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fragilefable · 4 months

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nobody's son, nobody's daughter.

Pairing: Joel Miller x Fem!Reader Rating: Mature (18+ minors DNI) Summary: When you and Joel get separated the night of the outbreak, you spend the next decade searching for him. Just when you've given up— a miracle occurs. Warnings: heavy angst, canon typical violence, character death (sarah), discussions of grief, very brief mention of suicidal ideation, alcohol used to cope, depression, suggestive language, lovers reunited, hurt/comfort, happy ending.

Word Count: 6.6k Currently Playing: Chemtrails Over the Country Club by Lana Del Rey ♪

A/N: This piece has been months in the making, hours of rereading and rewriting. This is my love child. I'm possibly (definitely) planning a part 2 with smut... ;) I am a full-time college student who unfortunately has other responsibilities, so please be patient with me. My first lengthy piece in a while, so please be kind & enjoy my doves!

Sleep was the most convenient temporary escape available in the post-cordyceps world. Oftentimes, if you were lucky enough, with sleep came dreams—glimpses of a divine, utopian life. One without spores or fungi of any kind. There was, however, always the chance that with it came nightmares—Polaroids of the past, the uprising of the infection. Mothers clutching bloodied children, decaying men ripping open flesh with their savage teeth, and, worst of all— losing Joel Miller.

Joel was... everything—neighbor, friend, lover. Joel hated that word— laughed every time it managed to escape your lips in a hushed whisper, but that was what you were to each other. It transcended explanation. You'd moved to Austin after college in hopes of starting over, a clean slate. Instead, you'd stumbled upon a single father and his then 11-year-old daughter. You fit into their life like the missing puzzle piece— you completed them. Sarah needed a motherly presence in her life. There was only so much Joel could do for the blossoming young woman.

And Joel— Joel never knew what he was missing until you came along. Someone to be able to rely on, to love unconditionally, a fixed constant. To say he fell head over heels was an understatement, but it became so much more than physical attraction. It became something far more profound and terrifying— love. The kind of love only poets write about. It was fierce, at times agonizing. That's what made losing him all the more heartbreaking.

You were with Sarah the night of the outbreak— Joel's birthday. Lounging around in plaid pajamas, waiting for Joel to get home from work. Despite being exhausted, Sarah was beaming with pride over her birthday present for her dad— his broken wristwatch now repaired and refurbished. You smiled mischievously, "And just where did you get the money to fix this, young lady?" Sarah grinned slyly, "Just lyin' around, it's not like he noticed it was missin'!" Hours passed, you and Sarah slumped against the couch: Fast asleep, soft snores escaping mouths, drool dribbling down chins.

The sight made Joel's heart quaver in his chest. Kicking off his muddied work boots, he carefully plopped down in between the two sleeping figures, planting a gentle kiss on the crown of your head. "Hmm. You're home," you stirred awake, drowsy eyes met with a welcome sight: Weathered tan skin and dark chocolate curls. "Hey, Darlin'. You outta head up to bed. I'll be up soon." You nodded faintly, planting a chaste kiss on Sarah's forehead: "Goodnight, sweet girl."

You fell fast asleep as soon as your body hit Joel's mattress, his scent engulfing you like a blanket of safety— a shield of sorts. The vague smell of sawdust and pine soap conquered your senses, a heavenly combination. An hour later, you felt the bed dip down, strong arms circling your waist.

Frantic hands shook you awake, calling your name weakly: "I can't find Dad. N' somethin' weird is goin' on outside." You sat up, Sarah's urgency pulling you from your hazy half-asleep state. "Don't worry, sweetheart, I'll call him. Go back to bed." Sarah ignored your suggestion and sat beside you as you reached for the landline. The call went to voicemail without hesitation: "Huh... That's weird."

Sarah grew more anxious by the second, "I'm gonna go check the driveway for his truck." Sarah shot up from the bed, feet pattering down the stairs. "Sarah! Wait, I'll come with-" Throwing on your Converse, you hastily ran out after her. Your tired eyes scanned the pavement but found no signs of Sarah or Joel's truck. The Adler's door was wide open; you huffed: "Sarah?"

The Adler's house was pitch black and eerily quiet, the family's dog nowhere to be seen: "Sarah? This is trespassing!" Tiptoeing through the living room, you halted at the sight of a ruby trail— blood. Grotesque, wet noises filled the previously silent house: "Sarah?" The teen bolted out of the kitchen, grabbing your hand and pulling you towards the front door: "Run!" Mrs. Adler scrambled after Sarah, mouth dribbling crimson liquid, no longer bound to her wheelchair.

"What the fuck–" Sarah's grip on your hand tightened as you passed through the door and stumbled onto the pavement. A pair of familiar brown eyes scanned Sarah's figure and then yours: "Sarah? Darlin'? Are ya'll ok-" Joel's words were cut off when Mrs. Adler dashed through the front door, her figure lunging for you.

Joel struck the side of her head with a wrench as you made a feeble attempt to crawl away. His strikes were lethal, and yet the elder kept thrashing against the ground. "Joel, stop!" Only then did you notice Tommy, Joel's younger brother, behind you, coaxing Sarah into the truck.

Joel exhausted Mrs. Adler with one final swing, dropping the bloodied wrench beside him and wiping his shaky hands on his jeans. His gaze softened when he saw your timid frame— shaking and unmoving. "Darlin'... Baby, are you okay?" His hands found your shoulders, rubbing soothing circles on a patch of exposed skin. You hesitated; Joel had just killed Mrs. Adler in cold blood— but she tried to kill you and Sarah first.

Joel hurriedly hoisted you to your feet, "We gotta go, okay baby? It's not safe here." You clambered into the backseat beside Sarah, the girl's arms thrown around you tightly. Kissing the crown of her head, you reassured her: "It's okay, sweetheart, everything's okay."

Neighbors began to exit their homes, baffled and disturbed by the sight of Mrs. Adler's bloody, lifeless body lying in the yard. Someone called out for Joel. He immediately instructed her to go back inside and lock the doors. Tommy beckoned Joel into the car, exiting the culdesac and taking off towards the highway. After a fleeting moment, you mustered up the courage to ask, "Joel, what's going on?" Tommy replied, "They're sayin' it's a virus- some kinda parasite." Sarah spoke up, tears forming, "Are we sick?" Joel shot the idea down immediately.

Tommy and Joel continued bickering, your eyes glued to the road ahead: "Joel! Look- It's Jimmy's place." The two-story farmhouse was completely engulfed in flames, unrecognizable. Your hands clung to Sarah, burrowing her head into your neck: "It's okay, sweet girl." Police sirens rang out through the darkness, interrupted by soft pleas for help. A family was stranded on the side of the road, begging for aid. Tommy began to slow the car. "What're you doin'?" Joel firmly questioned. Tommy shot back, "Got a kid, Joel."

"So do we. Keep drivin'," Joel spat. Tommy sped back up, eyes searching Joel's for an explanation: "Somebody else will come along." As Tommy approached the interstate, the sounds of disgruntled drivers grew louder: "Fuck! Everybody had the same fuckin' idea. I can't get through this." Joel gripped the dashboard, "All right, all right. Let's think it through," he paused for a moment, "All right, take the field! We cut across, and we pick up on the west side." Tommy steered right, the truck jerking on the uneven terrain. As he drove over the hill, helicopters and tanks came into view, "Shit. Fuckin' army."

Sarah peered out from behind the seat, "Isn't that good?" Your voice was filled with hesitation, "That's the highway we need to get to." Joel and Tommy argued, eventually continuing toward a town just east of the highway. Sarah stilled, "Maybe it's everywhere. Maybe there's nowhere to go." A booming roar erupted, Tommy twisting his body to get a better look at the night sky: "What the fuck?!" Commercial airplanes flew overhead, merely hundreds of feet above the ground. You instinctively covered Sarah's ears with your hands, eyes wrenching shut at the deafening rumble of their engines. Tommy swerved to avoid a police blockade ahead, turning into a nearby alleyway.

The streets were flooded with screaming civilians, running in every direction— no one sure who exactly they were running from. A hoard of people fled from inside a movie theater, causing Tommy to shift the truck's gear into reverse. "Dad?" Sarah called out, "Dad!" Joel turned; an airplane was rapidly descending— heading straight towards town, "Shit. Move!" As the plane made contact with the ground, a mushroom cloud of fire and smoke bloomed, causing Tommy to lose control of the truck.

A strong hand shook your leg, "Darlin'? Stay right there, don't move." Your side ached, cool liquid flowing from your head. Beside you, Sarah quickly came to, her eyes shifting to the figure hunched outside of the flipped car, clawing at the corpse of an older man. "Sarah, baby, don't look. C'mere, put your arms around me." As Joel carefully unearthed Sarah from the mangled truck, you climbed out of the shattered window: Hissing as you shifted against your arm. Sarah tried to put weight on her leg, provoking muffled whimpers and cries at the attempt. Tommy, equipped with his shotgun, called out, "We gotta get off the street!"

As you approached Joel and Sarah, a flaming police car crashed into the capsized truck, separating the three of you from Tommy. Tommy roared from the other side of the wreck: "Meet at the river! I'll find a way." Joel turned to Sarah, "Can you run?" She shook her head wearily. He scooped her into his arms, "Keep your eyes on me." Joel shifted towards you, "No matter what, you keep runnin'. Alright, darlin'? Promise me." You hesitated, desperate eyes meeting his, "I promise."

The three of you stumbled through the alley until you came across a cluster of bodies scattered across the pavement, crouched figures grunting over the lifeless figures. The end of the passage was clear. The only problem was getting past the rotted creatures without being noticed. There was no way Joel could outrun them in his condition. One of the creatures shot up at the sound of a remote blast, eyes landing on Joel. His voice was firm, "Go." You grabbed his arm, "Joel!" He repeated his command, louder— frantic: "You can't carry Sarah w'that arm. Go find Tommy. We'll meet you there."

You pressed a hurried kiss to Sarah's head, the deranged man scrambling to his feet before you could embrace Joel. You took off towards the other end of the alley, Joel and Sarah barricading themselves inside the vacant diner across from the pile of carcasses. Your body throbbed with every step, head burning with the fire of a thousand suns. Your feet carried you across town, weaving in and out of injured civilians and infected until you reached the river. The stream was pitch black, sounds of gunfire and cries rang out in the distance.

Suddenly, a bright light blinded you: "Put your hands where I can see 'em!" You obeyed, raising them as high as your injured arm would allow. Your voice raw with distress, "M'not sick! Just trying to find my family!" The man stepped closer, seemingly inspecting your physical state. He was clad in military gear, "You hurt?" You shook your head eagerly: "Just a sprained arm." He nodded his head, "Alright. We've got buses that can take you to a decontamination zone."

Your head scanned the vast field, eyes scouring for any sign of Joel or Tommy: "I- I can't. I'm supposed to meet someone here. At the river." The soldier looked dissatisfied and slowly lifted his gun, "The river goes on for miles. S'not safe out here." Your eyebrows threaded together in confusion, "What- are you- are you gonna shoot me?" The soldier's grasp on his automatic rifle tightened, "I'm sayin' you have two choices. You can either come with me or you can-"

A guttural scream sounded from behind him. But before he could turn around, a pair of arms seized his neck and began ripping into his military garb. The soldier flailed wildly at his attacker. While he was busy fighting off the deranged beast, you took off into the darkness, wandering aimlessly and calling out for your family. That night was the last time you saw Joel Miller.

16 Years Later

The bitter winter air overwhelmed your senses until you were gasping for air, limbs numb and cold to the touch. You wouldn't make it much longer without shelter, without warmth. You'd spent the better part of the last 16 years searching for him— for Joel. Ever since that night, you'd scoured every independent civilization, every QZ, within mobs of infected. Each night, you silently prayed never to find him like that— skin pallid and overcome with fungus, head split wide open, cordyceps blooming from within.

You'd trekked across the country with the sole intent of finding him alive and healthy. The journey was brutal— raiders and infected desperate for blood. But by far, the hardest battle was pushing away the nagging thought that, even if Joel and Sarah were somehow alive, you'd never find them. Now, after nearly two decades of searching, you were reaching the end of your journey. You'd officially trekked across the entire nation. If your estimations were correct, you were nearing Wyoming— hence the formidable cold front.

You'd heard rumors about a small civilization located somewhere on the skirts of Jackson County— your last stop. You knew the chances were slim; that feeling only fortified with each city, each civilian who hadn't heard of or seen anyone by the name of "Joel Miller." But you kept searching— because the day that you stopped would be the day you lost everything, lost yourself. It was as though he held onto you with a leash. If you tugged hard enough, could you finally break free? What else did you have to live for? Maybe one day you'd have some sort of epiphany, something to make sense of all the death and suffering. For now, Joel kept your hope alive— the hope that there was happiness and safety beyond all of the pain. The very thought of him kept you alive.

You stood in front of thick and rusted iron gates, your posture crooked due to exhaustion— Just one more stop. The sounds of cocking guns drew your attention to the top of the gates. A young man and woman stand there, rifles pointed at you: "Drop your weapon! Let us see your hands!" You obey. This is standard practice amongst civilizations— you'd done it a thousand times by now. Unsheathing and kicking away your pistol, you then throw your backpack towards the gate. Hands raised next to your head. Your voice wavers as you half-shout, "I'm not infected! Just looking for someone!"

The woman searched your face for a bit, presumably looking for any signs of deceit. She nodded towards her companion, the corroded metal walls unfolding. Two men approached you and picked up your discarded belongings. The younger of the two roughly patted you down and checked for bite marks. When they were satisfied, they led you past the gates into the town square. The village was pleasant, a handful of people milling about in the slushy streets.

A familiar voice erupts from behind you: "Please excuse the initial hostility. We need to be careful about who we let in... I'm Maria." She extends her hand. You accept it gingerly and introduce yourself. "Welcome to Jackson. You must be freezing. Come on, we'll talk inside." — Maria leads you inside a small building, the exterior reminding you of the Lincoln Logs you used to play with as a child. The inside is... quaint. A lone desk sits near the lit fireplace. Maria leans against the desk and motions for you to take a seat: "So... You're lookin' for someone. And you have reason to believe they're here?"

You sigh, allowing your aching body to relax against the couch's plush cushions: "No... I am looking for someone, but... Well, this is my last stop." Maria nods sympathetically, tucking a lone braid behind her ear— "I get it. You've been looking for a long time. It's about time to stop. To rest." You can't help the tears that form on your waterline. Your gaze shifts to your lap. Maria continues, "Who are you lookin' for?"

You swallow the fist-sized lump in your throat, "Joel. Joel Miller." Your attention snaps towards her as a wistful sigh escapes her lips. A tight frown dawns on Maria's face, "I'm sorry. There's no Joel Miller here." You nod; you knew it was a long shot, but hearing it aloud was something different entirely. You rise from the couch, "Thank you. I apologize for takin' up your time." Maria speaks up before you can reach the door: "Now what? You got a place to stay?"

You honestly hadn't thought that far, about life beyond looking. For years, finding Joel was your only purpose— your rationale for remaining on this infested hellscape. You had no home, no roots. Maria's voice interrupts your thoughts, "There's room here. We've got food and water— shelter. Hell, we're even working on electricity." You turn to face her. Her words dripping with verity, "Jackson could be your home."

Despite having just met her, Maria's words touched something buried deep within you— hope. Hopeful of a new life, of new beginnings. You forged a small smile, "Okay." Maria smiled, but it was much different from yours: It was toothy, genuine— "Alright. I'll give you the grand tour then." For the next hour or so, Maria marched you around town. She showed you the vast dining hall laden with maple furniture. The stables filled with mare and their young.

Then she showed you the schoolhouse. It was a small brick building. The walls were filled with colorful crayon drawings. Tiny handprints were pressed onto the wall in various colors of acrylic paint. The dulcet sounds of innocent laughter erupted from every corner of the room. Children from the ages of 5-12 were scattered around: Some doing arts and crafts, some reading, and others playing with worn toys. A tear slipped down your cheek. You brushed it away quickly before Maria could notice.

You couldn't help but think of Sarah. About the first time she knocked on your door— she was selling chocolate bars for some fundraiser at school. Her bronze complexion dappled with freckles, and her wide smile revealed a missing tooth. She was eleven at the time, eyes bright and full of wonder. Blind to the atrocities that loomed at every turn. Sometimes, you'd think about what she looked like now— did her curls still rest atop her shoulders? Did she still laugh until she was panting for air? She's thirty now... Has she fallen in love? That was considering she is still...

You didn't entertain the thought. Sarah was fine, alive somewhere with her father to look after her. Maria's touch pulls you from your thoughts, "How about I show you where you'll be living? Get you settled in." As Maria exited the schoolhouse, you stole one last glance at the room. A little girl met your gaze. Her dark curls were pulled into two ponytails. Her burnt mahogany eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled, raising her tiny hand and waving it at you. You returned the sentiment, this time allowing the tear to fall down and onto the ground.

Maria escorted you just outside of town, to a street lined with country-style two-story houses in relatively good condition. "This one here, the green one. It's already furnished. I'll have one of my guys come by later with some essentials from the pantry. Otherwise, you should be all set 'til tomorrow." Your eyes bore into the house. It was nice, but also... "It's big," you retort, "Don't know what I could possibly need all those rooms for." Maria lays the silver key in your hand, "You never know."

You internally cringe at the connotation. Start over with some man? Have a big family and a white picket fence? You couldn't. It wouldn't be the same. You let out a shaky breath, "Thank you, Maria." She nods, "Come see me tomorrow, and we'll talk about where to go from here. Everyone in Jackson has a job, a role to play. Rest up... You deserve it." She departs, leaving just you and your great, big, empty house.

3 Years Later

Jackson developed rapidly under Maria's supervision. The population rose from 50 to roughly 300 in just under three years. Jackson now had electricity, thanks to the Jackson County Hydroelectric Dam that Maria's team was able to get up and running. You'd become the head of patrol— in charge of organizing the schedules and determining the routes. You and Maria had become very close, practically family. She's the person who understood you, what you've been through.

In an attempt to busy yourself and earn your keep, you'd thrown yourself into working alongside her. Not just with patrols but also with community relations and development. You'd completely reconstructed the greenhouse, built a jailhouse— that, luckily, wasn't used much— and helped fortify Jackson's defenses. Maria assigned you the title "community leader," but you much preferred what everyone else called you: "Maria's right hand."

Your house was still too big, but now it felt homier— lived in. The walls were plastered with botanical paintings you'd found while out on patrol, vases of fresh cut flowers from the community garden placed upon every surface. Cable knit blankets were draped over the shabby leather furniture, the brick fireplace emanating warmth and bringing solace during the cold winter months. You'd even taken up baking in your spare time, frequently bringing baked goods to the schoolhouse.

Nevertheless, when the sun set and the sounds of bustling downtown Jackson faded, your thoughts always returned to Joel. His bronze skin, tousled brown curls, and perfectly plump lips. Suddenly, it felt as though the house was mocking you, and the right side of the bed always grew colder. Perhaps it's why you worked yourself so hard; taking a day off was seldom. You couldn't escape the persistent feeling that Joel and Sarah weren't alive. That you'd failed to find them time and time again because somewhere, they were six feet under, buried in an unmarked grave. All it takes is one moment— one lapse between heartbeats— and suddenly, everything has changed.

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The spring air was crisp with morning dew. A gentle breeze slipped through the cracked bay window. Three heavy thuds woke you— the sharp knocks cutting through serene silence. Your voice was raspy with sleep, "Coming!" You quickly pulled on the worn terrycloth robe that hung from the bedpost and stumbled downstairs. You swung the door open to reveal Stanley, a young man who worked in construction: "I'm so sorry to wake you, but Maria sent me to get you. She said it's urgent."

You sighed deeply, rubbing the remaining exhaustion from your face: "Urgent like, 'don't get dressed' urgent?" Stanley's eyes roamed across the dark fabric of your robe before snapping back to your face. His cheeks bright pink, "Oh, um... no! Just meet her in her office ASAP." Sending him off with a nod, you traipsed upstairs and threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt before making your way downtown. It was early morning, the streets empty save the early risers milling about, getting ready for work. As you passed a group of older women sipping hot beverages, you overheard whispers of "an outsider." As Maria's righthand, you were expected to greet all incoming arrivals. How on earth that could constitute a crisis, you did not know.

As you approached Maria's office, the woman in question exited swiftly, shutting the door behind her. You grew closer, taking note of her fidgeting hands. She was... nervous? "Good morning, Mar. What's the emergency?" Maria's face was sullen. You'd never seen her like this, not in the three years you'd known her. Your hands clenched at your sides, "Maria? What is it?"

She took a deep breath, "This may be a false alarm, but... This guy's last name is Miller. Says he's originally from Texas." Her words stole the air from your lungs, a pit forming in the bottom of your stomach. She said something else, but all you could hear was buzzing. Your vision blurred, the dark-skinned woman's features coming in and out of focus. Could it be him—had Joel finally found you?

Maria called your name, pulling you from your trance. As your vision focused, you pushed past her. Your grip on the doorknob was bone-crushing, your knuckles turning white from the tension. You inhaled— don't get your hopes up. It might not be him. You exhaled, pushing the door open with a startling amount of force. You analyzed the man's figure, you recognized him— only it wasn't Joel. It wasn't the Miller whose calloused hands once traveled the expanse of your body, making note of each hidden crevice as though it may hold treasure. Whose lips once seared white hot kisses in the places he knew were the most sensitive— "Tommy?"

He looked dumbstruck, his lips parted in shock. Before you could stop yourself, you threw your arms around his neck. It took him a moment to reciprocate your embrace, but once he did, his arms anchored you in place. He spoke your name quietly against the crown of your head: "I can't... I can't believe it." You pulled away, "I hardly can either." His hands rested atop your shoulders as his eyes searched your face in disbelief. His resemblance to his older brother felt like a gut punch. You were afraid to ask— fearful of the truth: "Joel? Is he..."

Tommy's hand squeezed your shoulder in reassurance, "He's alive. Last I checked, holed up somewhere in the Boston QZ." A warm tear slipped down your face, the salty liquid resting just below your chin. You'd checked Boston QZ, but recent "terrorist" attacks had made it impossible to stay longer than an hour without drawing the attention of every FEDRA soldier in that godforsaken city. Your hands trembled as you clutched your chest, "And Sarah? How's my sweet girl?"

Tommy's face went cold— No. No. She can't— "She's gone." The taste of bile rose in your throat, "Wh-when?" Tommy removed his hands from your shoulders, "That night. Shot by some military fucker. She..." He hesitated, "Joel held her. It happened s'fast." Your kneels buckled, threatening to send you towards the ground. You fucked up— you let yourself get accustomed to the idea of her being alive. Repeated it over and over again until you believed it to be true. This was all your fault.

Your shoulders shook silently, as if you were crying— but no tears emerged, "I have to… I have to find Joel." Turning toward the door, Tommy caught you by your wrist: "I can't let you do that, hon. It's a damn death sentence." You tugged at your arm, desperate to break free from the restraint: "Let go of me, Tommy. I'm doin' this." Maria stepped forward, her hand resting at the base of your neck— "No, you're not. Jackson needs you here. I need you here."

Your breathing became labored. Deep down, you knew they were right— you were in no shape to travel across the country again. You'd barely survived it the first time. Chest heaving, your free hand found purchase on your throat, tightly grasping and constricting the airway. Tommy wearily let go of your wrist, his eyes wide and filled with fear. You ran for the door; you could hear Tommy call out for you as you fled homeward. Sarah was gone. Joel was alone.

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Days passed, and despite everything, the sun rose in the morning and the moon at night. You weren't quite sure how long it had been. You'd stopped counting daybreak after the first five came and went. Maria checked in after the first couple of days, worried that you hadn't been seen around town— or leaving your house, for that matter. Your grief was debilitating, all-consuming. You couldn't eat, could barely sleep, only finding relief at the bottom of a liquor bottle. You were tired… The kind of tired that sleep didn't fix.

Tommy came once. Sat and talked while you stared straight ahead at the empty wall. He could sense your anger, your resentment. How could he not? You silently judged him for leaving Joel, leaving his brother after his only daughter died in his arms. Tommy told you that Joel had changed. He wasn't the Joel you fell in love with; he'd done terrible things— But so had you. You'd killed innocent people, people who were just trying to protect themselves. And you did it in the name of finding Joel and Sarah, of surviving for them. You'd convinced yourself it was kill or be killed, and you had to live with that. Come judgment day, you'd pay greatly for your sins. You accepted that, too.

You only dared to look at Tommy's face once. You saw Joel in his eyes— you saw Sarah. Maybe if you hadn't left Joel in that alleyway, she'd still be alive. You could've protected her, taken the bullet for her. You would have, without hesitation. You'd cross the fiery pits of hell for her, reside in Caina, and be tortured for eternity. You may not have given birth to her, but Sarah was your daughter.

If you closed your eyes hard enough, you could faintly picture her smile. The dimples that formed just below her bottom lip. You could smell the faint aroma of her strawberry shampoo. Hear the broken remnants of her grandiose laughter. You swore to keep those memories someplace safe. Take them out and remember when you needed to, as if they were photographs.

A part of you wanted to be happy that she didn't suffer. She was too innocent for this new, heartless world. She was everything good in life. She was sunshine, sugary syrup, and pure, unadulterated love. But you could not accept this bright side. Not when it meant a life without her in it. Innocence is beautiful, but life is for living.

Tommy stood up, slipping a piece of paper on the nightstand. You cautiously turned it over to reveal a creased photo: You, Joel, and Sarah posing after winning one of her soccer games. You stole one last glance at Tommy. This time, he did not see blinding hatred in your gaze. Instead, he saw gratitude. As your glassy eyes bore into him, he nodded knowingly and left.

Maria came a couple of hours later with leftovers from the dining hall. Setting them on the counter next to the empty whiskey bottles displayed like pathetic trophies. You were in the same position as when Tommy left. You held the photo in your hands, thumbs stroking its frayed edges. Maria quietly dragged a chair closer to the bed, sitting just within arm's reach: "I went to a really dark place after I lost Kevin."

Tearing your gaze from the picture, one of her hands finds yours: "He made life worth living… It took me a long time to start to feel human again. To feel something other than pain and sorrow. The grief never goes away. But slowly, it starts to feel less like loss, and more like love." She inhaled shakily, "I know what you're feeling right now. I know why you're drowning your sorrows in that shit, trying to drink yourself to death." A tear slips down your face, her hand squeezing yours gently: "But you have to understand… What you're feeling right now, that's love. You're not a bad person for how you try to kill your sadness. But it's not gonna work."

You're unable to contain the choked sob that escapes your throat. The tears come harshly, scorching saline against your skin. Maria shifts her weight from the chair onto the bed, holding your shaking frame: "It's okay… Let it out." Her hands cradle your head, smoothing over your disheveled hair. "It's all my fault," you gasp between sobs, "I never should've left them. It's all my fault." Maria shushes you, "No, honey. You don't really believe that. You want someone to blame, but you're not that person."

Eventually, the tears cease. Your breathing evened out as Maria held you, "I miss Joel, so fucking much." You could feel Maria nod tenderly, "I know Honey." A lone tear slipped down your cheek, "Do you think— do you think he'll find me?" Maria pulled away, her chestnut eyes meeting yours, "Truthfully, I don't know." With a deep sigh, she squeezed your hand— "But I know he wouldn't want you to live like this. Isolating yourself from everyone else. You're allowed to grieve, but please don't shut me out. You're my person." You clutch her hands, squeezing firmly: "Even at my worst?" Her arms curled around your torso once again, "Even at your worst."

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The warmer seasons passed with haste. A wintertide blanket of white gradually covered Jackson. Day by day, Maria and Tommy were able to pull you out of your depressive stupor. You had to admit, they made quite the team. Maria was ultimately right, Joel wouldn't want you to spend the rest of your life a bedridden drunkard. But still, life without him was arduous. There wasn't a day that passed that you didn't think of Joel Miller. About where he was, what he was doing, who he was with, and whether he missed you as terribly as you did him.

As much as you wished to focus on these melancholic thoughts, new developments began to bloom in Jackson. Tommy and Maria's blossoming love was hard to ignore and impossible to disapprove of. Watching two people whom you adored fall in love, it felt as though nothing had changed: No cordyceps, no raiders, just Jackson and all of its inhabitants. Perhaps you could find peace in that. When Maria told you that they were expecting, you were over the moon. Maria and Tommy deserved it, Jackson deserved it. Proof that the world is not over— that no matter the circumstances, mankind will prevail.

You threw together a small wedding ceremony with the help of the florist and local bakery, the couple wanting to tie the knot before the baby's arrival. Joking about how "shotgun weddings" withstood the test of time. Something arose in you, a pang of jealousy— Envious that you and Joel never got the perfect white wedding. It disgusted you, so you buried it deep within the recesses of your heart.

The winter was hard, the Wyoming chill threatening every crop that dared to sprout from the Earth. This resulted in you spending extra time in the greenhouse. You found gardening to be a rather soothing task, being able to nurture new life in a world marked by death and decay. It also provided plenty of time to think: Something that you did not relish. No matter how many times you pushed the thought of Joel away, it always returned. Whether it was at dawn or late at night plaguing your dreams.

When you weren't at Tommy and Maria's house or at the Tipsy Bison, you were in the greenhouse. The small shack sat right on the outskirts of town, situated with the perfect view of downtown Jackson. The glass panes shut out the cold, trapping any warmth inside. You bathed in the basking glow of the sun, gravitating towards it as a Sunflower would. You weren't sure when thoughts of Sarah became joyous, memories no longer met with choked cries but instead with soft chuckles. Nonetheless, you welcomed the growth. It's how she would want you to remember her.

You watched the clock that hung just above the door, a mere estimation of the time: 12:15 p.m. You carefully removed your dirt-caked gloves, setting them on the wooden bench beside you. Your stomach growled impatiently as you began the journey downtown. The air was frigid despite the sun's rays, the cold slowly numbing your fingers. As you ambled towards town, Stanley came jogging towards you: "Hey! Just got word from the gates that Maria's back. Brought some stragglers, two, I think."

You nodded in his direction, "Alright. Thanks, Stan." The soft crunch of snow beneath your feet accompanied you as you approached downtown Jackson, an air of excitement and uncertainty radiating off of the townsfolk. It wasn't every day that Jackson came across people who weren't just blood-thirsty raiders looking for valuables. As you rounded a corner, you overheard a commotion, the sound of yelling. Strangely, it didn't sound angry or fearful. It sounded... happy.

Midtown came into view; the construction that was being worked on was now abandoned. Immediately, your gaze fixed on two figures in the middle of the street embracing. That was... not typical. You could make one man out to be Tommy; his black curls contrasted starkly against his warm taupe skin. The other was taller and broader, his hair disheveled and graying. Behind them you could make out Maria on horseback, next to her was a young girl, who couldn't be older than thirteen.

Maria's expression was borderline unreadable, a mixture of trepidation and relief. Until her eyes met yours, then her face softened. A look of tenderness emerged. Everything about this situation puzzled you— Until the two figures broke apart. The man stood inches from Tommy, his hands gripping Tommy's shoulders firmly. His face was sunken with exhaustion and hunger; a vast smile overtook his face. A smile you would recognize anywhere.

He looked just as he had twenty years ago, only now his hair was significantly longer and his beard gray. His face was now littered with wrinkles, just as yours was. A telltale sign that time had, in fact, passed, that the world fell apart right in front of your eyes. Your fingers dug into your thigh. You surely would've drawn blood if not for the layer of denim protecting your skin. You knew you were grieving, but hallucinations seemed extreme. You took a hesitant step forward, still on the opposite end of the street.

Maria beckoned for you. Your name seemingly catching Tommy's attention as he turned towards you. As the men stood side-by-side, it was impossible to deny. Their likeness evoked something in you— realization. You weren't dreaming, you weren't hallucinating. He was there, just a yard away: Joel Miller. His gaze found yours, eyes searching your face in disbelief. Your name left his mouth like a question, but it sounded like a prayer.

He stepped forward as if he was testing the waters. You repeated his action, "Joel?" A smile broke across his face once again, causing you to break into a sprint. He jogged forward, careful not to slip on the icy gravel. Tears began streaming down your face, their warmth countering the icy chill. Before you could slow down, your body collided with his. His arms were tense, his hold fastening around you. You'd only dreamt of this moment for two decades.

You weren't sure how long you stood like that. Head nestled firmly against his chest, tears staining his leather coat. His gloved fingers gently grasped your chin, pulling your face from its sanctuary: "Baby... Fuck, I can't believe it." His eyes searched your face for any sign of unease. He could find nothing but pure joy: "You found me. I searched for you, Joel Miller, for 16 years. And you found me."

Joel let out a breathy chuckle, cut off as you captured his lips in a velvety kiss. At first, it was chaste.— A silent admission of consolation, twenty years in the making. You ran your tongue across his bottom lip, prompting him to groan as he opened his mouth to deepen the kiss. After a moment, a loud cough erupted from behind you. You reluctantly pull away, your forehead resting against his. Your hands cupped his cheeks, eyes glassy with relief and adoration: "After all this time?" Joel leans forward to place a gentle kiss on the corner of your mouth, "Would wait forever f'you, Darlin'."

divider by @saradika

#joel miller x reader #joel miller x f!reader #joel miller x female reader #joel miller x you #joel miller #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller fluff #the last of us fanfiction #fragilefable #ೃ༄ wren writes

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queenie-the-court-jester · 16 days

Text

break up with your boyfriend

Yandere trans!fem cheerleader x fem reader

It was so shittily made but I need to pump out more fics or else my blog will die. Thank you all for 1k followers though! I'll rewrite this in the future maybe

Tw: mentions of blackmailing, nsfw, slight breeding kink, batshit crazy girlfriend,not proofread, another oc mentioned!?🌺

💄Eva saccharine has been your girlfriend since she first started transitioning. You helped her style her hair, do her nails, pick her clothes, find good makeup, anything she needed to feel like the real her. So when freshman year rolled in, it came as no surprise to you she fit right in with the clique.

💐Ofcourse you had your fears she'd choose them over you but that wasn't the case, because she'd make you eat lunch with them and sit on her lap, not so subtly humping your ass while talking all about cheer practice

🛍️boys wanted to date her, girls wanted to be her. She just wanted you, to just be the two baddest bitches on the block. It didn't matter if you were just like her or the complete opposite, she gushed over you. Praising you for being her good girl, her sweet little princess, her obedient pocket pussy-

💄but at this current moment? She was busy bullying your insides, forcing her fat cock into your slippery hole as she held you steady by your waist. Biting and groaning everytime she'd feel you squeeze that certain spot on her dick

"fu-uuckkk.. baby cakes, 'yer squeezin' me so goood.. ah.. hah.. you wouldn't mind if I pumped a few babes into your tight cunny right? Wanna be my baby mama?"

💐that made you squeeze tighter, holding onto the bedsheets for dear life. She had you face down, ass up and damn near breaking your back with how hard she was going. Hearing the normally composed and playful eva turn into a drooling pussy-drunk mess had you feeling butterflies, just going plap play plap-

🛍️let's just say, by the end of it, you couldn't walk for days afterwards. But no amount of hickies and perfume would be able to scare away a rather persistent guy. He was on the football team, star quarterback, rich asshole. sam white. Eva hated his guts, he thinks he can just waltz in and steal her bitch? Not on her watch.

💄this little feud had been going on for a while, and more times than you could count you've been caught in the crossfire. Though it was kinda funny, seeing them screeching insults at eachother and bickering. Eva would sassily flick her blonde hair and grab you by the collar of your neck, Dragging you away while Sam hooted and hollered at your retreating form

💐you never questioned her morbid fascination with anything horror or paranormal related. She was just obsessed with regular girl things. wanting you to help her summon a demon once, but you aren't that stupid, making blood pacts with them could result in very unsavory ending's and you quite cherished your soul and body

🛍️Eva has more than one account on different social medias, pretending to be multiple different people and Stalking your posts. She'd slide into your dms and flirt, seeing if you'd really cheat on her. She's so happy when you instantly block the account, guess you'll survive not being sent to her basement for another week

💄she has the audacity to grab a frilly pink pen and make you wear clothes that purposely shows off what she wrote. In bright bold lettering, Eva's little cum dump ♡ . Maybe she'll let you bring a jacket, only if you beg her really hard with those big doe eyes she loves. She put a collar and leash on you too

💐don't try breaking up with her, she takes 'they go low, I go lower" to another level. Threatening to post pictures of you in rather compromising positions. When did she record all of this? Who knows. She won't refrain from spreading nasty rumors of you that just force you to come sobbing into her arms, if you try and get comfort from somebody else she won't hesitate to eliminate them. Don't you see? She's the final girl, and you're her love Interest

"I told you not to run pretty baby.. now look what you've done. I gotta fix your mess up~.."

moral of the story: be a loyal loving girlfriend and she'll spoil you rotten with her daddy's black card ♥️

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neil-gaiman · 4 months

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Dear Neil,

I hope you're fine!

In 2023 one of the nicest and reveberating thing, that happened to me, was, that I got know Terry's work and after some time, your works too, and, of course Good Omens (yeah...I don't know either, what took me so long...😉).

So, thank you so much for your written universe, I feel totally comfortable in it!

Some time ago, I also got your rewriting of the fairytale "Hänsel and Gretel" by the Brothers Grimm in my hands. I totally like how you made it your own in some way, but also did not disregard its core about wits, endurance, gumption and love. And I have high standards😊, because I grew up with all the Grimm's fairytales and I, even as a small kid, disliked the editions, which tried to paint over fear, sorrow and in some tales, violence and horror, too. Without these plots the solution in the end would just be half the relìef! As you said in your review about Tatars The Annotaited Brothers Grimm the fairtyales are magic mirrors about the world we see or we want to see and which we have to cope and deal with every day.

My three favourite ones are

1.Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten/The Town Musicians of Bremen

Even if your closest people tell you, you are not enough (anymore), you don't fit in and you are worthless, you one day, will find your bunch of soulmates, who are good for you and you can the hell Rock'n Roll with!

2. Die sieben Raben/The seven Ravens

The girl does not wait for some Prince Charming. She herself gets stuff done and does not get herself haunted by some mistakes her parents did years ago.

3. Das tapfere Schneiderlein/The valiant dressmaker

Sometimes weird and spontanous decision can turn your whole life around, in a good way, because they give you the self-consciousness to get it on.

And (finally, sorry) here come my questions:

1. Which are your favourite fairytales of the Brothers Grimm?

2. And why?

I wish you and your family a very merry Christmas, or holidays, and a very good year!

Have fun with Good Omens 3! ❤🌠

Greetings from Germany!

I like your choices, although I'd swap Hansel and Gretel for the Musicians of Bremen.

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hisui-dreamer · 8 months

Text

rewrite the stars

Characters: Leona, Azul, Jade, Idia

Synopsis: if the stars say we're not meant to be, then why don't we just rewrite the stars?

Tags: horoscopes, reader is insecure, crack(?), fluff, comfort, not proofread

Word count: 1.4k+

Notes: rewrite the stars got stuck in my head then this idea popped up hehe

Disclaimer: i don't really know a lot about astrology, so most of the things i say are from google searches. in general, take astrology with a grain of salt yeah.

but also my sign and jade's sign are compatible hehehe

Masterlist

it's not easy being confident in love, and sometimes when you get so lost in your fears, you let anyone and anything tell you what you fear to admit, without a care for how truthful those words may be.

truthfully, if you were dead serious and broke up with him, he'd just grumble out a "whatever" and put up the façade that he doesn't care

but he'd actually be so mad at himself for pushing you away and how nothing in his life could ever go smoothly

but your eyes are swollen and tears are threatening to spill as you whisper those words

he silently approaches you, and instinctively reaches to brush your tears away, but his warm, calloused hand only makes you cry harder at how much you love the man before your eyes

he pulls you into his arms and holds you close as you sob into his chest

he doesn't say anything and waits for you to elaborate, there's a part of him that's afraid if he asked you why you wanted to break up with him, he couldn't bear how his own self-hatred

once you've calmed down, you start explaining how you two are incompatible in astrology, that he's a leo so it's easy for miscommunication to happen and other issues that have plagued you since you read about them

he's heard all this make believe astrology personality stuff before, but never before has he been glad of how ridiculous the idea is

you hear leona let out a big sigh, and the tension in his shoulders immediately lessens

pulls away from you to stare deep into your eyes, his face completely serious and solemn

"Herbivore, are you happy with me?" he asks. At you confused face, he repeats the question, his expression unchanging. When you nod firmly, he smiles slightly and asks again. "Then what else matters? As if I would let the souls of the past kings or some random star talk decide who I'm gonna love," he scowls at the idea. He leans forward and rests his forehead against yours. "You're stuck with me now, I'm not lettin' ya go that easily," he whispers.

He pulls you with him as he falls back onto the mattress, cradling you in his arms. "Sleep. You're not a baby anymore so don't go crying yourself to sleep," he teases, but he gently kisses the remainder of your tears away.

azul.exe has stopped functioning

blubbering like a fish out of water (wait...) he's lost and hurt and confused and panicking all at the same time

"w-w-what have i done to upset you angelfish????"

the tweels walk into azuls office just to see the two of you crying and confused, azul trying to ask you why and he's sad and crying, you're stumbling over your words and sniffing and crying

ok after a glass of warm water (thank you jade) the two of you calm down to actually have a proper conversation, though azul is still very obviously tense

you explain that he's a Pisces and that means you two not compatible with how sensitive he is and he's a water sign and so on

azul is very confused about how stars can determine people's personalities, but he does fit the description of a Pisces, and if his beloved Angelfish is stressed over astrology, then it must be a reliable tell (azul no)

he asks for you to give him some time, to actually understand your reasonings and of course, to give him a chance and prove to you how willing he is to work out a relationship with you

the next day, azul visits you with very deep dark eye circles, but the glint in his eyes shows full determination and confidence

azul businessman mode on!

sits you down and pulls up a slideshow

azul ashengrotto is now an astrology expert!

he's determined to show you that you two have maximum compatibility and whatever issues you have? he'll always work them out with you

"Darling, you mentioned our Sun signs yesterday, but I think it's crucial to also discuss our rising, moon, and star signs." He declares as he points to a star chart. "Now, following the calculations of our birth dates and locations..."

An hour later, you sit completely convinced that astrology all but supports your relationship with Azul, and you can't help smile and jump into his arms. Azul, sleep deprived and running on anxiety, somehow manages to not fall over, but soon leans his weight on you. "See? We're perfectly compatible with each other," he murmurs against your ear. His arms wrap around you, squeezing you gently, "so please don't leave me, I wouldn't know what to do without you..."

eyes wide slowly blinking like "... I beg your pardon?"

honestly jade doesn't look that surprised/hurt

but really he's suppressing the turmoil of emotions inside him

ever the logical thinker, he'd ask a calm "May I ask why, my dear?"

and you surprise him again with flowing tears and a trembling voice

though he's listening very patiently as he's diligently wiping away your tears with his handkerchief, soft careful movements to avoid causing discomfort

asks questions when he doesn't understand what in astrology is going on, genuinely making an effort to understand this field of academics

in a sense, he's distracting you from being upset with academic discussion

okay, he's a Scorpio, which makes him good at manipulating people??? and he's very bold??

now while he finds all this very interesting and slightly accurate, it still feels pretty whimsical that the time you're born in determines your personality

particularly as he's so different to Floyd! and they were born at the same time!

whichever the case, the more pressing issue is his dearest lover sniffing and whining that you could never be happy together with how incompatible you are

he pulls you into his chest for a bit, rubbing soothing circles into your back and leaving gentle kisses you until your sniffing quiets down

"Dearest, won't you look at me?" he murmurs against your ear. You look up to see the most tender expression you had ever seen on him, his mismatched eyes filled with warmth and affection.

"While it is indeed extremely unfortunate that our star signs are incompatible, I don't believe there's a single person out there who could love me better than you do," he says as he kisses your hand. "I promise that your happiness will always be my utmost priority, so won't you continue to love this silly eel?"

"Now, while I will always find you enchantingly beautiful, I do believe a smile shines the brightest on my lovely pearl," he smiles while brushing the remaining wetness away from your eyes.

simply put, idia panics immediately

every day he thinks the fates have been far too kind to him for you to even reciprocate his feelings

he's always mentally preparing himself if you want to break up or you need to leave him

so he puts up a brave face when you say you can't be together

but wait... you actually look really upset and on the verge of tears???

"Hold up, why are you the one crying?"

please don't tell him those are tears of joy i think he'd die on the spot

through sobs and sniffs, you tell him that you were curious about your compatibility based on astrology

and okay...? he's a fire sign??? explains the hair

okay so you're telling him, you're breaking up with him solely because you think this thing might be right and not because you hate him, right?

brb gotta blow up some stars

starts mumbling about some plans to build space missiles and blow up some stars that make up his sign or something

he can't be an asparagus(??? idia no it's sagittarius doesn't matter) if the constellation no longer exists, right?

you stop him (thank god) by cupping both of his cheeks to make him stare straight at you

he's flushing up instantly and every fiber of his being yearned to turn away but your teary gaze makes him stop squirming

"You know," he begins, his voice earnest and steady, "everyday, I can't believe how lucky I am to have you in my life. If you're unworthy of me, then I'm unworthy of you."

He lets out a chuckle, that rumble echoing right into your ear. "I suppose I can put those star destroyer blueprints on hold, at least for the time being. But if the stars ever mess with us again, it's game over for them."

Masterlist

if you liked this post, don't forget to reblog!

#twstnexus #twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland x reader #twst x reader #disney twisted wonderland #twst imagines #twst wonderland #leona kingscholar #leona kingscholar x reader #twisted wonderland leona #jade leech #jade leech x reader #twisted wonderland jade #azul ashengrotto #azul ashengrotto x reader #twisted wonderland azul #idia shroud #idia shroud x reader #twisted wonderland idia

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firelxdykatara · 1 month

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I too ship Zutara and think they should have been canon. Although for me it's important to know how such a rewrite would go down. I tried to think, and I'm lost.

After Mai betrayed Azula for him, will he just go "sorry, not interested"? He isn't obligated to date her because of this, but her redemption hinges on Zuko and I don't see it being satisfying if he ends up rejecting her after this.

I thought the solution would be to rewrite her arc in boiling rock to make her have a moral realization, but then the problem with Maiko is practically solved. Their relationship wasn't salvaged by her redemption because last time they talked, Mai still didn't understand what's wrong with the Fire Nation and only changed because she loved Zuko. So how do you make it both satisfying & logical?

With Kataang the problem is the Chakras. The problem with the original (in my opinion) is that after he opened his chakra, letting go of his attachment to Katara, he's still attached (forcing a kiss on eip). Should TCoD get rewritten so that Azula shoots him before he opens it? Then why wouldn't he just open it later? Maybe the chakra would be locked so he feels as though he doesn't need to overcome his attachment just yet. In that situation, how would his chakra even unlock? The stone thing felt like nonsense, so how would I do it?

So yeah I have no idea how to approach this. How would you? (Thanks)

I've been rotating this ask in the back of my head like a rotisserie chicken for a few days--it's interesting because I don't generally stop to think like, how would I write them out of these relationships, I either ignore the relationships completely (which isn't hard, they were barely footnotes in the cartoon) or play a little bit with jealous exes or something. Thinking about like, In A Perfect World where Bryke wasn't in charge of ATLA post-canon (because if zutara had been canon, you can be sure they would've made us regret it) is interesting, and I do have thoughts on how I'd handle their relationships in a rewrite.

(this got long, so the rest is beneath the cut)

Assuming you mostly want to keep canon intact, I think maiko would be the easiest to work around, given how little relevance their relationship has in canon. The problem with maiko as an endgame ship is that it was not set up that way--if it had been, it would not have begun entirely off-screen and their whole relationship would not have been a study in misery and utter inability to connect emotionally. His relationship with Mai was there to showcase just how much he had changed and how little he fit into the life he had been so sure he wanted more than anything since his banishment. It worked very well to highlight Zuko's growth--how that contrasted to Mai's lack of it and why she could not understand him even at his most open and vulnerable--and did not work nearly so well when she was shoved back with him in the epilogue, after he'd quite literally forgotten her existence (he never mentions her again after Boiling Rock, not even to say a word of mourning, considering he'd have every reason to believe she was killed for defying his sister).

I don't think you can fix this by giving Mai some moral realization, because there simply is no room for it. As @araeph says in the essay I linked:

As a character, Mai is very useful to the story during Zuko’s return, because she represents everything that Zuko gains by sticking by his father. A girl who cares about him; the ability to indulge her; the authority he has over others at the palace; we see it all in his interactions with Mai. But this makes Mai a tether to a life he has long outgrown. Her function is not to advance Zuko’s character development, but to obstruct it, which also unfortunately means that Mai gaining a full understanding of Zuko’s trials would be disadvantageous to the story. If she knew everything about him and still wanted him to stay, it would give Zuko more cause than he should have to remain in the Fire Nation, but if she knew and encouraged him to leave and join the Avatar, it would rob Zuko of the triumph of making this decision on his own. In other words, there are good narrative reasons for keeping Mai in the dark; it just doesn’t make their relationship any stronger.

The seeds of a genuine redemption arc (one that includes some sort of moral realization and change to her moral framework) for Mai would have to have been planted far earlier than five episodes from the end of the series, but doing so would have of necessity detracted from Zuko's own character arc and the realizations that he makes despite his attachment to Mai (or more specifically to their relationship, which I feel like he was clinging to more out of a sense of abject loneliness he couldn't shake rather than genuine feelings and emotional connection).

So, in my mind, since we're tackling this with an eye towards getting rid of maiko with the fewest ripples to the overall story anyway, the easiest way to do this would be make one slight change to the end of the Boiling Rock two-parter--have Ty Lee (who had always been the least gung-ho of the trio about bowing to Azula's whims and had to be textually threatened into joining her in the first place) save Zuko's life, and then have Mai (who showed the most genuine affection for Ty Lee anyway) save Ty Lee. I love Zuko more than I fear you always fell flat for me as some epic declaration of love, anyway, since a) Zuko is not around to hear it, and b) unlike Ty Lee, she never showed much fear of Azula to begin with, so it wasn't a very high bar to clear. It was a cool line that was entirely unearned, and I don't think it would be missed, there would be some cute mailee crumbs this way, and a throwaway line of getting them released from the prison after the war ended could wrap up their presence in the story pretty nicely.

Now, kataang is a little trickier, if only because the last leg of Aang's character arc is almost completely derailed by his refusal to let go of his possessive attachment to Katara, to the point where he never naturally reopens his chakras, he has to have the Rock of Destiny hit him in just the right place, and the deus ex lionturtle there to give him a way out of having to make a hard moral choice. (I've maintained for years that if you work the final act of your main character's overall arc in such a way that it could have been solved by one good session with a chiropractor, something got fucked along the way.)

The thing about Aang's chakras is that, narratively, his whole thing with Guru Pathik and leaving his training early to save his friends was basically his version of Luke running away from his training with Yoda on Degobah because of his Force vision, only to find out that his friends were in the process of rescuing themselves and then losing his hand because he hadn't completed the most crucial part of his training. What's missing, therefore, from the last act of Aang's character arc, is the return.

See, in Star Wars, Luke pretty explicitly makes the wrong choice when he chooses to prioritize saving his friends over attaining enlightenment and fully mastering the Force. It was the only choice he could have made, but it was still the wrong one--because, like Aang, his friends did not actually need him to save them, he actually almost makes it harder for them to get away by requiring them to save him because, like Aang, he loses a battle in a very critical way. This was a lesson he desperately needed to learn, and it is clear he has learned it by the time he makes it back to Degobah and witnesses the end of Yoda's life, his own enlightenment having already been reached.

But Aang never goes back to the Guru.

And the text refuses to allow us to sit with the fact that he made the wrong choice in prioritizing his attachment to Katara over his ability to master the Avatar State. He is actually narratively vindicated about it, because the plot bends itself into a pretzel so that he doesn't have to spend any time during the last book trying to reopen his chakras and regain access to the Avatar State, handed both in the final battle with no excess effort on his part, and handed the girl into the bargain. (The girl who never even wanted him, so far as we can tell from all the lack of cues she gave him that she actually returned his feelings.)

And I think this could have been solved with a few scattered scenes. Let Katara actually have some agency in her own romantic relationship (or lack thereof), insofar as noticing Aang's advances and clueing the audience in to how she actually feels. Let Aang struggle with the fact that he can't reach the Avatar State, that his mastery of the elements is in limbo because he can't access his full power, rather than ignoring all of this until the end of the show. If we're trying to keep the shape of the last season roughly the same, let Katara confront Aang about the invasion kiss.

This would have been the perfect time to establish that Katara actually does feel some type of way about Aang prior to the epilogue, and it could have saved us from the exceedingly cringey EIP kiss that Aang never apologized for. How it comes across now, of course, is that Katara basically pretends it never even happened, to the point where she doesn't even know what Aang is talking about during EIP until he reminds her--the death knell for any shot their relationship had at looking requited, because I can tell you, as someone who's been a teenage girl, if someone I had conflicted but burgeoning romantic feelings for had kissed me, I would not have completely forgotten about it only a few weeks later--and we never get any indication as to what she actually felt about the kiss (which was not mutual, despite what Aang's dialogue in the EIP scene implies) except for the fact that she looked away and frowned afterwards. (A change mandated by Bryke, who wanted to leave her feelings completely ambiguous; the original storyboards had her smiling to herself.)

So, with an eye towards wrapping up Aang's puppy love crush and establishing Katara's distinct lack of romantic feelings for him, have her talk to him about the kiss. A good frame of reference for this would be Meng's conversation with Aang in "The Fortuneteller", where she finally realizes that he doesn't like her in the same way she likes him. Katara and Aang's conversation about the invasion kiss could be a callback to this, with Aang having some important realizations--that just because Katara doesn't share his feelings doesn't mean she loves him any less, and just because he can't have her the way he wanted doesn't mean he has to love her any less, that she doesn't belong to him but that's ok, because she's still his family and they'll always have each other's backs. Which could have functioned well in helping him take another step towards unblocking his chakras. Going back to the Guru directly may not have worked, since by this point in the story we're hurtling towards the final confrontation and Sozin's Comet, but let Aang reflect on what the Guru told him with new understanding granted him by his experiences throughout the first half of the season.

To keep the stakes high and up the suspense, obviously, he shouldn't have fully unlocked his chakras and the AS before the final fight, but the seeds could be planted--little moments like a talk with Katara about the invasion kiss, maybe a little more empathy and understanding from him about why Katara needs closure in TSR, etc--and then, during the final fight, rather than hand him all the answers on a silver platter, have him almost lose. He still can't go full Avatar, he's out of time, he still doesn't know exactly what to do about Ozai given his own pacifism and desire to preserve that part of his culture--he tries to fight but he's pretty quickly overpowered. Idk how I would've animated this, and maybe it wouldn't have looked as cool for the final fight, but the true climax of the finale was the Zuko and Azula agni kai anyway, so it hardly matters--I'm picturing him doing the rock-shield thing and going into a brief meditative state, where he finally achieves the enlightenment necessary to unlock the AS on his own, no rock of chiropracty necessary. And at this point, I'd give Ozai a Disney Death, since leaving him alive causes more problems than it solves and it's not necessary for Aang to kill him for him to die--they're fighting on a mountain ffs--but if you don't want to change that part then him figuring out energy bending as part of becoming a fully realized Avatar would at least feel more earned than the lionturtle just handing it to him. (And that could've been foreshadowed better by seeding the idea for it earlier in the season.)

After all of that, particularly if you up the emotions during the agni kai and have Zuko and Katara kiss there (or something less explicitly romantic but still tender, like a brief forehead touch), it'd feel pretty natural to have a just friends ending for Aang and Katara. Maybe a brief, slightly awkward but ultimately amiable conversation if Zuko and Katara had a ~thing at their final fight, and then the final shot of the series could be the gaang all together, maybe zutara holding hands or Katara resting her head on his shoulder or something, but since they already kissed there wouldn't feel like a need to end the whole show on romance, something which I've always felt missed the point of the series.

And then, y'know, after that, the world's your oyster! This is how I'd do it if I were trying to keep the bulk of the final season intact. Of course, breaking it all down to its component pieces and rebuilding from the ground up is also an option, but that'd probably be a longer post lol.

#zutara #atla #m.aiko salt #k.ataang salt #atla canon rewrite #hey albert kim if you're taking notes on how to do season 3 of the LA................#Anonymous #asked

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leoascendente · 10 months

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PAC/ What you need to know about your love life 💞

-Reuploaded and reedited old Pac-

Hi loves! Welcome to this new Pac about something you need to know about your current situation in love. This is an old pac I decided to correct, rewrite and add some more information. As always, take a deep breath before choosing your pile, choose the picture with the place that makes you feel more confortable. Remember to take only what resonates and leave what doesn't. Hope you enjoy your reading 💕

Decks I used: Enchanted love tarot, romance angels oracle, astrodices, love oracle cards, shine from the inside oracle

For private readings click here

Pics are from pinterest, credits to their owners

(top left-> pile 1/ top right-> pile 2)

(bottom left-> pile 3/ bottom right-> pile 4)

Pile 1:

-Where you stand: My sweet pile 1 I see you dissapointed about your current love life, if you are dealing with a love interest right now they have been giving you some headaches. You might feel uncertain in this conection like you don't know in what kind of floor you are walking on when it comes to this person. In some cases, if you already have your partner, you could be feeling like you are the only one making the efforts to keep this relationship going on and you are feeling drained because of this. For singles, you have made efforts to manifest the love of your life, but not seeing any ressults is damaging your hopes about your manifestation abilities and making you doubt of your own power. You got the Sun reversed and what I get from this is that you are unconfortable for how things are going in love for you, your desires in love are not being fulfilled and that got you in a place of uncertain and even hopeless.

-Where you lead: The card of the Judgement tells you to change your perspective about what's going on in your life, you will realize and prioritize differents things you weren’t giving the proper attention. You'll open your eyes to see the circumstances from a higher point of view, some of you will leave this connection aside for a while, a little amount of you will choose a final goodbye to this person. When you know what you deserve you don't accept less than that and I see you embracing that energy of empowerment even if that means leave some people that don't like your boundaries in the past. For singles I see you'll have a click in your mind and you will balance the energy you are spending in manisfeating your person if you are exceding in this, your trust in the Universe will reforce and while it works in bringing you the love of your life, you'll be focused on yourself. You turn the focus into something else that will bring you joy and satisfaction besides your love life, keep with your visualizations and manifesting excersices when you want to because they are really working, but your sight is going to be refocused into something more personal.

-Something to keep in mind: You have an idea or a project in hands, something new you'll like to materialize for your career, it’s related to abundance and prosperity so I assume is about your career. Focus on this idea, leave your love life aside for some time and look for the steps you need to take to make this dream part of your reality, this will open golden doors in your abundance and reputation in your work field. As you make the proper movements the Universe will respond you with blessings for following your heart's desire. Also, if this connection leaves you wounded take the time you need to heal, you might find a reppeated pattern in your relationships related to your inner child’s wounds, see and heal this will help you to attract a healthier love or a healthier direction with your current partner.

As an extra message, I see you want a commited and long lasting relationship. You're are looking for the love of your life, hooking up or one night stand doesn’t fit with you anymore. You are looking for your soulmate/twin flame and you are not willing to waste your energies on people who doesn’t look for the same future as you. You don’t need to worry my dear, you are destined to meet your special person in this lifetime and you will, you got the engagement ring with the paradise card, amazing cards to appear in your spread, this cards tells you that you have a beautiful future in love terms even if you can’t see it now but, for the moment, there are other things demanding your attention. Your inner healing and material stability are the most important things by the moment, attend those aspects and you’ll see how in the most unexpected moment your soulmate/twin flame appears.

-What to do to attract love: Embrace your divinity, my love! That's the most important message in your reading. You are full of magic and this is the perfect moment to adore and praise this part of yourself. Connect with your Divine Femenine to feel more grounded and focused, your intuition will reforce as well. Writting your feelings or starting a journal can be very therapeutical tools for this moment of your life. There’s also a message here about your spiritual life, maybe your guides are trying to approach you or in this specific moment of your life you are being under divine influences. Whatever it is, try to make more space for the Divine in your life, you’ll feel a lot more supported and guided.

Pile 2:

-Where you stand: You don't feel completely sure about the connection you are dealing with right now, maybe you are in the first stages of your relationship and you are not sure about this person's intentions or if it's worthy of the effort a relationship involves. You got the fool reversed with the queen of swords, what means that you are not sure if you should take the leap or faith or stay where you are. I don't see this doubts come from your person's actions, it's more related to your past relationships and the deceptions you had in your love life. You are analizing everything instead of living it and see if this makes you happy, you are overthinking this connection because you might not get along with things being out of your control and I must tell you that this relationship is calling you to trust the Divine process. For my singles, you are not sure of opening up to the world and meet new people, this again has to do with insecurities and wanting to have control over the outcomes, allow yourself to take more risks and go out of your comfort zone, do it at your own rythm but do it, at the end you’ll be thankful and proud of yourself for doing it.

-Where you lead: Things will get better in your love life, honey! You will recieve an special offer from this person to spend time together and reforce your bond, you two will share an special time by each other side. Maybe they have a surprise for you like a little gift you didn't expected, this person have an special talent for romantic gestures and they will try their best to make you trust them. Your connection will be growing strong through time, this person's feelings for you are very real but they are seeing you doubting on this connection and they are scared of loosing you or investing too much of their energies for nothing, they don’t want to get hurt. For singles, you are attracting reciprocated energies, be more lighhearted and you’ll receive the same from the people you cross paths with. You got the 6 of gems, that means generosity in this deck, so open up to new people because you are going to attract kind and loving people on the way, people that share the same vibration as you. Also, I see you got a lot of suitors and admirers you are not caring about and some of them have potential, you don’t need to promise them eternal love but you can let them spoil you with a dinner or a walk together if you feel comfortable, allow yourself to know more people, you may not find in this suitors the love of your life but you can find very good friendships.

-Something to keep in mind: You both know you have something special at hands, you feel so confortable and free by each other's side that you can take as a sign of your soul level conmection. They feel the same as you when you two are together, you both have spent other incarnations together and something inside of you reminds that connection, it’s both of your souls talking to eachother. The card that dropped from the deck is the Soul mate and this card wants to remind you to have faith and trust your process, you are trying to avoid old patterns but is a difficult mission, this is a soul connection and it will bring its challenges too, but they are worthy. You are doing it great even if there are some trust issues, allow yourself to enjoy, this love is completely different from the stories you have experienced before. For singles, again keep an open mind with the people that approach you and focus on the people that reciprocates your energy, you’ll maybe find some flies but you’ll also attract your soulmate, that btw I feel pretty close to you. You are ascending energetically so you probably are purposely healing something within you, you are doing great for if you needed to hear that.

-What to do to attract love: Your guides are very talkative, sweetheart. While I was writting your spread I saw a lot of repeated numbers, maybe numbers repeat a lot when you spend time with your person or will appear a lot when you are about to know the love of your life, take what resonates with you. Try to approach your guides more often, they really want to get close for you to undertstand better their signs when they are trying to tell you something, I really feel they want to comfort you when your fears and doubts of being hurted are overwhelming you, they want to offer their helping hand if you let them. You are leaving behind some past patterns to open new doors for your life, this process can be a little confusing at first but after you make the first moves everything will flow in your love life, take little steps when you can’t take big ones but take them anyway. In a year from now your love life will be completely different and everything you have dreamt of will become true, you just need to be patient. As well this person who is currently in your life has spouse material, don't be scared, soon they will give you clear signs that you are the love of their life and wants to spend all their life with you.

Pile 3:

-Where you stand: The energies around you feels a little weird now, there are strong feelings between you and your person but both of you are overthinking and your minds are not letting you fully enjoy this connection. There's a lot of fear of betrayal from both parts of the relationship and ghosts from the past are hunting you both, but above all that fear you two just can't be far from the other's side, you might don't know what it is but you know there is something powerful between you two. Right now you could be in a distance or you are just having no contact with this person, however the situation is, this person can't get you out of their heart and mind, no matter how hard they try, you appear in their mind in the most unexpected places and times, I see there’s something specific they see often that reminds them of you. They know that you two have something special even if they don't know how to express it, they are in love with you and they are realizing of these feelings they were denying. For singles, you might have options in love but none of them seem to awake anything romantic in you, you don’t feel attracted to them, and if you do, you don’t see their potential as your partners, there’s soething about them that doesn’t seem to convince you.

-Where you lead: The card of The Justice says that there will be a very needed balance in your relationship. Some truth are going to be put over the table, maybe an unexpected encounter that leads to spend time together and talk. Idk what it is but I see an approach between you two, the communications will open to clear up the situation and to see the other person perspective of the relationship, I see a very important conversation here that will clear up the doubts. Don't worry about anything because things are reaching a good ending from the problems, and the doubts are going to be solved and forgotten easilly (If you felt attracted to group 2 I recommend you to read it too, both readings have a lot in common). For the singles, I see you are going to receive a love confess from one of your suitors that is going to leave you speechless, for some of you I even see communication from a crush you haven’t heard of in a while. There’s a shift in the energies you are attracting and a positive change in your luck, if you’ve been working in a glow up you finally manifested it, congrats love!

-Something to keep in mind: You need to balance your throat chakra, my dear. You have so much to say but you are not allowing yourself to do it and that pattern is making you overthink and imagine the worst situations possible, you need balance and grounding to quiet your mind a little. Listen more often to your heart not only to your mind, deep down you know there's something special going on here even if you try to pass it through the logical filter. This person is your soulmate and both of you feel it even if you can't find the words to express it, now is the moment to heal your throat chakra and prepare for that encounter with your person where you can talk freely about what you are feeling, I see your person is looking with nostalgic feelinf to your pictures or something yours. Allow yourself to be vulnerable by opening your heart and say what you've been keeping inside, you'll realize how satisfying it is and will release a heavy weight from your back being honest, this movement will bring stability to the relationship and will open the path for a formal commited relationship.

-What to do to attract love: The most important thing to focus on, is to release any fear or doubts that have been blocking your connection. Idk if somewhere else in the world people say this but in Spain when there's a situation like this, people use to say "you already have the no". It means that you don't loose anything for trying, instead of it, you will gain a lot of personal satisfaction and you'll be very proud of yourself. Turn off your mind a little bit by doing relaxing and creative activities. Also there’s a message here about stop judging and start making decitions from love, respecting your feelings and desires. Be careful with judging others, when we point to someone we have three fingers pointing at us, what we judge on others many times has more to do with us than with others, try not to project over others your own things.

Pile 4:

-Where you stand: Sorry pile 4, I don't have the news I would like to give you... 😔 but don't worry, at the end of the reading things are so much better. First of all let's say that you are very inteligent and intuitive and you've been watching some red flags in your person that have you overthinking about what’s going on. You've noticed some things that you dislike about this connection and you are aware even though you really like this person, I don't see they are toxic or bad people but they have some manners or patterns in their personalities that don’t match with yours. You are thinking too much and you are needing some time and space to reconnect with your inner wisdom, distance can give you more perspective about this situation.

-Where you lead: I'm sorry to tell you that your person is going to give you reasons to be worried, you got the 5 of gems and its literal is anxiety, maybe through their actions or words towards you they are going to make you feel this way. A tower moment for you two is approaching and I see you cutting from the roots this conection after this moment. This connection is leaving you drained and exhausted, you are not sure of what to do and the expectations of the future next to this person are begining to fade. I feel that this person is like a rock, they keep a lot to themselves and don't open up easily, also they are not very comunicative about their desires or expectations about your relationship, they don't get along too well with their emotional world. A tower moment comes to cut this negativity from your life for you to reach a higher level of inner peace, sometimes a ‘no’ in our ideas is a protection from the Universe, don’t let attachment keep you in a place where you are not happy, you deserve better.

-Something to keep in mind: You are surrounded by very loving people, my love. Spend more time with your friends and beloved ones, they will have great advices for you or they can simply be the shoulder to lay your head on to forget about the world, you really need a distraction. If you have little children next to you spend time with them as well, little kids are magical and just their presence can raise the vibration of any place they are in. Get closer to your friends and make activities with them that light your heart up with joy, you'll find out someone very special in your group of friends, you'll realize the good chemistry that flows between you two. That friend could have a secret crush on you and they've been hiding this from you a very long time, they might not be the first person you could lay your eyes on but they hold an oppportunity on their hands to make you experince a love story you would never imagine. Keep your eyes and heart open to new oportunities and allow the Universe to surprise you with this magical story, the best relationships start out as best friends.

-What to do to attract love: Right now you sould focus on your dreams and how to materialize them, think about your future and what you want to manifest in your reality, where do you want to be in 5 years?. You have an incredible mind when it comes to find creative solutions, trust this wonderful inteligence of yours and begin to make a practical plan for your future, a goals list can be helpful for you. Now you have to align your intentions with your actions and chase what you want, don't lower your expectations about yourself and accept what you know you deserve, not less. One more thing to keep in mind is to release any judgement you have, not with the rest of the world like in pile 3 but with yourself, the flaw of inteligent people is that tend to be very demanding and perfectionist with themselves and also tend to have a very harsh inner voice. You are perfect just as you are, nothing needs to be changed, just transmuted into something more healthy and positive for your future. Treat yourself with kindness and unconditional love, you deserve it.

#witchblr #leoascendente #divination witch #tarot #tarotblr #pac reading #pick a pile #tarotonline #tarot reading

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pascaloverx · 2 months

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Rewrite The Stars

Chapter Eight

Summary: One photo changes your whole life, when you accidentally bump into a celebrity and the world starts to believe that you are a couple.

chapter seven chapter nine

The relationship may be fake, but the kiss definitely isn't. You think about this as your arms are wrapped around Pedro Pascal's neck. You also think that you could die happy tonight knowing that Pascal's lips would have been the last thing you tasted before dying. Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration on your part.

"Do I kiss that badly?" Pedro asks while you're still in his arms. You were so out of it that the kiss stopped, and you didn't even notice.

"You know, I didn't want to say anything but…" You say jokingly, and he laughs. You then compose yourself, standing face to face with your fake boyfriend. Then you remember that you're semi-naked in front of him.

"Did I do something wrong?" He asks, probably noticing that you're embarrassed. You turn and then run to your room while he waits near the bathroom.

"No, Mr. Pascal. It's just that my moment of courage made me do something totally unprofessional. And now I…" You speak loud enough for him to hear as you put on some clothes. When you finish getting ready, you notice that he is lying on the sofa, without a suit, without shoes and with sleepy face.

"What about you now?" He questions, almost closing his eyes. You lay down next to him on the couch as if there wasn't a bed in this apartment.

"Now I realize that kissing you out of schedule makes us seem less fake." You say getting too close to him. Your head slowly rests on his chest and he doesn't seem to mind.

"You can kiss me whenever you want. I don't think it's unprofessional. It's almost like practicing for the big show. Actors do it all the time." It's funny the way he talks like it's nothing. But you kind of like it. So you don't have to feel guilty about anything.

"Are you going to sleep here today?" You ask, adjusting yourself to fit your body to Pascal's on the couch.

"Are you kicking me out of your apartment, miss?" Pedro says as he wraps his arms around your waist. You smile as you gently stroke Pedro's hand.

"Actually, this apartment is more yours than mine. But I'm not kicking you out. Just wanted to check." You speak softly, feeling sleep starting to come over you as you feel the comfort of Pascal's arms around you.

"You have a sleepy face. It's quite cute." Pedro says, but you're not even sure how he's seeing your face at the moment, and it doesn't even matter. You're so comfortable that you can only mumble some nonsensical things before falling asleep shortly after.

In the morning, there's no longer the comfort of snuggling with Pedro Pascal. You already knew it would be like this. It's like Cinderella. Midnight strikes, and the enchantment ends. But you get up, organizing the house and turning on the television. Coincidentally or not, one of the topics being discussed on the channel you're watching is your relationship with Pascal. It seems that many people ship you two, but some are convinced that you're trying to pull a scam.

"You shouldn't listen to what those people say." Pedro says behind you, giving you a start. You thought he had left, but in fact, it seems he went to get breakfast for you both.

"Wow, you scared me. But they're not wrong, are they? In a way, I am seeking financial compensation while pretending to date you." You say, helping him to put the things he bought for breakfast on the kitchen table.

He looks at you like he's looking for the right answer to what you said but you quickly change the subject by asking random things. You have breakfast together, asking a few things about each other.

"While we're getting to know each other better, I think it's appropriate to say that my mother asked me about you." You say while drinking the coffee Pedro brought it to you.

"I think it's good to establish something here, if we're going to make this work, maybe it's best if we don't involve our families." Pascal talks while eating one of the pancakes I made. You're not very happy but you understand his reasoning.

"Okay, let's establish a good separation between personal and professional. While we're at it, I think it's pertinent to say that I'm going to spend this weekend with my mother. And I'd like to know where we stand on the loyalty issue." You speak, already arranging the breakfast table, ignoring any reaction from Pedro to what you just said.

"I think it's wise for the two of us not to be seen romantically with anyone. You could have told me before that you were going to visit your mother." He says putting the plate he used in the sink and washing the dishes.

"Now it doesn't make any difference. We've established our limits and I'm going to respect that. Now I think I'm going to get ready to go to my mother. Don't forget to close the door when you leave." You speak giving Pedro a kiss on the cheek and going to your room. You can't help but think that this fake relationship is going to end up screwing you in some way but now it's time to get ready to travel.

tag: @wanniiieeee , @hungrhay and @leilanixx

#pedro pascal x you #pedro pascal x reader #pedro pascal series #pedro pascal fanfiction #reader insert #fake dating au #Spotify

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a-d-nox · 10 months

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pac/pap: what is the energy that surrounds you and how can you best protect your energy?

take what resonates leave what doesn't - nothing is 100% for you because these aren't personalized so please no angry comments or dms about what i am saying not being a good fit for you or that you "don't claim" just keep scrolling if that is the case. be kind, self reflect, and have fun.

last pac/pap: what happens when you take actions on your dreams?

want a personal reading? click here to check out my reading options and prices!

pile 1

energy around you: i sense that you are healing from something. i actually feel proud of you, pulling this card - you seem hopeful that things are changing for the better, and they truly are. you feel inspired again - i encourage you to create again. i feel like you write or paint? so by all mean - have at it, the block is over. the mental health struggles are getting better and you are currently on the right track so keep it up! keep healing; keep growing.

how to protect your energy: you're energy is extremely sensitive right now. i sense that you feel antagonized by someone at this moment - perhaps by the person you are healing from or someone is poking at you and the mental wounds you are healing. think ethically - would confrontation or defensive remarks make the situation better or worse? perhaps remember that they too are likely going through something. why worsen their possible situation? note that no matter what you do, there is a chance for "difficulties" and "strain" to arise. be the bigger person.

pile 2

energy around you: you are starting the process of a spiritual awakening. know that to continue moving forward and "awakening" you must acknowledge and accept the past for what it is - the past. release any resentment you have and move forward - you do not have to forgive anyone face-to-face you can simply do so on you own. do what you must so you can move forward and not feel held back by the past. your future is bright - no need to dwell in the dust and dark of the past. put your energy into noticing signs from the universe (perhaps practice some shuffle-mancy - put a playlist on shuffle and listen to the first song's lyrics for your message). try not to be too tough on yourself as you let go of the past and embrace the future.

how to protect your energy: as i said before you are a strong person with a bright future, so i trust that you will do what you must - if you see something must be done, take action and do it. connect with your inner authority - protect your inner child, if you are forgiving someone face to face actively remember that your inner child still exists. going face to face with someone who brings you trauma or anxiety does cause age regression in some cases - acknowledge your younger self and remember the growth you have done. you have the ability to protect that inner child. remember to think beyond just yourself - it might not be worth digging up the past when we have presently gone so far. additionally advised: practice self-empowering mantras and affirmations.

pile 3

energy around you: you are moving into a gaining cycle - do not linger on previous fears of challenge and loss but at the same time learn to show gratitude for what is about to come into you life. recall your previous beliefs in change and now rewrite it to see it as a warning that things do change and you can experience loss again. something i sense you should work on is focusing on the spiritual world rather than the material one. you are a clever person, which is not something that can be quantified so stop trying to show everyone what you are instead simply being what you are. if you are dealing with health woes at the moment - try to ground your mindset into that of healing into of suffering. live life as though it could be worse and as though it could be better, instead of taking it for granted that you are "stabilized/stabilizing" because change is inevitable.

how to protect your energy: be generous. the best way to promote your new found prosperity and gains are to model how you wish to be treated and/or wished you were treated in your times of need. step into that leadership role - being a model or figurehead for charitable services can help you to remember where you were, where you are, and where you are going. it is also a great time to get the support of the positive masculine figure(s) in your life; perhaps they can aid you in your journey to connect past, present, and future via their connections/funds. the main message for you is to donate to passion projects and volunteer with those in need. don't focus too had on getting others involved; focus on you and your journey. whatever you can give back, no matter how small, will be appreciated without a doubt.

#astrology #astro community #asteroid #natal chart #astrology tumblr #daily tarot #tarot reading #tarot #tarotcommunity #tarot deck #tarot cards #tarot reader #divination #pick an image #pick a photo #pick a pile #pick a card #pick a picture

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buterccup · 1 year

Note

Okay so what about the 141 reaction to the M!Reader full blown laughing while fighting Ghost and when someone asks about it later the M!Reader says how it's because he's fought worst.

I hope this is what you asked and if it isn't then I'm always happy to rewrite the request, and I hope you enjoyed it! Thank you for the request as well!! (If only I could find a gif with them all)

Sparring with THE Ghost

Summary: You somehow convinced Ghost to fight you but you couldn't help but laugh during your fight with Ghost which did get a reasonable reaction for your boys.

Warnings: swearing, normal CoD violence(?) (Other than that I don't think there is a lot)

Character(s): Task force 141 x Male! Reader

FEM ALIGNED DNI

You were rethinking your life decisions. Somehow you got your 6'4 Lieutenant to spar with you. And now you found yourself in front of Ghost in a clearer area while the rest of 141 watched from the side, partially worried for you and came in case you got your ass handed to you but also for support.

Of course, you weren't the weakest but Ghost turned you down many times before for a reason but soon got sick of you pestering him and soon got curious if you would do well.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Of course." Hell no. Why did you say that?!

Before you could shout at yourself Ghost let out a grunt before getting into position, giving you a look, making you let out a little laugh before getting into a stance.

Price then stood at the side, yelling out the go-ahead. While you said a little prayer before seeing Ghost move closer to your right side making you sidestep and lunge at him. The voice in your head screamed at how well you were doing until you felt a sharp nudge at your side make you cry internally.

The side elbow from Ghost made you lose your balance but fortunately, you quickly regained it with a stumble. This made you relax your nerves but nut until you saw Ghost in the side of your eye causing you to bend one of your legs and dodged Ghost attack.

And if Ghost was going to be honest that impressed him but that didn't stop the Lieutenant from kicking your leg from under you once you got up and tried to punch him.

But before Ghost could do anything else a small snicker left your mouth before a full-blown laughing fit started to leave you.

"Uh...[c/n]? You okay?" Gaz would call out to you as you wiped small tears from your eyes. Your laughter never seeming to end as you tried to continue sparring with Ghost.

"Maybe we should stop..."

"Wha--ha- No! I'm- Haha! I'm okay!

"[Name]-"

"PFFT-"

"Ghost are you sure you didn't hit him too hard??"

Soap just looked at you concerned but still have a smile on his face. But once he felt a nudge from Gaz with a look saying they both had to stop you.

Meanwhile, Ghost just stared at you like he stared at soap and at Alejandro through the rear-view mirror back in Las Almas, a small chuckle leaving him as he watch you try to tackle him.

Price on the other hand just groaned and rubbed his temples as he went to light a cigar as he watched Gaz and Soap drag your laughing figure away from Ghost.

It had been a couple minutes after the little 'sparring' session with Ghost and your boys were still wondering what happened while you were getting yourself a drink while Price sat somewhere near you with Gaz, screaming at yourself in your head until you heard Soap's voice making you turn around.

"Sooo, [c/n] what was with that whole laughing thing earlier." He would ask, with a smile. Not trying to make you feel bad about what happened while Gaz made a gesture with his hand for Soap to stop.

You just let out a sigh as you leaned onto the counter.

"I fought so badly.."

"Ahh- Mate it's okay!"

"Ohh, don't worry about that-"

"He fought quite well in my opinion.." Ghost would then say out of nowhere making everyone look at him wide-eyed.

"GHOST-"

Requests: Closed

#mw2 141 #mw2 fanfic #cod x male reader #mw2 141 x male reader #mw2 x male reader #soap x male reader #ghost x male reader #price x male reader #gaz x male reader #x male reader #task force 141 x male reader #soap mw2 #ghost mw2 #gaz mw2 #price mw2

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miraculouslbcnreactions · 7 months

Text

In Defense of Marinette

I like Marinette. While there are many valid criticisms of her writing, the same can be said for literally every other character and she's actually doing pretty well given that she's the main character. After all, in a show where consistent characterization is an ongoing issue, the one with the most screen time will probably be the one who's the biggest victim of the issue.

This is heavily exacerbated by the rule that supposedly governs Miraculous. Namely that, in each story, Marinette must make a mistake. Or, at least, so says the head writer:

I really do not care what this guy says on Twitter or anywhere else. I only care about what's in the show because, if you have to go outside the text to understand the text, then you have no idea how to tell a good story.

However, unlike many of the tweets that I've seen, this one isn't some BS bit of lore. It's a writing rule and it has substantial backing in the text. It's extremely rare to have an episode where Marinette comes out smelling like roses and that's a problem because Miraculous has over 100 episodes. In other words, to follow this rule, the writers have to come up with over 100 ways for Marinette to be wrong so of course she's going to come across poorly. Why would you do this to your main character?

It's extremely common for kids shows to have a "lesson of the day" element to them. Someone always needs to learn something, but I've never seen a show misunderstand the assignment so badly. Learning a lesson is not the same as doing something wrong.

It's been a while since I watched the 2010 version of My Little Pony, but it really leaned into that whole "lesson of the day" thing and it actually knew what it was doing, so I'm going to talk about it briefly to discuss things that Miraculous should have done.

The first thing to note is that MLP had an unambiguous main character - Twilight Sparkle - but Twilight was not the one who learned all of the lessons. She had a pet dragon and a crew of five friends who would, occasionally, be the ones to learn the lesson because there were lots of lessons that simply didn't fit Twilight's character. Instead of warping Twilight to make the idea work (cough cough Ikari Gozen cough), the writers just let someone else have the spotlight for a bit.

This is an excellent way to build out your cast and Miraculous had plenty of opportunities to do it. For example, Lila should not have been Marinette's issue. The fact that Lila hates Marinette could have certainly stuck around, but the one who takes her down and learns to investigate her sources? That should have been Alya. A liar is the perfect enemy for an investigative journalist, but a poor enemy for someone who shines as a battlefield commander and overthinks when she's given too much time.

Another way that MLP would teach lessons was to have someone other than Twilight or the main crew cause the issue that they then had to deal with. This leads to one of the best moments in children's television:

youtube

And, frankly? Marinette deserves a moment like this. That poor girl has been through hell and is never allowed to make the right call when it really matters. The show will even completely rewrite its lore to make her fail (see: Strike Back). That is such an awful thing to do to your lead! Shows about female empowerment should include women feeling powerful and, no, Lila and Chloe don't count!

Also, the show is literally about Gabriel taking advantage of people who are upset. You don't need to have Marinette make a mistake to shoehorn in a life lesson. Akumas are life lesson fodder and season 1 actually seemed to get this. I'm not sure why they switched gears to "Marinette is the star and, therefore, must always be wrong."

The final way that MLP taught lessons was to have Twilight do something wrong because having your main character do something wrong is a totally valid way to teach lessons. It just shouldn't be your only way because you know who is always wrong in children's media?

Villains.

They wrote Marinette like a villain.

And a large part of the fandom hates her for it because of course they do.

You're not supposed to like villains.

#ml writing salt #ml writing critical #marinette deserves better #Youtube #justice for my poor girl #she legitimately has a good base character and she's fun to write if you keep her consistent #The applejack thing crossed my dash a bit ago and I keep thinking about it and feeling sad for Marinette

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annymation · 4 months

Text

🎶Wish Away- the villains song

Magnifico and Amaya's villain duet for my Wish rewrite

So... I was in a silly goofy mood, searching for inspiration to make the Magnifico and Amaya's villain duet for my rewrite.

And what do you know, I came across a deleted song from EQUESTRIA GIRLS 3, YEAH, EQUESTRIA GIRLS, and that inspired me the most... Like, I found exactly what I was looking for, and adapted the song to fit my vision.

The song that inspired me was "Free the Magic (Demo)" and it has the exact kind of tempo and style I think are fitting for two manipulative monarchs, very sophisticated and classy but also hiding a lot of malice.

I may or may not change the lyrics as time goes on, but so far here's what I got:

So first things first, here’s the deleted Equestria Girls song that inspired me. Give it a listen first or while you read the lyrics so you can get a feel for the rhythm and feel of the song. Although in my version the very last verse would play differently, sounding a lot more intense.

youtube

If this was a Disney song tho it would obviously have more instruments than just a piano, which could really elevate it, I imagine there could be different kinds of instruments depending on who's singing.

Also, so you can better picture the scenery. Magnifico and Amaya are trying to convince Asha to give away her wish instead of just working hard to get it by herself.

They take her to that room we saw during “This Is The Thanks I Get” in the movie, with the miniature model of the kingdom and the lil dolls.

The dolls will serve as the backup singers, as Magnifico uses his magic to give them life.

The rooms is mostly dark, and the king and queen start out very gentle with Asha but their demeanor becomes more aggressive as the song progresses.

Lyrics in green- King Magnifico 🫧

Lyrics in blue- Queen Amaya 👑

Lyrics in bold white- little puppets from Magnifico’s model 🎎

Lyrics in purple- Asha ✨

Wish Away

You've been an outcast in this land

For far too long

It's time you show to them

That Rosa's where you belong

There's a wish in you

That just cannot wait to soar

So tell us, Asha

What do you wish for?

THINK!

But before you answer

Look around and just see where you're from

From a kingdom with no sadness, no pain nor dismay

And it's all because they

Wished away

(aah-ah, aah-ah, aah-ah)

MAY!

I give a suggestion?

What you lack might be just

Some self reflection

You don't know who you are

So how could you ever go as far

To know what's your purpose in life?

(aah-ah, aah-ah, aah-ah)

Strife and hard work is fine, dear

But it's oh, so much easier

If you give me that wish of yours

Think just how far you'll go

Once that wish is mine-

I mean ours! I mean yours

hehehe

And what about your future?

Will it be just some doodles, my dear?

There's much more you can achieve (thanks to me)

So forget with no-

Forget with no regret

I don't know what I want, I've never knew

Too many pains to count, so much I've been through

But I know a wish will be for me to grant

So thanks for offering, but, I need no enchant

Little one, I don't think you comprehend

(Your wish will be the king’s command)

With my magic I can make all that pain

end

(You can be one of us)

If you let us help you

Just wait and see

(You should be pleased)

I have a hunch this wish

Shall set you free

(free, free, free)

Is this really the hill I'll die on?

(Wish a-way, wish a-way)

There's no hope for you

No stars to wish upon

(Wish a-way, wish a-way)

Should I give up on my integrity?

(Give it all away, You cannot get away)

I'm the ONLY ONE

Who'll end your MISERY

SO COME ON! WISH AWAY!

SO YOU MAY FIND YOUR WAY-

OKAY!

… Okay?

… okay … I have a wish …

Thank You For Reading!

#disney wish #wish #wish 2023 #wish asha #wish disney #wish movie #wish rewrite #king magnifico #queen amaya #song rewrite #demo song #equestria girls #wish reimagined #I scare myself with the lengths that my hyper fixations go sometimes

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alxtiny · 6 months

Text

Hiiii ! Back to request again !

Got inspired by San singing Rewrite The Stars in his Toktoq live and thought of this.

What about idol San and idol (fem or gn) reader being part of groups considered as rivals or rival agencies but San and reader are dating. No one knows about it until one day, they do a collab stage in which they perform Rewrite the stars together. And at the end of the song, in the heat of the moment, they kiss on stage, in front of everyone

Requested by @s1riushwa

Rewrite the Stars | Choi San x Reader

Synopsis: where you and san wish to change the way the world works

Pairing: choi san x gn!reader, idol au

Genre: fluff, slight angst

Word count: 1.2k words

Warnings: none :)))

Notes: I am seriously so sorry for posting this so late it didn’t show up in my notifs and I didn’t think to checks inbox and submissions and ended up not seeing your request, i hope this meets your expectations 😭😭😭

masterlist

The tension between JYP Entertainment and KQ Entertainment was always palpable, both companies boasting top-tier idols. However, hidden beneath the rivalry was a secret that no one knew—except for you and San. Despite being idols from rival companies, you and San had been secretly dating for over six months.Your groups had no dating bans, but you both decided to keep your love life private, away from the prying eyes of the media.

You know I want you

It's not a secret I try to hide

You know you want me

So don't keep saying our hands are tied

The atmosphere backstage was electrifying as you prepared for the highly anticipated joint performance between JYP Entertainment and KQ Entertainment at the annual music awards show. The crowd in attendance would be a mix of diehard fans from both companies and newbies alike. You’d have an opportunity to showcase just how talented each company is and put aside their differences.

You claim it's not in the cards

And fate is pulling you miles away

And out of a reach from me

But you're hearing my heart

So who can stop me if I decide it's on my destiny?

As you and San stood side by side, waiting for your turn to perform, you exchanged a knowing glance. The chemistry between you two was undeniable, and your fans had noticed it too. They often tagged your companies in tweets, suggesting that you and San collaborate on a stage together. Tonight, that dream was about to become a reality.

What if we rewrite the stars?

Say you were made to be mine

Nothing could keep us apart

You'll be the one I was meant to find

The announcer began calling out your names before introducing the two teams’ newest starlets. The crowd roared with anticipation as you took the stage. You held your mic up, clearing your throat as you readied yourself to sing.The music started, and the stage lit up, casting a warm glow on both of you.

It's up to you, and it's up to me

No one could say what we get to be

So why don't we rewrite the stars?

And maybe the world could be ours, tonight

The opening notes of "Rewrite the Stars" filled the air, and you began to sing, your voice blending seamlessly with San's. Suddenly, the stage went dark, and bright lights shone on the two of you. For the first time ever, you shared the same stage. Your voices blended perfectly, your dancing synchronised, and the cheers of your combined fanbase echoed throughout the arena.

You think it's easy

You think I don't wanna run to you, yeah

But there are mountains

And there are doors that we can't walk through

It was almost like everything you’d worked towards since becoming stars came full circle in that moment. This could have been your big break, but instead, it felt more like you were living a dream. The lyrics spoke of defying the odds and rewriting destiny, a fitting sentiment for your relationship.

I know you're wondering why

Because we're able to be just you and me within these walls

But when we go outside

You're gonna wake up and see that it was hopeless after all

As the song progressed, your eyes met San's, and in that moment, it felt like the world around you faded away. You sang with passion, pouring your heart into every note, and San matched your intensity with his soulful voice. The audience was captivated, swept away by the emotion in your voices. As the last chords rang out, everyone exploded into thunderous applause.

No one can rewrite the stars

How can you say you'll be mine?

Everything keeps us apart

And I'm not the one you were meant to find

That night, your joint performance set the tone for your relationship and laid the foundation for what was sure to be an epic romance. Although the two companies kept your relationship under wraps in the heat of the moment, San leaned in and pressed his lips to yours. It was a soft, sweet kiss, filled with love and tenderness. The crowd gasped in surprise, and then erupted into cheers and applause. Your fans and his fans alike were overjoyed, their tweets and messages immediately flooding social media with support for your relationship.

It's not up to you, it's not up to me, yeah

When everyone tells us what we can be

And how can we rewrite the stars?

Say that the world can be ours, tonight

The kiss only lasted a moment, but it spoke volumes. It was a declaration of your love for each other, a moment of vulnerability shared with the world. As you pulled away, San's eyes were filled with affection, and you couldn't help but smile at him. As you finished your performance, the applause grew even louder, turning into a standing ovation that lasted for several minutes. All the while, your cheeks flushed red with embarrassment, feeling like you were blushing again for the first time since meeting San. Bowing with the biggest smiles on your faces, you exited the stage.

All I want is to fly with you

All I want is to fall with you

So just give me all of you

Backstage, your fellow idols congratulated you both, showering you with hugs and high-fives. The performance had been a success, not just because of your vocal prowess, but because of the genuine love and connection you shared. Your fans continued to express their support online, sharing clips of the performance and praising your relationship.

It feels impossible

Is it impossible?

Say that it's possible

In the days that followed, the video of your performance went viral, garnering millions of views and countless positive comments. People admired your bravery, your willingness to share your love with the world. The media picked up the story, highlighting the overwhelming support from fans and fellow idols alike. Everyone agreed that this was the start of something special. Even JYPE and KQ Entertainment couldn't deny that there was nothing but love between you and San.

And how do we rewrite the stars?

Say you were made to be mine

And nothing can keep us apart

'Cause you are the one I was meant to find

After winning awards for Best Collaboration and Rookie of the Year, it seemed that things were going to continue to get better and better. One week later, news broke that JYP Entertainment and KQ Entertainment had decided to do more collabs together, agreeing to promote each other's artists in order to further develop their business.

It's up to you, and it's up to me

No one could say what we get to be

And why don't we rewrite the stars?

Changing the world to be ours

The announcement ignited controversy amongst the entertainment industry, sparking heated debate among industry insiders and fans alike, but to you it didn’t matter because you knew your fans and atiny supported your relationship. After seeing all the comments on Twitter and Instagram, it was clear that the decision to make your relationship public was one of the best decisions you'd made.

Send an ask or a message to be added to taglist

Requests are open!!!

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS PURE FICTION AND NOT RELATED TO THE MEMBERS OF ATEEZ IN REAL LIFE PLEASE DO NOT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY

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