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#her questions didn’t seem invalid if a bit personal
queencaramilflinda · 1 year
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Everyone during neverafter 15: oh my god these social interactions are going horribly they’re all doing so bad!
Me, neurodivergent and cannot read social cues: idk mostly these seem fine
#like… Pinocchio overshared for sure#but I didn’t think the rest of them were too bad? like they rolled poorly yes but the actual conversations went fine? I thought?#i at least didn’t think they were as bad as everyone else seems to think#like… with ylfa. when you are a young girl and you meet an older woman who is Like You and successful you are drawn to that#her questions didn’t seem invalid if a bit personal#like ‘how did this happen to u? how do u find the answers and the strength to be successful when your like this the way we are now?’#that was fair to ask! there was a moment before that where they even clocked eachother as beasts! and then ylfa asked about Pib#which seemed fine to me. like she was genuinely asking advice and she got shutdown with like a one word answer#I feel like la bête did worse in that interaction than ylfa did#none of the stuff with gerard was really his fault within that interaction. Brennan surprised Murph with the read the cards outloud thing#he handled it the best he could under the circumstances#Pib did great. Pinocchio overshared but his intentions and actual words were sweet! traumabonding!#Rosamund did great! she was kind and she said what she wanted like yeah! not too bad!#i don’t think Ally intended to actually put dirt in the cookies Brennan kind of pushed that and I don’t think a lot of what he said was bad#I think ally could’ve handled it better in the sense that they could’ve just told the truth and been vague abt the questions being abt#the book but the stuff about being so overly nice and a bit unnerving seemed like an accurate and not very offensive way of putting it#even before they knew about the nihilistic princess cabal stuff they thought rapunzel was creepy#cienna talks#neverafter
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Sorry - to correct. The place where Talia Al Ghul threatens to kill Huntress Helena Bertinelli out of jealousy that she might be Batman’s new “concubine” in the 90s Batman Legacy Event is in the issue Robin (1993) #33 and this was way way before Morrison and definitely way before 9/11. She was just not purely good person and was prone to these antics in her own ways (upset over Bruce not answering that they belonged together over Selina and threatening to rip their heart out if they got together at the end of Tec #526, for example) and I think it was really the Demon Trilogy (which O’ Neil who created her himself didn’t like and editorial wanted taken out because they didn’t approve and saw it as an out of wedlock romance), B:TAS nostalgia, and that era’s editorial (run by O’ Neil again) keeping Batman from his other significant romances that helped her a bit. Even when you go read the write ins for her classic stories she was never as popular as say, Selina (and you can tell from the Lazarus Affair Arc)
Yep, a lot of it is rose-colored glasses and nostalgia that has lead to this laughable brain-rot.
Many Talia Stans seem to think that Talia is Bruce's endgame (Which is not only stupid but a disservice to both their characters) and try to harken back to the good ol' days (Which weren't all that good) where Talia was this "heroic anti-heroine", which isn't really true, perfect for Bruce to prove their point. The Demon Trilogy, despite being non-canonical since it's conception, is taken as gospel in their circle and spurs them on. They also like to yap about how Talia is based off a Bond Girl, which in their eyes makes her Bruce's wife despite Bruce being a separate character from James Bond and that the character they say she's based off of dies.
Plus, most of their complaining that Morrison wrote a racist and sexist version of Talia usually fall short with this information (i.e all of the arcs she's been in where she's done bad and questionable things). This isn't to say that DC hasn't been racist or sexist (Batman Legends of the Dark Night first few issues, Holy Terror or any of their earlier works are examples) or that all Talia's depictions have always been free of any bigotry. But most of them use these accusations to stop any conversation that invalidates their version of Talia. Also, I've spoken about racism and sexism within fandoms (DC, Voltron, The Bear) in irl plus I'm literally mixed, so I'm not trying to invalidate anyone.
It's also weird how this attitude has flowed into the wider fandom and causes people to have this strange vision of Talia because if we look at this relationship without these blinders (nostalgia) still portraying Brutalia as a romantic relationship is just down right creepy and borderline abusive. Like in many of their interactions post O'Neil (And even under his editorial), Talia is honestly a down-right over-possessive, manipulative person with abusive tendencies and Bruce enables her. It's stifling because you can't treat it as anything other than romantic and healthy.
Plus, Talia's fans end up being more sexist as they take away Talia's agency when confronted with her bad actions and treat her like a child.
The panels mentioned.
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Plus more panels of Talia being unlikable/abusive
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gravity-barbie · 2 years
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Coming out as LGBT+ to The Sparrows HCs
Request
Umbrella version
Masterlist
Marcus Hargreeves
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-Coming out to Marcus can be especially nerve-racking because as close as you are to him, he’s still kind of an authority figure
-He’s worried when you say you have something to tell him, his business-brain is on expecting news of some threat so relief is actually the first thing he feels when you tell him, and then what you said really sinks in and he’s surprised for a moment but quickly recovers and lets you know that’s totally fine and he’s glad you told him
-He’s very respectful in all matters regarding this, checking in when necessary to make sure you’re comfortable with his etiquette, terminology or whatever else
-He takes a bit of an interest in lgbtqia matters afterwards, maybe not quite an activist, but he stays informed
Ben Hargreeves
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-Ben doesn’t need a second to process what you’re telling him, he completely accepts your orientation/identity, it doesn’t change how he feels about you at all
-However he struggles with intimacy, particularly verbally so in the moment you tell him, really wearing your heart on your sleeve, he doesn’t know what to say and he’s all around a bit wooden
-Ben rarely apologises even when it’s completely warranted, but after some reflection he feels he owes you one, and as nonchalantly as possible tells you as much and confirms that he’s really fine with this, trying his hardest to offer some of the warmth he’s known for not having
-Ben takes potential homophobia/transphobia very seriously, he’ll turn incredibly hostile at just a hint of it and absolutely terrify the perpetrator
Fei Hargreeves
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-Fei has had a hunch for a while and can’t really bring herself to act surprised when you tell her
-As much as she seems like a cold person, Fei can be very sweet to her loved ones in times like this, she gives you a hug and lets you know she’s happy for you
-Needless to say she adapts to the information quickly and adjusts whatever she needs to accordingly, and she will force anyone else who knows to do so as well
-Talking about it with her feels really natural, she shows you plenty of respect and doesn’t treat the subject like it’s foreign to her
Alphonso Hargreeves
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-It really isn’t a big deal to Alphonso, though he tries to respect that it might be to you, so he tepidly asks a couple of follow up questions
-He makes a couple jokes about the whole thing, it’s just his nature, they aren’t offensive by any stretch but if you find them invalidating that’s fair and he’ll zip it
-Sensitivity isn’t his strong suit, in spite of and because of that, he wants you to let him know if there’s anything he can be doing better because he’ll do it
-He almost never brings up anything about your orientation/identity but if you ever want to talk to him about it he’ll listen, though his expertise is limited he is someone you can vent to
Sloane Hargreeves
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-Sloane is such a sweetheart, she’s genuinely so happy for you and just wants to show you her support
-She can’t believe she didn’t realise sooner and is eager to make up for lost time by learning anything you’ll tell her about how you realised and what it’s been like
-Even if she can’t relate to the specifics of your situation, she’s a very empathetic and sensitive person and is highly unlikely to ever come across as out of touch about this
-You’ll never doubt her acceptance, she proves it every time she tries to play matchmaker with a potential same-sex love interest / buys you clothes that match your new presentation or anything else that eases this time of adjustment in your life
Jayme Hargreeves
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-Jayme accepts this immediately, you never have to talk about it again if you don’t want to but she’s a decent listener if you need someone to vent to
-She obviously doesn’t make a big deal about it, one way or the other, but she does little things to affirm your gender/orientation
-Jayme has a low tolerance for bigotry in general but especially if it’s directed at you, she will gladly beat up a queerphobe
-She’ll keep you company wherever and whenever you’d like, whether to make up for the isolation you may be feeling or to be a familiar face as you venture into uncharted territory
Christopher Hargreeves
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-Christopher is a little surprised but he’s cool with it and lets you know as much
-It’s not his strong suit but he can be very sweet and reassuring if you need it
-It’s not the same thing by far but as a cube he can relate to feeling and being treated different than others, so he’s actually very understanding
-He’ll do anything he can to help you from giving you company and someone to lean on to offering you funds if you need an operation or something
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zaewriteshere · 10 months
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Guardian of the Protocol
Interrogations
First Chapter | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter
AO3 Link
Masterlist
You expected the oldest to be the one to ask the first question, but you were surprised when a younger, black haired woman did.
“What is that little machine floating next to you ?” Lynn turned to her, unimpressed. 
“I’m Lynn, and please refer to me as a person. I’m not an it or a what, thank you very much,” They replied with disdain. 
“Oops, sorry, I didn’t mean to sound offensive,” She apologised, sheepish. You nudged your ghost, encouraging them to be a bit more social… Even though they were strangers. Ultimately, it was Lynn’s decision. You wouldn’t force them to do anything.
“It’s fine,” They mumbled, a bit upset, but genuine. 
“And you ? Who are you ?” Questioned the exo, looking at you with... Looking at them closer, they weren’t looking like any exo you’ve encountered before. Maybe they weren’t one. Either way, it was hard to read their expressions. You said your name again, not really knowing what to say. 
“I’m also a guardian, if that means anything to you,” You shrugged, and at the confused look the others gave you, you figured it didn’t mean much. 
“And that means ?...” Questioned the older human. 
“It’s complicated,” You sort of explained, sheepish.
“How did you end up there ? We went there just a few dozen minutes ago.” Asked another man, younger and darker skinned. 
“I teleported there ?” You answered tentatively. 
“How ?” Asked the fifth person, a woman with a slight tan.
“I went through a portal in my world, then ended up next to a satellite.”
“What is your world like ?” Interrogated the non-exo. 
“Nothing like this one, for sure,” You said somewhat more confidently.
When would they stop asking the hard questions that you didn’t really have an answer to ? You wondered, not wanting to be discredited or worse, in their eyes.
“How can you tell ?” Asked the older man.
“You don’t know what a guardian is. You also seem technologically impeded. Even the technologies that we have on Mars aren’t that old…” You explained as best you could without sounding offensive. 
“That would explain the existence of Lynn…” Muttered the black haired woman.
“Hey ! I am not a robot,” They said, offended, “Well, not just a robot,” Lynn continued, mumbling. 
You yourself didn’t really know what your ghost was, besides that they were created by the Traveller… And had the duty to guide, help, and keep you alive. 
When asked, they always darted around the subject, admitting that they didn’t know by themselves.
“Then what are you ?” Wondered the robot, mechanically. 
It kind of freaked you out, if you were honest. The exos that you knew were… More lively. To be fair, they were once human. Was it the case for this robot as well ? It didn’t feel like it, but maybe they were all on “mission mode”. 
Though, you could tell your ghost was getting annoyed. You intervened, trying to be the mediator in all of this.
“Let’s not invalidate anyone's experience or existence. We are all living beings with emotions and a story, can we live it at that ?” They all nodded, some more eagerly than others. You sighed.
It was gonna be a long day.
“What do you know about Omega Earth ?” The senior human asked with a “tell me all that you know”, look. 
What Earth ?
“Is nothing a valid answer ? I’ve never heard of an alternate Earth. Most I’ve seen is an imaginary world…” Lynn said, thinking. At the look of confusion, you quickly added : 
“Long story.”
The oldest of the group had an expression that was screaming that he wanted to know more. Or at least was expecting some sort of debriefing at the end of the mission.
So far, he reminded you of commander Zavala.
But you could tell they were different, in some ways. 
They had to be.
If you were honest, you were already missing your home, not feeling at ease in this new place – new world – of undefined rules and beliefs. It felt alienating.
You shooed away the thoughts. You mustn’t be distracted from the task at hand. Which was to find a solution for your endeavour.
“Where exactly did you teleport ?” Asked the white woman, adjusting her glasses.
“Let me show you,” You said, understanding that Lynn wasn’t in the mood to talk anymore, if you trusted their aura. 
And so you jumped back up, but at the surprise gasps behind you, you weren’t supposed to be able to do that. Turning around, you tilted your head, arching an eyebrow – they couldn’t see the last part, you were still wearing your helmet that hadn't taken it off yet – but shrugged and waited for them to do much smaller, shorter jumps than you were capable of. 
After what seemed like an eternity, they were all ready for you to show them where you landed, the two women seemingly very interested in the answers, having some sort of sensors out and turned on.
You guided them back to where the void cleared up, and you didn’t hear the sensors presenting any form of anomaly.
“Here,” you simply indicated, going to the exact location – or at least, to the best of your ability – and stepped aside to let the women work. 
You watched as the robot observed you like a hawk, as if you were about to go crazy and attempt to kill them all. You crossed your arms and sat down cross legged, hoping that’ll soothe their fears.
They valued their colleagues, you could say that much. And you understood, feeling the same way about your friends.
The little that you had, anyways. You didn’t have a fire team anymore, since both of them died during the Red War. 
It left you feeling lonely, but you refused to be in another team, fearing losing them as well. So, you spent your time fending for yourself, and you were good at it. 
Until recently.
Going back to reality, you observed the people around you. 
The two women were still observing the spot that you previously left, taking samples and observing their rudimentary technologies, looking for anomalies. 
The men were watching them do their work, though you could tell they all kept an eye on you, apparently not trusting you just yet. 
You wondered what you had to do to earn their trust. You tried not thinking too hard about it, silently observing them work, pondering if you could help in any way but… Technology wasn’t your forte. Especially alien ones. Was it really considered alien at this point ? You didn’t know.
All those questions were starting to give you a headache. 
“That’s weird,” Mumbled the black haired one, furrowing her brows. She cursed under her breath, “I’m not seeing anything abnormal so far,” She paused, turning to everyone, looking at you from the corner of her eyes, “Which means that whatever happened here, there’s no trace of it left.”
“Maybe you simply cannot detect it with your tools and current technology,” You tried, not liking where this was going. “I would propose my help but I’m really bad at technology in general,” You said, still thinking of a better solution. You looked at Lynn, who, sensing your gaze, turned to you and simply said :
“I’m not sensing the anomaly anymore. Not ever since the void cleared out.”
You sighed. That was both great and bad news
It meant that the Hive probably couldn’t reach here, not unless opening another portal, which would alert your ghost. The bad news was…
That for now, you had nowhere to go. 
Granted, you could ask them for any directions to go for a shelter. Whatever this place was, something happened to it and you didn’t feel comfortable staying here for the night, but they didn’t seem to trust you at all. You had to think of the right time to ask this. 
“What happened ?” You heard the darker skinned woman ask you, turning to you with a glint of curiosity in her eyes.
“I went through a portal. It led me here,” You bluntly stated.
“Did you know where you would end up ?” Questioned the darker skinned man, crossing his arms.
“Nope.”
“Then why did you go through ?” asked the non-exo.
“A possible death is better odds than a certain one,” You shrugged, nonchalant.
They all looked at you in incredulity. It made you quietly chuckle. 
“So… You were about to die, and you just decided that going through a random portal was gonna be the solution ?” Rephrased the apparent leader of the group, the elder man. 
“A magic portal, might I add,” Piped in Lynn, and you could tell they were slightly angry at you for making such a rash decision, but you had been with them long enough to know that they understood your actions.
“Are you okay ?” Asked the tan woman, with seemingly genuine worry.
“Oh I’m fine,” You reassured, “I wasn’t really hurt. It was just, ‘I know death is coming, so might as well try the unlikely’, kinda deal.”
They all looked at you as if you somehow grew another head in the span of a few seconds.
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22degreehalo · 2 years
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ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
so I said when I started applying for library jobs that if it didn’t work out I’d probably have to do a course on it
but I reaaaaaaAAAAAlly wanted to avoid that because I’ve already done so much fucking unnecessary studying that didn’t help me at all
and the whole POINT of applying for library jobs was that it was theoretically something I could do NOW and get a FUCKING JOB, FINALLY
so if I’m going to the effort of taking a course then why library studies? Why not IT? Or learning to code? Or Japanese????????
and it still hasn’t fully hit me that the one decision I’ve been able to goddamn make in like two years has already been invalidated lmfao. Because we’re at the middle of the year so if I wanna sign up for a course I’ll have to decide soon
and I don’t know if the course would even help... Literally none of the jobs I’ve applied for have even gotten back to me at all lmfao. And it could be becuase it’s government and they can take like 4+ months to do so but what if I’m just not suited. I don’t drive and apparently it’s normal to switch between different library sites within the system which is obviously harder via bus.
Or maybe it’s because my resume looks awful because I haven’t had a job in like 2 years lmfao. Even the volunteering might just make it look like I went to jail and am doing community service or something. who knows.
I should ask someone I work with but it’ll have to be via just like email or something because the only person I work regularly alongside, I only volunteer in the morning so she has to get right back to other work when I’m done. which is a good thing inn some ways I guess.
but I keep being like ‘haha if the library has any other work let me know’ and she’s always like ‘oh haha yeah if something comes up!’ and it hasn’t and. ughhhhh
I should just message her saying I wanna ask her some questions if it’s okay. abt like if doing the course would actually help.
Imagine if life could be nice to me for just one moment in 10 years and go ‘hey yeah this thing you’re volunteering at and kinda enjoying? You’re good at it and people want to hire you.’ But nah lmaoooooooo
(and like the AMBIGUITY is that I have done volunteering at a library so I have some frame of reference and would feel Meaningful but also it can be pretty social and is a very practical job so you’d think those parts wouldn’t suit me?? Whereas something like coding does seem to suit my personality but I don’t know anything about it. What if I hated it. I tried to learn it a bit as a hobby when I first thought of all this to try it out but it felt so pointless and dumb when I’ve spent years trying to learn Japanese which is a similar process but at least like amateur coding is a thing, there’s literally nothing I can do with Japanese until I’m fluent which will take YEARS and I just. literally don’t know anything I don’t know ANYTHING I don’t want to make a decision ever again in my life.)
edit: ALSO the other problem is that depression made me dumb and I gave up Japanese hobby studying because I was literally retaining nothing and putting in all that work to just barely not forget what I already knew. So studying anything that would involve mental effort sounded like a bad idea. That hasn’t been so much of a thing recently since I at least had the library hope so I’m much closer to normal mental processing but god knows if it’ll stay that way NOW. what if i do a course and my brain stops working again and I can’t even think straight enough to figure out what to do about it.
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stylesluxx · 3 years
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9:41pm – p.lahote
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[warnings: angst but eh and like two swears and horrible writing]
summary: in which y/n distances herself from paul in an attempt to protect him | requested!
word count: 4,539
masterlist
Being best friends with Bella Swan meant you were always in a state of worry. You were worried she'd trip over air and fall into the middle of oncoming traffic, or she'd stab herself with a plastic spoon and Jasper Hale would cause a scene in the middle of the lunchroom. And it's not like you had anything against the Cullens, you were all good friends, but you knew how Jasper could get. And it also didn't help that your boyfriend, Paul's, words were always in the back of your mind about the "leeches." But you knew the Cullens first and knew not to judge them too harshly.
Bella Swan shook up the town of Forks, whether she recognized it or not. You grew up in Forks, loved the quietness and scenery. You weren't too excited to have to leave for college but figured you'd find somewhere that was similar to your hometown. You were pretty quiet and kept to yourself and maybe that's why you and Bella got along so well. But once she befriended you and introduced you to the Cullens, you figured you were entering the new normal.
It had slipped out when Bella was talking in her sleep during a sleepover that the Cullens were supernatural beings and it was a well-known fact that your friend wasn't a good liar. So when you confronted her about it and she was stammering, not giving you a real answer, you just gave her a knowing look.
"I won't tell anyone. I mean, you'd be the only person I tell," You shrugged and she nodded.
"It's a complicated thing, but I trust you. Just... don't think about it around Edward."
You looked at her warily before just nodding your head in agreement.
Of course, Edward already knew thanks to Alice and both you and Bella had to deal with Rosalie's death stare, which bumped her down to being your least favorite Cullen.
And when they left town and left a hole in your best friend, you and Jacob picked her back up and put the pieces together as best as you could, but deep down, you knew only Edward would be able to fix her completely.
And then, Jacob left. You were hurt by this since you two had grown closer. He was like yours and Bella's little brother and him disappearing like how your vampire friends did was painful.
The second time Bella went to confront the boy, you went for moral support. Your arms crossed over your chest as you stood behind Bella, who patiently greeted Billy Black.
"I can't believe this brat is sleeping," You scoffed, but Bella was already out the room, ready to confront the group of guys that just walked on the Black property.
"Bella, no," You called out while following her onto the grass.
"What did you do?"
You reached to grab her arm, ready to go home, but she yanked it out of your grip.
"What did you do? What did you do to him?" She angrily questioned who you assumed to be Sam Uley, pushing him roughly.
He looked exactly how Jacob described; aged beyond his years. He had copper skin, brown eyes, and was about 6'6". Almost as tall as Jacob. And he had the same tattoo Bella said Jacob had.
You looked at the other three boys and they had the same one in the same spot. You recognized Embry, giving him a weird look before turning your attention back to the raging girl in front of you.
"What did we do? What did he do? What'd he tell you?" The boy that spoke was menacing and looked at Bella as if she were below him. He was intriguing despite his demeanor, but deep down you knew he was just bad luck.
"Bella-" You started but were ignored.
"Nothing! He tells us nothing because he's scared of you," She responds, making the boys in front of you laugh.
You had enough at this point. It was already enough Bella was ignoring you but now being laughed at, you were over it. They weren't necessarily laughing at you but what Bella said was exactly how you felt as well. It felt as if they were invalidating your worry.
"Oh fuck off!" You scoffed, though you weren't spared a glance from the boy. You went to reach for the keys in Bella's coat pocket but were taken aback by her swinging her arm back and slapping the menacing boy.
The muscular, six-foot boy went from shaking with laughter to shaking with anger, causing your eyes to widen.
"It's too late now!" Laughed the boy to your left but his comment and Sam's warning fell on deaf ears.
"Isabella!" You spoke sternly, grabbing her arm and slowly backing away from the group.
The boy in front of you disappeared and in his spot, a huge, dark silver wolf stood. If you knew nothing about the supernatural world, you could've sworn this was a nightmare but once you saw his eyes, you knew it was the same boy.
You and Bella turned around, facing the Black house as you started running, losing your hold on her.
"Bella! Y/N!" The brat, as you called him, shouted, jumping off his porch and running toward you.
"Run! Jake run!" Bella screamed, attempting to warn him, but he kept running ahead with no intention of slowing down.
She jumped over Bella as she clumsily tumbled to the ground, making you groan and turn to pull her up. But in the midst of trying to rescue your friend, you see the other turn into a russet brown wolf, standing taller than the silver one.
"It's always something when I'm with you, I'll give you that," You mumbled and watched the two wolves go at each other, breaking Billy's boat and tumbling into the woods.
"Take them back to Emily's place," Sam directed the remaining two before running into the woods.
"Guess the wolf's out of the bag."
You rolled your eyes at the corny joke as you pulled Bella to her feet.
"The next time I say we leave, let's just leave, yeah?" You huffed and started toward the big red truck.
You arrived at the small brown home in the middle of the woods and you sighed, still trying to take in the events that happened less than 10 minutes ago.
Embry and the other boy jumped out of the truck, leaving you and Bella in the two-seat truck, her on your lap.
"Hey, I think we should go back and see if Jacob's okay," Bella suggested as she rolled down the window.
Honestly, you weren't thinking about the well-being of either of the boys. But instead, you replayed the whole interaction with the silver wolf before he changed. You have to ask Jacob what his name was, but casually so he wouldn't try to tease you about a crush.
"Have Paul sink some teeth in him. Serves him right!"
So the menacing one's name was Paul. You nodded as you took the information and set up a folder for him in your head.
They were talking about some bet before stopping and turning to look at the two of you in the truck.
"Come on in guys, we won't bite!" Embry called, giving you two a boyish smile making you chuckle. You always thought he was adorable, like a little baby you wanted to squish.
"I know we're a bit shaken up, but come on Bells, with the other people we hang out with, we really aren't in the position to hesitate," You said, patting her thigh as encouragement.
She got out of the car and you followed behind, giving Embry a small smile.
"You know, I liked you better with long hair," You teased the lanky boy as you walked up the steps to the house.
"Gotta keep it short so my fur isn't too long," He answered with a grin on his face, walking behind you. "Oh hey, about Emily, Sam's fiancée: don't stare. It bugs Sam."
"Why would we stare?" You questioned before walking inside the house, immediately met with warmth and the smell of muffins.
"You guys hungry? Like I have to ask," You heard the melodic voice tease the boys.
"Who's this?" She asked after looking up and giving both you and Bella a smile.
"Y/N Y/L/N and Bella Swan. Who else?" Jared introduced you two as he sat at the table.
"Hm, so you're the vampire girls?" Emily teased.
"Ehhh, I'm more neutral territory," You chuckled, hoping to help ease Bella so she could take over talking for now.
"So you're... the wolf girl?" Bella added on, after thinking a bit for a comeback. "Guess so- well, I'm engaged to one."
You watched as Embry sat and Emily brought the fresh muffins over to the table. The boys immediately reached out for them.
"Save some for your brothers. And ladies first. Muffin?"
You looked over at Bella and nodded as she mumbled a quick "sure."
You grabbed a muffin hesitantly (you didn't want to overstep even though you were offered one).
You zoned out as Bella talked to Emily and the boys, and you settled on thinking about "Paul." You replayed the interaction and how he kept his fierce brown eyes on Bella, his target. Why was he so defensive about whatever Jacob did or didn't say? The way his emotions changed so quickly gave you whiplash. He went from being defensive to laughing and then pissed (which you don't blame him for, Bella shouldn't have slapped him). You knew this wasn't someone that you would necessarily enjoy being around. He just seems loud and like he can never just have a relaxed moment; he's fueled off of his emotions. But you couldn't help but think about his brown eyes, tanned skin, and toned body. You couldn't stop yourself from picturing a quiet day in with him, staying on the couch and watching movies all day. In this dream, you had tamed him and he was relaxed and just wanted to be up under you all day.
You were taken away by your thoughts when Sam walked in, though you were hoping it was Paul. You frowned when you realized who it was and just watched as he walked over to Emily and started kissing her.
You put your head down, not wanting to watch their intimate moment, but your cheeks began to flush because only moments ago you wished it was you and Paul. You looked over at Bella and saw she was looking down too, causing you to grab her hand and squeeze. That was your small attempt at pushing Edward out of her mind.
Yours and Bella's heads both snapped toward the door as your heard footsteps move toward the house. You watched Jacob playfully shove Paul and laugh before they came up the stairs and into the house.
Paul walked by the two of you and sat at the table, grabbing a muffin.
He turned to look at Bella and said, "sorry" with a cocky smirk on his face.
He turned back to eat his muffin but Jacob cleared his throat and crossed his arms over his chest while he leaned on the doorway.
"To Y/N too," He told Paul sternly, making the boy sigh.
"Oh that's alright-" You started but you were cut off by the sound of Paul inhaling sharply.
He was looking in your eyes, getting really to apologize before he inhaled and his eyes widened in shock.
You blinked uncomfortably as he sat there silently eyeing you. It wasn't how he was looking at Bella earlier, you weren't a target, but you were all he could focus on. You chuckled shyly and used one hand to scratch the back of your neck and used the other to squeeze Bella's hand tightly.
It was then that you noticed that the whole room went silent, making you even more flustered.
"Um, can we talk, Jake?" Bella initiated the conversation, giving you an exit, which you were thankful for.
He hesitantly nodded, tearing his eyes from Paul and focusing on the two of you looking at him, practically begging for an escape route.
"Thank you so much for the muffin," You softly smiled at Emily as you and Bella walked toward the door. You gave everyone a wave and gave Paul one last glance before shutting the door behind you.
The three of you started walking, but it was a while before anyone said anything. You were still flustered by Paul freezing up at the sight of you. It was weird, but still, not the weirdest thing to happen today.
"So... what the fuck was that?" You blurted out, pulling yourself out of your thoughts.
"So, you're a werewolf," Bella said at the same time, hands in her pockets as if this were a normal conversation.
"Last time I checked," He sighed, avoiding your question. "Few lucky members from the tribe have the gene. A bloodsucker moves into town... and the fever sets in."
"Mono," Bella raised her eyebrows, chuckling at his pathetic lie.
"Yeah, I wish."
"Well, can't you find a way to just stop? I mean... it's wrong."
Oh, here we go, the morality police.
"It's not a lifestyle choice, Bella."
"Bella, he literally said it was in his genes," You interjected, giving her a weird look.
You three had stopped walking, and you and Jacob turned to look at the girl who wanted to play God.
You loved Bella, you really did, but she was dating a vampire. You thought it was weird she was trying to police Jacob.
"I was born this way; I can't help it," Jacob continued. "You're such a hypocrite! What, I'm not the right kind of monster for you?"
You silently agreed with Jacob, nodding your head.
"It's not what you are... it's what you do," Bella attempted to argue. "They never hurt anybody. You've killed people, Jake."
"Mmh, but didn't- never mind," You shook your head, deciding not to get involved.
"Bella, we're not killing anyone."
"Then who is?"
"What we're trying to protect you people from. The only thing we do kill. Vampires."
"No, Jake, you can't-"
"Don't worry, we can't touch your little precious Cullens unless they violate the treaty."
You were bored of the conversation and tuned out, trying to kick around a rock that was stuck in the sand.
Had this been any other time, you would've been intrigued but you only wanted answers to your question. What happened the fuck happened with Paul?
"So... you're not gonna answer my question?" You asked once the two sorted everything out.
"That's something you have to talk to Paul about," Jacob answered, making you roll your eyes.
"Okay, well, you know how I get weird around new people. I was weird with you for like a month," You frowned.
"I don't think it's gonna be anything like that. It'll feel natural to be around him."
"Right."
You sat at the lunch table between Bella and Mike Newton as Alice talked about throwing a graduation party at the Cullen residence.
"Another party, Alice?"
"It'll be fun," She spoke optimistically, making her smile.
"Yeah, that's what you said last time," Bella huffed, making you nudge her.
"Well, I'm excited, Alice," You spoke up, giving her a small smile that she returned.
But the smile was quickly wiped off her face as she zoned out and sat back in the chair. Edward turned his head, seemingly zoning out as well, causing you and Bella to turn toward the regular teens next to you, hoping to distract them.
"Hey, Angela?"
"Yeah?”
"Do you need some help with those?" Bella asked as you both reached over to look at whatever she was working on.
You and Bella both shared a look of concern before turning back and helping your friend.
At the end of the school day, you and Bella walked out of the school together, you looking for Paul's truck and her looking for Edward.
You spotted your boyfriend pulling in, and you turned to face Bella, gripping onto the straps of your backpack.
"When Edward spills, fill me in," You told her, making her nod.
"Definitely. I think you're the only one that can communicate with the pack right now. Jacob isn't talking to me so... if anything were to happen, only you could tell them."
You nodded sullenly, hoping it wasn't something that needed the pack's attention. You were hoping it wasn't something big.
Paul pulled up right in front of you, greeting Bella politely, making you smile.
"See you tomorrow, Bells," You promised as you opened the truck door and got in.
"Hi Lover," You greeted your boyfriend and leaned over to peck his lips.
"Hi Little Wolf," He smiled and helped you take your backpack off. He set it in the backseat next to his before pulling out of the parking lot.
He drove from the school to Emily's house, grabbing your bags out of the backseat once you arrived.
You two would do this every day after school: go to Emily's and do homework with the news playing in the background just in case.
"Hi, Em!" You greeted the woman that seemed to be making a bunch of pasta for dinner. "Would you like some help?"
"No, I'm okay. Go get some work done," Emily assured you, and you nodded, going into the living room.
You greeted the boys and wrapped Jacob in your arms. "Hi Brat," You teased and pinched his back.
"Hey," He chuckled and pulled you into a headlock. "Missed me?"
"I saw you yesterday. You better stop before I get Paul to beat you up," You said and pushed him away. "I hate you."
"You don't."
You playfully rolled your eyes before sitting next to Paul on the couch and pulling your homework out of your bag.
"He's so annoying," You mumbled to your boyfriend and rested your head on his shoulders.
"Tuh, I already knew that," He scoffed and kissed the top of your head.
You sighed and started working on your biology homework, tuning everything out until you felt Paul tightly grip your hand.
"What?" You asked, looking up at him before turning to the tv.
The news anchor was talking about all the disappearances in Seattle, and because you knew what you knew, you knew it was something that the pack and the Cullens would have to get involved in.
You frowned and returned Paul's squeeze, quickly growing worried. Is this was Alice's vision was about earlier? Did they know about this? Did they have a plan?
Once the news transitioned to the weather forecast, nobody moved a muscle. You figured they were in shock or were trying to figure out a plan
"Alice had a vision today, at lunch. We're just waiting for Edward to spill," You spoke up and turned to look up at Paul, examining his face.
His face was serious but scrunched with determination until he turned to look back at you. He let the tenseness fall away and gave you a small smile to try to get you to relax.
"I don't want more people getting hurt," You mumbled.
"We're gonna do what we can to protect Forks. Hopefully, it stays in Seattle, but until this dies down we're going to do more patrolling. We can't afford to slack off," Sam spoke sternly.
Paul turned and nodded at his alpha's words but pulled you into his arms, holding you tightly, as if you were to vanish.
The next day, you were walking to the cafeteria with Bella and Edward, and you knew you had to say something before you got to the table.
"It was about the Seattle thing, wasn't it?" You asked the two, clutching onto the books in your hands. "The pack plans on doing more strict patrols."
It was silent for a moment, both of them hesitating to speak.
"What is it?" You sighed, prepared to hear the worst.
"It was about you, Y/N," Bella said then but her lip tentatively.
"What about me?"
"We didn't want to tell you because we didn't want you to worry-"
"But it was only right," Bella cut off her boyfriend, making your eyes furrow in confusion.
You stopped walking, and so did they. You guys let the hallway clear out before Bella continued talking.
"I've told you about Victoria."
"Yeah, and Jacob told us the pack killed her friend with the dreads," You nodded, but you still didn't understand where this was going and what it had to do with you. "What does she have to do with me, or anything for that matter?"
"For some reason, she has her eyes set on you. I was able to talk to Paul when he left your house after dropping you off last night. We agreed to take turns watching you," Edward broke the news to you as calmly and gently as he could.
From the corner of your eye, you could see both Alice and Jasper waiting outside of the cafeteria. It explained why you weren't freaking out, but you wondered what it would be like once you weren't around him. You knew you'd try to stay calm for Paul's sake, but what happens when you get home and you're alone in your room? Will it all hit you then, or will it already be bottled by then?
"Well, what's new, I guess? Forks is in mortal danger, and the supernatural has come together to save the town," You huffed and slapped your hands on your thighs before blowing a raspberry in the air. "Can we grab lunch now?"
Bella and Edward shared a look while you walked ahead, going into the cafeteria.
The day dragged on longer than it usually did, but you were one of the first people out of the building. You didn't even wait for Bella at her locker like you usually do. But you concluded because of what was happening that Paul was waiting outside for you. You figured he was sitting there at least 10 minutes before you got out of class.
Once you were out the school doors, you felt yourself growing tenser. You were out of Jasper's reach, and your emotions were finally starting to hit you.
"Hi, Little Wolf," Paul greeted you, trying to act like everything was normal. He hated making you worry, and you knew that.
"Hey," Your response was short, and you didn't even look in his direction. You kept your eyes on your lap.
"I'm not your Lover?" He teased, pulling out of the school parking lot.
"I just wanna go straight home today," You mumbled.
"The leech told you-"
"Bella told me. I don't want to argue, Paul. I think it's best if I go home."
He wanted to argue, you could tell by the way he was gripping the steering wheel that he disagreed with your decision, but just like you, he didn't want to argue. So, he took you home, no questions asked.
And when you were getting out of the car, you told him you'd drive yourself to and from school tomorrow.
"Y/N-"
"Just until this whole situation dies down. I don't want anyone getting hurt because of me, especially you," You said, and shut the door behind you once you got out of the car, leaving no space for him to argue.
You gave him one last smile before walking inside your house and locking the door once you shut it.
In the evening, you were at your desk completing homework, but you were still so paranoid. Your eyes looked out the window, searching for anything in the trees that might be a threat to you. But there was no threat, just a dark silver wolf laying in between the trees, keeping watch.
You frowned, feeling bad that you were pushing him away, but you didn't want him to get mixed up in your mess. You felt ten times safer with him watching you, but you knew he had to be exhausted; after a long day of school and patrol, who would want to stay up all night being a guard dog?
You moved away from your desk, deciding it was time for bed. You took a shower and did your night routine before laying in bed, pulling the covers over your body.
You didn't get much sleep that night. You didn't get much sleep for the next two weeks. It was hard being without Paul and your friends. You were so scared about something happening in your sleep that you were barely getting any. And the fact that you haven't been face-to-face with Paul in weeks put a real strain on you. Your physical and mental health was all messed up. The separation was difficult, but not being able to explain any of this to your parents made it much harder. You had no one to talk to, and you know you did it to yourself, but the well-being of your friends and family always came first, so you wanted to stick it out despite how you felt.
For two weeks, you stayed alert, listening to every noise, watching every shadow, though your paranoia made most of it up.
But this time, you knew you heard a sound and it made you shoot out of bed. Not hesitating, you reached for your phone and called Paul. You didn't see him resting by the trees when you got up to go shower. You assumed that he was finally getting some rest and now you felt even worse about calling him; the day he decided to get some rest, you were interrupting him.
He didn't answer the phone, which you expected, but you still opened the window in your bedroom, letting the cold air blow through. He'd let himself in once he got there.
You didn't expect him to get there as quickly as he did. It had only been three minutes of you biting your nails anxiously and staying far away from your door.
He came through your door fully clothed and immediately pulled you into his arms, warming up your freezing body and calming your nerves.
"Were you asleep? Where were you? You weren't here," You bombarded him with questions as you dug your face into his chest.
"I was just running a bit late. I was already on my way when you called. Why did you call?" He asked, rubbing your back soothingly.
"I'm sorry, I just- it's already so hard being away from you, and I've been scared, and I thought I heard something downstairs. I don't know," You rambled and held onto your boyfriend's waist tightly.
"If it were a leech, you probably wouldn't have even heard them coming. It was probably just your dad grabbing a snack or something. You know he's always up for a snack," He assured you before kissing the top of your head.
"Yeah, that's true," You quietly giggled and let all your worry dissipate. You kept your head resting on his chest as he rocked your two back and forth. "I missed you."
"I missed you, too. Let's never separate again."
"Agreed."
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[AN: hey so, I didn't know what to name this so I just named it off of the time it was requested. anyway, I kinda don't like this so uh yeah]
421 notes · View notes
fruitcoops · 3 years
Note
So my finger is actually broken and it made me think about the series where Remus took a stick to the face and Sirius took care of him if you’re willing to do another part to that so I can live vicariously that’d be great
Hey lovely! I’m so sorry for the massive delay on this fic--hopefully, your finger feels better soon <3 Coops and O’Knutzy credit goes to @lumosinlove!
This fic also includes Cap and Logan being brothers, O’Knutzy fluff, and my personal favorite ask of all time:
Anon: We have seen protective Leo in action and he is an absolute badass, but what about the other 2/3 of O’Knutzy. Because gods know they would all protect their fairy gay mother if anyone were to mess with him in the slightest
TW for bruising, swelling, injury
Read the rest of the series here!
“Where is he?” Leo demanded as soon as the door opened. His mother would have been appalled by his lack of manners, but he was too worried to bother with pleasantries. “Is he alright?”
Sirius raised his eyebrows. “Hello to you, too, Knut. Harzy, Lo, how’s it going?”
“Depends,” Finn said. “How’s our favorite rookie doing?”
Logan took a more direct approach and kicked Sirius lightly on the shin. “Move, I want to see my future beau-frère.”
“Are they here?” a rough voice called from the living room.
“Don’t get up, Loops!” Leo shouted down the hall, making a beeline for the kitchen. “Are you feeling okay?”
There was a muffled curse from the other room, followed by footsteps; Leo scowled. “I’m not made of glass,” Remus huffed as he shuffled into the room with an ice pack in his hand.
All three of them hissed in sympathy and Leo felt phantom pain in his nose at the wide bruise across Remus’ cheekbones. “You should go lay down again, dude.”
“You made me soup?”
“You can only have it if you promise to rest.”
“I don’t have a concussion.”
“Your face looks like someone biked over it.”
“Rude. I’ll call your mother.”
“You don’t have her number.”
Remus shot him a look and turned to the others, who were watching in clear amusement. “Tremzy, a hand?”
“Can’t tell you. I want soup.” Logan ruffled his hair as he walked past; Remus batted him away, but he was smiling. It was even more crooked than usual with the latent swelling, and Leo felt a pang in his chest when he noticed the missing dimples. He looked so…not Loops. “Où sont les casseroles?”
Finn frowned and glanced in the Tupperware. “That’s not casserole, Lo.”
Sirius reached up and pulled a large pot down from the cupboard. “Pots, Harz. You’ve been dating these two for almost a year and you still don’t know French?”
Finn hopped up on the counter. “Keeps things interesting.”
Leo blew him a kiss and received a wink in return, making them both laugh. “Thanks again for bringing this over,” Remus said as Leo turned the stove on and grabbed a wooden spoon.
“Anything for the rookie, right? You look better than last night.”
“Yeah?” Hope lit in Remus’ less-swollen eye; he was still bruised to hell and back, but the puffiness had gone own significantly and a good night’s sleep seemed to have done him good.
“No thanks to the captain,” Finn snorted, swinging his legs until Sirius whacked him on the thigh with a spoon. “I swear to god he was just fucking with us in the groupchat.”
Remus raised his eyebrows. “What did you do?”
“I told the truth!” Sirius protested. “I don’t know why they’re all pissy.”
“You were so vague,” Logan groaned. He pulled his phone out of his back pocket and scrolled through the texts, then cleared his throat. “Home safe. Re is fine—"
“Get over here—”
“—getting lots of cuddles from Hattie,” Logan continued, ducking out of Sirius’ reach as he read aloud. Leo stepped closer to the stove to let them both run past. “Thanks for the messages. Thanks for the messages? Thanks for the fucking messages?”
“That was pretty vague,” Remus agreed, hiding a smile behind his hand when Sirius finally snatched Logan’s phone away.  
“I’m keeping this,” he threatened. “And I sent messages to people who reached out individually with questions, including your boyfriend.”
“Which one?” Logan asked with a smirk.
Sirius shook his head. “Knutty, will you be offended if I kick him out of the house?”
“Eh.” Leo shrugged, still stirring. “He could use some fresh air. Maybe put a bowl of water out with him.”
Logan grabbed a towel and rolled it up, snapping it at Leo’s ass; it connected with a sharp smack and he dodged the second attack by less than an inch. “Hey, cut it out!” Remus laughed. “He’s making me soup!”
“Yeah, Lo, we don’t want to leave the invalid in the hands of Cap’s cooking,” Finn drawled.
Sirius heaved a sigh. “You are all so mean to me.”
“I love you!” Remus said, putting a hand over his heart in mock-offense.
“You don’t trust my cooking either.”
He hesitated for half a second and Sirius spread his hands. “I trust most of your cooking. And all of your baking.”
Leo perked up. “Will you make cookies for us?”
“No.”
“Come on,” he wheedled as bubbles began forming around the edges of the soup. “You know you want to.”
“He made some for the block party two weeks ago,” Remus said with a grin, leaning over to smell the thick steam. “I’m domesticating him.”
“He’s like a feral cat. Once you let him in and feed him, he starts making cookies and never leaves.” Logan slotted himself between Finn’s knees for a cuddle with a devious glance at Sirius.
“I regret knowing you,” Sirius muttered; the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth gave him away, and Leo smiled to himself as he pulled a few bowls out of the nearest cabinet. “Soup’s ready?”
“Soup’s ready. Where are we eating?”
“Well, Loops is eating on the couch so he can rest,” Logan said, ignoring Remus’ eye roll.
“I’m fine.” All four of them gave him a skeptical look and he threw his hands in the air in exasperation. “Alright, we’ll eat in the living room and pretend I’m on my deathbed. Jesus Christ.”
Leo gave him a playful nudge as he handed him a bowl. “That’s what friends do, right?”
Remus’ face softened and he bumped him back. “This was really sweet of you, Knutty.”
“What was I supposed to do, leave you here alone with only your fiancé and your dog for company?” He looked behind the kitchen island and paused. “Speaking of, where’s my baby?”
“I’ll get her.” Sirius wandered out of the room and they heard the back door open a moment later; after a few seconds of muffled noise, Hattie came barreling into the room in all her long-legged glory. One side of her fur was mussed into bedhead, but Finn dropped down and immediately smoothed it out again as he smothered her with affection.
“Oh, was somebody taking a nap on the deck?” Remus cooed, grabbing a handful of spoons from a drawer.
“I missed you so much!” Finn said, laughing as she licked his face. “So much, precious girl! It’s been too long!”
Hattie wiggled out of his hold and galloped toward Leo—she tripped over her too-big paws and rolled to a stop at his feet with a lolling tongue. “Oh, my munchkin,” he groaned, lifting her into a cradle hold. “Do you think your dads would be sad if I took you home with me?”
“Yes,” Sirius and Remus chorused.
“But I made them soup!” He stuck his lower lip out in a pout and held her closer to his chest. “It’s only fair.”
Logan turned a pleading look on Sirius. “You can’t say no to that face, can you?”
“Someday, you can have a sleepover. For right now, we’re going to eat soup and then make Remus take a nap.”
Leo declined to mention the fact that he had not answered the question and filed that particular information away for later use. For all his bluster and grumbling, Sirius was a softie for puppy eyes of any sort.
They gathered in the living room and carefully balanced their bowls so nobody spilled on the carpet. Remus curled up to make space for Sirius on the couch, while Logan perched on the armrest of Leo’s chair and Finn took the floor; Hattie made the rounds with a roving nose and tried to steal bites wherever possible, to little avail.
“This is really good,” Sirius said after a few minutes of hungry silence, shoving another spoonful of broth in his mouth. “Mon dieu, what is this?”
“Italian wedding soup,” Leo said, breaking a meatball in half. “Mom’s recipe.”
Logan raised an eyebrow. “You’re not Italian.”
“Not even a little.”
“You guys are the best, by the way,” Remus said. “This is exactly what I needed.”
“We would’ve beat the rookie up if you asked,” Finn informed him with a casual bite of soup. “Say the word, it’s done.”
Remus shook his head. “It was an accident. He tripped, I came up too fast, and it snowballed from there. Kid’s lucky he didn’t get a skate to the face when we fell.”
Logan blinked at him for a second. “You’ve seen your face recently, right?”
“No, actually, it’s a bit difficult to see my own face,” Remus said drily. “I’m sure it looks worse than it feels.”
Sirius raised his eyebrows, but made no comment. Leo wasn’t sure whether he wanted to know that story or not; seeing Loops in any amount of pain was hard enough. “Kind of ironic, right?” he said instead. “After all that time spent fixing us, you’re the one we get to take care of.”
Remus snorted. “How the turntables. Hestia did all the heavy lifting.”
“That Tupperware was heavy.”
“Do you want to tape me back together next time?”
“Don’t try me, Loops, I’ll do it and give you a moustache.”
They bickered and teased for the next half hour, long after their bowls were empty and Hattie laid down with a dramatic huff after her unsuccessful quest. Finally, Remus dozed off on Sirius’ shoulder, which they took as their cue to leave.
“Thank you again, guys,” Sirius said as they pulled their coats on. “This really meant a lot to both of us.”
“No problem,” Finn said with a shrug. “We were worried, and bringing over a little soup was easy.”
“It was good to talk to you both outside of practice,” Logan added, giving him a one-armed hug. “Keep us updated?”
“Bien sûr.”
“See you around, Capsicle.” Leo mock-saluted and Sirius laughed under his breath. “Take care of our rookie.”
“Will do, Knutty.”
Leo maneuvered his container around his seatbelt as Finn turned the car on, trying not to lose another lid down the crack between the console. “I’m glad we did that,” he said after a few seconds of comfortable silence.
“Me, too. Loops still looked pretty rough, though,” Logan said quietly.
The side of Finn’s mouth turned down a tick. “Next time we play the Ravens, that rookie is getting checked like he’s never been checked before.”
Leo’s back cracked as he stretched his arms over his head. “Oh, yeah, Kasey and I already have a plan. That kid is never even going to see the net.”
200 notes · View notes
hopeless-ro-simptic · 3 years
Text
Familiar Cerulean Eyes- Pt 19
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Click Here for a full list of other parts! Part 20
Warnings: Angsty Shiggy, this gets a little fluffy. Next chapter is worse. 
Word Count: Just under 2k
I would like to say thank you so much to those of you who have been patiently waiting on me to update this story. I got really stuck on this chapter and wasn’t sure how I wanted to get from point A to point B but after for freaking ever it’s finally done. We are having a little bit of calm before the storm and I think this is a really cute idea. Getting to the end guys, things are going to be going down in just a few more chapters. Thank you so much for all the support on this! 
TAGLIST:   @superblyspeedydragon @jparra4587 @flyingowls @emrysaf @imuziawi @sheedaabee @peculiarinsomniac @littlelovebug98 @plutoneu @giftofwonder @kitty-kat-ash @fukyouthink @anarchys-bnha-mess @threbony @orenjineki @toobsessedsstuff @bamf-barnes @x-a-delama-x @inanabsentia @reallyshey @godsblesstheboi @drownedbytears @emilymikado @fluidfandoms  @mikasackrmann @bohica160 @andrastesbeard  @percabethismyotp14 @celestiallustre @moon-spirit-yue @hecatve @bakugoshrimp @vanillanjin @toshiuwuu @rxinbowrena @therealwalmartjesus @callmepopcorn @xxdumb-bitchxx @medicinalkiwis @kat-unzel @headfirst-halo @capricorn-nightmare @annie-daetris @skumtrash @totorotoni @kst-chernish @itsmysticalmystery @the-occasional-artist1125 @beautifulparisiangirl @stanzastic @helena-way07 @aurorahoneybuns @cth-l @nightlygiggless @filledasaf  @hailstorm888 @ozzy-bozzy @girrawr13 @hawkssnugget @dabilittleslut @over-grown-emo-kid @sasageyowrites @littledustyflame @h0wab0utw3d0ntd0that @thefirewasfriendly @babayaga67 @kiegosbby​ @foxes-and-arrows 
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“Sir we have eyes on the target.”
“How many times do I have to tell you coffee is not a target. It’s a beverage. You’re not funny.”
“N-No sir, I mean… S-shigaraki. I have eyes on Shigaraki.” The sidekick tried to whisper so not to alarm the surrounding civilians. They didn’t want to incite a panic.
“What?! Where?!” The hero screamed into the cellphone making the side kick wince and pull it from their ear, gaining a few glances.
“Electronics store, south side.” The side kick rattled off the address, there eyes glued to black hoodied figure, fear freezing them in place as they watched from the café across the street. What are the odds of locating the number 1 villain in Japan while just picking up the team’s morning coffee? The hero continued to rant and ask questions into the cellphone but the sidekick’s brain was numb, watching as the blue haired villain just, casually, wandered over to the electronic stores counter, setting down what looked like some controllers and cords for the new console that was out, and just…. Paid?
What the fuck.
“…Do you hear me? Do not engage, but do not lose him. We need to know where he goes.” The side kick zoned back in on the instructions that the hero was giving. Mentally kicking themselves. They were a professional. They needed to be calm.
“Yes sir. I will track the target…. What should I do about the coffee?”
“Are you kidding me? Screw the coffee!”
------------------------
You watched as Shigaraki walked into the bar, barely giving you an annoyed glare when you took a cautious sniff as he entered the room. He smelled just faintly of honey… and something else… but you left it alone, not wanting to incur the alpha’s wrath again after last time. Still, your brain questioned as to if that soft lingering scent was of an omega… and if so was it just a random one.. or the one that he had been hiding away from everyone else?
“Did Tomura just walk in? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him walk anywhere. I thought he was an invalid since Kurogiri is always just teleporting him wherever he wants to go.” Dabi’s voice made your lips raise in a smile, leaning back against him as he came up behind where you were sitting at the bar, a bowl of ramen in front of you, feeling yourself warm up as he slipped his arms around your waist leaning down and kissing the top of your head.
“He insisted I stay here in case of a raid. A split second could mean the difference between us all getting caught or getting away. We don’t have One for All to save us this time.” Kurogiri shut down the conversation with a pointed look. Clearly, he knew better than to gossip about the alpha behind his back. Or he was trying to keep something a secret.
It didn’t matter anyways, the conversation long forgotten as Toga burst into the room with Twice in tow, an excited look on her face. Her usually soft beta scent sharper and bubbling out around her.
“Twice had the best idea!”
“I really didn’t. I always have good ideas.” The two of them came to a stop in the middle of the room, Spinner looking up from his game that he was playing on the couch in the corner seeming almost interested in what the two had to say. Toga was practically bouncing in place as she looked from Twice to everyone else and back to Twice.
“Well tell them!”
“Toga it was stupid, I really don’t think they are going to agre-“
She interrupted him immediately her wide smile turning towards you.
“We should have a party!”
Dabi snorted and turned around, ignoring the smaller blonde, Kurogiri resumed cleaning up from cooking and even Spinner turned back to his game, checking out of the world again. Everyone else in the room was completely ignoring the blonde whose eyes were focused on yours so intently you couldn’t help but swallow. Even Twice was looking up at the ceiling like he was wishing he could be raptured into the heavens to escape the room.
“Toga… why would we have a party?” You tried to reason with her, shrinking back as she bounded over to you taking your hands between hers, her smile wide and toothy.
“To celebrate! Duh! We all need to have fun and relax.”
“But what are we celebrating?”
She paused for a second, a pout on her lips like she was suddenly upset about something before the pout disappeared completely and her smile was back.
“You two getting married of course!”
Dabi choked on his drink, and you could feel your cheeks growing redder by the second. Even Twice looked back to the two of you confusion written all over his face before it transformed into what could only be described as the joy of  a puppy.
“You’re getting married? How romantic! You should marry me instead.”  He slid up to Dabi wrapping an arm around his shoulder and waggling his eyebrows only for Dabi to push him off a frown on his face as he whirled to face Toga.
“What the hell are you talking about?” You couldn’t help but bristle at the annoyance that was in his tone. Sure Toga was being…. Toga, but he didn’t have to act like getting married was the worst thing he ever heard.
“You’re already bonded, now it’s time to make it official.”
“Bonding makes it official. No one gets married anymore other than rich assholes who want to show off and throw a big party.”
“My parents did..”
“Oh my bad, and dick heads who sell their kids to those rich assholes.”
An awkward silence filled the room as you closed your eyes pretending for a brief moment that he did not just say that. Maybe you imagined it.
“… Y/n?” Toga’s worried voice was soft, and you could smell it as the excitement in her scent was fading quickly, being replaced with a calming beta scent.
Nope, he definitely said that. Taking a deep breath as you steadied yourself before glaring over at Dabi who looked like he was beyond pissed at himself for even opening his mouth.
“Exactly how long have you two known each other?” Shigaraki’s voice spoke up from the doorway that he was watching from, his fingers dropping from his bond mark, it red and raw from previous scratching.
You couldn’t help but sigh in frustration, looking over to Dabi again to see he had his head against the counter of the bar, blocking the rest of them out as he ran his fingers through his hair. For someone who was supposed to be great at lying, he was messing up a lot lately. It was like he wasn’t even trying to hide things anymore.
“How long have I been here?” You shrugged looking back to your ramen and pulling some into your mouth to occupy it. Everyone knew that was a load of bullshit, but you weren’t about to be the one to spill Dabi’s all important secret.  
Toga was still looking at you with wide eyes. Eyes filled with pity but also with unbridled affection. You knew she didn’t have the greatest parent’s herself, no matter how much she tried to play it off and deny it. You knew everyone here had parental issues. You weren’t special. None of them were crying about it, and why should you?
Still, the look she was giving you made your throat burn and eyes prick. You pushed past it though and kept your face as neutral as you could. You barely even remembered what your parents looked like. What they did shouldn’t matter to you anymore.
“How long Dabi?”
“It doesn’t matter.” He grumbled against the counter, tapping it twice to signal Kurogiri to get him another drink. You agreed with his statement, it really shouldn’t matter to the rest of the league when the two of you met, or how long you had known each other, but you knew that Shigaraki would take it personally.
“I said how long!” Shigaraki was fuming now, angry that secrets were being kept from him from those who he was supposed to trust. His alpha ruffling up and itching to come out. How could he trust them if they wouldn’t even answer that simple question?
“How long have you known your omega? Huh? How long have you been sneaking out to see them risking us all getting caught?” Dabi whirled on him, getting up so fast that the bar stool tipped over making a loud crash that had you Toga and Twice all wincing, Kurogiri freezing completely. Even Spinner looked up from his game, slowly putting it down like he was ready to separate the two.
Shigaraki’s eyes immediately turned to you, but before he could even take a step towards you Dabi’s voice continued as he pushed himself between you and the angry alpha.
“She didn’t tell me. We all knew, we’ve all known since the first time you disappeared and came back smelling like fucking lilies.”
Shigaraki stopped, looking wildly around the room, his anger still apparent, his fingers itching for something to decay as he looked at all of the league’s members for confirmation.
Toga frowned at him before nodding, keeping her distance and letting out her best calming scent that she could, only for Shigaraki to snarl at her in annoyance, taking a step towards her.
“Stop with that fucking smell. It stinks. You think I need to be comforted like a fucking pup?”
“When you’re fucking acting like one, yea.” Twice stepped between Shigaraki and Toga and even Shigaraki looked genuinely surprised by the Beta’s act of defiance. Twice was never known to go against the alpha’s in the group, especially toe to toe with the dangerous leader himself.
“Tomura…” The smaller beta peeked her head out from behind Twice who was currently puffing his chest trying to look half as intimidating as the alpha in front of him. “None of us care if you have an omega, or if you want to keep them away from us. We know you just want to keep them safe.”
Shigaraki looked around again, noting the similar looks of slight annoyance and understanding before his eyes landed back onto Spinner, probably his closest friend in the league minus Kurogiri. Spinner only shrugged before speaking softly. “I just assumed you would tell us when you were ready. You know we wouldn’t hurt them.”
Tomura paused, his body relaxing slightly as he looked at the ground, almost like he was ashamed of something, his reaction maybe. It was silent for a moment or two before he finally glanced up at you and Dabi a grumble leaving his lips shoving his hands into his hoodie pocket with a shrug, the topic effectively dropped.
“So are we having a wedding or not?”
The groan that left Dabi’s lips had you pouting until he caught sight of the look on your face and caved, pulling you into him looking down at you, his face neurtral and lazy to everyone else but you knew better, you could see the adoration hiding in his cerulean eyes.
“Fine. If you want to throw a dumb party, we will throw a party. But I am absolutely not wearing a tux.”
You couldn’t lie… the thought of him in a tux had you absolutely giddy.
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Invisible Chapter 9
Summary: YN YLN has always been third in Class 2-5, right behind Lee Su Ho and Kang Soo Jin but with both of them having left Saebom Highschool, this is her time to shine. That is until Han Seosangnim asks her to tutor Han Seo Jun. A guy who doesn’t even know she existed.
Ship: Han Seo Jun x Female Reader.
Word Count: 2011 words.
Likes, comments and reblogs are appreciated with any reactions or whatever you want to say. Again I really don't know where I am going with this.
Taglist: @thealexalcala @hayateotaku
Anyone interested in being added to the tag list, just let me know 😊.
True Beauty Masterlist
Chapter 8.
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Chapter 9:
Sitting in the Ice Cream shop, opposite you and watching you laugh and joke with Hyun Ji and Cho Rong. This is something Seo Jun could get used to, he could imagine it now, going on dates with you and just enjoying his time with you. Granted before that happened. He had to ask you out to begin with, but imagining your dating life together wasn’t that bad. If Su Ho had been here, he would have whacked Seo Jun and told him to ask YN out already.
Feeling a poke in his side, Seo Jun looked to his side. Ju Kyung was smiling at him. Sighing, he knew she wanted him to admit his feelings for YN to her. It was too much fun to annoy Ju Kyung by keeping the information from her.
“You look her with heart eyes and yet don’t tell me about your feelings for her,” Ju Kyung whispered. Just this whole outing had revealed just how soft Seo Jun was for YN. Not just that, but she knew it was only a matter of time before he asked her out.
Without a doubt, YN would say yes, while Seo Jun was going soft for her. YN was smiling and laughing more around Seo Jun and she could calm him down in a second. He could make her laugh and get her out of her head. They were just well-matched and Ju Kyung like the rest of the class, Si Woo, and Cho Rong were waiting for them to get together.
“My feelings for YN are none of your business Lim Ju Kyung” Seo Jun sneered quietly to Ju Kyung. He knew how much Ju Kyung wanted him to admit his feelings for YN to her. But he wasn’t going to give her that. Annoying her by refusing to tell her was too funny. He thought that Su Ho would’ve spilt the beans. However, Su Ho proved that his loyalty to Seo Jun by not telling Ju Kyung.
Although with how much Seo Jun had been rambling about YN to Su Ho. The guy was losing his patience and Seo Jun could tell from Su Ho’s replies that if Seo Jun didn’t do something soon, Lee Su Ho would tell Ju Kyung and let Seo Jun deals with Ju Kyung’s reaction.
Ju Kyung smirked at Seo Jun. She hadn’t said a name, Seo Jun was just admitting his feelings without actually telling her. Even now, he wasn’t even paying attention to anyone else on the table. All his attention was on YN and he wasn’t even trying to be subtle about it. YN’s blushing cheeks were evidence that she could feel Seo Jun looking at her even if she didn’t look at him.
As the group left, the six of you were walking in pairs. Cho Rong and Ju Kyung at the front, Si Woo and Hyun Ji then you and Seo Jun were walking behind them. Seo Jun was holding your bag. Even though you insisted that he didn’t need to, Seo Jun just smirked at you and picked up your bag anyway. While the rest of the group were talking about school. You and Seo Jun were talking about your next study session that would be at your house. Your mum was quite fond of Seo Jun and had been asking you to bring him around again.
While walking, you heard someone calling your name. You turn around to see who is calling you. You smile and stop where you are, to let the person catch up to you. You hadn’t seen Cha Sun Lee since you’d graduated from Shinhwa Middle School. You hadn’t meant to lose contact with her, but it had happened anyway.
Seo Jun, looked confused as you waited for this random girl to come to you. The other 4 had walked ahead not knowing that you and Seo Jun had stopped. The two of you had been walking at a much slower pace than the others. As this girl got to you both of you hugged and started talking to each other. Feeling quite ignored, Seo Jun cleared his throat. That brought you and Sun Lee out of your reminiscing bubble. You smiled sheepishly at Seo Jun.
“Sorry about that Seo Jun, this is Cha Sun Lee, we went to Shinhwa Middle School together. Sun Lee this is Han Seo Jun” you explained, introducing the two people to each other. Sun Lee laughed and whacked your arm.
“Yah, YLN YN, we didn’t just go to Middle School together, I was also the one who got you and Gong Jae Yi together,” Sun Lee said laughing when you blushed. Nodding your head when Seo Jun looked at you confused.
“Yes yes, sorry forgot Sun Lee’s biggest achievement was being the matchmaker for Jae Yi and me,” you said rolling your eyes as Sun Lee fans herself acting like she is so important. There was no denying that Sun Lee played a big role in you and Jae Yi getting together. But it had been a few years and it was awkward talking about your ex-boyfriend with the guy you had a massive crush on being around there.
“Now that you mention it, Jae Yi is back and there’s a whole reunion happening. So gimme your number and I'll tell you, you can get Si Woo and Hyun Ji to come as well, we all lost contact with you 3 when you went to Saebom rather than Shinhwa High,” Sun Lee told you. You wanted to clarify that she had mentioned Jae Yi first but that would lead to a whole other conversation with Sun Lee. And quite frankly, you were still processing that she had just told you that Gong Jae Yi was back.
You smiled and gave her your number. She immediately called and you saved her number. You smiled at her, hugged her, and then said goodbye to her. Waiting for her to walk out of view, you turned to Seo Jun. He smiled at you, putting his arm around you, and carried on walking.
This shocked you. He didn’t ask any questions, even before he didn’t question you when he heard about Gong Jae Yi. You appreciated that Seo Jun didn’t ask or pester you until you caved and talked to him. No matter the situation, he would wait until you were ready to talk and then just listen to you. Then, he would just let you get all your unfiltered feelings out. Then would give his thoughts, calmly but never invalidating what you had told you.
It wasn’t new for Seo Jun to put his arm around your shoulders. He had been doing it a lot in the last few weeks. It was nice, you were used to Cho Rong, Si Woo or Hae Sung putting their arms around your shoulders. But it was different with Seo Jun, you didn’t have feelings for any of the other guys. When Seo Jun put his arm around your shoulders, you could pretend that you were his girlfriend. It was a little bit heaven, pretending that Seo Jun had feelings for you and that you were together. Sure, you knew it would never happen. Still, you liked the small bit of happiness this little gesture gave you.
It wasn’t until you and Seo Jun were at your home, washing the dishes. That you finally told Seo Jun about Jae Yi, this wasn’t the first time the 2 of you were washing the dishes. Whenever you were at Seo Jun’s house, you insisted on doing the dishes. Especially since Seo Jun’s mum was against you helping her cook and so you had to insist on doing something.
“So, Gong Jae Yi and I got together in the summer before my last year of Middle School and we broke up, a few months into us starting High School,” you told Seo Jun. You knew you had shocked Seo Jun, you’d both been washing and drying the dishes in silence until you broke that by bringing Jae Yi up. Seo Jun stopped wiping the bowl he had been holding. He turned to you and looked at you. You could feel Seo Jun staring at you. However, you avoided looking at him. On a good day, you couldn’t take looking at Seo Jun’s eyes without falling into those deep depths. Now, when you wanted to just get all of this out, you knew looking at Seo Jun wouldn’t help.
“You don’t have to tell me, Princess, I didn’t ask the first time and I’m not going to ask this time either” Seo Jun never asked that first time because it didn’t seem like the right time. So many things were happening in that week that Seo Jun had even forgotten. Well, he hadn’t forgotten but thinking about your ex-boyfriend was the last thing he wanted to do. It helped that, the first time he heard the name had been a busy week in itself. He just let the name go from one ear to another. Happily pretending to be ignorant about the fact that you had an ex-boyfriend named Gong Jae Yi.
“I know, but I want to tell you. Only Hyun Ji, Si Woo and Hae Sung know about us and what happened. We were happy, he didn’t go to Shinhwa Middle School, but we still made our relationship work. Well, that is until he was chosen to go on a High School exchange for the rest of his High School education.” Even though Seo Jun had stopped drying the dishes. You were still washing and just putting them to the side. Though you were over Jae Yi, obviously your feelings for Seo Jun were at a different level. There would always be a small part of you that still loved Jae Yi. Though it had been your idea to break up, that didn’t mean it hurt any less.
Seo Jun, made you put the dished in your hand down. He turned you to face him. Lifted your chin and gently wiped your tears. You didn’t even know you were crying. Guess that break up still hurt a lot. Seo Jun hugged you tightly, holding you close as you sobbed in his arms. Soe Jun hated that you were crying, yet he was happy to be there for you. He always wanted to be the one holding you. Helping you work through your feelings. As you pulled away, you apologised for getting his shirt wet, Seo Jun just laughed and told you it was nothing. Before you went back to doing the dishes, Seo Jun pulled you closer and kissed your forehead. You didn’t know why but you appreciated the gesture.
“Moving on from that sob fest, I need a favour,” you say, going back to washing the dishes. Trying not to think about how you had just sobbed in Seo Jun’s arms about Gong Jae Yi. You were such an embarrassment at times. What weirdo cries about her ex, in the arms of the guy she currently has feelings for. Well, you are that weirdo and now here you are asking Seo Jun for a favour.
“Well, if I can do it, I’ll do it, Princess,” Seo Jun said calmly. Already in his head, he had agreed to whatever you asked of him. Short of something illegal, there was nothing you asked of him that he wouldn’t do.
“I know, there’s a class outing planned for Saturday and I can’t go. I don’t want to be the one to tell the class” before you could finish.
“You want me to tell the class about you missing out on the class outing, sure I’ll do that tomorrow,” Seo Jun said interrupting you. You nodded your head and smiled at him. Not being able to go to the class outing. Having to tell the class about that was making you nervous enough. It was a weight off of your shoulders, that Seo Jun was going to tell the class for you.
Chapter 10.
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thoughts-on-bangtan · 3 years
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Let’s Talk: Jimin’s & Tae’s confessions (RUN Episode 141)
by Admin 1
Originally, I planned on writing a summary or vmin cut of the RUN episode but then I transcribed Jimin’s and Tae’s confessions and it got me thinking, and now here we are. Instead of a summary here are some of my musings and thoughts about their confessions and how they are right in line with things they’ve said in the past, and even quite recently, as well as how it fits with something Namjoon said in 2020 about them as well. I hope this will at least be somewhat interesting.
So, first, let’s look at Jimin’s confession, since this is longer and was first in the episode:
Jimin’s Confession
Jimin: Sometimes I am blunt. I’m like that at times. 
Na PD: Taehyung, has Jimin ever said anything bluntly to you?
Tae: Nowadays, he's really putting in effort to fix that to the point where it rarely happens anymore. Jimin tends to be very hard on himself, which also broke our hearts to see. 
Na PD: So, he gets stressed from himself, then gets mad at himself...
Tae: Then gets mad at himself.
Na PD: ...and then he blurts remarks.
(here it was a bit unclear (for me at least) which of the two said which line so I’m sorry if I mixed them up)
Jimin: It’s something I want to be forgiven for.
Tae: But Jiminie being blunt and me being blunt is completely different. Jimin has a kind hearted nature on the regular.
Na PD: Right.
Jimin: Are you usually not like that?
Tae: I’m, well...
The other members stop Tae, since it’s not time for his confession, and instead the question is posed by JK if they forgive Jimin to which everyone says yes.
Tae: You’re innately kind at heart. stretches out hand for handshake.
Jimin: Thank you. Jimin thinks (?) Tae might be going for a fist bump since he gives him his fist instead, which Tae still takes and shakes.
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The first thing about this that caught my attention, as well as one of our anons, was the fact that instead of choosing literally any of the other members, Na PD turned to Tae and asked him to verify if something like that (as in Jimin being blunt) ever happened toward him. You could say we’re thinking too much here, interpreting too much into it, and yet it doesn’t change the fact that he chose to ask Tae. Of course it could be because he said at the start of the program that he feels closest to Tae since he heard about him from two of his Wooga squad friends, but it might’ve just as well been because he watched the members for a while already at that point (since they’d already been filming a few hours) and perhaps he did notice how Tae and Jimin naturally gravitate toward each other, have this special bond? Other people who worked with them in the past noticed it, so why wouldn’t he?
There’s actually moment where Jimin turns and says Taehyungie like he wants to ask him something or say something to him which isn’t in the subs and the members don’t notice it either so Jimin never got to actually say whatever he wanted to say. Also, we’ve all seen how Tae and Jimin behaved during the game in the previous episode, how happy, smiley and giggly they were while being silly together.
Then the actual confession itself, Jimin saying that he can be blunt at times, toward others but also especially toward himself. We’ve heard many times from Jimin about how much of a perfectionist he is, how he can get mad at himself for mistakes, how he sometimes speaks without thinking which can end up a bit mean/blunt, and now he’d like to be forgiven for it.
This actually reminded me of something he said to Tae before:
FESTA 2020 from 42:56 min onward (context - the question was: have you felt disappointed in or sorry to the member to your right?):
Jimin: For Taehyung I should say if I compare those two feelings to him I was more hurt than sorry. Over time, it was reversed. Now I don’t feel slighted. I’m more sorry about things. Back then we were buddies so we had a lot of disagreements or didn’t admit that we were wrong. So I felt disappointed about little things. Now he listens to me well so I feel sorry that I talked to him harshly and every little thing.
The last line especially sticks out to me. I know there’s some language nuance here that got lost in translation which wisha mentioned when the FESTA 2020 video was posted (but is now gone since her twt was suspended), and yet it doesn’t change that fact that it fits with Jimin’s confession, how he was harsh to Tae in the past but now feels sorry for it, and with what Tae said, that Jimin is now making an effort to fix that behavior, to not be so blunt/harsh anymore.
It’s so interesting to me to see these mentions of what could be seen as character flaws over the years, things that make them inherently human. Also it fits with what we know about the evolution of vmin, how they used to have disagreements, have issues with proper communication but over time worked on it, got better at it to the point where they can now understand each other by just looking into each other’s eyes, and Tae’s words about Jimin, how he’s an angel, the warmest person he ever met, and now how he has a kind hearted nature, therefore the bluntness is not taking away from it in any way.
There was also something about this in Jimin’s solo RollingStone interview which caught my attention:
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(btw, if you haven’t yet, I highly recommend reading the main and solo RollingStone interviews because they are really, really good!)
Taehyung’s confession
Tae: Compared to the other members, I’m very lazy. Once I’ve set my mind on something, to get that into action, it takes me up to 2 months. I’m start working out, then quit. I’ve quit projects midway too. I’m the type where if I’m not feeling it, I don’t do it. There are times when I feel sorry to the members. 
Someone (I can’t pinpoint the voice): How would be summarize this?
Jimin: You’d usually call this as “irresponsible”. He lacks responsibility,
Tae: I’m still an amateur. 
Na PD: “I lack responsibility and am lazy”. Is that how we can understand it?
Tae: Yes.
Jimin: To be honest, we don’t think it’s to that extent, but if that’s what he feels... we forgive him.
Something I love about what Jimin said (in far fewer words than I will use because you know me, I can’t keep myself short) is that he essentially did two things at once, being: he assured Tae (and the viewers) that him and the members think differently, don’t see it as severely as Tae does himself, and then he also acknowledged the validity of Tae’s words, that even if Jimin doesn’t agree with him, Jimin knows that those feelings are still valid, that that’s what Tae feels and that, at the end of the day, even if the members don’t agree, they can’t change Tae’s mind, can’t force him into seeing things differently. The only person who can do that is Tae himself, and that’s okay. Jimin and the other members will still quietly support and reassure him when needed until he’ll “fix” this weakness, if that is something he wants to do.
This really shows how in tune with Tae Jimin is, but also how emotionally intelligent he is. Beautiful. Also, notice how Jimin said that without being asked to do so, which will come into play again a little later in this post and why I point it out specifically again.
Listening (or rather reading along) as Tae said that, it reminded me of something he said a few months ago:
Taehyung BE-hind Story Interview from 5:49 min onward:
Q: How do you cope when it’s hard to work/with these situations?
Tae: I’m very true to my emotions so uh...if I can’t write the songs or can’t come up with a title I just don’t. Like now! 
Yoongi: That’s actually the best way. 
Tae: I just don’t write it like how I’m doing it now, and I don’t want to be pressured to create something against my will. 
Yoongi: It’s not like you have to finish a song within a day or two? 
Tae: Right! So I’ve been taking some rest for about four months now. Now that I’m resting for four months... 
Yoongi: Wasn’t your mixtape supposed to be out last year? 
Tae: The mixtape that was supposed to happen last year was postponed. I should be in a state full of emotions right now, but I haven’t reached it yet. It’s like...my first mixtape so I want to feel that satisfaction when I release it whenever that time will be. 
Yoongi: That’s why you have to finish the whole thing while you’re at it... 
Tae: Yes. 
Yoongi: ...or else it takes too long to finish it. So, you have to finish it within that period. 
 Tae: Right. 
Yoongi: I’m guessing you might’ve missed the time.
The thing though is that what Tae said, that if he doesn’t feel it, he won’t do it/finish it, that just shows how much of an artist he is, how much his art truly matters to him, and how important it is to him that his art, in this case his music, turns out just the way he wants it to or else he won’t finish it or release it. And while Tae might call this “irresponsible”, I don’t think it’s that in this case, or that it’s a sign of laziness either, though just like Jimin, I don’t want to invalidate his feelings either. All I want to bring across is how in the context of his music, this isn’t a weakness or flaw, even if it might seem like it, especially in their line of work with deadlines, schedules and plans made weeks and months in advance where, usually, you can’t just take a four month break.
So, in that regard, I can understand how it can feel like a flaw to him, make him feel guilty about it and sorry to the members who in this case might rely on him to get something done on time and he might not do it, or not without forcing himself to do it or being dissatisfied, you know what I mean?
Earlier today Tae was on weverse and answered a few questions about his mixtape (though I have a feeling it really is time for ARMY to stop asking him about it and just let him breath) where he said that even though he got a song from someone and made ten himself, even with that break he took according to his BE interview, the songs just aren’t what he wanted them to be and thus he decided to start again.
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Some could say it’s again a case of him being irresponsible the way he characterized it during the RUN episode, that even though he said last year he was almost done and would release it soon it ended up being postponed and now he started over again, but once again I think it just shows how very important his music is to him, and therefore I’d actually call it a strength. It shows how valuable his artistic expression is to him, to create music the way he wants to, at his own pace, and only release it once he feels it’s right.
One more thing, just like I said in the intro of this post, Jimin and Tae jumping in to assure the other, reminded me of something Namjoon said during his Map of the Soul : 7 vlive last year:
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The context is a little different, but I think it’s still valid here as well, how Tae and Jimin made excuses for each other, how Tae immediately softened how harsh Jimin’s own words about himself might come across, assured both us and Jimin that really he has a kind heart despite this weakness, and then also Jimin by saying that things aren’t as bad as Tae makes them seem either. It’s interesting to really see something play out in a manner similar to what another member said about them based on having been with Jimin and Tae for the last nearly ten years.
Whoever claims that BTS just play out concepts or “plots” and characters given to them by the company really should just take a seat and stop. I mean, sure they all have a sort of persona they embody in front of the camera, at least to a certain degree, they’ve spoken about that numerous times, but they are still humans with flaws and their own dynamics between each other away from the cameras which, logically, also come across on camera as well, not always but enough for us to pick up on it. And in this case, with these confessions during RUN, we saw something that we previously only really heard about happen right in front of us proving (not that they have to prove anything to us, of course, we should simply trust them and what they tell us) that it really is that way.
Here’s the anon I mentioned earlier:
From anon: It might just be me lol but I think rather than Jimin forgetting he's being filmed for a show (with all those members of staff as onlookers as well) and blowing a kiss at Tae / blowing on Tae's chest, he probably just noticed a tiny bit of lint or fluff on Tae's cardigan or mic and decided to blow it off... Of course, if that was the case, that still reveals their high level of intimacy and the fact that even when interacting infront of strangers they seem to be unable to stop showing exactly how tuned into each other they are... I don't think it's a coincidence that Na PD chose to ask Tae, of all the members, to verify Jimin's statement about his flaw. He was probably observing them all day and noticed how particularly close they were, even amongst all the extremely close members.
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kirayaykimura · 3 years
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It was an unremarkable Tuesday afternoon. Spring had still not sprung in Lilias, so Yuzuri had dragged Shirayuki into a tavern beyond the walls to complain about her terrible date the night before. And also to get some lunch.  
“All I’m saying,” Yuzuri said as she claimed a table near the back of the tavern they’d ducked into, “is that I would like to be attracted to someone I actually like. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.” 
“It’s not,” Shirayuki agreed easily. She didn’t really understand how Yuzuri could be attracted to someone she didn’t like on a personal level, but clearly it was possible and Shirayuki didn’t want to invalidate that. 
Apparently Yuzuri had been on a date with the “hottest man anyone has ever seen,” but answered every question with a long, extended, “Uh,” and then ended the night by asking if she wanted to bring him back to her place because he was technically homeless at the moment. (“Obviously I said yes,” Yuzuri had explained. “I mean, he was indescribably attractive. But I would like my mind stimulated as well, you know?” Again, Shirayuki did not know, but she nodded all the same.)
“It’s like my body rebels against me,” Yuzuri said. “I could be talking to the dullest man alive, but somehow my vagina will perk up and say, ‘Hi. Hello. I would like to meet you.’” 
“Maybe you should train your vagina to stop jumping on people.” 
“Like, take Suzu for instance,” Yuzuri continued, in full rant mode. “Sure, I could fuck him, but can I have an actual conversation with the man that doesn’t end with one of us wanting to tear our own hair out? Absolutely not.” 
“Thanks.” 
It wasn’t Shirayuki who had spoken, but a man behind her. She turned to find Suzu leveling them both with an unimpressed stare. It made sense that she’d missed him: his back was to their table and the restaurant was dimly lit on top of them being slightly snow-blind from their walk over, but she still felt bad. Even if Yuzuri hadn’t been talking about him, she hadn’t said hello. It was impolite. 
Apparently she was the only one who felt bad, though. Sounding completely unashamed, Yuzuri said, “Oh. Suzu. When did you get here?” 
Judging from the papers spread all over the table in front of him, he’d been there the entire time. Suzu simply gave Yuzuri a long, quiet look, then turned back to his papers. 
“Anyway,” Yuzuri said, “my dating life sucks. How’s yours going? Let me live vicariously through you and your disgustingly perfect royal romance.” 
Right. She’d forgotten to tell Yuzuri. Oops. 
See, Shirayuki had meant to tell her basically the second it had happened. She and Zen had sat down for dinner in a nice inn down the road, eaten a bittersweet last meal as a couple before mutually agreeing that things weren’t really working out, and then she’d walked back to find Yuzuri and tell her everything, both because Yuzuri loved a bit of good romantic gossip and because Shirayuki didn’t really feel much of anything and she wanted to see if that was normal. But then she’d run into Obi first and was waylaid trying to console him about her break-up and it was all very distracting. 
“Oh no,” Yuzuri said, obviously semi-correctly reading Shirayuki’s face. “What happened?” 
“We broke up,” Shirayuki admitted. 
“Are you okay? Do you need to cry? Do you want me to kick his ass? I mean, I know he’s technically my prince but I’ll do it.” 
“No, no.” Shirayuki waved a hand to get her to stop. “I’m totally fine. It was all very amicable. It just…didn’t work out.” 
Yuzuri eyed her. “You do seem fine. Why aren’t you a mess?” 
Shirayuki shrugged. She had no idea how break-ups were supposed to go since this was her first. Maybe this was just how she reacted to them. 
“So are you stuck here?” Yuzuri asked, leaning her chin on a wrist. “Are you considered an enemy of Clariness?” 
“No!” Shirayuki said on a laugh. “We’re still friends. I think we both realized that we’d spent so long apart we didn’t know how to be together anymore.” 
“You’re so well-adjusted it makes me sick,” Yuzuri groaned. 
“Sorry.” 
“See, that would be nice, to stay friends after a break-up. But I can’t bone down on my friends so there’s no friendship to save in the aftermath. I mean, we already covered Suzu.” 
“I thought my problem was that I was hot but insufferable,” Suzu drawled. 
“Why are you eavesdropping?” Yuzuri asked. She rolled her eyes at Shirayuki. “See? Insufferable.” 
“Sure,” Shirayuki said, “but maybe it’s different with sex involved?” 
There was a pause, then Yuzuri asked, “You never slept with Zen?” over the scraping of chair legs behind her as Suzu turned to their table. 
“I’m not going to pretend I’m not listening in,” Suzu said. “You dated this man for how long?” 
“Four,” Shirayuki said slowly, “years?” 
The deeply judgmental silence that statement was met with pushed her to say, “Not every relationship needs sex! We were perfectly happy to take things slow. It was nice. But then one day he showed up for a surprise visit and I couldn’t remember that last time I even thought about him, let alone wished he was there, and also I was kind of annoyed I had to stop what I was doing to go out to lunch with him which is probably not what you should think about your boyfriend and then he wasn’t anymore. My boyfriend, I mean.”
Yuzuri blinked. “Wait, so does that mean you’re still-”
“I’m not answering that.” 
Suzu whistled. 
“Anyway,” Shirayuki said, “maybe that’s why we’re fine. Maybe you only get one or the other; physical or psychological attraction.” 
“Or maybe one comes before the other,” Suzu said. “With your prince, the physical attraction never came so your relationship petered out. But maybe you’re out with a friend one day and they do something unexpected that catches your eye. For instance, they tuck their hair behind their ear but a little of it misses and sits just in front of their ear and you think, ‘I want to tuck that hair back properly,’ and then you’re left thinking about how it would feel to have your fingers in her hair, close enough to-” Suzu cut himself off abruptly. He cleared his throat. “Anyway, maybe this sort of thing takes time is all I’m saying.” 
Amused, Shirayuki said, “If all it took was being friends with someone and noticing things about them, I’d be dating Obi.” 
Yuzuri and Suzu stared silently at her for the few seconds it took to process what she’d just said. 
“No,” Shirayuki said. “That’s not how this works.” She liked Zen. Liked Zen, she reminded herself. Past tense. And look where that got them: her heading down one path while he headed down another in a completely different direction. When she thought about her future and what she wanted to accomplish in her life, Zen wasn’t the end goal anymore. Neither was Obi, for that matter, but that didn’t mean Obi wasn’t there every step of the way, in every scenario her mind could conjure up. He was there. He’d always been there. She couldn’t imagine her life without him in it, and she hadn’t been able to for a very long time. 
“I think I should marry Obi,” Shirayuki said after a lengthy pause. 
“Hot damn!” Yuzuri said, smacking the table lightly with her palm. “That was a hell of a leap, but I’m into it. Go get your man.” 
“This is a bad idea probably,” Shirayuki said, already standing.
“Only if you don’t mean it,” Suzu told her. His sarcastic edges softened just slightly when he smiled up at her. “Good luck.” 
Shirayuki nodded numbly, then took off for…Obi’s post? She’d never really had to go looking for him before. Mostly, he found her. However, on the rare occasion she did go looking for him, she always had to ask multiple people where he’d gotten off to because he was never where the last person had seen him last. It might be a good thing in this case, though. It would give her time to come up with a good argument for marrying her (which so far consisted of, ‘I don’t want to go through life without you and I just realized one (1) minute ago that I think maybe I think you’re pretty and maybe if we give it some time you could think I’m pretty in the same way?’ As arguments went, it could use some work). 
The moment she stepped through the gates and flashed her I-belong-here badge, she asked the attendant, “Have you seen Obi around?” 
“Sorry, ma’am,” the boy said with a slight bow, “I have not.” 
Another knight passing by slowed and asked, “You’re looking for Obi?” 
“Yes, have you seen him?” 
“Not in person, but I hear he’s on a hot date.” The knight winked. “You might have to fight her for him.” 
She stood, rooted in her spot, while the knight strolled on as if he hadn’t just upended her entire worldview. As far as she knew, Obi was single. Was he dating someone she didn’t know about?
No, he would have told her. This had to be a first date. Like that time he was set up with that guy’s little sister. He wasn’t interested; this was just a favor to a friend. She forced her feet to move, one in front of the other, and pick up her pace. It wasn’t a real date, but if it was a real date, she should get in there sooner rather than later and stop things before they got too far. He deserved to be happy, absolutely, but she could make him happy too. They always had so much fun together. 
She asked another knight where Obi was and followed his directions into an unfamiliar wing with a lot of closed doors. Thankfully she wasn’t forced to knock on them at random until Obi answered because she rounded a corner and found him leaning against a doorway about halfway down the hallway. His back was to her, but she’d know that back anywhere. The toned lines of his body. The easy sprawl that hid his frankly alarming reflexes. The short hair that somehow always managed to be just slightly messy, as if, like the rest of him, it refused to be completely tamed.
She followed his gaze out to a woman at the end of the hall, too far away and gone around the corner too soon to make out more than lanky and brunette. 
Obi turned away once she disappeared, and his fond smile morphed into something more surprised and pleased when his eyes caught on Shirayuki. 
“Miss!” Obi said. “What are you doing in this neck of the woods?” 
There were a lot of things Shirayuki should start with, but instead she blurted out, “Don’t marry her.” 
“Okay,” Obi said easily. Then, “Who?” 
“The woman you were just with.” 
Obi cocked his head to the side and said, “What?” 
“The woman just now. Don’t marry her. Because-“ she took a deep breath, “you should marry me.” 
“What?” Obi yelped. 
“I know. I know you’ve never thought about it before-”
“Whoa whoa whoa. Hold on just a-“
“-I just realized it ten minutes ago, but think about it. Nothing has to change. We can stay exactly the way we are now. I just-” she paused to collect her thoughts. She really should have thought of a better argument on the way here. “-I don’t want to go through the rest of my life without you in it.”  
“Okay, I have no idea what’s happening here,” Obi said with a slight shake of his head, “but you never have to.” The smile he gave her was soft and small and made her feel like she was standing in the mid-summer sun in the middle of winter. “You don’t have to marry me to keep my by your side, Miss. I’m there no matter what.” 
“But it’s different with you than it is with Zen, or Yuzuri, or Ryuu. You don’t feel the same to me as they do. That means something, right?” 
Obi looked stunned, and for the first time she started to doubt herself. Maybe he’d only ever seen her as his friend and here she was pushing these other ideas on him. 
“I didn’t think any of this through on the way here,” Shirayuki admitted. 
“That sounds about right for you,” Obi said, amused. “Always jumping in before that big brain of yours can catch up.” 
“Right,” she said, wishing that big brain he swore she had would come back online and tell her how to immediately abort mission and save at least a little bit of her dignity. “So let’s just forget this ever happened.” 
“Do you want to see her?” Obi asked before Shirayuki could take more than half a step back. “The girl I was just with?” 
Not even a little bit. What the hell? 
“Come on.” He took her hand, and she pathetically found herself committing the feeling of it to memory. They rarely touched and she was sure it was going to happen even less now that she’d botched…whatever the hell she’d just tried to do, so she wanted to remember the exact placement of his callouses, exactly how much bigger his palm was than hers. He led her down the hall, then another before stopping just outside a small mess hall, where he pointed to a knight - Shaumaker, she thought, maybe - and a, well, girl on the far side of the room. She could only see their profiles, but-
“She looks young,” Shirayuki said before she could think better of it. 
“She is,” Obi said, clearly trying not to laugh. “She’s twelve.” 
Shirayuki turned to him with wide eyes. She hadn’t thought he was the type to-
“I was babysitting!” Obi clarified quickly. 
“Oh.” 
“Well, we called it hanging out. She’s getting to the age where she doesn’t want a babysitter, but her brother still didn’t want her running around a place with inattentive scientists and large men with dangerous weapons unsupervised.” 
“That seems wise.” 
“Yeah.” 
They stood quiet for a moment, watching as the girl and probably-Shaumaker chatted merrily. 
“So,” he said, casually leaning back against the wall and pulling her in until she stood toe-to-toe with him, “you wanna marry me?” 
She looked down at their hands - still entwined. That was a good sign, right? He’d said no before, but at least he wasn’t repulsed by her. They could get past this. 
“Sorry,” she said. She willed her hand to let go of his, but her hand wouldn’t cooperate with her brain. If this was all she got, she was going to savor it. 
“What brought this all on anyway?”  
“Yuzuri.” 
“That explains it.” 
When she gave him the quick run-down of what had occurred at the tavern, she’d expected him to laugh at her and the whole ridiculous situation, just like he’d been doing since she showed up in front of him. Instead, the thumb he’d been casually sweeping along the base of her own thumb stilled and his ever-present smile disappeared into something serious. Before she had time to be truly worried, he asked, “What do you notice about me?” 
His eyes were almost all pupil as they held on hers, and she felt a pleasant shiver run through her body. She had no idea it could feel this good to be wanted by a man. Usually when someone looked at her with such blatant desire, it made her want to run as far and as fast as she could. This still made her heart speed up, but, instead of running, she found she wanted to plant her feet on either side of his and lean in closer. 
“You’re attracted to me,” Shirayuki said before she could think better of it. 
Obi nodded once. 
Wait. Pushing through the chemicals currently making soup in her brain, she asked, “If you’re attracted to me, what’s the problem here?” 
That broke the spell. Obi laughed, and Shirayuki shook off the pull she felt towards him. She took a step back, finally releasing his hand. As long as he let her see him laugh - completely uninhibited, no walls up - she thought she could be just fine with however the rest of this conversation played out. 
Obi settled into his normal, fond expression as he said, “I didn’t want you to think you needed to do anything in order to keep me around.” 
“I didn’t think that.” Shirayuki paused. “Well, until I heard you were on a hot date from one of the guards outside.” At Obi’s raised eyebrows, Shirayuki said, “I now realize that was a joke.” 
Obi huffed out a laugh. 
“I was serious, you know,” Shirayuki said. Some of that earlier nervousness made itself known again, but it kept to a low, manageable simmer. She trusted Obi to handle her heart carefully. “I think I realized something today that I should have realized a long time ago. You’re my best friend, Obi. You’re my favorite person. This is more than enough for me.” She paused, watching him for understanding. When he nodded, she continued, “I know I sprung all of this on you, but if there’s a chance you might be open to more in the future, I would like to try, too.” 
Now that it was all said and done, she felt a blush steal across her face and…yep, there it was. The old urge to run away. 
“Okay,” she squeaked, “that’s it. I’m going to go now and let you think about it.” 
Obi snagged her wrist before she could move and hauled her into his chest. 
“Wha-” was all she got out before Obi said, “What if I told you I’m open to more right now.” 
She leaned back just far enough to look up at him and say, “I don’t want to pressure you or anything.” 
Obi laughed again, but quieter this time. She felt it more than she heard it, which was kind of a strange feeling that she wanted to experience again and again for the rest of her life. He raised the hand not gripping her wrist to cup her cheek and told her, “No pressure, and without being pressured, I am going to kiss you now.” 
“Okay.” Shirayuki nodded slightly. “Yeah, that-“
Obi’s lips cut off her nonsense ramblings, but that was honestly for the best. This was a better use of their time. Instead of overthinking everything, she let her mind go pleasantly blank aside from oh. She must have unconsciously mouthed the word too because suddenly Obi’s tongue was sweeping in through her parted lips and that should have been weird, but instead it made her shiver pleasantly again. It got even better when she tentatively flicked her own tongue out heard Obi lightly groan. 
He pulled back some time later. She hadn’t even realized she was leaning forward to not break the kiss until she felt him smile against her lips. She felt him rest his forehead against hers. 
“What made you think I’ve never thought about it before?” he asked. 
He expected her to think after that? To process words? 
Obi chuckled and pulled back just far enough that their faces weren’t touching anymore and waited, looking like he knew exactly how frustrated she was that she had to use her lips for something other than what she really wanted to be doing at the moment. 
“What do you mean?” Shirayuki asked. 
“Well, you keep implying you think I’ve never thought about marrying you before.” 
“Wait, have you?” 
Obi titled his head and made an enigmatic noise. 
“You have?” She planted her palms on his chest and leaned back. “How long?” 
Obi hummed. “I don’t know. Maybe I’ll tell you in my vows.”
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oliviayamaoka · 3 years
Text
Evan MacMillan (Trapper) x reader continuation
It had been nearly a year since you were released from the realms. But, despite the time, the trauma and nightmares never went away. You heard the familiar chuckle of the Nightmare when you fell asleep, you’d hear the Clown laughing, and the Huntress humming when you were in public. None of it was real of course but it still stuck with you. Sometimes you wondered how the other survivors dealt with the aftermath of stuff. How was Evan?
Evan. You researched the MacMillan Estate, it was real. In this reality but you weren’t sure about the time periods you were taken from. You planned to go eventually but returning from the realms was overwhelming. Seeing your family and friends again was amazing but you also needed to catch up with life. You were gone for a total of four years yet never aged. You tried explaining to your family what happened but they didn’t believe you. And now, you were in therapy. The cops also asked you questions and assumed it was a case of trafficking or a kidnapping. Still, they refused to acknowledge the fact you didn’t age. Time was a strange concept nowadays. 
However, none of this stopped you from loving Evan. You knew he was real and you could never forget the pain the Entity brought down on you. You took notes and planned to drive to Washington without a word. You would have gone sooner but your family kept you off the grid due to the things you’d shout in your sleep and the whole story behind the realms. It was understandable yet frustrating. It angered you to think everything you went through was invalid. It made you feel even more alone now, knowing that nobody else knows what happened in those realms. Nobody knew what it was like.
Y/N sighed as she slid on her coat over her sweater. It was a cold day but it was now or never. You had a good dream last night, it was about Evan. Your lips curved into a happy yet solemn smile as you thought about the idea of spending your life with him. The two of you talked about it while in the realms. You never really thought about romance or the idea of spending your life with somebody until you met him. It was bizarre, falling in love with somebody who was supposed to make your trials a living hell. The Trapper, they called him. Y/N got into her car, still thinking about him. The smile never left her face. She had only hoped that Evan was from this timeline but didn’t keep her hopes high since she met Laurie and Steve, people from the 70′s and 80′s. It was a crazy experience.
Hours Later
The MacMillan Estate. You broke into a cold sweat as you lifted your hood over your head, exiting your car. Y/N was happy to have finally found it but the memories of being hooked and tortured were still fresh. Your eyes shut as you took a deep breath to relax yourself, no killer can hurt you now. Nobody ever will. Your hand subconsciously rested on the side of your chest where you’d have been hooked over a hundred times. 
Your eyes opened after a moment. You had to be brave, to see what became of this place and if Evan was here. Your eyes averted towards the gate. Y/N walked towards it. It was chained but loose. During your research, you learned teens would come to look around the place. Y/N’s hands fumbled with the old chains before finally being able to pull them out of the gate’s handles. The gates were pulled opened and Y/N took a step inside. It felt too surreal to see the familiar buildings and the brick walls you’d vault over. The only difference being was that there wasn’t a killer shack or any hooks anywhere. It was evening yet it wasn’t as blue as the realms version of the place. 
Y/N shut her phone off as it vibrated and kept her hands in her pockets as she walked through the Estate. She smiled as she recalled a funny encounter with Yui and Feng, the three of them would joke around and make the best out of their situation whilst working on a generator near the coal tower. Another memory popped up, she remembered talking with Felix about the architecture of McMillan Estate. He said the place was fixable. It was funny because Evan saw nothing wrong with the place. Y/N unknowingly chuckled as she walked towards the main building, thinking about the good times she had with the others. It was nice to recall those memories, she hoped her friends were dealing with the situation well. 
You stopped near a old workshop table and noticed a metal welding mask. Y/N was quick to pick it up and observe it. Evan would sometimes wear these masks to trials but he only wore it when fixing traps or making them. Your thumb brushed against the metal feeling of it, it was old. As you held it, you observed the rest of the items that were on the workshop table. There were some old blueprints and other stuff. Y/N’s heart skipped a beat when she saw the initials ‘E.M’ written on one of the tools. Your eyes rested in relief as you got some sort of confirmation he did truly exist. Still, your eyes watered in both relief and sorrow. You longed for his touch, for his firm hold on you to keep you from going crazy again. 
“Come back to me.” You whispered as you wiped away your tears. 
You took a few moments to yourself, holding the mask close to your chest. Y/N sighed deeply before turning around with it still in hand. You figured you should do some more investigating. 
“You’re on private property.” A gruff voice from behind you said. Y/N gasped in shock, not expecting anybody to be around. 
You whipped around, dropping the mask, Your heart was already pounding. The person had given you a good scare, YN’s hands trembled but quickly stopped when she made eye-contact with the much taller man. His expression also seemed to drop when he was able to see the hooded person’s face. It was Evan. Your mind was processing a million things in the moment as the two of you stared at one another in shock.
“Y/N...?” He asked lowly, having his own doubts about timelines and realities. 
“Evan.” You managed to say as his expression lit up. Through your tears, you laughed in joy and relief. It really was him.
Without any second thought, you both rushed towards one another. He hugged you tightly as you wrapped your arms around his neck. Y/N smiled widely as tears streamed down her face. Oh, how you missed his firm hold on you. Evan was still somewhat in shock but he kissed your head. He missed your scent and the feeling of you in his arms, safe and loved.
Y/N looked up at him, cupping his cheek in her hand. Your thumb brushed against his upper cheek, it was an amazing feeling that consisted of sweet relief and tenderness. No Entity. no interruptions. Nothing. Just you and Evan at last. There was a look of sadness and love in Evan’s eyes. All that mattered to him now was that you were here with him. 
“I couldn’t find you and I wasn’t sure if...” He said to you in awe.
“It’s fine, it’s okay.” You say to him as you both lean in for a kiss afterwards.
The kiss was passionate and long. Your hand rested over his on your lower cheek. After the moment had passed, you both pulled away but never broke eye-contact. A single tear fell down his cheek. You’d never seen Evan cry, even if it was just one tear. He kissed the palm of your hand as you smiled warmly.
“I missed you so much, Evan... I-I wasn’t sure if we were in different time periods or whatever. I would’ve came sooner but my family was being crazy and I-“ You said as he interrupted you.
“That doesn’t matter anymore... You’re here now.” He said to you.
All you did in response was smile widely in happiness and hugged him tightly as he lifted you up, twirling slightly. It was such a rewarding feeling, finding him again and not feeling so alone.
Evan felt the same. A part of him felt empty after being released from the Entity. He felt relieved he didn’t have to be tortured by it again to hurt people. Especially you. It took him a bit to get adjusted to being back in the real reality. He never did stop thinking about you.
Maybe you could indeed live the life you two fantasized about whilst stuck in the realms. Either way, only time will tell.
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a-dragons-journal · 3 years
Note
Hello again. This is the 5-part anon from earlier. I wrote a long response to your post and I think it’d be more convenient to dump the text in a pastebin than split it into asks. The link is going to expire in a few months, so I recommend copying the contents into its own post rather than posting the link: pastebin. com / 2r49iein
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I had, sorry; you've just caught me in the lead-up to and midst of finals week, so I haven't been answering asks as quickly as usual, especially ones that will take a significant amount of time and energy xD (No worries about checking in, though, Tumblr does have a horrible habit of eating asks and it's good to check! And also my ADHD no-object-permanence ass will see an ask, go "I'll respond to that later," and then forget it exists sometimes with no Tumblr interference necessary, so good to check for that reason too xD)
Hello again. This is the 5-part anon from earlier. Thank you for your thoughtful answer. First off, I want to apologize to anyone who may have been hurt by my words on the topic of otherheartedness, copinglink, etc. I did not mean to in any way minimize the importance of these identities for others. Because I felt I didn’t have the "right" to claim a "full" otherkin identity, I felt like I had to settle for something that simply didn’t fit my experience, which led to my frustrated, generalized words.
With that out of the way, I’ve been giving what you said some thought. I have to admit I never really participated in otherkin communities, only watching from afar. It’s good to know that I "qualify" as otherkin, but I wonder if it’s such a good idea for me to identify that way. I have so few experiences in common with most otherkin that I would probably feel *more* alienated by calling myself that, not *less*. In my experience, forcing myself into an identifier that is technically correct but feels wrong/bad is not the way to go. At any rate, I’ll describe my feelings in more detail, just because I’m really curious to know if you’ve ever heard of anyone similar, or if this reminds you of anything. I apologize if some of it is repetitive or if it jumps from topic to topic without making much sense.
Some parts of otherkin… culture, I guess? Baffle me. For example, needing to narrow down one’s exact species or the cause/origin of one’s identification as nonhuman. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying it’s not valid; just that I don’t personally see the point? All the rules about who gets to call themself otherkin feel constraining to me, because I guess there’s not really any other term that fits, but even that one doesn’t fit that well, so I’m kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place.
So I’m more inclined to just say, yeah, I’m a bird. Do I behave like a bird? Do I have bird instincts? Not really, but I’m still a bird. Adopting an otherkin identity throws a wrench in that, making me feel like a failed nonhuman, because it’s *hard* not to feel invalid when everyone else seems completely different from you. If anything, I feel more valid doing my own thing! I didn’t come to this bird identity because I felt like I was Different somehow and needed to find an explanation for it (been there, done that with the autism, lol). Instead I came to it because it felt good, and right, and it made me happy.
You say since I don’t know if I chose this or not, it’s unlikely to be voluntary. I guess I just… feel weird about this? I don’t really have words to describe it. Maybe it boils down to "does it matter?". And I know when it comes to the term "otherkin", it *does* matter, which is kind of one of my problems with it.
I looked at that daemonism post you reblogged and found myself relating to the way Rook described Tukuxa: "She lacks a shark’s instincts, fears and drives - but her core is still shark." I wouldn’t say I *lack* these things, just that I simply don’t have them. Do I have a human mind in a human brain? Sure, but that doesn’t mean I have to be a human, nor does it make me any less of a bird. It makes me happy to conceptualize myself as a bird, to design my own appearance as a bird with qualities that can’t physically exist in this world, to daydream of flight. Is that such an uncommon experience?
I have a headmate who is a dragon. She was born as a dragon, she looks like a dragon, she simply Is A Dragon. She’s not dragonkin, she’s not based on any fictional dragon, she just… is. (Not to say that dragonkin folks aren’t dragons, just that she doesn’t identify as dragonkin.) But she doesn’t have any of the typical dragon traits you might expect; like me she has a "human mind" in a "human brain", and yet she’s just a dragon. I guess it’s sorta the same with me.
I just feel like it’s better for me to say "I’m [X]" and keep the specifics to myself. Despite these asks, I have no intention of holding my identities up to the scrutiny of others. If I say I’m a thing, I could mean it in a number of ways. Total or partial identification as/with, or even just a passing attachment. Ultimately, it’s my business, and trying to define it beyond just "I am this thing" or "I relate to this thing" or "This thing is me" feels sort of obnoxious? (For context, I do have nonhuman identities other than a bird, I just used that one as an example/shorthand.)
I guess that about covers everything. What do you think? If your followers/anyone who sees this wants to chime in, I’ll be looking at the notes. Thanks again!
(Regarding the 'hearted/'linker stuff, I figured that wasn't what you meant in your previous asks; I just wanted to bring it up because it's a conflation that gets made a lot, accidentally or on purpose.)
Honestly, these are all incredibly valid points, and if you just want to call yourself nonhuman or bird but not otherkin/therian then that's entirely up to you. If the label doesn't work for you, then it doesn't work for you! You are not obligated to use every label that you technically fit under (gods know I don't), and I didn't mean to imply so - just to make it clear that it's available to you if you do want it. I can see now that I probably kind of missed the point in that response.
And you're right that frankly, even though there is a wide range of experiences under the otherkin umbrella, there's also a set of common experiences that almost everyone seems to share at least a few of, and when you don't share those I can imagine it makes it kind of hard to connect with others in the community. Unfortunately, like I said, I don't know that there's a way around that other than trying to host a platform for those atypical experiences to speak, which is a good idea but probably not very effective in practice because of the sheer numbers game.
So you've decided you're probably better off not trying to make the "otherkin" label or community fit, and that's entirely valid - I guess the question is, what now? If you're wanting to find others with similar experiences to you, you still need somewhere to look, and it seems like this isn't it.
You might want to look into other nonhuman terms - "nonhuman" and "transspecies" come to mind, and while neither of these might fit you, they do collect different subcultures that might be less alienating for you or easier to find others with similar experiences within. The broader "alterhuman" label may also be useful, though that can be a bit like trying to find a needle in a haystack just because of how many things are included in "alterhuman" and I don't know that you'd have any better luck than with "otherkin".
Or you might want to try older platforms, if you haven't already - forums, IRCs if they still exist. The community wasn't always as focused on some of the things you noted as it is now (pinning down a specific species, voluntary vs involuntary, etc.), and platforms with a population that trends toward people who've been around longer sometimes still have more of that culture than Tumblr and Discord tend to, though they come with their own problems of course.
Ultimately, if "I'm a bird" is the easiest way to communicate your experiences, then that's that on that. These words only exist because people find them useful - if you don't find them useful, don't feel like you have to use 'em. As far as finding community when so much of the otherkin community feels alienating to you, I'm afraid that's all I've got - y'all got anything for anon?
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ordinaryschmuck · 3 years
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What I Thought About "Yesterday's Lie" from The Owl House
Salutations, random people on the internet who absolutely won’t read this! I am an Ordinary Schmuck. I write stories and reviews and draw comics and cartoons!
Here it is! The midseason finale of The Owl House Season Two! An episode featuring Luz going back to the human realm, is hyped up to heaven about how painful it'll be for the audience, and features more anxiety by how Creepy Luz is a thing. And BOOOOOOOOY howdy were fans not ready for this. I'm sure as hell not ready for when I wrote this intro at *checks time* thirty minutes before watching the official premier. Yup, the words you're reading right now are from me in the past, when everything was still pure and simple. Whereas future me is still probably destroyed by the events that transpired. Isn't that right, future me?
Future Me: Actually, it wasn’t that bad. The ending hurt, sure, but other than that, it wasn’t too painful.
Wow, that is some neat input! At least, I think it was. I wouldn't know because I literally wrote that after watching the episode. With the words you're currently reading being written at *checks time* twenty-six minutes before the premier...this whole intro is confusing, isn't it, future me?
Future Me: Sure is.
Yeah, it's definitely confusing. In any case, let's dive into this spoiler-filled review as we find out together just how painful this episode was! Take it away, future me!
Future Me: Will do! Major spoilers ahead, folks!
Now, let’s review, shall we?
WHAT I LIKED
Luz’s Room: We only see it for a short time, but everything about it just screams Luz. The pile of weird-looking stuffed animals, the witch hat in the center of the floor, and the fact that she has bunk beds, a single child's dream (Or so I've heard). It's a small thing, but I love it.
Vee: Here she is! The character previously dubbed Creepy Luz who now turns out to be yet another new addition to the ever-growing list of characters that we, as a fandom, would give our lives for. Because holy s**t was Vee the best type of expectation subversion. Showing us all the ominous ways of how she basically took Luz's place made fans assume that Vee was an evil doppelganger. Turns out, she was just a tortured soul that was desperate to live a new and better life and lucked out in finding Luz's. What Vee does is...questionable at best, but seeing what she went through with the experiments Belos pulled on her, you understand why she would do it. And I personally love it's that same background information that makes Vee resentful of Luz of all people. Luz's life is a relative dream come true, and running away from that would be insane to someone who spent most of their existence through imprisonment and experimentation. It's an intriguing point of view, even though it's admittingly flawed given how it's mostly Camila that seemingly made Luz's life bearable. But the flaws don't matter. What matters is that you can see where Vee is coming from, and to me, personally, I think she's understandable enough to make me root for her to have some kind of happy ending. Whether as Luz or as herself, I'm hopeful to see Vee get some semblance of peace.
Camila: *Round of applause* Don't mind me! Just taking the time to love how all them sons of b**hes who thought Camila was a bad mom are now heavily invalidated. 'Cause, guess what? Camila is a fantastic mother, both to her daughter and her daughter's doppelganger! Allow me to walk you through the highlights:
How Camila looks like she’s not okay with the fact that "Luz" is clearing out her weird stuff, seemingly acting too different to the Luz she knows. Added to the fact that Camila doesn't like it.
How Camila drove Luz to camp whether than letting her take the bus
The fact that Camila takes that box of junk back in, not willing to part with the tin foil sculpture Luz made.
The way she was willing to play along with the game she thought Luz was doing, supporting her daughter's creative mind that Camila admits to being glad to see.
And, best of all, the willingness Camila had to help this poor creature, despite the lies it lived.
It's that last part I really want to touch upon, though. Because an action like that shows just how much Luz's heart comes from Camila. The kindness and generosity of helping this poor creature, who she has every right to run out on, proves how Luz learned to be everything she is today through Camila's own loving heart. Vee was scared and hurt, and the second Camila saw that she was then more than willing to help because of it. It's something that Luz would do, and it proves that even though Camila didn't exactly get everything right, she's still a great mom where it counts.
“A new life”: A perfect line.
Initially, it makes audiences think that it has everything to do with replacing Luz. It's only through future context that we know it's about escaping the s**t show Vee once lived through that it's clear she's talking about starting over. It hits us with intrigue on the first viewing, only to hit harder with the feels during a second. Really well-done.
Luz in the Mirror: A well-done surprise that makes fans curious about how this even happen in the first place. Kudos to you, writers.
The New Portal: I don't mind that they found a way to build this off-screen. Showing Luz and the gang slowly building a new portal would have been a little too tedious to watch, and it's so much better to just start this episode out with it. Besides, maybe we'll get the slow and steadier version now that we've seen how quickly building one might not have been the best way to go, given how fast that thing fell apart.
Luz Between Dimensions: I have no clue what the hell that place she was in is called, but it's awesome! The overall design of the realm is the correct type of unsettling, like it's oozing with mystery, but it's somewhere that you probably don't want to be in for too long. Whoever designed it deserves all of the credit because I don't want to even think about all the hard work that went into making this look as well-made as it was.
Luz Resisting to See Amity: What? Luz and Amity are adorable, and seeing Luz's immediate thought about seeing Amity makes my shipping heart scream with glee. Don't judge me!
Hiding Luz’s Dad’s Face: Well, that was a fun story while it lasted.
So, it turns out that Luz's dad really was a part of Luz's and Camila's life at some point, but not anymore. As for why remains to be seen, as we don't really know yet if we'll see him make an appearance. I'd say that the odds are high that he will, given how much of a point this episode made about keeping his face hidden. Shows don't usually do that unless the goal is to hype up some official reveal, and I can't wait to see what comes of it.
Luz Telling Herself to Count to Five: Hey, more evidence for how I relate to Luz! I know how it feels to be all panicky about a specific situation, and I only got better when I took the time to calm down for a bit. Sometimes, I even tried the "count to x" method that Luz used...it never worked, primarily because it made me feel worse when people told me to do it, but I still tried it! Plus, there's also some narrative foreshadowing when after Luz says five, the realm shows her Vee, or Number V, which is a pretty cool detail you'll notice on a rewatch.
Luz Helping Vee: I gave Camila praise for helping Vee in the end, but that doesn't abstain Luz from her own set of recognition. The second that Luz realized that Vee wasn't really a threat and is far from evil, our favorite human does what she can to help and even makes a deal where they're both happy. Because, of course, Luz is that perfect of a protagonist who is more than willing to help others in need. And it's why we love her so.
Looking for Magic that Eda Left Behind: A pretty cool idea that gives Luz and Vee a chance to bond and giving us an insight into Eda's past antics and misadventures in the human realm. Not much I can add to it, though.
Gravesfield: It's surprisingly not as jarring as I thought it would be to spend an episode in the human realm. I thought for sure, after all that time in the Boiling Isles, there would be something off about walking around a normal environment for a change. Turns out, it's almost easy to get used to. Or, for me, it is.
But I will say that there's this neat use of colors when comparing Gravesfield with the Boiling Isles. In Gravesfield, the coloring looks dulled down and standard, which is a stark contrast to the bright vibrancy of everything we've seen in the Boiling Isles. It's a subtle way of showing how things are different, aside from the major discrepancies we could come to expect. And I think that's why I appreciate it much more.
Eda’s Called Herself Marylynn in the Human Realm: Hang on...hang on...do you mean to tell me that the crack theory about Eda being Stan's ex-wife is actually true?
...
...What even is this show?!
Vee Making Friends with Camp Members: This shows the most apparent difference between Luz and Vee. Where we see Luz is already fearing the many ways that could go wrong with interacting with teens, Vee revealed that she adapted to her situation and had a chance to make friends. The implications of this are worth discussing another time, but for now, I'll say that it's pretty intriguing that we gain this much insight into both Luz and Vee through such a small thing.
Belos Wanting to Learn How Basilisks can Drain Magic: ...Didn't Raine say that Belos was taking away magic? If so, I think we can figure out how he's doing it. The question now is: Why?
Jacob (The Curator Guy): This guy was a riot. At first, Jacob seemed like a threat with the way he trapped Vee and was apparently stocking her, but the second he goes off about his conspiracy theories, it becomes clear what type of character he is. And was it a blast seeing how much of a crackpot this man is. It wasn't cool seeing him wanting to dissect the precious angel that is Vee, but I still chuckle about things like his "Flat Eather's Certificate." So while he's not that much of a threat, he's still fun to watch.
The Owl Beast was in the Human Realm: ...How did that happen? When did it happen? And how the hell did Eda get out of a situation like that?! Who knows, but it's still a shocking piece of news to learn.
Luz Telling Camila the Truth: Hey, she faced her fear after all! Although, the results aren't as pleasant as when Amity faced her fear two weeks ago.
Camila is a Veterinarian: ...One insignificant reveal...managed to destroy so many fanfics. I mean, we probably shouldn't have just assumed Camila was a nurse...but what the f**k else were we supposed to think?! Sorry for seeing the scrubs, and the first thing that came to my mind was "nurse" and not "vet."
By the way, that had to have been intentional, right? There's no way that Dana Terrace didn't think we'd assume Camila was a nurse. She'd had to have put off a reveal like that just to trip up her fans. And if that's the case, then that is a major d**k move...but that's why I mildly respect it.
Two Human Brothers went to the Demon Realm: Turns out we don't have to be in the Boiling Isles to learn more about it. Because now we have more information about how two humans were taken to the Isles with the help of a witch, thus setting up a grander reveal if it turns out that one of the humans was Philip and the witch was Belos. Because if that's true...then there's more of a history between those two than we thought.
Jacob has a Training Wand: This helps me believe that it's highly likely for Jacob to make a return and to have a power boost for when he does. After all, focussing all that attention on the training wand is way too convenient for it not to come up again in the future. Meaning we're most likely going to get more pain from Jacob if he shows up again.
Camila Beats the Crap out of Jacob for Vee: ...Writers, don't make me choose between Camila and Eda on who's the better cartoon mom. I know Eda's technically not a mom...BUT I STILL DON'T WANT TO CHOOSE DAMNIT!
Also, the sandal...just...
Why the f**k does Camila have a sandal in her purse? I don't know. Is it still funny that she does? Most certainly.
Camila and Luz’s Talk in the Rain: Ooooooooh, I was not ready for this...
I wasn't ready for the crying.
I wasn't ready for the hurt in Camila's eyes when she found out Luz chose to stay in the Boiling Isles.
I wasn't ready for Camila asking if Luz hates being with her that much.
I wasn't ready for Luz profusely stating how it was never Camila's fault.
I was not ready for Camila to tell Luz that she'll try to do better.
And I definitely was not ready for Luz to barely have enough time to promise that she'll come back.
This episode wasn't the twenty-two minutes of nonstop angst that I thought it was going to be...but this short scene more than make up for it.
Luz Tries to Stay Strong: Yet another thing she unwittingly learned from Camila. Camila tried to keep a brave face when Vee was with her and Luz, most likely not wanting to tear either of them down in the process. Luz does the same thing here as she avoids talking about the details of what went down in her sort-of journey back home. And seeing her clearly fake smile slowly droop into an uncertain frown, it uh...it definitely tore me up inside.
WHAT I DISLIKED
I want to say it's perfect, but there's one major issue that really bogs this episode down.
Continuity Error in How Vee Replaced Luz: Having Vee take Luz's place the same day Luz appeared in the Isles is a smart idea on paper...if it wasn't for the fact that it's impossible.
Because Eda closed the portal door the second that she saw Luz, meaning that there's no way for Vee to go to the human realm. It's a major plothole that makes no sense, and it might just be the first time ever that this series wasn't so closely knit with its story. Which ends up taking a dive in quality in the process.
IN CONCLUSION
I'd say that "Yesterday's Lie" is an A-. Everything about Luz, Vee, and Camila is incredible, combined into a story that ends in tragedy and uncertainty for the future. That plothole may drag things down a bit, but everything else is handled so well that I'm not lying when I say it's easy to forgive and forget.
(And that's ten episodes in a row without a single stinker. HOW THE F**K DOES THIS SEASON KEEP WINNING?!)
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writingwithcolor · 3 years
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B’nei mitzvah in spaceship without Jewish community | Jewish character celebrating Christmas
Hi! Thank you so much for running this blog. I appreciate how much time and effort all the mods have put into it. I finished reading through the whole Jewish tag a few days ago, and I’ve learned so much! I’m writing a Voltron fic (I *know* lol) and decided to make one of the protagonists a white nonbinary Ashkenazi Reform Jewish girl. Her astronaut brother mysteriously disappears in space and is presumed dead, so she runs away from home a couple of months before her b'nei mitzvah to find him. Now, she’s in a group of rebels in space fighting against an Empire. I have two concerns:
1. Everyone on the ship misses home, so part of the way they cope is through getting in touch with their cultures. They’re gonna celebrate (a mostly non-Americanized) Christmas because it matters a lot to some of the characters for non-religious reasons. To what extent can my Jewish character participate in the celebration without it being weird? I want her to enjoy herself more because she’s with her friends than because Jesus etc. They’ll also celebrate Chanukah, if that helps. I know Chanukah isn’t a major holiday, so I also want to have her celebrate a more significant one like Rosh Hashanah and/or Purim with them. Is it okay for gentiles to participate in those holiday celebrations, or should she do that alone?
2. Throughout most of the story, she’ll struggle with choosing whether to prioritize fighting the Empire or finding her brother and bringing him home. When she eventually does find her brother (who also turns out to be a rebel), he lets her decide whether they stay or go home. I thought it would be nice if she decided to stay and keep fighting for the greater good after she finally has her b'nei mitzvah. Her friends and other experiences are also a big part of why she decides to stay, but the b'nei mitzvah would be what gives her the final push she needs to decide. I don’t know if it would be okay for me to write the ceremony itself or if she can even have one if only two of the eight people on the ship are Jewish. I read that not everyone has a b'nei mitzvah and that it’s not required, but I feel like it’d be a big deal to her character. Should I keep the b'nei mitzvah idea, or am I heading towards appropriative territory here?
I want to make her Jewishness a big part of her character’s growth, and I really want to make sure I do it respectfully and accurately. I plan on finding a sensitivity reader when I’ve made more progress with actually writing everything out. Thank you for any insight you might offer!
It feels off to me to join a community symbolically when you’re far away FROM the community. Why not just have had her already have done the ceremony before she has all these adventures? That way it could just be a straightforward story about a Jewish teen having exciting heroic adventures in space, rather than a story about what happens when you have to miss aspects of Jewish life because you’re in space. It would also make the “….well, I guess I’m around for Christmas” bit less weighted because then that would be the only one of those instead of having two of those.
–Shira 
I’ll cover some other territory here. For those who don’t know, b'nei mitzvah is something you just automatically become at the correct age, the ceremony is simply to celebrate that with the community. Not all people have the ceremony, but if you are Jewish, and of age (for religious purposes), your status changes with or without it. Personally, I’m comfortable with showing a Jewish character finding a way to have a Jewish celebration when the circumstances are less than ideal, for me the other aspects of the story are more troubling. 
On the subject of having a Jewish character celebrate Christmas with their friends… look I don’t like this trope. There are many Jewish people, who are completely secular, who don’t celebrate Christmas, because it is explicitly a Christian holiday, and secular Jewish people are still Jewish. Some Jewish people (secular or otherwise) do choose to celebrate other holidays, and I am very comfortable with those folks telling their own stories. What I’m not happy with is the push from outside of the community for every Jewish character to slide into assimilation. 
Some Jewish people will go to Christmas parties and not eat the food, because they keep kosher, or won’t stay for a tree-lighting, because that feels like it goes too far, or will give presents but not receive them. There are a huge number of ways we might handle Christmas, and I appreciate that you plan to show holidays other than just Chanukah (and yes, it’s fine for non-Jewish characters to join her in her holidays, if she invites them), but I always question why a non-Jewish writer is so keen to show Jewish characters celebrating Christmas. The most generous version of me wants to assume that you get so much out of Christmas that you want to share it, but the part of me that knows about the pressures to assimilate, and the history of increased antisemitic violence around Christmas thinks… just leave this kid alone. She missed her celebration, she’s far from her community, and now she has to go put on a Happy Assimilated Smile for the culturally Christian folks around her. From a nonbinary Jewish perspective, it’s a little unusual for your nonbinary character to use she/her pronouns, and use b'nei mitzvah as a gender neutral alternative to the gendered bat mitzvah. In secular life, at least in the US, it’s not uncommon for people to use multiple pronouns, but I haven’t met, or even heard of, a single person using gendered pronouns secularly, and using new neutral alternatives religiously. It absolutely could happen but, because it is so unusual, to me it reads as either invalidating the character’s gender, or tokenizing her in the religious sphere. 
–Dierdra 
Shira, I think that’s a really good idea to make the character post-b'nei mitzvah. That way you just have a Jewish character having adventures rather than her culture being The Conflict. (And also, a pre-b'nei mitzvah seems a bit young for this storyline? Can she really consent to fighting alongside the rebels? Do they habitually take unaccompanied children on their ship? To me a teenager would make more sense, but hey it’s not my story!)
Dierdra, your answer regarding the Christmas aspect was awesome and really thorough. Thanks for your thoughts on the pronouns as well, it also jarred with me but I was waiting to hear your opinion as you have lived experience. My worry is if you use gender neutral terms for one but not the other, you risk falling into to the stereotype that only marginalised religious folks have to change our language etc to be inclusive to LGBTQ+ people, but everyone else is fine. 
I wanted to come back to the point about Rosh Hashana. First of all, thank you for acknowledging that we have holidays that are more important than Chanukah! Sooo many OP’s don’t know that. In terms of how she would celebrate it, I agree it’s fine to invite non-Jewish people along. However, given how community-based Jewish life is, making her keep Yom Tov on her own feels a bit like a torture story, especially when others have people to celebrate Christmas with. I wonder if you’ve thought about giving her a Jewish friend on the ship? Especially if you want her Jewishness to be part of her growth as you mentioned, an older Jewish friend and mentor could be a huge help :)
–Shoshi
As you can see, we have a wide range of possibilities for “what happens when you ask a Jewish person about celebrating Christmas.” I didn’t mind hanging around it as an outsider myself until a certain subset of Christians started being mean-spirited about it in the news plus some personal trauma that time of year, as long as everyone involved was clear that I was just participating from the outside and this didn’t somehow change me. (If I may make an analogy: compare it to going to a baby shower when you want to support your friend or family member but also really don’t want kids of your own. You’re going to have a whole different experience if your decision is respected vs. if all the other guests treat you like you being there means you’ll change your mind about not wanting kids.)
That being said, it’s still all over the map. Some people IRL are okay even going to mass with their partner’s Catholic family (without participating in communion obvs.) Some would never, ever do that and are sitting here with shocked faces that I even typed that. But what becomes important is the way it’s written. Sitting around listening to the Christmas story is probably a bad fit for your fanfic, but helping other people bake Christmas cookies or put ornaments on a tree could work. The ornament thing could remind her of decorating a sukkah, and she could point that out to the others. 
I guess I’m saying is 
keep her participation secular, and 
keep her participation from leaning into the idea that we’re unhappy with our customs and would prefer to do it their way. 
I have literally never in my life felt jealous of the kids who “got to do Santa” (for example) and while I’m sure some kids were and they’re valid too, I think it’s important to show that it’s not a universal phenomenon.
–Shira
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chicgeekgirl89 · 3 years
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Requesting Immediate Backup
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Fandom: 911 Lone Star
Characters: T.K. Strand, Carlos Reyes, Andrea Reyes
Summary: Carlos refuses to admit he's sick. So T.K. is forced to call in some backup. Written for the @badthingshappenbingo​ prompt: This is for Your Own Good.
A/N: I have four other multi-chapter fics to work on so I wrote this instead. It may or may not be based on current and past personal experiences. Special thanks to @bluenet13​ for consulting with me!
Read on AO3
T.K. had never seen his boyfriend in quite this state before, and he was torn between amusement and abject pity.
Carlos had come home from work three days ago, brow pinched, eyes tight, clearly in some kind of pain. After a significant amount of questioning he’d finally admitted to having a headache. T.K. had plied him with some OTC pain medication and sent him to bed.
Things had grown steadily worse over the last few days. First Carlos’ sinuses had completely stopped up and then he’d begun to cough and wheeze. Despite significant evidence to the contrary, he remained adamant that he was not sick. It was allergies. Nothing more. 
Now T.K. watched as Carlos sniffed and snorted, shuffling around the kitchen, eyes red and watery as he searched for something in the cupboards and drawers. “Are you sure I can’t help you?” T.K. asked.
Carlos turned to glare at him, rubbing at his nose before speaking in a croaky voice. “I told you, I’m fine.”
Carlos’ breath caught and T.K. winced as he hacked out a cough so hard it sounded like his lungs were trying to leave his body. He shook his head. Enough was enough. “Babe you need to sit down.”
“I’m fi—” Carlos interrupted himself with a massive sneeze.
“You’re not fine. You have an upper respiratory infection. Probably bronchitis. And you need to sit down and let me take care of you.”
“I don’t need to be taken care of,” Carlos griped, finally finding the spoon he was searching for. “I can take care of myself.”
“Yes, I can see what a spectacular job you’re doing of that right now,” T.K. said, glancing at his watch for dramatic effect. “It just took you twenty minutes to get a yogurt.”
“I couldn’t find the one I wanted,” Carlos snapped. “You always put them in the back.”
“Wow, you are cranky when you’re sick.”
“I’m not sick!”
“Babe,” T.K. rolled his eyes. “Come on.”
Carlos pulled the blanket he was wearing like a cloak a little closer. “I’m fine.”
T.K. shook his head. “Okay. You’ve left me no choice.”
He pulled out his phone and drafted a text. “What are you doing?” Carlos asked warily.
“Texting your mom.”
“What?!” Carlos’ head snapped up and he reached for T.K.’s phone, but T.K. backed up out of his reach. “T.K.!”
“Carlos, you’re sick and you won’t let me help you. What else am I supposed to do?” He pulled back as Carlos tried to swipe his phone again and then pointed a finger at his ailing boyfriend. “This is for your own good.”
The menacing look Carlos shot his way would have been chilling if he didn’t look so incredibly pathetic. “You’re sleeping on the couch tonight.”
“Yeah, by choice to stay away from your germs,” T.K. shot back, but he didn’t put any heat in his tone.
His phone chimed with a text message back from Andrea. “Your mom’s coming over. She’s bringing soup.”
Carlos turned away and shuffled over to the couch, yogurt in hand. “I hate you.”
“That’s fine, as long as you live long enough to hate me tomorrow too,” T.K. called after him.
T.K. figured since he’d already pressed his luck he might as well push it a little further, so he scheduled Carlos a tele-health visit with his doctor, while his boyfrriend huddled on the couch in a blanket, sniffling and coughing and wheezing, the absolute picture of misery.
Andrea arrived within the hour, a tureen of soup in her hand. T.K. wondered if she’d somehow managed to whip it up before she drove over or if she just had that sort of thing on standby. Moms were magic like that.
“Hey Andrea,” T.K. said when he opened the door.
“Hola T.K.,” she greeted. “Thank you for texting me.” Her eyes found Carlos’ huddled form on the couch and she immediately frowned. “Ay, my poor Carlitos.”
“Mama I’m fine,” he all but moaned as she handed the soup to T.K. and moved toward him.
She pressed a hand to his forehead. “You are not fine mi amor, you’re all clammy.” She looked up at T.K. “He gets very cranky when he’s sick. Just like his father.”
“So I’ve noticed,” T.K. said, suppressing a smile as he walked the soup to the kitchen.
“I get cranky because everyone treats me like an invalid,” Carlos growled.
“Yes, we all know you are a big, strong police officer who doesn’t need any help,” Andrea said, fussing with his blanket. “I will just take my soup and go home then.”
Carlos mumbled something. “What was that mi corazón?” she asked.
“Don’t take the soup,” he said a little louder.
“I’ll heat it up right now,” T.K. said, reaching for a pot.
Carlos grudgingly attended his doctor’s appointment half an hour later, mostly because Carlos seemed to be unable to even get off the couch so T.K. just plunked the laptop down in front of him with the call already progress. With some added assistance from T.K., who listened to Carlos’ lungs and took his pulse and BP, the doctor determined it was indeed bronchitis and prescribed some extra strength cough medicine and an inhaler. Carlos was even polite to the doctor, although he went back to his cranky self immediately after they rang off the call.
Between Andrea and T.K. they managed to get a decent amount of soup and some tea into him along with some Mucinex before T.K. went out to pick up his prescriptions. By the time he got home Andrea had managed to use her special mom powers to get Carlos upstairs and into bed.
“Thank you for coming by,” T.K. said as she prepared to leave.
“Of course mi amor,” she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “You can call me anytime my son is being a nuisance. Or any of his sisters if I’m out of town.” She thought for a second. “Maybe not Francesca,” she said, referring to Carlos’ youngest sister, who was something of a wild child. “You have Elena’s number?”
“Yes, I do,” T.K. said with a smile.
She patted his shoulder. “You take good care of my boy,” she said. “And be careful, we don’t need you getting sick too.”
“I will.”
T.K. saw her out the door and then grabbed the bag of medications and headed upstairs. At the last second he spotted Carlos’ book lying on the arm of the sofa and grabbed that too. 
Carlos was bundled into bed looking slightly less miserable than before now that he’d been fed and hydrated. “Hey,” T.K. said. “How are you feeling?”
“Okay,” Carlos said, sniffing and wiping his nose with a tissue. It was red and irritated from constant nose blowing, only adding to the pathetic-ness of the situation.
“I got your medicine. You should use the inhaler now and take the cough medicine when you’re ready to go to bed.” T.K. set them on the nightstand. “I brought your book up. Do you want anything else?”
Carlos shook his head. 
“All right, I’ll just be downstairs then. Holler if you need anything.”
He turned to go but Carlos’ hand shot out and grabbed his wrist. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled, eyes downcast.
T.K. bit the inside of his cheek to suppress his smile. “It’s okay.”
“I’m bad at being sick,” Carlos said, looking extremely contrite. 
T.K. wondered if Andrea had scolded him and told him to apologize. “Yes, I know.”
“And I don’t really hate you.”
“I know that too.”
“Do you still love me?” He flicked his eyes up nervously.
T.K. laughed and sat down on the edge of the bed. “Of course. I just want to take care of you.” He brushed the curls back from Carlos’ forehead. “Even if you don’t want me to.”
Carlos fiddled with the sheets for a moment. “Are you going to sleep on the couch?”
T.K. raised his eyebrows. “Do you want me to?”
Carlos shook his head.
T.K. leaned over and kissed his forehead. “Then I’ll stay.”
Carlos mumbled something. “Come again?” T.K. asked.
“Could you hold me?” Carlos said grouchily.
T.K. shook his head and bit his lip. “You’re really adorable, you know that?”
“Are you going to do it or not?” Carlos huffed.
T.K. put an arm around his waist and they both shifted until Carlos was cuddled against T.K.’s chest. “Better?” T.K. asked.
Carlos sighed a raspy, sick sounding sigh, and snuggled closer. “Yeah.”
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