#it wasn’t even a ‘we have different perspectives on what’s right and wrong’ she was literally trying to make them question their reality
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Mistakes Were Made
Jon pursed his lips as he studied the list in front of him, his brow furrowing deeper the longer he stared at it. There was a pattern there. He knew there was. Something linking the names on the list. Something he hadn’t managed to figure out even after endless hours staring at the company names, running down investors, calling ex-employees, scouring the internet for scandals. It was getting damned frustrating.
Jay hadn’t had any more luck with the list than he’d had, and Jay had been working on the story a lot longer than Jon had been. Weeks. Weeks of focused investigation had yielded a lot of results, but nothing conclusive. Nothing they could splash across the front page of the Daily Planet. Nothing that would lead to the convictions that he knew were forthcoming. If they could figure out the pattern.
It was there… somewhere.
He was shocked out of his focus by his phone and answered before the first ring had completed. “This is Jon,” he intoned mindlessly, still staring at the list.
The responding snort finally brought his attention away from the list for the first time in so long, his vision was starting to cross. “I guess I called the right number then,” she chuckled.
“Hey, Starlight,” he sighed and instantly returned his attention to the list. It wasn’t investors. It wasn’t ex-employees. It had to be…
“Hey, Mon rêve,” she cooed. “Where are you? It’s getting pretty late.”
“Hm? Is it? I hadn’t noticed,” he answered absently. “I’m still here with Jay.”
“Wait. Really?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he nodded, cocking his head to the side to stare at the list. Maybe that would give him a new perspective. He was pretty sure if he stared any harder than he had before, his laser vision would activate. “Jay has been following a lead for a few days and asked this morning if I could help. We are doing some research to hopefully get a direction.”
“So…” she started, her tone was careful, measured. If Jon had been a bit more aware of anything outside of the list, it would have set the hairs on the back of his neck on edge, especially contrasted with the adoring tone microseconds before. “…you're staying there. You're not going to join me? You're going to stay there... with Jay.”
“Yeah, sorry, can't join you tonight.” He paused to look over their desks full of documents, binders of reports, and endless Post It notes marking random thoughts in their glaring color. It should be overwhelming, but it just excited him. This story wasn’t just important, it could make a major difference, to Metropolis and him. “I think this could really be something,” he gushed almost breathlessly. She was silent for a few beats too long; long enough Jon noticed she hadn't responded yet. “Mari?”
It was another few beats of loaded silence before she responded. “Yeah, I thought it could really be something too.”
He frowned at the phone. “Hey, you okay? You sound a bit off.”
The silence was more concerning than any response she could give. If it took that long to respond, there clearly was something wrong. He almost waved Jay off when he jutted his laptop in front of his eyes, but the insistent look in Jay’s eyes made him reconsider. “I just thought we could spend time together today celebrating,” she finally answered.
“Oh? Celebrating what?” he asked distractedly, flicking his fingers through the document Jay had just found; property listings.
She let out a mirthless huff of a laugh. “Nothing. It doesn't matter.”
“No, I'm sure it does,” he insisted instantly, though it was clear in his voice his attention was still elsewhere. “I'll see you tonight and we can talk.”
“I wanted to dig up property records for the rest of the organizations,” Jay piped up. “If we can get a listing tonight, we can look into their ownership history tomorrow. Maybe make some inquiries.”
“Oh! That’s a good plan. Yeah.” He looked at the list again and let out a breath at the length. “This is going to take a while.” It wasn’t until he had reached for his laptop that he remembered he was still holding a phone and supposed to be talking to Marinette. “Sorry! Tomorrow,” he promised quickly. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“Right,” Marinette scoffed.
He paused and turned away from Jay to give himself a bit of privacy. “Are you upset I'm hanging out with Jay? Mari, you know we just work together. There's nothing to worry about.”
“Right,” she repeated.
This time, Jon took note of her tone. It wasn’t one he associated with her. He wasn’t even sure if he’d ever heard her speak that way before. It was hollow, defeated, and so very wrong. “Don’t be like that, Starlight. You're being ridiculous.” He shook his head, exasperated at her reaction. They needed to talk about this, clearly, but he didn’t have time tonight. “Look, I have to go. We'll talk about this later, okay? Love you.”
She hung up without responding, leaving him staring at the phone in confusion. He let out a deep breath and squeezed his eyes shut. She was upset. Clearly. But this was time sensitive. They needed to get this research done tonight so they could jump on City Hall tomorrow.
Would he have loved to spend the night with her? Of course he would! He would spend every night… and day with her if he could. But this was the life of a reporter, not to mention a hero. He needed to be able to spend a night in the office with a coworker from time to time. When he was working on a story, it might even be days. Hell, his mom had slept on her office couch every night for a week before.
And, he huffed mentally, Marinette didn’t really have standing to complain. She regularly got caught up in design dazes and would end up in her studio for the entire night. More than once, he had to track her down to her studio and drag her home. She had no right to be mad at him for doing the same thing she did constantly.
It was particularly strange because he had worked late into the night on stories, or been away unexpectedly for a mission, and she had been extremely understanding. But this time…
“Hey, I think I found something!” Jay called, drawing Jon out of his spiral.
Jon was at Jay’s side looking over his shoulder in a microsecond. This was it! This was the link they’d been looking for all day. He could feel it.
They got lost in digging up all the information they could, so focused, he’d completely lost track of time. Gun to his head, not that it would do anything, but it’s the sentiment that counts, he couldn’t tell you how much time had passed since he’d spoken to Marinette when his phone rang again, but it was at least long enough for them to have gathered the bulk of the property listings for the names on the list. And at some point Jay had drifted off to the break room to get them yet another cup of godawful black coffee.
They hadn’t done a deep dive yet, looking for the hidden assets, but there was a lot of night left… maybe. He really needed to check a clock.
He checked the ID and furrowed his brow in confusion for just a second before answering. If he knew her, and he did, she would just keep calling until he answered. “Hey, Kara. I’m a bit busy right now. Can I call you back another time?”
“Yeah, I know how busy you apparently are, dumbass,” she growled into the phone. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
He jerked back in surprise. “What? What did I do now?” It took a few moments for his mind to register the situation and recall his previous conversation. “Oh, did Mari call you?” He sighed and rubbed his forehead. “Is she that upset I'm working with Jay. This is insane. She's best friends with Adrien and regularly hangs out with Luka and Vic and I can't even work with Jay? I can't believe...”
“What day is it?” she cut in, saccharine sweet in a way she had never actually embodied.
The tone caught him off guard. It was, quite frankly, a bit creepy coming from her. “What?”
“What day is it?” she repeated, the sweetness bleeding from her tone.
It was a trap, he knew it was, he just for the life of him couldn’t figure out what it was supposed to trap him into or why she was laying it. Working late one day didn’t warrant the effort at entrapment. Nothing made sense. “Thursday,” he answered slowly. It felt like it wasn’t the answer she was looking for, but it was the correct answer.
“The date, you dimwitted pudding socket!” she hissed. All pretenses of sweetness were completely gone. Her hostility was fully out.
“Dimwitted… what the heck, Kara?”
“What. Is. The. Date,” she repeated, carefully enunciating each word, punctuating the final syllable like they were weapons.
He could hear her teeth gritting through the phone without even having to use his super hearing. But more than that, he could hear the disappointment, which again, didn’t make sense. It was one night. “It's May...” he trailed off as the realization hit and Marinette and Kara’s reactions finally made sense. “Oh...”
“Yeah,” she concurred bitterly, “oh.”
“Oh, fuck.” If anything, Marinette’s reaction was subdued. She should have yelled. She should have screamed. She should have raked him over the coals for forgetting their anniversary.
“Yep,” she agreed popping the p.
“Oh no,” he lamented, running his hand through his hair and tugging painfully on it. “No, no, no. No, fuck. Is she still at the restaurant?” The question was essentially perfunctory, he was moving before she responded. But her response stopped him in his tracks, yet again driving home the level of fuckupary.
“Is she still at the restaurant you had a reservation for hours ago and you left her sitting alone waiting for you?” she scoffed.
“No! What time is it?” He whipped his head around looking for the damned clock that he should have checked when he talked with Marinette. His heart dropped at the sight. It was in fact hours after he was supposed to meet her. Hours! And he hadn’t talked to her. Hours for her to stew and spiral and start thinking the worst of the situation. “Fuck! Where is she?”
There was a pause before she spoke, and Jon could picture her narrowing her eyes, leaning back, and cocking her hip as she prepared to answer. “She is somewhere she doesn't want you to find her.”
“Fuck! No, Kara,” he pleaded. “No, I need to talk to her. I need to fix this. I need to...”
“That's a lot of I's for someone who is just fucked up so royally,” she chided harshly. “It isn't about what you need right now, is it?”
He groaned and ran his hand through his hair again. He needed to do something he couldn’t… he couldn’t lose Marinette. The very idea of not being able to go home to her gutted him. But the idea of Marinette thinking that he blew her off, that he didn’t love her with his entire soul, felt like a kryptonite knife to the heart. “Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he agonized. “How do I fix this if she won't talk to me, Kara. What do I do?”
“I would suggest massive groveling,” she offered, her false sweetness back though not quite to the level it had been before. “Flowers and fabric aren’t going to fix this.”
“I need to apologize to her face,” he announced as much to himself as her. He stood up straight as determination flowed through him. He was going to find her and talk to her, beg her, plead for her to understand. He was an idiot, but he was a devoted, utterly lovesick idiot. “Where is she?”
“No.” Flat but solid. She used no emotion, just raw steel.
“Kara, where is my girlfriend?” he growled.
“Gone. And you need to consider what you're going to do to make sure it isn't permanent,” she snarled before hanging up.
“Kara? Kara!” Frustration inundated his voice. “How do I make sure it isn’t permanent if I can’t talk to her?” he screamed into the void. “I know you can hear me!”
He immediately called Marinette, which in retrospect, he acknowledged, he should have done as soon as he realized he’d missed the date. He clenched his hand into a bouncing fist as he waited for her to answer, pacing a tight circle, and he almost started apologizing when he heard her voice. It took a few seconds to realize it was the start of her voicemail, not her.
But he wasn’t going to be deterred so easily. She was angry, frustrated. She didn’t like to answer the phone when she was frustrated with someone. He knew that. He should have anticipated it. Instead, he sent off a few anxious texts, not able to wait more than a few seconds before sending the next text. When she didn’t answer those after a full minute, he couldn’t force himself to wait any longer and tried calling again, but it went straight to voicemail. Meaning she was either instantly rejecting the call or she’d blocked him.
“Son of a bitch!” he yelled, fighting the urge to throw his phone. If he allowed his anger to overtake him now, he would lose his only means of communication if she did decide to respond… and he’d probably tear a hole through the wall and possibly the next… and all the walls in the next building.
Jay came careening around the corner, the coffee mugs in his hands sloshing over the rims and spilling onto his shirt unnoticed. “What? Did something happen? What’s wrong?” he questioned frantically.
“I… fuck!” Jon yelled again. He kicked an exposed steel support beam that at this point luckily was merely decorative, because it crumpled instantly.
“Woah, hey, you have to take a breath,” Jay urged. He set the coffee down and approached Jon cautiously. “You’re going to destroy the building. What is going on?”
“I…” he moved toward something else to hit but Jay stepped in front of it with a concerned but firm look and Jon deflated entirely. He collapsed onto the floor, head in hands. “It’s our anniversary. I… I missed our anniversary. We had a night planned. I… she waited at the restaurant for me.”
Jay crouched down next to him in an instant. “What?” he gasped. “It’s your… What are you doing here!”
“I forgot,” he moaned. “I got caught up and…”
“Jon…” he cut in his voice firm again. “Why are you still here? Go fix it!”
Jon shook his head despondently. “She doesn’t want to see me. She has made that abundantly clear.”
Jay scoffed. “She’s mad. Justifiably. You forgot a really important date for your relationship to hang out with an ex. Fucked up doesn’t even begin to cover it. But, what? You’re just going to slink away, tail between your legs? You’re not going to fight? Beg? Fly up to the moon and bring it back for her?”
Jon glanced up at him, his eyes welling as he did. “If she wanted. I’d give her anything she wanted. And what she wants is space.”
“Is it?” Jay demanded. He wasn’t giving any space for self-pitying. It was time to act, not wallow. “I don’t know man, if you aren’t even willing to fight for her, I don’t know if you deserve her. She’s hurting right now. You’re going to let her do it alone?”
“No! Never,” Jon exclaimed, affronted by the very suggestion that he would ever, ever leave Marinette to suffer alone.
“So…” Jay prompted. He grinned as a determined look came over Jon. “I’ll continue on my own. We can pick this up on Monday… or Tuesday. The evidence isn’t going anywhere. You go get your woman and fix your future.”
Finding her wasn’t as difficult as Kara made it out to be. After he excluded their place and Kara’s place, she was in the next place he looked, which would have been the first, but Kara’s comment had thrown his instincts off. So, either she wasn’t as adamant that she didn’t want him to find her as Kara had indicated or Marinette just was too upset to think logically and was thinking emotionally instead.
Jon took a deep breath to fortify himself before knocking on the door. The night was going to be rough, and it was completely his fault. He had done this to them. He’d stood her up and forgotten their anniversary. She’d even prompted him to remember they were supposed to be celebrating and he blew her off. God, she must think he didn’t care about her at all.
He was so lost in his self-deprecation; he missed the sounds of someone approaching the door until it had already been opened, an imposing, hostile figure glowering at him. “What do you want?” Adrien snarled.
Jon flinched at the venomous tone from the normally friendly, gregarious man. He steeled himself and met Adrien’s eyes. “To talk to my girlfriend.”
“Oh, she’s worthy of your attention now, is she?” he sneered.
“Of course she is. She always is.” Jon took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He wanted to argue with Adrien, to point out all the times she’d been the center of his attention, all the times he’d put her needs and interests above his own because he knew she did the same. But it wasn’t the right time for that argument. He needed to speak with Marinette, to make her feel his devotion, not waste time arguing with her best friend. And if it meant letting Adrien take out his protective wrath on him uncontested, that’s what he would do. “Look, I screwed up, I know that. Please let me fix this,” he begged.
Adrien stared him down for a few long moments, not breaking his intense eye contact, clearly enjoying the way it made Jon squirm. But finally he grumbled something that might have been a word, or just a sound to make known his extreme discontent, and let him in grudgingly. Just as Jon was about to pass him, he held his arm up to stop him. “You get this one chance. You screw this up, I won’t need kryptonite to end you, but you’ll wish I had.”
Jon met his eyes again, letting an understanding pass between them and nodded. “Noted.”
He thought he couldn’t feel any guiltier or worse about himself, but the moment he saw Marinette, he knew he was wrong. He could feel so, so much worse. She was slumped on the couch, empty tumbler in her hand, staring absently at nothing. Her eyes were red and puffy and even from his distance and without using enhanced vision, he could see the still wet tear tracks, her ruined mascara highlighting their trail.
Desperate not to make her feel worse, he approached her cautiously, slowly. While in the past, he’d enjoyed ambushing her by appearing in front of her in the blink of her eye, surprising her and possibly shocking her into a violent reaction was the last thing he wanted to do at that moment. He could tell the moment she noticed him. She didn’t acknowledge him outright, but he could hear the way her breathing changed and the way her body tensed just before she sat up and refilled her glass.
The liquid slopped out of the bottle, splashing as much on the coffee table as in the glass and Jon rushed forward to steady her hand. It was instinct. He saw her in need of assistance, and he acted. It wasn’t until she flinched away that he realized his assistance may not be welcome in that moment and perhaps he was the very reason she was in need of assistance. His heart squeezed painfully at the realization, tearing the breath from his lungs.
“Hey Starlight, what are you doing?” he asked gently. He sat next to her, close but still giving her space, and angled his body so he could face her.
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, not quite willing to grace him with her gaze, and took a long drink before answering. “You forgot about our anniversary,” she answered her voice forlorn.
“I know,” he admitted guiltily. “I…”
“I wanted to too,” she continued as if she hadn’t heard him at all.
He could have sworn he didn’t have any more air left in his lungs, but her tone and the agonized look in her eyes, made his chest feel like it was in a vise forcing all air out in a rush. “No, baby…” he begged miserably.
“I’m not your baby anymore,” she shrugged, still not meeting his gaze, her eyes returning to the blank spot in the distance.
“Baby, Starlight,” he pleaded. He moved a step closer to give him better access to wipe away her tears and caress her face. The need to touch her was visceral. He needed to feel her and make her feel his love, look at him. But at the last second Kara’s words rung in his head. It wasn’t about him. He redirected before making contact and instead laid his hands on either side of her knees. “You will always be mine.”
Sloppily, she shook her head. “I’m not. You don’t love me anymore.”
It was said with such certainty that he could feel it in his soul. “Starlight, I love you more than anything…”
“I’m not important to you. You can’t love someone you don’t think is important. You don’t put in effort. You don’t care.” Any emotion that had crept into her eyes when he first approached her, drained completely, giving the impression of a haunted house, empty and seemingly abandoned, but with hidden secrets fiercely protected. “You forgot,” she finished desolately.
It was over. He could see it. She was done for the night. Nothing he or anyone else said would make it through to her. Nothing but time and rest and a whole lot of sobering would make a difference. He would just have to hope she got that overnight and then pray to whatever deities that might listen, that in the morning, she would let him apologize. “Marinette,” he started earnestly, tenderly, “you are by far the most important person in the world to me. Let’s get you to bed and we can talk in the morning, okay?”
She shrugged, or at least gave a rough, loose approximation of a shrug. “I don’t believe you,” she mumbled, almost incoherently. “I want to.” She glanced over at him with watery eyes. “I want to, so much. But I don’t.”
What was left of his heart shattered into neutron sized pieces. He couldn’t believe how badly he had messed it up. He didn’t know what he was going to have to do to fix it, but whatever it took he would do. Whatever she needed… tomorrow. He reached up and gently cupped her face, his thumbs softly wiped away her tears. His heart mended slightly when she nuzzled into his hands. “I will do everything I can to change that, I swear that to you. But let’s get you to bed and sleep.”
“Okay,” she slurred, but made no sign of moving other than to lift her now empty glass to her lips then frown at it, after a few beats.
He sighed and looked over to Adrien. He would fly her home but at this point, he was worried there was no way she’d make it without feeling absolutely terrible and likely throwing up… a few times. “Can she stay here tonight?”
Adrien scoffed and headed over to her. “You don’t even have to ask.”
Before Adrien could make it over to them, Jon had already picked her up as gently as possible so as not to shake her and cause her head to spin or nausea. “But I do have to ask if I can stay,” he pointed out tentatively. “I can take the couch,” he added quickly. “I just… really want to be here when she wakes up.”
Adrien sighed and softly stroked Marinette’s hair as Jon carried her past. His eyes never left Marinette as he responded, “You don’t have to either. You two come as a package.”
Jon breathed out a sigh of relief. “God, I really hope we still are.” He gave Adrien a nod at his shoulder pat and carried her back to the guest room they’d stayed in together many times before. It felt strange knowing this time he wouldn’t be welcome. They’d always stayed together, squeezed together pleasantly in the entirely too small bed.
Her even and rhythmic breathing seemed to reverberate through the unwelcome room as he laid her down and tucked the comforter around her as tenderly as he could so as not to wake her up. He hadn’t made it a full step away before he heard her voice. “Stay?” She turned her mournful eyes to him. “Give me one last night?”
She had turned away from him as soon as he started removing his shoes, getting ready for him to slip into his familiar position, which he did with ease. He stroked her hair as she slept, more for himself than her, relishing what might be the last time he was allowed to be so close. “Starlight, I want to give you my every night.”
It took quite a while for him to finally fall asleep, constantly afraid she would disappear on him if he did. When he finally fell asleep, it was fitful. He constantly jolted awake to make sure she was still there, and chastised himself each time because with the way he was wrapped around her, their legs intertwined and his hand splayed against her abdomen holding her tight against him, every time he jolted, she whined and shifted.
It was no surprise then that when she awoke quite a few hours later, he was already awake to catch her getting restless until her eyes started to flutter and finally open to take in the room, quickly scrunching in confusion. “Morning, Starlight,” he murmured, his voice scratchy from disuse and the little bit of sleep he’d managed.
“Morning, Mon rêve,” she responded instinctively, but he could see the moment memories of the night before flooded back. Her soft expression became wary and she edged away from him. “What are you doing here?”
He stared intently into her eyes and took a bit of pride in the way she didn’t shy away from him reaching out to wind his hand into her hair and brush her cheek with his thumb. She wasn’t angry or hurt enough to refuse to let him feel her, that was something, definitely better than he thought he would be. “There’s nowhere else I wanted to be.”
“Jon…” she started, her voice tired and her eyes gleaming with hurt.
“I’m sorry, Marinette,” he cut in. He’d wanted to ease into it. He’d wanted to feel out how she was feeling then go from there. He’d wanted to be tactful. But as soon as he saw the pain in her eyes, he couldn’t hold back. “I’m so, so very sorry that I forgot, but more than that, I’m sorry I made you feel like you’re anything less than the center of my entire universe.”
She looked away as she sat up, tearing herself away from the comforting feel of his hand. “I understand being a reporter you’re going to have to work late. Probably a lot. But… It was our anniversary,” she lamented, another set of tears trailing down her cheeks.
Jon jumped out of bed to kneel in front of her again. He ducked his head to try to catch her gaze, but she deftly avoided it. It hurt, but he needed to get through to her, so he took her hands in his, squeezing them gently. “I know, Starlight. I know.”
She finally lifted her eyes, but it was worse. The pain in them had increased into something desperate. “It was our anniversary, and you were too busy for me. For us. You didn’t even remember.”
He shook his head vehemently. “I forgot the date, yes. But I didn’t forget the anniversary. I swear I didn’t. I’ve had your present wrapped at home for weeks.”
She shook her head as well, but while his had shaken like he could make her misperception evaporate, hers shook like her heart had lost the strength to do anything else. “You’ve been working so much lately… for weeks. And it’s been building up for months. Months of not making it to our plans and working late. It’s like you’re looking for a reason to stay away,” she murmured in a voice so fragile it seemed like a simple word could break her.
“I want to marry you,” he blurted out.
“What!” she exclaimed, shock evident on her face, but quickly faded to exasperation. “Jon, it isn’t that bad. You don’t need to propose to get over the fight.”
“What? No! That’s not…” He took a deep breath and let it out with a loud groan. He ran his hand down his face roughly, letting it rest over his mouth for a few moments as he let the words settle into the right order in his head. “I’ve been working harder the past few months to earn money and force my break. I want to be able to support us when we get married, when we decide to start a family. I wanted to buy you a nice ring. It won’t be as amazing as you deserve, because I don’t think I’ll ever make enough to buy you what you deserve, but still a really nice ring.”
“Jon,” she murmured and with that one word, his heart started rebuilding. Her tone had completely shifted from broken to compassionate, her eyes shifted from pain to adoration. “My friend proposed to his girlfriend with a tiny shell on a string, because that’s what he could afford, and it was possibly the single most romantic gesture I’ve ever seen.” She cupped his face and stroked his cheek gently, her thumb making a quiet rasping noise against his stubble. “I don’t need a fancy ring. I just need you.”
Jon grinned as he laid his hands over hers. “Does that mean I should take the ring back? I can still find a shell somewhere and keep the money,” he teased.
“Don’t you dare,” she gasped and smacked him in the chest.
He chuckled at the swipe before pulling her into a long, tight hug, one he wasn’t sure he was going to get again just a few minutes ago, making it all the sweeter. “Are we okay?” he asked softly, still holding her tight, but too afraid to make eye contact just yet. A fear Marinette clearly did not share as she pulled back to meet his eyes.
“Yeah, I think so. I think we just need to make sure we communicate better. You shouldn’t have made such a big change in priorities without talking to me and I should have let you know how it made me feel.” She ran her fingers through his hair and along his face, her eyes trailing behind her fingers. “I love you. I want to spend my life with you. I shouldn’t have just let things fester.”
“I shouldn’t have pulled away,” he agreed. “I wanted to surprise you, but not the way I clearly did. I’ll do better.”
“So will I,” she promised.
“Our first big fight.” He grinned and leaned in conspiratorially. “Does that mean our first make up sex?”
Marinette groaned and pushed him away, watching as he fell to the floor dramatically. She watched him for a few seconds before finally answering. “Not here, no.” She chuckled as he shot up in front of her before she could comprehend he’d even moved, hope blazing in his eyes. “Take me home, Flyboy,” she cooed.
His grin turned excited as he picked her up in a bridal carry. “Yes, ma’am,” he agreed and had them home before she’d finished laughing
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Scary Marlowe more like Gaslight Gatekeep Girlboss
#and i am here for it#dungeons and daddies#dndads#scary Marlowe#in all seriousness when she reconnected with the boys in hell and started literally gaslighting them i was losing my mind#it wasn’t even a ‘we have different perspectives on what’s right and wrong’ she was literally trying to make them question their reality#and i support her for it lowkey#dndads season 2#dungeons and daddies season 2#it wasn’t a good thing to do but it was iconic
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JAKE 01. ⏱﹕ꕤ﹔ ETA !
your relationship with jake was built off of lies and deceit. that much was apparent all thanks to minji.
⌇＃GENRE ◠﹒angst + breakup ＃PAIRING ◠﹒sim jaeyun x fem! reader x ?? ＃WARNINGS ◠﹒toxic jake ＃WC ◠﹒1.1k
being known as overly emotional and often getting pushed over had its struggles. that much was clear to you on a daily basis.
one of these struggles being how easy you had accepted jake’s request (more like a demand) to break up.
3 days after when you heard his rare yet melodious laugh, one akin to the sound of bells, chime throughout your mind, as it successfully carried onto your ears- you found yourself feeling sick. on a normal day you would be glad to hear it (and the dazzling smile that always accompanied it), but not anymore.
because you had found out that jake had most likely two timed you whilst you guys were together.
if it weren’t for minji texting you after she saw him with a girl on his arms, you wouldn’t have found out.
truly, you owed a lot to your best friend.
minji: y/n- SOS! ur ex is with a girl!
*video attached*
it got cut off but he said “poor y/n, she’s too much of a people pleasing pushover”. WTF!!!!!!
you: seriously? im omw :(
minji: what’s ur eta??
you: be there rn!!
you walked to your car and pinpointed minji’s location on life360 as memories of the breakup filled your subconscious.
“lets break up.”
as soon as those words were uttered from jake’s mouth, you halted what you were doing and let your eyes slowly flutter up to meet his stare.
at first you assumed he was joking. after all, he had made no prior indication that he wanted to break up with you. though the two of you hadn’t spent as much time together in the previous weeks, you accepted that it was because you both were busy with your own lives and couldn’t be with each other 24/7. and it wasn’t as though you had felt that anything was amiss in the relationship, because the two of you had been peacefully coexisting for a while.
but perhaps you were wrong and he had a different idea of what your relationship was like.
as of now, you just wanted to know why. “oh… is there a reason?”
jake hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “yes, there is.”
before you had the opportunity to ask why, he ruffled his chocolate-esque hair with his hands and answered for you. “it’s really not you, it’s me. i just… don’t feel like right now is a good time for me to be in a relationship. you know?”
you felt something was off with his reasoning. the two of you had been together for 4 years, and jake wanted to break it off out of nowhere because it ‘wasn’t a good time’? what exactly made it not a good time? it didn’t make much sense, but you weren’t the type to throw a fit because of a breakup. you were the paranoid, constantly worried about saying the wrong thing type.
if he had his reasons, then you had to respect that. as much as it broke your heart.
but did you really want to?
“and you couldn’t ask me first before jumping the gun?” you grabbed jake’s hand, more confused than upset by how easily he wanted to break things off and how lazy the excuse felt. “i mean, i-i feel like this came out of nowhere. we’ve been dating for 4 years…” you noticed his expression grow more tired. “i’m sorry, i’m not trying to be rude! i guess i’m just surprised you didn’t say anything about it first.”
“i tried! i just couldn’t bring myself to do it, I guess.” jake pursed his lips, seemingly putting his thoughts together before speaking again. “i like you y/n, i really do, but i just don’t think we work. you have to agree- we haven’t been getting along well these days.”
you gave him a sad smile when you realized that you two had completely different perspectives about your dynamic. he considered it strained, while you considered it peaceful. he thought this was a reason to end a relatively long lasting relationship while the thought hadn’t even crossed your mind.
because after all, you loved him too much to even consider that.
“i guess you’re right.” you lied. you couldn’t agree to his judgment, but you couldn’t speak up about it either.
before jake could open his mouth in response, you spoke up again. “as much as i don’t want to do it, I'll have to respect your wishes. it’s for the better if we did… you know…” you looked at jake with tears beginning to cloud your vision. “break up. i’m sorry.”
the perturbed male let out a breath, as you could tell he attempted not to roll his eyes. you felt your heart crack with every action he took, each one somehow upsetting you more than the last. “yes, y/n. we’re done. i can’t handle us anymore.”
and with that you retired into your room, searching for anything and everything to make you feel his presence once more.
“he’s been totally lying!!” you whisper yelled to minji, the two of you watching the couple from a distance. in any other circumstance it would be weird. but considering how clear it was that he broke up with you for her, you didn’t feel bad. “talking about how he wasn’t ready for a relationship… not ready my ass!”
minji put an arm on your shoulder in consolation. “you deserve better than that.”
“damn right i do.” you said, the apparent anger being a cover for the sadness you truly felt deep down. of course you wanted to run back to him and act as though everything was normal, but you knew the truth. he stopped being yours long ago.
it was truly absurd. you had spent hours upon hours post breakup trying to feel alright again; trying to fill the hole that jakes abrupt leaving had opened up. but all of that.. for what? just for it to end up being a whole lie? you felt dumb. not just because of how he made you feel, but because of how you had to pretend to be angrier than you actually were in order to actually be angry about it. it wasn’t that you didn’t feel angry, but rather that the sadness was more prevalent.
you wanted jake to see what he had done to you, to see how he had betrayed you. but passive, people pleaser y/n wasn't the type to confront people.
“hey y/n, you ready to get this show on the road?” jay, a close friend of jake’s, smirked as he grabbed your waist.
you chuckled in response, not hesitating to place a rushed kiss on his cheek. “ready as i’ll ever be.”
such a shame, jake didn’t know who he was dealing with.
authors note. 🤓🤓🤓 this is kind of ass im ngl part 2 coming soon maube
permanent taglist. @muhwaa @hoori @yizhoutv @ja4hyvn @carayat @one16core @enhacolor @haerinz @soobin-chois @en-boyz @ohmy-fandoms @yeongwonie @yjwonz @yunki4evr @strwberrydinosaur @duolingofanaccount @iichaeyj @eundiarys @ineedaherosavemeenow @chaerybae @bubblytaetae @w3bqrl @xiaoderrrr @jaeyunnsworld @rikizm (if u requested to be on my permanent taglist and u didn’t get tagged it’s bc i cant see ur acc, but pls dm me if u want to be in it !)
#enhypen x reader#sim jake x reader#jake x reader#jaeyun x reader#sim jaeyun x reader#sim jake fanfic#jake fanfic#jake x y/n#jake x female reader#enhypen jaeyun#enhypen jake#enhypen oneshots#enhypen imagines#jake imagines#jake oneshot#jaeyun imagines#jaeyun angst#jake angst#enhypen angst#enhypen x you#enhypen fanfiction
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I personally think that basing your interpretation of how Ursa treated Azula on Zuko’s memories shown in ‘Zuko Alone’ is kind… incorrect. You can obviously — they’re the only real images of their childhood we get in the cartoon, other than the tiniest of snapshots in sepia — and that’s fine, but for me personally I just don’t think they’re complete enough.
These memories are from Zuko’s perspective. Not Ursa’s, not Azula’s, not Ozai’s or Iroh’s—Zuko’s perspective, his memories. And they’re all about him and Ursa together: every one of these memories have Ursa at their centre. We see her protect him and be kind to him, see her be physically affectionate and gentle, see her encourage him to be kind to himself and to Azula.
They essentially tell us that Zuko is Ursa’s son first, Ozai’s son second. Ozai remains a hovering, intimidating shadow on the sidelines (we still don’t see his face, we don’t see him genuinely interact with his children, and we see him irritating his father while being a very hands-off kinda dad himself) but Ursa is fully present. And ‘Zuko Alone’ is about Zuko trying to figure out who he is: the memories show that he views being his mother’s son as an exceptionally important part of his identity, which means they are about Zuko and his relationship with Ursa alone.
They are not supposed to tell us that Ursa neglected or abused Azula emotionally—that she only focused on protecting Zuko, while leaving Azula to suffer in Ozai’s incapable hands. Sure, we see Ursa scold Zuko for acting like Azula and cuddle him right after, and we see her scold Azula for acting mean and not cuddle her right after, but the key differences here are that Zuko shows guilt after frightening the turtleducks and Azula doubles down on trying to scare Zuko. The behaviour is different and will be, by any halfway decent parent, treated differently.
I’m absolutely not saying that Azula wasn’t abused, because she 100% was. She was absolutely abused by Ozai, and I’m not ruling out that Ursa didn’t have a hand in how Azula ultimately turned out. But my point here is: these memories are far too limited and narrow for the viewer to properly determine whether Azula was treated incorrectly by Ursa.
Zuko isn’t going to remember an intimate, lovely moment between Ursa and Azula when all that’s on his mind is his identity, and how it’s entangled with his mother and what she may have sacrificed for him. Additionally, he’s not particularly fond of Azula at this moment in the show (she did kind of kickstart his being a refugee, disregarding how the audience sees this sequence of events having begun), so he’s not going to remember her fondly either. Why would Zuko try to remember Ursa’s relationship with Azula at that point, instead of his own?
(Small tidbit: we also... don't know if Ursa's last words to Azula were 'what is wrong with that child', disregarding the comics which completely ruin azula anyway. Again, the memories are from Zuko's perspective and therefore won't show any private moments between Ursa and Azula. We're not even certain whether Azulon actually ordered Ozai to kill Zuko, or if that is simply what Azula interpreted it as/thought would be funny to say--causing the sequence of events that ultimately put Ozai on the throne. But whatever)
#fact of the matter is#based on the text itself the 'bad mom ursa' trope is iffy at best and completely unfounded at worst#ozai is VERY MUCH the aggressor of the family here#and ursa (in punishing her children for behaviour ozai would encourage) is trying to undermine him#scolding your kid for being mean isn't abuse actually. that's just parenting#ursa#azula#zuko#ozai#atla#avatar the last airbender#atla meta#azula meta#zuko alone#fire nation royal family#abuse mention
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skip to loafer chapter 59 analysis // spoiler
the battle between who you are, who you want to be and what people think of you: who do you trust to form your identity?
when i read chapter 58, i had this whole idea in my head for the next chapter. i thought kanechika would get closer to kazakami and help him get a little more comfortable with himself. well, i wasn’t entirely wrong. what i forget to consider was how sensei always have a card on her sleeve, ready to surprise us at any time. and this time, the surprise came in form of a teacher.
but first, i want to start with the obvious: the conversation at the beginning of the chapter. after having so many internal battles, kazakami is left with nothing but shame of himself, his hobbies and his recent outburst. he’s feeling defeated and alone, with his internal voices giving more and more power to his parent’s. and suddenly, a boy with dreams as big as the world stop him on his tracks and break his walls.
for the first time on the chapter, kazakami receives his first confirmation: yes, it wasn’t right of his parents to do that to him. just having someone outside of his personal zone blasting this out loud made it clear to him, made it easier to see. that’s why there was no need to go grab his figures back — all he wanted was a confirmation of his pain, someone that would be brave enough to say “this is wrong and you have the right of being hurt”. there was all he needed; nothing solid, but words as concrete as the burden on his back.
i love how kanechika was left surprised because of it. for him, it was easier to just go and resolve the misunderstanding. that’s the contrast between them: one who moves thought actions and the other who moves through words. and that was the best opening for the next scene, with the ace card sensei pulled: hanazono.
i don’t think i’m wrong when i say that it wasn’t surprising to see how everyone was acting when they found out she was pregnant — the prejudice, the side eyes, the judgment. and kazakami wasn’t innocent in all that: he also had a previous image of the teacher on his head, having it a little shaken after hearing her words. he’s once again grabbed by the neck and forced to look outside of his box, once again having to face his own past judgments.
hanazono isn’t the type of person he thought she was. she’s bolder, more assure of herself and with strong convictions. she’s someone who manage to look at herself in the mirror and ask the hard question: who are you? who do you want to be?
contrasting with what kanechika had to say (as in, giving voice to a feeling he already had, but couldn’t put a name to it), hanazono challenge’s him to see everything from another perspective. “the person i thought i was isn’t the right one so…who do i want to be?”. he’s now left with more questions than he had before. so…is it right to give up on everything he loved just to seek the future his parents want? the “self” he seeks to find, is it the one who’s a proud diver fan or the one who has nothing but someone else’s dreams?
this is very, very confusing for an adolescent who had it all stripped from him. kazakami thought he had an idea of himself before, but it’s all proving to be wrong as the time passes. he wasn’t someone that get sad about figurines — but now he heard his feelings out loud. he wasn’t someone who would lose his time with football, girls and other frivolous things — but is he the one who his father want him to be?
sensei has a talent for portraying confusion and deep, weird emotions we all felt as teenagers (the seek for our identity, the chance we need to be who we are), so it wouldn’t be different now. what we’re seeing of kazakami is only the beginning of his journey of finding who he is and who he want to be. and now, to make things even better, we have a new mother who’s ready to show the world how strong and capable she is without all of them.
thank you for reading!!!! what a nice feeling to have another amazing chapter, huh?? hope you guys liked it, will love to discuss it more with you 💛
#i just love how sensei keeps writing better and better#she’s just out of this world#skip to loafer#skip and loafer#skip to loafer chapter 59#kanechika#kazakami#hanazono#duckmetas
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Snippet: Homeroom Miruko (Deus MHA AU) Part 2
Nope, not easy. Not at all.
Rumi was invited to the staff meeting before the recommendation exams, in order to introduce the new teachers. Namely, her and ALL MIGHT (and wasn’t THAT a surprise). Sure, she’s a Pro Hero with years of experience, but she has absolutely zero experience teaching the next generation. Doesn’t mean she can’t gain some right now. Still though, where to start?
“So what am I supposed to look out for? I only know to read up on the files, but that’s it.” Aizawa looked at his understudy and scoffed.
“Look at their histories, quirks, personalities, reasons for being recommended. Anything that shows potential for being a good Pro Hero… and anything that might cause problems, for themselves or other students.” Aizawa started going through the files, already having started sorting some into different piles. “Make sure not to come up with early assumptions however. Sometimes records don't match the actual results, either being overexaggerated, underplayed or even mistaken when taken from a wrong perspective. Plus we know nothing about their personalities or them as a person at this point, so keep an open mind.”
… Holy crap, that was actually good advice. Ah well, first time for everything, might as well get started. Let’s see what the next generation of heroes can bring. Maybe this teacher thing won’t be so bad after all.
And here's part 2 of my current trip to fanfic writing. Any advice or critics are welcome. Please be nice.
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https://www.tumblr.com/charmedreincarnation/715801428071972864/hey-maya-what-are-your-thoughts-on-the?source=share
Not this anon but wait that means I can manifest a certain afterlife? Like there isn't one destined afterlife but it can be whatever we want it to be?
I wish there was a voice audio setting because I would tell you guys so many stories! but anyways I’ll tell you guys about a specific occurrence that happened when I was around 13/16 that changed my perspective on everything.
Basically I used to go to church often . My family is pretty religious, and at the time, I wasn’t even really religious, but I still followed Christianity. I had gotten into manifesting but I still believed in god pretty avidly (and still do just not in a religious way) so I didn’t mind going.
Anyways there was this super religious girl who I would talk to everytime I went. guys I mean she was giving cult. Cross tattoos, Bible reading club everyday, and she could read the Bible word for word backwards probably! I don’t really like super avidly religious people who make their entire life abt god and every conversation abt it, but idk for her I could tolerate it. She was super sweet and her passion was admirable.
I remember she stopped coming to church and I knew something was wrong because this girl would rather die than miss service. Turns out she was in an accident and was probably going to die, so we held a huge fundraiser for her family. At the time I didn’t know what happened to her because no one talked about it after the fundraiser and I didn’t have her phone number so I just assumed she died.
Then when I was 16, so atp pretty into manifesting and not into church anymore I saw her at a tarot shop.. that she owned. Now it’s a general consensus astrology, tarots and stuff is against Christianity. (not that I cared regardless I still was into that shit) but The Sarah (fake name) I knew Would never step foot into what she called a “devil worshipping temple”
But it was definitely her and she looked so different. She used to have long brown hair, wore traditional clothing, would never show skin etc. this girl had a pixie cut with black hair, so many tattoos of sigils and zodiac stuff on her body, so many piercings, and was wearing booty shorts!! I almost didn’t recognize her but she said hi to me and I was in shock. This bitch owns a crystal shop.. Holy Sarah owns a crystal shop!! atp I believed the rapture was about to start bc what the hell
Anyways I asked her how she was and what happened, because I assumed she was dead. And she said she was. She had been officially dead for 5 straight seconds, but was “brought” back with those machines. I told her she looks good but why the change in lifestyle. she said when she died, she was in a black space of nothing but still had thoughts. She didn’t see Jesus or the purgatory or whatever, all she had was herself. She was crying to herself in this void like space as she knew it was the end, and the atheists were right. We become nothing when we die. Then she just wished to come back, and she said she would do anything to come back, and then she did. She awoke again and when she did she got into spirituality and it changed her life.
16 year old me at this point was pretty deep into my spiritual research and she basically confirmed what I had believed since I was 8. We choose what happenes when we die and we can do the same for our life on earth. I pretty much talked to her for hours, until I had to go because my mom doesn’t want me in those “weird” shops either. Anyways I assume the “space” she was in was the void state, but I didn’t know what that was until the end of 2021 ofc so I couldn’t make the connection at the time.
But I mean it makes sense. we have free will, so if we can decide every aspect of our life while alive, why would that change at death. death isn’t the end, just a beginning of whatever new chapter you want or believe it to be. Just my belief ofc :) you’re inclined to believe whatever !
#law of assumption#manifesation#void state#manifesting#reality shifting#law of attraction#self concept#void success
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RadioBelle Fanfic
Chapter Eight
(Still told from Lillith’s POV)
“Hello, Charlotte.”
“Dad?”
“CHARLIE!”
“What are you doing here?”
“We’ve come to see you and your ‘redemption’ project,” I say. “But will you introduce us to your lovely residents first?”
“Of course!” She pulls Alastor down the rest of the stairs, taking him by surprise. “This is Alastor, my business partner!” Alastor furrows at the introduction from her, and continues to introduce himself. “Quite a pleasure to meet you both, quite a pleasure.Your daughter is quite the demon belle.” His smile never fades as he looks at us, staring us down. He extends his hand to greet us, and I take it, seeing how much of a gentleman he is, but Lucifer, on the other hand, decides to decline, not liking how buddy-buddy he was acting with our daughter. “Come this way, Mom and Dad!” We follow her to the bar, when Lucifer speaks. “What in the UNHOLY Hell is that?”
“Just some of the reservations we had done, your Majesty. Adds a bit of color, don’t you think?”
“No, I don’t. I think it’s quite hideous.”
“Luci, that’s disrespectful,” I say, trying to be kind.
“It’s true! It’s so tacky!”
“Dad, come on. Be nice! It adds color, just like Alastor said.
“Alastor. Your name sounds familiar,” I say, pondering where I had heard it from. “You’re the infamous Radio Demon, aren’t you. The one with the jazz and classical radio station.”
“That’s correct, Your Majesty,” Alastor says, congratulating her. “I’m surprised that the Queen of Hell knows who I am.”
“Yes, you have quite the reputation of carnage. Quite a feat, if you ask me. Congrats.”
“Thank you, Your Eminence. Thank you very much.” He looks at me with such pride, and looks down at Charlie, pupils dilating, and smile softening. “I noticed that the two of you have a special…bond per se. Is there anything you would like to tell us, Charlie?” Charlie blushes hard at the question, full of embarrassment. It seemed as if I asked the right question.
“Unfortunately, no, Your Grace. Charlie and I are merely business partners, nothing more.”
“Unfortunately, Alastor?”
“Yes.”
“Sounds like someone needs to get a move on.”
“Mom!” Charlie, blushing even harder now from embarrassment, looks at her in stress.
“What are you two talking about? You…like my daughter,” Lucifer asks, confused.
“Yes. I do. Who would have thought the Radio Demon of all people would have stuck on somebody? Never would I have thought I could love anyone, in life or in death. She proved me wrong. She deserves love. Love that you two failed to give her.” I was shocked by the comment, but remained emotionless. My husband, on the other hand, lost it.
“How dare you! Insulting us in our faces!” Lucifer turns to his demonic form as he grabs Alastor by the neck and throws him against the nearest wall he could find. Alastor looks up at him, fear evident, but not affecting his decisions. He dodges Luci’s next attack as he releases hellfire.
“Dad, Stop! Please!” Charlie shouts at him running towards the fight. The closer she got the angrier she got. When she reached her father, she displayed the family resemblance: horns, red and black eyes, fire in between her horns, her adorable little tail, and angelic wings, just like her father. She pins him to the floor in a nice bodyslam that I believe was well-earned. “Mom, do you mind,”she asks, gesturing to my out-of-control husband. I walk over to her and pick up my squirming husband. “Luci, please. Calm down.”
“ Why should scum like you have our daughter?”
“Because your daughter changed me. She made me see things from a different perspective. I used to think that murdering people was the way to happiness, but she changed that. She showed me that there is happiness in people. She showed me how to love others, something I wasn’t capable of in life.” Charlie was in tears. Demon form still present, she rushed over to him and hugged him. His face shocked, then warmed up as he hugged her back.
“Thank you for loving my daughter, I say. “She deserves love. Love we failed to give her.”
“I still don’t understand,” Lucifer remarked, still in my grasp. “Why her?”
“Did you miss the whole two speeches I gave explaining why? Or were you just not tall enough to hear me?”
“Alastor! Apologize,” Charlie scolded, looking at him in shame.
“No. It’s true. Your father is quite short, Charlie.”
Charlie punches him in the shoulder , earning a wince of pain from him. “Apologies, your Majesty,”he says.
“Apology declined.” Lucifer laughs at the Radio Demon as he begins to glare at him.
“Well, I guess we should clean up this mess. Dad, Alastor? Do you mind working together to get this done?” She smiled sweetly at the two, and they couldn’t say no. As they clean, we talk.
“Charlie.”
“Yes, Mom?”
“ Do you love this man?”
“I don't know, but yes. I do.”
“Very well. As long as you love him, I’m happy. Your father, on the other hand, may not be.”
“He’ll get over it. Hopefully.”
“How did it happen?”
“He started helping me a couple days ago as I was having a hard time due to insomnia. But I didn’t know I did all that for him. I’ll have to ask him later.”
“Well if you did this for someone, hopefully you will forgive us. He looks at us with such disdain.”
“Well, he doesn’t like you two. He knows what you leaving and Dad shutting himself out did to me. Which is probably why he treats Lucifer the way he does.”
“Who do you think would win in a fight?”
“Obviously Dad. Alastor is strong, but not that strong.” I chuckle at her answer as she looks me dead in the eyes. “Mom. I need to know. Why did you leave?” I looked back at her, hurt in her eyes, as in mine.
“I made a deal. I was sentenced to Heaven for seven years in order not to cause any backfire in the exterminations. I wasn’t allowed to leave nor roam Heaven. I wasn’t able to get any of your calls either, little one. I’m so sorry.” I was in tears, kneeling before my crying daughter. “I don’t expect you to forgive me, Charlie. But I am truly sorry.”
“ I do forgive you, Mom. I do. Thank you for telling me the truth.” We hugged, crying into each other as Luci and Alastor stared at each other and us. They walk over and join the embrace, Charlie and I still crying. Once we cease, we prepare to leave. “We’ll do the tour on a different day, Char-Char. Okay?”
“Of course, Dad. Farewell!”
“Goodbye, my beautiful daughter,” I say, embracing her once more.
“Goodbye, Mom. See you later?”“Of course.” We exit the hotel and enter the limo to return home.
“That went well, didn’t it?”
#alastor#charlastor#charlie morningstar#radiobelle#hazbin hotel#hazbin alastor#lillith hazbin hotel#lucifer magne#lucifer morningstar#alastor x charlie
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Something that’s always bothered me is the presentation of the infamous ‘Mr. Jellybean’ scene in Meeseeks and Destroy versus the Planetina plotline in A Rickconvenient Mort.
(TW for grooming)
On first watch, we know Mr. Jellybean is terrible. In my opinion, I always thought they handled that whole plotline rather well. It wasn’t played for laughs or made light of, we see the emotional effect on Morty, they don’t attempt to make the predator sympathetic, and we see Rick step up as ‘Grandpa’ for one of the first times ever— to kill a pedophile, no less. Pretty strong morality alignment on that one.
Suddenly, though, when the predator is no longer an older man, but an older woman, it’s… shitty, sure, but not explicitly wrong.
On my first watch, I thought A Rickconvenient Mort was pretty blatantly a statement piece on grooming. Planetina follows textbook grooming tactics, including lovebombing, isolation, manipulation, and gaslighting. She plays into the classic ‘very mature young man.' We even have Beth as a voice of reason, finally stepping up to the plate to protect her son after what seems to be years of emotional neglect. We watch that very neglect backfire on her concern and push Morty further into this relationship. I initially thought it was a play on grooming the viewer, as well, because of the way it’s told essentially from Morty’s ‘puppy love’/‘first love’ point of view and leaves you feeling just the right amount of unsettled after the ending.
So, you could imagine my surprise when I realized that not everyone (in fact, less people than I had expected) initially clocked Planetina as a sketchy/predatory character.
So, I did what any great journalist would do— rewatched. And rewatched. And rewatched.
I wanted to form a nuanced opinion, but I came out on the other side wondering why we never got a moment with Planetina that clearly shows us she’s a condemnable character in the relationship with Morty and not just because of her methods of activism.
I think we’re actually supposed to agree with Morty in this scene, which was not my first reaction.
The age difference is obviously something they intended to be a main plot point for this storyline, as well. The explicit references to it (Morty's age, in particular) were put there for a reason, from the beginning of the episode all the way to the climax.
In a lot of ways, it makes sense to assume that maybe they didn't want to explicitly state it was wrong (though, they do through Beth, in my opinion).
That would explain why so much of A Rickconvenient Mort is set up using textbook grooming tactics; why we never see Planetina outright condemned, but see Morty emotionally destroyed and confused; why we’re (arguably) supposed to agree with Morty over Beth; why we follow Planetina all the way up to when her facetious face of peace and ambivalence crumbles.
Of course, I’m not trying to assume anything, but it does make me wonder what leads someone to write a character in this way— and even promote her as a character at times (like this post, which is captioned 'Tag your Planetina').
Then again, maybe my initial interpretation was correct and all of this was the result of a conscious choice to write and direct an episode from the point of view of Morty as a victim. I mean, it wouldn’t be too far off to assume something like that as we’ve seen them do it time and time again, just with Rick as the abuser. Think of Mortynight Run, The Vat of Acid Episode, and the new infamous episodes: A Rick in King Mortur’s Mort & Ricktional Mortpoon’s Rickmas Mortcation, just to name a few.
Maybe A Rickconvenient Mort is another one of the episodes intended to show Morty’s perspective and frame his loss of innocence as he views it, not as adults/outsiders view it.
It could be a cool contrast between how Rick protects Morty from these sorts of situations versus how Beth does.
(Disclaimer: I’m NOT saying that there aren’t different types of abuse and different appearances to abusers/predators! I just feel like both of these types of abuse/assault can be explicitly depicted as wrong.)
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Tsubasa Cat - An Analysis
In an interesting move for a post theoretically about Hanekawa I am prompted rather unsubtly by the text to begin with Hitagi. Specifically, her first date with Araragi.
In the anime, this is the last TV episode, and all things considered it’s not an unreasonable place to finish. This story, to some extent, is not about Araragi, but about Araragi’s relationship with Hitagi. She is important to every other arc (besides, perhaps, Nadeko Snake, which is interesting in its own right, but I digress).
What I like about this scene is how it’s mirrored – it starts with Hitagi’s stumbling attempts at asking Araragi on a date, and ends with her stumbling attempts at asking him for a kiss. During the torturous (to Araragi) car ride with Hitagi’s father, she talks about – as if at random – Araragi’s studies, Kanbaru, and her father. During the second half, when they’re alone, she makes it clear that this was a deliberate showcase of all of the things that she has – everything she can offer to Araragi as his girlfriend.
This transition is accomplished through the midpoint of Araragi’s conversation with her father, which begins awkwardly and then veers into the heartfelt – ‘take care of my daughter’ is at first uttered as a joke and then once again more seriously when the conversation ends.
It gives us another perspective on Hitagi, telling us that the only people she felt comfortable speaking her mind to were people she didn’t mind being hated by, and people who would never hate her. We see that Araragi started as the first and became the second. But just as Hitagi’s father underrates his importance to her, seeing himself as in the first rather than the second category, so does Araragi. He feels uncomfortable being given the credit for helping Hitagi open up to others. He wasn’t the one who did it, after all. She just went ahead and saved herself. It didn’t need to be him, specifically. Anyone could have been there for her.
As Hitagi’s father points out, however, that alone is enough. The simple fact that he was there for her is enough to earn her gratitude. There’s nothing wrong with that.
And it’s with that in mind that we move outside, to see the stars.
This is also one of the few things that Hitagi can give to Araragi. Not the stars themselves of course, not even the specific location outside the observatory, but rather the memory. It’s a memory of a time that her family was still together. A memory that was reclaimed from the Weight Crab in no small part thanks to Araragi himself.
When Araragi is asked in the car what he loves about her, he’s too nervous to answer. When he flips the question back on her, she answers smoothly, ironically. It’s a total defeat.
When Araragi is asked now, he answers easily. Everything. Everything that she’s shown him tonight, he accepts. When he asks her again in response, she gives the same answer, but in this context, we realise she was being dead serious earlier.
It’s the kind of response that fits Hitagi’s specific brand of brashness paired with vulnerability. It’s the kind of recontextualization that fits this series. And as an affirmation of their love for one another it’s an appropriate jumping-off point for what Araragi is about to go through in this arc.
But before we get to that, I want to note that the way this arc is reliant on previously established events that we haven’t actually read about yet is quite aberrant.
The difference positions Hanekawa differently from the other characters. She’s not someone that Araragi meets because of oddity problems, she’s someone he’s known for a while already. Unlike the other characters, she’s stable - doesn’t need fixing. Her oddity problem has already been resolved, and she slips comfortably into the role of supporting character from before she’s even introduced.
If Araragi’s developing relationship with Senjougahara is the throughline of Bakemonogatari, then his relationship with Hanekawa is its dark reflection. She appears in every arc, but never gets involved directly, never changes as a result. She tells him this. I never change. It’s a lie.
On a narrative level as well as a personal one Hanekawa is sidelined, ignored, taken for granted, and it is essentially this failure to address her that feeds the Sawari Neko.
It’s an interestingly contradictory oddity. As its name suggests, it ‘meddles’, doing things for the host that they in some way needed but didn’t have the desire to act on. It was triggered by the act of picking it up from the side of the road and giving it a proper burial. It could easily be ignored, but ignoring things like that is not in the nature of Hanekawa Tsubasa. She sweats the small stuff, she does things that are expected of anyone but nobody actually does, she projects the image of an ‘ordinary’ person, and in doing so comes off as more extraordinary than anyone else.
She goes out of her way to help the cat, and the cat goes out of its way to help her, because for all her kindness and compassion she doesn’t reserve any for herself.
The ability of the Sawari Neko is energy drain. It’s the inverse of her usually supportive nature, the selfish ability to take from others in order to make herself feel better.
Since we’ve mentioned how the oddity’s quirks informs Hanekawa’s own issues, let’s continue with the classics and talk about the characteristic Monogatari twist. You see, Araragi tells us, the typical twist with these cat monsters is the reveal that there was no cat monster. A virtuous woman acts strangely at night, becoming a harlot and wandering the streets. She must be possessed! Entrapped by a monster! No, she’s just doing that on her own. The idea that she couldn’t possibly want to do that is your own assumption – how well do you really know her?
This is a theme that has been explored in Bakemonogatari already, with the case of Kanbaru Suruga. She was afflicted by a devil, yes, but the devil only gave her the ability to achieve desires that she actually held. Hanekawa’s case is an expansion of this – the monster is in a very real sense part of Hanekawa herself. But we understand this already. There is no need to belabor the point that Tsubasa Hanekawa is, herself, gaining some benefit by the cat’s actions. This is how oddities work. They arise for a reason.
And thus, the twist of the previous cat incident, the one that we haven’t actually seen yet, is skipped over. Or rather, it is told to us directly. Hanekawa faces a terrible family situation. Her parents aren’t really her parents. Her overwhelming stress from this causes the cat to assault others, including those same parents.
Instead of this, we get a new, more dramatic twist. The cause of the stress this time was not her parents, as Araragi assumes. It was her feelings towards him.
Stress is a curious thing. The word must come up a dozen times in these few episodes – I can still hear the drawl of Oshino’s voice as he pronounces the English loanword.
For my money, the most interesting portrayal of Hanekawa’s stress here is seen in the opening for this arc. Or should I say both openings? There’s a photo version as well as the more usual animated one this time.
I would say the theme here in the first one is ‘wandering’ – we’re given names of different countries for each shot of Hanekawa walking around. A reference to her plans to travel after graduation, I suppose. But the pictured locations aren’t actually different – all washed through the same grey filter, all seemingly Naoetsu rather than overseas. Hanekawa’s post-graduation plans are paralleled with her habit of walking around town on holidays to avoid her parents.
It’s another view of something that seems to Araragi quite impressive and unconventional. Perhaps she simply does not know where to go, would rather be anywhere but here. If her walks are a way of avoiding one source of stress, her parents, then her travel might be pegged as a way of avoiding the other – Araragi himself.
The fear of being trapped is heightened in the second rendition. Now we see her actually running from something, hands grasping to pull her back, strapped motionlessly to a set of train tracks.
The thing I’m most curious about, though, are the opening and ending shots of her standing on the bridge, long hair trailing to either side. Different versions of Hanekawa – the second is the cat – but the same solemn expression. It’s enough to make us doubt that they’re separate characters at all, and indeed that’s the point. We’re shown not just Kuro Hanekawa, but Kuro as Hanekawa.
Kuro Hanekawa is an interesting character.
She can’t lie because she’s too direct and unthinking to bother. Contrast regular Hanekawa’s assertion that she doesn’t lie – one that’s patently untrue. To her, keeping up appearances and responding in a way consistent with her ‘normal’ persona is more honest and upstanding than revealing her true feelings. To be reductive, if Kuro tells the truth because she’s to dumb to lie, the Hanekawa lies because she’s too smart, too socially conscious to be honest.
Kuro in her lack of regard for societal norms can be considered a manifestation of Hanekawa’s stress, but she doesn’t embody it. She, herself, is easily able to fess up to her master’s (note the reference to her as a different person) feelings. She is indifferent towards humans, not actively hostile. Her random energy drain attacks were done to relieve stress, but Araragi’s alternative method of Shinobu is also perfectly acceptable to her. Not only do their vibes and behaviour differ, but so are their personalities and priorities – the cat is functionally a different person.
In this light, the anime’s portrayal of their dialogue is interesting. During this scene he initially refuses to believe what the cat is saying, his idealized perception of Hanekawa preventing him from recognizing her hidden emotions. He mistakes her refusal to show any sort of outward jealousy for her incapability of doing so.
But look at how the ghostly presence of regular Hanekawa reaches out to Araragi along with Kuro’s words. See how Araragi gently addresses her rather than Kuro – Kuro as Hanekawa instead of either Kuro or Hanekawa. Later his perceptions shift, Kuro’s dialogue delivered through reused frames of Hanekawa talking to him in the classroom, Hanekawa’s mannerisms like the mysterious opaque glasses recontextualized in Kuro’s paws – Hanekawa as Kuro. It becomes clear that Kuro is merely giving voice to things that Hanekawa really does feel.
As such, he’s able to give a genuine answer, saying that he loves Hitagi. Kuro Hanekawa, for her part, is not particularly surprised or bothered, simply moving to her next step in the plan to relieve her master’s stress.
She tries to kill him.
Once again building on Kanbaru’s arc, Araragi is forced to seriously consider dying in order to solve the problem. Hanekawa is someone he owes a great debt to. Would it really be that bad? Yes!
Hitagi would kill Hanekawa. Here we have the same excuse as Kanbaru’s case. I don’t want to say it’s wrong, she absolutely would, but the point lies more in what it represents. Her feelings for him. Everything that he promised to give to her. It’s not actually an ideal resolution of the situation, even if we accept that his life is as cheap as he makes it out to be. Because something that cheap can only be traded for one person’s happiness. Everyone else who cares about him (including Hanekawa) would be worse off for it.
The real solution is to ask for help. This has been partially demonstrated already, on the hunt for Shinobu. Hanekawa rubs it in, with her little lie about vampire fascination. None of the girls he met him him because they were brainwashed, they agreed because they care about him. They are each people that Araragi has to one extent or another participated in saving. Oshino Meme says that people can only save themselves, but Araragi doesn’t share that opinion when it comes down to it.
He believes firmly that Hanekawa saved him. Just by being there, a person can drag you out of the deepest and darkest of depths. Araragi has done the same for several others. So, isn’t it alright to ask for help oneself? To not feel as though you’re being a burden on others, but can instead rely on them equally?
This is the realization he came to, the root behind Shinobu’s disappearance. Kuro Hanekawa says he was getting too used to oddities, too friendly with them, not respecting their power and legend enough. He was treating Shinobu as a child, hardly feeling as if he had the right to even speak to her. Thus, she disappeared, until he called her back. Until he relied on her.
She, the ur-example of the people he has been risking his life to help, as well as the source of his vampiric abilities that enable him to do so.
As of our current position in the story, we don’t know what caused their current relationship. But we do know that as an oddity capable of draining the life from others, even the selfish Meddlecat is handily outclassed by a vampire. And yet Shinobu willingly stops draining when requested. Araragi willingly gives her his own blood. If the cat is Hanekawa cut loose, free from social standards and bothersome human emotions, then what does being afflicted by a vampire mean to Araragi exactly?
Hanekawa ends this arc by falling asleep, returned once again to her regular state. But as she crosses the thin line between dreams and reality, she lets some unfiltered thoughts slip out.
You have to shape up. The impersonal framing of debts doesn’t represent Araragi’s true feelings. Just as ‘not wanting Hanekawa to exploit his debt to her’ wasn’t the real reason why he rejects her, ‘I care more about my debt to you than remaining friends’ is a really awkward way of him saying he just wants to help her. He struggles to admit this because, I think, of his belief he can’t really save anyone. He’s almost embarrassed to admit he’s trying.
In the end, though, he can’t take the same lackadaisical attitude as Oshino Meme. He can’t help but get involved in others’ personal issues, to put people’s wellbeing over the most effective way of resolving a situation, even if that person happens to be an oddity themselves.
However – is this really such a bad way of handling things? Araragi blurs the line between oddity and human, but he’s been getting half-decent at walking that tightrope lately. Knowing this, Oshino leaves town, trusting Araragi to handle both Shinobu’s disappearance and Hanekawa’s transformation.
Oshino himself – his lackadaisical attitude is ultimately just an attitude. His actions reveal a certain level of sympathy for Araragi’s priorities. His fees, his manipulations, his harsh words, all show a certain awkwardness on his part. He has an inability to be honest and act directly, one that balances out his true deep propensity for helping others.
Thus ends Bakemonogatari, a story about coming to terms with the monsters hidden in the darkness of the world. “For example, in my own shadow.” Araragi adds. Whatever being afflicted by a vampire means to him, it’s something he has to learn to live alongside with, not ignore.
Thus ends Bakemonogatari, but I’m looking forward to writing about the rest of the series very much as well. Took a stupid amount of time to muster up the mental energy for this one, but hopefully I can work a bit faster next time (I always say this and its never true lmao)
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Ok, I need to talk about Teruhashi from The Disastrous Life of Saiki K real quick but not in the way you think. I think Teruhashi is a well written character in and of herself, however I think what’s even more interesting is the perspective her character brings to the “can you be a good person if your motives are wrong” argument. I see this argument/back and forth a lot and it’s the idea that if you do good things for an ulterior motive, then are you actually a good person? Your actions still brought about positive effects so at the end of the day, do you still end up being a good person even though your motives are skewed?
I think this very contrast between motives and actions is what makes Teruhashi such a particularly interesting character; it’s the very joke her character is built on. Thanks to Saiki’s abilities, we hear Teruhashi’s inner thoughts, so we as the viewers know that she acts the way she does because she makes herself and not because it’s natural. The writers make it clear that she behaves the way she does not because it was her natural reaction but because she gains something from acting that way. She directly benefits from creating this “perfect” image of herself, not only in the form of those around her being so devoted to her but also in the sense that acting this way allows her to validate her own self-image of herself as the perfect girl. In fact, in many cases the way she acts directly parallels what she was thinking in her head. A great visual of this juxtaposition in her character is in Season 2 Episode 8, where Aiura Mikoto sees her aura. She describes it as being a giant set of angel wings, but with black feathers mixed in, which is an inside joke to the viewers, making fun of the fact that on the outside her actions are pure and good-natured, but her inner voice is actually much darker.
I think this contrast is also one of the reasons the fandom’s opinions on her differ so wildly. I think subconsciously a lot of people would say that your motives do matter on if you’re a good person or not, and since Saiki gives us a way to see that her motives in most scenarios are not “pure”, they dislike her character because to them she isn’t a good person. I think it also brings about an interesting discussion about how we would view her character if Saiki wasn’t able to give the viewers that inside look into her thoughts. Obviously the show would be completely different if this was the case, but I think it’s interesting to think about nonetheless.
Anyways, I have many more thoughts on this that I can’t put into words right now, but thanks for reading if you got this far. I’ve been obsessed with this show again recently and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I don’t usually write in-depth analysis of fandom media so I hope this made at least somewhat sense. Now I’m going to retreat back to the fanfiction corner of the fandom, so expect fanfiction soon. Ok bye!
#saiki kusuo no ψ nan#saiki#the disastrous life of saiki k.#teruhashi kokomi#teruhashi#kokomi#saiki k
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New York New Rules | pt. 2
Warnings: Violence, Trauma, Fluff, maybe Smut
Summary: Y/N meets the survivors of the last events in Woodsborrow and gets on Ghostface's list. But there is also a darkness in Y/N wich path is she going to choose
Female Y/N x Tara Carpenter
Sorry for bad writing. I’m using a translator and hope you guys can enjoy it. Also, this is going to be a long story
This time I changed the perspective while I wrote this if you know what I mean and yeah… sorry I think it’s going to be slow burn my dears
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
I put my hand on Anika's shoulder after Frankie pushed her aside pulled Tara up the stairs with her. She fell down, the next moment I felt a small breeze rush past me. It was Chad. He grabbed Frankie by the shoulder and threw him against the wall. Just as Frankie pulled out his fist, Chad was distracted. He had briefly seen Tara to make sure she was okay. But Mindy already took care of that. Even before Frankie's fist met Chad, I kicked Frankie so hard in the side that he fell to the ground. I couldn't feel anything. The noises around me became mute. All I could see was red. I had jumped on Frankie and punched my fists in his face. I ignored the sudden burning on my ankles. I didn't want to stop. I bit my teeth so hard that my jaw had already cramped. Every punch from me became firmer and more brutal and then I realized that Frankie was no longer conscious. He had not even been able to defend himself. I wasn't even sure if he was still alive at that moment. His face was so shattered and covered with blood that you couldn't recognize him anymore. My heart was pounding. I felt the pulse in my ears... slowly I could perceive the sounds around me again.
My breath stopped. It felt like I had 10 kilogram weights lying on my chest. Slowly I straightened up and suddenly there was a hand on my shoulder. Although I could now hear everything, it was quiet. My eyes drove around through the crowd and Mindys friends. The music was turned off. Everyone starred at me and then at Frankie. Their looks were scary, speechless and intimidated. I turned around and saw that it was Chad who had put his hand on me. After looking into my eyes, he lowered his hand and carefully took a step back. I could see uncertainty in his gaze. Now I looked at Anika, Mindy and Tara. They seemed to share this feeling with him. But unlike Anika and Mindy, Tara wasn’t looking at me, she looked at Frankie.
"All right... we should go," said a calm and gentle voice to me. She made me feel like I had done nothing wrong. A feeling that drove me crazy. The person put an arm around my shoulder and pushed me towards the exit. My legs trembled and vibrated. The adrenaline was still there, but its effect was now completely different. My eyes fell on my feet, I had to see where I was taking my steps and then I saw red... it wasn't a bright stinging red. No, it was scarlet... so deep and gloomy that it was already Maroon. I raised my hands that I hardly felt. Like my dress, they were covered in blood. At that moment I was sure that my bones were broken.
"We called an ambulance," said Anika in the distance. I tried to see back. Back to the Frat house. But my eyes met Tara's. She gave me a gentle smile. It was really so minimal that you could hardly recognize it, but I could. I would have noticed any minimal change in her facial expressions. "Everything's fine..." she whispered to me and looked at the others behind her. Then the person who helped me out of the house turned me forward again "Don't look back". Only now did I realize who had actually helped me. It was Sam, Tara's sister. But where did she come from? She wasn't at the party. Suddenly everything became louder and louder, it was as if hundreds of bees were floating around in my head. I lost the strength in my legs and fell. The others rushed to my side for help. The buzzing was getting louder and louder. In pain, I pressed my hands on my ears and pinched my eyes. The hum turned into a roar. It sounded mechanical... then a loud honking.
I opened my eyes and grabbed my blanket. My eyes were firmly on the ceiling above me. With slow breathing, I tried to calm down "just a dream"
I was just in a phase in my life that had stirred up too many things from my past. First the realization of my trauma last year and now the healing process. Never before have I felt so vulnerable. I tried to hide the whole thing, to keep it to myself but I notice how I reach my limits. I want to talk to someone about it, say things out loud in my head but I can't... I'm too scared and that of myself. I have the feeling that I don't understand myself and that makes everything more confusing. But I'm not stupid, I've been able to puzzle and analyze the individual things i noticed about myself well together so far.
Violence. Anger. These were two aspects that I was not affected by years ago. But now that my wounds had opened and I was bleeding again. I can feel her poisoning my body more and more. It feels good... but with the thought of being trapped in my head and isolated from other people... I'm not sure if I'm on the right track. First of all, these violent thoughts and dreams scared me... now I only hope to be exposed to a situation in which I can let my dark self run wild.
I think my dream says more than enough about the situation last night. Although I was there. But I wasn't present. In my mind, I was updrifted. Tried to distinguish my scenarios in my head with what really happened and to focus on acting correctly. If I hadn't thought too much yesterday, then who knows. Then I would probably really be in the hospital with broken hands and the hope that Frankie didn't survived.
The taste of warm milk with a gentle note of coffee hit my tongue when I put my lips on the coffee cup in my hand, carefully I took a sip of it. Slowly I looked at my cell phone to look at the time.
10:15 am
I still had 15 minutes until my appointment with the therapist would begin. But just as I turned the street and saw Dr. Stone's house, I stopped abruptly. The entrance gate of his practice was closed with blocking tape and several police officers stood on the side of the road. As soon as one of the policemen had noticed me, he approached me with a strict attitude. His eyes true darkness but in the light of the sun I could see green speckles in it. "Are you y/n l/n?" I nodded to him and looked past his shoulder. Two people with black bomber jackets on whose forensic was written on it went under the barrier tape. My eyes widened, but before I could say anything, the policeman interrupted me.
"You have been a patient of Dr. Stone, we have to ask you to come to the station with us and make a statement" I immediately agreed with him, I didn't feel like starting a discussion with him here.
When I reached the station, the policeman led me directly to one of the interrogation rooms, but I didn't seem to be alone there. My look hit Tara's then Sam's. Confused, I looked at her, both rails sharing this feeling with me. Although I could also see some trouble in Sam's dark eyes. "l/n please sit down..." said the slightly older detective who sat opposite the two. The only free seat was next to Tara, so I sat down to her without a word. I literally felt the eyes of the three following each of my movements.
I only briefly saw the pictures on the table. Crime scene pictures... two students from my film course... my professor and my therapist. What the hell was going on here? And why were Sam and Tara here? Unconsciously, my hands began to sweat. I put down my backpack and now took a closer look at the pictures, now I noticed the Ghostface mask. I tightened my eyebrows and looked at the detective.
"Y/N... I can call you that, can I?" The detective asked me. I gave him an annoyed look, I didn't like this situation at all. "In any case, you are a patient of Dr. Christopher Stone, is that true?" Tensed I crossed my arms and nodded silently. I noticed a surprised look from Sam. "Is it true that you regularly visit him because of your violence?" What the hell comes to his mind?! Did he just release my private patient data in front of two complete strangers? My pulse grew. I slowly pressed my nails into my arms and tried to keep myself calm. "You're kidding me, aren't you? You just release the data of my patients' files?" If eyes could kill, then it would have happened to him. There was no reaction from him. I looked speechless at Tara and Sam... finally I explained "seriously why don't you talk to me alone instead of addressing that in front of the two... already heard of data protection? Legally, you shouldn't do that" the detective didn't pay any attention to me and interrupted eye contact with me, he pushed a file in my direction and continued "through your past, your patient file and the events of yesterday you are one of our first suspects" Now Sam spoke in between "we don't have to listen to this... let's go" she wanted to get up but the detective gave her a strict look. "is it true that you were together last night?" Confused, Tara said "we were all at the party, yes... after that situation in the park our paths separated" the next moment the detective held a cell phone in our face. On it you can see Sam, who was irritated by the students and I stood with Anika in the background.
The detective exhaled far and said "what I want to say, Y/N you are just one of our suspects and you Carpenters, can't go anywhere you have witnessed the murder in the Bordega”.
I sighed and looked at him crooked "could someone tell me what the hell is going on here? Instead of exposing my mental health and suspecting myself for something I don't know about yet!" Suddenly I felt a little warmth on my elbow. Tara had striped me with her finger. Probably an attempt to calm me down. I thought very attentively of her, but I was so in rage mode that I couldn't enjoy this little gesture.
"Sam and Tara got a call from Ghostface, a few seconds later they were chased on the street by Ghostface and attacked there-" I interrupted him and looked worriedly at Tara, then at Sam "oh my God are you okay? The corners of Sam's mouth lifted slightly. I came to my senses and said excitedly "stupid question otherwise you guys wouldn’t be here..." Tara escaped a smile and I felt how she briefly pressed my arm "in any case Miss L/n" the detective began strictly and gave me a cool look "the two students from your course probably had their own plan and killed your professor... but who killed the boys? We are sure that another Ghostface has taken over the game and so the question remains who could that be? You y/n attend the same course... are close to the circle of friends of the Carpenters and, according to the statements, went home alone after the situation in the park. This morning you were at the crime scene of Dr. Stone... I doubt it's a coincidence" I shook my head "you know… i don’t give a fuck, apart from how bad and unprofessional you did your job, I will leave the interrogation now. And no, you can't force me without an official notice from the judge... I'm going" I didn't hesitate long when I took my backpack and stormed the door out followed by Sam and Tara. Before I reached the exit of the police station, a woman with short blond hair came to meet me. Suddenly my anger was pale. A broad grin formed on my lips, I had torn my eyes open in surprise when I closed the person directly into my arms "Kirby, what are you doing here?" She pressed me gently and went back. A warm smile was visible when she stroked my shoulder "Ghostface... I got the case directly when I heard about it"
"Kirby?" echoed from behind. We both looked back and met Sam's surprised face. The detective asked confusedly, "Do you know each other?" Sam nodded "we were together at the woodsborrow high, she was a senior and I was a freshmen." Now Kirby breathed out stressed "as much as I'm happy to see you, but the circumstances couldn't be worse" Sam shook her head and grabbed Tara's hand "not now... we're going" and then she stormed past me, Tara gave me a look at the said come immediately I followed them and when we crossed the doors of the police station we were surrounded by paparazzi "Tara, you feel safe near your sister?!" One called. We were just pushing ourselves through the crowd. I wanted to part from the two again, but Tara grabbed my hand and showed me that I should go with them. We were lucky that a taxi was ready for departure. But then a loud and energy-charged voice sounded behind us "Gale Weathers channel 4"
And then this tension was there. But she didn't come from me. She came from Sam and Tara. Slowly, Tara's grip around my hand became lighter until her hand no longer held mine.
„Do you ladies think, you’re the reason the Ghostface killer came to big Apple?“
Sam sighed and took the next moment to the blow. The paparazzi crowd escaped an "oh!" But Gale skillfully wiped out Sam's blow and smiled at her broadly.
„Nice try sweetie but I’ve done this dance before”
And then the punch came out of nowhere. He hit her hard. I didn't know if I should laugh or be shocked. Tara had punched Gale fucking Weathers in the face! Damn and I was there live! Again, an "oh!" escaped the crowd. Shocked, Gale held her cheek firmly on which she had hit Tara. There was this aggressive presence that Tara radiated when she leaned forward and said "stay away from us" and ran towards the taxi.
Gale followed us "are you still mad at me?" Sam abruptly turned around "you said you wouldn't write a book about what happened! And then you wrote a book about what happened"
Gale sighed and moved her head to the side without understanding. "Aw come'on someone was going to write about it. It's what I do!"
Tara said coolly "I heard you signed movie rights" Gale stuttered briefly, then continued "it's all about true crimes and limited series these days"
"After everything we went through together" began Sam and said with a disappointed tone "what would Dewey think?" You could see the moment of Realisation in Gales eyes but she said "that's a low blow"
"What's a low blow? You called me unstable and a born killer" Gale pulled up her shoulders "that's taken out of context"
„That’s literally a quote!“
Then Tara seemed to say something about it, but to be honest, I didn't understand what she was saying. And not because it was too loud, because I was still impressed by the punch to Gales face. If the crowd filmed that... then I would watch it again and again. Whatever Tara said, it made us run again but Gale followed us "I talked to Sidney" both Carpenters quickly turned around, Tara took a step towards Gale and said "she's not coming aren't she?"
Gale shook her head "no, she send her love but she's taking mark and the kids some safe place. She deserves to have her happy ending"
Sam was mumbling something I couldn’t hear this time. She turned around and said to me „you coming with us, get in the car“ While Gale called after her "hey i Wanne catch that fucker as much as you do!"
Tara turned around, her hand on the door of the taxi „maybe or maybe your just afraid without Ghostface in your life you gonna fade away”
She got into the taxi and we drove off. My feelings were totally confused. At first I was angry, then amused and now slightly turned on by Tara. This punch was probably the best I had seen today and I still had to struggle not to laugh. But now I had to suppress my desire, there wasn't a more inappropriate moment like this... but damn that was so hot.
Hope you guys could enjoy :) I’m trying my best with the translator ✌🏻💕
#cinema#celebrity#actress#jenna ortega#tara carpenter#scream#ghostface#melissa barrera#samantha carpenter#vada cavell#wednesday#fanfiction#yn#x reader#lorraine day#tara carpenter x reader#tara carpenter x you#jenna ortega x reader
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what if. kanade/rui x reader who is desperately begging them to take a damn break for once
-> 𝐂𝐫𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐳𝐞
They can’t help but keep pushing themselves, it’s in their nature. However, maybe this once they’ll take a break…
CW) overworking, mentions of poor eating habits, kanade’s bad habits
With Kanade Yoisaki & Rui Kamishiro
Rui Kamishiro
Rui is always on the move, whether it be performing, directing, education, he is always on the go. From an outside perspective it looks utterly exhausting. But Rui is used to this routine, it’s not exhausting to him at all. Although, it may be too much to take at once sometimes…
He won’t say it out loud, he’s too ashamed to admit it. But right now, Rui is exhausted. He’s been coming up with blueprints for hours on end right after school, only taking a “break” to meet up with his troupe at Phoenix Wonderland, coming back and working himself to the bone again. He’s drained and tired, and still refuses to take time for himself.
But as his partner, you knew what was going on. Even if he never said it, it was painfully obvious to you. The dark circles under his eyes getting darker, moving more sluggishly, always yawning… he needed a break. If he wasn’t gonna take one himself, then you were gonna make him.
The walk home from school was quiet, but not awkward. You were silently observing his face, even while he’s exhausted, he’s still the most beautiful boy you’ve ever seen.
“Is this something the matter, (Name)?”
“No, nothing’s wrong! I’m just a bit worried. You look tired. Actually- you’ve looked exhausted all week, and you’ve been acting different so-“
He cut you off with a soft chuckle, “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing my love, I’m just surprised you noticed. But I’m fine.”
“Rui, you know you aren’t fine. And when we get to your place I’m not letting you sit at your work station. You’re going to relax today.”
Rui knows there’s no point in arguing with you, he always caves in the end because he can’t stand being against you. And besides, he knows he needs to rest as well. And the best way to relax is having you with him.
The moment he opened the door you threw your bag on the floor, flopping onto his bed. Rui followed suit, all the pent up tiredness crashing down on him the second he hit the bed. He felt his eyelids grow heavier and the world go a bit quieter around him, only focusing on your resting figure next to him.
“(Name).. come here, so tired..”
He can barley form a sentence, and you knew you finally got him to rest. You switched into a more comfortable position and laid closer besides him, wrapping his arms around you.
“See? Taking a break isn’t all that bad..”
Kanade Yoisaki
Kanade is known for her unhealthy work habits, or just her habits in general. Never going outside, living off cup noodles, always at her monitor screen. It’s worrying to anybody, especially you.
You’ve tried pulling her away from her screen for a moment so she could relax a bit, but she always goes back not even an hour later. Honami has tried helping on multiple occasions, but Kanade will always be Kanade.
You watched as Kanade played with different tunes and pitches, finding what was best for the new song she was composing. She looked tired and bored, going at this for hours now. You knew at this point she wanted a break, but wouldn’t give herself one.
An idea popped into your mind, surely it would work. You got up out of Kanade’s bed and made your way to the kitchen, telling your girlfriend you would be right back.
“Honami, can you help me make three cup noodles?”
“Of course I can, but why three? One for you and Kanade, but a third?”
“I wanna make her a bigger serving, you know she loves cup noodles, if we make two and put them together, it’d be a treat for her. And.. yeah, third is for me.”
Honami smiled and nodded, giving you a hand in preparing the noodles. She thought it was sweet of you to do something like this for Kanade, considering she barley leaves her room for anything and forgets to eat a lot.
Once the noodles were done you thanked Honami and went back to your girlfriend’s room, preparing yourself to get her off that monitor.
“Kanade, I brought you something.”
She looked up, her eyes lighting up when she saw the noodles in your hand, smiling slightly when she saw how much was in the cup.
“(Name), you didn’t have to..”
“I did. I need you to take a break, Kanade. You’ve barley eaten today and you need some rest. Can you do that, please?”
Usually, she would be stubborn, telling you to leave her noodles on the table and she’ll eat it in a minute. But this time, she actually got up. Taking the cup noodles from your hand and sitting on the floor where her table was, you followed suit.
“There’s so much.. and it’s good. Thank you, (Name)..”
“Anytime Kanade, I do love you after all. Just please, try taking these breaks more often. I’m worried for you.”
She smiled and leaned into your side, you couldn’t tell if she fell asleep or not. But if she did, you didn’t wanna wake her.
#project sekai#prsk#pjsk#pjsekai#project sekai x reader#pjsk x reader#prsk x reader#pjsekai x reader#rui kamishiro#rui#rui x reader#rui kamishiro x reader#rui fluff#kanade yoisaki x reader#kanade#kanade x reader#kanade yoisaki#kanade fluff#dor writes#honami#honami mochizuki
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my minecraft boyfriend: character eighteen: a long dinner
written part under the cut
The dinner went by smoothly- well, from your perspective. You were oblivious to the tension between your best friend and boyfriend. At least you pretended to be.
Sure, you had felt the friction between the two boys, but you had managed to convince yourself that it wasn’t there. What reason did they have to dislike each other after Sunghoon was so intent on apologizing?
“Listen, Jisung. I know we started off on the wrong foot, but I wanna apologize for how I acted a few days ago.. I hope we’re able to get past that, I really don’t want it to be awkward between us!” Sunghoon laughed as Jisung blinked in disbelief. This wasn’t the same hostility Jisung had gotten over messages. The boy hoped that your friend was telling him the truth.
He gave a hesitant smile before replying, “Don’t worry about it, Sunghoon. I feel the same! I hope we’re about to get over our rough first impressions.”
With that, you clapped your hands together, excited that they seemed to be civil with each other. The dinner continued with your chattering and the boys joining in occasionally to add their comments.
“Oh yeah. Jisung, we’re finishing our movie marathon on Friday.. I forgot to mention but we wanted to let you know that you’re welcome to join back!” You brought up as the three of you awaited your meal to arrive. You knew you had to keep up different conversation topics or else a wave of awkward silence would plague your table.
“Really? Should I bring my Ravenclaw throw blanket to keep with the movie night theme? I should really give it to you though, you’re the Ravenclaw, not me.” Jisung let out a laugh and you followed soon after.
With a confused smile Sunghoon spoke up, “I thought you were a Gryfindoor? You act more like one!”
“No, she fits Ravenclaw more, don’t you think? Also blue looks good on you!” Your boyfriend nudged you in the last part causing you to giggle.
“Jisung’s right.. Though I haven’t thought about it recently!” You swiftly checked the time on your phone, “I’m going to head to the bathroom before the food gets here. Can you watch my stuff for me?”
After you walked off, out of ear shot, a frown appeared on Sunghoons face. “Hey, I noticed this when we first met, but can you stop acting like you know her better than I do? It's kind of weird, it seems a little competitive..”
Jisung only blinked at him in disbelief. Sunghoon had spoken like he seriously meant it, which made Jisung question if he even realized how much of an asshole he was being.. He didn’t even know how to respond, in fear of further getting on his bad side. As he meekly apologized, he sunk into his chair in relief when you arrived.
It was going to be a long dinner,,,,
pairing: park jisung x reader
taglist: open!
⋆@h0ney-el @monyuno @luvenshiti @thesunsfullmoon @xxxx-23nct @user103843 @n0hyuck @stayriki @kkotjia @beemarkie @justalildumpling @xuxiyeon @philanarose @dilfhwa @h0axed @mangomotif @luveuly @ang3lpxtch @existentialismuse @injunification @ohdudehesflirting @hoteldelyoona @jisyng @db-fics @squishy-maimon @jsjcue @renjivity @mina-yoo334 @blaaiissee @hibernatinghamster @l33j3n8 @alienatednichole @ihrtadri @uglyratlmao @000rpheus @no1shuahae @1-800-milflvr @cosmicwintr @luvkait @niikaxoxo @sukistrawberry @ahnneyong @igotkpoops @jising-jisang-jisung @kpopwh0r3 @te-ddy-be-ar @chaerfull
notes: sorry again to my taglist folks for the jumpscare
previous / masterlist / next
#my minecraft boyfriend#Park Jisung#park jisung x reader#park jisung scenarios#park jisung imagines#park jisung imagine#park jisung social media au#park jisung socmed#park jisung sns au#park jisung sns#jisung#jisung x reader#jisung scenarios#jisung social media#jisung social media au#jisung imagine#jisung imagines#nct#nct imagines#nct imagine#nct scenario#nct social media au#nct scenarios#nct social#nct social au#nct x reader#nct dream#nct drabbles#nct dream fluff#nct dream imagines
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Demonic Justice
So, I was on a Buffy the Vampire Slayer binge and thought to myself, What would happen if someone made a wish to a justice demon to go after Lila? More specifically, her past victims? And this is what I ended up with!! A little dark, but still filled with salty goodness. Warm-Fuzzies and please enjoy!!
As a justice demon, Remios considered himself to be more than fair, preferring to hear and see many different perspectives before passing judgment. Most of the other justice demons considered him to be too soft or slow in his work, but he didn’t care. What he cared about was the right people receiving justice and the rest getting the punishment they deserve. More than a few of his fellow demons would end up doling out justice willy-nilly and some jackass with a vendetta against an ex-girlfriend, who broke up with him for cheating, would end up getting the poor girl fileted from the inside out. Remios, however, never had to worry about the wrong person being punished. He always got the right ones.
There were also times when he felt souls cry so strongly, they were impossible to ignore. Today, for example, he was sensing the anguished cries of multiple souls, seemingly in the same area. Remios had put on his human face before teleporting to the area without being seen, and approached the group of teenagers that were huddled together and crying by the street. There were three of them, two girls and a boy, and their souls in such pain that it made him flinch to be so close to them.
It took some time and an offered bag of cookies, but they began venting to Remios, who had introduced himself as Remy, what was bothering them. Apparently, it was a photo in a magazine that had set them off.
“We just can’t believe such a horrible person got to be a model after ruining our lives,” Maria, a girl in her late teens, said as she gripped the magazine so hard that the pages tore.
“Do you mind if I ask what she did?” Remios asked, using a slight amount of his power to make them more willing to spill everything.
“What hasn’t that bitch done,” Terance growled in disgust. “She sexually harassed me, tried to get me to date her because my family has money. When I told her I wasn’t interested, she told everyone that I was harassing her! She got me expelled and taken to the police for questioning, it ruined me at school even though we had proof that it was the other way around. My family had to move to keep people from beating me up every day.”
Beatrix clutched at the two crutches that were laid across the bench beside her. “She tried to ruin my reputation at school, too. It almost worked, but our teacher believed me instead of her and kept giving her detention. When the teacher told Lila that if she did one more thing against me, she would get suspended, I got pushed down the stairs. I was in a coma for over a week, broke a lot of bones, and I still can’t walk without crutches. My parents and the school tried to get ahold of her parents, but the phone number and email they had were defunct. The school never found where she transferred to.”
Maria’s eyes were full of hate and tears as she continued to glare at the magazine in her hands. “She bullied my sister for months; at school, on the internet, she convinced our parents that she was the bully. People were throwing stones through our windows. Jennifer came home covered in bruises at least a dozen times. But the worst…” Her breath shuttered as she threw the magazine onto the street. “Someone had posted online that Jennifer was a prostitute and wanted to have ‘fun’. A group of boys from her school cornered her in the locker room and…” Maria broke down in sobs as Beatrix rubbed the older girl’s back in soothing circles. It was a few minutes before she was able to gather herself enough to continue.
“It wasn’t until then that my parents actually tried to do something… but it was too late. My poor little baby sister couldn’t take anymore and killed herself. That… that thing masquerading as a teenage girl ruined our lives and who knows how many others.”
“At least twelve, if we go by the group chat.” Terance muttered, before looking at Remios. “That’s how we met. Maria set up the group chat as a sort of support group/warning system for others. Lila’s done everything from stealing from people, getting people expelled because they tried outing her for lying. One girl, Katy, almost committed suicide before she found our chat and we were barely able to talk her down.”
“And now that thing is a model for a famous fashion designer,” Beatrix groused. “All her dreams are coming true and all the people she hurt have to deal with the fact that all we can do is try and fail to make her pay for what she’s done.”
Remios just looked on in shock. If these three were telling him the truth about this girl, then she would be the youngest person he’d even punished. He had gone after sociopaths before, that was nothing new, but those were normally in their mid-thirties or older. Just to make sure, he asked them to show him the chat so he could see the stories for himself. Sure enough, there were dozens of different members of the chat. Some were Lila’s victims, others were friends/related to former victims, and there were still others that had tried to tell people at Lila’s schools the type of person she was, only to be ridiculed and bullied for their efforts.
No one had known where she disappeared to after her last school in Florence, where she had brought her classmates a batch of cookies, knowing full-well that one of her classmates was allergic to coconut and served them to her. The girl had recently discovered that Lila was a liar and decided to give her a chance to confess on her own. If Amelia hadn’t had an epi-pen with her, she would have died. By the time her mother had found out what had happened and tried to contact Lila’s parents, the family had moved on and the contact numbers and emails on file were defunct, just like all of her previous schools.
With so many different stories from people all over, and the fact the souls of the three people he was speaking with were in so much pain that he wasn’t sure how much longer he could be around them, he knew what he had to do. It was time for him to wield the power of the wish. He just had to know what they wished for.
“This girl, Lila, really does sound like a rotten person. I bet you all wish something or someone would do something to take her down a peg or 30.” Remios prompted.
Terance nodded. “More than anything, I wish all of her lies were exposed so everyone will see exactly what a disgusting, vile, and corrupt psychopath she really is.”
Beatrix’s hand absently ran over her crutches again as she spoke. “I wish she understood the pain that she’d caused the people she targeted, both emotionally and physically.”
Maria was wiping away the remaining tears from her eyes before looking up longingly at the sky. “I want her to pay for what she did to my sister and everyone else. But I don’t want it so bad that she dies, I want her to live with the consequences of what she’s done. And I wish I could see her face when it all happens. That way I know that what she did to Jennifer, she won’t be able to do to anyone else.”
The three of them were all looking to the street or the sky at that moment. No one saw his human mask melt away to reveal his true demonic face. All they heard was the word “Done,” whispered in their ears before the man that the three of them swore they had been speaking to, vanished as if he was never there.
~oOo~
It started with emails to a few celebrities from lawyers that they didn’t remember retaining.
Jagged Stone and his manager Penny received a call from their lawyer that the lawsuit against the girl that accused him of reckless endangerment, copyright, slander, and accusations of pedophilia was ready for his signiture. The rock star had been confused at first, not remembering having anything like that in the works, but a look through the paperwork and he was glad that it was being resolved. When he recognized the name as the girl that was also harassing his honorary niece, he had the lawyer draw up a restraining order and lawsuit on her behalf, to be implemented as soon as he had her parents permission.
Clara Nightingale received a similar call from her lawyer, pertaining to copyright, slander, and theft of art that she was being accused of from a girl she’d never met, but the name was familiar. Once she realized that it was the girl that Marinette had been venting about after the girl had accused her of stealing her design ideas, Clara had the lawyer add theft on Marinette’s behalf. There was no way she was going to let the girl that inspired such good will and a few new songs suffer from some no talent wannabe.
There were over a dozen other celebrities that suddenly found themselves signing lawsuits to be delivered to the teenager and her parents later that afternoon. Most didn’t even remember wanting or filing the lawsuits, but agreed wholeheartedly after reading the charges that were being brought against the girl. There was everything from slander, copyright infringement, and liability; to theft, harassment, and impersonation for pretending to be dating/related to a celebrity and making them foot the bill for whatever restaurant or store she went to.
Another lawyer, M. Fontaine had a completed class-action lawsuit on his desk that morning; full of testimonies, video, digital, and physical evidence against Lila Rossi for what she had done to her former classmates. This included the wrongful death of Jennifer Cartia, the attempted murders of Amelia Rostiere and Beatrix Devoux, the sexual harassment of Terence Armounte, as well as bullying, harassment, slander, destruction of property, and theft of 17 other former classmates. There were also notes about Miss Rossi’s current school, that there was a student that was accused of being a bully to Rossi and had nearly been expelled. This girl was likely another victim and he had interviews set up with her and other students that day. He wasn’t sure how he had almost forgotten about the interviews, he could have sworn that he was looking forward to nailing this girl’s lying tongue to the wall. Gathering up his paperwork, he began making his way to the Francoise Dupont School.
~oOo~
Greta Rossi had just barely sat down at her desk at 7:15am sharp. She had always taken pride in her punctuality. It surprised her when her phone rang, normally the office didn't receive phone calls for another hour, but answered all the same. “Hello, this is Greta Rossi.”
“Oh, Mme. Rossi, it’s wonderful to speak with you. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Her brow creased for a moment. “What do you mean? You called me. Who is this?”
“I apologize, but my phone rang and you answered, I could have sworn that you called me. Oh well, it doesn’t matter. This is M. Damocles, Principal of Francoise Dupont.”
“Is everything okay with Lila? Has there been another akuma attack?”
“Lila is fine and there are currently no akuma. But while I have you on the line. I would like to discuss a few things with you. I am in need of the note for her absence from school for those months you and she were away in Achu for diplomatic work. I’ll also need the doctor’s notes pertaining to Lila’s medical needs and instructions on dealing with her accommodations. Specifically her lying disease, as I would hate to have another misunderstanding like we had a few months ago.”
There was a pause on both ends while Greta processed what M. Damocles just told her. “Exactly what ‘misunderstanding’ are you referring to? I didn’t receive any call or email about anything happening. Did my email get deleted or something after you were akumatized for all those months and the school was damaged? And what diplomatic work in Achu? We haven’t left Paris since we moved here.”
Another pause… The two confused, and soon angry, adults agreed that Mme. and M. Rossi needed to come in right away to discuss what her daughter had been saying and hash out the truth of the matter.
It was 8am as she was grabbing her purse, there was a knock on her office door and she was met with numerous men and women in power suits and carrying briefcases. After introducing themselves as lawyers representing multiple different parties, Greta was handed lawsuit after lawsuit that she, her husband, and Lila were going to have to answer for in the coming weeks. They then informed her that they would also be delivering the lawsuits to Lila herself, but wanted to make sure that Greta was informed first, as she was the adult and Lila had proven a tendency to lie.
The more Greta read, the angrier she got. It was only through sheer will that she kept calm so that she wouldn’t attract an akuma while she called her husband and informed him what their daughter had been up to and that they had a standing appointment at the school for that day. He told her that he would meet her there within the hour. By 10am, she was sure that any freedom Lila had would be stripped away.
~oOo~
Lila had a feeling that today would be different. She wasn’t sure how, but she had a few ideas in mind to do with Adrien, Maribrat, and possibly getting her classmates to do her work for the rest of the term. She'd bought a box of white chocolate macadamia nut cookies from a bakery near her apartment the day before and put them in a tin from home, ready to tell everyone that she made them herself.
She had just stepped on campus, already half way through the school day. Not that it mattered since her "mother" had already emailed the school to let them know that she had a doctor's appointment and would be coming in after lunch. If that meant she would have to miss a test she hadn't studied for, oh well. She was a little surprised to see Mme. Bustier waiting for her at the door with a somber look on her face. "Lila, you're needed in the principal's office. Something has come up with your parents."
A little surprised by the grave tone in the teacher's voice, Lila rushed up the stairs to the office. She took the time to knock, attempting to keep the image of an obedient, but worried girl. But in reality, she was annoyed that whatever happened was interrupting her plans for the day. Still, she plastered her best scared/concerned expression on her face when she heard Damocles call for her to enter.
Her eyes hardly found him sitting tall behind his desk before she noticed her parents standing to one side, looking absolutely furious. Lila was contemplating just turning around and sprinting away, knowing full-well that it would be hard to work things to her advantage if they'd had any time to talk before she arrived.
Before she could decide, her father marched forward to move her away from the door and stand in front of it, firmly blocking her exit. Ciro Rossi, a naval commander turned diplomat, was a force to be reckoned with when he was angry. Lila was fortunate, and skilled enough, to never have that anger directed at her. But now, it felt like every experience she had avoided had accumulated and was now directed at her all at once.
Her mother… she had never seen that expression on her mother's face before. She was the type that was open and loving, always with a smile on her face. Going on and on about how much she loves Lila, whatever that really meant. But now, her face seemed completely devoid of any readable thought or emotion besides anger. Which was very bad for Lila, if she couldn't read the emotions of her parents, it was harder to manipulate them.
Still she had to try. "Mama, Papa, is everything alri-"
"Sit down," her father said sternly behind her. She looked back at him, doing her best to appear small, vulnerable, and scared. "Now."
She did as she was told. "What’s going-"
"Shut up," her mother harshly interrupted her, surprising Lila into silence. "You will not speak unless asked a direct question. Every interruption or attempt to lie will see you more harshly punished. Are we clear?"
Unable to help herself, she visibly winced before nodding. They knew that she had lied, but which ones did they know about? Probably the ones having to do with school and attendance. Worst case scenario, she'll be expelled and have to start over at a new school. Not the worst thing, since her classmates were a bunch of idiot sheep and didn't have much to offer anymore.
"First thing's first, the school never closed. You lied to us and the school about your attendance," her mother said matter-of-factly. "That's called truancy. The Board of Governors has already been notified, it will go on your permanent record, and your father and I will be forced to pay a fine for believing your lies. That fine will be paid for from your allowance."
She automatically jumped up to protest, but her father firmly grabbed her shoulder and pushed her down into the chair again. One hard glare from him had Lila biting her tongue as she glowered in her seat.
"Secondly, we have been informed of your 'diseases and disabilities' that you have told the school about and the fake doctors' notes you gave them. Do you realize that each one of those is a possible fraud and forgery charge? Because either you knew and didn't care, or you're an idiot and didn't realize the trouble you could get in."
Lila scowled at her mother for the insult. She hadn't meant to and averted her eyes back down to the floor, but it was too late.
"Ah, so you did know and didn't care. After everything we've been told, I'm not surprised."
"We could also add that she didn't think she would be caught." Ciro stated behind her, his voice making her quake slightly. "After all, she has forged our signatures, faked our contact information, and assaulted other classmates at her past schools. Why wouldn't she think she'd be able to do it again?"
"But I haven't, I swear!" Jumping from her seat in a panic, she looked from one adult to another while trying to figure out what to do. There was no way they could know about her past schools and classmates. None of those places had their numbers or forwarding address. She'd made sure that none of them were able to contact her parents. They had to be bluffing!
As if the gods heard her thoughts and wanted to torment her, there was a knock at the office door followed by a tidal wave of lawyers. They greeted Greta with a nod before each of them served Lila with lawsuits. A lawsuit and restraining order from Jagged Stone. Another lawsuit and a cease and desist from Clara Nightingale. Bruce Wayne had sent a lawsuit for slander and theft, how could he have known about the times she had sent tabs to him, claiming she was dating his son?
Lawsuit after lawsuit were being dropped into her lap as the lawyers filed in and back out of the office. She hadn't even realized that she had sat back down, likely from the shock. This can't be happening! How did all these people find out about me?
Lila hadn't even realized that she had zoned out for a couple minutes until a stern voice cleared his throat. She looked up from the towering pile of envelopes to face yet another intimidating man in a power suit… and was backed up by a couple of police officers.
"Are you Lila Rossi?" She dumbly nodded before the man looked towards her mother and father. "M. and Mme. Rossi, thank you for allowing me to finish my other interviews before speaking with you formally."
"Of course, M. Fontaine. Now, if you would please tell us about the charges you plan to file? You said it was in relation to Lila’s past schools and classmates?" Ciro asked in a resigned voice. Their daughter already had 14 lawsuits handed over to them in one afternoon. What was one more?
The man nodded to the two officers before approaching Ciro and Greta. "Yes, I'll be leading the class action lawsuit against your daughter." As he said this, the officers had stood Lila up and proceeded to arrest her while giving her miranda rights. This seemed to wake Lila from her shock as she began thrashing and screaming. Fontaine ignored this as he spoke to her parents. "I represent Lila’s past and current victims of bullying, harassment, sexual harrasment, and slander; as well as two charges of attempted murder and the wrongful death of one of her classmates."
Hearing that, Greta nearly collapsed but was kept standing by her husband. Ciro's expression turned hard as he glared. Luckily for M. Fontaine, he was pretty sure that look was for daughter rather than him.
Speaking of, the three of them were startled when there was a sudden *tang* of metal striking flesh. They turned towards Lila and the officers just in time to see the teenager strike the second officer in the face with the tin of cookies that burst open from the force. The handcuffs were hanging from her right wrist and her expression reminded Fontaine of a rabid badger, something that would attack anyone and anything that got too close.
The class bell rang a moment later and the girl sprinted out the door in the hopes of blending in with her classmates so she could escape the school, find an akuma, and use its power to make everyone forget about today. She didn't count on the police officers recovering as quickly as they did to follow her out, along with her parents, the principal, or that last lawyer. But it wasn't over yet, the dark purple wings of the approaching akuma proved it. A good jump in the air and the butterfly was trapped in her fist.
"Just you wait, once I've got my powers I'll make every one of you suffer for even thinking of challenging-"
*BUZZZZZZ*
Lila’s entire body went ramrod stiff as the two prongs of an officer's stun gun made contact. The akuma got crushed in the girl's grip in addition to the 1,200 volts coursing through the insect and her. Unable to control her body, nothing could stop her from tipping sideways and tumbling down the stairs.
The officer that had shot her was nearly in a panic as the girl fell. All he'd been able to think about was that this girl they were arresting for multiple counts of attempted murder was about to willingly akumatize herself, risking the lives of everyone in the school. Who knew what kind of powers she would have gotten. He had done what was necessary to protect the students, his partner, and himself in a situation that he hadn’t thought possible. Still, she should have fallen forward and away from the stairs, not towards them. Now they had to worry about being accused of using excessive force on the arrest.
~oOo~
It had become one of the biggest trials in Europe since the Nuremberg Trials. Lila Rossi had been found guilty of aiding known terrorist Hawkmoth, the wrongful death of Jennifer Cartia, the attempted murders of Amelia Rostiere and Beatrix Devoux, the sexual harassment of Terence Armounte and Adrien Agreste, and numerous other charges.
She'd lost every charge and lawsuit brought against her. Lila didn't know how they had found all the evidence or how they traced it back to her, but they did. It made whatever defense her lawyer attempted seem pathetic.
Lila claimed that Terance harassed her? They had audio and video of her harassing and threatening him. She says that she had nothing to do with Beatrix’s accident? The seven eye witnesses and DNA evidence from the fingernail that broke off in Beatrix’s hair says otherwise. Lila is currently being bullied and was injured by her classmate, Marinette? CCTV footage of Lila faking her injury and planting evidence in Marinette's locker proves it's the other way around. Claims that she and Jennifer were friends and would never hurt or bully her? There were literally stacks of printed texts, emails, and social media posts that were time stamped and traced back to Lila’s accounts. Including the post that had resulted in Jennifer being assaulted, which had Lila being charged for the crime, just like the boys that hurt Jennifer.
Her lawyer refused to let her take the stand in her defense. Both because of her tendency to lie and the fact that she was on a constant supply of pain killers that made her loopy. The fall had left her unable to walk due to shattered vertebrae, but the nerves were still able to transmit pain and had been doing so to an impressive degree. Lila had hoped for a bit of sympathy from the jury. She was just a teenager, who was now paralyzed from the waist down as a result of her fall down the stairs when she was tazed. They ignored her pain and focused on the pattern of behavior, saying that if she hadn’t been discovered, she'd have continued to escalate.
At the very least, she hoped that the stupid police officer that paralyzed her would have been fired and forced to apologize to her. But NO, the officer had gotten a freaking award for stopping her willing akumatization. Stating that he had made a difficult decision in an unpredictable situation, likely saving hundreds of lives, most of them school students.
When the judge had finally come to a decision, she cried real tears for the first time since the doctors said she'd never walk again. He sentenced her to the maximum penalty as permitted by law. Lila Rossi was to serve 182 years in prison for all her crimes. The possibility of parole had been completely revoked once it had been proven, via video evidence, that the day of her arrest wasn't the first time she had been willing to be akumatized.
When the verdict had been read, she had wanted to launch herself at her past victims, the people that had testified against her. Not that it would have worked. Between her injury and the four officers that surrounded her at all times, she never had the chance. Worst she could do was throw her cup of water at the crowd when they cheered at her verdict.
Lila just couldn't believe everything that happened. All of her lies had been exposed on international television and all over the internet. She was in constant pain from her injuries and would never walk again. But worse of all, the humiliation from being exposed would never leave her. She was constantly monitored to make sure she would serve her sentence…and not end it abruptly due to selfish actions. No, this was Lila Rossi's life until she died of old age in a cramped, disgusting prison cell.
She never once noticed the nondescript man that had attended every day of her trial, despite the proceedings being closed to the public for her safety. The man had seriously given Marinette and Adrien the willys, and their kwamis had warned them to steer clear of him, but there were no incidents. He wasn’t a witness or one of her past victims. He never took the stand. All he did was sit to watch the trial. When the verdict was read, he watched three of the people up front: Terance, Maria, and Beatrix. As they cried tears of relief and joy, the man gave a smile and nod. Then it was like he was never there.
**Bonus**
Gabriel Agreste slowly came around as he propped himself up on the floor. The last thing he remembered was the feeling of thousands of bees buzzing under his skin after Rossi grabbed his akuma. Very unpleasant.
After transforming and returning to his office, he was greeted by Natalie, who held out her tablet with a video cued up. It showed a news clip about an "unnamed student" being arrested for willingly accepting an akuma while in the process of being arrested for other heinous crimes. Although force had been used and the student had been taken to the hospital for her injuries, witnesses state that the actions of the police officer saved their lives.
Gabriel handed the tablet back to his assistant. "Be ready to prepare a statement to the press about canceling Lila Rossi's contract. Including that we were unaware that she forged her parents signatures and, due to her obsession with Adrien, we will be filling a restraining order as well. We don't know what kind of diplomatic pull her parents have, the little weasel may get out on bail."
A little while later, Adrien came rushing through the mansion doors. He demanded to see his father, saying that there was a big incident at school that he had to tell him about.
Gabriel hummed. "That will work."
Tag List:
@2confused-2doanything @7-sage-7 @aadnrsstar @abrx2002 @awkwardromances @bayball @babylovebug18 @botanicalfoxx @back-cats-and-broken-mirrors @caffeinetheory @cheshire5210 @chocolateherringtacofan @city-of-all-tunas @classycollectorreviewworld @corabeth11 @chocolatechipcookiesandcamembert @darkened-flame @delightfulcookiesrecipespizza @fandom-trapped-03 @ghostmaster @iamblinkmarvelarmy @interobanginyourmom @izang @jesussavedevenme @kazedancer @kitten12113 @lady-phoenix-of-tardis @lilypotter2018 @lunataravler @ladylupuscrow @maskedpainter @miraculouslydumb @nerd-nowandforever @naruwitch @ola-is-dead @pandacatxd @plushbookworm @plz-excuse-my-inner-ravenclaw @pheonix-biach @pandora-fucking-box @raiderofthelostbooks @ramos123 @rowanrouge @rowanyx @ren121 @seesea22 @seraphichana @sashakoi @shypeacekitten @smartlanceisreal @tazer6787 @that-girl-sakea @thecrazyfantrollshasmoved @the-smallest-kittenz @tishwinchesterannabethjackson @t1dwarrior-of-earth @ulmban @with-forward-motion @wonderbat91939 @zoiechance
#lila salt#lila bashing#lila lies#mlbjustice#lila karma#lila rossi#miraculous ladybug#miraculous justice
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Rink O Mania (and the airport scene) from Mikes perspective
We all know how wills hug got rejected and that he had to third wheel mike and El all day and how miserable it was for him and how he felt like mike wasn’t interested in anything he had to say and just ignored him all day and how mike only called him “maybe a couple times” and how his undying love for mike is unrequited and mikes an asshole that treated will like shit because the duffers just decided to stop writing his character all together for absolutely no reason so now he’s just El’s boyfriend and—
Why doesn’t the vast majority of the ga ever question mikes behavior? I rarely see normal people (non-bylers) consider why he’s been acting different, or that there’s a reason for anything he does. they just take him at face value and write his entire character off as useless, annoying, and torturing our baby will because there’s absolutely no way he’s anything but straight and no way will could ever do anything wrong. everyone I know irl has said that they hope mike dies in s5, which just goes to show how misunderstood his character is, because in reality he is very important to the story! and he’s also just very complex and well written imo
(I know people are supposed to be oblivious to mikes motives so that his arc makes a big impact, i’ve just noticed that most people simply accept his behavior without looking into it at all and then want him to die lmao like no wonder)
There is a reason. A very good reason.
To start us off here’s a list of things we’ve gathered from the show that most of the ga isn’t aware of or didn’t pick up on that are important in putting together mikes pov of these scenes (this is solely based on the limited information we’ve been given—other than mike being gay, that’s based on subtext—even us bylers haven’t uncovered the full mystery that is michael wheeler)
Mike is gay and is in love with will, possibly having fully realized this the last time he saw him before they moved -> mike is aware of his feelings toward will
(Im unsure if Lucas On The Line is canon material but Im adding this anyway because they hint toward it in the show) Mike started spending all his time in his basement playing on his new NES after will moved, depressed, and rarely going outside or seeing his friends -> will moving had a major negative affect on him
Mike and El communicate through letters and (possibly) cerebro exclusively -> mike does not call El and vice versa
Joyce has a new telemarketer job and mike won’t stop whining about it because she’s always on the phone -> mike tries to call will so much that he’s constantly complaining about not getting through
Mike knows will made a painting for someone he likes, which might be a girl according to El’s letter -> mike is aware of the painting and is under the impression that will is straight
now without further ado,
Mike meets the Byers at the airport. He and El hug and kiss, but he keeps the flowers he picked her—ones he couldn’t keep his mind off of will while picking—between them to create some distance right off the bat. He’s putting on a show. Not a very good one though, because the moment he sees will he remembers all the times he waited by the phone for him to pick up his calls, and then all the times will didn’t. Will didn’t reach out. He must’ve made some new friends—joined another party—and didn’t have time for mike anymore, not enough to call, anyway. Mike doesn’t notice the huge smile on will’s face, or maybe he does, but either way he doesn’t know how to act. Maybe it was that Mike couldn’t handle wills physical touch like he used to, or maybe he didn’t want to blow his cover when will obviously didn’t feel the same way, so he opts for a side hug and a shoulder pat rather than throwing himself into wills arms like his heart was telling him to. This is his favorite person, and yet he has no clue where they stand. As mikes eyes journey across will, seeing how much he’s changed in what’s felt like a year, he registers the rolled up painting in his hands immediately. He can’t help it, his jealously is too strong to hide, he has to know what he already does.
“uh, what’s that?”
Will shuts his question down with an “oh it’s nothing, it’s just this painting i’ve been working on.” Cold. It’s not for mike. obviously it’s not for mike. STUPID. Why did he even bring it?? to rub it in his face??
“cool.”
Two can play at that game. Mike wraps his arm around El’s shoulder like he used to do with will, and they make their way through the airport. El’s talking about burritos—or something, he doesn’t really know because will is stuck in his head like a catchy, overplayed song that you secretly like—and oh shit he caught mike looking. Mike does his best to come up with acceptable responses to what El’s telling him, but his focus is elsewhere. Then will speaks, and it’s the clearest voice he’s heard since he got there.
“Angela?” will blurts, panicked all of a sudden in response to El’s mention of her friends. Mike does a double take. Angela. A name to the mysterious cali girl from El’s letter, a name to the paintings recipient, a name to whatever was causing will to have been “acting weird” in Lenora. could this be any more heart wrenching? In an act of spite, mike kisses El on the head and hugs her closer, but he doesn’t know if will noticed. probably not, why would he?
At Rink O Mania Mike has his eyes glued to will. Even when he’s not looking at him, he notices his every move. And what does he see? He sees will rolling his eyes, moping, and is painfully aware of his silence—he’s quiet today. Maybe he’d rather be spending it with Angela. Did he really not miss him at all? Meanwhile mike spent their time apart sulking in his basement playing Nintendo since the second will left. Why’s he being such a douche?? They sit down to put on their roller skates when El tells mike he needs socks, which only reminds them all of his ridiculous facade. Then out of nowhere will brushes his leg to get his attention, the jolt of electricity causing mike to whip his head around at the speed of light.
“they sell them at the counter.” will says, pointing past mike.
“oh, okay,” he responds, heart probably racing. Wills talking to him again! are they cool? back to how they were? Mike makes his way back to will and El, practically throwing himself in wills direction before sitting down (I don’t know why he did this, maybe it was just really crowded so he had to go fast as to not get stuck in the crowd of people? whatever the reason, it’s hilarious and I laugh every time I see him almost crash into will).
“So, I asked for vomit green and I got vomit green. Isn’t that awesome?” mike says as he shoots a quick glance toward El, only to then beam at will. He’s testing the waters, looking for something, anything to tell him he was wrong feeling like will was pulling away from him. But will doesn’t respond, he doesn’t even fake a smile like mike does soon after.
The three of them huddle into a booth after skating, mike and El on one side and will on the opposite. Like this, mike can peak at will through his hair easily from across the table. He’s still barely talking, though. Suddenly a group of other teens skate up to their booth and El introduces mike to the blonde girl, seemingly leading the bunch, as Angela.
Mike goes through the pleasantries with them, while still noticing any slight changes in will’s demeanor. He watches will stare at Angela, surprised and nervous, practically jumping out of his seat. So this really is the girl he likes. El’s friends whisk her away to go skate with them, nothing weird about that. As they leave, will gets up out of the booth and gapes at them, probably upset that he missed his chance at giving Angela the painting he made her. Mike sips his milkshake in a jealous chafe, left alone at the table to his own gay devices until—
Will let’s out an apprehensive “oh no,” and mike is instantly by his side at that, despite the distance between them physically and emotionally.
“what?” mikes asks him, interested in anything will has to say. Then the truth comes out. Will goes on to explain to him that El’s been having trouble with bullies in Lenora, and that Angela isn’t actually her friend, but rather, her oppressor. Mike’s attention finally transfers over to El, but not for long, and not before glancing at will’s lips now that the two of them are face to face.
Im gonna end it here because the actual fight scene is kinda overwhelming and I really don’t know what mikes thinking other than realizing what’s been actually going on and that he’s been lied to so it’s hard to write out. but yeah this is how I see these parts of the episode now since I feel like I have a grasp on both will and mike’s perspectives. obviously I could be completely wrong I didn’t write the show but it’s pretty clear to me how much attention mike is paying to will once you look for it!!
kinda off topic but l noticed while watching this episode that blue and yellow lights (mike and will) follow mikes head around during the fight, like he’s got them on his mind, which we already know lol but I thought it was interesting. take a look:
Right when they start looking for El
Here as they’re walking, all of those games are blue and yellow and so is the lighting above them
Here for obvious reasons. notice how will only has blue behind his head, yellow is in between them, but both colors behind mike’s (also peep the exit sign 👀)
And here. the ‘what about us’ moment. these are from every shot of mike! the colors do not leave his head the whole scene!
anyway thx for reading sorry for the bad quality screenshots lol
#byler#byler endgame#byler analysis#byler canon#byler is requited#byler s5#byler nation#byler proof#byler season 4#anti mileven
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