#Being covered in blood is one of those 'just girly things' that women deserve to stop being shamed about.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

The math just adds up!

[callmemrskenway]

Hi! Since Ubisoft absolutely sucks when it comes to representing and appreciating women who aren't tomboys it's up to fandom.

Could you write what would a relationship with Ezio, Connor, Jacob, Arno and Altaïr be like with a feminine, dresses-wearing, cooking -liking s/o?

Like we play those games too and as awesome as it is to portray oneself as an assassin, the classically feminine side of the fandom deserves some love too.

I'd like to say that for the record there's nothing wrong with being a "girly girl" or a "tomboy" who likes assassin creed, because at the end of the day, we all become simps. But I do like this idea of this prompt so yeah, here we go!!

Ezio:

- NO BUT HE IS SO DOWN FOR THIS NGL, LIKE HE'D ABSOLUTELY LOVE AN S/O THAT'S LIKE SUPER INTO DRESSES AND COOKING.

- Obviously not in like a toxic masculine way but just in a "I love their cooking and baking and after a battle, it makes me feel a lot better coming home to it."

- Make up is fascinating to him, he never is one to make those annoying comments in it because he does think you're beautiful either way, but like, he's so fascinated by things like eyeshadow and contour or whatever you specialize in.

- OKAY BUT HE'D BE SO HELPFUL IN PICKING OUT DRESSES TOO, NOT GONNA LIE. Like, have you seen this man's sense of fashion? He knows what he's talking about.

- Loves watching you wear cutsey and gorgeous gowns and dresses, like when it feels like he has so rare amount of joys in the world, the mental image of you in your elegant and gorgeous outfits makes him smile and even more eager to get back to you.

- NO BUT HE GOES CRAZY FOR LIPSTICK KISSES. Please leave lip stick marks on his lips, on the collar of his shirts. Like, yeah he looks silly with some of your smudged lips on him and he laughs it with you but he just likes how it lays claim that he is yours. However he always forgets how difficult it can be to wipe it off.

- No but if you have a favorite perfume, Ezio will spray some of it on like a handerkerchief or something or carry around a vial of it when on missions so he can always remember your scent when he's missing you.

- NO BUT HE ABSOLUTELY HAS YOU MELTING WHEN HE COMPLIMENTS YOU. He also pulls a Gomez Addams from the Addams family and just kisses your hand before kissing up your arm while muttering compliments and praises in Italian in between.

Connor:

- Loves everything about you honestly but he doesn't show it because he's too shy or he doesn't want to come off as being like one of those guys.

- This does mean he's kinda no help in deciding outfits because you ask him which dress looks cuter on you for the day and he's like: "...Is this one of those traps that Achilles has warned me about?"

- NO BUT HE ABSOLUTELY LOVES THE FACT THAT YOU COOK TOO. He would love to help you and share some recipes from his tribe *trust me, native food is so good* and that he does look forward to your meals.

- I can imagine he does get quite covered in blood, not even just because of the killing he does as an assassin but like, also because of the hunting and skinning that he does as well so he does try to avoid you as he changes clothes because he doesn't want to get it messy.

- YOU AND AVELINE HANGING OUT THOUGH. She will drop by with some cute outfits honestly and Connor ends up sitting in between you two silently as you compliment each other and Aveline tells you about how this one dress made her think of you.

- Connor is a gentleman at heart and he tries not to stare at you but he can't help it. If you're in a room being your beautiful self, his eyes just wander to you. Is a blushing mess when you catch him though and he lets out a quick apology but you tell him you don't mind and tell him that it'd be a shame if he didn't stare because you wore this dress specifically to catch his eye. Which makes him more flustered.

- Is confused by make-up, he doesn't understand it but if someone or some other guy criticizes you about it makes a comment about it, he will just give them the meanest look that'll gave them looking over their shoulder in the dead of night.

- NO BUT MOMENTS OF HIM DOING THINGS LIKE CARRYING THROUGH THE WOODS to make sure your dress doesn't get caught on anything and he'll apologize if it does, or how he'd absolutely enjoy seeing you try on various dresses, he might not be able to pick which is his favorite but he really enjoys seeing you wear them♡

Jacob:

- HE IS ALSO VERY DOWN FOR THIS, PLEASE AND THANK YOU.

- Look, he is but a man and when he sees you with your elegant composure talking and laughing lightly with your friends about some gossip that you heard, HE IS SO WEAK AT THE KNEES.

- Chances are you're probably a noble or from the higher class and he just so happens to stop you from getting robbed and while you were shaken, you still took the time to introduce yourself and CURTSY to HIM. LIKE- WHAT-

- You definitely see him around, it's not like he's stalking you (kinda) its more like you just happen to be somewhere and he also happens to be there (after he basically questions a rook non stop about who you are) but you honestly seem to enjoy his presence. You indulge yourself by being all dressed up but its suffocating to be a woman so Jacob is a breath of fresh air to you.

- Not to mention that he's completely the exact opposite from what you are. A mysterious rogue with little to no shame but, hey, he's got a pretty face and a smile as charming as the devil himself. So its almost like you two are just pulled to each other.

- You can trick everyone else with your lovely outfits and fashionable hairstyles and make up but Evie is thoroughly convinced you have no taste because WHY WOULD YOU CHOSE HER BROTHER- Jk jk, you actually get along relatively well with Evie and help her indulge in her more "girly" side as well, especially when you notice she has a crush on a certain Henry Green.

- BUT YEAH, NO, HE IS DOWN TREMENDOUSLY BAD FOR YOU. Absolutely would LOVE IT if you wanted to show all off all of your outfits to him, like, you DON'T UNDERSTAND.

- Also, the fact you can cook and (possibly) bake is a bonus and literally would love it if you made something for him. Evie will try to steal some of the food you give him and that results in a sibling fight but, like, he literally will propose to you VERY soon of you don't stop being SO DAMN ATTRACTIVE AND SWEET. PLEASE, HE'S BISEXUAL, YOU CAN'T JUST DO THIS TO HIM-

Arno:

- Considering he was raised in nobility, its not anything to new to him, and it is probably what attracted him to you in the first place but he also is just so simply mesmerized by you.

- What attracts you to him is that he doesn't underestimate you or act all patronizing like how other men do. He sees you for your beauty but also for your elegant yet stinging remarks when a man tries to arrogantly woo you and he just laughs and smiles.

- Okay but cute moments where he's in trouble with some people and you happen to be around and you, knowing Arno, allow him to hide under one of your fine elegant dresses and hide him from them. Then once you let him know the coast is clear, he makes a smooth yet somewhat lewd comment and you just rolls your eyes before playfully flicking his nose to reprimand him.

- Expect him to steal some of anything that you cook or bake and even though you can't catch him in the act, you just KNOW that it's him by the smug grin he's giving you. Eventually you have enough of it and just make him his own meal entirely which surprises him but he isn't complaining by any means.

- Would take you on cute picnic dates, too, I feel like. He'd sneak you to beautiful private places he knows and there's just a romantic set up and he just went through a lot of effort to make it perfect for you and it shows.

- This man is literally one of the drippiest assassin's I have ever seen so if you need help with picking out an outfit under any occasion, he is more than happy to help you.

- IDK WHY BUT BALLROOM DANCE SCENE JUST SEEMS LIKE SO FITTING FOR THIS. You're already such a vision normally but as you glide on the floor oh-so elegantly, he's absolutely mesmerized and entranced by you, you have no idea.

- OKAY SOMETIMES HE FINDS YOU ATTRACTIVE TO THE POINT THAT HE KINDA HAS A TENDENCY TO JUST...NOT FIND A COMMENT. Like, moments where he sees you up close in your grace, it can render him speechless and he hates it because you tease him, the sarcastic and clever Arno Dorian of being unable to speak and he just pouts in response, which makes it all the more endearing to you.

Altaïr:

- Him with a super feminine and girly s/o would be so funny to me because other than the basic manners he was taught (and even then) he gets so flustered around you, like everything you do is foreign to this man but in a good way.

- Asks you many questions about why you do what you do. Yes, you look nice but historically, it took quite a bit of effort and resources to do so and you simply tell him that it makes you happy.

- Very funny you two end up together, he has no idea how he did it but he isn't really complaining. When he looks at you sometimes, he just thinks to himself: "Man, it'd be really hard to fight if I wore that. They look really nice in it though."

- OKAY BUT YES, PLEASE TAKE CARE OF HIM. Nothing wrong if you want to be a traditional housewife but also, maybe Altaïr just brings out that side of you because he is a poor little meow meow.

- So he's surprised when he finds out you cooked for him and when you offer to clean his blood stained assassin's uniform (because let's be honest, those things probably are in dire need of cleaning and he's constantly wearing white) and it'd take a while for him to adjust to but he comes to like it.

- He never assumes you're dressing up for him like the others and that you're dressing up for yourself but if you DO try to dress up for him, you're gonna have to tell him but his reaction will be the same, a stoic "You look very nice" but if you lift the hood, you can see how flustered and nervous he looks underneath it.

- Scary boyfriend privilege, no man dares to try and cat call you or hit on you because Altaïr follows you like a shadow. He's scary, he's intimidating, and the expression on his face tells people not to fuck with you or him, even if there is a badly wiped off lipstick mark you gave him previously.

- During missions, he tries to bring you back nice things like some jewelry he found that made him think of you and such and that he thinks would compliment your outfits nicely.

[iwantutobehapppier]

Face The Facts

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader, Bucky Barnes X Reader (Platonic)

Summary: You could not foresee this thing happening to you.

Word Count: 2,024

Warnings: Angst, a lot of Angst so munch angst, alluded to sex, Depression def, language maybe?

A/N: This is emotionally charged 100%. I am sad (still FAB!) and listened to Paint It Black too much today. So here is my ANGST. I do miss you guys, and I miss writing smut for you, hoping to do so for you again soon.

Fingers drummed along the steel table reflecting the sun outside the coffee shop Sam had dragged you and Bucky to on this stupid bright and sunny afternoon. You could hear Sam talking but the words were muffled.

Your eyes focused on the line of the funeral procession making its way down the busy New York street. The black cars remind you of Tony, the burning in your stomach starting up. Before you can stop you think of him.

He’s gone, not like Tony but he might as well be. He’s dead to you. Died to be with someone other than you. It is a crushing weight to not be worthy. To not be wanted.

You hear the base in Bucky’s voice at your name. You blink a few times and turn to face them. Your boys. There used to be three, you grimace and Bucky mirrors. 

“Yeah?” The best you can get out. Sam’s warm hand covers yours stilling the drumming fingers. 

“You haven’t drunk any of your coffee,” Sam’s words come through but you feel yourself fade. The attention was never there anymore not since he- “I even had the cute barista make it special for you.” 

Your brows furrow. “Special? Did they roofie me?” Bucky chuckles into his cup. 

“No!” Sam’s indignant tone pulls the smallest tilt of lips. “AH, she smiles!” And it leaves. 

Bucky frowns at Sam swatting his hand away from yours to take its previous residence over yours. They fought like this often since Steve left, over your attention. If you should smile if you should wallow. This coffee outing is an agreed attempt between both to get you in some sunlight. 

It had been a month but to you, it felt like yesterday, it felt like everything fell apart just when you thought it was coming together. Maybe a little cracked but still together.

What could Steve be doing that was so much better than this? Was she really worth it? You knew the answer to that though, his actions gave a resounding yes. The sound of girly giggles pulled you from your thoughts. 

A group of chipper women on the crosswalk between the stalled procession. Their laughs carry over the sounds of exhaust, conversations at other tables, and your daunting thoughts. How you wanted to steal their joy, not for yourself, oh no. Just no joy. You knew how illogical it sounded, you knew if you said anything about it to Bucky or Sam they’d pull you into a group.

You didn’t want therapy, you wanted this pain, this was familiar. After all, most of life you spent unwanted, discarded, an afterthought, or at the very most a stand-in. Your hands ball up into fists. Bucky’s hand still over yours he catches the subject of your sight. 

“They got nothin’ on you, doll.” You catch that, looking his way the intensity of his eyes overwhelming, you look at your coffee pulling the lid off.

The Latte has a star with circles around it in foam, the circles turning squiggly lines as time has gone by since it was made. You choke on your breath, a heaviness growing in your chest. You’d never escape him.

Standing up you leave the two to enjoy their coffee without all your emotional outbursts. Shoving hands in your pockets you take a deep breath in holding the tears back. In the distance, you can hear Bucky and Sam arguing over the “special” coffee.

There’s nothing left but time now, never-ending time. Time he didn’t belong to, time you never thought you’d get. 

You pushed the Pym particles into the watch, ignoring all your surroundings. Narrowed focus as you stomped your way through the trees beyond the compound construction site. The protective helmet quickly slides over your head. You place one foot on the pad before you can lift your other foot up and you're being jerked back by your elbow.

Crashing backward into a solid wall of flesh you turn around knowing exactly who it is. Your eyes pinch staring up at the former Winter Soldier. 

“What do you think you’re doing?” Your growl between clenched teeth.

Buck grabs both your elbows, his eyes tracing along your face searching for answers. “The better question is what are you doing?”

“He can’t just leave like that.” You try to pull from his hold but it’s futile, you know this but you won’t stop. You can’t stop until you get to him. Until you see what life he made that was so much better without you. 

“Yes, he can,” Bucky’s firm tone and shake did nothing to calm your pain. The pain that had been sitting in the pit of your stomach for a while now. Festering and growing. Leaving everything else grey. 

“He can’t leave me like this.” He frowns at the desperation in your voice. If anyone understood your pain it would be him but even he knew he had to let go of Steve. Steve deserved his time to rest, his time to put down the mantle of Captain America. 

“But he did.” You freeze facing the ground, the pressure of tears collecting. That’s right he did, he left you here, to pick up the pieces of lives he wrecked. He left you to fix this all without him by your side for support. He left you. He. Left. You.

But you wouldn’t let that be the final word. Placing our hands on Bucky’s chest his gaze softens at your touch, hoping you were coming back to him. Only to feel you push him with air manipulation sending him sailing into a tree. 

He clamors to his feet as fast as possible, running towards you as you step onto the pad. “No!”

Bucky yelled your name out as your body dematerialized on the pad. The rush of the time tunnels dizzying in your emotional state. You fall to one knee when you land in 1951. You weren’t sure what time Steve stepped in but you knew from history where Peggy Carter lived in the United States as she ran SHIELD. 

You’d toured the house once when you were a naive SHIELD cadet. So sure that doing the right thing meant everything would get you what you wanted as well. Naive that the paths would never diverge.

Standing up you tap the watch, the nanotech causing your normal attire to materialize. With purposeful strides, you walk up the door and before you can knock Steve is opening the door with a stern look on his face that flatters at the sight of you.

Your name falls from his lips in a whisper, those lips that have worshipped every inch of your body. You can feel the adrenaline course through, without a second thought you punch him in the face.

“Son of a-” Steve stops while holding his nose, the pain radiating across his face then centralizing in his nasal passage. He was fairly certain the cartilage was snapped.

“You don’t get to leave without a real goodbye.” You holler, tears rolling from your eyes. “You don’t get to just leave me!” You shove him through the threshold. He stumbles at the act. Feet tripping over each other. You shove once more and his foot gets caught on the rug behind him coupled with his already compromised balance it takes him to the ground. 

You smile in sick satisfaction seeing him fall so easily. Taking steps over his body you stand above his chest. Looking him straight into his eyes you try your hardest to remain mad, hurt, and rejected. 

Yet, he looks at you with those beautiful blues, the specks of green so vibrant with the shock written all over his face. The words were written all over his face, blood pooling on his upper lip from your punch. That pathetic apologetic look you’d seen so many times. Like a stupid hurt puppy.

“Bet you thought you could just leave and we’d gladly pick up the pieces you left?” You place a foot on the center of his chest as he moves to get back up, pushing him down. You know you don’t have the physical strength he does but he still lays back down. That only infuriated you once more.

“Steven Grant Rogers, the man out of time.” Steve’s eyes narrow at you. “Still lost in time.” You taunt. You bend a knee, looming over him.

“I hope you’re happy.” Steve goes to speak but you slap the time watch, a sense of satisfaction fills you watching his lips turn down, that hurt expression the last thing you want from him. He should hurt too. His lips move to say something but you’re rushing through the time tunnels once more before he can get a word out.

Bucky paced back and forth in front of the pad, wringing his hands together. Steve could leave, he could and did accept Steve leaving. Made easier only by seeing Steve older, wiser, and at peace with his life. He couldn’t recall a time growing up Steve was ever at peace, so to see him like that a soothing balm for the pain of losing his pal. But you, you wouldn’t even look at Steve, you left. 

In the back of Bucky’s mind, he knew you’d take off too. He wasn’t entirely convinced he could handle that. The next thing he knows is an alert of someone on the Compound and a travel watch missing from FRIDAY. 

The last time he drove so recklessly was as the Winter Soldier, but his gut told him it was you. You were going to do something stupid. He just knew it since the last time he saw you. That faraway look, your inability to focus even on Sam’s idiotic jokes. He knew you’d do something stupid. 

Before Bucky could pull out his phone to call Sam the pad making noises. His eyebrows rose to watch you regenerate just where you had left.

You’re both silent as your helmet falls away. Do you tell him what you did? Do you tell him he looked good? He looked rested. That you punched him? Maybe not the last part.

“Where did you go?” Bucky knew the answer but he had to hear it. He was thankful you came back though, you didn’t leave him and the relief that swept through him for that was all-encompassing. 

“You know.” Looking up at the sky, embarrassment settled in looking at your previous actions but you were justified. He left, he had to know how he hurt you  He left people here to just be in pain to hurt. But were you the only one hurting?

“Why aren’t you hurting?” Your voice barely above a whisper. Taking a step down the platform stairs. You falter on the next step, Bucky’s there in an instant. Holding you to his chest pulling you down the last step. 

His chin sits on top of your head, he has to hold you. He needs to know you’re here, that you came back. That you stayed. 

“I am hurting, doll.” He turns his face into your hair, taking a deep breath in. You embrace him in return, his barrel of a chest making it impossible for you to wrap your arms completely around him. “I hurt every day.” 

“Then act like it!” you go to pull from him but he won’t let go. The metal and flesh keep you locked in. 

“What’s the point?” His voice muffled in your hair. “Life will go on regardless. We can only control how we react to it.” 

“I don’t want to keep hurting.” your voice breaks, the looming pressure in your chest blooming. It feels like you’ll burst this time. The tears falling from your eyes faster than before, certainly soaking Bucky’s shirt. Your body shakes in his hold. 

“I know, I know.”  He turns his head, his cheek pushing against the top of your head, gently rocking you back and forth. He wishes he could take it away, your hurt, and put it on top of his own. But this was yours, and he was going to see you through it. Because you stayed.

[theevershipping]

Most Sensible Voltron End Game Ships:

Note: this doesn't mean I don't LIKE other ships, but logically, given that Voltron is a CHILDREN'S CARTOON, these ones make the most sense story-telling wise. Here's why.

Hunk/Romelle:

I start here because I think this will likely be the least controversial. They set up in the first ep of S7 that Romelle and Hunk clearly think alike. They also set up that even though Lance is attracted to Romelle initially, she soon actually annoys him. On the other hand Hunk finds Romelle's thought processes to be so like his own that he acts she's like his own personal God-send ("It's like, I think it, you say it!") Likewise, Romelle seems to rather enjoy her interactions with Hunk, and the way he supports her curiousity. For once Hunk gets to be the one "in the know", and Romelle likes and appreciates the way that he interacts with her.

I know there's a lot of talk about doing right by an LGBTQ+ rep character, but I think the "Nice guy who's really smart and awesome but happens to not be conventionally attractive" rep deserves to get an attractive girl who he really does genuinely like and connect with and who genuinely likes, connects with, and respects him.

Lance/Pidge:

Although we are all understandably wary of trusting anything the writers say at this point, they have pretty much said that they do have an end game for Lance and it's not Allura. While I'd personally love to see a Klance ending, it seems pretty clear that Lance and Keith are both being set up to be straight--Lance shows attraction to basically every conventionally attractive female, and Keith/Acxa is a thing (and a reasonable thing, which I will get to next). So..

Lance and Pidge: first off, Pidge constantly points out and makes fun of Lance's crush on Allura, and at times even seems annoyed by it. She definitely doesn't show any sign of caring about the romantic interests of any of the other characters. Although it's been subtle, as Pidge's priorities have clearly, and rightly, been elsewhere, there's been some hints from the beginning that she's certainly paying attention to Lance's love interests, and is maybe jealous and just covering it up by making fun of him--which is pretty age appropriate, and typical of girls with older brothers: She's more comfortable approaching him on guy level and expressing her annoyances (unconscious jealously) through teasing him and, in the process, attempting to dissuade him from said romantic pursuits.

The writer's stated that Lance would get what he NEEDS in a relationship, not what he WANTS. Pidge is not girly/feminine in an aesthetic sense (what Lance thinks he WANTS), but she's perfectly pretty--it's not like Lance wouldn't be attracted to her once he gets passed his old-school markers of attraction based purely on conventional outer symbols of femininity (I.e. If he saw Pidge a few years older and in a dress, he'd almost certainly have a different reaction to her). Pidge does have an abundance of qualities that Lance NEEDS in a partner.

Pidge and Lance balance and trust each other. They have from the very first episode of Voltron. If you think of the first episode as establishing our main and most relatable characters, we really enter the story through the trio of Lance, Pidge and Hunk. Keith and Shiro--who they are and how they're involved in what's happening--are mostly mysteries to us in the first ep. In the typical trio story set up you have the main male character, who represents ego, in story structure, and you have his two best friends, who represent his ID and Super-ego. Often the Super-Ego character is female, and the ID male. The function of the super-ego is to check, regulate and correct the impulses of the ego, which the ID often supports/supplies. The super-ego, basically, is the one who thinks things through, when the ego doesn't want to, and the ID can't. Pidge is the super-ego.

What Lance NEEDS is someone who he both implicitly trusts and who can be the things he isn't in such a way that it helps him to grow, while still having his partner see him as an equal and having respect for the qualities and strengths he has as an individual and that he contributes to the balance of the relationship.

Allurance shippers will say "Allura can be those things too!" But she can't, because she is not and never will be his equal. She is a 10,000 year old Princess from a race of people that are vastly more evolved than humans. She was raised to rule a planet and take on the burden of the universe. No matter how much she might LIKE Lance and trusts him as an ally and a friend, that quality of equality and challenge that actually attracts confident and capable women to men does not exist between Allura and Lance--which is why she was attracted to Lotor.

The contrast between how Allura reacts to Lotor and how she reacts to Lance is a great representation of what creates actual romantic attraction vs. friendship compatibility: Lotor is her equal in his own right and can challenge her to see and grow beyond her pre-conceived notions, while having enough similarities that he understands and fits into the world she comes from and will return to (that of Galatic leadership and responsibility). Allura and Lance do not have that kind of shared reality and the ability to build together as equals that comes with it.

Pidge and Lance, on the other hand, start from the same place--they're kids who were smart and capable and followed a dream, and who have taken on the unanticipated responsibilities and adventures that came as a consequence of following that dream. They constantly demonstrate that their gut instincts are aligned. They do not have fundemental differences in terms of values and unconscious life expectations, and those things matter when you're talking endgame, because endgame means when two people are grown ups and they have kids and grow old together--that real life stuff.

Allura and Lance might have a minor romantic arch, in fact I suspect they will, because they will need to in order for all both Allura and Lance to fully realize they're not compatible. This will also force Pidge to become conscious of her feelings for Lance. From there we can from there spring board into Pidge/Lance and back into...

Lotor/Allura:

So, I'm not at all surprised we didn't see Lotor or Haggar in Season 7. It would have been too easy. We needed the stakes to be much higher, and the only way to do that was to bring the Galra threat to Earth, which couldn't have happened with Lotor as Emporer, or even with Haggar in charge--she's a much bigger schemer than just blindly chasing those lions across the galaxy like all those dumb male Galra meatheads want to do. Also, it gives her time to realisticly retrieve Lotor, fix him physically, and in the process develop some sort of relationship that would lead to them trusting each other enough to come back (allegedly) on the same side in S8.

I don't want to speculate on the plot of S8, and I won't. But I think that plot stuff aside, Lotor has to come back for the sake of Allura's character development.

ALLURA IS A RACIST. She is not malicious (just like most racists aren't malicious). But she seriously discriminates against the Galra just for them being Galra. She has a reason, no one can deny that--Just like someone who gets beat up by a gang of white guys has a reason to be wary of groups of white men, and they might take the trauma of the experience to the degree that they unconsciously start to demonize white men as a group... The trauma creates predudice because the brain is looking for a way to protect you from the trauma that just occurred. So it notes visual markers associated with the trauma, and when it later sees those markers it gets triggered into a state of flight/fight in order to (ideally) prevent you from reexperiencing the trauma associated with those physical markers. It's an evolutionary imperative--it's why we all jump across the room when we see a spider. But this primal imperative does lead to discrimination against groups of people. In my example, being fearful of groups of white men after being the victim of a gang beating is understandable, but is still a PREJUDICE based on their physical likeness to individuals who committed terrible acts, when in reality those physical traits have nothing to do with the terrible act.

It seemed like Allura was making progress with her predudices because of her relationship with Lotor, but Lotor is half Altean. He had to prove to her several times that he was "civilized" and even more knowledgeable about aspects of Altea than her. She fell in love with the Altean part of him. The literal second that she was given reason (by an ALTEAN stranger) to believe that he'd done something terrible and “GALRAN”, she instantly jumped to betraying him without even listening to his side of the story. This act proves that she didn't ever actually consciously see and acknowledge her predjudice and the irrational assumptions it causes her to make, she just was able to temporarily over look the Galran in Lotor for the Altean. So, Allura still has some major self realization to do in this department.

Next, the rash actions of the Paladins destroyed what could have been peace in the universe. Lotor gave them the option pretty much up until the end to stop and think things through even after they betrayed and attacked him. But at the end of S6 it's pretty clear it's Allura calling the shots on whether or not the team listens to Lotor or fights him. And we all know what happens:

She lets her emotions win. She prioritizes her anger--at herself for trusting a Galra--and she completely fails to care about (and likely think through) the bigger picture. Rather than realizing that the new emperor of a civilization that has been systematically enslaving the Galaxy for 10,000 years is trying to give agency back to planets, to create peace, harmony and a universe that works together to fulfill the needs of the whole, she doesn't even listen to him, she just attacks. With Lotor gone, of course the empire will fall and divide to the various generals of power. If Team Voltron had stopped and thought for 5 seconds about that they maybe would have realized that leaving Lotor in that rift was the most selfish and childish thing they ever could have done, humanitarian principles aside even. How many more worlds besides Earth suffered and will suffer for ALLURA'S emotional reactions that stem most deeply from PREJUDICE?

To be clear:

ALLURA believed the word of an ALTEAN she did not know, over the HALF-GALRAN she had fallen in love with, all because she FEARED she was wrong to trust someone with GALRAN blood: "You're more like Zarkon than I could ever have imagined," she tells Lotor. NOT "You're more like Honerva (AN ALTEAN) who began this whole mess by experimenting on quintessence and what happened when one combines it with their own life force and then became so addicted to it that she went crazy and enabled terrible things to happen to innocent peoples and planets." Nope. Even though in all honesty that comparison would have been more accurate, it didn't occur to Allura to accuse Lotor of being corrupt like his ALTEAN mother. What she says to him is essentially, "You're corrupt (and thus more) like your GALRAN father."

So, in order for Allura to grow into someone who is actually mature and responsible enough to lead the Voltron Colition and bring peace to the Galaxy, she's going to have to see the serious error in her actions, and the root prejudice that actually lead to them. And Lotor will be the one to make her see it.

From the moment the Paladins take Lotor prisoner he points out that Allura is discriminating against him based on species and parentage. It's pretty clear that this is set up to be their arch--Both of them are deeply flawed and magnificently gifted individuals who were born and raised to rule worlds, if not whole galaxies. They both have let their personal fears and flaws get in the way of what they could achieve together. In Allura's case the fatal flaw is predudice. In Lotor's it is lack of trust. He should have told her about the Altean colonies, but, rationally feared that he couldn't trust her to hear him out--irony being, if he'd brought it up privately and volunteered the info she probably would have reacted differently. However, Lotor has never had anyone he's trusted or who has trusted him, so he doesn't know that is how trust works. 😢

These two are designed to point out each other's flaws, and help them to correct them (not to make up for them, but to truly help each other change as people by, essentially, calling each other on their shit.) When they do that--Allura facing her racism; Lotor facing his lack of knowing how to actually trust someone fully--then the fatal flaws that lead to the ending of S6 (and the subsequent inter-galactic crisis that the simultaneous betrayal of these two baby-rulers, has caused) will be obliterated, the fatal flaws cured. Allura and Lotor will then be capable of resuming creating the new era of peace they were attempting before, but this time they will succeed because they will have learned to have real transparency/trust, rather than letting their unconscious fears be reasons to mistrust each other when they need to trust each other the most.

Lotura is a ship that is about real equality combined with real consciousness of self and other in relationships. Neither will be able to mature as characters until they see the flaws in Self that their initial (immature) love brought out in each other; the completion of the circle is then conscious change from seeing these flaws, and then forgiving themselves and each other for them. Only then can they can move into a mature love, which will allow them to bring out the best in each other without being blind to the flaws in each other and themselves.

Real love is seeing and dealing with both the good and bad, not ignoring one in favor of the other (this always backfires, as Lotura's first arch demonstrates). And that is a super valuable relationship lesson, that, in a show for kids, is profound and important. Love is seeing and accepting all of your partner and working together to change the things that need to be changed--not getting mad at each other, refusing to listen to what your partner has to say, deflecting with things like "your just like your dad," and subsequent retaliations that take the couple further away from the real issue, like Lotor does when Allura finally hits his weak spot and his basic response is "oh yeah, well your dad sucked too!" And from there it's all just them both being so hurt that reason is lost. That is the state of immature love.

Lotor and Allura are the only two characters who are each other's equals. They are the only two who can call each other on their shit effectively and who can help the other to change and grow. Their arch is about learning how to do that consciously and maturely. How to trust instead of doubt. How to see through the limitations of ego fears (Allura's prejudice, Lotor's not knowing how to trust) and to consciously choose loyalty to each other and to a fully shared vision. Without doing so, neither of these characters can transform from being in their immature Prince/Princess state to being ready for the mature King/Queen state.

Okay, Next...

Keith/Acxa:

I keep seeing posts where people are saying that this came out of nowhere... frankly, you all need to go back and rewatch the series. Keith and Acxa first meet in season 2 inside the guts of a Weblum. Even though it's clear to them from the start that they're on opposite sides of a war (thank you space suits) they still work together to survive and don't abandon each other even when it might benefit them to do so--they demonstrate immediately that they have a similar honor code/value system.

Every time these two encounter each other, despite remaining on opposite sides, they always help each other in this way that shows they both are in wonder about it--they don't know why, but something, some sort of "I owe you" that can't ever seem to be repaid no matter how often they help each other, is just in affect between them. Obviously, this continues to mount in S7.

So, why can't they just be friends? Well maybe they can, but I don't think that's where this is going...

For one thing, Keith is clearly drawn to his Galran side. He wants to be with the Blades of Mamora more than Team Voltron for a long stretch of time. Then he meets his Galran mom. Keith never got along well with other humans, as is established all over S7. He does get along with all these Galrans.

Those of you who know psychology know, we pretty much always marry some variation of our parents. Keith has a Galran mom who he likes and loves a lot. Acxa fits his mommy archetype. And, she's a half-breed like him--she knows what it's like to not fully belong to any one people.

Plus, as stated and well established in canon, these two just can't help but constantly save each other. I think more than ANY ship possibility, this one is obvious, and would totally make end-game sense.

So...

Shiro/???:

On the one hand, I'd love to see everyone all happy and paired up living happily ever after, but think it completely fits all of Shiro's character development to end up alone.

S7 firmly establishes that as a person, Shiro's ambitions/dreams matter more to him than the emotional needs of his partner, Adam. That's okay, there's nothing wrong with that, but, as a personality trait, it's not going to make for a happy long term relationship. In relationships you need to be willing to sacrifice things for your partner--not everything, not all the time--but you don't have the right to make serious decisions that affect you both without giving weight to the other person's needs. Shiro makes it clear that Adam's feelings don't matter to his decision to go on the Kerberos mission. That's not good partnering.

Adam, on the other hand, demonstrates a much more partner-oriented approach. He knows this is Shiro's dream, and because he loves him, he put his own wants/fears aside to support Shiro going on his first mission. He doesn't want to stop Shiro from being happy, but, when he tells Shiro that if Shiro goes AGAIN, Adam won't be here when he gets back, he's realizing that he's got to let Shiro understand that he can't be the only one in their relationship caring about the other's feelings. Adam needs a partner who will give the relationship serious weight in serious life decisions. Shiro demonstrates through his actions that he does not value the relationship more than his ambitions.

Shiro is a great team leader, but that doesn't necessarily make him a good life partner.

So, if Shiro ends up realizing this about himself and choosing to not have a romantic partnership, there is a really valuable lesson and story line there:

In American culture there is a lot of pressure to pair up. We are taught from childhood that real happiness hinges upon being partnered--at the end of every Disney movie the princess and prince finally get to be together forever and this is how we know they will "live happily every after". But not everyone is suited to relationships--and that has nothing to do with sexuality.

Shiro is gay, but that doesn't make him intrinsically more suited to long-term relationships than being straight makes anyone suited to long term relationships.

The LGBTQ+ community seems to be offended that Shiro isn't being represented in a relationship, but honestly I think they're being done a great service--Shiro is being understood as human rather than as his sexuality. His sexuality doesn't make him who he is. Being honest with himself about whether or not long-term relationships are actually something he is built for, is important for everyone to think about, and it's maybe especially important for LGBTQ+ kids to have a role model who does think about this.

One of the dangers of being LGBTQ+ is that people unconsciously reduce you to being a label--and you are so so much more than that label. Your sexuality is just one facet of Self, just like being straight is just one facet of Self for straight people. The pressure to be in a relationship as "proof" of your "identity" is very real for young LGBTQ+ kids, and the fear of leaving a relationship once you find one is far more intense because you fear your options are limited and you might not find someone else of your sexuality/who accepts your sexual-identity. So, LGBTQ+ kids are more vulnerable to staying in relationships that they've outgrown as a result of semi-conscious societal pressure to both pair up and to "prove" their "identity", and to fear that they might not ever find another relationship.

Shiro being the rep for the LBGTQ+ community teaches kids that you can be any sexuality/sexual-identity, and it doesn't change anything else about you--it doesn't change that you're smart and skilled and capable of being a space pilot, it doesn't change that it's perfectly possible and okay for a relationship (or even long term relationships in general) to not be right for you, it doesn't change your ability to be a good team leader... it doesn't change or mean anything else about you any more than a straight person being straight does. It's a facet of Self, to be weighed against many many other facets of Self.

...All that said, if they do somehow make it canon that Adam miraculously survived and he and Shiro are end game, that could be a great character development arch too, as long as it involves Shiro acknowledging that if he's going to resume being in a relationship with Adam he has to make decisions WITH Adam, and respect that Adam's emotions and needs matter equally to his own. If Shiro isn't willing to chose the truly rational emotional well-being of his partner (I mean Adam was reasonably scared that Shiro would die in space) over his own ambitions, he's not compatible with Adam. And that's okay too.

And, lastly:

Zethrid/Ezor:

Here's another rep for the LGBTQ+ community. In contrast to Shiro's story line, which may end up with him consciously deciding that committed relationships aren't as important to him as other parts of life and is happy being alone, we are now being introduced to a relationship in which two women who have worked together for a long time are discovering happiness through exploring their romantic connection. From what we've seen in S7, it looks like Zethrid and Ezor are experiencing a deeper trust and intimacy as a result of their new relationship.

I think it's great for two characters who are largely portrayed as villains/secondary shades-of-gray characters to demonstrate to people how relationships can change your priorities. Zethrid and Ezor seem to have made each other the first priority, rather than the ever-convoluted mission. They're still in the middle of this war, but now they care most about looking out for each other, rather than prioritizing the Galra Empire or Lotor. They are finding meaning in what they've fought for through their love for each other. I think they will be taken on an arch that is the opposite of Shiro's, in which they increasingly discover that their relationship and love for each other matters more to them than the military ambitions that may have once fueled them as individuals. ❤️

In conclusion:

While I think this is clear, in case it isn't, I am not bashing on ANY ship in this post, I'm just explaining why I think these ships are the logical end game ships for good story telling.

If you are so inclined, I'd love to hear your thoughts presented in a respectful and legible manner. ❤️

Thanks for reading, I know it's a long one. 😅

[the-k1d15]

Jupiter

I had a story in my head for a bit but this scene is the one I thought of the most so if I could have opinions that'd be great. "Phew, that was a close call you guys. The next job cannot go off without a hitch" I said raising my voice so I could be heard through the earpiece. "First off: next job? We have plenty of cash. We don't need to do this anymore, we could HELP people!" I heard Sarah voice echoing back at me through the earpiece. "David, a little help please?" Pleading in my voice "Yeah Sarah, why are you so against us? We've never-" David was cut of by a loud shriek that reverberated throughout the entire area. "What was that?" He asked I could tell the noise took him by surprise. I dropped on the roof of the first building I could and listened "GET OFF ME!" The voice, now that I could hear clearly, was a girl. Her voice coming from somewhere in the alley. I jumped from building to building until I caught sight of the scene unfolding on the ground. "Come on girlie, don't give us any trouble" a brutish man covered in tattoos sneered at her. "We just wanna take you for a little ride" From the looks of it the girl had managed to find a broken bottle that seem to be keeping the thugs at bay for the time being. "STAY the hell away from me!" She growled back at the men as they began to close in. She was way out numbered 3-1. I have to admit, it pulled on my heart strings a bit but what could I do? I was no hero. "I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING!! You could be a hero! Go help her!" After being distracted by the scene in front of me so long the sound of Sarah's chastising tone pulled me back to reality. "I don't think so, I'll screw it up. Prolly end up hurting her too." I answered deadpan. It's not that I didn't want to be a hero, it's that I couldn't be a hero. All I did was screw things up, and hurt those I tried to help. Whoever this mystery woman was she could probably fend for herself better than I could. "I'm with the buzz kill on this one Angela," I heard David agreeing "you might not be a hero, but I know you aren't heartless either" That comment hit me harder than I thought it would. "If you ever tell anyone I have a heart, I'll rip yours out and don't call me that" I mutter under my breathe. "I HEARD THAT! And both of us know you have morals" David retorted "The same warning applies" I said returning my attention to the action at hand. While I was distracted the girl had lost her bottle and was fighting them hand to hand. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't impressed. She was taking them out very easily. When I saw her land a kick square in ones throat I figured she was better off without me so I turned to leave. Then I heard tires screeching. I spun on my heel to see that another van had pulled up releasing at least 5 more guys. Whoever this war goddess was she didn't seem to mind the extra challenge. That is until one of the previously defeated got up and grabbed her. That got my attention really quick. I didn't even wait for a morale boost or a an all clear from my team. I just sprung into action at the sight of her being man handled. The moment my feet hit the ground I started swinging. My staff still behind my back I decided that straight up violence was the best answer. I ran up to the brute that had her gripped by the collar and hair "duck!" I yelled, she got the gist and moved down right as I planted a fist directly on his nose splattering blood everywhere. The guys hands immediately tried to move to his nose. I caught his hands before that and shoved him into the wall. All I saw was red. This women hadn't done anything. Yet here these thugs were trying to tear her down, kill her even. I may not be the best person in the world but I do not stand for injustice. "You deserve this" I growled and I could feel my eyes glowing brighter with the purple light. I summoned some electricity to my hand and put it to his throat. He began to seize from the amount of electricity flooding his system. I held tight "That's enough!! He's had enough!" It was the woman shouting behind me. The woman and the attackers alike had stopped in their tracks and were watching me terrified. "How can you say that? He was going to hurt you! Probably kill you," I growled tightening my grip sending another wave of my power through him causing him to shriek in pain, "he deserves no mercy" I reached to grab my staff so I could send a bolt of lightning and take care of the others but before I could the girls hand caught my wrist in a firm grip. The electric pulse in my hand died at the sudden touch and I let the man fall to the ground. "I said, that's enough. They're going to leave," she said looking directly at me, her eyes held firm with mine. All I could do was narrow my eyes and glare. I don't like being touched and I especially don't like taking orders. "They don't deserve the luxury of being able to walk away" I was still seething with anger "they were going to hurt you and you're just going to let them leave?! I could take care of them right now" I struggled against her grasp still trying to reach for my staff so I could take full control of my powers but she only tightened her grip on my wrist. "I didn't need your help to begin with, but now you're here and I'm saying leave it!" Her voice was low but fierce. Again I don't like taking orders, I barely take suggestions. I still stood there never breaking the challenging gaze. "Just leave it, not worth your time jup" I heard David say in my ear. I hate that nickname. With a final growl I yell to the gang that was still gaping at me. "Fine! Go, you better be glad she's here or else you might not have been so lucky. Grab your friend and get out of my sights!" As they pass by me to retrieve their fallen friend i made one more attempt at my staff only to have this, human embodiment of a headache, of a woman embarrass me further by pulling by wrist above my shoulder. "I'm gonna shock her" I finally decided. "YOU WILL DO NO SUCH THING!!" I heard Sarah yell through into my ear causing me to flinch. The girl saw me and smiled "am I scaring you now?" She was teasing me. I do not like her, I should have left. "I fear nothing! Especially not some damsel in distress!" I was still fuming as the thugs loaded their friends unconscious body into their van and sped off, "and FWI I was LETTING you hold me! If I had really wanted to I could have ripped out of your grip." I told her finally being released from her stupid death grip. "Then why didn't you?" She said matter-a-factly "Yeah why didn't you?" David asked "Shut up David! As for you-," is said point directly at her "I didn't want to hurt you, I have what some might mistake for anger issues-" "You do have anger issue, and a short temper, and-" "DIDNT I SAY SHUT UP DAVID!" I more than likely looked crazy in front of this mystery woman but I didn't care. "Anyway," getting back to my explanation "I don't know what I would've done if I had just ripped from your grasp, so I didn't" "Well, mrs.Anger issues, do you have a name? I'm Veronica." She extended her hand towards me but I turned away. "I don't do touching, and don't worry about who I am I'm leaving" And just like that I was off. For a full minute before I started plummeting to the ground again. He's near No no no no, this can't happen. Not now. I can't- Before i could finish my thought I hit the ground hard. My earpiece exploding with shouts of concern "Angela!! What happened?! What's going on?!" I felt my throat start closing and I was gasping for air. All of a sudden a shadow fell over me. Oh great, I'm probably gonna die here, how fun. "What happened to you?" It was the women, what was her name? Veronica. Veronica was here. "Hey stay with me." Her voice was calm and comforting. No matter though, I started to fall unconscious. That feeling however never faded. It put me on edge especially now that I was vulnerable. That someone was doing this. He's near All I saw was black as I felt myself being lifted up. You will never succeed. Succeed in what? Who is speaking? I couldn't see anything, All there was was a ringing in my ears and a voice. This voice. I don't know why you even bother trying. You are nothing more than a low life thief with no one but yourself. He isn't wrong, that's exactly what I was. I couldn't care less about that though. I just wanted to know what was going on. Do you really believe you could even stand in my wake and survive? Let alone fight me? Compared to my power you are nothing more than an ant on the ground. This on the other hand strikes a nerve. No one challenges me. I fear nothing. I refuse to be considered weak, I refuse to ever be vulnerable. Prepared to be squashed little bug, you have no idea what's coming for you. "Yeah!?" I shouted into this void "if you're so unstoppable come out and fight me now!! Or do you prefer to hide and fight from a distance like a coward? Come at me! FACE ME!" I refuse to be weak, I refuse to back down. This voice, this aggravating voice, laughed but with no humor. All in due time little bug, but for now I will give you a taste of what is to come. And just like that my body locked up and all I could feel was pain. It was as if my blood was made of fire and each of my bones were snapping. "Hey" what was that? "Wake up" What? I felt a weight on my should and it burned at first and all I could do was cry out. Then the touch turned cool and it began to chase the pain away from the spot where the weight laid. "Get up" I started to shake and soon not even the comfort of the weight help the pain became to much. I cracked my eyes open take in the light. Terror filled me. Where was I? I tried shooting up from the laying position I was in and cried out in pain. Everything hurt and my entire body felt strained. Never the less I tried to move anyway despite my aches. "Lay back down" there was that voice again. "What?" I finally took in the sight before me. Veronica the woman from the alley was standing over me in some bedroom I didn't recognize as my own. "I said lay back down" she told me firmly "what? No! I have no g-graaahh!!" A shot of pain went up my spine to the back of my head. It was so intense that I saw stars for a moment. Veronica gently put her hands on my shoulders to push me back down to a laying position. I was about to move away from the touch but that cool and healing feeling began to come back where her hands were. I took a sharp breath at the momentary relief and she quickly pulled her hands away making me collapse on the mattress feeling near death once again. "I'm sorry did I hurt you?" Her voice actually sounds full of concern. I tried to calm my breathing and lay still so the pulse of pain would die away slightly "no the opposite actually, could you-uh..." I didn't really know how to ask because well, I just didn't "can I see your hand?" She raised an eye brow quizzically but obliged anyway. She put her hand out to me and I gratefully put it on the back of my neck where the pain seemed to be the worst. At first the touch made me hiss causing her to try and pull away, but I looked up at her with my best pleading look and allowed her hand to relax again. After a moment the feeling came back. Cold but comforting. Chasing away the pain and even the dream. "Um-do you think you could, like, um, maybe, keep your-your ha-hand there?" I stuttered out. As awkward as having a stranger touch me was, I don't even let my friends touch me, I was very desperate for relief of the pain. "Sure, I don't mind. Can I sit down tho?" She asked as if it was a normal request "Um I'm assuming this is your home so you can probably make that call yourself" I said some of my old sarcasm coming back. She chuckled and nodded sitting on the bed next to me. Oh, I thought she meant a chair. I could feel her watching me so I averted my gaze down towards myself and the situation just got worse. I was in nothing more than my sports bra and underwear. I could feel my face heating up at the realization. This is not good. She is very close to me, I would be uncomfortable if I was fully clothed. She must have noticed my expression of terror and my beat read face because she gave me a sincere look "hey it's okay, nothing to be worried about. Your clothes are hanging up in the laundry room" she obviously was not picking up what my discomfort was about. "That's not it, I'm just, I'm kinda half naked and you're touching me and I-" "You feel vulnerable" she finished "Yeah your friends said you have a thing about dominance and stuff like that" I shot up quick feeling a wave of nausea wash over me as I did so. Luckily most of the pain was gone. "My friends?" I said trying not to be sick "okay, I do not have a dominance thing! I'm just not okay with being perceived as weak. Another thing I wasn't going to say vulnerable, I was going to say awkward!"I had more to say but that though was cut off when she forcefully push me back down holding me in place. "Everything that you just said, just proves you have a dominance thing. Now stay down before you hurt your self!" She was glaring at me now but I didn't care. As I've said already, I. Do not. Take. Orders! I broke the gaze and moved her hands off of me getting up and looking for my clothes. "What are you doing?!" She yelled at me as I began to walk through her home in search of the laundry room. "Looking for my stuff so I can leave" I yell right back. I finally found my stuff, nothing more than my black jeans and galaxy tank top with the hood and mask along with my black high tops. My staff must have switched back and took the form of my class ring while I was unconscious. Luckily it never left my side. I began to throw my clothes on when a second wave of nausea and fatigue hit me and slumped to the ground. I saw a small trash can and seized it throwing up nothing but bile. Nasty. "You arent going anywhere" Veronica appeared in the door way. I swear this time I'm gonna shock her. "Oh yeah, are you gonna stop me?" I tried to sound confident while struggling to put on my shirt. Due to the pain in my muscles and bones it was proving to be quite the challenge. Veronica calmly walked over and drew my arms above my head gently. Her touch making them feel better so I allowed her to do it. "Yes I am, your buddies in your ear told me to keep you here while they figured some stuff out." She told me as she pulled the shirt over me. "I have things to do, I need to leave" I tried to push past her but she snatched the hood of my shirt and pulled me back to her. "No" she said firmly. She looked down at me. I was now fully able to take in her visage unlike the night before it had been too dark. Now I could see perfectly. Her long blonde hair framed her lightly tanned face. She actually looked quite attractive especially with the look she was giving me. It was fierce, but I wasn't going to let my mind be clouded. She was at least 4 inches taller than me so my glare probably didn't have the same affect due to the fact that I had to look up. The thing that caught my attention the most were her eyes. They were strange but intriguing. I couldn't decide the color exactly. It was like a mixture of them all. A blue-ish green-ish gray-ish everything-ish that was actually kind of beautiful. I felt my scowl fade slightly as I looked into them. Still a pointed look on her face but I couldn't care less. Her eyes just mesmerized me. "You aren't leaving" she said again. The sudden interruption of my thoughts cleared my head. "Yes I am!" I said back defiantly again trying push past her. This time however I was taken by total surprise. She grabbed me by waist pulling me back, spinning me around and promptly throwing me over her shoulder. "WHAT THE HELL!?" I yelled with an underlying growl. "Put me down!!" And tried to wiggle free but she held tight "no" was all she said. Didn't stop me from squirming. "Let me go you titan!!!" She took me back to the room I came and set me on a couch. "Stay" she pointed at me and went to fetch something. I immediately moved for the window and was about to open it to jump out when she came back. "Not a smart idea, windows are painted shut. Here's your ear piece, your friends want to talk to you" she said tossing me my earpiece. Why would someone paint a window shut? That totally defeats the purpose of a window. "Jupiter to base. Do y'all copy?" I said after turning it on and putting it in my ear. "We copy Angela, how are you feeling?" I hear Sarah reply after a while. "I said don't call me that. I'm fine though, better than ever. Where are y'all?" I said lying so I could leave. Veronica still in the room grabbed me by my collar and pulled me close so she could talk through the ear piece as well. "She is not fine, she threw up and collapsed trying to leave earlier. I had to carry her to get her back in here" she said right against my ear sending shivers down my back with her warm breath. I immediately tried to break away only to be pulled back again so she could listen "Nice try Angela, stay there. It's not safe for you to come back to us just yet" I heard David say. "What isn't safe?" I said ignoring the use of my legal name this time. I just wanted some answers and my own team was making me feel incompetent. "We'll fill you in when you come back, just stay with Veronica for another day okay? She said it was fine" Sarah added. "But guys!!!-" I was starting to wine but was cut off "NO! Stay put!" I heard David say finally. Usually he'd be on my side so once he told me that I knew there was no point arguing. "Fine, stay in touch though." I told them "will do" the two said in unison "Alright, Jupiter out" I voiced monotone. My face resting back in its natural scowl and my head low in defeat. What's going on? Why won't they tell me? Veronica pulling the piece from my ear reminded me I was still in her grasp. I was able to break away and stand in from of her. "First things first, ground rules-" I tried saying before being cut off. "My house I set those" Veronica said she said with a smug smile. Having assumed she won because I was not fighting staying here anymore. "I have rules none the less-" cut off again by Veronica's voice. "So your name is Angela?" She said walking in a circle around me trying to touch my shoulder which I quickly evaded. "No, that name is dead. You call me Jupiter. Back to the rules-" "Why is it dead? Your friends called you Angela." She said stopping in front of me again. This woman will not let me get a sentence out. "Can I finish my sentence please?" Anger slightly obvious in my tone. "Are you getting upset?" She said trying to poke my nose. I flinched from the contact. Obviously taking some satisfaction in my anger. "Yes! I am, and the rule I'm trying to establish is- I DONT LIKE BEING TOUCHED!" I finally managed to get the sentence out "so please, don't touch me, contact makes me slightly uncomfortable." "You wanted me to touch you earlier" she said again trying to question my rule and put her hand Behind my neck as I had let her before, again trying to get a rise out of me. This time however I allowed it. It calmed my nerves and uneasiness. From all the movement I'd just done the pain had started to resurface. "See you don't seem to be fighting off this touch. Why?" I couldn't tell if she was genuinely curious or trying to anger me again. Not caring which I forced myself to move from the grasp and back towards the bed and laid curled on my side. Keeping my scowl. I hate this situation. This woman was immediately infuriating. She challenged my every move annnnnd-what is she doing? She started getting under the covers beside me and getting comfortable. "May I ask what is you think you're doing?" I said calmly but obviously annoyed. "Laying down in my bed to go to sleep" she answered quick as if it didn't matter I was here. "Uhmm...I'm kinda in the bed already" "I know, goodnight" she said it again in that tone as if she didn't care. "Do I leave or what?" I was honestly confused. "No go to sleep, we slept like this last night" she said turning to face me. I slept next to her last night? As I was in a nightmare? IN MY UNDERWEAR?! I groaned internally and I could feel my face heat up. She chuckled, her laugh was actually kinda cute-no, no, nope, no-she was insufferable. "Are you getting a wee bit embarrassed? Yeah you started thrashing around so I had to hold you and you started to calm down. You didn't do it again until I left" she held me? IN MY UNDERWEAR?! This day couldn't get any worse. I just turned the other way and closed me eyes. Determined not to think about what I just heard. Before I knew it sleep took me. Sadly, so did the nightmare. The little bug returns again, did you enjoy the taste of my power? The voice was back and louder this time. No comment? No challenge? Have I already broken you? He taunted me. Just his voice angered me but this was cutting my temper shorter and shorter Perhaps I misread you, maybe you are weaker than I first assumed. Too weak to be the hero you know you are needed to be. "I CHOOSE NOT TO BE A HERO!" I screamed "that doesn't make me weak! I am not weak! I will find you and I will be the death of you!" I wish I had my staff, or anything. At the very least to see him Oh the little bug seems to want another example of what I can do? A jolt went through me but I held firm having felt it before. "Is that all you have? Cause if it is I'll destroy you faster than I thought!" I yelled feeling triumphant as I took the pain. Oh I see you found yourself a utopian healer. Their powers can only take you so far little bug. Perhaps we'll try something else. Just like that my head filled with explosions and my throats began to close. What's happening? I tried to scream but nothing would come out. "Shhh, you're okay. Just relax." I heard her voice pull me from my hellish nightmare. I was thrashing trying to scratch at my throat. Where I was expecting to feel pain as I had before my body was filled with that familiar coolness. I opened my eyes not having realized I had them shut tightly. I found myself press up against this girl I barely knew. I however didn't fight the embrace she had seemingly pulled me into, instead relished in it. Allowing my head to nuzzle under her chin and keeping my arms press to my chest hands clutch at the collar of my shirt. No matter how much I hate to admit this even in my head I'd come to figure out two things. 1: I was scared. Scared to close my eyes for fear of being taken back to that pain filled hell where I had no power over my enemy. I couldn't fight and for once I really did feel vulnerable. 2: somehow this girl, this utopian healer, as the voice called it. Helped. I didn't know her, but I didn't have to. All I cared about at the moment was that she held me leaving me incapable of thrashing by putting that familiar hand on my neck and the other wrapping around my waist. Whatever she was doing worked. When she tried to pull away I grabbed her collar and just moved my head so I could nuzzle deeper under her chin and into her neck. "Please don't let go yet" I asked my voice broken and raspy. Asking a total stranger to hold me I didn't care if it sounded needy or desperate because for some odd reason her embrace helped. All she did was say "okay" and wrap her arms tighter around me. What was happening to me?