#HAPPY SAW XI ANNOUNCEMENT EVERYONE!

[hosseinis]

LEIGH WHANNELL as ADAM FAULKNER-STANHEIGHT ↳ "My name is very fucking confused! What's your name?"

[rrenzwrld]

secreto de amor XI

chapter 11! read chapter 10 here

ever since jean came home you thought things would go back to normal and your feelings you thought you had for connie would subside. but they didn’t. in fact, it seemed as if they got stronger in the midst of his absence around the house because he wasn’t coming around as often as he was before. you didn’t know what changed on his end but today would be the first time you cared enough to find out.

“hey,” jean looked up from his laptop as you walked into his room.

“hey, what’s wrong?”

“did you and connie like…fall out or something? he doesn’t come over like that anymore.”

“no we’re still cool, we just haven’t been talking as much. i hope he’s okay though, why?”

“just wondering, bye.” you left before he could ask you anything else. you had work later on that day but all you could think about was connie. it was like something in you ached for him and his presence and you hated it. you haven’t felt this way about anyone since your ex and you saw how that turned out.

but then you remembered you still had his number so you texted him and got a response immediately.

he was coming over after his shift and you hoped you’d be off work by then but then you had to get your thoughts straight because the only reason you were hoping to be off was to see a man. emotions and feelings genuinely scared you.

but unfortunately connie came by while you were finishing your shift at work so you didn’t get to see him. but you didn’t trip over it because you knew you’d see him some other time even if it was months from now until he showed up at your job while you were closing. you didn’t even remember telling him where you worked or what kind of hours you had.

“wassup.” connie walked in greeting you.

“aye man, we closed.” your coworker announced.

“i’m with her..” connie gestured to you, finishing up your task and walking over to him. from connie’s perspective, he didn’t know if you were happy to see him or not because your face was so unreadable.

“how’d you know what time i got off?”

“jean told me. went to see him today, remember?”

“right right, i forgot.”

“forgot? your memory is actually terrible.” he laughed and earned a playful shove from you in response.

“so you gonna introduce us or keep cupcaking in front of us like kids?” you introduced connie to your coworkers and gathered a great response to him collectively. since you’ve been working at your job for a while, your coworkers were like your friends because you talked to them whenever you had the time in between work tasks about whatever and they did the same to you.

when everyone exited the space for the night, you and connie were conversing by your car.

“i’m sorry for being gone for so long. i hope you didn’t think i was ghosting you or anything.”

“i just assumed you were busy anyway, it’s cool.” you lied. it wasn’t all that cool for you but of course you wasn’t gonna mention that to him.

“why do you do that?” he looked at you inquisitively

“do what?”

“brush off how you really feel. because i know it wasn’t cool that i just stopped talking to you like that.”

you debated on whether or not you should’ve told the truth about how you really felt for a change or if the situation was even serious enough.

“you’re right, it wasn’t cool. plus you stopped talking to jean too and

he—“ connie grabbed your hand, holding it softly like a delicate flower and caressing it with his fingertips.

“this isn’t about jean. you know that.” how he was looking at you really didn’t help your feelings outside to either. even in the dark, slightly brightened up by dimly lit street lights in the area, you could follow connie’s hazel eyes as they roamed you.

“then what is it about?” you pulled you hand away.

“you. how you feel.”

“it doesn’t matter. you’re talking to me now, right?”

“yeah—“

“then there’s nothing more to discuss. i’m just glad you saw jean today, i’m sure it gave him a peace of mind.”

“i’m glad i saw you today.” if you were a few shades lighter, the blush on your cheek would be more than visible.

“good…you going home right?”

“yeah, i was gonna ask if you wanted to come over my place.” you stared blankly at him.

“for what?”

“i don’t know, just to chill out i guess. i know you’ve never been so…” he was right. you barely went anywhere outside of your own space, let alone another man’s house.

you hummed before answering with words. “sure. i’ll follow you out.” a bright smile appeared on connie’s face which made you begin to wonder if there was a reason why he wanted you to come over.

you followed connie to his apartment, got out and went inside. you didn’t know what to expect but you hadn’t expected it to look so neat. even though it was a smaller space fit just enough for him, he didn’t make it look cluttered at all.

“¿te gusta?” he turned to you but you looked at him with confusion because of the spanish.

“what?” he laughed.

“do you like it?” you nodded.

“yeah. cleaner than i expected.” connie was visibly offended.

“what’s that supposed to mean?” he crossed his arms.

“i expected you to be messy and unorganized. proved me wrong, i guess.” you shrugged.

“you guess…” connie plopped down on his couch and your body moved to follow him. “you’re so nonchalant. like have you ever given a fuck in your entire life?” no one has ever said anything like that to you before. you’re so used to people saying the opposite so this was a new observation.

“i have. and i’m not nonchalant, i just don’t be having a lot to say.” your voice got quiet towards the end of the sentence as you looked down at your hands.

“i understand. you just seem like you don’t really care for a lot of things.”

“i don’t.” you said bluntly

“but you just said you weren’t nonchalant.”

“that’s different.”

“no it’s not.”

“yes it is.”

“well…do you at least care about me?” connie looked at you as if he was making sure you wouldn’t escape his question, using only his eyes.

“in what way?” you met his gaze.

“any way.”

“any way?” you didn’t know if it was you or connie but your bodies were drawn closer to each other to the point where your nose nearly touched his and you could point out every freckle on his face.

“yeah.”

“i do…” connie’s hand moved up to gently caress your cheek. without even touching the rest of your body, that one movement shot bolts through you. you haven’t felt anything like that in a long time and you wondered how long it would last. why it was happening.

“really?”his voice adopted a softer tone as his face moved closer to yours. “show me.” as if it was on instinct, your lips moved to connect with connie’s. the kiss felt as magical as your first one was supposed to feel but then you realized that you might actually really love connie. more than you’ve ever really loved any man outside of family. his lips were soft like small peaches on his freckled face and his tongue swiped over yours effortlessly, as if any of this was meant to happen. at the time, neither of you had a care in the world and you wanted this moment to last forever but…nothing lasts forever.

“shit..” you picked up your ringing phone to answer jean. connie watched as you had a small conversation with your brother and hoped that you’d have enough balls to tell him you were staying longer instead of feeling guilty about upsetting him. now that he finally had a taste of you, he wasn’t sure he was willing to let it go.

“i’m gonna go…” a pout formed on connie’s face and you instantly felt bad. “jean was bout to worry himself to death when i didn’t call him when i got off. i’m sorry.” you gathered your things and stood up off the couch, walking towards the door with connie following behind.

“i understand, i’ll see you again tomorrow right?” you weren’t too sure.

“i don’t know, connie…” he grabbed your hand and intertwined his fingers with yours, gazing at you with pleading eyes.

“please?” you playfully rolled your eyes before standing on the tips of your toes to place a kiss on connie’s cheek.

“you’re such a child.”

“love you too. drive safe, text me.” you nodded before getting in lola and driving off.

love?

[parjiljehavey]

this isn’t where we intended to be

A/N: Because we don’t know the details of how Boba survived the Sarlacc, I hand waved it. Am I shamelessly blending Legends into this? Yep. Don’t stop me now, I’m having a good time! 

I also forgot to mentioned that the titles are lyrics from You Must Love Me. Madonna or Lana Del Rey, both are valid and full of feels.

Tagging: @escapedthesarlacc​, @silverfish-kingdom​, @shadowfoxey​, @fresa-luna​

Rating: T for Teen

Content Warnings: Angst, Bad Spy/Military jargon and descriptions, Boba Is Pining, We got some Surprise Appearances at the end.

PREVIOUS // NEXT

ix.

The first thing the Imperials did after setting up their garrison was confiscate any weapons. They searched house by house, apartment by apartment. The only things they didn’t take were the kitchen knives. You were lucky enough that the panic room Boba built was hidden from almost every scanner imaginable, leaving the armory Boba had on this world unseized. 

Jekiah had chosen then to wail his little heart out from the bedroom, announcing his anger that his noon meal was being delayed to all who could hear. It took everything in you to not laugh when the stormtroopers and the scrawny little officer with them flinched. 

There was a diner around the corner from the apartment that you had started frequenting because you had became obsessed with their milkshakes during your pregnancy. The twi’lek that owned it was an older woman with long lekku she draped around her neck who carried herself in a way that you recognized. 

It was Sinya’s diner that the locals gathered in afterhours to discuss the Imperial occupation a month after the weapons has been taken. The blinds were shut, casting the room in near darkness except for the dim green glow of the menu signs.

Jekiah was strapped to your chest, content to sleep against your breast while voices rose when someone in the diner proposed fighting back against the Empire. A raucous arose as all attending agreed. 

Sinya spoke up, “We’ll need to run reconnaissance to get a better idea of their numbers and the heat they’re packing.”

You should have kept your mouth shut and your head down, if only for Jekiah’s sake. It’s what Boba would have wanted you to do; with few exceptions, when did you ever do what Boba wanted? 

“I can take care of that.” Heads turned and the crowd parted to stare at you, a woman with her baby. Sinya looked at you, and you looked at her. A tattooed brow was raised.

“You sure?” She gestured to Jekiah. 

You looked down at your son, rubbing your thumb over his dark downy hair. He nestled his face further against your breast, seeking out your heartbeat. 

“Yes. I am.”

x.

He had woken up with the gritty taste of sand in his mouth, his skin burning and itching, and his armor missing. Shab’la Jawas.

It was the Sand People, who had ultimately rescued him and tended to the wounds he’d gained from the Sarlacc. He wasn’t able to translate what they were saying without his buy’ce, but he was able to communicate enough with them with the sign language that any hunter worth their spit learned when they spent enough time chasing targets through the sands of Tatooine. 

He was given clothing and weapons once he was well enough to leave, and went on his way to begin the long trek back to Jabba’s palace. He had no doubt that anything that wasn’t nailed down had already been taken after news of the Hutt’s death had spread. Boba was confident that the Slave I was still where he had left it when he arrived. 

Sure enough, the Firespray-31 was still there. Usually, he’d lower the ramp through his HUD, however, lacking his armor, Boba had to use the security code. It hadn’t changed in decades; he had it memorized. Accessing the security logs, Boba cursed.

It’d been five months since he left you heavily pregnant in his safehouse. 

Fierfek.

xi.

A week after the meeting, you left Jekiah with your neighbor, two older women who had cooed over Jekiah ever since you’d come back from the medical center. Jekiah had learned how to cling to your shirt and had refused to let go, right up until a brightly colored nexu plush entered his field of vision. He’d been entranced with the neon pink toy and had let go easily after that. 

The Zabrak grinned, “One of our nephew’s old toys. He won’t miss it.”

Returning to the apartment, you opened the panic room. Weapons lined the wall, far out of reach of a child and a case held your gear. The armorweave long coat and pants you had once worn regularly were a little too tight across your belly and hips, but thankfully, you still had mobility. You could handle this small discomfort; it was nothing compared to the later stages of your pregnancy and Jekiah’s birth. 

You attached the stealth generator to your belt, making double sure it’d stay there with tape. Next went on your boots, and then your visor, followed by your gloves and gauntlets. 

The gloves had been a gift from Boba; “They’d been outlawed in the Mandalore system for centuries,” he had said, “but I figured you’d appreciate these in your arsenal.” 

Another gift had been the heavy, matte black gauntlets. The wristblade had utterly delighted you. You’d asked Boba what they were made of that made them so heavy. His answer had been beskar. It had taken you some time to learn how to fight with them on, something Boba had helped you with. You had ended up with more bruises than he had, some more pleasurable than others. 

An ache in your chest came up and a lump formed in your throat. You swallowed around it and pushed on. You had a job to do.

You ran a systems’ check twice, ensuring that your vitals read correctly and the targeting system was accurately linked to your rifle. Happy with the results, you activated the stealth generator, and made your way out of the apartment building entirely. You kept to the shadows of alleyways and near cover. 

Following a returning patrol, you infiltrated the Imperial garrison.

xii.

He’d elected to shave off the rest of his hair; most of it was already gone, the Sarlacc’s digestive acid killed the hair follicles. He inspected his wounds; no matter how primitive the Tuskens may be, they’d done a good job at patching him up. The wounds that were still healing he covered with a bacta-patch. 

It had been a difficult decision, but, Boba had chosen to pursue his missing armor. He knew you’d understand why he didn’t immediately return; it was his father’s armor. You’d be furious with him, more than likely banish him from bed, but you’d understand. 

It didn’t stop the guilt gnawing at his gut. 

It didn’t stop him from waking up expecting to feel his arm asleep from you laying on it to curl against his chest or feel your cold feet pressed against his legs. 

xiii.

Over the next two weeks, you infiltrated the garrison several more times gathering information on troop movements and supply routes. There was more than one garrison on the planet; as soon as news spread to the others, they’d be swarming like flies on a carcass. This was going to be a hard and dirty fight. 

You said as much at the next meeting in Sinya’s. 

“If we are going to do this, we're going to need more numbers than what we have.” 

A large Nikto stepped forward. “Mercenaries? Lady, we ain’t got the money for that!” 

Sinya was watching you from behind the counter. She nodded at you.

“Let me worry about the money. As soon as the mercenaries are planetside, start bringing the people from smaller towns and the farms inside.”

xiv.

Finding Sandcrawlers was easier from the air; it’d take months to traverse Tatooine on foot. He stopped in Mos Eisley, Mos Espa, and Anchorhead intermittently as he needed supplies and fuel. He picked up scrap metals to barter with the Jawas for information. This routine continued until a priority alert came across. 

Liberation from Imperial Garrison. Boba’s stomach sunk.

There was no thinking as he plotted a course back to the planet. No other thought as the Slave I gained altitude. 

Just you.

xv.

Sinya had had her pegged as a hunter as soon as she had first walked in months ago. She always looked around, noting exits and entries. Standard merc behavior, Sinya remembers doing that before she retired; Goddess, she still did it. 

The bump on her belly made Sinya decide she wasn’t a threat. The delight she took in the milkshakes was endearing. Sinya had made sure that every time she saw her on the way in, a milkshake was already being blended. Especially when she started coming in with her baby boy strapped to her chest. That baby was the grumpiest little thing Sinya had ever seen. 

It was nice, Sinya decided, once everyone had left after the woman had reported back on her findings and it was decided that they did need mercenaries, to talk shop with someone who knew their stuff. Sinya missed the merc life somedays. 

Sinya listed off every large mercenary company that she knew was still in existence. Even Black Sun. 

“No,” She shook her head. “If the Imperials offer more, they’d switch sides. Even if they didn’t, it’d be another battle to get them off. We’d be trading one for the other. That’s a risk we can’t afford. We need people who hate the Imperials just as much, if not more then we do.” 

Sinya's tattooed brows furrowed. “Who are you thinking of?”

The woman smiled.

bonus

xvi.

He heard a low whistle from somewhere in the Oyu’baat when a priority alert popped up on the bounty board. The bartender fiddled with a control panel, enlarging the alert so it overtook other listings. It got Shysa’s attention, the Mand’alor dropping his feet off his table as he stood up. Noise died down until the only sound was the boloball game.

100,000 credits for every Mandalorian that signed up for the liberation of a small world out in the Outer Rim from the Empire. A 10,000 credit bonus was being offered for every piece of artillery that was brought in. Payment would be given from stocks, proprieties, or cold hard cash, per the contractor’s preference.

Osik. That was a lot of credits for a small world to be offering. He wondered where they were getting that kind of money. And it was specifically requesting Mandalorians. 

Shysa clapped his hands together, drawing attention away from the board and to himself. He climbed up on top of his table looking out over the crowd of Mando’ade. 

“Well, vode. Who wants to go kick the Imperials shebs again?”

Cheers of Oya rang out and Mird’ika howled as he pulled on his fine, gray gloves. 

[slytherinbarnes]

Sub Rosa [95]

xi. etherea

Pairing: Bellamy Blake x reader

Word Count: 1.7k

Warnings: language, angst, anxiety.

Summary: an unexpected reunion shocks you in more ways than one.

a/n: I can’t believe we’re on 95!!! how are we so close to the end omg??!! the taglist for this series is open! I hope you enjoy, please let me know what you think!!!

previous chapter // season masterlist // series masterlist

Word of Anders' death and Diyoza’s sacrifice travels quickly, and Cadogan comes to find all of you, shocked and still standing outside the machine room door. You are all led to his personal quarters, encouraged to eat and sleep and rest, with the promise to meet again in a few hours. Miller, Raven, Hope, Jordan, and Niylah all crash in the giant bedroom, but you, Clarke, Octavia, Echo, and Gabriel are all too wired or hungry to sleep, and you sit together in the large dining room of the Shepherd. It’s not long before food, real food, not just nutrition bars, is brought to you, and you look it over before you exchange a look with the others. “They were capable of food like this the whole time? Why the hell were we eating all that bland stuff?”

“Guess they didn't want to waste it on some low level disciples.”

You wish you had enough of an appetite to eat the first real meal that’s been offered to you in ages, but your stomach is tied in knots, wrapped tight with anxiety. You shake your head and plop into a seat beside Clarke, her eyes locked on a wall across the room, and you reach out to squeeze her hand, trying to pull her out of her head. Gabriel and Octavia each take a seat at the table while Echo remains standing, choosing to pace the room as her brain processes the last few hours and what she nearly did before you all arrived. Diyoza’s death hangs over the room like a wet blanket, and though you only knew her for a few months, it still hurts you to know that she’s gone. It hurts you worse when you realize the loss that Octavia and Hope must be feeling. 

Octavia sits and picks at her food, unable to stomach it right now, but Gabriel sits nearby, hungrily eating anything within his reach, looking over all of you with a nod. “Thank God for the Flame. Doubt they'd serve us saji bowls in jail.”

Octavia eventually gives up on the prospect of stomaching anything, dropping her spoon into her bowl and looking at Gabriel in disbelief. “How could you eat right now?”

Echo looks over at Gabriel, reminding you and him of a memory that feels so long ago now, when Orlando was preparing you for your mission to Bardo. “He can always eat.”

If it were any other moment, you’d laugh. But with Diyoza’s death over your head and the looming possibility for severe punishment for both Hope and Echo, you’re too tense to laugh. Clarke must think the same thing, because she abruptly stands from her chair and glances over at the only man in the room. “Gabriel's right. If they didn't believe I had the Flame, we'd be in cells.”

She starts to cross the room, towards the door, and you stand and call out to her. “Where are you going?”

“To wake the others. It's time to go back to Sanctum.”

Gabriel glances her way, pausing his feast to shake his head. “Clarke, we're under house arrest.”

“I'm aware of that. I'm also aware our leverage disappears the moment he puts me in front of that stone.”

You lock eyes with your twin, starting to guess where this is going. “So what are you gonna do?”

“I'm gonna offer to do it as soon as the rest of you are safely back on Sanctum.” 

Octavia stands, instantly disagreeing, “Clarke, they'll kill you.”

Echo adds, “You are not sacrificing yourself for us.”

You stare at your twin, shaking your head, letting her know her plan is completely out of the question. “You’ve lost your mind if you think I’m leaving you here with these people.”

She doesn't get the chance to argue back, because the door behind her slides open, and someone announces, “Make way for the Shepherd.”

You take the few steps separating you and Clarke, so you can stand by her side, and Octavia shifts closer to the two of you. Gabriel stands and moves around the table, along with Echo, all of you united on one side, mentally preparing yourselves for anything. As the disciples step into the room, they move apart, making room for Bill before a few more disciples pull up the rear. As soon as Clarke locks eyes with Bill, she starts, “We need to talk. I'm ready to help you, but only after my friends are…”

She trails off when Cadogan turns and motions towards the door, and confused, you all turn to see what he’s motioning towards, watching as a heavily bearded man in a large coat shuffles into the room. It takes a second for you to recognize him, your eyes finding the freckles along his face and the warm eyes beneath an unruly mop of hair, but as soon as you recognize him, you nearly collapse, reaching out for Clarke as you mutter, “Bellamy?”

He nods a little, confirming what you already knew, and you swear all of the air leaves your lungs. Your knees feel weak, tears springing to your eyes and spilling over your face as your body starts to move, you and Octavia both walking towards him. But in doing so, you trigger a reaction from the room full of guards, all of them lifting weapons towards you, freezing you in place. You stare at him, stunned, and your brain struggles to form more words, stumbling over a long list of questions before you manage to gasp, “How?”

Echo, sounding just as shocked, adds, “We saw you die.”

Octavia shifts a little, and you can hear her sniffle as she stares at her big brother, in awe to see that he is alive and well. “It's hard to keep the Blakes down.”

The room is silent, no one sure what to say, but from the corner of your eye, you see Clarke glancing at you and Octavia, able to see that the two of you are practically buzzing, unable to hold back your reunions much longer. She turns her gaze to Bill, using her status as the chosen one to demand, “Let them hug him.”

He stares at her for a long second, and you think he’s going to say no, but then a smile crosses his features and he commands, “Stand down.”

You turn to look at Octavia, whose eyes are on you and you nod towards Bellamy, knowing she likely wants to hug her brother first. She smiles at you in thanks before stepping forward and tugging him into a hug, and you watch on with a smile, happy to see the reunion. Octavia steps away and makes room for you to hug him, and you glance at Clarke before you do, exchanging a silent conversation. Should you warn him? Clarke gives you an imperceptible nod, both of you aware of the dangers of Bellamy accidentally slipping up because he’s not in the loop. You’re lucky Gabriel was in the room when Clarke arrived, able to clue her in to play along, saving all of your lives as you work to get off Bardo. You step forward and pull Bellamy into your arms, relishing in the feel of him, smiling as his arms wrap around your back, returning the hug. A hug that is five years, three months, and two days in the making. A hug that you have longed for since you first arrived on Skyring. A hug you nearly drowned for, learned to play disciple for. You want nothing more than to kiss him, whisk him away to some private room and tell him everything, show him how much you’ve missed him, but you know you’ll have time for that later. Right now, you have an audience and you have a mission, so you lean forward and whisper into his ear, “The key is the Flame. They think it's still in Clarke’s head, say nothing.”

You pull away with a smile, your eyes never leaving Bellamy as Cadogan announces, “I hope that now you're ready to help us, Clarke. Too much blood has been spilled. Each death is a child of Earth who won't transcend. I'll give you time to reunite while we make preparations.”

Clarke nods in agreement, and you glance at your twin, tears on her face, just as happy to see her best friend alive. Cadogan turns and starts to leave the room, and just as he reaches the door, Bellamy speaks for the first time, his words shocking you all into silence. “My Shepherd.”

Your eyes widen and your mouth drops open a little, and you see Clarke and Octavia’s smiles drop as you all turn to stare at Bellamy, who has now turned towards Bill. “There's something you should know: Clarke doesn't have the Key. The Flame was destroyed, I'm sorry.”

You swear you’ve never been more stunned in your entire life.

And it’s only later, after Cadogan has the disciples drag everyone into a cell, after your fiance has betrayed you, that you realize something is wrong. You were so blinded by your joy at seeing him alive that you didn't even stop to really process his appearance. Not just the long hair or thick clothes, but the blank expression he gave all of you as soon as he stepped in the room. Any other time he would have burst in and tugged you and Octavia both into hugs, initiating the hugs first, not waiting for you to come to him. But now he just looks at all of you as if you’re a stranger.

And the realization hurts. The betrayal hurts too. You thought Bellamy joining Pike or not telling you about Echo was the worst thing he could ever do to you. But now you see that this is. 

Whatever the hell this actually is.

You pray to the Universe that it’s a fluke. He’s playing a part, knows something that you don't.

But something deep in your gut is telling you it’s not a fluke, and he’s not paying an angle.

Deep down, you know that Bellamy is lost to you.

Now, he’s a believer.

Now, he’s a disciple.

Which means that now, he is your enemy. 

-

next chapter

[wing-ed-thing]

Cabaret (Might Guy x Reader, Chapter V)

Synopsis: You can't stand Might Guy. Honestly, how could anyone be so boisterously unaware and sickeningly positive? Your heart sinks as the both of you are teamed up to infiltrate and collect information from the Hidden Sound's gritty nightlife. Maybe losing yourselves in the dark of the underground will help you both come to an understanding.

Word count: 2,659 

Chapter I Chapter II Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VII Chapter VIIIChapter IX Chapter X Chapter XI 

Warnings: Drinking, minor sexual harassment (a guy puts a hand on your leg)

Sundown approached quickly, but you made it to your destination before it became dark. Your heels once again sunk into the fabric of the velvet carpet of “HEAVEN”. Mama-san did not stand at the front podium today. Instead, in front of it sat the blonde bartender from the previous day. When she saw you, her visible excitement showed immediately as she bounded towards you.

“You must be Takeuchi-san!” she cried, her high pigtails bouncing behind her. “It is so nice to meet you! You are so pretty!” She grabbed your gloved hands. You could practically see sparkles in her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” Your eyebrows knit together as you crouched sheepishly, “And you are?” The blonde stumbled back with a gasp that made you jump. You looked about wildly as to find the source of such an extreme reaction, only finding yourself.

“I didn’t introduce myself!” She slapped herself across the cheek. Your eyes widened as wide as your jaw dropped. You probably could have heard the smack from across the room. How do you respond to that? She shook herself out of it before you could figure it out. She bowed deeply, “I am Chiasa Fuse! It is very nice to meet you!”

“Um… hello, Fus-”

“Please call me Chi-chan! Oh, I should have just told you that from the beginning… That’s what everyone else calls me!” She looked down, playing with the hem of her white, floral gown. Tears appeared in her waterline. You took a breath, you could definitely not get touched by this one.

“So… I’m guessing Daisuke-san arranged for you to show me the ropes?” Chiasa snapped up, tears near gone at this point as she exclaimed,

“Yes! Of course!” She took your hands again, leading you off and you silently thanked Kami for your thick gloves.

Only staff populated the main lounge between custodial workers who disinfected tables to the hostesses who were waiting for opening. Daisuke sat at the bar where you found Guy. Guy’s appearance did not differ much from the previous night. The black button up had been traded in for a white one and a bowtie sat between his collarbones. You pursed your lips. Your eyes meeting Guy’s, you gave him a playful look of approval. He winked in subtle response.

“Ah! Takeuchi-san!” Daisuke roared. He held up his drink. “This man makes the best daiquiri I’ve ever tasted! Why didn’t you tell me that I’d be in for the experience of a lifetime?!” He cackled, turning back to Guy who gave a humble chuckle. You returned the expression.

“Unfortunately, I did not know Aoki-san before coming here.” You told him politely. “Believe me, if I knew I would have told you!”

“Oooh, yes I heard you journeyed from the Leaf! I hear that place is full of savage ninja.” Chiasa gossiped.

“I’m looking forward to seeing you in action next, my dear,” Daisuke told you. He hesitated. “You do know we have a room for the girls to prepare in, correct? You don’t have to make the trip here all dolled up.” Chiasa yelped again.

“I was just taking her there, Daisuke-san!”

“Wonderful, you are in exceptional hands then!” Chiasa tugged you towards the same entrance to the right of the bar.

“Always a pleasure, Daisuke-san.” You made one last smile at the two men before you were tugged down the hall.

Chiasa opened the first door. You glanced to your left at Daisuke’s office door at the end of the hall before you were pulled into the room. The walls were lined with vanities and they sat back to back in a row down the middle. There were only about 6 girls in the otherwise empty room.

“Hey ladies! We got someone new working with us!” Chiasa announced to the room. “This is Takeuchi Yume!” You couldn’t get a word in as Chiasa then dragged you over to a stool in front of a vanity against the right hand wall. The other girls hardly batted an eye. She sat down at the one next to it, looking at you expectantly with her hands under her chin. You slowly lowered yourself onto to sit.

“This is mine?” You asked.

“Yep! And it’s right next to mine!” Joy. You took in your new space. The table held three drawers: one on the top left, a long one in the middle, and one on the top right. A tri fold mirror sat in front of you, a ring light clipped onto the top and hanging down. The top had been cleaned off, but dust remained in the crevices where the mirror met the table. “You can store all your cosmetics here and I cleared you a space in the closet.” Chiasa motioned to the back of the room. “We share dresses here a lot, but if you don’t want anyone to touch something of yours, you can just put your name on it. You should bring your things in tomorrow!”

“Thank you, Chi-chan, I really appreciate it.” She reached out to give your hair a puff.

“It looks like you don’t need any of my help when it comes to the aesthetics! I can tell you’re that classy type… though I’ll tell you, you shouldn’t be afraid of going overboard a little, especially if you want to get into the back lounge.”

“Ugh, you gotta be lucky and damn popular to get into there. Don’t even try.” An exasperated sigh came from your right. You turned, watching the hostess wrestle with a large hairpiece. The brunette piece sat in a beehive on her head. Her hands tussled with the clips.

“What’s in the back lounge?” You wondered. The new hostess smoothed out her hair in the mirror before turning to you.

“It’s where the men talk their business of course.” The woman told you. She extended a hand, “Yuzuki, the girls call me Yu-Yu.” You took her hand graciously.

“They always order a lot of drinks. It’s one of the big reasons everyone wants back there. The commission is huge!” Chiasa explained, her lips scrunched. “There’s always so many of them!”

“And who doesn’t like a bit of gossip?” Yuzuki’s voice rang silkily in your ears. “Of course, you have to be invited and pray you won’t end up at the bottom of Lightning Bay.” You eyed her curiously.

“Why’s that?” You questioned. Yuzuki blinked at you, eyes widened in surprise. She gave out a small laugh. Reaching into one of her drawers, she took out a box of cigarettes and a lighter. Plucking one out, she lit it, taking a drag.

“Honey,” Amusement carried in her voice. She locked eyes with you. “This is the Hidden Sound. If Orochimaru’s boys want you, they’re going to take you and sure as hell won’t hesitate to kill you either, dear.”

“But you won’t have to deal with them, Takeuchi-san!” Chiasa reminded you quickly, leaning forward to hiss at Yuzuki. “You’re scaring her!”

“No,” You denied, turning back to Yuzuki, “I want to hear more about the back lounge.” Yuzuki took another long drag of her cigarette, blowing it out the side of her mouth. The door to the dressing room swung open.

“It’s almost time!” Another hostess announced into the room. “Thirty more minutes to opening!” She shut the door.

“Another time,” She sighed. Yuzuki hiked up her gown, maneuvering around her stool. “My regulars are an unsavory group of men, but they pay my rent. I want to get in a few drinks to prepare.”

“You drink on the job?” She huffed, taking one last puff.

“We’re drinking all night, dear. That’s what brings in the cash. I swear, it’s the only way to do this job.” Yuzuki put out her snout out in the ashtray on her vanity and quickly disappeared through the door.

“Oh, Takeuchi-san!” You turned towards Chiasa, who once again, gripped your hands tightly.

“Please, you can call me Yume, Chi-chan.” Chiasa’s eyes sparkled.

“Yume-san-”

“No need to be so formal, really, Chi-chan.” She took a trembling breath.

“Yume, I’m so happy to work with you! You’ll be rotating tables with me tonight.” Chiasa looked down at your gloves. “You’re going to take these off, right?” You hesitated.

“Yes, of course.” You slowly slipped them off your hands, placing them on the vanity. Chiasa stood abruptly.

“Alright! Let’s go!” She showed you out the door. “So you’re new here, so pretty much the goal for tonight is to get you out there! We get bonuses for bringing in regulars, so we’ll be rotating tables. A lot of groups get pretty rowdy so you’ll always have a few of us gals by your side! Now, the customers aren’t supposed to get too handsy… ” Chiasa’s voice faded in your ears as you caught sight of the bar. “Think of it all like a game! That’s how I think of it, like pretend!...”

The entire cast of hostesses must have been gathered around the bar and Guy was the center of their attention. A single cup sat on the counter as Guy juggled four liquor bottles. The containers bounced off his wrists and elbows. One landed on his forehead, two balanced on his left bicep, and the last he caught in a reverse grip, pouring the last of the drink. The women clapped as he pushed the drink to the woman at the center.

“Wow,” Chiasa exhaled. You realized that you stopped to watch and somewhere along the way, Chiasa had ceased talking. “Genki-san is amazing.”

“Okay, girls. You can all ogle at closing.” Mama-san walked briskly into the lounge, waving her arms. Her sleeves waved like butterfly wings as she motioned.

“Mama-san!” Guy greeted jovially. “Might I interest you in a drink?” The older woman adjusted herself.

“No thank you, Genki. While the offer is much appreciated, you are distracting my girls.” She told him sternly.

“Apologies ma’am, I’ll try not to let it happen again.” That answer seemed to satisfy Mama-san. She strutted down the hall to Daisuke’s office.

Not too long after opening, you had your first table. You and Chiasa sat down at a booth of Sound Ninja. You looked at the table, noticing a large laminated sheet. On it showed the faces of the groups of hostesses working with small descriptions by their faces. Just as demeaning as you imagined…

“Hiya boys!” Chiasa winked. “What are we drinking tonight?” She leaned seductively over the table and the ninja gave a rowdy cheer. She made it look effortless, wrapping each one around her finger one by one. Chiasa turned to you, pulling you close to her. “Yume-chan, let’s get a round of champagne for these gentlemen!” She went around, plopping herself in the middle of two.

You sighed in relief as you went off to grab the champagne. Something about locking eyes with Guy at the bar sent a wave of relief through your system. As the only familiar person in a hundred foot radius, it shouldn’t have surprised you. You relayed the order and in no time he had a tray prepared. Guy’s eyes met yours. With a small smile, he gave a slight nod of his head in encouragement. It settled your nerves, but not by much as you walked back to the booth. Setting the tray on the table, you plucked up one flute.

Following Chiasa’s lead, you sat between the two other men. She had the group laughing as the compliments kept rolling from her tongue.

“Evening… gentlemen.” You greeted stiffly. Chiasa remained in your peripheral and you attempted your best mimicry. “I’d imagine two… strapping young ninja such as yourselves would… um… want to be doing something much more dangerous…” You cringed inwardly. The ninja on your left chuckled.

“We’re here to blow off steam, sweetheart, not talk about work.” A hand made its way to your thigh, resting on the fabric of your dress. You looked down, the hand and your drink in your focus. You gulped and unlike last night, angry heat did not rise up your spine. Instead, inklings of fear spread throughout your system as you suddenly felt helplessness set in. You gripped your drink tightly, choosing to force a giggle as you quickly downed your beverage.

“Whoa there!” The ninja to your right exclaimed, an arm coming to sling over your shoulder. He flicked his sloppy black bangs to the side. “He said ‘blow off some steam’ not ‘black out’! You know you’re supposed to sip changaene, right?” Those words sounded familiar. You set the empty glass on the tray. You took in the man’s words and choppy black hair. You thought about Guy’s mini student. If he was older, he might end up looking like the ninja sitting next to you.

You were already feeling warmth from the burn on the back of your throat. Your lips puckered for a moment at the sourness. The heat gathered in your chest. You reached up, caressing his high cheekbones. You thought about Guy’s cheekbones, how easy talking to him was last night.

“Well, this is a party, isn’t it?” Your hand came to envelop the one on your thigh. With subtlety, you worked it down your leg. “What do we say? Are we ready for something stronger?” The table whooped in excitement and you made a swanky show of getting up to get the drinks.

You traveled to the bar once more, twice, three times. The more you drank, the looser you got. The more you drank, the more the ninja to your right looked like Might Guy. You sat happily between the two ninja, telling anecdotes. You weren’t sure if you were actually funny or if it was just the alcohol, but the anxiety slowly began to dissipate.

“You really pretended to be the daimyō’s daughter?” The ninja to the left of Chiasa questioned, nearly in tears.

“No one noticed for the whole day.” You held your hands up dramatically. The whole booth was in hysterics. You felt the rumble of the two men next to you. You looked up at the clock. Their time was up.

“Oh no!” Chiasa gasped. “It looks like we’ve run out of time!” She pouted. “Would you like a time extension?” The ninja began to shift in their seats and stood.

“No, thank you darling. We’ll be back soon to visit, don’t worry, beautiful.” One of the ninja slipped a few ryō into Chiasa’s dress. The whole lot of them paid the tab and left.

You and Chiasa cleared the table, taking to the trays to the small kitchen across from the dressing room and behind the bar. You got your second, third and fourth tables shortly after and the more tables, the drunker you became. The words slipped out of your mouth with ease: the flattery, the flirting.

You were at your fifth table when you saw it. In your peripheral came a small group of men walking into the door to the left of the bar. The back room, you assumed. A woman trailed behind them.  The woman sat at the bar and stayed there until closing.

You watched as one by one, they disappeared through the entrance. You found yourself staring and a mask staring back at you. Silver tuffs peaked out behind it. The masked figure slowly brought up an arm. The holes in his mask were black, neverending. You suddenly felt more sober. His fingers folded, he pointed directly at you. When you blinked, he was gone. You took a drink.

You rid your mind of the masked mystery man. When you left, you saw the woman waiting outside. She didn’t acknowledge you. The men in the back room remained after closing, but you were urged by Chiasa to leave. Guy stayed behind to serve drinks so you walked home alone.

You made it back to your lodgings with no issue, but out of the corner of your eye, you thought that you saw silver.

[dragonfiremage]

Destiny - Chapter Four

Author’s notes: Hi! Thank you again for reading <3. I’m actually a bit hesitant about putting this out there...but I hope you guys like it. As always, enjoy! 

Chapter Preview: You shook your head pinching the bridge of your nose as you wagged your finger at Iroh, “No, no, no, nooo - you don't get to do that to me. You don't get to pull the 'destiny is a funny thing' on me like you used to when I was younger. I can't believe..." 

<< [Previous - Chapter Three] [Next - Chapter Five] >>

“No matter how things may seem to change, never forget who you are...."

Zuko jolts awake, still hearing his mother’s words ringing from his dreams. He blinks back the fogginess as he stares up at the ceiling. Pushing himself out of the makeshift bed, he glances over at his Uncle, only to find his side empty. The blankets and pillows that Iroh used the night before was now neatly folded and pushed against the wall. Zuko looks over at the window to see the sun that peeking through it and grumbles when he realized it was already nearing noon.

Why didn't anyone wake him up?

Zuko looks over to your room and also finds it empty. Where was everyone?

Rolling out of bed with already a scowl on his face, he asks, “Uncle?” 

Silence. A bout of panic rises through his throat. Did something happen?

Zuko goes to open the front door and sighs with relief when he finds both you and his Uncle outside. The two of you were in deep concentration as you both slowly moved through fire bending forms. He leans against the door frame, crossing his arms across his chest as he watches his uncle, shirtless and already sweaty, move in unison with you. Meanwhile, you moved through the forms almost at an ease. Zuko usually hated practicing forms and drills, he didn’t have the patience for it and would rather just spar. 

“Ah, Zuko! You’re finally awake!” Iroh stops mid-form to greet him with a smile.

Zuko pushes himself from the frame and released an irritated sigh, “Why didn’t you wake me? I thought we were going to leave in the morning.”

Iroh just raises his arms at him, “Come on Zuko! Let’s watch (YN)’s last tournament and then we can travel through the night - it would be easier with the cooler air anyways!”

Zuko glances over at you, but you just gave him a shrug. You were a lot more quiet this morning and he wondered if it had something to do with what he said last night. A flash of guilt hits him, but pushes it away when you glance away before adding, “Your uncle made some jook. There’s some left overs in the kitchen…"

“Fine, Uncle. We can stay, but we will leave right after.” Iroh just nods at him before turning back to you to continue the forms. Zuko turns back to go inside your apartment, but not before catching your gaze briefly, your expression unreadable.

----------

Somewhere in the village....

“I’m telling you, b-boss, I saw them...Fire Nation criminals! I saw the the girl take them to her house. She's harboring them!" The short man wheezed as the hand on his throat tightened, hands clawing at the assailant.

“Xi, if we find out that you’re lying, you’re dead!” 

Sud loosened his grip on the Xi's neck as he collapses to the ground, coughing. Sud then whispered over to the figure next to hi, “So what’s the plan, Scorpio? If she’s harboring Fire Nation criminals, maybe she’s a fire bender. We can use it to our advantage?”

The Scorpion’s lips curl maliciously as he stroke his chin, “If she is a bender, we need to force it out of her. Sud, see if we bribe the organizer about changing some rules...”

Both men left the alley, smirking.

----------

You sat on the floor by your kitchen table as you got ready for your last fight, while Iroh sat across for you, his back against the wall, and Zuko made his sure their packs were ready to go for tonight. The blue dragon mask you previously wore to the matches laid on the table, split in half. Saddened by it, you sigh as trace your fingers over the details.

“We’ll find you another one.” Iroh seems to pick up on your demeanor and comforts with a small smile. You look up at him and nod, as Zuko sits down next to you, his packing finished. He stared the the blue mask, realizing how similar it was to his.

“It reminds me of the Blue Spirit mask I have.”

You blink at him, trying to imagine what the Blue Spirit mask would look like, before shrugging your shoulders at him, “You should show me next time you're ever around."

For a moment, Zuko forgot that after tonight, he'll be leaving you - his childhood friend - behind. He cursed at himself internally for treating you so unfairly. Years of wondering where you've been and what happened to you, and now that he found you, here he was trying to leave as soon as possible and basically spitting at your hospitality. He quickly glances over at his uncle who laughs at something you say and he wonders that maybe his uncle was right, maybe it was right for you to come along. 

Zuko chewed on his Uncle’s words from last night. Was it right for you to spend the rest of your life scraping by while you fought just to have money? Were you happy? 

His fist clenched at his predicament - part of him felt anxious about the thought of you coming along, but there was another small part of him that wondered what it would be like to have you around again. It made him feel less lonely - to have someone that he knew from his childhood who went through a somewhat-similar experience. But it was a small part of him and Zuko pushed that thought to the back of his head as he observed you as you start to wrap your hands with cloth. 

Trying to break the silence, Zuko curiously asks, “So what made you want to join the fighting ring in the first place?"

You glanced at Zuko with surprise before responding with a shrug, "I needed the money."

Zuko tilts his head at you as if urging you to continue and you elaborate, “But I also wanted to learn different fighting forms. To be frank, some of the fire bending forms can be…” You trailed off as you wrack your brain for the perfect description.

“Rigid?” Zuko offers and your face lights up before nodding with agreement.

“Yes! Rigid…fire bending forms can sometimes be restrictive. It's all about control and showing strength so it doesn’t allow for much flexibility, not unlike water or air bending.” You finish wrapping main hand before starting the other, grumbling when you fumble awkwardly with the other. 

“Here…let me.” Zuko offers as he takes the cloth from your fingers and grabs your wrist, not sure what prompted him to help and ignoring the rising temperature of his cheems. Unbeknownst to you or Zuko, Iroh smiled behind his tea cup as he listened.

You look up at him with curiosity, trying to quell the flutter in your stomach as he holds your wrist gently, his callous hands bought against your skin.  While Zuko wraps your wrist, he says with a nod,”I think I can understand. Sometimes you can’t think about how your form looks when someone’s attacking you.”

You couldn’t concentrate on the words he was saying; you were too occupied watching Zuko wrap your hand. As he wrapped your hand slowly and almost delicately, his fingertips would brunch against the inside of your wrist and palm, your skin tingling where he touched. 

Clearing your throat, you nod in agreement as you glance up at Zuko who catches your gaze briefly and looks away back to your hand with a blush. “Forms can only do so much. Don’t get me wrong - the basics are fundamental to master, but sometimes it’s good to look beyond just fire bending teachings to learn, you know?”

You rambled as you watch Zuko finish wrapping your hand and tying it securely. You flexed your hand around, testing the tightness and support before nodding with satisfaction. Zuko blushes when you suddenly grab the sleeve of shirt and say your thanks, your eyes genuine. Iroh continues to smile behind his tea cup.

A smirk spreads across your face as you stand up and ready to leave for the tournament, “Alright, let’s do this.” 

Zuko just rolls his eyes at you, a smirk tugging at his own lips.

----------

You cursed - not only were you surrounded, you were backed into the edge of the ring. One step backwards and you would be out of the ring - disqualified. Glaring at the three opponents in front of you, they smirked with as they inched closer to you. 

When you had arrived earlier that evening for the last rounds of the tournament, they quickly announced the change of rules in the “spirit of the competition” and for “entertainment.” You had shrugged it off when Zuko gave you concerned glance, saying that they would often change rules so it wasn’t surprising. However, you weren’t sure what that meant until you entered the ring and three opponents you previously fought walked up the stage. They looked at you with a smug expression, the Scorpion stretching his limbs to warm up and intimidate you. You glared at the ring leader who just flashed you extra coins. 

How was it the ‘Spirit of the Competition’ when it was a three-on-one match? 

“Give Up, Blue Dragon! You’re no match with us three.” The Scorpion sneered at you, his arms out ready to strike. Zuko felt tense as he watched you slowly back yourself to the edge of the ring. 

Why did they suddenly change the rules? He thought. He also found it odd that despite the rule change, you were the only fighter that had to fight more than two opponents. Either they know something or they were very adamant about not getting beat up by a girl.

“You seem worried, Zuko.” he looks over at his Uncle, who seems to be actually enjoying the match.

“Yeah, and I can tell you are too,” Zuko adds sarcastically. His uncle just bit his nails in nervousness as you dodge a punch. Zuko looks back at the ring and pushes his worries away. 

Whatever. You act so strong anyways, you could take on thee people. He bitterly thought, before glancing back at the ring with worry.

You knew that they were the the ones responsible for changing the competition rules just so they can have an unfair advantage - what a bunch of cowards. The Scorpion lunges forward and you barrel towards him, duck from his hook, and put all of your weight onto you right elbow as it connected to his shoulder. However, you had no time to react before another opponent, The Leaping Beetle (as he liked to be called) kicks high up in the air towards your head. Narrowly missing, you grab his leg and flip him to his back ducking when another kick was thrown to you. 

You tried flipping back to step away, but the Scorpion managed to grab your foot before tossing you aside. Your back hit the ring on impact and knocks the air out of you, not to mention your ankle started to throb as you pushed yourself back up, and the three opponents stood together before shouting and lunging all at once.

Zuko’s eyes widened as he realizes that you had no chance to avoid all three opponents at once and he leapt from his chair, “Watch out!” 

A blast of red fire burst out of his palms before Zuko could stop it. You see fire erupt from Zuko, shooting out to the rink as it made way to the closest enemy - the Scorpion. Your eyes widened at the flames - the Scorpion either ignored it or didn’t see the incoming flames because he continued gaze at you smugly. Even though he was your opponent, the Scorpion didn’t deserve to be burned and your frowned at your predicament.

Growling in frustration, you squared your stance and swung your arm in front of you. You feel the heat from Zuko’s fire become your own as you moved it away from the Scorpion and morphed it into a shield, Zuko’s red fire changing and transitioning into a bright purple hue as the flames. All three assailants stopped dead on their tracks as a wall of purple fire erupted, their eyes widening at the height and stepping back as they felt the heat of your fire. 

Zuko’s eyes widen at the sight of bright purple fire erupting around you as it created a wall. He had never seen fire in that color before…he wasn’t even aware that the color of fire existed. The only other person to produce a different color of fire Azula - and he thought it was she was a child prodigy. (YN) wasn’t a prodigy, was she? He turned to his Uncle who watched the fire distinguish and turn into smoke with a finger on his chin with a perplexed expression.

“Uncle…h-how?”

Iroh sighs as he wracks his brain for an explanation, “Jeong Jeong mentioned (YN)’s potential in one of his letters, saying something about her mastery of fire but I brushed it off at that time. I’ve only managed to have purple fire once, but I was still young and at my prime then! It requires a certain level of concentration and discipline to keep that fire that way.”

You felt the heat dissipate around you, not that it ever bothered you, but the look at the Scorpion’s smug smirk was enough to tell you everything you needed to know. A murmur went through the crowd as they suddenly realized that you have been a fire bender all this time. 

“You’re disqualified!” 

You glare at the Scorpion, then at the ring leader before whipping your head to look at Zuko angrily. If he hadn’t intervene, you wouldn’t have gotten disqualified in the first place.

This was the Scorpion’s plan all along. Their plan was to corner you into using your bending (how they found that out was beyond you) and get disqualified since it was “illegal” in the ring. While bending was considered illegal, changing the rules and having extra fighters on the ring at the last second seemed to be fair. 

You fumed as you felt the anger bubbling in your chest.  Your fists ignited into a flames, but instead of the purple that Zuko had just seen, it was bright red just like his. Interesting. From where he stood, he could see the anger in your facial expression, but as quickly as he saw it, it disappeared just like the flames on your hands.

The anger dissipated as quickly as it came and you felt a wave of relief wash over you. You wanted nothing else but to throw fireballs at them and teach them a lesson, but you knew that it wasn’t worth your effort. They weren’t worth your effort.

“Tch, whatever.” You shrug and spin on your heel go down the stairs and leave the rink. The three opponents looked at each with surprise. “Hey get back here! We have a fight to finish.”

“Come here you coward. Aren’t you going to fight?” The Scorpion shouts at you, fuming that you just walked off so easily.

Zuko watched, perplexed. You weren’t going to fight them? Weren’t you mad at them? They had cornered you and rigged the rules just so they could win.

You walked down the steps and shouted over your shoulder nonchalantly, “Nah, you’re not worth my time. If you can’t beat me when I don’t use my bending, how are you three supposed to beat me when I do?”

As you walked toward their direction, Zuko could see the opponents angrily talked to each other. They didn't take in account if what would happen if you surrendered. He saw the Scorpion seethe before pushing his way past the other two fighters and running towards you, angry. He left high in the air, his arm drawn to drop a punch from above.

As if sensing his retaliation, you turn quickly, as bright purple flames erupted from our hands hand as you create another fire wall for protection. The Scorpion dodged it at the last second, snarling.

"You think you're better than us just because you're Fire Nation?!"

He lunges again but this time, you were ready. You draw your arm back and used your fire to propel your arm into an uppercut punch, your fist connecting with the Scorpion's jaw with a loud crack.

The Scorpion stumbles backwards, confusion written on his face before his eyes rolls to the back of his head and falls to ground.

Zuko blinks back and tried to stifle a laugh at how easily you manage to knock a guy, twice your size, out cold. However his eyes narrow quickly when whispers from around the crowd grew noticablely.

"Fire Nation?"

"Wait - they look like the guys from the wanted poster."

"Down with the Fire Nation!"

"Uncle...we need to leave."

"Way ahead of you Zuko," Iroh was already on his feet and halfway running to you when the shouts increase. Zuko ran towards his uncle.

"Get out of our village, Ash Maker!"

"Those guys have bounties on their heads! Get them!" 

As the crowd lunges for them, a wall of purple flames erupt from the ground behind Zuko, successfully blocking the mob from getting to them. 

You over to them and grabbed Iroh by the elbow as you led through the arena. "Let's get out of here. There's another way out."

Iroh makes a path from your fire as you direct them to the exit doors. Right before you leave the area, you turn back to the and breathe deeply before swinging your arms over head as the fire dies down into small embers, the crowd finally noticing where you are as they point at you.

"Let's go!"

You ran through the market, Iroh and zuko closely following behind as you made way to your apartment. They would be here in no time. You ran between buildings and avoided the main street as you three ran towards your apartment.

When you got in front of your door, you harshly turned around at Zuko, your eyes flashing before you angrily pushed at him. Zuko’s eyes widened with surprise, not used to see your anger directed at him. 

“Why would you do that!?” You push Zuko hard at the chest.

“I had everything under control!” You shoved him again and Zuko stumbles backward at te force.

“I don’t need saving, especially from a prince!” You pushed him harder and he falls to ground with an scowl on his face. 

“You should be grateful - I saved your life.” Zuko spat.

“I got disqualified because of you.” You seethe at him, throwing your arms up in exasperation.

And it clicks. Iroh was right. You and Zuko were more alike that he would like to admit. Now as he watches the anger in your eyes, your face contorted with rage...you reminded him of himself. He got up from the ground, his hands up in surrender.

You sigh, as you shook your head in disbelief before you looking at the distance. With lips curled in annoyance, you look at Iroh dead straight in the eyes with a guarded expression. Iroh just looked at you with a softened, albeit pained expression. “What do you want, Iroh? What are you doing here?"

Iroh chuckles before tucking his hand into his sleeves and says nonchalantly, "I don't know what you mean."

The way you shook your head in annoyance while your eyes flashed with rage made Zuko blink in surprise. The rashlesness, the anger... It was like seeing a mirror of himself every time he blew up at his uncle. He watch you shake your head in disbelief at Iroh before you glanced his way.

He hears you release a long sigh as if releasing all that pent u panger was well, before adding, "You don’t write back to me for months, you come out of nowhere with Zuko AND with a bounty over your heads, on the run from Azula, and then you ask me to come along with you, I say no, and next day I'm getting kicked out of my village?” 

You shook your head as you pace before them, in total disbelief.

Zuko did find it rather other odd at the string of events. But could only scoff at you, “It's not like we knew you lived here. Believe me, I would have happily passed your village if it wasn’t for our ostrich horse and our low supply. We just happened to come to stop along on our way to Misty Palms. Sorry to ruin your life."

You roll your eyes in response, incredulity written on your face.

Iroh nods at you seriously before breaking into a fit of chuckles and saying, “Maybe it was destiny for us to-"

You shook your head pinching the bridge of your nose as you wagged your finger at Iroh, “No, no, no, nooo - you don't get to do that to me. You don't get to pull the 'destiny is a funny thing' on me like you used to when I was younger. I can't believe..." 

You hang your head in defeat as you trail off. Zuko couldn't believe his uncle used that same line on her. On him! 

Iroh clapped his hands together, "So will you be joining us or what?"

You look over at Zuko with a brow raised, almost as if you were asking his permission. Zuko shook his head and scowled. “Not like you have much of a choice."

"Ok - just give me few minutes then,” You say quietly as you go into your apartment to start gathering some essentials.

Zuko and Iroh stood side by side as they looked to the distance, silence coming over them. Zuko chews on his lip as he asks in a low voice. "Did you know Uncle?"

"Know what, Prince Zuko?"

Was his uncle truly going to keep playing this act? Zuko growled, “That she lived here."

There was a moment of silence before Iroh speaks softly. “No, just a gut feeling. The last letter I received from Jeong Jeong, he mentioned how (yn) had just started mastering the purple flame when she decided to travel on her own. He did mention how adament (YN) was to see the desert but I didn't know she would actually be here."

There was another pause before Iroh shrugs and says, "Like I said, destiny is a funny thing!"

Zuko groans as he slaps his palm on his forehead in exasperation, “Uncle!!"

-----------

Taglist:

@berkeliums @thatcutewerewolf @justahockeylover @ijustwannabecanadian

[your-dietician]

Over 270,000 people sign petition for France vs Switzerland to be replayed

New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/sports/over-270000-people-sign-petition-for-france-vs-switzerland-to-be-replayed/

Over 270,000 people sign petition for France vs Switzerland to be replayed

Switzerland’s goalkeeper Yann Sommer (R) saves a penalty by France’s forward Kylian Mbappe during the UEFA EURO 2020 round of 16 football match between France and Switzerland at the National Arena in Bucharest – GETTY IMAGES

Over 270,000 fans have signed a petition calling on Uefa to replay the Euro 2020 last-16 match between France and Switzerland because “the rules (of the game) were not respected” when Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer saved Kylian Mbappé’s decisive penalty.

Mbappé’s miss resulted in the world champions crashing out of the tournament in Bucharest after leading their eventual conquerors 3-1 at one point in the match.

But a petition was launched by a disgruntled French fan, Pierre, in the aftermath of the penalty shootout, demanding that Uefa replay the tie because Sommer’s feet were over the line as Mbappe struck the ball. Goalkeepers need to keep at least one foot on the goal-line when facing a penalty, otherwise the spot-kick can be retaken.

Neither the referee nor Var intervened on Sommer’s save but more than 270,000 people signed the petition – which has now been closed – despite several different angles showing that Sommer’s foot was on the line when Mbappé kicked the ball.

The hosts of the petition, leslignesbougent.org, wrote that “Uefa had been officially approached to gauge its position on the matter”, and that Pierre had informed the host site that he wished for the petition to be closed after the angles showing the legality of Sommer’s position came to light. “Our servers exploded,” the site added.

The original petition read: “During the penalty shootout of the France v Switzerland match, goalkeeper Sommer was not on his line ahead of Mbappé’s shot. We ask that Switzerland’s qualification is cancelled so that the match can be replayed.

“Sport must be played within the rules and that evening the rules were not respected.”

02:53 PM

Czech Republic v Denmark

Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand says the team is looking to Christian Eriksen as an inspiration ahead of the match against the Czech Republic in the Euro 2020 quarter-finals.

Story continues

Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s opening game of the tournament. Team-mates were left shaken after seeing him receive emergency medical treatment on the field.

Hjulmand says “we’ll play with that heart of Christian Eriksen once again.”

The winner will face either England or Ukraine in the semi-finals.

AP

02:49 PM

Masterful Jordan Pickford has joined an elite band valued more by his country than his club

Unlike at Everton, when Pickford wears an England shirt he looks like he is sure he belongs out there, the undisputed No 1.

Jamie Carragher’s latest column for Telegraph Sport.

Jordan Pickford celebrating England’s last-16 win – GETTY IMAGES

02:38 PM

The Battle of Rome

Paul Ince’s bloody headband, chaos in the stands – and Southgate’s dark side.

England’s last trip to the Italian capital, in 1997, was another game they could not contemplate losing. David Seaman looks back on that momentous night.

Paul Gascoigne (L) and a topless Paul Ince (R) – GETTY IMAGES

02:20 PM

England get to work…

… with the quarter-final against Ukraine just over 24 hours away.

Kalvin Phillips of England trains during the England Training Session at St George’s Park on July 02 – GETTY IMAGES

Mason Mount of England trains during the England Training Session at St George’s Park on July 02 – GETTY IMAGES

Tyrone Mings shifting some tin – GETTY IMAGES

01:56 PM

Boris Johnson says he has no plans to reduce Euro 2020 stadium crowds

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday he did not plan to order a reduction in crowds attending the remaining Euro 2020 matches due to take place at Wembley.

Crowd capacity at Wembley will be increased to more than 60,000 fans for the semi-finals and final of Euro 2020 under a pilot scheme announced last week.

“Of course we’ll follow the scientific guidance and the advice if we receive any such suggestion,” Johnson said in response to a question at a news conference, alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel who said she was worried about Uefa’s decision to let more people into stadiums.

“But at the moment… the position is very clear in the UK, which is that we have certain events which we can put on in a very careful and controlled manner with testing of everybody who goes there.”

01:34 PM

England fans in Rome

The first pictures are beginning to filter back home…

Fans gather in Rome ahead of Ukraine v England – Rome, Italy – July 2, 2021 – REUTERS

12:20 PM

Germany’s Kroos announces retirement from international football

Germany midfielder Toni Kroos has announced his retirement from international football after his team’s exit from the European Championship, the 31-year-old said on Instagram.

The 2014 World Cup winner earned 106 caps for his country, contributing 17 goals and 19 assists.

Kroos said it was clear to him “for a long time” that he would not be available for the World Cup in Qatar next year.

He said his priority now would be to focus on his club career with Real Madrid and spending time with his family.

Reuters

12:16 PM

The eight defining games of Raheem Sterling’s England career

From scapegoat to star man, Sterling has been the object of anger and criticism but is now England’s most experienced player and one of Euro 2020’s pre-eminent players.

Here, Sam Wallace runs down the eight matches that have defined his international career to date.

England’s forward Raheem Sterling celebrates the first goal during the UEFA EURO 2020 round of 16 football match between England and Germany at Wembley – GETTY IMAGES

12:00 PM

Emma Hayes signs new Chelsea deal

A revealed by Telegraph Sport in May, Emma Hayes, who has starred as a pundit at Euro 2020, has signed a new deal to remain as manager of Chelsea, the Women’s Super League champions have announced.

The 44-year-old has been with the club since 2012 and guided them to four WSL titles, two FA Cups and two League Cups. Hayes’ side were also Champions League runners-up last season.

She said on Chelsea’s official website: “Everyone knows what this club means to me.

“The work we’ve done together over the last nine years has been hugely rewarding, full of growth of the women’s game, accompanied with winning, which is one of the club’s key values. I really look forward to keep building on the successes we’ve already achieved and I’m delighted to have extended further.

Emma Hayes the manager of Chelsea Women lifts the Barclays FA Women’s Super League trophy after the Barclays FA Women’s Super League match between Chelsea Women and Reading Women at Kingsmeadow on May 09, 2021 in Kingston upon Thame – GETTY IMAGES

“It’s been a year and a half without fans, so I can’t wait to welcome them back to our home and share with them the wonderful team we’ve built together.”

Having retained the WSL trophy and the League Cup in 2020-21, Chelsea fell short of adding the Champions League as they were beaten 4-0 by Barcelona in the final in Gothenburg.

That was a first appearance in the final for the Blues – who reached the semi-finals in 2018 and 2019 – and the first by an English club since Arsenal, who had Hayes as assistant manager at the time, won the competition in 2007.

11:24 AM

Some more Premier League news…

Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour has joined Norwich on a season-long loan deal.

The 20-year-old impressed for Scotland in a goalless draw against England at Euro 2020 on June 18, before then having to self-isolate after returning a positive Covid-19 test.

Following his performance at Wembley it was reported that several Premier League clubs were interested in signing Gilmour on a temporary basis.

Newly-promoted Norwich have won the race for his signature and Canaries boss Daniel Farke feels Gilmour is a “perfect fit” for his Canaries team.

“We are really happy to have brought Billy in,” said Farke, who saw midfielder Emiliano Buendia leave for Aston Villa for £33million last month.

“We must say a big thank you to Chelsea and all those involved for making this deal happen. I think it helped that in the past we have shown that young players with potential are in good hands here at Norwich City.

Billy Gilmour – GETTY IMAGES

“He will help us to achieve our targets. We still have to keep in mind that he is an unbelievably young guy and that he hasn’t played regularly on this level. We have to give him some time and space to improve and find his rhythm.”

Gilmour made 11 appearances for Chelsea last season, starting three Premier League matches.

The former Rangers youth player was an unused substitute in both the FA Cup and Champions League finals as Thomas Tuchel’s side lost the domestic showpiece to Leicester but beat Manchester City to become champions of Europe.

PA

11:10 AM

The England team Gareth Southgate should pick to defeat Ukraine

Telegraph football writers pick their XIs – and you can too, by clicking here.

We have asked our writers to pick who they would like to see face the Ukrainians, especially bearing in mind that four of the England squad are on yellow cards.

10:50 AM

How England can beat Ukraine and take another step to glory

What do we know about England’s opponents? What are their strengths and what are the areas to exploit? Who are the players to watch out for?

Telegraph Sport spoke to Ukranian football expert Andrew Todos and former Norther Ireland manager Michael O’Neill, who masterminded a win over Ukraine at Euro 2016.

You can read our big match dossier by clicking here.

Graphic depicting England and Ukraine’s star players

10:30 AM

England at full strength for Ukraine

Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad all trained on the eve of England’s Euro 2020 quarter-final against Ukraine.

The reward for Tuesday’s 2-0 last-16 win against Germany at Wembley is Saturday’s clash against Andriy Shevchenko’s side in Rome.

The Three Lions fly to Italy on Friday afternoon and the full squad trained at their St George’s Park base that morning.

Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell were among those in action, having left isolation on the day of the Germany match after coming into contact with Chelsea team-mate Billy Gilmour, who tested positive for Covid-19 after playing for Scotland against England.

Harry Maguire, Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips and Phil Foden are a booking away from a suspension heading into the quarter-final.

Manchester United defender Maguire, who was named man of the match on Tuesday, is set to join manager Southgate at Friday evening’s press conference in Rome.

10:23 AM

Captain Kane reporting for England training

JULY 02: Harry Kane of England trains during the England Training Session at St George’s Park on July 02, 2021 in Burton upon Trent, – GETTY IMAGES

10:08 AM

In Premier League news…

From our reporter, Mike McGrath.

09:44 AM

Achilles

No, not the Trojan war hero, but the cat that lives in St Petersburg’s Hermitage museum. He chose Spain while attempting to predict the result of tonight’s quarter-final.

Probably no need to play tonight now – the cat’s called it…

Achilles the cat, that lives in St. Petersburg’s Hermitage museum, chooses Spain while attempting to predict the result of the UEFA Euro 2020 quarter final match between Switzerland and Spain during an event in Saint Petersburg, – REUTERS

Achilles the cat, that lives in St. Petersburg’s Hermitage museum, chooses Spain while attempting to predict the result of the UEFA Euro 2020 quarter final match between Switzerland and Spain during an event in Saint Petersburg, – REUTERS

Achilles the cat, that lives in St. Petersburg’s Hermitage museum, chooses Spain while attempting to predict the result of the UEFA Euro 2020 quarter final match between Switzerland and Spain during an event in Saint Petersburg, – REUTERS

09:23 AM

De Bruyne and Hazard

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez will give Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard until the last minute to prove their fitness ahead of tonight’s Euro 2020 quarter-final clash with Italy.

Manchester City star De Bruyne suffered an ankle injury during Sunday’s 1-0 win over Portugal, during which Real Madrid’s Hazard also limped off with a muscle problem, and neither was able to train with the rest of the squad on Thursday morning.

However, speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of the game in Munich, Martinez said: “We all know that we are fighting against time, but we’re going to take until the last minute to make the decision.

“Every day that goes by, every time they can sleep and get three meals and get some treatment, we see an improvement, and then we’ll see [today] if they can be involved or not. Unfortunately at the moment, we cannot make a decision.

“Obviously it will be difficult for [today] – a soft tissue injury in Eden’s case, maybe is difficult for a game like tomorrow, and for Kevin, having a ligament problem maybe is a bit different.

“But it’s more a medical decision. At the moment, it’s not a football decision; [today]it will become a medical decision in the afternoon and then we’ll make a football decision after that.”

De Bruyne left the pitch looking dejected in Belgium’s win over Portugal – GETTY IMAGES

Martinez could do with having all his most potent weapons available for a clash with an Italian side which is unbeaten in 31 matches, while both teams are bidding to become the first to win 15 consecutive European Championship matches since the start of qualification.

PA

09:06 AM

In case you missed it…

Neil Diamond told The Telegraph yesterday how “thrilled” he was that England fans were singing his famous ‘Sweet Caroline’ song at Wembley.

“Well, I hope you can do it again – here’s to England”, he told The Telegraph.

The 1969 song has featured in every England victory celebration at Euro 2020 and was a high point of celebrations after the team beat Germany 2 – 0 in the round of 16.

After the match, striker Harry Kane and coach Gareth Southgate both told the media how much they enjoyed hearing fans belt out the song in unison.

08:52 AM

Tournament odds

The bookies have England now as Euro 2020 favourites – even at 2/1 in some outlets.

Then come Spain (3/1) followed by Italy (4/1), with Ukraine the outside shot with bookmakers at 33/1.

08:41 AM

Magic Monday

A look-back at the day that proved internationals reach parts that the club game cannot.

As if Spain 5 Croatia 3 wasn’t enough, Switzerland and France also served up a classic on Monday night. What made it so memorable?

Read Thom Gibbs’ excellent breakdown here.

08:30 AM

RIP Charlie

08:16 AM

Predictions for this evening

Let us know in the comments below!

I’m going Spain and Italy to progress… just.

08:14 AM

Alvaro Morata

As Sam Dean writes, Alvaro Morata has scored 21 goals in 44 appearances for his country. He has won 14 major trophies in club football. He has played for four of the biggest clubs in the world and he has been transferred between them for a combined total of more than £170 million. If he finds the net against Switzerland on Friday, he will become the highest scorer in Spain’s European Championship history. Everything about his CV, and his list of accomplishments by the age of 28, suggests that Morata must be one of the continent’s elite forwards. And yet, for many people, the former Chelsea striker still seems to be regarded more as a punchline than as a top-level predator.

Read about how Morata has emerged from the darkness in a bright, dangerous Spain side.

Spain’s Alvaro Morata celebrates after scoring his side’s fourth goal during the Euro 2020 soccer championship round of 16 match between Croatia and Spain at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen – POOL GETTY

07:59 AM

Can Switzerland do it again?

A reminder of how the Swiss got there in the first place.

They knocked out the world champions, France, on penalties, after fighting back from 3-1 down.

Refresh yourself on events in Bucharest by clicking here.

Kylian Mbappe missed the crucial penalty for France – GETTY IMAGES

07:35 AM

The Swiss are back!

Remember this bloke?

Swiss fan reacts to their victory over France

Topless and fully clothed, desperate and ecstatic: a Swiss football supporter has become a viral sensation after cameras zoomed in on his rollercoaster emotions watching his team beat France in the Euro 2020 tournament.

Found by Swiss media after images of him yelling and grimacing during Monday’s match went round the world, Luca Loutenbach has already amended his Twitter account to describe himself as the “Nati’s official meme since 28.06.2021.”

The Nati is the nickname for Switzerland’s national football team.

Loutenbach, 28, told Switzerland’s Blick TV that he was “just a normal fan”.

But those filming the game thought otherwise, zooming in on him several times during the play as he perfectly encapsulated Swiss fans’ ecstasy, dejection and frenzied joy – starting off wearing the Swiss red shirt and ending up topless and screaming.

The images quickly went viral, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeting one with the comment “man of the match”.

“A star is born,” Swiss public television RTS said.

“Thanks for all your messages, what is happening to me is unreal,” he wrote Wednesday on Twitter.

“I’m actually quite discreet, even if that wasn’t on show during the game. So this is fun for one or two days, but I hope it will ease off a bit after a while,” he told Swiss TV.

Such is his fame that Switzerland’s airline Swiss has gifted him a free ticket to Russia to see his team play Spain in the quarter finals on Friday in Saint Petersburg.

The country’s tourism agency has also contacted him via Twitter to offer a relaxing weekend away in Switzerland.

07:18 AM

Good morning!

Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live coverage of the build-up to quarter-finals day, with the first two last-eight games kicking off tonight. Switzerland face Spain in St Petersburg at 5pm before Belgium take on Italy in Munich at 8pm.

England midfielder Jack Grealish said captain Harry Kane is the best player he has ever played with and tipped the Tottenham Hotspur forward to break the Premier League scoring record.

Kane drew a blank in each of England’s three group games at Euro 2020 but scored the second goal in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Germany which put them into a quarter-final clash with Ukraine in Rome on Saturday.

Grealish said Kane, or “H”, was a deadly finisher but also praised his work outside the box.

“No one here would ever doubt ‘H’,” Grealish told British media on Thursday. “He’s the best player I’ve ever played with.

“He’ll break the Premier League record and the England one but he’s not just a goalscorer. He’s unbelievable when he drops deep and finds passes and puts it through people’s legs.”

Alan Shearer is the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer with 260. Kane is seventh on the list with 166.

Grealish came off the bench to play a role in both goals in the win over Germany but the 25-year-old said he was uncertain if he would start against Ukraine, given the attacking options at coach Gareth Southgate’s disposal.

“It’s difficult. I’m always playing every minute at Villa. I have to be realistic about myself and the talent that we have, especially in my position,” he said.

“You’ve got six players that play either side of Harry that, in reality, could play for most clubs in the world — myself, Jadon (Sancho), Marcus (Rashford), Raheem (Sterling), Phil (Foden) and Bukayo (Saka),” he said.

“That’s scary how good us six are. That’s not being big-headed. That’s just the truth.”

Reuters

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[batbobsession]

So I saw the Hunchback of Notre Dame to alleviate the isolation...

Spoilers ahead.

With @lumiereswig‘s recent reblog of her Hadestown experience, I thought I’d share a musical that I saw virtually—the Hunchback of Notre Dame.  This was not a Disney adaptation, I repeat, they took the good stuff from the movie and then told the story straight from the book.

And oh my gosh, it got dark, so spoilers ahead.

Frollo got humanized and it makes him more terrifying.  First off, he’s played by Patrick Page, who, thanks to my recent research, plays Hades in Hadestown, and if that doesn’t draw parallels I don’t know what will

Anyway, Frollo has a brother who is actually a good person and elopes with a Roma woman.  Frollo finds him dying and he gives Frollo his child, who is disfigured, and Frollo, giving us the first reason why we should hate him, tells his dying brother “wow, this thing is a monster because of your sins” and then his brother dies.

Of course, they sing the Dies Irae directly after—an indirect foreshadowing of Frollo’s death by Quasimodo’s hands

“The saints blessed him and the monsters protected him.” my GOODNESS what a line!

And my gosh, the way they introduce Quasimodo is so freaking genius.  Michael Arden comes out like any regular man and then SMEARS HIS FACE WITH BLACK PAINT as Frollo ties the hump to his back (THE SYMBOLISM THERE OMG) and the bells descend from the curtains above as the chorus swells.

Also the chorus plays the statues and each one has its own personality.  It’s so obvious that the statues’ voices are all Quasimodo’s inner psyche tugging him one way and then the other, and every time they speak they use small bells or cymbals to accent their words.

Also Quasimodo can barely speak…UNTIL HE SINGS.  Arden has such an amazing, youthful voice, and I could feel his anxiety for freedom in “Out There.”

And then Frollo comes upstairs and RUINS EVERYTHING.  He uses this kind but CONDESCENDING tone that just makes me want to throw something. Instead of ABC’s, Frollo tells Quasimodo the story of the flight into Egypt, when Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus fled from the persecution of the firstborn and were protected by St. Aphrodisius—MORE FORESHADOWING.  But they are so RUDELY interrupted by the Feast of Fools, and on that note

Phoebus is actually a cocky SOB—like sure, they sent me in just in case the festival goes awry, but all I’m really here for are the ladies, rest and recreation!

AND THEN CLOPIN SHOWS UP and introduces ESMERELDA and she dances and Phoebus is like “I’ve seen the face of an angel! I’ve been forever changed!”

With Quasimodo’s arrival they announce the contest for the king of fools, and that scene is pulled straight from the movie.  Aside from a few little details, they didn’t change much.

And after all that Esmerelda chases him down and tries to apologize, but is stopped by Frollo, who’s like “ew, I know your kind, you practice dark magic” and Esmerelda’s like “if I had magic, I’d use it to save my people!” and Frollo is like “well shoot she’s smart” and then gets tempted

Esmerelda says something very Christian-like and Frollo is like “oh, you wish to be saved? Stay until the end of the service I’d be happy to teach you” and leaves and she sings “God Help the Outcasts” and holy moly does Ciara Renee have a voice or what

But at the end of the song she sees Quasimodo watching her and runs after him, and the statues are yelling at him to find a place to hide, quickly, quickly, she’ll see you

But she finds him and finds out he’s nearly deaf because of all the bells he’s been ringing all his life. He tells her he was talking to his friends and then berates himself, and Esmerelda’s like “No, that’s wonderful, I like your friends.”  And Quasimodo’s face just lights up and immediately starts ringing the bells and telling them to sing for her—if that’s not the most wonderful show of affection I don’t know what is.

They both sing “The Top of the World” and throughout the whole thing Quasimodo slowly realizes that she’s not going to berate him like Frollo would and you just see him become more and more animated throughout the song.  At the end of the song she kisses him on the cheek and you can tell, you can tell that’s the first time he’s been kissed at all

And then Frollo comes upstairs and RUINS EVERYTHING. “Quasimodo what were you doing ringing the bells off-schedule?” He turns and sees Esmerelda and is all like “oh, I thought you had left! I can still teach you the ways of the church, just stay here forever.” And Esmerelda, bless her soul, actually turns him down politely.  “I don’t think this is a good idea.” Frollo reaches for her hand and she backs away.  “I see the way you look at me.”

Frollo jumps back like he’s been stung by the most overdramatic wasp in the world “hOW DARE YOU! Your soul is so unclean you can’t see goodness in others!” And calls the guards on her.

And then he berates Quasimodo for having impure thoughts and the gargoyles whisper around him, like snakes in the shadows as Quasimodo promises to never again think about her.

AND THEN STALKS HER TO A TAVERN. Okay, it’s indirect but stalking all the same.  And watches Esmerelda and Phoebus fall in love.

Then we get into Heaven’s Light, and Quasimodo has seen the true face of God, because there is a human down there who isn’t afraid of him, who touched his face and suddenly the darkness is filled with light, a light so bright it must be from Heaven…

And the next song is literally the flipside of Heaven’s Light; while Quasimodo sings about how pure and open Esmerelda was to him, Frollo clutches Esmerelda’s scarf and sings of Hellfire.  And I mean, Hellfire was the most dramatic part of the movie for me, so this part was a little underwhelming…but Page carried that entire scene.  My GOODNESS his voice.  And him stumbling around as the saints look down on him and berate him while Frollo just keeps repeating “It’s not my fault!” Like, you can tell he believes what he says but he knows there’s evil in him now (I mean, there was evil in him before, but the sneaky kind) as the lights slowly change from blue to red, closing in on him until everything is bathed in a hellish glow…

And for the rest of the musical he wears a black and red cape over his otherwise white robes, showing how he has fallen and is acting on his own urges.  

He visits the prison—literally swoops in like a bat from hell with his new cape—and King Louis XI is there overlooking the prison and he just looks at Frollo and goes “oH! My astrologer told me I would have an unexpected guest!” Frollo just…. dies inside.  I lost it.

Anyway he manipulates the king to give the church military power and now soldiers are going left and right searching for Esmerelda; they come to a brothel and the women refuse to talk and Frollo’s like “fine, burn it down.” and Phoebus is like “whoa, hell no.” and Frollo shrugs, stabs him in the back, and blames Esmerelda

We interrupt this moment to remind you that everyone in the chorus is literally an angel and together they sound like an actual cathedral choir, thank you for your time.

Meanwhile Quasimodo’s like “oh shoot, what do I do? I want to protect her” and the statues tell him to go after her, find her and protect her like St. Aphrodisius protected Mary. Quasimodo is still unsure, but St. Aphrodisius himself comes out of his stained-glass window and gives Quasimodo his blessing (and a bit of unneeded comedy along with it).

Esmerelda makes Quasimodo take care of Phoebus, Quasimodo lies to Frollo for the first time, and Frollo’s like, well, we found her hideout, we attack at dawn.

Phoebus and Quasimodo have the same chemistry in the musical as they do in the movie.  “You can barely speak!”  “You can hardly walk!” Their arguments are funny, but just like the movie, Clopin finds them and is like “well, they’re gonna hang!” Esmerelda stops it, and Frollo shows up and RUINS EVERYTHING.

Frollo has her locked up, he confesses his love in literally one of the most horrifying ways a person can confess.  He starts out soft, believing that he can save her, rescue her from dark magic and be her sanctuary forever.  He says Esmerelda has made him feel human…and then tries to force her to kiss him.  She strikes him. “Help, a demon! Help me, please!” (FINALLY, someone shows him the respect he deserves)

Phoebus and Esmerelda grieve over what’s going to happen, and when they sang “Someday” I cried.

But the song that shook me to my very core was “Made of Stone” where Quasimodo is tied to a post while the statues plead for him to do something and Quasimodo yells back, “I’ve wasted my faith believing in saints of plaster, but the only one worth believing in was my master”

“Take all the dreams you’ve sown, take all your lies and leave me alone!”

“All right, Quasimodo, we’ll leave you alone All right, Quasimodo, we’ll trouble you no longer You’re right, Quasimodo, we’re only made of stone We just thought that you were made of something stronger.”

And when he sings the last line….HOLY. HELL. I just…I don’t have words for that.

But he quickly changes his mind and rescues Esmerelda from the fire.  The choir swells again, singing the Dies Irae, as Quasimodo lays waste to the crowd outside Notre Dame with giant rocks and molten lead.  Phoebus rallies the crowd into rebellion.  As chilling as this scene is, I think “Oh, now it’s gonna be like the movie, right?” NO.

She dies.  The smoke got to her or something.  But she definitely dies.  And Quasimodo’s talk with Frollo doesn’t end with Frollo pulling a knife. It’s sad, and slow, and Quasimodo finally comes to the terms with the abuse he’s been living with while they both grieve over her death in different ways.  The shock on Quasimodo’s face as Frollo repeats the same pious talk of sanctuary just after killing someone…at this point, I want Frollo dead, obviously.

And so does Quasimodo. He stands up straight for the first time and we see…he’s taller than Frollo, and that scares him.  “The wicked shall not go unpunished,” he says.  “The wicked shall not go unpunished,” echo the statues.  The Dies Irae swells one final time as Quasimodo drags Frollo to the balcony, lifts him up—“I told you, master.  I am very strong.”

“You don’t want to hurt me!” Yes you do, whisper the monsters.

“Quasimodo raised his two huge hands, and with a great bellow threw his master over the edge of the roof and into the abyss below!”  And I am chilled to the bone.  Thanks for that.

And then Phoebus arrives cuz he missed everything. He can’t even lift her up, and they’re both grieving.

Then the chorus—they are seriously the best chorus in the history of ever—approach Quasimodo one at a time, smearing black paint on their faces and hunching over.  Quasimodo sets Esmerelda down and turns his back to the audience. The ghost of Quasimodo’s mother sings for him. Esmerelda gets up and walks through the doors to eternal salvation. She turns back to look at him. He stands up and faces the audience, no longer hunched over, not a speck of paint on his face. 

“What makes a monster, and what makes a man?”

And the chorus swells, and they all bow, and I want to see it again.  So I watch it again, because that’s the beauty of the digital age.

[dearlinong]

by your side ; wang ziyi

[hi ! is it okay if i request a scenario where wang ziyi is a mentor for a show you are in and its the final stage and you narrowly miss debuting with the rest of the group. he comforts you but everyone knows you both have a crush on each other? mentor au i guess,,, from a mentor or a lover?? im not sure where i was going with this, sorry if its a bit weird... thank you so much !!]

(a/n: girl holy shit i forgot that i had this in my draft and didn’t finish it wtf. i literally forgot how to do this ;-;. so.. uhm... I MISS YOU GUYS LIKE SO MUCH!! hope you guys are staying safe and staying inside your homes. i’m just clearing off all my requests and once i’m done i can continue making requests again :>. so yeah, pls tell me how guys have been doing in my ask box! so there hope you enjoy this one <3)

genre: angst plus floof

requested: YUP!! omg 2 years in the making kjnKJNAJKDNSKAJDN and sorry if it was all over the place :<

you were currently competing in the 2nd season of idol producer

and you were one of the top competitors

you’ve ben voted as top 1 for multiple times now

and not only was it because of your talent

but you think that it was also because of your friendship with ziyi (which is is bad guys lol vote contestants bc of their talent okay)

yes, you’re friends with the very famous wang ziyi

who was also one of the rap mentors in the said show

actually you two go way back

you two have been friends even before he got into simply joy music

you two were trainees for a company called faded ent

and you two were supposed to debut as a co-ed group

so you two would practice all day and all night just to perfect the dances, singing and rap you had to do

and even after those long and tiring practices you two still had time to hang out with each other

you gotta admit, those were the times that you started developing a crush on him

so when the day he told you that he was leaving the company it was basically your own personal apocalypse

not only did you lose ziyi

but you lost your chance to debut which was on the tip of your fingers at that time

so you tried your luck this time by asking your company to let you join the new season of idol producer

and to your surprise you were doing better than what you expected

as the weeks go by, you and ziyi have been catching up on each other’s lives

but only when you and him have overlapping free time which is a 5 minute break once every week, so that’s not a lot of time

and because of your closeness with him, people have been saying that he has this massive crush on you, which you totally ignored and didn’t believe

and if they were true you’d still ignore it because you were here to compete and debut, not to find love

it was currently the last week in idol producer

while all of the other trainees were fast asleep

you in particular could not sleep for some unknown reason

and what better way to tire yourself than to practice some more

so you got up and walked towards the practice rooms

you first checked if all the staffs were gone, and when they were all gone you entered the room and started practicing the dance routine for the upcoming final episode as you were still in need of some practice

20 minutes into your practicing and you hear some footsteps walking towards the practice rooms, specifically the practice room that you were in

behind the piano was a good place to hide, so you did

as the person entered the room you peeped your hear out so you could have a look at who it was

you were surprised to see that it was ziyi who entered

you were wondering why he was still in the dorms as all the mentors were supposed to be out with the other mentors

so you went out of your hiding spot

ziyi jumped in surprise as he saw you come out

“y/n? why are you here?” he asked 

“i was just practicing, but i’ll head out now, bye.” you said while rushing to head out of the room

but then he caught your wrist which made you stop

“hey, can’t you stay for a while. i really want to spend more time with you. please stay.” he said while smiling softly

you really couldn’t say ‘no’ to a guy like ziyi, so you agreed to stay with him

“so how’ve you been these past few weeks?”

“pretty good actually, but this week in particular was really draining for me and the other trainees.”

you two then eventually became comfortable with each other, like the good ol’ days

after a while you checked the clock to look at what time it was, it was almost 1 in the morning and you had to wake up early to teach the other trainees the dance for the final stage

“hey it’s getting late, better get going now.” you were about to stand up but then ziyi got your hands which stopped you from doing so

“thank you for staying with me y/n, i really miss spending time with you. i hope we can do this more often.” after saying that last word he was leaning in and getting closer to your face

he then pressed his lips to yours

you wanted to savor the moment, but a part of you says that what you’re doing is wrong

so you quickly parted with his lips and stood up

“i’m sorry ziyi, t-this just isn’t right. i have a future ahead of me, and so do you. i don’t want this to be the reason for us to fail in the future. goodbye.” after you bowed you left without even turning back

for the whole week you only thought about that moment

there were times when you couldn’t even sleep just because it was in your head

the day of the final episode has come and you’ve prepared for it since before you entered this show even

okay so this is the part where i transition from 2018 to 2020 bc im a dumb bitch and forgot to finish the au back in 2018

ok back 2 the fic

bc you already know that anything can happen during the span of these 3+ hours

the last time you checked you were still the reigning #1

and because of that you were really anxious about everything that’s gonna happen

before everything starts you guys practiced for the last time and got your last messages from the trainers

and while they were leaving ziyi handed you a small note which made all 20 trainees go BONKERS

“YIEE I KNEW THAT HE LIKED YOU!”

“I KNOW HE’S MY BIAS BUT WHAT THE HECK YOU TWO WOULD BE CUTE TOGETHER”

you became so flustered after all of them started teasing you

“YAH! Y’ALL STOP! if you guys don’t stop i won’t share my remaining facial cleanser!”

deadass everybody went silent JASNXANSDJ

and while everyone was leaving the hall you stayed behind so that you could read the note he gave you in private

it read

“i know what i did a few days ago really surprised you which made you say those words. but i know in my heart that what happened to us was right, but since you asked for it, fine i won’t bother you for now. just remember that i love you and i’m always supporting you, jiayou! with love, ziyi”

ff to the live show

the whole live show was a blur to you because you were too nervous for the final ranking

you were center for your team tho!

everyone AND I MEAN EVERYONE SCREAMED WHEN YOU WERE INTRODUCED AS CENTER

BC HELLO

YOU WERE PERFECT TO BE THE CENTER

ANYWAYS NOW ONTO THE MOMENT WE HAVE ALL BEEN DREADING

THE

FINAL

RANKING

DUN DUN DUUUUUUN

you saw some of the people you hoped to be in the final group got called and you couldn’t be happier

but sadly some of them weren’t

it’s now time to call on the prospected 1st and 2nd ranks

your anxiety levels are OFF THE CHARTS NOW as you haven’t been called yet

you were hoping to all the gods that you would turn out to be the 1st pick

or even 2nd place

but to everyones horror

your face wasn’t shown on the LED screen

which means you weren’t gonna be selected as the 1st or 2nd rank

you heard both people from the audience and from your fellow trainees a collective

“WHAT!?!?!?!?”

at this point you didn’t know what to do anymore

you felt numbness in your body

you can’t cry yet because there is still hope for the 9th place

and then it hit you

‘OH YEAH’

‘9TH PLACE’

so again with all the praying to every god thing

and then

BOOM

the 4 faces were shown on the LED screen

and luckily you were there

the PD then one by one started to announce the trainees on the screens ranks

for 12th place

it wasn’t you

for 11th place it wasn’t you either

this is it you were either in or out

you and the other trainee held hands just to relieve you both from the pressure

and then

the PD finally says the ranking

“the 9th pick is...”

“yuehua entertainment’s xi jiamo!”

that was it

all your hard work

gone

of course you were so happy for your fellow trainee

but you still have to think of yourself as well

you were then asked to give a final message

you were still in shock and didn’t know what to say yet

but you stood there and just said anything that came across your brain

“ohh, honestly i’m just so very thankful to everyone who supported me through this journey. and for every single trainee that has given me nothing but love i hope i can repay you guys some day. let’s all remember that this is not the end of our journey rather it is a stepping stone for us in order to succeed in the future. and to our dear mentors”

the audience and the trainees went wild

EVEN SOME OF THE OTHER MENTORS TOO

“i’m just very thankful that we had the opportunity to be guided by all of you, and we promise to always keep in mind everything you taught us. once again thank you for letting me stand on this stage. i will never forget this experience. thank you everyone” and then you bowed for a very long time

after the whole program all of the trainees went to the stage to congratulate the final group

but almost all of them went to you

the trainees started to flock your area and shower you with nothing but love and support

you even heard the crowd chant your name

which made you cry even more

“YAAAH! Y/N JIE I OVE YOU SO MUCH PLEASE REMEMBER THAT!”

“Y/N JIE I’M SORRY FOR TAKING YOUR SPOT!” jiamo said to you

so you had to tell her that its not her fault and she should think that way

if she thinks that way again you told her that you would be so disappointed

the staff now asked everyone to vacate the stage and go backstage

little did you know

ziyi was there waiting for you

you didn’t want to talk to him yet but the trainees insisted that you do

so they left for you two to have some privacy

once you two were alone there was nothing but silence

but he went in for a hug

which you really needed right now

a hug from one of the people that you love the most

while you two were hugging ziyi said something to you

“i know this is a really hard time for you and i just want you to know that i’ll always be by your side from now on. i’ve lost you the first time now i will never let you go”

YOU CRIED EVEN MORE BECAUSE OF THAT

you just wanted to be in his arms forever

and for now

you do stay in it

[bluepenguinstories]

Remoras Full Chapter XI: Tiger Beat

Breakfast was always a great time. If the penguin man didn’t get up and make breakfast, I would. I made pancakes, waffles, crepes, scrambled eggs, and other yummy things. The morning after Ray’s wife, Sunny, and Demetria came home, I awoke with the biggest yawn and stretch ever.

My room was dark, but that was okay! It wasn’t my room, I just slept there when I stayed the night over at the restaurant. Back at my other room, the door was open a lot, and the fireplace was always lit. It made for a nice nightlight. Too bad we didn’t have that in this room!

It was dark, but I saw a hand dangling off of the bed next to me. I reached over and high-fived it. Well, not high. Down low.

“Snooze you lose!” I stuck out my tongue at my weird older sister. She was asleep, even tho she moved a lot in her sleep. She also chattered her teeth a lot in her sleep. I would often her a lot, “go see a dentist!”

“If someone tries to look at my teeth, I’ll bite them,” she’d say, and then I’d call her crankypants and she’d cross her arms because she knew I was right. Adults could be dumb sometimes.

Anyway, yes: I slept on the floor while Crankypants slept on the bed. But I was okay with that, because I slept in a sleeping bag and I was always more comfortable than my cranky sister. There were three sisters I often saw, and one penguin man. One was tall and cranky, one was tall and happy, and the other was short and loud. All together they were fun to be around because I was smarter than all of them.

After a good wriggle, I ran out the room. Before I did, I declared:

“If you sleep too much, you’ll miss breakfast!” Of course, it might have been AM in the morning. Remora told me a lot that whenever it was AM in the morning, she didn’t like to be awake. I would tell her, “it’s always AM in the morning,” then she’d put on sunglasses and go back to bed.

That was one of the weird older sisters. The main one. The other one also wasn’t a morning person, but she was a small person. Sometimes I would do fun things with her, but that morning, I decided to let her sleep, because I wanted to use the mixer and make strawberry pancakes and the mixer was loud. So if she slept, I could be as loud as I wanted.

The last sister slept upstairs in Ray’s bed. Sunny was the most fun sister, but I’ve only hung around her for a few days. The other day, Ray let me sleep in his and Sunny’s bed, but he didn’t sleep in his bed that night. He slept in a chair.

I wasn’t sure how adults could sleep in chairs. Or in the same beds. Or in uncomfortable beds. But adults were weird and that was a fact and I slept in a sleeping bag.

There was a lot of prep work to do in the kitchen. That was the biggest thing Ray taught me when he taught me to bake and cook. First, I had to get a big bowl. Then, I had to get flour. Then, there were fresh strawberries. The last part confused me, since strawberries didn’t grow up there.

Once I had everything, it was time to mix. I laughed maniacally as I watched it splash all over the place.

Ray says I can make a mess as long as I clean it up, so I’ll make a mess worth cleaning up after.

Things were going pretty well. I dropped loads and loads of strawberries. Maybe a customer would come (doubt it. It’s always just the five of us), but if not, then maybe I could share a breakfast with everyone! That would be great!

I stuck my finger in the mix and licked my finger.

“Hmm...needs more strawberry!”

More laughter, more flour, more water, more mix. I wasn’t sure yet how many people I could feed, but I knew I could at least feed myself with all the mix I was making. But before I could actually cook the pancakes, I heard knocking on the door to the kitchen.

It could be a ghost. Or a robber. Keep your cool, don’t hide, and –

“Stay back! I’ve got a ladle!”

“Tigershark, honey, what are you doing?” Sunny asked. She entered, and her voice sounded really tired and low, like Remora’s sometimes.

“I’m making pancakes for breakfast!”

“It’s 5 AM and people are trying to sleep.”

“I know! That’s why I’m making them now, so it doesn’t bother anyone when they’re awake!”

Sunny yawned, then smiled a small smile. Not one of the bright Sunny ones. More like sunrise.

“I’m going back to bed. Can you try to keep it down out here?” She yawned once more while talking.

“What down?”

“The noise.”

“Sure! It will be a quiet cooking!”

“Have fun, dear.”

“Hey!” I called for her.

“Yes?”

“What do you want in your pancake?” It was important to know what the customer wanted, otherwise you could make them something and they wouldn’t like it. Maybe Sunny wasn’t a customer, but it was fun to think that she was.

“How about bacon?”

“We don’t have bacon! They’re going to be strawberry pancakes!”

“Mm. That sounds good, too.”

I grinned. Approval!

In the afternoon, I sat with Remora at the diner. She never did end up getting up to get her pancakes. Neither did Sunny or Demetria. I had to save them all in plastic baggies.

Aw, now they’ll get all soggy.

But that was fine. Everyone ate something, and I had the best breakfast of all. For lunch, I had the best lunch of all: a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with apple slices and ranch dressing!

Remora stared. Either at my sandwich or me. Her head kept bobbing up and down and it was a bit funny but she could have hit her head on the table and that wouldn’t have been good.

“Did you get enough sleep?” I asked.

“You know I never get much sleep,” she answered. “I often jolt up in the middle of the night and start shivering. The shivers don’t stop and that’s when I notice my heart rate spike, which it then takes forever for it to get back down. Then, my tired eyes drift off, but not for long.”

“If your shivering is keeping you awake, just stop,” I told her.

“It’s not that easy.”

“I don’t have a problem with your shivering.”

“Yes, because you’re not the one doing it.”

“You should try the sleeping bag. I don’t shiver in it.”

She shook her head. “That’s not the problem.”

“I don’t get it.”

“I wish I could explain it…”

“You should eat. You haven’t had breakfast.” I swear, adults were trouble like that. Ray would say that breakfast was the most important meal of the day and my big sister would sometimes forget that, which meant I had to remind her.

“Now that you mention it, I am hungry.”

That was my chance!

“I have pancakes! Strawberry!” I announced and was excited to say so.

“I don’t want those. Give me your sandwich.”

“No.”

“Make me one.”

“What’s the magic word?” Sometimes I had to teach her manners, as well, even though she liked to lecture others about things like honesty and being polite.

“Please. Now.”

“No,” I shook my head. “But I can make you some hot chocolate! With nutmeg!” Hot chocolate might have been the better choice than a sandwich, because hot chocolate was hot, and hot meant no shivers.

“Ew. Why would you put nutmeg in hot chocolate?” She made fake barf sounds.

“Ray taught me! He said it added flavor to the hot chocolate!”

“Yeah, a gross flavor.”

I stuck out my tongue, she stuck hers out right back.

“Give me your sandwich,” she repeated.

“No,” I told her right back.

She reached her arm across the table and I did my best to hold the sandwich away. When it seemed like she was about to grab it, I opened my mouth wide.

“SOMEONE! AN ADULT IS BULLYING ME!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.

“What? No I’m not!” Remora tried to act innocent, as if anyone would believe her. She must’ve known no one would believe her, because she leaned over and put her hand over my mouth. I was surprised that her hand would be so warm. Maybe she had been sitting next to the heater vents again. Or maybe she went back to her house in the middle of the night, put her hand up to her fireplace, then came back to the diner. That might have explained the shivering, too!

She let go and I looked around hoping there would be another adult or two to scold Remora. But there wasn’t.

“No one heard me…” I whispered.

Maybe if mom and dad were around they could scold Remora or give her a time out. But if they were around, they wouldn’t. It took a lot to get them to pay attention, especially when they said they were busy with research.

If not them, maybe Sunny or Ray could have shown up and told Remora to stop being mean to me. But they didn’t hear me. Or they did, but neither of them came.

It didn’t have to be those two, either. But I didn’t know who else.

I began to sniffle and after two more times, I caught myself, but I couldn’t stop.

“Are you about to cry?” Remora asked me. It was just like the first time she showed up.

I shook my head really fast.

“You are, aren’t you?” She asked again.

I wiped my face. It was all wet. Then I knew that I already started. It was all her fault, too!

“Why?” She asked and it sounded weird.

“I...I don’t know,” I sniffed and felt it come down again. “I started thinking of things...and…”

“Well, cry if you need to.”

I took a napkin and wiped my nose with it. Then I took another napkin and wiped my eyes.

“Why do you make me cry?” I asked back.

“I don’t. I don’t make you do anything.”

“No, not in a mean way. But you tell me to do it.”

“I just don’t want you to be like me.”

That also sounded weird, because I couldn’t be like her and she couldn’t be like me. If I was going to be like anyone, I would be like Sunny. Or Ray, but I didn’t want to be a penguin. Maybe a polar bear. Even though it was already impossible because I was already me, there must have been some reason why she said it.

“Would that be bad?”

“Yes,” she said back, and lowered her head so that it was on the table.

“That’s bad manners,” I reminded her.

“I don’t care.”

I finished my sandwich and started dipping my apples in ranch dressing.

“The table could be dirty! Someone might have licked it!”

“That’s gross, but it’s too late to go back now,” she sounded tired.

I crossed my arms. “You should sleep in a bed. Also, why is it bad to be like you?”

“Because I am bad.”

“How are you bad? Do you pee without flushing?”

“I can’t explain.”

“If you don’t explain, I won’t know!”

Speechless. Not a word in her defense. Boom. Checkmate. King me. I sunk her battleships.

I wanted to say “you’re not bad, because you couldn’t tell me why”, but I didn’t do that, because when I was going to, she looked up and opened her mouth and was about to tell me something until a fart noise was heard and she reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone.

“Your phone makes funny noises,” I pointed out.

“Yes. I know. I put it on vibrate, but it ought to be silenced.”

“I will allow it!” I boasted, the kind and merciful ruler I decided to be.

“Whatever you say, princess,” she teased, then looked down at her phone. Whoever messaged her sent a jolt to her, and she looked over to me.

“What?” She sounded mad. Probably because I looked at her like she was weird, because she was. What? It was true.

“Nothing,” I shrugged and dipped another apple slice in creamy ranch goodness.

“Just a text from a ‘friend’,” she told me. “Well, someone I met who wanted to be friends with me. I said sure, but I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Yeah you do. You wanted to make a friend.”

“It’s not that I’m opposed to the idea. It’s just not something I’m used to. I know nothing about it.”

“You’ve old and you don’t have friends. You must have had one or two at some point,” I pointed out. Some adults were like that. Making things up because they forgot. If there were more people like me, adults might not have made so much stuff up.

But Remora was a tough one. More stubborn than a lasagna that was still cold after two hours in the oven. She laughed at my reminder.

“Actually, no. If you can believe it. Which, I know it’s hard to believe, and it’s not for a lack of others trying. But I just couldn’t stand being around others. Then, there was the matter of when I first arrived in the arctic, a couple years ago. I know it’s cliché, but, I didn’t come here to make friends. Quite the opposite. I wanted to hide away, spend the rest of my days in isolation and solitude.”

“And now you have me! And yummy food!” I told her on the bright side and she nodded.

“I just get this feeling, like...maybe there’s a version of me out there who wanted to have friends, but the problem is that I showed up instead.”

Hmm...I didn’t know how many versions of people existed, but there were a lot of people out there. Not like doppelganger, but maybe there was a couple of people who were like each other. Like a long lost twin or something. But I didn’t know what that had to do with her friend texting her.

“Are you going to answer the text?” I pointed to her phone.

“Ugh. I forgot.” She handed it to me. “Here. Wanna pretend to be me for a bit? You can make a new friend.”

“Sure!” My hands were messy and wasn’t the best speller but I had napkins and I could spell good enough.

“Her name is Ves,” she told me.

“Okay!” I grinned. I read her first message and then typed:

Ves: Hi. Is this a good time? I just wanted to see how you were doing.

Me: Hi vest!

Ves: Vest? Why am I a vest?

Me: I don’t know I’m making a chicken rizodo for dinner

Ves: Risotto?

Me: I don’t know what that is

Ves: Uh...well. In any case. I didn’t know you cooked. That’s quite a surprise.

Me: Ray taught me

Ves: Ray?

Me: hes a penguin man

Ves: I see…

Ves: Do you want to talk to Juniper?

Me: Whos that?

Ves: You met her, remember?

I looked up.

“Who is Juniper?” I asked.

“Her wife.”

“Oh...I see!” So this was all a group thing. I texted again:

Me: You’re old huh?

Ves: I’m not much older than you.

Me: I’m almost 10

Ves: What

I got another text right after that from someone else. The name said Juniper, so it must have been the one Ves wanted me to talk to. The message had a picture of some grown up lady with blonde hair and pigtails doing a peace sign and had a grin on her face. I had no idea who the person could be, so I just replied how I thought Remora would.

Me: Oooh pretty lady

Juniper: HLJFDKJSJ thaNSK!!

Me: Are you OK?

Juniper: Yes >:D

Me: That’s a mean face

Juniper: nO!!! D:

I couldn’t think of anything else to say and so I gave the phone back to Remora and told her, “you should make more friends so I have more people to talk to.”

She looked at her phone and pressed a few keys and then showed me the phone.

“This is what you’re supposed to do when someone sends you a selfie: you send them a meme.”

I looked at the screen and Remora sent Juniper’s selfie back at her, except with words in white on the image.

“I’m...a...bottom...text?” I read it and didn’t understand.

“What? What? No. It was supposed to say ‘I’m a huge dork’. Ugh. I blame the site.”

“What would I say as a meme?” I asked her and she said, “How about a reference to a song, like ‘what’s cooler than being cool? The sweet release of death! Alright, alright, alright, alright’?”

Hm. I didn’t like that. It needed its own twist. Remora handed me the phone and then I sent the message:

Me: What’s cooler than death? Pudding!

Juniper: death by pudding? owo

Me: NO! Did you poison the pudding?

Juniper: Nah, that’s something Ves would do, and I mean that in a very loving way.

I couldn’t think of what to say to that, so I gave Remora her phone back. When I looked up, she was staring off into space as if she was dead.

“Hello?” I waved my hand in front of her.

“I was just thinking: do I even want friends?” She asked, and I would have said that she asked me that, but it sounded like she didn’t ask anyone in particular.

“It’s not a definite ‘no’,” she also said. “Just a...I don’t know. For that matter, what I want isn’t quite clear to me. Last night, I was asked if I even wanted to be here. I didn’t know how to answer. I still don’t. I’ve already left a couple times. But even if I’m here by choice, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s where I want to be, does it?”

“You can always go back to your place,” I reminded her.

“Do I want to be there, either? Is there a place for me anywhere?”

“Probably! There’s plenty of room here, and at your house! But I get why you don’t hang around there as much. It’s kind of gloomy.”

“I wish I knew how to answer. Worse, I still can’t figure it out.” Well, it looked like she would be focused on that question for a while. I said something to cheer her up.

“If it’s a problem, I’m sure you’ll figure it out! Because you’re good at taking care of problems!”

She sighed. “Not all of them…”

“All of the problems are a lot of problems,” I told her.

“If I want to be here, why? What reason would I have? And if I don’t, then why do I keep coming here?”

“You’re still hung up on that?” I heard a familiar mousy voice say. I turned and saw Demetria holding a brook! I forgot that Ray made her clean up the diner when there wasn’t any customers. When I would peak around to see her clean, sometimes I would jump and scare her (best thing to do) or tell her to pick the gum off from under the tables and eat them (she never did that).

I looked at Remora and she glared at Demetria without saying anything in response.

“Look, I’m sorry. It just came out last night. If I recall, I said the same thing to my cousin’s wife at their wedding because she looked uncomfortable. So I think that’s all it was.”

Speaking of uncomfortable, I sure felt it. Especially because Remora continued to not say anything and kept making a scary glare. I snuck out from my seat so I could hide behind Demetria and scare her. At least then it would be funny. Better than feeling bad.

“I-I don’t even think you need to have an answer,” Demetria backed away. I did too because I wasn’t ready to scare her yet. She had to turn around first. “For what it’s worth, I want you to be here. But...I also know this isn’t about me, so...I’m just going to leave you alone now…” Before I could back away, Demetria bumped into me and she turned around. On cue, I roared and went “boo!”

“Eep!” She squeaked and jumped. I laughed, because she fell over and it was a funny sound when she squeaked when she was scared. She looked around before she scrambled to get up. It was even better when she ran off because then I could chase her. I did so and she ran off and it was fun, but she stopped and so did I because of an “ahem” sound. Me and Demetria both looked to see Remora get up from her seat. She said something like this: “Do I want to be here? To be honest, the answer doesn’t matter because I’m uncomfortable everywhere. Wherever I go, I feel the same, so if I wanted to be somewhere, I would be nowhere. But that is not an option. Not even in my own home, if it can even be called that, have I felt comfort. I’ve stuck my hand in open flames just to feel some sort of warmth, and yes, I did burn my hand, but I still felt the same.”

Both me and Demetria said nothing. We looked at her. I think she wanted to make a bold statement and wasn’t expecting awkward silence because she looked around and looked scared and her hands shook.

“W-What?” She panicked and her teeth chattered. “Don’t look at me like that!”

I looked at Demetria and she made finger guns at Remora.

“I getcha, sis! I happen to be uncomfortable all the time, too!”

I think I was scared too. I didn’t know what could have scared her, but it scared me and I didn’t think Demetria made her less scared.

“Both...both of you. Give me space.” She lowered her voice while still being scared and scary. Maybe she saw me and wanted to calm herself down? Then, she said: “Go outside. Tigershark, the weather is nice. You should run around and play. You’re tough. Demetria, you need to get out more. You spend too much time in your room and it’s clear your brain is rotting.”

We both listened to her and Demetria and me went outside. It was nice to still have a friend to play with, even if I wasn’t wearing the right clothes to be outside. Even in the summers it was only a little more than 0 degrees.

“Brr...so much fun,” I told myself. It wasn’t very good, so I ran back in to the room Remora and I stayed in and grabbed the parka that Remora gave to me. She said she made it herself, but I had my doubts. For one, I never saw her make any clothes before. Two, I didn’t have a two, but one was enough! It was just like how she said she built her house herself even though I didn’t picture her being much of a builder.

At least the parka kept me warm, and that was important. I ran back outside and when I passed the dining area, I didn’t see Remora sitting in her spot.

I went outside and saw Sunny stretching in work out clothes. When I saw her I grinned and ran toward her.

“Sunny! What are you doing?” I asked. I was excited just to see her.

“Heya! I’m doing some warm ups! It’s good to do because it’s cold outside.” She laughed after saying that, but it didn’t sound like a joke.

“I want to do something fun!” I told her.

“Yeah!” She was just excited as I was, I could tell she was. She bent down and stretched her arm out.

“Wanna swing onto my arm? If so, grab on!”

I did! And then she stood back up. Her arms were stretched and I swung around on them. Sunny was just like a monkey bar!

“Hey Demetria!” Sunny called over. “Wanna join in? I bet I could hold both of you!”

Demetria sat next outside the door to the diner. Her head was down but she looked up when Sunny called for her. Demetria told Sunny, “no thanks. I’m not childish like you two.”

“Suit yourself!”

Sunny was the most fun of the bunch, but I might have already said that once or twice. I got a good swing in and then decided to let go and jump off. Sunny got started, and I landed in the snow, but I was okay. I did sneeze, though.

“Yay!” I raised my hands up. Then I ran over to Demetria and told her how fun it was.

“That’s neat, but look over there,” she pointed. I looked where she pointed and Remora was sitting on a rock with her sniper rifle. She looked through it and looked around, then she sighed and dismantled it. “Isn’t she cool?” She asked me.

I shrugged. “Not really. She’s boring.”

“What would you know? You’re just a kid.”

There it was. The dumb thing adults liked to say.

“I know a lot! I live with her!” I argued.

My argument won because she snapped her fingers and her eyes widened. I was so smart.

“That’s right! Then you must know things about her!”

I shrugged again. I had shoulders and was going to use them.

“Like, about things she likes, maybe?” She went on to ask.

“Sure. She likes fairy tales,” I told her.

“Fairy tales? No. That can’t be right. I picture her watching action movies and owning a punching bag. Fairy tales don’t seem her style.”

Action movies...something like Spy Kids? I remembered how Ray let me watch it once, but I didn’t understand half of it.

“Why do you think that?” I asked her. “She doesn’t have a TV and she might have a computer, but I never see her get it out. Maybe it would be more fun if she did like those things, because then we could watch them together.”

“Oh yeah! I’d like to do that too because then maybe I could hold onto her during the scary parts and even fall asleep next to her!” She said back. It was a weird thing to say.

“Why would you watch it if you just want to fall asleep? You could do that anywhere. And there’s no punching bag in her house. That’s something me or Sunny likes more.”

“Huh. Fairy tales and no action. I just thought she was like one of those comic book characters. I mean, she’s killed people. Did you know that? And she’s all muscly, got a mysterious past, and has a sniper rifle.”

None of those things sounded all that interesting.

“Yeah, she uses it to go hunting, but hunting is pretty boring. It’s mostly waiting around and being quiet. It’s a lot like fishing. But I like fishing! It’s funny when you reel one up and they wiggle around!”

“Those poor fish!” She gasped.

Yep. She was always going to be the small weird sister.

I decided to head back inside because I needed to prepare dinner early so there would be enough time to cook it. Ray taught me how to make a lot of food. Before when it was just me and Remora, we would eat cooked fish and sometimes elk meat, but that was it. Ray taught me about flair and spices. He would say that good food needed flair and he was right.

While preparing the chicken dish, I started to wonder where Ray was. I didn’t see him all day. It wasn’t that late in the day, but he was usually more out and about.

He was probably being a lazy penguin and hibernating in bed. Though I didn’t see him after dinner was made, either. When I ate dinner, it was the same crowd of Sunny, Demetria, Remora, and me. At least Sunny and I shared a dish of the chicken (the name was hard to say). Still didn’t make up for the fact that there was no Ray, but I could forgive it.

What I could not forgive was the other two’s lack of chicken. Not only that, but the lack of flair! Someone had to correct it! I got out of my seat to do just that.

First was Remora with her fish. It looked like she had attempted to make sushi, but instead of seaweed, she used some of the zucchini that I made the chicken dish with.

“Remora! That fish is so raw we could throw it back in the water!” I told her off.

“I’ll do just that after I’m done eating it,” she joked. Her lack of care for her diet was so obvious, it hurt.

“Okay, Tiger Ramsay,” Demetria spoke up. I think she didn’t know that she was the next victim. I went over to her table and saw the basic salad.

“Look at that salad! It’s so bland! Where are the proteins?” I judged her with my arms held out.

“Really? In front of my salad?” She whined. “Sheesh, Tiger Chef. I’ve got green beans in my salad. Isn’t that good enough?”

I grinned. Yes. I was the tiger chef. But even with such high praise, there was no Ray. I asked Sunny about it and she told me he was “under weather” but that didn’t make sense. He was under a roof. And if it meant that he was sick, then that also didn’t make sense, because he was fine yesterday.

When it was next morning, there was also no Ray. Also, whatever Ray had Remora must have also caught because she didn’t want to get out of bed. It wasn’t even super early in the morning.

“Come on, take me fishing!” I begged her. “The weather’s fine and everything!”

“Nn...no. I’m cold and tired,” she mumbled. “Get me another blanket.”

I went into one of the many closets in the diner (none of them contained skeletons even though Remora once said Ray must have some) and grabbed a blanket for her. When I returned, I threw them at her.

“There! Now let’s go out!”

“No. I’m still cold and tired. Turn the heater up for me.”

I found the dial thing out in the hallway and turned it so it would get hotter. I returned once again and she said no again.

“What else do you want me to do?” I whined. I just wanted to go out and she was being dumb and mean.

“Find me a reason to live,” she mumbled. That was a weird thing to bring her, but I thought about it and the answer was obvious: she wanted pudding.

“Okay! I’ll be back in an hour or two!” I said with a smile. At least there was that. I liked to make food.

Maybe this morning I’ll see Ray in the kitchen and he could show me how to make a pudding with flair!

Ray wasn’t in the kitchen. Just me. That was OK. There were recipe books and one of them had chocolate pudding.

Just like yesterday morning, Sunny walked in and asked me what I was doing.

“I’m making pudding!” I cheered.

“I see...and why’s it so hot in here?”

“Because Remora told me to!”

“Honey…” Sunny sounded like she was about to say something else and then didn’t.

“I wanted her to take me fishing, but she doesn’t want to get out of bed. So when she eats the pudding, she’ll have a reason to live, and then we’ll go fishing!” I explained.

“Oh dear…” Sunny said in the same way she said honey.

“I know! It’s terrible! She might have caught what Ray has, so I need to make pudding!”

Sunny gave a thumbs up. “I’m not sure what Ray has, but he’s probably fine! As for Remora...I’ll talk to her.”

As soon as Sunny left, I stopped with the pudding making. That was because I knew adults could be mean and I didn’t want Sunny to be mean. Even though Sunny was least mean on the mean scale.

So I followed behind and did my best not to be heard. She entered the room, and I stood outside with my ear up to the door. I could hear pretty good.

“Are you doing okay?” It was Sunny’s voice.

“I’m as okay as I am any other day,” and that was definitely Remora.

“How come you don’t want to get out of bed?”

“Do I need a reason to stay in bed?”

“No. Usually I wouldn’t bother. You’re free to do as you please, as Ray would say. We used to have drunk patrons at the diner all the time and they’d get so wasted that they’d sleep in the same room you’re in. In the morning, they’d still be there, ‘cause damn, they were hammered so hard. You should’ve seen it!” She laughed really hard. I think even if I wasn’t at the door, I would have heard her laugh.

“So what’s the problem?” Remora again with her stubbornness.

“Well, it’s just that Tigershark wanted to go out fishing, and then I find her making pudding and she tells me you wanted a reason to live. What’s all that about?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t tell her to make pudding.”

“But you said the other part?”

“Yeah? So? It’s just banter.”

“Remora, are you depressed?”

I didn’t know that word, but Sunny’s voice made it sound like it was some kind of sick you could catch.

“I know what being depressed means and so I don’t think I am. I’m just having an off day. I feel like an ice cube.”

“Couldn’t you have told Tigershark that? That you were having an off day?”

Yeah! Tell me things! I didn’t know it was your day off from fishing!

“You’re right. I thought I was being honest enough, but I need to be more clear sometimes.”

“Thank you! That’s refreshing hearing from you! I’ll tell Tigershark you’re having an off day! I’m sure she’ll understand!” Sunny sounded much less concerned and much more cheery. But I heard my name, and she was walking back up to the door, so I had to run back to the kitchen.

It was too late. When I went to run, she caught me.

“I knew it!” She grabbed me and lifted me up. She had an evil grin on her face. “You were eavesdropping!”

I shook my head “no!”

She set me down. She sat next to me even though I was standing and I had my arms crossed and I was mad but I wasn’t sure why yet.

“So you must have heard, but Remora’s having an off day, so looks like you two won’t be going fishing.”

“But! Pudding!” I argued.

“Yes, I know. It was a nice thought.”

“I want to go outside! It’s good weather and I want to do fun things but she doesn’t wanna! She’s boring!” I got louder.

“Well, maybe you and I could go out and do something together?”

“Remora’s a boomer!” I wasn’t finished and it was rude I got interrupted when I didn’t think of everything yet.

Sunny snorted. Even more ruder to do.

“Wh...what?”

“Boomer! Remora told me that’s what dumb adults are, and she’s a dumb adult! So she’s a boomer!”

“God, I am so bad at talking to kids,” Sunny said quieter, but still a bit of a laugh. “I’m sure we can do something fun though, right?”

“Yes! I want to go fishing, and I want to go ice skating, and I want a pet arctic fox, or a wolf, and I want to wrestle sharks!”

“No. No pets,” I looked up and saw Remora behind Sunny. Guess that did the trick.

“Whew, saved,” Sunny whispered, even though I could hear her just fine.

Remora went up to me. “Sorry, maybe we’ll go somewhere tomorrow.”

“Okay!” I cheered. I was just happy to hear the words “go somewhere.”

Soon news got even better: I turned around and Ray was there! He really was! “What’s with all the commotion?” He asked and he sounded weak.

“Ray! It’s me!” I jumped up. He smiled.

“Why, hello, kiddo.”

Everything was so much better than a few minutes ago. Sunny didn’t sound as sunny, though.

“Um. Hun? Why is your arm all purple?” She pointed at him. I looked and yeah, he wasn’t wearing his usual long sleeves and they were.

“Oh, this? It’s just frostbite,” and he didn’t seem worried, so I wasn’t worried. But then, Remora spoke, and she just had that habit to bring worry with her.

“Oh yeah. ‘Just’ frostbite. As if that’s not a serious thing. Not to mention, it’s more than that, isn’t it?”

Sunny added on, “now that you mention it, I haven’t seen you move your arm at all since I got back.”

Ray closed his eyes and smiled. Maybe he was about to say something silly. Instead, he wobbled a bit and fell onto the floor. It wasn’t as silly as it sounded.

I didn’t end up going out with Sunny, either. My day was spent stuck inside and I wondered what happened to Ray.

[verobatto]

Destiel Chronicles

(Vol. XII)

It was a love story from the very beginning.

First date Illusion for a broken man

(5x03//5x10//5x11//5x13//5x14)

Hello Friends! I'm here again with another volume from my Destiel Chronicles.

In this meta I'm gonna trace a parallel between 5x03 "Free to be you and me" and 5x13 "My bloody Valentine."

I want to say thank you to my friend @agusvedder who made the gifs for this meta! You are amazing, girl!

Now, let's start this...

First hunting date

When Dean and Cas went on their first hunt together, it was like a first date, and as we saw in 5x03 "Free to be you and me", Dean really enjoyed being Castiel's partner and hunt with CAS.

Trying to teach him human's stuffs, giving him advices, and even going out to a brothel with him was so fun, that he admitted he was happy with him, as he wasn't in a long time.

Yes... Seeing Castiel having a bad time was funny too, he was discovering being around the angel was exquisitely entertained. He had tried made him mad, and locking him with pop culture, and now watching him so nervous was delicious.

That had been a great first date, he even tried to seduce him by flirting... But Cas was such a cute clueless angel...

But I'm a broken man

Coming back to 5x10 "Abandon all hope", Jo gets hurt bc she saved Dean from the hellhounds. And she dies later with her mother Hellen.

Dean let the guilt to consume him again, and we had, immediately after that episode, 5x11 "Sam interrupted", in which we saw Dr. Cartwright, as a construction/illusion, from Dean's mind to question himself about the mission, about his duties. The program he had in his head as THE BIG PROTECTOR and the FIRST BORN. The mission to protect everyone to any cost, even his life. He was questioning that because he felt Jo and Hellen had died for him. And that was too painful.

The first time Dr. Cartwright appeared, she asked Dean about his father, but the second time... He asked about the Mission Heritage.

DR. CARTWRIGHT: Why you?

DEAN: Why me, what?

DR. CARTWRIGHT: Why do you have to hunt monsters? Why not let someone else do it?

DEAN: (shrugs, smiles) Can't find anybody else that dumb. (thinks for a moment) It's my job. Somebody's gotta save people's asses, yours included.

Here is Dean asking himself why he has to do this. Why he has to hunt and keep saving people. And he answers himself. IT'S MY JOB. IT'S MY DUTY. BECAUSE I'M AN OBEDIENT SON. I'M A GOOD SON.

Then this...

DR. CARTWRIGHT: So, is there a quota? How many people do you have to save?

DEAN: All of them.

DR. CARTWRIGHT: All of them? You think you have to save everyone?

DEAN: Yep. Whole wide world of sports.

Dean has to save and protect anyone. So... Why he couldn't protect Jo and Hellen? That's the huge guilt that is now on his shoulders... But this didn't end there... When the Doctor asked how he would protect and save everyone, he said...

DEAN: It's the end of the world, okay? I mean, it's a damn Biblical apocalypse, and if I don't stop it and save everyone, then no one will, and we all die.

DR. CARTWRIGHT: That's horrible.

DEAN: Yeah, tell me about it.

DR. CARTWRIGHT: I mean, apocalypse or no apocalypse...monsters or no monsters, that's a crushing weight to have on your shoulders. To feel like six billion lives depend on you...God...how do you get up in the morning?

DEAN stares contemplatively for a moment.

DEAN: That's a good question.

How can Dean avoid all of this and wake up in the morning? He can't... He is carrying with it the whole journey... As we will see in the following scene.

Free will is an illusion

In episode 5x13 "The song remains the same", Dean talks with Michael!John, and that was one of the huge points that settled the Dean's despair that will lead him to say Yes to Michael and I will talking about that in the next volume, I just wanted to point here this phrase from the Archangel...

MICHAEL: You're my true vessel but not my only one.

DEAN: What is that supposed to mean?

MICHAEL: It's a bloodline.

DEAN: A bloodline?

MICHAEL: Stretching back to Cain and Abel. It's in your blood, your father's blood, your family's blood.

Michael is announcing everything is part of a plan, everything was constructed with a reason and with a destiny.

MICHAEL: You know, my brother, I practically raised him. I took care of him in a way most people could never understand, and I still love him. But I am going to kill him because it is right and I have to.

DEAN: Oh, because God says so?

MICHAEL: Yes. From the beginning, he knew this was how it was going to end.

DEAN: And you're just gonna do whatever God says.

MICHAEL: Yes, because I am a good son.

DEAN: Okay, well, trust me, pal. Take it from someone who knows—that is a dead-end street.

Michael is the good son, the obedient, as Dean is. This similitude is traced intentionally, and is one more proof that reveals everything was written to be like this. Even Mary and John were made for each other by design of God.

This lasts words from Michael will stay in Dean and will be part of the following events I will analyze in the next volume, will show us why he was about to quit to his free will.

Tryin to remember that first date when I was happy with you...

So, after these two things that happened to Dean, after questioning his duties, Famine arrives to the town on 5x14 "My bloody Valentine". And is Saint Valentine's day... But Dean was so broken and sad, that he didn't want to celebrate as always...

They start to investigate in the Morgue, and when they found enochian in one of the victims, they decided to call Castiel... And this classic Destiel scene happened...

Again he has this dorky angel in front of him, and is incredible he is doing that. But Dean and Cas are looking at each other's eyes again, with that intensity the hunter is use to by now... But is not less captivated.

And then, when CAS is explaining the boys about Cupid, Dean made a joke again...

DEAN: You mean the little flying fat kid in diapers?

CASTIEL: They're not incontinent.

SAM: Okay, anyway. So, what you're saying--

CASTIEL: What I'm saying is a Cupid has gone rogue and we have to stop him--before he kills again.

Castiel got a little anxious here, and Dean enjoys this. He enjoys this as he enjoyed putting him nervous that time in the brothel. He enjoys seeing Castiel mad too.

With all the things that happened to Dean, sad things, seeing Cas and... As we could see later on this episode, hunting alone with him, it reminds him that first date/hunt they had, when he was happy. When he enjoyed Castiel's company. So yes. Dean wasn't interested in food, in sex, in celebrating Valentine's day, he didn't feel Famine influence on him... The only thing/person that caught his attention was this dorky angel again. Because with him he had a good time. And now, admiring him and looking at him that way, checking him, he was trying to enjoy Castiel's company. (Even if people could say this was a cockles scene... The writers and the producers let the thing in the episode for one narrative reason.)

That's one deep, dark nothing Dean got there.

When Castiel realized Dean was the only one not having symptoms with Famine on town, he get curious.

CASTIEL: (...) What I don't understand is...where is your hunger, Dean?

DEAN: Huh?

CASTIEL: Well, slowly but surely, everyone in this town is falling prey to Famine, but so far, you seem unaffected.

But the truth was, the big hole Dean's had inside and Famine saw...

As I analyzed in my meta "Let's make a tour inside Dean's soul", that hole, that nothing, will be filled with love, family love and romantic love. But now, Dean is feeling empty, dead.

To conclude:

Jo and Hellen's deaths incremented the guilt inside Dean, he questioned his whole mission as the Big Protector.

The first date/hunt Dean and Cas had in 5x03, is a very nice memory for Dean, because he was happy and having a good time with CAS there.

In 5x14 "My bloody Valentine", the only thing/person Dean showed interest was Castiel, going to a hunt with him again and seeing him acting like the weird, dorky, little guy he is, should brought Dean good memories from their first hunt together.

The emptyness Dean have inside, pointed by Famine, is one another huge point for the following events, and later will be filled with Love.

I hope you like this!! C-u in the next volume!

Tagging @metafest @gneisscastiel @mrsaquaman187 @magnificent-winged-beast @emblue-sparks @weirddorkylittlediana @michyribeiro @castiellover20 @whyjm @koshisekisen @legendary-destiel @a-bit-of-influence @thatwitchydestielfan @misha-moose-dean-burger-lover @lykanyouko @evvvissticante @cheerstofandomfamily @drsilverfish @savannadarkbaby @angelneedshunter @trickster-archangel @dea-stiel @poorreputation @bre95611 @thewolfatmydoor @charlottemanchmal @neii3n @deathswaywardson @followyourenergy @dean-is-bi-till-i-die @hekatelilith-blog @avidbkwrm @anarchiana @mishka-the-angel-of-saturday @dickpuncher365 @vampyrosa @hippyatheart80 @xsghn @foxyroxe-art @authorsararayne @anonymoustitans @mybonsai1976 @love-neve-dies @wildligia @dustythewind @wayward-winchester67 @angelwithashotgunandtrenchcoat @trashblackrainbow @deeutdutdutdoh

If you want to be tagged in the Destiel Chronicles, please let me know.

Links to previous volumes: VIII / IX / X / XI

Buenos Aires May 23rd 2019 1:21 AM

[otakucalsama]

cal’s bella x crossover pairings fic recs

hello! this is cal here (obviously) and i’m just reposting this. i made it a while back, but the links didn’t work, so now i’m redoing it. this time, i’m going to make it smaller, with more posts, instead of larger in one post. so without further ado, here is my bella x the crossover pairings fic recs. also, this is only for completed fics, so if you have a story i didn’t add (that’s complete) send me a link and i’ll read it and then decide whether to add it or not. i will not, however, take any bella x edward, bella x jasper, or bella x jacob fics.

other fic recs here

last updated- 12/4/19

s u p e r n a t u r a l

d e a n x b e l l a

i. stick a fork in her by geezerwreench / m / 7-8k, one-shot / complete

Receiving another cryptic set of coordinates from their father, Sam and Dean Winchester head to the Pacific Northwest where they’re confronted by a different kind of werewolf, learn about a sparkly new type of vampire, and meet a girl who’s fed up with all of it. Written for the 2016 Fandoms Against Domestic Violence fundraiser compilation. Language, violence, character death.

ii. ever hear of cold ones by shenandoah76209 / t / 10-15k, three-shot / complete

When Dean answered the phone it was only because he saw Bobby’s number on the ID. “Yeah Bobby, what’ve you got?” What Bobby had was a Hunter up in Forks with something that sounded like a cross between a Wendigo and a Vampire. Either one of those would be trouble. A mish mash of the two? This could be nothing good.

iii. bad medicine by bertie bott / m / 15-20k, three-shot / complete

On the flight home from saving Edward in Italy, Bella has a decidedly different reaction to finding out the truth behind him abandoning her. While running from her demons, Bella crosses paths with a couple of new ones, one of which she has no desire to run from… New Moon A/U and set in the beginning of season 10 in Supernatural.

iv. azazel cullen by t1gercat / k / 30-35k, multi-chaptered / complete

During a hunt Sam Winchester gets a vision of their life-long nemesis hunting the daughter of an old friend of his father. Will they make it in time to save her? Can vampires even be possessed?

v. she’s everything by maxipoo1024 / m / 140-150k, multi-chaptered / complete

Bella has spent her whole life thinking something was wrong with her, that there was a glitch in her brain. A chance encounter with the Winchesters confirms her suspicions. With a hole in her heart and an apocalypse on the horizon, can a certain Winchester brother save the world, the girl, and heal his own heart in the process? Takes place beginning of New Moon

v a m p i r e  d i a r i e s  /  o r i g i n a l s

k l a u s x b e l l a

i. she didn’t have time by lorelei candice black / t / 20-25k, multi-chaptered / complete

Loosely inspired by the song She Didn’t Have Time by Terry Clark. Bella ends up pregnant after her birthday and leaves her home. Edward left her. On the way she gets help from a witch who helps her survive and asks something of her. Bella/Klaus soul mate romance. Give it a chance and review please. Now complete.

ii. wherever this goes by bitemytongue / m / 10-15k, one-shot / complete

It was simple, until it wasn’t. Bella didn’t know that when she became friends with Kol that it would bring Klaus into her life. After falling in love with the feared hybrid she comes to the conclusion that maybe he’s not meant to be hers.

iii. mystically charmed to fall for klaus by lorelei candice black / m / 140-150k, multi-chaptered / complete

Set during season 1 of TVD and at the beginning of New Moon in Twilight. Bella is a witch, the Charmed kind of witch. I borrowed some Spells for the TV show Charmed. It has the same base as my MCTF that paired Bella and Elijah, except now she’s with Klaus. Rewriting makes it LONGER. Done

iv. troublemaker by bitemytongue / m / 15-20k, multi-chaptered / complete

Bella Swan, doppelganger, ends up being the missing piece to Klaus’s ritual. Only this sets in motion a romance that ends up being everything she could ever want. Nothing can keep these two lovers from each other, not even a new identity.

v. untouched by lorelei candice black / k+ / 2-3k, one-shot / complete / sequels- unbroken + unclaimed

PART 1 of a three part story. Bella wonders if she’ll really be happy with Edward without physical contact and staying human while he’s eternally young. She makes decisions, she sets the path for a new future. Try it please.

vi. can’t help myself by bitemytongue / m / 10-15k, one-shot / complete

Their first meeting was strange, but it leads to wonderful friendship. This friendships lead to something a little more special. But stupid later decisions lead to bigger problems. Hopefully, they get their happily ever after.

vii. goner by bitemytongue / m / 10-15k, one-shot / complete

It was dark. Everything was dark inside and all hope was gone for her. The only thing that made her feel alive anymore was her brother. The dark was seeping into her soul and she was starting to lose the fight within herself. All it takes is the soul identical to her own to make her feel something other than sorrow.

viii. midnight love by bitemytongue / m / 10-15k, one-shot / complete

She got what most people never did a final goodbye to her father. Moving to Mystic Falls with her Aunt and cousin Bella finds a new home. But Mystic Falls was the last place she ever thought she would meet her mate.

ix. salvation by ncbexie25 / m / 10-15k, one-shot / complete

1st place Kittyinaz WC Feb 2015. Pain immobilized him, and it was only the help of his brother, Elijah, that caused him to move some hours later. But his words stirred the drive and determination within him to a new focus that would last one thousand years. “We will bring her back, brother. And we will avenge her. Always and forever, that was our pledge. And we will stick to it.”

x. reaper twins by bitemytongue / m / 85-90k, multi-chaptered / complete / sequel- the reaping of new orleans

Bella’s life is going smoothly after the Cullen’s left, until she finds she has a twin brother & was adopted. With her new identity comes new power. Bella discovers she’s a different type of supernatural. Charlie gets a new job in Mystic Falls, Bella moves to continue her education with her brother. Bella’s mysterious identity and powers attract attention to her. M for Violence

xi. third time’s the charm by bitemytongue / m / 8-9k, one-shot / complete

Everyone has an epic love. A person you fall for so quickly and so hard that you can see forever with them. It’s that type of love that everyone aims for in their life. I’ve been alive for 38 years and a vampire for twenty of those years. In all my time I found three loves, but there was only one I wanted forever with. ONE-SHOT Rated M for Violence

xii. lifting his curse by lorelei candice black / k+ / 10-15k, multi-chaptered / complete

Bella is 6 when she tells Klaus he is like THE BEAST in her book. Can True Love’s kiss really break any curse? Who is Klaus’ true love? Just a short one I’ve had in my head for a while… Might get bigger later but that’s it for now!I added Nanny’s POV, along with Elijah’s and Katerina’s.

xiii. my heart is forever yours by bitemytongue / m / 7-8k, one-shot / complete

Far before she was Bella, she was Isabelle the wife of Niklaus Mikaelson. After hiding for centuries from her love, she finally re-connects with her past. M for violence.

xiv. nobody’s fault by darkest original / t / 65-70k, one-shot / complete

When something terrible takes place, part of the solution is to find someone to place the blame on. Alaric dies, it’s Esther’s fault. Elena dies, it’s Rebekah’s fault. When will people realize that blame does not rest on a just single person’s shoulders? It rests on the shoulders of each person involved, but sometimes accidents do happen and it really is nobody’s fault. B/K

xv. the visit by louisaxo / t / 3-4k, two-shot / complete

Set five years after the Cullen’s left. Bella returns to Forks with her new husband and family in tow, but who will they run into? ONLY DISCLAIMER:I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE SHOWS OR FRANCHISES MENTIONED IN THIS STORY.

xvi. on the 5th day of christmas, my true love gave to me (5 golden rings) by meekobb / m / 5-6k, one-shot / complete

Written for winter contest on BIT, prompt cozy fire. Bella develops an unusual friendship, seeks his help after going on the run for her survival. Circling a traditional bonfire, she learns all she needs is her family. M for adult situations, violance, and fun.

xvii. of wolf and man by cuinawen / m / 2-3k, one-shot / complete

Seventh in my 'The 12 Vamps of Christmas’ series… Klaus is being pulled towards something or someone, and he is done fighting it… Rated M for a little language and violence. One Shot.

xviii. sacrificing time by lorelei candice black / t / 25-30k, multi-chaptered / complete

What would you be willing to sacrifice to ensure the safety and happiness of the man you love and know is your Soul Mate? Bella sacrificed time. Bad people killed, good people killed and brought back, other killed and completely ignored… Rated T for safety. 8 chapters once complete. Review, please.

xix. a jump through time by lorelei candice black / t / 85-90k, multi-chaptered / complete

A few months after Edward left, Charlie announces something important to Bella and it will lead her to New Orleans. There, she finds not only her grandma but also a cousin she never knew she had and the Mickealson’s. When something terrible happen, the only way to change things is to go back in time…Can she do it?Rating for safety. Bella/Klaus, Review please COMPLETE

k o l x b e l l a

i. enchantress by bitemytongue / t / 70-75k, multi-chaptered / complete

With only a few months left until her graduation, Bella is told she’s an Enchantress. Bella adapts to her new magical powers, and decides to finally get out of Forks, and move to Mystic Falls. Charlie and Bella buy a house there Bella moves a month early to set up the house. It’s then she discovers her 2 younger cousins Elena and Jeremy have been pulled into the supernatural.

ii. the oracle by poohbearbms / m / 80-85k, multi-chaptered / complete

Bella loved Edward but when he left her in the woods that day he did not know the events he set into motion. Plans three thousand years in the making are about to be set in motion due to a broken heart and a desire to find who she really was meant for. With her her gifts to help her along the way the servants of nature will learn what the true meaning of natures balance is.

iii. red string by imaginary raine / k+ / 10-15k, two-shot / complete

Theirs is a story that have spanned a thousand years. He would search for her, and she would wait for him. Because no matter how long it took, they would find each other. It was their fate. Soulmate fic. Kol/Bella

iv. their forever promise by brookie twiling / m / 4-5k, one-shot / complete

They met in a dark alley. She, born and raised in a pleasure house, him, lonely and bloodthirsty. Both lusting for each other. They live happily for four years together before Klaus daggers him and Allibelle is left alone. A hundred years later and he’s free. What will happen when they find each other again? Will Kol forgive her for being with another? One-shot/ExplicitContent.

v. you’re not the one by bitemytongue / t / 10-15k, one-shot / complete

After centuries of being together, Kol has grown tired of the life he leads. In a solution to make him happy, Isabella lets him go. With a heart full of pain, she travels back to her homeland to get away from the heartache.e No longer going by Mikealson, Bella Salvatore returns to Mystic Falls to visit her boys. Only to run into the past she wasn’t ready to face. 

vi. a love to kill for by bitemytongue / m / 10-15k, one-shot / complete

Kol moves to Seattle after his babysitting of Jeremy Gilbert in Denver. In Seattle he finds more than he was looking for when he comes across Bella Swan. M FOR VIOLENCE. One-Shot

vii. a shadow in the mirror by cuinawen / m / 10-15k, one-shot / complete

Bella Swan finds herself dragged into the middle of things when mysterious murders begin to plague the small town of Forks. But the most obvious danger isn’t always the one you should worry about the most. Romance/Horror, Bella/Kol. *Mature Content* Halloween One-shot contest entry for Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Spook Fest

viii. moonlight and mistletoe by cuinawen / m / 3-4k, one-shot / complete

Twelfth and final story in my 'The 12 Vamps of Christmas’ series… After the Cullens leave Bella finds peace while going out running… and then someone finds her… Rated M just in case. One Shot.

ix. fallen for you by agmdnat / m / 10-15k, one-shot / complete

After her break-up with Edward, Bella found her soulmate in the form of another vampire, an Original vampire. She also discovered her real parentage that gave her amazing abilities and wings to go with it. M for some language and violence. [Kol,Bella]O/S

x. sanctuaire by buggyfiction / m / 90-95k, multi-chaptered / complete / sequel- pandore

On a class trip to New Orleans, Bella stumbles upon history like she never anticipated. Learning about one’s self is never easy, but discovering new things is always an adventure to true independence. Witch!Kol/Bella pairing.

e l i j a h x b e l l a

i. near to you by bitemytongue / t / 7-8k, one-shot / complete

A month after Edward leaves Bella, Bella is beginning to heal. She meets Elijah and with him she begins to really forget Edward and embrace who she really is. With Elijah she truly begins to love. ONE-SHOT

ii. eternal love by bitemytongue / t / 6-7k, one-shot / complete

Bella lied to everyone at Forks. She wasn’t human, she was a cupid. Most of all, she was the daughter of one of the most feared people on Earth. With less than a year to live she sets out on a trip around the world. Ending in the small town of Mystic Falls. Where she meets HIM. ONE-SHOT

iii. vegas by excentrykemuse / t / 6-7k, one-shot / complete

Alice and Rosalie take Bella to Vegas for her bachelorette. What they didn’t realize was that Bella would meet a certain Original while playing Poker … and would fall in love. Bella/Elijah

iv. an eclipse in time by lorelei candice black / m / 45-50k, multi-chaptered / complete

In New Moon,Bella goes to her grandmother’s in Mystic Falls. The war between Hybrids and Vampires is in full swing and it’s horror. Bonnie sends her back in time when the originals were human to change things. Klaus starts out evil…Will he change? Story COMPLETE

v. mystically charmed to fall by lorelei candice black / t / 110-120k, muti-chaptered / complete

Bella learns that she’s a witch after Edward leaves her. She goes to Mystic Falls to learn more with her grandmother. Set in New moon and at the end of season 1 of TVD. Evil Alice. Bella’s the Charmed kind of witch. Review:-) NOW COMPLETE

vi. a love for nature by bitemytongue / t / 7-8k, one-shot / complete

Bella has found her safe haven in New Orleans. With the help of Marcel she’s able to live a normal life, or as normal as it gets for her. She quickly meets the Mikaelsons, and with her love for children helps them with their new member Hope. This friendship will hopefully lead to love.

vii. the waltz by cuinawen / k+ / 1-2k, one-shot / complete

Second in my 'The 12 Vamps of Christmas’ series… A brief encounter at a Mikaelson party in New Orleans… One Shot.

viii. where are you now by bitemytongue / m / 10-15k, one-shot / complete

Bella had come to her senses, letting go of the love of her life was the worst mistake she had ever made. In an effort to find him, she leaves Edward and Forks behind. Only the hunt for her love gets postponed after she has an accident landing her in New Orleans. ONE-SHOT

j e r e m y x b e l l a

i. hunting by numbers by cuinawen / t / 2-3k, one-shot / complete

Ninth in my 'The 12 Vamps of Christmas’ series… Jeremy meets a girl at Whitmore College… she’s mysterious, quiet… and she needs his help… One Shot.

d a m o n x b e l l a

i. living on a prayer by bertie bott / t / 7-8k, one-shot / complete

Originally written for Kittyinaz’s July Writing Contest. On his death bed after Tyler’s killing bite, Damon has an out of body experience that leads him to a revelation, finally giving his eternity meaning…

ii. almost lover by bertie bott / t / 5-6k, one-shot / complete

Jasper’s honor demands he takes action. Really, he couldn’t abide sitting by watching his family smother Bella to the point of snuffing out her happiness… And if helping her also helps an old friend, then it’s any easy decision when he takes it upon himself to set her free.

iii. a reality romance by t1gercat / t / 20-25k, multi-chaptered / complete

When bad boy superstar Damon Salvatore is forced to have his own reality show to up his album sells he has to have a roommate. Who better than shy girl Bella Swan? Can the two live in peace or will their secrets tear them apart?

iv. the shortcut home by kittyinaz / m / 8-9k, one-shot / complete

A meeting one night in a dusty town changes everything. Now a man becomes a father, a woman becomes a daughter to someone who deserves her, and a love is started. Read what would happen if Twilight had started differently. 

v. this left feels right by bertie bott / m / 15-20k, three-shot / complete

Sometimes life throws you a curve ball right when you need it most. Damon is asked to visit an old friend by someone he can’t say no to. When he gets to Forks, though, it’s not a family of vampires he finds waiting for him, but an angry girl who just might give his life the new direction he’s been seeking…

f i n n x b e l l a

i. all paths lead home by thedarkestfallingstar / m / 1-2k, one-shot / complete

She had given up hope of ever seeing her love again, she should have known that the fates wouldn’t be so cruel.

ii. thaw by thedarkestfallingstar / m / 10-15k, one-shot / complete

It was cold, the wind and rain seemed to seep to her very bones. Yet, she did not care. She was numb anyway, her heart frozen beyond repair.

iii. speechless by bitemytongue / m / 10-15k, one-shot / complete

Life had been hard for Bella Swan after the departure of Edward Cullen, but the rescue of a new friend changes things. Attempting to control her power, and trying to grow accustomed to her new disability Bella Swan starts a new life, and hopefully finds new love. M for Violence

h e n r i k x b e l l a

i. connected by the soul by bitemytongue / m / 120-130k, multi-chaptered / complete

With a forgetful mother and a father several states away Bella has always been on her own. That is until her eleventh birthday when she encounters her soul mate. The only problem, he’s a spirit trapped on the other side. Seventeen and moving to Forks with her father, Bella is closer to being with her soul mate,there’s always something fishy lurking around the corner. M for Violence

ii. renegade by bitemytongue / m / 15-20k, one-shot / complete / sequel- run away with me

Being stuck on the Other-side is worst than anyone could ever imagine. Being forced to watch as his family unravels before him, Henrik changes from the lovable boy he was human, to a cold and hating ghost. Meeting Bella Swan only fuels his anger for all living beings.

k a i x b e l l a

i. bring you back by meekobb / m / 5-6k, one-shot / complete

When Bella finds herself immersed deeper in the supernatural world, without any cooperation, it drives her to find help from an unlikely ally. Her loyalty to the only one who shows her any concern changes her in ways no one anticipates. Cover art by Bertie Bott.

s l a t e r x b e l l a

i. hacker’s code by bitemytongue / t / 10-15k, one-shot / complete

Being a Hacker is who she is, it’s all she has left anymore. That is until Bella comes across a certain Mikaelson who uses her skill to track down his brother. Working for a Mikaelson leads her to find her equal and a true friend.

t h i e r r y x b e l l a

i. holding onto you by bitemytongue / m / 9-10k, one-shot / complete

Bella had never been without her brother for long, but she was beginning to feel the pain of his loss. She needed to find someone who could help be the family that she needed, but being rejected by her older brother was the last straw. Bella heads to the one place that reminded her most of family, only to meet someone important.

t e e n  w o l f

s t i l e s x b e l l a

i. keep me warm by bitemytongue / m / 9-10k, one-shot / complete

Bella meets a boy her age who is being ignored by all his friends, and being the new kid in town means she has no one to talk to. It makes for the beginning of a beautiful friendship. One that involves, werewolves, vampires, magic, and falling in love.

i s s a c x b e l l a

i. last of the true believers by bitemytongue / t / 9-10k, one-shot / complete

Bella’s life was a bad 90’s high school movie, that is until her father takers her on a vacation around the world. Somewhere between exploring and rediscovering herself she gets a new best friend who might just also happen to be her bonded. But that doesn’t mean that have to date… not yet anyway.

j a c k s o n x b e l l a

i. give me something by bitemytongue / m / 10-15k, one-shot / complete

Bella needs a fresh start, one away from vampires and the overbearing weight of grief she had. She moves to Beacon Hills with her older cousin Derek, and his new found pack. She wants friends that are her own, and to be seen as just a girl and not part angel, she gets more than she ever wanted when she meets the cocky blonde haired werewolf.

h a r r y  p o t t e r

s e v e r u s x b e l l a

i. dark eyes by metallicangel28 / m / 10-15k, multi-chaptered / complete

Bella was a witch. A dyed in the wool, wand waving, potion brewing, broom riding witch. Not that she rode brooms. She was also Hermione’s elder cousin. After finding a dying Severus Snape in the boat house, she works her magic to heal and bring him back to life. In more ways than just physically. (Timeline altered to make Bella older than Hermione but Twilight story remains as is.)

o n c e  u p o n  a  t i m e

p a n x b e l l a

i. flying away, back to neverland by lorelei candice black / k+ / 8-9k, one-shot / complete

Bella met Peter Pan when she was 8. She kept on coming to Neverland often at nights and grew very close to Peter Pan and the Lost boys. On her 15th birthday, she decides not to go anymore until she’s ready to stay. When she turns 18, she’s ready but will Edward let her go? One-shot. Review please?

a v e n g e r s

l o k i x b e l l a

i. my true self by desertdarkfire / k+ / >1k, one-shot / complete

She’s heard him all her life, somewhere in the shadows. He’s been waiting for her, waiting for her to awaken. What she thinks is a dream, quickly turns to reality. Who is this man? BellaxLoki AU. Based on a song challenge from a friend.

ii. god gave me you by darkestdarkfire / k / >1k, one-shot / complete

Loki takes two very big steps in his life. One of them involves Bella. What could they be? AU Oneshot fic, BellaxLoki

iii. let the stars unite us by whatarefilms / t / 10-15k, one-shot / complete

Sometimes a mother just has to meddle, and this is one of the times that it’s for the good of the universe. (One shot)

s t e v e x b e l l a

i. a heaven from hell’s despair by steampunkfairytale / t / 65-70k, multi-chaptered / complete

When Charlie Swan and Sue Clearwater were murdered by Renee Dwyer, Bella Swan, reeling from the departure of the Cullens, her father’s murder and desperate to escape her psychopath mother turns to the only family she has left: Her Godfather Tony Stark. Bella/Steve. FINALLY COMPLETE!

x m e n

g a m b i t x b e l l a

i. explosive love by thedarkestfallingstar / m / 6-7k, one-shot / complete

Everyone has someone to complete them, challenge them, protect them, even someone as broken as she.

d o c t o r  w h o

1 1 t h d o c t o r x b e l l a

i. is it really you? by queenvampire / k+ / 1-2k, one-shot / complete

Bella is actually another time lord, Huntress, the doctor’s soul mate. She survived, but the doctor thought she was dead, after an incident involving the tardis and a sabre toothed tiger. She lived among humans for a while, trying to find the doctor. What happens when he is put in hospital by accident, and Carlisle Cullen is treating him? Don’t own it.

p i r a t e s  o f  t h e  c a r i b b e a n

j a c k x b e l l a

i. a caribbean soul by fanpire.x / t / 20-25k, multi-chaptered / complete

After Edward leaves, Bella goes back to her real home in the seventeenth century where her first love awaits; but what happens when seven vampires are transported there as well? *Bella/Jack - during NM, then CotBP*

l a b y r i n t h

j a r e t h x b e l l a

i. twilight in the labyrinth by metallicangel28 / m / 45-50k, multi-chaptered / complete

Bella is Sarah’s cousin, and was sent to live with Sarah’s family when Charlie believes her to be sinking farther into her depression. When Sarah makes her ill-thought out wish, Bella is taken with Toby to the castle beyond the goblin city. What will happen when Bella finds both family and love in the Underground. Set in modern times with Jareth’s 80’s clothes. Rofl Sarah bashing!

c r i m i n a l  m i n d s

s p e n c e r x b e l l a

i. look after you by bitemytongue / m / 10-15k, one-shot / complete

Being the child of an infamous BAU agent didn’t mean anything to Bella, she was just happy to have a father. Now, at 22 she finds that she’s happy being in love with the genius Doctor Reid. Only now she hopes that she can be forever happy with him. 

d e r e k x b e l l a

i. no more bad days by bitemytongue / m / 15-20k, one-shot / complete

Bella was never normal, but luckily for her she met her best friend who was just like her. She had to learn the hard way that life isn’t always going to be filled with happy memories. Her life contained bad memories, anxiety attacks, and some loneliness. That is until she gets a job at the FBI and through strange circumstance finds herself in a relationship with a certain Agent.

a a r o n x b e l l a

i. stolen by agentswan / m / 5-6k, one-shot / complete

Aaron Hotchners wife and son get kidnapped. See how he gets them back and who took them. This is for twilightvixxen. M for a reason!

v a m p i r e  a c a d e m y

a d r i a n x b e l l a

i. smile by jasper’s guardian angel / t / >1k, one-shot / complete

In their darkest days they found each other and learned how to smile again. Vampire Academy/Twilight cross-over one-shot, Adrian/Bella pairing. Takes place after LS and During NM. AU

c o v e n a n t

r e i d x b e l l a

i. finding myself with you by bitemytongue / t / 10-15k, one-shot / complete

Everything changed when Edward left. Bella was left broken, and after hitting rock bottom she leaves Forks to move in with her cousin Tyler. Hopefully, Ipswich will be exactly what she needs to find herself.

t y l e r x b e l l a

i. blue eyes by bitemytongue / m / 10-15k, one-shot / complete

Heartbroken Bella moves to be with her cousin. All she wants is a normal life, but she isn’t that lucky. Falling in love with her cousin’s best friend is only the beginning, it’s discovering she’s not who she thought she was that changes everything. All she wants is to be happy, and she realizes all she needs is her soulmate to be happy. M For Violence

ii. all i need is you by bitemytongue / m / 15-20k, one-shot / complete

After everything, leaving Forks was the best decision Bella had ever made. There was no regrets when she left to attend Harvard. For Tyler going to Harvard meant being with his best friends, only freshman year he meets the love of his existence. It’s a real shame his shyness has been holding him back from making a move. Can a math class change things? M for minor violence and such

c a l e b x b e l l a

i. better with you by bitemytongue / m / 10-15k, one-shot / complete

For one it was a lonely life. A life full of sorrow and pain and an overwhelming hate for being an immortal. For the other immortality was a new beginning. A beautiful chance to live a life without sorrow and pain. Coming together they find they’re just perfect for each other, only it takes them a bit of time to realize it.

p o g u e x b e l l a

i. say you love me by bitemytongue / t / 8-9k, one-shot / complete

They met in college, two broken hearts coming together to put the pieces back together. Only after two years and a visit to Ipswich do they begin to realize, that maybe they’re meant to be more than friends. ONE-SHOT

z  n a t i o n

1 0 k x b e l l a

i. no longer alone by bitemytongue / m / 10-15k, one-shot / complete

Bella Swan didn’t experience the normal zombie apocalypse. She was kidnapped just before it began, so her time was spent with vampires instead of zombie. Escaping she found her way to a small group of survivors on a mission. Keeping her secrets Bella tags along with the group only to fall in love with their quietest member. It’s strange to find love in the apocalypse M for Violence

t r u e  b l o o d

g o d r i c x b e l l a

i. sweet compliance by cuinawen / t / 1-2k, one-shot / complete

Sixth in my 'The 12 Vamps of Christmas’ series… Godric isn’t the only one imprisoned by the FotS… they use an innocent human girl to force him to comply… One Shot.

ii. the rescue by velez / m / 3-4k, one-shot / complete

“I Do” vs. “I Do” What is your forever like? Bella Swan is about to say “I Do” but, to the wrong man. Her rescuer is an immortal 2000-year-old vampire who will go to any length to save her. Even if they have not seen each other for some time.

iii. you loved me back to life by velez / m / 3-4k, one-shot / complete

From comatose to two thousand years. Godric and Bella learn to live, love and care for each other during the storm called life.

e r i c x b e l l a

i. an unexpected claim by cuinawen / m / 1-2k, one-shot / complete

First in my 'The 12 Vamps of Christmas’ series… Bella goes to Fangtasia with her cousin Sookie and the vampire Bill, and finds the experience exasperating, until she meets a certain Viking. Rated M just in case. One Shot.

a l c i d e x b e l l a

i. taming the wolf by jinx dodson / m / 120-130k, multi-chaptered / complete

“Get on.” He half growls with a slight smile. “You said it’d be as if you never existed…” He turns to her. “What’d you say baby?” She shakes her head as he looks upon her strangely. “Nevermind baby let’s go.” What happens when he doesn’t stop and Bella finds herself in Shreveport, La? With a wolf that has claims to her. (A bit of a dominating Alcide.) Read and Review. RATED Mature

[slytherinbarnes]

Sub Rosa [69]

xi. the dark year

Pairing: Bellamy Blake x reader

Word Count: 4.3k

Warnings: allusions to suicidal thoughts from previous chapter (5.01), mentions of death, language, anxiety.

Summary: The march to Shallow Valley begins...

a/n: next week we finish s5!!!! how we feeling!!!! the taglist for this series is open! I hope you enjoy, please let me know what you think!!!

previous chapter // season masterlist // series masterlist

The march is as boring as you expect it to be. 

At some point guns are passed around and you end up with a rifle slung over your shoulder, one more thing you're forced to carry in your trek through the desert. It reminds you of leaving Becca’s lab after Praimfaya and searching for the rover, a story that you ultimately end up telling Bellamy about. And once you get started with one story of your time on Earth without him, he’s eager to hear more. You tell him about going to Polis and then Arkadia, nearly dying until a rainstorm came through and gave you and Clarke water, the sandstorm that destroyed the rover. You tell him about the journey to get more panels, when you and Clarke almost ended it all, and he senses your hesitation when you get to that part, not sure if you should tell him everything. But he reaches out and grabs your hand, threading your fingers together, reminding you that you’re always safe and home with Bellamy. So you tell him just how bad things got, how close to the end you truly were, until the Universe sent a miracle from the sky, a bird that led you to Shallow Valley. 

His favorite stories are the ones you tell him about Madi. How she nearly killed you and Clarke both when you first met her, how she taught you both how to fish, and the two of you taught her English. Learning to drive the rover, and fight, living as a mini family in the valley, waiting for the rest of your family to return. The only thing you don't tell him about are the radio calls. You aren't sure why, maybe it’s embarrassment, maybe you’re worried he’ll think it was obsessive, you don't know. All you know is that he must not have heard a single one, because he never mentions them, and you’re sure he would have if he had heard them. Instead, you skip over all of the calls and focus on the good moments instead, the happy things, not sure you’re quite ready enough to tell him just how desperately you missed him. 

At some point near the end of the first day, Bellamy’s radio comes to life with the sound of Echo’s voice, broken up and speaking Trig. “Belomi, hola. Yu sen ai in?”

Bellamy, come in. Do you read me? You and Bellamy exchange a look, before he steps out of the marching group and off to the side, with you, Monty, and Harper right behind him. He lifts the radio and says, “Echo-”

You reach out and put your hand over his own, lowering the radio for a second. “Wait, Bellamy, do you normally speak Trig like this? Or is there a reason?”

As soon as you say it, you see a look pass over his face, letting you know they don't normally communicate in Trigedasleng. Your warning reminds all of you of something you need to be careful not to forget: the enemy can hear you every time you use this radio. Bellamy lifts the radio again and you pull your hand away, and this time he answers in Trigedasleng. “Hakom Trig? Chit’s skechi?”

Why are we speaking Trig? What's wrong? He releases the button and you all stare at the radio in tense silence, waiting for her answer. “Emo get in bilaik yo’s komba raun. Yo don drop nishiv of.”

They know you're coming. You've lost the element of surprise. The answer hits you like a blow to the gut, making you sick. Without the element of surprise, this war is a massacre. You can see that Harper and Monty don’t look as shocked as you and Bellamy do, and you realize now their Trig must be limited, so you translate, “They know we're coming.”

Their reaction is immediate, the same as yours, and then Monty looks at you and asks, “Clarke?”

The question hits you like a second blow, more powerful than the last. The thought hadn't even crossed your mind, but your twin was the only other person that knew about the eye in the sky that could have snitched. You shake your head, anger flaring within you at the danger she has just put all of you in, and you grind out, “It had to be.”

Echo must start to worry about the silence from your end of the radio because she comes back on to say, “Belomi, yo gaf bak yo klin. Osir don hon daun ‘mo mavrik, den yo’s klir, komonou. Ba yo nou na komba hir nowe.”

Bellamy, you have to go back. We have their pilot, so you're safe for now. But you can't come here. You and Bellamy watch each other as she speaks, both of you translating the words at the same time. It’s weird to see him so proficient in Trigedasleng considering the few words he knew before he went to space, but when you think about it, teaching Madi English made you fluent in Trig too. Both of you are so different from the people you left behind, past versions of you now burned away by Praimfaya, but somehow your comfort with Bellamy hasn't changed. There’s so many new things you have to learn about him now, but there’s no doubt in your mind that he has your heart and you have his. 

Bellamy lifts the radio, shaking his head, though Echo can't see it. “Nou na kom au. Chilja: osir nou na bak op, en osir nou na hod op. Kom fai sintaim osir kamp ouder. Yo gada daun in na lok osir op klir trei. Pas daun, nou mori noumou.”

Not possible. It's a long story, but we can't go back and we can't stop. We're five days out. You have that long to find us a safe way in. After that we run out of rations. You can see the devastation on Bellamy’s face at this new dilemma you've all somehow found yourself in. Echo’s voice comes through the radio one last time before falling silent, “We're on it. Be safe, over and out.”

You can hear the worry in her voice, and a wave of anxiety washes over you, wondering if that worry is born from affection. But Bellamy being Bellamy, must sense your thoughts, and he reaches out and puts his hand on your cheek, whispering, “I love you, my radiant moon.”

“And I love you more than the stars.”

He smiles at you, one of those bright ones, and you realize this is the first time you’ve said those words to him since he came down to Earth. His smile is infectious, and it makes you smile, both of you temporarily forgetting your impending peril until Monty clears his throat and mutters, “The eye.”

The smiles drop from both of your faces, suddenly brought back to the present, and you shake your head. “Uh, right. We should probably tell Indra.”

“And Octavia.” You nod at Bellamy, agreeing, as he passes the radio to Monty. “Keep an ear out for our friends, in case they call again.”

“Will do.”

And with that, you all rejoin the army, and you and Bellamy march off in search of Indra. It doesn’t take long for you to find her, exactly where you last saw her: marching with Gaia and the other faithful. As soon as she sees the two of you approaching and catches the expression on your faces, she steps away from everyone, giving the three of you some privacy. You and Bellamy let her know what’s going on quickly, and a look of alarm passes over her face before she quickly regains her composure and nods towards the front of the army. “We need to inform Octavia.”

The three of you quicken your pace and make it to the front, only to be stopped by Miller. “What do you want?”

You can sense the anger radiating off of Indra and Bellamy in waves, so you walk slightly ahead of them, shifting Miller’s focus to you. “We need to talk to Octavia.”

He looks at you, skeptical, and you give him a pleading look. “It’s important, Miller. You know we wouldn't be here if it wasn't.”

You know he recognizes the truth in your statement, because he motions to a pair of guards walking nearby. “Disarm and follow me.”

You glance at Bellamy and he nods, agreeing to the terms, so you hand the guy to your right your rifle and knife before following Miller. Bellamy and Indra both follow you, and Miller announces your arrival to Octavia before stepping back slightly, but he sticks close enough to keep an eye on all of you. Indra is the first to speak, “You're marching us into a massacre.”

Octavia doesn't turn to look at any of you, her eyes firmly locked on the horizon ahead. “We'll see.”

“Echo radioed. The enemy knows you're coming.” She bristles slightly, and you can tell the news is affecting her even though she tries to pretend otherwise. “We don't need to worry about the missiles, but they're moving their weapons into position.”

Indra adds, “It's safe to assume that since there's only three realistic ways into the valley, that all three will be heavily defended.”

Bellamy, who has stayed silent as you and Indra do most of the talking, finally quips, “Echo's scouting now, looking for the best way in. But since we can't go back because you burned the farm, and since we can't stop because we'll starve, we thought we should let you know that you've killed your people.”

You look at Bellamy in shock, not expecting to hear the words come out of his mouth. You’re pissed at Octavia too, but you’re not eager to cross her again, your near death experience still too fresh in your memory. You grab his hand and whisper his name as a warning, “Bellamy.”

But he ignores you and snaps at his sister, “Enjoy your walk.”

He drops back and you glance at him and then to Indra, silently apologizing before you drop back and follow him. You get your weapons back and secure them to you before jogging after Bellamy and catching up to him near the back, but you can tell from the expression on his face that he doesn't want to talk. So instead, you slip your hand into his and stay by his side, allowing him his anger for now. 

-

Eventually night falls and the marching stops, giving all of you a temporary reprieve from the long journey, at least until morning. 

You and Bellamy set up your tent and then build a fire, and Monty and Harper set up their tent nearby before joining you around the warmth of the fire. All of you sit and eat your rations in silence before the other couple bids you both goodnight, leaving you and Bellamy alone. You finish up the last of your rations, just enough to keep you full for a few hours, before you pull out your Grounder knife, looking over the notches on the handle. By your count, it’s now missing a few, and as you start to wonder what you can use to add the next few lines, Bellamy’s hand reaches out to you, his own knife in his grip. You look up at him, taking the knife with a nod of thanks, unaware that anyone knows that you actually keep up with your knife kills. You might be embarrassed if it was anyone other than Bellamy, but judging by the look on his face, he seems to understand. You don’t count the kills like trophies, the way others might, you count the kills to remind you of what you’ve done. At this point, it’s hard to know how many people you’ve killed with guns, explosions, or levers that bring radiation. But this knife reminds you of the personal ones, the lives that you took in close proximity to another person, close enough to see the life drain from them. It’s a way to remind you of your humanity, a way to remind you that each of these kills affected you in some way, the same way the forgotten kills affect you, whether you realize it or not. 

You add two tallies for the two Eligius prisoners you killed, before you pause and consider Cooper. You didn’t use this knife to kill her the way you usually would, but you did use it to cut a hole in her glove, sealing her fate before she even woke up. To you, it’s enough for you to know her death should stay on your mind. You shouldn't sweep it under the rug as another casualty of war. You need to remember how willing you were to kill her if it meant it could save everyone else, which ultimately didn’t happen. Cooper is dead and Wonkru is still marching on the valley, worms be damned. 

As you add a third tally for Cooper, bringing your knife kills up to ten, you glance over at Bellamy, his gaze turned away from you. You take note of his clenched jaw and angry expression. “We have to talk about it eventually, Bellamy.”

“No, we don't.”

“Both of our sisters betrayed us.”

“Your sister betrayed us, probably to save Madi. And though it puts us in a shitty position, I can forgive her for that.” Bellamy turns to look at you, pulling in a deep breath. “My sister put us in the fighting pits together, after she forced you into making a deal that would save my life but end yours. She did that knowing how I feel about you.”

“Only after my sister ratted us out and left us there. If we’re keeping count, Clarke has betrayed us twice. And you’re right, both betrayals were probably to keep Madi safe, but at what expense to everyone else? To me? To you? I love Madi, she is my niece, my family, and I’d do anything to keep her safe. But sometimes Clarke’s decisions are reckless when it comes to Madi’s safety. She listens to the storm within her, just like you used to do, and doesn’t stop to consider every angle, every possibility. I’m not letting her off the hook that easy.”

Bellamy is quiet for a while, both of you thinking of your sister related drama, and when he finally speaks, his anger has cooled, though not completely, and his voice is soft. “I just can't forgive Octavia for nearly taking you from me. Not after I just got you back.”

The words melt you, your anger towards your sister forgotten as you reach out to comfort Bellamy. You pull him in for a kiss, understanding his fear of losing you, because you lived with it for six years when you lost him. When you pull away, you rest your foreheads together, keeping your eyes closed as you sit and enjoy the fact that you can even do this. Because Bellamy is back, and he loves you, and you’re alive, despite Octavia’s best efforts. You whisper, “You’re gonna have a hard time getting rid of me now. I don’t want to let you out of my sight, I’m so afraid of losing you again.”

He pulls away so he can look at you, his expression sad. “I have the same fear. It was so hard being on the Ring without you. It felt like a ghost was hanging around with me at every moment. I was searching for you everywhere, always disappointed when you weren’t there.”

You feel tears well up in your eyes, and you kiss him again, hoping it helps. This time when you pull away, he wraps you up into his arms and turns his face to the sky. You follow his gaze, both of you tracing constellations, and for the first time in six years, he asks, “Tell me about the stars?”

You look at him, feeling a rush of affection as you do, your voice cracking with emotion when you whisper back, “Of course.”

-

The second day of marching is just as awful as the first, though it’s now punctuated with an air of anxiety as you all march one day closer to your massacre.

The second night, all of you retire early, too tired to sit around and talk, but you wake up a few hours later, wide awake for some reason. You glance over at Bellamy, smiling down at his sleeping form, so peaceful as the worries of the world don't reach him in his dreams. Not wanting to disturb him, you quietly crawl out of the tent, taking the radio with you, just in case someone calls. 

As you sit outside and look at the stars, you nearly jump out of your skin when the radio comes to life. “Belomi, hola.”

Bellamy, come in. You pick up the radio and answer, “Nou Belomi, en's ai. Wanlida.”

Not Bellamy, it’s me. Wanlida. You add your Grounder nickname at the end, not sure if she recognizes your voice. She immediately answers, “Osir don strat.”

We have a plan. You smile at the radio in your hand, feeling a rush of gratitude to your friends on the other side. “Tel ai op.”

Tell me. Echo immediately relays the plan to you in Trigedasleng, and at times, you start to think about how weird it is to be carrying on a conversation with your boyfriend’s ex. And though you get flashes of jealousy when you think about them together, you start to marvel at how talking to her now isn't that bad. Though maybe it’s because you have something to talk about, and it has nothing to do with Bellamy. Still, as soon as you get the plan from Echo, you both exchange goodbyes and you run back to your tent to tell your boyfriend the good news. As soon as he knows, you both go to Indra next, as usual, and tell her the plan. Once she knows, you look at Bellamy, both of you aware of what you have to do next, and he nods, looking reluctant. 

You both walk to Octavia’s tent, and the closer you get, the louder her voice grows. You can tell she’s having a strategy meeting with her advisors, one that does not include an encouraging plan. “We're gonna take heavy fire, but as long as we stay together, we can still do this. Does everybody understand?”

You and Bellamy are both stopped at the door by the guards, and Bellamy demands, “We need to see her now.”

Octavia’s voice comes from inside the tent, granting you both permission. “Let them in!”

As soon as you step inside, you scan the room, looking at the advisors, before your eyes fall to the map on the table in front of Octavia. “You don't need that.”

“The spy found us a way in?”

“Yes.” Bellamy turns to look at the advisors gathered around. “Everybody out.”

They stand frozen in place until Octavia dismisses them, and then they all exit quickly, leaving the three of you alone. Bellamy walks closer to his sister, and you hang back, sensing that he has something he wants to say to her. “Before I tell you this, we need to set some things straight.”

“I'm listening.”

“This war that you're so anxious for is about to be fought on the last survivable land on Earth. That is monumentally stupid. But it's here, and in four days, when we march on that valley, we are gonna fight this the right way.”

“Does the right way end up with us winning?”

Bellamy shakes his head, annoyed that winning is all she cares about. “It ends with us accepting the other side's surrender. Once they lay down their arms, we share the valley with them. No executions. No fighting pits. Real peace.”

“I accept your terms. Now, tell me how to win this war.”

Bellamy steps away, already done with the conversation. “Indra has the details.”

She calls out to his retreating figure, “Bellamy...this is how it was meant to be. You and me. Fighting side by side.”

Bellamy stops beside you, both of you now standing near the exit of the tent, and he reaches out for your hand before turning to face Octavia. “I'm not fighting for you. I’m fighting for la lune, who you were willing to kill a few days ago. I'm fighting to get back the rest of my family, and I'm fighting so that we can finally build a future here.”

You see a look of hurt pass over Octavia’s face as she realizes he doesn't consider her part of his family, but if he sees it, he ignores it. He just turns back to you and walks out of the tent, guiding you along after him.

-

The next three days of marching are almost continuous, as Octavia decides against stopping to camp 3 nights in a row. Instead, you stop for an hour or so twice a day before continuing the march to the valley. Finally, on day 6, you arrive at the final camping spot, just outside of the valley. You all pitch your tents during the day and spend most of it resting, because as soon as the next day dawns, the war begins. 

You and Bellamy crawl out of your tent sometime after nightfall, finally rested after so many days of marching, and you both sit around a small fire and talk, keeping yourselves distracted from your nerves, the way you used to before he went to space without you. Monty comes over as you chat, sitting down on your other side, splitting his rations into three. “Last of the rations.”

You and Bellamy accept his offer with a nod of thanks, and as you all savor the last bit of food you have, Monty turns to look between you and Bellamy. “Look, if you want us with you at the front-”

Bellamy cuts him off, seeing the reluctance on his face, aware of Monty’s dislike of killing. He shakes his head and motions between himself and you. “No, we got this.”

You nod, adding, “You stay. They're leaving the tents here, and once the fight is over tomorrow, you can come and join us.”

Bellamy looks up at the stars, and then over to Monty. “I told Octavia we're taking 80 acres, on the Eastern edge of the valley. Grow something other than algae, okay?”

They look at each other for a long second before they break into smiles, and you grin at the interaction, glad to see them both happy, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Eventually, Monty leaves to go find Harper, and you and Bellamy watch the stars before he suddenly asks, “The last time we were in the desert marching to war, you said something that I never got to ask about.”

You glance away from the sky, and over to him. “What’s that?”

“You said you have a house in the valley, built for two. Did you mean for us?”

“No, I was definitely getting it ready so I could share it with some other guy.” Bellamy laughs, remembering when he asked you to move in with him, and you laugh too. “Yes, for us, if you want it. It’s the perfect size for us, slightly larger than the room we had at Arkadia. It’s got a kitchen and a bathroom, but the best part is the bedroom.”

He gives you a suggestive look. “Oh yeah? Why’s that?”

You laugh and playfully hit his arm. “Not for that reason. It has a window on the roof that opens up to the sky. During the day it lets warm sunshine in, and at night you can see the stars.”

He smiles down at you, tugging you closer to him, whispering against your lips, “It does sound perfect for us.”

He pulls you in for a kiss and you let yourself get lost in the kiss, reminding you of how wonderful it is to be wrapped up in his arms. As the two of you start to pull away, someone clears their throat, and you jump apart, slightly embarrassed. You look up to see Indra looking down at the two of you, and you swear she’s hiding a smile as she nods towards Octavia’s tent. “Last strategy meeting, and they want you both there.”

You stand and follow her to the tent, the last three to arrive, gathering around the table that features the new map, drawn for your plan. Octavia looks at Bellamy, nodding at him to begin. “At dawn, our group in the woods will open fire on pillbox one, in position A here. At the first sign of attack, McCreary's forces at point B and C will converge to reinforce A, thinking that's where we're coming through.”

Octavia muses, “Leaving the other two doors wide open.”

Bellamy glances at you, and you finish the plan, pointing down at the map. “We'll come through here, point C. Now, if we time it right and we move fast, there won't be any resistance.”

Indra mutters, “Once we're in the woods, we take the village.”

Miller finishes, “Once we're in the woods, we win.”

All of you look up and around at each other, making sure everyone understands, and Brell is the first to nod. “Okay, I'll tell my people.”

Miller turns on her, growling, “Your people?”

Indra breaks up the argument and snaps, “Save it for the enemy. Spread the word, we go at first light.”

Everyone starts to dissipate, and Octavia turns her attention to you and Bellamy. “Tell Echo I said well done.”

“You can tell her yourself in two hours.” Bellamy grabs your hand and leads you from the tent, eager to end any conversation with his sister. The two of you head back outside and over to your fire, deciding to spend your last few hours before the war together, enjoying each other’s company. Though your victory seems imminent, you never know what will happen in war. The tides can change at any second, and you could lose, people could die. Which is why you and Bellamy stay huddled together, making sure each of you know just how much you love each other. 

Just in case.

-

next chapter

[eggoreviews]

E3 2019 Nintendo Direct - BREAKDOWN

Oh wow. That big ol direct sure was something. So now I’m here to break down everything that happened in unnecessary fashion and give my personal reaction to everything that happened with my tried and true Excitement Rater. Want to see my heavily scientific and not at all arbitrary process? Then click down to see the deets.

Before we kick off my (very very scientific) breakdown of this year’s packed direct, I thought I’d briefly go over how I rate things:

A random string of letters/numbers = Immeasurable excitement

YEEHAW BABEY = Big excitement

Heck Yeck = Vague excitement

Yeah! = Not really excited, but still could be good

Sure, why not? = I’m more confused than excited but sure

Oh = The excitement isn’t there

Oh no = Used on the rare occasion I really don’t like what I’ve seen

The Hero from the Dragon Quest series in Smash!

After a brief montage of some games that already came out I guess, the direct jumps straight into an ominous shot of World of Light baddie Dharkon, followed by a seemingly hopeless fight between Link and one very possessed Marth. Then the Luminary turns up gloriously on his horse. With all the leaks that had been flying around for so long, I think pretty much everyone had accepted the presence of Dragon Quest at this point and I was totally stoked when this happened! I love Dragon Quest! And my boi from 11 is here, along with a few other DQ veterans as alt swaps and a pretty awesome looking stage overlooking what seems to be the land of Erdrea and the World Tree. Now to wait until summer and hope the Smash team have some sick ass remixes for us when the time comes!

Excitement Rating: YEEHAW BABEY

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition

In a move that makes it a lil obvious that DQ’s Smash addition was more than a little commercially minded (not that I really care I’m still big hyped), a trailer for the expanded edition of the series’ latest installment follows. Seeming as I’ve already played this, I doubt I’ll be picking it up again but I still heartily recommend the game to any JRPG fan. Admittedly, the fact you apparently get to explore worlds from past games is pretty exciting.

ER: Heck Yeck

Luigi’s Mansion 3

In a way I thought was surprising, Nintendo’s first proper focus of Luigi’s Mansion 3 actually took up more time than Animal Crossing, but I guess that’s because it’s further along in development. We now know that the game is set within a haunted hotel and had some new gameplay features shown off, including the various ways Luigi can succ a ghost. Most exciting I think for me was the various multiplayer aspects, such as the local co-op option to play as Gooigi and the seemingly challenge and minigame-based ‘Scarescraper’ which I think incorporates online co-op too. Overall, this is looking to be a creative and well thought out entry in the series and I’m here for it.

ER: Heck Yeck

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance - Tactics

A licensed tie-in game for a thirty year old film feels a little odd, but I suppose stranger things have happened. This looks to be a sort of top-down tactical thingy involving the various characters from The Dark Crystal and for some reason Netflix is involved, I don’t know, but I guess it could be interesting.

ER: Sure, why not?

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

The adorable remake of this classic Game Boy title seems to be coming along great and this direct’s extended trailer gave us a good look at what we’ll be exploring come September 20th. The overhaul Koholint Island has had is phenomenal, giving us designs for Link and various other characters that we’ve never seen before and that makes this remake look especially unique. Another very exciting aspect for me was the dungeon builder that looks like great fun! You collect different dungeon parts as you go and then you can build and explore your own! Am I a goblin child or does that sound like the best thing ever?

ER: YEEHAW BABEY!!

Trials of Mana / Collection of Mana

I’ll admit I’m not really familiar with the Mana series, but from what I was shown in this direct, it looks to be a fairly standard JRPG. That’s definitely not a bad thing, as most JRPGs are amazing, but nothing in this trailer really stood out and came into its own. That being said, the gameplay and graphics look pretty solid and I’m sure the Mana fans have been fairly starved for content for a while so that’s something to look forward to. On top of this remake/new game with the same title as an older game (I really don’t know), the Collection of Mana containing the series’ first three games is being released real soon on the eShop.

ER: Yeah!

The Witcher III: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition

Following a few scattered rumours, we finally have confirmation that a Witcher 3 port is in fact in the works, coming packed with all the game’s DLC. This basically legendary RPG is not one I personally had a great experience with, but I’m sure a lot of people are gonna be happy to play this in handheld. I’d keep expectations tempered however, with the likes of Assassin’s Creed 3 and Saints Row the Third proving that these ports don’t always function brilliantly on this platform.

ER: Yeah!

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Yet another and probably our last Fire Emblem trailer was shown in this direct, giving us a better look at how the story might play out and what our villains are going to be. With most of the gameplay features explored in the previous February direct, it’s good to have a slightly better idea as to what’s actually going on in terms of story and, to me, the results seem pretty damn good. Definitely one to keep an eye on!

ER: Heck Yeck

Resident Evil

In a slightly unnecessarily convoluted advert, we were given a two minute reel of two teenagers playing the original RE in tabletop mode in an abandoned house (??), along with the kind of less than exciting announcement that we’re getting the two weakest entries in the series for Switch, RE 5 and 6. I probably wasn’t the only one who felt a little passive about this whole thing. That being said, definitely not complaining about 1 & 4 being ported over.

ER: Oh

No More Heroes III

After the very slightly disappointing Travis Strikes Again, I really wasn’t expecting them to drop a trailer for the series’ third mainline installment so soon after. What we’ve seen looks pretty much like classic Travis, with a smidge of gameplay seen that looks just a bit more like what we’re used to. Of course, with this being the first reveal, there’s still a lot to find out but this looks very promising.

ER: Heck Yeck

Contra: Rogue Corps / Contra: Anniversary Collection

I’m not gonna pretend to be familiar with the Contra series, but this doesn’t at all look like what I’ve seen in the past. Honestly, this seemingly tactical shooter didn’t elicit much excitement from me and neither did its rushed character drops or its oddly rough textures. I’m unsure of actual fan reactions to this, but in my mind this one kind of sits in the ‘guess this exists’ category. As well as this, we got a shadowdrop for the Contra Anniversary Collection, whereas Rogue Corps comes on September 24th.

ER: Oh

Daemon X Machina

In what seems to be almost a mainstay in Nintendo directs, we’ve got another vague trailer for this mech shooter that finally has a confirmed release date of September 13th. The gameplay looks harmless enough, with the mechs seeming to be a blast to pilot, but beyond that, I can’t really see a lot of substance that would draw me in beyond the cool robots. I’m sure it could be good, but not really one for me.

ER: Yeah!

Panzer Dragoon

I was completely unsure of what this one was, but it looks a bit like a cross between The Last Guardian and those bullet hell sections from Kingdom Hearts 2. They’ve certainly nailed the smooth graphics and the cool looking creatures, but this one is mostly a case of needing to know more.

ER: Yeah!

Pokemon Sword & Shield

This one’s obviously a title so monumental that it consistently needs its own directs, but there wasn’t any *real* news about it in this direct. We were given a brief explanation as to how the Pokeball Plus works in conjunction with the games (something to do with taking your Pokemon for a walk) and the fact that we’ll see more gameplay during Nintendo’s Treehouse streams. Still, excitement remains pretty high for these titles.

ER: Heck Yeck!

Astral Chain

This game, to put it bluntly, looks awesome. The newest Platinum Games IP seems to be set in Blade Runneresque futuristic city with an alien threat and some cool ass looking fighting police people. Our second proper look at this game has cleared up a few murky doubts as to what exactly is supposed to be happening, so now we’ve got a much better idea of what this game is going to be. The story seems pretty full and polished, the gameplay looks like brilliant fun and I’m definitely not mad at the cool monster designs. This is one I’m definitely watching.

ER: Heck Yeck!!!

Empire of Sin

I know very little about what this game is supposed to be, but it looks to be a 40s gangster XCOM, substituting alien fighting marines with gun toting mafia dudes. The trailer went for style over substance, giving us an edgy visual thing of some burning playing cards and broken bottles, but the little gameplay we saw looked decent enough and may just end up injecting more variety into this genre.

ER: Yeah!

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order

An obvious pick for any Marvel fan, this hack-and-slash is jam packed with various heroes and villains from the comic series’ rich history. Ghost Rider and Elektra were among those revealed to be playable, while the likes of Mysterio, Hela, the Destroyer, Doctor Octopus, Surtur and MODOK are seemingly part of growing cast of villains. Looks like a good bit of fun if nothing else, though the immediate presence of a season pass is a tiny red flag.

ER: Yeah!

Cadence of Hyrule

In an unexpected but greatly welcomed crossover between Nintendo’s RPG titan Zelda series and the indie developed Crypt of the Necrodancer, a new rhythm based dungeon crawler with some brand new Zelda remixes and the presence of Link and Zelda as playable characters. This game’s retro graphics look totally adorable and the addition of the Gohmaracas were a definite highlight.

ER: Heck Yeck!!!!!

Mario & Sonic at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Tell you what, this definitely looks like a Mario and Sonic Olympic Games game. There looks to be a decent amount of variety in terms of what sports are involved and with its online multiplayer, there’s no shortage of vaguely cartoon sportyness to be had with friends both real and virtual. I’d be lying if I said I was totally disinterested because it does look a bit fun, but we all know it won’t be anything groundbreaking.

ER: Yeah!

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

In a fairly drastic formula change, Nintendo have decided to strand us on a desert island rather than move us innocently to another village, but Tom Nook is still here and oh yes he’s coming to collect his bells. From this surprisingly brief trailer, most of Animal Crossing’s core gameplay seems to be intact, with the return of craftable items from Pocket Camp, and the sudden bombshell that the game has been pushed back to March next year. Never going to be a bad thing if the finished product is all the better for it, but I guess that just means more info is to come!

ER: Heck Yeck

Highlight Reel

In what looks like a list of honourable mentions, Nintendo gave us a laundry list of other titles coming to the system:

Spyro Reignited Trilogy is joining Crash on the Switch with his acclaimed remaster trilogy.

Hollow Knight: Silksong, the prequel to the original game, looks just as charmingly dark as its predecessor.

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is showing up I guess, but I’ll come out and say I know nothing about it except that it looks cute.

Minecraft Dungeons looks better than it has any right to be and looks a bit like blocky Diablo I guess

The Elder Scrolls: Blades sure exists and I’m unsure of what it’s trying to be, but whatever quells off the need for Elder Scrolls 6 I guess.

My Friend Pedro, another strangely unique title from Devolver Digital, looks like it somehow incorporates banana peels into its combat system.

Doom Eternal looks like Doom always does, but a distinct lack of gameplay may put its dual release with the other consoles into question.

The Sinking City with its Lovecraftian inspiration looks totally brilliant and looks to be a unique experience for sure, so eyes firmly open for this one

Wolfenstein Youngblood definitely looks all Wolfenstein-y, but rumours of Dishonored-like sandbox levels has definitely piqued my interest.

Dead by Daylight still looks unfortunately a bit eh, with its slightly not great graphical quality from what we’ve seen in the trailers.

Alien Isolation was an extremely odd one, but I’m not gonna say no to more good horror content on the console.

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles seems to be continually delayed, but they’ll probably get round to it eventually.

Dragon Quest Builders 2 looks adorable and I’m very into the idea of Dragon Quest Minecraft, so sign me up.

Stranger Things 3: The Game looks a little more SNES-like in terms of graphics than its 8 Bit mobile predecessor, which is definitely a decent step. An obvious pick for fellow fans of the show.

Just Dance 2020 is definitely a Just Dance game. Yep, sure is. I even checked. And it is.

Catan is a tabletop game of sorts, but I really couldn’t figure out what kind from that few seconds of vague footage.

New Super Lucky’s Tale looks like Bubsy, but actually good and worth real money

Dauntless looks like a bit of a Monster Hunter clone, but you know, doesn’t look terrible.

And lastly, Super Mario Maker 2 was tacked on the end there to remind us all that Nintendo is taking our money in 2 weeks.

Banjo-Kazooie become Smash Ultimate’s 3rd DLC Fighter

Just when we all petering out a little and the hype seemed all but dormant, they go and drop this on us out of nowhere. While I personally don’t have an attachment to the bear and bird, I’m fully aware of their significance and how much they mean to a lot of people out there. And that excitement ended up being contagious, so this fact coupled with a pitch perfect reveal trailer has got me hugely hyped to see these guys join the fight come autumn.

ER: YEEHAW BABEY

Sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

And now, dear reader, for the reveal that removed my scalp and cut out my eyeballs. At first, I was totally confused as to what this could be. And then I recognised the symbols, and then my perfect lil Hyrule eggs come on the screen and it’s all spooky and there’s dead Ganondorf and I don’t clock the fact that I’ve just screamed out loud. A direct sequel to my absolute favourite game of all time is happening and it’s real and I get to live another adventure in the best game world ever crafted all over again. I think it’s safe to say I have transcended the definition of hype when it comes to this one.

ER: AAA!!! AA!!! GFFGF!!! THIS!!! ZELDA!!!! HGGGG!!!!

So there’s my probably a little stupid breakdown of everything Nintendo bestowed upon us this E3. Guess I’ll jump in after the next direct to give you yet another heavily scientific analysis of its events. Or I’ll babble at you until I start punching the keyboard. Either way, happy trails my dudes. Don’t let the hype bugs bite.

[walkonwalkonwithhopeinyourheart]

Long (and great) interview with Alisson Becker - translated from Portuguese via /r/LiverpoolFC

Long (and great) interview with Alisson Becker - translated from Portuguese

Q: About the FIFA awards. What does it mean to be recognized by players and legends of the game?

A:My story doesn't differ much from the other players', started from nothing. I played for Internacional since I was 9, step by step, facing challenges that sometimes made me want to give up, but I always had great professionals and people behind me, helping me as a player and as a human - the most responsible for that are my parents and my brother; also my sister-in-law, who has always encouraged me while I was in the academy levels, always took care of me. Then later, my wife, obviously, after I became a professional, she has been my foundation and she's part of everything I achieved. My family, my daughter, I leave all my problems behind when I get home, they are always there to make me happy.

To be there in that stage in front of legends of the game, all I can say is that I'm honored. These trophies are very special, after all the hard work I've done, the criticism and the defeats fade away a bit and it's a honour to be presented these awards as a 26 year old, still young - and there's more to come.

Q:There's a viral picture on the internet of you, Dida and Julio Cesar together. How do you feel cementing your name as one of Brazil's greatests goalkeepers?

A:Those you named, alongside Cássio, Fábio, Clemer are very good goalkeepers and they also deserve to be recognized. I became the first Brazilian goalkeeper to be considered the best in the world and I believe those who have only played in Brazil may not get international recognition but they also deserve it. Dida and Julio Cesar also had outstanding seasons in their careers and to see their happy faces while I was there on the stage meant so much. Also Ederson and Ter Stegen - I felt like a winner already just to be nominated alongside them. Anyone of those names would be a fair winner - that makes the achievement even greater for me. I'm honored.

Q: How do these awards work? Do you have time to interact with other players while being in a room full of great players and legends? It must be very special.

It's very special indeed. Sometimes I felt like a kid looking at all those legends. I met Roberto Carlos, Gilberto Silva. I couldn't meet all the Brazilians who were there because the event is a bit of a turmoil - everyone wants to meet the greats and you're there so close but you feel like there's enough people surrounding them already. I saw Maldini and I wanted to go there and greet him, but couldn't. Also Pirlo, who were on stage. We feel like kids there, because those names made my childhood, they're all idols, not only the goalkeepers, but also the outfield players - which I was very familiar while playing Football Manager, FIFA and PES. To see them made everything even more of a honour for me.

Q: Klopp won as the best manager. Is it special for you to see all his work and also Liverpool being recognized in those awards? Also Van Dijk, who was nominated.

When you win the Champions League, it's obvious that some players will be recognized in the awards. I believe there should have been more Liverpool players in the best XI, but those who won also deserved. I was very happy for Klopp, not only for the award and for being a great manager, but also because he's a great person that everyone adores. You guys from the press know he's a simple man, very passionate about football and life. He showed his huge heart while announcing he joined the Common Goal charity on stage - to promote a social action that helps people - it shows great nobility. I'm very happy for him.

About Van Dijk, he certainly could've won it, but when you're up against Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, it's a bit unfair because people also take in consideration their whole careers and those two are amazing. I believe Messi has done enough to win it - the difference were the titles, Van Dijk won the CL, while Messi won the league and we didn't. Cristiano won a international title, I believe that's why he was among the finalists. He has merit.

For me, either Virgil or Messi would be the correct decision but I was hoping Van Dijk would win because of the player and the person he is. Just like the goalkeeper award, anyone of those would be a fair winner.

Q: How's your work with Jurgen Klopp? How has he helped you improve as an athlete?

A: Klopp, besides understanding football so much, he also knows how to deal with people in a way that I had never seen before - maybe also Tite is a bit like him in dealing with people.

He can communicate with everyone and that's a fundamental part of football. Not only talking, but also with gestures. Sometimes with a face gesture he can communicate more than with a couple of sentences. He's very expressive. My involvement with him is more outside the pitch, in the dressing room, he's very specific and the training sessions are very intense but also very clear, with a clear objective, which is what he thinks it's best for the upcoming game.

The fact that the team is so tight and we know each other so well also favours him. This is the value of our team. If you take a player out of our team, they are for certain going to play well in other teams, but he may not play the same way, because we created a clear style, we know where everyone is gonna be, we run together, we know how each one likes to receive the ball - that's also Klopp's merit, he formed this team and I came here last year and could be part of a winning season. That helped a lot, not only Jurgen but Also John and Jack the goalkeeper coaches.

Q: Talking about your development this past season, why do you think you fit in so well with Liverpool and the Premier League?

A: The decision-making is very important in the athletes' careers, specially when it comes to transfers. It was a delicate moment to leave Roma because I was playing very well, but I came to the conclusion I wouldn't improve much further there. We then made the decision to accept the transfer, also because the Premier League is a very attractive competition, for its competitiveness, quality, organization, clubs, history. It's basically like the Champions League, there are six big clubs to face, also other smaller, but very traditional clubs here in England, which is a beautiful spectacle, but also a very tough one.

I analysed everything with my staff and my agent before making any decision - the club's stability, the potential, the way the team plays, which fits my style, as I like playing with a high line, participating in the play. That's why it matched so well - me, Liverpool and the Premier League.

We haven't achieved what we wanted yet in the league, but this season we have the same chances as last season, it's up to us to seize the opportunities.

Q: Inter's Alisson, Roma's Alisson and Liverpool's Alisson. Do you see many differences?

A: No, not many. Obviously I'm more mature now. What's changed are the things outside football, I'm a family man now. Inside the pitch it's always been the same - my dedication, hard word have always been there. That's important for a high level player, to be there even in the periods when I'm not playing.

My first year at Roma wasn't easy, it was different from my arrival at Liverpool, as I was already well known in Europe, having had a great season the year before. From Inter to Roma, I suffered a bit, the first season I played less than I would've liked, but I improved a lot nonetheless. Today the difference is in my mind, but I still enjoy it as much as I did before, in the beginning. The responsibilities and expectations grew, but I'm also much more prepared and mature than at Inter.

Q:A lot of great things happened in your career last year, but also in your personal life, you had your second child. It was a full year for you.

A: Absolutely, children are a blessing, certainly even better than receiving trophies. I had the pleasure to be present at child-birth, Matteo came to bring even more happiness to our family. It was a very special year, we can feel the love of God in our family.

Q: Helena (his daughter) says your awards are for her.

A:When I go to these awards, I have to leave her at home and I always say that I'm going to collect an award for her, so she doesn't get upset. She loves it.

Q: How's your day-to-day here, with your wife. You travel a lot, and I suppose you like to enjoy your time at home with them.

A: Absolutely, Natalia [his wife] sometimes gets angry at me because when I have some days off, which is rare, she wants to travel, do something fun and I always prefer to stay at home, play with the kids, we have a house that is big enough for us to enjoy. We're very simple people, we don't need much to be happy, only the family around. The weather doesn't help much to go out but we always find a way to have fun and I try to be present with my daughter. These weeks I've been injured, I enjoyed being at home alongside her, we bonded even stronger than before. Now she cries when I leave home, but it's important for a child to feel loved and to be accompanied by their father. Sometimes life's too rushed and we don't pay much attention to our children, but in the future, they end up suffering because of our decisions - instead of reading a book or watching tv, it's better to play with them (while also taking care of ourselves). My wife and I try the best to have a good relationship and that hopefully will reflect to our children. Family means everything to us, family means everything to me. It's what's most precious in life - I dedicate everything to them.

Q: How's the injury? How's the anxiety to come back?

A: The anxiety is big right now. We are at the final stages, I'm doing the normal GK training. Next week I'll be with the team, but it takes a while to get back with the rhythm. It was a long process, a serious injury. The initial time was 4-6 weeks, then 6-8 and now the medics said 8-10. It's has been 7 weeks now and I feel confident, we have to take the time, I don't want to rush and not be 100%. If I feel well next week, I'll be very close to play already. There's also the Fifa dates which we'll use to train. There's a downside but also a good side, as I can prepare for the rest of the season, which is long.

Q:You're certainly following Liverpool. We're seeing a strong start, it seems that the team is even more mature than last year. How do you see the team's development and what do you think you can achieve this season?

A: We've done something hard which is to start the season playing high level, maybe not as high as the last games last season, but we won important games, like Chelsea away, which is fundamental for a team that wants to be champions. We achieve that with our way of play and consistency and that's the difference from a team that only plays for the result. We have our style and we're improving with the way we adapt to each match, and that's what we suffered a bit last year. Even if we had a winning season, we had things to improve and I believe we're achieving it and there's even more. That's what makes our team happy, we see that we can improve, and we see where we can go.

If they asked me at the beginning of last season if we were going to win the Champions League , I would say the same - I don't know, it depends on what we do inside the pitch. We're going to keep improving and we're in the right path to achieve big things.

Quick questions

Q:Who is your best mate at Liverpool?

A: My two best mates are Firmino and Fabinho. We're always together in training and also outside the ground. We try to unite our families so we can spend a lot of time together.

Q: Who's the leader among the players?

A: Henderson, he's the captain. He pushes the team when it's needed and even when it's not (laughs).

Q: Who's the shyest?

A: Fabinho.

Q: Who's the funniest?

A: Wijnaldum. Inside the dressing room he's very funny and playful with everyone.

Q: Who's the most talkative?

A: Robbo! For sure.

Q:Your English is very good then, if you understand his Scottish accent.

A: I said he's talkative, I didn't say I understand everything he says (laughs). Most things I don't.

Q: The most stylish?

A: Well, I like my style. But Bobby is the king of style.

Q: Who's the angriest?

A: I think the one who gets more irritated, with an angry face is Milner, for sure. He's a very serious guy.

Q: Define Jurgen Klopp in one word.

A: Passionate.

Q: A Klopp's speech that impressed you the most?

All his analysis and speeches are very good, he does it very well, also quickly. It motivates you so much when you need it. He can relieve the pressure through his speeches. One in particular that I'll remember forever was the day before the Barcelona game at home. He said something like: 'we have nothing to lose, so choose which story you want to tell your children and grandchildren'. This shows the belief he has on his work and his team.

Q: A game?

A: Barcelona at home (laughs).

Q: A save?

A:The save against Napoli in the Champions League, which was one of the most importants that season. I love saves that really help the team, doesn't matter if it's a beautiful or an ugly one.

Q: A definition of Liverpool, as a team, as a club, as the city you live.

A: It's a extremely positive place. There's a phrase that Pep Lijnders uses: 'our intensity is our indentity'. It's a very intense team inside the pitch and we can bring that intensity in our relationships, the day-to-day life and the trainings, which is very important. You can only be a winner if you prepare yourself to win.

Submitted October 04, 2019 at 09:08PM by eagle207 via reddit https://ift.tt/30Pgm1M

[vampiricmycelium]

Relationships: Luminary/Erik Characters: Erik, Luminary Fandom: Dragon Quest XI Rating: T Tags: Fluff, some guilt Summary: Erik knows his amnesia is troubling but one person on the boat seems to be taking it harder than the others. Takes place right after finding Erik but before going to Sniflheim. || Written for Fictober 2018 for the combined prompts “You shouldn’t have come here.” & “You think this troubles me?”

Erik isn’t sure what to make of the people on this ship. They claimed to know him. That he had journeyed with him for quite some time. Erik wasn’t sure if he should be so quick to trust them but what else did he have? They didn’t get angry he had eaten their food or stowed away upon their ship. He should count his blessings instead of mistrusting these strangers. Not strangers? 

It was hard to wrap his head around. In fact, it was giving Erik a headache. Something felt wrong as well, but being unable to know what happened or anything that could connect the dots between his feelings and what might have brought them on, he shouldn’t dwell.

Needing some fresh air in hopes that it would clear some of his headache. As he went above deck, the cool evening air already brushing against his face, he spotted someone else. They weren’t the only ones on the deck, but he was separated from the others, standing near the back of the ship. Erik stood there, watching him quietly for a moment. He thought about the excitement in his eyes, the instant relief, when he saw him. It was as if he had been carrying a weight and finally it had been released. Dropped. Only to be replaced with a new one when he announced that he didn’t know who they were. Erik couldn’t forget the raw pain in his expression. 

Out of everyone on the ship, all the people who had been standing there, he reacted the strongest. He spoke no words, but he didn’t have to. 

It was a mystery to the amnesiac. What was their relationship prior to this? He had been happy to see him and so upset to know that he was missing memories. They had to have been close. Best friends of some sort? Another thought came to mind and he found his face turn a shade warmer. Even if he didn’t know who they were to one another before, he definitely felt drawn to him now. Perhaps that was just because of who he was. He seemed to have amassed quite the group. 

Erik approached hesitatingly. He wasn’t even sure if he wanted to see him right now considering the circumstances.

“Hey there. Nice night?” He felt lame immediately. The man - Caleb was his name right? - only glanced his face. Even with the brief look, he could still see the pain in his eyes. He was still torn up over it. Erik decided to try and make a lame joke.  “ You shouldn’t have come here. Is that what you want to say to me?”

This time he turned fully to him, raising an eyebrow. “Why would I say that?”

“You just seemed bugged by my presence,” Erik replied, doing his best not to sound upset. He wasn’t. Like he had any right to be upset that someone else was disappointed he wasn’t really him right now. Still, Caleb looked a bit confused. 

“I’m not going to tell you you shouldn’t be here. You belong here just as much as the rest of us.”

“I don’t know what I’m even doing here. I just wanted something to eat. But I’m glad that I knew you guys. You’re not a bad bunch. A bit weird though.”

“We are quite the collection of weirdos. I remember you telling me that before.” There it was. A small smile on his face. Erik was feeling a bit better seeing him happy and not upset. He even leaned a bit towards him, unsure why. This was definitely different than his normal pull. “You included yourself by the way.”

“Of course I did. I think I’m pretty weird.”

They both laughed, a gentle sound. Erik could definitely tell they were sharing a moment. Had they shared one like this before? They talked even more. It was nice, strangely, to hear about himself from someone else. That he had been the first one to travel with Caleb and how close that made them. He felt safer with Erik and more confident. It was clear that he really liked him. It made something in Erik’s chest ache. He was starting to feel a bit worried about it.

“Hey,” Erik started after a moment of silence. Caleb gave him another smile as he looked at him. “I’m sorry. I know I must have meant something to you and now. Now-”

“Now you can’t remember what it was?”

Erik nodded, almost ashamed but unsure why. 

“You think this troubles me?” Caleb laughed again, his laughter a soothing sound to Erik. Even if he couldn’t remember, he’d want to keep hearing it. “It did. I won’t deny I wasn’t upset that your amnesia hurt. I missed you so much Erik. But I was happy to know you were alive. I worried so much what happened to you all. I thought I had failed you all - killed you all. I am happy knowing you’re alive, no matter what. You’re still you.”

Maybe he couldn’t get his memories back, but as Caleb reached out to touch his hand, keeping hold of it against the railing, he thought maybe he could form new ones. Ones he’d keep with all of his might this time.