#didn't do flashback versions as different characters this time oops

[ironwoodprotectionsquad]

hi, it's me again! i've got a question i can't seem to find an answer to, but i think i saw a screenshot where thornmane implied he was angry at james for passing him over because he -didn't- have a semblance? is that the case, or have i misunderstood? also, it seems ... out of character for james to do that tbh, so what's the deal?

I’m seeing a lot of confusion about the whole situation so you’re not alone. According Thormane himself James said “theirs no fit for your semblance”

Does it feel kind of harsh? Yea definitely. But we know from what Clover said each Ace Op is hand picked so that they all complement each other. From what I know we never find out what his semblance is sadly but as harsh as it may seem, their is a certain logic to wanting to make sure his top team all works well with one another. And on some level I get the feeling their is a chance James knew he only wanted to be in the Ace Ops for power and glory. They’re old friends (according to James) so to assume James didn’t know on some level he wanted the fame and glory of being a hunter would’ve to me kind of silly but this goes into headcannon territory for me personally.

What is canon though is that James said his semblance wouldn’t fit with the Ace Ops. Given that those words came from Thornmane their is also the possibility over time what James actually said got more twisted up as he got angrier and angrier like maybe what James actually said was more like “I’m sorry but we’ve found someone we think is a better fit for the Ace Ops” kind of like in the Incredibles the way we actually see the scene and the was Syndrome remembers the scene are very different because his anger has colored his perception of the events? That’s kind of what I’m talking about where anger and rage take over and change things to make you look better.

I’m not trying to say that even his version of events make James look like a complete asshole even but just trying to say we only have one half of the story and the half we’re getting feels kind of harsh yes but it does make sense James would be picky about his top team and it’s very likely if a lot of people wanted to be on the team it could boil down to picking based on a person’s semblance and we don’t have James’s side of events nor do we ever get a flashback so we don’t know for sure exactly how the whole thing went down thus all of the speculations in this answer lolZ.

But long answer short no he doesn’t say because he has no semblance he says because his (currently unknown) semblance was not a good fit with the rest of the team. Though this makes me even more curious about what his semblance is actually and to know when in the timeline this happened. Was he hoping to have what is currently Marrows spot or was this way earlier? Why not go after the Ace Ops as well in his anger? Dang it this is leaving me with so many questions 😂. Sorry I went on rambling their oops. I hope this helps!

[bronanlynch]

back at it again ranking aa4 lawyers based on how terrible I think they would be to work for if you were their file clerk. I’ve basically known how this was going to go since 4-2 but it still took over two weeks after finishing the game to make this post. I have a normal amount of thoughts & feelings I promise

phoenix: I was gonna say that since he’s not practicing he doesn’t need a file clerk anyway but actually I do think reforming the legal system takes quite a bit of paperwork and he could probably use a hand. still would absolutely not work for him tho. I prefer being compensated for my labor, especially if my boss is always either mysteriously absent or spouting cryptic bullshit. 0/10. not even a pity point this time. rip apollo

apollo: would be fine if he weren’t working for phoenix tbh. like if he had his own office and a slightly more well-established career I would absolutely work for him. he’s considerate, he seems horrified by the state of the WAA which is a green flag Imo, and he’s just. a decent guy and a good lawyer. also he had that line abt enjoying tedious procedure so I think we would get along, and more importantly, that tells me that he would be reasonably neat with his own files and not make my job more difficult either accidentally or on purpose. 7/10 would befriend him on l*nkedin just in case he ever starts his own firm

payne: look, the vibes aren’t great and I’m running out of jokes abt this guy. I will say that I think it’s incredibly funny how thoroughly he gets ignored in his own trial and being able to make fun of your boss with your coworkers (which you would have bc there’s no way there’s just one file clerk for the entire prosecutor’s office, y’know?) is a very important aspect of surviving a shitty workplace so. there’s that. 3/10, could survive it by mocking him but not ideal

klavier: he doesn’t even have a desk. he’s working on at least 3 cases at once but he keeps his cds and his guitars nicer and neater than his books or his case files. there are papers all over his floor and falling out of his filing cabinet. his one advantage over the real attorney I worked with who had an office approximately that messy is that at least klavier probably knows exactly where everything is himself, which is great for him but not especially helpful to the poor beleaguered file clerk trying to get his files updated as quickly as possible so they can escape his office with minimal hearing damage. 6/10, at least he’s like. friendly

kristoph: the best-case situation here is that you work for him for maybe a few years, overlapping with the beginning of apollo’s career as his assistant, because then you have the bonus of also having apollo as a coworker (see above), and then you leave for normal reasons, get him to give you a good reference for your next job while he’s still widely respected, and when you read abt the events of 4-1 in the news a few months later you go “damn that’s wild” and move on with your life

ok. listen. listen. obviously a boss who has committed murder is not ideal, for several obvious reasons including that murder is bad and also that if your boss goes to jail and his law firm closes you no longer have a job (rip apollo). but at least you could probably get unemployment for that, since it’s not your fault you don’t have a job anymore. anyway. the main point is, unfortunately, I do think he would be the best boss of any of these people (except probably apollo in a few years). he prob has a very specific filing system and he likes things to be done exactly right, but because he wants things to be done right, because having your files organized and up-to-date so that you can meet deadlines is how you avoid making yourself look like an idiot to the courts, it will be made very clear to you what the right way is, and that’s like. what you want when you’re organizing someone’s shit Imo. 8.5/10, he gets .5 taken off for each murder attempt

( aa1 | aa2 | aa3 )

[troped-fanfic-challenge]

Chopped: Holiday Trope Exchange Masterlist 

A huge thanks to every person who signed up for our gift exchange, we got 18 really wonderful fics! For anyone who isn’t sure what this was all about, this was a double blind gift exchange where each of our eighteen (18!!!) writers were assigned four tropes from an anonymous recipient, and were tasked with writing a fic that fit our holiday theme, and included all the tropes. The only guidance from their recipient were a couple of brief notes they included during the sign up, and both the writer and recipient were revealed when we shared all the fics! These fics, as with all our Chopped fics, were creative and unique, and found ways to utilise tropes that may seem so simple in really spectacular ways! If this gift exchange, or any of our other Chopped events, have sparked your interest, keep your eyes peeled on this page for some future events we have planned, and sign up to join the fun! In the meantime, we hope you enjoy these wonderful holiday fics!

Love to everyone who participated, Bailey and Sara <3 

Let it Snow (And I’ll Get Sentimental) [G] (Memori) 

Written by @mylifeiskara, for @hostagetakerandhistraitor​. The four assigned tropes were 1) friends made a bet, 2) one character kisses the other and the one who got kissed is shocked still, 3) amnesia AU, 4) ark AU (or any other AU where the story takes place in space).

All John Murphy wants for Christmas is for Emori to remember who he is.

Won’t let you go [G] (Clurphy) 

Written by sapphictomaz, for @vmreed​. The four assigned tropes were 1) childhood friends-to-lover, 2) grounder au, 3) tattoos, and 4) body painting

There is nothing shared in Clarke and Murphy's lives. They come from opposite clans who have a history of warfare between them. She lives in the jungle, while he calls the mountainside home. She celebrates the holidays by dancing the year away, and he does so by claiming dominance on another year that has passed.

They meet, anyways, and realize that sometimes, you have to make your own traditions.

Contained Constant Chaos [T] (Murven)

Written by @vmreed, for sapphictomaz. The four assigned tropes were 1) Post-Apocalypse AU (different from canon), 2) Found Family, 3)Hurt/Comfort, and 4) "You're an asshole to everybody else, but you're nice to me"

“Please don’t kill me.” He said, stupidly.

She raised an eyebrow, saying nothing, but offering him a box of tampons.

and i’ll die by your side if you want me to [T] (Memori)

Written by @dylanobrienisbatman​, for @justbecauseyoubelievesomething. The four assigned tropes were 1) based on a tv show (author chose Timeless), 2) soulmate AU, 3) fake dating, and 4) timeloop/groundhog day AU.

Murphy got tapped to come work for a special project after he was arrested for stealing a military vehicle right off of the base (long story). Turns out the special project... involved time travel... so theres that. About 6 months after he signed on, it all went horribly sideways, and now they were chasing their friends across history, trying to stop them from making a horrible mistake.

Thats how they end up in the middle of World War I France on Christmas day in 1914. Thats how she dies.

And then... somehow... the day begins again. Can he figure out a way to stop The Blake Siblings from wrecking history forever and also save the girl?

This Christmas, You're All That I Want (Just Don't Tell Anyone) [G] (Bellarke)

Written by @bellarkestitchdelena​, for @captaindaddykru​. The four assigned tropes were 1) Joke kiss turned serious, 2) The main ship must share something (can literally be anything), 3) Two characters giving extremely biased flashbacks to an event, and 4) Secret Relationship.

It all starts trying to prove Murphy wrong

Season’s Grievances [G] (Multi)

Written by @hostagetakerandhistraitor​, for @teeandsnowflakes​. The four assigned tropes were 1) a terribly loud crash and one of the characters yelling ‘IM OKAY’ from another room, 2) huddle for warmth, 3) found family, and 4) one character is ‘icy’ and slowly defrosts. 

Bellamy and Raven have been best friends for over 3 years. They found each other at their low points and bonded to turn each other into better people. But when Bellamy starts dating Raven's ex, Echo, things get icy. This is a story of family, friendship, romance, betrayal, culinary inaptitude, with a slight zest of things I wanted to be canon. Also a Blake family Christmas party.

Kiss Me Babe, It's Christmas Time [M] (Bellarke)

Written by @eyessharpweaponshot, for @shen-gong-oops​. The four assigned tropes were 1) One character has a child, 2) Characters are not together but are mistaken for a couple, 3) Terribly loud crash and one character goes ‘oops’ in a casual voice, 4) Two characters giving extremely biased flashbacks of the same event.

How long have you been in love with him? Seven years now?’ ‘Eight’ Clarke corrects him, her voice muffled through her hands as she cups her face. She’s still trying to calm her heart rate down. Murphy simply laughs, his amusement of this clear as day. ‘Don’t know what you’re laughing at. You were in the same boat with Raven’ Clarke reminds him. ‘Not for eight years, I wasn’t.’ Clarke rolls her eyes. She should never have told Murphy. The results of too much wine and being the last ones standing after a night in Grounders a couple of years ago. ‘Look, all I’m saying is it might be worth telling him’ he shrugs, leaning against the broom in his hand. Clarke gives him a pointed look. ‘Nobody is telling Bellamy anything.’

Christmas time, a harbouring secret and a festive get-together. The perfect combination.

where the love light gleams [T] (Murven)

Written by @teeandsnowflakes, for @kuklash​. The four assigned tropes were 1) meet cute, 2) first kiss, 3) surprise proposal, 4) pregnancy AU.

Raven hadn't been home for Christmas in four years, but the one year she did, she met Murphy, new in town since she had last been there, and learns a very important lesson about the holidays.

i know you can feel the magic we don't need to talk about it [T] (Bellarke)

Written by @captaindaddykru , for @eyessharpweaponshot​. The four assigned tropes were 1) exes, 2) jealousy, 3) protectiveness, 4) modern au. 

Christmas eve, Clarke's sort-of-ex shows up at her door in the middle of an awkward family dinner and so she ends up flashing him. Holiday spirit and all.

Dance Your Way Home [T] (Becho)

Written by @justbecauseyoubelievesomething​, for @dylanobrienisbatman​. The four assigned tropes were 1) historical AU (1920′s or earlier), 2) almost kiss/interrupted kiss, 3) holiday party, and 4) sunrises.

“We need to get you home. You’re freezing.”

Home. She has no home.

Everyone Telling You Be of Good Cheer [G] (Clurphy)

Written by @kinetic-elaboration​, for @hopskipaway​. The four assigned tropes were 1) amnesia, 2) found family, 3) oblivious pining, and 4) and mistletoe kiss.

“Merry Christmas, by the way,” Clarke adds, which settles that.

“You too. Merry Christmas.” He takes down Bellamy’s NYU mug without thinking, tries to shake the feeling that he’s no more than an extra in Clarke’s amnesiac version of Groundhog’s Day. That this is, somehow, normal. That he is not wondering, the thought like an invasive little jingle in his ear, what she thinks yesterday was.

The day after Murphy, Clarke, Bellamy, and Raven return from disappointing family Christmases, Clarke wishes that they could have spent the holiday together instead. A fall down the stairs, a bout of amnesia—and suddenly it’s Christmas again. And again. And again. Reliving the day puts even Murphy into the holiday spirit, and helps him learn to open his heart to his friends, and to the possibility of love.

3 Times Murphy Lost a Fight, and 1 Time He Didn't  [M] (Clurphy)

Written by @kuklash​, for @mylifeiskara​. The four assigned tropes were 1) 3+1, 2) Oblivious Pining, 3) Work Party, and 4) First Kiss.

Dec. 20th, 2003

"This party is gonna fucking suck, Clarke."

"Of course it’s gonna suck, Murphy, but if you want this job you have to schmooze," the blonde said with an eye roll. "The best place to schmooze is the company Christmas party."

A Little Brighter [G] (Bellarke)

Written by @shen-gong-oops​, for @bellarkestitchdelena​. The four assigned tropes were 1) Rivals to Lovers, 2) Arranged Marriage AU, 3) Pregnancy, and 4) Sunsets.

Taking a deep breath, he turned towards Clarke. "If I were to take up your father's offer for knighthood, please know, I do not wish to be the knight to the princess of all Arkadia."

Or: Bellamy takes a really long time to realize he's being a hypocrite.

when i’m feelin' alone (you remind me of home) [G] (Clurphy)

Written by @hopskipaway​, for @probably-voldemort​. The four assigned tropes were 1) royalty au, 2) marriage pact, 3) clumsy character, and 4) roommates. 

Within the walls of the palace, Princess Clarke of Arkadia lives a quiet and lonesome life.

That is, until John Murphy waltzes into her life and changes it forever. She’s not complaining.

sweet dreams of holly and ribbon, mistakes are forgiven, and everythin' is icy and blue, and you would be there too

make my wish come true [T] (Murven)

Written by @probably-voldemort​, for @kinetic-elaboration​. The four assigned tropes were 1) almost kiss / interrupted kiss, 2) holiday movie (as in being in a holiday movie), 3) friends with benefits, and 4) band au. 

It's been ten years since the Delinquents went off air, so clearly it's time for a reunion in the form of a Christmas special. Yeah, it sounded like bullshit to Murphy, too, but he hadn't seen the crew since Raven's wedding a few years back, and he'd managed to convince Kane that his character should have a dog, so there was no way it could be all bad.

Right?

Last Christmas [NR] (Bellarke)

Written by @bellarkeshoe​, for @hiddenpolkadots​. The four assigned tropes were 1) Exes, 2) Fake dating, 3) Kiss under the mistletoe, and 4) Modern Au.

Bellamy Blake never thought he would see Clarke Griffin again in his life. At least, not after the way things ended. He wished that things had gone differently because well, he cared about her. He loved her and he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He never even really got the chance to tell her that.

Everything happened so fast. One moment he is as happy as he can be, enjoying his life as a professor with an amazing girlfriend, and just like that, his world came crumbling down and over one huge misunderstanding.

But when they ended it, they both said some things they didn’t mean, or well he hoped she didn’t mean what she had said, he knows he didn’t.

But that is all in the past now, he can never forget about her, he still thinks about her everyday, but there is nothing he can really do about it. Clarke hates him for some reason and he doesn’t know if he’s totally over the fact that she ended things.

He is sure she had a good reason to. I mean at least that’s what he hopes. If the love they felt for each other was genuine and real than she should have had a very good reason to end things, right?

your eyes outshine the town, they do [T] (Bellarke)

Written by @hiddenpolkadots​, for @thelittlefanpire. The four assigned tropes were 1) magic au, 2) competing businesses, 3) secret relationship, and 4) kiss in the snow.

“I’m going to make you enjoy Christmas,” she tells him, her confidence in herself almost overwhelming. “I can’t do anything about the weather but I’m pretty sure I can handle the rest. By the time the season is over you’re going to love Christmas.”

“I highly doubt that,” he says, staring at her hard. “I may just tolerate it at best.”

“I’ll take it,” she says, “Bellamy Blake, prepare to have the best Christmas of your life.

or, sometimes christmas is you and your rival falling into a snowbank together.

Taste of Arkadia [G] (Bellarke)

Written by @thelittlefanpire​, for @bellarkeshoe​. The four assigned tropes were 1) Rivals to Lovers, 2) Character A catches Character B crying, 3) Modern AU, and 4) Competing businesses (author’s choice).

Before Christmas, the Chancellor of Arkadia charges his son with the task of repurposing the city’s warehouse district into a cool, hip hub for commerce and camaraderie.

At its opening, an impromptu competition among the many businesses in the area begin for the best spot in the ARK.

Take a read! Leave a kudos/comment! These fics are so unique and fun and the authors worked so hard on them. Thanks so much!