#helen really went and started this whole thing…
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🎶Achilles, Achilles, Achilles come down, won’t you get up, get up off the roof🎶
I’ve been going through a Greek Mythology kick again, so I thought I would share my drawing of Achilles, inspired by Song of Achilles and Achilles come down.
#Achilles come down#Song of Achilles#gay#illiad#he deserved better#Achilles#patroclus#Troy#trojan war#helen really went and started this whole thing…#Art#my art
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Rick is known to mirror myths a lot (Silena-Clarisse and Patroclus-Achilles, Polyphemus' cave, Hercules' labors, etc) He could and SHOULD have mirrored the Trojan war in HOO.
Let me set the scene. Gaea doesn't pop up until the last couple books. It's easy to be scared of something that is mentioned but not seen, which in my opinion, is why Gaea in the HOO books just wasn't scary enough.
So the antagonists in the first few books are the Giants working under Gaea's orders. Percy is kidnapped by them and given to the Romans in the hope that the Greeks and the Romans will go batshit crazy in a fight and forget all about the prophecy of the seven and destroying Gaea or whatever.
Camp Halfblood is fully ready for war. As soon as they find out (through an oracle or smth idk) that the Romans exist and they have Percy, not even Chiron can stop them. Percy is the hero of the Battle of Manhattan, of course, and the hero mentioned in the last great prophecy. He's like their modern Aristos Achaion.
Meanwhile, the Romans have no clue what's going on. There's this guy he's funny, he has no memories, he just shows up at their wolf goddess and trains and gets sent to them. Cool.
Juno can't stand to see New Rome be attacked. Whether or not they would win is a whole different story. So she plucks Jason from CJ and brings them to the Greeks just for some sort of a balance.
This mirrors the Trojan war in the sense that Troy was a fortified city, so is New Rome with tons of forts and walls. Aeneas' lineage went on to be Remus and Romulus, the founders of Rome. And Helen of Troy was stolen from the Greeks.
Anyway so there's that conflict, but at the same time Camp Halfblood is getting ready to attack, Jason, Piper and Leo get sent on a quest to rescue Hera who has been captured by Porphyrion and Enceladus.
On the way, Jason starts to regain his memory a little bit, though he doesn't know everything yet. He's still super conflicted with everything. A pretty girl thinks they were dating, Leo says they were best friends, Annabeth says the Romans are enemies. But whom should he really believe?
Piper's whole arc through the first book could be about how she's the daughter of the goddess of beauty, she wrongly assumes her fake crush on Jason was her mom's fault. And she's learned so much bad stuff about her mom from myths, she outright rejects feminity and anything remotely girly at first but then slowly she gets to know Aphrodite isn't as bad as some myths make her out to be. Bonding and shit bc why should Poseidon be the only present godly parent?
Leo, meanwhile, has no idea he can essentially fire bend in the first book. His arc could be about discovering his mother's death was his fault, slightly and coming to terms with it with the help of his friends.
Reyna on the Roman's side is freaking out bc Octavian wants to go to war with the Greeks who are close to attacking them, there's a strange dude who keeps trying to pick fights with gods, a horse girl and not to mention monsters won't fucking DIE.
SON trio go on their quest to Alaska to kill Alcyoneus/ release Thanatos and things are getting clearer to them as well. Just when the Greeks are about to attack on CJ, Polybotes and the monsters attack as well. Somehow, both sides end up fighting the monsters together.
They're not friends, but they're not enemies either, bc Percy is reunited with his gf and Jason is returned to his home.
The Roman senate and the Greeks somehow come to the same conclusions- that a quest needs to go to their ancient lands. Over the next few months the work of the Argo II commences.
Things seem smooth for a while. But Gaea grows restless. She poisons Octavian and manipulates him through dreams and stuff like Kronos did to Luke. As is the nature of most Roman emperors, Octavian overthrows Reyna and declares himself the leader of New Rome like his namesake Octavius Caesar. (HAHA! HISTORY PARALLEL BITCHES)
This puts the actual quest on hold bc the seven now need to find the Athena Parthenos to bring together the Greeks and the Romans and to stop Octavian's plan of trying to fuck as much shit up as possible.
Reyna, Nico and say idk, Grover, are the ones to deviate from the quest and bring the statue to USA again. But the Seven are still very much in Europe after rescuing Nico.
Percy and Annabeth fall into Tartarus which helps close the Doors of Death, except this time since Nico isn't there, Hazel has to take on control over ghosts and the dead in the House of Hades and leading up to it. The powers of mist, in my opinion, should have gone to Piper since charmspeaking is a lot like bending the mist verbally.
Piper's arc through the third and fourth book is starting to discover herself and with the help of her mother, figuring out she doesn't like Jason romantically like she thought she did.
Hazel's arc is gaining control over what she once was (dead). She's jealous her dad was there more for Nico than her, but she pushes past it and never lets her anger and grudges get the better of her which is like breaking boundaries for children of Hades/Pluto.
Frank's arc in HOH was really cool, I like that. So no change to that.
Jason, poor guy is still very much confused about everything really. He's used to being the leader, he feels lost in the large group. He has his moments to shine ofc (please take away his excess amounts of head injuries), but he starts to feel inferior, which is where Leo helps him bc the guy knows what that's like.
Anyway, in the absence of Percy and Annabeth, Jason has to take charge. He discovers he doesn't really like it. That's not what he was meant for even though he had greatness thrust upon him at a very young age.
His BOO arc is earlier this time and takes place throughout HOH and BOO. He's content with himself, even if he isn't with anyone. HE'S THE ONE THAT GETS SENT TO OGYGIA!!!
And Calypso eventually does fall for him bc he's smart, nice, and just an overall swell guy. But he helps her to realize that she can be content in herself as well. And he promises her that he'll help her.
Show me Leo, Jason and Percy trying to think of ways of helping the goddess.
In any case. BOO could have been like Iliad pt 2 also known as the Odyssey. It takes them the whole book just to get to Athens. Meanwhile, they've understood that Gaea is the main main villain. She's even raised some of the other primordials against them.
Percy and Annabeth already saw Tartarus, and then there's Oceanus who makes their travel much harder than necessary. Something something about how they get tossed all over the place and somehow manage to gather all the correct ingredients for the potion (i forgot the name lol) on their small adventures in the different places. In the end they finally make it to Athens. Except this time, there's only a few giants there bc they killed the rest before.
Annabeth and Percy are taken hostage, like it happens in the books, but PERCY WILLINGLY GIVES UP HIS BLOOD TO RAISE GAEA RATHER THAN LETTING ANNABETH GET HURT BC OF HIS FATAL FLAW LIKE ATHENA TOLD HIM WOULD HAPPEN EVENTUALLY!!
The Gods DON'T SHOW UP PLEASE!! That was so lameee. Why even do the whole quest if their mommies and daddies were going to show up to help them????
So while Percy and Annabeth are battling the remaining few Giants, Leo, Piper, Hazel and Frank go up against Gaia herself. In the old myths four titans held Ouranos down while Kronos chopped his essence up. In the same way, they battle Gaia away from her turf in the air, keeping her distracted enough. All these demigods are needed because she's a primordial dammit!
Jason, my guy, comes in a clutch, chops her to pieces and sends her essence to Tartarus!!
The world is saved, the end!
#percy jackson pjo#percy jackson#percy jackon and the olympians#hoo#heroes of olympus rewrite#heroes of olympus#jason grace#nico di angelo
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Wicked Fantasies Part 1 (MBJ x Black OC)
A/N: this started off as 3k andddddd it tripled before my eyes lol (sorry!) Enjoy!
Series Warnings: NSFW, Smut with a plot, Heavy BDSM, Dom/Sub storyline
Raven checked herself in the mirror outside Helen’s office. She knew Helen hated when they did not look presentable and perfect, even when they were just meeting with her. She prayed Helen would actually have a client for her tonight. After her abysmal first date, she needed an opportunity to redeem herself quickly. However, as she approached her office door to knock, her movements halted as raised voices filled her ears.
“This is unacceptable, Tash!”
Raven cringed, Helen was terrifying on her good days but when she was mad, whew… she was a tornado and anyone unlucky enough to be in her path was screwed. And if she was angry at her best girl, Raven could not help but shake in her heels at what Helen would have in store for her.
“I can’t control a sick kid!” Raven heard Tasha respond, her exasperation clear in her voice. “My ex can’t take him. I don’t have much of a choice.”
“Hold on. Come in, Raven. Stop gawking outside the damn door.”
Raven glanced up in the corner at the camera that Helen positioned in the hallway and sighed. She should have known. She squared her shoulders and pushed in.
“Hi, I just came to-“
“I know why you came,” the older woman waved her hand dismissively. “I don’t have a client for you tonight.”
Raven’s whole body deflated with disappointment and stress. Another night and no dates. Her mind immediately went to her dwindling bank account. She could not survive many more weeks like this. She needed clients, steady ones, and fast.
“Really? Nothing?”
“Sorry.” Raven could tell Helen was not sorry and did not care one bit. The long timers like Tasha made her more than enough money that she did not truly need to concern herself with newbies that would likely crash and burn. And Raven knew they all expected her to do just that. But she needed to succeed, she did not have much of a choice. “It’ll pick up soon.”
“Ok, t-thank you.” Defeated and frustrated, Raven simply turned to leave, resigned to spending the evening in her apartment when a hand grabbed her arm to stop her.
“Wait! She can go in my place.”
Helen’s laugh was visceral, signaling the absurdity of Tasha’s statement. “No. Absolutely not. He is one of your best customers therefore one of my best customers. I’m not a fucking idiot. Can’t send a girl who's never turned a trick before and has only been on one date to him.”
Tasha shook her head. “Nahhh, she’s perfect. She’s his type, wide hips, a fat ass, small waist, pretty dark skin, and she has a naiveté, innocent factor he’ll eat up.”
Raven merely stood there, getting whiplash from the onset of both compliments and insults being thrown at her as if she was not standing in the room. However, she knew she could not contribute to the conversation or lobby in either direction because she had no idea what either of them were talking about.
“Look, she’s green as fuck but he ain’t gonna want one of these snow bunnies or redbones you got runnin’ round. Look, the real is it’s her and you still make money tonight or you gotta cancel and you don’t make anything.”
Though Raven did not know who they were talking about, she did know one thing. If he was on Tasha’s client list, he was one of the biggest fish Helen had reeled in. One night with him would not solve all her problems but it would lessen her stress.
“I’ll do it!” She piped up immediately, her voice assured and confident as if she knew exactly what they were talking about. “I can do it. I need the money.”
“Fine.”
Internally, Raven could not help but cheer though she kept her excitement subdued. She knew this was not a credit to her or because Helen actually thought she would do a good job. The reality was, all she cared about was money so sending Raven would, at least, ensure the night was not a total waste.
“But look here, you fuck this up, you’ll never get another client in this town again. Understand?”
Raven nodded, “I won’t. I promise.”
“Tasha, find her an outfit in the closet… something expensive so he knows she’s not a girl I pulled off the damn street. Maybe after tonight, you can afford a designer outfit or two.”
Raven glanced down at her black body con dress. It wasn’t much, even she could admit that, nor was it new or designer like the other girls wore. But it showed off the right assets and looked good on her so she felt like that was enough.
“Thank you! You won’t regret it, seriously.”
“Somehow I doubt that,” Helen muttered as Tasha dragged Raven out of the room.
Raven could not wipe the giant grin off her face as Tasha led her to the closet where the girls could borrow clothes for dates. Her body practically bounced after Tasha’s as they walked.
“Thank you so much. I owe you big time.”
Tasha waved her hand as she started rifling through the options. “Don’t mention it. Just give me 10% of what you make tonight and we’ll call it even.”
“Deal.” Raven answered immediately, she had no idea how much she’d make or what 10% of it would be but she knew she would still have a hefty sum even after paying both Tasha and Helen their cuts. All part of the investment, she decided quietly. “So who's the client?”
“Size? Look like a 10 or a 12?”
“Good eye. 10. The client?” She asked again.
“Michael B. Jordan.”
Raven’s heart dropped and her jaw nearly unhinged. “Wait wait wait. THE Michael B. Jordan?? Actor, director, Hollywood bad boy, Michael B. Jordan? ‘The MCU just created a whole phase around him in a six movie deal’ Michael B. Jordan? ‘Time’s Magazine just dubbed him our generation’s Denzel’ Michael B. Jordan? He’s the most sought after actor in the game right now.”
Tasha nodded, rolling her eyes at Raven’s fangirling. “Damn, sis. You know his whole IMDB? But yea, that Michael B Jordan. He’s a regular when he’s out here in LA. Tomorrow’s his birthday so his friends hired me for the night. Look, leave that starstruck shit at the door when you get there, he hates that shit. And he’s rough,” she added as a warning as she handed Raven a dress.
“How rough?” She could feel desire pool at her core at the thought. She thought about all the times she and her exes would dabble in BDSM and control but none of them were ever willing to take it as far as Raven thought she wanted it. Now, maybe it was her shot to test it out. She had figured she would get a client who was into that anyway, seemed like the most popular kink among all the clients she heard about. Raven quickly slid out of her old outfit and into the new one.
“I hate coaching you new girls,” Tasha muttered under her breath as she checked her phone.
Raven quickly corrected herself. “I-It’s not a problem! I promise. I like rough… I did some stuff with boyfriends and I actually really enjoy it so no problem. I’m just trying to figure out what to expect.”
“He isn’t gonna actually hurt you if that’s what you’re worried about. He expects obedience and submission but he’ll respect your limit if it goes too far. But since he’s never been with you before, he’ll probably keep it vanilla. Most you can probably expect is him calling you names, maybe he’ll make you beg or spank you a couple times? He ties me up and shit and can get creative but this is a surprise so I doubt he’ll have time to plan anything all that interesting. Don’t expect any warmth… well don’t expect that from any nigga you go in dates with as a rule but I know he seems one way in interviews and shit so people think they know him. When the door closes, you’re there to play a part and serve him. That’s it. He wants control, give him that and you’ll be fine.”
“Ok. Anything else I should know?”
“Oh don’t call him by his name.”
Raven’s nose wrinkled. “Ok what do I call him?”
“You know, sir, daddy, whatever. Take your pick.”
Raven nodded, she could tell Tasha was getting bored of her “coaching”. But she only had one last question.
“Is it normal to be this nervous?”
Tasha laughed. “The first time? Yea. I almost vomited the first time I went on a date. Once you get regulars, it’s not . You get to know them, they get to know you and it gets comfortable. They are paying you but you got more power and control than you’d think. But just keep your head about you. He acts like a bad boy but he’s cool people, not a bad guy for your first time. Trust me. Dress fits like a glove. You should keep it.”
Raven turned in the mirror for a few minutes before offering Tasha a sad smile. She coveted so many pieces in the closet but Helen always insisted they be returned unless you wanted to purchase them from her. “I can’t afford it.”
“Helen won’t miss it. It's an old dress of mine I used to wear on early dates. It doesn’t even fit most of these skinny bitches.”
Raven glanced at her. “Why are you being so nice to me? Most of the girls are… awful,” she muttered the last part more to herself than to Tasha. “They wouldn’t have done a fraction of the shit you’ve done in the last 10 minutes.”
Tasha merely shrugged. “Most of them see every girl who shows up here as competition. You’re pretty, have a nice body and all that. But no shade, you ain’t worth the energy to be mean. Besides, if I let you fail, I could fuck up my best customer. One date with Michael and I have my rent paid for months. Don’t get it twisted, I’m a bitch,” she assured her. “But I’m not a dumb bitch.” She glanced at the clock. “Aight, I gotta go. Nanny’s gonna be gone in a bit and my son is sick. Have fun and don’t mess this up cause you’ll be on your own with Helen if this shit goes left.”
“Noted. Thanks… again.”
Tasha chuckled. “I thought I said don’t mention it? You’re gonna have to become more of a bitch to survive around here, newbie. Cause this good girl shit? It’ll get you eaten alive.”
Tasha gave her one last glance before leaving Raven alone with her thoughts.
“Such inspiring words,” she mumbled to herself before she glanced at a notification on her phone.
Dad: Car broke down. Gonna be $700 to get it fixed. Send that with the mortgage
No please, not even framed as a question. Her money was never her own, it was her family’s. And while they blew their own money on vices and frivolous shit, they always knew Raven would swoop in to foot the things that mattered. And so now, they did not even ask. They just presented their bills to the Raven ATM and she always found a way.
Raven: I’m helping with the mortgage already… any chance you can cover that?
Dad: Had to set aside money for Kiara’s school… she wants to go back to be a chef. It’s just $700.
She rolled her eyes, she did not even have the cash from her date in hand yet and the money was already dwindling right before her eyes. She knew she could not say no, there was no point.
Raven: Yea, I’ll get it to you later this week.
More motivation, she supposed, to make sure the night was flawless.
***
The club was filled with hazy smoke as Michael and his friends passed around a blunt in his section. The night was young and the drinks were flowing with no signs of slowing down.
“Aye brah,” Steelo hit his arm softly to get his attention. “We got a surprise for you waiting at the St. Regis,” he held out the hotel room key.
Michael whistled and dapped the man up. “My nigga!” He was appreciative. It was his first time back in LA since finishing up filming in Atlanta and he had missed burying himself in his favorite girl. He had tried to find temporary release while in Atlanta but no girl was like Tasha and that was a fact.
Michael grabbed the card and slid it into his pocket. “Aight that’s my cue. Thanks for the birthday present. See y’all niggas tomorrow. Rest of the night’s on me!”
He said goodbye to everyone before his security led him to his car. Despite the liquor and drugs coursing through his system, he had a clear enough head to envision what he would do to Tasha. That girl was truly up for anything and he loved every second of it.
He put his phone on DND as he entered the hotel and went up to the room Steelo texted him.
He did not make much noise as he entered the suite, expecting to find Tasha already naked and ready in the position he liked. Instead, he found a woman standing by the window. He studied her for a moment, in his confusion, taking in her reflection as she marveled at the penthouse suite view of downtown LA. He studied how her fingers barely touched the glass of the window as if that would give her a closer look. He could see her face in the reflection. She was beautiful, her big brown eyes filled with longing and wonder at the twinkling lights across the horizon. She was so taken by it that she did not even notice Michael until he cleared his throat.
She turned around, Michael suddenly amending his earlier thought. She was not beautiful, that was an insulting understatement. She was painfully breathtaking. He had been in the presence of many beautiful women in his life but she surpassed them all.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I-I was j-just waiting and g-got caught up in the v-view. T-this is the perfect room, you can see the whole city. I-I’m Nicole.” She always went by her middle name with Helen and on her first date. Easy enough to remember to ensure she actually answered to it but kept her true identity to herself.
“Where’s Tasha?”
“Oh, umm she had an emergency. Helen wanted to make sure your birthday gift was still perfect so she sent me. I hope that’s… alright?”
Michael watched as she chewed on her plump bottom lip, he wanted to pull it out of her teeth and bite it himself. He could also hear the nervousness and fear in her voice as if she was worried he would throw a fit about the change. And while no one compared to Tasha, he still could have a good time. Besides, they could not have picked a more perfect replacement. Her ass was delectable, his hand twitched with the urge to smack it. Her hip to waist ratio was mouth watering, he could only imagine how she would look with the deep arch he liked, how his fingers would dig into the meat of her hips as he fucked her from behind. Her breasts sat high, looking good enough to devour right then and there. It was not the girl he was expecting, true, but he would not dare complain.
“All good. We can still have a good time together.” He noted how her entire body physically relaxed at his words, her shoulders coming down from her ears, her jaw relaxing, the tension in her tight limbs releasing.
They stared at each other for a moment before, awkwardness spreading across the room before she glanced down at herself.
“S-sorry, I s-should probably take this off… or I can wait till you tell me? You were probably expecting me to already be… Tasha didn’t say what I should do when I arrived or how you liked… so… I’m talking a lot. Does it feel like I’m talking a lot to you? There’s probably not this much talking, is there? I’m gonna stop a-and let you talk a-and tell me how you want me.” she clamped her lips shut as she realized she was rambling. She wished she could smack herself in the forehead. This was already not going well. She did not know how she got up and performed in front of ogling men all through her college and her masters program. She had an altar ego when she danced on stage then but it seemed that vixen was nowhere to be found. And she desperately needed her again. She knew she would arrive once they actually got started. This was where her first date went off the rails, the lead up. There was a certain distance with men at the club… this lifestyle though, was the exact opposite and she did not expect how hard it would be for her. She just wanted to do the deed and go but being one of Helen’s girls required so much more. And all that pre-sex conversation and “bonding” with men she’d never talk to regularly was difficult for her. It didn’t come naturally like it did to other women. “Sir.” she added, remembering Tasha’s instructions. “Sorry.”
Michael could not help but chuckle slightly. He could not explain why but he found her ranting and nervousness endearing. She was like a lamb trapped with a wolf, so sweet and earnest, not realizing that he was the complete opposite of both those things. It was far different from his first date with Tasha who knew exactly what to say and do. This girl seemed to not know either. But he found that charming, authentic. Other women were always playing a role. It seemed as though she showed up as her true self, beautiful, innocent, awkward and all.
He wondered how long she’d been in the game. Couldn’t be that long,he reasoned, given how nervous she looked. However, she seemed eager to please, which was his favorite type of woman. If she was done for what he had planned, he knew he could still have fun with her.
“You can stay like that for now. Tasha told you what I expect?”
Raven nodded. “Yes, sir.” It sounded so odd on her tongue to call anyone sir in this day and age. However, she could not deny there was a certain arousing quality to it.
Michael perched against the table across from the bed, gesturing for Raven to sit down on the edge of the bed across from him. “And what do I expect, Nicole?”
“Obedience, sir.” Raven fidgeted with the hem of her dress as she watched him study her. She could feel him undressing her with his eyes. Usually, she did not wilt under the ogling stares of men. Seven years working as a stripper got her over that hang up really quick. However, something about Michael’s stare was unnerving. Not in a creepy way but in an intense one, as if he was trying to learn everything he could about her by simply staring.
“You nervous?”
“No.”
“Clearly Tasha ain’t tell you everything cause one thing I don’t allow is lying. 10 spankings. Lie again and I’ll triple it.”
Her eyes fell down to his arms, taking in the taut muscles straining against his t-shirt. She wondered how heavy handed his slaps would be. Her panties were growing damp the longer she spoke to him. She could not remember the last time a man elicited this sort of reaction from her body.
“Yes.”
He raised an eyebrow, Raven immediately correcting her mistake.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good girl,” Raven immediately felt her body warm at the term, she could not hide the small but distinct smile that formed. She liked hearing it on his lips. “And don’t be. It’ll be a fun night for us both. I don’t know your limits and all that shit so I’ll take it easy. Tash and I got a safe word. We can use one for the night if that would make you more comfortable?”
Raven smiled, grateful that he was even taking that into account. “Yea, that would be great.”
“You pick.”
“Ummm… Wakanda?” she blurted out, the first word that came to mind as she looked at him. She immediately hit herself in the head, cringing at herself. “I’m sorry, that’s so embarrassing… I’m a Marvel n-nerd and it’s just the first word that popped into my head.”
Michael tried to hold his laughter in but could not. His laughter filled the room, causing Raven to feel slightly less embarrassed. “That is definitely a first but if that’s what you want then deal. You used a safe word before?”
Raven shook her head.
“When you want or need me to stop, something’s too painful or going too far, you say it and everything ends for the night. Understand?”
She nodded again.
“When I ask you a question, I also expect you to use your words.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good, now that we got that shit outta the way… we can have some fun.” He folded his arms and stared at her. “Lose the dress.”
Raven took a deep breath and stood up, her arms stretching behind her back to find the zipper of the dress. Before she knew it, the soft fabric was pooled at her feet. She smirked at how his eyes darkened with lust, how his knuckles gripped the edge of the table as if to control his own urges. Slowly but surely, the nerves in her body started to dissipate as lust replaced them. She started to repeat the motion to remove her bra but his voice stopped her.
“Did I tell you to take that off too? 5 more.” Raven could not help the way her own eyes flashed with excitement at the thought of punishment, a fact Michael was all too keen to point out. “Oh I see… you want it… want me to spank that fat ass until it’s covered in my handprints?”
“Y-Yes, sir.” And she did, she wanted his hands on her body as soon as possible.
“Leave everything else on and crawl to me.”
Her voice hitched. She had never crawled to anyone. She had seen it in porn, men leading women around in leashes, treating them as pets. And while she knew she should have found it degrading and humiliating, it had only turned her on. She could never convince her past boyfriends to take it that far, the most they were willing to do was spank her or call her names. But Michael was clearly a natural at this and knew exactly what he wanted. And she was more than happy to oblige.
She sank down to her hands and knees, the carpet roughly poking into her skin. She ignored it though as she kept her eyes trained on his, each step closer increasing the ache between her thighs. She could not remember the last time she had been this wet without anyone laying a finger on her. But it was him… his aura, his commanding being, the possessive look in his eyes that let her know she was his, even if it was only for the night. She so desperately wanted to please him and she found that, in her heart, it was not because it was her job. But because she genuinely wanted to hear him praise her.
By the time she reached him, the march across the room feeling longer than it actually was, every pleasure sensor in her body screamed and begged to be touched, caressed, kissed, or bitten. Whatever he wanted to do, she did not care.
She sat back on her heels, an innocent doe eyed look on her face as she stared up at him, waiting. Michael could have cum right then and there, the picture of submission beneath him and it was their first time together.
And only time, he reminded himself. For some reason, that thought burned uncomfortably in his mind, so much so that he pushed it out just as quickly.
“Good girl,” he liked how her whole being seemed to beam at his compliment. His hand went to her hair, wrapping his fist around her long kinky curls.
He held tight as he unbuttoned his pants and his dick sprung into her face. Her eyes grew as she took in his size and girth, he certainly had a package to be proud of. And she yearned for a taste of him, salivating for it. She willed him to shove it down her throat. And she did not have to wait long as his head poked at her lips to part them. Her tongue flicked his head gently. He let her control it for a few minutes, the young woman opting to tease him with soft licks up his shaft that made him moan softly.
“You’re gonna pay for that later,” he moaned as she continued working him, teasing his dick with her mouth. She spat on him, using her hand to get him as sloppy as possible.
She looked up and winked at him. “You want me to stop, sir?”
This girl is gonna be the death of me, he decided right then and there. Submissive but a brat… and she was a natural at it.
“Nah you ain’t stoppin’ anytime soon.” He unceremoniously pushed into her mouth, this time pushing as deeply as he could, hitting the back of her throat. She gagged immediately, choking and spluttering as her eyes filled with tears. “Want me to stop?”
She shook her head immediately, her eyes still showed her eagerness.
And he did not stop again. She moaned around him, sending tiny vibrations through him that drove him wild. He did not give her a chance to breathe or catch her breath as he fucked her mouth like it was a mere convenient hole. And he could tell she loved every second of it as he watched one of her hands drift from his thigh to between her own. He immediately stopped, using her hair to yank her head back.
Layers of spit kept her mouth connected to his dick. “You don’t touch yourself without asking, understand? That pussy’s mine. Such a desperate and pathetic little slut, already trying to cum.”
“Y-Yes, sir.”
As much as Michael had wanted to bust down her throat, he was ready to bury himself inside her sweet pussy. But first, he needed a taste. And before she could receive any pleasure, she had to be punished.
“Crawl to the bed and bend over the edge. Ass in the air.”
Her heart sagged as she realized he was not going to let her continue tasting him.
“Don’t worry, you’ll get your taste again,” he winked at her. “Bed. Now. Make me wait another second and I’ll add another 10.”
Raven knew his words should have had her hauling ass to the bed, however, she opted to take her sweet time. He liked submission, that was true. But it was clear he also liked a little pushback that allowed him to prove his dominance, reestablish his control. And that was one role Raven had always wanted to play. She took her time crawling back, putting an extra sway in her hips to show him her thick ass. She also knew that he could likely see the glistening of the mess between her thighs as she moved. She could feel the intensity of his stare on her as if he were burning a hole in her head.
“Oh baby girl… the things I’m gonna do to you,” he whispered, his voice tickling her ears.
The journey back to the bed was longer, Michael allowing her to continue her show. Finally, she picked herself up and assumed the position he demanded.
She waited with bated breath, no movement in the room but she could still feel his eyes on her.
“I hope you enjoyed that,” he offered as she finally felt him move toward her, her pussy clenching in anticipation. “Cause you’re gonna pay for it in a minute.”
She braced herself for the onslaught of pain and pleasure but it never came. Instead, she felt a gentle touch, his hands gripping her ass. Lower and lower they went until one was hovering right above her pussy. She did not understand how he was so close and yet was not touching her.
“P-Please,” she whimpered, desperate for any type of contact.
“Please what? Want me to make you cum like the filthy slut you are?”
“Y-yes, p-please… I-I’ll d-do anything,” her voice was filled with her desperation. She needed him like her body needed air to breathe.
“I don’t think you deserve to cum,” he shot back. “Acting like a fuckin’ whore for a man you don’t even know. I bet I could touch you once and you’d cum… so horny, so desperate for me. Just like I knew you would be. Do you think you deserve to cum?”
She knew the answer she had to give. “N-No, sir.”
“Why?”
“B-because I’ve b-been a bad girl.”
“Yes, you have. And bad girls get punished, don’t they?”
She nodded, her fingers getting tangled up in the comforter on the bed. “Yes, sir.”
“Good girl. Tonight, you don’t cum without permission. This pussy and all your pleasure is mine to give and take away. When you’re ready, beg. Count ‘em out or I'll start over.”
She cried out as he ripped her lace thong right off her body, the fabric snapping against her. He quickly followed it up with a swat to her ass that made her moan.
“One.”
She steadied her breathing and counted through each one. It got harder and harder to maintain the count, as he would stop at random intervals to touch her. The first time, two fingers slid into her drenched core, curling into her g-spot with every stroke. He slowly finger fucked her and rubbed her clit, her punishment almost completely forgotten as she surrendered to the bliss of his hands. She could feel her own orgasm building, her pussy clenching around his finger. However, he did not even give her a chance to beg before he stopped. He resumed spanking her, Raven almost losing count in the haze of the pain and pleasure he provided.
“13.”
“Are you gonna be a good slut for me? Or do I need to add more?” he asked gruffly in her ear as he put more force in each hit.
Still sporting the strength and weight of Erik Killmonger, his athleticism, strength, and power showed through every single slap.
“15… y-yessss… I p-promise, I-I’ll b-be good. Six… sixteen…”
“You’ll be a good what? Say it!” he ordered as his hand rained down on her ass. She knew she would be bruised tomorrow but she could care less.
“20… I-I’ll b-be a good s-slut. A g-good whore. F-fuck me, p-please!” She begged. Her words were strangled, like a dying woman begging for life. He had her right where he wanted her, she knew that much. And she loved it. Loved every second of surrendering to him and accepting whatever he chose to give: pain, pleasure, humiliation. She did not care, she wanted every single thing and more.
He stopped, resuming his teasing. This time, he spread her legs and ate her out from the back, his tongue doing the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit on her clit.
She panted as she felt her orgasm build. She remembered his instructions and immediately started to beg.
“P-Please let me c-cum. F-fuck… f-feels so good. Daddy… please!” She had not intended to call him daddy at any point in the night. She always hated the way it sounded and felt. However, it slipped out and she did not hate it so much on him, and neither did he.
“Cum for daddy, baby,” he whispered, replacing his tongue with his fingers as he fucked her hard and fast.
She buried her face in the comforter as the most powerful orgasm of her life ripped through her. So powerful, she felt tears streaming down her face, destroying her perfectly done makeup. Her thanks and appreciation for allowing her to cum was incoherent as his fingers continued to pump in and out of her.
While she calmed down, he took a moment to slide a condom on before lining himself with her wet entrance. He used his head to tease her, her entire body jolting with pleasure as he tapped it against her clit.
“What do you want, baby?”
Unflinching, she pushed herself to her forearms and glanced over her shoulder. “F-fuck me. Fuck me like a whore.”
Without a second thought, he slammed his dick into her, Raven letting out a scream of pleasure that made him thankful the rooms around him were empty. His steady, powerful strokes sent her eyes rolling into the back of her head. She had never been fucked like this before, hard and rough. She had never expected pleasure quite like this when she entered the hotel room but she would thank God for it.
The only sounds were her consistent moans and screams as Michael fucked her viciously, his hips slamming into her hips with every thrust. She used her forearms to meet every thrust, which only turned Michael on even more. She lost track of the amount of times she begged him to cum. He only did not allow her once, savoring the sounds of her pleas as she tried to hold it in. And when she couldn’t, he did not skip a beat in flipping her over and punishing her, this time with his belt, which almost made her cum on the spot again.
He moved her around the room, fucking her on any surface he deemed strong enough to hold her weight.
“You like how I’m fuckin’ this pussy?? You gon’ cum again, you fuckin’ whore?”
Her knuckles were white as she gripped the table he fucked her on. Both of her legs were draped over his shoulders, allowing him to reach regions Raven did not even know were possible. She could barely think since he put her in this particular position, let alone formulate a sentence to respond.
He hand one hand cradling her neck and head while the other held onto her back, using both as leverage to fuck her. He moved the one on her back to bring down a harsh smack to her outer thigh.
She gasped. “Y-Yes, yes, yes! P-Please let me c-cum! D-daddy, p-please, please, please.”
“Cum on this dick, baby. That’s it.” he continued fucking her through her orgasm, Raven left feeling as though she could not withstand much else. As she felt yet another orgasm start to build causing her to shy away from him. “Nah don’t run from me. You wanted it. Acting like a fuckin’ brat. Take this dick!”
“It-It’s too… fuck! J-Just like that… It’s… t-too much,” she panted out, her words choppy as she still tried to run from him despite his instructions. Her body did not know if she wanted him to stop or continue, to go faster or slower. That is until she let go of the table, all of her weight naturally leaning to one side as her arm gave out beneath her.
“FUCK,” she cried out as she felt the table slowly tip over. Because Michael was also bracing his weight on it to fuck her, they both toppled to the ground. She groaned, her eyes blurring as her head hit the corner of the tv stand next to them before she fell down to the ground. Her hand clutched the side of her head, now understanding what the phrase seeing stars meant.
She clenched her eyes shut as she tried to give herself a minute for the pounding in her head to stop. She let out a breathy chuckle, in pain but finding the injury rather hilarious as she felt Michael try to untangle their limbs. Soon, his deep baritone joined in, their laughter filling the room as they laid on the floor.
“You… alright?” she asked when they both settled down, her hand still pressing into her head.
“Yea, fell on my arm but it’s not that bad. You good?”
She nodded. “Y-Yea, just banged my head on the tv thing.”
“Let me help you up.”
Michael held out his hand, Raven giving him her free one to pull her to her feet. However, at the fast movement, she immediately felt lightheaded. Her naked body sagged into his as everything started to fade in and out.
“Oh shit, you’re bleeding,” he muttered, lifting her head up to examine her, his arm immediately going around her waist to hold her up. “Can you stand?”
“Barely,” she muttered. Her head felt so heavy, all she wanted to do was collapse back down to the ground.
“Aye aye, ma. Keep your eyes open for me, aight?” He guided her over to the bed and sat her down before running into the bathroom to grab a bathrobe and a towel. He wrapped her in the robe to make sure she was covered before calling an ambulance and calling down to his security to alert them of the situation.
He figured an ambulance was slight overkill as she likely just had a concussion but he did not want to take any chances. He worried he pushed her too far too fast. He immediately felt guilty. If he had not been fucking her so rough, she would not be half unconscious next to him. He had just gotten completely lost in her.
He quickly pulled on his own clothes so he could be ready when the EMTs arrived. He grabbed a towel and swatted away her hand to press it into the wound. It did not look that deep but the sight of her face covered in blood was still jarring for him. Her bloody hand rested on his arm as she tried to continue sitting up. Her eyes started to flutter closed, Michael using his grip on her shoulder to keep her upright.
“Eyes open.” She still responded to his commands. “Good girl, that’s it. Keep your eyes on me. Tell me about your tattoo.” It was the first thing he could think of, referencing the ink on her forearm.
Even through the pain, she managed to give him a funny look. “You fucked me so h-hard, I-I might h-have a c-concussion a-and you c-care about my tattoo?”
“Gotta keep you awake somehow, baby girl. Tell me.”
The tattoo, one of a small bird cage, three small birds flying out of the open doors. The word freedom was written beneath it.
“M-Maya… Angelou… h-her memoir, I Know Why The Caged Bird… Sings. F-first book I r-remember relating t-to… the i-idea that literature and s-storytelling c-could save y-you. She m-made me w-want to be a w-writer.”
“You’re a writer?”
Even in her pain, he could see her body sag slightly, sadness rippling across her face. “Yea…w-was anyway,” she mumbled.
“What kind of books do you write?”
However, Michael would never get the answer to that question, at least not that night. The edges of her vision were starting to blur and grow black. Her eyes lulled closed and this time, not even the sweet sounds of his voice and commands could force her to open them back up.
***
Raven groaned as she woke up in a bed, the beeping of the machines around her filling her ears. She shifted uncomfortably as all of the sensors in her body started to wake up and she began to register everything. The pounding in her skull was overwhelming but her whole body ached. She knew it was likely a combination of Michael’s pension for acrobatics, an ache she’d gladly sign up for again and again, and the fall. Slowly the events that landed her in the hospital came back to her.
The fall. How embarrassing. She knew she’d never live this one down when it made its way back to Helen and the other women. Falling and ending up in the hospital after her second date overall and first one with one of their biggest clients. She was screwed.
“Welcome back.”
She glanced to the side, shocked to find Michael sipping a coffee and sitting in the chair by her window. She was equally shocked to find that it was already light outside.
How long was I out for? She thought to herself.
As if he could read her mind and questions, Michael chuckled. “About five hours… longest five hours of my life,” he added under his breath. “How’s your head?”
“Better than my pride. W-what are you still doing here?” She could not keep the shocked tone out of her voice. It was not that she did not appreciate him sticking around, she just would have never expected it given how Tasha described him.
“Wanted to make sure you were good,” he shrugged nonchalantly. “I didn’t want you to wake up in the hospital alone.”
Her heart fluttered, even though she knew it shouldn’t. He was a client, and as soon as he assured she was alive and likely not going to sue him or something, he would be on his way and forget all about her. That was the gig.
“Oh um… that’s really sweet. T-thank you. And thank you for bringing me here.”
“It was my fault so it seems only right.”
“Eh, I think we both shoulder some of the blame there. Not sure why we thought that rickety table could hold both of our weight. Blinded by passion, I suppose,” she mused. “It was fun though,” she muttered, more to herself than to him. “Sorry… for ruining your birthday gift. I k-know I wasn’t the girl you wanted or how it should’ve ended. I feel bad,” she admitted.
Michael studied her for a moment, unsure of how to respond to any of that. Sure, she was not the girl he had expected to find in his room. However, he was happy about that. The night had exceeded every expectation he had, until the very end of course. She was a breath of fresh air, a new challenger who had been up for everything he threw at her. And something about her… he just found himself drawn to it. Which is why he was still sitting here in the hospital five hours later instead of leaving. It was not just the great sex or her beauty, it was her. She was sweet and awkward but had fire and could go toe to toe with him when she wanted. He liked that, the challenge she presented. And while he knew she was only supposed to replace Tasha for that one night, the entire time he was buried inside her, all he craved was more of her. And that feeling had not subsided, even as she laid in a hospital bed.
He shook his head. “I always believe shit goes exactly as it’s supposed to. And don’t sweat it. I had an amazing time last night. You were somethin’ else.”
He watched as a small smile bloomed on her face.
“No Tasha, I know,” she admitted, biting her lip. Once again, he resisted the urge to rip it out. A picture of her lips wrapped around his dick flashed in his head. He knew it was inappropriate to lust after her while she laid in the bed. But he could not help it. Having her was like the first hit of a drug, he needed another fix. “But I’m glad it was still fun for you. I had a good time too.”
Michael closed the distance between them, one hand going to brace on the railing of her bed while the other held his weight as he leaned over her.
“Don’t compare yourself to Tasha or any other girl out here. You’re one of a kind.” His voice was low, he usually reserved this voice for behind closed doors. It was commanding and authoritative and he could tell she loved it. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see her legs tighten together, the lust clouding her eyes, the way her lips parted to let out a shakily breath. “Understand?”
She nodded, gulping.
“Words.”
“Y-Yes, I u-understand.”
But she did not understand. Did not understand why he was still there, why he seemed to care about her, even if it was just to sit in a hospital when she knew he had better things to be doing, or why he at all cared whether she compared herself to anyone. She did not understand him. She had expected what Tasha warned her about… that she would just be there to service, a mere body for him to use as he pleased for the night. That did not bother her, she was there to do a job. However, he seemed to be more than that. You don’t spend all night in a hospital for just a body, right? You don’t care about the low self esteem or self deprecating comments of just a body? And you don’t look at just a body how he was looking at her right now… with such an intense craving and yearning that all Raven wanted to do was to let the ground swallow her whole.
“Good girl,” he whispered. His hand cradled her face as he took in the bloodied bandage on her forehead. He tilted her head up studying it, his thumb gently caressing her big tresses of kinky hair.
However, their moment, whatever it was, ended as quickly as it started as Raven’s phone rang loudly next to her. Michael seemed to realize his mistake and looked almost startled, as if he did not know how he ended up so close to her. He took several steps back as Raven grabbed her cell phone from the table.
She groaned as she realized it was her dad. Michael turned to stare out the window, giving her a bit of privacy as she answered the call.
“Hey, what do you need?” She knew he was calling because he needed something. None of them ever called to see about her.
“Hey Rae… could you send whatever money you can today?”
Raven’s face twisted up in confusion. “Today?? The mortgage isn’t due till the end of the month.” She glanced at Michael who seemed preoccupied in his phone before lowering her voice. “I-I can’t just pull money out of nowhere. Why do you even need it?”
He sighed. “Kiara got arrested.”
“Arrested?? For what??”
“Yea, she got into a fight with her new boyfriend at a bar and they hauled them both off to County. Gotta post bail for both of them by tomorrow afternoon. Or she’ll have to sit there until Monday.”
Raven felt the ache in her head grow but this had nothing to do with the concussion. She would never understand how she was the ugly duckling of the family, the forgotten and unwanted second daughter when Kiara, the prodigal perfect daughter, could barely hold down a job or stay out of trouble for more than a week. Well, that was not true. She completely understood… it did not make it easier to stomach or deal with though.
“How much?”
“$10k for them both.”
“Ten thousand US American dollars??” she cried out loudly, her shock getting the better of her. At that, Michael’s movements did still for a moment, he had been trying not to listen but her outburst made it rather difficult. “I c-can’t come up with that type of money today. Not just because it’s impossible but I’m in the hospital.”
She heard her dad sigh. “Your sister can’t sit in jail all weekend, she’ll be hurt in there. I’m pulling some money out of savings but it isn’t enough.”
Raven shook her head. “I’m doing just fine by the way, thanks for asking or caring,” she shot back. Michael could not help but glance over his shoulder at that, taking in the hurt and disappointed tone in her voice that she masked with snark.
He felt the uncomfortable sting of rage at the despondent look on her face. He wanted to snatch the phone out of her hand and hang up on whoever it was.
“I’m sorry you aren’t feeling well. But are you gonna send me the money or not? I don’t have time for this. Your sister is rotting in jail right now, only God knows what could be happening to her, and you wanna have an attitude? We are the only family you have. The least you could do is make sure we’re ok while you live it up in LA. I need $6,000.”
She clenched her eyes shut. She knew that meant handing over her entire cut after she paid Helen and Tasha and then the last bit of savings she had left. But she also knew she could not say no. “Fine. I’ll figure it out and send you the money by tomorrow.”
“Oh it’s her calling from the jail. I gotta go. Text me when you send it. Bye.”
She pulled the phone from her ear and shook her head. “You’re welcome,” she muttered to herself. She leaned back in her pillows and forced her eyes to the ceiling to stop the tears that brimmed in her eyes from falling. She did not know why her family’s treatment still got to her, 30 years later. Tasha was right… She needed thicker skin in all areas of her life.
“You good?”
She pressed her hands into her cheeks as a couple tears fell. She felt a wave of embarrassment as she remembered Michael was in the room. As if her interaction with him could not get any worse. They went from mind blowing sex to a hospital room and brain injuries to tears.
You really ruin everything for everyone, she thought to herself.
“Yea, yea. Just dumb family stuff.” She waved her hand dismissively. “It’s nothing.”
“I thought I told you I didn’t like lies.”
Raven eyed him for a moment. Part of her would love to talk to someone about her family drama, unload all the pent up feelings she pushed deep down into her soul. However, she knew she could not do it with him of all people. So instead of the vulnerability and honestly he demanded, she instead offered him a cheeky smile.
“The Nicole that responds to your demands costs $5k a night. And as you heard on the phone, I could most certainly use it,” she added with a wink.
“Nicole?” The doctor came in just as Michael was about to open his mouth to respond. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I got hit in the head.” She glanced at Michael with an expression that read what kinda stupid question is that? He merely snickered.
“Makes sense. Well you have a very mild concussion. You’ll need to rest for at least the next 7 days… avoid a lot of screens and movement and anything that requires a lot of mental power. It was very mild though so you should be back on your feet soon. You’re free to go.”
“Thank you,” she muttered. A week in bed meant a week of no work. And all the money she had to show for this disastrous night was gone. However, she had no time to really wallow in any of that. One thing Raven always did was figure it out.
She slid out of bed, immediately swaying slightly causing Michael to rush to her side. He was quick on his feet, all that boxing training went to good use. He caught her before she crumbled fully, guiding her back to the bed.
“Gotta move a lot slower than you’d think with a concussion, especially the first few days. You sure you’re gonna be good on your own?” he asked as he stared down at her.
She chuckled, the sound void of any true humor. “Yea I’ll be fine. Always am. Thanks for the assist. C-could you hand me my dress?”
Michael grabbed her clothes from the table in the corner. He watched her as she slid it back on, her movements far more measured and slow as she heeded his advice. She looked far more weary and exhausted than she did when she first woke up, as if that phone call and whoever was on the other line had aged her considerably.
Once she was fully dressed and finished her discharge paperwork, she settled onto the bed to slide into her hospital slippers. Not the best shoes to wear home but they beat the uncomfortable heels she could barely walk in on a good day.
“Thanks again… for waiting with me. You really didn’t have to.” She glanced down at her phone as she waited for him to respond, absentmindedly opening the Uber app so she could get a ride home.
“What are you doing?”
Her face twisted up in confusion. “Calling an uber?”
“You shouldn’t uber home like this. I’ll drop you off.”
Raven instinctively shook her head, the action causing a spot of pain that forced her to stop. “I-I can’t let you do that. You’ve done more than enough. Seriously.”
“I wasn’t askin’. Ain’t about to let you uber home. If you don’t want me to know where you live, my driver can take you and he’ll come get me after.”
Raven’s heart warmed at the thought. She did not like the idea of a client knowing where she laid her head every night. That seemed to be one of the few rules all the girls lived by. However, she trusted him. For some reason.
“No, no, it’s not a problem. T-thank you.”
Before she knew it, he and his security were hustling her out of a back entrance the hospital used for high profile guests and into a SUV with tinted windows. The car ride was virtually silent, Raven not knowing what to say or do around him. A night in a hospital meant they had a rapport. But he was still a client and this was the longest and most intimate interaction she had ever had with one. And everything since 3 am last night seemed like it was authentically from the kindness of his heart. She had promised him nothing in return for such kindness and he did not ask for anything. She wondered if he assumed and she just missed the cue?
However, as they pulled up outside of her apartment building in her neighborhood, she glanced at him expectantly, waiting for the other shoe to drop. But nothing came.
Instead, he merely said, “You sure you’re gonna be ok alone?” She could tell his eyes were searching the neighborhood, taking in the less than safe area she lived in.
She nodded. “I, umm, have a roommate. So not fully alone. She’ll be home from work later tonight so I’ll be good. Thank you. A-and sorry again… for ruining your special day. At least, you got a good story for your friends and Tasha next time?” she chuckled. “I’m sure she’ll never let me live it down. Anyway… thanks again for everything a-and it was great to meet you.”
She knew this was goodbye for good. Their one night together was just that, one night before he went back to being Tasha’s best client. She was the replacement, not the one they came back to for more.
Though she did not fully know why, she reached over and grabbed his hand that rested between them and squeezed, “You were a hell of a first date,” she winked at him.
Michael found the part of him he hated most did not want to say goodbye to her yet either. The part he kept caged and usually ignored had full control over him today. It was as if she had pressed all the right buttons to release that specific beast and did not even realize what she had done. Now, the beast roamed free and he found it difficult to herd it and the feelings it created back into their cages.
He did not want to feel what Nicole made him feel… he did not want to care about whether her neighborhood was safe for her; he did not want to know who she was talking to so he could strangle them for causing that look in her eye; he did not want to know anything else about her like why she said she was a writer in the past tense, what she had written or what she turned to reading and writing to be saved from; and he did not want to feel the urge to reach in his pocket and write her a check for another $5,000 to solve whatever her problems were if it meant she would not look as she had in the hospital ever again. And most of all, he did not want to yearn for all those answers like he needed air. The man who would’ve done all those things, who would have already yielded to those feelings was gone. He needed to remember that.
“Great meeting you too, Nicole” he offered shortly.
Raven paused as she jumped out of the SUV, turning back to him. “It’s Raven, actually.”
At his raised eyebrow, she clarified, “My real name. You said you don’t like lies, remember?” Her smile was sweet and innocent.
“I thought that was gonna cost me another $5k?”
She smiled playfully, a light in her eyes that hadn’t been there since she woke up. “Spending your birthday in a hospital with a girl you didn’t even know means you earned my real name for free. And where I live… don’t turn out to be a stalker creep though,” she joked. “Cause that would suck.”
He laughed. “No stalking… got it. Thanks for the two birthday gifts then, Raven.”
She offered him one final smile and wave before she closed the door and walked into her building.
As he drove away, he was thankful to never see her again. He would return to the comfortability of Tasha who played her role and sparked no other feelings in him but carnal lust. That was all he had room for. All those other feelings Raven elicited would fade and the beast would be locked up once again.
As Raven laid in bed, trying to force herself to rest, she could not help but think a similar refrain. She could not get him out of her head. The duality of the way he fucked her with the care and kindness he showed her after. The genuine concern he seemed to have for her. She wanted more of that, more of him. She wondered what it felt like for him to make love to a woman, and wondered how it would feel to hear him call out her real name. Wondered how it would feel to be held by him… how he took care of her, even if it was only briefly. She thought about how it must feel to be loved by him, the intensity of it must have been intoxicating. She thought back to the night before, flashes of it coming to her. If she focused, she could still feel where his hands were, like fire against her skin.
However, she knew those fantasies were dangerous and a fool’s errand. She could not fall head over heels for her first real date. That was not the job. And maybe she would find a client of her own like him one day, but she knew she would not last long if she pinned over every man who was nice to her. She thought she had let go of her hopeless romantic phase long ago but it still resurfaced every once in a while. But Tasha was right, she would not survive in their world long wearing her heart on her sleeve. And she needed to survive, her family needed her to survive. So, she would never see the Michael B. Jordan again and she, too, was thankful. Because then she would forget about him and move on.
She sighed as she settled into bed. Despite ending up in the ER, the night had been a success. Michael had been pleased, which was all that mattered and hopefully he relayed that to Helen. And that meant more clients, more opportunities to make money and get her life, at least financially, back on track. That’s all she needed and wanted to focus on. Anything else, fantasies of a man she could never have again, were foolish and best left for the characters she wrote in her free time.
Sleep eluded both Michael and Raven that night as they were plagued with fantasies of each other, the person they both knew was foolish to want because they knew they could not have them.
Tag List: @readinghere2023 @blackerthings @prettyisasprettydoes1306 @physicxal @purplehairgawdess @miyuhpapayuh @rueruesclues @geemamii
A/N: I'm both really excited and nervous about this series so I hoped y'all enjoyed chapter 1! Drop a comment and let me know what you thought!
#black writers#michael b jordan#michael b jordan x oc#mbjordanedit#michael b jordan x reader#creed 3#black panther#adonis creed#michael b jordan fanfic#creed iii#michael b jordan smut
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summary: an expanded edition of percy and annabeth's underwater kiss.
word count: 1073 words
a/n: even without looking it up, i can guarantee that there's hundreds of fics about this scene. i wrote my own anyways though because i wanted to.
taglist: @laughingphoenixleader @jedi-nurse {if you’d like to be added to my percabeth/pjo taglist, let me know!}
also on ao3!
My Weak Spot
I'd like to say my first instinct wasn't my own survival. It would be a cute story to tell those catty little gossips from the Aphrodite cabin if I could say that after our fellow campers tossed us in the lake, I pulled myself right down into Percy's arms, drawn to him like a magnet— or something more poetic, I suppose, like a flower growing towards her sun, or two stars being pulled together across galaxies, planets caught in a celestial dance, meeting their climax in a glorious supernova that sends a spark across the universe.
Maybe that all makes sense if you're a child of Aphrodite. And maybe if you're one of Posiedon's kids and can breathe underwater, sure, why waste another second just for something like oxygen? But, I guess I was just cursed with being a daughter of Athena, and actually having to think things through and pay attention to little details like breathing.
So, as soon as I went under the water, my first priority was, well, to not be under the water. I started swimming up, and would've poked my head out from under the canoe lake immediately, but I felt something pull on my hand, bringing me back down to the lake floor.
Before I had a chance to object, I felt the air return to my lungs. I opened my eyes to see Percy, a familiar smile on his face as he pulled me closer to himself. A bubble of air surrounded the both of us, from the top of our heads down to the bottom of our camp t-shirts, though I really hoped that whatever miracle kept Percy dry when he left the water would also dry out my favorite green utility shorts when we resurfaced.
"We don't have to swim back to the surface quite yet," Percy said, "and this is probably the only place in all of camp half-blood where we can finish the conversation we were having without everyone else eavesdropping."
"Oh?" I asked with a smile, "and what more did you have to say?"
Percy always had this way about him of looking cuter than normal when he was flustered— usually because it made him talk less, so his stupidity wasn't counteracting his looks as much as normal. Right now was no exception, and the increasing red flush on his cheeks, illuminated by the underwater moonlight, made his whole demeanor more appealing than it usually was.
"I, uh," he scratched at the back of his neck, "it's not as much about what I have to say. I think I've been saying it for a while already, even when I didn't realize, and even when you didn't make it all that easy for me." He took my other hand in his, then added, "I really like you, Annabeth."
"You're not so bad, yourself," I teased.
"Wow," Percy rolled his eyes, "that's still probably the nicest thing you've ever said to me."
"No," I said, as half a dozen genuinely kind things I'd told him came to mind, "the nicest thing I've said to you is this: I really like you. I don't think we've ever exactly been 'just friends,' but I want you to know, I never want us to be, either."
Percy smiled, "and when did you tell me that?"
I let go of his hand and shoved his shoulder, playfully and lovingly, but not too gently.
"Right now, Seaweed Brain," I said.
"I know," he laughed, and I felt his free hand— his hand that wasn't still holding mine— on the back of my neck, "and I want to be more than just your friend too."
"And what does that mean?" I asked.
"For right now," he said, leaning closer and pulling me closer to himself, "it means I can do this."
Percy had never kissed me before. I'd kissed him on the cheek when we won that chariot race together, and I kissed him last year before he blew up Mount Saint Helens, and I kissed him a moment ago on the pavilion before we were so rudely interrupted, but he'd never been the one to kiss me.
That is, until now.
His lips met mine, gently, almost as if he was afraid I'd pull away if he moved too fast. I closed my eyes, not wanting to think about anything else besides this kiss, and Percy, and the fact that we were here, together.
I'd survived, despite my injuries, in the battle for Olympus.
He'd survived his sixteenth birthday.
I didn't have to worry about Percy's feelings for Rachel, or anyone else.
And Percy didn't have to worry about me and anyone else, either.
As I pulled myself closer to him, my soaked sneakers dragging through the wet sand, my fingers dragging through his magically-dry hair, my lips dragging across his, I knew this was all I'd ever need— that Percy was the only boy I'd ever need in my life.
My fingers trailed down to his neck, and I thought I heard a softly whispered "oh," like you'd read about in all the old love stories, and he kissed me with all the more fervor.
My fingers ran further down his back, but his whole body suddenly tensed, and for half a second he pulled away from me.
I opened my eyes, about to ask if everything was alright, but he pulled my lips back to his before I could say anything.
His arms wrapped tighter around me like he was scared he might lose me, his fingers gripping my side like I was the one thing keeping him tied to this earth.
"Oh yeah," I remembered, "I am."
Percy had bathed in the river of souls, given himself invulnerability— and as a result, he had a very sensitive spot where I'd just touched him on the small of his back.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
"About what?" Percy asked.
"I forgot about your weak spot," I said, my fingers tracing nervously near it, but not too close.
I felt his lips curve into a smile, and he whispered back, "Annabeth, you are my weak spot."
As corny as it was, I giggled a little.
He then pulled me even closer than we already were, his hand on my neck so firmly that I couldn't've pulled away if I wanted to.
And why would I want to pull away?
This was the best underwater kiss of all time.
#annabeth chase#percy jackson#percy jackson and the olympians#percabeth#fanfic#fanfiction#the last olympian#percy jackon and the olympians#pjo fic#percabeth fic#kazzy borrows uncle rick's sweater#cw kissing#otp: the rivalry ends here
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Canon-compliant Green family vacation
Daeron is going to Oldtown to be fostered there. Alicent insists on escorting him there herself, and makes a family vacation out of it. Sickly Viserys isn’t up to such travel, so they get to leave him behind.
Here’s the list of events I’ve got so far. I’m looking for more, so if you have ideas, chime in! I want this to be a collaboration post! Please collaborate with me! In particular, the going-there journey is a bit sparse and I could use some help. I also need Daeron anecdotes.
1st leg of the trip: King’s Landing to Tumbleton
They travel by land to Tumbleton, the highest navigable point on the Mander. Horses, carriages, a whole royal procession. They’re traveling on the Roseroad at first, and then take a dirt road that cuts across to Tumbleton.
Aemond, having no dragon yet, is going through a horse girl phase. Until he can get a dragon, he’s going to be the best horse rider anyone’s ever seen.
Alicent isn’t the best rider, but she does have a real fondness for horses. She identifies with them — their big dark gentle eyes; when they sigh and go “brbrbr” and sound so exhausted and put upon.
Alicent rides in a carriage at the start of the trip. The kids are like, “Come out and ride with us!” Criston’s on their side too. Eventually she does.
2nd leg of the trip: Tumbleton to Oldtown:
They travel downriver by boat, and then through the Sunset Sea to Oldtown.
Aegon falls overboard into the river and has to get rescued. This provides an opportunity to make fun of him, and also an opportunity to fuss over him, cuddle him, say, “We’re so glad we didn’t loose you.”
Stopping at every castle along the Mander — Bitterbridge, Longtable, Cider Hall, Highgarden — to spend a night or two and do diplomacy.
When the river turns into the sea, Helaena gets seasick. Alicent and Criston trade off sitting with her at the prow of the ship, and keeping an eye on the other kids.
Alicent pulling Daeron into her lap for cuddles at every opportunity.
Oldtown!
They arrange for baby nerds Helaena and Aemond to get a tour of the Citadel. They love it. Helaena is gifted a bug in amber.
Some Hightower kin shows Aemond the fused stone base of the Hightower and tells him about the competing theories of its history. Aemond is enthralled.
Alicent takes Criston to the Starry Sept. Maybe they redo their vows there?
Otto and Criston meet formally for the first time. Lean into all the meet-the-in-laws tropes for this scene, Otto really grills him. But later in private, Otto tells Alicent that he likes and approves of Criston — he’s been a fan of his since the day he beat Daemon.
Otto meeting Helaena for the first time since infancy, and her becoming his favorite grandchild.
Trip to the Arbor
They make a trip from Oldtown to the Arbor to visit Alicent’s maternal Redwyne kin.
The red tint in Alicent’s hair comes from the Redwyne side. Maybe she hennas her hair before they go to really bring it out? Her Redwyne family like seeing her mother’s traits in her.
Grandma Redwyne is still living. She fusses over Alicent and does the whole, “Oh, you look so much like your mother!” thing and Otto’s like, “I know, doesn’t she?”
Helaena is indirectly named after Alicent’s mother, who was named Elaine (Helene?)
Otto and Grandma Redwyne are mostly on good terms, but Alicent does overhear, once, Grandma Redwyne crying and berating Otto, “Why did you have to take your family with you to the capital? Why couldn’t you have left Elaine and the kids here with me? I would’ve taken care of them, and Elaine wouldn’t have caught the summer fever from that fetid city and she’d still be alive!”
Grandma Redwyne: Where in Dorne is your family from?
Criston: *getting really uncomfortable* My mother was born on the coast of the Sea of Dorne.
Grandma Redwyne: Ah. I don't know much about the northern coast, only the southern coast. My grandfather was a sailor out of Planky Town. He ran Arbor Gold all over, from Bear Island to Volantis. He never went to the north coast of Dorne, though, never went through the Stepstones. The pirates and all. Grandpa used to say that braving pirates' waters was for men without families waiting for them back home.
Criston: *relaxes, smiles*
Return journy: Oldtown to King’s Landing
They travel by ship along the Dornish coast, through the Stepstones, and back to King’s Landing.
If the previous first two segments were the "let's talk about Alicent's family" section, this is "let's talk about Criston's family."
Aemond is sad about loosing his favorite brother. Criston assures him that Daeron will always be his brother. As he’s saying it, Criston realizes that while Aemond’s not loosing Daeron, he is. Daeron will always be their son and brother because blood, but Criston doesn’t have that to fall back on. Being the man that raised them is the only claim he has to these kids. If he’s not that to Daeron, then that’s it — Daeron won’t be his in the future. Criston has just lost him. He calls Alicent over, pushes Aemond off onto her, and then goes and cries in private.
Aegon learns sea shanties from the sailors, and sings them as loudly as he can. Aemond is super annoyed. Helaena surprises the parents by singing to.
Criston spends a lot of time looking at the Dornish coast, off the port side of the ship. At night he has a dream that they’re caught in a storm and shipwrecked on the shore. When people arrive on the beach to help them, he presents himself as a Dornishman and Alicent as his wife.
Sentimentality about Criston’s family as they pass by the Sea of Dorne. “My mother was born somewhere along there. A little village on the northern coast of Dorne.” “Blackhaven is somewhere that way. That’s where my family are.” Getting emotional and praying for his family, who he can only hope are still living since they’re illiterate smallfolk so he can’t write letters to them. The kids saying, “Let’s go to Blackhaven!” and Criston sadly having to explain that it’s an arduous trek through the mountains to get there, it’s not a coastal place they can easily tack onto their trip, people are expecting them back in King’s Landing, etc. Aemond saying, “Ok, fine, we’ll do that trip when Aegon’s king then.”
#pro team green#green family fluff#alicole#alicole and kiddos#criston cole the father that stepped up
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SHAMELESS OPINIONS: S6 (cause Mickey's write off hurt and after s5, I watched again from s1 and forced myself to keep watching + no one around me likes Shameless so I need a place to vent)
overall: it's a meh season with strong plotlines
The F Word is SUCH a bop, my boy Gus ate. Sorry Fi, I really like you, but boo, you had it coming.
I get the whole controversy with Sean, trust me I do, but I enjoyed the dramatics of the relationship. He was way too hypocritical tho, the scene with the gun, as scary as it was, rubbed me the wrong way. I wouldn't blame Fiona or Carl for that. As someone raised in a house full of guns, I was taught to never ever go near one. Curiosity killed the cat with Will and he was obviously scared, but Sean my boy, no. I felt Sean sort of blended well with the family, understood dysfunction all too well so that's probably why, but at the end of the day, it was a scabbing wound.
The wedding scene, Fuck Frank, ik he helped Fiona dodge a bullet, but at the end of the day, it was never really about Fiona, it was about his damn ego as always. The whole situation was shitty for everyone and I felt for her, really. The bridge scene was dope as hell. Bravo. Cinematic.
With the Debbie v Fiona, I was honestly on Fiona's side most of the time. A decision like this, in their way of living, oof, and Fiona made it clear she wasn't gonna be in charge of another kid. Harsh, but... I wouldn't do it either. But the reality is, Debbie has always been around kids, and very clearly wanted to be a mother, as early as s1. It's just... timing wasn't right. But to tackle a teen to the ground??? Wtf. A grown ass woman. Girl. No.
Oh Lip... his lip ain't doing good. As fucked as the whole Helene thing was, no relationship has ever made more sense to me than that one (for all the wrong reasons) Mommy issues as bright as day right there. And the fact that he couldn't recognize that and saw it as a normal college Tuesday makes me pity him. People don't agree with the relationship, and they're right, they shouldn't, but not because it's a bad storyline. It should make you feel uncomfortable because it is, but that's something that sooner or later, was bound to happen with him. That scene where he walks to the bar and yaps like Frank does with a beer in his hand, and everyone in disbelief... oof...
EMT IAN. NEED I SPEAK??? My baby... Those first episodes were so hard for him... Fucking Lip being insensitive at times... FUCK Ian makes me cry. Him standing his ground to get the job back, oh lord. There's a deleted scene that should've stayed but oh well. Anyway. I love him.
Don't even get me started on Gallavich. The scene with Lana on patsies cuts me. That prison scene breaks me without fail every time. I can't. I just couldn't envision, if things really went without having to call back Noel for ratings and views in s7, that the prison scene would be -it- for them... His leave was horribly handled too... but alas...
Caleb??? I have much to say about him in s7, but he... isn't half bad here... Don't love him, but he's alright. Motivated our ginger boy to get a job that gave him purpose, gave him soft smooches and little lunches, and taught him to receive softness. I love those things but not because it comes from him, more so because Ian deserves those gestures. The HIV conversation was handled well I think??? Don't have any particular complains... yet
Frank's storyline at the start of the season interested me, with the cancer lady and whatnot, not a fan of indulging Debbie into grooming, but it's Frank, and Frank is a fucking pos, but as soon as Queenie comes along I got so fucking BORED. Just not my cup of tea, the whole organic storyline put me to sleep. Kind of wish Debbie wasn't involved cause I think her pregnancy journey had more potential than ending up with Queenie. Idk that whole thing was just boring for me.
White boy Carl... eh, it is what it is, seemed in character enough ig, everyone expected part of this future to head that way so, yeah. Nick... so many mixed feelings like everyone else. I just feel for him man, that situation was horrendous. That, along with 3x666 are the only two scenes where I can't like... they're hard to stomach, for obvious reasons ik, but yeah. That was tough. I feel like it was fun to see Carl with his shenanigans, somewhat cringe but I can't pinpoint if it's because of E's performance or shitty writing.
Mandy and Ian's moment, holy fuck. That made me tear up. Mandy my beloved... I hope you're doing well.
SVETLANA RISE.
#shameless us#shameless#season 6#gallavich#debbie gallagher#fiona gallagher#the f word#white boy carl#emt ian#ian Gallagher
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Missing in Action 10
Chapter 10: Splitting Up
The hunt for Merasmus begins, with Scout and Spy left to hold down the base. They’ll be fine… right?
TW: Heavy angst. Spy is not in fact okay.
Ms Pauling briefed the team on a Merasmus lead. She said he mighta been training up in the Appalachian mountains to ruin Soldier and Zhanna’s wedding. She told Scout and Spy to stay at base, so someone could guard it while the others went after him.
Jeremy was glad that Soldier and Pyro weren’t staying at base; he’da been left to baby sit them alone, with Spy not feeling right and being new. Then again, this was a real threat to Soldier, so he wouldn’t have stayed put at base anyway. It looked like he was really taking this seriously, as far as Scout could tell.
Spy looked stiff for the whole briefing. Angry even. But Scout figured he was just on edge because of last night’s nightmare.
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Heavy was glad that Pauling didn't waste any time. Zhanna was new to America and the most naive of his sisters. He could only hope that her training was real and useful to her.
He didn’t like her marrying Solider, but had to respect the man for wanting to protect her. And for trusting in her strength as well. Soldier was impatient to start the mission one he heard the briefing.
Heavy also wanted to avenge Spy, not just his sister. If that curse had not hit Spy, he may have already fixed things with Scout. At the least, the team boy would not have been so sleepless and ill with bottled tears.
It was time for answers. They packed up swiftly and got ready for one last stop on the way.
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Spy and Scout were in no condition to go on this hunt, even if they could’a known the truth. Engineer couldn’t bear to leave Pyro in their care with everything goin on. He knew that if Pyro had to withhold fire, he’d be a much bigger threat to Merasmus when he was finally found. And Soldier was already ruthlessly ready.
The plan was to look for Merasmus and take any help or clues from the other magic users. Once they found their evil old wizard, they’d trap him for Pauling so she could question him.
They had Soldier call up Zhanna and the Holy Wizards to assist. Bein Merasmus’ Halloween playthings, they needed all the magical assistance they could get.
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Demoman and Sniper talked to Pauling in the ship. Sniper had also noticed Spy acting strange around her, and wondered if it was connected to that terrible nightmare.
“The lad looked fierce the first time, but I was the only one who saw. Thought it was the scrumpy playin tricks on me eye.”
“He was like that at today’s briefing too. Not sure if theah’s something he hated Helen for, or if it’s just the nightmare problem.” They had to be vague with Soldier, Pyro, and Zhanna in the ship.
“I thought he sounded off, but you know how much I overthink. I just assumed it was me overthinking last time.” Pauling said.
“The sooner we get Merasmus locked eway, the better. So we can puzzle out what to do.”
“I agree. You guys have a battle put on hold until you get back, but after that we should investigate.”
——————————-
Medic kept a wide expanse between himself and the wizards. He wasn’t sure if they could sense his dealings with the Devil, but the way they were talking about the dark arts, he didn’t need them finding out. They focused on healing and growth spells, like planting new forests and healing herbs.
It was a bit surprising that they got along with Soldier so well, but nobody was complaining. They said that the Appalachians were enchanted to allow wizards to train and experiment without interruption. The practice was put into place during an uneasy peace between holy and dark magic users.
It was better to bring them along and risk his deal getting screwed up, than to get cursed or lost in the enchanted mountains. Soldier’s strange habit of attracting magic was coming in handy for once.
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Heavy was surprised that the white wizards trusted Soldier to wander in the woods; when they got out of the ship, none of the magic users took issue with Soldier’s erratic behavior. Here he seemed to move with unexpected smoothness, as if he knew the land well.
Zhanna had been training under these men, so perhaps Soldier had learned how to act through her. Though Heavy didn’t notice too much difference in how the man was acting now. Pyro was being closely watched now that it was established he was not permitted to set the forest ablaze. Doktor was acting strange, like he was uncomfortable with the wizards being there.
The magic allowed them to travel undisturbed through wizard trails, hidden from that one BLU Scout and the other local people. Strange plants and animals were all around them, many of them being pleasant smelling and beautiful. Zhanna said she had been growing some of these flowers and vines for the wedding, and the wizards were making new hybrid plants for the desert.
The wizard with two points in his beard explained that the dark faction was very likely to kill unsuspecting locals for venturing too close to their lairs. The hidden trail magic and enchanted eerie feeling in this place was created by the light faction, to remove any excuse for such murders. It was accepted by the evil wizards for providing them privacy when they didn’t want to see non-magicians.
It also meant that they must be careful not to attack random creatures, in case they belonged to someone bloodthirsty. Only if they were attacked first, and the wizard magic failed them. Heavy was worried that Soldier would not follow that rule, but he was surprisingly unbothered by the magic birds and little creatures. He didn’t lash out to attack like anyone thought he would.
————————
Soldier jumped back as something huge ran across the path, growling. It was a giant raccoon, the size of an elephant. It looked like it was going to attack, but stopped. Doe swore he’d seen this one before. No, that didn’t-
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the newly-weds.” Merasmus. Merasmus could bring things back to life. But Lieutenant bites and the other raccoons didn’t leave behind bodies, how could he have done this?
“Thought it was a shame to waste these savage little animals after you dodged my magic.” The wizard smirked. “Attack if you wish, it’ll only hurt them and you.” *******! He was using Soldier’s friends as a meat-shield! Doe couldn’t fight his raccoons like the other monsters, and they would not attack him. He didn’t know how to get back at Merasmus this time.
He stared out at the other wizards, looking bored and annoyed.
“Stay out of this, goody-goodies. This man killed my innocent roommate and destroyed my lair many times. You’re on the wrong side.”
Soldier knew the other mercenaries weren't really on his side right now, but they cared about Zhanna. Everyone knew he was dumb, they just assumed he was too dumb to see how they looked at him. It had always been like that, with other kids, and teachers, and orphanage people. He didn’t know what the white wizards would do if they agreed with Merasmus. For once, he didn’t yell anything.
“Did you ever explain your rules?” Spice wizard asked. Merasmus looked annoyed.
“What was there to explain? We were in a lair with normal human furniture, it’s not like I asked him to do magic. Any person should have had common sense-“ The white wizards launched magic at the raccoons that turned them back to normal. Lieutenant Bites jumped on Doe and bit him, his way of saying hello.
“I missed you too, Bites.” He choked out. The other raccoons abandoned Merasmus too, sitting next to the wizards and mercenaries without trouble.
“You’ve got to be kidding me! Do you know what he’s like?!”
“Yes”. Said the tea wizard with the two tailed beard. “And I also know he’s a feral child Merasmus. And you know that common sense is not the same to them.” Zhanna stepped forward.
“Did he kill Tom Jones before you threatened to kill everyone he loves?” Merasmus grumbled.
“No..” Zhanna shrugged.
“Then it vas returning favor, I think.”
“I forgot about that!” Demoman said. Soldier turned to look, and the whole team seemed just as surprised as Demo. “Come to think of it, yeah! Ye the one who be cursin us all each Halloween. Been doin that fer far longer than ye lived with Jones.”
It was times like this that Doe remembered Zhanna really understood him. Sometimes he worried that she would get fed up with him like everyone else, but right now he knew she wouldn’t. And the wizards didn’t get fed up with him, and the other men were trying to understand. Things were not so bad.
“Merasmus.” The old wizard general growled. “Did you target this man’s team over a death, or over property damage?”
————————
The necromancer started to stutter, sensing that the Holy wizards had turned against him. Medic knew they had to be stronger than him, in numbers alone. They joined hands with each other and Heavy’s sister, and started chanting.
The oldest wizard with the longest beard continued to talk.
“Merasmus. By order of the Holy Herbologists, thou art sealed in these mountains forever! No more will you torment non-wizards in this or any other place with thy magic.” Some kind of glowing lock appeared on the necromancer, before disappearing.
“What?! What is the meaning of this, high master?” The wizard with the goatee and the sass piped up.
“Well, since you decided to live in the desert amongst non-magicians, you caused conflict with this Soldier and his friends. This place is free to both Holy and Evil wizards to separate from the normal folk of this world, but you didn’t use it. It stands to reason that your travel privileges should be taken.”
Another wizard turned to everyone. “Even if he goes into the local towns, he’s blocked from using magic on the people there. So don’t worry, the civilians are safe too.”
—————————-
“Will he be able to wander very far?” Engineer asked. They would need to come back to get more answers if he wasn’t mistaken.
“No, he’s locked into a certain acreage so we can monitor things. Why, is something else going on?”
Engineer whispered an explanation, apologizing for the secrecy before. They couldn’t tell all of the teammates.
“A dark de-aging spell and cruel nightmare… I’ve heard of this spell. In animals, it is not so difficult to undo, but when a human is cursed, only going through their life’s memories in order can reverse it. Your teammate needs to look through his old things, pictures, letters, anything like that.” Engineer frowned, and so did Heavy, who was listening too.
”Zhis Spy on our team, he is very private. And some of that is our fault for teasing him.” Engineer wasn’t surprised that Heavy regretted that camera prank. He wouldn’t be surprised if Medic did too. “Ve do not know vhere his things are, to help him.”
Soldier and Zhanna were chatting with each other romantically and noticed them all huddled to speak privately.
“What’s going on?”
“Wedding surprises.” They said in unison. That was enough to send the lovebirds on their merry way, thankfully.
“I’m sorry, without something to remind him of his life in order, there’s no way to undo this curse. Many have looked for another cure, but it doesn’t exist.”
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Back in the ship on the way home, Soldier, Zhanna and Pyro had fallen asleep. Pyro had been allowed to burn something to calm his nerves of course. Heavy asked the wizards what a feral child was.
The answer surprised him. Apparently through Soldier and Zhanna, the wizards had learned that he was raised by feral raccoons. They said that he was not permitted to join the American military because of this feral nature.
“Some of these lost children are unable to adjust to civilization. They were taught the common sense of wild creatures in nature, human common sense doesn’t pair well with it.” The elder wizard explained.
“But in any case, Holy wizards often meet this children, at a higher rate than normal humans. Merasmus is more than aware of the signs that someone is a feral child, but in all these years he did not report it. He chose revenge instead.”
Heavy was glad to know this, before he became even more disapproving of the marriage. They had all wondered why the soldier was so strange, and now they knew. They could get help from these wizards to make the base understandable to him, and Zhanna thankfully already knew. Things were finally starting to look up.
——————————
Scout really needed to talk to the other teammates in private. He wished they were back, Spy needed their help bad.
It started out weird but harmless enough. Spy looked off at nothing, wandering the halls and staring out windows for no reason. Jeremy wasn’t good at talkin about feelings, and he didn’t know what to say about Spy’s nightmare from the night before. But after a whole day of Spy acting really weird, he decided to check up on him.
Nobody was here to make fun of him for being weak, and nobody would have anyway. He was starting to wonder how much his brothers had ****ed up his brain, for him to be hesitatin in the empty base.
He visited new Spy in the smoking room that night. He was just sitting there, looking into the fire. His revolver was on the side table, but the barrel was open and clearly emptied of bullets. Spy was smoking a cigarette and holding a glass of wine. When he heard the door and Scout’s footsteps, he lifted the glass and looked in the reflection on it.
“Oh, hello. I was not expecting you.” Spy said, turning suddenly. This was wrong. Nobody else was there, he shouldn’t have been checking visitors with a wine glass either way.
“Heh. Whaddya mean? We’re the only ones here right now…” There was something wrong in Spy’s eyes, but he couldn’t place it. Jeremy was getting another nasty gut feelin.
“You are a nice person, desert Scout.” He nodded once, still feeling uneasy. “Please close the door.” Jeremy did and looked around.
“What’s wrong? Did a BLU Spy get in?”
“No. Not BLU. Something worse, but I cannot say.”
“Spy, what’s goin on?” Jeremy asked. Spy went real quiet for a minute, too quiet. When he did look at him, he didn’t look right.
“I’m going to die soon. That helicopter, it was no accident.” The room was warm from the fire, but Scout froze and felt a chill run down his spine. He hurried and sat down in a chair across from Spy.
“Someone’s after you? Who?” New Spy shook his head.
“I cannot tell you.”
“Well, I can’t sit back and ignore this. Who?” Spy stared into his drink, chugged it, and tried to shrug.
“I had a false identity in Canada. Secret agent, their CIA. I came to RED when they got close to finding me out, to tracking me.” He stared at the fire.
“It seems they’ve found me.” Scout wasn’t the smartest, but that explanation was too simple, and too fast. Spy didn’t hesitate like when he talked about his kid. There had to be more to it than that.
“What can I do to help?”
“Let it happen. Don’t get involved, or you’ll be in danger too.”
“Hell no! Listen Spy- nobody in their right mind would cross Admin like that, and the others..” The others weren’t there. Spy thought he was getting silenced tonight. Jeremy didn’t know much about Canada, but he sure hadn’t heard of a Mob up there. He didn’t like this one bit.
“Admin… would prefer not to get involved. No use losing good mercenaries like you over me. So please…” Spy looked at him. “You must not try to stop it. This is why I did not want to say, I knew you’d want to.”
“I can’t do nothing, Spy. Listen, why don’t we just go to the camera room with some food and lock the door? Bring our guns, keep watch on the base… We can wait this out until the others get back and it’s too hard to target you again.” Spy didn’t look hopeful at all.
“When I.. When I die.” He pulled out a sealed envelope. “Give this to the Administrator. But don’t read it yourself, she wouldn’t like that.” Scout thankfully had two words to try to read in the fire-light.
Divorce Papers.
“My ex… I want her to get my money when I’m gone. And I want Admin know that she was uninvolved in this matter, so she can tell the Canadians to stop at me.” He put his hand on Jeremy’s shoulder. “Remember, whatever happens, my ex didn’t know anything.”
Scout stayed posted outside the smoking room all night. He didn’t know whether Spy was having another episode, or if this was real. And he wasn’t gonna take chances. The others had to know when they got back, the minute he could pull them aside and explain. This wasn’t right whether it was real or not.
Spy had been hesitant to talk about his kid. His ex had a two year old. They were in danger, and Jeremy was smart enough to know it. He didn’t believe that Canada story, Spy musta gotten in trouble with the mob or somethin. Somebody who was actually bloodthirsty, either way.
Scout had never heard of the mob infiltrating the Gravel War. The old Admin was too scary even for them. But Pauling was in charge now… they might have gotten the idea that it would fly with her in charge. Maybe Spy was a basket case, but somehow, Jeremy doubted it.
All he knew was that something was wrong, and the others needed to get back already.
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Little observations from AOTV, since Larries like to pretend that H and L sent them subliminal message via their videos, outfit etc. I thought, let’s see when does H appear in the film and in what context. Because larries love to mention that Louis included H in the movie and didn’t say anything bad or jeopardizing their version of how the break happened. So here’s what i found :
1. « We’re really just as-tight-as-could-be mates »: Liam and Louis are recording American dad voiceovers, Niall and Louis backstage, ARIA interview with Liam and Zayn. One group shot on Jimmy Fallon Christmas show.
2. « When Zayn left, that was like, maybe this is the start of the end » : Shot of Zayn on stage, and then one of Louis, followed by a shot of Louis looking at someone in the behind-the-scenes of the DMD video : this person is Harry.
3. Then the following sentence: « The more you kind of start thinking, Well, maybe this isn’t gonna last forever » : the last part is narrated over a close-up of Harry on screen.
4. « I’m like, Oh, have we become the band that we didn’t want to be? » : Once again, the close-up is on Harry, obnoxiously chewing gum.
5. « Starting to feel a disconnect » : shot of Louis, Niall and Liam. We can kind of guess Harry is there too because we can see a leg on the left part of the screen, but there is an empty chair between him and Liam, and he is apart from the rest of the guys.
6. « And then all of a sudden, now we’re talking about, maybe we’ll go on a break for a couple of years » : shot of Niall and Louis rehearsing then of Louis and Liam on stage.
7. « It hit me like a ton of bricks » : Shot of the group huddle before going on stage.
8. « I was not prepare for it, not at all » : We see Louis semi-jokingly forcing/bringing Harry into the group huddle/handshake thing they used to do, and did forever. Louis still does the huddle with his band. But Harry isn’t smiling there.
9. Title - All of Those Voices We see the last X-factor performance. Louis is alone on stage, Harry walks by without looking at him, then Louis is laughing with Niall. After that, we see Niall and Louis talking with a lady (probably vocal or production) and Liam talking to their band, but still close to them.
10. Liam rehearsing his thank you speech: Niall and Harry talking, Louis closed face, wanting to make the whole process faster
11. First shot of them in the dressing room: all of them are there except Harry. Oli says, « I don’t think all of the band wanted it to go that way, but it was going that way. »
12. Bathroom rehearsal with Helene Horlyck : Larries all say Harry couldn’t stop looking at Louis, but he looked at the camera the same amount. The thing I noticed was after Liam gave his thank you speech to Helene about how they couldn’t have done it without her, it seems like he exchanges looks with Louis as if to say, « What? Did I say something wrong? » or something like that. I wish I could see Louis’ face at that moment. Then Liam looks at the camera, does a little laugh, and points at Louis.
13. The infamous Simon Cowell speech, but we all know it by now, the rolling of the eyes, the half-smiles, etc.
14. History performance: Fetus video, lots of Zayn. « Even right up until we went on the break, there was still really no closure on the idea. we didn’t, or at least I didn’t, really understand what it was gonna be, you know. »
15. Louis’ part of History and finally: « I think the feeling that I remember the most was a little bit of anger, cuz I didn’t want to go on a break. It didn’t just upset me, it shocked me. I wasn’t prepared for it. I thought for me, it was the band or nothing. I couldn’t really… I never… it’s not as if in the five years I was in the band, I had ever dreamed of being a solo artist, not once, not once, because I was so obsessed with us moving as a unit and being part of this team. I spent all these years doing this, I don’t see myself doing anything else. » End of History.
And that’s the last time we see Harry.
What I find hilarious is the fact that Larries and OT5 never seem to have seen any of this, or even heard the words of the last quote— which was actually used in the AOTV advertisement.
So did they not see the trailer? Not see the movie?
I mean, I know the Big Larries reassuring their followers never saw the movie because they “don’t like what Louis does” — i.e. tell his truth.
In a weird way, because Harry stays silent on Larry, and his team larrybaits/ haylorbaits to troll his fans (for $$$), Larries can plug in their head canon for “how Harry feels”— “Harry understands Larries” (no, Harry just loves your money) but “Louis hates his real self” (no, Louis doesn’t like your lies and he’s disgusted by your UA). Larries set up a dichotomy where Harry tacitly supports them and Louis doesn’t, facts be damned.
I find the scenes taken on the day of 1D’s last performance incredibly moving and revealing in retrospect. There’s no denying Louis’ intense melancholy and grief on that day. I also sense Helene’s empathy to Louis, because as soon as Louis motions to rehearse alone, she immediately picks up on it— but they don’t rehearse. They say their goodbyes in the dressing room, by themselves, but also leave it open-ended.
On the other hand, it’s also very apparent that Harry’s not really present, mentally. He’s already distracted or disengaged, already checked out. His real future audience lies in the Azoff contingency that night (sitting with the boys’ families). The only person Harry really ever has empathy for is Harry Styles. It reminds me of the lyrics from Habit (applicable in several ways, to 1D, to Harry, to fandom):
Incidentally, this verse from Habit is also one that Larries never seem to know.
But Louis has been telling his story consistently all along. Even though Walls isn’t his favorite, it is still a great, cathartic, soul-baringly brave album, and Louis will realize it one day. To title an album “Walls” and to write the searing lines of each lyric, to look at experience in the eye and tell the tale, was an act of courage and healing, of seeing the past trauma for what it was, and separating history from Louis’ essential, hopeful, emotionally intact self.
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slipped from your mouth into mine
the one where you have pneumonia
Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Fem!Sick!Avenger!Reader
Word Count: 838
Warnings: 18+, language, mild angst, reader has pneumonia, brief non-sexual partial nudity, fluff
Minors–this is not for you. You are responsible for your own media consumption. Please be discerning. Do not interact.
A/N: Hi, everybody! The stars have aligned to give me the first bits of simultaneous time and inspiration I've had in months (also known as me having pneumonia). I'm not sure how active I'll continue to be after posting this little illness-induced scribble, but I hope you all are well! Come say hello if you feel so inclined 💕
“Is this really necessary?”
You started to squirm in Bucky’s arms, but stilled when he pinched at the back of your thigh.
“Do you still have pneumonia?” he retorted, eyes fixed straight ahead.
You huffed, but it came out as more of a wheeze. “It’s just that I’m already sweaty, and you’re warm, and it’s just a little…”
You trailed off as he dropped his gaze to you. “And who’s fault is that?”
“Bucky–”
“Don’t Bucky me. What the hell were you thinking?” God, that glare could cut glass. A sweat broke across the back of your neck.
“Helen said I could–”
“Helen?” Bucky scoffed. “Oh yes, thank God for Helen. Straight off a mission and all I wanna do is see my girl, but I gotta get cleared by Helen first. Lovely Helen who’s so surprised to hear FRIDAY say you’re in the gym training. ‘Why’s that?’ I ask. Oh, because she’s got fucking pneumonia and she’s supposed to be taking it easy.”
You licked at your chapped lips, trying to piece together some shadow of an excuse, or at least some combination of words that would melt the chill from his gaze.
But none came, and you settled into his even gait as he carried you back to your room.
Even if it hadn’t quite been the reunion you’d been hoping for – him bursting into the gym right as you all but collapsed onto a bench mid-coughing fit had been less than ideal timing – dear God, you were glad he was home. You could feel the tightness in your chest easing ever so slightly, although if that was because you were being carried rather than walking up the stairs yourself, you’d never admit that to Bucky.
Before you’d even fully registered reentering your room, Bucky had plowed through the bathroom door, slammed it behind him, and set you gently on the edge of the tub. He immediately went to the shower and turned the handle as hot as it would go.
“What are you doing?”
Bucky didn’t look at you when he responded, just spoke up enough for his voice to carry over the pounding of the water. “Whenever Steve had pneumonia when we were kids, I use’ta boil a pot of water and make him sit and breathe in the steam. But I figure Stark isn’t too worried about a water bill.”
Ah, fuck.
“Buck,” you said softly. When he didn’t turn to face you, you spoke up a little louder. “Baby?”
Bucky finally abandoned the edge of the shower to stand in front of you, and now the anxiety was plain across his face. You’d mistaken it for anger earlier, but now that he was standing still, you could see the fidgeting in his stance, the shakiness to his breath, the cloudiness in his eyes.
“I swear to you I am fine. Nothing is–” Your breath caught, and you doubled over, wheezing. Bucky was on his knees in front of you before you could blink, grabbing at your hands. You coughed through a few more inhales before you straightened up, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.
“Okay,” you croaked. “Poor timing. Not the most confidence-inspiring. But really.”
“Baby, I’m sorry I’m so panicked I just… It got so bad with Steve and I… I was always there. Even if I couldn’t do much I was there. And for you, I wasn’t.” He scratched at the back of his head. “And you were training? I just need you to take care of yourself.”
Your shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry. I… I was training to get my mind off you. I did the whole laid up in bed thing and all I could do was think. I thought if I just went for a little while, maybe it would be easier. And I wouldn’t be so worried for you.”
Bucky sighed. “This is what I get for going on missions, huh? Guess you’re not to be trusted.”
You scowled. “I was doing fine. I wouldn’t’ve trained any more anyway. It didn’t work. Still couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
He grinned cheekily. “I am rather unforgettable, aren’t I?” You groaned and shoved at his shoulder.
He stood and bent back down to press a kiss to your forehead, and you leaned into his touch. His lips were soft, his breathing steady, and you inhaled deeply.
“I’m really, really glad you’re home,” you whispered.
“And I am really, really glad you’re safe.” He straightened up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear. “And now we’re gonna get you better.”
For the first time in days it was a relief to find yourself in your bed. Deposited gently on the soft sheets – “Are you just gonna carry me everywhere now? – and relieved of your sweaty work out clothes, you sunk into the pillows.
Bucky joined you a few moments later after tidying up the bathroom and slid next to you, pulling you into his bare chest and wrapping you in his arms.
“Sleep, baby. I’ve got you.”
I have discontinued my tag list. To be notified when I post a fic, follow @loving-bucky-library and turn on post notifications.
#bucky barnes x reader#bucky barnes x y/n#bucky barnes x sick!reader#bucky barnes fluff#bucky barnes fanfic
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Love the art. Can't wait to see your version of the Plumbers' Kids (and Kevin's transformation), but it got me thinking. I know you retconned the Rooter retcon, in that they're not genetically modified hybrids, but how did they come to be?
It's hard to imagine an osmosian and a human creating an offspring considering they're completely different species, let alone a tetramand or a pyronite.
I have a whole system behind hybrids in Ben 10. For starters, quite a few aliens can have kids with each other naturally if they are close enough. So a tetramand and human, or even a kineceleran and human, can have kids, they just often have to be wary of issues that could arise.
But the more unnatural a pairing is, the harder to have a kid is naturally, to the point that you get cases where they can't have a kid naturally. But there are many facilities that help via science to help parents have kids if they can't naturally. This is often taking the parents gamete cells, and raising the baby in a test tube like environment so they can control the entire process from the start, sometimes having to select specific genes to make sure the kid can live a healthy life.
One of the most successful facilities is on Galvan Prime, run by a galvan doctor named Doctor Geno, she's a friend of Azmuth's sister.
Of course there are limits to what aliens can have kids with each other, but as science grows each day, some things that were thought to be impossible have become possible, so you never know what could be made next.
Hybrids also seem to function a 70/30 percent rule, in that they take after one species gene more than the other. E.g Helen is more kineceleran than human. Hybrids can only be two things as well, you can't get a big mix of many aliens in one alien. Though there are some that break these rules, like anodites and osmosians due to how their genetics work.
So in terms of the plumber kids, ones like Helen and Manny were naturally made, though Alan was made via the science route when his parents went to one of these facilities.
In terms of Kevin, since you mentioned osmosians, they behave more by inheriting powers. Due to osmosian having DNA absorption, it means a lot of them are able to have kids with many races, but their hybrids don't look like them. They will always look like the alien species their other parent is, beyond maybe getting minor things like eye or hair colour.
What the kids inherit is the matter and energy absorption powers, though not really the DNA absorption (unless the omnitrix is involved lol). So they're kind of a changeling vibe with them. So Kevin looks entirely human, but as a hybrid as the powers.
#ben 10#ben 101 au#ben 101 rewrite#ben 101#b10#ben 101 note#ben 10 original series#ben 10 alien force#ben 10 ultimate alien#ben 10 omniverse#Ben 10 Kevin Levin#Ben 10 Plumber Kids#Ben 10 Helen Wheels#Ben 10 Manny Armstrong#Ben 10 Hybrids#Ben 10 Alan Albright#Answered
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I've learned not to trust my memory, so I wanted to make a note for myself of some things I enjoyed from the Neptune production of RAGAD before it all leaks out my ears. It's mostly for me but thought I'd post it here in case it's interesting to anyone else.
Note for people that aren't me: this is the only production of RAGAD I've seen live. I've seen the movie and the 2017 NTL recording as of writing this, for reference. So, forgive me if I gush about elements/choices that are common to RAGAD productions and not unique to this one lol. Also I was an English major but not a theatre guy outside some Shakespeare, so also bear with me if I'm lacking some specific terms.
Performances:
I feel like this almost goes without saying but Boyd and Monaghan are excellent as Guildenstern and Rosencrantz. Their chemistry is great. There was an excellent rhythm to their dialogue together that was really fast-paced without feeling artificial (imo there is a certain point where performers talk so fast it can only feel fake. They were all believable enthusiam).
I particularly liked Monaghan's Rosencrantz! like there was just something so earnest about him. He had this character tic of chewing on his finger most of the time out of anxiety or inattention and that stuck out for me for some reason. It was endearing. Also the line "I wanted to make you happy" made the whole theatre let out a wounded animal noise.
Also Boyd's Guildenstern really did a good job of projecting an aura of "person trying really hard to appear in control but may also snap any moment". Control freak recognizing control freak o7
The Player (Michael Blake) was amazing. He had such huge stage presence that you really believed the character was a seasoned performer. I fully believe this man could successfully sell me snake oil with the power of his presence alone.
Personal note but I was jazzed to see Drew Douris-O'Hara as Alfred. I'm not a regular Neptune patron so I don't know how often he appears in their productions, but I have seen many a Shakespeare By The Sea show in my time so he's a very familiar face. Always a really fun presence.
I also feel like I have to mention Ophelia (Helen Belay) even though she obviously doesn't get much to do here. The actress really sold every small appearance though like my heart broke a little every time I saw her in anticipation for her off-stage fate. Less important but have you ever seen a woman so beautiful you started crying?
Costumes:
I really liked Ros and Guil's tattered suits. They looked like they were dragged behind a horse. These are the clothes of two guys that have been trapped in a play for like 50 years, truly.
They also had an inverted colour scheme (Ros had a blue suit with a green waistcoat, Guil had a green suit with blue waistcoat) that really emphasized the two-sides-of-the-same-coin/ yin & yang vibe. Also the colours weren't really shared by the rest of the cast much (they tended to be a bit more muted) so it made them stand out as separate from the rest of what was happening.
Also personal note but I was enchanted by Monaghan's slightly stupid-looking grown-out fauxhawk. He basically had a lesbian mullet haircut. That combined with his single dangly earring was a Look.
The Player's coat was gorgeous. It felt grand but also appropriately dated/worn. It wasn't fully a feather jacket, but it had a smattering of large feathers that got more dense as it went down. It kind of reminded me of a vulture, honestly, which I think is fitting, with him being an opportunist that loves some corpses.
Script:
Misc. Stage Stuff:
Unless I'm really mistaken, I think they cut/modified the few lines with some outdated racial terms (I have two specifically in mind, referring to Chinese and Inuit people). So unless I just somehow missed hearing those, that's nice.
Just a note to say that the line about who the English King is will depend on when they get to England got a huge laugh. Thank you to King Charles' cancer for making everything funnier
The lighting !!! It really did a lot to separate the scenes from Hamlet from the rest of it. The stage was dark for most of it, with cool lighting (like a blue darkness). For the Hamlet portions, though, the lights were suddenly bright and warm yellow. That combined with the differences in the performances gave a strong impression that the curtain had just suddenly risen on a more traditional production of Hamlet right in the middle of Ros and Guil just doing whatever.
I really liked how they used the two risers on wheels they had (not sure if that's the right word -- they were those three-tiered platforms I remember from doing choir in school. Kind of like bleachers). They looked like they belonged on an empty stage and also gave the actors something interesting to climb on. They were able to reposition them pretty easily with the wheels, which really worked for the portions on the boat tbh. They just pushed them together so that the lower tiers touched to create a half-pipe-shaped skeletal "boat". They could climb "above deck", or even go below while still being fully visible from whatever angle. The whole thing was spun around a lot during the pirate attack, which was fun.
The risers also separated the stage really well in the first two acts. For most of it, there was one on the left side facing the audience, for characters to sit on, and one on the right facing backwards and partially obscured by the curtain they had covering that side of the stage. The curtain was backlit, so you could see the silhouettes of anything behind it. At some points, you could actually see shadows of events in Hamlet happening in the background while Ros and Guil were doing their thing in the foreground. Unfortunately I didn't get the best look at them, bc I was sitting at far right of my row, so the far right of the stage was partially out of my sight line. Still a really cool effect!
They did turn the risers fully around to face the back during the players' performance of The Murder of Gonzago, with the curtain pulled across. You saw the shadow of the king standing up and storming out.
For the final scene, they did the expected thing, where Ros and Guil are alone in the dark, illuminated by a single narrow spotlight each. The spotlight goes out when each of them die and they disappear from view. The detail that made me insane though is that each time a spotlight went out, they played the sound of a flipped coin hitting the stage and the audience was so quiet it felt like a gunshot both times.
After all the deaths they had Rosencrantz and Guildenstern start from the opening scene again tossing coins for a bit before the final curtain. They did not escape the narrative 😔
Will add more if anything else comes to mind?
#this felt good to write out#cementing the details in my brain#since alas I cannot follow the show to toronto#and it doesn't look like it's going to get filmed#which is a travesty#beyond lucky to be able to see it at all#things like this never come out my way it's nice lol#reilly.txt#rosencrantz and guildenstern are dead
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Heyyyyyyyy dootz (I’m sorry it won’t happen again but that’s what my internal monologue refers to you as and it makes me laugh every time)
Got any fun house of Atreus headcanons?
It's okay! I don't mind being called Dootz :D It's fun! *headbonks back*
I actually don't know much about them other than basics. :'( As I've been an idiot that basically went "Okay, stop reading 6 different translations of the Odyssey and more Euripedes, and get your FIC DONE. STOP READING OTHER SHIT AND GETTING DISTRACTED!" (which has actually kind of worked 👀 I've actually been writing!!!)
But I have a LOT on Menelaus, Anaxibia, and Agamemnon's time at Tyndarius' >:D
I have Helen and Menelaus closer in age, (actually have Menelaus a little bit younger than Helen) and similar to your ideas, he's an incredibly quiet and shy kid after what they went through and just his personality as a whole. I love the thought of them all being childhood friends in a way as it's fun (basing it a bit on all time I spent on the family farm playing with my cousins and other friends. Doing wild shit in the woods and pastures. :P We'll nowadays be giggling and the adults are horrified by the dangerous shit we were doing.) Also it's funny having Odysseus being the ONLY one who didn't grow up with them so he's left out when they all start chatting about silly things they did as kids (kind of delve into it HERE but the ages are probably a bit changed :D )
Agamemnon, being the oldest and protective of his siblings, is...having a rough go of it there. Especially at first. A lot has happened. He's really trying to "save face". Probably will "rewrite" what I have planned for him and Clytemnestra as having her being OLDER than the triplets and not the same age as Helen changes a LOT of things I had figured out but I like that more as that makes it so that Iphiginea actually WORKS. As before I just kind of planned on just letting there be a plothole.
Helen and Menelaus, I have lots of ideas on!! >:D Helen and Menelaus are the definition of "Me and the girl I pulled by being autistic." If you've seen the Pixar Movie "Up" with young Ellie and Carl, THAT WAS THEM as kids. He kind of quietly follows her and helps her while she's just dragging him into dumb things. Helen was kind of a bossy girl growing up
Penelope joins in as well (and is behind some of their dumb ideas), as she's the youngest of her siblings and her cousin's place is where there are more kids to play with. Penelope and Helen are both "Go-getters" so they bicker a bit but also are really close. Anaxibia is older than all of them (other than Agamemnon) It's like Zuko with Toph, Aang, and Katara. Getting along with them but also a "I sometimes keep forgetting that you're a bunch of kids."
They're all reckless in their own way and all have their stupid stories they did as kids. (Menelaus and Penelope are close as well. Why Odysseus eventually asks for Menelaus' help being HIS wingman as well.) I wanna keep some things hidden for spoilers in my fics (How Menelaus and Helen get together and Theseus' kidnapping for example) and with how I have to plan around Agamemnon and Clytemnestra's rewrite. BUT I'll be sure to let you know when I have that all figured out!!! >:D
#thehelplessmortals#ask#my headcanons#shot by odysseus#Mad rambles#I hope this is a little bit at least!!! :'D I have a LOT of rewriting to do with my plans and also more research.
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Fun Fax: OLM Chapter 13
me, my betas, lee, and jin this chapter like
once again, throwing hands with the timeline this whole chapter. couldnt decide what hours of the day Kazuya left for a long time while writing chapter 12, and that only carried over here lol. most of my ish there was working around Lee finding out that Kazuya bolted for the day, and golly i gotta start ironing this kinda thing out sooner lol
i know this is tekken, but i am also a martial artist and a human, so i could not ignore the damage that would be done by punching something full force, let alone for hours. punching a makiwara ONCE hurt my baby knuckles 💀 gonna have to suspend disbelief for me a bit here, especially when i have to contend with Tekken Physics later on lol. really trying to walk the line between realism and shonen physics
wont lie, a couple lines from this chapter were directly inspired by God of War (2018). namely, the “You left me, again,” and “WHY DON’T YOU CARE” lines - and also, Kazuya calling Jin “boy” as much as he does in this stage in general sdhfjk. it really works for him, but i get to have fun with making Jin finally lose his cool over it
okay ANOTHER thing i pulled insp from for this chap was Treasure Planet (the way Jin pressed himself into Lee with his forehead instead ofoutright hugging, “forget it. forget it.”) i adore the movie, so it snuck in lol
THE ENTIRE SCENE WITH LEE TELLING OFF KAZUYA FOR BEING INCONSIDERATE, I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT SCENE FROM THE INCREDIBLES WHEN BOB COMES HOME LATE AND HELEN GRILLS HIM HDSFJK
before i decided on the exacts of how Jin and Kaz’s convo went last chapter, i had a version of their talk in this one that was mellower, and even had Kaz explain where he got his scar/what happened to his mom here instead of there
this chapter is where i had to give up and just accept that the first chunk of this fic is Idiot Plot dhsjhd. actually the whole fic is, because we are all stupid and no one here freaking talks abt things they need to
favorite beta comment was just “kazuya should b shot fr”
i’ll be real, this chapter was largely written so many months ago that i’ve forgotten a lot of the processes with it lol. i try to write FF as i work on the chapters, but some get left behind if nothing sticks out to me. i’ll just say that every convo was tweaked and changed approx 200 times and if you think it’s long as-is, i trimmed off a couple hundred words or so before finalizing lol
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Point of view: Odysseus & Penelope.
A.k.a. Nysus is seeing her favourite couple ever is trending and wanted to scream about it.
It's an analysis, but not a serious one. I'm just gonna dump all of my emotions because these two make me feel things no other couple in humanity's history made me feel haha ✨anyways✨
1. Helen.
I absolutely adore Helen and all the shenanigans regarding her figure, but that's for another time, another essay.
Wether it's by Hesiod fragments, by Pausanias or by the Pseudo-Apollodorus ( as his name states, not OUR Apollodorus, we have no idea who the fuck wrote the Bibliotheca, so, i'm always a bit salty with using it as a source ) we all know Helen had a big, BIG, number of suitors wanting to get her hand. Not only the daughter of the king of Sparta, but also the most-beautiful-woman-to-ever-exist, we know the deal. And, of course, between those suitors, there was Odysseus.
Now, Odysseus like everyone else was there for Helen, but he believed from the beginning he had cero chance. I, well, have no idea if Penelope was there or not, but Odysseus did know her if he was gonna ask Tyndareus to allow him to marry Penelope in exchange of making the whole oath thing so the suitors didn't start a war for Helen.
Penelope was the daughter of another king of Sparta, yes, and Helen's cousin. But, you know... That's it. And somehow Odysseus still decided to choose her. You're telling me that, the man of many schemes, decided to choose her over Helen, when he could have done any screwed up thing to get her instead? The man of many shemes???
The Odyssey is what characterizes Penelope the most, to no one's surprise. And it's thanks to it that, perhaps, we more or less can guess what he saw in her: her schemes. I mean, Penelope made ALL of her suitors wait with a scheme, she saw if Odysseus was truly him or not with a scheme as well. We could say that she was clever, in fact. She could trick Odysseus, and that was something Helen couldn't do. For him, the man of many schemes, that meant more than any fame the other could have given him.
2. I really don't wanna leave right now.
So you're happily married with a woman you love and you both have a son, too bad some shenanigans regarding Troy happened and now you have to go to war for the oath you yourself made ! Shit !
... This is according to some fragments of the lost epic of Cypria. It's thanks to archeological stuff that we more or less know what could have been written on it.
"Odysseus didn't want to go just because he didn't want to" look, i get that we all love those cold-heartless-heroes or whatever, but you're telling me he had a SON, and he didn't want to go "because he didn't want to"? Come on, i REFUSE to believe it was something else than him not wanting to leave Penelope and Telemachus. He had way too many stuff to lose if he went to that war. Like, come on, he really cared!
3. Calypso and Circe.
Calypso... Well, fuck.
So you're telling me he was stucked with her for 7 years, she was willing to do anything for him, make him inmortal, shenanigans shenanigans, ✨BEAUTIFUL INMORTAL NYMPH✨, and yet he was crying because he couldn't see his WIFE? It's hilarious to me that so many people have the balls to say that "he just got bored" YOU'RE TELLING ME HE, (and this is me trying to have the most sexist way of thinking every) WHO HAD A ✨BEAUTIFUL INMORTAL NYMPH✨ LOVING HIM AND FALLING HEAD OVER HEELS FOR HIM IN A DREAMY ISLAND AND WHO COULD MAKE HIM INMORTAL, still wanted to go back to Penelope? A mortal woman who would eventualy age?
"The gods said it was the time" yeeeaaah... No. They did not. Athena is just the one who jumps everywhere following Odysseus so she was just like, "dad, he's crying, that makes me sad :(" "he's been crying for seven years, Athena" "IS THAT NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU". If they really wanted him to return home, they could have just, you know, help him as they did! They just didn't want to piss off Poseidon, who despised him after, well, shenanigans, they had enough fights between gods after the Trojan war. Odysseus literally was even UNSURE of Calypso actually letting him go, because he thought that it was a trap. That's "love" according to ya'll, huh.
And Circe. It's, well, the same.
She literally turned his men into animals and was gonna kill them, so, you know, i don't think he held any special emotion towards her, other than fear. At least she only kept him for a year, because DAMN. Not going into the whole children shenanigans because just like with Calypso, it's gross for several reasons and i'm not here to talk about psychology.
The thing is, the Odyssey is about returning home, and Calypso and Circe are part of all the things in the Odyssey that represent why someone wouldn't go back home! Just like with other chapters of the Odyssey, Circe and Calypso are just that, reasons to keep the hero away from home, which he declines because it's been years, let him fucking go.
4. Schemes.
We all know about Odysseus' schemes, but let's talk about Penelope's!
It has always pissed me off when people described her as "just the archetype of faithful wife, boring, loyal" like, woah, okay, did we read the same work? I bet we didn't since English translations mostly suck LMAO.
Penelope was very clever, not just "the wife of the hero and move on". Think about the loom, since she's a weaver. How she made the suitors wait for SO LONG with that scheme. And if you're gonna ask why Odysseus killed a couple of her maidens, well, you see, it was them who told the suitors about Penelope's scheme. They betrayed her. We don't have anymore background to that, but... Yeah. They suck.
And the whole bow contest thingy? Did she ACTUALLY know the beggar who appeared was Odysseus in disguise? Because, you know, only Odysseus could use that bow out of all, so by holding that contest there are two options: either all the suitors would fail and she would keep them away for more time, OR she knew the beggar could be Odysseus and decided to test him, in order to see if he was truly him. She saw gods enough times, so it's no surprise that she suspected something like that. She even talks about the Heracles myth for that.
And how after ALL those years, she obviously wasn't sure if that man was truly Odysseus or not, so she decided to trick him into something only Odysseus would know. HOW COOL IS THAT I LOVE THIS WOMAN
5. The olive tree.
Or, as i like to call it, emotional damage.
As i said before, in order to prove that it was truly Odysseus, she tells Eurycleia to move the bed in their bridal-chamber. Odysseus then, in fear that someone had made a change, tells her that isn't possible, since he made the bed himself. In fact, one of its legs is a living olive tree! And that's the end of the Odyssey, them being reunited and enjoying the few time they have together for once.
I am NOT talking about the works that invent some weird-ass-hell-shenanigans after this. I am not for our well-being. They're happy, Homer said they're happy AND THEY'RE
#phew that was hard#it's not long. but damn. i had to read a lot again#my memory isn't really good#as many of you know#so i don't know anything clearly#specially the damn sources#odysseus#penelope#the odyssey#the iliad#odypen
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anything for helen, for her birthday. maybe a soft cissy oneshot
Hello anon, I tried to do my best:)
Birthday girl - Narcissa Malfoy
warnings: pure fluff
When you heard a sound of someone appearing in the house, you immediately knew who it was. You smiled for yourself and walked straight to the hall of the Manor. When you saw the skinny blonde, you suddenly felt so peaceful.
“Darling I am home!” You heard her shout into the huge house and you smiled.
“I know love,” you said only and started making your way towards the doors. You walked down the stairs and you knew that Narcissa was watching you.
“Are we planning something for today darling?” She asked you and she already knew what it was. Narcissa didn’t really celebrate her birthday, it was always just some small gift. But this year, as she was turning forty, you decided to make it special.
“You know very well that we are celebrating today,” you said as you wrapped your hands around her neck and kissed her.
“Okay and why are you in pajamas?” She asked you with a soft laugh on her lips and you smirked.
“I said it’s special. Your pajamas are prepared in your bathroom. I will wait for you in the cinema room, hm?” You offered her and Narcissa lifted her eyebrows.
“Pajamas and cinema room?” She asked back and you just sent her a kiss, turning away from her.
“I’ll meet you there!” You shouted as you were walking away from her and you were walking across the house. Arriving to the kitchen you opened the huge fridge. The first thing which you was was a bottle of champagne. Frowning a little you closed it and took two wine glasses and a bottle of the most finest wine which you had at home.
You prepared everything onto the kitchen counter. Checking if you really had everything, you took all the stuff you prepared and put it onto the tray. You walked over to the cinema room and lit up the lights, seeing the huge bed prepared.
You placed the champagne onto the bedside table and then you started thinking. It needed something more special. With a flick of your wrist, you conjured a bowl of strawberries and another bowl of boiled chocolate.
The water in the bathroom stopped. You flicked your wrists again and the whole room went dark except for the little lights which were all over the room. Narcissa’s favorite movie was prepared and it was about to be played on the white wall.
“Sweetie?”
“Cinema room love,” you shouted back and waited for her. When you saw the door handle move, you stepped closer and opened the door for Narcissa, but only few inches. “Close your eyes.”
“Why?”
“It’s a surprise,” you said and opened the doors making sure if her eyes were closed. When you saw her like that, you smiled, placing your hands over her eyes and you walked behind her.
“Y/n, what’s going on? And why do I smell levander candles?” Narcissa asked and you only smiled, kissing her onto her naked shoulder since she only had her nightgown on.
“It’s a surprise, remember?”
You led her inside of the room. Closing the doors behind you two, you leant closer and kissed her again, with words:
“Happy birthday,” you whispered and took your hands off her face.
The following thing what happened was…. Silence. You took Narcissa’s hand and walked next to her so you were standing side by side and looked at her.
“Y/n-“ she said and looked at you. Smiling at her innocently, you took her face into your hands and rested your forehead against hers.
“Happy birthday beautiful.”
“Thank you,” Narcissa thanked and you saw that her eyes were glistening. You took her chin and led the woman into a kiss. Placing your hands onto her hips, you kissed her deeply and you felt how Narcissa relaxed. “Y/n- when did you-“
“Hush,” you shushed her as soon as you released her from the prison of your lips and kissed her once again. Taking her by her hands, you backed to the bed and sat down. Narcissa sat onto your thighs and she kept kissing you.
When you tasted salt on your lips, you softly pulled away and brushed her cheeks with your thumbs. Narcissa breathed out and looked you into your eyes.
“I will start your favorite movie and we can cuddle,” you said with a little kiss arriving onto her nose.
“We are watching Princess’s diaries?”
“Of course,” you smiled at her and started the movie with a smooth movement of your fingers. You took Narcissa’s thighs and moved up to the headboard. Narcissa rolled off your body and you were laying next to each other.
Reaching out your hands, you took the two glasses of champagne. Narcissa took it with a smile on her lips and then she raised her glass.
“To you my love,” you said and Narcissa blushed. Hardly. She took a sip from her glass and you did as well. She handed the glass to you and you placed them both onto the bedside table again. Then you moved closer to Narcissa and she laid onto your chest, her face turned to the movie.
Knowing that she was enjoying it, you started playing with her hair. Curling it around your finger, you weren’t watching the movie but you were watching her.
Narcissa’s face was rested. All the small wrinkles seemed like ironed and when you saw her beautiful eyes, you knew that she was feeling good. Blinking from time to time she was interested in the movie clearly.
By a wave of your finger you moved the strawberries with chocolate in front of her. She looked down at them and then she looked up at you, earning a forehead kiss from her lover. Seeing that she was blushing even harder, you smiled.
“I love you so much,” Narcissa whispered and you leant closer.
“I love you even more princess,” you whispered back and conjured Narcissa a tiara. She chuckled like a teenager and you looked at her. “May I?”
“Yes.”
You softly placed the diamond tiara into her hair and Narcissa kept looking up. When she looked at you, she blowed you a kiss and you pretended to catch it with your lips, kissing her back in the air. And then Narcissa turned all of her attention to the movie.
You looked at Narcissa carefully. You couldn’t see in her face that she was getting older and older every day, she seemed like the young woman you fell in love with, even after all those years. The young girl who had always had a smile on her face and it didn’t matter what was going on.
Being happy that she finally got a whole day for herself and mostly about herself, you hoped she liked it. Your attention turned back to the movie and your hand was playing with her hair.
That one moment you realized that, there will be a lot more birthdays you would spend with her. A lot more beautiful and peaceful moments you could enjoy. There was no rush. She was all you wanted and desired. She was your perfect birthday girl.
#fluff#gxg#writers on tumblr#harry potter#narcissablack#narcissamalfoy#birthday#request#princess diaries#narcissaxreader#birthday gift#prettygreenpillswrites#prettygreenpills requests#harrypotter#Draco Malfoy#Lucius Malfoy#bellatrixblack#Lestrange#black#malfoymanor
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Okay I know this post will gain absolutely zero traction but the more I think about it the more I want to cry about it??
slight spoilers for one of the character arcs in Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre ahead,,,
So I saw Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre in the cinema today. I was alone, it was reasonably full, the film technically only opened two days ago, and it's wider release isn't for another week, but I had time to kill and it was the only thing that piqued my interest. It sits in an interesting spot tonally, comparative, I'd say, to Netflix Exclusive Michael Bay movie 6 Underground, though to use a more recent marker I'd drop it somewhere near Bullet Train (though it's definitely much closer to 6 Underground). All this context to say that I went into this Jason Statham-lead espionage action movie with zero expectations and almost completely blind.
So please believe me when I say I was truly blindsided with joy to have canonical, casual queer representation in this Jason Statham-lead espionage action movie.
Maybe it's that I don't watch a lot of media now, but it's something I noticed while watching Glass Onion too, both with Benoit and Hugh Grant (ha, put a pin in that) and especially with the character of Peg, and it makes me a bit teary and excited when I think about it. There's something to be said for how far we've come, to the point that Casual Queer Rep is even possible. There's something about watching Peg get all flustered talking to Helen and knowing that it's because she has a crush, without it having to be flagged, spelled out, or otherwise othered by the film or its writing.
It's normalised.
Which I know shouldn't be a big deal, but right now, to me, it is. I didn't realise I could feel this way; to see a full character who just so happens to be gay, where the plot doesn't revolve around her being gay, but that part of her identity is still made clear?? I love Peg so much holy shit.
But Glass Onion is the second in a series that has established itself as a forerunner for casual diversity. Let me tell you about how Operation Fortune made me want to YELL in theatres.
It's the 8th of January, and it might be a bit early to call it, but Danny Francesco might be my favourite character of the year.
Is he perfect? God no, he's objectively not a great person; he's sleeping with his sister-in-law, he's a Hollywood diva, he's demanding, and he (spoilers, seriously) ends up engaged to a war criminal. Who happens to be the main antagonist. Who happens to be Hugh Grant. Danny is the light of my life, however, and I love him with my whole heart.
So in the beginning we're told that Danny turned down $10m because he didn't want to jump out of Greg (Hugh Grant)'s cake and sing Happy Birthday; whatever, I thought, Greg is a rich, eccentric with an obsession with celebrities, and Danny is the biggest star right now, I shouldn't read anything into it because Sometimes Rich People Just Do Things For Status Reasons. We're also told, and subsequently shown, Greg tries to take celebrity's partners/girlfriends. Cue Sarah (Aubrey Plaza) in a bright red dress that I will dream about for the next month.
Also, in the scene where Danny, Sarah, and Orson (Jason Statham) are joining the fancy party, there's some distinctly fruity vibes between the three of them, but I'm not here to push my Orson/Sarah/Danny polycule agenda, just know that I have one.
So obviously Greg is excited to see Danny, but later makes a Very Distinct Pass at Sarah, inviting both her and Danny to stay with him for the weekend, with an implied Wink Wink Nudge Nudge.
While they end up taking him up on that offer, Danny, who started the film having refused Greg's Rich Weirdo Request, and now having to spend time with him for the job, finds that he actually genuinely likes Greg, who appears to genuinely like him back, doting on him, even giving him gifts.
When Danny says to Sarah "(I'm paraphrasing, about Greg) he's really into you! If you don't take him up on his offer then I might!" my eyeballs were Out Of My Head. Like sure it sounds like a joke that would be written in to simply highlight Danny's materialism, a whole 'gay for pay' joke, something about his vanity, or even just an offhand joke that I might hear one of my straight friends who were super comfortable and confident in their sexuality say about their best friends, I was So primed for this to be something that the audience could laugh off or dismiss in hindsight. Like in my mind that solidified my headcanon of Danny as bi, but I was so used to queerbaiting and years of being told I was reading into things.
So as the plot continues, Danny's fondness for Greg goes on, turns into something incredibly genuine, and looking back, he clearly has a hero-worship crush on Greg by the end of the film.
The last shot we see of Danny and Greg is the pair of them getting into an elevator after Greg pulls a stone cold power move on the films secondary antagonists, which he had Danny assist with for flare after Danny asked specifically to stay with him for that event. In the elevator, Danny tells Greg that that was "the coolest thing he's ever seen someone do" and that's the last we physically see of them.
HOWEVER!! THE ICING!! THE CHERRY!!
At the very end of the film, one of the protagonists mentions how he's gone into the film industry, and the response he gets is;
"You better not be talking about Danny Francesco and his fiancee Greg Simmonds!"
an accurate depiction of me as the credits began to roll;
WE WIN THESE!!
BOTH DANNY AND GREG ARE CANONICALLY BI/PAN IN THIS JASON STATHAM-LEAD ESPIONAGE ACTION MOVIE IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2023!! THEY BOTH LIVE UNTIL THE END!! THEY'RE ENGAGED!! THEY'RE BOTH ABSOLUTE DISASTERS!! THEY'RE BOTH FULL, ROUNDED CHARACTERS WHO HAPPEN TO BE QUEER!!
I get choked up thinking about it now, considering how quietly overwhelmed I felt in the theatre realising that Danny and Greg's comments and moments throughout the film weren't some elaborate joke, the dialogue that reminds me of my friends, the moments that felt true to my life as a queer person, they werent the setup for any kind of homophobic mixup, miscommunication, or microaggression; no, I finally, actually felt like I saw a part of myself, of my community represented in media.
Everyone in that movie is terrible in their own way, but Danny and Greg just happened to be terrible people who are also queer. Are they perfect representation? No! Thank fuck! I think we deserve more dumbass, disaster, unethical queers in media.
Even if I don't necessarily recommend this movie (it's pretty okay if you're a fan of the genre I suppose), I subjectively love it and especially it's characters, with my whole entire heart.
Danny Francesco is canonically a dumbass, bi disaster who fell for his sugar daddy, war criminal Hugh Grant. Good for him. It's what he deserves. 🥰🥰🥰
#operation fortune ruse de guerre#operation fortune#ruse de guerre#danny francesco#greg simmonds#hugh grant#greg x danny#danny operation fortune#greg operation fortune#josh hartnett#knives out#knives out glass onion#glass onion#peg glass onion#peg knives out#lgbtq#lgbt#lgbtqplus#fortunate ops
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