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wearesorcerer · 3 years

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Creativity versus Cheating

You may think I’m beating a dead horse about this, but given the number of really stupid takes on this website, I think it needs to be said. With examples! And stories! And ~*fun*~!

A Definition of Cheating

In the end, my erstwhile conversant antagonist mentioned “cheating”. This is a childish way of asserting your disdain for the conversation, but Venomancer has never been a good interlocutor. (This is me being petty and spiteful, but I do have a point here.) “Cheating” gets thrown around a lot as a complaint for why something shouldn’t be allowed. However, to cheat, you have to do three specific things:

Break a rule. Your action has to violate a rule entirely; it can’t simply bend the rule.

Acquire an unfair advantage. Because it required breaking a rule, no one else can benefit from the action you have taken. However, the action still works within the system of other rules to give you some benefit.

Break trust. If you break a rule without intending to do so, it’s a mistake. If you get an unfair advantage but didn’t mean to, it’s a mistake. Cheating has to violate the trust in a system of rules, which demands there be intent behind it.

I point this out because, as I mentioned before, spellcasting in D&D has a very, very long history of people complaining that it is too powerful. Spellcasting. Magic. Seemingly breaking the laws of physics. Magic may or may not itself be cheating (if real, depending on whether or not it actually violates the rules of existence), but its very existence in a codified rule set frequently causes problems, particularly with people who don’t want to play magic-users. The bones of these arguments litter spell descriptions across the editions: feather fall can’t slow down a weapon (so probably not a guillotine blade), magic missile can’t target objects, and other odd bits of wording that make you scratch your head all trace back to some questionable use of a spell.

And yet, it’s not just spells that result in this. Take this conversation from 2006 (D&D 3.5) between a player whose character was a “bareknuckle boxer” Fighter (no idea why he couldn’t have played a Monk) and a DM who was a bit paranoid about getting the run-around from players:

Player: “Can I use Sunder attempts to break opponents’ bones?”

DM: “Hmm... I don’t see why not. However, if you do that, that leaves it open for me to do the same.”

Player: “Y’know, I don’t like that possibility. I’ll just not.”

This is a creative use of established rules to get an advantage. However, it’s not cheating by a long shot: the player is avoiding breaking any rules, the DM approves of the mechanic, and the advantage isn’t unfair because literally anyone can make a sunder attempt (and plenty of monsters can do it better than this bareknuckle boxer could).

You may note that this is the exact same issue as was brought up with the create water in lungs example: the advantage isn’t unfair because others can use the same tactic (this is in fact the poster’s complaint) and the DM had to approve it, meaning either it didn’t violate rules as written (see next) or the DM employed Rule 0 (”the rules are guidelines; tweak or discard them as you wish”). What is “unfair” is that magic users can do this but others cannot; but that’s the same as any class-based issue and is the complaint that’s been leveled at magic users the entire time. But let’s stick with the unfairness at hand: it’s not unfair to other magic users and the DM allowed it, ergo it’s not cheating.

Mistaken Readings: Breaking the Rules but Not Getting a Significant Advantage

Now, here’s the catch. The create water example would vary between editions. I can tell you that in third edition it was against the rules for create water or other conjurations to create objects inside of a creature, while in 5e it requires an open container (lungs themselves are not and the passages into lungs have several ways of being closed specifically to keep water out). All you have to say is “that’s not how the spell works in the rules” and you’re good. But that wasn’t the point of the post, so I’m going to drag it some more.

A great example of such a misreading is a story the bareknuckle boxer player told me of a druid he’d played in high school.. It was the habit of his previous DM to incarcerate his PCs and strip them of all their gear to see how they’d escape from said predicament. My friend’s druid specialized in wood shaping and took Eschew Materials (feat: ignore material or focus components of negligible cost), so he cast goodberry to create some plant matter, then entangle to grow it and wood shape to retrieve the guard’s keys and unlock his cell. Had he a window or were the cell close enough to the outside, he probably wouldn’t have needed the goodberry spell in the first place. As we pointed out to him, though, goodberry didn’t work that way at the time: it wasn’t a Conjuration effect that required berries as material components, but a Transmutation effect that targeted them (making them into healing potions that also filled you), so there were no materials for him to Eschew. This was a key (but subtle) design mechanic to limit the power of a druid, who had no ability to conjure non-creature plants.

Here’s the fun thing, however: 5e’s version of goodberry works exactly the way the player thought it did in 3.5 (save that it’s still an effect of the Transmutation school instead of Conjuration). Any druid worth their salt who likes using plant shaping spells should prepare goodberry if for no other reason than to ensure that they have access to plants. (Sadly, there’s no Eschew Materials equivalent that I know of, but you could find a Divine Focus and hope for the best. Or maybe there is an equivalent that I just don’t know about.)

But here we get into another flaw in the argument: even if it’s not how the rule is supposed to work, it doesn’t exactly grant an unfair advantage. Yes, a druid needs plants to cast a lot of their spells, but not all, and a druid with wood shape (a 2nd-level spell at the time) would be a minimum of 3rd level (I know they were higher because another player was a wild shaper, but let’s just go with that). A 3rd-level druid had a base of 1 2nd-level spell (wood shape) and two 1st-level spells (entangle and goodberry), meaning that if this character had been 3rd-level, he’d have used up all three of his non-bonus spell slots just to break out of a jail cell. (Reminder: cantrips were not at-will in 3.5.) Now, given that I know they could wild shape, I must note that the minimum level for that (5th) would have given him base spell slots of 3/2/1 (not counting cantrips), so he’d still have used half of his spells just to get out of a jail cell.

At that level, though, he could have just shapeshifted into a baboon (Str 15), black bear (Str 19), or a snake (Medium constrictor or Small viper) and gotten out (breaking the door down or slithering through a gap), using a single use of a mechanic to escape and prepare himself for combat. But he didn’t. And his story is better because he didn’t.

And this is where the create water and lungs thing comes back. In the end, if it had been allowed, it would have been a save vs. death. But casters already have plenty of ways of killing creatures at first level -- and often more than one creature at a time, whereas this would have likely only worked on one. Sleep is a great example of an early save or die spell: if the creatures fail their saves, they are now helpless and open for coup de grace-ing (decapitation, stabbination, whatever). Color spray in 3.5 is far and away better than in 5e in this regard because it also makes creatures go comatose, though it doesn’t scale well. (Neither does sleep, for that matter.) Burning hands is an AoE damaging effect. I can go on.

The point is, even misinterpretations of spells tend to run afoul of how cost effective their use is.

In the end, Clerics don’t wander around filling people’s lungs with water because that’s wasteful. You worry about enemy characters trying to kill you in a game about killing things?

Where Rules Mongering Kills Fun

The biggest reason I hate these complaints is not that they make it more difficult to kill things in a game that’s always been about killing things, but in that they try to stamp out any out-of-the-box use for spells. And I mean any.

At the tail end of the Summer of 2005, when I was starting undergrad, another friend of mine recounted tales of a gnomish caster he had played. Two spells featured: dancing lights and Tenser’s floating disk. He had been trying to intimidate some NPC, so rode in on his floating disk and proceeded to use dancing lights to create the image of a humanoid getting disemboweled. Clearly, dancing lights cannot do that: it can create up to four lights or the outline of a single, vaguely humanoid, glowing form. However, if we’re stuck on the dancing lights part, we’ve missed the point: as a gnome caster, he could have done the same thing with silent image anyway (if he had it; I don’t recall what class he was or why he chose dancing lights). No, the issue is with Tenser’s floating disk. Per the spell description:

You create a slightly concave, circular plane of force that follows you about and carries loads for you. The disk is 3 feet in diameter and 1 inch deep at its center. It can hold 100 pounds of weight per caster level. (If used to transport a liquid, its capacity is 2 gallons.) The disk floats approximately 3 feet above the ground at all times and remains level. It floats along horizontally within spell range and will accompany you at a rate of no more than your normal speed each round. If not otherwise directed, it maintains a constant interval of 5 feet between itself and you. The disk winks out of existence when the spell duration expires. The disk also winks out if you move beyond range or try to take the disk more than 3 feet away from the surface beneath it. When the disk winks out, whatever it was supporting falls to the surface beneath it.

It has a range of Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels), meaning you can direct it to hover anywhere from 0 to 25-75 ft. (1-20th caster levels) from you. If you weigh less than 100 pounds (gear included), at first level you could sit atop it and move at your normal speed. This would accomplish two things: let you ignore terrain problems that require you standing in a square (pressure plates, difficult terrain, etc.) and look really cool but in a fairly typical way for a mage. Since you’re a caster, you’re going to be in the back in marching order, meaning that you’re probably not going to be the one to activate a trap, and your spells have decent range, meaning you don’t have to worry too much about difficult terrain. (This wouldn’t protect you from lava, for the record: remember your convection!) At most, it would let you cross a body of water -- unless the DM said that the surface of the water didn’t count as the surface beneath the disk, which is fair. So minor is this ability that the Elocater prestige class (Expanded Psionics Handbook) gets an equivalent merged with a better version of the levitate spell as a constant effect at first level in addition to a feat and an improvement to previous casting (well, manifesting) ability.

And you might think that all of that’s so minor that surely no one would have complained about it, yet there’s evidence to the contrary. Pathfinder came up with the Magic Trick feat to allow you to do exactly this, but only if you’re third level, pay the feat tax, and put skill points into Fly. Y’know, for the thing that the rules as written would let a light character do at first level and most characters do at second by just casting the spell. Fifth edition won’t let you do it at all: the disk disappears if it comes closer than 20 feet to you (20 ft. is an awfully long distance between you and what amounts to a pack mule you’re leading).

Now, it’s not always that way. 5e’s mage hand is now de jure able to manipulate objects, whereas it wasn’t clear in 3.5, but that’s probably because open/close got folded into it. But for every positive like that, you get two negatives from vociferous people who can’t stand it when other people don’t use spells in specific, pre-defined ways.

In the End...

At the end of the day, having a fun story to tell about how you did something unusual that occurred to you on the spur of the moment and which somehow worked is far and away more important than playing this game like it were a video game, with each spell doing only one thing. And that’s not just coming from me or the people I’ve played with; that’s coming from decades of player stories, fan works, pop culture references, and even D&D novels.

The OP in that old post said that if you can’t abide by their overly narrow, strict interpretation of the rules that maybe you shouldn’t be playing 5e. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t want to sink to their level, but I think I will: if you can’t stand people being creative, you ABSOLUTELY should not be playing a role-playing game of any kind. You should stick to video games and board games. Or Fourth Edition.

#the play's the thing

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gingrrfrog · 4 years

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these nights (7)

word count: 4.2k

warnings: smut

summary: Jaehyun knew three things for sure: 1. Jihyun was avoiding him 2. his head was pounding and 3. Jeno is not a dog

a/n: I have class in 15 minutes :O I’ll see u all later :D

Jaehyun leaned against his chair, glaring at the wall in front of him as his head throbbed. He tossed his phone on his desk, grimacing at the loud thud before staring at the photos in front of him.

The housemaid had told him this morning that he had a delivery earlier today while he and Jihyun were in the hospital, a thin envelope that she placed on the dining room table. Jaehyun wasn’t expected any paperwork, much less a letter as he thanked the housemaid and walked towards his desk.

He tore the packet open almost immediately, watching as several photos of Jeno fell out. His eyebrows furrowed together, instantly sitting up in his chair and noticing that it was a photo for every hour they were there, from five in the morning to 8 pm when the last call Mark tried to call. What concerned Jaehyun the most was that the focus was initially on Jeno, zooming past Mark who was in the passenger seat. The last photo was of Jeno unconscious in the car, too clear to be zoomed in, no matter the quality of the camera. There was an ambulance in the background, and a note on the back.

The best thing about dogs is that they’re loyal no matter who you kill.

Jaehyun jaw set, immediately calling Johnny about the photos, to which he replied he would be around tomorrow afternoon after his shift with Jeno was over.

So now, here he sat, staring at the wall, his head pounding and his fiancée very obviously trying to avoid him despite the text message he sent hours ago. Although, talking to Jihyun about Jieun seemed like child’s play compared to the gift he had received just now. He cursed loudly, pulling at his scalp and jumping at the sound of his office door knocking.

“Just a second!” He called out, sweeping the photos into a drawer and quickly locking it. “Come in.”

Jihyun appeared from the other side of the door, carrying bags of take out before Jaehyun flashed her a smile.

“Hi,” she said gently. “I’m back, I bought some dinner, just in case you were hungry.”

“Starving,” he mentioned, staring at another picture he forgot to sweep. He grabbed it quickly with a few more piece of paperwork before clearing his desk for the take-out food Jihyun brought out. He watched as she took out a few plates of what otherwise would’ve been his favorite dish to eat on any other day, but he couldn’t find the appetite today of all days.

Jaehyun took her hand and pulled her over the desk, kissing her quickly as a thank you before Jihyun sat in the chair in front of him.

“Did I interrupt something when I came in?” Jihyun asked, watching as Jaehyun unwrapped a few plates. He shook his head, passing Jihyun a plate before giving her a reassuring smile.

“Nope.”

Jihyun just slightly narrowed her eyes, but she would let it go. She wasn’t in the position to ask questions at the moment, “what did you want to talk about?”

“I think you already know what I was going to ask, Honey.”

Jihyun pouted, poking at her food, “I guess.”

“Go on, then. Explain it to me.”

“I didn’t mean to let it slip, I guess I was just so excited about spending time with Angel that I let some things slip out, that’s all.”

“My only qualm is that how could you let something of that magnitude slip, my love?” Jaehyun looked from his food and noticed that Jihyun still wasn’t replying. He sighed, leaning against the chair and watching her think of an excuse. “I’m listening.”

“We were talking about how I’ve known Jaemin forever because I was always around you. I told her that you and I grew up together, and when she was curious about Jeno, I let it slip out that I knew his sister”

Jihyun grimaced, “in my defense, I thought Jeno would’ve told her by now. They’ve been together for almost five years—and if Jeno didn’t say anything I thought Jaemin would’ve said something— “

“You know it’s not Jaemin’s business to tell Jihyun,” Jaehyun interrupted, his tone firm. “Nor yours, my love.”

“I know,” she mumbled dejectedly, “I’m sorry.”

Both Jaehyun and Jihyun knew that he couldn’t be firm with her for too long. Jaehyun gave another sigh before getting up from his chair, walking over to sit on his desk in front of her. He gently took her chin in his hands, caressing her cheek with his thumb.

“I don’t mean to reprimand you, baby. It’s just that I talked to Jaemin while you went with Angel, and he didn’t seem very happy about her knowing.”

“I figured. That was my fault, I didn’t take Jaemin into account at all when I told her. I’ll call him later— “

They were interrupted by Jaehyun’s phone ringing behind him. He stretched himself to reach, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

“Who is it?”

“My brother,” Jaehyun replied.

“Is he done ignoring you?”

“I guess?” He brought the phone to his ear after answer, “Jaemin?”

Jihyun watched as Jaehyun’s face turned in concern, sitting up from his desk before walking back around.

“What? Where are you now?”

“Did they take anything?”

“Good, okay, good. Just— “Jaehyun took a deep breath. “Don’t act on anything, I’ll think about it and I’ll call Johnny hyung tonight. Again. I guess.”

“I think you should be fine. I don’t think they wanted to get caught, I doubt they’ll come back tonight. Change the entrance code to your house…but you might have to think about moving soon if this happens again, Jaemin.”

“Yeah. Mm, call me if something else happens.” Jaehyun hung up first, setting his phone on his desk gently this time so not to scare his fiancée. However, it didn’t stop him from sighing heavily, turning to face the window for a moment to scratch at his head. He wanted to scream.

“Okay, I’m good,” he said suddenly, turning back around and taking a seat in his chair. Jihyun tilted her head to the side, glancing over at the phone before she looked at her fiancé.

“What was that?”

“Nothing,” he swallowed.

“It’s nothing but Jaemin has to change the entrance code to his house?” Jihyun pressed, watching as the man in front of him was ready to crumble. Jaehyun dropped his chopsticks, leaning back once again before staring at his feet.

“Someone broke into their house, just now. He said that Angel was in the closet clutching a gun and almost shot Jaemin in the ear.”

“Is she okay? I was just there; she didn’t call me— “

“Jaemin said she was fine. Just scared, I guess.”

“You should’ve told them they could stay here.”

Jaehyun shook his head, “they would’ve said no. Not because they wouldn’t want to intrude, but because Jaemin wouldn’t want to give them another opportunity.”

Jihyun bit her lip, “are you going to call Johnny oppa right now?”

“No. I want to at least try and eat something,” Jaehyun said. “But I don’t think…I’m all that hungry anymore.”

It was Jihyun’s turn to get up from her spot, walking towards Jaehyun before he scooted away from his desk, his arms opening up as she sat on top of his lap. He exhaled, smelling her perfume and feeling like everything was okay just for a few seconds.

“Do you want me to make you something else?”

“I’m okay, baby,” he reassured. “If I didn’t want to eat my favorite take out, I don’t think I want to eat at all.”

Jihyun pulled and took his head into her hands, rubbing her thumbs over the bags under his eyes with a small frown, “you should eat, Yoonoh.”

“If I get hungry, I’ll just reheat dinner. It’s not a problem.”

Jaehyun pulled her in for another kiss, rubbing her shoulder, “I’m going to call Johnny hyung real quick, don’t leave.”

“Do you want me to get up at least?”

Jaehyun shook his head, “no, I want you to stay.”

Jihyun kissed the side of his head as Jaehyun searched his call log for Johnny’s number, grimacing when he noticed he didn’t have to scroll far.

“Actually, Johnny hyung is coming over tomorrow. I’ll just tell him then,” Jaehyun said suddenly, placing his phone on his desk for the last time before focusing on Jihyun. “Tell me about your day.”

Jihyun laughed at the suddenness, “my day? I was with you for most of it.”

“But not all of it,” he explained, cuddling closer as Jihyun began to hum in contemplation.

“Well, this morning, I woke up because your daughter demanded so. I peed in Yejin’s bathroom— “

“Whose?”

“Angel, sorry.”

“Are you two on first name basis now?”

“She told me last night, I’ll have you know. We bonded; I saw her nudes.”

“You what?”

“They’re into some fucked up shit, baby. They take lewd polaroids, I saw Jeno’s AND Jaemin’s— “

Jaehyun suddenly began to push Jihyun off, “alright. I don’t want to hear about your day anymore.”

“Why!? Are you jealous? They’re not bigger than you but Jeno— “

“Get off!” Jaehyun groaned, listening to Jihyun’s giggles as she fastened her arms around his neck. Jaehyun got up from his spot, effortless carrying Jihyun towards the couch, throwing her gently on the couch and hovering over her, her laugh deafening in his ears.

“You would’ve never been able to do that two years ago,” Jihyun teased, her legs hooking around his waist. “Strong man.”

Jaehyun laughed, leaning in for a kiss before he pressed sloppy ones around her cheeks, nose, and forehead, grinning when he heard her groan.

“You got my face all wet,” she whined, attempting to push him off to no avail.

“Too bad. Here I go again,” he warned, targeting her neck next as she squealed at his teeth tickled her neck.

“Move!”

“I don’t think I will!”

They continued like that for a few minutes, Jaehyun relishing in her touch and her laugh, his shoulders relieving from stress little by little until he laid down next to her, his finger running through her hair with one hand while the other caressed her cheek.

“You’re going to give me acne,” she added jokingly, smiling before she kissed his wrist.

“I’ll pop your pimple, that’s no issue.”

“You’re disgusting,” Jihyun laughed, inching closer until she was at nose length away, kissing the tip of his nose before Jaehyun closed the gap.

“I love you,” she said suddenly, softly against his lips as his hands moved from her face and hair down to her waist, his hands resting against her hips. “Thank you for working so hard.”

“You don’t have to thank me, baby.”

“I know, but I want to. I just want you to know that I know you’re working hard for me, for Hyerim, and it means everything to me.”

Jaehyun gave a gentle smile, “are you trying to make me cry?”

Jihyun chuckled, “no. But I can, if you want me to.”

“Maybe next time,” Jaehyun beamed. “Thank you for being patient with me. I know I said we would get married this year, but some things came up.”

“Don’t you mean someone?” She hinted, glancing down at the belly that kept them at least a few inches apart.

Jaehyun laughed, “I guess that too.”

“Are you busy tomorrow morning?”

“I don’t think so. Why?”

“Let’s get married tomorrow,” she said quickly. “You said we would have a courthouse wedding after this, but I don’t think I can wait anymore.”

Jaehyun smiled, “You don’t want to plan what you’re going to wear?”

“I’ll go like this, in my maternity jeans.”

Jaehyun laughed again, a bit harder this time, “you don’t want to wear a dress at least?”

“I don’t think I have any dresses that fit me right now,” she pouted. “I just want to tell people you’re my husband.”

“You can call me your husband, we’ve been together long enough, I think,” Jaehyun pondered. “But if you want to go see if we can get married in less than 30 minutes, we’ll go. And, if not, we’ll set a date for Friday.”

Jihyun beamed, pressing their lips together for a sloppy kiss, “I love you.”

“You only said it four hundred times, how can I be sure?”

“How many more times do you want me to say it?”

“At least three hundred times more.”

“Do I have to tell you verbally or can I show you physically?” Jihyun grinned, reattaching their lips for a longer kiss as Jaehyun moved his hands to the front of her pants.

“Depends,” he said, her pants well past her knees, “what were you thinking?”

“Maybe I’ll buy you something nice,” she hummed, pushing his shirt off before reattaching their lips. “Maybe I’ll make you dinner.”

Jihyun kicked her pants off, moving her attention towards Jaehyun’s belt as she quickly unfastened.

“Any other ideas?” He asked, a moan escaping his lips when Jihyun palmed him through his underwear.

“I have a few,” she smirked, continuing her ministrations as Jaehyun unbuttoned her blouse. “But maybe I’ll save them for my husband.”

Jaehyun grinned as he watched her move down his chest, pressing wet kisses until she pulled out his cock, watching with lidded eyes and parted lips as she took the tip in between her lips.

“You can tell me,” Jaehyun hummed, pushing her hair to the side before wrapping it around a closed fist. “I won’t tell him.”

“I don’t know, he’s the jealous type,” she said with a kiss to the side of his length. “I’ll think about it.”

Jihyun crawled back towards him, kissing his parted lips before Jaehyun pulled away with a quizzical look, “I’m the husband, right?”

Jihyun moaned, “you’re so sexy when you’re stupid.”

Jaehyun’s laugh was muffled, returning her kiss and watching Jihyun pull his cock from its confines. He rested his hand against her neck, running it down her chest before taking a handful of her breast, squeezing softly and humming to himself.

“So pretty,” he sighed. “My Jihyunie.”

She rocked her wetness over his length, making sure to grin at the lewd sounds before lowered herself on him, sighing as she listened to Jaehyun moan in her shoulder.

“How are you so fucking tight?” He groaned, taking a hold of her hips as she continued to rock back and forth, grinning at her fiancé, who seemed to be in shambles.

“It’s my specialty,” she smiled, pressing a kiss to her ear as she bottoms out the rest of his length.

“If you keep moving like that I’m going to blow,” Jaehyun laughed breathlessly, wiping sweaty strands of hair away from her face.

“What if I want you to?” Jihyun asked, dropping her voice to barely a whisper, her hips moving steadily as she leaned in to bite at his neck. Jaehyun groaned, wrapping his arms around her body as he desperately tried to catch his breath.

“Baby I’m going to fucking— “

“…cum?” She smiled innocently, sighing softly at the feeling of Jaehyun spurting warmth inside her. She kissed the expanse of his neck now that it was exposed with his head thrown back, his eyebrows knitted together and his pink lips just slightly parted. Jihyun took his lips into hers again and smiled, giggling when Jaehyun suddenly pushed her onto her back.

“Asshole,” he grumbled, most likely referring to his abrupt orgasm.

“I told you I could take care of you too,” she defended with another grin. Jihyun lifted her leg as Jaehyun pressed kisses along her calf and towards her thigh, lips reconnecting to her center as Jaehyun once again pressed teasing kisses to her clit and folds.

“My turn,” he added diligently, flipping Jihyun so that she was on her hands and knees, her neck craned to watch Jaehyun eagerly lap at her, pressing the gentlest of kisses on her clit every so often before he would take it between his lips, sucking lightly before he would pull away with a grin.

Jihyun was leaning against the end of the couch, moaning quietly until she cried out at Jaehyun reentering, “Fuck Yoonoh, are you still hard?”

“Kind of?” He answered, not entirely sure how to respond to the question without breaking the mood, it elicited a laugh from Jihyun at least, as she moved back on his length.

Jaehyun pulled out completely before slamming into her harshly, listening to her cries as he continued to fuck her against the couch. Jihyun wasn’t as far from getting towards her orgasm as he thought as he watched her knees shake under him.

“Gonna cum, baby? Gonna come for me, Jihyunie?” He asked, pressing kisses down her back as his rhythm quickened. Jihyun reached behind her, grabbing Jaehyun’s hand before she gasped out, tightening around Jaehyun as she let out a loud moan, her face pressed against the couch’s armrest as she caught her breath.

Jaehyun pulled out this time, running his hand over his cock until he spurted against her back and her ass, taking shallow breaths as he groaned. He watched Jihyun knees fall against the couch as Jaehyun reached for his shirt, wiping her clean before pulling her against his chest, tilting her chin back to exchange a sweet kiss. Jaehyun pulled away for a moment, watching her with crinkled eyes before she snorted, pushing his head away.

“Stop staring at me like that.”

“Why?” Jaehyun whined, wrapping his arms around her and dragging her further down the couch. “I’m admiring.”

“It’s embarrassing,” she admitted with a chuckle, trying her hardest to pull out of his embrace. “Let me wear your cardigan at least— “

“Nope. I think you look perfect,” he smiled, laughing when she groaned out in embarrassment.

“It’s cold.”

“Let’s go upstairs and take a shower, then.”

“You’re insatiable, “she huffed. “If I could get pregnant twice, I think I would be by now.”

Jaehyun grinned, his hand slapping over her backside before finally letting her get up. He watched as she haphazardly buttoned her blouse before pulling her maternity jeans back on, narrowing her eyes at her fiancé.

“I’m taking a shower, come if you want but we are not having sex,” she said firmly. “Also, put some pants on before you leave your office, I think the housekeeper is still here.”

“She shouldn’t be.”

Jihyun whined, “please, put some pants on.”

“Fine,” he frowned, getting up from his spot and reluctantly shoving his legs into his jeans before they both heard a knock on the door.

“Jaehyun are you in here?”

Jihyun eye’s widened, quickly grabbing the cum stained shirt from the floor and throwing it across the room, watching as Jaehyun quickly tried to button his cardigan.

“Y-yeah, just a minute!” He called out, reaching for Jihyun hand, “what the fuck is your dad doing here?!”

“I don’t know!” She whispered harshly, “he should be in bed!”

Jaehyun’s hands began to sweat before he ran over to his desk, Jihyun sitting on the other side, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible before Jaehyun told him it was fine to walk in.

Kim Jinho was terrifying to Jaehyun as a child as he was to this day. He immediately noticed Jaehyun’s risqué cardigan-as-a-shirt fashion before looking at Jihyun, who gave him a smile.

“Hi Daddy!”

“Hi, Jihyun. I didn’t know you were in here.”

“We were having dinner,” Jaehyun cleared his throat, noticing the sauce was stuck onto the noodles. The food looked cold.

Jihyun yawned, stretching her arms in full dramatics before getting up from her chair, walking towards her father to kiss him on the cheek. “Sorry I couldn’t stay and talk Daddy, I’m just beat! I’ve been on my feet all day!”

“Are you still coming over tomorrow? Your brothers should be home.”

“You bet! Goodnight, I’ll see you in bed, Jaehyun!” She said quickly, tilting her head a certain way to hide an obnoxious hickey left behind.

“You look nervous.”

“Not…nervous,” Jaehyun cleared his throat. “Would you like some tea—?”

Jinho waved dismissive hand, “I’m not here to berate you, Jaehyun. I just want to talk.”

“About what, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“You’re marrying my daughter and you’re having a child together, don’t you think it’s about time for me to start getting used to having chats with you?”

“I…suppose. I just didn’t expect you, that’s all, much less after dark.”

“Do you think I’m that old that I go to bed at nine pm?”

“N-no! That’s not what I’m saying at all— “

Jinho cracked a laugh, causing Jaehyun to give an awkward smile, not entirely sure what was to come next, “You look just like your father sometimes, I remember he used to get nervous, just like you. But, you’re right, I came here for more than just a chat.”

“I’ve heard around that you’re having trouble,” Jinho explained, looking at his folded hands. “Lots of it. Big trouble.”

Jaehyun grimaced, “it’s nothing I can’t handle, sir.”

“I’m sure. I have faith in you, Jaehyun. You’re just like your dad, but you’re ten times smarter than him, and he knew that.” Jinho sighed, “you’ve had your foot in the business for a long time now. What about your consigliere? John?”

“His parents…weren’t really involved in what you and my father were involved in, but he has a law degree and a law background. I like to think he knows something.”

Jinho nodded, “good. That’s good. How come you don’t come to me? I worked with your father a long time, do I have to rely on Jihyun to tell me everything?”

“You’re retired, sir,” Jaehyun frowned. “I didn’t want to bother you, but now that Jihyun told you— “

“Is it a problem that Jihyunie told me?”

“Of course not! I’m glad that she told you, but I’m worried that she might be overwhelming you. Judging your visit, is it safe to assume she has?”

Jinho chuckled, “You know my baby isn’t good at keeping secrets. But I think she told me because she’s worried too, you know?”

“I try not to tell her as much because I don’t want her to stress, but it doesn’t work,” Jaehyun grimaced. “She’s so stubborn.”

“Good. I taught her that.”

Jaehyun finally let out a small laugh, sharing one with his soon to be father-in-law. Jinho clapped his thighs, sighing up heavily as he stood up from the chair, Jaehyun following suit as he walked him to the front door.

“That’s all I wanted to say, really,” he started. “If something comes up, I’d more than happy help you with it.”

“Of course. Thank you,” Jaehyun bowed politely.

Jinho clapped Jaehyun’s shoulder, “go upstairs and put on a shirt, son. This is embarrassing.”

Jaehyun’s ears burned red, “yes sir. Goodnight, sir.”

Jinho mumbled a goodnight as Jaehyun closed the door behind him, groaning in relief before he ran upstairs. He opened the door to their bedroom and saw Jihyun inside their bed, all washed up with a face mask on.

“Is he gone?”

“He just left,” Jaehyun sighed. “I’m going to shower real quick.”

Jihyun nodded, going back to putting her attention on the tv while Jaehyun stripped his clothing off and threw it in the hamper. He couldn’t help but to put his forehead against the wall of the shower, never feeling more embarrassed in the thirty minutes with Jinho than anyone in his life, ever.

After he showered, he pulled on some clothes on quickly, falling in his spot on the bed with a groan, his eyes closed before hearing another face mask being torn in the background and feeling Jihyun smooth it across his face.

“It’s anti-aging.”

Jaehyun scoffed, “thank you.”

“You’re welcome, baby.”

“Jihyun?”

“Hm?”

“I’m not mad, but have you been telling your dad about my issues?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I don’t mind that you tell your dad, but he’s worried about me now. That’s my only issue, now I feel bad. What if he think I’m not cut out for this.”

“He doesn’t think that, he tells me all the time that you’re the best man for the job.”

“What if he tells you that only because he doesn’t want you yelling at him?”

“Even if that were the case, I think you’re the best man for the job.” Jihyun stated, almost as if it were common knowledge, “so what if he doesn’t think so? He’s old.”

“That’s easy for you to say.”

“It is easy to say, that’s why I say it.” Jihyun pulled the sheets over him before giving him a kiss. Jaehyun smacked his lips bitterly, tasting sheet mask more than he would like.

“You taste like soap.”

“At least it wasn’t cum.” Jihyun wrapped her arms around his neck and playfully choking him out, listening to Jaehyun choke. “I had to kiss my dad on the cheek when I had your dick in my mouth, you fucking asshole!”

“You’re the one who put it there!” Jaehyun defended, pulling her hands off, “I’m not going to tell you to stop! Also, how was I supposed to know your dad was going to come over!?”

Jihyun huffed, pressing her cold toes against his back, listening to him yelp.

“Fuck off!”

“No,” she grinned, digging them further in his pants.

“Move, Jihyun! Your toes are fucking freezing!”

“Good! As they should!”

masterlist

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coneygoil · 4 years

Text

The Home We Built Together, part 37

Two young Vikings. An arranged marriage. Hiccup always wanted to win the girl of his dreams, but not like this. Now he and Astrid must learn to live together and maybe one day, learn to love…

The roar echoed through the cove – snaring and furious. But it was not produced by a dragon. Toothless lifted his head, green eyes blown and ears standing on end at the disturbing noise. When he saw who it was, he grumbled and rested his chin once more on his front legs. Astrid was just as much a part of his life nowadays as Hiccup. It wasn’t uncommon for her to target practice in his peaceful sanctuary, though her practice did seem more heated than usual today.

Anger-fueled adrenaline pumped through Astrid’s body. She wasn’t sure what she expected when she woke up from the few hours of sleep she managed to snag. She hated being upset with Hiccup, but she hated even more the actions he’d taken in the past two days. He’d disappeared for another entire day after he’d promised to at least tell her if he was leaving Berk. The little twirp was true to his word about one thing. He didn’t leave a note this time.

Her axe slammed into the largest tree truck in the vicinity. Astrid needed this -- to expel the accumulated frustration that had built up. Her entire body pulsed with it. If she didn’t get rid of it soon, every fiber of her would blow at the seams. That’s why she left before the sun had awoken. That’s why she was far from Hiccup, relieving the pressure so it wouldn’t explode in his face.

She flung her axe until her arm ached and chest heaved. Astrid couldn’t tell if she felt better because of the workout or because she was too exhausted to care anymore. She made her way over to Toothless and plopped down against his side. Toothless raised his head, watching her curiously. It was odd for her to visit the cove without Hiccup. Toothless was bewildered as to why his best friend hadn’t accompanied her.

“I know you’re Hiccup’s dragon and I probably shouldn’t complain about him to you.” The dragon warbled, tilting his head at her. Astrid tapped the axe handle on the ground a few times, contemplating. “But, you’re my friend too, Toothless. The only friend that I can come to.”

Toothless stretched his neck, licking the top of her hand that rested on her knee. Astrid gave Toothless a tight-lipped smile. Maybe she did feel a little better.

“I don’t know why Hiccup does what he does,” she continued. “I thought he was finally growing up. Becoming responsible. He was showing the makings of…well, of a chief! I was seeing what he could do. What he could become.” She released a frustrated growl. “Why is he suddenly going backwards?”

Astrid turned her gaze to meet Toothless’ wide green eyes. “I’m sure you know why. Hiccup probably talks to you.”

Toothless’ nose twitched a few times, his expression one of contemplation. It was funny how such distinct expressions were noticeable on a dragon when you weren’t in the heat of battle with one.

Astrid yelped in surprise when Toothless nudged her onto his head and flung her onto his back. She barely kept hold of her axe as she landed onto the stiffness of the saddle.

“Toothless, what in Thor’s name?” Astrid exclaimed, righting herself on the saddle.

Toothless warbled excitedly and pointed with his nose toward the foot pedals.

Astrid cocked an eyebrow. “You want to go for a flight. With me?”

Toothless grunted in response.

“Okay.” Astrid sighed, slipping her boots into the pedals, and preparing for launch. Maybe a few minutes in the air would clear her head. Toothless probably learned that from Hiccup. Since Astrid couldn’t ride Stormfly during the day, Toothless was the only mode of dragon transportation.

Astrid patted him on the side. “Let’s go.” With a little crouch and wiggle, Toothless shot into the sky.

***

This was not how Astrid pictured her day going.

“Thanks for nothing, you useless reptile,” she grumbled, using Hiccup’s exact words for anything Toothless did to annoy him. Astrid was beyond annoyed by the Night Fury as he hopped down the branches when he left her there. Now, she was downright furious.

The tree’s branches swayed every time she attempted to move, and the axe strapped to her back made her off balance. She wasn’t afraid of heights or climbing trees, but she was in such an awkward location on the tree, if she tried to climb down, she could easily fall to her death.

What was Toothless thinking stranding her in a tree!? How in Thor’s name was she getting down? She wasn’t sure how long she was stranded when she heard the familiar swoop of wings, and she turned her head to see Toothless approaching, a gangly figure riding in the saddle. Astrid rolled her eyes. This was not her day.

Astrid yelped and clutched the branch she was teetering on with her thighs as the top of the tree bent over swiftly from Toothless’ weight.

“Astrid, what’s going on?” Hiccup asked from his safe perch atop his mutinous dragon.

“Ask your dragon,” she hissed out, glaring daggers at Toothless.

Hiccup leaned over to peer into one of Toothless’ large green eyes. “Did you leave Astrid up here?”

Toothless warbled sheepish.

Astrid growled. “Just get me down from here!”

“Grab my hand.” Hiccup urged Toothless to inch closer, and he stretched out his hand for her.

Astrid fought the urge to smack it away, but she was too far away to risk shimming across the branch without assistance. Her stomach burned at the thought of needing help with something as simple of getting out of a tree.

Hiccup’s hold was firm as he steadied her to stand on the branch and climb on Toothless’ back. “You okay?” he asked as she straddled behind him.

“What do you think?” she snapped.

“Hang on,” Hiccup reminded her just before Toothless shot into the air.

***

“Toothless, what were thinking!?” Hiccup scolded, wasting no time when they hit the ground in the Cove. “Stranding Astrid in a tree? She could have fallen and died!”

Astrid paced from a distance, hugging her arms across her stomach, thankful to be on solid ground. Her knees were wobbly, and thighs burned from gripping the tree branch for so long. She didn’t notice Hiccup approaching her until he touched her shoulder from behind. She jerked, pivoting sharply to face him. Hiccup hung his head, avoiding her hard gaze.

“Astrid, I’m sorry.” Hiccup gulped loudly, fiddling with the back of his neck. “Toothless should have never done that to you. I don’t know what’s gotten into him.”

The dragon in question stalked up to them, perching himself a short distance from them. He grunted, pointing his nose up in the air as if trying to tell them something. Then he turned his large eyes on Astrid as if he were pleading with her. She stared at him as her emotions buzzed through her body. It was then that it struck her.

He didn’t want them to fight. In Toothless’ own convoluted way, he was trying to get them to talk it through. Why he had to strand her in a tree for a couple hours angered her still, but she now understood his intentions and her fowl mood sobered.

Astrid sighed, heavily. “Why did you runaway again?”

Hiccup froze at her question, his hand midway in front of him. His raised features began to droop as his hand lowered. “My dad,” he murmured almost inaudibly.

Astrid shook her head, taking a step forward. “Hiccup,” she breathed out slowly, “you should have heard your dad talking about you. All that Gobber had filled him in on. He was so proud of all that you’d accomplished while he was gone.”

It was as if a dark shadow had suddenly rose between them. Hiccup’s jaw clenched. “Yeah, proud of Hiccup the ‘dragon killer’. He thinks I’m going to slay dragons alongside him. He thinks I want to chat casually about slicing off heads and cutting out hearts.” His fists clinched at his sides. “I knew nothing good would happen when he returned.”

“And you couldn’t face it?”

Hiccup nodded without speaking.

Astrid worried her bottom lip. She scrubbed her palms over her face, lost as to where even to start to deal with this situation. She knew some details of Hiccup’s strained relationship with his father but being aware of it and knowing how to deal with it were two different heads. There were no words of wisdom, no helpful advice to offer him. There was a life or death secret they were keeping stashed right inside Berk’s boundaries. A plan was being worked out to eliminate the most known dangerous threat to the Archipelago.

Hiccup stood there looking even smaller than he already was. He continued to avoid her eyes, chewing on the inside of his cheek. Astrid’s heart sank like a stone. How could she be angry with him when the weight of their world was on his shoulders? She felt sorry and regretful for not considering all that they were facing. She’d learned in the past few months that Hiccup was stronger and braver than anyone on Berk knew to give him credit for, but sometimes the strong could be dragged down by the weight they were carrying. It was an Altas-sized burden on his thin shoulders.

Astrid swallowed the lump that had gathered in her throat. “Look, Hiccup. I know there’s a lot going on in that head of yours. I sometimes forget you handle situations differently than I would. But, please—” she stepped forward and he finally raised his eyes to cautiously meet hers, “please come to me about it. I don’t know what I could do or how I could help, but at least you won’t be alone.” She grasped his hand. “We may be kids trying to figure out how to navigate life, but we’re in this together.”

Hiccup shut his eyes tight. Without opening them, he hugged her, burying his face into her neck. Astrid hugged him tight against her, closing her own eyes and releasing a deep breath. They held each other for a long while until a snuffling nose invaded their space.

Astrid pulled away first, eying Toothless as he watched them. “I’m still mad at you,” she informed him and Toothless warbled out what sounded like an apology along with a lick to her arm.

She turned back to Hiccup, resting a palm on his chest. His hand slid around her waist as he watched her with his warm, green eyes.

“I promise – really promise -- I’ll come to you, talk to you about what’s going on in my head.” Hiccup let out a humorless laugh, shrugging one shoulder. “I guess the last two days have been weird for me.”

“No matter how weird, come to me,” Astrid urged, sliding her hand to his shoulder.

Hiccup nodded. “I will.”

Astrid gave him a little smack on the shoulder, hoping her affirmation would stick in his brain this time. “Good.”

“Am I allowed back in the bedroom tonight?”

Astrid grabbed the collar of his tunic, yanking him into a kiss. She broke away with a pop and raised her eyebrows. “What do you think?”

#httyd fanfiction #hiccstrid #arranged marriage au #the home we built together

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anaboo-thewriter · 4 years

Text

Reckless (End)

Summary: The Fast and the Furious AU. You’re an undercover cop with a mission to infiltrate a team of street racers responsible for the theft of millions of dollars worth in electronics. However, you didn’t think you would fall for the leader of the team and your target, Bucky Barnes. Now you must make the decision, will you turn Bucky and his team in order to become an FBI agent you’ve always wanted to be, or throw caution to the wind and continue to fall for a criminal?

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warning: Angst

Word Count: 1.4k

A/N: Holy. Shit. It’s been 2 years since I’ve written this and it has finally ended. Inspiration has a funny way of showing up in unexpected places. Unfortunately, I’m unable to write as much as I’d like to because I’m back in school with a whole new set of rules and priorities. So thank you to all those who stuck around and thank you to newcomers who have enjoyed the ride!

Please reblog and/or comment if you enjoyed it.

RECKLESS MASTERLIST

Nat was wheeled back into surgery on a stretcher. The gash on her head was deep enough to receive stitches, and she floated out of consciousness on the way to the hospital. You, Sam, Steve, and Bucky attempted to wait patiently in the waiting room. Steve paced back and forth, chewing on his bottom lip, Sam occupied himself with an old magazine, and Bucky stared you down from across the small area. His jaw was clenched tight, and his foot tapped against the for impatiently. You tried to avert your eyes from him, but every time you glanced at him, guilt consumed more of you.

"James, I'm really sorry about Nat," you couldn't take the silence anymore, and you were trying desperately to make amends. You couldn't stand him being mad at you.

"Are you really sorry about Nat?" Bucky questioned, but you could hear the anger in his tone, "or are you sorry that you got caught being a nark?"

His words stung. "That wasn't my intention, James," You tried to defend yourself.

"Don't call me that. You lost that right when you became Officer Y/L/N," Bucky interrupted you. Your heart dropped and withdrew from the conversation. That was it, you were cut from Bucky's life, and there was no coming back from it.

Sam and Steve looked at you with sad eyes before they returned to what they were doing. The friends you once called family remained loyal to their leader, and it sent a shiver down your spine from the cold shoulder. You were now an outcast. The pit in your stomach grew bigger with guilt. The foundation for the makeshift family was trust and loyalty, and you broke it with one phone call. You didn't want to make the call, but it was the only thing you could do to save Nat. You didn't regret your decision; you just regretted the consequences.

"Mr. Barnes," the doctor came into the waiting room with a small smile on her face. Bucky, Steve, and Sam darted towards her. You lingered in the back to eavesdrop on what she had to say. "Your friend is doing great. No serious injury, other than a few scratches and bruises and a slight concussion. She should be ready to go home soon, though."

"Thank you, doctor. Is it okay if we go see her?" Steve questioned with a sigh of relief. The doctor shook her head and lead the group through the double doors. You trailed behind the group, contemplating on joining them, but you watched as they walked to Nat's room. Steve turned to you with sad eyes, with a small smile on his face. It hurt to look at, but you knew you made the right decision.

You couldn't stand to look at the white walls of the hospital, so you decided to step outside to get some fresh air. The open-air filled your lungs and relaxed your tight muscles from the tense situation. Your mind wandered to your case. Everything pointed to Bucky and the crew, but you couldn't bear to put him in jail. There had to be some way for you to take the heat of them and put on somebody else. It was unethical, but you were willing to do it.

Police sirens drew closer to the hospital, and you knew why they were coming. Before they surrounded the area, you ran back into the hospital. You burst through the double doors and looked through each room until you found the crew.

"Jesus, Y/N, what the hell are you still doing here?" Steve all but screamed.

"No time to explain," you insisted, "you guys need to get out of here,"

Confusion crossed the crew's face before distrust settled. "Why would we believe you now, after you've been lying to us for months," Bucky suspected.

"Bucky, we don't have time for this," you grew frustrated, "In less than 15 minutes, my boss will come through this door and shut this place down looking for you and they will send you to jail,"

"Bucky," Nat softly spoke, "I don't think she's lying about this,"

Bucky's head snapped toward Nat. Her bandage covered her scar, but there was a bruise on her shoulder where her gown had slipped. "You can't be serious, Nat? Before Race Wars, you were so skeptical of her, now you're siding with her. You must have hit your head harder than we thought,"

"Bucky, I know you're feeling betrayed right now, but Y/N wouldn't be risking her job right now to try and save us if she didn't care as much as she does," Nat slowly got on her feet and inched her way to you. She wrapped her arms around you for a tight hug. "Thank you, Y/N," Nat choked out, holding back some emotion, "I don't think I'd be here right now if it weren't for you,"

You were surprised by the embrace, but you gently wrapped your arms around her in return. "Thanks, Nat," you whispered.

"I hate to break up this very sentimental moment," Sam said as Nat, and you broke apart, "but didn't you say that your boss was coming in less than 15 minutes?"

"We're basically sitting ducks here," Steve chimed in, "we need a plan out of here,"

"Leave it to me," you said with a confident smirk.

"Fury!" you called for him, "Fury, I just saw Bucky and his team, they were headed to the roof,"

"Good work, Y/L/N," Fury commended, "They won't get far," He and group of officers ran through the double doors to catch the team.

On their way into the hospital, four nurses in gray scrubs and face masks walked out in confusion. You surveyed the area before walking out of the hospital. Not many officers were in the vicinity, nor were there police cars, marked or unmarked. You didn't encounter any other officers on your way to your vehicle with the four nurses in tow.

"I think this is the end of the line for you guys," you declared.

The nurses took off their masks with a breath. "How did you find these?" Sam asked.

"I don't think you want to know that," you winced. The look of disgust crossed the gang's faces as they were ready to get out of their dirty disguises. You pulled your keys out of your pocket and handed them to Bucky.

"What do you want me to do with those," he questioned.

"It's your 10-second car, you should take it," you simply said.

Bucky reluctantly took the keys from you and whispered, "Thank you." His eyes were soft, with a small shimmer. He was grateful for what you did that it was almost redeemable.

You gave him a small smile, "You guys should really head out before you really get caught,"

"Not so fast," a gruff voice was heard throughout the parking lot. You all turned to see Rumlow, strutting his way over to you. His eye was nearly swollen shut, and his lip still split open from the beating during Race Wars. "I want what's mine, Barnes,"

"We don't owe you shit, Rumlow," Bucky stood between you and Rumlow. Even after your betrayal, he still continued to protect you.

"Bucky, you need to go," you insisted, stepping away from his security, "I can handle this," Bucky started to speak. Still, you commanded him, "Go!"

He let out a disgruntled huff. He ran with the team to your car and drove out of the parking lot.

"Whatcha gonna do now, girly?" Rumlow taunted, "Your team left you, what kind of loyalty is that?"

You put your fists up, ready for a fight. Rumlow lunged forward to grab you, but you dodged and punched him in the ear. He let out a yell in aggravation and tried again, but you went under for a kick in his groin. He winced in pain, taking a knee. You needed to subdue him to get the cuffs on him. You brought your knee back and hit him square in the chin. He fell on his back, knocking him unconscious.

Quickly, you struggled to roll him on his stomach and placed the cuffs on around his wrists. You grabbed your cell phone to make the call to Fury. "Fury, I got the guy you're looking for,"

"What? You said that Barnes was on the roof," Fury said.

"It wasn't Barnes doing the heists. It was Brock Rumlow," you asserted. The tried to make the lie as convincing as you could for now. Bucky and the gang were off to plant the evidence to make the conviction stick. It was the only way to keep Bucky safe. Nobody could know you were framing somebody for a crime they didn't commit. Nobody could know you did this for a criminal street racer. Nobody could know were in love with James Buchanan Barnes.

Tags: @anagentinwriting , @capbuckybuchanan @thecheesecakeklutz @caplansteverogers@cap111218 @ursulaismymiddlename @fandomlifeuniverse @suz-123@after-avenging-hours @asirenscalling @killmongerdreams @papi-chulo-seb @a-splash-of-stucky @captainrogerss @anakin-skywalkers @sebbies@whothehellisbella @howlingbarnes @poealsobucky @soldatbarnes@satans-knitting-club @nedthegay @ex-bookjunky @lostinspace33@avengedqueen26 @thefallenbibliophilequote @vaisabu @pinkisokay@lachicadelamanzana @void-imaginations @its-daydreamer23@showbuckysomelove @palaiasaurus64 @goodolbucky @artemis3691

#bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes #bucky barnes imagine #bucky barnes fanfiction #marvel #marvel fanfiction #avengers imagine #avengers #steve rogers #sam wilson #natasha romanoff #brock rumlow #the fast and the furious #the fast and the furious au #series finale #ana writes

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mysterioh · 4 years

Text

ᕼEᒪTEᖇ ᔕKEᒪTEᖇ - [2/8]

Pairing: Cop!Bucky Barnes x Cop!Reader

Summary: The year is 1989 and what better to prepare for the next decade than with a killing spree? A string of gruesome deaths has thrust the city of New York into absolute mayhem and terror causing intoxicating fear to settle within the niches of the city’s underbelly. Having used up every trick in the book and earning nothing, Police Commissioner Stark seeks the aid of the NYPD’s most elite task force.

A force of two.

A reticent genius and a cheeky casanova.

WARNINGS: Death, Murder, Graphic Depictions of Violence and Gore, Language, Usage of Drugs, All the makings of a Crime Show.

Written for @captainscanadian 1k Writing Challenge!

Masterlist

A Recording

11:22 AM

New York City Police Department - 88th Precinct

Brooklyn, NY

Saturday, October 14, 1989

“You can’t do this!”

Tony slams his fist on the desk in frustration.

“I don’t see why I can’t,” Fury responds calmly through the phone.

“This is my jurisdiction, I run things around here,” Tony retorts with a sharp edge to his words. “I don’t need help, especially from two kids.”

Fury sighs deeply. “Really now?” he asks with a mocking chuckle. “And how far have you come in your own investigation?”

The line goes silent. Tony knows the answer, but he’s unwilling to reply. Despite his inadequacy, he remains obstinate in his opinion as he sits perched on his office desk. Teeth clenched. Lips tugged down into a scowl. Finger twisting around the telephone cord violently.

“Have you found the killer?” Fury asks another question. “I’ve checked the files, you have nothing,” he snaps at him. “I want answers, Stark. I need results. I need whoever the hell it is that’s running around killing people behind bars. And what have you given me? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”

Tony pinches the bridge of his nose and lets out a slow exhale. “If you give me more time I know my team will be able to do it,” he assures. “I don’t need those two to do it.”

Fury chuckles haughtily. “You’re new around here, Captain,” he states. “This isn’t sunny Malibu, this is New York.”

“I grew up in Manhattan,” Tony replies boldly. “I know exactly what it is.”

“Then I suggest you quickly learn to accept help when help is given,” his stalwart says firmly.

“Those two are more than qualified for this job. They’re not kids, they’re fully trained and capable agents. Both the top of their class with mastery in the sciences and combat. They’re goddamn geniuses,”

Tony rolls his eyes and scoffs silently.

“If anyone is going to crack this case, it’s them, and if you do anything to get in their way. I can assure you it will not end well for you,” Fury threatens with emphasis on each word.

“Do I make myself clear?”

Tony sighs exasperated and turns his head to look through the blinds of the window. His eyes narrow, shooting daggers at the two detectives.

“Crystal.”

------

“So the last shall be first, and the first last.” Peter reads off the photograph. “What does that mean?”

“It’s a bible verse,” Bucky tells him. “Written in the gospel of Matthew. It means that those who have prospered through wickedness will fail in the end and those who do good works will earn salvation.”

Peter and a few other officers stare at him, silent but judging in their expression.

“What?” Bucky asks. “My grandma used to take me to church with her every Sunday when I was a kid.”

You shake your head with a sigh and examine the photographs pinned onto the bulletin board.

“Harold Tucker. Age forty-seven. Died October 6th.” you read off.

“Rebecca Reid. Age fifty-five. Died five days later.”

“Louis Clark. Age forty-two. Died October 13th.”

Bucky gasps. “And on Friday the 13th. What an unlucky day for her,” he shakes his head in pity.

“Oh god, don’t tell me you actually believe in that bullshit,” Tony growls as he approaches them.

“I don’t,” he shrugs. “But it seems to be more than just a coincidence.”

“Coincidence or not. They’re dead,” you deadpan. “Repeatedly stabbed in the chest and left to die.”

“But the writing on the wall?” Peter asks again. “What does it have to do with them? They’re just ordinary people. Law-abiding citizens.”

“Did you run a background check?” Bucky asks, turning through papers in Louisa’s file.

Peter nods. “Yeah, all clean. I think old Harry had a DUI somewhere but that’s about it.”

“Maybe it’s something not written on paper,” Tony suggests, coming to stand next to you. “Something more personal?”

“We all sin. Some more heavily than others,” he notes. “Maybe, the killer has his own sense of justice. He’s taking the law into his own hands.”

“That’s highly unlikely,” you shut him down quickly. He glares at you. “In a city of over a million, how would you even know who to pick?” you question. “They aren’t mindlessly killing people. These are targeted victims.”

“Y/N’s right, they must be connected in one way or another,” Bucky adds, “the writing on the wall speaks about justice but to the killer, it must mean more than that. It’s revenge. They are people who have done something to him and now it's his turn to get back at ‘em.”

Rhodey shrugs. “Makes sense to me.” Tony elbows him in the arm. He looks at him confused. “What?”

The captain sighs, returning to the board. “Moving on. Our lovely perpetrator decided to name themselves.”

“The children of Oedipus,” Bucky finishes.

“Oedipus was—” you started

“The man that killed his father and married his mother,” Tony interrupted quickly. “We know the story.”

You huff, returning his earlier glare.

“He had four children,” Bucky chimes in, trying to ease the tension between the two. “Eteocles, Polynices, Antigone, and Ismene."

“Does that mean there are four killers?" Peter asks.

You open your mouth to speak only to be stopped by the receptionist.

“Captain, we found this box outside the station,” she walks to the group with it. “It’s addressed to you.”

“Me?” he asks.

She nods and hands him a plain cardboard box with a white name label plastered on the top. He takes it with a raised brow, looking at his comrades before ripping the tape off. He lifts the flap of the cardboard box to reveal a single Panasonic Cassette Recorder wrapped in a newspaper.

He takes it out. “It’s a tape recorder.”

Rhodey scans the newspaper. “This is today’s paper,” he states.

“There’s a cassette inside,” Tony notes.

“Play it,” you tell him.

He places it on the table and presses the play button.

The black tape begins to roll and they all listen quietly to static, waiting anxiously for something to happen.

“Heyo! It's me, Polynices!” a spritely boyish voice greets.

“Don't forget me, Antigone!” a girl speaks from behind.

"We are the children of Oedipus!" he informs with pride."Cursed from birth and doomed for destruction!"

"Lemme guess your first question is who are we really?" Antigone asks. "Too bad, we can't tell you or it'll spoil all the fun.”

Tony scoffs with a turn of the head.

“Now that we finally have your undivided attention and some new faces to help,” Your head whips towards Bucky to find him just as confused as you. “How about we play a game, huh?”

"Let's play Cops and Robbers!” Polynices exclaims like a child. "Where you're the cops and we're the robbers. All you have to do is catch us. Sounds pretty easy right?”

“Super easy!” Antigone chirps. “Since this is our first time playing, we’ll give you an easy riddle to catch us in the act.”

"Let's see if you can get to 'em before we do, huh, Captain Stark?" she asks, her tone shifts dramatically from childish to taunting and dangerous.

“Here's the clue for today,” she states. "What walks on two legs in the morning, then four at noon, and three in the evening and never stops?”

“The hell does that mean?” Rhodey murmurs.

“You have till midnight tonight to solve our riddle,” she states. You can hear the wicked smile in her voice as she speaks along with the devil snickering in the background.

"Happy hunting!"

8:15 PM

Montague Apartments

Brooklyn, NY

Saturday, October 14, 1989

It's early morning, the sun comes out

Last night was shaking and pretty loud

My cat is purring, it scratches my skin

So what is wrong with another sin?

Music blasts from an old stereo that sat on the kitchen counter and bounces off the old stained walls of the apartment. High-pitched guitar riffs threaten the glass in the cupboards into cracking as the deep bass of the drums makes tabletops vibrate, rattling the objects around the house.

Charlie, the orange tabby, digs his face deeper into the blanket left in a pile on the couch as the raspy voice of the lead singer screams in his ears. You sit next to him, slouched into the squeaky sofa, feet resting on the rickety coffee table, completely unphased by the music. Your eyes were glued to the wall that was stickered with photographs and red lines of thread twisted around thumbtacks running in every direction.

Three hours left and you still couldn’t figure it out.

"What walks on two legs in the morning, then four at noon, and three in the evening and never stops?”

Her voice echoes in your head. They both sound young. Filled with energy and a lust for blood. You were beginning to question yourself. Was there a motive behind it all or was it just a game like the Captain had stated?

The bitch is hungry, she needs to tell

So give her inches and feed her well

More days to come, new places to go

I've got to leave, it's time for a show

Bucky walks down the hallway and catches the loud knock on the door. He opens it to find the landlady. A short, stout woman who swore she was still in her thirties, even when the wrinkles embedded in her face stated otherwise.

The brunette leans against the doorframe and gives her a wolfish grin. His blue eyes gleam under the stale white light of the hallway, charming the old lady. Her heart beats rapidly like a teenage girl under his alluring gaze.

Here I am, rock you like a hurricane.

Are you ready, baby?

“Mrs. P, how’s it going?” he asks smoothly.

She straightens herself and clears her throat. “I’m fine,” she replies curtly. “I’ve been trying to catch you all day. I’m here to talk about the rent.”

“The what?” he brings a hand to his ear, I can’t hear you! The music’s too loud!”

He can hear her perfectly fine.

“The rent! You have to pay me rent! It’s been a month!” she shouts over the music, “Please turn down your music! The neighbors are complaining!”

“I can’t talk right now. I’m in the middle of a very important case,” he replies, slowly closing the door. “It was nice talking to you though!”

“No! No, wait!” she shouts before he shuts it in her face.

He snickers as he crosses the living room and into the kitchen. He turns the music down, earning a snap of the head towards him. “Hey!” you protest with a shout.

“Do you want the neighbors to murder us?” he replies, opening the fridge to find it like usual.

Empty.

He slams the door of the fridge in disappointment. There’s no real reason to be disappointed. Both of them were experts in neglecting their household chores.

“Y’know, we should go do some shopping soon,” Bucky says as he walks back to you.

You grimace. “Someone is going to get murdered in less than three hours and you’re worried about food?”

“Are you kidding me?” he retorts. “Look at me!” he exclaims, lifting his shirt to reveal a lean torso. “I’m all skin and bones! You’re starving me to death here!”

You roll your eyes then get up. “I’m not your mother. Feed yourself.”

“But it’s your job to do the grocery!” he protests with an accusatory finger.

“Since when?” you ask incredulously.

“Since we started living here,” he reminds. “Stop acting like you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

You click your tongue, walking over to the pantry and take out a bag of potato chips. You throw them at his face and walk back to the suspect board. “Now shut up and let me think.”

“Thank you,” he smiles warmly and you have a sudden urge to feed him a punch.

He opens the bag and begins chomping. He comes to stand next to you in front of the wall. “So got anything yet?”

“No,” you sigh. “You?”

“You’re smarter than me, Sis,” he remarks. “If you don’t have anything, how do you expect me to?”

“That’s not true.”

Bucky snorts. “Whatever you say, Valedictorian.”

“Shut the hell up, Salutatorian,” you smirked, side eying him.

He bumps your hip with his, earning a chuckle from you.

He enjoys the rare moments he can make you laugh. It makes him feel like a million bucks because if he can make the grumpy goth grandma laugh he can make every chick in the city laugh.

"What walks on two legs in the morning, four at noon, then three in the evening and never stops?” You repeat for the umpteenth time. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“It’s the question that the Sphinx asked Oedipus outside of Thebes.”

“I know that,” you replied. “But what does it have to do with us?”

“The answer was man,” he takes another chip into his mouth. “And it ended up curing the city and made Oedipus king.”

You hum bringing a hand to your mouth in contemplation. “Wait a second,” your hand falls.

“What?”

“The riddle. It’s different,” you dash over to the bookshelf, scanning through them to find the collection of Greek Tragedies by Sophocles given to you by an old professor friend. Bucky comes over and looks over your shoulder. Flipping through the pages and skimming through the words with a finger, you stop when you find the scene of Oedipus and the Sphinx.

“See,” you show him the passage in the book, “here it’s a four-two-three progression. The stages of a man’s life. An infant in the morning, an adult in the afternoon, and an old man in the night.”

“They changed it,” Bucky says. "That means the answer isn't man anymore.”

"The "never stops" in Antigone's riddle was clearly added," you pointed out. "So they are alluding to a place that’s open twenty-four hours."

"This is New York!" Bucky throws his arms in the air in exclamation. "The whole damn city is open all the time!"

"Runs at two in the morning, four at noon, then three at night and never stops,” you repeat softly.

Silence settles in the room as the two of you dig deep into the crevices of your mind. Unfurling through files and tidbits of information that could give even a minor lead.

tick - tock - tick - tock

The clock echoes the beat of your heart. Eerily calm. Heavy and systematic. Achingly slow. Reminding you that every passing minute wasted here was the countdown to someone’s last.

Bucky’s head whips towards the map of New York hung on the wall by the suspect board. The bag of chips in his hand drops to the floor as he makes his way to it. Your eyes follow him in confusion.

"2-4-3,” he murmurs, scanning the map.

"What?"

"2-4-3!" he exclaims, turning back to you with a dopey smile.

"Speak words dumbass!" you hiss.

"Don't you get it?” he asks, a chuckle coloring his word. “The 2-4-3!"

Your eyes grow wide in epiphany. "The 2-4-3!"

Bucky runs towards the door, yanking his coat off the hook on the wall. "C'mon, let's go!" he shouts. "We don't have much time!"

A/N: No, I have not been listening to 80s music for the past three days.

TAGLIST (OPEN): @murdermornings @chuckennuggets1213 @miraclesoflove @marshyrebelcloud @fckdeusername @undiadeestos @spiderrpcrker @welovecaptainamericaass @flyingowls

#bucky barnes x reader #cbc1kwc #bucky barnes imagine #cop!bucky barnes x reader #cop!bucky barnes x cop!reader #bucky barnes x y/n #bucky barnes x you #bucky x you #bucky x reader #bucky barnes

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capricornus-rex · 4 years

Text

Two Sides of the Coin (15)

Chapter 15: Forged Bonds | Jidné Sheedra x Cal Kestis

Summary: Hell-bent on exacting revenge and retrieving the Holocron, the dreaded Darth Vader is now on the hunt for the young Jedi Knight, Cal Kestis. Under the assumption that he still possessed the artifact, while fueled by the intrigue of the boy’s strength and skill with the Force, the dark lord hires the bounty hunter, Jidné Sheedra, to track him down and have him delivered alive. However, the task becomes a trial for young Jidné, as she faces a conflict that tests her beliefs of a scarred past she had hidden for so long.

A/N: Prepare yourselves for some wholesome Master and Apprentice fluff~ UWU

Also tagging @silver-is-in-too-many-fandoms @justtinfoley @berenilion @stellar-trinity @peterwandaparker @calgasm @queen-destenie @cal-jestis @ayamenimthiriel @calsponchoemporium @fallenjedii @sweeetteaa

Also in AO3

Tags: Fem OC, Jidné Sheedra, Force-Sensitive! Fem OC, Bounty Hunter! Fem OC, Jedi! Fem OC | Special tags for this chapter: Initiate Trials, Apprentice Tournament, Nomara Anesh, Jedi Master! Fem OC, Togruta! Fem OC, Force Bond, Master and Apprentice, Youngling! Jidné

Chapters: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 – 11 – 12 – 13 | Previous: Part 14 | Next: Part 16 | Masterlist

15 of ?

25 BBY

Nomara afforded a whole day to meditate in the designated chambers within the temple. Lately, she has been having visions, though indistinct, and she could hear sounds but can’t completely understood what they’re saying. However, they weren’t negative feelings and yet they still intrigued her—motivating her to pursue the reality of these visions until they’re as clear as the things she sees with her naked eye.

Master Loriq joined her, settling himself on the seat across hers. He brought his legs up on the cushion and crossed them together, he sat with a venerable poise that made him appear respectable and noble. Despite his nearly-silent entrance, Nomara continued to meditate unable to acknowledge the man who went into the room; her former master found a serene expression on her face—remaining very still and relaxed, the only movement he caught was the rise and fall of her shoulders as she breathes.

Not meaning to interrupt, Loriq sensed the conclusion of the young Togruta’s meditation.

“Your thoughts dwell on the child, Nomara,” he uttered out of the blue.

“Frankly, because of the promise I guaranteed to her mother, Master. There is also another thing,” her response caused the older Jedi to shift in his seat, leaning an inch forward to listen closely. “It’s likely that her strong connection with the Force factors to it, but in a way I can’t really explain… Perhaps, to simply put it, I feel like I am the only one fully aware of her capability and potential as a Jedi.”

The old master gave himself a moment to ponder on this. He slightly slouched, propping his elbow atop his lap as he rubbed his bearded chin.

He smacked his lips, “The Force bridged your and Jidné’s energies, perhaps it began the moment you discovered her.”

This response caused Nomara’s head to slightly bob sideways and her eyebrows pulled with a hybrid of confusion and fascination.

“But Master Yoda said attachments are forbidden,” Nomara counter-argued.

“The Force linking you and child together is an attachment in a certain point of view, but not in the exact same definition the Jedi Masters in the Council believe in—the kind that they forbid. I wouldn’t deny the ways of the Force intervening with any occurrence at all, I’d like to think it is its way of communicating to us without the need of words.”

“If you look at it that way, Master, that kind of does make sense. Just a bit too much to wrap my head around it,”

The old master chuckled at the comment of his apprentice, she is still young and has a long way to go—both as a Jedi and a Seeker, he hoped that her post as such would allow her to see things in various perspectives.

“Nomara, if we sever ourselves from our feelings—whether towards ourselves or others—what does that make us then? The living Force is all about connecting those around you. It may be difficult to comprehend today, but you will soon. That is something the Jedi are lacking in virtue right now.”

“You’re lucky you’re confiding this only to me, Master Yoda and Master Windu would strongly disagree with you,” the Togruta meant that as a half-joke to which Master Caius received positively and agreed with.

“Even Master Qui Gon thinks likewise. If I could name all the Jedi who think similarly like he and I, perhaps the count could only fit within my one hand,” said Master Caius spoke in a dismal tone, somewhat hoping that there were more who wouldn’t dismiss his perspective as odd and “not the Jedi way” as some called it.

“I hope to become as open and wise about the Force as you are, Master,” Nomara consoled.

Loriq quickly zones out of his somber trance and then places his hand atop his apprentice’s shoulder with such affirmation, quickly squeezing it as they both shared small, sober smiles at one another. He excuses himself and prepares to leave the room in Nomara’s solitude.

“Master, another query,”

The Togruta stopped the man from getting closer to the door. Master Caius angles his entire body to face his apprentice.

“What is it, Nomara?”

Nomara had the words piling at the tip of her tongue already, she thought it was a bold question, and so she took a deep breath before speaking it out.

“If I were to become a mentor…” she trailed. “I hope to be as good as you.”

Her words intrigued the master, but it warmed him as well. He sensed that she yearned affirmation when she said those words. The old master had an inkling of her motive between the lines of her sentence, not once did he shun her for her ambitions or aspirations, in fact, he supported and encouraged her greatly—something that he found nearly absent amongst the Jedi.

“Worry not, Nomara, I believe you are more than ready than you think,” and with that, Master Caius gave a slow yet curt bow at the Togruta before departing the meditation chamber.

During one of the Initiates’ Training, Yoda personally visited the stands and observed the children. Jidné in particular seemed to have shown great potential—she was both athletic and nimble, her lack of brute strength against the bigger children were compensated for her dexterity.

Her performance has impressed the mentors, but one of her most prominent traits is her innate impulse to help those in need. Nomara spotted Jidné helping her two friends, Brese and Leane, in the middle of a practical application phase of the lesson.

“Bend your knees a little like this, Leane, that way there’s more balance for you!” Jidné coached.

“So…” Leane mimicked Jidné’s posture, lightsaber in hand. “L-Like this?”

“That’s it! You got it!” the girl squealed and quickly resumed her own stance.

“Kinda makes it less likely for me to fall off!” Brese added, Jidné agreed to the young Nautolan boy and then passed that knowledge to Leane.

The three younglings then faced their individual training spheres. They managed to block and deflect the non-lethal yet stinging blasts of the hovering balls, the three of them celebrated briefly but Master Yoda—who was today’s proctor—decided to challenge the children. With one hand, he summoned a number of large helmets that were too big for the younglings’ heads. Using the Force, each and every helmet was worn on their heads by Master Yoda’s whim.

“How are we gonna see the targets?!” Brese exclaimed openly, speaking for everyone in the room.

“The Force will guide you! Your surroundings, it connects you to, hmm.”

There wasn’t exactly any room for argument there. The younglings prepared themselves, the once tight and confident grips around their sabers became shaky and clammy—their self-esteem was left in the dark when the visors came down.

Some of them managed to deflect the shots, but only for a few times or so until they were stung in the arm, shoulder, or leg. The others never resumed the proper stances anymore, they simply stood erect while waving their lightsabers in the direction of the training drones. Jidné, on the other hand, buckled herself slightly—she was still unsure on where the drone was going in front of her, sometimes her saber doesn’t even go in the same direction as the drone does, but she remained focused.

In the last minute, she was able to deflect one shot. The drone zoomed to its upper left, Jidné turned her head to that direction—despite being virtually blind—and waved her saber around, antsy for more shots to deflect. It was a bit of a stretch, but she hoped she’d be given a barrage of it—that’s simply her being overly-excited with the thrill of success.

“Ow!”

Jidné’s clean streak of four blocks was cut by the fifth shot stinging her shoulder. Nomara—along with the other Jedi visiting the stands—examined Jidné’s demonstration. The whole time, the Togruta was stricken with the child’s progress over time. The youngling seems to have honed her lightsaber skills, even though they’re most probably still learning Form I: Shii-Cho.

At that moment, Nomara Anesh has fully made up her mind.

—–

24 BBY

The most opportune time for Nomara to speak up has come.

She waited outside the Council’s door, patient and impatiently at the same time. The longer she stood by the door, the more anxious she became. She rubbed her clammy hands together until the warmth fizzled out the jolting nerves underneath her skin.

The hiss of the door startled her, no one was there to greet her in, the door opening by itself gestured her to come in the Council Chambers. Nomara had only gotten a few paces into the chamber, from there she found all of the masters in their respective seats, her eyes quickly surveyed and named them mentally one by one.

She put herself in the center of the room. All of the masters gave either a piercing glance or an inquisitive, gentle one—Masters Aayla Secura, Shaak Ti, Plo Koon, and Yaddle to name a few, were the latter.

“Seeker Anesh,” initiated Mace Windu, a quick gesture of the hand served as his greeting.

She bowed to return the acknowledgement before speaking her piece.

The green, sage Jedi Master slowly lifted his eyelids and then angled his head up to acknowledge Nomara’s presence—even though he already has when she stepped into the room.

“A request?” Yoda inquired.

Nomara shakes away the non-existent anxiety that the masters’ gazes inflicted on her as she stands at the very center of the council chamber, she hugged herself with her arms tightly underneath her sleeves—mentally rehearsing how she’s going to begin her speech.

“I wish to train the youngling I discovered,”

The Jedi’s long, pointed ears pricked up.

“Little Jidné Sheedra, hmm?”

Nomara nodded in reply.

All of the Council members knew that it was Nomara who brought Jidné into the Temple, but only a handful of them were aware of the young Togruta’s watchful eye over the youngling—unbeknownst to them, this is Nomara filling in her end of the promise.

“This is most unusual,” Ki-Adi-Mundi commented amidst the silence. “Normally, younglings are not assigned to a master until they finish the final phase of their training.”

“Jidné has not yet completed the Initiate Trials,” Windu interjected. “She and her batch will have yet to undergo the Apprentice Tournament in a month’s time.”

“Yes, Master Windu, I am aware,”

“Pursuing to train the child to become your Padawan learner…” Yoda trailed off. “Your Seeker position, you must give.”

“I understand and I have come to terms with myself on that subject,” Nomara’s voice firmed. “I am willing to relinquish my position as a Jedi Seeker, in exchange of me being allowed to become Jidné Sheedra’s mentor if she passes the Initiate Trials.”

“I sense that there is a much deeper reason within your request, young Anesh,” Plo Koon politely adds, leaning away from the backrest of his seat.

Nomara felt the need to finally disclose the promise she made to Tymara. In the middle of her piece, she blinked fast many times, coming upon a realization—stemming from that one promise, she and Jidné had already forged a bond. In the exact second when Nomara promised the mother that her daughter will be taken care of it, the Force has already molded and sealed their link. The other masters sensed the young Togruta’s conviction and commended her for it. The masters noticed her trail off and then pick herself up and her words.

They deliberate on the spot with mere glances amongst one another. Nomara hung her head low while keeping her eyes on the masters speaking with their eyes. It didn’t take long for them to come to a decision.

“Very well,”

Nomara’s head perked up from Mace Windu’s two simple words.

“Jidné Sheedra is to be your Padawan if she passes the Apprentice Tournament,”

Nomara is immensely elated. She couldn’t contain her excitement, the least she can do to hold herself is bite her lip. She struggled to calm and recompose herself, when she did—she thanked the Council as a whole, bowing to them ceaselessly before departing the room.

As soon as the young Togruta was out of the room, the masters exchanged looks once again. They’re intrigued by the connection manifesting within Nomara and Jidné, even if they haven’t fully interacted with one another quite closely.

One month seems to have passed by so quickly.

Jidné, Brese, Leane, and the other younglings eagerly waited for this day. But now that the time has come, they’re not sure if what they’re feeling is uncontainable excitement or nerve-racking anxiety or a mix of both.

“You guys ever ready?” Brese in the middle asked his two friends.

“Well, kinda…” Jidné shrugged her shoulders.

“My hands are sweaty!” Leane grumbled.

For the first time in these younglings’ lives, it’s only this day when they’ve seen the stands to be filled to the brim. Looking back to their training days, the number could only fit within each of their own two hands; now, there seems to be no space left between one Jedi to the other.

“Why do I have a bad feeling about this…?” Leane whimpered.

Jidné rests her hand on her friend’s shoulder, consoling her, “Don’t worry, Leane. We’ll make it—the three of us.”

By rote, a flock of thirty-two younglings shall be pitted against one another in pairs. Prior to the day of the tournament, the children were already briefed on the rules and how it will go; one day before the tournament itself, they already know who they’re dueling with.

They were also forewarned that the masters will be observing them, the coaches did their best in quelling the pre-tournament anxiety that they’ve borne into the younglings’ heads. Although fazed and ridden with anxiety—so much so that she couldn’t properly grip her saber—Jidné mentally coaxed herself and simply do what she keeps doing, she believed that such a mindset has taken her far.

I won’t let myself falter on the most important day of them all! She proclaimed, staring at the silver finish of her saber.

The flock of younglings were arranged in a column and split into two upon their entry to the arena, they marched in synchronization, lining up the border of the floor. Tera Sinube and Master Yoda stood at the center to give their opening remarks albeit a brief one; when the two old masters stepped away and stood under the shade of the stands—that was the first pair’s cue to come forward.

It was Brese against a green Twi’lek boy. The Nautolan boy capitalized on his innate nimbleness during the battle and keeping mind of Jidné’s own tips during their practical lessons—which he and Leane found greatly helpful.

A duel would normally last less than half an hour, depending on the caliber of both children. This is the only time the younglings would go all out with everything they’ve learned. Five pairs later, it was Leane against another human girl—both of them sensed one another’s anxiety, but eventually got into the thrill of the action. Green sabers clashed against one another, shining bright light around the arena as one parries the other—while not admittedly as strong as the bigger children, Leane was flexible and lithe like Brese, she was able to dodge and make a quick follow-up attack seconds after her evasion.

Jidné was only able to quell her nervousness by quietly supporting her friends from where she stood. Flashing secret smiles at them when they look her way.

“That child has an innate ability to put people at ease,” Loriq thought out loud, exclusively within Nomara’s earshot.

Nomara smiled, reminiscing the moments where Jidné makes everyone smile all too easily, beginning from the moment where she was staying over in their house in Eshyn.

“Yes, I think so too,” she concurred.

Now it was Jidné’s turn. Paz was standing beside her, the tall blond boy cheered her on, whispering “Good luck!” to her before she’d step forward. She beamed a smile and whispered back a quick “Thanks!” and then patted her saber dangling by her belt.

Jidné is pitted against a Mirialan boy. As per tradition, they bowed at one another upon stepping into the center, afterwards they take a step back to draw their sabers. The Mirialan’s green saber contrasted heavily with Jidné’s purple saber. The opponent was indeed nimble, at par with Jidné’s dexterity, but what the girl did next surprised everyone.

This was the very first time Jidné demonstrated her Force Shroud, although she’s still in the middle of refining it herself.

Regardless, she was able to render herself almost invisible—the lights and the gray walls helped her blend in, leaving a trail of visible Force waves lingering in the air. The Mirialan boy’ frenzied eyes did little to aid him in spotting his opponent, only at the last minute did he sense the girl from behind him and deflected her attack, she re-materialized when their sabers met. It was flimsy on his end, but struggled to avoid fumbling.

They continued to trade strikes one after the other, Jidné read her opponent taking on the rather aggressive approach with little to no defensiveness, thus she took advantage of her dexterity and evaded the charging attacks of the Mirialan boy. Whenever he would deliver a hail of attacks at her, Jidné deflected them with clean forms and coordinated footwork. Having her purple saber’s tip hovering just mere inches in front of the boy’s nose, that concluded her duel. The two younglings flashed an impressed grin at one another before doing the customary bow post-fight.

“Your youngling shows a lot of promise,” Loriq commented. “Her skill with the Force is impressive as well, despite being a little rough around the edges.”

The remainders of the tournament proceeded down to the very last pair. When the event concluded, the masters dispersed and conversed with one another in murmurs, cupping the sides of their mouths with their hands as they judge the younglings who have caught their eye.

The younglings who were done with their turn were instructed to retire to the Initiates’ dormitory to rest. Brese and Leane waited for Jidné’s duel to end before going together which has become a joint habit of theirs.

“You were great, Jidné! I bet a lot of masters are gonna come asking you to be their Padawan!” Brese beamed.

“I think you and Leane were pretty great too!” Jidné clapped Leane’s and Brese’s shoulders with her two hands. For her next few sentences, she’s become more animated as they walked along the halls. Her upbeat attitude made the two children laugh, practically washing away their anxieties from earlier.

“The way you two went—POW! And then Leane went—WOOSH!! Aww, it was awesome! No doubt about it, you two, I think we did a great job in impressing the masters!”

Jidné added a comical kick and punched the air in the uppercut to visualize what she meant. Her post-fight energy doesn’t seem to be running out any time soon.

“I’m glad you think our training will pay off, Jidné! It kinda makes me feel better about myself,” Leane chuckled gleefully, the heaviness that anchored in her stomach melted away after being infected with Jidné’s cheerfulness.

Jidné hooked Leane’s neck with her arm, nudging her closer until they’re cheek-to-cheek, “Aw come on, Leane, you’re such a worrywart! How many times do I have to tell you you’re great? Though I don’t mind saying it over and over!”

The next morning, Jidné was summoned to one of the lecture chambers, a warden has personally come to their room to call her. She and Leane exchanged puzzled glances but eventually she followed the servant out of their room.

“Did… Did I do something wrong?” Jidné asked when she walked up to the servant.

The servant chuckled, amused and endeared, “No, Jidné. But you’ll find out soon enough. Run along now.”

Jidné turned behind her, to her friend Leane, and waved at her before disappearing into the grand halls of the Temple. The girl navigated her way to the turbolift leading to the wing where the lecture halls are located. She eventually reached that specific room the servant had told her, with the push of a button the door retracted into its frame—revealing Master Yoda standing with a tall Togruta. Jidné recognized the second Jedi, it was the one who always watched at the stands, she recalled that this Jedi was also watching during the tournament last night.

The girl entered the room and stepped closer to the pair of Jedi Masters.

“I… I was told to come here by one of the wardens,”

“Indeed, you were, Jidné,” Master Yoda waddled towards the child, pegging the floor with his cane as he walked.

“Did… Did I do something wrong?”

The green, ancient Jedi chuckled delightfully, not intending to dismiss the child’s worry but rather uplift her spirit.

“Sought you, a master has; a Padawan, you are to be,”

The child’s eyes lit up, her heart skipped a beat, and her lips parted. Did her ears deceive her? No, she’s sure she’s heard it correctly.

The Togruta walked up to Yoda’s side, facing Jidné as well. She flashed a gentle, warm smile upon seeing the twinkle over the gloss of the child’s dark, soulful eyes.

“Hello, Jidné,”

“Hello,” she cooed.

“My name is Nomara Anesh, it’s nice to meet you…” Nomara stifled a chuckle. “Again.”

Jidné’s smile relaxed a bit and she bobbed her head to the side, “Eh? Again?”

Nomara smiled and knelt to the little girl’s height.

“I was the Jedi who found you and brought you here,”

The youngling’s grin reappeared, stretching from ear-to-ear, and the glint in her eyes shone twice as bright as the first one. The girl’s energy contrasted with her new master’s calm, warm, and kind demeanor.

“Really!? You did?!”

“That’s right,”

“That’s amazing!!” the girl leaped and squealed, butterflies filled her stomach so much that she could feel them coming out of her throat any moment now. “It’s strange though—but in a good way—that you’ve always felt familiar to me. But now that you’ve told me you’re the one who brought me here, that explains it… LIKE A WHOLE LOT!”

Jidné threw her arms up to emphasize her last words, her enthusiasm delighted Nomara; but when she realized that she’s behaving a bit too excitedly, she straightened herself up in the presence of Master Yoda and cleared her throat.

“Truly wonderful and pure her heart is,” Yoda commented, gesturing the girl to be at ease as there’s no need for such formality.

“Are you up for the task as my apprentice, Jidné?”

“Am I ever?!”

Nomara smiled at the child’s optimism. Deep inside her, she made a promise to herself to protect Jidné—not out of the obligation of a promise, but out of genuine love and care for the girl. Perhaps watching over her took her some time to realize, but it’s better late than never.

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bonesandscales · 5 years

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Hannibal Fic Recs

I’ve seen a couple of those floating around lately so I thought I’d do one too. Here are some of my favourite fics in the fandom.

1. Rediscovered Treasures by Nalyra (@allione). Will finds Hannibal's stash "erotica" from around the world. Hannibal of course claims that it's all "art"--very sophisticated and classy--and Will is just like, "that is a woman fucking a squid ffs”.

(sending a million kisses to allione because this is the fic that made me start writing for this fandom ❤)

2. Omiai by iesika (@iesika). Will acquires a murderous secret admirer, and learns how much easier the habit of violence can be with an enthusiastically willing target.

A courtship through blood and… other means of influence.

3. Sounders of Three by inameitlater. "The Chesapeake Ripper kills in sounders of three.

"In which Will continues his journey after the events of "We Killed a Dragon Last Night".

4. Ravenous by rageprufrock. Clarice Starling meets Hannibal Lecter armed with a copy of the Buffalo Bill file.

5. i feel your thumbs press into my skin again by softhan (@strongwillgraham). Autoimmune encephalitis can be a recurring disease,” Hannibal says, as gently as Will has ever heard him.“Oh, god.” Will brings his hands up and covers his face. He takes a moment to just breathe, letting the thought hit him and settle, mind spiraling in a hundred directions. “What are we going to do about that? I can’t very well just check myself into a hospital and say ‘Hi, I have a history of this rare autoimmune disease that a fugitive who looks exactly like me is known for having’, can I?”

Will has a relapse of his encephalitis, but Hannibal and their dogs take good care of him.

6. The Torment of Tantalus by InfiniteCrisis (@crisisoninfintefandoms). Set in Cuba after the fall. Hannibal isn’t touching Will. Will wants to know why, but is afraid to ask.

Sexual and emotional tension and resolution; a comedy of errors told by the ocean and classical mythology.

"Everyone always spoke of the torment of Tantalus; no one ever stopped to consider what it was like for the tree."

7. The Estate by bokunojinsei (@bokuno-jinsei). "Love involves a peculiar unfathomable combination of understanding and misunderstanding."

-Diane Arbus

Chiyoh had shot Will down in the street, his forgiveness falling with a clatter to the pavement. Hannibal, once intent on his belief that only by consuming Will could he be free of him, decides impulsively to try something a little different than what he had planned.

Or: What if Hannibal hadn't tried to eat Will after he drugged him in Florence? What if he'd decided to run away with him instead?

8. Out Of The Depths by TiggyMalvern (@tiggymalvern). After the fall, Hannibal gets away and Will is left behind to deal with Jack, and the wreckage.

9. Physis by Chifuyu (@staticraining). After everything that has happened in Italy, there is still one last obstacle Will Graham has to overcome before he can try and pick up the broken pieces that once were his life: Being a witness at Hannibal Lecter’s trial.

10. The Sun’s Light Failed by shiphitsthefan (@shiphitsthefan). “I know what you are," Will tells him. "You’re the Ripper. I see you."

A long pause, and then Hannibal very carefully says, “You shouldn’t speak of such things. I dread the thought of you and calamity meeting under inconspicuous circumstance.”

Will steps forward into Hannibal’s space; he eases down to his knees in front of him, but never breaks eye contact, and it doesn’t hurt to look at Hannibal. It’s like looking into a carnival mirror; they’re the same, but different. “That isn’t a denial."

Hannibal takes a deep breath. He reaches out and brushes his fingers along Will’s cheek. His hand is trembling. “Does the lamb come so freely to the slaughter?

11. “NIGHT OF THE RIPPER” by EvilAdmin. Life finally seems to be on the upswing for 24-year-old Wolf Trap police officer Will Graham when he receives a letter from the FBI Academy informing him that he's been accepted into their program for the upcoming semester. But fate intervenes with a cruel and ironic twist when Will walks into a house and discovers a murder scene, and he recognizes the M.O. as that of the Chesapeake Ripper, a killer who’s been on the FBI’s ten most wanted list for the past two years. But the shock of finding a Ripper murder scene in Wolf Trap is only the beginning as Will soon realizes that the Ripper is still in the house. And so begins a night of terror for Will as he tries to stay one step ahead of one of the most ruthless and cunning killers in the country, while also trying to prove to himself that he's worthy enough to join the ranks of the F.B.I.

A "Hannibalized" version of the book “Intensity” by Dean Koontz.

12. through a glass by amare. He went to sleep in an asylum; he woke up in a reality not his own. Will's either gone down the rabbit hole of his own unstable mind, or he's ended up someplace else entirely. (The non-opaque summary: Will wakes up in a universe where he and Hannibal are dating.)

13. Variation on Persephone by dornfelder (@uniwolfwerecorn). When they speak of Kore, they never talk about how she had, in truth, been Persephone all along.

14. The Thorn of the Rose by AGlassRoseNeverFades (@aglassroseneverfades). "Beware," it is said, "Beware, beware, do not go into the forest at night." Yet go Will must in order to save his best friend Alana after she goes missing in that gloomy, forbidden wood. He finds her in the dungeons of an abandoned castle at the heart of the forest, imprisoned by a fearsome horned beast. A bargain is struck, one life in exchange for another, and Will learns that all is not as it seems in the ruins of Castle Lecter.

A Hannibal retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

15. To Beg by jonnimir (@ethicsbecomeaesthetics). Hannibal blinked, taken aback by the sudden turn of phrase. Then his upper lip curled. “I beg your pardon?”

Will looked phenomenally unconcerned for someone whose tongue Hannibal was idly contemplating serving as an amuse-bouche. If anything he looked satisfied at throwing Hannibal off-balance, a smile playing around his lips. He straightened his back, raised a brow, and said with relish: “Then beg.”

Hannibal finds himself unexpectedly attracted to Will's dominance. Will stumbles upon his submissive streak by accident, and is quick to seize this opportunity.

16. Blood and Feathers and Antlers by TheSilverQueen (@thesilverqueenlady). When Will was a young fawn, all he ever wanted was to grow up as proud and strong as his idol, the Prince of the Forest, Jack. And then one day he wandered off the path and into the strangest pool he'd ever seen. It was red as those sharp roses whose thorns Will had learned the hard way not to eat and smelled like the metal that he'd seen two-legs leave behind. It takes a few drinks to realize that it's blood. When he jumps back in shock, he ends up bumping into the biggest stag he's ever seen, bigger than Will's father, bigger than even the great Prince of the Forest, with antlers as tall as Will himself and feathers as black as night.

"Hello, little fawn," says the Ravenstag, "what have we here?"

17. Proximity by victorine (@victorineb). Hannibal’s hand is halfway to stroking down Will’s spine before he catches himself. He is achingly hard and the source of his arousal is inches from him, blissfully unaware. Slowly, he draws his hand back and lets it slide downwards, towards the swell of his erection, letting out a hiss as he grazes against the silk that is barely containing it.

This is… rude. Inexcusably so. Were he entirely in control, Hannibal would surely retreat into his mind palace and wait until he was less affected.

But…

Hannibal cannot touch Will as he aches to. So he touches himself instead.

18. Hannibal: Pushing Us Into Self-Destruction by IBegToDreamAndDiffer (@ibegto-dreamanddiffer). Clarice Starling needs help with a case, so she pays a visit to Will Graham, who's incarcerated in the Baltimore Sate Hospital with his partner.

19. Pattern Break by ThisBeautifulDrowning. Will knew what had happened. He knew exactly how Abigail's ear had gotten into him, who had shoved it down his throat. He also knew that trying to indicate Hannibal as a killer again was futile. Jack seemed to want to believe him, going by the conversation in the BSHCI's visitor hall, but Jack needed something concrete, evidence. Hannibal had eluded capture for so long, he wasn't going to start leaving fingerprints or hairs at his crime scenes now.No, Will was going to deal with Hannibal Lecter on his own terms. The man deserved to reap what he'd so carefully sowed, didn't he? He deserved to experience what he'd coaxed forth from the bottom of Will's soul, to see the result of his machinations.

After his release from the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, Will doesn't return to work for the FBI.

20. Atavism by RubyBakeneko (@rubybakeneko). Will and Hannibal have prolific amounts of sex, but Will refuses to accept tenderness or affection. When Hannibal objects, Will thinks it’s with the aim of controlling him and fostering further dependency. He roleplays as his former self to try and prove his point, steadfastly ignoring his own underlying feelings and motivations. The results are predictably messy.

#hannibal #hannigram #fic rec #you might notice a recurring element in there #maybe i could do a fave writers list

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thalrahylune · 5 years

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Thalra Hylune

Character Development Questionnaire

BASICS -

1. Height? 5’2 2. Eye color? Lavender in dark lighting, lilac in bright light. She also doesn’t appear to have irises or pupils. Her eyes are just solid color. 3. Do they need glasses? No, though her eyes are slightly sensitive to sunlight. 4. Scars and birthmark?

She has an old, faded scar on her palm from childhood when she went exploring a dilapidated house on a dare. It looks like a small crescent moon and matches the one on her brother’s palm. Otherwise she’s been very careful to keep her skin unmarred.

5. Tattoos and piercings?

No tattoos but she does have her ears pierced. The other piercings she has are… concealed most of the time.

6. Right or left handed?

Ambidextrous, though she prefers her right hand. .

7. Any disabilities? Physical or mental.

When she was younger her aversion to sunlight was much worse, but after so many years on the surface it doesn’t bother her anymore. Beyond that, she has undiagnosed PTSD that she herself doesn’t recognize.

8. Do they have any allergies?

She does not.

9. Favorite color?

Purple, especially the lighter shades. It brings out her eyes.

10. Typical outfits?

While out in public she wears understated, but obviously well made dresses, low cut but not obscenely so, with boots that have a two inch heel to make her appear taller. Usually she also has a parasol with her to keep the sun out of her eyes. At home, she has a wide variety of silk robes and lingerie to lounge around in when a client is over, though when she has no company at all she doesn’t bother and has a very comfortable set of pajamas she can wear nearly all day if she has nothing to do. Occasionally she’ll also be seen in tight pants and loose, flowing shirts that expose a scandalous portion of her chest, only sometimes supported by a brassiere.

11. Do they wear any makeup?

Sometimes, but only to enhance her features and never to obscure them. She likes bright eyeshadows and dark eyeliners and deep red lipsticks.

12. What weapon do they use, if any?

She uses a hand crossbow when she’s not using a medley of instruments to channel her spells. Her fiddle is a new addition to her arsenal, relatively speaking. She only learned to play it after she met Pyrope but it’s quickly become her favorite.

PERSONALITY -

13. Are they more optimistic or pessimistic?

She has trained herself to be pessimistic about all scenarios. She plans for the worst and never hopes for the best, no matter how much she might want to.

14. Are they introverted or extroverted?

Completely extroverted, she thrives off attention.

15. What are their pet peeves?

Arrogance. Men being condescending to her.

16. What bad habits do they have?

In her building in Myrefall, on the third floor apartment that’s inaccessible except through a secret staircase, Thalra keeps a substantial stack of very tacky romance novels near her bed. All the spines are cracked and the pages dog-eared and it would be obvious on first glance they have all been read through dozens of times.

17. Do they have any phobias?

She fears the day a particular cat will learn to communicate his desire for deadly poison to a potion shop clerk and use a very specific 170 gold pieces to acquire said poison.

18. How do they display affection?

It depends on the type of affection the person she’s talking with wants to recieve. She learns what people want and then either gives it to them or withholds it. That’s the basics of manipulation. Genuine affection from her though is different and much less filtered. She’s not shy about paying the people she loves compliments or showering them with physical affection and gifts. Thalra becomes much less subtle and, oddly enough, she usually stops flirting.

19. How competitive are they?

Thalra can’t be suckered into a competition she knows she has no chance in, but if its something she’s good at, she gets incredibly competitive. Her self worth hinges on what she’s good at, so she’s very protective of those skills and doesn’t like the thought of being bested or considered lesser.

20. If they could change one thing about themselves, what would it be?

Physically, nothing, but sometimes she does wish she could carve the piece of herself that cares so much for certain people out of her chest. It would make things easier, and she wouldn’t have so many vulnerabilities.

21. Do they have any obscure hobbies or routines?

Sometimes, every few years or so, her mentor, Jelxi Silvershaper, aka the Silver Tongue of Myrefall, will run this very elaborate role playing game for some of her former and current employees. Everyone gets to make characters who get to go on adventures and fight monsters. Thalra gets really into it and she has several character sheets with pages of backstory.

BACKSTORY -

22. What are the names and ages of their close family members? Parents, siblings, etc

Rinnil Hylune is her twin brother and is currently her only living relative who doesn’t live in the Underdark. They’re both 203 years old and Thalra thought him dead until very recently. Presumably, she has grandparents or cousins or other distant family, but she’s never met them. Her parents’ names were Jastira and Vaeril.

23. Is their family alive and are they still in contact with them?

The only family Thalra is currently in contact with is Rinnil. Their parents died nearly two centuries ago after trying to escape the Underdark.

24. Where are they from? City, nation?

She was born in the Underdark but only lived there until age twelve when her parents tried to flee due to religious persecution and their criticism of the government. She has lived in Myrefall for most of her life.

25. Did they have a childhood best friend?

Just Rinnil. She was a very quiet and antisocial child and didn’t make much of an effort to make friends at the orphanage they were raised in. For a few years she was practically non-verbal if not speaking to her brother.

26. Have they had any pets?

No. She doesn’t see a purpose in getting attached to an animal who will live for such a short fraction of her life.

27. Did they grow up rich or poor? What were their living conditions like?

Thalra didn’t become wealthy until much later on in life. Even in the Underdark her parents were poor, though her mother came from a noble family, she had left it all behind to be with Thalra’s father. Resources were scarce, but Thalra’s parents were much kinder than some drow elves are known to be and never ate a meal without first ensuring Thalra and Rinnil had eaten. After the Underdark, Thalra and Rinnil were taken in by an orphanage where conditions weren’t much better. This is where Thalra learned what actual hunger felt like, the kind that claws at your insides like an animal begging to be released.

28. What is their educational background?

Her education was better than most drow children who didn’t come from nobility thanks to her mother’s formal education. Her father was also a religious man who worshipped Berronar Truesilver, a dwarven goddess that Vaeril had come to worship after he’d fled the Underdark many years ago, ending up in Khaggon. He taught his children all about the goddess of truth and safety, but Thalra had was skeptical even then. Education at the orphanage was nearly non-existant except for their preachings of the goddess of misfortune, Beshaba, who seemed to be the exact opposite of her father’s goddess.

29. As a child, what did they want to be when they grew up?

Powerful. It didn’t matter what else she was, as long as she wasn’t helpless.

30. What advice would they give to their younger self?

“Don’t let him leave.”

31. Growing up, were they ever bullied or were they the bully?

For the first few months after arriving at the orphanage, the other children ostracized Thalra and her brother because they were different. Drow elves are an uncommon sight and the twins’ sunlight sensitivity was an easy target. This didn’t last long however, as Thalra quickly made it clear she and Rinnil were not to be messed with. They were never outright threats, as she would stay silent and dull eyed during most abuse, but terrible things would always befall the children who were cruel to her or her brother. Dead, bloodied rats in their beds, hair cut off while they slept, proof of crimes they didn’t commit showing up where the priests could find it. Thalra was merciless.

32. Who do they look up to/who is their role model?

Jelxi Silvershaper runs the brothel that bought Thalra when the orphanage sold her and Rinnil, and ever since she’s been like a second mother to Thalra. She too is a whisper bard and taught Thalra most of the magic she knows now.

PRESENT -

33. Do they currently have a place of residence?

Yes. She owns an entire building in Myrefall though she’s currently abandoned it now that she’s on the run from a shadowy order of assassins who know where she lives.

34. What is their most treasured possession?

Currently: a parasol and a sending stone, both from Efrain and a dagger made by The Order of Shadows.

35. What is their drink of choice?

Red wine, but only the expensive stuff.

36. Which king/queen are they loyal to, if any?

None, but she thinks Ivana is the hottest among the siblings.

37. Have they ever killed anyone?

Of course. Unrelated, but when a particularly possessive client oversteps they occasionally have unfortunate accidents or become terminally ill or go on trips they never come back from. It’s all very unfortunate.

38. What was their last promise and did they keep it?

She promised her brother they’d have time to have an honest conversation later. It was never a promise she intended to keep.

LOVE -

39. What was their first kiss like, if they’ve had one?

It when she was still young, around fourteen, with another girl who had recently come to stay at the orphanage. It was pretty terrible and more of a headbutt than a kiss because she had done it so suddenly and without warning. She then immediately ran away to find Nil and cry.

40. Are they in a relationship/have a love interest?

Thalra has been courted before and been on dates, but it’s all been with people who are paying her in one form or another. It’s always a transaction, so it’s never actually been a romantic relationship.

41. Have they ever been in love?

She doesn’t think she’s capable of falling in love, and even if she was what would it matter? She doesn’t need more tragedy in her life. But objectively speaking, yes, she’s been in love. Parts of her fall in love with numerous people all the time.

42. Have they ever had their heart broken?

Yes. And not just in the romantic sense. Her heart never fully recovered after her brother left.

SPIRITUALITY -

43. Do they follow a god, if so who?

No, but she likes Mask. She used to send little prayers to him when Nil would go out on jobs for the Thieves Guild.

44. What do they think happens to them after death?

She knows the pantheon exists so she knows the afterlife exists as well, she’s just overly concerned with where she ends up. Death is a far away concept that she won’t have to consider for a very long time.

#romtask #character development questionnaire #about #child abuse tw

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kairaverma · 5 years

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The World of iOS and How it Develops Today

Since the last 70 years or so, mankind has seen a significant leap in the field of technology. It was in 1946 that the ENIAC (the first supercomputer) opened its eyes into this world) and by 1970 we already had a Personal Computer – a desktop PC as we know it today, available. The coming years saw the advent of mainframe and mini computers. Though the Internet has made its presence felt as early as 1969 at DARPA, it became a household name only when Windows 95 came into being. That is when a new technology came into being parallel – the Mobile (somewhere towards the end of the 20th century).

It was the turn of this technology now to occupy the brain and mind of us humans. The mobiles within just two decades have progressed from just a telephone to almost being a palmtop computer. The content that I am typing now may as well be provided as an input to some application which can read it for you, in a voice you prefer.

It was the Symbian mobiles in the beginning, but with Android as an option, the masses forgot the operating system soon that had brought new technology to this world. With Google at its back, Android powered devices took over the world as anything and people loved it. As the users demanded more and more from the hand-held sets, it was the Apple powered devices that proved a threat to the Android. According to a survey Android alone accounts for 51.1 % of the market share but iOS users are loyal to it more than perhaps the Android users and that is the reason why iOS is seeing an increase in its market share since 2017. Today there are a lot of iOS App development companies in India, US, UK and elsewhere that are loyal to this OS. Although, other mobiles are also having their followers who are loyal to them the iOS app development companies in India are flourishing as they are well supported by the elite of the Indian high class. Let’s see what’s new about iOS in the market as of now:

Apple could launch 16-inch MacBook, new iPad Pro this month: Apple is scheduled to host this month's launch event where new MacBooks and iPads are expected. Apple has scheduled a number of products that it plans to introduce to the user during its October 2019 event. These comprise of a 16-inch MacBook Pro with a scissor keyboard, refreshed iPad Pro model along with Apple Tags items trackers. The company hosted an event on October 30, 2018 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York City, and is expected to host the event again this year around the same time. The 16-inch MacBook Pro is rumored to be the same physical size as the 15-inch MacBook Pro, but for a larger display it will feature smaller bezel sizes. While the existing11-inch and12.9-inch iPad Pro models debuted in October 2018, these high-end tablets could be upgraded this time by the manufacturer. Also, Apple can release its item tracker similar to ' Apple Tag ' famous tile items. It's a tiny device attached to items to make them easy to find, it's combined with elements of augmented reality to help users find their lost items easily.

iOS 13.1.3 is the latest software update from Apple to fix iPhone and iPad bugs: With new bug fixes and performance improvements, Apple is releasing iOS 13.1.3 to the public today. The update, in addition to iPadOS 13.1.3, is now rolling out to iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users. Apple says the Mail app's update address issues for Bluetooth connectivity, and more. A summary of what has changed in iOS 13.1.3 follows. iOS 13.1.3 contains bug fixes and iPhone enhancements. The update

fixes an issue that might prevent an incoming call from ringing or vibrating phone.

Helps fix a problem that may prevent the opening of an invitation to a meeting in Mail

Solves a problem in which data in the Health app may not show correctly after adjustment of daylight savings

Solves a problem where Voice Memos recordings may not be downloaded after restore iCloud Backup

Addresses a problem where apps may not be updated during iCloud Backup

Fixes a problem that can stop Apple Watch from successfully pairing

Resolves a problem where alerts may not be received on Apple Watch

Fixes a problem where Bluetooth may disconnect on certain vehicles

Improves the reliability of Bluetooth hearing aids and headsets

Addresses release output for applications using Game Center

Recently, Apple released new versions of iOS 13 at a rapid pace. Apple released iOS 13.1.1 last month and just two days later followed up with iOS 13.1.2. The updates focused on improving reliability and addressing bugs for items like the Camera app, iCloud backups, and more. Finally, one would agree that the users can expect general performance improvements, squashed bugs, and more thanks to iOS 13.1.3. Apple is also currently involved in testing a beta version of iOS 13.2 with its new Deep Fusion camera technology .

iPhone users complaining about iOS 13.1.2 issues: The reportedly rushed release of the latest version of Apple's mobile operating system has posed major problems. Apple support forums and Twitter account contain hundreds of iPhone user complaints about both making and receiving calls. Although the update was intended to bring a range of new features to type, including dark mode and swipe, a number of disruptive bugs have also apparently been introduced. One of the most frustrating is the inability to make calls, though users usually complain about battery drain and overheating.

One of the iPhone users complained about the company’s support forum: "After updating, the telephone is heating, batte ry draining, the worst incoming calls don't sound. What's the worth of a ' mobile ' if it doesn't sound like it?". Reports suggest that after a number of critical security issues that have arisen recently, Apple has been forced to rush the release of the new iOS version. A vulnerability found by the clandestine and prestigious group of security researchers known as Project Zero was among the most troubling.Apple had said at that time that it will not announce, discuss or confirm security issues for the safety of their customers until an investigation had taken place and updates or changes have been made generally available.

The transition to iOS 13.1 is intended to fix many of these vulnerabilities, and the security risks that a known code bug that presents to users once a patch is available is so severe that it is never considered reasonable to postpone upgrading. But the downside of widely reported vulnerabilities may prevent users from downloading the update, leaving hackers and cyber criminals at risk. Apple quickly pushed out another update to resolve the new bugs and patch those in the previous release of iOS version 13.1.1, but this rush seemed to introduce more bugs again.

The process seems to have been replicated with iOS 13.1.2, with users complaining about calls, Face ID, Mail, Messages, and battery leakage problems. How fast these issues will be addressed is not clear. Apple was unable to respond to a request for comment immediately.

Apple slams Google for raising the false alarm on iOS security: Apple has blamed Google for making a false perception that its iPhones are at risk due to security bugs that allegedly penetrate many malicious websites into its iOS operating system. Researchers working in Google's Project Zero team had discovered multiple hacked websites that used iPhone security flaws to attack users who visited these websites, exposing their personal files, emails, and location data in real time. The websites distributed their malware indiscriminately and have been active for years, according to Google. "All evidence indicates that these website attacks were only operational for a brief period, about two months, not ' two years ' as Google implies," according to the iPhone maker. Google's Threat Analysis Group (TAG) found that there was no target bias because visiting the compromised site was enough for the exploit server to attack the iPhone and mount a monitoring implant if it was successful. "We predict that thousands of visitors per week are visiting these pages," the Google blog post said.

Google researchers also said they found a vulnerability that used end-to-end authentication applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram and iMessage to access all the server files on the victim's iPhone.

Apple said it patched the bugs in February working extremely fast to solve the problem just 10 days after hearing about it.

When Google came to us, we were already addressing the exploited bugs," the company said, adding that its software security teams around the world were continually iterating to introduce new defenses and vulnerabilities for updates as soon as they are discovered.

#App Developers India #India App Developers #Mobile App Development Company #Mobile App Development Company India #Mobile App Development #Best App Developers #Top App Developers In india

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wildflower8281 · 5 years

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Am I a Gypsy?

Today I sat down at a periwinkle wooden table with lime green cushioney chairs and journaled out how I want my life to look and feel for the next few years. All of the realms of it - feelings, body, home, work, friends, lovers, leisure. I’m currently house & pet sitting in a beautiful home in Scottsdale, with a huge pool, spacious, bright interiors and the sweetest, shaggy dog you’ll ever meet, Murray. It feels like a rather large Airbnb experience to me and has given my mind a place to rest and a bit of a vacay vibe, which is welcome after a few weeks of transition and seeking some new work opportunities.

So here I am: Age 37 and in a place in my life, yet again, where I can totally recreate my world in a new way. I’ve done this a few times already in my life and I look at it as a gift each time, albeit not always arriving when Kelly feels ready, or in the way Kelly thinks it might arrive, but a gift nonetheless - a space in time where I shed a version of myself that is no longer and step into something new, yet at the same time, is still fundamentally me.

(Photo: Current View, #house-sittinglife)

Past and Present

To give some perspective, 10 years ago, Summer 2009, I was halfway into a 4 year stint as a missionary nun in East Harlem, having 5 years of convent life under my belt. I spent a good part of that summer in Guyana, in S. America, living the adventure, sleeping under a mosquito net, driving on the left side of the road and boating down the river to visit remote communities. We organized a girls summer camp, bathed in the river twice a day and slept in tents for 2 weeks. It was pretty awesome honestly. Guyana and Harlem were both vibrant communities, with beautiful people and so many lessons. And yet, that life - as a religious sister - was not one I wanted to live for the rest of mine, so in 2011, I walked and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

(Photo: Bright Lights of Guyana, 2009)

So, when I say I’ve been here before, in this space of recreating my life and who I want to be in this world, I most definitely have been and returning home from the convent was one of those moments. At age 30, I came home from religious life with a few-inches-past-buzzed hair situation, 1 pair of sports pants, a few t-shirts, sneakers and sandals much too worn. For the past 8 years, my identity had been Sister Lumen (and/or Madre Lumen, at least in Harlem)....Now, I had to re-take-up my birth name and being of KellySue...Who the heck is that and what is she like at age 30 out here in this new world where people curse, read magazines and don’t ask permission for things?!

Holy Fucking Shit! (I wrote that honestly prior to realizing the amazing irony of the phrase...needless to say, I’ve come a long way.) Yea, the journey back into ‘the world’ is pretty fantastic actually, even though it’s laced here and there with some tears and fears. Everything from shopping for clothes, applying to jobs, making friends and, gasp, dating is like navigating uncharted waters when you haven’t even really been trained in how to sail. I have an entire post dedicated to “Things They Don’t Tell You When You Leave” here if you’d like to walk through the details: 15 Things They Don't Tell You When You Leave the Convent

So, post-convent I was faced with creating not only a new life in pragmatic ways, but truly a new identity. Or more accurately, finding the original one! So, while I dabbled in teaching and other cool gigs, flitted around with a few cool folks and loved a magical man from Brooklyn, the most important thing I “did” in New Jersey was find KellySue. And it was with that Found-Self that I boarded a 1-way flight to Arizona and knew in my gut the bright, mystical southwest would be my next home, and in many ways my first home - a space and life that I had created from the ground up, from the desires and images in my heart, to the colors that hang on my walls, the geeks and artists I spent my time with and the friends and lovers who have traversed my life here.

(Photo: Essequibo River, Guyana where we camped & bathed for 2 weeks)

And yet today, about 3.5 years into my Phoenix stint, I sit here at this table that

is not mine, before Life Herself yet again. I have moved on from the Art Center, my first landing and family community here (aside from my real family of course,) a place that held me as I grew and challenged me to thrive. I rent The Dollhouse (a fabulous casita snuggled in the backyard of the main house, in the eclectic hood of #Coronado) and love her very much, but have very few possessions - no car, the bike I ride is not mine, no large appliances. I have clothes, a phone and my laptop. I have a great mattress, 1 dresser, 1 couch, 2 pretty teal chairs and a table from #Target. My smaller tables & most art supplies are from my Aunt, my dishes are from #Goodwillphx, as are mostly everything of decorative purpose. I don’t own many books by choice and prefer the #phxpubliclibrary. Even though I’ve curated my space lovingly and it most definitely echoes my vibe of colorful, bright and cozy - none of it is stuff that anchors me in this city. If someone offered me a job or to house-sit for a few months in Spain or Belize or pretty much anywhere new to me, I’d be off in a heartbeat!

(Photo: Unsplash)

That Time on Mt. Washington

So, today I sit here and ask myself, “Kelly, what do you want in your life?” I dedicate 1 page per theme: Feelings, Home, Work, Friends, Leisure, Lover. And I feel and write, imagine and think. And it crosses my mind more than once that not many people have this luxury. Well, I consider it a luxury! Perhaps some would consider it frightening or some other adjective, who knows?! To be 37, no kids, no pets, no house, no partner (3 out of 4 are very intentional...the 4th is seasonal, lol!) To sit at a table and draft & craft some Life up for the next 3-5-10 years or so. To be open to all the opportunities the Universe offers me, to list and discern and choose things I desire, experiences I want, types of people and energy I seek to feel. To me, this is luxury.

But this moment of vision and serenity hasn’t come without some unrest and many months of annoyance! It’s been a long journey to arrive to this table, to my journal, to feeling calm and open to the Universe’s next plans for me. Read on...

This arises in me every few years now, since I’ve been home. I feel like I’ve landed, I settle in, get cozy and then, kinda little by little, but eventually all of the sudden I look around where I am and my eyes grow wide….

I pause, really look around, almost squinting to make sure, like, “No, it can’t be. Not yet. Not already…” That takes a good 3-4 months.

Then, I sigh and look around again, really feel into the energy of the space I’m in in my life and interiorly nod my head, as I think, “Uh-huh, yep...Alli esta….There it is...Ha llegado la hora…..It’s time.” This phase lasts another 1-2 months….

I think on it, ponder it, hold that feeling between my fingers, feel the texture of it and ask Life, “Really?! Again?! Already?!”

And, as I’m examining this situation from all angles in fits and starts, Life leads me (kicks, shoves me) right out the door because It Is fucking time, Kelly!

She ushers me into a brand new space (in all the senses) and opens the Doors of this new space so wide that the bright light actually hurts at first glance…

Like some aching pain, squinting, not seeing quite clearly, some fear, uncertainty, wanting to turn around and run back to where it’s darker, but familiar and I’m good at the stuff back there….

One thing the convent teaches you is humility….for better or worse, ha (#chapteroffaults.) It is a good virtue to possess and it has been a tool I have wielded in these moments in my life many times, a trusty friend if used wisely and, seemingly ironically, with confidence. Because humility allows me to be a novice each time, to be Ever-the-Learner, to be always open to the new. Humility allows me to be ok with not knowing everything, to be ok with being the new girl yet again, to be ok with waking up for weeks on end not knowing where you’re going to land, but trusting that you will, indeed, land, and land amazingly well because that’s what you do! Because ultimately, humility is not just relying on myself. It’s Me & The Universe. It’s trusting the shove out the door and believing the blinding light will one day actually clearly guide your path onto your next adventure and into a fuller version of yourself. Humility is like that time we (the nuns) hiked down Mt. Washington as the sun was setting, lead by only a flashlight, in the dark, wet forest, holding hands and trusting that if the sister in front of you landed her step safely, then the tiny light was all you also only needed to land safely. Humility allows for the one small step at a time, even if you don’t see the end or full picture yet, you know the Universe is showing you what you need in the moment you need it….

Also, Nature Herself is Humble, so there’s that….

Trees thrive where they’re planted.

Flowers are brilliantly radiant, yet silent.

The Ocean ebbs and flows forever without fanfare.

Birds unknowingly bring joy with their songs.

Mountains rise in splendor and ask no glory.

Gypsy Secrets

For someone who left the missionary life proper, who considers herself a homebody and most definitely a lover of the reliable routine, I find it funny that in the grand scheme of things, I actually move through life quite like a #gypsy! I’ve always been someone who leads with simplicity and doesn’t need many material items to feel happy, and I have never set an anchor in a place so deep that it forfeited my freedom to roam - a desire I’m learning is an essential part of my being. It’s a paradox of myself that I find really interesting. I will be the most reliable worker, on top of all my shit, I will work out faithfully and read daily, I eat the same things most days because I like them….and yet, every 4 years or so I will hop on a plane, take of my habit, walk out of a job and just fling myself into the Universe in this kind of radical, unconventional way (‘You’re leaving your job and you don’t have the next one lined up?!’….I’ve done this now 3x in my life quite successfully thankyouverymuch!) only to be explained by a feeling inside of me that I can no longer ignore. Or, more accurately, that no longer lets me ignore it. And so I go, I leave, I move, I reconsider, I recast dreams, I open, I sigh alot...I take that one clear step and then breathe, wondering what the next version of myself and my life will taste and feel like, grateful for the adventure and most importantly, knowing that “home” is not a place, but rather is within me, the liberating secret that every true #gypsy lives by.

#intuition #hiking #exnun #formernun #catholiclife #gypsylife #wanderlust #nomad #anchors #freedom #dwntwnphx #phxlife #nunlife #conventlife #postconvent #catholicnun #formerpriest #girlswhotravel #ponderings

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thirstresponsibly · 6 years

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Loose Ends (2/?)

Pairing: Bucky x Reader

Summary: Y/N thought she had left her past with Hydra behind, just as Bucky did, but when it comes back to haunt her, she is consumed.

A/N: Part two of Loose Ends! I don’t know if anyone is following the story, but I promise I will update more frequently when the semester is over! 😓 (I haven’t seen Infinity War because of finals, so this is clearly assuming those events never happened) The next chapter will be more of a background for the reader/flashbacks. Please feel free to leave comments/feedback/ask to be tagged!

Read Part One

Tag List:

@papi-chulo-bucky @diinofayce

(I edited the post so I can fix the tags - I’m sorry if you got re-mentioned!)

Word Count: 2100 (Ended up being longer than I thought haha)

Warnings: Mentions of violence, like one use of explicit language

Silently, the team took their positions around the perimeter of the Hydra base. The plan was to infiltrate and gather intel, while keeping casualties to a minimum. They were to capture as many operatives as possible, using lethal force only when necessary. Another thing you had to adapt to. Keeping people alive was dangerous in this line of work. Every person spared is just one more loose end.

But you weren’t an assassin anymore; you were an Avenger. And Avengers had a certain reputation to maintain. Killing when necessary is one thing, but parading around as a band of merciless vigilantes is a dangerous potential spiral that inspired the Sokovia Accords in the first place. The armory was stocked with non-lethal weapons to make the transition easier, but you were rather attached to your knives. They were a souvenir from darker times, but you knew how to wield them. The balance, the grip, the weight - the fit was so natural, they may as well have been welded as extensions of your arms. While you weren’t a stranger to firearms, you recognized that there was a certain degree of control that the knives offered that guns never could. You knew exactly how to tread the fine line between a fatal and a crippling blow. You knew exactly how much pressure to apply and which areas to target. Bucky often teased that the semblance between his arm and your knives was the real reason you were attracted to him, but he would be lying if he didn’t admit that he was in awe of someone who could not only match his knife skills, but exceed them.

Even so, you grabbed a handgun from the rack as you stalked down the ramp of the quinjet. Like second nature, you unloaded the chamber, counted the rounds, and reloaded the gun, switching the safety on for now. 15 bullets. Knives were your weapons of choice, but it would be naive to pretend that they could be enough. It was best to prepared.

Just in case.

The team split into pairs, slowly inching towards the base, careful not to attract any attention from the guards patrolling the perimeter. Natasha and Peter were charged with taking out the guards on the north end of the compound. Steve and Wanda took the west end, while Sam and Tony took the east. You and Bucky circled around to the south gate, keeping a steady pace but careful not to arouse any suspicion.

“In position,” Bucky murmurs into his earpiece. As the rest of the team confirmed their positions, you let your eyes sweep the immediate area. You spotted two cameras facing the entrance, just as the intel suggested, and three guards lumbering in close vicinity to the guard tower.

“What do you see, (Y/N)?” Bucky crouches next to you, looking through the scope of his rifle. The serum did away with any real need to have to use his scope, but, like you, Bucky was careful.

“Two cameras. Three on the ground, but there could be more in the tower.”

“Cameras shouldn’t be a problem,” Tony chimed. You could imagine the smug look on his face and smirked. He had been tinkering with a device for the last few days that would knock out both the external cameras and any broadcast system within the base.

“Cameras are down. Take out the guards and wait for everyone to clean up before heading in. It’s better to go in all at once,” Steve cautioned.

“Ready, soldier?” You teased, relishing in the soft smile that crept onto his face. Bucky trailed his eyes across your face, taking in the smallest details of your face. It was his ritual before a fight; he claimed it reminded him of what he wanted to come back to. You stood silently and extended your hand to him, never letting your eyes wander from his.

“Always,” he winked. He took your hand and turned the safety on his rifle off. You reached behind you and drew your knives.

<hr>

Taking out the guards went smoothly. Bucky distracted the three guards, while you slipped into the guard tower. With Tony’s device in place, the commotion outside the compound went undetected and you quickly knocked out the two Hydra operatives you found lingering in the tower. As you finished tying up the unconscious guards, Bucky dragged in his own victims. While you stripped them of their key cards, Bucky fiddled with the security console, bringing up the surveillance footage from within the compound. At this point, the others were ready to move into the compound and waited for Bucky to give the all-clear. Slipping the last key card in your pocket, you hesitated before taking their radio devices apart as well. Just in case.

“From what I’m seeing, most of the compound looks clear. There’s a few stragglers, but it shouldn’t be a problem. Nat should be able to get in easy and retrieve the files while we sweep the building.”

You peered over Bucky’s shoulder and scanned the panel of footage. The agents were armed, but seemed unconcerned. Most of them had their weapons slung across their backs or tucked haphazardly into their belts, choosing instead to keep their hands free.

“They don’t seem to be expecting anything,” I muttered.

“I guess Stark’s device really worked,” Sam said, almost with a reluctant admiration.

“And why would you assume otherwise?” Tony retorted indignantly.

You had been with the Avengers long enough to recognize that the exasperated sigh that managed to penetrate the banter belonged to Steve. Bucky smirked, tongue prodding at the wall of his cheek. Catching the glint of amusement in your eyes, he shook his head and chuckled softly.

“Alright, Cap. Whenever you’re ready,” you relayed, wiping the blood off your blade on an unconscious guard’s uniform.

“Resourceful,” Bucky commented, nodding his head in mock intrigue.

You rolled your eyes, handing him a key card in case you guys got separated. Tightening your grip on your knives, you followed Bucky back outside and crept to the entrance, waiting for Steve’s word.

“Alright, guys. Head in. Remember the plan.”

Thanks to your meticulous planning, navigating the south end of the compound was a breeze. You and Bucky stuck together and tackled one room at a time, careful to keep tabs on the number of hostiles you encountered. Tony’s gadget may have worked, but this wasn’t the time to let your guard down. So far, the mission had gone seamlessly. Aside from the occasional grunts and string of expletives hissed through the earpiece, everything seemed to have gone flawlessly. So much so that you began to get suspicious.

Bucky sensed your anxiety and nudged you gently with his elbow, keeping his rifle aimed ahead. You shook your head, signaling that something felt off. When you looked up at him, you saw his eyes had lost the shine they had back in the guard tower. He felt it too. You were suddenly hyper aware of everything around you. You cringed, hearing the distinct, but slightly muffled sound of your boots padding against the floor.

“Nat. Peter. Where are you guys with the files?” You asked under your breath, wary of your voice reverberating through the compound.

“Still looking. Peter’s clearing out the next room, but I can’t find anything on these computers. There’s nothing on them. Unless anyone’s interested in a quick game of solitaire.”

“That’s impossible,” Wanda said, in between breaths. “We cleared the entire west corridor, there’s nothing here either.

“Stark and I are coming up empty too. None of the guards are giving anything up either. Something’s not right,” Sam cautioned.

“Yeah, we’re getting that too,” Bucky muttered, his deep voice amplifying with the acoustics of the building.

“Hey, guys…” Peter trailed off, leaving the comms to pick up the unmistakable sound of fingers flying over a keyboard.

“What’d you find, kid?” Tony urged. The tension was palpable and the silence loaded with uncertainties. You hadn’t realized you had stopped walking until Bucky beckoned you over to the last door with a slight nod of his head. You let go of the breath you were holding, hoping Peter’s voice would soon fill the insufferable silence.

“Mr. Stark…”

You backed away from the door, nodding at Bucky as you got into position. You bent your knees slightly and shifted your weight onto your right foot, ready to lunge forward.

“Come on, kid. Use your words.”

“I think…”

Gun in one hand, Bucky swiped the key card with the other and pivoted out of the way to let you rush the guards. The doors slid open and you stormed through the opening, only to be met with a rank of of Hydra agents with their weapons directed straight at you.

“I think it’s a trap.”

“(Y/N)!”

Before you could register Bucky’s voice, you felt a flesh arm yank you back into the corridor while a vibranium one deflected a bullet destined to pierce straight through your heart.

“Fuck!”

“(Y/N)??” Wanda yelled, panic seeping through her voice.

“Everyone get out now!” Steve commanded.

With Bucky in tow, you began sprinting through the corridors, navigating the mental blueprints of the building in your mind. You knew every inch of this place, in theory. You knew where every camera was mounted, where every turn would lead. Even now, in the midst of rapid gunfire and frantic yelling in Russian, you could imagine every possible escape route you could take. But this? The ambush? This shouldn’t have happened. This wasn’t part of the plan.

You sheathed your knives, reaching instead for the handgun tucked away in your belt and flipping the safety off. There were too many for you guys to attempt to take on, even with a serum-enhanced soldier at your back. The only option was to follow Steve’s orders and get back to the quinjet. You had 15 rounds. Discretion was no longer an option; you were shooting to kill.

At this point, you could hear the same commotion echoing through the rest of the building. The others were dealing with the same situation and there was no telling how outnumbered they actually were. You and Bucky worked like a well oiled machine, trading off shots as you rounded corners.

Fourteen.

Thirteen.

Twelve. You missed. A waste of a bullet.

Eleven.

Bucky laid down cover fire while you struggled to get the door open. Rifling through the key cards, you swiped one after the other only to be met with a blinding red light mocking you. Hearing the unsettling click of the rifle’s empty clip, you immediately took Bucky’s place, shoving your cards into his hands and buying him time to get the door open.

Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven.

The door whirred as it slid open and Bucky once again called your name. You nodded in acknowledgement and fired off a few more shots before following him into the last stretch of the building. You heard frantic chatter in your earpiece, but it was eclipsed by the ringing in your ears.

Six. Five. Four.

As you slid through the door, Bucky grunted as he smashed the key card console, dragging out the wires, hoping it would deter the stream of hostiles. For good measure, he dragged a desk from one of the rooms and barricaded the door.

Taking a second to catch his breath, he relayed that the quinjet was on standby.

“Nat’s already there and Peter’s helping Steve and Wanda make their way there. They’re just waiting for us, Stark and Wilson.”

“Actually, just you guys now. What’s your status,” Tony inquired.

“Almost out of the building. Bucky’s out of ammo and I only have four shots left.”

“Make them count, kid,” you heard after a brief silence.

“I always d-”

You were interrupted by the sound of Bucky’s makeshift barricade succumbing to Hydra’s soldiers as they slowly funneled in. You and Bucky picked up your pace with you turning around every once in a while to slow the enemy down.

Three. Two.

The next time you turned around, you felt your heart plummet and your legs fail, leaving you trailing behind Bucky. Among the crowd, you caught a man with his sleeves rolled up. A prominent, jagged scar traced his forearm and carved into his elbow. A face from your past, one you never thought you would see again, was staring at you with pure malice and a grin as he savored the effect he had on you. It was him. Someone you should have killed a long time ago. He lowered his gun, but the others rushed forward. You snapped out of your stupor and shot the one closest to you.

Three. No. Two? Two.

Your eyes never once wavered from the man’s as you shot the guy behind him, saving him for last.

One.

Realizing you were no longer paralyzed, his grin faltered. You aimed at his head and pulled the trigger with conviction.

Click.

The shock was plastered across your face, reviving his malicious grin once again as he raised his own rifle.

#bucky x reader #bucky barnes x reader #the winter soldier #bucky barnes #sebastian stan #marvel #bucky #loose ends

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dr-jb · 6 years

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Here’s my first Bechloe fanfic. It’s been a while since I’ve written anything so I’m a bit rusty. Because of that, there’s bound to be mistakes. Be gentle with me, please? Okay, I’m done rambling. Enjoy, nerds!

The room is dark, still, as though she‘s the only one here. But she knows she isn’t. The rest of the Bellas are looking for her, hoping to take a shot at their captain. All of her senses are on high alert as she navigates the iridescent maze in front of her.

Beca wouldn’t be in this situation, or stupid getup for that matter, if it wasn’t for a certain redhead and her need for more team bonding. They literally just got back from the retreat four days ago. How much more bonding do they possibly need?!

Goddamnit, Chloe, Beca thinks to herself, taking a cautious step to her left before ducking down behind a massive pillar. Why laser tag?

The bonding exercise had started out relatively well and, actually, kinda fun. Something that surprised the short brunette.

It’s also something that didn’t last very long.

What was once a 5 vs. 5 battle is now the Bellas vs. Beca. Which is why she now finds herself scared shitless in a corner with bulky laser tag gear on and a whole lotta Bellas closing in on her.

A creak to her right her forces her to spin around, gun raised, eyes frantically searching for their target. But there’s nothing there. More importantly, there’s no one. She takes a steadying breath, attempting to calm her pounding heart.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

She should’ve never agreed to this. But when Chloe has an idea, there’s no stopping her. Especially when she gives Beca the big ‘ol puppy eyes with those baby blues of hers.

She could never say no to Chloe.

Her eyes dart to her left then to her right and back again, watching for any signs of the Bellas. Still nothing. Not a peep.

How are they able to be fucking ghosts now, but they’re loud as all hell at 2 in the morning?! She thinks.

Footsteps and small giggle just to her left grab Beca’s attention. She’d know who that was anywhere.

Chloe.

Her lips curve upwards in a mischievous smirk. The fear she felt just a few seconds ago is gone, vanishing in an instant, and in its place is pure hunger. With a new surge of confidence, Beca leaves the comfort of her hiding spot and steps out into the open. A flash of neon red immediately catches her eye. So she follows it.

The smile never leaves her face as she inches closer and closer to her co-captain. As soon as Beca is in reach of Chloe, she does what any normal person would do during a game of laser tag... she pounces.

“Gotcha!”

Before Chloe can let out a squeal of surprise, she feels the weight of Beca at her back and a hand flies to her mouth, silencing her. Beca flips the redhead around so she faces her, then gently backs Chloe into a small opening, hand still on her mouth.

“Thought you could sneak up on me, huh? Well, give me your best shot, Beale,” Beca says in a low, intimidating voice, face mere inches from Chloe’s. She drops her hand from Chloe’s mouth to her upper arm, and waits for a response.

“Becs, it wasn’t me,” Chloe whispers. “Amy corralled the girls together and pitted them all against us. I’ve been trying to find you.”

“Wait. Are you — You mean I’ve been hiding like a coward this entire time when we could’ve been cowards together?”

Chloe scrunches her face in guilt. “Yeah... Sorry.”

“I’ve been scared out of mind, Chlo! We need to make a plan. Like now.” Chloe nods in agreement. “But what? At this point we’re probably surrounded.”

Beca grumbles a quick “shit” while glancing behind her to make sure they’re still alone. Beca turns back to Chloe, but what sight awaits her makes her stomach drop. Uh oh.

“What are you...?”

A bright red flash and a high-pitched sound come from Beca’s vest. She releases Chloe, mouth open, eyes wide with betrayal.

“You just shot me,” she gasps, looking down at her blinking vest before turning her gaze back up. “I-I don’t... um, what just happened?”

“You just got played!” Chloe cheers, arms raised in the air in victory.

Beca simply stares at the woman before her. “I — wh-what...l,” she stutters, searching for the right words but not finding any.

The smug, yet adorable, redhead before her is beaming. “Consider this payback.“

“Payback?! For what? What’d I’d do?”

With a shit-eating grin on her lips, Chloe takes a few steps forward so she’s now toe-to-toe with the brunette. She doesn’t speak right away, letting the silence wash over them as she sees the realization hit in Beca’s eyes when she figures it out. And it only makes Chloe smile that much more.

“You set all of this up as a way to get back at me for not telling you about the internship? Are you kidding me?!” Beca’s starting to get upset, and a bit pissed off if she’s being honest. “Dude, we literally talked about this less than a week ago. I thought things were cool?”

Chloe nods. “Oh, they are. I just wanted to give you a little taste of your own medicine.”

Beca rolls her eyes and doesn’t say anything as she begins to pace back and forth.

“Are you mad at me?” Chloe asks after what felt like minutes of grueling silence, when, in reality, it had only been like 10 seconds.

When Beca still doesn’t respond, Chloe shortens the distance between the two of them once again and tilts her head to the side to get the pouting woman to look at her.

“Hey,” the redhead says in a soft voice. “Look, I’m sorry I made you feel bad about the internship, and for putting you through all of this laser tag-team bonding stuff. I know it’s not your thing, and I’m sorry.” Chloe takes a deep breath, “Can... can we just call it even?” More silence greets her. “Please? Come on, don’t make me beg.”

When Beca’s blue eyes meet Chloe’s, she rewarded with a pretty adorable sight — Chloe’s got her bottom lip sticking out, eyes wide, in her best pouty face. It makes Beca laugh.

“There it is. There’s that beautiful smile,” Chloe beams, clasping their hands with a single squeeze. “Forgive me?”

Beca nods with a sigh. “Only if you forgive me.”

“Deal!” She then brings her friend into a hug.

Beca smiles into the other woman’s shoulder, not ready to let go just yet. “And hey, thank you for this. It was ridiculous and I will never do it again. But ... thanks. I needed it more than I thought.”

The two pull apart, hands clasped together.

“Great way to relieve stress, huh?”Chloe asks, giving Beca’s hands a squeeze.

“It, uh, definitely helped me forget about the damn internship and worlds. But no. How was any of this not stressful? I’ve been running for my life for the last, oh — 50 minutes, while you and Amy and everybody hunted me down like a friggin’ dog.”

Chloe merely laughs at her friend’s dramatics. “Okay, A) we’ve only been playing for 15 minutes, you big baby. B) the girls all left about 10 minutes ago, so it’s just been the two of us in here. And C) just admit you had fun!”

She gives Beca a poke in the side for good measure. Then continues to do so until Beca caves.

“Okay, okay. If I admit it, what do I get in return?”

It’s meant to be playful and lighthearted, but oh, how the mood quickly shifts.

Chloe smirks, all smug and serious, and it makes Beca immediately regret asking the question. Her heart begins beating faster and louder in her chest as the distance becomes basically non-existent between the two of them.

The air is thick, making it harder for Beca to breathe. She audibly gulps, watching with wide eyes as Chloe takes agonizing step by step until they’re chest-to-chest.

The bulky laser tag gear clanks at the contact, but neither woman is paying any attention to that.

No. Their sole focus is on each other, and more specifically, on each other’s mouths.

Chloe slowly, oh so slowly, brings her face right up to Beca’s, and smirks inwardly as she feels the younger woman tense up. Her mouth is now at Beca’s ear, and the hot air from her breath sends tingles down her spine.

Finally, finally, Chloe talks.

“Oh, Mitchell. I’m not sure you’d be able to handle it if you tried.” Well, fuck, Beca thinks. As soon as Chloe pulls back, Beca’s hands fly up and hold her still. “Wait,” she breathes.

Now it’s Chloe’s turn to freeze.

“Try me,” Beca says, doing her best to keep her voice as level as possible.

It’s all the invitation Chloe needs, and soon, their mouths are pressed together, moving and dancing as they kiss for the first time.

Beca kisses Chloe back with all of the want and lust that’s coursing through her veins. Her hands grip the other woman’s hips in a vice lock, tugging her closer – like that was even possible.

They eventually pull apart, both breathless as they open their eyes and stare at one another in amazement.

Holy shit.

Beca feels her mouth curving upward in a smile that matches Chloe’s. It’s takes her a moment to get her heart rate under control, but then she says, “Okay, I’ll admit that that was fun... I’m still a little iffy on the whole laser tag part though.”

Her comment makes Chloe laugh. “You’re impossible,” she chuckles.

Beca, feeling bold, yanks Chloe back to her and whispers in her ear, “Am I? Why don’t you prove me wrong then, Beale?”

Beca plants a brief kiss on her lips then walks away, leaving a flustered Chloe behind. Only, she doesn’t get very far because her vest suddenly flashes, signaling she’s been shot... again.

Son of a–

Turning in a whirlwind, she finds that Chloe is no longer there. “It’s so on! You’re gonna regret that, Chlo!”

“I highly doubt that!” She hears somewhere in the maze, only to be followed by, “You just gonna stand there, or are you gonna come find me?”

“Oh, I’m gonna do so much more than that,” she calls back, tightly gripping the plastic gun as she sets off in search of the feisty, hot redhead.

Maybe laser tag wasn’t so bad after all...

Annnd there you have it, folks. Like I said before, this was the first time I’ve written a fic in a very long time -- I’m talking years here -- so go easy on me.

Much love, DR-JB

#bechloe #bechloe fanfiction #pitch perfect #beca mitchell #chloe beale #dr-jb #fanfic #laser tag

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kellencclark · 3 years

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Task: Character Playlist Deep Dive

Playlist: Kellen Clark’s Character Playlist

Number of Songs: 15 (as of August 2021)

Length: 1:05:00 (as of August 2021)

Triggers: Child abuse, drug use/addiction, incarceration, death, overdose

Track 1: Hell is for Children- The Relentless (child abuse tw)

Kellen was physically and emotionally abused by his father for the first 16 years of his life. While his mother and siblings also faced Kevin Clark’s wrath, Kellen was the most frequent target. In his father’s eyes, he could never do anything right, and he needed to be punished for it. On top of it, he was also trying to protect his younger brother from facing the same abuse. He was told from a young age that “What happens in this house stays in this house” so he stayed quiet, living in his own personal hell until he was kicked out at age 16.

Track 2: Problem Child- AC/DC

Ever since he was young, Kellen was considered a “problem child.” He had a hot temper, and caused a lot of trouble in school. He was a class clown and showed no respect for authority figures. Teachers hated him, while his classmates had mixed reviews. His teachers all thought he was just an unruly kid, and never considered that he might be lashing out as a means of coping with his unstable home life.

Track 3: Rebels- Call Me Karizma

As Kellen grew older, he only became more rebellious. Once he reached high school, he started hanging out with older kids who had no regard for safety or the law. Many of them also came from unstable homes, so he felt fully seen and heard by them. He felt on top of the world when he was raising hell with his friends. Little did he know that it would all come back to bite him in the ass when he was older.

Track 4: Heroin- The Velvet Underground & Nico (drug use/addiction tw)

Kellen was a sophomore in high school when he tried heroin for the first time. He was addicted from the start, and kept taking more and more hits. He thought that he could fill the void in his heart by getting high and forgetting the world around him. He knew that it wasn’t good for him, but he didn’t seek help. He just kept killing his body more and more while trying to soothe his soul.

Track 5: The Perfect Drug- Nine Inch Nails (drug use/addiction tw)

Heroin became Kellen’s “perfect” way to cope. He didn’t care how it was affecting his mind or his relationship with others. It made him feel better when nothing else could. Additionally, around the same time, he entered into his first relationship with a girl named Cassie Greene. Being with Cassie, both physically and emotionally, also became addictive for him. Without his vices, Kellen’s world would fall apart.

Track 6: Father and Daughter- Paul Simon

On April 3, 2010, Cassie gave birth to a daughter, Kelsie Rose Clark. Kellen and Cassie were juniors in high school at the time, but decided to keep the baby girl and raise her together. Despite being young, Kellen loved being a father. He vowed to never be like his father, and to give his child all of the love in the world. He knew as well as anyone that growing up was hard, but he was going to be there to help his daughter at every turn.

Track 7: Only One- Kanye West & Paul McCartney (incarceration tw)

Kellen’s relationship with Cassie was never a stable one. The two were on-and-off for three years until Kellen was sentenced to six months in jail and Cassie ended things once and for all. At the end of it all, he still had Kelsie. He constantly gives her affirming messages, things that he wished someone had told him as a child. He tells her that she was loved no matter what mistakes she made and that she would grow up to be something special.

Track 8: Don’t Look At Me- POORSTACY (drug use/addiction tw)

Kellen spent his early 20′s in and out of sobriety. As much as he wanted to get clean for his daughter, he couldn’t handle the overwhelming dread that filled him up when he was sober. Withdrawing from heroin made Kellen incredibly antsy and paranoid. He didn’t want to be left alone, but at the same time, he hated people seeing him how he was. This song is an expression of Kellen’s fragile mental state during his periods of sobriety.

Track 9: Delete Forever- Grimes (death tw, overdose tw)

Kellen’s high school best friend, Sidney, was also addicted to heroin. In July 2018, Sidney died from an overdose. This is when Kellen realized how dire the consequences of his actions were. He had been trying to escape the pain of his upbringing for so long that he pushed the risks of drug use to the back of his mind up until this moment. Sidney’s death was what made Kellen decide to give up heroin for good. Not only had it taken his best friend away from him, but it also had the potential to leave Kelsie without a father, a fate he didn’t want to see actualized.

Track 10: don’t worry, you will- lovelytheband

Kellen met Gracie Rothschild shortly after the loss of his best friend. Despite the fact that the couldn’t be more different from one another, the two ended up dating after six months of getting to know each other. The relationship couldn’t have been more perfect in the beginning. For the first time ever, Kellen had some stability in his life. This song reflects Kellen’s fears that Gracie would one day find something she didn’t like about him-- whether it be his criminal record or his past drug use-- and break up with him because of it. Eventually, this proved to be true, but not for the reasons he thought.

Track 11: Daphne Blue- The Band CAMINO

In the end, Kellen’s past caught up with him and Gracie broke up with him after a year and a half of dating. The fact that he hid the truth from her is what put the nail in the coffin for their relationship. Going about his daily life became difficult after the breakup, as he was constantly reminded of Gracie and how he messed up. He hated how much he was constantly reminded of her, and running into her in public only made it worse. He didn’t want to be strangers, he didn’t want to be friends. He wanted-- and still wants-- to be her lover.

Track 12: Someone Saved My Life Tonight- Elton John (overdose tw)

After a six-month period of binge-drinking and smoking, Kellen did what he vowed to never do again: he relapsed on heroin. He purchased the drug from his former dealer after running into him at a bar during a moment of weakness. After two and a half years of not taking the drug, his tolerance wasn’t what it used to be, which resulted in him taking too much and overdosing. In a stroke of luck, his roommate, Vito, came home from a date with his girlfriend and was able to call 911 just in time to save him. After Vito literally saved his life, Kellen realized that if he was ever going to fully heal and live a normal life, he needed to further preserve his life by going to rehab and starting therapy.

Track 13: Not Warriors- Waterparks

After getting out of rehab, Kellen and Gracie started on the path towards repairing their relationship. The process has been a rollercoaster, but the one thing he knows for certain is that he’s still in love with her. As a sober man, his feelings for her only feel stronger. For now, all he can do is show her that he cares and that he wants to make things work.

Track 14: love song- YUNGBLUD

Kellen’s perception of love was warped by the abuse he faced as a child. All he knew of love as a child was that it hurt, physically and emotionally. As he grew older, he found love through his friends, his daughter, and his exes. However, Kellen never learned how to love himself. He tries his best to show affection towards his loved ones, but without loving and caring for himself, he can never really give them 100%. He’s trying to love himself and grow from his mistakes, but he still has a long way to go.

Track 15: Blame- Jesse (drug use/addiction tw)

Staying sober has been difficult for Kellen. Since exiting rehab, he hasn’t touched heroin, marijuana, or alcohol. However, the cravings have still been there. Before his heroin relapse, he was trying to numb his emotions with alcohol and weed. Now, he feels every emotion at full force. He often wonders if staying sober is worth it, but he knows he needs to for his own wellbeing.

#smrp:task

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inge-theron · 3 years

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TOP-TO-TOKYO INSPIRATION

My obsession with Japanese spas and beauty was fostered almost a decade ago, when I discovered the authority on “gourmet bathing”, Leonard Koren, and his 1996 book Undesigning the Bath. This Japanophile US artist and writer’s paean to the understated, understudied, unassuming objects that constitute a great bath ignited my passion for heat and steam – the holy grail being the laidback cousin of the hammam, Japan’s simple onsen. However, on this trip to the country I wanted to dive beyond the well-known Japanese ritual of ofuro: a warm, soothing bath that can take place in an onsen (a mineral-rich natural hot spring) or a sento (public indoor baths). I wanted to experience the lesser-known Japanese beauty rituals and unlock some of the alternative beauty and wellness scene secrets. As I realised during my painstaking research, Tokyo and its subcultures and insider geekery often mean this world is very much out of reach to foreigners. But after months of soft-stalking Japanese beauty bloggers on Instagram, a couple of them responded and I finally found something more than the wabi- sabi aesthetic to write home about.

Day 1

Tk.TktmTokyo is a city of contradictions, as the classic Zen principles of kanso and shibui constantly clash with colourful chaos at every street corner. And in no other district of this vast warren of a city is this more apparent than in Otemachi (pictured below), with its skyscraper skyline located east of the ancient Imperial Palace. It is a really tough choice deciding where to stay, as my inner Spa Junkie is desperate to be immersed in gentler waters. I want to spend my days in a kimono, enveloped in wafts of sandalwood, while lounging on tatami mats and eating sushi. This is not a dream but a reality at the recently opened Hoshinoya, a modern-day ryokan in the heart of the business district. Or do I stay at the super-cool Aman Tokyo – only a couple of blocks away?

Given that I have to work on this trip, I check into the latter. Aman Tokyo comes furnished with all the Japanese design I crave and every mod con I need. Jet-lagged and exhausted, I take a lift to the hotel lobby on the 33rd floor of the 38-storey Otemachi Tower. Aman Tokyo’s urban retreat chic occupies the top six floors, and upon entering its 30m-tall lobby, serene sounds from a koto player synchronise with the dancing rays of sunlight pouring into the soaring 420sq m space. The room features a giant washi-rice- paper lantern and the music gently serenades the guests as they take tea in minimalist splendour. Tk.TktmI retreat directly to the hotel’s stunning and tranquil temple-like 30m pool, where basalt sets the scene.

The giant floor-to-ceiling windows mean each time I finish a lap and draw a breath I look out at the city panorama before me – and a snow-covered Mount Fuji. Tk.Tktm Next I gravitate towards one of the spa rooms (pictured overleaf) to experience an Aman treatment called the Signature Spa Journey. Before it begins, a bento-style box is curated in front of me with each of the ingredients that will be used. And in typical Japanese fashion, presentation is an important part of the experience. The assortment includes a body scrub – containing camphor, known for its deeply calming scent, kuromoji powder and a Japanese clay – that stimulates circulation, boosts the lymphatic system and removes toxins; and a flowering spicewood rice oil that is used in traditional Japanese medicine.

The 150-minute treatment starts with a foot bath with seasonal kampo herbs and mineral sea salt, and is followed by a deep-breathing exercise using kuromoji powder and rice oil, renowned for its relaxing and calming properties. I am given the full-body camphor scrub, then bathed and finally pummelled with a 90-minute combination of shiatsu and western-style elbow-in- the-tight-spot massage. By the time the treatment is over, I am relaxed, rebalanced and truly ready for bed. I switch the kampo-inspired herbal refreshment for a sake nightcap and a deep-cleansing 3D sheet face mask of my own in my room, while I watch the incredible light show that is Tokyo by night.

Day 2

9am – For me, nothing beats the notorious Tokyo jet lag faster than a quick yoga session. I join Yuco, an amazing instructor, back in the spa for an hour of powerful ashtanga.

11am – After lunch I head off to the neighbourhood of Akasaka to meet my otonamaki teacher Mr Ishii at Suitengu Seikotsuin clinic. Otonamaki (pictured top left), which directly translates as “adult wrapping”, is a new underground meditation practice of “rebirthing” that claims to alleviate problems related to posture, stiffness and insomnia. I’m asked to strip down to the bare minimum – which is my stockings – and then Ishii asks me to curl up into a ball, to be the smallest I possibly can. He tucks my shoulders in as my chin presses tightly on my chest and ties the first of many tight knots as he begins to wrap me in a blanket – thankfully made from breathable cloth. It gets kind of kinky as the knots become tighter and tighter and I find myself swaddled from head to toe.

Totally cocooned, I can’t move at all. Although breathing is hard, I’m not in pain as Ishii starts to rock me back and forth. He explains that in a couple of minutes he will invert me, and this is meant to take me back to the moment of birth when I was head down in the womb. The blood rushes to my head as he holds me up by my feet for two minutes, though it feels like 15. Down again and rocking on my back, we start the light therapy part of the session. Ishii places small squares of bright satin cloth over my eyes. The squares are individually coloured – red, blue and green – which makes for a very surreal experience. The red cloth evokes the feeling of sunlight on my tummy, and now everything about this experience seems to fall into place. I’m feeling very relaxed, my breathing slows down and I have the sensation that I’m floating. At the end of the half-hour session, I feel de-stressed, but relieved to be freed.

3pm – Next up, I head into the backstreets of Tokyo’s Azabu district, to a clinic called Harieq Azabu, run by Mari Okamoto. She’s one of Tokyo’s top facial acupuncturists and has agreed to let me experience her facial lifting and sculpting treatment called electric facial acupuncture. The session starts with body-detoxing acupuncture (pictured on opening page), and things get heated when Okamoto begins the okyu or moxibustion, in which a mugwort extract is lit and burnt close to the needles, heating them and filling the room with a thick, cannabis-like smoke. Moxibustion is a regular feature of Japanese acupuncture and is intended to elevate blood cell levels (especially those of white blood cells) by stimulating the immune system with a small amount of heat directly applied to the body’s acupuncture points. Okamoto also places eight cupping glasses (pictured top left) from my shoulders all down my spine – a localised detoxing therapy that uses special cups that suction the skin for a few minutes.

It really hurts – and leaves me with huge circular blue bruises for a week. I’m feeling woozy when she turns me over for my facelift treatment. About 40 needles are placed carefully into my face – along my jawline, hairline, deep nasolabial lines and brows, with one slap bang in the middle of my third eye, which is riddled with tiny fine lines. Next, Okamoto attaches a microcurrent to each of the needles: my face feels like it is being electrocuted. My muscles start twitching wildly as she keeps turning up the current to get even deeper into my tissue. It’s no fun at all. I grit my teeth and think of all the sake I’ll have later. Okamoto explains, “Facial acupuncture targets ageing from within. The needles stimulate the derma, encouraging collagen production and skin cell regeneration. It also helps with wrinkles, fine lines and saggy jowls.” After 20 minutes, I can feel the muscle fatigue in my face and the results are undeniable. My brows are a good half an inch higher and I look like the millennial me from my past.

Day 3

10am – Because Japanese beauty is the new Korean beauty, a trip to Tokyo is not complete without a morning buying its prized products. I’ve been sent a list of places to visit from Alisa, one of my Instagram contacts (@tokyobeautybook), and pop into First Avenue Tokyo Station; Ainz & Tulpe, a two-floor beauty megastore; Matsumoto Kiyoshi, one of the biggest drugstore chains; and Cosme Kitchen for natural skincare. On my shopping spree I stock up on LuLuLun masks (these masks are available in day and night formulas and are so nourishing. I always see an instant lift and plump whenever I use them), Kanebo Clear Enzyme Cleansing Powder (which leaves my skin incredibly soft and smooth) and the obligatory jumbo-sized SK-II Facial Treatment Essence (most SK-II products contain Pitera – a natural byproduct of yeast fermentation believed to keep wrinkles at bay. It’s a classic beauty staple and catapulted Japanese beauty into my life. It leaves my skin hydrated and the tone really bright). I also buy a stack of Rohto’s eye-whitening drops. They’re truly redemption in a bottle. I have to buy an extra suitcase to bring my beauty products back home with me.

2pm – Thanks to another Instagram recommendation, I find myself back in the alleys of Akasaka at beauty parlour Spa Hinoki, this time for a 160-minute anti- ageing facial that comes with a carbon dioxide head and scalp treatment. I am led up a steep flight of stairs and into another world of dim lighting, dark cherrywood floors and rice-paper doors. I am miffed I’m not offered a kimono to round off this authentic experience. My therapist reads a few words of broken English from a piece of paper. I’m told to lie down and relax. However, with most Japanese facials you will not simply find a bed but a bed with a basin, as scalp and face are intrinsically linked in Japanese beauty regimes.

I have no desire to get my hair washed, but eventually I give in and go with the flow. It feels like extremely fizzy club soda is being poured and worked vigorously all over my hair. The Japanese include scalp care in their weekly routine to deter any “scalp odour”, and it’s believed the bubbles help to clean deeply, promote blood flow and alleviate hair loss. After the hairwashing, a microcurrent machine is up next, which feels like a family of centipedes gathering for Sunday lunch on my head. Then my feet are massaged and eight small pebble-like hot stones are placed between my toes to stimulate key pressure points. But now it’s time for my face massage. I am in heaven for the next hour, as my therapist’s slow and rhythmic hand movements excite and delight my forgotten face muscles. Finally, a mask is applied – a mask finishes off every Japanese beauty ritual – and I leave positively lifted and glowing. I wish I could take my beauty therapist back to London in my luggage.

The Bottom Line

My three days delving into Tokyo’s alternative beauty scene barely scratched the surface of a culture that seamlessly marries authenticity, perfectionism, innovation and ritual. Nevertheless, my overwhelming impression was that beauty treatments in Japan are performed like a perfectly choreographed dance. I arrived with high expectations and was not disappointed by the originality and effectiveness of the treatments. As I boarded the plane home, relaxed and rebalanced, my taster of this esoteric beauty scene had supercharged my passion for all things Japanese spa and beauty related.

#toptotokyo skincare japanesespa spajunkie blog

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