#like guys his rivals are cool but i doubt most of them could carry a larvitar on their head | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

lightsovermonaco · 3 years

Text

His Good Sweater: Chapter 10

Masterlist

Shoutout to my bestie @acollectionofficsandshit for all the drunk comments she made while betaing this one... Wish you guys could see them lol

Word Count: 4.8k

Recommended song: “Amnesia" by 5SOS

Pierre paces in his dinky trailer at the Circuit of the Americas and desperately tries to forget you exist. He had already taken down the pictures on the wall but the images were burned into his brain. He had shoved your shirt under his bed, having absolutely no idea how it had made its way halfway around the world to taunt him.

He was slowly unraveling like a spool of thread on a loom as you wove him irrevocably into the tapestry of your life.

The race in Austin started in less than two hours and you hadn't texted him. Not once in the handful of years he'd known you had you neglected to wish him luck before a race, even if it was 2 am your time or you had exams, you always took thirty seconds to warn him to be safe and finish well.

He was beginning to think you hated him for how he'd acted at the gala last weekend, jealous and possessive from afar. Talking to you would have been the better choice. But seeing you laugh and dance the night away had hurt too much. He’d slipped out early after Victoria assured him she could find a ride and sped home to fall apart.

He had only barely managed to piece himself together in time for the race.

Pierre checks his phone for the third time in as many minutes and swears under his breath. He didn't know why he expected it to ring and for your face to pop up at this point. Even if you called to tear into him, he'd still fall to his knees at the sound of your voice. He just wanted to hear you speak, didn't care what was said, only that he could latch onto your words and lose himself in them.

Hope sparks when his phone chimes but he nearly throws it across the trailer when he sees Charles' name.

Heard from her yet?

No. At this point I'm beginning to think I never will again.

Maybe she fell asleep early?

It's 5 pm in London. I'll bet you she's eating a bowl of takeout from the Chinese place down the street, not sleeping.

Its still possible. Don't dwell on it. This isn't the headspace you wanna be in before a race. Block it out. I don't wanna see my best friend wind up hurt today.

Pierre didn't reply, if only because Charles was right. Worrying would get him nowhere. After his shitty qualifying yesterday, he started thirteenth on the grid so he had his work cut out for him. Austin offered plenty of opportunity for overtakes; he could get the job done if his team made the right calls.

And if he made it to the podium, you would have to text him.

The thin mattress groans when he sits to unlace his hastily tied race boots. He folds his legs to sit criss cross and places his palms on his knees. The familiar pose already has some of the tension leaving his shoulders as his eyes slide shut. He breathes in for ten seconds, reflecting on what ails him. He holds the breath for five seconds before releasing it slowly.

He repeats the process until he comes to terms with the fact that you won't be wishing him luck. That was your choice; there was nothing he could do about it and therefore no sense reading into it. He had done all he could to convince you to trust him. The ball was in your court; he had to be patient and wait for you to take a shot.

“Focus,” he murmurs to himself, forcing any erroneous thoughts from his head. “Walk through the track.”

The circuit at Austin was challenging, consisting of a mix of 20 sweeping corners and scattered hairpins. He was almost lucky in a way to be starting so far back on the grid because turn one was only a few hundred meters from pole and their tires would be slightly colder and less grippy upon arrival than his would be. The few extra seconds afforded to him by starting thirteenth could mean the opportunity to leap frog past his rivals in the first corner.

The counterclockwise circuit meant he would have to keep an eye on his front left tire too, as it would wear faster than the others. He'd change gears an average of 66 times per lap, higher than similar length tracks like Monaco. Pit stops cost an average of nineteen seconds, meaning he would need to build a significant gap to the driver chasing him in order to avoid the threat of any undercuts.

There were too many variables occupying space in his mind to afford you a sliver of it.

Some time later he decides that his four leaf clover tucked safely in the worn leather of his wallet will provide all the luck he needs and switches on his pre race playlist after popping in his ear buds.

"Sights on the podium," he murmurs to himself, hand on the doorknob. "Let's race."

The bass flows through him as his feet carry him to the Alpha Tauri garage on autopilot, through the back entrance and to his plain white driver room. The familiar beats are a numbing salve spread on his frayed nerves, his anticipation rising like a crimson wave in his veins. He leaves his clothes in a haphazard heap in the corner and changes into the white fireproofs hanging nearby, thoughts momentarily veering to you knocking on the door and stripping them right back off.

Shaking his head to clear his mind, he runs through his usual stretch sets until Pyry arrives to walk him through reflex exercises.

"How's your head?" Pyry asks, running him through more cool down stretches. "Do we need to take a minute and do some meditation?"

"Beat you to it," Pierre grunts out, pushing back against the hand on his head to work his neck. "I'm good."

"You sound better than you have all week, I'll give you that. Keep that focus, use it to propel yourself forward."

"Run me through the lineup again," Pierre requests, "I need something else to think about."

Because if he let his mind follow the path it wanted to, it would inevitably lead to you and undo the work he had done to avoid that. He needed to be empty of anything that wasn't racing, anything else was an unnecessary distraction that had the potential to end in disaster.

Pyry rattles off the grid in order of who Pierre needs to overtake, pausing between each name to give him time to recall their driving styles and potential chinks in their armor to exploit. He knew from tapes of previous years that Stroll often ran wide into turn one, giving Pierre the option to brake late and sweep up the inside. Vettel was half convinced the track was cursed, so his mind would work against him enough that Pierre could exploit it and get past at some point. He continued until he got to Hamilton and Max locking out the front row, where he would need a bit of luck to overtake.

"You got it?" Pyry asks, stepping back.

Pierre rolls his shoulders and nods.

"Get shit done mate," Pyry says and bumps fists with his driver. He slips out to allow Pierre a moment to center himself before slipping into his race suit, leaving it half unzipped and tying it around his waist before following his trainer.

Pyry leads the way to where the matte navy and white car waits, mechanics swarming it like studious worker bees tending to their queen. No one talks to him save his engineer because words from anyone else threaten to break his carefully constructed race mentality. If they wanted him to bring home points, they knew to leave him alone once he was suited up.

His mind is blank of anything but statistics as he twists his ear buds in and pulls on his balaclava and helmet. As his vision narrows to the sliver of track he can see through his visor, so does his focus. With forty minutes to lights out, he's directed out onto the track. He rips the wheel to the right as he exits the garage, getting a decent powerslide for his efforts.

There was no doubt in his mind that he would land on the podium, if only to see the look on your face when he did.

**********

It took an unfathomable amount of restraint to keep yourself from calling Pierre to wish him luck.

You texted Max instead, wishing him a safe and comfortable podium a half hour before lights out. He hadn't responded, likely already in the garage with his trainer going through his pre race routine.

The pace Max had set the day before had awarded him pole position and the margin between him and Hamilton had been enough that you were confident in his ability to hold off the Mercedes for all fifty six laps.

If you were honest with yourself, you were disappointed that the Alpha Tauri you so desperately tried to ignore would be starting in thirteenth. You try not to think about it, instead queueing up SkySports and opening your laptop for pre race coverage. You avoid the interviews in favor of listening to the commentators analyze the grid.

"It should be an easy win for Max as long as he fends off Hamilton until the first round of pit stops. The undercut works well here, as Red Bull proved last year, and I'm sure they plan on doing the same thing this year."

You hum in agreement, gingerly sipping your steaming tea. You really ought to consider a career as a sportscaster at this point based on how often you came to the same conclusions they did.

"I think one of the biggest shakeups is Russell starting all the way up in eleventh after his amazing qualifying for Williams yesterday. Think he can hold onto that position?"

"He's got some fierce competition not far behind in the form of Alpha Tauri. Gasly starts thirteenth- surprisingly far back on the grid given the otherwise flawless performance he's shown this year. But it seems likely that he should be able to overtake-"

You flick the tv on mute, unable to stomach listening to them sing his praises. You numb your mind with social media until the Formula 1 theme plays on your laptop, alerting you that there's a few minutes until race start. Tire blankets are peeled off and the drivers weave their way through the formation lap with the exception of Kimi who takes his traditional straight line approach to warm up his supersoft tires.

Most of the front runners are on ultrasofts, indicating a two stop strategy. It was Pirelli's recommended approach, and you were glad that Horner heeded their advice for once and let Max use the ultras in Q2. It would give Max the upper hand over Hamilton who starts on the yellow sidewall tire and thus slightly slower lap times.

Crofty and Brundle break down the notable turns as the cars line up on the grid, pointing out the sharp hairpin only a few hundred meters from pole position. If Max got away clean, he would be ahead of the cramped pack and have an even better edge over the silver arrows who would be forced to queue behind him.

The traditional "lights out and away we go" kicks off the grand prix, engines roaring into the first turn. Max does manage to get away clean and is awarded with an immediate advantage. Turn one proves tragic for the Alfa Romeo of Raikonnen and the Asthon Martin of Stroll who collide and cause Kimi to spin. They rejoin at the back of the pack, your eyes snagging on the navy and white of an Alpha Tauri as it streams past.

Your heart spins in a similar fashion when the GAS driver tag leaps up two places in the timing table, suddenly in eleventh due to the incident. Your gaze snaps to the laptop humming on your legs before you remember its Max's driver cam you queued up. The Dutchman is silent as his engineer relays information about the incident and informs him of the widening gap between those chasing him.

“Confirm received,” Gianpiero says calmly. No matter the situation or how heated Max got, he always kept his head. It was what made the duo such a good match and had likely kept Max from going off the rails on more than one occasion.

“Yeah,” Max says shortly, clearly pissed about how quickly Hamilton was approaching. “Let me know when I’ve got enough charge to get out of range.”

“Yep, will do. Just keep this pace and you’ll hold him at bay.”

Live coverage replays the incident between Stroll and Raikonnen from the view of onboard with Pierre. The instant the 10 on the halo appears in the center of your screen you suck in a breath. He yanks the wheel to avoid colliding with Ocon, who had to do the same to keep from hitting his teammate as they navigate through the carnage.

You chew on your lip and try to refocus on the battle between the front runners. Not much is happening in the midfield for the next thirty or so laps and Max just barely manages to build a solid enough gap between himself and Hamilton to dive into the pits comfortably without losing places.

Your phone rings and you answer it without checking who it was as the only person you wouldn't answer was currently occupied.

"Hello?"

"Why the fuck didn't they pit Daniel?!"

You grin, noting the blistering beginning on his front left tire as SkySports switches to his onboard camera. "Because he's about to pass Charles," you tell Dan's girlfriend. She didn't call you often during races. It was likely that she knew you were nearing your wits end and this was her way of offering support.

"He won't be able to with those tires- oh." She breaks off when Daniel passes a DRS detection zone and his rear wing opens, allowing him to pass the Monegasque with ease.

"Told you," you say with a touch of reprimand. "You're always too nervous about those things. Daniel knows how to drive, just trust him to get the job done and he'll bring home another trophy for your apartment."

"I don't live here," she points out and you roll your eyes. She had lived in London as long as you had known her, but she was almost always at Daniel's apartment whether he was in town or not. Daniel digs in as the camera follows him for a lap, highlighting the widening gap between the McLaren and the Ferrari.

"You basically do. At this point, you're paying rent for a dusty one bedroom apartment on the east side that you set foot in maybe once a month." She scoffs but you push on, "a waste of sterling if you ask me, when you're at Daniel's every time I ask you to do anything."

"You act like I never- there goes Pierre!"

His name sparks dread in your gut as your attention flicks back to the screen in time to see him overtake Bottas on the inside of turn one. He'd managed to claw up to fifth with the move, somehow gaining places while you weren't looking.

"Good for him," you croak, trying your best to be genuinely happy for him. He was pushing the car to the limit and you'd be amazed if he didn't wind up on the podium along with Dan and Max. Charles and Hamilton were the only ones in his way, and something told you Charles wouldn’t put up much of a fight when his mate reached his gearbox. Hamilton would prove a challenge but he had been making tiny mistakes all day. Nothing significant, though enough to add up to him barely holding onto second while Daniel rode his gearbox.

"He's got ten laps to get past those two," she murmurs as if momentarily forgetting you were on the phone.

"Can we talk about literally anything else please?" You whisper, half tempted to shut off the race completely.

"Babe, you have to face the music at some point. Either you never want to see him again or you love him, which is it?"

She never failed to be anything but brutally honest. You appreciate it because everyone else let you brush off your problems, but she called you on your bullshit. She would needle you about it until you folded.

"I think it's better for both of us if I pretend we never met, don't you?"

"Easier for you, yes," she agrees. "But it'll kill Pierre. You don't think you could keep in touch with him, just as friends?"

"I don't know if I can handle that. I can barely look at him without wanting to bawl my eyes out."

She sighs, pausing to contemplate what to say. Voice soft, she continues, "Why don't you just take him back? Clearly it's ruining both of you. Are you really gonna let the press wreck the best you ever had? I know its hard but-"

"I'm not like you," you cut in. "I can't just ignore the articles and the comments and pretend there aren't people out there that hate me for being with him. They came to my house, disrupted my family. Hell, Ben can't even go to school without being mobbed by his classmates demanding answers. If my suffering is what allows my family to go about their lives then so be it."

"If that's what you wanna believe."

You sigh, tangling your fingers in the hem of your shirt. "It is."

"Alright," she says, voice teetering on a knife's edge. "I know better than to try to change your mind when you're like this. He's on the podium by the way. Oh, and watch what you say to Max- Pierre will read into it."

She hangs up without a goodbye, leaving you to deal with the realization that the podium is indeed VER RIC GAS on your own. Your eyes are glued to the Red Bull and McLaren drivers, blatantly ignoring the one in the white suit as the anthems play and the champagne is sprayed, turning away to busy yourself with making coffee when Daniel hands his liquid filled race boot to third place.

You weren't quite sure how you were supposed to watch what you said to Max- there was no reason to in your mind. Max was your next closest friend on the grid and you had every right to congratulate him if you wanted to.

Resolute in your decision, you text Max and Daniel a quick congratulations before shutting off the TV and closing your laptop.

Max's insane custom ringtone he'd selected for himself nearly makes you jump out of your skin when it blares from your phone.

"Hey great race-"

"Did you see it? I wasn't sure if you'd watch it- did you see my move on Hamilton when he tried to get past me?" He was talking a mile a minute like he was still out on track. "I was like- and then Dan tried to overtake me on the final lap and I was like no way! And then-"

"Max," you chime in, dragging out the 'a' with a sing-song voice. "You're rambling."

"Oh right. Yeah but I made it! Led every lap and finished with another win."

"That's great." You force as much enthusiasm in the words as possible, trying to match his chaotic energy. "You did great. I know it probably doesn't mean much, but I'm proud to be your friend. You beat a world champ!"

"It means a lot-"

"Who's that?"

You stiffen at the familiar cadence. You had assumed Max was back in the garage when he called, but he must have still been in the podium room. You could picture him in his race suit, smudges of grease and dirt staining the pristine white. Beads of sweat probably ran down his neck, begging to be brushed away by your tongue.

"Uh, no one," Max says in a lame attempt to cover up his digression. "I gotta go," he whispers to you.

"Let me talk-"

"Wait don't," you start, but the call ends abruptly and you blink. You stare down at your phone, completely dumbfounded. Of course his instinct would be to talk to you, to share the euphoria of a podium with you. It was the first victory in three years he wouldn't have you to celebrate with.

It was only a matter of time until his resolve popped like the cork on his champagne.

**********

Pierre's phone is in his hand as soon as Max hangs up. He hefts his trophy in the other, a wild grin on his sweaty face as he snaps a picture. He makes sure he's the only one in the frame, shamelessly wanting himself to be the center of your attention.

"Mate," Daniel pipes up, catching his eye, "you think that's a good idea?"

Pierre sighs, cutting the Australian a glare. "I'm just trying to fill her in."

"Wasn't your plan to give her space?"

"It's been a week, isn't that long enough?"

"Take it from me, sometimes it takes months for someone to figure things out. Hell, you know how long it took me to sort through my feelings for-"

"I know," Pierre cuts in. "I know. I just- a snap can't hurt can it? C'mon, I just got a podium! If it goes bad I can blame it on the post race jitters."

Daniel holds up his hands and shrugs. "You're a grown man. Do what you want."

Pierre studies the photo, scrutinizing the way his hair was plastered to his head and the awkward way he'd posed to keep anyone but himself out of the frame. It's his genuine smile that he knows will do you in, and ultimately the reason he sends it.

His phone is a lead weight clutched in his grip as he winds through the paddock, constantly stopped by vips and team members congratulating him. None of what anyone says registers, he just tries his best to match their mood and sputter praises about his team's contributions to his podium.

The snap you finally send back is only from the eyes up, but it's enough. He's surrounded by people in his driver room, but for ten seconds it might as well have just been him staring at a sliver of your face on a screen.

The tiny lines at the corners of your shining eyes tell him you're smiling, which is a step in the right direction even if you won't let him see your entire face. It's enough to reignite the hope that slumbered in his chest while waiting for you to pull the trigger and make a move.

He sends back a video of the people in the room, who cheer when they realize they're being filmed. 'Wish you were here,' is what he captions it and sends it without giving himself a chance to overthink.

Ten minutes pass with no reply.

The beer he’s already consumed have given him a pleasant buzz as well as an excuse to make a bad decision or two. He takes another video of the room to post to his Instagram story, 'Missing you' written in the lower left corner.

Fuck, he hopes you'll see it and regret leaving him on read. Instead all he gets is a text from Charles chastising him for stirring up drama.

Really Pierre?

Blame it on the alcohol, he texts back.

I know you aren’t drunk. You can’t form a coherent sentence when you are.

Guess i gotta drink more then

Pierre doesn’t turn anyone bearing alcohol away. He's two celebratory shots deep when Daniel finds him sulking in a corner. "You've got my girl texting me freaking out over your story. I've seen it and I gotta agree with her. Was that really necessary?"

"She left me on read," Pierre says like that was enough explanation. His head was spinning and it was getting hard to keep the room upright. "And it's the truth. I miss her like hell. I want her here. She was supposed to come, you know? I was gonna have her fly in with me on the jet. She doesn't start class again until June. I had this whole week planned out. I was gonna show her Texas- she’s from New York and..."

He trails off when he notes Dan’s pitying smile. Daniel sighs and runs a hand through his curls. "I know. I get it, okay? I know it's hard but you can't force it. You've gotta let her come back on her own, all you're doing now is pushing her away."

He was fucking clueless when it came to these things. He'd had you for a few precious moments and now that he'd lost you he didn't know how to act. His mind was running on hazy autopilot; he barely knew which way was up, let alone did he trust himself to make any sort of important decision.

He stares down at the shot he'd been handed at some point before throwing it back. The cheap whiskey burns his throat but he barely registers the sting. "Should I take it down?"

"She already saw it," Daniel says gently, as if he anticipates how bad the fuck up will hurt. And it does. It hits him like a tire wall at two hundred kph, knowing that you were probably ranting or crying on the phone with Daniel’s girlfriend. "But yeah, that's probably best. People are already wondering what happened between you two, no need to throw fuel on the fire."

"You're probably right-" Pierre cuts off when Charles arrives with a grimace on his face. He shakes his head and gives his friend’s shoulder a squeeze.

"For once I'm not the dumb one."

"You're a dick, you know that right?" Daniel says, allowing Pierre to delete the post. It takes him a few tries before he gets it down, but undeniably rumors will be circulating in the morning if they weren’t already.

"Honestly what were you thinking?" Charles demands, edging towards full blown yelling. "I told you to leave her be. The gossip stemming from this isn’t gonna help.”

The last thing he needed was someone else telling him how stupid his decision had been. At least Daniel had the decency to show sympathy.

"Honestly?" Pierre responds with the same intensity, his anger flaring. "Honestly, Charles, I was thinking that she was happy for me but was too afraid to take the leap. She haunts me. Every second I’m awake I have to force myself away from her. Even when I’m asleep I can’t get away from her. So I don’t know, maybe I wanted to haunt her too."

“This isn’t the way you win her back and you know it.”

“I know!” Pierre throws up his hands. “But what else am I supposed to do? She won’t talk to me. She has no problem talking to Max or Daniel but apparently she draws the line at me.”

“You know it’s not-” Daniel's eyes flick to his phone and he fights back a grin. All it does is remind Pierre that he lost the person that could bring that sort of smile to his own face. "Fellas I wish I could stay and help but I gotta get going. Charles, I think Pierre needs another drink." He slaps five American dollars in the Monegasque's hand. "First one is on me."

Pierre is too deep in a spiral to care when his friend drags him from the party to a bar just south of the circuit. Somehow it was within walking distance; the floor was sticky and the lighting was for shit but he didn't care.

Pierre's focus was on downing shot after shot, erasing the broken image of you his mind had conjured up. He never should have posted the story. It only served to feed into what the media had been speculating for the past week and dredged up more tension between you.

Pierre stops checking his phone two shots later. The liquor provides a wet blanket over his senses, dousing him in cold water and scrambling his brain. He could barely remember his own name, but yours still lived in the corner of his mind.

Even drunk, he refused to forget you.

Two hours and who knows how much alcohol later, Charles helps Pierre back to his hotel room.

Pierre falls asleep as soon as he hits the mattress, head too blurry to dredge up memories of you.

#are you feeling the angst yet #pierre gasly #pierre gasly X reader #formula 1 #f1 #formula 1 imagine #f1 imagine #formula 1 fanfiction #formula 1 fantasy #f1 fanfic #f1 fanfiction #f1 fic #f1 fantasy #formula 1 fanfic #formula 1 fic #formula 1 rpf #f1 rpf #pierre gasly imagine #pierre gasly fanfiction

134 notes · View notes

courtney-deserved-better · 3 years

Text

my opinion on td finalists

spoiler alert, im not a fan of most

TDI: Owen & Gwen

uh I personally don’t like either of these guys for finalists. gwen did do a lot but there were so many times where she just acted so apathetic I was like why?? are you still here?? and as for owen... I didnt like him as a character for a Long Time and he's growing on me but he just doesnt seem like finale material

I think a duncan versus leshawna finale would've been super fun to watch. especially if they teamed up to take down heather in the semifinal. those two had such a fun dynamic, especially in the triathlon episode, that I think taking it to the finale would've been fantastic. also leshawna deserved to win that season and you cannot change my mind

TDA: Duncan & Beth

duncan, while not my first choice, I can see making it through to the finale this season. but beth?? no. im sorry but shes just too much of a side character and is canonically fake nice and annoys everyone else so it doesn’t really make sense

an interesting finale would’ve been duncan versus courtney considering how volatile their relationship was this season. however, bc courtney was kinda awful to duncan, I dont think she deserves to win this season. it would be cool if there was one ending where their votes tied and they made up and decided to split the money but that just feels too tame, both for a finale and for their dynamic

harold versus duncan could be interesting, but because duncan tends to bully harold, I dont think his win would be fair in this situation. I think lindsay versus harold would be the best, as this season is about lindsay learning to take charge and come up with strategies, and while he can be off-putting and occasionally condescending, I think harold has a lot of useful skills that could really flourish in the finale

TDWT: Heather & Alejandro

while I dont ship them at all, I truly dont think there could've been a more satisfying final two. we’ve had their rivalry build up from day one, they have a ton of good songs together, it really completes heather’s arc of antagonist to antihero to protagonist. heather winning is the best ending in my mind, but I like alejandro winning too. the only problem I have with his ending is that it only happened because heather threw in the wrong dummy-- I think it would’ve been more clever for him to have switched them or something like that

ive been thinking about some other final twos that I think would be interesting, though unable to top the canon one imo. gwen versus courtney would be really cool because of the friends turned enemies thing-- I think it would be interesting for courtney to be put in danger and gwen has a choice of saving her or going for the money and she save courtney before apologizing again (maybe dumping duncan) and the two make up and split the money.

though I don’t really enjoy either as characters mostly due to their writing, cody and sierra would be an interesting final two. maybe cody finally stands up to sierra, or sierra struggles with wanting to be the winner of total drama or helping the boy she likes win. it definitely wouldn't be as good as the canon two but there would be a lot of clashing dynamics at play that'd be fun to explore

TDROTI: Lightning & Cameron

admittedly, I don’t remember too much from this season, but it really felt like these two kind of coasted by. I never found lightning to be a particularly compelling character and thought it weird how he suddenly went from dumb jock to evil jock in the last episode or two. cameron really felt like he was just carried through the season, similarly to beth, though I dont have as much as an issue with him winning. I dont think it was a bad finale, per se, I just think if those were the final two they should've been written better from the start

seeing as how jo really played the game and went all in, I think she would’ve been a great finalist. it would’ve been interesting to see her versus (commando?) zoey though im not the biggest zoey fan. I think a jo versus lightning finale could actually work (or brick) though if there was a jo versus cameron finale, I couldn't see him logically winning bc jo would just destroy him

TDAS: Mike & Zoey

*BIG FUCKING INHALE* no. just no. im probably not gonna say anything that’s not already been said so ill keep it short. bland, mal writing bad, have someone who's been in the game for 3 previous seasons instead of 1 make it to the ALL STARS FINALE. jfc.

you know what would’ve been an interesting finale? gwen versus courtney. they both said they wanted to reach the final two with the other one, so maybe they do! maybe they start to struggle with their friendship because of courtney’s competitive streak! maybe one of their helpers is duncan and that causes strife between them! maybe they become enemies again and don’t make up until the finale! maybe they decide to split the money! idk! it would've had a hell of a lot more flavor than what we got

TDPI: Shawn & Sky

I don’t really have an issue with either of these characters making it to the finale. they’re compelling, worked hard, and have distinct goals. I would’ve liked to see jasmine in the finale but I'd be cool replacing either one with her: jasmine and shawn having to compete against one another would be an interesting relationship hurdle and sky versus jasmine would've been cool because they’re both very athletic and it would’ve been the first f vs f total drama finale (we've had m vs f and m vs m but no all-girl finales...)

TDRR: Surfer Dudes & Police Cadets

Again, I don’t really have an issue with this finale. I really like how Sanders and MacArthur both work hard in their own ways and have to learn how to work together (MacArthur breaking Sanders’ arm and realizing that she can negatively affect her partner and also that Sanders is super tough was a GREAT arc). I know there’s been some contention about the Surfer Dudes being eliminated and then coming back so late in the game, but it made sense to me. They chose to lose because they felt that they owed it to Devin and Carrie, and that choice paid off when Devin and Carrie called in a replacement team. I doubt the surfers expected that to happen, they were just trying to be fair, but that kindness was rewarded in a big way which I think was sweet, especially considering how much of a hot mess this show can be.

I gotta say, this does kinda remind me of the TDI finale, with the villain (heather/ice dancers) getting eliminated third, and their rival (gwen/police cadets) making it to the finale with the fun guy (owen/surfer dudes). The reason I like the Surfer Dudes as finalists more than Owen is that I felt they put in more effort during challenges and had more of an arc (with Josee’s mind games ending up bonding them as a team after strife, choosing to be eliminated for the sake of fairness, etc).

Speaking of Owen, it’s kind of ironic that if I had to replace a team in the finale, I would replace the surfer dudes with the reality tv pros. they’re my favorite team and I think it wouldve been great for them to really live up to their name. I think it also would've been funny for the ice dancers to be so focused on their rivalry with the cadets that the pros just completely go under their radar until its the final three and the ice dancers are like “oh crap they’re PROS why haven't we been trying to destroy them??”

I also wouldn't mind replacing the surfer dudes with the sisters. I know emma gets a lot of hate (mostly because of nemma which I only like platonically) but I actually like her as a character (when she wasn’t being obsessive) and I think she and kitty were a great team that had a good arc of learning to work together. I also think it would be really interesting because for the final three they would all have rivalries with one another: the police cadets and the ice dancers (obvious) the ice dancers and the sisters (josee messed with them in at least 2 challenges) and the sister and the police cadets (kitty and macarthur’s game/road rage was hilarious)

57 notes · View notes

inadaydream99 · 4 years

Text

Something You Can’t Deny

A/N - wow this has taken me ages to write and it’s a lot longer than I intitally planned it to be! Sorry 😬 I always get carried away with oneshots and this Mingi one just got me! I’m a little (or very) whipped for him 😂 but I hope you enjoy!

When someone asks what Mingi is to you the first word that comes to mind in enemie. He’s your rival, the reason for your anger, the person that drives you completely insane. Most people don’t understand the pure hatred you have towards each other. Your fued seemingly coming out of nowhere. At first even you were confused as to why Mingi didn’t like you, but then, after numerous attempts at trying to be friendly, you gave up and decided to hate him back. You can live with the fact that not everyone is going to like you.

“Do we really have to watch a scary movie? I won’t be able to sleep tonight.” You plea as Yunho selects the horror genre on Netflix, shooting your best puppy eyes around the room in an attempt to get any form of sympathy.

“Quit being such a baby and get over it.” Mingi snarls, causally throwing a piece of popcorn in the air in an attempt to catch it in his mouth. He looks so unphased by the premis of a horror but everyone in the room knows as much as he does that deep down he isn’t keen on the idea either.

When the popcorn bounces off his nose and ends up on the floor you smirk, feeling satisfied that he hadn’t managed to look suave and cool. It’s instant karma for his uncalled for remark.

“You’ll be ok, I’m right here to protect you.” San scoots closer to your side, protectively wrapping his arm around your shoulder and pulling you into his chest. You let out a quiet chuckle as you accept his hug, your arms making their way around his body so you can snuggle comfortably into his side.

“I think she has a better chance of getting through this movie if I protect her. With you, (Y/N) risks getting jolted around at every jump scare.” Jongho teases, laughing heartily as San whines and turns to complain to Seonghwa like siblings with their parents.

“Stop making a fuss, I wanna actually watch this.” Mingi snaps, throwing a pillow at San as the movie begins playing. He seems grumpy, a deep frown on his face as he glares in your direction, glancing between you and San momentarily before launching the pillow.

It ends up hitting you in the face, your cheeks turning bright red in embarrassment as Mingi snorts with laughter. He looks pleased with himself as you sit up, moving yourself away from San’s side. It’s like that’s what he had intended to happen.

“Oops.” He states with a mocking twinge in his tone, earning an elbow and glare from Yeosang next to him in return.

“I’ve left the pillow and blanket on the sofa for you, and there’s a charger for you to use on the coffee table, ok?” Seonghwa informs you as you enter the kitchen after getting your pyjamas on; an old T-shirt that you stole from Yunho and some pink spotty shorts. It’s your go to lazy outfit when you have a PJ day at home.

“Thank you Hwa.” You cuddle into his side, nuzzling your head into him affectionaly as he envelops you in his arms, laughing at your actions.

“It’s alright. See you in the morning.” He pats your head and you feign annoyance, forever adamant that you don’t like it when he does that. But deep down you both know you do.

“Goodnight.” You respond, turning around to grab a glass of water to take with you to bed.

You don’t want to acknowledge Mingi as he enters the room and let’s out a grumble upon seeing you, but you’re tired and can’t be bothered to put up with him right now. Your temper worn thin over the course of the day.

“What was that for?” You defensively question, a scour replacing the contented smile that was previously on your face.

“None of your business princess.” Mingi condescendingly mocks.

“Then why’d you have to snarl at me.” You’re trying everything in your power not to seeth at him, but it’s too difficult when Mingi makes your blood boil just from the arrogant look on his face.

“Because I’m always so happy to see you, can’t you tell?” His sarcastic laugh is enough to send you over the edge of anger, it makes your whole body feel like it’s going to explode.

It annoys you to no end how he treats you, particularly because he has no reason to be so rude all the time. He just goes out of his way to treat you like trash. To mock and belittle you. It’s infuriating.

“You know what, I’m done putting up with you! I can handle the fact that not everyone is going to like me, but when you act this way for no reason, it’s horrible.” Your explosion of anger takes Mingi by surprise, his whole expression shocked as he watches you with wide eyes. He had never thought you would become this angry in front of him, let along blow up in his face like this. But you have and he doesn’t know how to react.

“Don’t even try to excuse yourself.” You quickly cut in as you notice Mingi open his mouth, about to speak.

“Just leave me alone from now on.” You’re seething, bluntly putting him in his place before deciding you don’t even want to stay for the night anymore. You’ve had enough.

“Woah, what’s going on? Is everything alright?” You almost crash into Hongjoong on your way out of the kitchen. You look as though you could simultaneously punch a wall and burst into tears.

“I’m going home, I can’t stand Him.” You shudder bitterly, throwing your shoes on and brabbing your bag.

Hongjoong just stands frozen, confused and upset by your anger. He watches as you leave, odd socks stuffed into your shoes and oversized pyjamas, the door slamming shut behind you.

“I heard a bang! Is everyone alive?” San comes running into the hallway, followed my Wooyoung and Jongho.

“(Y/N) left, the bang was the front door. She was pretty pissed off.” Hongjoong informs the guys as they nod in understanding.

“Why was she pissed off?” Jongho questions, voicing the question that even Hongjoong wanted to know a proper answer to.

“I think I have a good idea...” San narrows his eyes in suspicion before heading off.

You wake up the next morning to your phone going off with numerous messages and missed calls. But it’s what you get for storming off without informing anyone as to why. They’re probably worried sick and desperate to get through to you.

With that thought in mind you reach out to grab your phone off the bedside table before unlocking it and swiping through all the notifications. Each of them have sent though multiple texts, along with a few missed calls from Seonghwa and Hongjoong. But there’s one that catches your eye. It makes your breath hitch as you read the message.

It’s apparent it’s from Mingi, although it’s displayed as from an unknown number; you’d never bothered keep him as a contact because why would you ever want to message him anyway? But you must admit his message is kind of sweet: I didn’t think I upset you that much... I hope you’re ok.

You’re not sure why but it seems to fill you with some sort of weird feeling, finding yourself staring at the message in a daze.

Maybe it’s not real and you’re just imagining, hoping, that Mingi actually cares about you... maybe one of the guys stole his phone and sent the message for him.

Or maybe he really does care.

It’s a strange thought but one that you can’t seem to shake off. Your mind still thinking about the message as you hit call on Seonghwa’s number and wait for him to answer.

“Finally, it’s about time you answered one of us.” He scolds as soon as he picks up, tone unimpressed and you can just imagine the disappointed look he would be giving you if he were here right now.

“I’m sorry, I’ve only just woken up.” You mumble, voice hoarse and throat dry.

“You sound awful, how’re you feeling?” Seonghwa’s voice instantly softens when he hears you speak. Come to think of it you feel very sluggish, a headache brewing and eyes aching, still feeling sensitive from all your crying last night. There’s no doubt Seonghwa can sense this through the phone.

“I feel crap.” You dryly chuckle, trying to make light of the situation at least a little, but your laugh comes out half-assed, like you are forcing yourself to seem more fine than you really are.

You continue your conversation with Seonghwa, answering all his questions about what happened last night, both of you unaware of the prying ears that listen in carefully.

Hearing your voice alone makes Mingi’s heart clench in pain. He hates that he is the reason behind it, although he would never admit that to you.

Your relationship with Mingi is complicated, one that he would struggle to explain if asked to. You see, Mingi’s mean and spiteful attitude towards you isn’t because he actually hates you, it’s more because he gets a kick out of your reactions. He loves the attention you give him when you are mad, and even more so when you are sassy. It drives him crazy, making his head spin with how much his heart races anytime you argue. So much so it’s not healthy. But it’s the only way you actually give him attention and so he has found himself looking forward to teasing you purely for that reason.

He never realised he had taken it too far the previous night; with all the snarky comments throughout the movie and then his general attitude afterwards, it sent you over the edge.

Mingi holds his breath, hiding himself from view as soon as he hears Seonghwa begin to hang up, telling you to be over as soon as possible.

But there’s one prevailing thought in his mind as he begins thinking about what to do next. He can’t miss his chance.

“Do you mind if we go somewhere more private, I just don’t want to face anyone.” You mumble as you are pulled by Seonghwa towards the living room.

He stops mid way, turning to give you a glance and when his eyes meet yours he reads the anxiousness and sadness that they hold.

“Sure.” Seonghwa meekly smiles. He had hoped to get you and Mingi to cross paths so you could finally resolve your differences, but now that doesn’t seem likely.

“What do you want to do?” Seonghwa casually questions as you fall onto his bed and cuddle up into the duvet.

“I want to stay like this for the rest of eternity.” Your voice comes out muffled by the sheets which makes Seonghwa laugh, a fond smile on his face as he stands at the foot of his bed.

“Unfortunately that’s not an option.” He chuckles, watching as you complain and turn yourself to lay on your back, eyes gazing up at the ceiling as if it’s the most interesting thing you have ever seen. “I really think we should get your mind onto something else... what about we cook something?” Seonghwa suggests.

“No...” you whine, moving your focus onto your friend as he huffs. “All I want to do is hibernate in here with you and some movies... and lots of snacks.” You state, sitting up so you can gage what Seonghwa’s reaction will be.

“You know what, let’s do it. But you need to go buy the snacks.” He smirks, pleased with himself that he has found a loophole in your plan to stay hidden away.

You roll your eyes, feigning annoyance, though your smile gives away how you truly feel.

“Fine, I’m going now.” You push yourself off the bed, trudging lazily out of the room to grab some money before leaving to complete your task.

“What do I choose?” You mumble out loud to yourself, so deep in thought that you haven’t realised other people can actually hear you.

“I would go for the cheese flavour, it’s the best.” Your head snaps to the left, the voice having made you jump. You didn’t even realise anyone was in the same isle as you, let alone standing by your side.

But your heart begins to race when you realise who the voice belongs to, your mouth falling open so you end up gawking at Mingi beside you.

“I don’t need your help.” You flatly respond as soon as you regain your composure. Mingi watches you in amusement, taking great pleasure from catching you off guard.

When he saw you enter the shop he thought he must be hallucinating. His guilty mind playing tricks on him as he becomes increasingly desperate to see you, to have a chance to apologise. Then he realised that this was his chance to approach you, clear the air of tension between you, or at least that’s what he was hoping for.

“Alright, I was just trying to be nice.” He holds his hands up in defence, though his smirk only makes you increasingly more annoyed.

“You, being nice pft.” You scoff, rolling your eyes as you begin moving away from Mingi.

“It is possible you know... here, let me get them for you.” He reaches out to grab the bag of chips, gaining your attention once again.

“Oh no, that’s not gonna happen.” You shake your head, folding your arms defensively. You can’t allow this to happen purely because you know this is Mingi’s way of clearing his conscience. He doesn’t really care about you.

“Too late!” Mingi suddenly makes a run for it, dashing over to the register to pay, a cute little squeal emitting from him in excitement. You catch yourself genuinely laughing at Mingi, finding his behaviour highly amusing and quite endearing.

“Here, all yours.” You wipe the smile off your face before Mingi can notice as he approches you holding out the bag of chips for you to take.

“I told you I don’t want them.” You shift your gaze away from him to look unforgiving. Truth is you don’t want to see the disappointment on his face.

Mingi lowers his arm back to his side, bag of chips still clutched in his hand as he stares at you, saddened by your coldness. He’s aware that he deserves it but he was really hoping you would find some part of you to forgive him.

“Please accept my peace offering (Y/N), I really am trying to ammend things between us.” Mingi’s voice comes out delicate, his sincerity making you feel guilty.

You glance up at him, sighing in defeat as you see his eyes becoming glazed over with tears; you’d be heartless to not forgive him.

“Fine.” You coyly smile, reaching out to accept Mingi’s gift. “But you’re joining the movie marathon I’m having with Seonghwa tonight... as a thank you.” You continue, finally letting your guard slip away, a small smile tugging at the corner of your lips when Mingi’s face lights up.

“Finally! what took you so long? Oh, I see...” Seonghwa begins to playfully scold you, only stopping when he sees Mingi appear behind you, a knowing grin teasing his lips.

“Mingi bought us some snacks so I invited him along.” You attempt to keep a straight face, wanting to play down the fact that you are trying to start again. It’s no big deal right? Just one of those casual suddenly becoming friends with the enemie scenarios.

“Alright.” Seonghwa’s mind is filled with a dozen questions as to how you managed to get to this point in such a short amount of time, but he doesn’t voice them. There’ll be time soon enough.

“What movies have you picked?” Mingi causally questions, picking up the remote to scroll through the playlist on Netflix that has been lined up.

You aren’t sure what time it is when you suddenly jolt awake. It takes you a minute to gather your surroundings, the room blanketed in darkness and tv no longer on.

Seonghwa must have switched it off after you’d fallen asleep, it’s happened many times during your past movie marathons together. It’s like a sequence of events that happen every time, you both begin watching a movie and then around halfway through the film you doze off, leaving Seonghwa to finish watching it alone.

This time, however, is a little different from normal. For starters you are cuddled into someone, head resting on their chest as it calmly rises and falls. Their arms are wrapped around your waist, keeping you close and secure. But what has caught you off guard the most is that as you slowly lift you head away, you realise that it’s Mingi who you have fallen asleep on.

Never in a million years would you have thought this could happen. And yet you aren’t repulsed.

You catch yourself staring at him. He looks so peaceful, ethereal, as he sleeps and you have to stop yourself from admiring him too much. He could never like you. Even up until today he has always gone out of his way to be rude and make fun. You’re stupid to even think you have the slightest chance.

Feeling your heart sink you decide to distract yourself and look around the room in search for Seonghwa, to see if he is awake or not. It quickly dawns on you that he is nowhere to be found.

“What time is it?” You feel your heart rate quicken upon hearing Mingi’s groggy voice, shuffling away a little erratically to create some distance between you as panic overtakes your body. How long has he been awake? Does he know you’ve been staring?

“What’s wrong?” He tilts his head in confusion, pout resting on his lips as his arms reach out to draw you back in a little, though not too much. Mingi can see the panic written on your face and he doesn’t want to scare you off, but at the same time he wants to wrap you in cotton wool and keep you safe forever.

“I... need to go.” It takes you a minute to respond, suddenly jumping out of Mingi’s reach and rushing out of the room.

“(Y/N)! Wait up.” Mingi rushes after you, stopping when he finds you stood in the middle of the living room, face buried in your hands. “Why are you acting so strange.” He softly questions, his arm gently placed on your shoulder to try and provide some comfort.

“Me, strange! No no no, I’m not strange. What’s strange is this! Us, cuddling together and acting like we haven’t hated each other for years.” You blurt, your mind running wild in a frenzy as you can’t seem to calm down.

Mingi stays silent, watching you as he is deep in thought. He can’t help but find your reaction to falling asleep cuddled up together really cute. And truth be told he’s glad that it happened, being close to you has always been something he’s wanted. He’s seen it between you and the others, making him act out in jealousy. He’s always taken it out on you and that’s what’s pushed you away all this time. But watching you freak out now makes him think that maybe it could be because you have the same feelings for him that he has for you.

You fall silent when you realise Mingi is just staring, finally meeting his gaze as he looks at you. He looks deep in thought, a flicker of contemplation sweeping across his face when you notice his eyes glance at your lips before retracting back to your eyes, then back to your lips again.

You aren’t sure what to do, time seemingly slowing down as you watch Mingi move closer in slow motion. You feel a hand on your waist, the other caressing you’re cheek as it tilts your face up, his eyes staying firmly trained on your lips.

He stops when you are millimetres apart, your lips agape as you become breathless. It’s a dizzying sensation, being this close to Mingi. You’re frozen. You don’t want to resist in case he backs away, but you also don’t want to be the first to make a move in case that’s not what he’s intending.

His eyes glance up from your lips, meeting your gaze and staring deeply into your eyes in search of any reluctance. And when he finds none his head dips, lips connecting to yours tenderly.

You respond instantly, eyes fluttering shut as your hands move to grip onto his arms tightly. Your legs feel like jelly, whole body becoming distant as you indulge in this moment. It’s filled with affection and care, a tenderness that you never thought you would see from Mingi, yet here you are. Just you and him, alone in this moment.

You break away gently, heavy breaths mixing and foreheads resting together. Your eyes meet Mingi’s as he watches you nervously, a smile of relief overtaking his face when he hears you giggle.

“What was that for?” You whisper, acting coy as you feel a deep blush rise up your face.

“It felt right.” You feel Mingi’s thumb rub over your cheek as he watches you fondly.

“Alright love birds, can you be quiet now? Some of us are trying to sleep.” Your attention is diverted onto Yeosang as he stands in the door way along with Seonghwa. You can tell they aren’t really that mad for keeping them awake, but you do still feel a little guilty.

“Hey, let us have our moment! Do you know how long I’ve waited for this?” Mingi complains, mock annoyance in his tone as he tries and fails to hide his smile.

“Believe me when I say we do.” Seonghwa chuckles teasingly. You roll your eyes playfully before turning back to Mingi and reaching out to take his hand. Your fingers interlace with his, making his attention fall back to you.

“Come on, we should get back to bed.” You raise your brow, smirk playing on your lips as you pull Mingi back to bed. Mingi complies with a wide grin, shaking his head as he laughs at your teasing behaviour.

Although you had spent so long hating each other, you’re glad that things have finally changed. I guess there’s just something between you that is bigger than all of that. Something you can’t deny.

126 notes · View notes

daily-dose-of-imagines · 4 years

Text

HITMEN AU! | HEAD CANONS | 19+ [HAIKYUU!!]

𝔍𝔬𝔥𝔷𝔢𝔫𝔧𝔦 [PART i] [PART ii]

Our chaotic precious messy babies~!! I honestly can’t believe that after I finish Johzenji, I’ll have about 3 schools and then a miscellaneous (aka the solo hitmen) left to do for this AU. I can’t express how much I’m thankful for all the love and support you all have given for this AU and I promise I’ll start writing a bunch of HCs, One shots, drabbles, etc once it’s all done~!

» » Admin Ko

»»————-　♔　————-««

A group that’s so chaotic it’s a rarity in itself when someone actually requests or makes a purchase from them.

It’s without a doubt that within the various self established hitmen groups that populate Japan, they’re one of the ones that are sent to deal with large scale catastrophic disasters.

It goes without saying that they’ve tried to recruit Hinata at one point, and had ended up failing miserably.

Y̷u̷j̷i̷ ̷T̷e̷r̷s̷u̷s̷h̷i̷m̷a̷

A force to be reckoned with. Despite his childish and overzealous amounts of energy he exudes, he quickly analyzes and can pick up any sort of technique or skill on the fly.

One of the most avoided leaders throughout the likes of Japan because of his chaotic thinking and lack of care.

Out of all the tactical geniuses that litter the underground crime world, he’s one of the most feared and hated. Playful and coy, Terushima not only enjoys toying around with his prey, but absolutely loves to bring utter chaos and destruction every step of the way.

Insanely intelligent, almost anyone who comes across him is thrown for a whole loop when he easily recites strategies or the composition of drugs in their collection.

A sly upturn of the lip was all that was really given as the cool metal from the barrel of his gun caressed the trembling figure’s jawline. The sheer and unaltered fear that swelled in his prey’s eyes only fueled his bloodlust as he leaned forward. Hazel hues burning an electric gold as he slapped the target’s face. The sharp clang of metal and the sickening sound of flesh against mass echoed throughout the room as crimson droplets painted the floor beneath him.

“I like to think I’m a nice guy, ya know with how lenient I can be with payments and providing you with supplies that would have any other desperate scum begging and groveling at my feet...”

Soft whimpers filled the room as the target’s breathing began to quicken in pace.

“You’ll agree when I say I’m being plenty kind to ya...right?”

Despite his tactical brain and elusive way of speaking to gain knowledge, Tersuhima’s appearance greatly contradicts that of a great master mind.

Bleached blond hair styled consistently in an undercut with hidden tattoos underneath, Terushima has the appearance of a punk than the leader of Johzenji.

Out of all the hitmen in his squadron, he’s the one who carries the most piercings. A plentiful amount on his ears, a tongue piercing, and finally an eyebrow piercing.

Besides that, every other week he can be seen visiting a barber to keep his undercut cleanly shaven.

He’s not as heavily built as most hitmen-- as he relies on his quick reflexes and thinking-- but he can be described as lean.

If he has an s/o he’s most definitely a playful one who will most definitely tease them to no end.

It goes without saying that he’s fiercely protective of them and strikes fear into the hearts of many if he finds so much as a scratch on them.

K̴a̴z̴u̴m̴a̴ ̴B̴o̴b̴a̴t̴a̴

The strategist of the group.

Despite his calmer demeanor, it’s without a doubt that Bobata is just as carefree and sporadic as Terushima.

His strategies are consistently unique, in that each one almost perfectly mimics that of any other group they’ve come across.

Additional to that, there are times where the plans he has are so insane and ludicrous that neighboring hitmen groups and agencies actively avoid the Johzenji group.

Alongside this, it is without a doubt that they have practically little to no enemies. Mainly due to their terrifying and unstable mindset.

Uneasy. That’s the vibe he could feel-- no taste in the air as he and the rest of his groupmates surrounded the cowering targets. A sense of heavy desire grew within him as he slowly leaned down to meet the frightened eyes of their targets.

“Eh? We were pretty certain we at least got the interesting job on the market. Who would’ve thought it would be this easy?”

Feigning exasperation, the strategist couldn’t help but feel a sinister grin form on his lips as he cocked his head to the side. A plan formulating in his mind that would not only cure his teammate’s boredom, but his own.

“Don’t you have contact with someone who could be a bodyguard for you? Perhaps...another hitmen group? After all we’re just a little bored...”

Tall and lean, Bobata doesn’t come off as intimidating initially, though when put in a certain mood he can most definitely make even the bravest of hitmen check behind their backs.

He’s known as the slenderman of the group. One who is not only thinner than the rest of his group, but is surprisingly one of the fastest members when it comes to execution.

Unlike Terushima, Bobata has more tattoos than piercings-- though he has his own fair share of them.

He has shaggy light medium brown hair that’s usually placed in a half pony tail.

When it comes to his s/o he’s surprisingly calm around them and tries (key word) to hold back his more...sinister cravings.

Like Terushima, he’ll become quite fanatic once he hears of any sort of harm that comes to his s/o.

T̷a̷k̷e̷h��a̷r̷u̷ ̷F̷u̷t̷a̷m̷a̷t̷a̷

The one who looks the most innocent out of the entire group, he has a similar role to that of Hinata from Karasuno except instead of being a decoy in luring targets into a proper position for the kill he is a decoy in that of being able to make multiple connections and relationships by becoming an ‘innocent’ bystander.

Due to his sweet and kind features, it’s easy for him to persuade and wring out information from those unsuspecting of him.

Unsurprisingly, he’s similar to that of his teammates. Chaotic and insane in his own little way. He won’t admit it, but he enjoys manipulating and tricking his way into gathering information on targets or on rival hitmen groups.

“Oh, is that so?”

“Yup! And get this,”

The figure glanced around. A sense of secrecy in their eyes before they leaned in close to the male.

“I heard that the CEO really likes to go to the club down on 5th.”

Feigning surprise, the young decoy put on a shocked face as he easily mimicked the surprise and bewilderment of any normal person who was delivered such scandalous news. In reality, the male couldn’t help but mentally jump for joy at the quick progression of his mission.

After all, the faster he’s able to take out the target, the faster he’s able to go back out on the field to greedily drain out the secrets of the world into his awaiting hand.

With messy black hair and wide dark colored eyes, Futamata has the appearance of a sweet gentlemen.

In reality, he has a large tattoo of a panther on his back-- usually hidden away from the public eye with modest clothes-- and a couple of piercings. Of course nothing too over the top as he wishes to maintain not only a boyish, but sweet and energetic appearance.

Similar to Bobata, he’s lean-- though not completely to the extent of the infamous slenderman. What he lacks in mass, he makes up for in speed and close combat.

Truthfully, Futamata doesn’t see himself with an s/o who isn’t at least in the same field as him. He personally would love to work by their side in causing massive chaos throughout the dark side of the world with them.

Once he’s attached though, he won’t ever let go. As they’re the only one who truly sees him for who he is and not who he pretends to be.

K̴a̴t̴s̴u̴m̴i̴c̴h̴i̴ ̴H̴i̴g̴a̴s̴h̴i̴y̴a̴m̴a̴

One of the close combatants at Johzenji.

Like most of his teammates, he’s able to mimic and copy any new technique or skill on the fly whilst throwing his own twist into it.

He most definitely enjoys being out on the field, and when he’s not working he spends most of his time on an obstacle course.

Higashiyama is usually paired up with Futamata, especially if it’s predicted that their target will be within an enclosed space.

Besides that, he’s also the team’s sniper. Though in actuality he picked up and learned the skill from Futamata who had just gotten bored of dealing with stuff from a distance.

Bodies pressed firmly against one another, the heavy heat that wafted over the club brought no surprise to the close combatant as he easily maneuvered his way through the crowds to get to his target. From the side he could see his partner easily chatting up with the target’s secretary-- no doubt draining the man of every little bit of information he could gather before the drop that would happen.

Thinking back to it, the male couldn’t help but grin to himself as he leisurely danced his way through and over to the man of the hour. The target in question was ordering drinks-- no doubt a chance to unwind from whatever stressful life he was living. But to the combatant? This was a perfect opportunity.

Without a moment’s hesitation he easily positioned himself in the way to start a mini fight. One that escalated quickly enough to the point that in the blink of an eye he found himself out in the alleyway easily overpowering the tipsy target.

“God...this is just too easy.”

And then the crack of bone.

Appearance wise, Higashiyama has an appearance similar to that of a thug. One that no one dares to mess with unless they feared his wrath-- when in reality the male could be considered one of the more stable members in his group.

Unsurprisingly, he’s built. With the consistent desire to be out on the field and on a course, his entire body is flexible and sturdy.

Around the base, he’s usually seen with his brown hair spiked up, or pulled back with a headband as to not obstruct his vision.

Out of all the Johzenji members, he’s the only one who doesn’t have a tattoo.

In comparison to the rest of the members, he’s the one who would most likely have the most normal’ relationship. Though in reality he’d prefer that his s/o be in the same line of field work as him.

#haikyuu x reader #haikyuu imagines #haikyuu!!#haikyuu au #hitmen au #au #johzenji #johzenji x reader #yuji terushima #yuji tersuhima x reader #tersuhima x reader #kazuma bobata x reader #takeharu futamata x reader #kazuma bobata #takeharu futamata #higashiyama katsumichi #higashiyama katsumichi x reader

26 notes · View notes

kikinuinthefandom · 4 years

Text

A tale of two Chessmasters

One thing that I loved about The Untamed is the contrast between the two versions of the Chessmaster Archetype.

On one side, we have Jin Guangyao, who is the type of Chessmaster we are more used to seeing: to us, he is on the side of evil. Yes, he has his reasons for doing this. He was badly treated by the world, he suffered for the sins of his parents. He is resentful and smart, so he lays out a plan to end up at the top, killing both all the people who mistreated him and innocent bystanders alike.

On the opposite side of this chessboard we find Nie Huaisang. The other day I was talking with phoenixgfawkes and she told me that she liked it more when this type of characters were on the “good” side. And so do I. This is why:

Yes, you can empathise a lot with Jin Guangyao, but at the end of the day and like a modern icon said: cool motive, still murder. We know that he did bad things for bad reasons. We know he is the villain, even if we love him or if we want him to be redeemed… he is a “bad person” and we are fully aware of this.

But Nie Huaisang? That’s trickier.

When The Chessmaster is on the side of the good guys, we can never perceive them as a truly Good PersonTM. Why? Because we were raised to think that Actual Good People carry their hearts on their sleeves, they make mistakes and then make up for them in painful ways to atone for said mistakes, they fight in the Correct Way. But a Chessmaster is not like that.

Look at Dumbledore in Harry Potter: almost all readers loved him since the start, but when it was revealed that he was a Chessmaster all along, almost everyone (almost, of course) stopped thinking of him as a good guy or, at least, were more careful when describing him as “good”.

So, Nie Huaisang is a tricky character. Unlike Dumbledore, who was atoning for his past sins, Nie Huaisang isn’t exactly playing this game for A Good Reason. He did all of this for revenge. Yes, Jin Guangyao did a lot of horrible things, but what kicks Huaisang into action is the assassination of his brother. If Guangyao hadn’t killed Mingjue, Huaisng most likely wouldn’t have done anything.

And that’s part of the awesomeness of this: Guangyao doesn’t know he has a rival. He doesn’t know this is an actual game he is playing. To him, he is just toying with his pieces. It’s easier to win if you are the only one playing. Huaisang is fully aware this is a competitive game, that he is going face to face with an equal, someone who’s also thinking five, seven, twenty movements in advance.

Would things have ended differently had Guangyao known Huaisang was also a player and not a pawn?

I think not.

To me, Huaisang is a way better Chessmaster than Guangyao. Where Guangyao is emotional, Huaisang is cold-headed. Where Guangyao wants glory, Huaisang wants stability. Where Guangyao wants to be recognised, Huaisang wants to be in the shadows. And this last one is the most important aspect.

A true Chessmaster, the best version of one, a true puppeteer, needs to be in the shadows. Part of the things that let you play a good game of human chess is that people don’t know you are playing with them because, as soon as you reveal yourself, they stop trusting you and then manipulating them (and thus, the things that happen) is way harder. Being in a position of power and being known to be good at it makes you a target of suspicion. It was very easy for Wei Wuxian et al to turn everyone on Guangyao, because everyone was at least a little wary of him (except Xichen, of course, but you know Lan boys and pretty faces).

Huaisang didn’t want to be in a position of power, but when he saw himself in one, he did his best to appear as useless as possible. This way, nobody actually suspected him. And what’s more: hadn’t he acted a little too quickly in the end, Guangyao wouldn’t have discovered him. The only reason Xichen, Wangjy and Wei Wuxian (although I have my doubts about this last one) suspect him is just because, when a Chessmaster is this good, only another Chessmaster can unmask him.

And what really makes Huaisang win me over and makes me think of him as the superior: he doesn’t let go of his mask. In the end, Guangyao let go of his mask. Xichen went to confront him and, instead of playing dumb and talk Xichen into doubting everything he thought to be true, he kidnapped him and blocked his qi out. He admitted to be the man moving the pawns all along to anyone that accused him of it.

Huaisang, even if he knew people had figured out that he was the puppeteer, denied it. Xichen, sweet, good, righteous Xichen asked him with pleading eyes if Huaisang tricked him and Huaisang played dumb. The closest we see him admitting his true nature is to Wei Wuxian (and Wangjy by extension), which I would love to explore another time. Other han that, Huaisang keeps true to his role of a dumb, useless person.

Is Huaisang a good person? I don’t know. I don’t think that Chessmasters are inherently at least a little “bad”, but Huaisang did cause the death of at least two “innocent” people (because even if he didn’t want Qin Su to die, she did kill herself because of his actions, and he did made Mo Xuanyu sacrifice himself so Wei Wuxian could come back). Which is why I love so much this thing phoenixgfawkes pointed out to me: in the last episode, when Huaisang picks up Guangyao’s hat, he stains his hand with blood.

Doesn’t matter how good you are, you can’t play this kind of game without getting blood on your hands.

#The untamed #nie huaisang #jin guangyao #i love a good chessmaster archetype #i can't believe it has been just a day since #i finished the untamed and I already miss it #Huaisang is honestly so interesting to me #because at least in the show we see so little of him #i want to explore all this characters so much #the untamed meta

57 notes · View notes

headoverjojo · 4 years

Note

Is it cool if I ask for hcs of the Bucci Gang witnessing their new male member who is a shy stuttering mess go berserk and wiping out a rival gang in a fight by themselves? The new member takes on a whole wild and deadly persona when pressured in battle. You don't have to write this if it's too confusing.

Hello!! Oh it is more than cool :3 so here we go! I hope it’s enough to meet your expectations! Also I apologise if there are mistakes here and there, I’m more sleepy than I should be and I’ve not checked, oof- and so, dying like men, here we go!

Bruno’s gang with a new member who is really shy but goes berserk when pressured in battle

(Under the cut for length!)

Bruno Bucciarati

It was Bruno the one who recruited G/N, seeing a great potential under his shyness. Also, the fact that G/N had the guts to face Polpo and his test showed Bruno that the boy could make it! It wasn’t the best of works, of course, but… he didn’t have anyone. He was alone in this world and Bruno didn’t want him to fade like a candle. And who knew… maybe, after some work together, he would have managed to live out of the organization! At least, Bruno hoped this, for him…

Life in the gang wasn’t easy, of course. Aside of the light teasings of the group, which, however, never went too far, missions were a daily thing to deal with. Bruno was a bit worried, he had to admit it; the new recruit seemed so shy and timid…. would have he managed to end a mission? Bruno had to be sure he was ready, so, for the first missions, he went with him. It all seemed to go as it should, smoothly and fine, until a time when they found themselves in heavy disadvantage. They couldn’t clear the area alone…

This is when G/N snapped. Literally. Bruno clearly saw his eyes darkening and his expression grow serious, even… even dangerous. And then, before he could ask him what was wrong, he striked. Bruno had never seen something like that: with a deadly precision, he took down a whole enemy platoon without even sweating. In five minutes, all of them were on the ground, dead. Bruno was shocked; how was that possible…? However, when he came back to his senses, Bruno was fast to take him away from the scene. It had been… even amazing, yes… but he didn’t want G/N to see what he had done and maybe to feel guilty. Bruno knew it for sure: he would have done everything he could to prevent it from happening again.

Leone Abbacchio

Abbacchio had many, many doubts about G/N’s entrance in the gang. He had studied him with sharp eyes, valuing if he would have been useful to the team. Seeing how he behaved, how shy and almost fearful he was, Abbacchio couldn’t help but to think that maybe he wasn’t good for the team and the organization in general. Too soft, too shy… he wouldn’t have lasted a day on a mission. And that was why Abbacchio, even if a bit unconsciously, always had an eye on him, to be sure their new member was fine.

Abbacchio even kept the others far from teasing him too much. He knew they, sometimes, were a bit too much -hell, he too was, sometimes-, but he didn’t think he was ready to handle the team’s teasings. Abbacchio also gave him advice, in his harsh and snappy way, of course, but his advice saved G/N’s life more than once. Also, he always insisted to go on missions with him, to keep an eye on him; to be sure he wasn’t going to mess up, he always said, but everyone knew that he just wanted to be sure he was safe, like a sort of mama bear with her cub.

Luckily, missions always went well. They always were a quick thing: they came, they grabbed the information they needed, they fled. This worked well until the day when they had to face not one or two guards, as usual, but an entire enemy gang. Their enemies weren’t even looking at G/N; their goal was to kill Abbacchio, Moody Blues’ user, and to shut his mouth forever. However, this was an incredible mistake; finding himself pressured and without any escapeway, G/N shifted completely. He launched himself, with a cold and raging determination, and he snapped everyone’s neck like it was nothing, without being wounded even once. When he was done, he couldn’t believe it. He did this all…? Abbacchio too was shocked. What the hell…? He didn’t stop to think too much about it: he grabbed him and just ran the hell away from there. He never talked again about it, but now he was even more protective: he didn’t want more blood on their hands.

Guido Mista

Mista takes his time to study the new member and how he behaves. He’s kinda shy, reserved… he doesn’t know if he would stay long in the team, to be honest, in Passione in general. He personally knows certain people in the organization who would tear him apart in tiny pieces without a second thought; all in all, G/N has been lucky to end up in their gang, where they all, more or less, are all pretty reliable guys… still, this doesn’t mean he’ll leave him alone just because he’s shy and such. Every new member must have a chance to enter in their family!

And so, Mista approaches them in his usual way: starting one of his weird convos, mostly about food -food brings near people, he always says-, but he doesn’t expect him to actually get invested into the conversation! Usually the others are too weirded out by his reasonings… he, instead, seems interested! That’s something new! Maybe he has found the Great Friend he always missed? He hopes so! And, not to even risk to lose him, he always go on mission with him. He’s a veteran and his stand allows both of them to stay far from the action, but this doesn’t work every time…

As, for example, that time. Mista thought to have taken down all the targets, but no; as soon as he and G/N peeked from their hiding spot, they were ambushed. Mista was out of bullets and he wouldn’t have never reloaded in time; they were done. Maybe not; G/N, seeing himself and Mista circled by enemies, seemed to lose his mind. He charged, with a strength that Mista had never seen, and one by one he took down every single opponent, just with the raw strength of his hands. When he was done, they were now circled by corpses. Even before he came back to his senses, Mista picked him up and carried him away from that massacre, not to let him see. He too, even with all the experience in Passione, was a bit shocked… and he was also shocked by G/N’s ability. What was that…? He wasn’t, however, scared: he had the feeling that he wouldn’t have ever attacked a friend, and this was fine with him. Still, he promised to be more careful: he didn’t want them to go berserk again due to a stupid mistake like that time!

Narancia Ghirga

Narancia doesn’t have qualms in saying he doesn’t think the new member is quite right for the gang. He doesn’t say it to be mean: in fact, he’s worried both about his team and the new member himself. Being so shy and, so, probably weak, he’d be a nuisance for the team; at the same time, he would have risked his life more than usual. He really didn’t know… at the same time, however, it was the chance to have a new friend! So, he took on himself the role of G/N’s mentor, to the other’s utter horror -aside from Bruno: he actually thought it would have been the chance, for Narancia, to grow for real!-.

Narancia, even if he’s a bit -a lot- impetuous, is amiable and easy to talk to. G/N, after the first times, would surely find in Narancia a good and supportive friend! Narancia would always reach out for him, to drag him to do funny, and often dangerous too, things, to explore the city, to see movies… with Narancia, he’d never feel alone or left in a corner! Narancia, also, would insist to be his partner in missions; even if he’s young, Narancia has been in the gang for long time, so he knows how to move around, and his stand is perfect both to defend, attack and prevent. He has no doubts: he is the best choice!

Their missions go smoothly. Bruno doesn’t give them anything too complicate or dangerous, and, slowly, G/N starts to gain confidence, seeing that he’s doing well! However, one terrible day, not even Aerosmith is enough to prevent the ambush. They are hopelessly surrounded by enemies, too many to take down… but, right when Narancia is ready to just fight till his last breath, G/N strikes, with a strength and a fury Narancia has never seen, and one by one he takes down the enemies. Narancia is just baffled. What the hell?! When everyone’s down, he immediately checks the area to be sure no one’s around, then he picks up G/N and carries him away. Once they’re at the HQ, he’d just go nuts about it! That was amazing! What an incredible power!! He almost envies him!! However, if he sees that G/N is not enthusiast about it, Narancia would tone down, even if he’d still fangirl inside.

Pannacotta Fugo

Fugo knows that if someone is in Passione, is because they have nothing left to lose. Criminal life is the last shore; he wouldn’t judge G/N, as he knows that he’s with them because he has nowhere else to go. He’d be welcoming, trying to help him to get familiarized with the gang and his new life. When he’s not angry, Fugo is a pretty amiable person, he sincerely tries to be friendly and helpful, and this helps G/N a lot to become part of the family!

He takes him under his wing a bit like he did for Narancia, explaining how things work and trying to keep him far from the most gruesome events, being, in fact, a sort of big brother figure. He also goes with him on missions, even if those are never missions where they have to fight enemies; Fugo still doesn’t trust himself enough to use Purple Haze in battle and he’s better at talking to allies and at negotiating, so Bruno always sends him on this kind of mission, with G/N as backup. Everything was fine, at least until that time…

The time when their “allies” betrayed them, turning against the two boys, and threatening their life. Fugo was quick in analyzing the situation: they wouldn’t have made it. Their enemies were too many, and… and maybe he would have been able to open a way using Purple Haze, but risking to poison also G/N… it had to be another way! And that other way was G/N himself: Fugo could sense the shift in him, right before he shot forward, hitting and beating like crazy, in a sloppy, violent and totally berserk-like way. He didn’t stop until the last of the traitors was laying on the ground; just then he snapped back. Fugo grabbed his wrist and dragged him away, to avoid any unwanted attention, and, at the HQ, he just said that those allies weren’t allies anymore and not a problem, also, anymore. He kept G/N’s secret: it wasn’t his duty to talk about it to the others.

Giorno Giovanna

Giorno himself knows how hard it is to integrate into a new gang and the struggle to get over the innate suspicion and “period of trial” of the rest of the boys. He can sympathize with the new member, even more when he sees that, unlike Giorno, G/N is shy and timid; he can’t even start to imagine how hard it can be to be thrown into a life like theirs while not being suited for it! But, if he’s with them, it means he has nowhere else to go… And Giorno is not a person who leaves a teammate without helping them. He’s going, so, to do his best to make his life at least a little easier!

For a shy person, Giorno is the ideal person to have near. He seems to emanate a calm and reassuring aura, and his confidence and determination is able to give a sense of safety; he knows what he’s doing and he’s not reckless like Narancia or Mista, nor he loses his patience fast like Fugo, so G/N can at the same time feel guided and safe to make a mistake, from time to time. So, Giorno is the ideal partner for missions, as he’s quick to think even under pressure when their plan A and B are just being blown. Giorno has been G/N’s rock; but even rocks can crumble…

And it happened. One day, not even Giorno could think about another plan, didn’t know how to drag them out of that situation. They were surrounded by too many enemies and he didn’t have a plan. He didn’t know how to save them… and G/N read it in his eyes. He knew that Giorno didn’t know, that time, how to same them. They were going to die… or maybe not? Giorno turned around to tell him to run away; at least one of them could survive! But he saw G/N’s eyes dark, filled with fury, and then he dashed forward, with an unnatural speed and strength, and took care of all their enemies. Suddenly, a deadly situation completely turned in their favor; when Giorno saw G/N coming back to his senses, he dragged him away, to avoid the police and more eventual enemies. Giorno was baffled; what was that? G/N’s stand? Or something else? He doesn’t have answers, but surely he’s grateful: he has saved both their lives!

#jjba #vento aureo #bruno's gang #bruno bucciarati #leone abbacchio #guido mista #narancia ghirga #pannacotta fugo #giorno giovanna #male new member #shy member #berserk mode #male member #headcanons #sfw #mix-senpai

87 notes · View notes

teentitanimals · 4 years

Text

Carrie Kelley in the Batfam

I freaking love Carrie Kelley, she’s so awesome. I desperately wish to see more content of her (I say, never even having read the comics she’s in- so sue me, I’ll get to it eventually). So, I’m taking it upon myself to write how I think she’d function with the rest of the Batfam! In ‘my’ version/understanding of the Batfam, she becomes Robin when Damian is AWOL. She quickly assumes the identity of Catgirl after Damian returns (angry, of course), and then eventually becomes Batgirl when no one else takes that mantle.

I personally view Carrie as someone who’s really, really eager to have a true family, and if she gets to kick criminals’ asses to have that family, then that’s just a big bonus. In basic, I see her as someone who’s very outwardly bubbly, energetic, eager to please, full of determination, enthusiastic, and somewhat stubborn, but has layers of doubt and anxiety expertly pushed down (as is the Bats’ way). In more depth, I see her as someone who knows what she has to do, and will do it no matter what. When she’s given an order, she will go through with it. When she needs to lead, she will. When she needs to follow, she will. Still though, she is inexperienced and untrained compared to the others, both on the physical side and emotional side. While she can put on that facade of coldness, strictness, when she no longer needs that mask, she can break down. For example, when she unhesitatingly punished that Batboy (Mutant guy) for killing some one, but later cried about it. She does what she believes needs to be done in the moment, but can often doubt or regret afterwards, when it’s safer to do so.

Anyway, here’s how I view her relationships with the Batfam! I might do this with some of the other Batfam as well, like Duke :)

Bruce - Carrie instantly views Batman as a parental figure. Her parental figures barely even remember she exists, so when Batman finally accepted her temporarily as Robin, she immediately started to view him as a positive adult role model in her life. She’s always very eager to impress him and relishes in every moment she’s near him, but she can get super anxious when he’s silent, often interrupting it as him ignoring her, just like her real parents do.

Alfred - Carrie loves Alfred, no surprise there. Who doesn’t, after all? She’s only seen her grandparents a few times, so it’s much like what she did with Bruce, instantly viewing him as a grandfather figure. She loves getting him little gifts and enjoys helping him with the work he does around the manor. She would spend every moment telling him how much she appreciates him, if she could.

Selina - She’s a bit hesitant with Selina, because she doesn’t really know much about the woman past her sort of being Batman’s “lover” and also a criminal dressed in a catsuit sometimes. She wants to view Selina as a mother figure, but she gets nervous and shy around her. The two do bond over a love of cats and dogs, though. (I actually have an idea/AU where Carrie becomes Catgirl but as Catwoman’s ‘sidekick’.)

Commissioner Gordon - She has a good amount of respect towards the Commissioner, along with a certain amount of pity. Sometimes, when she’s able to, she’ll prompt him to tell stories to her, and just sit down and listen. She wants to know him better, maybe become like uncle and niece, but she doesn’t really know how to do that.

Kate - Carrie takes well to Batwoman, admiring and respecting her a great deed. She adapts easily to viewing Kate as an aunt. She isn’t as eager to impress Kate like she is with Bruce, but she does value her opinion a lot. Carrie really enjoys hanging out with Kate outside of their masks too, and finds her to be really fun and cool, especially compared to Bruce- although, she would never tell Bruce that to his face.

Dick - Carrie was really, really anxious for Dick’s approval. No, not for being Robin, but rather for being accepted into the family. He was the eldest sibling. The first sibling. Needless to say, getting his immediate acceptance was so relieving it was almost addicting. And, not to mention, Dick was the first person to really hug her in a long while. A full on, arms wrapped around, tight squeeze, warm, loving kind of hug. She about cried on the spot. An unfortunate side effect is that having Dick hug her and seeing him hug everyone else made her Dick’s rival as the most touchy-feely of the Batfam. At least the fam has better luck escaping Carrie’s hugs than they do Dick’s.

Barbara - Carrie also was really anxious for Babs’s approval as well, this time more focused on being a Batgirl than with being accepted into the family. The two aren’t super close, or super chatty, but Carrie always appreciates Babs’s easy and quiet acceptance of her. Even when Carrie feels ignored and forgotten by the rest of the family, she can always count on having Babs simply just greeting her, or sending her out on a mission, just a casual acknowledgement of her existence. In return, Carrie also enjoys giving her small gifts from time to time like she does with Alfred.

Jason - She was a bit nervous initially meeting the infamous Red Hood, but she covered it well with guts and confidence. After she overcame her wariness of him, she definitely tried a bit harder to impress him, viewing him as the ‘cool older brother’. Jason isn’t all that touchy-feely with her like Dick, but every pat on the head, shoulder or back feels like ‘He Accepts Me as His Little Sister’ heaven to her. The two don’t always mesh well together, but they don’t have any animosity or history between them, so it’s easy for them to get along well.

Cass - Cass both fills Carrie with anxiety and love. On one hand, Cass is often very silent, and that really activates Carrie’s ‘She’s Ignoring Me, She Doesn’t Care About Me’, but on the other hand, Cass is very warm and comforting, even without words. Carrie would compare her to a ‘blanket’- warm, soft, comforting, always there for you, even without saying anything, but sometimes when it gets too hot (too silent), you need to get rid of the blanket until its colder (too loud) again. It’s an odd simile, but Cass finds it amusing. Cass more than makes up with her silence with many friendly pats and hugs to her new little sister (which Carrie was ecstatic to find out Cass viewed her as such almost as immediately as Carrie viewed her as an older sister).

Luke - Carrie doesn’t see Luke or Batwing all that much, but she kind of enjoys that. It’s like having a distant cousin you see on holidays that you get along well with. It really solidifies the whole ‘family’ thing for her. She likes hanging out with his siblings, too.

Harper - Harper, too, is more like a cousin, but one Carrie is just in awe of. She definitely wants to get to know Harper better, but they haven’t found the time too.

Tim - She often finds it hard to get along with Tim. Not that they clash heads or anything, it’s more like an awkward silence (and you know by now how much she hates silence). Carrie is loud and energetic even without coffee, yet Tim sometimes can barely stay awake even with coffee. She also isn’t as good with tech as the other, having less experience and access to even the more simpler digital devices due to her parents neglect of her and her childhood. She admires his intelligence and skill greatly, and often feels inferior to him because of it. It’s weird, because she also knows and acknowledges that the rest of the Batfam is greater than her in most skills simply due to more experience and training, but for some reason Tim’s skills make her feel worthless and unimportant to the family. Still though, the two find ways to get along, even if it is just something as minor as Carrie offering to get him some coffee and watching him work. Tim has offered to teach her more on tech too, which she’s pretty eager about, even if a lot of it flies over her head.

Steph - Once again, Steph is one of those people Carrie highly admires. Steph was, after all, both a Robin and Batgirl like Carrie too. Plus, Carrie just really loves Steph’s personality, humor, and wit. She’s the older sister Carrie wants to impress the most. The two got along immediately, personalities bouncing well off each other, like an echo chamber but better. Steph greatly enjoys having a little sister to teach ‘girl stuff’ too, and is happy to pull Carrie along on any trips to the mail, or to paint nails with her and Cass. Inviting Carrie to watch reality TV and musicals with her and Damian. Their text messages between each other consist solely of memes and random ramblings done at 2am. Bruce often has to separate them on patrols or missions, because Steph brings out Carrie’s ‘lack of brain cells’ side, making her more eager to just jump head-on into danger without a proper plan or instructions to do so.

Duke - She and Duke are both the ‘new kids’, but Duke knows just a little bit more about the Batfamily than her. He enjoys showing her ‘the ropes’ when getting used to the family’s insanity. She’s more rambunctious and eager to join in on the chaos than he was, but they can still bond over giving each other those little glances of ‘Are you seeing this too? I’m not crazy right?’ and ‘They can’t be serious.’ Carrie enjoys the more calmed down energy she can have with him. Everyone else in the family’s high energy brings out hers, but Duke has that perfect balance that she appreciates. Even someone as eager for familial attention can be overwhelmed at times. Sometimes they just enjoy calmly, casually talking about whatever, relaxing as they eat, or read, or watch TV.

Damian - Damian is by far the one Carrie admires the most. She’s the one she craves the most acceptance from, and Damian being Damian, it’s very hard to get it, especially since she was a ‘copycat’, a ‘temporary replacement’, a ‘little girl scout looking at the big leagues’ to him. Despite Damian’s many, many insults and jabs and overall disrespect to her, she took it as best she could in stride, not wanting to upset him further. Much like Jason was Tim’s Robin, Damian was Carrie’s Robin, the one she looked up to. It’s why she so easily gave up being Robin and became Catgirl when Damian came back. It was his role, and Carrie didn’t mean to ‘steal it’ from him, or to ‘replace him’, just to help Batman when he didn’t have anyone else. It takes awhile, a long while, but Damian begins to warm up to her, slowly, slowly, accepting her as his sister. Eventually, he actually becomes pretty protective of her, after all, Robin and Batgirl are just as iconic a pair as Robin and Batman. Despite Damian being younger than Carrie (in my eyes), Carrie views him as a protective older brother. They enjoy taking care of all their pets and animals together, and complaining about school to one another, and crashing on the couch after a long day, watching random shows until they fall asleep and one of their older siblings has to carry them to their respective beds.

31 notes · View notes

trying-write-fanfics · 4 years

Text

Shouji Mezo X Reader part 5 Remember

Y/n’s stomach skin flared up. No one could see, but that’s good. It was maybe a copy quirk, but she didn’t need anyone for reference. Maybe it was better to call it an imagine quirk, she could imagine a power and use it...except if she wanted to control someone she couldn’t. She couldn’t rearrange her whole body, but could heal it. Why did quirk names only use 1-3 words? Guess it would be quick when interdoucing a hero and their quirk, but she wasn’t gonna be that!

“I think we’ve met before.” Yaoyorozu said.

It had to be from ten years ago and now she remembers! Why couldn’t she keep her mouth shut! Not only was Y/n aged up with a different last name she was still found out!

“Really?” Y/n asked.

“Well if you don’t recognize me then maybe I’m wrong.” Momo said

“Are we at all familiar? We were in the sports festival.” Scotch on the rocks said.

“I didn’t watch it”. Y/n admitted stepping over Bakugo.

“What!” The class yelled in unison.

A teaching aid getting a job at UA without watching the sports festival. In truth she was helping in a robbery because so many people were watching the tv. She didn’t bother with the replays of it later on because there were other things going on.

“I was a bit busy and then I just never got a chance to catch up.” She told them.

“I don’t mean to be rude but why did you take a job here, you don’t seem to know much about it?” Martial arts tail asked.

“I was asked to.”she simply answered.

All the students knew UA wasn’t a normal school, but this was outright insane!

“Was it because of your quirk?” Moth man asked.

His first words came out of his hand! Y/n’s eyes widen. She was stunned. Was that quirk or was that just how he was born? The mask was completely off as she couldn’t hide her amazement in such a body. Did he just come out of the womb like that! Six arms, and could turn his hands into different body parts. WHAT an UNKNOWN picture of perfection!

“Is that your quirk, mouth hands?”

“I can change them into other things.” Mezo showed her an ear, an eye.

Her eyes got even wider; they could have fallen out. Shouji wasn’t used to this kind of attention, was she disgusted and can’t look away? His quirk captured her. She smiled when he turned the ear into a nose. She wasn’t looking him in the face. He was use to people being scared of him, but not this whatever it was.

“Oh my god! Oh my god! That so flipping cool!”

“Uh thank you.” He said with his mouth hand.

“Oh my god!” She turned to the mouth hand.

“That’s what you find interesting!” Bakugo yelled at her.

“He already was the most interesting looking guy in here next to Mina. You’re like an almost albino, but not even fully, butt-u-go.” She told the angry blond. “What is your hero name?”

“All of mine have been rejected for violent reasons.”Bakugo said.

“What about explosive farts, since you’re a butt.” Y/n teased.

Yeah, no regular teaching aid would say that to their student. She did make the class laugh. She wasn’t scary like a monster, she was scary because her words could make a laughing stock without much thought.

“I outta beat your ass!” Bakugo said.

“From a blow out of your ass!” She taunted back.

“Velia, what are you doing?” Aizawa asked.

Instead of looking like a sheep, afraid of the wolf, caught in a fence. She smiled evilly. Was this all planned?

“Just teaching aid stuff.”

“Print out their next assignment.”

Y/n went to the computer. The mask was going back on. It was such a fake act, why did she have to go back to it?

“Is Velia your illegitimate daughter?” Tsu asked.

“What!” Aizawa asked.

“Ew! He’s not my dad!” Y/n yelled.

Aizawa could have teased her that she didn’t know if he was or not, but refused.

“Why did you hire Velia as your aid?” Red rock asked.

“She…” Aizawa looked at her, then he placed his hand on his head. “She needed some temporary work, so I offered her some.”

Not a total lie. She needs some temporary life changes or else she would end up in jail. Not wanting to sign a minor’s life to crime and sentences, the committee thought it would be best for this.

“How do you two know each other then?” Uraraka asked. “If she’s not your kid.”

“She’s been a pain in my ass.”

The smile was back.

“Are those things printed yet?” Aizawa asked her.

“Yeah I doubt it’s done though.” She told him. “The printers slow.”

“Go get them.” He told her. She went tot he door. “And don’t fight my students unless it’s authorize.”

“So there’s a possibility you’ll let me fight her!” Bakugo yelled.

“It depends.” Aizawa told them.

Y/n was alone in the printing room for a while. She lifted her shirt to look at how the rash spread. Rashes were her favorite only because she didn’t like scaring people with blood. She placed her hand on the rash. The skin was feverish.

“What are you doing?”

Y/n’s face lit up, it was her favorite student. Mask moth man. How long was she gone for?

“Just checking out my hardcore wash board abs.” She said casually, covering her rash. “What did you print?”

“Work application. It’s been slow today.” He grunted.

“Yeah, at least I got some rowdy drama.”

“You started that.” He told her with her hand.

“Anything to make the day go by faster.” She stretches out.

A picture of a frog meme came out on top of her stack of papers.

“What’s that?” He asked her.

“I’m mailing my brother funny pictures since I lost my phone.”

This seemed to be the end of the conversation, but Y/n was curious about this one.

“Feel free to let me know if I annoy you. Bakugou is the only one I’m gonna tease harshly.”

“What about not picking favorites?” He asked.

The way he used his hand as a mouth was just so entertaining.

“Do you want me to tease you?” She asked.

The student looked her up and down. He was normally ignored or had negative attention. Now he’s been given a choice?

“Don’t worry, I’m only mean to Bakugou because he needs his feathers ruffled. If no one pushes him around a little bit he won’t understand his own flaws.”

“You seem to be really wise with combat. Did you really never want to be a hero?”

“God you could be an entertainer or a model with that quirk! No never. My parents wanted it for a little bit, but I wasn’t made for it.”

“I don’t know you could use any quirk you want right?”

“I can’t copy your quirk.” She told him.

“I don’t know if you’d want it.” Shouji told her.

“I don’t know, you could kiss both cheeks on someone's face at once.”

That was not expected, but she wasn’t a hero minded person.

“I don’t often do that.”

“Or you could drink so many milk shakes at once, maybe even win an eating contest. I’d watch that.” She told him

His lips curled into a smile as the paper finally printed. Even if no one saw it. His eyes looked her up and down once more. She couldn’t be that old. Not with how she looked or acted. Something was wrong about her being here, but it was enjoyable. What was Aizawa doing on their work study break?

On their way back to class Y/n talked about her brother and how he didn’t totally get memes, he was older, he did like frogs and now they were a more popular animal almost rivaling cats on the internet. He offered to carry the assignments, but she told him she had it.

“Don’t worry Mr. Helpful, I can carry paper.”

“It’s normally us students who do a lot of your work.” He told her.

“Relax, take a load off from carrying such heavy paper.” She told him. “No one wants you to strain any of your precious arms.”

“Is this the teasing you were talking about.”

“Whatever do you...meme!”

#shoji mezo #shouji mezou #xreader #bnha fanfiction #bnha

15 notes · View notes

starline148 · 4 years

Note

who are your top ten favorite black bulls & ships? talk about them!

Hi Anon, thank you very much for the question. It's going to be a long answer so I hope you feel like reading.

Top Ten Black Bulls Members:

Since there are actually 14 including Yami, instead of making the Top10, I will include everyone. I will say now that I really like everyone a lot despite having to do the ranking, like everyone to me are sceptional characters that deserves de world.

N01. Asta: It might be typical considering he's the main character, but Asta really seems like a very interesting character to me and he's my favorite of the Black Bulls. His way of facing the world, wanting to fight to protect his beloved people but respecting and empathizing with his rivals came to me from the beginning. Thanks to Asta we realize that the bad guys are not so bad, that maybe they have their reasons (I follow the Anime, so I don't know if it will continue to be like that in the manga, I've seen something but I don't want to spoil myself). Honestly Asta is not only the member of the Black Bulls that I like the most, but he is one of my favorite characters of all the time. In Black Clover only Julius surpasses him.

N02. Gordon: This one might be more surprising considering he's a secondary or even tertiary character, he's one of the Black Bulls with less screen time and I still love him. He seems to me to be a very tender character and with whom I feel identified. In the end, all he wants is to have friends and protect them and that goes straight to my heart. The first time he appears he looks like he's going to be a cool, serious character, but it turns out he's a cinnamon roll.

N03. Charmy: I think people like Charmy in general and I admit that I fell into her “charms” too, she is a funny character without being grotesque or humiliating and at the same time she is super strong and great. I love her magic and her laid back personality. Charmy knows how to make people love her and I love the battle scenes she has. Also, the fact that she wants to share her food even with her enemies says a lot about her for me, she is a wonderful girl and I hope they show more development of her.

N04. Yami: Yami is a magnificent character, I love his personality and the way he fights. The magic of darkness could have easily fallen into the cliché, but as with the other characters, Tabata manages to make him unique. His fights fascinate me, he is seriously a character that you would like to see and know more about. His story with Julius and William is very tender and the fact that he embraces those people who others reject because he knows how to see the true potential of people, in my eyes makes him the best leader of all. And honestly, I would love for him to be the one to become the Wizard King. Although of course, it does not fit very well with his personality.

N05. Noelle: Female protagonist who is useful, strong and made to fight alongside the male protagonist without any fear. Superb. I honestly love her. Her personality, her story, and her resolve to avenge her mother. The development with her family was unexpected (honestly, I really disliked her brothers until it shows why Nozel does what he does, was it the best he could do? No, but that's the great thing. People don't always do their best and that makes him more human). The only thing I don't like is that she attacks Asta out of shyness, I know it's comedy but hmm, well; It is sure to improve as her relationship with Asta develops (if at all). As a bonus, the Valkirie Dress looks amazing to me, I love the design of the armor.

N06. Magna: I adore Magna, I honestly think he is a great character. He is not as strong as his peers and everyone knows it, yet he still strives to train and not be left behind. His scenes seem very emotional to me and his character is very funny. He has the design that I like the most of all the Black Bulls and I love that his magic is based on baseball when it does not exist (or so I think) in that world. I hope they develop him more, because for now they have left their background a little aside compared to the others, although if they do not do it I will not complain either because for me Magna is the average character that makes you want to try harder and harder for your dreams even if your skills are not the best; and that as such makes him one of the best characters.

N07. Finral:

Finral is a lovely character, I like him a lot, he makes me very tender and makes me want to hug him every time he appears. His background touched my heart very much, his whole relationship with his family (his brother) and wanting to improve himself after having been lost and feeling worthless. I think he is the character with the most precious heart (aside from Asta), and I hope he can achieve his goal and be happy with Finesse.

N08. Grey:

Grey is a precious baby, as a character she is so shy that sometimes she is exaggerated for comedy. But being a very introverted and shy person myself, I understand Grey perfectly. I adore her relationship with others and she is a character that I like to see in action to see how she surpasses her limits. Her magic is very interesting to me, so I hope I can see a lot more of her.

N09. Henry:

Honestly, his design was very curious to me from the beginning, when I saw it and nothing was known about him yet. But his personality is super sweet. I love his story and how Yami saves his life by bringing noisy people to his house. Despite his limitation and absorbing the power of others, he manage to deal with them and that is wonderful to me, their scenes are very emotional for me. Although sometimes I get stressed because he speaks very slowly (surely that in the manga I would take it better).

N10. Secre:

Her design is super super nice, I love that she has little horns because of the forbidden magic and her personality is so calm… It makes a lot of contrast with the rest of her teammates. Her magic is one of the most interesting in my opinion. But above all it is her story with the first Wizard King that shocks me, so many years waiting to be able to be in peace… I imagined that Nero would be important for the story but wow, she exceeded my expectations. Anyway it makes me sad that she can't go with Lemiel.

N11. Luck:

Luck, despite not entering the Top10, is a character that I really like, the problem is that I like everyone a lot, hehe. He is a character that I find funny and irritating at the saime time, which for me is part of his charm. I like his magic and his determination to get into any battle; although sometimes I would like them to give his character a little more depth and that is why he is at number 11. But it is just my opinion, and as I say despite that I love Luck.

N12. Vanessa:

I have to say that even though I understand her background and the reasons behind it, I don't quite like the idea that she's always practically naked and drinking. It is the only thing for me, and I equally respect and love her character; But it happens to me like with Luck, sometimes I see them somewhat flat personality. However I know that it is not like that and that she is a quite complex character, I really like when she enters battle, her determination and her love for her friends is really incredible (I really liked the battle of Vanessa, Finral and Asta against Vetto, it is one of my favorite battles)

N13. Gauche:

If he wasn't so creepy with Marie he would have the 5th position on my list ... I mean, I understand that they do it for comedy and that there really is no incest or anything, he is just an overprotective brother (and I understand his reasons because his story explains everything very good), but I think the way to carry that humor gets a little out of hand sometimes. At least it sometimes makes me uncomfortable even though I know that there is no bad intention or anything, he is just a boy who lost everything and who only had his sister to protect. Apart from that, I find him a spectacular character and I have a lot of affection for him despite being almost at the bottom of the list.

N14. Zora:

As they work on his development I imagine that I will like him more, but for now he is the member that I like the least. Still, I repeat, I like them all so ... on a scale of 1 to 10, it would be 7.5, which is high. Only the others are more. Zora is a very curious character and his magic is too, but honestly for now I like his father more than him, Zara is a character that impacted me a lot and deserved the world. Anyway Zora fighting for his father's dreams is precious too.

Top10 Black Clover Ships:

Let's see… I'm not so much involved in Black Clover ships but here are my favorites:

N01. Mars x Fana: I find them especially adorable, after their hard childhood and all they have to go through, I sincerely hope they can end up happy together. Super cute this couple.

N02. Yami x Charlotte:sincerely I hope that it becomes canon because they have a dynamic that I love, I hope I can see development of both and that Charlotte overcomes her panic about being in Yami's presence and that Yami is interested in her, because sometimes he has the sensitivity of a shoe.

N03. Asta x Noelle:

Although I adore Mimosa and I hope she can be happy with someone if she wants to, the couple that I like the most is Asta and Noelle, Asta really cares a lot about Noelle, I hope that little by little he will find out more about his love side and not just friendship, I know that Black Clover is a shounen and such; but hey, who knows.

N04. Gauche x Grey:

They're so cute, aw, when Grey says she wants Gauche to look at her more… she stole my heart. I hope they develop them and that they can end up together.

N05. Magna x Luck: Mm, I like this couple although I am fine whether it develops (which I doubt) or if they stay in great friends because friendship is also something precious)

N06. Finral x Finesse:

Until Finesse appeared I liked Finral and Vanessa, but aww, how can one not be moved by these two? Finesse is a heaven of person and Finral more.

N07. Lemiel x Secre: I suffered a lot when Lemiel "dies" leaving Secre alone and tells her to live and be happy because pff, wow. Without having to be a couple or anything, losing someone so important ... But hey, it's a couple that I really like. Maybe in their next life they can be happy together.

N08. Litch x Tetia: Although they don't appear so much, they are one of the main pivots of the first arc. I cried a lot with their background but they are one of the couples that I like the most.

N09. Fuegoleon x Nozel:

These types of relationships are one of my weaknesses, I really like their dynamics a lot and I wouldn't mind if they became a real couple; although again it would be rare for it to happen in a shounen.

N10. Yuno x Charmy:

I find this couple very funny, it's not that Yuno is one of my favorite characters in any case; but I love how Charmy interacts with him by giving him food.

#black clover #asta #noelle #yami #charlotte #finral #vanessa #gordon #gauche #grey #henry #charmy #zora #luck #magna #secre

10 notes · View notes

thiswasinevitableid · 4 years

Note

the ot4 with the 'Trouble' prompt please

I went with SFW for this one! Barclay’s design is based on a Whale Shark, Indrid’s on a Bat Ray.

Joseph Stern, for servant of her majesty's royal navy, is absolutely and irrevocably fucked.

He’s chained to a sunken tree in a bayou somewhere off the south eastern coast of North America. Its getting dark. And he has identified no fewer than four ways he might perish here.

One: Exposure to searing heat

Two: Dehydration or starvation

Three: Alligators, which he has sight at least one of on the banks of a nearby river.

Four: Sharks, sea monsters, or other horrors of the deep.

He won’t drown; high tide’s come and gone once already and while the waves rose up to his throat, they did not cover his head.

This is all Captain Haye’s fault.

Their ship was transporting a woman, one Madeline Cobb, who Haye’s believed had information on a cache of gold to rival El Dorado. Stern shares his suspicion that the woman is concealing something. But he thinks hauling her from her Inn and holding her prisoner was not the right course of action.

Hayes, unwilling to release Cobb or sail too far form where she may be hiding...whatever she’s hiding, had them going practically in circles, the men increasingly lobbying for a return to port and New Orleans. Worse, Hayes became convinced there were spies on board, working to free Cobb and keep the crew from finding its quarry.

He settled on one of the first culprits being the cook they’d just taken on, Barclay. That Barclay was gentle as an old housecat and showed no signs of being known to Cobb other than delivering her meals, did not matter to Hayes. Stern argued as much, pointed out that there was no evidence of treachery, merely bad luck and incompetence.

(He omitted the part where he’d snuck into the galley more than a few nights; first to talk, or for a safe place to order his thoughts under a kind gaze, and later for a handful of kisses).

Barclay had simply smiled at him, told him it was alright; he’d rather Hayes throw him overboard than some other innocent soul. Then down he’d gone, Stern watching until no trace of him could be seen beneath the water, knuckles white against the wooden rail.

He once again voiced his displeasure to Hayes, who accused him of trying to mutiny. In spite of his protests, none of the men came to his defense. He was not as hated as Hayes, but he was still an officer and therefore not well liked.

So here he stands, marooned at the mouth of a coastal river, stripped down to his trousers, skin burnt and stinging from where salt water found the gashes left by the lash.

Off to his left, he spies two shadows in the water. Large, fast moving shadows. A fin, definitely not that of a dolphin, breaks the water.

It is not his preferred death, by teeth and strong jaws, but in some ways it is preferable to the prolonged suffering of starvation and thirst.

The fin is no more than few feet away, and the front half of the beast breaches the waves.

It has a mans face, of that much he is sure. But it can be nothing other than delirium that explains whose face it is.

“Barclay.” His voice is mournful, cracked.

“Uh huh.” The merman swims to him, spotted grey tail just visible in the dark, hand brushing Stern’s side, “don’t worry, baby, I’ll get you free.”

He humors his imagination, “Of course you would try, but how…” He blinks as the world flickers and then Barclay is standing, tail long gone, modesty preserved only by a wrap of dark fabric. He reaches up, snapping the chains in two and Stern collapses, struggles to steady himself before hitting the water. Bu he doesn’t have to; strong arms pull him against broad chest.

“I..I’m not hallucinating am I?”

“Nope. Joseph, god, I’m so glad I found you.” As the large hand strokes his hair, he spies the second shadow in the water, once again too close from comfort.

“Barclay we, we should make for shore, there’s something coming.”

“Hm? Oh, no, that’s just Indrid.”

“Who’s-”

A second merman emerges, turning smoothly onto his back to regard them. His upper body is lean and angular, his hair pale, and in place of a classic tail he has wide, black wings like those of ray starting at his hips, tapering down to a narrower tail.

“Indrid Cold, a pleasure to meet you, Joseph Stern.” He flaps in a wide circle around them, “You see, Barclay, I told you we would find him here.”

“It’s not that I doubted you, just, god, god I’m glad to see you alive.” The embrace is almost painful against his raw skin, but Stern can’t find the energy or desire to care.

“And I you. That still doesn’t explain how you’re one, not dead and two, a merman.”

“All in good time,” Indrid answers in Barclay’s place, “right now, my dear, we should retreat somewhere safe. Would you prefer to carry him, or shall I retrieve a boat?”

“Do you mind?” Barclay asks gently.

“Not at all. And I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t imagined it.”

Barclay kisses the top of his head, scoops him up into his arms as if he weighs nothing. It doesn’t take much walking before they reach shallower water and then the shore. Indrid stays in the water as they proceed up-river, his unusual form allowing him to swim alongside them in the shallow portions.

When they arrive at a small, yet well kept, house, Barclay opens the door and sets Stern on a bed.

“You sure he won’t mind?” This he calls out to Indrid, still in the water.

“I am quite certain. This is Duck we’re talking about, remember?”

“A duck?” Stern’s vision is fading, the toll on his body finally registering.

A laugh, “No, ‘Duck’ is the guy who owns this house. You’ll meet him tomorrow. Here, drink this.”

Cool, fresh water passes his lips, and even as he swallows he feels himself slipping into sleep.

-------------------

The first thing Stern sees when he awakes is an unfamiliar man placing ups on a nearby table. He doesn’t see Stern is up, and so is humming to himself, off-key yet charming. His eyes are two different colors, and while he looks as strong as Barclay, he’s shorter and more fat sits atop the muscles. Unbidden, Sterns mind offers up the thought of what it would be like to be pressed between this man and Barclay atop the covers.

Too many nights at sea have made him desperate for the human touch, it seems.

“Mornin’” The man is looking at him, smile friendly, “you must be Joe, er Joseph.”

“Joe is fine.” The casual name is welcome after months of being addressed so formally. And the way it sounds in the other man’s mouth is natural, as if he’s known Stern years.

“You must be Duck?” He sits up carefully, head still light from the ordeal of yesterday.

“Yep. This here’s my place. Or, uh, really our place. Mine and Indrid’s. Barclay stays with us sometimes, sometimes he lives at the Inn nearby, since he’s Mama’s cook aw fuck, I mean uh, he’s, he ain’t ever seen her before, or me, uhhhh. Fuck.” His shoulders sag as he finishes the terrible lie.

“It is alright, my love, I suspect Joseph does not intend on returning to Captain Haye’s.” Indrid walks in from the porch, his human form as lean and angular as his mer one. Red eyeglasses perch on his nose, and he’s more heavily clothed than Duck.

“Not a chance. Captain Hayes is a sadist and a madman and I never wish to see him again.”

Indrid grins wide, “Excellent. Now, let’s have a look at your injuries.” Indrid grabs a tin of salve from a shelf, “Because I see you are about to ask, Barclay will be back shortly with the ingredients for more of this, since it will take some time for you to heal.” Indrid sits down behind him, deft fingers soothing the cuts and sunburned skin.

“He can see the future.” Duck says as if it’s the most normal thing in the world, grabbing a kettle from the stove “coffee? Or do you, uh, prefer tea?”

“Coffee is fine. OW!”

“Apologies, that cut is a little deeper. In fact...Duck, my love, I believe he needs stitches.”

Ten minutes later, Stern’s back is still stinging, but is sewn up. Indrid had offered his hand for comfort, and even as Duck finishes cleaning up the cuts, Stern hasn’t released it. Indrid seems in no hurry to do so.

“Morning.” Barclay appears in the door, a basket in either hand, “found what you asked for, Indrid, and some berries and wild garlic too. Figure I can use that for dinner.” As soon as the baskets are set down, Barclay is kneeling in front of Stern, kissing him softly, careful not to set his hands anywhere too burnt.

“Glad to see you awake, handsome. These two treating you okay?”

“Hmph” Indrid crosses his arms in mock indignation, “how dare you impugn my manners, let alone Ducks. He’s a good southern boy, after all.”

“Indrid, I once watched you ignore a guest for an hour solid.”

“I was distracted by some futures! Speaking of which, I ought to be off. There is a fishing vessel that will likely appreciate being warned away from a patch of reef that will tear its hull.” He leans across Stern to kiss Barclay briefly, then stands along with Duck to kiss him. Makes it too the door only for Duck to pull him into a much firmer kiss. Then there’s an elegant splash, and Duck turns back to them with a sigh.

“They were married a few months ago.” Barclay offers as explanation.

“I see….but, Indrid kissed you as well.”

“Oh. Yeah. Uh” Barclay scratches his short beard nervously, “Indrid and I were lovers a long time ago. When he turned up in these parts again after some years away, he only had eyes for Duck.”

“Even if he was shy about it. Had me a little creeped out at the beginnin, especially when he showed me his mer form without warnin.” Duck pours Barclay a mug of tea and hands it to him.

“But eventually Indrid asked if I wanted to be with him again, even if it wasn’t real formal. So that’s what I did.”

“And it didn’t bother you?” He looks at Duck, who shrugs.

“Hey, Barclay’s a big fella; he’s got a lotta love to give. So do I, for that matter, and so does Indrid. Lovin’ one person don’t mean you can’t love another just as much, even if it looks a little different each time.”

“I see.” Stern takes the water Barclay offers him, afraid to meet his eyes.

“If, uh, if it bothers you, Indrid and I can break things off. He told me last night he woudln’t be upset if that was the price for you and me being together. Said he hadn’t seen me as happy as I am when I look at you in a long time.”

That makes him look up, and Barclay is gazing at him with a gentle affection, the kind he thought he’d forfeited years ago.

“I make you that happy.”

“‘Happy’ barely even describes it.” Barclay kisses him again, nuzzles his cheek before pulling back.

“I...I’m alright if you wish to continue that relationship.” He aims for a kiss, misses due to lightheadedness, and lands it on Barclay’s nose.

A deep chuckle, then “We can figure out details later, okay? I gotta go fish.” He stands, grabbing a pail, “back soon.” Then he blows Stern a kiss and is gone. Stern waits for the splash before laying down, being upright too much for his tired frame.

“Here” Duck saunters over, munching on the fruit Barclay brought back, “gotta get some food into you. Be a shame for that body to turn all skin and bones.”

“Thank you.” Stern takes a handful and then, about ten minutes later, discovers he has eaten the entire basket.

“You, uh, you gotta little” Duck is trying not to laugh as he makes a circle around his mouth with a finger. Stern wipes his mouth, succeeds only in smearing purple across his cheek, and Duck breaks, hiccuping giggles escaping him, the sound making Stern laugh in return.

“Good lord, only a day or so out of the navy and I’ve lost all decency.” Stern smirks.

“From what Barclay said, sounds more like tyranny than decency that they run on.”

“He may be right. I was raised to follow orders; no one ever warns you what you are to do if the orders strike you as wrong.”

“Say ‘fuck it,’ in my experience.”

“I was hardly so vulgar and you can see where that landed me. Then again. Seeing the shock on Haye’s face when I argued with him was truly a pleasing sight. I can be stubborn when I wish to; perhaps I should have done so sooner.”

“Here’s to bein’ stubborn” Duck lifts his cup and Stern weakly clinks his water glass against it, “we oughta get you bath, both for the juice and the sand you still probably got in places. I’ll draw it up and help you in it.”

“No interest in keeping me company?” The salacious tone slips out before he can catch it.

“No, uh, fuck, not, not at, fuck, all.”

“Now you see why I ain’t one of the ones they sent on the ship to keep an eye on Mama.”

“What?” Stern sets the glass down with a thunk.

“Barclay and a few others on board really do know her. Not that she can’t get loose herself, but we wanted her to have back-up. This ain’t the first time someone’s come pokin around lookin for fuckin’ El Dorado or some shit and we had to deal with ‘em. Ain’t even all that much worth seekin out; some of the mers got real powerful magic, and there are some piles of lost treasure. But nothin like that Hayes fellas was imagining.”

“Are you all mermaids?”

“Nope. Me, Mama, and few others are human including Ned and Boyd-”

“Chicane and Mosche? The ones who signed on our ship?”

“Yep.”

“I thought they seemed suspicious, though I had not intention of telling Hayes.”

“ I wouldn’t trust either of ‘em further than I could throw ‘em, but sometimes the fact they’re damn good liars comes in real handy. C’mon.” He helps Stern up, leads him to a washtub out back near a pump, “you ain’t the only one of us to fall for a mer neither. I got Indrid, and my friend Aubrey is married to a mermaid called Dani.”

“Fascinating” Stern gingerly undoes his trousers, looks up to see Duck covering his eyes.

“Really?”

“Just bein’ polite. Now” fingers part and a green eye peeks through them, “let’s get you clean.

------------------------------------------------

Stern heals little by little, looked after by the three men and the odd visitor. He learns that some mers take it upon themselves to learn how to transform into humans, that Hayes is still sailing aimlessly around the coast, and that sleeping beside Barclay is a thousand times better than he dreamed.

He tidies the house in the mornings, Barclay either working or fishing, Indrid asleep or off on some mysterious errand, and Duck preparing to go to work in town (an arborist by trade, a fact that surprises Stern not at all, given how easily he talks about trees). Reads with his feet in Indrid’s lap in the afternoons, helps Barclay make dinner in the evening.

It doesn’t escape him, they way Duck smiles at him after he tells a horrible joke that the shorter man laughs at anyway. The way Indrid’s fingers linger on his skin when he hands him something, the way he’ll idly run his hands along Sterns arm or leg if they’re sitting side by side.

The two still give Stern and Barclay space and privacy, but he can’t help feeling that there are times he wants them in bed as Barclay eagerly and lovingly fucks him.

Barclay, of course, makes no secret of his feelings. He kisses Stern good morning and goodnight, cooks him elaborate meals, brings him flowers from the banks and bright shells from depths (Duck shows him how to make a box to hold the gifts from the sea, opening his own, one that once held cigars, to reveal all manner of tokens from Indrid).

But as he heals, Barclay asks on several occasions if he intends to stay, the question always nervous and hopeful. Stern keeps demurring. He’s considered dead, will be reported as such to any who knew him back home. But he’s a foreigner here, in more ways than one, fears he has no permanent place in this patch of the world, even though he’s certain Barclay would gladly make a home with him.

Today such worries are far away, the four of them swimming in a clear, well-hidden lake. Duck, droplets still glinting in his dark hair, lays on his belly on a rock in the water. Indrid flaps lazily between them as Barclay gives chase to Stern. He’s asked him to, wanting to build back the strength and speed he lost while healing.

“Gotcha” a smooth tail bumps his legs as Barclay embraces him from behind, “if I were a real shark, you’d be dinner.”

“Good thing you’re tame.” Stern splashes him soundly and he splutters, letting the human go. As he swims away, laughing, black wings envelop his waist and legs as Indrid surfaces, face inches from his own and arms draped over his shoulders

“Indeed. Such a tender creature as yourself would make quite a treat to ones like me.”

“Rays don’t eat people Indrid!” Duck calls from the rock, not even looking up.

“Come now, my sweet, look at him. So enticing” the wings press him closer, “just waiting to be devoured. Wouldn’t you agree?” This he directs at Stern, who nods breathlessly and leans in for what he assumes is a kiss.

Sharp teeth find his neck, nipping and sucking hungrily. He gasps, moans so loudly they can hear him in the city.

“Was that alright?” Indrid pulls back, and Stern can’t tell if the question is meant for him or Barclay, who is watching them with widening pupils.

“Lord, yes.” He whispers.

“Uh huh.” Barclay swims behind Indrid, kissing his neck before gliding over to Stern. Indrid leans in, and this time it’s the expected kiss, briny and sweet. Indrid lets out a soft laugh when Stern whines for another but gives it readily, spreading his fins to guide them through the water, the human finding he feels perfectly safe with his eyes shut. When he blinks them open, Duck is staring down at him. He’s about to open his mouth to ask a question when Indrid darts up to capture Duck’s lips.

“We talked about it this mornin’, Indrid and me.” Duck sighs happily, goofy smile directed Indrid’ way.

“We were going to talk to you both tonight, but I could not resist a moment ago.” Indrid says sheepishly, “I have discovered just why Barclay has been so elated the last few weeks. Duck has as well.”

“You...it’s really alright with all of you?”

“That’s putting it mildly.” Barclay’s tail runs up and down his legs, “if you’re all okay with it, I couldn’t be happier.”

“What do you say, Joe? Ready to give up sailin the seven seas and stay with us awhile?”

Stern nestles against Indrid, Barclay’s tail still teasing his ankles, and cups Duck’s cheek.

“You know, Duck, I can’t think of anything I’d like more.”

#mermay fills #historical au #indrid cold/duck newton #indruck #sternclay #agent stern/barclay #OT4: Government Men and Their Cryptid Boyfriends #agent stern/barclay/indrid cold/Duck newton

17 notes · View notes

wrestlingisfake · 4 years

Text

Bound for Glory preview

Eric Young vs. Rich Swann - Young is defending the Impact Wrestling world championship. This is only Swann’s second match since suffering a legit knee injury in January. He returned to the ring for a five-way title match at Slammiversary on July 18, where he eliminated Young. Eric “reinjured” Swann’s leg to cost him that match; when Swann was forced to “retire” on August 4, Young assaulted him again. Since then Young has gone on to win the world title, while Swann has been doing a whole “come out of retirement for revenge” storyline.

It’s funny to think about how these guys are headlining this show, considering that most fans would probably remember them best for being lost in the shuffle at WWE. But this is Impact’s level, and it has been for years. Just because these guys would be working a dark match on Smackdown doesn’t mean they can’t have a compelling main event here in a much smaller pond.

The basic “Rocky movie” approach to booking this feud would be to have Swann overcome adversity to conquer his most dangerous rival and finally win the big one. But Impact has a long history of trying to outthink that logic, and I have a long memory of them swerving away from big coronation moments. It was only a few months ago, in fact, that they were building up Ace Austin for an inevitable run on top, and then they just...didn’t do that. So Swann might win, or they might tell a story that he has a lot of ring rust to shake off before he beat Young. Nevertheless, my gut still says Swann wins the title here.

Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin vs. Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. Ethan Page & Josh Alexander vs. Ace Austin & Madman Fulton - This is a four-way match for the Impact tag team title, currently held by the Motor City Machine Guns (Shelly and Sabin). Per standard four-way rules, the only way to win is by pinfall or submission, and the first man to score a fall on any opponent wins the match and the title for his team.

The North (Page and Alexander) held the title for just over a full year as various other teams broke up or drifted away from Impact, so they got to be able to say they cleaned out the division. Then Sabin and Shelley came in as the wily veterans to get a big push (which is sort of ironic when you consider their history with this company). Austin and Fulton came together earlier this year as a “rising top heel and his enforcer” act, but they ended up as a tag team when they began feuding with the Good Brothers (Gallows and Anderson). All along, there’s been a sense that the Machine Guns are just keeping the titles warm until they put over the Good Brothers.

I could see any of these teams getting the title, but it’s pretty clear Gallows and Anderson are top attractions in this company, so one way or another the title picture is going to revolve around them. One interesting wrinkle is that the Good Brothers plan to work for both Impact and New Japan, and New Japan has a tag team tournament coming up, leading into their biggest show of the year. If I’m Don Callis, I want to send Gallows and Anderson to Japan for a couple of months to soak up that exposure, and I’d want them do it while wearing Impact title belts. I’m probably getting ahead of myself with that speculation, but since I’ve got no other clear way to pick a winner, I’ll let that be why I’m going with Doc and Karl.

Deonna Purrazzo vs. Kylie Rae - Purrazzo is defending the Impact women’s title. Kylie earned this title shot by winning a battle royale on July 18, the same night Purrazzo won the championship. Since then Kylie has won the Warrior Wrestling women’s title, but that belt isn’t at stake here.

It was just about a year ago that Kylie debuted here, coming off a surprisingly abrupt exit from AEW. It’s always felt like Impact wanted to do a slow build to her as the face of the women’s division. And yet, Impact has also given Purrazzo a strong push since her debut in May. Each of them would be my pick to win against any other woman in the company right now. But against one another, it’s real tough to choose. Feels like almost every match on this card is a pick-’em, which is a good thing.

I’m gonna go with Kylie to win just because she makes me happy.

EC3 vs. Moose - Moose has spent most of the year as the self-proclaimed “TNA world champion,” but EC3 stole his belt and I’m not sure what happened to it and I’m not sure either guy still cares about it at this point. EC3 gained his widest exposure to fans in his NXT/WWE run, but Impact viewers know he really made his name in this promotion, back when it was called TNA. “EC3” literally stands for “Ethan Carter III,” from when his gimmick was that he was the (kayfabe) nephew of longtime TNA owner Dixie Carter.

The story is that after EC3 was laid off from WWE, he decided he had to exorcise his old failures, which I guess are symbolized by Moose carrying around the belt he once held. So EC3 started interfering in Moose matches and stalking him and playing cryptic videos for him and other weird stuff. This has been going on since July but EC3 has yet to wrestle for Impact in all that time. Aside from a couple of indie shows, and some ROH stuff that hasn’t aired yet, this will be his first match in 2020.

Back in July I assumed that EC3 would sign with Impact. Then when I heard he was doing stuff with ROH, I figured it was a side project before he fully committed to Impact. But after three months with no Impact matches, I’m starting to wonder if his Impact deal is a one-and-done. Actually, the fact I’m wondering that helps the match, since if I was sure he was sticking around, it’d be super obvious that he has to beat Moose. As it is, I’m still leaning toward EC3 winning, but that little doubt in my head will keep it interesting.

Eddie Edwards vs. Ken Shamrock - I lost the plot on this one, but as I recall Edwards had a vicious feud with Sami Callihan in 2018, and then Shamrock had a vicious feud with Callihan earlier this year, and now Shamrock and Callihan both hate Edwards for some reason. Incidentally Shamrock is being inducted into Impact’s hall of fame this weekend, so it’s kind of weird that they decided now is the time to turn him heel.

I think the easiest way to sum both of these guys up is that neither of them knows when to quit. They both look grizzled and stopped-giving-a-fuck, which makes them scary in the way that convicts in movies seem scary. Now that I think about it, I’m surprised it took so long for this match to happen.

The x-factor here is Callihan, who will undoubtedly be interfering on behalf of Shamrock. I don’t know who the hell Eddie can get to counteract that; usually when he needs backup it ends up being his wife Alisha, which works better than you might expect but still not all that well. I guess if Davey Richards was going to return, this would be a cool way to set it up. But failing that, I don’t think Eddie can win this match.

Rohit Raju vs. Chris Bey vs. TJP vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Trey Miguel vs. Willie Mack - Raju’s “X division” title is on the line. This is being billed as a “six-way scramble match.” I tend to think that’s just a cute name for a standard six-way match, where whoever scores the first fall on any opponent wins the match and the title. Of course, in WWE a “scramble match” was a specific stipulation where whoever scores the last fall in a specified time period is the winner. But I think if Impact was trying to bring those rules back, they’d have made a bigger deal about it, and I would have heard something about it by now.

The backstory here is that Bey was getting a big push and beat Mack for the title, and Raju started lobbying to be his henchman. This led to Bey vs. Raju vs. TJP, with the idea that Raju would help Bey against TJP, but Raju went into business for himself and won the title. So now everybody is gunning for Raju, including Trey for some reason I forget, and I think Grace just got thrown in there to make it more interesting. Basically, Raju was a prelim guy before any of this happened, and he’d be the underdog against any of these opponents, so you’re supposed to think he’s doomed in a match against all of them.

I’m a tad surprised Grace is involved, because it wasn’t all that long ago that it was Tessa Blanchard as the woman chasing the X title, and then the world title, and that didn’t work out so well. Then again, Tessa’s gender was hardly the reason that run fell apart, so maybe Impact is determined to do it again until they get it right. Thing is, if you want to seriously present a woman winning a men’s championship, you want the champion that puts her over to be stronger than Rohit Raju. So if they’re gonna do it, I’d say they should do it later, with Grace challenging one of the other guys for the title one-on-one.

Anyone could win this match, but it’s a real old trick to have the most hated heel be the biggest underdog, and then he steals a win after his opponents destroy each other. So I’m going with Rohit to retain.

20-person “Call Your Shot” gauntlet match - This is a timed interval gauntlet match, similar to WWE’s Royal Rumble. Two participants start the match, and each additional participant enters at regular intervals. (I don’t think they’ve said how long the intervals are, but I’m guessing 90 seconds or two minutes or something.) For most of the match, a competitor can only be eliminated by leaving the ring over the top rope and placing both feet on the floor; however, once all but two wrestlers are eliminated, the rules change so they can only lose by pinfall or submission. The last person left in the match is the winner and earns the right to a title match against the champion of their choice.

So far Impact has confirmed eleven participants, seven men and four women:

Acey Romero, of the XXXL tag team

Alisha Edwards, whose last singles victory in this company was in 2018 against AEW’s Rebel/Reba

Brian Myers, formerly known as Curt Hawkins in WWE

Havok, aka Jessicka Havok in the indies

Heath, formerly Heath Slater in WWE, with the gimmick that he hasn’t yet secured a contract to work for Impact

Hernandez, once a rising star in TNA, now some sleazy guy backstage with a giant wad of cash

Larry D, Romero’s partner in XXXL

Rhino, the former ECW/WWE star who’s been trying to help Heath get signed

Taya Valkyrie, probably best known from AAA and Lucha Underground

Tenille Dashwood, formerly Emma in NXT and WWE

Tommy Dreamer, the ECW legend, who has been feuding with Myers

The order of entry is supposed to be random, but the results of an October 20 match slotted Hernandez as the last entrant and Rhino as the first. The added stipulation for Rhino and Heath is that their jobs are on the line: If either of them wins, Rhino stays and Heath is signed, but if neither of them win, Rhino is fired and Heath can’t keep coming around asking for work.

It feels like this match has to end with Rhino or Heath winning, to pay off that storyline. In fact, I could easily see it being a deal where one appears to be eliminated, and hides off-camera until the other is thrown out, and then Josh Matthews can play Michael Cole being all shocked that there’s still hope. It feels so obvious that I’ve seen speculation that Heath needs to turn on Rhino right after one of them wins, to keep it interesting. But I think we’re all overlooking the alternative, where they’re both kicked out of the company but nevertheless keep appearing in comedy skits for weeks until they get some other chance to earn contracts. Personally, I’d just keep it simple and have Heath win leading to Heath and Rhino challenging for the tag title.

Dez & Wentz vs. Cody Deaner & Cousin Jake - This is being advertised for the pre-show. Dez (Desmond Xavier) and Wentz (Zachary Wentz) are, along with Trey Miguel, the stoner team of the Rascalz. Cody Deaner has been Impact’s resident redneck good-ol’ boy on and off for years. Jake is better known on the indie scene as Jake Something, the current Black Label Pro champion. Between the two teams, I think Impact is more committed to pushing the Rascalz, but this is another one where it could really go either way. This whole show has been really hard to predict. Let’s hope it still seems unpredictable after it’s over.

#impact wrestling #bound for glory #eric young #rich swann

2 notes · View notes

spyder-m · 4 years

Text

Shumako Week 2020, Day One: The Set-Up

@shumakoweek Day One: Study Partners / Confessions

AO3 / FF.net

Summary: The Phantom Thieves face one of their most challenging operations to date, getting a confession out of their leader and advisor.

It was no secret that the Charge Commander of the Phantom Thieves, Sakamoto Ryuji, was not one for subtlety. Despite his best efforts, there were times where he became overzealous, words slipping out without a thought.

Their latest operation was one of he was having trouble keeping under wraps.

With a near-impossible task and seemingly insurmountable odds stacked against them, the pressure was becoming too much to contain. The urge to speak out, to try and find advice was tearing away at him.

The Phantom Thieves had managed fine without Joker's guidance before; pulling off operations during his interrogation and time in prison. But a mission without both their leader and advisor, in many ways, his second-in-command, wouldn't be easy.

Yet, Ryuji knew they couldn't let themselves become distracted by what they were missing. They needed to stay positive.

They still had Futaba's hacking skills, and that furball, as much as he hated to admit, was their most experienced member. Most of what they knew had been because of his teachings.

And while he, Ann and Morgana could get on each other's nerves at times; when united by a common goal, they were a powerful force as original members. They would need to harness that force as much as possible, considering this could be their hardest mission yet.

Not only were they short team members, but they had two targets they needed to get a confession out of this time.

Ryuji leant back with an exhale, warm water lapping at the knots in his shoulder; allowing him a momentary respite from the concern clouding his mind.

He and Ren were visiting the baths across from Leblanc again; a momentary respite Ryuji was thankful for; particularly now that there weren't any old dudes constantly cranking up the heat.

Though, the trip couldn't alleviate his worries entirely. Even it was part of their plan. He needed to stay focused.

The setting was perfect, an excuse for him to bring up the conversation they'd had last time without raising suspicion.

Back then, Ryuji hadn't expected Yusuke to show much interest in girls, beyond aesthetics. Though, he had been surprised that Ren played coy when asked about Ann; talking up her strengths as a teammate and a friend.

Tsk, what a cop-out.

Ryuji had the feeling Ren was well-versed with women. At least, based on how well he'd handled the maid incident compared to Mishima. Not to mention, for the short time he'd lived in Tokyo, he'd certainly made connections with a lot of them.

Ryuji found it hard to believe he didn't have a preference.

Still, thinking on it, his words rung true.

Over the past few years, many things had changed. Their team had grown, and there were more female members. There was someone Ren carried herself around quite differently from anyone else on their team.

It had to mean something.

Though he was quiet, at times hard to read, Ryuji suspected the response to his question would be a bit different this time around and decided now was as good a time as any to probe.

"So, Renren. When are you gonna like... ask Makoto out?"

Though, as established, Ryuji was never one for subtlety.

It was fortunate that Ren had the foresight to remove his glasses before they entered the bathhouse. For; despite priding herself on keeping calm and level-headed throughout even their most dire Metaverse battles; he was completely rocked by Ryuji's question, his body slipping beneath the surface of the water with a shocked cry.

Ryuji chuckled, pleased to have caught his usually cool, stoic friend off guard. The reaction was telling, there was definitely something to his suspicion.

Ren emerged, moments later, a maelstrom of coughs and damp, shaggy hair. Though the springs were warm, Ryuji wasn't sure they were the reason for the flush building across his face.

His laughter died, though, under the glare Ren leveled in his direction.

"W- what? Where did you get that idea?"

"Come on, man. I'm not that stupid. You’d have to have been hit by Marin Karin to not see that you two are totally into each other."

"Oh, really?" Ren challenged.

"Uh, yeah. Remember back when we broke into Boss' house in the middle of a storm and the lights went out? Makoto was practically hanging off of you."

"S- she was just scared. Futaba does the same thing whenever we're somewhere crowded."

Ryuji took satisfaction in the flinch that crossed Ren’s face. He had a weak point and capitalise on the advantage.

"Well, speaking of Futaba. When we were fighting that cognition of her mom, you knocked Makoto out of the way when that pillar was going to hit her."

"I didn't want her to get hurt! I would've done that for any of you guys."

"Really?” Ryuji grinned, smugly, his arms folding. “Cause you sure held onto her for longer than necessary though. I'm pretty sure she was fine."

"That's-"

"Not to mention, I heard from Ann that you've been going on double-dates with Makoto and her friend."

"That's just a cover. I'm helping her lookout for Eiko."

Ren’s protest trailed off, perhaps the most half-hearted of them all. Ryuji’s expression softened, his words carrying a more sincere lilt.

"But you wouldn't mind if you were actually dating?"

Ren sighed, his eye’s carrying to the ceiling as he leant back.

"All I'm saying is, I've only ever seen her act like that around you. A lot of other guys seem kind of scared by her."

"She's our teammate, Ryuji.” Ren insisted. “A great strategist and friend. There's nothing more to it than that."

Ryuji shrugged.

"If you say so, man."

The apparent doubt in Ryuji's voice was not missed by Ren, as if noticing his lack of conviction. The words troubled him, picking at an uncertainty inside of him.

Ann's eyes lifted over the cup of coffee she held to her lips, carefully watching Makoto through the wisps of steam rising from the liquid.

She had asked her older friends to come out with her to the shopping district, part of the plan she had formed with Ryuji and the rest of the Thieves: to get Ren and Makoto alone and ask them about their feelings for one another.

With everything in its right place, the boys should have been at the bathhouse just across the alleyway right now. Futaba would be monitoring the situation from her room, convenient, as it meant she wouldn't have to also face the crowds of ().

This was an operation Ann had to approach this like any other battle; consider the enemy's strengths and weaknesses and exploit them to her advantage.

She knew she wouldn't be able to beat Makoto when it came to strategy and wasn't dumb enough to even try and overpower her physically - although, having Haru with her may have helped.

If she probed, Makoto might feel like she was being interrogated and get suspicious. Asking directly, flustering her and catching her off guard when she was relaxed, would work best in Ann's favour. It would be the fastest way to expose her true feelings.

They were on familiar turf, enjoying coffee in the booths of Leblanc. A place Makoto had grown more than comfortable. It would be the last place she would expect an ambush.

Much like in Hawaii with the guys, she would ask, point black, framing the question as casual conversation.

As Makoto didn't chat with her peers often, it's possible she wouldn't pick up on the obvious motive behind her question.

Though, normally, it would be either Makoto or Futaba who would remind her of enemy strengths and weaknesses, which posed an issue. Futaba wasn't with them and she couldn't clue Makoto in on what they had planned.

"So, Makoto. What kind of guy do you like?"

Makoto's voice squeaked, her own cup almost slipping from her grip.

"W- where is this coming from, all of a sudden?"

"Relax Makoto, it's just girl talk." Ann reassured warmly. "I didn't get to ask you on the school trip like I did with Ren and Ryuji, and what can I say? I'm curious."

"W- what do you expect? You should know I'm not familiar with such things."

"Maybe so, but a lots changed in the past year. You've done things you now that I bet you never would have dreamed of before."

Makoto caught her bottom lip between her. She certainly couldn't argue that point.

"Maybe you just haven't figured out what your type is yet? That's okay! We can help you out!"

With a smirk, Ann's finger stroked her chin; a gesture usually akin to Makoto; scrutinising her friend closely. Makoto's eyes lowered, suddenly unnerved by her friend's proximity, her fingers tracing the pattern of her skirt. She decided not to acknowledge her, not wanting to risk incriminating herself. Instead, she left Ann to speculate out loud.

"What about the guys in our group, huh?" Ann began. "You and Ryuji might be at odds, but he seems into you. He's always talking about how awesome your Persona is."

Despite her best efforts to ignore Ann, Makoto coughed, a mouthful of coffee catching in her windpipe. Haru shuffled beside her, patting her on the back and sliding over a glass of water.

Of all the names Ann could have come out with, Makoto had definitely not expected Ryuji to rank highly.

Certainly, Makoto had grown of Ryuji. The perception she once held of him as a problem delinquent had been quickly shattered in the time they’d spent together. Though at times, he still behaved in a frustrating fashion, she had come to find that he was passionate, well-meaning and incredibly loyal.

Still, she wasn’t sure where Ann had gotten that idea at all. If anything, Ryuji seemed much closer to her.

"Hmm.” Ann continued, her tangent seemingly uninterrupted by Makoto’s coughs. “Well, I suppose I could also see it being someone like Akechi. He's popular, but smart like you, and a detective."

Makoto shuddered, finding the notion of Akechi viewing her in a romantic light unsettling.

If anything, she saw him as a rival. His presence waking pangs of jealously, for all the time he spent with sis and the respect she appeared to hold for him. Still, she didn’t answer, opting instead to savour her coffee; careful to take smaller sips.

"Not interested, huh? Well, I suppose it shouldn't be surprising that your tastes wouldn't match most girls our age..."

As Ann broke off, seemingly lost in thought once again, Makoto hoped for this conversation to not continue.

"Though, I have to say, Ren gave quite an interesting answer when I asked him about this."

"I- is that so?" Makoto answered, reflexively; realisation seeping through her with a grimace.

That this was the first time Makoto actually spoke up wasn't missed by Ann. Though, she couldn’t afford to let it show.

She would have to revel silently in that small victory.

"Mm." Ann said, feigning nonchalance. Though inside, she was growing giddy with excitement. "He said he valued intelligence most in a girl. Now, I wonder who that could be referring to?"

"We hadn't met you yet, Haru, so he couldn't have been talking about you, and... Well, Ren's seen my test results, so I doubt he meant me. That would leave either Futaba, or..."

"Why are you restricting this to our group?" Makoto protested, perhaps too fiercely. "Ren knows plenty of intelligent women. There's that Doctor who supplies us with medicine, or the Shogi player, Hifumi-san."

"Yeah, you're right, Makoto. What about Sae-san? She fits that description perfectly."

Ann could sense the urge to grin pulling at her lips; proud of how she'd managed to turn the conversation back against Makoto.

Bringing up her older sister; who she often compared herself to; was perhaps an under-handed move. But they were thieves after all, and Ann was determined to uncover the truth.

If Makoto felt anything for Ren, the idea of him liking Sae-san would certainly spark a response from Makoto.

Makoto swallowed. She was glad the conversation was no longer centered around her, but... The idea of Ren being attracted to sis, didn't sit well with her, those feelings of inadequacy churning inside her chest.

Perhaps, worse still, was that the scenario didn't seem that farfetched to Makoto. She could actually imagine Ren being able to live up to her sister's lofty expectations.

While sis was meticulous, there was an inexplicable charm to Ren, one that many; herself included; were drawn to. Being related to Sae, Makoto suspected it would work similarly on her. After all, he had managed to break through her cold exterior before.

There shouldn't have been any reason for it bother her. They had no business speculating about their private lives.

"If you don't mind, could we perhaps change the subject? I- I'm not sure Ren would appreciate us having this discussion."

Ann relented, already having got what she needed from their conversation.

A tactical retreat, for the time being.

After assessing the targets, the Thieves reported their findings back to one another at the Accessway in Shibuya.

Of all their hideouts, it seemed the safest place.

Had they met up at Leblanc, or the Shujin rooftop, there was always the chance that Ren or Makoto would stumble upon them.

Instead, they kept their plans for the weekend open, knowing that Ren would be busy working at Leblanc and Makoto, as always, would be preparing for University entrance exams.

Their normal hangouts were nearby anyway. Ann usually spending time in the Underground Mall, Ryuji the Arcade on Central Street, Haru tending to her crops at Shujin, and Yusuke people-watching in the middle of the station.

It would be easy for them to meet up at a moment's notice.

Morgana would have the hardest time sneaking off, as he usually stuck with Ren. The Thieves agreed it would be best for him to leave with Futaba, the two claiming they were going to Akihabara, so has as not to raise any suspicion.

After a few rounds of Gun About, Ryuji shuffled over, his hands buried in his pockets. He greeted Ann with a lazy dip of his head.

"Any luck?"

Ann shook her head with a sigh.

"Makoto tried her best to deny it, but it was pretty much written on her face. "

"Yeah, same with Ren."

"Hm. It would seem it won’t be easy to get a confession out of either of them."

"That sure suits them both. Stubborn 'til the end."

"Urgh. Why is this so hard? We’ve made criminals confess; it shouldn’t be so difficult to get our own friends to admit their feelings."

"Yeah. Kinda sucks all that stuff with Eiko blew over. All that fake dating shit really seemed it was getting them somewhere."

"Wait, that's it!"

"Wha-"

"Why don't we convince them to go on another pretend date? We could get Eiko to go along with it. We send those two somewhere romantic together, have Eiko split at the last minute and things are sure to play out between them!”

"I guess? But like, how are we gonna ask? Do you even know her?"

"I don't. But she's a third-year like you, right Haru?"

"That's right. I've seen Eiko-san around before, but we've never really spoken before."

"You're both friends with Makoto, though. That's a start! If you let Eiko know we need her to help out Makoto, I'm sure she'll be willing to listen."

"Well, I suppose. How do we approach her about it, though? I don't have her number."

"Leave that to me! Just gotta crack in Makoto's cloud and we should have no problem finding the right number."

"Please don't tell me you've done that to any of us before."

"Aw, come on, guys. You can trust me. This is just a one-time thing, I promise! For the mission, and their own good. The ends will justify the means."

"Well, if you say so."

Ren's fingers rapped against Leblanc's counter-top, his long, drawn-out sigh accompanying the sporadic beat.

The shop was unusually quiet.

Sundays had always been slow for business, Sojiro had told him so. People wanted to make the most out of their day off and tended to rely more on caffeine to fuel them during busy work weeks.

Still, that trend had seemingly shifted ever since Ren had moved upstairs, making friends of his own in Tokyo. They would hang around, keeping him company during long, uneventful shifts; often without need for invitation.

It was a shame they had all had other plans today and left him feeling a little sad.

For as much time they had spent and grown together, Ren almost couldn't remember what it was like; or how he had managed to get by; without them. It felt empty, alien.

Perhaps it was born of a connection between their Persona; the other self that had laid dormant inside them all.

At the lively sounds stirring through Yongen-jaya, Ren was overcome by envy.

Children laughing, dogs barking, patrons chattering with enthusiasm as they stepped out of the recently reopened movie theatre.

He wished he could be outside with them.

With no customers around, and all the dishes cleaned and stacked beside the sink, there weren't even any of the store's usual, mundane tasks that Ren could focus on to past the time.

Ren's hand lowered, digging through his pocket for his phone. Craving the distraction and hoping maybe, someone, might be finished with their commitments for the day. Willing to see him.

Before he could punch in his passcode, the bell above the door chimed.

Not wanting to incur another lecture from Sojiro about slacking off while on the clock; this from the guy who was usually reading the paper behind the counter; Ren's phone found a makeshift hiding place under the sleeve of his shirt.

However, a swell of happiness flooded through Ren, as he instead saw Makoto stepping through the door, her lips pulling into a smile.

His initial surprise dissipating, Ren exhaled, the familiar face flashing before him a beacon of relief.

He hadn't bothered messaging Makoto earlier, knowing that she was busy studying and not wanting to interrupt here. Her presence was unexpected.

Still, he wasn't complaining. Her company could keep him from going insane until Boss got back.

"Hey Makoto. How's studying going? Here for the usual?" Ren asked, hoping she would take the invitation.

"Please." She answered, setting down in the stool nearest him. "Although, I'm afraid I didn't come here just for coffee."

"Is that so?" Ren asked, sifting through the large display of beans behind him. "Well, what's up?"

"I need to ask a favour of you. One big enough to bring me here in person."

"Fire away."

"Eiko's asked us on a double date again."

Ren froze in the middle of adjusting the siphon, wondering for a moment if he had heard correctly.

"Oh." The word slipped out reflexively. "I thought she ended things with Tsukasa?"

"She did." Makoto nodded. "She has a new boyfriend now, apparently."

Ren hummed in reply, as he worked on her coffee, expecting her to continue. Though, from the way Makoto's hands kneaded together and her gaze zeroed in on the countertop; it mustn't have been easy to piece together whatever was on her mind.

Ren glanced up, taken by a momentary flash of concern. Such apprehension was unlike her; it had been for months.

"The problem is... Well- You see, after everything. I never told her that you and I dating was... just an act. It never occurred to me that this would come up again."

"So, she still thinks that we're...?"

"Exactly."

The sound of water churning at least distracted from the palpable silence that rung out between them.

As if not wanting to be swallowed up, by the heavy, oppressive atmosphere, Makoto urged herself to carry on, words now trailing from her lips in a flurry.

"While I could just turn her down, I am worried." She admitted. "I hope this won't be a repeat of what happened with Tsukasa. While I'm sure that the whole experience helped her become a better judge of character, I want to make sure her new boyfriend doesn't have any ulterior motives.

“I'm sure that we'll only need this one date to find out. After that, I can explain everything to her and clear up any confusion about us... Or lie and say that we've broken up, whichever comes easier."

"You've really thought this through." Ren laughed as he added the finishing touches to Makoto’s coffee and set it down. She accepted the cup, smiling.

“She asked me earlier today. It was bothering me so much that I couldn’t focus on studying anymore. I had to come and ask you."

“Alright. Well, let me know the time and place, and I’ll be here.”

“You’re a lifesaver, Ren. I promise this will be the last time.”

It was strange, becoming abruptly conscious of something that had long been missing.

It had never really struck Ren until now, that he and Makoto had stopped 'dating' weeks ago.

Now, starting again seemed... bittersweet, as he knew, going in, that it wouldn't last. That he would, in a way, be saying goodbye to times he had fond memories. Times that had brought he and Makoto closer.

Though, it was foolish, pointless, to despair. This being their last 'date' didn't mean that wouldn't spend time together anymore, Ren knew this.

Yet, somehow, the prospect of it ending left him feeling hollow, sad.

When the two arrived at Odaiba Seaside Park in their agreed meeting place, Makoto couldn’t find Eiko anywhere.

She wondered initially, if in her nervous haste, she had had them leave too early, arriving well before the other couple.

That must be it, she reassured herself. There was no need to worry. Dates and hangouts between friends were casual affairs, with schedules that weren't enforced that strictly. They would show up at any moment.

Though, as the minutes melted away, and the sun began fading into dusk, she grew anxious. Why hadn't Eiko turned up yet? Had something happened?

Unsurprisingly, Makoto wasn't alone in sensing something was off.

"We didn’t mix up any of the details, did we?" Ren asked, glancing over Makoto's shoulder as she double-checked the message on her phone.

"No." Makoto frowned. "Eiko said to meet right here at around 6 o’clock. Surely, they couldn't have forgotten?"

Makoto sighed. Despite how carefully she had planned, the evening was already falling apart. All because of circumstances beyond her control.

Not to mention, Ren was doing her a favour. She would feel like she was exploiting his good-will if she dragged him out for a date that didn't even end up happening.

Makoto's concern was alleviated momentarily by the chime of her phone.

"Oh, Eiko just messaged me. Perhaps they’re running late?"

Her fingers tapped against the screen, nose wrinkling at the string of words that flashed before her eyes.

Good luck! You can thank me l8r! Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ

"That's strange." She said, turning the screen towards Ren. "Perhaps she meant to send this to someone else?"

Ren's eyes narrowed as they glossed over the cryptic text before looking to her with a shrug.

Hoping for a more concise answer, Makoto frantically strung together a reply.

Eiko? What are you talking about? Where are you?

Though, as she pressed send, clutching her phone in eager anticipation, her patience and optimism began to wear thin.

Makoto doubted the message had not been seen. Eiko was rarely without her phone and normally quite punctual when responding. If anything, her concern had shifted into suspicion.

Eiko laid out an incredibly vague hint, before lapsing into apparent radio silence.

Good luck? What could that possibly mean? What is she up to?

“Should we head back?” Ren asked, his voice pulling Makoto from her reverie.

Her lips pursed.

The offer was tempting. Though, after coming all the way; even having paid the train fare; it would seem like a waste to leave.

They didn't get out of the city often. They could at least enjoy themselves for tonight.

Tourists and other couples wandered by, basking in the picturesque view of the setting sun as it draped over the water.

For every glance she exchanged with passing strangers, Makoto grew more self-conscious, wondering if perhaps they thought she and Ren were together.

If Ren noticed, he didn’t say. Instead, seeming similarly taken by the scenery as she caught him from the corner of her eye. Though it couldn’t stop the pang guilt building her chest. Being alone with him, in a clearly romantic setting, and the longing it stirred inside of her.

"I'm sorry, Ren.” Her apology broke abruptly. “I can tell Eiko. That way, we can be done with... With all of this."

"Hey, if I didn’t know any better Makoto, I’d think you didn’t enjoy my company." Ren smirked, sensing the shift in her mood.

"T-that’s not the case! I just didn’t want to trouble you anymore."

"Makoto, come on. It’s no trouble. I was happy to help you look out for Eiko, getting to spend time with you is a bonus."

"You’re a great friend, Makoto." He tacked on, lamely.

Ren panicked, internally, as the words brought a flicker of disappointment across her face.

"A friend to Eiko, I mean." He reiterated, stumbling over his words. "That’s not to say we aren’t friends. It’s just you mean, so much to me- All of you guys do. ‘Friend’ doesn’t really describe it, you’re like… confidants."

Makoto couldn’t contain the peal of laughter that broke from her lips.

"It’s alright Ren, I understand."

Ren was quiet, at times, but concise and deliberate when he did speak. For him to stammer was unusual.

For everything he had endured and accomplished as their leader, it was a reminder that he wasn’t infallible. Even though Ren seemed more socially attuned than her, he was still an ordinary teenager who could become awkward and flustered. It was something Makoto found reassuring.

Her eyes fell on Rainbow Bridge, stretching back into Tokyo. Reminded of longing daydreams that plagued her, of having someone to walk across it with. She exhaled, wistfully, knowing her luck in that department.

"I guess Eiko was right when she said I would flunk a test on love.” Makoto said. “The only way I could make her think otherwise was by lying. I can’t learn about romance by myself."

"What about me?"

"I appreciate the offer, Ren,” Makoto sighed, “but I think we should stop pretend dating-"

No sooner had she formed the words than they were stifled by the pressure of Ren’s own lips gently capturing hers. Makoto’s eyes widened, the space dissipating between them, as she was pulled into his arms.

Only when the kiss had lingered long enough for her to find her own rhythm, to confirm that it was real, did he pull away, the sincerity and intenseness of his gaze pinning her down.

"You’re right. We should.”

#shumako #shumakoweek #shumako week day 1 #fanfiction #persona 5 #p5

24 notes · View notes

wayward-river · 5 years

Text

My Boys

Sweet Pea x Plus!Size Reader x Fangs

AN: I’m so sorry it took me a bit to something out! I’ll be working on some more things today so hopefully I can make up for it and have one or two more things out. Here is a requested imagine it got away from me so it’s 3771 words.

AN 2: Also big thank you to @xserpentlife as this was my first poly fic and helped me through it a lot and being the beta as always. <3

Warnings: Violence, panic attack, anxiety, self doubt, drunk guy comments

You were running trying not to look back your breathing heavy as you tried to stay one step ahead of the ghoulie who was out for blood. You took a chance to look back to see if you had any time to breathe but wanted to continue running in doing so you ran into a solid chest.

“Whoa” Strong arms wrapped around you.

You looked up into a pair of chocolate brown eyes and almost cried tears of happiness. “F-Fangs. Oh thank god. G-Ghoulies.”

At the mention of the rival gang. Fangs swung you behind his back, another pair of arms steadying you as he stepped in front of you along side Fangs.

“Sweet Pea, Fangs lets just... lets get out of here.”

“No Y/N its time to teach these ghoulies they don’t fuck with our girls and get away with it.”

It was true that Serpent girls had been targeted the most lately and these two boys in front of you had plenty to say about it.

You watched the three ghoulies halt at the sight of Fangs and Sweet Pea.

“What not so much fun when it’s two on three?” Sweet Pea gritted through clenched teeth.

Fangs clenched his fists around his brass knuckles ready for one of them to throw a punch.

When did he even put those on?

You flinched as Fangs took the first hit. Your eyes closing not wanting to see him get hurt for you. It seemed like things were going to take a turn for the worse before Sweet Pea knocked out the smallest of the ghoulies. The other two taking a pretty good beating after it becoming a little more fair fight. Knowing they weren’t going to win the two ghoulies tucked tail and ran leaving the third laying on the pavement.

“I’ll take care of Y/N, if you got this.” Fangs asked.

Sweet Pea gave a short nod to him before looking back to you giving you a smile while Fangs threw his arm around you.

“Shouldn’t we wait?”

“Sweet Pea is going to take him back to the Wyrm see what info we can get. Let’s just get you home okay.”

You gave a small nod as you surveyed Fangs face taking in the small cuts and blood drying.

You let him walk you home coming to a stop in front of your trailer.

“Fangs… will you let me clean you up? I mean it’s the least I could do.” You fidgeted with the hem of your hoodie as you looked at the ground.

“I mean I’ll be fine Y/N/N... but if it makes you feel better than yes.”

You looked back up smiling as you unlocked your front door, walking into your small trailer.

“You can uh sit at the table there and I’ll go grab my first aid kit.”

“You have one of those handy do you?” Fangs laughed.

“Well I mean I am friends with you and Pea.” You hollered back from the bathroom.

You walked back into the small kitchen. Fangs had lost his serpent jacket and was looking down.

You pulled the chair to him gently placing your hand on his cheek. “Hey, you okay?”

“Yeah just I’m really glad we were there. I mean what if we weren’t Y/N?”

“Hey, you were okay. So don’t think of what could have been because you both saved me, you saved me Fangs.”

You took your hand off his cheek grabbing a the towel and the hydrogen peroxide dipping it in and placing it on his cheek. This went on for a few minutes until you were satisfied that nothing would be infected and the blood was gone from his face.

“Okay Fangs I think you are good.” Your hand lingered on his face as he brought his up covering yours and leaning in.

You watched him wet his lips, your heart racing as he connected your lips together.

You both pulled away a small smile on his face. “I’m really sorry Y/N I shouldn’t have done that I have just had the biggest crush on you since we were little and after tonight I just couldn’t imagine losing you and never have had the guts to tell you how I feel.”

You leaned into Fangs a bit more. “It’s okay, don’t apologize I liked it.”

Fangs gave you a cheeky smile before he got up grabbing his jacket and putting it back on. “I have to go check on Sweet Pea but I would like to continue … whatever this is”

You gave a smile and a nod as you watched him walk out your front door.

A Week Later

You were sitting at the bar waiting for Fangs and Toni to get there while Sweet Pea was showing some new person how to lose in pool. It was a small tradition since you were all newer recruits to get together at the Wyrm to just let everything be for a night. You were fiddling with your glass when Jake stepped in beside you leaning on the counter.

“Hey Y/N” He slurred.

You almost gagged at the smell of his breath. “Hey Jake … why don’t we get some water in you.” You motioned for Hogeye to grab a tall glass of water.

A small gasp escaped your lips when you turned back towards Jake as he was leaned in closer inches from your face.

“How about instead of some water, some of you. I mean it’d probably be a favor to you given the way you look. I bet you haven’t had anyone do anything to you in quite some time how about we head back to my trailer.” He gave a sly smirk as he tried his best to wink.

“I think I’m good Jake. You are drunk so I’m going to let this slide” You cut him off as you tried pushing him away from you.

“I could show you the time of your life baby” his hand landed on your thigh slowly sliding up

“I think she said she was good Jake.” The booming voice of the tall angry serpent sent chills through you. As he stepped over taking Jake's wrist off of you.

“Pea don’t he’s drunk.” You tried to convince him not to do anything physical.

“It doesn’t fucking matter Y/N. He should know better, but I won’t do anything drastic. Just will remove him from the situation let him cool off.”

You rolled your eyes but gave Sweet Pea a grateful smile.

“Let's go Jake.” Sweet Pea pulled the back of his serpent jacket to him throwing him over his shoulder and carrying him up the stairs of the Wyrm.

It was a few minutes that you sat shaky at the bar still. You watched Sweet Pea walk back down the stairs. You locked eyes with him as he gave you a smile and took out his pack of reds and shook them slightly telling you to join him.

You stepped into the brisk air a slight chill making you shiver as you stepped out next to Sweet Pea. “Here.” He placed his jacket over your shoulders and then handed you a cigarette.

“Thanks Pea, for both things. I’m glad you were there.”

He lit your cigarette for you as he exhaled. “It’s no big deal Y/N/N I’ll always be there to protect you.”

You brought your cigarette up to your lips inhaling deeply, pulling your hand down to your side as you closed your eyes and exhaled deeply.

You opened your eyes to see Sweet Pea staring at you. “What? Do I have something on my face and you are being an ass by not telling me?”

“No.. no you are just so beautiful.” He softly whispered as he leaned down and before you could do anything to stop it his lips were on yours and you melted into it kissing him back.

Your thoughts catching back up you pushed him away. “I - I gotta go. Sorry Sweets.” You threw the cigarette down onto the ground before rushing back inside the Wyrm bumping into Fangs and Toni.

“Y/N! There you are!” Fangs yelled trying to pull you into a hug.

“I can’t I- not right now I’m sorry” You side stepped him and rushed out of the front doors.

Fangs stood shocked. Sweet Pea walking back in pulled him out of his thoughts.

“Hey do you know what Y/N’s problem was?”

Sweet Pea stayed silent moving past his friends and following Y/N out the door.

“I think they might have had an argument. I mean it’s Y/N and Sweet Pea they butt heads all the time but never has it gotten this bad.” Toni pulled Fangs back out of his thoughts.

“Yeah I think I’m going to go check on her.” Toni nodded as she watched Fangs turn to leave.

Fangs walked up the steps to your trailer meeting Sweet Pea about to knock on the door.

“Don’t you think you pissed her off enough man?”

Sweet Pea scoffed. “I shouldn’t have fucking kissed her but damn I couldn’t help it.”

“Wait… what?” Fangs asked in disbelief.

“Y/N, Fangs, I kissed her outside the Wyrm after Jake got a little too touchy. I just she was just standing there smoking and I couldn’t resist it you know?”

Fangs let out an awkward laugh. “Uh yeah I think I do know.”

Sweet Pea turned to look at Fangs. “What do you mean?”

“I uh kissed her the other night after she cleaned me up.”

Sweet Pea sighed his hands going through his hair. “Shit man, I didn’t-I wouldn’t have.”

“I know, but hey let's just talk to her?”

Sweet Pea nodded knocking on the door.

You opened the door quickly meeting Sweet Pea and Fangs.

“Sweets … and Fangs. The both of you? This is fantastic.” You rambled off quickly.

Fangs and Sweet Pea shared a look. “Look Y/N just calm down okay?” Sweet Pea tried.

“Calm down… CALM DOWN!” You took a deep breath letting out a nervous laugh “I can’t calm down I kissed both of you and now you are both here and I don’t… I can’t …. I don’t know what to do.”

“Y/N/N how about you sit down first okay, and then we will all talk this out together.” Fangs added while leading you to your couch.

“Okay but I’m going to need a beer.”

Sweet Pea chuckled. “On it.”

Fangs set down on one side of you, while Sweet Pea handed you a beer and took the other side.

You opened the beer, chugging half of it before you set it down.

“Okay.” You took a deep breath. “I don’t think I can.. I can’t choose between you two. I can’t ruin your friendship that you have. I can’t be with one of you without thinking of the other, and how about the fact that the both of you like me… me of all people. Like how I’m me.” You leaned over wrapping your arms under your legs your face in your knees.

“What if you didn’t have to choose?” Fangs looked to Sweet Pea for confirmation.

“I mean yeah what if it was both of us? I mean I’ve kissed Fangs drunk before so it can’t be much different sober. We could… be together the three of us. Plus how could we not like you Y/N, you are beautiful no matter what that bastard at the Wyrm said to you.” Sweet Pea added.

You lifted yourself up, looking back and forth between the two boys. “Okay… I’m willing to give this a shot, but I don’t want it to be a big deal. I don’t want people to know until we are ready, until we know this really works… okay?”

“Okay.” Fangs and Sweet Pea said in unison. Both of them leaning in and kissing your cheeks. A giggle escaped you as you pushed them away playfully.

“Do you want to watch a movie?” You asked turning on an old rom com. Sweet Pea groaned beside you as you chuckled.

“It’s two against one Pea, I know for a fact rom coms are a Fangs favorite.” You smiled as you leaned into his side, throwing your legs over Fangs. Sweet Peas arms wrapped around you as Fangs drew circles on your legs during the movie.

You had drifted off to sleep somewhere during the movie and woke up in Sweet Peas arms. Fangs nowhere to be seen.

You carefully pried yourself out of Sweet Peas grip around you, walking to the small kitchen. “Fangs” You whispered trying not to wake Sweet Pea.

You walked into Fangs making coffee for himself. “Hey baby, you want some coffee?”

You smiled as you sat at the table. “Oh I won’t say no.”

“Last night was perfect… I’m really glad we are giving this a shot.”

Fangs smiled as he placed a mug in front of you kissing the top of your head.

“Me too.”

You and Fangs sat at your kitchen table talking about how things were going to be and if you wanted to hide anything. After about an hour you decided to wake up Sweet Pea. You poured a cup of coffee and walked back into the living room. Fangs leaned on the wall sipping his coffee, no one ever woke up Sweet Pea without being hit or yelled at and he was not going to miss this.

You set the coffee mug down on the side table and straddled Sweet Pea leaning over as you peppered his face with kisses.

“Mmmm I could get used to waking up like this.” Sweet Pea mumbled.

“From just her?” Fangs deep laugh making you giggle as Sweet Pea grabbed you.

Sweet Pea sent Fangs the finger as you pulled him up.

“You do have a job today Sweets.” You informed him.

“I know.” He groaned. “I wanted a day with you.”

“It won’t be for long, just come back to me okay?” You kissed him on his cheek again as he gripped your thighs.

You got off of the couch allowing Sweet Pea to get up, he grabbed his jacket and pulled you into his arms as he gave you a kiss on the lips, pulling away before kissing you again a few more times. You stepped away as Sweet Pea walked to the door, pausing at Fangs and leaning in and giving him a kiss on his cheek.

This was going to take some getting used to.

Sweet Pea walked out the door leaving just you and Fangs.

“Man I thought I was going to have to make the first move.”

You laughed throwing a pillow that was on the couch from the night before.

It had been a few months and everything had been going fine. It took some time to get used to and Sweet Pea had warmed up getting more comfortable than just a kiss on the cheek to Fangs but he was still a little more affectionate towards you. It was going to take some testing and some getting used to but everything seemed to be going great and you were all able to keep it under wraps until the switch to Riverdale High.

Toni had caught you and Fangs a few months ago making out at the Wyrm. She had seemed so happy that you and Fangs were together, that you and Fangs hadn’t exactly opened up about Sweet Pea being apart of it as well.

You were sitting in the lounge with Sweet Pea, everyone had left and Fangs was showing up late today. He leaned in closer to you giving your lips a small peck.

“Pea” You laughed pushing him away playfully. “We need to get to class”

“I wish I could just skip with you” He kissed you again.

“We have class together, c’mon” You stood up trying to pull him up.

His arms snaked around you pulling you back onto the couch more so straddling him as he connected your lips again.

“I forgot my… WHAT THE HELL!” Toni yelled causing you and Sweet Pea to separate.

“Toni.. I can explain!” You tried, seeing the rage in your best friends eyes.

“You can explain what Y/N? How you fucked over our best friend for the other one? What you just weren’t happy enough with Fangs you had to break both of their hearts?”

“Toni” Sweet Pea tried standing up.

“AND YOU, did you know or are you in the dark? Cause I swear if you knew and the both of you hurt Fangs. I will fuck the both of you up.”

With that she turned to go leaving the two of you speechless. You watched as she walked out as Fangs walked in.

“Whoa Toni what’s gotten into you?”

“Your fucking so called girlfriend and best friend” She spat.

Fangs grabbed her arm before she got around him. “Hey what do you mean my so called girlfriend and best friend?”

Toni turned around motioning to Sweet Pea and you. “These two are shacking up Fangs. Sorry to break it this way but sometimes you just need tough love.”

Fangs started to laugh making Toni confused. “Why are you laughing Fangs?”

“Ton, I tried to tell you. We are together. All of us.” You spoke.

Toni moved her eyes between the three of you. “Like two boyfriends who share the same girlfriend?”

You all nodded.

“Oh man I’m so sorry for everything I said. I respect you guys and though this is weird like really weird I didn’t expect it I hope to get to understand plus you guys are cute together” She started.

You rushed to her pulling her into a hug. “It’s okay Toni, you didn’t know. I should have told you.”

Fangs cleared his throat. “Not that I want to break up this moment… but we should get to class.”

“Yeah I’ll catch up to you I have to use the bathroom.” You watched your boyfriends and Toni walk out as you gathered your things.

You made it halfway down the hallway before you bumped into Chuck Clayton.

You put your head down holding your books close to your chest as you tried to just walk around him.

“Hey Y/N heard you like two guys, I mean it must be hard for one person to love all of you. I could show you a nice time. Give you a good sticky maple.” He smirked getting closer to you.

You scoffed “I think I’m good Chuck.”

He put his hand out in front of you resting it on the locker. “C’mon I could show you a better time than those two I mean look at you, you probably haven’t had a good fuck in your life.”

All of a sudden Chuck was pulled backwards and slammed into a locker. “You talking about our girl like that for a reason bulldog?”

Your eyes went wide as you watched Sweet Pea pin Chuck to the lockers, Fangs behind him a look of pure rage on his face.

Your breathing became uneven as you thought about what you were putting these boys through. You leaned down trying to catch your breath before you took off down the hallway.

Fangs saw you bolt from the corner of his eye. “Pea. PEA!” Fangs put his hand on Sweet Peas shoulder trying to get his attention. “Y/N needs you, leave this asshole be.”

Sweet Pea let go of Chuck “You are so lucky my girl needs me.” Sweet Pea harshly got out through his clenched teeth. Turning towards Fangs. “Which way’d she go?”

“Towards the parking lot.”

“I hope she’s okay”

“Hey, don’t worry she will be” Fangs hand pressed to the center of my back and I leaned in kissing his lips and grabbing his hand right as we made our way outside.

You sat leaning against Fangs truck breathing heavily your head in between your knees. The tears falling down your cheeks no care to even wipe them.

“Baby?”

“Princessa?”

You shook harder at their voices. They should be in class not protecting you.

You felt Fangs sit down next to you his lips pressing a soft kiss to your temple.

Sweet Pea crouched down in front of you. “Baby count with me okay?”

“One”

You were silent.

Fangs grabbed your hand squeezing it “Please princess, just try”

“Two” Sweet Pea continued

You let out a shaky two your breathing steadying out. You looked up at both boys. Sweet Pea wiped the tears from your cheeks as Fangs placed another kiss to the side of your face.

“There’s my beautiful Y/N/N.”

You gave them a weak smile. “Thanks”

Sweet Pea moved to sit on the other side of you. Fangs gave Sweet Pea a look a silent conversation going on over your head. Both boys leaned in kissing your cheeks making you laugh but instead of pushing them away you turned towards Fangs pulling him close as you placed a chaste kiss on his lips before turning and doing the same to Sweet Pea.

“Now what’s wrong baby, it can’t just be what Chuck said” you looked to both of them afraid that what you would say would hurt their feelings. “I… I just feel bad you two are always protecting me and with this, with us, this relationship it’s gonna be constant like Chuck today. I just… I don’t know, I’m sorry” you looked down and Fangs grabbed your chin lifting it to look at him.

“You do not need to apologize, you are my world, our world. We will always protect you, always” I nodded and then Sweet Pea put his hand to my cheek.

“Listen baby girl I know this is different, it’s different for all of us but we’re trying. Yes, we will have ups and downs we will have people that don’t like it or make fun of it but screw them. This... what we have is between us. And I love you and I love Fangs and nothing will change that. People can say what the want but we will always have each other.”

You looked up and pulled both their shirts to you. They wrapped you in their arms, in that moment you felt happy, content, safe. Your boys were protective, but they were your everything and they were yours, and no one could change that.

#fangs x sweet pea x reader #fangs forgarty x reader #sweet pea x reader #fangs imagine #sweet pea imagine #sweet pea x plus!size reader #fangs x plus!size reader #riverdale imagine #riverdale x reader #riverdale reader insert

362 notes · View notes

codynaomiswireart · 6 years

Text

“Gauze in the Wound” - Part 13

Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12

Wow, this story just keeps getting harder and harder to write! Sorry about the long wait for this chapter. Hopefully it's worth it though.

Also, bringing some more OC's into the mix! Usually, when writing fan fiction, I try not to add too many new characters that aren't canon, but with the way the story's going/will go, it just feels called for this time around.

Sabine and Pontus character descriptions for those who are curious - https://codynaomiswireart.tumblr.com/post/174347636560/tangled-the-series-ocs-sabine-and-pontus-have

Elsewhere, deep in one of the forests of the Seven Kingdoms, a bright white stag went bounding through the thickets as the elder eagle screed overhead, relating to the king of the wood the stirrings that were occurring at this very hour in the kingdom of Equis. Help was surely to be needed soon, destiny was at hand, and they must make all haste if they were to make it in time.

With a sweet, keening call, the stag announced his arrival at the cottage in the glen where a single lantern glowed dim in the dark shade of the moonlit canopy, marking the front gate to what appeared to be a meager, humble abode. A few seconds later, another glow came alight inside the thatched-roofed cottage, and a figure carrying the light could be seen dimly through the windows as they made their way to the front door.

“Oh, Pontus!” Sabine greeted the hart with a gentle, wrinkled hand in his bright white muzzle. “What is it old friend? What’s happened?”

With a few more grunts, gestures, and a trilling interjection from the elder eagle as he alighted by the door, Sabine was able to get enough of the message to understand.

“Great trouble in Equis. Must go immediately. We will lead you there.”

“Right-o then,” Sabine said as she beckoned her woodland comrades into her cottage. Such a sight would’ve been seen as counterintuitive to anyone who did not know the magic of that house, but in reality, there was almost no faster way to get around the forests of the Seven Kingdoms than via Sabine’s Safe House.

“To Equis then,” Sabine announced as she turned the dials and lit up the crystals on the old, enchanted astrolabe mounted to the back of the front door. The dark blue glasswork behind it shimmered with various constellations and planetary symbols as the device came alight, and the whole frame of that house vibrated and groaned like a rapidly growing tree before becoming completely still again moments later. This done, Sabine hurriedly grabbed a dark cloak, first-aid kit, and her trusty winding staff that sat waiting to the side of the door. Then she and her company stepped their way back out over the threshold and into a whole other part of the Seven Kingdoms, now within the territory of Equis.

“Lead on you two!” Sabine said as she mounted up onto Pontus’s back, and the stag and eagle rushed off towards the south and west where they could sense fateful battle was soon to be at hand.

“Varian!” Xavier yelped in surprise from the back of the crowd, having just recovered from the shock of seeing Varian, Queen Arianna, and a giant feral Ruddiger of all things standing between them and the separatists’ hideout. By now, the separatists themselves were scrambling to get back up from the ground, and were getting into a defensive formation as they readied their bows and blades to combat the new, unexpected threat that stood in their way.

“Xavier, are you all right?” Varian called back to him, his voice serious as both he and Arianna stood poised to strike with their weapons aimed at the crowd. Ruddiger’s throat vibrated with low warning growls, deterring any sudden movements or shots fired from the opposing side. As the beast flexed his huge muscles under his thick, leathery hide, it was clear to the archers that no arrows would be taking him down easily.

“Varian! Y-you shouldn’t be here!” Xavier exclaimed, his tone somewhere between frightened and livid. “And your majesty! What were you two thinking!? You should’ve stayed safe back at the castle! Don’t you realize what could happen if they got a hold of-!?”

“Eeeeeeeeeee! Ha ha ha!”

Suddenly, a sharp, screeching, completely unanticipated cry of delight shattered the tense atmosphere, and all eyes couldn’t help but stop and turn to its source.

“Oh my gosh brother, you were right!” the lady spy said as she clapped her hands together and bounced like a child on the balls of her feet, her eyes wide with wonder as they fixed on the shaggy behemoth that stood before them. “Ha ha ha! Look at him! Isn’t he just amazing? He he! And SO cute!”

Varian blinked a couple times, completely thrown for a few seconds by the randomness of having someone gush over Ruddiger in his giant beast form, and during such a time of crisis as this. Varian glanced bewilderedly back and forth between his gigantic, snarling guardian and the lady separatist who beamed up at him as if she’d just seen the most adorable of kittens playing with a ball of yarn on the carpet at home.

“Awwww, aren’t you just the best thing ever! C-can I pet him, please?”

“You stand back!” Varian yelled, and Ruddiger roared defensively in response to the urgency of his master’s voice. The Saporian agent let out another series of giggles as he did so, though she did step back a pace or two at their warning.

“Now, let’s try this again,” Varian began, and pausing as Queen Arianna now made to speak.

“In the name of King Frederic of Corona, and I, her majesty Queen Arianna, we demand that you release Xavier of Corona. If you fail to comply, you will taste the wrath of the crown and our allies, and suffer the consequences.”

“Never!” the commander shouted to the queen in reply. “How dare you make such a threat to Saporia, you Coronian scum! You have no authority here in Equis, and we outnumber you ten to one! All of you!” the commander called back to his comrades. “Ready your weapons, and attack on my signal!”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Varian said, his voice now turning astoundingly cool and confident, and his face even managing a small sneer as he reached into the pack at his hip and pulled out several glowing vials. Fanning them out between the fingers of his free hand, Varian tried to look as confident and intimidating as he could, given his age and current stature. Which, surprisingly, ended up begin quite a bit, especially given the stark contrast between light and shadow that was splashed across his features in the pale light of the full moon behind him, and the glowing vials he held at the ready.

“Unless you guys just really want to be run over by several hundred pounds worth of sheer muscle, feel the pain of several thousand pounds per square inch of jaw strength sink into your guts, and taste the cold steel and bitter chemicals of ancient alchemy, I suggest you all stand down, right now.”

Arianna’s eyes narrowed, and she had to struggle to withhold any words of annoyance at Varian’s deliberately leaving her out of his equation for their fighting force (not that this exclusion surprised her, given how obstinate he could be). And she also tried not to shudder at Varian’s drastic change in tone as he said those harsh words with such smugness, for it was very unnerving to see how quickly Varian could shift his apparent mood when he felt the need. Only minutes ago, he had been near to tears at seeing Ruddiger’s painful transformation, and had comforted the creature with words and gestures so tender that it was hard to believe he had been capable of any villainy at all. But now, Arianna felt a chill run down her spine as Varian re-donned that snarky, twisted, hostile demeanor that he had taken on that one fateful day, and that always left one with a moment of doubt upon witnessing it as to whether or not the boy had actually ever displayed any such tenderness before in his life.

The difference was truly night and day – a contrast as stark as the light and shadow that currently outlined his features.

“At least we’re on the same side this time,” Arianna thought to herself as she worked to hold her bow steady, and she felt her arms begin to ache with the effort to hold it taut before her. She really hoped this confrontation would end soon, and with their victory. …Somehow. “I hope you have a plan Varian.”

Meanwhile, Varian did his best to maintain his show of confident control as they faced the line of Saporian warriors, and he tried desperately to hide the fears growing behind the mask that was his smirking expression. While Varian’s original plans (the ones before factoring in a giant Ruddiger that is) had been to depend more on stealth and trickery rather than any direct confrontation in pulling off this mission (a tactic that had worked extremely well for him in the past), that option was no longer viable given the separatists’ proximity to their headquarters, and Ruddiger’s sudden new show of muscle. As such, the next best outcome was to avoid any physical conflict through intimidation of the Saporian forces, and simply get them to surrender Xavier back to them peaceably. For if there was one thing that Varian’s time as a rival to Rapunzel and Corona had taught him, it was that a display of power could do wonders for getting your enemies to cooperate with you, whether you actually had that power at your disposal or not.

True, Varian had actually been quite powerful back then. And with Ruddiger and a few tricks up Varian’s sleeves, it could be argued that he still had some power in a sense here and now.

But it wasn’t anything like what Varian had had before, and there were plenty of disadvantages and doubts to be factored in. But Varian couldn’t have afforded to have that show back then, and he couldn’t afford it now. It was all mind games really in the end, and Varian had to make sure that he didn’t lose this round. So, Varian dug deep and resurrected that part of himself that delighted (or seemed to delight) in such things as this, and did all he could to project that as he stood his ground, looking his enemies in the eyes.

But again, Varian found himself thrown for a moment as he threats were met not with the commander backing down, nor with the next likely response of a hailstorm of arrows sent their way. …But with a slow applause.

“Well played master alchemist!” the one whom the lady agent had referred to as “brother” now said as he took a couple steps forward, giving off a few slow claps as he did so. “Well played indeed! It appears things have come to an impasse now, wouldn’t you say?”

“Wha- …what are you talking about!?” the commander shouted at the male spy, looking as confused as Varian and Arianna – though with an added dash of anger – as he rounded on his comrade. “This is no time for exchanging pleasantries! Have you also gone mad tonight!? Ugh! Everyone else! If we rush them now we can take them! On my mark! All of you! Ready, ai- Gah!”

Varian’s eyes widened, and for a split second he’d thought that Queen Arianna had let fly one of her own arrows, and that Varian had somehow missed seeing it fly through the air. But as the commander fell forward, Varian realized the shocking truth.

He’d been hit from behind! By one of his own men!

“My apologies,” the male spy continued calmly as one of the larger agents came forward, slinging the limp body of the commander over his shoulder before retreating with him back behind the line of troops. “He is a rather short fuse I’m afraid, and it wouldn’t do at all to have him-”

“You…you monsters!” Arianna now cried out as she aimed her bow at the spy. “How-how could you kill one of your own like that!?”

“Hm? Oh, I see,” the male spy continued, not at all shaken by what had just transpired. “Now don’t go worrying your pretty royal head my dear. He’s merely unconscious. That would be a stun dart, not an arrow, that you would’ve seen sticking into his back.”

“But…but what about-?”

“When he wakes up? Tch! He won’t even remember the last few moments before he was hit. And when he does wake up, we’ll just tell him that you – our enemies – did it to him. Heh! Has worked several times before now, and he still doesn’t suspect a thing. Right lads?”

A series of snickers broke out from the rest of the troops at these words, and Varian and Arianna couldn’t help but exchange a fretful glance between themselves as they heard it. Had they all gone mad? And more still, if the Saporians had, did this make things easier or more dangerous for their own side?

“Enough of this!” Arianna tried again, feeling her queenly and motherly instincts for protection flare up inside of her as she once more aimed her arrow at the agent, who now seemed to have taken the lead as the commander was incapacitated. “This is your last warning! If you don’t return Xavier of Corona to our charge, we will have no choice but to attack!”

“No your majesty!” Xavier cried, but he was interrupted before he could say more.

“My dear, please, we do not want to fight,” the agent stated calmly as he put away his own weapon, and with the others all following suit. Varian and Arianna both frowned hard, neither one of them putting away their own weapons as heavy suspicion crept into both of their minds.

“Huh! Do you really expect us to believe that?” Queen Arianna retorted angrily. “You raided the forge, assaulted several of our citizens, kidnapped one of them, attempted to kidnap another, sabotaged our fleet, set fire to multiple buildings in our capital, and you still somehow expect us to believe you mean us no harm? Sorry, but we are not so foolish as that.”

“Oh, I didn’t say we didn’t mean you any harm my dear,” the agent continued to explain, both Varian and Arianna having to struggle to hide their confusion at this statement. “Mark my words your majesty, Saporia will rise again, and you, your king, and all your kindred will only be able to watch as we reclaim the land that was meant for our ancestors and their descendants.”

Varian thought this agent must either be incredibly brave, or else had a death wish like no other. Varian had never seen such steeliness in the queen’s eyes before, and it was a wonder to him that she didn’t let an arrow fly at the man here and now. But somehow, Arianna restrained herself, though her clenched jaw and furrowed brow testified to how close she was to delivering the first blow of a potential melee.

“But I do speak truly when I say that we do not want to fight. Not this night anyway.”

“Then hand Xavier over, and we can all go home,” Arianna growled through clenched teeth, the tip of her arrow glistening on the moonlight.

“Ha! Now you’re the one who is being rich, your majesty.” The male agent scoffed. “As I said before, we are currently at an impasse. And I see no reason why we should just hand the blacksmith back over to you without…some form of compensation for this action.”

“You wanna make a deal then? Well, I’ve got your deal,” Varian now made to interject before Arianna could reply again, and Arianna could feel her pulse quicken with anxiety as she wondered what Varian had in mind as he reached into his pack, letting the glowing vials drop back in, though still keeping the Demanitus steel sword pointed before him and his eyes looking forward at all times. After a second of shuffling about in his pack, Varian pulled out the book that contained the notes for creating Demanitus steel.

“Here’s the formula for creating Demanitus steel,” Varian said, not daring to glance at the looks of horror on Arianna or Xavier’s faces as he held it up for the agents to see. “The formula in exchange for Xavier. That’s my offer. Take it, or leave it.”

“NO VARIAN!” Xavier yelled. “Don’t give it to them! Not for me! My life isn’t worth endangering the lives of-!”

“Shut up you!” one of the burly agents guarding Xavier snapped at him. “Unless you want to be gagged or knocked out, you’ll shut your cakehole, see?”

Varian glared hard at the agent that yelled at Xavier, but quickly turned his attention back to their leader as he waited for his answer. He also tried to tune out Xavier’s desperate words against the action just now. Varian couldn’t afford to show any second-guessing. Not in this instance.

The male agent seemed to think hard for moment as he stroked a thoughtful hand across his goatee several times. He appeared to be genuinely considering the offer, and everyone waited with baited breath for his answer. After a moment, the agent gave a small nod. “You’ve got a deal, master alchemist.”

Varian couldn’t help but let out a small sigh of relief. “Right then,” he said as he made to step forward to make the trade, ignoring the feeling of Queen Arianna’s wide eyes on him as he moved forward. “Let’s get this over with.”

But just then, Varian was stopped as the agent raised a hand in signal for him to not come any closer.

“However,” the agent said in a tone that made Arianna and Xavier’s skin crawl, and Varian feel again on edge. “I would like to add another offer to our end of the deal, if quite agreeable to you of course.”

“Ugh, what is it?” Varian asked irritably, and tried hard not to show his growing sense of urgency, as he knew that it was only a matter of a few more minutes perhaps before Ruddiger resumed his normal, smaller form. If that happened, the impasse would no longer be held between the two sides. They didn’t have much more time, and Varian hated the idea of things stalling for too long.

Then, in response to Varian’s inquiry, the male spy brought his hand down from a “stop” signal…and instead held it out to Varian as if offering him a handshake, and his lips curled back into a smile.

“I offer for you, Varian, son of Quirin, the chance to join our ranks, to become one of our brethren, and to become part of the Separatists of Saporia.”

Varian couldn’t help but have his eyes go wide with surprise as he heard these words, and it was a whole couple seconds before he managed some sort of response. “What?” Varian asked the agent to repeat.

“I offer you a place among us, Varian,” the man repeated again, with his sister nodding enthusiastically behind him. “Join us, and be free of the shackles that is the kingdom of Corona!”

Arianna now began to feel her blood run cold, and she was forced to finally lower her bow a little as her arms began to shake, and her heart rate spiked in her chest. Arianna looked over at Varian, and though his expression was still stunned, and his eyebrows knit together in hard thought, she also detected a slight softening in his eyes as the man’s words began to sink in – their vocabulary obviously chosen very deliberately for Varian’s situation. And this was the final horror that made Arianna’s heart falter the most, as she detected the slightest lowering of Varian’s sword in response.

…He was actually considering it!

Xavier also detected this change in Varian’s countenance, and shook his head, trying to deny it, but not being able to do so honestly. “NO VARIAN, DON’T!” Xavier tried shouting again. “Don’t listen to him! He’s only trying to- mmpphfff!”

“I told you to keep quiet!” the burly agent standing next to him hissed as put a gag on Xavier.

“Hey! Leave him alone!” Varian yelled, his sword rising back up a few inches as he was momentarily snapped out of his thoughts at the sight of his mentor being handled so roughly. But before Varian could say any more to the effect, the male agent continued to speak.

“Steady on now my boy, we won’t hurt him. I give you my word that whatever you decide tonight, the old man will be free to go once our negotiations are complete. But again, I ask you Varian, will you not join us in our campaign against Corona? It is no secret to us that the king has held you prisoner these last several months. And for what? For you taking measures that were only called for because he couldn’t do his job properly, and left his kingdom and its citizens to crumble in the cataclysm that had been unleashed by the mysterious black rocks? What sort of a king is that who would abandon his people in their time of need? But we Saporians aim to fix that – to make a new kingdom that will care about its citizens, and not let the elite hide away in their towers while everyone else must suffer. I’m sure it is no slip of fate that we are meeting here now, and the king and his guards are nowhere near here. Would you really be such a fool as to let this opportunity of escape from their tyranny pass you by? To join forces with us, and get the justice you’ve waited so long for?”

…Varian’s own heart was beating loud in his ears now, a whole storm of emotions was beginning to rage inside of him, and his thoughts were flying thick and fast across his mind and his heart. It was a real strain to try to keep his expression somewhat neutral as the seconds ticked on by.

…It felt as if a layer of his old wounds was being reopened again, the man’s tempting offer pulling at the gauze that had been applied there over the last several months…

…Varian’s sword point lowered a little more.

“Varian-!” Arianna tried to interject at his side, hoping that somehow she would know what to say to him, and realizing how terribly the situation was suddenly turning against them. But the man interrupted her again.

“Besides, what have any of these people ever done for you that you should continue to serve them, eh?” he said. “What have they ever done to make up for what happened to you and to Old Corona? Are you not still waiting for recompense, or even a simple apology? Are they still not inhabiting their lofty towers, and coming down only when one of their own is in trouble? When one is deemed worthy of their time and attention? Did they not attack you those months ago and lead you away prisoner from your own home? A home you were left alone to defend because of their neglect? Where is the justice in all that?”

Varian’s sword lowered even further, his eyebrows scrunching together hard.

Arianna’s brain was working rapidly, trying desperately to come up with something – anything! – to say that would steer Varian away from disaster, but she couldn’t think of what to say. Behind the two of them, Ruddiger gave a small whimper as he could detect the distress whirring within the two of them, and also inside Xavier as he continued to struggle against the gag and his bindings that held him back tight.

Varian now moved to tuck the book of Demantius steel loosely into his pouch as he made to grasp his sword with two hands, for he looked as if the sword had suddenly felt too heavy for him to hold up with just one. It all felt so heavy – everything. And Varian wasn’t sure he could bear it anymore! Hardly even thinking about it, Varian found himself taking deep breathes again as Xavier had taught him, trying hard to keep himself together, feeling as if he was coming near to a metaphorical precipice, and trying to decide whether or not he should take the plunge right off it.

“And why not?” he couldn’t help but think to himself, his sword beginning to lower again. “He is right after all. You’ve never even gotten a single apology from any of the royals in this whole thing! They never even tried to-!”

[“Varian, I’m SO sorry, I didn’t mean-”]

“Pfft! Yeah, and a fat lot of good those stupid words did you! It’s not like Rapunzel actually came down from her ivory tower and actually did anything for you anyway. None of them came down to help you for anythi-”

[“I’m coming with you…You need me to do this.”]

“Oh…Well…Y-yes, the queen is here. True. She did do that. B-but she only did that because of Xavier remember? He’s really the only reason why she’s out here at all. Not you. That would be the ‘one of their own’ bit, remember? Xavier counts, but you don’t. Not like that. Not to them. You never have. You’ve always just been the child menace, the dangerous alchemist. You weren’t ever worthy of their time and attention. Not in their eyes. You’ve only been a means to an end for them really, when they actually did need your talents. Even when Rapunzel first sought you out, it was only for what you could do for her. I mean, who would even want to bother to go out of their own way for you and-”

[“I want you to be my apprentice.”]

“Ah…um…yeah, there is that isn’t there. …ALL of that...”

[“…You didn’t have to do all this for me. Really. But you did...”]

And…a-and it was with his help you got the sword in the first place, right? To free Dad? And Friedborg helping you with Latin? And Pete and Stan? You were glad Stan wasn’t dead after he took that dart in the raid, remember? As he was trying to protect everyone? And you didn’t like decking Pete like that either yesterday. They aren’t…bad guys, are they? Not really. And the Captain? Well…Not sure about him honestly, but he was worried about you when it looked like you may have been sick. Or when you had that night terror. There’s no doubt it would come to blows with them again if you joined the Separatists to fight them. Those guys would definitely die before they saw Corona overrun.

“…Would I really want to fight them again? See them get hurt? Would that even be justice?

[“You could go on being their enemy. Though – if I may be so bold as to point out – you have tried that already. Has it really been all that you wanted?”]

“But…don’t I deserve justice!? Don’t I want to see justice!?

“…What is justice?”

“What is justice?”

The words left Varian’s mouth before he could even think to stop himself, and all eyes stared at him in response.

“Hm? Sorry, what?” the man asked him, apparently thrown by Varian’s response with a question of his own, and his sword tip halted in its descent.

“W-what is justice?” Varian repeated, the question hanging in the air for a moment, sounding like a large, strange, rhetorical statement.

“What is- ? What kind of a question is that!?” the man’s sister now spoke up. “Pfft! Boy, those Coronians really did do a number on your brains didn’t they?”

“Please sister,” her brother scolded her. “No need to be rude to our newest recruit.”

“Hey, I haven’t agreed to anything yet!” Varian said back, trying hard to ignore the cringe that flashed across the queen’s face as he said “yet”. “And-and you didn’t answer my question. What is justice?”

“Duh! Everyone knows that, little brother!” the lady agent replied. “It’s people getting what’s coming to ‘em, that’s what! It’s kicking bad guys’ butts, really sockin’ it to ‘em, and making sure they don’t cause trouble anymore for the good folk. It’s dishin’ out just desserts to the elite, making sure they aren’t holding back what’s rightfully someone else’s, and making sure the cosmic scales are equal my friend. You screw it up, you gotta face the music. You do wrong, and you gotta pay the price!”

“…Dad didn’t think so.” Varian said softly, and earning looks of surprise from everyone as he uttered those words.

[“…It would’ve been me you know…It should’ve been me. But Dad pushed me right out of the way before it happened, and now…”]

“If…if we all got what we deserve,” Varian continued, his voice shaky, and his knuckles turning white underneath his gloves as he gripped the handle of the sword harder, “If we all have to face what we did, I…I wouldn’t even be here right now. But Dad, he…he…”

It was all that Varian could do to hold back his tears again, though he felt as if he had no strength left to resist as Arianna slowly approached and placed a hand tentatively on his shoulder. She was very uncertain as she attempted this action. She didn’t know if it would infuriate Varian, or if he would just shrug her off in indignation. But he didn’t do either of those things. Instead, he just stood there, staring blankly down at his sword as the moonlight glinted off of it, seeming to be barely aware of Arianna’s touch.

“So, you’re saying you’re fine with everyone who wronged you getting off scot-free, is that it?” the man questioned harshly.

“NO! I don’t mean that! I mean…” Varian stammered. “I- I…I don’t…I don’t know. I don’t know what I want!”

“It appears things are even worse than I thought,” the man said, pinching the bridge of his nose as both Varian and Arianna looking up sharply at him. “They’ve made you both spineless and heartless. Figures. That’s what they do to everyone who listens to them. Tell me, boy, why are you here now and not in Old Corona trying to free your father at this very hour?”

Varian’s blood simultaneously ran cold and boiled as he listened to these words. “Wh-what do you mean?” Varian asked tersely.

“Just seems strange to me,” the man continued on with a casual shrug. “If you love your father as much as you claim to, why did you not make all haste to Old Corona when you had the chance instead of coming here to rescue an old man you’ve known for but a couple of months?”

“HOW DARE YOU!?” Arianna shouted, lifting her hand from Varian’s shoulder and setting it to her bow again, standing so that she was now between Varian and the Saporian agent with Varian having to look over her shoulder to see what was happening. “You have no right to say such things to him!”

“Perhaps you are right about that, your majesty” the Saporian agent replied calmly, crossing his arms in front of him. “But I suppose it’s only natural for someone to feel concerned when they see someone get so brainwashed as to neglect the wellbeing of his own kindred in favor of those whose only kind deed to him was to give him tea and cookies for a few weeks.”

“A whole lot you care!” Varian now growled from behind Arianna, though still feeling a cold jab of doubt as the thought began to sink in further, cutting into his tender wounds like a cold, steel knife. “B-besides, Old Corona is under tight guard. If I had gone alone, I-I would never have been able to-”

“Oh, don’t try to give that excuse boy. If you were confident enough to believe you could take on us with your brains and bag of tricks, surely you would’ve been able to get through the guards at Old Corona and to your father without any trouble. But why didn’t you? I’ll tell you why. It was because you’d barely even thought of that being an option up until now, haven’t you? Your captors have got you so on their lead and into their way of thinking that you can’t even think for yourself anymore. And what would your father think if he knew? What would he think if he knew you had the means to free him, but you didn’t? How disgraceful! Instead of saving him, you went running in a totally different direction, leaving him longer to die because you-”

But the agent had said too much this time, and the scales tipped rapidly in the other direction.

“YOU SHUT UP!” Varian now cried, pushing passed Arianna (now standing side-by-side with her again) and pointing his sword hard at the agent. “What do you know anyway, huh!? You don’t know my dad! You don’t know anything! He…” Varian swallowed hard, remembering again that feeling of his father shoving him out of the way as the amber crystals shot out towards him, and the way he’d looked at Varian as he told him to stand back as they encased his form.

“…He wouldn’t have wanted me to abandon Xavier!” Varian continued boldly, aware now that for the first time since Dad’s encasement, he was actually considering what Dad would’ve really wanted of him – remembering back to his dad being a village leader, of being selfless, of being a hero. “If he w-were here, he’d probably have come himself. And-and it’s not like you’re any better than everyone else you know! I would’ve already been to Old Corona and have tried freeing him by now if you hadn’t attacked, taken Xavier, and ruined everything!” Varian now couldn’t stop the tears as they streamed down his cheeks at the thought, but he didn’t stop yelling as he felt them fall. “You don’t care. You just want to use me too like everyone else, don’t you!? How do I know I won’t be the next one you stab in the back once I’m useless to you!?”

Here, a couple of the agents tried to shift themselves in front of the unconscious body of the commander. Varian quickly swiped a hand across his face to clear his vision.

“I refuse to be played by you anymore, and I’m done talking. I don’t know what I gotta do for justice, but I know it’s gonna be nothing to do with you. I…I have others who can help me with that.” Here Varian risked a quick glance at Xavier before fixing his eyes back on the male agent. “Now, hand over Xavier like we agreed, and I’ll give you the formula. We’re done here.”

Arianna was just about as stunned at Varian’s whole outburst as everyone else. It had been clear that Varian had found the offer of joining a rebel faction and enacting justice on Corona to be very tempting, and Arianna was certain that if he had been presented with the offer not too long ago, he wouldn’t have thought twice about taking it. But now? Well…apparently, things were different now, and Arianna would be sure to have a long talk with Frederic about it once they got back home.

Taking her own steadying breath, Arianna now made to step forward. “This really will be your last chance. Hand over Xavier, now.”

Here, the male agent only let out a long sigh through his nose, eyes shut, appearing to be holding in an outburst of temper. But finally, a small smile crept its way back onto his face, and he looked back up again to face the queen, Varian, and Ruddiger, all waiting for his response.

“I am sorry boy,” he began again. “But I’m afraid the formula on its own would be useless to us for some time before we could understand it, and we cannot pass up the opportunity of having our own master weapons manufacturer and Corona’s own lady queen as our prisoners.” The male agent now shouted over his shoulder to the others. “To the ready now, all of you!”

At this, all the agents now unsheathed and held up their weapons again, and Arianna and Varian both started back in alarm, with Ruddiger letting off a loud growl from behind them.

“What!? But you said-!” Arianna gasped as she held out an arm protectively in front of Varian.

“Oh please, this is war your majesty! Did you honestly expect us to back down nicely? And dear boy, I am sorry about this. Truly. We had hoped you would see obvious sense and come to our side willingly, but it appears you’ve spent too much time in the enemy’s camp. But don’t worry. You’ll come round soon enough once we put you to work in our campaign. Oh, and your attack animal? I do know that he only has so much time before he turns defenseless again. I knew if I couldn’t convince you to join us, I could at least stall for time and strengthen our odds of winning a fight. I’d suspect he has about a minute left before he turns back again, wouldn’t you say?”

Varian clenched his teeth hard, and his blood boiled within him. “You…you SCUMBAG!” Varian shouted, infuriated at being toyed with and outsmarted by the man, and feeling personally violated at having his emotions and motives being used for that purpose so insensitively like that.

“I am sorry. But you played your own cards well Varian. I’m impressed. It was truly a delight to have you as an opponent. But no more. All of you! Attack!”

“NOW!” Varian shouted his own command as he quickly swiped a handful of vials from his pack, chucking them hard forward as Arianna also let fly an arrow from her bow, and Ruddiger dashed forward with a great, loud roar of rage.

The battle had begun, and there was no turning back now.

For those of you who caught it, congratulations! Sabine's Safe House was largely inspired by Howl's Moving Castle! Other details about her house (and her magic) will be further explored later on in following chapters, so stay tuned!

Some of the dialogue in this chapter was also inspired by the song "Where is the Justice?" from the Death Note musical (sung by Jeremy Jordan, Varian's English voice actor!), and from the confrontation scene between Diggory and Queen Jadis from 'The Magician's Nephew' by C. S. Lewis. (Hopefully the idea of his characters' dialogue influencing fan fiction isn't causing Mr. Lewis to spin too much in his grave, and hopefully I "did it justice". :D ...I'll see myself out.)

"Where is the Justice?" song (Warning for younger readers: some mild profanity in the lyrics) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL2f44geLz4

#tts #rta #tangled the series #rapunzel's tangled adventure #fan fiction #gauze in the wound #long post #varian #xavier the blacksmith #queen arianna #ruddiger #rudiger #battle!ruddiger #beast!ruddiger #the separatists of saporia

44 notes · View notes

siraranispleased · 5 years

Text

Fire Emblem Elibe - New Hidden Characters

Continuing on from the New Characters who joined automatically (or, in Bauker’s case, somewhat telegraphed recruitment requirements), there were also plans for three other characters to be promoted to playable (in the main game), albeit with more challenging or arcane requirements to recruit them. Two of these were for the FE7 side of the story, one of these was for the FE6 side, all of them are late-game units, and ones I wanted to keep the most held back for a surprise, but, since the projects probably not going to actually ever be a thing, anyway, might as well share those plans I had.

Careful, folks, under the cut, this gets pretty long.

Ursula

Recap/Summary: One of the Four Fangs, and technically the first one whose presence is felt. While perhaps the least “sympathetic” of the Fangs, Ursula still had a tragic quality both in the text and the subtext, between a manipulative, no doubt unrequited and exploitative relationship with Sonia, and the understanding that, Jaffar aside, the Fang used to be a noble if anti-heroic organization before Nergal and Sonia corrupted it, and Ursula was already one of the Four Fangs before they joined. Frankly, I just wanted to give her a chance.

Recruitment: Which is ironic to say given what you have to do to recruit her. First, talk to her in Chapter 26...with Nino. If you can somehow get Nino through the fog of war and Bolting, Nino will ask Ursula why they even had to kill Prince Zephiel in the first place...and keep asking her when each answer doesn’t satisfy her, until Ursula’s cool facade cracks and she admits that she doesn’t know, either, and has her own concerns. She doesn’t technically join the party, yet, but this does unlock 26x as well, and Ursula joins Nino and Jaffar in confronting Sonia, to which Sonia shows disappointment and casts Ursula aside. With lingering affection for Sonia holding her back, Ursula still only joins the fight as an allied NPC who otherwise doesn’t move. If she survives the Chapter, she finally joins as a playable character.

Gameplay: If you never recruited or used Priscilla that much, Ursula proves an alternative for your Mounted Magic User needs, especially given her very high Weapon Ranks compared to freshly promoted Priscilla. Her stats might pale a little bit in comparison, but Ursula would prove a very solid end game unit.

Supports: Ursula could support with the following characters: Vaida, Nino, Legault, Priscilla, Sain, Jaffar, Rath, Leila, and Karla. A lot of these supports would touch on a lot of tragic feelings: Ursula would’ve been resentful of Legault for being able to walk away from the Black Fangs despite being a founding member; Ursula would join Nino in mourning Lloyd, Linus, and Brendan; and talks with Rath and Karla would let her know more about Sacae, and of Uhai, another former member of the Fang. Priscilla and Sain would be somewhat of a bright spot, taking Priscilla on as an apprentice of her own without the manipulative relationship Sonia had with her, and Sain would continue to do his thing of helping his female partner forget her worries (she quickly makes it clear that no amount of flirting will actually woo her to him, but she appreciates his jovial company). With Vaida, Ursula is at first bitter to swallow her pride and apologize to her former “rival,” and though Ursula at first mocks her, she takes pity on her in their A Support, and offers for Ursula to ride with her in support of Zephiel, if it’d give her new purpose. In most of her endings, Ursula goes into hiding, living out her days in obscurity, continuing to pursue her knowledge of magic and history. In a paired ending with Nino, she even offers the girl a place to lie low until she can go back for her family after the events of FE6. However, if Ursula pairs with Vaida, she instead joins her as Zephiel’s “shadow,” and shows up with Vaida as an unnamed bonus boss during the fight in Chapter 22 of FE6.

Leila

Recap/Summary: This one was tricky. I mean, I always intended to have Leila become a playable character; she was too cool and had just the perfect potential Serra support not to promote to playable. The quandary was: what about her death in Chapter 18? I was really inclined to just dump it, since you didn’t need more of a reason to despise Ephidel, and the man-pain it brought Matthew and Hector was rote, less-so with Matthew, but, still, could’ve easily been dropped... But there was what it brought to Jaffar. The emotionally void Angel of Death, when he finally starts to become human, is confronted by the lover of one of his victims, repercussions of his deeds come back seeking revenge, and confronting him with the weight of his past. Entirely for what it does with Jaffar, that support works, and thus, Leila’s death works...but it can still work with her recruitment.

Recruitment: At the end of Chapter 27, after defeating Linus or Lloyd, and the last remnants of the Black Fang, Eliwood and co meet with Bramimond, the Enigma, the Legendary Hero who lost their soul and their identity to the Dark. To unlock Leila as a character, you’ll need to have deployed Matthew, Canas, and Pent during Chapter 27, and all three of them must have gotten at least one kill, each. So long as you’ve been using all three of them, there’s more than enough enemies to meet that bar, but the key word is using. Once you meet that requirement, during the meeting with Bramimond, a bonus scene plays out, where Canas and Pent seek to find out just why Apocalypse stole Bramimond’s soul while the other Legendary Weapons didn’t, to which Bramimond reveals that Apocalypse wasn’t the ultimate power of Dark Magic, but Oum. The magic of resurrection, which Bramimond was able to achieve. Hearing this, Hector immediately suggests using it to revive Elbert, but Bramimond explains that those whose Quintessence were drained and stolen could not be brought back. But Leila wasn’t; Matthew steps forward and pleads with Bramimond to bring her back. Bramimond tries, but, without her body present, and without using all their power for fear of their body deteriorating to nothing, Leila is brought back to life on borrowed time, doomed to pass on within a year’s time. Deciding to make the most of it, Leila joins the team to defeat Nergal. This also sets up just how Bramimond was able to completely resurrect Ninian, why that seemed to kill Bramimond, and why Ninian’s human life span was cut so short afterwards.

Gameplay: Like Jaffar, if you’ve been using Matthew and Legault strictly for their utility and not actually putting them in battle, Leila can function as a more combat oriented Assassin, and is, along with Jaffar, the most statistically capable of that class with the Strength, Skill and Speed to back it up. Using the absolutely bonkers stat growths hidden in the FE7 data, Leila would’ve just been insane, “held back” only by her “low” for an Assassin speed of “just” 26. She was, next to Athos, the “treat” character. You jumped those hoops, you have fun.

Supports: Leila would’ve supported with the following characters: Matthew, Hector, Serra, Jaffar, Raven, Guy, Karla, Ursula, and Bauker. Like with Ursula, Leila’s supports would have been on the more sad side of things, albeit presented with a stiff upper lip and attempt to be chipper. Her supports with Matthew, Hector, and especially Serra are her last chance to connect with and bond with her friends and loved ones before she dies for good, although Serra insists that, just because Leila’s on borrowed time, she not actually throw her new life away without fear, otherwise she’d never forgive you and “won’t eulogize your funeral.” With her past as a spy, Leila is able to confront Raven and help bring clarity and understanding as to what happened with his noble house, and impress on and convince Bauker to turn his talents to field intelligence rather than be strictly a soldier. She also gets a chance to forgive Jaffar, or, rather, allow him to make amends and wish him well on his journey of humanity. In her ending, Leila eventually settles down and just enjoys a quiet life before passing away peacefully. In a paired ending with Matthew, they have just enough time to sire a daughter, to carry on Leila’s memory after she’s gone.

Gale

Recap/Summary: The true Third Dragon General of Bern, made official after the death of Narcian, Gale is a noble, if grim, knight, ever true to Bern, whose only crime was committing to Zephiel and Murdock as much as his lover, Melady, committed to Guinevere. Though bearing no true ill will to Roy, Melady, or Zeiss, and indeed encouraging them to remain true to their convictions just as he does to his own. But does he really have to throw his life away for “honour?”

Recruitment: First, talk to him in Chapter 21 with Melady, the one time he shows any sort of hesitation in his conviction. Then, talk to him with Roy, which will prompt Guinevere to take the field and speak with Gale, herself, impressing on Gale just why Melady chose her instead of all of Bern. Realizing that, even though they’ve treated him personally well, Murdock and Zephiel aren’t best for Bern anymore, and wouldn’t have been exclusive in giving a lowly foreign-born like him a chance, Gale leads his squadron off the field, giving you room to breathe. So long as you quickly defeat Murdock afterwards, Gale will join the party at the end of the chapter.

Gameplay: Already a famed Dragon General and master knight, Gale serves as a sort of Physical version of Niime, the Hermit of the Mountain. He’s already got serviceable, boss-worthy stats, and has pretty much hit his ceiling, he doesn’t have much more room to grow after that, maybe a point in Luck or Defense, some complimentary HP bumps on his last two levels.

Supports: Gale would’ve supported with the following characters: Melady, Guinevere, Zeiss, Perceval, and Fae. Able to repair the rift between him and the other two wyvern riders, Gale would’ve been able to atone for his stubbornness and pride, and continue to act as support and guidance for the two promising knights. But the real meat of his supports would’ve been his chance to meet Fae, the divine dragon, and the youth of dragonkind, to see who Zephiel would’ve turned the world over to, and espousing some truth in Zephiel’s ideals, stripped away of all the bitterness and betrayal Zephiel himself went through that muddled and soured his outlook. In his ending, Gale would have voluntarily stepped down from his rank of Dragon General, serving as a humble rank-and-file captain in the standing army under Guinevere, out of respect for his new queen, and his initial opposing affiliation.

#sir aran wants to be a game designer #fire emblem elibe #spoilers

4 notes · View notes