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felassan · 8 months ago

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Some snippets from DA dev Luke Barrett on the unofficial BioWare forum, cut for length:

DA:I -

User: "I am still convinced that Bioware cut the healing spells and went with barriers instead because of the Multiplayer." Luke Barrett: I can't speak to any other games directly but I can give a bit of historic context for DAI. The game was initially a more dungeon/linear delving - see how far you can get - experience and there was no barrier of any kind. As a side note: healing has always been a hot topic in design because as soon as you include it there are many other conceits you now need take into consideration for the gameplay - one of which I will call 'the Anders problem'. Anyway, as DAI got the date moved and shifted more into the pseudo-openworld the concept of attrition (see how far you can get before having to return to camp) became less relevant and we needed to help the Players have more moment-to-moment agency around their survival. Unfortunately for various reasons (one of which is the sad reality of designing a game with a shifting timeline) the healing couldn't be re-added so we ended up with more of a mitigation strategy in the barrier system. It went through a lot of iterations but eventually landed on what it shipped with which I would call... acceptable (but just barely). Now, I will concede that a part of the reason it didn't return after that shift was an aversion to holy trinity gameplay specifically for MP but it wasn't the core reason. As a side story, trying to balance the game (as that was my job on DAI - and yes, it could be much better haha) we had to all but force Players to take barrier. It is intentionally the first skill in the first tree for the Mage and all the autolevel (I also handled that) is designed to get it right away." [source]

User: "Merry Christmas Luke! Sooo what was the hardest class you had to balance? [DA:I]" Luke Barrett: "I feel like anyone who was around for the post-launch content will already know the answer to this as it was the bane of my existence when I got put exclusively on MP after launch but the Knight-Enchanter barrier absorbing was a pain. Stuff like that is very challenging to feel good without being broken as they are relative to damage so scaling is fairly open-ended. Too little and the casual players won't get use out of it, too much and the character builders will be wildly OP. We actually had a 'no nerfing' guideline for the SP side so it was a hard battle to fix that silly thing 🙃." [source]

"As a fun fact, I did all the logic for autolevel on DAI and the guideline I was given was literally "make functional builds, but don't make something optimal that you'd play"." [source]

DA:TV -

User: "If you can, say thanks to the people making the no die option possible." Luke Barrett: "Done! My team handles this stuff so I let them know 😊" [source]

"Comically, I designed the majority of the items and skills and I am still finding it fun making awesome builds (been almost entirely doing playthroughs lately" [source]

"Was really important to the team that everyone could play the way that felt best to them." [source]

"Each specialization has a focus around a few specific mechanics, some of which are the weapons or damage types but you can go off script and make it work for sure (this was intentional in the designs)." [source]

"I designed all the skills and so they're each enjoyable to me to some extent. I have been playing through the game over and over the last couple months for balance purposes so I've played them all fairly extensively." [source]

User: "Necrotic sounds like it could be either Spirit or Nature." User: "For Rogue, it replace "poison". For Mage, it replace spirit (Spirit bomb). For Warrior, it's more spirit (especially Reaper), but some skills could work as poison too. So basically they merged spirit and nature." Luke Barrett: "Thats pretty close to spot on. They were actually heavily iterated on throughout development - I can't (at least currently) go into specifics as to why though." [source]

"the target for the progression vision is that you can make a viable build out of almost** any aspect of the gameplay." [source]

"As for timelines, We started DA4 in October of 2015 roughly. The entire team was moved to MEA for about 3-4 months to help it ship and I also spent all of 3 weeks helping out on Anthem. But otherwise I've been on some incarnation of DA4 for about 9 years now - pretty ready for it to release 😅." [source]

"yes, years of working on the same thing can cause some burnout but I've played through the full game probably about 8 times in the last few months and it's still fun (though some of the specific levels that haven't changed in a long time I've done 50+ times easily and I could do without ever seeing them again 😂)." [source]

User: "I do kind of feel that at this point the DA team has put so much work into creating and improving their tools and learning the ins and outs of Frostbite [...] But who knows what the devs in the trenches really feel" Luke Barrett: "I will say it does some things very well and some things poorly, relative to other engines. Personally I really enjoy Frostbite but I've been using it since 2012. In an ideal world, many engines would be viable and developers would make games suited to the strengths of a specific engine." [source]

User: "Since this game is much more stat heavy than prior titles, specifically when it comes to skills and gear, there's likely a need for some balance changes to be made post-launch. Does the game being playable completely offline hinder the data capture side for your team (in terms of analytics), or is this a non-factor?" Luke Barrett: "Generally speaking, most people leave data analytics on so we get more than enough data coming in. Additionally, I'll personally be watching several channels for things that are underperforming (relatively speaking) and not have to nerf anything. The rpg side is vast though and I'm sure people will find OP combinations/synergies that might need 'adjustments' but as long as it's fun and not an "I win" button that trivializes combat I'm pretty cool with it." [source]

Luke Barrett: "I can safely say there are many builds for each class that will feel very powerful if you're not on the highest difficulty 😉. What I'm really excited for is when the guides comes out that show people the fastest way to get some of the uniques that unlock 'special' gameplay 😊. Let's just say I love the feeling of rushing to Patches in DS1 and kicking him off the bridge for the Crescent Axe (iykyk)." [source] User: "Speaking of guides. Will there be a guidebook like there was for DAI? " Luke Barrett: "Not that I'm aware of but I'm happy to help feed info to somewhere like fextralife or the dragon age wiki after a week or so to help with those pursuits. Have to leave some time for exploration and discovery before the optimizers streamline the experience 😉" [source]

"Effectively, at least until the game launches (and likely a week or so after), you won't get anything interesting out of any of the devs save Mike Gamble or John Epler. Longer term I hope to be very active, at least for build mechanics and all the combat/rpg nuts and bolts conversations." [source]

"I started "da4" in October 2015 and so after 9 years of effort (minus 3 months on Andromeda) I'm quite excited for tomorrow and the launch week. I don't know if I'd say nervous, I feel pretty confident in the product, but definitely that eager kid before Christmas feeling 😊" [source]

"As the person who did all the balance, I will say that if you are comprehending how to make a cohesive build and understand the combat mechanics, you should play on Underdog. One of the downsides to having a lot of power growth vectors is the difference between people who engage vs those that don't becomes a chasm quite quickly. If you start blowing enemies up rapidly, turn up the difficulty (or play on nightmare where that will not be the case) - basically if it ever feels super easy or like enemies are health sponges you're probably on the wrong setting for your skill level. The custom difficulty settings are there to make the gameplay enjoyable (for whatever that means to you)." [source]

"As a tip from me, the balance is subtly tipped in the players favor until the last fight of the 3rd combat mission. Be warned if it's feeling too easy you may want to wait until after that to decide." [source]

[on DA MP] Luke Barrett: "It was actually pretty fun but very much not what most people wanted us to make (including internally). Also we had, let's say, limited staff who had a passion and background in MP so it was definitely the right call to go SP only. Now, it would have been nice had we just started that way but so it goes sometimes." [source] User: "You still play it yourself from time to time (DA MP), or have you left it be?" Luke Barrett: "After playing variations of DA4 for so many years (9!!!) it's hard to go back to anything with DAI controls/gameplay speed. Even the initial Joplin prototypes I was doing were much more snappy/twitchy - for everything good about DAI the combat was definitely in the middle of two different styles." [source]

[on aiming bows] "we actually used to have separate buttons for ADS and ranged attack but it was wildly overloading the controller. These RPG games need controllers with at least 2 more buttons (fingers crossed for the next gen)" [source]

User: "After the last few games, I'm really surprised by the current skill... tree?" Luke Barrett: "I call it a skill graph - aside from the beginning where you have 3 choices the entirety of it is 2 choice splits and it'll essentially make a build for you. Just go a little at a time and aim for whatever specialization seems most fun to you 😄" [source]

"Loot is not random so theoretically guides with drop locations should appear pretty soon." [source]

"Yep, Spellblade is the only spec that directly impacts fire damage but you can get benefits from most of them and still go fire. As for the specs, yes it would have been nice to support all of them but just wasn't in scope unfortunately. Mage has Mourn-Watch, Shadow Dragons, and Antivan Crows specializations - only the Rogue has a Veiljumper one. Deathcaller left side you can go beam based and use a Fire weapon. Evoker you'd likely need to do a hybrid ice/fire build." [source]

User: "Bit of a side question, but for those who intend to make more characters, is BioWare considering upping the amount of playable character slots you can have (currently at 3)? Or is there a hardware restriction here given the game is offline playable?" Luke Barrett: "Don't quote me as I don't handle the technical side of this but my understanding is we have to allocate a specific amount of HD space on the consoles so we basically have to pick a limit, relative to our save file sizes, and then divide that by number of careers. I'll inquire if this is something we can increase with an optional download or something but I suspect consoles are stuck that way, unfortunately." [source]

[on Patch 1] "It's been awhile since I actually did the content for this patch so I'd have to check but I have a pretty anti-nerf policy for SP games. I know I fixed up a couple enemies that weren't as hard as they were supposed to be and definitely boosted a bunch of synergistic things though. I'll take a look tomorrow but for those that don't know, the turnaround time on these things is about a month of it's not an emergency due to certification process with consoles. Longer term my goal is to keep an eye in telemetry of any underused abilities and items (or enemies with too many kills under their belt) and audit them just to double check if they need a boost or if people just haven't figured them out yet 😉." [source]

"The equippable items are all predetermined with a minor exception*. Some items are class specific (all the weapons, a small amount of armors and accessories, 2 runes) so when you play a different class you'll see your classes 'version' of that item. Things that are random (from a table/pool) are valuables. Exception: Near the very end of the game we do a few checks on what equipment you haven't acquired. A bunch of those final drops, and inventory on the final merchant, simply find stuff you don't have and give it to you. That's basically the only major RNG we have with loot. If you notice even 99% of the skills and item mods employ an effect after a condition is met X times rather than a more traditional 'proc chance'." [source]

[on modding] "Once this starts to pick up, feel free to PM me if anyone needs help 'finding' assets or has questions about how one might mod something. We don't officially support mods buuuuut we don't have any kind of anti-modding stance either" [source]

"To give the high level gist of the resource economy: - each class starts off with minimal ability usage, this is intentional to force people to learn the other combat mechanics as they're a necessary skill and it's easy to lean on a crutch like ability spam and kiting - abilities are designed to feel powerful on use, thus they all have a decent cost and can't be spammed* - weapon attacks generate your resource - in the bottom right of the center skills area is a node to make each class's resource easier to manage - halfway down all starting segments (N, SW, SE) there is always a node that boosts generation - there are +max nodes on all sides of the skill graph for each class, this is particularly important for the Mage as they start each fight at max - each class can build into being ability focused but starts intentionally rounded - loastly, the first ability is always a resource spender and 1 or 2 of the next available ones will be cooldown gated. It is recommended to have at least one cooldown based ability slotted" [source]

"So loosely the rogue momentum works like this: - each ability costs 50 momentum - hitting enemies generates ~2 momentum per hit (base), you get extra for bow weakpoints - when you are directly hit, you lose 15% of your current momentum, this means the more you hold the more you will lose (this loss has a small cooldown so you don't lose a whole bar when you get hit rapidly) - momentum carries forward between combats (compared to warrior rage which decays when out of combat) If youre having issues, make sure you get that skill in the middle section that reduces momentum loss when hit. As a helpful tip, the Quicken buff generates small amounts of momentum each second so it's a good way to get more if you're having issues." [source]

"I highly recommend using the belt that grants Quicken early game until you can generate momentum faster yourself. And yes, the time dilation affects everything in the world except the Player so all your buffs and things still tick at normal speed" [source]

User: "If I knock an enemy off an edge, if they were supposed to drop something will it appear on the edge, or is it lost for good?" Luke Barrett: "It should appear on the ledge. I will say the 'real' loot from enemy drops are all hand placed. The actual random stuff is just valuables and materials." [source]

" The way it actually works is very complicated with a lot of necessary exceptions but loosely - each ability has a base damage and ones that hit multiple times have an offset multiplier. - That value is multiplied by the sum of all your stat bonuses, conditional bonuses, resist and layer modifiers. - We then subtract enemy defense and multiply by 1-resist (with penetration being calculated here). - this new damage then gets multiplied by 1+crit+weakpointpoint (so those bonuses always feel meaty) and then multiplied by a random number between .95 and 1.05 just to give a little range to the floaties (basically just a presentation thing) - we then multiply again for buffs and debuffs so they, again, always feel meaningful - lastly, we take all added damage and add it flat on top" [source]

"Specific enhancements make enemies immune to the matching affliction. For example, Fire Enchanted enemies are immune to burning. Juggernaut enemies are immune to being staggered but otherwise it should work in everything." [source]

#dragon age: the veilguard #dragon age the veilguard spoilers #dragon age: dreadwolf #dragon age 4 #the dread wolf rises #da4 #dragon age #bioware #video games #long post #longpost #mass effect #mass effect: andromeda #anthem

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desertfangs · 7 months ago

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DesertFang's (rainandcoffee's) Fic Masterlist 💖

For easy reference. Oldest to Newest.

Armand/Daniel

The Vampire Bar - M, 2.5k [Humor, Angst] Daniel, with his book newly published and still on the run from Armand, finds a "vampire" bar full of mortals.

The Mundanity of Mortality - M, 2.8k [Humor, Angst, Slice of Life] Daniel wakes up one night and realizes he has to take care of some boring human stuff, like laundry.

The Madness of Mortality - M, 3k [Angst, Hurt/Comfort] Daniel finds some gray hair, runs away, and loses it a little as he tries to decide where he belongs.

Pumpkin Carving - T, 1.5k [Boyfriend Era, Exploring the World] Armand learns about this Halloween tradition with Daniel's help.

Just Another Party - E, 1k [Public Sex] My first foray into writing smut

The Dancer - M, 3k [Angst, Grief, Comfort] Daniel learns that young dancer he and Armand sponsored in the late 70s has died.

Rings - M, 1.8k [Chase Years, Angst] Armand is surprised when Daniel is more observant than expected.

A Series of Decembers - M, 2.7k [Christmas, Angst] Daniel experiences Christmas through the years.

Turning Circles - M, 8k [Reunion, Angst, Fluff] My first attempt to write their reunion missing from Prince Lestat.

The Christmas Village - M, 3.2k [Christmas, Angst, Fluff] Daniel decides to build a Christmas village, but his obsessive nature causes Armand to worry he's falling into a dangerous old pattern.

So This Is the New Year - M, 8.9k [Humor, Fluff, Mild Angst] Armand is throwing a New Years party at court at Lestat's request, and Daniel is trying to avoid being there for too long.

Turn Me to Dust - M, 2.2k [Hurt/Some Comfort, Angst] Hurt and angry that Armand won't make him a vampire, Daniel threatens to go out and find another vampire who will.

Every Time I Look at You - T, 1.3k [Angst w/ a Happy Ending] Seeing Armand for the first time in years, Daniel doesn't know how to talk to him.

In the Midst of Madness - M, 8.3k [Angst, Hurt, Missing Scene] Armand begins to wonder where Daniel is and doesn't like the answer.

In the Mouth of Madness - M, 2k [Angst, Alternate POV] Daniel's POV of Armand's phone call from In the Midst of Madness

Changes - E, 3.8k [Angst, Humor, Fluff, Smut] Daniel isn't sure why Armand is hellbent on running them ragged but he's determined to figure it out before it blows up in his face.

Shadows and Stars - M, 6.5k [Humor, Fluff, Angsty Conversations] Daniel tries to surprise Armand for Valentine's Day. Post-Canon.

Collapse Into Me - E, 2.6k [Smut, Humor, Fluff] While Daniel and Armand fool around, Daniel discovers that Armand is ticklish and uses that to his advantage (somewhat).

Dead Drunk - E, 5.2k [Vampire Drunk, Smut, Humor] Armand and Daniel drink from intoxicated people and get vampire drunk together

Lace - E, 4.4k [Public Sex, Lace Panties, Humiliation] Armand gets Daniel a pair of lace panties for his birthday

In the Blood - M, 4.8k [Angst with a Happy Ending, Humor] A few months post-Queen of the Damned, Armand finds Daniel alone, avoiding everyone inside the Villa.

Wicked Designs - E, 4.9k [Smut, Light Bondage, Handcuffs] Armand buys novelty handcuffs.

Hey Pretty - E, 6.3k [Reunion, Voyeurism, Sentimental Smut] Daniel and Armand try to find their footing again in NYC (post-PL)

Carnal Pleasures - E, 2.7k [Smut, Chase Years] During the early years of the chase, Daniel finds himself in a motel, alone and wishing Armand would appear.

Five Times Daniel and Armand Almost Kiss During the Chase Years and One Time They Did - E, 5.9k [Chase Years, Humor, Angst, Pining] What it says on the tin.

Goddamn Aliens Part 1 and Part 2 - Mature, 2.5k each [Missing Scenes, Angst, Humor] Two scenes of Daniel reacting to the aliens and plot points in PLROA.

Forbidden Desires - E, 3.8k [Humor, Mild Angst, Smut, NI Era] Armand gets a new coffin and Daniel is determined to see it

Broken Orchid - E, 3.7k [Fighting Then Making Up, Angst, Trauma] Daniel and Armand are at Trinity Gate when they discover one of Louis' precious orchid flowers has died, and Armand blames Daniel.

Make the Season Bright - E, 6.1k [Christmas, Chase Years] Daniel finds himself in a shopping mall on Christmas Eve with his vampire stalker.

All Dust and Stone - M, 6.9k [New Year's Eve 1989, Angst] Daniel is not about to ring in the new year without trying to fix things between them, no matter how frustrating that may prove to be.

St. Patrick's Cathedral - M, 3.3k [Grief, Daniel's Madness] When Daniel learns that Armand has gone into the sun, his grief threatens to destroy him.

Haunted House - T, 2.3k [Daniel's Madness, Angst, Comfort] Armand and Daniel venture back to the house Daniel shared with Marius in Norway, and Daniel has to face is demons.

Grave Decisions - M, 3k [Grief, Angst, Comfort] Daniel is off by himself dealing with a personal matter when Armand finds him to make sure he's okay (and doesn't do anything stupid).

Dangerous Obsessions - E, 3k [Smut, Angst, Chase Years] Armand and Daniel discuss the meaning of Valentine's Day... and love. And get a little handsy, leaving Daniel extra confused.

The Amethyst Ring - M, 11k [Humor, Fluff, Angst, Reunion] Four interconnected stories about a ring.

Swipe Right - E, 18k [Human AU, Dating App, Smut] In this modern, human AU Daniel is a radio intern with a podcast who installs a Dating App to find love. Some Louis/Daniel as well.

Drifting Across the Moon - M, 3.8k [St. Patrick's Day, Angst, Fluff] A St. Patrick's Day Story: Daniel returns to Chicago, the last place he was alive as a mortal, trying to figure some things out.

Shake and Sway - E, 3.6k [New Vampire Daniel, Humor, Smut] Having finally arrived at Night Island after a long road trip, Daniel just wants some time alone with Armand.

Inebriated - M, 1k [Angst, Alcoholism] Daniel is drunk and pleading for the blood. Again.

The Chameleon - T, 1k [Chase Years, Humor, Armand in Glasses] Daniel is thrown a small surprise launch party for his book, Interview with the Vampire, and a special guest crashes.

Telephone Line - E, 2.6k [Vampire Phone Sex, PL Era] Daniel gets Armand to talk dirty about his latest kill over the phone.

An Evolution of Intimacy - E, 4k [Smut, Humor, Angst] A series of vignettes about Armand and Daniel being intimate in all the eras of their relationship.

Caught in the Crush - E, 2.9k [Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Smut] Armand, feeling a little dismissed and uncertain at Court, finds comfort in his only fledgling, Daniel.

Is it possible you never knew? - M, 5.1k [Angst, Reunion, Daniel's Madness] Armand pays a visit to the little house in Norway where Marius and Daniel are living, and Daniel worries about what his maker will make of him now.

Candy Cane - E, 3.4k [Christmas, Smut, Object Insertion] Armand & Daniel find non-traditional uses for a novelty candy cane.

Lestat/Daniel

Night Out - M, 3k [Angst, BroTP w/ Bennies, Humor] Daniel and Lestat meet up in New Orleans, vent some frustrations about Armand and Louis respectively, stalk a serial killer, and then make out a little.

The City Never Sleeps - M, 13k [BroTP, Angst, Humor] Lestat comes to Trinity Gate surprised to find Daniel alone and Daniel takes him on the Molloy Tour of NYC circa 1979

Leave Your Mark (+ Armand) - E, 5.2k [Hickeys, Smut, Threesome] Armand returns home to Trinity Gate and sees the very large mark left on Daniel's neck by Lestat.

One More Kiss, Dear - E, 4.6k [BroTP, Vampire Smut] An interlude between The City Never Sleeps & Leave Your Mark in which Daniel and Lestat return to Trinity Gate together.

Through the Garden Gate - E, 4.4k [Smut, Deep Discussions] Lestat and Daniel talk about Lestat's body swap and how Daniel worries his relationship with Armand is falling apart.

Marius/Daniel

Comfort and Joy - M, 2.9k [Christmas, Fluff, Humor] Daniel convinces Marius to decorate for Christmas.

Goddamn Aliens Part 3 - M, 2.5k [Missing Scene, Angst, Humor] Daniel tells Marius that he and Armand are leaving Court after things settle

Peripheral Ghosts - M, 1.7k [Angst, Daniel's Madness] Daniel thinks he sees Armand in a club and he and Marius discuss it

The Prime Minister's Assistant - E, 4.2k [Clothed Sex, Smut with the Boss] Marius wearing a sexy suit distracts Daniel

Red Wine - M, 2.7k [Angst, Fluff, Comfort, Daniel's Madness] Daniel ducks into a wine bar and stares at a glass of wine instead of hunting. Marius finds him.

Soul of an Artist - T, 1k [Fluff, Humor] Marius paints flowers on the walls of an abandon house and he and Daniel discuss art.

Five Times Daniel and Marius Almost Kiss and One Time They Did - M, 6.2k [Angst, Fluff, Daniel's Madness, Yearning, Kissing] Exactly what it says on the tin.

Another Halloween - 1.3k, M [Angst, Brooding] On a Halloween after he's recovered from his madness, Daniel is ruminating on the anniversary of his turning

Teetering on the Brink - M, 3.7k [Daniel's Madness, Hurt/Comfort] When Daniel has a mild relapse of his condition, it puts him in a danger and Marius has to come to the rescue.

Passion Play - E, 2k [Angst, Jealousy, Sexual Healing] Marius gets preoccupied by his thoughts and Daniel does his damnedest to pull him out of it.

Deck of Cards - M, 1.4k [Light Angst, Night Island Era] Daniel talks to Marius, hoping to make a connection with his maker's maker.

Marius/Armand/Daniel

Into the Woods - M, 3.5k [Plot Driven, Relationships] A mysterious presence has been noticed in the woods around the Chateau. Marius, Armand, & Daniel try to find it.

Look Right Through - M, 20k [Plot Driven, Mystery, Relationships] When Daniel finds a corpse in the house, he isn't sure if it's a prank, a threat... or worse, his own madness rearing its ugly head once more.

Mortal Desires - E, 4.8k [Hormone Use, Smut] They use Fareed's hormones to allow the three of them to have a night of mortal intimacy together.

Armand/Lestat

Subtle Salvation - M, 3.4k [Night Island Era, Angst, Fluff] Lestat is ruminating on his concert and the fall out from it when Armand attempts to pull him out of his malaise.

O Tannenbaum - M, 6.5k [Mild Smut, Court Era, Holiday Fluff] Lestat bets Armand that he can decorate a Christmas tree better than he can

Stitches - E, 3k [Angst, Humor, Smut] Lestat comes across Armand alone in the Villa, and decides to see what he's up to. He teases him a bit then one thing leads to another…

Sentinel - T, 428 words [Angst] Armand stands in Lestat's dilapidated little house during a storm.

Louis/Lestat

Delicate Desires - E, 3.2k [Rue Royale Era, Angst, Vampire Smut] Lestat is moody on his birthday.

Armand/Louis

A Ghost In Our House - M, 3k [Hurt/Mild Comfort, Angst] Louis is living like a ghost in their shared home. Armand wants to bring back his passion and joie de vivre, but doesn't know how.

Armand/Santino

Flamingos - T, 942 [Missing Scene Fic, Night Island Era] Armand and Santino have a brief exchange, Santino's POV

Jesse Reeves/Bianca

How Rare and Beautiful - E, 5.6k [Grief, Sexual Distraction, PL Era] At Trinity Gate in the middle of Prince Lestat, Jesse and Bianca connect over mourning their losses.

General/Other

San Francisco, 1985 - M, 4k [Missing Scene, Angst, Conversations] Before they head to Miami, Armand, Daniel, and Louis visit the little place on Divisadero where it all began

Little Motel - E, 1.6k [Masturbation, Fantasy] Daniel, alone in a motel room, fantasizes about Lestat and then Armand

Necessity - T, 948 - Marius/Pandora [Angst, Humor] Pandora watches Marius get frustrated and leave a council meeting, and follows him out to talk.

The Recruiter - T, 999 - [Angst, Humor, Outsider POV] Thomas, a Talamasca agent, is sent to observe and talk to Daniel Molloy to assess if he might be a good fit for the organization.

Collections

Vamptember Prompts 2022 - Armand/Daniel, Louis/Lestat 13 Short Fics filling prompts

Bites & Bruises - Armand/Daniel, Armand/Lestat, Marius/Daniel, etc. Short fics, drabbles, vignettes that I didn't know where else to post

Shorts/Misc/Tumblr Only

Reassurances - Armand/Daniel Hurt/Comfort Fic

Marius and Daniel Experiment With Novelty Handcuffs

Record and Play - Armand/Daniel Short Fic

*Just a note that I did leave off a few super old fics that don't really reflect how I see the characters anymore. But otherwise this is a pretty complete list.

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femsolid · 1 year ago

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Video games recommendation for women part 2

The same criteria as before: has to have a female lead and little to no misogyny

---

1. Shadow of the Tomb Raider

The seemingly invincible and endlessly talented Lara Croft goes on yet another adventure, this time exploring the Amazon jungle and South American ruins looking for a magical artifact hoping to prevent her enemies, an evil organisation called Trinity, from using it.

Tomb Raider is a franchise that has changed quite a bit over the years. Ever since the reboot, Lara has become a fully fledge character and she doesn't do rock climbing in a skimpy outfit anymore (which made the boys mad, boohoo).

But sadly she still suffers from her reputation of sexy girly indiana jones which I suspect is why women don't seem that interested in her. Shame!

It's not usually the type of games I like (very over the top "blockbustery") but I got hooked the minute I set foot (or rather crashed) in the Peruvian jungle. The game is visually stunning, I loved exploring all the ancient temples, the crypts, the jungle and seeing all the animals. The puzzles were challenging, the fights were fun, it was entertaining, well made, with lots of female characters and it takes place in Peru which is just the cherry on top for me.

The only thing I didn't like was Jonah but then I never liked him. He's Lara's best friend and is pretty much there to be kidnapped and rescued in every game, which is kind of a nice reversed damsel in distress trope I suppose, but still, you're useless Jonah I kept telling my screen.

2. Alien Isolation

In this game you play as Ellen Ripley's daughter who ends up trapped in a gigantic spaceship with a lethal enemy, of course, the infamous alien: the xenomorph.

This game is perfect if you are currently suffering from constipation. It doesn't rely on cheap jumpscares and gore to scare you no, it's all about the ~ambiance~. If you are found, you are dead, simple as. And you will die... A LOT. I got an achievement for dying 50 times. I was laughing hysterically whenever the alien caught me by that point and I think the alien was too.

They say "in space no one can hear you scream" but this alien can hear your footsteps so this makes for some tense gameplay, especially as the alien's AI is very good and you are extremely vulnerable. To survive you will have to be very mindful of the noises you make and the noises the alien makes. Oh yeah, you both crawl through the same ventilation system by the way. This could make for some awkward encounter... On top of having to deal with the alien you will meet androids and humans who aren't exactly friendly either. The goal is, of course, to escape from the ship alive.

I have to give the developpers props for really making us feel like we are in an Alien movie. The music, the ship's design, the alien itself, are all very faithfull to the movies and this game is rightly considered a classic.

3. Spiritfarer

In Spiritfarer you play as Stella (and her cat) who has become the captain of a boat on which she welcomes the spirits of different people who have died. She will accompany them for a while until it's time to cross the bridge and say farewell.

It's worth mentionning, given how rare it is, that the main character is a black girl. Your job is to manage the boat (make improvements to it) and become self-sustainable: you will grow your own food, build houses for each spirit and decorate it, grow trees, collect wood, fish, feed your guests. You can make a mill, a weaving workshop, a sawmill, a kitchen, a garden, etc and arrange it as you please.

Most importantly, you will travel the sea to meet new spirits, learn about their lives and fullfill their last wishes before they are ready to leave us. And then you will cry and cry and cry as the music rises and you give them one last hug.

It's a cosy game, slow paced, lots of dialogues, cute mini-games within it, and at times really funny interactions because it all looks so cute yet the characters act and talk like normal people (they told me to fuck off quite a lot) and they will often get into unprompted anti-capitalist rants. It reminded me of Spirited Away a lot, very strange and comfy at the same time.

It's a story about death, about how each person handles it, what they look back on, and yet it's a very pleasant game.

---

As usual I will add more to the list as I reblog it and, of course, if you want to recommend a game too, you're more than welcome. I've been focusing on games with female leads lately so I'll have a lot more to add.

#video games #gaming #mp

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pipjackal · 3 months ago

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Runesmith Family Tree

No family has had an impact on this city quite like the Runesmiths.

Below is an extensive look at their history.

The Runesmith

Prometheus Runesmith remains one of the city’s enduring mysteries. A figure cloaked in myth and rumor, the only thing we know for certain about Prometheus Runesmith is that one summer, back when he was still called Prometheus Bear, he attended the opera and approached Amadea Antlers with an offer.

He’d discovered a unique sort of energy, which he coined Runes. With this energy, naturally, he aimed to craft a weapon more powerful than any seen before. However, he lacked the means by which to acquire the materials necessary to build his masterwork. After much convincing, Amadea Antlers agreed to use her family’s vast wealth to fund Prometheus’ research under one condition: that the weapon be made specially for her.

It was not long after that Prometheus found new customers in Goldie Lion and Mortimer Jackal. And so, as Prometheus Bear became Prometheus Runesmith, the age of the Rune Weapon began.

The Runebroker

Prometheus Runesmith’s death came suddenly. It was well known that he’d had a number of health problems as a result of his early experiments, but when he was found one morning, dead in his bed, it came as quite a shock for everyone.

Before he had died, Prometheus Runesmith was responsible for the creation of three Rune Weapons. The first, for Amadea Antlers, was perhaps his finest work, a violin capable of generating a vast number of reactions depending upon how it was played. His second piece, created for Goldie Lion, was a sword capable of cutting through any object. The third of this original trinity of Rune Weapons was a cane commissioned by Mortimer Jackal, who went to great lengths to keep the nature of his weapon a secret, so much so that it remains a mystery to this day.

Following his death, there was a brief panic over the future of the Rune Weapons. The weapons required frequent maintenance, so without someone to repair them the weapons would cease all function within a year. Goldie Lion was especially concerned, given she had recently paid a great sum of money to commission three Rune Weapons for her children, weapons which Prometheus had failed to complete before his death.

They did not have to worry for long. Hestia Runesmith, Prometheus’ daughter, had not received much instruction from her father before his death. However, after going over his notes, Hestia was able to reengineer her father’s technique through much trial and error. One of such errors resulted in an explosion that left Hestia’s face permanently scarred. But in a few months time, Hestia was able to replicate her father’s techniques, starting with the completion of the three Rune Weapons commissioned for the Lion family.

But Hestia soon ran into a problem. She’d spent nearly all of the money gained from the Lion commission in her attempts to recreate her father’s work. The money gained from repairs was significant, and more than enough to fund the business itself, but Hestia found it wasn’t generating enough of a profit to comfortably sustain her own livelihood. Additionally, while she had been able to complete the Rune Weapons her father had made, she lacked the materials and experience required to design weapons of her own, preventing her from seeking new customers.

That is when Hestia met Bartolomew Honeyclaw. The Honeyclaw family was old money, and very wealthy. Bartolomew was captivated by the novelty of Rune Weapons, though not interested in wielding one himself. The two would marry, but not for long. Natural differences soon emerged, it quickly became apparent that neither party was happy in the marriage. It finally ended with the birth of Hestia’s first child, Hephaestus Runesmith. Hephaestus was born with facial and spinal deformations, something that Bartolomew quickly decided he was not willing to invest in. He filed for divorce when his son was only a week old.

Hestia was now in a financial position in which she had to sustain not only herself, but her newborn son who required significant medical care. Having finally gained enough experience working with runes to begin designing her own weapons, she needed to start finding new customers for the family’s Rune Weapons. While there was high demand for such weapons, very few possessed the funds necessary to cover the cost of producing a Rune Weapon. In this position was a charming local casino owner by the name of Lucky Rabbit.

He befriended Hestia, hoping to get close enough to her to gain a free Rune Weapon. But, surprisingly, the two of them had a lot in common as two business owners trying to support their children. Lucky himself had been twice divorced, and was a single father to four children. Although the two never married, and would likely not describe themselves as anything more than business partners, they would have a daughter together, Cassandra Rabbit-Runesmith, of whom they amicably shared custody. Hestia agreed to craft him a Rune Weapon, at a slightly discounted cost that he was happy to pay.

It was not long before Hestia found another customer in the Badgers, a pair of siblings in possession of considerable wealth gained from years of contract killing on behalf of other families. She made a good deal of money from the commission, though the addition of two new families in possession of Rune Weapons sparked some unease about the growing prevalence of this experimental energy.

This unease was not helped by the Lion family’s collapse. A sibling rivalry had turned into a bloody conflict, fueled by the violence of Rune Weapons. And then, as if nothing had happened, Hestia had agreed to craft a Rune Weapon for Grimalkin Cat, who had stolen away the Lion fortune in the conflict.

This sparked a demand for regulations to be put in place. Hestia was firmly against this notion, though the fears regarding Rune Weapons extended to her own daughter. Cassandra was plagued by nightly terrors concerning runes. She begged her mother to cease the creation of any more Rune Weapons, but was repeatedly ignored.

Some nights after Hestia began talks with a new customer, Cassandra was awoken in the middle of the night by a nightmare worse than any before. She awoke her brother in a state of panic, rambling about caves and crystals and a beast with leather wings. Hephaestus attempted to ease her fears, but was rather tired and eager to go back to sleep.

He awoke the next morning to find the workshop in flames. Hestia and Cassandra’s burnt remains were found the next day.

The Runekeeper

Hephaestus was young and angry at the world. Only 17 and without a workshop, he was now facing repair requests from all five families in possession of Rune Weapons. It was a tall order, and he considered, briefly, letting the business die and his sister’s wishes come to pass. But he convinced himself, should the Runesmiths stop supplying Rune Weapons, someone else would reverse engineer the process and it would do them all no good.

Hestia had accumulated enough wealth for Hephaestus to comfortably dip into, getting the business restarted within months of the fire. However, he did not reopen right away. He gathered the five families together and established some ground rules:

This is to be a council of Rune Wielders. The heads of each family in possession of a Rune Weapon shall meet bi-annually to discuss matters that might otherwise be resolved through the use of force. Only families with a seat on this council will be permitted a Rune Weapon. An emergency meeting of this council may be called at any time by one of the heads of a given family.

There shall be a maximum five seats on this council at any given time. Any vacant seat may be filled only by way of a unanimous vote. If at any point the council wishes to remove a family from their seat, all seats (excluding the seat in contention) must vote unanimously to do so.

All families are permitted a maximum of three active Rune Weapons at a given time.

No one below the age of 16 is permitted to wield a Rune Weapon.

Inactive Rune Weapons are to be properly and safely stored. A Rune Weapon that has gone inactive may only be reactivated by a relative of its previous user.

If any family is found to be in violation of these rules, they will be removed from the council and the Runesmith family will refuse to maintain their Rune Weapons, which will be allowed to go inactive.

Hephaestus established a strong, stable foundation that ensured, in his mind, that his sister’s worst fears should not be realized. He stuck firmly to these rules and made it very clear to the families who now sat on the council who was in charge.

He was respected and feared by all, except his wife, Birna Polaris, who had settled in the city after years spent exploring the world. The two were an odd match, but balanced each other out well. They lived happily for some time with their son, Daedalus, before Hephaestus passed away as a result of latent heart problems.

The Runemaker

Daedalus Runesmith inherited his mother’s adventurous spirit, applying it to his passion for Rune Weapons. He was a brilliant talent who loved his craft. His great dream was to engineer machines that used rune energy for purposes outside of wanton destruction.

These qualities were attractive, at first, to Muse Grizzly. Her husband was goofy and reckless and filled with big ideas. To put it simply, he made her smile.

Unfortunately, those same quirks that made her fall in love with him would get old over time. He was always in his lab, shutting himself away from the world and its problems. He cared little for serious conversation, avoiding his wife when she wasn’t matching his endless enthusiasm.

This issue applied doubly to his parenting. His oldest son, Atlas, shared none of his enthusiasm or talent with runes, and Daedalus quickly grew bored of him. Especially when his younger son, Icarus, began showing interest in his father’s work.

Daedalus taught Icarus the family craft from a very young age. The boy had a knack for it, and soon enough began helping around the workshop. The two would stay up and brainstorm together, dreaming up machines more wondrous than any seen before.

Icarus very quickly became attached to one idea in particular. He’d had a dream of a monster! A monster with big, tall ears and sharp fangs and wings. Not feathery wings like a bird had. But wings of fur and flesh. From that day forward he was obsessed with the idea of flying.

Icarus became convinced that rune energy could be used to alter the structure of body. He wanted to fly. Daedalus, amused by his son’s enthusiasm, encouraged this notion. He helped him better articulate his theory and developed methods by which it could be achieved. Sometime in the process, Daedalus concluded that it couldn’t be done safely. He casually shut down the project and told Icarus it wasn’t possible.

But Icarus was only thirteen years old and unused to being told ‘no’. Upset with his father suddenly shutting down his idea after being nothing but supportive prior, Icarus set out to prove him wrong. He snuck into the workshop late at night and set to work using the theories he and his father had developed together.

It was Atlas who found him in the workshop the next day, whimpering weakly in pain through lungs punctured by a bent ribcage. It was Atlas who held what was left of his brother’s hand until finally, after what felt like hours it went limp.

The funeral was a closed casket affair.

The Runeguardian

Atlas Runesmith never forgave his father. For killing his brother, for pushing his mother away, for any of it. He hated the man. But he was also all Daedalus had left. So he swallowed it up and bore it. He learned the family business, spent long hours in the workshop, and helped his father home on nights he was too drunk to be alone.

His Rune Weapon designs were nothing innovative or particularly creative. But when Daedalus finally passed away, he stepped up as head of the business and worked to maintain the rules his grandfather had put in place.

For a man so dedicated to rules, his choice in partner was rather strange. Jen, which might have been short for Jennifer or Jenna or Genevieve, was, to put it bluntly, a scumbag. But she was a deceptively charming scumbag. The type that you’d forgive even after she borrowed your car and ruined your tires doing donuts. Atlas and her dated for a brief period of time, up until Jen got bored and left Atlas to raise their daughter, Pandora, alone, reaching out only when she needed some investors to name for her next failed business venture.

Atlas tried his best, early on, to instill a healthy fear of runes into Pandora. But she quickly proved to share the ingenuity of her grandfather and uncle, with a great deal of skill to back it up. She has gradually taken over the task of crafting and repairing Rune Weapons, her talent too great to deny. However, she shows a deep level of disinterest for the city’s rules, concerned Atlas greatly. She is far, far too curious for her own good.

Atlas has held this city together through some of the worst conflicts it’s ever seen. The rules have been tested more than they ever have before, and Atlas has been there as a firm and steady guardian of the city’s order. But he won’t be around forever.

And what good are rules if no one is enforcing them?

#pip jackal #family tree #original characters #anthro

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caramelcleopatraa · 1 year ago

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Sparks Flyin' (Suit & Tie Revised)

Word Count: 1.4k~

x: hey y'all, its the owner of The Bank speaking! Finally got this shit finished, and I'm halfway into part 5 already 💋 Here are the playlists loves! I will actively be adding to these as the story progresses. We got ms. plot in the building as well xo

Content: Mafia!Roman Reigns x Designer!Reader, suggestive

Playlists 💋 Spotify Apple Music

“Rommannn! Are you done yet baby?” A high pitched yell on the other side of the door startles you. Roman’s grip on you tightens and you give him a confused look. He plants a tender kiss on your cheek, leaving you a little bit flustered, and he smiles at your flustered expression. His hand pushes your head down on his shoulder and you take a deep breath.

“Yeah. Just be patient, ok?” Roman says sternly. “But Baaeee! You’ve been in there too lon-” “I’m not finna tell you again. Wait,” Roman says, rubbing the back of his neck. Annoyance was written all over his face. De’arra groans in defeat and the comfortable silence settles back into the atmosphere.

‘Pleeaase! Please! Pleeaassee! Don’t let this turn into some drama…’

You let your nails drag across his chest. “Am I gon’ have to worry about her fucking up my shop?”

“Nah, she all bark no bite,” Roman says, looking down at your hands. “She’s not that petty or jealous.” You look at him with your eyebrow raised. ‘For him to be a ladies man, he should know how petty bitches are. ESPECIALLY when it comes to a man.’

“I hope so. I don’t wanna deal with yo’ loose ends,” You say, getting off of him and standing up to pick your bottoms off of the floor.

“I got my shit together girl. I already told you I’m not fucking with her. She’s only around me cause her daddy likes my money.” ‘Money? Who’s her dad?’

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

“The couples are finished.” Aahkilah yells at you from the otherside of the door. Both of you finished getting dressed and clean up the dressing room. You were about to walk out of the room until Roman grabbed your hand and pulled you closer to him. You were going to question why he pulled you away before his hands rose above your head. His hands firmly smooth down your hair and fixed some stray hairs. You couldn’t take your eyes off of him. He handled you with such care and delicacy. You tell him thank you and he responds with a short hum.

You open the door to greet your clients. Gio and Madison are working as cashiers, ringing both of them up for their suits and dresses. Jey and Jimmy are putting in their payments while Talia and Trinity are talking. “Girl come over here real quick!” You hear Talia yelling at you to come over. From the tone in her voice, you couldn’t tell what this conversation was going to be about. However, you wouldn’t be in the dark for much longer. “Wassup?”

“Girl you ain’t hear?” Trinity says looking at you with a confused face. You shrug your shoulders and replied, “I be busy. Enlighten me.”

“There’s a new family trying to replace the Anoa’i family.”

Talia crosses her arms and sits into her hip. The blank expression on your face says everything. The Anoa’i family has been managing Florida for decades. To challenge them would be like walking straight into a turf war. Apparently, someone wanted that war. “They’re offering hella bank tryna take their spot too. I wonder if that shit’s fake… or a bluff maybe.”

“They’ll take that offer back when they realize who they’re messing with,” You mutter to your friends. Even your family didn’t dare challenge them, because they’re smart enough to know it’ll go every other way but good. Your family, the Semele’s and the Anoa’i family have always been on good terms. The Semele’s don’t own turf however, they are known for having access to a lot of things most mafia’s don't. Your family is known for being suppliers of information, stolen goods, weapons, you name it. So if Reigns is being threatened, that means you could be in trouble too, since everyone knows these two families are tightly tied together. A power duo, if you will.

“You’re not worried about this?” Trinity’s face is laced with concern for you. You shrugged your shoulders, rolling your eyes as well. “This could just be a scare tactic, and those don’t work on me,” You said confidently as you gave them a reassuring smile.

“That’s not something for a pretty lady to worry about. I’ll handle it,” Roman says, looking straight into your eyes. Goddamnit, those eyes. Somehow they made you so flustered. His presence was enough on its own, but his stare was so damn powerful. You were ashamed that someone you had only met an hour ago was making you so giddy and out of character. The tension between you two was thick, and everyone was starting to feel it. “You gon’ let me handle it?”

“What? You're not gonna let me handle it? Don't think I can?”

“It’s not your problem,” Roman says sternly, deading the conversation then and there. You walk closer to the cashier desk to talk to him directly. “Is this your way of caring for me?” Roman smirks at your comment. “When I said I'd take care of you, I wasn't just talking about that pussy.” Gio and Madison’s jaws drop at his comment. You could see them looking at you through the corner of your eye and you knew you would have to explain what he meant by that. You couldn't hide the smile forming on your face, so you turned your attention to your shoes. “You like that?” You didn’t even have to look at him to know that he was smiling. You could hear it all in his tone. “Boy, I’m not playing with you,” you say, walking away, still wearing an existing smile. Roman laughs to himself and hands Gio a stack of cash.

“Neither am I.”

You finished another successful busy day. A shit load of fittings and pickups. Roman had someone pick up all of their suits and dresses, which completed all of your custom orders for the day. Finally, a chance to get off of your feet.

“Ummm what the hell was that this morning?” ‘Ahh shit.'

You internally roll your eyes. Eventually, they were gonna bring it up to you. Maybe trying to play dumb was not the best decision on your part.

“What was what?” You innocently bat your eyes at the two ladies. “The smile off you had with your private client. Don’t tell me something went down after I dropped off your drink,” Madison says, sitting down in the swivel chair next to you. You almost muttered a snarky comeback when you were hit with flashbacks from this morning.

"Lemme love on that pussy, baby."

“That pussy got me drenched baby.”

“Cum on my tongue, mama.”

How he spoke to you and how he touched you kept replaying in your mind. A pool between your legs was forming just from the thought of him.

“Oh he definitely put it down.” You are quick to defend yourself just as Gio says, “You’re over here in lala land! And at your job too!” Gio acts shocked and puts her hand over her heart and lets out an exaggerated gasp. You hit her in the side and shy away from their investigating eyes. The deafening silence was telling the truth for you.

“Well we didn’t fuck.. But he did eat me out,” you shyly said, still looking away from them. You didn’t have to look at them to know that their mouths were wide open again. What you didn’t know was those open mouths turned into wide smiles. “Ok! Ms. CEO gettin some head! Was it good?”

‘WAS IT GOOD? GOOD’S AN INSULT’ “Um…”

Before you finished your sentence, Madison interjects with, “Musta been, you looked like you were in a good mood today too. Especially after Roman’s fitting” You regrettably looked back in their direction and saw Madison wiggling her eyebrows. You lightly shove her away from you and stand up. “No, the fitting went well with no complications. That's what I was happy about.” You attempt to defend yourself, but you should’ve known that it was falling on deaf ears. Madison and Gio help you close down and lock up the shop. Of course, Madison had to tell you her two cents before going your separate ways.

“Look at you smilin-”

“Shut up.”

🏷️ tags :) @2-muchsauce @theninthwonder @harmshake @alichesmi @thesamoanqueen @alyyaanna @empressdede @badbitchcentralinc @christinabae @fame-ass-ers @southerngirl41

#roman reigns #roman reigns x black reader #roman reigns smut #roman reigns x y/n #carmenreigns #roman reigns x chubby reader #roman reigns x you #roman reigns x reader #roman reigns x oc #[ ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚✧･ﾟ: * the bankk ✧･ﾟ:* ˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ ]#[ S & T ]#caramelcleopatraa

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mindairy · 19 days ago

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College Love: Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Undercurrents and Glimmers

Author's Note: I am truly enjoying writing this story and am even more grateful for everyone who has liked, commented, and shared. Please, feedback is always welcome and encouraged. Even though I am writing this for fun and for me, I do want to know how everyone is feeling about the story and my writing.

jeyuso/latina-reader

Summary: Get ready, because Jordyn is absolutely shining at Homecoming, serving all the looks and owning her new single status like the queen she was born to be! 👑 But hold up! The drama with Adonis is definitely not over, leading to a public showdown 🔥. Joshua Fatu drops some seriously intense confessions that leave Jordyn (and let's be real, us!) completely breathless. 👀 🫠

Warnings → slow burn, angst, eventual romance, eventual smut, original characters, tags to be added

If you haven't read the previous chapter: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3,

The anonymous text message, received days ago, still burned like acid in Jordyn's mind, far hotter than the lingering Tallahassee heat outside her window. "You think you won? This is just the beginning. You and your little Fatu protector will regret this." The words replayed on a loop, each one a fresh stab of dread. The immediate relief she'd felt after her last tutoring session with Joshua, and John's cavalier explanation of the Fatu-Jordan family dynamics, had long evaporated. This wasn't just Adonis being a pompous ass; this felt darker, more calculated. The phrase "Fatu protector" sent a shiver down her spine, raising the unsettling question: Had he been watching them?

She'd wrestled with telling Bianca and Trinity, but hesitated. They were so happy for her, so relieved she was finally free. Did she want to drag them into this new layer of ugliness? Besides, what could they even do? The text was chillingly vague, yet undeniably threatening—a direct response to her outburst at the party and Joshua's intervention. The reminder of the dinner the Fatus had to attend with the Jordans tempered any thought of texting Joshua to warn him. She couldn't involve her friends further in a mess that revealed such a calculating and dark side of Adonis. So, she continued her daily routine—attending classes, diligently holding tutoring sessions with Joshua, and hanging out with her friends—all while preparing for the multitude of Homecoming activities. But her mind was always on high alert; unfamiliar faces seemed a little too intimate, unknown phone calls made her jump. She was constantly scanning crowds, half-expecting to see Adonis, or worse, someone sent by him.

Fall in Tallahassee was no different than summer, the dry, lingering heat draping the campus in an unbearable embrace that not even the lemonade from the Homecoming vendors could cool. Yet, this didn't deter the crowds flocking to "the highest of seven hills" during Homecoming Week. The campus energy shifted from forced normalcy to a vibrant frenzy. Orange and green banners adorned lampposts, and Rattler pride bled through the halls and buildings, a stark contrast to Jordyn's internal turmoil.

As Jordyn made her way into the house, she heard Bianca call from her room. Jordyn, walked towards the furthest room from the stairs and leaned against the doorframe. Inside, Bianca amd Trinity were sifting through piles of sequins and fabrics spread across the bed. "Yes, B," Jordyn responded, anticipating the question at hand.

"Have you found a dress for the ball?" Bianca asked, holding up a red and gold gown adorned with intricate rose designs. The Homecoming Ball was a charity event hosted by the Divine 9, a prestigious formal affair that attracted students and alumni from across the country. Alumni typically attended to showcase their success by bidding on various donated items, while students converged for the free food, drinks, and invaluable networking opportunities with influential alumni.

Jordyn sighed, pushing herself off the doorframe. "No, I haven’t had time. I've been trying to finalize some of the items for the auction." As a dedicated member of Zeta Phi Beta and a representative for the ball's committee, Jordyn was responsible for ensuring that this year's charity—the pediatric unit at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital—received a decent donation in the name of the university, the alumni, and the Divine 9. Her commitment to the cause, and to her sorority's contribution, was a powerful pull.

"Well, you better find something, 'cause it is tomorrow," Trinity said, finding an open space on Bianca’s bed, observing the intricate dresses in her hand.

"I know... I have some options in my room," Jordyn replied, picking up a short blue gown with a bow on the back from a pile near Bianca. "Wait, where did all these come from?" Jordyn asked, looking up at the girls, realizing the sheer volume of dazzling garments.

“If you must know, one of my mom’s line sisters owns that boutique on Augustine,” Bianca responded. “She is an alumnus and heard that we were on the committee and wanted to make sure we were stunning.” Bianca, a member of Delta Sigma Theta, following in the footsteps of her mother, possessed a very large social and professional network. “These are super nice!” Jordyn exclaimed, picking up another sequined dress.

“Aren’t they?!” Trinity enthused, passing yet another breathtakingly beautiful dress to Jordyn. “So… pick a dress!”

Jordyn knew this ball would be more than just a dance; it would be a public declaration of her new single status, an undeniable statement to the entire campus. She was expected to show up, not just as an attendee, but as a committee member. The anonymous, threatening text from Adonis still lingered, a cold hand on her confidence, but it wouldn't deter her. Hiding away, or showing up in a simple gown, would only grant Adonis a false victory, confirming his misguided belief that his threats and actions had subdued her. Staring at the glittering gowns, noticing the excitement and unwavering enthusiasm on her friends' faces, Jordyn realized that blending into the crowd was not the move she wanted to make. She needed to stand out, to make it undeniably clear to Adonis and everyone else that she was her own hero, needing no one to stand next to her.

Bianca held up a shimmering emerald gown. "So, Jordy, what do you say about this one?" she asked, presenting the dress.

Jordyn ran her hands through the fabric, then gently shook her head. “It is beautiful, but I need something that is going to leave everyone speechless,” she said, her eyes scanning the piles once more until they spotted the perfect gown nestled under piles of sequins and shimmer. She pulled it out, a confident smile blooming on her face. She held it up in the air. “I think this might be it.” Bianca and Trinity nodded their heads in immediate, enthusiastic approval, recognizing the bold choice.

"Tonight is not just for us, or to prove any man wrong, but because this is my event too! I helped put this whole magnificent thing together,” Trinity said, excitement evident in her voice, echoing Jordyn's own burgeoning confidence as she gestured to Jordyn's chosen dress. “You walk in there, head held high, looking stunning, and you own it. You prove to everyone that you're thriving."

Bianca chimed in, "We'll always be your hype women, your bodyguards, your human shields if necessary!" She winked. "Besides, Adonis thrives on seeing you upset. We deny him that satisfaction. And that dress," she added, referring to Jordyn’s selected gown, "practically screams 'I'm better off without you, darling.' It's perfect. Trust us."

"Let's do it, ladies!" Jordyn said, a faint smile touching her lips as she picked up the flowing fabric. The girls cheered with excitement. But in the back of Jordyn’s mind, she knew she had to be ready for anything.

The morning of the ball, the day flew by in a whirlwind of self-care. Sharing glasses of wine, the girls were pampered by a team ensuring their nails and toes matched the elegance of their dresses. While Bianca and Trinity, coming from affluent families, were used to this type of treatment, it always surprised Jordyn. Even when Adonis treated her to a self-care day, she always felt out of place. Today, however, she felt at home surrounded by her friends, and excitement grew as the hours continued to tick by. Next was something Jordyn truly felt she needed to usher in this new wave of freedom: as she sat in the chair and watched her stylist cut off inches of dead weight, insecurity, and unhappiness, she started to feel lighter. Enhancing the change was the cherry coke color that now highlighted her curls. “I love this color on you, girl,” Ashley said, scrunching the curls to give them a little more volume. “It's so young and flirty,” she added. Exactly what Jordyn was going for; tonight, she was getting her lick back in the best way.

On the other side of town, the Fatu/Anoa’i family was holding their annual board members' luncheon. As major contributors to the university and alumni, the family held these luncheons every Homecoming, not just to network with other board members but also to prepare for the Homecoming Ball. It was a power play, designed to understand the university's inner workings and influence. Joshua, Johnathan, Joseph, and Solo always attended as representatives of the family's commitment to building the university's legacy.

Joshua sat through the luncheon, the drone of his father's booming voice and the polite, back-slapping chatter of the other board members a dull thrum against his growing impatience. He’d spent the morning trying to focus on the endless financial reports and networking pleasantries. His mind, however, kept drifting back to the tense exchange with Adonis. Adonis, still seething from the party, had made a point of exchanging sharp, veiled words with Joshua during a "private" moment at the luncheon, his eyes blazing with a mixture of resentment and a promise of future retribution. The Homecoming Ball, it was clear, would be another arena for their unresolved conflict.

"You ready, twin?" Johnathan walked in, adjusting his blazer, bringing Joshua out of his thoughts.

"Yeah," Joshua said, blinking away his lingering thoughts and adjusting his tie as he walked down the stairs, his brother behind him.

"You think she will be there tonight?" Johnathan asked as they reached the final step.

"Do not know who you're talking about," Josh responded, trying to avoid the conversation his brother keeps trying to have.

"You keep playing dumb, bro, but I saw the way you reacted to Adonis's 'warning'," Johnathan said, adding air quotes around 'warning'. "I also see how you get when she is mentioned or even when you have to see her for sessions," Johnathan smirked, adjusting his twin's cufflinks. Joshua could play off his feelings to the world, but the mirror looking at him now knew him better than anyone. Who was Josh lying to? John was his twin and knew everything about him. Of course, he would understand his feelings towards Jordyn better than anyone else. "Just know, if something pops off, I got your back," Johnathan said, patting his brother's back before walking out the door. His brother's advice did nothing to tame the dreadful feelings in his stomach.

"Alright, boys, let's head out." Salofa walked out, stopping next to Joshua. "I'm proud of you, son, the way you handled the Jordans is promising, but you might have to find a way to win over the son." He warned, fixing the gold chain sitting on top of Josh's tie. "Tonight is a special night, let's try not to have any more issues." The words seared in Joshua's head as his dad walked toward the SUV waiting for them.

"I got you, Pops," Joshua said, trying to hide the nervousness in his voice. He had a bad feeling about tonight, a knot tightening in his gut that had nothing to do with the stale shrimp cocktail. The Homecoming Ball wasn't just another event for the family; it was a stage. A stage for appearances, for power moves, and for public displays. He knew Adonis would be there, and Adonis, humiliated and now backed by his own powerful family, would be looking for a way to assert himself, to reclaim what he felt he'd lost. Joshua found himself wondering if Jordyn would even show up. He half-hoped she wouldn't, for her own sake. But a part of him, the stubborn, protective part he still didn't fully understand, fiercely hoped she would. He wanted to see her, to see that fierce defiance he'd witnessed, now fully unleashed. He wanted to make sure she was okay. He just hoped his own family obligations, and the inevitable Jordan family presence, wouldn't make things even more complicated. The thought of seeing Jordyn, looking undeniably stunning and radiating her new freedom, was both a draw and a warning. Tonight was going to be interesting.

The air outside the Governor's Club hummed with a different kind of energy than the usual campus buzz. Limousines and luxury SUVs lined the street, their polished surfaces reflecting the soft glow of the ornate streetlights. Valets moved with practiced efficiency, ushering guests in their finest attire towards the grand entrance. The building itself, with its stately columns and sweeping staircase, felt like a portal to another world – a world of old money, powerful connections, and veiled rivalries. The rich scent of expensive perfumes mingled with the subtle aroma of celebratory champagne, a stark contrast to the familiar college party scents. Inside, the grand ballroom was already a symphony of hushed conversations, clinking glasses, and the soft strains of a live jazz band. Chandeliers dripped with crystal, casting a warm, inviting light over the polished dance floor. The hall itself was exquisitely decorated in a palette of deep blues and crisp whites, accented by an abundance of fresh white roses that adorned every table and railing, adding a touch of classic elegance. Tonight, Tallahassee's elite, the esteemed alumni, and powerful contributors to FAMU, alongside ambitious students, gathered not just to celebrate Homecoming, but to reinforce their positions, forge new alliances, and subtly, yet undeniably, exert influence.

Joshua mingled amongst the crowd, laughing at jokes that weren't funny, having the same conversation with three different groups. “He is not sure if he has gone into the family business,” “Yes, football and school can be hard to balance, but he has found a way to manage,” “No, he isn't looking for a girlfriend, he's just having fun”—the same answers to the same questions. But his mind kept drifting back to Jordyn. Would she show up? He knew there was a chance; she was on the committee and was responsible for hosting the auction tonight, but part of him hoped that she wouldn't.

While talking to one of the donors to the football team, he noticed his brother hiding in a corner. “Excuse me,” Joshua said, falling behind his brother. As he got closer, he noticed Joe, Solo, and Montez were also standing in the corner, clearly hiding from everyone, avoiding the constant questions and the fake smiles. “Need a break,” Joe said, passing a flask to Joshua. He nodded, taking it and taking a swig, letting the brown liquor smoothly travel down his throat, a much-needed burning feeling numbing the boredom.

“How much longer do we need to be here?” he asked, passing the flask to Solo.

“I am just waiting for Bianca to show up,” Montez said, peeking towards the stairs, hoping to see the girls walk up.

“Wait, Bianca is coming, that means Trinity is coming,” John said, a smile breaking his face.

“Yes, you'll finally talk to her, or keep playing third wheel?” Joe asked, laughing as he took the flask from Montez, who tried to hide his chuckle.

“Jordyn is coming too,” Solo said, and the boys looked at Josh for his reaction. Josh could feel the stares, but he chose not to play into it. If he gave them something, he would never hear the end of it.

“So, rather than network, you guys hide out?” Naomi’s sultry voice broke through the silence. “Dame girl,” John said, stepping back with his hand on his heart. “Either that surprise or that damn dress is about to give me a damn heart attack.” John joked, holding Trinity’s hand as he spun her around, showing off her glamorous, figure-hugging emerald green gown that sparkled under the lights.

“It could be both,” Bianca said, arriving to place her hand on Montez's shoulder, a vision herself in a fiery red, sequined mermaid gown, complete with a plunging sweetheart neckline, a provocative leg slit, and matching opera gloves that seemed to drip with liquid fire.

“You ladies are going to have the whole room talking,” Joe said, looking between the girls, “but there seems to be a missing piece to the puzzle.” Bianca and Trinity shared a quiet conversation. Joshua noticed as they both pointed towards the stairs, and it seemed like everything went in slow motion. He noticed her face first, the naturally beat face with hints of glamour and shine that caught the light, illuminating her smile. He noticed the new haircut and color next, the cherry coke bob framing her gorgeous face. Then, his eyes fell to the gown, a captivating blend of blue and white, featuring a dramatic off-the-shoulder neckline leading to elegant quarter-length sleeves. Its body-hugging corset top flowed into a voluminous, ruffled skirt with a tantalizing high slit.

Dame,” Joshua slipped out, finally catching the breath he didn't realize he was holding.

“She looks good, doesn’t she?” Trinity broke the silence in the group, but Joshua couldn't take his eyes away from her. She walked over with a light of confidence illuminating every step she took, the dress flowing behind her. “Hey guys,” she greeted everyone as she joined the circle.

“Hi Joshua,” she said with brown eyes and a smile, erasing every thought in Joshua’s head. “You clean up nice,” she complimented. Joshua looked good in anything he wore, but tonight, the all-black suit and tie added a different type of attractiveness to him, and that damn chain nestled on his tie elevated the outfit to a level that had Jordyn questioning everything.

“Thank you… you look amazing yourself,” he responded, trying to hide the nervousness in his voice.

“Jordyn!!!” someone called out, finally breaking Joshua's concentration.

The large man walking towards them, Damian Priest, exuded an imposing aura. His perfectly tailored black suit, sharp and clean, accentuated his broad shoulders and muscular build. A prominent silver cross necklace rested against his black shirt, drawing attention to his strong, angular jawline and intense gaze. His hair was pulled back, emphasizing his features, and his carefully trimmed beard framed a face that held a quiet, formidable power. He moved with a confident stride that commanded attention, a figure both elegant and subtly intimidating.

“Jordy! Come estas, mama? Glad you’re finally here; they are waiting for us in the back.” He said, giving a small nod of acknowledgment to everyone in the group.

“I’m good... I’m sorry, I’m right behind you,” she said to Damian. “Sorry guys, I have to head backstage to host the auction with Damian, but I’ll look for you guys after.” She said, walking away from the group and catching up to Damian.

The knot in Joshua’s stomach tightened, and he couldn’t fully understand why watching her walk away with Damian was making him so upset. Trinity and Bianca seemed to notice the shift in Joshua's attitude, a small smile acknowledging what they both knew to be true.

“Who is the Puerto Rican Undertaker?” John asked, also noticing the shift in his twin brother.

“That’s Damian Priest,” Bianca said, watching Joshua's face contort into confusion.

“They have been friends since high school. He is helping her host the auction,” Trinity continued. The knot in Josh's stomach seemed to loosen slightly.

“So what… now that she is single, is he looking to finally add the benefits to that friendship?” Solo asked, slapping a hand on Josh's shoulder. Joe, John, and Montez let out laughs while Josh just looked at his little brother, wishing he would just shut up for once. But the more he watched Jordyn and Damian from afar, he started to understand the knot that continued to tighten the more he noticed how comfortable she was around Damian.

Backstage, everyone was running around, preparing everything for the auction. Jordyn and Damian were running over some information with the event planner, ironing out some final prices. "Thanks for this, Damie," Jordyn smiled back at Damian. The Priest and the Martinez families had known each other for years. Damian and Jordyn were always around each other, but it wasn't until high school that their friendship truly started to bloom. Damian became a protector for Jordyn, and Jordyn was a wing woman or buffer for Damian. It seemed that nothing had changed since high school. Jordyn knew that she needed someone outside of the drama to help be a protector during the Homecoming Ball, and Damian would be the best bet.

"No problem, Jordy," he smiled back, a hopeful glint shining in his eye. "Just know you owe me," he laughed, placing his large and strong hands on her shoulder.

"Well, let's get through this, and we can talk about your terms," she laughed, walking towards the front of the stage, prepared to start the auction.

The auction went on without a hitch, a small weight lifting off Jordyn's shoulders as the final item was auctioned off and the crowd prepared to transition to the rest of the night. "You guys were great together!" Liv, the event planner, said. "Looks like we may have surpassed the goal, but we have to wait," she smiled, hugging Damian. "The message rooms are still working, so we won't know the official total till the end. Now go and enjoy the rest of the night, have a drink to celebrate all your hard work!" she said, shooing them out to the main floor.

Jordyn and Damian couldn't help but laugh as they walked to the bar for a drink. "Thanks again, bro," Jordyn said between laughs. "I don't think I could have made it without you," she added, placing her hand on his knee.

"It was my pleasure, Jordy," his deep voice sounding even deeper as he looked her in the eye and placed his hand on hers. "I was wondering... What if maybe you let me take you..." He was cut off by the sound of a familiar laugh that sent chills down Jordyn's spine.

Damian and Jordyn both turned around to find Adonis standing behind them, his arm wrapped around the waist of his latest flavor of the month, Jade Cardgil, who hung on his arm. "Well, isn't this interesting," he said, his voice holding a sinister tone. "I thought I would find you here with the black sheep of the family, not the guy you always told me not to worry about." Anger laced each of the words he spoke.

"I would say that you looked nice today, but that would be a lie, and I'm trying to lessen the amount of lies I tell," Jordyn said, taking her drink and turning to face the bar.

"I never truly understood why you kept him around, like a little lapdog. But now seeing him here with you, it makes sense," Adonis said, laughing at Damian. "You weren't keeping him around... he was sticking around, hoping to one day finally get his chance... am I right?" Adonis always hated how close Damian and Jordyn were because he knew that between them, something more was happening, but he could never quite put his finger on which one was truly to blame.

"Maybe that feeling you had, Adonis, was your subconscious telling on you," Jordyn fired back.

Adonis just laughed, a harsh, humorless sound. He tried to step closer, but Damian stood his 6'5 frame, towering over Adonis. "I think it's best if you step back and go enjoy the rest of your night." Damian's deep voice held no pleasantries, his face a little more menacing now that he was standing over them.

In the distance, Joshua and the crew watched the scene playing out in front of them. A cold dread settled in Joshua's stomach as he saw Adonis's aggressive posture towards Jordyn. "We should go over there," he muttered, already starting to move, a primal urge to shield her overriding his usual composure.

"Nah," Joe said, holding him back by his shoulder. "Let him handle it," Bianca said. "She asked him to help her, knowing that Adonis would try something." Bianca continued.

"You don't need any more heat, uce," Joe whispered low enough for just him and Joshua to hear. Joshua couldn't help the sinking feeling watching from afar Adonis approaching Jordyn, and him unable to do anything for her. He could tell that Damian would protect her, but it did something to him that he was not the one.

"Wait... I thought they were just friends?" Solo asked as everyone turned to look back at Jordyn and Damian.

"That's my girl... two can play that game," Bianca encouraged Jordyn from afar as everyone continued to watch what played out in front of them.

A fire burned in Josh's skin, a furious heat that had nothing to do with the crowded room. His gaze was locked on Jordyn as she rose from her seat, a deliberate, almost sensual grace in her movements. Her hands, with a slow, lingering touch, traced the powerful line of Damian's arm, then moved up to his neck, her fingers briefly brushing his jawline before settling on his broad chest. He could see her lips moving, a low murmur directed at Adonis, and a raw fury ignited in Adonis's eyes. Every subtle shift of Jordyn's body, every sultrily formed word, seemed designed to provoke, to twist the knife, and Joshua felt it deep in his gut.

"I wonder what she said to him," Bianca broke Josh's concentration, her voice a low hum of curiosity.

"I don't know, but if that doesn't piss him off, then this sure will," John said, pointing. Joshua's eyes snapped back just as Damian, with a fluid, possessive motion, scooped Jordyn up. His strong hands gripped her thighs as she wrapped her legs around Damian's waist, a seamless, intimate embrace. The crew, who had been watching them the whole time, suddenly became very interested in their drinks and phones, trying to appear nonchalant as Damian carried Jordyn over towards them.

"I don't think that move is going to help, Jord," Damian said, putting her down once they reached the group.

"What did you say to him, Jordyn?" Bianca asked, concern written on her face.

Jordyn smiled, looking over to her best friend. "Well, B, if you must know... I told him that a lot of people wonder if height is an issue when... fucking someone as tall as Damian." She said, a mischievous giggle escaping her lips as she looks at Damian. "Which I answered by saying, 'It's easier when I pick her up, makes it easier for her to bounce.'" They both laugh, Jordyn falling back onto her chair, holding her breath, while Damian's deep laugh carried through the group.

"Do you think that was smart to do? Play around with him like he wasn't ready to put his hands on you the last time? Like, are you that naive?" Joshua interrupted the laughter, a look on his face that Jordyn could not explain—a mixture of jealousy and fury.

"Well, Joshua, for the past two years, I have watched as multiple women played the same game in my face," Jordyn said, the same anger laced in her words. "While Adonis wants to scare me by sending anonymous threats," Bianca and Trinity gasped, their hands flying to their mouths in unison, their expressions a mix of shock and dawning horror. "I refuse to be a puppet in his game anymore." She moved closer to Joshua, fire burning in her eyes. "While you may think this is something I was comfortable with, I have more dignity in myself than to let some lowlife scare me." She finished her statement with a period of anger, pushing past Joshua, hoping to outrun the embarrassment that Joshua had just caused.

"WTF, dude?" Damian said, stepping to Joshua. John stepped between them, talking Damian down from starting any drama in this setting.

"Look, bro, you better go find her and hope she is okay," Damian said, walking over to the girls who were trying to find Jordyn themselves.

"Dude, I know you're trying to figure out your feelings for her or whatever you're doing, but that was uncalled for," John said, following behind the girls. Joe walked away, shaking his head, falling into line.

"Fuck," Joshua said under his breath, rubbing his face in frustration. He walked away from the table, hoping to find Jordyn before anyone else.

"Fuck," Jordyn said as she found another mssage pod door closed. She just wanted to find a quiet place, somewhere she could regain her composure and find the right words to say to her friends. Once again, because of Joshua, she had to reveal something to her friends, and she was not ready to have that conversation with anyone at the moment. Who did Joshua think he was, calling her out in front of their friends? It seemed like every time she and Joshua were around each other, he was either helping her calm down or revving her up. Either way, the whiplash was getting to be too much. Lost in thought, trying to find a place for some peace, she did not notice Adonis following behind her. The further she moved away from the ballroom, the quieter it got.

"You know what's funny?" The scariness in his voice hit her ears before she could react. "Even after getting my text, you still think I would let you get away with the disrespect." A cold wave of certainty, sharp and sickening, washed over Jordyn. The anonymous texts, the chilling threats—it had been him all along. The realization solidified the fear she'd tried to suppress, a fear that now mingled with a fierce, defiant anger. She was frozen in place. She knew she should run, scream, or even prepare to fight back. But standing outside in the darkness and calmness of the garden, she found herself unable to do anything. Panic started to set in her chest as she felt his body get closer. She could feel him reaching for her, so she tried to move a little faster, but it was too late. He grabbed her by the arm, pulling her closer to him. "I don't like the little stunts, Jordyn," Adonis said, looking her in the eye, an angry and manic look in his gaze.

"Let me go, Adonis," she said, trying with all her strength to get Adonis's hands off her.

"I thought you wanted my attention, Rody." She cringed at the nickname she once loved to hear from him. She kept trying to pull away from him, not sure what to expect. "Such a shame, you're all alone and no one to save you." His hands now pulled her closer to him. He tried to run his lips down her neck, but she pulled away. "Ooo, you want to play hard to get?" he laughed, pulling her with all his might against his chest, placing his other arm over her hip. "Let me show you why you will never be free of me," he whispered in her ear.

The feeling of his hands on her body repulsed her; she could not believe that at some point she had honestly and truly loved this man. That she saw a future with someone so vile. She needed to get his hands off her; she needed to get as far away from him as possible before things got worse. She stopped fighting him and let her body meld against his. “That’s my good girl.” His breath was hot on her ear. “Stop fighting me and just let it happen.” She knew that she had to do this right or it would make it worse. She placed her hand on each of his arms, hoping to convince him that she was into this as much as he was into it.

When he least expected it, she lifted her leg and stomped it on his foot, simultaneously hitting his face with the back of her head. Adonis’s yell of pain ripped through the air. Jordyn seized the opportunity, bolting away and glancing back to ensure she was safe. She kept looking over her shoulder, seeing Adonis hunched over in pain, holding his face. She didn't stop looking until her body collided with what felt like a brick wall.

“Fuck, Jordyn!” Joshua’s voice rang in her ears. She held onto his neck, tears running down her face. He looked up to see Adonis running back inside, blood on his hands.

“NO! Don't leave me!” Jordyn yelled, holding onto his hands, the fear in those beautiful brown eyes of hers stopping him from going after Adonis.

“Okay, I’m not leaving, but let’s get you inside.” He helped her up, walking her towards the door he came out of. He tried a couple of doors, finally finding an open and empty room. Closing the door behind them, he sat her on the desk in the center of the room.

“Did he hurt you?” Josh asked, examining her face and arms for any sign of harm.

“No… I’m… good.” After a couple of minutes, she couldn't stop the tears from falling. She took a deep breath, a handkerchief appearing in front of her.

“Thank you,” she responded, taking the handkerchief in her hands and cleaning her tears. “You don’t have to keep saving me, you know.” She said, looking up at Josh, only to see remorse and that usual hint of anger in his eyes.

“Or you could stop putting yourself in positions that require me to save you.” He responded as he watched her roll her eyes.

“Yeah, blame me for Adonis’s inability to control his actions.” She said, trying to hop off the desk. Joshua closed her in, each muscular arm on either side of her body.

“I’m sorry…” He breathed out, puppy eyes looking up at her. “I’m sorry for what I said before and just now.” She looked into his eyes.

“Why do you hate me so much?” She asked, looking up at him.

"Ugh, I don't hate you,” Joshua said, his voice a low, rough murmur, his gaze burning into hers. “I just know you are better than him and his shit.” He breathed out, a frustrated sigh escaping him. “Look at what you were able to pull together, the people who love and support you… you’re top of your class for fuck sake, and you think Adonis would appreciate it?” He breathed out, running his hands through his face, a familiar gesture of his frustration. She noticed he always did this when he was truly vexed.

He slammed his hands on the desk at either side of her, the sudden sound making her jump. “You think he would appreciate the way you bite your lips when you're deep in thought, or how you hum songs to yourself when you're deep in concentration?” His voice dropped, a husky whisper as his face drew impossibly closer to hers, his breath warm against her skin. “Or how you’re able to be annoyingly cute.” The air thickened, charged with an electric tension that hummed between them, intensifying with each word he delivered. Jordyn found herself unable to look away from his intense brown eyes as he spilled out every word, every raw, unfiltered observation. A jolt of something akin to wonder, and a terrifying vulnerability, shot through her. He saw her, she realized. He saw the real her, beyond the surface. The realization was both overwhelming and strangely intoxicating. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat in the sudden, deafening silence.

“No, I don't hate you, Jordyn,” he said, his voice barely a whisper, his gaze dropping to her lips. He leaned in, his hand gently cupping her face, his thumb brushing softly against her cheek, drawing her closer, closer…

“Wow…my bad twin,” John’s voice, loud and jarring, ripped through the intimate bubble, making them both flinch back as if struck. The door creaked open, revealing John, a forced, apologetic cough escaping him. “Just giving you a heads up that the girls are starting to worry about Jordyn.” Joshua pulled away, the intense electricity in the space he left open still crackling, leaving Jordyn breathless and disoriented.

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3,

Please share, comment, and like. Feedback is always welcome and appreciated.

Always thank you to my inspirations: @spiicii, @whatdoeseverybodywant, @oddinary4bts @kithtaehyung @here2bbtstrash @charmed-dreamssss @zillasvilla @msbigredmachine @trippiexlove @wrestlingprincess80 @fearlesschimera @southerngirl41 @xoxorealitygalore @kithtaehyung

#jey uso #the bloodline #wwe #wrestling #jimmy uso #fanfic #jey uso x latina #wwe naomi #enemies to lovers #collegelovestory #bianca belair #lovestories #orginal character #hbcupride #hbcu #famu #famupride #og bloodline

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grandgtaman1a · 2 years ago

Text

Dating Headcanons with our Holy Trinity

Pairing: Michael De Santa x Reader, Trevor Phillips x Reader, Franklin Clinton x Reader

Characters: Michael De Santa, Trevor Phillips, Franklin Clinton, Reader[Female or Gender Neutral]

Summary: How would Michael Franklin and Trevor act on the first date and then on the second date?[Anon Request...]

AN: There can be inaccuracy... Feel free to reblog and let me know your thoughts Do not Repost. The collage quality sucks

Michael De Santa

The first date would involve:

>Michael is no stranger to high-end places, so he might take you to a fancy restaurant or a rooftop bar with a stunning view of Los Santos. He wants to impress you with his wealth and style.

> There would be a talk about his previous criminal life but limiting what he used to do in a witty banner he may share while giving a hint to it. His charm and charisma might be both captivating and unsettling.

>To add a bit of excitement to the date, Michael might take you for a thrilling drive in one of his expensive cars or even a helicopter ride over the city. He's not one for the conventional and would brag how he got it still hiding about his past

>Michael might surprise you with an extravagant gift, perhaps a piece of jewelry or a designer accessory. He's used to buying his way into people's favor.

>Given his temperamental nature, there might be a moment of tension or an argument during the date. He could get defensive or irritable, reflecting his troubled past.

The second date would involve:

> On the second date he may take you to the art gallery where it is low-key key or to a movie theater to show one of his movies Meltdown telling him how he was offered once and his dream coming true. Maybe talking about how he loves old Vinewood classic movies.

>Michael may use this opportunity to apologize for any tension or arguments during the first date. He might open up about his past mistakes and share his desire for a fresh start.

>He might ask about your interests and try to engage in activities that align with your passions. Whether it's art, sports, or even a cooking class, he wants to show that he's interested in getting to know you better. Sports may be a huge interest for him talking about how he has a huge tennis court back at his house practices yoga and drinks kale juice which kind of destroys his mood.

>Michael may become more affectionate on the second date, showing a more vulnerable and caring side of himself. He might hold your hand, steal a kiss, or simply be more attentive.

>Toward the end of the date, he could discuss his aspirations for a better life, away from crime and chaos. He may express his desire to change and build a stable, loving relationship.

Trevor Phillips

The first date would involve:

>Trevor is known for his love of chaos and danger, so he might take you to a sketchy biker bar or an underground fight club for the first date. He wants to gauge your reaction to his extreme lifestyle.

>Trevor's conversations can be intense, filled with crude humor and dark stories from his past. He might share tales of his criminal endeavors and show a twisted sense of humor.

>Expect the unexpected. Trevor might suggest an impromptu road trip in a stolen car or even go skydiving without any prior planning. He thrives on adrenaline and recklessness.

>Trevor might give you a bizarre or inappropriate gift, something that reflects his eccentric personality. It could be anything from a rusty weapon to a souvenir from a crime scene.

>: Trevor's explosive temper could lead to confrontations during the date. He might pick fights with strangers or engage in criminal activities that you may find uncomfortable or dangerous.

>At one point you would see inside the bodhi a summer dress thinking it is for you or any of his old dates but shocks you when he tells you that it is his which makes you have mixed emotions.

The second date would involve:

>For the second date, Trevor might surprise you by doing something completely unexpected, like taking you to a demolition derby or participating in a wild stunt show.

> If there were any confrontations or disturbing incidents during the first date, Trevor might half-heartedly apologize but quickly move on to the next chaotic adventure.

>Surprisingly, Trevor may show a more sensitive side by asking about your interests and trying to find common ground. However, this could still involve activities that others would consider insane.

>Trevor is not known for his emotional depth, but he might attempt to be more affectionate in his own strange way. This could involve a bear hug or a playful roughhousing

>Trevor might discuss his ambitions, which could involve grandiose, risky schemes. He may even propose you join him in a life of crime, thinking it's the ultimate bonding experience.

Franklin Clinton

The first date would involve:

>Franklin would likely choose a casual, down-to-earth location for the first date, such as a cozy restaurant, a local diner, or even a park. He values simplicity and sincerity

>Franklin is a relatable character who's easy to talk to. He might discuss his aspirations, his love for cars, and his desire for a more stable life. Expect a genuine and friendly conversation.

>He might suggest an activity that reflects his passion for cars, like visiting a car museum or going for a scenic drive. He wants to share his interests with you.

>Franklin might bring a thoughtful, small gift that shows he's been paying attention to your interests. It could be a book, a piece of art, or something related to your hobbies.

>Franklin generally avoids confrontations and would strive to keep the date drama-free. He's looking for a connection rather than chaos.

The second date would involve:

>For the second date, Franklin might plan a more adventurous outing, like hiking in the nearby hills, going to a live music performance, or exploring the city's cultural scene.

>If there were any minor issues or misunderstandings during the first date, Franklin would likely address them with a sincere apology. He values open communication.

>He would inquire more about your interests and try to plan activities that align with your hobbies. Franklin wants to connect on a deeper level.

>Franklin would become more affectionate on the second date, perhaps holding your hand or stealing a kiss if he senses a mutual connection.

>Franklin might discuss his plans for the future, which usually revolve around his career, financial stability, and personal growth. He's determined to leave his criminal past behind.

#michael de santa #trevor philips #gta 5 #franklin clinton #michael de santa x reader #trevor philips x reader #franlin clinton x reader #headcanon #dating headcanon

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tokyonetta · 24 days ago

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A Spark of Genesis

Chapter 3: 5k words

Chapter 2

Just a heads up when reading the summoning chants don’t over think it it’s literally said how it’s spelled

You quickly returned to New York with the help of one of the many Infernal Demons you summon, Malphas, a giant eagle-like demon with the ability to travel hundreds of miles in mere minutes due to its powerful flying capabilities. You even managed to make it back before Enzo did. After watching the footage of your near-death experience you had some questions, and the one and only person who you knew might know the answers was Rodin. You had already gotten off of Malphas after all its strong wings could have caused damage to buildings below because of the gusts of wind they would produce.

You continued walking through the streets of Brooklyn to go to one of your favorite places to visit, The Gates of Hell. It's a bar that is run by Rodin but for the right people, it's so much more than a bar. Rodin is practically the devil and because of that he can make the world his oyster for him and those around him but not for free of course, In your case you pay him in halos for something known as “Chaotic economics.” You never really knew who else was a part of this “economy” other than you Jeanne, and Rodin you just assumed it had to be demons because why on earth would Angels buy halos when they already came from them?

In other cases, they would have to give him something in return but he never seemed to ask for their souls, mainly just stuff such as if you asked him for an old artifact he would want a form of service in return like helping him clean his bar. Rodin is the only person left in the world who might know what is happening to you due to him being alive from what seems like the birth of the Holy Trinity. You never really knew too much about him, just that he was someone you never wanted to get on the bad side of.

You finally arrived at the doors of the bar and luckily they were all closed down for the day because of his day off from running it. You strutted your way into the retro-themed bar, you could hear jazz music coming from a phonograph, hearing the softness of the saxophone felt like it was soothing your soul as it reminded you of old times with Jeanne, or Luka. Rodin was behind the bar counter polishing glasses but he had one in particular in his hand, the one you had claimed as your own. “Well if it ain't Bayonetta, wondered when you would finally show,” Rodin said, his voice as deep as ever he only ever called you your business name. “Missed me that much? Huh, I'm touched” you said playfully.

“I take it, you already know why I'm here? Seeing as you already knew I was coming,” you said in your usual tone of playfulness mixed with sass as you put your arm to rest on the counter. “Here to thank me for saving your ass from getting dragged to inferno?” Rodin replied, grabbing multiple different types of liquor. “Ha yes and no… Obviously, I'm forever grateful that you decided not to try and consume my soul yet. But what else did you do to me?” your tone turning a bit more serious. “I'm not sure I know what you're talkin about,” he replied in his regular tone as he started to pour the liquor in a drink mixer. “I know what you used to stop me from dying, but what else did you use on me, because whatever it was might have just screwed with my magic.” you shot back with a bigger hit of sass.

“You of all people should know that I'm not the type of man to do favors for free,” Rodin stated as he started to shake the mixer around. “So if you only used a red hot-shot, why the hell is my magic acting up? Other Umbra Witches have been saved from the brink of death before with the same device but nothing had ever happened to their magic.” You say back with confusion now taking over your voice. Rodin stopped shaking the mixer and then started to pour it into your self-designated glass, It was a Ruby pink color that was shining, before pushing the glass your way for you to take. “It has been used in the past on your kind to stop them from dying but that was all, it never changed anything about them or their lives.” There was a short pause.

You looked at the glass then back up at him and put your hand around the stand of the glass but not drinking it yet. “So what is happening to your magic?” Rodin finally asked. “Well for starters I haven't killed a single angel in the past 52 hours.” You noticed as you really got his attention. “Nor have any demons tried to collect my soul, and no angels have tried to come kill me. Which is really odd because when I'm not dressing up as a Nun to lure them out, they usually fly right at me,” you explained back with your usual level of sass. “You're telling me you haven't killed the divine for the past two days and you're still here? I would say you're full of shit but I don't even feel the slightest bit of Paradiso on you.” Rodin said back with a bit of awe in his voice.

“Also my Temporal Control isn't working properly either,” you added quickly. You both were silent for a minute till he broke it “I can only think of one reason why inferno hasn't come to collect your debt yet.” he said referring to your soul. “I take it you already saw those Angels coming down to you when you were held by Inferno, they too wanted your soul. Only reason why they would want it would be because of your daddy.” Your eyes widened a little as you listened closely.

“You already know that when an Umbra dies they are dragged to Inferno to suffer for eternity, and you know that when a Sage dies they become a part of Paradiso for eternal bliss. Seeing as you are the half breed of both Umbra and Sage your soul belonged to both Inferno and Paradiso. So in a way you being brought back with a device that would save an Umbra but not a Sage somehow your pact with Inferno was fulfilled despite you still being in the land of the living.”Rodin finally finished. He could tell a wave of wonder washed over you.

“At least that's all I've got, not sure if that's what happened but it could explain why our pals in Inferno aren’t coming to grab you, or why Paradiso isn't either. As for your Temporal Control I would have to guess that you going through such a traumatic event would be why it's not working properly considering it requires great emotional control of its user.” You thought for a second then finally picked up the small glass and finished it in just a few seconds. You put the glass down as you licked your lips as a smug smile started to form. “So what I'm hearing is I have all the perks of being a Witch with no requirements anymore,” you said almost wickedly.

“Seems so, you've got a chance that no other of your kind has ever gotten the power of a gift with no burden. Got any plans on what you're gonna do with it?” Rodin asked with a short smile which was an uncommon sight from him considering most of the time he was just a blank face behind those glasses he always wears. “I've got a few,” you said with a slight chuckle just as you finished Rodin grabbed your empty glass and turned around to wash it. “Well let me know if you need something, that is if you have halos of course.” He said as he turned around to look at you but you had already left half way across New York in just the few seconds he was turned around. “Ha, good luck Bayonetta.” he said despite knowing you couldn't hear it.

—

It had been 64 hours since you should have died but here you are free of any and all burdens this world had to offer. You were one of the supposedly strongest beings in the universe, you could get anything you wanted from Rodin in exchange for a few halos, you would live for eternity’s and keep your youth. “You could live for eternity’s” Why was that thought running through your mind? You never minded it before it didn't worry you so why was that thought tracing through your mind? Whatever it didn't matter right now it was time for a day completely to yourself without having to worry about getting your hands dirty and full of feathers from angels.

You needed this too, especially after everything that happened with the mass genocide that happened from Singularity. You had the whole day planned. You were gonna get your favorite overpriced coffee from that gorgeous cafe because you were gonna start to feel tired in a couple of days. After you picked up your coffee you would go to your favorite shops and just buy anything and everything you find intriguing. Then when you're all done with that you go to a fancy salon and get a massage and a mani-pedi. When you were all finished you would store your new purchases in a storage locker of Enzos until your suite was rebuilt.

But something was missing, Why did it feel like you forgot something? Despite you feeling like you have forgotten something, you continue on your perfectly peaceful day. You were strutting your way through New York as usual in your most absolutely gorgeous outfit ever or at least one of your many, with your perfect match of accessories to match your signature red ribbons in your hair with writing in Enochian the language that is used to summon your Infernal demons; and also the language both creatures of Inferno, and Paradiso speak in with a few exceptions. You finally got to your first wonder of the day Velvet Vine, a cafe with a radiant interior.

You got in line behind only two customers which was nice because they could be a full house sometimes and that's not very fun to deal with. As you were waiting in line you couldn't help but wonder what it was that you had felt that you forgot so you got on your phone and just scrolled hoping that something would jog your memory at the sight of it. Finally it was your turn to order your drink. The worker was super friendly as she took your order and said it should only be a few minutes before it would be ready.

You finished ordering and walked over to a nearby wall where you admired the art plastered on the wall, but one in particular caught your eye, its title “deepened love.” It reminded you of the moon and the stars in space, and suddenly you had a perfect idea for a later date. “Y/N!” one of the baristas yelled out signifying your drink was ready. You quickly thanked him and took a sip as you walked out. It was refreshing, you didn’t necessarily need it to survive seeing as you didn't need food or water either but it's a nice pleasure of life. You continued to strut throughout New York as people looked at you with awe due to your height and just how absolutely divine you looked even if you were anything but divine, which was not unusual for you. People tend to stare at you really wherever you go.

You were getting closer to your first shop of the day as you tried to remember what it was that you felt you were forgetting. You felt like you were about to remember it, but then your phone started ringing, breaking your train of thought. You pulled out your phone from behind your back from a little pocket dimension that you stored mainly your weapons and strawberry suckers in, and read the number and it was completely unknown who it could be but you had a feeling who it was, and it did not excite you. Swiping your finger to answer and putting it up to your ear “Hello?” you asked. “Kid it's me there's a situation getting dangerously out of control near Chicago an-” Cecil said as you swiftly cut him off “You're telling me that it hasn't even been a day since I gave you my number for absolute emergencies ONLY, and you somehow already need me?” you said with a little annoyance in your voice.

Cecil let out a short sigh before saying “Look I wouldn't have called unless we really needed you. I know that you're not necessarily the helping type but we do need you right now. Please.” You thought for a second about your perfect day of shopping and self-care and something that you just couldn't put your finger on. There's no way you were gonna give this up not in a million years would you? You let out a quick sigh of defeat before whispering “Dammit” Quickly you threw your drink, and phone high into the sky as you jumped after them as well scaling the skyscrapers in mere seconds as you quickly transformed into your fighting outfit.

Within seconds your accessories, hair, and amazing outfit all were gone and the guns on your heels were back. Your back was almost entirely exposed as well, stopping a few inches from your tailbone or going to your sides. You quickly reached your hands to the sky crossing them in the air between each other without touching them together ran them down your chest and bent your knees to your left and right side and chanted “VRELP LONSHIN” In an instant your hair grew to almost your legs and something portal like appeared behind you before summoning Mictlantecuhtli a bat like Infernal demon.

You grabbed your coffee and your phone from the air and replied “I fancy I'll be there in about 5.” you said with your usual tone before hanging up not letting him respond. As you flew there drink in hand, you still couldn't remember what it was that you had forgotten, was it your hair? No definitely not, something you forgot to use? No couldn't be you don't have a house so what on earth was it?

—

You were only browsing over the city of Chicago looking for whatever it was the Cecil said was such an emergency, that's until you felt it a divine and righteous presence, along with a strong wind. Using your technique called ‘The Demon Slave’ you move your body in a dance-like pattern to direct Mictlantecuhtli to the presence. You arrive at the eye of the storm and this is definitely what Cecil was talking about. There were so many different heroes trying to do anything they could to take down the angel. The Guardians, Atom Eve, Invincible, and a few other heroes you couldn't name.

You directed Mictlantecuhtli down lower but not to the ground as you wondered why the hell would an angel be out of Purgatorio causing destruction so known to the public, it wasn't out of the ordinary for them to be causing fatalities and destruction for “The greater good” which you never believed in for a second. You danced a movement and caused Mictlantecuhtli to fire a beam of energy at the Angel before jumping off and onto the ground as you ended the summon causing your hair to go back to its original length. A few heroes spared a glance at you after you landed from the creature that seemed to cause the most damage to it out of anyone there, even managing to stun it for a minute. Immortal, and Invincible took this time to try and get a few blows in but were stopped by a smaller angel.

Immortal went crashing through a building to your left and Invincible crashed into your space to your right, the impact being so hard that he left a small dent in the pavement as he let out a small groan of pain. You brought your hand behind your back and summoned your gun for that hand and aimed before quickly charging it up using your magic and released a beam of purple energy at the smaller angel causing it to hit the now stunned bigger angel known as ‘Temperantia.’ This seemed to catch the attention of everyone else who was fighting the angel. “Hmph, having a party without me? Must have been quite dull considering I bring all the fun, especially to this kind of crowd,” you said with that usual hint of smugness in your voice.

You now were the main attention of all those around you but that didn't worry you, not in the slightest. You looked down at Invincible who was now staring as well, and you still couldn't shake the feeling that you knew him, before bending slightly down and handing him your drink “Hold this for me would you dear? Now ‘Invincible’ was it? Watch and learn.” He took your drink as he was still lying in the dent he had created as you pointed your gun slightly at the top of his head forcing his head to nudge up slightly in your playful demeanor; with your pinky almost grazing his face. You turned back to face the angel Temperantia who was now breaking out of the temporary stun your demon had put it in.

You raised both your hands to the back of your neck from above and summoned your other gun in your left hand, you were now using all four of your guns. You raised and bent your right arm back as far as you could without turning around, and raised and pointed your left arm and gun at Temperantia both of your arms were turnt for your thumb to face you. “Let's rock, baby!” you shouted before jumping into action. You quickly ran the angel down at what others saw as super speed and summoned your demon pact with Madama Butterfly and a hand and a bit of arm appeared beside you much bigger though mirroring your punching action known as a “Wicked weave attack”.

You had already fought this angel once or at least this type of angel a few years back so you know how it works and what you need to do to defeat it. There was a noticeable impact due to it faltering backwards slightly. You continued to fight Temperantia which wasn't much of a challenge for you and for a slight second you saw a perfect opportunity to rip off one of its giant arms that it tried to punch you with. You were mid air and you started your full on summon twisting your right arm high in the air before bringing both of your arms near your head as you spin around before ending your dance by putting both your arms behind your head you chanted “CIAOFI BALZARG” and summoned the entire beautiful form of Madama butterfly.

She grabbed both of the arms of the angel with a smile across her face and put her foot to the back of it and ripped both of its machine-like arms off as it let out a scream of pain as the heroes just watched in pure shock. “Didn't expect you to go all out, I thought you would have only taken one. My bad for expecting anything less,” you said referring to her knowing that she could hear it despite your summon already ending. “Should we like…Be helping?!” Rex said to some of the other heroes. “Highly unlikely, it seems like Bayonetta has this under control for now and it seems that Bayonetta’s magic has a higher effect on it than anything we were able to produce.” Rudy said using robot.

Temperantia let out a loud shout in Enochian and a sudden gust blew through the streets of Chicago causing the heroes including yourself to go flying back with the strong gust of wind. You channeled the power of the left eye, the power to oversee the darkness itself, and amplified your powers as you did a short flip in the air to land yourself feet first on the side of a building. You used the power of the left eye so you could use your ability to ‘Witch walk’ the ability to defy gravity as long as you were on some kind of surface allowing you to walk freely on walls or ceilings, typically only when the moon shines on an Umbra witch but with the left eye you could force it out.

You looked back to Temperantia and saw a car coming straight at you, thinking fast you did a backwards cartwheel letting your foot kick the car away from you and towards the sky, it was the type of kick to send Team Rocket blasting off for the last time. You turned to see the destruction that it was causing just with the wind and realized it was time to end this before anything more could happen. At full force, you jumped off the side of the building and back at it. Then the angel tried to send magic at you using its eyes due to it not having legs in the first place and just flying and its arms being ripped off. You were quick to dodge the little bursts of magic it had sent at you so well it activated your witch time from your Umbran watch, allowing you to traverse the world faster than the attack you just dodged to the point that everything could seem frozen.

Your idea for the perfect climax hits as you feel everything around you in the air. With an incredible amount of strength, you bring both your hands together in front of you and interlock your fingers before raising them above your shoulders and slamming down on the top of Temperantia sending him hurtling toward the ground ever so slowly in your witch time ending it. You repeat the steps to summon Madama Butterfly fully and chant “CIAOFI BALZARG” once more.

She is summoned below where Temperantia would have hit flying upwards with an uppercut; she then disappears back to Inferno. You launch yourself into the air above it and summon a Wicked weave attack of only the heel of Madama Butterfly to send him back to hit the ground this time with minimal impact due to you holding your kick back. You land back down on the ground and a small smile appears on your face knowing how strong you are. You spot the smaller angel from earlier and start to walk towards it as the heroes start to hurry back over to the fight still only spectating. “Umbra Witch, overseer of darkness… How are you here? Your soul should have already been consumed by the trinity.” Temperantia says in Enochian, leaving only you to understand it.

You step harshly on the tail of the smaller angel “Ha all done? Well let me give you back your toy then!” you say as you effortlessly pick its entire body up only with its tail and spin it around before releasing it to be thrown at a now falling gas truck directly in front of Temperantia’s disfigured body; causing both the smaller angel and the gas truck to hit and knock down Temperantia with the gas truck on top of it’s body. In the same instant that it was knocked down you disappeared and then were spotted with a statue of an angel you had summoned landing from behind Temperantia and landing on the gas truck, forcing the statue to be connected to the gas truck.

You jump off the truck and land near the group of spectators (heroes) that were watching as the gas starts to leak a small trail to you. Your back is facing Temperantia as you were looking at the heroes waiting for what it is that you were going to do. You pick up your foot and place the barrel of the gun on your heel next to the trail of gas and fired the gun on your right heel lighting the trail of gas. A few of the heroes braced for the explosion that was seconds away before the fire was cut short on the trail, because of course this day couldn't be perfect. And for a second it was all silent with a few confused stares as Temperantia started to laugh.

“Ugh.” The annoyed sigh left your lips as you rolled your eyes and summoned a gun from behind your back again, as your body leaned to the left. You raised the gun rest on the right side of your shoulder and then fired it directly at the angel statue without even needing to look causing it to finally explode. Temperantia let out a horrifying scream of pain before you summoned the hands of Inferno to take the holy being for their own satisfaction. In just seconds Temperantia was gone already in Inferno to be devoured by the demons that roam throughout the horrid place. You slowly turned away from the shocked faces of the heroes, where Temperantia once was as you put your gun back behind your back to disappear and walked over to pick up your reward, the halos left from it.

You bent down picked up the glowing rings in your hand as a shadow from above you was coming devastatingly fast down to land on you “Hey watch ou-” Before whoever was speaking got a chance to finish you had already lifted your arm above your head and caught the object as if it weighed as much as a baseball but with a little bit of recoil. It was the car you had kicked into the sky earlier. You were holding it in your hand so effortlessly it was scary, but then that's when it hit you.

“Buggar!”The english accent that you so desperately tried to hide for the past few years slipped out just for a second “That's what I forgot, to make reservations at that Italian restaurant” you let out a short breath of realization before throwing the car back into the air with little force and causing it to drop behind a few of the people watching you landing on the smaller angel from earlier and killing it. “Hey you need to watch it, you could have hit someone!” Monster girl called out from behind you but you paid no attention. Instead, you pulled out your phone and texted Enzo to get your reservations.

You put your phone away, and turned back to the group of shocked, and awe small filled crowd. You looked for a second before your eyes landed on Mark still holding your drink just as you expected. You walked past a few people to get to him “Thank you so much, you're a peach.” you said to him with a genuine warm smile as he handed you back your drink. “Y-yeah no problem… He said, not sure if he should be impressed or scared, then paused for a second before saying “How'd you do that?” he finished. “Do what?” you said back with a soft chuckle. “How did you manage to deal with that demon so easily when we all could barely make a scratch?” Mark asked. “HA! You think that was a demon? Ok first that was an angel, and second, any type of Umbra magic has a higher effect on angels, and any Sage magic has a higher effect on demons. So while pretty much anything else can barely harm it, the opposing magic can tear it down.” you explained as you walked a little past him and lifted the car that you used to crush the other angel with and picked up the halos it left.

“That was an angel?!” Rex shouted behind you. “Yeah they're not as good as most people would think They literally wiped out my race of Umbra Witches, and the Lumen Sages despite the Sages using heavenly magic. It was all so they could break down the holy trinity so all that would be left is Paradiso, or as you know it heaven.” You said as you spun the halos around on your finger. “So, like are demons good then?” Rex asked with total confusion. “Oh god no! Not even close, but that's a conversation to be had some other time after all I'm not here to teach a history lesson. But this was funnnn. Let's do it again sometime shall we?” You finished before strutting off a little bit in front of everyone.

Then all of the sudden you stopped in your tracks far enough away from everyone who was still there. You started to do another one of your summoning dances as you chanted “ZILDAR VPAAR!” Your hair grew again like when you summoned your other demons and the imprint of Malphas appeared just above the skin of your back as it was summoned to take you back to New York. It only took a few seconds for you to be completely out of sight from all those there. “Did they just leave us to pick up THEIR mess? Dude, that's such a dick move.”Rex said with pure annoyance in his voice as he looked at the heroes as a few agreed with him, except Invincible he just looked at the sky towards the direction you left too.

—

“Welcome to the gates of hell, what can I do for ya?” Rodin says as he welcomes a new promising customer. “We know who you are and what you can do,” Cecil replies to him. “What'll it cost to get some lenses to see into Purgatorio?” “Heh, if you know who I am then that must mean you know what's in there. So that brings me to the question: what do you need it for?” Rodin asks. “Sorry, but that's classified.” Cecil deadpans. “Figured as much, but I still know you want a way to monitor Bayonetta in there. So then let's get down to business.” Rodin finishes.

—

It’s crazy how much foreshadowing I put in here and i’m really excited to start writing the next chapter too bc it’s finally getting more into the Invincible side of the story not completely Bayonetta’s side

#bayonetta #fanfic #gaming #invincible #invincible x reader #invincible x you #bayonetta reader #fiction #slow burn #gender neutral reader #male reader #female reader #fem reader

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