#maybe I shouldn’t have brought up politics but I can’t see someone who voted for trump as caring about other people
Text
Summer Windows 9
<-•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•->
Characters: Inuyasha, Diluc, Damian , Arataki Itto, Kaminari Denki, Kageyama Tobio, Midoriya Izuku
<-•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•->
Is this late? Yes. Do I have a reason? The vibes were off. I was probably having creative burnout and it happens. CW: The last one hints at nsfw actions but otherwise its fine
<-•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•->
57: Snorkeling
Inuyasha
Holding the pen steady you frown, the small study group was supposed to pick a summer activity to participate in. The list was damn near empty save for one suggestion: 'camping.’ You look at the small group and sigh.
“Honestly it doesn’t matter what we do or if we do anything, just make a list.” You were ready to throw the pen or just leave, every day for two weeks something needed to be suggested, not just one thing.
“Summer will be over before we get anything done, just make up stuff,” the quietest member of your group huffs. Inuyasha.
You give a slight nod. “I tried, but it was rejected. If only he hadn’t become the activity coordinator this would be easier.”
“It just has to be something related to our study group right?” Kagome asks while throwing something at Inuyasha.
“Yes.”
Koga thinks for a moment. “Snorkeling.”
Inuyasha scoffs. “You can’t even swim.”
“Neither can you.”
You slap a book on the table before the argument can escalate. “Shut up girls, you're both pretty. Snorkeling is added to the list, next.”
Kagome nods. “The aquarium.”
Inuyasha huffs. “Nature walk.”
“Oh, now you're participating?” You sass.
Koga frowns. “The thought of you actually forcing us to go camping sounded terrible.”
You roll your eyes. “It wasn’t even my idea. It was the sponsor’s, but instead we’re gonna do one of the suggestions.”
“Who died and made you leader?” Inuyasha sits up.
You point to Kagome. “She and I were the ones who set up the group, Kagome had shrine duties so I usually end up taking up most of the work. Not that I mind.”
Kagome nods. “They’re right, Y/N is technically the leader. The least we can do is supply some suggestions.”
“How about beach-combing?” “Or maybe we could go hiking.”
“There now we have a full list. Of everyone here what suggestion are we gonna take off?” You smile.
“Snorkeling, a certain number of members are not strong swimmers.” Kagome nods.
With the other two votes you nod. “Alright, I’m gonna cross off camping too, because a family situation came up and I can’t afford to leave for more than twenty four hours.”
Eventually through voting the Nature walk won. You would contact a place and get all the details ironed out with Inuyasha since he suggested. While you were gathering the things and taking a quick picture of the whiteboard you noticed the male approaching.
“What’s up?” You ask while positioning your phone.
Inuyasha sits next to you and watches. “You didn’t have to listen to Sesshomaru.”
“He’s your brother.”
“That shouldn’t matter, he doesn’t care.”
You settle for a bad picture and turn to him. “How long have you known me?”
“Why does it matter?”
Grabbing his hand you tug on the matching friendship bracelet that he and you share. “You wouldn’t have kept this otherwise. We may be connected because of our parents but I’m not gonna leave you alone Inuyasha.”
He scoffs. “I like someone else.”
You give a small smile. “I know. It doesn’t bother me but there’s nothing I can do about this.”
58: Family reunion
Diluc
“I fail to see the advantage to att-“ Diluc sends you a sharp glare when reviving a sharp jab to the ribs.
“It’s called personal relations, it’s a polite thing to do. You don’t have to be polite to everyone, only the people I care about.” You hiss.
Diluc gives you an amused glance before adjusting his coat.
“Y/N, you’re here and you brought your fiancé that I’ve heard so much about.” Your mom rushes over pulling you into a hug.
“Hello mother, yes you threatened bodily harm if I didn’t come,” you sass but reciprocate the hug.
It wasn’t often you saw your mother, being a captain at the knights of Favonius was rather time-consuming.
She pinched your cheek harshly. “Now I would never do that to my oldest baby.”
“Mama, seriously.” You pull away presenting Diluc. “This is my husband to be, Diluc Ragnvindr.”
Just the mention of husband was like a signal for everyone to tune into the conversation. As much as you felt bad for throwing Diluc to the wolves you would be able to help him if he would ask.
“Y/N, you came to the family reunion,” your cousin smiles as they crush you into a hug. “Why did you have to say that so loud?”
You ruffle her hair. “Crystal, if I didn’t do that your mom would have brought up the fact that you’re not getting married. I need my favorite mercenary to stay untethered.”
“Yes but if you leave him alone for too long it could spell disaster,” she urges.
Giving a slight shrug you happen to make eye contact with Diluc. A big smile spreads. “I’ll face the consequences later.”
59: “I can too swim” “not very well obviously”
Damian
Laying in the deck you groan, Damian clicks his tongue in disapproval.
“You said you can swim.” His words were biting into your already broken pride.
Maybe you should have kept the life vest on but you weren’t about to be the only one with it. The small time you spent with these other hero kids you knew they didn’t know the meaning of gentle jokes. Sitting up quickly you frown.
“I can too swim.”
His green eyes cut through anything else you could say. “Not very well obviously.”
“You got them out of the water?” Dick smiles looking over the second level.
“You idiots can swim well enough next time you save the rookie.” Damian scoffs before grabbing his towel and aggressively drying his hair.
You look up with a pout. “Why did we decide to go swimming in the first place?”
“It was Aqualad’s turn to pick a team building exercise.”
Slowly unrolling your own towel you slowly pat your body dry. Yeah this was possibly one of the worst ideas for a team building activity, at least pertaining to you.
“Terraformer! You almost died, are you okay?” Starfire grabs your hands, invading your personal space.
But before you can answer Damian pulls you out of her grasp. Drying your hair with a towel.
“Crowding them after an event like that is unwise,” he hisses.
“I’m not glass, I’m just not used to being off land.” You grumble seating his hands away, if he rubbed it any harder you would have a bigger problem fixing your hair later.
“Can we rely on you to keep Terraformer company while we are in the water, little D?” Dick asks.
You give a pout. “No, I'll be fine on my own. All of you can go have fun in the water.”
“I’ll stay.”
With that you tried to get up and go inside the boat, but Damian held you down. Meaning the two of you were alone.
“You said you could swim.”
“Well America isn’t exactly known for having a good track record of teaching their children how to swim,” you hiss. “I didn’t want to be left at the tower.”
He forces you to face him. “That would have been better than almost drowning.”
Pushing away from his grip you wanted to scream but settle for tears. “Do you know how lonely it is? Being alone the only one who can’t do something? I’ve lived like that since the first time I threw a rock at someone, my parents locked me in a shed until your brother dragged me out.”
“Kent isn’t my brother.”
“Y’all are close enough might as well be. Just leave me alone Damian, I’m done playing the be nice to the sheltered child game. It would have been better if I had stayed at the tower,” you mumble finally able to get far enough away from him.
60: Night market
Itto
“Y/N, have you secured the funds?” Kuki asks as you walk around the corner.
Tossing her your coin pouch you roll your eyes. “You buy the supplies. Tomorrow the night market starts and that's when you’ll get the better deals.”
“Really then I’ll-
“No!” You and Kuki shout at the same time.
Arataki Itto is known for spending the gang’s money on things we definitely didn’t need. Luckily before your big brother left Inazuma he got you a job working at the tea house. Thankfully you appreciated the fact that he could use your vision, you’d received it during the early stages of the decree, you didn’t need a vision.
“Tomorrow, we have to build the stage. You’re lucky my brother was such good friends with the Kamisato maid, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to get all this stuff done.” You remind him.
“But I-
Kuki pushes you closer. “Come on, you two got to spend more time together, think of it as bonding.”
You squeak. “Kuki.”
Maybe you shouldn’t have relayed your feelings to Kuki. Maybe you had let the drink sit for too long, and honestly you wondered how the words came out so easily to your friend.
“Right bonding.” You finally say as her eyes tell you a different story.
“Should I just stay at your house to put the things together then?” Itto asks.
This question makes you tense.
“That’s a great idea, y/n you and Itto can start on things at your house today. Then easily get everything together tomorrow,” she claps her hands.
Itto nods. “Maybe if we finish early enough we can go to the night market and look around?”
Kuki nods. “That way if I need help moving anything you two can help me.”
“Uh Huh. Let’s go big guy, if we’re going to my house I gotta pick up extra food from gramps.” Turning around you sigh.
Yeah, walking around the night market with Itto would be an adventure indeed. It wasn’t like you hadn’t gone with him or Kuki before but the idea that one person knew your feelings besides you made it different. Even if it wasn’t the person the feelings were towards.
“Oh Y/N, I was expecting you.”
“How’s it going grandpa Shimura?” You smile.
He slides two boxes your way. “I carefully packed extra servings for you. I know how much you like the unagi so I gave you an extra helping. And the young lady across the way gave me some dango to give you.”
You peek back at the woman standing at the adventure post. “Thanks, Katheryne.”
“Of course, y/n.” She gives a small wave.
Picking up the boxes you look at Itto. “Well we should go then. You remember the way, right?”
“Of course I do. I’ve been to your place plenty of times, you’re a great host by the way. Not that I would think of you as a bad host. I'm not stalling just because I can’t remember if you wanted to walk there from here or use that fancy thing you do when you pop from one place to the other,” he prattles on.
“You wanna hold the food and I lead the way?”
“Yes.”
Rolling your eyes, you hand him the boxes and lead the way. Yeah, you were in for a long two days off.
61: Seashells
Denki
“Why exactly were we sent for beach patrol?” You gripe.
Kaminari smirks, he must have been reveling in the idea of spending the day at the beach while getting paid. “Loosen up Y/N, you seemed excited about it at first. It’s not so bad your quirk is perfect for this.”
“Right.” Dragging out the word in your sarcastic tone, you rolled your eyes for added emphasis.
“Come on, you're like the coolest person here.”
Frowning you ball your hand in a fist. “I’ll hit you, and I’ll enjoy it. Just because I got an ice quirk similar to my cousin doesn’t mean it’s perfect for the beach.”
He shrugs. “Hey, it's better than being quirkless.”
Your shoulders drop. “Guess you’re right.”
Technically you fell into an outlier of a quirk user. The doctors told your parents that you should have had a quirk, but when you got to high school it was like a switch. Suddenly you had a quirk and had frozen your entire school floor. From that moment there was a narrative that you hid your quirk and because of a bad cold it just popped out and you could contain it any longer. When actually you couldn’t control it.
“You okay, Y/N?” Kaminari asks as you look at him.
“Yeah, I’m fine just practicing.” You look down at the ice popsicle you created.
He nods. “Mhmm.”
As the day dragged on you had to walk away from Kaminari to respond to something only you could do. Only for him to catch up to you later and drop something in your hands.
“What?”
“Seashells.”
“I know but why would I want-
“Don’t start getting technical with me. They’re pretty I thought you would like them,” he shakes his head.
Taking a better look at them you shrug. “They’re not that bad.”
“Did I win points?” He asks.
“No, you got half a point. Let’s go back to the agency, I need to sit in a hot bath.”
62: Watermelon
Tobio
“Oh dear, Y/N, you didn’t tell me you were gonna have company,” oh how your mother’s gossip voice was grating on the ears. She only used that voice when she wanted the aunties in the neighborhood to hear her.
“I did tell you, Tobio was gonna come over because you wanted to give us some watermelon,” you whisper, trying to shield your face.
“Right, my child's national volleyball player boyfriend, maybe eventually you’ll get married. You two have been dating for over three years.” She says a little louder.
“Mom!” You gasp with all the energy of any embarrassed child in public, it couldn’t get any worse.
Tobio smirks. “I’ve really considered it recently.”
Oh, how you wished you could bury yourself in a hole right now.
Your mom claps her hands excitedly. “Oh really? I’ve never heard anything like that from my child. If you’re gonna get married I’ll look forward to when you two adopt your first kid.”
“Mom! Watermelon.” You remind her.
“Right, right. The watermelon, come in you two. Will you tell me if you get married?” She smiles.
Tobio nods. “Of course.”
You gave a weak smile. “I don’t have anyone else to tell but you mom.”
“Damn straight, those others were terrible. Saying that you wouldn’t make any money from that little project from high school, but look at you now my baby owns a business,” she smiles.
This made you smile. Your number one cheerleader. Tobio sat next to you at the counter while you both ate.
“Did you want to get married?”
“I don’t care one way or the other.” You shrug. “As long as everyone’s happy and healthy.”
63: Bug bites
Midoriya
“Oh hey Y/N, those are some serious bug bites!” Kaminari, your childhood best friend, gasps.
Your back was turned to him and you knew that you hadn’t gotten any bug bites recently. What could he be referring to?
“Bakubro, you need to see this!”
What? Now you were more worried about what you couldn’t see. You were just walking around in your swimsuit if you had a serious bug bite, maybe you shouldn’t go swimming today.
“What the hell is it extra?”
“Y/N, has some serious bug bites look.” Kaminari touched your back making you jump since his hands felt like ice. “Did I hurt you?”
Shaking your head you stop putting the sandwiches together. “Is it really that bad?”
Bakugo laughed. “Oh yeah, it’s bad it looks like you have a really bad bug problem.”
“What?!” You shriek about to go look in the mirror to check the damages.
“Mhmm, it’s a big green bug.”
This made you pause midstep. “Izuku!”
Popping out of his corner face redder than Kirishima’s sunburn. “Yes Y/N, the love of my life?”
“Run.”
Prev <-•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•—•-> Next
#summer prompts#bnha x reader#genshin impact x reader#summer windows#inuyasha x reader#damian x reader#damian wayne x you#diluc x you#diluc x y/n#diluc x reader#kaminari x you#kaminari x y/n#kaminari x reader#midoriya x y/n#midoriya x you#midoriya x reader#kageyama x you#kageyama x y/n#kageyama x reader#tobio x you#tobio x y/n#tobio x reader#haikyuu x reader#arattaki itto x reader#itto x reader#itto x y/n#itto x you
48 notes
·
View notes
Text
:(
#this week was going so well#and then huge fight with rooommate#huge huge huge fight with roommate#because she gets irrational when she’s drunk and two of us wouldn’t let her drink and drive#to pick up two boys#so she took that to mean that we were selfish because we didn’t want to drive them home#and that we were insulting her for having a ‘big heart’#this is the same fucking roommate who voted for Donald trump and I quit playing nice in November but I’m fucking done#I just don’t want to interact with her at all#this was supposed to be a celebration hand now I’ve been crying for three hours#maybe I shouldn’t have brought up politics but I can’t see someone who voted for trump as caring about other people#I just can’t#this day has really taken such a turn#really wish I’d never met her#wish the original roommate situation would have worked out so I could have distanced myself last year when I realized I didn’t like her#but now here I am#and we’ll be her until almost the end of May#rambles#personal
1 note
·
View note
Text
Dance of the Spheres Chapter 4: Venusian Vogue
Chapters: 4/?
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Rating: PG 13
Warnings: drugging, kidnapping, forced marriage
Characters: Loki(Marvel),
Additional Tags: Loki Goes Overboard, But When Doesn’t Loki go Overboard, Mature Reader, Disabled Reader, Political Intrigue
Summary:
Images of broken light
Which dance before me like a million eyes
They call me on and on across the universe.
Across the Universe-The Beatles
“I am Loki.”
“I asked for a bride.”
The declarations smashed into you like fists and took your breath with them.
There was a ring on your finger. Silvery, plain, simple. Why hadn't you noticed it before?
This was clearly Loki. Sunken eyes, and onyx hair, and refined bones. Exactly like the pictures. Why hadn't you noticed?
Too many things all at once. Too much. A fearful whine escaped your teeth, as you tugged on the ring. It didn't budge.
“You're supposed to be dead.” You whispered.
His face fell the instant you spoke.
“You know. I sometimes think that myself. Yet somehow I remain. Take it as a reassurance: you will not lose me to battle, or accident. I will never leave you. I suppose that is something that new brides must worry about, especially human ones. You may put that fear to rest.”
“That's not what I'm-” You clamped your mouth shut. You were in a bad position, worse than you'd ever been, maybe. You were completely alone here; you could contact no one for help. You weren't even sure where exactly 'here' was-no one knew where Asgard was located.
You were trapped in a room with a madman. A prince among his own people, who had proven himself capable of the mass murder of humans like you. Yet claiming you were his bride.
No one would come to your aid.
Did anyone even know you were missing?
You glanced at the ring once more. Its twin rested proudly on his own left hand. What choice did you have?
You had to play along. At least until you found some way out of this. Stay on the madman's good side, as much as that was possible.
“Why me?” You asked, fighting down your panic. Just gather information for now. “I'm literally nobody.”
“I don't understand either.” He sat down on the bed, just a little closer to you than arms length. “This was supposed to be a chance at reconciliation. I willingly gave myself up in a symbolic act of unity. Sacrificed my own freedom.”
You side-eyed him hard. Gave up his freedom? In what capacity? He wasn't the one kidnapped and married without any knowledge or choice!
“This isn't an uncommon arrangement.” He continued. “Your species has done this since time immemorial. From kings all the way down to commoners, uniting families, uniting fortunes, uniting entire lands. Surely your...leader...understood what was to be gained. Yes, I did a terrible thing to your people, but this should have forged a new alliance. A promise that not only would I not do such a thing again, but that my formidable prowess would be for your people, rather than against them. Was this not enough? This should have opened the way for trade, for treaties...And you! Why do such a thing to you? One of his own people?”
“Oh, I'm not his.” You said. “I voted against him. I march in protests against his shitty policies. I oppose him in any way I can. I'd say 'maybe that's why', but it really can't be. I'm nowhere near important or influential enough for the government to pay any attention to me. They're too busy trying to kill me through austerity. Or through the cops.”
Loki's face darkened. “I should find that officer and flay him. Make you a bodice of his skin.”
He'd been reaching for your shoulder, but you flinched away.
“Okay see? That right there? That's why people might not want to ally with you.” You pointed out.
“He shouldn't have hurt you.”
“That's true. That doesn't mean you can use my pain as an excuse to rampage on Earth!”
“I shan't!” He protested. “Never again, I promise you that.”
But how good was the promise of government? Politician or hereditary ruler, it was all the same. How good was the word of a murderer? How many promises had he already broken?
“How do you feel?” He asked. “You seem...lively. Whatever you were drugged with, is it having a lasting effect?”
“I'm a little disoriented, but I'm awake.” You said. “The food and water helped.”
“Yes. About that. Ah. Would you like to see your rooms? I've been anticipating your arrival-well, someone's arrival-for some months now, and I've had chambers created that befit your new station.”
The big unknown outside. Beyond this room was nothing but uncertainty. But you would be the first human being to see this new Asgard. You told yourself it was a perk.
“Um...” You mumbled. “My clothes...” You weren't going out there in a flimsy hospital gown, that was for sure.
“Being cleaned and mended.” Loki informed you. “I have a simple gown that I believe should fit you. Here.” Wit a sweeping gesture, he produced a voluminous, forest green garment out of seemingly nowhere.
You scooted away. “How did you do that?” You demanded.
“Magic, of course.” He said. “You...don't know about the magic...?”
You shook your head and took the robe from him. It felt real enough, smooth and soft, with fur trim and pin tucks. This was simple?
“What do you know about me, my dear?” He asked.
“Not much. Just what...turn around!” Sheepishly, he turned his back so you could change. “Just what was on the news. And the approximately three million conspiracy websites that popped up afterwards. You might be shocked by how many people think you were an inside job.”
“A what?”
“That's not even counting all the cults. You and Thor really got the radicalization machine cranking them out. White supremacists, nationalists, doomsday cults...thanks a lot. Not as if we didn't have enough problems cleaning up the mess you left behind.”
“That...was not my intention. Were you...?”
“I was not part of any cults. I was also not part of the celebration of your death, either.”
The news broadcast had interrupted every television, lit up every phone. A tired and battle-worn Thor, looking not one inch the hero the world knew him to be, as he towered over the reporter. He gave only a short statement: His brother Loki was dead, perished in honorable battle, in an effort to protect the galaxy from an ancient enemy.
People had trusted him. They'd seen the destruction that enemy had caused, in their quest to destroy everything. The odd teleportation anomalies in England that had dominated youtube for a long time. The leaves in your bathroom, the foreign plants in the park. Exotic, even alien creatures being spotted.
People threw parties at the news of Loki's demise. You'd gone out, gotten yourself exactly one drink, and then stayed home for the weekend. It didn't seem right, not after seeing Thor so hollowed out. You didn't really get on with celebrating the death of your enemies anyway, only the success of your causes.
“Oh. Well. Thank you.”
“But yeah, all I really know is that you attacked us out of the blue, and brought an army with you. You caused billions in damages and cost hundreds of lives. Thousands more lost everything. The economic blow is still with us, and led to some of the problems I've been marching against. And then you died. Except not, obviously. Was Thor lying to us?”
“No. He truly believed me dead. I did too, until I woke up. So you know nothing of me. I feared that might be the case. I am no warlord, not truly. I am the foremost sorcerer of Asgard. My magic has many applications, one of which is that I am rarely found without what I need.”
“So magic is real?” Why not? Aliens were real. Gods were apparently real.
“Yes, very. When times were...better, I used to tutor younger students. I might go back to doing that, once we are more established. Once we are safe.”
Safe? From what? Was whatever it was that had destroyed Asgard still out there? Thor had said otherwise, before the radio silence, but he had also thought that Loki was dead, and he was wrong about that, so...
“May I look now, dear?”
“Oh...yeah. I'm dressed.” The gown did fit, though mostly because it was a shapeless, oversized thing that was closed around you with ties. Still, it was luxurious, and made you feel like you were actually pretty-as long as no one looked at you too closely. Was this what a princess wore? You shouldn't allow yourself to get too used to it. As soon as you found a way out, you were out.
“Delightful. Even such a simple gown enhances your beauty. Will you come with me, dear? Let me show you our grand achievements.”
You didn't really want to be exposed to the people of Asgard, but this room was no safer than anywhere else right now. Loki hovered, and you stood, and managed a few wobbly steps before you overbalanced. He caught you instantly.
“Don't worry.” He murmured. “I'm here.”
As if that wasn't the problem in the first place.
“So, while you were carrying me off...I mean, when you, uh, received me, did you notice a cane lying around?” You asked. “I had one. Did the guys who brought me give it to you?”
“I'm afraid not.” He said apologetically. “They seemed strangely eager to quit the area.”
“Yeah, well. They had just committed a felony.” You griped. “They probably had orders to disappear. And they probably didn't want to hang around and witness what a warlord was gonna do to me.”
He winced. “I promise you, that's not what I really am.”
“Sorry.”
He held out his arm for you. “I don't have your cane, but I can support you. We will have another cane made for you. There should have been an Artificer and an apprentice Healer in here at some point, to measure you for a new prosthetic.”
“Uh, there were. I, uh, kinda told them to piss off.”
“Ah. I suppose I cannot blame you, now that I know of your situation. But they are here at your service, as is all of Asgard.”
He helped you limp along, somehow maintaining his dignified stride, even as you wobbled along like a penguin. The hallways were as bland and labyrinthine as a human hospital, if somewhat more softly lit. Again the light source was obscured behind thin panes of cloudy crystal, which diffused the light, giving everything a comforting, if slightly mysterious atmosphere, which the general emptiness of the area only enhanced.
There were few people here, but for some reason, you had been placed in a room far within the hospital complex. Maybe they wanted to hide you away, so that no one knew you were here until they were ready to introduce you to Asgard. Or until they were certain you were going to survive. It might cause a scandal if the prince's bride just up and died upon arrival.
Or perhaps it was to protect you. There were plenty of reasons why a human bride might not be accepted by the Asgardian populace; everything from nationalism, to someone wanting to make a bid for that crown themselves.
There were still no windows to be seen, and everything was made of stone, just like in the hospital room. Out here, in the halls and waiting rooms, the desks, chairs, and tables all seemed to be joined to the walls and floor, as if the whole place had been carved from a single, solid piece, like the rock-cut architecture of the fabled city of Petra. Here again were the creamy grays and oranges lining the walls, though a smooth black also made an appearance.
Eventually, you came to what must have been a foyer, with a high ceiling, complex stone mosaics, and huge, gorgeously carved double doors, but still no windows.
“We will be going outside now.” Loki said. “This facility is within the palace complex, and is not far from your special chambers, but we will have to cross a few halls and courtyards. There are plenty of places to sit, so if you need a rest, simply say so.”
He opened the doors for you, and you stepped out into a world of stone.
Everything was stone, stone or metal. Before you was a wide open courtyard, clearly unfinished, but spacious. At regular intervals were stone towers supporting open pillared hallways in a multiple storied, vaguely Roman courtyard style. The towers shot up, and up, and up...you climbed them with your gaze, following them to the heights to which they had to buttress each other with thin struts of stone, higher still, where they joined with an impossibly high ceiling.
There was a roof over the courtyard, so tall that your couldn't fathom how it had been built. Beyond the courtyards stacked walkways-six full stories-you could see the tips of other towers, lined with lights, merging with this high rise ceiling. Was the entire palace built under this massive shelter?
Clearly the sun did not reach into the palace. To offset this, the crystal-paned, inset lights were everywhere, creating complex patterns that mimicked the intricate knotted carvings that chased up the towers and pillars. The corbels glared down at you, fierce masks of bearded men, wolves, dragons and birds, lights in their eyes.
Combined, it was not as bright as sunlight, but not dim either. The softness of the glow made shadows diffuse, made the stone look soft and fake, and even shimmery in places, like the set pieces in eighties fantasy movies. If not for the pain in your bruises, you'd have thought the dreamy atmosphere was just that, and that you were about to wake up from this absurd dream any moment now.
But the pain was there, and denied that simple, hopeful wish. And Loki was there, gently urging you forward like he was a real gentleman, instead of a heinous war criminal. There were a few other people out here as well; walking the courtyards pillared halls, resting on stone benches, carving hollows into the ground.
There was no soil here. All stone. As you crossed the courtyard, you noticed black, and gray, and cloudy crystal inlaid into the ground in a shape reminiscent of a compass rose, decorated with silvery wire knotwork in bird and serpent shapes.
There were troughs and niches being carved into the ground that looked to you like they were meant to be flower beds...eventually. You had seen no dirt here yet, no grass or growing things at all. Maybe once you finally got outside. But for now, it felt as if you had left a building, only to exit into another building, that was in turn, within another building.
It was a bit suffocating.
Loki led you across several courtyards, each with a different pattern inlaid into their bare floor, and through vaulted hallways that still contained no windows. Many of these hallways intersected in large, circular domes, and few of them had any distinctive markings. Soon you were completely lost. With any luck, you would be able to get your hands on some paper, and create a map-otherwise, any escape attempts would be doomed from the word go.
But maybe that was the point.
Your staggering steps echoed down a particularly tall and wide hallway, almost completely devoid of people. You were almost at the end of your physical capabilities, and while there were places to sit, you felt like you must be close to your destination. You really wanted to be in a room whose dimensions you could be certain of. A space you could comprehend.
Loki brought you to a stop in front of a pair of carved wooden doors. As the first piece of architecture you had seen here that was something other than stone, you found them more beautiful than anything you'd seen all day. They were something almost normal, almost like something you would have at home. If you were insanely rich, or your dad was a carpenter or something. They were a warm terra-cotta color, carved with a dizzying array of knotwork, framed with blackened, riveted iron. The handles were iron serpents.
“We imported some things from your homeland. This redwood lumber is one such thing. From what I hear, these trees are emblematic of your country.”
“Er...” How to politely say, 'not really, even though most people who live there do know what a redwood is'. They weren't very important to anyone who didn't live near where they grew. They weren't what you would call 'quintessentially American'. There wasn't anything you could really call that. The place was just too damn big.
“We couldn't bring too much, not yet anyway.” He continued. “It is expensive, unfortunately, and we only have one ship. It can only carry so much, and it takes about three days to transport. Things are moving slowly, but our construction projects are moving along speedily. There's little else to do right now, save build.”
He opened the doors for you, and led you into a fairy tale.
17 notes
·
View notes
Text
A lot like ‘Us’ (Part-5)
Word count: 5.5K
Pairing: Sam X Reader AU
Warnings: None
Series Summary: Y/N Y/L/N is eager and honestly, still in awe that she managed to get herself an acceptance from Stanford Law School. On the face of it, her life seems as put together, mysterious and independent as one might hope for. On the insides, she carries the burden of past that haunts her till date. Seemingly, she’d left it all behind; that is until she sets foot in the class of the Law School’s youngest, most promising professor.
A/N: The story employs two different timelines. The present timeline for the story takes place in 2014. Please let me know what you guys think :)
Beta: @deanssweetheart23 I love you, babe <3
A lot like ‘Us’ masterlist
“Y/N! Y/N, open the door!”
You hurriedly stepped out of the bathroom in a t-shirt and a towel wrapped around your waist.
Kevin was standing in front of the bathroom, not even a little concerned about the state of your dressing.
“We’re taking bets about whether it will rain this week or not,” he announced. “You have to cast your vote.”
You looked around the room. Meg’s door was locked from the outside which meant she wasn’t here.
“Who let you in?”
“I have a key to your apartment,” he said matter of factly. “So does Cas.”
“Vaguely concerning, but I’ll allow it, since you’re not trying to rob me. Only tempting me with the vices of gambling.”
Kevin looked delighted at the retort. “Aha! So you do have a cutting edge humour. I’m winning 5 bucks over that from Jack.”
You rolled your eyes and walked into your bedroom, finding your drawstring pants and pulling them on.
“If it makes you feel any better, you now have a key to our apartment also as well as Cas’s.” Kevin jerked his head towards the kitchen counter where a new pair of brass keys shone in the light. “On this floor, we all like to keep the keys handy in case of emergencies.”
He plopped down on the sofa. “So about the rain…”
It looked like he really had broken into your apartment to ask for your bet.
“It’s September. It’s never going to rain,” you said.
“And you’re sure about that?”
You narrowed your eyes. “Should I be checking the weather forecast? And how much are we playing for?”
“You can check the forecast,” he said sagely, “It’s allowed. I have to warn you though that basing your vote off it has proven disadvantageous in the past. And we’re not playing for money.”
“Do I get to know who sided with what?”
“Not till you’ve put your bet in.”
“Dang it!”
He wiggled his eyebrows making you laugh. “Okay. I’m sure. I’ll go with what I said. It’ll not rain.”
“Oh, and Y/N-” he smiled evilly- “You should know that if it rains, you’re going to have to get wet in it! You have Pam, Cas and Jack siding with you so far.”
A shiver ran down your spine at the thought of drenching in the rain. “It’s not going to rain, so I’m safe. What happens if I get it right?”
“The losing party has to be a company to judgy Judy and sun bath all of Sunday. Lotion will be provided.”
“This is ridiculous,” you laughed.
He stopped at the door. “Only when you lose.”
You spent the weekend catching up on your reading and familiarising yourself with the syllabus. When that was done, you set to work on your assignments… and when that was done, too, there were always job applications. Sustenance was unfortunately a necessity.
Come Sunday evening, Meg dragged you to the downstairs to the get together. It surprised you just how much everyone liked having you around, especially since you contributed absolutely nothing to the conversations. Pam pulled an accurate impression of the undergrads on the second floor and everyone laughed.
It was a homely feeling.
************
Sam was already ready and going through the papers on his desk when you entered the lecture hall. He did not look up from them as the class slowly filled up. You didn’t necessarily make it a point to sit with Madison but somehow for most Civil Procedure classes she happened to sit next to you. You liked her well enough, however those girls who came with her said such awful things sometimes that it made you wish you were anywhere but around them.
Today Madison came in before any of the girls and took her seat next to you.
“Hi,” she said, drawing her laptop out.
“Hey!” You smiled at her.
“Thanks for sitting besides me,” Madison said. “Having you around makes me feel so calm, and helps me concentrate.”
“Really?” You asked, surprised.
“Yeah,” she said, then smiled apologetically. “You know how the girls are… they’re always so jittery and gossiping. But you… you just have such a steady energy around you.”
Strange. To you, it didn’t feel like you had energy at all.
“You know what I mean, right?” Madison said. “I feel like I can tell you anything, share things with you and you won’t judge me or tell on me. I feel like you wouldn’t turn me away if I ever asked for your help. You are just such a nice person.”
“Madison…” you said, touched.
She shook her head. “You can just call me Maddie, if you like.”
She wasn’t necessarily right about you being a ‘nice person,’ but you certainly wouldn’t judge her… you of all people after everything you had done. And when it came to helping out another, it was just the decent thing to do, especially for someone you called a friend. It didn’t make you a nice person. It just made Madison’s other friends not so good at friendship.
“Alright then, Maddie,” you smiled. “We shall sit next to each other for as long as you want.”
Madison beamed. Not her usual girly laugh, instead a smile that reached her eyes in all their seriousness. You wondered what sorrow she’d had to live through.
“Maddie!” Rebecca came up from behind and sat next to Madison. “I missed you over the weekend. Oh, we’re sitting with Y/N again?”
“Yes,” said Madison too sweetly. “She’s my friend. Try not to steal her answers though, Becca.”
Behind her Lacey giggled.
You had to cover your face, too, to hide the grin.
Sam called the class to attention, smiling at everyone. It was breathtaking and painful in equal parts.
“Before we begin,” he said, “It’s been brought to my attention that I’m the only one who hasn’t set you guys an assignment. We can’t have that happening now, can we?”
There were a few groans, and Sam gave everyone a teasing look. “It’s not something that’ll take up a lot of your time. I’m not setting you an essay, just a 500 word brief. Before we get into that, I need to know you guys better. Everyone who has a pre-law please raise your hands. About fifteen to twenty percent of the class raised their hands.
“Impressive,” Sam said. “Sociology, political science or any other law allied field?”
Majority of the remaining class raised their hands.
“And how many of you guys have worked in any capacity in law fields? Have actual experience?”
About ten to twelve people raised their hands. Slowly, you put your arm up as well.
At the edge of your vision you sensed Rebecca glaring at your hand.
Sam sweeped his gaze over the class. Maybe he hadn’t expected you to be one of the crowd, because for a split second the startlement was clear on his face. He blinked twice, then looked away.
Split second of eye contact was enough to make you weak in your knees. Bring back a flood of memories, of having looked so deeply in those very eyes.
He paused, cleared his throat and said, “I suppose this will be somewhat easier for those of you who have a pre-law background. For your assignment, you have to pick the most dicey, interesting or unusual Civil suit or petition you can find, and describe in brief how the written content and consequent presentation saved or screwed over the case. Go crazy with the type of case, as long as it’s civil and filed in the states. The law library has a complete and updated archive of all judgements and petitions in public domain for your reference.”
Giving you a stink eye, Rebecca raised her hand.
“Yes… Miss Staten, is it?”
“Yes, Rebecca Staten,” she said, practically gloating. “Do you specialise in Civil cases? And if so, can we pick one of yours?”
Sam’s eyebrows twitched a little and he brushed at the hair near his ear. To anyone else it would have meant nothing, barely noticeable. You knew better. It was discomfort. He was uncomfortable with the question. Seeing him, you felt an instinctive spark of annoyance towards Rebecca, which was absolutely ridiculous. It wasn’t your place to feel anything on Sam’s behalf. Not anymore.
“I don’t specialise in Civil… I do predominantly take them up, but that’s certainly not it. In fact, my most distinctive case isn’t even a Civil one,” he said. “Rest assured, if you want to make the most of the assignment, none of my cases would be of any help.”
“Makes me wonder…” Madison whispered next to you.
“You have until Wednesday to hand it in. It does not have to be technical, so it shouldn’t take much time,” he announced. “Back to the class now. We’re working on Trial components and rules…”
After the classes for the day ended, Madison caught up with you.
“Where are you headed?” She asked.
“The library.”
“Oh, excellent, I was heading there, too,” she said happily.
“Where are the others?” It made you feel like a wretched person, but you didn’t think you could take anymore of those girls.
Madison wiped her brow. “They wanted to head out to San Francisco for the night.”
“But it’s a Monday,” you spoke unthinkingly.
She gave you a look which made it clear that she shared your opinion.
“I thought you’d want to research Mr. Winchester's assignment. Do you mind if I join?”
The thought of working with someone for once was actually pleasant, “Of course I don’t. It’ll be fun, Maddie.”
She smiled at your use of her nickname. “Alright then.”
The Robert Crown law library was smaller and very modern in comparison to the Green library. It was all white walls, beige minimalist furniture and compactly placed bookshelves next to rows of computers. The appearance didn’t fool you in the least. You knew from having read and well, from having heard about it so many times from Sam that it was extensively stocked with information on thousands and millions of suits, petitions, litigations and what not. It had every possible book that you would want to refer to while building a case, by-laws, constitutional laws and so many other rules and regulations.
The two of you picked adjacent computers and began sifting through the cases. The sorting system itself boggled your mind, let alone the data within. Soon you were lost in a sea of cases, just reading through them instead of researching for the assignment.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” muttered Madison besides you.
“Mmmm?” You asked absentmindedly.
When she didn’t reply, you looked over. Madison was staring intently at the screen.
“You know when Mr. Winchester was talking to Becca earlier?” She asked, without taking her eyes off the screen.
“Yeah?” You remembered vividly.
“He mentioned how his most distinctive case wasn’t a Civil one?” Her voice was low. “I got curious and looked it up.”
You didn’t even know what to say.
“Turns out he was downplaying it. This looks like a huge deal.”
Despite everything, you gave your swivel chair a push and moved next to Madison.
“What’s it about?” You asked, curiosity getting the better of you.
“It’s complicated and over two years old. Looks like it’s a matter of twin homicides in conjunction with multiple matters of abuse and a custody battle. It says he was working with Simpsons and associates in LA back then.”
“LA?”
“Yeah.” She added guiltily, “I pulled out his public profile in accordance with his registration with the Bar Council. It has his whole bio-data.”
You knew you shouldn’t look. God, you knew it and you looked anyway.
“Stanford… Yale… and there’s a small town in Kansas where he was registered for a year. Then one year in NY, Four in LA, and two at Griswold Acton.”
New York… So he did go there. The thought pierced you like a shard.
“I think... I think I’m gonna go back now,” you said quietly.
Madison looked at the watch. “Shit! It’s already past 7! Yeah, we should hurry.”
“Hey, Y/N,” Madison said, as you walked along the curb, “The weekend after this one, I’m throwing a party at this bar a few blocks away. And I really want you to come.”
“Is it your birthday?” You asked, feeling awful that you were asking after being invited.
“Yes, the next day. I’m doing this the night before so we’ll be together when the clock hits 12. You’ll come, right?”
You hesitated.
“It’ll be fun, really. I know the girls can be a bit too much sometimes, but there’ll be other people.”
That was even worse.
“It would mean a lot to me,” she insisted.
“Okay,” you acquiesced. “Only if you let me get you a present.”
She looked like she wanted to protest, but then gave in. “Okay.” She threw her arms around you. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
You wandered back to the apartment, racking your brain about what to put in the assignment. Nothing came to you.
Weird dreams interrupted your sleep that night, homicides and custody disputes. You kept yelling that the child was yours and like in the old 70’s movies, the judge banged the gavel calling for order.... Then, the scene shifted. You were trapped, your hands and shoulders bound. There was glass around you. Shards of glass, blood and icy water, numbing your senses, dulling your pain as it soaked your hair and drenched you to the bone. You wanted to scream for help, but cold also made you sleepy. You wanted to ask the judge… tell him to hand you the child, but there was no judge… just cold and hammering rain.
You woke up chilly. Drenched in sweat, but still very cold. It was just a dream… not reality. Just a dream. You rolled over and sleep found you again.
“You look like you came back from the dead,” Meredith said first thing next morning.
You ignored her and took your seat in the row ahead of her. Unfortunately, that put you right next to Brad.
Sam was on time as usual. He ran through his papers as the tech set up his laptop.
“He’s alright, really,” Brad said, making conversation. “Girls seem to swoon on him because he is the youngest faculty member and all. But he’s just average as a teacher.”
“I think he is fantastic,” you said, jutting your chin out, voice unnecessarily sharp.
Brad raised an eyebrow. “I thought you weren’t like the other girls.”
“If by other girls you mean the ones that worked hard to get into Stanford and know how to appreciate a good teacher, then I’m exactly like the other girls.”
“Ooohhh, feisty,” he murmured under his breath. Sam called the class to attention and you chose to ignore Brad completely for the rest of the lecture, then made sure that you sat by yourself for the rest of the day.
The deadline for the assignment was tomorrow and you had no clue what you were handing in. That did not help with the anxiety.
On your way to the library, you dropped by at the Student’s employment office- without much hope- to check on that application anyway.
The girl at the desk ran through your profile once again as you gave her your name.
“Y/N,” she said in a monotone of someone who was bored out of their mind. “I actually have a hit for you here. I should warn you, it's a tough gig-”
“Tell me!” You interrupted before she had even finished the sentence.
She peered at you over her spectacles. “The odd hours librarian’s post at the Law library. You had an upper hand over the other applicants because you are a law student and live close by. You also have experience as a librarian before.”
“Yes, I want it!”
“Chillax, woman,” said the girl. “It’s an odd hours job. That means the night shift on three days and alternate weekends. It’s an 8 hour shift and 5 shifts per week. Twenty an hour.”
“Done.” You thought back to last night. It wasn’t like you were getting any good sleep anyway. Might as well make money out of it.
The girl shrugged. “It’s yours then. You start this weekend. I’ll hook you up with the other librarian peeps. They’ll let you know about your shift.”
You thanked her and happily walked back towards the Law building. At least one thing seemed to have worked in your favour. One minute you were walking ahead, next you were on the floor, all your things knocked out of your hands.
“I’m so sorry.”
You looked up into stunning hazel eyes. They were as familiar even now as if you had looked into them every day of your life.
Sam froze, having just realised that he had walked into you.
Up close he looked tired and definitely a lot thinner.
“Oh, God. Y/N!” Madison, who happened to walk by, reached out to help you to your feet.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
Numbly, you nodded.
Sam methodically picked up your books and wallet, stacked them in a pile and handed it to you.
“Are you hurt?” He asked, quietly, eyes trained on the books in your hand.
You shook your head.
He acknowledged it with a jerk of chin and left without another word.
“What an ass!” Brad muttered coming up from behind. “First he knocked her down and then didn’t even apologise. I don’t get why y’all idealise him so much.”
“Oh, shut up,” Lacey said. “Y/N was the one who walked into him without looking. Ruined his perfectly good suit with her chapstick smear. And he did apologise!”
You excused yourself as quickly as you could, still feeling the tingle on your skin where his fingers had lightly brushed yours, senses still filled with the smell of his cologne. Even after all these years it was still the same.
You had bought that cologne for him. He still used the same one.
Tears pressed your eyes as you entered the vine covered gates of the apartment.
At the lift, you ran into Cas.
He looked pleasantly surprised at the sight of you, which was weird because you both did stay on the same floor.
“You look… are you okay?” His voice was coloured with concern.
You had to stop running into people when you were upset. Had to.
“No, no, I’m fine,” you tried to assure him. “I was heading home.”
“Yes, home,” Cas sighed, absentmindedly. “I miss having a roommate sometimes. Conversation is what makes it home.”
You had reached your door.
“Hey,” you said, making an impulse decision. “Do you maybe wanna come in for a mug of coffee or something?”
He looked startled again. “Yeah, I would love that.”
Meg wasn’t home. You weren’t surprised.
“Please make yourself at home,” you waved towards the sofa. “I’ll be right back.”
You quickly dumped your bag and books on your bed, swapped the shoes for your comfortable slippers, tied your hair in a bun at the top of your head and made a beeline for the kitchen.
Cas was in the balcony, looking at the front yard.
“You guys have a fantastic view from here,” he said morosely. You felt bad for him. His was the only flat on the floor that didn’t have the yard facing balcony.
“Why didn’t you ask Pam to sublet you this one after the last tenant moved out?”
He shrugged. “I don’t spend much time at the apartment anyway with the night shifts and emergencies at the hospital. Besides, mine’s a small one and I don’t have a roommate, so it's easy to clean after.”
“Is it too much work at the hospital?” You asked sympathetically, then realised how dumb the question was. It was a hospital. Of course there was too much work.
“Sometimes,” he answered truthfully. “The ER duty is dreadful because a lot of times you just can’t save a life. OPD days are so much better.”
You nodded thoughtfully.
“What about you? How’s law school treating you?”
You told him about how everyone was just so different from you. They had social circles and Monday night outs and were worried about internships for status as opposed to just wanting a job or actually learning. You told him about how there always seemed to be an ulterior motive to everything that they said or did.
It sounded like a rant even to your own ears, but God it felt good to unload. Cas was probably bored out of his mind. You let it all out anyway.
“And then- then they judge people based on their appearance. Just because I wear a sweater all the time doesn’t make me drab. I’m just really sensitive to cold. Just because a professor is young and good looking, doesn’t by default make him a bad teacher.”
You had to stop to take a breath, and were immediately possessed by a sense of embarrassment. Why were you putting this on a very tired Cas?
Cas, however, looked deep in thought. “Hmmm…” he said. “Correct me if I’m wrong. You don’t have any immediate family, do you?”
You shook your head. “I have no family left.”
Cas didn’t ask you the why or how come.
“Maybe that’s why,” he said, face resting on his palms. “You don’t live for anyone but yourself. You don’t have to put on a show like them.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means that you are being motivated by a desire to learn, to become a better person and to help the world become a better place. Most people are motivated by power, or money or just wanting to create an impression. No wonder you don’t fit in, Y/N. You stand out.”
You stared at him, stunned.
“Oh, don’t look at me like that.” Cas put his hands up. “I mean it. Besides, you have us. I can tell for a fact that people here really like you. So who cares about the rich ass kids? They’re the reason lawyers got a bad rep.”
You giggled.
Then you remembered the coffee pot. “Oh, damn!”
Cas chuckled as you went to grab the pot and fix two coffees.
“What’re you thinking about the weekend?” Cas called from the balcony, “I think we’re on the losing side.”
“It’s September. It’s not raining.”
“That’s what I said last week. It rained.”
“Oh, no!”
Cas took a mug from your hands. “Thank you.”
He took a sip. “The forecast is never useful. Wish we could sue them for it.”
You put your mug down.
“CAS! You are a genius!”
“What?”
You rushed to your room to grab your computer, then settled on a chair, quickly typing the words out.
“I knew it!” You shouted in vindication. “I remembered reading about it.”
“Errr….” Cas hovered over you utterly confused. You turned the laptop so he could see.
“Look! In 1988 a woman did sue Chicago’s famous newsman over a wrong weather forecast!”
“Are you serious?” He put the mug down and sat next to you, reading the article.
You pointed at it excitedly. “See that’s what it says.”
“They dismissed her, right?”
You grinned at him. “She settled outside for a sum of half a million.”
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Cas whistled.
“Oh, this is perfect for the assignment! Thanks, Cas.”
“My pleasure,” he said, somewhat bemused.
He read over your shoulder as you wrote the brief extract, pointing out how it was a trend setter of it’s kind when it came to dragging news media to the court. The woman had missed a flight which was cancelled as a precaution to the bad forecast and viola! It never rained.
“This look good?”
“It’s perfect!” Cas said.
You dropped the file into the mailbox, then paused when it came to actually typing a mail, fingers trembling.
This was Sam you were writing to. He used to be your Sam.
You did it nevertheless. You typed his id and the thumbnail of his profile appeared. He wore a tan turtleneck and was smiling at the person holding the camera. Who could it have been?
“Is that the young professor you were talking about?” Cas asked offhandedly.
“Mhmm.”
“I can see why he gets that sort of attention,” Cas chuckled.
You saw it, too.
Sighing internally, you hit the send button.
Cas high-fived you. “There are very few things in life as satisfying as a last minute submission,” he said, then looked at the watch. “I better go now, I’ve got an early morning shift.”
“Oh, wait for a bit,” you said, rushing to the kitchen counter, and pulling out a jar of cookies. “Here, have one. I got a job today, as a librarian. My Gran used to say that one should always offer sweets while breaking a good news.”
“Oh, congratulations!” Cas took a bite of the crumbly choco-chip cookie and moaned. “Oh, these are wonderful!”
You thrust the entire jar in his hand. “Here, take them all. I just like baking them…. not much of an eater.”
“You made these?” His voice was incredulous and you blushed.
“My Gran used to run a small bakery from our house. I grew up watching her do what she loved the most. The smell of baking comforts me… and let’s just say I needed to be comforted lately.”
“Well, these are excellent!” He didn’t even resist for the sake of formality and took the jar.
You walked him to the door. “Hey, Cas. Thank you for tonight.”
It had been the first time since you had moved to the city that you actually felt like you had talked because you wanted to, shared what you really felt. It was the first time you had truly rejoiced that the bubble was gone and you could be happy in the company of another person.
Cas didn’t ask why you had thanked him. Oddly, he understood.
He placed a hand on your shoulder, where it lay heavy and comforting. “I had a great evening. If you ever want to share anything or you know bake too many cookies, I should tell you that I live right next door.”
You giggled. Cas tightened his grip on your shoulder for a moment and let go. He waved at you once more before closing his door.
Later, as you lay in bed, you thought through the day and just how your emotions were all over the place. One minute you were distraught and the next, excited. The way that Brad annoyed you, no one ever had except for that one idiot in high school. You were used to having people rely on you. Even when you worked as a paralegal all through last year, your boss had been happy with your work, your colleagues were polite… but no one had remotely elicited any sort of reaction from you. It had been the same through all those years of pre-law. It hadn’t ever bothered you that you weren’t a part of the group. In fact, now that you looked back on the years, everything seemed so hazy, like you were looking at your memories through a heavily fogged glass.
In fact, that one year spent with Sam was clearer than the seven years spent after. You could recall every moment lived with him as if it was merely yesterday. And yet things that had happened a month back felt like they had happened ages ago.
Deep down, you knew the reason for it. With Sam you had been happy… happier than you had ever been before. It was the last time you had been happy, too. So did that mean you were beginning to be happy again now?
Re-learning it one step at a time?
You rolled, mulling the thought over in your head and fell asleep dreamlessly after a very long time.
************
“Oh, the sweet release of Friday!” Madison moaned. “I can’t wait to fall into bed. Isn’t that right, Y/N?”
“I actually have plans for tonight,” you told her, “So I’m not expecting to see the bed anytime soon.”
“Oh, you wouldn’t show up to Brad’s party, but you have plans tonight?” Lacey wiggled her eyebrows. “Is there a special someone?”
It was Jack. You were going bowling with Jack and whoever else was free. You had protested the plan by explaining how awful you were at bowling. It had only delighted Jack more. Apparently, he sucked, too, but he really wanted to impress the girl who worked at the bowling alley. If he came off looking better than you, maybe, just maybe he’d have a chance with her. It seemed like a very very unlikely event, but you didn’t have the heart of telling him that. In fact, to your surprise you found yourself really excited for the evening.
“Just a friend.” You shrugged.
Lacey looked like she was about to press her point when Madison interrupted her.
“Oh, did any of you hear from Mr. Winchester? Regarding the assignment?”
You threw her a grateful look for changing the topic.
Madison had received a reply on Wednesday evening with a positive critique and so had Rebecca along with a few more people.
It was all Rebecca needed to go on and on about the assignment, and how Mr. Winchester loved her work and remembered her name. You were a little disappointed that you never received a critique… but were you even expecting a reply from Sam? You had accepted that he was going to ignore you.
Sam did not mention the assignment at all. He made a few timed jokes about how everyone hated the last class on a Friday including him and he’d make it a point to let everyone off fifteen minutes early. The lecture was as captivating as usual. He spoke with such passion for law that even the most monotonous topics became suddenly interesting. You wouldn’t have cared if he had even extended the class, but he kept his promise and ended it about ten minutes early.
“Before you all leave for a much deserved weekend,” he said, “I want to congratulate you all on an assignment well done. Most of you had the most interesting topics picked out for the note. It certainly made for entertaining reads. I was hoping at least someone would bring up the several instances when Red bull got sued and I wasn’t disappointed. Four of you did. I’m sorry I couldn’t reply back to all of the emails, but there was a particular one that I’d like to bring to your attention. A 1988 lawsuit turned to a petition after a woman sued Chicago’s famous newsman Gary Holster over the wrong forecast.”
You could barely believe your ears.
“Mary Johnson was flying from Domestic Chicago to LAX along with 122 other passengers. And after predictions of a heavy storm, the flight was cancelled. Of course. it barely even rained. As a result, Miss Johnson lost a prospective job and the opportunity at a better life. What started as a snowflake of a suit, snowballed into a petition with over 76 plaintiffs after a newspaper published her story tagging it as ridiculous. The other passengers reached out to her, expanding into a full-fledged writ.”
He paused and took a deep breath. “All of you should take a look at the case as well as Ms. Y/L/N’s note. It was a particularly smart choice to pick this case because I had asked for weird and unusual… and the exact oddity of the case was what made it a national sensation in the late 80’s.”
Sam looked up, with precision, straight into your eyes. “Good job, Ms. Y/L/N.”
Your heart fluttered in your chest. The corner of your eyes stung.
Behind you Lacey muttered, “Oh, look, yours isn’t the only name he remembers, Ms. Staten.”
“Have a great weekend!” Sam wished before leaving the room. The class immediately broke into a babble and some people turned to spot you in the crowd. A few of them even came up to you to congratulate on an assignment well done. You promised to forward the assignment to the class group so everyone could see it. As it turned, out a couple of people stayed in the building next to yours.
While leaving, you did notice Rebecca staring at you with ill concealed dislike and something close to suspicion.
“Y/N!” Jack was waiting for you in the front yard, which was officially nicknamed the meadow. He was sitting next to Judgy Judy with a satchel slung across his body.
“Hey, I’m going to run upstairs and drop my bag.”
He sprang up from the parapet and eased your bag off your shoulder. “Don’t bother. We can just drop it off at Pam’s. Watch.”
He slid the shutter to her ground floor flat window and with extreme expertise pushed your big inside from in between to bars.
“Genius!” You lauded.
Jack grinned, “Pam is home and sleeping. By the time we get back, she’ll be up, ready to handover the bag.”
“Truly epic.”
“You guys don’t have too much fun without me!” Kevin yelled from his balcony where he was sitting with Cas. He looked bummed.
“What’s up with him?”
Jack waved at Kevin and said loudly enough for him to hear, “Nothing. Kev’s just pissed that the weather is clear.”
Kevin cursed. “That dumb reported said it was going to rain. I’m gonna sue her!”
Next to him, Cas gave you a pointed look and winked. You couldn’t help the grin that spread across your face.
Jack offered you his arm and you took it, feeling a strange happiness settle within you. Hand in hand you walked out. For the first time in years you didn’t know what to expect of tomorrow or even the next moment. The feeling was worth living for.
*******************************
A/N 2: Heads up! There’s still sometime before we find out what exactly went down between these two, but in the present timeline, it’s mostly just uphill from now.
I had a very, very hard day, today. Hoping it will be uphill for me, too, from now on :)
PLEASE let me know what you think of this story?
If you want be tagged, you can send me an ask or add yourself to the taglist here.
Or here’s my side blog @percywinchester27-writes. You can give that blog a follow and turn the notifications on to know about updates.
ALLU taglist:
@feelmyroarrrr @gabavaldman @im-a-light-child @cosicas-cuquis @bllyjianne @hoboal87 @i-is-for-inspiring @daughterleftbehind @wackiekebab @mylovelydame21 @dancing-the-hellfire-rumba @superbadassnatural @bellastellaluna @babypink224221 @badlittlehabit99 @anathewierdo @sams-bubblegum-bitch @damnitnowimobsessed @fandomoverdose666 @superstarmarvel @atc74 @transparentfestivaltiger @rebel-author-chick @death-unbecomes-you @cookiechipdough
#sam x reader fluff#sam winchester x reader#lawyer!Sam#professor!Sam x reader#lawyer au#professor!Sam au#sam winchester reader insert#allu5#anawrites#anawritesspn#Ana writes ALLU#q
109 notes
·
View notes
Text
Wheee! Another update is here! I hope y’all will continue to enjoy this fic as we move forward!
When the news breaks that the case against Mas Amedda and Former-Chancellor Palpatine for corruption charges will go to court breaks, it explodes across the holonet like a supernova.
The recent arrests and trials of Senators from all over the Republic, the arrests-in-absence of Senators formerly of the Republic and currently of the Separatists have been making headlines for weeks, but before now there has been nothing about Mas Amedda or Palpatine themselves.
If there had been nothing to substantiate the claims, the investigation would have ended now with no charges being brought forward against them. The investigation would only have caught these other people, and so far only sent other people to trial. So for this too to come a trial... Well, clearly that means that there is a case against them. There is evidence to be found.
The people start to wonder how far the corruption goes, how big a web it has woven, and how many of the already arrested and sentenced Senators have testimonies against Amedda and Palpatine.
News anchors argue and debate each other into exhaustion regarding what this means not just for Amedda and Palpatine themselves, but for the Republic and Senate at large. If the two who were the most powerful beings in the Republic are found guilty on corruption charges... Does that mean that the Separatist worlds who chose to try and leave the Republic in protest are right?
Or does it mean that someone, Count Dooku perhaps, saw an opportunity to gain power by playing on the corruption they saw in the Senate rather than work towards eliminating those issues from the inside?
~~~~
Obi-Wan doesn't have much time to spend watching the holonet, but what little he sees is enough to exhaust him. He's unsurprised, but he's also worried. He doesn't know what the investigation has found—as he shouldn't, per due process—but he knows the possible ramifications of a guilty verdict.
Yes, the Republic is under new leadership, certainly, but many, if not most, senators remain unchanged. How many of them were in Palpatine or Amedda's pockets? How will this affect the peace discussions and reintegration of returning separatist worlds?
How, exactly will the neutral systems—if there truly can be such a thing in a conflict like this—react? Will some of them finally take a stance beyond "we will not fight"?
He shakes his head and moves out of his chair, to sit down on the floor instead.
He moves into his most favoured meditation position, and tries to clear his mind. He'll need to work through his emotions and thoughts one by one, lest he gets overwhelmed.
He's needed more meditation than he's needed since childhood after his near-death experience. His connection to the force has been shaken, and he's been shaken. It takes him far more effort than usual to calm down.
Perhaps he'll speak to one of the Temple's mind healers when he gets the chance. It is usually a good thing to do after you've faced your death in such a stark way, he knows that.
Still. He's so busy. It feels almost wrong to take any sort of time off between all of his responsibilities.
Hah, no doubt Master Yoda would hit him in the shin if he heard that, and then give him a long-winded lecture on the impossibility of helping others if you do not care for yourself.
"There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force," he mutters the mantra over and over as he sinks deeper into meditation. Blast and the others will keep watch, and Obi-Wan has it on good authority that Waxer and Boil's treatments are over and they're back on duty as well. He has good men at his back.
There is no need to worry.
~~~~
Anakin stares at the newsreel, uncomprehending.
Mister Palpatine has been arrested, awaiting trial.
It's as if all of his thoughts need to force their way through stone to make sense. He's... blank.
This can't be!
This can't be!
There's no way Palpatine is guilty! The investigation is probably just arresting him and Amedda and setting a trial date due to outside pressure. That's it. Of course.
The trial will just prove Palpatine innocent. They just have to do it. Perhaps there's some doubt in his position due to corruption among his aides. That has to be it.
Palpatine wouldn't do something like this. Anakin knows he wouldn't.
He paces back and forth in his rooms, unable to settle down. He's close to bursting with frustration and agitation and he can't hope to meditate on his emotions as Obi-Wan would tell him to when he's this upset. Meditation is for calmer mindsets.
Perhaps he can talk to Obi-Wan... Or Padmé.
Or maybe both of them?
That... That would be good. That's what he needs right now.
He picks up his comm and sends a group message to them. Byt the Force how he hopes they'll agree. There's no way he can deal with this alone. Palpatine has been his friend and mentor since he was a child... This is just too much to deal with.
Obi-Wan said it was his duty to start the investigation due to the Vote of No-Confidence, but there's no way he thought it would find anything. He can't have. Palpatine is one of the only politicians worth trusting in the Senate.
Surely Obi-Wan knows that?
He's always allowed Anakin to go visit Palpatine, even when he was a child, so he couldn't have thought anything was suspicious. The same goes for the Council for that matter!
They would have stepped in and refused Palpatine's requests for Anakin to visit if they thought he was corrupt. The Council hates politics outside the Order, and they always speak of the need to root out corruption.
They must have found Palpatine trustworthy then, and he's done his best since he became chancellor—no matter what Senator Mandai thinks.
It'll... It'll be fine.
Anakin swallows harshly and clenches his fists in his hair. He just needs to talk to Padmé and Obi-Wan.
He's too ashamed to face Palpatine—Obi-Wan got him into this situation, and Anakin has always vouched for him with the former chancellor—even though he knows his friend probably could use the support. Palpatine is strong, he can no doubt manage until Anakin gets a grip on himself.
~~~~
Padmé watches the news as they break. Former Chancellor Palpatine has been arrested and placed on house arrest pending the trial.
She presses her lips together and fights down the fear and anxiety she feels at the news. She knows Palpatine used the occupation of Naboo to further his career, so in a way she's not... She's not surprised that the investigation has found something...
But at the same time... Using an existing tragedy that you cannot make undone anyway is not the same as actively corrupting the system. Padmé should know, her own career has been helped by her hard work in disaster zones. So even though she knows that Palpatine used her—used Naboo—the thought that he may be entirely corrupt...
It feels foreign. It feels wrong.
It's as if there's an itch in the back of her head, as if there's a voice whispering to her to tread carefully, to doubt everything, because who knows who's truly to be trusted?
Her head hurts.
Her heart hurts when she considers how conflicted and hurt Anakin must feel right now. As if her husband needs more on his plate. One of his dearest friends possibly being a criminal of a terrible degree won't be a devastating blow to him.
She picks up her comm and looks at it, wondering if she should send him a message. He probably needs her, right now.
They never should have married.
At least then that would be one less thing weighing on him. At least then there might be a chance for them, for the dream of a happy ending.
She chokes back a sob. She must be strong.
Anakin will need her to.
~~~~
Bail listens intently to the report, drumming his fingers against the top of his desk. So the corruption stems as far as this, does it?
He glances down at the files and notes Miss Marili gave him just before the explosion in the Senate Office Building. He's still going through them to verify their validity, but so far everything checks out, and her own notes and thoughts are very astute.
Bail has always known, taught as such at his mother's knee, that if you want to truly know what goes on in an institution, you ask the aides and the lower-ranks—those who fade into the background. After all, who thinks of what the secretary overhears when they walk inside with documents? Or even what they can piece together they remain at their station by who comes and goes. Miss Marili, currently the aide of Senator Jacks of Belazura and the former aide of Senator Larr of Saram, is an excellent example.
Her information is very interesting indeed, and dates back decades.
Bail wonders just what it was that caught her eye, what sent her looking in the first place... But he's yet to hear that story from her. He's also curious as to why she came to him rather than Senator Jacks, but it's possible that it's due to his position as a Core World Senator.
And possibly his known friendliness with the Jedi—definitely important considering the content of her research.
Still, Bail can't make any moves as of yet. The information may check out for now, but who knows if she's hidden some falsehoods that could prove damaging within it. After all, she is an unknown factor, and Bail knows very little about her.
In fact, how Bail does not even know how she ended up as Senator Larr's aide in the first place, considering how young she must have been at the time. Perhaps her family moved to Saram at some point. That could, of course, be how Senator Larr found her in the first place since a Twi'lek family taking up residence rather than just going on holiday there would likely draw attention. Aside from the native human population few make Saram their permanent home despite its popularity as a vacation planet, as far as Bail knows.
Regardless, her mysterious past and everything else together makes for quite the puzzle.
Perhaps she'll trust him with the truth at a later time—though no doubt will he need to prove himself first.
All in all, the political situation on Coruscant is growing increasingly complex, even when you don't take the currently ongoing civil war into consideration.
~~~~
So those cretins think they've found something on him, do they?
Well, they'll certainly see about that.
Palpatine has made damn sure that anything more than slightly frowned upon will fall entirely on Amedda. The fool was always set up to take the fall should something go wrong and Palpatine's plot was derailed—as it has been.
At most Palpatine himself will receive a slap on the wrist and an admonishment to hire better staff.
Even so, he suffers the utter humiliation of being stranded on Coruscant, wearing a prisoner's bracelet to ensure he cannot leave the planet. They'll all suffer for this humiliation, the lot of them. Palpatine will grind Kenobi's skull to dust for daring to set this farce in motion.
Blasted Jedi.
He'll bathe in their blood and relish in every single second of it.
—
(Supreme Chancellor Obi-Wan Kenobi masterpost)
#Supreme Chancellor Obi Wan Kenobi#my writing#star wars#obi wan kenobi#padme amidala#anakin skywalker#bail organa#palpatine#update
213 notes
·
View notes
Text
260. Sonic the Hedgehog #191
Metal and Mettle (Part 1)
Writer: Ian Flynn
Pencils: Tracy Yardley!
Colors: Josh Ray
A few days after Scourge and the Suppression Squad have taken control of Freedom HQ, Miles alerts Scourge to an interesting and unexpected visitor - namely, Metal Sonic, through whom Eggman is speaking and watching.
Yeah, don't underestimate a fellow evildoer, Scourge. Meanwhile in New Mobotropolis, Sonic and Knuckles stand before the Council of Acorn to try to get permission to take the base back. Unfortunately for them, the council votes four to two to leave it for the time being, as they don't see Scourge as that big of a threat, and want to focus on taking New Megaopolis from Eggman before going after smaller holdings. Sonic, of course, does not take this well, and tries to talk to Knuckles about it once they exit the building.
Oh, Knuckles. You have to stop angsting about this, my dude. Sonic leaves the city on his own, musing as he races back to Freedom HQ about how despite their recent successes in battle, and many gains against Eggman and his forces, he can't help a strange feeling that overall they're losing ground. He hopes that kicking Scourge out of the base will cheer him up, but is brought up short by the sight of Scourge and Metal Sonic battling it out on the grass outside. Miles stands nearby watching, and not-so-subtly tests Scourge's leadership by asking if he wants help against Metal, as surely the others helping him would only be an insult since he conquered his planet on his own. Sonic, uninterested in any of the politics, merely barrels in to help, offering Scourge a truce to take Metal out, but Scourge angrily refuses, and both he and Metal turn on Sonic to attack. Meanwhile, Julie-Su finds Knuckles brooding on a bench in the park, and when she presses to know what's bothering him he snaps, yelling that he can't trust himself or anyone else, as no matter what he does, someone always ends up hurt, and he can't bear to face the few remaining members of his family. Julie-Su reaches for him, looking at first like she's going to comfort him, but then…
I mean, all things considered, Julie-Su, you make a fantastic point. Your family's loss has been largely glossed over until now - I don't think she was even given a single panel before now to mourn the deaths of her foster parents, despite how delighted she was to rediscover them before - and as you point out, it's not like Knuckles is suffering alone. Back at Freedom HQ, the fight continues, with Eggman telling Metal to hang in there as he's putting the "finishing touches" on some backup. Sonic and Scourge briefly wind up fighting each other without Metal's interference, during which Sonic criticizes Scourge for taking his advice to better himself to a brutal, negative extreme. Scourge merely mocks Sonic's restraint, pointing out how much more powerful he is as a king than as a hero.
Ooh, dramatic parallels to their prior talk! I love it! Metal interrupts before Sonic can respond, and as the fight continues once more we move this time to Angel Island, where Knuckles is having a talk with Archimedes while Charmy sits nearby.
So something that needs to be pointed out is that inexplicably, this is Archimedes' last appearance in the comic, ever. Unlike all the other characters who have disappeared from the comic, there's no reason given - no genocide, no dimensional portal to swallow him up, no deaths or sudden decisions to leave and find himself on another continent, nothing. He just… never shows up again. It's disappointing, as y'all know how much I like Archimedes, but again I really do think this stems from Ian's weird, irritating habit of erasing a lot of Kenders' contributions to this world. I know that he's trying to make the comic's world more like the games, and that in the games, Knuckles is the last echidna and isn't embroiled in all these politics, but dammit, there's nothing wrong with comic Knuckles being so different from game Knuckles! Personality-wise, he's still similar, still recognizable, it's just his circumstances that are different. Then again, maybe I shouldn't be blaming Ian for all of this - for all I know, Sega themselves ordered him to get rid of all of this stuff. I dunno, man, I'm just some random fan with a blog. Speaking of controversial decisions by Ian, though, it's nice to see him doing his best to treat Charmy's brain damage with respect here. He certainly acts more childlike than he once did, but he's doing his best, and isn't a punchline, still actively participating in missions and helping Knuckles sort his own problems out.
Anyway, Knuckles, encouraged by his mentor's words, uses his warp ring to head back to the city, where he and Julie-Su give a curt apology to each other with an agreement to sort things out more fully later, when he's had more time to work through his emotional distress. They consider heading to Freedom HQ to help Sonic, but Knuckles believes that Sonic can most likely handle the situation on his own. Of course, we know better - Sonic might be able to take on Scourge or Metal individually, but both at once is a real challenge. He kicks Metal aside, only to be startled by the sight of another robot coming to join the fray - a robot that looks exactly like Scourge. Wow, Eggman, you really didn't waste any time on that one, huh? How many Metal Sonics do you think he has lying around in his base just ready for a paint job and a new assignment?
Though there's another story in this issue, we won't be covering it. Why? Well, it's the first real installment of "In Another Time, In Another Place"! I've mentioned it before, but it's basically what Ian decided to do when it was clear he couldn't keep putting in half-adaptions of random games anymore, but still needed to do tie-ins for newly-released games. With the pattern we've been taking with these tie-ins lately, you'd think this one would be for Sonic '06, but nope! For whatever reason, Sonic '06 goes completely unacknowledged within the comic verse (at least for now), with the sole exception of Shadow joining up with GUN. However, as I've mentioned before, Ian did state somewhere along the way that Sonic '06 did in fact happen somewhere during the course of the comic's plotline - it's just that due to the very nature of the game's story, the events of the plot are entirely reset and erased from the timeline at the end, meaning an adaption doesn't even have to take place, as technically, even though those events did happen, they also… didn't.
But all that aside, the tie-in in today's issue is actually for the little-remembered DS title, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, which was an RPG developed by Bioware of all companies (and yes, they did include one of their trademark Bioware romance sidequests, though it's probably of little interest to anyone who doesn't ship Sonamy). While again, we're not covering it due to it being non-canon, it's an important thing to note regardless. For one, these In Another Time, In Another Place installments became pretty commonplace throughout the comic as new games were released, but perhaps more importantly, this was the game that apparently really got under Kenders' skin. The problem is that after all he'd done to develop the world of the echidnas and all the political and military factions thereof, this game's plot ended up heavily centering around a band of echidnas in dark armor emerging from a parallel dimension where time moves more slowly, with an intent to take the Master Emerald and use it to cement their place of power in the real world once more, though one female echidna realizes the error of her people's ways and abandons her army to side with Knuckles against her megalomaniacal and powerful male leader. Gee, sound familiar? While I don't believe that Bioware or Sega actually copied Kenders' ideas outright - the way I've described it makes it sound similar, but there's a ton of differences in the plot and presentation that definitely indicate they're two different ideas by different people - Kenders certainly seems to think it's a rip-off, and this was from what I understand at the core of all his problems with Sega that led to his eventual lawsuit that forced the reboot of the comic. It sucks, too, because even aside from losing all the years of history in the preboot, the plot of Sonic Chronicles was actually quite fascinating and it ended on a cliffhanger, which will never, ever be resolved because Sega doesn't even want to touch that can of worms after everything that happened. I think the game has actually been quietly stricken from canon, too, because the cliffhanger literally involved Eggman having taken over the world while everyone was away, and there's just no way to solve something like that offscreen. Just a bad time all around, folks. As they say in the fandom - thanks, Ken Penders. Still, though, we have quite a ways to go before we hit the preboot's end, so let's forget about the negative stuff and keep trucking on.
#nala reads archie sonic preboot#archie sonic#archie sonic preboot#sonic the hedgehog#sth 191#writer: ian flynn#pencils: tracy yardley#colors: joshua d ray
18 notes
·
View notes
Text
Trial Chapter 15
Almost a month had gone by since Ben had left, Rey was almost sure that he was done with the camps and that she was safe, so he could come back but... this time it was him who wasn't safe.
Rey had went to Naboo and back a million times already, or that was what she felt like.
The senators, kings and queens decided that it was a good place to gather and almost everyday they'll have meetings with Rey, trying to convince her to rule the galaxy, giving her advice, telling her what they needed from her and every day she felt worst and worst, with a big burden on her shoulders.
"You've already saved the galaxy, you can sure rule it" Ben had said to her the other night, while she complained about not being fit for the job.
Ben...
She still couldn't convince them to not put Ben to trial, and it scared her to death. What if all that was left was for her and Ben was to only see each other in secret, through their force bonds? only for minutes but not able to spend time together... or walk hand in hand... or talk for more than some minutes...
They wanted to negociate with her, and she had that to discuss too.
"Rey! look at this, John and I did it" Leda came running to where Rey was sitting near the fire. A young boy followed Leda and gave Rey a shy smile.
"Wow, this is amazing kids. Who taught you?" Rey admired the little drone standing between them, it's body was like a box and it had two wheels, it didn't do much but it was pretty.
"Kaydel helped us a little" John said.
"She taught you well, in no time you'll be able to build bigger droids or ships, or anything" she encouraged the kids.
"Thanks Rey" Leda said and hugged her. It always took Rey by surprise when the kid hugged her, but she did it almost every day. She smiled warmly and pathed her back.
"If I don't have to go tomorrow then I'll help you get some parts to improve the droid okay?"
"Great!" the kids ran away with the drone following behind and Rey sighed.
"Oh no, go away" If Rey was mad with Poe before, she was even more now, that almost every time he got near her was to tell her about meetings she had to attend to.
"I can't keep apologyzing forever Rey" he said raising his hands and slowly sitting beside her.
"What now?" she hugged herself and turned just enough to see Poe.
"Ben said he'll come back soon, he has visited all the camps" Poe was playing with his hands.
"When did he tell you that? are you serious? Oh god... but... didn't he requested another ship to take some kids here just two days ago?"
"He sent a message earlier, saying that the ship from the other day would come back before him, full of kids and that today he'll make an effort to come back."
Why hadn't he told Rey anything about that?...
"In that case that is fantastic, one of the few good things you have said to me" She aswered and turned her back.
"Rey..." Poe's voice was pleading behind her.
"Come on, I miss my friend" he said. Rey rested her chin on her knees. A friend... she hadn't had many friends before she joined the resistance.
She had to be very careful who she talked to, who saw her, what she found... she had been so alone for such a long time.
"I'm sorry" she said after a while.
"And why are you sorry? I'm the one who's sorry" Poe said.
"I got mad at you for too long... and you've apologized enough" she said turning to him.
"I guess I'll be mad if you've done the same too." He admited making them both laugh.
"Come on, dinners on me" He said standing up and offering his hand, Rey stood up alone and rolled her eyes, but she laughed and walked with him.
The next day a ship full of kids arrived on the base just as Ben had promised, and Rey had to go to Naboo, just as expected.
For some reason they had requested for her to stay for three days this time.
She wondered if maybe when she got back to the camp Ben would be here.
Meanwhile Finn, Poe, D-O and BB-8 joined her on her trip to Naboo, on their way to the palace she catched a glimpse of the lake house and closed her eyes, remembring how good she had felt the last time she was there.
It felt like years ago, when in fact there had been only months.
"I'm going to accept, on one condition" Rey said causing everyone to get excited.
"And what would that be?" Queen Zorya questioned. All the eyes were on Rey.
She closed her right hand into a fist and stood up, holding it behind her back and then placing both hands on the table, taking a moment to look at everyone while she spoke.
"I've come everytime you've requested me, I have waited and learned, patiently hearing all your ideas and plans, and... I will accept to rule, for a year or two at least IF Ben Solo is forgiven and not judged" she sentenced.
Her words made some people mad, and soon the comments clashed with each other filling the room with noise.
"Silence!" A king from one of the outher rim planets demanded.
"Shall we vote on this? I belive that Rey's words are true... and that she wil continue to listen to us while we rule... so we can all consider what she's asking for us" Queen Zorya said.
"Almost all of you have accepted former troopers to join your societies, some of you didn't even judge them, and those people are the same. Ben... he's not Kylo Ren, all I'm asking for... is a chance for him to proove it, to live. Because if you judge him... you won't have mercy, and I know it, and you'll lose me as a ruler." She declared. She was leaning a little too much on the fact that they wanted her to rule and hoped that they wouldn't just give up on her and search for him.
"Give us some time to deliver, then we'll vote. And you have to sign, that in case that we go with your petition you'll rule, following our... suggestions." One of the senators said.
Rey was too excited to even think of his words, she only thought about the fact that they'll probably aprove it.
"I'll do it" she said.
"Someone will go and look for you when we're ready" he said, and Finn, Rey and Poe went outside.
"I... don't feel like they have such good intentions Rey, no offense but, don't you think it's weird that they insist so much in you ruling?" Finn said.
"I think they just know how powerful she is" Poe shrugged. Politics were not his thing.
"Or they're trying to use you" he said.
"How would they use me?" Rey asked.
"I don't know, your image? I bet there's no one in the galaxy who doesn't know who you are"
"As long as they actually plan on doing something good for the galaxy... I guess it's fine" she shrugged. Politics weren't her thing either.
Finn sighed.
"I don't know... I think there's something else going on. You shouldn't just accept like that."
"It's not forever and... it may spare Ben" she let out a deep breath she was holding.
"You... don't even want to do this Rey" Finn said and stopped walking. Rey stopped too and stood with her hands on her hips, Poe being the last one to realize what was going on.
"I don't... but I want to help Ben, and I do want to help the people... maybe having their help won't be so bad." she said but she knew it wouldn't be enough for him.
"When did all your decisition started being all about Ben?" he complained.
"I mean, really, don't get me wrong I kind of like the guy now but... he's only brought problems Rey... even before he was Ben Solo" the way he said Ben's name, like mocking him made Rey angry and for a second her hand went to the hilt of her saber.
"Okay, stop. Come on, you're all probably hungry. Why don't we all go for breakfast and wait for their decisition... we can talk and relax" Poe said standing between them.
Rey was going to argue that Finn was the one trying to fight and asking for problems when she felt a familiar warmth in her heart, all her senses shouted her to look around and a grin spread through her face.
"He's here" she said. The boys didn't understand riht away what she was talking about and it was only after a ship was near them and landed that they got it.
"Rey!" Finn called for her when she ran away.
"Just let her be" Poe said putting his arm around his shoulders.
"Rey" Ben greeted her getting out, noticing her standing in the distance.
In a second she was hugging him tight.
"Hi" she said and her voice was a little muffled by his shirt.
"Hey" he answered hugging her tighter and lifting her up for a second.
Her happiness didn't last long because she qickly realized that he was in danger.
"Ben as much as I like that you're here, you should go back to the base. They're deciding if they are or not going to put you on trial" she said taking his arms and looking him in the eyes.
"It's okay, for what you've told me I don't think they'll do anything to upset you. They're set on you ruling" he said rubbing her shoulders and then sliding his hands all the way down to her hands.
"I've missed you" he said. Rey grinned, maybe he was right and maybe they were going to make this small sacrifice for her.
"After they vote we could go to the lake house if you want" she offered.
"It may be good for a day or two" he agreed with a little side smile.
They were walking towards Finn and Poe when they heard the steps of many people walking towards them.
"What the hell?" Rey murmured and in a second she and Ben positioned back to back, their sabers in hand ready to take whatever was coming.
"Hands up, Ben Solo! you must surrender and come with us" A man said, the leader. They were all soldiers coming ot of the palace. Soon they were all around them, and Rey heard Poe calling out for them.
"Don't come near, the senators, kings and queens said they'll discuss it and vote, adn they'll get back to me!" Rey warned.
"The desition has been made, and the answer is no. Now! take the prisoner!" the man ordered and the soldier walker closer to them.
Rey spoon her saber on her hand, ready to fight the soldiers when suddenly Ben stood in front her.
"What are yo doing?!"
"This won't help. Rey, it's better if I go with them" He had already put his saber away.
"What are you talking about? no!" she didn't pt the saber away and shook Ben's arm with her free hand, trying to push the soldiers away with the force.
"Rey. Stop" he whispered.
"But-" she didn't understand... this- he- had they set her a trap? But how could they know that Ben was coming?.
"Hands up!" Someone yelled pushing Ben to kneel.
He did as they said and Rey complained, shouting threaths here and there.
"It's okay. It's okay Rey" Ben said to her again and again.
"Don't you dare touch him!" she followed the soldier as they took Ben inside the palace.
"Stop there" other guards told her and blocked her way. She was mad and confused, and didn't even think about convincing them to move away.
Instead she made a quick desition and headed to the room she was before, and where the traitors across the galazy were probably sitting right now.
"You lied to me!" she yelled, storming into the room and kicking the doors open.
"Why?!" this question was followed by the yellow light of her saber.
"Rey, we had to do it. The votes for no won, and with the word that he was already here. We couldn't let the opportunity pass." A man said.
Queen Zorya avoided to look at her, in shame, because she had voted for Ben to be forgiven and had lost, and couldn't do anything when the soldiers went after him.
"Release him. I swear I won't rule or do anything unless you let him go!"
"Oh, but Rey. You will rule anyways" another man said.
"I won't, I won't and you can't make me. You've never answered me why you need me so bad, but soon you won't have me at all!"
"Do you want to go on trial too Rey?"
"What? for what?!" she kept pointing her saber at many people in the room, not being able to choose just one person to attack.
"We know you're a palpatine. Do you think anyone, and I mean anyone would want you alive after they know that?"
(Yeah, I know. Hate the Palpatine desition and I'm going to change it in the other book but, for know, she's a Palpatine guys.)
"So what? It's just a name, that I've never taken."
"It doesn't matter if you've taken it or not, it is enough for people to hate you"
"Well and then what? I don't think you'll do thata fter you've put so much effort on convincing me to rule." she wouldn't give up.
"The consequences this could have would be even worst than whatever happens to Ren" the man from earlier said, and Rey imagined herself slicing him with her saber for a minute. She hated being threatened, she hated being lied to and she hated the fact that he called Ben, Ren.
"Then put me to trial, I don't care. Come on!"
"Guards!" a woman yelled and they came running and tackling Rey on the ground. They tied her hand behind her back and made her stand up. They were all pointing blasters at her and someone gagged her.
"Keep and eye on her always, and I mean always, also don't let her talk, or she'll convince you to let her go" After that they all retired and queen Zorya gave her a last regretful look.
This was the worst time for the queen to be a pacifist.
Rey supposed that Finn and Poe had also been stopped and locked away somewhere as they never went to get her, and hours had passed with the soldier surrounding her.
Then a man came and let the guards know that it was time to take her outside.
She stomped on the guards feet as much as she could all the way out and thought of a million ways to get rid of them, taking Ben and leaving.
She noticed the improviced makeshift stage and the crowd around it. Some guards pointed at Ben, who was kneeled and with his hands on his back as the people yelled at him. The kings, queens and senators were on a line in front of all the people.
The man who called him Ren climbed up and talked loud to be heard, and Rey noticed that someone was recording him, probably to show this to the rest of the galaxy.
Rey kicked a few guards when she noticed that one had pushed Ben to the ground and pressed against his back with his boot.
But they restrained her again and dragged her closer to the stage.
"Everyone who has traveled across the galaxy to come here and testify justice, please be welcome." Some people chanted. "We're here to judge Kylo Ren for his actions as former Supreme Leader and his service to the First Order and Palpatine!" The crowd really went loud when he mentioned the name Palpatine and Rey swallowed hard, suddenly scared of what people would do to her if they found out.
"Kill him!" she heard some of the people scream.
"Stop!" she tried yelling but the gag on her mouth wouldn't let her talk.
The guards lift him off the ground abruptly, and carelessly plling his hair. Ben tried not to react at all to not give them any more satisfaction.
"Sorry" he tried saying to Rey, more like whispering to her, in hopes that maybe he could get them straight to her mind.
He didn't actually planned for things to go like that or end up like this. He had thought about letting them to put him on trial, as he went base to base searching for whoever wanted to harm Rey, but he never imagined that they'll get him so easy.
He had seen earlier how they dragged Rey out and wished with all his heart that she didn't have to witness whatever they planned on doing to him.
He could almost hear her complaining again, why wasn't he fighting back? when they could easy kill all the guards. It was a fact, but if they did... no one in the galaxy would look at them the same, or at least Rey and they'll never be in peace.
"We have voted and found him guilty on all the crimes mentioned before" Ben came back to reality and payed attention to what the man directing the "trial" was saying.
"Kill! kill! kill!" the crowd said again and again. Wasn't people in Naboo supossed to be smart and peaceful? he silently complained.
Then he looked around and noticed that the queen wasn't with everyone else, and remembered that many people had come just to see how he would end.
"Silence, silence everyone. It would only be fit, for Kylo Ren to pay for his crimes, with his life. And what would be more ironic than using his own weapon?!" the people cheared and a guard gave him Ben's saber.
"It's going to be too easy!" A man on the crowd yelled.
"No, no. Nothing like that, our guard will take his time injuring Kylo Ren, until we give him the final blow and cut his head off!" he screamed joining the crowd's euphoria.
To this Rey's heart altered, beating faster and feeling like every part of her body brned with anger. Once agan she kicked many guards off her and try running away just be caught again.
"Now, we begin!" The man said turning on Ben's saber and walking towards him.
Rey shook and grunted rying to get off, as Ben fought not to close his eyes and stay put as the man approached him.
Without words he slid the saber lightly against Ben's leg. He was serious when he said he would take his time torturing him until he killed him.
On the third cut Rey had had enough and maybe no one noticed but the sky started turning grey, darkening, forming the storm that'll give Rey the lightning she calling for.
Ben was sweating and had finally let a grunt out when the saber went trough the soft skin neck, very softly.
his head fell forward and a guard lift it up by his hair.
"Stop!!!" Rey had managed to take the gag off, slightly and in that moment she made a fist and lightning stroke all the guards around her.
"Ben!"
she called out running and somehow keeping her balance with her hands tied behind her.
"Rey! wait" Queen Zorya came out of somewhere, with a knife on her hand and Rey was ready to shoot more lightings at her.
"I'm going to help!" the queen said putting her hands up and alternating her gaze between her and Ben.
She approached Rey and cut the ties with the knife.
"I have a plan, but don't use your powers anymore"
"I'll decide that when I know about your plan!" she spat at her.
The queen made a signal to someone and soon many guards made a barrier between the crowd and the stage, and the other kings and queens and the stage. The man torturing Ben was so focused on his pain that he didn't notice until queen Zorya got up and shouted.
"Now!"
11 notes
·
View notes
Text
mindhunter sentence starters
episode 3 - 4.
i'm gonna grab coffee. you want some?
how's your family?
since when did you care about any of that?
i'm adopting a façade of caring.
you want to dive right in?
i've read a lot about you.
sure, these men all have wives, kids, dogs, goldfish, but not because they stopped being psychopaths, but because they just had different leanings.
do you think they have the same underlying personality traits?
it's crazy in the way that anyone with a truly new idea is crazy.
that hasn't been the feedback we've gotten so far - actually, this is the only feedback we've gotten so far.
these men are just sitting here, locked up, and we're too afraid of the morality of it to see the far-reaching value of their insights.
i didn't realise this was so informal.
you think people would be interested in this outside of law enforcement?
imagine, like, truly imagine what it takes to bludgeon someone to death.
narcissists don't go to the doctor. psychopaths are convinced that there is nothing wrong with them.
i've spent enough time with him to know what it means when he gets that crazy look.
you know, this is really important work.
it's good to get some encouragement, even if our hands are tied.we realise this is somewhat unorthodox.
well, that's the last time we give them advanced notice.
ever feel like you're on the cusp of something and it keeps spinning out in your head?
did you smoke my pot?
not only is this exactly what we predicted, but he's getting a taste for it. there will be more.
your unsub will have bite marks.
guys in unhappy marriages have hair triggers. they lash out.
my bet is poor white trash.
well, now what has he done?
who the hell have you brought into my home?
just take a fucking moment to breathe.
you trying to suck me off?
what kind of fucking question is that?
don't you stick up for yourself?
what a bitch.
i think she actually likes me.
there's nothing behind his eyes. it's like standing near a black hole.
we're good at this shit, even if it turns my stomach.
guys in my high school always thought my mom was hot and it always really disgusted me.
i can't let these guys rub off on me - the way they view sex. and women.
if going down on me while i'm filing my nails is your idea of being kinky...--
i'm kinky. i'm very kinky.
i could impale you with this nail file.
you sound like you have a crush on teacher.
i'm teaching a class on the intersection of sociopathy and fame.
how do you get to be the president of the united states if you're a sociopath?
you think this might help?
what do you say we get down to brass tacks?
how did you choose your victims?
you want to diddle around, we'll walk out of here. we'll go have a nice leisurely lunch wherever the fuck we want, and then take the picturesque drive home.
what he's too polite to say is we're talking to men like you because we can't understand how someone could fuck up their life so completely before he's barely old enough to vote.
i gotta keep checking in or they send me back.
it's like the idea of doing it pops into your head like a - like a sneeze, you know what i mean?
your science buddy might have something there.
you don't expect us to buy your mercy horseshit.
he's an olympic-class bullshitter.
we just need to extract what's useful and discard the rest.
here's the fucking law, pal!
why am i so upset?
i didn't see it coming. you could've been killed and i didn't see it coming.
i feel like we're failing him somehow.
you have no idea what i'm trying to say, do you?
let's make that our term of art.
isn't that just life?
what else is a criminal except somebody who can't function in society?
why do i get the sense that 'reductive' is your worst insult?
i meant to say you were right.
i did not want to be in california, that's for sure. nobody wanted me there either.
when i was nine, i shot my cousin in the ass with that gun.
i got into all kinds of shit.
nobody wanted me. nobody on this earth ever wanted me.
you guys mind if i bother you a minute?
you don't think somebody local did this?
we shouldn't jump ahead of forensics, am i right?
we're gonna have to go over ground you've covered: witnesses, crime scene. we don't mean that as a challenge to you.
we're all on the same side.
i'm not trying to make you feel bad... maybe a little.
i'm curious why you're cutting this guy so much slack.
he's never seen this kind of thing before. he's rattled.
without a doubt, you have more experience, but why rub it in his face?
what did the killer see in her?
you need to be with family at times like this.
no apology necessary. we're all learning as we go.
events we process as good news sometimes hits these killers the wrong way.
sometimes the killer will insinuate himself into the investigation.
what kind of dog do you have?
if we want to find something out, we will.
i was scared the cops might want me for it, okay?
those wounds were inflicted posthumously.
you're not under arrest.
the idiot was with me the whole night.
nine times out of ten, it's the boyfriend, husband, somebody close.
can't say how much i appreciate all your help.
you're in the middle of an ongoing investigation?
my assumption is that you're good at your job, which means you're gonna be more focused on solving an actual crime than the theoretical work we're doing.
we can't end crime, no matter what we do.
the psychopath understands how to play his audience.
i'm trying to frame an overall taxonomy, except i don't know where to start.
the class is great, but he's obsessed with the meaning of shit.
all shit has meaning, man.
should i be jealous?
would i have invited her to go out with us if i was interested in her?
i've seen men do stranger things.
do you plan on getting married? having kids, the whole thing?
for a fed, he's not so bad at having a good time.
are you in law enforcement also?
i'm not intimidated being around women who are smarter than me.
he has a lot of flaws, but surprisingly, that's not one of them.
is there anything i need to know?
my job is to provide guidance and quite a bit of protection.
you have stepped outside of the shade of my umbrella and you are now exposed to direct sunlight.
so much for the protection i might have afforded you.
congratulations, i suppose.
56 notes
·
View notes
Note
"Those cherry blossoms show your real beauty." and "Cherry blossoms line is so overrated, please say something more original or pick another flower." BoruSara request if you willing to accept it, you can pick any setting you want. BTW I don't see the reason why I should make herself anon, so here I am! Your clumsy fan Kirumi ;)
Hi everyone! I’m finally done with this sequel of Starting Again and can’t wait to share it with you all! Thanks to @karinrumi for this amazing prompt and also to @mirachaann for beta reading it! My submission for Borusaraweek 2019! Day 3!
Prompt: Flowers
Word Count: 4k
Genre: Fluff
It’s Your Flower
“I’m late! Damn!”
Boruto hisses under his breath as his feet pound against the floor loudly. As he races through the stairs and then the corridors, he sees that barely a few people pass by him, noting how the school was almost empty now. As soon as the plank of 2 A comes into sight, his speed slows down and he pushes the door open immediately. There she was, sitting on her seat calmly in an empty classroom. The curtain of her dark hair was blocking her face from his gaze.
“Sarada!” He calls out and she immediately whirls around to look at him.
“Oh, you’re here,” she says nonchalantly.
“It’s late! You shouldn’t have waited for me!”
He crosses the distance between them, plopping on the seat in front of her, still slightly out of breath.
“You asked me to, didn’t you?” She laughs.
“Err…I didn’t think I’d be this late. You should have gone home.” He insists again, peeking over the notes sprawled on her desk.
“Hmm, but you still came to check.” She gives him a knowing smile, “And you did run!”
Boruto immediately averts his gaze, “I didn’t! I just did exercise!”
“Sure. Exercise.” she says with a smug smirk.
They immediately lock down on a glaring contest which - Boruto notes – was becoming quite a norm nowadays. And to be honest, he didn’t mind…peering into her eyes – which were so beautifully expressive, capable of projecting her delicate feelings. He is the one to blink away first, unable to handle the heat creeping up his neck.
“Come on. Let’s not stay here.”
He doesn’t even give her the time to respond as he slings her bag over his shoulder and proceeds to exit the classroom. He chuckles at her protests as she scrambles up, gathering her notes and running after him.
“Give me my bag!” She pouts, still trying to balance the notebooks and sheets in her arms.
“Nah. You carry that troublesome package.” His hand waves at the mess she’s carrying. “And leave this to me.” He points to her bag hanging on his shoulder. She narrows her eyes but doesn’t argue anymore.
They trudge down the same stairs that he had raced up a few minutes ago when Sarada asks, “Where are we going exactly?”
“Our secret base, of course,” he exclaims gleefully and Sarada suppresses the incessant urge to roll her eyes. Despite it all, a tiny smile curls upon her lips helplessly.
The ‘secret base’ he was referring to was their bench. Yes, that particular bench where she had treated his injuries and well, the place where they became friends, so it was theirs.
It was some distance away from their school, in a deserted park and barely any people passed by. It was a place where they could sit and relax together, without a worry in the world and know a lot more about each other. A safe haven, and a place to go to for them.
As they walk through the school premises, Boruto waves to those who greet them and Sarada gives them all nods of acknowledgement and polite smiles.
Only eight minutes later, they are at the park. Boruto deposits both of their bags on the side and plops down. Sarada immediately follows after, placing the notes in between them. She rummages through some of them before pulling out a few sheets of paper stapled together and shoves them to him. At his questioning brow, she commands simply. “Read.”
“Tanabata is celebrated to commemorate the romantic story of two lovers represented by the stars Vega and Altair who are only allowed to meet each other once a year as long as the skies are clear.
It is celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, which is July 7th in the modern calendar. Some places in Japan celebrate Tanabata on August 7th in accordance with the older Chinese calendar, which is where the legend originated.
The most famous of all the Tanabata festivals is celebrated in Sendai on August 7th, but most of Japan recognizes July 7th.”
Boruto stops, taking a breath before reading further everything on her notes with wide eyes.
“Tanabata originated from a Chinese legend called Qixi and was brought to Japan in the 8th century. This is the story of two lovers. Princess Orihime, the seamstress, wove beautiful clothes by the heavenly river, represented by the Milky Way. Because Orihime worked so hard weaving beautiful clothes, she became sad and despaired of ever finding love. Her father, who was God of the heavens, loved her dearly and arranged for her to meet Hikoboshi, the cow herder who lived on the other side of the Milky Way. The two fell in love instantly and married. Their love and devotion was so deep that Orihime stopped weaving and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to wander the heavens.
Orihime’s father became angry and forbade the lovers to be together, but Orihime pleaded with him to allow them to stay. He loved his daughter, so he decreed that the two star-crossed lovers could meet once a year–on the 7th day of the 7th month if Orihime returned to her weaving. On the first day they were to be reunited, they found the river (Milky Way) to be too difficult to cross. Orihime became so despondent that a flock of magpies came and made a bridge for her. It is said that if it rains on Tanabata-”
Boruto halts reading out-loud, his eyes sweeping over the page. All it said was more about the story and rituals related to the festival.
“…Sarada?” He questions, vaguely gesturing toward the sheaf of papers in his hand, “We’re supposed to write a play here…not an essay.”
“I know that!” Sarada glares, half hissing and half yelling. “Read the next page idiot!”
He nods and turns the page over, eyes skimming through the material and then widening with each next page.
“You wrote the entire play all by yourself?!” He asks, feeling both in-credulousness and – if he were to be honest - quite impressed.
“Most of it,” she says nonchalantly. “A few girls helped me through.” She admits, and Boruto has an inkling as to how much the girls might have ‘helped’ her. He shakes his head at her fondly and then pays attention to the rest of the reading left to be done. And he has to admit, every new line is nothing short of excellence.
“This is going to be a blast!” He exclaims excitedly. “We just need to execute it properly.”
Sarada nods in agreement, but when he questions, “Who’s going to be Hikoboshi?,” she can’t help but raise up her brows, a smirk dancing upon her lips.
“Class decided,” she shrugs. “You’ll be.”
“Oh– wait? What?! Why me?!” He wails, angry that he was chosen again.
“Everyone said that they wanted their hero to be the Hero of the drama.” Sarada snickers.
“But I don’t have enough time!” He yells, frantic.
“Everyone said that they were willing to wait after classes,” she says quietly, as if prepared for any excuses he had.
“Arghhh! Now I can’t even have fun! I am overburdened. Thanks to a certain someone’s decisive vote to make me class representative for the festival.” He glares at her.
“Now, now, Boruto! Be a man!” She taps him on the shoulder patronizingly. “It will suit you, I’m sure.”
“Why-” he leans closer to her, blue eyes narrowing, “-do I feel like there was definitely some meddling done by a certain someone?”
“Oh? Are you trying to accuse me of this now?” She smirks, a playful look overcoming her features.
“I never said it was you,” he says as a matter-of-fact. “You admitted yourself!” He finishes, waving his arm with flair of triumph.
“You insinuated it.” She stood up from her seat, slightly turning her head to look at him. “But what if I do admit that it was me?”
The question hangs in the air for several moments before Boruto yells, “I trusted you! But…you! You betrayed me! Why Sarada? How can you do something like that to me?”
“Well, I just figured… the more busy you got the less trouble you’d cause? Hehe!” She laughs a little, feeling a bit proud of herself for the small game she had played.
“Hehe.” He mimics her and she knows that she has to instantly run or it’ll be trouble for her.
“You! Come back here, now!” He shouts, hot on her tail as he chases her through the entire park. Their notes, books, and bags left behind on the bench, the empty park filled with their yelling and the shrieks of laughter. The vibrant orange sunset and their happiness together beautifully meld into a fond memory that deserves to be cherished forever.
…
“I was thinking…” He appears beside her out of nowhere on her walk to school the next morning.
“A very dangerous pastime,” she comments, hiding a smirk. He glares at her but she ignores it like a pro who has mastered the said art.
“About the script,” he continues, successfully catching her attention.
“What about it?” Her head tilts towards him in curiousity.
“Maybe we should change it? Slightly? The scene where Hikoboshi first meets Orihime,” he suggests.
“Hmm? What do you want to change about it?”
“I was thinking about the cherry blossoms scene,” he says. “As well as that one line where he compares her beauty to the cherry blossoms around them.”
Sarada hums in understanding as they reach the classroom. She slides into her seat and retrieves the bundle of papers from her bag. Flipping through the pages she finally finds the part he was talking about.
“'Those cherry blossoms show your real beauty.’ this one?”
Boruto peeks over her shoulder and nods immediately.
“Yup! Cherry blossoms line is so overrated. Please say something more original or pick another flower.” He remarks.
Anyway, before she could say anything, the school bell chimes, echoing through the classroom.
“Hey, come on! The assembly won’t begin without us! Boruto grins, helping her stuff the papers into her bag again and then proceeding to grab her arm to drag her out of the class.
…
The entire day passes by and Sarada still does not understand why Boruto doesn’t want cherry blossoms in the play. They were beautiful and delicate flowers, symbolizing spring and beauty, as well as fleetingness of happiness for Orihime and Hikoboshi. And she cannot think of anything better to express their tragic love story.
Cherry blossoms also meant renewal which felt like a gracious nod to the promise of meeting each other again every year for the star-crossed lovers. Cherry blossoms were perfect for the play, no doubt. But he probably had his reasons for not wanting them.
When school was over, she waits for him in the class like she normally does. He is by her side in a few minutes and both of them climb down the stairs. He is whistling nonchalantly but Sarada has her mind shooting questions.
“Why don’t you want the cherry blossoms?” She whispers, and then looks up at him, trying to observe any minute detail that might show his discomfort, “Is there a reason you don’t like them?”
He blinks twice before muttering, “It's… not that I don’t like them. It’s just that… they are not your flowers.” He explains as if she was supposed to know that.
“Oh,” she frowns a little before realization hits her “Wait. Wait, Boruto? Are you…under the impression that I’m the one playing Orihime?”
“You’re… not?” He questions, brows pinched in confusion.
“No, I’m not. I forgot to mention, didn’t I? Sorry about that.” She shakes her head.
“It’s alright,” he says, flustered. “But who is Orihime then?”
“Sumire-san.”
“Ehhhh??? The class rep? Why?”
“Um, we thought she fits the image of a beautiful, delicate and sad princess better than anyone. And traditionally, the Princess had long hair and Sumire-san definitely is the one with the longest hair among all of us. And well… a bunch of other factors as well.”
“I-it makes sense now… I guess. But I-I really thought that you were playing Orihime.” He nods enthusiastically, eyes never staying in one place, his cheeks still a little pink, and his arm comes up to rub the back of his neck.
“Anyway, I do not have that princess beauty to be honest.” She confesses, startling him for a second before he hums gently.
“Yeah, now that I think about it…you don’t.” Boruto agrees, and for some reason, Sarada feels a sting of pain shooting through her heart. But then he gives her a look, blue eyes softening.
“Your beauty is more like that of a warrior.”
That faint admiration in his eyes makes a blush bloom on her cheeks.
“Well, if it’s class rep then cherry blossoms are fine,” he says with utter nonchalance before giving her a curt nod.
She nods in agreement before what he said finally registers in her mind. She halts in her steps.
“What do you mean by that? Oy, Boruto, where are you going? Why are cherry blossoms fine for class rep but not for me?“ She yells at him but he’s already running down the corridor, shouting rambunctiously and roughhousing people like he ordinarily does.
…
The next morning when they meet, she voices out her questions.
“Why… why did you think cherry blossoms suit class rep and not me?” She does not want to admit it, but it felt unnerving for some reason.
“Wait… did I offend you or something?” He exclaims, slightly panicking, bending down to look at her.
“No! No! It’s nothing like that!” Sarada waves her arms defensively. “It’s just…I thought cherry blossoms are beautiful. I think…I was surprised?”
He straightens back, looking thoughtful, as if taking time to arrange his words carefully.
“It’s not that I don’t find them beautiful…well, it’s more like, the delicate beauty of cherry blossoms, when I see it, it doesn’t remind me of you. You need something bolder, more vibrant. I don’t know why I think like this, but I do.”
“So, you mean, flowers remind you of certain people?” She questions, her head tilted to a side.
“Definitely! Like, when I see lavender, it reminds me of my Mom.” He says gently before bursting out loudly,“And then, the sunflowers! They are so bright and colorful that they scream Himawari to me!” He grins like a happy kid and Sarada is unable to hold back a smile.
“So, you suppose that there must be a flower for me too? Something that reminds you solely of…me?” she asks, with slight hesitation and slight hope.
“I don’t know…which it is yet.” He admits. “The flower that reminds me of you…but I promise I’ll find it! Your flower!”
…
Sarada watches from the sidelines, speaking up her part when needed otherwise. Boruto was playing his part stunningly. She hadn’t imagined that he would be such a stellar actor. But then again, he’s always been unpredictable.
And Sumire was no less. Her gentle demeanor and gracefulness fit well with Orihime’s soft and woefully tragic longing. The two of them together were absolutely captivating! The audience seemed to think that as well, with their wide eyes and jaws hanging.
There was a stirring caused up in audience when the Emperor of the heavens - Orihime’s father unleashed his anger towards the young couple separating them, and Sarada had to admit that Inojin played the role perfectly. He looked beautiful in his elegant clothes, and wrathful in his disposition.
The scene of separation was a painful one, but Orihime’s pining for her loved one was even worse. Sarada grabs the mike again and speaks her part.
“Months passed, but the princess could not return back to her weaving. The designs she made looked soulless now, her eyes dull with sadness. She would not speak, nor smile. So was her longing and love for Hikoboshi. Her father, the Emperor, could not bear seeing his precious child like that anymore. All his attempts to entice her with exquisite jewels, fine silks and lavish gardens failed. So, he finally made a decision~”
The next parts of the play went smoothly and all of the hard work they’ve put together in the making of this play seemed to work. The spectators clapped like crazy in the final scene where the two lovers were finally able to reunite.
As all the cast collects on the stage to present their gratitude to the viewers for their patience and cooperation, Boruto darts down the stage, grabbing Sarada’s wrist and drags her back to the main stage, a big wide grin on his face. When a lot of spectators immediately recognize her as the narrator of the play, she feels her heart thrum into her ears in resonance with the lovely cacophony.
And when Sumire, who was standing on the other side of Boruto gives her an encouraging smile which Sarada immediately returns and together, holding hands, they bow down to the audience and receive another heavy round of applause making Sarada feel as if all her efforts had received justice.
…
She walks through the decorated hallways of the school. The play was in for an immense success and every person they encountered seemed to praise their work. Sarada is elated. After working for continuous hours, at the end, they felt relieved now to finally be able to enjoy the cultural festival. Getting Sumire out of her elegant Kimono was a strenuous task but they had finally managed it without any serious mishaps.
Different classes had different scheduled stuff and Sarada could not wait to take a look around. The bag on her shoulders was heavy since it was loaded with hamburgers that class 1 C’s stall was selling. As she arrives near the classroom that had been given as the boys’ dress-room, almost all of them exit at once whining about how hungry they were. Her eyes flick around to catch a glimpse of a mop of golden hair but to no avail. Instead, she is noticed by someone else.
“Sarada?” Shikadai calls her out, gaining the attention of every boy in the group. She slides the bag off her shoulder and tosses it to him.
“Burgers.” It’s the only word she utters out before they attack the bag like rabid dogs, and she’s glad for a second that she’s not the one holding it anymore.
And in less than a minute, the bag is emptied.
“You guys didn’t save any for Boruto!” She complains to Shikadai and he smirks knowingly, jerking his chin to the small paper bag she had in her right hand.
“I would have saved him one if I hadn’t known that you’d already kept some for him away.”
Caught red-handed, Sarada flushes instantly and Shikadai laughs before gesturing to the room, tossing her bag back to her.
“He’s inside,” he says and leaves, waving a hand back at her.
…
When Sarada slides the door open, Boruto is in the middle of changing. His pants ride low on his hips and his back is turned towards her as he pulls his shirt up. Sarada feels color bloom upon her cheeks, biting her lower lip to ignore how his well defined muscles contour and move with his actions.
That’s when he notices her.
“Sa-Sarada?!” He squeaks and she yelps, jumping out of the room and slamming the door back into the place.
In merely thirty seconds, the sound of the door opening reaches her ears and Boruto comes to stand beside her. She is averting her gaze in shame from him.
“You know,” he taunts, “girls peeping on boys is as shameful as boys peeping on girls.”
“I wasn’t peeping,” she snaps, eyes flicking over his face and feels a weird happy rush in her stomach seeing how red his cheeks were.
“Sure you weren’t.” Even while blushing, his sass wasn’t going anywhere.
She pushes him inside the classroom in fake anger and shuts the door behind them.
…
They’re sitting together comfortably, him on the desk and Sarada on the bench, both of them having a burger in their hands as they calmly chew, eyes appreciating the beauty of the sun that was about to set.
“Thanks!” He raises his burger and talks with his mouth full, but Sarada does not have the energy to chide him.
“You did well, in the play,” she compliments, smiling gently. “Never messed up a single line and conducted your part very smoothly. I am impressed.”
He smirks and bows, “I aim for nothing else but to please, Ma’am.”
The silence stretches between them, devoid of any specific conversations but she feels content. Being with him was… like living with a box of surprises. Sometimes he’d be a whirlwind of activity and other times he’d be a quiet thinker. Whimsical, she’d say.
It is him who breaks the silence. “Hey, the other day, I visited Inojin’s mom’s flower shop,” he says, softly, as if not wanting to ruin the peace between them.
“Hmm?” She was not sure where he was going with this.
“I found it. Your flower, I mean.”
She whips her head around fast, eyes wide, and he just grins before jumping off the desk he was sitting on. He crosses the distance of a few seats to reach his own desk and starts rummaging through his backpack.
She watches him with curious eyes, feeling her heart beating rapidly. She wondered what kind of flower made him think of her. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn’t realise when he came to stand beside her, his arm wound around his back to hide whatever he was hiding.
She peers up at him through her lashes, excitement barely hidden in her eyes. And then he finally extends his arm in her direction. There, sitting on the top of his palm was…
A red camellia.
She feels her breath hitch in her throat, overwhelmed for a few moments before looking up at him again.
“Camellia is a spring flower, isn’t it? And the red color shows how spirited and passionate you are about your goals and also your bonds! The moment I saw this,” he smiled nostalgically, “I thought of you.”
Sarada feels a deep red blush painting her cheeks, her mind running mile a minute. She was no stranger to camellias. They were gorgeous flowers that always somehow soothed her heart. Especially, the red camellias… she knew what they meant. These red flowers had meaning - an amalgam of passion, desire and… Oh!
Oh!
Did he know?
“Y-you know,” she stutters, her onyx eyes fixing themselves on the beautiful red flower in her cupped palms “Red camellias…mean one more thing.”
It takes him only a fraction of second to curl his arm around her waist to pull her in. Sarada yelps loudly and he blurts out a ‘sorry’ before smashing their lips together. It takes her a moment to register what had happened but he’s already pulling away.
He never averts his gaze away from her, even as he is embarrassed like hell. His blue eyes, shimmering with warmth and affection make her lean into him even more. And the flower is still clutched in her hand.
“I know the meaning,” he tells her, still peering down at her. “Do you?”
Sarada does not hesitate to fist his shirt and drag him down to meet her lips again. This time, they are both prepared. Their lips move in perfect synchronization, tasting each other and melting into each other’s embrace. But the lack of oxygen makes them pull away soon after.
Sarada giggles, huffing for air.
“Do I?”
A moment of stunning quietness follows before they both burst out laughing, unable to hold it together. Sarada is deliriously happy, because how can she not be. This idiot was hers now.
He surprises her though, grabbing her slender wrist which held the flower and bringing it up to him. His lips gently brush her soft fingers, eyes still intently on her and she feels a tingling sensation rush all through her bones.
He smiles.
“It’s your flower.”
“Yes.” She smiles too.
It is mine.
…
Well? I’m super excited to know about your thoughts for this fic. I wrote this in parts with a lot going on in my real life and honestly, I felt as if I had lost touch in. writing BoruSara. I hope this story was enjoyable enough to you all!
Btw, everything I mentioned about Camellias was true! Red camellias do symbolise passion or desire and of course, romantic love as well. They are even coupled with pink camellias to present romantic love.
And all the stuff about Tanabata? I got it from here!
This story was fun for me to write, I hope it was for fun for you all to read as well! A cookie for for thoughts!!!
#borusara#bsaweek19#borusaraweek19#boruto x sarada#boruto and sarada#boruto uzumaki#boruto#sarada uchiha#sarada#boruto naruto next generations#adi writes#day 3#borusara fanfiction#borusarafics
72 notes
·
View notes
Text
Gray Area- Part 2
Warnings: Angst Drama & a maybe a hint of fluff...
AN:
I had too much fun writing this and it's gonna show. I'm so sorry😅 Enjoy!
To the untrained eye dinner was going on without a hitch. The chatter was buzzing and lighthearted around the table. Attendees were in the best of spirits for camaraderie while drinks were poured before receiving great food. Yet, under the surface, Harry wondered why he even bothered to come at all.
For starters he'd forgotten why he was so excited about it in the first place, its couples night and watching his friends so lovey dovey when going through his own turmoil was a form of exceptional torture he could hardly stand. Which was odd given that he himself was usually a lover of love and absolutely lived for cheek kisses, stolen kisses, full on kisses, hand holding, and meaningful glances between people because he found it so endearing. Especially with you and yet here he was totally miserable inside.
Second, everyone is paired up with the exception of himself and his infamous ex, who's partner also happened to be away for work. So what better way for his friends to rectify their 'loneliness' than by seating them together!
As if on cue at the thought she leaned in close just to mention, "So H, I took a consensus but I'm still waiting for your vote." A mischievous smile painting her lips.
"Ehm, that's great." He had to force himself not to smile awkwardly tight lipped, "Don't think you really need it anyway, m'not really in any place to say." As he immediately dived into the menu, he missed seeing the fallen look on her face. Now it would be even better he couldn't sense it.
Despite feeling completely uncomfortable, Harry made the best effort to remain neutral. Fearing he'd draw unnecessary attention and ruin their nights as well on one hand. Then again on the other he meant what he had said to you, when he'd said that he'd done nothing wrong. So he shouldn't even be feeling any guilt towards her at all.
As far as he was concerned the pictures you 'found' not that they were hidden to begin with, were out of his control. Yes, not all of his friends dressed modestly but it surely wasn't his place to tell them how to live their lives. Everyone should be free to do as they please if it makes them happy and as long as it's not hurting anyone. And yes some old photos were still there only because that's exactly what they were, old. He wasn't trying to keep them as a memento he literally saw them once and never thought about it again. So he honestly felt like there was no point in purposely digging it up and deleting it unless he actually had something to hide.
More importantly, he thought that he'd been astoundingly clear you were the only one that he had eyes for. That there wasn't a single soul on earth, whether fully clothed or completely nude that could break the tether he had to yours. Sometimes like now, it scared and infuriated him to no end when you couldn't see it.
Harry would delete the pictures and block every single contact that you wanted if necessary, but he also had to be realistic. Once irrevocable boundary lines are crossed there is no turning back. He's learned firsthand how unhealthy it is to be a prisoner in your own relationship. When insecurity becomes doubt and doubt becomes paranoia. Worst of all when paranoia delves into control. No one is happy, trust is an insincere joke, love is completely lost, and all that really remains is either becoming or owning an object of property.
Surely this case wasn't that extreme, but he wasn't oblivious to how it starts. However it also wasn't lost on him that you both needed to come to terms of agreement in order to move forward. As long as you were within reason, he'd be able to deal with it and vice versa.
With that being said his urge to be social diminished drastically in comparison to his urge to make things right. Thus why he stopped engaging in everything around him altogether and directed his attention towards finishing up cleaning out the useless junk in his phone. Ensuring that if he ever lost you, it'd never be over something as ridiculous as an outdated picture.
As time went on Harry hadn't even discovered the conversation being drawn to him. He jumped suddenly at the realization Clare had been calling out to him. A soft question finally coming through the loudness of his thoughts. "You good, Har?"
It was also then he noticed that everyone had been watching him pointedly now. Tucking his phone away he forced a strained smile and pushed his fingers through the knots in his hair, feigning nonchalance, "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
"Because Y/N is here and you still haven't noticed." Mitch deadpans.
Frowning unsure he heard correctly, Harry's gaze briefly swept the room and his heart almost launched right out of his chest upon laying eyes on you. Approaching stoically, arms crossed even from across the room he could easily tell you are unimpressed by tonight's seating arrangement. He also knew better than anyone that you'd be too polite to bother protesting about it. Eventually he stood and offered you his chair while he quickly found himself another, so stunned by your presence he'd forgotten to greet you properly altogether.
"Hi guys! Sorry I'm late, got a little side tracked on the way here," You openly admit accepting his offer, not in the slightest surprised to see his ex's visible disappointment. All the while everyone else greeted you with heartwarming enthusiasm.
"Glad you're here love," Harry finally spoke with a sincere and appreciative smile, unable to help himself from leaning in and planting a quick kiss on your cheek.
"Is anyone even really surprised? I mean, you're practically attached at the hip these days. No offense." His snotty ex snickered bitterly into a sip of wine.
That. That right there is exactly what brought you here tonight. You couldn't ignore Harry's point of having no control of everything he receives, because he was right everyone gets spam one way or another. But there is one common variable that separated the innocent from the inappropriate, and that's the intention behind it.
To be quite honest, after seeing her pictures you went on a downward spiral for a bit. Beating yourself up and asking all the wrong questions. Like why weren't you enough for him? What did you have to do to make him see? And so on and so forth. But with just a little more time alone, albeit a ride home and a mini Instagram stalking session, you were able to think more rationally and even form a different perspective from a few hard facts. Eventually revealing the real answer to your problem had less to do with either of you individually and everything to do with her ill will towards you two being together.
She was literally, a first class attention seeker. Plain and simple. Born into it whether she aimed to be or not. To the extent that whenever she or anyone else she's related to so much as hint at gracing a controversial cover, it became top news worldwide overnight. This one 'cover' should be no different but alas it is, because it doesn't exist.
"Of course we are he's my best friend," You retort genuinely cool calm and collected. Earning a round of admiring 'aws' from around the table bringing up another point, your announcement, "Speaking of friends... Did everyone here get a chance to see your little outtakes? Dying to know which one you picked for the cover."
Her complexion noticeably pales almost instantly, "I- no it's still in editing nobody is supposed to see until it's finished...how did you—" she rambles suddenly nervous.
"Harry showed em to me." You lied happily with a smile just to get under her skin and it worked, seeing as she tosses him a skeptical glance but he's already looking her way with a disappointed frown, "Thought you said you asked everyone?"
"I-I-I was," She stuttered, "I just didn't want to risk it getting leaked...you know I get hacked all the time."
"Oh c'mon, Harry? He's got the worst taste here," Nick teases and receives a pointed glare from him and laughs, "Can we at least get a tip on which cover?"
If you hadn't known better, then you'd be like everyone else and maybe even a little concerned watching her become visibly uncomfortable. But currently you're all too happy to watch her struggle to come up with a believable lie. "Well... its still in the works right now too so I can't really say."
It's kind of funny how you haven't had a sip to drink and yet you felt drunk with power. Well not even necessarily power but it felt damn good to reclaim all the shitty energy she caused you in that short period of time. People like her deserved to be exposed as the malicious fraudulent snakes that they truly were. Cut out root and stem, defanged and hung out to dry.
At the moment you were thrilled and petty enough to do it with a smile, "From what I saw my first guess was honestly Pornhub." Mid swallow on a rather large gulp of wine the self proclaimed supermodel began to choke loudly. Eyes wide while unceremoniously sputtering it up through both her nose and mouth onto the fancy table setting in front of her. You laughed completely unabashed, running on a high of her karma but politely pat her back in aid quietly adding, "No offense."
Fortunately for her, her coughing fit didn't last long as she angrily pulled away from your touch.
"It's a nude piece?" Nick gasped with his hand pressed to his cheek shocked and intrigued all at once, the journalist coming out of him.
"According to what she sent to him. Then again I find it super strange that someone like her would do a shoot of that type of...nature, get it done, and still not know where it's being published." You cheerily answer for her.
However everyone else seemed to be in a battle of mixed emotions as all the clues came together. Sitting back watching silently. You dully noted the disdain and unease directed at she and Harry. Who currently had a deep frown set in place, upset at how things just unfolded.
"Unless you know, there was no intention for them except to go straight to his phone? And yet then again you and your family like to keep it saucy so." Shrugging you grab Harry's glass and take a sip from it. "Mmm, wish this was tea."
"Okay, can you shut the fuck up!" She snarls irritably, passing her hands over her flustered face. "You're seriously annoying!"
Bringing a full fledged smile to your face, "Oh honey, if you're that upset then why don't you come make me? I promise you'll get everything you deserve and more."
"You think you're so tough. I'll kick your fucking ass right now dude and you won't even see me coming!" She snaps pushing away from the table and onto her feet. Causing you to flat out laugh at her attempt of intimidation as well as gain the attention of poor unsuspecting patrons just trying eat their meals in peace.
"Uh oh, someone better fetch security for miss John Cena over here."
"Alright, that's enough let's go." Harry suddenly commands rising to stand in front of you as if he were some type of bodyguard. Wanting to leave now on your own while you could, instead of being removed disgracefully. "Already? I just got here and things are really getting interesting." You playfully tease pouting but get up anyway.
"I'll say." Nick laughs thoroughly amused waving goodbye.
"This is why people like you don't belong in our world, you're scum bitch!"
Again you laugh as Harry begins to usher you towards the exit by the waist calling back, "Sweetheart, you're the one pursuing taken men with staged nudes. You are bacteria! Keep your filthy world and choke!"
In your side peripheral you're able to catch glimpses of people's phones going up to start filming the discourse. The official cue to shut up and get out before an even bigger spectacle was created. You'd apologize to everyone else for the drama later if and when given the chance.
Your more immediate focus right now was Harry, tense and silent stalking off ahead of you in the parking lot. Bee lining for his black SUV. He hasn't asked and probably didn't care to know, but you Ubered here. Regardless he most likely would have made you ride with him anyways.
It's only after climbing inside and shutting the door that he speaks, "Do you mind telling me what the hell is going on with you?"
"You asked me to come to dinner and I showed up. What's the problem?"
His expression became incredulous, "You made a scene."
"Actually she did that. I only called her bluff and ruined her scheme of potentially ruining your honor. You're welcome by the way! From now on, to prevent shit like this from happening I need you not to be passive when they're making passes." You glare at him pointedly.
Harry frowns hard at that suddenly angry, "Fair enough, but I didn't need you to defend my honor Y/N. It was never at stake, and you'd know that if you took my word for it in the first place. Bloody hell woman, do you really think that I don't know how lucky I am to have someone like you in my life? That I'd throw this all away that easily for nothing? I'm not an idiot!"
You sigh heavily from a strong wave of guilt hitting you in the gut at the reminder but manage to fold your arms across your chest stubbornly, "Yeah well it would have been so much easier to believe without all the evidence against you,"
"S'not evidence it's stupid and childish and completely ridiculous!" He argues scratching the bridge of his nose with his index.
"If it's all that then why keep it?" You shrug.
"I'm not, it's gone. Got rid of it all after you left." He honestly admits passing over the item in question itself and with a quick awakening of the screen you instantly find out just like before the pass code is still deactivated. Leaving all accessibility at your fingertips. "Before you go through it though, I need to know something." He turns to fully face you in his seat.
"Okay?" You encourage a little uneasy but mirror his action.
"Do you trust me? And I mean genuinely trust me Y/N. Harry the human that loves sleeping in with you on Sundays, and Harry the same human that has to tour around the world 6 to 8 months at a time and might not have as much access to you as he'd like?"
You practically feel insulted by his need to ask at all but answer him anyway, "Of course I do!"
But he's dead serious, taking ahold of both your hands in his massive ones. Staring deep into your eyes with electric intensity. "Are you sure? Coz' he's the same bloke in charge of that inbox, and those dms, and that browser history! If we're gonna have any chance at all, I need you to understand that."
For a brief moment his sharp liquid green eyes flit back and forth searching for any and all doubt. Though you genuinely have none. "I do Harry, I promise."
Emotion floods in his eyes before he shuts them and shakes his head slowly but surely getting vulnerable, "I only ask this of you because love I can't- I literally can't even stomach the thought of us ever being toxic.. Losing you that way— losing you at all..." You take it upon yourself to free one of your hands just to cradle his warm cheek. In turn he tried to smile in appreciation but his eyes have already begun to burn from the prick and swell of tears, his chest and throat tightening. "You're my everything." He professes softly, "My world, my sun, my stars, my moon, my entire universe. I love you."
You smile in admiration completely smitten getting a little emotional yourself, "I love you too Harry." Pulling him close to kiss him once, twice, thrice, and then just hold on to him a little longer with his face buried in your neck.
"M'sorry for being a crybaby," he mumbles into your skin and you laugh. Then and only then does he come up for air leaving a trail of follow up kisses before putting the previous space back between you. He reaches down on the floor of the driver's seat and retrieves the long forgotten phone. Placing it back in your hand, "S' all yours lovie."
Insanely relieved and extremely giddy at the moment. You simply roll your eyes toss the damned device in the cupholder without hesitation, "Never needed it."
AN: First of all thank you all so much for the support and feedback it was truly inspiring. Hope this turned out alright! Let me know. More blurbs are coming soon so keep an eye out!
#Harry styles angst#Harry styles imagines#Harry x reader#Harry styles#one direction imagines#Harry Styles one shot#One direction one shot#harry styles drabble#harry styles fanfic#harry styles fanfiction
316 notes
·
View notes
Text
The Right Kind of Idiot, Ch. 1-5
[part one]: tl;dr Lio & Galo have a heart to heart, Galo does most of the talking
[part two]: tl;dr Aina appears & tries to enforce [Galo’s] bedtime
[part three]: t;dr Aina tries convincing a suspicious Lio to let her join him in his trek to meet up with Gueira & Meis
[part four, read more]: tl;dr Aina & Lio meet up with his lieutenants, it’s a little awkward
Right, thanks for the vote of confidence, guys. Really helps. Well, one of them was being more genuinely helpful than the rest, passing off the colourful box of sweets to the round, coveting eyes of a few children. Survivors, elated by the gift of something they probably hadn’t had in far too long. She crouched, rifling through her own collection of things and sorting them into lots. A rescuer’s work was never really done, was it?
Her smile was one of reserved confidence, although privately entertained by how the other two slowly had their personal space fully invaded by some of the smaller children. Burnish, Aina assumed. Why else would they be so comfortable? It was cute; she was thankful. She wouldn’t stop being thankful for their patience--for Gueira and Meis, for Lio. So, sitting on her heels, she greeted in soft tones, “My name’s Aina. I’m from the third Burning Rescue unit, and I’ll be spending the night with you, if that’s okay?”
Several sets of eyes were on her, including those of her helpers. Really, Aina had never felt more out of place in her life, tucking a bit of hair behind her ear--for once wishing, maybe, she’d brought Galo with her. He was an idiot, but he had the sort of charisma that no one was immune to for long. Yet, it couldn’t be helped. Galo was sleeping--hopefully--and she was here now. Alone. She could do this. “I brought food and supplies enough for everyone, so try not to fill up on candy too much. I’ll never hear the end of it if the others find out I gave you all tummy aches.”
Quiet. This was going well. Scanning over the faces of their little flock, at least no one looked injured. Without examining them, she couldn’t be totally certain, but Aina’s trust was with the two Lieutenants; they would have told her. For now, she offered water, food, and the warmth of a few blankets--distributed with the hesitant acceptance of a homeowner feeding stray cats until, eventually, Aina was satisfied that they’d been cared for. They were cared about. How many of them had homes, parents to return to?
Aina, forced out of her thoughts by a crudely folded slip of paper jabbing her in the side, yipped in surprise. Gueira. Temporarily untangled from his kin, he’d produced it from a jacket pocket moments prior. After all, what better way to do as he’d been told than make a small spectacle of it? Maybe lighten the mood a little, because God knew they could all use it. He flashed his teeth, “We got as many names as we could. You said that’d help, right?”
“Oh, yeah. Thank you,” she stammered, unfolding the--it was the guest sign in sheet from reception, nice--paperwork to quickly skim over its contents. Huh. It was more than just names. Ages, a few hastily written descriptions, possible family, and a handful of other small details--not for all of them, but the effort wouldn’t go unappreciated. Even if they had to interview everyone again individually come morning, it helped to have something to reference later. Who knows, they could’ve been more open around someone less Official.
“I'm really grateful for your help,” Aina added, tucking their notes away someplace safe. Then, offering the best totally-not-exhausted smile she could muster, “--all of you. I know I said it earlier, but I don’t want you to start thinking that I don’t.”
“Yeah, yeah...” Gueira waved off. He didn’t what else to do with the praise or if he trusted it completely, but a truce was a truce. And, looking back over to his spot--now overrun in his absence, shit--he plopped himself down right where he was. Could be worse. Could be better, but Aina was one of the more tolerable firefighters by his estimate. “We don’t need convincing.”
So he said, worried that she’d keep piling it on otherwise. They weren’t doing anything they wouldn’t have done otherwise--their application and a few of the faces were just a little different. No one was getting left stranded on their watch. No one was getting captured, either. That was what had taken the most effort to convince him, Meis, and, hell, probably even Lio of--the Burnish leader sitting not more than ten feet away, knuckles buried in his cheek and wrapped in one of the donated blankets.
It was all quite the scene.
“Alright, alright.. any more and I’ll probably start sounding like Galo, anyway.” Aina stretched, tugging her hair out of its ponytail to run her fingers through.The following pause, interspersed with the sound children who would soon wind down to sleep, made her thoughtful. Once tomorrow came, the survivors would be evacuated somewhere safe, and their day would begin again something like how it had been the past several hours. Yet, what about after that? So focused on her work, Aina hadn’t really stopped to consider what happened to ones leftover.
The ones who didn’t need saving. Her eyes met Lio’s, “What will you do when this is over? I’m sure Galo wants you to stay, but... I know things are more complicated than the desires of one man.”
She only enforced his presence for as long as the recovery effort needed them, and even that was more of a heartfelt suggestion than a demand. Lio’s knuckles left an imprint where he’d been leaning; he’d been thinking about it, too, and while he couldn’t admit it around all of these people... Lio needed to be strong in the face of uncertainty. Some of them would want to return to normal lives, and he wouldn’t begrudge them that. Rather, for them and for all of the Burnish, he knew Galo was right. They had to keep fighting. It was the how and where he wasn’t sure of yet. Or if the Powers That Be would allow them peace. Especially him.
Saving the world didn’t always matter when it came to politics.
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Meis answered. He’d take the bullet if he had to, idly flipping his hair over one shoulder. “--firefighter. No offense, but it’s better for us if you don’t.”
Wind taken out of her sails, Aina sighed, although the faux melancholy didn’t last long. It was her turn to leave knuckle-marks on her cheek, leaning forward cross-legged and eyebrows raised with playful incredulity. Meis was the recipient of a single, lopsided shrug. “You’re probably right.. I wasn’t planning to tell anyone, but I definitely can’t tell what I don’t know.”
“--fire starter.” All three of them, but Meis and Gueira especially-so. Yet, somehow, Aina found herself slowly becoming endeared to them. Suppose working together--and working well together--did that to you, if Lio and Galo were any example. Meis didn’t even argue, because, well, she wasn’t wrong. Hell yeah, they were fire starters. They had to be on the same page about something, right?
Lio was thankful. If this was the worst they behaved together, then perhaps he could rest. Yet, there was follow-up that begged asking, “What about you? What will the Burning Rescue become without the Promare?”
“Er,” Aina straightened some. “I guess we’ll go back to being regular firemen. It’ll take some adapting... in our unit, Ignis is the only one old enough to remember the world without Burnish fires. Though, I feel like Galo’s the most prepared for this.”
She shook her head, chuckling quietly to herself. Sorry if you didn’t want a story, guys, but she had one. And she was tired uninhibited enough to launch into it with little provocation other than simple sentimentality. “You should have seen him on his first day. No mecha, no real world experience. Just a homemade Matoi and the stubbornness to not take no for an answer. He shouldn’t have even come with, but Galo somehow convinced the chief to let him spectate from the sidelines.”
“He’s an idiot.” Both of Lio’s lieutenants nodded. Made sense. They were fine with story time if that was the premise. Although, the reality of Aina’s story hadn’t dawned on her yet. “There was a woman trapped in the building. I don’t know how we missed her, but we’re a small team. We've got our hands full with the other survivors, so what does Galo do?”
A pause for effect. Rhetorical question. “He launches himself into the building with no protection other a thick coat of extinguishing gel. We all thought he was crazy! He IS crazy, and I don’t know how he did it--but he saved her. At least...”
This time the pause wasn’t for effect, blinking, glancing between Gueira and Meis as if she’d just had the revelation of the century. Aina covered her mouth, briefly, unable to decide what she wanted to say. Yet, she sure needed to say it, waving one hand for all the room to see. “--that was you two, wasn’t it? You took her.”
“How didn’t I realise this until now?” Her words blended together in quick succession, incredulous and mostly at her own embarrassing lack of awareness. Her face was red. They shrugged. Now that she mentioned it, the situation sounded familiar. She was familiar, but they hadn’t stuck around that long. Remembering who or which firefighters they’d been messing with that day was never a priority.
“You caught us,” Gueira guffawed to the dismay of the few sleeping around him. “Guess we’ve known each other a while. Does that change your opinion of us, missy?”
This was the first time Lio heard about it. It was before his time, he mused, quietly connecting the loose threads for himself. Perhaps it shouldn’t have been so surprising, given all that had happened, that they were so interconnected. If it really was that day. If it was the same Her Aina was talking about. Thyma. The one neither of them saved in the end. He would ask Galo, but later. He wasn’t here, and he didn’t want to interrupt what was happening already.
“Er, well--no. Not really.” Aina tried smiling, but it was crooked and sheepish. Some way to be put on the spot, huh. “I’ll probably never approve of everything you’ve done, but that’s... okay. I don’t think you’re bad people.”
11 notes
·
View notes
Text
RWBY Volume 7 Chapter 6 Review/Runthrough
I know I’m very late with this, but finals were hell.
This chapter went from a middle ground of curious tension to the highest hype to the deepest dread and despair over the course of its roughly 16 minutes of run time and I hated that. And I love it. I hope y’all did too, but let’s take it step by step together.
It starts somewhat close to where chapter 5 left off, the riots in Mantle have been quelled and several people are in handcuffs, including three familiar thirsty moms. Guess the Happy Huntresses are popular with housewives, wish fulfillment of making a difference in the world yourself and all that. Robyn herself is being interviewed as we’re shown the riot aftermath and people getting in line to vote at electronic polling machines. And we get our first major surprise of the episode. There were two other candidates we never heard about, Ivy Brown and Pearl Wistier! So can we get some F’s in the comments for these two, who didn’t get any recognition or screen time and with the election ending probably never will? As Robyn talks about hoping voters will make the right choice and that the connection between her supporters and the riots is pure coincidence, we see Team RWBY and JNR training while Oscar watches. Blake and Yang are jumping around atop towers, Weiss is sparring with Winter again, Ruby is practicing her semblance, Ren meditates, and Nora and Jaune are bouncing a dodgeball back and forth to test his new shield. The Bees jumping around reminded me a little of the Chibi episode where they played tag, so I liked that. Weiss bounces Winter’s Beowolf around on black glyphs in a manner that made me think of a move Sans uses in Undertale, a very fun connection, and then she knocks Winter off guard by sending a small version of her knight to attack Winter’s ankle. Her playful smirk says she’s not sorry~ Ruby’s petal form splits into three parts to go around a pillar, and Oscar finally calls her out on that being a little unusual if her Semblance really is speed. The dodgeball keeps getting hit harder and harder as Nora puts her thunderous all into it until it dissolves against Jaune’s shield when he uses the Dust upgrades to better defend. He takes some damage to his Aura but recovers again very quickly, much to Oscar’s enthusiasm. Ren’s meditation seems to suggest he’s trying to unlock some kind of precognition or ability to sense other people like he had in Volume 4 when Tyrian was approaching to ambush them. But he doesn’t quite get it down yet and instead Ironwood and Clover enter.
70%-30%
Ironwood is impressed by how hard the teens are pushing themselves, with Ruby affirming it to be necessary with the current state of affairs, and Ironwood seems to think the info on his Scroll is evidence of that. The poll numbers favor Robyn, which is undeniably better than Jacques winning even if the Happy Huntresses and the military are in a silent stand off, and the young heroes think the general should make more of an effort to be open with her about what they are doing since they’re all on the same side of wanting to help Mantle. Nora argues for the sake of Mantle quite vehemently, furthering my theory and probably many others’ that she was born here. Jaune seems to agree, but Ironwood says that kind of communication will have to be a two way street and by his tone of voice I’m guessing he doubts that will happen any time soon. Before Nora can offer a rebuttal Ren asks why the General is here. Turns out, with the election happening tonight and the teams having done so much work recently, they’ve decided the kids should get the night off before things really start changing once Robyn or Jacques is elected. Ruby doesn’t seem to like thinking about that, probably because everything in Atlas will get very different once the Amity Project is complete and she still doesn’t know how that will go.
Regardless, Team RWBY make plans for the evening. While Weiss stands around glumly looking at the news feed on her Scroll, Blake puts on some eye makeup that I’m too uninformed to know the name of and Yang stares longingly at her from her bed. At least, that’s how I saw it. The two of them are going dancing with Team FNKI, in a club where it will be too loud for Yang to be able to hear Neon’s voice. Just the way she likes it~ Meanwhile Ruby is going with Ren and Nora to meet up with Penny at a party in Mantle to celebrate Robyn’s surefire win of the election. Because overconfidence like that has never backfired in media before. Weiss is still mentally torn about her father’s big layoff stunt and how in the world he thought it would actually work out for him with what a cunning man he’s always been. Yang thinks it was just a power play that backfired, but Weiss worries there’s a grander scheme below the surface. Then she’s asked which group activity she would rather be a part of, so after seeing Blake’s adorkable attempt to do a dance move Yang is showing her she chooses the suddenly appearing third option: going to the movies with Jaune and Oscar. Volume 2 Jaune would be so impressed his older self got Weiss to agree to that kind of thing with minimal effort... but also be very upset by all the terrible things that happened to the guy up to that point. So it barely matters to our Jaune anymore. Still, hope it was a good movie cuz that’s the last we see of those three for the rest of the chapter.
67%-33%
Ruby and Renora are next seen walking down the street as celebrating Robyn fans pass by in a truck. Ren admits he sees Weiss’ point about celebrating a bit soon but Nora tries to be an optimist about it, that the people should be allowed to enjoy this supposed surefire thing. Ruby admits nothing will probably be a sure thing anymore once the Tower goes up and Salem’s existence becomes known, with Ren and Nora affirming that they’ve spent so long worrying about the secrets they’ve been keeping they haven’t thought about how they would have no plan to face her even once they get past that. Afterall, Jinn said she can’t be beaten. Ruby reminds them the exact phrasing was that she told Oz he couldn’t destroy her, and Nora picks up on the specifics. If Oz can’t, then maybe someone else can. And with her Silver Eyed powers Ruby seems like their best gamble for that. Personally I’m still of the mind that the point Jinn was trying to make wasn’t that “Oz can’t destroy Salem” and was instead that “Oz can’t destroy Salem”. Redemption and the restoration of her kinder former soul may be the best solution to this. But who knows? Regardless, Ren is restless and thinks they should go back to training, that they don’t have time to waste with social gatherings and fun distractions, but Nora says they’ve done enough for now and they need to unwind otherwise they’ll snap. So they’re at odds now, unfortunately...
64%-36%
The three reach the town hall/auditorium where the rally is taking place and meet up with Penny, who is very happy to see them but wonders why it is only these three. Nora explains what Weiss and the boys are doing and that the bees are off doing their own thing, and Ren comments that he’s relieved the two are back on good terms after everything that happened. But Nora sees this as an opportunity to be passive aggressive. See, the situation with Blake and Yang is very similar to her tumultuous “will they won’t they” with Ren. So she calls into question whether or not Blake and Yang are actually just friends or something more intimate and close after being through such deep bonding experiences, but we can tell she’s actually asking about where she and Ren stand. Ren picks up on what she means immediately and fires back how he feels on the matter while keeping up the pretext of this being about the others. It’s kinda funny to realize they’re being so indirect and also teasing how romantic things seem with Blake and Yang when the fandom has been having similar arguments. But it does offer insight into their actual feelings: Nora wants to take that step and has always worn her heart on her sleeve so she’s ready to show how she feels but she also wants to be sure Ren feels the same so she doesn’t misread the signs. But Ren is worried that with all the deep political stuff happening and the impending threat of chaos Salem’s reveal will bring, now isn’t really the right time for relationship stuff. Nora fires back that they can’t figure anything out unless they talk about it, and I do kind of agree. If there’s tension like this between the pair then it might affect their teamwork and trust.
57%-43%
Ruby wants no part of this awkward conversation and slides over to Penny’s side, who also realizes the argument probably isn’t about the Bees. So the two head backstage instead, where Marrow is waiting and initially seems happy to see Ruby before getting back into a work mindset and says she shouldn’t be here since she’s still an amateur who wasn’t assigned to this job. But Ruby says she’s just here to be with her friend, and offers Penny a fistbump. Penny looks overjoyed to see this invitation, and eagerly gives Ruby a bump. Unfortunately, steel fists really hurt and Ruby’s hand starts throbbing red. Ouch~ Marrow just tells her not to get in the way, since they need to stay vigilant in case of any trouble. He is interrupted by the one and only... May Marigold, one of the Happy Huntresses we saw when they stopped the truck last episode.
May is... a deep new kind of character, for reasons that have become clear in recent days and were first brought to my mind when I saw the cast list for this episode. May is voiced by Kdin Jenzen, a lovely woman who works for Rooster Teeth and is memorable for such feats as being able to handle super hot chips with ease on the last two RT Extra Life livestreams. She is also a trans woman. This does nothing to diminish my opinion of her and it should not affect yours. This fact also adds a layer of depth to the character, as the likelihood of May being trans as well seemed rather possible. And as of December 17, this is confirmed: May Marigold is RWBY’s first confirmed trans character. An extra layer of diversity to the world of Remnant is most definitely welcome, and it also adds some depth of character to Robyn Hill. Her group is comprised solely of women, and its a very good look for her that she sees May as one every bit as much as Fiona or herself. Because as we all know, TRANS WOMEN ARE WOMEN. Okay, tangent over for now.
May sasses Marrow a bit, saying the Happy Huntresses won’t be the ones causing any trouble and are there to make sure nothing goes wrong. So Marrow can scram, he’s not welcome. The poor pup tries to stand up for his faction, saying Ironwood just wants to help and the Ace Ops are there for good reasons. He’s interrupted by Robyn herself though, who accepts his presence as protective assistance as long as he stays out of the way. Clearly this isn’t what May or Joanna were expecting to hear, but Robyn says they need to learn how to get along if she’s gonna be on the council. Marrow tries to give her attitude by saying getting along will be easy as long as she stays within the law. Clearly her prior roadblocking activities make him think she hasn’t been. She tries to appeal to him and get through the strict military obedience, saying the law isn’t fair to everyone and he shouldn’t always have to obey it to the word. But he’s a Faunus in Atlas, it’s preaching to the choir at this point. She says all she wants to do as a council member is make Mantle and Atlas a better place for everyone, including the Faunus. But Marrow is unmoved, he still wants to guilt her about keeping her activities legal. But she matches his attitude tit for tat, everything so far has been totally legal and he can’t prove otherwise~ Their staredown is interrupted by the absolute angel that is Fiona Thyme causing feedback on the microphone and reminding Robyn she needs to get back to the party activities. Marrow backs off and tells Ruby to leave so he and Penny can do their jobs, so she sticks her tongue out at him behind his back and waves goodbye to Penny before returning to Ren and Nora... where things haven’t gotten any better. So she just turns right around to hang out at the front of the crowd.
Fiona has a very touching speech about how this victory has been a product of Mantle’s united effort to make things better, how this is their moment and they all know Robyn will do right by them. She even gets emotional herself, and then invites Robyn herself to come on stage and talk to the crowd a bit. The two seem to whisper to each other a little, likely encouragement by Fiona that she’ll nail her speech and reassurance from Robyn that the dear girl did a good job just now. Robyn opens with a joke that her difficulty with public speaking is a bad match for this career in politics, and Ruby seems amused. She always has seemed to sympathize with Robyn and think she’s a good person, and for the most part I would agree.
55%-45%
The speech proper starts with Robyn thanking her gathered followers for their votes and for thus putting their faith and belief in her. And she assures them the feeling is mutual, that she believes in the strength and change a single determined person can bring just as much as she knows there is unlimited potential to what people can do when they work together.
54%-46%
And with that unity, it doesn’t matter if she wins or loses because they will all continue to fight for the sake of the city that brings them together. That earns a lot of applause and she leaves the stage, though she starts to show visible concern as the radio announcer points out how close the votes are as the deadline draws fatally near. The Happy Huntresses are still confident she’s got this in the bag...
53%-47%
But she’s no less tense.
With all this talk of unity in mind, Nora tries again to try and address the tension between her and Ren, but deep talks like this really aren’t his thing. Ren has always been emotionally closed off, it’s just in his nature and with emotion being so important for his Semblance it’s clearly been ingrained in his mindset for a long time. Talking is not his love language, he’s always shown how he feels through acts of physical contact. Hugs, leaning on her, holding her hand at the end of Volume 4. So while she’s seeking verbal validation that it is something deeper between them, he’s not used to that and doesn’t really know how to articulate himself and express all his feelings how he wants to. That’s how I interpret it anyway. Nora gets her own read out of his attempt at an answer, and it seems pretty similar to my takeaway from it. Clearly it was encouraging enough for her to know he does like her back he just has so much on his mind he can’t figure out how to say it. Why? Because she literally says “screw talking” and kisses him!!! A KISS FOR RENORA, 7 YEARS IN THE MAKING!!!!! So the two get blissfully lost in the kiss and each other’s company for a little while, and I’m so happy for them.
Unfortunately, this is where we start to have a bad time. We cut to Watts hiding out somewhere booting up several Scrolls in front of a screen showing drone footage of the party as well as older video of Penny’s hero work in Mantle, and he’s activating tech in his rings as we see that Tyrian is in the party crowd in a cloak ready to strike on his partner’s command. The polls are about to close, Ruby is looking over at Penny happy as can be... and sees Tyrian’s tail. She moves to get a closer look, and eyes meet between former foes. She screams towards the stage to watch out, but it’s too late. The lights go out as the election countdown chant hits one, Ren and Nora are holding each other close unsure what’s happening... and Watts gives the order to begin.
He starts doing vague techno stuff with the Scrolls that‘s mostly theatrical hand waving, while at the party Robyn drops her microphone and Ruby gets knocked to the ground by the panicking crowd. Tyrian has started killing people in the audience, in an attacking style seemingly unlike his usual work. Penny activates her night vision at the prompting of Marrow (who SHOULD be able to see in the dark as a Faunus but maybe he’s in a bad position to see what’s happening or her tech optics can do more than ordinary eyes Faunus or otherwise?) and pulls out her swords before she tells Tyrian to surrender. But either that scorpion boy has some mad jumping skills to get to the rafters or Watts could hack Penny’s eyes, because in the time it takes a panicked person to run in front of her he is gone. Watt’s puppeteer act continues as he seems to lift Penny’s movements from one video and put them into the footage of Tyrian’s massacre over the image of his body. How terribly devious. And with a single tap of a district map on one Scroll he changes which candidate several entire parts of Mantle voted for. He may very well have been doing this little by little over the course of the night so the election fraud would look natural, or maybe a significant portion of people actually were voting for Jacques and Arthur just forced the final push. I think the former is a lot more likely.
Meanwhile, Marrow is calling for backup and Robyn calls her Happy Huntresses to her side so they can all keep each other safe. Fiona wants to get Robyn to safety, and at the last second sees Tyrian running across the stage to attack them. His eyes and right arm both glow purple, and he scratches a hole in Fiona’s Aura before slicing at the exposed spot with the blades on his other arm. Seems his Semblances is being able to tear through Aura and then attack a person’s body directly. Useful skill for a killer like him... Still, we know only his tail is poisonous so she probably won’t die. That was likely on purpose too though... If they found venom in her they would know Penny didn’t do it cuz she doesn’t have anything like that. Speaking of Penny, she flies up to tackle Robyn to the floor when it looks like Tyrian is going to attack her next, but he just jumps up to the rafters and giggles maniacally. This part was planned too, because when the lights come on Penny is the one standing on stage with swords drawn over an injured Fiona and confused Robyn. Much like Pyrrha and to a lesser extend Yang before her, Penny has been set up as a brutal killer. Worse yet...
47%-53%
Jacques has officially won the election and gives a live acceptance speech that seems like a total slap in the face. And if we look more carefully at those lying dead on the floor, a few familiar outfits can be seen. The same thirsty moms last seen getting in trouble for taking part in the riots are now going to be orphaning their children... Whether he meant to or not, Tyrian has proven his ultimate villainous status above all others. Ruby, Marrow, Ren and Nora all rush onto the stage to help Penny and Robyn, but the latter doesn’t trust them at all and the former is in shock that such brutality is blamed on her, that she’s failed her purpose as Mantle’s protector when it mattered most. It’s not helped by the fact that a survivor loudly proclaims Penny did it, and refers to her simply as “Ironwood’s Robot”. Dehumanizing her, saying she’s just another machine that’s been taken over and used as a tool of evil. When the Happy Huntresses and angry members of the crowd charge to attack Penny and those that would try to help her, Marrow uses his Semblance for some literal crowd control, making all of them freeze in place. Ren and Nora are quite unnerved to hear Tyrian was the perpetrator, but they get Penny out the back door to relative safety while Robyn stops pointing her weapon at the girl long enough to shove Ruby out of the way when she was trying to help Fiona. Our dear sheepy says she’s gonna be okay, but Marrow still feels bad and offers assistance. Too bad that means he relaxed enough for his Semblance effect to wear off and Joanna starts shooting at him so he and Ruby leave too, though he does try to assure Robyn that Atlas had nothing to do with this.
Watts uploads his deep faked footage and packs up for the night, telling Tyrian their good work is done. Out in an alley, the good guys catch their breath and quietly panic how bad things just got while Penny just stands in despair and shock. Ruby reaches out a hand to try and reassure her before realizing it’s covered in Fiona’s blood. Marrow tells Penny she has to go back to Atlas, but she’s initially not responsive. She does fly off though,, just as the Grimm attack alarms go off and the others get ready for the long night ahead... with the girls not having their weapons unfortunately. As Manticores are seen flying over Mantle and into the streets, Jacques’ victory speech continues to lay faintly veiled dread into our hearts.
So yeah. Hell of an episode, and one I took way too long to review. School was hell, just like this chapter.
#rwby reviews#ruby rose#weiss schnee#blake belladonna#yang xiao long#jaune arc#nora valkyrie#lie ren#oscar pine#penny polendina#marrow amin#robyn hill#fiona thyme#may marigold#joanna greenleaf#arthur watts#tyrian callows#jacques schnee#james ironwood#clover ebi#renora#renora is canon#bumbleby#mantle council election#mantle election hacking#terrible awful murder#deep fakes in rwby#rwby spoilers#volume 7 spoilers#rwby volume 7 spoilers
6 notes
·
View notes
Link
via Politics – FiveThirtyEight
At a campaign event in southeastern Iowa in December, a graduate student named Charlotte Moser was waiting to ask Sen. Elizabeth Warren a question. As we sat and talked in a crowded union hall before the event began, Charlotte told me she felt a little guilty that it wasn’t about Warren’s plans or policies. But what she really wanted to know, she said, was how Warren coped with sexism on the campaign trail. “She’s faced a lot of that recently — being called elitist and unlikable and angry,” she said.
The previous day, a similar version of Charlotte’s question had cropped up at another town hall, when a middle-aged woman named Kris stood and asked Warren why “so many Americans would rather see a man with a tie” in the Oval Office. And the candidate got another twist on the same query a few hours after I talked to Charlotte, at another event in a neighboring town overlooking the Mississippi River. This time, it was from a reporter in a scrum who wanted to know why Warren thought sexism was such a preoccupation for the voters who had come hear her speak.
In both cases, Warren had an answer that amounted to this: It shouldn’t be. “I think a lot of the world changed after 2016,” she told Kris, going on to describe the flood of women’s protests in the days after President Trump’s inauguration and the wave of women elected to state legislatures and Congress in 2017 and 2018. “And I think in 2020, women are stepping up, friends of women are stepping up, and this is when we’re going to make it happen.”
It was a practiced response to a question that can turn into a trap for female candidates, even when it’s asked with the best of intentions. During the Democratic debate last week, Warren disputed on national television what she says Sen. Bernie Sanders told her in a private meeting in 2018: A woman couldn’t defeat Trump. Sanders denies ever saying this, but when asked about the exchange by a moderator, Warren used it as a moment to attack doubts about women’s electability. “Look at the men on this stage: Collectively, they have lost 10 elections,” she said. “The only people on this stage who have won every single election that they’ve been in are the women.”
Studies do show that when female candidates run for Congress, they win at about the same rate as men. That doesn’t mean the playing field is level — the women who win are generally more qualified than their male counterparts, and perhaps held to a higher standard by voters — but what often gets lost in the debate over electability is just how adept women are at responding to sexism in politics, whether it’s from their opponents, voters or the media. Still, it’s hard to know what will reassure voters whose fears mostly seem to be grounded in one specific election, and one specific candidate — 2016 and Donald Trump.
That tension is something I’ve been rolling around in my head ever since I got back from Iowa, because it’s hard to figure out how gender is shaping a race while it’s unfolding. What I saw in Iowa was far from an overwhelming consensus that Warren was doomed to fail. Nor was it especially reminiscent of the “you go girl!” excitement of the 2016 election. Instead, voters were grappling with a conundrum that felt very familiar to me: How do you acknowledge the reality of the challenges that women face without going too far and contributing to the forces that keep them from winning?
On the one hand, there’s evidence that in the last few years, voters are increasingly likely to identify gender discrimination as a major reason women are not elected to top positions. And people who study gender and politics still argue that voters’ biases remain a real barrier for women who run for office. But those factors don’t necessarily determine the fate of Warren or any other female candidates. Women win elections all the time. And there is a clear risk that if these doubts are given too much weight, concerns around a female candidate’s electability will become a self-defeating cycle where even the people who are most excited about the prospect of a female president are too afraid to vote for one.
On the campaign trail, Warren brings up her gender in subtle ways, like when she was fired from her job as a teacher after getting pregnant. But she still frequently gets questions from voters and reporters about how she navigates sexism in politics.
Spencer Platt / Getty Images
“I thought Hillary would be our first woman president. I wanted her to be,” said Chris Moore, 70, at a town hall in a brightly lit school gymnasium as snow started to fall outside. It wasn’t her first time seeing Warren speak, and she told me that of all the Democratic candidates, she thought Warren would probably make the best president. “I guess the question is, is she electable?”
I asked Moore what she thought might harm Warren’s chances. “I hope being a woman isn’t a negative,” she said. “But it could be an issue for some people — maybe not for Democrats, but we need to attract independents in order to win.”
This was something weighing on many of the voters I spoke with. When the conversation touched on Warren’s gender, it seemed difficult for them to not at least briefly contemplate a future in which another woman went up against Trump and lost. Part of the trouble may be that while men’s failed presidential runs have become routine, Hillary Clinton’s loss was entirely novel and therefore harder for voters to move past. But some also recognized their own role in that process, and said they’re trying to resist the temptation to look to the past for clues about which candidate to support.
“Look, I get that people are afraid about what happens if Trump wins again — we’ve got to beat him,” said Matt Falduto, 48, who had brought his daughters to a Warren town hall on a chilly Sunday morning. “But you can’t let those fears make you second-guess your instincts about which candidate is the best.”
Few of the voters I talked to in December had fully committed to a candidate, and a month later, the race in Iowa still looks like a free-for-all. And as I moved through bunting-adorned elementary schools and knelt next to voters on the floor of a sandwich shop turned rally space, it was clear that anxiety about sexism was only one part of the equation. For some, Warren was too liberal; others thought she wasn’t liberal enough. I heard worries about whether she’d be able to connect with voters of color or people who were less educated. But this year’s election also seemed to be a reckoning of sorts for many voters who were struggling with how to wrap their heads around the reality of sexism in politics and figure out what — if anything — it should mean for their vote.
On the campaign trail, Warren doesn’t talk much about what it would mean to be the first female president. Instead, she brings up her gender in subtler ways, like when she talks about being fired from her job as a teacher when she got pregnant. Her affect is folksy and down-to-earth — she jokes about her snap decision to go to law school but delicately skirts her decades as a professor at Harvard Law School. When I saw her in Iowa, she was in the midst of an attempt to pivot away from the health care debate she’d found herself mired in and back to the bread and butter of her candidacy: her pitch to voters that economic populism and an anti-corruption agenda are what’s needed to beat Trump in 2020.
In some ways, being a woman could help her make that pitch. Research has shown that elected women are generally perceived to be more honest than their male counterparts, which could give Warren’s anti-corruption message extra heft. And there are other reasons to think that Warren should be more appealing to primary voters than her rivals at the top of the field, who are white, male and either gunning to be the first octogenarian president or the youngest to ever be elected.
An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll conducted in November found that 83 percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say they would be enthusiastic about voting for a female candidate — substantially higher than any other type of candidate mentioned in the poll, including someone under 40 (62 percent), a white man (53 percent), and someone over 70 (31 percent). In surveys conducted recently, Democrats say they favor female candidates over male candidates, all else being equal.
Democrats are enthusiastic about a woman candidate
Responses to a November 2019 NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll of Democrats asking whether they would be enthusiastic about candidates with the following qualities
Type Percent A woman 83%
–
Someone who is gay or lesbian 69
–
Someone under 40 62
–
A white man 53
–
A socialist 37
–
A business executive 34
–
Someone over 70 31
–
From a survey of 453 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents conducted Nov. 11 to Nov. 15, 2019.
Source: NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist
But there are also signs that in the aftermath of the 2016 election, voters are more cynical about women’s chances in the presidential arena — and especially against Trump. Surveys of Democratic voters by the left-leaning group Avalanche Strategy, for instance, have found that Warren is most popular when respondents are given the ability to pick a presidential candidate without having to worry whether they’ll beat Trump. In follow-up interviews, many of those would-be Warren supporters said the negative impact of gender was a big part of their calculus. Other polls have found that while most Democrats say they are comfortable with a female president, they think their friends and neighbors might be more reluctant to support a woman.
It’s not clear that these fears are entirely baseless. A survey conducted by The New York Times in October found, for instance, that Warren performed worse than Sanders or Biden in head-to-head matchups against Trump in key battleground states — a pattern that can also be seen in head-to-head national polls. Admittedly, Warren’s liberal views are a confounding factor. In that New York Times survey, 52 percent of voters who said they’d vote for Biden but not Warren in a matchup against Trump (Sanders wasn’t part of the equation) said it was because she’s too far to the left. But 41 percent also agreed with the statement that women who run for president “just aren’t that likable.” Those groups represent only a fraction of the electorate.1 But in a close election, they could make a difference.
Democrats think others wouldn’t support a female president
Responses to October 2019 Morning Consult/Politico poll of Democrats answering “Yes, definitely” to the following questions
Question Percent Do you think you are ready for a female president? 71%
–
Do you think America is ready for a female president? 57
–
Do you think your neighbors are ready for a female president? 31
–
From an online survey of 736 Democrats conducted Oct. 25 to Oct. 28, 2019.
Source: Morning Consult/Politico
Whether it’s helpful to dwell on these fears or emphasize the barriers female presidential candidates face is up for debate, even among the people who spend their lives studying gender and politics. After I got back from Iowa, I called Kathleen Dolan, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, to get her take on how much gender bias really seemed to be hurting Warren. She told me she found the media’s focus on it exasperating. “I would give my eye teeth for a process where no reporter asks questions about what it’s like to be a woman in politics, how they deal with sexism, whether a woman can win,” she said. “Then we’d have a genuine sense of whether voters are actually worried about this.”
But other researchers have argued that sexism is probably hurting Warren and the other female candidates. Dan Cassino, a political science professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, concluded from a recent survey experiment that sexist views are fairly widespread among voters — particularly male voters — and many of those voters are less motivated to support a female candidate. “Eventually, we will get to a point where enough women have run for president that it’s entirely unremarkable,” he said. “But we’re not at that point yet, and I think the Democrats will probably lose some votes if they nominate a woman.” I asked Cassino how much of a difference it could make, compared to other factors that voters care about like age, ideology or political experience. “Could those lost votes be offset by a million other factors?” he said. “Absolutely. If it’s a choice between a worse male candidate and a better female candidate, you still want the woman. But it’s a calculation.”
The trouble is that weighing those trade-offs is hard to do in hindsight, and nearly impossible to do in real time. Case in point: Nearly four years later, political scientists are still trying to figure out exactly how much of an impact sexism had in the 2016 election. The consensus among most of the experts I’ve spoken with is that sexism does seem to have moderately helped Trump and hurt Clinton — but seeing the attacks on Clinton may also have galvanized some of her supporters. And all of this might not tell us much about how a different woman, with different policies, in a different year, would fare.
Warren speaking at a town hall event in Des Moines, Iowa, just days after the January debate.
Spencer Platt / Getty Images
In Iowa, some of Warren’s supporters told me they were trying to resist the urge to compare this year’s crop of female candidates to Clinton. “I really hope people don’t assume that all women who run for office are kind of cut from the same cloth,” said Robin Flattery, 31. It would be a mistake, Flattery added, to allow Warren’s gender to obscure the aspects of her biography and candidacy that are very different from Clinton’s — her working-class roots, her unapologetic progressivism or the fact that she hasn’t weathered decades of scandal and controversy.
There is one inescapable similarity between 2016 and 2020, though: the Republican opponent. And while the research doesn’t suggest that a majority of American voters simply won’t accept the idea of a female president — the fact that Clinton won nearly three million more votes than Trump is pretty good evidence to the contrary — it’s not hard to understand why some voters are worried about another woman going up against Trump. “I think the conversation would be different if the Democrats weren’t facing the prospect of a scorched-earth campaign by a president who’s willing to use sexism and what had previously been socially unacceptable language and attacks against a woman,” said Danny Hayes, a political science professor at George Washington University.
As Warren is fond of pointing out, of course, the world has changed since 2016. The Women’s March happened; the #MeToo movement happened; a historic number of women ran for office and won in 2018. The problem is that it’s not clear how much those changes help her. There was never much reason to believe that female voters would coalesce around Warren simply because she was a woman. Plus, a general electorate may be less inclined to get behind Warren’s particular brand of liberal politics.
So it’s worth thinking about the lessons we’ll take from Warren’s candidacy, not only if she wins the Democratic nomination — but also if she loses. The risks in failing to confront sexism in politics may seem obvious. And if nothing else, the spat between Warren and Sanders brought the issue into plain view, perhaps forcing more voters to grapple with it as the Iowa caucuses draw closer. But there’s also a danger, Dolan said, in taking for granted that it’s a decisive factor, particularly as women running for president becomes more routine. “Yes, we need to call out sexism when we see it,” she said. “But we also need to avoid the assumption that when a woman fails, it’s because she’s a woman.”
1 note
·
View note
Text
Mistborn first read - book 2 - The Well of Ascension part 1.5 chapters 6-11
[Spoilers for the chapters covered, and all previous chapters]
Predictions (in addition to the ones previously listed):
•Who is the mystery Watcher who helped Vin? Maybe the Inquisitor in the first book was lying, and it is Vin’s brother Reen. I guess I’m holding out hope that he turns up alive, because all we have seen of him so far is in Vin’s memories. On some level I think I sort of relate to him, because I’m the older brother of two sisters, although my relationship with them is considerably better than Reen’s, and, unlike Vin’s sister, both of them are still alive.
•What does the new alloy do? Since aluminum strips away the other metals an Allomancer has ingested, maybe this one makes them last longer. Either that, or perhaps it’s the key to using Allomancy and Feruchemy together.
Part 1.5: Heir of the Survivor (chapters 6-11)
Chapter 6
Vin and Ham spar. Elend, Clubs, and Spook watch. Spook apparently sneaks around in disguise. Spook says someone is spreading rumors about atium being kept in Luthadel, probably to make opposing kingdoms attack the city. Vin beats Ham. Afterwards he tells the other men, “Vin’s a thin little thing, but when she burns pewter, she grows several times stronger... She packs all that strength into a small body, and doesn’t have to bother with the weight of massive muscles. She’s like...an insect. Far stronger than her mass...would indicate. So, when she jumps, she can jump.”
Elend thinks about how the group that had followed Kelsier is able to laugh and seem to have a good time even in dire situations. “They still faced an army several times larger than their own... Yet, if anyone could survive such a situation, it would be Kelsier’s crew.”
OreSeur can still speak, even with a dog mouth. He finds the new body offensive and degrading. Vin thinks he’s being forward and belligerent. She still thinks of him as Renoux. “Anyone can claim loyalty, Vin thought. If someone has a ‘Contract’ to ensure their honor, then all the better. That makes the surprise more poignant when they do turn on you.” Vin agrees to spend more time with OreSeur, even if she’s not sure that’s what she wants.
All this hinting at a betrayal makes it almost certain in my mind that there will be one at some point in this story, but the idea that it will be the kandra could be a red herring to throw us off the trail of the actual betrayer. Earlier in the chapter, Elend sees a look of jealousy cross Spook’s face. Maybe he’ll be the betrayer.
I looked up pictures of wolfhounds online. Man, those things are huge! If Vin is small as described, it’s comical thinking of her carrying an unconscious one over her shoulder.
Chapter 7
Sazed tries to teach skaa how to write, but they have no real desire for learning. “The Lord Ruler was dead, but the story did not seem finished. Was there something he had overlooked? Something larger...than the Lord Ruler? Something so large...that it was effectively invisible?” You mean something like the Deepness? Nah, couldn’t be.
“He knew that Vin and the others saw him as docile, but compared with other Keepers he was a wild man.” *sigh...I’m trying so hard to resist...but not really. If you have read the Wheel of Time, you probably know which character I’m thinking of right now, so I’m not even going to say it.
Creepy McNightmare Marsh shows up to scare the bejeezus out of the villagers, and tell Sazed to come with him to the Conventical of Seran, a Ministry stronghold. Sazed thinks about what knowledge he may find there.
[The next paragraph contains spoilers for Wheel of Time book #2 The Great Hunt, Star Trek The Next Generation season 3 and 4, and Doctor Who season 8 (12th Doctor)]
“...my brethren...” Clues of betrayal, or just a new idiosyncrasy? Wait...don’t tell me...they’re not going to turn Sazed into an Inquisitor, are they? F*** it, I can’t resist the WOT comparisons. Until I find out otherwise, that’s just my point of reference at the moment. This just feels like [WOT book #2 spoiler] Liandrin leading the girls away to Toman Head. I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough if I’m right or wrong. I suppose other references I could make would be the [Star Trek TNG] Borg capturing Picard, or [Doctor Who season 8] Danny Pink and the Cybermen. That is if what I think is happening actually does happen. Of course, both of those characters still ended up being turned back to the good side, but then again they didn’t have spikes driven through their f***in’ eye sockets!
Anyway, I overthink things way too much, and this chapter has me on edge. I’m as paranoid as Vin right now. I’m sure you can tell I don’t trust Marsh. I haven’t ever since he got the Obligator tattoos in book one (I shudder to think of what Marsh was doing that impressed the Obligators and Inquisitors so much), and this chapter just magnified that distrust exponentially.
Chapter 8
Vin tests OreSeur’s abilities as a dog. He’s faster and has sharper senses than he ever did in human form. He keeps up with her easily. The Watcher turns up and Vin decides to go after him. Attack someone who has already helped you in a fight; alienate potential allies; great idea Vin! They fight a little, and then chase each other. The Watcher finds a hiding spot, and Vin figures out where it is by burning bronze. She burns duralumin while burning other metals to see what it does. She feels what seems like a massive explosion, but after a moment of shock realizes that the alloy had amplified the other metals she was burning, made their effects overwhelmingly intense, and depleted them quickly.
OreSeur catches up with her as she sits there stunned. He gives her the belt that has more vials of metal in it so she can replenish what she just burned away. As she looks to the room where the Watcher had been hiding, he drops down close to her. They have a cryptic conversation, trying to figure each other out.
“Who are you?”...
“An enemy...”
“Why, then, did you help me fight those assassins?”
“Because...I’m also insane.”
After the Watcher leaves, OreSeur shows Vin that he can store her vials of metal in his flesh. Ew...helpful, but ew.
Chapter 9
Sazed thinks about how Marsh has changed. Marsh’s nickname according to Spook had been Ironeyes, which now seems prescient. Marsh seems to be concerned about Sazed wasting time in the countryside and thinks he should be helping his friends in Luthadel. Hmm...maybe I have been quick to judge Marsh, but still, I’m wary. I’ll reserve judgement until we see how the trip to Seran plays out. Maybe this conversation is meant to lull us into a false sense of safety before the trap is sprung.
I have noticed in my copy of the book that the map has different spellings than in the rest of the book. For example: Seran is spelled Searan on the map. In chapter 3 when Ham talks about the assassins that fought Vin he mentioned a place called Fadrex City, but on the map it says Fadex City. Is this a typo, or is it intentional?
Chapter 10
Elend is holding an assembly. Vin and Ham, among others, serve as security guards. Ham pats Vin affectionately on the shoulder and makes her uncomfortable. “Ham’s innocent gesture made her want to squirm. It seemed to her that people shouldn’t be so casual with the way that they touched others.” Vin and Ham have a discussion about politics. Vin is concerned about Elend giving away too much of his power to too many other people.
Elend gives a speech about their freedom as a nation, and how that freedom was in danger with the foreign army attacking. Elend asks for time to meet with Straff. The assembly degenerates into arguments. Elend keeps trying to get everyone to vote. Lord Penrod says they all know what kind of man Elend’s father is, and that if he wants the city, he will take it. He supports Elend’s proposal saying it may help them to not give up too much control when Straff takes over. They put it to a vote, and the proposal passes. Vin gets paranoid about potential assassins. Soldiers come to say a second army has arrived outside the city.
To be honest, this chapter was difficult to recap, as I wasn’t sure what was important to include and how to word it, so I did the best I could. Politics aren’t my strong suit. I’m sure there are political maneuverings going on behind the scenes with the characters involved in the assembly, but until it’s revealed, I can’t really comment on it.
Chapter 11
Ooo boy...this chapter is a doozy. I’ll see if I can even do it justice. Time to ramp up the paranoia like there wasn’t enough already!
The new army flies Cett’s banner, so it’s most likely hostile since the assassins Vin fought were traced back to Cett. Vin sees Breeze being chased and decides to go help him. She uses duralumin, this time effectively, to amplify pewter and steel to reach Breeze in time to fight off his pursuers. It didn’t take her long to gain control of this new alloy, did it? Masterful performance, I dare say.
When they get back to the city Breeze admits to spreading the rumors about atium in order to lure Cett’s army to come to Luthadel. He says he did this to cause a standoff between Cett’s and Straff’s armies. Neither will attack the city if either thinks the other will ally with Luthadel. This gives Luthadel time to negotiate with the armies.
Vin, Elend, and OreSeur are riding in a carriage. A guard comes to tell Elend that a body has been found in Vin’s room. This turns out to be the skeleton from the body that OreSeur discarded when he switched to the dog. Elend tells the guard that they know about the body, and asks him to dispose of it for them.
“He probably assumes I ate the person or something...Sucked the flesh right off his bones.” I laughed so hard at this part!
Then the guard asks what to do about the other body, they’re like, wait, what other body? He tells them they found another skeleton when they brought dogs in to sniff around to see if they could find the killer. They tell the guard to show them. When he brings them to it, Elend dismisses the guard. They figure out that it’s from another kandra, and that kandra is probably now impersonating someone close to them; someone from Kelsier’s crew.
Yeah...I can’t do that last part justice. Just reread that part of the chapter for yourself. Wow. So which of our friends got eaten by a body snatcher, and is now an impostor? Welp...I’m struggling to put together a coherent thought, so time for a cliffhanger.
(To be continued)
#brandon sanderson#mistborn#the well of ascension#fantasy#cosmere#vin#sazed#elend venture#mistborn liveblog
3 notes
·
View notes
Note
(pt 1) I'm a woman and am happily married to another woman and I don't understand why everyone was so upset at Krista. She openly supports marriage equality and has defended it. She has close LGBT friends (I know having black friends doesn't make you not racist but in my experience people that have been opposed to my sexual orientation stop being friends with me) and advocates for LGBT persons to be included in the church and conservatives to accept us.
Hi friend, thanks for your thoughts! I don’t know your background, so I hope that my answer doesn’t come across as condescending or rude as that is certainly not my intention. My opinions on Krista’s stance on gay issues are strongly colored by my experiences, which I have no problem admitting. I’m sure plenty of other LGBT folks have different feelings, which is totally fine. For what it’s worth, I saw more people upset with Krista over her posts about abuse victims not remarrying after a divorce than I have over any of the LGBT posts she’s made, but I’m not going to pretend that I haven’t regularly made critical comments about her LGBT posts/stances here.
In order to be fair to her, I decided to go back through her blog (on Tumblr, not her other blog) and re-read her posts on gay issues in order to make sure that I’m not taking other people’s comments about her or vague memories I have of old posts and projecting my own frustrations with other conservative Christians’ opinions onto Krista.. I’m going to do my best to source anything I reference via links to that post, but I apologize if I miss anything.
I will also be focusing on issues regarding people who are sexually attracted to the same sex (using the blanket term of “gay”, which also represents bi/pan/etc.) for this post. I am cis myself, and your question references your same-sex relationship and family, so in this case it feels appropriate to stay in my lane and not offer opinions on a cis person’s stances on gender issues as another cis person. I do not mean to exclude gender nonconforming people from the overall LGBT community in any way.
The oldest about posts I can find from Krista about anything gay-related are anons asking her opinions. I’m fairly sure that this is the first one, where she essentially gives a fairly neutral action that could be interpreted as “I don’t think being gay sends you to hell” or as “I think gay people can go to heaven too as long as they repent of that sin along with the others”. She does not make it clear what her opinion on same-sex attraction specifically is, as another anon then pointed out in this post. Does her tone in addressing the anon bother me? Yes. Does she have the right to call out people she feels are being rude to her? Also yes.
Early on in the post she says “First, you missed out on a lot of people. It’s actually LGBTQIAAP.” (likely referencing the anon saying LGBTQIA), and it’s just a personal pet peeve of mine for straight people to try to act like they have any authority on things like the acronym, but I realize that that’s just me and she also has no way of knowing the anon’s sexuality so perhaps it was one straight person (sarcastically) informing another straight person of a perceived shortcoming. Perhaps not. She then goes on to defend her refusal to give a “straightforward answer” by, in my opinion, continuing to dodge the question.
Further down she brags that she “was actually named best advocate at a national moot court competition this past year arguing that Title VII protects against sexual orientation discrimination”. Now maybe I’m wrong, but it’s my understanding that moot courts aren’t typically events where you’re expected to defend your own personal beliefs, but events where you are assigned a stance and have to argue it regardless of what you believe. If that’s the case, mentioning that is irrelevant. If it is not the case and she was able to choose that stance, bragging about it for some sort of ally point is, in my opinion, arrogant.
She ends the post by saying that her LGBT friends “are entitled to all of the rights, privileges, and safeties that I enjoy as a straight woman. Who you love and who you’re attracted to does not change your place in society or the rights that you have or opportunities you should be able to pursue.” Sure, your sexual orientation SHOULDN’T change your place in society or your rights, but it DOES. It absolutely does, and to say that LGBT folks are entitled to the same rights as straight women is, at best, misguided. Krista is a lawyer who has, in theory, interacted with multiple members of the LGBT community, so she should realize that regardless of what should or shouldn’t be true, LGBT still DON’T have the same rights as her in many states, and even in states where legally we have the same rights we still live with fears she will never experience.
As for the claim that Krista is “not only tolerant of my family but accepting” and that she “accepts me and defends my rights”, here are my thoughts. I don’t want to be tolerated. If you’re cool with just being tolerated then more power to you, but as someone who is merely tolerated by a number of Christians, it really hurts and feels extremely de-humanizing. I do feel that “tolerates” is an accurate word for Krista’s stances on gay people (with the possible exception of the gay friends she claims to have). I do not feel that Krista “defends” gay people and our families beyond her belief that she is legally obligated to uphold the law. She has said that she is “totally fine with gay couples adopting”, which is a positive. She has also said she feels families with same-sex couples should be treated like “any other couple”, which again, is a positive. I guess I just don’t feel like that’s the same as defending. She recently admitted that she has never voted for a Democrat, and while I understand why someone from Vermont might see third-party candidates as viable (because in many Vermont races they are), she has to realize that voting third-party for president is throwing away your vote in the current political climate. Beyond voting, what is she actually DOING to “defend” gay people? Nothing she has ever said makes me think she’s using her privilege to truly defend us to her conservative Christian circles. Unless proven otherwise, I can’t help but feel that she’s able to talk a (vague) big game about being supportive without actually doing any supporting.
I have recently said that it is my belief that she thinks gay sex/acting on same-sex attractions is sinful, even if our marriages should be legal. I will admit that I formed that opinion largely based on a private conversation I had with her, and which I will not share publicly without her permission. In going through old posts, I came across this post, which I feel also supports this opinion. An anon says that they can’t see any good qualities to overcome “when the thing they disagree with is gay rights/gay marriage/that being gay is a sin”, and that they’d “say the same about someone who identified as a Nazi or a white supremacist”. In Krista’s response, she literally says “But, by the same token, you and I are talking right now, and hopefully, I’m not reminding you of a Nazi”. That statement seems to imply that she falls into at least one of those categories or else why would she remind the anon of a Nazi? In another post she also says that “I do believe that all people are responsible for their sexual BEHAVIOR”, which seems to imply that there is something sinful about sexual behavior between people of the same sex.
If we want to get down to it, this is the post that was the cause of my initial feeling that Krista was not a safe person for gay people. If someone asks you if you think being LGBTQ+ is a sin and your answer is to tell them they are trying to “stir division”, it is only fair to assume that you think they won’t like your answer. If I ask someone their belief on that subject, I am asking because I want to know their opinion. This anon echoes the same sentiment. If she’s really worried about “stirring division” she should have just ignored the question.
To anyone still reading at this point, thanks for sticking it out with me. Honestly Krista’s recent posts (paired with some events in my life offline) have really got me thinking, and I have a lot of things weighing on me. I’m glad that you are able to feel that as long as she believes you deserve the same rights as she does it’s fine. I hope you continue to feel safe in that. Unfortunately, many of us aren’t that lucky. Many of us have lived too much of our lives feeling disgusting and broken and worthless because of teachings that that same God she worships and we were brought up to worship disapproves not only of any relationships we have, but of an inherent part of who we are. The biggest reason that I continue to speak out against Krista’s posts is because I just need any scared or confused young gay teenagers in the church to know that they don’t have to settle for being tolerated, and no matter who thinks they’re sinning, they’re not.
Krista’s posts (in the context of the rest of the blog) would have devastated me at one time in my life. When I speak out against them, I’m usually saying the sorts of things I wish someone would have said to me then.
5 notes
·
View notes
Link
Words by ROBIN SWITHINBANK
Photography by MATT HOLYOAK
Styling byGARETH SCOURFIELD
“It’s not the kind of thing you’d expect to hear a movie star say, at least, not one who has starred in some of the highest-grossing films of all time. ‘I’m not part of the Hollywood A-list,’ says Martin Freeman, shrugging his shoulders. ‘I’m genuinely not. No. Nowhere near.’
That might sound unduly modest, but the thing is, despite appearing as the titular figure in Peter Jackson’s $3bn Hobbit super-franchise; despite being part of Marvel’s universe (twice, most recently in Black Panther); despite appearing alongside the likes of Billy Bob Thornton (as Lester Nygaard in the Coen-brothers-inspired TV hit Fargo) and Benedict Cumberbatch (as Dr John Watson in Sherlock); and despite being an Emmy and BAFTA-award winning actor (both for Sherlock), he’s not.
‘For a lot of people, the Hobbit was played by Bilbo Baggins,’ he says, that familiar look of knowing resignation writ large across his face. Surely playing the heroic halfling has transformed his career and spun him into the red-carpet superstar galaxy? ‘I don’t know how many people after that thought: “Get me that guy.” I genuinely don’t know. It didn’t feel like it made a massive difference to me. Honest to God.’ Perhaps that will explain where he keeps those awards. ‘On my roof,’ he quips. ‘So people can see them.’
It’s tempting to cast Freeman as unhappy. There’s certainly a tension in him. In person, he’s courteous and engaged – he says words like ‘genuinely’ and ‘literally’ often and fervently – but there’s a sharpness to his opinions, and there’s plenty that riles him. That said, he seems at one with his lot. Mostly. ‘I will allow myself to be proud of that,’ he says of his awards, clearly trying not to big himself up. ‘I do alright. I do OK.’
Martin Freeman might have done some blockbusters in his time, but his first love is independent film. His latest vehicle is Ghost Stories, a proper spooky, throw-your-popcorn-in-the-air fright fest. It’s also an anthology – the fashionable format of our time – featuring the mercurial talents of Paul Whitehouse, Alex Lawther and Andy Nyman. Freeman appears in the third and final act as a wealthy city trader with a ghost problem no prominent psychiatrist has been able to explain. It’s a bleak piece, but it’s funny, too, particularly when Freeman’s natural comic talents are front and centre.
‘People are being hit badly. I’d happily vote for someone who’s going to tax me more’
It is also, for reasons that can’t be explained without spoiling the film, another reminder that the 46-year-old is one of our most versatile actors (‘To be a good comic actor means you’re a good actor, right?’). We spend 10 minutes discussing the film, which Nyman co-wrote and co-directed with Jeremy ‘League of Gentlemen’ Dyson, before it dawns on us that we can’t really talk about it. Not on paper, anyway. One salient detail gets the full treatment, before Freeman jumps in: ‘Don’t give that away, for f**k’s sake!’ he implores. ‘This is my first interview for the film and I’ve already f**ked it up…’
Freeman is not known for his candour. He doesn’t do a lot of interviews and he’s no self publicist (he’s not on social media), only letting it slip that he and Sherlock co-star Amanda Abbington had split after two kids and 16 years together in an interview with the FT a year after the event. Is he with anyone now? ‘Well,’ he says, folding his arms. ‘I would never tell you if I was.’
Conversation about his background and family is therefore a bit stilted. He was born in Aldershot and grew up the youngest of five siblings in Teddington (‘yes, those are the facts.’). His parents split not long after he was born, but he recalls a happy home. ‘We kissed a lot and hugged a lot,’ he says. ‘I mean, it wasn’t The Brady Bunch – we also f**king screamed and shouted a lot.’
They were creative, too, a ‘showy-offy family, no wallflowers’. He’s the only career actor, a path he was encouraged to follow, particularly by his mother, who never got the chance. ‘I was only met with support,’ he says. ‘I didn’t have to leave home, I wasn’t booted out. I know people who faced active hostility from their parents, because it’s so unsafe and it’s in the lap of the gods whether you’ll be able to feed yourself or not.’
These days, Freeman is certainly able to feed himself. Over the past 20 years, his talents have served him well. His big break came in The Office, the mockumentary cringeathon that also made household names of Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Mackenzie Crook. ‘I’m very proud of it,’ he says of the show that in 2004 became the first British sitcom to win a Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical. ‘I still think it’s a phenomenal show. And I still think the central performance [Gervais’s] is one of the best things I’ve ever seen, let alone acted with. I could not have wanted a better break.’
The apocryphal stories surrounding the show are legion, but the one about him originally auditioning to play Gareth, Crook’s character and the butt of all the jokes, rather than Tim, is true. Gervais and his co-creator Merchant spotted something in Freeman audiences have come to know him by. ‘The Office is basically a room full of Laurels and one Hardy, which is Tim,’ Gervais once told The Sun. ‘Tim’s character is pretty common in comedy – that person who thinks they’re better than everyone else, but it doesn’t seem to get them anywhere.’
For a time, it seemed Freeman might suffer the same fate. He became known as the guy that did ‘that face’. He once appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks and was invited by host Simon Amstell to do a ‘sigh-off’ with Gavin & Stacey’s routinely put-upon Mathew Horne. Did he worry he’d never lose that tag? ‘Yeah, I was nervous about that,’ he admits. ‘The thing is, I can do that face. But that face, it’s Oliver Hardy’s face. Not my face. He did it 70 years before I did. That’s just me channelling Oliver Hardy.’ Gervais was right, then.
During the mid-2000s, he picked up roles in Love Actually and Hot Fuzz, and played the lead in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Then came Sherlock, The Hobbit, Fargo, the awards and a lot more public attention. ‘I was out last night, having a drink with a friend, walking around town. There are people following you around with camera phones in your face – it’s not pleasant.’
The public is never far from Freeman’s mind. He’s openly political, not exactly in a ‘Ladies and gentleman, the next President of the United States of America’ kind of way (we’ve established he’s not Hollywood – he doesn’t even own a home in the US), but he did front a party political broadcast for the Labour Party in 2015 and endorsed Jeremy Corbyn’s successful leadership bid later that year. A question about fairness opens the floodgates. ‘I do genuinely think this Government is f**king up. I really do,’ he says. ‘And that’s not to say that a Labour Government would be doing much better. But I think people are being hit genuinely really badly, who shouldn’t be. That’s why I’d happily vote for someone who’s going to tax me more.’
Pardon? ‘I think I should be taxed more. I’ve got more money than a lot of people. In my lifetime, there have always been homeless people. Now there’s even more. Food banks, and people being made homeless by not being able to afford their houses, and not enough social housing being made or built, and austerity on and on and on… I don’t know what we expect to happen, but if you’re doing that and cutting the police, what the f**k do you think is going to happen?’
‘We’re getting more polarised. The inability to see the other side is a problem. Social media has helped do away with nuance’
He’s only too conscious of the conflict in being a very wealthy movie star who thinks more should be done to support the disenfranchised. ‘I get it,’ he says. ‘I get why people say: “Who is this prick?” I get it. Most people aren’t as lucky as me. That’s just the truth. So I can see easily why it comes across as pontificating, why it comes across as being champagne socialist. Which is what we’re all called, as soon as you’re not on the dole. If you’re vaguely famous and say anything left wing, it’s a very easy stick to hit you with.’
That’s the natural framework of popular discourse, though, surely? A binary response is easiest. ‘But we’re getting more polarised,’ he retorts. ‘Definitely. The inability to see the other side is a problem. Unless someone is actually driving down your street in a Panzer, then I think you have to keep dialogue. Social media has helped do away with nuance. If me and you have a disagreement here, we can still have a cup of tea. But we do it on social media – then you’re a Nazi.
‘We can’t go on like that. I will easily say I think Trump is a vile pig, but I don’t think every single person who votes Republican is a vile pig. That would be crazy. And I certainly don’t think that about everyone who votes Conservative. It’s not my team. It’s not my party. But do I know Conservatives? Do I like ’em? ’Course I do. Can I not stand some Labour people? Yeah, I can’t stand some of them. So, my hope would be, genuinely, that we start to put our phones down for a minute, and actually not get involved in these f**king wars, which are so safe to have, and so self-righteous… It costs you nothing to be an armchair activist.’
In Ghost Stories the themes of guilt, good and bad and choice run through the piece, holding it together. In one particularly chilling scene, Freeman’s character utters the deliciously portentous line, ‘I didn’t believe in evil until that night…’ He was brought up a Catholic, but isn’t ‘card-carrying’ now. Does he think the film is a modern parable, a wake-up call to burst our secular bubble?
‘Maybe,’ he says reluctantly. ‘I’m one of the only people who I know in my world who isn’t an atheist. I like the questions. That’s where the interesting stuff happens. I’m equally uneasy with hardcore unquestioning atheists as I am with born-again Christians with their hands in the air and their eyes closed. In the same way that yes, I’m of the Left, but there are people and things about the Left that make me very uncomfortable. The sort of unquestioning, demonising of anyone who doesn’t agree with you, kind of thing. I see that in atheists – if you don’t agree with me, you’re intrinsically a moron. And that isn’t helpful. The older I get, the more I realise you need dialogue.’
This, it seems, is the real Freeman. Vocal, ardent, yet nuanced. But he’s not claiming the soapbox. ‘Let’s face it, I wasn’t a very good omen in 2015,’ he says of his virtual doorstepping days. ‘I don’t want my voice to be a political voice. I’m not some political genius. There’s one thing I’m good at, and it’s acting. I have absolute faith in my ability to do that.’
Like it or not, he has a voice. Thank goodness, it’s not the hashtaggable, awards-season friendly voice of many of his fellow actors. He’s more balanced than that. More open to argument. That’s what we saw – and loved – in Tim. In Lester. In Bilbo. In Freeman, we see life’s ambiguousness, its ludicrousness, its ordinariness.
Freeman has to go. He’s got ‘kiddy things’ to do. He’s an active father when he’s not working, and frankly, I’m holding him up. In a flash, he’s gone.
437 notes
·
View notes
Last Seen Blogs
shybearnacho
I'm Just Living
ayoisupportanythin
RANDOMNESS
encikabc-com
KOLEKSI LEAKED AWEK MELAYU
augussth
Untitled
thestinkface
Back Dat Ass Up!