#but i think the methodology to us finally leaving will be different

[1tsjusty0u]

hm. hey wait. if the narrative of undertale was disproving/Proving floweys notion of its kill or be killed (pacifist disproving it while genocide. well. gestures. basically leaving it up to the player to ultimately decide on the better call), do you think its going to be the same for deltarune. (susies your choices dont matter reflecting that, and you either get to play the game “normally” or do the snowgrave route. the thing here being interpreting the ‘your choices dont matter’ thing as less of something for the player but for the characters in it. stripping noelle and ralsei a bit of their control in snowgrave, and also the possibility of susie projecting when she first says the line. also being a better outlook for kris with the whole soul situation; hhhhhopefully giving them the perspective that their choices do matter? though. its. a bit oxymoronic when we. are controlling them.)

[icyday]

Thinking a lot about the way the tankobon ends the stalemate in the Four Kingdoms arc and how it’s the perfect mash-up of Akiyama, Nao, and Yokoya, such that all three needed to be there for it to happen.

On the surface, it’s Yokoya’s actions. He gets the key to the observation room from one of the White Mask dealers, and then has his minions, Ootsuka and Wada, sabotage the game data, which renders the game unable to continue. It’s entirely his methodology, and unlike the magazine version which feels like Yokoya trying to save face by turning everyone's ire towards the LGT office, this absolutely reads like the kind of outcome he’d own as a victory.

But…when you look at what he actually accomplished on a material level, far from meeting his original goal of ruining Akiyama and Nao, he ends up with an end result that exactly matches up with their priorities. (Landing a direct blow on the LGT office and saving all the players from their debts)

That’s not an accident. That’s both Akiyama and Nao playing Yokoya so well I’m not sure he even realized he was played at the end.

Like, let’s start with Akiyama’s surface level plan to force the other two teams into stalemate.

One of the downstream effects of the story of the wealthy scion and the spy is that the agreements Wu and Shu set up within their teams actually make Yokoya’s default action—bribe one of the players to make his team lose—extremely expensive. I did the math and Yokoya can just barely afford to cover the penalty for a saboteur, once his own loser penalty is factored in.

That is he can either have his money or ruin Nao and Akiyama. He can’t do both.

Then, we have Nao’s covert influence over Yokoya.

Through the course of this final round, Nao’s able to connect Yokoya’s obsession with domination and control over others to the concept that his father is using those principles to dominate and control Yokoya. When it’s time for her to tell the story of the scion, she’s able to add another level to the story. Yes, the scion is foolish, but in attempting to assert his independence, he’s superior to Yokoya, who hasn’t even tried to break away.

To say the least, she gets into his head.

At the point in the story where it looks like Yokoya’s right on the brink of getting his ideal result, Nao’s still in his head calling him out for failing to escape his father’s rule. That is, even if he gets what he’s been aiming for, he won’t have actually accomplished what he really wanted to accomplish (equal or exceed his father).

Which, I think leaves Yokoya open (at least sub-consciously) to ending the game in a different way. Even if it ends up being exactly what Akiyama and Nao want.

Finally, we have that last conversation between Yokoya and Akiyama.

There’s really a lot to say about the final couple of arcs, and the concept of trust, the way that Liar Game contrasts the concept of ‘humans’ and ‘demons’, and how Nao’s acts of doubt and trust shaped the whole game. But the end conversation about Akiyama and Yokoya isn’t just about that. It’s also Akiyama setting a final challenge to Yokoya.

See, I think Yokoya can tolerate losing to Akiyama. That’s a match roughly between equals, and if Akiyama had outplanned him, he’d hate it, but it’d also be fair. He can’t stand losing to Nao, who by his values, seems to be the most worthless kind of person. (Ignore that he started a bidding war with Akiyama to get her for his team) So for Akiyama to straight up call the stalemate ‘Kanzaki’s victory’ and then imply that the battle isn’t actually over yet is very much provoking Yokoya to find a way to end the stalemate.

And the result in the tankobon is that Yokoya does find a way to end the stalemate and claim a kind of victory…by using his methods to give Akiyama and Nao their ideal outcomes.

[revvnant]

not saying anything new but what gets me about twin peaks (and, to an extent, scream, and dare i fucking say it life is strange) is the focus on the grief. yes it's a murder mystery but it so firmly distinguishes itself from its kin by giving equal if not more time to the reactions to the murder. yes it's about the methodology and hunting the killer but it opens with an hour and a half of the most profound grief. grace zabrinskie's near-catatonia, going in and out of the present and expecting laura to be home before remembering that she's not and fixating on the last thing she said to her; the principal unable to hold back tears while announcing to the school what's happened; the very first scene with andy unable to take laura's picture without breaking down — in the same way i'm like 'i don't think scott likes women', i'm not the first to say that lynch loves women. reveres but humanizes women. i know laura corpse funko pop is a meme but andy literally gagging and sobbing over it is so markedly different from other crime procedurals where bodies ( often the battered bodies of women ) are props and a means to an end. twin peaks never lets you forget that that's laura and that for all her flaws she was loved and she can't be replaced.

i think part of why i fell off fnaf is that it sort of ate its own tail. the common critique is that it's a parody of itself and i agree. of course it's not at all the same, it's a horror game with the explicit goal of 1) being fun/engaging to play and 2) scaring the player. but the early mini games always, like, softened it for me. you never see what, exactly, william does to those kids, but you see their ghosts and their graves and the good ending is their happiest day. and then there's the other bits: william is hiding a grave in the woods, evan died in front of a bunch of other children, charlie was beaten to death in the rain and her father found her body, elizabeth's death was covered up as a gas leak but she's definitely dead. what i wish we got in the games (and very much so in the expanded material), and what i'm trying to capture on this blog, is the fallout. every death is a complete change of status quo, but it varies in degrees the further out you get from the point of impact. to the parents, they are waking up every morning in a nightmare. to those that knew the victims, there is a perpetual hole that will never be filled. for unrelated townsfolk, you feel less safe, you stop letting your child walk alone to school. on a state level, these are statistics lending themselves to a general panic. in derry people die or disappear at six times the national average. i know i'll miss them forever. (nobody is doing it like stephen king i'm afraid.)

imagine being michael and coming home one day and your sister has died in a 'gas leak' and there's no body. you're so nervous about watching your little sister, so careful, so aware of your capacity to harm, and then the one time you leave her with your dad she vanishes. empty casket burial. how can you not have a body in a gas leak. but you're not just miserable — you're vindicated, and guilty over that vindication. you've had fratricide held over your head for years and now you're not the only one who's gotten a child killed when they were your responsibility. but you're also now stuck on a sinking lifeboat with the man who did it, and heckled you for years over your mistake, and used you as a shield against criticism because you were the fuckup, the villain, and he's all you have left. what the fuck do you do. what do you do. your town is a nightmare, you're the local pariah, you can't live alone and your caretaker is both your abuser and only advocate and he just got your sister killed. how the fuck do you cope.

theory — this is why people vibe with henry's final speech so hard. not only does he roast william both literally and figuratively, but he acknowledges his own spiral, and he puts the focus on the victims. i have more to say about how charlie is treated both in and out of universe, the short version being that in universe it's really really good, but yeah. like. fuck you, you are going to hell. and i hope every victim finds peace. and i hope this restaurant burns to the fucking ground.

[wuxiaphoenix]

On Writing: Finding the End

I’ll start this with a caveat: different writing advice works for different people. Most people know about the plotter vs. pantser split, but another useful division is methodological (you have a plan!) vs. intuitive (Plan? What plan?)

(My roommate and I have annoyed each other for years trying to trade writing advice. Turns out she’s an intuitive plotter while I’m a methodological pantser. Our ways of getting Story out of Brain and down into Words are completely different. Now we just toss “this is interesting reference material” at each other.)

If you saw methodological and thought neat and organized... hahaha no. For me a book in progress is an explosion in a reference library; accumulated books, papers, internet snippets, scribbled notes and of course the draft-in-progress. Some bits of which I’m usually loosely editing even as I’m writing other bits.

Instead, methodological means I have a more-or-less set strategy for how to write, what tools I need to keep the plotbunnies from whining (Bic Crystal pens fit my grip best), and specifically, what parts of the story I have to have figured out before I start writing the story, or the whole thing’s going to spin out dramatically and leave me in a fiery, bruised pile of a writer with Unfinished Fic.

...Yeah, that hurts.

So. What I need is first, a good idea of the setting. Second, a good grasp on the characters, both heroes and villains. Third, a beginning scene of Shiny. How do I kick this adventure off? Last, and critically important, I need an End Scene. Heroes vs. Bad Guys. What does the final clash look like?

This end scene doesn’t have to be exact. I even came up with a final scene for Colors and wrote most of it before realizing said End Scene actually belonged in a much later story; while a fight scene before it was the real Final Battle of the book.

(Also note that these are not foolproof. I have end scenes for Track of the Apocalypse and scene ideas for a follow-up, but writing ran headlong into traumatic RL events and it jammed. I want to finish it, but my brain just won’t until I get some more stability into my life. Bleeping inflation....)

Right now, as I hack my way through filling in holes in Colors, I’m trying to figure out what would be the best end scene for Druid vs. Zombies. I’ve got a dungeon maze, a demonic sword (I think), an angry necromancer, a lot of zombies, and a rag-tag party including the Druid who mostly aren’t really fighters.

They’re just the only ones the quarrytown has who can try.

I think part of what I’m stuck on is the tone of the story. The original inspiration was partly Scooby-Doo (“and I would have gotten away with it, too - if it weren’t for you peasants and that druid!”)

But, zombies; and not as friendly as those on Zombie Island. Plus Resident Evil 2 vibes; characters in sudden zpoc trying to survive. So fighting the necromancer has to be more serious.

The classic would be going down into the maze to face off with the necromancer before he can grab the Evil Artifact. But our heroes know they’re outmatched. Go into a dungeon maze filled with traps, monsters, and now necromancer-led zombies? That has bad idea written all over it.

So... I need to know if they think the necromancer has to come out the way he came in, or if they have reason to believe he can just teleport out when he grabs what he wants. Hmm...

[smacwareindia]

How Can I Choose a Mobile Application Development Company?

Introduction

In an era of screens and swipes, having the right mobile app development company is what can take your idea to a blockbuster or leave it in the digital graveyard. The options are vast, and the risks are high. Let's break this down step by step.

Understanding the Significance of the Right Development Partner

Selecting a development partner is not merely a business transaction. It is partnership, a relationship. The ideal team shares your vision, stimulates innovation, and helps provide a refined final product that appeals to users.

Types of Mobile App Development Companies

Boutique vs Full-Service Agencies

Boutique agencies provide niche specialization with a personal touch, while full-service agencies provide scalability and resources. You have your project's complexity and your desired level of attention to guide your decision.

Local vs Offshore Teams

Local teams provide convenient communication and cultural fit. Offshore teams offer cost savings and talent acquisition globally. The choice is yours regarding remote collaboration comfort and time zone management.

Establishing Clearly Defined Business Goals

Even before browsing company sites, decide what you need your app to do. Is it acquiring users, generating revenue, building brand relationships, or process efficiency? Clarity at this point simplifies everything.

Determining the App Type You Require

Are you creating a customer-facing or in-house enterprise app? E-commerce or game? Each type requires different skills and architecture.

Platform Options: Android, iOS, or Both?

The argument is valid. If your target market is global and heterogeneous, go cross-platform. If you're targeting a niche market, pick and choose. A veteran android app development company is more aware of the nuances of the ecosystem than a generalist.

The Importance of Domain Knowledge

Would you have a chef fix your car? Of course not. Likewise, the company you use should be in your line of business. Domain expertise reduces development time and brings more valuable feature suggestions.

Evaluating Company Portfolios

A portfolio is a company's mirror. Look for diversity, creativity, and use case relevance. Are their apps easy to use? Have they tested time? Are they still running?

From Aesthetics to Functionality

A good-looking app that crashes is worse than a ugly app that performs flawlessly. Opt for companies that combine nice looks with good performance.

Confirming Client Testimonials and Case Studies

Don't be fooled by pretty homepages. Go deep into case studies. Seek quantifiable results, real names, and businesses. A specific testimonial is valuable compared to a generic quote.

Understanding Development Methodologies

Agile. Waterfall. Hybrid. Process counts. Agile provides iterative progress and flexibility—exactly what adaptive projects require. Observe how they approach sprints, feedback, and in-stream modifications.

The UI/UX Role in App Success

A user-friendly interface brings customers back for more.A buggy one gets them fleeing. Choose companies that feature UI/UX design as a core service, not an upcharge.

Importance and Future-Proofing of Scalability

Your app may begin small, but tomorrow? A great company thinks about scaling. Whether adding more users or adding more features, scalability must be built into the product.

Transparency of Communication

Regular progress reports, truthful timelines, and one project manager—these are all signs of a firm that respects your time and your money. Avoid teams that disappear for weeks or speak in mysterious tech mumbo-jumbo.

Pricing Models and Budget Alignment

Fixed price, time and material, or dedicated teams—education on billing. The cheapest cost is not necessarily the greatest value. Value trumps price.

Asking About Maintenance and Post-Launch Support

An application's life doesn't end once it has been shipped. Bugs must be patched, customers must be supported, and patches need to be delivered. Ensure that your partner has robust post-deployment capabilities.

Legalities: NDAs, IP Rights, and Contracts

Protect your idea. Make it clearly stated in the agreement who owns intellectual property and source code. Non-disclosure agreements are a requirement in early discussions.

Speed vs Quality: Balancing Time-to-Market

We all wish applications built "yesterday," but quality never happens overnight. A quality company will provide you with realistic timelines and clearly communicate trade-offs without sugarcoating.

In-Person Meetings vs Virtual Collaboration

While Zoom is miraculous, sometimes a face-to-face workshop shows what emails don't. If at all possible, sit down with your developers in person. If not, they have some amazing virtual collaboration software.

Red Flags to Watch Out For

Overpromising. No portfolio. Evasive answers. Aggressive sales pitches. Lousy communication. These are all excuses to walk away���now.

Conclusion

Selecting the right mobile app development company is a mission-critical process involving contemplation, inquiry, and openness. Whether you need an Android app development company or a cross-platform ally, track this guide to find your path. Get it right, and watch your app concept become something special.

[scentedchildnacho]

The brown alien that sleeps on her mess was finally not around last night.....I think it's because a white racist had to leave for being willing to be loud and aggressive so it's if you target whites and wont help them no matter what and show up with a lot of excess consumer items after they have to leave then you have to go also

Im introverted enough to view my poverty as gender creation or trans theory and sex slavery and have noticed it's white and world wide cultures get obsessed with us as gang theories to blame then we get federal nukes.....so it is that those whites are willing to but most whites under you have to trade white man papers may be hostile

We The People should not have to endure cruel and unusual punishment I thought this was about being intelligent and correct to People

I think they found her a racist because nothing about her was all that different from economic inclusion it's the correct fashions and the ability to stay in dialogue under fluid gender triggers

Home social cultures about corporate commodities are a very different culture from corporate methodological culture so it's those differences between poverty and inclusion poverty cannot tolerate corporate take overs

My insight was fidel Castro.....was very persecuted before finally winning control so to me people are unconscionably cruel and without mercy to my poverty because it does look like a coming regime

That's me about that creepy yellered in my lower bunk if yellow skin and very hostile spoken around to scare people for a month if the white ones made to live most extreme rules of leave immediately if hostile

I also have a beater that puts me on most social responsibility do you see me ever allowed to give home information to phone pimps or stalk around with too many items and compulsive diabetic junk food

Do you see me ever expose my body or was I gender mutilated

Post structuralists I've been around white gangs enough to be shown it's boring and not actually worth that much fixation it's kind of one thing of a diaspora

[essektheylyss]

WWE Final Result: Eventually, There's Only One Left...

And the polls are closed.

It has been a wild week, and these thirty-two wizards have sure been through some situations. You've cheered! You've cried. You've laughed, I hope. You've written glorious speeches, made videos, edited memes, and shown off some impressive artistic prowess. To get a bit sentimental here, it was a joy and an honor to campaign alongside and against you all, and to see what awe-inspiring and absurd things you have created in defense of your wizards.

But as it always must, it has come down to one.

Our winner of the World Wizard Entertainment is, with the power of friendship, comedic bits, and unstoppable tiddies: Caleb Widogast.

Here is the trophy, it's leaving my hands— and— it's already gone. Does anyone see Mrs. Brenatto? No? Okay.

The Keeper of Scrolls has kindly invited the competitors out for drinks on the Por'co tab before hopping over to Tal'dorei to clean out Mr. Gilmore's shop of arcane foci, so there will be no opportunity for autographs, and if you are looking for glorious goods, I suggest you try the Marquet locations.

All four of Pumat Sol will be out of commission for a week—that shopkeep parties hard.

(Oh no, yeah, no one's dead, hahaha, when I said there was only one left you thought—? oh boy, no, these weren't death matches, you're thinking of Garyon Garrington's Plunder Games. No, they're not airing right now. Something about a lawsuit, I think.)

If you would like to relive the saga of the World Wizard Entertainment, you can find those posts here, along with the original rankings, methodology, poll results, and campaigning. Do peek through the notes for more spectacular commentary, as it is delightful. (And if you would like to see even more of the absurd and wacky content that did not make it into the main tag while I was trying not to clutter things, #VETHSWEEP.)

Now please check your DMs, as one lucky winner has been chosen... to pay for my ensuing therapy bill! This kind of mental tenacity ain't cheap, folks.

The Ultimate Losers tournament commences on Thursday, March 2nd, at 7pm PST. As if defeat at the hands of a kind, underappreciated teacher and animal lover wasn't enough, Ludinus Da'leth is coming BACK FOR MORE against the Bells Hells!

And lastly, thank you all so much for participating. I know some of us have had our differences, but now, at the end, we come together—and if there's one thing we can all agree on, it's Veth Brenatto's Big Naturals.

(Wait— Sorry, who's calling? Say that name again. Vinni— Vince? Vince Mc—? Nah, don't recognize him.

Put it through to voicemail.)

[a-queenoffairys]

Code Lyoko fan survey: William Dunbar and trauma

Results are finally in! Thank you for your patience while I got this all sorted.

A while ago I posted a link to a survey asking for your opinions on whether or not William has trauma following his possession by XANA throughout season 4, and if so, how it would affect him. There were also questions about William's relationship with the Lyoko Warriors and whether or not they'd ever let him join the group again. The survey got 80 responses with a range of differing answers and opinions.

I didn't explain the reason why I made the survey at the time, and a lot of people were curious about it in the feedback I got. Let's just say I'm glad a lot of you seem unhappy with the way William was written in Evolution, because part of what sparked the idea for the survey was an analysis of his character in Evolution and questioning whether or not they really did him justice. But outside of that, it was definitely interesting to hear so many people's opinions on the topic.

As some of the responses pointed out, trauma is a complicated topic and there are many what-ifs involved with where William's character could go after the series finale. Some respondents also indicated that they were aware that Code Lyoko is a show aimed at kids, so it wouldn't be allowed to get too dark, and there are some things that probably shouldn't happen but the writers would force it for the sake of drama and whatnot.

I also appreciate the people who mentioned how the Lyoko Warriors have been through a lot of terrible stuff as well, and it's very likely they'd be traumatised and this shouldn't be completely overlooked when discussing William's experiences and potential trauma.

Thank you to the people in the Discord server for letting me bounce ideas off them and helping to refine the set of questions I wanted to ask, especially @souljellied for proofreading and sharing the link around on other sites. And thanks to everyone who filled out the survey! I appreciate people taking the time to fill this out, as well as the kind feedback I received.

Content warning for discussion of trauma/PTSD and various symptoms. Drug use and self-harm are mentioned by name but not discussed. Image IDs are in the alt text.

Now let's get into it! Warning, this post is long.

Methodology

The survey was hosted on Google Forms. There were two multiple choice questions, one asking about the respondent's familiarity with the show and the other being "Do you think William would have trauma after the series finale?" The rest of the questions were long-answer.

In an earlier version, a couple of the questions were going to be multiple choice instead, but I wanted to leave everything open-ended to see what answers people would naturally think of without me leading them to those answers. A lot of the William trauma discussion I'd seen in the past mostly revolved around the fallout of XANA-William, his memories of those events and his relationship with the Lyoko Warriors, so I was curious to see how many people would talk about how William's absence and his clone impacted other parts of his life, such as school and his relationships with friends and family.

I also only gave example answers when I felt the question may be too vague, like I didn't want people to answer the question "Which do you think would be the main source(s) of his trauma?" with "His being possessed by XANA" because that answer isn't very specific. When giving examples, I tried to go for ideas I'd seen people talk about often, like for that question it was "Memories of his time under XANA" and "Pushed away by the Lyoko Warriors," and I avoided mentioning school or his social life for the reasons I explained in the last paragraph.

But long answer questions meant I couldn't get easy numerical data from the raw results... So I read through all the answers, made a spreadsheet with a list of recurring ideas for each question and then tallied up how many people mentioned those ideas in their answers. When an answer was unique, I noted it separately from the tally. The tally data is what I used to create the charts. (I hope you like Google charts because I couldn't find a better program to make them in.)

I'm no statistician by any means. I did my best to analyse the numbers and make the appropriate charts to represent the data. I hope it will get the main points across, but there could easily be correlations that I missed. I've posted the spreadsheet here, along with all the charts I created. If anyone else wants to do their own analysis, I'd love to see it!

I don't currently have any plans to post the original responses, but if there's enough interest I could anonymise the answers (the survey was anonymous but some people voluntarily identified themselves) and post those as well.

---

Results Section 1: General questions

Do you think William would have trauma after the series finale? Do you think William remembers any part of his time under XANA? If yes, how much do you think he remembers? How do these memories surface? For example, does he remember only the times when he fought for control, or every moment of his time under XANA? Are the memories fresh in his mind or do they come as occasional flashes or nightmares?

Most people believed that he would have trauma, and he would remember at least some part of the time he spent under XANA's control. It was nice to see that trauma and memory retention weren't always perfectly linked.

I do have to note, although I encouraged people to answer the survey even if they didn't believe William had trauma, I imagine some people who would have answered no simply didn't bother taking the survey. I wouldn't apply this "93% yes/6% no" ratio to the entire fandom, only the people who responded to the survey.

There were 2 people who answered that William does remember being possessed but isn't traumatised by it. One of those people said the memories would come as nightmares or hazy recollections, and he would harbour some anger towards the gang. On the other hand, the second person said he would have full recall and the only effects it would have on his behaviour are that he's more level-headed and is good at thinking things through and giving others advice.

On the other side of it, there were a few people who decided he wouldn't remember anything, but his trauma would come from other sources, such as the knowledge that he had been possessed, being rejected by the Lyoko Warriors, or the months of his life he'd lost and the way it impacted his relationships and school life.

We're told in the show that just like every other victim of XANA, William can't remember anything from when he was possessed, but it's definitely a common fan theory that he was lying or that the memories resurface later on. And that's fine! There's a lot you can do with that idea, so if that's what you want for your story, then go for it. But it's also refreshing to see people discussing William having trauma without those memories, because he was gone for several months and it would have definitely had a significant impact on his life going forward.

Now we break it down into which parts he remembers, and how he remembers them. This was all one question and some people answered one part but not the other, for example saying his memories come to him as nightmares but not specifying which memories they were.

"Lucid moments" is how I've referred to the times he fought for control, like in episode 76 The Lake. "Major events" can include things like lucid moments, fights against the Lyoko Warriors, activating towers, "dying" (being devirtualised after losing a fight) or being sent to Earth. "False memories" refers to memories XANA fabricated and planted in William's mind to confuse him, so he doesn't know what was real.

One person suggested that memories of major events and the times he fought for control would be more repressed, because he couldn't stand to remember the things he did and how he wasn't able to regain control.

"Full recall" means he can clearly remember everything. "Gradual recall" means he doesn't remember at first, but the memories return to him over time. There was some suggestion that the montage of XANA-William fights in episode 95 Echoes was William remembering those scenes himself.

Memory triggers often included the Lyoko Warriors, but also things such as technology or imagery like "Yumi holding a paper fan."

One person said William would know what XANA's plan for the robot army was.

---

How do you imagine his relationship with the Lyoko Warriors after the series finale? Do they accept or reject him? Does he try to regain their friendship or does he avoid them?

Most people thought the Lyoko Warriors would accept William as a friend, but a lot of people thought the opposite.

As some people pointed out, it may seem unfair that the Lyoko Warriors pushed William away after they rescued him, especially since Jeremie and Aelita were possessed by XANA on a few occasions. One person brought up episode 31 Mister Pück in particular and the scene where XANA-Jeremie nearly kills Odd, and asks why the gang seem unbothered by that but they decide to reject William. Was it because of his carelessness, or maybe the amount of time XANA-William served as the face of the enemy? We should definitely account for the fact that the rest of the gang were much closer friends with Jeremie than they were with William.

When it comes to discussing the decision to reject William, we do need to consider the Lyoko Warriors' trauma. For almost two years they had XANA trying to murder them every other day - they saw a lot of really scary stuff that William never experienced. If William is traumatised, then it's a very different trauma to that of the Lyoko Warriors. Coupled with William basically being the face of the enemy for several months, I can personally see why the gang wouldn't immediately welcome him back with open arms.

A lot of answers specified which of the Lyoko Warriors would be the most/least accepting, so here's a graph. Bear in mind this only includes the answers where people specifically named individual characters, and doesn't include data for answers like "The whole group accepts him."

Aelita was definitely the clear winner when it comes to accepting William as a friend and offering him help, and not just in this question but in several others as well. Since she's been possessed by XANA several times and made to do terrible things, she can relate to William the most, as shown in episode 94 Fight to the Finish.

Odd was the second most likely to accept William as a friend. Yumi is next on the list but she was also rated the most likely to reject William outright. Jeremie was rated mostly indifferent, and Ulrich was rated to either be indifferent or reject, not accept.

Mixed answers with regards to the nature of their relationship after the series finale. "Chill acquaintance" means William is someone they talk to at school occasionally, but isn't a full-fledged member of the group. "Support group" means the gang offer him support for what he's going through (since he can't really talk to anyone else about the time he got possessed by an evil computer virus).

There was some suggestion that Jeremie would want to get information from William and/or run tests on him. This would tie into people saying William had some memory of XANA's plans.

It's not shown on the graph, but 12% of people mentioned something about William being fully friends with the gang prior to being possessed. Others noted he had very few interactions with Odd, Aelita and Jeremie, so they considered Yumi his only real friend from the Lyoko gang.

Some of the people who talked about William avoiding the gang gave reasons for it.

---

Do you think the Lyoko Warriors would invite him to join the group if XANA returned or a new enemy appeared? How would they come to that decision?

Most people said the gang would accept him back as a Lyoko Warrior, for various reasons and with some caveats. There were a lot of big "if"s in this one and a few people gave a few different ideas without being able to settle on a definitive answer.

Of particular note is the fact that William knows about Lyoko and is immune to the return to the past. Even if the gang managed to avoid him noticing them sneaking off, he would definitely notice when an RTTP was launched. One person suggested Jeremie could erase William from the RTTP to avoid this happening.

No one said it explicitly, but I felt there was some slight suggestion that he may be able to use his knowledge to blackmail the group into letting him join again.

One person said he probably shouldn't be allowed back into the group, but the show writers would bring him back for the sake of tension. Some said it would depend on the enemy.

Several answers said it would depend on how hesitant or insistent everyone is, both William and the gang. Some said the gang would be conscious of William's trauma and wouldn't want to drag him back into the fight unless he was ready. Several answers said the Lyoko Warriors would be divided on whether or not to let him in; Aelita was named the most likely to accept him and try to convince the others, while Yumi and Ulrich were most resistant. Whether or not William has insider info on XANA was also a factor in some answers.

The following charts break down people's reasons for their answer yes/maybe/no.

"Because of past behaviour" includes not just his behaviour on Lyoko in episode 65 Final Round, but also his behaviour towards Yumi in particular.

---

How do you think his life in general would be affected?

This question was added after an initial round of answers showed that the rest of the questions may have been too specific and didn't get people thinking about the bigger picture of William's long absence. This question allowed for a broader range of answers and allowed people who didn't go to section 2 to give their thoughts. However it did also tie into answers for the next section, so I decided to merge the data.

---

Section 2: William's trauma

This section was only seen by people who answered yes to the question "Do you think William would have trauma after the series finale?"

Which do you think would be the main source(s) of his trauma? Note "The time he spent under XANA's control" isn't the preferred answer here because it isn't specific. Yes William was possessed, but how does that leave him traumatised? What are the consequences, how does it impact him personally? "Memories of his time under XANA"  or "Pushed away by the Lyoko Warriors" are possible sources of trauma, for example.

A variety of answers as to the source(s) of his trauma.

"No memory" comes up here, referring to William knowing that he was possessed by XANA and his body was used to hurt his friends, but having no idea of the specific things that he did. Particularly when a Lyoko Warrior acts resentful towards him for a specific event he has no recollection of.

"No support/coping mechanism" often went hand-in-hand with the idea of the gang avoiding him after the series finale, so he has no one to talk to about his experience.

"Reality of Lyoko/XANA's existence" is definitely my favourite, just this knowledge that Lyoko exists, XANA exists and is a massive danger to humanity, you can be walking around one day and then this entity comes along and takes control of your body, that's just a thing that can happen! Terrifying!

A couple of people noted that long-term virtualisation, particularly with all the time William spent in the Digital Sea, could potentially cause some distressing physical effects.

Other sources included lingering emotions/intrusive thoughts from XANA-William (e.g. wanting to hurt the Lyoko Warriors), getting repossessed in episode 94, vague feelings of having been possessed (as opposed to specific memories), and being unfairly blamed by the gang.

Some people also got specific about the traumatic memories and aspects of his clone's reputation that would most cause trauma.

There's the question of how well his clone performed in school and what sort of grades would be on his record. Some people thought the clone was intelligent enough to get straight As, then William's grades would drop when he returned. However, people usually talked about William-clone at school in reference to his social life, not his grades.

There was also the idea that he had been replaced by a clone for several months and no one had realised it wasn't really him.

---

How do you think the trauma might affect his behaviour?

Note while this whole survey is about trauma and everyone who answered this question also answered yes to "Does he have trauma," this chart only shows the number of people who mentioned PTSD/trauma as a symptom in their answer to this question.

Miscellaneous symptoms include:

Self-loathing for having trauma

Sleepwalking

Obsessively checking the time and date

Fear of: jellyfish, the sea, loneliness, certain sounds, the dark, technology

One person suggested he would get angry at Sissi for buying into the idea that the clone was just him playing a prank, since they'd bonded previously, surely she should have known it wasn't really him.

On the other hand, other people said Sissi could make great friends with William, since they share a lot of similar experiences with strange phenomena, being possessed by XANA and being gaslit (and I do mean gaslit, not just "lied to") by the Lyoko Warriors.

One person said, given the opportunity, William would probably side with XANA again due to how bad his life on Earth was now (in their opinion, failing social and school life, rejected by the gang), which would make for a better explanation of his betrayal in Evolution episode 15 Spartan.

---

What sort of coping mechanisms do you imagine he might use to deal with the trauma, if any?

Hobbies included (ones that were mentioned often are in bold):

Art

Writing

Music

Swimming

Social media

Video games

TV/movies

Graffiti

Clay eraser

Martial arts

Techniques for mindfulness and self-reassurance included:

Reminding himself it's not his fault

Breathing exercises

Touching things to remind himself he's not on Lyoko, he's in control

Trips to the factory

Physical and visual checks to see he's not possessed

Talking through his memories to regain control

A couple of people said he would avoid alcohol and other drugs because he never wants to feel like he's not in control of himself again, or to black out and have no memory of his actions again.

Therapy was a very common suggestion for an ideal solution, but the number here is so low because several people also said it would probably be unattainable, either because he just can't access a therapist or because he wouldn't be able to talk openly about his experiences. Some wondered if he would even bother going if he could access a therapist. Some said his parents would force him to go after they witnessed the debacle in episode 93.

Once again, some people suggested he would get support from Aelita specifically, one even calling it a sibling bond.

Some of the people who said William would bottle up his emotions also said it would eventually lead to a breakdown.

A few people suggested him leaving the school, either by choice or because his parents force him to. A couple also suggested he would leave the country. (One of those people said he would still rejoin the group if a new threat appeared, but would assist them remotely.)

There was a broad range of answers to this question, a lot of them unique. Here's a list!

Helping others

Attention-seeking

Physical touch

Making jokes about his traumatic experiences

Meeting new people, partying hard

Avoiding triggers/reminders

Religion

Kiwi as an emotional support animal

Talking to Yumi

Seeking information and proof of XANA-William and his actions

Avoiding Yumi

Crying himself to sleep

Pursuing friendship with Sissi, bonding over their experiences

Avoiding video games

Sticking to crowds

Reckless sex (when he's older)

Studying marine biology

Befriending the Lyoko Warriors

Easing off on his flirtatiousness

Blaming the Lyoko Warriors while ignoring his own faults

Aggressively pursuing Yumi

Pursuing a new relationship

Listening to music on repeat

Training extra hard to be the best on Lyoko

Hold out until graduation, everything will be ok when he never has to see the Lyoko Warriors again

Nothing could help him cope

And in this graph you can see the ratio of positive, negative and neutral coping mechanisms, though there is a degree of subjectivity with determining which was which and what the respondent was going for when they suggested each idea. Largely though, although there were a lot of negative responses, it looks like most people had a more positive outlook on his coping mechanisms and recovery.

Conclusion

Well I hope that's everything, congrats if you made it this far haha. A lot of passionate fans answered the survey, so I hope people find this as interesting as I did, and I hope I did it justice. Thanks again to everyone who participated!

[harbingerofsoup]

The Training Arc

Many people have considered the Training Arc to be its own arc; however, due to its importance in contextualizing the Harvest Festival and how sections of this timeframe aren’t revealed until well within the main plotline, it’s clear that this is more of a sub-arc or prologue to the larger Harvest Festival Arc. Education and reliance are major themes that can be found in the series, originally through Iruma’s perspective as he realizes that unlike what he was led to believe as a child, other people care about him and protect him. It shows how learning to rely on others goes hand in hand with a quality education. As previously established, the Harvest Festival is all about expanding the scope of focus from Iruma and his core family and friends out to the Misfits and the greater demon society, (think of this arc as a transition from narrow to wide focus) so it’s only natural that there would be greater focus on the Misfits while separated from Iruma.

The primary introduction of the tutors serves two purposes. First it establishes the unique personalities and quirks of the tutors. Second, it isolates Iruma and Lied away from the rest of the misfits. Disregarding those of Iruma and Lied, the tutors are all positioned higher up to show their power and authority, while at the same time highlighting the weakness of the misfits. As I said, these scenes introduce the tutors and their methods, so while the positioning serves the same purpose, it feels different for each tutor. Balam’s methods are easily recognizable, as everything from his nonchalance to Asmodeus and Sabnock’s beaten figures shows that he’s focusing on combat, and that it’s an area he’s incredibly skilled in. The panel can focus more on what they’re doing because Balam’s a well-established character. Meanwhile, the introduction of Allocer and Jazz’s tutor is heavily focused on his personality, with his methods left vague setting him up as someone who is chaotic and hard to read. This chaotic introduction explained why Jazz and Allocer were MIA for the rest of the training arc without it being a distraction, with the details of his training being revealed well after the rest of the groups. The rest fall in between, showing both the tutors’ methodology and personality. Agares and Goemon ended up with a tutor who’s incredibly emotional and has a focus on intrinsic abilities. The tutor for Kerori and Camui is seen to be a summoner from the myriad of beasts behind him. The chair he sits on is reminiscent of a throne showing his grace, and (paired with his penchant for dapper clothing) high class nature. The mannerisms and position of Clara and Elizabetta’s tutor leave little doubt about her charm and seduction, which is what she’ll be teaching them.

This arc finalizes the Misfits shift from the worst class to the best. While this is a common storyline, I appreciate how they get to this point not by changing, but by developing the gifts that landed them in the Misfit class in the first place. Judging from the tutors’ plans and the distribution of the groups, these inherent talents (both magic and otherwise) were already considered to be worthy of cultivating despite their weirdness as demons. Additionally, through the dedication and work that the Misfits put in honing these talents before and during their training, not only did they meet these expectations, they outperformed them. On that note, showing the Misfits to be exceptional without Iruma around was a needed development. It would’ve been easy to insinuate that it was Iruma who allowed them to cultivate these abilities, as is common for main characters in such stories. Instead, it’s clarified that the Misfits gained power through their own hard work, for their own goals, and the situations they’ve found themselves in by being friends and classmates with Iruma gave them the confidence to use what they’ve made for themselves.

Of course, since this is M!IK the training is hilarious, putting the characters in over-the-top situations that seem comically excessive for a school activity. Comedy has many purposes depending on the setting and point of the story. Prior to the Harvest Festival, the story arcs in this series have been straightforward. There’s a challenge to overcome and through hard work Iruma and the Misfits pull off amazing feats. Sure, it’s still wonderfully done and has a focus on character, but the emotions and themes take a backseat to the plot. Of course, that makes sense for the beginning of a story. The previous arcs set up the major elements of the series, with the Harvest Festival serving as the first real deep dive into the story’s themes and characters. This also means that it’s a more serious arc; more reliant on building tension and somber moments. That’s where the comedy comes in. A constant barrage of tension gets old quickly, so we need some trademarked Iruma-brand hijinks to relieve the stress (and lull us into a false sense of security before Nishi-sensei sucker punches our hearts).

In addition to comedy, there’s real heart in the leadup to the Harvest Festival, especially when it comes to Bachiko. I constantly come back to reread this scene because of how much it hits me every time. M!IK has consistently pumped out amazing backstories for its vast cast of characters, but this one is probably my favorite. It contextualizes Bachiko’s eccentric, borderline rude, behavior, makes her sympathetic and relatable, and sets up the close mentor-student relationship between her and Iruma, all while feeling organic. The repetition of the lines “It’s alright! I’m sure that one day an archer like no other will appear!” which started as baseless optimism, as she’s running towards Iruma having finally allowed herself to hope that she’s found a student that will stay gives this scene forward momentum towards some of the best images of the series including Iruma holding the bow, and Bachiko’s expression in the panel that says, “not to hope.” All of this leads to the development of their relationship by the end of the Harvest Festival. Compared to her introduction, she’s much more carefree and open, at least with her student.

Other tutors have had similar difficulties with teaching. When Balam was introduced, it was through terrible rumors spread by the student body due to his issues with socialization and appearance. His experiences with Iruma and the Misfits have made him a better teacher, and a much happier, outgoing person. Lady Vepar’s past is hinted as well. She’s clearly had students who couldn’t handle this type of training before and has a family that doesn’t support her career path, but the achievements of her students in the Misfit class breaks her out of this mindset.

<prev | next>

[ddarker-dreams]

Division. Yan Scaramouche x Reader [Implied x Yan Childe]

Warnings: Kidnapping, unwanted physical contact and implied suggestive themes. Word count: 1.3k.

While your body might be sore, it’s your arms that feel the worst.

They’re hoisted above your head with a rope secured tight around your wrists, longing for an opportunity to rest. You’ve been standing in this awkward position for many miserable hours. No windows in this dreary cobblestone prison make it difficult to tell the time or to find anything interesting to look at. There’s still no clear indication as to why you’ve ended up in this nightmare, much less when it will end. The person you’re assuming to be in charge has been subjecting you to malicious verbal jabs for the entire duration of your confinement.

“Truth be told,” he circles you like a hawk, his tone deceitfully sweet as honey, stopping only to admire your immobilized form. “I wasn’t sure what the appeal to you was at first.” 

Scaramouche leans forward, soft strands of indigo hair brushing against your face as he closes the distance. He runs a finger over your exposed collarbone, mirth dancing in his eyes at the goosebumps following in its wake. “But now… I think I’m starting to get it.” 

Mustering up your strength and courage, you narrow your eyes, glaring daggers at your captor. He’s thrilled at the sight, unable to hold back his laughter. The finger tails up, to the crux of your neck, which he then wraps his hand around. Your pulse accelerates at the unwelcome sensation, an element he doesn’t miss.

“You’re… you’re Fatui, right?” You inquire, refusing to take this torment in silence. Curious, he nods his head, the pad of his thumb rubbing up and down your neck slowly. 

“If this is about the Northland bank loan, then you’re making a mistake. I’ve already cleared things up with your boss.” As soon as the words fell from your lips, you regret them. Scaramouche’s mischievous attitude dissipates, his eyes piercing through you and a scowl on his face. The tension in the room rises to new heights, thick and palpable. 

“‘My boss’, you say,” he repeats with an irate click of his tongue as if it were the highest insult. “Tartaglia is no such thing, I can assure you.” 

What can this be about then? Your final line of defense is crumbling, now aware that using Childe’s favor on you won’t be viable. It felt reprehensible to use it in the first place, but lowering yourself to such a level would’ve been inconsequential if it earned your freedom. Instead, it’s done the opposite, adding kindling to the flame. Never have you regretted anything in your life as much as your involvement with the Fatui bank. 

Scaramouche removes his hands from you, a minor victory. What you said must’ve struck a nerve. Swallowing thickly, your mind searches desperately for any plausible escape. While you deliberate a plan, he crosses his arms against his chest, mouth set in a straight line.

“Tell me. Do you enjoy his company?” Scaramouche asks with a tilt of his head.

Licking your dry lips, you consider the question. Denial is the obvious answer, but speaking ill of a Harbinger feels like a death wish. Though he did seem rather displeased by mentioning Childe. Just when you thought you were beginning to understand the situation, that self-assuredness has been stolen, leaving more questions in its wake.

Testing your luck, you reveal the truth with a strained rebuttal. “No, I don’t.” 

More laughter. He doubles over, clutching his stomach as if your serious confession is the funniest joke he’s heard his entire life. This unabashed cruelty is a far cry from Childe’s code of conduct. Childe prefers to openly flirt with you, acting coquettish, whispering dirty promises into your ear. Scaramouche’s methodology is entirely different. He revels in your discomfort, actively saying anything to gain a reaction, positive or negative. With a preference for the latter.

“Ah, what a shame he didn’t get to hear you say that,” Scaramouche wipes the corners of his dark eyes, laughter finally settling down. “I’d give anything to see what his reaction would’ve been.”

“Are you two… enemies, or something…?” 

“He certainly thinks so now. I’m interested to see what Tartaglia plans to do, due to the fact Harbingers are forbidden to fight one another,” he hums, wrapping his fingers around a strand of your hair and playing with it. “Just how far would he go? I’m not sure myself, but I can’t wait to see.” 

The word Harbingers rings in your head like a funeral toll. Does that mean Scaramouche is one as well? It would explain his lack of concern for Childe’s combat prowess if he has similar capabilities. When he first approached you, there was no doubting the power he possessed, even with a smaller stature. Why is it these terrible individuals are drawn to you like a moth to a flame? Why are the Archons subjecting you to such torment?

“Another question. Just how far has Tartaglia gone with--” 

“My lord!” A booming voice interrupts, capturing the attention of you both. A person dressed in what you’ve come to recognize as Fatui’s uniform appears, bowing before a less than pleased Scaramouche. 

“Lord Childe is demanding to speak with you,” The agent relays. “I know you said not to interrupt, but, this seems rather urgent.” 

Scaramouche sighs, releasing your hair with a frown. “That was faster than I anticipated.” 

So he was expecting this from the start. Is it relief that you feel? Your emotions are a mess, due to a lack of eating and bodily fatigue. While Childe is unpleasant company, Scaramouche is equally awful, even going so far as to restrain you. You curse yourself for almost preferring being subjected to Childe’s self-serving antics over this. At least Childe gives an illusion of freedom, even if you know it’s only that, an unobtainable reality. When he doesn’t make any movement to leave, the agent speaks up again. “My lord? What should I do?” 

“Did you tell him to leave?” “As you commanded to, yes. I’m afraid he... insisted.” 

“Of course the lovesick puppy did,” Scaramouche shakes his head. “No matter. I’ll deal with this myself. Head back and tell him to await my arrival.” 

The term ‘lovesick puppy’ brings questions anew, as you’re solid in the belief what Childe feels for you isn’t love. Voicing this sentiment won’t get you anywhere, so you resolve to hold your tongue, silently steaming in your indignation. 

The agent’s body stiffens and they clear their throat. “T-that’s the other issue, my lord. I’m afraid he’s… coming as we speak.” 

Scaramouche doesn’t seem visibly bothered by the revelation, treating it as a mild thorn in his side than an urgent dilemma. You’re left speechless by the unfolding events, looking past the kneeling agent expectantly. Would you finally be able to leave this awful prison? You’d be going into the hands of one madman to the other’s, but the option is sounding oddly appealing at the moment. 

Scaramouche returns his attention to you, appearing pleased with himself. “Be sure to tell him what you said to me earlier.” 

Shifting uncomfortably where you stand, you look to the side, preferring not to be subject to his scrutinizing gaze. Objecting to Childe has never ended well for you. Then there’s the problem of Scaramouche -- how would he react to blatant disobedience -- is it possible his response would be worse for you? While you consider these things, Scaramouche starts to work on loosening your bonds. 

He presses his lips against your ear and the ropes hit the ground.

“Or I might just say it myself. Your choice.” 

[mychampagne-mybubbles]

Oh wow you don’t believe HO stunt is over then? I’ll admit it threw me off that he talked to her even for two seconds but I guess he just doesn’t hate her as much as we believe. His team and him probably decided to distance H from her cause of all the bad publicity but that doesn’t mean he can’t congratulate her on her movie (I mean, he did act in DWD, he can’t HATE it). Or do you have other thoughts? I’m curious!

Hi lovely,

I don't think we're at the end point of Holivia, no. It is a giant stunt that involves many things that are still running; I think VFF has marked an important point but not the final chapter.

I think many of the rumors and crap we've seen around DWD these lasts weeks were part of a strategy to give a spot to a no valued movie among the whole offer of the best selected movies of the moment. Everyone was talking about the movie prior to the event, but if you look closely none of those involved have ever faced the conflict. Immediately afterwards, Harry and Nick kissed; this has served to clean the house a bit, assuring a beginning-end circle. Easy, fun & catchy headlines are served. (Critics belong to a different discussion)

Playing these games is dangerous, difficult and it is necessary to have an immediate capacity to react; I think we actually saw several examples of low-profiling in the last couple of weeks.

At a time like this, even such an "acclaimed" breakup can turn against them, him (particularly) " just with the first conflicting rumors emerging regarding Olivia, Harry leaves her from the sudden" (added to the long list of nasty tittles he has already earned thanks to this stunt could be tricky) when this matter doesn’t even involves him. On the other hand we have PM season starting just next week; I've always been curious to know what position Harry's team has in mind to manage this, but unless after Venice they can’t control the situation as needed, I expect to see Holivia remaining in the scene during the launch of MP. What I can predict is a total switch on the methodology, the presence, the volume, etc… until the current perception eventually vanishes.

Hope this gives you a hint on where am I standing regarding this mediocre PR promo.

Nik •

PS: Although we know that it is a stunt, we read the relevance of personal connections as they mean for us. If deep down they hate each other, if they talk or if they communicate thru whatsapp even when they are in the same room... is on our imagination. Even if we see Harry walking by her side like a miserable man and she meets all the requirements of someone we would launch into the space, perhaps we should eliminate feelings and emotions because of all the reasons that unite them, none are those

[sixteenthshen]

post-finale stuff

Possible spoilers. Beware

Last night, I happened to check the scriptwriter's Weibo and saw that she had liked this fan's post. It's the only non-work related Weibo post that she had liked, so of course, I went to read it. 

The fact that this is the only fan post she's given her approval to must mean that it is on point and she agrees with the characterisation. I thought it's pretty good, so I've gone ahead to translate it here. I own 0 rights to this. I just thought it's a good perspective that may help others like me who struggled with the ending. 

I think I've mostly made my peace with it now, and to sum it up:

Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all that they are. 

A-Xu never once blamed Lao Wen for how things turned out because he understood that. And he’s clearly a better person than I am (lol).

Let me be clear about my stand - the real victim of how the drama unfolded in the last six episodes is WKX. When we feel our hearts ache for ZZS, it's because the show let down WKX (the character). If your heart is only hurting for WKX during episodes 33-34, you should try to ship WKX with someone else, ok? If you think the last six episodes were great and that WKX was very romantic (and only romantic), then I honestly don't know what to say. 

I ship wenzhou. That means I like both Wen Kexing and Zhou Zishu. I want them to love each other, be good to each other and live happily ever after. And I want them not to be OOC. 

The rest behind the cut. Spoilers for the whole drama. 

------- 

First, the source. Here is a link to that Weibo post, by 爱吐槽的栗小姐. I will delete this if requested by the OP - because this is really in a grey area imo. But I think the intention of a public post is for it to be shared? (especially something like this, which argues a point) 

Secondly, the poster does try to be fair in her post, but as the problem here is WKX's ruined characterisation, ZZS's character is analysed primarily concerning this issue only. There's quite a bit left to ZZS's character and backstory that isn't relevant. I believe that's why the post doesn't elaborate on it, or so I hope.

-------

Ever since WKX faked his death, I received three to four waves of fellow sister fans' mournful wails: "Lao Wen actually faked his death; does he have a heart?" "They were supposed to be of the same heart and treat each other with honesty. How did they regress?" "What happened to their innate soulmate-ness?" "Why does A-Xu always say to face things together, yet Lao Wen always keeps his plans from him?" "A-Xu loves Lao Wen, yet Lao Wen only loves himself"…….

Wait. What have you guys misunderstood about the meaning of soulmates? 

Soulmates are about values, but a person's behaviour… that's methodology FFS! 

(Do they no longer teach this in political affairs class in high school anymore?) 

Wenzhou, these soulmates, are incomparably compatible and mesh well in terms of values. According to the scriptwriter, the entire jianghu wants and tries to get the pieces of Glazed Armour, save the two of them. Not only do they not care for the peerless martial arts, immense power, nor the massive wealth that the Glazed Armour represents, they don't even care for the power they hold in their hands –Ghost Valley and the Window of Heaven. Both of them willing to give it up without a second thought. 

Before they met each other, they were so tired of (ZZS) and so angry at (WKX) this earthly world that they didn't even want to live on anymore. 

After they met each other, they gradually began to feel the warmth in this world again. How nice it would be if they could live in seclusion, hand in hand and just bask in the sun. 

In this world, where everyone else is fighting for power or wealth, they are true soulmates. To intelligent people like them, whether or not they're honest about their identities or secrets is merely a matter of formality. They had already determined their attraction to the other's soul early on and have never doubted it. 

There may be some here who would criticise loudly at this point, "Then can't you be more considerate for your soulmate (the actual phrased used is "spiritual companion")? A-Xu has said many times, let's face everything together, I'll bet that you will be honest with me. If you really love him, then why can't you care for his feelings?" 

----- You guys, you've never been married. 

If two souls meeting can naturally resolve all behavioural conflicts and disagreements, then the theory of "breaking in" * would not exist. 

Let us take a look at what kind of a person WKX and ZZS each are.

Wen Kexing, he's a lone wolf. 

After his parents' death and his entering the Ghost Valley, his smooth sailing life suddenly fell off a cliff. Ever since then, the only person he could rely on was himself. That deep-seated hatred is carved into his bones, yet he can't speak of it to anyone else. He isn't the same type of person as the rest of the ghosts in the Ghost Valley; he isn't the same type of person as A-Xiang, who he raised. If we talk about the world and everyone who lives in it, he doesn't have any fetters or feels any (positive) emotions. 

His supposed craziness is a form of indifference. He's indifferent to others' lives, nor his own, because he just doesn't care. (T/N: I think he does care for his own life, but only for revenge, after that, he's indifferent. Indifferent isn't suicidal. I don't know why some fans seem to be confusing the two. Although he didn't plan to, if he somehow manages to stay alive after getting his revenge, WKX will continue to live on, even if it's only to keep A-Xiang happy because he is indifferent.)

Growing up like this, being solitary became his style. He's used to doing everything alone, used to making his own decisions, used to digesting all his emotions himself. 

Every time he argues with A-Xu, he digests his emotions himself. The next day, he faces A-Xu with a smile again. 

This is how he loves, to take it upon himself to face danger, difficulty and pain alone. It's how he had supported A-Xiang all these years in the Ghost Valley and what he's used to. 

While Zhou Zishu, he's a lead horse (of a herd). ** 

Since a very young age, he's taught to take responsibility. He's used to bearing everything on his shoulders, be it the responsibility of his family or the responsibility for the Four Seasons Manor, even the responsibility for saving commoners from disasters. 

Unlike the lone wolf, the lead horse is ultimately a social animal. 

Regardless of his identity as the Manor Lord of the Four Seasons Manor or the Leader of the Window of Heaven, he's always the one to lead the herd and rarely fights alone. So, A-Xu not only has leadership ability but more than that, he also knows how to be tolerant and accepting of the differences of his team members. You can see the various ways he managed to influence Lao Wen along the road; he's firm when he needs to be and soft the other times. It's absolutely textbook in managing your lover workplace management. 

Zhou Zishu believes in communication whenever there's a problem, that they should be open and honest. So, teamwork is what he's used to. 

Does it mean that when a horse and lone wolf fall in love, that there won't be a breaking in period? 

Obviously not. 

I guess this is where some may say again, "isn't this part of a character's arc/development? The two of them quarrel time and time again. Did WKX not grow at all from it?" 

Of course, after meeting each other, they both grew and saved each other.

When he first left Window of Heaven, A-Xu was lonely with regret. Unlike the lone wolf who's used to doing everything alone, a lead horse without the last of his herd has no way to bear the bone-deep loneliness and merciless self-recrimination.

ZZS wandered around this world aimlessly until Lao Wen started pestering him, until he picked up Zhang Chengling, right up until he felt he hadn't singlehandedly destroyed the Four Seasons Manor. This lead horse finally regained a goal in life. He gained a partner and a lover. Lao Wen sticks to him, Chengling relies on him, and the abandoned Four Seasons Manor became like-new in his hands. He finally reconciles with himself. 

When he first came out of the valley, Lao Wen carried a rage strong enough to burn the world down. But when he met A-Xu, he also met the beauty of the world. 

When the Four Sages of Anji died, WKX understood how he caused innocent suffering. When Gao Chong walked to his death knowingly, he understood that although some may desire power, they could still be righteous and upstanding people. When he learned of everything Long Que sacrificed to protect his family***, he finally relaxed his guard. 

There were so many types of good people and things that he saw along this journey that he hadn't seen in the Ghost Valley. When A-Xu told him he was a good person as they basked in the sun, he genuinely wanted to return to the human (vs ghost) realm and be a good man. 

Along their journey, A-Xu made up for the morals and values that WKX lost in the Ghost Valley and showed him a new world outlook. He appeased Lao Wen's anger, tempered his extremism. The process wasn't easy, but not that difficult either, because, in the end, Lao Wen is kind at heart. 

But in the end, being a lone wolf is how he survived and succeeded in a place like the Ghost Valley. When A-Xu was so heavily injured and needed a lot of rest (for Wu Xi) to save his life, Lao Wen suddenly recalled his enemies and how such an excellent opportunity to take revenge just fell into his lap. Everything was in place, and all he needed to do was hide it from A-Xu; he could leave for a short while and have it settled quickly. Upon returning, he could then live happily ever after with his wife. To a crazy lone wolf, why would he not take a gamble? 

What he couldn't predict was the news would've been leaked (to A-Xu), and he didn't know that by doing so, he would've forever lost his love. 

Both of them were using their own methods to love the other person. Zhou Zishu is more forgiving and accepting because being forgiving is in his blood. While what WKX learned in his years in the Ghost Valley is -- love needs to be protected, like how he has A-Xiang, who he considers a sister, call himself master (to protect her). 

Only when faced with painful consequences can a person's deep-rooted habits and approach to things change. So I don't think faking his death ruined the characterisation of Wen Kexing, but I regret that the last two episodes did not have a scene to show us Lao Wen's heartbreak when he learns the truth. 

Until I know what it feels like to have lost you, I will only love you in my own way. 

T/N: 

*I can't think of the correct phrase for this as I don't read all that much about relationships >< please let me know if you know of it. Here, I'm referring to the process of wearing something new (like shoes) that will hurt at the start until it becomes soft and comfortable. 

** I did some side-reading, and omg, A-Xu is TOTALLY the lead mare. Although he's not the stallion and weak/dying for most of the show, he's the head of their little family, and he expects "to be obeyed", aka, I'm not going to learn how to cook. Call me for dinner. Kthxbye. 

From Rutgers' website: A herd of wild horses consists of one or two stallions, a group of mares, and their foals. The leader of the herd is usually an older mare (the "alpha mare"), even though one stallion owns the herd. She maintains her dominant role even though she may be physically weaker than the others. The older mare has had more experiences, more close encounters, and survived more threats than any other horse in the herd. The requirement of the lead horse is not strength or size; if this were so, then humans could never dominate a horse. Dominance is established not only through aggression but also through attitudes that let the other horses know she expects to be obeyed.

***I think this is important here because WKX wasn't crying for his loss. I think a big part of him was realising not everyone in the world was callous and turned their backs on his parents, that he could've gone his whole life without ever discovering what sacrifices some people have made. Good people suffer quietly and in silence. It's a big moment to realise he was wrong about many things that he had let hatred blind himself to the world. Because although he was sad about the Four Sages and somewhat shocked by Gao Chong's death, he hadn't truly faced up to his actions until now. 

(screenshot of the scriptwriter liking the above post) 

------

To add: 

I'm not sure how many of you read my "opinion" posts, but I've been struggling to find a way to accept the last six episodes of Word of Honor.  I first tried looking at open forum postings, comments, and Tumblr posts. None of it worked because it was just arguing and emotions and no one made points good enough for me to accept things. 

So I gave up and went back to reading Chinese sites. I found many posts discussing the plot. Some I liked, some I didn't, but none satisfied my need for a reasonable explanation. I felt they had biases (both ways), or else it lacked logic. After a time, I realised that I should be looking for WKX-stans (or pro-WKX fans) because they would be more motivated to explain his side, but also because well-written posts by wenzhou-fans & ZZS-stans made me super sad.

I'm sorry, but those who keep trying to explain why the ending was good completely missed that episodes 32-34 are the real problem to those who don't like it and only focused on 36. I can understand if people don't think those episodes are a problem, but no one could provide an articulate and sensible reason. There are just too few well-reasoned plot-focused posts in English (sorry). I've seen too many examples of WKX-fans arguing with people who are upset about the ending, backed by nothing more than "look how much WKX suffers, woe is him. And how romantic is this????" *dies* 

Lastly, if you spot anything inaccurate, let me know & I will correct it.

[simonalkenmayer]

hiii!! just resending this but worded different i guess. but whatever’s going on with anon hate, i hope everything clears up and that you have a nice relaxing weekend! stay awesome :)

It’s very simple:

It’s a lengthy saga. I came here to study some specific things. I predicted I’d receive hate. I did not predict how it would evolve because I wanted to leave it open. Along came someone trying to get my attention. This person was using my name in their url, attached to a death threat. They had an explanation, dozens in fact, none of which took into account I’d asked them to remove it. They refused, said I ought to be happy and flattered, and then turned their blog into a “critique” of mine. Over time they’ve had interactions with me, as they accuse me of ridiculous things all to justify their original unspecific choice to dislike me. When I realized I’d finally acquired a hate blogger, I viewed it as a chance to study the behavior in depth. So I set up a new experiment within my own existing one. This allowed me to observe their behavior and build a predictive model I could test, that would give us not only insight into how abuse happens online but also how the features of the platforms facilitate it. Over the past five years, I’ve dealt with them in specific ways to see what they would do. They obliged. Their blog acquired some followers, all people who felt slighted by me because I didn’t give them the attention they wanted. I stood my ground. But now my experiment is finished, and so I can make all the things I’ve seen over time obvious and show off my methodology. This methodology has made them look extremely foolish. This is something they cannot abide (as predicted) and so they attempted yet again to manipulate me, and I offered to use empirical data to prove I could and haven been able to see their machinations. This made them look very very bad. So now they are thinking about what to do. And also, how to spin it so that they seem like good guys.

All of this ignores the original precept and basis for my arguments: that I asked them to stop bothering me and using my name, and they refused. They continue to carry on and still use my name. This is an absolute proof of their refusal to stop pressing my boundaries and the rules of tumblr. There has been no rebuttal. They haven’t made good faith choices by removing my name to diffuse the situation or admit they ever wronged me.

That’s what has been happening.

I did this to educate and to help. I did it in the hopes I’d one day be able to help them move past this. I do not have I’ll will toward them, but I will not tolerate my boundaries to be breeched.

But thank you kindly for the well wishes.

[you-cant-spell-subtext-without]

SPN 15x05 and my terrible no good very broken brain:

This episode opens with three girls on a camping trip.  

Two of them end up as fodder for the MOTW.  My first question for you fam - why are there three of them?  This could have been perfectly done with just two friends (and probably cheaper, no) - especially when the two that are killed are barely distinguished after death.  They are just “the friends that were killed.”  

So why three of them?

I am crazy enough to think it’s because they are supposed to - in this opening scene - represent another trifecta of people.

yup.  the three girls in the intro scene of 15x05 Proverbs are a irl representation of J2M.  

In case you are doubting me, please know that this episode was directed by Sp8 and write by Steve Yockey (RIP*).

*please note Yockey is alive.  this is a joke.  TY please do not send him condolences on twitter god bles

Let’s look at the dialogue and overanalyze it, under the cut ;). Also, a hat that’s not tin (but actually is).

Here is my theory about each girl; I’ll splice it with the opening dialogue for a treat.

JULIE Okay, okay, okay, okay. Spiced rum with cinnamon. I infused it myself.

Julie = Jared.

FRIEND Bet she learnt that from a podcast.

“Friend” [who is never named]  = Jensen.

[don’t tell me homie doesn’t have a hat thing.  he does.  and so does this random character they didn’t need to even include.  THEY DIDN’T EVEN GIVE HER A NAME THEY JUST WANTED HER TO BE THERE.  IN A HAT.  TO REPRESENT JACKLES.]

JULIE Yes. Yes, I did. And you’re welcome.

***tell me that’s not from an actual J2 panel

FRIEND To our annual camping trip.

***our annual camping trip = 11 total years/seasons of SPN filmed with J2M

JULIE To eleven years of not dying from exposure.

*** to eleven full years/seasons of SPN with all three actors not being canceled.

ASHLEY To our last camping trip.

*** to our last season of the show.

also, and finally - saved the best for last because

Ashley = Misha.

***ANY TIME SPN uses a necktie on a character it is Cas coding (or in this case...Misha coding ;)) 

JULIE Oh God, Ashley. Way to be a downer.

FRIEND We just graduated from college. Can’t we just celebrate that?

ASHLEY Yeah, but you two got jobs. 

***Jared = Walker.  Jensen = The Boys

ASHLEY You’re both leaving. I… have a philosophy degree. And I drive Uber.

*** Misha’s college area of study was social theory. 

Social theories are analytical frameworks, or paradigms, that are used to study and interpret social phenomena.[1] A tool used by social scientists, social theories relate to historical debates over the validity and reliability of different methodologies (e.g. positivism and antipositivism), the primacy of either structure or agency, as well as the relationship between contingency and necessity. 

sure sounds similar to philosophy to me.  The Uber is clearly a joke ;) 

-> all of this NOT TO HATE ON MISHA (firstly, that is my best friend so) - but to say that this directly parallels the trajectories of the three actors after the show.  2 had immediate acting gigs following.  1 did not.  

Of course, not having an immediate acting job IMO was something Misha did intentionally (gauged by his discussions of it on social media, cameo, and cons and also this line ->)

JULIE Well, you did that to yourself.

[ASHLEY glares at JULIE. The other FRIEND looks at JULIE before looking at ASHLEY.]

FRIEND She means you picked a harder road. You’ll find something.

***which member of J2M constantly validates and supports Misha?

JULIE Just drink the rum. It’ll help.

ok, Jared ;)

The girls then hear the C/W a noise outside.

- Jared/Julie is taken first - Jensen/Friend is taken second - only Misha/Ashley remains.

BONUS?  Here’s what the MOTW/werewolf/C*W tells “Ashley” in exchange for leaving her alive.

ANDY (werewolf)

You saw what we did to your friends, right?  Tell anyone about this… you’ll get worse.

(LATER ASHLEY IS FOUND GAGGED AND TIED TO A CHAIR)

I’m not saying C/W sniper but also I’m saying [gunshots].

Because as y’all know:

[lyrebright]

Got through a good chunk of TMA episodes yesterday while at work but didn't really have an opportunity to share my thoughts on them as they came because while my job is conducive to listening to podcasts while I work, it is adamantly not conducive to posting on Tumblr while doing so.

Got through...I think MAG014 to MAG026? So. Thoughts on that block of episodes below!

still not super fond of MAG014 now that I've like actually finished it but I will say that the spooky methodology was Fucking Metal. Getting mailed your body parts before you lose them? High concept art.

MAG015 was probably low-key one of my like...favourite "closed" statements? Since it's clear now that a decent chunk are connected...I don't think this one is (I am prepared to eat my words) but it WAS very visceral, to me. As someone who had to leave a mine tour once from having a panic attack at being in the dark and small underground, this one Got To Me.

My initial reaction to MAG016 was holy shit. Man does not like spiders. And that was about it. Knowing some more things retroactively has made me like. See it from a different angle but I still think my overall takeaway is Man Does Not Like Spiders!

MAG017 was a case of me being Fucking Confused.

I had to check the transcripts WHILE ON THE CLOCK just to make things make sense.

Why The FUCK are they pronouncing Jared and Gerard exactly the same way.

MAG017 was clearly a fucked up books episode! So when I heard the name Jehred, which is apparently how both Gerard and Jared are just Pronounced Across The Pond, I was like oh! Gerard is here! Fucked up books are his thing! But then it was a Jared and I was lost.

Anyway! Good episode I liked it. I think I like the fucked up book episodes. Still would love to know why they get Jon so heated when he is such an asshole about being a skeptic. I can only imagine he has a fucked up book backstory.

Maybe a fucked up book ate his dog?

MAG018: meat

this one made me queasy I didn't like it

MAG019/020! Wasn't expecting a two parter but I definitely liked what we got. It feeding back into a previous statement was really cool and the actual story itself was gripping. Did have me fairly tense though because of the religious stuff mostly I think? I Don't Like Fucking With Demons.

Everytime I went in to do another coat on the room I'd been painting while listening to those episodes I just kept thinking about demons so those are just bad vibes rooms now.

BUT ALSO I called it I KNEW those delivery guys would be coming back into it somewhere. I know worldbuilding when I see it.

Speaking of: I think I'm just deep enough in now to start getting a grasp on the world building of TMA. Like, in a general sense; that one church has been mentioned a few times, something something the lightless flame, that one house on. A hill. Recurring elements are showing. I See Them. I Am Noting Them Down.

I Am Petrified Of Heights. MAG021 Is A No Thank You.

MAG022 MADE ME :D!!!!!!

Another live statement! But this time it is Martin who I am glad to finally properly meet. He seems so sweet Jon why are you so mean to him.

Did Martin kill Jon's dog?

Poor Martin though oh my god

I still feel like I'm missing something re: Jane Prentiss because they're acting like I should know who she is but I SWEAR she didn't pop up before the uh, worm sex statement so I have simply resigned myself to bafflement.

Clearly we're ramping up the plot that exists outside of the statements and I am so excited. Poor Martin though for real. Get some therapy.

Jon gets one (1) point for letting Martin stay in the archives at the end.

(Also: there is something both really funny and really scary about the worm hive lady just. Using Martin's phone to pretend to be him so people didn't like. Call a wellness check or something)

MAG023 Was An Old Timey Episode And That's Literally All I Have To Say About It.

MAG024: I Do Not Like Clowns. Or Dolls. Or Puppets.

Fuck Everything To Do With This Episode, Basically.

Except for Jon and Sasha♡

Jon and Sasha: arguing over the correct pronunciation of calliope. Me, a vtuber fan: (filled with knowledge)

MAG025 was just an exercise in me staring at the skirting I was painting and going But How Are You Not Immediately Cluing In That She Joined A Cult.

This cult has shown up a few times now I think? At least once before, I remember the mention of the closed eye symbol. I'll be keeping an, uh, eye out for more mentions in the future.

MAG026 was where I knocked off for the day and man. Very good. I loved it.

Another Michael?? I SWEAR that I've heard of at least two other Mikes already

I guess I did go to highschool with like eight Sarahs, though.

A Sasha statement! I love her.

I've now "met" both Martin and Sasha. When Do I Get Tim.

Jon is SO much nicer to Sasha than he is to Martin so I can only presume he and Martin do have some sort of torrid past. I'm choosing to believe a primary school Jon slipped Martin a note saying "do you like me" that Martin then promptly threw away because it's the absolutely funniest option.

Sasha Sweetie Your Sense Of Self Preservation Is Fucked.

You do have the gumption of a horror movie final girl though and I admire that.

I can feel the plot building up around me and I am so excited for the final worm showdown, whenever it hits.

Torn between taking a break for a few days and just charging on ahead because I'm so curious as to what happens next, lmao.

[imaginesandinserts]

Irreverent Pt. 47 - Seven Devils

Title: Irreverent Pt. 47 - Seven Devils

Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x Reader Rating: M Words: ~11K

Irreverent Series Masterlist

You'd just arrived at the airport when you got the call from Clyde informing you that there was a terror alert across the EU and flights were being grounded. He'd coordinate agents on the ground but there wasn't much you could do from the States, so you were off the hook until things got figured out.

Great, now what? *------------* Aaron walked towards the plane with the rest of the team, with Reid already spouting facts around unsubs who preferred to shoot their victims from a distance rather than up close. He climbs up the steps and turning, is greeted by you, seated in your usual chair. "Hey, what're you doing here?" He walks up towards you, the rest of the team following close behind, equally surprised to see you. "EU terror alert," you explain while he stashes his luggage away, nodding hello to everyone else. "Clyde said I'm free for the time being and I was already at the airport. Garcia read me in." "Well, it'll be good to have you, kid." Rossi takes a seat in the aisle across from you guys. "Seems like an all hands on deck sort of situation." Everyone settles in and you can't help but notice the small smile that seems to linger on Aaron ever since he saw you. The two of you had only had the past three days together and throughout that, you'd had a soccer match for Jack, a birthday party for one of his friends, and you'd spent Saturday night with the girls; needless to say, it had been tough to get time together for just the two of you. "Was Jack okay?" you ask, turning to Aaron after everyone had finished talking through some of the case details and started to build a preliminary profile on the Unsub. Aaron nods, but your question catches JJ's attention, who looks to you with her eyebrows raised, the puzzled expression on her face imploring you to explain. You're unable to help the smirk that plays at your lips as you do. "We had a - um - staff meeting this morning that Jack wasn't invited to. He wasn't too happy that the door was locked," you explain, biting your lip and barely stifling your giggles. "A staff meeting?" Emily raises her eyebrows at you and you can just imagine the dirty thoughts running through her mind along with the Wow Y/N only soccer moms call getting railed a staff meeting. You meet Aaron's eye and you can see the soft blush to his cheeks that only you would notice. "I simultaneously regret and appreciate my choice of words there," you murmur to him as he shakes his head in amused disapproval. Derek barks out a laugh in reaction to Emily. "Uh huh. Was it a successful meeting?" he asks, wagging his eyebrows at you, toeing the line at ribbing Aaron as well. "I think both parties were pleased with the outcome. At least according to my notes." You turned to look at Aaron, mirth flitting into your gaze. "Would you concur?" He has a small smirk on his face mirroring yours, no doubt thinking back to the fifteen minutes the two of you had caught together before you had to get ready to leave for the airport - once against the aforementioned locked bedroom door and a second in the shower, before you begged him to relent, otherwise you'd be late. He'd been intent on a third. "Some good points were made. However, we might have to do a follow up to ensure we're still aligned," he drawls, getting far too much enjoyment out of the effect his words and low voice would have on you. You lose it at that, unable to keep a straight face. Follow up indeed. "Gross. I feel like I just watched my parents flirting." JJ groans, pushing up from her seat to go rummage around for snacks in the back. She was due anytime now and would be gone on maternity leave starting the following week. She was already mostly out of the field, staying in the precinct and managing the team from there. You knew, that as a result of that, Aaron was actually out in the field a lot more because he trusted JJ to handle the emotions and politics of local officials far better than anyone else. "Morgan, could you check if we're stocked on the M4 ammunition?" Aaron switches gears towards preparing for the landing, a quick brush of his hand to your thigh in promise that there would indeed be a follow up to this morning's activities. Derek nods and gets up, checking on the rifles stock that was brought along. With an Unsub like this, the team would need to be equally equipped to handle any situations that might arise, especially in a sprawling Texas city where guns were aplenty. "Guys," Spencer pipes up, "I don't think I'm actually allowed to use those." He glances around at the rest of the team apprehensively, as Derek and Aaron share a calculated look at his admission. "You're not," they both tell him almost simultaneously, drawing a snort from both you and Emily while Rossi merely smiles and shakes his head, turning his head back to his notes. Reid looks offended and turns on you at that. "Are you certified to shoot those?" His tone implied that he highly doubted you. "I've been shooting since I was six years old," you inform him, a superior look on your face. "I actually set the Academy record for most weapons certifications earned by a trainee." Aaron presses his lips together to keep from smiling while Emily shakes her head with a laugh at you goading Reid. "I didn't know six year olds were allowed to handle guns." "If you're rich in Connecticut, you can do pretty much anything. Just look at the Kennedys." "Touché."

Spencer grumbles to himself a bit more, slouching into his chair. It was his one weak point and he was getting better at it, really. On pretty much everything else, you're sure he'd have you beat.

You turn towards the research you'd been conducting on your own case with Clyde, in your downtime. Things were starting to fit together in an unexpected manner, and you'd had to bend a few rules to start putting all the different pieces in, but you were finally making some headway. It would definitely be faster and easier if you could enlist Garcia's help or bounce ideas off of Aaron, but your hands were unfortunately tied due to the high level of clearance you'd had to obtain to work this case in the first place.

Aaron watches as your head is bent in concentration, his own focus flickering away from the case ahead. You'd only been home for three days but you'd mentioned that your assignment at last had an end in sight. He's hopeful that that means things will be calming down - the two of you would be around one another more again. While Jack had so far done a good job of keeping the secret, he also gave his father a very telling, excited look anytime he saw you, and Aaron could often see Jack's eyes going to your hand where he hoped a ring would soon sit.

*------------*

All of the bodies thus far had been found at the grounds of various places of worship around the city - a few Churches, a Temple, and a Mosque. It would appear most of the actual killings had happened at a different location and the bodies were then moved and left to be found the next morning by unsuspecting worshippers, children, and groundskeepers. The Unsub was an equal opportunity killer - no discrimination in the religious leanings of his victims.

So far the victimology was all over the board - a college student, a local politician, a priest, a housewife, and a video game developer were the five victims so far. It read like the beginnings of a bad joke. A rabbi, a priest, and a horse walk into a bar…

The Unsub had left the bodies of each victim at their chosen place of worship. That, in itself, felt highly personal so there was a chance that the Unsub personally knew each of their victims. This was supported by the methodology - killing the victims from afar was easier on this particular Unsub's constitution.

The team had been spitballing; attempting to establish a connection between the victims. Reid and JJ were working on the geographic profile. Well, Spencer was at least. JJ kept having to leave to go to the restroom every five minutes. In that moment, you definitely did not envy pregnant women. Bearing children wrecked one's body.

The obvious religious themes were all in scope. The theory at the forefront was that each of the victims was being punished for a perceived sin, and Garcia was doing a deeper dive into their finances and online history while the rest of you got to know the families and the victims personally to wrangle out the truth. This was the most difficult part usually - even if someone was an awful person whilst alive, most people became reluctant to speak ill of the dead.

Trusting JJ to handle the centralized headquarters that the team had set up, Aaron left with you to do one set of the interviews. He wanted to speak to the parishioners of the church where the priest had been found, his body jutting out of the confessional booth. You both noted that it was on the opposite side from where the priests would typically sit, symbolically speaking to the fact that the Unsub considered the priest to be a sinner.

"I mean, he's a priest in a Catholic church," you said as the two of you walked up the pathway to the entrance. "The obvious definitely comes to mind."

Aaron agrees with a grimace. Father Patrick had led a youth group and had been doing so for the past decade. There was a high chance the Unsub could be a current or prior victim of sexual assault at his hands. He could also be someone whom a potential victim had confided in, so your suspect list was pretty wide open for the time being.

As suspected, every conversation you had - with church docents and members alike - was highly complimentary to Father Patrick. He was good with the children, kind to the female staff, had a fairly middle ground interpretation of the Bible; an all-around pillar of the community.

"Hopefully Morgan and Prentiss have better luck."

You nod, buckling in your seatbelt and commandeering the music, electing to actually play the White Album for once, drawing a smile from Aaron. He pulls out of the parking space and heads back towards the precinct. You smile to yourself as Aaron's deep voice croons along to Dear Prudence, his fingers tapping along to the beat against the steering wheel while you look out the window at the twilight Texas sky.

*------------*

"So, the girl, Rachel - total know-it-all, not unlike someone else we know…"

Reid glares at Emily as she trails off with a smirk. Her and Derek had gone to do another set of the interviews at the local university and had talked to classmates and professors to learn more about the first victim.

"We all have our suspicions about Father Patrick, but nothing conclusive there. The Councilwoman was taking bribes to block the legislation around the city's free internet policy per Garcia's research. That leaves Mrs. Abad and Ryan Cohen, the designer. We can't tell what their secret might've been, besides some high balances on a credit card for Mrs. Abad."

The team nods at Hotch, confirming his summary of the case so far.

"JJ and I have narrowed down the field to three epicenters across the city." You're surprised that Spencer gave JJ any credit at all for the work they'd done together. JJ had confided in you upon your return, that she'd told Spencer she was going to the bathroom and had instead taken a twenty minute power nap in a supply closet. Her maternity leave could not start soon enough, and you're glad that she's handling this pregnancy in a much more relaxed manner than the first, allowing herself the time off properly.

"Based on the current cadence, we could have another victim in the next couple of days." Rossi looks around the room grimly. You're all well aware that the window to catch the Unsub before another victim materializes is closing quickly. It also usually tends to speed up once the team arrives on the scene. Makes Unsubs nervous. Eager to finish the job faster.

"Would you say Councilwoman Crane was guilty of the sin of greed?" Derek's brow is furrowed, the beginnings of a concrete thought evident in his question.

You nod, encouraging him to continue.

"Pride for the first victim, Rachel."

You agree again, but this time the rest of them are also following along.

"Seven Deadly Sins," Spencer surmises from Derek's trail of crumbs.

"What are all of them?" Emily asks, looking between Derek and Spencer.

Derek shifts from one foot to the other. "Pride, Greed," he lists off, counting with his thumb and index finger.

"Lust, Envy," Aaron supplies, tacking on to the end of Derek's sentence and prompting him to continue the count.

"Gluttony, Wrath, and Sloth," Spencer finishes, turning to write them all down in order on the whiteboard.

The team was finally making some headway.

You stand towards the back of the room looking at the victim board, arms crossed across your chest, leaning against the back wall. "So, let's assume its Lust for Father Patrick. The excessive shopping could be indicative of Envy from Mrs. Abad. You guys did say she lived in a posh neighborhood. Keeping Up With the Joneses lifestyle."

"That leaves Gluttony for Cohen. Kid was pudgy." Rossi had been the one to visit the Medical Examiner, so you all trusted his assessment there.

"They're all in order. Could it be that simple?" Aaron questions, leaned forward in his chair, looking at the board with each of the victims' names listed next to one of the sins.

You contemplate his question as does everyone else. Could it be that simple? An Unsub working down the list of deadly sins, picking out victims that aligned with each one. It would stand to reason, given the working profile - you'd all decided that the Unsub must have an Orthodox religious upbringing, in a militant household.

"Occam's Razor," you answer finally, meeting his eyes, a grim set to your face. This meant there were at least two more victims planned. "The simplest explanation is usually the right one."

*------------*

In the past couple of days, the team had narrowed down the scope of the case, having realized that the Unsub had met all of the victims through various volunteer activities. The working theory was that the Unsub had deemed the victims to all be hypocrites - claiming to be doing charitable works while sinning on the side.

Garcia had cross-referenced volunteer activities between the various places of worship and had come up with charities that all of them supported throughout the city. From there she'd catalogued registered volunteers across all of them, against activities each of the victims attended, however hadn't been able to narrow it down enough.

So, here you were manning the precinct late at night with Aaron, Derek, and Emily. The team was taking it in shifts to see if any missing persons calls came in, with victims fitting into either of the final two remaining sins - Wrath and Sloth. Unfortunately, there were simply far too many options for you to be able to determine who might become the unwitting victim in this Unsub's crusade.

It was calm and quiet, only the whirring of the fan and ambient sounds of the printer filling the silence. The four of you had already eaten and were all nursing hot cups of coffee in order to stay awake in the otherwise empty station. Public statements had been made and hotlines set up in case anyone could provide even a hint as to who the Unsub might be.

Emily was slouched over at the table, her arms cradling her head as another yawn escaped her. Bleary eyed, she looks at you and you weren't much better off, only barely keeping your eyes open, tilting back in your own chair in order to simulate the feeling of tipping over; effectively scaring yourself into staying awake. Derek was seated in front of the laptop, with Garcia on video. The two of them had been playing some game, however it appeared that she'd tired of it, being nearly two hours of a time difference ahead of the rest of you. So now, Derek was just watching her snooze, head bent down to her desk.

You look at Aaron, reading the notes Reid had left behind in order to try and make some sense of everything - uncover something that had slipped through the cracks. His brow is furrowed, head bent in concentration. He'd shed the jacket a while ago and despite the time of year, the Texan climate had forced him to roll up the sleeves of his shirt, exposing delicious swathes of forearm for your perusal. His hands - so large compared to your own, the veins prominent as he flips a page, muscle tensing and flexing as he does. You have to bite your lip to suppress a moan. It was the sleep deprivation. It was getting to you. Yeah, that's it. Not your big, strong boyfriend looking all serious and focused and handsome as he tries to hunt down a serial killer. Nope. Not at all…

You stand up suddenly as your chair tips forward, all four legs finally hitting the ground with a soft crash, cushioned by the carpeted flooring. Loud enough, however, to get Aaron's attention, as he turns to look up at you, the Are you alright? plain to read in his eyes.

"Need fresh air. Gonna go take a walk around the block or something," you explain, shaking your head of the cobwebs that had formed over the course of the past two hours, as the night had slipped into what could better be classified as early morning.

Aaron sets the papers down and turns to Morgan, indicating that he was going to join you. If you thought he was letting you go out alone, at this hour, with a killer on the loose, you were certifiable.

He watches as you slip on your blazer but he doesn't bother with his own. It would be quick and it wasn't too cold anymore. He follows you through the precinct and out the front doors, down the steps, matching your shorter pace easily - he's used to it by now.

"You sure you're alright?" he asks, once the two of you have reached the street. You merely hum tiredly and nod, so he grabs your hand in his, and walks in step with you, turning the corner past the precinct.

It is a little colder outside than it was inside, but his larger hand encompasses yours entirely, making you feel like a child swathed in his warm embrace. The cool air filters through your nostrils, reinvigorating your mind, giving it the jumpstart needed to function once more.

The two of you don't talk as you walk hand in hand down the sidewalk, him walking on the outside as he always does. Only the streetlamps are on, little pockets of light between stretches of darkness. Your mind is at peace. You aren't thinking about this case or your other one. You aren't thinking about any responsibilities and obligations. No worries. Just silent. It's so rare for your mind to be quiet that you relish in it. Allow yourself to bathe in the soundless symphony occupying the chasm in your brain.

As you approach the final turn that will lead you back to the entrance of the station, you find yourself watching Aaron again. He'd been so patient with the entire case with Interpol, despite it taking a toll on him. He'd been pulling double duty - doing all the things he does while also subbing in for everything you're unable to do at home. Him and Jack had sent you a cooking video of the two of them last time you'd been away, as Jack bossed Aaron around in the kitchen and helped him make your chocolate chip cookies for the bake sale at school. You'd sent Aaron detailed instructions, as he'd have to be the one to help Jack brown the butter and ensure he didn't burn himself. You knew he must have been frustrated with the extremely particular list of ingredients you'd sent him, down to the brand of salt flakes (the pièce de résistance of the entire experience)  that got sprinkled on top. Yet, he'd tackled it all with aplomb, not complaining to you even once. Jack had confided in you afterwards that Aaron had had to go to three different stores because the salt flakes were a rare item and not every branch of the nicer grocery store carried them. He'd done it though, and Jack had told you they'd turned out exactly like yours. Even Emily had texted you to validate this, asking if you'd come back without telling her when Aaron had brought a batch in for the team the following day.

Aaron feels a tug on his hand right before the turn. You'd stopped and his hand was still holding yours, forcing him to stop as well. You're stood in the shadows, right between two patches of light, your face immersed in darkness, and before he can say anything, he's lightly pushed against the brick wall exterior of the police station building. He lands with a soft oomph. You lean up against him, pressing yourself along the length of him and going up on your toes - utilizing the entirety of your ballet training - your lips meeting his in a heated kiss. He groans into your mouth, hands wrapping around your hips on instinct alone, tongue tracing your bottom lip before gently nipping at it, taking advantage of your resulting gasp to make his way into your mouth, licking every part of you available to him. He lifts you up, wrapping your legs around him and turns to hold you against the wall instead, pressing into the inviting warm juncture of your thighs.

"What brought this on?" he hums, moving from your lips to your jaw, down the column of your neck, his teeth grazing your collarbone.

You shiver at his efforts, a flip in your stomach as you feel the edge of his teeth, followed by the soft bite at the bend of your neck. Unable to answer him, lost in the feeling of his lips and teeth against your skin, your hands mussing through his hair, softly pulling and drawing vibrated groans from him.

At the absence of an answer, he pauses, looking up until he has your full attention, meeting your darkened eyes contrasting against your bashful expression. Your breath hitches when his eyes meet yours. "I love you," you muster with some concentration, soft and blissful, pulling his face back down to meet your sweetly puckered lips once more, drawing him into the cacophonous sea of feeling along with you.

By the time the two of you make it back to the conference room that Derek and Emily were sat in, Emily has stood up, leaning flat against the back wall. Derek has moved as well, taking residence in your old chair, leaning backwards much the same way you had.

"What about you guys?" he asks as you and Aaron enter.

You avoid Emily's knowing look. "What about us?"

"This whole thing - case - heaven and hell. You believe in it?"

"I went the agnostic route," Emily adds, stretching and arching her back like a cat. "If it exists, great. If not, no skin off my back."

Derek looks at the two of you expectantly.

Aaron nods quickly, returning to his old seat, feeling a lot lighter than before. He'd grown up Catholic - heaven and hell were ever-present concepts in his home.

You shrug, grabbing your lukewarm cup of coffee and dropping onto the couch. Your family had been more religious for the sake of appearances and connections rather than any true faith-inspired feelings.

Derek chuckles lightly. "Okay, so if they do exist," he says, turning back to Emily who had sunk down to the floor, seated with her legs stretched out in front of her. "Where you think you're headed?"

"Let me guess, you think you're going to heaven," Emily taunts, a mocking grin on her face.

"I do good, I am good," Derek replies assuredly. "Everything else is up to God. Right, Hotch?"

Aaron breathes out half a laugh along with a raise of his brows, which was about as much agreement Derek could hope for there.

"What about you Princess?"

You look at him, slight roll of your eyes to the ceiling. "Pretty sure patricide rules me out for a ticket to heaven," you respond, your words coated with sardonic dismissal.

Heaven. Hell. What did it even matter when you're dead?

It was a good thing that you hadn't looked at Aaron at that, because if you had, you would've noticed an entirely odd expression on his face at your words - he decides to pin his thoughts for a conversation at a later time. Once the case was wrapped up.

*------------*

"Anything you know could help us identify your husband's killer. Were you able to get a good look at him?"

JJ and Derek are running the interrogation on the latest victim's wife while the rest of the team watches from the other room. The body had been found at the edges of yet another church's grounds, marking it as the sixth victim. However, this time, a witness had emerged. The Unsub had taken Dylan Rogers from his front yard at gunpoint and Ashley Rogers, his wife, had seen it all happen from the living room before calling it in to the precinct.

"She seems tense - her shoulders have been hunched this entire time. Her facial expressions have varied from somber to haunted almost." Reid shifts closer as he profiles Mrs. Rogers, studying her body language.

"Morgan said it seemed like he might have hit her. He saw some bruising when she went to the house to pick her up," Prentiss adds, her voice grave.

Aaron acknowledges both Reid and Prentiss with a nod, his eyes fixed on the interaction taking place in the other room.

"Would fit into the umbrella of Wrath." Rossi mused from beside Aaron. All of you continue to watch while JJ brings in a sketch artist to help Mrs. Rogers construct a likeness of the Unsub.

"It must be killing her - if it's true. Having to help find his killer. Imagine the number of times she must've dreamt of hurting him in the same way he hurt her." All of you turn from Emily back to Mrs. Rogers, thinking on her statement.

"She could've left," Reid reasoned distractedly, his expression casually appraising Mrs. Rogers still for any signs that she might be concealing anything.

You find yourself bristling at that, and you've spoken out before you could stop yourself. "You know, it's funny how whenever we see cases like this. Cases where a man continuously beat up his partner, that's the question on everyone's lips. Why didn't she leave? Why did she stay?"

Reid turns to you, his mouth open and ready to contradict you or apologize, you're unsure, but you continue. "We never ask, why didn't he stop?"

Emily snorts from beside you, her lips pressed tightly together as you both watch Mrs. Rogers working with the sketch artist. She turns to Spencer after a look at you. "Because we accept men as monsters. That is their natural state. Those of them that didn't give in to it - we exalt them. We call them good men. Better men. Because they didn't beat us and hurt us and watch us bleed."

There's a tense silence but this is a sentiment that none of them are unfamiliar with. Reid should've known better.

You see Spencer shift uncomfortably, obviously apologetic for his earlier statement. You shake your head slightly and offer him a small smile, reassuring him that he's alright. This kind of stuff, just hits closer to home for some of you.

Your eyes meet Aaron's and he's looking at you with the question in his eyes that you'd expected as soon as you'd opened your mouth. You shake your head at him too, before turning your gaze back to the front.

Aaron watches you for a beat more, his eyes trained to the side of your face, your unwavering eyes set upon Ashley Rogers and your words swimming in his mind. His eyes had asked the question that he already knew the answer to unfortunately. Yet another reason for him to despise Matthew van Doren's entire existence.

"You know, there was a time I thought he was the love of my life." You all can hear Mrs. Rogers talking to JJ as the sketch artist wraps up. "We had that love - that wake up Sunday morning with pancakes and lose yourself in each other under white sheets kind of love. I don't know when it all went wrong."

*------------*

With the aid of Mrs. Rogers' description, Garcia was able to run a digitally enhanced version of the sketch against all known volunteers who had been at most of the events attended by each of the victims in the weeks prior to their deaths. After that, apprehending the Unsub was just a matter of tying together the identified man to each of the victims directly.

The team was able to prevent the final murder, and while that was of little solace to everyone, there was a tiny part of you that felt happy for Ashley Rogers in all of it. Sometimes the exit route we need arrives in the most unexpected of manners, and it is on us to recognize it and seize it for ourselves. You really hoped that Ashley would claim a new and better destiny for herself.

Since it was late, Aaron was unable to get the jet to fly back the same night, so the team was huddled into a corner of the hotel lounge with drinks in hand. While you're thrilled that you were able to prevent the final victim from being taken, this wasn't the best case the team had worked. You can see it in everyone's eyes, the way they hold their drinks, the hushed whispers contemplating if there was something that would've pointed to him sooner.

You feel bad that you aren't even really thinking about this case anymore. Your mind is preoccupied by the contents of the file you've left upstairs in the hotel room. You nod along to Emily and Derek's conversation, glass of wine held languidly in hand while you mentally collate the work you'd done so far. You know you're contributing nothing to the current conversation, and mercifully both of them have left you to your thoughts. Knowing there's not much chance of you being able to distract yourself tonight, you stand and bid good night to them before walking over to Aaron and Rossi, seated over a chessboard with Reid. They were playing two against one and Reid was still the favored choice to win.

"I'm going to head upstairs." You lean in and whisper softly to Aaron so as to not disrupt the game.

He turns his head to look up, brow furrowed ever so much. It wasn't like you to turn in early when there was a chance to socialize with the team. "I can come with." He grabs his drink as though to finish it, but you stop him with a hand to his shoulder.

"It's alright. Stay." You brush a kiss against his temple before nodding good night to the rest of them, intent on making some progress once you reached the room.

By the time Aaron gets upstairs, it is much later. Reid had won but Rossi had insisted on a rematch. Rossi just wanted to see Reid beat just once, however Aaron was wise to not bring attention to the fact that you've never played him. He knows that Reid has asked you, but you've made up excuses to not play. He'd always wondered about that, and having seen the chessboard in the New York apartment had made him realize that there was actually a good chance that you could beat Reid if you wanted to. Reid was a genius. That fact couldn't be denied. He knew everything about everything. You were different from that. Reid was driven by his pure drive for knowledge - that desire to understand the world around him better. You learned with more purpose, intention - with the need to add knowledge and skills to your toolkit, ready to whip out and be unleashed upon your opponents.

He enters the room just to see you exiting the bathroom, a robe wrapped around your body. He can't help but sigh internally at the sight. His soft, fluffy, perfect little personal teddy bear. He couldn't wait to just crawl into bed, already fearing that you'd be on another flight out the following day.

You acknowledge his presence with a smile, while toweling your hair dry.

"Who won?" There's a crooked smile on your face as you watch him take off his jacket and tie. As if you didn't already know who would win.

"Reid. Rossi wants another rematch on the plane." He shakes his head, walking further into the room. Closer to you.

You laugh softly as Aaron reaches you, looking exhausted from the long week and yet, he seems alright. All in all, this case hadn't been absolutely terrible. "Hasn't he learned his lesson by now?"

"He's a glutton for punishment." He steps forward, grabbing the towel from you and prompting you to turn around as he takes over drying your hair with soft tussles, allowing the cloth to absorb water all the way from root to end.

You hum at his actions, letting yourself to be lulled into the peaceful, floaty state that you always enter whenever he plays with your hair. It just felt too good.

"You should just give in and play him sometime." He knows he's pulling at that little thread there, curious as to how you'll react at him having deduced something you hadn't told him upfront.

You merely chuckle softly, seemingly unsurprised that he'd worked that out for himself. His profiling skills no longer surprise you much, especially when it comes to yourself. He could read you like none other. "We wouldn't want Spencer to cry, now would we?"

Aaron bites his lip, preventing a smile threatening to sneak out at that. It was nice knowing he'd been right about that. He'd have to make you play him at least. He needed to see how good you were for himself.

You turn around, halting his actions. You'd gotten a call from Clyde when you'd gotten upstairs and you were already set to fly out tomorrow on a red eye. You'd booked the ticket, making the necessary upgrades on your own dime.

"Tomorrow?" he guessed, noting the expression on your face when you looked up at him, drawing yourself up on your toes and wrapping your arms  around his neck, the towel slipping from his hands and onto the floor between your feet.

You nod with a sigh, before coaxing him down, and he's quick to meet your lips with his own, knowing the two of now only have tonight. Tomorrow would be spent on the plane and then you'd have to fly out before he'd get even another hour alone with you. His hands instinctively find your waist, drawing you in flush against him. He deepens the kiss when one of your hands moves from his neck to cup his cheeks, thumb brushing over the peaking stubble around his jaw. You hate leaving like this. You can't wait for it to be over. For there to be no more goodbyes layering his touch and yours.

Aaron hugs you closer, wrapping his arms around you fully, the plush robe giving him far more to grab on to. Your lips against his, moving softly, insistently. You break away, struggling to be on your toes for much longer, so he moves, pushing you up onto the desk and coming to stand between your legs as your lips find their place once more against his, this time hands working at the buttons to his shirt as well.

"Wanted to talk to you about something." He breaks away, allowing you to pepper kisses down his jaw and the column of his neck. If the two of you only had today, he didn't want to risk forgetting and having the issue go stale before bringing it up again. He can feel your mouth, sucking, teeth lightly grazing the skin at his collarbone, undoubtedly leaving marks for him to admire afterwards when you were gone. At your hum, he continues relying on your ability to multitask. "Did you mean it, when you said you aren't going to heaven?"

You pause, looking up at him curiously and being reminded of the question Derek had asked. You hadn't realized it had affected Aaron, and yet thinking back on it, of course it had. Your answer had been entirely flippant. He was so serious when it came to things like this. "Yes. I did." Your voice is measured as you answer him, eyeing him carefully to watch his reaction. Even still, his hands have managed past the tie on your robe and his hands are caressing the bare skin of your sides, drawing a soft sigh from your mouth at the sensation. "By any definition of heaven and God and the Bible, murder isn't exactly condoned."

Had this been a few months ago, Aaron knew that this would have been an entirely different conversation. He could appreciate how entirely blunt you're able to be about how you've framed this for yourself. He might not agree with it, but he can appreciate the honesty. "Bible also says an eye for an eye." He raises an eyebrow at you, indicating that he wasn't about to let this go. Not when it came to the matter of your immortal soul. This mattered to him.

A gasp escapes you as his hands travel up your sides more deliberately, causing shivers against your sensitive skin at the feel of his roughly calloused fingers skimming, exploring, claiming. That's what his touch always felt like. A claim.

You try to focus as you think of a response, hands resuming unbuttoning his shirt and undoing the buckle to his belt. You can see he's already hard and as your fingers ghost over the bulge, he exhales sharply, eyes focused on your hands.

Realizing he wasn't getting an answer from you immediately, he helps you out by undoing the button and lowering the zipper on his pants, taking them off as you watch. You're a little confused by the conversation taking place, but you also knew this going into a relationship with Aaron. Like it or not, he was religious. Your family simply hadn't been much. It wasn't the same religious orthodoxy that Aaron had grown up with, at the very least. He wasn't by any means stringent about it, but some beliefs were innate. Good people go to heaven. Bad people go to hell. As far as he was concerned, you were a good person.

"Heaven and hell - I didn't grow up with that. But that whole eye for an eye thing, I don't think that really applies when it comes to taking a life." You help him slip the shirt off of his shoulders as you speak, the material slipping and falling to the ground as well. Aaron actually undoes the tie to your robe this time, pushing the material off of you almost roughly, eager to expose skin that he couldn't wait to taste. His hands move up to cup your breasts, kneading the flesh - the air in the room and his attentions causing your nipples to pucker, teasing him. He's unable to resist bending down and taking one into his mouth, gently sucking as his fingers tweak the other into submission as well, drawing a keening sound from deep within you, distracting you from your train of thought as you're drenched in the warmth of his touch.

You're entirely bare before him as his mouth moves to the other nipple, hands traveling down, grazing over your stomach and down your thighs, causing them to tremble. He pushes your legs apart, letting go of the nipple, his mouth returning to yours with a renewed fervor. His fingers pick up the evidence of your arousal around them, and he caresses your folds, before entering you with two fingers, his thumb finding your clit and rubbing over it as his fingers scissor inside you, locating the spot that has you arching your back, moans escaping you into his mouth.

Aaron releases your mouth so that he can watch you. Your hands scramble for purchase, bunching into the robe beneath you that soaks up your juices as he continues to work you up. Higher and higher. Your breath panting, breasts thrust up as you can feel the orgasm threatening to overtake your body. It only takes another circular motion of his thumb and the ask to Let go by him, for you to go crashing under the waves, your walls pulsing around his fingers. He watches you fall apart, your arms going up to hug against your breasts as you arch and shake and moan for him, his name falling from your lips repeatedly as he continues his machinations against your sensitive bud, intent on drawing it out. He loves to just watch you like this. Begging him to keep going, your breathy voice urging him on, your gorgeous face, mouth falling open - all for him. His beautiful little princess, entirely at his mercy.

He kisses you again as you come down, your earlier conversation entirely wiped from your mind. But not his. Never his. Aaron could focus and keep track of things in amazing order. He hated that you thought you weren't destined for heaven. It shouldn't matter - such an abstract concept and who even knew, really. But in the off chance it did, he didn't want you to think you'd be excluded. You couldn't be.

Your jelly arms and legs wrap around him and he's already worked down his boxers, revealing his thick, hard cock, eager to be buried inside you. He gathers you up in his arms, pulling you to the edge of the desk, before lifting you up and moving the two of you to the bed, managing to drop you onto it sideways, before quickly climbing on top.

You move your hands to card through his hair, watching him, his lovely brown eyes looking down at you, causing a flurry of emotion in your stomach. He leans down and slots his lips against yours once more, allowing you to get lost in the feel of him. You release him with a gasp, finding it difficult to take in air, and he allows you to breathe as he moves and presses a kiss to your shoulder, entering you in one quick thrust. "Genesis 9:5 says, for your lifeblood, I will surely demand an accounting."

What? You couldn't believe him. He was quoting the fucking Bible while buried in you to the hilt.

"Aaron - "

You're cut off as he moves out, the tip of his cock rubbing against your clit, distractingly. Perfectly. Fuck.

He enters you again, harshly, his cock finding that spot inside you as he does. His voice deep and guttural, a groan falling from his mouth as he invades you fully once more. "From each man, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man."

He was still doing it. How could he even remember to quote the Bible right then?! You couldn't even remember your own name.

You don't have the words as Aaron continues, pumping into you, his hand finding your clit to help you reach your peak faster. Neither one of you would last long. You're already a trembling, shuddering mess beneath him, back arched up, feet planted against the mattress for support, your hands traveling and touching any skin of his they could reach.

You can feel his breath hot against your ear, the weight of him on top of you as he ruts his hips against yours, and you can tell he's close. So very close. His hips stutter as your hands find their way into his hair, pulling softly, just enough. "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed." He was intent on fucking the verse into you. You release a broken cry at the feel of him. At his words. The passionate, gravely quality of his voice. He finishes with a loud groan, spilling into you, his ministrations against your clit paying off, propelling you towards the precipice as well. Your walls squeeze his cock, pulsing, clenching at the feel of his release inside you. He groans again, dropping on top of you, his hand going down and wrapping your thigh around him, pushing himself further into you still.

He lays on you for a moment longer, the only sound in the room being your breath and thudding hearts, beating in sync.

You're entirely drowned in ecstasy, even as you try to grasp onto the threads of the conversation the two of you had been having. You run your fingers through his soft hair, brushing back the sweat from his forehead, not minding the weight of him on you. He was crushing you entirely and you wouldn't exchange that for anything. No death could be better. Sweeter.

He rolls off of you after a few more moments, dropping next to you on his back, his legs dangling off the side of the bed.

You breathe deeply, before flipping over to lay on your back. You can feel the evidence of both of your releases inside you, but you can't be too bothered to care right then. Your hazy mind has managed to remember the conversation, and you turn your head, tucking your arms underneath to support it as you watch Aaron. He's laid on his back, one arm under his head, eyes closed and chest rising and falling, slowly settling into a steady state.

"If I wasn't going to hell for the patricide already, I'm definitely going to hell now for finding that far too hot." Your voice comes out low and whiny, a near whisper being all you could manage.

Aaron releases a breath of a laugh before he turns to settle on his side, drawing his legs up, moving closer so he's right beside you. So you can feel his skin against yours.

You reach out, your hand cupping his face and he leans in all too willingly, kissing you softly, completely. As he pulls back, you can feel his eyes examining you - searching. Trying to figure out what exactly it is that had you so thoroughly convinced that you didn't belong in heaven. Because he knows you and while at the time killing your father had been awful, he knew that you believed it had been right. Otherwise you wouldn't have done it.

"Can we accept the premise that killing your father isn't a dealbreaker?" he asks cautiously, his hand reaches out, settling into the curve of your waist, fingers curling into the skin. "What is it really?"

You blink, moving into his embrace, hands fidgeting slightly. You're nervous and you're sure he can tell. However, you know you need to tell him. Tell someone. If anyone should know, it's him. You lick your lips and sigh, looking up into his darkened eyes. "You've met my father. If you had to profile him, how would you do it?" Your voice is quiet, timid, unsure.

Your question is met by some apprehension. Aaron isn't certain, however he hesitantly answers you. "Control freak. Narcissist with a God complex."

You nod at his blunt assessment. "Did you ever wonder why my father - why he let me get away with so much?"

He hadn't.

"I broke off an exceptionally advantageous engagement. He did nothing. I cashed out my trust fund and ran away - slutting it up - " He flinches. " - on the cover of every trashy editorial. Crickets. I joined the FBI and he tried to take me out for dinner. Does he seem like the kind of man that tolerates that kind of insubordination?"

Aaron realizes that he should've thought about these questions. He should've thought to protect you from this back then. It was a miss. Especially after finding out what he had about Julian's death. And yet, there had never been anything in your father's interactions with you to suggest that he would do anything to truly harm you. Despite your fear of him.

"Do you remember what you wrote - in my recommendation letter to McKinney?" you murmured, your face right against his. If he moved a millimeter closer you'd be able to feel your nose against his.

Aaron watches you, his brow furrowing, wondering where exactly this was headed. He nods. He remembers. Your skin under his hands is starting to develop goosebumps. Without a word, he grabs you, shifting and maneuvering so that the two of you are laid together, heads at the headboard finally. He pulls at the blankets, draping them over you both and draws you back against him.

You place a quick kiss to his chest in thanks, fingers brushing over the scars that have persisted. Over time, he's become a lot more comfortable having his shirt off around you. It's still not something he will do in public, but around you, he feels comfortable enough. After all, you'd seen them back when they had been much worse.

He nods at you to continue. He has a need to know now. He has to know.

"The night that Matthew proposed to me, Julian and I got into a huge fight," you confess, legs tangling with his as your fingers trace the mapping of lines down his chest and stomach. "He revealed to me that my father - that the proposal was orchestrated. That it was part of some deal between our fathers. That - ." Your voice breaks and Aaron is quick to run his hands soothingly down your back, whispering soft encouragement in your ears, his lips following your hairline. You sniffle and continue on. "He told me that our father gave me away. Without asking. Without talking to me about it. He sold me."

It's Aaron who is lost for words this time. Out of all things, this - this he could not possibly have prepared for. All things considered, you're holding up remarkably, while his mind reels, putting everything he knows about Matthew into context with this new piece of information. He's struck by a tornado of anger towards your father. How dare that man - that awful, cruel man, treat you like property? To be traded and sold at his whims as if you weren't a fully fledged human being of your own.

You find yourself rubbing your hands up and down Aaron's arms, knowing that he must be processing everything all at once. You've had nearly a decade to deal with it and it still feels overwhelming at times.

"I didn't want to believe it, but it made sense."

Aaron opens his mouth to speak - to say something helpful but no words come. You shake your head, reassuring him that it was alright. He needn't say anything.

"So, I woke him up. We talked. I told him I wasn't about to waste my life - being the perfect daughter and the perfect wife. I couldn't."

He nods. He expected nothing less. You weren't some trophy wife.

"Matthew didn't want me to work after we got married. But I wanted something to work towards. Something that would be mine.  It wasn't fair that just because Dominic was the eldest son - that he would get it all. Everything. The entire empire. It was the one thing Matthew could never deny me. He wouldn't have dared."

Aaron's eyes widen as the realization begins to sink in. He takes in your gaze - blazing with renewed fire and fury at the situation you'd been in. The fervor within to escape, be your own person within the confines of the life you were in.

"My father - he fought me on it. Because the thing is, sons inherit the earth. Sons and not daughters." You take a deep breath, watching Aaron who appears to have followed along marvelously, because you can tell that he knows exactly what you're trying to say now.

"I showed him, however -- " You nod your head shakily "-- how I had built connections with all the right people. How I was smarter, would work harder, be better than anyone else he could possibly hope for to fill his shoes."

"You'd take over." His voice is low and the words feel reluctant on his tongue. Resigned despite the truth of them.

You nod. There it was - it was finally out there. Your worst secret that no one else had ever known. This secret had gone to the grave with your father. You hadn't even told John, knowing how disappointed he would've been in you - especially so soon after Julian's passing.

Aaron looks at you, taking in the guilt behind your eyes, the fear at revealing this to him. He knows too, that you're right. That if you had applied yourself to that, even half as well as you did to your job, you would've done it brutally well.

"That's why you think you aren't going to heaven," he concludes, his hands still rubbing up and down your back. He can feel your heart beating rapidly against his chest. It wasn't killing your father. It was this. "Sweetheart, you didn't do it, though. You didn't."

"I would've," you argue. "If Uncle Robert hadn't told me, even with Julian dead, I would've. I signed up for all of it Aaron. He trained me. He groomed me. Those things that you wrote in your letter to McKinney - all about how I'm adept at reading people. Because I can manipulate anyone into doing anything I want. He taught me how to do that. That I have an aptitude for navigating politically nuanced situations - because he showed me how to get close to the people that really matter. That I am exceptional at tactical planning - because from that day onwards, he planned out my entire life. And I let him. I helped him. Everything I did, anyone I spoke to, was all part of it. Part of his plans. So when I left, he wasn't ready to let go. He wasn't ready to waste his investment in me." The words leave you like a storm - evidence in the case you'd been building against yourself, carved from marble and sitting heavy against your heart for the past decade. You hated how much of him you saw in yourself.

You're breathing really hard and there are tears clinging to your lashes as Aaron continues to hold you, pulling you in even closer, if that were possible. He couldn't even imagine how long you'd carried this with you. Nearly a decade of guilt and for what? For something you hadn't even carried through with.

"You didn't actually do it," he repeats himself, brushing his lips against your forehead, knowing that right then that's what you need. All the reassurance that he doesn't see you any differently. That he never could. Especially not for this.

"Aaron, I would've been someone the Bureau goes after. Someone you'd have gone after. But the difference is, I would've never been caught."

Again, he knows you're right. Aaron isn't even surprised really at your entire confession - it stood to reason that you'd want the keys to the kingdom. From what he knew of you and your siblings, you really would be the person who was most capable, despite the dubious nature of the job. He's not naïve enough to think you couldn't have done it if you wanted to. You would've been exceptional at it. But you didn't. Given the chance today, you wouldn't. For him, that's what mattered.

He brushes the hair out of your face tenderly, sweeping away all the wisps and baby hairs, holding your face in his hands. "You need to forgive yourself, Y/N. You need to realize that there is a difference between signing up for something and actually doing it. What you actually did, that's what matters. Regardless of the circumstances. That's what truly happened."

You're quiet, so he holds you. He can feel the tears trickling down your face, onto his chest as you bury your head into him once more.

It was an upheaval, telling him all of this. It's Aaron - and despite everything awful that you've revealed just then, he's being kind, compassionate, and understanding. You just told him that you'd essentially signed up to do every evil job known to mankind and he was comforting you. Making sure that you wouldn't beat yourself up. That you forgave yourself. He didn't even - it was as if it didn't even matter to him. How could it not, though? How could it not claw at him, being tangled up with someone he knows to be entrenched in evil?

"You are a good person, Y/N. A wonderful person. This - this one thing doesn't define you. Being good is a series of decisions and choices in that direction. One thing doesn't derail it entirely. That's what amends are for. What forgiveness is for. To show us that no matter what, we always have a chance." Aaron could only hope that you saw yourself the way he saw you. As someone who tried to be good. As someone who was good, through trying alone.

You want to believe him. You do. It sounds peaceful. But how do you know if you've made enough amends? How do you know if you've done enough?

He knows you're struggling to believe him. He wants to convince you, paint it into your skin, emblazon it onto your soul in a manner so unmistakable that you'd never question it again. You're a good person. He needs you to believe it. Desperately.

Aaron tilts your face up by your chin, his lips meeting yours intensely. "You are a wonderfully good person, Y/N" His whisper falls against your lips, forcing you to swallow in his words. Breathe them in. Taste them. Let them settle into your stomach.

He places another kiss to the turn of your neck, tongue peaking out to lick at mark he'd left earlier, soothing over it. "You're a hero. You save people." He will make you believe it.

You watch in awe as he shifts, placing another kiss to the swell of your breasts. "You take such good care of me and Jack." He will make you believe that you're the good he sees in life. Through all the horrors he sees day in and day out, he looks to you and he sees goodness and purity, laughter and joy.

You can feel the tears welling up again in your eyes, for an entirely different reason as you watch him. Watch this man, make his way down the length of your body, reminding you that you conquer monsters for a living. Remind you that you took down your father and in turn prevented him from doing more evil. Impress upon you the importance of everything you've accomplished since then - all the people you've saved, all the happiness you've brought, all the people you've loved.

You can't help but press yourself to him. Closer to him. Because his touch is the forgiveness you can never seem to give yourself. His touch is pure. His touch is good. It is divinity itself. Maybe if he touched you enough, it could make up for it all. Letting his essence cover up everything that came before.

Aaron draws up on his haunches, having just kissed your clit, causing your eyes to roll back into your head. You taste like what he imagines sunshine might taste like. He moves you up with him, into his lap and waits until you've met his mouth of your own volition, before pulling you down onto his cock, seating you fully against him.

You can taste yourself on his lips. You can feel him inside you so entirely, consumingly, fully. He clutches onto you, the drag of him inside you so powerful and potent, the bubbling euphoria encasing you. Your arms curl around his shoulders, fingers in his hair, as his wrap around your hips, helping you ride his cock exquisitely. Vastly, painstakingly slow.

Aaron watches you in his lap, taking him in - his. Mine. Mine. Mine. A chant on repeat in his brain as your wet, velvety walls grip him like a vice. Your beautiful pink lips parted ever so slightly, eyes half lidded. In his lap, against his body, taking his cock. This - this was goodness. You were the source of all pleasure, delight, and happiness that he feels. If that is not goodness, then what is? If the God he calls God didn't recognize you as such, then what kind of God was he? Because he would gladly worship at your altar instead, if need be.

His hands grip you excruciatingly tight against him, unwilling to leave even the semblance of room between the two of you. It was as though he began where you ended and you ended where he began. "I don't care if you believe you're going to heaven or not," he declares, watching you take him. "I'm going to believe it enough for the both of us."

Before you can say anything in response, he draws your attention downwards, forcing you to watch. Watch as he exits you, wet and shiny, drenched in your arousal. Watch as he brings you back down, entering you immeasurably slowly and causing you to clench and flutter around him. His.

You look back up, meeting his warm brown eyes, shining with love and compassion and the utmost respect. Everything that made you fall in love with this man. You watch as he pushes into you, moves you just so - so as to perfectly hit that spot inside you. You tilt your head back on a moan, your body shuddering and your back arching once more, pushing you closer and closer against him. When you return to face him, he looks at you. His eyes fixed on you. That look on his face, was nothing short of reverent.  

You come achingly fast, teeth sinking into his shoulder as you shudder around him, taking in his release. He continues through it, pushing his cum back into you in the process, keeping it there, mingling with both of your earlier release.

You're entirely weak as you sit in the cradle of his arms, balancing on his thighs. Your mind is far away and present at once. Present only in him - his touch, his feel, his lips, his words - surrounding you thoroughly.

You are both unhurried in your movements as you clean up together, no need or desire to speak further, content in the silence of one another.

Aaron cleans up the bed, making sure there are fresh sheets, as he watches your tired body put on the small slip you'd left out earlier. Your hair was wet again and he grabs a fresh towel, drying it once more as you lean against him, unable to stand on your own for much longer, your body still sore. He can see the marks he'd left behind blooming and he takes extra care as he urges you towards the freshly made bed. You slip in to your side as he lifts the duvet, quickly climbing in beside you and tucking the two of you into the covers - swaddling your body against his own. He places a gentle kiss to your lips, murmuring his love against them, the echo of his words reverberating against them. You fall asleep first, entirely spent, physically and emotionally. With any luck you'll enter a deep, dreamless sleep. He can hear your steady and even breaths paralleled with the slow rise and fall of your chest, persuading him to join you in slumber.

Even if you didn't go to heaven - if for some God forsaken reason you were denied entrance - he'd willingly, gladly, go to hell with you.

With that final thought, he gives in to the call of your warmth and the sound of your breaths, allowing himself to be drawn into sleep beside you.