#guy who flees to try and live a normal life.

[defyprovidence]

thinking tonight about hector having the realization of 'but i am human too'

[sophiamcdougall]

Oh my God. Where do I -- how do I -- OK, @pensierosatanista, I'm going to try. @becausegoodheroesdeservekidneys is sure to do a better job than I can, but I'll try. So you know how Boris Johnson has a habit of just blatantly, brazenly lying, right? Like "there were no parties in Downing Street during lockdown." "I am shocked and appalled to find out that there were parties in Downing Street during lockdown! I had no idea whatsoever this was going on." "I am shocked and appalled to find out I was at all of the parties..."

So all his ministers put up with that, loyally spouted the line that there's nothing to see here and no one did anything wrong and even if there were teensy, insignificant breaches of the so called "law" who even cares? So it's not surprising that Johnson concluded he could just carry on lying (and degrading any lingering standards in public life) indefinitely. So recently the Conservatives dramatically lost a couple of by-elections, BOTH of which happened because the sitting Conservative MP was forced to quit after he did something gross and sexual. One was caught watching porn in Parliament, the other, much worse, was convicted of assaulting a teenage boy. So a few days ago it came out that one of the Whips had got drunk and groped a couple of men. Rather unusually, the culprit promptly resigned from his role as Whip, although not as MP. It's grim to say it, but in itself, this probably wouldn't be such a big deal. The problem was that 1) Johnson didn't immediately sack him as an MP 2) the guy had done it before. H'd been formally investigated and everything. Johnson, on cue: I had no idea he'd done it before!! Various MPs: OK, wait. Yes, you fucking did. It was reported to you. I was there. You made jokes about it. You hired him anyway. Johnson: OK, maybe. I mean, yes. I forgot. Who can keep track of all the sexual assaults their subordinates have committed, amirite? Various other MPs, live on TV: The Prime Minister had no idea it happened befo-- oh. Oh, he now admits he had, you say? Huh. Well. I look kind of stupid now. And it wasn't the first time versions of that, (MPs going out to defend Johnson only to find that whatever line they were pushing had collapsed before the interview was over) had happened either. So yesterday, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak and the Health Secretary Sajid Javid both resigned, saying they just couldn't take the lies and toxicity and, y'know, the small matter of the culture of drunken sexual harassment, any more. Now it may be true that they really can't stand serving under Johnson because who could? But mainly what they mean is "I'd like a shot at being Prime Minister and if I don't get out now, I'm going to be associated with all this shit forever and that is bad for my personal brand." Historically, just one major minister resigning saying "I can't serve under this Prime Minister" has always meant that PM is toast. So ... the floodgates opened. Since then it's been averaging out at nearly two resignations an hour. Partly because people who've been sick of Johnson for years finally felt they had permission to do something, but mainly because it's either get away from Johnson as fast as you can or go down with him -- staying = saying "Yeah, judge me and my competence for any future office by the fact I approve of this dickhead". And even before all of this happened Johnson was staggeringly unpopular according to all polls. As I write we're up to forty-six resignations. Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition, came out with a clearly workshopped-to-fuck but still good line "a sinking ship fleeing the rat."" Any normal Prime Minister would have resigned after the first two! Any normal Prime Minister would have resigned before any of this happened!

Johnson, you will have observed, is not a normal Prime Minister. Trump-like, he is currently insisting he's never going to go. This is somewhat less terrifying than when Trump did it because we don't have guns here and even when he DID have a crazed personal fanbase it wasn't that rabid and he doesn't have it any more. But technically, the rules currently say the Tories can't get rid of him for at least another year. That's not a big problem, as they have the freedom to change those rules and are going to by Monday. But technically, they could vote to remove him as leader of the Conservative party ... and he'd still be Prime Minister. And there would be nothing they or we could do about it! This would be completely unprecedented, a gigantic constitutional crisis, and in that case we might be stuck relying on the fucking Queen to save us, which is obviously a) is pretty dire for a so-called democracy and b) what if she doesn't. It probably won't actually come to that? (...will it?) He has just made a lot of enemies all at once, including the crazy own goal of sacking Michael Gove, his scheming long time frenemy/nemesis, who is the one the Murdoch press really likes. The 1922 committee is "preparing instruments of torture." And although it's true that this is not a normal way for a PM to behave -- a lot of PMs have said "Fuck you all! I can totally survive this!" in various crises, only to quit the following day. So everything's a little terrifying and he might take us all down with him, but it is also spectacular and hilarious and it's preventing the government from actually doing anything. And so today was the headiest and most electrifying day I've experienced, politics-wise, since November 6th, 2020.

[dashofmonsters]

Dreamers & Delusions- Pt. 1

Male Merman x Female Reader

You didn't like the idea of moving to another state and having to have a new life, but you hated the idea of staying even more so. There was nothing left for you but misery and you were just so tired of it.

When you moved to the west coast to live with your grandmother things seemed different. For the first few months there you felt like you could finally breathe, but that was short lived. Little by little things started to get worse.

First your grandmother kept making little snide remarks about your lack of interest in you not wearing make up. Then your job at the local diner had you working double shifts on the weekend. Your ex blasts some stupid shit about your break up all over social media and two of your close friends ghost you. Oh and then you discover a beautiful little slice of beach.

The last one wouldn't be so bad you tell yourself, if it wasn't for the same old stalking creeps who bother you at work. The only bright side was the mean mugging merman lifeguard who was built like a fucking god and had the attitude to back it up. In short, he's an asshole. But you know the difference between the good, the bad, and I'm just doing my job assholes and he's a weird mix of all three.

At first going to the beach was like free therapy for you. You could relax and get away from your judgmental grandmother and the creepy customers from the diner, it was like heaven. But just like moving here, things got worse over time. Somehow your three stalkers found your slice of heaven. Somehow you couldn't get far enough away from them. Somehow the beach became another slice of hell.

So you decided to sit as close as possible to the lifeguard when you wanted to lounge or swim out as far as possible. And that seemed to work, until today.

"Come on, I'm just asking you to have dinner with me," Kevin hovers over you, his arms crossed like an indignant child.

"For the last time man she's obviously not interested in an asshat like you. She'd rather go for drinks with me," Martin chimes in, his overly tattooed body stinking of cheap cologne and lack of deodorant.

"You two are fucked if you think she's going with either of you. She needs a real man, someone who can take care of her," Sam pushes the two aside and kneels down next two you. "Ain't that right sugar?" The accent, nickname, and bad breath nearly combined has you retching.

That response unfortunately spurred an impromptu fist fight. Kevin and Martin started wailing on Sam and then Sam the fuckboy threw punches filled with sand and Martin got punch so hard he moaned which made Sam hit him below the belt and the-

"I SAID ENOUGH!"

The scene died immediately. The nearly seven or eight foot tall merman lifeguard prowled towards the three idiots and parted them like they were curtains. Sam was the first to flee followed by Martin and Kevin who kicked up a ton of sand as the skedaddled towards the parking lot.

Mr. Asshole lifeguard stares you down hard now, his yellow eyes burning into you.

"Why is it whenever you're on my beach those three headaches are sure to follow?" he asks, very very pissed off.

You've had a similar question come up at work whenever those three would cause a ruckus on your shifts.

You roll your eyes, "Unfortunately some guys don't understand the definition of the word 'No'."

"So that means they have to follow you around like a group of parasites trying to latch at fresh meat?" he asks.

His question throws you off so much and the image it implies makes you giggle.

He's a merman from another realm who's acclimating, I should cut him some slack.

"That uh isn't too far from the truth but in all honesty, they're trying to bother me so much that I eventually have to say yes just to get them to stop bothering me," you explain.

The lifeguard crosses his arms and looks to the ground in serious contemplation before looking back up to you.

"And is this normal courting behavior," he asks.

"Unfortunately it is for some, but it's bad and wrong. For me it's annoying and I get no peace. They bothered me at work and now they bother me here when all I want to do is relax," you sigh, feeling oddly relieved to have gotten this off your chest albeit in an educational way.

"I see," he nods. "So you are not attracted to those parasites?"

"Not. At. All." you nod back.

"Noted," he grimaces and turns to walk back to the guard tower.

"Hey wait! What's your name?" you call out.

"It's Tao," he says, stilling walking towards his destination.

You smile and shout your name back to him but instead of dismissing you like you thought he would he waves back before ascending up the tower.

So it's Mr. Tao, mean mugging asshole lifeguard and crusher of parasites.

~~~~~~~~~

Things seemed calm for the first few days after Tao broke up the fight between the creeps. They didn't pop up at the diner nor at the beach but you still kept close to the guard tower. Well as close as Tao allowed it. He gave you a strong lecture that you needed to sit at least seven feet away from the tower for safety reasons.

Your grandmother even relaxed on her remarks for a little bit but moved from makeup to your weight. Something about working with food adding some extra pounds. It was a new hurt, but you'd numb to it eventually.

Getting numb was your specialty at this point.

And somehow finding new ways to bother Tao, though that was more unintentional. At first it was the sitting too close to the tower, then it was swimming without suntan lotion even though it was cloudy. Then it was not having an umbrella for shade which he oddly enough provided one for you a day later along with a lecture and a half. It would have been super annoying to anyone else but you found it oddly cute.

He'd henpeck at some of the parents over their kids running amuck or scold some of the too rowdy teenagers but no one could say that this guy didn't take his job seriously. No one got hurt or even so much as sunburnt under his watch.

Until they came back.

You had worked a long ass shift Sunday and all you wanted was to go to the beach and lounge. It was a short walk from your grandmother's house and you always enjoyed tuning the world out on that little trek.

It wasn't sunny but it wasn't too cloudy either. It was the perfect day to take a nice beach nap, watch a couple episodes of your favorite cooking shows, and maybe bother your favorite lifeguard for a bit of suntan lotion that you seem to keep forgetting.

You saunter down to the beach and lay out your favorite tie dye towel and stretch. Scanning the scene you notice that it'll be a very very calm day, that is since it's a Monday after all.

As you're about to walk over to the guard tower a familiar and annoying voice stops you.

"Hey babe, it's been a while!"

Ughhh Sam.

You ignore him and keep heading towards the tower. You hear him run towards you so you pick up the pace but are dragged back as he catches your arm.

"It's fucking rude to ignore someone talking to you," Sam spins you around and holds you in place.

"Like you'd fucking listen you fucking parasite. How many times do I have to say no or I'm not interested for you to get it through your thick fucking skull you goddamn idiot!" you yell at him, hoping Tao will hear.

Sam shakes you before jerking you around, "A pretty thing like you shouldn't be talking like that, come on and be sweet."

You start kicking your legs and land squirming violently before headbutting Sam as hard as you can right into his nose. He curses but doesn't let go so you decide to go to bite his hand until you're suddenly being ripped out of his arms.

Thinking it might be Tao you turn to smile only to be assaulted with that nasty cheap cologne smell. You grimace and try to pull away from Martin only to get yanked away by Kevin.

To his credit, Kevin doesn't hold on tight and he actually turns his back to the others before they try to continue their game of tug-a-war with you.

Sam kicks Kevin in the shin but somehow Kevin is able to stand long enough to push you in the direction of the tower. Without saying anything he turns and decks Sam in the face. You're frozen in horror for a moment then turn to run to the tower only to be met with a brick wall called Tao.

"I see the parasites are back on my beach," he seethes before looking you over. He looks furious.

Before you have a chance to say anything he stomps over and grabs Sam by his neck and hoists him in the air. Kevin and Martin fall back on their asses before scrambling to get out of the way.

"When someone says no, they mean no. It is not an invitation to continue your inappropriate courting behavior," Tao tightens his grip around Sam's neck.

"F-fffuck you fish boy. I will get you fucki-ing deported for this! I saw er first," Sam grits as he flails about, face turning all sorts of shades of red.

Tao tosses him to the ground like a ragdoll and before Sam can catch his breath, Tao holds him down by just a foot alone. He kneels down till his knee is almost digging into Sam's throat and says something that makes that asshat still.

You feel your heart still when Tao turns to you and beckons you over. Taking little steps at a time as your feet feel like lead you come to a stop next to Tao and Sam.

Sam is pale as a piece of printer paper.

"Tell her," Tao snaps at Sam.

"I-I-I am sorry. I won't bother you here or at the diner again. I promise you'll never see me again," Sam stutters and shakes like a leaf in a hurricane.

"And?" Tao presses.

"I-I'm a lowly parasite unworthy of your time and presence," he cries.

Tao nods then looks to you, "Anything you want to add?"

You're taken back by the soft look on his hard face. His eyes look worried even though his expression is still pissy offy.

You shake your head and cross your arms to hold yourself.

Tao moves off of Sam and forces him up and threatens to call the cops if he ever shows his ugly face on his beach again. Sam quickly scampers away, tripping several times as he makes his way to the parking lot.

There's a strange numbing feeling building in your chest that is suddenly washed away when Tao gently touches your shoulder.

"Come on, let me go look over those wounds," he nods towards the tower.

All you can do is follow him silently, still shocked about what just happened. You're so used to just going with the flow, dealing with whatever life gives you and fighting when you can. You've never had anyone come to your rescue. Not once.

"I have something that will clean the cuts where they got you with their fingernails and some band-aids. Unfortunately there will still be some bruising from when they were tugging at you," he says, a tinge of regret in his voice.

He leads you to the steps of the tower an has you sit down while he climbs up and grabs his first aid kit. You silently let him fuss over you as you try your best not to cry. Even though it's his job it's the first time anyone has treated you with this much kindness in a long while.

"Thank you," you mutter, finding it hard to speak.

Tao sighs and rubs some more antiseptic ointment on your arm, "I had thought my last conversation with those three would have been the last. Those males really are thick in the skull... I'm sorry."

"Don't be, you still came to my rescue," you try and smile but a stupid tear slips down.

Tao stills his hand, "Did that hurt?"

You shake your head, "No no, just uh got some sand in my eye. I'm fine."

He glares at you but sighs, "Alright then. Try and stay out of trouble and for the love of the goddesses please tell me if those parasites bother you again, in fact tell me if anyone bothers you while on my beach."

"Why?" you ask, feeling a bit strange that he'd go that far for your safety.

"Why?" he repeats, almost not sure of himself. "Because I like peace and you come here bringing chaos, more so than the kids whose parents are stuck to their devices or the teens who shoulder fight in the ocean."

"You mean chicken?" you ask, trying not to laugh.

"Whatever it's called! You humans have a major lack of self preservation and it's a wonder you've lasted this long," Tao stands, sounding frustrated as hell.

You dust yourself off and stand up too, "Well it's a good thing you're here then Mr. lifeguard... Because if it wasn't for you-"

You cut yourself off when the realization finally dawns on you. If it wasn't for Tao, things could have gotten a lot worse, you could have been hurt or dragged off the beach.

"If you weren't here, I might have been hurt a lot worse than just some bruises and cuts," you finish.

"If I got to you sooner you wouldn't be hurt at all," he replies, his face riddled with guilt.

"Yes well, what happened happened but you still saved me so stop blaming yourself for something that was out of your control dammit, " you kick some sand in his direction making him roll his eyes.

"You are too forgiving and far too kind for your own good," he shakes his head.

Too forgiving? No, he did nothing wrong. Too kind, maybe. You always hated confrontation when you could avoid it so you just smiled through things and mustered on. What was the point in getting upset when anger never solved anything.

"You might be right about the kindness thing, but forgiving," you pause to laugh. "I wouldn't say I'm forgiving at all, probably more spiteful if anything."

Yeah that felt right but not in the correct way. If you were going to prove a point it was usually in the worst way possible.

"Noted," Tao raises a jet black brow. He has such an interesting look with his tan skin and white hair with black streaks on one side. It was like if a Hollywood action star and a kpop idol had a baby or something. He has black bands on his arms that start right after his shoulders and stop right above the elbow. His hair is slicked back most of the time but right now it's messed up from his one sided fight with Sam.

"So uh, I'm just going to go back over there and do what I was going to do and relax," you give him your most nervous goofy grin.

Tao, in his ever so Taoness just nods.

~~~~~

True to his word you never saw Sam at the diner again or Martin, but Kevin did come by ever so often. Kevin was less on the creep side now, apparently very very sorry for his behavior and how he made you feel uncomfortable.

It didn't excuse what he did even though he tipped extra now to make up for it whenever he did come in.

Your grandmother though started to get worse again. From your make up, to your weight, and now your resistance to wearing booty shorts to catch a man's eye.

"I'm not going to wear it and that's final. I told you time and time again I'm not comfortable wearing shit like that," you raise your arms and try to stomp off.

"You ungrateful bitch are you afraid of looking like a slut? There are models and actresses who wear this! Are you slut shaming them," your grandmother shouts at you as she practically walks on your heals.

"God no! I just don't want to wear! Can we just drop it please," you beg her.

"I'll drop it once you try it on and walk outside in it for awhile," she tosses the shorts at you and crosses her arms.

"FUCK. NO." you crumple them up and toss them back at her feet.

"You're supposed to humor me remember? That was part of our deal for you to live here," she crinkles her face and slaps your arms.

You crumple back a bit and bite your cheek as you curse yourself for ever agreeing to live with her.

"Not at the expense of my comfort. I'm not your fucking dress up doll," you say through your teeth.

"You're insufferable, fine we'll make a trade deal. Don't humor me, but you owe rent now. two hundred a month. I believe that's more than fair," she throws up her hands and kicks the shorts to the side.

"Fine, that's fine. I can do that much," you exhale in relief. "I gotta get ready for work ok?"

"Yes yes and... I'm sorry, you know I get hot real easy. It's why I'm alone. I just don't want you to be. I just want you to be happy and well," she sighs and picks up the shorts.

"I know," you respond, the numbness starting to set in at her very stereotypical response.

"I love you," she coos as she forces you into a hug.

You give her a limp hug so she won't have something else to bitch about and tell her you love her too.

She's always like this after you two fight, so loving, so caring like she used to be when you were a little kid. She's changed to much after granpop cheated on her. No one saw it coming, they had such a great relationship but that was just what they showed everyone. In private, they both ran hot and your granpop was no saint. He cheated since the dawn of their marriage, he just didn't get caught until ten years ago.

Ever since that happened you tried to keep yourself better guarded so you wouldn't have to hurt like your grandmother. Unfortunately you're a hopeless romantic with a record of getting your heart broken very easily. That's part of the reason for the drastic move.

~~~~~

"Fuck I hate these dead shifts," you groan as you clean your section for the third time this evening.

"Enjoy it while it lasts sweetheart. Once summer hits, you'll be begging for a dead shift," Denise says as she lounges against the door to the kitchen.

"I know, I barely survived the ass end of it," you roll your eyes.

Working here was a breeze to be honest, but working under Mikey the shift manager was hell. He loves playing Russian Roulette with shifts, especially close to holidays or birthdays. Jessica bitched him out so bad in front of everyone that if he scheduled her on her birthday or her son's birthday one more time she would burn this place to the ground.

Needless to say when your ex-wife raises hell to a full diner, you listen.

You've stuck onto her like glue ever since, you needed an angel here.

"Any plans after you cut out," she asks.

Oh yeah, you have plans. Change and skip your happy ass down to visit your favorite lifeguard. You can't help but smile at the thought.

"Mmm you do have plans," she grins back and wriggles her drawn on brows.

"It's not like that," you roll your eyes.

Yes Tao is attractive but you hardly know him. He's nice and predictable. Safe and just wants things to be at peace. He's someone you respect for that for sure, but you can't see yourself crushing over him. It would ruin the faint friendship you've slowly but surely built with him.

"It really isn't it. He's like you. The only other friend I have here and I don't need more than that right now," you explain.

She gives you a sad smile and nods, "I know baby girl, you're still resetting from all that bullshit."

Jessica is the only one who really knows your situation as you spilled your heart out to her a couple weeks ago after she took you out for drinks for your birthday. She held you and patted your head as you ugly cried for a solid hour.

"How about you, anything new and exciting," you quickly change the topic and Jessica beams.

"Oh you know, just a little date with Mr. Perfect," she grins.

"This will be date number five Jes, you're really serious about him aren't you," you tease.

She crosses her arms and tosses her hip a bit and smiles, "Listen, if you asked me a few years ago if I ever saw myself dating a wild fae with a beard that would make every biker in the states jealous then I'd say you're crazy. But here I am, about to go on my fifth date with my wild man and I'm as happy as a bee in a bouquet."

She goes over her past dates with you until Mikey interrupts saying that you both need to get back to work. His interference was cut short by Jessica poking him in the chest and lecturing him about how there's no reason for the diner to be fully staffed during a dead shift and got the both of you off hours early.

"There will come a day when neither of us have to come back to this shithole ran by assholes. Just assume that if I never return that I got swept off my feet to the fae wilds to have crazy hot wild fae sex everyday," she laughs as she shimmies into her leather jacket and lights a smoke away from you.

"And if I never return, assume that I magically saved up enough to start my own restaurant," you smile back.

That's been the big dream. A small tapas style restaurant that catered to humans and the fair folk. There are so few establishments opened that cater to their palettes and it's not fair. Food brings people together and you see it as a great way to mix the fair folk into your world. Problem is, you don't know a lot of fair folk aside from Tao.

Suddenly the lightbulb in your head goes off.

"That's it," you say under your breath before hugging Jessica goodbye and running towards the beach.

I can ask him what he likes to eat and start from there. This is doable! I just hope he doesn't mind playing a million questions.

~~~~~~~~~

"Hey Tao, are you up there?" you shout as you round the tower.

Without so much as a word Tao drops with a sandy thud.

"What did you forget now? It's too dark for sunscreen and too warm for a shawl. Water perhaps?" he guesses and turns to climb back up the tower but you quickly stop him.

"No no, none of that. I uh um... What do merfolk like to eat?" you ask.

"Why do you want to know? Is a male courting you or something?" he asks back.

"What? No no. It's just that one day I want to run a restaurant that serves food for the fair folk and you're the only one I know so...," you shrug to him and he blushes.

This big ass god like brick wall just blushed?

"Ah, I see," he clears his throat. "Well in that case I can create a detailed list of ingredients and dishes that suit a saltwater diet."

"That... That would actually be amazingly helpful. Wow... Thank you!" you grin but then remember that thing about courting.

"So what was that thing you meant when you asked if I was being courted?" you raise a brow.

Tao's eyes go wide and he has this nervous look on his face that you've never seen before. "It's uh, customary for the males of my kind to present a feast to a female they are courting. Usually a female has many suiters and picks whoever has the most impressive spread the privilege to continue courting her."

"Oh, that's interesting. I haven't heard much on mer culture and traditions so this is new to me. I'm sorry if the question made you uncomfortable," you apologize.

"No, no. It's just that no one has asked or even seemed a bit interested in my people's ways. They're just interested in me," Tao waves up and down to himself.

"Well if they were truly interested in you, they'd try to get to know you," you cross your arms, upset for him.

Tao nods and you can tell he's thinking really really hard about something until he shakes his head.

"How can you tell if someone is wanting to get to know you for reasons other than trying to get me to their... uh what is the human word for nest again," he snaps his fingers trying to think.

"Bed?" you ask.

"That's it, how would I know," he repeats.

"Hmm, that can be a tough one. Some people will really put in a lot of effort to make you think that they care when they just one a night of fun. Some will check in on you everyday till they finally get you into their bed and ditch you when they're done," you explain.

Tao looks disgusted, "And this too is normal behavior?"

"For the people who just want a good time and don't give a rats ass about someone's feeling, yes," you grimace.

"Is this from your personal experience or observation," he asks.

Tao's famous curveball question hits you right in the gut. You look away from him and hold yourself for a moment as the numbness builds.

"Yes," is all you manage to say.

"I am sorry. It seems my question was insensitive," he bows.

"It's fine, you're just curious. I'd rather help you not make the same mistakes that I had to. You're like the only other friend I have here," you admit.

Tao looks shocked when you say that, like you slapped him with a wet towel.

"You consider me a friend?" he finally asks after a long moment of silence.

Shifting a bit in the sand you bite your cheek and nod, "You're the only guy friend I have. I feel safe when I'm at the beach and you don't make me feel uncomfortable at all. I just... some things are hard for me to talk about ok?"

He nods and although his expression doesn't change much, there's a brightness in his eyes you've never seen.

"Is that ok? I mean if it's against your culture I understand it can be o-"

"No, it's alright. I just didn't think a human would want to be friends with me," he run his hand through his hair and stares at the ground.

"Well, I mean you do mean mug just about everyone you talk to but I know deep down you're probably just being on your guard and it's hard to be nice sometimes," you tell him.

"I see, so not being expressive keeps people away? Hmm what could remedy this without me having to give up my uh... mean mug," Tao cocks his head and crosses his arms.

"I'm not sure. Most people tend to like it when you're more welcoming and less upset looking all the time. Is your stoicism like some cultural thing?" you ask in turn. Turns out Tao is playing a million questions with you now.

"Yes. Typically we're only expressive with close friends, family, and our mates. They're the only ones who are supposed to see your true face," he replies.

"That actually sound reasonable and nice," you smile.

"Do humans not have something like that," he settles against the tower later, full into the conversation now.

"Yes and no. Some of us rely more on friends than family and vice versa. Some will rely on their mates alone if their family or friends aren't available. It can be all sorts of combinations really," you shrugs and lean against one of the pillars holding up the tower.

Tao looks up thoughtfully before his gaze settles out towards the ocean. There's a comfortable quiet between the two of you as the sun sets behind a cluster of grey clouds.

"Looks like rain," you comment.

"It's been smelling like a set of storms all week. Probably about to usher in some cold weather," Tao sniffs the air and sighs.

"Not a fan of the cold?" you shift in the sand and turn a little more towards Tao.

He shakes his head, "I grew up in a much warmer climate. If it ever got too cold we would sleep in our clusters or migrate. I can't do either here so I've just been adding more layers to my nest with every paycheck I get and buying the warmest clothes that fit me."

"I gotchya. I like some good mild weather myself. Not too hot or cold. By the way what will you do once winter hits? Beaches are usually closed once winter hits," you ask, realizing you might have to find another safe haven of sanity during that time.

"I'm not too sure, I haven't given it much thought," he admits. "At least I have a little time to consider a winter job so I don't have to hibernate."

"Yeah that would be... wait what?"

Part. 2>

[underrrtaleee-freakk]

!!INTRODUCING RADIANT SANS!!!

Trigger warnings: Lots of bright highlighted text, Mentions of illegal experimentations, mentions of killing, mentions of spores, mentions of kidnapping, implied and mentioned torture, mentions of mental break downs and mental health issues, lightly implied alcoholism, mentions of self harm. Mentions of explosions.

Other mentions, links to youtube videos, long post, spelling mistakes errors or run of sentences are probably sprinkled in sorry.

Au By @thelunarsystemwrites For those sanses, any sanses i forgot to @ and more information about the au look here https://www.tumblr.com/thelunarsystemwrites/745893271201579008/inviting-other-artists

Radiant (A Underfell Villain au sans) by me. Original Underfell sans by @underfell Nightmare by @analexthatexists

Blue by @createbellatheartist

Sorry not sorry for 4 different images.

Anyways lore times:

Radiant was a Normal Underfell sans aged somewhere between 21-24 living his normal life before one day a group of scientists kidnapped him and experimented on him.

While they tried to take reds fancy rings chains and clothes red always managed to escape and find where they were hidden, till the scientists gave up on taking them away.

During the experiments red developed fire powers. The scientists realising this powerful potential decided to try and make him be a weapon to take down those pesky heros and their rival villains one of these Villains being The Supervillain Nightmare. So they could continue doing inhumane experiments and have goverment levels of control.

Red Didn’t listen to any of this however. As he couldn’t care less. He hated these scientists and one day those pesky scientists made a mistake. They left him unsupervised for 2 minutes. In a room with a flammable object.

Screams can be heard as the building explodes.

Red makes his escape destroying the place to the ground. Unannounced to him during the moment, this action would have unforeseen consequences. After escaping red realized he had no where to go, this wasn’t his home and some of the scientists managed to escaped. And so he returned to the sene of the crime looking for anything that could be useful to him. He found the remains of the documents the scientists had on him.

Using his knowledge from his time working with the now deceased royal scientist W.D Gaster, and these documents Red is able to forge a fake copy of the documents he then uses to create a fake Civilian identity “Red San” (red sans) and convinces them he was a refugee fleeing from there home who then got kidnapped and just escaped there tormentors.

The government somehow fell for this.

Red was given a citizenship, some clothes red thought were uglier then a dead rat, a new phone (his old one blew up with the laboratory) and an apartment. (He’s renting out someone’s basement) however like most refugees red wasn’t given all this for free!! He had to get a job and pay for his new “apartment” which wasn’t. Very easy. Safe to say he got fired from many establishments only after working there for a day or 2. Some of it being his fault due to him picking fights, and some of it being the owners just simply not liking him and kicking him out. Not only that but they were all for minimum wage.

Eventually he got so desperate for money that he broke into a random dudes house to steal clothes. Where he met Blue in his Civilian form, who decided to befriend the burglar instead of pressing charges! They exchanged phone numbers and blue let red keep the clothes he had grabbed.

However even after meeting a kind stranger, red felt frustrated. He was getting nowhere with these jobs and if he wanted to get revenge on those scientists that managed to survive the explosions he’d have to try a different approach.

He became. RADIANT. a Fire powered Villain.

Upon his debut as a new villain in the city he found himself making a lot of new enemies. But he didn’t care he had a goal in mind. He was gonna get what he wanted no matter what.

Radiants Powers and weaknesses

Super powers

Fire manipulation; This involves

* Creating fire.

* Manipulating pre existing fire.

* Fire based flight.

* Dissipating fire.

* Semi Fire immunity. (Can survive in fire longer then the average skeleton/monster/human)

* Fire Blasters, His blasters are very rarely used, since the accident his fire powers have combine with them to make a fire blaster. These blasters shoot out fire beams and are far stronger then regular blasters and are inherently unstable. (See fire blasters in weaknesses for more info.)

* He still has all the other powers of a normal sans since hes still technically a sans. But his fire abilities are his most noteable and destructive part of his powers. And he doesn’t use his regular non affected powers often.

*Due to his fire abilities he is the only sans canonically confirmed to be amune to nightmares spores. As he can heat up his body enough to kill of the infection before it gets serious.

strengths unrelated to powers

*Red used to work for doctor Gaster as a scientist meaning he has a strong sense of intelligence and can create and manipulate complex machinery, potions and other sciencey things, However a lack of funding or access to these materials makes it so he can’t abuse this power.

Power Weaknesses.

Water; This involves

* water can put out his flames

* if blasted with a large amount of water while flying he will temporarily be unable to continue flying and will fall out of the sky. Also works to prevent him from taking of into the sky. However its not permanent

*his own Fire blasters, These fire blasters are very unstable. And can be dangerous to himself as well as others so he tries not to use them unless absolutely nessisary. As there is a chance he can severely harm himself with them.

Non power weaknesses;

* he’s not the most strongest swimmer in the world plus water weakens his fire magic, so throwing him into a large body of water could take him out of commission temporarily. Untill he either a. gets his barrings and teleports or manages to swim out then dry off…or b. If the current is rough enough, is knocked uncontious and gets saved by someone.

* he is very family oriented, if you attack or kidnap his brother or extremely close friends he will go appeshit crazy. However if you told him you’d let his brother go free unharmed if he went with you willing he’d sacrifice himself in a heartbeat he has that “id die for you” mentality. He would spend years locked up in a cell being torchured for the few people he still has left in his life if it ment they could be safe and free.

* abandonment issues/ fear of being alone. This causes red to have attachment issues, pushing others away in fear he will get attached then abandoned by them, but also heavy longing if away from people he does care about for long periods of time. Red can have mental break downs if he believes he’s completely alone. With no one wanting him.

* he is an insomniac so he doesn’t get enough sleep and can sometimes pass out at inconvenient times.

* Red has ptsd and trust issues from becoming an orphan and raising his bro on the streets by himself in a dangerous world at a young age, gasters death, the asgore incident, his sudden break up with Alphys imedently following the Asgore incident, and the kidnapping with the evil scientists.

Radiant will have a redemption arc but since i have no current plans on turning this into a fic or a comic Ive sectioned up the main parts of his arc so you can get the feel of it.

Arc 1

Summary:

Red gets kidnapped by scientists and experimented on, however he escapes and finds himself in a strange new surface world and attempts to fit in. However after realizing his goals cannot be met this way he takes to a life of crime. But keeps up the civilian identity he made so the police don’t search for him as a “missing persons case”. He meets a guy named Blue, and starts hanging out with him, they become friends, however unknown to him, he fights him when their in their hero/villain forms, neither knowing its there civilian friend. He also starts writing letters to an unknown person. However none of these letters are ever sent as that persons whereabouts aren’t currently known to Red. Reds shown to miss this person and some other people. He fights with hero’s and villains and steals from buildings. Usually tech. He doesn’t tell anyone what his true goals are. This lasts about a year.

Relationships:

Family: Brother Edge

Friends: Fell Toriel, Fell Alphys, Mettafell, Chillby, Civilian Blue

Allies:

Enemies: Hero vr of Blue, Nightmare and his gang. Other hero’s. Evil scientists.

Arc 2

Summary:

if this was a fic or comic this is where the audience would find out about Reds traumatic backstory and his true goals and motivations. Its reviled Reds been making a portal. So that he can return to Underfell. As it turns out when he destroyed the laboratory that experimented on him, he destroyed the portal machine that brought him to this world, permanently trapping him here. His main goal this whole time has been to find a way home. Its also reviled to the audience these letters were addressed to Edge. Reds younger brother who he’s been missing dearly. Reds so close to finally finishing the portal machine. He’s so close to finally going home after months? Days? Years? He’s not sure how long Hes been trapped here. Red manages to get the portal open, however before he steps threw he double checks the statistics, he has to be sure he wont be stepping into some other unknown crazy au that isn’t his home first….however the portal isn’t stable, it blows up the machine before he can finish checking……all his hard work. Gone. But theres still hope, the statistics are still intact, any info on there he can still use to help him in rebuilding the portal even better then before!!- The camrea turns to show the statistics. It says “Underfell timeline 1121. Day 24 Month June, Year 210X”

……what? Red starts going into a frenzy as he reveals to the audience the day he was kidnapped was the 23rd of June 210X…..it had only been a single day for the people of his world since he was kidnapped. But Red had spent months no Over a YEAR in this place and yet. It had only been a day there? A single 24 hours!? NOBODY WAS EVEN MISSING HIM!?! THEY DIDN’T EVEN KNOW HE WAS GONE!?! Red couldn’t handle this realization and started breaking down. Laughing manically. He started questioning if anything was even worth it, if anyone loved him. Until his despair became something worse. Desperation. He was now DESPERATE to get home. Other then asking for help. He would do ANYTHING to get home. This arc is when Reds most likely to team up with villains, is more violent and inconsistent with his attacks on the city, Before Red ends up going on a FULL RAMPAGE of the city attacking anyone on sight. Until during that rampage he admits to the hero’s of the city he’s stuck here. That he didn’t choose to be here and that he’s mentally in so much pain. (However he doesn’t revile his true identity in this arc.) Before he breaks down sobbing and collapses on the ground. The arc ends with Red on the ground sobbing. this arc only lasts a couple of months to half a year.

Relationships:

Family: Brother Edge

Friends: Fell Toriel, Fell Alphys, Mettafell, Chillby, Civilian Blue

Allies:

Enemies: Hero vr of Blue, Nightmare and his gang. Other hero’s. Evil scientists.

Arc 3

Summary:

Arc 3 picks up right where arc 2 left off with Red sobbing on the ground. Until Blue lifts out their hand to Red offering a second chance. Red’s hesitant but with nothing left to lose he takes it, Red then has a slow redemption arc where he switches back n forth between doing villainous acts and distrusting the hero’s, to helping people and becoming close to the hero’s, its basically one big long zuko hurt/comfort like redemption arc. With moments of him betraying them, only to come back apologies and make it up to the hero’s and his civilian friends. Red slowly becomes friends with the hero’s slowly building trust, he does community service, forfeits all his stolen tech for his portal. And eventually reviles his true identity to the hero’s and the others, admits to the forged documents, he tells Blue, not yet knowing he’s the hero who offered him redemption, and his other Civilian friends that he wasn’t a good person and was lying to them, opens up about his traumas and ptsd, Until he fully quits being a villain and decides to become a hero. And completely gives up on ever going home or seeing his family and friends again. Seeing the hero’s as his new found family. Tho he still deeply misses his old one.

this arch is also about a year long.

Relationships:

Family: Brother Edge

Friends: Fell Toriel, Fell Alphys, Mettafell, Chillby, Blue

Allies: Blue

Enemies: Nightmare and his gang. Other hero’s. Evil scientists.

Arc 4

Summary:

After Reds fully redeemed himself the hero’s decide he’s earned the right to go home. And they work tirelessly to make him a functioning portal home. And when it works they surprise him with it. By this point it’s been almost 4 years since Reds been in Underfell. Since Reds seen his brother or his friends. And he can finally get to go home!! But- if he went home it would mean he has to leave behind his new friends and found family right? He surely couldn’t keep them in his life he couldn’t possibly have both he’d have to choose. But… He’s grown so attached….how could he possibly choose between this world and his home world? Red doesn’t immediately take the portal home saying he needs time to think, the hero’s accept this and give him time, despite how much they’ve grown to love Red and would miss him dearly, they also know its best for him to go home if thats what they he wants. Eventually Red laments how he cant choose. He cant leave them all behind. But he wants to go home so badly. The hero’s laugh asking him what took him so long to admit that. Saying he could go back n forth if he wants to. They have the funding they could make it so the portal can opened or closed whenever, Red doesn’t have to chose!!, thanking his friends, Red steps through the portal. Meeting face to face with a very visibly shocked and worried Edge. As it turns out people DID notice Red was missing and DID deeply miss him!! And for the first time in almost 4 years Red hugs his little brother. Red then procceeds to have Underfell and hero au sinanigans with slowly intrudicing his old friends to his new friends and working as a hero while trying to rehabilitate his world and the criminals in the new world. However he does understand some people cannot be redeemed. And will kill if it’s for self defense. He’s like Teetering the line between an antihero and a regular hero but hes still accepted by the hero’s cause they know he wont do anything mega violent unless absolutely desperate. Red lives out the rest of his life going back and forth. With hiccups here and there. But they always work it out in the end eventually. Or to the best of their abilities.

Relationships:

Family: Brother Edge

Friends: Fell Toriel, Fell Alphys, Mettafell, Chillby, Blue

Allies: Blue

Enemies: Nightmare and his gang. Evil scientists.

OTHER STUFF!!

Fell Papyrus name is Edge

Fell sans name is Red san/sans and his villain name is Radiant

Fell grilbies name is Chillby

Fell mettaton’s name is Mettafell

Stuff thats mostly the same as canon underfell:

Reds jacket was given to him by chillby.

Reds backstory with asgore almost killing him and edge getting his scar to save him is the same.

Reds backstory of working with gaster before gaster lost hope and died is the same.

Edge still defeated undyne in a brawl and became second in command

Reds fav foods are still burgers, hot dogs, mustard, relish, and still likes martinis and drinks alot, he likes puns and jokes, and despite no longer being one he still likes science

Red and edge are close, but red hides a lot of things from his brother. And feels immense guilt for not being able to protect himself or edge from Asgore. (Which has caused him to stubbornly try to “make up for it”. By over working himself to pay there entire houses rent so edge doesn’t have to waste a gold coin. At least before he got kidnapped)

Stuff thats different:

Red and edge were orphans taken in by gaster till he died.

Red and alphys used to date but they broke up after asgore tried to kill red.

Red spent alot of time isolated in his life and when he did have people he lost them which is why he has abandonment issues.

Red is bisexual, demisexual and was nonbinary/intersex (can skeletons be intersex?) who then came out as trans masc and his prounouns are He/Him/They/Them and for those kinda people wondering hes also a switch.

Reds insomnia is due to nightterrors.

Red self harms..

Red stole that white shirt from blue, but he cut out the stains and sewed white fabric in its place, its not the best but it isn’t noticeable from far away, he also steals blues tacos sometimes, blue lets him, which confuses red.

Songs i feel like relate to Radiant/Red:

Again remix by Kira on youtube, https://youtu.be/sePdMu5fqNQ?si=zEoEKeT3LTt3AM1G

Ghost rule english cover by Lollia on youtube, https://youtu.be/iroTL9Kw6fU?si=LnApj0U4TM7P5WIE

Spare me! https://youtu.be/I2J2N1i8I2k?si=VKxGGREqblG_Fxeq

Ans Fan the Flame by PrinceWhatever on youtube

Canon Ships: fell Undyne x Alphys, Fell Papyton, Fell Toriel x Asgore, they Broke up but past red x alphys

Now for the non canon stuff!!

Not cannon but could change? ships: Fellby, Cherryberry?? Maybe?? Don’t count on it.

Not cannon at all but i still like these ships: Dustard, Horrorfell, Scifell

Potential friends or enemies but not cannon as i haven’t asked: sci, dream, core, lust, outer, ink, ccino, alter, dance, cross, swan and potentially others.

Wow thanks for reading all the way to the end did you enjoy it?

Let me know if you want your blog @‘d for your sans being mentioned. I only @‘d the ones with the most relevance to reds story so far, but i can @ you if you want.

[littlekiara96]

About the Melusines and their inspiration

Let me tell you the medieval french story of the fairy called Mélusine~

But first, we have to start with her father, Elinas, king of what would later become Albany, Scotland.

(TL;DR at the end)

King Elinas was hunting down some boars in a forest, when he saw, next to a fountain, a beautiful young woman. He asked to marry her, and she accepted at one condition : to never look at her when she will be giving birth or bathing their future children. Her name was Persine, and she actually was a fairy.

They had three daughters, named Mélusine, Mélior and Palestine.

Alas, the king’s son, Mataquas, born from a first wedding, was jealous of his mother-in-law's happiness, and convinced his father to enter the room where she was bathing her daughters, thus breaking the promise Elinas had made. Persine then exiled herself and her three daughters on Avalon, telling them as they grew up that if they were stranded in this misery, it was because of their father’s falsity.

She kept telling this to her daughters, so much so that came a point when Mélusine convinced her sisters to punish their father, by imprisoning him in a mountain called Brumblerio.

They did not expect their mother to get mad at them and punish each one of them for that. I won’t get into the details of the younger sisters', but Mélusine's punishment was that she would turn into a snake from the waist-down each Saturday.

But not to worry! If she wanted to marry a man someday, she would live a perfectly happy and normal life, with a normie death, if only her husband never sees her on a Saturday! :D

Oh, and if she leaves her husband, she'll be half-snake constantly, but surely, nothing bad will happen~

One day, after Mélusine has travelled to France (because why not, I guess), she was chilling in some forest.

At the same time, some guy named Raymond of Lusignan, son of some earl, was hunting a boar with his uncle, and accidentally killed said uncle. And as he was fleeing in both grief and because he was hunted down for murder, he found a fountain at midnight. And at this fountain was Mélusine. (Yes, there’s a pattern.)

She comforts him and offers her help, if he marries her and promises to not try seeing her on Saturdays. He accepts, they get married and have 10 sons, but we don’t need to care about them.

Small aside, Mélusine is said to have built several buildings in the regions of Poitou and Lorraine, as well as full on cities, castles and churches. But she built everything during the night and stopped if anyone saw her.

Back to Raymond, who was keeping his promise. Until his older brother, jealous of him (for political and economic reasons, I guess), told that his wife was seeing another man on Saturdays. Thus, Raymond went to the bathroom where Mélusine was at the time, made a peephole in the door and looked inside. Only to see his half-snake wife taking her bath.

Mélusine then flew away, out of despair, and would later show herself each time the Lusignan familiy’s properties would change owners or a family member would soon die (probably looking like some ghost to the common man ? Pure speculation on my part, though).

TL;DR:

Mélusine was a fairy in the french medieval folklore, heavily associated with water, more specifically fountains and basins, and her father was named Elinas. She would also turn half-snake on a regular basis.

So, between the "Fontaine" region, the "Melusines" race, their father "Elynas", the castles Mélusine built, the fact that snakes where sometimes called "dragons" in medieval texts, and all the water imagery in Fontaine...

Yeah, let's say those are really nice easter eggs.

[freshydip]

i have a lot of thoughts i'm going to sift through about the new season of justified as a whole that i'll be posting about with my standard irregularity soon, but after finishing it just now, there is one predominant thought i continue to wander back to.

why on earth would you try to force a continuation of two characters after an ending like this?

their last meeting had both of them with tears in their eyes. these are not men we've seen easily shed tears up to now. these emotions are saved for them, saved for one another.

there is no reunion between these two that can convey the same emotional satisfaction of this scene, and to make an attempt is a fool's errand at best, a cheap cash grab at most. what do you want them to do? do you want them to end each other's lives? do you want one to kill the other? do you want them to meet on a beach in mexico while a climactic orchestra swells and they share meaningful looks under a bright sky? none of that will be comparable. it could be fun to watch, sure. in a good writing team's hands. but nothing will be as satisfactory as seeing these two men, separated by a glass wall, so close to one another and yet impossibly divided, never to be on the same side. they are doomed to either side of that wall. always have been. always will be. they both know this. but there's a reason it's glass; they will always see each other. always know where they stand, always be able to see each other, despite it all.

that's the whole point, now, isn't it? raylan and ava are the only ones who got to leave. boyd is not so lucky. he will never be so lucky. the entire series showed us as much.

so what, exactly, do you think can be gained from them meeting again?

ultimately my hope is they don't. if they really want to pick boyd's story up as they have raylan's, it would be far more interesting to see his attempt to flee kentucky for good, and see it fail, without raylan's intervention, a reflection of the inherently doomed nature of his desires. it would be far more interesting to see raylan try, like really try to lead a normal life, and not have the comfort of a fugitive chase to fall back on, the familiarity of catching bad guys shielding him from the far more difficult job of being a good dad.

and yet. even if those things would be far more interesting. even if they were done well. they still wouldn't be nearly as gratifying as

"we dug coal together"

"that's right"

[krikeymate]

This is the tangent I mentioned here. Warning, this a very long post as I go through basically all the Sam & Tara scenes.

I don't think Tara was ever actually upset with Sam at all, she was upset with herself and lashing out in frustration. She was trying to ignore what happened and pretending to be normal, but Sam's worrying and hovering wouldn't let her forget, and she just doesn't know how to process what she’s dealing with so she shoves it down and down and down until it bursts open.

The leaving the party scene SCREAMS I'm mad at myself but you're a convenient target to redirect my anger at. Especially when combined with the conversation with Chad where she thanks him for not letting her go upstairs  and says "I guess I was more messed up than I realised" - which is a great use of a double entendre: messed up by the alcohol but also messed up by the trauma. Truth is that in that scene, she realised she had put herself in a shitty situation in her attempt to ignore her trauma, so when Sam calls her out on it, she gets defensive and snaps back at her.

Also, I just want to say that I called Tara being the subject of ‘A man attempts to coerce a clearly drunk woman to a bedroom to take advantage of her’ a week before the movie came out and I’m super smug about it.

ALSO: when Tara goes “If I wanna hook up with an asshole, that’s my decision. It’s my decision.” Sam, looks up and away and goes “oh-kay” and the expression on her face just makes me laugh on rewatches. I wonder if she’s having flashbacks to her own past behaviour, of if she’s had to deal with a drunk and upset Tara before. I definitely feel it’s an ‘oh boy here we go again’ kind of ok, especially given the twins reaction. 

THEN we get the “What are you doing here, Sam. In New York.” which is SO painful to watch. I don’t even know what I can say about that, it’s such a beautiful and emotional piece of dialogue and it HURTS. “I’m just trying to look out for you.” “I-... I know. I know you are. …But you can’t do it for the rest of my life though. You have to let me go.” – This part is Tara acknowledging that Sam has uprooted her life for Tara, and Tara telling her that she has to live her own life too. Ultimately, Tara’s journey in 6 is about deciding whether she wants her sister in her life, and in a meta sense, whether she wants to be ‘a final girl.’

Slight deviation here to talk about Chad/Tara – I’m sorry, I just don’t see it. It feels like Chad is the one with feelings for Tara, and in that bedroom conversation Tara is realising that. To be honest, I kinda feel like Tara wanted to use him in that scene, we’ve already seen that she was going to use a guy to ignore her problems; Chad is a safe option for her. I’m not saying she doesn’t have any feelings for Chad, I’m just saying I feel like… well, everyone wants to say they’re the new Gale & Dewey, except the thing is that Gale & Dewey weren’t some epic love story, they were two very different people who bonded through traumatic experiences but ultimately were never in compatible places and trying to be together made them miserable. I don’t have many feelings about Danny but I do think he’s hilarious in an accidental way and would love to keep him around. I get malewife vibes from him.

We get the scene where Sam wants to flee, this is just a classic Tara is in denial of everything happening all over again. We get the wonderful “before you make the unilateral decision to abandon my college education and flee the fucking state!” It’s there to build the does she want her sister in her life situation: this part is a reminder that Sam is the reason Tara got hurt in the first place.

Despite just being ‘mad’ at her and in denial, she still wants to go with Sam to the police station. Sam, knowing by now that her sister is so goddamn stubborn, doesn’t even try to argue. I wish this scene had actually been longer, and that we got to see them cross a few more streets, and for their chase into the bodega too. There’s a cute tiny moment where Tara bumps her face into Sam’s shoulder as she tries to listen to the phone call. The police station: the girls closing their eyes and looking tired while at the table lmao. This time when Sam says “we’re getting out of town.” Tara does not object in any way and goes “are you serious?” when Bailey reveals neither of them can leave town as they’re both suspect. This all just emphasises the fact that being around Sam puts Tara in danger.

I don’t really need to talk about the Gale scene, but I will say that on rewatches the Sidney comment actually feels really shoe-horned in for the audience. Campus meta scene. Sam’s cute “I had a feeling” as Mindy starts to ramble about rules. I didn’t care much for this scene at first, but rewatching it I actually love it, Mindy’s enthusiasm is so lovely. Her “it’s not looking too good for Gale and Kirby” makes me laugh so hard. Ethan and Quinn both saying why can’t it be a survivor 👀. We get Tara’s “don’t you fucking dare” when Ethan brings up the theories online about Sam. Baby shuts that down so quick.

Apartment scenes: Tara acknowledging that she’s been making life hard for Sam, and acknowledging Sam’s pain. “And I’m really really sorry that you have to do that alone.” OUCH. Sam blurting out that she’s been sleeping with Danny because she doesn’t want to hide things from them and then them being like I knew it had her SHOOK. Tara grabbing the phone and pretending to pick up with a “hey so what are your intentions” genuinely has me crying because it’s so cute. I’m seriously not over Tara’s first instinct being to run TOWARDS the Ghostface. I speak about the apartment scene here.

The shrine. So, first up, firm believer that the only reason Sam hallucinates Billy again is because she’s on day 3 of zero sleep and hasn’t taken her meds in that time either. We’re at just over the half way mark into the movie. I think they should have had Tara’s reflection appear over Billy’s before panning to her in the “what are you doing?” bit. I think it’s really interesting that BOTH Sam and Tara are shown to be overwhelmed by the situation – Sam squeezes her eyes shut, then we see Tara flee the room… to use her inhaler.

On Sam’s side of the story, it shows Tara pulling her out of her head and her fear of losing her to Gale; on Tara’s side of the story, we get the ‘does she want to be a final girl’ situation that I mentioned earlier. We get the fantastic Kirby conversation with Tara that my followers know I love.

Next, we move onto the park scene. Tara’s attitude has changed entirely. She took Kirby’s words to heart; she’s realised there’s a way to keep Sam in her life without being a victim: by getting mad and fighting back. “There’s no point in both of us putting ourselves at risk.” “I’m not, I’m your backup” and her little grin is cute but they do then continue walking together which completely negates that. Tara doesn’t want to stray away from Sam - not because she’s scared, but because she wants to be there for her.

Tara absolutely failing to be able to pull Sam back lives rent free in my brain, Sam is so big and strong and Tara cannot move her unless she wants to be moved. “You went back to Woodborough to protect me. Every single day you make the decision to protect me. None of us would even be alive if it weren’t for you. You have to let us protect you this time.” Tara volunteering the ‘us’ there is so fucking funny. There’s something so special to me about how Tara is the one who begins the plan to capture Ghostface and say “we execute him.” I would love to hear what people think of the pan to Mindy and then Sam when she says this, and what you all think is going through their minds.

Finally, we reach The Final Act. First up, Tara copying Sam in removing her jacket is adorable. Sam calling for Tara and then them running off without even waiting for Chad, amazing. Sam holding Tara back and shoving her through the door while Tara cries, love the manhandling. Them standing back-to-back, Tara crying for Sam, Ready/I’m ready, it’s all so so beautiful. I just love the simplicity of Tara being scared and calling for her big sister to help her.

Sam pushing Tara behind her when Ethan and Quinn split off to wrap around behind them. Tara’s “you stay the fuck away from her!” Tara moves her arm up to cover Sam when Quinn approaches with the knife. Ethan stabs Sam in the shoulder and Tara grabs Sam and pulls her away from them. Sam looks down and sees that Tara still has the brick, they make eye contact. Sam insults Richie and Tara bashes Quinn when she goes for Sam. Tara tries to get Sam to run with her, Kirby be damned I guess. Sam takes the knife out of Kirby (who tells her to “fuck him up”) and she stabs Ethan 5 times. Tara calls for her again, so she leaves it at that and runs after her. Bailey shoots at Tara, and a bullet grazes her arm, causing her to fall. Once again, Tara is the one with a plan, she and Sam continue their silent eye contact and we get the “you have to let me go” scene.

You all know that I think Tara is the one making the call. Given that Tara has shown a propensity for making plans already in the movie, I even dare suggest she says “he wanted you to put on the mask… maybe you should.” Then of course we get the moment where Tara comes up behind Sam, who stops from delivering a final blow. We get the head tilt, and a call back to Bailey’s “you fuck with my family, you die.”

We get the final part of Tara’s story, where she decides she does want Sam in her life, and accepts that she’s going to need therapy to deal with what happened to her, in order to let Sam in. Tara being the one to say “we’re gonna get through this, together” is SO important, because you would think that would be a line that Sam would say. This is Tara saying I can give back what you’re giving to me. Then of course the final scene is the final part of Sam’s story, where we see one again, Tara acts as an anchor and calls her away from the darkness.

[dc-sideblog]

"Cass and Jason are twins" BUT they are bio through Lady Shiva and Willis Todd

Cass as a human trafficking victim sold at infancy

Shiva fucking lied to Cain and scammed him and that's why he got one kid and not two. She sold her daughter because she knew his intentions and wanted a successor just as badly as he did, if not moreso

Didn't sell Jason because the deal wasn't good enough

Dumps Jason on Willis and goes back on her merry way

Years later Jason finds a smudged birth certificate and Sandra Woosan's contact info on Willis's phone. He tracks her down and-- lo and behold-- gets betrayed and killed

Cass has been nonstop suffering this whole time

She's currently with the League of Assassins. Don't ask how they got her after she ran away as a kid. Just know that she hates herself atm and has never known life without violence. She may genuinely think this is as good as life can get. For her anyway

Shes a personal guard for the al Ghul family because obviously they want the best and also they can't get her to kill, so a protection detail is perfect. Cass takes out any threat and then Ra's swoops in to finish them and pretends it's a vengeance/honor thing and not because he doesn't have complete control over the One Who Is All

Enter Jason, back from the dead with a severe brain injury, and one of the only other kids in the League. Super weird how he kinda looks like Cass

Jason is offended by every aspect of Cass's situation, even before the Pit dunk. Why is she here when she's a kid. Where are her parents. She looks sad.

He can't really express all that verbally but Cass is touched to her core by it. She is also really curious about him in general and keeps an eye out, as much as she can

Jason's fucking incensed after the Pit dunk but he hides it for sneaky reasons

Shiva stops by Nanda Parbat for whatever reason and is like lmao and spills everything to Talia, who is delighted

Talia naturally arranges a blood match between them the next day and tells Jason literally as it's beginning

Cass watches, enthralled, as he cycles through the entire human emotional spectrum in under ten seconds

They fight and she kicks his ass. A match to first blood against her is quick and almost painless. It's so easy it's boring to watch

Jason is still pretending everything is normal and fine and convinced Talia to loan Cass out to him for his big Gotham revenge plot. She sees right through this but frankly doesn't care. This won't affect Damian's eventual introduction, and Jason really could use someone watching his back anyway

Cass is not thrilled with the Red Hood's methods, however. And unlike taking on the entire League of Assassins, she really can prevent him from killing people. And worst of all, she can see that he wants to protect Crime Alley as his ultimate goal, it's literally just methodology that she has a problem with

Red Hood keeps trying to ditch her and tell her she's free now and can leave. Cass understands what he's going for perfectly well and Does Not Care. Fuck him and fuck his guns. She is in his apartment now and he can't get rid of her

Cass does HORRIBLE things like rescuing all his victims and arguing with him constantly, which is really a feat to watch as she can't talk, and she shows up at all of his drug dealer meetings

Jason is pissed that she's undermining his authority but this situation looks very different to outsider Gothamites. People are scared shitless of the two of them. They're acting like Bats if the Bats were evil. Like yeah that guy lived but holy fuck

The sibling squabbling is barely a blip on the radar as people are too busy fleeing in terror

Actual Gotham Bats have no clue how they should address this. Do they arrest them? Recruit them? What the hell is going on here

Red Hood and the Shadow have overtaken Crime Alley completely but every update Jason gives to Talia is him complaining incessantly and her suppressing laughter at his embarrassing failures

of course they'd love to have Cass back in Nanda Parbat, why doesn't Jason just put her on a plane and send her? :-)

Unrelated but he jokingly called her Cassandra after the same Greek myth Barbara named her after but then it stuck. Literature nerd Jason rights. Like yeah he was being sarcastic. But also she was as old as he was and in all those years no one has cared enough about this girl to even give her a name

She's his twin

Cass doesn't know about the concept of twins until she is 18 years old in Gotham and sees a pair of identical kids for the first time. Jason gets really excited and immediately gestures between the two kids and then between the two of them

No magic man comes along and scrambles Cass's brain in this one. She simply has a receptive-expressive language disability and lives with it. Started out using a picture board when they first got there but then Jason did some research and learned about AAC devices. Now Cass has a high tech tablet with an AAC program

It has so many words and they're all hers and she can use them whenever she wants. It's easy too, she just presses a button and bam, talking

Later on she gets AAC programming embedded into her suit's wrist computer. The Shadow's voice is carefully designed to be as terrifying as possible

Jason will go on a big melodramatic monologue speech and Cass will catch none of it except *mildly annoyed*. This happens twice a week

They cook together a lot and spar together and go to plays, because Cass can appreciate theater acting in a way she can't with TV. Jason is so glad he finally has a sibling with taste

This segues into Cass discovering ballet and also wordless animation like Tom & Jerry type stuff

Normally taking a break from working the Mission full-time is not something the Red Hood would ever do but if he doesn't have civilian pursuits then Cass won't either so looks like they're both gonna have to be mentally healthy :/

Yeah I don't know how or if they end up integrating with the rest of the Waynes/Bats. But I think this would be fun and good for both of them

[episodicnostalgia]

Spider-man: The Animated Series, 107 (Apr. 1, 1995) - “Kraven the Hunter”

The Breakdown

Peter Parker is up for an interview as a research assistant to one Mariah Crawford. Of course, as per his typical Parker luck, Pete arrives to find her under attack by a guy wearing a slutty little lion-themed outfit (which means the interview is understandably cancelled).  So what’s the deal with this fur-clad-alpha anyway?

The Lion-dude goes by the name “Kraven the Hunter” (aka Sergei Kravinoff) and he’s an ex-big game hunter, who met Mariah when she hired him to track down an old colleague that gave himself super-feral powers with a wonder drug he discovered (So just a normal meet-cute). During their months-long journey, the two hit it off and got horny for each other, but this is a kid’s show so we’ll call it “falling in love”.  Eventually Mariah and Sergei were successful in finding the good doctor, who entrusted her with the last vial of his drug in the hope that she’d develop a cure, along with a warning never to use the drug on anyone else (because living as the adonis king of a mixed species-predator-pack is too awesome for any one man to bear).  Shortly thereafter Mariah is attacked by Hyenas, and barely rescued by Sergei who sustains critical injuries, leaving her with no choice but to use the super-drug to save his life.  Of course it works, but eventually his new powers to turn him into a control freak with an obsession for hunting, along with a new macho nick-name (coincidentally, listening to Joe Rogan has a similar effect).  Newly incentivised, Mariah to flees to New York in search of a cure.

So anyways, now Kraven is trying to romantically kidnap Mariah so that they can be together again, instead of wasting her time on a cure he doesn’t really want.  Naturally, Peter intervenes as Spider-man, and takes Mariah to hide at Robbie Robertson’s apartment since he’s out of town.  Predictably, Robbie arrives home earlier than expected, and Kraven kidnaps him after tracking his girlfriend’s scent there (she’d already run off, believing Robbie to Kraven).  In hopes of expediting his end goal, Kraven issues a simple ultimatum to Spider-man; bring Mariah to his secret hide-out in exchange for Robbie’s life.  Spider-man quickly figures out Kraven is hiding at the zoo, since it’s the only place he’d fit in (and evidently has zero night time security, or maintenance staff), and zips off to save his friend.

Meanwhile, Mariah has been making good use of her time, and manages to finalize Kraven’s antidote. Conveniently, she arrives at the zoo midway through Kraven’s battle with Spider-man, accidentally shifting the fight in our hero’s favour, although not without incident.  Once again Kraven is left with critical injuries after saving her life (this time from lions, but she really needs to watch where she’s going).  Apparently Mariah had the foresight to make the antidote capable of curing Kraven’s mutation AND injuries, so it all works out and the two love birds can go back to “being in love”.  *wink*

The Verdict

I’ve never been a huge Kraven stan, but the character has decidedly earned his place in Spidey’s rogue gallery.  The real problem for this show is that his comic book counterpart is tied to some of Spider-man’s darker stories; even his original concept is that he just wants to hunt and kill Spider-man because no other animal offers enough of a challenge.  Given the show’s harsh censorship restrictions (the writers weren’t allowed to have the characters say the words “kill” or “murder”), Kraven was inevitably up for an overhaul. 

The end result is a Kraven who’s… a bit watered down compare to the original, but it works for this show, leaving him less the villain, and more a dangerous victim of circumstance.  Tying his origin to a love story with Mariah at least incorporates her into his backstory from the get-go (in the comics she was introduced as Kraven’s voodoo-priestess-ally know as ‘Calypso’), even if it does completely change his motivations.  The biggest aspect to this shift would come about in future episodes (which I’ll discuss more if/when I get there), suffice to say that his return would result in becoming more of an uneasy ally of Spidey’s as opposed to an adversary.

So how does the Episode stack up overall?  Well, it’s about as ridiculous as the rest of this series, but I’ll be damned if it’s not a lot of fun.  Why was Mariah holding interviews for an assistant position if the only reason she was in New York was to find Kraven’s cure?  Considering how quickly she whipped it up at the last second, she couldn’t have been THAT far off from finding it on her own.  Maybe she just works well under pressure.  Also, if Kraven could track Mariah’s scent across an entire city to Robbie’s apartment (and later Peter’s to a fashion show), why not just keep following her to wherever she ended up?  Oh, and what about Mariah’s colleague who invented the ‘wonder drug’ that mutated Kraven to the begin with?  You know, the one who GAVE her the serum in hopes of finding a cure? Remember him? Because the writers sure didn’t seem to.  Honestly though, having a friend bail on you because of their hot new boyfriend/girlfriend is probably the most realistic thing about this episode.  At the end of the day these questions aren’t really of consequence, because this isn’t that kind of show.  I know I sure didn’t give these matters any consideration when I was a kid (well, maybe the scent-tracking thing).

Obviously if this were intended for an older audience I’d be a lot more critical, but I genuinely enjoyed this more than the last couple episodes.  ‘Kraven the Hunter’ at least succeeds at being fun, and that’s enough.

3 stars (out of 5)

Additional Observations

This is the second research job Peter has applied for, that subsequently ended up being directly tied to a villain-of the-week (first time was the Lizard).  The poor guy is bound to get a complex.  Although I gotta say I’m feeling a little short changed.  My Dad has been a scientist for as long as I’ve been alive, and not a single member of my family has ever come close to gaining super powers.  Then again, he also refuses to experiment on any of us (don’t even get me started).

Peter attends a fashion show where MJ is performing as a runway model.  She’s so excited to see him that she asks him out for dinner after the show.  Unfortunately, Felicia Hardy is also present (her mom is the host), and she TOO wants to hang out with Peter afterwards.  Luckily Kraven shows up looking for Spider-man so Pete has to abandon ship to go fight him, pissing off both women in the process.  He really dodged a bullet there!  Although, this just goes to show that Polyamory isn’t for everyone.

Kraven reveals to Robbie that as someone who was born to Russian nobility, he’s observed that the laws of the Jungle (like high society, apparently) DEMAND retribution when something of yours has been taken.  Shaky logic aside, this questionable code of conduct does leave me wondering if Sergei was really that great of a guy, even before he became Kraven.  Bear in mind that he only stopped big game hunting because it was outlawed, and not because of any moral convictions.  I’m just saying…

[transingthoseformers]

Get Cucked Tarn AU 3

Pharma basically blanks out for most of the examination of the LL2 and is a mess afterwards that cannot be near the reminder in the form of Megatron full on flinching from him immediately afterwards in a way that is very visible. He decides to flee back to the planet with the team investigating it afterwards and First Aid is there definitely not keeping an eye on him stop being paranoid Pharma.

Pharma goes with Trailcutterr, Dominus (who's also joined the LL to take care of Rewind's widow) and First Aid when they explore following the disappearing Lost Light fiasco and he and First Aid recognize Kaon on sight.

This leads to a very different incident and an argument about whether or not to let him live (Dominus is arguing to take him in and First Aid is arguing actual fuck this guy in particular). This gives new Vos–that no one k ows about–enough time to sneak around and retrieve Kaon to escape.

Pharma though is not panicking about this while mocking Kaon about his “precious Lord” being an Autobot now and that Pharma has gotten his hands all over him which makes Kaon shrieky. Pharma hadn't meant it that way only that he'd confirmed himself the reality but now it is in his head.

Pharma is twitchy the rest of the time and he is only really close to Ambulon and First Aid and, strangely, almost cordial with Megatron, who takes a moment to check on him noting his reaction though keeping his distance and doing it through the proxy of Magnus and Rodimus who both admit that Megatron/Megs mentioned concern about him. Pharma has also somewhat abducted on of the medical drones as a emotional support animal and taken it to his room to repair and now it follows him around as is distinguishable by the little crooked wings it has.

When everything calms down and time skips happen and with Rodimus taking a more active role in everyone's life and the time traveling incident, they've all been distracted. Ratchet is having more trouble with his hands and refusing to let Pharma assist, passing on more and more of his duties to him and First Aid, while acting distant. Pharma's nightmares have gotten worse following seeing the destruction caused by the DJD to the LL2 and the short confrontation.

First Aid trying to trick him into talking to Rung is honestly making it worse. Though Ambulon is helping on that side saying forcing him is not helpful and Aid needs to give him space. Pharma resoonds by lovingly tormenting Ambulon by viciously quizzing him as he's about to take his licensing exam.

Megatron has been avoiding him to the point of turning around if he's in medbay which he knows because Megatron has been checking with people first and Whirl asks what he did that made Megahron so terrified of him. It is both a relief and insulting and a new tangle he is not addressing.

When Ratchet finally cracks and lets Pharma do a full checkup and repair what he can of his hands and listens to him talk about working to rebuild new hands by collaborating with Ambulon and Brainstorm, who is startlingly good at it, things seem brighter. Pharma feels normal, Ratchet listening as he rambles about medicine and touching and its nice and not tense. Pharma asks if he wants to get a drink later as friends and Ratchet hesitates, squeezes his hand and praises his skills, before saying yes. 

And then he fucks off leaving a note that he'll have to do a “raincheck on that drink” and appoints Pharma as CMO.

This is kind of Pharma's snapping point and he is hurt and wanting to lash out and having nightmares about Tarn that make him fantasize about ripping his plating off and he isn't sleeping and then he realizes while checking on Megatron's records all of which show pojted visits around Pharma's schedule that the perfect method for revenge is right there.

Tarn is painfully, lustfully obsessed with Megatron, who is admittedly more bearable than Pharma expected. Pharma can only imagine his reaction if he knew Pharma was the one who got with him. He still has Tarn's comm code. He never blocked it.

Pharma is doing great and is going to seduce his new boss.

Which is of course a completely well thought out and normal decision that won't start a whole messy chaos.

First Aid is horrified upon being informed at Pharma's weekly friend conference–AmbuAid's check in compromise to Pharma's refusal to talk to Rung–while Ambulon does not need an explanation and even somewhat saw this coming and tells Pharma to be careful because Megatron is charming and Pharma gets attached easily.

Pharma denies this and says this is purely for his own vengeance, and it would just be sex so Ambulon should calm down.

oh Pharma oh no

Oh fuck of course Kaon survived, emotions ensue

So Forestock Vos two is in the picture with Kaon and out of the DJD it's just them. Probably.

Pharma stg, yes, let Kaon think what he thinks

Megatron and Pharma are having seriously interesting interactions here

I'm surprised that the fandom doesn't use the medical drones as emotional support devices more often

💖lovingly tormenting💖

I think this is the second time I've seen Brainstorm rebuild medic hands and he's been amazing at it each time

And we say goodbye to Ratchet and hello to Pharma making seriously decision-ey decisions which will turn out fun for us

He still has Tarn's comm code

Pharma no (Pharma yes)

The friend conferences are a good idea

Pharma my guy this will not remain just sex will it, even if it doesn't turn out romantic it'll be more than just sex nahhhh there's emotions to be had here

[thelordofgifs]

Obscure Tolkien Blorbo: Round 3

Corunir vs Eldacar of Gondor

Corunir:

Ranger of the North; part of Golodir's company. Waited for his trapped friends for years (Lord of the Rings Online character)

he's a ranger of the north who followed his captain to angmar despite aragorn very specifically telling them 'hey, angmar's super dangerous, Do Not'. most of his friends got stuck and/or killed by some haunted statues, and he kept trying to cross the statues to go help them (failed many times til they almost killed him) and just waited for them on the other side for years before he managed to get a message back to the rest of the rangers. love his friends So Much and will not stop following them into stupid dangerous situations

Canonically the ranger who would give the best hugs

he's loyal to a fault, staying behind (alone) in the dread-realm of Angmar just desperately hoping for word from his captain. He couldn't make it further east to where Golodir was because of a valley of powerful watching stones that killed like half of their company when they passed through them the first time. Corunir was trapped on the west side while the survivors made it east, but kept trying to pass them for years and years "until my very spirit was broken within me" as he puts it. like. dude. this poor guy! he kept throwing himself at the valley of death-statues for years and he somehow survived. he was broken by it but he did it out of that stubborn loyalty, because "I could not abandon my captain" :( he just wants his friends to be ok!!! I'm literally so normal about him. also he's somewhere on the aroace spectrum. this is canon probably dude just trust me. we love an aroace-spec king

Eldacar of Gondor:

The twenty-first King of Gondor, also known as Vinitharya. During his reign the conflict known as the Kin-strife occurred and he was forced from his throne for ten years.

The blorbo of all time actually. He’s the protagonist of one of the most interesting stories in the LoTR appendices, the Kin-strife, and everything about his life story is so fascinating! His father was the crown prince of Gondor and his mother was the princess of Rhovanion so not a Númenorean. As a result all the racist nobles of Gondor made noises about how Eldacar was of “lesser race” and wouldn’t live as long as a “true Dúnadan”. One of the most fascinating examples of fantasy racism in Tolkien’s works imo – the bigotry is awful but the bigots have a shield to hide behind! Obviously their concerns are actually valid because they just don’t want their king to die young! (Their concerns aren’t valid. But I think the worldbuilding here is great.) Anyway Eldacar was born in Rhovanion and given the birth-name Vinitharya, but when he returned to Gondor aged five he was obliged to take up the Quenya name Eldacar, presumably to pacify all the racists in Gondor. He’s the EMBODIMENT of mixed-race/immigrant child trauma my beloved. Eventually his father died and he ascended to the throne of Gondor, but then his shitty second cousin Castamir (all my homies hate Castamir he’s the worst) started the civil war known as the Kin-strife and usurped Eldacar’s throne. Eldacar was forced to flee north to Rhovanion but Castamir captured his eldest son Ornendil and had him cruelly put to death which is SO SAD. But Eldacar, being brave and resourceful and clever and extremely cool, put together an alliance with his mother’s kinsfolk in Rhovanion and after ten years reclaimed his throne, which turned out to be slightly easier than expected because Castamir was The Worst and all his subjects hated him. And Eldacar PERSONALLY fought and killed Castamir HIMSELF and AVENGED HIS SON which is extremely important when you consider all the cringefail elves in the legendarium whose quests for revenge didn’t really go anywhere at all. Then he lived to be 235 proving that all the idiot racists who were worried about his lifespan didn’t have any idea what they were talking about, as is par for the course with racists. Also the Kin-strife itself has such far-reaching consequences for the history of Gondor! The Corsairs of Umbar, Gondor’s long-standing enemies, are actually followers of the descendants of Castamir. And during the Usurpation of Castamir Osgiliath was sacked and burned, leading to the beginning of its decline as Gondor’s greatest city. Even though Eldacar’s story is, to me, ultimately hopeful, it’s also such a fascinating turning point in the history of Gondor. Also ALSO he’s explicitly surrounded by textual ghosts which is really fascinating. His father Valacar has “children” plural – so Eldacar had siblings!! What were they like? How did they react to it all? And his son Aldamir is described as Eldacar’s second son and third child, meaning that he had a daughter too. Who was she?? What happened to her? He’s such a blorbo and there’s so much interesting stuff to dig into around him and he has to win this entire tournament please please please❤️

Round 3 masterpost

[welkinsky]

Ok you said more asks so hear you go Love.

Could you do a Forest Guardian Reader x Kiba

how they met (from the first naruto seris when they are all around 12)

and then later by like a few years of how they like start falling in love or just conffes.

Kiba X Reader | Forest Guardian Reader

You have always lived in the woods watching your elders protect your clan from all the riots and the other village's feuds. You never really understood why was it that you had to live in the outskirts when you could always live in the hidden leaf and live a better life with better resources. You had their citizenship anyways.

But as you grew you found out that in early ages it was your clan's job to guard the village and how important it was for the livelihood of people living inside. You always took pride in it. Until one day while training you met a few kids from the village. They were training to be ninjas.

You were observing them from a distance & one of them caught your attention. He had a dog with him. You found it weird because it is natural for only your clan to have an animal with you as a companion.

You tried to have a closer look but then they noticed you. Your instinct was to flee but they looked friendly so you decided to stay and talk. As it turned out they were not even aware that your clan existed which was heartbreaking for a kid because you were so proud of being responsible for their safety.

But you figured that it wasn't their fault after all. They knew what they were taught. You had a great training session with them that day and the guy with the dog Kiba was your favorite among them because you both had somewhat similar skills.

This was your first time interacting with people from the inside of the village and you wanted to do it more! But sadly they had to go and as if he caught onto it Kiba promised to come back soon.

Years went by, and you waited at the same spot at the same time of the day but he never came. But one day your clan was attacked by goons who were not normal ones. They had a similar coat on with red clouds. But you didn't have time to think you had to fight. You were in the main defense team of the clan.

When all hope was lost you were still fighting not ready to give up. You could hear your family shouting from a distance to stop and run but you didn't. You were just happy that they and the other people were shifting to the village now.

Then out of nowhere, you smelled a familiar scent. It was HIM. As you were fighting a bunch of people came and he stood by your side ready to attack. You could see his features clearly. He grew up, and so did you. Will he recognize you?

"Get back Y/N you're hurt!" he said as he stepped in front of you. You stood there dumbfounded. He remembered your name. Then all the fighting and loss of chakra caught up to you as you fell down to your knees.

For the first time, it was not you fighting on the front lines. Someone else was doing it and protecting YOU.

After that incident, your first course of action was to ensure that everyone in the clan was safe. There were some casualties. But nothing serious. You went to the cliff that calms you down always. You needed that after such a long fight.

"You came," you said as you sensed his chakra from behind you. "I did," he said sitting down next to you. "Took you long enough."

"Heh, things aren't that simple anymore Y/N. The restrictions from the gate are way more intense now," he said guilt laced in his voice. "I understand. You grew up to be stronger than I had imagined," you said trying to cheer him up.

He just looked at you, in your eyes. As if, searching for something. "What?" you said tying your hair in a ponytail trying to avoid his intense gaze. "You genuinely waited all this time?" he said as he let your hair loose again, "You look better like this."

He realized what he did and tried covering up, "You don't have to be in warrior mode now heh we're here." then his voice turned genuine and deep, "But you showed them hell. I'm super proud of you kid." he said with a smile.

"Kid? I'm your age you know. But... in all seriousness what do you think will happen to the clan? They have nowhere to go." you knew this was coming. At some point, you'll have to figure this out too. It was not safe outside the walls right now. "We'll figure it out together. You're not alone," he said as he patted your head. 

Later Kiba helped you meet the Hokage so that you can present your plea in front of her. She was stern at first but was understanding. She gave you all shelter and resources till your clan was back on its feet. You spent most of your time with Kiba during the restoration phase. He helped through the process as if he never left and you two have known each other for years. He helped with all he had. Once your houses were restored you had to go back. He hated it, you hated it. But it was going to happen eventually.

Once you got back to your house. You went back to the place where you waited for him but this time it was to just reminisce about this dream life that you just lived with him. You didn't want to admit it but you had it bad for him!

You smelled the same scent. You rushed and he was standing there. "I'm not going to make you wait anymore." He said with a smile as you went in for a hug. "Ah, I wish it was like this forever. I don't want to let you go again Wait um" he accidentally said out loud.

You took a step back and watched him turning into a red ball of embarrassment. To save him from it you hugged him again, "Then don't."

------------------------------------------------

Thanks For Reading and for the ask too <3

Naruto Shippuden Masterlist

If you liked it you can check out the masterlist too!

Asks are still open if you have any other ideas as well ;)

[theatregaymer]

Part of the Family

Finished commission for my good friend @wertzunge​. Kawaki is acclimating to life as part of the Uzumaki family, but every now and then he feels like he might still be an outsider looking inwards at an ideal family. Thankfully, his family members don’t think the same and are all too happy to remind him how cherished he is.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

As the birds began to sing their songs to the morning skies above the hidden village of Konoha, a certain family was just barely getting started waking up...well some of them. To say things had been lively after the Hokage brought Kawaki into his home would be a bit of an understatement. But after some time had passed, the boy had started feeling like he was actually part of this family, from his brotherly bond with Boruto, Himawari warming up to him and even being asked to help with preparing dinner on occasion...it was such a shift from his years of isolation and pain. 

Honestly, Kawaki and Boruto both were normally at least able to wake up on time. The thing with today was, they had nothing to do, none of them. Naruto had gotten ahead of the curve on his work, arranging for things to be taken care of for a single day at Hinata's behest so that they could spend the day together as a family. Of course it was a shock to both boys, who had spent a lot of time the day beforehand wearing themselves out during training. Kawaki would have slept even longer had he not heard a ruckus from the floor above his sleeping space in the Hokage's home office. What the hell was Boruto doing up there?" Grumbling as he wiped the sleep from his eyes, Kawaki sleepily opened the door to call out to him but caught Himawari's look instead as she came down the stairs. "Good morning Kawaki...hehe Papa is just waking up brother. I'm gonna go help mom in the kitchen!" She said cheerfully as if she hadn't just read his mind before scampering off to the kitchen. As he blinked, it finally became clear just what he was hearing from the upstairs area of the house. That was most definitely laughter...and something like a scream? Was nobody else confused like he was?

He decided despite Himawari's casual attitude, he wanted to investigate since she did mention the Hokage was there as well. He climbed the stairs, his bare feet tapping lightly on the flooring since he didn't often need to be stealthy in this place, save for it he needed to take a leak in the wee hours of the morning. As he neared Boruto's room however, a chill ran along his spine for some reason as he began to clearly understand more words even with the door shut. "BWAHah...Old man stohop....DAD SEHEHERIOUSLY!" His caution was soon overcome by curiosity as the dark haired boy gently turned the knob and opened the door, hearing Naruto's voice through the din of his adopted borther's laughter. "Oh come on now, my first whole day home and you sleep in? How can I not wanna spend some quality time waking you up Boruto?" This was followed by more wailing and cackling from the smaller blond ninja as Kawaki saw the Hokage looming over his son, one hand holding one of his arms over his head while the other was moving quickly up and down the side of his night shirt. What was he doing? Boruto was clearly laughing and smiling, but his free hand was desperately trying to snatch his father's away in an effort to escape this strange torture. "NOOhohohoohahh ahahaAHA STAHahaphihithahah ah ahah KAHahawaki save mehehe!" Boruto called out his name, blowing his cover as the Hokage turned to look as well to see his second son halfway in the room. "Ah morning. Sorry if this guy woke you up." The blond said, chuckling as Boruto denied it. "Wha-Ihit's your fault gah! Gehet offa mehehe!" Wrenching his wrist free and rolling over, Boruto attempted to flee, only to slip on his own covers and falling to the floor. His panic seemed to escalate as Naruto reached down to scoop up his legs, dragging him back and locking both his legs with a single strong arm before beginning to move his other hand along his bare feet. This of course seemed to be even worse for the young Uzumaki as he cried out, desperately trying to claw away at the floor, reaching in vain for a still rather bewildered Kawaki.

"NAHAHa OH god no NAHahaht thaahthaha Nhoh nahat the feEEHEHETHTEHHAHAHA DAAHAHAD!" His pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears as Naruto simply continued holding a brief conversation, albeit a loud one with Kawaki. "I think Hinata wants us all to go on a picnic together today. We still have time but maybe see if she needs some help getting prepared?" Kawaki nodded, still too stunned to say much as he didn't know if he should leave or ask what this was all about. He didn't even realize he was blushing slightly as Boruto cried out with tears in his eyes. "NOHOHOTHAHaa don't touch myYHYH TOHOHESHHAHA!" Naruto was drilling his fingers between the tender valleys between his son's digits, before things finally seemed to calm down as the Hokage gave an affectionate few pats to his son's slightly reddened soles and let him go, the boy slumping for a second before quickly crawling a few feet away as his father stood up and headed out the door past Kawaki. "Haha and maybe make sure that one didn't wet himself." Naruto left just in time as a pillow was flung across the room, softly smacking against the door as Kawaki felt it prudent to close it after the older man left.

Now it was just him and Boruto, the latter panting heavily, flushed and teary eyed but very much awake. "Why...didn't you help?" He asked, earning a scowl from the raven haired teen. "I didn't think you needed it...you were laughing and smiling." Boruto gritted his teeth as he managed to get back to his feet, beginning to fix up his bed as he continued to recover. "Only because the old man was tickling me! Ugh he's done that since I was a kid whenever I oversleep and he's home. So dumb.." Despite his words, something in the young blond's tone hinted at a sort of fondness for the activity, likely since such bonding moments were more rare since his father took office.

"Tickling? So that's like...a tradition?" Kawaki asked, honestly a bit confused at Boruto's words as he moved Boruto's desk chair over and sat down. His adoptive brother turned slightly, an eyebrow raised in equal confusion at the question. "Huh? Tradition? I don't think so it's just...a thing he does sometimes...why?" Kawaki shrugged slightly, unsure why this strange feeling of jealousy was slowly building up inside him. "It just seemed like something special judging from how he was smiling when he left as well, but he wasn't even being tickled like you were. It just looked like his fingers were squeezing you a lot." At these words, Boruto began to catch on to a feeling in the air, a smile slowly returning to his features, though this one held much more mischief this time around. "Ehhh? Kawaki....do you not know what tickling feels like?" The blond finished making his bed as Kawaki blinked, trying not to show how honestly confused he felt. "I...I know what it's supposed to feel like." He insisted, hoping that answer would suffice. However, Boruto didn't seem to buy it as he walked closer, still grinning widely as he raised his hands slightly and wiggled his fingers. "Let's just make suuuuure heheh." Kawaki once more was struck by a sensation of both sudden anticipation and slight fear as those fingers got closer, his throat swallowing a lump before his brother began skittering his fingers along the raven's sides and stomach, instantly earning some unfamiliar sounds as the dark haired boy seized Boruto's wrists, yet did nothing to defend himself. "Wha-a-aahah ah whahat the heehehell is thihisheheha Hehehey Bah Bohoruto knock it ohohoff!" The blond of course only chuckled in reply, recognizing that despite his protests there was no action to actually stop this sensation from continuing. "Hahaha come ooon you like it! You're smiling and laughing right?" As the two began to wrestle, Kawaki forwent defense and instead reached out to mimic Boruto's actions on his own flanks before the two both fell onto his bed, ruining the nicely made sheets. "NHAHaha ah hahang oh naha noho stahahpha Dahahd already gohoht mehehe!" Both boy's continued to laugh, Kawaki being no exception as he cackled out loud. "KEHEHahah AHAHAH Youhuhu stohop fihihirst!"  Their legs helplessly kicked as fingers flew up and down their torsos, digging into armpits, clawing at their stomachs, all leading up to their mutual signal to stop horsing around.

"Boys if you don't get down here, Naruto is going to finish your breakfast!" At Hinata's words from downstairs, both of them stopped their antics, flushed and panting as they blinked, knowing the tone used was one of both playful urgency, but also a slightly more serious note beneath it. "We're on our way!" Boruto responded, hoping it bought them some time. He then broke away from his adopted sibling, pausing briefly before bringing up his thoughts. "So...why were you so interested in that?" He asked, earning a stammer from the other boy before being followed by an awkward silence. As Boruto began to change, Kawaki finally spoke up. "You and the fourth...have a connection strengthened through traditional acts such as this. I don't...I can't explain why I got interested in it. I guess...my own dad never..." Boruto tossed a pillow from the disheveled bedding at his brother, stopping that thought process. "Hey now come on, you're part of the family now, you're my brother! Dad wouldn't have even brought you home if he didn't see that you have a good heart ya know?" If Kawaki were more emotional, he supposed this would be one of those time he shouldfeel a bit teary eyed, but instead he could do nothing other than grip the pillow a bit tighter after it hit his chest. "Yeah...I guess you're right..." Thusly Kawaki actually helped fix the bed much quicker before they were headed downstairs. Thankfully Hinata's bluff was just that, and the two finished their breakfast quickly before helping to get things ready for that afternoon. Thankfully, there were no emergencies, no sudden meetings or crises that required Naruto's attention. The Uzumaki family was able to actually enjoy themselves, spending quality time together, playing some card games, enjoying some good food, and nurturing those bonds Kawaki was so worried over. The daylight slowly ebbing away, the orange sky signaled their time to head back home as they all gathered their things, though Naruto did have the extra baggage of a very worn out Himawari. Kawaki too felt surprisingly tired, having played more tag with her and Boruto than he would have expected. It was especially challenging once Hinata joined in, his mother figure being far more impressive than he could have anticipated. Something else he didn't notice, was how Boruto and his father hung back a bit behind, walking slower as the younger blond had something important to apparently convey to the Hokage. Kawaki stayed in the dark on this of course, helping to handle some minor cleanup at home before dressing down to his evening pants and tank top, climbing onto the sofa bed in the office as per usual to lull off to sleep, likely to wake up to a more familiar, albeit less enjoyable day tomorrow... "...waki...Kawakiiii...heh you're almost as deep a sleeper as I am." That voice...Kawaki recognized it immediately, before recognizing something else, a light and fluttery feeling that instantly had his nerves lighting up. "Eh wh-whehehah ah F-fohourththeh ah whahat the hehell haha let goho." His laughter was still somewhat tired, despite the feeling of strong fingers dancing against his bare soles playfully. He was still tired sure, but shouldn't he have been able to escape this weak hold? No...he realized Naruto had positioned himself in a way that Kawaki's ankles were trapped beneath one of his thighs, allowing two hands to wreak havok on his feet. He swiftly rubbed the sleep from his eyes, giggling the entire time as he continued helplessly trying to pull away. "PFTHEeh hah whahat tihime is ihithehe gaha youhuh haha you shouldn't behehe here!" He was getting more of his energy back, though not nearly enough to stave off the fingers attacking his toes now. "CAHAHA CAH gEHEHehehet offa mehehehe!" The Hokage simply laughed, continuing his tickles before swapping positions, pinning the young man beneath him as he began tickling up and down his sides, his blanket slipping down as those hands shoved up into his shirt to get at his bare skin. "A little bird told me youmight be feeling left out hmm?" Kawaki tried shoving at the older man, shaking his head as his forced smile was coupled with endless giggling. "HEHEhehahahAHAH ahah ah no nahaha hihi'm nahaAHAHAHt AHAHA NOT THERE!" His pits felt those fingers digging in skillfully, the trained hands of someone used to tickling a squirmy victim no doubt. "STAHa ahaha stahap ahalreadyhyhyaha AHAHA PAH PLEHEHASEHAHA! Ah....aahahah hah...gah..*cough* hah..." The tickles ceased as he wished, Kawaki wiping a tear from his eyes before looking up at a smilin blond who then ruffled his dark hair.

"Kawaki...I hope you realize you are just as much a part of this family now as anyone else. Never forget that." Those words brought another wave of unexpected emotions surging into the boy's chest, the desire to cry overwhelming him as he brushed any budding tears away, blaming them on the tickling. "Hehe and if I have to tickle you in the mornings to remind you of it, just say the word." Kawaki blushed fiercely, "N-no way!" he shouted, throwing his pillow at the man in a move reminicient of his brother as Naruto laughed brightly, blocking it with one hand as he waved goodbye before heading out to work no doubt. Kawaki took a moment to collect himself, still feeling the tingling sensations all through his body as he fixed his shirt and folded his blanket. He went to the bathroom, finding it was still rather early and he hoped he hadn't woken Himawari. But when he suddenly recalled the Hokage's words, he looked up the stairs with a different expression. "A little bird huh?" Oh Boruto was so gonna get the wake up of his lifetime.

[tmnm]

Huge lore dump- prologue

Okay, this is going over backstories and the kraang/Oroku clan with some more character added into Shredder

I had to make a whole new folder in my notes app just to put this all together 💀

Warning for IDW-compliant violence

Kraang-

So there’s a place called dimension X, and two alien races live there, the Utroms and the Triceratons. They’re fighting a war for territory, and an Utrom was making bio weapons when boom, something went wrong!

They were turned into a creature called a kraang, and they turned most of the Utroms into kraang too, and they formed a hive mind as they swept through the triceratons and made the remaining army flee

The kraang then are trying to expand their hive mind, and they’re incredibly stupid but they have mutagen, which is ridiculously dangerous because it mutates anything organic with the last dna it touched, and it’s horribly unstable

They find earth and are like “yooo let’s pick this one” and they’re just trying to figure out how to adjust human life to their hive mind, resulting in so many experiments. Just, experiments EVERYWHERE

Shredder-

In Kyoto Japan in the 1960s or so, two historical ninja clans were fighting each other still, the Hamato and Oroku clans (I’m calling the foot clan the Oroku clan because I can’t take feet seriously)

The main guy from the Hamato clan, Hamato Yuuta, won and essentially massacred the whole Oroku clan but refused to kill an infant who was now an orphan, and he adopted him instead, and named him Hamato Saki

He was raised with his biological son, Yoshi, and the two grew up inseparable

As they got older though, Saki started to notice the favoritism his brother got and the way the older people were wary towards him, and he was like “what the heck guys I didn’t do anything??”

And Yoshi was a little shit btw, just an asshole who was getting all the attention because he was the heir to the Hamato clan, which Saki thought was bullshit because he didn’t deserve it

Also, ninpo! Ninpo in this universe is just found family superpowers you get if you’re in the Hamato family, like, encanto but Japanese instead of Colombian

Saki had fire, but he could never control it well due to the stress surrounding his family and the lack of trust in him, while Yoshi had healing, which he was good at.. but mostly used on himself to fuck around and be dumb

In comes Tang Shen! A lady from Fukuoka who may or may not have connections to yokai, she and Yoshi fell for each other HARD, and they got married and they were happy and stuff, and had a daughter, Miwa

Now, they sorta start fighting over wether or not to move away, Tang Shen wanted her daughter to live a normal childhood instead of being a relic of the past, and Yoshi just really liked the clan

Saki figures out what happened to his family. He’s not pleased.

He tells Shen, who’s genuinely sympathetic and seems to be on his side! He mentions a coup and that he should kill the Hamato clan back and she’s like “NO????”

He does so anyway, and he gathers everyone on his side to overthrow the Hamato clan, and he attacks Yoshi in his house, and in the fight Saki starts a fire that quickly becomes unstable

Shen sees the fire and she has Miwa with her, she panics and puts Miwa on the ground and runs into the building to help

Shen gets accidentally killed by Saki, and both of them panic as the fire gets worse, and they’re both presumed dead by the other

Before Saki passes out from smoke inhalation, he sees four human kids carry what he thought was Yoshi’s body out and see them leave him as he yells to them

When Saki gets out, he sees Miwa on the ground and is like “Hm, this isn’t symbolic at all,” and he adopts her, naming her Oroku Karai

Yoshi, who’s left without his wife, daughter, home, and literally everything, he immigrated to America for a new start

..that didn’t particularly pan out the greatest, but he has 4 turtle sons now and he’s ratatouille

Kirby O’Neil-

He was some dude who moved to Massachusetts after having his daughter with his wife, May. Things seemed normal in their cabin in Northampton, when May started acting more erratically and then some weird aliens showed up and took May and tried to take April

Kirby fled with April (who was 6) back to New York, and met back up to Arnold Jones, his friend since high school, who was struggling horribly after the passing of his wife (not an excuse for the way he treated Casey) and he sort of tried to find a new normal.

In current day, Kirby has essentially become Casey’s dad and he’s considered family

[ow-old-men]

Could I interest you in some info about these two idiots?

Kassem 'Kass' H. Malik and Vermont 'Jaime' James are my very own homemade blorbos and for the next week starting today (April 19th), you could help them advance in the @original-character-championship! Go HERE to vote

And why should you?

Well, idk, but I will use this as an excuse to just talk about them so I can for once stop spinning them in my mind. They are also the main characters of a ... thing I'm slowly trying to write. In the simplest terms possible:

Kass and Jaime lead normal, regular lives. And that's easy enough for them, since they don't remember. Don't remember that they're actually immortal, elemental beings of great power who - in order to get out of having to fight in the great war of good and evil - burned away all their memories and powers and rendered themselves mortal. They don't even know that the memories will eventually start to return and that they've done this same thing over and over again; choosing each time to abstain from their responsibility and live on, in safety and hiding and in ignorance, and together

It's about memory, and about devotion, about loving to the point of destruction. It's about the decisions we have neither the right nor the choice but to make and it's about their consequences. It's about the things we must do, the things we are asked to do and all the things that fall between them. About responsibility and fleeing and being scared to death and beyond

And it is about two men who love each other because what else is there to do?

and if you wanna indulge me and simply read, well, the (very rough) draft of the opening to their tale can be found here:

As for their individual characters, well, let’s take them one by one

Vermont, going mainly by the nickname Jaime, is the main instigator of their resets, the one who actually does it and yes, there is a lot of guilt built up there and then buried relentlessly. He’s connected to fire and especially the sun. He’s also kind of a lame guy?

Violently private to cover up a deep inability to connect with the people around him. Smart, but definitely not emotionally, kind but prone to defensiveness and isolation at the mere idea that he or the people he loves are being mildly inconvenienced threatened. He spends most of the time after their resets as a history professor but in a not insignificant amount of cycles he’s also been a carpenter or straight up a lumberjack

If Kass wasn’t around he’d probably be an unironic marvel fan and wear only beige polo shirts and fjällraven pants

Bonus info; on a meta level, he started his life as a spoof on Indiana Jones, that’s also why he’s named that!

Kassem is in turn connected to water and especially the moon. It’s him for asks for the first reset, though he does start out opposed to the idea . On a personal level, he’s plagued by an endless curiosity that has driven him into every new turn of his existence. Kind of restless, filling notebook after notebook with flighty notes about almost everything. He’s a bit of a social chameleon, slotting in everywhere, at least for a while. He wants to understand and he’s good at getting to a place where he can but bad at every staying put. His heart eventually starts aching for whatever else may be out there

On a day to day though, he’s mainly just incredibly smart, and funny in a very sly, downplayed kind of way. Lightning sharp but not about to use it for anything nefarious . He’s an extremely prolific children’s book author (under a ton of pseudonyms) and does have a handful of longer, adult and extremely loose and poetic manuscripts tucked away in a drawer somewhere,. He’s yet to gather the confidence to pursue publishing

—-

In short, They’re kissing on the mouth, they’re so unnormal about each other. They’ve got the world at their fingertips and they’ve never held anything that wasn’t each other. They’re the sun and the moon and they’re continually escaping heaven for a second more alone and together. Eventually they’ll have to turn and face the music, but love, what if we had time yet? There was never anything else they could have done.

[lovesongbracket]

Reminder: Vote based on the song, not the artist or specific recording! The tracks referenced are the original artist, aside from a few rare cases where a cover is the most widely known.

Lyrics, videos, info, and notable covers under the cut. (Spotify playlist available in pinned post)

No Children

Written By: John Darnielle

Artist: The Mountain Goats

Released: 2002

It should be noted that this song, and entire album, was written through the point of view of an imagined couple–known as the Alpha couple. In John’s own words, “The Alpha couple are these people who get together in California, and they fall in love, but they’re really broken people, and they’re very bad for each other – they’re both big liquor enthusiasts. They move to Las Vegas and live in a motel for a year, out of a sort of romanticized vision of how they’re supposed to live, and things just keep getting worse, so they just flee across the country in the hopes of starting a new life, but they haven’t really thought it through at all. So they get to Tallahassee, and that’s where I always envisioned them falling apart, in some tiny little house”. “No Children” is a staple of band’s live shows and certainly among their most well-known. The song further expands upon the notion that this couple cannot ever be content, and know only how to live in chaos and misery. The Alpha couple were put to rest by Darnielle after the release of Tallahassee in 2002–though John has said he could one day bring them back. Darnielle stated, “This is a song that I want you to know when it comes time for your divorce. You could be in a lawyer’s office somewhere off 15-501 in one of those little business parks you don’t normally go to saying, ‘Well, I must’ve driven past this place a thousand times. Now I’m going to get my divorce.’ Like some people wait for Christmas; it’s a different sort of Christmas. And as you prepare to sign the papers, you say, ‘I’m glad I’ve got that one tune.’ ”

[Verse 1] I hope that our few remaining friends Give up on trying to save us I hope we come up with a fail-safe plot To piss off the dumb few that forgave us I hope the fences we mended Fall down beneath their own weight And I hope we hang on past the last exit I hope it's already too late [Pre-Chorus 1] And I hope the junkyard a few blocks from here Someday burns down And I hope the rising black smoke carries me far away And I never come back to this town again [Chorus 1] In my life I hope I lie, and tell everyone you were a good wife And I hope you die I hope we both die [Verse 2] I hope I cut myself shaving tomorrow I hope it bleeds all day long Our friends say it's darkest before the sun rises We're pretty sure they're all wrong I hope it stays dark forever I hope the worst isn't over And I hope you blink before I do And I hope I never get sober [Pre-Chorus 2] And I hope when you think of me years down the line You can't find one good thing to say And I'd hope that if I found the strength to walk out You'd stay the hell out of my way [Chorus 2] I am drowning There is no sign of land You are coming down with me Hand in unlovable hand And I hope you die I hope we both die

I Was Born to Love You

Written By: Freddie Mercury

Artist: Freddie Mercury

Released: 1985

Cover included: Queen, 1995

“I Was Born to Love You” is a 1985 song by Freddie Mercury, and was released as a single and on the Mr. Bad Guy album. After Mercury’s death, Queen re-worked this song for their album Made in Heaven in 1995, by having the other members play their instrumental parts over the original track transforming the song from a disco song to a rock song. The Queen version from the Made in Heaven album also includes samples of Mercury’s ad-lib vocals taken from “A Kind of Magic” and from “Living On My Own”.

[Chorus Intro] An amazing feeling coming through I was born to love you With every single beat of my heart Yes, I was born to take care of you Every single day of my life [Verse 1] You are the one for me, I am the man for you You were made for me, you're my ecstasy If I was given every opportunity I'd kill for your love, hey So take a chance with me, let me romance with you I'm caught in a dream, and my dream's come true (It's) so hard to believe this is happening to me An amazing feeling coming through [Chorus] I was born to love you With every single beat of my heart, yeah I was born to take care of you, huh Every single day of my life [Verse 2] I wanna love you, I love every little thing about you I wanna love you, love you, love you (Born) to love you, (born) to love you, yes (born) I was born to love you (Born) to love you, (born) to love you every single day of my life I was born to take care of you every single day of my life [Instrumental Break] [Bridge] My life! Hey hey! Every single day of my life [Chorus] I was born to love you With every single beat of my heart Yeah, I was born to take care of you, honey Every single day of my life