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blissfulalchemist · 3 years

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9, 12, 14, 21, 22 and 24 for John and Cat ☺️

Thank you Lydia! Sorry this took a hot minute, but a few of these were better and easier written on a keyboard and the laptop we have is still MIA. But thank you for letting me talk about them!

9. How open are they with their feelings?

Once together they are very open with all their feelings. Before that though they were and they weren’t. See here’s the thing Cat is very much someone that has their heart on their sleeve and while she can hold back, it’s only so far. She by default is open with her emotions and feelings, however she didn’t always speak on everything that she was feeling which allowed her to sort of just keep them away or found ways to write off certain reactions to things. Her distrust for the Seeds wasn’t held back so much but she never tried to let on just how much she was scared of them. John as we all know is a master manipulator and doesn’t show emotions when he feels in control of situations. With Cat it became a balancing act of how much he should fake and how much should be left genuine in order to gain some form of trust with her and have her open up to him, as the more she opened up the more likely he was going to find out just how to get her to assimilate to Eden’s Gate. It was through this constant game of hide and seek with emotions that the two eventually caught real feelings and became more open after that.

12. Do they have similar goals? If they clash, how do they deal?

Truly when you get down to the heart of their goals they are very similar. For all of John’s more aggressive methods there’s the motive to help people and create a safer and better world for everyone. He wants better than what he had. Cat chose her career path because of the same reasons. She tries to promote that while in Eden’s Gate, doing a little more than what John was able to accomplish among the locals (though we can blame this on Cat’s unthreatening demeanor and height). When it came to fights about the methods that were being used to fulfill the confession aspect of joining Eden’s Gate neither really wanted to budge on their opinion, eventually though they came to the compromise that it should be a choice to have the more physical route or a less physical route where people were able to just talk it out and have the sin placed where it wouldn’t hurt that badly to the person or not at all if they fulfilled other duties that would count towards the same atonement. Now once Cat was gone the old methods resumed and those that didn’t have a sin got one.

14. Is their anything they associate with each other?

For John it was the wedding ring that he got for Cat once they started to have a true relationship along with a few of the small dried out wildflower bouquets that got left around the house and office. John kept the ring closest to him and upon finding out Chance stole it he did double down his efforts to finding him as he desperately wanted the ring back, Faith does eventually convince Chance to give it back.

For Cat it’s the birthday gift that John gave her outside the Spread Eagle. She wasn’t allowed to have it while hospitalized and once she got out she wore it almost everyday until she felt and knew that there was no way that she could get back together with John. It does stay where she can see it on her nightstand. If Liz ever asked about it she would tell her that it was from her father but wouldn’t elaborate on the details.

21. Personally, do you think they are a good couple?

I had….so many intentions to make them a better couple when I first joined the fandom and developed their story. However as time went on and Cat became more developed they aren’t a good couple in the sense of it being healthy as there are many unhealthy things about it, however! as a dynamic though! Yes they are a good couple.

These two are very much living and presenting lies when they first interact and meet. The two, though mostly John, egg the other on to bring about parts of themselves neither want to see to the forefront. When they come to a middle ground it starts to look a little more obsessive especially when John gives her up to let her attempt to go back to a normal life with Theo. John doesn’t really leave her be, leaving gifts for her, speaking to her, seeking her out, and still telling her that he loves her. Vice versa Cat has a more subtle obsession with him for a long time with her seeking him out, asking him for advice, and making decisions that keep her and those she cares about in Hope County in the hopes of John joining them (really it’s because she can’t come to being okay with being away from John).

Once embracing the Mary Seed persona her clingy-ness to John is much more apparent. She takes on this role with the sole purpose of making a better life for her and John that will guarantee she never lose John prematurely like she lost Theo. She adores being at his side and just being with him, so much so that when he sends her away once again for good Cat does everything she can to contact him, escape to him, and just be with him. It’s these behaviors that have many professionals telling her that John’s affection for her was fake and induced by Bliss (which granted played a very small role with it just being around and having a background effect that just kept her a little more open really). With John it does turn into trying to get her back while also keeping away from his mistake and in a way finishing what she started. Once in the real world again John never fails to try and re-establish their relationship.

He keeps his distance for a long time but knowing that eventually Liz will have questions and will try to seek out the answers, which is where he will slither his way back into Cat’s life. He does go to lengths to try and ask her to be with him again and Cat wants to, truly she wants too but she knows how bad it got and doesn’t want to risk losing Liz as it would feel as bad, if not worse, than when she lost her first child. There was no untangling them from the other once they came together, but thankfully Cat’s stubborn in keeping her distance from John romantically.

22. From the outside looking in, what is their dynamic like?

Very back and forth with how they play off of their good and bad qualities. Cat may not have had the same experience as John but she has the empathy and patience to help him and work through it. Once there is some trust between them, John no longer really holds back his displeasure and anger outbursts and image is everything so he needs Cat to not look like the meek little wife that Joseph more hoped for with her. She loses her spine a bit and John pushes her to stand up for herself with everyone and not just him. Vice versa John can become too much as she offers the different perspective and calms him down so he can get a better grip on his emotions and work through them, even if he’s only a calmer and nicer version of himself around her only.

24. Is their any moment that happens between them that you know happens and just makes you melt?

God okay so I headcanoned John to be a Leo in my story because the real change for John is when Cat makes a little private birthday celebration for him, despite how much of a jerk he had been to her prior. Cat knowing that there hadn’t really been much in the way of birthday parties for the Seeds takes to making a nice dinner of what she can manage of John’s favorite meal and makes a nice cake for him with the best she can manage decoration wise as she’s no artist. She makes this little empty cabin the destination of it and decorates it to feel fancier than it is. There’s music in the background on a radio and eventually they just kind of dance under the stars and moonlight and its just so! God its just so soft and probably one of the most self indulgent parts of their story.

#x: tribulation #Thank you again Lydia!#also not me almost forgetting that I had this ready to post Thursday 😅

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ixchel-sketch · 4 years

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TITLE: AAXILIZTLI / SABER GENRE: Crime & Romance FANDOM: Mayans M.C. SHIP(S): Coco & Original Female Character STATUS: Complete LENGTH: 3,057 words

Which Member of Your OTP takes UNO wayyy too seriously ; Coco is a total card shark and Maya can barely tell the difference between Uno and Go Fish. Which makes for a pretty interesting game of Strip Poker + 20 Questions.

“So… explain it to me one more time?” Maya sat with her elbows on the bar while Chuckie spread out a deck of cards between them. She was glad the guys weren’t back yet, even if she’d been waiting there for the better part of an hour. From the looks she’d seen the squirrely man receive it was obvious not all members of the club were comfortable with their resident helper. Only she seemed to enjoy the odd conversations and company that he would provide. “I think I’m a lost cause.”

“ I do not accept that, practice makes perfect,' they say. Practice makes perfect.” Even though he disagreed Chuckie's face kept an upbeat smile, almost puppy like enthusiasm that couldn't be dulled by her harsh self criticisms. Maya's lips thinned, trying to commit the rules of the game to her memory one more time before finally calling it quits. The whole thing had come up after he’d told her the club was having some kind of meeting at the Casino on tribal land...and she’d mistakenly admitted to not knowing the first thing about playing cards. Chuckie’s hands may not have been as dexterous as they once were but the man sure was able to memorize a set of rules, using the awkward wooden fingers to point out the meaning of different cards and different techniques used to win games. She’d be lucky if she could just remember their names.

“How’d you get so good at this?” The shock on Chuckie's face at the mild compliment was almost heartbreaking.

"Here and there and there and here. I'm not good though, not like your boy."

Dark eyebrows shot up at that remark but Maya didn't have time to comment before the sound of approaching engines rumbled through the sandy yard and sent Chuckie scurrying to complete whatever chores he'd been given before they left. She remained hunkered over the drink that he’d gotten her, finishing it quickly as the noise from outside got ever closer. Mostly laughs and camaraderie between the guys which quieted by only a fraction when they saw her waiting inside. With a brief nod Coco split off from Angel and Gilly, large eyes giving her a quick once over to judge her mood before a small smile spread on his face. “ Didn’t think I’d be seeing you here.” He dug through his pocket to pull out a cigarette and nodded for her to follow him back outside.

"I wanted to pick you up some lunch but Chuckie said you guys were at the Casino?" That causes him to side eye her for a moment and Maya quickly back tracks. "You win anythin?"

"I got some cash." He took a couple drags before pulling his hand away, making sure to blow the smoke downwind from where she stood. "So I can get food later, you don't gotta buy me shit."

Their relationship was still fresh and she could sense the hesitancy at her taking more liberties to get close to him than she had before. When they were only friendly (because could she really call what they were doing now dating?) she would never show up to the club’s base without telling him first. Or dare to hang out and wait around for him. The way he wouldn’t meet her eyes for too long caused a wave of unease in her gut...was he having doubts? Did she fuck it up without realizing?

“I know...I wanted to.”

Coco shrugged, his cigarette nearly half gone already and Maya let out a big sigh that finally got his attention, his brows pinching together in the only show of concern. The times he would go quiet and get lost in his own head were the hardest for her to get used to. Still, determined to derive some communication she charged on, “Well, anyways. I gotta drop some stuff off at a local gallery. They’re letting me put my shit up in return for a few shifts a week in the shop.”

“That’s cool. That mean you’re staying?”

“For a little while. I need to make more stuff before I can do another venue anyways.”

“Cool.”

Maya bit her lip, looking towards where her bike was chained up and then back at Coco. “Can I come by the house later? I know I don’t have to but I can bring take out?”

Maybe it was the slight wobble of insecurity in her voice that broke Coco out of his introspective stupor, or the words jarring him back into the present with the realization she was about to take off but he nodded, flicking away the remnant of his cig and pulling her against him in a lose one armed hug. It eased some of the tension that his sudden mood had brought on, the quick peck to her lips erasing the rest. “Sure. I’ll catch you later. Just, uh...text first.”

It didn’t take too long to complete her errands, the cumbersome portfolio she had strapped to the back of her bike only carried a couple pieces that wouldn’t take long at all to put up. But it did give her enough time to think and reflect on the interaction that had just transpired. At first he’d seemed genuinely happy that she’d been there waiting for him, but as soon as Maya had brought up the club business Coco had gone cold. Already she knew most of what went down with the Mayans was on a strict need to know basis and tried to steer clear of asking anything too invasive. But as Maya was finishing up putting up her paintings she paused with sudden realization.

She didn’t really know much about Coco at all. Sure, they had spent a fair amount of time together over the past few weeks, especially after coming to terms with the severity of their feelings. But none of that time was spent truly getting to know each other. Mostly they just hung out, smoked weed, and watched bullshit sitcoms or reality shows to pass the time. There was no real way for her to know if Coco’s earlier silence had been of her doing, or caused by something the club was dealing with. It would be an outright lie to say that this didn’t bother her a little bit, the same kind of insecurity knotting up her stomach as she texted him to ask what he would like her to pick up.

Thankfully, mercifully, Coco texted her back immediately with the okay to come over. She didn't know how she would react if he'd ignored her and left Maya to stew over his abrupt silence. By the time she's pulling up to his house and chaining up her bike the sun has already set. Maya's knuckles barely have time to rap on the door before it's being yanked open and Coco blinks wide eyes at her through the crack. He looks jumpy, posture tense as he moves to hold the door open for her so she can slip inside.

"Sorry, traffic was starting to pick up so it took me a little bit to get here."

"You don't got to apologize. Thanks." He took the paper bag of chinese food from her and headed into the living room, the smell of cigarettes heavy in the air. Her own dark eyes scanned the room until they landed on the coffee table, a slow smile spread across her face.

"Are those cards?"

"Yeah...why?"

"Wanna play a game of strip poker while we eat? I've never actually played it before but Chuckie explained the rules to me today."

His hands stilled where they'd been emptying the contents of the take out onto the coffee table. An odd expression on his face that seemed to be a mixture of amusement and distaste. "You had him tell you how to play that?"

"What? No, I asked him how to play poker," She came over to sit next to him on the couch, bumping Coco with her shoulder and letting out a peal of giggles at his assumption. "The strip part is only por ti."

“Hmm. Okay, but I’m not going easy on you because it’s your first time.” His chopsticks raised in her direction as Maya is already reaching for the cards to shuffle and set up the game. She pouts for only a moment before nodding, eyes lighting up as an idea hits her.

“Well, then every time one of us removes an article of clothing, they get to ask the other a question?”

He turns hesitant but nods anyways, expression going blank as soon as he’s got his hand of cards and the game has begun. The first couple rounds go simple enough, setting the mood and making it clear that Coco would keep his word. Though for every simple article of clothing she removed, a personal question was asked in kind. They started off easy -- Where were you born? Did or do you play any sports? What’s your favorite color? Maya realized quickly that her chances at winning anything were doomed, her face giving away every hand. Even when she did get lucky enough to draw a good combination, Coco would finally break his stony expression with a small smirk.

"I fold." He put his cards down face up and shrugged out of his shirt. His cards were still better than hers but something in her expression must have tipped him off to her confidence. Immediately Maya’s shoulders sank and she let out a disappointed sigh, prepared to answer an equally arbitrary question. “How did you get into the travelling artist thing? There’s gotta be other ways to do it.”

“Oh, good one.” She adjusted where she’d moved to sit on the floor, their food long forgotten as the game had dragged on. Enough time for Coco to have rolled a joint and begun to pass it between them. “My dad was a musician. He started travelling and touring again after my mom finally left him. It was just...an easier life for me than staying with her and my sister in a small town.”

His eyes bore into her, taking in her words and nodding in response. A blush rose to her cheeks and her shoulders caved inward with a small shiver. Only a few rounds in and she was already down to her mismatched bra and underwear, the wall AC unit sensing just the right time to kick on and cause a chill to run down her spine. Meanwhile Coco was still in his jeans and white undershirt, his one article of clothing standing in stark contrast against the small pile she had building. Perhaps that was why when Maya found herself finally divested of her plain black bra she was no longer in the mood to ask trivial, lighthearted questions.

“You said before you were in the military? The marines?” “Yeah.” “Why’d you join?”

He went silent. Usually when she asked a question he would break the still cold expression he wore while holding cards. Coco’s eyes remained locked on hers, instead of the usual attention he would be paying to her topless form. It was obvious he was thinking intently about how to answer and she didn’t want to rush or interrupt him. He abandoned the joint to pull out a cigarette from the pack on the table between them.

“I had shit to get away from.”

When that was met with only more silence, his expression turned dour. He leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees and smoked in silence while his words turned over in her head. Maya tried her best to keep her expression neutral, the stakes higher than any card game. In moments like these it was almost impossible for her to guess what he might be thinking.

“I did some time. Got out and wanted something different.”

“Oh.”

“Why? You got anymore fucking questions?” She ignored the biting words and got up to sit next to him on the couch, stopping short of reaching out to place a hand on his arm. As it was closing the space between them didn't seem to comfort Coco. He leaned away from her slightly, no longer able to meet Maya's eyes.

"Nah. I'm good," She shrugged. "I don't wanna make you all uncomfortable and antsy. I'm not a fuckin' child and I'm not here to judge you, man. We all got our shit."

His head swung towards her, emphasizing each word with a jerk of his chin. As though they were being hurtled at her. "Why the fuck are you here. You don't got anywhere better to be than riding some fuckin' cholo dick? You like slumming it?"

"Basta, stop it." Her chin wobbled but Maya's expression remained determined. "I'm here because I want to be. Because I like you."

Silence falls over them once again as she refuses to take the bait and fall into his trap. Coco crushes the butt of the cig in the ashtray and all the fight leaves him. His hand clenched and released over his knee and finally she felt comfortable enough to reach out and place hers on top of it. He doesn't pull away which is all the encouragement she needs to press up against his side where it's warm. Even though she had managed to keep her calm Maya's pulse still raced at the argument they had just narrowly avoided.

Both of them had short tempers in the right circumstance and it could be a challenge not to react…But not when Coco was so obviously upset and dealing with deeper shit. All she really wanted to do now was to take away the darkness lingering in his grimace. Whatever heavy thoughts he has seem to get a little lighter as he reclines against the couch once again and brings one arm up around her shoulders so she can stay close. Both of her arms slink around his chest to hold him in a tight embrace and he lets out a long shuddery breath before relaxing against her. It must not be easy for him to open up and be any sort of vulnerable and she’s more than willing to reward him when he is.

“I do have one more question though.” He freezes for half a second before noticing her gaze is directed down towards the only article of clothing she’s still wearing. The switch in moods is so drastic that Coco can’t help but let out a small chuckle and shake his head, the arm around her shoulder folding so that he can pat down some of the waves of her hair.

“Yeah?”

“Do...you wanna fuck me?”

He doesn’t respond out loud, simply turns and shrugs out of the wifebeater in one smooth movement. Most of the time the fact that he’s been in the military remains somewhere in the back of her mind, a difference that she has very little interest in dissecting. It’s only when he moves that it becomes an apparent and undeniable part of him. In a moment she’s stretched under him, her head resting on the arm of the couch and his hands trace up her side and pause to cup her breast. Maya arches into his touch, arms wrapped around his chest to hold him close while his other hand abandoned its place clutching her hip to hastily brush her hair away from her neck. He groaned, pressing her even harder into the worn cushions and attacking her throat and collar with kisses and nips.

“Fuck, take your jeans off.” She rolls her hips up against him and he rewards her by grabbing her ass and pulling her close so that the only thing separating them was the damp material of her underwear and the denim of his pants.

“Patience, shit, I wanna wind you up first.”

Maybe it was punishment for all of the questions earlier or simply his own prerogative, but either way she couldn’t bring herself to complain when he pulled away to remove his belt and help to slip her underwear off. His hand was warm and large on her thigh, spreading her open so that he could slip a couple fingers inside to rub against her. The feeling of his teeth grazing her shoulder and his hand coaxing her hips into a rhythm. Just when Maya thinks she may be close to some relief he pulls her into a kiss and removes his hand, swallowing the sound of disappointment she makes.

Coco’s breath is warm against her skin, his pants slung low and he kicks them off before pinning her against the couch. It’s easy to slip her legs around his waist and help to ease him inside. He let out a soft groan and she answered in kind, peppering kisses along his shoulder while Coco drove into her. One of his hands reached up to tug back Maya’s hair and expose the kiss marked column of her neck. Her blunt nails scrape at his back as the quick pace of his thrusts pushes her over. His own orgasm isn't far behind and Coco all but collapses on top of Maya afterward, enjoying how her hand absentmindedly cards through his hair while they catch their breath. Even if they were just starting out getting to know each other as a couple, there was no denying that they already knew how to satisfy the other completely.

"So..that was fun." She sighed and turned to press her bare back against the warmth of his chest when he’d finally eased off of her. Coco grunted in response, one arm wrapped around her torso to hold Maya against him. Her eyes caught the abandoned cards and noticed how many of them had fallen from the table to scatter on the floor below. They probably wouldn't end up getting picked up and put away until morning.

"Let's just stick to Uno from now on?" Finally earning a laugh, the vibration rumbling against her and causing a chain reaction.

"Pretty sure I can still beat your ass in that, quierida. I'm game for whenever you want to lose." He pinched her pert rear end and earned another high peal of giggles.

"Okay, we'll see." There was a challenge in her voice but Maya knew he was probably right.

#johnny coco cruz #coco cruz #mayans mc #mayans fanfic #mayans smut

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outranks · 5 years

Text

no better distraction

pairing: quentin beck / reader

word count: 3k

summary: I just wanted to write some mild exhibitionism tbh. that’s the plot. also warning for unsafe sex.

i have like one more smut for this fandom and then a thing with an actual plot and idk if that’s a good thing or not alkfjsd

Prague is nice this time of year, though you’re not getting to see much of it. Instead you’ve either been inside working, or like now, you’re sitting on a park bench at the edge of the plaza while somehow still working. Though you are outside this time, which is a nice change at the very least. This is the spot where Quentin will secure his place in the hearts of the people, as well as Nick Fury, and hopefully that Spider kid, too. If everything goes right then no one will get hurt and Mysterio will walk away a beloved hero in the eyes of the world.

You only have a few days to perfect everything and while you’re mostly confident in the plan, Quentin is determined to go over every last detail of the plan until he can recite every single line and action in his sleep.

You really wish he would sleep.

There are drones around you, projecting the image of a van left parked for the evening that you sincerely hope is convincing enough for the locals. The two of you have been here for hours already and no one has come to investigate, which for now you’re taking as a good sign. This whole day had been a spur of the moment decision; to come here in person, but you’re used to going where Quentin tells you because you believe in his cause. Or, well, you believe in him. And right now the man himself is pacing in front of you, from one side of the illusion and back again, going over his dialogue like he doesn’t already know it all by heart.

“Maybe this part should be changed,” he says, repeating a line of the script out loud.

You frown, thinking of all the work that will have to be done to make any adjustments this late in the game. Especially anything as big as what you fear he’s about to suggest. “Is that really a good idea?” It’s definitely not, but you’re hoping he’ll come to that conclusion on his own.

“It doesn’t have enough—” he frowns, waving around the tablet he’s been reading off of— “punch. It needs to hit them— Fury, Parker, everyone— so hard that they trust me as much as they trusted Stark.”

“It’s fine,” you say, because at this point it has to be. “We’ve gone over this how many times already? Hundreds? It’s exactly what it needs to be.” Everything is already in place and as anxious as you’ve been lately, it’s nothing compared to what he must be going through. He’s a confidant man, you’ve known that from the start, but he’s also a clever man and those have always been the hardest on themselves, in your experience. “Nothing has to be changed.”

“You can’t know that.”

Which is true, but you do believe in the plan as much as you believe in him, and you’ve already bet everything on the idea that this will work. “Quentin…” You glance at your laptop, at the world around you that you can’t quite see from inside the illusion, and at the people milling around unknowing that their lives are going to change. “This will work.”

He sighs, running his fingers through his hair and staring out at the same nothingness that you can see around you, but somehow you get the feeling that he still knows that there are people just out of reach. Maybe that’s why he hasn’t raised his voice or let loose the frustration that you can tell he must be feeling. “Everything we’ve been working for has lead to this,” he says. “Everything I am, everything I have depends on this. If anything goes wrong—”

“I know.” You’ve been with him long enough that his goals have become your own. Even before all of this, you wanted things that Quentin has made seem attainable. “If you think we should change something…”

“No,” he sighs again, jaw tightening as his eyes close, head tipping back as he takes a deep breath and holds it for a moment before letting it all out slowly. When he opens his eyes, he’s looking directly at you with something you haven’t yet learned to read playing out on his face. “This isn’t working.”

You startle, heart beating a little faster while your mind races over everything you’ve been doing and what he could mean. You’re only a handful of days away from getting everything you’ve been working toward and there’s nothing that’s been left to chance. The only unknowns are the people. and you’ve put so much time into watching Spider-Man— Parker— that you have a reasonable guess at exactly what he’s going to say and do. There’s nothing that isn’t working at this point.

“What?”

Quentin smiles, all teeth and grandeur and for a moment you can see him only as Mysterio. How everyone else must see him when he’s in costume and how the world will see him once this is all over. “This,” he says, gesturing with his tablet before placing it down on the bench. “Going over this again and again and again— I need something to clear my mind. A distraction.”

There are a lot of places to go in Prague, certainly more than you’ve seen after spending most of your time in the city cooped up inside, and you have been meaning to get in some sight-seeing before you head off for the big finale. But you get the feeling that’s not what he’s talking about. “A distraction?”

That air of a superhero dissipates into the sharp grin of a man with a target in his sights. It’s only a few steps between him and where you’re sitting and he makes it quicker than you think should be possible. For a moment you actually wonder if he’s an illusion too, but then he’s kneeling in front of you, sliding his hand up the inside of your thigh. “Unless you’re not interested.”

“We’re in public.”

“Are we?” He looks you right in the eye as his thumb brushes over your underwear, just light enough to tease. “Then I guess you’ll just have to be quiet.” He presses a little harder and that’s all it takes to get you to agree, spreading your legs a little wider to accommodate the breadth of his shoulders.

A small sound catches in your throat, your mouth falling open on a shaking exhale, and you drop your laptop off to the side on the bench while you hope desperately that the illusion holds. “Quentin…” you groan as your underwear is pulled down and then off you, only to be discarded somewhere you can’t see. You can feel yourself getting wetter on the gentle play of his fingers, and the way he rubs your clit, before he pushes inside of you. Not hard enough to go any further, but enough to make you squirm. “Fuck, fuck.” It’s been too long with everything that’s been going on recently. You’ve missed him and what he can do to you with so much skill that you can’t imagine anything else.

Quentin laughs, teasing again at your entrance until you rock down on his fingers in a needy attempt to get them inside you. “Do you like that?” he asks, knowing damn well that you do. “Is this what you need?” He rubs harder, his dexterous fingers used to playing you like an expert.

“I thought—” your breath stutters on an inhale— “I thought this was about you.”

“Oh this is definitely about me,” he says, pushing your skirt up so that he can place a kiss high up on your thigh. “The way you look right now because of me, the way you respond to my touch, the way you’re soaking my fingers— that’s all for me.”

You try to ask him if all heroes have such an ego, but it only comes out as a soft whine as you squirm, so eager for more. Your legs shake and you have to bite your lip to keep back any more noise because that’s the only thing that’s keeping you from begging for what you want. Until one of your legs is pushed open farther and he ducks in to run the flat of his tongue right over your swollen clit. Then you moan exactly like you realise that he wanted you to.

If no one heard that, you’d be surprised.

“That’s my girl,” he says, sitting back on his heels, waiting patiently for you to catch your breath and look at him. Right after you give a quick glance to the laptop screen, though there’s not much you can tell from this angle, so for all you know you’ve caught the attention of some locals.

“That’s cheating,” you hiss, feeling a blush creep up your cheeks, at odds with the way you’re still rocking on his fingers.

Quentin has the decency to at least fake a look of contrition for a brief second before he’s leaning up to kiss you properly for the first time in what feels like ages. “Are you sure about that, sweetheart?” he asks as he very slowly pulls away from you so that you’re left wet and empty “Why don’t you tell me what you want?”

You’ve been here before and you know what this is— what he’s really asking for— but the risk of getting caught is still there and somehow you know this is going to lead to more trouble in the future. Sooner or later he’s going to realise you want all of this exactly as much as he does. But that doesn’t stop you from turning around on the bench, your knees digging into the wood in a way you know you’re going to regret later, and pulling your skirt up to expose yourself, dripping wet and ready, just for him. “Fuck me,” you say.

“Yes,” he breathes and you wish you could see his face just to take in that moment when he loses control, but then you hear the sound of his zipper being pulled down and feel the head of his cock right against your entrance and you’re not thinking of anything else. He pushes in slowly, making you feel the stretch of every inch of him and the way he rubs against your inner walls perfectly. He doesn’t really take his time beyond that, apparently having teased the both of you enough already. There’s something you really love about this; getting to heave him when everything else has dropped away and it’s just the two of you and what you want.

You grip the back of the bench with trembling hands and press back, trying to drag him in even more, so deep that you’ll still feel him for days after this. Things are only going to get more hectic from here on out and you want every reminder of your time together that you can get. “Come on,” you plead, clenching around him, spreading your legs a little wider.

“So needy.” Quentin draws out just enough that he can slam back in, rocking you forward with a groan. “Unfortunately we don’t have a lot of time,” he says, taking hold of your hips so he can fuck you exactly as hard as he wants. “Tonight I’m going to spread you out on my bed and watch you fall apart under me.”

That really shouldn’t have such an effect on you, but the way he says it, like a promise and a guarantee, has you all but agreeing to it right then and there. It’s like every plan he has and every action he takes is going to play out exactly as he says it will and you’re helpless but to believe him. You can picture it perfectly in your mind, because you’ve been there before and you know you’ll be there again.

“Fuck,” you say into a shiver, your breath hitching on an exhale as his cock hits you right where you want it, feeling impossibly deeper with every press and snap of his hips. You’re spread open on him, exposed to your core, but only for him.

You try to fuck yourself back on his cock, taking him in and feeling the wet slide of him, wanting to hold back the quiet needy sound that nearly spills out of you with every movement. There’s a slickness running down the inside of your thighs that makes you shiver at what evidence will be left behind when this is all over. He always makes such a mess out of you and by now you really should have known better. And yet, you’ll keep letting this happen again and again because you like it as much as he does. If you had known this was going to happen then maybe you would have at least planned your day a little better. As it is, you’re not really sure how you can continue to work after this.

“Can you cum like this?” he asks, leaning over you until his chest is pressed right up against your back and you can feel his breath hot against your ear. His hand moves away from your hip, untucking your shirt with a quick tug on the fabric, then pushing it up so that he can pull your bra down just enough to expose your breasts to the open air.

It makes you wonder what Quentin would do if he ever knew that you’d really let him show you off, if only he asked. That you’d allow him to show everyone that your his as much as he’s yours and that he is the only one who can ever make you feel like this. Or maybe he already knows and this is all just a test run. A practice before the main event.

You squirm, dropping forward as your arms give out, no longer able to continue holding your weight, and the only thing that keeps you up is his arm going tight around your middle.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

Your soft puffs of air are the only sound you can hear as you’re pushed right to the edge and thrown over by his cock hitting the perfect spot so deep inside of you. It hits hard, making you cry out, scrambling to ride out every last wave of pleasure until you feel lost in it. All of your muscles tense and relax, and you blindly reach back, grabbing for him because you need to touch. And you try to pull him closer, mindlessly grinding out the last of your release.

“Quentin,” you say, though it comes out barely more than a sigh.

He laughs, but it’s strained in a way that you know means he’s getting close. “You’re so good for me,” he says, pressing a wet kiss right to the underside of your jaw.

“If anyone catches us…”

“A little late for that.” He starts to go faster, rougher, and the zipper of his jeans bites into your skin when he fucks in, now more concerned with his own pleasure. Whatever rhythm he had before is almost completely lost as he takes and uses you as he gets closer and closer to his own release. You can hear the way his breath stutters and feel the way his fingers press harder into your skin. And when he’s close he groans, so low that you can feel it reverberate through you before he stills, pressing hard against you, and you feel that warmth flooding into you.

It really shouldn’t feel as good as it does, but you rock back, taking everything he has until he’s spent and you’re both left catching you breath right there, on a bench, in a plaza in Prague.

Quentin pulls out slowly, and you can hear his footsteps as he shifts back a little, followed by the sound of his zipper being carefully pulled up. But you haven’t moved yet. You’re not even sure where your underwear went, but as you look around it occurs to you that it may have landed outside of the illusion. Which leaves you in the unfavorable position of having to search for later, in the dark, or more likely having to walk back to your rented apartment while trying not to look as if you’ve recently been fucked by Earth’s newest hero.

“If we wait until dark…” you say, mostly to yourself while attempting to fix your bra and pull your shirt back down, only to be stopped by Quentin moving right back into position behind you, only now it’s just his hand that goes back between your legs, carefully pushing his fingers inside of you to play with the mess he made. You gasp, feeling yourself heat up again. “What are you doing?”

“Admiring my work.”

That gets you to laugh and bat his hand away in spite of yourself, finally standing up and turning to face. Only to see how he wipes his hand off on his jeans without a care for how that’s going to look. “We can’t be seen like this,” you say, wanting to make good on his promise to take you to bed as much as you want to retain some dignity in the face of the people who might see you in such a state as you’re in now. “We could maybe hide ourselves…” you look to your laptop, still running some numbers as it monitors the world outside of the illusion. But there’s always the possibility of your coworkers discovering that the two of you have used the drones for personal reasons.

You’ll have to remember to check the logs later, just to clear away any possible evidence.

“We can always stay here a little longer,” Quentin says, pulling you close and kissing you something so soft compared to the ways he was fucking you only minutes before. “Or perhaps—” his hand presses between your legs again, but this time his touch is light, waiting for you to respond— “I can clean you up a little.” His lips pull up in the corners, though he tries to fight it, like he’s said something so damn clever. And yet you find yourself dragging him in for another kiss.

You sigh, stretching the moment out, just to make him wait. “Well, if you insist.”

#quentin beck #quentin beck x reader #mysterio #mysterio x reader #my writing #nsftumblr

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winchesterprincessbride · 6 years

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The New Neighbor-(Baby It’s Cold Outside)

This fic was written for @thing-you-do-with-that-thing Seasons of Love/Colors of Winter Challenge. This story is Part 2 of my New Neighbor Series. Part 1, Leaves Aint the Only Thing Fallin’, can be found HERE. My picture is:

You were finishing up the last batch of Christmas cookies when you heard a knock at your back door, and then Sam’s voice. “Y/N, it’s me.”

“Come on in, I’m in the kitchen!” You called back.

Sam walked in, beanie covering his head, and cheeks red with the cold. “It smells amazing in here! Please tell me those are for me.”

“They are for the ornament exchange, but I did make you a plate.” You informed him as you pulled the last tray out of the oven.

“Tell me what that is again?” He asked, swiping two cookies off the cooling rack.

“It’s so much fun! We all go to Trina’s with a wrapped ornament, drink a ton of wine, and play this elaborate game that basically boils down to stealing other people’s ornaments. It gets very cutthroat.”

“Sounds very festive. Is there anything that happens with you ladies that doesn’t involve wine?” Sam asked with a grin.

“God, I hope not!” You answered immediately.

Hey, can I ask you something?”

“Sure, what’s up?” You busied yourself with making him a cup of coffee as he pulled off his beanie and coat.

“So I found this note on my front door this morning that said that I’d been “Elf’ed”. There was a gift bag with some chocolate and a bottle of wine in it. I’ve at a loss here, Y/N. Am I supposed to guess who it’s from?” He looked adorably confused.

You couldn’t help smiling. Sometimes you forgot that Sam was new to the neighborhood. Just as you had predicted, your neighbor April had spread the news of your and Sam’s backyard kiss in the fall as fast as her fingers could text it. And suddenly everyone was sticking their nose in your business, much to your annoyance.

You did go on that dinner date with Sam. And that led to several more, and next thing you knew, you were spending pretty much all your free time together. He was just so easygoing and kind, and he really made you happy. Now if only you could keep your private life somewhat private, everything would be perfect.

“You’re supposed to tape the sign to the inside of your door so everyone knows you’ve already been “Elf’ed”. Then you make up a little gift and do it to someone else. But the trick is, you have to surprise them, and not get caught. So you should do it at night. Don’t worry. I’ll help you since it’s your first time.” You patted his arm reassuringly. “As long as you promise to share your chocolate with me.”

“This neighborhood needs to come with an instruction manual.” He grumbled good-naturedly.

“So what are you doing while I’m at Trina’s?” You asked curiously.

“Vicki’s husband Rick invited me over. Apparently, the men get together and watch football during the “drunken estrogen-fest”, as he called it.” Sam said with a chuckle.

“Oh good! Then you can drive me home if I have too much to drink.” You said happily. “Vicki was complaining because Rick spent a ton of money on this bottle of 50-year old bourbon that he’s super excited about. I think he’s going to give you all some to taste.”

“Really? I like bourbon. So tell me, do the men gossip as much as the women do?” He asked curiously. “I just want to be prepared.”

You shrugged. “No idea. I’ve never been allowed in the boys club, sorry. I have no idea what debauchery goes on there.”

Sam walked over to you and pulled you into his arms, kissing you gently. “So are we officially a thing?” He asked softly when he pulled away.

You looked up at him, a ghost of a smile on your face. “I thought that’s what we have been doing for the past three months, yeah.”

“That’s not what I mean, Y/N. I know you don’t want everyone knowing our business. I’m sure someone there is gonna ask me. What should I say?” He stared at you intently as he waited for you to answer.

“I’m ready to be a thing if you are. Everyone assumes we are anyway. What do you say, Winchester, want to be my not-so-secret boyfriend?” You asked, lacing your fingers with his.

“Nothing would make me happier,” Sam said before kissing you again.

******

The men, it turned out, weren’t much for gossip. Rick, Vicki’s husband, handed Sam a snifter of the 50-year old bourbon and said, “So Sam, you and Y/N, huh?”

“Yeah,” Sam replied.

“I never liked her ex.” Trina’s husband Mike added. “Total douchebag.”

“So I’ve heard,” Sam commented. Then the topic changed to the Chiefs’ chance of making the playoffs this year. And that was the extent of the discussion about Sam and Y/N’s relationship.

Christmas Eve was tomorrow, and you were supposed to fly home in the morning to the East Coast to see your family. You hadn’t been home in two years, and you couldn’t wait to meet your new niece. But the forecast was starting to look ominous.

Sam had offered to drive you to the airport since his family was local and he didn’t have to be anywhere until the evening. At first, the weatherman said there was a chance of a white Christmas this year, but as the days passed, they said a major storm was on the way. It was already flurrying.

It wasn’t long before the texts started coming.

Sam: Have you seen the forecast? They said we will have a foot by morning.

Kelsey: You’re not still going, are you?

Trina: Did they cancel your flight yet?

Vicki: Maybe you and Sam will get snowed in <wink wink>

Mom: I’m a little worried about you flying in this weather, sweetie. Call me.

It wasn’t long after that you got a text from the airline that your flight had been canceled. You called your mother and updated her on the situation. They were closing the airport until the storm had passed, so you had no idea when you’d be able to get another flight.

After sending out a group text telling everyone your flight was canceled and you weren’t going, you sent a separate message to Sam telling him you were going to bed, and you’d talk to him tomorrow.

Right now, you didn’t want to see anyone, not even Sam.

When you woke up the next morning, you padded into the kitchen to make some coffee and called Sam.

“Hey, Sam. I just got up. What time are you going to your parents?” You asked sleepily.

“Have you looked outside, Y/N? No one’s going anywhere.” He said with a laugh.

You pulled back the curtain from your kitchen window and peered outside. The snow was so deep it came halfway up the window. And it was still coming down. “Jeez, how much did we get?”

“Almost two feet, with more on the way. My mom said not to come. My brother’s car handles like a tank in the snow, so he bailed. Sadie could barely get outside, it’s that bad. So I suddenly have no plans.“

“Me neither.”

“Wanna come over?” Sam asked you, and suddenly the idea of being snowed in with Sam on Christmas Eve sounded immensely appealing.

“I’d love to, but I don’t own any snowshoes.” You teased.

“I have an idea. You start shoveling from your back door, and I’ll start from mine, and we’ll meet in the middle. Sound good?” He asked hopefully.

“Let me get another cup of coffee in me and a shower, and your on!” You replied, always up for a challenge. You grabbed a backpack, threw in Sam’s Christmas present, and started shoveling.

After about ten minutes, you were done. The snow was wet and heavy, and your arms were like wet noodles. “Fuck it!” You snapped, and you just started pushing your way through the snow towards Sam’s back door.

“Sam? Are you there?” You called out. All you could see was white everywhere.

“What are you doing, Y/N?” Sam sounded really far away.

“Shoveling sucks. I’m coming over. Get ready.”

After what seemed like an eternity, you broke through the wall of snow and fell into Sam’s arms, almost knocking him over. You were covered from head to toe in snow and ice, so he quickly led you into his warm house., Sadie barking excitedly at your arrival.

He helped you pull off your coat and boots, your clothes were soaked through and you were shivering. “Let me get you some dry clothes to wear.”

He came back with a pair of red flannel pants that were about 4 sizes too big, a Stanford sweatshirt, and green socks with snowflakes on them. “Dean gave me these for Christmas last year,” He explained. You rolled the waistband of the pants up several times, and he settled you on the couch while he made you coffee with a big dollop of Bailey’s in it to warm you up.

He changed into flannel pajamas too, and the two of you exchanged presents and watched Christmas movies until you fell asleep in his arms and he carried you to his bedroom, Sadie following at his heels.

“I’m glad we’re spending Christmas together, Y/N.” He whispers against your hair as he kisses down your neck.

“I am too. I love you, Sam.” You murmur before you are fully awake.

@skybinx-blog @percywinchester27 @a-sea-of-fandoms @dorky-and-i-know-it@tokyoghoulyz @pinknerdpanda @atc74@jayankles @notnaturalanahi@midnightjazzmine @moonlitskinwalker @we-are-band-sexuals@winchestergirl-love @gecko9596 @ronnie248-blog@essie1876@bohowitch@just-another-busy-fangirl@jotink78 @captainradicalpassion@keelzy2 @disneymarina @kittenofdoomage @mrswhozeewhatsis@oriona75 @frankiea1998 @akshi8278@stylinson531@valynsia @dr-dean@theoutlinez @imweirdandobsessed @growningupgeek @luciisthebest @laurenisnot @maddieburcham1 @canadianjelly@muliermalefici @brewsthespirit-blog @ilsawasanacrobat @nanie5@weasleywinchester-blog @samisimportant @fatalcrossbow @violetsamalamb @letmusicguideu @grantsgorgeousgirl @faegal04 @feelmyroarrrr @kay18115@milkymilky-cocopuff @mikimausiii @the-greatest-temptation @superpanicromancesummer @wh1sp3r1ng-impala @emoryhemsworth @squirrel-moose-winchester@jennifromtheblock1013 @thing-you-do-with-that-thing

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occupyvenus · 7 years

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Omg, no where in the leaks does it say Jon bends the knee! After the wight hunt, he wants to bend the knee bc he's really grateful that dany decided to come help them and he's also feeling bad about viserion dying but he physically can't. Dany asks him about the north indp. then says shes doesnt want him to bend the knee anymore. At the dragonpit meeting he sides with dany over cersei but doesnt bend the knee to her. The issue is him picking a side bc it doesnt unite the realm like he intends

Hi nony! This has been sitting in my inbox for a couple of days (sry it’s pretty full and I do have a life outside of tumblr ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, plus, I’m shit at replying in an acceptable time-frame anyway … don’t take it personally)

That would actually … make a lot more sense. Since everyone is going ape-shit over the leaks again, maybe read this. This is the exact problem of taking written leaks and spoilers at face value. They lack context. Reading a couple of sentences about what happens isn’t the same thing as actually seeing it on screen. Even the official epsiode abstracts don’t do it justice. Or was I the only one who expected shit to go down in the north when I read that “Jon was facing a revolt?”.

You are missing the events precedenting the incident, camera-work, facial expressions, music scores, background reactions, etc. All the things important to conveying information and meaning in a visual and continual medium as television. It’s way to easy to read something into it and intepret them according to your own biases, wishes or fears. The spread of spoilers and leaks on the internet is nothing but a global game of telephone / chinese whisper’s. Whatever truth is in them is buried under a mountain of other peoples thoughts, speculations and (miss)-interpretations. The more people talk about it, the more false information is out there. And as stated above, even the things that are factually correct, can be portrayed in a misleading light.

So basically Jon is willing to kneel for Danys help, but after seeing the white walkers with her own eyes she offers to do so anyway? That’s something that would make sense for both characters. I can accept that. Jon being ready to give up northern independece for her asisstance, with her assuring him that there is no need to do that. I could see Dany pressing her claim anyway, but that would actually be a good character moment for her.

Jon doesn’t pledge himself to Dany in the Dragonpit and gives the North to her, but simply sides with her on the Iron Throne over Cersei ruling the (remaining) kingdoms? That makes sense as well. As King in the North he would be expected to choose between supporting one of the two candidates. Favouring Dany is not the same thing as kneeling to her. She clearly is the better choice (even if I’m starting to believe that Jonny will end up on the westerosi throne in his own right). I have no problem with that.

They way you put it nony, I could see this happening and it wouldn’t completely destroy Jons character, or Danys. It would be mostly consistent with their characterization so far and wouldn’t completely go against the goals and motivations established for them this season. Thanks for sending me this.

I do stand by my opinion that Jon shouldn’t feel too heartbroken over Dany losing a dragon while saving him from a suicide mission SHE SENT HIM ON. A bit of sympathy, sure, but to the point where it makes up for her previous misssteps and denying him aid in the first place? After both he and (assumingly) Melissandre and Tyrion try to convince her the threat is real? It also strikes me as implausible that Dany wouldn’t believe Jon when he is right in front of her, giving his testimony, but any kind of message from Bran will completely change her mind? That’s what will convince her to take her dragons north and help them? Seriously? Well, D&D aren’t known for their consistent characterizations so, yeah, possible. Doesn’t make enough sense for me, but probably makes enough sense for them.

I do also stand by my opinion that Jon has absolutely no real reason to go to the dragonpit anyway and that meeting with mad queen lannister in a locale of her own choosing, in the middle of wildfire-infested kings landing is a stupid as hell idea, that both Tyrion and Sansa should warn them about. They should really know that Cersei cannot be trusted. Also Cerseis little sheme of promising and then withholding any help makes no sense as well - as a viable threat to our heroes - but I could accept that as on par with the shitty writing D&D have done before.

Btw, I am going to take a back-seat in discussing the leaks from now on. It was fun before the season-premiere, given that it was all we could work with, but now I would much rather spend my time analyzing and talking about the actual canon-footage. I still have so many scenes from the first two episodes I want to dissect and it seems more meaningful to me to concentrate on this. I am honestly so exhausted that every discussion and analysis of actual canon-material is overshadowed and judged or dismissed by their consistency with possible future events as described in leaks, which’s ultimate accuracy we will only be able to judge at the end of the season. I will speculate on the shows direction based on what the show has given us so far. I am tired of people granting the leaks more significance than the actual show so far. Seriously, if I have one more anon telling me “You’re analysis is bullshit because in tha leeks (｀Д´) this thing happens in episode xy “ I might just scream.

I will be talking about the leaks every now and then, but I will withdraw from most general discussions. I will not focus on them. I still have some anons about it in my inbox and maybe I’ll write a combined answer to them, but chances are I will neither find the time nor the energy to do so. Send me an ask if you think I’d be interested to talk about it, or if you want to hear my opinion, but I won’t promise to do so. Sry, but I really hope you understand where I’m coming from.

Putting this in the jonsa tag, because people over there are freaking out once again and maybe this will ease their minds. I don’t usually like to put jonsa-unrelated content in the tag, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Hope you guys understand. Jonsa is still possible and while s7 will be a rough time for us, it has done nothing but continuing the subtle foreshadowing of season 6. I will not change my mind about jonsa becoming endgame because of tha leeks, I will make up my mind by the way canon proceeds from now on. If they really butcher Jons character I might leave the canon-side of the ship, but not the fanon one. We have one of the best fandoms with the one of the best ships I ever was part of / rooted for and I will not let canon take that away from me. Bryke has been trying for almost ten years to destroy my conviction in zutara, without any success. I will simply keep shipping them as if season 7 (and maybe season 8) never happened, but thus far nothing in the show has given me a reason to do that. Canon material > leaks on the internet.

#got leaks #got spoilers #got s7 #game of thrones #jonsa #jon x sansa #jon snow #ask #the wight hunt is dumb #the dragon pit is dumb #the boatbang is dumb #the s7 leaks are dumb #everybody calm down

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kynimdraws · 7 years

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A little PSA: An explanation of Ovewatch Ana’s “Tal/탈” skin

I am getting tired of people hating on Ana’s Tal skin and while I have expressed my discontent over this unnecessary discourse on twitter I might as well crosspost on tumblr because of non-Koreans trying to spread misinformation about my home country’s culture.

(Ana voice): SHHHHHHHHHHHH calm down kids it’s grandma

Disclaimer: I am Korean. My mother is a Korean teacher who has taught me Korean history/culture. My uncle teaches in a University about Korean history. Chinese cultural appropriation topics will not be mentioned here, because I am not Chinese. Someone with better knowledge about that than make their own posts elsewhere (please).

A quick googling of “tal” or “탈” will give you the following definition (lifted from the all-accessible wikipedia page). I bolded the most relevant parts of this excerpt since I will go into more detail about it in the next paragraphs:

Korean masks have a long tradition with the use in a variety of contexts. Masks are called tal (Hangul: 탈) in Korean, but they are also known by many others names such as gamyeon, gwangdae, chorani, talbak and talbagaji. Korean Mask come with black cloth attached to the sides of the mask designed to cover the back of the head and also to simulate black hair.

They were used in war, on both soldiers and their horses; ceremonially, for burial rites in jade and bronze and for shamanistic ceremonies to drive away evil spirits; to remember the faces of great historical figures in death masks; and in the arts, particularly in ritual dances, courtly, and theatrical plays. The present uses are as miniature masks for tourist souvenirs, or on cell-phones where they hang as good-luck talismans.

The one Ana is specifically wearing is a type of 하회탈 (hahoetal), which describes a type of mask used during theatre (하회별신굿탈놀이) and dance (탈춤) since the 12th century. These performances consist of a cast of character archetypes, which are depicted by the masks. Many of the features in the masks are exaggerated for humorous and dramatic effect. Here are a general list of masks that commonly seen.

Fun fact, Ana’s mask is a hybrid of the Kaksi/각시 and Yangban/양반 mask. And maybe a little bit of the Halmo/할미 depending on the mask design.

These mask plays were performed in villages to ward off evil spirits and to convince the local gods to protect them and bring prosperity. A certain aspect of these performances are also comedic, and a chance for performers to poke fun of the ruling class and taboo subjects like sex. While this is not tied to the Lunar New Year specifically, such performances were done during special occasions like those holidays.

Now you may be asking “this is part of a religious thing! Isn’t that disrespectful??” And trust me, this depiction is FAR from being offensive to most Koreans.

Yes the tal was used for shamanistic rituals, specifically associated with “muism” (무교/신교). However, muism is not a popular Korean religion. While there has a recent uprise in people practicing it/being interested in it, Muism has always faced discrimination in Korean history. Confucianism, Christianity, and even Japanese colonialism has demonized this religion and it was nearly forgotten/eradicated. The most known incident of this is called the misin tapa undong (미신 타파 운동) describes a period from 19th century to the 1980s where various parties (both outside and inside Korea) tried to eradicate muism through various means, including burning down local shrines and villages that were known to practice them. People had to be in hiding so avoid persecution.

Fortunately the Korean government has indirectly protected Muism by making several aspects of their religious traditions as national Korean treasures, including the 탈 among other things. But it is important to note that whole 탈 culture is secularized now. It does not have the religious connotations that it was known for. Hell, the masks are one of the most recognizable features of Korean culture (and seen in many souvenirs). There are places in Korea that preserve this tradition and perform it to the public to spread awareness of its history (the 안동 village every September has an arts festival for all traditional Korean performing arts). FYI, Koreans who appreciate this are not muists themselves, and no one requires you to be one. Lunar New Year is largely a secular holiday, after all.

Now, do you want to see some of the reactions KOREAN FANS had about the Ana skin? Here are few I got off from twitter, with translations from yours truly:

BTW that Ana tal skin is my aesthetic - (x)

That Ana skin is really good ㅇㅁㅇ....tal is really making my heart flutter* - (x)

*간지뿅뿅 is not a really easy thing to translate since it’s a combo of a sound effect and an emotion??? It’s a positive response either way

Ana skin ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠtal is so good ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ - (x)

OMG Ana’s skin is tal LOL that is exciting - (x)

Many of these really are happy their culture is seen! And it’s not depicted in a mocking manner and the overall design is quite lovely, with Korean-design motifs in her clothes. The few relatively negative tweets about her skin are how the cloth may be too bright/gaudy compared to the mask, which is sort of true. The mask is supposed to be seen clearly to show what character the performer is playing out. But the color scheme really looks like those worn for the Bongsan talchum (봉산탈춤), another variety of tal (they are all within the same province btw). And a lot of Korean traditional color schemes are pretty gaudy too.

Alright, so I have told you all I can about the tal culture. Now the you may be asking the following question, summarized well by this tweet:

I think Ana looks awesome in general but what was the concept behind her new skin ???? She’s Egyptian so why wear a Tal? - (x)

To be fair, I was also fairly surprised by the choice for having Ana have the Korean-style skin before I became super ecstatic to see my culture be represented. I do agree it is odd to see a Muslim/Egyptian/Arabic character (two groups that don’t really celebrate Lunar New Year from what I can gather) to be chosen for a Korean skin, but that matter sort of falls into the “Muslim/Egyptian/Arabic culture is underrepresented in Overwatch and gaming media in general” topic and I am not knowledgeable enough to discuss that in detail. A Muslim Overwatch fan has written about this matter here if you want to check it out.

But back on point, is this skin an example of YELLOW FACE or CULTURAL APPROPRIATION? No! When did being Muslim/Arabic/Egyptian =/= you can’t celebrate/appreciate other cultures and their traditions? Did you only want Koreans to get the skin? I am all for D.Va getting more skins (and MAYBE more KOREAN OVERWATCH HEROES) but why restrict the Korean theme onto just one character? Cultural appropriation is when people INAPPROPRIATELY disrespect a culture by mocking them and disregarding the traditions of said culture. Ana is not doing any of this. Besides, Korean tal culture is not closed off to non-Koreans, and there are Korean cultural socities that are willing to offer classes on this and will even teach you how to do the dance/plays (i.e. Sejong University has a site for it).

FYI because I am Korean, I cannot say how Egyptian/Muslim/Arab fans feel about Ana wearing Korean attire for Lunar New Year. I have talked to a few Muslim OW fans/friends about this and given their differing opinions on the matter (including the OP of the muslim underrepresentation post I linked earlier), I cannot really make a confident assumption on how these people generally feel about the skin. On Korean fandom’s end though, we love the skin! It’s great Blizzard took the time to research Korean culture and make a skin that isn’t mocking Koreans. And Blizzard does have some ties with Korea itself due to its HUGE gaming culture/fanbase, so it is possible BlizzKorea has gotten input there for this event. Being between two BIG Asian countries (Japan and China), Korea is often left out and this event was a really nice breath of fresh air. We are represented!! We are not some invisible culture between the big two!!!

And if you are not part of this culture, just PLEASE let other people speak out about the matter before getting on your moral high horse to talk about appropriation.

Now, does that mean the Korean fandom thinks Blizzard is a perfect company? NO! Honestly the entire event is MOSTLY about Chinese culture (with some Korean stuff squeezed in between). Other Asian countries that celebrate Lunar New Year have been ignored (i.e. Southeast Asian cultures and some Indian cultures celebrate Lunar New Year and they are not included despite Symmetra being Indian, etc). These discrepancies are good starting points to discuss underrepresentation in media that Blizzard can learn about and hopefully include in their future updates. From what I can see, the Overwatch developers have been receptive to this feedback so it would be good to have that convo in their official forums too.

FYI, I personally feel like there could have been more Korean stuff for this event period. In America at least, it really sucks that Lunar New Year is ALWAYS called Chinese New Year despite other countries also celebrating it...RIP. But I appreciate that this game has made Korean culture more visible. Here’s hope to more visible Korean stuff in gaming and elsewhere! Where is my “새해 복 많이 받으세요” voice line for D.Va? I demand answers Blizzard!!!

Anyway, hope that has taught you something new, and Happy Lunar New Year to everyone!

#a psa #overwatch #d.va #korean culture #ana #ana amari #korea #lunar new year #year of the rooster overwatch

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