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atopfourthwall · 3 years

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Ive only recently gotten into classic Star Trek so I don't think I can properly answer but what is it specifically about Discovery and recent Star Trek that classic Trek fans hate?

Putting this behind a cut because... it's a lot.

Well, first of all a big rejection of it is just on an aesthetic level. Up until the 2009 movie (which was considered a reboot, even with time travel elements), Star Trek tried to treat the original series and how it was portrayed as pretty sacrosanct. Sure, they might occasionally make jokes about goofier aspects of it and discard some of the stupider stuff (like how in the final episode, penned by Gene Roddenberry himself, that women weren't allowed to Captain starships), but how TOS looked? That's how the 23rd century looked. Buttons and multi-colored outfits and boxy computers and smooth, undetailed ships WAS what was appropriate for the time. When Scotty came back in TNG, they had him on the holodeck and it was the TOS bridge. When DS9 traveled back in time to that era for an episode? They went onto the Enterprise and visited it. When in an Enterprise 2-parter we had a TOS-era ship? It looked like a TOS ship. They even did a 2-parter on Enterprise to explain why Klingons had smooth foreheads when later (and earlier) they didn't. Star Trek up until then cared about maintaining that continuity of appearance. But Discovery is set in the TOS era... but nothing looks like TOS. Even when we got the Enterprise and those uniforms and we saw inside the ship, it was an upgraded form. The only logic I've seen people try to argue about WHY it doesn't look like it actually did was "Well, audiences won't accept something as cheap as TOS being futuristic." Well, then you've got a few responses there: -Don't set in TOS era, then. -That's horseshit, because audiences from the 90s through the 2000s accepted it just fine. Even a piece of dialogue from DS9 explained it perfectly: "I LOVE 23rd century design." It LOOKS cheap, but it was just the aesthetics of the period. And the Enterprise 2-parter it still looked good in HD. Hell, arguably it looked BETTER in HD because they knew how to light it and create mood and its own unique flavor. -It's even more horseshit because people are STILL going back and watching it even today, as indicated by you saying you've started watching it, so clearly it's not that much of a barrier. But what's even more egregious is the TECHNOLOGY. You might be able to accept updated aesthetics if at least matches what was present during the period... and it doesn't. Holographic displays and communication (holodeck technology AT ALL, frankly - it's possible it was there, but TNG seemed pretty adamant that the holodecks were fairly new, very impressive technology), weapons not looking or acting like they traditionally did, Enterprise and Discovery having R2D2-style repair droids that certainly did not exist in TOS, the wrong sound effects being frequently employed, replicator technology for good-looking food instead of food dispensers that gave out marshmallows and cubes, and honestly the tech level shown in Discovery looks just as advanced - if not MORE advanced than seen on TNG 100 years later. And this is a minor thing, but despite the attempt to make the future LOOK futuristic, from a cultural perspective, the future looks... way too damn similar to now. The excessive swearing (it was said in particular in Star Trek 4 that while they certainly did cuss, it was less common and they sure as hell weren't dropping F-bombs), a party on Discovery that looked like a rave (when previously it seemed like the most popular music and culture of the 23rd/24th century was considered fairly high-brow entertainment [classical music, Shakespeare, great works of literature and plays, etc.] - and while you could certainly argue that that snootiness and love of that stuff is a problem with Star Trek and a sign of how sterile and homogenized it is, THAT is the future they presented and a character in Voyager loving some of the goofier parts of 20th century culture like jukeboxes and old sci-fi serials was considered unusual), and just the general way people talk betrays the idea that the writers aren't thinking about how society changes in the future. It's just the modern day, but with cooler technology. But hey, let's set aside the general aesthetics - some people aren't going to mind that and find

ways to handwave away a lot of stuff (even Discovery season 2 TRIED to handwave away stuff like the holographic communications, but did a piss-poor job of it). This brings us to the problem of the WRITING. And the problem with the writing is a big Michael Burnham-shaped indentation. To be clear, I don't mind Michael as a character or her actress - there are interesting aspects to her, centering a Star Trek show around the science officer is a neat idea (though that means you should probably NAME IT AFTER HER and not around the ship, because it suggests this is a standard ensemble group and not JUST her)... but the actual execution is that it feels like the entire universe bends over backwards for HER. She has a unique relationship with a beloved longtime character that is retconned in. She has unique relationships with several important characters to the point where the fate of billions of people hinges on her and the decisions she makes. She is presented as almost always correct about everything, and those that oppose her are often wrong, naïve, or active enemies. Now, this is less of an issue in the third season - but that has its own unique problems - but in the first season, the resolution of two major storylines (mirror universe and the Klingon war) revolves around her and her relationship to the Terran Emperor and Lorca. In season 2, her mother trying to help or save her is the basis of the ENTIRE friggin' plot with time travel and the like, with special knowledge and history having to do with her and everyone ready to abandon their lives for her so she won't be alone when she has to go to the future when arguably they barely know her (the timeline of the show is debatable). Season 3 has a few different problems with her - the first is that she keeps being involved in things that don't concern her (why is she going down to Trill?) and she keeps violating orders. Now, her violating orders is a problem throughout the entirety of Discovery - in fact, it's kind of the instigating factor OF the series. And arguably, other Star Trek characters are guilty of that and they face no consequences, just as she faces none... and yet it's the brazenness with which it happens, and in those other series it's arguable because the series tries to avoid excessive continuity changes for its episodic nature, so the status quo MUST return to normal... but Discovery is pivoted as one of MAJOR continuity, so her lack of consequences (and indeed eventual PROMOTION) is baffling to the point of frustration. Now again, let me be clear here - she is not a bad character in and of herself. Honestly what it shows is that being the science officer on a starship is not where her talents lie. She should be in a position where she has a lot more freedom to act and not in a major command structure... but being in that command structure, what we see in season 3 is that she lacks the discipline, emotional maturity, responsibility, leadership qualities, and general other traits necessary to be a Captain. Only once during season 3 did she display such a quality - putting the safety of the Federation above a friend and colleague... but other times she will happily disobey orders and put herself and others in harm's way, creating potential new problems. Now, again, Star Trek is rife with characters doing that... but usually not the Captains. And, in fact, when this happened once on DS9 with one officer disobeying orders and putting their own personal feelings above the greater responsibility, it was made VERY clear that the incident would mean that they would never be able to command a starship because of the unofficial reprimand. What's even more frustrating about her is that the character is ALWAYS shoved to the forefront so much to the point where we just get sick of her. SHE is the one giving log entries (usually pretty piss-poor ones, at that - very flowery and nonsensical and kind of dumb) and not the Captain. SHE is the one given so much focus and how the plot of the episode affects her. Barely anyone else gets any focus episodes - I STILL can't

remember the names of some of the secondary characters because they're so rarely said, and a PTSD-related plotline in season 3 for one of the secondary characters basically gets resolved OFF-SCREEN. Michael would be fine if we actually had a chance to miss her... but we never do. Arguably one of the best episodes of the show is in season 2, when it focuses on Saru and his people because Michael DOES take a back seat. It's his story and his development and problems relating to him and his people. And even if, again, we forgave the idea of so much focus on her even in plots that aren't about her... she never seems to really change that much. She'll TALK about how she's changed, but I see no real difference in the way she acts (MAYBE season 1 to 2, where in season 1 she was stiffer and more Vulcan-like, but that's it). But hey, let's assume that's not a problem for you - you really, REALLY like Michael and are fine with so much focus on her. Simply put, the writing of the rest of the show... is just kind of dumb. The ship is powered by magic mushrooms that let it teleport everywhere because the universe has super fungus capillaries throughout it that nobody can see and also it's magic and can resurrect the dead. The time travel plot of season 2 doesn't make any sense when you sit down and diagram it. Well-established Trek lore is just kind of sprinkled in, but now in ways that doesn't match what it was before or at least in ways that completely recolor how it's supposed to work, because it needs to serve THIS plot. Everyone remembering a murdererous monster fondly after she leaves because "Hey, she was coooool." The explanation for the big mystery in season 3 is just fricking stupid and one of the two big reasons why I've finally given up on Discovery, because it's just so absurd, doesn't match how anything works, and just feels like the writers giving the middle finger to the audience because they care more about "YOU MUST FEEEEEEL THINGS!" instead of it making sense. And indeed, there is certainly a balance to be made of plot vs. emotion-driven storytelling - some stories are dumb, but are forgivable because the character writing and emotion are so strong that they override how goofy the plot is... but sometimes a plot is just so dumb it overrides anything I'm SUPPOSED to feel. And it would help if I already liked the show, already gave it some benefit of the doubt... but I don't and it hasn't done enough to impress me. A little thing that's a problem with ALL of current modern Trek shows is that whole sprinkling lore thing - I don't think a single episode goes by in ANY current modern Trek series that doesn't have a random reference to classic Trek lore. A name, a line of dialogue, etc. It comes across like the creators don't trust you to enjoy it on its own merits, but want you to like it because "Hey, remember thing? We know about thing! Like us because we mentioned thing!" But hey, I recognize that these are things that other people may not have any problem with or just disagree in general. But for me and my family, these are the big ones that keep us from enjoying it. Hell, my brother and dad still watch it for hatewatching purposes, but I was done after season 3. I gave it plenty of chances to impress me, and while each season MARGINALLY got better as it went along, I'm tired of waiting to actually like it and to stop feeling like it thinks I'm a fucking idiot. If other people still like it, great - it clearly appeals to them in a way that it doesn't appeal to me and they are free to enjoy it. Other people probably have their own issues, but this long, rambly bit is the major stuff for me.

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lostandalonetogether · 3 years

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Movement {MandoxFem!reader}

Word Count: 1.8k words

Warnings: Shameless use of “Sweet girl” and yearning, still throwing cannon out the window, Mild NSFW thoughts and lingering touches, but no smut…. Yet

Comments: So, it turns out I’ll be writing a group of one-shots about the reader and din, mostly domestic, slice of life, very little plot, just smut, fluff, and the occasional angst. And they’re all going to be set to and named to the lovely tune of Hozier’s Wasteland, Baby! Album because it is, in a word, perfect. I highly recommend listening to the song that’s featured as the title for each fic. No beta we die like men

MASTERLIST

Mando was lucky you liked working on the Crest. He had parked you in a shuttle bay on Tatooine, leaving you to run repairs with Peli while he hunted some easy bounties. You’d spent the last two days fixing up the ship; you repaired the hyperdrive and increased its capabilities by winning parts off Peli in games of sabacc. You found some old rags she didn’t need anymore and you added it to Mando’s sad excuse for a mattress as some extra padding. You fixed the programming on the nav and you even started making a vambrace of your own, out of some of the spare parts Peli didn’t need anymore. You thought it might be good to have one of your own to control the pram in case you and Mando ever got caught in another firefight. I wonder if he’d help me put a flame thrower on mine. You chuckled to yourself at the thought of the chaos that would inevitably occur if you had access to flames on a regular basis.

You hear the child’s squeal behind you. You turn to see him reaching out to his dad--his dad, who is unceremoniously dragging a body behind him. He seems to be all in one piece, if not a little tired. You secretly hope he notices the padding you added when you finally convince him to lay down. You scoop the kid up to keep him out of his dad’s way.

“You excited your dad’s home?” you ask with a grin. He coos in response, and you laugh at his clear happiness at the sight of Mando. He reached out for the hunter as he passed by. ”Let your dad work. He’ll play with you as soon as he’s cleaned up, okay kiddo?”

You set him down and he waddles over to Peli, where he knows he’ll get the attention he craves. You watch Peli pick him and start showing him all the fun toys and gadgets that’ll get him into trouble before turning back to the Crest. You needed to make sure Mando got some rest. Knowing him, he’d freeze the bounty and head straight back to the cantina to hunt down the next bounty if you let him.

He pushes the bounty into the carbonite freezer and turns it on. Sometimes you forget how strong he is, but watching him hoist the limp body as if it weighed nothing makes a shiver run down your spine despite the dry heat. It takes everything you have not to image the solid body under the beskar, beautiful and strong while he worked to provide for his kid. His helmet tilts towards you and you can tell he’s watching you. You pray to the Maker he didn’t notice your ogling.

“Go take a shower. Leave the beskar outside and I’ll get the sand off,” you order, prepared for him to try and convince you he was fine. With a step forward, he touches you arm gently.

“I’m fine, mesh'la. you don’t need to worry about me,” he murmurs, his touch gentle.

“I always worry. Don’t try and argue. Go shower and then go play with the kid. He misses you and you deserve at least one night of rest,” you say firmly. If you let him keep talking you know you’ll cave. You could never really deny him anything he asks. His shoulders sag in defeat.

“Were there any issues?” he asked, gentle and quiet. Shaking your head, you place a hand on his chest and gently push him towards the fresher.

“It was quiet. Peli’s spoiling the kriff out of him. I don’t look forward to the amount of attention he’ll be expecting when we leave,” you answer, glancing down the ramp towards where they were playing and smile softly. “Now go, you’ve more than earned it.”

…

Maker, did he hate leaving the two of you. You, holding the child-his child-on your hip while he reaches for him. Your quiet promise to protect the kid, and making him promise you to come back, to come home to you.

He watches you climb up to the cockpit to wait until he leaves his beskar outside the fresher. He never asked you to clean it, and he’d given up telling you not to. You had taken it upon yourself to clean it after he came home from a particularly messy bounty. When he came out of the fresher, you had him sit on his cot so you could clean his helmet without him being uncomfortable. If only you knew. He had sat impossibly still, controlled his breathing. Thank kriff for the beskar separating him from you, so you couldn’t feel how fast his heart was beating. He would have done anything to feel your hands caress his face the gentle way you were wiping his helmet. Your hands were so soft, every part of you was. Even the parts he had yet to touch. His thoughts wandered without permission.

So he shook them away and tried to focus on the task ahead, unhooking his armor and placing it gently on the floor outside the fresher. Closing the door and turning on the water, he let the streams of water wash away the sand that had inevitably worked its way under his duralayer. He runs a hand over his face and tries to block out thoughts of the girl cleaning his armor and protecting his child. He shouldn’t think of you in the ways he does; he shouldn’t think about the way you look playing with the child, or flying the crest, or the way you curl up and sleep in the co-pilot chair when you don’t think he should be alone. He shouldn’t think about the way you must look in the fresher, and the way you look when you try to keep quiet as you touch yourself after you think he’s gone to sleep. Kriff, what he wouldn’t give to be the one who makes you make those sounds.

He shut off the water and put his helmet back on, secretly happy he wasn’t heading out to catch another bounty. As he opened the door, he found his armor, cleaned of sand and blood, and a tray of food, warm and waiting for him. Sweet girl, you’re too good to me. He gulped down the meal and headed out to see his kid. And his girl.

…

“MANDO,” you grunted, “get this hunk of junk off of me.” you could hear the modulator crackle, it was a sound somewhere between a sigh and a chuckle. You try to push yourself out from the hunk of metal one of the droids had mistakenly lowered on you. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s too heavy to get out from under on your own. You can see Mando’s helmet tilt towards you and the modulator crackle again. “I swear to the Maker if you’re laughing at me-”

“Oh sweet girl,” he sighed, “hold on a second.” He finally set down the kid and rose to his feet. You could practically hear the smile in his voice. I bet his smile is lovely. I wonder if he had dimples. I wonder what color his eyes are. I wonder if they crinkle around the corners when he smiles. Alright, maybe this metal was starting to cut off circulation. He walks over to you and crouches beside you, assessing the damage. He lifts the metal like it was nothing and you crawl out from under it. You sit up and start to try and stand, but a firm hand keeps you in place. Mando kneels in front of you and looks you over to try and make sure you weren’t actually hurt. I wonder if his helmet has X-Ray vision. I wonder if it can see through clothes; wouldn’t that be a skill to have. I wish I could see through his cl-

You found your runaway train of thoughts interrupted by a hand on your thigh. Logically, you know he’s just checking for bruising or damage, but the weight of his hand on your leg makes your heart run far faster than it should. It’s just his hand and he’s wearing kriffing gloves. Maker, I wish he would touch me without the gloves. You realize he’s close enough to feel your heartbeat and your breathing.

“You alright?” His voice is low and he’s close enough you could almost hear the voice beneath the helmet. You nodded, your own voice too caught in your throat to come out properly. “We have bacta. If you’re hurt, I want you to use it.”

“I’m fine, buckethead.” You use his shoulder to help you stand up, disbelieving he’d use what little bacta you have to treat something as small as a few bruises. “Besides, we need to save it in case a bounty goes wrong, or more importantly, if you get hurt.” You look down at where he’s still crouched, helmet tilted up towards you.

“I’d rather use it on you, cyar'ika.”

You shoot him an incredulous look before turning to pick up the child who had waddled towards you. “While I appreciate your preference, mine is more practical, especially since I have nothing worse than a few bruises.” He stands, putting his arm around you and the child and pulling you close. The beskar is cold against your shoulder despite the Tatooine heat. “You’re more important, after all. I’m just the nanny.”

He huffs at that. “You’re not just the nanny. You’ve never been just the nanny.” His voice is gentle, almost unsure as he speaks. His words feel like they don’t fit where you are, under the late light of the second sun. They belong somewhere dark, private, like the Crest in hyperspace or hidden away in his cot when he’s resting. Your own voice is unsteady.

“If I’m not just the nanny, then what am I?” you ask tentatively, feeling him tense at your words.

“I could never define all that you are to me,” he pauses, trying to find the right words, “having you with me- it’s like- it’s like I can recall something that’s gone from me.” You look at him, at yourself in the reflection of his helmet. He takes a breath and says, “Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum.”

You smile softly. ”I don’t know what that means, Mando.”

“I know.” His modulator rumbles, “Maybe one day I’ll teach you.” You don’t know it, but these are the closest words he knows, the only words he knows to express what he feels. You trust him and that’s enough for you. After a moment, you push him towards the ramp up the Crest.

“Come on, I think someone needs a nap.”

“I’m sure he’s had a busy day,” Mando chuckled at the sight of the child’s big eyes slowly shutting out of tiredness.

“Who? Him?” You laugh, “I was talking about you, tincan. Come on. You need some rest, and I want to keep working on my vambrace.” You can hear him quietly laugh at your teasing as he closes the ramp door. It’s a sound you want to hear forever. He sits on the cot and you can almost see the gears turning beneath his helmet as he tries to figure out what’s different. You rock the child and place him in the pram for a nap.

“Cyar'ika.”

“Yes?” you respond lightly, pleased he had noticed your work.

“Did you add padding to this?”

“Maybe.” You turn to look at him fully, still trying not to grin. He lets out a groan and grabs your wrist, pulling you between his legs at the edge of the cot.

“You’re too good to me,” he murmurs, thumb rubbing gently against your skin. The worn leather is rough, but his touch is soothing.

“I could never be too good to you,” your voice comes out as a whisper as you bring your other hand to his, “now rest, you need it.”

“You need rest too. Stay here. Stay with me.” His helmet is expressionless, but you can feel his steady presence pulling you to him. Maker, he can’t serious. You search for some sign that he’s only being polite, but upon finding none, you nod and let him pull you into the bunk with him. He lays with his back pressed against the cold metal wall and pulls you against his chest. You play with his gloves until you feel him laugh softly behind you. He lets you pull them off and toss them aside, intertwining your hands in his. “Sleep, cyar'ika. I’ll be here when you wake.”

References:

cyar'ika- darling, beloved, sweetheart

darasuum - eternity

Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum: "I love you." (lit: "I know you forever.")

#the mandalorian x reader #the mandalorian #the mandalorian x you #din djarin #din djarin x reader #din djarin x you #mando #mando x reader #pedro pascal #pedro pascal fanfiction #the mandalorian x f!reader #baby yoda #song fic #star wars #star wars fanfiction

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0littlestwolf0 · 3 years

Text

Straight to Hell Pt. 1

Ship: Percy Jackson x Reader

Warnings: angsty.

Requested by: @msmissinghome

Author note: It’s not an open ending, I’m making a part two.

You had never thought much about Hell before.

Sure, a place lit by fire where horned demons would torture you was a constant in every movie or animated short.

However, being a demigod didn’t give you much time to ponder about it, ironically enough, seeking death on a daily basis prevented you from thinking about anything other than the sweet relief it could offer.

Even so, you had fight countless monsters and saved invaluable lives, which, at least in your book, meant you were going to end up in the Elysium, because you were a Greek demigod.

Greek demigods don’t care about heaven or hell, they are just bedtimes stories for the kids that don’t have to fear every little noise in the dark, that don’t have to be hyper aware of their surroundings because they were someone’s favorite food.

So, if you had never thought much about it, how come Hell was your one thought as you fell into the darkness?

The air was rushing against your ears, clogging almost every sound, but his screams were just too loud, too heartbreaking, they managed to break through.

Percy.

Maybe Hell wouldn’t be your last thought, but a boy with the sweetest and scariest green eyes, a boy who had to grow up too fast to fight someone else’s war.

You remembered his sweet words against your ears, so close no one else would ever hear them even if they tried, sweet secrets only the two of you shared, his calloused fingers against your skin, how could something so rough be so soft?

For a split second that was all you could think about, maybe the air took pity on you, because you could almost feel him there, holding you, except there was nothing else, and you were still falling.

Straight to Hell.

— — —

It took all of Nico’s strength to hold him back, and even then, Percy was just too hellbent on falling with you, there were no other thoughts but you on his mind.

Your smile, your laughter, your glistening eyes, your recklessness. Your stupid recklessness, he almost hated you at that moment, had his heart held more place for any other emotion than murderous anxiety and grief he would have.

Why? Why were you so stupid as to take his place? How could you, even for a second believe that you were saving his life? Could you not understand you were everything anchoring him to humanity?

You were simply everything.

Everything he loved, everything worth saving.

And yet he didn’t save you. He could kill monsters, he could defeat gods, he made entire armies turn around, and yet he couldn’t save you.

“I have to go with her!” He was yelling, his entire body convulsing, trying to get away from Nico’s grip.

“She is strong, she will make it!” His words didn’t reassure anyone, not even himself, both of their hearts were squeezing too painfully at the thoughtful losing you “She has to make it”

Percy couldn’t see you anymore, you were probably still falling, but he couldn’t see you, couldn’t hear you, you were fading and he couldn’t stop you.

His knees made a loud ‘thud’ when they hit the floor, his hand anchoring him to the edge of that damned cliff “Please” his voice, as well as his entire body, was shaking “Please” he turned to the son of Hades, who was in a similar position except his hands were on his own face, disguising the anguished tears “Let me go with her, please” tears were roaming freely against his cheeks, dropping into his jeans as he begged.

Nico shook his head and tried to swallow the lump in his throat “She is-“ he had to clear his throat even further “She is strong, I believe in her” his sadness was slowly turning into anger “If anyone can come back from that, from there, it’s her” his eyes were red and his hands shaky when he pointed at the darkness.

Percy couldn’t make sense of the mess in his head, it was wild and angry, hot white fire he had never felt before, he was water, he had always been water but now, he was burning, and he could feel it killing him.

Suddenly a thought made sense, a memory. You had been fighting about something absurd, everything was absurd now, you had been saying that he was too reckless, you, the one that had practically jumped into Tartarus to save him.

To save him.

The anger came back even greater, and he realized it was himself he hated, he should have saved you, he should have done more, he could have done more, why didn’t he do more?

“Are you just going to stay there?” Nico’s words took him by surprise, he sounded collected but his tears were still streaming “Well?” He sounded impatient “Listen, I’m not gonna give you a pep talk, either way the doors have to open on both sides, and we can’t fail her, not her”

“How are you so calm?!” Percy was practically screaming, he understood the logic of his words but he was just so angry “Don’t you care that she just fell into literal Hell?!” He needed an outlet for his anger.

He was soon met by the end of a sword against his throat “Don’t you ever, and I mean ever, say something like that again or I swear-“ his voice was calm but his eyes weren’t, he was about to finish his threat when he saw it, that small flicker on Percy’s right eye, it was barely unnoticeable, but it was there, that thirst for blood he only showed his enemies, a thirst, Nico realized, he had been showing more and more often since the battle of Manhattan.

“I’m not going to waste her time on this, if you want to pick a fight then well, find a monster, meanwhile I’m saving her” Percy gulped, only then he noticed his tight grip on the pen, and how he was seconds away from uncapping it.

Was he really about to pick a fight? Right now, when you were in danger? He couldn’t stop stop letting you down, could he?

“I’m sorry” he said picking the pace a step behind Nico “I- I can’t lose her, I love her” it was the first time he had said it out loud, but he could safely admit, he had never meant anything more than he meant those words.

“Then get off your self-blaming ass and help me save her”

#percy jackson x reader #percy jackon and the olympians #percy jackson #percy pjo #heroes of olympus #nico di angelo #i’m sorry

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starlightinhumanform · 3 years

Text

24/7: Chapter One

Fandom: Sanders Sides

Ship: Romantic Loceit, Platonic Demus, Platonic Logicality

Summary: James (aka Janus) works the graveyard shift at a open-all-night convenience store. Logan is a college student who stays up way too late, way too often. While pulling all-nighters, he often visits the store James works at. As time goes on, James begins to care about Logan as more than just a customer.

Warnings: Moderate Language, Some suggestive jokes, Mentions of ignorant/negative sentiments regarding vitiligo, Mentions of intoxication— some implied to be underage (please tell me if anything needs to be added)

Genre: College AU, Coffeeshop AU but weird (that’s literally the best way i can think of describing it), Mutual Feelings, Fluff

A/N: — Janus’ name in this AU is James (mostly because when I began planning this, his name hadn’t been revealed). I may still include his name by writing in a name-change but we’ll see lmao — I do not have vitiligo and do not personally know anyone with vitiligo; Janus’ experience with the condition is based entirely on my research. That being said, I did my best to give an accurate representation but I do not claim that it is flawless in anyway. If there are any improvements you think I can make in this area, please please let me know 🖤🖤🖤 Love you all 🖤✨

Ao3 Fic Masterpost Fic Request Info

James’ first shift started normally. That is, as normally as he could assume 24 hour convenience store shifts could be. It’s not like he had much experience with it.

Being his first day, he had assumed that the manager would’ve at least stuck around for a while. Instead, the woman had pointed out the bathroom plunger— advising him to not let anyone steal it— told him how to use the slushie machine, and said that if someone tried to rob the store, let them take the money; she even showed him the quickest way to open the cash register. Then she left within the first hour of James’ shift.

James didn’t mind being alone but he couldn’t fight down the frustration at his manager for abandoning him without actually telling him anything useful. He kept worrying that someone would ask a question that he couldn’t answer. What if the customer got angry and then he got reported and lost his job on the first night? Not to mention every time someone walked in, he was ready to bargain for his life with the $225.67 and a random condom in the cash register.

The adrenaline was getting to his head, stirring up usually dormant worries. He couldn’t stop glancing down at his hands. They were warm tan, patterned at random with lighter splotches. He had a condition known as vitiligo which made areas of his skin lose their pigmentation. For the majority of the time, it wasn’t a big deal; the worst part was the weird looks people gave him and even then, he could usually brush them off. Still, there was always the occasional idiot who felt the need to say something rude or inform him that he showed signs of demon possession. He hoped beyond everything that one of those incidents didn’t occur while he was alone in the store.

Thankfully, the only customers for the next few hours were a couple groups of teenagers at varying levels of intoxication and a traveling family made up of two parents suffering from highway-hypnosis and a small child who tried to climb into one of the drink refrigerators.

By one in the morning, the flow of incoming patrons had completely stopped. By that point James had already thrown back an entire 5-hour Energy drink and reorganized the chip rack— twice .

When the entry bell finally rang again at around two, James’ head was buzzing so badly he wasn’t sure if he had imagined the sound or not. A young man walked in— college aged with messy hair and glasses. He disappeared into the rows of brightly coloured plastic bags without a word and so quickly it made James once again question whether or not he was hallucinating.

It wasn’t until the man had made his way back to the counter, setting down a bag of chips and a couple energy drinks, that James was sure he existed. The man’s hair looked like it hadn’t been brushed in two days and his dark circles were so deep they could be seen from beneath his squared glasses. Yup, definitely a college student.

Despite the obvious signs of exhaustion, the man was undeniably pretty. Counter to his tired scowl, his eyes were bright and alert, framing a sharp nose. The way he kept his strong chin tilted slightly upwards and walked with purpose gave him the appearance of someone who actually knew what he was doing with his life— so basically, the opposite of James.

James was hardly ever self conscious about his appearance but this man— this stupidly pretty, oddly perfect man— made James squirm just a little bit, made him wonder if he was living on one side of some scale while the customer lounged on the other side. James tried to shrugged it off, focusing on the items in front of him instead.

The man spent the entire interaction at the counter muttering to himself and never once making eye contact. It was a little strange, but he was cute and James was bored so he decided to just appreciate the entertainment while it lasted.

It wasn’t until James went to hand the man his receipt that he seemed to even become aware of James’ existence. James held out the thin slip of paper, apparently causing the man to flinch backwards. His reaction was strong enough to make James wonder if he was one of those people— the type that thought vitiligo was some sort of deadly, contagious disease.

His eyes darted up quickly, his gaze sharp as it scanned over James’ face, “You’re not the normal cashier.”

He was taken aback by the accusing tone in the man’s voice, “No, I guess I’m not? I just got hired; the other guy got let off… something about trying to steal the plunger.”

“Oh,” His face transformed into a noncommittal scowl that James simply could not read, “Expect me regularly.”

The man turned on his heels and walked briskly to the door as James stood frozen and mystified behind the counter, “Oh, uh… see you soon then.”

——————

James woke up to the smell of something burning. He didn’t even remember dragging himself home and collapsing in his bed but based on the smell bothering him he evidently had made it back. No one could burn food quite like his roommate.

“Remus what the fuck are you doing?” James shuffled out to the kitchen where his roommate was poking at something on the stove.

“Making lunch.”

Based on his bed head and near-complete lack of clothes (Remus always slept in booty shorts and nothing else) James could guess that he had woken up only a few minutes earlier himself, “Dude that does not smell like anything humans should eat.”

Remus gave him a wicked grin and James decided not to push the subject. He walked out of the room with a sigh and hoped that the smell would clear up soon.

He made his way into the living room, sitting down and flipping open his laptop. James groaned at the lack of new email notifications. No new emails meant no new job acceptions.

“Guess I’m working the night shift again.”

James was grateful he got the job at the convenience store— no question. Getting a job as a college dropout was both necessary and nearly impossible at the same time. He was lucky to get a job at all and being a graveyard shift, he got paid nearly double the normal wage for his position. For now, his sleep schedule would just have to suffer.

——————

The weeks drifted by and James fell into a dull, but easy rhythm. He would go to work every night, spend the hours rearranging chip bags, guarding the plunger, and— if he was lucky— the pretty college boy would come in for a few minutes to grab salty food and a caffeinated drink.

James wasn’t sure when it became “lucky” for the man to come into the store. Maybe it was lucky because he was entertaining, always preoccupied and wandering around the store like his mind was a hundred miles away. He had this odd sort of duality— somehow both spaced out and intensely focused at the same time. It was like he was concentrating on the dimension beyond the one James was living in. He floated through this world, always preoccupied with world in his head. It was endearing and intriguing and James found himself looking forward to seeing the man. James wanted to see the world inside his head, to know what was so captivating that he had no use or interest for what was outside of it.

The student was quickly becoming his favourite customer— something James never thought he would have— and he genuinely enjoyed having a chance to talk to the other guy. He was handsome, obviously intelligent, and, if given the chance, James definitely would’ve asked him out for a drink.

As it was though, James looked awful in his uniform so he would never have the confidence to make a move the only times he ever saw him.

James started to watch for him. The man came at least once a week, always between midnight and four in the morning. He must have lived nearby because he always walked over instead of taking a car like most of the other patrons. Either that, or he lived further away and walked all the way just for a bag of chips and an energy drink.

It was a Thursday like any other when he walked into the store and James’ curiosity got the better of him.

“So,” James leaned across the counter as the man sat his items down, “you come around here often?”

He tilted his head quizzically, “Yes? I do come here often? You’ve seen me.”

“No I— it was a joke,” James resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. This was… not going the way James would have hoped, “What’s your name? We might as well get on first name basis since we see each other all the time.”

“I’m Logan,” Logan seemed surprised by the question.

“I’m James.”

Logan gave a curt nod, “I know.”

“But— how? I—“

“It’s on your name tag,” And with that, Logan turned and marched out of the store.

——————

Logan laid on his back, arms and legs spread over the entirety of his bed. The only leftover space of the bed was occupied by Patton, one of his housemates.

“So how did the all-nighter go?”

Logan groaned, “Well… it sure as hell did go all night. I’m so fucking tired.”

“This is what you get for viewing the entire American university system as a challenge.”

He squinted up at Patton. With his blond hair and round, smiling face he looked like the direct inversion of whatever pale little zombie Logan currently felt like, “I gotta stop staying up so late.”

“I don’t know, you kind of seem to like it,” His housemate patted his leg and stood up to walk out of Logan’s room, “By the way, where do you keep going? I hear you leaving the house, like, super early all the time.”

Sunlight was streaming through his partially open blinds. It was probably quite pretty but to Logan it just looked like a headache-inducing glare. He threw a pillow over his face, muffling his voice as he answered, “Booty call.”

Patton laughed as he stopped walking, “Yeah right. The day you answer a booty call is the day I will shave my head.”

Logan shifted the pillow slightly to look at Patton again. The man’s hair was his prize possession, like a curly fluffy cloud that he kept as a pet on top of his head. Logan didn’t know how Patton could afford the time and money he put into his hair. What he did know, however, was that Patton would never risk its safety. Logan frowned in (mostly) fake insult, “You really think there’s not a single person who would send me a horny text at three in the morning?”

“Nah I think there are quite a few people who would do that. I just doubt there’s anyone you’d actually find worth answering.”

Was there anyone he would actually answer? Logan stared up at the dark fabric above him. The pillowcase was a deep navy blue and if he really squinted, he could see the weave of the thread, a thousand random threads coming together to make a greater whole. The way the individual pieces created something far larger than themselves was fascinating to Logan. He had never given it much before, but he couldn’t help but wonder if he would ever find a random individual worth making something together.

In the darkness covering his eyes, a vision of the convenience store cashier flashed across his mind. The face he saw was light brown and across that warm canvas, lighter portions sprawled. For the first time, Logan began really thinking about that face. He had sharp features, tired eyes, and when he smiled with lips sloped upwards at a lopsided angle. His skin reminded Logan of the glossy photos of nebulae in his astronomy textbooks— bright splashes breaking up the sameness of the night sky. How had he never noticed that before? What was his name? James.

He heard the creak of their old floors beneath Patton as he walked out of Logan’s room. He probably thought Logan had fallen asleep as he lay there in silence. He was far from asleep, though. His mind was racing, trying to find the missed connections and continually finding new ones in the process. His eyes flickered as previously unrecognized thoughts began surfacing. And they didn’t stop. How had he never noticed?

“I’ve been going to that convenience store down the street,” Logan called as Patton walked away.

James.

Maybe there was someone for him.

If you want to be added to my Sanders Sides fic taglist just send me an ask or reply to this post :)

General Sanders Sides Taglist: ~ @centimeter-tries-to-communicate @bee-syndrome @fandomfan315 @cas-is-a-hunter @reggieleigh07 @endless-rain-of-words@mossdeemo @im-actually-ok @softnic@catolicabuena @queer-disaster106 @lunawolf89 ~

24/7 Taglist: @imma-potatoo

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fangirlwriting-stories · 3 years

Text

Reflecting Light

Chapter One

Chapter Eleven:

Roman, for the first time in his life, found himself less popular than Remus. Everywhere he went on the ship he got glared at, by no one more than by the kid who had attached himself to Remus’ side. It took him three days to learn his name was Thomas.

Although Roman couldn’t exactly imagine that Remus was thrilled about the current situation either, as he spent most of his time as far away from Janus and Virgil as possible, and he didn’t seem thrilled about that.

Roman finally bought himself a new outfit in the next town he went to so he wouldn’t have to wear Patton’s cat hoodie over his Light uniform anymore.

He was torn between badly wanting to talk to Remus and straighten out what was so obviously a miscommunication, and the feeling of absolute shame that welled up in him everytime he even considered the prospect. He couldn’t come up with any words to describe his feelings about the situation other than the fact that Remus was his brother, and Shane had… and then Remus had…

That wasn’t too clear or concise. He definitely shouldn’t make that the first thing he said to Remus.

Roman spent most of his time milling around the ship, doing a job when one popped up in his vicinity. He’d washed some dishes, scrubbed the deck, helped move and reorganize some cargo. Anything that would keep him busy enough that he could put off having to think for a few hours.

He got no such reprieve at night, when he was lying in one of the last spare rooms available on the ship, alone with nothing but his thoughts about everything that had happened. It was still better than sleeping, though, and seeing Remus shoved against that wall over and over again, the scared look on his face…

How long had this been happening? How had he not known? Why the hell did Remus seem to assume he did?

It was during the nights that he was thinking about everything that brought him closest to actually going and finding his brother to try and explain. One time he got as close as standing outside his door and trying to gather up the courage to knock. But eventually, he dropped his hand from where it was hovering over the door and moved to lean back against the wall across from it.

He felt like an idiot, but he could never figure out what to do anymore. Here he was, on a ship that directly labeled him as a traitor, having just found out his brother had been wronged for who knows how long in who knows how many ways, and yet he still couldn’t answer any of his new questions about his home.

Roman opened his eyes in the darkness. He couldn’t, but maybe there was someone who could. Someone who wasn’t the brother he was too ashamed to bring himself to see.

There was one cell on the ship, apparently called the brig, and it was on the opposite side from the rest of the rooms below deck. Roman made his way past the kitchen and the sickbay and found himself just outside another door.

He took a deep breath, and reached up a hand to open the door. It absolutely should not have been easier to open this door than it was to open his brother’s.

Shane wasn’t sleeping. He turned as soon as the door opened and met eyes with Roman. The moonlight from behind Roman illuminated the surprise, then annoyance on his face.

“About time,” he said, and Roman took a moment to be absolutely baffled.

“What?”

“You’ve brought the key, right? Let me out, we can take over the ship if we work fast.”

Roman blinked a couple times. “I’m… not… I’m not letting you out Shane.”

Shane narrowed his eyes to slits. “Don’t tell me you actually have turned traitor.”

“I’m not a traitor,” Roman said on instinct. “I just… have questions. Then… then I’ll let you out.”

Roman had no idea if that was a bluff or not. He knew where the key was, he’d seen Janus walking around with it, it had to be in his room. Roman could find it and let Shane out, but he needed answers first. And those answers were probably going to make his decision for him.

“What kind of questions are that important?” Shane asked, crossing his arms like this was all just too irritable for him.

“What did you do to my brother?”

Shane sighed. “You were there, did you not see? Why are you making a big deal out of this?”

“Why am I— Shane, why did you do that?”

“Your brother is difficult to work with Roman,” Shane said very casually, like none of this was particularly troubling. “Even when he was a kid. It was impossible to get him to fall into line without taking more direct measures.”

Roman felt sick. Was he saying this had been going on since Remus was a kid? This meant that not only had he just not known what was going on, he had apparently not known what had been happening for their entire lives. Images popped up unbidden in his head of how often as a kid Remus had gone to the medbay, and later Patton, because of what Roman had assumed had just been his brother being his overly clumsy self. No wonder Remus had assumed that they both knew and thought it was normal. He was such an idiot.

The only thing that came out after all of this finished running through his head was “…Direct measures?”

Shane nodded. “Of course. That’s my job. How else are we supposed to deal with unruly kids? I went through the same thing when I was a kid, and I used it to make myself stronger. It’s not my fault Remus is too pathetic to do the same.”

Yeah, he was definitely going to be sick. Shane seemed to not only be unbothered by everything he’d been doing to Remus for apparently decades, but he said he’d gone through it himself and he was still okay with it. He seemed to be endorsing it. And that… well, that made the decision for Roman right there.

“Was that all then?” Shane asked. “Did you have another question or are you going to let me out now?”

Roman took a breath and turned back towards the door. “No.”

“What is that supposed to mean exactly?” Shane asked, his voice sounding suddenly much more angry.

Roman grit his teeth. “It means I guess you can consider me a fucking traitor, Shane,” he said, and he walked out and shut the door behind him. He heard the beginnings of a protest as he walked back around to the other side of the ship, but ignored it until he ended up back in his room.

Roman collapsed back on his bed and pulled the pillow there to his chest.

This was why people were scared of The Light. This was it. And no wonder. They had every right to be. If they abused the people that were on their side, Roman could only imagine what they did to their enemies. Remus had said something about both of them thinking it was normal. He had been wrong on Roman’s part, but that implied that it had actually been what he thought. Roman tried to imagine his brother, living with them, stargazing and robbing the kitchens and making stupid sex jokes and waking Roman up in the middle of the night to ask him whatever stupid question popped into his head, and at the same time expecting to get hurt by someone on a regular basis. Roman quickly stopped imagining that.

He couldn’t support a place that did that kind of thing to anyone, much less one of his three favorite people in the world. That solved that particular moral dilemma, and all it had taken was working up the courage to talk to his brother’s abuser. Now all he had to do was work up the courage to talk to his brother.

That really shouldn’t have seemed so much harder.

…

Roman was sitting on the deck watching the sunrise after a sleepless night when he was approached by Virgil.

“Hey, I need you to help make breakfast this morning.”

Roman nodded slightly.

Virgil nodded back like that would be the end of the conversation, and turned to leave.

“I’m sorry,” Roman said softly.

Virgil stopped. “What?”

“I’m sorry.”

“For what exactly?”

“I don’t know. Everything. Fighting for The Light, and not protecting my brother, bringing Shane back here.”

Roman looked down at the way the sun sparkled off the water down below. “I just brought him right here,” he whispered, and buried his head in his knees.

Virgil was silent for long enough that Roman wasn’t sure if he left, but that was disproven by the sound of someone sitting down next to him. “Yeah. You did. Why’d you do that?”

“They threatened to kill Remus,” Roman said, pulling his head up to rest it on his knees. “I didn’t even know why Shane wanted to come, I didn’t know anything. I didn’t fucking know anything. I’m such an idiot.”

“Woah, hey,” Virgil said, sounding much less angry. “You actually didn’t know?”

“Of course not!” Roman snapped, feeling a little insulted despite himself. “I love my brother, do you think if I’d known I would have let that monster—” Roman buried his head in his knees again. “I’m such an idiot.”

“You’re… not,” Virgil said hesitantly. “You just never had a reason to view the situation with Shane as anything other than normal. I’m not saying you didn’t fuck up, but you clearly feel bad. And I’ve been spending a couple days trying to figure out how anyone who loves Remus could let that happen to him.”

“They couldn’t,” Roman said firmly.

Virgil nodded a little, starting to smile. “Good,” he said. “You know, you’re not as bad as I thought.”

“Gee, thanks.”

Virgil chuckled. “Come on, I’ll help you with breakfast. And then I think you should go talk to your brother.”

“You first,” Roman mumbled, even as he stood up.

Virgil winced, but the sigh he gave after told Roman he was right.

“Alright,” Virgil said finally. “You’re right, I probably should.”

“Yeah. Now let’s go make food. I’m hungry.”

“Me too,” Virgil said, and they both headed down for the kitchen, Roman decided that maybe the third-in-command of the rebellion wasn’t so bad.

Chapter Twelve

#sanders sides #remus sanders #roman sanders #pirates #rebellion #angst #abuse #tw abuse #logan sanders #patton sanders #janus sanders #virgil sanders #my fic

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uhthor · 3 years

Note

i personally would like to hear more about your thorbruce feels please. what are your favorite headcanons?

hi anon i am HERE to talk about thorbruce forever!!!

i have a headcanons post here that i wrote recently if you wanted to check that out! i’m working on a fix it fic for endgame because they deserved BETTER.

the majority of my headcanons come from other people honestly, because i’m not very good at doing things like that! my best ones are probably in the post i linked above. instead, i’m going to post the first scene i’ve written of my fix it fic below and if you’d like to read it, it’s all yours and i’d love to know what you think about how their relationship would progress post-snap during the five years time jump!

It started when they arrived back from The Garden.

He didn’t know whether to take offence, or to just sit back and let it happen. Maybe he needed space, maybe he needed time to catch his breath and calm his aching muscles. Bruce sure as hell knew he needed that.

Thor, not so much. He never seemed to rest because any time he stopped moving, he’d only feel guilty for not being proactive. But this— this was a new level.

Bruce watched Thor climb into bed as he stood at the door to his room in the Avengers Compound, and he couldn’t recall when Thor next climbed out of it.

Thor’s room had a bed in it, that was all. There was no sense of him ever being there, because he spent most of his time on Asgard. Clint had always tried to get him to decorate it with something, anything, but Thor always refused. It was almost as if he never saw it as his home. Now, it was all he had left.

One of the first questions he’d asked Thor was what happened to the others. Thanos decimated half the Asgardians on the ship, but where did the rest of them go? It was all he had on his mind, all Thor had on his mind, too. Thor did not arrive in Wakanda with Loki, and therefore he assumed the worst. Valkyrie was not by his side either— her whereabouts were unknown at that point, along with Korg. The lack of his people drew from Thor’s spirits.

Rocket had told him about his will to fight Thanos, his complete and utter urge to enable himself to do it. He told Bruce about their visit to Nidavellir, how Thor stopped at nothing to get that axe.

“He almost killed himself,” Rocket drooped over the table, his voice falling low and quiet. “He wouldn’t stop until he got that stupid axe. It was crazy, I tell you, absolutely bat shit— it should’ve killed him. It should’ve.”

But it didn’t. And that was something Bruce knew Thor would be taking the hardest.

On a few of those first nights, Bruce took food to Thor on an evening. They’d practically started a rota: Nat took him breakfast, Steve checked on him at lunch, and Bruce accompanied him for dinner. He never spoke much, never ate much of what Bruce had brought him. But just knowing that he was still breathing was enough for now.

Thor had started reading whilst hibernating in his room. The only explanation for the books appearing in his room was either that he asked Steve or Nat for them or he snuck around when the others slept to the library on the fifth floor and retrieved them himself.

Once again, Bruce didn’t know whether to be offended. It was his forte, almost. He was literally a doctor. He was the only one who read on a daily basis in the Compound. And Thor hadn’t shared his newfound interest in reading with him. So he decided to ask him about it.

Bruce knocked on Thor’s half open door on a Thursday evening. He held an astrology book in his arms, one he hadn’t seen on Thor’s bedroom floor.

“Thor?” He asked. “It’s me. Can I come in?”

Thor only grunted in response. He rolled over in bed, the mattress creaking under his bulk.

Bruce walked into the room and sat on the chair that had been stationed at the end of the bed. Thor forced himself up in the bed. He presented Bruce a half smile.

“Banner,” He mumbled. “How are you?”

“Not important,” Bruce answered. “I brought you a book.”

Thor frowned as Bruce held it out, and he took it weakly. As he outstretched his arm, Bruce’s fingers brushed his hand delicately. They parted ways as Thor secured the book, and he avoided Bruce’s eyes whilst he looked at it.

“Thank you.” Thor said, looking back up at Bruce. “Why?”

“I noticed you’ve been reading a lot so I wanted to offer up a favourite of mine. It might remind you of home.” Bruce grimaced as he realised what he’d said, and he felt his pulse quicken with unease. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

Thor closed the book in his lap. “Please, don’t. It’s fine. Thank you, Banner. I will return it as soon as possible.”

“No, take your time. It’s yours for as long as you want it.” Bruce answered. When Thor was silent in response, he perked up again. “What have you been reading lately?”

“Why the interest?” Thor asked.

Bruce almost laughed. “I’m the only one who reads regularly in the Compound, Thor. It’s nice to see someone else take an interest for once. You could’ve talked to me.”

He nodded dismissively. “I apologise. I haven’t felt like talking much lately.”

“I know,” Bruce replied, moving from the chair to the bed swiftly. Thor kept his eyes on the crinkled duvet beneath them, and Bruce just placed his hands in his lap. “You don’t have to talk yet. But Thor, you should talk to someone when you’re ready. This isn’t healthy.”

“Have you come in here to talk about books or to doctor me, Banner?” Thor snapped, head snapping up instantly. “Because I am far from in the mood.”

“Not at all.” Bruce answered quickly. “I— Thor, I’m worried about you, that’s all.”

“You needn’t be.”

“Bullshit,” Bruce spat. “What the hell is that supposed to mean, Thor?”

“I’m fine, Banner. I don’t need your help, I need to grieve.” Thor swallowed, eyes filling with tears. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

“But I do,” Bruce answered softly. “I can’t just make that go away. You shouldn’t have to take all of this on yourself.

“It is my failure to carry.”

“It’s our failure, Thor. We are a team.”

Thor shook his head. “Not according to Stark and Rogers.”

Bruce scoffed. “Since when did you listen to them?”

“I couldn’t even find him, Banner. When he was up there dying, I couldn’t find him. What kind of hero does that make me? I couldn’t save my people, I couldn’t save Heimdall and Loki, and I couldn’t find Stark. If I can’t even find one person and save them, what good am I to the world? That’s a question we’ve already seen answered, haven’t we, Banner?”

Bruce was silenced by Thor’s words. He gulped away the tears he didn’t know had risen, and stood from Thor’s bed. Thor lugged his body over once more and faced the wall as he lay back down. Bruce saw his body rise and fall with a deep sigh.

“Thank you for the book.” He mumbled, not turning back to Bruce.

He left the room without responding, the only thing in the silence being Thor’s door shutting.

#liv answers #anonymous #liv writes #thorbruce #gammahammer #thulk #thruce #thorbruce fanfic #thor odinson #bruce banner #marvel #mcu

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obiwanobi · 4 years

Note

In the Sith Senator au, I imagine that sheev introduces them either at a dinner party or maybe at a gala? anakin is in his robes as always and obiwan is super dressed up because he's a respectable senator thank you very much and he calls anakin darling and sweet thing and stuff like that and within an hour he has anakin wrapped around his finger

Okay, so WHY NOT BOTH? The last long post about this AU was painful, so have some “hate at first sight” and “0.2 sec for Obi-Wan to fix it and learn that banter and endearments can turn Anakin into a very charming mess”

The first time they met, Obi-Wan has just been elected Senator after working in politics on Stewjon for years, making enough important friends and empty promises to be re-elected even without showing his face on Stewjon until the next decade. It’s his first month back on Coruscant, close to Sidious after years on his own. He needs to show him that his presence here, so close to his Master, is right, and can only benefit their plans. Even when everything isn’t… great.

The committee of small planets of the mid rim is pestering him to join their sad little club of useless dustballs, he has dozens of demands of various needy mayors, dignitaries and even ministers from Stewjon to reply to, the Senate security staff are a bunch of lazy bastards who still haven’t given him his pass and badge to enter and exit the building whenever he wants to and keep pretending not to recognize him even though they force him to go through a full security check every morning, and he can’t find a decent assistant to hire.

You could say that Senator Kenobi is a bit on edge.

He really, really doesn’t need to be late to his first real, private meeting with Sidious, especially because his only excuse is ‘I forgot how busy traffic was on Coruscant in the morning, don’t blame me I’m used to the countryside and seeing more sheep than ships on my way to work”. That would probably not go too well.

Looking at his chrono every twenty seconds, he doesn’t pay enough attention to where he’s going and doesn’t notice the man turning at a corner on his side, running fast enough to come crashing against him without having the chance to do anything about it.

One second, a sharp cry, a flurry of dark robes and a cup of tea flying, and they’re both on the ground.

Obi-Wan isn’t pleased. You could say he’s even a bit exasperated, lying on his back, a stranger’s elbow digging in his stomach. And then he turns his head to see who’s stupid enough to run in the Senate’s corridors on a Monday morning and almost curses out loud when he recognises Jedi robes and a stupid Padawan’s braid.

It’s fine. He’s fine. He’s used to suppressing his Force-presence so no one can feel him and he’s not going to make a scene to attract more attention. He’s going to inhale and exhale slowly, accept the deepest of apologies from the stupid Jedi with a benevolent smile, repress his need to do something harsh, and be on his way.

But then the Padawan groans, rubs his head and asks reproachfully why Obi-Wan didn’t watch where he was going.

It’s eight am, half of his (expensive and only sold on Stewjon) tea on the floor, and Obi-Wan already wants to strangle a Jedi.

So, there is a shouting match.

Words like “pathetic life form” and “karking useless politician” are thrown, and it takes almost half a minute for Obi-Wan to realise that he’s arguing with a dumb teenager and that they’re still on the floor, half on top of each other. He, very politely, asks the Padawan to get the kriff up, doesn’t take the time to even look at the remains of his cup of tea after salvaging his wet datapad from the puddle on the ground, and leaves with one last silent death glare.

“You’re not even going to clean that?” the Padawan yells in his back, sounding revolted.

Obi-Wan rolls his eyes. What are droids for these days?

“You’re late,” Palpatine says flatly the instant the door of his office closes behind Obi-Wan. “Make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Call me Chancellor for now. I want you to meet someone and he should be here soon. He could become important, maybe even crucial for our plans.”

“Oh? Another Senator or representative to charm?”

“Even better,” Palpatine smiles. And that’s what gets Obi-Wan interested. He knows this is the reason he’s here and the reason Sidious wants him in the Senate. Obi-Wan is a smooth talker, a nice face and a warm smile all in one. Someone who, with enough time and efforts, could make anyone believes in anything.

Palpatine always said that he was made for politics.

“He could be a decisive piece in this game. It will take a lot of careful manipulation and dedication to bring him to our side and I don’t have this kind of time to waste, so you’ll do. With enough care and patience, I think he could be the most loyal and useful… support, we could have.”

“Who is he? What do you want me to say and how far am I allowed to go?”

A knock at the door interrupts them. “For now,” Palpatine says in a low voice, sitting behind his desk, joining his hands together above it, the picture of old and trusted wisdom, “I just need you to make him like you.”

That’s not going to be a problem, Obi-Wan thinks, as the doors open. He straightens up, gets ready to put on his most radiant smile and displays an inviting openness and friendliness that few can resist.

The Padawan enters.

This is going to be a problem.

“Ah! My favourite Jedi!” Sidious exclaims loud enough to be heard over the music and raising his cocktail above their heads. Anakin Skywalker smiles as he sees him, and dutifully comes closer. The Chancellor makes a point of clapping his hand twice on his shoulder once Skywalker is in front of him, and leaves it there as he introduces him to his new chief of staff. If anyone is wondering what a Padawan is doing at a Senate party that should only include political staffers and a few dignitaries, no one breaths a word of it.

It gives Obi-Wan time to gauge, assess and appraise Skywalker, his reactions, body language, and anything he can learn from a simple conversation between Sidious and him. It would be his turn to do it soon. Relieve me from the burden of having to stroke the boy’s ego regularly so I can take care of more pressing issues, his master had snarled disdainfully. Right now, he’s playing the part of the dotting and proud fatherly figure to perfection, Obi-Wan has to give him that.

Attention, approval and respect, Sidious had told me. That’s all you need to be in Skywalker’s good graces. The boy will soak every bit of kindness you can spare, as long as he considers you someone worth his own devotion.

It didn’t stop Obi-Wan from learning absolutely everything he could about him, from his lightsaber technique to his favourite food because Obi-Wan is and will always be a very thorough man who doesn’t rely on luck or unprecise sciences like basic psychology. Especially from his Master, who probably never encountered an emotion or feeling he couldn’t twist to fuel his ambition.

Admittedly, Obi-Wan doesn’t share his Master enthusiasm for charming the brat and make him fall. He’s all for turning him against the Jedi, sure, that he can get behind and happily endorse, but having to deal with a moody teenager on a regular basis for the foreseeable future? It would be painful for everyone. Especially for Obi-Wan’s nerves.

Anakin Skywalker, reckless, volatile and troublesome former slave and actual Padawan, wasn’t the type of Sith candidate Obi-Wan would have chosen. Not at all. Too many variables, too many chances to go wrong, a wild card that he would never risk.

But Sidious is adamant. Doesn’t care for any of his arguments. He wants Skywalker, and Obi-Wan has started to realise why when he learnt all about the prophecy. Stealing the Jedi Chosen One and turning him against them in a last-second betrayal was the kind of symbolic irony Sidious loved and would gloat about for years to come. And when Sidious decides that he needs something, there is no going back.

But this time, Obi-Wan has to do all the hard work himself. He calculates that getting close to Skywalker, especially after their more than tense official introduction, is going to take months, maybe even (and Obi-Wan shudders at the thought) a year. Trapped at playing nice with an overgrown child who hates being told no and likes to think he’s above the rules. For no direct and personal benefit but the approval of his own Master.

Obi-Wan really, really hates it.

But that’s not going to stop him from completing his mission perfectly, as he has always done.

“I’m glad to see you, Chancellor,” Skywalker says softly, his quiet tone already at odd with what Obi-Wan expected. He grew taller than the last he saw him, and Obi-Wan hates it. His braid is a bit longer and his robes are a shade darker than a few months ago. Something passes in his eyes when the Padawan notices Obi-Wan’s presence next to the Chancellor and his head snaps up defiantly. “Senator Kenobi,” he grits out like the words pain him.

Obi-Wan needs to change this right now before Sidious deems him inapt for this mission.

He hates this a bit more.

The opportunity is given quicker than he thought when Sidious excuses himself and leaves their little group to mingle with other demanding sycophants. Obi-Wan gets stuck with Skywalker, Sidious’ chief of state who’s apparently only here for the free drinks, and Keneg, the senator of… Corulag? Barl’leth? One of those rich Core planets that hate anyone who isn’t them but need to be kept around for their credits, who always seems to suck years of his life every time Obi-Wan is forced to speak to him. It takes thirty seconds for all of them to grow bored of Keneg incessant complaints about how the lower levels of his planet are “ruining its reputation” and that the problem resides in their too lenient immigration policy, especially concerning poor and uneducated races.

Skywalker’s face is a journey. At least twelve different emotions play through his eyes, the twists of his mouth and raised eyebrows like a theatre actor in a dramatic scene at each careless word coming out of the Senator’s mouth, and Obi-Wan wonders if anyone has ever told him that Jedi are supposed to be masters of their own emotions first and foremost. Especially around politicians.

But it doesn’t matter right now, because that’s the opening he was waiting for.

“Excuse me Senator Keneg,” He cuts him off politely before another endless tirade. “I’m afraid I have to go, I see the Senator of Botor and I’ve been trying to talk to him for months. Surely you understand. Padawan Skywalker, may I ask for your assistance? We could use some Jedi wisdom in our debate, if you don’t mind.”

Skywalker looks torn between being relieved to be offered an out from an awful conversation, but also have no desire to spend more time with Obi-Wan.

“Sure,” he ends up mumbling, apparently judging that he was the lesser of two evils.

“Wonderful.” Obi-Wan doesn’t pay any attention to the betrayed look Sidious’ chief of state sends him after being left alone with Keneg.

“So,” Skywalker says, resigned, following Obi-Wan who’s making a beeline for the bar. “Where is he?”

“Who?”

“The senator of Botor? And what’s your deal with him?”

“I don’t even know what he looks like,” Obi-Wan replies, trying to ignore the casual tone Skywalker shouldn’t take with a Senator, even one he dislikes.

“What? Then why did you ask me to come with you?”

“Aren’t you relieved that I saved you from dreadful hours of xenophobic discussions about how poor people should be banned from showing their face in public because it doesn’t please Senator Keneg?”

“You didn’t save me,” Skywalker grimaces, but still seats beside him. “Is it… Is it always like that? I mean, I know Core worlds politicians can be a little…”

Obi-Wan weighs his options, and decides that Skywalker would probably appreciate truth more than carefully chosen words and subtle hypocrisy. Pretending to be the last nice man in politics is out of the question with the way they met, so Obi-Wan opts for sincerity.

To a degree.

“Snobbish? Disconnected from reality? Shameless bastards with no souls?” Obi-Wan says while signalling the bartender for Trandoshan ale and a cocktail.

“Well, yes.”

“Welcome to politics.”

Skywalker opens his mouth like he’s going to protest. He puts his hands in his sleeves, probably hoping to pass for a wise Jedi Master, but his pouty lips and frowned eyebrows make him look like a sulking youngling. “You’re part of it, you know. You can talk about it like you’re not one of them, but I remember you insulting me and leaving without caring about your tea and cup all over the floor.”

What a brat.

“My tea- My dear, do I have to remind you that you barreled into me at full stupid and made me spill my tea everywhere? Some Senators would have made a diplomatic incident out of it,” he huffs, a bit more irritable than he wanted to.

“You said I was a brainless child!”

“Because you ar—” Their drinks arrive at that moment, and it gives Obi-Wan precious seconds to compose himself.

This isn’t how he’s supposed to play it. He didn’t expect Skywalker to be this whiny and petulant, despite Sidious’ warning, and was planning on letting him think he was the one in control of the situation. He’s supposed to be a Jedi for Force sake, not someone who can’t control their tongue and get into pointless fights with politicians!

No, no. Grin and bear it. Obi-Wan should recall the last remnant of Jedi philosophy still in him.

“Padawan Skywalker, I’m sorry if my words offended you,” Obi-Wan says with the voice he normally uses for debates where he wants to appear as the most sincere and reasonable party. He holds a glass of ale to Skywalker, as a peace offering. “I admit I wasn’t in the most pleasant of disposition at that time, and I may have been harsher than I realised. I hope you can forgive me.”

This seems to mollify Skywalker a bit. He doesn’t look like he’s going to forget it, but does take the offered glass. “At least the Chancellor is different,” he sighs and Obi-Wan represses the urge to burst into laughter.

Oh, Skywalker is truly the most naïve boy around. Perhaps twisting his mind will turn out to be fun.

“Wait,” Obi-Wan exclaims suddenly as the Padawan holds the glass to his lips, “are you even old enough to drink?”

“Oh come on, I’m 19! I can handle a beer and I’m a Jedi, don’t forget,” he brags, like being Force-sensitive changes anything about his (probably low) alcohol tolerance. To be fair, a regular politician wouldn’t know anything about what the Force could and couldn’t do. Skywalker’s probably relying on lack of awareness about the magic and mysterious abilities of the Jedi to get away with it. It’s almost endearing.

“I don’t know, Padawan, you did look like an adorable sulking youngling just a minute ago.”

“Ador- I’m not adorable!” He yelps as his cheeks turn into an interesting shade of pink.

“But you don’t deny the youngling comment,” Obi-Wan teases good-naturedly between two sips of his cocktail. He can’t help it: It is way more intriguing to follow the colours on his face spreading to his neck than being on the receiving end of his frowns and accusing words.

Unduly flustered for such an innocent comment, Skywalker stutters a few syllables, huffs, and narrows his eyes at his glass, Obi-Wan’s playful smile, and his glass again. He downs the whole thing with his head thrown back before Obi-Wan can say anything, surprised by the sudden motion and too busy watching his throat moving until the empty glass is back on the table with a resounding clank. Still wiping his mouth, he calls the bartender and asks for another. Obi-Wan doesn’t miss the ‘don’t you dare stop me’ glare.

This isn’t how he imagined befriending him, but Skywalker is still seating next to him and getting into a rant about how he’s a capable man, thank you very much, and yesterday his Master even said so, well, not in these words, but he’s not a youngling, and absolutely not adorable, he’s a warrior, a protector, but he doesn’t suppose a politician can understand, and if Obi-Wan wants to know, his sabre technique is exceptional, really, it is!

His whole speech is supported by hands flying around to illustrate his words and mouthfuls of ale, because he is a man and not a kid, remember that, Senator Kenobi. It doesn’t prevent him from flushing a bit deeper and spluttering even more when Obi-Wan, listening attentively with a smile on his face, throws an indulgent of course you are, darling.

Skywalker turns his face away from him, desperate to hide his embarrassment, and orders another ale.

Adorable.

Obi-Wan can work with that.

Hours later, once Skywalker is happily sloshed and dangerously leaning toward crashing against his shoulder, Obi-Wan calls him a hover cab.

“Thanks, Senator Kenobi!” Skywalker exclaims as he climbs into the cab, like Obi-Wan is now his favourite person to be around. His cheerful and warm demeanour has stopped being surprising after his second ale. “You’re not as awful as I thought!”

Obi-Wan can’t help it, he laughs, truly laughs at that. It’s probably the most sincere compliment he’s gotten since he arrived at the Senate. “I’m glad you consider me a slightly better man than Senator Keneg,” he says, leaning forward toward Skywalker, hands on the cab.

Skywaker grins and raises an eyebrow at him. “And more handsome too!”

For once, it’s Obi-Wan who must look baffled. Despite his careful planning, all his diverse estimations and assessments about the different ways he could charm Skywalker, he didn’t consider actually seducing him. That’s… a whole new point of view.

Interrupting his thoughts, Skywalker yawns and starts hugging his robe around himself, smiling contently like he’s in the best place in the galaxy, barely trying to blink away sleep from his eyes. Adorable.

On an impulse, Obi-Wan leans closer to him and tugs on his braid. The reaction is worth it: Skywalker makes a small surprised noise, eyes suddenly wide, and the slight flush on his cheeks worsen in an instant.

Obi-Wan almost considers touching his face, just to see how warm his skin is. And maybe even brushing his parted lips with his thumb, just to see how warm it can still get.

But Obi-Wan feels merciful.

For tonight.

“Sleep well, Padawan,” he purrs, winding the thin braid around his finger one last time. Skywalker looks like he’s going to melt.

Obi-Wan can work with that too.

Two months later, Sidious tells him that he’s going to be the victim of an assassination attempt right before the Military Act vote. It would be acceptable for the Chancellor to be concerned about the protection and security of all Senators, of course, so he will push for Jedi protection and is certain to convince the Council to send one particular Padawan as a bodyguard.

Obi-Wan doesn’t hate the idea.

#these two asks were in my inbox for like... 2 months #I'm very slow but I don't forget!#sith senator kenobi au #anon #asks #obikin

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katnissmellarkkk · 3 years

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Okay, here we go! Imma do my liveblog of The Hunger Games, Chapter One, for #THGagain :

I’ll put my thoughts underneath the cut so I don’t clog up the dash 🥳

Okay but right off the bat, Katniss says her mattress cover is rough 🥺. I don’t know, this just made me sad all of a sudden.

So okay, but the fact that Prim had a bad dream and climbed in with their mother? I don’t know if that indicates that Prim still sees their mother as a source of comfort whereas Katniss can’t let herself feel the same way or if it’s just because she didn’t want to wake Katniss.

Maybe it’s supposed to be that Prim is too naive to understand that their mother is mentally fragile? Since in Mockingjay, she says “I know there’s only so much mother can hear,” or something like that, as a way to prove she’s not a little kid anymore sooo. I don’t know. Just some thoughts.

Katniss is shady towards mama right off the bat 🤣. Katniss is shady no matter what though. It’s what makes her narration sound like a teenage girl.

If Katniss is so anti-social though, who’s telling her her mother was once beautiful?

As a cat lover, I take offense to Katniss’ insults to the poor one eyed furball 😭.

So coal miners are also women? I suspected as much but I didn’t realize it was explicitly stated? So if Katniss’ life had gone differently, would she have become a coal miner?

So none of the houses in Twelve get electricity outside of a couple hours a night? Or just in the Seam?

I always forget that Katniss had nightmares even before the games 😔😔😔. Nightmares of her father “being blown to bits.” She has a vivid way with words.

Her father made her bow 🥺🥺. I knew that. I just thought I should mention it again. She uses the bow her father handmade throughout the series 🥺.

Also she says Peacekeepers turn a blind eye to “the few of them who hunt”. A few is more than two. Who else besides Katniss and Gale go hunting?

I like that she randomly starts mumbling to herself 🤣🤣🤣

Once upon a time, Katniss was outspoken apparently. But she mentions that she has to hold her tongue even at home because Prim may repeat her words. I don’t know why, but Prim seems immature for twelve years old. At twelve, in today’s society, you’re going into sixth grade. A sixth grader should know how to keep a secret or hold her tongue.

Gale says she never smiles but in the woods but isn’t that the only place they really spend time together? 🤣

“I kind of liked that lynx but I liked the money I got for it’s pelt more” 😂😂😂

An arrow inside bread. How fortuitous 😭😭😭

I do love that Katniss’ first introduction of Gale is “he could be my brother”

“But we’re at least not that closely related” 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

“Katniss, get off your cousin”

Even though the merchant class is smaller

Meaning they’re even more inbred

And Katniss is half merch-

Okay I’m done with this line of thinking 🤭😅

So backwoods 🤣

So did Mrs. Everdeen’s parents disown her? Or what? Do they still own that apothecary shop? Does Katniss occasionally walk by her grandparents in the town square? Like I’d like more context here, Suz 🙃

Aww, I always feel so bad for Katniss when she talks about her mother abandoning her 😭😩🥺

“But to be honest, I’m not the forgiving type” me either. Me either 🤧.

This may be why I so closely relate to her when she’s angry.

And why when people in the book say she needs to be more forgiving (ala Haymitch) I’m like “no”

I’m sorry but on second glance (more like 8th glance because I’ve read this chapter since I was 16) it’s so obvious Gale was hitting on her here 😅.

She’s oblivious 🤣🤣🤣

As she should be 😆

So later on, in the second book at least, Katniss definitely has some high respect for Hazelle Hawthorne. But here it seems to be like she’s implying Hazelle and her own mother are useless without her and Gale, and like they wouldn’t be able to provide for themselves. Maybe Hazelle just wasn’t fleshed out to Suzanne when she wrote the first book, the same way the love triangle you can tell if you look is sort of just tossed in there in the first book too? Anyways, just a thought.

That line about Prim being the only person Katniss is certain that she loves is sweet (it’s actually one of my favorite lines in the series) but it’s also so shady at the same time 😅😅😅. Like girl, you’re not sure if you love your mother or even your best friend (in a platonic way)?

Katniss makes a point in mentioning it took a long time for her and Gale to become friends. And I feel like that has been simplified a lot along the way, but it never really sounded to me like Katniss and Gale were besties for as long as most people think. The movies are a lot to blame for this, I know.

I don’t actually think Katniss is truly jealous here of the other girls wanting Gale? I feel like if she were she would have unconsciously insulted the school girls who were into him instead of just outright saying she was jealous, just not for romantic reasons. But who knows 🤷🏼‍♀️.

It was already mentioned earlier but I think Suzanne made a continuity error here, when Gale and Katniss mentioned fishing at the lake. The lake is a place Katniss explicitly mentioned in Catching Fire, to be private between her and her father. She even specially said she never took Gale there. I feel much better about my own writing continuity errors now.

Okay, both Katniss and Gale are so dumb. I would never prepare a feast for after the reaping. They’re just jinxing themselves. I have OCD really bad no one come for me.

I like how The Hob is a black market that’s literally just sitting in broad daylight 🤣🤣🤣.

Katniss just referenced being attacked by dogs... um I’m sorry, do we have no fear of rabies in this universe? 😭😭🙃🙃😐😐😅😅

Katniss : “me and the mayor’s daughter aren’t friends, we just hang out all the time at school, eat lunch together, sit by each other and are always partners. But weren’t not friends.” 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

I like the mention of hair ribbons for the rich girl. This is just the fic writer in me seeping into my reading.

Gale and Madge’s little dispute ...

I see why they get shipped together 😅. They’re both just taking swipes at each other here.

Awww, Katniss sticking up for Madge, even though Madge is the privileged one 😭. Katniss has such a pure heart.

The entire point of the Madge/Gale interaction though was just to set up the class divide explanation in Katniss’ head to the reader.

But my Peeta centric heart also picks up on the comments in Katniss’ head of how unlikely it is to be chosen at the reaping when you’re a town kid.

In other words, Peeta had a slim to none chance of being chosen and still was.

Now I think of it, so was Prim...

That was just an unlucky reaping for the kids without tesserae 🙃

Also it reminds me of every fic I ever read that mentioned a conspiracy in the reapings and how the kids aren’t actually chosen at random but anyways I digress

I feel Gale though, with the whole idea of knowing something isn’t this person’s fault and there’s nothing they could do but still being so angry at them because it isn’t fair that you have to suffer and they don’t.

My anger issues are really showing 😅😅😅.

Honestly though, if Katniss is saying Gale on a normal day is rational about the class divide not being merchants faults, then clearly his issues with Peeta later on really were just of jealousy and not because he was a merchant vs Seam.

I just feel like I’ve seen that around and I’m not really convinced

In my interpretation of the character, Katniss’ reasons for not sharing in Gale’s rage comes from exhaustion after a lifetime of powerlessness. Some people (re: females more often) just get worn out about the things they cannot change and can’t even let it get inside their brain because there’s nothing they could do about it.

I mean, she is a more understanding person than Gale but I feel like so much of her character is already so tired right from chapter one.

Okay, just a pointless rambling thought

“Where something pretty” these children are so shady 🤣🤣🤣 that’s a line I would say though

The fact that her like 42 year old mother still fits in a dress she wore at like 20 is really a testament to how hungry they are 🤧🤧🤧

Okay but I’m not trying to pick on her mother, but when they were starving, why did either she or Katniss sell the fancy clothes from her apothecary days? I’m nitpicking I know. I’m a nitpicker.

Also good for Katniss trying to forgive her mother.

God knows how hard it is for me to try and forgive people.

Literally, God knows.

I like that Katniss didn’t disagree with Prim saying she’s beautiful, just that she doesn’t usually look this way 😂😂😂.

I just know my sister wouldn’t let me not take tesserae if this was us. She’d be like “you’ll be fine, four entries? Please. We can have more food for an entire year, don’t be selfish.” 😅😅😅

I feel like noting that Katniss and Prim’s age gap isn’t that significant? Four years? That’s not that large. Not even at 12 and 16.

They herd these children off like they’re .... pigs going to a slaughter... 🤭🤭🤭

Katniss casually stating “I could be shot on a daily basis” 😐😐😐

Katniss and Gale agreeing they’d rather be shot than starve is honestly so sad but lowkey sounds like something two teenagers would say. They should have put dialogue like this in the movies.

I didn’t even remember District 12 has 8,000 people.... why’d I think they only had 3,000????

I need to update some of my fics with this information

Katniss just said “televised by the state”. I’ve never heard her call any region a state before?

I like that Katniss calls Effie’s grin scary and white, because tons of people (i.e me) whiten our teeth in today’s society. And to Katniss and probably all of Twelve that’s creepy. I think it’s weird to Europeans too but l digress.

Also do the people in this district brush and floss, they never seem to mention it in the books, ya know?

Honestly the idea of the hunger games sounded cooler without Songbirds and Snakes telling us it was just some dumb guy’s idea that no one ever thought would come true.

Aww, sugar is a delicacy 🤧🤧🤧

I knew already that but lemme fully feel that sentiment for a moment okey

Umm I’m sorry, did Mayor Undersee just casually state Lucy Gray Baird’s name every year and we never knew it? Did Snow just allow this? Seems suspish

Also the idea of Katniss being her distant relative and hearing the name and not knowing the connection... and yeah, anyways. I got wayyyy ahead of myself and off track sorry

Why would Haymitch hug Effie? I’m sorry, but Hayffie having a secret affair at some point in all the years they worked together seems more likely than I thought.

I mean, Katniss never mentions Haymitch hugging anyone besides her and Peeta when they just almost died, are about to die or that one time Katniss was sobbing because she thought Peeta was gonna die.

You know what though? I like that at this moment, when the name is about to be announced, Katniss worried about herself. She spends so much time worrying for her sister, babying her sister, mothering her sister, she deserves ten seconds of worrying for her own safety.

Of course, said sister is the one chosen. Ironic considering the whole encounter with Madge.

Okay, I think that concludes my thoughts for chapter one of The Hunger Games!

#thgagain #I’m not tagging anything else because this is so long I’m so sorry if anyone tries to read this mess 😅😅😅😅😅🤧🤧🤧🤧

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billyspotato · 4 years

Text

Stopping You - Michael Gray [Prologue]

I know I have requests to do but I hope you all understand. The idea of this story as been marinating in my mind for over 2 months, and I actually started writing it today.

If you’re still waiting for me to do your request, I’m done with my exams on my 21st, so until then... I probably won’t post anything.

Words: 1.558 words

Type: Mostly Angst

Warnings: Swearing. Probable misspelling. Some big hatred towards the characters Michael and Gina. There will be scenes of the show in here, but also some made up (this applies to all parts of this future story). No race of the reader is mentioned (therefore, anyone can read this as themselves). Female Reader. (Season 5 Spoilers)

[Prologue] [Part 1] [Part 2]

A/N: Gif’s not mine :)

Michael.

Michael was the name that would make you smile just by hearing it. Make you happy just by thinking about it. Make you feel those butterflies just by remembering who it belonged to.

Michael Gray was once the man that you promised to love unconditionally for the rest of your life. No matter what would happen, your heart would belong to him and him only. And so, did his. You two belonged to each other, and no one would even try to separate the two of you.

But that all ended one day. The day before Michael had to leave to go to the United States. Miles and miles away from you. And for God knows how long.

You two decided to continue your lives without being in a relationship with each other, and just like Michael said: “It’s just in case anyone wants to hurt you because of me. I don’t want you to be dragged into all this”. You agreed. It made sense. But it hurt.

You made Michael promise to never stop answering your calls or even making them. You even made a joke about you going to America just to teach him a lesson if he didn’t. You remember that Michael laughed at that with you. Showing his pearly white teeth with his perfect smile. Eyes full of love.

And everything went well after that.

Well, except for all the nights you cried yourself to sleep just by thinking of all the dangers Michael would face when he would set foot on the American soil.

And… Everything else after that.

Everything went downhill. The sweet Michael that always answered the phone at any time of day turned into the cold man that would continuously sigh over the phone when hearing your words to then just say “Honey, I’m working right now” or “I’m actually busy” or “I can’t talk today, I’ll call you when I can”.

At first those words made complete sense to you, he is only away from you because he is working for his family, his work must be pilling up after all these months of doing business. You understood it completely. And with that, you stopped calling.

The only objective into doing this was to not make Michael upset or even frustrated with your calls. You want him to be the member of the family that he aspired to be, and you refused to be the one to stop him.

By the time you completely stopped calling, calls would be more and more rare. It started with one call at the end of his day, which always woke you up, to one in two days, to one in a week, to one a month, and then… It stopped.

Once it reached the third month, you still didn’t call. You went to talk to Tommy, because maybe he could tell you something about Michael’s well being or even if he is alive. And Tommy confirmed it to you that he was more than fine, just working at his office.

Your last call was on the fifth month of silence. The first time you attempted to do the call, he didn’t pick up. Nor on the second, third, or fourth. But on the seventh and he did not sound happy.

Your tone started off sweet, as always, while his was filled with a slight arrogance and annoyance. As you tried to make conversation, Michael would give you short and direct answers.

It took some good minutes for you to stop your nice attitude and confront him about his absence, “Why didn’t you call me?”. “Because I have been working, you know that” He answered before letting out one of his notorious sighs at you. “All day? Did you ever leave the office?” You would ask him; concern came back to your voice as soon as that. And the conversation from then on was a complete and utter mess. Michael quickly became extremely annoyed and specifically told you about his frustration towards your constant concern.

And it all ended with “Well if I’m such a burden to you then maybe it’s better if we stop talking to each other”. Michael stayed silent after you said that, but he did answer. He answered an “Okay”.

That was when you finished that call. Tears already falling down your cheeks and sobs building up in your chest so rapidly that it felt that they were trying to rip through your chest and make you let it all out. Which you did. And it didn’t stop for days.

The first person to check on you was Polly. She found your lack of calls and lack of visits to her home, strange. She automatically felt that something was extremely wrong once she stepped foot at your front door. And when she welcomed herself in with Michael’s keys, she heard pure silence. No signs of life in that house.

Polly first thought that you weren’t even home at some point but that’s when something made her go into your bedroom, where she found you, awake and staring at the ceiling with no readable expression in your face.

You had no strength to get yourself up from bed, your eyes were red, face slightly swollen and your skin didn’t glow as it usually did. All of it caused by lack of sleep, food, water. Three things you couldn’t bring yourself to do it. You were, even though completely silent, fighting a mental battle at every second of the day. And all of it was about whether or not it was your fault Michael had become the arrogant man he did.

Polly quickly ran over to you, cupping your face, letting her colds hands hit your warm cheeks and as your eyes met, Polly just asked “What did he do?”.

After Polly’s appearance, everything started to get better for you. She made sure you had company all the time. When she couldn’t be there because of meetings, she would call over Finn, since he was the only Shelby that wasn’t occupied. Making you and Finn start an amazing friendship (and no, there is absolutely no attraction between the two of you) in which you supported each other at all costs with everything.

The other Shelby brothers (and sister) started showing their concern towards you as soon as Polly started to seem worried in meetings, in which she had to leave you all alone at her house.

She knows what’s like to be in your all-time-low, and so does Arthur and Tom, and they do not want to see such a sweet and happy young woman experience such dark times, especially alone.

No one deserves it.

As you started to become healthier and healthier, Michael still didn’t call once. He did talk to Tommy and sometimes his mom on the phone, but they never told him about what he never asked: you.

Arthur then offered to bring you over to the Shelby’s meetings, even if you weren’t apart of the family, you and your parents, which are somewhere you don’t know, have been loyal to the Shelby’s, always. And maybe, meetings could have the same impact in you as they do on everyone: keep your mind occupied with business and almost never think about your personal life.

You accepted it, you came to the meetings but sat in silence, only listened. It did help. Michael stopped being on your mind on a daily basis, and when he did, you pushed him away.

One day, you gave your first observation in a meeting, which was welcomed by the Shelby’s with smiles or smirks, all of it because the meetings indeed worked, and also… You give really fucking good strategies and advice for the business.

After that, Tommy made you learn how to shoot a gun, which took some time, but once you got the hang of it… Good lord. Nobody wanted to challenge you into any shooting ‘contest’.

As you warmed up to the idea of being a part of the Shelby’s and the peaky Blinders, you definitely became one of their favorites. Some even called you the Peaky Blinders’ princess, which you believe it’s awfully cliché and over the top.

You did become one of the members that should always be present in any killing, meeting, dinner, etc.

You grew from this sweet and loving girl, who got destroyed over her first boyfriend, in which she trusted with her life; into this woman who learned how to use her beauty against others and then rapidly attack, making her one of the, if not, the most dangerous woman in Birmingham, a gangster who’s protect by the family of gypsies the world learned to fear and the assassin she learned to be.

People fear you. People fear your name. People fear the idea of you. And there’s no man who’s going to hurt you once more without experiencing the lethal consequences you swear to do.

But who’s going to stop you when Michael steps foot into that ship with his future American wife, ready to come back home after the incident that he caused? Who’s going to stop you when you’ll have to look at the blue eyes of the man that broke you? Who’s going to stop you?

Easy, just two options. Everyone or no one.

But who’s going to stop him?

- - - - -

If you’re interested in being a part of my tag list, please comment or dm me?

- - - -

🌸✨Sorry, but I’m not writing in this account anymore. Go check out my new one @twinklelilstarkey✨🌸

#michael gray x reader #michael gray #peaky blinders #the peaky blinders #finnn cole #finn cole x reader #michael shelby #michael shelby x reader #tommy shelby #arthur shelby #polly shelby #ada shelby

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jenoptimist · 3 years

Text

request:

can I request enemies to lovers with Lucas 👉🏼👈🏼🥺

✮ Pairing: lucas x reader (gender neutral)

✮ Genre: (one-sided) enemies2lovers | shopkeeper!au

✮ Additional info: miscommunication & misunderstandings

✮ Word count: 5.3k

♡ Yakult says: thank you so much for the request !! i decided to make this be in the same au as my florist!xiaojun fic but it takes place before it 🤪 don’t worry though, you can read this as a standalone !!

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Dream Puffs stood in between a quaint bookshop named Moon’s Bookworms and the one and only tattoo and piercing studio in your small town aptly named, Nakamoto’s Body Art Studio. All three buildings adhered to a similar color scheme which consisted of various shades of brown; Moon’s Bookworms was displayed with gold plated, elegant lettering and a dark mahogany colored body, Nakamoto’s Body Art Studio was written with bright neon lights against an umber colored building and the Dream Puffs building was the color of pecans, its name displayed in large, white letters. The buildings across the street were the exact opposite; the flower shop Rainbow V was colored in pretty pastels and the bright thrift shop Tern & Ten’s Treasures was a fusion of artsy and chic. There was an empty outlet just in the middle of the two stores, directly across from Dream Puffs, that was very obviously lacking the loud personalities all the buildings on that side owned.

Recently there had been rumors that the lot had been sold a couple of weeks ago and that whoever had bought it also would be moving into the apartment directly across from yours. Although your curiosity was peaked, not catching a single sight of the newcomer, you knew that you weren’t the only one. The other owners on the block had gathered around in the far corner of your cozy café, gossiping among one another. It seemed as if Yuta and Yongqin were doing most of the chatting, Kun and Taeil chiming in whenever they thought it was appropriate. Seeing as the rush of customers had officially calmed down, a few of your regulars in their usual seats, you allowed yourself to part take in their conversation when Yuta waved you over with that dazzling smile of his.

“So, y/n, what do you think?” The tattoo artist asked, his cheek resting in the palm of his left hand.

“What do I think about what?” You shot back quizzically as you sat down, automatically setting the nape of your neck on top of Yongqin’s arm when he rested it on the back of your chair.

“What kind of store do you think this mystery person will open up?” Taeil clarified, lazily fiddling with the straw in his iced-tea in between his index finger and thumb.

You hummed. “Maybe something for arts and crafts?” You weren’t good at guessing but you did know that a store that catered for specific types of painting and drawing materials were needed, judging by Taeyong’s constant complaints about how there should be an art supply store because shipping was too expensive every time he bought something online.

At your side, Yongqin practically began vibrating with excitement along with Yuta across from you. Their reactions were something you expected since the two of them, as well as and Taeyong, were extremely talented artists; where Taeyong and Yongqin drew for fun, Yuta’s job as a tattoo artists required him to draw on a regular basis and he absolutely adored it. As Yongqin and Yuta chatted excitedly, Taeil chiming in every now and again, your eyes zeroed in on Kun as he sipped on his latte, his eyes suspiciously shifty. Before you could voice out your question, someone entered the café and headed straight for the counter. You had sent Doyoung and Taeyong on their breaks ten minutes prior so you had no choice but to slip out of your chair and bounce over behind the counter.

While the customer’s eyes roamed the menu above you, you occupied yourself with wiping the counter and when you couldn’t pretend to clean anymore, you drummed your fingers on your thigh. Finally, the tall - and extremely attractive - man made eye contact with you. With a smile you hoped wasn’t awkward, you tapped in his three drink orders and asked if he’d like any of the sweets on display since he was studying them so intensely.

“Can I have one of each?”

It wasn’t an unusual request, plenty of customers had asked before because Doyoung and Taeyong were extremely talented at what they did. You always found yourself fighting for the position to be their taste tester against Donghyuck and Jungwoo whenever they came up with something new. There wasn’t any friendly small talk as you prepared his order, in fact whenever you caught a glimpse of the customer, his eyes were continuously roaming around the building. You were particularly proud of the interior design of the place. Taeyong had spent endless hours painting designs on the walls while you and Doyoung chose the furniture you thought would suit it the best. Your favorite part in particular was the copper wire wall grid that was used to display the instant pictures of the staff posing goofily and the regulars. Judging from the way the customer’s eyes locked in on the pictures on the wall, he did too.

“Thanks for coming! Hope to see you again!” You chimed while you placed the money in the register. It was unlikely to happen, you knew, because the man wasn’t one that you recognized. Dream Puffs often had customers that stopped by because they needed a pick-me-up during their travels. The only response you received was the incline of his head and a gorgeous smile before he turned to leave. You watched his back as he strutted away, your head tilted to the side slightly.

“Love at first sight?” Yongqin teased in a loud voice from your right and if you had been close enough, you would have thrown your cloth at him.

“Shut up Yongqin!”

“You will not believe what I just heard!” Yongqin exclaimed from somewhere behind you. It was half past six in the morning and you and the boys were setting up, Taeyong had just taken out a fresh batch of pastries while Doyoung was bent over the glass display case for the food, organizing the goods meticulously and adding glacé cherries to the cupcakes. You hummed in question as you snatched a croissant that you knew would be deliciously buttery, flaky and soft when you took a bite of it. “The empty store! You’ll never guess what it’s going to be!”

“A hardware store?” Doyoung guessed uninterestedly as he adjusted a cupcake.

“No!” You watched, mid-bite, as Yongqin walked by you and stood so that he was in clear view of the three of you. “A café!” Both the statement and the hot interior of the croissant had your jaw dropping.

“What?!” You exclaimed while you set your pastry on the flour covered counter, just beside the baking tray full of equally measured, unbaked cookies.

“Yeah,” he said, dragging out the vowels as he slowly bopped his head, “I know right. Dream Puffs might actually have some competition now.”

“Out of all places to set up a café.” Taeyong mumbled, his brows furrowed, flitting over to the other side of the room to grab his bottle of strawberry flavored water.

“Where did you get this information from?” Doyoung asked after he straightened himself out, crossing his arms over his chest.

Yongqin, who was watching Taeyong gulp down his beverage, mindlessly said, “Kun.” You pressed him for more information, recalling how shifty the said florist had been the other day. Yongqin tore his eyes away from Taeyong. “I don’t really know how he knew, he just let it slip yesterday.” He grabbed a glacé cherry and popped it into his mouth. “We should totally put on some disguises and scope the place out when it opens!”

Taeyong snorted. “As if you work here.”

“Well we don’t want you guys going out of business now, do we?” Yongqin reasoned as he ran his fingers through his pink streaked blond hair. “So, are you in?”

“Of course.” You said, picking up your croissant and taking a big bite of it.

The plan was discussed in pieces throughout the day while the three of you manned the counter. Yongqin stood to the side, switching from chatting to your customers animatedly as they waited for their orders and telling the three of you how he needed a temporary employee because Chenle was going on vacation in a few weeks from June until August. He stayed until he had to return to his own store since his younger sister had to go for her break. As the day dragged by, you insisted that Doyoung and Taeyong to go home early - they deserved it for all the work that they do - while you stayed behind to some additional cleaning before you locked up for the evening. Not bothered to cook dinner once you were home, you called for some takeout as you toed off your shoes. While you waited for the delivery driver to call you to let you know they were downstairs, you flopped onto your couch and mindlessly scrolled through your phone. When the call came, you were quick to grab your cash and dash out your door.

With a warm box of pizza in your hands, mini boxes of the sides you selected on top of it, you turned to make you way back up when a voice called out for you to hold open the door for them. You fulfilled their request by swinging your leg and waited impatiently for the weight to be lifted off of your foot so that you could run off and eat.

“Thank you! Oh,” the stranger said when you managed to flash them a quick smile, “hey it’s you!”

Internally, you groaned. What would it take for you to be able to eat your dinner? It was going to get cold. Plus you ordered their fudge brownie that came with ice-cream. Nevertheless you plastered on a smile while turning your head to the side that the stranger decided to occupy and found yourself looking at the tall and handsome man from a few days ago.

“Yeah,” you agreed, not knowing what else to say as you followed him into the elevator and also stunned by the fact that he could potentially have lived here all this time somehow without you ever seeing him. Although, maybe he was visiting a friend? “Are you the one who moved in across the hall?” You asked curiously after eyeing him press the button to your floor.

“Guilty as charged,” he replied, raising both his arms. Then, dropping them back down to his sides and stuffing them into his jacket pockets, he said, “my name’s Wong Yukhei.”

“Y/n. I’d shake your hand but, y’know.” You lifted the boxes of food for emphasis and he nodded understandingly. Yukhei got a few words in about the town, how cute he found it and how friendly the people were, before the ding! of the elevator finally signaled the end of your short journey to your floor. Yukhei allowed you to exit before him.

“Well it’s nice to officially meet you, neighbor.” Yukhei said, grinning cheekily as the two of you stood outside your respective doors, facing one another.

After replying with sentiments that mirrored his, you finally entered your apartment and all but sprinted to your coach and dug in. Your new neighbor seemed nice enough. You wondered what brought him over to this town–there was nothing particularly attractive about it except for the people that lived there, not that anyone living outside of the town would know that or anything. It was when you were halfway through your third slice that something dawned on you.

“I know who it is!” You said loudly, barging into Nakamoto’s Body Art Studio. As expected, Yongqin was getting his forearm tattooed by Yuta. You greeted Jaehyun, who was flicking through a magazine, with a high five as you passed by the reception desk and took one of the wheeled stools and sat on Yongqin’s other side, opposite Yuta.

“Know who?”

“The new store owner! I met him yesterday.” Yuta finished the line he was working on before looking up at you briefly to acknowledge your presence before resuming his work. Yongqin was the one who prompted you to continue. “His name is Wong Yukhei. He was the really tall one from the other day.”

“The one you fell in love with?” Your friend teased. You mimicked his words, voice as high as possible, while making a face at him before groaning dramatically, thinking about how amiable Yukhei had been in the few minutes that you were together.

“Guys, he ordered all of the food we had on display.” You chewed on your bottom lip. Maybe his friendly behavior was an act, he did know that you work at Dream Puffs after all–you literally co-owned the place. “You don’t think he’s going to steal everything the guys make do you?” Both of your friends scrunched their faces which only served to make you groan loudly again.

“That’s rough buddy.” Jaehyun said from his position on the right side of the room, the sound of him flicking his page loud and clear when Yuta removed the tattoo gun from Yongqin’s arm.

“What’s rough?” Jungwoo asked confusedly, his voice sounding further than usual, probably just having stepped out of the separate room that he used to pierce their clients.

You stood behind the register, watching with narrowed eyes as Yukhei and some unfamiliar people filed into the building directly across from yours, each carrying supplies. It had been days and days of you heatedly watching their every move as they worked on their space. While they were all having the time of their lives interior decorating, you were practically tearing your hair out at the thought of having competition that was a mere twenty steps away from Dream Puffs. It wasn’t that you didn’t trust Doyoung and Taeyong’s ability to bake or your barista skills and it wasn’t as if you were the only café in the area or anything - there was another one just on the other side of town - but he really couldn’t have set up literally any other kind of store?

What was even more infuriating was that Yukhei was acting really chummy with you and the others outside of your working hours. It even became a regular thing for Yukhei to wait for your shift to finish so that the two of you could walk back to your apartment complex together. Admittedly, even though you enjoyed your own company, it was kind of nice having someone to talk to on the way home.

“You’ll scare away the customers if you keep making that face.” Taeil said, his eyes never wavering from the page that he was reading. It was a new book for the book club that he created recently, said it would bring in more customers. He shared a table with Jeno, who was reading the same book, and Mark, who was playing Luigi’s Mansion on his Nintendo Switch.

You sniffed, tilting your head to the side. “I’m not making a face.”

“Dude, you so are!” Mark, who was sitting across from Taeil, said after taking a sip of his banana milk.

“Don’t listen to them,” Jeno told you nicely, “of course you’d be making a face, I mean, that guy is gonna make a store that could potentially out-business you.”

You threw your hands at his direction as if to say exactly! with wide eyes. “We’re practically enemies!”

“Enemies,” Taeyong repeatedly lowly from beside you, amusement ringing in his voice. “As if.”

You gaped after throwing him a look. “What’s that supposed to mean.” Before your friend could reply, your attention was redirected elsewhere with the call of your name. Taeyong bumped your hip and scurried off. You turned to face none other than the man himself. “Yukhei,” you smiled, “the usual?”

“Please. Oh and could I also get...” He listed five other drinks and then picked out some food to bring along with him. As you prepared his order, the two of you talked about your plans over the weekend and even though you were aching with the need to ask about his shop, you said nothing.

“He’s the enemy.” You whispered firmly to yourself. “Do not get distracted by his cute smile!”

“Cute smile?” Yongqin startled you by popping up from behind you. “Is this about Yukhei?” He asked loudly, tone full of mischief, as he nudged your side.

“Who else would it be about?” Taeil countered.

Mark and Jeno chuckled while you raised your eyes to the ceiling, briefly reconsidering your choice in friends. Maybe you should stop giving them free drinks. Your gaze flickered to what would be Yukhei’s shop and found him sipping on his drink as he leaned on the glass, chatting to someone. As though he felt your eyes on him, he did a double take and beamed at you.

“He’s the enemy.” You whispered to yourself once again, hoping that you would actually begin believing it soon, as you raised your hand to wave at him–he kept smiling at you until the person next to him clapped his shoulder and you would have loved to know what he said because Yukhei all but whipped his head towards him, his eyes practically bugging out of his head.

It had been almost a month since Yukhei had moved into town and he still hadn’t opened up his shop. That was something that you kept in the back of your mind, even as he continued to be cordial with you and the others. Although you kept referring him as ‘the enemy’ to yourself, at this point he was your friend. There was no point in denying it or anything, considering that somehow your relationship with him progressed from only speaking to one another when he ordered stuff from Dream Puffs and when the two of you walked home together, to actually hanging out. You guys had actually agreed to start watching movies together every Saturday night and regularly went over to each other’s apartment to keep each other company.

In fact it was actually Saturday and instead of receiving a text from Yukhei about what food he should bring over with him, it was one asking you to meet in front of Rainbow V. After texting him an affirmative, you changed out of your pyjamas and headed out.

The nearer you got to Rainbow V, the more you could make out the distinct figure of Yukhei; he was leaning against the door of his shop, his left foot on top of it as he scrolled through his phone. You allowed yourself to stare at him for a little bit longer before taking bigger steps towards him.

“Hey,” you greeted once you were close enough, “what’s up?”

Yukhei returned your greeting, stuffing his phone into his pocket as he stepped forward to mirror you before raising his hand. When you gave him the high-five you assumed he was waiting for, he clicked his tongue and wrapped his large hand over yours. Startled, you looked at him with wide eyes.

“Wrong,” he grinned, a playful gleam in his eye, “you forgot our handshake already? Y/n, you wound me.” He placed his other hand on top of his chest, where his heart was, dramatically as he said the last part.

“I didn’t forget,” you countered. “You got it wrong, dummy, it starts with a fist bump.”

Yukhei huffed, the grin he wore turning into something much softer. “You’re right.”

Instead of releasing your hand like you thought he would now that it was clarified, he continued holding onto it and even lowered it slightly as if he wanted a better look. He turned it this way and that way slowly while staring like he was inspecting it. As he did that, your eyes flitted over to the beanie that covered his forehead (you liked how it looked on him, it looked really cute on him,) before travelling down to the rest of his face; there was a spark of something in his eyes, his head at an angle, as he stared at your hand in his. It was the look someone got when they found something they had been missing for a long while.

You cleared your throat, warmth creeping up your neck all the way to your cheeks. “Is there something you want to show me?”

“Yup!”

And with that he interlocked your fingers, fished what sounded like a bunch of keys from his pockets and unlocked the door. He made quick work of turning on the lights, allowing you to be greeted by the sight of minimal style interior. There were large potted plants by the door, a long island with seating as well as booth tables. String lights were hung all around the cream colored wall, providing additional lighting to the dim lights. Yukhei lead you around the space, excitedly telling you about the work that had gone into it and how he had difficulty choosing what kind of style he wanted.

“It looks amazing,” you complimented as he gestured for you to take a seat closest to where the register was. “It’s going to be a great café, I can tell.”

“Thanks,” he smiled shyly, “that really means”-he paused, tilting his head to one side with confusion written all over his face-“did you just say café?”

“Mhm,” you nodded, “looks like Dream Puffs is going to have some serious competition now.”

Yukhei released a hearty laughed. “Y/n, I don’t know where you got that information but this isn’t a café.” Your jaw almost dropped in shock and you stumbled with your words before settling for a ‘huh’. “Yeah, dum-dum, it’s going to be a boba shop.”

“Boba. . .shop.” You echoed slowly.

Yukhei nodded, “yeah.”

Later on the stroll home, after the two of you spent an hour or two in his shop with him telling you what kind of flavors he planned to have on the menu and pulling some suggestions from yourself (“what about toffee popcorn with, I don’t know, maybe whipped cream and actual popcorn at the top?”), he asked who told you that he’d be opening up a café to which you grumbled ‘Yongqin’, he let out a heart laugh again. You could feel the tremors that went through his body as he laughed since you were tucked warmly under his arm and whether or not it was because his laughter was contagious or how weirdly intimate the situation felt - it was the way he took of his beanie and adjusted it on your head, insisting that you looked cold (you were) and the way the two of you were practically glued to each other’s side - but you huffed out a laugh before smiling to yourself and leaned into him more.

“Hey, y/n,” Yukhei called once you unlocked your door. You turned to face him and found him aiming his phone straight at you. “Smile.” Instead of smiling, you made a silly face at him and jogged inside your apartment after the tell-tale sound his phone made that indicated that he snapped a picture of you.

It was only when you were taking off your jacket and shoes that you realized that he hadn’t asked for his beanie back. Although you knew that you could easily make the short trip to him across the hall, you decided that you would give it back the next time he was at your place.

“A little birdie told me that you and Yukhei went on a date last night.” Yuta said the following morning, barging into your small office and then plopped himself on the couch that was placed near your work desk.

You were quick to shoot his statement down with, “your ‘little birdie’ is wrong.” After typing a quick ‘Kind Regards’ along with your name and position at the end of your email, you swiveled your chair around so that you could face your friend. He was scrolling through Instagram, double tapping every few seconds. “Who was it that told you that, anyway?”

“I don’t snitch on my sources.”

“I’ll give you twenty-five percent off whenever you buy coffee for a week.”

“Sold,” he said while he typed something quickly on his phone before lowering it so that he could flip himself over on his stomach and look up at you through his lashes. “It was Taeil. He fell asleep in his office and when he was locking up he said he saw you two mooning at each other alone in Yukhei’s shop.”

“We were not mooning at each other,” you sniffed, skimming your hands down your thighs. “What? We weren’t!” You emphasized when he gave you an unimpressed look.

Just as Yuta was about to reply, probably something sarcastic by how he arched his brow, his phone chimed to signal a text. He tutted at you before re-arranging himself so that he could reply with ease. You watched as his eyes read the message quickly before the corner of his mouth quirked upwards and he huffed out a laugh, typing furiously. While a large part of you was curious as to what could have elicited that reaction, you chose to turn back to your computer screen and browse through your email inbox.

“If you aren’t dating him,” Yuta said after a few minutes of silence that involved him typing away while you binned some junk mail, “then what’s this all about?” From the corner of your eye, you saw him lift his phone towards you so that you could read whatever was on his screen. Turning, your eyes skimmed through his text, your eyebrows all but crawling to your hairline. He allowed you to grab the phone from his hand so that you could zoom in on the picture that followed the texts from Mark–his words were all in capital letters followed by several exclamation points. You opened your mouth to say, well, literally anything but nothing came out so you snapped it shut. Wordlessly, you handed Yuta back his phone before logging out of your computer.

“I have to go,” You said lowly, dazed, as you stood up. “I have to- will you tell the guys I’ll be back soon?” Yuta gave you an affirmative and then you were off, practically sprinting towards the door.

On the way back to your apartment complex, your thoughts were full of Yukhei. You could admit that you had a big crush on him. It was difficult not to, you thought, what with how sweet and thoughtful he was. He was also funny and knew how to brighten up the room. But did that mean you wanted to date him? You weren’t sure although you knew that you certainly wouldn’t mind going on a date with him to find out.

Soon enough, you found yourself in front of his door. You stared at it for a long time, your heart racing, before you found enough courage to rap your knuckles against it. There was no answer. You tried an additional two times before you decided to leave it be, that you could talk to him later after your shift because he would probably be by the door, waiting for you with that big smile of his. You nodded to yourself and turned to walk away.

“Y/n?” His groggy voice came when you had taken three steps away from his door. “What’s up? Are you okay?” You turned on your heel (he looked adorable with his bedhead) and nodded stiffly, your heartbeat picking up speed again. “Want to come in?” He invited, opening his door wider.

You cleared your throat. “Yeah.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be at work right now?” He asked, locking his door after you shuffled in.

“Yeah but there was something I needed to talk to you about.”

Yukhei took a seat beside you on the couch and you tried not to concentrate on his knee that leaned against yours or how he automatically rested his arm on the back of the couch so that you were practically laying on it.

“Texting me wouldn’t have done, no?” He teased.

You shot a quick glance at him, took in his cute little smile and then stared pointedly ahead at his carpeted floor. “I didn’t really think about that at the moment.” You replied, your shoulders lifting to your earlobes. The only thing you had thought about was how you wanted to see him when you confronted him about what Yuta had shown you. Yukhei prompted you to tell him the reason for your visit. “Well, um, earlier Yuta showed me a text from Mark and I’m- we’re- your phone wallpaper?” The arm beneath your shoulders was gone in an instant and Yukhei jolted to his feet. “So it’s true?” You asked, peeking at him through your lashes. His expression was one of horror, arms splayed at his sides as if prepared to explain himself.

“Please don’t be mad! Taeil took the picture last night because apparently he saw us? I don’t know, Mark told me so I asked him to send me the picture and, well, I thought it was cute you know?” You did know. Taeil had managed to snap a shot of you two in front of Rainbow V - didn’t Yuta say that he only saw the two of you in the shop? - and it was when Yukhei had been laughing with you under his arm, a smile resting on your face. “I know I probably should have asked you, I don’t know what I didn’t. I can change it now if you want? Please don’t be mad at me.”

“I’m not mad,” you assured, looking him in the eye so he knew that you meant it. He visibly relaxed, the tension bleeding out of him at your words. Once he stopped looking so panicked, he looked at you with wide eyes before darting them towards the floor. It seemed the roles were reversed this time, what with him avoiding your gaze while you continued staring at him. He raised a hand to cover his eyes while the other went to hug itself around his waist. “Hey Yukhei,” he still refused to look at you, “would you maybe want to go on a date with me?”

That immediately gained his attention. “What?” His voice was soft, coated in disbelief. “Are you serious?” After you insisted that you were, never once breaking eye contact with him, a large smile blossomed on his face and he let out a loud whoop, punching the air in triumph. As if remembering that you were there, he dropped his arm, although the smile remained on his face. “Apparently there’s a boba place opening tomorrow, right in front of Dream Puffs, what do you say we try it out?”

“I’d love to but I’m worried about seating.”

“Don’t worry, I’m on good terms with the owner.” Yukhei winked. The two of you dissolved into a fit of laughter shortly after.

“I’ve gotta get back to work,” you said while you stood up from the couch once both of you sobered. “But I’ll see you later?”

“Of course!” Pleased smiles were plastered on both of your faces even as he walked you to the door.

You had barely stepped foot into Dream Puffs before Yongqin wrapped an arm around you and lead you to a table where Kun, Yuta and Taeil were seated, two vacant seats in between Kun and Yuta. Taeil let out a small titter, a smile that was too wide etched on his face as you and Yongqin sat down.

“Tell us everything!” Yongqin exclaimed, “spare no detail!”

“I will but first,” you said as you turned to face him. “You brat! You knew that he wasn’t opening up a café, didn’t you? You totally tricked me!”

There was no hint of guilt from him, just a shit-eating grin that reached from ear to ear. “Maybe so. Now go on, tell us!” You rolled your eyes, feigning annoyance but couldn’t fight off the smile that gradually grew wider and wider on your face as you recounted the recent events that transpired between you and Yukhei.

#ummmmmmm so this probably wasnt what u had in mind when u said enemies to lovers??????#honestly idek what this is myself rip #i think i might have to upload a completely different one ://#i didnt want it to be yk the usual things like being against each other in school etcetc #i guess enemies to lovers but they're assassins would have been good?????#why did i only think of that now rip oh geez #regardless of the fact that i completely botched ur request-i hope u enjoyed reading it at least????????#also update on my problems on the app: its still doing that thing i mentioned while editing so i think from here on out i might have to use #my laptop when i work on my fics :////////#im working on the werewolf!lucas fic now so hopefully i have it up by tonight !!!#anyway here come the tags:#wayv #wayv scenarios #wayv imagines #wayv au #wayv fluff #wayv lucas #nct #nct au #nct scenarios #nct imagines #nct lucas #nct fluff #super m #super m lucas #wong yukhei

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yelena-bellova · 4 years

Text

Don’t Be Afraid: Poe Dameron x Solo!Reader - Chapter Five

Chapter Five: The Scavenger

Series Masterlist

Plot: As BB-8 and the Reader wander through the desert, the Reader comes to some revelations about her feelings towards Poe. Later in the day, they have an encounter with a scavenger who has more in common with the Reader than they think.

Warnings: A smidge of angst, one curse word I think, probably some missed typos.

Word Count: 3.3k

A/N: It’s been a while, thanks for being patient with me. I’ve had a really shitty two weeks between family stuff, my anxiety/depression, and everything that’s gone down in the world. But here’s chapter five in all it’s glory, I’ve been super critical of my work lately but I was determined to crank this one out. I’m pretty sure every writer thinks their work is shitty at one point or another 😂 Anyway, enjoy!!

—————

Between growing up on the Falcon and my work with the Resistance, I’d visited dozens of planets. Hot, cold, forest, jungle, I’d seen a lot.

Jakku was officially my least favorite.

BB-8 and I had been walking for hours in the endless desert, not a soul or structure in sight. I had no water and no food on me, and the sun was beating down unforgivably harsh on us. I’d taken off my jacket almost as soon as we began our trek and used it to shield myself from the sun. BB-8, though he wasn’t as miserable as I was, was still uncomfortable,

How long has it been?

“I don’t know, Bee, I don’t have my communicator on me. But judging by the sun’s position and how damn hot it is, I’d say it’s the afternoon.”

He let out a low beep at my words, hoping we were further along in the day than we actually were. The only reason I didn’t feel the same was once nightfall hit, we were screwed. Without any shelter, we could be eaten alive, or in BB-8’s case dismantled, by whatever creatures roamed at night. We needed to find an outpost before dusk, or else we might as well be dead.

“Damn it Poe. Where are you?” I mumbled.

BB-8 turned his head to look up at me,

I miss him.

I tried to chuckle so I wouldn’t start crying again, “Me too, buddy. Me too...”

I’d left him behind. Poe. My best friend. I’d left him by himself with the First Order and my brother. Yes, he’d ordered me and with him being in charge of the mission I had to follow orders. But how many orders had he disobeyed on missions? How many rules did he break on a daily basis? I should have just shoved the drive in BB-8’s compartment and stayed with Poe. Abandoning him hurt worse than any torture the First Order could inflict upon me.

“I should have stayed with him,” I whispered.

He wanted to keep you safe.

“I want to keep him safe just as much and I left him, Bee!” I exclaimed as I stopped walking, “I left him with my brother’s ship landing and dozens of troopers firing guns! Poe means everything to me and knowing that he’s in danger right now is killing me!”

Because you love him.

“Yes, because I-wait, what?”

You love him. And he loves you.

“Where did you get that from?” I asked after a few seconds of stammering.

Because I’ve seen the two of you together. It’s obvious.

I dropped my jacket from my head and gripped it loosely in my hand, trying to process what BB-8 was saying so casually,

“Ok, let’s back up a little...Just because Poe and I are close does not mean in any way that we’re in love with each other. He’s my best friend, of course I love him but that doesn’t mean that I’m IN love with him.” I explained, “I-I mean, yes, lately I’ve been...thinking about him sort of differently and wondering about...things.”

What made you start thinking about Poe differently?  I threw my arms out to their sides, “I don’t know, a lot of things! I just started noticing things like how amazing his smile is. Or how his eyes light up when he gets an bad idea that usually ends up being a ton of fun. Or how how when he starts laughing, I can’t help but start laughing too.”

I’d slowed down, memories with Poe playing through my mind, “Or how no matter how reckless he is, I still trust him with every fiber of my being. How he knows all about my family and yet he’s never once judged me or held it against me. How he can’t go two minutes without making a suggestive comment towards me but he’s still the most respectful man I’ve ever met.”

I felt almost breathless, the pieces falling into place faster than I was prepared for, “How we’re in the middle of a war and tomorrow isn’t guaranteed for any of us...And the only place I feel safe is when I’m in his arms.”

Flying his X-Wing with him, the trust he had placed in me to do it. Laughing with him without a care in the world as we flew through the forest of D’Qar. Falling asleep to the sound of his heartbeat as he held me tightly. The heated moment we’d shared before we’d left, how badly I’d wanted to kiss him. The goodbye we’d shared hours ago, his forehead pressed against mine as I wept.

Oh shit.

“I’m in love with Poe.”

How could I not have realized it sooner? The further back I went into our timeline, I began to see that I’d fallen for him a long time ago without realizing it. The past week had been the catalyst, but it had certainly not been the beginning of my love for him. Poe was everything I’d ever needed and everything I’d ever wanted.

It’s about time you realized it.

I fell on my ass into the sand, my hands flying to my head as I processed the discovery. Remembering what BB-8 had said, my head shot up,

“Hold on, what did you mean when you said that he loved me? Has he told you?”  BB-8 rolled closer to me,

It’s like I said, it’s obvious. Plus, he tells me things.

My brow furrowed, “What things?”  How pretty you are, how much fun the two of you have together, how smart you are, things like that.

I chuckled, the thought of Poe singing my praises to his droid was adorable.

But don’t tell him I told you that!

“I won’t, I won’t, I promise,” I said, “But I’m happy you did.”

So does that mean you’ll talk to him when we get back to base?

As much as the thought of wrapping Poe in my arms and pouring my heart out to him, hoping he said the same sentiments made my heart speed up...

War waited for no one.

“First,” I said, “We get the drive back to base, then we deal with my love life.”  —————-

The sun was setting on Jakku and we were no closer to finding shelter than we had been in the morning. We hadn’t even seen another living thing for the entirety of the day. At this point, I wasn’t sure what the best course of action was.

I’m scared.

“We’ll be okay, Bee. I’m sure there’s something coming up soon.”

How do you know that?  “I don’t, it’s called blind hope. You should try it sometime.”  If droids had eyes to roll, BB-8 definitely would have then. I had no definitive place for us to rest our heads for the night, but something told me we were getting close to salvation. And maybe some water too because my throat was cracking each time I spoke. It was a wonder I hadn’t passed out yet.

Then finally, we heard the first noise we’d heard all day. In the near distance, there was a low cry of a creature definitely headed in our direction.

BB-8 beeped happily as I grinned and we sped towards the noise. We finally found it, only a couple hundred yards away from us.

“Okay, let me handle this,” I instructed, “We don’t know what the crowd is like here.”

BB-8 fell behind me as I casually approached the beast and the creature that rode him.   “Excuse me, could you help us?” I called out, he finally acknowledged that we were in front of him. He didn’t say anything but I could tell he was sizing us up, though his mask concealed his face. A woman and a droid wandering through the desert was probably an odd sight, he’d have questions.

He spoke in a dialect that I didn’t understand, but he nodded his head towards BB-8.

“Bee, do you have a translator?” I asked, the droid peeking out from behind my legs.

He asked how much for me.

BB-8’s tone was definitely frightened, and I quickly shook my head towards the creature.

“No,” I said, moving my arms to signal what my words meant as well. The creature was only a few feet away from us now and carried the same intimidating posture. He didn’t seem to be backing down. There was a slight possibility we were in trouble.

“Bee, get out of here. I’ll catch up,” I said calmly, before reaching my hand towards my holster slowly. As if they’d known what I’d said, the creature quickly pulled out a blaster and fired a shot at me. I drew mine but was too late, the shot hit me and send electric shocks through my whole body. I fell to the sand and groaned as the charges flooded every nerve and muscle, paralyzing me from any movement other than convulsions. My ears were ringing but I could distantly hear BB-8’s squeals of alarms, trying to force myself to move to no avail.

Then I heard a new voice, strong and powerful, speaking the same language the little piece of bantha fodder spoke. BB-8’s squeals had calmed and I heard the bellow of whatever the creep that shot me had been riding. The shocks were beginning to lessen and I was able to even my breathing out. I groaned as I pushed myself up, letting my vision adjust to see a woman cutting a net off of BB-8 and freeing him. I stood to my full height and walked over, trying to control myself as the creature rode past me away from us,

“Bee, you okay?”  He beeped an ‘okay’ and we both turned to the woman who had saved us both.

“Thank you for helping him, I was a bit-“  ”Incapacitated?” She interrupted, causing me to chuckle.

“Just a bit,” I replied, “Did you know that idiot?”

“Teedo, he wanted your droid for spare parts. He has no respect for anyone,” she responded, practically fuming as she said his name.

“Ugly name for an ugly guy,” I said, watching him ride off to make sure he wasn’t coming back for round two.

The woman turned to BB-8 and begsn fixing his antenna that had bent under the netting. She looked only a few years younger than me, brown hair tied in simple buns to keep herself cool in the Jakku heat. She carried a quarterstaff with her making me wonder if she was trained in using it. I didn’t get good feelings about people often, but something about her made me feel at ease.

“Where do you two come from?” She asked, still kneeling by BB-8.

“That’s classified, I’m afraid,” I stated, I may have had an good feeling about her but I wasn’t stupid. BB-8 repeated my words as well.

“Classified? Me too, big secret...” she replied sarcastically before standing up and pointing towards the horizon, “Neema Outpost is that way, stay off Kelvin Ridge. Keep away from the Sinking Fields in the north, your droid will drown in the sand.”

We were close to town! The sooner we got a ship out of here, the sooner we could get to base.

“Great, thank you again for saving us. C’mon, Bee,” I said, nodding my head towards the woman and heading off in the direction she’d pointed. But instead of hearing the cheerful beeps, there was silence behind me. I turned to see BB-8 following the woman,

“Bee?” I called out, him turning to me and me throwing my arms out in confusion. He looked up at the woman and beeped something I couldn’t hear properly.

“No!” She replied loudly, heading off in the opposite direction of us.

“Bee, come on, I’m exhausted.” I said, growing impatient. No luck, he continued talking to the woman. The only words I could make out were ‘we’ ‘stay’ and ‘scared, but his tone was like that of a small child’s. The woman stood there, debating something for a few seconds before turning to me and calling out,

“You can stay with me for the evening, but the two of you go in the morning.”

I shot Bee a look of confusion before looking back to her,

“Really we couldn’t impose on you like that.”

“No, it’s fine. There’s no inn at the outpost anyway.”  “Well,” I began hesitantly, “Thank you.”

She smiled just a little, “You’re welcome. Though I should probably know your name.”

I chuckled and held out my hand, “I’m y/n, this is BB-8.”

Bee beeped and the woman smiled warmly at him before looking back at me and shaking my hand, “I’m Rey.”

————————

“You live in this thing?” I asked, my voice a few octaves higher in shock.

“It wasn’t that hard to convert surprisingly, just a lot of wiring and panels to rip out.” Rey answered, already halfway inside the collapsed AT-AT Walker. I’d only ever seen pictures and heard stories about them, this one must have been leftover from the Battle of Jakku.

“This is crazy,” I remarked as I followed her in and helped BB-8 over the hump where sand met metal. It was surprisingly roomy inside, we’d definitely have enough personal space once it came time to sleep.

“I’m sorry to say I don’t have any extra food, but I have an extra canteen of water.” Rey said, handing me the bottle. I chugged the entire thing down in maybe thirty seconds, finally quenching the extreme thirst from wandering the desert all day.

“Thank you,” I panted afterwards, handing her back the empty canteen.

She nodded and sat down across from me, setting her quarterstaff down nearby, “So if I’m goinng to let you stay with me, I’m going to need to know a little bit about you two.”

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, “That’s fair...But I’m not sure how much I can tell you, no offense.”

“If you’re wondering if I’m First Order, feel free to interrogate me,” Rey said almost impatiently, “This planet may be aligned with them but that doesn’t mean all it’s inhabitants are too.”

I held up my hands defensively, “Hey, you can never be too careful.”

Rey studied my expression, trying to decide what to make of me, I could tell she probably didn’t meet many new people.

“So...” she began, glancing between me and BB-8, “What are you?”  I leaned forward slowly, my movements sluggish from the day I’d had. I didn’t know why, but for some reason I was about to trust this girl with my story,

“We’re with the Resistance. BB-8 and I were on a mission and First Order showed up. My partner, he...”

My voice faltered at the memory of Poe telling me to run,

“He ordered me and BB-8 to run before the troops could catch us. We’d been wandering through the desert all day when you found us.”

Rey’s lips parted, “You’re with the Resistance?” Her voice was no louder than a whisper. I nodded with a small smile.

“I’ve never met a Resistance fighter before,” she said in slight awe, looking at me and BB-8 as if we were mythical creatures.

“Well, we don’t always look so sweaty, dehydrated and starved.” I quipped causing Rey to laugh and BB-8 to whirl.

“Can’t you get in touch with your base to come find you?”

“We weren’t allowed to bring communicators. It was too dangerous of a mission and the First Order could have listened in.” I answered.

“I’m sorry about your partner,” Rey said after a moment, her tone turning serious.

I looked down at my hands and started tracing my palm lines, “He’ll be okay, he always gets himself into trouble and he always ends up being okay. He promised to come back for me and Bee.”

I looked up to see Rey looking over to the wall I was leaned up against, her expression a bit dazed. I turned around to see what she was staring at, there were thousands of tiny scratch marks etched into the wall. As if she was counting the days...

I turned back to her, “You’re waiting for someone too, aren’t you?”

She nodded, “My family, they’ll be back. One day...”

I could feel the sadness that surrounded her, the confusion she felt at their absence and the longing to be reunited with them. Rey‘s emotions radiated off of her almost as loud as mine did.

“How long have you been here?’ I asked cautiously, hoping I wasn’t crossing some line.

“Since I was a child, my parents left me here...I watched their ship fly away and haven’t seen them since. I’ve no idea why they did it but...I know I’ll see them again one day.”

Rey’s expression was something between hopefulness and extreme pain. I pitied her and somehow, a part of me understood her. While I did have a family, broken as it was, I was not Han and Leia’s daughter by birth. I could hardly remember my biological parents, only a brief image or two.

“You know, my parents died when I was very young,” I began softly, Rey’s eyes flew to meet mine, “I was only four, I was stranded on Naboo and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. That’s when someone found me and I was adopted soon after. I know it’s not exactly like your story but...I understand a little bit of what it’s like.”

I hadn’t even realized that tears had formed in my eyes till one fell down my cheek. I wiped it away quickly, Rey gave me a sympathetic smile.

“You know,” I continued, “I don’t even know their names? Or my own surname? I have no way of even knowing who they were...”

“Neither do I...” Rey whispered, her voice heavy.

I drew a deep breath, trying to repress the flood of emotions I’d kept locked up for over a decade. I thought of my parents every now and then but I tried not to do it often or else I’d get stuck. Stuck in wondering who they’d been, why they’d died, and what their identities meant to me. But meeting Rey all of a sudden was bringing up all the thoughts I tried to repress. Yet at the same time it warmed me to know I wasn’t alone.

“It’s nice to talk to someone who understands.” Rey said with a small smile.

“It is, yeah...” I replied, chuckling slightly.

“Well,” Rey said, dusting her hands off on her pants, “You’ve had a long day, you should get some rest.”  I grabbed my jacket and bunched it up into a makeshift pillow, avoiding putting my head near the hidden lightsaber. BB-8 rolled over to me as Rey got up to go close the hatch for the night.

I like her.  “Me too.” I whispered. I gave him a pat before he rolled next to my feet and switched off for the night.

Rey walked back over to her own makeshift bed and laid down on it, looking over to me,

“Tomorrow I can take you to the outpost and help you get transport back to wherever you’re going.”

I gave her a warm smile, “We’d appreciate that. Thank you, Rey.”

In the silence, I let my mind drift to the people closest to me, wondering what they were doing at that moment. My mother, probably worried sick about why we weren’t back yet. My father, unaware to the fact that his daughter was stranded on an Outer Rim planet after risking her life for the Resistance. Poe, either wandering the same desert I had or being beaten bloody by Stormtroopers. My heart ached at the thought that while I was safe, Poe was the furthest thing from it. Whatever the case, I knew he was going to keep his word and come back to me. Though I’d rather him return dehydrated and not with stitches and fresh scars. Just the thought of him injured broke a piece of my heart clean off.

“Y/n?” Rey asked quietly, afraid I was already asleep.

“Yeah?”

“You’re not going to kill me in my sleep, are you?”

“It’s about as likely as BB-8 turning into a Wookie.”

We both started laughing and within a few minutes, the AT-AT had fallen silent and we were both fast asleep.

———

A/N: I’m so excited to develop Rey and the Reader’s relationship, they definitely share a lot in common. And leave it to BB-8 to try and get Poe and the Reader together since they won’t admit anything. Never underestimate a droid 😉 And who are the Reader’s parents? Are we eventually going to find out? Who knows? 🤷🏼‍♀️ Hope you enjoyed, let me know if you’d like to be added to the taglist.

Taglist: @m1rkw00dpr1ncess @springfox04 @constantdisgrace @holybatflapexpert @seninjakitey @tammythompson-singslikea-muppet @leilei-draws @eternal-fandoms @dream-alittlebiggerdarling @imaginecrushes

#poe dameron fanfiction #poe dameron imagine #poe dameron fanfic #poe dameron x reader #poe dameron #rey x reader #rey #rey skywalker #star wars imagine #star wars fanfiction #poe dameron x solo!reader

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jq37 · 4 years

Text

The Royal Report– A Crown of Candy Ep 9 Safe Harbor

Out at Sea

We start this week on the recently commandeered La Fondue, milk raining down on our exhausted and injured PCs who are still reeling from Stilton’s betrayal. Most of Annabelle’s crew are even more badly injured so the PCs are forced to help sail the ship in a group skill check which 4/6 of them pass for a group pass. The gang watches the surviving enemy ships sail away and Jet considers blasting them with canons but the La Fondue doesn’t have artillery. Jet also asks Annabelle if maybe, now that they’ve saved all of their lives, they can break protocol and bring them to Candia instead of the Dairy Islands, a question she doesn’t answer at the moment.

(Edit: Wait! I should have called this section Sweet Life on Deck! Dangit! They better be on a boat again so I can use it!)

Most of the group start to fall asleep, understandable considering they’re living through the longest day of their lives, but Theo takes a second to talk to Cumulous first. He asks about Cumulous’s backstory and learns that the Spinning Star monks used to be able to teleport all over the place with teleportation circles made by Lazuli but, without her around to tend to them, they’ve been breaking down and are now unstable and dangerous to use. Him using one to get to them was a big risk and he really only made it because he’s one of the strongest monks. Additionally, as alluded to before, Candia being at war with the Concord released him from certain vows which allowed him to join the fight. They also bond over being the #1 and #2 Archmage Lazuli stans (or actually maybe #2 and #3 as we’ll find out soon) and Cumulous who is either really into magical weapons in general or magical weapons made by Lazli or a little of both gets emotional over Battlepop like he did over Sourscratch a scene before.

The next day, there’s a funeral for the one sailor Annabelle lost in the fight. Ruby ties the milk-silk handkerchief from Primsy to her collar in solidarity. Speaking of, Primsy shows up--still injured from the attempt on her life--and invites everyone not to tea, but to a parlay. Clearly affected by the recent events, she declares that she doesn’t recognize the excommunication of Amethar and questions the church’s position on witchcraft considering all the witchcraft her Candian allies used to save her. She’s also pretty chill about the whole Stilton thing considering.

Primsy says she’ll help them but first wants them to fill in the gaps in Brie’s brief letter. Amethar explains about how he was excommunicated for still officially being married to Katherine Ghee. During an aside to this conversation, he drops what I naively thought was going to be the headline news from this episode: Caramelinda was engaged to someone else before marrying Amethar--Lazuli! It was for political reasons in part but also a love match and when Lazuli died, she ended up getting married to Amethar to at least maintain the alliance. Anyway, Ruby asks if Cara knew about Ghee and Amethar says no one knew except Jack, Belford (the priest), and Ghee herself (plus his sisters but they’re all dead). Annabelle and Primsy question whether Amethar didn’t try to have the marriage annulled and he says that he did right after the war but she couldn’t be found. Annabelle says that there are a lot of little islands she could have run to in the aftermath of the war (a smart move considering the target that would be on her back) and says that Dairy ships have a better chance at finding Ghee if she’s still around so she’ll help arrange that.

They have a little convo-detour about various plot points:

Primsy asks how the Pontifex knew to ask Jack about Ghee in the first place. Ruby and Jet suggest she used magic or maybe found something in the files Ciabatta claimed had no Candian secrets.

Annabelle questions the fact that Plumbeline would name Ciabatta as the successor right before having to swear on the Book of Leaves. That seems to indicate that either she’s not working with the Pontifex or the Pontifex wanted to specifically and publicly rule out Ciabatta as a possible candidate.

Also, we learn that ex-communicating Amethar doesn’t take away his right to rule as Emperor. The Pontifex doesn’t have that authority, at least not on paper. But, as Ruby points out, she effectively has the authority by power. Still, if they can get the Book of Leaves and confirm Amethar was named emperor, that’s a huge point in their favor because he obviously wouldn’t declare war on Candia as emperor so the war would be without proper authorization and a violation of the Concord pact.

Theo and Amethar speculate that the Pontifex doesn’t actually want to name a new emperor and want to just “provisionally” (but really indefinitely) fill the power vacuum herself.

Anyway, Primsy reaffirms that the Dairy Islands are with Candia all the way and they continue to sail. They have 18 days before they land and Jet uses that time to finally read the rest of her banned book. You’ll remember that she already read about the first thing--the Profidian Heresy--which was an old, now heretical belief of certain members of the church that the Hungry One was as strong as the Bulb. We get a little bit of new info on that: One person who believed that doctrine and was later killed for it was a Veduit Priest (fight me Brennan) named Bartholomew Brocolpatch who was a mentor to a young Belizabeth Brassica.

Onto the second term--the Ramsian Doctrine (did not clock the Gordon Ramsay reference until it was mentioned on Adventuring Party). It is a full, end times, Revelations, Ragnarok type thing. Ruby helps with this because she speaks Bulbosi (which is like Candian Celestial or church speak). Basically what it says is that the Bulb can’t win until the Hungry One devours the world and the Hungry One won’t devour unhealthy souls (Ruby translates “healthy” from the Bulbosi phrases “farm to table” and “locally sourced”) so in order to bring about the end of days, there needs to be a destruction of all the trash people or, phrased differently because the word for people and food is the same in Bulbosi--the junk food.

Even knowing what happens later in this episode, this still might be the thing I'm most mad at Brennan about.

Cumulous later calls a meeting of all the Candians and drops a little more exposition on them. He says that the reason that Candia has magic and the other kingdoms largely don’t is because his order of monks curates and tends to the magic of the realm while other kingdoms neglect their sources of magic. He also says that the church’s power comes from others not having it. After Ruby mentions that she sees Lazuli on a semi-regular basis through her magic, Cumulous drops the bombshell that his power comes from the Hungry One--though he doesn’t worship them. It’s just like a power source. They also discuss Jet’s research on the end of days stuff and Jet thinks maybe the move is to spread as much junk food as possible to delay the apocalypse.

Homecoming

After a long time out at sea, the gang arrives at Port Syrup at the mouth of the Cola River. As they sail in, they see three sunk Imperial warships and that the port is heavily defended. Clearly they got the memo. And we quickly see who gave it to them when Brie and Manta Ray Jack run up to meet them! Amethar is super happy to see his friends alive and they also confirm that Cal made it out and so did basically everyone except the Swirlies (RIP). The Jawbreaker castle--Castle Many-Licks--is under siege but it’s very hard to break into and it seems like most of the rest of Candia is doing OK.

Brie thanks Ruby for her help in finding Manta Ray Jack and then confirms Amethar/Theo’s suspicions that the Pontifex is ruling in the absence of an emperor (she says that until Candia is back in the Concord, technically, there can be no emperor). He also swears to duel Liam who truly cannot stop putting his foot in his mouth (this time about the church and a *very* confusing..complement?), after the war.

Amethar and Cumulous have a quick aside where Cumulous once again says that his mission is more to protect the magic of Candia than them specifically. It just so happens that, right now, those two things are pretty aligned.

As they make their way back to Castle Candy (w/ their Dairy Island friends), the citizens are pretty stoked to see them so it seems that war with the Concord has not lessened the populace’s love for their king. They take a pit stop and get a war update. The mountains are full of Imperial soldiers and random marauders plus there are reports of “Long Live the Queen” written in Imperial soldier blood on the side of a mountain which isn’t ominous at all. Also, there’s a call for all the help they can get to defend Castle Candy because an army from Comida is coming. Ruby tries and succeeds in communing with Lazuli who sends her a vision: to help Castle Many Licks troop-wise, they’d have to leave Port Syrup defenseless basically which would be a huge strategic loss. Meanwhile, the army coming to Castle Candy is full of discord so there’s a better chance at being able to muster (not mustard) troops there and be successful. The Dairy peeps say they’ll help as well and leave for Lacramore--except for Brie who holds down the fort in Port Syrup and Jack who goes with them to Castle Candy.

They make it there, at like 4am and Carmelinda is there to meet them, full weeping in relief at her daughters’ safe return. Cal is also there (with fancy new pants) and very happy to see Amethar. Caramelinda is less happy to see Amethar and you can clearly feel the tense conversation they’re gearing up for. The girls want to stay but Cara lays down the mom hammer and starts lecturing them. They all try to stealth away (non-daughters included) but Cara goes Full Mom and hits a Nat 20 to eyes-on-the-back-of-her-head notice. She stomps her foot and traps them all in caramel, demanding they all stop messing around and go to bed. Theo Messages her to give a quick word in favor of the girls and their maturity and battle prowess which Cara acknowledges.

Cal gets acquainted with Cumulous while Amethar follows Cara into their chambers for a convo that had me feeling like *I* was in trouble. She’s emotionally overwhelmed in a kind of understated and detached way as she talks to Amethar--she’s again openly weeping but not really about him. She doesn’t expect much from him. Him never telling her and hoping the problem would go away like a child makes sense. But his sisters knew which means Lazuli knew and never told her which hurts a whole lot more because, “Lazuli I loved with all my heart and this is just politics.” Ow. Amethar promises he’s going to do better. She doesn’t seem convinced as she leaves the room.

Later (Note: I’m not 100% clear on the timeline since Siobhan says when they wake up but it seems like it’s still dark in the next scene), Ruby takes the “For Candia” note from Lapin and brings the rest of the PCs to the Sugar Plum Fairy’s standing stones to have a little funeral. Liam finds a peppermint seed and puts it down for Preston. Cumulous is also there and has the urge to meditate while everyone goes back to the castle.

Rocks Fall

Ruby and Jet see, as their mom walks out of her study, a piece of tearaway lingerie in her desk as she locks the door behind her. And it’s not Jet’s. You know the girls gotta investigate that and Ruby, of course, gets a Nat 20 to pick the lock. In fact she doesn’t have to pick it. She approaches it with an air of mischief and it yields to her, opening without her even having to break out her thieves' tools. They find a letter from Lazi Fierce (interesting name choice) of Lazi Fierce Lingerie who apparently has been spying on them for their mom since they were little (which is funny considering she seemed outraged about their buying lingerie in ep 1). The letter also cryptically refers to something she’s keeping hidden in the attic of her shop and that she needs to leave and she doesn’t know when she’ll be back so if Cara needs it, she should go get it. Much like Siobhan/Adaine stealing that book in S1 of Fantasy High, there is no way the girls were gonna get that info and *not* follow up on it. They grab Liam and go.

With a 25, Ruby easily picks the lock and...we cut to Cumulous.

As he’s meditating, the Sugar Plum Fairy appears to him in a traditional, cutesy form. Cumulous sees through the glamour and asks what she wants. She says she wants the magic of Candia safe, same as him and says she would owe him a boon if he brought the royal family (who she needs safe) to the Great Stone Candy Mountain. She says there’s safety there for them and Candia’s magic. Maybe not in the way Lazuli planned but this is a better plan. Cumulous says he’ll think about it.

Calroy finds Amethar and takes him to the ramparts of the castle to have a guy chat and also talk strategy. As they get up there, Amethar sees that there’s a ton of soldiers in tents out in the fields. And then he feels a knife in his back. Brennan asks for 3 Con saves.

Water dagger.

He takes 34 points of damage (about half his HP) and is paralyzed as Cal starts to monologue about how he’s always hated Amethar for being so lucky. Fifth in line and somehow makes it to the throne while he’s stuck having to wheel and deal for everything he has. He reveals that he had Rococoa killed when she found out he was selling weapons to Cersians AND that the tents in the field aren’t all Candian tents. Some of them are Ceresians. He got Stilton interested in Primsy. He set up the cheese ambush. He worked with Alfredi to get the water daggers to Kerradin. He told the Pontifex about Ghee (he was in that conversation you’ll remember). He *also* says that, in her younger days, the Pontifex had Citrina (who he claims to have actually liked) killed in the street by Vegetanian knights.

“I wonder if they’ll call you Amethar the Unfallen after this.”

Boom, Amethar is sent over the castle walls.

Jet, Ruby, and Liam are in the attic and they see a gleam of golden light from a chest where something is clearly being held. Brennan makes everyone roll Initiative as they walk in and Liam sees four shapes in the room move, all masked, dressed in black, and holding water-steel daggers.

Ally scrambles for combat dice--because this is a STORY episode what is HAPPENING--and attacks for, in total, 67 damage to one guy who smells of sourdough and does not drop. He hides and Ally, in a burst of realization, puts together that it must have been Ciabatta, something confirmed by Brennan’s coy smile as he rolls a million dice.

Emily and Siobhan hold hands and brace for whatever’s coming.

Ruby is hit by a dagger and Jet, it seems, is hit by two (since she takes 6 saving throws to Ruby’s 3). Ruby takes 49 damage (down to THREE) and Jet takes 53+51, dropping her and poisoning her. She has to make a death save with disadvantage (bc of the poison) which she passes.

Ruby wants to stay and fight but Liam and Jet insist she run so, visibly distraught, she casts Invisibility on herself and runs for Theo. Liam casts Rope Trick, grabs Jet, and brings her into a little pocket dimension with him. Ciabatta takes off his mask and tells his men to find them and they say, “Yes Imperator.” They leave. We’re out of combat.

But Jet still has death saves to make.

Nat 1.

That’s two fails.

Liam tries to make a DC 15 medicine check to stabilize her or at least give advantage but fails.

She rolls again.

Nat 1.

As she lays in the Rope Trick, bleeding out, Liam trying his best to stanch the wound, Jet feels a glow on her Locket of the Sweetest Heart. Ruby feels the glow as she sprints over the bridge back to the castle and as she reaches the other side, the glow extinguishes.

“Tell Ruby I love her,” Jet says to Liam, not from her body, but standing above her body. “And tell her she did the right thing.”

The spirit of her aunt Rococoa shows up to ferry her to the other side.

“Good job soldier. You got her home. Ruby’s gonna be alright. Work’s not over. There’s plenty we can do from this side. You ready?” Oh, hell yeah she is.

Which brings us to Theo who is in the castle, looking for other knights, when he finds Sir Toby in his room, butchered. The door is slammed and locked shut behind him by some of Cal’s men who taunt him about eating Toby’s corpse to survive. But Theo isn’t just a brawn guy. He’s the ward of Archmage Lazuli. He casts Knock and the door flies open.

Cumulous hears shouting from the castle and runs towards it immediately.

And Amethar is still falling.

Brennan says he has the time to make 3 checks to come out of paralysis. He comes out of paralysis on his first turn and, as is mechanically useful and narratively appropriate, goes into a rage. As he falls he thinks about Ruby doing that slick aerial arrow shooting last ep and Jet stabbing that dude with him during the ambush. He sees a point of light across town cross the bridge and go out and he *knows* Jet is dead. If he wasn’t raging before, he’s raging now. He falls and takes 72 points of damage, halved to 36. He’s still up. Amethar the Unfallen, yet again.

The sounds of war erupt and that’s where we end our ep.

Safe harbor my ass.

In Memoriam

Oh, Jet.

I’ve known this was something I was going to have to write for ages now. I’m honestly only surprised this wasn’t the first one. Jet has had a date with the Grim Reaper for ages now and it was just down to confirming the date and time.

The moment she said, “I go on top of the carriage and lay myself perfectly to protect Ruby,” she might as well have started picking flowers for her grave. Her willingness to throw herself in harm’s way to protect anyone she held in any regard without the slightest hesitation was always going to be her downfall. A noble end to be sure, but still an end. And it sucks that, if she had to die, she didn’t die in a blaze of glory in battle, but she made the most of her senseless death. She died, telling Ruby to run, wishing she could have done more to save her, telling Liam to make sure she knows that she’s loved and that she didn’t abandon her, she did the right thing. Not a single thought for herself, only for her sister.

Jet, who never wanted to be queen and now never will be.

Jet who longed for war and fell right on the cusp on the biggest one in years.

Jet who was forced by circumstances to step up and did so every time.

I didn’t include her last exchange with Rococoa in the recap because I wanted to use those lines here.

Her aunt says, “I have bad news. If you thought the adventure was gonna end, it’s not.”

“Well,” Jet replies with a slight smile, “if you thought the adventurer was gonna die, she definitely fucking wasn’t.”

The Bastard Jet Rocks. RIP.

1 Million Years Dungeon

That damn cake bastard and his stupid fancy pants. I KNEW it I KNEW it I hate that I’m right but I KNEW IT.

Not that it was a crazy puzzle as a viewer. In a story like this there *has* to be a traitor to the king and for someone to be a traitor, they first have to be a friend. And Cal has been *real* friendly. Brennan thought he could throw us off the scent by saying that Cal was is his DMNPC, as if we don’t already know he’s the enemy. That’s just more evidence for the pile baby! I SEE YOU VILLAIN.

But damn if it didn’t still hurt when it happened. After what he’d just been through? That’s just insult to injury, or vice versa I suppose. And in a story ep???? Brennan?????

Wild that he waited 20 years to off this dude and then monologued his entire plan and didn’t wait to make sure Amethar--the famously Unfallen--was dead though.

Anyway, absolute BASTARD MAN (and not in the cool Jet way). I need him DEAD and I need that to happen ASAP.

(Also, this is more on Brennan but full-circling Lou’s “shit/piss” running joke with a MURDER ATTEMPT? That’s an extra year dungeon my guy.)

Sunnyside Up

“You’ve struck me. Why have you done this? It was wee and gentle but you've struck me nonetheless.” I love Primsy with my whole heart.

The “slam down big style” line was, like, moderately funny when I first heard it but every repetition in and out of game made it exponentially funnier.

“If we have to follow the rules, you have to follow the rules!”

“Everyone needs to stop making sworn enemies. We already have enough.”

“I sentence you to death.”/“No let him do it.” and then his, “Later.” So good.

It didn’t *end* funny but I maintain that that the, “There’s a *war* going on,” back and forth between Jet and Ruby was gold.

This isn’t actually from the episode but everyone roasting Brennan with full lies when he gets up to use the bathroom in the Adventuring Party is one of the funniest things Dropout has ever put out. Also, Murph taking Brenna’s cookie story and Murphing it is very good. Just watch this week’s AP, even if you don’t usually.

Things I’m Concerned About

Going into this battle ep, Ruby has THREE HP and Amethar has FIFTEEN. Like I know Rococoa said Ruby would be OK but I hope that has some mechanical effect because IDK ABOUT THAT.

Is Lady Donetta w/ Cal or was she just a pawn, like Primsy?

Also, idk if this matters but I can’t shake the thought that Cal murdered the Swirlies. Like it’s very probable that they just suck but the thought struck me.

Don’t love that it seems like Cal is going right for Cara this ep. Hopefully Theo (who Big Brained on that clutch Knock) can help her out and, if not, it looks like she has some skills of her own. I’m pulling for her.

How out the window is the format? Like, I’ve been concerned about a random combat ambush for a while now--partially because of the genre and partially because of how story heavy the tourney ep was. Things have been bleeding through already and now, at the halfway point, it seems like a plausible time for Brennan to fully throw the rulebook out the window and be like, “Game’s changed y’all.” They didn’t roll for initiative at the end of last ep. I wonder if that’s logistical or somehow relevant (like, are they going *right* into combat or not).

AHHHHHHH, OK, Jet’s death. As much as I felt it coming, ouch. And not just ouch for me Ouch for everyone. I am so worried about how this is going to break Ruby specifically. Like, poor Cara--she *just* got her daughter back only for her to die in her old stomping grounds because of a letter *she* had--poor Amethar--he’s outlived his firstborn who he saw safely through battle and loved more than anyone besides his other daughter, just like he outlived all his sisters--but Ruby? This is going to CRUSH her. She egged on the sneaking out. She ran instead of staying to try and help (correct move but total guilt trip). She’s never been alone before. I know we’ve all been kinda tense for whatever that, “Family is vulnerable,” line from Siobhan in the trailer is but man I’m *so* much more tense now. I wonder if she’s gonna take a class tweak like Liam did (I know he had more of a reason for it but still curious).

(Also, Theo who’s whole purpose in life is protect the Rocks family having Jet die and Amethar almost die in one night? RIP to that dude’s mental health.)

Note: I recognize that there’s a theory floating around that Cara set up what happened as an ambush and is evil but I refuse to consider that and if that makes me boo boo the fool in two episodes, so be it.

Seriously though, Concerned about whatever that “Long Live the Queen” stuff is. Like it could be referring to Cara but it could be referring to someone else entirely. Either way, sketchy.

Lol also the health food-pocalypse. That’s a thing. Extremely wild that that’s not even close to the headline of this episode.

I may have trusted Lapin by the end but I do *not* trust the Sugar Plum Fairy. Whatever’s going on with her and Cumulous? Do not vibe.

Ciabatta better be toast by the end of this show. This isn’t a concern. This is my Denny’s order. Toasted Ciabatta with a side of dice I can pour down Brennan’s throat.

Five More Things

So, Emily’s new character. I have two thoughts. One (and this was suggested to me by @buck92) is that she’s playing the Queen’s Champion--Ser Amanda Maillard who’s been mentioned twice--once in the first episode by Theo and Sir Toby and once this episode as part of the war effort (leading troops south). A named character doing important things but with no art sounds like a possible backup PC. Also, Emily getting to play this cool knight who Murph’s character is slightly jealous of would be A Dynamic. The other strong possibility is the Sugar-free chocolate warlock Brennan mentioned in episode 1 when they were on the way to Comida. I thought they were gonna get jumped by that character and they weren’t which makes me think that’s a PC too. It would also make Emily 3 for 3 on warlocks!

RIP to all of us who made the Bread Wedding joke before the season started. We were right, but at what cost.

Ruby talking about how it doesn’t matter what she does because she’s not next in line and then having Jet suddenly die and instantly becoming crown princess has painfully Big Amethar Energy.

Also, a nat 20 to break in and find the letter and then two Nat 1 death saves? The dice REALLY wanted Jet dead. Addendum: Almost forgot! Liam *just* learned Twinspeak! Like, off. What a narrative hand-off having that happen right before Jet died. It was like written in the stars.

It’s just a little moment but I loved Cara including Liam in her lecture with a little, “You are included, Liam.”

One More Thing!

This has been circulated a bunch already but I still wanted to shout out this very good video edit by @breadddie! It hit me real hard man.

Also, I don’t think I can link this properly without tumblr getting mad at me but this animatic with Amethar’s Fall set to What’s Up Danger on Twitter is excellent!

Edit: Here’s a link to an ask where I link to the animatic! Novatank is the artist’s @ btw.

#a crown of candy #a crown of candy spoilers #dimension 20 #dimension 20 spoilers #the royal report #man there was so much in this ep I'm sure I didn't capture all my stray thoughts but that's ok!#this is a recap if you want thoughts on s/t I didn't mention for some reason hit me up!

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furidojasutin · 4 years

Text

Title: Buddy talk

Pairing: Grayke (Gray x Loke)

Universe: Modern AU

Rating: K+

a/n: This is my entry for the Fairy Tail Reverse Big Bang hosted by @ftguildevents ! I was super happy to get to work with the beautiful @rougearts who also made me see the appeal in this ship, actually! You can find her art piece over here --> https://rougearts.tumblr.com/post/628531912470937601/i-am-not-against-shoving-you-off-this-bed-loke . Make sure to give her work lots of love and follow her on all her blogs, too!! Her writing is amazing and so is her art. 💓 This event was such an amazing idea tbh, so thanks to everyone who helped hosting it and everyone who participated <3

“Ta-da!”

“Wow.” Even if Gray ignored Loke's smugly shimmering eyes, there was a lot to take in. The modern dining table was completely laid. Despite the comparably small surface of the table, there was plenty of different stuff to eat and he'd also spotted the various kinds of bottles near the kitchen counter. The kitchen counter itself? It wasn't as much of a mess as Gray had assumed it would be. After all this time of being friends with Loke, he was still unable to tell if that ginger was more of a clean person or a messy person. Perhaps it depended on the exact situation, really.

“Wow? That's your only reaction? I put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this.”

“Sounds kinda gross, if you ask me,” Gray deadpanned but couldn't help but smile a little when he saw his friend's play-acted offended face.

“Well,” Loke countered, “I've always known that you never had keen eye for things that deserve true appreciation, so I can only feel bad for you I guess.” With a slightly dramatic gesture he left Gray's side to fetch them both a glass from the cupboard.

“Sure, whatever you say, man.” He watched Loke with a shrug, the tiniest curve still not disappeared on his face. Of course he appreciated the effort, he really did. Perhaps he wasn't the best at showing his gratitude most of the time, so he was glad that Loke understood him without him having to say much.

His gaze swerved over the full display of food bowls and the... Wait.

“You prepared all of this yourself?”

Loke froze in his movement for a second and Gray almost missed the hesitation. Almost. When his friend turned around with a glass in each of his hands, he shot a lopsided grin towards Gray. “Weeeell..... Not all of it.”

Gray knew exactly where this was going. “What did you prepare yourself?”

With a roll of his shoulders Loke smoothly turned his back on him to pour them both a glass of wine. “This and that... I toasted the bread and cooked the eggs and-”

“You ordered the rest of the meal.”

“Got me there.”

Even so, starting off the evening with a meal and wine was a very good idea. It was pretty decent wine, too. Before Gray knew it he had already emptied two glasses. They hadn't planned on getting drunk but then again, they hadn't planned out anything really so this night could go anywhere.

Or, almost anywhere.

After they cleaned up they decided to move over to Loke's couch and watch some shitty night tv channel. This channel seriously never disappointed them – there was always something dumb to comment on and make fun about and Gray caught himself laughing at more of Loke's stupid jokes than he wanted to admit. It had always been this way.

The night progressed very fast and it was an absolutely good time. Everything was so easy when he was around Loke. Silly and chill. Gray felt relaxed.

And perhaps it was the bottle of wine that they had killed together (though Gray felt a very tiny buzz at most), but there was something so warm and good about Loke and him just chilling on his bed together and talking about random stuff before sleep would get to them. There was nothing weird about them sharing this bed, nothing weird about two half-naked guys right next to each other and sharing their thoughts.

Until Loke thought that it was a good idea to bring that topic into focus.

“Why again are we talking about this?” Gray averted his eyes and stared at the ceiling instead. He made an effort to sound annoyed but something told him that it wouldn't be so easy to distract Loke from his intention. Ugh... He really didn't like talking about this kinda stuff. And perhaps one of the reasons for this circumstance was right beside him...

“Because you're one of my best friends. And because I'm very curious.” Loke rolled onto his side. “I know all about Cana's love life and-”

“It's not like she has ever tried to make a secret out of it. She's a very blunt person. She loves telling us juicy new information involving her newest crush and so on,” Gray tried to counter.

Without much success.

“I want to know more about your love life, though. We've been buddies for so long and I know that you're not much of a talker, but c'mon. There's got to be somebody, right?”

Something about Loke's tone of voice had changed, but he wasn't able to pinpoint what exactly it was. Maybe there was a tad bit less amusement in it, or perhaps he just sounded more serious.

Gray frowned. He still didn't really feel like talking about this. Yea, he'd much rather change the subject. Besides, there wasn't much to tell anyway...

“Okay.” Loke tried again after a moment of silence. Did he realize that he wasn't gonna say much, even if he begged him to? “If you don't want to tell me any stories yourself, how about I ask what I'm curious about and you answer?” A short pause. “Or not-,” Loke added quickly. “If you don't want to.”

So he still wanted to hold onto this topic. And Gray really wondered why. Perhaps it was the wine that they both had consumed and the fact that they were chilling on Loke's bed, comfortable with blanket and pillows and a crappy reality tv series playing in the background still.

With a sigh, Gray decided that he would agree. For as long as he could bear it. “Alright, fine.”

How could he mentally prepare himself for the questions that might come for him? He probably couldn't.

“Okaaay...,” Loke shifted to lie on his back as well and focused on the ceiling, just like Gray. “I know that your relationship with Juvia didn't work out. But I never actually asked if it was you breaking up with her or the other way round. So what was up with that? She's a sweet woman.”

Gray frowned at that. He should have expected Juvia to be the first person to be brought up but he still felt unprepared. On the other hand, it wasn't too hard talking about her, because... “We kinda both did it? It was weird. I think we both just got carried away and didn't realize from the start that we had different feelings for each other that weren't romantic love, you know? We care for each other a lot, just not... in that kinda way. And we're fine with that.” He couldn't believe that the words were just spouting from his mouth like that and that, actually, it wasn't too difficult to talk about it either.

For so long he had always just lived with the perception that he had to hide away his true feelings from anybody. As time went by and he made his true friends, he learned to let go of this perception step by step, but romantic love was a topic that he had barely ever approached up until now. At least when he himself was involved.

“Huh, alright. Totally get that. I mean, you guys are still good friends, right? I haven't seen her in a while.”

“Yea. She's got a new job and it's pretty busy. Didn't Cana meet her last week?” Gray mused loudly.

“No idea,” Loke shrugged before a small grin appeared on his face. “Talking about Cana... Did you ever have the hots for her?”

Now, that was a question Gray had to grimace it. It wasn't because Cana wasn't an amazing woman or didn't look great, but... Their relationship had really turned out to be one between a brother and a sister. They had fun together, she was game for anything and sometimes they annoyed each other just to hang out again not long after.

Of course he knew why Loke was asking. All three of them were pretty close after all. Loke had even been Cana's boyfriend for a short while before they cut it off again, all without any hard feelings. Gray had always admired this casualty a bit.

And Cana and himself? She had been his first kiss... Ah, yea.

“No, not really, I guess...,” he ended up muttering and scratched his nose in a sense of awkwardness. “She's really been more like a sister all this time and I don't think that's gonna change.”

“And that kiss?”

Yea, yea, yea... “That was... just curiosity. We were kids, kids are curious.” Gray still couldn't say it without feeling even more awkward.

Luckily, Loke seemed content enough with this answer and when Gray dared to turn his head so he could catch a glimpse of Loke's face, he spotted the small smile. Was it amusement? Was it happiness? He was unable to figure it out. Maybe it wasn't important.

“Fact is, she's amazing. And we'd definitely miss her in our squad, right?”

Now that was something Gray could agree with without hesitating a single second. “For sure.”

“Okay, so what about Natsu?”

Loke was facing him again now and he actually had to laugh out loud at the face Gray pulled once the question had slipped past his lips. The sound of it made Gray's heart jump but the absurdity of the suggestion was in the forefront of his mind. Natsu? Never in a million years! “Do you still need an answer?” He asked, mumbling and still with a grimace. “Besides, he's with Lucy. Lucy can deal with his hot-tempered ass. Sometimes I feel really sorry for her.”

His best friend had a hard time suppressing his chuckles. “I mean, you two act like an old married couple sometimes. It would be cute as well – if it wasn't for you wanting to bash each other's head in on a regular basis.”

“Go fuck yourself!”

“Oh, kinky Fullbuster is here.”

“Shut up!”

It was over, Loke was laughing and rolled around on the bed until he almost pushed Gray off the edge. He could be worked up about Loke asking if he had a thing for Natsu, or he could let himself get infected by his friend's laughter, ignoring the soft warmth in his cheeks. He didn't hate Natsu and Natsu didn't hate him. Honestly, they'd probably help each other out of the biggest problems and be there for each other but the bond they had was still more like a... love-hate thing? It was hard to imagine a life without Natsu in it but sometimes he just wanted to throw him into the nearest trash can.

Oh well... The second option won out anyway. At this point it was impossible not to give a laughter of his own and with a quiet, playful curse on his lips he pushed Loke away again so he wouldn't end up falling off the bed after all.

“Calm down man, it wasn't that funny,” he argued and huffed, a not so secret smile on his face, though.

It took another moment for Loke to calm down but eventually he just wiped a single tear off his face and then he was ready to proceed.

Gray had hoped that he was done.

“Okay, okay, okay...” The ginger placed a finger on his lips, looking as though he was thinking hard. Gray didn't trust any of it. How was he still not done? “What about Erza?”

“She's just a good friend.” Although, and that was something he had never told anybody really, he's had a small crush on her years ago. Years ago, really.

“Fine. She's a very impressive woman, though, damn. If she wasn't part of our friendship group I'd be so intimidated.”

“Yea.”

Gray knew that they still were pretty intimidated by her sometimes, though. They just didn't like to admit it.

“Mirajane?”

“Dude, she's a lesbian.”

“The women of this world are very lucky.” Loke sighed and placed the hands behind his head, looking at the ceiling again. “Levy? No wait, she's taken, too. No surprise, she's cute and smart.”

“So don't ask me about Gajeel.” He was almost getting used to these casual suggestions now.

“Right, right. Freed?”

“He's engaged with Laxus, remember?”

“Sure, sure. Two more attractive dudes off the market.” Loke waved him off, but the grin had returned. “Maybe I'm just trying to be nosy and find out what kinda guys you like... And girls. But I'm more curious about the guys.”

And Gray hated how fast this false feeling of casualty disappeared again. It flew right out of the window. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw his friend grinning at him and he couldn't handle it right now. He just hoped that his reaction wasn't too obvious and that the warmth tingling in his body was to blame on the remains of the wine (even though they really hadn't drunken much). Harrumphing quietly, he decided to fake-stretch himself and then roll onto his side. “I don't have a type. Are you done, then? I'm kinda tired, seriously.”

Gray wanted to hit himself because of this obvious sounding lie. How more obvious could he be?! Still, the tiny, naive spark of hope that Loke would buy it and just leave it be was there and he felt tense when he awaited his friend's response. It was really late, so that was no lie at least. Late, early? It was starting to get light again outside anyway.

Wow, had they really been talking for so long?! The tv was still on, too, but he hadn't been paying attention to it anymore at all.

“No type?”

He felt Loke shifting and so he decided to fake a yawn. “No, I don't think I have one.”

“Huh, okay, I get it.” Loke was looking over Gray's shoulder, he could see it out of the corner of his eyes. Intently he averted his eyes and just stared at Loke's wardrobe, still lying on his side. For a second he thought that Loke was done, but then- “Except that I don't get it. I mean, you only have to take a look at this charming face of mine and you'll be sold.”

More heat seeped into Gray's cheeks immediately and he really, really wanted to blame it on the alcohol again. Was Loke trying to flirt? Was he just being Loke? He could never be too sure about it... There was no way that Loke was seriously having any interest in him like... that, right? Fuck.

He knew that he shouldn't turn his head and look, because that was exactly what his friend wanted him to do. He knew he would be doomed and his heart would make that kind of jump again and make him feel stupid, but...

Turning, with Loke half-hovering above him, he looked straight at him and Loke immediately intensified his stupidly charming grin.

“See? Hooked yet? Nobody can resist this beautiful face.”

There was so much Gray wanted to do, but would never dare to. There were so many thoughts in his head that he wasn't anywhere near ready to voice yet. Loke's illegally suave grin, the colored light of the sunrise beginning to stream through the window, their closeness, the flirty atmosphere...

But it was just them being bros. It had always been this way.

Or had it not?

When had his stupid heart begun to make such a ruckus about Loke? And was there the smallest chance of Loke feeling the same?

Fuck. He hated the conflict this man threw him into and yet, at the same time, he wouldn't want to miss these evenings. Not a single one of them.

And before he even took note of it, he was having a lopsided grin of his own, with the most stupid little hope somewhere in his heart. “Pfft, sure. Try again, man.”

“Oh you know I'm an enthusiastic pursuer of my goals,” Loke countered and adjusted his non-existent tie in a silly way.

“I don't mind', Gray thought to himself and when catching this thought of his he just waved his friend off again and huffed before turning his back on the ginger. With a smile sneaking its way onto his face, he muttered.

“Night, you idiot.”

“Hey, I wasn't done yet,” came the silly complaint from behind him and before Gray knew it, Loke had flopped on top of him. How could he have been so naive to think that a simple 'good night' would shut his friend up? It wasn't like he had a huge issue with Loke flopping onto him, but part of him had and... it wasn't exactly helping his case and all the thoughts he's had around it.

“You can't just turn your back on me like that. What point are you trying to prove? I'm irresistable. And if you're really going to try and escape this simple reality, you've got to try harder than that! Worshiping the beauty that is me is inevitable, Gray.”

Gray knew all too well that Loke could just go on like this forever. At least it hadn't reached the point of him becoming ridiculously poetic about himself yet, although the thought made him want to shake his head and roll his eyes in fondness. Still, he really wanted to sleep. Or perhaps calm down and shut off his brain for now.

So he just tried to shrug Loke off with a huff and grumbled. “I swear, I'll throw you off this bed if I have to.”

“You would yeet me off my own bed?!” A surprise gasp.

“Yea. Yea, I would.”

It was definitely worth it because he finally seemed to get through to his friend and, perhaps more importantly, he got more of Loke's warm laughter before he felt how said man retreated and made himself comfortable without sprawling across him.

“Fine, fine. I don't wanna get yeeted anywhere today, so sleep well, have sweet dreams and all that.”

The chuckle in Loke's voice faded away with his words and then it was quiet.

In this silence and while closing his eyes, Gray decided that Loke's laughter and the sound of his voice definitely weren't the worst things to hear last before falling asleep and that the knowledge of him beside him and the warmth radiating from his body were a kind of comfort that he would like to get used to, like to have and to keep.

#ftrbb2020 #fairy tail #gray fullbuster #loke #grayke #gray x loke #Sel writes #rougescribe #events #my stuff

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