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stars-and-inkpots · 7 months

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Promise Me | Gale x Reader

Gale accepts his fate so eagerly, and you don't understand why. You don't understand how he can leave everything- how he can leave you behind without hesitation.

Pairing: Gale/Reader

Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Fluff and Angst, can be read as platonic

Notes: I don't have much to say about this one other than that I love Gale a lot and the fact that he just agreed to this in game makes me so sad when I think about it too deeply

Ao3 Link: Promise Me

Word Count: 1,415

When Elminster showed up, in the Underdark no less, to tell Gale that he could earn his Goddess’s forgiveness by effectively killing himself, you could hardly understand it. What made you even more confused, was Gale’s apparent acceptance of the task.

You had tried to interrupt them. You tried to explain how irrational the whole idea was, but Gale only waved away your attempts. He was accepting the task, seemingly eager to be a martyr.

You expect Gale to change his mind once Elminster leaves. You expect him to tell you that he only agreed so he could get the orb under control. But when Elminster is gone, Gale affirms his choice once more. Nothing you said could change his mind, and he refused to talk on the matter any more for the rest of the night.

It was cruel of Mystra to ask this of him, and you can’t understand how Gale can’t see this.

The next morning, Gale acts as though the whole interaction never happened.

He’s still smiling, still full of sarcastic comments that always seemed to lighten the mood while you all made your way through the Underdark. The next day is much the same.

Everytime you try to talk to him, he’s conveniently out doing something else, or so busy with his studies that he “absolutely cannot spare a single moment.” As much as you care about him, it’s starting to annoy you just how long he’s willing to continue ignoring you.

“Glaring at him every time he’s not looking isn’t going to accomplish much, my dear,’ Astarion says quietly. You’ve been walking back to camp for the better half of an hour, and you know you should be paying more attention to what’s around you given how dangerous the Underdark can be.

“I know,” you grumble.

“Have you talked with him about it?” The two of you are quiet enough that Gale won’t hear you.

“No. He’s been avoiding me.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Astarion hums. “I imagine he’s scared.”

“Of me or blowing up?” You joke, maybe in poor taste, but it’s the first smile you’ve had in a while and Astarion appreciates the humour given the situation.

“Both, definitely both.” Astarion smiles. “You can be quite scary when you’re angry. Maybe he thinks blowing up will be easier than answering to you.” It’s an awful thing to joke about, you think again, but you laugh anyway because there really is nothing else you can do. “I mean it though, that’s probably why he hasn’t said anything about it. As much as I hate to defend him, I’m sure he’s just trying not to think about it.”

“You’re being strangely thoughtful, Astarion; dare I say considerate,” you tease. Astarion raises a hand to his chest in mock pain.

“You wound me, pet. Am I not such a beacon of empathy all of the time?”

“Alright, alright,” you laugh, loud enough this time for the whole group to hear. You wait a few moments before speaking again, sure that no one is still listening. “I’ll talk to him tonight then. I promise I won’t be too mean to him.” Of course, you couldn’t be mean to the man if you tried. You could be annoyed with Gale all you wanted, but you know that you would never be able to voice that anger. You know the look on Gale’s face would be too much, and you would immediately feel terrible. You know your anger is not truly anger. It’s fear, and it’s sadness.

---

“Gale, I wanted to talk with you.” You watch as Gale freezes, hand reaching for the book he wasn’t quick enough to pick up before you arrived.

“Ah, my apologies, I was just about to-” Gale trails off when he finally looks up at you.

You don’t look angry, you look like you’re already grieving. You can feel the tears that already threaten to fall, and you know they likely will soon. “Gale,” you whisper, because you know your voice can’t handle any more than that without faltering. “Please. I just want to talk.”

“Alright,” Gale relents. He lets you inside the tent first, sitting down across from him on the organised mess of blankets surrounded by books. He looks guilty when he looks back at you, but he doesn’t say anything yet; you know he’s waiting for whatever you have to say. You can’t bring yourself to look at him yet.

“I’m sorry,” you start, and Gale is both surprised and confused. “I haven’t been very fair to you. I was so caught up in how I felt about everything that I didn’t consider how you might think of it.”

Gale expected you to yell; to show some sort of resentment for his apparent acceptance of the terms of his ‘apology’ to Mystra.

“I know I can’t change your mind. If you decide you want to go through with this, it’s your decision. I just want you to promise me something.” You finally look up at him, and Gale can see you’re crying now.

“I can try,” Gale answers honestly. He’s never been fond of promises, especially when they could be so easily broken.

You make a pained sort of noise. “Please. Promise.” You move closer to him, close enough that your knees are touching his.

“I promise,” Gale decides. He’ll keep this one. If there are any promises he will keep, it has to be this one. You look relieved, but the frown creasing your brow hasn’t left you yet. The expression doesn’t suit you, Gale thinks, having grown accustomed to seeing you smiling so often despite everything. Knowing that he’s the reason for it only serves to make him feel worse.

“Whenever you decide you’re going to do it, whether you decide that morning or the night before, you have to let me say goodbye. You can’t just leave when no one is looking. You have to tell me. You have to say goodbye to me.” Even though Gale already promised, it still feels like you’re begging him for this. The thought of never knowing when the last time you would see him would be made you sick. If he was going to go through with this, he had to give you this. You had to have the opportunity to say goodbye to him. To see him one last time.

Gale doesn’t know what to say. He’s made the promise, but he knows it will be easier for himself if he leaves before he can change his mind. He knows that he has to leave well before anyone can hope to catch up with him if he wants any chance that they would be safe from the aftermath. He knows that if he has to face you before he leaves, he’s not going to be able to go through with it. You’ll only make him remember how much he truly doesn’t want to die- how terrified he is of death.

So instead of saying anything, Gale leans forward and hugs you.

You’re quick to wrap your arms tightly around him, clutching at the back of his shirt like he’s already about to leave. He lets you sob into his shirt, only just holding back tears himself.

Is this what it’s like? To have someone care about you so completely- unconditionally. Someone who cares for not only your safety above all else, but would beg you for just the chance to say goodbye before you leave. You had assured him there had to be another way, and at the time, Gale assumed it was simply because you didn’t want to risk being caught in the crossfire. But now he knows that it wasn’t that at all. The thought of Gale’s death scares you just as much as it does himself.

“I’m not leaving,” he says quietly. “You said we can find another way. We’ll find it.”

“I don’t want to stop you from doing what you want to do. It’s your choice, Gale, but you have to know that it’s unfair of Her to ask this of you. You don’t deserve this.” You don’t want him to change his mind because of you. You want him to change his mind because he understands his life is worth it. His life is worth more than the forgiveness of a Goddess who doesn’t care about him.

Gale’s arms tighten around you. He may not believe your words just yet, but it’s a start.

It’s a promise.

#baldurs gate 3 #baldurs gate gale #gale x reader #baldurs gate 3 x reader #gale x you #x reader fic #gale dekarios

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carrrrino · 6 months

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HELLO I am very excited for this project! I wanted to express a concern though…it’s rather hard to find the any info on the project aside from what’s on the blog (which isn’t…very much information wise) I’m not sure if that’s an intentional decision…

I know when I first found the info I….kind of didn’t believe this?? That sounds odd. I suppose what I mean is, it didn’t seem the most legit. I did digging through the blog, read all the links, searched for a Twitter and YouTube accounts and had a hard time doing that as well…Simply because there is very little information on it. Which there’s nothing wrong with…I was wanting to suggest (as an outsider) that you and your team put more announcements/ marketing into this…?

I REALLY hope to see this project grow, it’s absolutely deserved, and very few people seem to know about it. I’d hate that to be something people miss out on. I don’t really expect an answer on this but I thought I should share the concern as an outside perspective. 💛

I really hope this project is going well for you and that it gets the deserved recognition as it’s coming out!!! So excited!!!

I'm so happy that people share the same excitement and concern for the series. Also, the fact that you guys think it's worthy of success Is truly inspiring! I think it's time I SAY something though about my current situation.

TL;DR - Our team basically went inactive after the summer; everyone returned to their lives and I'm the only one who can keep up with the project unconditionally. I didn't mean to dishearten you guys! It's a pain in the ass to work alone - excluding voice actors and SFX producers. The OUTBREAK blog will change entirely, it will be used for info and marketing. This blog will just be general art created by me (&no-namestuff). I will continue to work on the series independently, but I'll definitely give out more info as requested and make things more legit whenever I can!

Over the summer, a group of us began working on the project together, but as most of my friends returned to school and their regular lives, it became almost impossible to keep going. Currently, only a few are available to help, but they're too busy.

I didn't want to worry anyone by saying that it's basically just me working on the project; it's tough to balance animating, scripting, marketing, planning, publishing, AND funding by myself. Over time it (advertising and insightful communication) just became indifferent to me, I even considered going silent for a while until I had a mother-load of progress, but that's really not fair.

The project was a bit of a mess when we started. We didn't plan on making it a big deal, my animations were half-assed and incomprehensible; I barely knew how to work Adobe and could barely even pay it off, the sound was going to be recorded via iPhone, the script wasn't even halfway done, and voice actors weren't thought of until the Prologue. After more than six months of work, Verse 1-4 (or 6?) was deleted because of issues with the file.. this really drew the line for everyone.

So here I am, despite everything; I revised the script, which is barely halfway done, redesigned the characters, read more into the multiversal conundrums of AUs and UNDERTALE, built a portfolio, studied poses for the action scenes — and there’s still a lot that I have to learn. I'm working on Q&As, asks, and the teaser / test / project animations. I don't want people to be confused or hesitant, so I appreciate you a lot for reminding me of this. As requested, I will provide additional details about the project too :) !

No-Name's theme is in progress (thanks to Synth Mints), I've invested heavily in software for good quality animations, talented voice actors from this fandom (some you might even know) have agreed to voice for me - I'm extremely grateful for their help. Even if it takes years to release an episode or pilot, I'm still excited about the outcome. Who knows, I might even have a genuine team by then! :D

aw geez sorry for the whole bit-life story, I'm just trying to shed some light on the situation for you all. I do care, I want everyone to know that, it's just hard work.

Until the next teaser animation, please have these lil' pieces of teasers / lore as an apology!

SD by @/galacii ERROR by @/loverofpiggies / CrayonQueen

LASTLY today is my birthday yayyy 🥳🎂

#wish me luck #next anim is way longer than 5 seconds #I hope this sums things up #outbreak #shattered dream sans #no name sans

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miracles-and-butterflies · 5 months

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Fifth part of Intertwining Threads of Gold, based on a prompt by @time-for-a-grandkid-round-up.

(I caved. You can have it early).

The one where Mirabel becomes matriarch.

Dolores and Luisa confront Mirabel. The truth is laid out on the table.

Previous part of ITOG.

Next part of ITOG.

Comments are always appreciated.

~~~~~~

Intertwining Threads of Gold V

Mirabel had barely set a foot over Casita’s entrance when Dolores appeared.

“We need to talk.” She said.

“Oh, well, I was just going to make a start on dinner, Dolores—”

“Not you, Tía. Mirabel.”

Julieta and Agustín nodded (clearly misunderstanding this as some light-hearted conversation), stepping aside so Mirabel, who had been stood behind them, could get by.

Dolores didn’t wait for her, simply grabbed her primita’s hand and started walking. Mirabel eventually falling into pace behind her.

“What is happening? Why do we need to talk?” Mirabel whispered, genuinely confused.

“You know why.” Dolores responded.

Before Mirabel could point out the fact she didn’t and that is why she had asked in the first place, she was pulled into the sitting room.

Laying on the table was a familiar piece of cloth.

Mirabel froze.

“When… when did you go into my room?” Mirabel asked, not able to take her eyes off the thing.

“A few hours ago, but that’s not important right now.” Dolores answered.

“I don’t see why it wouldn’t be. That’s not very acceptable behaviour.” Mirabel mumbled.

Considering Mirabel made no effort to move herself, Dolores guided her to the closest chair and sat her down in it, taking a seat across from her, where Luisa had been waiting.

“Do you want to tell us about it?”

Not that Mirabel was really going to get a choice in the matter.

“I… um…” Mirabel trembled. As Luisa had already pointed out, acting and lying weren’t skills Mirabel had. Watching her improvise would be funnier, in a different situation. “You have me floored, Dolores. What is there to tell? It’s a piece of embroidery.”

“Yes, a piece of embroidery that you made,” she pointed out.

“What? Do you actually think that is my hand? I’m honoured, prima, really. But, my needlepoint is completely incomparable to that. You have seen what I can do and it’s awful.”

Neither of them said anything.

“Well, I’m glad we had this discussion,” said Mirabel, standing. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have to help my mother in the kitchen—”

“Mirabel, you seriously aren’t going to talk about this?” Luisa tried.

The girl looked back at the piece, nervously digging her nails into her arm. “I don’t know what you want me to say. It’s just a piece of embroidery.” She said, sounding small.

“Right, fine. Don’t talk.” Dolores sighed, after a minute. “I’ll just tell you about it.” She leaned over, pointing at each individual claw. “This is our family, each of our colours for these fingers, sharp and pulling; forceful. There’s your parents, my parents, Tío Bruno, Abuela—”

“It’s not,” Mirabel attempted.

“Then this,” she trailed her finger over to the hummingbird. “Is you. Small. Observant. Clever. Flighty. Having your wings ripped out, symbolising your loss of freedom.”

“Is that what it means?” Mirabel asked. “I assumed it was the thing bleeding to death.” She took a breath, taking a step backwards. “I think the lesson we should all take from this is that perception and imagery is really up to the individual, and there is no definite right or wrong answer.”

They stared at each other.

Take two.

“Luisa, here’s two lists of chores,” she turned, handing her cousin two crumpled bits of paper, before grabbing Mirabel’s arm. “Come back when you’re finished.”

Luisa got up, nodding without a word. Leaving quickly.

“W-where is she going?” Mirabel asked.

“To do some work.” Dolores answered.

“But nobody is meant to be working after six in the evening though. It’s half seven.”

“You don’t say.”

“Where is she going?”

“I’m not telling you.”

“Why?”

“Because you refused to tell us about the tapestry, so I thought I’d do the same. You want my knowledge? You can pay the price for it.”

Mirabel wailed, almost a scream.

Dolores raised a brow.

“I… I can’t… Do you promise you’ll tell me where she is? As soon as I’m done?”

“You have my word.”

~~~~~~

Luisa really should have tried harder to convince Dolores out of this idea.

The weather has taken a miserable turn which she didn’t prepare for and she isn’t allowed back to Casita for another hour, according to the plan.

She and Dolores had argued for the last two and a bit hours over what exactly they should do with the new information they’d found. Finally, they’d decided to toss a coin and Luisa promptly lost. So subsequently she had to go with Dolores’ plan.

Dolores’ plan of confronting Mirabel with the hard evidence didn’t sound appealing as a hypothetical, never mind actually doing it. And then after working her into a clearly overwhelmed and stressed state, to then pull out this card of forcing her into a confession. Dolores might as well have just asked Luisa to crack something.

Mirabel had sounded so broken and concerned though when she realised Luisa was going to work. The tapestry, and convincing Dolores she knew nothing of it, quickly forgotten.

Poor baby. Dolores is going to eat her alive—

What the hell?

She looked over at honestly the last person she expected to see out here, on the bridge and sobbing.

“Mirabel?”

The girl didn’t turn around, but as Luisa got closer she had her answer confirmed.

Mirabel’s eyes were very red and leaking with tears, blood dripping down her arm from her nails earlier. Too far into her grief that she didn’t even react initially to Luisa’s presence, didn’t even turn around and attempt to insist she was fine.

“Mirabel?” Her sister froze at her name, Luisa could almost hear her lungs working overtime. “It’s Luisa. It’s just me, I promise.”

Luisa stepped closer taking Mirabel’s hand into one of her own, rubbing some warmth into the cold, shaky appendage. With her other hand, Mirabel pushed her glasses aside and began drying her eyes.

“What happened with Dolores?” Luisa asked.

“I spoke. Tía Pepa heard us and came in. She had thoughts about the tapestry,” Mirabel mumbled.

Well. That explains the weather.

“Dolores admitted you weren’t working. I left and came here. I didn’t want to… I don’t want to be there when she tells everyone else. Or after.” She took a shaky breath. “What are you doing out here if you aren’t working? You aren’t wearing enough layers; you’re going to catch a cold, Luisa.”

Luisa just scooped her sister up into a hug. “You are so precious. But you can mother hen me later. We need to talk.”

She takes the opportunity to set Mirabel back on the ground, ending the hug, so the other can have some breathing room.

Mirabel glanced down at their hands.

“We both know what the tapestry means. But I want to hear it from you,” Luisa said. “Doesn’t need to be specific. I just want to know what’s going on and how I can help. I promise I won’t be mad or upset with anything that you tell me.”

Mirabel nodded in defeat, taking another breath, “I… I don’t want to be the matriarch. But… I have to. It’s what the family wants. And you are all too important, it is my job as the pawn to fill in wherever. And everyone would be disappointed in me if I didn’t… and I don’t… I don’t want to be that burden again.”

Silence settles between the two.

Luisa can feel Mirabel’s pulse quickening through soft skin. As she continues to stare off at the river, shivering or shaking or both, and her eyes water again.

Antonio once said that a hummingbird’s heartbeat goes over a thousand beats per minute.

She thinks Mirabel has managed to double that.

“Mirabel, nobody thinks you’re a burden - the only one saying that is you,” Luisa says firmly but as gently as she can. “And nobody will be disappointed in you if you don’t want to be the matriarch. It’s totally reasonable why you wouldn’t because of.. the past, but also because it just isn’t something you’re interested in. And if anyone thinks otherwise they can talk to me.” She turned Mirabel around to look at her. “You’re insanely intelligent and wonderfully creative, and too good to be wasted for a council because someone else decided for you. If this was the other way around, you wouldn’t let me do it, would you?”

“Of course not.”

“Then why are you different?”

Mirabel opened her mouth to argue but sighed. Good. Luisa was going to shut down the giftless excuse very quickly.

She slowly got up, pulling Mirabel to her feet as well. They slowly headed home.

“But… what would I do instead?” Mirabel inquired.

“Whatever you want,” she answered, smiling. “It’s your future. What did you want to do before all of this happened?”

“I don’t know. I assumed I would just continue doing household chores forever. When I tried getting a job last summer, everyone just laughed at me and said ‘no’. I figured nobody wanted me.” Luisa looked offended and pissed, but Mirabel didn’t notice. “It’s probably why I forced myself into this; to feel wanted.”

She might actually kill some of the townspeople.

For now, she pulled Mirabel closer, giving a mocking sigh. “I’ll just have to bring you to work with me. Then you’ll feel wanted.”

Mirabel laughed.

A genuine laugh and smile.

“I’d love to, but I don’t think heavy lifting, construction and architecture is any more of a skill of mine than governing and leadership is.”

“Maybe it’s for the best.” Luisa teased, nudging her. “You’d probably just lecture me about not wearing special protective gloves or goggles or a safety helmet or something.”

“Please, I’m not that pedantic— I’m sorry, you’re not wearing what?”

#encanto #my writing #dolores madrigal #luisa madrigal #mirabel madrigal #julieta madrigal #agustín madrigal #antonio madrigal #pepa madrigal #ask me anything

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cellarspider · 2 months

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16/?? Chemically inert

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We return to a movie whose biggest enemy is its own script, Prometheus. This is the second post today, because the previous one was so awful and I had very little context to add beyond anger.

So, now we come to a scene that made me wonder in the theater: what the fuck is going on with straight people?

A tangent is required at this moment, before we get back to pondering this question. Some of my friends like to watch their favorite science fiction shows with me, particularly if they have to do with genetics. Orphan Black, for example. This is because it is understood that I will regularly call out “Pause!”, and then they get to sit and listen to me alternatively praise or sputter over the fictionalization of my field of study.

“Look. Their genetic material pre-dates ours. We come from them.”

Pause!

This is, probably, meant to hammer in the premise of the movie to a lay audience. However, the way she phrased it left me confused for a good long minute, trying to figure out what the fuck she meant. We don’t speak of any extant species as “pre-dating” another, even if they look exactly like their fossilized ancestors: all modern organisms are modern organisms. They have been continuously evolving the whole time they’ve existed. What we talk about is species diverging from each other. We didn't come from chimpanzees, or from neanderthals for that matter: we diverged from them.

(https://news.wisc.edu/naledi/)

If I were to try and explain what she actually means by this: The particular Engineer they sampled from possess genetic sequences that are present in our evolutionary precursors, but have been lost in humans. That, and/or the Engineer possesses no sequences that are specific to modern Homo sapiens.

To which my response is: no shit. They’re eight foot tall, completely hairless humanoids, surrounded by advanced technology. This is not Futurama.

This still doesn’t answer all my other logistical problems with when they got involved on Earth, which I already rambled about at length.

But now we get to the real mystery of the scene: why are straight people?

I’m asexual as a rock. No, not that rock. But I’m not sex-repulsed. Sexual media and art is fine by me, but Hollywood does such a shit job with romantic chemistry that I thought I was for quite a while.

Shaw and Holloway are a couple. We know this, because they are a pair of female and male adult humans who work together in a movie. They have held hands and smiled at each other. Honestly, if Holloway hadn’t called Shaw “baby” soon after they woke up from stasis, I wouldn’t have known.

Admittedly, this may be due to the fact that my “flirting or not” radar is hilariously non-functional most of the time. I have been on dates before without realizing it. Multiple times. It’s that bad.

This is the scene where we are supposed to see how they are romantic together, and how they grapple with their present situation. Holloway froze a rose in the cargo, along with a bottle of champagne. The fact that he has already been drinking heavily will surely make this especially fun, I’m sure.

Shaw, at least, acknowledges “[t]his is The most significant discovery in the history of mankind,” though I’d argue whichever early hominin first saw the big bald bastards already called dibs on that. I appreciate the gesture toward understanding the enormity of this situation, but her behavior hasn’t demonstrated it so far. Holloway’s, however, is even worse, and I think we are supposed to take Shaw as the more staid and reasonable one because of this.

With this and her further evidence that the Engineers made humans, Holloway immediately says “Okay. I guess you can take your father's cross off now.”

Yes. This is what you should say, when you’re in a long-term relationship with a religiously devout person who lost one or both of their parents at a young age. Definitely.

I get what this is trying to do, thematically. This movie is about the creation of life. We have a religious character squaring her faith with a piece of information that is incompatible with the literal text of her religion’s doctrine.

Funny enough, we have a lot of religious people who work in biology already. Unless your religion was created last tuesday, there is literally no way it won’t contradict with some aspect of what modern science has discovered. People create the mental space for the supernatural, either merging or separating it from their field of expertise. Or they may not believe in the supernatural at all, instead subscribing to belief systems that provide an ethical and behavioral framework for their lives.

A lot of scientists who are religious state that their religion is part of why they study the material world: Out of a love for the world, a call to aid others, or because the act of learning is seen as divine in itself.

This is also the kind of conversation that, frankly, two lunatics who believe in ancient alien contact with Earth should’ve had a long time ago. ‘Hey, you believe that big men from space were talking to the Sumerians, how’s that fit in with the whole Christianity thing for you?’

But no, he’s going somewhere hilariously baffling, via a direct route through the state of Wildly Insensitive as he barrels along the Clunky Dialog Highway.

“But here's what we do know: That there is nothing special about the creation of life. Right? Anybody can do it. All you need is a dash of DNA and half a brain, right?”

“I can't.

I can't create life. What does that say about me?”

He FORGOT HIS LIFE PARTNER WAS INFERTILE.

“Ellie, that's not... I didn't mean… I wasn't talking about…”

Have you ever been so drunk that you made your girlfriend feel like Natasha ‘I’m a monster comparable to the Hulk because I was sterilized’ Romanoff in Age of Ultron

This is, as with most of the most thunderously clunky dialog in this movie, a plot point. There are ways they could’ve done this differently that I will get to at that time

But you know what’s even more baffling about this? Apparently that didn’t kill the mood.

It makes the next scene where Janek seduces Vickers with a jumpscare accordion and “Are you a robot?” almost make sense.

Or, frankly, Idris Elba and Charlize Theron are acting wizards who somehow managed to strangle some chemistry out of that scene.

Next time, the not-so-little death!

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Citations for alt-text rambles:

https://archive.org/details/abbott-and-costello-meet-the-mummy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nepenthes_cultivars

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecce_Homo_(Garc%C3%ADa_Mart%C3%ADnez_and_Gim%C3%A9nez)#Failed_restoration_attempt_and_internet_phenomenon

https://youtu.be/cZyj6GECjZ0

https://youtu.be/nRr1t80TayE

http://www.totheescapehatch.com/2012/06/escape-by-playing-stephen-stills.html

https://www.discogs.com/artist/236968-Stephen-Stills

Overflow Ramble 1

I want it noted at the start here: I try to use screenshots where everyone looks as dignified as they can without losing objects or gestures I want to comment on, because otherwise it breaks flow. I could not find a screenshot where Shaw wasn’t stickin h leggy out real far, or making this extremely weird face. I tried. The movie defeated me.

Medium wide shot of Shaw sitting on a couch (loose pillows that don’t have velcro surfaces to keep them in place if the ship rolls), with Holloway in reverse shot, sitting on the other side of a coffee table (no lip to catch rolling objects), with a rose sitting in a cup between them. Shaw is about to stand up, and has just the most goddamn weird expression on her face.

In the background is a side table (does have a lip, not tall enough to do anything), with a lamp (might be magnetized/gripped to the surface, doesn’t look it), a pile of books (falling hazard), a stick of incense burning in a cup (falling AND fire hazard), and, as previously noted during Vickers’ introduction, there’s the required Cultured White Person African Art Pieces just sort of. Leaned on a tiny little shelf in the background (how have they not fallen over already). Finally, a tropical hanging pitcher plant can be seen hanging behind the lamp, probably a Nepenthes cultivar. Did David keep these alive for two years?

There is a bewildering buttload of Nepenthes cultivars, with an active enthusiast community in Japan. So, SO many of the cultivars are called ‘[Adjective] Koto’ (cite 2). Like, to the point where someone was clearly breaking out the dictionary to find more words for Koto. Decorous Koto. Effulgent Koto. Effulgent Koto again, there’s two of them. Elfine Koto. Emotional Koto. Felicitous Koto. Feminine Koto. Feverish Koto. Igneous Koto. Immobile Koto. And that’s as far as the Kotos go, apart from Zonal Koto. Somebody in 1984-1994 was literally going A-Z on Kotos before they suddenly stopped at I, turned around, and went back up to throw in Gerontic Koto and Ferny Koto.

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#Prometheus 2012 #Prometheus (2012)#palette cleanser of inexplicable dialog after an actually horrible scene #also I know a lot more about pitcher plants than I did before writing this post #thanks to a movie that has nothing to do with pitcher plants #that's the magic of research rabbit holes

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kichous · 10 months

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✧･ﾟ:* everything but talk it through

summary. it should raise questions, how you’re the first person he chooses to see before a trip abroad. but you’re too distracted by his hand slipping down your waistband. series. a night of dark trees. part one. part two. part three you’re here! pairing. gojo satoru x gn!reader. warnings. heavy ( non-explicit ) mentions of sex. word count. 2521.

Gojo arrives uninvited, unannounced, and at his leisure. Such is the way he arrives at most, if not all, functions. Except this is no function, and you had been hoping to just enjoy a quiet night in before the work week started. You’re so used to Gojo that you don’t even bother yelling at him for the intrusion anymore, instead rolling your eyes at his entirely too cheerful greeting.

“I’m going on a business trip,” he chirps, as though you had asked. “Want me to get you anything?”

He set himself up for this one. “I want you to get away from me.”

“Aw.” You are unmoved by his glossy pout, the protrusion of his lower lip instead making a vein throb in your forehead. “You’re so mean to me.”

But even as he says so, you’re reaching into the cupboard for his favorite purple mug, the kettle already on the stove. He’s hunched over your kitchen counter, legs looped around those of one of your stools like he’s some kind of cephalopod. He’s comfortable here, which flies directly into the face of your supposed inhospitable nature. Murmuring a thanks as he takes the steaming cup from you—”Coaster!” you snap, making him jump—Gojo dumps an inhuman amount of sugar into his tea and props his chin up with his left hand.

“So, not that I care or anything,” you drawl, nursing your own drink, “what exactly is this business trip for and how long will you be gone?”

“Why, you askin’ ‘cause you need to know whether to break the Hitachi out while I’m gone?” Gojo laughs blithely, his Infinity batting away the soggy teabag you lob at him. It lands on the counter with a wet plop, and he gets up to toss it in your wastebin. “Shouldn’t be more than a couple of weeks. Just a little something to do with your dear little friend.”

Ah. The less you know about Yuji’s legal status, the better. Your primary concern is the boy himself, and Gojo’s doing you a favor by giving you some level of plausible deniability. Not that it would stick much, given that you had direct contact with the child. The higher-ups may have scoffed at your line of work, but they never considered you disobedient. You’re not sure what the ultimate blowback in this situation will end up being. You appreciate the fact that he’s at least trying to lessen the blow.

“So?” prods Gojo, doing so with his bony elbow as well. “What’ll it be? Baobab seed? Wicker basket? Blood diamond?”

You just barely keep from shooting scalding liquid from your nostrils. The look on your face, bug-eyed as it must be, serves as a source of endless amusement for him. Hacking wetly into the cuff of your sleeve, you wag a disapproving finger at him.

“One, that is so incredibly inappropriate.” You then allow your hand to go limp to flash the ice on your ring finger. “Two, I already have all the diamonds I’ll ever need. And three, knowing how cheap you are, you’d definitely bring me back cubic zirconia and try to dupe me into believing they’re real diamonds.”

“Cheap?! The outfit I’m wearing right now is 800,000 yen! Including my underwear.”

“Sure.”

He scowls. “So mean. You know, just for that, I’m going to get you a voodoo doll.”

“Wouldn’t you be in the wrong part of the world for a voodoo doll if your first offering was a baobab seed?” You snicker at Gojo’s frustrated wail. “You’re just going to steal one from Kugisaki and lie about it, aren’t you? I know you, you damn scam artist!”

“I am feeling so very attacked right now. This is a hate crime against the protected class of attractive young men. You’ll go to jail for this.” Crossing his arms, Gojo harrumphs like a small child and makes a ninety-degree turn on the stool. He shrugs your hand off when you try to apologetically pat him on the shoulder. “No. I’m still mad at you.”

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry, Your Majesty.” You make a show of mockingly bowing at him, and when that proves ineffective, you round the counter to kowtow at his feet. That, at least, earns you a smile. “Ah! There it is, arising in the east, Satoru’s smile is the sun.”

Gojo huffs, unwinding his arms. “That’s not how the line goes.”

“And that’s why you’re the teacher, not me.” You hop up on the stool next to him, mirroring his posture as you prop your elbow on the granite. “But seriously, is that all you came to say? You’re leaving? Are you making the rounds to everyone or could you not have just sent that in an e-mail?”

He leans closer, ankle brushing against yours. His glasses slip just a bit down the tip of his nose as he smirks—leers, really—at you. “Maybe I came here looking for a going away present. Maybe… something like a kiss?”

Ah, and there it is. You tilt your head, brushing the tip of your nose against his. You’re so close you can feel the warm puff of his breath against your lips. It’s like Gojo’s a black hole, slowly reeling you in. “Just a kiss?”

“Something to remember you by.” And then he closes the gap between the two of you.

Gojo’s an amazing kisser, and he knows it—just one of the many reasons that you find it increasingly difficult to say no to him. As self-absorbed as he can be, Satoru’s a generous lover. You have a feeling he gets an ego boost from driving his partners wild with pleasure. Not as unselfish a motive as you would prefer from a lover, but who are you to look a gift horse (or snake, according to his entirely too apt lunar zodiac) in the mouth? Your tongue’s the only thing that should be going in it.

His hands catch at your hips as you part, the sensation of air against your kiss-swollen lips breaking you out of your reverie. He tucks his head into your neck, leaving sharp little nips down the column of your throat as he pulls you against him. You can feel the pitter-patter of his heartbeat. It’s nearly as fast as yours. Winding your fingers through his hair, you tilt your head back with a sigh. He’s hot—a blazing inferno against your body, threatening to consume you whole. Your eyes fly open when he hoists you into the air abruptly. Instinctually, you lock your legs around Satoru’s waist as he lays a palm just above the curve of your ass to support your lower back.

“A little warning would have been nice,” you hiss, batting him lightly on the shoulder.

“We’re way past the time for talking,” says Satoru, his voice a low, hoarse rasp. His glasses have slipped almost all the way down his nose, the all-encompassing blue of his eyes almost invisible with how dilated his pupils are. You did this to him, you think triumphantly. You’re why his breath runs ragged, why his mouth is a ravaged red, why his pulse pounds with want.

Satoru is very familiar with the layout of your apartment, his gaze never leaving yours as he guides you both to your bedroom. You trust him not to walk you into a wall, though the brief weightlessness of being thrown onto your bed punches a startled “Eep!” out of you. “Mattress wasn’t soft enough for that—!”

Satoru tugs his shirt off instead of apologizing out loud. Your hand flies to his exposed chest without permission, fingers tracing squiggly lines down the planes of muscle. The pad of your thumb ghosts above a nipple, making Satoru tremble, and you catch it between your teeth. It—and the flash of tongue against the stiffening peak—draws a cry from Satoru, his back arching. You soothe the sting with gentle laps of your tongue as your free hand toys with the other side of his chest. Your right hand gropes at his ass. When you draw your fingers into his back pocket, you hear the crinkle of foil and tug at the packet—gold, with the English word MAGNUM written across it.

“You smug bastard,” you laugh. “You came here with a plan—’going away present,’ my ass.”

“Your ass is the present,” Satoru snorts. “You got a problem with that?”

“No. Not at all.”

Both of you are left breathless in the end, all thoughts of taking your time flying out the window when the opportunity to rut like animals presents itself. You’ll never get enough of it, the way Satoru groans low in his throat when he presses into you for the first time, or the way he folds himself over you no matter which position you’re in, skin against skin from head to toe.

It’s always amazing with him. That’s why you keep him around, after all. You’re up for another round, or three, if he’s able. Satoru catches his breath next to you, swatting your hand away with a hiss as your fingers crawl over his hip in a spider-like motion.

A laugh bubbles out of you, delirious and just barely more than a wheeze. You’re still breathless and warm, your heartbeat a frenetic rabbit’s pace in your ribcage. “Do you ever get tired?” you ask, itching to brush snowy locks away from his forehead.

“What do you mean?” Satoru props himself up on his elbow, gazing down at you inquisitively.

“Well.” It’s a strange topic to broach; neither of you has ever spoken at length about this… partnership of yours. There’s always been an unspoken rule about preserving its sanctity this way—no need to make it complicated.

You’re both attractive people, and you want each other. Simple, transactional, and way better than therapy (which is funny, coming from you). You’re not foolish enough to believe someone like Satoru would limit himself. Those who know him probably wouldn’t want to touch him with a ten-foot pole, but strangers wouldn’t resist the temptation of his long legs and sculpted torso, his soft lips and brilliant eyes. “If this is how you put out for everyone you’ve ever been with, I don’t know how you do it. I know you’ve got boundless cursed energy, but I didn’t think that extend to regular—”

“I’m…” He looks puzzled. Almost hurt. An uncomfortable weight settles in your gut. “I’m not sleeping with anyone else. Are… are you…?”

“No.” You’re not as embarrassed by the admission as you are at his expression when you speak. Satoru’s cheeks puff slightly as he exhales, his brows drifting upward in what you can only describe as relief. He smiles, and it’s more gentle than predatory. You’re not used to him being this open. You’re not used to him being this nice. “What’s that face for?”

“My face is just my face,” laughs Satoru. He traces a gentle line down your jaw with a knuckle. You think he’s about to kiss you, shutting your eyes in anticipation as you feel the warmth of his breath on your lips. This leaves you wholly unprepared for the actual curve of his mouth, around words rather than a silent gesture.

“I love you.”

Your eyes fly open. It is no comfort to see he’s just as surprised as you are that he’d said it. All you can do is gape at him, a violent stabbing feeling in your chest as the bed seemingly falls away from underneath you. You must be dreaming. You pinch yourself. You’re not. And Satoru—Gojo, God, when did you get so familiar with him?—stares at you in anguish, hurt pouring out of him like a flood.

Not a single part of this situation makes sense to you. Not why he blurted it out. Not why he meant it. Not why he would ever expose his soft underbelly like this, practically holding up a neon sign denoting one of his few weaknesses.

Not why you rush to console him when heartbreak etches itself into the lines of his face. Not how you choose to offer your support with a highly unwelcome and unhelpful, “Thanks.”

You’ve not had to respond to those three words in a long time. You’re out of practice. But even you know that wasn’t the right thing to say.

Gojo doesn’t even call you out on it, instead reeling away from you as though he’s been shot. He stumbles free of the sheets, all ungainly limbs askew. His fringe shields his eyes from you as he hastily dresses himself. Stonily silent, he crams his shades on and he’s lost to you forever.

The situation is unsalvageable, a lost cause. Some could rightfully accuse you of being a pessimist, but there’s really no greater example than this. In the face of Gojo’s hurt, actual heartbreak—something you had never once thought him capable of—you’re powerless. You’re the one who hurt him, after all. How could anything you say be a balm to the pain you’ve caused?

“Wait,” you say weakly, but of course he doesn’t.

“I have to go,” is all Gojo says, punctuated by heavy footfalls and followed by the slamming of your front door. He hadn’t even found it in himself to crack a joke as he fled.

Pulling yourself up into a sitting position, you put your head in your hands. Part of you wants to be angry at him for taking a perfectly good thing and screwing it all up. But that’s not fair. He couldn’t help falling for you any more than you could help falling in love with your only classmate when you were fifteen. No, it’s the guilt that infuriates you—that Gojo’s gone and made you feel bad for hurting his feelings.

(And there’s another secret thing that you refuse to acknowledge.)

You can freely admit that your reaction was poor and hurtful. You will apologize for that, if Gojo will allow you to. He hadn’t said when he would be leaving for his trip, but it would be in poor taste to wait for longer than a week—especially if you want to sleep with him ever again. And you do. But would that be a good idea? And is that the only reason you want to apologize?

Trust Gojo to go and make everything this complicated. You sigh mournfully for the status quo. You’ll give him the rest of the night to lick his wounds. You have some of your own to nurse, a yawning gaping void in your chest that frays at the edges and brings tears unbidden to your eyes. Squeezing them shut, you beg for blissful sleep to take you, so you don’t have to think or feel or do much of anything anymore.

(The truth of it is, when Gojo said it, you felt happy. That was your immediate reaction. And that frightens you. Try as you might to move on, as your long lost beloved—so good and kind and sweet—would have wanted for you, you’re terrified of it actually happening.

It’s deliciously pathetic. Between a mass murderer and… you, Gojo Satoru needs better taste.)

#gojo satoru x reader #gojo x reader #jjk x reader #jujutsu kaisen x reader #anodt tag.#jjk fic.#fun fact the only reason this doesn't include sm.ut is because i got LAZY lmao #anywho HAPPY SEASON 2

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gracie7209 · 10 months

Text

Amaryllis Chapter 8: The Call

Pairing: Frankie x f!Reader

Word Count: 4.6k

Warnings: Language, lots of angst, but there’s hopeful bits too, sad Santi, sad Reader, talk of childbirth (not in detail whatsoever), lots of inner thoughts… I’m sorry if I left out anything!

A/N: Trying something a little different this time by essentially adding in a chapter prologue… I’m nervous about the whole thing honestly. Did a few random things that idk how they’ll be received but at this point oh well 🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m having a hard time getting out of my head on this one, so I’m just going to let it go and see what happens. Any mistakes are also mine!

As always I appreciate any and all feedback, just please be kind ❤️ (Or send me a dm if something is glaringly awful.)

Series Masterlist | Main Masterlist

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**Frankie was found by a group of villagers who took him in to assess his injuries. The guys had already left Colombia, leaving Frankie to make his way on his own.

He sleeps it off for a few days, and when he wakes up he’s angry. Tom knowingly did this. He knew the guys were able to see what was happening, so he made it look like an accident. Reaching out and screaming his name as he tumbled down. Tom was very good at manipulation, and for the longest time, especially in the service, he had Frankie completely under his spell. So while the guys saw them fighting, Tom swore the end result wasn’t intended to kill him… He was angry, but would never try to kill one of his own. Frankie just slipped…. He fell and there was nothing anyone could’ve done to stop it. The guys bought it. Frankie couldn’t blame them. The entire situation was fucked and up until that moment, Frankie never would’ve imagined that Tom would actually try to kill him.

Fortunately for Frankie though, he walked away due to his fall being partially broken by a dense brush that saved his life. Had he been just a few feet away in either direction, he might not have been so lucky**

—

When he wakes up, Frankie’s extremely disoriented. He can tell he’s been out for awhile, so when he asks what day it is, he’s not surprised to find out it’s been four days since Tom pushed him down the mountainside.. Before attempting to move, he takes stock of his injuries. He feels like death, but he’s definitely had worse. Looking down at his left hand, he sees a makeshift splint keeping his wrist immobile and some of his fingers are taped together… Moving further down, his right leg is propped up and seems to be wrapped in a simple type ace bandage, but he can see how swollen it looks even under the wrapping. Taking his right hand he slowly moves it over his torso, where he’s felt a lot of pressure and finds more wrapping around his midsection— broken ribs then.

He needed to get to a phone. But he also thinks about his situation. Right now, with a few broken ribs and at best a badly sprained ankle, he’s going to be down for a little while. The fact that he’s here and not with the guys means that they believe he didn’t survive the fall. Frankie knows that Tom’s actions have crossed a line that can’t be undone this time. This could work to his advantage though, if he plays it right.

He needed to come up with a plan, while allowing himself to heal. He would talk to Santi first, but he needed to give himself and the guys time to let this all sink in.

When he asks how to get to somewhere with a phone, he’s directed to a nearby village, which is also seemingly lacking in technology. This back and forth goes on for a few weeks before he finally, finally finds something from the 20th century and he’s able to use an actual phone.

Frankie reaches out to Santi because while he was the most familiar with the area, he was also his closest friend and he was just as fed up with Tom’s bullshit as Frankie.

“Hello?”

“Pope? Pope it’s me, It’s Cat…..” Frankie’s voice is scratchy and raw from lack of use…

“Is this a fucking joke? Who the hell is this!?”

“It’s ME you dumb shit.”

“Fish? How……????”

Santi is quiet on his end. Frankie is praying the line didn’t disconnect.. “Pope? Shit…. You still there man?”

“Yeah… I’m, I’m here.. I just. I need a minute…..” comes Santi’s garbled reply. He’s practically choking on his words.

Santi and Frankie had been friends for a very long time. They met in high school long before they even considered joining the military. They had practically been joined at the hip, so when it came up, there was no question that they would join together.

“Holy shit… ok, Fish… Fish! What the fuck happened? I can’t believe this..” Frankie breaks down once Santi realizes it’s actually him. Just so happy to hear someone familiar. He tells Santi about the state he was in when he woke up, and about how he thinks he was able to survive the fall.

He takes a moment before asking Santi what happened when they decided to leave. He knows that they wouldn’t have left if they thought there was a chance he was alive. Even so, he doesn’t mean to sound accusatory when he asks “Why did you leave?”

“He started yelling for you. Tom was on the edge looking down, hand outstretched and everything. We all ran over, but you were gone. Tom said you guys were arguing and that things got physical, but didn’t realize how close you both were to the edge. Said your foot slipped and he tried reaching for you, but didn’t get there in time. He said he was angry with you, but he would never try to kill one of his best friends. We didn’t have the time to argue. We tried getting to you… we did! Benny refused to leave without you. He even had us make a line and drop him down, but the brush in the middle was so thick we were never able to see you. When we couldn’t find you, we thought the worst. And with everything else, the chopper, Lorea’s men? We didn’t…. Fuck! I’m…...”

The shame in his voice makes Frankie’s heart twist. “We could’ve found you…. I’m sorry Fish, I’m so sorry. I can’t believe this….”

“It was Tom,” Frankie says under his breath.

“What?”

“It was Tom. He…. He looked me dead in the eyes before shoving me backwards.”

Neither of them say a word for a few minutes. Both digesting the information they’d just heard. He knows they don’t have a ton of time so Frankie tells Santi that he just needs to get home. But Tom can have no knowledge that he’s alive. None. He has to come up with a plan, but what can honestly be done? Initially, he wanted nothing more than to return the favor. He had plenty of time to think of every way he’d go about it if he had the chance. But, being here this long, the anger has all but dissipated.

Frankie’s thoughts circle back to you. Just needing to know if you’re ok.

“Santi?”

“Yeah?”

“How is she?” He knows that his first priority should be about getting himself home, but he just can’t help it. Santi doesn’t ask who you’re referring to.

“She’s due anytime now. Tom has kept her under lock and key, but I asked and he told me she’s ok…. Hasn’t let anyone see her, but if we’re being honest, we’ve all kind of been in our own heads since that day. We thought you were gone and it’s been hard. Benny and Will went home to see their family. And I, uh, well, you know Cat….”

Frankie knew how Pope handled these types of things and it wasn’t usually by legal means. He couldn’t fault him for how he chose to deal. They’d all done things they weren’t proud of and he understood.

“I still can’t believe I’m talking to you. I thought I lost you man….” The last word gets caught in Santi’s throat. “This is insane.”

“I know… I know..” Frankie doesn’t know if he’s ever heard Pope this caught off guard. He’s always, always been on point. Nothing gets to him. Nothing shocks him. But it seems that Frankie calling him today has upended his whole life and Frankie guesses he has. It’s not every day your best friend comes back from the dead.

“The guys are going to fucking lose it!! Benny has been a complete wreck so Will took him home to try to help. Will’s been quiet, but you know how he is. He processes things differently. Are you going to call them, or do you want me to call them? They should be back next week.”

“No, no stop. Santi, wait. They can’t know.”

“What? why? They think you’re fucking dead Fish!

“I Know!! Listen to me, I know.. But I need your help. Tom can’t know I’m alive. Not yet. I think I have a plan, but I need you to trust me. Please.”

Frankie won’t say anything else unless it’s in person. Tom is not only a fucking lunatic, but he’s smart. And paranoid. He wouldn’t doubt it, if Tom had been wondering if he was truly dead or not. No body, no murder, no body, no proof someone’s dead.

“Never count your money before it’s in your pocket, Benjamin,” he recalls his words of advice to Benny back in the shipping container before the recce with a sigh.

Basically, Tom was never one to assume anything without proof.

“Ok ok… Well, what do you need me to do?”

“I just need you to get me home. The guys can’t know. Benny wouldn’t be able to keep that a secret and Will doesn’t need the extra baggage of keeping anything from his brother, so we’ll just leave them both out of it for now.”

“Alright, alright…. What’s the plan?”

“Just get me home. We’ll talk then. Can you track this location?”

“Yeah, yeah…. You gonna be ok?”

“I’ll manage. Call this number. Ask for Javier.”

“Javier?? Who the hell is Javier?”

“It’s me….”

“Ohhhh, gotcha. Sorry—” Santi takes a breath and continues,

“—Look, I was actually set to head back down there in a few weeks. I wanted to get back into it, try to focus on something else for awhile and especially when we left Lorea’s…. We never finished that job…”

“Whatever you gotta do is fine. I just need to get home.”

“I’ll get you home man…. It’s just going to take a little bit longer. I can push it up by maybe a week, but anything more than that and they’ll start questioning why I’m leaving so soon. Can you make it that long?”

Frankie realizes he’s been out here for about a month now… What’s two more weeks?

“Yeah, I’m gonna have to. It’ll give me time to sort some more things out.”

Frankie sighs… “Hey Santi?” He hates to put any more stress on him, but he has to ask….

“Could you uh, do me one more favor?”

“Course, man.”

“Can you please check in on her? I just need to know she’s ok.”

“I’ll see what I can do, but Fish, it’s gotten bad…. Tom won’t say much, but it’s hard to pretend your very pregnant wife doesn’t exist. He never lets her leave. Won’t let anyone in either. I saw her through the window last week and she looked ok, but like she was somewhere else. When I asked Tom he just brushed it off as pregnancy stuff. Said that she’s getting close to the end and left it at that.”

“Alright, I get it.” Frankie is leaning on the wall with his head on his forearm, his eyes shut tightly. He can’t hear much more.

“Just - if you’re able to, please let her know everything is going to be ok. She… She doesn’t deserve this shit...”

Fuck.

He’s letting it get to him, but he knows there’s nothing he can do right now. He breathes in and out slowly….. He just needs to get home. Then, he can start making things happen.

“Sorry Pope… Sorry.”

“It’s ok man. I understand. I know… well I’ve known for a while now. How you feel about her? It’ll be ok. I’ll check in and I’ll keep you updated. Give me two weeks and I’ll get you home.”

“Thanks man. Just call me. I’ll be close by.”

“You got it Fish.. Be safe. I’ll see you soon.” And with that, Santi hangs up the line. Frankie hangs up the corded phone, putting it back into the receiver attached to the wall.. His head is still against his forearm, eyes closed. He absentmindedly wipes away the stray tear running down his face, breathing in and out slowly just trying to keep it together.

Only two weeks. Basically, no time at all.

—

Two weeks.

Two full weeks — 14 days.

Frankie was counting down the hours, the minutes, until he could go home. Every day was torture. Finally after so long on his own he had gotten through to someone — finally heard a familiar voice and the happiness he felt was ripped away as soon as the line cut.

He was still healing from his injuries. His hand still bandaged and his ribs made it hard to breathe if he was moving around too much. But he couldn’t stand to sit still. It made his mind race when he couldn’t keep his hands busy with something else and the last place he wanted to be was stuck in his own head.

Frankie knew he needed to stay put. But it was killing him to just sit and wait. He was grateful that it was his left hand that took the most damage so when he could, he would write. It was the only thing he could do that allowed his mind to stay focused, without the physicality he was so used to. He would write down everything. Every thought, idea, plan, hope — anything and everything because he not only wanted to document his time here but also put words to the plan that had been forming in his head of how to get you out of Tom’s grasp and allow you to have a life of your choosing.

Frankie thought about you more than he thought was necessary. He was always thinking about you if he was being honest with himself. After your night together, he couldn’t stop thinking about you.

He loved you. He knew it beforehand and after, but as soon as the guys left for Colombia, Frankie had no doubts about his feelings for you. He knew he would do whatever it took to make sure you got the life you wanted for yourself. Even if that didn’t necessarily include him, it would be your choice to live whatever way you saw fit.

Somehow every time Frankie would put pen to paper, no matter where he started, it would always come back to something about you. Sometimes his inner monologue would find its way out and he would converse with himself like he was talking to a close friend. Most of the time though, he would talk to you…

—

— Querida I miss you… I have literally been counting the damn days til I can see you again. Fucking lame I know. I would ask how you’re doing, but Pope has filled me in a little. He says the baby is due anytime now. I just want you to know that I have thought about you, both of you, almost nonstop since the minute I left. I never should’ve left. So goddamn stupid… Right now, you have no idea that I’m even here. No idea that I’m writing to you and doing everything I can to get home. But you will. You can’t know until I take care of things though. I want to hear your voice. I miss our little talks at the diner. It was just easy with you. We’d talk about pretty much anything…. the damn weather, the buildings in the city. How you missed home sometimes. How scared you are to become a mother…… you’re going to be an amazing mother.

I’m not great at this, but there are so many things I want to tell you. I meant it when I said I would get you out of this situation and I will. Nothing can stop me at this point. Not even death apparently… I’m really fucking glad you won’t be reading this because wow… I would “lol”, but I’m literally handwriting this……….

Anyway, as if you could hear me. Aaaaahhhhh!!!!

Ok better. God get a grip dude…

I want to see you, to touch you, to hear your voice because I’m pretty sure I’m going insane. Pope knows and he’s going to bring me back.

I realize that I don’t even know if you’re interested in having any kind of relationship at all, let alone with me. I hope you do. I never really thought I would ever want something as much as I want to be with you. Huh.. I don’t think I’ve actually voiced that thought even to myself until now. Interesting.

Since that night though, that fucking night that haunts my dreams, all I can think about is YOU. That one taste was more than enough to have me addicted and I’ve fucked my hand more times than I will ever admit out loud at the thought. I can taste you on my tongue still. Can still feel you around me and I fucking lose it. Fuck I need to quit otherwise I’ll be back at it.

Hell, it’s lonely here. Soon though, I’ll be back in the States and can finish this. God I miss you. I’ll be there soon. —

—

Santi called about ten days after he and Frankie first spoke; this time it was about you.

Frankie had talked to him a handful of times in between, just going over vague plans, times and places etc for when he returned to Colombia.

He would ask Frankie or “Javier” how he was getting along, how his injuries were healing etc. This was different though.

—“Fish?” He seemed out of breath… and the words were pouring out of his mouth…

“Um I don’t even know where to start. I’ll be there in four days, but man you have to know something…”

“Hey, hey, slow down, just breathe.”

“Ok, shit. She, uh fuck. Ok…. Look,”

“Come on Pope, spit it out! Is everything ok?” Frankie’s heart was in his throat.

“It, um, well it happened. I guess they got into a fight and it uh, jump started the whole process… She punched the shit out of him though.”

“Slow down, so she had the baby??”

“Yes”

“Is she, are they ok??”

“I think so. She fucked up his nose though and I guess the force, or the stress or whatever put things in motion. I just left the hospital.”

“Why would she do that? She knows what he’s capable of. Why would she put herself at risk like that?”

“She’s a spitfire, I’ll give her that. She did a number on his face. Left him with two black eyes. I would’ve given her a hug if she wasn’t uh, busy with other things.”

“Fuck….” Frankie is squeezing the pressure point between his eyes. He’s not sure why, but he just assumed that he’d be back before the baby was born.

Santi can’t help himself but ask the question, “Did you two ever, um, you know. Did you—?” But Frankie interjects.

“Did we fuck? Is that what you’re asking?” He didn’t mean to come off so harsh, but he was having a hard time keeping it together.

“Whooaaaaa, calm down pendejo…. But yeah. Did you? Actually??? I mean shit, I knew you had feelings for each other, but,”

“Yeah… We did.” —He says it, not with pride, but simply put. “About two weeks before we left out.”

“Shiiiiiittt…….”

He doesn’t want to focus on that aspect, so Frankie tries getting back to the ‘you hitting Tom in the face,’ part.

“Was it just her who did a number on him or? Did he hurt her?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so. She’s refused to let him into the room and has had security keep him out.”

“Shit, ok….. Get me home. Please. I’ll be ready. Let me know if anything changes, but I need to go. I can’t deal with this right now being this far away. I need to keep my head on straight if I’m going to get her out of this.”

“I’ll be there soon buddy. It won’t be long now.”

—

Frankie was ready four days ago, but it was finally time.

He and Santi went over coordinates, pickup and flight times and what to expect when they got back to the States..

How does one just come back from the dead?

Luckily, Santi was a greedy shit and after Frankie fell, he took all of Frankie’s things that weren’t on his person and kept them at his house. To the outside world, Frankie was currently just a missing person. There was no way they could come forward with what they “knew” or thought actually happened. No one outside of the five of them even knew about their “mission” as it was relayed only to certain people as just a Guy’s Trip. So it wasn’t noticed when they came back to the States’ a man short. Frankie’s family lived in Texas. His Mom and Step-dad along with his older sister. After they got back, Santi knew he had to at least tell them that Frankie was missing. They of course filed a missing persons report, which Santi expected. But he couldn’t go through with trying to help plan a funeral… Not yet. He knew he could only push it off for so long, but they had to come up with a cover story to explain and no one was in a state of mind to even think about that at the time.

Thankfully, it no longer mattered and instead Frankie was about to come barreling back into everyone’s lives. But not until Tom was dealt with.

Frankie was adamant that no one could know anything…. There could be no inkling that he was alive. Santi just had to trust that Frankie knew what he was doing.

—

After the longest four days of his life and an even longer month, Frankie was going home. Santi showed up right on time like they planned. It was just after dawn and Frankie hadn’t slept a bit the night before.

He was ready and anxious and there were so many thoughts running through his mind, that he wasn’t prepared for the emotional toll that seeing a familiar face would put on him.

His ribs were still healing, but he could care less that he couldn’t breathe when Santi hugged him without a word. It wasn’t necessary to speak and Frankie wouldn’t have been able to if he tried. He was crying; so overwhelmed with every emotion that he couldn’t form a single syllable, just a yelp at the initial impact of Santi’s iron grip and Frankie’s own hushed cries as the weight of the last month and a half came full circle.

Frankie cried and Santi just held him through it. Hell, he would never admit it but Santi was crying himself.

Frankie’s entire body was trembling. Everything he’d gone through, he had been alone.

“Hey, hey…. It’s alright man, I’ve got you. I’ve got you….” Santi whispers to Frankie, just letting him know that he’s there. He couldn’t imagine what kind of hell this last month had been for him. He looks ok? Santi thinks to himself. His hand is bandaged up and he was limping toward the main area when Santi first pulled up… he’s got some scarring on his face and could definitely benefit from some real food, but overall, it’s still Frankie. Someone Santi thought he’d lost and would never see again. That realization washes over him and he shudders at the thought.

Frankie is here, he’s alive and he’s coming home.

Santi clears his throat..

“So, uh, Javier?” Frankie snorts at the name….

“Where’d that come from?” Santi says with a note of curiosity… he’s trying to cut through the thick air that’s surrounding them currently. There will be more time for that when everything else is said and done.

“I didn’t want to give my real name in case Tom decided to backtrack and go asking around. It’s stupid honestly, but Tom’s a paranoid bastard so I wanted to cover my ass—

—Plus, she uh, that was a little inside joke we had. She said that when she first met me that I looked like this guy from a TV show. She never really watched it, but I guess Tom had sometimes. It was set in Colombia and the fucking irony of that? I’m in fucking Colombia, so I thought it’d be funny.” He chuckles lightly to himself, thoughts taking him somewhere else entirely and Santi groans…

“Jesus dude, you got it bad…. “

Yeah I do.. Frankie thinks to himself. He just gives a small smile and shakes his head..

“Well, here. I brought you something.”

Santi reaches for his phone, scrolling through until he turns the screen to Frankie.

“I convinced her to let me in while Tom was gone. Now don’t kill me but I wanted to see how she felt about you….”

“You did what??”

“I didn’t tell her anything… Well, I told her I was making a memorial video for you to give to your Mom. I assured her that Tom wouldn’t see it, but I asked her to tell me what she would say to you if she had the chance. This is what she said…”

“Why would you do that to her? She just had a fucking baby. You can’t just…” but, Santi cuts him off.

“Just watch it.”

Frankie swallows and takes a breath before looking back down at the phone and hitting play—

He sucks in a breath at seeing your face. God, you were beautiful. You had obviously taken the phone from Santi to record yourself in private. It looks like you’re laying in a hospital bed, the lights are turned down and you are holding a little bundle in the crook of your free arm.

—

“Frankie, I still don’t believe that any of this is real. I miss you…

The baby is finally here.. he decided to make his entrance very memorable…”

Frankie smiles, he remembers what Santi told him had jump started your labor and he couldn’t be more proud of you….

“I’m so sorry Frankie. I know why you did what you did, but I wish more than anything that things could’ve been different.

I talk to you every night.. I hope that you hear me. I can’t say it out loud, but I hope you’re able to feel my heart from wherever you are. It’s been yours for a long time.”

You wait a moment before looking down at the bundle in your arms..

“I’d like you to meet someone.”

The phone pans down to a little wrinkled and pink face, with dark brown hair. Eyes closed and napping peacefully. He looks like you.

“He will be treasured, and is already so loved by everyone who’s met him. You would love him, Frankie. And I will make sure he knows you and loves you just as I do.

You gave me so much in the short time we had. You showed me what it meant to be cared for and for that I will always be grateful.

I will talk to you always, every day, until we meet again.

I love you Frankie. I wish I had been able to tell you sooner.”

Frankie doesn’t miss the tears filling your eyes, even when you give the camera a smile, he sees your pain and he wants nothing more than to take it away.

—

“She got pretty emotional after she gave me the phone back, and I told her that you could hear her. I just left out the part where you would actually get to hear it.”

He is doing everything he can to keep it together… he doesn’t want to waste any more time crying like a fool when he could be making his way back home.

Santi claps a hand on his shoulder, squeezing lightly.

“You ready?”

Taking a deep breath, he stands up straight and gives Santi a firm nod.

Frankie is finally going home.

—

Taglist: @boliv-jenta @just-here-for-the-moment @hnt-escape @bitchwitch1981 @tanzthompson @readingiskeepingmegoing @imaswellkid @queridopascal-main @something-tofightfor @jb2856 @pastelnap @littlemisspascal @quica-quica-quica @sunnysidekit @harriedandharassed @autumnleaves1991-blog @mymo-n @wildemaven @rhoorl @pimosworld @dashavau

A/N: For Frankie’s note to himself, essentially he’s just writing everything that comes into his head verbatim. For us reading it back, it looks weird, but it’s honestly something I do IRL all the time… No one is supposed to see it lol so it’s definitely cringey 😂

#frankie x female reader #frankie morales fanfiction #frankie x you #frankie x reader #frankie x f!reader #frankie morales imagine #frankie catfish morales #frankie catfish morales x reader #frankie 'catfish' morales #frankie triple frontier #triple frontier #triple frontier fanfic #triple frontier au #pedro pascal #pedro pascal fandom #pedro pascal characters #amaryllis #amaryllis chapter 8

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c0rinarii · 1 month

Text

Gonna recompile some thoughts about the 13SAR characters now that im past midpoint!

Juro: Oh its getting juicy.... unfortunately my boy is still as intresting as a plank of sheet wood but im intrested to see if his character goes anywhere outside of the Kyuta stuff going on. Im also sorry i ever suggested to u to make out with Kyuta.

Iori: SHE'S SO FUNNY.... I aspire to have even an inch of her whimsy and dedication to being so #normal. I too would like to confess to my weird as hell crush disregarding the fact he's a dangerous fugitive. Girl of All Time

Shuu: Frat bot facade is slowly starting to crumble and im here to see it. Uncover the truth, gayboy‼️

Megumi: I FEEL SO SORRY FOR U GIRL.... 😭 May you find peace in the future but its an overall shitty situation to be in. truly have her in my thoughts and prayers

Natsuno: I WAS SO HEARTBROKEN TO SEE HER WHIMSY FADE AWAY ONCE SHE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE TRUE NATURE OF THE KAIJU 😭😭 I love that she managed to maintain her optimism despite the awful situation she's been put in though. Still a joy to see pop up on the screen

Keitaro: HE REALLY IS A GOOD BOY... He's just trying his best and i love him for that. You'll save everyone you care about i promise [IMPERIALISM IS LYING TO U AND TAKATOSHI!! I SWEAR]

Takatoshi: Boys be fighting demons and demons is bisexuality. I enjoy him a Regular amount and i appreciate seeing his himboisms so much in the game. I never want to seem him That sad again [IMPERIALISM IS LYING TO U AND KEITARO!! I SWEAR]

Okino:

Yuki: MY PRINCE.... MY SHINING STUD‼️‼️ I love her a very normal ammount and seeing her slowly uncover the truth is nice to see. Definetily much smarter than she think she is.

Gouto: The fact that he is ong for real Ryoko's government assigned boyfriend is the funniest thing to come out of the game so far. He's still gated behind a huge completion milestone but so far i feel like he's trying to make sense of the situation the best he can. Unlike Tomi though, he's very scared of the circumstances of if he disobeys orders, i think.

Ryoko: She's been such a mood so far that i now think of her with her hands on her head when i stress about my uni deadlines. Im so sorry for Ida being anywhere near her life. She should get a wife to kiss and heal her. I give her full permission to kill anyone who breaks her heart. My snarky queen

Ei: HE ACTUALLY GREW ON ME I CANT BELIEVE IT. He really reminds me if the cool rivals with a soft spot you'd see in shonen anime and I cant be too mad at that. I enjoy how taciturn he can be too.

Nenji: HE'S ACTUALLY SUCH A SWEETHEART... knowing that he was childhood friends with Miwako really made me like him more (esp with how he treats her!) Loveable idiot.

Tomi: MY MUTUAL... OOMF IN ARMS... #GIRL IN LAW. Literally love how's she's written her personality is so so colorful. She has definitely said some out of pocket shit on twitter before and ill defend her with my life.

Miwako: I WILL WRITE YOU INTO RELEVANCY MYSELF‼️‼️There is so much oppurtunity to write her as one of the 15. LET THEM BE 16‼️‼️ HER "easy to develop crushes" SELF CAN BE MADE INTO SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER TO THE NARRATIVE RAUGHHH

Chihiro: I can see she's really trying her best to save everyone from the kaiju and seems to resort to any means neccesary to do so... i appreciate the effort despite the uh. [gestures] unethical treatment towards minors ig

Ida: EVERYTHING IS LITERALLY UR FAULT. I CANT BELIEVE IT. This would be half the disaster if you learnt how to sod it with ur selfish desires i swear.

Kyuta, Not-Tamao, 426, Izumi: I CLOCKED UR SHIT, SNEAKY BITCH. I dont trust a word you say. """"Means well"""" in the end i think but has way more messed up ways to go around it compared to Morimura

Miyuki: So far looking like the only person willing to help these kids in a way that would not give them severe trauma. Rooting for u girl.

[No thoughts on Tamao since i consider Erika as 426]

#im already at 70% rememberance but i forgot to post this when I was at like. 55%?#so might as well #this might be peak #13 sentinels #13 sentinels: aegis rim #13 sentinels spoilers #corr.txt #IORI TOMI AND MIWAKO ARE MY OOMFS BTW. I love them so much. girls of all time

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robininthelabyrinth · 2 years

Note

For the mini fill, Nie Huaisang actually isn't a master manipulator, he just fumbles his way through the revenge scheme.

same universe as this ficlet, which should be read first

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

“Are you sure I can’t talk you out of it?” Nie Huaisang asked anxiously, only to get a scornful look from Mo Xuanyu. The other man might be mad – and he was, definitely, no doubt about it – but he was also a Jin by blood, which meant he had a remarkable capacity for being a jackass. “Mo Xuanyu…”

“I’ve made my decision.”

“But you don’t have to do it,” Nie Huaisang argued. “We’re talking about sacrificing yourself! Your life, and even your soul…! And for what, killing a few people? Now that I know you’re here, I could kill your family for you!”

Mo Xuanyu’s look of distinct disbelief was…a little insulting, but probably not wrong.

“I could order my men to kill your family,” Nie Huaisang amended. “I’m the head of a Great Sect, you know. I could find someone to do it.”

“You’d get in trouble if you did,” Mo Xuanyu said, but his face softened. “I appreciate the offer, though. That’s why I asked you to come here.”

“I don’t understand that either!” Nie Huaisang wailed. “If you’re just going to go ahead and summon some – some dark ghoul or monster or whatever no matter what I say, then why in the world would you ask me to come here? Do you want me to be eaten first so I can die faster? Reduce the pain?”

Mo Xuanyu sniggered. “No, no, though that’s funny – you’ve always been funny. I want you to know who it is so that you’ll have the best chance to get away, that’s all. I want you to have a head start.”

Nie Huaisang dropped his head into his hands. “A head start is for someone who knows how to run. You know that, right?”

Mo Xuanyu hummed in what was neither agreement nor disagreement. He just kept tearing up the pieces of his diary and dropping them on the floor of the awful room where he planned to commit a grandiose suicide and take the Mo family, and maybe the world, with him.

And just like the whole situation with Jin Guangyao, there was shit all Nie Huaisang could do to stop him.

Think, he scolded himself. Think!

Unfortunately, short of kidnapping and confining Mo Xuanyu, he couldn’t think of any way to keep him from doing what he planned to do. Mo Xuanyu might have a crap golden core, but it wasn’t so much worse than Nie Huaisang’s that it’d make a real difference, and putting cultivation aside, Mo Xuanyu was taller and stronger. Nie Huaisang had come alone, which was stupid – he was always stupid – so he’d have to find an excuse to leave and then order his disciples to help him grab him, and that would be worse.

For Mo Xuanyu, who had a serious paranoid streak and a hatred for being betrayed, and for himself, if Jin Guangyao found out about it.

No, there was no stopping Mo Xuanyu. He couldn’t even think of a way to derail him…

Wait.

“You’re still thinking about which spirit to use, right?” Nie Huaisang asked, and Mo Xuanyu nodded. “Have you considered - maybe – picking one that likes me? In the interest of making it less painful for me and all?”

Mo Xuanyu laughed scornfully. “What evil spirit could like you?” “Well,” Nie Huaisang said, ignoring the implied insult. “You know the Yiling Patriarch, right? Little known fact: we once went to class together…”

#mdzs #nie huaisang #mo xuanyu #my fic #my fics #alt headcanons #I've decided that similar prompts will (on discretion) be interpreted as requests for continuations #or not #depends on whatever I feel like when I see the prompt

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kokitschi · 1 year

Text

ok ok i know the 4th chapter is fucked up but. u gotta appreciate the way kokichi set this whole thing up. like, it's kind of beautiful, actually.

one thing kokichi repeats several times during the game is "the process of elimination" and that's exactly how this whole case is build up.

every domino piece has been set up so they could all perfectly fall over in the trial. and kokichis the one who did the pushing nonetheless.

like. look at it like this.

(aight uh so this unintentionally turned into a canon compliant fanfic...? don't ask me how that happened.)

you have made yourself isolated and generally disliked by most of the group for various reasons. you've already been stressing about the situation and then you (most likely) see something that just makes you freak out (the card key motive). so, you've admittedly become a bit erratic. there isn't really anyone to reel you in either.

your almost-ally is very doing worse than you though. she's clearly losing it. it doesn't take long for you to figure out that she's planning to murder you. you wouldn't call eachother friends but this still probably feels like betrayal. or maybe you're just frustrated that despite everything - the remote control, the electro hammers and bombs, the bugvac - everything you've trusted her to build and she still thinks that murder is the better option. okay, fuck you too then.

most of your classmates are stupid or complacent or both. they've mostly stopped thinking for themselves and would rather leave everything to the detective. who, to be fair, isn't incompetent but it has been incredibly frustrating to watch how easily he's swept up in that one idiots empty platitudes. logic alone should get them through these trials - acting on emotions is dangerous. (the irony probably isn't lost on you but you've always been upfront about being a hypocrite. so whatever.)

you want to teach those idiots a lesson. blindly believing in people will get them killed. so, you come up with a plan that could perhaps be compared to a bowline knot - very sturdy but also very easy to unravel.

you've already decided on your main piece - in fact he's been begging, genuinely begging to be used since the beginning but especially lately. so, befitting to your title, you shall make use of him.

(it's his own fault for being so gullible and kind. you've been telling him - everyone but especially him - that he's gonna get himself killed like this. this is a killing game, why won't anyone accept this reality already?? why won't anyone heed his warnings? but most people are unable to seperate the words from the person who's saying them.)

her plan is easy to usurp - in fact it takes care of the important things. the other pieces are set up in a way that would make it impossible for them to commit the crime you are planning. you and your sacrifice are the only pieces left. her intended advantage over you is ironically what will protect you.

things go smoothly. for the most part, anyway.

you might've underestimated just how much the detective dislikes you, is what you think as he doesn't give your proposition even a single thought before he leaves. oh well, you've never been one to easily give up.

you force yourself into the role of his partner. your nerves are definitely strung high at this point but you tell yourself that it's all just part of the game. so you continue to push everyones buttons. you needle and twist the knife wherever possible. (it's just a game. it's just a game. it's just a game.) nobody has any sympathy left for you at this point. it's okay, it's all part of your long term strategy anyway. (perhaps one could argue that you've been dealt awful cards from the beginning but is that really an excuse?)

you lead the trial, you make sure that they're doing things in the right order and that they won't miss a thing. it needs to be uncovered in this way because otherwise they won't listen to the evidence anymore. if they shall act like children, then you shall talk to them as if they are.

the first part of the trial moves along sluggishly but atleast all the facts of the crime are now laid open. all they need to do at this point is to use the process of elimination, really.

the detective looks at you uneasily. time for the fun part! questions and accusations fly around the room, it's about what you expected.

and then the detective lies. he's done this before. everyone believes him over you. that's to be expected. but something inside you cannot forgive this hypocrisy today. so you decide to be cruel and rip off the band aid.

chaos. disbelief. objections!

it could've been so fun. if it wasn't for your unwilling partner in crime to be completely dumbfounded - not because he's been betrayed but.. because he doesn't seem to know what you're talking about? huh? huh?

you thought at first that maybe this was just his last effort to try to get away with it. but he seems so genuine. you can't detect a lie but clearly what he is saying cannot be true. it cannot be. he's got to be lying. which means that you've underestimated him. you've been played. your classmates are clamoring to defend him. he will get away with this. he can't- it wasn't supposed to go that way. they will all vote for you. all because they believe in him hahahhaha no no no no nonononononono

he doesn't remember. ah. that makes sense.

you're still agitated and you feel as if you're about to snap.

you and the detective leave no holes in the explanation. it's a simple process of elimination - you've made sure of that after all.

the despair on your classmates faces is apparent. your sacrifice accepts his fate. you can't handle this. it's all too much. why did you do this? why? why? why? everyones badgering you. the look on his face- his voice- and despite everything he still cared about you. you stupid awful disgusting horrible miserable monster. nobody will ever forgive you for this. you knew that. perhaps you didn't think it would hurt so bad though.

gontas last wish will never come true. the very least you can do is to not let his death go to waste.

so it's double down or nothing.

#kokichi ouma #ouma kokichi #maybe one day i'll rewrite this

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crownsandbishops · 9 months

Text

(I’ve been getting some replies that have been making me kind of uncomfortable lately, [this isn’t about you nightfall, since I know you were worried about that! I’ll tell you if you ever are]

But I feel like I need to make something abundantly clear: Though the Bishops are by definition really awful people who have committed horrendous acts, this blog is intended as a safe space, I know for a fact minors follow this blog, and even if I didn’t know that I don’t appreciate attempts to bring up very serious topics here, because by doing so you both expose young viewers to them and downplay them.

By all means ask whatever question you want, I’m the only one who will see it! But do it /in my ask box/ not in my replies, that way I can determine what does and doesn’t fit with my comfort level

On a slightly different but similar note, respect my characters, through this blog I am giving them full bodily autonomy, and if they say no to something please respect that, consent is very important, not just here but in the real world, and nothing justifies doing something anyways when somebody tells you no

sorry that this was long and kind of heavy but I’ve had this blog for a little over a month and I’ve been in already quite a few situations where I’ve felt like these things weren’t being taken seriously.

Thank you so much everyone and I’ll be back with my usual post in 9 hours!)

#mod post

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anotherkindofmindpod · 2 years

Note

In the linked episode, there is a moment where you say the possibility that Brian sexually assaulted John could shed light on why Paul is so cagey and defensive of John on this subject and why Paul was cold toward Brian. You say to take the anger we as listeners feel hearing that story and imagine that we are Paul, someone who knows and loves John, and come to the conclusion that Paul would be upset at Brian on John’s behalf for this. However, Paul’s views on a situation like that in 1963 would not be remotely the same as ours is in the 2020s. It feels as though you are applying modern thought to Paul in error here; as you explain earlier in that segment, the concept of date rape did not exist for anyone back then, including Paul, so assuming he heard the full story, which he maintains he never did, it doesn’t make sense to me why Paul would feel the same sort of protective anger that a listener now would feel. Especially since I am pretty confident in saying that John would never have described it to Paul in terms of feeling violated or taken advantage of. It feels like you bounce lightly over a lot of dubious "ifs" to come to this possibility. IF this thirdhand information is accurate, IF John for some reason confided in Paul, IF Paul conformed to 2020 standards when thinking about power structures between manager/bandmember and sexual assault—THEN it might help explain why Paul was cold to Brian. I know you point out that Gaines’s story is hearsay and thirdhand information and that cancelling Brian based on hearsay would be wild, and you’re right. But if I’m honest, I do not think enough time was spent considering quite how unreliable Steve Gaines’ story is. There’s a willingness to entertain this story's possibilities and consequences that is not sufficiently balanced by source analysis, in my opinion. Not only is it third-hand information, it’s third-hand information recalled nearly forty years later, on top of being twenty years removed from the original conversation. Even if we assume Gaines has contemporaneous recordings of this interview with Brown, it’s still two decades after the fact: a conversation that happened in the early sixties recalled in the early eighties. And if he did talk to Brown about this for hours and that is the story Brown told him, why print a version in the book they co-wrote which depicts John as completely awake, aware, and giving full consent? It diminishes his credibility even further. I really do appreciate your podcast for lifting up sources that have been ignored, marginalized, forgotten, or are harder to find. I love the legwork you do and I look forward to future episodes. I think the way this source was talked about was a bit of a misstep, though.

Hey Listener,

Thank you for the kind words! We are glad you enjoy the podcast. :)

Sounds like you don’t believe Gaines’ story, which is your prerogative. If you feel the caveats we stated weren’t sufficient, that is also your prerogative.

However, Paul’s views on a situation like that in 1963 would not be remotely the same as ours is in the 2020s. It feels as though you are applying modern thought to Paul in error here

#1. 1963 Paul does not require knowledge of “date rape” as a legal concept to detect or intuit discomfort, embarrassment or shame on John’s part, all of which John seemed to show contemporaneously based on his testimony to Pete Shotton and his extreme behavior at Paul’s party (as we detailed in our episode).

#2. It’s entirely possible Paul heard the “passed out and took advantage” story at the time, especially since Gaines explicitly claimed “everyone in the Beatles circle” knew and believed it (which would by definition include Paul).

Again, Paul doesn’t have to believe sex with an unconscious or semi-conscious person meets the legal definition of assault in 1963 (which it didn’t) to feel anger or compassion when it happens to his own personal, very special friend. Paul is and was uncommonly protective of John and highly aware of John’s innate fragility. Paul doesn’t need to have any sort of enlightened compassion for ALL victims in order to feel angry specifically on behalf of his friend.

We made the argument that if this was the situation John wouldn’t consider himself a “victim” for a variety of antiquated, fucked-up reasons but he could and likely would still be traumatized by the incident.

Anyway, here’s what I said:

But again, if this is indeed true, it could shed light on many elements to this story, including John's violent reaction and why his attitude about it seemed to fluctuate.

And it could also help explain why Paul McCartney is so cagey and defensive about this sexual incident on John's behalf. And why Paul isn't particularly warm toward Brian, right?

But just for like five seconds, assuming that Paul loves John; Let's assume that he loves his best friend, okay? (which I think we all do). Whatever you just felt, imagining john in a situation where he's being taken advantage of… whatever anger or sadness that that made you feel, imagine you're his best fucking friend. Wouldn't Paul be upset about it too?

I stand firmly by my belief that if Paul even suspected that the Beatles’ new manager pressured or coerced a diminished John into sex and/or that John felt conflicted or ashamed about it afterwards, it would contribute to Paul not feeling “particularly warm” towards that person. TBH, I’m kind of perplexed that this is a controversial opinion?

All that said, even if Paul had no reason to suspect John was anything but happy about the Barcelona trip on a personal level, it still demonstrably had bad consequences for John (and by extension, the WHOLE BAND). Not that Brian is at fault for John’s violence (as we stated numerous times in the episode), but to us it seems unlikely that Paul wouldn’t have, at the very least, experienced a feeling of “gee, thanks a lot for THAT, Brian” as a result. We’re not saying this makes him a selfless hero or John’s knight in shining armor, but it does give nuance to the friction between Paul and Brian – friction which is, frustratingly, usually attributed to only the most simplistic and petty of reasons (Paul is jealous, “difficult,” homophobic, etc.) when in fact, the Barcelona trip was a GIANT MISSTEP on Brian’s part professionally, interpersonally, and commercially. If afterward, Paul needed Brian to PROVE himself a bit? That is FAIR.

And if he did talk to Brown about this for hours and that is the story Brown told him, why print a version in the book they co-wrote which depicts John as completely awake, aware, and giving full consent?

Because it is kinder, sexier, paints Brian in a MUCH better light and portrays John as an ‘experimental bohemian’ rather than a victim? Because it preserves stereotypes about both John Lennon (the powerful leader) and men in general (i.e. John was the “macho” one so he always had control)?

In our opinion, John’s violent behavior at Paul’s birthday party went beyond typical “gay panic” and, crucially, beyond John’s own typical violent-outburst MO. Although by all accounts John was drunk, he never blacked out (either from intoxication or rage) because he also claims to clearly recall thinking “I could kill this guy.” Although this event is typically portrayed (by straight men) as a straight man protecting his reputation, John was actually jeopardizing not only his career but his entire future by “almost killing” Wooler. In addition to being an aggressively homophobic act towards a gay man, it comes across as inherently self-destructive as well. It speaks to a depth of inner turmoil that, in our opinion, doesn’t quite jibe with a neatly planned, unambiguously-positive sexual experience. Given this new tidbit of information from Gaines, John’s intensely emotional overreaction suggests he may have been triggered and rather than merely “proving his manhood” he might have been suffering from trauma he couldn’t recognize or process.

We understand that this is a grisly topic and something that many are not going to want to believe. But date rape was extremely commonplace in 1963 (and still happens all the time). I’m not thrilled to say this, but I’m sure COUNTLESS Beatles stories (yes, with all the Beatles) have been sanitized over the years.

At the end of the day, though, none of us was there, and everyone is free to believe what they want to believe. -Phoebe et al -- Our episode can be found here for anyone who hasn’t listened to it yet.

#AKOM

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acacia-may · 1 year

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For the shipping bingo, Yami x Charlotte (a classic, at this point) and Finral x Finesse (not very much about them, but really sweet)

Aw hi, anon! Thanks so much for the ask and for playing bingo! 🥰

Yami and Charlotte:

(Not quite a bingo—the randomly generated cards haven’t been too kind to me 😅 But it’s a good ship all the same)

Finral and Finesse:

(Close but, alas, not quite a bingo… I love them—they deserved one 😔💚)

Discussion and headcanons under the cut (Warnings: mentions Finral’s chilhood trauma in a vague, non-descriptive way)

Yami and Charlotte:

I absolutely agree that this is a classic! To be perfectly honest, I was not expecting it at all. I remember when my sister and I were binging the anime, we actually had to pause because we were laughing so hard at Charlotte's internal monologue in the cave during the Eye of the Midnight Sun first encounter arc, when we first learn about her secret, not-so-secret affection for Yami. It was definitely one of those, "not what I was expecting but I'm totally here for it" kind of moments! They are certainly a frustrating ship in that Charlotte is so stubborn about admitting how she feels, Yami is so dense about it, and they both struggle so much to express their feelings. I'll admit that Charlotte is making progress and I'm proud of her for that, but Yami is...well...he could use a good (affectionate) smack on the back of the head and someone telling him to "get on with it already."

There is something very sweet in Charlotte who is so independent and so strong opening herself up to love and realising that it doesn't make her any less strong or independent--if anything she and Yami are stronger together. Charlotte and Yami are equally matched--they're both captains and powerful in their own right, but they both have their flaws too. Even so, they choose to care about each other. It's clear that their care is built on a strong foundation of friendship and mutual respect, not just some fleeting whirlwind of emotions which I really appreciate. The fact that they can also bicker like an old married couple just adds to the fun! 💖

I will say that I wish it wasn't played for laughs so much because I do think their relationship could be great and has lots of potential, if they'd only learn how to communicate with each other a bit better. (I'd love to see them actually have a real, honest conversation that doesn't end with Charlotte descending into flustered, tsundere mutterings and/or Yami emotionally shutting down and saying something stupid, inappropriate for the situation, and/or totally oblivious. Here's hoping!) I really think they're at their best when they're being honest about the genuine care and respect they have for each other. Those moments in the elf arc where Yami is telling "Charla" about the admiration and high esteem he has for Charlotte or when Charlotte is thinking back to the day that Yami helped break her curse because she decided to care about him are some of my favourites.

I've only written about them once (so far) because I find their perspectives difficult and struggle with writing romance in general (it's just not my wheelhouse 😅), but I am rooting for them and have been from the beginning!

Some headcanons about them:

When Yami and Charlotte finally get together, they know (and everybody knows) "this is it" and they're going to stay together. Though they expected some of their friends to be surprised that they're dating, barely anyone is with the exception of Sol who didn't really want to see it and Asta and Magna who (bless their hearts) were too oblivious to see it. The overwhelming response from everyone who knows them even remotely well is: "it's about time..."

Yami makes the mistake of hinting to his squad that he plans to propose to Charlotte, and they all jump on the topic, demanding to know how he plans to do it. Yami just shrugs and explains he wasn't planning anything special, he was just going to ask her, but his squad (resident romantic, Finral, especially) insists he can't 'just ask her'--he has to make it special. He ends up with an elaborate proposal plan including a suit, flowers, a romantic hike, a picnic with wine (courtesy of Charmy and Vanessa), and notes for a speech on some cue cards, but after trying his best to fumble his way through this 'proper proposal,' he eventually says 'to hell with it' and just asks her, like he was intending to do in the first place. Of course, she accepts.

Yami is the first of the Black Bulls to get married, and he often jokes that his squad is more excited about the wedding than he is. To be fair, Yami is looking forward to actually getting married and starting their lives together not to the rigmarole of the actual wedding itself (which is a whole lot of work, planning and details). He probably would've been happy just skipping the big spectacle and eloping, but he knows it's important to Charlotte to do things properly. The Blue Roses get more into the wedding planning than Charlotte who hadn't given much thought to what she wanted her wedding to be like, but the day turns out beautifully and goes incredibly smoothly in the end.

Shortly after getting married, Yami and Charlotte decide that they're ready for a quieter, slower paced life and retire from being magic knight captains passing their squads down to Nacht and Sol respectively. They still do some consulting work for the magic knights but, for the most part, settle down with their pensions near the Black Bulls hideout in a quaint, little house with a lovely garden.

They're the first of their friends to have children and go on to have three in total: a son, Katsu, then two daughters, Hana and Marceline, who are all positively doted upon by their Blue Roses and Black Bulls uncles and aunts.

Yami always had a strong paternal streak and is a wonderful father. Even if he can be a bit stern and surly at times, his children always manage to bring out that softer, gentler side of him. Charlotte is a great mother a well, a bit firm at times (when she needs to be) but very loving and always looking out for her children's best interests.

Yami's kids think he tells the best stories and tell all the Black Bulls cousins about it so he is constantly begged for tales from his days in the magic knights. He is fairly good at saying no to his "nieces and nephews," but if his kids ask, he'll usually concede and tell them all a story or two. Charlotte thinks this is very sweet. 💕

Even after getting married, Charlotte and Yami are fairly private about their relationship, believing it's really not anybody else's business. Neither one of them are particularly good at expressing how they feel with their words, but their actions speak louder and they are constantly doing nice things for each other as a way to show their affection.

~~~

Finral and Finesse:

Oh I'm so happy you asked me about them! I love them so much, and this ship is criminally underrated! 💕 But, gosh, I have thoughts... I apologize in advance for all of the ramblings.

I'll admit that it threw me for a loop in the beginning. No one even hinted at the fact that Finesse existed until well into the story (one of my favourite episodes (80) and chapters (126) though). Given the fact that up until that point we had kind of seen Finral throw himself at pretty much every woman he ever met, it was definitely quite the surprise to learn that he had someone in his past that he really and truly loved (even if she was now engaged to marry his brother). [And the fact that I started with the anime rather than the manga also didn't do me any favours either, since the anime almost seemed to be entertaining the possibility of Finral and Vanessa around that time. (Heck even in the same episode! The emotional whiplash was intense! What a rollercoaster...😅). The manga was much more cut and dry in this regard, in my opinion. Obviously, Finral and Vanessa are still friends but without those added things, they don't feel like much of an option there so when Finesse is introduced, it's a little more clear that if Finral's heart was with anyone all this time, then it would probably be Finesse].😊

Finral and Finesse fall into a trope that I like to call "The Boat and The Lighthouse" inspired by one of my favourite songs by Death Cab for Cutie "Little Wanderer" [You Tube link here, if you're interested. It's also on my Finral x Finesse playlist (yes, I have one of those...😅😂 It’s actually my favourite of all the ones I’ve made for Black Clover ships)]. If this trope has an actual name, please let me know, but in my terms, this is how it works: The "Boat" in the ship (the pun is just a happy accident 😂), in this case Finral, is restless and wandering, often going through a period of personal growth and finding themselves which leads them far away from home and their beloved who becomes their "Lighthouse"--a gentle, steady safe-place that the "Boat" can eventually find its way home to [one of my favourite classic Disney songs "Candle on the Water" comes to mind (also on my Finral x Finesse playlist 💕)]. The "Lighthouse", in this case Finesse, has an unwavering loyalty and deep devotion to the "Boat" and wants them to find themselves, even if it means they will be separated, possibly forever; however, they never stop lighting the way so the "Boat" can find their way home and never give up hope that the "Boat's" journey will eventually bring them together again. It's a particular favourite of mine (when it's done well) as it really is so incredibly sweet! 💖

In the case of this ship specifically, I think that Finral and Finesse met in what I imagine was a very dark time in Finral's life. Before he finally left House Vaude, the years of abuse weighed very heavily on him, and he was so beaten down and broken emotionally that it was hard for him to have any confidence at all. It's heartbreaking that he felt so unwanted at his home and felt he had no choice but to leave, but ultimately, it was really the best thing for him to break free of that toxic situation and forge his own path for a while. Though it must've been really hard for him to leave at the time--he was young and leaving his home and his family (even though they're awful, they're still his family)--in the end, as even he realized in the canon in that great moment in the sea temple (which I keep mentioning... 😅 It's one of my favourite arcs) joining the Black Bulls and having a safe place where his squad mates loved and accepted as he was, really helped him to build courage and confidence and inspired him to become the best version of himself (and a man well on his way to being worthy of Lady Finesse)!

I'd really like to think this kind of growth is what Finesse wanted for him when he left House Vaude as well. She's so kind and believes he's too hard on himself. I don't know the extent to which she understands the reality of how awful things are at House Vaude at this point, but I think she knows Finral is very insecure and suffering emotionally and hopes that leaving home will help him find himself and build the strength and confidence to come back home (and back to her) someday. I'm not sure how openly supportive she could be given the circumstances, but I think at least on the inside she would be wishing him well and believing that it's for the best that he goes out on his own for awhile. Finesse is so compassionate and knows both of her boys so well, after all. (I sometimes think she knows them even better than they know themselves--especially when they're young and pre-character development). It gives me all the warm and fuzzies just thinking about it! 🥰

As much as I love Finral and Finesse as a ship, I adore their friendship too, and I feel like it isn't discussed enough when really it is beautiful in its own right. He wants to be his best self for her and is an incredibly kind and attentive friend, and she builds him up, shows him kindness, and believes in him even when no one else does, including himself. The fact that he fell in love with her for it, does not change the fact that they have a deep affection and strong foundation of mutual respect and friendship that I believe would persist in any universe (even one where they did not end up together). After all, if the betrothal isn't dissolved, she is going to marry either him or his brother meaning that, if she doesn't marry him, she will be his sister (or, I suppose more accurately, his sister-in-law), and I like to think that, in that case, they would still be very good friends, take care of each other like family, and have a deep familial affection for each other.

In a romantic sense though, if it was just their dynamic alone, I really wouldn't have many (if any) reservations about it. I mean they really are just lovely together--what's not to love? But... all that House Vaude drama and the whole arranged marriage business really gets in the way of their potential, and I do have some issues with and reservations about how the relationship has developed, the surrounding circumstances, and the way it's been handled in the story that, I am sorry to say, leave a bit of a frustratingly sour taste in my mouth, if I'm being perfectly honest. I think most of my issues fall under the umbrella of the fact that, in my mind, there is really no believable way that Finral marrying Lady Finesse and becoming the Head of House Vaude could be mutually exclusive (they would really have to deus ex machina or 'power of love' their way out of it and I don't particularly care for those plot devices), and the idea of Finral returning to his abusive home makes me feel sick, like I've been punched in the gut. I want to believe that the love he and Finesse have for each other will weather whatever kind of hell is waiting for Finral if he takes over as the heir to the House of Vaude. Believe me, I desperately want to believe this...but the way the relationship is being handled in the canon is not making it easy (i.e. the fact that Finral is hitting his head against the wall whenever he even sees another woman and is going on these long almost desperate tirades about how Finesse is "the only one for him" (almost like he's trying to convince himself more so than anyone else...) I know it's played for laughs, but it is excessive in the anime and more than a little concerning in every medium...). Based on that, I would be lying if I said it wasn't difficult at times to quiet those fears and those questions of 'what if, what they (Finral especially) think will make them happy, isn't necessarily what will ultimately make them happy?'--and when the story wants to sell me on the fact that Finral's love for Lady Finesse somehow justifies him returning to the toxic House Vaude, those kinds of questions should not be there at all (in my opinion). So in that way, I am incredibly frustrated with the relationship--mostly because I love it so much, and it could be so, so good! I mean, I have absolutely no doubt that Finral and Finesse care for each other very deeply, but it's the nature of that love and whether or not things would work out between in them in the long term that I'm not so sure about given the complicated surrounding circumstances... I think if we had more time and more content with them in the canon, I would feel much more assured in it. It's really that lack of content you mentioned in your ask, anon, that is giving me some pause.

All of that said, I really am rooting for them and want nothing but good things for the two of them. I do genuinely and wholeheartedly believe that they can/would be very happy together since they really are just so incredibly sweet--I couldn't agree with you more, anon! I can't imagine them ever fighting or arguing, and they're both just the kindest people who generally look on the bright side and want to believe the best about others even when/if they're mistreated (though I wouldn't suggest even trying to mistreat Lady Finesse unless you want to be on the receiving end of some very powerful spatial magic that will blast holes into you and/or send you to the middle of nowhere, depending on which of the spatial mage brothers happens to be around at the time or hear of your unforgivable transgression). They are also both so incredibly generous and such natural givers--very selfless and always looking out for other people before themselves. They never really ask for much for themselves so I just love the idea of them being loved and cherished by someone who is as equally selfless and generous as they are. They absolutely deserve that level of devotion and deserve the world really! Finral and Finesse is definitely the "Fluffy Fluffy! Cute Cute!" ship of Black Clover, hands down! Gah, I really do just love them so much!! 💖🥰

Some headcanons about them:

Finesse was Finral’s first love (not sure if this is a headcanon or actually canon 😂), and despite him being incredibly obvious about his affection and devotion to her, she wasn't aware of it at the time (being humble and chalking up Finral's awkwardness to their situation of being betrothed to each other when they were practically strangers and he was still so young). The moment when he "declared war" on Langris after the elf arc, was really the first time Finesse had ever even considered the possibility that he might actually be romantically interested in her (beyond just friendship or even the arranged marriage), and one day, when he mentioned to her offhand that she was his "first love," she was caught by genuine surprise. Finral was shocked, since he was sure it had always been so obvious.

On Finesse's side of things, she had always considered him a dear friend and had made her peace with the idea that they would eventually wed one day--truthfully, she was just grateful at the prospect of being married off to a decent man who would be good to her (since she knew many noble and especially royal girls did not have this luxury). However, there was not much more to it than that, until they were much older, and he started actively pursuing her. His kindness, attentiveness, and thoughtfulness really endeared him to her, and she slowly began to fall in love with him. By the time they married, Finesse could confidently say she returned his romantic love for her just as ardently.

Langris was the savior of this relationship. He realized that Finral could make Lady Finesse happy when he couldn't, and once his brother proved he was worthy of her, Langris stepped aside and relinquished House Vaude to Finral so he could be the one to marry her. In accordance with an old Clover Kingdom law for situations where there was a question of rightful succession, Langris challenged Finral to a duel for control of their House, but he threw the match on purpose (similar to how he relinquished the Golden Dawn to Yuno in the anime), leaving Finral the victor and the heir to House Vaude.

The first time Finral kissed her was not until after their official engagement following Langris's abdication and Finral's reinstatement as the rightful heir to House Vaude. They were in her garden, supposedly chaperoned by some of the gardeners and servants but they weren't really watching. It was a short, chaste kiss (before someone noticed them and got them into trouble for breaking the very strict rules of courtship), but they were both practically beaming for the rest of the day.

Finesse loves the Black Bulls very much for taking such good care of Finral and being the family he always wanted, and they love her just as much--almost immediately adopting her right in as an honorary member. (Heck, with the way Yami gives out capes willy-nilly, the squad would probably give her one (or an honorary one) just for marrying Finral 😂).

Vanessa and Finesse become very good friends with each other right away--though Finral is a little embarrassed when Vanessa starts telling her fun and silly stories about him and their time in the magic knights. Vanessa embroiders white lilies (Finesse's favourite flower) on Finesse's wedding dress--insisting that she deserves something personal and special to her on her wedding day, and when Finral and Finesse have their daughter, they ask Vanessa to be her godmother. 💕

Since Finesse is royalty and Finral is nobility, they have to follow all the customs and traditions for their wedding which makes it a bit stuffy and stressful for Finral (who is worried he's going to mess everything up by using the incorrect fork at dinner or forgetting the proper address for a duke or something) and for Finesse (who doesn't like to be the center of attention and finds it exhausting to be in the spotlight). Even so, it is still the happiest day of their lives, and Finral is this big, blubbering mess when Finesse walks down the aisle. Luckily, she pulls out a handkerchief for him from the pocket Vanessa has sewn into her dress. 💚

Due to Finesse's often poor health, they live a slower paced life together, but it is a very happy and content one. They rarely ever disagree, and if they do, the disagreement is solved quickly. They spend a lot of time taking walks together through the gardens at House Vaude.

They have three children together: two adopted sons named Blaise and Felix and a biological daughter named Vivienne. They probably would have wanted more children, but Finesse's frail health prevented them from having a big family. For a long time, they were not sure they would be able to have any biological children at all given Finesse's illness, so Vivienne was a bit of a surprise but a very much welcomed and wished for one. 💖

Even though he was ecstatic that Finesse was expecting, Finral was a mess of stress and anxiety throughout her entire pregnancy which she spent mostly on bedrest. He and Langris would stay up late into the night in House Vaude's library researching everything that could possibly go wrong and how to prevent it. Finesse was so worried about them that she called in Vanessa to intervene, and she separated them saying they were a terrible influence on each other. Then they just stayed up late into the night researching worse case scenarios separately. 😅

Finral cried when Vivienne was born--both out of the pride and joy of a new father but also out of overwhelming relief that mother and baby were both perfectly fine. Uncle Langris may have also gotten a bit misty-eyed when he held his niece for the first time (though he would probably never admit to it).

Finral and Finesse met and adopted their son, Blaise, when they were fundraising to build a proper orphanage in Tota. He is particularly close to his Uncle Magna because they both have flame magic. His younger, adopted brother, Felix was living on the streets in the Royal Capital and using his spatial magic portals to pick-pocket and steal food to survive when he met Finral. He noticed Finral's fancy clothes and had tried to steal some money from him, but Finral, having defensive spatial magic himself, recognized/could sense(?) the type of magic and stopped him. He insisted to the local magic knights/royal guard that he didn't want to press any charges and instead brought Felix home so he could have a nice meal and a place to stay for the night. They were initially planning to send him to the orphanage, but Finral and Finesse grew to care about Felix so much that they asked him if he would like to stay with them permanently as their son. He said yes, and they formally adopted him. 💚

Finral, Finesse, and their children are all very close to each other, and love sharing meals together, going on outings, and playing games as a family (it's even better when they can get "Uncle Langris" to join in). Both Felix and Blaise are incredibly protective of their little sister, Vivienne, but all the children get along very well with each other and love when their dad plays with them and tells them stories.

Finral likes to show his love for Finesse by surprising her with little gifts and treasures--sometimes just things that he finds (like a pretty flower or a rock that is roughly the shape of a heart) and other times things he has bought (like a bracelet, book, or scarf). She'll sometimes ask, "What's the occasion?" only for Finral to reply, "There's no occasion. I just love you." Then, he always smiles at her and often gives her a kiss which sometimes elicits murmured "ew..."s from their boys. Their daughter, however, always thinks it is sweet! 💖

Thank you so much for bearing with all the ramblings and for the ask! 🥰

#answered asks #ship bingo #thanks for the ask anon!#yamichar #yami x charlotte #charlotte x yami #yami sukehiro x charlotte roselei #finral roulacase x finesse calmreich #fin fin #finral x finesse #finesse x finral #they are so cute!!

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