#full of people who care about learning about the hardships humans face and how to grow past them
a modern ghost story - wip re-intro
finally, a re-intro for my first ever writeblr wip intro... waow how time flies.
taglist (i'm gonna be real with y'all, i lost track of the taglist and had to dig it up again--tentatively tagging the original taglist as well as folks i thought might be interested): @albatris @skitzo-kero @anexor @lychniscitrus @transmasc-wizard @chaieyestea @vacantgodling @kingkendrick7 @jezifster @manuscriptsatmidnight @fictionalbullshitter @astral-runic
(if you'd like to not be tagged in posts relating to this wip going forward, lmk!!! <3 and if you'd like to be added to the actual taglist, also lmk!!!)
synopsis: A Modern Ghost Story is the tale of the four members of The Cyclone Seekers, a group of semi-famous storm-chasers, and their harrowing adventures chasing after storms in Nebraska in 2006. On the way, they quickly come to learn that they have far, far more than tornadoes to worry about waiting for them in the storms. Something sinister is afoot, and their past may come back to haunt them in a very literal way.
setting: various fictional locations in Nebraska, United States, in 2006
genres: postmodern horror (?) with traces of comedy--fundamentally a road trip story, though, about healing and facing the horrors head-on.
vibes except it's not clear what these mean: late nights at sleepovers where no one wants to go to bed yet, a mason jar full of bottle caps, the highs and lows of a long road trip with your friends, strange messages on the radio in a voice you thought you'd forgotten, the past is always one step closer than it appears to be, the coppery taste of blood on your tongue, your heart pounding in your ears as the world roars around you, a group of queer adrenaline junkies, "therapy is expensive, but sitting in your car while it rains is free."
characters:
picrew: [link]
Roach - 29 - they/them - 5'2"
Roach is not the face of Cyclone Seekers, as they find the idea of actually appearing on camera daunting. For the most part, Roach prefers to stay behind the scenes, most often handling their budget, equipment, and transportation, as well as acting as their cameraman. A lifelong smartass, they always say exactly what's on their mind and they're not particularly graceful or tactful. Why would they be, after all? Talking around the point only wastes time, and Roach hates to stop when there's important shit to get done.
Despite their blunt and often rude nature, Roach has a big heart deep down, and they care deeply for their fellow Cyclone Seekers, considering the others their best friends in the world. Roach doesn't have a lot of people in their corner, and they're steadfastly loyal to the end.
Oliver Cox - 32 - he/him - 6'1"
Oliver, like Roach, is not the face of the Cyclone Seekers. Instead, he is the manager of their ViewTube channel and website, as well as the one who usually deals with the people side of things. He's very sweet and enthusiastic, and generally a very gentle man who hates to even raise his voice. While, like everyone else, Oliver has his moments of anger, he prefers to redirect this anger into something productive rather than taking it out on others.
This isn't to say, of course, that Oliver is an innocent child. He's had his fair share of hardships and struggles in his life. However, he believes wholeheartedly in the goodness of humanity and the world around him. And this extends to the team, especially Roach--despite their often prickly exterior, Oliver considers them a very dear friend and is very happy to have them in his life. He sees the best in everyone until they give him reason not to.
Sydney "Syd" Ambrose - 29 - they/she - 5'11"
Syd is a friend of Roach's from college, an extremely anxious person who, at heart, has always wanted to leave their mark on history in some way. With their thirtieth birthday rapidly approaching, they want to do something great before the big day. This has, in part, reflected on their work with the Cyclone Seekers. As one of two hosts of the show, Syd is often in the spotlight, despite their severe anxiety about public speaking. When the cameras are rolling, their fear falls away, and they easily steal the show.
Aside from their ambition to do something great that lands in the history books, Syd has had a lifelong fascination with storms. The world of more traditional meteorology wasn't for them, so they've decided a more fulfilling career is to chase storms around and study them directly. It's working out so far, despite Syd's growing restlessness regarding the group's lack of mainstream success.
Yara Key - 30 - she/her - 5'7"
Yara is the other host of the Cyclone Seekers, and she's the much more outwardly optimistic and outgoing one. Their bit on the show is that, though Syd is the anxious one, they're also first to jump headlong into danger just to get a good look at a tornado; Yara, meanwhile, is friendly and outgoing but also the first to hide. It's a good bit and one that brings her a lot of joy, though it does irritate her sometimes to have people assume she's actually a coward. Because she isn't--she's just not stupid.
Though Yara hasn't known the others that long, she's a loyal friend who cares about them all deeply, and her not-so-secret crush on Syd is something Roach teases her about rather frequently (to which she gladly responds by teasing them about their similar crush on Oliver). When it comes down to it, fame isn't important to Yara, but she has a genuine love for entertaining people. And if she can do it while educating them about dangerous storms at the same time? All the better.
Vincent Cruz - 28 - he/him (questioning they/them) - 5'9"
Vincent Cruz is not a member of the Cyclone Seekers, nor does he have any particular interest in joining their little group. In fact, he thinks they're pretty ridiculous, and more than that, they're fucking stupid. He's grown up his whole life in a small town in Nebraska and knows all-too-well how dangerous storms like the ones they seek out can really be. They're going to get themselves killed, and they'll be lucky if it's quick.
However, Vincent feels an obligation to help them, or at least to make sure they can't put themselves or anyone else at risk with their antics. He isn't sure what makes him feel such a desire to protect them, but he insists it's not out of any care for them. They're just stupid. If he doesn't do anything, then they'll die. Simple math. (Ignoring the fact that they're his first friends in years, and they seem to genuinely like him for who he is when few others do.)
Vulture - 31 - he/him - 6'2"
A mysterious figure from Roach's past, one that they, until now, were completely certain was out of their life forever. Vulture is cold and cruel and pretentious, seeing himself as quite literally better than everyone else. He loves to hear himself talk and wants everyone to think he's the coolest motherfucker in the room at all times, for better and for worse.
For the most part, he doesn't seem interested in Roach, for which they're grateful. However, he has been contacting them again for the first time in nearly ten years, asking to meet up again.
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The statement in Genesis that God created humanity to rule the earth has often been taken as a license for human beings to do whatever they want with nature. In the Bible, it clearly does not mean that. On the contrary, all of nature is seen as dependent upon the actions of humankind. Ancient thought sees nature, the animals, humanity, and divinity as lying along a continuum, with the gods, in a sense, mediating between humanity and nature:
HUMANITY———GODS———NATURE
In the Bible, the diagram is different:
NATURE———HUMANITY———GOD
God's actions towards nature depend on human activity. God cares about nature; after all, the purpose of giving laws immediately after the flood is precisely to prevent nature from being contaminated again. But God's behavior towards nature is reactive. In effect, humans determine what God does, not by prayers and manipulation, but by their behavior. In this way, humanity mediates between God and nature. The ultimate responsibility for what happens to the natural world rests on the behavior of human beings towards nature, towards God, and towards each other.
This monotheist conceptualization of the world is a stark philosophy of action. God's actions are predictable in fixed response to behavior. God's solo mastery would seem to lay stress on Israel's having liturgical and sacrificial interaction with God, to propitiate and manipulate the result. But, at the same time, the prophets announce that such ritual activity will not help. The prophets emphasize that neither Israel's history nor the fertility of her land depended on worship-rituals. Fertility rituals are condemned as faithlessness, and even the officially prescribed sacrificial worship can not ensure peace and fertility. Only non-ritual activity—fidelity and ethical behavior—bring about the well-being of the people.
This concept of fertility and natural survival puts enormous responsibility in human hands, for the whole world depends on human behavior. The "monotheist myth" in Psalm 82 relates that it was not always so: God had a council of divine beings who were charged with upholding social justice. When they did not do so, the whole world began to totter. As a result, God made these gods mortal. Since then, God has reigned alone over all the nations. There are no longer any gods—and it is up to humanity to ensure that the foundations of the earth do not totter. The way to do this is right behavior and social justice. This is an enormous task, but the way to accomplish it has been revealed: God has instructed and continues to instruct the people as to how they are to behave. The laws and instructions of Israel have a cosmic significance. The people have to listen, to learn, and to observe in order to fulfill their duty to uphold the universe. Disobeying these instructions can lead to catastrophe, and as pollution builds up, even repentance can no longer help.
This theology of God's reactivity locates the fault for disaster in Israel. Maintaining faith in the constant predictable behavior of God, it "blames the victim" with ever more exacting faults. After the exile, when droughts still continued, the prophet Haggai blamed the people for not having built a new temple, and the prophet Malachi attributed the droughts to the lack of full tithing. If God has absolute mastery, and God is always good, then evil and hardships must always be due to the evil of humanity.
The general problem of theodicy (the justification of God's behavior in the face of adversity) continues to occupy theological thought. The radical nature of fully developed biblical monotheism, with the great responsibility that it places on human behavior, has often been softened by belief in various supernatural powers. After the Babylonian exile, the skies are once again peopled with celestial beings, the angels. Still later, forces of evil were believed to be abroad in the world, rivaling the forces of light. The idea of ultimate human responsibility and divine reactivity has continued to be misunderstood into our own day. Western culture has assumed that dominion over the world implied a freedom to act at will without concern over neveative consequences towards the earth and its fertility. The modern ecology movement has sometimes sought to find a philosophical-theological rationale for its concern for the earth in the pagan continuum. The biblical theory of God's reactivity is biblical monotheism's way of grounding humanity in its interconnectedness with nature and its ultimate responsibility for nature's well-being and survival.
The absorption by God of all the forces of nature leads humanity onto center stage. Biblical monotheism is essentially anthropocentric, though not in the sense that the world exists to serve humanity. Rather, in the absence of other divine beings, God's audience, partners, foils, and competitors are all human beings, and it is on their interaction with God that the world depends.
-Tikva Frymer-Kensky, In the Wake of the Goddesses: Women, Culture, and the Biblical Transformation of Pagan Myth
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🙌 - tell me about Lady, Sissel and Hook
Send me 🙌 and a muse you’re curious about, and I’ll tell you more about them. | @aluckiicoin
◇ I really need to make myself use her more rip. Her canon never goes much into it but with what little we see of it in the anime I think it's clear that running a demon-hunting business has been very lucrative for her. She's also very good with money, she lives within her means and never spends money she doesn't have. After being an older teenager and suddenly being thrust into having to fend entirely for herself she had to learn these things quickly if she was going to have enough money for the tools to hunt down her father.
Nowadays she will treat herself of course, but only out of the money she set aside for leisure out of her budget. Though when accepting a job she's always certain to require the client to pay for a good percentage of her ammo for whatever the job is (she uses a lot. Like. A LOT a lot. But hey, demons take a lot of bullets and explosives!) But anyway tl;dr she's doing quite well for herself by running a demon-hunting business. She can't imagine doing anything else honestly. She's one of the few humans who can deal with such things so she feels it's her responsibility to step up to the plate to prevent any more deaths like Kalina Ann's.
◇ Well you see when REDACTED happened and wasn't it just wild when REDACTED and then it was revealed that REDACTED?
Spoilers for the game aside-- Sissel is quite smart even if some things take him a bit of trial and error. He's highly curious in that he often likes to use his ghost tricks on nearly any object just to see what will happen. Of course, he wouldn't do so in trying to harm people but... there have been... accidents. It's okay, he'll undo them... It's fine. Definitely fine (sorry van dude).
◇ She is a gremlin and very hyper child but also a very caring and compassionate kid when need be. I don't think she's trying to cause trouble or be a pain for Natasha especially, but she's had very little pressure to mature in her life. Her father doesn't want her to worry about things so there's no pressure there and Nat mainly just wants her to behave while in school so her free childhood spirit has remained very untouched by the hardships of life despite living in the underworld. It's not that she doesn't care about the struggles they face, but having been born into a time after the Eternal Freeze she doesn't know anything else and has such a carefree attitude she isn't bothered by the brutally cold nights or not always getting to eat until one is full during a meal. She's in no hurry to grow up. She genuinely loves being a kid. She's kind of simple-minded in that way. No bigger and broader worries, just how is she and the Moles going to have fun tomorrow?
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James Donaldson on Mental Health - Teens calling suicide lifeline more than any other age group, state data shows
James Donaldson on Mental Health - Teens calling suicide lifeline more than any other age group, state data shows
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, in the last 12 months, about 6,500 teens called the 988 crisis lifeline for help.
Author: Julia Kauffman
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Concerns about teen mental health are rising as more in North Carolina are calling the national suicide and crisis lifeline.
In North Carolina, people ages 13 to 17 are calling 988 more than any other age group. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, in the last 12 months, about 6,500 teens called the crisis lifeline for help.
A virtual mental health service geared toward teens says inquiries on their site have grown 10 times in North Carolina since last summer.
"We have seen a huge uptick for adolescents needing these services," Brittany Ratterree, a clinical outreach manager for Charlie Health said.
A lot of teenagers who need help don't know where to start.
Isabel Zachariah is a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill from Concord. She shared that she's struggled with anxiety since high school but didn't know what it was until much later.
www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com
"I always just expressed it to my parents that, 'Oh
#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
Link for 40 Habits Signupbit.ly/40HabitsofMentalHealth
If you'd like to follow and receive my daily blog in to your inbox, just click on it with Follow It. Here's the link https://follow.it/james-donaldson-s-standing-above-the-crowd-s-blog-a-view-from-above-on-things-that-make-the-world-go-round?action=followPub
like, my face gets very warm, I'm experiencing these types of things.'" Zachariah told WCNC Charlotte's Julia Kaffuman. "But I don't think we fully put a label on it until I got into college."
She said she educates herself on mental health to learn how to cope with anxiety. Plus, she now helps others through NAMI: The National Alliance on Mental Illness.
"So many young kids are lost because of the hardships they face," Zachariah said. "They don't know how to directly cope with those kinds of things."
Charlie Health works to help teenagers by offering emergency counseling, resource connections, and support groups.
"It's a really amazing thing to see when we are able to provide hope and provide same-day access," Ratterree said.
Many treatment centers are 18-plus, which creates a roadblock for children seeking help.
"For adolescents, in general, if you need mental health support, there's not many here and locally to our community," Ratterree added.
As experts call for more mental health services for children, there are a couple of projects in Charlotte working to address that need.
StarMed Health Care is working on a project estimated to cost more than $60 million, called the Katie Blessing Center. It will be a full-service mental health facility for people 18 and under in east Charlotte. The city is contributing $2.5 million to the project.
Plus, Hopeway opened a clinic for teenagers this year that is also in east Charlotte.
If you or a loved one are facing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, there is help readily available. You can call Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat with them online.
Read the full article
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Detailed Instructions for Regaining Financial Stability
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Why Does Money Go Missing?
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Water Damage Restoration In Claremont Restoring Peace Of Mind With Perth Flood Restoration’s Expertise
Introduction:
In Claremont a vibrant city with life in its veins, unanticipated water damage can quickly sabotage peace and quiet. Nevertheless, in the face of these difficulties, Perth Flood Restoration shines brightly, committed to bringing back the former splendor of residences and commercial establishments. Let's explore our area of expertise and learn the trade secrets of water damage restoration in Claremont.
Pioneers of Superlative Restoration:
We take great pride in being repair experts, having a legacy of quality. With cutting-edge equipment and an experienced team of professionals, we help people in need by navigating the choppy seas of chaos.
Starting the Restoration Process: Transitioning from Difficulty to Comfort
After the devastation caused by flood, time becomes valuable. We move quickly, coordinating a smooth repair procedure with accuracy and dexterity. Our all-encompassing strategy helps clients transition from chaos to serenity, whether it's restoring priceless possessions or taking care of structural issues.
Beyond Recuperation: Creating Centers of Renewal in Disaster Areas
We see restoration as something far more than just rescue operations. It's about revitalizing areas that hardship has tarnished. Through rigorous attention to detail and unwavering commitment, we turn disaster areas into places of healing and hope.
Where Science and Sensibility Collide in the Art of Restoration:
Restoration of water damage is an art form as much as a science. We ensure that every renovated space is a tribute to our artistry by skillfully fusing technical know-how with a keen eye for aesthetics.
Using Technology to Its Full Potential: Novelties in the Field of Water Damage Repair:
We keep ahead of the curve with cutting-edge technology in an innovative world. By utilizing cutting-edge drying methods and accurate moisture detection, we leverage innovation to produce results that are unmatched and raise the bar for excellence in the sector.
Compassionate Action: Supporting Hearts Alongside Homes:
Beyond mere structures, Perth Flood Restoration recognizes the emotional toll of water damage. Rooted in empathy, we extend a caring hand to those facing loss and uncertainty. Through tailored assistance and steadfast empathy, we not only restore properties but also uplift spirits.
Perth Flood Restoration delivers premier restoration services, guaranteeing swift and thorough solutions for residences and businesses alike. Our team of seasoned professionals utilizes cutting-edge techniques and equipment to effectively address water damage.
From extraction to drying and dehumidification, each step is executed with meticulous care. With years of expertise, we comprehend the urgency and sensitivity of such situations, offering 24/7 emergency support. Rely on us to restore your property efficiently and with utmost professionalism. Don't let water damage disrupt your life – reach out to us today for prompt and dependable service.
Conclusion:
Perth Flood Restoration is a protector who guides communities through the choppy waves of water damage within Claremont’s urban fabric. With unwavering dedication, unmatched skill, and a humane touch, we transform water damage restoration in Claremont, bringing new life to every nook and cranny. Perth Flood Restoration shines as a resilient emblem leading the path to a better future as city rises above hardship.
Call today!!
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RANT TIME RANT TIME YIPPEE!!! YAHOOO!!! 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🥳🥳🥳🥳🤯🤯🤯
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“No wonder your grandmother, grandfather and uncle died. Your mother’s side are all criminals with a devils heart, including your mom herself.”
What words to say to her own daughter…. I thought you were religious and had a “heart of pure gold”? They died to incurable illnesses that slowly and painfully killed them. How cruel. How cruel. I loved them dearly, yet you were manipulated by your own twisted morals to spew such shit out of your mouth. Rotten, rotten shit, how long must I put up with this?
Yes you are my grandmother, and you are old and have a heavily damaged ego. The son (my father) you manipulated all these years no longer listens to you. He no longer engages in petty and , at rare times, violent quarrels with my mother upon listening to your words. I pity you, yet I despise you in some ways. I understand you are old and frail, like every other grandmother.
I love you. When I look at her I realise that her face is full of love. Her cooking is amazing and she genuinely loves us all. She is a normal human too, and lead a life full of hardship. She too will soon leave this earth, with how often she makes suicidal / leaving the house threats in order to guiltrip us. Though, I often pray to god to not take her soon, as I still have questions to ask her and that I still love her dearly.
Endless gaslightings, endless lies, all just to make you look good. How can a person, who has lived with you for countless years, gives you money and often takes care of you still be hated? How could you hate and talk gross shit about MY mother in front of me? What am I too say? I can’t bear to say anything, less you lash out and throw (literal) knives again.
Goodness gracious, I am a simply hypocrite. Doing nothing to go against your words neither agreeing to them. Talking to myself in an effort to justify my acts.
Old people minds won’t change. This is something I have to learn and bear with. Just like my own mother. I have to grow stronger to endure this. I love you grandma, please live long, long enough to see how much I’ve grown. “I love you. Take care”
I too, end up lying sometimes.
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Happy Valentine's Day~🫀But more importantly, Happy Jaehyun's Day~🍑
[Back to Masterlist] [Part 2] [Part 3]
Bonus content for 💌Their Higher Self to You is now Public on Patreon. Just click the access link underneath the pile you've chosen for an additional cute, heartwarming message~💖
Pile 1 - My Precious Little Flower...
Priestesses of Energy, Purity and Wishes
Queen of Pentacles & Silver Magus (Merlin)
The ultimate happiness for me is to be abundant with you. To have a slow Life where we can simply enjoy the little (and big) things this world has to offer. I'm not materialistic, but I also know there are so many beautiful things that can be obtained with money in this world. And I want to give it all to you~ I want you to know how much I respect and value you, so I'll gift you many beautiful and expensive things. You know what? The truth is I'm always thinking about you. Even when I see cute socks that I think will look good on you, I want to buy them for you. It's because you're this little prince/princess who lights up with anything I gift you, so I like seeing that expression of delight on your face, too. You're so beautiful I could die, seriously!!
When I'm with you I can be my childlike self. You're so pure and innocent and we share the same heart. I like this comfort I feel from you. I feel like my entire Life has become soft and sweet like cotton candy! Life wasn't all that bad before you, but now it's just perfection. When my arms are around you, there's nothing else to crave. Who knew I was destined to have a beautiful romance like this? Still I've been dreaming you for the longest time, I swear. I'll be good to you. I'll be your protector. I'll always accept you and take care of you. I know you'll do the same for me and that's why I want to shower you with all of my affection. You're so deserving of the best Love you could get in the world.
Let's jet set. Let's get on first class. A luxury yacht or liner, too. Let's go see places. France, Tajikistan, Fiji, Vietnam, Singapore; basically, let's travel the globe and eat all the good foods of the world! Cakes, pudding, luxury tea, a thousand years old bread; I want to try all unique things in the world, but with you. Just the thought of it makes my heart full of Love! I want to learn many new things and experience more of Life itself and grow old with you. Let's be kind, respectful and take care of each other until the end of time. That would be my ultimate happiness.
Secret magick from my heart🔻❤️
Access full reading + cards on Patreon🌸
☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・.
Pile 2 - Babe, Let's Be Happy~!
Priestesses of Enchantment, Solitude and Inspiration
4 of Wands & Green Historian (Herodotus)
The ultimate happiness for me is to create a legacy with you. I want to marry you and build a family together with you. Even if we're married in an unorthodox fashion, I don't care. I just want to have a family with you, Love💙I want us to have many reasons to celebrate the bounty of Life. We each have made it this far in Life and for that alone we are fit to become parents and pass down our knowledge and wisdom to the future generations. Let's raise the children well, so they can grow up to become beautiful human beings who can heal more of this world. Let's build a new foundation for a family line of truly good people who know how to appreciate Life itself. I'll show the children how to respect another person and my affection for you will become their inspiration to find their own True Love as well!
When we're together, I promise you that you never have to fight this world alone again. It's okay to be not so strong all the time; you have me. I'm strong and full of Love. I can handle your hardships. We'll overcome every challenge and we'll grow up together. Nothing can come between us, I promise you that. My heart is true and I want nobody else but you. I'm adamant like that. Maybe sometimes I frustrate you a little with my stubbornness?😅I hope you can be patient with me, too. Sometimes I'm hard to shake but I want to learn to be gentler when I'm with you. So please teach me gently, too.
Our Love, I hope it inspires whoever gets to see us. This world needs more of that, I know. Let's be a healing presence to other people. Let's also be a healing presence to ourselves. I love you so much. I'm a little selfish and there's a lot I want, if ever I become smothering to you, please let me know. I'll listen to what you have to say, too! I don't want you to stand behind me, okay? Stand by my side. We'll inspire each other better like that. And I just think, we look sooo good together, babe.
A little wish from my heart🔻💙
Access full reading + cards on Patreon🌸
☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・.
Pile 3 - Hey, Sunshine~
Priestesses of Illumination, Intuition, Prosperity
7 of Cups & Green Alchemist (Nicolas Flamel)
My ultimate happiness is just the fact that we are together. You've lighted up so much of my Life and I'm so insanely thankful for that, you've no idea. I think I'm not that good yet at expressing my gratitude. You take me to heaven, babe. I never would have thought my heart could be filled with this much Light. I thought it was just something people say just to be poetic or romantic, but now I know it's true. You make me the happiest, most fortunate person in the entire world. I'll treasure you for the rest of eternity. If we were reborn, I'd like to be with you again. You know what? Let's not even be reborn again, this world sucks and a lot of things can go wrong. Let's stay forever happy in Heaven!
Whilst still being in this world, I want to promise you a love that's spiritual. A Love that's unconditional and transcends ego, limitations and boundaries. My Love is the purest thing you'll ever know, I'm confident I'm unique like that. There's no other person like me, so just look at me😉And btw, everyday is Valentine's with you. It beats me how Life can be so full of joy and Love. I mean, my Life was okay before, but you've amplified all that's good in the world by your sheer presence. Are you GOD? I think you are. At least to me you are. I... worship you, seriously. But I'll try my best to hide that so you think I'm cool! I also want you to worship me LMAO
No matter what's happened in the past, from here on, let's live happily with the two of us holding hands. I'll never let go. I won't promise very many complicated things. I want to show everything to you with my actions. I'll make it all happen—all the good things. And I'll erase all of your sadness. I don't want you ever to be sad again. A Sunshine like you shouldn't be made to cry! I'll fight anyone who gives you a reason to cry ugly tears! I hate everyone who's ever been mean to you, seriously! I wish I could've met you sooner, tch! Suddenly I'm angry! But anyway, Happy Valentine's and I love you, hon~ Let's meet in the dreams~👻
My healing for you🔻🧡
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[Back to Masterlist] [Part 2] [Part 3]
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Black girl angel harshly judged and banished from a second chance at life
furryfaceandthefeelgoodfairy asked:
My MC is a black girl who, due to dying before her 18th birthday, is granted access to a child/teenage oriented afterlife for a second chance at life, the angels are granted elemental powers used to help mortals. However the angel leader fails to fully help the children in her care; she believes they must all be fully pure, and banishes any child who has committed any wrong doing or serious mistake in their mortal lives. These banished angels form their own gang; their specific leader is white. I don’t know what my MC did yet but I do know it will be a mistake she made when she was young that was not her fault, but is banished for it anyway. My MC sneaks back into angel land and the leader is so impressed by her intelligence that she let’s her stay, but gives her the “dangerous” power of fire as a warning to other angels to stay away from her.
My MC’s arc revolves around her eventually-found friends supporting her through the emotional abuse she has been through, and eventually accepting that whatever “wrong” mistake she made was not her fault because she was a child, the adults around her should have supported her, and escaping the abuse of the angel leader. She also learns to love her fire power and it aids her greatly on the story’s journey.
My main cast consists of 5 characters of colour and 4 white characters; the angel world and the banished angel world are full of different races, with a main angel character being mixed race and a main banished angel character being white. Are there any pitfalls you think I should avoid when it comes to writing this, in a way that makes it clear my MC is being unfairly judged for what she did as a child rather than because she’s black? Thank you.
Showing us that many young people of different races and backgrounds are unfairly judged is key. This way, you’re not singling out the Black character, judging her more harshly and as less innocent than her white and other counterparts, as they do in real life (criminalizing young Black kids, seeing them as more grown and less innocent, etc.)
If you’re making a specific commentary, then sure, you could single her out. It should be handled intentionally and you’d want to make sure you’re equipped to write on such a complex, historically-rooted matter of discrimination.
You want to avoid those implications, it seems. So avoid it with purpose:
Show us how other angels have made mistakes on a similar or lesser level of “Bad” that has got them banished.
Show the pain and judgment that others experience so we know it isn’t just her.
Also: perhaps avoid gruesome details about her death (particularly if others don’t have theirs described / described in explicit details)
On that note, how does she die? A death with exceptional pain and suffering, compared to others, can fall into tragedy exploitation.
You mention emotional abuse.
Did she face this abuse as a human, or is she being emotionally abused by these angels?
Are others experiencing abuse or hardships, or is she the only one who truly suffers in the story?
Is the Black girl experiencing a higher level of pain and abuse than others?
Watch out if the answer is yes to those last questions, as again, you may be making a struggle novel with an abused Black woman. A tragedy exploitative narrative.
From the details you’ve given, though, it seems you’re on the right track. Just keep these things in mind. Sounds like an interesting story!
~Mod Colette
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YOUR EYES TELL | JJK (14)
Summary: You live in a world where people see in black and white. The solution to finally see the colors? It's simple. You need to meet your soulmate and look at him in the eyes, but what if the person bound to you is already contented with the monochromatic world? What if...Jeongguk, your soulmate, is already in love with someone else?
Alternatively:
"A future without you is a world without color."
Genre: soulmate au, e2l, slow burn, angst, fluff, roommate au
Pairing: Artist!Jungkook x Lawyer!Reader
Word Count: 1.7k
Note: The lyrics of the song your eyes tell by BTS used in this chapter is NOT translated by me. It is composed/covered by genuis english translation and Jess A. Please consider listening to their music here. They’re a great singer! A line from Agust D’s 140503 at Dawn is also used in this update.
Warnings: blood, physical violence
***This is a super short chapter. JJK is just reflecting hehe
SERIES: CHAPTER 13 | FINAL CHAPTER
The blood in Jeongguk's lower lip was mocking him—telling him that once again, he fucked up.
Or at least this was what Park Jimin thought.
"So that's it, huh?" Your best friend rarely resort to violence—wait. This was wrong. Violence was never an option for Jimin, but he was making an exception tonight.
"You're just going to give up on her?" The older boy grabbed the collar of your soulmate's shirt.
Jimin was so mad he swore he could beat Jeongguk to a pulp.
How could Jeongguk be this dumb?
Jimin heard your conversation with your soulmate just a few breaths ago. He didn't plan to eavesdrop, it just happened.
Yoongi was the first one to know what happened to you. He was adamant to let you leave a while ago. He just had this weird feeling in his stomach that told him to check up on you.
His nightmare became a reality when he saw Jimin and Taehyung making out on the couch. You weren't with them and it only meant one thing: you left alone.
Yoongi was so mad at himself. He should have called you an uber or he should have driven you to wherever the hell you wanted to go.
This was partly his fault that's why he couldn't help but shudder in fear and regret when one of his staffs told him about what happened to you.
Police officers said you were under the influence of alcohol. Yoongi already knew this, but Taehyung and Jimin were still shocked.
They had no idea you left.
It actually took the three of them a long time to know what had happened to you. By the time they reached the hospital, they were already too late.
Jeongguk managed to make you cry over and over again.
What an asshole.
What kind of soulmate was Jeongguk? Were you really meant to be together? These questions were running inside your best friend's head. It had been answered when Jeongguk suddenly pushed Jimin away.
He wiped the blood in his bottom lip, smirking at his hyung.
"Who said I'm giving up on her?"
Jimin's jaw dropped. Jeongguk’s voice is full of confidence and determination.
"Y-You’re not?"
"No." Your soulmate said firmly. He couldn't. He wouldn't. Not when he was sure about what he felt for you, not when you needed him the most, and definitely not when you were giving up on him.
No. He should fight when you couldn't.
"Good," your best friend released a breath. He hated your soulmate for hurting you, but Jimin also knew that you loved Jeongguk—even if you told him otherwise.
This was the sad thing about the existence of soulmate that Jimin despised. The encouraging reminders like 'You should learn to love yourself,' and 'you don't need your soulmate to be happy,' would not apply.
It helped, yes. But your world was different. It would always feel like a part of you was missing when your soulmate didn’t love you back.
Humans were made to love and to feel loved. This reminded Jimin of the neon signage that's plastered on Genius Lab: I'm the island in this vast ocean, don't abandon me. This was Min Yoongi's idea. The bar owner always told him and everyone (really) that people were like island—they were able to provide—to extend their hands in this cold world.
They should never be abandoned because like any other things, they needed to be taken care of too.
"But what are you planning to do?" Jimin creased his forehead.
Jeongguk didn't even bat an eyelash when you told him to let you go. This was what annoyed Jimin. How could your soulmate be so silent about this? Why did he simply leave when you told him to go?
In Jeongguk's defense, he just didn't want to upset you any longer. He was aware that his presence was stressing you out. You should rest, especially because there's possibility that you might need to undergo an eye surgery.
Jeongguk's heart clenched once again. You were blind and you thought it was because he hated you.
It’s not true and he would change your mind.
"Seriously, Guk?" Taehyung shook his head, scowling. "This is your and my fiancé’s idea?"
"Don't get mad at Jimin-hyung. It's my idea." Jeongguk corrected his best friend. "Your soulmate is just helping me."
It had been days since the accident and you were aware that Jeongguk had been by your side all this time, not really by your side, per se, but he was around. He was patiently waiting outside of your room in this hospital, begging Jimin and your other loved ones to tell him what he could to help.
Today was the only time he left the hospital, as in the same day of your eye surgery.
Jeongguk swore he's not running away this time though. He was actually going to let you know that he would be staying with you. Forever.
"I can't let you do this, Jeon. I'm gonna lose my job if you fuck this one up!" Taehyung groaned.
"Hyung, please. This is really important!" Jeongguk was nervous. He was running out of time. Your surgery was in a few minutes and here he was, invading the studio where Taehyung worked as a DJ.
"This is going to be aired on national radio, Guk. As in the whole South Korea!"
"I know!" Jeongguk's eyes were blown wide. "This is exactly why I want to do this, hyung. I want everyone to know how I feel!"
If you couldn’t see, then maybe you could understand Jeongguk’s feelings by listening. He was willing to explore other senses just to make you believe.
"Fucking sappy!" In the end, Taehyung had no choice but to let his best friend proclaim his love for you.
Jeongguk smiled as he tapped the microphone, softly calling your name.
"It's Jeongguk. I know you don't want to hear from me, but I have something to say." Jeongguk grimaced. He seriously sucked when it came to expressing his emotions through words. "This will be quick, I promise. I just hope Jiminie-hyung is actually helping me out."
"Of course he is!" Taehyung shouted somewhere. Jimin wouldn't dare to ruin this for you. His task was simple anyway. He only needed to make sure that you were listening to the radio a few moments before your eye surgery.
You were nervous. Jimin wanted to help you calm down by making sure that you knew Jeongguk was not going to leave you alone in the cold.
"Anyway I know that I...well...I," your soulmate blushed. How should he describe himself? Was there a word that could emphasize his stupidity?
"I am an idiot." Jeongguk bit the inside of his cheek. This was the only adjective he could think of. "I am the idiot who hurt you and I know, I know...I don’t deserve your forgiveness because of how selfish I was—I mean, am. I still am."
He chuckled nervously. His heart was hammering.
"Call me selfish or whatever you want. I'm sure I deserve it anyway, but yeah...I'll be selfish again if this is the only way to let you know what I really feel about you."
Jeongguk cleared his throat as the beat of the music started to play.
"Why are my eyes filled with tears?” He sang.
This was a song composed by him. Of course he couldn't do this alone. Namjoon was the one who produced the beat of this song. He also helped his brother-in-law to write the lines. Ji-eun's father was a lyrical genius.
"Hey, stay by my side and laugh.” Jeongguk knew he was asking for too much. It was impossible to simply smile and stay with him—not after the hell he had put you through.
"A future without you is a world without color, filled with monochrome coldness." But this was the exact representation of what would happen if you weren't in his life.
Life would literally be black and white. Dull. Jeongguk knew how essential colors were in his life, yet if he was forced to choose between the hues and you, he would choose you in a heartbeat.
"Even the darkness we see is so beautiful. Please believe me."
Darkness was the absence of light. You were Jeongguk’s light. His life would be dark if you were not around.
He also knew you were going through the darkest time of your life, so he wanted this moment to still be beautiful.
He wanted you to believe that every hardship would pay off. You just had to believe.
"Looking only directly at you, so you don't go away"
Jeongguk wrote this line many months ago. It wasn't even meant to be lyrics to a song. These were simply the words he incorporated in his art.
Jeongguk was a soft person. He usually put cheesy captions in his paintings and drawings—the things he usually couldn’t verbalize.
"Whatever lies in the way of you and me. I'll just keep looking at the future of you and I."
It didn't matter that you lost hope. Jeongguk was sure he would make you believe in love again.
"Shadows of the past keep chasing me everywhere I go, and they try to keep ahold of me and till this day they follow me."
He would try to let go of his hurtful past. Those things didn't matter because he could always make good memories with you.
"Even though it seems to be the start of the end I'll call you and shout out your name."
He would be the hope in your relationship. This might be the end for you; however, Jeongguk was just starting.
Starting to accept the soulmate bond.
"I'll become your eyes to the world and for whatever we may face."
Starting to show you how much you meant to him.
He was willing to become your eyes if you didn't recover from this instantly. He would guide you until you could see again.
"One day all of this, this sadness that we share will bring us together."
The sadness would be over soon. You would see again;
Because Jeon Jeongguk was sure. He loved you and...
"Your eyes will tell."
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You write so beautifully!! I wanted to send a response to the character study you wrote on Alex under that ask but my brain is struggling atm bc there’s so much great material to unpack and you discussed everything with so much care!
One of the things that I’ve always loved about the Life is Strange series, that I’ve carried with me for years, is that the games don’t shy away from hurting- from raw rage, crippling grief, blistering frustration, incredibly relatable and realistic depictions of trauma responses, especially coming from teenagers (and younger children in Daniel’s case) with maladaptive coping mechanisms faced with incredible obstacles and emotional hardship (and even that feels like an understatement) in the previous 3 games. That’s rare to find, at least for me. And True Colors is no different, specifically in the sense that it too fully embraces the full spectrum of raw emotion, if arguably in a more nuanced, complete way, as, not only is Alex older than our previous protagonists, the series as a whole is growing up, too. Each game has its flaws, but I’m so, so grateful for all of them, and especially True Colors. I have yet to find another series that feels as honest and visceral as this one does, even after all this time. I’m sorry that this got so long!
Hey, thank you so much! Dw at all about long asks; I'm the wrong who writes accidental essays about fictional characters, so 😅 And sorry it took a day to answer this!
That's a really excellent point you brought up about how LiS really explores the full breadth of emotion, and I think in that way, it seeks to tell stories about the human experience. For me, LiS isn’t about small towns or mystery or romance or even the supernatural. At its core, Life is Strange is about human connection. Love in all its forms, as well as how far we’d go for our loved ones— how Chloe was willing to sacrifice herself for a town she hated for Max; how Max can refuse to let Chloe die; how Sean faced homelessness, racist violence, and near-fatal encounters to keep him and Daniel together; and how Alex faced legal threats, death threats, and survived a 300-foot fall down a mineshaft all in her pursuit of justice for her brother.
LiS has become so synonymous with emotionally gutting stories that people joke "Can't wait to get depressed again!" But what I thought made True Colors different was that it dug deeply into the full range of human emotion. It didn’t forget about joy, and love, and hope. That for me was another way that the series showed it was maturing— even though LiS2 was set far away from the high school, the ultimate tragedy of that story was that Sean and Daniel were just kids thrown into horribly adult situations. True Colors’ determination to stay more tonally balanced also felt like a deliberate move away from the teen angst and abject misery that characterized the earlier games. It explores more complex emotions in the wake of immediate grief— the shaky sense of joy from recalling a happy memory of a loved one now gone, the excitement of new friendships, and the enduring hope that things will get better. When life deals you a bad hand, how do you learn to pick yourself up and carry on? It just overall feels like a much more adult perspective on life (even though adults were always writing these games, lol).
I also agree that the LiS series feels truly one-of-a-kind, to the point where it feels like its own genre. The first game was marketed as a sort of “playable indie movie,” and I think that’s endured despite True Colors’ AAA polish because these games have always been about everyday people and their lives. These characters feel believable not because of hyperrealistic graphics or immersive gameplay but because you can read their text message histories, cover letters (seriously, who else other than DN would bother to do that??), and journal entries. There are comparable games like TWDG or TLOU, but the LiS series manages to tell emotional stories without the need for a zombie apocalypse or other huge stakes. It has always prioritized protagonists from marginalized backgrounds but makes them relatable for everyone. Even with the supernatural elements, that’s why LiS has always felt so real to me and why I’ve connected with it so much.
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When Lila is exposed, everyone gets mad at Adrien & asks why he didn’t help Marinette. Adrien replies, “Bc Mari is strong & amazing there’s nothing she can’t handle her life is perfect there’s no way she’d get akumatized, & Lila’s obviously weak and emotionally unstable, she lies all the time bc she’s unhappy with herself, she’s clearly insecure & feels she’s not good enough, so I felt sorry for her.” Basically he tells the whole class that Marinette is a super woman & Lila is a train wreck, that Marinette has everything a girl could want & all Lila has is her petty lies. Mari doesn’t know whether to be offended or honored by his putting her up on a pedestal, & Lila now wants to murder him.
Let me at him!
This is a draft because I have no idea how to end it
It was a rare collaboration of the bee and fox working together to expose Lila.
Bustier was too used to letting Chloé do her own thing and so let her interrupt her class with an impromptu PowerPoint presentation full of interviews Alya had scored.
When the video was done, ending with a recommendation that everyone apologized to Marinette, Alya asks Adrien why he didn’t expose Lila himself?
This enragés the class but Chloé isn’t happy with him either. He had let her be lied to by that harpy. What kind of friend does that?
Adrien defends himself. Apparently, to him, Lila is a rich lonely girl who wanted to impress their already impressive class. But because she had nothing impressive to brag about, her travels notwithstanding, she had to make stuff up. Who was he to expose her for being average? Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But Lila is just so sensitive that she is like akuma bait.
Lila, preciously recoiling against her seat in fear, is now glaring daggers at Adrien. Pretty boy say what?
Alya: oh, so raising our hopes and letting them fall to pieces, as well as letting Marinette’s reputation be slandered isn’t akuma worthy!
Adrien: you all have talent to get by, you would have moved on and tried again. And Marinette is our Everyday Ladybug, she can’t be akumatized.
Marinette was torn about that. While it was flattering that he thought her to be akuma immune, she wasn’t and she needs support too.
Alix: she’s human, you idiot! Not a robot, but a human girl who has feelings.
Markov: ahem!
Alix: Sorry, Markov. She is not made of stone, Agreste!
Adrien: and yet no matter how much Chloé bullies her, how many times she worries, she has never once been akumatized. She even comes out the most successful of us with her business and school reputation.
Chloé: Adrien, (wow...no Adrikins), let me put it this way. You are our Everyday sunshine child. How would you feel if everyone left you alone to deal with your father. You have no friends left and you have to deal with a lot of pressure. But everyone doesn’t care because you are the sunshine boy of Paris, and Hawkmoth has never targeted you before?
Adrien: what a horrible scenario. That will never happen.
Ivan: it might happen with your attitude.
Rose: you left Marinette alone to deal with the potential scenario. Even if she is good at resisting akumas, she would have felt lonely. You of all people should understand that!
Adrien: but you didn’t abandon her, did you? This way no one in class would be left alone. But if I had exposed Lila, then she would be friendless. I mean, sure she would eventually move to another country, but to be friendless for any period of time is just sad.
Lila: better to be friendless than to be friends with the likes of you! One word, Agreste: tact!
Nino sighs: Dude, you are so clueless.
Kim: and not a very reliable friend.
Pretty much everyone but Adrien agrees on that.
Adrien: but-!
Alya: I vote we let Adrien have a taste of his own medicine and ignore him when he is being taken advantage of. Because frankly, he still doesn’t get it!
Chloé: first hand experience would do the trick, but we are trying to avoid an akuma.
Alya: as said before, he’s akuma résistant. He’ll be fine.
Adrien: but-
Lunch bell rings and the class exits, leaving Adrien alone to go home and Ms Bustier watching the show.
Ms Bustier: you should learn from this Adrien.
Adrien: but what did I do wrong?
Don’t worry. Adrien wasn’t alone. Wayhem filled in Nino’s position. Unfortunately Wayhem’s présence also included other fans of Adrien. It was an uncomfortable time for Adrien to be treated like a celebrity rather than a friend. He felt lonely.
But once the fans got used to Adrien and found hanging out with him kind of crowded and really not worth the mileage since Adrien would only be there for a half hour at best. They moved on.
Adrien was disappointed but already knew they were fans, not friends. But when would his real friends talk to him again?
Ironically it was Gabriel who pointed out that his son was wrong for enabling a liar and putting all that pressure on Marinette. He only noticed once Nathalie reported Adrien’s declining popularity.
Adrien had an innocent mind but he hated disappointing his father and promised to do better. He apologized to his class and promised he learned his lesson to always expose lies and never to leave them to face hardships alone.
The class was doubtful he really understood the lesson but why not give him a second chance?
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always yours - yi city mdzs characters hcs
the last of the best friend series head canons!
this is a modern version (stay tuned for a different version (v^ー°) )
»»——⍟——««
Xiao Xingchen
stepping into high school, you’ve always felt out of your depth
both from the pressure of moving to a new town and entering another stage of education in your life
it was kind of intimidating
mildly stressful
and you know it shouldn’t be much of a bother to try and fit in and find your crowd
because good things take time (as your parents have reminded you)
and that you were such a lovable person, so
who wouldn’t want to be your friend?
but it still didn’t change the fact that it was hard, nonetheless
luckily, when you’re kind of floating about in between the crowds of people and laughter in the first lunch of your first year, see an empty seat for you to snag
considering how crowded the lunch room was, you feel quite proud of yourself
so you sit down at the spot without a second thought
not even realizing that the seat in front of your empty one was occupied
you’re digging heartily, halfway through your sandwich, when you realize that someone is looking at you
and that’s when you meet Xingchen, immediately humored by your enthusiasm with food
definitely not one of your best first impressions
but it’s surely something that sticks
because aside from finding out that you both are in the same grade, you both have a plethora of classes together as well
and it becomes easy for you to find a familiar face to gravitate to in your classes
throughout the year
he’s the person that saves you a seat in the cafeteria whenever the teacher from the previous class lets you out late
you’re the person that shares your notes with him in class so that you both can be caught up
you’re each other’s first choice as partners
and it’s so so easy being friends with someone as lovely and wonderful as Xingchen
and he’s so great in everything
from his smarts
to his genuine kindness
and you know that he deserves the world
which is why
your world comes to a halting stop
when Xiao Xingchen is suddenly blinded after an accident
luckily he’s not fully blind
but his vision is heavily impaired
and you know that your high school is not the right environment for him safety and social wise
you know it is for the best that his parents are making plans to find a better accommodating school for him
but...
he’s your only, truest, friend,
and it’s only been a short while since you both have met
but you can’t imagine going through the last remaining two years high school without
and as you sit next to his hospital bed, feel his warm hand clutch yours
you think that
he feels the same
»»——⍟——««
A-Qing
you meet A-Qing as you’re helping Xiao Xingchen around the your high school, helping him to orient in an old place through a new perspective
you can’t lie and say that it’s not frustrating
but Xingchen’s always been more patient than you
even now,
when you were supposed to be helping him
it saddens you sometimes
when you can’t be of more help to him than you currently are
“i think this would be pretty useful,”
both you and Xingchen startle at the voice that talks to you both
your eyes find a young girl, probably a freshman, staring up at you
her hand holds out a small foldable stick
“it’s a white cane, it’ll help him feel out the floor better than you saying ‘watch out’ every other minute” the girl notes
“he can still see,” you try to correct, because everyone nowadays just assumes that Xingchen is fully blind... and he just accepts it like he accepts everything in his life-
“oh, i’ve never tried a cane before. i think that could be of help,” Xingchen says in his quiet voice, he turns to you though not fully enough to meet your eyes staring at him
you’ve gotten more used to his profile than his full face as of recently
“can you give it to me, y/n” Xingchen asks you,
and he’s using that voice with you
the ‘be patient, let’s try it’ voice
you manage a stiff nod at the girl, and take the white cane from her and open it from Xingchen
we you place the handle that he’s supposed to hold in his palm, Xingchen as polite as ever says,
“thank you... um...”
“A-Qing,” the girl finally introduces and then turns to you, a half smile on her face
“and you’re y/n,” the young girl parrots from what she heard before
you nod at her, a small ‘thank you’ coming from you too
‘it’s no problem. my grandma is blind so i understand you too,” A-Qing says
at that, you realize, that it would be good to befriend someone that has experience in helping visually impaired people
because you wanted to learn how to help Xingchen better
you friendship starts from Xingchen’s hardships
but as you three spend more time together,
the difficulties of his life lessen
especially with A-Qing’s support
you two become his two closest friends
and A-Qing morphs more into a little sister to you
because for all of her knowledge with Xingchen’s situation, she was still very very new to the high school situation
so she relied on your guidance (in that aspect) as much as you relied on her to help you help Xingchen
but you three come together like a sandwich
and all is well
until your third year of high school
when trouble comes in the form of a human person
»»——⍟——««
Xue Yang
trouble goes by the name of Xue Yang
your high school is relatively medium sized so you think that if you haven’t met everyone yet at least you know of most people
but
when you walk into the hallway at the sight of someone taunting Xingchen, you can’t help the way your blood boils
A-Qing is still young,
and the boy that���s flicking and pushing at Xingchen’s calm shoulder looks to be about your age, an junior
you’re about to intervene when you’re surprised at Xingchen’s quick handed grasp of the man’s hand when it lands on his chest for the third (and final time)
Xingchen holds the wrist tightly
and you remember that before, a short while ago, Xingchen used to do material arts after school
he probably never forgot his instincts, having practiced for so many years
“what do you think you’re doing?”
at the sound of your voice, the boy spares you a glance,
and then you give a short sigh under your breath
because it was Xue Yang
it was always Xue Yang
“just chatting with your boyfriend, y/n. no need to go all mama bird” Xue Yang teases and takes his hand roughly out of Xingchen’s grasp
“he’s not my boyfriend,” you correct Xue Yang, going up to Xingchen’s side to stare Xue Yang down
Xue Yang laughs, humorlessly
“you sure about that? because i think you’re probably babying him even more than his real mother,” and you really want to land a good fist to Xue Yang’s face
but Xingchen’s true testament to your friendship is that he just knows you well enough to reach a hand out and hold your wrist, hold you back from doing anything rash
because your little convo with Xue Yang had already grabbed enough of a crowd
you let Xiao Xingchen and A-Qing lead you away, though you manage to spare a long glare at Xue Yang before he fully leaves your sight
from then on, you all try to avoid Xue Yang as best as you can
and you stay closer to A-Qing and Xiao Xingchen
because it seems like you’re Xue Yang repellent
he only bothers the other two when you’re not within the vicinity
and you don’t dare think that Xue Yang is scared of you (Xue Yang isn’t scared of anything)
but it’s a little blessing that you’re grateful for
you don’t want anyone making Xingchen’s life harder than it already was
and you think that you can get through the last few months of junior year without trouble
well you hope
but one memorable time that trouble visits you
is in the turn spring
right before you you’re about to finish your junior year (practically already a senior in high school)
Xue Yang catches your arm when you’re on your way out of school after your free block
drags you to the bleachers despite your protests
you glare at him,
he stares at you, sighs
“what?” you ask
“you don’t care about anything that has to do with us do you?”
you sigh as you lean your back on the edges of the bleacher seats
“why do you put your friends before us all the time?”
“because he needs me-”
“more than i do?”
Xue Yang’s question surprises you, slightly
but you regain your composure quickly
“talk to me again when you learn that a relationship has friends and partners,
not everything in life is about you”
and that’s the final time you talk to him
»»——⍟——««
Song Lan
Song Lan comes back into your life as abruptly as he had left it
he had always been more of Xingchen’s friend than yours
you remember him being introduced to you as the quiet, barely smiling but loyal friend that Xingchen knew from way back
he and you never talked much
but he talked a lot with Xingchen
and you could tell that the both of them were close
they made each other happy
which was why his abrupt exit from high school
at the time where Xingchen needed him the most
was difficult for you to understand
though at the same time
his departure gave you a better chance to prove your friendship to Xingchen
to be the person that was there for him when it seemed like no one was
and you think that the chapter of old friendships had closed when you graduated high school
so you didn’t think you’d ever see Song Lan again
let alone, see him in your second year of college in the middle of your campus walk with Xingchen’s arm linked with yours
“y/n? why’d you stop? we’re going to be late for class”
and now, with Xingchen fully blind
you were somewhat the eyes for him when it came to new places and people
A-Qing was still in her final year of high school, already planning on following your footsteps and applying to the same college as you guys
so it was all left to you
how do you explain to XIngchen that you just saw his best friend that had left him in high school all those years ago without so much as a goodbye?
should you even let him know?
luckily, you don’t have to make the choice
when Song Lan turns and walks away immediately, not looking back
“it’s nothing, i was just startled when a squirrel ran past,” you lie to Xingchen
and continue walking on the path that you both are on
but Xingchen knows you better than yourself
and he can tell that your grip around his arm is a bit tighter than before
but he doesn’t mention anything
~~~
fate would have it that that was not the last encounter that you have with Song Lan
and the next time you do see him, you don’t let him off the hook so easily
“where did you go? how are you here now?” you ask him, when you manage to latch onto his arm at the small campus cafe
he takes his wrist out of your grasp easily
though his face looks slightly more expressive than you remember he used to be
“how’s Xingchen?” he counters with you and you huff out an exasperated laugh
“you wouldn’t need to ask me that if you had been there for us,” you find yourself saying
because you can still remember, vividly
the first few weeks of Xingchen’s blindness
his embarrassment towards you where you know he wouldn’t have been with Song Lan
and how much he missed him
“do you... do you think i can see him?” Song Lan asks, a beat after your heavy comment
you truly wonder what Xiao Xingchen would have to say to this
because you may be his best friend
but you can’t make his decisions for him
“i don’t know, why don’t you ask him,” you tell Song Lan, then tilt your head
when Song Lan turns around, he sees the person who he’s looking for right away
Xiao Xingchen is hard to miss
Song Lan stares
now it all comes down to, whether or not he would take the first step to him or not
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please repost, don’t reblog.
𝟑 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇𝐒
▘ LOYALTY ➺ a shining trait of james barnes that ( somehow ) survived the passing of time and tribulation. since his early brooklyn days, bucky barnes displayed a steadfast loyalty and dedication towards those he loved and cherished. growing up during a time when there was a heavy emphasis on duty and responsibility, james understood his role as the eldest and only male child of george and winifred barnes - and assumed that role with ease and enthusiasm. this loyalty extended beyond blood though, as was proven by james’ devotion to close friends, the most notorious being his everlasting friendship with steven rogers. hydra had tried to weaponize this gleaming trait, hoping to mold it to their liking and use it to instill a unquestionable loyalty to their cause. they were pathetically unsuccessful - and the chair and cryochamber were fashioned as a result. after his time spent with hydra, TRUST is something barnes deeply struggles with. his trusted inner circle has certainly grown smaller and much more exclusive, but james still harbors this same dedication to those selected few. given his past and his current afflictions, those bonds he does manage to forge prove all the more stronger and resilient.
▘ TENACITY ➺ the serum only enhanced that which already existed within him. childhood was spent surviving the rough and tumble of brooklyn city streets, made all the more grueling with steve rogers as a best friend. as such, barnes learned at a very young age how to assess a situation, adapt to his surroundings and ( most importantly ) how to survive. dance hall skirmishes and back alley brawls were nothing though compared to the brutalities of war. still, it was this grit that helped the young man not only survive but excel as a sergeant. the army soon discovered that this notorious flirt from brooklyn exhibited a certain aptitude for sharpshooting. this impressive talent along with james’ natural charisma helped to build him a trusted reputation within the ranks and respect among his comrades. these talents were also what made the man such a formidable soldier. the bastard - serum amplified these strengths and hydra WEAPONIZED them. years blurred into decades�� and his skills were hellishly refined thanks to rigorous and ruthless training. the winter soldier program reconstructed the man into a living, breathing weapon capable of handling any firearm, blade, explosive, advanced weaponry, artillery or blunt object. && if he truly found himself limited and weaponless, the cybernetic arm soldered to his body proved a more than capable alternative. in combat, the soldier proved a devastating force and hydra was quick to take the credit and reap the benefits, but this staggering ability to adapt without pause and utilize his surroundings for his advantage stemmed not in the dirty lab of one arnim zola but began on the street corners of the city james barnes’ called home.
▘ VIRTUE / ETHICS ➺ growing up during the depression was not easy for anyone and neither was spending the beginning of young adulthood surviving the second world war. his childhood was marked by some of the worst and most difficult times in history - and yet james never allowed hardship or misfortune deter his regard for hard work, nor did he allow it to pollute his idealistic outlook on life. both his parents worked hard to support the family and that same work - ethic was imparted onto james, who assumed the role eagerly and naturally. luckily, during this time of strife, his family always had enough to provide both him and his two sisters a comfortable lifestyle, with various opportunities to explore and take advantage of - which was more than some families could boast at that time. after the death of sarah rogers, james made the decision to move into an apartment with his best friend. as young bacherlors, they did not have much but together they managed to scrape by and make an honest living. despite steve’s skepticism, james’ choices were never made out of pity or some disgruntled sense of obligation. he worked tirelessly and did what he had to because that was what he grew up believing. a man takes care of the people he loves, no matter what. whatever the cost - working two jobs, skipping a meal here and there, some months spent without heat, selling unnecessary belongings - bucky would do whatever was necessary - and did so without complaint. in fact, he woke up each morning with a smile on his face and a quip on his tongue. for him, there was no better reward or greater comfort than knowing the ones he loved were taken care of. he believes himself unrecognizable when compared to that willful man now, but certain traits of the old james barnes can still be found within him. there is a payout for hard work and the man that he is today is slowly remembering those feelings of satisfaction and fulfillment in honest labor.
𝟑 𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐒
▘ RUTHLESSNESS ➺ 𝑡𝘩𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑢𝑚 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝘩𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝘩𝑖𝑐𝘩 𝑎𝑙𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑦 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑠. 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡. 𝑏𝑎𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠 ... before the horrible truth was unmasked, the history books painted james barnes in a favorable glow. he was known for being the young jovial, dashing side - kick of captain america. A PATRIOT - dedicated, noble, brave, honorable ;; an honest, hardworking man who cared about family, duty, honor and sacrifice. && he was many of these things. no one could deny james barnes of his genuine heart of gold. the man was willing to do anything for those he loved. anything. such love was a truly powerful thing, capable of cultivating great beauty. it could also prove to be equally as DISASTROUS. at its purest form, it inspired strength, selflessness, kindness. twisted, it became a deadly incentive. the BRUTALITY of the winter soldier was not born solely from the torture inflicted upon him or the serum he was infected with. beneath his buoyant, sprightly exterior existed a side of james barnes that was seldom exposed, unless provoked. there was a violence that lived within the darker parts of his heart, a ruthless determination to protect the things which were important to him. && if anyone dared to threaten those things ? well ... those details are far less known. if needed, james had no qualms about getting his hands dirty or splitting open his knuckles to send a very clear message. he had an ability to separate himself from his own subconscious and used this talent to become someone almost unrecognizable from his more charming counterpart. this austerity deepened into something even more callous during the war - when the enemy became much more larger and far more deadly. to switch back and forth between these personas became even more fluid and then - it became frighteningly easy. it was a duality that many were forced to adopt in order to survive the TRAUMAS of war. it was only a glimpse of what he was truly capable of though. the extent of his CRUELTY reached its full potential once he was injected with zola’s serum. bucky barnes was capable of great horror, even before he became the winter soldier - but with the serum, the torture && captivity - this capacity was exposed and steadily becoming the CRUX of his entire character. despite the size of his heart of the pureness of his intentions, there still exists a violence inside of him. ruthless and efficient, it has grown, survived, thrived and matured over the years, and still sits within his core today - its potential just as deadly and just as horrifying.
▘ DISSOCIATION / DETATCHMENT ➺ an extension of the adverse trait described above, james started to display this ability to separate himself from his more repugnant qualities early on. he was never known for being VIOLENT. that brutality was extracted and molded once hydra got their hands on him, it was assumed. the historians will tell you the winter soldier was a product of inhumane warfare, experimentation, abuse and indoctrination, but james knows the truth ... in the beginning, james did what he had to to protect the ones he loved. during his captivity, he did what he had to to survive. && now - he does what he needs to to live with himself. && what was necessary in all these occasions required the man to separate himself from his empathy - and later on, his HUMANITY. he relied so heavily on this mechanism during his time as the soldier that the disconnection became more common than not and breaking free from that impulse is something he continues to struggle with today - and something he is hesitant to even relinquish. dissociation makes it easier to exist ;; to move forward - as is expected of him. one day bleeds into another, into another, into another ... and he moves with it, no longer a phantom existing outside of time. instead, an active presence. — but his continued reliance on this crutch ? he exists. but is james barnes living ? IS HE REALLY ALIVE ?
▘ INDECISION ( current day ) ➺ a weakness that only manifested after his captivity, barnes deeply struggles with the burden of choice. freedom. autonomy. ambition. purpose. all the small ( yet crucial ) decisions and preferences that define a person’s character oftentimes feels absent from his makeup. james buchanan barnes used to have strong opinions, about anything and everything. his favorite flavor of pie, best subject in school, favored season, blondes - brunettes ? hell, he even had a favorite color. if someone were to ask this james barnes about those same sentiments, if they lasted and endured the years along with him or if they had changed with the time, james would falter and stare back with vacant eyes. individuality feels like a withered gravesite inside of him, a bottomless pit of nothing. every so often he may hear the flickering echoes of what once was, but the enthusiasm - the passion - feels distant, far - away. for decades, he had been deprived of free will. he was a WEAPON and weapons did not feel or think. weapons did not make noise unless fired by the hands authorized to use them. unbounded, given a NAME once again, a voice - and he knows he should feel grateful. && yet, the only thing he feels is overwhelmed. his mind does not hesitant when it comes to battle ;; TO KILLING. his hands know exactly which gun to reach for given a situation, how much pressure to apply to snap a bone. he no longer needs to run the numbers in his head to calculate a bullets’ trajectory given distance and wind speed. he fires without thought and never misses. he is an expert of wartime tactics. violence is second nature to him, right behind DEATH. now, alive - a free man ... they ask him what he wants and barnes ... does not know - and he inadvertently still finds himself looking to others to supply those answers ( that instruction. )
𝟑 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐒
▘ SHAMEFUL INCLINATIONS ➺ to admit such whims out loud would flood him with repugnant shame. he knows it is wrong to reminisce and crave the inertia of subjection, but he cannot deny the nostalgic longing that twists inside of him on his darkest days. to think such things ;; to feel such things disgraces the efforts and sacrifices that were made in order to free him from those chains. — but james barnes has always been selfish like that. it is easy to brush off accountability and blame hydra for everything. 𝗂𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌𝗇'𝗍 𝗁𝗂𝗆, 𝗍𝗈𝗇𝗒 ! 𝗁𝗒𝖽𝗋𝖺 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗍𝗋𝗈𝗅 𝗈𝖿 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖽. ▪ 𝚑𝚢𝚍𝚛𝚊 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞. ▪ 🇾🇴🇺 🇦🇷🇪 🇹🇭🇪 🇱🇴🇳🇬🇪🇸🇹 🇸🇪🇷🇻🇮🇳🇬 🇵🇴🇼. ▪ 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚞𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚌𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗. ▪ 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖽𝗂𝖽 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗌𝖾 𝗒𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗌, 𝗂𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌𝗇'𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎. 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖽𝗂𝖽𝗇'𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖺 𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗂𝖼𝖾. NO CHOICE. they had absolute control over his body, his mind. (did they?) he could not refuse. (couldn’t he?) the grim reality is that, as years bled into decades, the leash hydra had chained around his neck started to loosen considerably, until the pull barely existed at all. rarely did his handlers need to rely on the early tactics to keep him in line. he COMPLIED without resistance. both masters and soldier fell into an agreeable rhythm, following a trusted routine. it made activation less agonizing, muffled the scratching of chaotic thoughts into soothing white noise. it made his orders simpler ;; made killing easier ;; made existing with himself ... easier. it was a gift ( they told him ) to be relieved of the burden of choice and there are times when he still ( shamefully ) agrees with this. to feel nothing at all, after having felt so much ... ? it is a very dangerous thing. the numbing high of indifference, apathy, inertia - can feel like FREEDOM.
▘ LIKELIHOOD OF RECOVERY ➺ the harrowing truth ... he has lived more of his life as a WEAPON than he has a person. after everything he has gone through, james feels more machine than he does human. he feels the corrosion of rust spreading through him. his body does not feel like flesh and bone, but more akin to gears and wires and metal. thoughts are mere embedded programming ... implanted, artificial. his heart feels like a gnarled knot inside his chest. his soul feels absent. morality is faint, compassion - oftentimes hard to find. to choose requires great effort ;; to think requires effort ;; to care requires effort - and james is exhausted. those on his side tell him he deserves a chance to recover, to heal - but he sometimes thinks that the best thing they could do given the situation is to take this body that feels more like a weapon, decommission it, place it in storage under lock and key and allow it to gather dust. can he heal ? can he recover ? can he exist as anything other than a weapon ? after all this time and after everything he has gone through ? he isn’t sure. optimism hasn’t been his forte since 1942. he considers himself a realist. && if his chances follow his rotten history of luck, the odds do not appear to be on his side.
▘ DRAFTED SOLDIER ➺ he will never admit it. ever. && how befitting - this dark secret. how it reveals the nature of his character ... all the blood on his hands, all the lives he has stolen, the atrocities he has committed - and this is the one thing he is most ashamed of. his head is filled with dark secrets - hydra’s, his own. all of them are shameful, ugly, brutal and yet this one secret stands out the most in his mind. this is the one that GUTS him the most, because it was before ... everything. before the war, before hydra, before the soldier. this reveals james barnes at his core. this is his blemish ;; his most reproachable trait. this destroys his character more than hydra or the soldier ever did. it is a truth he will never admit to, to anyone. he will even go as far as denying it, lying to his dying breath. — but how could he admit such a thing ? after witnessing the bravery and determination he saw in others, in his best friend - to serve, to protect - without the slightest pause or hesitation. all the while he tried to hide from the call of duty, hoping. praying. james barnes never signed up to serve the second world war. it is a secret he has never admitted to anyone. not to his friends, his father or sisters. not to the other commandoes. not even ( especially not ) steve. && it is a secret he will take to the grave.
𝟑 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒
▘ LOSING AUTONOMY ➺ while freedom has proven tumultuous, he still prefers the struggle when compared to the alternative. while under hydra’s control, james barely surfaced, but the rare times he did he saw the world though a murky sheet of ice, drifting in the inertia of the soldier’s compliance. existence felt more like an out of body experience - a resultant of trauma, he was later told. he witnessed his torture, his brutal crimes, the creeping advancement of hydra’s power, more as an onlooker than an active participant. it made certain things ... easier to stomach. the torture, the experiments ;; stasis, the chair. it made following orders ... simpler. he hardly blinked when exposed to his own potential for DEVASTATION. the violence. the breaking, rebuilding and training of more soldiers, the little spiders. torture. murder. during his less lucid states, he ( selfishly ) welcomed the disconnect, but every so often - his old sense of morality would give a kick and he would stare, wide - eyed and horrified. he would honestly try with every bit of strength he had left inside of him to stop himself, to control himself, but even his hardest endeavors failed miserably against the soldier’s rigid conditioning. nothing more than the occasional hiccup in his code, a sudden half - second hesitation - quickly roped back into submission by screaming static. to exist in such a way - condemned to watch as your shadow destroys every bit of light within,�� fated to feel the rot putrefy your soul, slowly - slowly ... it is a terrible thing. && it will continue to haunt james for the rest of his life. he may struggle to find purpose after his liberation, the motivation and energy to pursue a meaningful life, but the last thing he ever wants ( what he fears ) is to be used as a PUPPET again.
▘ LIVING ➺ he existed in a definite state for a very long time, long enough for him to find comfort in routine, monotony - THE EXPECTED. there was an equation to surviving hydra ( surviving himself ) - and hydra proved they would be true to their word if only he obeyed. COMPLIANCE WILL BE REWARDED. orders were clear and exact and non - negotiable. missions were organized and coordinated, objectives defined well before he was even pulled from stasis. he knew what to expect - how much pain he would need to endure, what followed activation, what proceeded mission completion - and he knew what he needed to do in order to make the process bearable. ( ready to comply ) the soldier did not like it when things did not go according to plan. like hydra, he did not like surprises. lose ends. it required him to make decisions, to think ... orders were simple. all he needed to do was complete them as quickly, as cleanly and as efficiently as possible, AS INSTRUCTED. any deviation from the expected leads quickly into CHAOS and chaos can be as dangerous and as deadly as an explosion. after the failure of project insight, the soldier was forced to adapt to his situation in order to survive. the upheaval of sudden liberation almost destroyed him. he spent those first few months in a mad attempt to regain some semblance of order. he hid out of sight, living as a ghost while struggling with whiplashing whims: the rigid impulse to return to his surviving handlers ( for orders ) or the luring urge to continue to run and observe this new form of reality he had abruptly been exposed to. it was a constant strife between soldier and man ;; compliance and curiosity. the longer he was exposed to clean air though, the more james barnes settled to the surface, the stronger his voice became. the soldier slowly started to come to terms with some truths. he did not miss the chair - or hydra’s drugs. he did not miss the violence. it was enough to justify his decision to run - and slowly, the man started to live. to be alive ( human ) opened the door to many things he did not mind. music, knowledge, the warmth of a blanket, pizza ... but there was a price. james learned in bucharest that he could not continue to live as a ghost. he could not continue to reap the benefits of living without also bearing its obligations. the more he is dragged back into the land of the living, the more responsibility is placed on his shoulders. he is forced now to make decisions that not only impact his life but others as well. it also brings into focus his past, forcing him to start coming to terms with his crimes - and his guilt. to live a life involves many things james is not yet comfortable with. he is forced to move forward, to make choices, to collaborate and trust others, to heal ... all new waters the man is deathly afraid to wade into, because it leads to uncertainty, leads to the unexpected. cause and effect. there is no equation to guarantee success ;; no trusted, proven procedure to follow. to live a full life means making decisions and then being brave enough to live with those decisions. barnes still deeply struggles with the fear of the UNKNOWN, and when overwhelmed by crippling indecision, finds himself clinging to old comforts. that same sickening desire to exist once more beyond the bounds of time, a chimera relieved of the burden of choice all together.
▘ HIMSELF ➺ his potential. his mind, body - everything contained within this cage of blood and bone terrifies him. for him ( && those made like him ) freedom is nothing more than a far - fetched pipedream. zemo shattered all illusions of freedom, and all it took was the whisper of ten choice words. regardless of the small progress he made in the years following his defection, all of it was reduced to rubble the moment he was dragged back into the plane of the living. he was careless, ignorant, sloppy - allowing himself to be curious, hopeful - and six agents paid the price for it in germany when the soldier was reactivated. the great fist of hydra is indeed a terrifying sight to behold, but james understands the soldier is simply a byproduct of himself - and that is what truly horrifies him. even before the serum was introduced into his body, his potential was ... concerning. the things he was willing to do back home ;; the things he was willing to do during the war ... the disconcerting ways he was able to manipulate his own morality. his malleable ethical code. the serum only heightened that which already existed inside of him, but it did pave a space for corruption to thrive. it made him even more dangerous, even more LETHAL. his potential for destruction was exemplified. his ability to survive, his tolerance for pain - expanded. the serum allowed hydra the opportunity to find that seed of ugliness which existed inside of him and feed it, cultivate it. they helped it grow and thrive, and then sowed the deadly fruits. the things he found himself capable of - the violence, the brutality. the things he learned to stomach ;; the horrors he found himself able to commit ... revolutionists. bright minds. visionaries. humanitarians. entire families. innocent bystanders. good people. children. he killed without blinking ;; without flinching - and then returned to the people who issued those orders and waited for more. there were a handful of times when he hesitated, questioned - but for the most part, he completed his orders without question and did so without feeling a flutter of disturbance. i had no choice. hydra had control of his mind. you couldn’t refuse them. it wasn’t your fault. he can hide behind those excuses all he wants, but barnes knows what lives inside of him. he knows what hydra put inside him and what was already there. the winter soldier might be an exaggeration of the worst parts of a person - as captain america exemplified the best - but the soldier is only a reflection of the darkness that already lived within him. && THAT IS TERRIFYING.
𝟑 𝐆𝐎𝐀𝐋𝐒
▘ PURPOSE ➺ ever since his reemergence back into the land of the living, james has struggled to understanding what to do with newfound existence. a name, a face, a place in this world, an identity and yet - on most days he still feels like a weapon. recovery feels similar to deactivation, and the soldier finds himself waiting, constantly preparing for the day when they will take him out of storage, brush off the rust and use him once more. the expectation looms over him like a dark cloud and hinders his progress. — but what else does he have to offer ? what else can he do ? if not for some useful purpose, why does he exist ? if the only thing he knows how to do is fight, kill, DESTROY - what other direction is there ? he is good at what he does. he is good at what hydra bred him to be ... but he does not want to exist for that purpose. he is tired of war, of violence - but without the constant stimulation of battle, time is a slow and dragging endeavor. he does want to prove ( to the world, hydra, steve, to himself ) that he is more than just a weapon made for war, but he finds himself more often than not questioning the validity to that statement, especially when it is the only thing that feels natural to him. the serum defines him. his skillset defines him. his past defines him - and if he has proven one thing, it is that he is a good fighter. A GOOD KILLER. he excels when it comes to battle. he is hard to stop ;; hard to kill - and these types of strengths point to one obvious path. one does not use a blade to paint a magnificent masterpiece. he was weaponized long ago and to try to be anything but what he has been for so long seems ... counterproductive. still, he does not want to keep fighting - and his doctors tell him that is important ( essential ). if he isn’t serving though, what should he do ? time is so painstakingly slow and without stasis, he does not know how to fill in the stagnant space in between. he might lose whatever shreds of sanity he has left - and there isn’t much left to spare. he needs guidance, instruction. he needs someone to tell him what to do ... they tell him it is up to him to decide, but he doesn’t know. he does not want to go back to hydra ;; he does not want to be controlled or manipulated. — but when time starts to pull and drag and his mind is left free to wander ... there are times when he feels desperate enough to long for orders. he hopes to find some kind of meaning once again to his existence and hopes this time around, it is fashioned for something good.
▘ A SENSE OF IDENTITY ➺ he is not sure he will ever truly feel natural within his own skin or inside his own mind. the face he wears now feels more like a mask, stretched to the seams to hide the husk beneath. for so long he existed as a puppet, body moving on command. his actions never felt like his own and neither did his thoughts. for far too long, he was a stranger inside his own mind and body. the strings have been cut, a name placed back on his tongue - but he still feels ... empty. who is he ? what does he like to do ? what are his hobbies ? his interests ? what does he dislike ? what makes him happy ? what makes him sad ? they ask him these questions and all he can hear are the voices of old hydra handlers inside his head. A WEAPON NEED NOT BOTHER ITSELF WITH SUCH MEANINGLESS FRIVOLITIES. — it is not a part of your code. he often needs to be reminded ( reassured ) - he is not a weapon. he is not a machine. beneath skin and bone, he has a heart. he has a mind and both these things belong to him. he is allowed to want, to feel, to explore, to refuse, to challenge ... freely. it is a hard concept for him to remember and to accept, but he has made some strides. he has discovered ( rediscovered ? ) some things he likes: the feel of sunlight against his face, the smell of coffee, the soft scratch of a record player and the fuzzy music which follows, a trusted knife, pizza, warm blankets ... he has also recognized some things he does not like. the building crackle of electricity, paralysis, the stench of death, silence so loud it hurts, eyes watching him, the sudden, sharp hiss of ice melting, prolonged pain ... meager progress maybe, but it is a start - and james hopes to some day feel the same comfort within his own body and mind that his past - self seemed to epitomize so effortlessly. TO BE HIS OWN PERSON - defined by passions, opinions ;; propelled by confident choices made with conviction ... the idea seems so unattainable given how DAMAGED he is, but it is still something he would like to attain. if only to prove to hydra ( && to himself ) that he is in fact his own person and that he does not belong to anyone - but himself.
▘ TO PROMOTE POSITIVE CHANGE ➺ after all the destruction he has blasted into the course of history, the idea seems almost ... laughable. dismissible certainly, for what other purpose could hands sharpened into blades be used for ? && perhaps even insulting, to those whose lives he ruined. like his other emotions, after his desertion his guilt was initially muted, but the longer he remains in this plane of existence - the more time allowed to heal - the more james comes face to face with those directly impacted by his crimes, and each time the discomfort inside him grows stronger. the memories are returning and most of them are HORRIFIC. the lives he cut short, the families he ripped apart. the orphans he abandoned, the parents he made bury their children ... the peace he broke in order to secure continued chaos. hydra was a parasite, feasting on the corpses of war and conflict - gorging and growing - and he was one of the reasons how they survived and thrived throughout history. the fist of hydra, zimniy soldat, the soldier, hydra’s bloodhound. he was unseen from the eyes of the world, faceless - but his actions resonated ;; his reputation notorious, even if only as a ghost story. many of his crimes have been made public thanks to the widow’s data dump, but there are many ( too many ) that are still undisclosed - known only to him, his victims and the hydra higher - ups who issued the orders. he knows it sounds silly, far - fetched, childish - but it would be nice to have some kind of impact on this world that isn’t so violent or destructive. he knows he cannot make amends for all the bad he has done. there is too much blood ( far too much blood ) but if he could do something ... to prove he can be something more than that which hydra made of him, he would like to try. there is no fixing the damage the winter soldier has caused. there is no way to restore james barnes’ promising reputation, but to leave this world knowing he could do something good - after doing so much bad - would feel ... freeing.
tagged by : stolen !
tagging : @cxpt, @justicetempered, @gcroinya, @fatedfuturist, @agntross, @mxndwitch, @toscrve
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