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#i don't even watch this but he looks so good i skip through the episodes for giffable scenes lol
writing-whump · 16 hours
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Would loveeee to see hector super sick and feverish with a stomach bug where all he wants is to be comforted by Isaiah/Arnie/both- just love his softer side- pretty sure he’s a softie deep down 🤭
Hey nonny! Thank you for the request!! Found a good way to insert it. This will have a part 2 for another request hehe.
Something serious
Hector burst through the door, heading straight for the kitchen without a word of greeting.
Arnie was not taking it personally, but he was curious about what kind of hunger spree made Hector so desperate.
He got up from the couch to check. "Did you skip lunch or-?
Except Hector wasn't riding their fridge. He was braced over the kitchen sink and retching loudly.
"Oi. Okay," Arnie said with a wince as a huge gush of puke hit the bottom of the granite. "What happened to you?"
"Ate-uuurp-too fast." Hector burped up another mouthful before spitting and letting the faucet run over the mess.
"Really? Wasn't something off about the food?" Hector's speed and capacity were way too impressive for this to happen easily.
Hector swiped his wrist over his mouth, sweaty all over.
Arnie tore off a handful of kitchen towels and handed it to him.
Hector took it gratefully, mopping his face and mouth. "I was so hungry at lunch that my stomach hurt. Must have eaten too quick, cause I got queasy on the way." Hector put a hand on his belly as it whined loudly. For puking just a minute ago, his stomach looked distended, as if he was still full.
"Sure it was hunger? Maybe you were getting down with something and ate lunch on top," Arnie sighed, grabbing Hector by the elbow to steer him towards the living room. "How many times do I have to say that you shouldn't eat, when your stomach is hurting?"
Hector was feeling crappy enough to follow Arnie's guidance, flopping down on the couch and curling his hands protectively around his middle. "Ugh. Thought it would help."
Arnie rolled his eyes. ""It's always the same with you—no restraint. Listening to your body's signals could have spared you from all this puking."
Hector huffed. "Stop lecturing, snotnose, and get me some water."
Arnie stuck his tongue at him, but obeyed, getting some cold water from the kitchen, checking if the sink was clean on the way.
Hector gulped down the water greedily, even as Arnie patted his hand. "Slow down, you'll make yourself sick again."
To be fair, Hector tried to slow the tempo before it picked up again. Arnie sat down next to him with a grimace. No helping that.
"You want to watch something and take it easy?" Arnie asked, putting the back of his hand to Hector's forehead. He was a little warm. "I think you should rest. Looks like a flu to me."
Hector, feeling evidently better, swatted his hand away. "And whose fault is that? You're the only flu spreader around. Damn human germs."
Arnie gave him another eye roll. "Your immunity needs some work then, if you catch things that I don't even have symptoms for."
Arnie put on a rerun of Big Bang Theory, which was usually so foreign and boring to Hector that it put him to sleep. And he was right, his older brother was snoring away, head lolling to the armrest, in a few minutes.
After two episodes, Hector stirred though, grimacing with a moan.
"You want a blanket?" Arnie asked quietly as Hector curled into himself, although he could see some more sweat beading on his neck.
"Nah. Think I'm just going to sleep this off in the bed," Hector said, not bothering to muffle a burp as he got up clumsily. His hand shot up to cradle the top of his belly like it was about to fall open.
"You sure you didn't eat something spicy at lunch?" Arnie said, watching him stumble out with another burp. "You get disgusting like that every time."
Hector gave him an angry glare. "I do not. I can handle spicy food."
Arnie snorted. "Yeah, yeah. Tell that to someone who doesn't have to live with you and hear all the consequences."
Hector grunted something crude on his way, which caused Arnie to chuckle.
It wouldn't be unusual in the slightest if he did eat something spicy and then played it off as a flu just to not feel embarrassed.
It would be fine. Hector was a grumpy patient, even if it was the flu, but as long as he stopped eating and took a day off, he would be fine.
Wolves were so senstive to pain. Just a bit of discomfort, and they were all dramatic and moaning. Hector more than most. Physical injuries he got rid of with his shadow, so any sickness, cold, or flu that wouldn't heal had him up in arms and whiny. Arnie had gotten used to not taking it too seriously.
Arnie watched a few more episodes, checking his phone and dozed off on the couch himself.
He went to check on Hector, but he looked peacefully asleep in the bed.
Arnie prepared him a glass of water and a bucket, just in case. Leaving the door open and satisfied with his precautions, he went to his own room, catching the sleeping wave before it was worse off.
...
Arnie woke up to the harsh sounds of throaty retches. Scrambling up a little slow from sleep, he braced himself on the doorframe in Hector's room, switching the small bedside table lamp on.
Hector didn't even get up, hunched over the bed and heaving over the bucket.
What did, however, get up was his shadow. It was sprawling across the wall behind the bed and wiggling uneasily across the floor.
Arnie stepped around it gingerly. Hector's shadow wouldn't hurt him, he knew, but it was a scary big thing to crawl around his feet.
Despite Hector's best efforts, the bucket was basically empty, only spits of yellow bile inside.
Arnie sighed, sitting down on the edge of the bed sleepily. Always so dramatic with Hector.
"Hex, you got nothing inside you, you are empty," he said, patting his back.
"Doesn't-doesn't feel like it-" Hector coughed between heaves.
He moaned, clutching the side of his belly as he lay back down, breathing harshly. "That freaking hurt."
"Flu it is," Arnie said with a yawn. "You are heaving even when running on empty."
"Then why the hell does it hurt?" Hector complained, sniffling. Arnie admonished himself for not bringing some more paper towels, too.
"It's normal to get cramps during the flu-"
"No, not crampy" Hector protested through gritted teeth. "It fucking hurts. And the pain travels."
Arnie frowned. "Travels? What?"
"The spot," Hector said, clutching at the right side of his stomach. It was still bloated, even though he had nothing to vomit. Arnie's eyebrows scrunched even more. This was starting to get weird.
"It was in the middle and now it's freaking here and it feels like someone stabbed me," Hector said angrily, just a breath away from whining. His shadow made an aggressive, wavy motion above their heads.
Arnie rubbed at his eyes, much more alert now. "So to sum it up - you felt sick during lunch, thought it was hunger, threw up at home and you were in pain since then?"
"I - I felt kind of off yesterday too, but like...just sluggish? Thought I was tired." Hector rolled onto his back, hands sliding lower on his right side.
Arnie leaned in closer. "Show me." He gently pried Hector's hands away, lifting up his shirt. His stomach was still so blown up, but he could see nothing on the spot. It seemed too specific for a place though, lower right abdomen...he pushed his hands around, trying to find some kind of physical proof, a bump or swell. Hector didn't protest his poking, eyes closed and pinched.
Arnie was the one with any basic knowledge of human anatomy and complications, since Hector always insisted that were human weaknesses that had nothing to do with him.
Arnie retracted his hands with a sigh, considering writing it off as a cramp lasting too long, when Hector whimpered. Like a real little whimper. He locked his limbs together, arms around his stomach again, tears leaking out. His shadow all but flooded the damn room, swinging angrily from one side to the other at Hector's pain.
"What, what did I do?" Arnie asked in panic, falling to his knees on the floor and taking Hector's forearm in both hands. "Hex? Hex, what-"
Hector twitched under his hands, twisting his face into the sheets as a trickle of bile came out of the corner of his mouth.
"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry!" Arnie said, pressing his forehead to Hector's as his older brother rode the pain out.
Hector said nothing, another little whimper coming up.
Arnie got up as quickly as he could to grab his phone. He dialed up the ambulance and called as he returned, not wanting to leave Hector alone.
"Noooo, no hospital," Hector whined pitifully.
"Yes, we have to," Arnie said in a strangled noise, putting his free hand on Hector's shoulder. "Please. Trust me. This is something serious."
With great effort, Hector pulled a hand away from his stomach and clutched Arnie's forearm, breathing raggedly as they both waited for the medics.
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wiha-jun · 1 month
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STATION 19 Good Grief
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noneorother · 7 months
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The grand unified theory of Good Omens S2, Hangs on a double meaning - Answering why .5 + .5 = 25 lazerii *The end?*
Part 1 l Part 2 l Part 3 l Part 4 l Part 5 l The end?
Welcome to the end of the Bonkers Meta Series featuring your favourite Art Director/Clue detective. This is it! I'm going to wrap up this series as well as I can with what I think really happened, the final 15 and why Crowley says the things he says. Meta, Spoilers, Beware! All that. “Armageddon only happens once, you know. They don't let you go around again until you get it right.” 
If you've read my Metatron post you'll know that I thought there were *at least* two time loops with tweaks to achieve different outcomes, seeing as we seemed to be presented with two versions of events a lot of the time, two similar lines of dialogue, double meanings for lines etc etc. If you want a really good recap of a lot of the Clues that have already been compiled already you can go through them here. Yesterday I added my own : The columns in front of the bookshop get stained by a demon, and the stain stays and goes. But why do we care?
Here's my final thesis using the context I'll put together below :
The Metatron is changing the past and the present on earth using the book of life. He's forced a time loop of the last few days at least 50 times over a period of (realtime) months to get the outcome he wants : the separation of Aziraphale and Crowley to allow him to complete the second coming. It only worked once. Let me explain.
1) Not time skips, but stitched loops
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My theory about the columns goes like this : a demon touches the right column in the attack on the bookshop, and dirties it. The problem is, in every episode we get multiple versions of the column that are dirtier or cleaner. Why? Because a demon has been touching that column in *more or less* the same place and getting it dirty over time, but the effects on the bookshop only layer every loop and reset, instead of being erased. The layering aspect is super important and I'll get back to it. For now, if we take it that the column gets dirtier over many loops, we now know what we are seeing : a bunch of different time loops stitched together to create a sense of time moving forward in a way that we can understand the story, but that skip forward and backward through the loops. Cleaner column = earlier loop. Here's discussion about clock hands if you want evidence, some even saying the hour hand seems to be going backwards in the first episode or the last, or even that the minute and hour hands must be backwards to make sense. If we think of time skipping ever forward and actions getting deleted (as some have said), then clocks going backwards makes no sense. But if we think about it as a time loop where things and actions are ever being tweaked and changed, then OF COURSE the times won't make sense anymore. People don't show up at the same time if they don't do the same thing they did before. The biggest time discrepancies I've seen in a single scene are A) Crowley's phone and watch being an hour apart in S2E1 and B) Inside the bookshop between Gabriel's fly flashback in S2E6 and him and Beez holding hands, there's an hour difference on the clock. I think that by the time we get to very late loops, some things are happening up to an hour later in the day. A simple example we are shown up top is the Eccles cakes. They are there in the first part of S2E1, but then they are no longer there somewhere along the way. In the first loop we see an ordering action/receiving Eccles cakes action, which takes *longer* than just not doing that and going straight to the shop, so that loop will be slightly later. It gets infinitely more complicated the more loops you are looking at, and we have at least 50 of them. How do I know that?
2) A 25 lazerii miracle
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If we know that effects on the bookshop are cumulative and don't reset (because columns), then let's try this idea on for size : Aziraphale and Crowley have been performing the same half miracles on the same spot for 50+* loops, and each times they are layering and getting stronger. .5 demon + .5 angel = .5 angelic miracle x 50*ish loops = 25 lazerii miracle goes off in heaven on the latest loop. Shax then confronts Crowley in his car about a mighty miracle, so we're in a loop here where we've layered quite a lot, but not the last loop because he still has the original glasses/ *but also* Crowley's sideburns are long. Compare it to the scene directly after, and how sunny and bright it is. We're in a later loop and and earlier loop simultaneously.
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3) Crowley's been testing So I've been searching for a *reason* that Crowley wears a turtleneck in S2E2 and thren new glasses and changes sideburns, and he seems to be up to some pretty crafty spy stuff, seeing as 1) he seems thrilled by it, and 2) he won't shut up about it (How will our hero cope? Jane Austen, nasty piece of work, master spy) There's also this Clue :
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Crowley has a secret, as we know everyone with their hands deliberately in their pocket does in the series. I think Crowley knows before Aziraphale that something is wrong, because he's getting little snippets of memory and feeling, and so he's going off to try and change things about himself, the Bentley and the shop to remind himself in the next loop and leave himself clues or change outcomes if he fails to escape. In the early loops it seems like a fun spy mission, but by the end he's pretty tired and jaded that he doesn't seem to be making any headway on his own.
It *also* explains him throwing books and canapés on the floor in the bookshop to see if it changes in other versions. The problem being that Gabriel keeps cleaning everything up and reorganizing the titles to Crowley can't tell if it's his system or not. (lolsob)
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It makes this line seem like he can't fit the loop pieces together anymore, and is trying to make headway without any information, rather than a pre-fall reference.
And this line probably much later in the loops (New sunglasses, long sideburns) :
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Okay so! To recap : Everyone gets reset every time, and they make different choices because of past and present edits. But, most heavenly and hellish things don't obey earth laws, and therefore things like miracles start layering, and memories start seeping through the loops. (Point 4 is optional but absolutely hilarious, so I'd like to think it's worth speculating about)
4. The flaw in The Metatron's plan
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There's a huge flaw in The Metatron's plan however, and it's that Heaven and Hell don't work like earth does. He's spent so many loops trying to get the result he wants, that he doesn't know that something crazy is *also* happening in hell. Every loop, Shax is emptying out the legions of demons until they barely have enough low level lackeys to go up at all. Hell is understaffed because no new people come into hell in the loop from earth, and they're sending all the demons that aren't subject to the reset into battle. This isn't a negotiation, it's a montage.
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So the attack on the bookshop isn't one attack, but waves, and the waves get less powerful each loop. Stitched loops would also explain why Shax now hands Crowley his mail again in the last attack after *just* handing it to him on the park bench, like, 4 days ago in an earlier loop.
I don't have evidence for this directly, but if The Metatron put Maggie together with Nina successfully only in the last few loops, then she's fighting in the bookshop only a few times, and doesn't invite the demons in any other times, which might be why the only evidence is the column, and not books being ruined. But, it might also explain why the demon Eric gets discorporated a bunch of times in a row, he's doing it later and later in each loop. (These are kind of contradictory thoughts, I know.)
5. Aziraphale realizes too late. When I wrote part 4 of this series I was pretty awed by the fact that Aziraphale managed to figure out the Metatron was rewriting things after only hearing him say ONE LINE of dialogue. However after more thought, I think that he's been getting close to the truth a bunch of times by communicating with Crowley in previous loops. In each successive loop he tells Crowley later and later, and it's been getting them reset as punishment each time they figure it out together. By the end they barely communicate at all, because they can feel the danger. Watch his reaction here, in what we can assume is a *very late or last loop (because of the time on the clock)*
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He stops himself from interrupting and telling Crowley something important he's just realized : that he's seen Gabriel and Beez get together before. "I know what this means..." 6. Saraqael is helping both sides without them knowing We see Saraquael helping Crowley immediately with the trial when she finds him in heaven. Why would she help Crowley without having ever met him before as a demon? The exchange of "Crowley I remember you, we worked on the Hosehead nebula together" and "I meet a lot of people, (*he doesn't say* I don't remember you)" is a code. They are both trying to communicate what they remember like spies on a bench in St.James park. Who recognizes who, who's trying to stop this madness. Maybe once Crowley gets to heaven this time he's seen multiple trials with multiple endings, and Saraquael has seen them too, I don't really know. BUT she's also communicating with Aziraphale at one point. Look at Saraqael in this scene again about the 25 lazerii miracle. She *remembers the book slap* and then the *looks* at Aziraphale in regards to Gabriel.
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Yeah Gabriel, IT NEVER F*&?%ING WORKS IN ANY LOOP SO STOP DOING IT. - Saraquel, probably. Are Saraqael and Aziraphale testing later/earlier in the loops as well? Is this when the miracle was weaker? Who knows! 7. The Metatron job offer was many, many offers
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It's really hard to tell with all the pieces of the puzzle moving around, but I think I can count 7 job refusal loops by Aziraphale in the last fifteen minutes. Here's a summary 1) Chinwag with Crowley in the room 2) We should go for a walk instead, here's a coffee 3) You don't have to answer immediately 4) Go tell you friend the good news (This is the important one), it's the last one where he tries to convince Crowley to come with him 5) I need to take care of my bookshop 6) The Metatron puts Muriel in charge of the bookshop, but Aziraphale wants to take something with him 7) Aziraphale straight up runs out to Crowley with "I think I-" 4, again) The Metatron takes him out of the bookshop. "Ready to start"?
Trying to screenshot all that would be insane, so just go rewatch it with all this in mind, and look at how the lighting changes inside of the bookshop and the jump cuts to different angles, and how his face resets every time. It's HEARTBREAKING. 8. The argument
I'm so blown away by the acting and writing (as well as the art direction) in this show, and it all comes to a head in the final argument. Many important lines have double meanings in series 2, because everyone is trying to speak in secret code to not get caught. Especially in the final loops.
In the last loops, we have an Aziraphale who is moving ever closer towards accepting the Metatron's offer, with the straw that broke the camel's back being he could restore Crowley as an angel**/save him; and Crowley who is moving ever farther away, by having to hide all of his Clue gathering, and confiding less and less to Aziraphale in each loop.
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Check out the double meanings going on in this whole exchange if you consider that they are trying to save each other using secret codes neither one of them can hear. It's so shattering. Especially when you consider they've probably made it to this argument at least twice, and Crowley convinced him the first time. Why do I say that, you ask? 9. No Nightingales
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Because I think Crowley remembers a loop where A Nightingale Sang was playing when they kissed, and Aziraphael didn't leave, but he knows they aren't in that version anymore. 10) I'm a demon, I lied. I'll probably post more abut the secondary characters because Shax, Furfur, Michael, Uriel and Nina etc all have roles to play, but for now, this is it.
----------------------------------------- Thanks so much for reading the gigantic post. If you disagree with my thoughts, or think this is terribly wrong, that's totally fine! I won't be offended. Without a real season 3, everything is just ether. Fingers crossed. I'd also like to thank The Ineffable Detective Agency, @embracing-the-ineffable, @cobragardens, @indigovigilance, @yowlthinks and more for inspiring me and feeding my brain with posts. *Loop numbers could actually be 25+ if you think that .5 demon mircales + .5 angelic miracles pour register as 1 whole miracle in heaven, I just didn't want to go into that in the main review. **The Metatron's meddling in the past seems to me trying very much to highlight to Aziraphale how *good* and righteous Crowley is, despite being a demon, in order to convince Aziraphale that joining him in heaven is a real possibility, and he should push for it.
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sempersirens · 9 months
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a bird in your teeth, II
masterlist
summary: a night out with a friend has you reaching out for joel
pairing: joel miller x f!reader
warnings: 18+, mdni, neighbour!joel, age gap: reader is early-mid 20s, joel early 30s. no break-out. no smut (yet). allusion to SA (nothing happens)
a/n: thank you thank you thank you for the love on part one! i know there is not much joel yet, but fear not, this will be rectified fruitfully in part three <3
word count: 2.6k
After leaving Joel's place, you ran across the street to change for your night out. As usual, you turned your porch light off to indicate to Joel that you had gotten home safely, a small tradition you had kept since you first started babysitting Sarah late at night. Sometimes you would linger by the front door to watch Joel appear at his window, confirming your safe return. Whenever you caught him looking, you would wave, and he would return a small salute. That tiny movement of his hand would replay on loop all night.
Tonight, you didn't have time to stay and check, but felt that familiar feeling of the hairs on the back of your neck standing to attention as you passed your living room window. You had promised your closest friend Daisy that you would head into the city with her tonight, despite it being a Thursday and you both having ungodly early morning commitments.
When it came to Daisy, you could never say no. She had these all-devouring doe eyes and a sweet Southern belle twang that only came out when she wanted something. This time, she wanted to "accidentally" bump into a guy on her course she knew would be out. Aside from Joel and Sarah, your move to Texas would have been nothing without befriending Daisy in a bar toilet. Both a couple of drinks deep at the time, she had complimented your handbag and henceforth ignited a friendship closer to sisterhood. What kind of friend would you be to turn her down in her hour of need?
Quickly changing out of your comfy chick-flick-watching and popcorn-eating attire into something revealing a little more skin, you let your hair down from your claw clip and gave it a once over with a brush. You pulled on your rite of passage cowboy boots, already sensing the shriek that would erupt from Daisy's core when she saw the fringed boots paired with your little denim mini skirt. Another thing you loved about her was how similar she was to girls back home; a true girl's girl through and through. You had spent countless late nights on one another's front porches with a bottle (or two) of wine, philosophizing over the smallest and largest dilemmas all twenty-something women toss and turn over. The future, becoming mothers some day, not becoming mothers, the next episode of The O.C., careers, husbands, whether you’d ever grow to like the taste of red wine.
A car horn beeped once outside prompting you to grab your handbag and skip out the door to the passenger's side.
"Oh, honey. Let's have a moment for the boots! Y'ready to bring this city to its knees?" Daisy giggled as you jumped in.
"Baby, you know I always am,” you chirped in your bordering offensive attempt at a Southern drawl. “So, what's this guy's name again?"
"Mark. Fancy, huh? He's in my lab group. Sometimes when we're measuring out cobalt chloride hexahydrate I look at his big strong hands and think good grief man would'ya just take me on the work bench?"
"You're preaching to the choir here, sister." You laugh. Only Daisy could say the most academic and intelligent thing in one breath to then utter some unhinged depravity in the next.
"Soooo," she longed out, taking turns looking at you and then the road and then back at you again.
"Dais, don't even-"
"How's Mr. Miller?"
You throw your head back in the same manner Sarah used to when you first knew her; when Joel would tell her to get ready for bed so that he could break open a bottle of whiskey after a long evening of barbecuing.
"He's fine, as he always is when you ask."
"Sureee. He not tried the I don't have any cash on me to pay you for looking after my kid... but I could pay you another way yet?"
"It's so not like that and you know it. Plus I don't ask him to pay me to babysit Sarah." You muttered the last part, slightly embarrassed to admit that you spent so much time with the Millers purely out of enjoyment.
"What! You're always at their damn place watching his kid while he fucks some recently divorced suburban mom."
"You think he fucks them?" You ask, with a little too much rawness to your tone.
"Oh honey, this ain't good for you. You're smitten for the bastard."
"Can we talk about something else? This is making me depressed." You forced a laugh at the patheticness of your situation. More often than not, you had to sternly remind yourself that Joel was a divorced, single father, ten years your senior, who certainly didn't share your pining for him. He had responsibilities; he was too busy to deal with your little crush, being a father and all. You told yourself it was just you projecting onto him. Probably something with a Freudian explanation.
"Alright, alright. Let's talk about Mark's friend Elijah who I am certain is out with him tonight and would eat up the whole Kate Moss meets Minnie Driver thing y'have goin' on here."
"You're just referencing the only two British women you know other than me. Anyway, he better be handsome. You always stick me with the reject friend."
"Am not and do not!" Daisy laughed, shoving your shoulder as she pulled into the bar parking lot. "I'm leaving the car here overnight, wanna have a good couple drinks. You good to get a cab back to yours later?"
"Sure thing." You said.
"Who knows, we might even get lucky." Daisy winked at you, making her way toward the entrance, a sultry but sweet swing in her hips that only she could make look so effortless.
---
Elijah wasn't exactly your type. So, you decided to keep drinking until he somewhat was.
"You're not from round here, are ya?" He asked.
You widened your eyes in mock surprise at his intellectual summation. "What gave it away?" You said dryly, not really caring for an answer. It took moving out of England to realize alcohol simply made you more British. Or a sarcastic bitch, as some had put it.
"That accent for starters. Australia home for you, sweetness?"
It was going to be a long night.
"How did you guess!" You replied, slightly repelled by the misplaced enthusiasm plastered across his face.
"Well, myself I've never been to Australia, but I sure know my way 'round down under."
You half-choked on your sip of rum and coke, which Elijah seemed to take as a win.
"Dear Lord. That's really, um, something! I need to nip to the loo. Be back in a sec." You grabbed your bag and made for the bathroom, which was temptingly close to the back exit. Weighing up your options, you decided that you couldn't leave Daisy alone with two men in the middle of the city and settled with the bathroom.
Right on cue, she bustled in behind you shrieking your name.
"For a second there I thought you were gonna leave me all by my lonesome." She shouted over the bathroom stall.
"For a second there, so did I."
"Oh come on, he's not that bad."
You flushed the toilet and flung the door open to her standing nose-to-nose with the door.
"A Soviet gulag wouldn't be that bad compared to him." You retorted, moving to wash your hands. "He's a pig! He felt up my arse twice before we even sat down."
"Okay, so - he's handsy! You haven't been gettin' much action recently, anyway. Take it as a compliment?" You turned to give Daisy a look you knew she would choose to ignore. "Please, honey. They're having a little get-together back at their apartment and I would feel so much better if you came along. It's by campus, so you don't even need to worry about missin' class tomorrow."
Once again, you felt like channeling pre-teen Sarah, fighting the urge to stomp your feet at Daisy's request. As per usual, her big pleading eyes wore down your defenses. It was so obvious she was the youngest child in her family sometimes.
"Fine. But you owe me." She squealed at your response, hugging you and kicking one knee in the air.
"Anythin', honey. A lung, even! Mark has ordered an Uber and promised there's plenty'a liquor at his place. Let's go!"
You rolled your eyes realizing the Uber had been booked before the two of you had discussed your plans.
As you walked towards the boys, who sat with their jackets already on and big grins spread across their stupid faces, your mind wandered to Joel. You wondered if he had ever brought one of his dates to a bar like this. Maybe he had taken their jacket, hung it on the coat rack, and returned to her to ask so, what you drinkin'? He would wave his hand when she offered to pay for a round or if she reached for her purse. You wondered if he ever tried his luck, touching a knee against hers underneath the table. Whether he leaned in for a kiss, or put a hand on her thigh in the cab home.
You wondered if Joel ever noticed the way your breathing sped up when he put an arm around you after a couple of drinks, or how you would blush when he paid you the odd compliment. Did he ever notice the extra skin on show when the Texas heat made dressing semi-modestly for babysitting duties impossible? Or when you would lounge around the back garden in your bikini with Sarah? Did he catch a glimpse of you in skimpy outfits and heels running from your front door to various cars or cabs, or when you would sneak back at 6am on Sunday mornings clutching the heels? The dynamic between you and Joel felt so stilted sometimes. At times, it felt as though he was holding a part of himself back. Like he was always on the cusp of telling you something, but simultaneously fighting a battle between his tongue and his head to divulge any piece of himself to you.
But other times, he didn't. Since he'd first reached out that Friday at your front door, he had never failed to be there for you. When it was the flu or homesickness, Joel was there. Last summer, you had been especially missing your grandmother's homemade tiramisu, so had scoured the local bookstores for a Nigella Lawson recipe book and made you one with Sarah. The lady finger biscuits were so soggy they had disintegrated and the taste of amaretto was too much for even you, but you cried when he brought it over, the dish covered in a bumblebee dish towel. In the colder weather, he had fixed your boiler and defrosted your pipes. And whenever he passed a fresh produce store, he would bring you figs and watermelons to remind you of your summers in Europe. When you were in the thick of writing your thesis, Joel brought you a plate of whatever he and Sarah were having for dinner, knowing fully well that you would neglect your own dinnertime to meet deadlines. Joel didn't need to thank you for helping him out with Sarah, or whatever he had meant earlier, he was always thanking you in his own little way.
"Uber's here!" Mark's exclamation brought you out of your haze. You felt a hand on your lower back, Elijah was guiding you out of the bar not-so-courteously. You couldn't help but sigh at the disparity between your daydreams about Joel and the reality of your so-called love life.
"I'm not that drunk." You muttered under your breath, hoping you were loud enough for him to get the hint. If he did hear, he didn't act upon it.
Bundling into the car, Mark sat in the front seat, and you between Daisy and Elijah.
"D'ya like her boots, Elijah?" Daisy asked sweetly, leaning across you.
"They're real nice. Would look much nicer on my floor though." Daisy squeezed your thigh as if to say don't say a word.
"They'll look even better flying towards your head." You retorted, ignoring her.
"Oh, don't mind her! She's got that famous British sense of humor."
"Well, lucky she's so damn pretty, ain't it?" Elijah responded, making your stomach turn slightly at his unrelenting forwardness.
Mark announced that you had arrived, and everyone spilled out of the car in a stupor. You were drunker than you thought.
Between Elijah lingering around you like a bad smell, Daisy and Mark feeling each other up on the sofa, and the ever-looming presence of your 9am, you decided to call it a night a little over an hour into the impromptu after-party.
"Feel free to crash in my flatmate's room rather than pay for a cab home." Mark offered. "Think I'm gonna call it a night too, kinda tired myself."
"Oh, yes! You should stay, she has class early in the morning so it only makes sense." Daisy chimed in, clinging to Mark's arm. You could only assume she also planned on staying the night, but didn't have time to answer before Mark spoke again.
"Well then, it's settled. Down the hall and first door on your left. Make yourself at home."
You were too exhausted to argue, so made your way per Mark's instructions, ignoring Elijah's puppy dog look at you leaving him high and dry. You kicked off your boots but clambered underneath the duvet with your clothes still on. The walk of shame to class tomorrow will be just great, you thought. Popping two co-codomal tablets out of your bag, you swallowed them with a glass of water from the nightstand, entirely uncaring of how long it had been sat there. You needed all the help you could get for some proper rest on the hard mattress and single, flat pillow.
The apartment fell silent soon after, aside from a few recognizable giggles and the unmistakable slam of a bedroom door. Pills finally beginning to take effect, you had started to doze off with little resistance until the bedroom door creaked open.
"Daisy?" You muttered groggily, rubbing your eyes to make out the figuring closing the door behind them. "Is everything okay?"
"It's me." The unexpected masculine voice made you lurch into a seated position, recognizing it as Elijah in the dimly lit room.
"I thought you went home." You spoke, trying to sound braver than you were feeling as the mattress dipped with his weight.
"How could I, when I knew you were in here waiting for me." Your muscles froze.
"Look - I think there's been a misunderstanding. I'm sorry, I really need to get up early. I didn't mean to lead you o..."
You were cut off by his lips clashing against yours, cutting your upper lip against your front teeth. His arms were leaning on either side of you, caging you in his embrace as your cries for him to stop went muffled and unheard. Elijah's weight shifted, moving his body on top of yours, trapping you entirely underneath him. This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening. Even if you wanted to try to push him off, your body had gone utterly lifeless in panic.
"You'll like it, sweetheart. Don't be so damn uptight." You felt sick. Your skirt was around your hips from the struggle between his body and the mattress, you were separated from him by only your panties.
He reached his hand down to palm himself through his jeans, which thanks to his undignified alcohol consumption throughout the night, was to no avail. Growing frustrated with his body's lack of cooperation, his weight on you relaxed and you took your chance to tumble out from under him.
"Where the hell are you going?" You grabbed your handbag in a haze and darted out of the door, his shouts after you growing quieter by the second.
As soon as you were out of the building, you rested your hands on your knees and emptied your stomach onto the pavement. You dreaded to think what you looked like; skirt hitched high up your thighs, no doubt mascara pouring down your cheeks, face inches away from your own vomit. You also didn't care. Silent sobs racked through your body as you tried to guide your trembling hands through your handbag to retrieve your phone. Messily scrolling down your contact list, your heart stopped at the letter J. It was the early hours of the morning, but you knew he kept his phone on during the night in case Tommy ever needed bail money.
"Hello?" His gruff voice had never sounded so sweet, the instantaneous relief that washed over your body almost brought you to your knees.
"Joel, I-I'm so sorry to call so late. It's me. Something... something's happened."
"Where are you?"
You stumbled to the nearest main road, searching for street signs. The sun was beginning to rise. You thought you might be sick again.
"West 22nd and Guadalupe." You touched a finger tentatively to your lip, not realising it had been pumping blood down your chin and onto your chest.
"You stay there, I'll be there in 15."
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rebelwrites · 2 years
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I Will Never Stop Loving You || Part Three
Charles Leclerc x Reader
Final Part
Summary: It was the last race of the season but there was one thing missing for Charles.
Part One || Part Two
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As always reblogs and feedback is highly appreciated ❤️
Softly you closed the back door behind you after going for a smoke, making your way around the kitchen you flicked the kettle on before getting out two mugs. One for you and one for your dad. Ever since your call with Charles on Lucy’s birthday things had started to change, you didn’t cry as much and you were hiding yourself away from the world.
You put a post up on your social media apologising for your sudden absence and any orders that had been placed would be fulfilled but you weren't accepting new orders.
“Kiddo, you are gonna miss it if you don’t hurry up.” Your dad shouted from the living room.
“Be through in a min, making a coffee.” You smiled, just as the kettle finished boiling.
Charles had been respectful of you needing space so any contact you had was because you sent the first message. But most of it was wishing him luck for the rest of the season.
Entering the living room you placed the two mugs on the coffee table before flopping on the sofa, picking up your sketch pad as you made yourself comfy on the sofa.
The moment Charles appeared on the screen for the pre-quali interview, you were sure your heart skipped a beat. He looked better than he did on the call, like he actually managed to get some decent sleep and the fire was back in his eyes.
Pulling your phone out you pulled up the conversation with Charles, letting your fingers dart across the screen.
To Charliebear 🐻❤️
Good luck this weekend, smash it like I know you can. Doesn’t matter if you come first or last as long as you put your all into it then that’s all that matters. We will be watching from the sofa x
Charles was in the middle of the interview when he pulled his phone out of his pocket, glancing at the screen when a genuine smile crossed his face as he read your text.
“Well, someone knows how to make you smile.” The interviewer said.
“Yeah, they really do.” He nodded, slipping his phone back in his pocket before winking at the camera.
You felt a smile tug at the corner of your lips as you dropped your gaze to the sketch pad on your lap. Suddenly the world felt like it was going to be right again one day.
“Did you just text him?” Dad asked with a big grin on his face.
“Don’t know what you are talking about.” You shrugged hearing your phone go off. Glancing at the screen you saw Charles had text back sending a string of red hearts and blowing kiss faces.
For the next couple of weeks you had started texting Charles more, at first it started with texting good luck for the race, then it was texting him after the race until you found yourself starting to text him throughout the days. Asking how things were going, what he was up to, telling him about your day etc.
Everyone had noticed a change in you, your smile was coming back and so was the sparkle in your eyes. Everyday your heart called out for Charles, each day that passed you missed him even more.
As you were lying in bed one Friday night rewatching One Tree Hill, you saw your phone ringing out the corner of your eyes. Grabbing the remote you turned the TV down before accepting the FaceTime call from Charles.
“Tout va bien? Everything okay?” You asked, adjusting your position in bed so you were now leaning against the headboard.
“Je ne peux pas dormir. I can’t sleep.” He sighed, running his hand over his face. “J'espère que ça ne te dérange pas que j'appelle. Hope you don't mind me calling.”
“Not at all, I was only watching TV anyway.” You smiled, pausing your comfort show.
“Let me guess, One Tree Hill.” He smirked, propping his phone up on the nightstand.
“No, I was urm watching,” you paused trying to think of another show but your mind went blank. “Okay, yes One Tree Hill.”
“Vous êtes trop mignon. You are too cute.” He grinned, reaching over for the TV remote. “What episode are you on?”
“Urm season one episode 21.” You whispered. “It’s only just started.”
“Okay, wait there.” Charles smiled, flicking onto the streaming service finding the show and loading up the right episode. “We can watch it together if you like?”
“Yeah, I’d like that.” You breathed, propping your phone up on your bedside table before snuggling down in bed.
“Is this the episode of the rain kiss?” Charles asked as he got himself comfy.
“You remember the episodes?”
“Sweetheart, how many times have we watched this show?” Charles hummed, raising his eyebrow at you.
A comfortable silence washed over the pair of you as you watched the show together, albeit in different countries and not exactly together but in this moment it was perfect. However Charles wasn’t really watching the show, his attention was purley on his phone watching how you were snuggled down in your bed clutching something in your arms. Squinting at the small screen he quickly realised it was one of his hoodies, the one that went missing after the night of the argument. A smile quickly spread on his face as he fiddled with your engagement ring that was still hanging around his neck.
In that moment he realised that he didn’t care about racing and the championship as much as he thought he did. He could have that life any day of the week and he was living his dream but what was the gut punching realisation was none of it mattered if you weren’t the one by his side. The only reason he hadn’t flown out to the UK was because you said you needed time and space so he was giving that to you, just like the reason he hadn’t given up on the rest of the season was because you didn’t want him to throw everything down the drain because of everything that had happened over the last couple of months.
The sound of soft snores brought his attention back to his phone, his heart melted at the sight of you sleeping, making him realise how much he missed you. He missed sharing the bed with you, the moments first thing in the morning when you were making the coffee, the late night talks.
He couldn’t bring himself to end the call, this was the most contact he had gotten since the argument.
“Fais de beaux rêves mon ange. Je t'aime pour toujours. Sweet dreams my angel. I love you, forever and always.” He hummed, switching the TV off feeling himself getting sleepy. Taking one last glance at his phone screen he found himself smiling as he drifted off to sleep.
Morning rolled around and the sound of soft snores coming from your left caused you to turn around, your heart melting at sight of Charles peacefully, his hair was now all fluffy. But you couldn’t get over the fact at how relaxed he looked, every time you saw him for the last couple of weeks he still looked like everything was tearing him up a pang of guilt washed over you as everything you both had been going through was because you walked out.
Running your fingers through your hair you came up with a plan. Grabbing your old laptop you waited for it to kick into life. Cursing at the speed it was going. Eventually it sprung into action, opening up the internet browser, you started searching for flights to Abu Dhabi. The plan was to surprise Charles, no matter if he won or lost you wanted to be there. You couldn’t live without him any more, he was your soul mate, the one you wanted to grow old with, the one you wanted to marry.
Smiling to yourself as you booked the flights, all you needed to do was speak to Pierre to arrange the grid passes.
“Qu'est-ce qui te fait sourire? What's got you smiling?” Charles hummed, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
“Nothing,” you giggled, closing the laptop and turning to face Charles. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you last night.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Charles smiled, pushing himself to a sitting position.
That’s when you caught sight of your engagement ring hanging around his neck.
“Vous avez toujours la bague? You still have the ring?” You whispered, feeling the tears prick your eyes at the fact Charles really meant it when he said he wasn’t giving up on you.
“Bien sûr ma chère. Je savais qu'il finirait par revenir à sa place un jour mais pour l'instant il restera autour de mon cou jusqu'à ce que ce jour vienne. Of course my dear. I knew it would end up back where it belongs one day but for now it will stay around my neck until that day comes.” He smiled, fiddling with the ring.
Before you could say anything your dad walked into your room with a freshly brewed cup of coffee, smiling at the saw you were on FaceTime with Charles.
“Good to see you, son.” Your dad nodded towards the camera. “Are you doing okay?”
“As well as can be.” Charles nodded. “I’d love to stay and chat but I need to get ready for the day of press conferences.”
“I will text you later.” You smiled at him before the call ended. Your dad smirked at the time of the call, he knew that you had been on the call all night whilst you slept, it was something you both used to do at the start of the relationship.
Ignoring the look from your dad you picked your phone up, instantly calling Pierre.
“Pierre, j'ai besoin de ton aide. Pouvez-vous me trier avec des laissez-passer de grille pour Abu Dhabi. Pierre, I need your help. Can you sort me out with grid passes for Abu Dhabi.” You said in a rush the moment he answered the call.
“S'il vous plaît calmez-vous, je viens juste de me réveiller. Please calm down, I've only just woke up.” He chuckled down the phone.
Wander through the house with your phone held against your ear with your shoulder, you swiped your cigarettes off the counter before heading out into the crisp UK autumn air as you babbled away to Pierre about your plan.
This was the best you had felt in a while but now you just had to wait a month for the final race of the season without spilling the surprise to Charles.
-
Standing in the arrivals of the airport your heart was pounding against your chest. This would be the first time you had seen Charles since you first walked out of the hotel those months ago. Everything had gone to plan so far, Charles still had no idea you would be greeting him at the end of the race no matter if he won or not.
You had a good feeling about the final race of the weekend, he had secured pole position for the race and he was looking strong out there.
Pierre had already texted you saying he was outside but you needed a moment to calm your thoughts. Over the last month it felt like you and Charles were getting back to the old versions of yourself, you were constantly texting or on FaceTime. Taking a breath you wrapped your fingers around the handle of your suitcase dragging it behind you as you made your way through the crowd. The hood on Charles’ hoodie had been pulled over your head, and the baseball cap was securely in place. The last thing you needed was the press catching on to you being here and spoiling everything you had planned.
Over the course of the months you had learnt to ignore the press, there was always some new article about what happened between you and Charles, it was laughable really they obviously did have anything else to report because they were focused on you.
The moment you stepped out of the airport you placed a cigarette between your lips scanning the pick up bays trying to spot Pierre’s car. Frowning when you couldn’t see him you felt your phone start ringing. Rolling your eyes you answered the call.
“Où es-tu? Where are you?”
“Tournez-vous à droite, je suis dans une location. Turn to you right, I'm in a rental.” He chuckled, watching as you turned around smiling when you saw the car ending the call.
Finishing your smoke you chucked your case into the back of the car before you clambered into the front seat.
“How is he doing?” You asked, watching the scenery change.
“Recently a lot better.” Pierre smiled softly, glancing over at you. “Ever since you FaceTimed him on Lucy’s birthday everything changed.”
“Truth is it took a lot for me to text him that day, I did it more so for me than Luce.” You admitted, leaning your head against the window.
“I know,” he winked, “Je ne suis pas aussi stupide que tu le penses. I'm not as stupid as you think I am.”
“Ferme-la et conduit. Shut up and drive.” You giggled, pulling your phone out finding yourself texting Charles with a huge smile on your face.
-
The crowd was going mental as Charles crossed the line with Pierre close behind him. Your smile was wide as you watched from Pierre’s garage. Everyone on the team had been so accommodating, setting you up so you were hidden out of sight.
Your heart was racing so fast you thought it was going to burst through your chest. Keeping your eyes glued to the screen you watched as the cars pulled up to the podium. All you wanted to do was run over to Charles but you had to wait. The plan was you were going to slip into the crowd blending in whilst he took the podium.
“Y/N, it’s time.” Pierre’s manager grinned, wrapping her arm around your shoulders. “Go get your man.”
Taking a deep breath you silently prayed that this didn’t backfire. Pushing your way through the crowd you found the perfect position in the sea of people, you still had the cap on so your face was shielded for now.
Watching your man brought tears to your eyes as you watched him pull the black cord from his fireproofs, squeezing his eyes closed before kissing your engagement ring, once he had done that he lifted the trophy in the air. That was your queue.
The crowd fell silent for a split second as they watched in awe so you took that to your advantage, wolf whistling causing Pierre to grin, nudging his friend, leaning into him and whispering something to the Monégasque.
You wasn’t quite sure what Pierre said to Charles but he started scanning the crowd until he locked eyes with you, even from this distance you could see the tears that rolled down his cheek as he was trying to determine if this was real or not. Pulling the Ferrari cap off you ran your fingers through your hair, throwing him a wink.
Everything happened in slow motion from that point, as soon as Charles was off the podium he passed the trophy to Pierre before pushing his way through the crowd ignoring everyone that was shouting at him to come back.
All that mattered to him was getting to his girl.
Fumbling with the sleeves of the hoodie you watched as the crowd moved out of his way, you knew the camera’s would be following but you didn’t care.
As soon as he was within touching distance you ran into his arms, jumping so your legs were around his waist and arms around his neck. Automatically you nuzzled your face into the crook of his neck inhaling the smell of after shave. Once again the world felt right again.
“Je suis désolé. I’m sorry” you cried over and over against his skin causing him to hold onto you tighter.
“Tu n'as pas besoin de t'excuser, je suis celui qui t'a conduit au point de rupture. You don't need to apologise, I am the one who led you to breaking point.” He cried, refusing to let you go even when your legs dropped to the ground, his arms securely wrapped around your waist.
The pair of you stood in silence with the whole world watching you reconnect.
“Just kiss her!” Pierre hollered, making you both chuckle.
“Il y a quelque chose que je dois faire d'abord. There is something I need to do first.” He grinned, moving so he could pull the black cord from under his fireproofs.
Your eyes fixated on him as he undid the clasp letting the diamond ring fall into the palm of his hand.
Tears rolled down your cheeks as he dropped down onto one knee in the middle of the crowd.
“Je sais que je l'ai déjà demandé, mais je sais que j'ai été un connard et que je passerai ma vie à me rattraper. I know I have asked this before but I know I have been a dick and I will spend my life making it up to you.” He grinned, taking your hand in his, his eyes shining bright with love. “Je t'ai laissé t'éloigner de moi une fois et je ne laisserai plus jamais ça arriver. Y/N tu es mon monde, rien d'autre n'a d'importance si tu n'es pas à mes côtés. I let you walk away from me once and I'm not going to ever let it happen again. Y/N you are my world, nothing else matters if you aren't by my side.” He cried, taking a deep breath. “Je ne peux plus supporter d'être séparé de toi. Y/N allez-vous me rendre l'homme le plus heureux une fois de plus et accepter de reprendre ce stupide monégasque et de devenir sa femme. I can't bear to be apart from you any longer. Y/N will you make me the happiest man once again and agree to take this stupid Monégasque back and become his wife.”
Tears streamed down your cheeks as you looked down on the one person that made everything better. The last couple of months told you that you would rather be by his side no matter how shit times are or how hard they got.
Slowly you nodded your head as a huge grin spread on your face. “Yes.” You breathed, watching his smile grow ten times wider as he slid your engagement ring back in your finger.
Once he was happy it was securely in place he pushed himself to his feet, placing both hands on your cheeks, wiping the tears away with his thumbs.
“Back where it belongs.” He breathed against your lips, before capturing them in a steering kiss.
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demonslayedher · 4 months
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It didn't seem right to skip over episodes I didn't draw recaps for! Things that ran through my head while watching this episode:
--When making this episode, Ufotable had the advantage of knowing what would come later in the manga. While rewatching it today, I had the advantage of knowing what would come later in the anime.
--By that, I mean the judicious use of Nezuko's lines in Tanjiro's dream in "Kamado Nezuko no Uta" *cough which I was just singing again at karaoke a few hours ago so it's even fresher in my brain cough*
--By that, I also mean the imagery of the field of Nichirin-to, wisteria petals, and dawn-like light as Tanjiro contemplates if he were to become a demon, and how he would trust that someone in the Corp would cut his head off for him --It never gets old how the Shabana siblings are a foil to the Kamado siblings, especially because Tanjiro recognizes how close they were and takes it to heart. I love how Gyutaro took a liking to Tanjiro on account of Tanjiro being laughably pathetic, and by merit of both of them being big brothers. That gives them something to relate to which is totally independent of whether they are demons or humans.
--I love that scene with Gyutaro mocking Tanjiro so much; it's one of those scenes that Ufotable really slowed down and dialed up the drama in, while still making every action make sense and count. One of the most tense conversations in the whole anime, and Gyutaro's glee is palpable. I love that all the names he calls Tanjiro are names that he was called when he was human, and while I don't think Gyutaro is conscious of it, it feels like at some level, he's yelling these things at himself because he's angry with himself for having failed to protect Ume.
--Speaking of, I love how Daki is like, "nuh uh, Oniichan, don't you dare make these two our friends, I hate them" and Gyutaro ignores her because she's an annoying little sister. Such siblings. Also, the way she's just casually sitting totally unphased at the top of the building is the biggest mockery, as it rubs him how useless their hard-earned triumph in the previous episode was. I love how much that theme gets stressed in this series--that is what it means to fight demons!
--Kimetsu logic: don't give us any idea what the characters are doing until after they've already done it. Tanjiro wasn't running away, but instead grabbing a kunai and covering its scent? Oh, ok, cool. Zenitsu had another variation on his one technique and he can only use it twice in one fight? Ok, cool. Inosuke can move his organs and resist poison? You know what, okay. Also, a note of voice acting--I love how heroically deep sleeping Zenitsu's voice is (I'm sure that's how the hero of Legend of Zenitsu always speaks), and how Inosuke is clearly Not Okay.
--Uzui can stop his heart? Sure. Alright. I wonder how much of that was voluntary in the middle of a fight with his little Tsuguko on the line, though--perhaps he also went into that state to prevent himself from bleeding out from his arm? But man, he is no-o-o-o-t looking good, that is truly fighting with desperation, however elated he is to have completed his sheet music technique.
--His wives were watching when he was down on the ground and supposedly dead. ;__;
--Ufotable always has such a challenge to make every Breath technique look amazing and they keep raising the bars. Even though a lot of the height of this battle was just being flashy and yelling at each other, they still had to thing about battle mechanics, like what hits they actually manage to get in on each other (Uzui didn't just lose the eye, he took a nasty hit in the abdomen, too!) and the moment Uzui drops one of his swords. Although a lot of the fighting in this episode is slowed down by character thoughts, if you put it all in sequence, it was very, very quick.
--This entire battle, actually, probably did not take very long. The initial blows exchanged between Tanjiro and Daki took a while, but once it got going with Uzui involved, it was very, very fast-paced. Considering people only started to evacuate during the Daki and Tanjiro battle, and most of them were still there during Nezuko's fight, it was probably very lucky if it was vacated by the time this episode started. We don't know how long Tanjiro was out cold, but hopefully that was enough time for the stragglers to get away before Gyutaro's final attack (but Nezuko saves them, yaaay, I also get to enjoy knowing that Nezuko's fire at the end of this episode because Ufotable made that cool choice too!). Anyway, part of the reason I bring up the speed of this battle is because I am still cross at Ufotable for messing up the timeline by placing this arc in very late autumn, which is should had been in summer, thereby making the night short in the first place--and uncomfortably hot even before you add all the flames! (Added bonus: hot and muggy for the boys when they're in kimono and makeup, because that's funny.)
--THE MARRRRKKKKKK
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pt XII good omens sEAsOn 2 (the non-traumatic part) episode 1
Alright yes I know, I know, it's been two days since the livestream. I was reading fanfiction. Don't blame me, love made me crazy, and all that. I'm enjoying myself as much as I can before we get to the season 2 finale. But here we go, season 2, episode one, maggots:
[on reading this back after finishing, a lot of text is my being in love with Crowley. mainly, points 3, 4, 9, 14, 17, 18, yes I have issues, feel free to skip that for an absolutely concise and precise summary]
Before the livestream starts, everyone decides that there will be no spoilers whatsoever on the chat, even hidden with the black, because I have a tendency to keep clicking and revealing them. I'm sorry, temptation and all. I have emotional support fruit, an apple, two kiwis, two sapotes and two bananas.
When the livestream starts, it has to be restarted, because I am an incompetent nincompoop and have somehow managed to muck up my settings. And it is absolutely imperative that I watch the opening scene.
So then I do. And immediately have to consume my emotional support apple because I am so fucking in love with Crowley. Already? someone asks. Yes bloody already, I need that apple.
Thanks, guys. I'm broken. Crowley. Just. She looks so peaceful and untraumatised, so delighted with the plans, so full of wonder at what she's creating. Let there be light, she says, and rather than seeing Crowley turn off a streetlight with a flick of his fingers, we get to see her create nebulas. Aziraphale looks at her and he's just instantly so spellbound, and who would bloody blame him? His wings just do a slight dip of realisation that he's fucked when Crowley says the gorgeous line. Look at Crowley. Worried about the apocalypse. Smiling at Aziraphale, and we can see Azi's concern because something as pure as that has to be protected and Aziraphale knows what Heaven will do to Crowley if she dares to ask questions. Crowley is angelic and filled with light and Aziraphale sees that and tries to keep her safe with his words.
Hey spoiler alert, it doesn't work, Crowley's wings are greying even as she protects Azi and Crowley falls and I hate everything and I am filled with unbridled rage.
UNDERSTAND? RAGE.
I am speculating how much pain and torture Crowley went through when she fell into Hell that first time. I am told to not ask questions I don't want answers to.
Maggie sells records, Aziraphale is a cutiepie, and Maggie is very gay for Nina.
Crowley is lounging on a park bench, suit and skinny tie, just being all sexy and demonic and probably contemplating nihilism.
Crowley spreads awareness about duck health. No bread, guys. Frozen peas. He also angsts a lot to Shax (whom I keep mixing up with Michael) about the meaning of life. Someone points out that this is very Barbie of him. "do you ever think about death". Ah, Crowley.
More lesbians gaying. I would kill for Nina's hair.
JIMBRIEL IN THE HOUSE. I WON'T SAY ANYMORE ABOUT HIS ENTRANCE BECAUSE THIS IS NOW A TOPIC OF CONTROVERSY. BUT JIMBRIEL IN THE HOUSE.
Aziraphale, ah I love him, absolutely fucking panics and has the loading symbol over his angelic little head at all times. FINALLY, THIS SHOW IS A COMEDY.
Crowley is leaning on his Bentley and mmmmhm his arms and his lounging and his personality I am back to crunching on my temptation emotional support apple.
Sorry back to the summary. Jim finds Aziraphale funny and says he loves him. Someone points out that this was the fandom upon encountering my dumbass self. "You're funny Asmi we love you."
Aziraphale is a little bitchy babygirl, really just enough of a bastard to be worth knowing. Just absolutely slaying through every Jimbriel scene. 100000/10.
Six shots of fucking espresso in a big cup. Crowley, I love you. Can I love Crowley any more than this? Yes I can. My love for Crowley is like the universe, infinite and yet ever-expanding, explosive with entropy.
Crowley holds the door open for Aziraphale and holds his plate and honestly what absolute husband (gn) behaviour.
CROWLEY MEETS JIMBRIEL WHO IS FUCKING DUSTING AND LEAPS BACKWARD AND JUST RELIVES TRAUMA WHILE JIM IS CHILLING AND AZIRAPHALE IS STILL GAY PANICKING. I LOVE THIS SHOW.
MARRIAGE QUARRELS ABOUT ADOPTING JIM, JUST ANOTHER DAY IN THE FELL-CROWLEY HOUSEHOLD.
Coffeeshop AU lesbians time.
Heaven is horrible.
MURIEL IS BABY I LOVE THEM HELLO CUTIEPATOOTIE.
There is an ethereal paper file.
Beezlebub beezles their way into Crowley's car and is very concerned in Hell about finding Jimbriel.
Nina's partner is a toxic ass don't worry about it.
Sulky Crowley says he's back and apology dance time mmmhm.
Miracle hide Jimbriel time, but they've got to be subtle. They do the miracle. Jim is glad to have friends.
They are very proud of themselves for their subtle miracle.
THEY ARE SO FUCKING USELESS. FUCKING USELESS LITTLE GAYASS DISASTERS JESUS LORD IN HEAVEN. LITERALLY IN HEAVEN ALARM BELLS ARE EVERYWHERE.
GREAT JOB, GAYS. GREAT JOB.
End of episode one. Take this screenshot.
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agendercrisisx · 4 months
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I return with more Denki brainrot
Denki gets super fixated on media like anime and stuff, and his favorite thing is the way his partner will just sit there and listen or even get fixated on the same media as him. You get super heated about something in the media he introduced you to? Immediately kissing you, no thoughts required. He softly says how much he loves you and then fucks you so gently and lovingly, making sure you know how much you mean to him and muttering everything he loves about you through kisses. I LOVE HIM OKAY
Ranting With Your Boyfriend
I don't know how I missed this in my inbox, it's so perfect. And our perfect Denki needs more attention.
Also, I looked for like 15 minutes, to find some info about his favorite animes or media, and I couldn't find shit. So I'm just gonna make something up, I love Brooklyn 99 and Marvel so I'm gonna write that he likes some of that. (The only thing I could find he likes was Pokemon, but that felt a bit on the nose. And it wasn't an official site, it was fans answering questions about him, and after Pokemon had been the answer 8 times, I kind of gave up.)
Also, I'm obsessed with both franchises, so what Denki says about the shows is my own opinion, so this is my excuse to rant about them. So spoilers for season 8 of B99. It's not important to the story, so you can just skip it.
Denki Kaminari x gn!reader
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Warnings: sex, semi-public sex (someone can definitely hear them),
Word count: 2079
Denki's lips are moving faster than any of the others in the rooms can even try to understand, but you're right by his side clinging to his every word. Your eyes locked on his face, his so beautiful face. How his blonde hair falls perfectly around his face, and his soft lips, talking about his favorite show. You watched every episode of Brooklyn 99 with him, he may have watched it 17.000 times before you, but he watched it with you. He explained everything to you, every detail, everything about the actors, he made you notice things you never would have on your own.
"The only problem is the last season. It feels forced. Mac is amazing and it shows how much Jake has grown, but Terry has almost had no character growth, and the fact that Raymond and Kevin separate is just so weird, cause they always talked about stuff, and the fact that Kevin can't feel the pressure Holt is under is just weird. But of course, the kiss they share at the end of the season i so perfect, it makes me wanna cry every time. Also, there are so many plot holes, all seasons through. Jake at some point talks about how Blockbuster is gone, and then a season or so later, he asks the others what happened to Blockbuster. The same with stuff they just make up at some point, they say one thing and make a character some way, and then a season later, or just an episode later, they go against what they had made up about the character."
His ramble is the cute thing about him, the smile on your lips as he just talks and talks about the problems with his favorite show. You know that he'll in just a second start explaining what's so good about it. And like a cue, he continues.
"But at the same time, it's so comforting. It's funny, it's not offensive and it doesn't make fun of marginalized groups. There's all kinds of representation, and... Oh yeah, did you know that the actors for Amy Santiago, Melissa Fumero, and Rosa Diaz, Stephanie Beatriz, never thought they'd both get the role? Cause they're both Latina, and when one of them got the role, the other one thought it was lost, but they both got it and they were both so happy. And they play the characters amazingly. Did you also know, that Stephanie often breaks character and smiles or laughs in scenes, you just need to look for it. It's amazing that..."
Before he gets to finish his sentence, your lips are on his, and a small sound leaves his lips. But with the others in the room, he tries his best to stay quiet.
"Get A Room!" Bakugous voice is sharp, and you quickly break apart.
"Oh let them be." Mina interrupts, smiling at you and hitting Bakugou in the back of his head. He doesn't say anything and falls further back on the couch. Mina continues,
"But if you need some peace and quiet, we can leave." She gestures at the boys on the couch, Kirishima and Sero are playing cards and look up at Mina, nodding. Bakugou just scowls, keeping his mouth shut. Denki looks at you, trying to figure out what you want.
"You don't have to, but..." Before you get to finish your sentence, Mina interrupts.
"That's our queue, let's go boys." She hurries them out of the sofa, while you and Denki are still sitting on the ottoman. Sero winks at you before Kirshima pushes him out the door. Mina following right after pushing Bakugou.
"Just us," Denki whispers and pushes a lock of your hair, out of your face.
"Yeah just us," you smile and he returns it even wider.
"Do you remember the last two heist episodes?" He nods, and you continue. "It's a sweet ending, but at the same time, it just feels rushed, like they couldn't figure out a good ending and they just quickly came up with something. It's also kinda sad that we never really see Arlo, we see him in like one episode, I miss my pretty golden labrador..."
Denki grabs the back of your head pulling you into a heated kiss. It's slow at first, letting you taste the chocolate on his lips, as he sweeps his tongue against your bottom lip. You smile into the kiss and he pulls you harder against him, taking control of it. Leading you how he wants you, softly laying you down on the ottoman, so he can pull your head back and kiss your neck.
You let out a groan as he bites the tender spot on your neck, that he knows gets you weak in the knees. He nibbles at your earlobe, slowly letting out a strained moan.
"God you're perfect, my perfect angel. You make me so fucking hard, you know that? With those eyes of yours, looking like you want to get fucked all the time. Those puppy eyes, begging me to take control and fuck you senseless. Oh, how I can't wait to bury myself inside you, feeling you clench around me as I fuck you so slowly." He pulls away from your ear, looking down at the lust in your eyes. He knows you so well, he knows everything about you. And you him.
"Let us get this thing out of the way," he pulls at your shirt, and you're quick to help him get it off. He looks down at your chest, with eyes that make you melt. He loves you so much, everything about you, not even caring what others think. You mean everything to him, and no one can change the fact that he's planning to marry you.
"Your turn," you utter, and he almost rips it in half trying to get it off. His chest is defined, nipples you wanna put in your mouth, abs you wanna ride. Everything about him is just so perfect. So damn perfect.
"My eyes are up here angel." He laughs and you join in, he makes the dumbest jokes, at the dumbest time.
You reach out for him, and he stays still as your fingers slowly run along his abs. His toned muscle feels hard under your fingers, and as your finger travels lower, he lets out a trembling breath.
"Be nice... please." His words are shaky and you smirk. You let your hand wander and glide it along the sexy v muscle at the bottom of his torso. He exhales unsteadily, and you can see how weak this makes him.
"Let's make a deal, you fuck me nice and good, and I'll behave. I promise." He doesn't see the crossed fingers behind your back and quickly bends down above you to catch your lips in a kiss. You moan into it as he strokes your tongue with his own, he softly caresses your cheek. He puts his knee down between your legs, pushing you backwards.
"I'll take good care of you angel, but you gotta promise to keep quiet. We're still in the living room after all." You nod, already too eager for what's about to happen.
He places a soft kiss just behind your ear, and a shiver runs down your spine. He slowly moves further down, letting soft kisses follow his path. He stops at your nipple, softly licking around it, and taking it in his mouth to suck. You let out a strained moan, and he immediately lets go.
"What?! No. No. No. please continue." You whimper, a smirk playing on his lips.
"We need to make a deal if you're loud..." He pauses for a second, "Then I'll stop. Well end out fun, so you gotta stay quiet, angel."
"How is that fair?! You know that's not realistic." You mutter, staring at Denki.
"Okay, we can just stop here and watch a movie?" You stare at him with the most evil glare you can obtain.
"Fine." You pout, walk over, and sit down on the couch. Denki is right behind you, sitting down next to you. He places a hand on the backrest and around you. You say nothing and just hand him the remote. He finds a show, and you're too riled up to even care what's playing.
Denki pulls a blanket down and swoops it around you, cowering you completely. For a few minutes, you are just watching the movie. Annoyed by the fact that he left you hanging, but nothing to do about it now.
His hand on the backrest slowly moves down, moving around you to find your desperate hole. You whimper as he puts soft pressure where you need him the most.
"Let's help you out. Shall we?" He whispers, slowly moving your clothes out of the way with his hand, so his finger can steadily sink into you. You whimper, doing your best to keep quiet. Not knowing if his demands are still the same.
His pace is torturingly slow, pumping in and out of you. His eyes are still on the show, not even offering you a glance as he fucks you with his fingers. You whimper as he hits a certain spot in you, biting your lip to try and keep the noise contained.
He smirks, but his gaze is still on the screen. He pulls his digits out and a desperate noise escapes your mouth.
"That was beyond mean." You state, and his eyes finally move to you, studying you, like he is trying to remember every detail. His hand finds your cheek and he pulls you into a kiss, it's slow at first, letting you savor the feel of him. He pulls you onto his lap, and he swiftly takes control of the kiss and makes you grind your hips onto his hard cock. You moan, and he bites your lips to keep you quiet.
"Let's get these clothes off you, so I can get inside... soon. I need you." His voice is so filled with lust, you can feel yourself clench around air. God you want him inside you, as quickly as possible. You need him more than air.
He rips your pants and underwear off you in one swift motion, leaving your bottom bare. He pulls himself out of his pants, not caring about anything, but you right now. He grips your hips and pulls you onto him. He moans, and a scream rips from your throat.
"Fuck you feel good, angel. Damn... I..." He's breathing heavily, trying to catch his breath. As the feeling of you around him surrounds him. You feel so damn good.
He lifts you up slowly and lets you drop down again. You moan into his neck and he does it again. Slowly setting the pace, taking care of you. Moving you, right as he wants you.
His rough hands on your waist are the only thing that keeps you grounded. He feels so heavenly in you, you can already feel the tension building in you. The feeling building and building. He keeps the pace of you on him, your head in his neck moaning softly as he moves you.
"Oh angel, you already close? Want my help?" You moan softly into the crook of his neck, and thats his cue. His hips snap up into you, making you cry out. He does it again, fucking up into you, so much faster than the pace was before.
"Cum for me angel! I need you to cum!" The strain in his voice, tells you he is close too. But you don't have to be told twice. The tension snaps and your whole body falls into a little piece of heaven. Your whole body is tingling, and your sight goes white for a second, as you slowly come back down to earth.
His hips are still snapping up into you, and you know he is so close.
"Please baby, please cum for me, please, please, please, I want your cum." You whisper in his ear, and that's the last thing he needs. He cums in you, painting your walls white. The feeling of his cum in you makes you whimper. Everything about him feels so good.
"I love you so much, angel." His breathing is heavy and he lets his head rest on your shoulder. " You did such a good job for me. I'm so proud of you baby." He mumbles into your shoulder, kissing the skin softly.
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meshlasolus · 3 months
Text
The Winner Takes It All
Episode 1
Pairing: Finnick Odair x Tribute(OC)!Reader
Chapter Warnings: The Hunger Games reaping. Canon typical angst. Reader has a speech impediment.
Chapter Summary: Lukas Artanhour is your best friend since childhood who makes the worst decision of his life when he volunteers as tribute for the 71st annual hunger games... Luckily, he won't be going alone, and you didn't even have to volunteer.
Word Count: 2.8k
Don't be detered by the OC in this chapter, he is just someone I made up to make the hunger games more emotional of an event 🙃
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The representative from the Capitol being the same every year was almost a comforting sort of repetition through the years, but compared to the annual tradition it surrounded, you were hardly relaxed at seeing him make his dazzling appearance. A new outfit every year, made from the finest fabrics and silks that eight had to offer… And you wore the same green top and skirt. At least this year there were seashells. 
“Good afternoon, District Four!” His shout of happiness was hardly felt by any who stood here in this gathering. “There’s nothing like being here, amongst the beautiful waters and sandy beaches.”
It’s cold and windy down by the docks, with the sand getting kicked up from time to time. District Four is one of the most beautiful places in all of Panem, and it’s known, as all districts are, for its main production to the Capitol. Fish. 
The people here are wealthier than most in the districts, a close third in rank to both one and two, who reign supremely amongst the favorites. The Hunger Games have obviously played a serious part in all of that. Four being a career district meant that the Capitol goers were far more likely to invest. Careers are the favorites, no matter which district they come from. 
The reaping is today, and you don’t want to think about it. It is why you arrive at your work station an hour before you need to be there. You’ve spent years of your life down here by the docks, whether it was waiting for your father’s boat to return, or your friend to bring you the boxes that needed to be loaded onto Capitol trucks. You’re a mover, it’s your job. It doesn’t pay well, because the real money is in fishing, but you wouldn’t dare go out on a boat. 
“You’re early,” Lukas nearly spooks you, smiling after watching you jump from surprise. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s r-reaping day. I couldn’t s-sleep.”
He was used to the skip and stutter of your words, un-phasing him as you spoke each one. 
“I get it. My mom keeps hounding me about it. Every year I grow taller, stronger, she tells me I could win,” he sat down next to you in the sand, handing you a shell he found on his way here. “Another for the collection.”
“Thanks,” you took it gratefully, placing it in your pocket for safekeeping until later. You journeyed back to his previous words, what he meant by them. “Does your mother w-wish you’d gone through the career program?”
He shrugged, looking out into the sea, his mind just as full of indecent thoughts as yours. 
“I’m not sure what she wants. Ever since dad died she’s just been… different.”
“My parents have s-said, if it ever gets t-too bad, you c-can always stay with us.”
He nods, his appreciation shown through a single sideways glance. He knows he has places to go, he knows that there are others that are willing to treat him as a son should be treated, but he wants his own mother to do it. He longs for the woman she once was, and hopes if he can make her proud enough, maybe she will be that way again. 
“I’ll think about it,” he said, but he’d been saying that for the past year. 
So far, you’d learned she’d been hitting him, been yelling and screaming about how he would never measure up to his father. You never saw these interactions of course, because if you had you may have broken down for him, your friend of eleven years. In school, he was the only one who would talk to you, the only person who ever gave a damn about the girl with the stutter. He defended you when they made fun of you left and right, for nearly everything they thought was wrong with you.
“You s-shouldn’t listen to her,” you shook your head, the waves crashing on the shoreline several yards down. It was the only thing that would remain peaceful about today, when later on two children would be hauled off and expected to fight or die. “She isn’t in her r-right mind anymore.”
“I know that.” 
He agrees, he knows. He is well aware that her mind slipped maybe even before her husband died. She had been driving him to the long hours that he’d worked, and eventually made him work out on a ship during a storm. The boat sinking was just fan to the flame of her deteriorating mental state. 
He picked up a rock from the sand a few feet over, standing up and tossing it to skip over the water before it began to wash on the shore. He gave you a hand to your feet, pulling you up until you were steady. 
“Boat leaves in a few minutes, I’ll see you when we get back,” he said, turning on his heel in the sand. You nodded at him before he walked off, into the working hours of the day. You shouldn’t even be here for another hour. You know that they’ll be gone for two or more and you don’t need that long to prep the boxes. But you can’t sleep. 
-
Lukas returned to the docks with a much better mindset. The water always made him feel serene. He came to land, lugging the giant nets tied together to keep the fish from falling out. Today’s catch was good as any other, and the songs the boys sang on board nearly made him forget everything else. 
“Salmon are catching like crazy this time of year,” he muttered, meeting you halfway to help you untie the knots and start packing the boxes. “Thinking I might sneak one home if there’s extra. You probably can, too.”
“I’ll t-try. My pa could use s-something more to eat.”
He weeded through all the skimpy ones, pulling the biggest catches out first and laying them sideways in the boxes, filling the middles with ice before adding another layer. It was the same thing everyday, but he never tired of it. He was content to live the life of a district four fisherman, and he was good at it. 
“How’s his arm doing?” He asked, since you’d brought up your father. 
He’d broken it in a rigging accident about two months ago, and the slow healing process was not doing your family any favors. You’d been hungry several times, so obviously extreme measures had to be taken. You won’t think about that right now, though.
“Not any better, n-not any worse.” The fish box was nearly packed, but you paused to think for a moment. “Maybe I s-should try and catch. It pays a lot m-more, and we could use the money.”
He grabbed you by the shoulder and turned you to face him. 
“You’d be scared to death. If your family needs some money, I can help out. It’s the least I can do when they offer me free lodging,” he half joked, completely serious in all aspects about the help with financial assistance. 
“Lodging that y-you’ve never taken.”
“Listen, I’m happy to help if you need me to. Especially with your brother, now,” he mentioned, making you think about the sweet little sleeping face you’d passed by on the way out of your home. Your baby brother, born not a year ago. You hated the idea of him growing up hungry, or having to start work early in his life like you did. 
“Well, t-thank you. I’ll think about it.”
He shook his head, seeing as how you quoted him from all the times your family offered him help before. 
He waved you off when you finished stacking the prepared boxes onto your slab dolly, tilting it back and beginning to push it towards the truck that pulled in not too long ago. It was a steep climb, up the ramp from the docks and onto the street, but it made you quite strong over the years. That and all the heavy lifting, becoming easier with every twenty by thirty of fish. 
Lukas would be taking off early today, as would most of the other boys of age. You would be heading home after loading this shipment as it were. You had to shower, had to clean up your hair and skin and make yourself presentable for the reaping. 
You opened the back of the truck, tossing the boxes up one at a time, before climbing into it and stacking them neatly in one of the four corners. You always managed to obtain a single splinter from every shipment loaded, but luckily today’s wasn't too bad, you could probably dig it out with a small pin. 
Later in the day, your mother gave you a solemn smile as you walked out the door, having just been readied and dressed in your best clothes. Even in a wealthier district, they still had mended holes in the bottom of your skirt. That’s the sad thing about every district. Even amongst the wealthier ones, there’s still poverty that simply cannot be helped. The Capitol's greed and thirst for luxury, needing every little thing that life has to offer at their beck and call. You can’t even imagine what it’s like in places like eight or twelve. Places where food is not the primary cultivation of the people. 
It was light green, your outfit. It had white seashells on the waist of the top, and a few along the edge of the skirt as well. They hadn’t always been there, but you insisted they should be. You didn’t really have much else of a use for all the shells you stole from the sands of the shoreline. You hated wearing the same outfit to this single event every year. You hardly wore it any other time, which made a distaste for it grow every time it came out of your closet. 
The way your mother did your hair was simple. A single french braid down the back of your head, tied off with a light green ribbon to match everything else. She watched how it fell a bit looser with every step you took, making your way across the streets and into the city’s center. It’s your last year, and having avoided every year before, you know you should feel a semblance of relief, but you don’t. 
Your mother waits for the peacekeeper behind a stand to check your name off a list before she parts with you, hugging you tightly one last time and allowing you to kiss the head of the baby on her hip. He’s primarily the reason you remain so nervous. Even if your name doesn’t get called, his could be, someday.
You line up in an open space, next to the last girl that checked in. She wasn’t in your row last year, you would have remembered her. She was pretty, with blue eyes and dark raven hair. Her skin was tanned like most in four, but had a certain glow about it. She’s too pretty to be reaped, you thought. It didn’t make a difference, though. As you stared head on to the bowl on the stage, centered in front of the girl’s side, you got tense. Your name is in there six times this year. That’s three more than last year, and five more than the year before. 
Someone could still volunteer. But the career program had not made mention of producing a female tribute this year. It all depended on the luck of today’s draw. For all you knew, your name would be surpassed by someone else. There were other poverty stricken areas in four besides yours, and it made sense that somebody else could have been hungry enough to outgo you. 
You looked around to the boy's side. Lukas was there, and further up in the rows. He must have gotten here quickly after leaving the docks. His face was sullen, and something had changed, but you were unsure of what it was. When he looked around, you almost thought he’d been looking for somebody, but his expression told a far different story. 
The last few children in the line were filing in, and the musical fanfare blasted through the speakers by the stage. You were grateful not to be so close to those this year. 
The representative from the Capitol being the same every year was almost a comforting sort of repetition through the years, but compared to the annual tradition it surrounded, you were hardly relaxed at seeing him make his dazzling appearance. A new outfit every year, made from the finest fabrics and silks that eight had to offer… And you wore the same green top and skirt. At least this year there were seashells. 
“Good afternoon, District Four!” His shout of happiness was hardly felt by any who stood here in this gathering. “There’s nothing like being here, amongst the beautiful waters and sandy beaches.”
His rabble was boring, and nearly the same as it was last time. The anticipation was killing just about every girl and boy in this crowd, knowing there were no careers at the ready this year. It was always easier to rest at night while knowing if your name was called, another courageous youngster would step in to take your place. 
“I’m so excited to be back and reaping this year’s tributes for the 71st annual Hunger Games!” 
There was a surge of excitement coming from the sidelines, and it was only now that you looked past the blockades to see that there were actual Capitol civilians standing there this year. How nice, some onlookers for when an innocent child gets sent away to their death. Absolutely wonderful. You looked on past them, towards the victors standing close by. They seemed anxious as well, the old woman holding one fist to her mouth while the other clutched her chest. She rocked back and forth on her heels, and had to take a step every few seconds to keep from becoming too restless. The young man was stiff, his arms behind his back and every muscle in his body tense as a board. His eyeline never left the bowls on the stage. They went through this once, too.
When you refocused on the man at the microphone, your heart beat rapidly. He was approaching the boy’s side of the stage. 
After a small flourish of his hand, the Capitol rep stuck his hand into the glass, two papers in his hand before he dropped one. The dropped paper’s namesake got immensely lucky this year. 
“Harley Miggsen,” he read the paper, but before the peacekeepers had a shot at cornering the poor fourteen year old kid, with his eyes wide in horror, another voice spoke up. 
“I volunteer.” 
Your head snapped to Lukas, his hand raised high in the air. Murmurs started almost immediately about how everyone thought there weren’t any careers prepared. They spoke softly and wondered if there would be a career for the girls, too. Lukas isn’t a career, why would he do this?
“I… guess we have a volunteer,” the man at the mic clapped his hand, watching the young man getting ushered up the stairs to stand beside him on the stage. “What’s your name, son?” 
“Lukas Artanhour, sir.”
“Lukas Artanhour, everyone!” He raised his hand as to signal applause from the capitol guests, and they cheered, happy to see that there was now a potential victor as opposed to that poor boy from before. “Now for the ladies.”
You spared a glance at the victors once more, and they looked even more on edge for this pick than the last. Female victors were obviously more rare in every district, so getting a decent tribute that wouldn’t die right away was probably preferable. You couldn’t imagine all the people they’ve tried and failed to save over the years. The young man won only six years ago, but with no other victors since, that means he’s gone through twelve tributes. All dead, all gone. 
Your mind had been momentarily distracted, or at least it had been until the next name came over the loudspeakers. 
“Mercedes Blythe.” 
It almost didn’t register. 
It almost went in one ear and out the other.
It almost was paid no mind or attention…
But that is your name, and you’ve heard it said a million times since you were a baby. Not once did it ever sound like that, though. 
You stood still until you realized there were peacekeepers on their way to grab you. 
It was slow, the way you took steady steps from your row towards the stage. You couldn’t be rushed even if they tried to make you. You could only look at the ground. You didn’t want to chance looking up and seeing your mother past the blockades. God only knows what she’s thinking and feeling right now. After everything bad happens to a family, the mother of that family should not have to wonder whether her child will live or be killed in an arena. 
You finally looked up when you got to the stairs, meeting Lukas’ eyes first, and seeing they were sad and full of pity. You stood beside the Capitol rep on the other side, allowing him to raise your hands together while the tears finally welled up in your eyes. The delay in your mind was the only one to blame for that. 
“Ladies and gentlemen, district four’s tributes!”
-
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cyberrose2001 · 11 months
Note
Girl, I have a good one for you. If you recall the episode s2 ep21 in TFP when Prime got the Starsaber destroyed. He had a bit of an attitude at the end. Sure, everyone could understand why, but it makes you curious.
Place a f!human reader, supposely close to him. She cannot stand him acting this way and basically yells and bitches at him. In the end, he argues back which frighten her since she hasn't seen him mad. She runs only for him to come and apologize leading to confession and a nice NSFW!!
Consequences
TFP Optimus x human!fem!reader
I'm so sorry that this took waaay longer than intended, my word doc glitched and didn't save half of it so I had to rewrite the rest from memory :(
Either way, Medli, your requests are always so delicious to write, and I hope you enjoy!
Warnings: Overstimulation, orgasm denial, oral sex.
Word count: 2531
You can't stand him being like this, cold and distant. Optimus had just returned from retrieving the first set of the precious Omega keys that supposedly would revive Cybertron, but only with great sacrifice.
It was bad enough that Optimus thought he had lost another team member at the hands of Megatron, our rookie who tends to bite off more than he can chew. He hid his emotions well, but at that point, you could tell in his optics that he was about to snap. A force that you were sure would send shockwaves throughout the team and across the cosmos.
You knew that impact was evident when you watched Optimus walk through the ground bridge with a shattered Star Saber. A powerful weapon forged by the Primes solely delivered for Optimus's use is now destroyed, broken beyond repair. You can feel his EM field in the air, instantly dampening the atmosphere in the room. It's heavy, laden with sorrow and, worst of all, silent.
He hadn't said a word to you. Not even a glance or a nod. Nothing, nada. He skipped past everyone's worried looks and made a bee-line to the base computer, where the next set of Iacon coordinates remained projected onto the screen, waiting for him to decode them. The emotions on Optimus's face were difficult to read, a mixture of despair, desolation and, most of all, focus, all colliding behind these brilliantly blue optics you've come to love and drown yourself in.
But those hardened eyes won't prevent you from giving him a stern talking-to. You've grown close with the stoic leader for the short time you've known him compared to his potential billion-year lifespan. You're not afraid to tell him to take a break or say things how it was, no matter his intellect. And right now, the Prime needs a break.
You slowly approach him from behind. Even when he is helm deep in the monitor's circuits, you are sure he can still hear you. After all, Archivists were the eyes and ears of his home planet. You give him a light tap on his pede to try and draw his attention to you.
"Hey." You call out to him. His frame is unmoving, delicate servos feverishly typing away. He hadn't seemed to notice you, or maybe he was ignoring you. You give him another firm tap of your foot, which turns into kicking.
"HEY!" You yell to him, "I know your ears work. Get your head out of the computer and stop ignoring me!"
That got his attention. His servos stopped in their tracks, but his back still faced you. He seems to be listening.
"You need to take a break. You're overworking yourself." You fold your arms, "Those coordinates can wait. You can't decode them properly while your processor fries from lack of recharge."
"I'm fine." He says bluntly, not even bothering to turn and look at you.
If there's one thing you hate more than being ignored, it's when Optimus lies through his teeth.
"Optimus, you're not fucking fine!" In frustration, you throw your hands in the air, "Don't lie to me because I know when you do. Ever since you got back, you've totally ignored everyone… your team… even me! You're being a total bitch to everyone that actually cares about you. That's not who you are. Now, it's best that you get your head out of your aft and that damn computer and get some fucking rest!"
Now that struck a chord. Optimus spins around fast, slamming a fist into the concrete floor next to you and sending debris into the air, some almost hitting your face. He crouches close to your frame, harsh ex-vents grace over your body, and whips your hair around. But you stand your ground, albeit slightly terrified at the change of Optimus's demeanour.
"I do not suppose you believe Megatron wouldn't stop at nothing to get his claws on the next Iacon relics?" He growls. He's so close to you that you can see every dent and imperfection on his faceplate, some from his most recent battle with the Decepticon tyrant, "I will NOT stop until I decode the remaining coordinates. I will not let you or anyone prevent me from doing so. So if you would be so kind…"
He looms closer to you. He's growling at you. You step back but almost trip on the rubble scattered behind you, "Leave me alone."
You're trembling because of two potential reasons. Optimus has never raised his voice or got angry at you, not even at the other bots. And the second is the ungodly amount of blood rushing to your loins. You're at his mercy under his gaze. While you are surprisingly horny, you're intimidated by the pinpoint optics burning holes in your body.
"Fine. You wanna be left alone? Then I'll leave you alone." Your own fists are clenching now. You can't look vulnerable before him, "Come find me when you're not busy making out with the computer screen."
And with your final blow, you turn on your heel and storm out of the base, ignoring the wide-eyed faces of the other bots, who had unfortunately witnessed the whole thing. You didn't care where you were running to; you just needed to get out of there and blow off some steam. Something that Optimus should be doing as well.
-
Optimus watched you run out of the base, his optics softening a fraction. While what he said about not resting until he decodes the rest of the coordinates was true, Optimus caught himself lying when he told you to leave. You were the only thing preventing him from breaking down and losing his shit. You are why he hasn't locked himself in a stasis pod and cranked the dial to ten billion years so that he doesn't have to endure a moment longer of this Primus-forsaken war.
But watching the human he loved run away from him, he realised his mistake. Optimus has just pushed away the only human tethering him to the edge of a self-hatred cliff, and he's just cut the cord.
He releases his death grip on the crumbled floor, letting the pebbles fall out of the servos. You probably hate him now. You probably don't even want to see him again, and he doesn't blame you. But the least he could do was apologise before you leave for good.
-
Your feet are starting to ache. You know you've been walking for a while when there's nothing but desert sand and the worn-down asphalt of the road to keep you company.
You hadn't meant what you said to Optimus to come out so harsh. Most of the time, when you would first tell him to recharge, he would be reluctant but would oblige. Tough love was your philosophy. But this time, your philosophy may have been a step too far today. You greatly underestimated how stressed the Prime was. That was a mistake on your part. That fact that he was grieving the potential loss of a teammate and the weapon that could win the war? It would've helped if you were more understanding and compassionate.
You should turn back; the sun was beginning to set. It looks beautiful, and you wish Optimus was here because you know he would enjoy this as much as you do.
Speak of the devil. A low rumbling noise grows louder from some distance behind you; you know it's Optimus. Most likely coming to banish you from the base for how you spoke to him.
He rolls behind you and flashes his high beam, and you stop. You can feel and hear him transform behind you, but you don't turn to look at him because you feel ashamed.
"Optimus, I'm sorry for how I spoke to you." You take a deep breath and cradle your arms to your stomach, "I… I didn't realise how troubled you are about…"
A cold servo wraps around your shoulder, sending goosebumps across your body. Optimus carefully spins you around to face him, and he oozes your exact amount of regret. His optics cast a brilliant glow across your form, and the remaining flickers of the sunset reflect off his metal, casting him in an orange hue.
"Y/n, I should be the one who apologises." His downturned dermas hurt your heart, "There was no justification for my actions. I should not have lashed out at you the way I did."
"But there was justification for it, and I was careless about your feelings." You say, bringing a hand to the servo resting on your shoulder, "I shouldn't have said those things, I realise now."
A small smile creeps into the corner of Optimus's dermas, "Perhaps not, and while I am very saddened by today's events, I do not think you realise how much your words encourage me."
"But…" You're cut off by a smooth thumb brushing over your cheek.
"I should have told you this a long time ago, but… Primus, you are the only thing in this universe holding me together." He takes a sharp intake, "I love you more than anything."
Your breath catches in your throat. Optimus, the greatest warrior to ever grace this Earth, just confessed to you. In the middle of the desert, when the temperature is dropping but you don't even feel it because the warm glow of his optics and his confession sparks a fire in your chest.
"Optimus… I do… I love you… I." You struggle to find the words—instead, you involuntary shiver.
Of course, Optimus notices and give you a slight chuckle, "It is getting cold. May you accompany me back to base?"
You nod, and instantly, he transforms into his alt mode, leaving the passenger door open for you and you make haste and climb in, and he buckles the seat belt for you. Staring out the window to witness the last of the sunset, resting your head against the window as Optimus turns his heater on for you. You sigh in contentment as he pulls onto the road and journeys home.
-
"OptiMUUS… hngh… please." You whine from the bed and tug at the restraints on your wrists, soft, breathless begging as Optimus's grip on your thighs tightens and relaxes with every swipe of his glossa.
You could say that this was a form of payback, a playful punishment from when you yelled at him earlier. Even though he had forgiven you for saying those harsh words, he told you on the way home that he still needed to "put you in your place". At the time, you had no idea what that entailed, but little did you know the method Optimus liked to 'punish' you was to edge you on the cusp of euphoria multiple times only to deny you of any orgasm.
It was torture, but you kind of deserved it.
"P-Please, fuck…" You beg, writhing your hips as Optimus drags his glossa around your folds, then circles your clit, "I can't- no more… FUCK."
It was an endless back-and-forth pattern. Optimus would lick your folds and collect your fluids on his glossa before dragging it back to your clit, circling it and increasing the pressure momentarily. And just when you were so close to cumming he would stop teasing the bundle of nerves and go back to licking strips up your pussy. You tried rocking your hips desperately to chase the high, but it was in vain as he would instantly pull away and watch as your hips writhe around to find friction.
"I do believe you are close. Am I correct to assume so?" Optimus grins, pressing light kisses to the inside of your thigh and, in turn, smearing your fluids over your soft sweaty skin.
"You asshole," You groan as he presses a firm kiss to your clit, "You know I am-aahHHH!"
Your whine cuts you off as Optimus wraps his dermas around your clit and gives you a harsh suck, and rolls it around his denta.
"I do not like your choice of words, Y/n." He growls against your clit, sending vibrations throughout your body, "I am not the 'asshole' you speak of."
The sucking at your clit sends electrical shocks through your thighs, making them shake and clench around his helm. Your hands find purchase on the berth under you, and you grip the sheet so hard you can feel it rip. You can feel him smiling against your mound as you thrust your hips into his intake, finally feeling your orgasm wash over you. It was sweet relief from a long two hours of edging, and you weren't sure how much longer you could've handled his glossa torturing you.
Optimus lifts his helm from your pussy, and you're trying so hard not to whine as you watch him lick up a string of arousal still attached to his dermas.
"F-Fuck…" You whimper, hips stuttering. The torment is finally over, you think. But you were severely wrong when you felt a cold digit rub at your folds, and he pushed it inside. You cry in overstimulation as he curls the digit, pressing against your G-Spot in a mind-numbing, relentless thrust. Similar to Megatrons antics in retrieving those Iacon relics, this bastard is stopping at nothing until he retrieves every last orgasm from your trembling body.
Optimus chuckles as you throw your head back and try to maneuver your hips away from his servos. He's enjoying watching you become an overstimulated mess, he's getting a high out of it, and it's taking all your strength not to slap him in the helm. You love him, but this is getting too much for you.
"You seem to be enjoying your punishment, hm?" Optimus smirks and strums his thumb to your already hyper-sensitive clit, "It certainly looks that way. I wonder if I can make you overload again."
You let out a string of swears as he thrusts his digit with haste, his thumb circling your clit and increasing the pressure. The wet sounds between your thighs are lewd and only add to your pleasure. The room becomes hazy and distant as you clench around his digit, and a second orgasm slams your body within the span of two minutes. Optimus lets out a guttural groan as he feels your walls clench around his digit; Primus knows what it would feel like with his throbbing spike inside you.
Optimus watches as you pant, sweat covering your entire skin. He gives a breathless laugh and leans down to kiss your soft lips, his glossa transferring some of your fluids onto your tongue. During the kiss, he groans as he slowly drags his digit out of your dripping pussy and relishes the little whine you give him.
"You're mean." You groan out against his intake. Your body is exhausted from his torment, and you're sure he can feel your muscles quivering against his plating. He innocently chuckles as if he hadn't just made a mess of you.
"I can assure you this was a one-off. No more torment, love." Optimus kisses your forehead, servos tracing circles on your thighs, "But on this occasion, you needed to know the consequences of your actions in future."
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b4rbi3l4nd · 1 year
Text
SOS — bad as i wanna be yours
I THINK Y'ALL MIGHT LIKE WHAT GOES DOWN IN THIS CHAPTER IF YOU'RE SO DAMN UPSET ABT THE BABY LMFAO. Also I plan on continuing this series based off some of my fav songs on the albums so don't worry, it may seem like it's over but it is NOT, also a lot of y'all kept ASKING how Malia got pregnant, WELLL, first of all it's Wakanda, they probably got some vibranium super sperm or something and NEXT JUST IGNORE THAT AND SAY FANFICTION MAGIC Y'ALL. Also the only marvel movies/series I can watch without skipping through like dialogue or dozing off is the Black Panther movies and WandaVision so if these personalities do not match the MCU characters then MY BAD, ALSO LIKE THINKING OF HAVING A Y/N x PETER SERIES COMING IN SOON BC I ALREADY HAVE THE IDEA. IF THIS ALSO DOES NOT MATCH THE CORRECT MCU TIMELINE THEN MY BAD AGAIN, NOT A MARVEL FANATIC FR, I JUST CARE ABT BLACK PANTHER AND WANDA💀😦OR MAYBE A MODERN AVATAR SERIES? HM? OR NOT LMAO
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐋
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GIF by mandalor-din
series summary: you broke up with shuri a few years ago and left wakanda for good until namor. now that he's killed the queen and multiple wakandan civilians, he's seen as a great threat and as former second in command at shuri's lab and wakanda's loyal warrior it is your duty to return and fight for your country. but a certain somebody makes the mission way too hard to deal with.
episode summary: after the night with shuri, you're feeling way too uncomfortable around her, especially since you kept getting flashbacks the whole day, you thought she'd felt the same way but no, absolutely opposite. paired up with that, a surprise at the palace causes the final war to break out...or is it?
genre: ANGST, slow, slow, slow burn, fluff
pairing: shuri x black fem reader
episode warnings: mature dialogue, suggestive dialogue, suggestive scenes, cursing, trauma, shouting, mentions of death, suicide, missing people etc. this is a series. you are currently looking at the fourth chapter of the series, please go to my profile to read the previous chapters before continuing (if you haven't read the other chapters yet, if so, please continue)
taglist: @yvxmpire, @sweetalittleselfish-honey, @xxmilli, @queenofsimpsblog, @ziayamikaelson, @shuriislut, @atssukoo, @widowmakker, @cuddl3s4shur1, @n7cje, @ts1mp0ne, @locoforshuri
proofread?: no but if there are errors then it's grammarly's fault.
word count: girl idfk
inspirations: 'SOS' — SZA
song: 'Love Language' — SZA
send your thoughts and requests
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You rub your eyes before blinking repeatedly and looking around. The first thing you feel as your senses come to is the arms of someone around you.
Memories immediately come flooding to your mind as your mouth dropped to the floor wide open.
"Tonight, baby i want you."
"I love when you wear that sthandwa"
"Fuck, I love when you get vocal entle.
"Hm...? It's just one finger baby, you can take more than that right?"
You stopped your mind from spitting out more dirty words that Shuri said to you last night. You took deep breaths before looking over at your phone on the nightstand.
10:30 AM.
You put your hands on hers, slowly removing them from your body. As you tried to free from her grip, she just tightened them and pulled you even closer. You could feel her breath on your neck.
Fuck was she awake?
You slowly turned around in the bed till you were face to face with her. She was so beautiful in her sleep, her curls just perfectly falling in place in her face.
You shook your head.
Stay focused Y/N.
You tried again, this time, grabbing a pillow and putting it in your place before rolling out of bed.
Once you got out, you sighed and then looked at yourself in the mirror. Her t-shirt was bunched up on your hips, completely exposing the lower half of your body. You looked around for your lingerie, slipping the lower half on. The panties with the stockings and ribbons at the knee.
You looked around, grabbing all your clothes, your phone and your stuff and piling it in your hands before slowly exiting the apartment.
You sighed, closing the door carefully as you leaned against the wall.
Bast..what was I thinking..
Your mind wandered back to last night, just thinking about the pleasure made your knees buckle.
"OH SHURI, SHURI, YES, YES, YES!" You moaned out in pleasure as your vision turned white.
"That's it baby...keep going." Shuri groaned in your ear as she quickened her pace, you held onto her arm, feeling her restraint.
You bit your lip, bringing yourself back to reality as you slinked back along the walls. You had to get to your room without getting noticed.
It took a while, especially with a bunch of Dora Milaje warriors and guards roaming around the castle. You finally got out your key and placed it against the door, opening the door to your room.
You sighed, closing your door quietly as you placed your head against it.
"Where were you last night?"
Shit.
You turned around to be met with Riri. Her hands were on her hips as she looked at you up and down, raising an eyebrow at your attire.
"Riri...I fucked up."
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"YOU HAD SEX WITH THE QUEEN?!"
"SHHHH! SOMEONE MIGHT HEAR YOU!" You shushed Riri loudly as she slapped her hands over her mouth.
"Y/N, do you know how BAD that is. Um, not only is she the QUEEN OF WAKANDA AND YOUR BOSS but she's also your ex?! What were you thinking?! When I said we wanted them panties dropping, I didn't mean by HER!"
"I know, I know, it's just...I was just not thinking straight, at all."
Riri sighed deeply, sitting down on your bed before patting a spot next to you.
"Well, it already happened, just tell me you guys used protection?"
You blinked a couple times before looking off to the side, your mouth folding inwards.
"Omg, you didn't use protection?! Okay, at least tell me that she pulled out or something!"
You look down, distinctively remembering her pushing up against you, the feeling of just her filling you up.
"Okay, has this turned to mission: get a baby or what?! First it's Malia, now it's you!"
"It's fine! Okay, I'll just...get on the pill!" You throw yourself back on your bed, putting a hand on your stomach.
"You weren't on the pill before?"
"Why would I be? I haven't had sex in 4 years."
"Wow that's sad...God, that's sad."
"I'm a grown woman, okay. I don't need to have sex to properly function." You turned around in your spot as Riri thought for a moment.
"Well, how was it?"
"Really good....really...really..good."
"O-kay then...what did she say? Was her words slurring? Because if so then she was drunk and she might wake up not remembering anything so you might be in the clear."
"No...no, she was very much sober, especially after the bath.."
"Y'ALL SHOWERED TOGETHER?! Y/N!" Riri stood up, shocked and you soon followed after, standing with her.
"I know! I know okay but she just always did aftercare..she even used the little panther bath bombs I always loved..but.." You trailed off, looking to the side, worry spread across your face.
"What? But what?" Riri asked, looking at you with concern.
"She kept calling me nicknames and pet names like...baby and my love and beautiful and she referred to her bed as our bed AND...she said she loved me...on multiple occasions, even when she rocked me to sleep, she kept whispering sweet nothings...Riri, I'm folding." You fold your arms together to keep your knees from buckling. Her voice just did stuff to you.
"No, no, no, no, no, no. Y/N, get a grip of yourself, you're a grown-ass woman. Okay? Look, this is only gonna open up a world of problems, I mean if she was sober, telling you that she loves you?! God..." She looked at you as you bit your lip.
"I got it!" You raised your hands up with a nervous smile. "I'll just ignore her, she probably feels regret like I do so, we just won't speak for a long time till we have to."
And that's exactly what you did for the rest of the day, you ignored her. You went to the lab extra late that day so you blended in with the extra people, making it harder for her to see you. You strictly stayed downstairs even though some of the stuff you needed was on the second floor but you knew she'd be there so you made custom parts. Whenever she came into view, you'd immediately turn around and hide behind something or someone. She even called out your name a few times but you just kept quiet, you really didn't want that awkward after-sex conversation.
And everything was pretty going great with your plan, except for the random flashbacks during the day. It was now lunch time and you were heading over to the cafe where you normally met up with Riri. As you entered the huge place, you scanned the room, immediately noticing Shuri sitting at a table with M'Baku, Nakia and Okoye. Riri was sitting on the other side of the room, headphones in and eating her food.
You sighed. As you looked back at Shuri, you noticed she was already looking at you and you quickly diverted eye contact. Out of your peripheral vision, you noticed her walking towards you and you quickly made your way over to the counter, ordering your food.
You tapped your foot impatiently, waiting for your food, knowing she was getting closer. You looked with a side eye, noticing she had stopped and was distracted by someone. Once your food finally came, you took it and practically sprinted over to Riri, sitting at the table, sighing.
"Oh my God, she was walking over to me.." You start rambling, taking deep breaths to calm yourself down.
"Just take your time Y/N." Riri said, taking off her headphones. "You think she forgot already?"
"Hopefully."
You settle, looking down at your food as you pick up a fork but you freeze when you feel someone's hands on your shoulders.
"Hey," Shuri said, moving her hands over to your waist.
"Heyyyy..." you mutter out as she moved her lips over to your neck. You looked over at Riri who had a shocked face and was motioning with her eyes over to the door.
"Um...actually..." You stopped her before she could start kissing your neck, standing up as she stood up straight, looking at you confused.
"I need to go take care of...stuff." You smile weakly at her and exit the cafe.
"I'll go...check on her with the...stuff." Riri stands up, rushing after you, leaving Shuri lost.
You sigh as you push open the doors to the throne room, sitting down on a chair. You smoothen out your dress, running your hands on your thighs before looking out the large windows to calm yourself down.
"What was that out there?!" Riri says, walking in behind you.
You turn over to Riri, shrugging. "I don't know, she just came up to me and started kissing my neck, I don't know if she thinks we're dating now..."
"I mean you 2 fucked...and she said she loved you, that's like a dating thing right?" Riri asked, sitting in front of you.
"I'm not sure.."
"But do you love her?"
"I do. Of course, I do...surprisingly never stopped."
"Well, then you wanna date her right?"
You paused at this. Did you wanna date her?
"Of...course..." You trailed off, looking to the side, sounding unsure.
"Y/N..?" Shuri asked, opening the doors to the throne room.
"I'll...leave you 2 be." Riri stood up, walking out the room as Shuri walked in, sitting across from you.
It was an awkward silence for a bit before Shuri spoke up. "I'm sorry if what I did in the cafe made you uncomfortable I just thought...-"
"No, no it's fine." You stopped her, giving her a smile.
"Um, about last night." She started, looking at you.
"Oh God.." you muttered under your breath, feeling a wave of embarrassment.
"I want you to know that I wasn't drunk or under the influence when I said all that stuff..I really mean it, I do love you and I know I said that I wasn't gonna ask you to be my girlfriend or anything I just...I really missed you Y/N." She took your hands in hers as she stared you deep in the eye. "I want to explore us again...I want to be your girlfriend Y/N."
Your breath hitched at her declaration of love. You slightly frowned. "And it's not that I don't want that it's just...there are things about me that you don't know."
"So tell me, tell me everything Y/N." Shuri leaned in closer as you bit your lower lip.
"It's not that simple.." You released your hands from her grip, looking down, tears watering in your eyes. Whenever you thought about it, those memories flooded your mind, horribly.
Shuri didn't say anything and looked at you before sighing and standing up. "It's fine, just forget about last night." She turned around, taking a deep breath as she started her way to the door.
"I can't just forget about last night Shuri.." You choke out, looking up and to the side as she shook her head, not even turning her head to you.
"Just keep things professional..okay?" She opened the door to the throne room as you looked down.
You really didn't want to fuck everything up again but you just didn't like talking about it, talking about her. You choked on your words, blinking back your tears as you fiddled with your fingers.
"It was when I left Wakanda." You made out as you heard the throne room door close.
"You don't have to share if you don't want to..." Shuri turned back around, walking over to you and sitting down.
"No, no, listen..." You look up, wiping away tears, taking a shaky breath in and out. "I was...working with the avengers...recruited by Stark."
Your mind flashed back to 4 years ago when Tony Stark recruited you. You shook hands with him, smiling as he smiled back.
"Gotta make room for new growing minds right?" Tony said.
"Yes sir." You nervously said, pushing up your glasses.
It was the first time you've seen Tony smile when he wasn't with his wife and you really didn't want to get him riled up.
You had your hair in an afro and you were wearing a dark blue suit jacket with a matching skirt, white pumps and white pearls.
As you exited the office in Stark Industries, you bumped into a tall white woman with ginger hair in a black suit.
"Hey, you must be the new recruit, right? I'm Natasha Romanoff" She held out her hand for a handshake and you shook it.
"Y/N Amadi." You say, your Wakandan accent seemingly very strong because she noticed right away.
"Wakandan?" She raised an eyebrow as you nodded your head. "So you're like the smart one, like Shuri right?"
At the mention of her name, you looked down slightly and then nodded again, the sight of her crying and begging you not to go on the floor still fresh in your mind.
"Hey, you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah just had a lot on my mind, what were you saying?" You look back up at the woman as she looked to the side and then back at you.
"Come meet my team, you're going to be working with us for some time anyway." She took your hand, leading you over to a different room.
"Everything was fine for a while until I met her."
You noticed another younger woman, she was ginger as well and you approached her.
"Hi, I'm...Y/N, you?"
She turned around to face you, almost seeming shy before she smiled at you with her green eyes.
"I'm Wanda."
"Wanda was my first friend, she showed me around a lot, we worked together but she could get very emotional and sometimes she scared me when talking about her lover? Vision..a robot. She would have me work on him, even when Tony told us he was off limits."
"Are you sure we're supposed to be here?" Your voice was timid as you jumped the fence with Wanda and she rolled her eyes slightly.
"Yes, come on, Vision is in this building." She led you over to the huge building, government territory.
You scanned a fake card that wanda had you make as you guys entered the territory. She led you through the building and down into some sort of lab where a huge blanket sheet was on a table.
She flipped on the lights and then carefully walked over to the table, taking off the sheet revealing the most beautiful and well crafted robot you've ever seen.
"Oh my Bast...and you say he's like a human?" You walk along the sides of the table as Wanda admired him.
"Yes, Vision can talk, walk, act like one..." She sighed at him before looking up at you. "But the government has kept him here out of unfairness."
"Are you positive, they kept him here because they are unfair?" You raised an eyebrow at Wanda. "Maybe they kept him here for other reasons..-"
"No. I know the government, they want to take my vision from me, which is why you must help me. Please Y/N, I'm your best friend, remember?" She took your hands in hers and you turned to the side, looking away slightly before nodding.
"Alright but I don't want Tony to know, or else I'll lose my job and if the government finds out, I'll be put in a federal prison or executed."
"They won't. We'll start off small, you'll help restore Vision and then when he's good to go, I'll take him away. It'll be safe, I promise."
"And so I agreed. We would go over to the lab, nightly. Every day and we wouldn't leave until the sun shone over. As time passed on though, there was this thing, gem...stone rather in Vision's head and with more work done to him, the more it glowed. I realized soon that it would be dangerous to continue working on him, especially since I didn't know the dangers of this gem."
"You'll be fine Y/N, it's just used to power Vision, continue quickly. They'll soon get here." Wanda rushed you but you shook your head.
"No, it's glowing unnaturally, I can't continue to work on it."
"Y/N, you're just being paranoid, come on. We have to go soon."
"No, Wanda...look." You reached over to touch the stone but that's when your pupils went white and the gemstone turned black.
"Y/N!" was all you heard before footsteps and then you blacked out.
"I woke up in prison. Federal prison. We got caught...well, I got caught. Wanda got away and I later found out that she made a town with Vision and...whatever, but still. I was right about that gemstone. You know those dark purple things you saw come out the other day..yeah, we're...getting there."
"Who...who are you..?!" You speak out, sitting on the floor, backing away as a shadowy figure was standing in the center of the room, staring back at you.
Your glasses were broken and you were in federal prison by now, changed into gray and white clothes.
"I am dar, your companion forever. You summoned me, remember?" The figure walked towards you before a disfigured smile formed on it's face and it stretched your mouth out, open wide and then entered inside you, feet first and then the body.
God, it was terrifying and the person watching the surveillance camera was later put in a ward.
"I later found out it was a she and she was tethered to me. She was a virus I apparently created. When I worked with Vision, I was supposed to take out the gem but we didn't and whenever errors were made, I thought I erased them but...it just went into the gem until it became uncontrollable. I basically cursed myself with some magical coding shit, I don't know. I gave myself powers in the WORST wat imaginable and she's really only released with pent-up rage or sadness..."
You looked up at Shuri who was just staring back at you with an unreadable expression. You buried your face in your head, sighing.
"I know..I know, I sound stupid, I know."
"No, no, you don't, it's just that that's a lot. I'm sorry..- thank you for telling me." She reached out to touch your hand and you let her.
"Well, I didn't want it to seem like I was rejecting you...because I'm not."
You two look at each other in comfortable silence as you share a weak smile. She looked like she was about to say something but that's when the doors to the throne room burst open and a dora milaje warrior rushed in.
"Malia...she's gone.!"
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You and Shuri rushed through the hallways with the warrior following you as you entered the infirmary, horrified with what you saw.
The doctor's stomach was gutted open and there was a tear in the vibranium wall, separating the cell from the rest of the palace.
You pressed your hand over your mouth as you looked down at the woman's lifeless body on the ground, her eyes wide open, seeing everything and nothing.
"What happened here?!" Shuri asked, looking over to the warrior.
"Nalaji...she was giving Malia her lunch but as she opened up the barrier to place the food in, Malia suddenly lashed out and attacked her. No weapons were found, none was there a trace of any vibranium used in the crime scene except for the wall."
You look into the cell and there was a plate of food scattered all across the floor.
"THE BORDERS!" Shuri rushed out to the infirmary as a loud alarm went off. It took you some time as you stumbled out of the room, following the sound of Shuri's voice, leading you over to the lab.
"My Queen...your girlfriend, Y/N has entered the lab."
"Thank you Griot." Shuri sounded annoyed as she waved through some work on the top floor, people scurrying around.
Despite all the chaos, it caused some butterflies in your chest that Shuri had programmed Griot to call you her girlfriend and ACTUALLY say your name...it was better than being called "unknown woman" every time you entered the lab.
You rushed over to your working space, and opening your laptop but you were deterred away from the computer as you heard screaming. You looked up at the windows to be met with the horrific sight of some warriors at the water borders completely dead and gutted, a rip made in the borders.
"SECURE ALL THE BORDERS!" Shuri ordered as warriors and people rushed out of the lab as directions were dished out to everyone.
"Are the ships ready for battle?" Shuri asked one of the people at the lab.
"Yes, my queen."
"Good. We're bringing the battle over to them. If they think they can just come and kill my people, they are horribly mistaken."
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"YIMBAMBE!" Shuri shouted out, raising her fist out into the air as the Wakandan warriors repeated.
"YIMBAMBE!" They repeated.
"YIMBAMBE!"
"YIMBAMBE!"
You looked out to the water as Namor and the Talokans emerged and jumped onto the ships, and immediately the fighting began.
"You blue people were better in Avatar..." You scoffed as you grabbed the daggers from your back pockets, ready to face them off.
As a warrior approached you, heading for a punched, you grabbed her fist and threw her down on the floor, slicing her throat open, then you turned around quickly, punching another one coming behind you, throwing them across the ship as the landed hard on the floors. You stepped back, looking at the scene. It had just started and bodies were already dropping.
You fought off more people before noticing Namor. You ran straight for him but he turned around just in time, grabbing your neck, lifting you up in the air.
You gasped for air as you looked down, moving one leg so far back and then kicked him with maximum power, right in the groin and then moving another leg to kick him in the neck.
His grip on you loosened as you fell to the floor, you grabbed a spear slicing at his thigh, causing him to fall over. Your eyes were like slits now as you were looking at him with pure hatred. You wanted to kill him, drive your hand right through his chest and bring out his heart.
"You took my dad from me." You spat at him, bringing your foot to his neck, pressing harder.
"DAD!" You heard a familiar voice shriek as you look up, brought face to face with Malia. She was in a warrior outfit and she looked at you with anger burning in her eyes.
You quickly looked down, grabbing Namor by the hair, pulling him up.
"Y/N...unhand my father now." Malia said, hissing at you as you scoffed.
"You can say that about your dad but guess what, can't say that about my dad now can I? Where was this attitude when your father over here drowned his grave..hm?" You looked over at Namor, stepping on one of his wings as you held a dagger up to his throat.
You looked straight at Malia, your eyebrows furrowed as you narrowed your eyes in on her.
"A father...for a father. A life, for a life."
You sliced his neck open before throwing him across the ship. His body fell into a ship that flew up nearby. The dehydration tank.
As much as you wished you did slice his neck open...you didn't. You cut deep enough to bleed but shallow enough not to hit a nerve.
"NO!" Malia cried out as she watched it all unfold in front of her. She turned to you, her eyes burning with rage but yours was burning just the same, maybe even harder.
"AH!" She rushed towards you with a punch but you quickly dodged her, spears in hands as you made a fist.
"YOU WANNA DANCE BITCH?! COME ON!" You shouted at her as you stood your ground. She stood in her fighting stance, across from you.
You both circled each other until she finally rushed up to you with a kick but you caught it with your hands, turning around and swiftly kicking her square in the tummy, sending her flying across the ship.
You watch as she sharply hit the edge, banging her head and her back hardly.
You stood up straight and paid attention to her body movement. She stood up slowly, eyes wide as she looked down to her legs.
Confused, your eyes followed hers before your eyes widened. Blood slowly dripped down her legs as she muttered out..
"My baby.."
"Fuck."
Although you didn't like her, you know how it feels to have a miscarriage and you felt an extreme wave of guilt knowing you caused it too.
You rushed over to her side as she fell to her knees, clutching her tummy. Her head lowered as you got on your knees, next to her.
"Oh my...shit..are you okay?" You panic, looking at her.
"No...but I will be."
Was all you heard again before your mouth opened, wide, blood trickling out. You looked down to see she had plunged a spear straight through your stomach...your own spear.
"Fuck...you.." was all you could mutter out till you saw Shuri and Namor on a flying ship...and then you blacked out.
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You woke up about 2 weeks later in the lab. Your eyes darted open as you looked up at everything. Shuri was at your side, holding your hand and as you immediately woke up, she grabbed you, hugging you tightly.
"Don't ever scare me like that, ever again.." She said, choking on her words.
You hugged her back but immediately felt guilt. You pull back from Shuri and look at her. "Malia is no longer pregnant.." You bite your lip as she stays silent before nodding.
"She was on the battlefield when she lost the baby...the cause is unknown but it's..tragic."
You knew that Shuri wants kids..or well at least she used to when you guys were together. She would often talk about raising her own family but that was years ago. It would explain why she wanted Malia to keep the baby so bad.
"Do you...have a lead on who did it?" You ask, your voice raising as Shuri shook her head.
"No..but when we find out who did it, I'll kill them."
You gulp. Okay, then.
"Sorry, it's just..I saw this child as a way to get the family I always wanted back..yknow?"
"Yeah...I'm sorry for your loss.." You looked down as Shuri sighed.
"It's not your fault."
But it was..
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You paced around the room, biting your nail frantically and impatiently. You were currently trying to add up the dates because today, as well as yesterday and the days before, you've been waking up terribly sick.
You just thought it was a side effect from almost dying so many times, blacking out and all, and also a side effect from dar but that wasn't it. It didn't add up..at all. So..you decided to take a pregnancy test. But not just one, multiple.
3 American ones and 4 Wakandan ones, just to be sure. Beeping filled the bathroom as you turned off the timer, looking at the pregnancy tests, your eyes wide.
Positive...positive...positive....positive...positive...positive...positive.
"FUCK." You sit down on the closed-lid toilet burying your face in your hands. It's been around 3 weeks since you and Shuri were intimate and you hadn't even realized when you missed your period because of the drama going on at the palace.
"Y/N! You in here?" Shuri entered your apartment as she walked around then into the bathroom, looking down at you, raising an eyebrow. "You okay?"
You look up to her, worry in your face as take a deep sigh.
"I'm pregnant."
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imagitory · 5 months
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Okay -- so my visual aids for this post are very limited since Disney+ will not let me properly screenshot this and there are no good quality versions of this on Youtube anymore...but I need to talk about Disney's The Little Mermaid TV series for a second. Specifically, one episode very near and dear to my heart called Metal Fish, which features a human explorer going down in a fish-shaped submarine to the bottom of the ocean, getting stuck, and being found by Ariel and her friends.
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Now honestly, watching the episode again, there's a lot I don't love about it. Sebastian's whole subplot with the crab scouts is really kind of annoying, and I skip every bit of it. But I love the character of Archimedes (even if he never appeared in the show again! Boo!), and -- more importantly to today -- there's this wonderful moment right toward the beginning of the third act of the episode where Ariel and our human explorer lay eyes on each other for the first time, and there's just this electric connection.
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Something that bypasses words -- this sense of wonder, enchantment -- almost enlightenment. And is it surprising? No! Ariel is the spitting image of what the human explorer had in his mind, when he was dreamily sketching out what a mermaid could look like, back on land.
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And of course, at the end of the episode, what else should the explorer end up being named, but Hans Christian Andersen? And what else would he do, after being rescued by a mermaid, but use it as inspiration for one of his most famous fairy tales?
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Okay, yeah, admittedly Hans Christian Andersen was a much sadder and more dysfunctional brown-haired human being IRL (just watch this video for a nice deep-dive about this disaster gay/bi/honestly-maybe-even-romantic-ace)...not to mention he wasn't even half this dashing nor close to being vocally similar to the great Mark Hamill...but one thing I absolutely love about this episode, and the aspect I personally respond to most, is the choice the series' creators made to have their interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen and Ariel have a very striking visual similarity, as well as similar personalities.
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Many theorize that the original little mermaid was a self-insert character for HCA, with his fairy tale being a fantastical lament about the one-sided love he felt for the son of his most significant patron, Edvard Collin, who -- like the mermaid's prince in the original -- fell in love with and chose to wed another. There's even preserved correspondence by HCA where he writes of his feelings for Edvard being "those of a woman." And although this is more likely about HCA struggling to express romantic feelings that felt out of place in the very religious, heteronormative world he was a part of than about HCA himself identifying as transgender, I still think it was such a sweet little gesture for this episode to highlight Ariel and HCA seeing themselves in each other.
And this is where I wish SO MUCH I had some good quality video so I could truly share this piece of the episode with all of you -- because the moment where Ariel and Hans see each other for the first time gives me such life.
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When Hans first sees Ariel, he's lost for breath, and he sounds and looks almost bereft when she disappears from view. When Ariel first makes eye contact with Hans, she clutches her face and hair, almost as if seeing herself clearly for the first time. And the whole time, they're looking at each other not fully face-to-face, but through glass and water -- almost a reflection of each other. Because...they are.
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I'm sorry, I fail to articulate how utterly beautiful this is. No love story could ever capture the emotion this short scene instills in me. A platonic connection so powerful that it transforms you and how you see yourself forever. Meeting another person and, in doing so, truly knowing yourself for the first time.
However much I might praise The Little Mermaid TV series primarily for its music, there are also moments like this that remind me how wonderful Disney's adaptation of Andersen's story really is.
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sheetsonfire · 1 year
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Beware Your Elders | Part 1
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Fandom: Chicago PD
Pairing: Adam Ruzek x Reader
Genre: drama, angst, hurt/comfort, romance
Warnings: head injury, held hostage, murder
Word Count: 6154
Summary: When Adam gets assigned to patrol for the day, he is reunited with an academy classmate and friend. Based on Season 1 Episode 8 - “Different Mistakes”
A/N: I have been working on this for a long time, so long I fear I may never finish it if I don't post a 'part 1'. Huge thanks to @elius-learns-to-write for being so patient and helpful by reading this multiple times.
-
You approach Trudy Platt’s desk with a pep in your step, you felt like you were hitting your stride lately and being at the 21st was a good fit for you. 
“Good morning, Sarge.” You offer to the desk sergeant, watching her remain engrossed in what was no doubt a mountain of paperwork that seldom grew any smaller. 
Eventually, she pulls her eyes away and looks up, “Mornin’, Y/L/N. What’s got you all chipper today?” She eyes you curiously, but still with a slight smile on her face.
You play up your mood, “Oh nothing, just happy to be here, Sarge, under your tutelage.” 
Even though you were hamming it up, the sentiment was indeed true. Trudy Platt was one of the most revered and respected of her generation, and you could understand why. It’s why the 21st was such a coveted placement.
She shakes her head, giving you a dubious look as she checks her list of squad cars available. 
On the cusp of making a decision, Trudy spots Alvin Olinsky coming through the door with one Adam Ruzek. She leaves you waiting patiently in exchange for calling the older Detective over.
You give Olinsky a polite and distracted smile, watching briefly as Ruzek heads towards the gated stairs that lead to Intelligence’s bullpen, silently watching someone you used to be so connected with pass through like a stranger.
It irked you that he hadn’t gotten back to the messages you’d sent him since he got picked from the academy to join Intelligence; it felt like a small ‘fuck you’ from Adam - for him to just forget his classmates, to forget you. 
You two had been inseparable; forging a true understanding and appreciation of how the other worked. Sometimes it felt like you were soulmates. Whether it was platonic or romantic, you’d never had the chance to figure that part out.
You sigh, glancing at Trudy’s desk to find she’s still talking to Olinsky. The conversation isn’t exactly scintillating, something about non-suit reports, so you take a glance around at the hubbub of the precinct for a distraction from your irritation. 
People are coming and going every second, keeping the district ticking over and running as smoothly as Chicago would ever allow. 
Passing by are Burgess and Atwater, whom you wave goodbye to as they head out for their day on patrol, they had become good friends and you really liked having them around.
As you’re about to turn your attention back to the desk, you hear the familiar voice of Adam once again. He had apparently stopped to talk to some of your fellow patrolmen, also classmates from the academy.
You watched the three men converse, the patrolmen were fascinated with Adam’s sunglasses and he appeared to be enjoying the awe his very presence seemed to inspire. 
You roll your eyes, glancing at Platt and Olinsky, realising that their conversation had come to an end. Now, they were looking at you curiously.  Before you can question their staring you see Olinsky divert his attention to Adam and the patrolmen, just as you had.
Tuning into the conversation not even a few metres away, Adam’s words are just about audible as he talks to the guys in uniform, “Yeah I don’t know how it is for the patrolmen here. I mean, I skipped that part.”
Olinsky looks on, his expression changing to one of a disappointed parent, and you find yourself smothering a smirk. Clearly, the senior officer wasn’t too impressed with Adam’s lack of modesty. 
You gawk in amazement as Adam continues, glancing at Platt who waves you off so as to let her keep eavesdropping too. 
“Yeah, put in your time boys. That’s my advice. Then maybe you too can join us upstairs, right?” 
Before you know it Olinksy is on the move towards Adam and you’re giddy at the prospect of Ruzek possibly getting chewed out by his superior.
You can’t hear what Olinksy says next but suddenly the patrolmen are saying their goodbyes and Adam is being ushered in your direction, towards the sergeant’s desk. 
Finally, Adam spots you and immediately avoids eye contact, having the good grace to look sheepish as he does everything he can not to acknowledge you standing there. 
You internally scoff, cowardice wasn’t a good look on him and you were ready to tell him as such.
You don’t let it sour your mood too much, watching in sheer anticipation as Olinsky has a wry smile on his face, “Say, Sergeant Platt. Ruzek here needs to better appreciate the, uh, the journey, that he, uh, got to bypass.” 
You wanted to cackle like a maniac, seeing how Adam looks at Platt in shock, watching your sergeant’s face turn gleeful as she responds, “Oh I’ve been waiting for this day.”
From there Ruzek is ushered upstairs to put on some uniform, and you decide to use that moment to try and get your keys. You were ready to get your day started, and you didn’t want to be saddled with babysitting Adam on patrol.
Yet, you fear it’s already too late when you notice your keys still haven’t materialised. Trudy was clearly slow-rolling you, waiting for something, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out what or who that was. 
The look Platt gives you makes you groan, yet you’re unable to protest too much as the sergeant preemptively holds up a shushing finger. 
“Don’t. Ruzek needs a partner and you’re free, and one of my best. So don’t make me change my opinion of you, alright?” Her eyebrows go up in a pointed expression, daring you to protest further. You sigh in defeat, watching Platt nod and smile satisfied with your acceptance.
You weren’t one to want to disappoint Sergeant Platt, and it didn’t really feel like you had much choice. Besides, you did know Adam and you knew he was good police, you would just have to put aside your misgivings about his attitude for the day.
-
You're standing waiting for your 'partner' when you hear the gate open again, turning to see Adam in his patrol blues.
It’s a weird sight given he never got to have this moment when you did, and your whole body fizzles with goosebumps when he catches your gaze again.
“Ruzek.” You greet him, nodding with a smile, emotions imperceptible in your eyes.
“Y/L/N.” Adam smiles, somewhat cautiously, “Good to see you.” He offers.
“And you.” You manage to squeeze the pleasantry out, your swelling wave of feelings not yet washing you out to sea, but close to it.
Your new partner gives Sergeant Platt a small salute, “Catch you later, Sarge. Do you need anything?” 
“Nah, I’m all good, unless you see Portillo’s on your travels! Now go ahead, you kids have a good time serving the community.!” She says with a smug smile, all too happy to watch Adam get a taste of patrol life. 
“Oh, I’m sure we will,” He answers facetiously, slinging his arm around your shoulder. With that, Trudy shoos you off, and you turn towards the door as you almost immediately start extricating yourself from Adam, walking ahead of him to the parking lot. 
He takes a deep breath, knowing he had a lot of explaining to do. So he braces himself for impact, hot on your trail to the car.
-
You slot yourself into the driver’s side of the patrol car, turning on the radio immediately to check in with dispatch and update your status.
Adam climbs into the passenger side and shuts the door behind him. He desperately wants to be excited about patrol and ask you how it’s going, but there was a walk of fire that stood in his way.
He clears his throat, ready to make a speech, "Y/N, I'm-" But the very notion of him explaining his actions somehow sets you off, you'd been waiting for this moment.
"Sorry? Is that what you were going to say, Adam? Sorry that you left without a word, sorry that you blanked me when I asked if you were okay and if you needed anything? Sorry that you said nothing when I congratulated you and asked if you wanted to celebrate. Is that what you're sorry about?"  
You swallow, realising that your outburst was out there now, permeating the air as your heart thundered in your chest. You didn’t realise just how upset it had made you until you were ranting in Adam’s face.
He doesn't flinch, accepting your hurt with a guilty expression.
“Yes, exactly that. I totally ghosted you, and that wasn’t fair or right… There is no good excuse or explanation, other than I got caught up in the excitement of it all, not stopping to think about the people…the person I’d left behind. And I’m sorry that you’re stuck on patrol with me today, I know it’s probably the last thing you want.”
You sigh. Actually, being on patrol with Adam was all you’d thought about at the academy, it was something that you’d ached for when you were finally given your placement but without your right-hand man to accompany you.
Not all the wrongs had been righted, but just knowing Adam felt remorse, knowing that he hadn’t suddenly changed his mind about you… you could feel the storm clouds getting lighter.
“It’s fine… You’ve got some learning to do, and lord knows you need all the help you can get, Mr Intelligence. Being stuck with you is not the worst punishment ever, so long as you’re not expecting me to fawn over those sunglasses and the fact that you work with Voight’s team.” Your mouth upturns into a smug smile as Adam goes quiet, sitting obediently as you pull out of the lot and begin your patrol route.
Adam is sincere the next time he speaks, nodding in agreement with your words. “I definitely could learn from you, Y/N, and I wouldn’t expect you to feed any kind of ego, that’s not your style.”
Your smirk, glancing at your partner, “Definitely not my style.” 
There’s another pause between you, and you sigh. You didn’t have it in your heart to maintain that venom. You knew Adam wasn’t inherently selfish or careless, you and he were both young and starting out, so it was partially understandable that he’d gotten caught up in the excitement of everything.  “It’s good to be riding with you, Ruze. Let’s just make the most of it, alright? I can chew you out some more and patrol at the same time.”
“Yes ma’am, that sounds like a fair compromise.” Adam smiles genuinely, and your small smile is just as genuine in return. He holds out a fist for you to bump with yours, and you roll your eyes with a shake of your head. It was unreal how easily he could melt you down from being in an icy mood.
You bump your fist with his.
-
A large portion of your morning is uneventful, between some petty theft incidents and helping CFD on some of their scenes, you and Adam decide to call it time for lunch. It certainly wasn’t the most action you’d seen on patrol, and it definitely wasn’t shaping up to be Adam’s biggest day on the job. You’d even taken to responding to several cases of helping the elderly with their shopping, much to their gratitude.
Adam shrugs off his jacket and tosses it into the back of the patrol car, “Man, it’s October in Chicago, why the hell is it still so warm.” 
“The earth is not our biggest fan right now, Ruze.” You huff as the sun beat through the windshield, agreeing with the fact that even the slightest motion in your jacket caused you to overheat at the moment. You decide to join Adam and take off your windbreaker, launching it into the back as you settle into your seat.
Both of you sit in comfortable silence as you listen to the radio chatter coming in, tucking into the grilled sandwiches and shared fries you’d got from the Deli down the street, sipping happily at some iced tea. This felt like old times to you, and it settled the disquiet in your stomach from this morning’s confrontation. 
You hoped that you and Adam could actually rekindle the connection you’d forged, that he wouldn’t forget you a second time.
The last bite of your sandwich is taken when the radio crackles to life once more, 
“Units on the citywide, reports of a 10-67 and 10-68 at 1655 West Cortez, nearby units please respond.” 
You instantly put your wrappers in the door compartment, Adam picking up the radio as you pull the squad car out of the parking spot. “Dispatch, 2113 put us as responding to that call on West Cortez”.
The dispatcher responds once again as you hit your sirens, heading to your new location, “Copy 2113, holding you down as responding.”
Adam adjusts his position in the seat, more upright and ready to prepare himself for whatever you come upon at the scene.
-
10-67 Person calling for help.
10-68 Call for police made via telephone.
-
As you pull up to the row of houses on West Cortez, you take note of the uniform build, each house virtually identical to the next, save for some outside embellishments from the residents. The house next to the responding address is for sale.
You pick up your radio as you step out of the patrol car, Adam doing the same as he looks around for any immediate signs of distress. 
“2113 to dispatch, we’re a 10-97, please standby.” 
“Copy 2113, standing by.” 
-
10-97 Arrived at the scene.
-
As you approach the front door of 1655 West Cortez to knock and announce your office, one of the construction workers from across the street approaches.
“You here about the screaming, officers?” The older man asks.
“Screaming?” Adam asks, and the man nods.
“Richard Barnes, I’m the foreman on this job." He gestures his thumb behind him to the bustle of men working along scaffolding.
You nod for him to continue.
"I heard it a few nights ago, as I was locking up, it sounded like a big fight at 1655. I headed over there since the old gal that lives there made me and the guys coffee a few times. Sylvia is her name. She answered the door and said it was her and her granddaughter just having a little misunderstanding, I’ve seen the granddaughter a handful of times too - seemed nice enough though. Sylvia apologised for the disturbance and that was that. I didn’t have any other way to prove something was wrong, so I left her to it, teenagers can get stressed out, right? Didn’t seem too weird. Everything seemed alright beyond the arguing. This morning I could hear Sylvia yelling again, only her voice though, and now nobody is answering the door. That’s why I called it in for you guys to take a look.”
“You sure the granddaughter hasn’t left at all?” Adam queries,
“No, sir, I don’t think she has. I have security cameras for the site and equipment, she hasn’t shown up at all the last few footage cycles.”
That revelation makes you wonder. You nod at Barnes, “Thank you for calling us, you did the right thing, we’ll take a look.” 
He waves your thanks away, “Of course, holler if you need anything else.” 
“We will, thanks again. We might ask you to make another statement once we’re done here, alright?” Adam checks and Richard nods, “Not a problem, officers. We’re gonna be going to lunch soon, but we’ll be back this afternoon, maybe an hour or so.” He gives a small smile goodbye, heading back towards the work site and his crew.
You turn back to the property and to Adam, “Okay, let’s find out what’s up with grandma and granddaughter.”
Adam nods, picking up his radio, “2113 to dispatch, we’ve just had a 10-62A, we’re going to do a knock and talk.”
“Copy 2113, standing by.”
-
10-62A Take a report from a citizen.
-
You knock heavily on the pristine white door, glancing around the mostly empty street for signs of anybody who could give extra information. Adam takes a step back to look up at the large windows on the 1st and 2nd floors. 
Nothing happens, you both wait. Moving to knock again, your voice loud and clear, “Chicago PD, anybody home? Sylvia?” 
In the background, you hear the low chatter of Richard’s workmen and their various trucks starting up as they move off the site to head to lunch.
You look at Adam and he gives a knowing nod back. Calls like this could be nothing, but they also could be something, and it was always better to make sure it wasn’t the latter.
Adam knocks this time, not much louder than you had but you knew he liked to feel like he’d had a go too. With a sigh, Adam’s on the cusp of hammering on the door when you catch a faint shadow of movement on the first floor, the definition of a ‘curtain twitch’. 
“Ruze, movement on the first floor.” You announce, keeping your eyes fixed on the window as Adam does try the door a third time. “CHICAGO PD, this is Officer Ruzek and Officer Y/L/N, we would just like a word.”
There’s a lingering moment, then the sound of locks and chains being undone, the door opening a crack to reveal an older woman.
“Can I help you?” The woman’s hair is greying, she is round in the face, a slight blush to her cheeks, shuffling from foot to foot in navy slippers.
“Ma’am we’re with the police department, we’ve had a report of distress being heard at this address. Is your name Sylvia?” Adam asks politely, offering a friendly smile.
If the woman doesn’t like his question she doesn’t show it, offering a small smile back. “Yes, I’m Sylvia Lupp. This is my home, and I told that nice man across the street that there was nothing to worry about, I do hope we haven’t wasted too much of your time.” 
Most people would offer a more detailed explanation and some kind of reassurance, but the woman is quick to try and shut the door again, only stopped by Adam’s quick palm at the centre of the door.
The gesture is assertive but not aggressive, just enough to give Adam some extra talking time. You see the woman’s face sour for just a moment before putting back up the kindly expression.
In the motion of the door trying to shut, it had created a draft of air that carried a smell with it. It smelt simultaneously like bleach and off-meat, with a slight odour of faeces. You share a look with your partner, you already knew this wasn’t a call you’d be putting down as “nothing”. So you step forward too, letting her know that you and Adam wouldn’t be dismissed that easily.
“Uh, ma’am, please, it would really ease our minds if we could just check the house out, make sure everything’s as it should be and that both of you are okay. If it’s just a normal family dispute, then we’ll be on our way. Do you mind if we come in?” 
At worst this was about to be a crime scene, at best it was going to be a severe case of hoarding and neglect of the property, you steeled your stomach for both. You rest a quick hand on Adam’s shoulder, silently conveying you had his back as the woman reluctantly stepped aside to let you in.
You start looking around at the peeling wallpaper and the damp spots on the walls and ceilings. The smell was much stronger even a metre into the house. You swallow hard, trying to not breathe in too much. 
“I have been working on the house, we’ve had some…sanitary issues lately as I’m sure you can see. I don’t move as fast as I used to, but I am working on it. My granddaughter isn’t fond of contributing to the home, that was the reason for our argument.” She didn’t seem nervous, but she did seem like a car salesman trying to convince you of her pitch.
You let Adam take the lead, watching as he followed her into the first room on the ground floor. You used the time to radio dispatch as quickly and as quietly as you could manage.
“2213 to dispatch, we have entered the premises 1655 West Cortez, speaking with Sylvia Lupp. We are now investigating a 10-29h. Be on standby for a Code 8. There is concern for a 10-54 or 10-91D. Might have cause for CFD assistance.”
-
10-29h Caution - severe hazard potential.
Code 8 Request cover/backup.
10-54 Possible dead body
10-91D Animal, dead
-
A voice crackles through, “Copy, 2213, on standby for your Code 8, 10-54 and 10-91D. CFD are aware of the call.” You spot Adam and Sylvia coming out of the room again, Adam’s face tells you everything. Sylvia looks from you to the radio in your hand, turning on her heels as she beckons Adam to keep following, you make sure to stay in tow.
You were starting to worry about what you’d find beyond the stacks of yellowed and moulding newspapers, uneven piles of miscellaneous goods, the strewn cans of food, and the almost constant thrum of flies buzzing.
Eventually, you decide to broach the topic, “Sylvia, we’re not here to judge, but we are worried about your safety on the property right now, and your granddaughter’s safety.” 
Her head snaps to you, looking affronted, “The house needs some love, that’s all. I wouldn’t pry into how you keep your home, officer.” Adam gives you a terse look, subtly shaking his head, encouraging Sylvia to continue the tour.
You hold your hands up by way of apology, deciding you’d try again once you’d seen more of the house. This would already constitute a hazardous environment by the city’s standards, you wouldn’t be surprised to find complaints from neighbours if you checked the city’s sanitation records.
By the time you make it to the kitchen, you can’t understand how you’ve managed to not lose your lunch all over the floor, the smell had only gotten stronger and one scent, in particular, had you covered in goosebumps. 
The smell of death.
-
Sylvia stops at a door, unlocking it with a gold key she produces from the pocket of her cardigan. The door in front of you is older than the others, wooden and pale from losing its paint finish, scuffs and scratches litter the wood. She gestures to the rickety stairs dimly lit by an overhead orange glow of a lamp on its last legs. “My Luzie lives down here in the basement, spoilt girl gets her own space. She’s not home right now, out at college.”
For the umpteenth time today, you find yourself sharing a sceptical look with Adam, close to suggesting you both turn back and regroup outside.
It played on your mind that Sylvia’s granddaughter, according to Richard from across the street, should absolutely be in the home.
The older woman looked as if she was about to close the door again, but once again Adam stops the motion.
“Ma’am, we really need to inspect the entire property, if you don’t mind.”
Sylvia’s nostrils flare in what you sense is anger and frustration, but she steps aside and gestures dismissively downwards.
You let Adam go downstairs with Sylvia, keeping an eye on her from the top of the stairs, making sure you still had a view down the hall to the front door, just in case anything else or anyone else were to appear.
Then, there’s a crash and several loud thuds.
“Oh, officer, quick! He’s fallen!” Sylvia cries out, sounding frail for the first time since you met her. 
Your feet carry you as fast they can down the rickety steps, coming upon the scene of Sylvia crouched over a motionless Adam. You fall to your knees on the cold concrete floor, assessing Adam quickly and methodically.
Adam was out cold but breathing. You take off your CPD gaiter to press to the wound on the side of his head, eliciting a soft groan from him.
“It’s alright, Ruze. I got you, we’ll get an ambo here.” You reassure, only receiving another moan in response. Picking up your radio, “Dispatch, 2213 in need of backup and an ambo to our last location, an officer is injured. A head wound.”
You wait, static is the only answer to your request. So you repeat it again, and again. Your stomach begins to sink with each passing moment. The basement was stopping you from calling for help, and you were stuck down there with someone you didn’t trust.
“What happened?” You ask Sylvia, noting that though she had her hand over her mouth in ‘shock’, her actual face showed no expression at all.
“I-...he just fell, I don’t know, he hit his head on the unit there.” She points to a scuffed, faded, display unit full of old china. However, as you look at the unit you can’t see any blood or any signs that it had been disturbed by the weight of Adam hitting it. 
What you do notice is a golden bronze eagle statue laying a few feet across the basement floor from Adam. It was darker in spots, darker as though it had blood on it. 
You couldn’t prove anything without taking a closer look, but you also couldn’t afford to let Sylvia know that you were beyond suspicious. You quickly avert your gaze, focusing on your partner once more, his eyes had half opened now.
“Hey, buddy.” You murmur, giving his arm a squeeze. “I need you to keep pressure on that wound for a sec, alright?” You ask, waiting for his confirmation of understanding. 
“M’kay… Y/N, she-” He grumbles, you fix him with a look so as to stop him from talking, you figured he was about try and warn you about Sylvia, but you were already there. Instead, your partner returns to lifting a shaking hand to press to his own head with a small hiss. “Good, real good, Ruze. Just gimme a minute, I���ll be right back.” 
There were too many variables. You had to make a decision. That decision was to detain Sylvia so you could leave the basement and radio for help.
You push up to full height, “Sylvia, I’m going to need you to stand-” As you turn to face Sylvia you’re cut off by the sound you knew all too well, the cocking of a gun. A gun that was now pointed at you. 
Fuck, Y/L/N, you didn’t check for Adam’s weapon. 
You stare at Sylvia, all your suspicions were now a reality and you were mad at yourself for not being harder on her, her age had well and truly stalled what would have been immediate caution and apprehension if it had been someone younger.
Your jaw clenches, shifting ever so slightly to stand directly in front of Adam, shielding his prone form on the floor. “Sylvia, I think you and I both know that pointing that gun at me is a big mistake. My partner is injured, and this house is now in our system and flagged, anything you try to do will only make things worse.”
Sylvia waves the gun gesturing downward, “I think you’ll do as you’re told, I’m sure you can guess by now what happens to people in my home who don’t obey the rules and give this house the love it needs. Sit down, officer, by your partner. There’s a good girl.”
You grit your teeth together, deciding you couldn’t risk trying to draw your weapon and giving Sylvia a motive to shoot.  So you slowly sit on the cold floor of the basement, glaring as the old woman pushes forward, the gun never leaving the target of your head or your partner’s. Almost instantaneously the concrete makes your muscles tense and shiver, and you hear Adam’s chattering breaths on the ground beside you.
Satisfied you weren’t going to do anything, Sylvia bends awkwardly with her hip to pull your weapon out of its holster. You consider taking your chance to tackle her to the floor. You easily had muscle and speed on her, yet your surroundings did not give you ample opportunity to move or get help if something were to go wrong. You weren’t a fan of the decision, but you couldn’t risk Adam’s life like that.
You choose to instead trust that dispatch would try to check in, then they would contact Platt who would ultimately be pissed you hadn’t returned one of her patrol cars on time and come hunt you down. That, or somebody from Intelligence would notice Adam’s prolonged absence and come looking for him. 
For the moment you’re resigned to watching Sylvia totter back up the creaking stairs with both weapons and the key to the door at the top.
Unsurprisingly you hear the door slam, and the clicking of a lock and bolt follow. 
-
The first thing you do once you’re sure Sylvia isn’t coming back down those stairs is turn to Adam who offers you a sheepish smile, still pressing the gaiter firmly to his wound. 
You sigh, checking him over as he chuckles with a pained wince, you couldn’t believe how calm he was - maybe he had several brain cells knocked loose.“Seriously, I’ve got us trapped down here and you’re giving me those doe eyes?”
Adams frowns, “Last I checked it was that old gal that got us locked in here. She saw me bending down for this…” Adam fishes in his trousers pocket, producing a gold chain with a pendant attached. “That’s how she got the drop on me.”
Your eyes widen at the revelation, the pendant was marked with an engraved “L”, it seemed a given that the L would stand for “Luzie”, Sylvia’s granddaughter. 
You’re about to open your mouth again, but Adam knows what you’re about to ask, “I guess in the excitement of holding officers at gunpoint she forgot why she knocked my peanut loose in the first place.”
Frustration leaves you, kicking the dirt beneath your feet, “I should have been less patient with her, I should have knocked her on her ass. I shouldn’t have let you go down here alone with her.” 
Adam scoots closer to you as best he can without letting go of his head, you reach out a hand to steady him, helping him lean against the wall. “Listen to me, you stayed up there where you should have to make sure nobody was coming in or out without our notice, you didn’t hand her that eagle, and you couldn’t have known she’d be so brazen… She already had me before you were even down the stairs, Y/N, so I don’t wanna hear anymore about it being your fault. Alright?”
There’s a pause as the realisation sinks in for Adam, feeling sorry for himself for getting caught off-guard, watching with some amusement as he groans again, “Man, she really got me good.” 
You squeeze your arm around him gently, “I think she would have found a way no matter what, Ruze, don’t take it to heart, alright? How’re you feeling?”
“Like I got whacked in the head.” Adam retorts, meeting your unimpressed face he relents with an apologetic look, he knew you were worried for him.
“Sorry, it smarts but nothin’ I can’t handle.” The warmth of Adam’s hand on your arm makes your stomach flip, his reassuring hold burns through your shirt sleeve before he lets go again.
You try not to draw attention to your surprise at the contact, pushing yourself up to stand. “Well, for as long as you’re able to make your smart comments, I’m gonna see if there’s a way to get our radios to reach out of this godforsaken basement, or a way for me to go and get us help. Stay put.”
Adam wants to laugh at your lack of a request but rather an order, except laughing would hurt his brain, so he settles for a wry smile. “Yes, officer.” He quips, tickled by the roll of your eyes as you turn to start checking the walls of the basement for a window or alternate access point. 
-
Adam’s starting to really feel the chill of the basement as he watches you move boxes and old bits of furniture away from the walls, he studies you with a pained expression, wishing he would stop feeling so dizzy so he could get up and help too.
“You okay over there?” Adam asks, trying to shimmy on his ass to not let his back and shoulders go to sleep, his butt already well past numb from the cold of the concrete.
You sigh, trying to not be annoyed by his concern, it was sweet and you know it was hard for him to keep still, “For the 4th time, I am absolutely fine, Ruze.” 
He sighs, “Right.” Simmering in his own soup of thoughts until he feels compelled to open his mouth some more, “Y/N, I’m really sorry for everything, you know that right? I got so caught up with Intelligence, then I felt like I’d abandoned you, I didn’t know what to do with that, more time passed, and it just became this whole awkward thing.”
You stop your rummaging and periodical checking of your radio, something you were also surprised that Sylvia had forgotten to take - then again, people didn’t always consider everything when they were acting in a moment of rash behaviour. 
With hands on your hips, you face your partner with an incredulous expression, “Adam, I have been trying to talk to you about this for weeks, and being trapped in a basement is the time you choose to circle back to it?”
Adam shrugs, “No time like the present, figured before we freeze or starve to death, I’d let you know that I know I’ve been a jerk.” 
You pinch the bridge of your nose, searching for the calm to not whack Adam yourself. “Please, pretty please can you just save for this for when we’re out? We’re not going to starve or freeze down here… God, even when you’re hurt you still find a way to be a little shit.”
Adam does smile now, gesturing nonchalantly with his free hand, “It’s why you love me, Y/N. Let’s not pretend it doesn’t charm you.”
You sigh, “Oh yeah, I love you because it’s really fun when you make things more difficult.”
Adam snorts, ignoring the stab of pain in his skull, “Ah, so you do love me then, didn’t deny that bit.”
The statement goes without an answer in return, falling back into ‘comfortable’ silence as you resume your hopeful task of finding something that will get you and Adam out of this. Finally settling at a tall storage unit, one that was somehow producing a particularly cold draught from behind it.
You brush your fingers behind the heavy mahogany, feeling the cold bite at your fingertips your heart picks up the pace. It certainly felt like something was concealed by the display unit, an open space to be precise.
“Adam, I think there’s something behind here.” You say it almost to yourself, afraid to declare it to the room should it lead nowhere. 
“You need me to…?” Adam gestures in your direction, already trying to get to his feet with a slight grunt of surprise at just how unsteady he was.
“Will you please sit back down before you fall?” You chastise, taking quick strides to slip your arms around Adam and put him back on the ground. 
“I know you want to help, but the best thing you can do is stay here and let me just worry about one thing at a time, alright?” Your voice loses its irritation, face softening as you can see the frustration on Adam’s face. Granted your irritation was because you were worried about him but you didn’t need to give him the attitude.
Your partner lets out a slight huff, “Okay, Y/N, yeah, I can do that. Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, man. I know it’s not a great situation, I’d be pissed off too.”
Adam hums in acknowledgement, letting you wander back toward the display unit. It takes you a second to get your stance right, putting your weight into the side of the heavy wood as you push. Your boots crunch bits of concrete and gravel underfoot as you force the unit to one side with a noise of upheaval, revealing a blue door, metallic and rusting - the stench of death was stronger now.
-
End of Part 1 of /?
tags: @resanoona - @elius-learns-to-write - @dumb-fawkin-bitch
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So I made myself wait to watch the witchcraft smp finale till all the povs were out, which means I waited for Cleo to upload and also my college decided to allow offline/traditional classes to be back so it took me a bit longer to finally sit down and watch the povs. So here is some of my thoughts while watching the witchcraft smp finale episodes:
(Spoiler warning)
17/04
Lauren:
-Yeah Lauren you kinda did drop the whole competition just to vibe, but that's okay I still love you!
-Omg her wings look like thicc slices of bread!!And the colors of it are real pretty
-Yeah Joey!!! You were the worst best friend ever, screw you!
-Scott to the rescue!!!!
-YOOOO Joey's out first!!!!!
-CLEO NOO!!
-Hi supreme Lizzie
-Scott's the new supreme!!!
-Oh yeah they all do have her autograph in a way huh?
-Everyone reaction to finding out Cleo was an undead this whole time is really funny
-OH I KNEW THE DEMON WOULD BE BACK TOO!!!!
-Lauren just dipped lmao?!?!??
Eloise:
-The "Yep that's me, you are probably wondering how I got here." Bit to start the episode was good
-Training montage
-Damm Shellby's strong af, she really giving them a hard time
-Ohhh her artifact exploded on her because of the reset, alright that makes a bit more sense
-Oh she skipped the demon fight hmm
-Lol she became a witch content creator after the competitions?!
-Oli and Sausage got bailed out by El
-They made wcsmp's version of love or host lol
-Did she steal a award!?
-Someone get Scott I found his supreme crown
Joey:
-Oh that ice blast spell is cool(pun wasn't intended)
-Bro not the Stacy callback!!
-Cleo's time freeze ability <3
-Okay demon battle time
-Gods why was it that Joey give the "If we work together we can defeat the villian." Speech, it's not at all a thing his character would say
-Bro the demon's not even taking any damage lmao
-Scott's new to his supreme witch powers leave him alone
-Dude what home the mages won't accept you ba- oh that one right...
-I mean yeah screw those ice mages and all that but how is Joey's story gonna end now?
-You don't have any best friends le- oh yeah Tiff would be your best friend after all the demonic and botania stuff the both of you bonded over
-Where's Tiff?! Did mother earth take her back or smth?!
-No Joey she couldn't have gone through the elf portal, she has told you before that the portal works only one wa- aphgkgdj?!SURE JUST GO IN JOEY BYE WITCH!!!
18/04
Prismarina:
-Okay so at this point I'm pretty sure that there many chests in the area but not all of them have stuff in them and are there for decor
-Where did that blaze come from?!
-Lmao Cleo saying "Do we have a cool name?"
-Cleo and Scott are not giving Pris a chance to breath lol
-"I can't see it but I'll pretend I do"
-Bertha's curse got broken!!(see Bertha you didn't even have to bring back your dead sister and the demon she took down with her to break your curse you just had to wait)
-Is Bertha immortal?? Also do they not have a job outside of being the supreme witch competitions referee(???)
-Is Mertha's curse also broken now?
-Lol the demon fight crashed Pris' computer
-ARE BERTHA AND MERTHA ENGAGED NOW?!??!
-Is Pris a siren of some kind?
-Oh her dead sister is there, I'm going to assume that's her spirit coming for a visit or something
Shubble:
-Oooo we are finally meeting this "she" Shubble keeps mentioning
-My girl saw the weird dead deer skulls and said "Ew"
-*Big gasp* *choking noises* *literally dying* *it was nice knowing you*
-*In a nerd voice*Uhmm actually those look like shiny charizard wings thank you very much
-Her immediate respons to seeing Cleo was zap-teleport out of there
-Love how Tiff, Shubble and Pris are just watching Lauren and Joey "attacking" eachother
-Shubble leaving the scene when Scott shows up lol
-I love hduo, found sisters <3
-So is Tiff's first death not counted?
-"He is already dead let it go" SHELLBY?!!?!!!KAGLZHSK
-Why is it always these 2 in a fight to death
-Oh she just flew away?!!
-"Aren't you like dead though?" Shellby you need to stop!!kdhdhchbj
-Oh come on!! We are not meeting "her" aww man :(
Cupquake:
-Witch Tiff's grandma used to make nightsade berry pies. Good fact to know
-Oop the Bertha clone is back
-Oh her sneaking behind Cleo was so cool
-"Our leader!"
-"Yeah I want a piece of that. Equality!"
-The voices are back
-Oh, so she did went through the portal...huh
-This is just a random thought, but are we getting a fairies smp next? Cause I feel as though both witch!Tiff and witch!Joey 's stories are meant to continue in a way? Guess we'll have to wait and see
Cleo:
-Oh this is the longest episode, kinda nervous...
-The voices of all the Cleo's?! Excuse me?!??
-Gods, to get any of the end armor set pieces is so expensive
-Oh here is Pris making her amends, yeah I know this already I watched Pris' pov
-"I'M YOUR MAKER!" It's great to finally understand what she said at that time
-Yeah, I think "the coven" does sound cool and ominous
-Did Cleo just pledge herself to Scott? I-yo-I can't understand what their saying from everyone talking over eachother
-Damm has she not liked any part of being a time witch...
-All the skins!!
-And she's human again!
-"And they lived happily ever after." That's a poetic end to Cleo's story. Since she did introduce us to her character with "once/twice a upon a time" and had kind of a storybook structure from then on
19/04
Scott:
-He sounds so annoyed that he's only allowed to take 20 items with him lol
-I don't like how Scott said that he feels like he was going to "burst" and green particals started coming out of him...
-"Wow, you can't just say she's big!"
-"It encapsulates how weird and wonderful we are but it all still works together." Whatever you say new supreme!
-Frank and Agatha were in a 20 buck bet lol
-Agatha what other stuff is down in your secret lair??
-HES LOSING HIS POWERS TOO?!?!!
-Oh he is really going through with it!! Anything for his love ig
-HE DID IT!!!MILO IS BACK!!!!
-Oh he drowned to save Maxwell(I still don't know who that is. Their dog maybe)
-4 years?!
-Maxwell passed away a year later?!
-"Moonlight" "My little shadow" aww Milo is soo sweet, I love him already
-So he left the crown behind willingly. I mean I guess it make sense he just needed the power of the supreme witch to finally bring Milo back and since he lost all his powers he's not fit to have it anymore...
-Wait does this make Eloise the new supreme or do we need a new competition to be held pronto?!(in my opinion Shellby should be the new supreme cause she came in second place)
Bertha:
-So the supreme cursed Bertha and Mertha because she looked into the future and saw terrible things were to happen if anyone else were to become the supreme witch? Yeah that's fair ig :/
-Oh wow that was a quick forgivness lol
-Mertha did get the worst of it
-Her nap got interrupted that's so rude
-Time for the supreme games to begin!! But were skipping that probably cause I already watched it 8 times before this
-Oh quick run down of the events?! Sure...
-Oi!! That's so mean to Lauren she did her best!!
-That was an accident though!
-Oh when Joey asked to break the crown to have all of the being the supreme witch Bertha said "Me too?" Hehe
-Where is Mertha?!
-All "-ertha named" mobs lol
-I'm getting nervous, where is Mertha?!
-Why was she on top of a ice mountain?!
-Mertha's uncursed!!
-"666 hours later" sihdudynxtwhAT!?!
-WHY IS EVERYONE GOING THROUGH THAT DAMM PORTAL!??!!?
-Also why were you 2 spying on Joey and how did he not see the 2 of them, they're not hiding all that well
-They have a witch police?!
-Oh Mertha looks so sad waiting for Bertha...
-"Bertha will return" well yeah I sure hope she does!
And just like that it's over...how do I feel about it? Well...I think the smp had a strong start and a strong middle the ending though...is fine I guess...just wasn't my cup of tea, but I still liked the smp
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steve0discusses · 7 months
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Episode 47 S5: Mana Runs too Slow and it Kills 2 People
Tumblr decided to change the way it does image posts so this is going to be my hell. I can only have max 30 "blocks" of images (yikes) and uploading all your images at once and then just adding text in between is actually not possible! (least it's a nightmare on browser. I have not figured out how to drag my text in between images, so I'm just uploading every image one by one and hoping I don't forget one)
thanks, I hate it!
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Peeking up at us over the horizon, our end of the world apocalypse has reached the next step of his rampage: which is to shoot glowing missiles out of it's Dragon crotch until Egypt is destroyed.
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Seto is doing his best to look productive, but unfortunately this is Sad Seto, who is still buffering.
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Just uh...give him a minute. He has to remember how to be Seto.
(read more under the cut)
I'm pretty sure Kissara told him straight up to call her whenever, and considering how few words they've ever said to each other, you'd think he'd remember the words she said like half an hour ago. Then again, he was kind of...sleeping when that happened. Or hallucinating, or dreaming, or all three.
Bakura and Yami are watching this pan out from the Shadow Game Zone, Bakura kind of nodding slowly while Yami becomes overwhelmed with embarrassment over how much everyone around him is screwing it. This is not meant to be funny, but it was very funny to me.
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I have brought this up before, but Bakura does bring up a good point, that this entire arc was kind of against the grain of who Yami became over the course of the last 4 seasons.
+++++STAND BACK I'M GONNA RANT, FEEL FREE TO SKIP++++
Don't get me wrong, Yami LOVES to make bad choices that end the world. But why would he continue to go back here and destroy the world of the future he knows and loves so much? Especially since it already went SO south with Dartz the last time he opened pandora's box?
He has a new identity now, he has so many friends, last arc was just so many women throwing themselves at Yugi. His life is really good! I think they could have developed more of a line of logic between last arc and this arc, but like with a lot of things in this arc, it was rushed.
So him giving up his newfound modern identity that he made all himself through hard work and friendship first off feels kinda bad. Like I'm OK with him being a new guy, he worked hard for that! Lets not go backward now.
And then him coming here to regain his old identity is sort of like the show knew what it must do, but the characters were like "nah." and then went and did it anyway seemingly at gunpoint.
And I kind of wish there was any contrast between who Yami's new identity is in the future and who Yami was in the past. It would be fascinating to dive into the fact he's now two people yet again, even though Yugi is no longer in that bean. but eh save it for the fanfiction, because they needed to end Yugioh in a certain number of episodes.
And that happens sometimes. Stories are character driven, and when you try and drive the characters, they become less like people and more like iconic symbols. Here's our hero. He must do this because he's the hero. That's it, that's the reason. Welcome to Shonen Jump.
+++++++END RANT AKA THIS ARC HAS COOL IDEAS AND I WISH IT HAD ENOUGH TIME TO DO THEM BETTER++++++++
Problem is, Yami isn't that meta. He's dumb though, so in a way it does make a little sense why he had to open the box. He dummy thin.
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Dummy thin and still can't read.
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And like in case you've jumped in here after my accidental hiatus (hello!) and not realized this, I had to binge watch the rest of the season before we cancelled our Hulu subscription. There was the option of watching it for free on the Yugioh website, but I didn't want to change my Photoshop actions.
So get ready for me to talk about how the ending of this show bothered me, for like 8 episodes. I'll try to keep it in, so we can get there when we get there.
But you can't say lines like "We were meant to be together." in the context of this arc, you can't DO that, show.
Apparently the creator of Yugioh got hospitalized while he wrote this arc, hence the dick king demon. But also it got....messy. We have like 3 seasons of development in like 8 episodes, buckle up. They did the best that they could do with the resource's given, and we'll even get to meet my favorite character a few times before it's over (the Storyboarding God that occasionally guest stars on Yugioh, love that guy)
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Back on the playing field, Yami is running out of options, when Isis informs us we can just go to McDonald's and get more McGuffins.
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Out of basically no where, Mana zips onto the screen because she's ready to have at least one girl's night before the end of the world. The contrasting energy from both Mana and Isis is peak goth babysitter vs the parrot that hides behind the couch and bites your feet.
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Back near Pharaoh's tomb, Yugi is still dueling over a deathpit with the child who these kids think is Ryou bakura.
This is not however, Ryou Bakura. It's sideways adjacent evil Bakura.
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And it didn't really matter that this plot point ever happened because it's not like Yugi, Joey, or Tea ever catch on that this isn't Ryou anyway. But at least I, the audience can feel a little bit better about the weird twist by the dub there.
Ryou is still passed out on some stone steps. He's fine.
You might be wondering "Oh so what asinine thing is Isis going to have to do to get the items back?" and uh, you're wrong actually.
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Turns out we could have just picked up the items in the desert at any time but I guess we forgot. I'll blame it on Shadi.
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Joey Wheeler, who can punch out probably anything but a ghost, chooses to hide behind Tea because he knows she can punch a ghost and I believe it, too.
Back on the surface, is a scene that would have been emotional if it hadn't been 3 minutes. it was NOT enough time to give a proper send off to our girl Isis here, and they tried, but if you imagine the Yakety Sax song playing under this death here, that's about the speed at which this girl biffed it.
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speaking of Yakety Sax theme, this is what was happening while Mana was crying her eyes out.,
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And you may ask, was it really that goofy? and yes, yes it was.
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and like I get it, animation and pacing are really, really hard. Parts of me wonder if maybe on paper this seemed OK. If maybe even as a storyboard this seemed OK. But something you learn quickly when doing any sort of narrative art, is that you need like 2x as much space as you think you do. Pause is an underrated godlike skill that takes a lifetime to master.
However, it still had good stills going on, it still had some lovely direction just...I mean they dropped Isis from top to bottom of that frame so freakin fast it was like she was a dropped banana hahaha.
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They still have to carry these items physically to the Pharaoh, and so becuase Mana is a slow runner, 2 people freakin died this episode distracting Zorc. Which is also the title of this episode because I want to send home howfreakin funny that is to me.
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Ah, back to Episode 1.
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So how breathtaking and epic is the Kaiju fight you ask? Well good thing for you, I capped it.
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The look on Seto and Yami's faces about sum it up.
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And as quickly as he showed up to do a few silly punches, the great Exodia was cut exactly in half. Don't ask me how the card logic works for that, I have forgotten how this game works already.
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Mana finally makes it to Yami, cursed puzzle in hand, and that ends this episode.
Can you imagine adding 7 characters to a story knowing you have to kill all of them individually before the anime arc is over? Breakneck deaths going on here.
Sorry for all you people that were so deeply attached to Shimon, the guy who isn't even Grandpa, by the way. A moment of silence for all 4 of you.
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And we get back this thing. This horrible thing made out of thousands of dead people's souls. The thing that trapped him for 5000 years and launched him into the future. The only thing that can save mankind.
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(If I have used this Mokuba joke like this before forgive me it was like a different lifetime before I caught covid, and I will not be able to regain those memories because I cannot curse myself with a rude ass puzzle.)
The abusive relationship with the Millennium Puzzle is a whole anime college essay I would write if I had half a brain, but alas I have the immune system and fatigue of a sickly gerbil or a goldfish that feels a little bit chilly. So I will not be writing that in depth episode but like...
Think about how far we've come with this jackass puzzle. And yet, I'm supposed to forgive it? Nah I don't think I have yet. Go to hell, puzzle.
This puzzle can go straight to hell.
Anyway, if you just got here you can read these recaps in chrono order at the link here:
https://steve0discusses.tumblr.com/tagged/yugioh/chrono
PS I had to do so much assholery to get that to go to my chrono link and not my main link. They would just. Change my link. They would just change my link every time I pasted it. Tumblr you have GOT to give me my old post editor back omg.
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ultimateinferno · 2 years
Text
With Stormlight, there's something that's simply ingenious with knowing that KoWT will be both an ending and not an ending. The knowledge that everything that's been happening for millions of words in the previous books is all coming to fruition in the next installment while also understanding that we'll only be halfway through the story is an absolutely terrifying prospect.
Like for many stories, even the best, the metanarrative can sometimes get in the way of your expectations. It's like when you're watching a mystery show and the characters confidently pins it on a suspect and you look down at the progress bar and there's still 30 minutes left in the episode. You instantly know that something will go wrong. There's dramatic irony in the situation.
Sometimes that's great. Many stories are better for it. The entirety of the Tragedy genre hinges upon shit like this. That being said, there's also just something about being unable to predict what happens next.
I genuinely don't know what will happen in KoWT. With Sanderson informing us that there will be a ~15 year time skip between SA5 and SA6, and that KoWT will be wrapping up many present arcs established, the stakes established at the end of RoW have never been higher. Things can end well, badly, pyrrhically, or somewhere in between. I can just as easily see them barely succeeding and buying enough time to constitute the time skip as I can see them fail terribly falling back to lick their wounds and mourn those lost. I don't know what will happen and it's enthralling.
KoWT is a climax, but not an end.
If I'm to be so bold to throw out one concrete theory however, it's that it will end in a Draw. The way that Rayse and Dalinar's deal went is well defined and the consequences are clear. A victory implies a 1000 year time skip, which is why despite everything I said, I don't believe this will happen. It's the least likely outcome I think. Meanwhile, a loss is very obvious. While the Desolation will continue, it will be so catastrophic ending with Dalinar's corruption that it seems obvious.
Sanderson is very good at plot twists. He very much foreshadows the hell out of his revelations while still maintaining surprise ("I write these words in steel..."). The nature of how his plots work, in fact, all draw upon very clever application and twisting of the rules he put in place. With Todd at the end of RoW finding a way to win this conflict, in spite of the Pact being concocted in a way minimize our heroes losses, I'm very certain that Sanderson has a deceptively obvious way to force a draw and break the Pact, a hidden loophole that will change the way we see the Desolation.
But even then, I'm not certain. When its the beginning of the end and the end of the beginning, anything can happen. I so very much look forward to it.
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