#manipulate the fuck out of anyone they have to and spy on people and pull so many threads to absolute make you miserable

[fortheonetrueking]

As far as Addy is privy to know, they simply are going to rescue Lesedi, since apparently the Pirate Lord is too important to aid his own daughter. That is also part of their end game. But what she doesn't know cannot hurt her, can't be used against her, at least not by those pirates that claim to be on the right side of things.

It's okay, Junior will show everyone that Ramsey and his gaggle are just as rotten as everyone believes Flameheart is. "New design onto the flare, you're going to be the first to officially use one."

They're curious when she speaks quieter, and lean in, tilting their head to a side. What warrants such secrecy? Oh. "For a good eye with a grapple gun, you've got Miguel here." A particularly burly reaper looks up, and gives an acknowledging nod. He's making sure he's got the supplies he needs, idly munching on a piece of pork. "I've already handpicked your escort team, and they're not afraid of having to take a trip to the Ferry. They'll keep you and each other as safe as it gets down there." An attempt at being reassuring, surely.

"That is to say, your priority is getting Lesedi and yourself out. These are more than capable fighters."

Addy doesn't want to know what their plans are specifically. All the possibilities are bad, but there are some worse than others namely, the exact thing they're planning on doing. She'd rather just assume the more mild possibilities. All the while gritting her teeth and tell herself that this at least has more of a chance of things turning out fine than if she left Lesedi in the shrine. Addy generally isn't the type to want to remain ignorant, but in this case, she'll take it.

She looks over the flare before taking it, examining it a bit more. She gives a slight nod. "I haven't seen one of these in person before." It's definitely interesting to her, but she secures it to her belt and moves on.

"Is anyone here who's particularly good at using a grapple gun to move around?" And, in a slightly lower volume "Or is there anyone you'd prefer to have a better chance of surviving?" There is no particularly safe role in her plan, and there is still a chance the others going into the shrine live too, but she'll need one of them to specifically help with moving Lesedi, and that gives that person at least a better shot at making it out.

[samwontshare]

I’ve been saving BNW for my recovery so let’s live react.

-Ooo okay setting up the bad blood between Sam and Ross at the start, makes sense. Cap vs President of the US.

-Everybody celebrating Sam as Cap, free drink, everyone being respectful - that’s more like it!!!

-“You must be new here.” Hahaha I love Sam. Wait for the Seal team? Absolutely not. Look at his new gear!!!

-Go for the package? No, Sam goes for the hostages. He’s a people first guy.

-These fight scenes are fun. Sam really uses movement a lot to build force. It must drive the military nuts that Sam gets vibranium gear from Wakanda. Haha beating some dudes with cinder blocks - you can tell he’s still hanging with Bucky.

-He speaks Spanish. :) Arabic and Spanish so far?

-haha Joaquin. “Pleaaaaaase, can I please go get the bad guys?” And Sam’s like you can have a little fight, as a treat.

-Sam’s little smile when he’s about to fight one on one.

-Joaquin is hilarious. Big golden retriever energy.

-Shield flip!!!!

-“he has a fractured arm so be gentle” SAM haha

-Haha Sam setting up Joaquin with Isaiah. And Isaiah is looking good!

-Sam in superhero landing pose! Haha

-I already love Sam and Isaiah’s dynamic. Hah Joaquin better watch it 🤣🤣🤣

-I think Sam also needs a skeptic like Isaiah in his corner. I like this generational dynamic. Isaiah is oldest and wisest and skeptical. Sam is an optimist but maintains his pragmatism; he’s seasoned but looking for a better world. And Joaquin is young, eager, and smart. And their youth is also invigorating for Isaiah.

-Sam is rightly suspicious of Ross! He knows what that means, Avengers under one nation’s authority.

-And Japanese!

-It took 472627125 years but we have acknowledged the celestial in the ocean!

-Adamantium has entered the chat

-Isaiah :(

-Sam pulling the clip out of the gun was a cool as hell move.

-Omg Crying. “Please watch my suit.” Ouch OUCH. Sam looks devastated. He knows what this means to Isaiah.

-Honestly they stopped any fatalities at close range? That’s impressive.

-“Youre not Steve Rogers.” Kudos to Sam for not punching them both in the face. HE DID NOT CALL SAM WILSON SON 😡😡😡😡

-Death penalty case. JFC. GET THEM SAM

-Isaiah is breaking my heart. I can’t.

-Sam’s so smart. He’s like oh this is obviously brainwashing. Been there, done that, spent several years tracking a brainwashed assassin.

-Ross was obviously hit. Really should not have given away Red Hulk in the previews - super bizarre advertising choice because the foreshadowing is ruined. Why make it a mystery when the audience already knows?

-Oh shit! Sam! This fight scene is reminding me of the highway CATWS scene! :) Sam fighting with knives in him daaaamn. He never met Sam bring a knife to a gun fight Wilson!!!!

-Joaquin and his cafecito. Cubano time!

-I like that Sam is just like I do not have time to deal with a Black Widow today.

-Sam “I do what I want” Wilson.

-“Duh I know that’s what makes it so noble.” What a cute reframe of Sam and Steve’s “You don’t have to come with me.”

-I love that Joaquin is thinking of snacks. A man after my own heart.

-Past enemies are enemying

-Front trunk on the truck, fun

-redwing the best spy bot

-creepy place

-Ooo so we’re manipulating governments now. This is probably bad.

-I like that Sam is not predictable! Even to the super villain. Kind of an interesting thing to do with Sterns after so many years. He has hands in everything because he can brainwash people. Cool make up for Sterns.

-Good team work!

-World war! Revenge!

-Denis stop flirting with Sam.

-Okay I’m kind of into Sam and Sidewinder as flirty enemies. Do I sort of want them to be mortal enemies who sometimes fuck? Maybe but Sam would never haha

-Ross isn’t that guy anymore! UM kind of seems like he is.

-Sam and Joaquin flying in to the island was a cool shot!

-Really scary villain when anyone can be an enemy

-Oooo desperate Ross. Interesting.

-Sam is like do I really have to deal with this white man’s daughter drama?

-Oh shit! Fired on Japan!

-OMG the aerial battle is so cool! Top Gun but SAM is the plane. I love they finally gave my guy a helmet to breathe.

-SURFING

-Joaquin! Being over eager, wanting to prove himself and he goes down. Sam must be thinking of Riley.

-The scene of Sam pulling up the plane against Ross losing control was very good - great pacing and suspense there.

-Captain Joaquin now!

-Not Bucky wasting no time to tell Sam he looks good.

-Bucky knowing that Sam was asked to restart the Avengers does make Thunderbolts ECS more annoying.

-It’s interesting that Sam says Sterns as if Bucky knows what he means. Right now that isn’t public knowledge. It sounds like Sam and Bucky have been chatting.

-Can we go back to supportive Bucky, a good friend to Sam? The Bucky that didn’t insert himself into Sam’s business bc he trusts that Sam has it handled. That showed up because he needed a friend and some love?

-Isaiah. 😭😭😭😭

-Denis no!

-Leila is hot. I feel like she should have had a bigger role.

-Awkward phone call w your estranged dad.

-Sam is like uuuuugh this guy again.

-that seems bad

-Interesting that vibranium seems to work somewhat against Red Hulk!

-Taking him to a sentimental place. This isn’t random, Sam knows Bruce and that he can be talked down.

-So much of solving this plot relies on Sam’s role as an Avenger. Knowing about brainwashing, about dealing with Hulks. He’s worked his way into this position from years of experience that cumulatively make him the man for the job.

-Haha Bucky is full of shit loool

-The CGI gets a little shaky here but was otherwise good elsewhere.

-Isaiah! His suit! 😭😭😭😭

-Sam at the Raft! As a guest not a prisoner. Haha tit for tat with Ross!

-Nice full circle for them both. Sam is such a good person. He brought Betty!

-Isaiah visited Joaquin. Awww he’s going to a game! I love Isaiah. Protec

-Joaquin! Sam! I like that Sam and Joaquin talk about the pressure they face as men of color. Joaquin wanted to Sam. He joined the Air Force bc of Sam. 🥹 Awww Joaquin. I love their relationship. What a nice moment for Sam - this time his partner made it.

-The multiverse is coming - I wonder how Sam is busy preparing.

-Solid Marvel movie. Would’ve hit different if they had kept a lid on Red Hulk and the end was a little rushed, but I like that Sam and Ross came full circle, that we built relationships (including enemies!) for Sam, and we saw that Sam is not willing to be a government shill. The relationships between Sam, Isaiah, and Joaquin really carried the movie. I would have liked to have seen Sarah! Fun fight scenes - would’ve been a good mystery had the advertising been different. Definitely as good as First Avenger and better than Civil War.

[tbhimnoteasyonmyself]

WHAT THE FUCK IS UP WITH PHEE?

(and other equally puzzling things)

An EXTREMELY EXTENSIVE Post-Episode 10 Analysis/Theory

So, okay. Episode 10 was A LOT. Like... A LOT, A LOT. And a lot of this lot seems... Weird as fuck. So many odd choices were made in the narrative.

Top's drugged manipulation; White pulling info about shrooms out of his ass; Fluke becoming a victim of involuntary drug abuse ghosts of his past and begging for mercy after "all he did to Non"... But nothing beats Phee's OOC moments in ep.10 while he's alone with Jin.

Which is what compels me to make this post. Because this series has been nothing but the richness of detail and now suddenly... It's all over the place? Call it wishful thinking (or Last Twilight trauma) but I don't think so. And it mostly comes down to: Phee. And whatever his "agenda" is.

PS: All screenshots of the show I use (and I will use a lot) will have been brightened because this show is FUCKING DARK, BOYYYYYY and I don't think y'all deserve to force your sight at 3AM to enjoy my posts.

WHAT HAPPENS AND WHY IT'S SUSPICIOUS

So? What does Phee say and do when he's alone with Jin in ep.10 and why am I suspicious of it?

It's hard to say for sure. But we can base ourselves off of 3 things: what we hear him say, what Jin replies to him and the flashbacks (no, they're not just there to fill in time for this very short episode, they serve a narrative purpose).

So let's do this analysis following the order in which things are shown to us, shall we?

First of all, we get a short flashback. The events are as follows:

Phee and New go to see the gang's film

New approaches Phee and they talk

New and Phee decide to try and figure out what happened to Non by infiltrating the group

New and Phee join the gang's school and start asking questions

Jin decides to leave Thailand

New suggests going to Por's mansion for the goodbye party

Phee questions New in the lab about his decisions

New suggests using their homemade drug on the group as a truth serum

Phee asks if the drug is deadly and New denies it

Although we don't hear Phee tell this to Jin, Jin does reply very angrily something along the lines of "and you just let him carry on with it? why didn't you stop him? what the fuck is wrong with y'all???", so we can assume we've been shown what Phee told him.

So far, it's very unsuspicious. We've been shown these events before in the actual flashbacks so we can be fairly sure all of that is true.

It starts to get suspicious, however, when Phee replies to him: "There's so much more that you don't understand. About Non, and Tan".

And I think Jin feels the vibe too because, the man standing on his tall pillar of morality and righteousness /s, says he'll give Phee another chance to cut the bullshit and tell him everything. And so Phee sighs and the dreaded narration of ✨New's Murderous Adventures✨ starts.

So Phee tells Jin (and consequently us) that:

Phee and New set up a bunch of cameras to spy on the gang

New drugged the drinks

It was supposed to end when everyone was high at the party but New didn't follow the plan

New deleted the camera files

Phee kept drugging the group

Por's injury wasn't an accident but a trap that he thinks New set

New's drug enhances people's inner fears

Phee "never thought New would be so cruel with Uncle Dang"

New drugged Top at the temple

New must've left the hard disk for White to find

By the time he figured New's plan, there was nothing he could do about it (and we see him looking distressed at New's arrival at the house)

Now, here we have some interesting things. Let me list them for you.

Why would Phee keep drugging the group after Por got hurt?? If, as he claims, he didn't mean for people to get hurt, why would he keep people on drugs while a man is dying on the couch? Especially when the guy you're on a revenge mission with is ELIMINATING THE CONTENT OF THE CAMERA RECORDINGS!! That sure isn't gonna help anyone survive!

How does Phee know about Top??? He and Jin never saw Top arrive at the house. For all they know, that bro is lost in the woods. Right??

HOW THE FUCK DOES HE KNOW WHITE GOT THE HARD DRIVE??? There's no signal in the woods. We've established that. When White tells Tee and New about his actions they're ALONE. The only other person there is LITERALLY THE MASKY (I'm calling the masked person that for convenience, it's shorter. besides, it seems the fandom has been calling them that anyways, so... yeah). So how does he know? How does he know???

And in that same fucking sequence: THE MASKY TRIES TO HURT NEW!!! But if New told Top to hurt everyone who hurt Non, why would he hurt him??? And why, my friends, WHY would he SAVE TEE, when he's the only witness of those events??? It would be so easy to just say the masky killed Tee and he couldn't save him... Is it 4D chess??? Is it a different masky??? Or, is it simply not true that New did that?

It's very confusing, weird and suspicious. But let's wait it out, guys, because there's more to PheeJin in the temple.

After this odd-ass narration, they're back to having a convo. Which goes as follows:

Jin (very validly) asks Phee what the fuck is wrong with him and New

Phee says he'd never allow them to go if he knew New was going for murder instead of just confessions ("you can hate me if you want but I never wanted anyone to get hurt, I swear" or whatever he said)

Jin asks if Tan is New and Phee is Non's boyfriend

Phee confirms Jin's suspicions and even adds that "p'New came back from England"

Jin asks if they ever saw the group as their friends

Phee says they wanted to infiltrate the group to find the truth because they didn't know shit about what happened to Non and it's haunting them (good choice of words there, very subtle /s)

Phee explains his motivation, stating he told Non to "get lost and die"

Jin confesses to recording the child grooming revenge porn tape and posting it on Twitter (-_-)

Jin explains his motivation, saying he respected Non's relationship (by constantly making moves on him?) but couldn't stand him cheating on Phee (so he one-upped him by committing not one but two actual severe crimes?)

Phee appears to be mad and disgusted so he says "Fuck. So we both were the ones who hurt Non?", gets up and starts pacing (oh no! the big boy is angy~~~ /s)

Jin gets up like a sad wet cat

Phee randomly finds an axe and takes some exposition out of his ass by stating "this must be Tan's axe that he keeps as a spare. But it's good"

Phee breaks the gate

So by this point Phee's whole speech sounds a bit insane, considering the type of person we've seen he is. Not to mention he just INSTANTLY calms down upon finding an axe and just decides to move on. Like ??? Excuse me??? If that ain't weird then idk what is. Like, sure, Phee is a very confusing and confused character (as better explored by @crysta1ized in this post). He seems to have his heart divided between many things and they could all be pulling at his strings there. HOWEVER, we have to remember Phee's also THIS guy:

Does this look like the kind of person who would just move on after a (perceived) treason? Does he??

And, the thing about this is that it gets worse.

After the scene cuts back from the house, Pheejin are lost in the damn woods (parallels to New and Tee? mayhaps, man, mayhaps...) These are the events there:

Phee is back to supporting Jin's weight with his body while they walk (which makes no fucking sense bc Jin hurt his SHOULDER which is a part of his UPPER BODY so there's no reason why he couldn't walk on his own but okay, sure)

They make no progress walking for a while, even despite trying to mark the places they've already been at

Jin is very upset that Phee's not very good at navigating through unknown forests at night

Phee, however, is very understanding and says: "Jin. I told you that I would be the one who would protect you. So I'll get you out of here" then PROCEEDS TO HOLD HANDS with him and continues with: "Right now, our friends are waiting for us to help them. So, you must stay strong. Believe in me"

Jin nods (because, despite trying to play the apathetic bitch, he's a softie and very much has feelings™)

PheeJin finally find the exit of the fucking forest

DO Y'ALL SEE HOW SOMETHING'S VERY WRONG WITH PHEE HERE??? Bro's not just acting weird (that would be fine, we love weirdos. *looks at New and winks* <3), he's abnormal. He's not acting like himself.

So, before I jump into trying to make some sense out of all of this, I'll just add the last scene of PheeJin alone in ep.10, last anyone come tell me I missed it:

They're arriving at the mansion

Jin falls down

Phee abandons the axe to help him

I don't think this one is particularly relevant to analyse Phee's character in this episode (although the axe is certainly relevant for other plots and our dear 9th person) but it's there. After this, they're back in the house with everyone and Por's rotting corpse.

PHEE IS HIDING THINGS

So what the fuck happened, really? Well, a lot. Some are easier, I think, to interpret, some aren't but regardless, there was a lot going on with Phee. To make this very complex thing a bit easier to understand, I'll start from the things I think are a bit easier to explain and/or are more solid and then I'll move from there towards the rest of this mess. Okay? Ok- (gets shot bc I hate John Green).

One thing for me that's nearly set in stone is that Phee, at the very least, isn't telling Jin everything. If he was, then the flashbacks would've started with PheeNon's falling love montage but they don't. They start at the cinema. Plus, Jin has to ask if Phee is Non's boyfriend and Tan is New, like he's piecing things by himself. If Phee had told him that, he wouldn't need to ask. AND Phee would've have referred to New as New during his whole monologue but he did not. He kept saying "Tan". He only started doing so after Jin asked the question and he confirmed Tan was New.

Curiously enough, he also never mentions the antidote he knows exists and KNOWS New brought along. And that neither of them ever used on the others.

The million-dollar question here is then, naturally: why? Various reasons, I believe.

1st of all I think we have to account for the feels. Phee is definitely in a weird ass zone with Jin but it's something. And he feels that something (whatever it is. believe me I could make an entire post about that shit, it's so fucking complex, man, and it only gets worse this episode). He likes Jin, even if he tries not to or if he dislikes that he likes him. It's undeniable. So yes, of course, he doesn't want Jin to hate his guts more than necessary.

But also... We cannot forget why Phee himself is there: to find out what happened to Non. And what does he get out of the conversation he has with Jin? That's right. A confession.

Now, I don't think it's the confession he expected if his reactions are anything to go by:

I mean... If this is not the face of a man thinking "well, shit", then idk what it is. And also because, idk if it's a subtitle error or not, but he seems to ask "what did you three do?" when he's inquiring about the events of the past, so...

Someone is being excluded.

Still, I think it's super possible he was hoping to get something out of it. After all, even if he assumes Jin is innocent in his actions, I don't think he's excluding him from having knowledge of what went down. That would make his positive bias even sillier.

So yeah, sure, I bet Phee feels genuinely guilty and it hurts him to be in the situation he's in and he definitely wants to be in a good place in terms of his relationship with Jin, especially because, as he said, he doesn't know if they can get out of the temple. But also... As Ta (Phee's actor) himself said in an interview: Phee can be really manipulative (I can't find the damn interview rn but, during my search, I found @raelle-writing had also mentioned it in this post, so I think it's enough to say I didn't dream that shit). You know... 2 things can be true at once.

Which brings me to the next part:

PHEE IS LYING

That whole talk of "I never thought he would hurt you", "if I had known I wouldn't have let you come", blah, blah, blah. That's some major BULLSHIT.

Phee knew exactly what New was capable of. At least, on a subconscious level. After all, if my friends started being murdered, my 1st assumption would not be that my best friend did it. Unless, of course, my best friend was spiralling down to madness, constantly using drugs to see his dead brother and answering shit like this:

With a smirk on, when I ask him if the absynthe is gonna kill our friends. Because yeah, sure, I guess the green won't kill them. But you can't tell me this motherfucker wouldn't. He definitely would. And if we can infer that, so does Phee, who has been living with him as his close friend for the last 3 years.

In fact, the very fact that he feels the need to ask whether or not the drugs will kill the gang is proof enough that he, to some extent and, whether or not he's aware of it, KNOWS that's, at least, a possibility. Knows that's something New would do.

So yeah, he's perhaps not just lying to Jin (but also to himself) or not intentionally lying, but he's lying nevertheless. Phee knew this was a possibility. He knew New was capable of stuff like that. And when he pieces the story together, that's him admitting, even if no one realizes, that he knew it. And that he let it happen, in fact, because he never tried to stop the drugging. Or talked to New about what was going on (you'd think if he had that he would've told Jin in that situation). His biggest weapon is his knowledge and he chose not to swing the sword sooner. How very Fluke of him, isn't it? Especially because now 2 people are dead and that's on New, right? Right???

Not necessarily.

NEW IS NOT A MURDERER (initially)

You see, for all we see New is fine with death and murder in episodes 9 and 10, he makes it clear his nº1 goal is to figure out what happened to Non when he gets in front of a fucking firearm to harass Tee into talking.

So why would he talk Top into murder? Why would Top attack him?? Why would he kill Uncle Dang?? And why, on the goddamn Earth, would he eliminate the recordings in the house when his whole motivation is

(Thank you, hallucination Non <3) to expose them??? Especially when the only other person who knew about the hidden cameras was Phee. It makes no sense! Sure, he might've contemplated the murder, but on a later phase of the plan, I think. The priority was, always, to get them to confess on camera so he could later use the recordings to expose them to the country and clear Non's image. 'Cause we cannot forget, while the people close to Non don't buy the bullshit TV news sensationalist story (and, therefore, are searching for the truth), the rest of the country thinks Non is a slut who ran away with mafia money and his teacher (because, like @delululover explains in this post: Asian culture tends to normalize grooming of older teens and even blame them for the situation).

So what are we seeing when Phee narrates the events? Well, probably just Phee's guesses.

He thinks New is deranged and has drugs and that Top is missing and now they're being attacked by this person, who is conveniently wearing a mask. So he guesses that's Top. Plus, he doesn't know New was attacked by Masky in the middle of the forest.

He knows, like everyone else, that New had the hard drive. And, when Top and New go out in the woods with the bike he remains in the house. So, it's possible he saw the hard drive there where New left it before he went out.

And, because the only 2 people remaining in the house, as far as Phee knows, are Fluke and White, and New DEFINITELY wouldn't want the drive to get into Fluke's hands, he must've assumed New wanted White to find it (which may or may not be true but it's irrelevant, I think).

And, yes, calm down, I can hear you scream: "But how did he know White watched the video???" And the answer I bring you is very simple: he didn't. He has no idea. And the best part is: you only think he knows because you know. But Phee never says that. He says New left the hard drive there for White to find. And that's it. He never mentions a video whatsoever.

Now, is it convoluted? Yes. Absolutely. But we have to think this is Phee we're talking about. He's the guy who always thinks he has the upper hand (a.k.a thinking he can save Non or that he's not falling in Love with Jin). It's almost impossible for him to think he's in the dark as to what is happening to them. After all, in his narrative of his life, he is the hero. And, I know, lots of people in the fandom see it that way as well, so... It's not impossible to imagine that's what the story is trying to sell us. It's trying to make us believe Phee knows. When in reality, I think, it's more likely that Phee's the embodiment of this meme:

Okay. But then if New didn't do it, then who did? Because something is obviously going on with Top, right? And Uncle Dang IS very much dead. So what the fuck is that all about?

THE SECRET 9TH PERSON? ENTITY? THING?

As discussed several times by several people in this fandom, there's a very high possibility that there's someone else with them in the woods.

@blmpff points out the existence of various versions of the mask here. @subtextsays points out the crutches in the bathroom scene with Top here. There's this shit:

Whatever it fucking means (besides the fact that it gives me the hibbie jibbies). Someone is also obviously taking care of the Janta cult because there's fresh food in the offerings.

@raelle-writing also points out here that New is also seeing stuff even though our favourite insane motherfucker has got (and has been using!) the antidote.

And, as of episode 10, as @babyangelsky pointed out in this post, when PheeJin are lost in the damn woods, the cuts on the wood Phee supposedly make keep changing.

Which makes both of us question if they're all the same cut or even all done by Phee.

So, I think this is enough to speculate Phee could very much just be misinterpreting the whole thing and attributing guilt to New when, in fact, someone else has been causing the deaths.

Now you may question who and that's all very fair. You should even. But that is not what this post is about and, frankly, thank god, because this is already a monstrous creation.

So let's pick these cuts in the wood and use it as a segway to the last part of this, shall we?

PHEE IS AS BENEVOLENT AS A GREEK GOD

So Phee's mad. Super mad. He's passing around and cursing.

Jin, the only person he probably genuinely thought didn't do anything, is the one who recorded and posted the video.

And then Phee finds an axe. And, suddenly, Phee changes. Why?

Well, we have to look at it with what urges Phee to talk in the first place (besides his feelings and his wants): Phee is losing hope. He states it himself that he doesn't think they're going to be able to get out of the temple. So, he talks. Sure, he doesn't say everything but it's the closest to being honest with Jin we've ever seen him be.

And then their whole reality changes. Because Phee found an axe. And it all comes down on him: they are going to get out of there. And what now?

As @yellingaboutkp states in this post Phee is not only hard to read for us or confusing to the other characters (Jin mainly). He's also hard to read and confusing to himself: "...is Phee still playing Jin? It seems like he's trying to, but the more time he spends with Jin, the harder it's getting to stick to the plan."

Thus, what we see at the end of their time in the temple and alone in the woods is a mix of things, I believe.

Phee needs to feel like he's in control again. And with the original plan being ruined and Jin knowing too much (and there's no way he's not gonna speak, in fact, it's the very first thing he does when they arrive at he house) he's simply not. So when he tells Jin everything is gonna be alright, he's also trying to tell that to himself. He's trying to reassure himself that they're gonna get out of that huge mess. And, perhaps, in saving Jin also finding some redemption because, according to his own narration of the events, he let New go too far (as Jin points out).

Phee also knows more now. And maybe, if he was able to get Jin to speak once, without even having to force anything out of him. who knows if he cannot do it a second time in front of the cameras they've set inside the house? So he's trying to follow the script and manipulate him into trusting him, like he always has been trying to do. Except this time he's more bitter about it. And this, alongside with reason 1, is why these two scenes feel so different:

And lastly: Phee knows the catastrophic effects his words and actions had on Non when they broke up. He knows the consequences of his rage. It's the entire reason why he's there. Because he failed at being a good boyfriend the 1st time. Does he really want that to happen again? Does he want to fail Jin too? There's a reason (besides the story itself and his need to justify himself to Jin) why we see that flashback of his break-up with Non in this episode. And I believe this is it. (so yeah, I understand it might be frustrating to see Phee be more benevolent to Jin who fucked up big time than Non who didn't do anything, it is EXACTLY because he wasn't benevolent to Non that Jin is getting princess treatment)

So, in conclusion: Phee is fucking confused. And it carries on being that way for the rest of the episode. Phee calls New out but he doesn't seem to care too much about Por being dead on the couch. He helps Jin on the ground, but he doesn't say a thing about Fluke pointing a gun at Tee. Sure, he does ask for the gun at a certain point but isn't that just more of Phee's desperate need to get control back?

And we see this all come down to the preview of the next episode and what it's probably going to mean:

Phee finally has got things under his control again. But this means, surprise, surprise, that Phee's gotta make a choice: to shoot (and stand on New's side) or not to shoot (and stand on the gang's side). Which, of course, metaphorically is a choice, in good romance and BL fashion, between 2 lovers: Non and Jin. But also, in good storytelling, as, once again, @raelle-writing (can't help myself, Rae's posts are FIRE 🔥🔥 sksksksksks) explores better in this post: a choice between the past and the present; continuing to drown in grief and a wish for revenge or choosing to move on and heal.

And, as I (YES, if I'm gonna tag a bunch of people and their works, YOU BET, I'm gonna link my own stuff) explore in this post about White's identity and role in the story (and other people in the fandom have commented as well), I'm inclined to believe he's gonna pick the gang, Jin, the present, healing. Because this is a story about the damage caused by cycles of violence and grief. And a story about how, the only way to stop them, is to choose not to participate in them by letting go.

(and also because we already have characters who represent different choices like Non, who was always stuck in the future because he kept getting deeper and deeper into shit, thinking tomorrow would be better; or New, who is very obviously stuck in the past, unable to let go of the things he didn't do, the things he didn't prevent and only ends up losing more and more as a consequence)

CONCLUSION

Thank you for your time and attention. Feel free to comment and discuss this with me. And I'll see you either on my next long-ass monologue or next Saturday as we watch episode 11!

All the love 💜💜💜

PS: Shout-out to the group chat, including, but not limited to: @ayansbff, @cyberstalking and @squishysquadstuff who have listened to me ranting about this post since Saturday and told me to eat when I was too focused on writing it. Your patience was fundamental in carrying me through this monstrous project (it took me 10 hours to write all this) 💜💜💜.

[ruby-red-inky-blue]

8, 18 and 27 for Cassian (ask game) 😊

8. What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you despise?

Less serious ones that annoy me:

Cassian being over-the-top spectacular in bed to the point people would like. gossip about it. this dude is running on empty, hypervigilant and compulsively secretive. he has neither the energy nor the motivation OR the time to become a sex god i'm sorry (admittedly he's also so deeply ace-spec in my head that this interpretation is somewhat confusing or that reason, too)

making Cassian speak Festian/Spanish randomly in really basic sentences or even worse in individual basic words in the middle of Basic/English sentences. I'm sorry but I'm multilingual and idk. we just don't do that, at least not the way a lot of fanfic writers think we do. It comes off as kind of goofy and awkward at best and... weirdly fetishising at worst. (I'm not saying I don't like reading about Festian/Spanish speaking Cassian, because I LOVE that shit. Just the way that a lot of [presumably] monolingual writers do it is a good way to get me to click out of a fic real fast. btw if anyone has examples they think did this really well, I'd love the recs!

The silliest of pet peeves, but I simply refuse to read fic where Jyn calls Cassian "Cassi". I can't explain why but I hate that nickname with a burning passion and it's a hard no from me.

A little more serious, although despise is a strong word:

I feel like this point is exemplified weirdly well in this old poll by @andorerso on which part of the "mansplain manipulate manslaughter etc." meme describes him best. "Manipulate" is scoring WAY too low in the ranking in fandom for my taste. We see Cassian kill a bunch of people because he is in extraordinary circumstances in the movie, and because he is at the end of his fucking rope and that doesn't just make a man like that sad and deplorable. It makes him so dangerous. But overall, spies don't want to kill people. To quote The Americans, because what else would I quote on the topic of spies ever:

“Sometimes I wonder if you understand spies. [In the end,] do you want to put them in jail? That’s how a policeman thinks, not how spies think. We want everyone to stay right where they are, and bleed everything they know out of them. Forever.”

Cassian is a spy as well as an assassin, and that doesn't just - or even mostly! - mean sexy murdering. It means running people. It means getting people to do what he wants, via lying, truth, threats, promises or otherwise - and getting those people to keep doing that for as long as he can get them to, and ideally bring him more people to manipulate. I often miss that aspect of spy work both in how his missions get written, but also in him as a person. He's not just a liar (although I think he is that, too) - he's extremely good at manipulating people and idk, I feel like that either gets a little neglected or it just turns into "dude is super hot and can get stuff from anyone because they want to fuck him". That's such a boring take on manipulation!! Give me more Cassian being scary smart about where people's levers are and how to pull them for maximum effect! (I recognise this is very hard to write unless you are also good at it, but I believe in us!)

18. How about a relationship they have in canon with another character that you admire?

I could say Jyn and immediately run out of space here lol. I also already talked about how much I like his relationship with Kay, because everything about it says "I'm your CO first and your only friend second" and nothing about it says "you are less valuable to me than an organic" or "you are property".

So... let me say Bodhi. Based almost 100 percent on the way Cassian watches Bodhi's little speech about how Galen said he could make things right if he followed his heart (because that's where I'm currently stuck in my rewatch and my memory is hazy on the Eadu details!). It's so brief but you can see this sudden ache in Cassian here, and it gets me so much. He so wants to believe this, but he's too jaded at this point. But it still gets the cogs moving. I love how this is so clearly a huge part of why he falters moments later on Eadu. There are also some really neat things later on, but I'd really have to rewatch the last half of the movie to make points about that! (I plan to!!! maybe tomorrow, fingers crossed!)

27. What is a color or colors that you think of when you think of this character, be it their canon color(s) or not?

If I had to pick a colour, I guess the blue of his parka comes to mind. But the actual answer is kind of fun, and very sad at the same time: Especially when writing with focus on Cassian's POV... he doesn't have a colour. Actually, I used to do this thing where I'd run colours through the search function of my word doc for my fics to see which I had mentioned a lot - both to see if any themes emerge and also just to check if I was using colour, because my imagination is not very visual. And The World Through a Scope, which was my main fic for eight years, had three colours that repeated with any significance - green and gold, both of which were firmly connected to Jyn, and blue which connected to Mothma (Cassian's therapist in this fic). Cassian was never described in colours, not even from Jyn's POV. I wasn't doing that on purpose, at least not at first, but I think it fits very well, at least for movie-Cassian. I think he'd need time to... regain colour, you know? He's had to purge so much of himself.

But yeah, I guess I could eventually go with dark navy, or a really nice warm, dark brown like a dark wood, polished walnut or something.

Character Ask Meme!

[555-yosi]

Opinions on Myra Brandish?

Thanks for your question!

I'm a big fan of several key things that define her character:

I love the trope of people who are assigned to each other falling in love, like even more so when its Weird. Like this is an OSI-themed blog so I don't talk about them much here but that's like one of the core appeals of petebilly to me lmao, how much they're stuck together. It got weird decades ago but they're still stuck together. Anyway.

I love the way her existence bounces off the main characters and how much we learn about them through their interactions with and reactions to her

And I love it when the show leans into how fucked up the OSI is and how deranged it is in terms of managing its agents

That being said, she is definitely one of the more blatant manifestations of the show's misogyny, through her design alone (though Lord knows I'm willing to overlook that to engage with a character I enjoy, like my Big Three includes Hunter) and also with her being a "hysterical" character. Honestly I feel like the hysteria angle could have been lessened if the show had leant into more of how just mind-wrenchingly torturous it would be to have Brock's job while also being a woman in constant close personal proximity to Rusty Venture. Because, frankly, I Get It. That would fucking ruin you, mentally.

Especially because Rusty says he "let her believe she was the boys' mother". The show really kind of breezes right by you with the implication but what Myra thought she was doing in The Invisible Hand of Fate was protecting her infant sons from armed forces her disdainful basically-husband had called on her. Putting yourself in her shoes is really chilling and it honestly leaves a bad taste in my mouth to think about how much of it was played for straight comedy (especially the like. visual joke of her appearance being an incongruent mix of conventionally attractive and unattractive traits like please do not demand an opinion on her body from me. I do not want to be in this seat of power with you. Stop pointing out the bra.)

All that being said, one of my favourite things they did with her was position her as an unintentionally abusive parental figure to Dean in Momma's Boys. Like

- - okay before we get into that actual episode, can I just point out how interesting it is that Myra, an OSI agent who was taken into OSI custody, was committed to the same mental facility which houses Guild members? Who runs that place? Lore for thought. - -

Myra showcases some classic manipulation tactics in that episode to try and get Dean closer to her, and more dependent on her, emotionally (which, frankly, isn't difficult. Season 5 Dean is going through an awful time and like nobody in his support system has any emotional intelligence. With Triana moved out he doesn't have an excuse to hang out with Orpheus much anymore, and he definitely doesn't have the confidence to approach much anyone on his own, so it's kind of a perfect power vacuum for someone like Myra to gain a foothold). It's clear she's doing this for very simple and understandable reasons:

she thinks Dean is her son

she is institutionalised away from anyone willing to be empathetic with her and so is in desperate need of human connection, and

Dean is a nice boy who throughout the series regularly shows empathetic connection with characters who are framed as not "deserving" it

But what I love love love love love is that she goes about doing it in such an insane way that requires so much skill and effort that repeatedly reinforces that (yes, she's insane, but also) she's a fucking spy. She gets everyone in Dunwitch Asylum (including several guards in addition to the inmates) on her side and basically into a fucking cult with her and pulls off some slick deceptions with the guards she hasn't managed to convert. I was just hype as hell to see her show off her skills lmao, though I was rather disappointed that her plan turned out to be more maternal obsession. I feel like I'm slightly more lenient on the motherhood stuff in this show just because it is a show about the inherent harm of being a parent lmao but I wish they had let Myra be more than just that, you know?

I wish we had gotten more from her in general - I would have liked to see more flashbacks about what it was like going from a highly skilled rookie agent to a dangerously unstable threat - every time we see her she seems solely one or the other.

TL;DR I like her a lot more in theory than in practice, but if there's one things vbros fans are good at doing its expanding on female characters through fanworks, so keep 'em coming please

[dippedinmelancholy]

TW for spoliers for Dragon Age Inquistion (I guess????? It't been 10+ years guys) I keep seeing a lot of people talking about Solas and how horrible he is ( keep my wife's name out of your mouth, I love him your honor) but like, honestly as someone who fell in love Dragon Age Inquisition, it triggered my entire love for the whole series . . . people are missing something huge. Literally all of the main companions, and honestly all of the Advisors, are morally grey, fucked up people. Cole - Literally a spirit/demon. Kills people to 'help'. Varric - Bro is in a long term affair with a woman he can't/won't commit to, is constantly running from responsibility. Sera - Claims to be on the side of the small and helpless, could not give two fucks about the elves at all. Is obscenely racist and cruel, especially if you're playing Dalish. Doesn't seem to give any fucks for how her actions make others feel. Cassandra - Seeker/Templar. Thedas cop. Doesn't care that the mages are regularly abused and violated. Blindly believes in the Chantry, and even after she is given evidence of their fucks ups, cannot pull herself away. Iron Bull - Once again, massively dangerous, worse than a cop. Warrior/master spy. Openly infiltrates your group, sees no sin in how the Qunari operate or stripping people entirely of rights. Blackwall - War criminal????? Fucks you in a barn and leaves???? Takes on the identity of a Warden all in hopes that he can pretend hard enough to be a decent person. Again, dude fucks you in a barn. Jail. Gross. Vivenne - Hungrily plays the politics of Orlais. Believes in keeping the mages in Circles, regardless of the abuse, and is constantly out for her own gain. Her reasonings are wholly selfish. Dorian - Bro defends slavery like five minutes after meeting you. The need for gay rights doesn't fix that my guy. Solas - Doesn't see anyone in the world as people unless/until you change his mind. Sees the Iquisition as a means to an end, and your Inquisitor as someone to manipulate to get to his end goals. Cullen - Reformed Templar, fighting addiction and his past crimes. Abused, violated, he didn't believe mages were people. Josephine - Was a Bard in Orlais. Sounds nice, actually murderous. Killed a friend, is haunted by the act. Though sweet, plays the Game as ruthlessly as anyone else. Leliana - Assassin, murderer, has no problems with being brutal and manipulating everyone for her end goals. Every single one of them are terrible. They are people who have done terrible things, brutalized others, and yet have chosen to stay with the Inquisition. From all corners of Thedas, and yet dedicated to protect the world. Even Solas. His goal to tear down the veil isn't a desire to destroy the world. It's to save the very crumb of his people that remains. And in all of these characters, YOU shape them. You help them choose to be better or worse. That is the beauty of Inquisition. When the world is falling to shit, the sky is literally caving in and a would be god is trying to destroy you all out of spite, PEOPLE come together. They want to protect the world. If you're going to apply a cold, unmoving and non-understanding moral compass to Solas, you better be prepared to do it to every single one of them.

[cosmicangel888]

DIVINE HUMAN REMAKING ~ DF NOW

The Respect and Honour of A DF

The weight it carries ~ test this for 1 week and then go within and seek out new levels of self love, self appreciation, and self honour - as a tribe, we must set new self loving knowing of our capabilities after eons of imprints, social mud, and lower vibrational non-existence for who we are in our creative collective make-up.

Whatever situation you are in and are moving through - how may you pull out of whatever is most in front of you - the red flags, the intuition yelling at you - to change and face and move through - not denying, not suppressing but know you are strong enough to let go of and remake. ©

DF our work, our world, our word, our speech, our actions what we intend is so powerful on this planet - who are you

All are unique and this was a part of your #calgary lessons -

I was unique and not like you - I was an easy target - so learn it

I will not return

Nor do I declare any of you my friends - nothing has been offered given freely without a conditions and looking for something out of it - I have received literally nothing but pain, suffering, damage - and a lot of loss. I HAVE LEARNED MY LESSONS and thank you for the soul lessons - I don't love any of the past - I have done my healing - I no longer need validation or permission, or any's acceptance - I love who I am exactly and I am so happy of all my uniqueness -

The past will not be my future

The past people, ex, persons, are not going to be in my new life - all must go away and heal, and level up, and clear up karma and choices of degrading life-styles and why manipulation, deceit, lies, paying people off, nefarious activities and forcing energy, binding work daily, is a 'thing' that seems ok

~ ~ these are highly insecure tactics, not facing who any truly are, and hiding behind false masks, businesses, and fronts to appear one way and entirely not behind the doors; while degrading the only truth in the entire community and running her out of town due to stalking, spying, and blocking abundance, blocking people, and living like a slave ~ 

As long as I did not say anything - all was good - no thank you  It takes years to heal from what I barely escaped -

THE PAST WILL NOT RETURN -  I do not need a 2 yrs late apology of half truth and half stories so you can feel better - it will mean nothing to me. I said NO 1 billion times, do healing light work daily, for all involved to get on track and heal - do the inner work;

I am not anyones saviour nor will I walk and take any's karma and I will not rebuild what I only gave light to - 

I will not be taken advantage again nor placed in a home, with all the 'stuff' and live like a caged harvesting light post for the entire poly coven to suck the life out of me - while still not doing the work and not caring who they hurt. I cut my losses 2 yrs and left and I will keep leaving - 

There has be not 1 penny repaid - same story, same messages, same warning spirit gives and shows the same level of consciousness and I will not waste my life in such - I am highly advanced being and will not be eaten alive by those that simply don't give a fuck unless there is money and stuff to go with their games of spells and manipulation -  ©

Forgiveness to all -  I gave all more than they know  I showed, I offered, I gave so much light and the lessons were to choose new, and choose new ways to go within and reconnect with the higher self and be loved, be loving and do the inner work to not be followers of sick people that only want to herd and manipulate and use you - 

I will not give another ounce - 

Time was up 2 yrs ago - all know that 

My work has not been returned, there is not 1 penny returned and none have sent an apology via email, or my lawyer - and all know the contact details - it is common human sense and none have done 1 ounce of redemption - therefore my life, my damage and my souls wasting timelines, energy, light, the time I could have helped others that do care -

None 'get' any of the damage they have done - therefore - ©

I WILL NEVER SAY YES to go back to what I barely made it out of - 

I have learned and honoured all karmic lessons 

I choose me I choose me  I choose me 

I love myself

That is who I have fallen in love with - it is me.

Self love is keep moving and keep going - never look back and if all want something bad enough they will turn to God and sort out their lack of self issues, woundings, and there over 600 videos on our channel alone to help - 

This week - they still sent spell work, they still put their sick degrading words into the air in hopes I would take that on and be it -

I will not engage and I will not play - it is the same sick game of intimidation to break you and make you run back for more abuse - it is deep psychological abuse training -

love is not manipulative

love is not deceitful

love is overpowering and filled with magic to get your way

love is not persuasive to intend one thing and twist to get another

love is not forceful and boastful and selfish

love is not prideful and arrogant to be better and win over others

love is unconditional and it begins within - how you treat yourself want for yourself and knowing you need nothing outside of you -

love is no co-dependent -

I WILL ALWAYS say NO and spirit, ancestors, God will have no more - and why I am protected - DF should not have to say NO and explain in 1 million different ways why NO MEANS NO I don't love any of the past - the love was lost in all the spell work, and the torturous human testing that many knew and did 0 about and 0 repayment and continued fighting for every right I have - not 1 stepped up and brought truth -

I will not lower my vibration to be in any way involved and their games continue to try anything and everything to keep me bound, staying in their games with false narratives and lies, and spell work - games with those that they might get to play along and pull me back in - ©

NO MEANS NO

Heal your community - you #calgary all broke it - your community needs to redeem you - you all brought so much harm and darkness there -

I need nothing but what was stolen -

Still my accounts sit at 0 - so you can tell where they conscience is at - and has been for years.

NO WILL ALWAYS BE NO - learn the soul lessons and if you love yourself you would never ever ever treat any the way I was treated - basic human and common sense -

When all have made the improvements and shown to themselves they are their own answer - I will be open to discussions of assisting in what ways I may be able - until then, and it will take time, self love, and self compassion - all must show they are enough to do the work - just as the heavens asks of me -

I now ask of you - you must know of your own self love and choose for you -

I will not interfere in the most powerful lessons all have to know GOD is all you need - how to seek IT and how to surrender to IT

Friends don't try to block, bring them down, and bring them into submission or less than, and joke, laugh, and prey upon them - it was literally a horrible horrible experience - I felt it all - ©

Sit in, feel what has been created from years years of manipulated life, spell work, and intentions - all get to choose - so choose anew.

You would believe someone you have known for 30yrs over a false spiritualist that is nothing but a con and thief.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwpec...

All is forgiven,

Move on

Grow up

Get healed

Damage was done beyond what any know and nor seem to care - Our levels of honouring life are on completely different vibrations and I will not waste any more of my life. LEAVE ME BE - 

Blessings and light

Joanna

More on Creational Realities; Paradigms Shifting of Consciousness ~ Perfection of the Divine Plan for all life; For private sessions, webinars, classes or consulting ~

Email me at JoannaCosmicAngel@yahoo.com

DONATIONs; PayPal link here; paypal.me/JoannaLRoss

#ascension #consciousness #healinghumanity

#compassion #healingourchildren

#GOD #Source #healingcorruption #healingblackmagic #healinghumantesting #healingdysfunction #healinghumanabuse

#Newearth #5Dearth #forgiveness #lovingourself #selflove #selfdesign #selfhonour #selfvalue #rewritinghumanity #trustinGod

#5Dredesign #chakras #philosophy #takinghumanityfarther

People make the world go 'round, money does not - we must truly shift our need for greed, and greed for the need - it has made a sick tortured culture of voting for people like musk, trump, that choose to defile and degrading human loving source -

[vukovich]

Chapter Thirty-one

“Ask me what?” Ron said, joining her in the doorway.

Harry died inside, and pleaded to Ron with his eyes, but he was only looking at Hermione.

“Who Harry’s date is with tonight,” she said.

Ron shrugged.  “How should I know?”

“Even you don’t know her name?”  Hermione glanced between them.  “Ron, she didn’t ask you for money, did she?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Harry said you set him up on a date tonight.”

Ron scoffed and looked Harry up and down, but he was half-hidden behind his desk.  “I absolutely did not.”

She put a fist to her hip.  “Did you hire him a prostitute, then?  Just cut straight to the chase for him and save him the trouble?”

It was probably an oblique barb about Angie.

“Hermione!” Ron yelled.  Her full name.  “I didn’t set him up with anyone.”

They both looked at Harry.

“Uhm.”

“He lied?” Hermione said.  “Oh!  Is she Muggle?”

“Uhm, no,” Harry said.

“Ugly?” Ron asked.

Hermione rolled her eyes.  “Maybe she’s actually married.  Ron.”

“And maybe her husband’s a fucking workaholic, Granger,” Ron spat.

“Well, maybe-”

Harry cleared his throat.

They loved each other, and this was what it looked like.

Grudgingly, Ron said, “Mum said she’d watch the kids when we’ve got appointments or whatnot.”

“Good.”  Hermione’s wrath evaporated on a controlled sigh.  “Thank you for telling her what’s going on.  I’m sure that was unpleasant.”

“Less than you’d think,” Ron said coldly.  “She’s friend’s with Angie’s great-aunt.”

It was a precise cut, with all the deliberation of a chess move.  Hermione was probably giddy to be rid of her mother-in-law, but Molly actively approving of her replacement was a kick in the pants.  It was another reminder that Hermione had never been an equal at the Weasley table.

Hermione grasped for words and failed, whispering, “I forgot how cruel you could be.”

She bundled her arms around her middle and left.

“Ron,” Harry eventually said, and waited for Ron to stop watching Hermione leave.  “That was a bit much, don’t you think?”

Ron stuffed his hands in his trouser pockets and blew out a long breath.  “Which is worse?  Manipulating your husband’s career for your own personal gain, every single day, for fifteen years, or slipping your dick in a coworker on the weekends?”

“Uhm,” Harry said, because there wasn’t a clear winner there.  “Did ‘Mione pull strings to get you your Internal security assignment?”

It wasn’t a big deal if she had.  Ron was an outstanding Auror, and he and Harry had the longest tenures of most of the Aurors who hadn’t wound up in administration or early retirement.  Plus, half of Ron’s family worked at Ministry Headquarters, so he was well-known and well-liked.  Ultimately, Ron would have been offered the position on his own merits.

“She forced me into Internal,” Ron said.  “Had me bloody drafted.”

Harry shrugged.  “So you’d have weekends off to spend time with the kids?”

Ron shook his head.  “So she could keep an eye on me.”  Harry didn’t interject that maybe she was justified in that.  “And so she could use me as a fucking spy.”

Ron mostly worked the Atrium checkpoints, scanning people for contraband magic, issuing visitor passes, and giving directions.  It wasn’t exactly a position rife with espionage opportunities.

Ron put on a nasally falsetto.  “Who was the Minister talking to on the way in this morning?  Did they arrive together or separately?  What were they talking about?  What did you hear?  Tomorrow, see if you can ask where he’s having lunch, and if he says he doesn’t know, tell him the butter chicken at Chutney Mary is the best.  I’ll be there to run into him.”

“Oh,” Harry said.  “That’s annoying.”

“I think she’s more upset about losing her pet Auror than her husband, to be honest.”  Ron cracked a smile that started hesitant, but bloomed into a true, teeth-showing grin.  “And I think I’m gonna ask Robards to move me.  I could go do something fun.  And I can dump all the cold cases she roped me into.”

His eyes seemed bluer. 

“Fuck,” Ron said with a sigh.  “Cheating on my wife might be the best thing I’ve done since marrying her.”

It was disgusting in its truthfulness.  Like watching sausage be made, but instead of a pulverized animal carcass, it was a relationship.

“There’s another Drear expedition heading out next week,” Harry said.

“I said fun, not fatal,” Ron replied.  He sighed.  “Never marry a politician, Harry.”

“Uhm, all right.”

“So, who’s your date with?”

“I…”  He couldn’t well claim to not know again.  And Ron was better at calling a bluff than Hermione.  “It’s…”

Ron rolled his eyes.  “I’m not exactly in a place to judge your choices, Harry.”

“Right, well,” Harry said.  Maybe he could tell Ron the truth.  When they’d been at the pub, he didn’t seem to hold any animosity towards Malfoy.  “I’m going out with Malfoy tonight, actually.”

He expected shock, or revulsion, or something dramatic.  Instead, Ron hummed, then tilted his head back and forth for a moment, as though sifting his thoughts.

“Yeah,” he said.  “I can see it.  He’s kinda… pretty, you know?  Like, buy him some tits and grow his hair out, and… yeah.”

Harry blinked at him.  He and Ron had very different perceptions of Draco Malfoy.  But at least Ron wasn’t against the idea.

“Be careful, though,” Ron added.

“I will, Dad.  Thanks.”

Ron didn’t crack a smile.  After a moment of deliberation, he checked the hallway in both directions.

“Those cold cases ‘Mione had assigned to me,” he said, “one of them is Lucius Malfoy’s death.”

Harry’s palms broke out in a sweat.

“I know she only did it hoping to dig something up on him, but there’s just… there’s a lot in that case file that doesn’t add up.”

Harry cleared his throat.  “The newspapers said he died of natural causes.”

“Natural as a knife to the chest,” Ron said.

The blood drained from Harry’s face.  “He murdered his father?”

Ron shrugged.  “Can’t really say one way or the other.  Someone with a very strange knife did him in.  That’s all I got out of it.  I could have Robards assign the case to you if you want to look through the file yourself.”

Harry didn’t answer immediately.  It would be a grievous breach of protocol to sleep with a suspect.

At the same time, it was foolhardy not to learn what he could.

“Maybe,” Harry said.  “I’ll think about it.  What about getting stabbed to death didn’t add up, though?”

“The knife left magic behind.  They found it on autopsy.”  Ron scratched the back of his neck.  “Something like the Trace, but not.  I couldn’t make heads or tails of it, and neither could the original Aurors assigned to the case.”

“Dark magic?” Harry asked.

Ron shook his head.  “I brought the clothes he died in to a couple sniffer dogs, and they didn’t alert.”

Harry almost pointed out that Malfoy kept the dogs noseblind to his own magic, but decided not to.

“A new charm?” he asked.

“Or a very, very old one.”

--

24K9

A daily(?) kinktober 2023 fic. Will post to AO3 on American Thanksgiving, 2023.

Harry is a K9 unit Auror. Draco is the Ministry Kennelmaster. How could that possibly lead to anything?

Tags: collaring, top Draco, sensual pet play, touch starved Harry, bathing, shaving, rescue dog feels, other tags TBA, maybe dark draco ending?, maybe werewolves?, definitely coming untouched though, just blasting rope man

--

Chapter One

“I assure you, Auror Potter,” drawled the Patronus, speaking even before it found its full form, “there is nothing wrong with your partner.”

Malfoy’s tone was patronising, as though he were telling Harry that the monsters under his bed weren’t real, and to go back to sleep.

Next to Harry’s desk, his ‘partner’ had managed to catch his tail and was currently gnawing on it with nothing short of ardour.  K9 Auror Wurst, aka RottWurst, clamped down on his fluffy tail so hard, Harry swore he heard a crunch.

The bright fog condensed into a direwolf the size of a modest pony.  It was the perfect symbol for Draco Malfoy.  A pale, leggy, sharp-toothed relic of another time.

“And I assure you,” Harry spat, “Kennelmaster Malfoy, that this mutt’s fucking touched in the head.”

The mutt in question was eighty-plus pounds of Rottweiler-poodle abomination.  He looked like a St Bernard had dug into an avalanche, missed the humans, and hit a thousand-volt power line instead.  The curly white fur on his belly was caked with mud, and his brown muzzle still had bits of grass clippings on it.  The rest of him was black, save his brown eyebrows and speckled ears.

“He keeps alerting to sex magic, not dark magic.  It’s fucking embarrassing.  Dragged me across Hyde Park.  I had to use a Confundus on him to get him back to the office.”

The direwolf was so still that Harry blinked twice to make sure the shape wasn’t burned into his retinas.  It was a bloody showboat of a Patronus.

It was so bright that it brought out the dinginess of Harry’s office.  The yellow carpet had a pale brown trail between the door and Harry’s desk chair.  The corners of the ceiling had cobwebs, and the baseboards held an unhealthy amount of dust.

The fresh dog piss on the floor didn’t help things.

“I mean, he’s not worthless,” Harry added.  “But Robards said he can’t reassign him to Vice.  That he doesn’t have that authority.  So it must be you who has to do it.”

It was a little risky to bypass Robards the way he had, contacting Malfoy directly.  He probably should have made an appointment with his assistant or something.

But he’d been angry, so he’d pulled an interdepartmental priority Howler out of his desk and sent it.

There was probably a DMLE protocol for contacting a member of the Wizengamot.  There was a DMLE protocol for everything but wiping his arse.  Actually, they probably had one for that, too.

Harry blinked again.  His eyes were dry.  He was on hour seven of a twelve-hour shift.  After this, he’d get another coffee.

The direwolf shifted its weight, then leaned back, hindquarters high, in a deep stretch.  Its paws spread out in front of it.

Harry wondered if Malfoy was actually stretching.  And what that might look like.

It’d been years since he’d seen Malfoy in person.  Just in the papers, and only in the background of Wizengamot photos.  He’d been called to his Wizengamot seat the day after his thirtieth birthday, having met the minimum age.  They hadn’t called Hermione to hers until she was thirty-two.  She’d die mad about that.

The direwolf laid down, then yawned.

Harry yawned.

Wurst yawned.  Then farted.

Harry thought to check the time.  2:30 AM, according to his wristwatch.  He’d been on the clock for fourteen hours.  Not seven.

“Shit,” Harry said.

He’d woken a member of the Wizengamot at 2:30 AM.  And an important one.  

The direwolf sighed and tucked its muzzle under its paw.  Harry held his breath.  Maybe Malfoy would fall asleep.

Maybe he’d doze off, and he’d think he dreamt he got a Howler in the middle of the night from a burnout beat cop at least six rungs below him.  Maybe.

The direwolf sighed again, then drifted away like will-o'-the-wisps on the wind.

Maybe Malfoy wouldn’t report this.

Maybe.

Maybe Robards wouldn’t kill him.

He drummed his fingers on his desk.  If he did get written up, it’d be his sixth this year.  Two of them were for failing to meet dress code, but the shaving regulations were stupid, and the hygiene one was just weird.

Still.  

Wurst looked at him.  He looked at Wurst.

Nothing would happen.  His talk with Malfoy had only lasted a few seconds.  He’d think it was a dream.

It would be fine.

“It’ll be fine,” Harry told Wurst, ignoring the sweat on his palms.

Wurst’s nostrils flared, and then an ivory envelope slid under the door.  It sat on the grimy carpet for a moment, then folded itself into a swan.  With a few wingbeats, it landed on Harry’s desk and unfolded itself.

Inside was a business card.

Draco L Malfoy Wizengamot Member, Kennelmaster Warminster BA13 4SH UK

“Shit,” Harry said.

He flipped the card over.  On the back was an appointment date and time.  Tomorrow.

“Fuck.”

Robards was going to kill him.

--

[dearest-painter]

Yandere Johnny with Gary’s Sister reader (with a platonic yandere Gary)

TW/CW:unhealthy behavior, unhealthy relationship,abusive behavior,abusive relationship,Gary has his twisted way of loving his sister in a platonic way,Johnny and Gary threatening Lola,Lola’s bitch ass,already established relationship,Johnny calls you his ‘queen’ or ‘my girl’,It’s not specified if Gary and reader are blood siblings so you can imagine yourself however you want!,Reader has to deal with Gary’s bullshit and is the reason he hasn’t fought anyone yet,Tell me if I need to add more!

-First things first,we all know Gary is very manipulative and has almost all the teachers and students wrapped around his finger or enough for them to not care about his activities. He makes sure it’s the same for you,no one will be allowed to annoy you

-Gary found out about your relationship with Johnny when Lola was bitching that Johnny “left me for some crazy man’s sister!” Or “Broke up with me for someone lesser then her!” Along those lines. He knows that not many people are as crazy as him so he connected the dots early and was pissed!

-You and Johnny were hanging out in town because you two wanted to buy each other something then hang out. It was going good…until Gary showed up.

- “Gary!?” Gary just glared at your boyfriend as he pushed you behind him. Johnny wasn’t going to let this stand because your his girl! “What the fuck do you want from my sister!?” “Just to love her!” “Bullshit!” “It ain’t bullshit! She’s my girl and I’m her fucking boy!” Johnny softly pulled you to him not wanting to harm you as you smiled up at him. Gary growled a bit. “Gary,my dearest brother…how about next week we set up a day for you two to actually talk normally” Gary rolled his eyes and scoffed while Johnny just glared at him. “Fine…but only for you Y/N” “what he said” “thank you both! Now we’ll be on our way!” Gary rolled his eyes again walking away while you and Johnny went to calm down more so Johnny…

-they hate each other completely yet they stick it out for you.

-They have a..truce in a way,they don’t fight or argue as much around you but they will attack or badmouth anyone who tries shit against you.

-Gary loves you in his own twisted way,your parents know that and was the reason you were sent here with him! Without you Gary is a complete maniac,he’s more insane and attacks much more so they sent you with him for others safety.

-He doesn’t treat you as a possession more so his sister that he won.

-Johnny loves you a lot! You were his safety net and crush as long as he can remember but dated Lola do try and hide it,it truly never worked.

-If they heard Lola was bitch talking more then usual and it was about you they’d definitely jump her ass,I’m bullworth everyone fights each other no matter what gender but will get punished harder so they’d stop and make someone else do Itzaes

-Gary gets Johnny to spy on you or hang out with you so he can at least keep an eye on you no matter what. Johnny gets annoyed but hey Gary’s rich and pays him well!

-Johnny gets some of his buds to watch over you. He says “So no one can steal my Queen!” Which is cute until you realize he’s unhealthy obsessed with you. They don’t get annoyed as Johnny’s the boss but also because they like you!

[trashmouthsahra]

Being the youngest person in Dream Smp Part 2

Pairings: c!Wilbur x Read (Platonic) Dream Smp x Reader (Platonic)

Pronouns: They/Them

Requested?: Yes! by my darling followers

Warnings: A lot of swearing like a lot. Mentions of killing, anger issues, mentions of betrayal, threatening people,. And signs of yandere father wilbur

Note: This is pretty cringy so beware!

Where were we?

Oh right

Schlatt and Quackity won the election

Schlatt wanted you to stay with him in 'Manburg'

But

He revoked your father and your best friend's citizenship

So you ran with them and didn't accept his 'offer'

You couldn't even remember who Schlatt was

Why would he want you to stay?

You were just a poor eleven year old stuck in a war between your loved ones.

You, Tommy and your dad Wilbur lived in Pogtopia

You noticed your dear father being slightly paranoid and crazy...?

You couldn't say anything tho

Because you weren't in the right state of mind either

Your brother Fundy betrayed you, and your dad well...

Your brother tore down the walls Wilbur made to protect you and him

To say you were angry would be a big understatement

Again remember

ANGER ISSUES GANG

aNyWaYs

Tubbo became your spy

Technoblade came!

He liked you

You reminded him of his younger self

Except the voices

You found Techno pretty pog

He trained you because your father wanted him to

Ah

Your father

Yeah...

He became very overprotective of you

It was almost scary

But he was your dad

He was your first love

Your hero

He couldn't be bad

He just wanted the best for you

Right?

"I just want the best for you my little star."

"You shouldn't be around the Americans sweetheart"

"If you ever make eye contact with Schlatt again I will lock you in Pogtopia Y/N!"

"That man is bad darling"

"You know I will never hurt you my angel"

"Schlatt...? He is nothing to you. Don't you dare say his name again little star."

Tommy was worried

You were only allowed to go out with Techno or Wilbur by your side

You looked tired

Maybe it was because of your little trainings with your dad and Techno

Tommy wanted to help you

You were like his little sibling

So

He tried to be a lot quiet when he was with you

He didn't want you to have a head ache or something

Tubbo

Tubbo...

You liked Tubbo

You were his other best friend!

But

You couldn't help but let your dad manipulate you

Now you didn't trust Tubbo

You couldn't trust anyone except your dad

Last time you trusted someone they betrayed you

TWICE

The festival came

And just like you imagined

Someone betrayed you and your father again

Technoblade killed Tubbo

You didn't say anything

You couldn't...

Like let's not forget you are a kid

An innocent little kid

Your father started talking about blowing up L'manburg

You were shocked.

It was your fucking country

You lived there, loved there, you were practically raised there.

And now

He was talking about blowing it all up

"Are you fucking kidding me?!"

"Do not use that language with me Y/N"

"What are you gonna do? Blow up my room or something?"

"Stop talking Y/N"

"Oh for fuck's sake Techno, you can't talk after the shit you pulled at the festival. You killed Tubbo!"

"That is enough Y/N go to your room now!"

"Fuck you all!"

Wilbur was worried.

He thought he was doing the right thing

He would blow up L'manburg and would live happily ever after with his family somewhere else

You were starting to act different

Was it because of him?

Nah nah that couldn't be it

It was probably because of all the Schlatt thing.

Schlatt

His old pal

He still didn't tell you about how Schlatt left you

Because Wilbur knew you would lose it

You were already angry with him about his decisions

So he decided that he would never ever tell you about Schlatt

Will stop making stupid decisions istg-

Hem Hem

UM

Anyways

Dream helped you guys

Then he left

LIKE BITCH TF?

So your trust issues became how do you say it?

Umm your trust issues went 📈

Never trusting anyone again yayyyyyyyy

Thanks Dream 🙄

Quackity came

He said he had enough of schlatt and wanted to join Pogtopia

Pogtopians of course said yes

But you were like

NO???????????????

You bit his hand (go bestie 😍💅😜😩/j)

That's canon btw you really did bite his hand when he tried to ruffle your beautiful hair

Look, you liked Quackity

BUT

It was BEFORE the whole Schlatt thingy

And you would have gladly accepted him and other ex-manbergians

IF YOUR TRUST ISSUES WEREN'T THERE

Niki was concerned and worried

You were like her little sibling/child

She cooked you cookies and cakes and all the other things you liked

Than the others came

Your brother

Fundy

He joined you and your father

How could he? You once asked yourself

How dare he? You now asked yourself

He tore down the fucking walls of your and your dad's country

He betrayed you

He betrayed you just like everyone did.

You had enough.

You know what happened next besties?

Yeah you probably guessed it right

"HOW DARE YOU COME HERE AND ASK TO JOIN US YOU- YOU WANKER!"

"Y/N please just liste-"

"I AM GONNA KILL YOU AND EVERYONE YOU LOVED ARSE-HOLE"

"Okay Y/N that's enough." said Technoblade trying to hold you back with your father helping him.

You tried to fucking kill Fundy

You tried to kill your brother-

You really didn't know what got into you

You were just blinded by rage

Techno and Wilbur helped you calm down.

Finally the war came.

The final war.

And you all know what happened

Schlatt died from heart attack

You were pretty surprised.

Like all these things only for him to die from heart attack????

Like tf????

And

Your father did what he promised to do.

He blew up L'manberg

Your home.

Your land

Your country

He blew it all up.

Rage

Sadness

Betrayal

That's all you felt

Then something unexpected happened

Your grandfather came

and...

He killed your dad

Your father

Your role model.

Your guardian

Your first love.

He killed your hero.

Even though he blew up your country

You didn't want your dad to die.

A new emotion came quickly.

Grief

You screamed

You screamed as loud as you can

Everyone in L'manberg could hear your screams of grief

Everyone in L'manberg's heart broke once more

You were their baby

Their sibling

But this war and this country had ruined you too

Ruined you and left you only with the worst thing

Grief.

Denial

Anger

Bargaining

Depression

Acceptance

Those were the five stages of grief said Technoblade once

But they didn't know Y/N Soot.

And they weren't ready for the new you.

Ah yes the five stages of grief.

You were ready to make it six and add

𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄

Tag List:

@allisterislost @ultimatedreamsimp

[adrinktostopyourthirst]

Hi hi hi 👋🏻 I LOVE the Spill It series. I think the reader’s inner dialogue really resonates with how a lot of women are taught to think about our bodies and our “imperfections”. we could all use a Bucky who loves us just the way we are. I had some thoughts about ways to continue it maybe. Reader knows Sam and Steve but is going to meet Nat for the first time and it makes her nervous because let’s be real Nat would make even a super model feel self conscious and that’s before you remember the whole Shield agent/assassin thing - Anonymous

Bucky Barnes | Drabble | Natasha

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x PlusSize!Reader

Warnings: Slight angst, brief mention of smut.

Spill It masterlist

Safe to say that between the God of Thunder, the Steroid-filled green man on crack and your still sometimes threatening boyfriend, most people get most scared of the red-haired widow. Bucky had told you about Natasha, about him trying to find his footing between pretending the Winter Soldier hasn’t tried to kill her or apologising without setting the woman off.

Those stories of your slightly intimidated boyfriend, her sheer beauty and magnificent skill to kill and manipulate have made you absolutely terrified of meeting the woman.

You had heard Sam and Steve gush over her, Steve ever the gentleman and Sam straight up whipped, but Bucky seemed to still want to make it up to her. You’d always thought his guilt was his biggest road block. You aren't necessarily scared he'll choose Natasha over you, or anyone for that matter. Sometimes you wonder if he even notices other people...

But to approach Tony’s extravagant party and seeing everyone dressed up, your lungs stop working when she approaches. Everyone noticed her. And how couldn't you?

Bucky feels you tense up next to him, your eyes dropping to the floor in an attempt not to compare yourself to probably the most attractive woman alive. You hadn't hated the way you looked tonight, not with Bucky's convincing methods towards your self-esteem, but everyone looks positively dull next to the drop-dead gorgeous spy.

Bucky's gentle fingers rub circles at your side as everyone greets Natasha and your eyes finally raise to meet hers. Sparkling and bright, slightly sensual and surprisingly approachable, her eyes match her genuine smile.

“Look at that. Barnes finally managed to reveal his greatest asset to the group.” She beams and opens her arms for a hug, instantly putting you at ease as she pulls you in.

Channelling your own charm, you gush to her about what an honour it is to meet her, shoving your insecurities aside. As big as you feel, as your weight feels, no one else in the room is even looking at your size. Except maybe Bucky, but that specific look has heat burn in your belly.

So nearing the end of the party, you have made a new friend and ally as you and Natasha can’t stop talking to each other and Bucky can't help but to beam with pride when he sees how relaxed you are.

Though when you’re off to the bathroom and Natasha approaches Bucky for the first time during the party, he tenses up. But her sultry voice only manages to surprise the hell out of him.

“Let me know if you’re ever willing to add a third for a night.” She muses and Bucky has no idea if she’s serious, “She really is your greatest asset, Barnes. Good fucking job.”

“I’d rather keep her to myself, Nat.” He manages to answer with a slight, proud smile tugging at his lips.

“I get it. I’d bench you anyway.” She winks with a casual shrug and saunters off the way Natasha does so well.

[thehorrorsoftheblackbunnymask]

Yandere Creepypasta High School AU Headcanons!

(Something Short)

Proxies are the popular boys at school. Mainly because of looks, manipulation and skill.

LJ is the class clown. Everybody Ioves him because he always makes people laugh, even if his jokes can get dark extremely fast.

Ben is the school's hacker. He will get you anything for the right price, and it doesn't even have to be money. You want a fake ID? Ok, just get him a new PC setup and you have a deal. Can't do that? Ok, just give him 70 bucks.

Jeff is the school's creep. He's friends with the popular kids but he gets a bad rap because of his odd behaviors, and people say that he's the one who caused the murder of the new girl.

EJ is the quiet kid. No further comment.

The Proxies would literally pull a Heathers once you catch their attention. They'll give you a whole makeover so you could get popularity and have a good reputation. They'll be so fucking manipulative and actually low-key be abusive. Sure you have the good looks, the fans, the status, the privileges, but is it really worth it when you get blackmailed, assaulted and harassed, and manipulated by your "friends" everyday?

They peer pressure you into going to parties and smoking and getting drunk.

Toby is mainly the one that makes yo uncomfortable with his touches, since he's always touching you and having sit on his lap while he plays with your shirt.

Masky is the one who forces you to go to parties, get drunk and smoke. Since he's the leader, he threatens to ruin your reputation, and threaten to even kill you in the woods if you ever try telling anyone.

Hoodie is the one who blackmails you. With the help of Ben, he can get all the info he wants about you, and then blackmail you when you go against them. They love to you don't get them wrong, but seeing you suffer is much more appealing.

Toby would use his trauma against you whenever you try to leave. Because out of all the Proxies he's the least popular, even though he's the 3rd most popular kid in school. He still Gets mocked for his tics and disorders, and uses that against you, saying that you're like everyone else, and that he can never be normal with out with him.

LJ would hear about you when he's in theater, because you can't tell me he wasn't a theater kid. He'll immediately start spying on you and try to befriend you.

He'll make you laugh, comfort you when you got bad grades on test, or if your stressed out. But he can be weird at times, giving you doll like clothes and putting your hair in pigtails or in a doll like hairstyle. He's just being his childish hyperactive self... Right?

Things with him will get dark really fast. He'll start manipulating you into spending more time with him and talk badly about your other friends. He'll make you his... And his alone.

Ben would meet you in Tech Ed. He'll start conversation with you and use his flirting personality to charm you over into his little room inside the school.

Ben is pretty popular due to his skills and gets invited to parties often. He tends to convince to go, as his plus 1. He often gets drunk and gets extremely touchy with you, and sometimes touching in a sexual manner.

He'll show you his abilities to go into the cyber world and take you with him. He'll keep you in there for hours and hours as you get mindless entertainment.

If you ever try leaving him everything will back fire. He'll tell the Proxies to spread rumors about you, and in return they get unlimited supplies of anything they wanted, either it was drugs, alcohol, devices, anything. Once the rumors spread your image was ruined. The Proxies and Ben would say stuff like you slept with the whole football team, you got expelled from your old school for trying to kill someone in the bathroom and so much more. He'll have all your friends stop talking to you and you'll be a laughing stalk.

Your suffering amused him and he'll mock you everyday and still force you to go to parties with him, and for you to get bullied, and him being the sadist he is, he'll enjoy every bit of it. And when you stop going to these parties, he'll send you pictures of stuff you did while drunk, and tell you to go to the parties with him, and have your reputation ruined even more

At night you'd get spam messages from Cleverbot saying.

"You shouldn't have done that" Over and over again. After a week of this you'd wake up to the messages but feel someone cover your mouth with a cloth and an arm wrap around your waist.

"You shouldn't had done that..."

Jeff knew you for a while. It was more of a classmate relationship but he still wanted to break you the moment he met you.

He'll talk to you and you'd get bad vibes from his instantly.

He'll stare at you during class and often pin you to walls and put his knife dangerously close to your face, saying he'll make you look like him. You'd be confused since he wears a face mask and you've never seen his mouth before. Then he'd start laughing, saying that he was just joking and he just wanted to ask if you wanted to eat lunch with him and Ben, since LJ had lost a bet to Jane and was now her slave for the whole week, and the Proxies were doing shady shit, so he had no one else to really vibe with, and he wasn't going to talk to EJ.

He'll sneak into your house at night and watch you sleep, carving his name into the inner part of your thigh with a smile on his face, and then using your blood to write on the walls "I love you! Bitch.."

Jack the next day would be extremely aggressive towards you before knocking you out in the bathroom.

EJ is the quiet kid, but a popular quiet kid. Like he's attractive and girls wanna date him.

He'd talk to you in bio and you two would become friends quickly due to his personality.

He likes to put human kidneys in your locker since he doesn't know how humans show affection, but he'll get upset if you don't like it, what did he do wrong?

He often takes you to his house for bio projects, and his room would paintings of organs, organ jars would be all over his room.

If you try to leave or tell the police about his room, he's kidnapping you on sight. Sure he's a criminal,but everyone in that school is, so who care? He'll make you love him.

[dreamwritesimagines]

Burn The Witch 23 - Haunted Heart [Bucky Barnes x Reader]

A.N: Thank you so much for your wonderful support and feedback my loves ! ❤ Here’s the next chapter, I hope you like it as well and please let me know what you think! ❤ Thank you! ❤❤❤

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Female Reader

Warnings: Enemies to lovers, lovers to enemies, fake dating, mentions of blood, sex, violence, death, manipulation, language, guns, knives.

Summary: Coming home can cause issues.

Series Masterlist

                          SIX MONTHS LATER

You flipped the knife in your hand as the guy tied to the chair glared at you.

“You know,” you trailed off, “I’ve had a really shitty couple of months, Johnny- can I call you Johnny?”

“No.”

“Rude,” you commented, “Fine. John. I’ve had a really shitty couple of months so you really don’t want to try me right now. Just tell me where I can find your boss.”

“You’ll never find him you stupid bitch.”

You rolled your eyes.

“Since I’m going to kill you in a couple of minutes I feel like I can share some things with you,” you said, “My best friend says I keep everything bottled and I should talk about my feelings.”

“Go fuck yourself.”

“See, that’s exactly how I feel!” you pointed at him, “Thank you. I mean, I feel angry at myself. I kind of fucked up with the man I love.”

“Jesus Christ, just kill me already.”

“I’m waiting for a text to do that Johnny,” you pointed out, waving your phone at him. “So, I tricked him and used him and threw him to wolves. And then Accords 2.0 didn’t pass and he has been pardoned once again, and he’s a free man now. I have a strong feeling that he’s not the ‘forgive and forget’ type of guy. You know, assassin to assassin.”

“You’re the chattiest assassin I’ve ever met.”

“Thank you, I’m trying to improve myself,” you said, “I mean what exactly should I do? I don’t even trust my agency at this point, my handler lied to me and I have been at this fucking place for six months now, hunting you down. Well, your boss but…”

“You’ll never find him.”

“We’ll see about that my friend,” you said, “So anyway, like what am I supposed to do? I lost the one guy I actually loved. How do you cope with that? Because drinking doesn’t work, sleeping with others doesn’t work…. Nothing seems to—“ you were cut off when your phone vibrated and you touched the screen to open the text message.

From: Julian

Go for it.

“Wait, no no no, I’ll talk—“

“Kind of too late,” you pointed the gun at him, “Nice to meet you Johnny.”

With that you pulled the trigger, silencer doing its job as there was no loud bang or anything. His body fell back with the impact, and you heaved a sigh.

“Maybe I need a therapist I can’t kill,” you mumbled and walked out of the warehouse to approach the car before opening the door to the passenger seat to get in.

“Is it done?” Julian asked and you nodded, rubbing at your eyes.

“Yep.”

“Are you hungry?”

You made a face, “Just because the General sent you here does not mean we’re going to become buddies.”

“I’m not trying to become buddies with you,” Julian stated, “I just want to eat fries and there’s a two for one deal.”

You eyed him up and down.

“Fine, I could eat fries.” You leaned back in the seat as he started driving, keeping your eyes on the road. Soon enough, you reached the city center and Julian got fries from a food truck, then sat across from you.

“So,” he said, “You do realize this whole thing would’ve been over by now if we actually worked together?”

“I’m not going on the field with you.”

“The General sent me here to help you.”

You dipped the fry into sauce, then popped it into your mouth, “You can help me by pretending you’re not here.”

“Y/N.”

“You know what they say Julian. Fool me once…”

“Don’t tell me you’re still holding that grudge.”

“You mean when you left me behind to die on the last mission we were together?” you asked back, “That grudge?”

“I told you—“

“I’m not going to talk about that with you,” you cut him off, “And I work better alone. Who told you we could waste the guy by the way?”

“The General.”

You grabbed the salt shaker to pour some salt on the fries, causing Julian to make a face.

“Are you kidding me? That was salty enough-“

“Why did he not text me?”

“No idea. Maybe he’s avoiding you because he promised you handler and here you are. Field spy.”

Your jaw clenched.

Or maybe he’s avoiding me because he fucking lied to me.

You had to give it to him, it was the perfect plan. The moment he had suspected you were getting too close to Bucky, he had come up with the one thing he knew that would make you switch sides.

And that-

That was below the belt yes, but that was also masterly.

But at the end of the day, you barely had two people to trust in the entire world, and you seriously doubted you could ever forgive the General for what he had done. You knew he held duty above all, above family and surely above you, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.

You shook your head at yourself and grabbed another piece of fry.

“So um…” Julian shifted his weight, “Are you okay?”

You shot him a glare, arching a brow, “Peachy.”

“No I mean… About Barnes.”

“What are you talking about?”

“This whole Accords 2.0 failure, there’s no way we could go after him again.”

“I don’t want to go after him again.”

“You don’t want revenge?”

That made you straighten up your back and you put the fry down, “And why exactly would I want revenge?”

That made Julian fall silent and you nibbled on your lip.

“What exactly did the General tell you before you came here?”

“That there was a job here.”

“Bullshit,” you replied way too quickly, “Did he send you here to be my babysitter? He thinks I’ll go after Barnes myself is that it? That’s why they sent you here months after I left the country but right after Accords 2.0 didn’t pass.”

Julian licked his lips.

“Listen, the agency wants to keep you safe—“ he started but then his phone beeped. He grabbed it to take aa look at the screen, then cussed under his breath.

“What?”

“Check your texts.”

You touched the screen and frowned as your eyes skimmed the text.

From: General

Time to come home.

“Well,” you muttered, your heart dropping to your stomach, “Shit.”

                                                   ***

Coming back home was harder than ever now. After catching up with Keith and Chloe, you were taken to your new apartment that was given to you by the agency as usual, and for the whole night you couldn’t sleep.

Even if there was no trace of Bucky in your new apartment –in your new life, you still couldn’t shake off this feeling. It was as if the moment you had entered the country, Bucky had entered your life in an instant.

Odds were, you wouldn’t really see him again. After all it was a big city, and Bucky wasn’t exactly the social type.

So your first week back in New York wasn’t exactly terrible. You were still waiting for your orders while getting to know to the city slowly, because after long missions it always took time for you to remember you had a real life there, real memories—

Well, as real as it could be, for a spy.

“Just see it as a vacation,” Chloe had said, “They threw you into another mission as soon as you got out of the country, it’s just a delayed vacation.”

As far as vacations went though, this one just sucked.

Maybe it was because you couldn’t keep away from places you and Bucky had been too, like this coffee place where you had first officially met.

You sipped your coffee, scrolling down on the news website as your eyes skimmed yet another article about Accords and whether you could trust superheroes or not, but you were soon distracted when someone pulled the seat across from you, making you look up from your phone.

And as soon as you did, your heart dropped.

You had to give it to the General, he was manipulative, he was a liar and he had betrayed your trust terribly but the one thing he had done right was training you well. Aside from that one second, you managed to adapt a look of nonchalance on your face, slowly putting your phone down.

“Hello Cap.”

Sam raised his brows and eyed you up and down.

“You’re back?”

You could swear he could hear your heartbeat and you shrugged your shoulders, looking around.

“Yeah,” you said, “Big apple and everything.”

“So much for the small town girl.”

“I have never been a small town girl,” you drawled, “Never been to Oregon either.”

“Yeah, I can tell.”

You turned your coffee cup on the table just so you could do something with your hands.

“Why?” he asked after a beat and you shifted your weight despite your whole training of feeling calm and collected, nervousness hitting you out of nowhere.

“You’re a veteran, Wilson,” you managed to say, “You don’t need me to tell you how the chain of command works. Army doesn’t care how we feel about orders.”

“I’m very familiar with how chain of command works,” he pointed out, “But you’re not a soldier, Y/N. You’re a spy.”

“That makes it even worse,” you stated, “I know it sounds like an excuse, but… you don’t know how my agency works. I don’t get to say no to orders, and I sure as hell don’t get to blow my own cover.”

“But you wanted to, didn’t you?”

Jesus Christ, Wilson was really good at this observation thing.

“Doesn’t matter what I want,” you said, “I’m no use to anyone if I develop a conscience.”

“But you did,” he insisted, “Why else would you come to help us? Why else would you warn him beforehand?”

“He told you about that?”

He shot you a look, “What do you think, Y/N?”

You scoffed a laughter. “I was feeling generous,” you said, “No other reason.”

He kept his gaze on you for a couple of seconds, as if trying to see whether you would cave before he took a deep breath.

“You know he was going to propose, right?”

That-

That was just too much. You could feel your jaw hanging as you stared at him in complete silence, his words echoing in your ears.

“No,” you said after a moment, then shook your head fervently, your nose in the air, “No you’re wrong.”

“I’m not,” Sam said, “Apparently he was looking for this… house painted in white with—a red door or something.”

Don’t cry.

Do not fucking cry.

Spies don’t cry over heartbreak.

You clenched your jaw and blinked back the tears, straightening your back.

“It’s a good thing he didn’t get to, then.”

“Y/N, he loved you.”

“No Sam, he loved someone who doesn’t exist,” you replied, “Sweet small town girl with sundresses and smiles and some house in the suburbs with kids and all that shit. Girls like me don’t get that ending, I have way too much blood on my hands.”

He pressed his lips together and you cleared your throat.

“How much does he hate me?”

“Why do you think he hates you?”

“Assassins aren’t good at forgiving,” you said, “I would know, we don’t have that talent.”

“That’s not a talent, that’s a choice.”

“It really isn’t,” you muttered, “So?”

“Why don’t you ask him?”

You let out a bitter laugh, “Yeah no. Actions have consequences and I’d rather not cross paths with the deadliest assassin in the world after double crossing him.”

“But you want him to forgive you.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Intuition,” he said and pushed his chair back to stand up.

“He didn’t kill your father, Y/N.”

You heaved a sigh.

“I know,” you said, “Trust me, I would’ve walked away so much easier if he had.”

“Enjoy your coffee,” he said and walked out of the coffee house. You threw your head back, closing your eyes.

“Yep. I shouldn’t have come back.”

                                                  ***

“I never thought I’d say this, but I kind of hate that we’re not living so close anymore,” you pressed the phone between your shoulder and your ear and opened the door to your apartment as Keith chuckled.

“I knew you’d miss me.”

“Shut up.”

“You’re a softie deep inside. Very very deep inside.”

“If you repeat that in front of anyone I swear to God…” you muttered and he groaned.

“Have I told you they’re putting me in the same team as Julian?”

“You guys have a new mission?”

“Not a long one probably.”

“Why the fuck am I—“

“Because you’re on a vacation,” he cut you off, “And also they’re probably going to make you a handler, that’s worth waiting for.”

“That or….”

“We’re not talking about that on the phone,” Keith said quickly, “Amateur.”

“Careful there, I’ll outrank you soon enough,” you said, walking to the bathroom to wash your hands. “I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

“Alright, see you later!” he said and hung up. You put your phone into your pocket, then washed your hands and made your way to the kitchen.

It was only when you put the wine bottle back into the fridge that you noticed something was off. Your body moved on its own accord, before you knew it you had already grabbed the knife in your boots and threw it to the figure in the dark corner of the room but he easily caught it, metal hitting what sounded like another kind of metal before he stepped out of the corner. Your breath caught in your throat, and for the first time in your life you froze, all the training leaving your mind.

You were supposed to be looking for a weapon, any kind of weapon but somehow, your body refused to move.

Bucky turned your knife in his hands, his gaze pinning you to your spot before he tilted his head.

“Hi honey,” he said, his voice way too cold. “I’m home.”

Chapter 24

[dammitolly]

Loki Imagine: "Starting Now"

tw: rather large age gap, swearing, major angst

fluff, angst

Loki x Stark!Reader

You were seventeen when you met Loki Laufeyson. And you must admit... you had a bit of a crush on him. He was being kept prisoner by S.H.E.I.L.D, his power too great and his blood lust overpowering. You found him... interesting.

It only took a couple of tries before Nick Fury found out you were spying on Loki. You would study his mannerisms. For a god, he was quite... human. But, that was before there was a code put on the door, one that was made to keep you away from him.

It had never been explained to you in detail exactly what Loki had done, and you were too busy doing other 17-year-old things to turn on the news. So, Banner kept you as distracted from the trickster god as possible, showing you anything and everything he could in the lab. But, you would occasionally see Loki being escorted to and from his cell, peering into the lab... grinning at you. You couldn't help it, you wondered what he was like... you'd also wondered what those beautiful black locks felt like through your fingers. But those thoughts were just fantasies... ones that would never come true.

You had never been close to anyone capable of that before, capable of killing. Let alone someone who had wanted to do it. But you were a fool... a child. You didn't understand Loki, you didn't understand what he'd done. Not that anyone had bothered to clue you in.

After things got out of control, Tony, your father sent you back to New York where you would stay with Pepper and train for the next three years. Where you would learn how to help your father. Learn how to be an Avenger.

You were nineteen when you saw him again. His hair had gotten longer and his face had aged, but the biggest change was that he was no longer considered an enemy of the Avengers. Now, he was simply accompanying his brother to the compound.

It was almost noon when you first woke up and began making breakfast. It was your day off and you were going to do your favorite activity: sleep.

"My, my" a velvet voice said from behind you, "look who grew up."

You didn't need to turn around to know who was speaking. You grinned and continued to smear butter on your toast. "For the God of Mischief, you really aren't very good at sneaking up on people."

You turned and threw the butter knife, it pierced the wall right above his head. He stood with his eyes wide, his shock was unjustified. For one, if you had wanted to hit him you would; two, he had to have known what you had been doing all these years, what your father required of you.

You took him in as he sauntered through the kitchen, leaning against the bar. He was in desperate need of a haircut, the black locks fell to his shoulders. He wore his traditional solid black suit, not a hint of color. Not even his signature forest green.

He looked tired... as if it had been not two years but twenty. Age had gone well with him though. He looked mature, as though the youthful pranks had stopped a long time ago, like the power-hunger had disappeared.

You smirked, "You've gotten old."

"Two years isn't that long, Y/n." He reached over his head and yanked the knife out of the wall, leaving a small hole. Pepper would kill you for that later. Worth it.

You took the knife from his hand. "It is when you're getting old and fat," you retorted.

Loki chuckled, "You are your father's daughter."

You rolled your eyes, "Did you need something? Or do you enjoy seeing the mental agony you inflict upon me?"

"Actually, I was looking for your father."

You pointed your knife towards the elevator at the other end of the room, "Lab. Lower level. You should be familiar with that wing." The wing he had been kept prisoner in. The wing you had strolled down almost every day when you were seventeen just to catch a glimpse of the handsome prisoner.

"Thank you, darling," he replied as he strolled over to the elevator. He smiled and gave you a wink before the doors slid shut. You rolled your eyes.

Darling? Absolutely not.

Dinner was the most awkward thing that you've ever been forced to sit through. The fear of Loki and his manipulation loomed over the table like fog. Steve was watching him like a feral animal that would attack at any second. As if he were a venomous snake ready to strike at any given moment.

"So," Thor cleared his throat awkwardly, "Y/n, your father tells me you've been training in New York. How's that going?"

"It's a lot of work but it's a nice way to spend time," you said through a bite of mashed potatoes. "Right now I'm focusing more on science so I can help Bruce and dad. But Natasha is really wanting to do more combat training with me."

"Y/n fights now?" Loki asked, grinning at you.

You shrugged, "Not much, but I could definitely kick your ass."

"Could you now? I suppose we'll have to put that to the test, won't we Miss Stark?" Loki said with a wink.

Natasha laughed, "Y/n is a bit too soft right now. Once she gets over her fear of actually hurting someone I think she'll be an excellent fighter."

"The knife she threw at me this morning must have been an expression of that fear."

"Y/n Stark!" Pepper said from the other end of the table, "You did not put that hole in my wall."

"He was annoying me!" You said defensively.

"He annoys everyone, you don't see Tony throwing silverware at his head."

"No he just blasts him to hell with his suits," you deadpanned.

Pepper looked at Tony. "You see where she gets it? I told you seventeen was too young for training. I told you that the violence would rub off on-"

"Can we not argue at the table, please?" You said, looking back and forth between your father and Pepper.

She rolled her eyes, "Fine. But you're going to fix that wall young lady."

"Fine," you sighed with a roll of your eyes. You caught Loki grinning at you from across the table and went back to picking at your food.

"Here I was thinking we were going to have a civilized dinner," Loki chuckled.

Cap scoffed, "Civilized?"

"Cap," your father said with a warning tone.

"What?" Steve said defensively, "I'm just wondering where a murderer gets off saying anything about being civilized."

"That's rich coming from you," Loki retorted. "Do I need to remind you of all the innocents you killed in Sokovia? So many lives sacrificed in the name of doing the right thing."

"Brother!" Thor snapped.

"I'm just trying to level the playing field," Loki grinned. "If I'm going to be put on trial, perhaps everyone else should get off their high horse as well?"

"We have never been on the same level, Loki." Steve snapped, "You tried to conquer this planet. You lied, manipulated, stole, killed innocent humans. All because you wanted a power trip. That wasn't Sokovia, we thought we were doing the right thing, all you wanted to do was the wrong thing. All you wanted to do was kill."

"You speak as though I don't have the ability to change," Loki leaned his elbows on the table. "Isn't that what being on this planet is all about? Second chances?"

"Not for murderers," Steve spat.

You didn't know Loki well... but to the extent that you did know him, you knew that when he was embarrassed he also got angry and violent. But not this time. Loki was the picture of serenity and calm as he stood from his spot at the table. "I see how it is," he muttered, "I suppose I should have just stayed... gone."

With that... he left.

It was 3 AM by the time you left your room again. For no other reason than to break into Thor's cookie stash. He was convinced it was your father that had been stealing from him... wrong Stark.

You prayed that nobody would find you digging in the pantry for two reasons. One: Thor would kill you for stealing his snacks; two, you were in your underwear and a tank top. Anyone other than Pepper seeing you in this state would be humiliating.

But, of course, you can never get what you want. Behind you, you heard soft footsteps padding their way into the kitchen.

"I didn't realize you'd be awake," the masculine voice said from behind you. You turned and saw Loki, shirtless in low-hanging black sweatpants. You did your best to force your eyes away from the dark trail of hair below his belly button and into his pants.

As your eyes met his, you could see the light blush on his cheeks. Fuck, he'd caught you staring. He cleared his throat, "I just thought I'd make some tea. For some reason, I don't sleep well in Midgard."

"Perhaps it's all the memories," You muttered as he stood next to you at the counter.

"For christ's sake, Y/n," he slammed his mug down onto the counter, "I am not that person anymore, you know that."

"Do I?" You turned to face him, "You killed innocent people, Loki. You killed children-"

"I know what I did," he sighed, putting his head in his hands, "I'm trying to fix it. I want to be better than I was."

"Loki we can't just trust you," the tea was long forgotten at this point, the water had probably gone cold, "not after what you did."

Loki huffed and yanked the butcher knife out of the block, placing it in your hand. He wrapped his hand around yours and put the knife to his chest, only a little pressure would need to be applied in order for it to tear his skin.

"Loki, what are you-"

He shushed you, "I am literally putting my life in your hands. I want you to see that I am done hurting people, and if you killing me is how to prove it, then so be it."

You tried to pull away but he pulled you back in with enough force to make your knees buckle. You weren't looking at the knife against his pale, muscular chest. But his blue eyes that were begging you to acknowledge his sincerity.

Your grip on the kitchen knife loosened. It clattered to the floor as you wrapped your arms around him, pressing your face into his warm chest. "I don't want to hurt you," you whispered.

You felt him sigh in relief, "I don't want to hurt anyone either. If anyone here is willing to trust me, I want it to be you."

"Why me?"

He pulled away and cupped your face in his hands, "Because you are the first truly good person I've met on this planet. You give me hope, Y/n." He pressed a kiss to your forehead.

"You don't have to be that person ever again, Loki," you kissed his Adam's apple gently, "I promise I will help you through this."

You felt him lean down slightly, wrapping his arms around your waist to pull you up to meet him. You immediately felt your breath hasten. You had been fantasizing about this moment since you were in high school... and now it was about to happen. Loki, God of Mischief, was about to kiss you at 3 AM in the kitchen of the Avengers compound.

Before you could take another breath, his lips were against yours. His lips were soft like you'd always imagined they'd be, and his mouth was hot like the rest of him. He groaned into the kiss when your tongue brushed against his. You raked your fingers through his hair.

He parted his lips from yours in order to lift you onto the counter, standing in between your legs, his hands trailing up your sides.

"Wait, wait," you gasped as you pulled your lips from his, "How do I know you're not about to use me?"

Loki smiled and tucked some stray hair behind your ear, "I'll never lie to you, my darling. I'll be good for you... starting now."

You pressed your forehead against his and kissed the tip of his nose, "Starting now."

[yui-kuromori]

Okay so mafia AU

The Wonderland’s tea party is an organization led by the Hatter. It’s specializes in drug trafficking, blackmail and selling information.

Arisu and Usagi are it’s newest members. They got recruited on accident really and it’s mostly Arisu’s fault. He was on the subway one day and sat beside this older man wearing sunglasses struggling with a piece of paper on his hand. It was hatter, who was trying to figure out the safest routes in and out of a building for an information robbery from a big company. Arisu had kinda peered at the map, gotten excited because *puzzle*, and offered Hatter some help. After Hatter tells him the “rules” Arisu spends the rest of the ride tracing out paths and tragedies, before leaving a baffled Hatter behind.

So Hatter’s like “we need this kid” and sends Niragi and Last Boss to “Invite him for tea”. Unfortunately for them, when they go to corner Arisu, he’s out with Usagi, and Usagi upon being told by Arisu that he think’s they’re being followed, and notices Piercings and Face Tattoos, goes “I think the fuck not”, grabs her best friend and *bolts*.

And run she does, going full parkour ninja, hauling Arisu’s skinny ass around. Niragi and Last Boss try following them, but after a while, she just looses them altogether. They report back to Hatter who just goes: “He has a ninja girlfriend?? We need them” and he’s really excited about it.

He sends in Chishiya and Kuina to actually talk to them this time and after some coaxing, they agree to at least try out. They both need the money.

What they didn’t expect was for them to be immediately adopted into the found family dynamic. Arisu and Kuina are immediately trans buddies, and Aguni is like “Okay, two more children for me and Takeru”, Last Boss takes the position of scary older brother, specially for Usagi, and even Niragi treats them nicely (in his own way).

Feat. Very concerned friends Karube and Chouta who have no idea what’s happening, their college classmates, who are running a rumor mill, Arisu’s awful family that keeps popping up even after he moves in with Usagi and Shibuki, who’s literally just vibing.

Also, this is probably Arisu x Chishiya

ROLECALL

Name: Danma Takeru

Code name: Mad Hatter

Skills: He is the leader and founder of Wonderland’s tea party. What used to be a two person gang grew into an organization because of his visionary attitude and charming personality. His charisma allows for nice deals and sales, while his ruthlessness keeps their family protected. He doesn’t usually go out on mission, but he’s a skilled fighter and a surprisingly smart man. He also has a keen eye and sharp intuition, especially when picking out new members.

Name: Aguni Morizono

Code name: Bandersnatch

Skills: He is the second founder and Hatter’s right hand man. He is the muscle of the operation, the strongest member on the team. He is responsible for dealing with their enemies, carrying out threats, defending their territory and keeping their family safe. He also trains all members on how to use guns, weapons and fight. He took Usagi under his wing, as he not only could see a bit of himself in her, but their fighting styles could be similar.

Name: Chishiya Shuntaro

Code name: Cheshire

Skills: He’s their doctor. He patches up whoever is hurt and occasionally deals with a dead body or two. He’s also responsible for gathering intel. He often goes undercover in big corporations and rival groups to gather some vital secret information that could be sold for a lot of money, or takes those groups down from the inside. He’s the one who took Arisu under his wing, noticing how good he is at reading people’s hearts, he’s been teaching him how to manipulate and lie and now they usually go undercover together.

Name: Kuina Hikari

Code name: Caterpillar or Absolem

Skills: Kuina is a dealer. She accompanies Hatter when he goes to strike a deal not only because of her charisma and people skills, but because she functions as a secret bodyguard. She’s also usually on robberies and stealth missions, where being undercover is not necessary but they still need to get in and out of somewhere unseen to get shit done. To those, she’s usually paired with Chishiya. She’s the one teaching Arisu how to fight, since their styles are the most similar.

Name: Niragi Suguru

Code name: March Hare

Skills: This is their killer ok? Need someone disposed of? Call Niragi. Need someone intimidated? Call Niragi. Some group is trying to start a turf war? Call Aguni who’s gonna take Niragi and Last Boss and they’ll fix it. Niragi’s also responsible for their weapons and sometimes will help with scheming. He’s decievingly protective of his family and shows affection with acts of violence. If you want any piercings he’ll do it for you.

Name: Samura Takatora (last boss)

Code name: Jabberwocky

Skills: His position is the same as Niragi’s. They are usually paired together for missions. While Niragi takes care of the guns, Last Boss takes care of knives and swords. They are usually sent with Ann or Arisu whenever they have to meet people and their looks alone are enough to intimidate any potential threats. He’s been teaching Usagi how to spear fight and is secretly delighted someone else has taken to more traditional weapons. If you ever want a tattoo, he’s the one to ask for.

Name: Ann Rizuna

Code name: White Queen

Skills: She’s the one responsible for most of their drug operation. While Hatter makes the deals, she’s the one crutching numbers, distributing product and sometimes even cooking up drugs herself. She can also fill in for Chishiya as their doctor and Along with him, Arisu and Niragi, she’s the one tracing most of their plans. If any of them were to die, she would be the one responsible for finding out who did it and helping to hunt them down.

Name: Tatta Kodai

Codename: Dormouse or Arganaz

Skills: Tatta is their getaway driver. He can outdrive everyone and anyone. His knowledge in mechanics helps them with their robberies and he’s been known to pull some Dean Winchester level stunts behind the wheel. He also keeps communication between teams clear and smooth. He’s been learning some basics under Ann’s wing and is getting pretty good at, uh, cooking.

Name: Usagi Yuzuha

Code name: White Rabbit

Skills: She’s a fighter and a runner. When she’s not in a position similar to Aguni’s, she’s doing patrols around their territory, spying on rivals and enemies from the top of buildings and helping Tatta to keep all the teams in the know. She’s usually paired with Arisu in the same way Kuina is paired with Chishiya. She’s also the only one that can keep them all sleeping a minimum of four hours a night and eating somewhat healthy food with a decent frequency. Many suspect that if Aguni retires, she’ll be the one to take his place.

Name: Arisu Ryohei

Code name: Alice

Skills: Arisu quickly become a big part of the brains behind most of their operations. He views plans with Hatter, tracing escape routes and planning damage control. He also goes undercover with or without Chishiya a lot, his innocent demeanor making him appear trustworthy. He’s also the one to analyze their oponents and tell the teams exactly where to look at for blackmail. He wrote down the plans that actually took down some big corporations. He’s been learning how to fight from Kuina, and is steadily getting better. He’s been also slowly learning how to hack, it’s just another puzzle for him.

[bisexualwannabewriter]

“Thanks for reminding me I have a heart” Chapter Two - Bucky Barnes x female reader

Aaaaand we are back, people. Sorry for the wait. I had a lot going on, and my wifi was acting crazy. I also got distracted writing other things; hopefully I’ll post these stories too pretty soon. Anyways, I hope you’ll enjoy the second chapter of my new series (inspired by a request from @lonewolf471) . First chapter is here.

The story will be told from your perspective, but also from Bucky’s ! Parts will be set in the past (in italics), and others in the present. I’ll try to make it as clear as possible for you !  

Summary : Meeting Bucky Barnes in that nightclub wasn’t a coincidence. It wasn’t luck, or fate. It was planned. And your plan went much further than what it was supposed to : the spy working with the Flag Smashers that you used to be, fell for him. Hard. You’re a different person now, but making Bucky believe you won’t be easy...

TW : manipulation, lies, betrayal, traumatic pasts, loss of loved ones, anxious thoughts, guilt, nostalgia, one pretty angry Bucky... Still very angsty.

I’ll post every chapter of this series here, and you can find everything I write right there :)

Bucky (Now)

She had made quite the impression on him. He always heard stories, about people meeting "the one". They always said something along the lines of "when you know, you know", simple as that. He didn't know what to make of it. And truth be told, he believed love was the kind of thing that happened to other people. He had been a misfit, an outcast, someone who watched "normal" people have a "normal" life; without ever participating for so long. A player stuck to the bench. There was a time when he may have believed in all of this, when he might have been one of those "normal" people. But he barely remembered it. And yet, when he first laid eyes on her, he may have felt what everyone else was describing. It was hard to put the right words on it, but it felt... comforting. Reassuring. Warm.

It didn't matter now.

"What difference does it make ? For all I know, that's another one of your lies. You knew. You knew how hard it was for me to trust anyone, to let anyone in. And I let you in. I trusted you. I thought... aaaah, it doesn't matter, what I thought. It was a fucking lie. All of it. So leave me the fuck alone y/n, okay ? Or is that another lie ? Is that even your real name ?" he continued, anger and frustration growing inside of him. She had gotten closer to Bucky now, and he could see tears forming in her eyes, like she was the one who had been betrayed. The nerves. "James, please. Listen to me. I'm so sorry. I never meant for things to go this far.."

Bucky’s guts were telling him she wasn’t completely lying. But he couldn’t afford to believe his guts. "Really ? You didn't think it was a good idea to stop, at some point ? You had the opportunity to tell me everything, and you chose to keep lying to me ! How could you sleep at night... how could you live with yourself, knowing what you were doing to me ?! " She looked up, trying to stop herself from crying, and let out a little laugh that sounded fake when she said : "I fucked up, okay ? I thought I could make this work ! I thought I could keep you safe, and... I don't know ! I wanted to protect you ! But my conscience... How can I make you understand ? " She was pacing around the room, agitated, looking for the right words, before continuing : "Bucky, we didn't even... It didn't take much, for me to forget about this whole mission, for your sake. I... I don't care. Not anymore. Not like that... I'm not like this usually, I stopped... You changed everything for me. You made me remember what it feels to be human again."

There it was. He knew that feeling. Could she read his mind ? She was a lethal weapon, trained specifically to be the end of him. She was his Achilles heel, his kryptonite, his softest spot. She didn't even have to do much for him to throw eveything he knew out of the window. She was pulling him in, attracting him like a magnet, acting like a snake charmer, but he had to push her back. He should have erased that phone number from his hand.

He never should have texted her, or agreed to their first date.

                                                         ///

You (Months ago)

The two of you met in a tiny restaurant, and had chosen a spot that could give you a lot of intimacy. Bucky seemed to be the kind of guy who'd need that. He'd feel more comfortable. You had to remind yourself this wasn't a real date, and yet the part of you he had awakened - the woman you used to be, and not the woman you had become with all the trauma and the pain - couldn't help but feel... a little happy, honestly. Eager to see his face again. This had to end soon. The sooner, the better. You started the conversation with : "I almost thought you wouldn't come. Karma and all, you know ? I stood a guy up, and now you stand me up. I'm glad you didn't though." In all fairness, you were genuinely surprised. He texted you pretty soon after you met, and you asked him on a date. You felt like he wanted to ask you first, but he never would have had the guts to actually act on it.  You thought you'd have to play it differently, and somehow you hoped it would be more complicated than that. You kind of dreaded the moment everything would go to shit. Not that it needed to. You could just get what you wanted, and disappear from his life like you never existed. If he was lucky, he wouldn't even have to cross your path again and realise what you had done. Being ghosted wouldn't hurt as much, in your mind.

This was way too early for you to have such an inner monologue. You had to keep it professional. What you were doing was important. All of it was for something bigger than yourself, bigger than Bucky Barnes. It didn't matter if you had a little crush on him. He was still a fucking mission. He could never be more. One world. One people. He answered : "I thought about it, but huuuh... I don't know. You must have left some sort of impression on me. I don't really go on dates." That last sentence brought a smile to your face. You asked : "When was your last one ?" A flash passed through his eyes, and he tried to hide his dismay by looking somewhere else in the room : "Not that long ago, actually. It didn't work out though." This story was obviously a bit more complicated than he let on, but you weren't going to pressure him to say anything he didn't want to say. You wouldn't get anything like that. "Oh ! Well, I could say I'm sorry, but I'm not. Good for me, I guess ? So, what are you really, James ? I can't shake away the feeling that I know you somehow."

Well, maybe a liiiittle bit of pressure. Was he going to admit to being The Winter Soldier ? It wasn't actually a secret, and he had a bit of a celebrity status, but you chose to play dumb. You knew he had a very tumultuous past, and bringing it up wasn't the best idea yet. But if you were honest with yourself, you weren't only going for the whole "I have no idea how famous you are, but I've actually seen your face in the fucking Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and I can't remember it" thing. You had never met this man before, and yes, you knew more than you let on about him,but when you met him, there was something very... yeah, familiar. Honestly. Like you were meeting someone from a past life, or something. Not that it mattered. One World. "You gave me that impression too, actually." he answered, making your heart beat a little faster than it was supposed to. One people.

You had to stay focused. "Did I ? ... You didn't answer my question." you quickly eluded. You saw him look for the right words :  "I'm a... I'm a war veteran. I still work with the... government on some missions, delicate ones, that I actually can't tell you about." So he wasn't going to tell you about being the Winter Soldier. Maybe not yet. Or maybe he never would. Again, not that it mattered. You didn't need him to say it. You didn't even really need to get to know him that well. But damn, you wanted to. You chose to remain playful, and said : "Well, I'll be damned. That wasn't bullshit then ?" He confirmed it wasn't, and you asked softly, not wanting to rush him, or wake anything uncomfortable in him. Because you cared, and it was a problem : "Did you hurt yourself out there, on the field ? Is that why you wear those gloves ?" He looked at them like he was discovering them for the first time, and half of a smile creeped on his face, before he told you : "Something like it. But enough about me. What about you ? What are you hiding ?"

That man was surprising with his quick comebacks. You liked that too about him. The list of things you liked was getting longer, and the more you tried to suppress your growing attraction for him, well... the more it was growing. You knew a lot about him, so you already had some preconceived ideas about him. You couldn't say it out loud back then, but you felt for him. He inspired a lot of compassion and sympathy in you. That, and seeing him in front of you, discovering what he was like in his everyday life, cimented... whatever the hell was happening inside of you. You took a moment before answering, with your best enigmatic look "What do you mean ?" He stared deeply into your eyes, with the same look that trapped your heart the first night you met him. "I don't know. There's something about you. Might be in your eyes. It's like your body, your face and your mouth say one thing, but then your eyes say something completely different. Like you're wearing a mask. And your american accent. It's almost perfect. Almost."

Fuck. He was the fucking Winter Soldier, of course he knew what he was dealing with. He wasn't a fucking amateur you could easily bluff. Somehow, the challenge brought a genuine smirk to your face, and it made you like him even more. It wasn't a secret he was very observant. He picked up things other people missed. You weren't the only one who was trained for this. The two of you were playing this game. Humor could diffuse the situation, so you tried :  "Jesus that's... that's a bit intense for a first date conversation, don't you think ?" The sad thing was, he actually crossed his arms and sat back in his chair, like you had touched a nerve, an insecurity in him. Your instinct wanted to reach out to him and reassure him. What the hell ? What were you thinking ? One world, one people. He wasn't looking at you anymore, when he said : " I'm sorry. I told you, I'm not good at that." You put your elbows on the table, crossing your arms, mimicking his pose, but you were going forward, engaging with him : "I'm messing with you James. That's interesting. Maybe we'll get to that, at some point. You weren't lying either about you liking to "observe things". Must be hard to lie to you." He seemed to relax a little, leaning a bit more towards you again, when he answered : "I have a good bullshit detector."

You uncrossed your arms, put your arms on the table, and leaned even more towards him, inviting him to one more little game, with a mischievous expression on your face "Is that so ?" Oooh, how he seemed to enjoy your reaction. He finally met you halfway on the table, observed you with intensity, smirked, and answered : "Are you taking that as a challenge ?" Could he stop ? Could he not be so... the list of compliments was getting longer and longer. One world...  "Maybe I am. Okay. Let's try that. I grew up with an italian mother and a french father. I actually lived in France for a long time, until I moved in America with my parents, when I was like 14, because of my mom's job." No point lying about certain things. Half-truths were often better than complete lies. But he immediatly caught the first thing that was missing from the pieces of information you were giving him : "You don't strike me as an only child." You smiled, genuinely impressed. But you were also on thin ice... This was exciting. Could he feel the sudden change of atmosphere between the two of you ? The subtle tension ? "Good one. Me, my parents, and my little brother." He smiled back at you, and let out a satisfied : "Better."

You continued your story, and kept on playing a little game of two truths and a lie for a while. Or two lies and a truth. Or no truth at all. He did have an excellent bullshit detector, but his not so subtle growing attraction for you clouded his sixth sense. Long story short, he knew you made a point in helping people around you. You genuinely believed in some sort of common good, and losing your little brother was the one tragic event that changed the course of the rest of your life. So maybe there wasn’t any lie at all in what you were saying, just omissions. At some point, you heard him say, in a voice that suggested he was more thinking out loud than really talking to you : "Makes life worth living, doesn't it ? To help. To make a real difference, like that. I wish I knew that feeling a bit better." You met his soulful eyes, and the pain, the shame you saw in them, stung your heart. You wanted to make it all go away : "Well... It may not be much of a consolation, but you definitely made a difference the night we met. My night went from pretty cringy to fairly okay, thanks to your mysterious charms." You could feel him studying your face again, searching for something you were afraid he might find, before giving you an adorable smile that made your heart skip a beat. You smiled back, before adding : "I'm joking, of course. I'm sure you've made a difference in a lot of people's lifes."

He stopped smiling at that, and vaguely looked at a point behind you. His eyes weren't focused on anything; they just had a haunted shadow in them. You knew a thousand different bloody memories had just overwhelmed him when he said, in a voice filled with regret : "Oh, I know I have. Just not in a good way..."Of course, you knew exactly what he was talking about. You wondered if he could sleep at night, or if he had terrible nightmares that prevented him for getting any sort of peace, once the sun went down. You caught yourself almost wishing you could reassure him at night and hold him. You brought him back to the present moment when you purposefully reached out for his right hand : "Hey, I'm sure that's not true. Besides, we don't have to talk about it if it brings back shitty memories. I want you to have a good time with me. You went through some difficult things, I can tell. But you know what ? So did I. And it's okay, I get it." You gave him a reassuring nod, which made him smile a little, and say "I am having a good time with you." 

You wanted to enjoy your time with him too, and some part of you did. If you let yourself feel it, you would have realised just how much you did.

But you also felt sorry for him, and incredibly guilty, especially after taping his phone.

Part Three is here