#5) she !!! uses!!!! her personality!!!! to make money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! she USES her charm

[deliciousangelfestival]

The Imperfect Couple - 5

Character: politician!Bucky x ex-wife!reader

Summary: A separated couple must pretend to be happily married while the husband runs for Vice President, dealing with old issues and political pressures during his election campaign.

Warning: The couple's arguments could be triggering.

Chapter 1 , Chapter 2 , Chapter 3 , Chapter 4 , Chapter 5, Chapter 6 , Chapter 7 , Chapter 8 , Chapter 9 , -

Main Masterlist || If you enjoy my work, please consider buying me a coffee on Ko-fi 🙏🏻

Thank you to everyone who has read this chapter. Leave a comment and Reblog, please. I'd love to hear your thoughts. ❤️

You were deep in conversation with Greg, discussing the next move, when suddenly, you were called to Steve’s office. As you entered, you noticed Steve and Bucky sitting with serious expressions.

“What?” you asked, feeling a twinge of anxiety as both men locked eyes on you the moment you walked in.

Steve exchanged a glance with Bucky before he spoke up. "We found a comment that mentioned our divorce," Bucky said, his voice low.

“Oh,” you replied, crossing your arms defensively. “Does it also mention how you kidnapped me?”

Bucky chuckled, a small smile playing on his lips. “The things I’d do to bring you home.”

You rolled your eyes, refusing to be swayed by his charm.

“When we separated, did you ever tell anyone about our divorce?” Bucky’s tone grew more serious as he leaned forward, searching your eyes for the truth.

“Me?” You raised an eyebrow, the memory of Caroline’s threat flashing in your mind. “Did you forget that your mother threatened me not to tell anyone?”

The tension in the room thickened as you spoke. Caroline had made it clear she didn’t want the divorce to be public knowledge. She wanted you as far away from Bucky as possible, and she had the power to make it happen.

You’d learned quickly that fighting her was futile. Every news station and newspaper in the country had mysteriously closed their doors to you after the separation, leaving you with no choice but to pursue a career as an independent international journalist.

“That woman is ambitious as hell,” you muttered under your breath. Caroline’s wealth and connections were unmatched, and she wasn’t afraid to use them. She had even used Julius’s money to secure people who would do her bidding. Once you left the country, it seemed she lost interest in you, allowing you to continue your work in relative peace.

Working alone as a journalist in foreign countries had its challenges, but it also opened your eyes to the world. You found purpose in being a voice for the unfortunate, using your platform to shed light on the truth. Along the way, you met new friends, formed new connections, but you never let slip the truth about your marriage or divorce. The scars left on your heart were too deep, and the thought of trusting another man terrified you.

'What’s the point of having a husband if he can’t protect and defend me? you thought bitterly, the pain still fresh.

But perhaps, in a moment of vulnerability, you’d let a clue slip. You couldn’t lie to fellow journalists; they had a way of sensing the truth.

“What about your family?” you shot back, narrowing your eyes at Bucky. “Don’t just point fingers at me.”

For Bucky, the divorce was never acknowledged. He even burned the documents in the fireplace, a secret known only to him and God.

His parents, especially Caroline, were too embarrassed to admit their golden child had been divorced, while Julius, who never agreed with the divorce in the first place, remained silent.

Shawn, his oldest brother, was too high to care, and Hazel never bothered with such matters.

“It wasn’t my side either,” Bucky said, his voice steady as he locked eyes with you.

“Suit yourself,” you replied, your tone laced with a mixture of defiance and resignation.

“Sooner or later, the person who wrote it will show up,” Bucky added, his voice calm but carrying a cold edge.

“How can you be so sure?” you asked, a flicker of unease crossing your face.

Bucky merely shrugged, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “If they take too long, I’ll use my way to find them.”

A chill ran down your spine at his words, the threat lingering in the air. You knew what he was capable of, and the thought of him resorting to his methods sent a shiver of fear through you.

Steve, sensing the tension, stepped in, patting Bucky’s shoulder in a calming gesture. “Let the cyber team do their job. We don’t need you taking any extreme measures, especially with the convention so close.”

Steve understood Bucky better than most. While Bucky might present a soft, composed exterior, inside he was a beast—a man unafraid to take risks, to do whatever it took, especially when it came to you. The lengths he would go to protect what was his were both terrifying and awe-inspiring.

But Steve also knew the stakes. If the truth got out—that the future Vice President’s family, particularly Bucky's mother, had abused his wife to the point of divorce, and that the wife, thought to be widowed, had been kidnapped before the election—it would destroy the perfect image the Barnes family had worked so hard to maintain.

And it wouldn’t just affect Bucky; it would drag you down with him.

It would be the scandal of the century.

That’s why, before it could escalate, they had to find the source.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

The Barnes family gathered in the opulent conference room, tension crackling in the air like a live wire. Everyone was present, except for Shawn, who, as usual, was nowhere to be found.

Greg stood at the head of the table, flipping through his notes. “Well, after the Rogers family makes their appearance, it’s time for the Barnes to take the stage.”

“Of course,” Caroline chimed in, her voice sharp with authority. “All of us need to be up there.”

“Me too?” you asked, directing your question to Greg.

“Yes,” Bucky interjected before Greg could respond. “We’ve prepared the ramp for Tim’s wheelchair.”

Before you could even register the thoughtfulness behind Bucky’s statement, Caroline’s voice sliced through the room, dripping with venom. “No. It will ruin the balance. Everyone else can stand on their feet. While…”

“You know what? I hope you die and rot in hell!” you snapped, your voice ringing with years of pent-up anger.

The room froze, every head snapping in your direction. Caroline’s eyes widened in disbelief, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. “Did… Did you hear that? She cursed me!”

You didn’t back down, the rage pouring out of you like a dam breaking. “So you’d rather parade your cocaine-addicted son who crashed his car and killed someone than show my brother who, despite losing a leg, works tirelessly from nine to five?”

Caroline was too stunned to reply, her face draining of color. Bucky, though usually stoic, couldn’t keep the anger from his voice. “You’re out of line, Mom. Tim is her only family left.”

Hazel, normally indifferent, nodded in agreement. “This time, I’m with them.”

Caroline, her voice trembling with indignation, shot back, “Is this how you treat your own mother?”

“No, Carol,” Julius said, his voice cold and cutting, “this is what we call karma.”

Bucky’s jaw tightened as he fought to control the emotions boiling beneath the surface. “She’s been in the same position as you,” he said, a lump forming in his throat as memories of his mother’s cruelty resurfaced. “You only felt that sting for three minutes, but my wife endured it for years.”

Caroline’s eyes narrowed, her fury now directed squarely at you. Her face flushed with rage, and you could almost see the steam rising from her ears. “So what? You want me to apologize?”

You met her gaze without flinching, your voice icy. “No. I don’t need your apology. It wouldn’t be enough to cover the pain I’ve suffered because of you. And honestly? I’d feel relieved if you died. If someone could confirm you’re burning in hell, it’d be the best news I’ve heard in years.”

Caroline, still believing she was the true victim, stormed out of the room, her heels clicking angrily on the marble floor. Julius and Hazel exchanged a glance before following her, leaving a tense silence in their wake.

Bucky watched them go, his fists clenched at his sides. He turned to you, his eyes searching yours for any sign of what you were feeling. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice softening for the first time that day.

You shook your head, the adrenaline still pumping through your veins. “I don’t know. It felt good to finally say what I’ve been holding in, but it doesn’t erase everything she’s done.”

Bucky nodded, stepping closer to you. “You shouldn’t have had to go through that alone. I should’ve stood up for you sooner.”

You looked up at him, the tension between you both palpable. “It’s too late for regrets, Bucky. We’ve both been through hell. The only thing that matters now is what we do next.”

He reached out, taking your hand in his. “Then let’s make sure this doesn’t break us.”

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

Before the convention starts, the air buzzes with the anticipation of the event. As you stand in the corner of the vast convention hall, adjusting your outfit, a familiar voice calls out your name. You turn and see Ian, the British journalist you’ve met a few times before. His tousled hair and easy smile make him stand out in the crowd.

“Ian!” you greet him, a genuine smile spreading across your face. “What are you doing here?”

Ian chuckles, clearly pleased to see you. “I’m here to cover the election, of course. But, honestly, I jumped at the chance to come because I knew you’d be here.”

You laugh softly, shaking your head. “So, you flew all the way out here just for me?”

He grins, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “My boss didn’t believe me when I said I knew you. I had to show him a picture of us together just to convince him.”

You laugh again, feeling the warmth of his presence. “Well, I’m glad you made it. It’s been a while.”

As you and Ian catch up, the conversation flows easily, your shared ideas and interests making the time fly by. He tells you about his latest assignments, and you share some of your recent experiences. The banter between you is light and effortless, the kind that comes naturally with someone you’re comfortable with.

But then, you sense a shift in the air, and before you can react, Bucky appears at your side. He’s polite, as always, his smile perfectly in place, but you can sense the underlying tension in his posture. His eyes dart between you and Ian, and although he doesn’t say it, you know he’s not thrilled about the easy rapport between you and the British journalist.

“Hi,” Bucky says, his voice calm but laced with something you can’t quite place. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. Just thought I’d come by and check in.”

Ian extends his hand to Bucky with a friendly smile. “Ian, nice to meet you.”

Bucky shakes his hand, his grip a bit firmer than necessary. “Likewise. I’ve heard a bit about you.”

There’s a brief, almost imperceptible moment of silence, where you can feel Bucky’s eyes on you. His polite smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes, and you can tell he’s itching to separate you from Ian.

“Well,” Ian says, oblivious to the tension, “I should get going. Need to find my spot before the chaos begins.” He turns to you, his smile warm and genuine. “Let’s catch up properly after this?”

You nod, still smiling. “Definitely. See you around, Ian.”

As Ian walks away, Bucky’s gaze follows him, his jaw tightening slightly. Once Ian is out of sight, Bucky’s shoulders relax, but only a fraction. He turns to you, his expression unreadable.

“You two seem close,” Bucky says, his voice carefully neutral, but you don’t miss the hint of something more beneath the surface.

“We’ve met a few times,” you reply casually, though you can sense Bucky’s unease.

He nods, but his eyes narrow slightly, as if something about Ian doesn’t sit right with him. Deep down, Bucky’s instincts are on high alert. There’s something about Ian—something he can’t quite put his finger on—that doesn’t add up. And as much as he tries to push it aside, the feeling gnaws at him, making him wonder if Ian’s presence here is as innocent as it seems.

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[jojosbizarrecandyland]

Chapter 1: Joanne's Sweet Endeavor / A Sweeter Encounter

Pages: 5 Words: 1978 Summary: Joanne, a determined twelve-year-old, runs the Sweet Tooth Candy Shop while her parents are away. She expertly assists customers, helping a grandmother pick out the perfect gift for her granddaughter, and manages a group of mischievous kids attempting to steal candy. Joanne sternly confronts them, offering a small treat and a lesson in honesty. As the day winds down, a suspicious group of men loiter outside the shop. Joanne senses danger and prepares to defend the store using the magical abilities of her candy bear, vowing to protect her parents' business no matter what.

The Sweet Tooth Candy Shop was a beacon of color and joy in the heart of town, its windows lined with every kind of candy imaginable. From sugary rock candy to chewy licorice, the shop was a paradise for anyone with a sweet tooth. Today, however, the shop had a special charm—it was run by Joanne, a twelve-year-old with a knack for business.

As the bell above the door jingled, Joanne looked up from behind the counter, her brown curls bouncing with her movement. She adjusted her apron and greeted the new customer with a bright smile. “Welcome to Sweet Tooth! How can I help you today?”

The customer, a middle-aged woman with a fondness for bright scarves, smiled back. “Hello, dear. I’m looking for something special. It’s my granddaughter’s birthday, and I want to get her something sweet.”

Joanne’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. “We’ve got just the thing! Follow me.” She led the woman to a display of colorful candy jars. “We’ve got some beautiful candy gift boxes that can be personalized. You can choose a selection of candies to fill them.”

The woman’s face lit up. “Oh, this looks perfect. I think she’ll love these gummy bears and the chocolate truffles. How much for a box like this?”

Joanne calculated the total quickly. “That’ll be twenty-five dollars for the box and the candies.”

The woman nodded and handed over the money. “Thank you, Joanne. You’re doing a great job here.”

“Thank you!” Joanne said, ringing up the sale and packing the box with care. “Have a sweet day!”

As the woman left, another customer entered—the local neighborhood kids. Joanne recognized them instantly; they were often found eyeing the candy jars with more interest than was strictly allowed.

“Hey, Joanne!” greeted Danny, a tall boy with an impish grin. “We’re just browsing.”

Joanne’s gaze was sharp, and she was ready. “Uh-huh. Browsing, right. Make sure you don’t touch anything without asking, okay?”

The kids exchanged glances, and Danny’s grin faltered a bit. “Sure, Joanne. We were just... um, looking for something.”

Joanne kept a close watch as the kids wandered the aisles. Her instinct proved correct when she saw them covertly trying to slip candy into their pockets. With a decisive motion, she grabbed the broom that was always at hand behind the counter and walked over to them.

“Alright, enough of that!” Joanne’s voice was commanding as she brandished the broom. The kids froze, wide-eyed. “You’ve been warned. Either pay for what you want or get out.”

One of the girls, a smaller kid with pigtails, looked particularly nervous. “We’re really sorry, Joanne. We didn’t mean to steal.”

Joanne’s expression softened slightly, though she kept her stance firm. “Well, if you’re sorry, I expect you to apologize properly. And if you’re still hungry for candy, here’s something on the house.” 

She reached into a jar of sour taffy and handed them each a piece. “Now, scram. And don’t come back without paying.”

The kids mumbled their thanks and hurried out, the sour taffy already making their faces pucker in surprise. Joanne shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. She could be tough when she needed to be, but she had a soft spot for kids who made honest mistakes.

Later that afternoon, the shop was buzzing with the usual assortment of customers. Joanne’s attention was split between ringing up purchases and keeping an eye on the stock. She had just finished wrapping a box of chocolate-covered almonds when a group of older customers entered.

“Good afternoon!” Joanne called out brightly. “Can I help you find anything special today?”

A tall man with graying hair and glasses smiled warmly. “Yes, actually. We’re looking for some old-fashioned sweets. My wife and I are celebrating our anniversary, and we thought some classic candies would be perfect.”

Joanne’s eyes lit up. “You’ve come to the right place! We’ve got a great selection of vintage candies. Follow me.”

She led them to a display of nostalgic treats—root beer barrels, jawbreakers, and nougat bars. As the customers browsed, one of them, a woman with a gentle demeanor, asked, “Joanne, your parents must be proud of how well you’re running the shop.”

Joanne’s heart skipped a beat. She offered her rehearsed response with a casual air. “Oh, they’re on vacation. I’m holding down the fort while they’re away.”

The man raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. “Well, you’re doing a marvelous job. We’ll take some of these root beer barrels and a few of the nougat bars. How much do we owe you?”

Joanne quickly rang up their purchases and bagged the candies. “That’ll be thirty dollars.”

The man handed over the money, and Joanne gave him a receipt with a cheerful “Thank you for shopping at Sweet Tooth! Have a great day!”

As the last customer left and the shop quieted down, Joanne began her closing routine. She swept the floor, restocked the shelves, and prepared to lock up. The sky outside was turning dusky, the streetlights casting long shadows.

But as Joanne turned the “Closed” sign on the door, she noticed a group of men loitering nearby. Their presence was unsettling—there was something off about the way they hovered around the shop. Joanne’s instincts went on high alert.

She grabbed her trusty stuffed bear from her bookbag, her fingers brushing against its soft, comforting surface. With a quiet murmur, she activated its special magic, and the bear’s plush exterior shifted into a glossy candy material.

Joanne felt a surge of determination. She would protect the shop, no matter what. The men approached, their intentions clear. Joanne gripped her candy bear tightly, ready to defend her parents’ store with all the courage she could muster.

And so, as the evening shadows lengthened and the Sweet Tooth Candy Shop closed its doors for the night, Joanne prepared to face whatever challenge lay ahead with the same fearless resolve she brought to running her beloved shop.

_

The Sweet Tooth Candy Shop was buzzing with energy as Joanne prepared for a new day. She had been working tirelessly to set up a new display of lollipops, each one intricately shaped into stars, moons, hearts, and other delightful forms. These were not your average flat lollipops; they were grand creations, each one a piece of edible art propped up on sturdy sticks. Joanne meticulously arranged them on the counter, her excitement evident in the way she adjusted each display.

The morning sun was just beginning to shine through the shop's windows when the bell above the door chimed. Joanne turned to see a young boy about her age stepping in. He had tan skin, dark spiky hair, and was wearing goggles perched low on his forehead. His clothes were worn and somewhat shabby, giving him a rough-around-the-edges appearance.

Joanne offered her usual friendly greeting. “Good morning! Welcome to Sweet Tooth. Can I help you find something special today?”

The boy glanced around the shop with a dismissive air. “I don’t want to buy anything from you,” he said, his tone a mix of defiance and disdain. He looked Joanne up and down, his eyes lingering for a moment longer than necessary. Though he tried to hide it, a faint blush colored his cheeks as he found himself captivated by her determination and spunk.

“I came here to take some candy,” he continued, folding his arms defiantly. “Those kids who came in yesterday? They were working for me. I’m here to take what I want.”

Joanne’s smile faded, replaced by a look of stern resolve. “If you’re here to steal, I won’t go easy on you. I’ve got a job to do, and I won’t let anyone mess it up.”

The boy’s eyes narrowed, and he shrugged with a hardened expression. “I don’t care. I’m a thief, not a saint.”

Joanne’s frown deepened. She wasn’t about to let him walk away with her candy, not after everything she’d done to keep the shop running smoothly. “Fine, if that’s how you want to play it.”

Without warning, she grabbed a handful of the newly displayed lollipops and hurled them at him. The colorful confections flew through the air, but the boy was quick on his feet. With a flick of his wrist, he transformed his left hand into a large, bladed sword, blocking the incoming lollipops with ease.

“Is that the best you’ve got?” the boy taunted, his sword-hand slicing through the air as he deflected the candy missiles.

Joanne wasn’t deterred. She grabbed more lollipops and continued her barrage. “I’m not giving up so easily!”

The boy, who had been ready to steal the candy, now found himself engaged in a fierce battle of attrition. His ability to morph his body into mechanical constructs gave him a solid defense, while Joanne’s candy-throwing skills kept him on his toes. The shop was a flurry of colors and motion as the two clashed, the floor littered with shattered lollipop pieces.

Joanne’s eyes darted around the shop, searching for more lollipops to use as ammunition. Her focus was momentarily distracted when she noticed a giant candy sculpture on a precarious stand. It wobbled dangerously, tilting towards her.

Her heart skipped a beat. “Look out!” she shouted, but the boy’s attention was already drawn to the falling sculpture. Without hesitation, he dashed toward Joanne, tackling her out of harm’s way.

With a swift motion, he shifted his back into a deformed shield, his body morphing to absorb the impact of the falling sculpture. The candy crashed down onto the shield, and for a moment, everything went quiet. When the dust settled, the boy and Joanne were lying on the floor, safe and sound, though surrounded by candy debris.

Joanne looked up at him, astonished. “Why did you save me?”

The boy’s face was flushed, and he looked away, trying to hide his embarrassment. “I didn’t want to kill you. I’m a thief, not a murderer.”

Joanne’s expression softened, and she could see the sincerity in his eyes. “You really mean that?”

The boy nodded, avoiding her gaze. “Yeah. I’m sorry for everything. My name’s Luke. I didn’t want to cause any more trouble. I’d like to make it up to you. If you’ll let me, I could work here at the shop and pay off any damages.”

Joanne’s initial hesitation melted away as she considered his offer. She could see the potential for redemption in his eyes. With a bright smile, she extended her hand. “Alright, Luke. Let’s start fresh. We’ll clean up this mess together, and you can work here to make things right.”

Luke took her hand, his expression a mix of relief and gratitude. “Thanks, Joanne. I promise I’ll work hard.”

Together, they began to clean up the shop, sweeping up the candy shards and resetting the displays. As they worked, Joanne could sense that Luke was genuinely remorseful and willing to make amends. The two of them worked side by side, their earlier conflict forgotten as they bonded over the shared task.

By the time the shop was cleaned up and ready to reopen, Joanne and Luke had formed an unexpected alliance. The Sweet Tooth Candy Shop was back to its cheerful self, and Joanne felt a new sense of camaraderie with her unlikely helper.

As they prepared to open the shop again, Joanne looked at Luke with a hopeful smile. “Let’s make today a great day, shall we?”

Luke nodded, a smile of his own tugging at the corners of his lips. “Absolutely. And thanks for giving me a second chance.”

With a fresh start and a new friend by her side, Joanne was ready for whatever the day might bring. The Sweet Tooth Candy Shop was once again a place of joy and sweetness, and Joanne couldn’t have been happier.

[dutiful-wildcraft]

Secondhand News Pt. 2

John Price/ plus size F!OC

John Price chases after his sergeants sister, a soft and sweet wildlife rehabilitator in the rural south.

Tags: domestic fluff, critters, poor flirting, mentions of disordered eating and food insecurity. Some background romance between Ghost and another oc.

Ruby's alarm clock startles her into the waking world at a crisp 5 am. Immediately followed by a deep hollow dread somewhere in her chest.

She'd scrounged up enough sick time to request the full week off, get Darren and the others  settled in, plus have a few days prior to clean the place top to bottom. Get her shit together. 

She'd buzzed around the house on autopilot, cleaning and ordering groceries. Figuring out good sized meals to keep them all fed. For once she looked like the pinnacle of efficiency. Having scrubbed away the evidence of weeks old dishes, and mold staining her old plastic shower curtain. She’d even had time to let the place air out so it wasn't obvious she'd soaked everything down with bleach and lemon disinfectant. Even lit a candle for a little extra pizazz. 

She loved her brother, wanted him home, but it'd been some time since Ruby had an actual person in her house. A person who wasn't going to just stand on her front porch and chat; but stay the night, see her all day. 

She was busy, what could she say? She managed the animals in her care all day, on top of working full time for the emergency veterinary clinic overnight. She didn't have time to make friends, let alone take care of her home, herself. Socializing regularly was on the bottom of her to-do list. 

Some days she didn’t even have the strength to brush her teeth, shower, eat something other than microwave pizza.

She loved the animals, regardless of the toll, but it was still work. She barely made a dime doing it, and some months even lost money.

Hence why she worked the second job, not that she necessarily had to do that either.

Darren would gut her if he found out the money he sent her did her no good. Not that it wasn't enough, she simply didn't use it. She'd set up a savings for him a while back, put every dime he gave her in there for when he retired. There was no sense in using his money to pay for bills in a house he hardly lived in. Nor would she dare put his money toward the animals, those were her responsibility. He’d refuse if she asked him to stop, so she put it towards a good cause. Her brother broke his back to care for her when they were kids, he deserved to rest when the time was right, and a little cushion for when he came home for good was the least she could do. 

He was certainly going to be upset when she broke the news about returning to the clinic next week, but she’d make the most of their free time this week, and spend what time she had during the day with him and the other’s during the rest of their stay. 

Price and Ghost had admittedly been another worry of hers. 

Not only was her brother coming back home, but bringing a couple of near strangers with him too. She’d met them before, briefly at the same awards ceremony, but they were still unfamiliar enough. She would need to play host, another layer to add to the show she was already putting on for her brother. 

Thankfully the men were not the stereotypical loud and rambunctious types she’d been afraid of. The last few days had been calm, a bit noisier than usual, but nothing to pitch fits about. The two English soldiers made her and Darren look like heathens by comparison. 

Simon didn't have much to say, mostly chiming in on Darren or Price on occasion, or asking her where things went. 

And Price? 

Her cheeks heated at the thought of  the broad captain, like a dumb teenager. She’d met dear Price at the awards ceremony as well. The big handsome man had gravitated toward her instantly, and rarely left her side the whole night.  He’d been charming, funny; whispering gossip to her about a few of the others in dress uniform, the bristles of his facial hair tickling the shell of her ear. She’d done her best not to make an ass of herself, but she’d certainly played too. Clinging to his offered arm like she belonged there. Keen to make up stories about the strangers neither one of them knew, preening when he’d bent down to listen. She’d been proud of the amount of chuckles she’d gotten from the man. 

That evening had been the most fun she’d had in some time. She’d felt like a prize on the captain’s arm, something almost precious as he guided her around, warm palm on the small of her back. She’d been more than disappointed when they parted ways without exchanging contact. Later she’d felt even more disappointed, silly really. Realizing the soldier was probably just being pleasant, entertaining his sergeant's pudgy little sister like a gentleman.

She’d brushed it off then, reminding herself that she’d more than likely never see the him again, maybe in passing at another ceremony if she were unlucky. 

But now he was in her house.

And still just as gorgeous. He still sported the chops that surprisingly suited him, a few gray hairs peppering through the brown. With tender blue eyes and shoulders wide enough to fill a door frame. The rumbling timber of his voice had her eyes flicking to him every time he spoke, made her stomach flip when he spoke to her specifically. Using the same warm tone she’d quickly grown so fond of those years ago. 

She might as well be writing in a pink fluffy diary, glittery purple gel pen in hand with the way her brain gushed over the man’s attention. For christ’s sake she was a grown ass woman. 

Dear diary, today Captain Price looked at me. <3

Ruby sighs, flopping over fitfully in her sheets, scrubbing her hands over her face. 

C’mon Martin, get yourself together. 

He is just a man in her house. A pretty man. Quit it. Her brother's friend, captain, specifically. She would just need to hang in there for a little while, she could hold it together for a little while right?

With a few yawns and tired groans she’s padding downstairs wrapped in her favorite blanket, a god awful thing with howling wolves printed on cheap fleece. A gas station gift from Darren that they’d both had a good laugh at. She’s greeted by Blue, dutifully waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs, the gray pitbull wagging its rear end slowly as she descends, mindful of his own rambunctiousness in the wee hours of the morning. She’s cooing at him when she catches something in the corner of her eye, blood turning to ice as she freezes in place. Heart hammering in her chest as she tries to decipher the very large masked figure sitting on her couch. 

Her brain scrambles with potential ways to fight. But something occurs to her.

Blue isn’t alarmed. And Blue barks about everything. He’s been her security guard for years, and a damn good litmus test for danger. 

As if on cue the figure turns, dark brown eyes reflecting the pale light of her TV as he looks back at her. Finally, her brain catches up. 

Ghost. 

Darren had explained the man’s proclivity towards the garment. When she’d first met the illusive lieutenant he’d worn a simple balaclava tucked up around his dress uniform, and over the past few days he’d worn an inconspicuous black medical mask. She hadn’t been prepared for the full thing, especially not this early in the morning. She stands there like a deer in headlights, greeting him with a slow wave. He doesn't speak, simply jerks his chin up in return before turning away from her once more. 

She stands there a moment more, brain still struggling.  She should have known better really, sharing a house with 3 soldiers. Honestly, she should be surprised that not all of them were awake. 

The morning was meant to be her sanctuary, her time to sit in the quiet and transition into the waking world. Time for her to simply exist, prepare her armor for the onslaught of noise and staring eyes. 

She pads away quickly, letting Blue outside to potty before hiding away in the kitchen. Mechanically, she prepares a pot of coffee, plopping down in a seat away from the view of Ghost, she doesn't have the capacity to have eyes on her just yet. She just needs to sit, yawn into space, let time slip by as she stares into laminate flooring. 

She waits long after the coffee is done before dumping it into a mug, contemplating for another moment before leaving an extra mug on the counter for the large man in her living room. She lets Blue back in, playing their morning game of chase as he scampers around, leaving dewey paw prints and wet grass across her floor. She finally catches him in a fit of giggles, tucking him between her calves to dry him off as he tries to lick her face. 

Only the commotion must have startled Simon,  because he nearly scares the shit out of her when she stands again, the behemoth standing silently in her kitchen doorway, amusement crinkling the corners of his eyes. He still doesn't speak, only raises a brow at her. 

Need help? 

She brushes it off, apologizes for the wet floor as she tosses the towel underfoot to get the rest of the mess. 

“Coffee on the counter, left you a mug out,” she gestures to the counter. “creamer’s in the fridge, sugar in the cabinet.” 

She doesn’t wait for a reply, simply smiles awkwardly and slips around him. Blues nails clicking against the hardwood behind her. 

-

After changing she trots back downstairs. Still whirling a bit from her morning disruption, but makes a mental note of the mug in the sink, and the now missing Simon. She smiles a little, collecting her earbuds and stepping her way out into the humid summer morning. 

She takes the same path everyday. Starting with the makeshift shed for the smaller rescues, followed by the small pasture, barn, and coops. Patrolling the path around the small acreage of her home, ensuring nothing was out of place.

She's thankful the spring had passed and most of the babies in her care were old enough to fend for themselves throughout the night. She passes through the cages, greeting everyone in a soft voice, peeking into each to make sure everyone made it another day. 

Armadillo with a bite wound. Good.

Baby squirrels, still wobbly, but hydrated. 

Barred owl with injured wing, still mad.

She moves on, feeding her own personal animals, moving between gates and tossing feed down for the chickens, dumping out the trough sized bins of water for the goats. Scrubbing and refilling them to keep the mosquitos from settling. Blue trots along behind her, giving what animals that will tolerate him a sniff before moving on to the next.

Her ducks love him, honking pleasantly as she opens their pen. She laughs as Blue goes still as stone, letting the ducks inspect him before he can’t take it anymore and starts bouncing, scattering ducks hither and yon. It takes her another minute to settle everyone down, gather them up for their morning walk down to the pond. 

The Goofy Parade, she calls it. Ruby leads the show with two of the more stubborn ducks tucked under her arms, Blue coming up second, with a handful of other ducks frantically trying to keep up, nothing but quacks and webbed feet thumping against the grass as they all descend the small hill together.

She tosses the ducks in the pond with little preamble, giggling to herself at their indignant quacking before they happily paddle off. Blue would chase after them if the water was not his mortal enemy. And while that made bath times a nightmare she was thankful she only had to toss ducks in, and not fish Blue out.

She’s halfway back up the hill, already panting and sweaty as she spots a little blur of white and black, familiar tiny bleating trilling though the air. 

She’s made a terrible mistake, one that she blames on Simon’s little scare as she continues her ascent, coming face to face with a little goat buckling that should certainly not be out. As a matter of fact several of the goats are out, grazing easily off in the yard. One stands proudly on Blue’s dog house, staring at her with blank eyes as it chews a heap of grass lazily. 

Fuck.

She takes stock, glaring at the gate she'd left open, closing it again to prevent any more escapees before getting a plan together. The older ones go easy, stubborn to move but easy to catch, standing dumbly as she pushes them along. The kids are a different story, one that involves running in circles like a fool and desperately trying to hold on to a baby that kicks and flails and bleats like you're killing it. Not to mention a certain gray pitbull thinks her chasing is a game, and is hell bent on getting under her feet at every turn. 

She’s soaked in sweat by the time she collects most of them, hair sticking to the back of her neck as she huffs under a shade tree. The one clever buckling that greeted her earlier still remains, proudly toddling in the grass a few feet away.

Ruby had taken to sitting at this point, ass in the dirt as she desperately tries to coax the little shit to come closer with a large sprig of hay when she hears the screen door open.  She nearly melts from the heat and embarrassment as John Price steps out, dressed in well worn jeans that hug his thighs just right. She sucks her teeth as he looks between her and the goat with a knowing amusement crinkling his pretty blue eyes.

Kill me now.

“Looks like you’ve got your hands full” he greets with mock casualty, nodding toward the baby goat off in the yard as it jumps and kicks, quite literally parkouring off of Blue and bleating in its little revelry. 

Mocking her. 

She glares sourly at the little beast as John takes a well timed sip of his coffee, trying not to laugh as her pout intensifies. She directs her ire at him instead. 

“How much of that did you see?” 

“Just a bit.” he smiles wryly, “ you had most of them rounded up before I spotted ya.” He bends down, handing her his mug.  “Keep an eye on this will ya? I’ll fetch him for you.”

She gives him an incredulous look but takes the mug. Go for it Bud.

He rolls his shoulders, stalking towards the babe with confidence, slowing his steps as he approaches. Ruby watches the shift from civilian Price to Captain Price: swift and silent on his feet. He hunkers a bit, walking heel to toe as he glides across the grass, easily creeping up with the efficiency of a predator as he lunges for the critter. 

A miss, but he was close. Stumbling slightly and correcting gracefully. Looking back to her with surprised look, “Bloody fast isn't he?” Without delay he's back at it, stalking the kid who's now watching him with big blank eyes. 

“You're gonna bust your ass” she calls with a giggle, earning her a playful smile and finger held up in her direction. Just give me a moment young lady.

 He snags the little critter on the second try, deft hands securing it against his chest as it cries. 

She stares at him, mouth open in confused shock as he walks past her, plopping the buckling down over the fence before returning, silently plucking his mug from her hands and taking another sip. 

There is a long pause between them. Where Price pointedly looks out into the yard and not the dejected woman sitting in the grass beside him, hiding his grin behind his mug as she glares mildly into the side of his face.

“Do you need help with anything else?” he dares, earning him a swift pinch to the calf as soon as the words leave his mouth. But they both end up laughing, Ruby shaking her head in disbelief as she tries to pick herself up, Price meeting her with an offered hand to ease her out of the grass. 

God she wishes she wasn’t sweating like whore in church. 

He does ask again though, genuine in his offer to help, and while she isn’t particularly keen to make the man work, she does want to show him the animals. So she’ll  humor him today, show him around. Everybody loves animals, and who is she to deny him that?

It’s not soon after that she’s leading him through the large building she’d had dedicated as a hospital of sorts for her foster animals. 

She goes through each cage, quietly explaining each animal's situation, watching his face for any signs of boredom only to be met with rapt attention. The larger man nodding along and asking questions regarding their care and outlooks. It made her little heart happy to explain, and she had maybe lost herself a time or two. Chattering away about foods and behaviors, ways to heal, before catching herself and wrapping it up quickly. 

“You wanna help me feed ‘em?” she asks tentatively, nodding toward the cage of clumsy twin squirrels. 

“Absolutely.” he replies, Price’s sweet cheeks rounding as he smiles down at her. She turns quickly in an effort to hide her own goofy blush.  Her brain oscillating between He’s so cute and That’s a grown ass man.  

She leads him toward the counter, getting the twin’s meal prepared before fishing out one of the pups, carefully unswaddling it and handing it to Price. The man looks positively chuffed, holding the baby in his large palm, twisting to get a better look at it as it digs little nails into his fingers, snuffling and wiggling frantically to get at its lunch. 

Ruby pulls out the other twin, and shows Price how to cradle the pup between her fingers, prop it upright, laughing as the babe scrabbles greedily, claws slipping and sliding to get purchase on the syringe as she brings it to its mouth. 

“They’re big enough now that they nurse well, but you got to keep them upright and push slow or they’ll choke and blow it out their nose” she explains, gingerly pushing down on the syringe. She coos at the little thing and gives it a sweet scrub along its spine once it’s finished.

She sits next to Price next, tensing her thighs as best as she could to keep from accidentally touching the man. She pushes the new syringe into his hand and walks him through the same procedure. He does perfectly of course, brows pinched, staring at the little thing with the intensity of a man trying to defuse a bomb. 

Sweet fella, she coos internally, he's trying, and Ru can't help but feel her heart pitter patter at the care he puts into it. A soft smile creeps]ing onto her face as he relaxes a bit, chin tucked to his chest as he cradles the baby closer, self assurance softening his shoulders as he pets a finger along its chest.

She is content to just sit there with him in the quiet, relax enough for her own soft thigh to fully settle against his. He lifts his head at the touch, smiling at her so warm, shy even.

And all her thoughts pop right out of her head, flutter around her noggin like big pink cartoon hearts.

She just barely fights off the urge to giggle and tuck her hair behind her ear, trying valiantly to shake the glassy look off of her face. Struck dumb by a pretty man with a baby animal. 

Captain. Captain. You're brothers captain. Don't flirt, don't flirt-

“I'm gonna make you a little squirrel feedin’ medal to put on those dress blues of yours” she teases. 

Price grins at her, petting the little squirrel with a gentle finger beneath its chin. “Can you fashion it to look like a big acorn for me?” 

“Oh, expect nothing less. How else will your big wigs know your true talents? I'll have it at your door by the end of the week” she swears, hand over her heart. 

The fond look he gives her is damn near mesmerizing.

“I'll be waiting”

°°°°

After finishing up with the remaining rescues the pair emerge, Ruby leading him down the well worn path to the barn where a cacophony of disgruntled clucking can be heard.

Blue is stationed just outside the door, looking to Ru nervously as they approach. He stands quickly waggling toward with a nervous gait and looking back to the barn door pointedly as the chaos continues. As if to say: Look momma, not me this time.

Upon further inspection is Darren, kneeling and huffing exasperatedly to the fowl around him, baby blue egg apron tied around his waist. It's dirty, covered in hay and errant feather fluff, happy little chickens printed all over the stiff fabric. It's tacky and comically out of place on the big boy with skull pajama pants underneath. 

“You ain't got no babies in there anyway, plus you eat scrambled eggs! And you're mad at me! For what!?” he challenges, gingerly pushing another hen out of the way to pluck eggs out from underneath her. 

Not far from Darren is Ghost, ass on a hay bale and cradling a rather docile tawny hen in his arms, she's snug as a bug, eyes closed as the giant strokes his fingers over her feathers. The unlikely pair undisturbed by the other hens caterwauling. Ruby huffs.

“Quit workin’ Darri, this is your time off, I would've got it”

“You just wanna hog up all the time with the animals. I'm onto you Rubella” he points sternly, a hen flying onto his bent form as he attempts yet again to root through the nest boxes. 

“You eat em’?” Ghost grunts, looking up, startling both Darren and Ruby at the sudden question. He blinks between them in the silence, and Ruby hears a long suffering huff from Price over her shoulder. 

“No.” the siblings hiss in unison, and Ghost only shrugs, continuing to cradle the bird in his arms.

“Not turning you into pies are they then? Best keep makin them eggs, yeah.” he murmurs to the bird, setting her down gently in the hay. 

“Darri doesn't have the heart to slaughter them-”

“Like you do” he bitches.

“-so we just keep the eggs, eat em’, trade em’, give em’ away,” she explains, moving over to help her brother.

In no time, all 4 of them are shuffling back inside, eggs in hands as they drop them off at the sink for washing. The rest of the afternoon passes easily. The little group resting in the safety of air conditioning in the worst of the afternoon heat. 

Darren finds this the best time to drag out the baby pictures, hauling a large tote out from the spare closet and plopping down next to Ghost.

Ruby watches from the kitchen counter as he digs, prepping up for dinner as he naturally searches for the most embarrassing photos he can find.

He yanks one out and immediately starts in. “Awwww look at her.” Darren coos, holding the picture up to Ghost and Price.

Ruby couldn't be any more than 7 or 8, grinning proudly at the camera with tear stained cheeks. She's clad in a gaudy purple sequined swimsuit, posed next to an even bigger catfish. An older man holding it by the mouth just above her, looking just as proud. 

“Dad taught Ru about noodling that day,” Darri laughs “She was so excited until one got ahold of her, pops didn't tell her they had teeth. She cried and cried, but paraded around like a big badass after Dad helped her drag it out.”

Ru sniffs, “A big ole snappin turtle could've taken my arm in that mud hole and he didn't even care.”

“Oh shut your face, you came outta there fine. And you still poke at animals you shouldn't be pokin’ at.”

Price takes the picture between his fingers, smiling down at the ginger’s proud buck toothed grin. She slinks around him, rolling her eyes at the amused look on his face and starts rooting through the tote to find her own ammunition. 

“Here it is. Edge lord~” she sing-songs, passing the picture over to Ghost. 

It’s a photo of pre-teen Darren, all soft and doughy. Still round-faced, trying to look hardcore in a nu-metal t-shirt, too long basketball shorts and a clunky cd player attached to his hip.  Devil horns thrown up to the camera with his fist. 

“Look at tha’” Ghost coos, reaching over to pinch Darren’s cheek. Darren only laughs, of course he would, the good natured shit. “That's what peak performance looks like.” he snickers, pressing a smooch to Ghost's wrist instead, grinning at him like a big cheeseball. 

“If ya think that's bad, check this one out.” Darren dives back in, laser focused on fishing out another particular memory. Ghost watches him fondly, dark eyes crinkled in the corners revealing a mask-hidden smile. It's a tenderness that almost feels too intimate to witness between the pair, and Ruby feels both longing and relief as she turns back toward the counter. 

Ghost loves him, odd as he is. 

It's written plain as day on his face, mask or no. And if the other's love him half as much as she thinks Ghost does,  then her big brother will have enough to fill his cup and then some. 

To her it would never be enough, but she could rest easier knowing someone is making him smile and laugh. Feel safe enough to dance and play and be the biggest dork.  Be the kid he didn't get the chance to be. 

Darren finally procures his prize, his highschool prom photo, and whips the picture in front of him like a scholar. Adjusting imaginary glasses for added effect. “You see here Simon, the dollar store eyeliner, check, black nail polish, sharpie, check, stretched ears, check. Peak. Performance.”

“You lads would've gotten along in school” Price chuckles, leaning over them to inspect for himself. And it doesnt come as a surprise that the goth phase was something that Ghost had never really grown out of. Dorks, the both of them. 

Ruby takes this as an opportunity to slip back into cutting vegetables on autopilot, let the boys entertain themselves for a bit, ignore the ache in her chest at the softness of it all. 

She's only a few peeled potatoes in when Price leans in beside her, voice just shy of a whisper. Did he see the distant look in her eye? 

“Need a hand?”

She flips the switch back to “entertainer.”

“I think I've got it, thank you though.” She follows the script. Next he should say Are you sure? And next she would say Of course! Then Price would head back over to the table. 

Only Price doesn't say that, and he doesn't leave. 

‘D'ya mind keeping me company then? Lovebirds are going to make me sick if I stay too close.” he grumbles, but it’s half hearted.  Price must feel the same relief she feels underneath it all, that all his boys care for each other. The thought that he might feel the same ache in his chest occurs to her too.

Her locked and loaded reply tumbles stupidly out of her brain, and she tries and fails to pluck out another phrase as he watches her with honey flecked pools of blue. Instead she concedes, shimmying over slightly to make room for the broad captain. 

She can’t shake away the look in Ghost’s eyes as she and Price talk. It’s nothing of importance, just chatter, generic sentences that Ruby knows all the right words too and the appropriate times to give a sensible chuckle.  His voice is honey smooth, easy, slowly distracts her brain from its spiraling and pulls it towards him. She’s only half listening to his words, instead basking in the pleasurable purr of his accent, the clipped consonants and low gravel of his tone. Feels just a little bad for grasping the tiny thread, using him as a lighthouse in a sea of melancholy waves.  She’s always been more of a listener anyway. 

She hadn't noticed that he'd smoothly started peeling potatoes with her, having somehow snuck a knife from right under her nose.

“Hey!” she barks upon realization, giving him a sour look. He only raises a brow in challenge, nudges her arm playfully.

“More hands is less work.” he recites, mimicking her from days prior. She wrinkles her nose at him, displeased to have her own words used against her. 

“Yeah but-” he turns to her fully, eyeing her with a knowing twinkle in his eye, as if whatever argument she is about to make was going to mean jack shit. She powers on,”-this is yall’s vacation and I’m not about to sit here and make you work.” 

Price huffs through his nose. “I’m not treating your home like a vacation get away, or you like a maid, you need something you just say the words, understood?”

She blinks at the sudden sharpness of his words. They aren't harsh, like she’s in trouble, but there is finality, one she doesn't argue with. 

At least not today. 

“Sir, yes sir” she sasses lazily, quickly scuttling away to avoid any ire, yet when she steals a glance over her shoulder it isn’t annoyance written on the captains face, but something hungry and patient wading in the pools of his eyes, arms crossed as he leans his hip against the counter.

It’s intense, pinning her where she stands.

Too much, too much.

She quickly whips back around. Fussing with the skillet on the stove top and decidedly ignoring the heated stare at the back of her head. A small jolt to her heart that has her giddy and tapping her foot. 

And of course she can't help but steal a few more little glances at him while dinner finishes up. Price moving around her to dig out silverware and plates wordlessly to help. Some kind of minuscule smirk on his face, meeting her gaze at every turn. John Price appears to be a difficult man to get away from. 

Soon they're all seated, chowing down on one of Darren favorites, sans some of cooked vegetables the recipe called for, the texture unfavorable to both of the Martin's who preferred it a little more simple. 

All 3 soldiers eat plates practically rolling over with meat and potatoes,  and Ruby is thankful she went apeshit with the grocery haul. Something like pride warms her chest as the table goes quiet.  Either the food is really good or really bad, and judging by the way all three men are too busy stuffing their maws Ruby assumes it’s the latter. 

She watches with amusement as Ghost yanks over the pitcher of sweet tea, pouring himself another large glass before going to town once again. She’d thought the 2 englishmen wouldn't touch the blasphemous tea with a 10 ft pole, yet the biggest boy seems to have a sweet tooth that rivals even Darren. He’d nearly scared the piss out of her (again) earlier that afternoon, hovering deathly quiet just behind her back, watching how she added the sugar and more water to top off the pitcher. He’d been nursing on a glass ever since. 

She'd scooped herself a much smaller portion by comparison, ate slow, not daring to go for seconds. All purposeful.  She wasn't about to be the fatass surrounded by beefcakes while she shovels food down her gob. Now way, no how. It didn't matter if this was the first real meal she's cooked for herself in weeks or not. 

She takes her opportunity to sneak her plate into the sink as the boys begin to chat, and Darri busts her out immediately.

“Oh huh-uh, I know you ain't done eating.” he barks. 

“What does it look like?”

Darri continues giving her the stink eye. Neither one of them are shy about food. They've gone without it plenty.  Cereal dinners and microwave soup. She can't bullshit him.

She changes tactics.

“I'm makin’ sure you boys have plenty before I help myself, I know this has gotta be better than the military gruel. ‘Sides I can take this for work.”

“Work?”

Ruby turns fully to hide her guilt. She was going to have to tell him eventually. Might as well rip the bandaid off. 

“Yeah, the good thing is that I'll still be here during the day. They just need help covering 2nd shift since one of the girls went out for maternity leave.” she lies smoothly, “she wasn’t supposed to have him for a few more weeks, but I guess the little fellar was done cookin’ early.” she tries to joke, only Darren continues his sour look, hell even and Price and Ghost seem displeased with the information. 

Darren crosses his arm, shifting from goofy big brother to interrogator. “Second shift is late Mumps.”

“That’s why they call it second and not first.”

His frown deepens, “And who is with you out there?”

“Gayle.” and as Ruby suspected, the name eased the tension in her brother’s shoulders, he huffs, still displeased, but relents just a smidgen, brotherly tone slipping between the crack again.  “Are yall gonna stay out of trouble?”

“Oh no, we’re going to raise hell in there actually, party all night with all the dogs in cones. Might even get some glow sticks.” she snarks playfully, shaking her head at her brother’s question.

She faces a few more questions, surprisingly from all three men who have apparently decided to put in their two cents into her welfare. Like she hasn’t been doing this for the better part of a year unsupervised. (Not that they would ever know that). 

What was the schedule? How long does it take her to get there? Does she have service? Wi-fi? She can already see the silent conversation happening between them in the event that Operation Save Ruby were to occur, and with Darren’s urging all of the men now had her number stored in their phone, as well as the address to the veterinary hospital in case of emergencies.  A plan of action already filed away in each of their heads, like service dogs that can’t stop working. 

Her brother seems a bit more at ease after the conversation, but there is still a watery worry hanging in his big brown eyes as they all disperse from the table, John and Simon leaving the siblings alone. Darren breaks first. 

“I know it seems like a lot. I just worry about you.” he tells her softly. Tender heart beating on his shirt sleeve. 

“I know you do, but I’m telling you, it’s no big deal, I’m just helping out for a few weeks.”

He nods, something flashing across his features before he wraps her up in a big hug, squeezing her hard enough that he trembles with the effort. 

“M’proud of you kid.” 

The words hit her like a freight train, guilt welling up in her chest and pouring into her limbs. Ruby fights the stupid tears welling up in her eyes as he hugs her close. If only he knew the half of it, how their home looked like hell in a hand-basket just a week ago, how she scraped her hair back into a greasy ponytail for days because she wouldn’t wash it. How taking care of the animals was the only reason she went outside. How she lied to his face. 

“Proud of you too bub, glad your home.” she murmurs into his shoulder, squeezing him back with equal fervor.

Ruby goes to bed that evening, stewing on Price’s words, to ask for what she needs. Then she thinks of the worry in all their eyes, the tired lines from sleeping on cots, or in corners on the field, of raining bullets and chemicals. She thinks about the gray creeping into her brother's soft brown hair, silvery highlights of stress and worry that she can’t take away. 

She thinks if a little white lie would spare her brother just an ounce of more worry, she would do it every time. 

[itsokbbygrl]

Proper Education: A Dark!Joel Saltburn AU Chapter 1: Fair is Foul, and Foul is Fair

Pairing: Dark!Joel Miller x OFC!Reader (written in 2nd POV)

Chapter Rating: M for foul language, underage drinking, mentions of sexual activity and drug use

Word Count: 1.1k, just a baby chapter to kick things off (don't get used to this, most of these chapters will be monsters)

Reader Immersibility: OFC is insanely white coded (frankly this whole story is full of white nonsense), she is from an old money wealthy family that owns an estate from the Gilded Age in New York, she is 18 years old, a college freshman at University of Texas at Austin, and is considered beautiful by society's standards in 2006 which means she is thin, has long hair, and is able bodied. She is relatively smart, but by no means a scholar. She is very sociable and often uses her charm to get her way. Story is written in 2nd person POV so the reader can feel what she is feeling as the story progresses and to keep the reader’s perspective limited as things start to get weird whacky and wild, but it will be difficult for the average reader to see themselves as her physically (myself included, trust me).

Chapter Tags: 18+ MDNI, foul language, implied drug use, underage drinking, mentions of sexual activity, college freshman aged OFC, rich white people doing rich white people things, author is requesting that you suspend your disbelief for some of these things!!!, OFC's family estate is a real place but is not a family home, liberties are taken with regard to UTA student life, inspired by Saltburn

Dividers by @pommecita, story is not beta'd, just written and edited by yours truly

Yet do I fear thy nature;  It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness  To catch the nearest way.  -Lady Macbeth, Act 1 Scene 5

The car slows to a stop in front of the familiar old tower. The stone structure bleached by unrelenting ultraviolet rays from the unrelenting sun baring down an omnipresent heat. You’d almost forgotten what it was like, the Texan summer. Almost. 

Your driver removes your luggage from the trunk of the black town car as you exit from your seat and step into the perpetually sticky August air, shading your eyes with a hand at your brow so you can properly thank him before you reach for your purse and leave him with a generous tip. You can’t remember his name, but you’re thankful for his service nonetheless. You’ve long become accustomed to a variety of faces in your family’s employ weaving in and out of your life; he is simply another face and name to add to the ever-increasing register.  

Your family sent the majority of your things ahead of move-in day, the university easily agreeing to transport them to your suite in student housing, a benefit of having your last name on one of the buildings, you rationalize, leaving you with a single suitcase and weekend bag to attend to on your own as you make your way to the designated key pickup zone. 

You were regretting your choice of attire the farther you strode across campus. You’d spent the last three months of your summer break idling at your family’s Long Island estate. The cool sea air making you quickly forget how unabating the summer heat was in landlocked central Texas. Your family had escaped the annual calefaction just after your graduation, retreating from your home in the rolling hills of Austin to the cool serenity of the Island. The estate is grandiose, passed through generations and now belonging to your mother and father. A bit gaudy in its opulence, in your opinion, but you harbor many fond memories from your summers spent there throughout your life—running through the vast gardens, sunning yourself on the meticulously manicured lawns, learning to golf and play tennis and swim, and as you grew a bit older, partaking in the many lavish parties hosted by your parents and grandparents alike, kissing boys in secret corridors, drunkenly losing your virginity in the grand library, gleefully breaking your D.A.R.E. pledges with your dear sister and cousin in your bathroom the first time someone brings over a tiny plastic baggie full of unlabeled white powder. 

Your exposed skin glistened with sweat; low rise denim skirt clinging to the skin at your hips, skin beginning to chafe uncomfortably between your thighs. You were glad you’d opted to clip your hair up in a classic twist before you’d gotten off the plane, keeping your neck free from being insulated by your thick tresses. You’re thankful for the many trips to campus over your lifetime as you head towards the designated booth for freshmen to pick up their dorm keys. You’re a fourth generation Longhorn, a legacy, and you know you have a reputation to uphold. You try to keep your face poised, relaxed, friendly, as the growing beads of moisture begin to drip in tiny rivulets between your breasts and along the central dip of your spine. 

You introduce yourself to the upperclassman working the table for your building and complete the requisite paperwork before you’re handed your keys—one for your door, one for your personal mailbox—and instructed to stop in the lobby before you drop off your items so you can have your student identification badge issued. 

“Your ID works like a key to get into the building after 10pm. Don’t lose it,” you’re warned by the table attendant. 

“Thank you, I’ll be careful,” you answer congenially, leaving them with a charming smile before you head in the direction of your dorm. 

You find your building without issue and reluctantly have your picture taken by the residence hall staff for your student ID. They give you a rundown of the general building rules—curfew is 10pm, after which time only residents with their programmed ID badges will be permitted entrance, all overnight guests must be checked in at the front desk with a government or student ID, no alcohol or illicit drugs are permitted on the premises, smoking is not permitted inside the building—and you maintain eye contact with the staffer and smile and nod while you let their words flow in one ear and out the other. 

Once you finish signing your agreement to follow the established residence hall code of conduct, your student ID has been printed and programmed. You take the badge with kind smiles and ample thanks before you haul your luggage to the elevator and make your way to your assigned room. A private double room all to yourself. Your parents insisted, making sure you’d have enough space to study and relax in equal measure. 

“Sweetpea, you know how it is there, those RAs are not gonna be as lenient as your daddy and I with the,” your mother stops her sentence and gestures, mimicking smoking a joint with one hand and drinking from a bottle with the other. She had sat on the other end of the plush sofa with you as you debated which residence hall to choose after coming home after your new student orientation the previous spring. 

You scoffed and kicked out a leg, painted toes bumping her thigh. 

“What? I’m just sayin’, babydoll. You’re a good time, college is a good time, but the RAs can be real,” she lowers her voice, “cunts.” She snickers a laugh at her own crudeness. 

“Mama, I know. I just thought it was part of the,” you raise both of your hands, forefingers and middle fingers miming quotation marks in the air, “college experience to have a random roommate or whatever.” You look back at the brochures in front of you and sigh before relenting. “I guess you’re right. The privacy will be nice.”

“Damn straight, baby. Plus, you don’t have to worry about a roommate being around when you bring a nice young man home to fu—”

“MOM, jesus,” you cut her off, shaking your head as she laughs. 

“What?! Baby girl you are my daughter, that means you’re half of me, and I fully know what that entails, ok? No reason to be ashamed of it, you’re young and gorgeous. Enjoy it while it lasts,” she tips her glass of white wine in your direction. You reach for your own on the coffee table, lifting it to hers, allowing the crystal to clink and chime in cheers as you both take a sip. 

You use your new key to unlock your door and haul your bags inside, finding boxes stacked neatly in the corner for you to unpack. “Welcome home, I guess,” you say to the four walls you’ll call home for the next year.

Navigation: Chapter 2: coming soon | Series Masterlist

a/n: thank you for reading! this is a multi-chaptered work in process with new chapters being posted approximately every other Friday at or around 7pm CT (pending my work schedule changing to late shift). please consider not only liking, but reblogging and leaving a comment or tags to give me some feedback! reblogs are the only way content is circulated on this platform and are always appreciated!

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[sees-text-shenans]

Minato and Kotone Lore 👁️👁️

Both born on January 8th, 1992

Parents names were Mei and Kaito Arisato

Moved from relative to relative after their parent’s deaths, but stuck with their Grandma in Yasoinaba when they moved with her in 2005

Mei was a dancer, Kaito was a music producer, so naturally they both ended up loving music

Were given their MP3’s the day that the accident happened

Only Minato went to Iwatodai, Kotone wasn’t interested and told him to go himself. It took a LOT of convincing but he left. Ko instead stayed with their grandma and has been studying to go into nursing school so she can be a care assistant for the elderly cus of it!! Kotone does visit Iwatodai occasionally and stays at the dorm (and since she is a Persona user, they let her come with to Tarty expeditions.

Since Minato came back to Iwatodai, he has not stepped on the Moonlight Bridge once (until the last shadow happened) Kotone just so happened to be there visiting when the mission happened and had tagged along to join the fight. Minato had a breakdown when they got there and Kotone had stepped up to be the leader (Fuuka stayed with Minato!)

They’re total opposites, but they complete each other in the things they lack

They share a favorite Sanrio character: Little Twin Stars, Kiki and Lala. Their mom always called them her Little Stars because of LTS and the twins came to really like them!!! They have matching phone LTS charms, Minato has Kiki and Kotone has Lala!!!

Minato

He was born first by 5 and a half minutes and teased Kotone relentlessly about it (not so much anymore)

He is really shy with new people, so much so he’ll go completely mute, but once he warms up to someone, he’ll be more expressive and open.

Kotone is the only person who’s seen his true self (before SEES came along at least)

He’s always been at Kotone’s side, so when he left for Iwatodai alone, he felt empty, and wouldn’t really interact with any of SEES outside of missions until after the Priestess mission.

He likes to collect CDs and manga

In track and photography club

insanely socially awkward someone save this man

tends to speak before he thinks, so he unintentionally upsets people and doesn’t realize

Gets embarrassed easily lol

Owns a guitar but sucks at playing it

He also writes lyrics!!!!

His second favorite Sanrio character is Kuromi fight me on that

He bought his first keyboard after getting a lot of money from Tartarus. He’s been getting into making music just like his dad did !!!

Listens to a little bit of everything, but really likes metal and late 90’s-early 00’s rap

He listens to his dad’s CDs and his mom’s VHS tapes of her dancing all the time just see her face and hear his voice…He’s scared that he’ll burn them out lol Kotone can’t stand to watch and lister to them because she’ll start to cry and she hates crying

He’s really good at dancing thanks to his mom, and even took ballet when he was younger.

He’s in love with Fuuka!!!!!!( sorry not sorry!!! lmao)

He’s dated both a guy and a woman in the past. He’s biromantic and demisexual.

Kotone

She gets hyper easily and it made it hard for her to get friends early on, but she always had Minato so she was okay with it.

While she loves music, she’s never really wanted to compose or dance, she just loves listening to music.

Took a couple ballet lessons with Minato, but she didn’t like it so she quit. She did go watch him though!! Instead she started martial arts classes. she graduated with a black belt~

She uses a Naginata in battle, but she also uses her martial arts skills to beat shadow ass!!!! (Minato is so proud of his sister!!!!!)

Is a force to be reckoned with in Tartarus.. Minato was scared to let her join during her first trip to Tartarus, but after watching her stagger the Reaper in one punch (haha get it), he decided she’s just fine

She LOVES horror movies, much to Minato’s dismay (he…. doesn’t prefer them he‘ll but we all know he’s scared of them)

Always was the one to stand up for Minato since he never talked to anyone but his family. He would just sit there and take the bullying and Kotone was not having it!!!

When Kotone is home in Yasoinaba, she attends Yasogami high and works part-time as a tutor and at the Amagi Inn. She tends to spend time with the owner’s daughter and help her in her studys!!!!

She takes care of all the Inaba cats and updates Minato on the additions to their family everyday. (“Minty!! say hello to your new niece!” “My 17th niece.. Ko, you need to bring them here.” “Oh my god YES!!!”)

Kotone’s in drama club, but no sports clubs.

Ropes Minato into helping her practice lines cus secretly, he’s a really good actor too

Her second favorite Sanrio character is Tuxedo Sam, has a huge collection of Sam plushies (Minato won her a HUGE plush at a festival when they were 15)

also has a lot of plushies and squishmellows

pansexual club!!

Kotone falls in love too easily, and her crush changes like every week, but she never acts out on it cus she’s super nervous. (“OH MY GOD MINTY GUESS WHO I LIKE” “Who is it this time? Kanjiro-San, Chiko-Chan.. Ohh, or maybe do you like Karina-chan again?” “NO!!! ….It’s Tomo-kun…” “Oh, good luck.”) She’s never gone out with anyone cus of her shyness, but she’s also scared that she’ll fall in love with someone else during a relationship. She has gone on dates, but never made anything official.

On that note, Ko is a super flirty person! Max level rizz for sure

She loves hanging out with Ken!!! They learned that they both love Neo Featherman and talk about it all the time!!! She feels like she has a little brother and is happy she can be a big sister for once!!

She also loves her Junjun!!! They became super fast best friends, and she even helps Junpei with planning dates for him and Chidori!! Best wingwoman!!

[gabzilla-z]

ok quick thoughts, spoilers behind the cut.

Pros:

Halle. HALLE. H a l l e. Her voice, her face, her mannerisms. They took what made Ariel special in the animated movie and built on it and she was the perfect person to pull it off.

Her beauty was distracting.

So glad they finally got a singer for a live action, I couldn’t take another B&B autotuned disaster.

Made me want to get to the nearest rock and play mermaid ngl.

I had my doubts with Jonah but he did a great job with Eric, played the shy, kinda awkward potato prince charming to perfection. Loved that they expanded his backstory and his interest in adventure and the sea. Also A+ for the movie knowing he had a white shirt on while surrounded by water and using every chance it had to drench him.

Eric still being caring and worried about Ariel even under Ursula’s spell? 10/10 no notes.

He came to chew bubblegum and be dreamy and he was all out of bubblegum.

Halle and Jonah’s chemistry was insane, I need them to do ten movies making eyes at each other.

Seriously the movie could have been 2 hours of them interacting in that library and it would have been money well spent.

or just two hours of them being cute smol and tol in a boat idc

TRUE LOVE INDEED

Can’t wait for this movie to be out in D+ so I can reblog all the gifs.

Part of Your World and all reprises were ofc gorgeous. Vanessa’s Trick is haunting and exactly what one would want for a siren song. For the First Time is gorgeous and underrated, felt very Broadway-esque. Eric’s song was corny but in a good way.

The rest of the songs are adequate but are not as good as the original ones.

Gotta said, song aside, the Kiss the Girl scene was more endearing in this version. When she helps him figure out her name?

Melissa was good as Ursula and made the character her own, though I think she was not as scary as she could have been. Better than I expected, though.

The actress that plays Vanessa knew she had 5 minutes to make an impression and used them to the fullest. Delightful.

Cons:

The CGI felt unfinished and so did the color grading/lighting. I edited all the movie images in this post (just played with the saturation and the contrast) and I’m mediocre at best. HIRE TUMBLR EDITORS, DISNEY.

Halle deserved to wear more outfits, I can't believe Disney missed an opportunity to sell more dolls. Would have given her a dress for each day on land and the water dress. Mouse, I thought you liked money.

we could have had it all

Wanted more of her sisters tbh. And less Triton, Javier phoned it in imo. I know Triton and Ariel’s relationship is an important part of the original movie but idk if it was his half assed acting or me wanting more of the sisters, but I wasn’t moved.

Flounder's weird character design was saved by his stellar voice actor and Sebastian grew on me, he was hilarious. Scuttlefina was tolerable but gosh she’s always playing the same character, stop casting her in everything.

Less I say about Scuttlebutt the better. Kids are probably gonna love it, though.

The ending was kinda weird? It felt rushed and the battle with Ursula was disappointing. Which is a surprise because the OTHER stormy scene at night was wonderfully done. 

Up to Ursula taking Ariel back to the ocean it felt really cohesive but the second Triton appears to save her it was like they were trying to speed things up and it got... weird.

Didn’t mind Ariel being the one that killed Ursula, after everything she put her through.

Cannot believe the movie robbed us of Jonah screaming “I lost her once, I’m not gonna lose her again!”

Overall it was a well paced (up to the finale), entertaining, charming movie. Despite its faults, the only Disney live action I want to rewatch (outside MAYBE Cinderella).

8/10 Justice for the foam dress.

[gldrushsblog]

SUGAR AND SIN | JK

🧁✧ ˚. TITLE: Sugar and Sin.

🧁✧ ˚. PAIRING: Mafia boss! Jungkook x female oc

🧁✧ ˚. BLURB: Aurora’s bakery is running smoothly, but her secrets? Not so much.

🧁✧ ˚. GENRE: Mafia au, grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, slow burn, dark romance, crime/thriller

🧁✧ ˚. WARNINGS: This chapter contains mentions of past violence and struggle with mental health.

🧁✧ ˚. TAGS: ocs struggle continues, day in ocs life kind of chapter, also ocs parents make an appearance

🧁✧ ˚. TAG LIST: @scuzmunkie

🧁✧ ˚. A/N: just talked with my friends and life is so good!!

CHAPTER 5: AURORA

The scent of freshly baked bread filled the air, warm and comforting, as the brunette pulled the last loaf from the oven. The sun had started to peek over the horizon, casting a soft glow through the windows of the bakery, more than sign enough that Sunrise sweets had started its opening hours.

Normally, the early morning routine would be enough to soothe Aurora's nerves, but today, even the the rich and robust aroma filling the air wasn't enough to still the oh so exhausting conflict of thoughts in her head. Wiping her hands on her pink apron that read - Feeling downie? Eat a brownie - she looked over at lia, her back turned to her, displaying her blond hair that met with silver near the ends tucked in a bun as she arranged pastries in the display case.

Lia had been her rock, her best friend and the person who let her use a shoulder to lean on after a rough day or a night soaked in alcohol since they were both were six and awkward, and from that day they had found it embarrassingly hard to let go of each other's company. Lia following her to this city and supporting a hand around in the bakery while she also engaged in modeling gigs to chase her dream of being one was proof enough.

It was ridiculous to the brunette how she hadn't become one already with her charming face all across the big hoardings and displays.

"You done with the bread?" She asked, not turning to her yet.

"Uh- yeah.. yeah. I'm done. I'm done with the almond croissants, too. Mrs. Lee will be in any minute, and you know how she gets if they're not ready," Aurora replied, the chuckle leaving her mouth sounding forced rather than something that came easy to her, making the blonde head turn to face her.

There was that anxiety and worry in her eyes that ticked Aurora. She had been giving her that look a lot lately even after Aurora's countless attempts at brushing it off ever since the night lia dropped by for dinner- the night before the hellish one.

It made her feel guilty. There used to be no secrets between them, but then again, she'd rather have that than drag her to this mess.

"Rory, Mrs Lee is gone on a vacation." Lia said carefully and calmly. A flush of embarrassment crept up on the brunettes cheeks at that. "Oh.." Her mouth parted before she covered it up with another chuckle. "Must have slipped out of my stupid head." She said, her fist hitting her head in a dramatic mannerism, and oh, she could gag at that.

"Things are slipping out of your head a lot more than what I consider normal. Is everything really okay?" She asked for what seemed like the 80th time ever since that day. Did she suck so bad at acting?

"Nothing to worry about! Just the usual stuff, you know? Rent, bills, keeping this place running smoothly." she tried to sound nonchalant, pushing the nightmarish memories away.

Lia didn't look entirely convinced. Yet her response was a soft hum and not another inquiry of her well being.

She sighed internally at that but before she could turn back to her croissants, a soft and curious voice spoke again. "Speaking of bills, how much more till we save up enough to shut that slimy's bastard's mouth up?" She didn't miss how her tone turned irritated at last.

"You've already got so much on your plate. You don't need to worry about saving up above all that." She sighed. Well, modeling did took a sweet amount of money and Aurora was content in making a deal with the devil than be a speed breaker in her best friend's path to her dream.

Lia's expression softened, but the worry didn't leave her eyes. "I just don't want you to carry this burden alone, Aurora. Especially not when it's a impossibly big one."

"Oh, lia." She breathed, crossing the distance between them and taking her hand in hers to squeeze it in affirmation. "You know I appreciate your concern. I really do." A thought crossed her mind- I want to tell her everything. Everything about the reckless deal she had made with a man far more dangerous than Mr Choi.

Instead, she swallowed the truth, hoping that her reassurances would be enough. "I've been exploring some options," she said, choosing her words carefully. "We might not have to worry about that creep for much longer." I will just have to worry about a blood thirsty demon.

Lia looked at her with suprise flickering in her eyes. "Really? What kind of options?"

Before she could think of another cover-up, the bell above the door chimed. She thanked the gods above for the interruption before scurrying away to attend the person behind the counter.

୨୧

The sky had darkened to a deep indigo, and the city lights were illuminating the streets with a faint glow. After a long day of dealing with all kind of sugary goods and making sure lia wasn't wary of when she'd sometimes zone out, her eyes lingering a little too long at the spot she saw a man's brains spill out, Aurora was making her way to her apartment.

Even the familiarity of the space she lived in was replaced by a chilling unease since the most unexpected series of events played out in the places she seeked comfort in the most.

So she opted for the next best thing.

"Aurora!" A middle-aged woman with comforting features spoke with a voice as warm and cheerful as ever, her eyes lighting up when she saw the younger verison of her behind the screen. "There's my girl!"

"Hi, mumma!" She greeted as she held the phone up to her face while sitting on the couch while holding a cup of hot cocoa in another, the tension in her shoulders easing a bit.

Before the older woman could start to go on and on asking about her daughter's well-being, another familiar face appeared in the frame. "Rory-bug!" Her father's face practically invaded all of the space on the screen as he pushed in with a grin before squinting slightly as he leaned back.

She couldn't help but laugh at his struggle with technology. "Papa!"

"How's the most handsome man in the world doing?" He grinned again at that. Daniel Beckett was a reserved man with a tough front he had made up in all the years he had served in the police yet was the softest around his two most favorite girls.

"Not good since my rory bug is nine thousand, six hundred kilo meters away from me." He said with a frown, making the woman beside him and in front of him break into a laugh again. He was extra like that.

"Your old man can be dramatic.." Her mother side eyed her husband, who only kissed her head in response, and Aurora regained her faith in unconditional love. She always did when she saw her parents together. They were a crucial reason why she had grown to be a hopeless romantic.

"But he's right. We miss you a lot, baby. How's everything going at the bakery?" She tried not to tense up at the mention of her bakery and forced her smile to keep in place. "Yeah, everything's going well. It's been busy, but in a good way."

Her mother's eyes narrowed slightly, the way they always did when she sensed something was off but softened again. "Well, that's nice to hear that you've been busy, but just don't push yourself too hard, rory. You've always had a tendency to take on more than you can handle."

"Your mom's right," the man beside her chimed in, his voice full of fatherly concern. "If things get too much, you know you can always come home for a bit. Take a break." There did not go a conversation with her father where he didn't tried convincing her to come back home at least once.

"I know, Papa. But I've got it under control," she assured them, hoping she sounded more confident than she felt. "That's my girl." Her father encouraged, making her feel lighter.

While her mother gave her a gentle smile, the kind that always made everything seem a little better. "We just worry about you, baby. It's not easy being so far away, not being able to help you when you need it."

"I know, Mom. I miss you both so much," she admitted, her voice almost giving away the vulnerable emotions that had been overwhelming her. But she knew better than that, one hint of her in distress, and they both would be having a crisis of their own.

"We miss you too, Aurora," Daniel said. "But we're proud of you, you know that? You're doing something amazing with that bakery." Her eyes crinkled up. "Thanks, Papa."

"How's lia doing, rory? How's it going with her modeling? Aunt Ruby always seems to worry about you both out there." She was grateful for the change of topic her mother brought.

"She's doing well, mumma. Modeling agencies are soon gonna be lining up at her feet, so tell Aunt Ruby there's nothing to worry about." No wonder, lia is always exploiting her blood pressure. "We're both big girls." She added with her chin slightly tipping up, earning a laugh from her parents.

From there, she steered the conversation towards more mundane topics- Papa's most recent attempt at tinkering with that old car of his that he has been calling classic for the last twenty years, Mumma's gardening, their family dog's Pluto's health- things that connected her to the life she had left behind. Things that made her feel distant from the chaos that had been her life for the past few days.

But she was once again pulled back from the comfort of it all. This time, it was from a ring on her door.

"There's someone on the door.." She trailed on, making a movement to stand up and go attend the person behind. "I will have to go now, but I will talk to you guys later. Love you, mumma. Love you, Papa." She ended, finally turning to them with a departuring smile that was met with a load of "I love yous" and flying kisses sent across her way before the call ended.

Setting down her phone, she neared the door, but before she could twist the knob open, a crisp white envelope fell from the sharp, slit like opening at the bottom.

A frown twisted on her features, and she bent down to pick up the envelope.

Carefully pulling away the seal, she pulled out a single piece of paper that was mostly blank if not for the small, bold text written across the middle that read.

"Expect me soon."

To be continued..

→ Previous chapter.

[grailfinders]

Grailfinders #344: Roland

today on grailfinders we’re building Roland, the famously stripperiffic paladin who isn’t actually all that stripperiffic. like. taking most of your shirt off is not naked, lasengle. if you could put zenobia in fgo and keep your t rating you can have a guy be proper shirtless.

gripes aside, Roland is a Vengeance Paladin, because… he’s a paladin. he’s actually not all that vengeful, but when he chooses violence he goes all in. he’s also a Berserker Barbarian because he famously fights without armor on and famously doesn’t make many wisdom saves.

check out his build breakdown below the cut, or his character sheet over here!

next up: she’s no saint Olga, but her revenge is pretty good.

Ancestry and Background

Roland is, pretty obviously, a Human, but he’s getting the variant treatment so we can stuff in more goodies. that gives you +1 Strength and +1 Dexterity, as well as proficiency in Survival, and the feat “Strike of the Giants”! I promise this one won’t be as weird as the bunyan build. with the Hill Strike, you can deal an extra d6 of whatever damage type your weapon normally does, up to proficiency times a day. see? not an ounce of extraneous fire in sight.

he’s also a Knight, so he gets proficiency in History and Persuasion: knights! they’re nobles with less money!

Ability Scores

your number one ability should be Strength. if you’re going to go on a rampage you need to be able to leave a wake of destruction in your path so people can follow it- that’s like, basic etiquette. second is Constitution. if you’re going around without armor on, you need to be ready to take some hits. speaking of, third is Dexterity. you should try to avoid those hits where you can. that means your Charisma is a bit low, though it would only get in the way in this build tbh. your Intelligence is middling, but we’re dumping Wisdom. you’re really bad at not being charmed.

Class Levels

1. Paladin 1: at first level, paladins get proficiency in Wisdom and Charisma saves, as well as skills like Athletics and Intimidation. you’re not that persuasive, but if a naked dude was running around with a sword most people would stay clear.

you also start off with Divine Sense, letting you detect nearby extraplanar beings a few times a day, and Lay on Hands to heal yourself or others, which also recharges every day.

2. Paladin 2: second level paladins learn a Fighting Style, and while Two-Handed is great for paladins since you can re-roll bad damage, Roland uses a longsword so you could pick up Dueling if you want more stable damage.

you also learn some Spells this level that you can prepare and cast with your Charisma but Imma be honest Roland don’t care. just use them for Divine Smites- that’s extra radiant damage you deal by burning a spell slot after you hit.

3. Paladin 3: though if you really want a spell to use I have to say the Vengeance specialty Hunter’s Mark is a great choice, adding extra damage every time you land a hit on a specific target, and even letting you swap after the first one dies. also Bane is there but who cares so are smites.

your Divine Health means you can’t get sick, but you can get sicknasty Channel Divinity options. Abjure Enemy is the more peaceful option, forcing one creature to run away from you for up to a minute. on the other hand, a Vow of Enmity forces advantage on all your attacks against a specific creature for up to a minute. choose wisely though, you only get one use of either per short rest.

4. Paladin 4: sadly we do need our charisma above a certain point to multiclass, so I guess we’ll use this Ability Score Improvement to bump it up.

5. Paladin 5: fifth level paladins get an Extra Attack every action, and if you were of the spell-using variety you could use a second level spell like Hold Person to get guaranteed critical hits on every attack you make for stupid damage. also Misty Step is here.

you know what, I’m getting bored. let’s go insane and run into the woods.

6. Barbarian 1: the first thing we get- or lose- as a barbarian is our clothes thanks to Unarmored Defense, adding your constitution bonus to your AC as long as you aren’t wearing any kind of armor. I know Roland “technically” has armor on in some ascensions, but it never covers any vital organs so it’s fine. also, twice a day you can drop your sanity off at Hydaelyn’s daycare to Rage as a bonus action, giving you advantage on strength checks and saves, bonus damage when you’re using a strength-based weapon (swords are, don’t worry), and resistance to all physical damage for up to a minute, so long as you keep attacking or taking damage every turn.

7. Barbarian 2: as it turns out, removing your sanity also removes the part of your paladin oath that makes you wait a short rest to vow enmity, because now you can get advantage on attacks for practically free! with Reckless Attack, you can just have advantage on all your melee attacks that turn, for the low, low cost of giving everything else advantage to hit you that round.

on the plus side, your Danger Sense gives you advantage most of your dexterity saves.

8. Barbarian 3: we’re almost halfway through the build, I think this olifant’s been delayed enough, don’t you? thankfully we don’t need a real horn that does anything, just a button that says “make this fight easier but also hurt me.” thankfully for us, the Berserker subclass has us covered thanks to their Frenzy skill. with this you can optionally enter a special rage that lets you make a bonus action attack each turn. aside from the turn you start raging, of course. the downside is you gain a level of Exhaustion every time you use this, a status effect that only subsides when you take a long rest.

if you’d rather talk about something that’s all upsides, your Primal Knowledge gives you proficiency in Animal Handling.

9. Barbarian 4: fourth level barbarians get their own ASI, and now that we solved the emergency multiclassing situation we can finally grab the Vigor of the Hill Giant, adding +1 to your Strength score and letting you react to an attack that would push you or knock you over to just. not let that happen. and of course the reason I wanted this feat was that it gives you an Iron Stomach, so now you can eat bird eggs like they’re nothing. (mechanically, it adds your constitution modifier and proficiency bonus to any healing done on short rests if you eat during it)

10. Barbarian 5: extra attacks don’t stacks, so you only get Fast Movement this level. still, ten feet of movement is ten feet of movement. that’s why they call him the streak- fastest thing on two feet!

11. Paladin 6: sixth level paladins get an Aura of Protection, adding your charisma modifier to every save you and nearby allies make. sadly this also gets added to your wisdom saves, but your charisma isn’t that high, so it’s not that big a deal.

12. Paladin 7: seventh level vengeance paladins are Relentless Avengers, so whenever you hit a creature with an opportunity attack you can chase after the poor bastard using half your movement, all without triggering any opportunity attacks on you!

13. Paladin 8: eighth level paladins get another ASI, so round up your Strength and add one to your Dexterity, a secret tool that will help us later.

14. Paladin 9: ninth level paladins get third level spells. while we mostly just want more smites, you get Haste for free, and since it doubles your already great movement speed you can easily keep up with just about anyone thanks to how relentless you are. also you could use Protection from Energy if you don’t want your ass getting set on fire. I’m not just being crass there, if you’re running around nude all sorts of body parts are at risk when you fight dragons. same reason you have to wear an apron while cooking bacon.

15. Paladin 10: tenth level paladins have an Aura of Courage, so you and your other paladins can’t be frightened when they’re near you. tbh I think that’s just generally how the twelve paladins are, but having a mechanical reason to back you up never hurt.

16. Paladin 11: eleventh level pallies get an Improved Divine Smite, adding 1d8 radiant damage to every melee attack regardless of you using a spell slot or not! it even stacks with the usual smites you do! Roland can really spam his NP, so now it’s always at least a little on.

17. Paladin 12: speaking of doing damage, let’s do more damage! use your last ASI to grab the Slasher feat, rounding up your Dexterity, slowing down one creature you slash at per turn, and if you land a crit you can force that creature to attack at disadvantage for a round. it’s not quite invincibility, but it’ll help out a lot.

18. Paladin 13: we’re almost done with spells, but first you get fourth level spells including the freebies Banishment and Dimension Door. and for once, we do want a spell again! durendal can ignore invincibility, so you can use banishment to destroy just about any creature, no matter how durable it is. of course if it came from the material plane this doesn’t stick, but it might help you out of a jam here and there.

19. Paladin 14: your Cleansing Touch lets you remove debuffs from yourself just like your second skill, two times a day.

20. Paladin 15: fifteenth level avengers have a Soul of Vengeance, letting you make opportunity attacks even more often. if the person you use your vow of enmity attacks while within range, you can react to hit them back! your whole kit is about hitting things, so any excuse to use it is welcome.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

you hit hard, and hit often. sure you’re not running around with four attacks a turn like a fighter, but you’re almost as good thanks to your two attacks on an action, plus one from frenzy, and probably plus one from an opportunity attack, so… let’s call it three and a half, that’s respectable. and of course you can slap a smite on every one of those bad boys to really lay on the damage.

even with a weaker charisma than most paladins, your aura of protection still makes your saves pretty dang good. even wisdom, which we were deliberately trying to kneecap, has a nice +7 bonus. basically, attacking you indirectly probably won’t do much.

berserkers live and die by how well they can keep their rages going, and as a vengeance paladin, you’re pretty dang consistently raging. with your increased speed and slasher slowing them down, anyone trying to get away from you will have their work cut out for them.

Cons:

we got you a bonus in Dexterity, but it would’ve been better in Constitution. you would’ve kept the AC you have now, but have gotten an extra 20 HP to help out- I just liked how your current total is 169, sue me. so yes, this build is slightly squishier than the “optimal” version of it.

I don’t like how good your wisdom saves are. this is technically a plus, but Roland’s whole thing is bad wisdom, so I’m counting it. you could easily fix this by just starting as a barbarian, but I figured he was a knight before losing his mind.

you don’t have a ton of variety in combat, both in terms of attacks and damage types. just hope you don’t have to fight any angels or valkyrie.

[p5x-theories]

Merope's Confidant

(last updated 9/17/24!)

This post documents the fully filled-in information on Merope gained through progressing her Confidant! It contains things that could be considered spoilers for her Confidant, as part of the information is a summary of its story.

Merope is available in the evenings most days, when it isn't rainy. Her Confidant isn't tied to any social stat, but certain rank-ups do require the player to possess a particular Persona with a specific skill. The required Personas are: Jack Frost (with Lucky Punch), Neko Shogun (with Tarukaja), Lilim (with Attack Enhancement I), Unicorn (with Treatment Enhancement II), Byakko (with Bufudyne), Daisoujou (with Spirit Drain), and Dominion (with Matarukaja).

Favorite Presents

(An asterisk (*) marks the special presents added with (and unlocked through) Miyu Sahara’s Confidant, which are liked by all Confidants currently in the game.)

AMN005's First Album The first album of the legendary female idol group AMN005 has collectible value.

Coasters The coasters on sale at maid cafes are popular with many people.

Penlight Glow Stick A penlight glow stick that emits soft yellow light will make your idols pay attention to you at a glance.

Idol Keychain An idol keychain made of acrylic material.

Maid Model This expensive maid model was once a popular product in maid cafes.

Cat Hairpin This kitten-shaped hairpin is very cute.

Luxury Sunglasses Sunglasses that can effectively block ultraviolet rays.

Latest Digital Camera The latest digital cameras not only have a higher resolution, but are also easy to operate.

Weight-Bearing Wristband Muscle training tool that can be used on both wrists and ankles. The weight can be adjusted freely.

Limited-Edition Keychain* This keychain has a unique shape, and is well-made, but there weren’t many of it produced. It has a certain collector’s value.

Bulk Snacks Value Pack* A combo pack containing a variety of traditional snacks that will remind people of the taste of childhood.

Advanced Essential Oil Combination* A value-for-money set of essential oils, with multiple functions to help you relax your mind and body.

Chestnut Cake* Fragrant chestnut cake with mild sweetness to suit most people’s tastes.

Musical Snow Globe* A snow globe that plays music, and can be shaken gently to make snow fall inside.

Desktop Incense Machine* A household incense machine that is small in size, so it can be placed anywhere.

Violets There are small violets hidden among the elegant white lilies, but they also have a unique charm to them.

Personal Information

Birthday: ?? Zodiac Sign: ?? Age: ?? Profession: ?? Height: 174cm Weight: ?? Blood Type: ?? Interest: Chasing stars Features: Throwing heavy objects...?

Story

Character Details A servant of Igor, the master of the Velvet Room, she faithfully and rationally carries out her master's instructions. Currently, she supports the activities of the Phantom Thieves as a dedicated receptionist.

Personal Data 1 Following Igor's orders, Merope searched in the human world for a way to help me, and creating the Phantom Idols was the answer she found.

Personal Data 2 As a dedicated receptionist, in order to better assist me, Merope developed a series of "special plans" to help me gain a deeper understanding of myself.

Personal Data 3 To Merope, an "idol" is an existence that responds to the needs of the world by creating a personality. She thinks that obtaining a Persona is similar to how an idol creates a stage persona. Her "special plans" were formulated on this basis.

Personal Data 4 But as her "special project" progresses, Merope seems to gradually realize that there are still some differences between me and an idol…

Personal Data 5 For the smooth advancement of her "special project", Merope hopes to find a role model for me to learn from by getting in touch with professional idols in Akihabara…

Personal Data 6 A girl named Narumi Nashimoto attracted Merope's attention, and Merope called her an outstanding idol. Merope launched a series of investigations into and contacts with Narumi, all in order to help me learn more about Narumi's job… at least, that's what Merope said.

Personal Data 7 In order to learn more about idols, Merope took me to participate in Narumi's photo session, and even did a lot of research into preparations beforehand. It's just that these preparations seemed to have little effect when she actually faced Naruru.

Personal Data 8 In the process of continuing to "observe" Naruru, we unexpectedly learned about Narumi's family background, and the fact that she was being exploited by an unscrupulous agent. In order to save Narumi, Merope commissioned me to change the heart of her evil producer.

Personal Data 9 I successfully changed her producer's heart, and the diligent Narumi finally received the treatment she deserved. She was so happy that she gave me and Merope tickets for her cafe's upcoming fan appreciation event. Seeing her smile from the heart, Merope was also very happy.

Personal Data 10 In order to better support Narumi, Merope taught me special CALL skills for idol fans. Through the advancement of her "special project", Merope and I have gained a lot. Though I don't know when it happened, it seems Merope also became a fan of me...

Voice Lines

Japanese VA: Yukari Tamura | Chinese VA: Hui Xu

(As I can only add up to ten audio files per post, I'll only include the Japanese lines below! Feel free to ask for the Chinese ones, though.)

I'm your receptionist, Merope. It's a pleasure to meet you.

I serve my master in the Velvet Room, the narrow place between dream and reality, mind and matter.

In order to avoid the coming ruin, I need to help you hone your desires.

My relationship with you...? I will make special plans for you, and you will put them into practice... Do you wish to have any other relationship?

You wish to know my arm strength...? Although this is not a difficult question to answer, please feel free to imagine for now.

Regarding my master, please forgive me for being unable to provide you with more information at the moment. Please understand.

As a fledgling idol, she also has experience in designing a persona... It's very lucky we met her. Please look forward to my next proposed special plan.

Confidant-Specific Bonuses

Rank 1 Road to Idols: The player gains access to the Contract function for summoning Phantom Idols.

Rank 5 Special Treat: Archangel's fusion is unlocked.

Rank 7 Ideal Image: Setanta's fusion is unlocked.

Rank 9 VIP Seats: Anubis' fusion is unlocked.

Rank 11 Under the Spotlight: Okuninushi's fusion is unlocked.

Rank 13 I Believe it is Justice: Narcissus' fusion is unlocked.

Rank 15 Fan Feedback: When fusing a 2- or 3-star Persona that's rank 4 or lower, there is a chance of gaining an additional Persona.

Rank 20 Dancing Alone in the Shadows: Kohryu's fusion is unlocked.

[deliciousangelfestival]

Tears In His Ferrari || Chp 7

Character: Bucky Barnes x Farmer!Reader

Summary: Bucky Barnes, used to a life of luxury, takes on farm challenges in a bet with his father. Mud-stained Ferraris and a rustic farmhouse lead to unexpected personal growth, guided by the stern mentorship of Y/N, a farmer making his city-boy life difficult.

Theme: Fluff, Slice of Life, Heart-Warming.

Main Masterlist || If you enjoy my work, please consider buying me a coffee on: Ko-fi 🙏🏻

Thank you to anyone who gave a like, reblog, and left a comment. It motivated me to write more. 

Chapters: Chp 1, Chp 2, Chp 3 , Chp 4 , Chp 5 , Chp 6 , Chp 7 , Chp 8 , Chp 9 , Chp 10 , Chp 11 , Chp 12.

As harvesting season arrived, the farm became a bustling hive of activity. Y/N took it upon herself to teach Bucky how to harvest various crops—barley, potatoes, and corn. Bucky, unfamiliar with the manual labor involved, struggled under Y/N's watchful eye.

Y/N, with her deep understanding of farming, didn't hold back. She pushed Bucky to his limits, demonstrating the relentless nature of the work.

Bucky swung the sickle in an awkward arc, nearly tripping over a clump of harvested barley. Y/N, standing nearby, couldn't hold back a chuckle. "Easy there, Bucky. The crops are the enemies, not your feet."

Bucky shot her a mock glare. "Well, someone needs to tell these crops that I'm in charge now."

Y/N smirked, "I think the crops are winning this battle." She gestured towards a particularly rebellious potato that had rolled away from Bucky. "That one looks like it's staging a great escape."

Bucky lunged after the rogue potato, and in his pursuit, he accidentally knocked over a pile of harvested corn. Y/N raised an eyebrow, "Careful, Bucky. We're not going for crop domination here."

Bucky huffed, "Who knew vegetables could be so cunning?"

Y/N teased, "You've never been outsmarted by a carrot before?"

Now attempting to corral the runaway potato, Bucky grinned, "Not until today, apparently."

Together, they loaded the truck with the harvested crops, and Y/N took Bucky to the factory to sell his produce.

Bucky, gazing at the neatly packed crates, felt a mix of accomplishment and sadness. "I can't believe I did this," he muttered, pride evident in his voice.

Y/N, steering the truck, acknowledged, "You've come a long way. But remember, this is just the beginning."

Arriving at the factory, Bucky's excitement was tempered by the impending debt repayment. "It's hard seeing the money go as quickly as it comes," he confessed.

Y/N, empathizing with his concerns, added, "Farm life is a constant juggle. It's not just about growing crops; it's managing the business too."

Seeing the exhaustion on Bucky's face, Y/N decided it was time for a break. Wanting to lift his spirits, she proposed, "How about we take a break from farming? I'll teach you how to ride Alpine. It's a good skill for handling the cows and sheep."

Bucky, eager for a change of pace, agreed. "Sure, I've ridden horses before, but handling other animals seems like a different ball game."

Y/N smirked, "Well, let's make it interesting. How about a little race? You and me."

Bucky's eyes lit up with excitement. "Now, that's something I can get behind. You're on!"

Then both of them heard a female voice "Bucky."

Both of them turn around. Bucky shock seeing his crush Kate is standing behind the gate.

Kate, the supermodel, stood at the gate, casting an unexpected shadow on the carefree atmosphere of the race. Bucky's initial thrill turned into visible tension as he hastily fixed his hair and adjusted his clothes.

Y/N, sensing the shift in mood, couldn't help but feel a twinge of irritation at Bucky's sudden self-consciousness.

Feeling a surge of discomfort, Y/N excused herself, leaving Bucky to face Kate on his own. As she walked away, she couldn't shake the inexplicable irritation bubbling within her.

Kate's charming smile, as she approached Bucky, masked the intricate calculations whirring in her mind. She had been privy to Bucky's infatuation with her before he vanished from the social scene.

Recognizing the potential benefits of a connection with the heir to one of the largest companies in the US, Kate played the game, letting him believe she was unattainable.

However, her carefully laid plans crumbled when Bucky disappeared without a trace. Undeterred, Kate used her resources and connections to track him down, eventually learning about his new life through his friend Steve.

Adjusting her strategy, she decided to cast aside the hard-to-get persona and adopt the role of a supportive friend.

Behind her friendly demeanor and supportive gestures, Kate's mind worked strategically. She aimed not only to rekindle a connection with Bucky but also to seamlessly transition into the role of his girlfriend.

Her calculated moves were a testament to her determination to secure a position in Bucky's life, now that he had resurfaced.

Bucky, taken aback by Kate's unexpected appearance, tried to compose himself. "Oh, hey, Kate. It's been a while, huh?"

Kate, wearing an expression of concern, responded, "Yeah, I was getting a bit worried. You vanished from the scene, and no one knew where you went. Are you okay?"

Bucky, feeling a bit flustered, scratched the back of his head, "Yeah, I'm good. Just needed a break, you know?"

Kate's eyes widened with faux surprise, "A break? I thought something serious happened. Steve made it sound like you went off the grid or something."

Bucky chuckled nervously, "Well, I guess I did, but it's been refreshing. Found a new way of life."

As Kate admired the farm's vast fields and rustic charm, Bucky tried to conceal the fact that this wasn't exactly what Kate had envisioned.

Nevertheless, he maintained a friendly demeanor, "It's a simple life, but it's peaceful. I find it relaxing."

Kate, looking around, hesitated before offering a diplomatic compliment, "Oh, yes, it's... quaint. I can see the appeal of a different pace."

Feeling proud of his newfound lifestyle, Bucky suggested, "Wanna ride Alpine and check out the animals?"

Kate agreed, trying to mask her reluctance. However, her expensive skirt wasn't the most practical choice for a farm adventure. When she realized the potential damage, regret flickered across her face.

Kate gracefully mounted Alpine, trying to maintain her composed demeanor. However, the unfamiliar scent surrounding Bucky caught her off guard.

His essence, now marked by the unmistakable fragrance of sweat and farm work, starkly contrasted to the polished and perfumed Bucky she had known.

As they rode through the fields, Kate discreetly held her breath, attempting to mask her discomfort. The rural aroma infiltrated her senses, making her regret joining Bucky on this rustic adventure.

She couldn't help but long for the lavish events and pristine environments where she and Bucky had previously crossed paths.

Suppressing her unease, Kate smiled and engaged in small talk with Bucky. Deep down, she calculated each word and gesture, determined to leave a lasting impression on the heir to the Barnes empire. Her plan to become the next Mrs. Barnes depended on it.

Amidst the forced smiles, Kate's mind raced. 'This wasn't what I signed up for. I envisioned a glamorous romance, not riding through dirt and sweat. But he's the Barnes heir, and I need to adapt.'

Arriving at Bucky's house, Kate's expectations collide with reality. The modest farmhouse stood as a testament to the simplicity of farm life. She couldn't help but wonder why Bucky, supposedly owning half the land, lived in such humble quarters.

If Bucky turned his head, he might have noticed the subtle surprise on Kate's face, mirroring his initial reaction to the farm.

Bucky, unaware of Kate's inner thoughts, proudly led her towards the house. "Here we are. Welcome to my little haven."

Kate, trying to maintain her composure, forced a smile. "It's... quaint."

Bucky, catching a glimpse of her expression, hesitated for a moment but quickly brushed it off. "Yeah, it's not the Ritz-Carlton, but it has its charm."

As they entered the house, Kate continued to assess her surroundings, her city-girl expectations clashing with the rural reality. Still excited to show her around, Bucky remained oblivious to Kate's growing disappointment.

Y/N, engrossed in her tasks, huffed as she distributed hay to her horse. Toby, stopping by with honey from his grandparents, handed it to Y/N, who promptly thanked him and handed over the payment.

Toby, curious, mentioned seeing Bucky with a famous model named Kate Hasting. Y/N, unfamiliar with Kate due to her lack of social media presence, tilted her head in confusion. Toby, enthusiastic, informed her about Kate's status as an 'It girl.'

Y/N, intrigued, stopped her work and focused on Toby. "Hasting?" she queried, contemplating the revelation.

Toby nodded, "Yeah, that's the one."

"Hmm, interesting," Y/N murmured, her curiosity piqued.

Noticing Y/N's interest, Toby continued, "Yeah, she's a big deal on social media right now."

Y/N, still puzzled, questioned, "Why is she looking for Bucky?"

Toby shrugged, "No idea. Maybe she likes him or something."

Y/N, maintaining her nonchalant demeanor, Y/N responded, "Well, that's his business, not mine."

Toby chuckled, "True, but it's kinda exciting, don't you think? The city coming to our little farm."

Y/N smirked, "Exciting or not, I've got work to do. Thanks for the honey, Toby."

Toby waved as he left, leaving Y/N to ponder the unexpected arrival of a city celebrity to their rural haven.

Author Note:

Hey friends,

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Hey everyone! 🌟 Your input means the world to me.

If you've got any cool ideas or prompts, whether for this fluff series or any other series, feel free to share them with me!

Just drop them in my ASK/SEND REQUEST box.

Can't wait to hear your awesome suggestions! 🚀💬

[phoenix-manga]

Vidya Nazari

CV: Yamazaki Moe

Biographical Information

Gender: Female

Age: 18

Birthday: Sept 32

Starsign: Libra

Height: 175 cm

Eye Color: Jade

Hair Color: Dark Magenta

Professional Status

Dorm: Magiaoasis

School Year: 3rd Year

Class: 3-E | Student no. 14

Occupation: Student | Dorm Leader

Club: Gardening Research Club

Best Subject: Cultural Dance

Fun Facts

Favorite Food: Kebabs

Least Favorite Food: Anything bitter

Dislikes: False gratitude or sincerity

Hobby: Gardening

Talents: Various weapon handling

Idol Stats

Performance: Has a powerful vocal range that can also sing rap

Choreography: Excels in cultural dancing and freestyle dancing

Styling Jewel Outfits: Cool | Cultural

Vidya’s personality according to acquaintances, is a lavish royal who has a charming personality that can come off as vain and a know-it-all as she has vast knowledge in a wide array of topics. However, she is anything but what people see on the surface. It is actually a façade to protect herself from people who want to take advantage of her family.

Vidya is aware of her surroundings even when she is busy with certain tasks or a conversation, she is always skeptical of people she converses with. Due to this, she tends to keep up a wall between her and them while keeping it all tucked away in a mask of false naivety.

She dislikes using her position to push people around, she makes a show to give back the humiliation to the instigator which are most likely nobles.

She vents this way occasionally and she makes sure to do it in a manner that they can’t say anything against her. Vidya can be quite passive aggressive and she doesn’t forget first impressions, she can tell the persons intent just by subtle habits and pattern of speaking.

However, if someone genuinely cares for her enough to break down her walls, she is seen as a big sister figure who looks out for her loved ones.

During heated conflicts where she has to get involved, she calculates the situation and takes into consideration what could benefit both parties unless the other side does anything shady that warrants reprimanding. If that’s the case then she cannot guarantee them any mercy from her.

As much as she dislikes some of the nobles, there are a few good ones but they are often hidden beneath a pile of the arrogant ones.

Vidya’s life isn’t entirely stressful, she often competed in dance competitions and won a lot of awards. As much as it felt good to win, she loved how free she felt when dancing. Though her dance partner tends to get on her nerves from time to time by being “fashionably” late.

Hometown: Oasis Kingdom

Family Life

Vidya is the only child of Faizan Nazari, the sultan of the Oasis Kingdom. Her mother was from a different kingdom ruled by a Pharaoh. She was just a noble whom Faizan fell for when he was the crown prince that was visiting at the time.

She passed away after birth but she made Faizan promise to keep their child safe. Faizan is protective of his daughter but at the same time he wants to show his kingdom how much he adores her. He spoils her with a lot of gifts to show his affection and he’s never absent in her life even when he’s busy ruling a kingdom.

However, Faizan is not made aware of how many people try to rip his precious daughter from his life until that incident one night.

Vidya’s perspective on her life changed at the age of 5 when a bandit held her hostage in front of her father demanding money in exchange for her life. She feared the knife that was close to her neck but she was more terrified of the expression her father made. That was when she realized that she was forever shackled to this dangerous life.

Even if her father employed more guards to keep her safe, Vidya doesn’t trust someone just because they were now working for the royal family.

She has to sleep with a dagger under her pillow. If she does sleep, she drifts between being barely awake and slumber which caused her to wake up feeling unpleasant. But Vidya stuck with this habit for her own survival.

Soon, she started to do whatever she can to survive, training with a trustworthy guard and reading up on politics and difficult books but she does all this without her father knowing. She didn’t want him to think that the incident scarred her, it’d weigh on him heavily if he found out. She didn’t want him to feel like a failure.

As much as she didn’t feel comfortable pretending she was alright to her adoring father, she didn’t want him to lose his smile.

Her father wants Vidya to find a husband and live comfortably, but he is unaware that Vidya plans to rule as a Sultana alone.

On the surface, people can see Vidya wearing a lot of jewelry but if one takes a closer look, the jewels are actually magic stones that helps her use her stronger spells without having to risk overblot easily. She replaces them daily and cycles through different sets when the blot disappears from the stone, and they are all carefully crafted by a skilled artisan.

Vidya doesn’t pay mind to how people would call her spoiled or vain when they spot the jewels she wears, no one needs to know the reason why she wears so much jewelry.

Magical stones are expensive but for those with a lot of wealth to spend, they’re nothing too expensive, though she doesn’t buy in bulk knowing that others buy them as well. Vidya is smart with money, the magical stone jewelry are the only luxurious items she’s willing to spend her allowance on.

Childhood Memories

Vidya is haunted by the thought of having a knife to her neck when she was 5 years old. She doesn’t like it when people sneak up behind her. Kalim learned the hard way and got knocked to the ground, Vidya felt awful for doing that to him but the boy reassured her that it was his fault.

There was the day she met Kalim and Jamil, it started at a celebration when she turned 6 that she met the Asim heir and his servant. At first, she didn’t think much of them other than they seemed like polar opposites.

But what made them become friends, started when an assassin that was meant for Kalim infiltrated the party and pretended to be a servant who lured Kalim away. Vidya knew right away that the person is not one of their servants, having memorized the faces of every single servant in the palace.

She was correct and the assassin has Kalim pinned down about to slit his throat but Vidya knocked the assassin away with a strong spell to the head. Then she had the guards quietly take the assassin to the dungeon.

She felt Kalim grab her hand and she thought he was about to cry but he was calling her “cool” for rescuing him like a hero. Vidya was thrown off by his personality that brushed off his close call with death by scolding him to be more aware. Kalim just thought of it as her being worried for him and just grinned at her.

But that’s what got Kalim to constantly visit Vidya with his dad whenever there were trips to the Oasis Kingdom.

Slowly, she got to know the two boys more and she was able to know what having friends was like for the first time. Jamil took a while to warm up to Vidya but he slowly started to lower his guard around her after she gave him a challenge while playing mancala and since he didn’t have to hold himself back. It was the first time he felt frustrated in losing but at the same time he became more determined to win.

There were times that she envied how Kalim still was able to find the joy in life despite being targeted all the time, but she doesn’t think too much of that envy. He’s got it rough as well just because he doesn’t show it much. She became his mom friend that fusses over him to lessen Jamil’s responsibilities if it’s only for a bit.

Vidya is a 3rd Year Magiaoasis student and is the current dorm leader.

When she first arrived, she merely aimed to take advantage of the lessons the prestigious academy could offer her to better her skills. But the more she observed the students, the more she started to notice how they were free to do as they please.

Vidya tried to be more involved with her fellow students and sometime later, she found herself feeling genuinely happy to mingle with people of her age. She soon started to gossip and get involved with hang outs while not forgetting her duties as a dorm leader.

She’s become the queen bee of the dorm but she’s in no way harsh to the students. They just admire her personality and charisma. Many students often swoon over her more than they do over boys, Vidya can easily make either side admire her because she is genuinely impressive.

As a princess, she’s had the best tutors hired by her father. However, she went above and beyond and self-taught herself to read on topics not usually given to princesses. There were those times she learns more about the kingdom through her guards than the ministers would.

She has top grades throughout her subjects but she especially excels in PE, often taking the lessons very seriously. As she wants to keep herself in top shape whenever she has to handle “unpleasant intruders” who come after her when she goes home for the holidays.

School Relationships

At first, Vidya was guarded and closed off during her first year. Many girls admired how cool and elegant she seemed but she didn’t try to socialize with anyone else until she formed a proper friendly rivalry with Jinlong and Evonie.

There were also students that she found herself easily opening up to, particularly Briar and Perrine.

With Evonie and Jinlong, she was cornered and even bested to the point that she was frustrated but it also lit a fire in her to win the next match. Vidya still strived to be the best but this time she’s more involved with the girls and actually got to enjoy school life.

Evonie is her sparring partner during swordsmanship practice. She finds Evonie kind of like her as they both are competitive but also fair in sports. Vidya sometimes tends to tease Evonie with how much she gets frustrated over a certain Futterwacken student. She was so easily riled up that it was amusing almost.

Jinlong and Vidya can sympathize of wanting to break traditions but will have to face the consequences of being hounded by those who lived with said traditions for all their lives. Vidya would sometimes join her training regimen in Dragonstone as they are quite intense. It may leave her sore but it would all be worth it.

As for Briar, she and Vidya can relate to their joys of childhood being nonexistent to an extent. One’s childhood was robbed of familial bond while the other is robbed of feeling safe within her own home. Though the two can spend some down time feeling relaxed and enjoying the little things they can at the academy.

Though she doesn’t understand why Briar doesn’t just get up and leave if the palace hurts her so much.

Perrine has always been curious about Vidya’s homeland cuisine, always asking if there was any way she can secure spices for her restaurant in the dorm then she’d asked to be the taste tester. Vidya finds her to be almost like Jamil in terms of her prowess in the kitchen, but also Perrine is just so cute in her opinion. Like Kalim and Jamil in one person.

Luna simply adores Vidya’s passion to achieve her goal, she had her fair share of feisty queens who took over the dorm centuries ago but Vidya was a cut above the rest according to her. Luna’s form is from Vidya’s wish to be free from having to constantly watch her back.

Therefore, Luna is always enthusiastic and is adamant to have Vidya flow to her rhythm. Admittedly, Vidya enjoys how carefree Luna makes her feel during these moments.

Asha

She is an albino elephant and is still quite young. Vidya brought her from a cruel circus troupe when Vidya noticed the mistreatments behind the curtains. She had no problem contacting authorities to put the people responsible behind bars.

Asha took a while for her to warm up to Vidya but when sh finally did, she clings to Vidya as if she was her mother. Faizan’s big cats were gentle with Asha and were even protective of her, it was because the animals can tell when Vidya is trusting of someone.

Vidya is the only human she trusts, but Kalim is another one who she is comfortable with. Which isn’t surprising because the boy is incapable of anything cruel and is the definition of sunshine.

Asha’s true personality is that she can be a bit of a prankster, stealing hats and hairbands while running off with them. She also is a big cuddle bug, demanding more pets from Vidya and tooting her trunk when she stops giving her affection.

Her unique magic is called, “Golem Guard”, Vidya can summon golems made of sturdy sandstone that can do her bidding. She can also infuse them with different magic stones to make them resistant to a certain element. These golems deliver a strong punch and are difficult to destroy.

Though Vidya mostly uses them to help her with her garden or any heavy lifting. They last for only several minutes for they dissolve into their original material. She can summon about 5 at a time, anything beyond that number will make her blot faster.

Vidya has also mastered magic that allows her to manifest weapons on the spot. These only last for a good while before it shatters. They are used in case she is left without a weapon to defend herself with.

One weapon can burn through a single magical gem. So, she would need to switch out these gems whenever she uses the weapon manifestation spell.

Faizan Nazari

The Sultan of the Oasis Kingdom. He’s a good ruler but a bit clueless about the untrustworthy people in his council. He dotes on his daughter a lot ever since his wife died giving birth to Vidya. He rarely allows her to leave he palace due to the incident where she was used as a hostage.

Faizan doesn’t want her to feel pressured as a monarch and wished she finds a husband who will take care of her well but he is unaware that she is determined to be a queen who rules the kingdom without a husband.

He is a good ruler but he is often misdirected by some of his council members, particularly the elder ones who are eyeing to put their own children on the throne. Vidya would often deflect their attempts knowing that he will listen to her the most.

Faizan owns a lot of tigers, he has quite a variety of breeds and all of them are given the high class treatment with the best foods and groomers. He has about 40 of them.

They all empathize with his emotions and therefore, became protective of Vidya as well. This works in her favor as no one dares to approach her carelessly when one of them is in the room.

He mostly has them around his throne and in the gardens, only bringing one or two into parties to show off his precious pets.

Zahra Nabil

She is Vidya’s birth mother and is Faizan’s wife. She is a noble who was just as ordinary like the rest. Though she was known for being sassy and upfront.

She met her husband during his visit to the kingdom she lived in. Faizan fell for her for at first sight. He tried to play the part of a “cool” guy but it didn’t impress her very much. The moment she fell for him was when he fumbled in his next attempt and ended up falling into a fountain. She preferred guys who are have a dorky side.

Faizan learned to be more genuine which led to their romance and her moving to his kingdom when they got married. Faizan remembered her as a confident and assertive kind of woman. Telling stories how Vidya got her cleverness and sass from her a lot.

Rajin

He is a tiger beastman who was once an orphan fighting in the slums for any scrap of food. He bumped into a noble who whined about a street kid staining his clothes. The poor boy was beaten by the guards for “soiling the noble’s clothes”, but Vidya was the one to stop the cruelty and even blackmailed the noble that he will not tell the sultan that she snuck out otherwise she will list all of his misdeeds to the court.

Even though the noble did as she told, she did it anyway and played “innocent” so she wasn’t the one in trouble. Rajin was taken to the palace to recover but when he was all better, he wanted to serve Vidya as her guard to repay her kindness to him.

Though Vidya said he was free to retire with no worry about funds due to his salary, he still stayed by Vidya’s side. Acting as her eyes and ears in the palace when she’s away in school.

Not many people have heard him talk, save for the Nazari family and a few servants he trusts. But he’s face can be read like an open book due to how expressive he is. It’s something he can’t help because he still doesn’t trust nobles, though Kalim just makes him feel awkward since he’s too nice that it’s unsettling. Jamil is fine, though he feels like there is some resentment he can sense towards Kalim.

Often times, he spars with Vidya during her secret training and he is determined to win against her at least once but so far, Vidya wins all the time. But he’s determined to secure his victory someday, this is how they build their respect and trust with each other.

Faizan’s tigers often purr and cuddle up to Rajin, Vidya thinks it’s because he’s got their genus that they think he’s a part of the pack.

The character’s name, “Vidya” means knowledge, science and learning, while her last name, “Nazari” was taken from a name generator for Arabic last names.

Her early concept before sketch was that she was supposed to be a party animal like Kalim. But the artist didn’t want Jamil to suffer more since Vidya was going to be friends with the Scarabia duo.

So, she was changed into a more responsible and aware character. Seemingly perfect on the surface yet wishes she wouldn’t have to look over her shoulder all the time.

Vidya is always seen wearing a lot of jewelry but what most don’t realize is that they were magic stones that absorb blot. Allowing her to cast spells in case of an assassination.

Vidya enjoys competitive dancing, especially when it involves a lot of energetic movements. She’s won quite a lot of trophies. Though her partner can be bit of a pain because he tends to lose focus. Her partner is Alejandro De Oro, a noble who is notorious of being a playboy.

Kalim and Jamil have known her since she was very young. Alejandro is her dance partner and has known her during their preteen years.

He did try to flirt with her at first, but then they got kidnapped and Vidya couldn’t stand his whining and decided snap at him which gave him a bit of reality check. Oddly enough this incident made them friends… somewhat.

Vidya may have grown up eating luxurious foods, but she has a craving for something grilled every now and then.

[wildestdreamcatcher]

Choices

Summary: Cleo goes back to Charleston to visit her parents

TW: Mentions of eviction, pregnancy

My parents were loving people. They were always very nice, lenient, and caring, but I knew deep down they weren’t thrilled with this decision. I found out 3 months ago I was pregnant. Everything felt so fast: how quickly Elijah made Todd leave, how quickly my stuff was moved into his apartment, how I found out I was having a boy in October, it was all moving way too fast but Elijah and I managed somehow. I felt terrified when I called my parents a few weeks ago after finding out to tell them the news. I could hear the shock, worry, and possible disappointment in their voices and I could see it in their faces when we visited them in Charleston. They stared at my baby bump the whole time they were hugging me. 

The dinner was awkward and they didn’t know a lot about Elijah. I was bad about not calling them as often as Mariah and Nicholas did. All they knew was that Elijah was an aspiring musician (the last time I had called them before I found out was almost 5 months ago when Elijah was recording demo tapes), he worked as a bartender, he was kind and intelligent, but he also the guy who had gotten their daughter pregnant after 6 months of dating. You could feel this uncomfortable tension in the room but Elijah’s nothing if not charismatic and charming, he could hold a conversation well so he was able to smooth things over. 

I had to drive back to my parents’ house after I left my bag upstairs, a dark red patent leather bag Elijah had bought for me on Valentine’s day. It made more sense for me to look for it in the house I grew up in than to make him walk around a house he’d only ever been in once. I was about to leave when my parents stopped me. They had the same look on their faces that they did when I dropped out of college. 

“Cleo, honey, do you not think this all too fast?” My dad spoke.

“You’ve always been known to make brash decisions!” My mom agreed.

“What are you talking about?” I had my suspicions but I wanted to hear them out before I said anything.

“This whole thing with Elijah and the baby! You’ve made so many hasty decisions! Dropping out of college after a barely year to go modeling, hardly speaking to us after you moved to New York, letting everything pile up in New York that you get evicted and decided to move to Vegas, and now you’re gonna have a kid and move in with a  you’ve only known for 9 months! Cleo, this is insane!”

I remembered how bad things had gotten for a few years as my mom spoke. I dropped out of college after barely finishing my first year: one of my best friends had decided she was going to move NYC to model and when she asked me to come with her I said yes immediately. It wasn’t the glamorous fantasy I had imagined: I was headlining shows or walking runways, I was modeling for makeup, clothes, lingerie, car ads, and sometimes hair products. I wasn’t doing anything major and I remembered when Mariah had gotten somewhat judgemental when she found out I was doing lingerie shots. She acted like I was doing Playboy, I wasn’t but if they called my agent to give me an offer, I would’ve done it immediately. Josephine and I were stupid, we both knew that now because all we did in New York was model and go to parties. We didn’t have a stable job to pay the bills and we hadn’t paid rent in months so we got evicted, 

I had fallen into a dark place after that, living in a dirty studio apartment with my boyfriend at the time until 6 months later when I decided I wasn’t happy. I broke up with him and moved to Vegas. My parents had no clue about the eviction until after I moved to LV, and they thought I was going back to college to get my degree like Jo had done but that wasn’t my dream anymore. Now I was working as a hairdresser and trying to save money for my baby. 

“Mama, I’ll be the first person to admit all of the decisions I had made in New York weren’t the smartest but I’m turning out just fine. I know this all moving fast, Elijah and I are both incredibly aware without anyone reminding us but you know what, we’re happy! This isn’t what I planned for my life but maybe this is fate?! And even if Elijah and I don’t work out, I still won’t regret a thing because I got lucky to be able to know him for this long and have a baby with him. I don’t regret any of this: not me getting pregnant, dropping out of college, getting evicted, or anything like that and you shouldn’t place that on yourself.” I noticed that I was starting to tear up and get loud. Maybe it was the passion and the hormones all coming together?

“If you’re happy that’s all that matters, but if you ever need money or a place to stay you know where to find us.” My dad spoke as I nodded.

When I got back to the hotel, I felt oddly comforted when I saw Elijah sleeping on the bed. I felt a warm presence from him, even when we first met I felt that and I prayed to God our son would too.

@blowflygrls @sadlonelyyogurt @vommitgirl

[nutaska]

REFERENCE POST, FOR THE DETAILS AROUND MY MAIN VERSE SET WITHIN THE DETECTIVE COMICS UNIVERSE.

PLEASE USE CTRL + F TO NAVIGATE THIS POST, THE SUBJECTS IN THIS ARE AS FOLLOWS.

1. VERSE SUMMARY. 2. VERSE SPECIFICS. 3. AFFILIATES. 4. TIMELINE. 5. STATISTICS. 6. LEGAL NAME. 7. ABILITIES AND WEAPONS. 8. GOTHAM BUSINESSES.

VERSE SUMMARY, SPIN YOUR WEB.

AFTER DEFECTION LIFE IS HARDER TO NAVIGATE THAN EXPECTED, AND WITH A BOUNTY ON HER HEAD THE ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE IS TO CUT TIES WITH YOUR PAST. SO SHE MUST SEVER THE HEAD FROM THE BODY AND THE BOND BETWEEN IDENTITY AND MORTAL BEING. AND IN ITS PASSING BIRTHS A CALCULATED CREATURE, WITH SILVERED SILK AND A VENOMOUS BITE. WATCH AS A LITTLE SPIDER WEAVES HER WEB, TEMPTING PRAY WITH DELICATE CHARM.

VERSE SPECIFICS, JUST A FEW THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW.

WE DON'T DO REDEMPTION HERE, PEOPLE SHOWED THEIR JUDGEMENT OF NATASHA FOR A VERY LONG TIME. SHE IS PAST TRYING TO RIGHT THE WRONGS OF HER PAST. HER SURVIVAL AND INDEPENDENCE IS NOW HER PRIORITY AND THIS IS HER USING WHAT SHE KNOWS.

ULTIMATELY THE WEB SHE HAS SPUN ISN'T INSTANT. OBVIOUSLY THIS WOULD HAVE TAKEN MULTIPLE IDENTITIES, AT THE VERY START SHE WORKED WITHIN THE ICEBERG. THE BIGGEST PART OF MY PORTRAYAL IS THAT SHE STARTED SMALL BUT CLIMBED TO THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN QUICKLY. YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THIS IS WHAT SHE WAS TRAINED TO DO, ONE OF THE VERY BEST SPIES IN THE WORLD.

THERE IS NO ENDGAME BUT HER SURVIVAL METHOD IS TO RIP THE CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THEY HAVE THE MONEY AND THE RESOURCES FOR HER TO THRIVE. AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO FUNNEL THEIR MONEY TO THE DEVASTATION THEY CAUSE.

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS IS HER WEB SHE'S SPINNING AND YOU'RE UNKNOWINGLY IN THE LIONS DEN. SHE WILL WALK ARM IN ARM WITH SOME OF THE WORST AND STAB A KNIFE IN THEIR BACK WITHOUT THEM CONNECTING IT TO HER.

AFFILIATES, THOSE WITH WHOM I HAVE ENTWINED CANON WITHIN THIS VERSE.

TO BE ADDED ONCE I SORT MY SHIT OUT.

TIMELINE, EVER-EXPANDING.

SAVED BY IVAN [FOSTER FATHER] > MARRIAGE [TO ALEXEI AND HIS UNTIMELY DEATH] > RED ROOM [BLACK WIDOW OPS] > MADAME NATASHA/THE BLACK WIDOW [PEAK OPERATING / RELATIONSHIP WITH JAMES BARNES] > STARK INDUSTRIES [INFILTRATION] > MEETING CLINT [TOYING WITH DEFECTION] > BRAINWASHED AND PUNISHMENT [GOING AGAINST HER HANDLERS WITH CLINT] > UNOFFICIAL AVENGER [RELATIONSHIP WITH CLINT, THE AVENGER VOTE] > THE OFFER/DOUBLE AGENT [SHIELD EXTEND THEIR HAND] > DEFECTION [LEARNING INDEPENDENCE] > DAREDEVIL [RELATIONSHIP WITH MATT] > REDISCOVERY [UNDISCLOSED PERIOD OF TIME WHERE SHE DOES WHAT'S NEEDED TO SURVIVAL > DEATH [PUBLICISED DEATH OF THE FAMOUS MADAME NATASHA, ALTHOUGH VERY VERY FALSE] > REBIRTH AND GOTHAM [BUILDING OF THE WEB].

STATISTICS, PLEASE NOTE THAT PHYSICAL APPEARANCE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITH THE ASSUMPTION OF A NEW ALIAS.

NAME: NATASHA ROMANOVA. CURRENT ALIAS: DELILAH JAMES ( BUT KNOWN VERY PUBLICLY AS RED.). PAST ALIASES: NANCY RUSHMAN, OKTOBER, RED AND MULTIPLE OTHERS.  ALTER EGO: BLACK WIDOW. AGE: TIMELINE DEPENDENT. PRESENT DAY - LATE 80’s .  DATE OF BIRTH: BETWEEN 1927-1928, UNKNOWN DATE.  BIRTHPLACE: UNKNOWN.  CURRENT LOCATION: PREDOMINANTLY GOTHAM CITY, TRAVELS OFTEN. GENDER: CIS-FEMALE.  PRONOUNS: SHE/HER ORIENTATION: PAN-SEXUAL/DEMI-ROMANTIC. 

OCCUPATION: GALLERY OWNER, SPY, ASSASSIN. RESIDENCE: LARGE APARTMENT IN CENTRAL GOTHAM.

HEIGHT: 5'7. BUILD: MESOMORPH. SHAPE: HOURGLASS, BODYCLAIM HERE (NSFW). EYE COLOUR: GREEN. HAIR COLOUR: RED. HAIR STYLE: PREDOMINANTLY BANGS WITH LONG HAIR, HERE. PIERCINGS: EAR LOBES x 2. TATTOOS: NONE.

LEGAL NAME, THE DEATH OF NATASHA ROMANOVA.

LEGAL NAME > DELILAH JAMES. KNOWN BY > RED. FOR VERY OBVIOUS REASONS SHE WILL NOT GO BY NATALIA/NATASHA OR ROMANOVA/ROMANOFF, THAT PERSON AT THIS CURRENT TIME IS LEGALLY DEAD. HER PREVIOUS NAME AND MANTLE IS VERY MUCH IN THE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE, INCLUDING THE DEADLY REPUTATION. WHICH OF COURSE WILL RAISE SUSPICIONS WHEN THE BLACK WIDOW STARTS SHOWING UP IN GOTHAM, YOU JUST WON'T EVER MAKE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HER AND RED.

ABILITIES AND WEAPONS, THE MINOR DETAILS.

ARTIFICIALLY-ENHANCED PHYSIOLOGY, BIOCHEMICALLY ENHANCED WITH THE RED ROOMS OWN VERSION OF THE SUPER SOLDIER SERUM LEADING TO, PEAK HUMAN STRENGTH/SPEED/DURABILITY/STAMINA/REFLEXES AND ENDURANCE. AS WELL AS, ENHANCED HEALING/IMMUNE SYSTEM AND LONGEVITY

ENHANCED INTELLIGENCE, CAN PROCESS AND DETERMINE A LOT OF INFORMATION IN QUICK SPEED. ALSO MEANING SHE CAN RETAIN A LOT OF INFORMATION. ONE OF THE REASONS SHE'S MULTILINGUAL.

TALENTED DANCER, SPECIFICALLY BALLET. MASTER MARTIAL ARTIST AND ACROBAT, TRAINED IN MANY FIELDS OF HAND TO HAND COMBAT. WEAPONS AND VEHICLE EXPERT, CAN OPERATE NEARLY ALL OF BOTH. HACKER, NOTHING IS SAFE.

WIDOWS GAUNTLETS, WRIST CARTRIDGES CONTAINING VARIOUS TOOLS. ONE OF THESE TOOLS IS THE WIDOWS BITE, WHICH CAN DELIVER A 30,000 VOLT ELECTRIC SHOCK. BELT, MADE OUT OF EXPLOSIVE DISKS. WIDOWS LINE, GRAPPLING HOOK.

BUSINESSES, WHAT SHE OWNS WITHIN GOTHAM. *THE TWO WITH THE HIGHEST PUBLIC PROFILES.

KNOWN BUSINESS: THE WEB*, GALLERY AND EVENT HOSTING.

UNKNOWN TO PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE: EIGHT*, NIGHTCLUB AND CASINO. ANNIE'S + ROSIE'S, TWO FOOD TRUCKS. BAITED, BAIT AND TACKLE SHOP. EARLY BIRD, COFFEE SHOP. ART OF CLEAN, CLEANING SERVICES. DANES, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR.

THIS IS AN EVER GROWING LIST [I CANNOT FOR THE LIFE OF ME COME UP WITH MORE RN], THESE ARE ONES SHE FULLY OWNS BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN SHE HASN'T INVESTED IN OTHERS. THESE ARE FRONTS FOR OTHER OPERATIONS : FOOD TRUCK > DISTRIBUTION, TACKLE SHOP > DISPOSAL, CLEANING > CLEAN UPS.

A LOT OF THESE BUSINESSES ARE FRONTED BY PEOPLE SHE TRUSTS, NPC'S SHALL WE SAY.

ALONGSIDE SHE OWNS MULTIPLE SAFE HOUSES LOCATED IN AND AROUND GOTHAM, AS WELL AS ACROSS THE GLOBE.

[someforzari]

Coloured Sky

Niki x black!gn!reader

Genre: fluff

A/N: My first work where the skin colour was specified, I hope its up to your standards.

Ep.1 | Ep.2

You started listening to kpop in 2019 but it was more of a casual liking in 1 or 2 groups, rather than the only thing you would listen to. So when the group 'Enhypen' came out you peaked a huge interest in them. You biased Niki for his cute persona and how he always found a way to lighten the mood.

In little time, you found yourself listening to them often and even buying an album now and then. When all of your friends started talking about going to a concert together, you suggested Enhypen's upcoming tour.

"_____, we're not made of money and plus that's in New York, only you have a place to stay there, what will the rest of us do?" Jen retorted looking at the price.

"She's right, _____" Another friend agreed.

Sighing, you knew you had to meet them at some point in your life and why not now since it was your gap year before starting college, but seeing how you had £50 to your name, you knew that wasnt happening anytime soon. You chose to go to New York anyway since you had already bought plane tickets to see your family there, texting your mum to tell her.

"Guys, I have to go pack my bags but I'll talk to you soon. Love you bye." You said leaving the café. A quick wave of goodbyes surging through your friend group.

Time skip: 11:34pm, Thursday 28th March

"Yes mum, I've packed everything. I know the trip is overseas, look, I'll be fine. I'm staying with aunt shay, I'll be alright." You explained to your mum, holding the phone between your ear and cheek. "The plane leaves at 4pm tomorrow. No, I'm getting a taxi. Look, I have to go I'll update you soon. Bye."

Putting your passports and luggage near the doorway and setting your alarm to 8am you crashed on your bed and slept soundly.

Time skip: 8:13am, Friday 29 March

Brushing your teeth slowly due to drowsiness and scrolling through instagram was a normal part of your morning, your eyes widening upon seeing a new post from Enhypens official account. It was a picture of Niki and Sunoo at the airport, nothing special except that the destination was New York. That left some excitement for your day, dreaming about running into him unexpectedly and becoming his friend. Of course, you knew your delusions were just that, delusions. But you were free to imagine, right?

Stepping into your room to double check that you had packed everything, you noticed that your nails looked terrible and decided to get them done later. A decision that would save you from embarrassment later on.

The nails you picked weren't too over the top, just french tips with a few charms. Looking at the time on your phone, you gasped. 2:09pm. You were going to be late for your flight. At your apartment, a taxi was already waiting for you as you had planned, pulling the luggage into the boot and sitting in the taxi, you sighed and hoped you'd make it in time for your flight as the airport was an hour and a half away, hopefully there wouldn't be much traffic.

Timeskip: 5:43pm, Saturday 30th March

"Yeah, I'll manage." You said as you left the house to go explore New York City.

Living in the UK, you never experienced anything close to New York, sure, London was just as busy, but the nightlife couldn't compete. Plus, you lived in Whitehall of all places. It was cold, and even though winter had finished, the sun still set by 7.

It was amazing. The street signs with vibrant colours and cute little pictures of cartoon characters and animals, the shops with the latest iconic trends and the souvenirs were so creative.

Looking around, you didn't notice the shouting and running around. It was New York, this was normal, right?

Wrong. You would've been able to look some more, if only someone didn't bump into you and both of you fell.

"Who the hell...?" You mumbled holding your ankle and looking at the person.

Niki Rishimura. He was the man who had bumped into you, making you fall and hurt yourself. The throbbing pain in your ankle was forgotten as you stared at him with your mouth wide open and eyes wide.

"I'm so sorry! Are you okay? Is your ankle hurt?" He asked frantically, clearly worried.

You couldn't even answer, you just sat there, staring at him. Once the state of shock took over, you were quick to reassure him that you were fine and asked him if he was hurt at all.

He offered to get you coffee as an apology. Being a modest person, you refused at first saying there was no need, secretly hoping he would take you anyway. Him being the absolute angel he is, he insisted to treat you to coffee and you agreed. He reached out for his phone and asked for your number, you blinked a few times in confusion but not wanting to pass up this opportunity, you typed in your digits as fast as your sore hands could.

"I'll text you later, I have to go now." Niki said smiling sweetly at you and picking up a call from his manager.

You couldn't believe it, you had just met Niki Rishimura and gotten his number! And, you were going to see him for coffee! The whole way back to your aunt's house, you smiled and some people even looked at you like you were insane, but they wouldn't understand. You couldn't wait.

@microwvdstrawb3rri3s

[ali-dot-txt]

yo i played persona 5 for the first time (III)

Alright, so this post (previous one here and first post in the chain here) is going to be about my general final notes and about Hina as a character.

Despite all my gripes, I did end up enjoying the game. I wouldn't have poured 230 hours into it if I'd hated it.

But most of the enjoyment I wrung from it was a result of the mod and the personal headcanon I spent the whole game developing. I really don't think this game would've been for me without that, which is why I don't intend on playing Persona 4 (well, at least until that game's female protagonist mod gets off the ground). I might play Persona 3 Portable as that game's female protagonist after a little break, though.

The final tally of Hina's Confidants:

Sorry to all the Yusuke fans.

Everyone's final stats:

In 2017, this would be about 88,000 dollars? Which is an absurd amount of money for her to just have on hand.

Favorite characters? I guess I'll list the characters:

Hina (cop-out, i know, but I like her a lot)

Futaba

Haru

Lavenza/the twins

Sojiro

Sumire

Ann

Ryuji

Akechi (he really jumped up in the last arc)

Hifumi

Sae

Morgana (he really jumped very late in the game as well)

Yusuke (sorry, Yusuke fans)

Iwai (I feel like I'd like him more if I'd got further in his Confidant)

Chihaya (same as Iwai)

Makoto (a sudden and incredible fall)

Maruki (he's the worst therapist ever, but he's pretty interesting when he's not talking way too much and his final scenes are really good)

Skilled Gamer (gonna be real, I don't remember his name)

Ohya

Takemi

Mishima (would have preferred if he was removed entirely)

Hina never met Kawakami outside of class and never spoke to that politician.

Anyway, as for Hina...

She's maybe my favorite player character in any video game ever. The slight jankiness of her implementation lent her so much charm, and characterizing her was a ton of fun, especially with how close my trans headcanon seemed to the game's reality. Does that affection transfer to Akira/Ren, or other people's genderswapped Jokers? Well, no, not really. I can't say I'm an expert on the way people view Joker as a character, but from a cursory glance, I feel like Hina's distinct enough from the popular interpretation that she's basically an entirely different person slotted into the role of protagonist. Maybe that's conceited of me.

Hina has the most common family name in Japan, and I thought Hina was the most popular given name in Japan in 1999, the year she was probably born. Turns out that wasn't the case, Hina is actually much more popular recently. The actual most popular name for 1999? Miku. So if I'd had accurate data, she may well have been called Miku Satou. Probably not though.

Hina didn't have friends in her hometown, partially because she was really quiet as a kid and partially because everyone started avoiding her after she started coming to school in a girls' uniform.

Hina's parents have been supportive from the beginning. In fact, her name is from them (she requested it). Also, they sent her to Tokyo with a maid outfit in her box of stuff, which is extremely funny. She calls them once a week, early on Sundays. She doesn't tell them about her phantom thief activities.

Hina's legal name is changed, but not her legal gender (people only ever call her Hina, even in situations where they'd have only read her name off legal forms, so her name must legally be Hina).

Hina largely doesn't react when people misgender her because she's used to it.

When Maruki mentioned that Hina might make a good counselor herself someday, the headcanon wheels started turning in my head and I realized that that's really fucking good. Hina wants to go to university to become a youth counselor, because she saw what happens when someone has the worst counselor ever. Not to mention Hina wanting to help kids like her who might not react well to an authority figure telling them how to live is really sweet.

Hina's trying to create a real version of her Phantom Thief outfit she can wear casually. She has red gloves in her winter school outfit! Why else would she have those? She's going to get white glasses frames next.

Hina isn't good at talking to people, but she comes off as confident because she also has a hard time speaking in any particular tone, so she almost always seems to be talking without reservations.

Hina is an only child. (Fairly sure this is an element of most people's imagined Jokers. No way does this person have siblings.)

I don't think most of the harsh things I put in quotes to indicate that Hina said them are things she actually would say. I think she's probably thinking them.

Hina has a gaming PC in her hometown. Her buying that laptop was because she was going stir-crazy from not having access to a desktop computer.

Hina likes Morgana much more than I do. She doesn't think of him as a big brother (lmao), but she does love him like a brother.

In contrast, I think Hina has exactly as much disdain for Mishima as I have.

Hina isn't really invested in Akechi. She thinks he's a terrible weirdo who she wishes would stop talking to her. When she learns about his actual motivations, that switches to thinking of him as kind of pathetic. She wishes he would have talked to her about his issues at all, because she probably could have helped him deal with them like she helps literally everyone else, but she's not so broken up about him not being in her life anymore. (In contrast, I actually quite like Akechi now that I get what they were going for with him.)

Hina is good at schoolwork, but she's lacking in common sense.

Takemi actually never misgendered Hina, and Maruki only did so once. It's pretty funny how the medical professionals are consistently the least transphobic people in the game. I wonder why that is? 🤔

Hina got really good at making coffee and curry in the year she spent at Leblanc.

Hina being shorter than regular Joker is especially funny because her animation speed has to be adjusted, so she walks really fast in cutscenes where she moves places. She has to move that fast to keep up with people.

Hina's relationship with Haru is going to cause an absolutely awful scandal if it ever becomes public. I have no idea how they're going to deal with that, but hopefully they'll figure it out.

Hina doesn't really find any new friends when she moves back home, but she's alright with keeping to herself and focusing on her studies while having friends she can talk to online and a cat who can talk.

Hina might be rejected from a lot of universities for her criminal record or her transness. She might've had her record expunged, but she still spent time in juvie, not to mention the heavily political implications of her actions might risk scandal for any university that she enrolls in. She might end up having to apply to universities abroad, where the Phantom Thieves and the events surrounding them weren't so much in the public consciousness.

Anyway, that's Hina Satou. I might write fic for her someday? But she requires a lot of context to really understand her. I care about her a lot, and people understanding her is important to me for some reason.

And finally: some of my favorite screenshots of Hina.

[levy120]

Tit for Tat

[PART 1: Foreign]

[PART 2: Advertisement]

[PART 3: Blood Money]

Rating: M

Words: 2850

Genre: Introspection, Character Deconstruction/Analysis, Speculation, AU, Whump

Lore: Rayman 2, Captain Laserhawk speculation

Characters: Rayman, the manager, the boss, the clan shows up again

Summary: Baby's first murder

Warnings: Major Character Death, Blood & Gore, Murder

AN: Welcome to the M rating folks! Just gonna embrace everyone's Bobbypill-gore-fears a little with this one :') See also on: [dA] | now also on [ao3] ❗❗❗

See also: [Part 1] | [Part 2] | [Part 3] | [You are here] | [Part 5]

More like this: [Rayman Oneshots Masterpost]

After Rayman's emotional breakdown on live TV, Chief brings him a package the next day.

He lies on his bed, bags under his eyes when she dumps the box right on his midsection, eliciting a grunt.

"I got something for you, to cheer you up," she says.

The lesson, she agrees, had to be learned. But Rayman looks a mess. Makeup can cover his poor constitution but that won't help them if his voice keeps cracking and his acting fails him.

"What's that?" he asks as he sits up.

"Fanmail," Chief says, "Your unprofessional stunt yesterday was - for some reason - received well by the public."

Rayman starts sifting through the box. It's indeed letters. A lot of condolences for 'his' loss, partly to blame on how openly Chief had communicated his involvement with the shelter to the public.

He sifts through the box with shaking hands, card after card. There are long letters and rough drawings from children. 'Thank You's from facilities he's been supporting and photos of teams showing off what his donated money went into.

She watches his breath even out and his posture become a little less tense.

It's… a mystery to the manager how even when Rayman fucks up he winds up endearing to the crowd. He's established himself as the face of the people in what little time he's been here. Mistakes are 'charming' or 'make him human' despite him very clearly being anything BUT. Maybe some folks just consider him the same way they'd look upon a puppy and figure he's some sort of mascot. 

Whatever the case, he's weaseled himself into the hearts of Eden's citizens to a point that makes him a liability even more so than his ignorant volatility had made him before. 

He’s prolific in a way that would spark outcry if he were to disappear suddenly. Eden’s advantage has turned into a risk. 

She used to be the boss's assistant, now relegated to being this creature's personal babysitter.

But that's fair, she supposes. His impact on Eden’s image has been massive. Playing the job of his supervisor might as well be the most important task in this company right now. 

The faintest of smiles has returned on Rayman's face and he wipes his eyes with the heel of his hands before - completely unbidden - he moves in to hug the Chief.

It startles her.

She’s not getting paid enough to put up with all of his crap, but - she supposes - at least when it comes to the Limbless himself, it’s not as thankless a task as it could be. 

---

Rayman agrees to doing the second show, and while he's reluctant to talk to him again, Chief says the boss is gracious enough to grant him that second chance.

It's… easier he thinks. The format is supposed to be more lighthearted than the news, and Rayman figures that might make it just what he needs.

So he's hopeful.

Until the night of the premier. That has him nervous. And scared. And frantic. And everything in between. Why did he agree to this?

There’s a live audience waiting outside, which is so strikingly different from just reporting the news. His heart flutters from stage fright. 

Chief stands next to him with her arms crossed. Her stoic presence is a crutch. 

“You look nervous,” she observes.

“That’s because I am,” Rayman replies and chuckles in a way that almost sounds like a sob. 

"You'll do great," Chief comments like it doesn't matter, "Those people out there, they're here for you."

Rayman takes another glimpse from behind the curtain.

"Isn't that the part where you tell me to act natural?"

"You?! Hell no!"

Rayman makes a sound of acknowledgment somewhere between amusement and disappointment.

"That's the part where I tell you to put on a smile. Unless you insist on sabotaging yourself, you couldn't possibly mess this up."

She hunkers down to adjust his bowtie.

"Now get out there, and make me proud."

---

"See?" the manager says. Rayman thinks it's the first time he sees her smile, "I knew you could do it."

"Thanks, Ly."

"Who?" she asks and Rayman stiffens, suddenly realizing what he'd said.

"Oh, I…" he fumbles and backs off. He looks flustered. And a little bit sad. "Sorry. Just… you… sounded like an old friend, for a second there."

Shit. This is embarrassing. Rayman buries his face in his hands, but luckily Chief doesn't seem to mind.

"Were they a good friend?"

He collects himself. Sighs.

"Very," he replies, his entire posture sagging, "She was my mentor."

"I see," his manager replies with a sense of amusement and Rayman is so relieved she's not holding it against him.

“I guess what I meant to say is… Thank you for having my back." he tries again.

"Come on," she says and easily ruffles his hair just standing next to him. She can't stand it when he's moping and he sounds like he needs some cheery thoughts.

"I think we should celebrate this premiere with a drink."

"Yeah," Rayman agrees, "That sounds like an excellent idea. What would I ever do without your guidance?"

---

Chief has a gun to her head.

"We can talk about this," Rayman pleads with their assailant, "Let's be reasonable."

The guy had just come out of nowhere. Hijacked the car of their driver and kidnapped them into an abandoned parking facility. 

He’s rough and violent. Through it all, his manager is trying really hard to remain calm, but Rayman has seen calm on her. And anger. And right now he knows she's very much scared.

Rayman isn’t sure what’s up with the guy. Whether he’s a small fish with a small mind or if he has ulterior motives. Then he catches a glimpse of a tattoo he recognizes from the news on the dude’s neck. 

“What do you want?” 

Rayman tries to offer, his hands held up placatingly. 

Wasn’t the attack on the homeless shelter enough already?! 

“I could ask you the same thing!” the guy spits as he jostles the manager.

“Since your mug is on TV suddenly the Eden assholes look like the good guys, while poor people still starve!” 

“Is this about money again?” Rayman asks, confused, panicked. “You can have it, okay? Just let her go first.” 

“Money won't save you!” the guy yells and presses the gun against the manager’s temple. She flinches back with grit teeth. It makes her look so unusually small. 

Rayman’s hands go limp. 

“I’m here for you little Eden shits!" the man snarls.

"Did this bitch tell you the shelter raid was an inside job?"

“That’s not-”

“SHUT UP!” 

He angrily flails his gun at her. Rayman is slowly lowering his stance. He’s barely listening, too busy by now keeping his eyes on that twitching trigger finger. 

“You don’t ever wonder why there are people in need of your donations to begin with?! Have they brainwashed you this badly? I’ll tell you why! It’s because this entire system is broken!” 

He spits. Rayman has barely time to take a breath before the gun goes off. 

As Chief clatters to the ground Rayman’s world stands still. There’s evidently no helping her, she’s just… dead. Immediately. 

His posture goes lax as his breath leaves him.

“This mess can only be fixed from the ground up,” the voice echoes in the parking lot, but Rayman’s ears are still ringing from the gunshot. 

“You’re next.” 

When his weapon moves to take aim at Rayman his instincts kick in. The Limbless throws his fist at the firearm and breaks the attacker's hand. The gun clatters to the ground but the sound is drowned by a blood-curdling scream. 

Humans are just so incredibly fragile when Rayman's hands are used to breaking apart metal. For just having taken someone else's life with that silly weapon of his the dirty crook is nothing without it.

As the criminal clutches his wrist, screaming and crying - look at him, all tears and snot - Rayman approaches him.

His left hand is still squeezing down on the mess of bones, keeping the man pinned to the ground.

Rayman is small, likely a third of this guy’s statures, but he towers above the asshole by the time he's eye to eye with him. And the look on his face spells bloody murder.

A younger version of him would have stopped there. The threat was disarmed, had learned its lesson, could grow from that.

But that version is gone. He left it in the Glade. And without Chief, there's no one to hold him back.

A well-aimed punch makes sure that the bastard stays down. Rayman is upon him before he can get back on his feet.

Blood sprays and teeth go flying as Rayman beats the monster's face to a pulp.

The screaming stops, but his punches don't, even when splintered bones become crumbs of asphalt and his own knuckles break open.

When he does stop eventually, with a breathless sob and a wail, he glances down on a mess of flesh - a human body that no longer has a face to speak of.

And he feels nothing.

His thoughts are with Chief, who lies behind him, her scattered brains exposed on the asphalt. It's an image in his mind he can't bear.

But the bastard beneath him?

Rayman gets up and nudges the body with his foot. 

Didn't even put up a fight.

Rayman spits the taste of blood from his mouth. Fuck.

"Guess no one ever taught you, you need to be careful of who you choose to make an enemy of here."

---

HQ is spinning out of control when the manager's call arrives but it's Rayman speaking on the other end asking to be picked up.

Even so, his driver isn't prepared for what awaits him at the parking facility.

Rayman himself hunkers on the hood of their car, just drenched in blood, with two bodies lining the asphalt behind him.

"Finally," he says. His voice is alarmingly calm and timid. Something about it doesn't sit right with the cabby; it doesn’t fit with the rest of the picture. 

"Please, can we go home?"

"Yeah. Sure," the escort says as he unlocks the car. Rayman drudges past him. The wet squelching of his shoes haunts every step as he slinks into the car to ruin the interior with the stain of blood and stench of iron.

Slowly the driver makes out the details of the crime scene. The puddle of blood, the giant hole in the manager's skull… the… no-longer-a-skull of the other body. 

He stumbles to a nearby beam and starts throwing up.

---

"Shit. You did this?"

The boss is examining one of the victim's photos from the crime scene.

"Guess Razorbeard wasn't kidding when he said you had violent tendencies. Well, now…"

he folds the evidence into a neat stack before igniting a lighter and setting the polaroids ablaze.

"The public can't know about this," the boss orders as he gets up from his seat to bear down on Rayman. 

The Limbless is fresh out of the shower, his hair still dripping wet, but his nose is still clogged with the smell of iron. He hunches on his chair, fists tightly interlocked as he presses his forehead against them like it could make the memory vanish.

"I dispatched a team to remove the bodies and clean the site. I don't want you to mention this to anyone. Surely I don’t have to remind you what that would do to your image."

They seem oddly prepared, Rayman can’t help but think in the light of what the perpetrator had been spitting. Maybe the Limbless would have been more inclined to listen if the asshole hadn’t decided to choose murder first. 

"Did he spill anything about his motive before you broke his jaw?"

The mere memory of the boss flying off the handle at Rayman suggesting he'd bring to light just one of his dirty secrets makes the Limbless shake his head no.

He doesn't want to find out what the consequences would be if Boss were to learn of him knowing yet another of his misdeeds.

What would he target next? The food-bank? The hospital? Perish the thought he'd go for the childcare.

Rayman's foot is tapping relentlessly before his posture straightens and he dares to look the boss in the eyes. Here they are face to face finally - Rayman wishes the circumstances could have been different.  

Once upon a time, he’d toyed with the idea of giving the boss a good wallop in the face if they ever were to meet.

Right now, that very thought leaves a sour taste in his mouth. 

"What about Chief?" he asks.

"Of course, you'll be appointed a new assistant."

"Sir," Rayman tries to find his voice, "That's not-"

But Boss flicks his wrist to silence him, and Rayman goes quiet.

"You can make your own decisions for one day and NOT cause a mess, can't you?" 

Rayman's alert posture wilts until he hunkers. He’s not sure if what he’s feeling is regret. 

It's only for Chief that he feels bad.

Not for the bastard that killed her, he doesn’t. 

That one got what he deserved. 

…But it still doesn't bring back his friend.

If anything, Rayman thinks it's a shame that by hiding the evidence under a rug, the rest of the clan will just proceed as usual. They need to be sent a message. 

Damn, he just wants to be left alone. But he's very high profile. Boss has his name plastered all over town.

He knows today won't have been his last brush with extremists.

---

Rayman's perceived calm lasts up until he's led back to his room, when he's supposed to sleep and the hectic world around him slows down.

It's like all of the memories culminate and flood him like a torrent that threatens to take him under.

He lies in bed curled up and bawling, as the pain in his knuckles reaches a new boiling point.

---

Of course, it's on the news.

No one comes to pick him up the following day (obviously he can't expect Chief to suddenly show up at his door), so Rayman has no choice but to watch the news from his dorm. He's seen the guy standing in for him on set before.

They call it an 'attempt on his life' and say that the 'culprit has been apprehended' (that's cute) and that 'he'll be back as soon as possible'.

Not a single word about Chief.

It's funny - he thinks now - how he's never bothered to fact-check his own reports. It's all on the teleprompter. The only thing they need him to do is read.

But he doesn't want to acknowledge that the guy he killed might have been right.

Not when his solution to the problem was pointing a gun at Rayman when he'd already been trying so hard to offer help wherever he could. 

---

"Another job?" Rayman asks. He's so tired already. It's been nearly a month since the incident and Rayman is still trying to find his footing back with his old schedule. But here he's been pulled from prepping tonight's moderation to meet with the boss.

Truth be told though, he appreciates anything that keeps his mind from wandering. But this might be a bit excessive.

"One of our Nightclubs reports unruly customers. We thought maybe you'd be interested in a leading position?"

His face draws into a frown.

"Unruly customers, huh?"

"Violent Costumers. Drunkards who don't pay their tab. Brutes looking for a fight. Perverts who harass the female staff," The boss points at him with a dry laugh when he sees the angry frown increase steadily on Rayman's face.

"I thought that'd be up your alley!"

"Don't you have bouncers for that?" Rayman deadpans.

"That's not the point," the boss says and leans back in his seat.

"Your patronage would repel those folk, you know, make people feel safe. And possibly draw an all-new crowd."

Rayman hums to himself. How bold does he dare to be today?

"And you're offering - let me guess - more money."

The boss sighs to himself.

"I expected as much," he drawls. Rayman takes curious note of his calm demeanor. He's not disappointed. Or angry.

"No," the boss says, and Rayman raises an inquiring eyebrow, leans in a little so he can hear what the boss is going to say next.

"If you could pick any citizen from your home…" he says, and Rayman's heart begins to race.

"Just one!" the boss points out with a warning finger-

Rayman wants to fly from his seat and get up to that desk. 'Just one' means 'one for now'. If Rayman puts in even more work after-

"Yes!" he blurts before he can second-guess himself or the boss changes his mind.

"Very good."

A satisfied grin grows on the man's face as he reaches his hand out over the desk for a shake. The limbless fool doesn't even realize he's picking his own leverage.

"I'm expecting a choice by tomorrow."