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bestworstcase · 3 years

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farran rereads lost lagoon: chapters 16-17

back at it.

re: romance novel: “I saw a patch of red flowers, and I thought they would be striking against Cass’s dark hair. She wasn’t exactly a flower wearer, but maybe she’d let me pin one on her dress? The color would set off her fair skin so perfectly. And she could at least keep some in a vase by her bed. I refused to believe there was a person alive who didn’t feel better with freshly cut flowers in her room.” that’s gay rapunzel

i do admittedly have some ambivalent feelings about this passage. on the one hand it’s - yes, very gay. but also it feels to me like such a clear illustration of the difficulty rapunzel has with empathy and listening to other people when their experiences or expectations or needs diverge from hers; she acknowledges that cass isn’t into flowers, but follows it up with “but maybe i can get her to wear some anyway,” and of course there’s the whole refusing to believe anyone could feel differently about having flowers in their room than she does. and it also has this weird undercurrent of - god, i don’t know how to phrase it in a succinct way.

this specific passage was on my mind when i wrote this bit in moonless air chapter 4:

Still. She plucks at the stitches of her jack-of-plate, self-conscious.

It’s the nicest thing she owns. Soft green velvet sewn over sturdy layers of canvas and steel. Armor. She’d saved up for more than a year to buy it for herself on the anniversary of her adoption two years ago, and at the time it had been nothing but a frivolous luxury. Stupid, really. She’d never had real reason to wear it in Herzingen, not for anything besides teaching herself how to move with its weight and entertaining ridiculous fantasies—but last night, Moira had intimated that their destination in Vardaros is fancy as well as dangerous. So the jack seemed… appropriate.

Sharp. She twitches.

Clothing—fashion isn’t– Cassandra’s always hated dresses. It’s a trait that demands a certain amount of indifference to what other people think of her appearance.

And she can do indifference. Cassandra has indifference in spades. But nobody’s ever paid her a compliment quite like that before: baldly appreciative. Straightforward. Not like all the times Rapunzel coaxed her into tolerating crowns of late-summer flowers because the colors look so nice with your complexion! and not like the Commander’s gruff praise for how grown-up she looked in the hideous pastel gowns that had come with the lady-in-waiting gig.

because – like, cass is butch, and “not a flower wearer,” and here in lost lagoon we have this passage where rapunzel expresses this pretty straightforward attraction to cassandra but in the context of imagining cassandra presenting in a much more feminine way than she is comfortable with - in a dress with flowers in her hair etc - and it just... rubs me the wrong way a little bit. and this is not to say like cass can’t be butch and put a flower in her hair but when it’s paired with rapunzel specifically acknowledging that cass doesn’t WANT to wear flowers then it - yeah i feel weird about this passage.

and that translated into cass having a whole little crisis over being complimented for her appearance without implicit pressure to be more feminine for the first time ever

anyways

i still can’t get over the name monsieur lefleur

rapunzel summarizes hervanian culture as “brash but can be funny; distrustful but not mean-spirited” so, basically, they are americans

she is feeling very Prepared to meet with them, in contrast to every other time she’s met with foreign dignitaries or nobility before this. eugene tries to warn her that cass is PISSED with her and she just brushes him off, as one does, by saying that cass is “not all bubbles and moonbeams” but that she is “a softy” inside.

of course this leads up to cass blowing up and going off while rapunzel tries to calm her down and just - groan this line.

“People don’t change! You told a criminal a detail that puts my entire future at risk!”

how many times have i said “cass doesn’t act this way in tts” i feel like it’s a constant drumbeat. but i have to say, again, that cass doesn’t act this way in tts. i don’t think it’s unrealistic for her to think like this, given that her father is essentially corona’s chief of police and she idolizes him, but i feel the need to reiterate that there is zero sign of cass having this mindset in tts proper. and it does sort of bother me when people read this into cass’s character because it undermines and delegitimizes her dislike of eugene in early s1.

which like. tts itself sort of frames their mutual dislike as a mutual problem, but it’s... really not? and imo the best illustration of this is in this exchange from cassandra vs eugene:

CASSANDRA: Unbelievable. Did you eat all the cookies?

EUGENE: I’m not a pig, Cassandra. I ate all of your cookies; I’m saving mine for later.

CASSANDRA: Ugh– you are nothing but a self-serving, inconsiderate, arrogant freeloader!

EUGENE: [scoffing] You know, I can rattle off insulting adjectives describing your personality, too, but to do so would imply that you actually have a personality, and I just wouldn’t feel right about doing that!

this is the dynamic every time they squabble in early s1.

1 - eugene does something selfish or thoughtless - in this case taking all the cookies and milk for himself.

2 - cassandra calls him out for it, and he doubles down, often taking a potshot at her in the process.

3 - cassandra gets mad and calls his behavior what it is (self-serving, inconsiderate, arrogant)

4 - eugene gets defensive and insults her as a person, typically with variations on calling her icy / unfeeling / humorless / joyless.

which is to say, their fights are initiated by eugene’s poor behavior, and cassandra attacks his behavior but eugene attacks cassandra herself. like, eugene is the dude who insults you and then goes “pfft why can’t you take a joke” when you get upset with him. that’s what this is.

moreover, when eugene’s, for lack of a better term, residual flynn rider-ness starts to taper off, cassandra’s criticism of his behavior also tapers off, AND she gets much gentler about how she phrases this criticism once he starts to actually take it on board. but there’s no accompanying shift in the way eugene speaks to and about her - the jibes about her being humorless or cranky or soulless literally never stop and at no point does he ever seem to consider that cass might not appreciate them as much as he thinks she does.

(to be clear, i don’t think they bother cass very much if at all - but they do create and reinforce a perception on eugene’s end that cass Doesn’t Have Feelings and the background radiation of that contributes to the toxicity that develops in season 2.)

like again, pulling from cassandra vs eugene here, eugene is extremely insulting towards cassandra even when he’s ostensibly coming to her defense:

RANDOM THUG: Look at that, Fancy-Boots has got something to say!

EUGENE: Name-calling? Come on, we’re better than that, aren’t we? Sure, we could sit here and make fun of each other—tease Cassandra for her chronic joylessness, or me for my uncommonly good looks, or you for your poor dental hygiene, tragic fashion sense, robust body odor, and what are clearly woefully misguided decision making skills, but do you really want to go down that road?

ALL OF WHICH IS TO SAY - besides demonstrating an obvious willingness to give eugene another chance once he starts doing the bare minimum to not be a dick to her, cassandra doesn’t like eugene because eugene is an asshole to her and takes the enormous privileges he is given completely for granted.

saying “well she doesn’t like him because he was a criminal and she doesn’t believe criminals ever change” erases that completely and reframes the conflict as cassandra treats eugene unfairly because of bigotry that she needs to unlearn. lost lagoon takes this even one step further in that lost lagoon eugene is genuinely trying to be responsible, he is taking his new lot in life seriously. he doesn’t need cass to tell him off for acting like an ass because he doesn’t act like an ass. he shows actual interest in getting to know cass and makes an effort to break through her hostility in order to get along. unlike his tts counterpart, lagoon eugene really doesn’t do anything wrong, and that makes cassandra’s intense hatred of him on the grounds that he was a thief look completely irrational and, like i said, bigoted.

it’s just very frustrating to me.

anyways

rapunzel tries very hard to persuade cass that it’s actually totally fine that she told eugene the secret because she just can’t keep secrets from eugene (except the lagoon which she has arbitrarily decided is totes fine to keep secret and i am pretty sure this contradiction never gets pointed out) - and cass is having none of it, and of course arianna interrupts before anything can get resolved.

they rush out and monsieur lefleur interrupts them, asking questions about the lost lagoon. he reveals that he heard an ~elegant cloaked person~ inquiring about it in the library. he asks for the book. they say no. the red herring smells to high heavens, and the chapter ends with rapunzel subtly telling cass to hide the book ~for the safety of the kingdom~ and oh my god i just can’t handle the low stakes.

seventeen picks up from there with cassandra’s point of view; she’s suspicious of lefleur and angsts a lot about how she has no time to train and she needs to get out of corona yada yada. her plan is literally to just walk until she finds someone to hire her on as a guard which. lol. this kid.

i feel like this is the strongest passage in the whole book:

She said there couldn’t be any secrets between Eugene and her. But why—especially when it meant sacrificing my future and everything I held dear? I’d read about romantic love in poems, and it seemed to me like a spell. Sounded great for the lovebirds, but what about the other people.

Did I just not matter in the face of this love, even though I had been the one to risk everything to show Rapunzel the world? Was I just supposed to fall on my sword because Eugene was uncomfortable that he didn’t have every last piece of information about Rapunzel?

she has a brief argument with owl, who is a pretty obvious stand-in for her own doubts / feeling that she truly belongs in corona and doesn’t actually want to leave. but she has no choice! but it’s stormy, so she can’t leave! oh no!

(i think if tts really strongly felt she had no choice but to free corona, a measly thunderstorm would not be enough to stop her.)

#lost lagoon reread #cassunzel

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storyteller0311 · 5 years

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Decoding Arrow 7x15, AKA *OMG, Guys, OMG*

Hi.

Everyone OK?

So, today’s my birthday and tonight’s episode, while anxiety inducing, was awesome. AND THAT PROMO! (In the words of Cristina Yang: “Somebody sedate me!”)

Anyway...

Wow. Wow, wow, wow.

Last week, when the promo for 7x15 aired I was kind of ambivalent about the episode since it (as we now know) was almost a complete misdirect of what the episode actually ended up being. And, oh boy, did it end up being something else.

I don’t even know where to begin, so I’m just going to go for it. Sorry if this is confusing.

The Road to the End and How Last Week’s Announcement Effects the Future Storyline

Due to last week’s announcement that Arrow is officially coming to an end with a shortened 8th season, I think it is necessary to reevaluate where this train is headed. I could be completely wrong, but I’m not convinced that anything up until the announcement of Arrow’s fate was written in stone. I believe that the Flash Forwards were introduced primarily as a launching point for a post-Stephen Amell version of Arrow, where the action would be firmly entrenched in 2040, allowing for a version of the series starring Ben, Kat, the actors that play Zoe and Connor, Juliana, Rick, Colton, and maybe David as regulars.

Now that Arrow is ending, I’m not as convinced that the fate of the story will remain the same as it would have if Arrow would have remained on the air. While the speculation of Oliver’s possible death being reversed would still have been very possible if Arrow continued past 8x10, I don’t know that it would make as much sense in terms of the seeds being sewn this season for a possible continuation in the future storyline.

On a side note, I can’t tell you how happy I am that Arrow will end with Stephen’s departure. Even though I’ll miss it, I think it’s for the best.

The State of Star City and Vigilantes in 2040

One of the big mysteries that the Flash Forwards have created this season revolves around Star City’s grim fate and the criminality and hatred of vigilantes in 2040. Until tonight, the solution to that mystery seemed pretty straight forward. In fact, I was speculating that the discord between the SCPD and Team Arrow tonight (with Dinah siding with the SCPD) was the beginning of the end for the redemption of vigilantes in the eyes of Star City (and the SCPD/Mayor Pollard) and the beginning of the end of Dinah and Rene’s relationship.

But, just as quickly as I thought that, Diggle came through with words of wisdom and moderation and reminded our parents-to-be that going to the other extreme of defying everything they’d worked for wasn’t the way to go. So, by the end of the episode, a truce has been reached between the SCPD and Team Arrow and Mayor Pollard is ready to repeal the anti-vigilante law. This does not match up to the future we’re seeing in 2040.

So, what gives? What happens next that causes such a reversal?

I don’t know for sure, but all signs are pointing towards wherever the storyline with Dante/Emiko is going.

The item that I’m battling with right now, particularly after the information we’ve been given last week, tonight, and in the promo for next week have made me wonder whether we’re putting way too much stock in Crisis on Infinite Earths providing all the answers to out questions. (And that goes beyond the mystery of Oliver’s fate.)

The reason for this is that, assuming there won’t be an unexpected time jump and that the 2019 Crossover will happen in November/December, the timelines at this moment don’t match up for Crisis to be the all-consuming answer.

Plus, Arrow (and the rest of the Arrowverse) generally try to ground their series in their own independent storylines without relying too much on crossover since not everyone watches every show. Again, not saying Crisis is not going to play a major role, that but as we learn more information, we’re possibly ignoring what’s going on NOW in favor of putting all our eggs in the Crisis basket.

Felicity’s pregnancy is in an early stage, so probably pre-12 weeks if we’re going by traditional rubrics. She manages to keep it a secret while in Star City and then finds a way to legitimately leave Star City and have the baby with no one but Oliver and Diggle knowing.

It’s reasonable to assume that Star City’s condition continues to deteriorate or reaches a turning point as Season 7 comes to a close. Whether that’s all due to Dante or also something happens with the SCPD truce remains to be seen. But, something drastic has to happen to cause Oliver and Felicity to believe that their only option is to hide Mia away.

I’m also assuming that it is around the same time that Olicity decide that it is better to let William think they abandoned him in order to keep him safe.

Unless there’s a time jump, Mia will not be born before the end of the season. So, something major has to be coming and soon. What that is though, I don’t know.

Who Is the Real Big Bad? (And Is Diaz Really Dead?)

Last week’s episode left Emiko’s loyalties ambiguous, even though they placed heavy doubt on them. Tonight, however, I think there is more evidence in the camp that Emiko is indeed one of this season’s villains. (Though that doesn’t mean she can’t/won’t be redeemed by season’s end.)

My speculation is that Diaz is really dead and that Emiko was sent by Dante to Slabside to tie up that loose end. While of course the comics-based speculation that Diaz could be reborn through some kind of ritual within the Ninth Circle, I think Dante sees him as a liability that needed to be snuffed out. (Much like how Dante simply shot everyone else in that meeting where Diaz went rogue.)

There’s no doubt that Dante, the Ninth Circle, and Emiko to a certain extent are the Season 7 Big Bad.

What remains to be seen, however, is how exactly they relate to the future we’re seeing in 2040.

Emiko vs. Black Siren

Based on tonight’s episode, the title of a future episode, and a post made by Katie Cassidy, I am speculating that Black Siren dies within the next few episodes. I could be totally wrong, or only wrong that Black Siren dies and doesn’t just leave a redeemed person. But, the title “Lost Canary” combined with Katie Cassidy cutting her hair pretty short, and the newly established animosity between Emiko and Black Siren is interesting...

It could also be a reason why vigilantes are once again in the crosshairs, since Black Siren is technically the DA.

Olicity and Baby Mia

I covered most of this above, but OMG THAT PROMO!!!!

I think next week is going to be doozy. I can’t even begin to verbalize what I think we’ll be talking about at this time next Monday.

So...what do you all think? Where are we headed from here?

#arrow #arrow spoilers #arrow 7x15 #arrow 7x15 spoilers #arrow 7x16 #arrow 7x16 spoilers #arrow speculation #arrow spec

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greennightspider · 6 years

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Fated Instinct Chapter 15: Gluttony is a Sin... and so is Greed

Author’s Note: The above picture M’Baku’s family ain’t prissy, but they are royalty in Jabari land, plus they wanted to make a good impression for their future addition ;) The picture above that one? Well... it is HALLOWEEEEEN!!! The first half is inspired juuuust a bit by @laketaj24 fic Bet.

Summary: Sequel to Cabin in the Snow. Akari finds herself in a predicament after an accidental overnight stay in a cabin grants her the title of fiance to the chieftain-to-be M’Baku himself.

SMUT WARNING!

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7 Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14, Chapter 16, Chapter 17, Chapter 18, Chapter 19, Chapter 19(2), Chapter 20, Chapter 20(2), Chapter 21, Chapter 22, Chapter 23, Chapter 24

Bonus Chapter 21.5

M’Baku x Akari (OC)

“Bet what hmm?” Runi raised her eyebrows, challenging her captor. No matter what the situation, Runi was always acted like she was in control, even when she didn’t have the upper hand. But even she was starting to have second thoughts about provoking the beast. Zahkele’s salacious gaze told her as much, who was eyeing her up like prey.

“Bet those black panties. And that bra.” He relished in watching her mouth turn in utter shock at his boldness.

But Runi was quickly shaken out of her daze, trying to wriggle out of his grip but to no avail. “Gyagh, so what’s the bet?”

All of a sudden they were snapped out of their negotiations as they heard the muffled sound of the front door slamming. The pitter patter of footsteps grew closer and closer, and Zahkele quickly twirled Runi around so her back was to his stomach, tightening his hold with one hand on her mouth and one around her waist. He liked the way Runi’s body moulded with his own, taking in the distinct scent of boysenberries that wafted from her skin. As they waited for the footsteps to identify themselves, Zahkele brought himself to Runi’s ear.

“Bet I can make you moan.”

“Kele!”

“What do you want Kaia?!” He roared, and beyond the door Kaia made a face at Zahkele’s unwarranted outburst. Little did she know his frustration of being interrupted, trying to keep a squirming Runi on lock in his arms. “Hold still!” He hissed into her ear.

“Did Runi come over?”

“Yeah, but she said she had some stuff to do so she went home.” This comment earning an angry muffle from Runi who then started thrashing. But before she could break free Zahkele, suddenly eyed up a soft spot on Runi’s neck, licking his lips before going in for the kill.

Runi let out a muffled squeal when she felt Zahkele’s mouth suckle on the nape of her neck. Zahkele raised his eyebrows, realising he must’ve found her sweet spot. He continued to nip and suck on the soft skin until he was sure it was going to leave a mark.

“Okay. Kari just wanted me to let the fam know she’d be going to the palace for dinner.”

The squirming stopped as both Zahkele and Runi unknowingly made the same expression of intrigue. And Zahkele would have normally pressed further, if he didn’t already have business to attend to. “Okay, sounds good, I’ll let dad know when he gets home.”

“Sweet.” Zahkele didn’t even wait for the pitter patter of feet walking away before continuing his brazen attack on Runi’s neck, weakening her with every lick. Every bite. . Zahkele let his hand roam her waist, feeling the slight curve of her hips that dipped in the tight black training pants she was wearing.

Zahkele had always seen the girl in his arms as exactly that- a girl. The loud-mouthed friend of his sister, but also friend of the family. It was until that fateful night Ever since that night Zahkele had started to notice Runi was actually grown. Fully grown. And night after night he had prayed for Hanuman to help him, considering he couldn’t help himself.

Runi let out a small muffled moan.

He really couldn’t.

Zahkele finished off his second hickey with peppered kisses along her shoulder until he reached her singlet strap. Satisfied with his victory, he released Runi, stepping back and watching her almost stumble as her very knees were weak. Zahkele causally made his way back onto the bed, lying down in the exact same position Runi found him in. They both heard the front door slam again, signifying the fact that both of them were now again alone.

“I guess I win.”

“Oh shut up.” Runi took one look at her former captor, lying there with a smugly wolfish grin, and for a moment paused to take in the image of his half-naked form. Before relieving herself of her singlet. She then jumped on the bed and immediately straddled Zahkele’s hips, grinding on his hard member through the fabric of his pants, rewarding her with a hiss from Zahkele before his hands found her hips once again. Runi brought her lips to his in a heated kiss, while Zahkele ground his hips upward. Neither one was willing to let up.

Even when Zahkele all but ripped Runi’s pants off while Runi furiously undid his own. When Runi settled herself on his lap, taking him inch by inch not by necessity, only to tease. Even when Zahkele gripped her hips as she winded on top of him, raking her hands up and down Zahkele’s chiseled torso.

Neither one was willing to admit defeat.

Even when Zahkele’s grunts signalled his release at the beckon of Runi’s gasps, now towering over her as she raked her nails down his back and came with a loud cry. And as they both lay there in the afterglow, tangled in each other’s arms,

Neither one decided to let go.

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Laughter echoed throughout the hall as the Lord and his family unfurled themselves on the many pillows and furs around the lavish banquet before them. Nocawe had already started piling on her second plate. It’s okay Kari, you can do this. You’ve already met half the family, and your pretty sure none of them hate you which is good. Akari counted the facts that were in her favour, letting them bolster her confidence.

Akari in her silence mentally ticked off the names of M’Baku’s brother, all of whom were in attendance. Uuka, clad in a light blue sleeveless top with white furs on his shoulders, nearest to his mother and the chief at the head of the table. Next to him sat Akhona, dressed partly in armour like he had come straight from the battlefield. Akari couldn’t help but wish she was seated across from anyone but him, as his ambivalent gaze felt more cold than neutral.

On Akari’s side of the table she was sat next to M’Baku on her right and the youngest twins, Fundiswa and Gcobisa on her left. They both settled for talking amongst themselves, but gave her curious side-eyes whenever their conversation lulled, which was usually about fighting for food.

Akari knew that most times her quiet or aloof nature around strangers was interpreted as standoffish, or just plain snobby. But in reality, Akari was just confident in herself that she didn’t feel the need to make small talk with every person in the room. She was comfortable in her silence. Well, usually.

“M’Baku my boy, you’re fiancé has barely said a word! It must be because she’s ashamed at your manners.” The chief chided his son, who was halfway through his second helping of rice before casting a concerned ‘you okay?’ glance towards Akari.

Akari gave a sort of ‘help me’ look towards Nocawe as the chief threw back is head in laughter, while Nocawe (with a mouth half full of papaya) mouthed to her the word ‘breathe’. Akari had gone to Nocawe for advice as soon as M’Baku invited her, for which Nocawe was only more than happy to help.

The most important thing you can do, is be honest child. Even if it is not the most ‘proper’ answer. The chief values honesty, and as long as you are truthful, it will be fine.

“Well to be honest, my Lord, I am very anxious.” Akari chuckled nervously, and M’Baku put his bowl down at the boldly open answer his fiancé gave. “I am not only in the presence of our chieftain, but my future in laws, and in truth I don’t know which I am more nervous about. I care for M’Baku, and he cares for his family, therefore I hope to make a good impression.” She finished with a shy smile. The chieftain smiled and nodded at her words, and Nocawe sneakily gave her a wink and a thumbs up.

“Do we scare you?” The chieftain prompted.

“Oh Hanuman no!” Akari laughed loudly for the first time that night, earning raised eyebrows all around. “My father made sure to beat fear out of us when we were young.” Akari skulled back a cup of cordial, before her expression went dark. “We have no fear.”

The brothers all made nervous eyes at Akari’s sudden change of tone and the sliiiiight hint of bloodlust in her eyes, making them wonder what kind of training she had endured before their father burst into laughter yet again. “That is exactly what I would expect from Eshile’s offspring, nothing less!”

The brothers relaxed while the chief continued on. “I have fond memories of your father. We did not call him the ‘fang of the Jabari’ for nothing.” Nocawe nodded in agreement. “Only my wife here was bold enough to face him in training, and that was because your father would bribe her with the promise of exotic foods if she won.”

“What can I say, the food was good!” Nocawe shouted in her defence with her mouth half full of sweet potato, and Akari couldn’t help but burst into laughter, as did the table.

The night continued on with many a tall and entertaining tale, including several childhood memories that the brother’s had wished had never resurfaced. Nocawe and Daluxolo however seemed content to embarrass their children, especially M’Baku, who by the end of it had earned a worn out Akari on his shoulder who had almost been brought to tears at not only the stories, but the story-tellers themselves, who she was guessing were mostly excited by the fact they had a fresh audience.

M’Baku walked Akari through the large hallways and watched her wipe a tear from the corner of her eye. “I’m glad you had fun.”

Akari burst into a small chuckle. “Well I’m glad I came M’Baku, I hope I made a good impression.”

“Are you kidding? My father was practically beaming with pride when he saw you fall off the cushion almost scream-laughing.” M’Baku smiled, before looking to the side with hopeful eyes. “I hope that you will come again?”

“Of course Baku, I’d be honoured.” Akari flashed him a genuine smile, and M’Baku thought his heart would stop. Something warmed him inside at the sight of his fiancé’s happiness, something that made him feel pride. Grandmama Nobomi watched from her little corner as she weaved in the moonlight, waving to the happy couple as soon as they passed by. But as soon as they were gone from sight Grandmama Nobomi shifted her gaze to the shadows.

“Are you done spying?”

Nobomi watched as the figure emerged from the darkness, her eyes softening slightly when the familiar face stepped into the moonlight.

“There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

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Taglist: @skysynclair19 @junesbride @great-neckpectations @muse-of-mbaku@hippiesandpeacesigns @jackburtonsays @coonflix @hi-looo12@bonyg@romanceoftheeveryday@someareblindtoitsbeauty@wheredidallthedreamersgo@msblkshot710 @peaches-bbygrl@theunsweetenedtruth@blackpinup22 @airis-paris14@macgruberrrsimplyyamberr @blackpantherreblogs@wawakanda-btch@im5ftbutmythroat66 @vanitykocaine@iamrheaspeaks @aykanna@laketaj24@letsshamelessqueen-m @leahnicole1219@cutewylie @titty-teetee @babygirlofwakanda @chefjessypooh

#greennightspider #fated instinct #m'baku fanfiction #m'baku fanfic #black panther fanfiction #mbaku fanfiction #mbaku fanfic #m'baku x akari #m'baku x oc #mbaku x oc #I cant remember what other tags I'm supposed to include

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skyheld · 6 years

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♛ fill in the blanks | fluff otp edition

ameridan / telana

( + their wolves )

Who’s more likely to find who wearing their clothes?: They both borrow from each other. Ameridan is leaner than Telana, but he mostly wears loose-fitting clothes which she can wear too, and they’re about the same height. She lets him keep all of his orlesian clothes, though. Doesn’t care for them at all.

Who enunciates hand holding?: Both! Although they keep their relationship secret while outside the Dales, as soon as they’re within the borders of their homeland where no humans can see, they delight in showing their love publically. Telana will seek Ameridan’s hand if the presence of demons hurts her, and after being Tranquil, Ameridan will seek hers for center himself when he’s overcome with emotion.

Who likes having their hair washed by who?: Ameridan loves to have his hair played with or taken care of, though he usually washes it himself; Telana might help brush it and pick twigs and leaves out of it after they’ve been in a field for a while. A time she did wash it was after he’d been Tranquil, when he couldn’t care of his personal hygiene much --- that’s also when it was cut from being waist-long to just above the elbow. Telana is more picky with who messes with her hair though. Ameridan braids it, but she brushes and washes it herself.

Who likes to slow dance?: Ameridan is more of a dancer; Telana only dances if there’s a lot of people so she won’t be in the spotlight. As another way to publically show their love when they can, though, they both love it.

Muse that’s more likely to fall asleep with their head in the others lap?: Ameridan after he becomes Inquisitor becuse he’s Tired. Before that it’s both. Or they fall asleep leaning on each other.

Muse that does all the cuddling in a blanket fort?: I honestly don’t think they make blanket forts a lot, but if they did, what’s the point of cuddling in it alone? They’d do it together of course.

Who hogs most of the covers at night?: The wolves, by laying on them. They also hog the entire bed.

Muse who nuzzles the others shoulder to get them to give them a head rub?: I don’t see any of them doing this tbh.

How do they share a desert? Two forks or one?: One because they’re ridicolous like that. Though honestly the idea that you must always have separate dishes and cutlery and plates hasn’t occurred to Thedas yet, and when you’re used to everyone fishing chunks of food out of a shared bowl with their own personal daggers, using the same fork doesn’t seem all that weird.

Who gets jealous more easily?: None of them are jealous people.

Who gets angered more easily?: They’re both temperamental, especially when it comes to personal issues. Telana despises Templar abilities and the whole idea of having to control mages, she doesn’t give much for humans at all, and she frequently gets into arguments with Ameridan’s less mage-friendly allies. Ameridan doesn’t get angry easily, but he’s involved with so much politics that involve things very close to his heart it happens anyway.

How do they go to sleep at night?: They get comfortable together and then the wolves come in and walk around messing the sheets up and finally lie down on top of them, assuming they aren’t already on the bed and they have to squeeze in between them. Then one of them wakes up on the floor and the other with their face full of fur.

Who gets the most shoulder rubs?: Both, because they’re in their fifties and have been active all their lives and their shoulders are always hurting.

What are there arguments/fights like? How often do they fight?: They don’t fight. If they disagree on something they talk about it in a civil manner, and if they can’t come to an agreement they’ll leave it --- either to talk about something else or to give each other space to think. Sometimes one of them changes their mind, sometimes they compromise, sometimes they simply agree to disagree.

Who is more likely to throw things in fights?: Again, they don’t fight.

How do they make it up to each other/apologize after an argument? It will depend on the severity of the incident, but if one of them does something that’s over the line, which is usually unknowingly if it happens, they’ll apologize straight away and that’s usually all they ‘ need ‘ to do --- no big gestures or buying flowers to get the other to forgive them.

Do they have nicknames for each other?: Vhenan or ma vhenan, lethallan / lethallen, my love, my dearest, ma elgara or my sun, ma’sulahn or my joy, ma samahl or my laughter --- they have a lot of tem. Telana is technically a nickname for Telanadas, though no one really calls her that so it’s not Ameridan’s nickname specifically.

Caring for each other while ill, how does the other muse go about it?: None of them are strictly healers --- they both have healing spells, but those are for treating injuries rather than illness --- so a doctor would be responsible for any actual treatment. The other would keep them company and make sure they’re comfortable, help them to eat if they’re that ill --- just normal couple things I’m pretty sure? They live together so they’d be there for each other a lot, but they wouldn’t obsess about it.

Who’s more likely to be patching the others wound?: As I mentioned they both have healing spells, and a bit of skill at treating injuries in the field, so they both can do it and are both as likely to need it. It’s only in the field when they don’t have an actual healer, though.

Muse that says ‘I told you so’, after they come home from the beach and other muse is burnt to a crisp while whining how bad it hurts for not listening and putting on sunblock after the other muse repeatedly told them they’d get burnt?: Telana probably doesn’t burn, she has all that good melanin. Ameridan might, and he might half-seriously complain about it if he has nothing better to do, and she might tease him a bit, but I don’t see it happening as extremely as this lmao.

Your otp has a newborn baby, who gets up in the middle of the night when he/she cries?: They share it as equally as possible.

Your muse’s of the otp reaction to finding the others crying about something? And how do they make them feel better?: They’re used to that honestly, their reaction isn’t going to be anything but concern. They’re actually both pretty similar in how they give and recieve comfort; both need physical comfort and both’s instincts are to hug the other, both also want verbal consolation and both tend to give that as well.

What would they be like as parents?: They’d be great parents and it’s completely unfair they never got the chance. Though Ameridan can’t have children and Telana is ambivalent towards carrying them anyway, they first started talking about adopting when they were in their thirties. They just wanted to retire from active duty as Knights first so they could both be in Halamshiral. Then the Blight happened and they decided to retire later, and then Drakon wanted Ameridan as Inquisitor, and then he wanted him to hunt Hakkon, and there was just never a good time. They would have loved to adopt some older children who’d have a hard time to find foster parents and they’d have been amazing.

What would they have been like as childhood sweethearts? Not very different from how they were, except they’d know each other ofc. It’s not impossible because they both were born in Halamshiral, though Ameridan travelled a lot with his parents, especially before his magic manifested, so there would have been periods when they were away from each other. They joined the Emerald Knights around the same time, but being a Dreamer Telana was given a slightly different education and wasn’t trained in Halamshiral as Ameridan were, so depending on how close they still were, they might have lost contact with each other then ( canonically, they did meet briefly at this time but didn’t know each other well enough to stay in touch. )

Who enunciates taking a bath together?: Both do.

Who likes who playing with their hair?: Ameridan, usually. Telana does sometimes but she’s picky with how and when. Ameridan just always enjoys it.

The place they mostly likely accidentally fall asleep together?: Anywhere, honestly; they tend to be very relaxed in each other’s company and years of being in the field and having two giant wolves in their bed have taught them to fall asleep no matter the circumstances or comfort level. But the couch or patio in their home or a hidden corner somewhere is perhaps the most likely.

meme | tagging: steal it!!

tagged by: myself

#ameridan:about / headcanon #ameridan:telana #tfw i don't have a real life fc for ameridan & only a real life fc for a younger telana #but i do have faceclaims for their wolves; together; looking cute af #little dread is on the left; telana's wolf doesn't actually have a name yet?#i should write about them some day #tranquility cw

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ruffoverthinksthings · 7 years

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I like the ship, I really do. If you don't mind can you do that ship list you had before with CJ/Jane?

1.Whois the most affectionate?:

Jane.CJ takes a long while to learn how to say “I love you” with beingcoerced, or feeling the instinctive unease at “showing weakness.”The first time she manages to say it unprompted, though, Jane demandsthat she tell it over and over again, much to CJ’s embarrassment.

2.Bigspoon/Little spoon?:

CJis always the big spoon. Jane enjoys feeling safe and protected by a“ferocious scourge of the seas” and CJ likes feeling in control and being protective over her “beloved First Mate.”

3.Mostcommon argument?:

CJ’smischievous habits and tendency to get into all manner of minortrouble. Jane keeps telling her she doesn’t HAVE to be a pirate,but so many years of buccaneer training and habit takes a while toundo.

4.Favoritenon-sexual activity?:

Stylingand brushing CJ’s hair.

Janehas long been jealous of the many royals who could pull off longhair, due to a mix of not being able to use her magic to modify herhair, and being stuck with the current bob style she had because itdoesn’t grow naturally unlike the others, because Fae Mortal BodyBiology is weird like that.

CJenjoys letting Jane brush, braid, and experiment with her hair, as itmakes Jane happy, and helps her live out at least one part of thechildhood they never had.

5.Whois most likely to carry the other?:

Jane,with the caveat that this is usually hauling CJ away from whatevertrouble she had gotten herself in this time. Jane may be tiny, butyou better believe that mortal body of hers is a LOT stronger than itlooks.

6.Whatis their favorite feature of their partner’s?:

Asmentioned, Jane loves CJ’s hair.

Conversely,CJ really likes staring into Jane’s eyes: “like getting a lost ina sea whose depths I’ll never see nor be able to understand.”They’re also her most common reminder of the fact that like her,Jane has in fact seen shit.

7.What’sthe first thing that changes when they realize they have feelings forthe other?:

CJpanics, threats, and tries to convince herself it’s all still aremnant of her playing with Jane’s feelings and she’s notLEGITIMATELY falling in love with her, pirates don’t do that; theylove passionately for as long as they’re in port, then they leavetheir lovers high and dry, till the next time their paths may crossor to be pined for during a cold night at sea, or when they’retaking care of their bastard child.

Asa result, she hangs out with Jane as much as possible, going out ofher way to arrange things together, to ensure that she mostdefinitely doesn’t love Jane, they’re totally going to enjoythese things as friends slowly piecing their strange friendship backtogether, she’s totally not asking Jane out on dates and trying todo something legit this time, nope.

Piratesdon’t do that, yep-yep.

Janespends a lot of late nights in her room ruminating, reflecting, andasking around (anonymously, or with the other Faeries who know tokeep it out of FG’s earshot or knowledge) about advice on whetheror not it’s actually true, and after the initial ruse is revealed,if she should give CJ a second chance.

Asa result, she goes along with all of CJ’s plans, because she canfind out if she wants to be friends or girlfriends, legitimately thistime.

8.Nicknames?& if so, how did they originate?:

“Captain”for CJ, sarcastically said by Jane whenever she tells her about herlatest endeavour that will definitely end badly. Example: “Captain,as your First Mate, I have to strongly suggest against crashing the Chocolate Ball.”

“FirstMate” for Jane, playfully said by CJ in response to Jane’swarnings. Example: “Well, it’s a good thing you’re just theFirst Mate, and I’m Captain, ‘cause we are swinging straight intothat giant chest of gold-wrapped chocolate coins!”

Othersinclude Blue (for Jane), Callie (for CJ), Baby Jane (for CJ), andMommy (for Jane).

9.Whoworries the most?:

Jane.

CJhas a very laissez-faire towards trouble, always figuring she’llfind some way to get out of her current predicament soon enough; thataside, she doesn’t have the lack of need for sleep, food, orbathroom breaks that Jane has, so she’s too tired or dedicatingmost of her energies towards getting into trouble than worrying aboutit.

10.Whoremembers what the other one always orders at a restaurant?:

Jane,by virtue of being unable to forget anything.

11.Whotops?:

Jane.

12.Whoinitiates kisses?:

Jane.See above for the “most affectionate” question.

13.Whoreaches for the other’s hand first?:

CJ,though that was mostly a manipulative tactic by abusing the humaninclination to trust people who touch you. She took Jane’s hand tostop her from saying “No” when she was initially flirting withher as a playful, mean-spirited seduction.

Afterthe big Reveal, it’s Jane, showing that she’s forgiven CJ enoughto want to touch her again.

14.Whokisses the hardest?:

CJ.“She’s smooth like good whiskey, warm like a shitty barrel ofgrog left under the sun, and gets me drunker than either.”

15.Whowakes up first?:

Jane,but she doesn’t really sleep in the first place.

16.Whowants to stay in bed just a little longer?:

Jane.

CJ is always up and eager at the crack of dawn to get to work, makinggood time out of whatever hours of the day she has.

17.Whosays I love you first?:

Illegitimately,it was CJ, again to try and seduce Jane and coerce her into arelationship.

Afterthat, again, it’s CJ, as Jane specifically refused to say it forfear that CJ might not feel the same still.

18.Wholeaves little notes in the other’s one lunch? (Bonus: what does itusually say?):

Jane.

“Iknow what you did, and if I don’t, I will find out, so don’t trywhatever shit it is you’re chewing over with this, Captain.”

-First Mate Jane

19.Whotells their family/friends about their relationship first?:

Jane.

Againsther better judgment, she decides to go to the local relationshipexpert and student guidance counselor, Fairy Godmother, and BOY HOWDYwas that a bad idea.

20.Whatdo their family/friends think of their relationship?:

FairyGodmother regrets everything, but understands that the VKs alsodeserve a chance at love, even though she’s going to be screaminginternally for all eternity that she was directly responsible for theease, convenience, and frequency with which her daughter and hergirlfriend can go “below deck.”

Hookis ambivalent towards Jane, so long as CJ knows she will have toditch her the moment she tries to make her do something like settledown and hang up her captain’s hat for good. He’s no stranger tohaving been in love, so he doesn’t really blame her for wanting tobe in a relationship, and assumes that like him, it’s onlytemporary.

21.Whois more likely to start dancing with the other?:

CJ.Jane is still rather shy about this, but CJ has grown up in bars anddecks where bawdy shanties, drinking, and dancing was the norm.

22.Whocooks more/who is better at cooking?:

Jane.

She’shad plenty of time to experiment and has used baked goods as a formof apology and bribery over the years. She can’t really enjoy foodthe way we do, as a big part of the enjoyment of a meal comes fromthe satisfaction of feeling full, and what Jane has is an essentiallybottomless, magical void.

Ona side note, CJ will happily eat anything Jane makes.

23.Whocomes up with cheesy pick up lines?:

CJ.

“I’min the mood to get drunk on booze, and on your love—care to joinme?”

“Avast!A see lovely siren yonder, luring me in with her beauty.”

“Anychance I can have a go at unlocking your treasure chest?”*

*“FUCKING HELL, WHO DESIGNED THESE BRA CLASPS?!”

24.Whowhispers inappropriate things in the other’s ear duringinappropriate times?:

CJ.Jane gets easily flustered by it. During appropriate times, it’sJane.

25.Whoneeds more assurance?:

CJ.She’s constantly in conflict about giving up her lifelong dream ofpirateering for a much more responsible, legal life with Jane. Atleast with Jane, she knows she only has one destiny to worry about.

26.Whatwould be their theme song?:

“Undercover”by Kehlani.

“One way or another, I’m in love with you/ Slidingunder covers, undercover/ They don’t want to see you happy, we say‘Fuck You!’”

27.Whowould sing to their child back to sleep?:

CJ.Hook made a point of teaching and singing his kids all manner of seashanties, of lost loves, of great treasures, and just enjoying lifeas a pirate out on the open seas.

28.Whatdo they do when they’re away from each other?:

Janeengages in all manner of hobbies to try and pass the time, becauseshe’s got all of eternity to waste and no real pressure to achieveanything.

CJgets into all manner of crimes and mischief, because Jane is prettymuch 90% of her impulse control.

29.oneheadcanon about this OTP that breaks your heart:

Afterseveral years in Auradon and learning all her options to becomebetter than a criminal, CJ finally womans up and tells her fatherthat she is formally going to be joining the Auradonian Royal Guard,the Naval division, to explore the world, sail the seas, and build upcredits for college.

Hooksmiles bitterly, tells her that is her choice, and that from thispoint on, his daughter Calista Jane Hook has died in his eyes, andthat if their paths will ever cross, she should expect no mercy fromhim, and neither should he show her that.

CJspends the night drinking to the memory of the late CJ, Future PirateQueen, killed by the stroke of a pen signing an application form tothe Auradon City Naval Training Base, survived by Calista Jane“Callie” of the Lost.

30.oneheadcanon about this OTP that mends it:

Janecarries and drives home CJ after she finally gets black-out drunk.The next morning, she does everything in her power to sober her thefuck up, cleans up all the spilled alcohol, drool, and vomit fromher, brushes and neatly braids her hair, and drags her over to thenearest full length mirror.

Shehelps her shrug off her red “Captain’s” coat and fold it up forthe last time.

Then,she helps her put on her new coat: blue, with gold buttons, and theinsignia of the Auradon Royal Guard, Navy Division on the collar.

Janekisses Callieon the cheek, before they both look at their reflections in themirror.

“Lookinggood, Captain,”Jane says.

Calliesmiles. “Please, it’s just Ensign. For now.”

#Descendants #Disney #headcanon

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loraneldin · 4 years

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Eight-Pack - Part 6

(Master post)

Sam does not have a lot of time to consider what Clint and Bucky kissing means before Natasha trudges into his room. He has been looking through some paperwork for one of the vets from his support group, his wandering mind making it harder. Natasha looks pretty pissed off, and Sam is worried it might be because he poked fun at her in the chat earlier. He’d rather not be on her bad side.

She gestures to his phone that is lying face down on his desk. “Did you see that?”

She saw his answers so far, so there is probably more. He picks up his phone, and now, there are pictures of Steve and Tony making out too. He looks at them until a pillow hits him square in the face. Natasha holds it in hand still, brandishing it menacingly.

“You told me to look!” Sam defends himself.

“Have you all gone hormonal?”

“Can I not just be happy for them?”

“You don’t smell like ‘just happy for them’.”

Sam is pretty sure it’s a bluff. She has no enhanced senses, and he is not that influenced by the photos. He can admit that both were hot enough, but that’s it. He is a normal, healthy alpha, there is no shame in it.

“What is the problem, Natasha?”

“Thor and Bruce are snogging in the kitchen.”

Sam doesn’t know what to react to first, Natasha saying snogging or that there seems to be a trend here.

She throws the pillow back on the bed as if that had offended her too. “Will I now walk into that everywhere?”

“We sure can make rules for it. If you have a need for something, you can ask for it. That is the rule that led us to this point after all. And asking people to reduce their PDA is not an undue request.”

“But that’s not the point!”

Sam is at a loss. He got why Natasha held some ambivalence toward Clint and Bucky suddenly making out. Clint and Natasha had the closest relationship of any of them before that whole pack thing started. Sam was still not sure if they were only friends or lovers or something else altogether, but it was also not his place to ask about that. He has no idea why she seems so pissed at Tony and Steve and Thor and Bruce.

Well, someone has to do the hard work in this tower. “Help me out here. What would make you happy again with the situation?”

His hands wander up to cradle her head on instinct. Her kissing intensifies as if she is afraid he might use the hold to pull her away, but that is as far away from his mind as possible. He is surprised when she does pull back.

“Don’t dare put those scent glands anywhere near my skin!” At the same time, she rubs her wrists all over his arm and sneaks one hand under his t-shirt.

“Hypocritical much?” he asks but has to smile through it. He has an idea where this is coming from.

“Shut up!” Nat underlines the instruction by closing her mouth over his again. Sam contents himself with letting his hands roam over Nat’s clothed shoulders and back and due to the enthusiastic response even drops them to her ass.

Nat smells… hot. There are many layers to it but that is what Sam makes of it. He knows some of the scents, as they have become closer over time. Trust, contentment, something that smells like family and home. But now there is also a whole lot of longing, arousal, and slightly aggressive omega.

They get interrupted by JARVIS. “Mr. Barton and Mr. Barnes have returned and are requesting your presence in the kitchen. I understand they brought a treat for everybody.”

Bucky kisses Clint one last time in the elevator. The team reacted very positively but getting a picture is different from having all that live and in color. Clint’s thoughts obviously are running a similar course, and he does a quick check of his clothes before they enter the kitchen.

Thor and Bruce are already there, and Natasha is dropping in through the other door.

“I hope you have an appetite. The portions they make at Thor’s favorite place are ginormous,” Clint says and drops the bag he is holding on the table.

“They make quite adequate portions,” Thor answers with a grin and starts to pull the goods out.

Natasha walks past them, halts, and makes one step back to take a whiff of Bruce’s neck. Then she walks past as nothing happened. Bruce draws up an eyebrow and looks over at her. “Any comments, Romanov?”

“No, I would never,” she singsongs, and Bucky has a clue what is going on.

Sam enters the kitchen while Clint steps over to Thor. “You smell like you used Bruce as a pool towel.”

Thor answers by giving him a hug that shortly lifts him off the floor. “Now, you do too.”

Clint splutters, and meanwhile, Sam walks the far way around to come to stand next to Bucky, a little bit off the rest. It takes Bucky a while with the sheer chaos the kitchen is in (Steve and Tony come in at some point both still looking a bit disheveled; Nat pokes fun at Clint, Bruce, and Thor alternatingly; Clint comes back over and Bucky carefully wraps an arm around him making sure that his scent stays on there, together with Thor’s and Bruce’s), but finally, he notices that he can smell Natasha who is by now sitting between Steve and Tony at the other side of the table. It takes him another moment to notice that the scent is not coming from that direction. He slowly turns his head towards Sam, who just lets out a deep breath and shrugs his shoulders.

Bucky turns back to the conversation going on, deciding that he will ask later. Or not at all. This is going fast enough; he can wait if they are not ready to tell. Natasha is very obviously not being scrutinized by any of the others. There is something more to it than Thor and Bruce making out the first chance they get. Well, not the first chance they get but after Clint and Bucky demonstrated how it is done. He smiles to himself.

When the ice cream is polished off, and Tony and Natasha opt for a nap on the couch, that Clint, Steve, Thor, and Bruce get roped into, Sam says he wants to get a round of training in, and Bucky agrees. With the level of sugar going through his system right now, that sounds like the perfect idea. Sam manages to slip out while Bucky is held up by Clint, who uses the moment of them being alone again, to climb on Bucky’s lap and kiss him long and thoroughly goodbye.

“This is a thing now, right? The kissing? That is not a one-time ice cream date thing?” he asks a bit too fast for it being only a joke.

“If I take you for ice cream every time I want to kiss you, Tony better open a shop somewhere in the tower.”

“Don’t give him ideas,” Clint says and gives him one final peck before following the rest to the rec room.

When he makes his way down to the gym locker room, Sam is just getting out of the shower.

“You shower before training now?” Bucky asks knowing full well why. But it is too good a chance to pass up.

Sam just rolls his eyes and walks past him with a sigh. “I have officially lost any clue what’s going on.” He gets dressed in silence, while Bucky does the same. “Well, not no clue. There are too damn many clues.”

Bucky keeps his silence. He knows Sam isn’t done. He doesn’t rant often but if he does it’s a proper one.

“Like you go out to get ice cream and come back, smelling like you and Clint should disappear in a room and not come out for a few days…”

Bucky inhales sharply.

“Sorry, man. I don’t mean it like that– but what are we doing?”

“I know what I have been doing. Do you want to tell me what you have been doing with Natasha?”

Sam looks at him, wide-eyed, and just shakes his head. “I would like to survive this day.”

Bucky claps him on the shoulder, and they make their way over to the treadmills. They run in silence, Bucky slowly upping the speed of his machine until Sam is swearing under his breath. He lowers the speed before Sam has to. He is not that much of an asshole.

Bucky goes for the weights, not looking back if Sam is following, but satisfied when he hears his footsteps behind him. Bucky gestures for him to lie down on the bench and starts preparing his weights. They have done this more often in recent weeks. Not when the others are around, but with the new team dynamic, they find themselves alone in the gym together regularly while the others are spending time with each other at something else than working out and training. Bucky enjoys those opportunities.

He picks the barbell up to put them in Sam’s hands. Using the five reps during which Sam can’t easily interrupt, he says, “If you want to talk about it, Nat can’t blame you for that. And I won’t be telling her either.”

“She has her ways of knowing.” Sam puts the weights back in the hold himself.

“That’s what she wants you to believe. Jarvis, where is Natasha?”

“Ms. Romanov is on the common level, in the large common room between sir and Thor and below Mr. Barton.”

“See?” Bucky grabs the weights again and hands them to Sam. “You don’t have to tell me, but it’s okay if you want to. They have their cuddle pile, and we have the gym.” He takes the weight again after five more reps.

“We are usually part of the cuddle pile,” Sam answers in between deep breaths.

“Yeah, alright. Do you want me to hug it out of you?” Their eyes connect for a moment, and Bucky has to swallow and evaluate why he said that.

“On a normal day, I would say yes, but… Okay.” He scrubs a hand over his face. “Nat kissed me.”

“I smelled that.” That can’t be the complete story. “With everything else that happened today that is not something to be secretive about? Or what am I missing?”

“Exactly,” Sam said, grabbing the weights again. Bucky has to stop him after six reps. He is not sure if Sam lost count or decided it was the best way to avoid talking further.

He waits for Sam to go on. “She rubbed her wrists all over me and threatened me to keep my glands off of her–- and I even get that part. It’s not hard to tell where that is coming from, but…”

Bucky just waits.

“What are we doing? Nat had obviously something to say about Clint and you.”

Bucky never made the fact that Clint and Natasha’s relationship looked like more than friendship any of his business, and since they all have become that much closer, it hasn’t seemed out of the ordinary anymore. He didn’t even think about it when he kissed Clint. Was that a mistake?

Sam interrupts his train of thought. “Don’t do that. Lord, now I dragged you right in there with me. Nat and Clint are going to be fine. We both shouldn’t blend ourselves that us kissing them has any lasting influence on their relationship.”

Bucky can only agree, but still, part of the worry lingers. He pushes Sam from the bench and lies down himself, taking the weights and doing his twenty reps with them. It is more to take his mind off things than anything else.

Sam asks in the middle of his set, “Does it worry you that you might not be the only one kissing Clint?”

Is Bucky worried? He puts the weights back. He is worried that it means that he doesn’t get to do it anymore. Or that it means Nat somehow has to forego it.

“It feels like it should, but it worries me more that he might stop?”

Sam looks at him with little surprise. “You know what that means?”

Bucky lets his head fall back to the bench. “We have to talk about it?”

“We have to talk about it,” Sam echoes.

#eight pack AU #OT8 #Natasha/Sam #Bucky/Clint #Sam Wilson #natasha romanov #Bucky Barnes #clint barton #Steve Rogers #tony stark #bruce banner #thor #my writing #fic

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ruffoverthinksthings · 7 years

Text

God Loves You, Which Is Why You’ll Burn In Hell (Part 3): “The Spawn of Heathens, False Gods, and Unbelievers” - Religion for the VKs

Note: This document clocked in at 2,862 words, written in two hours straight.

I officially have a problem, and its name is Disney Descendants Headcanon and Analyses.

By the time most of the VKs have been born, religion has been discredited in favour of worshipping Maleficent, abandoned entirely for the massive Hell that was the Great Isle War (a headcanon of mine, for clarity), or was isolated in Temple Way (the concentrated district of religious establishments, sans the church above Dragon Hall, also a headcanon of mine), with their followers generally incredibly zealous believers, to put it politely.

Most of them have not even been introduced to the idea of religion, or it was only given as explanation as to why people generally stay away from Temple Way, why you should try your damndest to do much the same (no matter how good the potential loot), and why you should try not to associate or talk with the people from there.

As with anything from the Isle, a culture of scary stories to get their children to behave have risen around Temple Way, and the Wild Fae (malevolent gargoyles, chupacabras, actual devils and the like) are not very amused by this.

Before you ask, Maleficent is ambivalent towards religion, happy to have the population do whatever keeps them distracted, complacent, and above all, from thinking of ever trying to overthrow her. She doesn’t even need to keep spies, as “those fools are happy to shout everything they’re planning to do to anyone within earshot.”

She is wary of them since she had harnessed the power of religious extremism and xenophobia during the War to her advantage, but with the aging congregations and her unquestioned, unchallenged rule, “Zealot Watch” is largely dedicated to lieutenants and underlings like Mozenrath.

As I also mentioned, the Badlands (the non-concrete, dirt and grass jungle of the Isle of the Lost) have their own religious beliefs and system, so won’t be included here.

Back on topic: almost all of the VKs are atheists by ignorance, or by choice. There are only a few exceptions to this, with individual/group explanations and how it affects their lives below:

As mentioned in the previous post, Claudine Frollo used to be the most devout of the VKs until CJ set fire to her father’s convent while she was still in it. Before Auradon, she has completely lost her faith in religion and sees it largely as a means of controlling people with promises punishment from some unseen “Higher Being,” and false senses of security that they would protect them, care for them, and reward their piety, both relying largely on them believing that such a Higher Being actually exists on faith alone.

Her current opinion on Hell is that she doesn’t mind going there, as “it can’t be that far from the Isle, and I got used to it anyway, didn’t I?”

Richard “Rick” Ratcliffe is her opposite, still as devout a Christian as ever, though he wasn’t a very good one in the first place. Most of his beliefs and his “divinely inspired” actions involve him having an incredibly overinflated sense of self-worth and confidence, being on a “holy high horse” every time he interacts with pretty much anyone, particularly when he makes one of his infamous speeches, and stealing and robbing from others like the rest of the VKs, except with the justification of him “claiming it for the Church.”

(Which he is. After he takes a cut, because doesn’t a good servant of God deserve to treat himself every once in a while?)

Privately, he still takes comfort in his faith, especially the entirety of Jesus Christ’s life in the New Testament. He sees an idol in the Christian Messiah, as he was a great orator that was constantly attacked, ostracized, and even condemned and killed before people truly realized how great he was.

(Though, he does sincerely hope he can avoid the “foregone death sentence, and being nailed to a cross” bit.)

Mal didn’t have much of an interest in religion, seeing as Maleficent’s demands and “training” of her took up most of her time, and the ultimate goal was that the two of them would supplant the current deities and objects of worship, be the ones the masses are bowing down to and in fear of.

However, for the sake of curiosity (and of course, exploring “truths” outside of everything Maleficent has fed her), she has studied the various religions, mostly through the reading of whatever surviving holy texts and handwritten copies exist on the Isle, with a few oral accounts here and there.

She was a fan of the Torah and Judaism, if only because of the Yahweh that burned down entire cities and turned those that disobeyed Him into pillars of salt (Sodom and Gomorrah, and Lot’s wife); brought massive, crippling, devastating plagues to the enemies of his followers (Moses and the Exodus from Egypt); and struck people dead where they stood if they did something as trivial as spill their semen on the ground (Onan).

She stopped being such a fan by the time she came to the Christian Bible, the New Testament, and Christianity, both because God had “gone soft,” and she wasn’t as big a fan of the idea of the Big Man Upstairs sending a Son to do all of His dirty work for Him, and the whole “Jesus getting humiliated, tortured, and ultimately crucified” being his Father’s will REALLY hit too close to home for her.

The real clincher was when she wasn’t sure if Maleficent would also go through the trouble of bringing her back to life after three days or so.

On a side note, she really liked the idea of having a close circle of twelve followers who obey you no matter what, but it soured when Judas turned on Jesus.

She stopped being such a fan of Allah by the time she was calling Him that as she studied the Quran and Islam (with Jay’s help for actually reading the texts, and why he attempted to convert—more on that in the next post), and saw all the conflicting orders and distinct cultures that had come up from who was ostensibly the same Supreme Deity.

She figured that if God/Allah/Yahweh couldn’t get His followers to agree on what exactly He said, and they had in fact been getting into constant conflict about who’s religion was the “True” religion, He wasn’t worth following.

“IT’S ALL HIS WORDS, YOU DUMBASSES! THIS IS THE SAME BIG GUY UPSTAIRS FOR ALL THREE BOOKS!” is how she put it.

As mighty as His powers of causing widespread suffering and instant death to those that disobeyed Him, that He can't keep house was a complete turn-off.

"Why do you think He's a He?" Maleficent commented. "Hmpf, Men."

She tried studying the other religions and was impressed with some such as Shiva from Hinduism, not so much Taoism with its focus on humility, and she stopped altogether after a brief study of Louisiana Vodoo with Dr. Facillier, and learning that the many, many, many other sects of Christianity she would have to read about in order to truly say that she “knew her enemies.”

At that point, she thought it’d just be much more practical to dedicate her time in learning how to subjugate the people by force than by subverting and abusing their religious practices and beliefs, as she and her mother will be the only thing they’ll be worshiping by the end, anyway.

Evie did very briefly entertain the idea of religion as a source of comfort, until the numerous patriarchal mutations and corruptions of the original traditions and practices made her realize she wouldn’t be able to maintain her current lifestyle, and lose a lot of her personal freedoms beside.

(“Modest and proper dress” was the most obvious deal breaker.)

After the elevator pitch, it was a firm “Fuck that noise!” into permanent atheism. Not even the more liberal and feminist Auradon practices can make her change her mind, though I suppose the stigma she has with the followers there doesn’t help.

Before you ask, a lot of the religious practitioners on the Isle do enforce plenty of incredibly restrictive rules and customs, all in the service of making some form of sanity and order within their communities, and making themselves distinct from the rest of the Isle that basically does as they please, so long as it doesn’t anger Maleficent too much.

Carlos did try to seek out religion as a means of relief in the day-to-day Hell that is being Cruella’s only child and personal unpaid servant, and a tentative form of escape into a better life. However, you could say his mistake/wise decision was talking to Frollo about converting, and after his admittedly rather appealing pitch to him, he opened up the floor for questions.

Carlos’ was this: “Why are some kids born into suffering like us, and others are born in a nice place like Auradon?”

“Child, God tests our faith all the time, to prove that we are worthy of His love, and our ultimate reward in Heaven; it is not something to hold against Him, but merely another part of His glorious, ineffable plan for us all,” Frollo replied.

“… So, like, how does He decide? Is there some sort of criteria about who gets born in a nice life, and who gets born in a bad life…?”

“Child, even the most faithful and Good of us all get tested, should He deem it necessary—just look at His only son, Jesus Christ, and how even with his unwavering faith in Our Father, He decided to push him to the very edge of renouncing his belief in Him all the same.”

“… So you’re basically saying that He just essentially decides on a whim who suffers and who doesn’t?”

Frollo frowned. “De Vil, it is NOT on a whim; to say that He would act in such a random manner is insulting to His greatness. He follows a Plan, known to Him and Him alone, and we are all to play our parts in it without question.”

Carlos nodded, then hopped off his chair. “Okay, that was all I had, thanks Father Frollo!” he said as he walked out of Frollo’s inner sanctum, and away from religion for the rest of his life.

Jay is interesting in that he does take a vested interest in Islam, as it is the one part of his Arabic heritage that Jafar refuses to indulge. The curiosity was first ignited with his adamant refusal to let him read the Quran even though it was one of the most easily acquired texts in Arabic, and Jafar’s incredibly hostile opinion of it.

Islam to him is just “the means for fools and weaklings to comfort themselves, lies that those in power feed to them with glee so they may selfishly keep that power, and the masses will even praise them for it.”

It doesn’t help that he tried to become a Supreme Being himself, and ultimately failed.

His foray into Islam, should he take it like @baby-prince-oppa theorizes he will, will be detailed in a future post. It’s a LOT of words, and this post is already massive, okay?

Freddie has an eclectic, limited education on Christianity and Voodoo, largely attributed to most of Dr. Facillier’s knowledge being in the darker arts as a bokor (a Vodoo Witch Doctor who plays with both good and evil, by definition). Most of it is also limited to strictly practical application such as potions, hexes, and of course the nature of the Shadow Cards.

The culture that had arisen around Louisiana Voodoo and “gris-gris” (charms) is mostly skipped over as Dr. Facillier was never interested in the “good” way to practice it, and they were too wary and knowledgeable of him to be victimized by him, so knowledge of it was largely useless to him. He also doesn’t encourage her to learn or follow the rituals and traditions, and especially not to attend Sunday church at Frollo’s, though this is mostly for safety concerns than religious ones.

(“Never deal with a man who always thinks himself on the right hand of God, sweet potato,” is how he phrases it.)

The only real takeaway she has from it is to be “very wary of the forces out there greater and wilier than mere mortals like ourselves.”

Before you ask, no, he does not encourage her to make deals with loa, his former “Friends from the Other Side.” This is because they are completely reliable; “you better believe they will do what they said when you pony up, and especially when you don’t.”

The Hook Kids (Harriet, Harry, and CJ) and the rest of the pirates/mostly seafaring Villain Kids such as those from the seedier parts of coastal China, all worship the Sea, seeing Her as their “Lady of Life, Bounty, and Death.”

This is even though their experiences with the sea are being beached for most of the year, being unable sail out or ply their trade past a certain distance off the coast where the alligators are especially active, and their (safely) being in water and enjoying themselves is in the underwater half of Serpent Prep, or in the flooded tomb “swimming pool” of Dragon Hall. (Both are headcanons of mine, for clarity.)

A lot of what you can call their religious acts and beliefs center around the vicious, man-eating crocodiles and how they avoid them like… well, vicious, man-eating crocodiles.

“Metaphors are rather twee when what you fear already has sharp teeth, massive mouths, and an insatiable hunger for flesh of any kind,” as Harriet would say.

Uma has been taught about the religious practices and beliefs Sea Witchcraft by Ursula, but she has largely focused on the matters of potion making and utmost respect for senior witches, as these were the ones that are most practical and shut her daughter up for most of the time.

Her knowledge on it is very incomplete because Ursula was a recluse, and she stops bothering with it altogether when she realizes that everything Ursula has her do is no different from the other VKs, just with different reasons behind it.

Even though Zevon has been born in a heavily polytheistic culture where it was an almost inescapable part of everyday living, he has no religion, as Yzma was never a big believer in deities or the emperors supposedly granted divine knowledge and right to rule by them.

(That she personally knows how much of a selfish, shallow, and greedy idiot Kuzco is contributed a lot to this.)

The only thing he can be said to worship is himself (and his mother), as Yzma has fed him many delusions of grandeur, and manipulative encouragements of all of his worst impulses, beliefs, and behaviours, all the traits that would best groom him as her ticket out of the Isle.

Even after infiltrating Auradon, and during his time being at-large, he does not change his mind, as by that point the brainwashing and propaganda Yzma had been feeding into him is so ingrained he sees all other religion as his “rivals,” whose followers he will steal, after he shows them that he is “The true Supreme Deity of all of Auradon!”

Or, as he pronounces it, “The true Super-eemee D-eighty of Auradon!”

The other Western European VKs, such as the Gaston brothers, LeFou Deux, Ginny Gothel, the Tremaines, the Mim Children and Grandchildren, Clay Clayton, Diego de Vil, Jace and Harry—are all atheists, and not likely to ever find or participate religion.

Aside from the fact that their respective universes did not seem to involve the dominant or possible religions at the time (likely because Disney was avoiding the massive kerfuffle that would come with portraying a canonically Catholic French Village while it’s not central to the story like Hunchback of Notre Dame), they generally come from people that put their faith in their names and reputations (de Vil and henchmen, Tremaine, Gaston), their abilities (Clayton, also Gaston), or their magic (Gothel, Mim).

The likes of Madam Mim and Mother Gothel probably know and have had contact with supreme beings and deities (such as the local Hades), but were likely not impressed by them back when they still had their powers, they still aren’t impressed with them now.

Speaking of Hades, his daughter Hadie believes in the existence of her various uncles and aunts, but does not worship them for very obvious reasons. She is a commonly seen figure at her father’s bar, “The Way Down Under,” (a headcanon of mine, for clarity) and has her own small following of loyal worshipers who frequently make tribute to her, though this is mostly because she’s smoking hot with a gift of seduction and a silver tongue.

With the exceptions of Claudine Frollo and Richard “Rick” Ratcliffe, their attitudes towards religion aren’t likely to change if they ever get to (legally) stay in Auradon.

#descendants #disney #headcanon #god loves you which is why you'll burn in hell

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