#quartz defeated themselves really

[ririya-translates]

Duckweed Part Two Summary

Sorry this took a while to put together, but I have the second part summary of the Jack Jeanne Duckweed manga (part one). Both the first and second parts of the manga are currently online for free, but I'm unsure about their translation status so I thought I'd post these summaries for EN readers. I still recommend people going through them even without reading JP as there's a lot of great art that I've not included here.

The story continues where the last one left off, proceeding to show us more about Rhodonite's 77th year fall performance and exploring the dynamics between Tsukasa, Minorikawa, and Nagisa.

I default to using they/them for characters who present as femme outside of Jeanne roles because the prospect of English pronouns for Rhodonite girlies hurts my brain, but that's just a personal preference. Apologies for formatting weirdness since I had to do battle against the tumblr post editor just to assemble this thing.

Part 2:

-it doesn’t show us the rest of the play, cutting right to the results showing Rhodonite in dead last (order: Amber, Onyx, Quartz, Rhodonite)

-Tsukasa quickly leaves the scene, muttering “It’s my fault”

-Minorikawa feels that all of Rhodonite should take responsibility for not supporting their tresor

-Nagisa seems keenly aware of their weaknesses as a class and explains that Tsukasa’s singing is far above the others which creates an imbalance as they struggle to reach up to that level and Tsukasa won’t hold back

-this imbalance makes it hard for Tsukasa to reach full potential either. Rhodonite’s biggest problem is trying to bridge this gap

-Nagisa then explains to us a bit of the history from years 74-76 (Tsuki’s era) which gives more insight as to why some of the classes are now rather unbalanced in year 77

-years 74-76 are regarded as a special period in Univeil. It was defined by three major figures: Tsuki Tachibana, undefeated champion and the ‘treasure of Univeil’; Matsumasa Hiraki, Onyx Jack Ace known as the ‘prince of ice’ (I discussed his character’s connections further in this post)

-and the last of the big three is Kuuya Koiguchi, Rhodonite Al Jeanne and class lead known as the ‘princess of strife’ (multiple possible translations here). They should look familiar from part 1. 

-their name 鯉口 Koiguchi refers to the opening of a sword sheath, but can also literally mean “koi mouth” while 空也 Kuya has kanji for 'empty' and 'to be' 

-Kuya shows an intense determination to defeat Quartz and Onyx, feeling the biggest weapon they were missing was a tresor. They sought to find the strongest tresor they could, but nobody had the ability until Tsukasa showed up

-newly-enrolled Tsukasa appears much like Mare is in the game, very bubbly and carefree

-Kuya chose Tsukasa and became quite obsessive in turning Tsukasa into this ideal weapon. Their goal was to reach the same level as Quartz, but that never happened. They left Tamasaka without ever defeating Tsuki. This indicates they did not join the troupe.

-Nagisa and the others tried to help, but Kuya’s obsession still lives in Tsukasa’s mind. Nagisa fears that it will destroy Tsukasa at this rate if something isn't done about it

-with this in mind, Minorikawa goes back to the duck pond and watches ducks eat the duckweed. He thinks of all the food being fed to the tresor. But if the duck gets too big, it can no longer move properly to feed

-initially he thinks that this is why Rhodonite’s biggest priority should be on trying to improve to meet Tsukasa’s level, but he pauses and says something like: “actually, it’s best to let them eat”

September

-on the topic of ‘let them eat’, Ion has gained a lot of weight over summer break and looks much more like Ion we see in-game

-Nagisa announces their fall play, ‘Garden of the Phoenix’. It’s a story about gardeners working to maintain a magnificent garden where a phoenix lives

-one day, the phoenix’s flames torch the garden to the ground, causing a wave of destruction. The creature closes off its heart and lays waste to the garden

-a young gardener returns with plans to restore the garden, but must work together with the phoenix to bring back the beauty that was once there

-the phoenix cannot forget the pain it caused, but opens its heart to fulfill the gardener’s dream of rebuilding the garden

-Minorikawa is the second-highest Jack (‘sub-ace’) while Tsukasa plays the Al Jeanne, the leader of the gardeners heading up the restoration project. Nagisa plays the tresor as the Phoenix. Tsukasa is quite upset at not being the tresor and runs off

-Tsukasa runs once again to the duck pond and Minorikawa follows. Tsukasa feels like they’re being replaced because they’re inadequate as a tresor. Minorikawa responds asking about Tsukasa’s dream

-he talks about his dream of joining the Tamasaka Troupe. That only two or three students per year get chosen from Univeil, and sometimes none at all

-he thought joining Univeil was the first step towards this dream, but in reality after he joined, he felt it slipping further away. He imagines his younger self within this dream watching him with eyes of concern

-he’s resolved to still do the best he can towards that goal, despite the long and hard climb. But his dream requires sacrificing Tsukasa’s

-Tsukasa recalls a time when they used to have so much fun singing. They’re shown singing the song Kamome no Suihei-san, a classic Japanese children’s song about seagull sailors playing up and down on the waves. This video has EN captions of the lyrics.

-Tsukasa says that they don’t have dreams as big as Minorikawa’s and that they’ll be Al Jeanne if it’s what’s best for Rhodonite, but headbutts Minorikawa and basically says that if they sink, they’re dragging everyone with with them

-rehearsals seem to go well. Nagisa mentions how the role of Al Jeanne requires one to focus on every element of the performance, not just the singing part. Tsukasa seems to be picking this up quickly and will likely be able to return to the tresor role soon

Fall Play

-performance order: Onyx, Amber, Rhodonite, Quartz

-Hotei tells Tsukasa backstage that Nagisa was always jealous that Kuya chose Tsukasa as the tresor, but also that he became the class lead to support Tsukasa

-the performance goes well; Rhodonite has their chance to rise again and rebuild

-results: Amber, Onyx, Rhodonite, Quartz

-Tsukasa remarks that they beat Quartz but that third place isn’t all that satisfying. They recall Kuya saying Tsukasa could some day stand on the same level as Quartz

-Tsukasa explains that they joined Univeil simply because they loved to sing, but that over time they lost that joy of singing from being so focused on winning. They thank the class for having the chance to enjoy it again

-Tsukasa asks Minorikawa to carry his dreams through to the end, believing that he can do it. And that Tsukasa will do the same

-epilogue basically skips to the start of year 78 (in-game year) where Minorikawa is dealing with Mare and friends, Tsukasa is calmly enjoying some tea and starting on this new role of guiding the class

-the epilogue page talks about how the duckweed floating on the surface is gobbled up by bigger creatures, but that roots extend deep into the water and with the passing of winter, new sprouts are left behind. (I think Ishida may have gotten his aquatic plants mixed up because I’m unsure how this metaphor works with rootless plants, but we’ll roll with it) 

Note:

We know from an in-game event with Minorikawa in Mitsuki’s route and from Fumi’s birthday story that Tsukasa’s partner by the end of that year was the 75th class Al Jeanne, which seems pretty clearly to be Nagisa. Nagisa and Tsukasa don’t read as partners to me in Duckweed, but we know from Neji and Chui that a significant partnership can happen from just one play together so it’s possible their relationship has a big shift after this point (please let me know if anyone writes a fic about this because I badly want to see it!)

[quartztwst]

MagiKey (TWST AU)

Quartz (Qix Trix) and My Yuu (Fragaria) Information

Basic Information about Quartz and Yuu

Quartz [MagiKey User “Qix Trix”]

“being a magical girl fucking sucks bro. i wish i could take it back ngl 😭😭"

Quartz is a 17 year old girl who has been a MagiKey user for 3 years. She seems to switch her personality when she is in her magical girl form. Instead of the blunt and irritable attitude in her normal form, she becomes an excitable but charming character in her magical girl form. She doesn't seen to rank top 10 in Magical Girl/People popularity rankings or any rankings to be exact. Although, she's able to make an impression with her unpredictable moves.

She's a normal girl overall. She doesn't have a job and only spends her time at home in the foundation she is put in.

Status:

Mental/Emotional Strength: ★★★★☆ (She's not easy to break but she could be weak for Yuu)

Physical Strength: ★★★☆☆ (Decent but she isn't the strongest)

Stamina: ★★★☆☆ (Holds well in a close range fight but long range takes too much running and thinking)

Strategy: ★★☆☆☆ (Ends up going in head first)

Strengths: She can easily trick and distract enemies. It is her specialty to make them confused and stall for allies to strike.

Weaknesses: If the enemy is extremely intimidating, she'll end up backing away from the fight so she doesn't get messy.

Yuu [MagiKey User "Fragaria"]

"Helping people and saving the world doesn't seem that bad! Besides, it's super fun to see everyone else's abilities!"

Yuu is a 17 year old kid just living their life. They've been a MagiKey user for a year and they are still learning. Yuu seems to keep the same positive attitude from their normal to their magical form. Their personality seems to boost everyone's mood and they try their hardest to support every MagiKey user on the battlefield. They aren't at the top 10 in popularity but people always want them to come assist in battles in which they do! But they have to invite their best friend Quartz too.

A very passionate and genuine kid who just wants to help people.

Status:

Mental/Emotional Strength: ★★★☆☆ (With certain context, Yuu is a very empathetic person which could lead them to become weak from that.)

Physical Strength: ★★★★★ (Quite strong since they are carrying a heavy basket. It's REALLY heavy.)

Stamina: ★★★★★ (Restores energy with strawberries so it's neverending)

Strategy: ★★★☆☆ (Sometimes tries to do strategies but ends up off track)

Strengths: Their support can easily boost allies motivation. They want their friends to defeat the villain with their full potential!

Weaknesses: They are naive and sympathize with people easily. This can lead them falling into traps and probably letting the enemy win.

They were actually raised in some foundation orphanage thing idk. They have no knowledge of their birth parents (since they look out of place aka one is GREY with crazy hair and one is SOME ENTITY??)

Quartz was a very quiet kid while Yuu was more outgoing. They would always stay together and they saw eachother as close friends

When Quartz hit 14, a magikey appeared on her bed and went on to become a magical girl before Yuu (she kinda didn’t wanna do it)

Quartz of course kept it a secret from Yuu

For a year, she managed to keep it a secret but she ended up struggling to fight a villain. She was beat and worn down but UNTIL BOOM!! Yuu is HERE!!

it didn’t really work uhhh they almost got their ass beat 😭😭😭

Quartz managed to save themselves and beat the villain with the support of Yuu (OMG FRIENDSHIP POWER!!)

But this made the secret not a secret anymoreee so Yuu knew that Quartz was a magical girl

When they were 16, Yuu finally recieved their magikey !!

But there was also an offer for Yuu to train at the newly built MagiKey school before actually getting out there as an official one

Quartz didn’t have to take that school when she first started and managed to figure out things so she also told that Yuu didn’t have to go but Yuu insisted

The foundation they were in already had a school built in so they would have to train after school hours

Quartz eventually caved in and joined Yuu in the new MagiKey Training School

They still fight and are offical magical girls. They are mostly seen fighting together.

[flashypunches]

chapter three of "I fear a corpse (but you worship a whale-fall)" underneath cut.

Evbo in this chapter: what do you mean there's another layer than the pros. what do you mean that the golden carrots that the master (EMF) gave me could have been poisoned. what do you mean I have to try and "charm" the master (EMF) in order to have an easier life.

Evbo's neighbor is truly having the most busy gossip session in this chapter. Like he's hearing EVERYTHING that Evbo hears, and God if that stuff isn't messy as hell <<33

“Where were you?” is the first thing their brother asks of them. 

EMF startles at his voice, twisting away from where they’re locking the front door to stare at him. “What?” they blurt out, mind too slow to stop their foolish mouth.

“Where were you?” he repeats, eyes scrunched up in what they assume to be barely contained anger. 

They can’t tell him the truth. “The Arena. I clocked out of my shift and I forgot to have someone tell you, I promise you, I didn’t mean to lose track of time.”

“Come with me to work.”

They blink in surprise. “Excuse me? Wouldn’t I get in the way?”

“My brother, I thought that you had ranked down. That you somehow failed a jump and then you would be stuck down there, forever. Just do this little thing for me, won’t you? I haven’t asked much of you, have I?”

“No, no, you haven’t. Apologies for my disrespect. I’m sorry for making you worry about a Master like me.” 

He gives them a sigh, and the weariness of the sound makes their throat tighten with guilt. “I’m sorry,” they repeat, their voice a whisper, barely audible through the silent apartment. 

Their gaze drops to the floor, even as their brother walks over to them, his diamond sabatons clanking against the quartz tile. They stiffen as he reaches out and brings them close, even though they know that he is not a player who’d ever raise a hand against them. He is not the Masters which they defeat, who leave them with bruises and marks of red and purple.

His tone is warm, sweet. His hold feels suffocating, smothering, stifling. “You’re no lowly Master. You’re my brother. I was made to worry about you. But I must ask; you won’t ever leave me, will you?”

Their hands cling to the metal of his armor. “Never, never.” EMF lies.

*

Evbo cannot bring himself to take a bite of the golden food. He fears it will break his teeth, rendering him unable to ever eat again. How could the stranger even bring themselves to bite into things like these? 

He wakes up as he always does. Hungry, wanting, and resentful. There’s a player with golden shoes. There’s a player without iron or leather. There’s a layer above the Pros.

It’s unbelievable. It’s absurd. It’s… disheartening.

He won’t deny the tinge of misery he feels whenever he thinks about the stranger. He thought that ranking up would be simple, just one step, just one ticket, just one course. He thought that all he had to do was prove his worthiness of iron and then he’d be good. Then he would be worth caring about.

God, how long would he have believed that? Would he have believed that for his entire life, knowing no better? Believe nothing but that?

Evbo drags all of those thoughts out of his mind when he has to jump for the one-block. The chicken is useful for trade, for bargaining, and he is still wary of the gift.

Nothing comes without a price. He paid them back. They will return. He hopes that they lied to him.

His neighbor is not trusting. He gives him a distasteful look at his attempt at retelling yesterday’s events, at the idea of him trying to pull the wool over his murky blue eyes.

“You really expect me to believe that?” he asks, and Evbo sputters in response.

“It’s true!” he protests, to his neighbor’s doubtful hum. 

“Sure… you got any proof for it though?” 

He freezes. Oh god. “Promise you won’t take it?” he squeaks out.

His neighbor hits his shoulder, snickering at his worry. “Why would I want something like that? Meat’s much more reliable. Less likely to be poisoned too.”

“What? You really think so?” 

A shrug is all he gets. “The Pros give us bad food. Who’s to say that that isn’t bad too?”

Evbo curls his knees up to his chest, looking away to the stone tile of his home’s floor. He pulls the stash of golden carrots to let his neighbor catch a glimpse of the gold. He whistles a low pitch at the sight, a grin on his face which has Evbo drawing his gift a bit closer to himself.

“That is some proof. You really not up to–”

“You got the rest of that flesh. That was the trade.” he shoots back, shoving at his neighbor with a smile of his own. “This isn’t up for grabs.”

He raises his hands in surrender, though Evbo watches him eye the place where the gold once was. “Okay. What are you going to say to them though?”

“Who?”

“The guy who gave you that thing. Didn’t they say they were coming back?” 

Evbo frowns at the reminder. “I don’t know. Maybe they were lying.”

His neighbor shakes his head. “Don’t believe that. Y��know what I think? I think you should get close to them. Get really chummy with them, all that jazz.”

“Really? Are you sure about that?”

He nods. “Trust me. It helps, having allyships with people like them.” 

Evbo knows that his neighbor has experience with this. The Pros do take his neighbor’s antics lightly, by nothing but the charm the neighbor shows them all. Evbo dreads the idea of taking up his role with that stranger. 

But he is right, to the terms of it being an advantage. And he needs to rank up, to earn that ticket, to get his iron boots, and hopefully gold as well. He needs that special treatment, he needs that lack of regard to the trouble the Pros think that he stirs up. He needs to become prey in the stranger’s eyes, to become something sweet, desirable, something that they want.

He’ll do anything to be that. He’ll lie, he’ll cheat, he’ll steal, he’ll kill, even if for just a moment of favoritism from golden shoes. 

“Okay,” Evbo concedes to his neighbor, contemplating and considering. “But how do you suggest I do that?”

[rhea-tarot]

🦋❣️What were they were thinking/feeling the last time they saw you?❣️🦋

It’s time for our next pick a card reading! Today’s topic is “what were they thinking/feeling the last time they saw you” I have been really excited to post this reading because I think it can be relevant to all kinds of different relationships. You can apply it to a love interest, family member, friend, acquaintance - you name it! The main chunk of this reading will be focused on the person you are thinking abouts feelings and thoughts the last time you saw, spoke or interacted with them. There will also be a small section on what advice spirit has for you when it comes to future interactions with this person. This is a timeless reading so whenever you find this is wonderful and you are more than welcome to come back to the reading at a later time and/or if you want to ask about multiple people.

**disclaimer**

This is a general reading so it is important to use your intuition and discernment when receiving these messages. This reading is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended to replace medical or professional help. All decisions are yours to make. You know your life best so only take what resonates with you!

The piles

Go ahead and pick the pile that you are most drawn to using your intuition. You can meditate or take some deep breaths before choosing your pile or whatever method works best for you! It’s perfectly alright to be drawn to more than one pile as there might be messages for you in multiple piles. If you don’t find any messages in any piles are resonating it just means I either didn’t pick up on your energies this time around or there are no messages for you at this time. When you are ready, scroll down to find your pile!

Pile one:Chalcedony Agate

Pile one, the last time you saw or interacted with the person you are thinking of it seems as though they might have been dealing with a situation where either they were being deceitful and the truth came out, or someone was deceiving them and they found out about it. I’m getting the feeling that the last time you interacted with them they were in an energy of wanting to move forward from whatever that situation was. It was a painful situation for them but it seems as though they’re determined to make it through and learn from it. They may have been feeling like it was time to move on either from that person if they were the one being deceived or their own deceitful behavior. I’m sensing that they want to do what it best for themselves in regards to this situation. If they’re a spiritual person they might be turning more towards their faith to help them regain balance and control over their situation and their life. They want to change and grow into their own power. Spirits advice for you is to give this person some space. Spirit is trying to look out for you by letting you know that any communication or collaboration with this person is either being blocked right now or should be put on hold for the time being. This person is in a heavy energy of wanting and needing to follow their heart and do what is best for themselves and that may mean not being available to you.

Pile Two:Rose Quartz

Pile two, the last time you saw or interacted with the person you are thinking of, it seems as though they may have been in a bit of a mixed energy. If you are in a relationship with this person it’s possible that they were a bit controlling or emotionally manipulative towards you and were taking more than they were giving. They may have been struggling with their self esteem and making decisions for themselves in a balanced way. Because of that energy, it is possible that this person has lost something or they have removed themselves from a situation or relationship. It also seems as though they are just beginning to start something new, possibly related to their job or income. They have fully committed themselves to the start of this new project or situation and it is dominating their time right now. Whatever this new start is in their life I think they are recognizing their need to set aside their emotions and approach it from a more rational and logical perspective. Spirits advice to you for this connection or future interactions with this person is to pay attention to your own thoughts and feelings when you’re around them. It appears as though your cup is empty and you might be feeling sad or frustrated. Spirit is indicating that it is important to take some time to look within and that doing so will help you find a way to refill your cup and to passionately move forward with what makes you happy in life.

Pile Three:Blue Calcite

Pile three, the last time you saw or interacted with the person you are thinking of they may have been in a really sad energy. It seems as though this person was feeling really drained and defeated the last time you interacted with them. They want to keep fighting for a connection they’ve lost but they’re not sure how long they can keep going or if their efforts will pay off. They might have been feeling sentimental about the connection or this situation is bringing up memories from their childhood. This is an energy that might be taking a toll on their sense of security and stability. I think they might have also been recognizing that there is a need for them to look deeper into the situation that is causing them to feel these hard emotions or they might be looking for spiritual guidance to help carry them through this situation. Spirits advice to you for the next or future interactions with this person is to not be afraid to step away from the traditional ways of doing something and to trust yourself in your actions. They want you to know that your internal wisdom or intuition will help you determine how you would like to proceed when it comes to future interactions with this person. Spirit is also indicating that if you have something you have been wanting to tell this person, for better or for worse, now is the time.

I want to thank my guides and your guides for bringing us these messages tonight and thank you all so much for checking this reading out, my heart goes out to all of you. These piles were filled with heavy and complicated energies from the people you guys are thinking of and I wish you all well in your future interactions with them and in your lives in general. If you found that these messages resonated with you and if you feel called to I would really appreciate it if you could like and/or reblog so that these messages can find others. Peace and love to you all ♥️

-Rhea

[faelapis]

what i mean when i say i like jasper’s ending a Lot in terms of “what the character needs”, rather than what the audience needs, is that the transition from “fragments”, to “homeworld bound”, to finally “the future” shows, albeit quickly, a pretty interesting commentary on “want vs need”.

“want vs need” is a pretty basic storytelling concept of, basically, writing flawed characters who have some growing to do as people. they “want” one thing, but they actually “need” another thing.

so let’s talk about jasper’s “want” vs “need”.

cont: but you are not my diamond. if you think you’re hard enough to tell me what to do, fight me and prove it.

she makes her “want” clear in every episode she’s in SU future - which is that she wants to subjugate herself to a diamond, because that’s the only worthwhile purpose in life she’s known.

but we, and steven, don’t actually want that to happen. we know it’s not good for her health. we’ve seen that it’s not, both because hierarchies like those are toxic and because we’ve been shown, specifically for jasper, that it causes her to self-destruct over and over again.

so when it does happen, it’s very fitting that it’s in the worst circumstances possible. she begged for steven to fight her with all his might, over and over again, so he could prove himself a worthy diamond - to the point where he ends up shattering her. and when she’s brought back to life, she’s not even mad at him. he’s proven himself a “worthy” superior.

so we’ve been shown very clearly that jasper’s want is pretty, well, unhealthy for her. she would literally die for it, and get nothing in return except unhealthy, oppressive structures around her. getting everything she wants, at long last, fills her with a kind of void and fragile happiness... which only lasts so long as steven embraces his role as diamond and stays with her. 

hence we, and steven, only see her act at peace with her circumstances without complaint for a couple minutes, and it always (both in fragments and homeworld bound) ends in her own heartbreak. that’s the fragility of her “want”.

basically, it’s bad because, albeit she would know what to do with these structures... it would be at the expense of her own agency, character growth and health. it would always end badly for her.

this is a good time to point out the parallels to steven in “mr universe”.

much like jasper, steven doesn’t care if the structures around greg were cruel or oppressive. he never looks closely enough to notice how much greg hated his life. he just wants things he sees as “normal”. he wants guidance, certainty and authority figures to tell him what he’s “supposed” to do in life.

so. how is jasper’s “want” inverted?

much like rose would eventually do with pearl, the unhealthy attachment is cut by giving your subject a very bitter pill - disappearing from their life. by leaving them behind, you’re essentially forcing them to grow.

that’s NOT the main / only reason rose has steven, or steven eventually leaving beach city... but both serve the purpose of making someone who idolized you “deal with” your absence. and that’s certainly at least a part of their intention - rose thought of herself as stuck and likely holding pearl back. steven is horrified by the diamond role and wants jasper to do “something better”.

and that leads us to jasper’s “need” - to be free from these oppressive authority structures and find her own path in life. this would both improve her health & happiness, as well as making her stop engaging in unhealthy behavior towards herself and others.

now. is she fully “there” yet? no. 

but i think that as much as her trying to persuade steven to take her with him into the great unknown mirrors pearl - ie “i should be fighting for you, because you’re too important”, her reaction to steven’s reassurance that he will be fine shows that she’s already done more growing than pearl had at that point.

she’s likely been taking classes at little homeworld (where she was confirmed to currently live, NOT just visit to say goodbye to steven) for the preceding months between “i am my monster” and “the future”. she’s somewhere near accepting that her diamond doesn’t need protection. it’s also likely something she started thinking after “fragments” - if your diamond is truly so wonderfully powerful... why would they need your protection? what is your “purpose”? steven defeating her + leaving without her in “homeworld bound” both lead her to the same conclusion - she can’t fail or succeed in protecting him, because he doesn’t need her to.

thus, her role isn’t warranted.

“i can protect myself”. “i know... farewell, my diamond”.

it’s pretty significant to me that at the end of their little scene, steven doesn’t run away or give jasper any orders to stop following him. SHE leaves, albeit sadly, because she agrees with him. he can take care of himself.

jasper’s still framing steven as a diamond / superior, but... i think a big point here is that she’s someone who was so firmly stuck at the bottom of a pit of self-hatred, isolation and meaninglessness that she couldn’t unstuck herself - not without being pushed to do so. which ended up also being true for steven.

that’s the irony of the double-edged sword of her “want” - in a way, she’s right about one thing. she can’t just magically get better on her own.

i think the episode “guidance” illustrates an interesting balance between steven and amethyst’s philosophies - amethyst would rather gems do whatever, even if they end up slipping back into their old patterns. steven would rather guide them towards challenging themselves, even if that means dismissing their autonomy.

jasper... kinda gets both? her “want” and “need” play into each other in interesting ways. i’ve been framing her want as a negative a lot, but it does have an interesting silver lining - she had to get what she wanted (to be defeated, to be given a diamond), to be pushed to what she needed.

and in turn, steven needed to listen to and adapt to HER, in order to help her. only after doing that, after being pushed by jasper in turn and truly giving her what she wants, even if it tears you apart mentally... would she ever listen to you. as steven is probably used to by now.

and despite the tragedy of it, i think that’s... kind of an okay thing to show? because not everyone will seek help on their own. it’s not the uplifting message of “anyone who needs help will eventually realize it entirely on their own”, but it IS the hopeful message of “even people who refuse help, deserve help”. 

there’s horror in steven ultimately adapting to jasper’s desires, because it shows them both the fragility of their wants - for steven, being able to control jasper was a horrifying consequence. he got what he “wanted” in the worst way possible. for jasper, getting what she “wanted” meant being forced to let it (steven) go in favor of staying at little homeworld. 

but honestly... we already knew that jasper would never seek help on her own. she’s too “selfless”, in the toxic sense. purpose matters most.

and she’s not alone in that.

“pearl took pride in risking her destruction for your mother. she put rose quartz over everything; over logic, over consequence, over her own life.”

pearl taking rose down from that pedestal was a slow, elaborate, exhausting process that took years of actively working on herself. the majority of that work was only done after rose was gone.

jasper’s gonna have all the same tools - a genuine support network, people who are willing to both empathize and teach a better way, distance from her romanticized superior, and her own desire to get better. 

the latter point, at first, because she’s told to. but as we saw in “little homeschool”, leaving her to her own devices without any “worthwhile” path forward wasn’t ideal. her “want”, much like amethyst said... still deserves to be listened to, even if she still thinks like a homeworld gem. 

but the seriousness of such an effort is, as pearl taking care of steven “for rose” and then “for him” and finally growing to do things “for herself” shows, a good avenue for REAL growth. jasper may soon yet grow for her own sake.

and the results... again, pulling pearl as my example, can be remarkable.

as i’ve said before... i am pretty sad we won’t actually get to see more of that. that’s what “the audience” may have felt they needed from jasper. the same way i’m sure rose would find it bittersweet to know how much pearl has grown without her. the same way you’re sad whenever you don’t see a character you love find love and happiness onscreen, even if it’s implied...

but in a show told from steven’s perspective, i think there is some point to that.

i’ve come around to the following: she couldn’t go with him. any forgiving hugs steven & jasper could’ve given each other at this point would’ve been hollow. that power dynamic would’ve been in the way. what they “need” is not each other. they need people who really, truly understand them, and to figure out what they want in their lives when steven doesn’t have someone to save emotionally (jasper), and jasper doesn’t have someone to sacrifice herself for (steven). 

(...and it’s at this point you realize i made you read ALL OF THAT mainly to justify why pearl and jasper’s relationship is gonna be such a central thing in my post-canon fanfic. lol. anyway here’s the link again.)

[aphrostarot]

Self-Love Pick a Pile

How can you be more loving towards yourself?

Please remember that this is a general reading and some things may not apply to you. Don't force it to fit. I offer paid readings on my page if you would like a personal reading. Prices are listed there. Please message me if you are interested!

Pile One (Amethyst):

How do you see yourself?

Five of Cups:

In your eyes, you are very hard to please since you are very fixated on the past. You can never forgive someone who wrongs you. Since you have been burned in the past, you tend to focus on the negative and be pessimistic rather than getting your hopes up. It is difficult for you to love yourself, which leads to a great deal of neglect of yourself. However, you see yourself as a very empathic friend, someone who will always be there for you when you are in need.

The Mastermind:

A Mastermind is never left holding the bag. She conceives the grand plan and then flees the law, living in hiding. To keep someone in her life, she needs a great deal of trust. You see yourself this way. As extremely intelligent and powerful.

How do you speak to yourself?

The Emperor:

Emperors are very powerful leaders who rule with an iron fist. You talk to yourself in a very bossy and powerful manner. Your attitude towards yourself feels very harsh to me. The demands you place on yourself are extremely high, and you are ruthless when it comes to your own success. Your own worst enemy is you.

How can you remind yourself you are worthy?

The Empress:

A future filled with abundance is signaled by the Empress. It is telling you that things are going to improve for you soon. By remembering how far you have come and how far you have yet to go, your guides are telling you to remind yourself of your worth. Keep in mind that it will come no matter what. Believe in yourself and your guides, because they do not lie to you. Don't doubt your worth, you're a fighter and are more than worthy of obtaining abundance.

Grey:

This card reminds you that endings are inevitable and to let go of the past. Your past experiences have caused you to hang on to things from the past and can cause you to not easily let go. Your guides are telling you with this card that you can remind yourself of your worth by letting go of the past and moving on to the next phase of your life. Things can go wrong sometimes, but that doesn't mean they always will. Let go of the idea that bad things are destined for you.

How can you love yourself more?

Five of Swords:

Because you believe everything that has happened to you has happened because of your own faults, this card makes sense for you. A feeling of defeat that arises because of one's own faults is portrayed on this card. It is hard for you to let go of the past and move on. Your guides are telling you that yes, bad things happen, but you aren't always at fault. It is possible to overcome the mistakes you have made in the past. To begin that process, you need to love yourself for who you are, which includes your past mistakes.

Storm:

Recently, you have suffered so much hurt and this has affected your ability to take care of yourself. Your guides are saying that that hurt is about to end. You can begin to love yourself by believing that good things will happen to you. Believing that your guides will lead you in the right direction.

How can you see your beauty?

Two of Wands:

This is the card of partnership, and having it come up here shows me that the way to start recognizing your beauty is by welcoming someone into your life who can help guide you. You've been unable to recognize your own beauty for a long time now, and your guides say that the only way to do this is by inviting more people into your life rather than rejecting everyone because of bad experiences in the past.

Sun:

The Sun is all about bringing happiness back into your life. You have been struggling for so long and you have lost your happiness as a result. You can recognize your beauty by finding happiness in your life again, according to your guides. This can be accomplished by trusting others and letting them in.

Pile Two (Sodalite):

How do you see yourself?

The Magician and Ace of Wands:

With both of these cards, you see yourself as being very creative and skilled. As a successful and driven individual, you've accomplished a lot in your life, and you're celebrating it. In the picture of the spread, these two cards depict someone holding a wand in the air. Having worked extremely hard to get where you are and having been successful at it, now you can raise your trophy (the wand) in the air with great pride and happiness.

The Earth Mother:

I get strong Green Witch energy here. You are very connected to the earth and draw on it to succeed. You are a very feminine person regardless of how you identify because remember, every single human being has both masculine and feminine energy within them. You, however, channel your femininity much more than your masculinity.

How do you speak to yourself?

Page of Pentacles:

You listen to your body well and make sure you are taking care of its needs. You constantly are trying to learn more about yourself, making sure you are asking yourself questions and listening to your aches and pains as signals of when to take a break. You speak to yourself very kindly and try very hard to take care of your body because you believe that your body is your vessel in each lifetime so, you want to take good care of it, and a part of that is speaking kindly to it.

How can you remind yourself you are worthy?

The Emperor:

You are very good at listening to your body and recognizing when to take breaks, as we have established. You take excellent care of yourself, but only your physical self, not your mental self. As your guides suggest, you can remind yourself of your worth by taking control and being in charge of your thinking. Yes, you are kind to yourself, but you are also very lenient when it comes to your mental health. It's time to be bossier towards yourself and to ingrain in your brain that you are worthy.

Potion:

This card reminds you that self-love is needed here. While you have mastered self-care, you've been lacking in self-love. Make sure you take care of yourself, do something that makes you feel beautiful, reminds you that you are worthy.

How can you love yourself more?

The Hierophant:

In your self-love journey, the Hierophant encourages you to seek out community. You need to go back to your tried and true, if you're a part of a religious group or organization of sorts, now is the time to seek peace within them. If not, find peace in your friendships. The guides want you to find structure in your life through a community, and by doing so, you will be one step closer to loving yourself.

Shark:

You are reminded to swim away from your current situation with this card. In your life, by someone you know, and even by yourself, you are not being treated right. The first step to loving yourself more is to surround yourself with people who love and support you.

How can you see your beauty?

The Star:

You've recently lost hope in your self-love journey, and having this card come up is a sign to hold on to your comforts, and to remain hopeful because positivity is on its way.

The Empress:

Do something luxurious, treat yourself. Feel beautiful inside and out. This is how you can start feeling beautiful. With this card coming out, you are a goddess, and you need to remember this, celebrate your accomplishments. You have grown so much in your life and you need to acknowledge that.

Spaceship:

You have been made to believe that you are not beautiful and now you hide. This is not the way to live, and this card encourages you to embrace your beauty and be confident. You do not need to continue hiding behind your conditioned fear. You should be proud of who you are and how you look.

Pile Three (Rose Quartz):

How do you see yourself?

Three of Wands:

You consider yourself to be extremely optimistic and a dreamer. With great tenacity and drive, you have achieved a lot. You consider yourself very competitive, going after what it is you want with a very cutthroat approach. You believe that you are better than others because of your drive, which usually gets you what you want from life.

The Spinster:

The Spinster is not bothered by the hustle and bustle of society. They rebel against everything society expects of them. Most of the time they are alone, and they prefer it that way, keeping to themselves, and most people view them as something they should not strive to achieve. The reason for this is that they do not get married and keep to themselves. You consider yourself to be an outlaw.

How do you speak to yourself?

Two of Swords:

There is something about you that I feel is so stubborn that you won't accept that you need to improve in terms of self-care and self-love. You are perfectly fine in your eyes, and nothing needs to be changed. You talk to yourself in an extremely negative tone, pushing your feelings aside and sticking to the facts, which are that you do not need to change anything, regardless of whether that is true or not. It feels to me that even when you feel like you should change you do not because you fear it which results in negative self-talk.

How can you remind yourself you are worthy?

The Star:

As the card of hope, having it appear here means that yes, you know you will be rewarded for your hard work but not because you hoped for it, only because you worked for it. As a result, you don't rely on hope in your life to understand your worth, just your hard work. Your guides want you to let go of that all-facts mindset and to let yourself dream and hope for things. Take care of yourself during this time. You view yourself as being very optimistic but your guides are telling me that you really are not as optimistic as you think you are because you are lacking hope in your self-worth.

Flower:

This card tells you, to be honest with yourself, you have been lying to yourself for some time now. Trying to convince yourself that you are better off than you really are. It is important for you to take care of yourself here, stop pretending you are better than you are.

How can you love yourself more?

The Hierophant:

In your self-love journey, the Hierophant encourages you to seek out community. You need to go back to your tried and true, if you're a part of a religious group or organization of sorts, now is the time to seek peace within them. If not, find peace in your friendships. Now is not the time to be alone. You need to seek out the support of others. Your guides want you to find structure in your life through a community, and by doing so, you will be one step closer to loving yourself.

Sword:

There has been a change brewing in your life for some time now. This card encourages you to make a change, whether it is cutting your hair, making new friends, finding a new job, etc. To love yourself more, you need to make a change.

How can you see your beauty?

Ace of Cups:

The Ace of Cups is a reminder to embrace all of your emotions. You have run from your emotions for so long that now is the time to embrace them. You will be able to recognize your own beauty more easily if you do this.

Lioness:

As a result of growing so much, you have accumulated some scars along the way. Your guides are telling you to embrace every scar you have whether physical or mental because they are a symbol of your strength. Now is the time for you to recognize that you are incredibly beautiful and strong.

Pile Four (Amazonite):

How do you see yourself?

Knight of Wands:

In your eyes, you are very confident and will never back down from competition. Because you believe in yourself so much, you are not afraid to take action. You are confident that you can achieve everything you set out to do since your qualifications are impeccable. Passion and rebelliousness are two things that you think make you irresistible.

The Delinquent:

Delinquents are symbols of youthful rebellion. This is who you are in your eyes. Rather than doing what everyone wants from you, you would much rather break the rules. You are the definition of an angsty teen in your eyes.

How do you speak to yourself?

Five of Pentacles:

It seems like you are very hard on yourself. You have experienced many losses in your life and because of this, part of you feels to blame. You are very difficult on yourself as a result. Your guides are sick of you blaming yourself for mistakes.

How can you remind yourself you are worthy?

Page of Swords:

Your intelligence and quick thinking make you an exceptional individual. As a result, you are very aware of everything happening around you. Your guides tell you that by recognizing these things about yourself, you will be one step closer to understanding what you are capable of and accepting your worth.

Nostalgia:

You have been too focused on the past and what could have been. Rather than focusing on your imaginary life, your guides say you should improve your present life. You cannot change what has happened in the past, but you can change your present by reminding yourself of your worth.

How can you love yourself more?

The Heirophant:

In your self-love journey, the Hierophant encourages you to seek out community. You need to go back to your tried and true, if you're a part of a religious group or organization of sorts, now is the time to seek peace within them. If not, find peace in your friendships. Now is not the time to be alone. You need to seek out the support of others. Your guides want you to find structure in your life through a community, and by doing so, you will be one step closer to loving yourself.

Homeward:

You are encouraged to take yourself out on a date with this card. Give yourself a night in or a night out that allows you to slow down and pay attention to yourself since you have been ignoring this for some time. It's time to learn more about yourself. You need to fall in love with yourself again.

How can you see your beauty?

Five of Cups:

For some time now, you have been very self-conscious and insecure about your beauty. Every day when you look in the mirror, you feel as though you lack everything society deems beautiful.

Death:

It is through losing this mindset that you will be able to recognize how beautiful you are. It's time to let go of the way you think of yourself and embrace how beautiful you are. You don't need to think of beauty in terms of what society says, as that is incorrect. Everything and everyone is beautiful, you just have to change the way you see things.

Potion:

This is the card that tells you to love yourself. You are being encouraged to do things that make you feel beautiful by your guides. Take a luxurious bath, use a rosewater face mask, journal, etc. Making yourself feel loved is the key to recognizing your beauty.

Though tips are not required, they are very much appreciated. Thank you!

Venmo: @ aphrostarot Paypal: paypal/aphrostarot

[kareniliana]

Kol: “I Made Tea”

A//N: Okay for this one Kol will in portrayed as Daniel Sharman when Kol was in Kaleb something’s body. He was a witch! Okay enjoy!

xx Karebear 💛🧸

Your parent’s died a few years back, a newly turned vampire had gone on a spree in the streets of New Orleans. Two of the many dead were your parents. They went out on a date while you worked your tourist store. When you heard the news of a vampire on the loose, killing anyone and everyone, you immediately went to check it out and find your parents. But when you found them, they were drained of all their blood. They were piled onto other dead people. You became furious with whoever the hell called themselves the King of New Orleans. Letting his army kill innocent people, especially your parents.

You went full evil powerful witch on the vampires, killing only the vampire who was responsible for their deaths. Leaving Klaus Mikaelson with a threat, if anymore of your people pop up dead, the nest dead body is his or a member of his profound dysfunctional family. Since that night, he had his sights set on you. He wanted you as an ally, not an enemy. And he made that insanely obvious.

Your family comes from a line a very powerful witches, your ancestors carried a rare type of magic. Immense power get passed on and accumulates, but only once every 20-30 years. You’re not bound to a place, unlike the covens here in New Orleans. If they leave the area, they are powerless. 

You worked the store, your Aunt and Uncle becoming owners of the store after your parents. They also became your guardians, you were grateful that you had them. You know plenty of people in the world don’t have the same luxury as you.

The sound of the door opening and sound the bell, sprung your head up. In comes the Kaleb Westphall. When you were still in school, he was the guy every girl wanted and every guy wanted to be. You knew he was a witch, catching him cast a spell on a bully a few years back. But you never spoke to him about it.

He looked around gathering certain crystals and herbs. He went to the counter, dropping his items. “You guys got any vervain? I can’t seem to find it anywhere.” 

You looked up at him with a slight smirk, “You must of not looked hard enough.” 

You stood up walking around the counter and going back to the table of common herbs, “It was next to the valerian and bee balm.”

“Oh, Yeah. Would you look at that, I must have.” He smiled at you, “Sorry for the waste of time, Y/n.”

You muttered in a rude tone without realizing, “Yeah I’m sure you are...” walking back behind the cashier register, how does he know your name? 

His smile fades, “damn, Y/n, I said sorry.” You rang up his items; quartz crystals, vervain, valerian, bee balm and mugwort.

“No, no, I didn’t- I - I just didn’t think you knew my name.” You suddenly became shy, he never spoke to you in high school. You were a nobody.

“What? How could I not know who you are? You’re becoming a powerful witch and my brother is looking forward to you growing into your power.” Kaleb paid for his items and retreated from the store.

You stood there looking at the door in confusion, Kaleb doesn’t have any siblings.

“His brother?” You whispered to yourself out-loud, “Klaus.”

Hours after ‘Kaleb’ left your store, your aunt finally came in to finish off the shift and close. You had cleaned up the shop, restocked, and redecorated the window showcase. Getting a feeling that someone is watching you, you canvas the street, seeing a few locals and tourists. Then you saw him, ‘Kaleb’. He noticed you saw him, turning around and walking into an alley.

You rushed outside, running after him. Waving your hand across, pulling a dumpster to stop him. He sighed in defeat.

“Okay, you caught me. What do you want to know?” He placed his hand on his hips.

“Who are you? And don’t say Kaleb, I know that's a lie.” You didn’t want to be lied to, and wanted to get to the bottom of whatever this was.

“Okay, how’d you know? Was it the powerful witch comment?”

You scoffed, “Everything gave it off. Kaleb doesn't even know I exist, he doesn’t have a brother and Klaus told me the same thing.”

“Said what?”

You rolled your eyes, not wanting to talk about it but, “The night my parents died I threaten him. Klaus. And he said he was looking forward to me growing into my power. Something about how he hasn’t seen one person hold this much potential since that one Bennett witch.”

He chuckled deeply, “Ah yes, the Bonnie Bennett. Now she is a tyrant. And unstoppable force, thank god I never tested her like Nik here.”

You flung your finger at him, thrusting him back against the dumpster rather harshly. “This body doesn’t self heal, take easy love.”

You scoffed, “You’re a Mikaelson, wherever you go pain and strife follow along.”

With that you turned around, going back to the shop. Grabbing your things and walking back out. Making your way to the nearest pub for food, but being delayed when ‘Kaleb’ grabbed a hold of your elbow, stopping you in your tracks.

“How rude? We were having a conversation.” He smirked, walking alongside you.

“I don’t care, get out of Kaleb’s body and leave this place alone!” You shrugged off his hand.

“Mhmm, sorry love I can’t do that. My mother put me in this body, can’t leave until she takes me out of it.” 

You rolled your eyes, “What is Kaleb had plans! A future he was looking forward to! You’re taking a portion of his life that he will never get back.”

“This guy is useless, he wants to be a professional race car driver, that's so mediocre and boring. His life is already wasted.” He grabbed your arm again, stopping you from running away from him. “Are you mad at me because of the body I’m in or because of lying to you?”

“Why do you care?”

“Y/n, just settle here for a second. Look, I know the power our hold is immense. If your feeling what I feel just by touching you, then you and I both know if you don’t get your emotions under control. It could be destructive, for you and everyone in New Orleans.” You leaned against the cold building wall.

You sighed, knowing he was right. “Why are you doing this? Why’d you come into my store?”

“Niklaus mentioned you and I wanted to keep an eye on you. Keep you safe, you’re innocent in everything. With your parents, with your magic.” He leaned against the building with you.

“I don’t even know who you really are.” You scoffed a little, almost hating that you’re in a weird position. Kaleb doesn’t deserve to be used like this, but Kol’s genuine care for your well being, made you not care so much.

“Names Kol, it’s very nice to meet you.” He said gently, you smiled at him. Knowing you’re in big trouble now.

“So what was that stuff for?” You asked, curiosity getting the best of you.

“Oh, I made tea.” He smiled at you, earning a burst of laughter from you. He laughed along with you.

[a-second-chance-su-au]

How did you decide which episodes would be impacted and had scenes that were significant enough to include? I’m working on a canon divergent fanfic for another series that’s pretty much just the story with one more character. I want to know how necessary these things would be.

That is an excellent question!

I am on mobile and don’t have a page splitter at the moment, so WARNING: LONG POST AHEAD.

When rewriting canon, I like to stick to 5 hard-and-fast rules, being: 1) know your character’s arc before going in, 2) know the episode’s overall message, 3) don’t take away from other characters, 4) adding original content must be done as-needed, and 5) DON’T BE AFRAID TO CHANGE THE WHOLE STORY. This can either be exceedingly easy or extremely hard.

1) Know your character’s arc before going in. This one seems obvious, but it can be very easy to get distracted. What would happen if this character was present for this scene? What if she/he/they followed this character around? Stuff like that. The whole thing on this particular blog with Spinel being present for the climax of Maximum Capacity is certainly tempting, and fun to think about, but does it do anything for Spinel’s arc in this AU? In my case, no. So she will not be present. You want to make sure you have some kind of roadmap either on paper or in your head of when and where things should happen, keeping in mind that character’s relationships, mental space, and goals. If Spinel wanted to fuse with Amethyst, she’d have to do it when the two have a good relationship, and something like that takes time to develop. She cannot fuse with Ames in the beginning of the series, absolutely not, but she will later on. Knowing facts like that on when things can and/or SHOULD happen is essential. So episodes like “Giant Woman,” “Horror Club,” “Crack the Whip,” or “Keystone Motel” will not be included in the list.

2) Know the episode’s overall message, and who is in the spotlight. You’d think that on a show like SU, that’d be easy, but often, it can be hard to pinpoint exactly who we should be focusing on. Fun fact: it usually isn’t Steven, which is why when Steven lets us into his head a little, it’s always such a huge, emotional bomb drop. I will keep using Maximum Capacity as an example. That episode was focused on Greg’s and Amethyst’s relationship with each other, their past friendship, and how each of them handles the stress of the past differently. Amethyst wants to loose herself in “Little Butler,” but Greg wants to do other things, too, causing them to come to a crossroads. It’s a coming-to-terms story for the both of them, and with this AU, I don’t want to disturb that. “Giant Woman” was about Amethyst and Pearl. “Joyride” was about Steven. “Keystone Motel” was about Ruby and Sapphire. “Steven the Sword-Fighter” is an example that can be shifted, because the purpose of that ep was to teach the viewer about poofing. It was less about Pearl and more about Gems in general, making it okay to try and change a few things around (so long as the poofing of... a gem still happens). Knowing when an episode is about a character, a relationship, or world building is really important, and helps to try and decide which to alter.

3) Do not take away from the other characters. Know their arcs, too, and why certain choices were important. Example being “Crack the Whip,” where Amethyst hits her lowest low and her quest to be stronger begins. That one, if you want to change it, you can, but if it were me, I would leave in Amethyst getting poofed and Jasper getting defeated without her, as it begins a huge moment for her character. By changing up that scene, she doesn’t have the chance to confide in Steven, they don’t fight, she doesn’t hit her lowest low (which all or most characters need to hit at some point), and then Smokey Quartz cannot exist. They exist because she trusted Steven and the two of them felt equal to each other, and trusting, and loving. THAT allowed them to fuse, and if “Crack the Whip” never happened or was altered too much, that all that goes out the window. So I am not going to have Spinel grab Amethyst and pull her out of the way or anything, or have her fuse to beat Jasper, because that undermines the whole point. However, I CAN say that Amethyst’s arc affects Spinel’s. Not saying this is canon, as this is just an example, but maybe Spinel becomes more attached to Amethyst after that, trying to protect her from being poofed again because she feels guilty for not being there to stop it. Then that affects Amethyst, makes her feel like Spinel is her bodyguard, which Amethyst doesn’t want and feels she doesn’t need. It’d serve to make her angrier, and could lead to she and Spinel getting into an argument or a fight. In this scenario, would I replace “Steven vs Amethyst” with “Spinel vs Amethyst”? No. But something similar COULD happen. It’s all about where you want to go, and what works best for these characters.

4) Adding original content must be done as needed, not whenever you feel like it. Does this mean do it sparingly? Depends on the story you want to tell. For me and my AU, that means I need to pay attention to Spinel’s arc and when she needs to learn/do things. Take “Man of the Mountain” for example. It takes place directly after “Bubble Buddies,” and is the result of Spinel being jealous of Connie eating up Steven’s time and friendship. So, she seeks to strengthen their bond as reassurance to herself that Connie is an inconvenience at worst, and at best, she’ll fade away eventually. She and Steven are still best friends, and she’s gonna prove it, darn it! Then the events of that episode may or may not affect what happens next, or later down the line. For this AU, Season 1 is mostly going to build things that are yet to come, and the episodes don’t directly feed into each other, meaning I am using original content sparingly. 5 originals compared to 52 actual episodes? I think I did good on that front. xD But, don’t be afraid to add an episode for an information dump, or to come to a conclusion. That can’t be the only thing IN the episode, of course, but if that’s the pure reason the episode exists, then fine. Do it. Whatever makes your story flow and make sense. But by making every other episode about Spinel, suddenly it’s only about her and not the other characters. Might as well rename the show at that point. The other characters get the spotlight they need/deserve, with Spinel getting her time to shine as well.

5) DON’T BE AFRAID TO CHANGE THE WHOLE STORY. This is one I’m struggling with, but I feel it worthy to mention anyway. If your character is psychic, then have them use their powers when it’s a good character choice and makes sense logically. If that throws off the entire tale, then roll with it. Get stuff back on track. Or maybe you need to take out that character for a bit. Formulate a way to do that. But if your character had a chance to shoot a blow dart at the main villain and take them out, perfect for capturing them and dismantling their army, wouldn’t they take it? If not, there had better be a good, in-character choice. Maybe the villain’s entire plan changes to account for the character’s psychic powers, creating a decoy or sending out a squad to trap/kill them specifically. If it’s in-character and it makes sense, heckin’ DO IT. Get creative! Get weird! Stories write themselves; you just need a beginning and a good grasp on the characters. Then the characters will take your story and run with it. Your job then becomes keeping up. I wish I was joking. I’ve had characters completely derail my stories before because they just couldn’t make that one character choice that was the lynchpin for the whole next scene, and it made me mad, and no I’m not mad about it two years later! You have the map, they steer the ship. You just gotta trust them.

This version of Spinel was left alone for 625 years, then cast away like a worthless toy. She’s been through war, lost almost all her friends, and had her #1 idol taken away and replaced with a smaller, weaker, half-human male version of her. She’s been through the ringer on emotions, and although she values herself as a friend first and foremost, that doesn’t mean I- and by extension, the other characters- can’t challenge that point of view. Make the character struggle. Know how they interact with others. How do certain events change them? Will they change every episode, or only some? Which are important to their arc? And most importantly, what is the point? By changing this thing here, what are you doing for that/those characters and/or the story? Is it a quick, harmless, funny moment, or is it to show a darker side to a character we’re familiar with, and to see them change now that there’s a new presence beside them? These are questions only you can answer as you chose which episodes to pick.

I hope any part of this was helpful. Feel free to ignore any of these points, or add your own. Again, every story is different, and each story should be treated as such. No creator is experienced equally, and we all have different interpretations of characters. Nothing is right or wrong, so long as you, the author, can justify it, even if it’s just “I thought it’d be cool.” It’s your AU. Go for it!

Thanks for listening to me ramble. Scene.

[dribbonart]

Steven Universe Rewatch: CYM Pt. 2

This segment of “Change Your Mind” is all about getting the gang together.

And they’re all killed. 

It’s too bad they lost all their funding while animating the last episode. :(  RIP Crystal Gems.

The Crew really gave themselves more trouble than they had to by making spaceships out of human body parts. Having to constantly animate hands must have been a huge chore.

The other Diamonds just want to make it clear they’re not involved in this fighting. Their attitude makes it very clear that White can’t be defeated by punches to the face.

This brings up a memory very specific to my experience with the show. I watched Change Your Mind on a streaming service immediately after it aired. The quality was terrible. When Steven says, “Gaaaaaasp,” the video cut out. 

I was following pro-Jasper fans on social media, so my brain heard it as Steven saying “Jasp-” in an bizarre attempt to troll the audience.

Lapis’ outfit is very good. Peridot’s new visor is so over the top, I think fan artists have mostly stuck with the original.

The message of this entire story is that you can be in a family situation that seems “normal” because no one’s talking about it, but it’s dysfunctional and needs changing. Your feelings matter.

Connie even models a more real-world version of the lesson.

Patti LuPone, doing a fantastic job as always.

What a powerful shot. The complete lack of expression makes everything very uncertain.

I don’t feel qualified to comment on this kind of scene of a dysfunctional household having a confrontation like this.

This is some proper horror movie stuff. I guess, metaphorically, this is how people in the household feel compelled to act like everything is normal.

“He couldn’t catch her because this was London, and not a million miles from here-seven hundred and fifty-six to be exact, in Pisa, where Galileo had clearly demonstrated that two falling bodies fell at exactly the same rate of acceleration irrespective of their relative weights. 

They fell.

Arthur realized as he fell, giddily and sickeningly, that if he was going to hang around in the sky believing everything that the Italians had to say about physics when they couldn’t even keep a simple tower straight, that they were in dead trouble, and he damn well did fall faster than Fenchurch.”

So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish

I think they do the fusions in order of least surprising first.

We already know Smokey Quartz. They’re the pinnacle of design. Still waiting for the Steven and Amethyst spinoff where they solve mysteries.

I don’t like this? It’s fine. The theme of British children’s show host does nothing for me.

The correct pose to check out your friend’s new outfit. Try it in real life!

I like Amethyst’s and Pearl’s new looks. Amethyst in particular looks great.

I love when a show is about to show us something cool and the characters are just as excited.

It’s too bad they all got stepped on before we got to see what the fusion looked like. I was so disappointed I turned off the video before the credits rolled.

This is a good episode. It’s fun to see everyone get their upgrades. It’s cool they crammed a bunch of fusions in the last seconds.

[lovixcore]

baby it’s cold outside.. (amedot one-shot)

One-Shot

Summary: Peridot and Amethyst end up getting snowed in together.

Word Count: 3792 words

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/22366711

Monday, January 27 - First Kiss

@amedotweek

“Aww Periiiii,” The purple quartz whined, as she didn’t want Peridot to leave, all she wanted was for Peridot to stay here with her. She had deeply desired to continue spending time with the green gem, and the thought of Peridot leaving her behind was something Amethyst fretted over. She looked over at the technician; the purple gem’s eyes were now glossed over, with the corners of her mouth beginning to fall into some sort of a frown. “Do you HAVE to go?” The quartz continued to whimper, as she desperately didn’t want Peridot to leave.

  Peridot gazed back at the older gem, with a rather reluctant, hesitant look in her eyes. She abruptly looked away, now avoiding making eye contact with Amethyst. She then took a deep breath, “I’m sorry, but yes, I do have to leave now. I have to go prepare the greenhouse for Little Homeschool tomorrow. I am teaching a group of gems about gardening, and what it is.” A small but oddly saddened smile began to form on Peridot’s face, “I happen to be very excited about it, it’s a good opportunity for them.”

“But Periii,” The purple quartz continued to beg and plead. The tone of her voice began to sound rather squeaky, as she tugged at the rim of the olivine gem’s shirt. She truly didn’t know why she was being so weird, so clingy, all of the sudden - but, all she wanted was for Peridot to stay here, at the temple, with her…

   Peridot looked down at Amethyst, giving her a painful yet stern look, “Look, Amethyst… I’m very sorry but I have to go…,” She apologized to the other gem, now feeling somewhat guilty, like she was the one at fault. She really didn’t want to leave Amethyst like this, especially since she undoubtedly had no desire to leave at all. However, being an instructor at Little Homeworld, and helping those who were lost, trying to find themselves, was also very important to her. In an attempt to calm the desperate purple gem’s worries, she suggested, “Maybe another time?”

“Ugh whatever,” Amethyst sulked, like a toddler that had been told they couldn’t get the toy they wanted. She then crossed her arms and turned around so Peridot couldn’t see how upset she was. She almost felt bad for making such a scene, guilting Peridot into staying longer, but she just wanted Peridot to stay here. That was all she wished for. Was that too much to ask?  "See ya around Dot,“ She muttered. She began to walk away from Peridot, who just stood there with confusion and guilt written all over her face.

“Amethyst-”

This got Amethyst to suddenly spin around. She was now facing Peridot again, throwing her chubby arms out in a rather frustrated manner, "Look! I’m sorry too!” Amethyst abruptly shouted. She quickly paused, instantly realizing how overly worked up she had gotten. She then took a deep breath in somewhat of an attempt to calmly collect herself, “Look, I’m sorry. It’s just - I never really get to see you anymore, and I just really miss you. Okay?”

“What do you even mean by that?” Peridot asked, the tone of her voice now sounding relatively puzzled, while she raising an eyebrow to Amethyst’s apology. She really didn’t understand the purple quartz’s frustrations and where she was coming from. What was she even talking about? “I see you all the time!”

“I meant OTHER than Little Homeschool you big doof,” Amethyst quipped, trying her best not to get frustrated with how oblivious Peridot was. She sighed, “I just.. I never get to hang out with you anymore.”  All of the sudden, Amethyst paused, now starting to choke up a bit, “And I just… really really miss you, because… I love spending time with you. Y’know?.” She then looked away from the green technician, now blushing and shuffling her little feet, “…You’re my best friend Peridot.”

Peridot sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. She wasn’t frustrated with Amethyst per se, she was just frustrated that Amethyst was right, that they barely got to see each other. It pained the green gem’s heart so much to know that Amethyst was right, “Listen… I love spending time with you too Amethyst. But, as I have stated multiple times before, helping those gems adjust to their new lives on Earth is very important to me, and to them! And introducing them to the Earth’s surroundings is an excellent opportunity for them!”

“I know, I know,” Amethyst paused, focusing her gaze on the wooden floor beneath her. She then looked around the living room as if she were trying to figure out what to say next. “…I mean, like I said, it just sucks that we don’t get to see each other that often anymore. Like – we went from seeing and spending time with each other every day to only seeing each other just for… Little Homeschool.”

“I know…,” Peridot said, unclasping the door knob as she sauntered over to Amethyst. She then embraced the bigger gem, wrapping her arms around Amethyst’s body. She rested her head on Amethyst’s shoulder, brushing against the purple quartz’s neck. Her breaths made strands of Amethyst’s long, messy hair dance and sent shivers down her nape. Peridot finally let go of Amethyst after one last tight squeeze, “We can hang out next weekend, okay?” The green gem softly whispered into the purple quartz’s ear.

Amethyst blinked, a sudden wave of sorrow overcoming her, “Okay…” she mumbled reluctantly.

Peridot let go of the purple quartz, giving her a soft, saddened smile. She then put her hand on the doorknob, trying to open the door, but for some odd reason, the door wouldn’t budge. She tried her hardest to open it, but no matter how hard she tried, it still wouldn’t open. She loudly groaned in frustration, “Why won’t this stupid thing open?” She again attempted to push the door open, putting all of her weight against it, but no matter how much of her weight she put into it, the door wouldn’t budge.

“–Uh? Dude? You good?” Amethyst asked from behind.

Peridot finally gave up, letting go of the handle, and stepping away from the old stubborn, rickety door.  An impatient look began to form on her face, her tiny hands bunching into fists while she threw her arms out into the air to express how upset she was, “AMETHYST, YOUR DOOR IS BROKEN!” The younger gem shouted of exasperation, her voice was now strained, internally praying that she wasn’t trapped in the temple. Even though she had loved Amethyst and had loved spending time with her, now was simply a terrible time for her to be snowed in, stuck, as she had so much planned for the next day.

“Uhhh..Peri..,” Amethyst faltered, tapping Peridot’s shoulder from behind, looking around the room without focus. She was thinking about how she could tell Peridot why the door wasn’t opening for her, without the green gem getting angry.  “…Look out the window,” The purple quartz insinuated, now pointing at the window with her stubby finger, “We’re… snowed in..”

“WHAT?!” The technician shouted, now alarmed, looking at Amethyst with pure frustration and horror in her eyes. She promptly buried her face into her tiny hands, completely and utterly upset by the fact that she was snowed in. “Well, this is just perfect!” Peridot grumbled in defeat, lifting her face out of her hands. She was now making frustrated hand gestures as she ranted, “I can’t believe we’re snowed in! Ugh, what are we supposed to do about classes tomorrow Amethyst?”

“Dude, no worries!” Amethyst consoled Peridot. She gently placed her hand on the olivine gem’s shoulder in order to reassure her that everything was going to be alright and there was really nothing to fret over. She continued to comfort the green gem’s anxious thoughts by saying, “We’ll cancel classes for tomorrow, and stay in. Okay?”

However, the purple quartz’s efforts to comfort her didn’t really work as the technician stood from her place and headed near the warp pad that sat in the temple. “Are you sure the warp pad won’t work? Can we at least try it?” She added while just staring at the bare, teal, crystalline teleporting device.

“Nah, I’m sorry dude, but I doubt it’s gonna work. Steven tried it the other day and it… was a mess,” She giggled, remembering Steven trying to use the warp pad the other day. “But hey, it’s okay dude! Like I said, we can always cancel classes if we need to and you can spend the night here! …Heh, we can have a shorty squad slumber party!”

Peridot’s eyes narrowed in confusion by the purple quartz’s remark. “What do you mean by a ‘shorty squad slumber party’ exactly?” Peridot asked, raising an eyebrow, slightly tilting her head. She started to head back to where Amethyst was standing, as it was clear as day the warp pad wouldn’t work.

“Y’know, we can have a sleepover, as in you spending the night here! I can set up the couch by getting some pillows and blankets from my room. And – I can set the fireplace! Ooo, I can also make hot chocolate, and it’ll be fun to just… Y’know.. hangout!” Amethyst rambled, making hand gestures as she was listing off what she needed to do to set up their “shorty squad slumber party”.

“…That does sound pretty nice actually.”

“Heck yeah, it does!” Amethyst exclaimed, the shape of her pupils turning into stars. “I’m gonna go get some blankets and pillows from my room real quick! Be right back!” She said as she hurried off into her room. After Amethyst came back and set up the living room for their “shorty squad slumber party”, she made hot chocolate for her and Peridot. Amethyst watched the younger gem push around the marshmallows in her hot chocolate with her finger., as she gave the drink an odd look. It’s not that Peridot didn’t like it, she did. It was just so… different.

“Yeah yeah, I know. I miss the fun bendy straws too. Steven said it was ‘better for the environment’ and basically banned them from the house. But hey, I’m not complaining,” She explained to Peridot, finishing her hot chocolate within one big gulp. “Huh, they always went down weird,” She chuckled.

Peridot looked over at the purple quartz, as a light blue blush had dusted her cheeks and her tiny nose. “Well, actually..” the gem smiled softly while she spoke. “We haven’t really hung out ever since..” She paused for a second, then quietly sighing, “I… actually quite miss trying the weird things that humans consume and.. talking with you.”

This got Amethyst to blush, giving the technician a soft, affectionate smile, “Aw dude… I missed you too.” She paused again, looking off to the side, the blush on her face growing even bigger by the minute. “Look, Dot, I’m… sorry for acting really weird and clingy earlier. Like I said, I just… really missed you. I.. really missed getting to spend time with my favorite nerd,“ She apologized, the soft smile on her face slowly disappearing. She set her hot cocoa down and then crossed her arms, a bashful look now slowly creeping onto her face.

“No no, it’s okay! …I mean, I get it, so don’t feel small over… missing me. Though I do want to apologize to you too.. I’m sorry for not making the effort to hang out with you more often, Amethyst,” Peridot apologized to her. The blush on her face began to grow, her face slowly turning from green to a light blue, “It’s not really fair to you… and I never wanted to make you feel like I didn’t want to hang out with you anymore.”

“No dude, ya don’t hafta apologize! I get it too… I mean everything HAS changed… ever since we made peace with the diamonds and healed those corrupted gems… I guess that’s why we’ve grown apart… It sucks but stuff like that happens, y’ know?” Amethyst explained to the younger gem that it was no one’s part that the two grew apart.  Amethyst knew that stuff like that happened in a friendship, people naturally grow apart, and it was really no one’s fault.

"Y-yeah..”

“But.. we should DEFINITELY hang out more often.. what d’ya say Dot?”

“O-Of course!” She blurted out excitedly, a little too over-enthusiastic. Peridot then blushed, burying her face into her hands again. She was incredibly embarrassed by her little outburst, as Amethyst sat across from her, with a rather surprised look on her face. “I-I didn’t mean to… to shout. I’m sorry!” The technician gem apologized again,as she lifted her face out of her hands, now visibly shaking.

Amethyst cracked a wide grin, with a tint of a dark purple dusting her chubby cheeks, “You really miss me that much, huh?”

“..Well, I wouldn’t lie about it.”

Silence had hit the two of them, as the two sat in complete and utter silence, with Peridot absentmindedly staring at the purple quartz. Peridot had found the purple quartz… stunning, gorgeous, beautiful, with her deep blue eyes, her little nose, her full, plum stained lips, her curves, her chub, her thick and pale messy lavender hair. She was so attractive to the olivine gem, at which Peridot couldn’t help but stare at Amethyst. Although she thought she was being subtle, Amethyst seemed to catch on, “Uhhh Peridot?”

Peridot looked into Amethyst’s eyes, “Yes?”

“….Why are you staring at me like that?” Amethyst asked Peridot. She was obviously confused by the olivine gem just staring at her, with a funny look in her eyes and her little round nose crinkling. She then slightly tilted her head, as she was going to ask, “What? Is there something on my face? Or in m’a teeth?”

The technician looked like she had frozen in time, with a rather embarrassed, almost repulsed look now on her face. She suddenly shook her head, like she was trying to snap out of the spell that had been cast on her, “No! No… uh… cold… I’m cold!” She then buried her face into her hands again, with her face burning with frustration and shame.

“Pft - what Dot? Ya want me to cuddle you to keep you warm or something like that?” The purple quartz not so subtly teased the other gem. The tone of her voice now sounded playful, rather than confused, puzzled. But at the same time, she sounded like she was trying to make things less awkward between the two. Amethyst was now giving the younger gem a silly, playful smile, instead of giving her an odd, funny look.

“Well…”

“Oh uh, I was just kidding but… sure,” Amethyst blushed, not exactly knowing how to react. She was so shocked that everything felt surreal to her all of the sudden. But, at the same time, she was also strangely happy that Peridot actually wanted to cuddle with her. Peridot had never been the affectionate type and she really really liked Peridot – and not just in the way, where a friend loved a friend, it was something way more than that. “C’mere Dot…” Peridot got up and moved across the couch, sitting right down next to the purple quartz. Amethyst then wrapped her arm around Peridot, pulling the green gem’s body into a warm, comforting embrace. Peridot rested her head on Amethyst’s chest, her face burning even more with a bright shade of baby blue. She buried her face into Amethyst’s chest out of embarrassment, she really didn’t want the older gem to see her so… flustered.

“… Thank you,” The younger gem quietly said, her face still buried in Amethyst’s chest. Being in Amethyst’s arms made her feel so safe and so calm but at the same time, it made her feel so embarrassed and flustered. It felt incredibly strange to Peridot that being in the quartz’s arms made her feel so many differing feelings.

“….It’s really no problem.”

“But.. you didn’t have to do this Amethyst,” Peridot argued back with her, now feeling kind of guilty and even more embarrassed than she already was before. She hoped that she hadn’t pressured Amethyst into cuddling with her, because she didn’t want to make Amethyst feel uncomfortable or weirded out at all.

Amethyst took a deep breath, “…But… to be honest with you, I actually kinda wanted to. Y’know?”

In response to Amethyst’s confessions, Peridot gave the purple quartz a soft little smile. She took off her bright yellow visors, which revealed a pair of big and soft blue eyes. Amethyst blushed for what felt like the millionth time that night, as she had found Peridot’s eyes to be so incredibly beautiful and part of what made Peridot beautiful as a whole. Peridot nuzzled her face into Amethyst’s neck, which got the other gem to purr softly. This lead to more silence, as the two held each other in a loving embrace and Peridot listened to the other gem purr.

After a few minutes of just pure complete silence, Peridot slowly sat up. She had now broken from Amethyst’s hold, unintentionally pushing her away. She then broke the silence by speaking up, “Amethyst…?” She hesitantly asked. She was now nervously twiddling her fingers. And although she was avoiding making eye contact with the other gem, Amethyst could still see that the technician looked like she had butterflies swirling in her stomach.

“Huh?” Amethyst asked, with a perplexed tone in her voice, the smile on her face and the darker tone of purple that had dusted her cheeks now disappearing. She looked extremely confused, with her eyes narrowed and her nose crinkled, as Peridot was acting rather strange all of the sudden.

Peridot gulped, as she was now about to tell Amethyst one of her deepest darkest secrets. A secret she had kept to herself for years now. She looked down at the palms of her hands, now clammy and sweaty with nervousness, she then looked back up at the purple quartz, taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself down. “…I really like you, Amethyst. A-And it’s not just in the way where it’s exactly… friendly. It is incredibly more complicated than that. I like you in the way where I want to hold your hand, hug you, cuddle, and kiss you… I-I believe earthlings call it romantic.”

Peridot then closed her eyes, now looking away from the other gem in complete shame and embarrassment. The damage had already been done, she had already accepted that she ruined her own friendship with Amethyst. And all Amethyst could do was just stare at the gem who had just confessed to having a crush on her. She was now bewildered, swirling with so many confusing emotions. So many thoughts were running through her head now. The gem she had been pining for years now had liked her back? Peridot had felt the same exact way about her? It was all so… strange. Reality hit, as she had zoned out trying to collect her scattered thoughts. She finally responded to Peridot’s confessions after what felt like hours of complete silence, “And what are you gonna do about it?”

Peridot’s blue eyes fluttered open. She ended up looking back at Amethyst to find the older gem giving her a huge dorky smile with a darker purple color now burning her cheeks. This caused Peridot to perk up, now blushing and smiling back at the other gem. Amethyst could be too adorable for Peridot from time to time. “Oh. I don’t know… kiss you?” The technician asked, the tone of her voice now sounding flirty, rather than shy, anxious.

“Then kiss me.”

“O-ok..”

Amethyst looked at Peridot, wearing the softest but also most flirtatious smile Peridot had ever seen from the purple quartz. Peridot then pushed Amethyst’s long bangs out of her wide blue eyes and started to slowly lean in, closer to the purple quartz. Closing her eyes and slowly tilting her head. Even though she had seen kissing for what felt like hundreds of times before, kissing was almost entirely new to her. It was almost quite terrifying actually, and it felt completely surreal to her that she was about to share her very first kiss with Amethyst. And with one swift movement, Amethyst was the one to close the distance between them by softly but firmly pressing her lips against Peridot’s. Peridot pushed forward, letting out a pleased sigh, now melting into the kiss. She moved one of her small hands to the side of Amethyst’s round face, gently cupping it. After a few moments, Amethyst ended up being the one to pull away, giving Peridot the most loving, adoring smile. But then, their lips met again, and again, and again, as kissing each other became simply addictive.

After minutes of just kissing each other, the two felt it was time to pull away from each other. Amethyst leaned in again, but this time, she gave Peridot a tender small kiss on the gem placed on her forehead. She then gently rested her forehead against Peridot’s. “I guess I really like you too… heh,” The purple quartz joked, giving Peridot a weak but also soft and adoring smile. Her voice now sounded hoarse, like she was in some sort of a haze. “So… how are ya feeling now, Peri?”

Peridot took a deep breath, in order to collect her scattered thoughts, “A lot… I feel a lot… actually. Nothing bad of course!! But… right now, I am sure of the fact that being here with you has made me so happy and… I am so glad that you feel the same. I am so incredibly glad that I could have this with.. you.”

Amethyst smiled at the younger gem softly, and couldn’t help it but lean in and kiss her on the lips again, “Me too Dot… me too..” Next, she snuck in another kiss at Peridot’s jawline. She then pulled away from her, “But… not gonna lie… I’m actually getting pretty tired… do you mind if I rest my head in your lap? Or..?”

“Of course not,” The technician responded with a content, peaceful smile across her face, inviting Amethyst onto her lap. And at last, Amethyst gently rested her head in Peridot’s lap, as the olivine gem caressed it. She ran her tiny fingers through Amethyst’s lavender mane, twirling her loose lavender curls, at which Amethyst gazed back up at her, lovingly. Soon, she fell asleep in Peridot’s arms, with Peridot gazing back down at her with a soft smile across her face and a warm, gentle look in her eyes.

[shockapella-sweet]

Autumn Bridge

AKA the “Jacqui Briggs/Takahashi Takeda marriage proposal in the Fire Garden” fic that took me forever to finish, but yay, it’s done! Ever since I first saw the Shirai Ryu Fire Garden stage, I’ve envisioned Tacky popping the question here, so this is the result.

Note: This takes place a year after Shinnok’s defeat, and a year before the events of MK11, so Jacqui’s still a specialist (and Takeda still exists). Also, that Fire Garden stage is utterly gorgeous and needs to make a comeback in a future game (along with Takeda, obviously). Includes brief mentions of a terminal illness.

 Hope you enjoy this little offering, fellow Jakeda-lovers! ^3^

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Hot and cool. That was the best way to describe the air.

At this time of the day, when the late afternoon sun barely hovered above the horizon, the air – draped over this piece of forest land like a blanket – was warm, but not uncomfortably so. Light winds pierced through this mild layer, their coolness intermingling with the humidity.

These winds made their way through the well-maintained grounds, brushing against the bells that hung from a nearby wooden structure; the bells tilted to and fro, their notes obliging on the ears of those within hearing distance. Catching the pleasant rings, the winds carried them away as they made for the trees.

Much like a group of freezing, elderly men who yearned for the warm embrace of youth, the crooked trees appeared to be stretching towards the sky; their gnarled limbs – lined with an array of rich red, orange and yellow leaves – were extended high, as if to grasp the last rays of the setting sun. However, for the leaves that broke away and were quickly gathered into the invisible arms of the passing breezes, the effort seemed entirely in vain.

With a carefree flourish, the winds danced through the trees, the folding leaves almost like castanets in their hold. The crinkling sounds were enough to startle the nesting birds and send them flying into the sky, only to return when the stars would take their place in the heavens.

Changing course, the winds swept over the cobblestone path before descending upon a small bridge that cut across a stream. A man and a woman wearing light clothing stood upon its deck, their hands resting upon the rails. The winds surrounded the pair at once, their accumulated leaves falling upon their forms like confetti – one breeze cupped the woman’s face in an almost flirtatious manner, cooling her hot skin while softly intoning the bells’ peals in her ears.

At precisely the same moment that a smile appeared on her face, the winds moved on, spreading themselves swiftly and merrily throughout the rest of the grounds.

Sighing softly, Specialist Jacqueline Briggs canted her head at her companion.

“I needed that,” she murmured. “It was getting to be like a sauna out here. Then again, I don’t expect it be Sub-Zero levels of cold in a place that’s called the Fire Garden.”

Takahashi Takeda chuckled, tugging at one of his rolled-up shirt sleeves.

“It gets pretty cold in the evening at this time of the year,” he said, “so be glad you brought your sweater. Wouldn’t want you to become an ice sculpture, do we?”

“If I did, I’ll be counting on you to warm me back up,” was the coy reply.

Ignoring the heat that spread from his cheeks to the tips of his ears, the Shirai Ryu cleared his throat, saying: “So, apart from the hot weather, what do you think of the Fire Garden, Jacqui? You like it?”

Jacqui nodded, her smile widening at his eager tone. She leaned forward, casting her eyes on the leaves that had fallen upon the water, piggybacking on the swells that carried them downstream. A sweet scent mixed with an earthy aroma made the specialist’s nose tingle as she breathed in.

“It’s incredible, Takeda,” she answered, exhaling. “I thought that nothing could top our moonlight walk in that forest in Lampang, but geez, this place is in a class all of its own. If Cassie were here, she’d be posting snaps of it all over the ‘Gram and on her Friendships profile.”

Takeda’s cheeks were akin to red apples as he grinned.

“I’m glad you like it here. It’s cool to be able to show you where I trained with the Shirai Ryu … aaaand I thought this would be the perfect place to spend our anniversary together.”

His girlfriend appreciated both facts. A year ago, the pair not only walked away from Shinnok’s failed invasion with their lives intact – they also came away with a relationship that went beyond a mere six-week association between a Special Forces member and a Shirai Ryu chujin. While recuperating from their battle at the Sky Temple (which included a week-long getaway to Venice Beach and plenty of umbrella drinks by the poolside, thanks to the one and only Johnny Cage), they knew that they wanted to give what they felt for each other a shot.

Soon afterwards, it became common knowledge among their close colleagues in S-F and comrades of the Shirai Ryu clan that Jacqui and Takeda were officially dating. Between then and now, the couple learned all that they could about each other: their childhoods, their training, their dreams and their fears. For the specialist, her life on the farm was a relatively happy one, save for the ghosts of her father’s revenant past that haunted him – and by extension, the rest of his family – in his darkest hours. The lack of hugs, cuddles and hair tousles was overcompensated with overprotection against enemies that young Jacqui knew little or nothing about … except for the Outworld ghost that regularly starred in her father’s nightmares.

As for Takeda, his mother’s death, coupled with his father’s absence, made for many a difficult discussion, but he could only thank the Elder Gods for Jacqui’s patience and understanding as he slowly opened himself up to her. Fortunately, talking about training under Master Hanzo Hasashi at the Shirai Ryu Temple – and sharing tidbits about his quiet life in Lampang before it was permanently disrupted – came more easily to the telepath. From moonlight strolls to drills at dawn (and the occasional training screw-ups), he shared them all with her. He even took it one step further and brought her to Lampang three months after they began dating, showing her the forest that was near to where he and his mother used to live. Their evening walk there was one filled with breathless kisses and countless caresses, witnessed only by the moon and the stars.

And now here we are, at another one of Takeda’s stomping grounds for a romantic rendezvous. He sure has an eye for pretty places.

Jacqui resisted the urge to smile as she thought: Just like I’ve got an eye for pretty asses.

Out loud, she said, “It’s beyond perfect. I also enjoyed the spread that Master Hasashi prepared for us. What was the food called again?”

“Hiyashi chūka and mizu yōkan – cold ramen noodles and jellied red bean paste. Of course, Master Hasashi only ever prepares fancy food like that when we have important visitors, which is like, almost never. So yeah, I should bring you here more often.”

The specialist playfully swatted her boyfriend. “If this is a glimpse into how you might cook, then you should’ve brought me here a lot sooner.”

Turning on the spot and leaning back with the points of her elbows resting on the rails, Jacqui let her quartz-coloured eyes wander over the entirety of the Fire Garden. The reds, oranges and yellows of the autumnal foliage glowed like embers in the dimming sunlight. “You really trained here?”

Takeda nodded, mimicking her movements. His left forearm brushed against her right, the hairs tickling her exposed skin.

“Sometimes, but not a lot,” he replied. “Master Hasashi prefers the Fire Garden to be an area of contemplation. It was built – well, rebuilt – to honour past Shirai Ryu members and our loved ones. Still, Master Hasashi did hold training sessions here so that we could learn how to use the environment to our advantage.”

“In case of attacks?”

“Yeah. For the older guys who pulled pranks on the younger recruits, they milked it for all it was worth.”

“You Shirai Ryu were actually allowed to prank each other?”

“Ha, hell no. But the glory you got from pulling one off without Master Hasashi ever finding out that it was you was too good to pass up.”

Not that I ever tried, Takeda thought, grimacing at the memories of those who failed, and paid dearly for their pranking misfires.

Jacqui rolled her eyes to the heavens. “If they tried to pull that s*** on the farm, Dad would’ve skinned them alive and used their bodies as scarecrows.”

A nervous expression bloomed on Takeda’s countenance. “And you wonder why I don’t visit your place often.”

Jacqui smirked. “Dunno why you’re still scared of my dad. He’s warmed up to you now. Took him a long while, but he’s definitely more accepting of our relationship.”

“With or without my dad’s, uh, prodding,” the Shirai Ryu muttered. “Dear Elder Gods, every time he opened his mouth, I thought it was the end of me for sure. He might as well have asked Mr Briggs to kill me on the spot.”

“At least Mom had our backs, and …”

Jacqui’s voice trailed off. Takeda turned to look at her, concern etched into his features as he sensed the sombre air that enveloped her.

“Your mother … how is she?” he asked softly.

Jacqui let out a dry bark of hollow laughter.

“Why not just read my mind?” she asked in kind. A slight bitterness underlined her tone.

The telepath shook his head. He had his boundaries when it came to his mind-reading abilities.

I learned that the hard way after S-F’s last inter-realm conference with Outworld. Jin still hasn’t forgiven me after I told him I knew where he was during the half-hour break. As if the hickey on his neck didn’t give me a clue the first time.

When it came to Jacqui, however, there was just some things that had to be vocalised rather than telepathically mined out.

“Speaking about it out loud to somebody does help, Jacqui,” Takeda quietly responded. “It’s painful, but it’s worse if you keep it bottled up. Same thing happens when I talk about my mother …”

He did not need to say anything more. Jacqui’s top teeth dug painfully into her bottom lip as she wrapped her arms around herself. The nearby trees rustled, letting loose some of their fiery fronds.

“It’s not … it’s not looking good,” she said, a little shaky. “She’s going to treatments like she’s supposed to, but the doctors say that her chances of recovery … are not happening.”

Takeda touched her shoulder, tracing a pattern with his thumb. “Aren’t the meds helping, either?”

Jacqui’s feet came into view as she shook her tilted head. “Oh, she hates them. The doctors have increased the dosage, but it’s not doing anything. She’s too far gone, they say. They’re talking about three months from now …”

She sniffed, then swallowed.

“It’s so weird, Takeda,” she practically mumbled. “All her life, Mom never had to carry around boxes or little containers of medication, besides the ones for Dad when he had his bad spells. Now all of a sudden, she can’t even leave the damn house without carrying a tote bag full of ‘em. It’s just … oh God, just so …”

Takeda’s arms were around his girlfriend in mere milliseconds. Up and down, his hands rubbed along the grooves and ridges that lined the length of her back as she shuddered in his hold. One side of her face rested against his chest, while her fingers clutched at the material against his shoulders.

For a minute or so, the couple’s combined warmth was incomparable.

Pulling away, Takeda gazed upon Jacqui’s face – surprisingly, there were no tears in her eyes, nor were there any streaking down her cheeks. Tinged only by the orange and pink hues of twilight, her features were simultaneously smooth and firm.

I wish I could be that strong.

I can’t imagine how her father must be taking all of this …

It was as if Jacqui read his thoughts, for she cleared her throat and murmured: “Dad’s not handling it well. He took it harder than me when he found out. But he’s being strong for Mom’s sake. For mine, too.”

A pause. “He’s trying hard to be like that … like how she used to be when he was in recovery.”

Takeda gulped, holding her gaze steady.

“I’m so sorry, Jacqui,” he whispered. “I … I wish I knew what I could say to make it all better. I really wish I knew.”

Jacqui said nothing, offering him a small smile.

Her boyfriend continued: “Might I be able to see her, please? If she’s allowed visitors, that is.”

Here, Jacqui gave a heartfelt laugh.

“Of course you can,” she replied, her smile bigger. “It’s not like she’s in prison or anything. I bet she’d love to see you. She thinks you’re adorable, you know.”

The tips of Takeda’s ears were as red as the leaves.

“I’ll drop in as soon as possible,” he promised. “I was planning to see your folks soon, anyway.”

The specialist cocked her head, a few braids coming to rest against her cheek.

“Both of them? On the farm? Willingly? That’s a first.”

It was the Shirai Ryu’s turn to roll his eyes, but he could not help but grin as he took her hands into his own, giving them a gentle squeeze.

“I want to share something with them.”

“What is it?”

“Something that I want to share with you.”

Jacqui’s brows furrowed. “Do I have to repeat the previous question?”

“Be gentle with me, it’s our one-year anniversary.”

A smart-aleck remark that Cassie Cage would have approved of was on the tip of Jacqui’s tongue, but the lovable expression on Takeda’s face stopped it short.

Goddamn, Mom was right: he is adorable …

Letting go of her hands, Takeda took half a step back. His eyes, dark as black moonstones, met hers – he breathed in sharply, feeling a flicker of anxiety. The sound of the steady stream beneath the bridge soothed his nerves only a little.

Breathe out, Takeda. Breathe out.

“Takeda, are you okay?” Jacqui asked, her brows furrowing further. “You look kinda pale. You want me to fetch Master Hasashi or something?”

The telepath hastily exhaled, saying, “No, no, don’t. I’m fine.”

“Boy, if you’re lying –”

“Like I would do that to you. Master Hasashi raised me better than that.”

“Bet your dad would totally agree.” The sarcasm was not quite Kung Jin-levels of high, but still high enough.

Chuckling under his breath, Takeda drew his arms behind his back. He canted his head, looking at the military woman through half-lidded eyes. Beneath his breastbone, his heart fluttered like a hummingbird; every nervous beat was akin to frantic wings beating against his ribcage.

Breathe … just breathe …

Inhaling deeply, a caramel fragrance carried by a gust of wind shot up Takeda’s nostrils, relieving his senses. His unease left with the puff of air that he breathed out.

“I’d never want to lie to you, Jacqui,” he began to say. “I want to be honest with you always – to be able to share all of my truths with you. Even when they seem unpleasant to hear, or … or to talk about, it makes me so incredibly happy to know that you accept them as is. For that, I just want to give you the rest of me. Everything.”

Jacqui stared, her face bearing a mixture of bemusement and captivation in response to this remarkable speech.

Takeda went on, his confidence climbing to new heights.

“When our fight with the revenants was over … when we walked through the woods in Lampang that night … whenever we’re together … all those times, I just wanted to keep holding onto you and never let go. I wanted to have like – you know, like what your parents have. What Master Hasashi and his wife had … what my parents could have had.”

The lump that suddenly rose in Jacqui’s throat was as hard as a rock.

“Takeda,” was all she could say.

The Shirai Ryu shifted his weight from left to right. His eyes shone.

“But above everything else, I want you to be happy. The Elder Gods know you deserve it, and so much more. The thought of seeing you smile and hearing you laugh each and every day fills me with joy like you won’t believe. It’s a little selfish to say, but I want – I need – to be that person who gets to see and hear you like this before anyone else. I want to be one of those reasons that you do … like you already do for me.”

Jacqui’s chest rose and fell with each tremulous breath. Her mouth parted, but no words came.

But just this one time, the telepath allowed himself to delve into the confines of her mind, finding the words that she could not voice:

What else do you want, Takeda?

His grin spreading bit by bit, Takeda brought his arms forward. He raised his hands, which were clasped around a small, square object.

Jacqui’s eyes widened.

A box.

Indeed, it was a box, its surface a smooth and polished maple wood. In Takeda’s hands, it looked very fine and small.

A box that’s big enough to hold a … a …

The specialist’s eyes were now as wide as china plates.

Oh my God …

“Jacqueline Sonya Briggs,” Takeda’s voice was full of hope and adoration, “please may I have the honour of marrying you?”

Grasping the lid, he pulled it open. Cushioned in the foamy black insert was a gold band – flawless, solid, and expertly fashioned in its shape. Atop the unblemished metal was an Asscher-cut white diamond; in the glow of the descending dusk, it glimmered like a bright yellow spark.

Jacqui gawped at the ring in astonishment, which morphed into disbelief, before finally transforming into …

“Jacqui?”

She raised her head – quartz met moonstone, reflecting the brightness that swirled in them. For a moment, she could see the future in them: a home as high as two storeys; a comfortable living room with lofty bookshelves and a fire burning in the grate; a kitchen that was filled with the mouth-watering scents of khao soi simmering away in a large pot; late afternoon chats with friends in a lush garden and with drinks at the elbows; late nights that saw heat overcoming two entwined bodies; early mornings that saw the frigid dawn driving them into each other’s arms once more in search of warmth; a smile, a laugh and a kiss from one that the other mimicked in kind; a future filled with …

“Jacqui, please say something.”

In this man’s eyes, the specialist could see it reflected clearly …

… happiness.

Hers. His. Theirs.

“Yes.”

Takeda nearly dropped down in a dead faint. “You’ll really marry me?”

Jacqui nodded, her vision becoming misty. “Yes, Takeda, I will marry you. Yes, yes!”

Other than Takahashi Takeda – who, in teary elation, slipped the ring on her finger before scooping her into his arms, holding onto her body for as long as that bridge could hold them – only the winds could have heard Jacqui Briggs’ reply.

Rolling around their balmy forms with their leafy instruments, the winds carried away her words down the cobblestone path, past the trees, against the bells that tolled one last time, above the wooden structure and into the night sky above the Fire Garden, where the returning birds circled among the clouds.

Tomorrow, their song would bear the winds’ message loud and clear, regardless of the heat or the cold that it would bring.

[the-omni-princess]

Blood Bound [Prologue]

Author: @the-omni-princess

Pairing: Vampire!Bucky x Witch!Reader

Summary: Vampires and witches have been known enemies since the dark ages. Backstabbing, secrets, and magic turned supernatural brethren again each other. As a natural-born witch, you grew up on these stories, your own monsters under your bed. What happens when one of those sworn enemies claims that you are his blood mate, the vampire equivalent of a true mate? Will you give in to this man out of time? Or destroy him for the sake of your Coven?

Word Count: 800ish

Warnings: Witch rituals, crystal rituals, implied minor character death/violence.

A/N:

Please tell me what you think! I clearly had to take advantage of a full moon on Friday the 13th!

Also:

If you are a practicing witch/Wiccan/pagan/literally anyone who uses these rituals, I am truly sorry if it comes off as malpractice of sorts. If there is something blatantly wrong, please tell me! I want to fix it if it is. Other than that, I respect all religions, and my little witch coven here (as well as the other supernatural creatures to be featured later) will be a mix of different religions and cultures of these mythologies, as well as my own little spices are thrown into the mix. Hope you all understand, hope you enjoy it :D

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[Series Masterlist]  [My Masterlist]

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Unnerving Darkness. Unforgiving Cold. The bright full moon’s light hidden by the thick branches of the forest, suffocating the very life force of its inhabitants. Running. Falling. Mesmerizing and haunting crimson red eyes. Shining white fangs. A piercing scream. Birds desperate to escape the horror. Smothering silence. A ravenous thirst quenched. For now.

Vampire. Dhampir. Vaimpír. Strigoi. Moroi.

Ever since you were a child you grew up on the stories of the mythical and supernatural. While many of your human friends thought these were simply bedtime stories, you knew better. Vampires, Werewolves, Fae, Witches. Every children’s story was real. But it was more horrific than the mortal world knew. During the Dark Ages, being born or made to have the Curse meant a death sentence, and to this day it means the Fae are a dying breed. Since then, many supernatural beings kept themselves hidden away. Protected. Safe.

You never really understood exactly what they did wrong, but your mother had always told you that there was one especially evil of the Nocturnal creatures. Vampires. You grew up on the twisted stories of bloodsuckers killing innocents for their own fun and games, that they turned their back on the witches. Once the dust settled, they became mortal enemies.

As most nocturnal creatures slunk back into the night, you did as well, naturally born with what the Mortals once called the Curse. Magic. Natural, given at birth magic was one of the most powerful forces on the planet. It kept you hidden, you own sense of survival kept small magical barriers on you, as your magic was in tune to your thoughts.

Now, you had to stay calm. A full moon meant crystal recharging rituals with the Coven. A simple spell, really, but necessary to align everything in your shop and in each other’s magic for the next month. So, you sat in the meadow behind your cottage/shop in the woods. The nearby townsfolk were well aware of your “natural remedies,” as you mixed modern medicine with your magic. That’s how you were able to afford a two-story house with a few acres of land. Small town, not to busy shop, peaceful life, happy witch.

Natasha sat to your left, Wanda to your right, Carol was just beyond Wanda, and Maria was just to the left of Natasha. Your coven may have been small, and for bigger rituals you tended to ask nearby covens for help, but this was your family. All of your necessary crystals laid at your feet, as Natasha begun the ritual, just as the moon peeked over the clouds. A September full moon, the Harvest moon in particular, shone brightly, reflecting in the multitude of crystals that laid at your feet. Amethyst, selenite, agate, rose quartz, and turquoise, were your main crystals tonight.

Wanda lit the incense as the Coven spoke the words they wanted to purge from themselves this moon cleanse. Yet just as the circle finished, the world seemed to darken. The wind howled, thrashing the branches of the nearby tree line. The Coven looked around, suddenly on defense for whatever was out there. Just as the incense and lit candles sparked, the stones seemed to crack.

An anguished scream shrieked into the night air. The Coven now on their feet, bare toes against the grass as they prepared for a fight. A horrendous craacckkturned attention to the stones in between the circle. The turquoise crystals were shattered, dust already being carried into the night as the wind slowed just before extinguishing the candles and incense.

Natasha was the first to move, sheathing her protection dagger, taking a step towards the inner circle of crystals. “Only the turquoise seems to have broken, but it’s completely gone.”

“The stone of protection,” you almost whined out loud. Whatever forces were out there seemed strong enough to demolish your protections from a distance.

“Something’s coming, and I don’t think we will be strong enough to defeat it on our own, Sisters,” Wanda spoke, Carol nodding.

“I’ll contact the Covens to the West, Maria you contact the East, Nat South, Wanda North. Y/N, see if you can do a location spell or foresight spell. We need to know what’s coming and you are better at those spells. Tomorrow night on the second night of the full moon, we’ll recharge our protection barriers, and then contact the Council. Whatever’s out there…” Carol paused, the witches in the circle just as spooked by whatever or whoever broke the stones. “We need to be ready.”

As the Coven nodded and quickly grabbed the supplies, rushing into your cottage home. As everyone was inside, you took one last glance towards the wood line, a shadow catching your attention. Yet there seemed to be nothing there. You knew better than to believe that. You pushed your hands up in a wave, reestablishing the protection barrier on the house. With one last look you couldn’t help but feel a tug towards the woods. Something wasn’t just out there. It seemed like it was out there for you.

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Tags:

Permanent Tags:

@minetticatinwonderland  

Bucky Tags:

@cassandras-musings  / @darkness-doughter / @novaddictx / @thedancingnerdmermaid / @mood-pancakes / @gracethegeek9902

Few People who are on other tags that might be interested (just let me know if you're not I won't take offense I promise):

@geosaurusrrex / @lumar014 / @marvelgirl7

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For a tag, just reply/comment, if I don’t see it, just message me. Tell me what you think! Literally, any comment makes me happy! Like, comment, reblog, interact <3

[c-atm]

Cracked Steven Au

This is an original take on the Cracked Steven Au. So please bare with me..Hope you enjoy @holypicklekidcroissant

The sound thumping of the stairs stirred Connie from her rest causing her to groan as she rubbed the sleep out her eyes. Turning to the clock on the nightstand seeing it was 3:21 in the morning, she let free a small sigh of annoyance, when she heard the front door shut close.Turning to her window she saw a sight she's unfortunately, becoming accustomed too.

She rose from her bed quickly putting on a blue bomber jacket over her flannel pajamas before picking up a pink Letterman from the closet floor.

Just in case he could feel cold tonight.

There was no need to chase, she couldn't  catch up while he was actively zooming to the place he always seemed to go. She whistled into the night and waited. It was a whole ten seconds before Lion's pawed steps rounded from the corner of her home. She turned to her left, seeing the second lifelong friend walk up to her, a crystal lizard in his mouth. She giggled as the beast dropped his meal in offering, before nuzzling into her collarbone.No double sensing how distressed she was.

She wrapped her arms around the pink beast before kissing his jaw. "Thank you, Lion. It'll be ok." She let the beast go rubbing under his jaw with her right hand. "We gotta get to Steven. You know where, right?" 

Lion gave an affirmative snarl before moving from her hand and lowering his hand for her to get on. He stood up straight, when he felt her securely mounted and gave a roar creating a portal of pink and white in front of them. They leapt into the warp with no hesitation.

Steven sat at the edge of the fountain, his legs and arms crossed as he stared at the statue of Rose Quartz, shame in his eyes. He sighed in a distorted voice at the visage. “My diamond, please allow me a little ease."  He clenched his five clawed hands into fist. It was then he heard the sound of a portal opening behind him. He didn’t turn to acknowledge it, he knew who was coming, he kept forward eyes on the statue. 

He didn’t react when she stepped up beside him and sat down on his right side.  He tried to ignore the twist in his heart at the natural smell of her. Kept his snarl down as he glanced at her knee to chest, slightly messy haired form. She was more than appealing to him but it was inappropriate. Their stations were too different.

 He was a representative for Homeworld, a member of ‘Rose Diamond court. She was, from what he could tell from his memories and interactions, A human ambassador of some sort. She was important enough to talk directly to his commanders Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl...To the Diamonds themselves and tell them he was under her direct surveillance until further notice and to have all six agree without argument.That at least, solidified that her standing was higher than his. 

His vivid, impassioned thoughts of her  were unwanted and disrespectful.

“Nice night. Gotta admit, the fountain always looks most enchanting when it’s reflecting the moon.”

Steven nodded at her off handed comment, fighting the rapid beating in his chest. “Yes, it does.”

Silence returned between the two as Connie glanced at the person beside her. The person, who at any other time would be her Mister, but now was someone far off from her Jambae, mentally and physically. 

His tan pink skin with visible splinter markings, which ran hotter than usual, his overall height was that of Garnet and mass just a little more than Pearl’s. His hair was now a black and pink streaked combination that fell to his nape. His eyes were glassy rose lenses with only the slightest appearance of an iris and pupil in them. His gem..

Her fist clenched at the thought of his gem.. It was cracked. Someone got close enough to crack him and the culprit has yet to be found.. Though you couldn’t tell. It was seemingly untouched and perfect condition..Until you get closer. There five spider thin splinters from the gem face would be visible. Five splinters filled with some kind of hardened goo, holding the pink diamond together, keeping him alive, but fragmenting and mixing up his memories every time he sleeps. A switch between five personas, a correlation with each crack.

 R&D have been trying to find a solution that didn’t involve cracking again the gem to remove the unwanted pieces for two main reasons. One, no one wants to see Steven wither in pain like that, ever again, and two, the gem itself was slowly losing its brilliance and becoming more fragile as time passes. Things they starved off using diamond essence baths. Which unfortunately, also was the cause of the goo hardening to its current point 

A weight on the road to recovery.

‘Speaking of which, his gem is looking a bit dim.’ Connie thought with worry. She stood up  taking off her jacket before stepping into the fountain cool diamond infused water. Once she was waist length she sat down, facing the blushing, bewildered hybrid. “Come join me.” She gave him a sweet smile raising a hand toward him.

Steven stood up in attention at her gentle command, a soldier to his commander. He removed his black shirt and blue jeans, throwing them to the side, showing the darkish red splinters like marks that seeped from the gem on to his skin racing only a few inches in each direction but was prominent enough to see even at their two meter distance. He walked in trying to hide the shivers as he felt the essence begin to do its job as the red seemed to slowly retreat into the gem, giving it’s luminescence back. He swam towards the woman ignoring the sensation, fully focused on the order he received. He was caught off guard when she  met him midway ,grabbing his hand and pulling him close, before laying him down, his head upon her chest when her hands locked around his.

“Ms.Connie?” 

"He felt embarrassed at his own voice and the meekness that came from it, despite not being able to help it. He looked up as her, the woman's hair falling from each of her sides, brushing his ears, shadowing their faces from the moon

“Just Connie...What brought you out here tonight?” 

Her question threw him off balance, as did her concern look.

“It..It was nothing important.” guilt thick in his voice. “What of you?”

“I heard you leave our home…”

“Your home.” The hybrid corrected

“Our home.” She retorted pointedly. “ In a hurry.” She sighed. “You can talk to me, you know that, right?”

“I appreciate the concern, but please..Do not fret yourself over me.”    

She bit back a groan at his apologetic laugh. This persona, Soldier; she inwardly referred to him as, was polite and structured, but so guarded about his own wants, needs, and troubles. It made it hard to really connect with him. Though, there is a way to get him to loosen his lips.

“Steven, Why have you left base, in the darkness of the night to this fountain?” 

She hated how he stiffened almost in shame at her commanding tone,..She hated giving him a command, but it was necessary, and she hated that fact as well. 

“I...Had a memory..Of my cracking.” Fear and defeat evident in his voice as he reached towards his gem.

“Did.. Did you see who did it?” She wished she didn’t sound so eager, but  the perpetrator identity was something she had been waiting for. 

“I did, but I did not recognize such a jagged cut gem.” He trembled as the memory of a spiked fist colliding with his gem played back in his mind. “If you can call such a thing a gem.”

‘.. A gem mutant? A gem mutant did this?’ Connie held him tighter, feeling his discomfort. Her left hand meeting his right cheek in a gentle stroke as she gently laid her head on top of his crown.”It’s ok, you’re safe Steven.”

. .He relaxed and felt a heavier weight on his chest. “I’m sorry for dragging you out of your slumber-.”

“Don’t you dare apologize.” The woman interrupted fire in her cool voice. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I’m here for you, always.” She kissed the top of his crown, feeling him grab her hand in surprise.  

“Ms.Connie?” Wonder in his voice.

“Just Connie.” She offered.

“I couldn’t. Your station is higher than mines.”

“We’re equals I’ve told you that before.” She did, so many times since this happened. “That has always been the nature of our relationship.”

“...How long have we known each other?” 

Connie couldn’t help but feel protective over ‘Soldier’. With his voice low and full of modest shyness; she couldn’t help but be reminded of kid Steven. “ You know that already.” She teased.” Eight years.”

He said nothing letting that bit of info set in. “You were aware of me since I was a pebble?” 

She wanted to laugh...but his terms, mannerisms...The surprise and pride in his voice...It was all evident to how mixed up he was, and it shattered her heart. “We’ve been together since we were kids.”  Her voice held her sorrow. “We’ve always been close...There was never a time we were less than the best of friends.”

“...Is that why you call me ‘Bisky’?” 

She nodded. “It is. It’s my term of endearment for you and you alone.”

“I...I find that hard to believe.” Quietly, he lowered his head. It was too good to believe, an organic gem like him having a close relationship with someone like her. “I want to believe, but my memories says different.” 

“It’s not your fault, Bisky, you're the victim in this.”Connie nuzzled close to him, trembling as she did. 

He hated the feel of her tears and hated himself more for causing them.

[lafirmament]

ON THE MOON.

houseki no kuni, moon phos.

yandere, spoilers, confinement, he/they phos

Their awakening was painfully dense. The long, luscious midnight blue locks decorated in specks of pale golden flakes leads his head to gravitate downwards to the ground, the weights pulling at the eyes from a hundred years of slumber, and the guilt clawing vigorously from the inside after hearing upon the inevitable news - you know, not without admiring the newly found aesthetics they’d been provided with through the reflection off the crystal clear waters. They don’t seem to mind the changes of their - the body. In fact, dragging down their former self to praise the all new and improved Phosphophillyte is proof enough to know the carrier does not miss an inch of familiarity. 

In consequence for their body being so friable … they’d eventually shatter off and are replaced in all sorts of alloys and Lapis’s head, leading to drastic alterations in personality, strength, and questionable morals. Given that they are no longer weak, sacrificing a huge chunk of who they once were to prevent anymore losses is ultimately a defeat in itself. The gem will not risk anyone else, they cannot, or their conscious will ensemble themselves over and over again - physically and mentally. Antarcarite, Ghost-Quartz, all could’ve been easily saved if they weren’t so incompetent earlier ... Still, they lied when admitting how strong they were to the new juniors in order to indirectly shoo them away.

Same old same old, others questioning their fortitude and others face-palming in agony ... there’s a trace of Phos alright. exchanging thoughts with Lapis sprouts up many contemplation and conclusions ... something is obviously not right between Sensei and the Lunarians. Left to fight off more sunspots - more disturbances, they accidentally stumble upon your easily-fractured self. Naturally, gems came to life during their peaceful slumber for recovery ... Some being the reborn of once fallen soldiers, and others being newly discovered ones, it felt almost right to refer to you as a reincarnate of their old self. 

You’re beyond pitiful at a hardness level of three, and the coordination akin to a crippled beast, it hurts to even glance at your trembling form without being reprimanded of the past - shattering by the mere brush, stumbling over hefty words, and causing similar trouble as they did decades ago. 

They see the appeal.

Phos is drawn to the naivety and purity as a result of losing that side of them. gently easing their way into your life, it’s not overbearing - but it’s certainly strange coming from a senior. They offer multitudes of advice, well amount of protection, profound promises, and a bit of company despite their busy schedule - but heaven’s forbid, you are never let along their patrols. No matter how cute you looked begging for confirmation, it’s always been a stern no - they couldn’t bare to lose you, not now, not ever. A total relief to come back and pull you into their grasp as gently as can be, wanting to physically feel that you are still here and not at the moon’s reach in shambles. But can your relationship really bloom when they are sent away for the stars - ‘mistakenly,’ with you trying to reach out for them in desperate measures as they are left to sorrowfully glance at your grief-stricken self by a smile. 

This was all according to plan.

... 

Their arrival was understandably unexpected. Craving your presence and bright persona they are no longer afflicted, they longed for you but … Phos is also genuinely conflicted to have you fling yourself at them upon sight - you always disregarded how delicate you are by nature. Shouldn’t you be somewhat angry? Confused on how they came back safely with just a few alterations in looks and intentions. How they weren’t even harmed in the process? Alas, they are ready to embrace you in a gentlemanly manner ... mood visually lifted up at your strange, but certainly welcomed affection. You must’ve been so lonely without them, as they did without you. 

Though, there is not much time to spare for their time here. Vanishing, and then reappearing. shuffling between the rest of the gems to give them a small push, let the burning curiosity seethe into their soul until they are unable to hold back. They let them know they are free to team up with them if they pleased. You on the other hand … you’re the emotional support, if you are not in their grasp … They couldn’t even possibly fathom how their mentality could handle the thought of it once reaching back for their goals. And so Phos joins you for one lonely night.

I:

Settling under the sparse stars as the grass tickles your bottom, your focus gravitated towards the blindingly bright moon - admiring the way it easily lulls you into a somber nap, your eyelids weighing down despite being told to specifically not be out so late at night without supervision. On the fine line between conscious and unconscious … it is not until someone takes the empty space beside you, their calm voice breaking the tranquility of your last night on earth. 

“You can’t sleep there, being adorable and vulnerable will provoke the Lunarians even more, you know.” 

Your eyelashes fluttered, turning your head gallantly to face the pursuer of your existence ...

“Beautiful night isn’t it? Stars accompanying their own, and the isolated moon caught up in between them ... Correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn’t this be a nice time to ask ... if you’ll join me up there, [Gem],” he breathes in softly, but his tone stands tough. 

The snowy white of the synthetic pearl reflects off the gorgeous moonlight, gazing into your disoriented soul intensely … Hints of apathy swirling in the depths of them. There’s an unsettling bump in your throat upon his deadening stare. The statement is straight to the point … No hesitations whatsoever, but the questions roaming through your mind hadn’t ceased, though proliferated. Balling your clammy hands, your mouth opens up for a half-assed answer. 

“Phos ... I -“

But he shuts you down by clamping his hand over your mouth, a small shush following a suit. 

“The moon, I’ve questioned and pondered for too long now - about the Lunarians, Sensei, and more subjects he refuses to disclose, but I don’t have to anymore. I cannot. Come with me to the moon and a few others, and I’ll promise you a life free of stress and worry ... Somewhere, where all of us could thrive in.” 

You don’t question him, or rather - you aren’t given the opportunity to when a smile resurfaces, patting your head gently as he caves in by slinging those golden alloys over your shoulder. You are left to ponder in your contemplation even longer, enjoying the silence that falls in between you.

Your ... awaited answer wouldn’t really matter. 

He’d come into your room on a later time to kidnap your unconscious body and regroup with the rest of the curious gems ... this will be his second ascension ... only this time, with you.   

Phos is understandably cautious of everything, anything can harm you - anything. Upon arriving onto Lunarians domain with you tucked safely in their arms, unwillingly or not, there’s already a fine deal between them and Aechmea ... As long as they don’t hurt the rest of the gems, all should go well. Though the moment they even dare to place even a hand on you is where they are crossing the line, they’d blow up the base in a heartbeat. Whilst everyone else was able to explore and simmer down their boiling curiosities, you’re the unlucky one of the bunch - forced away in their assigned room for better measures. 

Paranoia, concern, and an alarming rates of headaches swarm their head at the thought of you not being safely tucked away in the room ... So you aren’t able to wander, let alone - leave the room at all. you’ve only left maybe once, but even that was a blur. Being locked away and having bottled up all your desires and boredom surely made you more restless for contact. Your eyes light every time you hear the clicking of the door being unlocked and catching a glimpse of the only being you’re allowed to see.

They’re as equally happy to see you too.  

Unfortunately, their limited time with you had always came to an end. Being called down to the lobby was the reason why they’d have to painfully withdraw themselves from you out of reluctance. Though you’d pull on the hems of their uniform as an act to get them to stay a little longer than usual tonight. You’d have to spill your true thoughts for once. 

II:

“Phos ... I ... um, will you s-spare me a minute. I ...” Your voice got strangely smaller as you spoke, fiddling around with the cloth right between your fingers. Eyes constantly darting from your hands and down to your feet nervously. having seek refuge for a few days now, you’ve always kept that same ball of energy much to his surprise ... Getting used to his arbitrary authority over you after a few encounters. He’d look forward to seeing you as he knocks on the door firmly, adjusting his foreign outfit, and hair habitually ... 

So seeing you simmer down, unable to meet his gaze meant one thing.

You were scared.

So was he.

“You were saying now? I couldn’t hear you the first time, my apologies.” Lips curving in for a small smile, he’d try and soothe your worries away by letting those cold hands roam down to your neck, squeezing them tight for reassurance. You shut your eyes tight. You already knew what Phos’s reply would be, but seeing the same white walls upon hours and trying not to let the isolation get to your head made your head throb. 

You had to tell him, and he’d await patiently for an answer. 

Ten seconds, thirty seconds, forty five seconds - you’d eventually find the feigned confidence to speak.

 “… W-Well, please ... can’t I be out with the rest? Can’t I explore a little? It’s ... unfair.” 

Your desperation is apparent. The way your shoulders faltered as you pleaded, head ducked down finding the ground much more interesting, voice gradually getting weaker as you let out your true thoughts on the subject.

...

Sadness tugged at his heart ... he knows what you mean by that but ...

He has to hold his ground, for you and your safety.  

“You’re weak, unable to protect yourself or your loved ones - that is why I come into place, [Gem]. I’ve lived and suffered through that once - I know how you felt. Trust me. Without me, you are absolutely nothing and have no use to me whatsoever.”

Pause, patting your head gently, he smiled ... languid - and just as hurt as you could ever be.

“However, that is fine. You are your own being and nothing can ever replace even a shard of you. I must keep you here until it all ends, until we have come into an … agreement - until I am allowed the chance of finally having eternal happiness, with you.”

[newstfionline]

Friday, January 8, 2021

Spending the pandemic talking to yourself? If you live alone, you’re not alone (Washington Post) One bleak pandemic day in November, Aisha Tyler caught herself vacuuming the inside of her freezer. Then she scolded herself. Yes, out loud. Sometimes the Los Angeles-based actress will tell herself to “snap out of it.” On brighter days, she’ll congratulate herself on what a good job she’s doing and call for a celebration. Humans leave little unspoken, and this past year, as many of us have avoided social events and worked from home alone, we’ve been forced to talk out loud to the only person still around to listen: ourselves. Sure, it may take the form of bantering with our pets, scolding the politicians on TV or cajoling our malfunctioning printers, but that’s really just another way of hearing our own voice, helping us discern what exactly is going on inside that head of ours.      What’s going on here? Charles Fernyhough, a psychology professor at Durham University and author of “The Voices Within: The History and Science of How We Talk to Ourselves,” says research shows people talk out loud more when under stress or facing cognitive challenges. It was praying aloud that kept 44-year-old April Harris going during her 32 days in quarantine with a deep cough at the California Institution for Women in Chino, Calif.—not just self-encouragements like “I can do this” and “You got this, April,” but repeated declarations like “by His stripes, I am healed.” “I would pray for our country and for a cure to this virus,” she says in an email from the prison, where she has spent 24 years but had never previously talked out loud to herself. “Now I pray that I am covered by His blood, not wanting to endure that again. I pray for the women who are in isolation now.”

Here’s Why Car Thefts Are Soaring (Hint: Check Your Cup Holder) (NYT) After years of declines, car thefts appear to be surging in cities and suburbs all over the country. The spree, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic, does not appear to be the work of sophisticated crime rings, the police say. Instead, this new wave of car thefts seems to stem from a combination of simple carelessness and the same technological advancement that once made stealing cars nearly impossible: the key fob. The broad adoption of keyless ignitions that began in the late 1990s ushered in a dark era for car thieves. New cars had engine immobilizers that only a microchip in the key fob could unlock, and vehicle thefts quickly plummeted. Technology, it seemed, had largely solved the problem of stolen vehicles. Until people started leaving their fobs sitting in their cup holders. Now, the police say forgotten fobs and keyless technology have contributed to soaring stolen car cases. In Hartford, the police have traced the surge to teenagers joyriding in from the suburbs. In Los Angeles, stolen cars reappear so frequently that the police believe thieves are using them like Ubers. And in New York City, a related but different problem has emerged as more drivers leave their cars running to make pit stops and deliveries during the pandemic, making their cars easy targets for thieves who can simply drive away, even without a fob.

Canadian compensation (CBC) Based on companies that trade on the TSX, in 2019 the average total compensation for the 100 best-paid CEOs of Canadian corporations was $10.8 million, while the average annual salary for a worker in Canada was $53,482 the same year. That means top CEO pay is about 202 times that of the average Canadian worker, which is actually down from the 227 observed the previous year. It also means that at 11:17 a.m. on Monday, the average CEO had already made the annual salary of a typical worker.

An unimaginable moment in America (AP) To see it unspool—to watch the jumbled images ricochet, live, across the world’s endless screens—was, as an American, a struggle to believe your eyes. But there it was, in the capital city of the United States in early January 2021: a real-time breaking and entering the likes of which the republic has never seen. The U.S. Capitol was overrun by violent supporters of Donald Trump, who exhorted them to march on the domed building as lawmakers inside carried out their constitutional duty by certifying his electoral defeat. The proceedings were quickly abandoned as the selfie-snapping mob smashed windows, marched through hallways and rummaged through lawmakers’ desks. Fourteen days before Joe Biden is set to be inaugurated on the very same site, elected officials sheltered in place in their own building. Agents barricaded themselves inside congressional chambers, guns drawn. The stars and stripes—soaring over public property—was lowered, then replaced as a blue Trump flag ascended. In one of the day’s most indelible images, a hoodie-clad trespasser sat in a chair overlooking the Senate floor—minutes after it had been vacated by Trump’s own vice president, Mike Pence—waving his fist in front of a thick, ornate curtain designed to summon the trappings of democracy. The United States on Wednesday seemed at risk of becoming the very kind of country it has so often insisted it was helping: a fragile democracy.

World reacts to US mob (AP) Amid the global outrage at the storming of the U.S. Capitol building by angry supporters of President Donald Trump was a persistent strain of glee from those who have long resented the perceived American tendency to chastise other countries for less-than-perfect adherence to democratic ideals. In China, which has had constant friction with the Trump administration over trade, military and political issues, people were scathing in their criticism of Trump and his supporters, citing both his failure to control the coronavirus pandemic and the mob action in Washington. The Communist Youth League ran a photo montage of the violence at the Capitol on its Twitter-like Weibo microblog with the caption: “On the sixth, the U.S. Congress, a most beautiful site to behold.” That appeared to mock House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her June 2019 comments in praise of sometimes violent antigovernment protests in Hong Kong. Iran, another country that faces routine U.S. criticism over violations of human rights and democratic values, jumped on the insurrection as proof of American hypocrisy. The semiofficial Fars news agency called the United States a “fragmented democracy,” while Iran’s pro-government Twitter accounts gloated, circulating photos of the mobs with hashtags that included #DownfalloftheUS. “The beauty of democracy?” with a shrug emoji was the reaction tweeted by Bashir Ahmad, a personal assistant to the president of Nigeria, which has seen several coups since independence—including one led decades ago by President Muhammadu Buhari, who most recently entered the office via a vote. Venezuela, which is under U.S. sanctions, said the events in Washington show that the U.S. “is suffering what it has generated in other countries with its politics of aggression.” Several countries, both allies and antagonists of America, issued travel warnings to their citizens.

America the exceptional? (Foreign Policy) It’s not easy to say how much the storming of the Capitol will contribute to the decline in the reputation of the United States abroad. That’s because that decline has already been so steep: A Gallup poll of 29 countries in 2020 found that 20 already had approval ratings of U.S. leadership that are at new lows or that tie the previous record lows.

‘The power of life and death is in the tongue,’ Senate chaplain says (NYT) “We deplore the desecration of the United States Capitol building, the shedding of innocent blood, the loss of life, and the quagmire of dysfunction that threaten our democracy.” Those words, spoken by Barry C. Black, the Senate chaplain, resounded through the government chamber in the early hours of Thursday, as he declaratively closed a joint session of Congress marred by violence with a prayer. A Seventh-day Adventist minister and former Navy rear admiral known for his penchant for brightly colored bow ties, Mr. Black has been the Senate’s official clergyman for nearly two decades. His prayers in the chambers have long been laced with rebukes for the infighting of the lawmakers surrounding him, and his words have often served as a conscience check for those on both sides of the aisle. That was never more true than on Thursday morning, as he warned lawmakers that their words could have great consequences. “These tragedies have reminded us that words matter, and that the power of life and death is in the tongue,” he said. “We have been warned that eternal vigilance continues to be freedom’s price.” His prayer also urged new unity in the face of the deep divisions among lawmakers and within the country, driving home a need to “see in each other a common humanity.”

Twitter, Facebook muzzle Trump amid Capitol violence (AP) In an unprecedented step, Facebook and Twitter suspended President Donald Trump from posting to their platforms Wednesday following the storming of the U.S. Capitol by his supporters. Twitter locked Trump out of his account for 12 hours and said that future violations by Trump could result in a permanent suspension. The company required the removal of three of Trump’s tweets. Facebook and Instagram, which Facebook owns, followed up in the evening, announcing that Trump wouldn’t be able to post for 24 hours following two violations of its policies. Facebook later said that Trump would be banned indefinitely.

Indian farmers take to their tractors (Quartz)  On the other side of the world, a protest of a different kind is taking place in Delhi, as farmers who oppose India’s newly passed agricultural laws plan to march into the city with 2,500 tractor trolleys today. It’s the latest action in nearly two months of demonstrations that have grabbed headlines globally for their scale, but also for their inventiveness—some of the tractors have previously doubled as screens for movie viewing as protesters dug in for the long haul. The latest round of talks between the government and farmers is scheduled for tomorrow. If the two sides can’t agree on a path forward, farmers’ union leaders say a tractor rally and nationwide protests will start on Jan. 26, when the country celebrates Republic Day.

With Mass Arrests, Beijing Exerts an Increasingly Heavy Hand in Hong Kong (NYT) They descended before dawn, 1,000 police officers fanning out across Hong Kong to the homes and offices of opposition lawmakers, activists and lawyers. They whisked many off in police cars, often without telling relatives or friends where they were being taken. Within a few hours on Wednesday, the Hong Kong police had arrested 53 people, searched 76 places and frozen $200,000 of assets in connection with an informal primary for the pro-democracy camp—all under the auspices of Beijing’s new national security law. In one swoop, the authorities rounded up not only some of the most aggressive critics of the Hong Kong government but also little-known figures who had campaigned on far less political issues, in one of the most forceful shows of power in the Chinese Communist Party’s continuing crackdown on the city. The message was clear: Beijing is in charge. The mass arrests signaled that the central Chinese government, which once wielded its power over Hong Kong with a degree of discretion, is increasingly determined to openly impose its will on the city. In the months since the law took effect, Beijing and the Beijing-backed Hong Kong leadership have moved quickly to stamp out even the smallest hint of opposition in the Chinese territory, where the streets once surged with huge anti-government protests. And they have shattered any pretense of democracy in Hong Kong’s political system.

Japan declares emergency for Tokyo area as cases spike (AP) Japan declared a state of emergency in Tokyo and three nearby areas on Thursday as coronavirus cases continue to surge, hitting a daily record of 2,447 in the capital. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga issued the declaration at the government task force for the coronavirus. It lasts from Friday until Feb. 7, and centers around asking restaurants and bars to close at 8 p.m. and people to stay home and not mingle in crowds.

The next catastrophe has already been predicted (Les Echos via Worldcrunch) The epidemic surprised us, but it was predictable. In the risk report regularly published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) for its annual Davos summit, infectious diseases were listed every year as one of the 10 biggest threats. The report’s description of a virus spreading uncontrolled around the world was exactly what played out in 2020. There were frequent discussions at Davos about this type of danger. For example, in 2016, after the damage caused by Ebola, the general director of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan, sounded the alarm about the next pandemic. Jim Yong Kim, president of the World Bank, drew a parallel with the Spanish Flu, evoking the risk of an illness that killed 30 million people. Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft-cum-health philanthropist, insisted on the necessity of training teams in public health management and logistics. If this health crisis is causing so much suffering, it’s because we refused to seriously prepare for it. We didn’t follow the advice of the philosopher and engineer Jean-Pierre Dupuy, who pushes us to think about catastrophe to prevent it from happening. The time has therefore come to think about the next global catastrophes—the less predictable ones.

[xxgoblin-dumplingxx]

White Knight Syndrome: One

A/N: I know I said I wasn’t posting this weekend. I am a dirty fucking liar. I had a Biker!Bucky story kicking around in my head so... Merry Halloween?

In the cool fall morning, Bucky Barnes woke to two things. A splitting headache and the cacophony of move-in day. He gave up on sleep when the clatter of feet on a metal ramp echoed in his head. “Fucking fuck.” he groused through the haze of the hangover. In his head, he cursed Sam up one side and down the other. Him and that fucking mason jar of Moonshine he had brought back from his last trip to Virginia. He couldn’t think of anything other than coffee. 

So that’s what he did. He made coffee and watched the show across the street. Big burly movers hefting boxes and a girl in the middle of it all directing traffic and keeping it all organized. Her hair is in a messy bun and she’s wearing jeans and a men’s flannel over a t-shirt.  She’s cute. Petite. Even from across the street she looks like a hippie. She just has an air that says “I shop at farmers markets and burn incense.” He snorts to himself and takes a sip of coffee. He half wonders if your coffee table is made of crystals. Just a giant slab of quartz. 

The coffee starts to kick in and he supposes he should go be neighborly. Introduce himself. But a knock on the door keeps him from examining that thought further. The knock is perfunctory. More the last vestige of a formality than a knock and is followed by Sam and Steve half stumbling through his door. 

The blonde muscular asshole he’d known since they were kids on the same block. Steve hadn’t always been built like a brick shit house. He’d been a sickly little kid with asthma and a big mouth. It had taken joining the track team and then the Army to bulk him up like that. Steve might be able to take care of himself now but in the back of Bucky’s mind, he was still a scrawny little punk. The other asshole, the African American man with a cocky smile and an eye for a girl with black and grey tats was Sam. He’d been friends with Steve and Bucky since they all met at a support group for vets. That had been the origin of their little motorcycle shop. Working on Customs and doing charity rides for whatever legitimate cause they got hit up for. 

“Hey,” he said over his coffee cup. Steve and Sam both had hangovers of their own to nurse. There wasn’t much more than grunts and nods as they helped themselves to coffee and raised the fridge for breakfast before they got to work on the new bike they were about to have to ship out. 

Coffee and breakfast in their stomachs, the other two men were eager to get to work. It was Afternoon and the chaos across the street was a dull roar now that the moving van had left. A van pulled in behind the little Jeep in the drive and a woman and her kids got out. You were greeted with hugs and giggles as you swung kids up off their feet one at a time. It was a good time, looks like. 90′s alternative music played, bumping through speakers and on towards evening, pizza was ordered. The men worked on the bike, mostly ignoring the chaos across the street but, Bucky was a little glad to know you weren’t on your own. This wasn’t a rough neighborhood or anything but moving sucked. A lot. Even with Sam and Steve it had been a fucking miserable experience. 

As the sunset and the guys celebrated another job done with a round of beers, you helped your unpacking party into the van with leftover pizza and hugs. You wave them off and blow kisses, waiting until the van has rounded the corner before turning and walking up the steps rubbing the back of your neck. Steve jerks his head your direction and smirks, “She’s cute, Buck. You gonna go say hi?” Bucky snorted, “Nah,” he said, “Not really into crystals and patchouli.” Sam rolled his eyes, “Mother fucker,” he said, “You’re not exactly drowning in pussy over here. Pretty sure Barton gets more ass than you do and he’s married with four kids. Shit. Natasha gets more pussy than you.” Bucky opened another beer and laughed, “Nat gets more girls than all of us combined. Don’t use that as a metric. Even girls can’t turn down a redhead. Even girls that don’t like girls.” Steve smirked, “He’s got a point, Sam.” 

Sam rolled his eyes but let the matter drop. Bucky was grateful. The two of them meant well. Blind dates, Tinder, getting Natasha to introduce him to pretty girls she knew but wasn’t fucking. The works. Hell. Once they’d even sent a dating resume around the bar to try and get him a girl. Bucky hated it. He was happy working. Happy adjusting to this life where there were no bullets flying. Lonely, but happy anyway. It wasn’t just that you probably weren’t his type personality-wise. He didn’t think he could take having a girl in his bed when the nightmares came out of nowhere and woke him up screaming. He didn’t want the pity and the trying to make it work for a hot minute before giving him the let's be friends speech. It was just better to leave you be. 

__________________________

He watches you for a few weeks. Not in a creepy way, he tells himself. Just. Nosy. He’s curious. You stay to yourself, you don’t really have a ton of people in or out. And from what you leave the house in sometimes, you seem to work long shifts in some kind of medical thing. Maybe a paramedic or a nurse in a trauma ward or something. You wear dark scrubs. Maybe it helps hide blood. And prevent stains. It made sense he guessed. You only went to work three or four days a week and seemed to be off the rest of the week. You tinker on furniture and stuff in your garage and he isn’t sure what you’re doing but, as often as you bring stuff in, you load it up completely redone and take it somewhere. He figures you sell it to boutiques in the tourist trap stores downtown. 

Nothing is really amiss. You potter around doing some groundwork for what’s probably going to be raised garden beds. You start a compost pile. It confirms his assessment of “Hippie” but at the very least you seem like a socially conscious hippie. One that actually walks the walk. It isn’t until a strange car pulls up in your driveway when you aren’t home that anything looks out of the ordinary. The man that gets out of the car sets Bucky on edge. He looks pissed. The guy bangs on your door and looks through windows. He yells for you, making Steve jerk his head up. He and Bucky trade looks, silently agreeing that they should probably tell you about this as the guy gets in his car and drives away. 

By the time you get home, in the wee small hours of the morning, Bucky is waiting for you. He’s tinkering in the garage, killing time. He’d thought about waiting for you on your porch but figured coming home to a random man waiting for you in the dark would probably not be a good first impression to make. He doesn’t, contrary to what the realtor says, make a habit of scaring off neighbors. You get out of your jeep and stop for a moment, staring up at the sky like you’re looking for answers. Bucky crosses the street slowly, hands in his pockets to try and make himself smaller. He doesn’t know why. You’re half his size. But you look like your nerves are frayed. The careful efficient bun you had put your hair in the morning is a rats nest. Snarled and chaotic. You move slowly, like your joints ache or your balance is off and as he creeps closer, you smell of disinfectant. A sharp, sterile, hospital smell that doesn’t fit with you’re will o the whisp features and big eyes. “Hey,” he says, stopping a good distance away to avoid startling you. “Hey,” you say guardedly, turning slowly. Bucky clears his throat, “Bucky, I’m the big scary biker the realtor warned you about,” he says offering a hand. You smile a little, looking tired “Y/N,” you say, offering him a hand in return. 

Your hands are clean. Your nails are short and pristine. The skin is dry and cracked from constant washing and sanitizing. The difference between your hands and his own startle him for a minute. Your hands don’t fit you either.

He half smiled, “Look. I don’t wanna be nosy of anything but there was a guy nosing around earlier. He seemed pretty pissed.” Bucky watches several emotions flit across your face until finally your head falls forward and your pinch the bridge of your nose. Feeling defeated. “Thanks for the heads up,” you tell him, standing up straight again. “I’ll get it taken care of,” you tell him, “I’m sorry if it disturbed you. Have a good night.” You turn to go and Bucky catches your arm gently, “Y/N?” he said, “Is there anything I can do? I mean... I’ll scare the hell out of a guy for some beer and a pizza.” You snort but shake your head, “It’s my ex-husband,” you tell him, “I guess moving halfway across the country wasn’t far enough.” Bucky lets go of your arm, nodding, “That’s rough. I’m sorry.” You sigh, “It’s fine. I knew he’d find me eventually... He never did like the idea of someone else playing with his toys. I’ll go talk to the cops tomorrow. Get them to do some drive-bys and take them a copy of all the court orders. You won’t have to listen to that again. I’m sorry.” 

You turn and go back into the house and Bucky watches you go feeling about 3 feet tall. You had clearly had a bad day. There was blood on your shoes and you looked wrecked. He watched you take your shoes off in the garage and then turned to go into the house. He turned and to go back across the street. He could see the defeated look on your face even as he sprawled on his bed, staring at the ceiling in the dark. It bothered him. You were obviously sweet but he hadn’t realized you were brave. He figured you kept to yourself because of your work hours. Not because you were hiding. Or feeling vulnerable on your own without much of a support network. He wondered about your family. If they knew where you were or if you had anyone to care that you were gone. That worried him. It wouldn’t take long for this guy to get violent. Bucky was willing to bet that he’d put his hands on you before and that made his stomach turn. No one deserved that. 

Bucky didn’t doubt that the cops were good guys. That they’d do their best. But, he wasn’t going to leave anything to chance. He’d talk to his crew tomorrow and have them keep tabs on you. Keep an eye on things and not so gently discourage him from coming around. He didn’t know why it was so important to him, but it was. There was something about the defeat on your face that broke his heart. He knew that look. He saw it in the mirror all the time. 

________

“I’m telling you, Nat,” he said handing the redhead a beer, “He’s been here every day this week. Y/N doesn’t even come home. She’s been picking up shifts at the hospital left, right, and center. Just to avoid her own house.” The woman quirked an eyebrow, “And how exactly, James Buchanan Barnes, do you know that?” Bucky blushed and looked away, “I might check on her a couple nights a week when she gets home.” Nat smiled a little and swallowed the sip of her beer, “And what did you find out?”

Bucky shrugs, “It’s a story we’ve all heard. Sweet girl with a shit home life married the first scumball that was nice to her. She got pregnant, he didn’t want her to be and put her in ICU. After that he fucked around on her and took potshots at her from time to time. Once he started bringing girls to their house, she had enough and took a job over here. Left in the middle of the night and until she moved in here she was living out of hotels.” Nat shook her head, “Christ,” she said, “Poor kid.” Bucky snorted, “She’s not that much younger than us. She’s in her mid 20′s. She’s just baby faced.” Nat nodded, “So what does she do exactly?” Bucky stretched, “She’s a nurse in a level one ER... Explains all the scrubs. I figured it was something like that.” Nat sighed, “So pretty, smart, sweet girl, married an asshole and now you have white knight syndrome. Got it.” Bucky frowned, “I do not,” he said. “Yes you do,” Sam said strolling into the garage from the house. “ Bucky turned and mimed throwing a wrench at his friend, “Do you even know what we’re talking about?”

“No,” Sam snorted, “I just know Nat is probably right about whatever she said.” Nat snorted, “Bucky has white Knight syndrome. He loves him a damsel in distress.”  Sam laughs, “Oh christ. Yeah, he does.” Bucky blushed and coughed, “I fucking don’t,” he said. He can’t look at either of them as you lope up the drive with a six-pack in your hand. You’re dressed in a hoodie, trying to stay warm in the chill outside. “Hey,” you say, hovering awkwardly just outside, “Saw this at the store. You didn’t seem like pumpkin spice flavored beer kinda guy but... I’ve heard this is pretty popular locally.” You hold out the six-pack with a wry smile. Bucky takes it and smiles a little, “Thanks,” he said, “Is this a bribe?” 

You snort, “More of a thank you. I appreciate the help getting that dresser out of the back of my jeep.” Bucky chuckled at the memory, “If it hadn’t been twice your size you would have had it.” You’d been pretty close but Bucky had been a little afraid that you were about to drop it on yourself.

“Girl,” Sam said, “I know your house isn’t that big. What do you do with all the furniture you buy?” You grin, “I sell it to bitchy wine moms after I make it look bougie and expensive. The dresser I made into a changing table and I’ve got a piece of shit changing table that I’m making into a bar cart.”  Sam whistled, “That’s a nice little racket.” You nod, “Works better out here than it does at home.” You yawn, “I better get back, I got super on the stove and I think the insurance company would get suspicious if my house burned down.” You turn and go, leaving Bucky to face the teasing from his friends alone. He can’t help it. He watches you go wishing he would have been a little smoother. Wishing he would have offered you a drink and asked you to stay for a minute. 

“Damn,” Sam murmured to Natasha, “She’s got him fucked up.” The redhead nodded, “Yup... Wanna put money on it?”

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