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starseneyes · 1 year

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Chenford - Lucy Chen / Tim Bradford - The Rookie - Season 5 - Ep 10

"The List" Or, as I like to call it, "Lucy has the giggles".

Y'all, this one SLAYED me, and I can't wait to jump in with you!

SPOILER ALERT: This Meta will spoil every delicious second of this episode and reference past material from the show (and will majorly spoil the end of the film Serenity. Sorry about that). Please proceed with extreme caution... or don't, if you are ready to be spoiled.

Shall we? Let's get things started!

Fashion Barbie Runway Show

Look, I had a couple Barbies growing up. And while they weren't my favorite toys, I understood the draw of dressing up your handsome Ken doll and fashionable Barbie in fun outfits. And, let's be honest, Barbie always had more variety than Ken.

So, it seems fitting that Lucy and Tim are struggling to choose the perfect outfit for their last first date ever.

Yes, I said it. Tim and Lucy are on an Endgame path, and they are completely aware of it.

Anyway, we see Lucy pull up every significant outfit she's ever worn around Tim (special shout out to the costume department for keeping those around and not selling them off, yet). There's the double date dress, the dance dress, and later the green dress from Lopez's wedding. It's a feast for Chenfordians.

SIDE NOTE: And we have to talk about Tim's bedroom. The crew put a lot of thought into it. Remember, Tim's been married before, and got to keep all the furniture. So, everything matches in tasteful, boring beige (as compared to Lucy's flamboyant, color-filled apartment).

I love that Tim has slippers. I don't know why that detail made me so happy (and the clothes sticking a little haphazardly out of his laundry basket in the closet), but those details help paint a side of the man we've never really seen before. Domestic Tim.

Tim's going through a smattering of the exact. same. shirt. in seventeen colors. And, look, I'll give him props that he has some variety in color to match whatever his date's wearing, but it's terribly on-brand to me for Tim to find the shirt that works and run with it.

Plus, this MUSIC!? "I was overthinking. Are we linking?" Tim and Lucy are definitely overthinking.

Side Note: I am LOVING how they are both tossing the discards on the bed rather than re-hanging them. Because they are so indecisive that they can't bring themselves to completely rule something out, even if they tell themselves that's not the one.

And Tim with the store-bought hangers that he never replaced? Because he probably thinks they're, "Perfectly fine hangers"? I was rolling.

Tim's finally had enough and he picks up the phone to dial Lucy.

Watch. Lucy's. Face.

Girlfriend knows she is taking forever to pick her outfit. She opts for the lie.

"Hi. I'm almost there." "No. No, you're not."

Look. At. Her. FACE! Look at that glee on her face. Because he knows her. She doesn't have to lie to him and worry what he'll think or how he'll react.

"No. I'm not. Sorry. Um, are you?" "No! Uh, look, does this restaurant have a dress code?"

See that twinkle in Lucy's eyes? It's the same twinkle when she laid hands on Tim's radio a few episodes back when he was newly single and she was about to be. Lucy's quickly cooking up a plan.

"Uh, no. I mean, you could wear cargo shorts, if you wanted."

Evil, evil girl. But, oh, how I love this. We're seconds into their first conversation of the night, and they are establishing right away that Tim and Lucy are still Tim and Lucy.

Yes, they're adding a layer to their relationship, but the underpinnings that have been so painstakingly stitched together over the past five-ish seasons remain.

"Really?" "Yeah, I mean, what does it matter as long as your comfortable?" "Nice try." *giggles*

Did. You. Hear. Her. GIGGLES?!

I know I'm pausing a lot on this Meta (and we're about a minute seven into screentime), but that's because this is so insanely delicious that I can't help myself.

I'm the girl who watched in agony hoping for Janeway and Chakotay to have an open-ended end to their romance only for the show to hook him up with 7of9 at the eleventh hour. Besides Mulder and Scully, that was my first major ship. And, to be honest, both left me with some serious trust issues.

So, I went into this episode hoping I would be wrong about so many things. And, folks, I was wrong about so many things. But, we'll get to that later.

Right now, our girl Lucy Chen is giggling because she tried a "gotcha" and he called her on it. And she is so relaxed in this moment that she can embrace the giggle without worrying about any of the boundaries.

Though there are physical boundaries in place (we'll get to those later), the emotional boundaries have completely come down. They're flirting. They're teasing. And it's all out in the open (at least between them) without restraint.

This is unhinged, untied, undone Tim and Lucy from an emotional standpoint. And it's f'ing beautiful.

Also, can we talk about Tim Bradford? I mean, we've seen him happy in relationships, before, but have we ever seen him beaming like this? I don't think so.

"That was clearly a test, and you should know better than to test the master."

Lucy's face is pure, "Yup, that's my boyfriend. He thinks he's so fly" and I am here for it!

Also, Tim in Gold Toe Socks?! I'm fairly sure that's what he's wearing, and that little detail of having super durable, super comfortable socks is so bloody Tim. We don't usually get to see his socks, and I LOVE these little details.

"What are you wearing?" "Yeah, uh, I don't know, yet. But I do have a lot of outfits that I am not going to wear. So..." "Look, well, we are running low on time. Traffic's getting ugly."

Oh, Los Angeles, how I detest your traffic. I once flew into LAX and my ride was two miles away when I called them from the street. Two miles.

One hour later they picked me up. I kid you not. Los Angeles traffic is some of the worst I've ever seen. I remember we went into the office (one of my clients) and it was a ten mile trip that took almost two hours. I am not built for LA traffic, and Tim's line sent a shudder of remembrance down my spine.

Lucy, my lady, it's time to pick a damn dress.

"Yeah, totally. I, it's silly, I just need to make a decision... Ah, yes! The green dress. It is decided."

It was the dress she wore the first time he asked her to save a dance... the first time she had the flicker that he was interested in her as anything other than a fellow officer and former boot. This dress holds significance between them, and it'd be lovely to rewrite its history so it's no longer the dress she wore when Jackson was murdered, but the dress she wore the first time she went out on a date with Tim Bradford.

"Great. Well, I'll see you soon."

He's imagining her in that dress. Remembering her in that dress. He couldn't help himself, even back then. He'd drank in every move of her hips, every hug of fabric against her skin as it swished toward her.

You can see that smile, again. The dazzler. He's dazzled by her, and they aren't even in the same room. That's the power this woman has over him. And he's done resisting its pull.

"Okay. Bye."

She hangs up on him and the music is soft, gentle, hopeful.

Then... nope. She yeets another dress onto the pile and we're back to square one.

The Most Romantic Restaurant in Town

Look, I don't know if this was the director or the script, but sweeping in on all those couples, and the flower arrangements, and the hanging, but dimmed lights? This is a couple's place. This isn't where you take your work friend for dinner. This is where you take your future wife.

And Tim's brought his future wife. But, oh, the boy is feeling awkward now that they're finally out together. Tim sneaks a look at Lucy and she chuckles. She can feel his unease.

"It's good bread." "Yeah. It's such a nice assortment."

Y'all. The Rookie team... we see you! We see you calling out the fan-created Crumb-o-Meter that made my first episodes watching this bloody ship all the more delicious. If you wanted us to know you're stalking our psychotic, borderline-obsessive *ahem* tweets and posts... message received. We'll keep up the good work!

But, seriously, in this moment the awkwardness is on point.

Transitions in life are tough. I'll be honest that with most of my boyfriends, I dove in. With Ernie, he asked to kiss me and we dated for two months (before he dumped me on my birthday over the phone the week of prom). With Sean, he said there was something between us and kissed me in his kitchen. That relationship lasted two weeks because he was moving away.

And before the summer ended, I was locking lips with Travis—whom I'd just met—and I dated him for over a year before realizing we had absolutely nothing in common and I was a stooge for jumping in without taking stock of the situation, first.

So when I met Matthew in the middle of my breakup with Travis... I wanted to do it differently. We spent the summer getting to know one another as friends. I took a romantic relationship completely off the table. Through emails (yes, email), AIM messages (I know... totally dating us), and group dates, I got to know him better and better. We had a budding friendship by the time we finally started dating.

Not the three or so years of Lucy and Tim, but I knew there was something different about my relationship with Matthew from the go. We took everything slower. And I'm so glad we did. It gave me time to savor every second.

Lucy and Tim both know that this is different, and there's a level of awkwardness there as two friends attempt the transition.

"Why is this so weird? We've eaten together literally hundreds of times." "Because our other meals only ever had the promise of being shot at afterwards, you know, not naked time."

I have to be honest with y'all, I did not see Tim saying that. This line leaked early via a journalist with an advance copy (so saying that it "leaked" isn't exactly true since it's the journalist's job to hype up the fanbase). But the journalist didn't attribute the line to either of them. I was shocked to find this came from Tim.

But in the face of the awkwardness they're feeling, it makes sense that he would be searching for words and land on the least romantic ones, God bless him. (Yes, this might seem like a variant on "God bless his heart" but, trust me, in the South they are two very different things. I truly feel for the guy!)

"Naked time? Please, I mean, we've seen plenty of naked people after we ate." "That's not what I-" "No. No. No. I know. I know. I know. I feel like I might... I might just need you to reset your expectations a little bit. You're not going to see me naked for... a while."

I have to stop this here for a couple of reasons. One, Lucy touches Tim's arm when she's saying, "I know". We watched in 5x08 where she struggled not to touch him when they were sitting together outside. Here, on their date, she isn't shying away from that. There's an ease between them, even as they're discussing what might be considered a delicate topic.

Two, I love the way that Tim smiles with her after "a while". There's an ease to it. I can see him having some naked time expectations after she bloody invited him in when they were both seeing other people. But he's listening to her, and he's accepting what she wants wholeheartedly, without question.

So, I don't think Tim was unreasonable in his thought process, originally. However, what I love about this is what happens next.

Also, I love the way that Tim reacts the same way he did to Chris saying he wanted Tim's thoughts—surprised, but ready to listen. It's those little details of this reset that mean so much to me.

"I mean, I don't want to rush into that. I wanna take things slow... go on this date, maybe a second date, have our first real kiss. I just don't think we should jump into bed together just because we know each other so well. Right? I mean, do you?" "No, I... Agreed."

I'm puddling on the floor right now. Y'all, you don't know what consent means to me. I have too many stories for this Meta (y'all'd be running away from me so fast because I wouldn't get to the Chenford for another six pages or so if I got started). But, as a victim of abuse, this is so important to me.

Lucy is setting the expectations here for her and Tim. And he's accepting and agreeing to them without question. This is how it should be, people.

Also, Lucy starts with telling Tim that he's not going to see her naked for a while, but she's also simultaneously telling him that someday he will. This isn't a short-term thing for either of them, and she's making that abundantly clear.

The one thing about Tim is that he knows about all of Lucy's previous relationships (save Nolan) that have happened during her time as an Officer. He knows that with Emmett it was all physical, basically. With Chris, they were "great together" but there was no substance. He's seen how she treats relationships, and, honestly, she hasn't done it with the greatest care or eye toward longevity.

In this speech, Lucy isn't only defining parameters for their physical/sexual relationship. She's also subtly communicating to Tim that she wants to put care into this relationship. She wants to build it up together, the same way they have their friendship. Lucy is telling Tim, "I'm in this for the long haul".

Watch his face just before he says, "Agreed". It's about more than just agreeing to what she's saying, and offering her that much-needed affirmation. It's about making their first major decision together as a couple.

She didn't have to ask him to chime in. Her body is her body and her choice. But she wanted to know that they were on the same page, and he had the opportunity to show her that he is.

In a long-term relationship, communication is the most important binder. Romance is great, but sometimes when you have flames coming out of your ears, you're not that interested in stolen kisses. Passion is great, but when you're cowering on the floor, breaking in half over tragedy, it won't get you anywhere.

Solid communication is the most essential building block to a relationship that lasts. And in this scene, Lucy has told Tim that's what she wants with him, and he knows enough to realize what she's saying beneath the words.

Lucy's face is filled with the same consternation as it was on "it's not worth the risk". She's worried how Tim's going to react. And both times, he reassures her.

It's so brief, so brief, but watch Lucy's eyes after he agrees (and this is all Melissa O'Neil). She's relieved.

As soon as they started talking to one another instead of making small talk, they returned to what has made them great all along—their foundation of understanding one another deeply, and not being afraid to call the other out, or reset the expectations.

Watch the awkwardness evaporate with that… It's the lack of communication that put them on edge. Well, almost all the awkwardness.

"Are you worried someone from the station's gonna walk in?" "What?" "You are!" "No, I-" "Wow." "What are the odds?"

I love this so much. Lucy's calling Tim out, and he's actually a little embarrassed. It's adorable. Tim and Lucy have completely gotten over the awkwardness.

Just in time for... I'm sorry. Are you for real? Seriously? I was just enjoying this adorable couple and y'all couldn't wait for the guests to leave for the night before having it out in the kitchen? Yes, the kitchen is a volatile place, but these two are dating here! Ya know?

Fine. Fine. Have your bloody knife fight. But did anyone else notice how Tim really really didn't want to get involved? He kept hoping for an outcome that wouldn't require them, but the second that dude grabbed the knife, Tim whipped out the gun and badge while Lucy went for a cloth napkin for the wound.

Truly, these two are a power couple, already!

"What are the chances someone from the station walks in now?"

And, too fast for real life (but perfect timing for the joke), the blue and red lights catch Tim and Lucy... red and blue handed.

Look, these two have got to stop racking up reports with both of their names on it when they're not supposed to be together. First Lucy's apartment when Chris was bleeding out, now the restaurant attack.

What on earth will Angela have to say to Timothy now!? (please, please let us find out, soon!)

And what is with these two and knife-attacks-to-the-arms ruining their moments? It's not a good trend.

But can we talk about Lucy's dress? YOWZA! When she stood up and I saw all the amazing back cut outs in addition to the front, I just thought, "Wow, Melissa O'Neil is FIT" and "Lucy looks incredible on this date".

Tim's no slouch, either! The patterned shirt he went with was the best thing in his closet we saw, and I'd kill to have a stomach as flat as Eric Winter's. Well, not kill. I don't want to be arrested while commenting on a cop show. That'd be a little too on the nose.

Before We Move On: I have seen a lot of feedback on the interwebs of people accusing Lucy of inconsistency between 5x01's "Do you want to come in?" and 5x10's "I want to take this slow."

First off, a human being can change their mind about a situation at any time and it not be considered a character flaw or "out of character".

Some nights I'll tell my husband, "As soon as the kids go to bed, you are mine" but by the time the kids go down, I'm too tired to move, let alone engage in "naked time". Does my husband accuse me of being an inconsistent character? Hell, no!

Listen, you can always change your mind about wanting or not wanting sex. We need to get rid of the mindset that if you were hot and bothered one time you're supposed to be permanently hot and bothered, or you're a tease or something. It's an insane way to interpret the situation.

Secondly (yes, I'm finally getting back to the Chenford), Lucy in 5x01 didn't know Tim was emotionally invested. She knew he was physically attracted to her, and she decided to take a leap in the moment. To live in that moment based on the information available.

Even when she's confessing in 5x08 that she's afraid of leaving her "safe" relationship for Tim because it could ruin the most important relationship in her life, she didn't know how he felt.

Yes, she is the one who shut down that talk in 5x01, but that's because she was assuming instead of listening and letting him finish. And assumption is when these two get in trouble (see "naked time" above).

So, in the fullness of her new knowledge, Lucy has made a different decision. She knows that this is endgame as much as he does (though I think he's still so surprised to see Lucy so at ease with all of it considering her history of keeping guys at arms-length after her ex cheated on her while she was living with him).

And it's perfectly okay to change your mind. Lucy changed her mind. Tim amended his expectations to match her wishes because when he does make love with her, he wants her to give herself fully with no trace of anxiety or fear holding her back. He wants her to feel completely cherished, and loved, and he'll wait until the moment she is ready. That is the magic of the moment.

Lucy Chen said, "Not, yet" and Tim said, "Understood. I'm not going anywhere" without saying so many words.

Tim went in with the knowledge that she twice jumped him (girl can be thirsty/assertive), and that she once invited him in.

It was definitely a possibility that they were getting naked after this romantic dinner. He was looking forward to peeling that skin-tight dress right off of her.

But the second she said that wasn't the plan, he rolled with it. And that's sexy as hell.

"This is not strange. Coworkers eat together. It's a thing." "At the most romantic restaurant in town?" "Right."

Our intrepid duo is scrambling. Lucy was making fun of Tim's paranoia over them being caught together, and within thirty seconds they were caught together.

And now it's the fallout. Before, there was no obligation to tell anyone anything or come up with a cover story. Now, they have a choice to make.

And I need to shout out to the director and DP for the staging of this scene. I love Tim and Lucy in their little spot, slightly removed from everyone else, and the sweeping shots where the noise picks up of the chatter of their fellow officers.

The fact that they have Tim and Lucy backed against the wall (heh) means that nobody can cross behind them, and the camera's positioned so we don't have people crossing in front of them. It allows us to focus on them singularly as a pair versus everyone else in the mosh-pit of police work.

"Well, I mean, we could come clean."

Watch Tim's face. It's not that Lucy's had to hide her previous relationships (besides Nolan... and I keep hoping Tim knew something at the time and didn't say anything because he doesn't want to talk about personal stuff in the Shop). But, Lucy's not one to bring dates to events and whatnot.

They've been on one half-date that was interrupted by an assault that resulted in an arrest. And Lucy's talking about letting everyone know that they are officially a couple. That's huge.

Tim can't believe what he's hearing. And even if it's not the right decision right now, it says something to him about how Lucy sees this... that she's not letting one botched date get in the way of them. She's not going anywhere. For goodness sake, she was the first to make them a "we" here!

But... still... there are some issues with coming clean.

"Are you ready for that? Are you ready for Smitty's commentary on us dating or the "ohs" every time we walk into the roll call room together?" "Or, we could lie."

Oh, honey, no. Look, you're a killer UC. We know that. But, when it comes to the people you know and love, you are a terrible liar.

My mind immediately flashes back to Season 1. "You're good at a lot of things. Lying isn't one of them." "You think I'm good at things? Can I get that in writing?"

Like, Lucy, honey. Nooooo. Let Tim do the lying for the both of you. He lied to himself for ages about how he felt. He's a much better liar.

And, to clarify, I understand why they feel they need to lie right now, and it's their relationship. But Lucy shouldn't be the one talking when they do it.

"Uh, yeah, we were there, uh, investigating a tip and then this whole other crime popped off." "Yeah, Lucy's C.I. was convinced they were dealing drugs." "What?" "What?" "Nothing."

Maybe neither of you is good at lying. Yikes.

"Boss wants to see you. Have a safe one."

Oh, Nolan, you don't even realize how scared these two are of walking into that office.

And, I must say that I was wrong, again. Look, folks, I admit when I'm wrong. It's hardwired into who I am because of how I grew up. When this scene dropped, I thought something might be missing, but now I see it was the way they edited the two shot to alternating one-shots that made me think I was missing something.

So, The Rookie, 2. Rachel 0. (and I'm going to lose again, at the end. Stay tuned!)

Tim holds the door for Lucy as they make the transition. I saw on Twitter that Eric Winter insisted on this, and looking back at their relationship, there have been several other instances where Tim has held the door for Lucy. So, this is absolutely in character, and I love that EW insisted upon it. Those little details make the character.

"I think you know how I feel about coworkers dating."

Yikes, Grey! Not even letting them settle into their stances before ripping the band-aid off. And, yes, I'm creating this commentary based on my first time watching the pan-and-scan version of this scene from Twitter.

Because, Rachel was not prepared.

Tim and Lucy glance at one another. Here we go.

"When I started, no one thought much of it. But things have changed. We're more aware of how power dynamics can skew things. Even the most innocent of relationships can be a distraction."

Watch Tim's hand slip off his watch as he fidgets. Tim can be very controlled, and very good at hiding his emotions. But I don't think he was ready for this conversation this soon. Lucy resettles over and over, pressing her lips together as the listens.

And this two-shot is so much better than the split screen they had to do for Instagram formatting. I love seeing the two of them together, united, but mirroring one another's positions while facing Grey—the authority figure behind the desk.

Right now, there's an inequality between Grey's position and theirs. Tim and Lucy are unable to sit and he is permitted to sit and lord over them, like royalty. Grey is the final word, and he's staring down at two very nervous officers.

"Hey, trust me, I get it. We spent 12 hours a day together. Feelings are bound to develop."

Tim looks over to Lucy. She feels his gaze and looks back.

"But we can't afford even the hint of impropriety." "We couldn't agree more."

"We". There it is, again. Some people put a lot of weight into this, wondering if Lucy is afraid that Tim is going to break it off. But I don't think that was ever the issue.

They both know eventually they won't be able to work together as they have... it's impossible. But they want this to last as long as it can.

Tim is saying "we" couldn't agree more. Not "I". Lucy doesn't have to worry about him giving up on her. But I think she knows he's willing to do whatever it takes for something he believes in—and he believes in them.

"Good. Look, I don't want to be the old guy interfering with peoples lives, especially their love life, but this whole Aaron and Celina situation has me worried." "The Aaron and Celina situation."

Tim's surprised face is adorable, but Lucy rolls with it fairly well. They turn to look out at Aaron and Celina. As they do, the camera shifts to a three shot, Grey now standing behind them. They're on a more level playing field, here, flowing with the scene.

Gosh, I love Robert Bella's style as a director. He really lets the camera breathe with the script. I haven't been this excited about a television director since Robert Duncan McNeil started working on Chuck after debuting as a director on Star Trek: Voyager.

Lucy sneaks a glance at Tim, trying to gauge his response before they turn around. He finally meets her eyes with a quick, "Well, that was close" look as they turn back to face Grey.

And, look, I think Grey is on to them. He's not a fool. But, he's also outlining a lot of thoughts in this scene, if we try to see it as him sending them a message.

He's not saying don't date. But he does remind them of the power imbalance (Tim's her SO and a Sergeant). Yet, he calls out the need for Aaron to establish his reputation and for Celina to get through her Probationary period without distractions.

Tim and Lucy will have to deal with their power imbalance.

"Oh, the irony." "Are you gonna talk to Aaron?" "About his love life? Can't wait." "When are you gonna talk to Celina?" "I can't tell her not to date a cop. That is so hypocritical. Oh, I'm gonna get Nolan to do it." "That's cheating." *giggle*

This whole exchange makes me so happy. Here are Tim and Lucy operating as a duo, tasked with a job, and Lucy finds a way to get out of the uncomfortable situation. Tim's "That's cheating" hearkens back to every bet they've ever made.

The subtitles have Lucy saying "mm-hmm", but I swear the first time I heard it (first thirty times I re-watched the scene), it was a giggle. I'm going with giggle.

Because this is the episode where Lucy has the giggles.

"You and Celina dating?"

And Tim, with the subtlety of a Rams fan at a 49er's bar on game-day, reminds us why there's no personal talk in the Shop. Tim's really bad at it.

I'm not going to transcribe Aaron's full response, but I love the way it set Tim on edge. I've talked, before, about how Eric Winter is one of those actors who acts through his fingers and toes. Bruce Willis is one of those, too. Just watch his feet in the early scenes of Die Hard. It's beautiful.

So, when Aaron starts talking about direct reports in a not so subtle hint that he knows all about those types of relationships, Tim gets nervous. It's not that he's afraid of being found out. But the more he's reminded of their biggest issue—one of them will have to leave.

And, don't get me wrong, the show'll probably find a way to work around that by taking Tim out of her chain-of-command but keeping him largely tied to the established team. But right now, Tim's fidgeting on the wheel.

And I swear when I watched it live I thought I heard the engine speeding up with Tim's anxiety.

"Remember this morning when dating in secret was our biggest problem?" "That feels like a million years ago."

Excuse me, ma'am, but isn't your camera on your chest recording everything you say!? I've always been worried about what they say near cameras, but Lucy's throwing caution RIGHT out.

"Did you talk to Aaron?" "Yeah." "And?" "He neither confirmed nor denied." "But?" "But he pointed out that it wouldn't be problematic because he's not her superior and doesn't fall in her chain of command." "Oh."

I get why they don't want to face it. Right now, they only see that as a separation. Those 12 hours a day where they've gotten to know one another, and have been able to see one another, and check on one another, and keep tabs on the other's welfare... gone.

It's a lot to lose even if they get to keep each other.

"Are you sure about this?" "I'm sure he's gonna kill her if we don't do something. Where's my distraction?" "It's ready and waiting."

I can hear Lucy in my head, "I don't like Plan B." But she understands that this is what needs to be done, and that this is their job. Sometimes, they have to put themselves in harm's way, and that a tragic occupational hazard.

But I love how this illustrates that they can still work together, even with the new layer to their relationship. Tim and Lucy are still Tim and Lucy.

"That's the signal."

And the trust that Lucy would be the one to hear the signal, and get everyone else ready to go. They've worked side-by-side for years. They have a natural rhythm there that's been earned. I totally understand why they don't want to lose that.

But it's inevitable... that day is coming. And neither can face it just yet.

"We both can't get out at the same time." "Okay, then you go first." "There's only room for one of us to be a hero, here, and I outrank you." "Sir, with all due respect, Lucy will kill me if I let you die, so I'm dead either way." "Get out of the Shop, Aaron!"

We've seen Aaron comment on the Tim/Lucy thing directly and indirectly, but this is flashing neon lights compared to those other times. He's basically saying, "She will literally murder for you, and I know it, and I don't want it to be me."

And I have to stop to applaud Aaron's ingenuity in finding a way to save Tim, too. Tim accepts his fate. He's military-trained, and he's a seasoned cop who understands the risks he takes every day.

But it wasn't his day to die, my friends. Not today.

"Well, I'm glad you didn't die."

This. Transition! I'm salivating over that transition from one scene to the next, through the glass. I'll admit, I'm a big fan of scenes that overlap and allow us to trade from one conversation to the next. It has always made me feel more like the world was real, and we were walking through it rather than bouncing around through non-stop scene-shifts.

No, you can't do this all the time. It'd become tired out. But, I love the choice, here. Again, I don't know if it was the writer, the director, or someone else who saw the opportunity and seized it, but I'm so glad they did!

"You owe me a redo on our date." "It's what gave me the will to live."

He's needling her. He's so needling her and it's so adorable. I know they have a lot of incredible scenes in this episode, but this one gave me all the feels.

This is secret dating era at its finest. Walking side-by-side and speaking words just for the other while knowing there's so much more going on under the surface. And I am here for it!

I love how he looks at her, waiting to see if he's going to get a reaction. Oh, she gives him a reaction!

"In my mind, I'm hitting you right now." "That's good to know."

Heart. Exploding. The cuteness!

PAUSE: Before we get to the end scene, can we talk about Nyla and James choosing Angela and Wesley to raise their daughter!? As soon as the conversation came up I was screaming at the television, "Pick Angela and Wesley!" And I'm so glad they did.

The power couples of The Rookie really got to show up and show out this week, and I wanted to acknowledge these four, too, even if they're not the focus of our Meta.

"I've been falling apart these days," says the music as we transition to a crane shot, establishing twinkle lights in trees (and those hanging bulb-style ones that I've been coveting for my new backyard ever since we moved in).

We sweep past the... is that a food truck!? Was I actually right about one thing in this bloody episode!? My only prediction that came true was that Tim and Lucy would try to have their date, things would go wrong, and they'd end up at a food truck. I'll take the win since everything else's been a loss for me, predictions-wise.

The Rookie 2, Rachel 1.

We sweep over to Tim and Lucy in the most casually-intimate (it's a thing) position with those high stools. Tim's got his let completely wrapped on the other side of Lucy's, and one of hers is crossed with a foot on his chair.

They don't wear fashionable clothes. Lucy's hair isn't styled. The conditions are less structured and more beautifully chaotic, like the twinkle lights dangling just shy of perfection—but no less perfect in that imperfection.

Tim and Lucy are at ease.

This is the heart of Tim and Lucy's transition. Before, they were trying to do it without all the information on the table, and within the confines of what they thought they needed.

Instead, they've found themselves in metal chairs exposed to the elements, facing the less-than-romantic view of a parking lot, and they couldn't be happier.

I must observe that they don't eat or drink a thing during this scene. The props are simply props, and I always find it fascinating when a scene calls for actual eating versus the implication of eating.

"Streets of Vietnam." *giggle* "That's where we ended up."

For some reason, the caption says "Treats of Vietnam" even though Eric Winter clearly emphasizes the "S" on "Streets".

But, if you're following along and hard of hearing or deaf, I wanted to make that clarification. His words, indeed, do match the signage on the food truck.

And Lucy is giggling, again.

"So, I guess this is our official first date." "Mmm, last night was. For sure. I mean, it's a better story for the grandkids."

Watch. Tim's. Face. He dated Ashley for ages before finding out she had no interest in marriage or kids—two things that mean a lot to him.

And Lucy, beautiful Lucy, is telling him on their second date that she can't wait to share this story with their grandkids.

And I've seen people say, "Oh, what happened to taking it slow?" Welp, you can be in an emotional place separate from a physical place, and that's just fine. She wants to savor every second of this.

This relationship is full of "last firsts". Last first date. Last first kiss. Last first time sleeping together.

If you knew that going into a relationship, wouldn't you want to savor every second? Really live in the moments to form lasting memories rather than rushing through?

"We've got grandkids, now." *giggle* "Nice."

Ooooh, the giggling has got me in a chokehold!

And I'm floored by the confidence Lucy has with Tim. Before, we saw so much hesitation from her in taking big steps, especially with Chris. Hell, I don't know that I recall her ever calling him her "boyfriend".

With Tim, none of that exists. Yes, they had some butterflies to get through in the beginning. But part of what makes this relationship work is how it has been earned and built.

They didn't start day one of their Rookie/TO relationship making moony-eyes at one another. They built layers over time, like the most beautiful crepe tower cake.

Yes, I know it's a weird metaphor, but I like baking shows. And the best part about a crepe tower cake is that you make each crepe one at a time before binding it to the others to form a stack. And sometimes the crepes aren't the prettiest. You might burn one a little. But it still goes into the stack, and it still helps build a beautiful finished product.

Tim and Lucy have built this relationship bit by bit. That's why everything rings true so effortlessly, now.

"Do not break into that car."

I. Started. CACKLING. Much as the cold open had me in stitches, this is the line that slays me every time. Crochety, worn-out Tim comes out on that line.

It's like, "Look, do you see this stunningly gorgeous, amazing, tough-as-nails woman beside me? I'd like to have one date, just ONE where I'm not pulling out cuffs for work purposes".

"Hey, moron!"

Foley artist, I love you. Or if it was recorded audio at the scene, I love whoever did that because even the SOUND of the metal clanging as the perp retreats had me in stitches. This was such a beautiful moment for so many reasons.

First of all, Tim is always going to be Tim. Thank God. I abhor when shows destroy the characters the second they get in a relationship (no, I'm not naming names... Metas make you squeel and laugh. We don't need the negativity, here).

Second, Tim just made the choice to be a man instead of a cop in this moment. Now, if it was a dangerous criminal, I'm sure Tim would have done something, as he did on their first date. But, for Tim "Supercop" Bradford to choose the girl... it's such a huge metaphor for what's coming.

Tim's job has seemed like the most important thing for so long, especially since he finally went after Sergeant, and continues to work despite being eligible for Retirement. But some things matter more.

Friends, Lucy matters more.

"You know, he's just going to break into a car in a different neighborhood." "Well, then some other cop can arrest him."

Pause. Just pause right here and look at Tim's face as he gazes upon Lucy. That twinkle is back in his eyes. And, yes, I'm aware it's probably studio lights set up for this shot. Don't ruin my magic!!

But Tim Bradford is finally looking into the eyes of a woman who will love him as much as he will love her. She will call him on his bullshit, care for his wounds, follow him into the fire, and stand by his side through whatever life throws at them.

They both knew that when they took this leap, they could never, ever go back. It's a constant plunge into the unknown, and with every level deeper they go, it only cements their bond.

Tim and Lucy were never going to work as friends-with-benefits, or a casual thing. They're Endgame. And they both know it.

He reaches for her face with his left hand. The same hand that wanted to hold her face the first time they kissed, but hesitated. He's telegraphing his moves and giving her space to pull back, to tell him to stop, to let him know she's not ready.

But Lucy is ready for this next step.

His right hand resting somewhere between her knee and thigh, the other hand tangling in her hair as he gently tugs her toward him, he leans in for their last first kiss—together.

And Lucy smiles before their lips touch, because this is so damn sweet. This is the beginning of yet another phase for them. And as they share that beautiful moment, we fade to black.

And here we have the last thing I was wrong about—the episode didn't end with Lucy covered in blood.

Look, I called the kiss (so I hope that balances things out a little), but I have a lot of ship trauma. For goodness sake, look at Wash and Zoe from Firefly/Serenity. He wasn't a leaf on the wind... he was a corkboard for the world's largest push-pin.

So, I was pleasantly surprised we faded out to black with our favorite couple intact and happy.

One thing that The Rookie has done really well with its core relationships is allowing them to face issues as a couple.

Nyla and James were rockstars at the bank, but they also worked through the very real issue of who should care for their child in the event of their death. That's something all parents grapple with.

And then Wesley and Angela working through the conversations of when (and whether) to add children to their family. I suffer from infertility, so all three of our children were planned for, prayed for, and provided by nice doctors with catheters and egg timers (I wish I was joking about that last part).

So whatever Tim and Lucy are going to face, I have confidence that they will face it together. They aren't going to suddenly stop communicating, break up, and date other people. This is Season 5B and as of yet, there's no assurance of a Season 6. It's the perfect time to cement them as a couple, explore the obstacles they overcome, and allow the fans to bask in the breadsticks (double breadsticks according to the Roll-o-Meter).

Because, y'all, we ATE.

As always, thank you for reading. This one was a lot of fun to watch and write. And, special shout out to my husband who let me squirrel away for the hour (which is right at our kids' bedtime) so I could squeal in real-time!

See y'all on the next!

#Chenford #Tim x Lucy #Lucy x Tim #Tim Bradford #Lucy Chen #The Rookie #Eric Winter #Melissa O'Neil #Chenford Meta #The Rookie Meta

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tobiasdrake · 6 months

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Okay. I have my capitalist-whomping stick and a pumpkin spice muffin manufactured by the culinary engines of capitalism. I am ready to throw down in what is literally an intellectual thunderdome.

Yeah, it is surprising that Makoto's end-goal for entering the Mystery Labyrinth is more or less just "cool battleground for our fight".

Problem is, I don't know how he's planning on getting out. The only known way to leave the Labyrinth is when Yuma solves the mystery and reaps the culprit's soul. A visitor tagging along only leaves if they're with Yuma when he does that.

Shinigami has mentioned a second way but warned repeatedly that it comes at a terrible price. Maybe you have to, like, sacrifice Yuma? Which Makoto would be fine with.

His plan is to assume the role of L after killing L, so that he can control the Kira investigation and ensure the truth is never found.

I don't disagree. That's why you should be putting your resources into helping them, rather than simply preserving them.

Like, c'mon, man. I don't trust the UG either. Those assholes want to make immortal super-soldiers out of homunculi. You did a good thing by breaking the city free from their control. I agree that if the truth about Kanai Ward were exposed to the world, you'd lose that bargaining chip.

The only thing protecting this city from exploitation and genocide is blackmail. Once that trigger's fired, it loses those protections. I get that.

How about, instead of stabbing each other, we all put down our swords and talk through ways to manage safe, ethical research into homunculus physiology using Amaterasu resources? Can we do that? Everyone?

Vivia's finally getting through to Yuma. But. Like.

I'm not one for centrism. Often times, the centrist position is simply a refusal to engage with either side of the argument.

But. Like.

There has to be a middle ground between

1 - Let's expose the truth to the world and then let UG do whatever it wants to the homunculi of Kanai Ward! 2 - Let's keep the homunculi forever imprisoned within a cage of rain, gradually dying out over decades until all that's left is the barren husk of a city and a well-populated zombie enclosure.

I don't want to fight Makoto over this. But I don't think his autocratic leadership is enough.

I mean. He's not wrong on that front. The Mystery Labyrinth is a truly awful justice system. We've been wantonly murdering people left and right, something I've never shied away from criticizing our methodology for.

But. Like.

Your morality isn't defined by what you're against. It's defined by what you're for. This is not a tug-of-war. Yuma's flaws do not make Makoto good by default. "Everybody sucks here" is a valid outcome.

If exposed externally? This city will become ripe for exploitation by UG, who would want to take control of any effort to stabilize the defective homunculi for their own immortal soldier programs. If they aren't slaughtered outright.

But that's no reason not to expose the truth internally. Kanai Ward's an isolated city-state with no contact with the outside world so there's little fear of information leaking out. And once people know, they can work together to help solve the problem. After an adjustment period of outrage and panic, of course.

Which is why they should have a voice in it. Makoto is not their voice. He's as much an outsider as Yuma. He's just the outsider who's decided he knows what's best for them.

You can push through this, Yuma. You can--

Nope, there we go. Guess we're jumping, then.

Oh hey, a Labyrinth portal. In the Labyrinth. Will we have to solve the Mystery Within a Mystery of Why Makoto's Full of Shit?

Let's see, I drew....

That's an okay hand. I'll play Margulaw first because he's good for filtering and accelerating mana....

Don't fall for the false dichotomy, Yuma. Makoto says there are only two outcomes here: Ultimate doom for Kanai Ward or keeping things as is. He would ask you to choose between them. But you don't have to play his game.

Who says those are the only options? Him? He came here to stab you. Why are we letting him define the rules?

One of whom is currently roaming the Restricted Area as a feral and the other four are "dead" with conspicuously pink homunculus bloodstains.

Makoto and Yuma have the same manners of thinking and reacting to stress. I wonder why that might be.

To be fair, that's for good reason. You're a monster who kills people.

Nice to finally get a flashback of Number One's pact with Shinigami.

Shinigami was Number One's answer to Yomi's silencing methods. Makoto and Number One weren't in cahoots. They were simply both playing long games against Yomi.

Knowing that it was Yuma who said all of this makes it hit... about the same, really.

But Number One's philosophy may be more complicated than it appears. I note that he keeps qualifying the exposing of the truth. He wants a perfect solution, not just a solution. He wants to expose the truth to make everyone happy, not just to expose the truth. By that logic, if the truth didn't help everyone then it wasn't a good enough truth, right?

Of course, he also quoted this bit again.

So, y'know, maybe he still sucks and I'm giving him too much credit. There is no "perfect solution" for Kanai Ward without empathy for the people living in the city. The WDO creed is Logic Bro propaganda.

I like Shinigami's addendum here. Everybody has their own morality; Their own interpretation of the facts. But you need to first lay out the facts before you can decide how you want to interpret them.

The acquisition of knowledge is never, in itself, wrong. One must acquire knowledge before they can decide what to do with it.

However, this does fall flat given that Shinigami's superpower is committing spirit-murder of the killer regardless of whether they were in the right or not. Historically, Shinigami has never empowered Yuma to figure out for himself whether the truth is correct. Once the truth becomes known, Shinigami always forces his hand to do one and only one thing with it. Her powers decide what we do with the information, not Yuma.

The metaphysics aren't meshing well with the message she's trying to deliver here.

#master detective archives: rain code #drake plays rain code

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fff777 · 6 months

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Watched Mark and Jisung's Mix and Max Recording (omg it's 48 minutes?)

In typical Dream style, they had a very cuddly thumbnail

The way they zoomed in Jisung's veiny arms

Using various Dream songs for the background music did get me hype

Aw so Jisung asked Mark to do this with him

LMAO Mark being like "is this name going to be in the title of the Youtube video? if not, then let's go with INFJazz" XD

That's so apt, that Jisung the dreamer would come up with the inspiration for this performance.

AI covers are kind of freaky though. I haven't heard to any covers of songs, but I have heard people putting together AI clips to make it sound like someone is saying something and...yeah that is a little creepy that we can just fabricate stuff like that.

Jisung's just explaining his AI concept and Mark's just pointing his camcorder at Jisung thinking about how cute he looks being passionate about his idea.

Mark took a lot of words to explain his concept ^^;; He does have that habit in English too where he doesn't really get to the point ^^;;

The idea that if you can't live as a human, then you might as well end it...yeah that's the romantic in the two of them talking eh.

The photos they took of each other with their scribbles on it are so cute :3

Oh man, spending 4 hours to do the robot makeup. It looks really pretty though.

After eight years, they're finally getting quality mathyung-and-maknae one-on-one time :3 Of course Jisung would find it awkward but Jisung gets cringed out easily and Mark is always So Much lol.

Why did Mark make Jisung choose between Renjun and Jeno ToT What is he trying to accomplish?

Mark is so offended by Jisung's questions XD I'm guessing Mark wants deeper questions lol.

Jisung likes standing and pacing XD

Mark teasing Jisung is so cute though!!! (Saying that Jisung should try to sit down while thinking of (better) questions) Mark is usually the one being teased and he rarely teases other people, but Jisung won't do anything when he gets teased :3 It's all very cute.

Baby Dream pics!

Dream are a second family so Jisung trusts Mark as much as his own family ToT

Mark: Do you want to practise once more or end it? Jisung: Let's practise once more. Mark: ...Ok Mark was expecting Jisung to end it so they could just go home lol, plan backfired.

Aw Mark filming the dance crew :3

LOL Baby Mark dancing in church wat

Jisung and Mark were revealed as SM Rookies at the same time. It's always a bit stark remembering that Jisung basically did things at the same pace as the rest of Baby Shinki, except he was 2-3 years younger than them, and it really puts into perspective how YOUNG he started.

Jisung mentioned this before, that he was so shy when he was a kid and that's why he was encouraged to try dancing.

Omg

Jisung started popping when he was EIGHT that's like grade 1-2 in Western school standards. To stick to that for that many years is huge.

YES! I would love to see Jisung perform Make a Wish.

Yess I love that we've been seeing Mark and Jisung dance challenges :3

LMAO Ending pose is just falling asleep

I'm thinking how this video would be so good for the Marksung fans haha. We're getting everything, we're seeing them practising, we're seeing them do interview-type stuff, we're seeing them answer fun questions, we're seeing them talk about each other.

LOL Jisung is Mark 2 years ago aw.

Jisung trusts Mark as an authority figure and I think that fits. I feel like Jisung is the type to trust authority.

It's interesting that Jisung is more expressive in practice. In the actual Mix and Max video, it struck me how Jisung maintained an expressionless face to keep with the AI robot persona.

So cute :3

1 spoon of misery and 1.5 spoons of handsomeness for the dystopia makeup lol

Jisung does look like a woodcutter not gonna lie

Oh the dancers' eyewear is cool

I'm finding Jisung's often the one to say that he didn't feel satisfied with how things turned out. A self-critical perfectionist, I guess ^^;; I think Mark is kind of a perfectionist too. We see it a lot in the behind the scenes videos for music recording. He's always asking to re-record or to try doing things in another way for a better outcome.

Jisung's shy so they often add these flowers onto his blushy cheeks :3

I think Mark enjoys trying to make other people laugh :3 Which is why he gets teased for his lame jokes, but it seems the dancers here appreciate when he tries to crack jokes and make the mood lighter and happier.

Mark and Jisung discussing how they always think they can do better. I was right - two perfectionists!

...Playing with hands and fingers...

Tutting...sort of?

I thought they were going to do the cheesy thing where you jump and land in another spot (or in this case, land as AIs lol).

I agree with Jisung, it must be pretty rad dancing a concept with such fitting makeup & costume.

Lmao Mark loves it when Jisung doesn't follow instruction. To be real I think it's more like Mark appreciates that Jisung has a reason for not following instruction, and Mark encourages Jisung to have his own creative control.

Oh man so Jisung was trying really hard to not look tired, RESPECK

I DO hope we get to see more Marksung projects :3 :3 This was so much fun. Like I said, this is great for Marksung because we got to see just how they work together, and how their relationship has grown a bit even though they've known each other for a while <3

#nct #nct dream #mark lee #park jisung #jisung & mark #screencaps & commentaries

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shiningdesignersreflections · 8 months

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Chapter 2: Unending Night Rain

Narrated by Qin Yi as a child.

~Content Warning: child abuse, mild swearing~

Master: A lazy-bone and a tyke! Get the chopstick firm for an hour and we'll talk!

Narrator: With a glare, Master goes to drink with the other guys in the class.

Narrator: I'm that lazy-bone. And Monkey is that tyke. We've been best friends always.

Monkey: This old geezer is such a nuisance. It's he who forgot to have us run errands for him. Now he blames me!

Jade: Mmm...

Monkey: Don't bother with that. They've gone to drink. Nobody's watching us.

Jade: The word "drink" frightens me... Wines will push his buttons...

Monkey: Aww. At this rate, we're done for. But guess what...

Narrator: He gives a wink, a signal only the two of us know.

Narrator: That night, Master returns sottish. He collapses into his bed and sleeps like a log.

Narrator: I can even open his cabinet without being busted. That's it. I steal a few coins from his jug of savings.

Narrator: As I did every time before, I quickly close the door and quietly leave Master's bedroom.

Jade: Monkey? Monkey?

Monkey: Jade! Here!

Choose either "You're stealing money!" or "You're not worried about getting caught?"

If "stealing," ...

You: So you are up to Master's money!

Narrator: Yes, little by little, we manage to scrape up a chicken feed.

If "worried," ...

You: Are you not worried you might get caught?

Narrator: We thought we were hiding very well... which is only too stupid. Why would Master not perceive the loss?

Narrator: The two of us huddle together like frightened critters, shaking out the stolen change.

Monkey: Splendid. It's a great harvest tonight. I think we're getting out of the clutches!

Jade: Yeah! It can already fill up a crock.

Monkey: Jade, I wanna run. I wanna go home. My parents must be waiting for me! I still remember the route!

Narrator: My home is not here, nor are my parents here. The moment I was sent here, I decided to forget them.

Narrator: All I think about is the glittering costume on the stage.

Jade: Mr. Li has got a beautiful new costume recently, you know that?

Monkey: Boss Li? Oh, yes... One of his fans sent it as a gift. A piece of his new costume is worthy of a fancy meal.

Jade: Say... What kind of costume can we buy with this money?

Monkey: You just want your costume, Jade. Whoopee.

Narrator: It's a rare clear night. The full moon shines upon us, as well as his parents and my costume.

Narrator: Then the next day, Master catches us two little thieves.

Narrator: It's a rainstorm. Master stands under the eaves, the two of us in the rain.

Master: Great! I smelled something fishy. And it's you two ungrateful sneaks!

Narrator: A slap is flung at my face.

Narrator: I lose my balance and fall, followed by two kicks. Now, it's Monkey's turn.

Narrator: Before the slap swings up, Monkey bursts out crying, gets on his knees and kowtows.

Monkey: Master! It's Jade! It's Jade! Jade put me up to this! Sorry. I'm so sorry!

Narrator: My head buzzes, as if a stick had struck my face.

Narrator: Master is still cursing, yet his slap does not fall on Monkey's face.

Master: Why cry? You could've quit even if you were put up to this.

Monkey: I'm sorry, Master. I won't listen to him anymore! But I have not been in your house. I'm just a lookout!

Monkey: He takes all the money! It's Jade who tends to you 'til you fall asleep!

Narrator: Monkey's shrill cries are tearing apart my brain. I cannot even refute, but I clearly hear every word from Monkey.

Narrator: Master lets go of Monkey. Now he, picking a board, is coming at me, as if he were eating me alive.

Narrator: I want to resist, but I cannot move. I want to plead, but words are soft. I can only keep begging for mercy though tearful.

Narrator: He throws me into the dark room for solitary confinement. I crawl and kowtow to Master.

Jade: Master, it's not me...

Narrator: I take another kick before I'm finished.

Master: Ungrateful bastards. Do I care about a pot and a kettle?

Master: Even if both of you are telling lies, Monkey is a better liar than you. What exactly is your value to me?

Narrator: Master locks the door and leaves me crouching on the cold ground in the dark room.

Narrator: The rain doesn't stop all night. I catch a fever, my throat burning as hell.

Narrator: And I have to lick the rain water that seeps in.

Narrator: The cold night is long. For the umpteenth time, I think I've heard the footsteps of Monkey.

Narrator: I think I've seen the light of the door opening, and I think I've smelled the delicious rice.

Narrator: Until the illusion finally fades away, I catch the silver moonlight hitting the cold slate, gradually creeping to my body.

Narrator: There is only the sound of rain.

Narrator: After a day and a night, the door's opened. Now I hear the indifferent voice of Master.

Master: Not dead yet? Alright, you should consider yourself lucky. Monkey, give him medication.

Narrator: Has he gone? I hear Monkey running in. He pauses and bursts into tears the moment he enters.

Monkey: I'm sorry, Jade. I'm sorry... I, I don't want to get killed by Master... I'm too afraid. I'm sorry...

Narrator: The words of Master ring again in my ears.

Narrator: "Even if both of you are telling lies, Monkey is a better liar than you."

Narrator: I do not speak.

Narrator: Monkey bandages me while wiping tears. I few fall onto my wounds, yet I can't feel anything.

Monkey: Jade, are you still in pain?

Monkey: I had two coins left and I bought you a stick of tanghulu... You wanted to have some, right?

Jade: I don't want to have it now...

Monkey: Jade... I'm sorry. How are you gonna forgive me?

Jade: I want to run.

Monkey: Jade?

Jade: If we can get out of here together, I'll forgive you.

Monkey: All right, all right! We'll get out of here together!

Narrator: He keeps saying, as if he were cheering me up, but I couldn't hear him clearly.

Narrator: The sky has cleared, but last night continues to replay. The cold rain under the cold moon keeps striking the green slate.

Chapter 1

Chapter 3

#qin yi #shining nikki #chapter 2 #transcript #trigger warning #content warning #child abuse #torture #trauma #darkness #dark room #unending night rain #locked up #orphan #violence #getting beat up #betrayal #sickness

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hardlystrictlystarwars · 2 years

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New Prompt list // OMFG THIS IS SO LATE BUT THANK YOU!!!! 😊

Words cannot put into what I have been feeling since we hit 200!!! It's absolutely insane and I can't grasp the concept that there are over 200 of you supporting this lil' hobby of mine.

Anyways, I put some old and new prompts down on the list. Feel free to send in requests. I am also thinking of opening my blog up to characters outside of Star Wars, and also working on more Peter Parker stuff. Let me know if you have any ideas or characters you like to see.

I also have a bunch of stuff coming, it mostly written and want to post it(I just have to finish and edit them).

But thank you for sticking with me through periods of stress, no content, milestones, and just my blog bloggin'. Overall, I can't thank you enough for every like, reblog and comment. Thank you for supporting my blog🥰

**I've added some scenarios to my prompt list so please let me know if you put a number if you wish for it to be the quote or the scenario prompt!! Thank you!!

Quotes:

“You’re just not the same anymore”

“Don’t look at me like that”

"Promise we'll meet again?"

“Don’t leave”

"I'll forgive the galaxy, because you're in it"

“your kisses mean the world to me.”

“just one more kiss.” “i can’t. i’ll be late for work.”

‘’you can’t claim to love someone, and then go and do what you just did.’’

“What made you change sides?”

"When did you stop loving me?"

"You left without saying goodbye."

"This is the third time you've broken a promise to me, I'm starting to think you are doing it on purpose."

"I know you're tired, but you have to stay awake."

"If I asked you to stay, would you?"

"I can braid your hair for you- I mean, only if you want."

''i don't know if i can do this.'' ''you can, and you will. just put on your best smile. you'll woo [them]. just like you wooed me.''

“Those things I said to you...I just wish I could go back and stop myself from ever saying them.” “There are things I regret too. But we’re here now. Together.”

“People can stay, you know? It’s possible.”

" Yeah we're together, just not right now. "

“You left!”

“Do you have any idea on what you’ve done?”

“Is that a threat?” “Its a promise.”

“It’s nice that your voice was the first thing I heard today.”

“It’s pouring rain, why are you here?”

“Please don’t make me choose.”

“Are you drunk?” “...No.”

"I worked my ass off on this and you just had to walk right over my effort!"

'' i can't be who you want me to be. ''

“hey…” [hesitates] “be safe, alright?”

"you didn't have to say anything, y'know.."

“where were you last night ? ”

“i saw you. i saw you two together! ”

"maybe there's another universe where we have a happy ending we've always wanted"

Request your own!

Scenarios

enemies to lovers...but they were childhood friends

sharing an umbrella

they got the same gift for each other…again

one waking up before the other, so they make up their side of the bed and can’t help but tuck in their sleeping lover as they do so.

the bed is big enough for two people without touching, but unfortunately there is only one blanket

we kissed last night but we have to pretend like nothing happened

Request your own!

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countlessrealities · 4 months

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@sinruby asked: How would you describe your relationship with your family? for Mabel!

Mabel's lips curl in a pensive frown at the question. This is the first time someone asks her about her family and the relationship she has with each member. It's not like she doesn't know how she feels and what that's like, because she does, no matter how little she tries to dwell on it. She just has never been forced to put her thoughts on the matter into words.

The first person she thinks of whenever someone says "family" is, of course, her brother. Dipper is and will always be the person she's the closest to, no matter what might happen. They have always been more than siblings, after all. They are twins, best friends.

However, that's not where she chooses to start from.

"My parents are...alright? I guess. They always made sure Dip-stick and I had all the stuff we needed. Food, clothes, toys, school things..." She trails off and ends the sentence with a shrug instead. "For the rest, they are never around. They're always at work, or away on their own. That's why they sent us to Grunkle Stan's last summer. So they could go on holiday on their own."

Is that how parents are supposed to behave? She isn't sure. That's how it is in her life, and she has never paid attention to what her friends' parents are like. Aside from Pacifica's, but everyone can agree that they are not a role model.

"But it's alright. Dip-sauce and I can handle ourselves! We learnt very quickly and it's...fun, in a way. I get to do everything with my twin! And that's amazing...you would get it if you had a twin too."

She means it. She's more than content to share everything with Dipper, to be independent, to have her life with him. It's what has allowed them to live through and survive everything they have faced in Gravity Falls.

Yet, at times, she wonders.

"Then there are Grunkle Stan and Grunkle Ford. They weren't...great at first. Grunkle Stan was always grumpy, but now I get why. He had lost his twin and...in his way, he was trying to protect us."

Stan also doesn't have the best people skills. Not when it comes to being sincere. He's a conman, he can lie and cheat his way through a lot of situations, but when it comes to baring his soul and dealing with his real feelings? He's as emotionally constipated as someone can be. And Ford isn't any better.

"As for Grunkle Ford, he's...well, he's been away for a very long time and he hasn't had the best life, so...I can't blame him for forgetting how caring works."

A hint of gloom lingers on her features, betraying that there's more to it that she's not saying, but after a moment her expression brightens.

"We had a rough start, the four of us, but hey, what matters is how we ended up! Our Grunkles saved us all, and Dip-Dip and I helped! Grunkle Ford and Grunkle Stan made up and now they are living their childhood dream. And we can tag along! They promised!"

Her grin brightens, as if the idea of battling sea monsters and getting lost in caves populated by dangerous creatures is the best life one can have.

"I can't wait to go back to Gravity Falls next summer! Buuut Dipper and I might even get to spend our winter holidays chasing after Bigfoot!"

Much better than sitting at a table eating pre-made Christmas food and receiving boring presents. Their winter holidays have been fun only when it snowed.

"And then, of course, there's Dip-pick! He's my family. He has always been. We're brother and sister, we're best friends, we're twins. We've been together since when we were just two little cells! We're basically platonic soulmates!"

Maybe she's being naive, or perhaps too optimistic, but she believes in that with all herself. Things have been tense between them from time to time, especially after what has happened during Weirdmageddon. The trauma, the fights, the insecurities, the regrets, the guilt. They have left indelible marks on them both and loose strings that they will eventually have to deal with.

However, Mabel has to hold onto the idea that she and Dipper will get through it all because it's the only scenario she can accept.

"I can't picture my life without him. And I know he can't picture his without me."

#[ ic :: Mabel ]#[ headcanons :: Mabel ]#[ ooc :: mun's headcanons ]#sinruby #[[ did you see hints of child neglect here? ]]#[[ yep you weren't mistaken ]]#[[ but Mabel is 13yo she doesn't see it yet ]]#[[ not saying that her parents were shitty but ]]#[[ they weren't great either ]]#[[ also sorry I had to hint at the post series consequences ]]#[[ they are an essential part of my portrayal of Mabel u-u ]]#;; queue

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dailyaudiobiblechronological · 5 months

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12/4/2023 DAB Chronological Transcription

2 Corinthians 1 - 4

Welcome to Daily Audio Bible Chronological, I'm Jill. today's the 4th day of December couldn't remember which month were in let alone who I am right in the moment, December the 4th. welcome everybody so good to be here with you. I am hopefully Jill, it's so good to be here with you and it's a joy and a privilege. What an honor to be able to read the word of God for us. but I get to be here with all of you and that truly is such a privilege and an honor. we're starting a brand new book today. It's such a trick to get here all year going through the Old Testament, and then once we get here we could easily be starting a brand new book every other day. and we're going to probably continue that until we get through the entirety of the Bible in less than a month. Wow, can you believe that? Can you even imagine the journey that we've been on together this year? Can you remember day one? Can you remember the struggle of what it took for you to set aside to make this a priority to get through in a year? I think those are important things to look back on, and I also think that it's important to honor your commitment for sticking with something that you have to make a priority to do so. if you've done that well done and if you have not done that perfectly, well done. if you have done your absolute best to be here, well done to you as well. We are going to start a brand new book of the Bible, I think I already said that, but let's dive in. Second Corinthians today we're reading chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4, and yesterday we started a brand new translation as we do every week around here, the Christian Standard Bible. That is the translation we will be in this week, second Corinthians chapter 1.

Commentary

So this is the introduction to the second letter that Paul wrote back to the church of Corinth, and what we might find in this letter is a correction of Doctrine. and understanding context we must understand that this brand new teaching this brand new concept of Jesus being the Son of God, and being the forgiver of sins for all and the newness of church. it's important that if you feel like Jesus himself gave you messages to send out to people you might feel it's important to get the message right, and not to miscommunicate and not to teach different Doctrine other than what it is you believe, that the Son of God himself has downloaded to you. and this is no New Concept because we have over 40,000 different denominations that are organizations that exist because of a difference of translation, a difference in theology, a difference in beliefs and you decide which you believe in, which denomination you join and you represent and then you live that Faith out. so we see the origin of this all the way back to Paul and the early church and this second letter back to the church of course.

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for being here with us today. and I pray that maybe we would consider that the words that come from our mouth, out of our heart that speaks matter they matter greatly they have the power of life and death, and we have killed and we have destroyed with our tongues. and I pray that we would consider that cost and that we would decide very carefully the words that we choose, which messages we put forth into the world in our world based on the message of Truth based on a message of Lies, based on a message of Gossip, based on a message of slander. and I pray that we would consider if the words of our mouths would be pleasing to you. I pray that you would help me, help us, and help us spread the message of the unfathomable love of Jesus. I pray this now in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.

Announcements

Daily Audio Bible, You can check it out check out the website. There's no Christmas Box this year, but you can still purchase any item at the Daily Audio Bible store, they make great Christmas gifts. and you can also help us move the Daily Audio Bible technology to the next level by participating in our Christmas initiative. Any one of five vinyl albums 25 bucks I guess everybody puts it in terms of Starbucks. That's five maybe five Starbucks Coffee vinyl albums and those are the Sleep album, The Heart album, Christmas time album, the family Christmas album, and then the Promise Land soundtrack. you can purchase all five if you'd like, or you can purchase one, two, or three, or four, and that is while supplies last. If you'd like to partner with us, we thank you so much for each and every gift, each and every partnership, we could not do this without you. if you're giving by mail DAB PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174. or if you're using that technology given by the app, hit the give icon up at the top right hand corner of that app. Lastly, look for the give icon on the website. If you need prayer, if you like to pray for someone that's previously called in, you can do so 800-583-2164. Lastly, if you'd like to participate in the Daily Audio Bible family Christmas, you can still do that and that is also for a limited time. you can call in and be a part of this virtual Christmas card and it's something that we look forward to every year here in this community of the Daily Audio Bible. That's it for me today, we will turn the page together tomorrow and continue in the book of second Corinthians and the writings of Paul. Until then, I'm Jill, love one another.

Community Prayer Line

Hey, this is big shoes tiny feet. I think it's been about maybe 2 years since I've called in, but I'm still here and I'm calling in to pray for everyone who's been thinking about calling in, but who didn't like myself. So father, you see the reason people don't call him you see every single person here. you see their thoughts, you see what they're standing in, you see they're every situation. I pray that you are with them and that you will bless them and that you will give them strength and courage and rest. please restore their hearts and renew their minds. and help us all Lord to trust you and they are lives down for you and to feel that it is good in Jesus name I pray amen.

Hey good morning everybody, this is Korean life from Texas and I just wanted to give you guys a quick update first of all I just love listening to everyone call in and Simone from Texas and the lady from France I forget her name and Kingdom Seeker Daniel, I mean there's so many, I just love it. Anyway, I'm the one that we've adopted five kids from Ukraine, and two of my boys are struggling with jobs. I have one in college who kind of needs a little bit of a job to make ends meet. and just pray for him, his name is Tyler. and then my oldest has cognitive disabilities and he struggles but he's high functioning and so nobody wants to hire him, and he really needs work and it's almost been a year and we're trying to be Advocates. and I know God has something for him. I’m trying to have faith and be patient but his name is Victor and if you could just pray that Victor finds a place to work. He cannot drive, he's not allowed to drive but he can ride his bike and there's a lot of places around here in our city. and also if you could just lift up one of my daughters Tanya. She is struggling right now with some mental battles, Behavior battles, and she just just pray that the Lord's Grace and love will wash over her heart and her mind and I give her peace. She has a lot of anxiety and I'm struggling as a mom to know how to connect with my kids as they're all now young adults 21 to 27. and since we didn't have them as little babies it's just difficult adoption is always a difficult road. but anyway we love you guys. My husband and I listen. I listen every day. He doesn't always listen with me but we love you guys and we love the DABC family and hope you guys have a wonderful holiday time, bye.

Hello DABC fam this is his faithful one from Arizona and I am calling on November 30th I am trying to play catch up been very far behind and I finally caught up to about a week out. so I just finished listening to the 22nd of November but I just want to call and ask for a couple prayer requests both for my husband, number one is that he would come back into the fall with us and come back into It is that he would that he would attain this job that he is in the interview process for he's getting ready to do the 4th or fifth interview next week on Thursday. but I just pray for God's favor that we would be able to provide for ourselves through ourselves instead of relying on outside sources for God to provide for us. so those are my two pair requests. I wanted to just say thank you to everybody who calls in and prays and ask for prayer requests. I pray for you all in and I think I'm so thankful for the prayer requests that come in and pray prayers that are prayed over the prayer request they're all so uplifting and encouraging to

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healthy143 · 1 year

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thorntonkrell-blog-blog · 1 year

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We all have our secrets. Writers have secrets too. I'm gonna locate my darkest secret and then I'm going to dump the truth on you and you'll think I must be who you now suspect I am because after all, I wrote it didn't I?

Renditions on this concerns came up all the time when I was teaching Creative Writing. Student writers were always wondering how much of themselves they dare to reveal, probably half afraid that someone would read what they wrote and hightail it to the guidance counselor and somehow all of this would end up in the dreaded "permanent record".

This is what I would tell my young writers.

Sometimes writers choose the third person and create a fictional character to reveal truths and secrets about themselves.

Sometimes writers choose the first person and write fiction that has nothing to do with themselves.

Sometimes he is I and sometimes I am she and sometimes we are all together and waiting for a moment to arrive.

In other words, unless a writer tells you the experience is a their true experience, we should hold back on assuming that it is. I don't think Steve King has murdered anybody.

Even when a writer claims an experience....well the whole thing might be fiction especially if the writer him or herself is using a pen name which implies that the writer him or herself is fictional as well as the characters created although many an unauthorized biography has been written by someone pretending to be who they weren't and let's not even get into ghost writing where the writer isn't even the writer.

Still writing in the first person can be risky as all writers know. We can leave our notes behind. Someone picks up our notes, jumps to conclusions and well, a lot can happen.

Here's what happened to me twenty years ago.

I was reading about the death of Kurt Cobain. At the same time I was restudying Hamlet. I thought that I would take what Ihad learned about the death of Cobain and mix that with Hamlet's soliloquy and mix that with a switch in point of view see if it might turn into something.

This is what I wrote.

Should I put up with this crap or not. Is it slacker to keep getting nailed by the ups and downs of my ridiculous luck or should I just pick up a gun and end it all. So I die, I step off so big wow and in that zonk I can forget about all the fame and the phonies and divorces and stomachaches and heroin and all that jazz...just zzz out like I do every day of my life and dream like I do every night.

But there's a problem

What kind of trip do you take when you're chilled max. It's wondering about those dead dreams that makes us put up with all this crap and live to be senile drainers because who would put up with all the jocks, the sellouts, the heartache of loving someone who don't love you who actually hates you; the judges and the bosses and the big shots and geting crapped on by jerks when you can just take out this gun and finish the deal.

Who's actually baked enough to sweat this life out except that we're afraid of the reaper; afraid of the dirt sleep from which no dude ever returns, We don't know what that gig is like so we stick with our familiar contract rather than sign up for the mystery tour.

The more we think, the more freaked we become. The hook of action becomes fogged with the shadow of grunge so we endure all of this temporary crap until we put down the gun.

Usually.

That's the mix from as well as I could mix it coming from it the point of view of a troubled, talented soul way beyond my pay grade. I liked it. I went down to the Xerox room to make a couple of copies, one of which I sent in as a letter to the editor of our local paper the Democrat and Chronicle.

These were the dark, almost unimaginable days before email.

About an hour after my trip to the Xerox room, a knock came on my classroom door. One of my colleagues from the Math Department wondered if he could talk to me for a minute...it was kind of important.

I stepped out into the hallway. My dear colleague said, "Ice, we've known each other for a long time, haven't we?"

I said, "uh huh.'

With a wildly compassionate and nervous look on his grill he said, "are you allright."

I said, "I think so. Why do you ask?"

He hesiiated and then answered, "I was in the Xerox room making copies and I found this which you left on the copier."

And with that he whipped out the original copy of my piece on Cobain and Hamlet as if it were a subpoena or smoking gun.

All of a sudden, I realized my colleague had come to the conclusion that I was on smack, hated everybody and might have a gun in my pocket.

After all, he knew I was divorced and had a beard so he was putting two and two together and getting five.

I took the original copy and tried to explain the creative exercise in composition, point of view and empathy that had created it. In two minutes I tried to explain Hamlet, Cobain and the similarity between "should I put up with this crap" to "to be or not to be".

I watched his realization melt away some of the edge from his nervousness.

The compassion remained.

He was a good man, probably doing what a good man must do when a good man finds himself in a situation like this good man had found himself in the Xerox room,

The story of this good man is a perfect example of exactly what I mean when I say that writers have to be careful when they use the first person in a story.

My letter to the editor was selected, published and went on to win a Golden Pen Award.

My colleague retired before I did.

I'd see him every once in a while at a grocery store or at the mall.

He always asked me, "how are you."

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dreamingofyouthemanyone · 2 years

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When They Wonder Why You Chose Them - 11

SCREAMING HHAHAHAHA. HIII IT'S BEEN A WHILE HAHA but omg the game is about the come out, we're finally here, and we've hit an obstacle but we're gonna have faith!! Thank you everyone for sticking up until the end! AHHH IM SO EXCITED!

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Featuring: Members of the Sweeper Guild | Hound Sweeper

Type: Headcanons

Prompt: Each character musing over why did you pick them to be your first partner in this journey

Warning: Pre-Game Launch Character Assumptions

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Amused is one way to put Shiharu’s opinion of the entire situation.

Even since the beginning, he wonders what exactly had drawn him to you. He knows that many see him as a ghost—willowy, translucent, and certainly as vengeful as one if wronged—and he muses if that’s something you find interesting. To prefer a ghost instead of a sun.

He treats you cordially enough at first, close but not so, keeping an imaginary abyss between the two of you, and he doesn’t expect you to take the leap, because why would you? What are your reasons for doing so? Why make the effort when it will bring you neither fortune nor reward?

It’s best, in the end, to keep a certain distance, or else you’ll get dragged into something that you’ll regret and he’ll later have to do damage control for.

Yet, no matter what he does, you’re always there to spend time with him. You attempt to get closer to him beneath the cover of guidance and seeking his help on matters that pertain to your requests. He can see your endeavors in creating a bridge through that bottomless abyss that he’s tried so hard to keep permanent between the two of you, and he protests.

He doesn’t outright ignore you or shut you down, because that would defeat the purpose of him being a catalyst for your future. He wants to help you, not delay your progress, so he does what is needed of him but politely refuses any situations that are superfluous, even going so far as to point out the reasons to support his case.

He doesn’t know whether he should feel frustrated or incredulous when you merely find loopholes against his reasons.

If he doesn’t want to spend more money eating out? Then you can go and buy groceries and make something together at the guild! If he doesn’t have the time to do so? Then you can help him with other matters so that he’ll have more time! And if he tells you that you might not have the skillset for that? Then you inform him that he can always teach you so that the guild will be more effective as a whole in the future!

It drives him somewhat insane, just how persistent you are, and he reaches his tipping point one day and nearly snaps at you—why go so far just to get close to him? His purpose is to support you, to help you reach your full potential by achieving your dreams, and you can’t accomplish any of that if you turn your attention to him, someone who doesn’t even deserve to be considered a person after all he’s done.

It takes him a moment to realize what he’s done, and an apology is already prepared at the tip of his tongue but he’s interrupted by hands coming up to cradle his face.

There’s a heartbroken expression twisting your features, one that he wants to wipe clean off your face, but that determined light comes back to your eyes and you tell him, explicitly, your reasons for choosing him.

Suffice to say, he’s floored by the truth, and something on his expression must show the chaotic jumble of emotions he’s feeling deep inside of him because you embrace him, bringing his face into your shoulder. And, for once, even if it's with reluctant arms and a shaky heart, he returns the gesture.

“Even if it’s me, would you still be willing to hold my hand? … No, you don’t have to answer me. I can already tell by the look on your face. Thank you… From now on, if you need anything, I’ll go and fetch it for you. No matter what it may be.”

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Alma is indifferent to your decision.

And why wouldn’t he be? It doesn’t exactly change anything, aside from having more work to deal with, but even that isn’t too big of a problem. Things have been getting boring as of late, and he appreciates anything that’ll keep him from getting antsy.

But he can’t deny that it’s fun to relive what he’d thought he’d long since given up. Being able to have a reason to journey to places he’s only heard rumors of, to experience the difficulties of travel and the luxuries of a warm bed and meal after a hard day’s at work, and to meet a bunch of strangers that you have no idea if they’ll be a friend or a foe in the long run.

It helps that you’re there too. Your company is surprisingly pleasant to be in, even though you pester him whenever he feels like sleeping in, but you’re fun to talk to and you don’t care all too much about getting a bite of whatever he’s fancying for dinner as you two go over your reports. He feels more energized whenever you’re there, like he has even more reason to fulfill his job, which is something that he both sighs and smiles over.

Karma, on the other hand, feels inconvenienced by your decision and in turn you.

He prefers to stay hidden beneath the stillness of Alma, loath to have any sort of interaction with you, but he forces ripples upon the surface and makes an appearance when you get in the way of his job, sneering at you that it isn’t any of your business, that you have no right to intervene into any of his affairs with confessors.

To him, your requests have been disrupting his duties, making it less and less likely for him to hunt down the guilty and hear their cases before he executes judgement upon their souls. And it’s not as if he can just abandon his duty to you. He’d made a promise to you, and he’d be a hypocrite if he went back on it due to personal reasons, so only you have the right to break it.

Both sides of him can see the bewilderment that appears on your face whenever he switches between his personas, but the desire to understand is there, so he sits you down one night and explains it to you, holding your trembling hands the whole time.

He doesn’t expect you to understand, doesn’t expect anyone to understand why he copes in this way, but his heart does flip into itself when he sees that you’re trying to. He squeezes your hands, unwilling to let go, but the words are out of his mouth before he even knows it—it doesn’t have to be me.

And you understand him, judging by how eyes snap wide open. In any other situation, he would have smirked at how easy it is for the two of you to read one another, but this isn’t just any situation so he gives you a tight-lipped smile. (10)

What seems like hours pass by between the two of you before he sees you clench your jaw, a flash of indignation passing by your the curl of your lips, and before he knows it, you have a hand on his braid, tugging him down to your level and making him hunch over. You tell him, in words that ring out fiercely in his head, that you want it to be him, and whatever thoughts he’d had, whatever thoughts that Karma had of your weak resolve, they crumble just like that.

Why? He’ll ask on another night, because it seems like full moons are the perfect setting for a serious conversation between the two of you. And you’ll look at him as if he’d grown a second head before chuckling, your hands finding his, and this time, it’s you who does the explaining until he understands.

“Aha! You should see the look on your face! Ah, but don’t worry! I won’t drop you, see? I just wanted to try carrying you, but man I didn’t think you’d weigh this much… Kidding! I’m just joking! Aww, don’t give me that look! … You wouldn’t! You promised me that we’d get to try out that barbecue restaurant! I already said I was sorry—!”

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Lykos can see it as clear as day—another obligation to add alongside the shackles lining his limbs.

At the very least, your intentions seem to align well with his objectives, giving him no reason to reject your offer. If you, too, are in the pursuit of foiling whatever schemes evil has in store, then it would only be right to support your cause.

With Shiharu’s permission and assurance that he’ll be fine on his own, he goes out of his way to help you out whenever he can, from day-to-day tasks and up to life-threatening ones. He prefers the latter, and he knows that it shows whenever a conflicted expression appears on your face as you give him the requested details to take care of a harmful entity hellbent on threatening the lives of civilians.

More often than not, these days, he has to resist the urge to pat you whenever you look worried, to offer some means of comforting words to you, but he holds himself back, unwilling to cross the line of professionalism. For all he knows, your concern may be directed to only the civilians in the line of danger, and it would be presumptuous of him to assume otherwise.

His mind is eventually put to rest when you seek him out one day, brandishing a protection charm from who knows where only for you to give it to him with a firm look and an even firmer promise extracted from that he’ll always have it on his body.

He keeps it in a hidden slit on the belt wrapped across his chest, letting it rest against his heart so it’s there where he can first feel the warmth of its magic when it activates.

After that, it’s laughably easy for him to return your gesture. No longer does he shy away from patting your head or giving you kinder words, now that he knows you wouldn’t spurn him like so many others have.

He allows you to worry over him, staying quiet as you fuss over any injuries he sustained in battle that day and letting you run your fingers through his fur as a means to distract you whenever you’re stressed. He finds himself wishing that he can bring peace faster, so that you don’t have to spend so much time tiring yourself out in this battle, but even he’s realistic enough to know that it’s an impossible dream and that the best he can do is to protect you from harm’s way.

He enjoys being with you, more so than he could have ever imagined, and it’s precisely so that he lets you see the more vulnerable sides of him, even if at his own expense. Even now, he can still remember the look on your face when the two of you had visited the orphanage he frequents to in order to donate what spare coin he has and all the children had come running up to him, asking for tosses and climbing all over his body as if he were a playground.

It’s because he trusts you so much that he asks you, as the two of you are staring up at the stars after a long day, why you chose him.

The way your eyes had looked when you’d turned to him could have put the moon itself to shame at that very moment, but as much as he’d want to lose himself in them, he keeps his ears open for your words, raptly listening to you.

He feels even more at ease after that, knowing that even if many gazes look his way and don’t see someone willing to die for their protection, you at the very least will always know. And that’s enough for him.

“You should take this. It’s going to be a chilly night. … Hm? Me? Don’t worry about it. I have my own coat, don’t you see? I’ll be fine…. You do know that we don’t have to share? … If it puts your mind to ease, alright then. But keep close, we don’t want you getting sick.”

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The first thing Daste does when you make the offer to him is to complain.

If it were up to him, he would have outright shut you down. Better to not waste either of your time, right? But Shiharu’s gaze in itself feels like a piping hot brand even across the room, and he’s not stupid enough to ignore what is basically an unspoken command.

He doesn’t make it easy for you, no, because if anyone’s adjusting, it’s definitely not him. He’s already done his part, agreeing to this kind of trouble, and it isn’t as if he rejects any of your requests or goes out of his way to sabotage them. He’s not that much of an asshole.

In the end, he isn’t made to be indestructible nor has he ever wanted to be. It takes time for him to warm up to you, and he doesn’t even realize that he’s grown attached to you until you don’t show up one morning on a day of the week that you usually do and he’s getting fidgety to the point he would have nearly blown up his workroom if not for his mind telling him to doublecheck his mixture of chemicals.

When you drop by the next day, he’s instantly at your side, shooting questions and generally fretting over you. He catches himself when he sees how your expression shifts, and he clamps his mouth shut, getting all red in the face because of his actions.

It’s a turning point in his relationship with you, for him to know just how much he cares for your wellbeing, and he awkwardly stumbles through it in the beginning, not quite sure where he stands in your life because he’s been a total ass to you.

It’s only when you take the initiative to reach out to him once more, this time with the both of you truly open to the idea, that he realizes that all this time, you’ve only really just been waiting for him, and what else can he do but catch up to you and make up for lost time?

And boy, he really does try to make it worth your while. Suddenly, stilted conversations become full of life and grand gestures that it’s hard to remember anything from the past. He shows you all of the combustibles and explosives he has in store, both the ones used for work and the ones used for pure aesthetic, and he offers to show you each one of them with an excited grin and anticipating heart. (9)

The minute you give him the go, he knows exactly what he’s going to show you and he sets it up quickly, telling you to clear up your schedule for tonight, and he’s practically vibrating in his skin as he sits by you, far away from the stack of fireworks he’s arranged in the center of the empty field. He glances at you before lighting the fuse that’s just at his feet.

Seconds later, an unimaginable number of colors burst into being in the night sky, illustrating wide-petaled flowers that trickle down as if drawn with actual paint that hadn’t been given the time to dry. It’s a sight that still makes it feel as if his heart is imploding upon itself, but he risks looking at you, wanting to see your expression.

His breath hitches when he sees the look on your face, something taking hold of his lungs and squeezing it mercilessly. He doesn’t know what comes over him, but when the sounds from the fireworks die down a bit, he can’t help asking you just why had you picked him. Just why had you still chosen to stick around.

Your eyes widen, caught off guard by the suddenness of his question, but your surprise softens into something, dare he say it, loving and you take your hand in his, intertwining your fingers, and you give him your answer. At the end of the night, he can say for sure that it isn’t the fireworks that had made his day.

"Oi, oi, oi! Don't just go around touching things! It's dangerous in my work bench. Give me your hands! ... Okay, good, at least you didn't hurt. Don't do that again, okay? You had me worried for a 'sec there, sheesh."

#dreamingofhim #yumekuro #Hound Sweeper #reader x shiharu #reader x alma #reader x lykos #reader x daste

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fanmoose12 · 3 years

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I like to think the first time when Levi and Hanji confessed their feelings it was during a fight. Hanji's going through the mess in her office worried that she's failing as a commander and in a moment of weakness admits she should've been the one to die that day instead of him. She wasnt needed here. Erwin was. Erwin would've known what to do. Levi who had just entered the office to check up on her starts seething with anger & roughly strikes his fist against her table. She looks up at him shocked and teary eyed. 'Wtf hanji? After all we've been through, all you care about is dying like a coward?' She gets up and starts shouting at him. How he doesnt get the pressure shes under. That she feels lonely most of the time. She misses Moblit. She misses who she was. She misses watching the world with both eyes. You feel so distant. Im sick of pretending there's no space between us anymore when there's a vaccuum. Heck you dont even call me four eyes anymore. She stops when he grabs her by the arm and pulls her close. 'Does it matter to you that much?' He isnt looking at her. Shes stunned unable to come up with a diversion. She gives in and accepts it. 'Yes. It does. You were..u were all I was left with Levi. And it feels like I lost you too' He pulls her close meeting her eyes with a look she hasnt seen before. 'U think ur the only one who's miserable? U think I dont see u dying everyday crumbling under this pressure? U think i dont carry the burden of our fallen comrades on my shoulders? U think its easy to love someone who probably blames u for making her life hell? To see myself lose u to this position u hold? I die everyday hanji. I feel like the loneliest man to ever exist. I lost u too that day. Everytime I look at u I see the ghost of who hanji was and how I killed her. Im miserable too hanji but knowing you'd rather choose death than stick with me here......I cant bear the thought" She stares at his face for the first time after that event on the wall. His handsome features strained and drained. She thought his eyes were lifeless then yet now...he looked half dead. She prided herself in being the only one able to read him yet she failed this time. He...loved her? God. This infuriating emotionally constipated man was telling her he loved her missed her. Stupid Levi. Stupid Hanji. They were here. They were alive and together. The world was cruel but so beautiful. They were soldiers who had devoted their hearts to a cause greater than them. But at this moment, she felt like nothing else mattered but this man before her. She was so glad he was alive. So glad he was here with her. She held his face in her hands stroking his cheeks. He looked stunned for a moment before his features relaxed. As though he had heard the rumbling in her head. She let go of his face and took his hand while moving out of the office to her room. She gave him a hesitant look as they reached her door thinking what if theyre not on the same page. What if shes taking it too fast. What if shes misreading the situation. He answered by opening the door and dragging her inside with him. Sitting on the bed he reluctantly took her hand in his 'Hanji..I..' She stopped him by putting a finger on his lips. 'Dont'

She brought his face closer to hers. She could feel her heart beating against her chest and his warm breath on her face. 'Oh God what am I even doing' she thought to herself. As she was fumbling with her actions, Levi smiled and reached towards the back of Hanji's head, pulling her close. "Let me start this time," he said, lips brushing over hers delicately. He pulled her close and pressed his lips to Hanji's, appreciating their fullness. He began giving her small smooches, noticing that both his and Hanji's breathing had increased. Hanji had wrapped her arms around Levi, pulling him closer to guide his mouth deeper into the kisses. It was like a hidden door had been unlocked inside Levi. He became suddenly overwhelmed with the amount of suppressed affection he held for her. So this is how to tell her without words, he thought. "Hanji," Levi whispered, barely audible. He ran his tongue softly along her lips, relishing her taste. Hanji moaned, causing a tingle to run down his spine. "Levi," protested Hanji but he captured her lips with his once more. "Hanji," he whispered as he kissed her deeper and continued to embellish her with kiss after kiss, only allowing her to breathe as he whispered her name over and over. "Hanji...Hanji...Hanji."

With much will power, she pushed him away realizing the situation was bound to get out of control if she didnt. 'Levi wait' He looked up at her with dizzy eyes waiting for her to continue, " Levi....I’m not sure where this life will take us. I dont know how long we'll live. But if we survive...promise me...when we're finally done with our duties in the Survey Corps...You'll...consider living with me in the woods somewhere" Levi smiled and planted a tender kiss on her forehead. "I don't know..." He pulled away to gaze into her imploring stare. "I don't do promises.." Her face fell at his words. 'But I can make an exception in this case. Promise me you'll survive. Promise me that and I'll agree to the forrest deal" Hange beamed at him before giving him a peck on the cheek. "Only if you're with me till the very end"

"Damn it Four Eyes..." he chided mockingly as he reached up for her chin to give her another adoring kiss. For the first time after the battle in Shiganshina, they both didnt feel lonely that night.

anon!!!!!!! wtf this is so good!!!! i was at the edge of my seat and gripping my heart frantically!!! what a rollercoaster of emotions!!! thank you for blessing my eyes with this💕

#levihan

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emmys-grimoire · 3 years

Text

Lesson 57 analysis + 58 predictions

It's less exciting than anticipated, probably.

tl;dr Summary

We start asleep, but overhearing Satan + Belphegor plotting to prank us. You can choose how to surprise and foil them. They're just here to tell you breakfast is ready. Belphegor finally rewards you with the star of diligence: MC is one star away from completing the exam and earning their sorcerer's license.

Lucifer is eager to make MC a full-fledged sorcerer because he could use them to ward off Solomon's advances, which apparently he's still making. Asmo tells us that Solomon is very picky, and driven, when he's choosing who to pact with.

And he's apparently very adamant about getting Lucifer.

The others note that Mammon and Leviathan are acting unusual, and they clearly are very distracted. We decide to ignore the strangeness for now and answer Barbatos's summons to Hotel Corvo.

And guess who is also being summoned!

We arrive, and Diavolo informs us that there's an evil phantom now haunting the hotel. Not just any ol' phantom, though: a bogeyman.

Apparently they're pretty tough and might have the upperhand against demons. They take the form of what their victims' fear most. They put several hotel guests in the hospital.

We find out that the reason why Mammon and Leviathan are being so weird is because they know they're responsible for the bogeyman being in Hotel Corvo: they went wild with Crowe upgrades and summoned it accidentally, then ordered Crowe to teleport it to Hotel Corvo after it transformed into Lucifer and scared them out of their wits.

Obviously, Lucifer's not happy! Barbatos assigns him to "fix" the problem. The brothers want to leave Mammon and Leviathan to do it on their own, but of course we can't have that.

Diavolo also seems keen on joining, but Barbatos turns on the scary fake smile and Diavolo relents.

Then the others show up! It sounds like it wasn't a planned get-together, but Solomon is eager to make the best of it. He wants to make our quest to banish the bogeyman MC's final trial.

Simeon is initially reluctant, but MC convinces him to join.

And then we're off down a creepy hallway in the hotel. The lesson ends on a cliffhanger as the creature at the end of the hallway suddenly attacks us.

Don't worry, Lucy will save us, probably.

This is the start of the trial of humility.

Analysis

Barbatos's Plan

Probably the most noteworthy thing about this lesson is how clearly Barbatos is setting all this up, even though he has no visibly obvious motivation to do so. He's summoned everyone to the same location under different auspices and he's making sure Diavolo isn't around. We still didn't get any insight on what he and Lucifer talked about, but I think Lucifer's being deliberately steered by him in this direction, too.

Since this doesn't seem to be something he's coordinating with Solomon, it leads me to believe he's either doing something to foil Michael's plan or he's setting up some kind of trap for the guy. For whatever reason, he doesn't want anyone else to catch on just yet.

Simeon's reluctance to stick around and help us is also noteworthy: he probably has Michael plans on the brain, and his intuition is probably trying to warn him. Alas, he can't say no to you.

Also, the BG being a bunch of doors and keys probably means something. Barbatos's room has multiple doors which lead to multiple places, I think: can't remember if they're just portals to different parts of the three realms or different points in time, but if I was a betting gal, I'd put my money on the latter. It doesn't look like his room (it looks like an old hotel), but I wouldn't be surprised if these doors lead to "flashbacks" similar to the ones we ran into back in the fake House of Lamentation.

The Bogeyman and Lucy's fears

It's implied that the bogeyman has powers that may make it difficult for demons in particular to cull. It sounds something an angel might be effective against, though, because Solomon insists Simeon accompany the group just in case "things go south". Though Simeon seems unsure if he can actually be effective against it.

Who do you think is stronger than Simeon, who is an archangel who was once a seraphim? He could just be downplaying his power, too: he's less threatening that way.

The bogeyman also has the ability to take the form of whoever or whatever his victim fears the most: we discover that Mammon and Leviathan fear Lucifer the most when they initially summon it.

This trial is 100% going to involve Lucifer facing what he fears the most. My guesses: it'll be either Father or Michael. They can do the former if MC doesn't necessarily see the same form Lucifer sees (they likely fear something different)... but if whatever form the bogeyman takes is noticeable to everyone observing it, then it's going to be Michael because I don't think the devs are going to give God a tangible form for reasons.

Why Lucifer could fear Michael? Simple: not only was Michael the one capable of bringing him low during the Great Celestial War, but he may know Lucifer better than anyone. All his strengths, but more importantly, all his weaknesses. Lucifer fears being exposed as flawed and imperfect, particularly by those he considers his lessers. It's also not the first time he's expressed something akin to fear re: Michael.

Another possibility is Lilith. He could fear facing her after failed to protect her. That'd be difficult to manage on-screen, though, for obvious reasons. They haven't given Lilith a canon appearance yet and it's in their best interest not to because they've been using MC as the Lilith expy in the Celestial Realm flashbacks.

Whoever or whatever it is, it'll be fun.

Solomon and his pacts

Another thing this lesson did was remind us that Solomon really, really wants a pact with Lucifer. We found out a couple lessons ago that his whole motivation behind forging a pact with Asmo was his interest in Lucifer.

Up until this point, Solomon has been pretty upfront with his desires and usually backs down when they deny his request to make a pact. He asked Belphegor back in Season 1, and he hasn't brought it up again after he was rejected.

This doesn't seem to be the case with Lucifer, though. His rejections have been ignored.

He's being unusually cavalier about this whole situation so maybe he would try to manipulate the current situation to wring a pact out of Lucifer, since he hasn't been deterred yet and something needs to change in order for him to get what he wants.

I don't know. Lucifer might be his blind spot, and something he wants badly enough to step over the line, so to speak. Why he wants Lucifer so bad is another head scratcher, but it could very well be because just because the guy is incredibly powerful.

Or this is just another red herring meant to make us suspicious of Solomon again. I guess we'll see.

Predictions

We have only three lessons left, and they set this lesson up as the lead into the climax, which is going to be later than where it was in season 2. But it can't afford to happen much later. 58 will give us the first half of the climax at least, and I won't be surprised if it wraps it up entirely in one lesson so we can have both 59 and 60 to say our goodbyes. It'll feel pretty rushed otherwise.

Michael's showing up in some capacity. I'm much more willing to bet on a face reveal now than I was at the beginning of the season: we haven't heard anything from him directly since the first flashback -- not even another chat -- and he hasn't even officially introduced himself yet. But we've been hearing all about him this season, and they've made it a point to let us know he's working on something behind the scenes. It feels like most of this season was softening the ground for his arrival, and he'll drop in to get us hyped for the next season.

I think we're headed back to the Celestial Realm, baby!

Luke's not with us at the haunted hotel, so he'll likely remain oblivious about what happened during the Great Celestial War until next season. Simeon's not gonna fall because he'll probably need to be our tour guide, and we have a bunch to explore about his background, too.

I was hoping we'd get some kind of conflict with the Sorcerer's Society as a part of the completion of the exam but I'm not sure if they can fit all that in now. Kind of disappointing: trying to smooth things over with them sounds much more interesting than Mammon + Levi just letting out a literal boogeyman. I don't think they're using their story themes as effectively as they could be. It's just Levi's tech going awry again, like it always does.

How I'll rate this season will depend entirely on what the climax actually turns out to be, but so far I'd rank it higher than season 2 but lower than season 1 because of the re-used tropes. Stop teasing us and just give us meaty conflict already.

#obey me #obey me!#obey me lesson 57 #obey me lesson 58 #obey me lucifer #obey me solomon #obey me barbatos #obey me michael #obey me simeon #obey me season 3 #obey me spoilers #analysis

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