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dutchdread · 3 years

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No offense bro, but why are you always so protective of Cloud? No disrespect to you or anything but I've heard quite a bit of different opinions and theories on Cloud myself and I do agree with the people who say that he takes Tifa for granted. Going through trauma in the past is not really an excuse for his behavior. He also does act like he's the only one who has suffered in his life. Do you have other reason to defend him other than the fact that you "relate" to him? Just wondering.

Sorry for the late reply, my life has basically left no room for hobbies these past months. Your question is hard to reply to because I am not sure what you mean when you say I am protective of him. I guess you mean I defend his actions? Specifically in ACC? Firstly let me state that there is a difference between being a good character and being a nice character, there is also a difference between agreeing with someones actions, or just understanding them. Personally, I never really liked Cloud, especially not when I was younger. A lot of my defense of Cloud doesn't come from me personally liking him, but from me thinking he's a good character. I also think Snape is a good character, but I don't like his actions, and I don't defend them, although I still understand them to a certain degree. I should also say that as I started to understand Clouds character more, I also started liking HIM a bit more, although I still don't like the things he did, and would very likely not be friends with him. But I do understand why he did what he did and cannot be too critical of him because of that. You've probably heard that before you judge someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That's great advice, if you want to judge someone, you should imagine what it would be like to be them, however, I've noticed that too often when people try to walk a mile in someone elses shoes, they refuse to take their own shoes off first. They don't think "what would it be like to be him", they think "what would I do in that position". But Cloud is not you, and you cannot judge him by how you would act, you've not gone through the same things he has, your thought patterns aren't the same etc. This matters because too often I see people judging Clouds actions in ACC, and establishing his motivations by saying things that boil down to "If I were in his position, I would only do those actions if I loved Aerith/didn't love Tifa/whatever". But they're not Cloud, and they're not understanding how Cloud thinks, and that it's different from how THEY think. But like you said, I do see some recognizable elements of myself in Cloud, which is why I do understand his actions, and why I feel relatively certain in defending them, because I see them coming from a good place. It's common for me to react to things in a way that others find counter-intuitive. Let me give you an example, my brother once was mad at me because I had not told him my girlfriend of several years and I had broken up while I did tell a random stranger at the pub. He said that he felt like he wasn't important to me if I told a random stranger but not him. The truth was the exact opposite, I love my brother, and could not bear to face him for some reason, as I told him: "if not caring enough was the problem, then I wouldn't have told a random stranger". I see people exhibit that same lack of understanding when discussing Clouds actions, where they feel like his actions must be the sign of him just being a bad person, or not caring. But ask yourself what is more likely, that Square-enix wants their hero to be a bad person, or that you simply are misunderstanding the character? I understand why people don't get Cloud, Cloud suffers from obvious mental health issues, and mental health issues simply are not something that the general public understands, even today. Not only that, but Cloud went through the most insane series of traumatic events anyone could ever imagine. He had an alien parasite in him, saw his entire town murdered before his eyes, then saw Zack murdered in front of his eyes, then saw Aerith murdered in front of his eyes, and just when he started living a peaceful life he is forced to watch his child succumb to sickness in front of his eyes, and then he finds he himself is dying. All this on the psyche of a man who had had a fear of failure ever since he was a child, spent most of his life essentially in war, and had a severe identity crisis as well. Do you think you can honestly judge him by going "that's not what I would have done"? Would that not be incredibly

presumptuous? Have you suffered from depression as a result of severe post-war PTSD and a lifelong feeling of inadequacy combined with a fear of failure and the belief that many of your loved ones died because you failed and were inadequate? Because that's the context in which you have to view Cloud when watching Advent Children. Saying "Going through trauma in the past is not really an excuse for his behavior" is just incredibly short-sighted, your behavior is determined by who you are, and who you are is determined by what you go through in the past. You can't expect a broken child to become a well-adjusted adult when being a well-adjusted adult is the result of having a normal childhood.

I also don't want to cause offense, but this really is a mindset you should change, because this mindset is one of the most pervasive and damaging ones in our society, it's the one that probably bothers me most when I hear it because it makes zero sense. It's like breaking a robots self-repair unit, and then being angry at it on the grounds that the self-repair unit should have fixed it. It's also very insensitive in general, it's the equivalent of saying "why are you depressed, just stop being depressed", people don't choose to be depressed, people don't choose to have a fear of failure. People don't choose their emotions, they're just there. They can be influenced by behavior over time, sure, but behavior is equally influenced by who you are and your emotions, which, as mentioned before, is determined for a large part by your past. People don't just "snap out of it". They fight and fight and fight, and sometimes they win and break out of the spiral, and sometimes they lose and it breaks them.

FFVII, and especially Advent children, is all about that struggle, and during those struggles you will have high-points, and low-points. FFVII shows all of those. It shows Cloud trying, it shows Cloud wanting, it shows Cloud failing, but it also, ultimately, shows Cloud prevailing. Judging Cloud for not breaking out of the spiral by the time of Advent children, when he was mentally only barely 18 years old, and when he started at the worst place anyone could ever imagine, is just not reasonable. It's the modern day equivalent of "let them eat cake", something that can only be said from the place of privilege of not knowing what the struggles of the people you're critiquing are actually like. So having that out of the way, lets look at Clouds actions from the perspective of Cloud. Cloud is a young boy, and he's in love with the girl next door, he wants to get her to notice him. One day said girl walks up a mountain and he follows, she falls off a bridge and ends in a coma. Cloud followed her because he's in love with her, and he gets the blame from the adults. Cloud internalizes this, and its important to imagine what this must be like for a child, to have the adults all tell him it's his fault that the person he loves ended up hurt. "your fault", "your fault". Afterwards Cloud starts thinking Tifa hates him and starts acting out. I think this is a good moment to point out btw that this child has no father figure. This is the start of his feelings of failure and inadequacy, he blames himself for not being able to protect Tifa, failure number 1, he thinks that if he were strong, he'd be able to protect her, he thinks that if he were like Sephiroth, then even Tifa would have to notice him. Now until this time Cloud is not an asshole, he's a bit of a rebellious kid yes, but notice that he's not a bad kid as much as he's a kid who wants to protect someone, has no direction, and is acting out. So Cloud thinks he's not good enough, but he leaves town confident that he'll become good enough, and even makes a promise to Tifa. All this follows logically from what we know about Cloud, and tells us a lot about how deeply seated these feelings are. Becoming Soldier wasn't a small thing, not some small passion project that he just came up with one day, it's the result of the things that happened in his childhood and he left everything behind make it so. He told the girl he loved, he promised, he boasted. And then he failed. Failure number 2. He comes back to Nibleheim and can't bear to look Tifa in the eye and admit that he couldn't do it, that he's a failure. His entire life so far has revolved around this and he wasn't good enough. So here we have Cloud, not in a great mindset, thinking he's a failure, and what happens? His entire town is murdered by the person he admired, someone he worked with. His Mother is killed, and Tifa, the girl he PROMISED to protect, gets slashed open so badly that apparently she needed to have her ribcage reinforced with metal. I think we can all agree that this by itself would be enough to potentially scar a person for life. (Cloud, not Tifa XD) So what's next for the boy who left town in order to become a hero? Well, he gets captured and experimented on for 4 years, during which his mind and sense of identity is bombarded with memories and knowledge of the lifestream in the form of mako, muddying up his thoughts. Cloud already had a weak sense of self as a result of his childhood, it's why he failed to enter Soldier and now this distaste for who he is makes him extra susceptible to Jenovas influence. The next thing Cloud sees, (he didn't consciously experience the 4 years of mind-fuckery) is his best friend getting killed trying to protect him, because Cloud wasn't strong enough. Failure #3. At this point, in Clouds mind the list of people dead because he could not protect them, because he's a failure, include his mother, his entire town, his best friend, and as far as he knows, the girl he loves. This is his life. His mind is broken, he hates himself, he doesn't want to be himself,

he has a mind-altering parasite inside of him trying to adjust his identity and Clouds just goes "I reject this reality and constitute my own". And why wouldn't he? Why wouldn't he want to live in a fantasy world where he wasn't a failure, where he made it into soldier, where he was cool and successful and not a disappointing failure? Zack tells him to be his living legacy and Cloud goes with it, then he runs into Tifa, Jenova adjusts Cloud further based on Tifas memories of them and rejoined with the girl for whom he joined Soldier Cloud is unconsciously all too willing to play the part. FFVII starts and it doesn't take long for the cracks in his fake persona to show, he meets Aerith, and becomes her bodyguard. He gets to be the hero he always wanted to be. But then, even as "Cloud strife, soldier first class", Cloud is still a failure, the plate still drops, killing thousands, he gives Sephiroth the black materia, he beats up Aerith, and ultimately, fails to save her as well. Tifa was the First Failure, and Aerith was the Final Failure. Even as a soldier, Cloud still couldn't save anyone, he loses even more faith in himself, he doesn't know who he is, he doesn't trust himself, and then when he also loses Tifas trust in who he is, he just breaks and gives over to Jenova/Sephiroth. Even Hojo calls him a failure. Cloud feels like a nobody. Now mentally weakened, under the influence of jenova cells, he gives Sephiroth the black materia AGAIN, and meteor is summoned. Another entry on the long list of moments Cloud can look back on in shame later on in life. He falls into the lifestream and again his psyche is under attack. We know what happens afterwards, Tifa finds him, cares for him, and saves him through his feelings for her. Cloud realizes who he is, realizes he's weak, and goes after Sephiroth without lying to himself. In the end he defeats Sephiroth mentally and is supposedly rid of his direct influence.

But that doesn't mean that this mentally 17 year old is now fine, we should remember these events when analyzing ACC. Cloud has been in constant fighting/war/peril ever since he left home as a child, and is now a traumatized 17 year old in a 21 year olds body. Novels and other materials give us an insight into how Cloud thinks during these times, and how he thinks about himself. We hear him say that he's going to live because that's the only way he can atone for his sins. He talks about wanting to change, and about believing he can change because he now has Tifa. He's a man (boy) who just exited war, and wants to be positive, but is still clearly blaming himself. We see that this initially goes well, we are told that Cloud experiences peace and happiness that he's never experienced before. We're also told about the things that make it go badly, when he has to deliver flowers to the ancient city for instance. While Cloud regained the sense of who he was the belief that he wasn't good enough, that he was a failure, was never solved, if anything it was put on hold until he got his memories back, and now he is forced to deal with it.

While he is no longer directly manipulated by Sephiroth he's still suffering from PTSD and, most notably, survivors guilt. He blames himself for the deaths of Zack and Aerith in particular, and starts visiting the church. Now most people might think it's natural to avoid places that make you feel bad about yourself, but that's not how a depressed person thinks, Cloud thinks he deserves to feel badly he WANTS to punish himself, he WANTS to feel bad. He's ashamed of the moments where he's carefree and laughing with Tifa. Why should he get to be happy when Aerith and Zack are dead because of him? He shouldn't be happy, he should be in pain, he should remember them, not doing so would be an insult to their memories, he must never forget how he failed them! That's how Cloud is thinking. We know of course that this is non-sense, Aerith and Zack wouldn't want this, if anything it's this mindset that is tarnishing the memories of Aerith and Zack, but that's not how a mentally unwell person thinks. Cloud wants to atone, and thinks he finds salvation in Denzel, whom he finds at Aeriths church. He thinks that by saving this life, he can, in some way, make up for all the death he caused. Tifa has a similar belief when she finds out Denzels parents died in the plate crash. And when Denzel joins the family, and Cloud has path towards redemption in his mind, things start getting better again. Because this is the cause of the problems Cloud is having in ACC. When Nojima says:

first off, there’s the premise that things won’t go well between Tifa and Cloud, and that even without Geostigma or Sephiroth this might be the same

This is the conflict he's talking about, he's not saying "Tifa and Cloud are incompatible, it has nothing to do with Sephiroth", he's saying "if Sephiroth didn't show up during Advent children, Cloud and Tifa would still be having problems because Cloud is going through survivors guilt."

But the good times don't last, Denzel has Geostigma and Cloud cannot find a cure, Denzel....is going to die. Cloud, has failed again. Not only that, but Cloud catches Geostigma....Cloud is going to die. And THIS is why Cloud leaves in Advent children. And you have to look at this as Cloud. Cloud said he was going to live to atone for his sins, but instead he's going to die. He won't atone for his sins, even worse, he's going to leave Tifa and Marlene behind. He failed again. He couldn't protect Denzel, he potentially brought an infectious disease into their house as well. Literally all Cloud can think about is that literally everything he's ever tried has ended in failure, everyone he's ever tried to protect, he's failed at. Do you understand how easy it would be for a person like this to fall into the trap of thinking "I deserve to die", "I don't want Tifa and Marlene to see me die", "Tifa and Marlene are better off without me anyway", "they'd be happier if I weren't here". Etc. Now we know this is nonsense, but come on, how many instances have you heard of depressed people genuinely believing that their loved ones would be happier and better off if they just didn't exist? However, throughout the movie, Zack, Tifa, and Aerith, all confront Cloud, and urge him to not give up. Cloud eventually does try again, and ultimately finds redemption not by being stuck in the past, but by letting the past rest and be beautiful (a lesson Cleriths unfortunately never learned). "I never blamed you you know, not once" "I want to be forgiven. By who?" "Isn't it about time you did the forgiving?" In the end, Cloud moves on, and therefore, so do Zack and Aerith. Aerith and Zack walk into the light, Cloud plants flowers on Zacks grave, and lets Zacks buster sword rest in Aeriths church, now no longer rusting, but shining. Instead of the past being a negative reminder, Cloud lets the past be beautiful. Cloud was doing Aerith and Zack a disservice by remembering them the way he did, because it was ruining his life, it wasn't a good thing, but it did come from a good place, from a good man whose ashamed of not being good enough. Yes, it harmed Tifa, people going through these things often do hurt those around them, but it's not because they're bad people, or even weak, but because people are imperfect and Cloud has gone through hell, both internally, and externally. Are his actions really that weird or deplorable? "He didn't even go save the kids!" Yes, he's hesitant about saving the kids, why shouldn't he be? Everyone Cloud tried to protect or save, ended up maimed or worse, or as Cloud puts it: "I can't even save myself". "He left Tifa alone!" Yes, he thinks he's going to waste away and die, can you blame him for not wanting to put Tifa through that and for thinking she'd be better off without him? "He drinks!" Wouldn't you?! Who wouldn't want to forget that stuff? But in the end, He's only gone for about a week, he never intended to harm Tifa, he never physically harmed Tifa or cheated on her, his entire life revolved around wanting to be better for Tifa and blaming himself when he wasn't good enough, how is it reasonable to say this man takes Tifa for granted when the fact that he thinks he has to BE BETTER in order to be worthy of being with her has been a constant throughout his entire life and story? He DOESN'T take Tifa for granted, that's why he's beating himself up, that's why he leaves, not because he thinks he's better than her, or that he'll always have her, or that she'll follow him like a dog, or something like that. But because of the opposite, because he thinks HE is not good enough, that SHE would be better of without him. Saying Cloud takes Tifa for granted, is honestly, simply, wrong. It's 180 degrees the opposite of what is happening in FFVII, the biggest constant in Clouds life, is that he doesn't take Tifa for granted, and I don't understand how anyone could argue otherwise.

#cloti #FFVII #ffvii crisis core #ffvii advent children #ffvii remake

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oh-for-fic-sake · 4 years

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Breeding A Human

Masterlist

READ THE WARNINGS THIS IS DARK!!!

Clark shows up to a a volatile murder and suicide attempt to late, usually everyone waits for him to fly over and save the day, yet one woman takes matters into her own hands and stirs up some troubling feelings in the man of steel at the same time. And it begs the question Whats a kryptonian supposed to do when he finds his mate?

Warnings: Adult situations +18, Smut, Dub con, Non con, Dark themes, Stalker,Emotional manipulation, Yandere,Breeding kink, Forced?Mating bond, Froced Mateing, Obsessive character ,Swearing, Spitting, Slight temperature play.

A/n: Sooo...Working on Trohpy is doing my nut it at the moment...I took a day off of it so I can go back with fresh eyes tomorrow but I'm in a yandere mood still so how about a dark supaman x reader smutshot that sort of wrote itself?

Taglist: @two-unbeatable-beaters @magdelen69 @iloveyouyen

You watched gasping in horror as police surrounded the desperate man. He was on the bridge like on the bridge ready to jump into the water of the bay below. He waved a gun around pointing it at any who approached warding them off. As if that wasn't bad enough he had a child in his arms, his child she was screaming scared stiff, she couldn't have been older then four five wearing a thick wool pale pink dress, screaming to her daddy 'to get her down she didn't like it'. The bridge although now closed was packed the crowd grew as pedestrians gathered to watch, not to see if the police could talk him down god no. They watched to see if superman would show wanting to get a look at the godlike man. To get a video or photo to put on their social media.

The desperate man was shouting threatening to do it. The officers were shouting warning him to put down his weapon. but you seemed to be the only one to listen to what the man was saying.'If I can't have her neither can she!' thrown in to his frantic rant. You got the gist of his issue, he had either lost custody or the mother was with holding his daughter from him, either way he'd felt the need to kidnap his own daughter and threaten her life in a desperate attempt to be with her somehow. You were pushed back into the railing as the crowd moved growing as everyone came to see the fuss many holding up their phones filming what was promising to be stand off.

You were sickened It was clear the man needed help not a fucking audience not wanting to be apart of it you turned walking away. Then your stomach dropped. There was a second of panicked yelling then bullets you turned in time to see the man fall limply off the railing his little girl screeched as she plummeted with him to the freezing deep water below that separated metropolis and Gotham. Everyone gasped moving to get a look, you ran to the railing looking as the two hit the water and disappeared. Superman hadn't showed in time. You watched as it dawned on the people around you that no one was surfacing. The man had been shot and the little girl was probably being held under by the current. No one did anything! they just watched they were standing by as a little girl drowned!.

You quickly moved you were a strong swimmer you might be able to get her. Without much of a thought you shrugged your coat off throwing your bag and climbed hearing the shouts of the officers to stay still or they'd arrest you. You ignored them diving off the railing before any one could stop you taking a deep breath as you fell down to the water. It was a shock, the freezing water hit you like a brick wall but you kept going. You knew these waters you'd been swimming them years doing lengths back and forth across them as training, the current in this part was dangerous for anyone who didn't or couldn't swim it swooped down, she would be deeper.

You kicked your feet hoping she was alright that you'd find her. You saw a movement a light fabric, it was her! then kicked your feet faster she appeared slowly kicking and clawing at the water fighting to beat the current. She reached for you kicking wildly she wouldn't last long, you followed her descent reaching her and latched onto her. She grabbed you painfully tight you moved her as you let the current carry your legs below you turning you upright. Your hands found her legs and pulled wrapping them around your waist she hung on digging her little shoes into you making you wince. You ignored it and made a quick dash for the surface you moved quickly over coming the current that swept to the bed of the bay. you could fight it but a tiny thing like her had no hope. You watched as the surface got closer, the sun brighter glittering on the surface then as quick as you could you broke the surface. She gasped gulping huge breaths crying and coughing up water her tiny body heaving you looked up everyone had there phones out filming. You felt your blood boil, this is what we have come to? watching, posting and sharing instead of helping! this was life or death and they were doing nothing!

You looked to the girl she was wet, cold and scared.But alive. You shushed her treading water kicking fast to keep you both above the waves. "You're okay! I got you I got you!" she cried nodding coughing a little holding onto you for dear life pleading not to let he go. You moved trying to see how you were going to get out either side of the bridge was tall docks no ladders or access. Normally you'd swim up river slightly to the bay there was pedestrian access but she was to cold as it was shed freeze and get hypothermia, she was already shivering lips turning blue.

It was the shouts of the crowd that alerted you to his arrival, he was above you both before thinking you moved trying to hoist the girl up to him."Take her quick! Shes freezing already!" he looked at you confused, didn’t you need help to? normally people clambered to be saved by him. He moved and bent down hoisting you both out of the water with one hand then moved cradling you in one arm holding the small girl on his hip.

"Hold on tight you two" you both did she squealed as you were rushed through the air within seconds you were back on the bridge he landed softly by the officers but didn't release you.

"Are you alright? not hurt are you? Either of you?" you shook your head looking to the child who also shook her head

"C-cold" she mumbled he rubbed her back trying to get some warmth you wriggled trying to get out of his grip not wanting someone to use it as a photo op but he didn't let you down. If anything he tightened his arm around you it could have been taken as a reprimand?. A paramedic came over with a blanket and wrapped up the shaken child he let the woman take her. You heard her cry out as her mother rushed forward clutching her tight. You smiled she will be fine now.

"Is she okay?" You looked seeing another paramedic standing before you. You made to jump down out of his hold but once again he held firm and twisted you away slightly. He moved looking down you froze what was?...was he looking at you? Your suspicions were confirmed when he spoke.

"Shes fine nothing broken or fractured just cold" you flushed unsure what to make of a man, a stranger just eyeing up your insides.

"I will get a blanket for her"

"No need I will take care of her... She just needs to get home a warm bath and bed" the woman nodded uncertain it would seem you both thought it a little strange you turned and found him once again staring at you intently you cleared your throat.

"Could erm could you put me down please..I want to get out of here...Go and warm up somewhere" he let go of your legs letting them slip down to the floor you were tall for a woman he noted as you stood full height you came up to his nose. He blinked to be honest the staring was unsettling he held you tight to himself still reluctant to release you. You managed to somehow twist away from him making him grunt at you softly . You moved cursing as finally the cool water began taking its toll on you and you shivered.

You spoke as you worked on getting as much water as you could out of the tight knit sweater you wore

"Thank you for getting us out...I wasn't sure what to do she wouldn't have made it to the stairs by the docks" he looked at you softly but there was an admiration there. His staring was now different almost as if he had decided something.

"I'm just sorry I wasn't there fast a enough...Luckily you stepped in, she's alive because of you... But you were the only one who tried to help, put yourself at risk why?" you blinked at him not expecting his question.

"I wasn't going to watch her die! I'm not like them." you motioned to everyone filming and taking photos. He looked at the crowd with a blank look then back to you he frowned a little still not understanding. You sighed giving up on your sweater and looked up at him.

"I just..I don't know I mean you help people cos you know you can right? That’s what this was, fights, guns I can't deal with that but I'm a strong swimmer so I could help her not that spectacular or brave or what ever"

"But...It is no one else here tried just you, normally people don't bother they wait for me you didn't, its nothing to be sniffed at" you frowned at him getting annoyed now.

"I know that and it pisses me off.No offense but just because your here doesn't mean we have to stop trying to help ourselves! no one else was going to get to her and that water is dangerous I've been swimming it for years! she would have died...I had to do something I couldn't just watch when I knew what was going to happen.

"It was almost suicide...Then even in the water you tried handing her to me you didn't you want me to get you both out?" you shrugged moving your hands around yourself rubbing up and down really shaking now wishing he let the woman give you a fucking blanket as your clothes clung to you drenched, the cold was seeping into your bones creating an uncomfortable ache. You’d never know that he had wanted you to slide back up against him, he wanted to warm you with his own body heat.

Clark regarded you carefully there was something, he couldn't place his finger on it but you just got to him. He had seen you in the water grabbing the girl and surfacing. There was instantly something, when you broke through the surface his world stopped, he stopped mid flight, he could smell you a scent he has never happened across before his eyes had picked up on you from the city, honed in like a beacon he wanted you. He wasn't sure in what way but he did. He wanted to just scoop you up and fly you off somewhere anywhere just as long as you was with him. The need was almost a pain, a pit in his chest. It was a pull vibrating in his nerves that was constricting and consuming the hole in his chest making it hard to breath, an impulse to just take you, but he didn't understand whether it was to take you away? or to pin you down and take you.

That was when he snapped out of it enough to come and actually get you out of the water. Once he held you he didn’t want to let go you were cold shuddering yet offered the girl up first. You were beautiful and kind; you must have been out of all those people standing watching you were the one to make the leap. It was you who dived in after the child, that says a lot about your character.

He licked his lips really taking you in tall for a woman tho smaller than him. He swept his gaze across your form appreciating the way your clothes clung to you showing off a curvy supple form your nipples tempted him as they stood out from the cold. With your arms crossed you'd pressed the two mounds together showing off a delicious full bust. He was so invested in undressing you with his eyes he nearly missed your answer."I forgot..Didn't think I just knew she had to be out of the water asap" whatever he was going to say was cut off as an officer quickly came up behind you and grabbed your arms pulling them behind you painfully. You yelped as your arms were twisted behind you. You frowned did he just growl at the officer?

"Y/n Y/l/N you are under arrest under section-" you couldn't believe it! under arrest for saving someone, you looked around fearfully you'd never been in trouble before. Would you need a lawyer? How will you get home? Oh god how much is this going to cost?

Clark growled watching you wince and panic obviously frightened as the officer began handcuffing you placing you under arrest. Without thinking he placed a hand on the mans arm squeezing making the man wince then flinch as the man of steel cast a fierce look to him. Everyone froze including Clark. What the fuck was he doing? Protecting whats his! he answered his own thought immediately it shocked him but he understood. She was his now. He was unsure what being his meant but the possessive thought felt right, natural maybe this was just some new instinctual thing? that came with age. After all he wasn't human maybe kryptonian's had something like a second puberty? all he knew was that the new the need to protect you was absolute and unwavering, he would not let you leave with this officer. No. You were leaving with him.

"Su-Superman Sir?" Clark flicked his blue gaze from his woman to the officer a wave of anger? need?...He wasn't sure what to call it but it was strong and all consuming.

"No, I'm afraid I can't let you do that. If it wasn't for her that little girl would have drowned and I'm not letting you arrest her for it" the man trembled under the hero's stern gaze then looked to his sheriff for help the other officer was at a loss, the hero had never intervened in an arrest before and it wasn't like the police could over come him.

"I'm not arresting her for that, I'm arresting her for jumping, base jumping off public highways is an offense...Its against the law jumping from the bridge-" you twisted in his grip

"I only jumped to save her! I didn't see you diving in to help!" you gasped as superman silenced you he shushed you quickly.

"Your not arresting her at all" the officer was stuck he eyed him and hesitated "She has to be-"

"Your not arresting her" and with that said he held on to your arm pressing a hand to the officers chest and with a quick gentle shunt the officer was no longer holding you. He was stumbling back Clark felt a sense of pride as you held his wrist a gentle reassuring hold once making sure you was unharmed he turned glaring down at the police.

He moved holding your wrist twisting you behind on of his shoulders keeping you there becoming a barrier between you and the officers. The message was clear. They would be going through him before they got to you, you could hear many women in the crowd swooning as the man of steel protected you, others wondered out loud if you knew him or better yet were you dateing him?. You blinked looking up at him in awe, he going to stop them arresting you? go against the law? The officer was at a loss and looked for help from the others his sheriff stepped in.

"I suppose since she did save the poor girl we can overlook her infringement...Can't we officer Barns?" the officer nodded you sighed in relief Superman looked to the hand bag and coat on the floor by police.

"Is that yours?" you nodded meekly and in seconds you was cradled in his arms bag on your stomach and coat draped over your freezing form and you were both off.

"Close your eyes" you did quickly squeezing his arm on your tummy tight as he left the scene.

Clark shook his head as he flew to the city landing on one of the lower buildings. He needed to stop, to calm him self his thoughts were raging, he found himself thinking of where he could keep you,where he could put you so you'd be safe. He had almost changed direction to the fortress the only thing stopping him was the fact you were wet and cold as it is your freeze in moments and that was not an option. Something was wrong with him, he felt pulled to you unlike anything he had ever experienced before. You shivered looking up at him quizzically when he didn't put you down if anything he clutched you tighter...Was he smelling you? you shook your head must be and alien thing.

"Where do you live? I'll take you home you need to dry off and warm up." you blinked at him his voice was different more of a growl that reverberated through you, you chose to ignore it and quickly stuttered out your address through chattering teeth. He nodded he knew the place with a quick 'hang on' you were off again withing moments you’d landed outside your small house with a light thud, the kids playing on the street stared gobsmacked as the hero placed you on your feet carefully.You wobbled feeling drained your body more concerned with shivering and conserving heat more then trying to work, but he was quick to support you ,you flushed uneasy as he stared at you his breathing faster then regular but maybe flying took it out of him? you didn't know.

"You go have a bath...Warm not hot you'll get ill, then get to bed take care okay?" you nodded thanking him once again he didn't leave until you were in your house safe and sound.

He hovered high hidden in the clouds above your home looking around for some reason committing its location to memory, drawing maps and estimations in his head of how far away you was from his home and work. Something about you had captured him, it felt primal a pull ingrained into his being instinct wanting him to watch over you, protect you. He looked down into the roof of your home seeing right threw into your bathroom. You was doing what you were told. Good. He watched you for a few moments admiring you as you stripped naked, he could hear you grumbling to yourself as you pulled a soaked pantyliner from your underwear folding it up in a nappy bag then binning it.That must have been the scent drawing him to you, you was fertile, ripe. He shivered watching still entranced as you lowered yourself into the hot water yelping.

He sighed and grit his teeth you hadn't listened properly, you should have heeded him. He watched as you moved the wash cloth across your chest and tummy. For a self proclaimed swimmer you were curvy and soft, the type of woman you'd want to make a mother out of. He froze and smiled. Yes pregnancy would suit you well. He was overcome with the overwhelming urge to go and do just that. To breed you. The shiver down his spine and low growl emitting from his chest had settled it. That’s what he wanted, the root of these urges he wanted to fuck. Not just fuck he wanted to plough into your ripe soft body and impregnate you, force you to take his load until you was full, to rut into you until you were shaking and wailing! he groaned drawing in a deep breath through his nose taking in your tantalizing scent. Oh yes. He wanted to fill you and watch you grow with his seed. Shaking his head he moved he had to get out of here before he did do something he really shouldn't.

You woke up in a sweat heaving deep breaths quickly turning on your beside light sitting up pressing the hair out of your face. You did this every night now, it was maddening. You couldn't sleep soundly not since the bridge incident, you'd left it three weeks before you went to the doctor's. He gave you some pills to help with anxiety and sleeping some for sleep but neither seemed to be working. You were being watched you just knew, you felt haunted day and night by something not someone, something.

Call it a sixth sense or vibes but you knew what you felt. Eyes watching you, undressing you a hungry gaze that felt powerful and frightening. You tried telling yourself you was paranoid or had some fucking ptsd shit over seeing that little girl almost drown, but you knew it wasn't. It was worse at night during the day it wasn't there as much you couldn't feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end or the cool chill down your spine. Someone was watching you inside your house, you didn't know how or why but you were certain.

You began closing your curtains and keeping them closed even buying all new wooden venitian blinds but still they were watching. It terrified you. You curled up into yourself crying rocking back and forth. Three months, three long months this had been happening, you lost sleep you didn't eat to the point you were loosing weight and constantly looking over your shoulder but you never saw anyone. Never saw anything just the same four walls of your home like always.

"Please...please I know your there stop...Just stop I don't know what you want from me" you whispered into your folded arms cradling your knees. You screamed jumping at a knock on your window, looking up you saw someone you thought you'd never see again.

He hovered there dressed in his suit of blue and red hope splayed across his chest. He looked worried? you moved slowly to the window opening it for him. He moved so quickly you could barely register and landed behind you softly.

"Are you alright? I heard you as I was passing thought I'd check it out." you nodded to him then shook your head no you were not alright. You was alone,scared and vulnerable. Unable to hold back your sobs any longer. He moved quickly wrapping you in his arms tightly, you held onto him willing yourself to stop your dramatic crying.

He took a deep breath placing a hand to your head scratching your scalp softly as much as he hated to admit it he was enjoying the way your sobs vibrated through him, the proof of how close he was holding you, that you let him hold you,let him comfort you.

"Whats happened? Are you hurt? Please tell me so I can help" he didn't need to ask he knew what was wrong somehow you had picked up on him you were perceptive for a human it was good, it would ensure his children's safety when he wasn't around. He wasn't stalking you. He wasn't stalking. He was guarding you, his mate. He had finally put a name to describe what you were. You were his mate you must be! he didn't react this way to other females his need to breed you was overwhelming and he was stumped on what to do about it.

He had tried to get the ball rolling by coming by asking for an interview as Clark the reporter but you'd shut him down and slammed the door in his face. He was angry at first, how dare you try to shut him out?!of all people you were his. You should welcome him! you should offer everything you had to him bend to his will as and when he wanted.

However once he calmed down he had reasoned with himself you didn't know it was him so he could forgive you for that. It was good in a way you'd shut out what you thought was another male. So past all the anger he was happy you'd thrown out Clark because you were waiting for him. You were faithful to him. He was here at least once every night protecting you from... Well he wasn't sure but he was protecting you from something. You shook harder sobs overcoming you, you couldn't speak. He moved slipping his arm below your knees scooping you up and sat on the bed cradling you.

"shh its okay I'm here I'll protect you I promise...Did you have a bad dream?" you shook your head and tried wriggling out of his arms.

"N-No I didn't its...I'm...Someones been watching me...Their here every night and I don't know who?! or-or where they are but they are here always! I'm scared! so scared and tired I can't sleep and everyone I've spoken to thinks I'm mad! but I'm not, I'm not mad!" he sighed looking around the room rocking you still letting you catch your breath.

He felt bad but still he had to be here. He had to look after you. He made a show of turning his head casting his eyes a full 360.

"There isn't anyone here but us...Tell you what how about I watch out for you hmm? Make sure no one bothers you" you blinked up at him hopeful.

"Yo-you'd do that for me? Really you don't think I'm going round the twist?" He smiled down at you petting your hair lightly tucking it from out of your face. A shadow was cast over his face making him look sinister for a second before he moved tilting his head at you.

"I will do one better, I will come over every night..I have been meaning to come and see you..To see if you was okay and I have been...well I-I err just wanted to see you again but... I had no reason to, honestly I can’t get you off my mind, I’ve tried but your...you’ve enchanted me...wanted to see you I’ve past by many times but how do I... you know. I can't exactly ask to take you out to dinner now can I?.." You froze what? Dinner? He wants to? Did he just admit to having a crush? You flushed blinking confused.

He grinned at you listening to your pulse it quickened your eye blew wide. You were interested. Good. It would be easier.

"What you mean you-" He placed a finger to your lips.

"Shh not now just get some sleep I will watch over you tonight and see you tomorrow." You let out a breath frowning slightly.

"What you mean stay in here? What about the city? If something happens you need to go you cant just..." you trailed off as he laid you in your bed tucking you in leaving no room for arguing. That’s what he loved about you from watching guarding you he had noticed you were pure, kind, your moral compass was true and you held everyone to the same standard you wanted people to be better. For society to be better.

He smiled as he moved the covers over your confused form enjoying tending to you. "No Its not proper for me to stay in this room just yet...I will be up there" he nodded his head to the roof above you.

"I will watch over the house, if I’m needed in the city then I will leave and be back before you know it...No one will harm you, not while I'm around I promise" he sat on the side of the bed pulling your comforter higher pressing his hands along your sides making sure you were snug.

"If you need me just call" he leant over, you thought he was going to kiss you but instead he leaned to your head and smelt you again.

"Sweet dreams...Like I said I'm just outside I wont let anything hurt you mate...Okay...Trust me?" You nodded meekly and he grinned then just like that he was gone.

You stayed like that for what seemed hours you looked straight up to your ceiling. It was unnerving and reassuring having him guard you but why? Why would he do such a thing? You got the feeling he didn't do this for everyone. But then again he did sort of admit to having feelings for you. Maybe he did like you and he had a point he cant just ask you out so maybe this was his comprise. You got drowsy as your thoughts began mingling confused half sentences made you feel tired. You needed some sleep you could think in the morning and you was feeling much better that he was here or said he was here. Even tho the eyes were watching you still, the feeling was there but you could finally sleep knowing that someone was there for you, you had no doubt that he would interfere if something did happen. By this point you didnt have it in you to question why he was helping you again or what he meant earlier any more you just had to rest, thankfully it wasn't to long before you fell into a restless sleep.

He hovered above your home once again watching and listening pleased with himself. He had approached you things had gone well he made himself clear. well he thought it was clear, he would look out for you because you were his mate, he even called you by your title and you did argue you just accepted it, accepted him. He felt like he was on cloud nine his eyes looked down to you seeing you settle, wriggling into the covers taking glances up as if you could see him there protecting you. Once you was asleep he stayed for hours, there was no need really you were frightened by him but he would overlook that infavour of cherishing this moment, the moment when you had allowed him to guard you, you were down there you knew he was looking after you until the sun was beginning to rise. Nothing happened in the city he laid back lounging in the air absorbing the rays from the sun they would make up for his lack of sleep.

But finally and regretfully he had to leave. He sighed and left with a loud crack across the sky. He wanted you to know he had stayed. He swerved in the air making the short trip home. He was happy he had made progress and now could approach you each night without any suspicion or reason he could be near you and in time he would hold you again, caress you and love you. he changed quickly and got ready for his day at the office a smile on his face life was good.

You awoke with a start hearing a huge sound like thunder but not.it took you a moment to get your bearings but as soon as you did last night came back to you. Superman, he was here he helped you and watched over you for the night. That sound it wasn’t thunder It was him. You smiled slightly still unsure of what had actually happened last night but he must have kept true to his word and stayed the whole night, for you. You felt lighter that feeling was gone you could breath. Slowly you got out of bed making your way to the bathroom to begin your day. Feeling dare you say at ease, a tiny slither of hope crept through you, could this be the start of you finally getting back to normal. You bloody hoped so.

He spent the next few weeks frequenting your house sometimes you'd invite him in and you'd talk until you got tired then he would put you to bed..It was sweet and comforting. You were always nervous but he assumed that was just because you liked him. He had butterflies in his stomach when he saw you to. He had looked around your home smiling taking in your taste in decor. You had style homey and chic all in one, you'd do wonders with the house he was preparing once he moved you in.

He saw you as much as he could even following you in town a few times. He hadn't had to save you which was a shame; not that he wanted you in danger god no! but it would be nice to have an excuse to swoop in and save you once in a while. he couldn't very well walk down the street with you or date you in a normal sense but things were going swimmingly, but being unable to date you in public was also probably for the better. He did not like some of your acquaintances men mostly. He warn you to stay away from them they wasn't good for you but you’d ignored him.

He will admit he was displeased, he despised it but it would seem you got on with men more then women, you probably wouldn't if you had any idea of the things they whispered among themselves. Three of the men in your group of friend's wanted to fuck you, two of which had a fucking bet. Literally they wanted to see who'd fuck you first. It was a bet that they wouldn't ever accomplish, if they went to far he would make sure they wouldn't have anything to fuck a woman with.

No one was ever going to fuck you apart from him. And if they did force him to intervene...Well number one, he could do it so fast they would never know who or what fucking happened, two they'd probably bleed to death before getting help and three if they did survive and somehow knew it was him? no one would believe them. He was superman. A hero, the earths symbol of hope. Poster child of justice and peace. Who would believe that he flew down and ripped a couple of guys cocks off. Not many.

He didn't even like your toys, he wasn't jealous but he would rather you just come out and tell him. Just ask him to fuck you, to breech your luxurious feminine body and mark you, fill you until you was heavy with his seed;his child. You hadn't ever called out to him verbally as you withered and grinded on your selection of toys. But he supposed that was because you thought he would hear. You was a shy thing when it boiled down to it. But you were his, his mate, his other half so it was obviously him you were thinking of in those rare moments you allowed yourself. There has been a few mishaps in the beginning of your relationship he would admit. You was reluctant to let him touch you but now you'd gotten used to it! He could hold you to him and give you small caresses and such you had panicked when he tried kissing you, you were skittish he let it slide after all you he could wait for you, you'd come around. Besides he thought it was cute that you resisted him a little.

Currently he was guarding you in town, you'd left the house an hour ago. He had heard you enter the city and immediately dropped out of the office to investigate, he didn't like you out and about alone...or with your friends for that matter you were safe at home. For some reason you'd come over to the business park in the city he was curious as to why you'd venture out here normally you did shopping online now and only left your house when absolutely necessary. With a quick jerk to his head he looked down at the sound of sirens and screeching tires. What? Ah! it was an accident waiting to happen... Well might as well sort this out hey if what he does causes traffic you might even agree to a lift from him!

An overzealous police chase was speeding down the main street ducking in and out of the traffic causing a panic, they were coming from down town, jewellery thieves from what he could make out on the radios. Perfect. He ascended twisting then shot down landing on the car crushing the hood and flipping it before it could hit anyone but parts of the car flew through the air.

It landed in the center of the busy road glass fuel and oil everywhere. The road would be cornered off for clean up. So excited about the possibility of flying you home he had come in to fast again... He sighed trying to hide a grin, he would have a reason to see you in broad daylight! Around other people they would see him with you! They would know your his! he could flaunt your budding relationship. He tried containing his glee looking to the police unit who were surrounding the upturned car he moved flipping it back onto its wheels with a single hand before nodding dutifully to the officers as they thanked him others screaming orders to the criminals in the car. He looked around allowing the crowd a few moments to snap their silly pictures then shot back off into the clouds, he had more important things to do.

Now where had you got to... He closed his eyes listening he smiled picking up on your sweet melodious voice. To his left. He grinned moving lower to hear what you were up to as he listened his blood ran cold his body shook with fear and rage. Absolutely fucking not!

You were wrong! So so wrong! You hadn't got back to normal if anything you were so far from your normality that you believe you was going mad! The only time you felt sane and safe was when a certain kryptonian was around you. And even then that was taking a turn for the worst.

It had been another few weeks and since having the hero in your house you now had the horrid hunted feeling when out and about town in daylight which was new. Sure you could sleep at night somewhat now Superman Kal was there with you. You'd developed what you could call a friendship of a sorts. It was weird at first he did strange things. He sniffed you a lot and seemed to always have to be touching you, hugging ,holding hands he always had a palm on you or brushing up against him. You'd resisted at first but he was...persistent not in a bad way, it was like he couldn't help it like he was a hugger by nature sort of thing.

He was kind and gentle but he, there was something that sent red flags and you couldn't put your finger on it. He hadn't hurt you or insulted you but he seemed bossy? And passive aggressive he gave you what he called advice but it felt more like orders and got huffy if you didn't follow his 'advice' like a man child. And he did have a thing about safety. Its not safe to go there its not safe to do that bla bla bla. According to him you should just stay within your house and wait for him to come over.

Which is what you did in the end after a while of his griping you gave in. You found yourself being drawn in, you trusted him so you began to listen now you'd only leave the house if you absolutely needed to. Even though he said he made sure to always listen out for you. You'd laughed him off saying that was silly he couldn't be there all the time, but his face was set stern.

"Of course I can! I'm always here for you I could pick out your heartbeat, your voice from across the continent if I wanted to..No matter when or where if you need me just shout I will be there to protect you, I'm always here to protect you mate." It was weird and not once has he ever called you by your name it was always your pet name. Mate. You didn't ever call him out on it, you thought it was just a term for your friendship...The English always call there friends mate maybe he had been abroad and picked up on some slang, I mean if you could fly across the world in minuets you'd definitely spend time in other countries!

It was only another week later that you became worried, your paranoia had began to get out of control and you had begun to cling to him now, he didn't seem to mind in fact he seemed to enjoy your new found need for him to be around you. He held a smug look as you'd tell him he was the only thing keeping you together right now, that you were so grateful to him. But in the background you knew it was doing no good you were trapped. It was a slow descent into madness, paranoia and anxiety was the only constant, you felt sick when alone and had multiple panic attacks over the smallest things, like having to leave the house to get the mail. You'd spoke to him about getting help, seeing a therapist but he had persuaded you not to. He said he would help you through it, he would be here for you and that you can talk to him you believed him. A few days later when you'd argued with him over it he had stated quite bluntly that you couldn't afford it and you didn't need the money worry on top of everything else. It was a vindictive move on his part but once again he was right so you let it go. All his comment did was get you into an even worse state.

He was right you didn't need to pay someone to talk to not when you had him, he was a good listener he always listened he never judged and when he did throw in his opinions it was always with your best interest at heart..On the topic of money he had also convinced you to stop your medication

"It obviously isn't doing you any good, why pump your body with drugs if they aren't helping you mate?...You don't need them please....Don’t you trust me?" had you not been in such a vulnerable state you would have questioned him but no once again you trusted him to have your best interests at heart.

But through all this nothing was mentioned about his crush which you was thankful for. Your not to sure how you can turn down the man of steel but you'd have to. In the state you were in you couldn't pursue a relationship you had to get better!. You thought he had understood that without needing to say it. But then there was the attempted kiss a few days ago.

He was at your bedroom window, you'd opened it desperate for his visit carving to speak with him for a bit. You needed the company you had isolated yourself in fear of everyone around you, one of them was the culprit, the start of all this! you couldn't trust them but you could trust him. He protected you he helped you and listened. You liked to think you acted normal around him but in reality you knew he knew how sick you was. You'd leaned out a little to far for his liking and he had grabbed your shoulders and pressed you back gently.

"Hey! no mate back inside you'll fall I know you will I can't have that!" You giggled putting your hands on his once sliding then off. You leaned out again closer towards him.

"You saying you wouldn't catch me Kal? Hurt my feelings there-" he growled interrupting you with a fierce snarl

"Of course I would mate! I will always catch you! Never ever say something that stupid to me again!" You laughed him off waving your hand brushing off the words as banter not registering how serious he sounded. You'd been alone for to long now and just wanted some interaction,you loved his visits it was the only time you felt safe.

"I was teasing geez I know you wont let anything happen to me by now you love me to much~" he had just hummed a soft look across his face mumbling under his breath.

"I do" he licked his lips leaning in faster then you could really stop him, you tried shimmying back yourself back into the room but he held your wrist keeping you half hanging out. He stopped a hairs breath away from your lips. You froze tensing worried he would do it, that he would try and take a step you didn't want. He moved slower but you managed to dodge twisting your face pretending peek back at the clock in your room. He sighed as his lips met your cheek instead of their intended target. He moved his lips to your ear and spoke in a low baritone voice, he sounded disappointed.

"Get back inside, go to bed you need sleep. You had an early morning I will see you tomorrow mate." He was gone before you could see the dire look across his face

You shook your head after he had left, you panicked you were devastated what if he didn't come back? what if that was it? you'd never see him again? you had been a wreck that day crying yourself into hysterics thinking that was it! that night he had been a few hours late only adding to your turmoil. When he had arrived he quickly wrapped you up in his arms enjoying how you clutched at him so desperately. It may have been cruel to let you dwell in your pain a few hours longer, but he had to, it was a punishment for the way you'd refused him. He needed you to realize you were his. You needed him as much as he needed you. When he had come around he acted as if nothing happened ignoring the obvious rejection he simply ignored what he didn't like. He didn't like the almost kiss, didn't like that you'd pulled away so in his eyes it didn't happen. And that in itself was enough for you to not want a relationship like that with him.

It was then you decided enough was enough, as much as he had tried to help it just wasn't working you needed a change a new start you had made the drastic decision to move back home to central city. You were still being observed you didn't feel safe in your own home and that was something you couldn't see changing so today you were off to see an estate agent. You hadn't spoke to him about it, honestly you were dreading his reaction but he could always visit you travel wont really be an issue the talk was going to uncomfortable but it was necessary you couldn't stay here, not any more it was making you sick so today you was looking at property options you owned your house so was going to see how much they would buy it for. You gulped as you made your way out of your home anxious and shaking, this is why you were leaving something as simple as leaving the house brought a terror in your stomach so sickening you could barely function. You hoped you calmed down by the time you got to the office...But you doubted it. Once you were near the city that whole in your chest opened again your windpipe clenched painfully making it hard to breath. You were going to panic! you sat back on the seat of the bus you were stuck in traffic going nowhere fast. You wavered taking deep breaths closing your eyes just about ready to cry then you heard the gasps of 'superman' you turned quickly looking to the sky seeing him hovering looking down to your direction almost as if he was looking at you. You sighed and nodded to yourself. he was there. he was looking out for you.you calmed down inside you that feeling was still there that awful awful prey like feeling, but knowing he was around made you feel slightly better.

You sat with the woman brushing of your anxiety being down to the move. you looked at what they would effectively swap your home for, they were nice most in the suburbs two beds one caught your eye. it was a detached three bed house nice yard and a quaint neighborhood. You knew the area there was plenty of job opportunities in the local high street great transport links. you smiled.

"I like that one...Its a block away from my parents where I grew up... could I go see it? I am definitely interested." she smiled brightly as you said that seeing a sale in her sights.

"Yes of course..Its a lovely area as I’m sure you know very friendly which is hard to come by in these times...its around $25 000 under budget for what we would offer you on your place so you would also get change" she laughed you forced a chuckle just wanting this over asap.

"Wait what? I only paid around $140.000 for mine...Why the sudden change?." she chuckled

"Since Superman's appearance house prices in Metropolis have shot up no one moves out but everyone wants to be here to get a look at him!...We are the home to the only known alien on earth..People want to be here they believe its now one of the safest places in the country if not earth" you nodded it did make sense when she put it like that.

"Well at least I could decorate... is it empty now?" she smiled nodding shuffling the papers taking away the other houses seeing as you wasn't interested.

"Yes it is, ready to be moved into, if you like it and all goes well you will be able to pick up the keys in say three to four weeks? we even have a moving service for an extra fee packing delivering and unloading." you nodded looking a the pale green painted house. Yes you would go look. You sat and arranged a visit for a weeks time.

You left feeling lighter yet only for a few seconds when you got to the main road you screamed as before you could even blink and jump back at the sound of his violent landing Kal had grasped you roughly and took off again leaving a huge crater. You screamed as he did one huge swoop across the city to your home. You swore at him as he landed pushing you to your door. you turned to curse him out but stopped.

"What are you?" he cut you off snarling a single word twisting you roughly to the door.

"IN!" you gulped swallowing for the first time you were scared of him, frightened you moved opening the door with shaky hands and stepped inside he followed closely rage flooding his system. he directed you to your living room sitting you down.

"Your not leaving me mate...Your not going anywhere!,You are mine! My mate MINE!" he shouted making you squeak and flinch reminded of just how strong he was as his voice alone hurt your ears. He paced before you for a second then sat on your coffee table and leaned forward sharply pointing a finger at you.

"Y-You wasn't...Your not trying to leave me are you? I-I we were just about to start our life together..Why? Why would you do this? You love me..You have to I've seen it! Please this is a joke tell me this is a joke?..a cruel cruel joke!..Is it? TELL ME!" you shook as he grabbed you tears were in his eyes frantic his grip hurt.

"Kal Please! please calm down listen to me! I was going to tell you I'm just going to look at it! I'm not leaving, not yet anyway" he growled standing crouching over you pressing you tight back to the sofa you try to avoid his hot gaze.

"Your not leaving! you not going anywhere EVER!" you gasped out a sob frightened as he lost his cool you went to speak but he cut you off.

"You are mine, my mate, my one, you were made for me and you will stay with me! I thought I'd been clear! why do you think I was watching over you? I told you I couldn't stop thinking of you after the bridge. I love you. And you love me! I've seen it smelt it, the way you wither under your own touch, you do it for me...Tell me! tell me its me you think of, me! when you let your hands wander over yourself. I know you hold back your careful not to call out for me, you know I'm just above you, your shy you can't be blamed my love but I know...You don't have to hide anymore" he leaned close pressing himself between your thighs forcing your heat to press on him. You struggled to keep up with his dizzying rant.

Then you went cold. He had seen you touch yourself? He had been above the estate agents? and the night he came to you...Slowly it began to dawn on you just what had been going on. It. Was. Him.

He had been haunting you, he just admitted it since the bridge? he was watching spying. He's your stalker. You mumbled the words looking him right in the eye. He glared at you a sinister look and snarled giving you a firm shake and slammed your back into the sofa making the wooden frame creek.

"No! I was protecting you! its dangerous your small and alone you needed me! you still need me!" you scrabbled at him trying to get him off you screaming bloody murder. He was your stalker. The most powerful man on the planet! That’s why you felt it even in your own home. He could see through the walls!. You sobbed and struggled.

"You? You watched me..You wasn't protecting me! you were hurting me! you you isolated me! I'm worse now then I ever was! WHY? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT? NO! GET AWAY GET OFF OF ME!"

He growled pressing forward holding your wrists down by your sides. He lunged froward and kissed your open mouth entangling his tongue with yours forcefully, he had to show you. You screamed into the kiss trying to twist lifting your legs trying to get your knees between you but it was no use. He was incredibly strong and you were nothing but a wisp of a thing, you were human and he was all but a god.

He moaned into your mouth licking away at your tongue tracing patterns on the roof of your mouth. In your squirming you'd slipped down your back curving and center brushing him higher on his abdomen. He grinned taking the opportunity to slide his knees below your hips making you rub against him you flinched and bit at him, trying to hurt him he chuckled at your silly little attempt. Is this what it was supposed to be like? you fight him so he overcomes you? so he proves his strength, his worth as a mate? did he have to pin you and take you to show he was able to protect your children?. It must be that. You were his mate. If that’s what you needed then he would deliver.

With a grunt and a smile he moved his hands releasing you suddenly he has hit with a barrage of hits he could see you wincing as you hurt yourself hitting and slapping harder and harder at him. He ignored you, they would bruise and you would tire, he focused on the task at hand moving his palms over your behind then dug in puncturing holes in the seam and pulled splitting open the fabric of your jeans effortlessly until they no longer had a crotch. You screamed a fought harder to no avail, he had made his decision he was going to indulge. He was tried of waiting and playing around he would fuck you, fill you and breed you then he would take you away. You said so your self you wanted to leave and like any good mate he will oblige.

You cried feeling your clothes become tatters, his frame was huge and unmovable. You'd have better luck denting concrete. He hummed pulling back as you bit at him again trying to scratch and claw at him. Your hands were throbbing form your relentless beating on him.

"Now now mate stop being silly...Did you know that your ovulating? that’s probably what all this is hmm? the running away? the struggling and fighting? your testing me, you want to know just how strong their fathers going to be? I understand that, I already know how much of a fierce little mate you are...Our children will be strong" you froze staring at him in horror you gathered that he was going to...to force himself on you but...The fact that he intended to finish inside of you? to fill you. He took the moment of shock to quickly undress he was back between your thighs before your legs had lowered to the seat. you did little more then shake as he slide a finger below your panties.

"shh shh I know its exciting....Our own family... Please don't struggle my love I don't want to accidentally hurt you. I want our first time to be enjoyable for you...And then I can get down to business and breed you properly I wont stop until I've seen it! until I know without a doubt your mine and your carrying proof of our love." contrary to the threat and the violent truth behind them his words were like honey. Sweet and soothing a gentle lilt to them as he moved pulling then gave a quick tug but you cried out at him as your panties fought to hold on he rolled his eyes moving to hold either side then pulled.

You wept as the last barrier between you was removed. He shushed you and pressed his fingers at your core instantly, you were dry. He scowled you shouldn't be. You should want him. He ignored your pleas and pailful whimpers as he plunged two fingers inside your tiny heat. He grunted as the warm muscle protested around his thick fingers you screeched curling your toes unable to kick out at him as he held your legs between his arms and ribs pressing them open around his wide torso. You panted and cried, you wasn't ready or willing you tensed as he moved his fingers gradually opening you up for him. You looked up and cursed him, he was the definition of a beautiful monster. You glared at him knowing there wasn't anything you could do he was Superman you had no hope in overcoming him so in one final act of defiance you spat in his face.

He turned his head letting it hit his cheek and froze eyes closed as it slowly slid down his cheek and turned slowly back to you grinning you watched in horror and slight disgust as his tongue poked out licking it into his mouth he moaned.

"My love...I had no idea you were so filthy, spitting in the bedroom isn't something I've tried before however for you my love I'd do anything~" you gasped as he reared back taking a deep breath and spat onto his fingers you yelped as his fingers ploughed it into your hot pussy, it was freezing cold. You hissed it stung bad as his speared it deeper inside of you.

"Oh love? did you not like that? is it too cold? I'm sorry..I thought since we were experimenting I could play with temperature a bit...Sometimes I just get excited is all...But hey thanks to your little spitting fit my fingers are going in so much easier. And your body is opening up! you'll be ready for me soon enough" you shook your head and wriggled wanted to be free of him.

"Please please not like this-I don't want to! don't make me! don't force me please Kal" your words fell on deaf ears as he moved closer humming at you cooing softly trying to coax you into relaxing.

His cool spit was warmed inside of you as his fingers prodded deeper and deeper curling back and forth. He looked down intently to your abdomen staring then smiled.

"Shh shh its okay I'm here.... See your getting wet now, your pussy knows...Its hungry can't you feel it? trying to trap my fingers inside of you? wanting so desperately to have me breed you, it wont be satisfied until your full and your bulging with my love." he angled his fingers forward and pressed holding his fingers still bar from an incredibly fast flicking of the tips of his fingers.

You screamed it felt like vibrating rabbit ears grazing your soft patch of nerves. You couldn't help yourself you rocked and grinded in unwanted lust. Your body moving of its own accord as he moved his digits your blood hummed racing and hot you panted and thrashed against him pitifully. You screamed throwing your head back twisting your hips trying to buck him off or to slip a leg from his grasp. He chuckled following you keeping up his pace.

"That’s it...That’s it love see?! you want me my love! good girl such a good girl keep going love here maybe this will help? you know I've watched you, how you angle your toys it should be about...here" then suddenly he pushed roughly to the spot you choked on your moan as you clenched around him in a painful forced orgasm. You wept as your nerves burned and your body ached spasming and jerking onto his hand. You trembled from head to toe moaning and grunting as your body was pushed to its limits.

He smiled pulling away from you slowly as you came down panting and whining with every deep breath you rocked forward as he slid the flat of his palm over your drenched cunt collecting your release and wiped it across his thick frightening cock. He was smothering himself making sure there was enough on his tip to breach you.

You gulped watching as he started at you his eyes were half lidded he moaned as he moved slowly across his own cock pulling and teasing as he did so wanting to entice you. It had to opposite effect, it was huge and looked lethal and angry you don't have to touch it to see it was throbbing you could see it. You hissed still weeping pleading with him not to do this he shuffled back, it was the cold breeze that alerted you to the fact he'd just stripped you bare. You whined as he moved twisting you to lay flat on you stomach on the sofa with warm wet hands he pulled you into position dragging you across the sofa leaving sticky hand prints across your skin that cooled as he removed his palms from your skin

You felt his hand wander over your back, your legs trembled you were tempted to run, to launch yourself over the arm and in to the kitchen, the hall cupboard, fuck you would even try to make a mad dash to the stairs if it meant you'd get away. Thought of escape were all abandoned as his large wet hand was placed at your neck his fingers cupped your throat gently, you could smell your own arousal as he shuffled you making you come up onto your hands an knees before him you whined crying moving one hand to his large wrist.

"P-PlEASE PLease st-stop this! ple-ase don't rape me!" you sobbed out his answer was a growl he squeezed you throat letting an echo of his strength through the fingers.

"I'm not raping you...I'm making love to you, I'm breeding you, you came y/n you want this your just shy and confused... that’s all just confused. It must be part of this mating bond or-or it could be your a human you don't understand not yet..You will!, you want me really I know you do, now hold still whilst I claim you, it will all be over soon and we can go home trust me." you whined trying to move forward as he brought his hips to yours. You mewled bawling your eyes out as he pressed the crown of his weeping dangerously virile cock to your lips. He took a breath and pulled you back by your neck.

He dragged your body back onto him eyes blown as he watched his cock disappear into your hot cunt, he groaned feeling your body try to reject him. You were small and no matter how ready you were it was a shock you were bound to put up some resistance you didn't mean to he reasoned.

You gasped as he force fed you his cock, it was painful and hot you tired thinking of anything else but it was hard to, he was huge and was pressing against everything! your mouth hung open in silent screams, he drowned them out with his own chorus of growls and praise blowing hot breaths across your back. You winced yelping out as he stuffed you finally he was met with a barrier with an inch or so to go. He grunted as the tip of his cock nudged something, then looked in past your spine. It was your cervix, you yelped as he pressed harder on your insides it hurt, you moved a hand back trying to stop him not knowing what he had hit but it was painful.

"YOu?! NO I CaN'T PLeASE NO MORE! YOUR TO BIG!" he ran a hand over your back hushing your panic trying to sooth you he explained.

"Hush mate I know..I can see its just your cervix...Your ovulating so its soft and ready just stay still whilst I push pas-" you screamed when you realized what he was going to say you quickly reached forward for the sofa arm.

He growled at your blatant disrespect of his status! He was your mate! in a knee jerk fury fueled reaction he moved releasing your neck bringing both hands to your hips and slammed you back making you scream as his cock slipped past your wombs last defense.

"THAT’S ENOUGH! BEHAVE AND TAKE IT!" his bellow was shouted over you painful cries as he then began to rock into you with no mercy or regard for you or your pleasure. He moved faster massaging your cunt intent on filling you just as nature intended.

"There see? like a fucking glove! now just behave if you stopped your fighting you'd be enjoying my cock by now!" you cried as your insides were battered enduring the thrusts that were meant to punish. He grunted loudly into your ear leaning over your back his abs skimming your sweat slicked back. You felt each thrust rock across your back the room was filled with your cries pleading him to get off, pull out and stop his replies were groans and satisfied grunts, finally you gave up he wasn't listening, he wont stop, he wasn't leaving anytime soon.

You closed your mouth digging your fingers into the sofa below staring at the soft cream fabric of the cushions that were bout to be completely ruined, biting your lip you tried to ignore everything. his grunts and the loud slapping sound that accompanied each brutal thrust.

"Fuuuuck yes! I can't wait...can't wait until you fucking pregnant! I'm gonna make you a Mother today! fucking breed you! my mate MINE! fuck fuck yes!" you cringed as he moved faster, your pussy was clenching around his hot cock pulling and twisting around him as he ignited your nerves massaging your spot effortlessly. you quivered legs trembling struggling to hold your weight as he began swelling inside of you.

You keened quietly feeling the throbbing of his flesh you shook as he brought a hand to your clit and rolled it in a fast figure eight motion your legs widened and our arms gave out you screamed pressing your face in the cushions below crying and pleading as you release over him one loud protest after another fell from your lips as you jerk violently against him. You cried in shame as your release was one powerful stream of cum hitting him washing his heavy tensing balls as they swayed tapping your oversensitive cunt. He laughed rubbing your clit faster making it last, you sobbed as another think stream followed instantly coating him and your sofa. He stuttered his hips cock swelling you felt his balls pulling taught wetting your lips with your own release.

"NOOO! NOO PLEASE Please don't cum in me!!! don't! your to deep I can't-I'm not ready for that please KAL NO!" you screamed at him one last ditch attempt to halt him as he grunted loud into the living room releasing what felt like torrents into your vulnerable womb.

You sobbed quietly into the sofa feeling his seed filling you he held sill and deep as his load continued its desecration of your empty womb intent on filling you just as he promised. He looked down watching as he flooded your insides then he let out a huge breath through clenched teeth.

"Fuck yes... That’s it, good girl..Good mate not letting anything escape, you cant not until its taken...If only you could see this love, like me I'm so high, so far inside you, I wouldn't be surprised if I've coated your stomach" You held still and silent not wanting to respond..What could you say, it was done. so you stayed there head down ass up with your once hero embedded deep within you waiting for him to pull out. But he didn't as soon as his balls were finished emptying he immedieatly began thrusting again trying to press his semen deeper wanting it to take. you groaned twisting to look at him why is he still hard? he just finished? he shouldn't still be going."Oh love we've just begun, I can last hours and I did say I'm breeding you its going to take more then one little load to be sure" that brought all new floods of tears as he rutted into your bruised body beginning a second round of what you feared was many.

True to his word he had you bent over on the sofa for most of the day, fucking you relentlessly after a few hours he had stopped, not because he was done. oh hell no, he stopped because you were chafing even with the copious amout of fluids you'd both made..Well mostly you he had bypassed your cervix each time and very little had escaped you he had made sure in some cases holding you by your crossed ankles and tilting you up bouncing you slightly much to your shame he would hold you high to rest almost completely on your shoulder blades to be sure he was getting as much in your womb as possible, after all as he kept saying he had a job to do. By this point your almost certain you were pregnant but he still wanted to continue just to be sure. Tho currently he was giving you a break he moved slowly through the house getting you a juice and thin sheet he found in the laundry basket in the kitchen.

He draped the sheet over your form then left to go up stairs for a wash cloth deciding you needed a wipe down. You jumped when you heard a loud knock at the door. You wrapped the sheet around your frame wincing as you moved hunched over you moved taking baby steps to the door. You swallowed as you opened the door to the police?

you frowned tugging the sheet tighter to yourself around your chest. The officers eyes widened at your appearance and he blushed he stuttered and cleared his throat you spoke first seeing as words escaped him.

"Y-yes can I help you?" he blinked and shook his head then managed a professional voice.

"Are you okay miss? we have had calls about screaming and a possible domestic disturbance all afternoon... Your neighbors thought you were in trouble, we hadn't been able to get out earlier-OOHH my ahem err well" you frowned as the officer began nodding stuttering suddenly looking anywhere but you, you turned seeing Kal there now back in his suit hair still purposefully left messy you swallowed and shivered flushing embarrassed as he made a point to fold the black washcloth in his hands.

"I apologize for that officer...We took the afternoon to ourselves and I got...Well I had to make up for my absences didn't I love..." you whined as he moved up behind you wrapping an arm around your still tender tummy you hissed as he rubbed your stomach and abdomen kissing your neck smirking. You could see one of your neighbor's lean far over her porch railing stealing a look wanting to know what all your screams had been about and covered her mouth in shock seeing the man of steel she flushed fanning herself as she realized it had been privvy to his fucking marathon, she turned waving down another of your neighbors pointing. You cringed pressing back into Kal wanting to run and hide. He smiled at you kissing your cheek again.

"Ah yes...Well then that’s...That’s fine no harm done I suppose I can let you off with out a ticket for disturbing the peace seeing as it was is well...I’m sure no one would mind after all you so for us... I'd just ask you both be more considerate of the neighbor’s in future they were very concerned said it sounded like she was being...Attacked." you flinched if only they knew.

Kal laughed rubbing your tummy then lower almost cupping your violated screaming pussy he tugged you back to him.

"Haha OH..See love I told you we should of role played somewhere else, you frightened your poor neighbors!...I do apologize we...Tried something knew she just couldn't help her self but I will try to keep her quiet next time." you whined twisting in his hold you turned to Kal embarrassed

"K-kal please stop talking..."

"Oh love come now, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about, I'm sure the officer has dealt with this type of thing before...” he handed you the washcloth in his hands “Here you go and relax I'll have your bath ready in a moment. Don't think I didn't see you waddling over here, I told you to stay put until id drawn your bath, your still to tender to be moving...honestly I should never have put you on top!" he ushered you in behind him into the house and stood tall in the doorway you cringed as he spoke a little to loud for your liking as you heard your neighbor gasp and began giggling with each other.

"Once again I'm sorry for wasting your time but as you can see everything is fine" the other man nodded smiling to him shaking his outstretched hand only to happy to have the opportunity.

"We had to check it out as I'm sure you understand" Kal nodded laughing then bid goodbye to the man then called an apology to the giggling flushed neighbors then turned shutting the door behind him then walked into the living room finding you curled up on the floor crying.

He sighed and quickly scooped you up taking you up to bed. He would wait until you were asleep before moving you to his own secluded home he had prepared for you, for now he would hold you. it must have been a shock to find your soulmate just as it had been for him, but unlike him he would not allow you to go through the roller coaster of emotions alone, he would stay right here with you every step of the way.

#dark superman #dark! superman x reader #dark superman x reader #superman smut #superman x you #superman x reader #superman imagine #clark kent x you #clark kent smut #clark kent imagine #clark kent x reader #dark clark kent x reader #dark! clark kent x reader #clark kent x y/n #superman x y/n

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worstloki · 4 years

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Hi, I saw your tags on a post about Loki's injured back in avengers 1 and I take it you and other people I've seen mention it mean before Hulk smashed him into the ground? Where does that come from? My memory isn't the best but I've re-watched the avengers 1 movie not too long ago and I don't recall anything about a back injury. Did I miss something?

carrying the thor franchise did it to him 😔😔😔

Yes! Basically, Loki’s back gives way a few times in the SHIELD facility (skip to 0:55 and 1:05) after only just arriving through the portal, and he’s already not looking too good in those scenes, added with the fact that Loki was definitely tortured during the year between Thor 1 and Avengers 1 also makes that the only probable cause we’re shown while establishing his back is already messed up.

He also hits his back multiple times in the film before the Hulk smash:

- at the end of the fight with Cap when Tony blasts him into stairs (skip to 3:40)

- When Thor drags him off the quinjet by his neck and slams him back-first into a mountain (skip to 1:15 and watch the scene play out)

- Coulson uses the destroyer gun to shoot him through a metal wall back-first (skip to 2:20)

- You could also consider the Iron Man suit deploying after the “We Have A Hulk” speech which pushes him into bending backwards, although we don’t see him fall (skip to 3:38) and even if it doesn’t look like a heavy landing Tony then repulsor blasts him onto his back too (4:05)

- Thor kicks him back-first through a sheet of glass (skip to 1:35)

- When Hawkeye’s arrow explodes in his hand he’s forced to roll onto his back when landing (skip to 0:24)

- Before he gets Hulk-smashed Hulk hits him backwards through a glass screen and he hits his back into a marble/stone bar feature wall (skip to 0:34)

And then Loki gets Hulk smashed (and his back is hit 6ish times into the stone flooring hard enough to leave indentations).

I think it’s also worth noting that Asgardians do not get injured very easily and heal fast... so his back would’ve had to have been either very recently or extremely badly injured sometime before he arrived on Earth for it to have been sustained throughout the film.

It’s also worth mentioning that when Loki’s back gets hit and he has the chance he tends to talk or stall for time (eg. SHIELD facility, surrendering to Iron Man, rolling off the roof with Thor, trying to monologue to Hulk). And that he acts well enough to conceal the injury during fights even if his back tends to be braced and kept stiller than it could be at times (reflected in how he fights the Avengers: more offensive and scattered than we’ve seen before, likely to divert the attention of opponents?).

Oh, and to top it all off, we’ve also never seen him reveal that he’s been tortured or seen anyone suspect it so we can assume no one in-universe knows :)

#I think that's everything #but if I missed anything anyone can add on #Loki's back was the real MVP of Avengers 1 #it sustained the most damage lmao #and also I theorize that since Loki was also pushed through the windows multiple times he knew Tony would survive that #obviously #he's done his research #he should KNOW Tony Stark AKA Iron Man has a glowing piece of metal in his chest #that's kinda his THING #and that his suit comes to him should also be basic research stuff at that point #where's loki's award for not taking credit for this with a half broken back???#where's his award for WAVING THE HULK BYE-BYE MOMENTS LATER????#as if having a back injury and then getting hit on it isn't traumatizing #see guys #loki is clearly very overpowered #he just tones himself down so people don't know #he rigged his own attack AND did it with a broken back and came out alive #legendary behaviour #an icon #that being said if you guys have back pain please go get it checked out #do NOT just walk it off and go to prison like that #unless you can magically heal yourself like Loki does #MetaAnalysisForTheWin #MAFTW #back injuries #back injury #injured back #can't believe loki gets flung by the neck into a mountain from a huge drop and his reaction is to carefully get up and grit his teeth #as he walks it off #hdsgkdhkskghdsghdf

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baoshan-sanren · 4 years

Text

Chapter 19

of the wwx emperor au that still doesn’t have a damn title

XiChen not only readily accepts responsibility for WangJi’s meeting with the Emperor, but he has a list of reasons why he has done so, each one rooted in undeniable logic.

The Emperor seems to be fond of WangJi; in the view of the recent assassination attempt, this fondness could be beneficial. The Emperor has also revealed to WangJi (and by extension, to the Lan Sect), his competition plans, which implies a certain amount of trust. (Competition plans, XiChen says firmly, although uncle will go on to grumble about immature antics all the way to the Jade Sword Palace courtyard).

In addition, the Emperor believes WangJi to be a worthy opponent, and is specifically interested in crossing swords with him, out of all the young masters who are competing. This is a compliment, and should be taken as such.

Also, the Emperor might have been sitting on their roof, which is not exactly dignified behavior, but the alternative would have been rudely invading their living space at an unseemly hour. Something Nie HuaiSang had readily done, but the Emperor did not seem willing to do. Which, at the very least, implies some consideration, if not outright respect.

XiChen reminds uncle that the Emperor had done a proper investigation when XiChen was unjustly accused.

He reminds uncle that the Emperor has posted guards outside their residence to protect them.

He reminds uncle that Jiang YanLi had insisted on escorting WangJi to the Jade Sword Palace, and had spoken up against her future father-in-law in Lan Sect’s defense.

He reminds uncle that the Emperor is sending assistance to Gusu, which they desperately need.

XiChen talks until uncle is tired of hearing it, and stops offering rebuttals.

WangJi has never been more convinced that his brother will make an exceptional Sect Leader. He is also very much relieved to have that particular discussion concluded, or at the very least, shelved for later, by the time they arrive at the Jade Sword Palace.

Despite dozens of awnings set up all around the main platform, each one occupied by a clan or a sect, the courtyard somehow seems larger, the iron shields and dragon statues more intimidating. The Lan Sect’s designated place is so far from the platform that they are unlikely to see much of the actual competition. Still, their small, south-west corner is peaceful, attracting no attention.

WangJi cannot see the groups of disciples arriving from the West and East courtyards, and has no way of knowing if Wei WuXian is among them. But he hears the roar of approval coming from the Nie Sect, and has to assume that the majority of the top five winners must be wearing the Nie Sect uniforms.

The Emperor’s seat has been built at the top of the staircase leading to the Jade Sword Palace. Its canopy is made of layers upon layers of blue silk, hiding the person within. Once in a while, a vague shape can be seen. Twice, a pale hand extends through the folds of silk in order to issue some instructions. A row of Emperor’s personal guard is lined up behind the seat, and one level down, the High Councilor shares a table with his wife and daughter.

WangJi wonders if Jiang WanYin is competing as well. For the first time, he feels slightly disappointed that the Lan Sect is situated in such an inconvenient place. The Jiang Sect has a unique sword technique, one that WangJi would very much like to see.

There is another hour, at least, before the competition is to begin. In the meantime, tea and snacks are served. The Sect Leaders use that time to wander around, gossiping with their friends, and smiling with fake politeness at their enemies. The Lan Sect is a subject of many false smiles, but neither XiChen nor WangJi are bothered by it. Uncle just seems relieved that no one has had their tea poisoned this time around.

They do not expect to be approached by anyone, but when Nie MingJue does just that, WangJi is not surprised. He does not think that a single day has passed since they arrived, where Nie MingJue has not sought out his brother, or made it a point to speak to him. Although uncle has yet to address this, WangJi thinks it must be obvious to him as well.

Cornering the man and demanding to know his intentions is something that WangJi is actively trying not to do every moment of every day; XiChen would not thank him for interfering, and a wrong answer from Nie MingJue would probably end with an actual murder.

The Nie Sect Leader bows, and addresses uncle, “Sect Leader, the Emperor is concerned that your location will prevent the Second Young Master from properly observing his opponents. He asks that the Lan Sect suffer a small inconvenience of moving to the Nie Sect table for the duration of the competition.”

WangJi is certain that the Emperor has made no such request. Wei WuXian should be somewhere among the other Nie Sect disciples, trying not to reveal his identity. The idea that this consideration comes from Nie HuaiSang sours his stomach, despite the fact that only moments ago, he had been wishing for a better view of the platform.

Uncle glances at XiChen, then at WangJi. He is wearing the long-suffering expression of a man who has lost control of the situation, and can find no way to gain it back. He cannot refuse a request from the Emperor, and he cannot find a fault with being seated at the Nie Sect table.

The Nie Sect is directly below the Jiang Sect in placement. The gesture is a blatant sign of favor. But more importantly, if there are to be any other underhanded attempts on WangJi’s life today, the Nie Sect table may be the safest place in the courtyard.

In a cool tone of voice, uncle asks Nie MingJue to relay their gratitude to the Emperor.

The space reserved for the Nie Sect is comically large compared to the number of people seated behind the long table. Nie MingJue introduces his sister, an uncle, and two of the Sect Elders. Even with the Lan Sect present, the table could easily hold another dozen people.

They have only just settled down, when Nie MingJue turns to XiChen, “Young Master Lan, if you are willing, I had hoped we may have our match before the competition officially begins.”

Although XiChen nods and immediately gets to his feet, WangJi can easily tell the state of his nerves from the way he clutches his sword.

The platform is large, set slightly above the courtyard cobblestones. Even half of a step past its edge is considered a forfeit.

WangJi’s own nerves are just as tightly strung as XiChen’s. Neither one of them had ever faced an opponent with a different sword technique than that of the Lan Sect. Uncle had always seemed pleased with their progress, but this is the first true test of their ability.

“There is no reason to worry, Second Young Master,” Lady Nie says, leaning closer so her words would not carry, “I believe A-Jue means to go easy on your brother.”

Lady Nie bears little resemblance to Nie MingJue, but a great deal of resemblance to Nie HuaiSang, despite being nearly twice the boy’s age. There is nothing about her manners that would cause WangJi to dislike her. And yet, that resemblance is difficult to ignore.

“I hope he does no such thing,” WangJi says, “unless his intention is to lose quickly.”

True to his words, the moment their bows are complete, XiChen moves like lightening.

In a single breath, he has forced Nie MingJue into an offensive. In three breaths, he has pushed the man to the very edge of the platform. He backs away then, allowing Nie MingJue some space to regain his composure, and to rethink his strategy.

XiChen may hold Nie MingJue in high esteem, but there is more at stake today than only XiChen’s reputation. No matter his feelings, WangJi knows that his brother will not lose by choice.

When they fly at each other again, blades clashing, it is clear that Nie MingJue has decided not to hold back. Still, WangJi can see from his technique that the Nie Sect values strength over agility. His brother is not weak by any means, but he cannot take many direct hits, and still keep his leverage. Instead, XiChen shifts fluidly, invading Nie MingJue’s space, allowing him no room to use the saber to his full advantage. In an actual fight, this is a dangerous method to employ; after all, the greatest benefit of the sword is its reach. WangJi and XiChen have been taught that this strategy is only to be used when they are certain that their opponent is physically stronger.

The blades scrape along each other more than once. Their robes are now a swirl of green and white, and it is difficult to tell where one ends and the other begins. XiChen is light on his feet, never pushing straight on, but always shifting just enough so MingJue must meet him with speed instead of force. Still, he is pushing, and gaining ground. He does not allow enough distance for the tip of his sword to be of any use; had they been using short blades, WangJi is convinced that MingJue would have already found one sticking out of his flesh. As it is, MingJue can do little else but use his saber as a shield. Each time he tries to step back to give himself room, XiChen steps in closer, the edge of his blade always a hairsbreadth away from MingJue’s ribs, his thigh, the unprotected flesh under his arm.

It is beautiful to watch, WangJi thinks. MingJue is taller and wider, the stiff shoulders of the Nie Sect robes only contributing to his towering presence. In contrast, XiChen had chosen the simplest set of white robes he possesses, mindful of the fact that they may be ruined by blood today. His brother is not small, and he is not short, but next to Nie MingJue, he looks to be both. And yet, he is clearly winning, moving with quickness and fury that MingJue cannot match.

WangJi knows XiChen cannot keep this up for long, and XiChen knows it as well. The moment he has managed to push MingJue close to the edge of the platform, he shifts the grip on his sword. ShuoYue swings in an arc, away from MingJue, the flat of the blade horizontal with XiChen’s arm. The move takes MingJue by surprise; WangJi hears uncle grunt in approval. The hilt of XiChen’s blade slams into MingJue’s unprotected side, throwing him off balance. Sliding deftly under the saber, XiChen delivers a quick kick to the back of MingJue’s knee, an elbow to his ribs, and a second thrust to his chin. The chin strike can easily shatter the jaw, but WangJi can tell that XiChen uses very little force, just enough to knock Nie MingJue down to the ground.

To WangJi’s surprise, Lady Nie is the first to stand up and cheer. The Jiang Sect follows her example, and once they do, most of the smaller sects join in as well. XiChen looks flushed and disheveled, but he is smiling brightly, tentatively offering his hand to help Nie MingJue back to his feet. Nie MingJue accepts, looking far too cheerful for someone who had lost a match, and got an elbow to his face in the process.

The joy on XiChen’s face is so genuine, so unrestrained, that WangJi’s chest tightens painfully in response. How often has he seen his brother look this happy? How many of these moments is XiChen likely to have in his lifetime?

The future leader of the Lan Sect winning against the General of the Emperor’s army will probably be talked about for years. And yet, WangJi does not think that this will stop the next innkeeper from spitting at XiChen’s feet.

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besanii · 4 years

Note

hello! first of all, let me just say that i love your writing !! second, i was reading shattered mirrors (bc that verse owns me thanks) and in the nightmare fic, wwx mentions a water prison, which sounds super terrifying and interesting so I guess my question is does wwx have a fear of water because of it? If so, does LWJ know? -C

[from here (#21) and here (#28)]

“Xian-er, my dear, a moment of your time.”

He feels Lan Wangji stiffen beside him when Wang Dafu wanders over to their table partway through the festivities. The other guests are in various states of inebriation and growing rowdy, although Wei Wuxian suspects they are behaving themselves more so than usual today. Usually around this time he would be excusing himself for some fresh air to escape the noise, but there had been little chance of it with Lan Wangji beside him, still as a statue, preventing his exit.

Wang Dafu bows to Lan Wangji.

“Er-wangye, may I perhaps be so bold as to borrow a moment of Xian-er’s time?” he asks. “I would like to have a word with him in private.”

Lan Wangji does not move. Wang Dafu starts to sweat under his stony gaze, glancing around for assistance without causing a scene. Eventually, Wei Wuxian takes pity on him and rises to his feet with an easy laugh.

“Of course, Wang-daren,” he says. “Shall we adjourn to your delightful little garden? I am afraid I have been terrible company tonight and should excuse myself before I displease Er-wangye any further.”

The cup in Lan Wangji’s hand hits the table top with a loud thud that catches the attention of everyone in their immediate vicinity. Within a second, everyone stops what they are doing to bow in the wake of his anger, cowering further when Lan Wangji rises to his feet. He ignores Wang Dafu completely and turns to Wei Wuxian with the same stony gaze.

Wei Wuxian hesitates, keeping his head bowed.

“Wangye…” he says, “if I have indeed displeased you—”

“You have not,” Lan Wangji interrupts him to say.

His tone, however, is flat and abrupt. It has been a very long time since Wei Wuxian has heard this tone directed at him and it shocks him more than he would like to admit; he keeps his hands tucked into his wide sleeves, hidden beneath the silk veil he has yet to remove, unable to stop the way they tremble at the thought of Lan Wangji angry because of him.

“Raise your head,” Lan Wangji tells him. When Wei Wuxian hesitates to obey, Lan Wangji sighs. “W—Xian-er.”

The name sounds foreign on his lips—sounds wrong. He finds himself hating it, hating the sound of it, in that instant. But the moment passes and he raises his head, all smiles and good humour once again.

“Yes, Wangye?”

“I will join you in the gardens,” Lan Wangji says. “I also find myself in need of some fresh air.”

–

There is a large pond in the middle of the garden, which Wang Dafu boasts took months to create. It is deep, he says, deep and wide enough for them to be able to take a small boat around the perimeter and allow them some privacy.

Lan Wangji stays a ways behind to give them a semblance of privacy, watching as Wang Dafu leads Wei Wuxian to the water’s edge with a simpering, doting smile on his lips. Wei Wuxian responds in kind, with a hand on his arms, puncturing holes in Lan Wangji’s lungs with each whispered word and soft laugh that floats back into his ear. He forces himself to watch, even though he is too far away to hear what they are saying; each passing second burns bitterly in the back of his throat.

“Wangye,” a servant says quietly from behind him. “Would you like to take a seat in the pavilion to wait for the master?”

“No, I will wait here,” Lan Wangji says. “You may leave.”

“Yes, Wangye.”

He watches Wei Wuxian shiver just as the boat is pulling close to the shore, and Wang Dafu coos and fawns over him before he is striding off, calling for Mo Xuanyu to bring an extra cloak for his master. Wei Wuxian watches him go, his hands falling to his side, no longer shivering, the playfulness gone from his gait. Turning away from the water, he looks to a spot to Lan Wangji’s left and raises his voice.

“You can come out now,” he says.

A young woman, no more than twenty, charges out from behind a tree. One of Wang Dafu’s concubines, Lan Wangji realises, from the fine silks and gold ornaments in her hair.

“Liu-furen,” Wei Wuxian says. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“You bitch,” she hisses. “I know what you’re here for! You have your greedy little eyes on my husband. You think that parading yourself around like the shameless thing you are will get you out of your miserable little life? It won’t be that easy. Not if I have anything to say about it.”

Wei Wuxian laughs, but it is not the soft, breathy laugh from before; instead, it is sharp and mocking, cutting through the woman’s fury like a sharp knife.

“Pardon me, Liu-furen,” he says. “I wasn’t aware you had any say. Did you not serve Wang-furen as a maid before you climbed into bed with her husband? And you dare to lecture me on being shameless?”

She gapes at him for a moment, to stunned to speak. In the next moment, she raises her hand and slaps Wei Wuxian across the face, nearly dislodging his veil. Wei Wuxian does not retaliate, fixing the veil around his head to disguise how he raises his hand to still Lan Wangji’s furious step forward.

“Xian-er thanks Liu-furen for her guidance,” he says coldly. “I must remind you that I am here at Wang-daren’s personal invitation. What do you think your husband will say if he found out how you treat his guests?”

“I am his wife,” she says haughtily, but there is a trace of nervousness in her tone. “He would not believe the words of a slut over mine.”

“Pardon me, Liu-furen, but you are a concubine,” he reminds her. “And the lowest ranking one too. I would really advise you to worry about yourself first, rather than picking needless fights with me.”

She grabs his arm roughly to prevent him from leaving. The force of the motion has him stumbling backwards and crashing into her, causing both of them to lose balance and slip on the wet grass by the edge of the pond. She shrieks as she falls, and claws at him in a desperate attempt to regain balance. The ensuing struggle knocks his weimao to the ground and his long hair spills over his shoulder.

Lan Wangji, who had already started moving the moment he saw her lay her hand on him, gets there in time to catch Wei Wuxian by the waist, hauling him away from the water’s edge. The motion dislodges her hands in the process; she tumbles into the water with a scream, followed by a loud splash. He pays her no mind, attention already on Wei Wuxian, who has gone deathly still.

“Wei Ying?” he says softly. “Are you alright?”

Tremors start to run over his body, small and barely noticeable at first, rapidly building in intensity until he collapses in Lan Wangji’s arms, his legs giving out from beneath him. His breath comes in choked, dragging gasps, terrifying similar to the way his attacker gasps and struggles in the water behind them, and he claws at his throat frantically trying to draw breath.

“Wei Ying!” He takes hold of Wei Wuxian’s face between his hands and presses their foreheads together. “Wei Ying, focus on me. Listen to me. You have to breathe. With me. Listen to me. Breathe.”

Servants and guests alike have come out at the sound of the commotion, shouting for help. Someone fishes Wang Dafu’s concubine out of the water, spluttering and crying, but Lan Wangji does not concern himself with anything other than Wei Wuxian. He holds him close, keeps their foreheads pressed together so he can feel his breath against his lips, deep and slow, until he subconsciously starts to mimic the pattern. After a few deep breaths, his body begins to relax little by little. The colour returns to his cheeks and the eerie blankness fades from his eyes.

“Lan Zhan?” he rasps, muddled and confused. “Where—?”

“Shh, you’re fine,” Lan Wangji tells him. “You’re safe. I’ve got you.”

People are starting to crowd around them, shouting questions and clamouring to get a better look. Wei Wuxian flinches at the noise and ducks his head; Lan Wangji grabs the fallen weimao from the ground and places back over his head before sweeping him up into his arms. A startled gasp sounds from beneath the veil as shaking hands grasp the front of his robes tightly. Wang Dafu bursts out from the crowd as he is about to leave, wild-eyed and panting.

“Wangye!” he gasps, falling to his knees. “Please forgive my concubine for her offense! I will see to it that she is punished for her transgressions!”

“I am not the one you should be apologising to,” Lan Wangji says, his voice quiet and cold as ice. “This woman will receive fifty slaps across the face and confinement to the ancestral shrine for reckless endangerment of a guest of her husband’s house and failure to observe proper etiquette as befitting a concubine of her station. Wang Dafu shall receive fifty lashes and withholding of six month’s salary for the endangerment of a guest of his house as a result of his failure to enforce proper conduct within your household. Report to the Ministry of Justice at dawn.”

He adjusts his arms so Wei Wuxian is tucked securely in his arms, his head leaning against his shoulder beneath the weimao, and strides past the crowd without a backward glance.

Notes:

Liu-furen (六夫人) - Sixth Madam, or “sixth wife”

// buy me a ko-fi //

Master Post is here

#mdzs #wangxian #shattered mirrors au #shattered mirrors fic #王爷机 X 花魁羡 #my writing #wwx has a panic attack #lwj still doesn't quite know what's going on #but wang dafu is now out of the picture #sorry i was gonna go plotty #but it got long #and also it's 2.30am here #so i'll have to write the plotty some other time #he takes WWX back to Caiyun Pavilion #and WWX almost asks him to stay #it's almost the tipping point at which WWX decides to leave with LWJ #i'm so tired i'm just gonna roll over and sleep now

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bonjour-rainycity · 4 years

Text

Odin’s Ward ~ Chapter 10

Link to previous part: https://bonjour-rainycity.tumblr.com/post/637890992711843840/odins-ward-chapter-9

Pairing: Loki x female reader

Word count: 2798

Warnings: Violence

Y/n: 18 // Loki: 20 // Thor: 24

Y/n’s POV

Light floods my room and assaults my aching eyes.

“Good morning, My Lady.” Ragna’s high-pitched voice floats from my left, and I roll to see her standing near my bed. Her eyes widen as she takes in my face. She disappears, returning quickly with a cool washcloth.

“To help with the swelling,” she explains as she dabs under my eyes. I nod absently, not ready to focus on the realities of today.

When Ragna is done, she steps back. “My Lady, it is time to ready you for the day.”

I stand, following her mutely to my wardrobe. She puts me in a dress very similar to what I wore yesterday, although this one has sky blue accents as opposed to gold. While she does my hair in an updo typical of Alfheim noblewomen, Ragna tries to make conversation. “I’m sorry you did not sleep well.” Her words are careful, testing the waters and the limits of my politeness, but I hear real concern in her voice. This leads me to answer honestly.

“It’s…” I swallow and try to gather the right words. I must choose them carefully. “Difficult to be moved from what I’ve known for so long.” There. Not too revealing, but hints at why I’m so distraught.

Ragna is silent for a moment, her fingers expertly twisting my hair. “I can empathize, My Lady.”

I raise my eyebrows, grateful for any distraction and hoping she’ll go on. She does.

“When I was a child, barbarians kidnapped me from my village and sold me to the castle. I haven’t seen my family since.” There’s no sadness in her voice, no longing. She’s simply stating the facts.

My eyes staring at her through the mirror reflect the shock I feel. “That must have been very hard.”

“Yes,” she agrees. “Although it truly does get easier with time. Quite quickly, I adjusted to my life here. In all honesty, I probably would have died had I remained in my village. I was the youngest of seven, and my parents couldn’t afford to feed us all. My life in the castle allows me to be clothed, fed, and housed. I have a purpose, and I have friends. It is a better life than I was meant for, surely.”

I suck in a breath, lowering my eyes to my lap out of shame. Here’s a girl who has gone through much worse than I have, and she doesn’t let it break her. How weak I must be. “You speak of this so easily.”

Through the mirror, she smiles kindly, understanding clear in her eyes. “You will too, one day. It will take time, but you will grow to love your husband. You will have children you adore and rule over a realm that adores you.”

Love, I think wistfully. No, I have given all my love away.

A green-eyed man floats to my mind, and I hasten to distract myself. “What do you know of my fiancé?”

Ragna’s eyes sparkle and she launches into a fast-paced telling of everything she knows. I can tell she enjoys gossip, but I can’t find it in myself to be annoyed. After all, this could prove very useful to me.

“His name is Audunn, and he is very wealthy. That’s why your father chose him for you, I’m sure of it. His family is one of the founding families of Alfheim, and he is a pureblood. Not a single member of his family has every married someone not of traceable Alfheim descent, so it upset some people when he announced his engagement to you.” At my expression, she’s quick to reassure. “I mean no offense, of course, but you are Asgardian. Still, the Royal Family is Asgardian, so if Asgard blood is good enough to rule all Nine Realms, why shouldn’t it be good enough to marry?” I want to smile at her carefree conclusions, but don’t have it in me. “Audunn is handsome, but quite a bit older than you. I wouldn’t let that worry you, though. Age equals experience, and experience equals fun.” She tries to bite back a grin, and I can’t help releasing a shocked laugh.

“Sorry, My Lady.” But Ragna’s eyes still sparkle, and I feel my fondness growing for her by the second. She continues. “Anyway, he has no children, thank your lucky fates, but that means he will expect them quickly from you. But no matter. You are young and will surely be with child after your first few years together.”

Agitation rises within me. Children? I don’t think I’m ready for children.

Ragna stuffs a pin into the twist. “Your father is not an old man, and it is likely he will continue to preside over Alfheim for hundreds of years. But once he leaves us for the stars, your husband will rise to the position of Chief Diplomat and you will be extended that status as well. I’m not sure what the people will call you, though….” She furrows her brow as she thinks. “I don’t remember a time when your mother shared your father’s throne. Do you recall her title?”

“Duchess.” The word comes to me easily, though I wasn’t aware I knew this piece of information. “My father is technically a duke in Asgard.”

Ragna smiles at me through the mirror, adjusting a stray braid. “Duchess, then.”

Upon hearing the title directed at me, I gulp.

Finished with my hair, Ragna places an encouraging hand on my shoulder. “You will be wonderful.”

And although I do not feel like it, I smile back.

{***}

I sit on a bench somewhere in the castle grounds, enjoying the sun. Ragna lounges below me on the grass. I had offered her the space next to me, but she emphatically refused, saying it would not be proper for a servant to sit at an equal level with a woman of my status. I had fought the urge to roll my eyes.

A servant I haven’t encountered yet runs up to us. He’s older than I am, and it feels strange to have an elder bow deeply in my direction.

He does not look at me when he speaks. “My Lady, Master requires your presence immediately.”

I raise my eyebrows. Who’s Master?

Ragna jumps up and her eyes beg me to do the same. For her sake, I do, although I am already wary of meeting a man who makes his servant call him Master.

The servant walks a good fifteen paces ahead of us and does not look back. Ragna takes a place behind my left shoulder so she can whisper in my ear as the three of us speed-walk. “That is Sveinn, the manservant of your betrothed.” There’s a something in her voice, something odd, but my own panic at meeting my fiancé keeps me from placing it.

“Audunn? I’m meeting him now?”

“I believe so, My Lady.” Her voice is grave, a clear sign of the importance of this meeting. I straighten my posture. Ragna fusses over my dress as we continue our way up and through the castle.

Finally, and yet all too soon, we stop outside a massive set of doors.

“You are to wait here,” Sveinn instructs Ragna.

I consider protesting, but she has already curtsied to me and taken a step back.

I swallow as Sveinn knocks.

“Enter,” calls a deep, gravely voice. Audunn.

A set of guards opens the doors. I hold my head high, fake all the confidence I do not feel, and enter the chamber.

The man I presume to be my fiancé stands in the center of the dark room, turned away from me, hands clasped tightly behind his back.

Svienn moves to leave the room.

“Stay, Sveinn.”

The servant gulps nervously. “Yes, Master.” There’s that title again. So abrasive.

The silence resumes. I refuse to speak first. Audunn is the one who called me here, after all.

Somewhere nearby, a clock ticks.

“I thought it prudent that we meet, given our current status.”

I bristle at his haughty tone. “How can we meet when we do not look each other in the eye?”

Slowly, he turns to face me.

From across the room, I take him in.

He is of moderate hight and full of textbook Alfheimish features. His ears are longer and narrower than mine, his nose small and graceful. Blonde hair speckled with silver covers both his head and the lower part of his face. Ragna wasn’t kidding. He is much older than me.

He studies me as well. From the glint in his eyes, I can tell he likes what he sees. Gross. He’s dressed extravagantly, covered in an ornate cloak even though he’s indoors. With a hint of glee, I notice that his clothes are darker than mine. As of now, I hold a higher status than him.

That small bit of power gives me more confidence, and I take the necessary steps to meet him in the middle of the room. “Shall we sit and get to know each other?”

His mouth quirks up at one end. “That won’t be necessary. There is no need for you to be here much longer.”

I raise my eyebrows, taken aback. “Excuse me?”

He takes a heavy step in my direction, coldness in his eyes. “What is there to know about you? Soon, we will be wed. You will exist to give me pleasure, status, and heirs. That is all I need to know.”

I feel the fire of fury spread through my body, setting every nerve alight. My fists clench. “How dare you! I am so much more than an empty body existing only for you.” I straighten, doing my best to reel in my anger and return control to the situation. “You will not speak to me like that again.”

Audunn’s features harden and he locks his eyes on mine. “Sveinn, come here.”

Sveinn follows the order, his steps slow and shaky.

“Sveinn,” Audun barks.

The servant yelps and rushes to stand by us.

Audunn’s hand cracks across Sveinn’s face.

A gasp tears from my throat as I surge forward to stop the assault. Sveinn reaches a pleading hand from his position on the ground.

“Please, My Lady, don’t—” his voice is cut off with a sharp intake of air as Audunn strikes him again. “You will only make it worse.”

The poor man’s mouth begins to bleed and he looks at me with begging eyes.

I hesitate.

“That’s right, you listen,” Audunn growls, gripping Sveinn by the hair and forcing his bleeding face in my direction. I shrink back, horror seeping into my bones. “You did this to him.”

Horror turns to anger. “You’re the one beating him! You—” but before my words are finished, Audunn begins anew, striking Sveinn without reservation.

“My Lady, please.” Sveinn’s voice, broken and desperate, is what grounds me.

I try to force myself to de-escalate by focusing on my breathing. As soon as I’m silent, the beating stops.

“There’s a good girl.” Audunn’s voice sickens me. It reminds me of a poison apple—achingly sweet and unbelievably dangerous. “Sveinn,” Audunn throws him on the ground but releases him, choosing to walk a circle around me instead, “is what’s known as a whipping servant. Are you familiar with the concept?”

Heart stuttering, I nod.

“Good. Then you understand that anytime you do something to displease me,” his voice darkens, and he takes a menacing step in my direction, “poor, poor Sveinn gets a beating. Because of you.”

I bite the inside of my cheek, forcing myself to be strong. Do not break.

“If you behave,” Audunn’s voice is back to being sweet and deceptively pleasant, “all will be well. I’m sure that is logic even a woman can follow.”

I exhale in my anger but otherwise hold it in. My body is coiled tight and by the gods, I want to let it spring.

But the look on Sveinn’s bleeding and fearful face keeps me from acting on my impulse.

Audunn stops in front of me, wearing a tight smile. “You are dismissed.”

I do my best not to run from the room.

Once clear of the door, I speed up. Before I know it, I’m running.

I hear light footsteps behind me, indicating Ragna’s pursuit, but I do not slow. I exit the castle and run past the bench where I sat earlier. I pass the apple orchard and the fountains. I run for as long as I can, until my legs give out. I collapse in a pile of sobs and gasping breath, finally breaking. The grass pricks my legs, but I barely notice. The weeping is my main concern, wracking my body and causing my chest to seize.

“Oh, My Lady.” Ragna’s voice is full of concern and distress. Hesitantly, she wraps her arms around me and I grip at her, unable to stop myself from seeking comfort.

“He-he,” I gasp.

“My Lady, I am so sorry. There were rumors but I-I never thought….” Horror colors her voice as she trails off. Instead of speaking, she concentrates on stroking my hair, and the action gradually soothes me.

My heart is in deep distress. It calls for Loki. I want nothing more than to be in his arms. Loki is mischievous and morally ambiguous at best ,but I know he would never do to me what Audunn has. Loki cared for me, loved me, respected me, and protected me. Audunn views me as his personal servant, made to be used.

I shudder.

“Ragna, I—” I sniffle. “I cannot be with that man. I’ll…” But my voice trails off, because I don’t know what I’ll do. I desperately want to end the engagement and leave this realm. I want to return to Asgard and ask them to take me back. I will even beg Odin himself. And I want to run into the safety of Loki’s arms and kiss him and hug him and tell him that I am his. I want him to be mine as well. It’s him I want to marry.

But I know that’s not what will happen. People like me and Loki rarely get what we want, simply due to our status. We exist as pawns, ready to be moved at the will of our fathers. As a man, Loki has more free will than I, but not by much. As a prince, he will be expected to marry an Asgardian noblewoman, just as I am expected to marry Audunn. It is my duty. And I must be strong enough to carry it out.

I sit up, willing myself to find any strength left in my body. “Will you help me get ready for dinner?”

Ragna looks relieved at my gaining composure. “Of course, My Lady.”

{***}

Audunn joins us for dinner. Every time he looks at me, I do my best not to grimace. I may hate this man, but I have no ill will towards Sveinn and desperately do not want to see him hurt. For the majority of the evening, we eat in silence.

As I pick at my dessert, Father speaks. “My council and I have set a date for your marriage ceremony.”

My stomach clenches. Loki’s face flashes in my mind, apathetic and detached. I do my best to mimic his mask in order to hide my fear. “Oh?”

Father grunts. “Three weeks from now.”

But I am not as practiced as Loki. A breath escapes me, and my voice is noticeably stained when I speak. “So soon?”

Audunn puts on a winning smile. “What she means to say, is that she is pleased. Isn’t that right, dear Y/n?”

I swallow down my bile and set him with a hard look. “Yes.”

Father doesn’t seem to notice the tension between us. “Shall I invite anyone in particular from Asgard?”

Yes. “No.”

Father continues, taking a bite of his dessert. “I will, of course, invite the Royal Family, though I highly doubt they will be in attendance. It’s unusual for the entire family to leave Asgard.” A thoughtful look crosses his face. “But perhaps the Allmother will come. She seems the most likely, if any.”

Hope surprises me, and I cling to it. “Yes, I wish she would attend. It would be lovely to see her again. Queen Frigga was always so kind to me.” An unexpected pang of longing hits me, and I realize I had been so focused on missing Loki that I hadn’t noticed I miss his mother as well. Now aware, I ache for her kind words and motherly affections.

Father gives me a small smile. “I will be sure to convey your words in the invitation.”

I nod, thankful. Perhaps if Frigga attends the wedding, I can get though it without screaming.

A/n: Let me know what you thought and if you would like to be added to the tag list!

Link to next part: https://bonjour-rainycity.tumblr.com/post/638076748499681280/odins-ward-chapter-11

Tag list: @80strashbag @dark-night-sky-99 @what-am-i-doing10 @chxrryycola @ravenclaw5606

#loki #loki fanfic #loki fanfiction #loki reader-insert #loki x reader #loki x reader fanfiction #thor #marvel #marvel fanfiction #marvel reader-insert #thor fanfiction #loki x y/n #loki x yn #loki x female reader #asgard #loki odinson #loki laufeyson #loki friggason #friends to lovers

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akira-chaos-suta · 3 years

Text

Emperor Time Isn’t Kurapika Becoming A Specialist

This whole post started with me being confused on Kurapika’s hatsu’s and nen type, mainly on the difference between Kurapika’s SPECIALIST abilities and comparing them to born SPECIALISTS. It’s EMPEROR TIME specifically that confused me the most, eventually to the point that I read up more on Nen, Kurapika and other SPECIALISTS, and eventually came to the main discussion topic.

EMPEROR TIME isn’t Kurapika becoming a SPECIALIST, but it is a Hatsu he made and can only use while he is a SPECIALIST.

STEALTH DOLPHIN is a SPECIALIZATION Hatsu and does not need EMPEROR TIME to use.

I’ll have to explain a lot about this so please bear with me:

What is a SPECIALIST/comparing them to the other aura types (misconceptions of NEN)?

SPECIALIZATION as a nen type is defined by concepts outside of the other 5 nen types. Basically their main abilities/hatsu’s would concoct anything except the 5 nen types. Many people seem to think that being a SPECIALIST means that they can use all the nen types to their full capabilities (as if they were born with that nen category). This is most likely because of EMPEROR TIME which has caused a lot of misunderstandings in the fandom because of how it functions, which makes sense, Kurapika was the first (temporary) Specialist they revealed and explained outright. Anyway this is false, SPECIALIZATION still abides by the aura category rules, specifically they have the potential to use SPECIALIZATION up to 100%, MANIPULATION and CONJURATION up to 80%, EMISSION and TRANSMUTATION up to 60% and ENHANCEMENT up to 40%. Another misconception is that people have an automatic mastery of their nen category as well as mastery level of the given percentage of the other nen categories that correlate with your own. You don’t, a person still has to train to work up to your potential in the main nen category, as well as the other nen categories. "There are numerical approximations to indicate just exactly how efficient one would be at using aura abilities that one is not born into. Starting at one's own aura type, one has the potential to be 100% efficient at using abilities based in that category alone." ("Nen and Individuality" Nen, Hunterpedia)

Explaining EMPEROR TIME and why it is a hatsu not Kurapika becoming a SPECIALIST.

Now let's discuss EMPEROR TIME. My main argument is that EMPEROR TIME isn’t Kurapika becoming a SPECIALIST, but it’s a SPECIALIST hatsu with a hefty restriction, that one second using EMPEROR TIME takes away one hour of his life. My main reason for believing this is because of what SPECIALIZATION nen allows and what EMPEROR TIME actually does, recounting from the description and labeling of EMPEROR TIME in Kurpika’s wiki page. It is listed as only SPECIALIZATION ability, (this may not seem important but it will come back to it when we discuss how Kurapika actually becomes one, as it is listed as only SPECIALIZATION.) EMPEROR TIME allows Kurapika to utilize all the nen categories to 100%, but specifically for a CONJUROR. Meaning by activating EMPEROR TIME, Kurapika’s nen categories are automatically mastered in correlation to his CONJURATION status, not SPECIALIZATION. Which means his percentages are the following, 100% in CONJURATION, 80% in SPECIALIZATION and TRANSMUTATION, 60% in MANIPULATION and ENHANCEMENT, and 40% in EMISSION. So unlike other Specialists (and other nen users) Kurapika can automatically master all of his nen as a conjuror with EMPEROR TIME. But that's not all, while EMPEROR TIME can only master his Nen level to that of a CONJUROR, it also allows the force and accuracy of each nen category up to 100%. “This ability allows him to utilize all the types of Nen to 100% efficiency (for a Conjurer*). Kurapika explains this using the terms ``Level", "Force", and "Accuracy": his "Levels'' in the various Nen categories remain the same during Emperor Time, but his "Force" and "Accuracy" for every category are raised to 100%. Thus, if Kurapika's "Level" in Conjuration was 10, his "Level" in Emission (the polar opposite aura type) would remain 4 at the most, but his "Force" and "Accuracy" in any Emission ability would increase from 40% to 100%, making him evenly matched against a Level 4 Emitter.”* ("Abilities and Power" Kurapika, Hunterpedia). Wow what an OP ability, yeah but we know the heavy drawbacks of the ability. Now why would an ability that is said to turn Kurapika into a SPECIALIST be set to the standards and conditions of a CONJUROR? Because it doesn’t turn Kurapika into a SPECIALIST, it's a hatsu that is SPECIALIST in nature/creation that he can only use when he is a SPECIALIST (Scarlet Eyes) to boost his aura/nen abilities as a CONJUROR since 5 out of his 7 are CONJURATION (with 2 of them being couple with others).

How Kurapika actually becomes a SPECIALIST.

From what we’ve seen during one of the first scenes of Kurapika’s nen training, his aura changes (spikes) automatically once his eyes turn Scarlet. In Izunavi’s own words he said “When your eyes turn Scarlet your aura spikes. Could that mean . . . Let’s try water divination again!” Aura/nen spiking to the point that a New teacher wants their student to retake the water divination test again. This makes me theorize that Kurapika can transition into a normal Specialist once his eyes turn Scarlet (as it is a bloodline ability it wouldn’t follow the rules of nen) to which he created the Hatsu: EMPEROR TIME, meaning he can be a normal SPECIALIST (not forever as having his eyes scarlet does take an effect on his physical and mental health.) So if we're following my theory, Kurapika can transition into a normal SPECIALIST automatically once his eyes turn scarlet, from then on he has a choice if he wants to activate EMPEROR TIME.

Discussing all Kurapika’s Hatsu’s and their aura types.

A lot of people might be thinking. Does that mean that Kurapika does not need EMPEROR TIME to activate his other abilities and could just train his Nen categories?

Yes and no. DOWSING CHAIN, CHAIN JAIL and STEAL CHAIN don’t need EMPEROR TIME to work normally, but they are most likely enhanced minimally (DOWSING CHAIN) by EMPEROR TIME. Neither does HOLY CHAIN for small injuries or slow recovery time, but EMPEROR TIME allows Kurapika to heal serious and severe injuries in seconds (I’ll explain why). JUDGEMENT CHAIN specifically states that it needs EMPEROR TIME (I’ll explain why). Let's discuss the rest of Kurapika’s Hatsu’s, specifically why STEALTH DOLPHIN is a SPECIALIZATION hatsu and doesn’t really need EMPEROR TIME.

The DOWSING CHAIN is just a CONJURATION ability and is used for defense and offense. It’s main ability is dowsings, specifically it allows Kurapika to use the chain as a lie detector but only for one person at a time and if he is right in front of them, it’s unlikely that the ability will work efficiently if more then one person is talking. The chain can also be used to look for a missing individual if Kurapika has met them previously, I’m assuming. EMPEROR TIME allows the lie detection to increase in versatility and efficiency to the point that Kurapika can tell if someone is lying through video recording with the only requirement being that he has to have met the person beforehand. This is most likely because EMPEROR TIME would increase Kurapika’s CONJURATION to 100% mastery, thus his DOWSING CHAIN would become more powerful/useful. (which also means Kurapika hasn’t reached 100% in CONJURATION)

CHAIN JAIL is a CONJURATION ability and it is specifically designed/restricted to being only usable towards the members of the Phantom Troupe or the limitation Kurapika put on the ability would kill him. The abilities of the chain are simple, its function is to envelope the members of the Phantom Troupe and force the captee into Zetsu, forcing the prisoners to only be able to break out of the chain with their natural strength, which is impossible for the Phantom Troupe. The ability is very versatile as Kurapika can ensnare someone from a long distance, as seen with Uvogin’s first capture. This is probably the only ability that doesn’t have any need for EMPEROR TIME at all. If it was activated the only thing I can see it adding to is forcing the prisoner into zetsu the moment the chain touches them. Being Kurapika’s most unused ability it is unlikely it will see anymore updates on the 100% CONJURATION until the Phantom Troupe take more then one trip upstairs, for all we know the restriction Kurapika put on the ability has already pushed the ability to be 100% in CONJURATION.

STEAL CHAIN is a CONJURATION ability that allows Kurapika to drain his target's aura (which is said to be extremely painful to them), putting them into a similar state to Zetsu, allowing Kurapika to steal/borrow the targets hatsu. Because of this the target is unable to use their ability until Kurapika gives it back, if the target dies Kurapika can still hold onto the ability, but once Kurapika uses the ability it automatically goes back to the original owner. Similar to CHAIN JAIL, I don’t really know what EMPEROR TIME could do to upgrade this ability. Although I thought about it, other than forcing the target into a zetsu like state faster, EMPEROR TIME would make Kurapika’s CONJURATION to level go up to 100%, allowing him to conjure up collection tubes (where your blood goes into when the doctor draws blood) so that he can keep more then one hatsu/ability with him at a time if he doesn’t want to use the stolen ability at that moment.

HOLY CHAIN is CONJURATION and ENHANCEMENT ability that allows Kurapika to heal wounds and injuries through its ENHANCEMENT category, if the injury is more severe it could take the chain a longer time for his injury to heal. Because EMPEROR TIME levels Kurapika’s ENHANCEMENT to 100%, Kurapika can heal critical and severe injuries within seconds. So it can be assumed Kurapika’s level in ENHANCEMENT is good enough for him to at least heal average injuries, meaning he’s probably done some training in ENHANCEMENT as well. While he doesn’t fully need EMPEROR TIME full time (As Kurapika is pretty skilled and doesn’t get injured that much) the ability is pretty useful for those rare times Kurapika or someone else is heavily injured.

JUDGEMENT CHAIN is a CONJURATION, EMISSION and MANIPULATION ability and unlike his other chains, it is stated on Kurapika’s bio that he needs EMPEROR TIME to use this ability as his affinity and mastery over EMISSION and MANIPULATION is low, or low enough that he can’t use the ability efficiently yet. (IDK the percentage he needs for JUDGEMENT CHAIN) Which also makes sense why Kurapika didn’t realize when his chain around Chrollo was removed. This also makes me wonder if Kurapika even bothered to train with EMISSION and MANIPULATION, or if he decided to focus more on CONJURATION, SPECIALIZATION and ENHANCEMENT?

STEALTH DOLPHIN is a SPECIALIZATION ability that allows Kurapika to summon a Dolphin-like construction that is only visible and audible to himself. STEALTH DOLPHIN has so far been used in conjunction with EMPEROR TIME, the main function is to analyze whatever ability STEAL CHAIN has stolen, informing Kurapika of the abilities name, function and conditions, STEALTH DOLPHIN can also hold onto a stolen ability that Kurapika doesn’t need/want to use at the moment. Kurapika can then use the ability on himself or loan the ability to someone else by stabbing/pricking them with STEAL CHAIN, if that person is a non-nen user it will cause them to have their aura nodes open up. If Kurapika loans an ability to someone else, a listening device will appear on their ear allowing them to see and communicate with STEALTH DOLPHIN, who will then counsel them on the newly acquired ability. The ability that is loaned by STEAL CHAIN is fueled by the aura of the original owner. No matter who has ability equipped, the stolen ability can only be used once and then it’s returned to their owner.

If Kurapika equips the dolphin with a stolen ability, then he is able to use STEAL CHAIN again, but even if he transfers the second stolen ability he won’t be allowed out of EMPEROR TIME until all the stolen abilities have been used, thus EMPEROR TIME will remains active until all the stolen abilities are returned. Because STEAL CHAIN has so far been used in conjunction with EMPEROR TIME, I think the ability means to say that if Kurapika steals abilities and transfers them to STEALTH DOLPHIN then he’d eventually have to use those abilities or else STEALTH DOLPHIN won’t deactivate as it is technically still in use. During this time, the dolphin will regularly notify Kurapika how long EMPEROR TIME has been active if it is activated, Kurapika can make the dolphin disappear if it is put on standby. If Kurapika faints from EMPEROR TIME overuse than anyone else that is using an ability loaned to them by him will pass out as well. If we were to use my theory on Kurapika being able to be a SPECIALIST without EMPEROR TIME, then many would want to know why Kurapika activated it in the first place.

Other than EMPEROR TIME, STEALTH DOLPHIN is Kurapika’s only other SPECIALIZATION ability, the main reason that EMPEROR TIME is so powerful is because Kurapika put a heavy restriction on it, just like CHAIN JAIL. Well as I discussed previously about EMPEROR TIME’s actual abilities relating to a CONJURER nen percentage mastery. Then you know that Kurapika can only master up to level 8 of SPECIALIZATION, but we don’t know what level he is at right now, EMPEROR TIME would increase the Force and Accuracy to 100%. Therefore it would make sense for Kurapika to activate EMPEROR TIME to allow him 100% efficiency in using STEALTH DOLPHIN. You have to evaluate the situation that Kurapika has found himself in as well. He’s posted to take a position on as a bodyguard on the Black Whale that is literally goes in to a continent that is full of the darkest and unidentified creatures, he has Beyond Neterou to worry about, add into the fact he’s trying to figure out how to take the last of the Scarlet eyes from Tserriednich. It’s revealed that the voyage was a ploy for the King of Kakin to declare a succession war that includes the heirs killing each other and Kurapika is one of the two bodyguards left for the most vulnerable prince, 2 of which have already been murdered, and he’s had previous bodyguards betray and spy on him as well. He then manipulates the whole war to a stalemate by revealing nen, teaching Oito nen and then putting his life on the line by opening nen lessons to all the Prince’s guards of choice. The point is Kurapika is stressed, anxious and nervous, he doesn’t know if his baseline abilities will be enough to keep Oito and Wobble safe, so in his eyes it's best to go 100% at the moment.

Comment your thoughts on my theory and if you think I have a point or if you think I'm nuts! LOL

Here's a link to another doc where I was writing all my thoughts out of order. - Rough Copy

Nen | Hunterpedia | Fandom

Kurapika | Hunterpedia | Fandom

Explaining Kurapika's Nen Abilities (Emperor Time + Different Chains) | Hunter X Hunter Explained

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cloveroctobers · 4 years

Text

ELLADINE SARABI

IG info/bio: @/ellasardineabi | 18.5k followers | Artist | i was born with glass bones and paper skin♡

25 years old

Born & raised in Cardiff, Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Father was in the n*vy and moved his family around a few times until he and his wife came to a agreement that it would be best for the family to grow up in one solid place

whereas he would leave for months at a time living elsewhere

Which was hard on the family at times since he is viewed as the rock of the family

He eventually left the n*vy after serving 20 years & was so thankful to, he hated it and how it messed with him mentally

He’s also of Iranian heritage

Her mother is of German heritage

Has her own restaurant that serves authentic German food

Both of her parents instilled hard work, discipline, generosity, and how to be practical in their children

Elladine is the middle child

Has a brother that is ten years older than her and then a younger sister who is seven years behind her

Canon: there is currently a discussion going on if they are going to bring their (maternal) nan/mam-gu home since the nursing home isn’t providing the proper care their nan needs

Her mother has a rocky relationship with her mother that she doesn’t like to discuss with her children but her husband knows all about it

Her nan has Alzheimer's and is becoming violent

it has become difficult seeing her most days

Elladine came into glassblowing after being involved in many classes in secondary such as workshop class

which became her fav since she was able to manipulate many materials such as metal, wood, and glass

She also took a auto body class which was interesting but she wasn’t too thrilled about it. Got away with a B- but knew she could do better if she really wanted to but she didn’t need the class to graduate so allow it

Currently works in a glass studio where her work is displayed/sold and she’s one of the main ones that makes great profit

has bought her own space for her own studio and is slowly making it to her liking with her assistant, yes she’s got one!

Hopes to be in that space within the next 6 months...it would have been a little sooner if we weren’t dealing with a global p*ndemic!!! but ya know life f*cking sucks sometimes!!!1!!:) especially if people don’t gaf

Moved back in with her parents so that she could not only help with her nan but get her studio ready, her parents approved since she was working towards something and realized her talent

I definitely see elladine going through a grunge phase and it probably still slips out every now and then lol

Her childhood room is still in shades of raspberry, gray, and a deep purple

always been plus-sized/fuller than the rest but it’s literally hereditary since her mom is built the same way who got it from her dad

Her family never made her feel ashamed as they shouldn’t and none of her true friends made her feel different since they were all of different sizes!!! besides who’s really friends with someone because of their bodies? Ur really ugly if that’s how u roll js

Always a respectful student and not too afraid to spark up a convo with you but can be a little nervous if the person is more of a “I have to warm up to you first” since she’ll feel like she’s annoying you if she carries the convo at first

Takes her time in relationships because she’s scared of getting hurt, cause breakups are not fun! Especially if theyre your friend on top of that

Although Friendship breakups are much worse let’s be honest here!!!

Has noticed that a few of her exes like to bring up that she’s controlling or too bossy in relationships and that makes her a little insecure since she doesn’t view it that way??

She knows what she wants and likes things a certain way, and she can see how it can kinda come off that way based on how she approaches/says things and tries to be better at toning it down and not being offensive to her significant others

Always has a plan and likes to follow it, she definitely keeps to-do lists on a daily

Takes trips to see Nicky often and vice-versa, every moment they spend together feels like it’s meant to be, even when it’s them just simply chilling in each other’s spaces, he’s truly one of her best friends and he feels like the missing part of her life

He offered for her to move in with him but elladine didn’t accept it since she wanted to be there to help with her nan and in fact—she wanted to be the one to ask HIM to move in with her

but if they make it long enough, they’ll go house hunting together...maybe

I get Shawn/Angela relationship vibes from them (boy meets world for those who aren’t aware of this couple and I’m not just saying this because they’re interracial as well lol) did I say this already about someone else? Brain fart lol

everyone relationship has their flaws so when they hit a bump in the road...elladine immediately wants to fix it but it comes off as more critiquing, moodiness/blaming the other

while Nicky can be defensive/argumentive/a little condescending on his end

To get through it, they normally go on a walk together in complete silence until they’re ready to speak again or they take a break from each other

I think words of affirmation is her love language

Taurus sun + Virgo moon + Capricorn rising?

“The girl on the motorcycle” is one of her fav films — no this is not metaphoric to her love life

Loves watching things with captions on since she always finds herself doing something else while watching anything (which irks Nicky a little bit but that’s just the way elladine is and he loves her so he deals with it)

Will rewind something if she missed it too

Canon: never had morning sex before

but can now say she has ;) & understands the pros people say about it and it outweighs the cons in her book

Will start the whole song over too if she missed her fav part in it

She also enjoys billiards since her brother used to work in a pool hall and when he had to watch her because she was “too young” in her words to stay home by herself he would take her there even tho technically she wasn’t supposed to be there but he was screwing his boss’s daughter so it was quite fine

her sister has a crush on Gary & ships elladine with him, which they joke about every now and then + he doesn’t follow her back, which is okay! Not a big deal but her sister keeps sliding in his dms (he’s now single)

She NEVER thought she would be on THE love island and wasn’t that confident that she’d find a real love that carried on outside of the show but Nicky has proven her wrong 🥲

She’s 5’5–5’6

Probably shops at Zara & top shop and has no issue picking pieces that flatter her “pear” figure, she loves all that is of her body: the pudge, love handles, cellulite and all (she’s very confident and won’t let anyone see her moments of doubt when it comes to her frame)

Loves mythology but will tell bill stfu if he comes near her trying to argue about anything in that subject

Very competitive and will rush through certain things, leaving one to think that she’ll fail somewhere but rarely does

If she’s not near or away from the mountains or the sea for long period of time she gets very moody!!! Guess that’s the Welsh in her huh?

Loves fireplaces, they’re super cozy and very romantic if you catch ella’s drift 😏

Probably smells like jasmine & pink pepper idk

Wants to travel to Iceland one day

Knows her way around a car but dreads having to get it fixed or fixing it herself?

Loves driving until her road rage kicks in? Oh you’re gonna go around her to get in front of her? Never that. She’ll always be in front of you and will break check you if you try her “Drewgi” she mutters

Early riser and goes to bed early too lol

She’s the crying drunk lmao

Automatically vieve has become one of her best friends from the villa but it deff didn’t feel forced like it normally would have just because their bfs have a podcast together, they talk about everything together. EVERYTHING! It feels like she’s the big sister she never had, yet they’re only a year apart lol

They have ft sleepovers and man is it fun!

Forgave lily but at the same time can’t fully see herself being friends with her like vieve tried to encourage before they went on the yacht...sorry everything can’t be Kumbaya over here sis

It sucks to say but it was easier? She doesn’t know if that’s the right term or not... for her to forgive rafi than it was lily and it’s fucked up but that’s the way it is. It’s not like she contacts him on seperate messages or anything like that! She’ll talk to him via group chat and that’s pretty much it. She knows it was all part of the show and production’s bs for ratings but that doesn’t mean it still didn’t hurt

Wishes him success on his shows/movies but doesn’t engage/watch them

What does she post? I feel like she posts maybe three times a month and a lot are outfit pics but tends to go live more so to chat with the people! She’ll also show all what glassblowing entails while chatting away! She loves that part and is pretty open about things but knows how to keep some things private

Personally wasn’t the biggest fan of season 1 but admits she wishes she had mc’s balls in terms of what she would have done if she was in elladine’s place when lily picked Nicky, “ugh! I wish I had her strength rising through my veins in that moment. Absolute riot. Adore her.”

‘“Licky” is a ugly ass ship name anyways so who’s really winning here?!’

Celeb crushes? Iwan Rheon, Henry Zaga, Anthony Welsh, jason derulo, & LaRoyce Hawkins

Listens to: soleima, Marisa Maino, Ava Max, poppy, Caroline polachek, Donny Hathaway, Phil Good, & SAINt JHN

Anthem — M.I.A. “Bad Girls”

#litg #litg3 #litg s3 #litg elladine #litg Nicky #litg genevieve #litg oc #litg mc #litg headcanon #litg headcanons #litg rafi #litg boat party #litg lily #litg moodboard #I like elladine and I’m in love with her design #wish they did more with her and many of the other characters too!#I hope this was sorta satisfactory lol!#can you tell I’m running out of artists and celebs/well known ppl lol!

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divinefireangel · 3 years

Text

You are my Honey and my Forever Moon

SF9 Inseong x Wife! Reader Fluffy Smut.

ADORABABY ADORABABY ADORABABY ADORABABY ADORABABY ADORABABY

Disclaimer: This is just a work of fiction. If this piece of fan fiction is offensive to any celebrity, fandom or culture please let me know so I can take it down. Also note that this is my version of a character or celeb, which will vary from person to person.

Author's Note: I finally got to finishing this request!! 🥳 Not gonna lie I kinda like this one lol. I have a free day tomorrow so let's hope I post tomorrow as well🤞

Copyright: Please note that this is my work and if you want to publish this on any other platform, take my permission before doing so. Taking an author's work and posting it somewhere else without any intimation is just disrespectful. I readily welcome suggestions and criticisms. That being said, Happy reading! 🤍

Warnings: 18+ ages and female readers (nothing specified with respect to appearance, etc of reader). Tbh all can read it. Soft sex. Unprotected sex (just don't do this unless you want kids). Probably slow burn I'm not sure. Sexy but soft Inseong 😂. Lmk if I need to add more! Italics is flashback.

Requested: YES. By our fav @inseongsfoxybae

Hey, babe Sush 🥰🥰🥰 Can I request something?

Would you mind writing a honeymoon scenario with Seongie? Smuty and with a lot of softness at the same time 👉🏻👈🏻

Oh babe I hope you like it and that this makes your day a lil better 💞❣

1.8k Words

Staring down at your left ring finger, you traced the new golden band that your finger adorned. Smiling, you remember the moment that changed your life forever. Finally, you were each other's happily ever after. How did you get so lucky to have Kim Inseong fall in love with you, you'll never know. But what you do know, is that there is no one in the world whom you can love as much as him.

You remember the look he gave you just before you got wedded, standing opposite you holding your hands in his, that always fit together like a puzzle, the moment in which you knew, there is no one who will love you as much as him. Seeing his love filled expression, reminded you of every single time he looked at you like that. The first time he saw you on your first date, the first time he saw you all glamed up, the first time he saw your natural perfections, the first time he saw you naked, the first time he kissed you, the first time he smiled at you, the first time he smiled because of you, the first time you made him laugh, the first time he saw you laugh, the first time he saw you dance your little happy dance because you got your favourite food, the first time you told him you loved him, the first time you held him when he cried, the first time you let him sleep on top of you after a long day and the first time he realized you were the one he was looking for his entire life.

And since all those firsts, he's looked at you the same way. Because he doesn't know how else to look at you. You, his soulmate, his eternal love, his forever and forevermore.

Gathering the crowd's attention, the officiate began the ceremony.

"Dearly beloved, we are present here, to experience the blessed union of Ms. Y/N L/N and Mr. Kim Inseong. As I start, I have a passage to read, written by me, about falling in love.

When you hear the word falling, it's generally assumed to be a neutral word. No one prefers to fall willingly. But falling in love, is one of the purest ways to use the word falling. Not a single person is scared of falling like this. Falling from a height of course is scary for most." The crowd laughs at this remark. Smiling, the officiate continued.

"Well now really when we go back then to falling in love. And say it's crazy. We don't say rising into love. The moment you enter any kind of human undertaking relationship, you've given yourself up. But this is the most powerful thing that can be done. Surrender, you see. And love, is an act of surrender to another person. I give myself to you.

These two young people standing here, in front of each other, have surrendered themselves to one another, creating a strong bond, and I pray, that it only gets stronger with time." Staring into each other's teary yet love filled eyes, Y/N and Inseong slipped on a band on their ring fingers to indicate their eternal love.

"What are you thinking about my love? " Handing you a glass of champagne, your husband asked you.

"Just..... Us. "

"Us? " He questions chuckling, sitting next to you on the couch in your hotel room, which is rented for your honeymoon.

Humming a yes, you lean in to kiss him. Meeting you halfway, Inseong attached your lips together, as a hand stroked your hair.

"Don't you want to change into your nightwear? " Tilting your head innocently, you looked at your husband in curiosity.

"I kinda have other plans." He said sheepishly grinning at your confused demeanour. Placing the two identical glasses on a table nearby, Inseong grabs your face gently with both his hands, connecting your lips again.

Carefully he moves his hands to your hair, trying to find for things that may hurt you when you laid down on the bed. Removing the U pins from your hairbun, he slowly lets your hair down. Breaking the kiss completely, staring at your with a soft smile, warming your heart, he moves to remove your earrings and other jewelry.

Chewing in anticipation on your bottom lip, you lift your fingers to unbutton the buttons of his dress shirt. This action isn't something foreign to either of you, having done this multiple times before in the past. But this time, today, right now, is just more softer, more intimate.

By the time you finish his dress shirt, he's already pulled down the zipper of your dress.

Admiring you again, he moves his hand to the side of your face, slowly pushing a strand of hair behind your ear.

Moving the same hand to the back of your head, he tilts your head up, engulfing your lips again in a needy kiss. A kiss of this type from him never fails to make you lose balance, lose your sense of presence of mind and makes you aroused enough to close your eyes as a your lower abdomen starts heating up for attention.

Breathing into each other, you stand up taking his hand and pull him towards the bed, stopping at its foot. Slowly you slide off him shirt from his shoulders, letting it fall on the floor. Looking up at him through your lashes, you bite your lower lip, as you feel yourself getting wetter by the minute. How can you not be wet when you have such a sexy husband? Smirking a little, Inseong traces your skin from your neck to your shoulders to your back, gliding your dress down near his shirt. Taking your delicate hands in his, he gazes down your body, the tent forming in his pants approving your pretty lingerie. How did he get so lucky to have found you. You goddess of a being, so in love with him, a mere man who worships you more than anything.

Placing your hands around his neck, he leans down to kiss your lush lips, as his hands go down your body, reaching behind your back to unclasp your bra, and settling on your waist for a moment, before going down to reach the back of your thighs. Lifting you up without breaking the kiss, Inseong kneels on the bed as your legs wrap around him in instinct. Laying you down lovingly on the bed, your husband looks into your eyes, with that sweet look of his. For him although, he feels like he is looking at you for the first time ever, starting from your forehead to the distance between your eyebrows, to your cute nose and to your parted lips, waiting to be kissed again.

Swallowing in the sight below, his lips find themselves at the base of your jaw. Sucking there lightly, Inseong rolls his hips such that his clothed length rubs against your core. Even with so many layers you could feel the outline of his dick. Kissing down till your neck and collarbone, he continues to grind into you, groaning when he feels your nails scratch his back.

Gasping at a sudden forceful thrust, you wrap your legs tighter around his waist. Detaching his lips from your body, he sits on his knees, looking down at your, enjoying the view of you in your loving needy state. Making eye contact, he unbuckles his belt removing it sexily, followed by his pants and boxers. Placing his hands on your bent knees, he moves his torso up as his hands glide freely from your knees through the top of your thighs, coming to a still on your hips.

Leaning down, Inseong kisses your lips again, as his fingertips trace the upper elastic of your panties. Grabbing ahold of them, he peels your panties down your legs and throws it to the side. One of his hands comes next to your head to support himself up as he stays close to you, kissing till you run out of air in your lungs, while the other takes liberty to part your folds.

Sighing into your mouth, he spreads your wetness from your entrance to your clit, giving it a few strokes to stimulate you more. Moaning into the kiss, you silently beg for more, wanting more, more of him in you, taking you to paradise.

Removing his fingers from your folds, he breaks the kiss just to rile you up more by sucking them as his eyes never left yours. Biting your lip you look at him with pleading eyes. Dropping his cockiness at your cuteness, he slowly guides the head of his cock to your entrance, nudging it in little by little, letting you get used to his size. Pecking your forehead repeatedly Inseong bottoms out into you. Stilling for a moment, he takes your hand in his free hand, bringing it up to kiss your knuckles.

Melting at this sweet gesture, you intertwine your fingers together, as your eyes close overwhelmed by the feeling of his cock starting to move back and forth, in and out of you slowly. Petting your hair with the hand that's next to your head, Inseong joins your lips again, but only for a small kiss. He then proceeds to kiss your cheeks, your nose, your eyebrows, your eyelids, your chin, your jaw, your forehead and back to your lips, all while rutting his pelvis against yours in a loving pace.

This isn't the first time he's made love to you. He's done that multiple times and more. But now, you are his wife and he wants nothing but to take care of you and your burdens and to keep you happy. He wants to spoil you in every way possible. He wants you fulfilled to the maximum extent, and he will do anything for you and your future together to be as perfect as possible.

Moaning his name, when you feel yourself coming closer to the edge, you clench your walls around him. Shuddering in response, he increases his pace to help you both have a blissful orgasm. Nuzzling his nose against yours, he squeezes your intertwined fingers looking back up into your eyes, wordlessly conveying that he is close. So so close to you.

"I love you" He whispers roughly, feeling his release approaching.

"I love you too" You gasp as you tighten your legs around him, clenching your walls as you come undone below your lover. Repeating your name as if it's the only word he knows, Inseong comes down slowly from his high, falling on top of you as slowly as he can.

Pressing your foreheads together, you catch your breath, hugging each other. Setting his head in between your shoulder and neck, Inseong starts to feel drowsy. How cute, you think fondly as you wrap your arms securely around you lover, your husband, playing with his hair as he drifts to sleep with you in his arms, and you following him soon after.

#sf9 #inseong #inseong smut #inseong x reader #inseong x reader smut #sf9 inseong #sf9 imagines #sf9 fluff #sf9 scenarios #sf9 x reader #sf9 reactions #sf9 x reader smut #sf9 oneshots #kim inseong #inseong fluffy smut #husband!inseong #sf9 smut

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chenoehi · 4 years

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Points about U.S. Election

(As I was typing this, Biden has taken the lead in GA but it’s still not called yet. Trump will undoubtedly demand a recount so if it’s really close a recount could flip it back for Trump.)

Just a little update from my previous post on the election results, although no one cares about my opinion. Rest assured, this is purely for my own sanity.

First thoughts:

1. Arizona being wishy washy throws a real monkey wrench in the wheels of this circus train from the perspective of Biden’s bid. It sounds crazy given how the Associated Press operates when it comes to elections (being very careful to call states too early) but the AP might have fucked up. Ironically, it would mean that Fox News, the only conservative leaning major network news outlet, also fucked up by calling AZ for Biden, an even more confusing fact when we consider that CNN, NBC, MSNBC, and other liberal leaning outlets have NOT called AZ for Biden. It has been amusing seeing conservatives on Twitter (particularly the trollish, nasty, insult-slinging ones—as opposed to normal every day conservatives) say fuck you to Fox News where Republicans have been tuning in to worship at the alter of Trump for the last four years. Politics always drives home what fickle creatures we really are. This is no offense to Republicans honestly. I have little use for broadcasters with their own shows who call themselves journalists. CNN, NBC, and MSNBC are in the tank for Democrats and Fox News is Trumpland. Fox News used to be more moderate when Bush was president but that’s been a lifetime ago. Now politics are even more idealogical than they were before, and the Republican voters are almost embracing Trump now more than they are embracing conservative values. Or at least that’s what I see in my corner of the deep red South, aka Tennessee. I digress. Point is, true journalists report the facts with no outward bias. These people are political commentators. I have a journalism degree. I wrote for my school paper and helped run it. I covered the 2016 election. I’ve met real journalists at AP and newspapers. Those people are not it.

2. In other news, Nevada may not even matter now if Biden can flip Georgia and Pennsylvania (which is happening in GA and may soon happen in PA if Biden can keep the upward momentum). That would make my points in the previous post almost irrelevant now. It goes to show how unpredictable this election has been, more so than expected. If Biden flips GA for good, Trump will have to win every other state (Alaska, North Carolina, Nevada, and Pennsylvania) AND flip Arizona back to gain just 269 electoral votes. If he fails to flip AZ or if he flips AZ and then loses just one other state it’s game over. If Biden wins GA and AZ still flips for Trump because it was called too early, then his 253 electoral votes (sans the 11 that AZ gives him) will turn into 269. He will still have to win one more state to gain 270. If Biden loses AZ and then doesn’t win any other state outside of GA he has 269 votes, and if Trump wins all the other states (PA, NC, NV, AL, AZ) he has 269 votes. If that scenario happens, neither men will get the needed 270 votes and we are royally fucked. If you think Trump demanding a recount in Wisconsin with a 20k gap (SAME AS HIS OWN GAP IN 2016, TALK ABOUT HYPOCRISY, NOT TO MENTION 2016 ALSO SAW A 10K GAP IN MICHIGAN) is bad, and if you think it’s really bad that we don’t have a President-elect at almost 3 days post election, imagine the horror of a nationwide recount or worse.

3. No one has any fucks to give about Alaska and North Carolina, still.

4. I really didn’t want to spend energy talking about Trump but I just find it so tragic that he wants the votes to continue to be counted in Arizona where the mail-ins are now turning it around in his favor, meanwhile in Pennsylvania and Georgia he tossed out lawsuits to stop the counting because there’s all this corruption and voter fraud because his lead is slipping due to the mail-ins and absentees. Oh, and he needed to move his people just a few feet closer to observe the ballots being counted, although if they’re close enough to read the language of the ballots then that constitutes an invasion of privacy. But everything is gravy in Arizona. #allvotesmatter. No disrespect to BLM, full stop. I find irony in comparing that phrase to this voting situation because Trump certainly wants conservative votes in Arizona to matter because it means something to him. Whereas, votes incoming from Fulton County in GA (Atlanta) and from Philadelphia, PA, and Detroit, MI—all heavily Black-populated cities—are being scrutinized and declared criminal. I find it tragically ironic, so I use that comparison here and elsewhere. I’m not making light of the movement by doing so (just to be clear).

Now, a break down of this shitshow:

What did we expect to happen?

Both camps thought they could win by a landslide.

Both camps have had their egos bruised.

We expected Trump to make accusations if he didn’t perform well or if he lost.

Trump already set the precedent for this behavior in 2016 when he complained that a loss then would be because the vote was rigged. Turns out, it wasn’t. And his paper thin margins were totally fine and not the cause of voter fraud and fishiness and he didn’t steal the election.

We did not expect him to go quietly into that night. The exact opposite of what happened in 2016 is happening now and Trump’s hypocrisy and immaturity is showing full force. Even some of his supporters are saying he’s whack. That’s bad, but then again, many Republicans have had concerns over his Tweets and rhetoric for the last four years and have done nothing about it. Consequently, he’s lost a lot of former supporters and I don’t even know what his cabinet looks like now. I digress.

Everyone expected Biden to carry most of the mail-in and absentee ballots and for Trump to carry most of the in-person votes.

That is exactly what has happened in pretty much all the swing states save for AZ.

Why is that?

Trump encouraged his followers to vote in-person during early voting periods and to turn out big on election day and specifically to not mail their ballots in or use absentee ballots. Meanwhile, Biden encouraged people to mail in their ballots to stay safe.

We always have some mail-ins and some absentees each election cycle but because of COVID this 2020 election means that we have had millions of these types of ballots this year, which are always more time consuming to process and count.

In Michigan alone, 2/3 of the state cast mail-in or absentee ballots. Michigan was one of the states like Wisconsin where Trump’s early lead was dashed once the in-person ballots were finished being tallied. Unlike in Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, Michigan has ended up with a gap of nearly 150k votes for Biden and doesn’t yet appear to be subject to a recount. Meanwhile, Wisconsin went to Biden with a 20k gap but will seemingly be subjected to a recount. The former governor of Wisconsin (who is in the tank for Trump) even spoke out initially and said that unless they can uncover a severe degree of voter fraud or mishandling of ballots (transposed numbers, etc) then 20k is a lot to overcome.

What has happened? The Red Mirage and the Blue Shift.

Generally, in-person votes are the easiest and quickest to tabulate. Mail-in ballots and absentee ballots take longer because they take longer to be processed. Then there are provisional ballots, which generally take the longest because these are votes from people who might actually be ineligible to vote (possibly because of residency status or criminal history; for example, if the latter then their voting rights may have been temporarily suspended).

Key swing states like Florida, Texas, and maybe Ohio (but specifically FL and TX) were allowed to start counting their mail-in and absentee ballots early.

FL and TX saw Biden having an early lead before ultimately Trump gained the lead and won as soon as the in-person ballots started being counted. So, mail-ins and absentee ballots tallied first, in-person ballots tallied second in these states. A Blue Mirage, and then a Red Shift.

However, news commentators have long been discussing the following scenario: the Red Mirage, aka, the tallied in-person votes overwhelmingly skewing Republican being counted first and making states appear to be in Trump’s favor when in actuality Biden would win them in the end once mail-ins and absentees were counted last, causing the Blue Shift (aka the current shift we are seeing now in several swing states, but also harkening back to the 2016 election when Trump caused what was dubbed a “Red Wave” when he swept almost all of the swing states. Aka, now a Blue Shift nationwide).

Why does all this matter to the accusations of voter fraud?

Prior to election day, the GOP (conservatives/Republicans) blocked certain key swing states from being able to count mail-ins and absentees early on. That means that all the ballots that were received in certain states during early voting periods and right up to election day (November 3rd) were unable to be counted until the day of the election.

This block happened in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. I don’t know about Georgia, I don’t think this happened with GA but maybe.

So, unlike FL and TX, which leaned for Biden early on and then shifted, the opposite is happening in PA and GA, and we have seen Biden take MI and WI both.

Arizona is an anomaly because although Biden was expected to sweep a majority of the mail-in and absentee ballots, and has to a large degree nationwide, in Arizona it has been Trump who has taken a larger % of those ballots. Arizona is kind of a coin toss because Trump has a lot of supporters there, and it goes to Republicans most of the time. So Biden’s lead (and possible win) is surprising, but Trump is closing the gap slowly.

What are some things that people are forgetting?

One critical thing is that the USPS (U.S. Postal Service) fucking sucks.

It was reported either on election day or the next morning that the USPS misplaced 300k ballots. They were given more time by a judge to sweep their facilities to find these ballots (how tf do you lose 300k ballots in the first place).

The USPS has been noncompliant when it comes to this and other issues, causing several setbacks and problems.

Many ballots were delivered late. Republicans said that was fraud. They wanted to stop the counting of these ballots in some places. But as long as the ballots were mailed (aka postmarked) by election day then they are still valid, legal ballots. The USPS not delivering them on time is a separate issue.

Some of those ballots are for Trump and other candidates. Not all are for Biden. So he’d be costing himself votes too, which is counterintuitive.

Now, Trump has changed his narrative to ‘we want all legal ballots to be counted’. So I guess that means he’s cool now with the ballots being counted in AZ days after the election, just as long as they give him a change to win back the state.

Why are Trump’s accusations “dangerous,” hypocritical, and insulting?

Trump can turn a blind eye to his Hail Mary pass in Arizona and possibly Nevada this year (which he lost in 2016), and he can embrace the fact that he swept the election in 2016, won most of the swing states, many of which were expected to vote Democrat, and he can gloss over his paper-thin margins in 2016, which are eerily similar to this margins that Biden is now securing.

He can do all this because he won in 2016, and because he could win AZ and NV. But, he doesn’t like that he’s losing his lead in PA, and that he lost MI, WI, and currently the lead in GA. And of course it has to mean there was fraud and corruption if he’s losing right, because there’s no way he could lose in a fair election right? Because he’s so well-liked, right?

And I’m sure someone will point out that Democrats complained that the 2016 election wasn’t fair and that the result was influenced by the Russians and etc. etc. So Democrats are now hypocrites for calling Trump out on his bullshit statements with no evidence.

I agree that the “Trump didn’t win a fair race” argument is stupid, and that has been no more evident than it is right now obviously seeing that his popularity was no fluke. Biden is close to winning the race, but by a small margin. The country is extremely divided, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.

However, Trump is not really levying any specific accusations against Biden that I can see. What I’m hearing is Trump making vague accusations against the states, the election commissions, the polling offices, the people counting, and everyone that is specifically responsible for handling and counting the votes.

What is something that no one talking about, something that is incredibly hypocritical of Trump and Republicans to not point out in light of their accusations?

Alaska and North Carolina.

Why is neither Trump nor any conservative not pointing out how Alaska and North Carolina haven’t finished counting, or how NC has stopped counting and updating their votes for a whole day now? Why is no one saying anything about Alaska only having 50% of their votes reported 3 days after the polls opened? Where is the rage and conspiracy theories about those states and their stalled counting? Why aren’t they complaining about possible voter fraud in those states and worried something fishy is going on? Where are the lawsuits in Anchorage and Raleigh?

Oh, is it because everyone (including Democrats) knows Trump is going to win those states? Do we need an #allstatesmatter movement or something to get them to notice that we still don’t have any updates from them? (No offense to BLM, full stop.)

They don’t care about the issues in NC and AL. They only care about slow counting and fraud accusations in the states where their standing is subject to change. Meaning AKA, if the vote ends in their favor by a narrow margin of let’s say 1,000 votes then they’ll praise it as a win but if they lose the state by 20,000 votes like they did in.. oh, say Wisconsin this year, then they’ll claim voter fraud and demand a recount. Also like they have done in, you guessed it, Wisconsin. So, it’s OK if they eek out a win of 20k in Wisconsin back in 2016, and it’s OK if they eek out wins in Arizona and Nevada after Biden’s current lead, that’s not evidence of potential voter fraud, but if Biden gets a 20k win in Wisconsin this year that’s suspicious.

So Trump is fine with overtaking Biden with Hail Mary passes and narrow margins. He’s fine with all the mysterious votes for him that people are “finding everywhere” in AZ now (using his words he used to describe Biden’s gains). There’s no voter fraud going on in AZ where the mail-ins and absentees are still being counted like everywhere else, despite Trump and other Republicans complaining about the fact that votes are still being counted days after the election and that these ballots are bad in general. There’s no fraud in states where Biden initially had the lead after mail-ins were counted but is now seeing saw his lead shrink as in TX and FL, or in AZ where Biden (like Trump now in PA and GA) is seeing his early lead shrink now that mail-ins and absentees are being counted. There’s no fraud in AZ because Trump is the one gaining the advantage. And there’s also no fraud going on in Alaska where there is still only 50% votes reported or in North Carolina where 94% votes were reported before being delayed now a full day.

Quick question: do you see any Democrats or Liberals claiming Trump’s camp or the AZ counties themselves are purposefully locking that state up in his favor with mail-ins and absentees after seeing how many votes were needed for Trump to win it once the in-person ballots were tallied—as Trump so eloquently accused the Democrats and polls in PA, GA, MI, and WI of doing in his press conference yesterday afternoon? Because that’s basically what he said in his press conference. He made the accusation that they looked at the tally after in-person votes were counted, saw what votes were needed for Biden to win the state, and then suddenly they just started finding votes everywhere. Again, where are the watchdogs barking about people in Arizona and Nevada suddenly finding Trump votes everywhere? Suddenly, absentee and mail-in ballots are…good.

A summary of the hypocrisy and bullshit.

Trump wanted people to vote in person.

Trump said there was no way he could lose the election fairly. (Arrogance and also setting the stage for his legal arguments.)

Trump said that mail-ins and absentees were not trustworthy and basically they could be used to rig the election. (Also setting the stage for legal arguments. Again, we have always used these types of ballots in elections and everyone knows they skew heavily Democratic so if Trump says they’re not trustworthy all of a sudden and millions of people vote this way due to COVID, then we got ourselves a huge case of fraud.)

Trump fails to mention that a fraction of the mail-ins and absentees in every state are still for him or Independent candidates and that with each update his vote count also rises along with Biden’s.

He fails to acknowledge that in AZ the mail-ins and absentees are favoring him more than Biden and that they are the reason he’s gaining in AZ now, and he’s more than willing to say that counting should continue there and to take his gains as a sign he’ll win the state. And it totally doesn’t matter that this is a direct contradiction of his statement that mail-ins and absentees are tools for Dems to ‘steal’ elections.

The early Blue Mirage in states like TX and FL, where the mail-ins and absentees were counted early and the first votes leaned Biden, were followed by in-person ballots and leaned overwhelmingly Trump.

The Blue Mirage of Arizona is seeing mail-ins and absentees turn out to be not in Biden’s favor but rather in Trump’s favor, the opposite of what happened in TX/FL (and what’s happening in GA and PA).

All these shifts in Trump’s favor in states where mail-ins and absentees have either been giving the wrong overall impression initially because they were counted first (FL/TX) before shifting drastically for Trump once in-person ballots were considered. Because those states were allowed to count these ballots early and were not made to wait until election day to start counting.

The results of mail-ins and absentees in AZ are not what people expected and have ended up shifting now at the last minute for Trump after in-persons have been counted. No one is claiming that this last minute shift is suspicious.

Democrats will still most likely lose the Senate, where they only gained 1 seat, and their only hope of possibly winning the Senate is if they A. pick up more seats organically and B. if Biden wins then Vice President-elect Harris could cast a vote for the Democrats.

Democrats have not quite swept the House either. They will probably hold onto the House but they have lost 5 (count it FIVE) seats to Republicans and the one lone Independent seat was also lost to the Republicans so at this point the conservatives have gained a total of 6 (SIX) seats. Their representatives are also leading in a lot of places so they will gain bare minimum probably 10 more seats and there are only 34 left (according to AP as of this moment).

All of the Republican Congressional candidates are performing well, whereas Trump (the incumbent Republican President) is losing, and at the very best still performing poorly. Including losing the popular vote by 4 million votes. This is stunning because normally in this situation the congressional candidates would not necessarily outperform the incumbent president of their party.

Basically, if the Democrats really wanted to rig this whole election then they have done a very shit job of it. I would like to speak to a manager.

That’s it. I’m done. If you read all of this, you’re the OG. I hope some of what I said resonates.

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kinetic-elaboration · 3 years

Text

April 14: 2x15 The Trouble with Tribbles

Back to watching TOS on Wednesdays! We’ll see if I can keep this up because I do prefer it to Fridays.

Today’s episode: the Classic (tm) Trouble with Tribbles.

Starting out with a little test for Chekov lol. Just Chekov, his mentor, and his mentor-in-law.

My mom called Chekov “Kirk and Spock’s little project,” which I think is hilarious but also probably true. Only 22 years old and on the bridge crew? Private quiz by the top two people on the ship? Legit interpretation.

“It was just a little joke.” / “Extremely little, Ensign.” Classic Spock burn.

The Organian Peace Treaty--from Errand of Mercy??

I really do feel like Kirk is genuinely amused by Chekov.

You would never guess from this intro about tense diplomatic situations and number-one-top-priority-triple-red-alerts that this was going to be a crack-y episode about space bunnies.

Oh no, a fake red alert! Kirk is really angry now.

Kirk and Spock are very Married today.

STORAGE COMPARTMENTS?? StOrAgE cOmPaRtmEnTs?

WHEAT??

Do not try to imply that Spock doesn’t know things; he is contractually obligated to show off.

Canadian wheat.

Honestly, just let Kirk call it wheat.

Spock is using diplomacy to reign Kirk in. Sarek would be proud. And Spock would be insulted that Sarek is proud.

Kirk is very Sassy today.

Omg the waitresses have little wings.

Spock taking the wheat from behind his back and giving it to Kirk like a magician’s assistant.

I feel like Kirk is bitter about the wheat because it’s the one (1) thing he’s not a nerd about. And he’s from Iowa too!! He should know!

Uhura listening to the salesman; well she IS here to shop, after all.

Is it alive? Is it cute? Oh who am I kidding, I can see it’s cute!

Oh no the tribble is eating the grain.

Uhura is truly adorable.

I can’t believe she just made a joke about never getting any shore leave and here she is, back at her station again.

Can you even imagine AOS Kirk being tasked with protecting a bunch of grain? HE would make Iowa jokes.

And Spock is trying so hard not to laugh.

Tbh I have a real soft spot for these frustrated Kirk episodes. Poor, long-suffering Kirk. So much more serious than all of the nonsense going on around him.

I like this space station design.

Klingons on shore leave. They just want to have some fun. No bowling alleys on their ships!

Technical journal time for Scotty!

“I am immune to their effect....” Sure. What’s funny to me is that Kirk actually is immune to their effect. Truly at no point does he seem charmed or amused by or even interested in the tribbles, except in their capacity as Klingon detectors at the end

“I think they’re old enough [to be adopted].” Lol how can you tell?

One look from Spock reigns Kirk in. #spacehusbands

Oh, you noticed there are 11 tribbles instead of 1? How astute.

“What do you get when you feed a tribble too much?” / “A fat tribble.” This is ACTUAL DIALOGUE. Oh, Kirk.

Honestly McCoy is a medical doctor, so it kind of would make more sense for Spock to be doing these tribble experiments but he has his hands full with Kirk

Kirk is awfully insistent upon Scotty taking shore leave when he should very well remember what happened last time

“You’d think he’d be a vodka man.” And he is!

Klingons don’t understand Kirk at all. He IS a little soft <3

Where’s that post that’s like ‘the AOS writers just listened to this one Klingon speech about Kirk and wrote his character based on that?” I mean... not totally inaccurate.

Actually it is a potentially interesting speech. Is this really how his enemies see him based on his reputation? Or is it just, like, a bunch of generic insults you could apply to pretty much any captain of a group you didn’t like?

Poor Kirk, missing out on this fight scene.

Lol the drink joke. Does it make sense? No, but it’s funny all the same.

“Captain’s log: I am forced to cancel shore leave.”

Angry Daddy!Kirk and his unhelpful children. You’re ALL grounded!!

“No this is not off the record!” Not even gonna debate that Scotty.

This whole Kirk and Scotty scene deserves an Emmy.

Spones + Tribbles

The extra hilarious thing about Spock talking about the uselessness of the tribbles and Bones defending their cuteness as being an end in and of itself is that Spock DOES canonically like soft, pleasing animals. Even in this episode!!

The tribble wants to be captain.

Kirk collecting tribbles lmao.

“Don’t look at me, it’s the tribbles that are breeding.”

The tribbles are bisexual. Just like Captain Kirk. (Yes this is two different uses of the term that mean totally different things and I do NOT care I just like hearing the word “bisexual” in DeForest Kelley’s voice.)

I feel like Uhura must be so lonely.. Trying to talk to Spock about the moon. Meeting shape shifting aliens who become native Swahili speakers just for her. Trying to buy love in the form of small, cute animals.

The tribbles have been taken from their predator-filled environment. I am VERY curious about their native environment now. What eats tribbles?

“It’s you I take lightly.” Honestly this level of sass almost makes AOS Kirk seem IC.

“Licensed asteroid locator and prospector.” Brb changing careers.

“But he is after my grain!”

Kirk saying “au revoir” is funny on its face for how he echoes Cyrano what’s-his-face but also because it reminds me of Shatner saying “I’m from Canada, so I speak French.”

No, the tribbles got in his food! That is the last straw.

It’s hard to tell because it’s covered in tribbles, but Spock appears to have a very odd looking salad. (Or that large piece of fruit is a tribble, really hard to tell.)

Spock’s “fascinating” was so quiet.

“They’re into the machinery all right.” First, lol, and second, isn’t Scotty supposed to be in his room thinking about what he’s done?

You can really see that missing finger.

Gonna beam down some tribbles too.

And now to top off this bad day: the indignity of having a bunch of dead tribbles fall on his head. To wacky music.

“Gorged? On my grain?” It’s more likely than you think.

And like........you realize someone off set is just continuing to throw little puff balls at Shatner's head at regular intervals during this whole scene? One just bounced right off it.

And the answer to the tribble problem is literally “stop feeding them” which is so obvious that I assumed it was just harder than one would think not to feed a tribble. Since no one fed them. And they continued to eat.

I also love how Bones comes into his best friend literally buried in tribbles and doesn’t even blink.

Whereas Spock’s here with his mouth this thinnest possible line, trying not to laugh.

They like Vulcans! They have good taste.

Spock is definitely that type that has secret low self esteem so he builds himself up with confident comments at every opportunity.

“He’s a Klingon, Jim.”

Kirk REALLY likes threatening the Klingons with tribbles.

I feel like leaving Cyrano to single-handedly clean up the tribbles over 17 years is not a punishment that makes sense because like... must the station live with the tribbles until then? Also, where is he to put them?

I think they should be returned to their native habitat to be eaten by predators according to the natural cycle of life.

Are we to understand that SPOCK suggested beaming the tribbles on to the Klingon ship? Perhaps I have underestimated his prank war abilities.

I’ll be honest, this ep is very entertaining and for that reason one of my favorites, but I don’t know that it paints the Enterprise, and Kirk in particular, in the best light.

Like... I am really torn on Kirk’s treatment of the undersecretary. I know he often doesn’t much like administrators and diplomats and other people who don’t seem to have much RL experience, and certainly this Federation official got on his bad side immediately and understandably by misusing the red alert.

But... Kirk isn’t at all subtle about not liking him. I mean he literally says “I don’t like you” and that’s just objectively unprofessional, which he is not. The sassiness was way unsubtle, which could be funny, but it just didn’t seem IC.

I can almost justify it because of the red alert mix up--that’s everything Kirk hates: violating regulations, showing disrespect to him and his crew, uncalled for manipulation--and I think he has the right to be upset about it. But he continues holding this grudge for a long time. It feels like it’s just as much about not personally caring about the grain as about anything else. Like he’s dismissive about the grain because he personally has never heard of it. So obviously it’s not important.

That’s too much that conventional-wisdom arrogant, dumb Kirk for me.

I guess I just don’t understand, why so much hatred for the undersecretary? Because his two biggest sins were the red alert and employing a Klingon. But as I already said, I think Kirk’s ire is disproportionate to the first offense and no one knew about the Klingon until the end--because a tribble, not Kirk specifically, found him out.

Otherwise..this guy was right! The grain was important, losing it or having it sabotaged would have very bad consequences for the Federation, it is Kirk’s job to guard it, and he should do it well. He was also right that the Klingon threat was real!! He’d brought in the Klingon threat but he was still right about it existing. The Klingons did in fact sabotage the grain! And although we hear at the end that there was magically more grain out there... I don’t get how or from where.

Furthermore, he used the red alert specifically because he seemed to think Kirk wouldn’t rush over to protect the grain otherwise, and Kirk is so dismissive of this “just wheat” that he kinda proves the guy right!

Anyway, I can see the grains of this Kirk (lol pun not intended) in his general characterization, but it’s too over the top, to the point where it’s OOC. He does take his job, including the diplomatic aspects of it, very seriously, and I think an IC Kirk would protect the grain, and maybe be only occasionally, subtly sassy to the undersecretary.

But this was such a crack-y episode overall... it was like everyone was turned up to 11 and pushed slightly to the side.

It was a fun ep though with a lot of very classic scenes, and it’s another reminder that Spock likes soft, adorable animals.

I will admit that I actually do not think the tribbles are particularly cute. They kind of weird me out. They’re just lumps of fur.

Next is The Gamesters of Triskelion, which I vaguely remember as a decent but not great episode.

#the year 2021 #2021: star trek #star trek tos #2021: fandom thoughts

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soriseerakyra · 4 years

Text

Nice To Meet You -19-

Hello every one, sorry it’s been so long. There is a post on my page if you want to find out what's happening. If not, please enjoy.

TW: Violence, bad language, death

This was different. Or maybe it was normal, Bruce couldn’t tell. He knew he attracted attention, that he was a status boost to any party, but this felt wrong. From the moment he stepped past the makeshift foyer, he’d felt eyes on him, watching his every move. He tossed his famous, charming smile to everyone he passed, but instead of getting the swooning effect that he was so used to causing, he was treated to strange polite smiles. As if he was intruding.

“Bruce Wayne?” The questioning voice sent a chill down Bruce’s spine.

He turned to look at the voice who called him and found a smiling blond man.

“Michael Carlisle,” The man says, extending a large hand to shake. Bruce accepts the hand and firmly shakes it. At the interaction, the crowd that had been not-so-secretly eyeing the interaction of the CEO’s had all returned to their conversations. The allure of seeing the cities’ most famous billionaire, apparently not worth more than a sideways glance.

“A pleasure,” Bruce says, responding with a smile. “It’s a shame that we haven’t met before tonight.”

“It truly is, which is why what I’m going to say next may appear a little rude, but what are you doing here? I didn’t think a party like mine would even be on your radar,” The man asks with childishly wide excited eyes.

“Nothing rude about that,” Bruce says, returning his hand to his sides. “Believe me, I’ve gotten much worse when I’ve shown up unannounced.”

The man lets a smile quirk at the end of his lips as he waits for Bruce to answer the other part of his question. His blue eyes watch Bruce with fascination. Flicking from the top of Bruce’s hair and down to his shoes. Why is Carlisle sizing him up?

“To be honest,” Bruce says, lowering his voice to make the conversation more intimate. He leans his body toward the boyish man and brings up a practiced hand to hide his mouth. “I’m doing a bit of shopping.”

“Shopping?” The younger man questions with furrowed, manicured brows. “OH! Do you need an accounting firm?!”

Bruce straightens his back a little, almost startled by his lack of discretion.

“I’m surprised Wayne enterprises doesn’t have its own firm in-house.”

“We do,” Bruce says with a shrug of his shoulders. “But I’m always looking for new talent, especially when one of my own is retiring.”

The lie rolls off of his tongue smoothly, and judging by the blond man’s nod of assent, it was enough to ward off some suspicion.

“So, you’re here to steal some of my up-and-coming talent, huh?” Carlisle asks ribbing the older man in the ribs.

Bruce flinches away slightly, not expecting to be touched so informally.

The blond man must have caught the hint of his displeasure that rang across his face for a split-second because a frown pulled at his lips.

“I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable Bruce, I’m just glad I didn’t hug you like I wanted to when I first saw you. I’m a big hugger.”

If Bruce wasn’t as practiced at maintaining his cover as he was, he would have scrunched up his face in confusion at the man. This was who she had worked for? Had believed in enough to move across the country for? He seemed more than overbearing, and as skittish as she was it was impossible to see her getting past an interview with this man, let alone going to work every single day for him.

“If that turned you off, though, I’m afraid that you might not find anyone here who you’d want to work with you. We're all family here, lots of huggers.”

The man lets out a laugh and some nearby party goers that were supposedly “giving them their space” chuckled.

“I know I don’t look it, but I can get touchy-feely when need be.”

The man’s blue eyes narrow and Bruce can feel a shift in atmosphere as the man’s once jovial face becomes stony.

“We don’t call it being touchy-feely Mr. Wayne,” Carlisle says stoically. “We- I have made it a point to build a family here. A company based on empathy. This isn’t 'touchy-feely’ foolishness. This is the future. How we build a company that lasts. But I suppose someone like you who’s never had to work for anything would know about that would you?”

The party is once again silent and all eyes are on the pair of men, although not in a way that Bruce is used to. He hadn’t expected that man to be so volatile; it was only a harmless comment, no malice behind it.

“I’m sorry if I offended you,” Bruce apologizes quietly, “It wasn’t intentional.”

Carlisle’s nostrils flare in anger, his throat turns red, and a vein pulses lightly at his temple.

‘A severe overreaction,’ Bruce notes.

A clicking of heels pierces the silence, as Bruce notices a rather tall red head approaching the pair. A striking pair of blue eyes assess Bruce sternly, a frown pulling at her red lips as she apparently found the man lacking.

Bruce watches as a slender hand grip Carlisle's shoulder tightly, the pressure being applied only noticeable because of the wrinkling of fabric.

“There's been a call for you Mr. Carlisle,” the woman says with a pleasant tone.

“A call?” The man asks, blond brows furrowing in confusion. The woman tightens her grip on his shoulder, and he seems to relent. “Ah, yes, of course.”

“I’m afraid that we must continue this conversation later, Mr. Wayne,” Carlisle says, swallowing his anger and trying to force the same pleasant smile on his face. “Enjoy the party.”

His eyes flicker around to the other party goers and with a nod of his head he hurries away. Bruce quickly loses sight of the man as he heads further into the venue, mobbed by a sea of people willing to help aid in his escape.

Bruce bites the inside of his cheek in irritation. This had not gone the way he intended. He wasn’t used to losing at the charm offensive.

He cuts his eye back to the tall woman who stood there with a rather pleased smirk on her face, arms crossed in a rather unimpressed fashion. As the chatter, light music, and dancing resumed, Bruce moved closer to the woman.

“Sorry to have interrupted your conversation Mr. Wayne, but I’m sure you know that running a company can be a twenty-four-hour job,” She states smoothly, her thick red mane tumbling to the side as she lightly cocks her head.

“It’s not a problem. And as hectic as business can be, I’m sure dealing with an annoying party guest, is much tougher.”

The woman lets out a low chuckle, “Believe me, you aren’t the worst we’ve had to deal with.”

“Is that right? Tell me more, miss?”

“Trainer, Kristen Trainer,” She says, extending her black tipped fingers to shake his hand.

“Let me guess, you’re the brains behind the operation,” He says a smile easily finding its way on his face.

“More like the conductor. Without me none of this,” she makes a circling motion with her finger, “happens.”

“Ah, I get it. The boss’ boss.”

“What can I say, being the executive assistant is glamorous.”

They share a chuckle and then a silence falls over the pair.

Trainer breaks it first, a coyness flitting over her blue eyes, “So when are you going to ask me to dance?”

“Oh, I’d never assume you’d want to dance with me, I practically ran your boss away.”

“Like I said,” She nearly glides as she walks toward him and takes his hand, leading them both toward the dance floor. “You aren’t the worst we've had.”

Bruce lets a smirk cross his face. Perhaps he wasn’t as off of his game as he thought he was.

***

Jason was more than sure that Bruce always stuck him with the shit jobs. If he was only a few years younger, he would have been proud to take them. He would have thought Bruce trusted him with the more troublesome parts of the jobs, that he was preparing him to be his true successor. Being older, wiser, and having endured more than his fair share torture proved to him it was probably the exact opposite.

Even now, it always felt like Bruce was testing him, waiting for him to go rogue, do something that broke the rules. He knew that the older man was always waiting for him to slip up, coiled to attack anytime he did something less polite than a beating a thug senseless.

The thoughts cause Jason's shoulders to tense in irritation, but he can’t let his annoyance distract him from the mission. At the moment, he found himself on the top floor of the once vacant wharf building. If one were to enter from this floor, you wouldn’t assume that a high-class shindig was going on downstairs. Comparatively, it wasn’t the worst place that he’d ever been in; there was a distinct lack of rats he was more than grateful for. The bare walls and exposed beams were a little strange though. According to intel, provided by the Brownie Woman, not only had this not been the first party held in this place, they also owned the building. Who quits renovating when the project is only halfway done?

‘Someone who’s more worried about appearances than substance,’ He thinks to himself with slightly pursed lips.

He rolls his shoulders as he prepares himself to explore the building. He wouldn’t be able to do it for long. Since the assholes hadn’t finished the place, there wasn’t a steady supply of air flowing through the place. Having already climbed up into the building after gently detonating a small explosive on one of the back walls, he didn’t want to risk alerting anyone just to accommodate his breathing.

With a sigh, he approached one of the newer-looking walls. It looked thin, like it was only a standing piece of paper, and mostly, he had been right. With a slight wind up, his fist had easily found its way through the wall, white particles crumbling around his hand as the sheet rock easily gave way. The wall continues to splinter as he works his hands through it, and soon enough he has a hole big enough for him to slide through.

When he gets to the other side, he's not totally surprised to see a mostly dilapidated area. Cobwebs, fallen pieces of plywood, and exposed pipes let him know that he's in a part of the building that has barely had any traffic. What has him slightly surprised though, were the construction lamps littering the floor. As the holes in the floor allow him to see both above and below him; the glow from the lamps on the other floors hit his eyes like fireflies. Despite only having worked to make some of this place look nice, there was activity going on throughout the whole wharf. It was strange really, buying out multiple buildings on the wrong side of Gotham just throw parties? The only way he wouldn't have found the situation not strange is if Bruce had been the one buying up the land. At least that way he'd at least have a guess what the man would be doing. And it was especially strange for an accounting firm to buy property that had nothing to do with campus expansion.

'Unless they're washing money for the mob.'

The thought hits Jason, and he can't help the smirk that crosses his face.

“Hey dipshit,” he says connecting his ear piece. “Are there any familiar faces in the crowd?”

He gets irritated slightly when he doesn't get a response right away. The old man wasn't going to ice him out because he called him a few names, was he? How professional.

“I don't seem to know many people here.” Is the response that comes back over the earpiece and Jason's haunches relax a little. He wasn't being ignored, Bruce was in the middle of a conversation.

Jason doesn't hear the response from the person who Bruce was talking with, but he gives about fifteen seconds pause, a chance for Bruce to listen to the other person, before he responds.

“You sure?" Jason questions skeptically, as he maneuvers farther into the building, careful to avoid loose or weak floor boards. "This place looks like a perfect place to wash some dirty cash."

"I really thought I knew everyone there is to know in this town," Bruce responds with a bit of a chuckle.

Not a familiar face in sight? That was putting a damper on the idea that these people had some kind of mob ties. When it came to mobsters Bruce had a practically photographic memory of their faces. For him not to recognize anyone meant that either there was a new organization or there was no mob there at all.

"I'll keep looking," he responds slightly irritated. He doesn't get a response, and he doesn't need one.

It's not long before he comes up to the next connecting wall. Pressing his hand up against the wall, he finds that it's almost as thin as the other one he'd come through. With another well-placed fist, he easily forces his way through the wall once again. As he pulls out the rubble, sensors in his mask begin to go off. He pauses in his excavation for a moment, silencing his one movement. It's quiet for a moment but then there is a rhythmic thumping streaming into his right ear, then the sounds stop. There is the creaking of wood and then the thumping resumes and fades out. The thought comes to his mind before the computer in his mask flashes the analysis on the screen.

Footsteps.

A patrol route.

Now that he had found what he was looking for, he'd have to be more careful. The general rule was if he could hear them, they could hear him. And although most people didn't have access to the tech he did, he was sure that the rule had saved his ass multiple times.

Carefully this time, he pulls himself through a smaller hole, he wouldn't make more noise than was necessary. Almost immediately he could see the shadows of movement dancing against the yellow lights of the construction lamp. The presence of these shadows made his heart jump slightly; if he was asked about it later he wouldn't say he was afraid, just a little freaked out. His sensors had only picked up the thudding of one person, he was sure of that. But right in front of his eyes, and how the shadows played with each other, he could tell that they're at least six people in his immediate vicinity. He had been lucky that no one had been just on the other side of the wall when he had ripped through.

'No footsteps?' He questions internally with a slightly panicked voice that he would yell about to himself later.

He crouches down, his knees bending easily to accommodate the familiar position and his weight as he moves forward with as gentle a step that he can muster. Some might be surprised by how stealthy the young man could be, especially wearing the heavy combat boots he loved so much. But Jason practiced that much harder to mask his sound, he'd keep his aesthetic and be the deadliest thing you'd never hear coming.

He makes his way to a worn wooden wall, marked with holes about the width of a small child's fist, perfect for getting an eye on a target, so he could know what he was dealing with. As he presses himself against the wall, the dancing of the shadows gives way, and he's clear about how many people that he would deal with on this floor.

He'd only been one off, seven instead of six. But the thought of being mostly right didn't give him any sense of victory. His stomach twisted into knots as two of the figures moved past each other. He wasn't crazy, he damn sure knew that, but he was sure as hell that his eyes were playing tricks on him, because he was seeing double. Two carbon copies of the same person walking past each other with small barely visible flashlights cradled in identical vine like fingers. The words thin and tall didn't seem to do justice to the visage of men he sees before him, but those are the only words that come to mind. That and their faces are obscured with long black hair that is so thick, he isn't even sure there is a face underneath. They're filthy, he can tell that even if the nature of their outfits is muddled by the dimness of the surrounding lights. Their pale skin has brown almost black splotches of dirt or soil that almost seem pressed into their skin. The skin itself is so pale and sickly that it is almost a green color; he gags slightly about how awful they must smell.

Finally, he looks down, and he hopes to see what is blocking out the sound of their footsteps from coming through on his sensors. He's surprised to find disproportionately enormous feet. Grimy as the rest of their bodies, he can tell that the men are extremely flat-footed. The way their feet meet the sections of floor that they walk on causes their toes to widen, spreading out what little weight they had evenly throughout their step. Coupled with the fact that they moved rather slowly, taking only the most deliberate of steps, the two beings in front of him were virtually silent. The only sound that seemed to give way to any hint of their presence was the air that seemed to be forcing its way out of their chest. Like the wheeze of an asthmatic, the beings swayed slightly whenever they had to breathe. Luckily for Jason, the minute difference in their breathing was enough for the computer to pick up on, and a visualized patrol route formed right before his eyes.

Time seems to slow as he watches the forms move back and forth. It's not a large beat, about the visible width of the building; but even though the route is small, the guys were slow. Would he be able to pounce on one without alerting the other? Or would that be too much of a risk to take? While he had keyed into their breathing, he hadn't been able to locate any more guards. He probably wouldn't know they were there until he was right on top of them.

Jason decides that it would be best to avoid them. He doesn't know their strength and the amount of noise that he could generate isn't worth the hell that it could bring down upon him.

He watches them for a moment longer, there is a moment in their path where they stop and stare at each other, as if they are sharing information about what they'd seen on their walk around. That's when he'd make his move.

It doesn't take long until they meet at the center of the room, standing in front of one of the construction lamps. They meet each other, staring into the dark void where their eyes should be. He breathes in deeply, his muscles tighten as he focuses. With a push he's off.

Quickly, he's around the walls and trying to push himself to the next darkened area that he can find. There he could make his next move and try to get his bearings about where he needs to go. His first push is quiet, and he's able to launch himself forward with no issues. His practiced eyes immediately start scouting out where he should aim for. He should have planned for his destination before taking off, but he had always been an impulsive boy and that probably wouldn't change regardless of how many years of experience he got underneath his belt.

His eyes immediately go to the far wall on the other side of the floor, it’s where the other drywall had been, and he figured that it was likely the only way to get away from the danger of the unknown. He's slightly surprised however to see a change in floor planning. Instead of the crumbly wall that he had been punching through repeatedly he saw brick, but not just that, a door.

'Into the lion's den,' he thinks aiming his body in that direction.

His foot hits the floorboard in a soft practiced motion but a loud squeak still scratches out of the piece of wood underneath him. The wheezes of the guards that are playing in his ear stop mid breath, and he can almost feel them scanning for him. But he's quick. As soon as his other foot comes down, he's launched himself into the shadows of a jagged wall. He pauses for a moment. One of the dim flashlights glides over his general vicinity. When the light passes over the end of the floor, it lingers on the door surrounded by brick. After several seconds, a low grunt sounds in his ear. The computer in his helmet shows that the route of the guards has changed. They are headed over to the wooden wall where he was previously hidden.

He doesn't hesitate, and he's off again, this time his approach is silent, and he reaches the door with no issue. A curious part of him wants to turn around and get a glimpse of those "guards" but he thinks better off it. He opens the door quickly and quietly, and he pushes through to the other.

Unsurprisingly, much like the rest of the building, the room he's in now is almost pitch black. The only things lighting up the place are yellow industrial lights nestled into a brick wall. However, unlike the rest of the building, he finds himself at the top of a black metal staircase that seems to spiral down, seemingly endless in the thick blackness. He’d be an idiot to continue with no back-up. To top it all off, the sensors in his ears have rung again. Not with the wheezing breaths of the first guards he encountered, but with the thumping footsteps that had seemed so distant when he first started. He wasn't keen on finding out what was causing them. Did he think he could kick whoever or whatever it was ass? Of course. But fighting in a place like this admittedly left him at a disadvantage, wasn’t a good idea. That and he didn’t want to make good on Bruce's premonition that he would have to be bailed out at the end of the night.

With an irritated roll of his shoulders he starts down the stairs, but not before he turns on a tracker. If shit did hit the fan, he didn't want to be stuck underground for the rest of his life.

The swirl of the downward spiraling stairs seems to go on forever and based on how long it took him to reach the bottom, Jason is sure that he's underwater at that point. The pounding of footsteps in his ear irritates him, but he doesn't turn it off because they begin to get louder. Aside from that, the sensitive pieces of tech have picked up chatter. At least he thinks it's talking. He can't really be sure, the sound is staticky and descending further below doesn't seem to help. Either he's picked up on some shitty talk radio show or there is something partially dampening the signal.

It doesn't take too much more time before he reaches the bottom of the stairs. It's so dark that he wouldn't be able to see the toe of his boot if he didn't have the helmet on, though he might have been grateful for the lack of sight when a gigantic rat ran over his boots.

The stairs let out into a dank wet hallway. There is enough water on the ground that it covers his ankles. Clearly, no one had given a shit about drowning when they were "renovating" this part of the building.

At the end of the hall there is a single hanging lamp, casting a dreary white light on the familiar red brick. And there is also another door. He splashes his way through the water to reach the end of the hall, and he is almost there before something causes him to stop. The thumping of footsteps had stopped. Instinctually, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up and his skin prickled. He was unprotected, he realized, exposed. It really hadn't been a good idea to charge down into this hallway without making a plan. He could go back, get his bearings and then try again.

The thumping resumes, but only for a moment. Whatever was making those footsteps, he realized was listening. Likely, it had heard him coming down the stairs and sloshing through the water. And it's listening to him now, waiting for him to make another move and confirm its suspicion.

He steps back, moving his leg as gingerly as possible, barely stirring the water. It doesn't seem to arouse in any further action, and he makes to move his other leg in much the same way. His breathing seems loud in his own ears, why was he so afraid? He'd gotten the shit kicked out of him before, been on the brink of death. Perhaps it's just his lizard brain just acting up on him. His breathing is getting heavier still, so loud in his ear, almost like... was he wheezing?

The thought and Jason's reflexes happen at the same time. He's tucked and rolling forward just as his thin arm comes arcing through the air. One of the thin men, or maybe another that had been lurking about, stands just out of the light of the hallway and the blow that was meant for Jason sends red dust into the hair as a spidery arm pierced the brick.

'Could've been my head' he thinks quickly as he is standing up again.

But he's not on his feet for long. He almost doesn't hear the loud sloshing of water, and he tries to roll forward again when he does, but it's too late. Enormous arms wrapped around his midriff holding him tight against a large protruding belly.

"Looky looky, little lamb came to see me again."

He doesn't have to turn around to see the voice of the creature that has him hostage. It was the butcher, the one that he had saved Bruce's Brownie Woman from. He didn't understand how, though. Although he hadn't sent the gargantuan man to the grave himself, both he and Dick had confirmed that he had driven that beat up old van into the water. There was no way he would have gotten out in time to survive the depths of the bay.

The Butcher squeezes and shakes Jason from side to side, like he was trying to pop his head off. Not only did he have to contend with that, the wheezing thin man was beginning to slowly make his way down the hallway, his fingers arched ready to aim and fire and stick Jason like a pig.

While his arms are bound to his sides, he has enough reach and wriggle room to reach into his pockets. Once he grips onto what he's searching for, he locks his visor on the thin man in front of him analyzing his form and making him a target. It took longer than he would have liked, but the constant shaking of the madman who had him hostage wasn't exactly the most conducive thing for focusing. He waits until the man shakes him back toward the middle and then with a swift flick of his wrist a compact ball flies out toward the thin man. Just before it hits the water, it lets out a pop and a hiss as gas smoke fills up the room.

The butcher doesn't stop his shaking, unfazed and singularly focused on the task at hand. The Thin Man, however, lets out an annoyed screech. Jason can see the form of the man through his visor and just as he hoped, the Thin Man brings his arm back getting ready to attack. Jason slides down as much as he can and then tucks his head into his chest, guarding himself. He hears the fingers cut through the air, and before he knows it the shaking stops. A groan is leeched forth from the man holding him and his arms fall slack just as Jason is freed, he feels a thick liquid fall on his back. Looking up, he sees trails of viscous black blood flow from the neck of the Butcher.

As Jason had hopped the Thin Man and pierced right through the Butcher killing him almost instantly. The large heavy frame fell backward, landing with a splash into the water filling the hallway.

'One down, one to go.'

He turns his attention back to the slow-moving creature that was coming up behind him, its claws having finally retracted into the shape of a hand again. A gasping growl comes forth from the creature, as it takes a step back.

"Don't like working alone, I take it," Jason voices smugly.

The creature doesn't respond, but it's fine with Jason. He charges the Thin Man placing a few well-placed punches and kicks before the creature finds itself on the ground. However, as he stomps the creature, he realizes it's just absorbing his blows and not even trying to fight back. If he could see its eyes, perhaps he would get at least an inkling about what it was thinking, but in the water its mess of thick black hair seems to obscure its face even more.

He pulls back and stands over the creature for a moment. A bullet to the head would cause too much noise, and there's no guarantee that it would work anyway. He watches with a frown as the Thin Man twitches in the water and pulls himself away. Jason lands a heavy boot on its chest holding it in place. It writhes and wiggles pathetically underneath him. Unable to put distance between the two of them to launch his attack, the Thin Man was helpless.

Finally, it stops wiggling. Its arms fall to the sides and it lays there listlessly as if it has given up.

Jason doesn't remove his boot at first, but the surrounding water turns a cream color and bubbles. He jumps away from the man, and he watches in slight horror and amazement, as the Thin Man disintegrates, well most of him. By the time the bubbling is over and the cream seems to have disappeared, all that's left is the thick mass of hair and presumably the head of the creature.

"What the fuck?" Jason whispers to himself.

He uses his helmet to take a picture of the scene, but he doesn't understand exactly what he’s witnessed. Instead of dwelling on it, he moves on; pass the dead Butcher, who had started to bubble, and through the door at the end of the hallway.

***

The door leads to another dark hallway, one that seems to be suspiciously empty and long. He imagines, however, that whoever was in charge of those goons wasn't expecting anyone to make it past them. He doubted that they even thought anyone was on to them.

As he goes deeper down the hallway, he realizes the ground underneath his feet is changing. No more soppy wood or concrete. It is a see through steel grate that he was walking on; a catwalk. He stops mid step and bends down to see if there is anything under the grate worth checking out. It's pitch black, but his helmet quickly clears up the image, and he can see individuals milling around in the dark. They don't seem scared and their body language suggests that they are simply conversing with each other.

'Talking in the dark? Some party.' He thinks to himself. He tries his earpiece again, he's sure that the voices he heard earlier are coming from these people, but their voices are still being distorted.

Before he can even think about how to clear up the signal a light comes on, a spotlight to be precise. It illuminates a woman who is standing on a stage, and from what he can tell, she definitely looks like she should be at the party. She's a tall redhead, in a fancy dress, and even from this distance he can tell she's a commanding presence.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," she starts, and at the sound Jason almost thinks his ear piece is back working, but it's just the sound echoing through the walls. "I'd like to welcome you to the party."

At the word party, a curtain lifts from behind her, revealing several large television screens, all showing different angles of the ballroom and the party goers. But that was the tamest part.

Behind the woman and below the screens sat a group of five individuals; Bound, gagged, bleeding and mostly naked. Jason felt his stomach churn at the possibilities of what these people were about to endure.

"By the end of the night the five highest investors will get to have their way with one of our special guests," the woman lets out a chuckle at the word. "In any fashion you choose. There is no limit."

There is a pause of the small crowd followed by a polite applause.

“For example,” she says with a smile as she gestures with a hand to the side of the stage.

Someone pushes a bound man out on the stage. Unlike the others his eyes aren’t blindfolded, but he’s so weak that he stumbles around the stage.

Jason is slightly surprised when another Thin Man makes his way on stage. He is only up there for a minute, as his duty was to hand the woman a revolver.

Jason’s heart pounds in his ears, his body realizing what’s about to happen before he can think it.

“Goodbye Geoffrey”, the woman says in a sugary sweet tone.

The man’s eyes widen, but he seems too out of it to move.

She points the gun at the man’s head and before he can groan out in protest; she fires the bullet.

He falls to the ground dead in less than a second.

She turns and faces her audience, “Who would like to make the first offer?”

All hands in the room raise.

#batman #batfamily #batmom #batman imagine #batman x reader #bruce wayne #bruce x reader #bruce imagine #bruce wayne imagine #bruce wayne x reader #Jason Todd #jason todd x reader #jason todd imagine

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aiden-png · 4 years

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to celebrate the end of 2020, I’ve decided to share the highlights of the writing I did this year! I’m going to share a few of my favorite snippets from 2020, and I think this could be a fun tag meme to invite friends to join in on so they can appreciate their progress and hard work too! I couldn’t have written so much if it wasn’t for the great online community supporting me and all my wonderfully talented friends!!

I’m gonna tag @freshie-writes @silverdragon-imagines-blog @st0rmy-writes @fuckit-hero-of-trains @no-themes-just-memes @timeturner-jay and anyone else who wants to join in, feel free! you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to, but you all wrote amazing things this year and I’m gonna appreciate you for them!!

snippets below the cut (please do this or make a new post if you wanna join, just so we don’t flood everyone’s dashboard lol!)

it’s difficult to count for certain, but across 7 google docs from April to December 2020, I wrote 324,782 words just of Legend of Zelda fanfic! it’s been a crazy fun year and I think my writing has improved a ton since I started writing fic again in April! thank you all for supporting me through the last 9 months!! <3

here’s a highlight of some of my favorite excerpts from fics I wrote this year! Smoke on the Wind and Dream With Me are two of my favorite pieces I wrote this year for angst, while Four Feet of Pure Flirtation and Lessons in Love are my favorites for crack/fluff :D the other snippets are featured bc I’m proud of how the fics turned out !

Dream With Me: June 28, 2020 Legend and Hyrule sat on the beach, a mere two feet separating them. It felt like much more. Farther than they’d ever been apart before. The other heroes stumbled onto the sand, frozen in shock as they took in the scene before them. Legend, knife drawn and hands shaking dangerously. Hyrule, knees buried in the sand and hands held over his chest, trying desperately not to reach out again. The sun was rising, pinks disappearing into vibrant gold and crushed purple and bright blue. As dawn broke, their vision wavered. Hyrule gasped, Legend blurring before him, the sand beneath him fading, the roar of the waves diminishing. Magic hour was ending. “This isn’t a dream,” Hyrule whispered, and Legend’s shoulders shook with silent sobs. “I’m real. I’m here. Legend, come with me.” Hyrule stretched out his arm, fingers splayed, eyes begging. Legend flinched back, dagger slipping from shaking fingers. He stared, disbelieving. Vertigo consumed Hyrule’s senses, his vision clouding with black dots. “Take my hand, Legend!” Hyrule cried, and Legend jumped. He sprung forward, hand grasping. Hyrule felt nothing as Legend’s hand passed through his. “Hyrule!” He blinked, and found himself in an unfamiliar field, reaching towards sunrise.

Smoke on the Wind: August 7, 2020 Wind hadn’t always had this ability, but before his second adventure, before the ghosts became tangible to his skin and visible to his eyes, he still had a sixth sense of sorts to rely on. Back then he’d called it instinct, but now he called it a curse. It never helped him do better on his adventure, never showed him the way, never allowed him to prevent someone’s demise--only forced him to bear witness to it in all its excruciatingly gory detail. Some spoke of death like a mercy, others like a boon. Wind knew death like an old friend and he despised it with all the rage contained in his tiny body. Some feared death, some prayed for its delay. Wind feared no man, god, or figment of imagination. There was no reason to fear something he couldn’t prevent, there was no reason to pray to something that would never hear or listen. Some ran from death, some hid. Wind stared death in the eye and spat in its face. He thrust a magical fucking sword through its head and banished it to a watery grave.

Four Feet of Pure Flirtation: June 26, 2020 Maybe he should have shared just a tad bit more with them, but that was a regret for future Four to deal with. And really, he hadn’t been expecting it himself, so they couldn’t exactly blame him when Dark Link materialized in their camp one morning and sent Four’s heart racing in an unfamiliar-familiar way. Four felt the heat crawl up his chest, felt his tongue loosen, felt his eyes trail over Dark’s lithe form just a bit too slow to be innocent. No one had told him Dark was attractive. Although, Vio reminded him, we are the only ones attracted to villains. We are most decidedly not! Four shot back. The denial was empty. They most decidedly were.

Hero Through the Ages: June 19, 2020 Wild sighed, chin resting on his knees. He glanced over at Sky, feeling anxiety buzz within him as a question pushed at the back of his mind. “Hey, Sky… does the sword still recognize me?” Sky froze at the unexpected question, eyes searching Wild’s carefully schooled expression. Wild felt his anxiety rise but he held his ground as the older hero tentatively reached back and unsheathed the Master Sword. He closed his eyes for a moment, and Wild tried hard not to notice the new eyes on them as he waited for Sky’s response. He knew what the answer should be, but when the other slowly opened his eyes and held the sword out for Wild, it was still conflicting to feel the familiar weight of it in his hands. Not too heavy. Not burning. Perfectly at home, as if he’d just begun his adventure and still had many years left before the Calamity struck. Wild felt a pit in his stomach as he handed the sword back, Sky’s concerned gaze not helping. “How old were you when you pulled the sword?” Sky asked quietly, and Wild stared at his hands as they trembled slightly in his lap. “Too young.”

A Shower to Remember: July 4, 2020 Enter Twilight and Wild. TWILIGHT I can see thee up th’re. Come hither. I simply wish to speak with thee.

Enter Legend to Shower Crashers. LEGEND all’s well that ends well, I believe our plan hath been a success. cheers to thee all. FOUR didst thou not see Wild running for his life not a minute past? LEGEND that is’t his problem, not mine.

Lessons in Love: July 9, 2020 The offer though, that’s what truly made Legend pause. Show you the ropes, he’d said. He should be insulted that Ravio thought he was that hopeless, but the man wasn’t wrong. Legend was absolutely, positively hopeless, evidenced by the situation he now found himself in. Should he say no and move on? Should he accept--and then what? Maybe he should laugh it off, say he was joking, or perhaps he should come clean now and tell Ravio how he felt? But he still didn’t know if Ravio felt the same, those dark eyes betraying nothing in the fading light of sunset. So, naturally, Legend continued to panic. “What do you mean by ‘show me the ropes’?” Legend asked, quick, defensive enough to pass as insulted. Ravio snorted, tasting the hot chocolate, and Legend’s eyes were drawn to his lips once more as if under a spell. “I mean no offense, Link,” Ravio laughed, seeming not to catch the blush on Legend’s face as Ravio used his name. “I just figured you might want some pointers. Flirting, hand holding, relationship advice, y’know? You don’t have to accept the offer by any means!” Flirting? Hand holding? Legend gulped. He was already an idiot. Maybe he could play dumb for a little while longer…

Scars: June 2, 2020 “I used to try and cover myself in public--I didn’t like the way people would whisper or stare when they saw. But eventually I came to accept the scars as part of me. I remembered how I got them, and I realized I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the journey that led to me getting these scars. And I like who I am…” Wild trailed off, sifting sand through his fingers as Warriors listened. “I’ve come to love my scars, because they hold such important memories for me. Even if some of the memories aren’t so great, I wouldn’t be who I am today without them, you know? And I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”

Beneath the Surface: July 13, 2020 For the first few months he had lied to himself, blaming the others or the weather or Shadow or Vaati or anything rather than admitting he had a problem. But Blue did, in fact, have a problem, and fighting and yelling it out wasn’t the healthiest solution. For the others it was easy. Green had Vio, for Wind could rarely move Earth, and Red got along with everyone he was so full of love to give. But Blue wasn’t good at teamwork, he wasn’t good at strategizing, and he wasn’t good at showing affection--he was good at being angry, and that was it. He was the protector, the toughest of them all in strength and will; but when you’re always protecting others, no one protects you. Not like Blue made it easy for the others to approach him, and he didn’t blame them for giving up. They were all struggling, they all had their own issues, and while Wind was a gentle breeze and Fire a warming comfort and Earth a steady rock--Water was impossible to hold down. He was forever changing, flowing, and while it meant that he could adapt well to new situations, it also meant that every time he felt close to getting a handle on his emotions they would slip from his grasp once more. His magic ebbed and swayed and his emotions followed their tide, not his, and so he pushed others away rather than admit he couldn’t handle himself. If protecting them meant distancing himself, then so be it.

The Point of No Return: June 19, 2020 He turned back to Four, brushing the back of his hand across his cheek. He’d wanted to share a meal with his partner. He’d wanted to see Four’s small smile--just for him--as he tried Hylian food for the first, second, hundredth time. Long ago, they’d promised to travel the world together. Four wanted to share everything with him; wanted to show him the forge, wanted him to meet his Grandfather, wanted to take him to see the Minish. After the adventure, Four had promised. He’d be free to go and do whatever he wanted, right by Four’s side. Well, he was at his side now. And this was not what they’d promised each other.

A Major Test of Strength: May 7, 2020 Even being worthy of the Triforce of Courage didn’t mean he was brave enough to act on, or even think, about how he felt about Sidon. He reasoned it was better not to say anything, especially now. He was going off to a battle he may not return from. Even if he burned to know if Sidon felt the same, it would be selfish to ask knowing he may be leaving for the last time. Link would rather go to the grave with his feelings then leave Sidon alone with them. At least if he died before confessing, Sidon would be able to move on, he hoped. Sidon was his best friend, and that was enough for now.

#aiden writes #tumblr went down right as I was trying to post this oof!#now I can finally send this and tag all my friends !#everyone is so talented and I hope you all know how much I love your work !!!#you deserve to hear how good it is and to feel proud of your accomplishments!#<3!!!

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edie-k · 3 years

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Legally Ginger - Chapter 3 "What, Like It's Hard?"

Title: Legally Ginger Chapter 3: "What Like It's Hard?"

Rating: Teen (I'm sorry Ron and I are equally fond of the f word)

Summary: Based off the movie Legally Blonde. Ron makes the move to Boston but his Harvard career is off to a rough start.

Author Notes: I do want to caveat that not everyone who attends an Ivy League school is a snob so no offense to anyone that did; it’s just a fun romcom stereotype.

Additionally, I felt the need to address that it can be a bit scary for anyone to stalk someone across the country but particularly a man stalking a woman across country is historically problematic. Unfortunately, given it's basically the entire plot of this story, we can't completely avoid it. So remember, this is a fun thing in movies but a red flag in real life.

And yes, I do crib more from the movie on the curriculum. I did not attend law school and can use the help. So I bolded the language that was either verbatim or heavily cribbed from the movie.

Chapter title is a movie quote.

Thank you so much to adnei for all of the beta help and feedback!

I've been so excited to share this chapter with all of you and I think when you get to the end, you'll know why. Let me know what you think!

Link to AO3 or read more below.

“All set then?” asked his dad, closing the back of the old Ford Escape Bill had passed off to him.

“I think that’s all of it,” Ron agreed.

“Well, I’ll go get your mother then to see you off,” Dad said.

The twins and Ginny were standing on the curb, having already loaded the boxes they carried in the vehicle.

“Well, in two days, you’ll be knocking on Astoria’s door to find out if this crazy plan worked.”

Ron laughed. “Not exactly. Hopefully I run into her the first week.”

George’s jaw dropped. “You spent 90k of Muriel’s cash and wasted the best party semester of your life to hope to run into her?”

He hadn’t gone the entire spring semester without seeing Stori. She’d sought him out a few times for a bit of, as she put it, mutual stress relief, but refused to discuss anything further about their relationship. She had bid him a teary goodbye at their commencement ceremony, where he had been evasive about his post graduation plans.

“The point was to be worthy of her, not scare her. Ginny, imagine you get drafted by the Red Stars and suddenly that douche you dated, Corner, is working there as the strength and conditioning coach. You’d be freaked out.”

“It’s a good point,” said Ginny.

“Look, I’ll show up, I’ll get to know everyone, make my connections, and charm the professors. She’ll know I’m there without me ever telling her.”

“You never faded into the background at CULA,” Fred agreed.

“I’ll say hi if I see her but she’ll be knocking on my door by October,” Ron said confidentially.

“Oh yeah?” George’s voice was skeptical.

“You didn’t think I’d make it this far,” pointed out Ron. “It’s… it’s got to work.”

Suddenly, he felt his confidence drop. Was this a stupid plan?

“Best of luck, bro,” said Fred, giving him a one armed hug.

“Regardless of everything… Ron, you got into Harvard. Harvard. Don’t let them take that away from you,” Ginny said fiercely.

“Yeah, yeah, you sound like Mom now,” Ron said, brushing her off before his cheeks could burn. “Where’s she at? I’m burning daylight here.”

“I’m right here,” said his mom, walking out the front door of the ranch home he’d grown up in, holding a cooler. “I have some sandwiches to at least get you through the first day on the road,”

“First hour maybe,” George scoffed.

“Thanks Mom,” he took the cooler and stuck it in the car. When he turned back around, his dad had joined them again.

“Well, this is it,” he said awkwardly.

“Oh… Ginny, go pack a bag and join your brother. We’ll buy you a plane ticket home. Or I can come along,” his mom blurted out, nervously twisting her hands.

“Mom,” Ron groaned.

“Molly, he’ll be okay,” his dad said gently.

“Call me once a day,” Mom said. “Just during the trip,” she added, when Ron started to object.

“Okay,” he agreed. He drew her into a hug.

After he’d said goodbye to each of them, he whistled. “Pig, come on boy!” The pug ran across the yard and allowed Ron to scoop him up and put him in the passenger seat. He climbed into the driver’s seat and swallowed hard. Was this a big mistake?

“We’re so proud of you, son,” his dad said.

“We’ll see you at Christmas?” his mom asked.

Ron didn’t trust his voice so he just nodded and closed the car door. He started the vehicle and with one last wave, he backed out of the driveway.

**********************************************

Five days later, Ron’s alarm was blaring.

“What fucking time is it?” he muttered, slamming the sleep button. In response, Pig grunted and rolled over.

It had been four days of naps and showers at truck stops, coffee, Monster, and fast food but he’d arrived yesterday in order to get a decent night’s sleep before today’s orientation. He, however, had failed to calculate in the three hour time difference that combined with his driving fatigue, was wreaking havoc on his mind and body.

He sighed and went to a still packed box marked “clothes”. He immediately groaned. His khakis were wrinkled as hell. Should have hung them in the bathroom last night when he showered to at least get a little help from the steam.

Luckily, he had a couple dress shirts in the garment bag with his sports coat and two suits. During his brother Percy’s summer visit, he’d used one of Ron’s rare free days to take him shopping. Percy had gotten some advice from a friend of his that attended the University of Chicago on law school attire and had insisted Ron needed at least three suits.

Ron, who was expecting that this whole thing would be wrapped up by spring, balked at the idea but finally agreed to one new suit to go with the one he already owned, a blazer, khakis, and a few polo shirts. He had shirts and tie combos from various formal and semi-formal events, but doubted he’d need much of it. Percy’s friend had said classes were business casual and while his golf shirts were comfortable enough, Ron really hoped that by the second week, everyone was wearing hoodies in class.

He finished getting ready and then grabbed Pig’s leash. “Come on boy,” he prodded the slumbering pug. “If you don’t go now, you’ll be holding it all day.”

They walked the campus, enjoying the morning quiet. While it didn’t give Ron the ease and sense of belonging CULA did, it was an impressive campus. For a moment, he wished he’d taken his mom up on the offer to come out with him - she’d love to see this. He hated the loneliness he felt and was glad to see Pig do his business. Sooner he could get to orientation and meet some people, the better.

********************************

Orientation had been a mix of boring and interesting. He’d slipped in right at the last minute and sat in the back row to ensure he went unnoticed if he were in the same group of students as Astoria. Luckily, he didn’t notice her in the room. While he missed her terribly, he hadn’t come this far to destroy his plans now, and running into her before classes even started was not the plan.

Now they had moved into the social mixer part of the evening, which he was delighted to see that unlike undergrad, law school mixers included booze.

“Uh… you have anything local?” Ron asked the bartender.

“Nothing craft but I do have Dogfish Head,” the bartender said.

“That’ll do,” Ron responded, sticking a dollar in the tip cup. Had Astoria accepted his proposal, maybe he would have pursued the Boston Beer job and he’d have cases of this stuff in their kitchen. The bartender handed him a glass full of his other life and he wandered over to a small group of people, chatting.

“Hi, Ron Weasley,” he said sticking out his hand to the woman on his right.

“Uh, hi,” she said, sounding surprised but not unfriendly. “Lisa Turpin.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Ernie MacMillan,” said a blonde man, standing next to Lisa. Ron shook his hand and then shook the hand of the man next to him who introduced himself as Jack Sloper.

“We were just discussing undergrads,” Ernie said. “Jack and I were both Princeton men, although I took a gap year in Europe so different classes. Lisa here was an Eli. How about you?”

Ron inwardly winced. This guy sounded so pompous. An Eli, really? Anyone who watched a few seasons of Gilmore Girls knew what that was. Ron took a deep breath. “West coast here. I graduated from CULA.”

“That’s a solid state school system,” said Ernie. It wasn’t an insult, but when he said it, somehow it sounded like one.

“Yeah, well, it got the job done,” he said, forcing his friendliest tone.

“What were your undergrad degrees in?” Jack asked the group.

“I’m afraid I’m a bit of a stereotype. Political science for me,” Ernie chuckled.

“Same,” said Lisa. “Although I double majored in French.”

“I was a double major as well. Economics and Spanish,” Jack responded.

“There just wasn’t time for a double major while I was student body president, I’m afraid,” Ernie said. “What about you, Ron?”

“Uh, yeah, just the one major for me. Food science,” he said self-consciously.

“Food science,” Lisa repeated, her tone again not unfriendly but certainly not welcoming. Ron’s whole body stiffened.

“Like cooking?” asked Jack skeptically.

“No, there are a few different concentrations but I was focused on food biochemistry and microbiology,” he explained.

“I think the only micro I’m aware of with food is microwaves or microbrewing,” Jack said, letting out a condescending chuckle.

“Actually, brewing was a big part of my internship last summer. I was at Anheuser-Busch working on their new sustainable brewing initiative,” he said.

“Interesting,” said Lisa. “Ernie, where did you spend your time abroad?”

“I assume you’re interested in whether I spent any time in France, which I can assure you that I did.”

“I hope when you say France, you don’t just mean Paris,” said Jack and Ron was glad to see his condescension focused on someone else.

Ernie laughed loudly in response. “Of course not.”

Ron took a big swig of his beer. This was going to be a long night.

***********************

Ron shifted his backpack as he carefully studied the room numbers next to each door. Everyone else looked so comfortable and confident and he wondered if all of his fellow students had mapped out their routes in advance of the first day of classes.

His eyes were so busy shifting from the left side of the hallway to the right that he failed to notice someone stopped right in front of him until he slammed into them.

“Ooof,” he said. “I’m sor - ”

“Ron?!”

Of course he had just walked right into Astoria.

Astoria stood there, mouth hanging open as she stared at him. Despite the gormless look on her face, she looked absolutely gorgeous with her blonde hair pulled back into a tight curled ponytail, the kind he used to love to pull out at the end of the day. Even though it was just barely September, she was wearing an orange cardigan and he thought about how she obsessively dressed in what she called “the colors of the season”.

“Hey there,” he forced out in what he hoped was a casual tone.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she asked, looking shocked.

“Going to class,” Ron responded. “Don’t want to be late; see you!” He took broad steps around and away from her.

Ron let out a sigh of relief as his classroom was the next one he spotted. He took a deep breath as he walked into the lecture hall for his first class. He spotted a seat near the middle of the room that felt like the right place for the impression he wanted to make.

“Hey,” he greeted the guy next to him. The guy nodded, not even looking up from his laptop. Ron shrugged and pulled his computer out of his bag and powered it up.

While it was sooner than he had hoped, Ron had played it pretty cool with Astoria during their chance meeting. Short and to the point, nothing dumb or embarrassing said. His most successful interaction at Harvard to date.

While he was congratulating himself, a severe looking older woman walked purposefully to the front of the classroom and cleared her throat.

“Welcome to the start of your legal education,” she said. “I’m Professor McGonagall.”

As the professor began to speak about the syllabus, Ron allowed his mind to wander back to Astoria. She hadn’t looked upset or angry to see him, merely surprised. Maybe a bit uncomfortable, which was understandable. She also looked phenomenal. It had been way too long since they had been together and he had almost forgotten how stunning she was.

“Can you tell us about Gordon v. Steele?”

Ron looked up with a start. “Huh?”

Professor McGonagall was standing right in front of him, looking annoyed. “Can you tell us about Gordon v. Steele as it relates to subject matter jurisdiction?”

“Uh…” Ron said, shocked. “It’s the first day of class.”

The classroom was now silently watching him.

“Did you not read the first fifty pages of the assigned text?” McGonagall asked.

“I didn’t realize there was an assignment,” Ron said nervously. He heard a snort behind him and his head whipped around to look at the source.

Professor McGonagall seemed to hear the snort too and shifted her focus. “And you, young man? You could answer my question?”

“Of course,” the smartass snorter said. He ran a hand through his hair and leaned back in his chair.

Oh, thought Ron. This guy is the worst.

“So would you support my decision to ask this student to remove himself from class until he’s prepared?”

Ron froze.

“Yes Professor,” said the cocky douchebag.

Professor McGonagall motioned to Ron. “Once you’re prepared, you will be welcomed back to class. Until then…”

Ron packed up his laptop, completely stunned. He gave a hard stare at the messy haired jerk, who smirked back at him as he stomped out of the room.

**********************

“You have to be fucking kidding me. Where the fuck does she get the right… and that fucking douchebag,” Ron muttered.

“Excuse me,” a voice rang out from behind him. “That’s more profanity than I care to hear in a week, let alone at 8:30 on a Monday.”

Ron looked up, irritated by the interruption to his own self pity. The reprimand came from a pretty curly haired brunette perched on a neighboring bench, a giant stack of books beside her. Despite her scolding words, she had a hint of a smile. A smile that actually looked friendly.

“Sorry,” he said, ears turning red. “I just… are they always that mean?”

“Mean?”

“Yeah, like, call you out like that. My professors have always liked me all right,” Ron replied, feeling quite embarrassed to explain this to her.

“Yes, they tend to do that. Socratic method,” said the woman.

“Ah,” he responded. He knew the name Socrates thanks to his philosophy major ex, but nothing of the method.

“Were you with McGonagall?”

“Yeah. She kicked me out!”

The brunette made a sympathetic noise.

“She ever kick you out?”

The woman now looked scandalized. “Never! But I had nightmares about her my whole first week. Who else do you have?”

“Uh, Sprout, Slughorn, Umbridge…”

“Umbridge likes when you speak up in class but make sure you always concede to her in the end. Slughorn’s kind of pretentious but if you make good use of your thesaurus for his papers, he’s easy to please.”

“Nice, thanks,” Ron said, nodding his head with a slight smile. She grinned back at him.

“This place is tough; don’t let one setback your first day throw you off,” she urged.

“I’m glad I picked this bench. So what year are - ”

“Ron? Can we talk?” Astoria was standing in front of him, looking a bit nervous.

“If you want,” he said carefully.

“Please,” she said, taking a few steps back. Ron lifted a hand in goodbye to the girl on the bench before approaching Astoria.

“So… you’re at Harvard,” she said nervously, rubbing her right hand over her left.

“I am,” he confirmed.

“And… you got into Harvard,” Astoria said.

“Clearly,” he answered, a bit irritated by her tone. She didn’t really think he was an idiot, did she?

“How was your first class? “

“It could have been better,” Ron admitted.

“That’s because you-you don’t belong here,” Astoria said. “Look, maybe I shouldn’t, but I’m trusting that you’re not here to, like stalk me or hurt me or something. Regardless, this just isn’t something you can do. The people that are going to be successful here… they’re like, bred for this. And it’s not you. I didn’t break up with you to be a bitch. This just isn’t something you’re cut out for.”

“Stori - ” he tried to interrupt.

“And Ron, it costs a fortune to go here! How are you even covering this? I still care about you. Please, just cut your losses now,” she pleaded.

“No way,” said Ron, feeling the fire to prove himself ignite. “Look, my first class was rough but it’s because I didn’t get it. I didn’t understand how all of this works. Now I do. Frankly, that asshole that got me kicked out did me a favor because - ”

“Stori, there you are.” Out of nowhere, the aforementioned asshole from class appeared and slung a possessive arm around Astoria’s shoulder.

“Oh, hi,” she said, biting her lower lip and no longer meeting Ron’s eyes.

“We haven’t properly met although, after that disaster in class, maybe it’s pointless,” chuckled the douchebag.

“Ron, this is Harry Potter… my fiancé.”

Ron clenched his jaw but he knew his ears were reddening in a dead giveaway. “Really?”

“Harry was my high school boyfriend. We reconnected this spring and it just felt… right,” Astoria answered awkwardly.

“Well… congratulations.”

“Thanks buddy,” Harry said, voice dripping in mock sincerity.

“I, uh, I’ve got to go,” Ron said. Summoning every ounce of self control he had, he quickly walked in the direction of his residence hall, Astoria calling after him.

#au romione #romionecom #romione fanfic #ron x hermione #ron weasley #ron and hermione #hp fanfic #harry potter au

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