#I did not choose the trauma that made this into a burden

[thedaythatwas]

anyway I cannot emphasize enough how valid it is to be angry at the world if it’s wronged you. you don’t need to go down quietly. it can’t take away your right to feel pain.

[sepublic]

I wonder if part of the reason for Flapjack’s death was to contrast how Hunter handled his own grief over a lost loved one, vs Philip’s response?

There’s the immediate reactions of pushing people away; Philip refuses the kindness of the locals in his search for Caleb and especially afterwards, tries to kill Evelyn, and rebukes his own brother in favor of holding onto bitterness.

Hunter becomes snappy, aggressive, and closed off after losing Flapjack; Like Philip, he devotes himself to a mission of finding a fellow Wittebane, and gets frustrated over any perceived frivolities and distractions.

But eventually, Hunter recognizes that while his trauma is valid, he’s also been pushing Willow away and placing a lot of burden on her as well. It’s okay that he was triggered by the Emerald Entrails photo instead of reassured, but part of Hunter and Willow’s resolution is the former clarifying that yes, her efforts to reach out do mean a lot to him. And Willow means a lot to Hunter too, that’s why he wants to reciprocate and accept, instead of causing her to feel just as ineffectual by refusing help; Willow deserves help too!

Not only that, but Philip and Hunter both created living beings as a coping mechanism, only for one to be unhealthy, while the other actually recovered. Philip is obsessed with creating perfect replicas of Caleb, casting out Grimwalkers for being too different from the mold, not good enough, and keeping them all to himself; The Grimwalkers aren’t allowed their own lives nor any other relationships.

Hunter makes palismen for others, he’s giving people the companionship he himself lost, and he isn’t designing anything after Flapjack, not necessarily; Just whatever a witch needs. Even his personal palisman, Waffles, is visually different while still hearkening to Flapjack, because Hunter is a Clawthorne after all; He can move on and be himself while also honoring his connections with others, and not become unhealthily dependent or averse to them.

Hunter made Waffles and thus must’ve chosen these differences, or carved an egg like Luz did, so his palisman could choose a form. I find that wonderfully ironic, for while Hunter has more control over how his creations turn out, he doesn’t abuse this to create a replica of Flapjack; He enables and encourages variation instead, while Philip gambles to make each Grimwalker closer to the original, eliminating any deviations as if that will alter the odds.

One uses control to give to others, the other has no control and desperately wants it over others. Philip grows and Hunter whittles away, but it’s Hunter who proves more nurturing and free. Both used palistrom wood, but Hunter’s coping mechanism encourages its growth, while Philip hoards and even devours it.

Hunter surpasses his uncle by suffering in similar ways, only to show that you can still recover without hurting others; Philip really does have no excuse, for Hunter is an example of the person he easily could and should’ve been in response to loss. Philip tried to spread his pain by repeating it in others, he killed Flapjack (and projected onto Luz, as if to absolve himself by claiming she should do the same, since anyone else would’ve); But Hunter looked his uncle in the eye and said No, I will not be a vector for your bitterness.

[alpurrtwhizkersss]

Omg you're taking six of crows requests?!?

Can I get a Kaz x fem!reader where the two of them are a couple (or trying to be) like Kaz is less snappy towards her, they're working on his touch aversion and everything.

But then on a heist gone wrong reader is hurt/stabbed/shot and falls into the Harbour, and Kaz is terrified because of the water but he's more terrified of losing his girl and he realizes that none of the other crows will reach her in time so he dives into the water to save her and when he drags her back onto the dock they just hug each other and the reader is apologizing for ruining the heist, Kaz is just holding her tightly and telling her it's ok, she's safe and that's how the rest of the crows find them, curled up at the end of the dock. Maybe some soft kisses?

Kaz trying to deal with his trauma in ways like this makes me happy

His Star

Requested By:  anonymous!

Warnings: Drowning, reader gets stabbed in the arm, Kaz deals with some trauma flashbacks/anxiety, possibly OOC Kaz.

Genre: Hurt/Comfort

Prompt: None

She/Her pronouns used to refer to reader.

Author’s Note:

hey!! sorry this one took so long, I haven't written for Kaz for a WHILE so I hope this meets your request!

Word Count: 1321

Kaz loved you.

Or, at least, you thought he did. He had never told you explicitly, but then, the ruthless young man had never told many people of his affections for them, choosing instead to close himself off to the world instead of facing his feelings.

Despite the mask he put over his emotions every day, you could still tell he loved you through the way he treated you, how he didn’t snap at you like he snapped at the other crows, and the way he looked at you.

Oh, how he looked at you.

Kaz Brekker looked at you as though he was a tired man, bound to the ground of the earth, weak and broken, and you were a star in the dark, endless sky waiting to lead him home, your brightness and your beauty incomparable to anything else.

There were many times Kaz had wanted to touch you, to reach his gloved hand out and graze it against your cheek, or to squeeze your thigh for comfort as you sat beside him, but he couldn’t. He feared that if he did, it would bring everything back. Bring Jordie’s death back. And the possibility was too painful to try.

You understood, of course, you would never push him to do anything he didn’t want to, so you left it alone. You never asked, you barely even thought, because even the idea of making Kaz uncomfortable or upset made guilt squeeze your heart sharply. You would listen if he brought up the idea, but you’d never do it yourself. You’d never put that burden on him over something he couldn’t control.

So you made do with what you had, you loved him in other ways, helping him with planning heists, gathering information to make his job easier, making sure he ate, checking up on him every so often (despite his protests), giving him small smiles across the Crow Club when you could see he was getting frustrated. Little things that made your presence known, but that didn’t intrude too much on his life, and you were happy that way.

“Y/N!” Jesper’s voice broke your thoughts as you slid down the rain-soaked tiles of the building you were scaling, landing gracefully on your feet as you shot along the gutter at the bottom and leaped onto the next one.

“What?” You yelled, hoping he would catch it over the raging wind, but all you heard in response was silence, and you realised you could no longer hear the cracking of his boots against the tile. 

Risking a look behind you, you caught your gaze on Jesper’s long figure clambering back up the roof, two others, Inej and Wylan, caught your eye as well, though, where Kaz was you had no idea, and you skidded to a halt, stopping for a moment as you watched the security of the bank you’d just attempted to rob begin gaining on you, their yells rising far above the torrential weather, you watched the other Crows running along the top of the roof, you only caught on to why they were doing this as you turned back, and felt a swift, violent pain crash through your upper arm, you let out an ear piercing scream as the shock and pain overwhelmed you, making your vision blur and your knees buckle underneath you. Almost as soon as you made a noise, you heard Jasper’s pistols shoot rounds into your attacker’s body, quickly able to take out some other guards from his high-up position, yet nobody came to save you as your body tumbled into the freezing harbour water that cascaded against the walls of the bank.

Kaz yelled your name as he watched you disappear off the side of the roof and into the waters below. He had already chosen to stay behind when he realised that you had not heard Jesper’s call to retreat upwards, and he thanked the Saints that he did when he began racing towards the edge of the roof, still screaming your name as he searched for your body in the blackness beneath him.

For the first time in a while, Kaz took a sharp, relieved inhale at the sight of your head poking above the water, and soon your arms came thrashing with it.

As you caught sight of Kaz, you began yelling, mostly unintelligible words, but he heard his name ring in his ears, and he swore he felt his heart tear itself out of his chest when he recognised the fear in your voice.

The fear in your voice that brought him back to that night. With Jordie. Jordie and the boat. And the eerie silence only broken every so often by the groans of the wood and the shifting of clothes against the bodies of the victims that the plague had so cruelly taken.

No. Kaz scolded himself. Stop. Stop, you have to help Y/N. She’ll die if you don’t help her.

He didn’t give himself time to think again before throwing himself into the freeze after you, and almost immediately he felt the same horrible effect that he felt that night with Jordie begin to take hold.

He pushed through it as he kept his mind on you. He couldn’t let you die.

If you died, he didn’t know what he would do with himself, he likes to tell himself that he could get through anything. That grief didn’t affect him anymore.

But with you? You were his star, and if you weren’t there anymore, his sky would go dark.

Kaz could hear your sobs echoing through the night air as he pulled himself through the current and closer to you. Almost as soon as he touched your skin with his gloved hands, he had to stop himself from letting the panic take over, soon becoming grounded once again by your whimpers and pleas for help.

“C-come here, Y/N.” He stammered out, the temperature of the water mixed with the adrenaline coursing through his veins making his speech slurred and awkward as he pulled you towards his chest.

You soon found yourself approaching the harbour, and Kaz made it his first priority to hoist your body up onto the wooden decking, quickly pulling himself up after.

As soon as you were safely out of the water, you backed yourself up against a wall, leaning to the side to cough up what you’d managed to inhale during your panic. Kaz soon made his way over to you, rubbing your back gently as you grasped the wall for support, before falling back against it, still shaking with the sobs that left your lips. You soon felt Kaz move his hand hesitantly to the back of your neck, before taking a deep breath and pulling you in closer to him, holding you tightly.

“I’m sorry…” You cried, taking the collar of his soaked jacket into your hands as he shushed you. “I’m so, so sorry, Kaz, I- I ruined everything. I’m so useless-” You buried your head in his jacket as he shook his head, staring down at you with as serious a stare as he could manage, despite his heart rate going at 30 miles per hour.

“No, no, Y/N, stop it. You didn’t ruin the heist. It was doomed from the start, it was a stupid idea anyway. All that matters is that you’re safe, do you understand me? You’re alright, and you’re with me, and nothing’s going to happen to you.” Kaz’s voice managed to soothe your racing heart and mind, and your gentle nods soothed his own as he dared to press a gentle kiss to your lips.

That was how the Crows found you both that night. Kaz wrapped protectively around you, every so often placing gentle kisses to your hair, and you, his star, encased safely in his arms, having never felt so much love from anybody in your life.

[connorsui]

A Quiet Legacy

Simon Riley x reader

Synopsis: haunted by the fear of becoming like his abusive father, Simon navigates the overwhelming emotions of fatherhood as he quietly vows to protect his newborn son from the darkness of his own past.

Genre/warnings: Hurt/Comfort, Family, Angst with a Happy Ending -- W: Mentions of childhood abuse, PTSD, trauma, and internal struggles with self-worth.

Note: I always think about the good side of things with Simon having a bby …but what about Canon Simon?

w.c: 1,209

—

Simon Riley never thought fatherhood was in the cards for him. Hell, he never thought much about a future beyond the battlefield. But here he was, standing in the doorway of the freshly painted nursery, watching as you meticulously folded the soft blankets, his mind awash with uncertainty.

The knot in his stomach tightened, twisting in ways he hadn’t felt since he first held a rifle. He never voiced it—never could—but the fear was always there, gnawing at the edges of his thoughts. The fear of turning out like his old man. A man who left scars deeper than any bullet could. He couldn’t shake the disgust of it, the mere thought enough to make his jaw clench and fists tighten.

You noticed the tension in him, of course. You always did. With a soft smile, you placed one of the tiny shirts in his hand, your fingers brushing against his in the most gentle, grounding way. "It’ll be alright, Si."

He wanted to believe that. Really, he did. But the thought of holding something so small, so fragile, made him wonder if his hands—these hands—could ever be capable of anything gentle. Hands that had seen too much, done too much.

Still, Simon spent hours building the damn furniture, grumbling at the tiny screws and baffling instructions. It was a task that should’ve been easy for someone with his skillset, but he had a soldier’s precision, not an interior decorator’s eye. Thankfully, you were the one with the vision, picking the soft pastels for the walls, choosing the crib that looked like it belonged in a magazine.

Left to him, the room would’ve ended up looking like the inside of an armory. But as he stood there, the faint scent of fresh paint still lingering, he couldn’t help but smile—just a little—at the tiny socks in your hands, the soft, cute materials so opposite from the harshness of his world. It was calming in a way he hadn’t expected. You, folding those clothes, setting up the space for the life the two of you were about to bring into the world. A life he had lived long enough to see.

With the baby finally here …sound asleep in their own crib and the house being quiet, Simon found himself standing in front of it, watching his son’s small chest rise and fall. He hadn’t thought he’d survive this long. Too many close calls, too many brushes with death. But here he was, holding a life so much smaller than his calloused hands, the weight of his child cradled in his arms, and for the first time in a long time, Simon Riley felt a different kind of fear—the fear of love.

The memory of the hospital was a blur, but walking through the door of your shared home with you by his side, it all felt real. The love of his life beside him, and now, this tiny little person in his arms. A miracle, if he believed in such things.

But Simon couldn’t shake the thoughts in the back of his mind. What if I turn out like him? What if all the scars—physical and mental—made him just as broken as the man who raised him?

He stared down at his son, the tiny face so peaceful, and something inside him softened. Simon had spent years mastering control, hiding behind a mask of indifference and efficiency. But this? This was different. The weight of fatherhood settled on his shoulders like a familiar burden, but this time, it wasn’t one he wanted to bear alone.

“Never,” he whispered to himself as he gently rocked the baby in his arms, his voice gruff but soft enough that it didn’t wake the little one. “You’re never gonna be like him, Simon. You’ll do better.”

In the quiet hours of the night, as the moonlight filtered through the curtains, Simon found himself making another void vow—this one felt even heavier. From the moment he held his son, something shifted deep within him. He’d spent years protecting people, guarding lives that weren’t his own, but this—this was different. This was his blood, his legacy, and the weight of it was as heavy as any burden he’d carried. He would protect this little life, not just from the dangers of the world outside, but from the darkness that had shaped Simon himself.

As he looked down, his son’s tiny hand curled instinctively around his finger, so small and fragile against the rough calluses. The sight of it did something to Simon, something he couldn’t fully describe. A thought, quiet but persistent, crept into his mind. **What if one day, his boy looked up at him—saw him as something to aspire to?**

The idea twisted in his chest. It wasn’t pride, it was fear. Fear that his son might idolize him, might want to follow in his footsteps, to become what Simon had been forced to be. His stomach clenched at the thought. He knew what his life had cost him, what it had taken away. And he wouldn’t allow his son to bear that same burden.

As the days passed, the routine of fatherhood started to settle into Simon's life, but the fears still lingered. Simon stood beside you, watching as you gently laid the baby down in the crib. He ran a hand over the back of his neck, the weight of the skull mask he used to wear heavy in his thoughts. He didn’t need that mask anymore. Not here. Not with you. Not with his son.

You turned to him, catching the distant look in his eyes. “He’s gonna be okay, you know.”

“Yeah,” Simon muttered, though it wasn’t his son he was worried about. He wanted to believe he could be the father his son deserved. The man you believed him to be.

But doubts were a soldier’s constant companion.

Simon couldn’t help but picture the years to come—his boy growing older, looking up at him, asking questions about what his father did, why he was gone so often. The hero worship he knew would follow, the same way all kids saw their dads as untouchable.

And Simon? He’d make sure his son saw him as anything but that.

Simon who quietly placed a toy on the windowsill, pretending to check the locks when really, he was lost in thought. Simon who, even though the nightmares still haunted him, promised himself he’d always come home to the both of you. Simon, who looked at his son and saw a future he’d never dared to dream of—a quiet legacy that had nothing to do with war or violence.

“I’ll keep him safe,” Simon whispered into the night, voice low, gruff with emotion. He didn’t say it aloud often, but when he did, you knew it came from the deepest part of him—the part that was still learning to trust, still learning to believe that maybe, just maybe, he could be more than the Ghost of his past.

As Simon slipped into bed beside you, his hand rested protectively on the small crib next to you both. The house was silent, and for a moment, everything felt… right. He allowed himself to hope that this, too, was something he could survive.

✧──────✧₊∘∘₊✧──────✧₊∘∘₊✧──────✧

Canon Simon as a father would always be in my heart

[maochira]

Ways of being a father. (Kengan dads & child!reader)

I wrote this almost a year ago, originally with Blue Lock characters assigned. But I thought a lot about assigning Kengan characters so here we go! The quotes are all translated from Alligatoah's song Nicht adoptiert. Also! The song may originally be about being born into a family and not being adopted, but reader can very much be seen as an adopted child in this if that's what you prefer!

gn!child!reader (reader is implied to be different ages in different parts)

If you're listening to this, you're alive, congratulations / I always knew you'd become more than a broken condom

Let's be honest, you weren't planned. Being a father initially wasn't part of his life plan, but then you happened. But he wouldn't replace you for anything in this world.

-Adam, Raian, Lihito, Kanoh, Ohma

Cause I don't believe in marriage you were born a bastard

-Ohma, Raian, Adam, Hatsumi

Sure, we love you, but there's a reason for that, kid / Nature arranges it like this so we won't kill you

Sometimes being a father can be frustrating and exhausting. But no matter how annoying you might get, his fatherly instinct always wins. In no way would he ever intentionally do harm to you.

-Ohma, Kanoh, Kazuo

It looks like you're family / Looks like it's just us now / We've got to get through it now, blood's thicker than beer / [Sorry, you ain't adopted]

-Adam, Kanoh, Hatsumi

I have no idea how to take care of children / But don't worry, I'll find a tutorial

He went into fatherhood completely without knowing what to expect. It all came a bit out of sudden for him, and he was too anxious to prepare himself properly. But when he held you in his arms for the first time, he knew he'd figure it out just fine.

-Lihito, Inaba

The good thing is, I don't even have to share any knowledge with you / You can just read the wiki entry

-Saw Paing, Lihito, Kanoh

I won't always be there for you, I have to party hard too / Did I say "party"? I mean "work"

Being a father doesn't mean that's the only part of his life now. He'll try to be there for you whenever possible, but there will be moments when he gets lost in other things.

-Saw Paing, Lihito, Sekibayashi

Joking aside, the ego-pig in me is happy that you are coming / Cause then I can play with Lego blocks

A part of him is still a child as well. And hey, being a father means he gets to play with toys again - that's something he can look forward to.

-Cosmo, Saw Paing, Inaba

Cause even though I'm putting effort and thinking about how / I can take the pressure off and still get you into bookstores / Something I do will lead to trauma, c'est la vie / I'll be the star of your psychotherapy, have fun

As careful as he is with you, he knows at some point he'll do something wrong. He's perfectly aware of how he won't always be the perfect father, but he's still trying his best.

-Raian, Kazuo, Wakatsuki, Suekichi

You're programmed for me, I'm programmed for you / Now we're sittin' here, I say now we're sittin' here / Sorry, you ain't adopted

He didn't choose to have you as his child, and you didn't choose him to have as your father. But still, you're perfectly made to be this role for each other.

-all of them.

You may not become president or student representative / Reality will throw your dreams in the chick shredder / I know what I'm talkin' about, life ain't no show

You won't achieve the greatest things in the world, and that's okay. You don't have to do that to make your father proud. He knows exactly what it's like to fail, and that's why he will always encourage you to reach your dreams, no matter how big or small they may be.

-Gaolang, Kazuo, Suekichi, Setsuna

You'll see my burdens, I've given them to you / If you think your genes are bad, they're Papa's genes / But you're my update, you can fix the bugs

You may not be a carbon copy of your father, but the similarities are undeniable - both the good and the bad.

-Ohma, Setsuna, Kanoh, Raian

In the beginning it's ambition like in a chess duel / You will emulate me until you outshine me / The balance of power is on my side - currently / But your chance is good, because Papa's withering parallel like a leaf

Being his child also means being his rival - in a fun way. If there's something to compete in, there will be playful competition. Board games, soccer in the backyard and running random races when you're just walking somewhere together - things like that.

-Raian, Koga, Saw Paing, Lihito

This has to come out now 'cause later I won't be the same / When you're around I'm sure I'll write some corny shit / No more tasteless jokes, no more Hitler comparisons

He was more of an immature person before, but he knows after your birth he has to become more serious as a father - at least that's what society expects from him.

-Lihito, Raian, Naoya

I stand in front of the mirror and see a caricature / But I train every day for my father figure / I practice "La-Le-Lu" on the keyboard / And I subject myself to a motherfucking radio censorship / And I learn all the movie clichés, after birth / You'll get a wristwatch with your name engraved on it

At first, knowing he'll be a father soon felt so unreal to him. But the closer the day gets, the more the realization sets in. But that realization makes him nervous, so he's putting extra effort into learning how to be the best father he can be. And even though he doesn't want to be "like the other dads", he finds himself following every cliché possible.

-Kazuo, Sekibayashi, Adam, Suekichi

Even though being strict clashes with my liberal nature / I'll pretend I'm interested in your Spanish exam

He doesn't care how much of a good or bad student you are, but he knows you'll have to pass school somehow. As much as he doesn't care about your grades, he pretends as if he does to keep you encouraged. But of course you'll get praise for your hard work when you get good grades.

-Ohma, Kazuo, Lihito

I'll be mad at you for every adolescent booze story / But don't be afraid of me just because I fuck your mother

-Raian, Lihito, Adam

I'm just an old cynic who writes frustration poems / But I swear I'll give it all to you till the end of my chapter

He'd do anything and everything for you. He will always make sure you feel safe and loved, no matter what age you're at. Even when you become an adult, he will always be your father and protect you as good as he can.

-all of them.

If you enjoyed this, please remember to reblog with tags! That's the best and easiest way to support me and my writing!

[finallyfantasy7]

you're crisis core fan, right? I wanted to know your opinion about Angeal. like I can't forgive him for what he did to Zack. where is honor in making your friend and student who loves you kill you???

Yay, my first ask, thank you!

When I'm letting my emotions rule my judgement I absolutely hate what Angeal did to Zack. Zack's life was one betrayal after another, one disappointment after another, one trauma after another, and Angeal should have wrapped Zack in a comfy blanket and been his emotional rock forever.....

...buuuuut....

When I think about it rationally I can't see any better alternative to what Angeal did.

Angeal and Zack were all about protecting people and the world, and as much as Angeal wasn't a monster, and wasn't to blame, his ability to create monster sadly was a threat to everyone.

This was their only chance. Angeal had to absorb all the copies and die as quickly as possible. Hollander was a threat, wanting to recreate Angeal's abilities. If he succeeded it would have became almost impossible for Angeal and Zack to ever stop them.

And those copies were attacking people as long as they were out there, they even attacked Zack. Imagine if they killed some innocent kid. That kind of thing would have weighted on Zack's conscience a lot more than accepting Angeal's request.

So he had to die, he couldn't do it himself because he wasn't in control when he absorbed all his copies, and Angeal couldn't have picked anyone else but Zack to kill him. No one Angeal knew or trusted was powerful enough to fight Angeal Penance except Sephiroth, Genesis, and Zack, and

Sephiroth would have refused just like he refused any mission involving Angeal. Not to mention Sephiroth wouldn't care about Hollander getting his hands on Angeal's genes.

Genesis didn't care about collateral damage at all at that point. And he would certainly support Hollander to do what he wanted in the hopes of getting a cure.

Which leaves Zack. Zack who took every mission Sephiroth refused. Zack who was strong enough to defeat Angeal Penance. Zack who understood the importance of destroying Angeal copies. Zack who apprehended Hollander and who certainly wouldn't allow anyone to approach Angeal's body.

But most importantly, Zack who Angeal knew could emotionally handle it. He already saw Sephiroth losing weight just from Angeal and Genesis being away. He saw Genesis succumbing to degradation-caused insanity.

And he also saw Aerith before he left for Modeoheim, sent a copy to protect her, made sure Zack would have the love and support he needed, and wouldn't be alone.

And he was right. Zack was heartbroken, and sad, and burdened by what he had to do to Angeal, but he mourned, and he cried, and Aerith was there when he needed her, so then in the end he recovered and he grew up, and he rose to the challenge - choosing to become for younger generations what Angeal was for him, giving them what he had lost.

[endrimer]

Theres something so.. depressing about second’s existence. They weren’t made with a purpose. He wasn’t made on purpose in the first place. A few moments into his birth and the only people he knows dies. He didn’t choose to become a hollowhead. None of them did.

The only times Second has fully activated his powers are when he goes through extreme emotional turmoil- i.e when his friends die. First it was in AvA IV, where they were deleted by Alan. Second was in AvA V, where they were killed right in front of his eyes by Dark.

Not to mention Sec’s practically a child. Or at least has the maturity of a young stick. (yes I am bringing up short TSC no i will not see it as noncannon LET ME BELIEVE)

Second is also actively burdened by his powers. He can’t control them but they actively take energy out of him. Like a parasite. Imagine spending day to day actively exhausted. I’m sure he probably has bursts of adrenaline, but most of the time he’s still pretty sleepy.

It’s just.. Second is a child. The moment he was born, he was knew that he was unwanted- considering he was shown hiding from Alan. Alan tried to kill him. Alan killed his friends. I don’t know how he could forgive someone for something like that, but he did. Sure Alan like?? brought them back??? But he never fully apologized. Well, not on screen at least. They must’ve fully grown to like each other through those 5 months.. But would the emotional stress and trauma of seeing your friends die TWICE seriously go away that quickly? He’s most likely in denial. Or he locked those memories out OMORI style I’m not entirely sure.

Either way, my boy is TRAUMATIZED 💀

[dalekofchaos]

Okay, I watched the DE livestream and even with my justified complaints before, I am most definitely not playing this game.

it feels like they killed any chance of Chloe, Warren or anyone from Arcadia Bay of appearing.

There was a dialogue option of Din- I mean Safi asking about "the girl with the blue hair"

And a dialogue choice appears between "We were just friends" "We were high school sweethearts"

"WERE" Are you fucking kidding? They said they'd respect both endings, but How the fuck is it "were" when they said they will respect both endings.

Sacrificing an entire town, killing nearly all of your friends and your love's mother is not "high school sweetheart" WHO FUCKING WROTE THIS SHIT?

Now this could've just been someone who chose the "save the Bay ending" in the livestream, but Max would not leave Chloe if that were the case...

Looks to me like they wanna split Max and Chloe even in the timeline where Chloe is alive. There probably will be just short mention of her or at best short cameo but that's it.

Like if they are no longer together/friends what would be even the point of Bae ending.

The idea that she'd leave her behind after destroying an entire town to save her doesn't really validate the ending. It just seems like a cop-out for a story that originally went with the Bay ending as canon.

As for the Bay ending. I doubt Warren will get a mention. Maybe a "There was this boy I liked, but it didn't work out because I just couldn't get over the loss of my friend and my own trauma, I didn't want to burden him, so I left. He deserved better than me." or worse, they'll demonize him and paint him how the fandom perceives him. I doubt Kate will get a mention. Maybe Max and Kate do stay in touch but they don't show Kate anymore, because god fucking forbid we get people we actually wanna see.

A lot of what made the first game so likeable is completely lost here, the art style, the ability to rewind freely, Max and Chloe's relationship/friendship. This feels more like a fanfic with a bunch of mediocre OCs shoved in than an actual sequel.

The majority of people who wanted Max back are those who also wanted Chloe back. It's going to be very surprising if they attempt to make it seem like Max and Chloe just lost touch or were just casual crushes in school. That isn't how the original game is at all.

Between this and the devs saying Max wants to forget and leave her past behind I’m taking this as confirmation that Chloe, Warren or anyone else from AB isn’t appearing at all which is pretty upsetting.

Zero interest in the game if they go this route. They should have just made a new character instead of completely shitting on Max' original story while using her for name recognition only…

Just remember. Deck Nine was outed for protecting a bigoted groomer and did nothing as a fucking Nazi put white supremacist imagery in their games and they so happen to release a game with "Max" in it. A Max without Chloe, Warren or Kate. A Max who learned nothing and fucked over reality over someone she just met. They got caught with their pants down and they slapped Max's name and voice on a completely new character because they panicked.

Anyways, I choose to believe MY Post LIS 1 headcanons or my Save Rachel game pitch, because that's how DONTNOD wanted it to be, a story we could choose after the game was complete.

I don't know who DONTNOD thinks this is, because that's not Max Caulfield #notmymax

[xmarchwarden-of-lothlorienx]

Bad Moon Rising

Boromir x male!reader

Requested: Anonymous

Summary:

heyyy so idk if you still take requests for LOTR but if you do i have one! its been rlly difficult to find male readers and as a trans guy i cant stand to read the fem readers so i decided to specifically request one instead. I was wondering if you could do headcanons or a short story about the fellowship having the male reader who is secretly a werewolf in their company. I think maybe he transforms during a fight or smth and it freaks people out a bit. Platonic relationships are good except for maybe theres some slight crushing with Boromir. Thanks so much!

Author’s Note: Sorry to keep you waiting. I really enjoyed writing this, so I hope you see this! I have been in my Boromir and Faramir era, so I am loving finally writing for them

There were few skin-changers left. There were fewer still that continued to shift forms - lest others became aware of their ability. Decades upon decades of being hunted for the entertainment of orcs caused your people to live in fear.

You kept your identity as one of the wolf-changing folk under wraps, choosing to walk under the sun and posing as the race of man. Only a few non-skin-changer individuals had learned of your secret, yet none of them were within your present company.

A rather odd company, or fellowship as Elrond had termed it, it was. A wizard, an elf, a dwarf, four halflings, two men, and a skin-changer (or was it simply three men? After all, everyone believed you to be a man, but you weren't really. Were you? This would be added to the list of things to mull over while trying, and failing, to get a fitful nights sleep).

Despite your secret and the initial distance you tried to keep with the others at first, you found yourself easily brought into the fold. Trying to quietly hold in your laughter with Aragorn as Legolas and Gimli started bickering for what must have been the hundredth time. Helping Sam collect firewood and wild berries to make dinner. Eagerly listening to Gandalf's accounts of his previous adventures, and sharing quite a few of your own high spirited ones that he delighted in. Discovering your and Frodo's similar taste for literature, resulting in many discussions on the hobbit's favorite books - your way of lightening his mood while undertaking such a heavy burden.

Of course, your favorite moments were often with Merry and Pippin. Boromir undertook the task of training them for combat, something he roped you into. You feigned hesitance, but really you did not mind doing something to make the Captain of Gondor happy. It was only an added benefit that the hobbits seemed delighted for you to join them.

Admittedly, you had grown rather fond of Boromir. Something fleeting you would surely get over once the fellowship was over. The experienced and generational fear and trauma of being hunted made you hesitant to open up to anyone about being a skin-changer. Boromir, along with the other members of the fellowship, seemed kind, yet would they understand why you kept such a major part of yourself secret? You cherished the connections that were taking root, but as the weeks wore on confiding in them seemed to grow ever more impossible than if you told them from the beginning of the fellowship.

--

"humph," you let out a small grunt as you stumbled over Merry and Pippin. Once again, you were too busy warring with your thoughts to notice the group had been called to a halt. "Forgive me, my mind was elsewhere, I did not mean to run over you two," you apologized, hoping the hobbits wouldn't be upset thinking you had overlooked them.

"Oh, it's quite alright," Pippin answered and shot a look towards Merry.

"Yes, we'll get you back when you practice sparring with us," Merry teased.

"Ah, I see, you two aren't going to take it easy on a poor son of man like myself? Tsk tsk I shall be too ashamed to show my face in society ever again," you started to break into a laugh at the end of this sentence, which was only made worse when the pair adopted stiff postures and what they called 'elegant, knightly airs'. As your laughter drew to a close, a warmth brushed against your shoulder.

"I take it then we are ready to begin tonight's training, little ones?" Boromir smiled at the two, but not without taking a moment to shift his glance towards you.

"We were born ready!" Pippin asserted and darted off to lead the way to a clear area next to the night's campsite.

"Pip, wait for me," Merry called after him.

"I admire how cheerful they've managed to stay," You reflected aloud while Boromir chuckled at their antics.

"Agreed, perhaps they should be the ones teaching us instead," Boromir mused whilst the two of you walked over to join the hobbits.

You hummed in response, reaching the hobbits and drawing your swords. Merry entered one of the opening stances Boromir had shown him and engaged in a round of sparring with you.

"Very good, Merry, remember to keep your weight centered. You never want to let your opponent find you unbalanced," You instructed as the sparring continued. You had to admit, he (and Pippin) improved very quickly under your and Boromir's tutelage. They had learned to use their small size and speed to their advantage - something causing you to focus more on Merry's swift parries and thrusts. One misstep, and you found the hobbit sweeping your feet out from underneath you.

"It seems I should have heeded my own advice," you laughed. Merry offered his hand to help pull you up, more of a gesture than a reality, yet you still took it as you regained your feet. "Very well done," you ruffled his hair, a satisfied grin growing on his face.

"Are we ready to go again?" he asked eagerly. Glancing towards Boromir, who was still sparring with Pippin, you returned your gaze to Merry and nodded. The second round had only just begun when the voice of Legolas shouting something in elvish made everyone in the encampment pause.

"Orcs!" Aragorn shouted in the common tongue. Quickly, you and Boromir closed ranks to better protect Merry and Pippin. In a fraction of a second, the previously peaceful hillside was suddenly swarming with orcs. No matter how many you cut down, more continued to flood around you. It wasn't until you were faced with a particularly large and foul smelling orc that you realized you were cut off from Boromir and the two hobbits.

At first, you were fine holding your own against the orc - until others started to draw nearer. The orc was not so skillful with a sword, but was able to utilize his brute strength to disarm you. The force from his disarming blow sent a shock of pain through your arm and to your shoulder. A quick look at your surroundings, and you were surrounded. Several yards away, you could see the orcs were closing in on Boromir, Merry, and Pippin as well.

You could hear your heartbeat pounding in your head as the world seemed to slow down. Your eyes fluttered closed and a chill ran up your spine. You would do what you must.

Skin-changing wasn't painful, but it wasn't comfortable either. It felt like a rather intense itch as your bones reformed a fur sprouted from your skin. Time and events felt different as a wolf - as though they were slightly fuzzy and happening very fast. It was almost an out-of-body experience: you could hear yourself growling and snapping at the orcs that left a foul taste in your mouth. You could see yourself, pouncing on them and clearing a way to your companions. You could feel the intense itching return as the last of the orcs were slain, your bones shifting and the fur retreating.

You quickly grabbed your cloak from where it had fallen to the ground and wrapped it around yourself. Shooting a look around to ensure no one was watching you at that moment, you picked up your pack and slipped into a change of clothing before rejoining the group.

Upon your re-entrance, you could feel many pairs of eyes burning into you. You joined them in putting things back in order after the skirmish, but it seemed no one dared to speak. By the time you and the others were finished, the sun had set and dinner was ready but you had no appetite.

You took a seat a couple yards away from the rest of the group, facing away from them as they ate and engaged in sparse, whispered conversations.

"Care if I join you?" You looked up and gave a weary smile to the speaker, Boromir. He was holding two bowls of the stew Sam must have managed to pull together.

"Sure," you sighed. "You may be the only one here that cares to keep my company now." He lowered himself to the ground beside you and offered you one of the bowls, which you hesitantly accepted.

"I'd rather you not say such things. Everyone is merely... surprised is all," Boromir reassured.

"Thank you, but I'm sure seeing one of their companions go through a skin-change may have been too horrifying, even for those such as Gandalf." A silence pervaded after you made this statement. The lack of a response brought tears to your eyes - it must have been true then...

"I cannot speak for the others," Boromir finally broke the silence. "I found your transformation, or skin-change, to be-" he paused, searching for the right word. "-beautiful."

"I - what? Really?" Of all things you had been expecting, it wasn't this.

"Yes. I have only ever heard of you, your kind, in stories from legend. I never thought I should see a skin-changer in my lifetime, but I have now, and I have never seen a more stunning sight." This brought a flush of heat to your face

"If I knew, I would have shared this part of me with you, all of you, sooner. I hope you may understand, but I was afraid." Boromir shifted his own bowl of stew to one hand, freeing his arm to wrap it around you. Feeling his warmth and the soft strength he seemed to always carry brought a wave of comfort.

"Well, you shall have nothing to fear, so long as I stand by your side."

[these-emo-thoughts]

Last Twilight Episode 11 thoughts

A lot of people are hating on Day right now but I get him. I do. And if you haven't watched episode 11 yet, maybe skip this post as it revolves around a major part of the plot. If you've watched the ep, you probably know what I'm talking about. More detail is under the cut.

Warning, this is a long one, lol. Apologies for any mistakes, I'm a bit sick and didn't read over it 🤣

If you've seen it already, I'm going to explain why I think Mhok and Day's break-up had to happen and why it is the best thing for them right now.

Mhok's fear of losing another person because he isn't there to help or pick up the phone is absolutely valid (and so real and relatable that I feel personally attacked). He doesn't stay with Day out of pity, which has been established multiple times throughout the series - but the trauma of what he went through with Rung and the fear of possibly repeating that again with Day has made his anxiety cloud his judgement and his heart. It's not a healthy way to live - constantly worrying about your partner, to the extent where you cannot live for yourself, is not sustainable for a relationship (I also find this quite ironic because up until this point Mhok has been on his own for a long time now). We saw the manifestation of this fear in episode 11 multiple times too, with Mhok leaving in the middle of the shift to check that the guest that was hit by a car wasn't Day, and then when he was freaking out when Day wasn't answering his phone. Imagine going through all of that, but this time, your partner is 15 hours away by plane.

Day choosing to break up with him is, in my opinion, more complex than just "he lied to me and pitied me". That's part of it (and will come back at the end of this post), yes, and he does have the right to be upset that Mhok lied to him. Again, it's not healthy for the both of them if they are going to continue a relationship. I also want to point out that Day is at a disadvantage here because while he is capable of living his life independently as a blind man, he can't actually see the emotions on people's faces when he talks to them and that's can be important for picking up what others are putting down. Day can't see the changes in Mhok's expression when his smile fades, he has to rely on the other to talk to him when something is up, so lying is a BIG no-no here (as it would be for any relationship). So far, they've done a great job at communicating, so this is presented as new issue - but, it's a big one. So yes, the lying is part of it, but it's not ALL of it.

"But what IS all of it!?" I hear you scream into the Tumblr void. Well, by now, OF COURSE Day knows that Mhok truly loves him and KNOWS that the other doesn't pity him - he's said so many times. So, Day must realise at this point - of which the timeline is probably at a year of them knowing each other, give or take - that Mhok is deliberately holding himself back from good opportunities because of that love. It must hurt like hell, knowing that you're the reason your partner is self-sabotaging, but there's nothing you can do to change their mind because everything is out of your control. It's so much easier for Day to say "Mhok pities me and lied to me and that's why I want to break up" instead of "I'm the reason Mhok won't go".

It's heartbreaking, but what's the solution here? Long distance? Sure, maybe - but that's not going to stop Mhok from worrying about Day and being distracted from his job. It's not going to stop Day from feeling like he's a burden to Mhok. Not only that, with timezones and such a huge distance, there are even more complications to worry about. Plus, let's say something DID happen to Day while Mhok was in Hawaii - it goes back to exactly the problem that Mhok had which is what can he do about it? Long distance is a solution, but how long will they last living like that?

"Okay emo, so why doesn't Day just go to Hawaii with Mhok? Then they can be together and Mhok can fulfil his promise to take him there and they don't have to break up and they'll live happily ever after." I see you!! But... that's a BIG decision. Mhok and Day's trip to Songkhla may have been a test to see how they weather the storm of living together as boyfriends, but it was only for a few days. And Day - for most of it - was alone in the room while Mhok was working. That's not a way for Day to live, and it still won't stop Mhok from being worried, probably even MORESO now because they're in a whole other country.

So... what's left?

Day's decision to break up with Mhok is heartbreaking, but is probably the only solution that makes sense to me. Mhok CANNOT live a life like this. He can't. It's already debilitating him and it'll get even worse if he's constantly prioritising Day over himself in every aspect of life. Of course a person should think about their partner, but not to the point where it becomes unhealthy self-sabotage. Day also cannot live happily like this. He's come to terms living with a disability and already is aware of how different his daily life is to that of a sighted person - but the little voice in the back of his mind, the one reminding him that he's the reason Mhok is not living his life to the fullest, is making the entire process more difficult for him (and the lying really doesn't help).

So... yeah. A necessary evil that unfortunately to many will be written off simply as the "episode 11 curse". An evil that has people already saying that Day is stupid and immature, when I really believe this is the most rational he's been. I know even the actors have said it's about the lying but this is P'Aof we're talking about here - he's a brilliant story-teller, and there's always more to his art than what we see on the surface. It's happened in other shows he's directed, which is why they rate so highly. Last Twilight is no exception, and the complexity of the love story between Mhok and Day is nothing short of a masterpiece. That's how I see it, anyway.

Would love to hear other thoughts and perspectives!

[clonehub]

The bad batch has some of the shallowest writing I've seen in ages. The wrong character interactions get the attention, while the audience is left with a "tell, don't show" style of narrative storytelling that just leaves people unsatisfied left right and center. Hunter is upset because he feels guilty (a generous read imo) for letting omega get captured while Crosshair was the one to escape with her. Hunter is not mad at Crosshair for his decision to choose the Empire, which led to Tech's death. Hunter is not mad that Crosshair joined the regime that literally mind controlled him into attempting to set them on fire.

Omega afaik never had a solid, positive interaction with Crosshair the way she did with the rest of the bad batch all during seasons one and two. Crosshair tried multiple times to kill her, under influence of the chip. He objectively knew this and still chose the Empire. Omega also objectively knew this and forgives him anyways? And still has faith in him? She was hurt over his decision to stay, but never harbored any fear or resentment. Just pure and total love. And now she's guiding him through dealing with his trauma by meditating on sunset-lit beaches.

Wrecker is still a non-character who doesn't lead and hardly participates in any meaningful way in conversations. I don't recall him having any extensive conversations with any of the other batchers. I remember Tech being snappy with him, and Crosshair saying he has a tiny mind back in season 1. He has cute moments with Omega, but doesn't get developed outside. He doesn't get developed at all, really, besides following the narrow track of the trope set out for him.

The entire emotional arc of the series is dedicated to everyone around Crosshair forgiving him for his choice to join the Empire, but...he's never once thus far actually seemed remorseful. Does he condemn the Empire's violence? Does he look sad or regretful that he got so many of Howzer's men killed on Ryloth? Does he say "I hate what the Empire did to clones, I hate that they used chips on us, I hate that they made me oppress people throughout the galaxy, I hate that the Empire is a violent oppressive regime hurting innocents"? No. He says "The Empire wasn't loyal to me." He doesn't justify what he did, but he definitely doesn't regret it.

(Which is funny because soon afterwards, Rex is able to sow the seeds of doubt into Wolffe's mind that the Empire is bad because they're making him hunt a child.)

And the writers do the laziest thing in the world by having this potentially massive conflict between two characters and using rescue/saving their life as a stand in for a real conversation. Crosshair saves Hunter from the ice worm, they nod, and now they're chill/more chill. They present this as if anything else was a viable option, as if Crosshair would have reasonably or realistically left Hunter to get eaten by the giant ice worm. Then they frame Hunter and Crosshair's mistakes (for the former, I have no idea what) as on par with one another. After their non-argument, Crosshair saves Howzer's life (?), they nod, and that's it. Forgiven.

Halfway through the season and the writing still feels just as unbalanced as it did in season 1. Multiple people keep talking about how they feel like coworkers and roommates with guns rather than brothers. The writers do a better job saying the word loyalty than actually showing it. The majority of the emotional burden is being put on Omega, the only prominent female character in the series and a child. Why is she the emotional support group for a group of grown men? It's just classic misogyny. I'm amazed that type of trope even reared its head again, it's been so long since I've seen it.

Even the writers don't seem to know how to express the batchers' supposed love for one another. No, saving each other's lives is not proof of a deep love or even respect for one another. That's bare minimum. That's SoP. Them leaving each other to die would be the extreme thing, not the other way around. They hardly mention Tech. They had a forced-feeling "hang our heads in silence at the mention of tech's name", and every time after that he's been mentioned as far as his usefulness to the squad. Maybe the second half of the season will have people actually confront Crosshair about Tech. The "Don't have the heavy emotional conversations" thing has been a problem since The Clone Wars, unfortunately. Pretend Teth didn't happen. Pretend Umbara and the Kadavo arc didn't happen. Don't show Rex's reaction to Ahsoka leaving at ALL. Don't show Omega informing Crosshair of Tech's death, which is WILD to me.

Some people claim that the Bad Batch have had six or so months to grieve and mourn, and they're seasoned soldiers who've experienced loss and death before, so they're used to this. The former I can see, but the latter? Who would they have been losing? They're not connected to other clones, rarely worked with them, and never liked them. What losses have they fielded beforehand? They don't even act like 99 or share his values.

I know I'm not alone in this, and at this rate I'm probably beating a dead horse, but it bears repeating: Crosshair hasn't condemned Empire violence, he's only condemned how they treat him in particular. This is a dangerous way to present fascism and why people choose fascist organization/regimes. There's absolutely a personal element to it. Arrogance. Ego. Material or emotional insecurity. But there's an external part as well: desire for control, hierarchy, order, violence. Fascists understand that the ideology is violent. That's why they join the regime. They want and support the subjugation of those they believe deserve it. In real life, this is people of color, women, disabled people, immigrants, the "degenerates" of society, and others. In Star Wars, that's the aliens and the enslaved, the "traitors" and the Rebels. Fascists being "lead astray" or "misguided" by thoughts of loyalty or personal power come secondary to oppressing others.

Maybe they'll address that in the second half of the season. It's a generous read, but I don't want to make any calls til I've seen everything. Unfortunately, every interaction Crosshair has with people has been designed to service their forgiveness of him, all without him actually apologizing for anything. Yes, he must explicitly apologize. He joined a fascist regime after they made him do terrible, heinous things. The text tells us that Crosshair only left because the Empire wasn't loyal to him. Anything other than a clear apology would be bad and frankly dangerous writing.

[inconspicious-random-thoughts]

Lately I’ve been thinking about everyone’s favorite pyromaniac Cherri Bomb. The Addict video gave us a glimpse of her former partner/ex Izzi, who was implied to have been her Valentino. “Welcome To Heaven” showed us that Cherri has some extremely unhealthy coping mechanisms that she initially tried to rope Angel into to help deal with his trauma with Val (excessive drinking and drug use), and didn’t seem to comprehend how bad this was for him until he vocally affirmed his commitment to redemption. I have to wonder if this was just Cherri being Cherri, or if it was something that she learned from Izzi, who may have convinced her to indulge in excessive hedonism to get around having to actually address her issues in a healthy way (as some abusers tend to do to maintain control over their victims).

Hello, my friend.

I haven't placed much thought into Cherri backstory. I think the difference between Cherri situation with Izzi compared to Angels with Val, is Cherri still owns her soul-probably. But Angel and Cherri probably bonded by the shitty people in their lives and coping with drugs to numb the pain and forget how miserable they are.

Not knowing much about the characters it a little hard to guess why Cherri stay with Izzi if he bad news. Cherri seems too independent, carefree, and confident to hint she being taken advantage of.

But, she might be similar to Angel and that personality is a facade. A mask she puts on. But if there is a reason why Cherri stays/returns to Izzi, I am guessing she believe its love. Izzy probably came along not long after Cherri fell. Making most of her time in Hell with Izzy. She choose Izzi when he sounded like he can offer a Heaven in Hell to her. He said things that Cherri soul craved for, offer to ease her burdens. He felt like a soul mate. But the fantasy he gave slowly chipped away. So slowly that it went unnoticed until it was gone. He'll offer crumbs of that fantasy life that Cherri ate up. She believed there be more not realizing she be starved before she'll get fed. Not realizing she hungry for nourishment because Izzi fed her empty calories of drugs and other forms of escapism. Drugs taken too often to realize her feeling good while being with Izzi was drug induced then genuine, and too high to notice.

However, I think she did woke up for the dream turned nightmare and left. But Izzi influence still impactful to her.

We get to meet Cherri in the pilot. I was excited to meet her again in episode 6. But oh, she made me so mad! She was so pushy trying to enable Angel back into drugs.

In retrospect, Cherri probably didn't realize Angel started to get more committed with the hotel, especially with Husk involvement. Angel probably needed a friend who he felt safe with and confined in. Which Cherri is...but her company typically involved drugs and partying. Husk offered the same friend service as Cherri but minus the drugs and more of a perceptive voice of reason. Husk service is more in align of Angel commitment to the hotel.

But back to Cherri. Pilot we learn Angel been "mostly clean" for two weeks when Cherri asked where hes been. Angel ranting on how lame everything is now for basically to have a free place to crash. Not at all imply he taking it seriously, because at this point...he wasn't.

So fast forward to Episode 6. I can see Cherri probably figured Angel was clean because of the hotels policy that he has blown off before....not realizing Angel was actually trying to be be clean because he wanted to.

So when she overheard him talk with Val...and shit..Angel must be serious to go up against Val like that. She backed off and respected his choice and offer herself whenever Angel needed her as a friend while trying to remove herself from tempting Angle to her parting ways.

Then she shows up again in episode 8 to risk her soul to back Angel up against exorcist. Like Holy shit thats huge. She has nothing to gain beside keeping her friends safe and a lot to lose. That says a lot about her character.

Returning back to her enabling Angel that night. You are probably right with being Cherri coping mechanism. She knows what makes her feel better, even if temporary, and she trying to share it with Angel after his long hard day. Which she knows, is his coping ways too. She was genuinely trying to help Angel. They cant do shit to solve the problem. The problem being Val and his contract. So what do you do when you can't solve a problem or make it better? You try to forget it until you have to face it again. So Cherri try helping by giving him an escape and a night free of consequences and letting loose. A technique that seems very on par on something Cherri would do if she can't solve something by blowing it up.

Crazy idea just came. I don't think this would be canon but it be interesting. What if they were a young married couple while alive. They both Australian look somewhat similar to each other. Perhaps they had a bombing accident that killed them both. Which is why their Hell bodies are similar? Cherri sticking with Izzy because wouldn't you want some sense of familiarity if you suddenly and tragically died and wind up in Hell. Even if their marriage was hitting rocks, and couldn't trust him completely....its better to have one person she can somewhat trust when she first fell. Trust how he think and react etc. It was a sense of some normalcy despite being in Hell. Izzy constantly reminding her that she's his wife. She probably left after they had a argument. Bitterly saying "Til death do us part" as she reflected on the fight...to suddenly realized...they are technically not married anymore since they died. So she left.

What be funny if they both fell and immediately starting to fight like an old married couple.

"What the shit is this?" *looks around the hellish hell...Both spotting each other...who sounded familiar and somewhat look familiar despite their new forms. They called each other human names questionly.

"What the fuck happened. Where are we..?" Million of questions fly to their heads. They both nearly hyperventilation as they try to figure out this nightmare. They try to recall the last thing they remember....they accidently blown themselves out.

"I told you not to buy those cheap ass bombs! The quality is shit!"

"I told you those fuses look short!"

They continue to bicker until another sinner/demon looms over them looking threatening. The two reconcile for now to go somewhere safe and rely on each other.

[precious-little-scoundrel]

What do you have in store for Ida and Rosie’s story? Because they are the only pairing who aren’t at the POW camp.

Aha!! This is gonna be a long answer, hence why I let your ask molder away as I worked on a reply, thanks for your patience.

I can’t wait to weave this whole thing, and it’s honestly the only postwar story I’m at all sure about in this universe so far. Let’s just say it’s a hella slow burn. Even after getting married. Because they do marry. Rather soon. But they are a bit of a buddy cop duo. Romantic love -at least for Ida- comes later.

I think it’s safe to assume that dear Ida was present when Rosie first introduced himself to the Bucks, told his underwear story and generally made a magnificent entry. Now, one must consider two things with this:

1. Rosie’s regret over what the hell he was thinking telling that story would be compounded by telling it in front of a female officer

2. Ida might have always been a stiff spined stickler before her trauma and the Stalag, but she did have a sense of humor. I like to think she found him funny, plus, with the Bucks beginning to fray a little in their own morale, flagging in offering encouragement to the newbies, I think Ida would be the sort to fill that role, best she can. Surprisingly, Rosenthal, Nash, Pappy, they’re not the sorta men to resent a woman giving them a pep m-up chat.

Now, keep in mind it’s three missions later and she’s been downed so there was not really a connection made there. Although I love to think that some night in the Stalag when everyone is bored and playing ask games with each other, one of the questions is:

“Who was the last person ya danced with?”

And Bucky gets to tell about Paulina and Gale gets chafed about choosing Meatball over Maureen and Brady bemoans having been so stuck on the bandstand playing sax instead of taking his chances and then when it’s Ida’s turn she’s just: “it was one of the new ones, the ‘egg frying on the instrument panel,’ guy.”

This is met with a chorus of “Rosenthal???”

“Told me to call him Rosie.” Ida shrugs. “He had some fun moves.”

Anyways. That’s a far off thing by April of ‘45.

SPOILERS ABOUT ESCAPE:

….

when Ida get away with Gale and makes it back first of anyone to England? Best believe she is beyond distracted with worry for her girls. Who’s there to meet her and welcome her and Cleven to Thorpe? Crosby of course -and Rosie. Malnourished, ptsd riddled and burdened with responsibility for her girls, Ida isn’t exactly the sparkly female Colonel that Rosenthal remembers meeting and dancing with.

In fact, that first initial interaction goes a bit sourly. She needs a nap, he awkwardly needs a deposition on her treatment. It’s a little rough, ok?

But the longer she is back at Thorpe, reunited with her few girls still there who were never downed, she learns how well their new Lt. Colonel -Rosenthal- has looked after them, fought to resend the grounding orders after Ida went down, generally been a good bean.

Also, due to being her superior now and having been given the legal burden of collecting information and evidence on the girls treatment by the Germans, Rosenthal and Ida start spending time, a lotta time, together.

There’s Jeep chauffeuring, Coffee Breaks and Mercy Runs where he goads her into buzzing the tower for the first time in her life -“of course I haven’t done it before, Rosenthal. One of you cats do it and it’s cute, I do it and I’m fired. No, I don’t mean discharged, I mean plainly fired.”

And then there’s the depositions, eventually full of her having to dictate shit that she’s never vocalized since it happened to her. Somehow, Rosie makes the whole thing easier than she ever expected. Not to say it’s easy. Although if you asked his female secretary, she’d say the one more visibly affected by it was the male lawyer, not the half catatonic victim spewing a rote litany of horror.

One time, his grip on his pencil gets so tight that it snaps. Ida replaces it. His quiet rage for her is about the best closure she’s felt so far. And that thread of such shared knowledge between them and them alone, even if it was in professional context? -That’s Intimacy. Far more than kisses or rings.

A righteous vengeance duo? Yes please, they’re a force to be reckoned with as the war winds down.

Before long Ida is asking Croz, “Was Rosenthal always that pretty?”

Harry is cackling over it, “Yeah.” He goads her, “But he is more confident now.”

“Confidence.” Ida repeats, trying to convince herself, “Yeah, that would be it.”

The thing of it is, Ida was unsure or marriage before her brutal treatment in captivity. Now? And after her military experience? She’s very sure she could never be a wife. Not even of a smart and secure man like Robert Rosenthal. Men just expect certain things and dynamics from their wives and Ida has never been sure she had that in her. Now she’s positive. And she’s too proud to marry only to then “turn a blind eye” as he finds what she lacks in women elsewhere.

Rosie? His argument is that what they’ve already built these last months, it’s what he wants. Marrying her is to keep that. If that’s all they ever have that’s enough, he couldn’t stand to lose it.

A chaste honeymoon on the way to Nuremberg to go fuck up a bunch of Nazis for the second time in their young lives? You betcha.

[gingeremu]

Seto Kaiba is one of the best foils in early entertainment that is also such a well developed and independent character outside of his relationships with the main cast. He’s prideful and arrogant and cares SO MUCH about winning to uphold his own image. But that’s the thing, normally characters similar falter and fail because they only peacock. Kaiba has the skills and knowledge that earn that pride and confidence. He’s got the right to be an asshole, and he knows it. Kaiba may be bitter and ruthless, but he goes after what he wants and does everything for his younger brother.

Yami (especially in the beginning) is seen as the confident side of yugi, but you see flashes of extreme pride and competitive spirit. It gets multiple people hurt in the processes and he’s willing to let someone die in order to obtain victory. We see him slowly grow as a character after that. He remains prideful and competitive, but ultimately wins because he learned humility and faith. Him and Kaiba are forever entwined because of how similar in character they are. The difference is that Yami finds and frees himself via the game and victory while kaiba slips further into obsession and pride. Even Mokuba, who has such blind faith for his brother, notices and calls him out multiple times.

But then you have yugi. The one with so much knowledge and skill but zero confidence or pride. He originally relies on yami to be that aspect of himself until much later when he gains it himself. It’s literally his character arc that finalizes in the very last episode. It’s a source of contention between him and Kaiba, who thinks of yugi as weak and pathetic for not taking the spotlight when he obviously could. So many people see the potential yugi has it he’s too timid and insecure to fully step up. Eventually he does, but it’s after being tested over and over again.

Not to mention how all of them have terrible pasts that showcase how different people respond to trauma. Kaiba with his blatant abuse and neglect, worked hard to be everything his abuser said he wouldn’t be (but secretly trained him to be, it’s wild) and used that anger as a tool to further him in life. Yami was a king crowned far too early and left to bear the burden of his fathers sins, only to get motherfucking amnesia and have to slowly rebuild himself. He originally uses that anger as a tool but learns compassion and empathy made him so much happier. And yugi, neglected and bullied to the point of hospitalization, choosing to be a source of love and kindness. He never wanted another person to go through what he did and fights hard to save everyone, even the villains.

I could also go into the narrative of him and Joey/Jou but I have waaaayyy too many emotions and thought about how eerily similar their upbringing was but how they turned out so different due to their circumstances and peers.

[feverdreamsanddelusions]

23

inspo by @the-three-whumpeteers

[tw lady whumpee, betrayal (somewhat), past trauma, implied past captivity]

"I... I'm not sure what to do," Caretaker admitted quietly. "I've never seen her like that... It's... It's jarring. And I don't want to make this about myself and my feelings or whatever, but... I don't know."

"I get that." Medic sighed, placing their notes on the desk and looking up at them. "It's hard for everyone involved. Just... Try to be gentle. I know we were all waiting for her return, hoping everything would go back to normal..."

"It's not gonna go back to normal, is it?"

Medic bit their lip, looking for the right words. In the end, they decided not to sugarcoat it. "No, most likely not."

Caretaker nodded. There was an unspoken tension in the air; a burden they both knew Caretaker carried in this situation. They had always been the right-hand man, the second in command. Now that Whumpee was a mere shell of her former self, was it appropriate for them to step up? Or more like, continue stepping up? They had led the team during the rescue operation and all of that, but... now Whumpee was back, and she was supposed to be the official leader.

"Do you think... we should choose a new leader?" Caretaker's voice was barely above a whisper. Medic didn't even look at them, instead going back to flipping through their medical records.

"I mean, it's hard to say just yet... Who knows? Maybe Whumpee will, uh... snap out of it, in a way. Maybe she'll open up, let me help her, all that stuff... I don't know whether we should make any official decisions yet."

"Right."

The silence that followed was deafening. Caretaker had no idea what Medic was thinking, but if they'd had to guess, they were probably both ashamed of their own lack of decisiveness. Whumpee would've made her choice right away and stood by it, and here they were, skirting around the topic and deluding themselves endlessly.

This was no way to behave. This wasn't what Whumpee had taught them.

"No, it's not right. None of this is." Caretaker stood up from their chair with newfound resolve. "The team needs a leader. I'm going to call a meeting, and we're finally going to discuss this."

Medic almost looked startled by the idea. "Are you sure? Whumpee has barely been back for a week, maybe... maybe we should–"

"Whumpee has been gone for weeks. She'll likely not be functional for several more. Even if we don't choose another permanent leader, we have to stop acting like we can rely on Whumpee for anything right now just because she's back."

The words burned their mouth as they spoke, and Caretaker almost wanted to cry. It felt horrible to talk like this, and they were sure there would be a lot of sobbing during the meeting as well. But someone had to rip the bandaid off.

"Well, if you think it's a good idea..." Medic conceded.

"I'll tell the others." Caretaker turned around to leave the room, instantly bumping into Whumpee as they opened the door. She was standing there with a blanket draped around her shoulders, clutching it tightly with both hands, vacant eyes fixed on a point somewhere behind Caretaker. "Holy shit–"

"What?" Medic leaned forward in their chair to see what was going on, but any further comments caught in their throat at the sight.

Nobody said a word. Caretaker shrank back, suddenly embarrassed and almost afraid of what Whumpee would do, even though she clearly wasn't in a state to do much. How long had she been standing there? Had she heard everything? What was she thinking? It was impossible to tell.

Whumpee slowly padded into the room, ignoring the tense atmosphere as she sat on the examination table. Medic was the first to react, standing up from their chair and quickly walking over. "Is something the matter? Pain? New pain, old pain?"

Caretaker took the chance to slip out the door. As cowardly as it was, they didn't want to be there during a potential confrontation. Nor did they want to make Whumpee uncomfortable, if they were being honest. Maybe she would want to ask Medic about the things she'd heard one on one! Yes, that was exactly why they'd left.

They tried not to think about just how unfit they were for this leadership role. They tried not to think about how each and every one of them were unfit. Surely, once someone was chosen, they'd be able to step up to the plate.

[maochira]

Ways of being a father (Blue Lock)

Lyrics chosen and translated from Alligatoah's song Nicht adoptiert ("Not adopted")

Note: I didn't write something for every set of lyrics, but still wanted to keep some in to assign characters. Also thanks to @remy-roll for helping me a little 🫶 mwah mwah

gn!child!reader (reader is implied to be different ages in different parts)

If you're listening to this, you're alive, congratulations / I always knew you'd become more than a broken condom

Let's be honest, you weren't planned. Being a father initially wasn't part of his life plan, but then you happened. But he wouldn't replace you for anything in this world.

-Shidou, Barou, Karasu, Oliver, Noa, Ego, Raichi

Cause I don't believe in marriage you were born a bastard

-Oliver, Otoya, Karasu, Nagi

Sure, we love you, but there's a reason for that, kid / Nature arranges it like this so we won't kill you

Sometimes being a father can be frustrating and exhausting. But no matter how annoying you might get, his fatherly instinct always wins. In no way would he ever intentionally do harm to you.

-Barou, Ego, Kaiser, Raichi

It looks like you're family / Looks like it's just us now / We've got to get through it now, blood's thicker than beer / Sorry, you ain't adopted

-Lorenzo, Lavinho, Chris, Oliver, Karasu

I have no idea how to take care of children / But don't worry, I'll find a tutorial

He went into fatherhood completely without knowing what to expect. It all came a bit out of sudden for him, and he was too anxious to prepare himself properly. But when he held you in his arms for the first time, he knew he'd figure it out just fine.

-Nagi, Isagi, Bachira, Zantetsu, Kurona

The good thing is, I don't even have to share any knowledge with you / You can just read the wiki entry

-Nagi, Oliver, Zantetsu, Lavinho

I won't always be there for you, I have to party hard too / Did I say "party"? I mean "work"

Being a father doesn't mean that's the only part of his life now. He'll try to be there for you whenever possible, but there will be moments when he gets lost in other things.

-Otoya, Oliver, Karasu, Lavinho, Shidou

Joking aside, the ego-pig in me is happy that you are coming / Cause then I can play with Lego blocks

A part of him is still a child as well. And hey, being a father means he gets to play with toys again - that's something he can look forward to.

-Bachira, Shidou, Lavinho, Nagi, Isagi

Cause even though I'm putting effort and thinking about how / I can take the pressure off and still get you into bookstores / Something I do will lead to trauma, c'est la vie / I'll be the star of your psychotherapy, have fun

As careful as he is with you, he knows at some point he'll do something wrong. He's perfectly aware of how he won't always be the perfect father, but he's still trying his best.

-Barou, Ego, Noa, Isagi, Kunigami, Reo, Yukimiya

You're programmed for me, I'm programmed for you / Now we're sittin' here, I say now we're sittin' here / Sorry, you ain't adopted

He didn't choose to have you as his child, and you didn't choose him to have as your father. But still, you're perfectly made to be this role for each other.

-all of them.

You may not become president or student representative / Reality will throw your dreams in the chick shredder / I know what I'm talkin' about, life ain't no show

You won't achieve the greatest things in the world, and that's okay. You don't have to do that to make your father proud. He knows exactly what it's like to fail, and that's why he will always encourage you to reach your dreams, no matter how big or small they may be.

-Reo, Ego, Barou, Raichi, Kaiser, Tokimitsu, Yukimiya

You'll see my burdens, I've given them to you / If you think your genes are bad, they're Papa's genes / But you're my update, you can fix the bugs

You may not be a carbon copy of your father, but the similarities are undeniable - both the good and the bad.

-Ego, Barou, Shidou, Kaiser

In the beginning it's ambition like in a chess duel / You will emulate me until you outshine me / The balance of power is on my side - currently / But your chance is good, because Papa's withering parallel like a leaf

Being his child also means being his rival - in a fun way. If there's something to compete in, there will be playful competition. Board games, soccer in the backyard and running random races when you're just walking somewhere together - things like that.

-Shidou, Bachira, Karasu, Lavinho

This has to come out now 'cause later I won't be the same / When you're around I'm sure I'll write some corny shit / No more tasteless jokes, no more Hitler comparisons

He was more of an immature person before, but he knows after your birth he has to become more serious as a father - at least that's what society expects from him.

-Bachira, Oliver, Karasu, Shidou, Lavinho

I stand in front of the mirror and see a caricature / But I train every day for my father figure / I practice "La-Le-Lu" on the keyboard / And I subject myself to a motherfucking radio censorship / And I learn all the movie clichés, after birth / You'll get a wristwatch with your name engraved on it

At first, knowing he'll be a father soon felt so unreal to him. But the closer the day gets, the more the realization sets in. But that realization makes him nervous, so he's putting extra effort into learning how to be the best father he can be. And even though he doesn't want to be "like the other dads", he finds himself following every cliché possible.

-Zantetsu, Tokimitsu, Isagi, Snuffy, Yukimiya

Even though being strict clashes with my liberal nature / I'll pretend I'm interested in your Spanish exam

He doesn't care how much of a good or bad student you are, but he knows you'll have to pass school somehow. As much as he doesn't care about your grades, he pretends as if he does to keep you encouraged. But of course you'll get praise for your hard work when you get good grades.

-Isagi, Chigiri, Bachira, Ness, Yukimiya

I'll be mad at you for every adolescent booze story / But don't be afraid of me just because I fuck your mother

-Oliver, Karasu, Lavinho, Shidou, Raichi

I'm just an old cynic who writes frustration poems / But I swear I'll give it all to you till the end of my chapter

He'd do anything and everything for you. He will always make sure you feel safe and loved, no matter what age you're at. Even when you become an adult, he will always be your father and protect you as good as he can.

-all of them.