei Wuxian counters.

Nie Huaisang cannot help but chuckle.

The brothers turn to look at them. Wei Wuxian greets them first, with a friendly arm around the shoulders.

“Hey, Huaisang-xiong!” Wei Wuxian says, “You’re looking good!”

Nie Huaisang glances aside at Jiang Cheng, trying to check if he agrees. However, the man’s face is in its usual state of pensive anger. So Nie Huaisang returns their attention to Wei Wuxian. “Thank you, Wuxian-xiong,” they reply, “...Cheng-xiong.”

Jiang Cheng nods.

“How have you been?” Wei Wuxian asks, “How’s the photography?”

“Good,” Nie Huaisang answers, relaxing now that they have an easy topic to discuss, “You should see some of these shots I took the other day of this great blue heron. The sky in the background is this beautiful pale orange color— it’s absolutely gorgeous.”

From then, they continue to talk about their various arts; Nie Huaisang’s photography, Wei Wuxian’s comics, and Jiang Cheng’s gourmet cooking. It’s a well-worn conversation, but they still haven’t run out of things to say. Nie Huaisang listens with awe whenever Jiang Cheng flaunts his culinary prowess.

Nie Huaisang could listen to Jiang Cheng talk about food for hours— even if it makes them hungry.

Of course, Wei Wuxian has to monopolize the conversation. Nie Huaisang loves him, but man, the guy can talk. But all of Wei Wuxian’s mindless chatter gets Jiang Cheng to make the funniest expressions, so Nie Huaisang doesn’t complain.

It feels like being in high school again, funnily enough. Nie Huaisang smiles, and tries not to think about how much it’ll hurt when Jiang Cheng rejects them later.

—

The ceremony is beautiful. Nie Huaisang is still thinking about it as they pick at their plate of food. It’s been provided by the cooks at Lotus Soup. Perhaps Jiang Cheng has ever prepared some of it himself. Nie Huaisang would be savoring every last bite, if only their stomach wasn’t currently full of nervous butterflies.

Nearly everyone else is out on the dance floor. Nie Huaisang watches the newly wed Jin Zixuan and Yanli twirl and dig around each other. They look so, so happy.

Nie Yuyan leans closer to her cousin. “So... is now a good time?”

Nie Huaisang closes their eyes, and tries not to let the terror show on their face. But there’s no good reason to keep procrastinating, so they say, “Yeah... we might as well.”

Nie Yuyan jumps to her feet, nearly tipping her chair toppling down to the floor. “Whoops,” she laughs, as carefree as ever.

Nie Huaisang gets up much more carefully. They can feel their heart pounding in their throat.

The cousins then part ways, after one last shared look. Nie Huaisang heads off towards the back of the room, where Jiang Cheng is sitting at the table reserved for the bride’s family.

He’s by himself. Even Jiang Fengmian and Madam Yu are off dancing.

Nie Huaisang glances around, but they don’t see hide nor hair of Wen Qing. That doesn’t surprise them, though. Whatever strange relationship she and Jiang Cheng have, it mostly takes place behind closed doors.

As they approach, Jiang Cheng glances up over the rim of his champagne glass. He raises a single eyebrow inquisitively.

“May I sit?” Nie Huaisang asks, pointing to the seat beside Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng scowls, as if the formality of the question offends him. He lowers his cup and says, “Go right ahead. What’s up?”

Nie Huaisang tips their head slightly and sits down. They take their time smoothing out their skirt, hoping that someone or something will interrupt before Nie Huaisang is forced to say something that they can’t take back.

Unfortunately, nothing happens.

When Nie Huaisang doesn’t immediately reply, Jiang Cheng waves a hand in front of their face. “Hey, Huaisang-xiong? Did you need something?”

“Uh, not really,” Nie Huaisang says. They cough into their fist, just to give themself another second to stall. Their heart is hammering faster than Nie Huaisang thought humanly possible. “I... just wanted to say something.”

“Okay?” Jiang Cheng sounds bored.

Nie Huaisang’s heart plummets. They squeeze their eyes shut, and begin to explain, in a frenzied rush, “I have to tell you something, and I just want you to hear me out. Please... don’t interrupt me until I’m done. And... promise not to laugh.” And then they laugh themselves, nervously, into their wrist.

Jiang Cheng sits up straighter. “Okay,” he says, “I promise. Just tell me what’s wrong.”

“Nothing’s wrong,” Nie Huaisang quickly clarifies, “It’s just... Ah, this is embarrassing!” They suddenly wish they had brought one of their folding fans, or maybe a wide-brimmed hat, to hide their face behind. “I want to share my feelings,” they finally say.

“Your feelings?” Jiang Cheng asks. It’s clear from his voice that he has no idea what that implies.

Nie Huaisang sighs. Really, must Jiang Cheng be such a lovable meathead? Even at a time like this? But Nie Huaisang takes pity on their crush and says, “My... romantic feelings.”

“Oh.” Jiang Cheng immediately relaxes. “Okay. I don’t know how much I can help, but sure. Who do you like?”

Really?! Nie Huaisang resists the urge to slap themself in the forehead. Instead, they ball up their fists, prepare for the absolute worst, and blurt out, “You!”

“Huh?” Jiang Cheng blinks. And then he blinks again. “Me?”

Nie Huaisang nods. “Yes, you,” they say, “I... I’ve liked you since high school. And my feelings aren’t going away on their own, so... I wanted to let you know. If you reject me, maybe... maybe I can finally let go of this silly crush.”

“Oh.” Jiang Cheng looks... shocked, but not mad, not disgusted. “Huaisang-xiong, you know I... I don’t like men? Or, uh...” He gestures to Nie Huaisang’s body. “Sorry, I don’t know the correct terminology.”

Nie Huaisang shakes their head. “I know,” they insist, dangerously close to tears. But this is what they need, this is why they confessed. They can’t cry now, not after getting what they wanted. “That’s why I expect to be rejected,” Nie Huaisang explains, “I just... I need you to tell me I don’t stand a chance.”

“O-oh.” Jiang Cheng’s face falls, understanding finally setting in. “I had no idea.”

“No duh!” Nie Huaisang wants to laugh. They want to cry. They don’t do either. “I’ve been keeping it a secret. Not even Wuxian-xiong knows.”

An awkward silence falls between them. Nie Huaisang waits for the guillotine to finally fall, but nothing happens.

“Cheng-xiong,” Nie Huaisang chokes, pleadingly, “Tell me...”

“Tell you... what?”

Nie Huaisang throws up their hands, exasperated beyond belief. “Tell me I don’t stand a chance with you! Break my heart so I can finally move on!”

Jiang Cheng stiffens, his face twisting in pain. “That... that sounds so fucking brutal, though,” he argues, “I don’t... I mean, you’re not exactly a girl, but you’re not exactly a guy, either. So I don’t think I can...”

“Don’t think you can what?” Nie Huaisang feels their chest constricting. They desperately want to flee and pretend they never tried to confess.

“I...” Jiang Cheng bites his lip. “Huaisang-xiong, I know this might seem cruel to you, but I don’t know what to think right now. Can you... give me some time? I can give you a proper answer later, after the wedding.”

A proper answer? What is Jiang Cheng talking about?

“Cheng-xiong?”

Jiang Cheng stands up abruptly. “After the wedding,” he repeats, “I’ll... I’ll call you, okay? I just need some time.”

Then he walks off, leaving Nie Huaisang to gape into the empty air.

—

The night ends, with Nie Yuyan and Lan Xichen sneaking off together. Nie Huaisang watches them, and tries not to let their pain and confusion show on their face. Instead, they flash Nie Yuyan a thumbs-up and a smile.

At least one of them got the man of their dreams.

And Jiang Cheng didn’t say no, Nie Huaisang reminds themself. Jiang Cheng didn’t say no, but why?

Nie Huaisang packs up to head back home alone, but that question keeps playing on repeat in the back of their mind. And in their heart, a dim but determined spark of hope continues to flicker.

#asks #anon #mo dao zu shi #mdzs modern au #sangcheng #chengqing #anonymous #drabbles #leigh’s writing

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rowanartist · 4 years

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Fan fiction quotes 2019:

"with great foods, came great emotional baggage"[X]extra funny since I just saw Into the Spiderverse

"Just get together every couple of weeks, without Stark, and you guys can pass Steve around like a bong."[ch2]whaat? And chapter three is a dirty parody - worth a read for the humor of it

"he just hopes Tony has the sense God gave concussed baby sheep "[X]interesting phrase

"“Science,” Jane says, drawing his face to hers, “Does not require pants "[X]fun series of short fics

"Never something so hot; not like a flame is hot, but the strength of something bathed in summer sun. "[X]interesting view on attraction

"(He'd been sketching when he thought that through; now there's a page that has a little cartoon of himself, ducking, with the caption "the spoons are attacking!" although he'd ended up finishing his latte before he actually drew any flying spoons.) "[X]Steve upon learning about spoon theory

"Can you think of anything that symbolizes the eighties better than David Bowie’s crotch in tights? "[X]giggle out loud! "You drink once if someone whines, if Sarah says something isn’t fair, or if we get a shot of Bowie’s crotch. "[Same]comment

"“Like you’re going to vibrate out of your skin?” Natasha finished for him, understanding. Sometimes, after what they’d been through, it was hard just to be in your body. Easier to dissociate, to let whatever was going to happen happen while the part of you that was you floated far away. Natasha had been there before, and she knew James went there sometimes. "[X]ponder?

"They’re each wrapped up in their own blanket burrito, lying side by side in the dark, sharing one pillow. "[X]dual blanket burritos

"For most of his life he learned the safest option was to repress his emotional responses as much as possible, and over time he forgot how to access them when he actually needed to. "[X]relatable to a small degree

"Nothing too special but I’m pretty much Michael Bay’s wet dream "[X]to describe bakugo lol

"Most people," Midoriya continued gently, "don't need to be told they have a crush by the person that they have the crush on."[X]my boyfriend can relate to Midoriya here...

"about how if Midoriya could go this long talking without breathing in any new air, he'd probably be really good at kissing. "[same]lol

"God, fuck off. You look so freshly screwed that it hurts me. "[X]Bakugo ;p

"After all, shodō is one of Shouto’s hobbies. For Midoriya’s birthday last year, he made a beautiful poster of UA’s motto that is now displayed prominently above Midoriya’s bed. "[X]draw? If i can? "Please don’t use your All Might voice when we’re making plans to have sex. "[Same]lol

"He’d known for a while that his boyfriend internalizes, that he still struggles with a lot of insecurities and periodic depression from his years around his dad "[X]comment

"Shouto you’re worth more than anything. And you deserve happiness. I don’t care what micro-dick has said to you in the past or any shit he spews out of the mouth that’s somehow more obnoxious than Present Mic "[same]dam it Endeavor :/ "You’re a dork,” Izuku mutters in a break for breath. “Your dork,” Shouto says quietly "[Same]awww

"But if you ever forget your phone again I will use you as an advertisement balloon for a day, and that’s a promise."[X]lol

"First of all, I challenge you to find a dress that can fit that shoulders to waist ratio.” Shouto replied, matter-of-factly, pointing at Izuku’s entire body. “Secondly, you absolutely lack the manners to be a princess, you brute.” "[X]part of a series

"Another young woman that couldn’t be older than Shouto and Izuku looked up at the call. She had a round face and long, brown hair with little orange streaks every now and then collected in a braid. The red rimmed glasses she wore made her yellow eyes look bigger, behind the lenses. She lit up, when she saw them. "[X]need to try to draw

"You’d die of embarrassment— Either that, or Aizawa-sensei would kill you. And I kind of like you alive, thank you very much.” "[same]LOL

" is standing there in grey sweats and a loose Totoro hoodie he got him on one of their first dates "[X]draw

"It definitely didn’t help that Izuku stretched lazily, something akin to a cat just waking up from a nap, one of his legs stretching against the wall as the opposite arm reached towards Shouto with fingers spread wide-open. "[X]DRAW!

"What? They’re really short, all my boxers showed and it was weird. "[X]...

"Just because he isn’t as obvious about it, doesn’t mean Shouto isn’t beyond anxious too. "[X]comment

"He doesn’t treat Shouto like he is fragile, but he treats him like he is precious, and that is an important distinction"...."Something precious, however, doesn’t necessarily break easy, but it warrants the utmost care. It’s meant to be cherished. "[X]relationship advice

"One of the national dishes has no meat in it, but it’s the hottest thing I’ve ever tasted. I thought we were all going to die and T’Challa was going to succeed in eliminating us. Then I heard him yelling at the chef, saying none of us were used to Wakandan peppers.” "[X]https://archiveofourown.org/works/8688724/chapters/19918951#workskin

"All Tony was supposed to do was fix the alternator. Instead he built me a Jeep that tells me I have to initiate a proper launch sequence before I’m able to turn it on and drive.” "[Same]comment

"I’m sorry,” Midoriya retracts his hand, and Todoroki misses it instantly. “It’s not something I can fix, and that makes me sad. You don’t deserve to hear the things he tells you.” "[X]reread comment. Relatable to a degree personally

"But he has to admit the Docs greener side is awfully useful in a brawl; and his less menacing side has a wicked sense of humor, not to mention awfully good with a med kit. "[X]i like Bruce having a sense of humor

"That's what friends are for anyway, having your back when times are tough, and amusement for when times are peaceful. "[X]amusing

"Bucky didn't think he was being rude, but if Captain America said so, it must be true. "[Same]comment

"Steve’s always been a fan of cuddles, even if he doesn’t like to admit it, admit how much he needs that physical contact. "[X]I'm a fan of this concept

"Which in Steve-speak means that you’re feeling guilty as all hell over things you can’t control – again, mind you – and you can’t rest because you can’t shut your brain up.” "[Same]relate "There’s power in this act, Darcy thinks as she sucks and licks up and down his length. To be able to take someone apart with just her mouth and a few touches of her hands. Reduce them to tears or send them flying upwards into the heavens. And the knowledge that she wants to do this for him – for them – makes the feeling all the more potent. She doesn’t have to do this, but it’s her choice, and she wants to give this to them. "[Same]ponder more

"She may not come from it, but the closeness and the intimacy is far more important than any orgasm. "[X]remember

"He knows better, knows that Bakugou’s punches of greeting and movie nights at Yaoyorozu’s house with Mina, Hagakure, and Tsu, and that baking with Izuku are all love. That’s love, not the villain sat behind the desk. "[X]dark fic, author warns in notes. But this line is sweet

"Natasha Romanoff is a world-class spy, yes. But she’s also a potato chip thief who makes dumb jokes and uses emoticons (she had been very adamant that Steve learn the difference between emoticons and emojis), and Steve adores her for it. "[ch5]she's human

"Bucky flopped onto it rolling around like a dog on the soft surface, Natasha quietly responding by taking out her phone and videoing his nonsense. "[ch2]Mr. Kate style rug cuddle but solo

"“First of all, just because someone is good looking does not mean I should have sex with them. There are attractive serial killers Nat, do you want me to get murdered? Second of all, I don’t know him. Third of all, he’s not looking at me like I’m chicken wings, also Clint, seriously? Chicken wings?” "[same]lol, but I'm with you Bucky

"Even in just plain sweatpants, the American icon without a shirt was an image that would have anyone seeing stars and stripes, regardless of sexual orientation. "[X]:)

"Agent Bishop was hit with a biological weapon today that has a ninety-two per cent chance of ending in fatality within three days unless proper care is administered to disperse the chemical compound through natural methods. Meaning, in the case of humans, sexual release. As in, orgasming."[X]a legalese description of "sex pollen" ...

"Do the horizontal contra dance, yes," Darcy answered. "Well kind of, I mean there's only three of us and a contra dance is four to a group, but tango is just for two and I had to think of something fast. Come on, Stevie, this isn't the first time we've hooked up. "[X]lol

"He wanted something just for him again, even though he felt like a selfish asshole for even thinking it. So he would do whatever he could to chase after that feeling. Even if it was stupid. Even if it was silly. "[ch2]advice, remember "Tony must never read these, Steve thought. Bucky’s arm would never be safe. "[ch3]Steve Discovers FanFiction "Steve stayed focused on the screen, sticking out his tongue a little while he concentrated. It was unfairly adorable. "[ch4]Jarvis knows how to motivate Steve: a Bucky themed typing game "Good things would happen. Funny, clever jokes would be told. Sexy adventures were always available, no matter what was happening in the real world. "[X]relatable "There was even a page of ‘Bucky Approved Sex Words and Phrases’. The name alone never failed to make Steve smile "[ch7]lol "He wasn’t really writing this stuff for the money anyways; mostly he just wanted to see that other people liked and enjoyed what he was doing. "[Same]relatable: my redbubble rowan-artist

"Darcy’s eyes widened. “Oh god, I just imagined you naked, dusted in gold, on a satin-sheeted bed. My mind is a dangerous place.” “Hey, there’s always Halloween.” "[ch6]you being Steve

"Jane was rapidly nearing the angry-bear stage of sleep deprivation (there were seven levels on the Dr. Jane Foster Sleep Deprivation chart; angry bear was number five, between 'genius-level insane productivity' and 'sugar high five-year old'), "[X]also Dean Fury ... "Then you come to me, we'll kill a bottle of Jameson and make Thor carry our drunk asses home while we sing Les Mis horribly off-key," "[same]amusing

"This is why you should always read end-user agreements on friendships. "[X]not the fic but the start notes, lol. Also, Maria's entry is adorable, and Pepper potts!! "(“So what you’re telling me is you spent a week building a glorified roomba,” Rhodey says the first time he sees it, and Tony lets out an undignified huff and makes JUNK-E destroy and clean a grand piano.) "[Same]hahha

"And it’s better to be an asset, which at least sounds like something you value, than a glorified action figure. "[ch3]comment "Steve’s friendship is stronger than even Steve’s shield, and protects them both just as much "[Same ch9]awww

"Bucky actually is, but she knows well enough not to ask. Instead, she has started braiding flowers into Natasha's hair while the other girl of the group is busy making a flower crown for Thor. This is what it must be like to have real friends, Bucky thinks, lounging in his camping chair, trying to eat with one hand while Steve is holding his arm, drawing on the inside of his forearm with a black pen. "[ch2]flower crowns "I heard a lot of things I kind of projected on myself. It's probably stupid, but… it's always crazy to hear things that apply to oneself somehow." "It's the magic of music. Sam once told me about the Mr. Brightside effect–" "[ch4]yes "Bruce is on his own so much that he probably doesn't even notice that he has friends "[ch5]relatable, high school me

"The most beautiful thing however was the wall right next to the bed-- while all the other walls were the same off-white color, this one sported stripes of different colors down. Blue, red, green, purple, black, another shade of lighter blue. In the middle of these stripes, the Avenger signs were painted by a meticulous hand; Cap’s shield, Tony’s arc reactor, Mew Mew, and so on-- Darcy didn’t notice she was crying into Mara started wailing in solidarity "[ch1]draw?

"He knows it, like Steve and Bucky know that Tony needs praises and affection, not commands. "[ch8]...

"She thanked Sif (a habit she had started lately, thanking the Asgardian warrior instead of some non-present God, because really, if there was a god she wanted to follow, it would totally be Sif) "[X]nice Darcy "Even if she wasn’t an Avenger per say, she got to be on the team, both super and nonsuper alike. "[ch2]awww

"Elizabeth is going to make coffee happen, and in Darcy’s eyes that makes her a goddess. "[X]comment "By the end, Steve had been right in the thick of it, using a frypan as a shield and hurling pasta like nobody’s business. "[same]comment "Agent Hill’s bad ass levels are through the roof, but put her in front of a powerpoint and the result is coma-inducing. "[Ch3]lol "JARVIS, my man, I need some fat beats up in here. Help a sister out?” "[ch3]comment

"She knew now that it was almost certainly to do with her personal level of comfort and how hard both Steve and Barnes had worked to make her feel good. "[middle chapter]comment

"A video clip of the Asgardian scientist Tadeas and Neil Degrasse Tyson singing a scientific ballad of their own composition was one of the most viewed Youtube videos of all time "[X]lol "He grabbed [a muffin] and shoved it into his mouth, belatedly peeling the paper off. "[Same]haha! :D "Darcy put a box of Sour Patch Kids on top, “Those are for Heimdall.” "[X]comment "“No. Damnit, Darcy. You’re stubborn. Of course you’re stubborn! Jesus Christ, I can’t even imagine what it must like to be in the same room as the two of you.” "[X]best friend sass "But Clint is a human with a bow on a team of superheroes. "[X]Darcy's favorite avenger and why Ch4 music note "Apparently Thor is back on Earth. He showed up in New York right after we left and basically deafened all of Brooklyn with his displeased shouting about his missing Shield Sister. So now everyone knows I’m gone and my disappearance is trending on Twitter as #MissingAsgardianPrincess. How is this my life?! I can’t even with this shit.” "[X]mild spoiler? HAHAHA "Try having a conversation with one of them [asgardians]-- 4 to 1 odds it turns into some sort of ballad recitation. "[X]...

"The next day, Izuku Midoriya delivered his eleven page elaborate essay on how ordering sex toys inspired him to be more honest with himself and his boyfriend about what he wanted in life and in bed. "[X]lol

"“Fire for stop, ice for slow, and smash for go.” "[X]comment

#fan fiction #fic rec #2019

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sailor-cresselia · 5 years

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The Great Ex-Aid Rewatch: Eps 07-08

...so I guess I’m liveblogging my notes now. This is a thing that’s happening.

Eh. It’ll let me keep easier access to them if I do this, so I might as well.

You wanna know something that’s driving me up a wall with regards to the early OP? Kiriya is entirely in white. Like, Emu is in his red pants and yellow shirt under his coat, and at least Hiiro and Taiga get to have their darker pants and shirts underneath their coats, but Kiriya is in just white. It’s super disconcerting.

...actually, Taiga’s ‘action’ shot of him twirling his gashat looks like it could have come from his episode zero special, since he’s clearly wearing dark purple scrubs under the white coat, and it’s in that same alley that they had him doing the simulation in. Huh.

But Kiriya. White leather jacket. White, normal length pants. Super disconcerting.

–––

I love how sometimes, like here on the beach against the two collabos bugsters and ‘the black ex-aid’, you can tell that those transformation cutscenes are actually happening!

Like, sometimes after a Brave level up sequence, you’ll see him stepping down and putting his arms down from his door-opening pose. And here we have Ex-Aid dropping down from mid-air, now wearing the Gekitotsu Robots armor. It’s a nice touch.

–

…okay, so. It’s not just an issue with Google Translate that keeps turning ‘bugster’ into ‘bug star’ when materials for Ex-Aid get auto-translated. Toei does it themselves. The English sub-heading on the report Kiriya reads to Jungo says ‘Grade confidential report of the bug star virus infection by Ministry of Health’. I’d thought it might be G.Translate having issues like it does with names, but apparently not. (How many ways can the auto-translate try to write gashat? Who knows? It’s about as many different ways as it can try to write Emu’s name.)

Speaking of this scene… Kiriya used to wear normal clothes!

Well, he used to wear non-floral buttonups, anyway. And intact pants, though they were still rolled up to a capri length, the same way his tattered jeans are. The shoes are the same, and he’s wearing a regular labcoat – and properly, he’s using the sleeves and everything!

–

So. Parad. As anyone who has seen my writing knows, I hecking LOVE Parad and all the potential he brings to the table.

In Episode 3, he showed up to tell Graphite to chill, and dared Taiga to collect all the gashats. He and Graphite teleported out – right after Graphite told Parad that he’s weird – and Emu showed up chasing the patient of the day.

Episode 7. The Lazer vs. Genm Black Ex-Aid fight. Kiriya launches a finisher, a veritable storm of arrows. KUROTO AIN’T DOING SO HOT. He’s getting hit by a lot of energy arrows, right up until Parad NYOOMS in behind the smokescreen of fire.

Like, literally zooms into frame – not even a teleport, there’s a motion blur that’s in the shape of his silhouette there.

He holds up ONE HAND and blocks the remainder of the arrows.

And he smirks. Didn’t seem to even really be bothered by the fire and energy hitting against the general area – because it wasn’t hitting him. It was all being blocked just before it made it to him.

He bought Kuroto enough time to get out of there before the smoke cleared, and Kuroto was already detransforming when Parad stepped in.

(…oh man, the attack was still ongoing at that point… If Parad hadn’t interfered, Kiriya might have accidentally killed the guy he was trying to expose a few years early.)

So. With that said…

Parad clearly has shielding abilities, and as far as I know, none of the other bugsters have that.

Graphite has his fire attacks, and Lovelica has his. Er. Mind control. (Because of course the otome game has mind control.) But Poppy gets free transformation between her bugster and human guises, and the other two seem to need a bugvisor to either stabilize or access their ‘monster’ forms, despite being the other two complete bugsters.

Parad, who is technically ‘incomplete’, never came directly after the Riders until he had his Gashat Gear Dual.

What could he have done if he had an offensive skill?!

And doesn’t it just make sense that, without a fully realized game of his own, Parad gets most of his makeup from Emu? Because whether you place him as originally being the bugster from Mighty Action C or from Emu’s original idea for Mighty Brothers… neither of those games were finished. They were a demo or hadn’t moved past the concept stage, respectively. He doesn’t have a defined source material to draw powers from.

So, the bugster that would eventually be known as Parad, whether we say he was really there like he claims, or if he’s just… using Emu’s memories as if they were his own, still gets most of his identity from an eight-year-old.

One who, not long after being infected, was hit by a car.

It makes sense that his imaginary friend would have the ability to stop that, doesn’t it?

Emu and Parad do share the drowning imagery, after all. We see it more with Parad, but… down the road, when Emu is describing how scared he was after being hit? They use that same drowning shot, but with eight-year-old Emu. After it was used for Parad.

–

Back on track to episode 7, there’s also how, at this point, Parad has just jointly ruined Kiriya’s credibility and protected Kuroto’s identity as The Dark Ex-Aid. Kiriya, Hiiro, and Emu have all seen him in the vicinity of/being not-Genm, and Taiga saw him with Graphite in episode 3.

So, after he teleports away here, all four of our main riders have seen him in association with the bugsters, and have seen him teleport. AKA, they all know he’s a bugster.

They just have no idea who he is yet.

–––

Episode 8

So, the first half or so of the episode is pretty much standard fare – patient, bugster, Taiga being a dick, etc.

When Emu asks if Taiga’s holding the patient hostage in order to get his and Hiiro’s gashats? Taiga doesn’t answer.

Because he’s not holding him hostage. Taiga fully intends to destroy the bugster whether or not they show up – but he’d prefer to get the gashats first. Two birds, one stone. This is a simpler way to get them all at once.

–

You know, I’m still not sure if Zero Day, when numerous people were lost, is the same day as when Saki died. What Hiiro says implies it was, but we never really get a good description of when it happened. It’s clearly around the same time, since in Episode Zero, Kuroto said that they would ‘stop propagating the virus for now,’ after it was already a forgone conclusion that Taiga wouldn’t be able to save Saki. But does that mean that there were numerous other people who died that same night? I’ve never been able to tell.

(At least ep 4 finally showed me the confirmation of when Kiriya blackmailed his way into getting a Driver – three years before the show, and thus two years after Zero Day. Jungo died on Zero day in an ‘accident,’ so Kiriya had been living with that guilt, and with knowing about the bugster virus, for two years before he first confronted Kuroto. Interesting.)

–

Parad: (To Kuroto) Okay, so, I know you designed the protogashats and all, and they’re super powerful, which is awesome. But why the hell are you still using that thing? You’re gonna kill yourself.

…Hm. When Parad starts off, saying how the protogashats are powerful, he’s looking at his game, and smiling. When he mentions that Kuroto’s using one, he starts to set his game aside. When he says that it’ll destroy him… he turns and looks directly at Kuroto. With an incredibly judgemental look.

Learn from Taiga and Kuroto’s examples, kids. Don’t use protogashats.

(For the record, Excite’s translation of the line is “you’ll end up destroying yourself”, and RTA’s is “it will ruin your body.” Those are… slightly different implications, guys.)

… Kuroto why is your phone ORANGE.

–

Taiga: Oh, good, you two showed up after all.

Emu: I’m just here to save the patient.

Hiiro: I’m here to kick your ass, Hanaya.

Taiga: The one to get all the gashats… will be me.

–

…hold on.

Hold on a minute.

Taiga wanted to be the only Kamen Rider so that nobody else would have to suffer the way he did. But there was – theoretically, anyway – only the one protogashat when he was first active. They only ‘recently’ were able to get ten – and Taiga’s been out of the loop for five years. We were told about the ‘collect all ten’ aspect by Poppy, who’s been allied with the MoH and ‘good’ Kuroto.

Taiga… was dared. By Parad, who was with Graphite.

Would Taiga be using this same method if it weren’t for Parad? Would he be trying to take all the gashats by force if it hadn’t been told to him by the guy who was with his arch-enemy?

Yes, he doesn’t want anyone else to be a Rider. But nobody else seems to care about the collect ‘em all aspect they’ve been told about – Kiriya went for Giri Giri Chambara because he needed LEGS, but it was also about 50% incidental. Hiiro is dead set on being the only rider because he doesn’t think anyone else is qualified. Not to say he’s wrong, since he is the only one of the four who’s supposed to be here, but he’s also being an ass about it. Emu would just very much prefer that nobody die, thanks.

Would Taiga be so concerned with getting all of the gashats to keep the others out if he hadn’t spoken to Parad?

–

Hiiro has a lot less… skill as a Rider than the other four, doesn’t he? If a tactic he’s trying doesn’t work, he doesn’t try something else – he just keeps trying the same one again. I know that’s probably a surgeon habit – do it the same each time, to minimize the chance of error. But these ‘operations’ are anything but standard. Each and every other one of the Riders is able to improvise. Hiiro picks up on it a little more, by the time we hit the 20’s, but never to the extent of the others.

Here in ep 8, he tries using a boosted attack with the Doremifa Beat turntable – scratching it once or twice, and trying to use the sword beam. Over and over. Taiga dodges each and every attack. Everyone else varies their techniques, even just a little. Taiga’s always made good use of the multiple modes of his assorted firearms. Genm has his assorted OP weaponry – currently, Shakariki Sports and the Bugvisor’s chainsaw mode. Once Kiriya gained actual limbs, he’s damned good with the scythe mode and the bow and arrow mode of the Gashacon Sparrow. And Emu. Well, Emu is Emu, and has made good use of the Gashacon Breaker’s sword and hammer modes since day one, as well as the energy items and general genre savvy with regards to who they’re fighting.

I think it’s a little telling that during fights where nobody is being particularly targeted, Hiiro is often the first to go down. Kiriya spent episode 6 unconscious in the hospital because Kuroto singled him out for a beat down in episode 5, and that’s the only reason he was the first out of the ep 5 fight. Then it was Hiiro, and then Taiga.

Either Hiiro withdraws first out of safety concerns, as in episode 3, or he goes down first, as seen here in episode 8 against Taiga.

–

And then here comes the curveball. Once Taiga’s beaten Emu and Hiiro, we get a mirror conversation both there, and with Kiriya and Kuroto on what it means to use a Gamer Driver.

Taiga throws Hiiro for a loop, one that’s not helped by Emu having exactly zero idea what he’s talking about.

Kuroto throws Kiriya a nice little distraction, to keep the heat off of himself.

–

Learn from Taiga and Kuroto’s examples, kids. Don’t use protogashats. And DEFINITELY don’t use them like Graphite!

#kamen rider ex aid #sailorcressy says #mmm yes delicious speculation

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korinsu-t-blog · 5 years

Text

May 20 // Shibuya + Meiji Shrine

Got up super early again today, the jet lag is still strong but at least it’s not as bad later in the day. After lounging around all morning until 10 (I did cook some pasta on a tiny little burner, which was fun), we set out for two places: the Shibuya shopping district, and then a shrine to the Meiji Emperor, the man who almost singlehandedly ushered in the modernization of Japan within a single thirty-year reign. There was a lot of walking involved, but all in all it was pretty cool.

First, Shibuya. We got off the metro after a lengthy ride to find a statue of a famous dog, whose story you’ve probably read somewhere. It’s the one that would come to the station and wait for its owner every day, even after its owner passed away. I guess that dog sets the bar for getting a statue in your honor.

Shibuya was absolutely packed, but honestly I’m sorta getting used to defining new levels of crazy-jam-packed. You’ve got the subway packed, which is close but not uncomfortable. You’ve got the Shibuya packed, where it’s wide open and there’s a lot of people milling around but you can still make your own way. Then there’s the urban market hell that is Harajuku, where the alleys are tiny, the crowds are shoulder to shoulder, and it’s mass chaos.

After following Mr. Smith around Shibuya to a famous manga store (which didn’t open until noon), me and another guy named Austin split off on our own to do some looking around in a less conspicuous group. There’s still a lot of people staring at us, but they’re pretty good at hiding it. It’s very rare that you’ll actually turn around or catch someone’s eye and see them looking at you directly, but the other guys have noticed it a lot too. People always look right away though, it’s interesting. Anyways, Shibuya. We ended up on the fourth floor of a department store that was selling $8K suits and noped right out of there, then eventually found our way to a Uniqlo store that had some great shirts, all really inexpensive. Uniqlo is great, but it’s primarily JPN based and it’s hard to find their good stuff in america. After that, we wandered around a bit and decided to look for food. We happened to pass by a place roasting meat on a spinner like a gyro shop, and the rest was history- it was suuuuper good.

Portion sizes are very small here, but people make up for it by snacking a lot. If you move here though you’d get to a normal weight pretty fast, just cause it’s hard to find big portions and everything more or less just tops you off instead of making you super bloaty-full.

After Shibuya, we went on a twenty minute walk to a shrine to the Meiji Emperor. This was a Shinto shrine (Shintoism is the native religion of Japan, unlike the imported Buddhism) and after his death, the Meiji was deified, and got a cool temple to boot. This park is absolutely massive- 170 acres of forests and temple- despite being in Tokyo, the most stacked and demanding real estate market on the globe. Just goes to show you how important the work this guy did was to the people. It’s hard to describe what the forest is like, but it’s surreal how big it is. Everything is usually tight and homey, but then you get to the forest and the canopy is like five stories above you, everything is suddenly quiet, and it seems so massive in comparison to everywhere else. The Edo Museum was the only other time I’ve felt it, it’s really like stepping into an alternate slice of the world.

We saw an improv street performance as we were coming out of the forest, it was a lot of fun. A small four man group doing acrobatic tricks, it was a neat little ten minute show and a good break. After that, we walked to Harajuku, the ostensible home of youth culture and fashion of Japan. I don’t know how much I believed that, because it was more like market hell, if I’m being honest. Crazy packed, not too much stuff aimed at guys, and just not that great, especially to end the day. Maybe we went to the wrong part? I dunno.

Me and Austin ended up catching an early ride on the trains back to the apartments, but I think everyone is grouping up tonight to eat in and watch the game of thrones finale. Should be fun.

[The Shibuya mass crossing. The pedestrians have their own turn where all cars have to stop (it’s like a 9-way intersection) and people can cross and go whatever way they want. Also, that Starbucks used to be the largest in the world before one in China beat it. Starbucks is pretty big here, too.]

[Yes dad, I did find an outback. I’m pretty sure I’ll never see something like this again, because it was all the way off on a side street behind the 109 in Shibuya.]

[A cat cafe. I thought the poster was really cute. These are cafe’s with a bunch of cats roaming around in them, it’s a bit of a novelty here.]

[We passed by the 1964 Olympic Arena on our way from Shibuya to the Meiji shrine. Apparently it was once quite the marvel of engineering.]

[This is Austin. He’s a 4th-year Japanese / Psych dual major. I’m going to post at least one dumb picture of each person in the group by the end.]

[A shot of the inside of the shrine to the Meiji emperor. It’s hard to really get a feel for the size of this place, it’s so wide open and spacious compared to the rest of Tokyo that it feels like its own little corner of the world.]

-------

Reading analysis and stuff

So we had two readings, one on the Japanese explosion of soft power and the other on the modernization spurred on by the Meiji emperor.

The modernization one was pretty obvious- the emperor, reinstated by one of the clans after the Shogunate (dictatorship) was destroyed when its weakness against Western power became apparent, did massive work in writing charters and helping turn Japan into a Constitutional Monarchy. He honestly did a ton of work, and it’s fitting that they immortalized him with this forest and shrine right smack in the middle of Tokyo. He earned it.

Much more interesting though, was the reading on Japan’s rising influence in the modern world by means of soft power. You’ve probably heard of the term before. It’s not power in ships, armies, and weapons- it’s the power of setting trends that other people want to follow, making things other people want to consume, and- in part- determining the course of various aspects of global culture. For America, by far the most dominant source of soft power in the world, this comes from industries like film (Hollywood). Japan in particular has seen a huge rise in their soft power, primarily through projecting and cultivating their unique forms of media (manga, anime) and becoming the trendsetting culture of fashion in youth and young adults. Much like how the soft power of the west made the Japanese conform to their ideals of clothing, architecture, etc. under the Meiji emperor, so to has the cycle reversed and many countries are following the trends in clothing and media put forth by Japan. Their soft power, the ability to set trends and have others want to follow them, really is a marvel; and you can see many slices of how the country cultivates its power in the varieties of shopping districts and their brands that have a global, trendsetting presence. Japan has commoditized and weaponized its global appearance of “cute” factor, and it’s made their passive influence on global culture one of the few non-American sources that continues to grow, even to the point of setting trends for some parts of American and Western culture.

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fedine · 6 years

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Hey answer all of those

I told you guys it would happen! I’m putting it all under a cut.

moon: what is your astrological sign?

Virgo!

gingerbread: your moral alignment

I struggle with whether or not I’m ‘chaotic’ or ‘lawful’ a lot, so I usually just settle for ‘Neutral Good’

birdseed: family or friends?

Hmm, this is a tough one always, because I love both a lot, but sometimes when it comes down to it one group is going to be healthier than the other for me to be around at certain times.

sheets: your sexual orientation

Bisexual! I am polyamorous too, but I’m in a very very happy monogamous relationship, and I plan to keep it that way.

warm milk: when do you usually fall asleep?

Usually after 12 AM, and normally before 6 AM, but it depends on what the boyfriend and I watch on Netflix that night, since we’re doing that now, or how long we decide to role play for.

pot of honey: your gender identity

Oof, this is a really hard one for me, because I’ve been questioning stuff again. I normally fall into that “feminine” category, because that’s how I present, but I am really unsure of how I actually feel on that matter on a deeper level, you know?

snow: what is your favorite time of year and why?

Autumn-Winter... It’s not even Summer yet right now, and it was 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside today. That time of year just has my favorite days/holidays too! I’d say starting in September (mine and my boyfriend’s anniversary and my birthday) until probably February (Valentine’s Day)? I think that’s when all the fun stuff is!

yarn: what are your most enjoyable hobbies?

I love repainting/customizing dolls, and I would love to get back into it! I had plans to start a little Etsy shop and a YouTube channel for it, but things haven’t gone well for that lately, so I just play a lot of World of Warcraft! Currently, I have a goal to start dual/multiboxing two Mistweaver Monks, AND raid on them (without wiping the raid). It’s gonna be tough, I know, especially in a raiding environment, but I figure if someone can 20+ box a team of Paladins in Emerald Nightmare successfully, I can handle two healers.

bicycle: what are you talented at?

I’m pretty alright at art! I used to be a great jazz bassist, but I haven’t played in years at this point.

folktale: what stories remind you of your childhood?

I don’t really have many that do, if any at all, because I don’t remember a lot of my childhood.

woods: where do you feel at peace?

I feel really at peace in... Skyrim, of all games. Usually just wandering around, exploring out in the wilderness. It really is a beautiful game, landscape wise. I also really like this one spot in the Grizzly Hills/Howling Fjord in World of Warcraft, this tiny clearing in the mountains with a tree and a couple of shrubs where my boyfriend and I go to RP a couple of my personal favorite characters. It’s where they set up camp! I like it a lot! There’s a few other places like that in WoW that have huge sentimental value to me, but if I went over every single one I’d have a massive post here!

chicken feet: what is your emotional “flaw”?

Probably my hyper focusing tendencies that cause me to fixate so hard on one goal that I MUST see it through to the point of almost self destruction, or even worse, when I hyperfixate on too many things at once and it causes me to do that but faster.

red cheeks: what makes you nervous?

Oh jeez, asking stuff from my parents, or confronting them about stuff.

sunflower: what do you love and cherish?

Okay, this is going to sound so cheesy, but... Every single moment I spend with my boyfriend. We’ve spoken for well over 12 hours a day for almost every single say we’ve known each other, since we met formally in July of last year, but I have loved every single second. I really love my boyfriend, okay? Everyone knows.......

bells: what sounds are your favorite or calm you the most?

Oh, well, it’s in the title of this question! Brass and bronze bells are my favorite, especially the big ones!

turnip: what is a food you could eat everyday?

Spaghetti with meat in the sauce, be it meat balls or part of the sauce itself.

spit: do you get jealous easily?

Not really! I used to get more jealous about stuff, but I can’t really see myself in that position anymore, at least with like relationships.

mushroom: list unique things you like about yourself

Hmm, I gave this one some thought, but I really don’t think I have any individual traits that are “unique” because there are so many people in the world that probably display the exact same stuff like: ‘can draw well,’ or ‘can play bass nicely.’ It’s not individual unique traits that make someone unique because there really aren’t unique traits. It’s the combination of them that makes someone unique! Like bricks in a house! All of the bricks are the same, but the house isn’t.

cupboard: a good childhood memory

I remember fondly a time where I once spun a teacup ride on a carousel so fast once my younger sibling got sick. Wasn’t funny at the time but now that we’re like twelve or so years older it’s hilarious now.

eyebags: what do you think makes a person attractive?

U h... Well, I really like long, messy hair, and facial hair. Blue eyes, really tall... Accent....... Really sweet, kind of shy but gets louder and sillier when you get to know him.............

fallen log: something you’ve gotten over that you never thought you would

I honestly never thought I would get over this one relationship I had in 10th grade, but... I got over it... Boy did I get over it... And away from it... Thank Goodness....

dagger: your worst fear

Meeting someone specific from my past, probably.

whisper: do you have any secrets?

Just one really big one, really, but I’m slowly coming to terms with it.

wild boar: which person do you feel closest to?

My boyfriend! Though I also have two best friends, one of ten years, the other of two, and then my sibling is pretty close to me as well!

sweet: what candies or cakes are you fond of?

I love sour candies a lot, and vanilla cakes are my favorite! Ice cream cakes are amazing also.

footprints: do you remember your past lives?

I think I used to, if it’s a real thing that is. I’m still trying to figure that out about myself.

fur: name an animal you feel connected to

Oh man, there’s really so many, but I love dogs and cats, ravens and cockatoos, bees... The list continues.

vodka: do you drink?

Not at the moment, but I’m turning 21 in like 5 months.

sour cherry: an obscure tradition from your family?

We eat king crab around Christmas/New Years. Specifically king crab.

pine needles: what is your favorite scent?

For Valentine’s day, my boyfriend sent me his favorite jacket to wear, and I didn’t take it off for a while because it smelled like him, and I wanted to feel like he was there with me as much as I could. Gosh, I can’t wait to steal another jacket from him meet him for the first time.

heart-shaped: do you believe in love? are you in love?

YEAH, I REALLY DO, AND YEAH, I REALLY AM.

home: where do you dream of living?

Somewhere in California still, with guess-who living with me. I’d love it if my best friends could live nearby as well, but that’s unlikely. Still, it is a dream.

spice: list your favorite herbs

Oregano and Thyme, because I use them in my meatball recipe.

mud: something you’re insecure about but trying to love

My weight. Usually when I imagine what I look like to other people I don’t really imagine anything flattering or kind to myself, but I am trying to work through it. It’s something I kind of have to live with too, no matter what, since I haven’t been able to lose weight for a few years.

tobacco: do you have any addictions?

I play World of Warcraft non-stop for several hours on end every single day. I have been for over two years, which is the longest time in my life I have since I picked the game up ten years ago.

sock: how would you describe your clothing taste?

Expensive, and usually made for much thinner people. I really like the sweet lolita fashion style, but there are a few other styles I like. All still expensive though. Except for flannel + T-shirts. Those always look good together, and are pretty nice and casual enough for me.

cuckoo clock: are you a morning, a noon, or an evening person?

Evening! I usually wake up past noon, and it’s not until around three or four I get to talk to my boyfriend.

wooden fence: a favorite memory

When my boyfriend asked me out!!!! Gosh, I remember it so well. We were role playing together on those two particular characters probably for the... third? Fourth time ever? Well, he asked RIGHT before we were going to start, and all of the week before I kept getting nervous around him. I had decided I wasn’t going to pursue him (because... not going to lie, I thought he was gay for a while there) but every single time he addressed me in voice chat, ESPECIALLY when we were alone, I would tense up and ask myself, “Is he going to ask me out right now?” I had rehearsed what I wanted to say to him in the situation so that if/when it happened, I would be prepared, but I forgot how to talk when it actually happened! I even thought it wasn’t going to right then; it was the one time I thought he wasn’t going to ask. Well, I went silent a couple of seconds, hitting my push to talk button a few times while my mouth hung open. I did say yes though! Both times, because he asked again after I said yes the first time!

#bf tag #tagging that because boy do i love him and talk about him a lot in here!#long post #even though it's under a cut #gem-licker

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theinkquiry · 7 years

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Oh Captain My Co-Captain

Pairing: Oliver Wood X Reader

Prompt: You and Oliver have always butted heads as the leaders of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. When you finally face your problem, a lot more than anger is revealed.

Warnings: A few insults, but nothing too edgy. Maybe uncalled for anger. It gets better in the end I promise.

A/N: For some reason I really had an epiphany or something with this prompt. I’ve had the ideas to write it for a while but didn’t have the time to finish it until now. And I didn’t take years to put out another oneshot!!

Tuesday. Practice day. You could never pinpoint what feeling you had on these Tuesdays. It was a strange mixture of excitement, dread, and a drop of anger that made this day feel like a terribly brewed potion. The first few matches of the year had already passed, and you felt less than thrilled at the team's performance so far. Of course, things wouldn't have been nearly as bad if it weren't for Oliver Wood created a mess whenever he so much as uttered two words.

You cleared your thoughts and took a deep breath. Getting upset would be useless. The past was just that, and you had to focus on future games if not simply for your sanity's sake. That, and you also had a feeling that if your friends heard you vent all your pent-up anger toward them one more time they would surely send you to get anger management assistance. You grabbed your broom and began to march down to the Quidditch Pitch. You glanced at the clock before you left, and grimaced. Half a minute late. This certainly was not good news.

The green rolling hills of Hogwarts and the occasional wildflowers were quite possibly the best parts of the Hogwarts outdoors. It wasn't as daunting as the Forbidden Forest, or as eerie as the lake. Just the right amount of tranquility and fresh nature. Of course, the peace and serenity didn't last long as you approached the Quidditch Field. Oliver already began his pre-practice pep talk.

You seethed as you heard him give half-baked instructions and lead the team through terribly thought-out flying patterns. Full of himself, as usual. He caught your eye and gave you a smile that only conveyed the message of 'you're just in time to see me at my best'. It was revolting, in all honesty.

"Getting ahead of ourselves again, are we Wood?" You stood in front to block his view of the other teammates and crossed your arms. Oliver's grin dissipated so fast, you almost felt guilty for ruining his moment.

"Just starting practice since you're late. Perhaps if you started arriving on time, we wouldn't lose so many games." He moved past you, bumping into your shoulder with no intent on apologies. Just rambling on like you weren't even there. Perhaps only the intelligent could see you, like some sort of wisdom-thestral.

You waited for the right moment to insert yourself into Oliver's speech. "Wood is, surprisingly, correct for the most part. We need to have a better defense with our chasers leading the-"

"I thought Wood said the chasers went in later? After the beaters." A team member raised their hand. They lowered their arm as you glared at them. This interruption was definitely something you didn't need, seeing as how it gave Wood the exact time frame he needed to cut in.

"Enough idle chatter, Y/N. The instructions were fine before you cut in and they're fine now. Let's fly!"

Everyone took to the skies, leaving behind just you and him. Before he could mount his broom as well, you tugged on his crimson robes. You heard him audibly sigh. "What is it now, L/N?" You were taken aback by how utterly bothered he looked.

"Why are you always doing this?" You shoot back at him with twice the amount of fire in your words. Two beats and the two of you already started to feel like fools. Whiny, angry fools. "We were- are- supposed to lead the team together."

You looked up at him expectantly, challenging him to yell back at you. Instead, he pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry."

Well, that wasn't at all how you expected him to reply. You opened your mouth, but closed it upon the realization that you had no reply. Standing there, completely flabbergasted, you try and come up with something. You didn't have to feel guilty for long since Oliver gave you a bunch of new things to say to him.

"If you're just going to stand there idiotically, I have a team to lead." He rolled his eyes and walked away.

"Hang on there, Mister Quidditch Superstar-" You cut him off.

He audibly groaned and gave you a very annoyed look. "What now Miss Interruptions?"

"You still never answered my question. You can't just apologize and then continue to act like I'm not even here. Again, we're co-captains. Stress on the 'co' part. You never consult me about anything and when I do try and help, you just pretend like I suggested we all leap off our brooms midair!"

You stomp your foot on the ground, making Oliver flinch. His sudden lack of composure gave you a sense of pride. The feeling didn't last as Oliver decided that he too had had enough of you.

"Again, Y/N. How many times have you laid all the blame on me and acted like you were the victim? Hmm? If I'm such a leadership hog at least I live up to my mistakes, unlike you. Would it kill you to show up on time for once? I was captain longer than you've been and I deserve some respect too!"

Was this person serious? Oliver thought that you were the one who played the victim card? "And you constantly belittle me like this! Ever since they announced the dual leadership, you haven't heard a single one of my suggestions. They just fly over your head like missed spells."

"At least I don't throw a fit every time one of my plans fail."

"At least I have the decency to understand that Quidditch isn't on everyone's minds all hours of the day."

"If you're not thinking about Quidditch all the time, how can you even ask to be co-captain with me?"

"Maybe I would have enough time to think about Quidditch if I weren't so busy trying to pick up all the slack that you seem to miss! Do you know who schedules every practice for the best times so Slytherin has to wake up earlier? Me!"

"Well for someone who set the schedule, you clearly set the wrong time since you're always late!"

"You know what, I hate you! I hate you and your stupid face!" You screamed. Alright, that was a bit of a low blow, even for you, but the amount of rage you felt made you impulsively yell it out loud.

"I hate you and your baggy robes!" He tugged at the sleeve of your uniform. It was just to make a point, but it really made your blood boil.

"You were the one who picked out these robes!" You gave him a light shove. Dramatic as always, he just had to trip over nothing. Deciding to make your day even worse, he tugged at your robes and dragged you down with him. You both landed on the grass with a thump. You felt your face heat up as his arms were already wrapped around you.

"Ah I-I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"Just shut your stupid pretty face, Oliver," you mumbled into his shirt.

Neither of you moved a muscle, frozen there cuddling on the ground like idiots. The tension slowly melted away like fog when the sun comes out. You both take deep breaths, contemplating your next moves. "You know..I didn't mean it. When I said I hated you." You admit.

"I didn't mean it either. How did things get so messed up between us?" Oliver thinks back. He almost forgot that a time existed when you two weren't squabbling and clawing at each other's throats.

"It's my fault," you confess. "If I didn't try so hard to be co-captain this wouldn't have happened."

"I think you're a great co-captain. You did book us the best time to practice after all. We even won more games compared to the last few years." Oliver tried to console you.

"No no, it's not that. I...well..." Your face heated up, wondering if you should tell him why you really wanted to be co-captain.

"I knew I shouldn't have picked you anyway." You heard Oliver whisper.

"Excuse me?" You picked your head up, narrowing your eyes at him.

"N-no! It's not like that. What I meant to say was-" He let his head fall back down to the grass and closed his eyes. "Merlin, I really screwed it up with you, haven't I?"

"What do you mean?"

"I didn't want to pick you because I knew my feelings would get in the way of real Quidditch strategy!" Oliver admitted. "B-but you just looked so hopeful during interviews I couldn't say no."

You let out a little laugh. "This is really ironic."

"Oh? How so?" Oliver asked. "Because you probably hate me. Who hires the person they like only to argue with them about every little thing because they can't face their feelings?"

"Because, idiot, I only signed up for this gig to get close to you. Guess that part blew up in my face just as much as it did in yours," you chuckle.

Oliver snapped his head up. He looked you in the eye with determination, you could only stare back. "You're serious?"

"Yep," you replied. It would be a hard tale to retell what exactly happened after that. Somewhere between getting lost into each other's eyes like lovesick dummies (although given the situation those two words described exactly what you were) and the confessions you ended up kissing right underneath the zooming brooms and bright blue sky.

"Oi! If you two are done snogging down there, we could really use our Keeper and Seeker back!"

You and Oliver broke apart to shout apologies to the players above. Getting up, you brushed the grass off of yourselves. "So I take it that we're...good?" You ask.

"I think we're more than good at this point," Oliver laughs. He pecks you on the cheek, making you feel uncharacteristically bubbly inside. "Now, are you ready to show these players how Team Gryffindor is going to take home to cup this year?"

"With captains like us? Not even Slytherin's gonna stand a chance."

#Harry Potter #Harry Potter Imagine #Harry Potter Imagines #Harry Potter Oneshot #Harry Potter Oneshots #oliver wood #oliver wood imagine #oliver wood oneshot #oliver wood x reader

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dryad-of-the-dogwood · 5 years

Text

Hi, guys! Chapter 28 of A Thread of Fate is now live on AO3, and it’s full of everybody dealing with things they’re not totally mentally prepared for because I’m mean to my characters but I swear I love them.

Chapter 28: Finding Footholds

Maybe it’s the exhaustion of the unexpected three-day mission, or how little sleep I’d gotten without Nalissa at my side, but I wake actually feeling rested for the first time in days. She fell asleep with her head on my chest like a pillow, and though I seem to have turned toward her in my sleep, she’s still curled against my chest with her face buried in my nightshirt. One of her arms is wrapped around me, and as I brush the hair back from her face, I can’t help but smile.

She’s lovely, and incredible, and she loves me. I’ve never heard those words before, not directed at me, until last night. Remembering them in her voice, with my name attached at the end so there can be no mistake, makes me happier than I knew I could be. She makes me happier than I knew I could be.

Nalissa murmurs something in her sleep, too faint and too muffled to make out the words, but they’re not frightened ones. I hope she didn’t have nightmares while I was gone. With no Ilana to talk her down, I can’t imagine how the Wardens would have reacted.

The Wardens, I remember with a start. The sun hasn’t yet risen but the sky through the window is beginning to lighten, and I can’t imagine Caron is a patient man. If she’s expected again today, he’s probably already pacing.

I work her fingers free of my shirt, ignore her mumbled protest, and kiss the back of her hand gently. “Lissa. Lissa, wake up.”

Whatever she says in response is still distorted by sleep and her face against my ribcage, but I’m pretty sure I hear something about the color of Andraste’s chosen undergarments and a bleeding pyre in there, and I have to stifle a chuckle. Quite the blasphemous vocabulary she has when she isn’t trying to be proper and polite.

“Lissa,” I try again. “My dear, are you supposed to be training with the Wardens again today?”

“’m not a deer, you’re a deer,” she grumbles quite clearly this time, and the accusation is so obviously meant to be an insult that I burst into laughter. That rouses her quickly enough.

“Mm? What happened?” Nalissa asks, blinking up at me groggily, and I can only offer a grin as an explanation. Then she looks around, realizes it’s nearly sunrise, and I can watch the panic creep into her widening eyes. She rolls away and out of the bed so quickly I think her feet hit the floor before I’ve even realized she was moving, swearing softly under her breath the whole way.

“I take it you are supposed to be training with the Wardens today,” I observe as I rise. I turn toward the wardrobe, in the general direction of which I had tossed my breastplate after it tried to murder me yesterday, and freeze.

Nalissa has just yanked the overlarge tunic off her head, tossing it aside to destination unknown, and is wearing only smalls beneath. I watch, entranced, as her fingers deftly tie a knot in the back of her breastband, before I turn away with my face burning to collect my armor from the pile I tossed it into yesterday instead. She has her back turned, likely not thinking of my presence at all, or I doubt she would have allowed me to see the scars she tries to hide.

A stray thought flits through my head of what she might have looked like facing me, before the undergarment was properly in place. I shake my head and try to clear it before Sister Agatha’s voice in the back of my mind can start screeching that I’m a lecher.

Is it still lecherous if the woman that keeps wandering into my mind in various states of undress is engaged to marry me? If I love her, and she loves me too? My heart still does a flip at the idea, but yes, I decide, Sister Agatha would definitely still say so. Regardless, such distractions do not help with trying to put on armor, I remind myself firmly. Quite the opposite.

I make very sure every buckle and link of chain is in place before I turn around again, to make sure she’s had time to dress properly. To my surprise, she’s wearing armor of her own, and as I recognize it, I think my heart stops. Warden armor. She’s wearing Warden armor.

“Nalissa,” I say sharply, crossing the room in haste. “What is this? What did they do?”

My hands tug at the shoulders of the studded leather gambeson, the blue and silver motif of the order that I was once so proud to wear suddenly terrifying me to see on her. Three days I was gone—Caron could easily have organized a Joining in less time than that. If she took it so recently, I wouldn’t sense her yet. I wouldn’t know unless they told me.

“Wh-what?” Nalissa stammers, and her eyes dart between mine in confusion.

“This armor,” I demand, gripping it more tightly, until the edges of the studs start to cut into my fingers. “Why do you have it? What did they make you do?”

“Make me do? I’ve been running drills for them in the morning. That’s all they’ve asked, like we agreed.”

“Did he Join you?”

She shakes her head and frowns, looking uncertain. “Caron? We sparred the first day, but—”

“No, a Joining ritual. A chalice—did he have you drink from a chalice? A great silver one with dark liquid inside?”

“What—no,” she objects, and finally I close my eyes and breathe a sigh of relief. Nalissa’s shoulders though remain as tense as a drawn bowstring. “Alistair, what just happened?”

“Nothing,” I answer quietly, leaning my forehead against hers. She hesitates, then reaches up to drape her arms around my neck, and I relent with a sigh. “The Joining is… it’s how Wardens are made. I saw you in that armor, and I thought… I was afraid he had tricked you somehow.”

She kisses me gently, if very shortly, and smiles. “Well, if it helps you feel better, I’m typically not one to accept strange drinks from men I already don’t trust as far as I could throw them.”

“Good, because let me warn you, it tastes terrible.”

Nalissa laughs and leads me downstairs by the hand. She only lets go at the door just before we exit to the training field, and pauses to prepare herself. I watch her roll her shoulders and check that her hair is secure in its high ponytail, then take a deep breath like she’s about to dive underwater. It’s a strange experience, watching as she dons the mental armor I spent weeks convincing her she could let go of around me.

When she steps outside, it’s with that proud tilt to her chin and a commanding stride that somehow makes me feel invisible, following in her wake. Caron is nowhere to be seen, I notice. Didn’t she say she sparred with him the first day? I wonder just how that went, for him to agree not to be here. I bet she stomped him, I think with a grin. I really was lucky to get to lose that first match while no one was looking.

And Andraste’s ashes, if Nalissa isn’t good at this. She has the Wardens pair off for practice, then marches up and down between them, rearranging the pairs. It only takes a minute to realize what she’s up to. She’s matching greatswords with dagger users, axe wielders with shieldbearers—pitting speed against reach and defense against power. Everyone has a match-up where they’ll struggle, she says, but struggle is a chance to improve. And I wonder how many of these weapons she’s actually used herself, because she seems to have advice for everyone. When she comes to Oghren and me, we’re no exception.

“Your axe is dual-bladed, Warden Oghren,” she points out with an arched brow.

Oghren grunts and rolls his head to one side, as if trying to crack his neck. “Aye.”

“Yet you only seem to use one blade against a single opponent. If you miss a strike, you dodge and reposition. Habit, I assume. But if you have a opening to bring the other blade to bear, it’s a simple matter to hook it on the edge of an unsuspecting shield. Trust me, shield users do not adapt quickly to having it yanked off their bracers.”

Oghren twitches his moustache in thought, then agrees it’s a sensible suggestion. Nalissa nods and adds, “Do try not to actually break any arms in here though. Save that for the darkspawn.”

“I’ve managed not to break him so far,” Oghren grumbles, and when Nalissa turns to me, she’s wearing her serious face still but there’s a twinkle in her eyes.

“You heard the man, Warden Alistair. He’s coming for your shield. Don’t let him.”

“Fine advice; should’ve thought of that one myself,” I joke, and one side of her mouth curls into a smirk. I find that it makes me want to kiss her in the middle of the practice field.

“I’ve seen you spar,” she points out, neglecting to mention that it’s typically been against her. “Somehow, I really don’t think you need step-by-step instructions.”

Nalissa gives me a wink that makes Oghren snicker, and then her head snaps to something behind me. “Oy, Warden Tarvell! Keep swinging that wide and you’ll disarm everyone except your opponent…”

Oghren eyes her as she leaves and then raises his brows at me. “I always knew you liked being bossed about, but that one could order a dragon to flee and the beast’d probably consider it.”

He gets a chuckle out of me, but not enough of a distraction to catch his axe on my shield, which I’m pretty sure is what he was aiming for. “She can be very persuasive. But she could also probably slay the dragon, if she really put her mind to it.”

“Maybe. After how she handled the boss, most of these blighters would probably follow her to fight one.”

Of course she did, I think a little proudly. She’s incredible. I check over my shoulder that she’s still out of earshot, then whisper, “How did that go? She didn’t quite say, except that he never came back after.”

“Little lady’s a sodding acrobat is how it went,” Oghren says, then gives what I can only shudderingly describe as a really low-pitched giggle and adds, “Lucky you. I bet she can do some fun things with those legs.”

“I realize it’s like asking a Revered Mother not to Chant, but could you not be crude? For once? Tell me what she did.”

“What do I look like, a match caller at the Proving Grounds? She danced around all light-footed like she belonged in the circus, knocked him on his ass, and put a dagger to his ribs. Anything fancier than that, you’d have to get someone else to tell you.” I’m just about to sigh and give up when he adds thoughtfully, “But to be honest, I think it was the scars that won her respect more than the dueling.”

“Scars?” I ask curiously.

The obvious answer doesn’t occur to me, because she’s so careful to keep them hidden, so ashamed when they’re spotted. I don’t even imagine he means her scars from Fort Drakon until he mumbles, “You know,” and makes a nervous gesture toward his back like he’s afraid she’ll catch him looking if he’s not quick about it.

That actually does stun me long enough for him to hook his axe under my shield, but I recover quickly enough to cross my sword under the axe head and pin it in place long enough to free my shield. I backstep quickly out of range and give him a serious look. He frowns but gives up the attack.

“What do you mean, her scars won her respect? Who saw them? How?”

“Damn near everyone with eyes, I imagine,” he says with a shrug that tells me he has no idea how serious that is. Something of what I’m thinking must show on my face, because he holds up a hand warily. “Now, it was just the back of her shirt that tore. Nobody saw any fun bits. I certainly wouldn’t be standing here telling you if they had, I’d be standing back and waiting for the explosion—”

“Comforting, Oghren,” I say, a little more sharply than necessary, and I receive a scowl for it but I don’t care. “What did she do? She doesn’t let anyone see that, she must have been mortified.”

“For a minute, she tried to cover ’em up again,” the dwarf admits. “Can’t see why. Warriors should be proud of their scars. But then she changed her mind and showed the boss what for, and marched out of the arena like she owns the place.”

I glance over my shoulder at Nalissa again, this time with more appreciation than anything else. I’m not surprised, exactly; that would be the wrong word. My Nalissa is stronger than even she knows she is. But Oghren’s story is a far cry from the girl I met a few months ago, who froze up and nearly broke down at her scars being revealed to just me and Venya, and that has me nearly bursting with pride for her.

The deeper wounds from her imprisonment, I think, may finally be starting to heal too.

I’ve just dismissed the Wardens and started toward Alistair when I spot him as the crowd clears. My heart kicks into panic mode before I can stop it, but this time I’m prepared enough to force a deep breath and focus. It isn’t Rendon Howe. Rendon Howe is dead, and he never wore his hair that long, and his chin was weaker and his nose more hooked.

Listing the differences helps, a little, but still it takes every ounce of my self-control to keep a straight face. He wasn’t here for drills, and I suppose that makes sense considering he has a bow and quiver over his back instead of a close-range weapon. But that means he’s come at the end of training on purpose, and considering he’s looking straight at me, I don’t really have to guess what that is.

Alistair, sweet as he is, appears at my side while I’m distracted and speaks to me gently. “Lissa? Are you okay?” He keeps his voice low enough that no one else can hear, takes care not to touch me, and I know he’s worried. There are still enough stragglers putting away training weapons and packing up shields that if I lose myself again, it could be very problematic. I nod sharply, the motion maybe a little more jerky than usual, but I keep my spine straight and my eyes level. It is long past time, I think, that I took control of my fear back from Rendon Howe.

“Lissa,” says Nathaniel Howe, and even though the voice is different too, a cold chill runs down my back that I do my best to ignore. “Good morning.”

“Nate,” I answer, crossing my arms to feel more held together. “It’s… been a long time.”

Nathaniel tries for a smile. “Yes. Last we met, you were still a tiny, freckly kid hiding from your tutor and sparring with squires, and now you’re training Grey Wardens. I’m sure the old man’s glad his lessons didn’t fall on completely deaf ears.”

A sudden image of how Aldous’ beard used to twitch as he tried not to smile at my shenanigans strikes an unexpected chord of homesickness in my chest. The old scholar said something very much like that the last time I spoke with him. “I’m sure he would be,” I say, and my words come out a little more clipped than before. “If he hadn’t been murdered in the library with the guests.”

Nathaniel fidgets with one hand on the strap of his quiver, looking exactly as uncomfortable as one would expect from the turn in conversation. “I, ah, meant to speak with you about that. If you have a moment?”

Alistair touches my elbow, his hand warm even through the studded leather. When I glance at him, his eyebrows are pulled low over eyes still watching me with concern. I don’t think he doubts me, he was always far too upset with Fergus for doing that, but he’s probably worried at the prospect of leaving me to a private chat with someone I’ve so recently tried to murder.

I give him a faint smile and a nod, then gently but firmly remove his hand and squeeze it for reassurance. “I’ve got this,” I tell him quietly, purposefully choosing any phrase but I’m fine because I’m fairly certain he doesn’t believe that one anymore. “I’ll meet you at breakfast.”

He hesitates only for a moment, then presses a kiss to my forehead and reminds me in a somewhat louder voice that he’ll be within shouting distance if I need him. He spares only one glance toward Nathaniel as he turns to leave, but it looks very much like a warning. Alistair’s faith in me makes me feel bolstered, and even though I don’t think I need it, that he’s still so ready to defend me makes me feel safer, even as he walks away.

“He really loves you,” Nathaniel says aloud, something like disbelief in his voice as he stares and shakes his head. So I’ve just realized, my mind snarks, but I don’t say it and so he continues on. “I’d assumed it was arranged, him being the king. That he only defended you as the future queen. But you’re actually in love.”

Something about his tone says without words, “That explains a lot,” and I wonder again about the mission Alistair still hasn’t found time to tell me about. But I can’t see any reason to lie, so I admit, “It was arranged. I almost decided to overthrow Fergus and refuse. I’m glad I didn’t.”

The last part comes out sounding surprisingly soft, and I force a cough to cover it, like I might have been losing my voice. It’s the closest I’ve ever come to admitting… anything about how I feel for Alistair, to anyone except him, and even that is so new it makes my heart race just to remember. I’m failing miserably at remaining stoic, I realize. I’m probably blushing, and definitely not completely hiding my smile, and I can’t allow that to be a weakness for someone to exploit.

“Well, I’m… glad for you,” Nathaniel says slowly, but though he seems sincere despite his struggle with the words, he is a Howe, and I’m not sure that I’ll ever trust anyone with that surname again.

Etiquette dictates I should thank him for the sentiment, I know that, but I can’t bring myself to do it. Perhaps that particular lesson Aldous and Mother tried to teach me didn’t stick so well as they would have hoped. So I shift my weight from one foot to the other and ask abruptly, “What is it you want of me, Nate?”

He pauses before answering, looking just as uncomfortable with this entire conversation as I am. Odd, considering he’s the one that sought it. Finally he sighs and gestures hopefully toward one side of the training field, past the few Wardens still inspecting bruises and stowing equipment, and I follow him cautiously away from the wall of the keep.

Nathaniel leans against the wooden fence separating the training grounds from the courtyard proper and stares toward the sunrise instead of looking at me. “I’ve, ah… heard rumors since my return to Ferelden.”

“No surprise there. I’m sure Arl Bryland is already telling people Alistair and I have eloped and are honeymooning in Orlais, dueling grand dukes and winning honor for Ferelden.”

He snorts, then shakes his head. “That does sound like something he would say, but not the rumors I meant.” He looks over his shoulder at me, and despite all the differences I keep trying to focus on, his eyes are the same steel gray as his father’s, and I pull my elbows more tightly to my sides. It’s a poor defense, but it makes me feel a little better. “I’ve heard… disturbing things, about my father. And about you.”

I find that my mouth is turning dry, and I have to swallow hard before I can speak again. “That he tried to murder my entire family and everyone loyal to us? Not rumors.”

“That much Delilah has told me,” Nathaniel admits, and a sense of dread settles in my chest like a terrible premonition. “Whatever… became of him while I was gone, I’ve come to accept that there was more to it than just making the wrong decisions in a war.”

“Good,” I snap, a little more viciously than I meant to, but he doesn’t falter and that gaze is starting to make my hands itch to hold a blade.

“Is it true, that he didn’t kill you intentionally? That he kept you prisoner during the Blight?”

I look away from those chilling eyes, needing to focus on keeping my breathing even. My nails feel like they’re cracking against the metal studs on my upper arms, but I can’t seem to loosen my grip. “I’d really prefer not to talk about that,” I manage to say, but my voice comes out too high and too thin to sound firm.

“Fucking Maker,” Nathaniel swears. I hear the creaking of wood and react on instinct, one hand flitting to the knife pouch at my hip, but his bow isn’t even in his hands. Instead he seems to be trying to wrest one of the fence slats from the post, and judging by the sound, the fence objects. His back is to me again, for which I’m grateful, but still he hisses, “He really did it, didn’t he? It wasn’t just… death as acceptable losses. It was murder. Torture. Senseless violence. That’s what he became.”

“He wasn’t called the Butcher of Denerim for nothing,” I whisper hoarsely, and this time when he looks at me, his eyes aren’t so much like his father’s anymore. They’re downcast and regretful, an emotion I never saw Rendon Howe wear.

“Why? What did he possibly hope to achieve?”

He sounds desperate to understand, and as much as it makes me feel sick to think about, I consider the answer. Highever itself wasn’t it; I don’t think it ever really was. I was only ever a means to an end, and chances are Howe only enjoyed hurting me so much because I reminded him of someone else. It isn’t something I should have to try to explain to anyone, but Nathaniel does deserve the truth. And in the end, it’s just another thing his father has forced upon me to deal with.

“I… I think it boiled down to resentment,” I try to reason. It’s difficult to try to apply logic, especially when each revolting memory threatens to pull me in, but I try. “He was angry—furious—with Father. Decades later, and he still blamed him for ‘stealing glory’ at White River. For winning the favor of the king and the freeholders. For becoming a teyrn when H—he only ever became an arl. He thought he deserved everything that was my father’s, so he took it away. At first, I think… I think he only meant to make me beg to die. But then something changed. Loghain started losing supporters and ground, I suppose, but I had no idea. He just swore I would never know peace again until I married his son and handed Highever officially back to Amaranthine.”

Nathaniel gives me a look so near to disgust that I could almost be offended if I wasn’t preoccupied being terrified of my own thoughts. “He wanted to force you to marry me?”

“No,” I correct him, shaking my head. “Thomas. It was always Thomas, until he and Lady Eliane died. Then… then it was him, until he died too.”

“Are you… you’re saying my father tried to torture you into marrying him.”

I realize abruptly that my face is stinging in the chill morning air and turn away to dry it discreetly. “He was mad, by that time. More so than before. Grasping at straws, with all his plans coming undone around him. Everyone thought Fergus dead, and me the only heir, and with Loghain’s support failing…”

Nathaniel takes a deep breath and a long exhale before he speaks again. “I didn’t want to believe how far he’d fallen, but the… things I’ve heard, and what they’re all saying about scars, I had to ask. Maker, I’m sorry.”

My fists clench at the mention of those marks, and I give him a piercing look. “Don’t you dare. Your father did quite enough to me, Nate. I don’t need your pity, and I don’t need anyone contributing to the rumors I’m—I’m weak or an invalid or—”

“What?” he interrupts, and actually scoffs at me like I’m being ludicrous. “Lissa, not a damn person in this keep thinks you’re weak. They’re talking about how you must be stronger than any of them. That you’re a better duelist than Emile—and for the love of the Maker, do not tell him I said that or he will send me on pointless scouting missions twice a week for the rest of my life.”

“I… what?” I stare at him, unable to connect the words with what I’m sure I’ve seen in the eyes of some of these men, but he just shakes his head at me.

“They think whatever happened to you is deplorable, but that’s all. I don’t know what you see when you look in the mirror, but there’s not a Warden who saw that fight that wouldn’t throw down a gauntlet at the first man to call you weak. Emile included. He might be too proud to admit it, but I know him. He was impressed.”

I can’t decide if everything he’s saying is the truth or not, but I appreciate that he says it anyway. So I swallow my own pride and offer the apology I really should have given him when he first approached. “I’m sorry for how I reacted, in the dining hall. I wasn’t in a—I didn’t recognize you—”

Nathaniel holds up a hand to silence me and offers a wan smile. “It’s fine. Your fiancé explained. A little angrily, not that I didn’t deserve it, but it’s what convinced me you probably wouldn’t stab me if I approached slowly enough.”

“Probably not,” I allow, trying for a smile too. I’m probably about as successful as he is. “I’m… also sorry your father wasn’t who you thought he was.”

“No,” he answers quietly. “He hated my mother, and sent me away to the Free Marches in a glorified exile because he preferred my brother. I should have put it together a long time ago.”

I don’t know what to say, but he doesn’t seem to want a response. One polite nod later, he turns to leave, and I take his place leaning against the fence and trying to catch my breath.

I don’t quite manage it until a short while later, when a voice whispers my name and then a familiar pair of arms circle my waist from behind. Alistair’s chin rests on top of my head and I lean back against him with a sigh. I’ll work out what to tell him about all of this later; for now, I just hold onto his forearms like they’re the only thing tethering me to the world.

#dragon age #dragon age origins #alistair #alistair theirin #cousland #nalissa cousland #alistair x cousland #nathaniel howe #fanfic #my fanfic #writing #my writing #a thread of fate #ao3

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sassenach4life · 7 years

Text

My ECCC Experience

Warning – This turned into a book. I will put the bulk under a cut.

Well, what a weekend that was. I see many people have shared their experiences & I wasn’t going to cause I didn’t want to be repetitive (plus I hate writing), but what the hell – here we go.

It all started on Thursday night when my husband & I checked in at the Sheraton & then headed over to The Whisky Bar to meet up w/ about 25 other fans for whisky tasting & general mayhem. It was such a blast to meet other fans in the flesh & everyone was so lovely.

Friday was very long & tiring, but also quite exhilarating. It started with waiting 3 ½ hours in line for the panel in VERY tight & warm conditions, but a good number of people had to wait in the cold rain, so I won’t complain. We ended up in the 8th row on the center aisle. We had a perfect view of the stage, but a bit far for any great pics from my camera phone, but I’ll share a couple here anyway.

Since everyone saw the panel already, I won’t get into that except to say it was absolutely marvelous. Sam & Cait were glorious live & the energy in the room was palpable. Everything they said is pretty much a blur & I still need to rewatch it to make it all real.

We went straight to the autographs after the panel, but they were already capped off, so we hung out for a bit & then headed to our dual photo-op w/ Sam & Cait. The organization was a complete shit-show and they had no idea what they were doing. We were moved all over the place & then smooshed all together against the wall to wait again while they figure it out. After about an hour, they got it together & we were on our way to stand in line.

When I first saw them up close right in front of me, I was just in awe. They were just so beautiful & beaming & so genuinely happy. Secondly, I wondered how the hell Cait’s legs can hold her up. They are soooo long & soooo skinny. She’s so thin. Much more so than she appears on camera. The cameraman was hurrying everyone through so fast & I was super nervous to talk to these beautiful creatures, so when it was our turn I just walked straight up to them & said “I want you to take a picture with my Funko dolls” & held them out to them. (What an idiot, so embarrassing.) They must have taken pity on me because they both gave me a big smile & took the dolls. As I stepped away, Cait said, “Oh wait, don’t you want to be in the picture?” Then I said something dumb about them being too beautiful & I’d be back tomorrow.🤦 They took the pic & when I went up to get the dolls back Cait said that my husband & I looked great. (I was wearing a tartan dress & my hubby was wearing a kilt.) Then Sam told my husband that he loved his kilt. They thanked us for coming & I thanked them, then I scurried away & couldn’t believe any of that actually happened. They were beyond gracious & just so genuine.

Next we went to get their autographs where we waited in some more lines, but at least it was organized. When it was finally my turn, I walked up to Cait & she greeted me sweetly & I said something, but I have no idea what. Then I just stared at her the whole time she was signing. She is just so beautiful! I don’t know what else she said, but I do know that I said nothing that I had prepared to say.😫 Then she thanked me & I moved on to Sam. He was alone, so I just walked straight up to him. [Just so I’m clear both Sam & Cait’s autographs sold out both days. Cait came first in the line & was very chatty with everyone. I could tell she just wanted everyone to feel special & didn’t want to cut anyone off. So, Sam would often have to wait for her to finish. Also Sam’s handler was much more forceful at pushing people through.] I handed Sam my DVD case & told him not to mess up Cait’s signature & he proceeded to pretend to scribble all over it. My hubby & Sam talked about beer & my hubby told him he was going to try The Kilt Lifter tonight & Sam told him to be careful and talked about it giving him a hangover.

Then it was time for the VIP Meet & Greet. The room was set up with 10 tables w/ 10-11 people per table. There were hors d'oeuvres offered & a bar to get drinks. It was the highlight of my weekend & we were able to get to know many more amazing fans. When Sam & Cait arrived, it was surreal. I don’t know how else to describe it. They were so excited & full of smiles. They each went to separate tables & spent 10 mins at each table just chatting & drinking with everyone.

Cait came to our table first & I just couldn’t get over how she was sitting right there at my table. She was so happy & animated & adorable. We talked, laughed & got teary eyed. She’s just so real. We first asked her how she’s doing after such a tiring day. She said it’s long, but so awesome & great. That she doesn’t get to do this often & it’s really nice. When asked about going to South Africa she said they were leaving tomorrow night, stopping in London to pick-up their luggage & then heading straight on to SA. Someone asked about the lack of sneak peeks & she said they are very protective for a show with books out there & she doesn’t always understand why. Then she went around the table & asked where everyone was from & commented on the different places. She said that compared to a long filming day this was really fun & she was loving it. I heard her say this a least 2 other times this weekend. She really was having a great time & seemed completely relaxed. Someone asked her what it was like to have to film out of order & she said it was an actor’s nightmare. She said within a block wasn’t bad, but when they had to do 8 before 4-7 without even seeing the scripts it was a headscratcher & really tough. Next some brought up the Faith episode & there was lots of praise thrown around. One woman shared her story of her miscarriage & what Faith meant to her. Everyone was very emotional & Cait comforted her & said how honored she was. She said filming it was very overwhelming & beautiful & she was lucky to have the experience. Next we talked about Claire’s 60s makeup & Cait joked around about having to wear the dark eyebrows & the teased hair & how she was used to having so minimal, but it was fun & she was glad to be out of a corset. She’s very excited for many of the 60s costumes. Someone asked her why she chose WCC & she explained that the fans inspired her to choose a charity so she did her research & chose WCC. Then our time was up, she thanked everyone & told us to have a great time. She is such a beautiful genuine person.

While we waited for Sam the room just kept getting louder with all the laughing & talking & it really was like a big party atmosphere & everyone was having so much fun. We were admonished many times that there were to be no selfies or autographs & cameras had to be put away while Sam & Cait were at our tables. I did snap a few discreet photos while they were at other tables, but the quality sucks.

Sam arrived at our table with much excitement & asked how we were doing. Someone showed him her Pocket Jamie & he asked, “Why haven’t I signed it?” She said she could bring it tomorrow & he said he’d sign it now. He turned to his handler, spoke for an instant & he got a sharpie. We asked if he got scolded & he jokingly said he was in so much trouble. He then commented on how nice my hubby’s kilt was & asked about when he went to The Drover’s, since my hubby was wearing the shirt. He asked about our trip & where all we went. Then he went around the table & discussed where everyone was from. He thought it was so cool how far some of us had come. He asked if we would do another con & everyone said yes if it was Outlander. He said, “Wow, really? That’s cool.” Someone brought up Walking Dead & he talked about how he had just had a nice lunch w/ Lauren Cohen. He said he had only seen 1 season of WD so far. We talked about WD having 8 season & how we wanted that many for OL. He said it would be nice, but he didn’t know how they could age that much, but he said maybe if it takes that long to film. He said at least we have season 4 for sure and that would take us to the end of 2018, then they could recast. We all yelled “NO!” Next he talked about the new project he might be doing over break. He said it was very different from OL, very interesting & based on books about a real person. Someone brought up how we want them to do SNL & he said that would be so good w/ Alec Baldwin. He talked about Starlight Ends & the problems w/ the financiers & how he hadn’t seen it. He said he would really love to do stage again & play Macbeth and Graham also wanted too. He thought it would be great if Graham and him alternated nights playing Macbeth & Macduff. Someone thanked him so much for My Peak Challenge & showed him her tattoo. Sam was really amazed & he said it was all thanks to the fans. He talked about how amazing the fans are & just genuinely great people. Someone asked, “We don’t scare you?” and he gave an emphatic “No”. It was time for him to move on & he booed & thanked everyone so much. He really is just a down-to-earth, caring, sweet guy & so easy to talk to.

As we waited for the other tables to finish we noticed that many of them were asking Sam & Cait to take selfies with their table & of course they obliged. Many of the people at my table & some others were disappointed that we didn’t get a pic because we were told not to, so my hubby went up & asked their managers if it might be possible for the other tables to also get a selfie. Their managers talked to them & they agreed, so they went around & took a table selfie w/ each group. They were having so much fun with it & were so excited.

When they had to go they just kept thanking everyone for coming & then Sam grabbed Cait & tightly squeezed her to his side. He was just absolutely giddy. I fumbled with my phone & tried to capture the moment, since they were right in front of me, but I didn’t realize my phone was on max zoom & this was all I ended up with 😩😜 :

After the Meet & Greet we headed straight to The Pike Brewery to meet up with a lot more fans. There were over 100 OL fans there & we had so much fun just sharing our love for all things OL & we raised over $1400 for Sam & Cait’s charities. It was such a fun night. Then we went back to the hotel & crashed. What a magical day.

On Saturday we slept in & then went straight to my solo pic w/ Cait. Saturday was much smoother and the lines weren’t as crazy since most of the OL fans came on Friday. I waited in line & chatted with many of the new friends I met yesterday. A few told me they hadn’t planned a solo pic w/ Cait, only Sam, but after talking with her at the meet & greet they had to get one. Again the photos were short & sweet w/ smiles & quick hellos & thank yous. Even after last night & sitting with Cait at my table, I was still in complete awe of her. The cutest thing was when I entered the photo room & was waiting my turn, Sam was just sitting there in a chair watching the photos. He smiled at me & I waved at him like a dork 🙋😳& then he winked at me. Then I was supposed to get my picture w/ Cait after that. Lol. I’m sorry I’m not going to show the pic because I literally felt like a blob standing next to a statue of a goddess. 👑

We had a little snack, then went to get our pic with Sam & Cait together. When they saw us they said, “How are you guys doing?” They just seem to have so much fun doing the pics together. I walked over and declared, “I get to stand next to Cait” & Sam laughed & gave me a look.😏 So it was guys on one side & gals on the other. I cropped the best part of the picture below.😍

After that it was straight to the last event for Sam & Cait at the con, autographs. ECCC sent out a memo asking everyone who bought autographs to come to their morning session & if unable then to come right at 4pm for their last session, so Sam & Cait could leave asap for their plane. We didn’t see the note till after the morning session so went to the last one. We were the last people in line and the line was short compared to Friday since most people came in the morning. I had them sign the photo they took on Friday with the Funko dolls & Cait commented on how cute it came out. I explained to her how we took the dolls all around Scotland to over 50 Outlander filming sites & recreated their scenes.[X] She said, “Oh, my gosh, just like the film Amélie , that’s so cool.”I told her to have fun in South Africa & asked her if Eddie was going. She said, sadly, no. That it was easy to get her there, but hard to get her back into the UK. Sam & my hubby bonded over kilts, Scotland, whiskey, beer & hangovers. They talked about the different whisky distilleries in Ireland & Scotland & their favorites. Sam was very relaxed, but I could tell that he was tired. We wished them well & they said their thank yous & we went on our way basking in all the glory that is Sam & Cait.

Well, this is a weekend I will definitely never forget. I sure couldn’t ask for two more lovely and amazing people to be obsessed over. Lol. Nor could I ask for more wonderful fans to share them with. I enjoyed every second with Sam, Cait & all the fans I met.

If you made it this far, I am truly sorry for how out of hand this got. I had no idea I had this much to say.

#Outlander #Caitriona Balfe #Sam Heughan #SamCait #ECCC #S4L

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paige-writes · 7 years

Text

Everybody Cut Footloose!

Just a little side drabble I thought of while reading @wittyy-name's lovely klance fic "Shut Up And Dance With Me" (there's also art by @wolfpainters which is AMAZING pls go check them out) between Pidge and Anita (my voltron OC). I will use they/them pronouns for Pidge instead of she/her this time, as they're used in SUADWM and other fics of Wittyy's. All credits go to the amazing writer and artist, and go read SUADWM and the other fics bc they're super great!

Edit: this got really long so technically it's not a drabble anymore. Plus it was hard describing dance moves so y'all might have to listen to the song while reading that part rip me

They saw her every Tuesday without fail. Every Tuesday Pidge would see the same girl at the park during the weekly dance meets with Hunk and Lance, always watching in amusement as they danced. By now they could spot her in the circle of people instantly; standing around 5'4" with medium length raven hair, dual-colored eyes---the left dark blue and the right green---and light tan skin, her left arm tattooed with a sleeve of pink cherry blossoms. They couldn't miss her, and they couldn't deny that she was cute, too. Whenever Pidge caught sight of the girl, she was cheering and clapping along with the rest of the crowd as they, Hunk, and Lance switched in and out of the dance circle, however she always seemed to cheer the loudest for Pidge, boosting their confidence greatly.

However, what caught Pidge's eye a few times was that the girl looked anxious to dance in the circle like other people did at times. She takes a small step forward, only to pull back and stay where she is, resorting to dancing shyly with the crowd. What she needed was a little push of encouragement, and Pidge decided that they would be the one to give it---and maybe get to know her better.

Tuesday rolled around again, and Pidge, Hunk, and Lance set up the speaker and donations bucket per usual. As Lance and Hunk talked amongst each other, Pidge looked around to see if that girl was here yet. And sure enough, they found her standing a couple yards away under one of the park's trees, fiddling with her phone. She wore an orange short-sleeved shirt with the shoulders cut out that hung loosely around her torso, dark grey leggings, and teal high-top Converse.

Pidge excused themselves as they made their way toward her, an excited grin forming all the while. Don't be awkward. Don't be awkward. Don't be awkward, echoed their thoughts. They saw the girl look up from her phone and at them, smile widely, and wave. Pidge happily waved back. "H-Hey!" they stuttered with a voice crack, mentally kicking themselves afterwards. Great first impression, Pidge. They stopped in front of the girl, ears burning, and oh god she was cuter up close. Upon observation, Pidge noticed that the breast pocket of the girl's shirt had a little green alien with its middle fingers up peeking out from the top. Cute.

"Hey," they said again.

"Hey," the girl repeated brightly. Her voice was smooth and nice to listen to. "I didn't think I'd finally get to personally meet one of the park's legendary dancers." Pidge laughed at the girl's spunky tone and rubbed the back of their neck sheepishly. "Well, here I am, haha. I'm Pidge, by the way." Pidge pointed to Hunk and Lance. "The lanky one's Lance and the big guy's Hunk. We all go to the same dance studio."

"Anita. You guys go to the Altea dance studio, right?"

"Yeah. We're all practicing for regionals auditions there, actually. Hunk and I are doing a duo dance."

A thick blanket of awkward silence passed over the two then, both not knowing what to say next. Thankfully, Anita saved the day. "I, uh, I like your shirt," she said, gesturing to Pidge's "Non-Binary Day" t-shirt. "Huh? Oh, thanks! Lance got it for me. I got him one that says "Gettin' Bi" in return. I like yours, too. That alien represents 90% of my day." Anita giggled before thanking them. The heat from Pidge's ears spread to their cheeks. They were starting to believe that whole 'love at first sight' shtick.

"S-So I've noticed," they then said, "that whenever you're here, you always look like you wanna step in and dance at some point. But then you always go back." Anita looked surprised at first; they found out so quickly. Now it was her turn to rub her neck. "Cat's out of the bag, huh?" she replied with a nervous chuckle. "If I'm being honest, I don't think I'm that good, not as good as you three, at least. Dancing isn't really my forte...."

"Oh no, don't go starting that with me," Pidge said, mocking Shiro's 'stern dad voice'. "I'm sure you can dance at least a little. Why don't you show us? Just me, Lance, and Hunk." Pidge saw Anita's face light up. "For real?" she asked. "O-Okay!"

Anita followed Pidge to where Lance and Hunk were. After she was introduced, Anita went to plug in her phone to the speaker and picked a song from her playlist. She then stood a good length away from the three dancers and waited. Once the music played, Anita tapped her foot in time with the beginning beats. Pidge immediately realized that Anita's pick was Kenny Loggins' Footloose.

As more instruments came in, Anita's foot tapping switched to swift hip movements and light bouncing. It continued like this until the lyrics were heard, to which then Anita added arm movements, steps, and small kicks to the jerks of her hips. Once the beat dropped and the lyric "Now I gotta cut loose, Footloose" sounded, all of Anita's moves increased tenfold. She jumped, kicked, nodded her head, shook her hips, and swung her arms in time with the music perfectly and smoothly.

Throughout the song, Pidge saw that Anita's dancing had a certain vibe to it. It wasn't as strictly choreographed like Lance, or as well calculated like them or Hunk. It was carefree and out there while still hitting every beat just right. Anita was letting loose with a smile on her face, feeling as if she was dancing on air rather than the hard ground.

Oh man, Pidge was falling for her more, and they were falling fast.

As the song came to end, Anita cried the last lyric, "Everybody cut Footloose!", hit the last five beats, and finished with her arms spread next to her in a star pose. It was then silent, but it was followed by Pidge, Hunk, and Lance clapping for her. Onlookers who gathered were applauding as well. Anita saw Pidge clapping the loudest, however, like she did when they danced, which made her smile.

The clapping ceased and Anita made room for Hunk to dance next. She went over to Pidge, who had an obviously proud grin on their face, and sat next to them. "And you said dancing wasn't your forte," was the first thing they said. Anita rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. You proved me wrong, Pidge. How did I do, though?"

"I think you did great. It was....nice watching you dance so freely."

Anita felt her cheeks heat up at that. "Th-Thank you." She paused for a moment watching Lance join Hunk in the dance circle. "H-Hey, Pidge, do you....wanna go out with me sometime?" Pidge felt their stomach do backflips just then. Did they hear correctly? Was this actually happening?

"Y-You mean, 'out' out? Like, just the two of us? Like a date?"

"Yeah, like a date. I've been meaning to ask ever since I saw you here, but that would've been ridiculous of me. Plus I didn't really want to bother you with it because you'd probably think I'm weird...."

Okay, so this was happening. Pidge was not, in fact, dreaming. This was real. Very, very real.

Pidge was at a loss for words. Anita could clearly see that their face was bright red. "Pidge, you okay?" she asked. Pidge nodded so quickly that they thought their glasses were going to fly off their face. "Y-Y-Yeah, I'm great! A-A date sounds nice! And it's not weird, either! I've....actually wanted to say the same thing to you, but I never had the guts to talk to you. But now that I have, it can be settled!"

Anita smiled brightly at Pidge's answer, immediately pulling them into a hug, to which they almost fainted from the emotional overload.

Later, after everyone went home for the day and Hunk and Lance were gathering their things, Anita and Pidge exchanged numbers. "So...." Anita started, "I'll text you the time and place on Saturday?"

"Sounds good," Pidge replied, still shaken from the moments that had unfolded before. In a sudden act of boldness, they stood on their toes and pecked Anita's cheek. "I'll see you then," they said happily, then running off to Hunk and Lance, leaving Anita frozen in place to process what had just happened.

Anita reached up to touch the spot where Pidge had kissed her. "Holy fuck...." she said to herself. She then turned and walked out of the park, smiling, but screaming internally.

[[Later in the group chat]]

coo coo motherfuckers: guYS YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE WHAT JUST HAPPENED TODAY

*Thanks for reading! Feedback is greatly appreciated! And go read Wittyy's fics and look at Sora's art! :)*

#voltron #voltron fic #my writing #it's everywhere im sorry

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biofunmy · 4 years

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The Work Diary of an Audio Erotica C.E.O.

Gina Gutierrez gets a lot of blank stares when explaining her start-up to people: It’s called Dipsea, and it sells subscriptions to immersive, short-form audio erotica. Venture capitalists, though, get it. They want to capitalize on dual booms in digital audio and sexual wellness, and some view Dipsea as the next Calm or Headspace. The start-up has raised $5.5 million in funding.

Ms. Gutierrez, 29, and her co-founder, Faye Keegan, created Dipsea when they realized that while there were plenty of companies offering tech-enabled vibrators, no one seemed to be addressing the mental aspect of female sexuality. In December 2018, Dipsea began publishing erotica podcasts, saying, “We think it’s downright powerful for people to discover the most turned-on versions of themselves.” The company charges subscribers $9 a month or $48 a year for access to a library of 10- to 15-minute stories in categories like “open relationship,” “hookup,” “crush” and “voyeurism.” Dipsea’s app also offers guides and exercises that can be done alone (“self love sesh”) or with a partner (“erotic meditation”).

Now the company, based in San Francisco, has 16 employees, 180 stories and 300,000 downloads. Ms. Gutierrez boomerangs between “I’ve never done this before” moments, she said, while juggling investor meetings, podcast appearances, script edits, Instagram caption-writing sessions and “Sacred Planning” meetings. She also has to deal with borderline puritanical rules from the big tech platforms while brainstorming about hunks, discerning what a hug sounds like, and puzzling over why people are so into stories about threesomes.

Monday

6:30 a.m. I hate the notion that the most successful people are up at 4:30. No thanks. I work on the couch for an hour before heading into the office.

9:35 a.m. My adrenaline surges when our social media and content manager, who started less than two weeks ago, Slacks me to say she has an urgent personal update. That’s never good.

She tells me she’s accepted another role. I’m shocked. We care so much about Dipsea being a great place to work, and have had zero attrition. So, 35 minutes into my workweek I’m dealing with my first “I’ve never done this before.”

The idea of kicking up the hiring process again so quickly after we’ve ended it makes my head spin. I spend the morning figuring out the transition plan. I really don’t want to go back to writing Instagram captions in the back of Lyfts between meetings.

2:30 p.m. I owe my editing team the final signoff on this week’s scripts before they pass them to the producers for recording. A section of dialogue on this one reminds me of a part from “A Star Is Born.” I send the movie scene to the team as an awesome example of realistic dialogue.

4 p.m. I hole up in a room with Faye and two other executives to brainstorm. We block 30 minutes per idea, throw out thoughts, sketch out designs, argue trade-offs. One idea we come up with is so good, I stand up to dance.

6:45 p.m. I debate bailing on plans to see “Hustlers” with some colleagues because I’m so behind. But I go. It’s an important piece of content for women right now, for God’s sake! I’m back at my computer on the couch by 9:45.

11 p.m. Quick Slack to Faye about a lead for the social media manager role before I shut my computer. I’m tired. When’s the last time I had a sip of water? Did I eat lunch today?

Tuesday

10 a.m. I talk with our audio production team about an article on aftercare, which is essentially affection and communication after sex. It’s the default in the BDSM community, but a good ideal to aspire to in all sexual encounters. We talk about not ending our stories too abruptly.

11 a.m. We have a monthly meeting called “Postpartum” where we discuss what we learned from our last month of stories and how people reacted. Most of our narratives are crafted so a female listener can identify with the woman, but one of our recent stories is about three men at a gay club, and we discuss whether listeners identify with one character, or if they’re more of a voyeur, excited to have eyes into the whole relational dynamic.

1:15 p.m. Over tacos I get book recommendations for my upcoming vacation — the first real one I’ve taken since starting Dipsea — from our content editor and writer. The whole team is voracious. Books lie in stacks around the office, especially Dipsea-relevant reads like “Conversations With Friends,” and “A Billion Wicked Thoughts.”

2:50 p.m. A construction company works in our building and I chat with one of the workers in the elevator. The contrast between their mostly male, neon-vest-wearing crew with our almost all-female team of erotic content creators is funny, but we’re strangely symbiotic.

Wednesday

9 a.m. I get coffee with an investor that we’ve been talking to since our seed round. Meetings like this are a mutual way to keep the relationship warm even when we’re not actively raising.

10 a.m. At the office, Mel Scott, our head of growth, tells me she’s spoken to a few podcast hosts who are going to run our ads. This is exciting. Facebook makes it very challenging for us to advertise as a sexual wellness business, and it’s frustrating. Sometimes our ads perform really well; other times we discover something was disconnected. Ads that were approved mysteriously get disapproved, and we’re left guessing why.

10:05 a.m. Faye and I have a weekly one-on-one meeting we call “Sacred Planning” to remind ourselves never to book another meeting over it.

11 a.m. The founders of an A.S.M.R. app visit our office to learn about how we create our content. I’m curious to learn about their work, too. One of them says the most polarizing A.S.M.R. sound is “mouth sounds.” I tell him mouth sounds can be tough for Dipsea listeners, too.

2 p.m. Our editorial team presents a plan for a new process of developing scripts. No one has ever made exactly what we’re making, so it’s a constant learning game with no instruction manual.

3 p.m. I sit in on a “Hooked on Sonics” meeting, where our storytelling lead and one of our producers talk to the rest of the team. This one covers what feelings sound like: A hug being akin to the sonic experience of going underwater, or anxiety as a high-pitched ring.

6:30 p.m. The entire company goes to a breath-work class at Chorus Meditation. You breathe in a fast, rhythmic way that oxygenates your brain, activating your parasympathetic nervous system and relaxing you. The crazy part is, it can also have effects like tingling, visual experiences or semi-lucid dreams.

I wake up in a jolt, even though I feel mentally present: An hour has passed and it felt like 20 minutes. My body feels amazing, slow and quiet. We all eye each other, while the instructor wraps up, mouthing, “Cool, right?”

10:25 p.m. Faye texts me asking to borrow a shirt. I wonder how many other co-founders sign off with a “Night love you.”

Thursday

10 a.m. All-hands meeting. As our analyst presents which story tags performed the best, the team debates the underlying reasons. We know stories tagged as “group” or “threesome” are highly rated, but we don’t necessarily know why. The novelty? The explicitness? What are the creative differences between “crush” and “hookup” stories? They seem to overlap a lot, so what makes one more successful than the other?

1:45 p.m. I take a call with an investor who’s been persistent. He describes Dipsea as part of the “N.S.F.W. space,” which tells me I have to take a step back and explain our perspective on sexuality: We’re not interested in creating an erotic utility, we’re interested in empowering women with content designed for their pleasure. To his credit, he understands the difference.

4 p.m. “Hunks Brainstorm” session. The editorial team discusses stereotypes about attractive men that still feel relevant, or that we can modernize. A college athlete isn’t necessarily interesting without some other underlying reason. (Ah! Maybe they’re fed up with the extortive system they’re a part of and lean on a female confidante. She sees his depth in a way that her peers don’t get to. Write that down!)

We talk about the way that passionate people are attractive, and especially so if they’re a bit unattainable because of their focus.

Every “Fireman!” is met with an, “O.K., but why?”

5 p.m. I join Faye and Mel to figure out how to meet our greater goals for the quarter. Five hundred Post-its and two hours later, we take a step back to admire our work.

Friday

12 p.m. I meet with Mel to review the past week: how we spent marketing dollars, where it’s working best, trends we’re not sure what to do with yet. There’s one international market that’s going gangbusters.

12:45 p.m. We always order in and eat Friday lunch together.

5 p.m. I find a quiet booth for an interview with Tristan Taormino, host of the podcast Sex Out Loud, which I just found out is airing live. The host, a sex educator who really knows her stuff, gives us advice on creating content for older listeners, shares her favorite story (“Virgo Season”), and asks how I deal with running a women-focused company while also navigating the world of venture capital. I say it took me some time to realize I was more than one thing in different contexts, and that that’s O.K.

6:50 p.m. I find myself alone at Bamboo Hut, a tiki bar, with a blue salt rim mai tai in front of me. I’m evaluating whether this bar will fit our loose holiday party theme of “dive bar fancy.” The bartender tells me that yes, the lamps over the bar are real taxidermied puffer fish.

7 p.m. A friend texts, “‘Blue Salt Rim’ should be the name of a Dipsea story!” It’s a joke I probably hear once or twice a week but still haven’t gotten tired of.

Interviews are conducted by email, text and phone, then condensed and edited.

Sahred From Source link Business

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#IFTTT #WordPress

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