#he goes through 5 stages of grief but stops at rage

[danielslaw]

KIT HARRINGTON AS JON SNOW GAME OF THRONES: SEASON SIX EPISODE 9 THE BATTLE OF THE BASTARDS: PRELUDE DON'T WAKE THE DRAGON WOLF

[viviennevermillion]

flirting with them

notes: i present to you, the 3 absolute worst (best) people to flirt with: "cranky & in denial", "goes through a crisis when you compliment him" and "utterly confused but ready to marry you if you ask"

if you like my works, feel free to commission me!

contains: character x gn!reader, shameless flirting

characters included: rollo flamm, azul ashengrotto, malleus draconia

word count: 2.7k

warnings: glorious masquerade spoilers, enemies to lovers with rollo

dark content creators & consumers do not interact

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Listen, Rollo goes through enough of a crisis already over the fact that he likes you, one of those insufferable Night Raven College students who use magic so carelessly and gaze at it with wonder and excitement. But you flirting with him? He goes through all 5 stages of grief over that.

Up to the point where you start actively teasing him, Rollo does a good job at convincing himself that the reason he’s just particularly fixated on you of all the NRC students, is because he just hates you the most. Nevermind the way his heart skips a beat when you smile at him while touring the City of Flowers before he revealed his true colors to you. How you had invited him to sit with you and share some local food as you exchanged experiences and thoughts. 

He tries to ignore the way his heart is beating faster when he sees you at the Masquerade Ball. He tells himself it’s likely just that he’s anxious about not having succeeded with his plan. He pushes down the idea of kissing you breathless and being held in your arms gently as you run your hands through his hair and kiss his forehead- 

God, what am I thinking…they’re my enemy, he thinks to himself. With a hateful expression he makes his way over to you, determined to tell you how he’s not done yet and one day he’ll erase magic from this very world. That you’ll fear his name and- oh god you’re winking at him. 

He’s blushing furiously but he still has that angry expression on his face, so it just looks a little like Riddle when it’s off with your head. His mind is going haywire though. They winked at me…oh no…oh fuck…abort immediately, he decides to just avoid you and glare at you from a distance but at this point it is too late. A certain hunter had already told you how Rollo had been staring at you this entire evening whenever you weren’t looking and that he “probably wanted to have a dance with you”

So you make your way over to him and ask him. His heart skips a beat and he wants to reject you and tell you off but what he wants even more is to indulge you and have a nice evening with you. “What makes you think I’d want to dance with you?”, he spits out and crosses his arms. Yeah. That’ll work. Good job, Rollo.

“I don’t know, you seem pretty desperate”, you shrug, trying to suppress a smirk. The AUDACITY, he thinks but can’t say anything in response, just taking your hand and starting to dance with you. He remains silent and you poke his cheek. “You can be so cute when you stop being cranky for two minutes”, you tease and he can feel his cheeks burning. At this point you’re well aware that he’s got a little crush on you, because against his own perception of things, he wasn’t exactly subtle. 

He looks after you with rage written on his face and confusion in his heart as you and the other NRC students leave to head back to your own school. That’s all he can do. Watch you leave.

What did he care anyway? You were just an obnoxious magic enthusiast who- 

He gazes in surprise upon the small rose that had been placed on his desk. It is definitely enchanted, has a soft glow and some of the petals are floating around it. There is a little note attached to it: Thank you for the dance, Rollo ♡ - Love, y/n.

He looks at the mirror in shock when he notices the soft smile on his face upon seeing your note. He hates magic so much. But maybe…maybe he could make an exception for you and you only. 

Definitely rants to the gargoyles about how much he hates you and the way your eyes sparkle in the sun and how your laugh sounds like a thousand beautiful symphonies. Yeah he definitely hates you, no doubt.

He sometimes posts about school events on his Magicam and on pictures he’s on he tends to find little compliments from you. This makes his day every single time but god forbid anyone notices.

He eventually starts conversing with you over text, having quite a few long conversations and bonding despite how much he wants to deny it. You’re still flirting with him shamelessly and never miss out on wishing him a good night with a heart emoji attached. He sends one back once or twice, claiming his hand slipped on the keyboard.

When he sees you again, at the culture festival, he sits at the table with you and a couple of your friends. You ask him whether he is going to watch the VDC and he insists he sees no reason in watching a singing competition. “I mean we could always go backstage and kiss for a while if you’d prefer that”, you say nonchalantly and so casually, it makes Rollo choke on his drink. The other students at the table are definitely staring at you two and Rollo wishes he could merge with the ground at this moment.

He pulls you aside after the incident to a hallway where there’s no people. “What the hell did you think you were doing?”, he hisses at you and clutches onto his handkerchief until his knuckles turn white. “I apologize for putting you on the spot”, you say sincerely, “you look pretty when you’re flustered, though.” “Do you ever shut up?”, his breath hitches in his throat. 

“If you take me up on my offer I would”, you wink at him and find yourself with Rollo’s lips on yours within seconds. As soon as he gets to kiss you, the very thing he had been longing for for months now, it’s like a switch flips in his brain. His kiss is fiery and aggressive at first but then melts into your touch just like he had wanted for so long, kissing you softly as he feels his hands shake. He feels you smile into the kiss upon noticing how gentle and loving he is now and Rollo holds onto you, resting his head against your shoulder breathlessly as soon as the kiss was over. Both of you remain silent for a while before Rollo speaks quietly, his voice shaking: “I love you.” 

You chuckle and pat his head. “I know”, you kiss his forehead gently and he closes his eyes.

Rollo hated magic, he knew that much. But somehow every moment with you felt so magical and made him so happy…

Azul is used to people being mean to him and also to casual, neutral interactions but never has anyone been so blatantly verbally affectionate with him and this man doesn’t know how to handle it. 

It all started when he had asked you to come to the Mostro Lounge VIP room as Valentine’s Day was getting closer, because several people had declared that they were ready to sign a contract with him if he could get them a date with you. So he presented the terms to you and offered you help in a class you were bad at. He didn’t think you’d accept so easily. 

“So, let me get this straight, all I’d have to do for this is to go on a date with one of those guys involved in the whole contract thing with you?”, you raised an eyebrow and Azul nodded, extending his hand to you to seal the deal, as you had blatantly refused to sign a contract. But that didn’t matter. After all, he’d already get what he wanted from whoever you would pick to go on a date with. You shook his hand and Azul smiles at you. “Well then, shall I show you who was ready to make a contract with me for your company?”, he showed you his typical business smile and you just replied dryly. “That won’t be necessary. I’ve already picked.”

Azul was confused. “But you don’t even know who asked?”, he raised an eyebrow and threw Jade and Floyd a questioning glare. They didn’t seem to know what was going on either. “I said ‘someone involved in the whole contract thing’”, you reminded him, “do you have any plans on Friday?” Azul’s face fell. He was already blushing and glaring at the twins who were snickering quietly. “No?”, he croaked and pushed his glasses back with his eyes widened. “Great!”, you smiled at him and got up, waving him goodbye, “I’ll see you at 8 then? I’ll pick you up at Mostro Lounge!” 

As soon as you had closed the door behind you, Jade and Floyd started wheezing uncontrollably. “What just happened?”, Jade asked under his breath, “did they just scam you into a date?” Azul’s expression darkened, as did his blush. “I DON’T KNOW WHAT JUST HAPPENED”, his voice cracked and he wanted to curl up in his octopus pot, “stop laughing.”

Once you've learnt of his past, you've become much more gentle and less teasing with your flirting. He deserved the reassurance that you were serious and genuinely liked him. You’d often tell him that you thought he looked nice when he wore a new outfit and complimented him for his achievements in class and his business strategies. You even went as far as to tell him that his octopus form probably looked cute. He just didn’t know what to do with you. 

Upon being asked whether you were trying to make fun of him, you looked into his eyes with a serious expression and told him you meant everything you had said to him. 

As he took you and your friends to the Atlantica Memorial Museum to return the elementary school photo, Grim was excited. “Maybe we’ll bring back some sort of treasure from the ocean!”, he exclaimed. “But we already have Azul”, you insisted and the octopus merman blushed immediately. “Please just stop”, he begged and sighed, although your words definitely made him feel good, “not in front of people…”

Over such a short time he had already learnt to expect your flirting. That didn’t mean it made him any less flustered. 

Once you had returned the photo and had a moment alone with him, you took his hands into yours and told him you were proud of how far he had come. Azul squeezed your hand gently, a silent ‘thank you’ for the love and affection you were so ready to give to him after all of his hardships.

Malleus doesn’t actively recognize your flirting as such. Don’t get me wrong, he’s so on board with this and really flattered but until you tell him directly what you feel for him, he still assumes you just see him as a good friend.

“Shall I give you a blessing?”, he smirks as he asks you this question on your birthday. You cup his face gently. “You’re my blessing, Malleus”, you say with a soft smile on your face and Malleus looks at you with his signature surprised expression. Lilia chuckles, mumbling about how bold you are. Malleus is just awestruck. He doesn’t know what to say at first. He’s blushing and then takes your hands in his. “Thank you. I feel honored. It means a lot to me to hear that”, he says genuinely and his thumb brushes over your hand softly.

Malleus loves your little affections so much. He didn’t know how starved he was for them until he experienced them for the first time. He treasures so much how ready you are to speak your mind, especially when it comes to telling him how you feel about him. Little does he know that’s only a small part of how much you truly love him. 

You were a little late to the Masquerade Ball during the student exchange meeting, eventually opening the big door to the entrance hall of Noble Bell College for your big entrance. Malleus spots you almost immediately, marveling at how beautiful you looked, dressed up for the occasion. Your eyes meet his across the hall and you make your way over to him straight away, taking his hand in yours. “I really like this song they’re playing right now. I think it’s time for our first dance of the evening”, you smirk at him, just waiting for him to follow you. Sebek is yelling at you how you could possibly have the audacity to not just assume you could dance with him but not even ask Prince Malleus Draconia ‘Would you please share a dance with me?’ first. But Malleus adores when you’re bold. After all this time of people being too afraid to even talk to him, he’s fascinated how assured you are to approach him with your wishes and requests with no hesitation. 

“You seem quite determined”, he chuckles and leads you to the dancefloor. He’s absolutely relishing in the fact that you walked into this event dead-set on getting a dance with him, implying your upcoming dance wouldn’t be the last one that night either. It makes him feel so special. More than the treatment he receives from others as a prince does. Because it feels like you have seen right through him, accepted every part of him and decided you wanted all of it. 

You dance through the evening with Malleus, telling him how much you liked the song he presented as a gift for the other students. “I could listen to your voice for hours”, you brush a strand of hair out of his face and Malleus leans into your touch. “I would gladly sing for you again. You need only ask”, he smirks. 

You later stop by his room, knocking on the door softly. Malleus opens it, having taken off the heavier, pompous parts of his masquerade outfit; now only dressed in a pair of black pants and the see-through black shirt worn under the complex and ornate fabrics of the costume. His hair is slightly disheveled and he has his bangs pushed up, letting you see his dragon markings. Upon seeing you, he instantly smiles. “You look so beautiful”, you mouth, making Malleus chuckle and smirk at you. “So do you”, he insists. “I’m never going to overshadow the talking gargoyle but I’ve made peace with that”, you sigh and step into the room, Malleus closing the door behind you. He laughs at your comment, then gazes out of the window. 

“The night in the City of Flowers seems to show a different expression than during the day”, he says and turns to you, seeing you smile at him with a mischievous expression, “that face…you are also interested?” His smirk matches yours now. “Malleus, what do you think I came here for at this hour, hmm?”, you chuckle, pulling out a map from your pocket, “so…you can teleport us out of Noble Bell College without being seen right?” Malleus puts his hands onto his hips. “Nothing easier than that.”

After you explored the city at night, you end up sitting at the roof of a tall building, looking down on the beautiful city. “I’m very glad I got to share these memories with you”, Malleus takes your hand in his again and you look into his eyes, cupping his cheek gently. “You’re so precious to me…you have no idea”, you mumble quietly, smiling at him fondly; filled with unconditional love. Malleus squeezes your hand and looks at you with the same expression. “I think I’m starting to understand”, he whispers as the sun rises on the horizon.

Malleus loves when you’re bold with your flirting, he loves when you show your teasing side and flatter him with a clever line. But he just as much craves the moments when you’re calm and serious, just smiling at him and letting him know how much he means to you, even if he doesn’t know yet whether you intend for it to be romantic or see him as a good friend. He treasures your affection and how you’re unafraid to give him your love and appreciation in a way no one ever has to him. 

[tinandabin]

Hellooo I saw your request are open my eyes literally sparkled! Anyway. can I request a Yandere Kokushibo X fem reader where the reader escaped Kokushibo after months of being caged from his grasp,( this is where the timeskip go). Two or three years later Kokushibo managed to find her again not until he noticed a child who looks human but has demon powers (Half Demon) you can continue the rest THANK YOU I LOVE YOUR WRITING 🥰

TYYY AND IM VERY SORRY FOR THE WAIT!! I hope u enjoy this. <333

Thank Muzan for the first time ever because he has sent Kokushibo on a long mission. A LONG ONE. NO JOKE.

You would fucking kiss Muzan's feet without hesitation if you see him. For once he is a saviour.

And of course no one likes to be trapped like a caged bird, like bro, you are tired of eating raw fucking carrots everyday because that is all that shitty Kokushibo can manage. He can barely get you clean water and he says that he would bring the stars for you /j.

Of course, you will take this golden opportunity. No more being scared. KOKUSHIBO ISN'T YOUR FUCKING MOM. MAN UP.

And so you started using your brain, higher than Einstein could, to break the fucking complex shitty lock-system that rat-assed hair man left.

I swear your brain hasn't brained so much in like, 7 hours 37 minutes 28 seconds.

What you didn't realize were the horrors that awaited you in the future. Not now though, you were busy eating flowers.

Skip to Kokushibo finds you escaped, rage-quits, goes through the 5 stages of grief and searches the whole milky galaxy for you but somehow doesn't search one small village. Typical Kokushibo to forget to search one village!

5 months later, your belly has popped, like really popped, like a balloon.

I don't know how to describe pregnancy forgive me.

Fast forward to you giving birth in horror to that half-demon child who literally tried to chomp your leg but whew, thank God and not that dumb fucking Kokushibo that the child, or newborn, didn't have teeth at the moment.

You raised the cutie, very dangerous, has killed multiple rats 👍. Villagers always come screaming to you like, "[NAME] THERE ARE RATS IN MY HOUSE HELP MEEEEEE" and your child darts out like Sonic and somehow murders all of them and eats them and no blood is left. You are known as the 'Rat-Killer Lady.' When it is actually your child.

Okay, I have bullshitted enough. Someone stop my hands from typing this much bullshit.

Anyways, Muzan, Your Saviour, decided he didn't want to be your saviour anymore and sent Kokushibo to that one small particular village where you resided.

And we all know what happens next.

Can we get applause for me getting here.

Thank you.

Kokushibo, being Upper Moon 1, obviously sensed the half-demon child. How could he not, when he could smell his own blood in it? And yours too.

Of course, you couldn't smell him like he could smell you. ( my goodness, what the fuck. )

So it took Kokushibo no time to sweep you off your feet once again, this time with a kid.

The end.

Cries.

Bye.

MASTERLIST

[nd-poite]

Dr. Who AU: The Stars Can Love You Back

Part 1:

Prologue:

- Roxana entered the universe + Roxana is severely wounded, full of emotional/mental anguish and she lays herself to rest // the endless stream of music begins + the strange planet builds itself & the illusion of goddesshood + opera begins. . .

EP 1: Impossible Dream

- Roxana appears in 1969 at lake silencio — dreaming, molasses — and is coerced into killing him a faceless man // His death releases enough energy to scare her, pinch her almost // she opens her eyes long enough to realize it’s real, sees him dying then falls through all of time to arrive trapped somewhere. . . Roxana falls back into a deep slumber and wakes up on Veridian confused

EP 2:

EP 3: Bookends

- Roxana finds Eleven again, 1969 and watches from across the lake as Amy and Rory burn his body — and realizes again that it was real // She’s so weakened, fighting // but cannot awake - and so her song begins

Interlude: Viridian I

EP 4: Jellybabies and Things

- love at first step

EP 5: Lightning Strikes

- One: love At First Sight

EP 6:

Four

Interlude: Viridian II

EP 7:

Nine - Love At First Kiss

EP 8:

Seven - Love At First Shock

EP 9:

Twelve

EP 10:

Four

Interlude: Veridian III

EP 11:

Eight - 5 Stages of Grief

She feels her body drawing, raging against the command // every night she closes her eyes and kills him // She stops trying to find him and instead indulged herself — but Fate/Time conspires against her // the Doctor is driven mad by the truth and has to have his mind erased every time — The 8th Doctor + War Doctor is strange, giddy, beautiful — they make love which — he can’t save her and it eats him alive which Leads her to realize she really can’t stay with him

EP 12:

Eight

EP 13:

Eight

Interlude: Veridian IV

EP 14:

Two

EP 15:

Nine

EP 16:

Four

Interlude: Veridian V

EP 17:

Six

EP 18:

Ten

EP 19:

Five

EP 20:

Four

Interlude: Veridian VI

EP 21: Lady of the Flowers

Eleven

- Roxana finds Eleven again, 1969 and watches from across the lake as Amy and Rory burn his body — and realizes again that it was real // She’s so weakened, fighting // but cannot awake - and so her song begins

- he’s been avoiding his death at Trenzalore/Lake Silencio for a long time //

Interlude/Epilogue: An Intermission Between Space and Time

And she realizes she can’t run forever from eleven but somehow — she’s meant to stay — which leads to her admitting to the crime, surrendering to Stormgate as penance // which cements to her that she’s getting stronger )) able to exist beyond her other self + Madame K starts dissecting her, reminding her that she’s still there — and this changes everything // And this going on for ages, she counts: dreaming of him, being tortured, wanting to save him, not wanting to leave him, him never remembering her, killing him at the lake, waking in horror, breaking things, being put back to sleep, never strong enough // fearing what evil powers Madame K will unleash using her blood/essence // she can only ever love him from afar,

- she hats with eight, foor, nine/ten

— it ends with Eleven showing up on Veridian which has never happened before

— which leads to her turning herself in post crimes to be in Stormgate// which inevitably leads to Flesh and Stone )) and she knows she’s succeeded in changing time

Part 2: Silence Will Fall

EP: The Lady of the Flowers

Breakfast on Pluto

The Big Bang

+ The Pandorica Opens

Blood of the Cybermen

Vincent & the Doctor

In the Time of Angels

+ Flesh and Stone

The Impossible Astronaut + Day of the Moon

The Celestial ToyMaker

Rebel Flesh + Almost People

A Good Man Goes to War

Veridian

3 Weddings and a Funeral Part 1

3 Weddings and a Funeral Part 2

The Christmas Special

Part 3:

[haikyuu-boys-headcanons]

𝙷𝙰𝙸𝙺𝚈𝚄𝚄 𝙱𝙾𝚈𝚂 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙷𝙾𝚆 𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚈 𝙿𝙻𝙰𝚈 𝚂𝙸𝙼𝚂;

quick note;

hi hi hi!! it’s been a while guys! posting some drafts i wrote when i was taking a break <3 this is just how the boys play sims :)

𝙳𝙰𝙸𝙲𝙷𝙸 » plays very... responsibility?? no cheats, (he has no idea how to use them) literally gives them no time for hobbies, he’s focused on their needs to even consider hobbies + he stresses about the bills 

𝚂𝚄𝙶𝙰𝚆𝙰𝚁𝙰 » spends plenty of time downloading cc and customizing his sims to perfection. even spends hours on end just creating perfect little houses. goes through the 5 stages of grief after one of his sims die

𝙰𝚂𝙰𝙷𝙸 » two words; pure panic. he has so many needs to look after! and has anyone fed the dog?? and has anyone paid the bills for the water?? why is there suddenly a fire every two seconds?!?! deletes the game after an hour of pure stress

𝚃𝙰𝙽𝙰𝙺𝙰 » downloads whicked-whims out of curiosity. regrets it almost immediately, so he tried to take it out of his game and somehow, he took out the wrong files and now all of his sims only have one leg and green skin

𝙽𝙸𝚂𝙷𝙸𝙽𝙾𝚈𝙰 » pulls the tiddy bar in CAS all the way up and you can’t convince me otherwise. besides making super hot girls in CAS, noya just fucks around with all the weird debugs and settings + desperately tries to look under the blankets during woohoo 

𝙺𝙰𝙶𝙴𝚈𝙰𝙼𝙰 » gets so unbelievably frustrated at his sims, to the point where he just starts yelling at them. “didn’t i just feed you, tanisha? don’t be greedy, YOU GET WHAT YOUR GIVEN!” in some ways, i feel so sorry for his sims 

𝙷𝙸𝙽𝙰𝚃𝙰 » surprisingly, very invested in the game! he’s become a master of all cheats and truly enjoys the mechanical aspect of the game. he even has all the expansion packs and everything!

𝚃𝚂𝚄𝙺𝙸𝚂𝙷𝙸𝙼𝙰 » despises the game. he thinks it’s some sort of sadistic fuel for people with god complexes. refuses to play until you mention you can drown people in the game. who’s the real sadist here, kei?

𝚈𝙰𝙼𝙰𝙶𝚄𝙲𝙷𝙸 » downloads so many mods and cc until his laptop is literally about to explode. likes to explore the hidden secrets of the game (plant-sims, rabbit holes, ect...) 

𝙾𝙸𝙺𝙰𝚆𝙰 » makes a mini-sim version of himself and uses cheats throughout the entire game. no one is going to ruin a mini pixel fantasy of himself, not even the cheap ass grill that manages to set everyone on fire every two seconds

𝙸𝚆𝙰𝚉𝚄𝙼𝙸 » religiously does not believe in cheats. he would casually brag to everyone that he managed to finish 3 aspirations on one sim with no cheats but disregards the fact that all his sims are broke and starving 90% of the time

𝙼𝙰𝚃𝚃𝚂𝚄𝙽 » non-committal to all of his households. starts a new one every hour and gets bored of it within the first 5 minutes. he lowkey feels bad for the sims that he’s abandoned and checks up on them once in a while so he won’t feel guilty for leaving them

𝙷𝙰𝙽𝙰𝙼𝙰𝙺𝙸 »  “so... how do you win?” “you can’t really win, it’s a-” “then WHY ARE WE PLAYING??” the whole concept confuses him, he just ends up speeding up time the entire game until suddenly all his sims are dead. he has the audacity to be shocked 

𝙺𝚄𝙽𝙸𝙼𝙸 » the type to get the “cats & dogs” pack and only focus on the animal. like he’ll forget to feed his sim but gets a panic attack every time he can’t find his cat

𝙺𝚈𝙾𝚃𝙰𝙽𝙸 » no.

𝙺𝚄𝚁𝙾𝙾 » success is his main priority in this game. he’ll make his sims as rich as possible and even make his sims work endless hours using the “no sleep” mod! also won’t let them take showers or eat until their work is done! it’s a little worrying!!

𝙺𝙴𝙽𝙼𝙰 » tries to finish the 100 baby challenge like 10 times but always fails miserably. even uses cheats and still manages to fuck up?? calls the game a waste of money on reddit and starts a hate page

𝙻𝙴𝚅 » tries to always create the most picture-perfect white-picket fence family but something always manages to get in the way. whether it be an unaccounted grill fire or the baby getting taken away, he always ends up on the verge of crying and starting a new save

𝙱𝙾𝙺𝚄𝚃𝙾 » always wants the biggest and most expansive family there is. would get mccommand center just so he could fit his family of 47 into one 20 x 20 lot. not to mention, he always has like 8 other apps running in the background so unsurprisingly, he has alot of random burns from his explosive laptop 

𝙰𝙺𝙰𝙰𝚂𝙷𝙸 » the most perfect way you could play the sims, probably the way the creators intended. goes from rags to riches using no cheats, no sudden deaths and no negative moodlets. hmm... a little too perfectly played, wouldn’t you say?

𝙺𝙾𝙽𝙾𝙷𝙰 » refuses to play because of the conspiracies he read about on reddit. he genuinely thinks the sims is just a warning from the government that we’re all in a simulation and that there’s reptiles controlling all of us until we all jus- you know what, no more reddit for you konaha

𝚄𝚂𝙷𝙸𝙹𝙸𝙼𝙰 » total dumbass. wouldn’t be surprised if all of his sims just died as soon as he loaded up the game. wouldn’t even bother with cc or cas, he would just play either with the premade sims or just randomize everything.

𝚃𝙴𝙽𝙳𝙾𝚄 » utter chaos. primarily drug mods, constantly developing and making bank from his drug businesses. would have half his sims take an entire bottle of MDMA and then wonder why they died?? like yes tendou, sims (just like you!) can overdose!! shocker, isn’t it? 

𝚂𝙴𝙼𝙸 »  strives on his house-building and designing skills. like this mf can speed-build mansions but he can’t figure out how to download cc. doesn’t even actually play the sims, just designs houses and then dips

𝙶𝙾𝚂𝙷𝙸𝙺𝙸 » very attentive to their needs bar. like the second his sim’s bladder bar goes down, he’s rage-clicking on the toilet + “hurry sylvia, piss! i don’t want a repeat of last time!!”

𝚃𝙴𝚁𝚄𝚂𝙷𝙸𝙼𝙰 » downloads the hoe-it up mod as a joke and then continues to become very invested in his strips clubs! the downtown fountain club isn’t doing too well? it’s okay, he’ll just make jessica do 30 lap dances until she gets her 1 minute break to eat, piss, shower and sleep!

𝚂𝙰𝙺𝚄𝚂𝙰 » takes the game a little uh... too seriously? will literally get out pen and paper to calculate his expenses, taxes and his water bill. + “no margret, you can’t shower today because then we won’t have enough money to pay the electric bill” poor margret.

𝙾𝚂𝙰𝙼𝚄 » finds out what cc is, spends 3 days just downloading cc and then continues to play non-stop for a whole week. then, he won’t touch the game for another 6 months until he remembers about it again. rise and repeat, like a true simmer

𝙰𝚂𝚃𝚄𝙼𝚄 » loves making drama! he’ll create marriages just to destroy them, make all the spouses cheat on each other and then kidnap their children for ransom until the parents go crazy and kill themselves. a true menace to society

𝚂𝚄𝙽𝙰 » would burn down his house making grilled cheese and would never play again

[tuiyla]

I see a lot of people saying Santana had anger issues. Do you agree?

Yes, wholeheartedly, though I might not have the same reasons as many others. Let's see if I can recall all the thoughts I had about this in the shower.

I have many, many, many thoughts on the topic of Santana and anger so we're slowly covering all of them one post at a time haha. I can't fit them all here but I will say what I think a lot of people refer to when they say she has anger issues. Keep in mind, this is based on my own experience in the fandom and by no means am I saying everyone thinks this and I don't know the exact posts you've been seeing, Anon.

I think people look at the Lima Heights Adjacent things and her general lack of impulse control and go "ah, yes, anger issues". Which is, to a certain extent, fair. I'd argue that even out of the few occasions Santana actually threatens to/goes Lima Heights, a lot of those are more about pride than anger and it's always played for comedy anyway. That doesn't make it irrelevant for character analysis but just imo makes it less juicy. It also plays into racial stereotypes what with her only ever really speaking Spanish on these occasions and I don't Love that. But there is a different convo to be had about Santana's anger and where it sits in the intersection of her identities.

Overall, I'd argue that yes, Santana has anger issues but the more interesting ways in which it manifests is basically most of her flawed moments. I'd even go as far as calling her anger (and spite) her fatal flaw, much more so than pride or ambition ever were. I suppose there is the allergy to vulnerability, but that intersects so much with her anger.

Santana herself spells it out in a rather astonishing moment of self-reflection so I'm a little confused when people ignore this aspect of the Hurt Locker to just focus on the confession of love:

What I’ve realized is why I’m such a bitch all the time. I’m a bitch because I’m angry. I’m angry because I have all of these feelings... feelings for you, that I’m afraid of dealing with because I’m afraid of dealing with the consequences.

Like, really just spells it out. Does all my character analysis work for me.

No but for real, that’s the core of Santana’s anger and that’s how it manifests, too. Like Karofsky, she doesn’t know what else to do with all her frustration and internalized homophobia so she externalizes it, spews it back out. And obligatory disclaimer, just because she’s going through it it doesn’t excuse her cruel actions, 90% of the time a result of her anger issues, but it helps us understand her. Santana’s so, so angry. Yes, the Lima Heights temper is part of that anger but it’s so much more than that or her Nationals “I have rage”. Because she does have rage but she also has this deep, visceral anger. The one that, I’d argue, makes her the perfect representative for the anger stage of grief in The Quarterback.

I agree, Santana has anger issues. It’s in how she doubles down when things get tough. Not just in about to go all Lima Heights but other moments, too. It’s in does he get so turned on by teen moms. In you are short, you are awful, and that’s never gonna change. In the 6x03 rant that shall not be discussed. Even in telling Rachel about having slept with Finn. In I honestly don’t know what I was thinking. Her anger stops her from clearly communicating and solving interpersonal problems so many times. I mean, time and time again I return to this idea of Alma having raised her this way and Sue’s potential influence, but I think she was just taught this way - certainly not born with it. She has rage. Seasons 2 and, surprisingly, 5, do a decent amount of character development with it, Shame season 3 doesn’t because they had the biggest missed opportunity.

[jeongyunhoed]

Past-Present-Future Black Dahlia

Two major tragedies bring Lee Mirae closer to the edge as she goes through the stages of grief in a more violent manner that would affect not only her relationships with her boyfriend Jeong Yunho and her half-brother Choi San, but also has her becoming closer with the immortal mutant Kang Yeosang. Fueled by rage, grief, and pain, along with a very rude awakening that has Mirae spiraling out of control and questioning everything she holds dear.

Group: ATEEZ Member: Yunho Pairing: Jeong Yunho / OC Genre: Action, adventure, angst, fantasy

Watch Out! : Violence, blood, death, grief and loss, major character deaths, use of weapons, some jealousy (but no cheating ofc), implied smut (not sure if there is any but i’m putting it out there nonetheless), mental illness (probably?), gambling and alcohol

Anything else? : Mentions of other idols of course as well as other characters. SuperM, Dean, Chanyeol, Zelo, soloist Park Jihoon to name a few.

Author’s Note: First chapter is here! Compared to the previous stories from the AU, this might have very long chapters, like more than 10 pages in google docs long. But anyway, tag list is open, and yeah. Enjoy the first of a rollercoaster of emotions.

This whole first chapter also, is me giving brief backstories of what happened before/backstories of many characters here. Basic plot is mine, characters are not. This is all for fun/entertainment/emotional anguish. 

Masterlist

Chapter 1

When one is at their breaking point, everything begins to change.  The lines between right and wrong are blurred, and one’s moral compass begins to spin into oblivion. 

9:00 p.m. 

Laughter filled the almost empty space of Viva Polo, having closed for the night except for a table occupied by Lee Mirae, Park Chanyeol, and Kwon Hyuk. The rest of the tables had already been overturned, marking the end of another day at work, at least for Chanyeol. The three of them had a tradition of meeting up every week, something they started doing after the previous adventures they had. 

The three of them were mutants, and to their knowledge, they were the last surviving members of the group that saved the country, if not the world during the Seoul attack. A year after that, the three of them found each other again, reuniting to save the country once again from an evil cult bent on achieving utopia through taking control of its citizens. Two adventures that had major consequences on the three of them, and events that they will forever remember. 

Two of them, Mirae and Hyuk, were classified as omega-level or level 5 mutants, with powers that were impossible to surpass by any other mutant thus far. Mirae was not only gifted in a mastery of hand-to-hand combat, both armed and unarmed, but she had the gift of manipulating potential energy into kinetic energy. She could turn virtually any object into an explosive and if channeled to an extreme extent, was able to level a skyscraper. 

With her abilities came the secondary gift of a healing factor that made her almost immortal and slowed down her aging immensely. Because of her ability to manipulate energy, she was also able to generate static that resulted in a very strong psychic block that was only made stronger by another omega-level mutant, Jang Ino. From the adventures she had on her own and even after the Utopian cult, another ability manifested itself in her; taking souls and trapping them into objects, usually her deck of cards. 

Meanwhile, Kwon Hyuk, a well-known music producer and songwriter, was a level 5 telekinetic and could move anything with his mind. His psychic abilities also gave him the gift of producing shields that were almost impenetrable. 

 In their adventure into the Utopian cult, Hyuk developed his telepathic abilities, which he used to extract memories or read into memories of others. Hyuk was nearly captured by the goons from the Utopian cult when they met again, and has since tried to use his powers as discreetly as possible with some difficulty. 

Hyuk didn’t formally join Mirae and Chanyeol until the later days of the Seoul attack, having laid low, undiscovered by Ino who was at the time, serving his father Professor Inhwan Jang. Hyuk had openly used his powers in front of the group during a time when Mirae and one of her other colleagues, a telekinetic named Luhan, were affected by the goblin king’s inducement of traumatic memories that caused their powers to manifest for the first time. 

It was there that Hyuk realized that he could do so much more with his mutant gifts, rather than use them solely for trivial purposes.

Hyuk had a cousin, the singer Lee Midam, who was under his entertainment agency, in the 10-member group called Silver. Midam was, like him, a psychic, but of a different kind. Midam was a psychic that could make the worst fears or strongest desires of another person come to life before them. Midam also had the ability to sense when a person will die in the near future. 

Park Chanyeol was a level 4 pyrokinetic, also known as an alpha-level mutant. He created and manipulated fire in all its aspects, from turning into a fire being to being able to put out and set fire onto virtually anything. In his fire form, he was granted the ability to fly and heal and even out of his fire form, Chanyeol could withstand extreme heat. 

He worked with Mirae in the Center for Paranormal Research upon his discovery by Ino, leaving his work in his mother’s Italian restaurant behind to find purpose for his abilities. For some time after the Seoul attack, Chanyeol thought he was the only one left, until he was seen by another survivor, their tech guy Choi Junhong, looking over the remains of what used to be the Center, the epicenter of the entire attack. 

From the adventures they had, the three of them still managed to continue with their lives. Hyuk stayed in his agency to work on music, Chanyeol helped around his parents’ restaurant and live club, while Mirae ran the music store that she took ownership in after the passing of her adoptive parents. Hyuk and Chanyeol also helped other mutants like them, Mirae’s old colleagues from her days as an assassin under a sanitarium, practice controlling their powers. 

With the way the events of the past years shaped them, their lives would forever be intertwined and they knew it. Even with the disagreements that occurred in the final days of the Seoul attack, with the three of them being the only survivors from that group that acted, they were like family to each other. 

“One of these days, we’ll go on a mission, do something, just the three of us again,” Chanyeol said fondly, finishing the last slice of pizza from his place. 

“Even if we don’t go on something like that, we should still do something, just the three of us,” Mirae repeated with a grin. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” 

“Yeah, someone needs to watch your back this time, you nearly got your powers taken away,” Hyuk pointed out, taking a sip of his iced tea. 

The last adventure Mirae went on involved a demon and their followers, the one responsible for a long-running conspiracy that went behind the glitz and glamour of the country’s entertainment industry. Mirae was outmatched and captured, her powers being used to channel the summoning of the demon Ose. It left her boyfriend Yunho and her half-brother San, along with her old colleagues including immortal mutant billionaire Kang Yeosang, to be the ones to save her and the world. 

Mirae shook her head. “It was only one time. Just one. But I’m starting to think I’m losing my touch, to be honest,” She looked down at her now-empty plate. 

“I wouldn’t think of it that way if I were you,” Hyuk patted her shoulder. “You still have your powers, don’t you? Didn’t Junhong say your powers only got stronger after that? You’re practically invincible.” 

“Says the person who is also practically invincible,” Mirae grinned. 

“But I don’t heal like you do. Chanyeol doesn’t even heal like you unless he sets himself on fire.” 

“Can you stop talking about injuries now? I think we’ll be late for that training session both of you promised the guys,” Mirae nudged the telekinetic. 

Chanyeol got up at the mention of the training session. All of their plates floating in mid-air, the cutlery and glasses sorting themselves out, as Hyuk followed the taller male into the kitchen, making sure nothing dropped. Mirae smiled to herself as she removed the tablecloth and the napkins. 

The boys at the safehouse would be waiting for them, San and Yunho included. Choi San was her half-brother, and had almost the same abilities as her, including her healing factor and a mastery of martial arts. Unlike Mirae, who channeled her powers mainly through her extendable staff, San channeled his into a harpoon gun. 

San’s powers first manifested in his high school years, as a result of the constant pressure placed on him by their father, who wanted him to pursue a career he himself wanted. Upon learning how to control his abilities better, San ran away from home, eventually learning the skills he knew to become a paid hitman. San also witnessed Mirae getting taken away to be interned at the sanitarium, and he looked everywhere for her.

Jeong Yunho was Mirae’s boyfriend. Yunho was also like her, skilled in hand-to-hand combat, both unarmed and armed. Yunho was also a mutant, an immortal mutant who possessed the ability to teleport, but could only do so in dark places. 

Yunho’s powers manifested when he was killed in Morocco during what would be Mirae’s final mission before she was discharged. Her memories of him were seemingly erased in the final electroshock therapy session used to alter her recollection of missions. They only found each other again when Mirae was being targeted by the Kang crime family, descendants of Yeosang who held a disdain for mutants. 

Hyuk returned from the kitchen. “What’s that smile about?” He asked. 

“Nothing, nothing, I just realized how it’s been a while since we did something like this together,” Mirae replied. 

“Lee Mirae, you’re getting sappy.” 

“Did I lie?” She laughed. 

“No, but that’s weird of you,” Hyuk laughed as well. “I mean you are right. I’ve been busy practically managing the group, Chanyeol’s busy here, we’re just busy living our lives.” 

“My point stands that we’ve never done anything together in a while, unless those goblins come up again and try to kill us,” Mirae joked. 

“Hopefully not,” Said the psychic, the table in front of them turning itself over on top of another table. “Even with the way things ended back then, I’m glad the three of us found each other.” 

The kitchen doors opened and Chanyeol returned, wiping his hands, with his backpack in tow. “Whose car are we using?” He asked. 

Without another word, the three of them extended their fists. Both Mirae and Chanyeol had scissors, while Hyuk’s hand remained curled into a fist. “Guess it’s yours then, Mr. Psychic,” Mirae grinned. 

“Be glad I stopped for gas before coming here,” He gave them a look as they left the restaurant. 

~ 

The car pulled up in front of a brick-walled building that had a vending machine. It was the entrance to the safehouse that now became the headquarters of everything mutant-related. It was also where Mirae’s old colleagues were now staying, with the exception of two; Jung Wooyoung and Park Seonghwa. 

The three of them got out, sensing the slight change in the air as they approached the machine. They knew there was a sort of cloaking over the spot that shielded anyone from seeing that the vending machine moved to the side to reveal a secret passage. Chanyeol, Mirae, and Hyuk entered the dark passageway and stopped at the red door at the very end. 

The safehouse was similarly modeled to the recreation room in the Center for Paranormal Research, with a couch and beanbags surrounding a flat-screen television and several game consoles. There was a sleeping quarters and a shower area and a kitchen that was only stocked with instant food. Ino and Junhong’s labs and offices were in the two other doors in the kitchen area that had a small dining table where they would at least take turns in eating. 

This time, the safehouse had since expanded thanks to Ino’s ability to manipulate matter. Junhong’s lab was much bigger, more beds were added to the sleeping quarters, and there was a small training room that Junhong fortified. A shelf was behind the television, showing all the weapons carried by the group of men who now resided in the place; a rapier, a set of nunchaku, and a few axes and shurikens. Those belonged to three people: Kim Hongjoong, Choi Jongho, and Song Mingi. 

All of them were trained assassins, skilled in hand-to-hand combat both unarmed and armed. While Mirae and Yunho were no longer part of the group, the remaining members were turned into personal guards of the Kang crime family and underwent several experiments to turn them into super soldiers. All of them were impervious to pain and were a lot more agile in their movements. 

It was those experiments that triggered the mutant gene in each of them, their own mutant abilities manifesting around the same time. Hongjoong possessed superhuman speed and could be as fast as the speed of light that also enabled him to heal if wounded. Seonghwa was a telekinetic, whose powers also made itself known if his eyes and fingertips glowed green. Mingi, like Chanyeol, was also a pyrokinetic, but unlike Chanyeol, could only manipulate flames that already exist. 

Wooyoung on the other hand, possessed the ability to turn into a shadow being. His shadow form allowed him to be intangible, as well as give him superhuman strength and a healing factor. But along with his shadow form, Wooyoung developed a kind of extrasensory perception, where he could see past and future events from a person or an object, or even a name. 

Jongho had the painful ability to manipulate his bone structure, and his arms and legs would produce a sharp spike that could pierce anything. 

They immediately noticed that a few other weapons were shelved, as they were likely in the labs or in the training room; a set of sai, katanas, a bow and a quiver full of arrows, and the harpoon gun. Everyone was indeed present. 

“Hello?” Hyuk called out as they closed the door behind them. 

“We’re here!” Chanyeol called out as well. 

“Yunho? San?” Mirae spoke, looking around the empty living room. 

Suddenly materializing in front of them was Ino. “Good! You’re all here! The rest of them are in the training rooms, but can you wait a little bit? There’s something I’m finishing and I hope the three of you can test it out for me,” He said. 

Jang Ino was a prime example of a true omega-level mutant, with abilities so powerful he was almost like a god. Ino had the gift of manipulating matter, inter-dimensional teleportation, telekinesis, telepathy, duplication with sentient clones, intangibility, precognition as well as the ability to see everything as it happened. Ino’s abilities manifested much later than the rest of them despite not being much older than Chanyeol, Hyuk, and Mirae, and thus had more difficulty trying to control each of his abilities. 

“Really? What is it?” Mirae asked as Chanyeol put down his backpack while she put down her staff. 

Ino looked excited. “Another training room, or…?” 

“Another Danger Room,” Hyuk nodded. “Can it not turn into a vortex manipulator again?” 

“I can’t promise that, but it’s as safe as ever, right? Just like old times,” Ino was beaming. “Ah, well, you might as well see it for yourself. I’ll call the rest of them,” and he disappeared. 

“Are we supposed to wait for them here?” Chanyeol glanced at them, and they shrugged. 

A commotion erupted from the door that was Junhong’s lab, making them turn around. “For a telekinetic, you could’ve aimed better! You could’ve killed me!” Hongjoong appeared, shooting Seonghwa a look. 

“You sped away in time! You knew it wasn’t going to reach you anyway!” Seonghwa argued back. 

“Well I wasn’t able to, not when Mingi keeps playing with that lighter of his! It’s like having to pass by a dragon each time I’m next to him.” 

“So your situation is actually my fault, is that what you’re saying?” Mingi spoke, looking at them incredulously. “I was practicing my pyrokinesis the way Chanyeol hyung showed me, right, San?”

“Stop including me!” said the male who had a visible white streak in his hair similar to Mirae’s. 

“This was a department store-bought shirt and Jongho just had to ruin it!” Wooyoung shrieked, pointing to the tears in his sleeve. 

“Welcome to my world, Wooyoung! Live with it!” Jongho shot back.

“At least I don’t have spikes coming out of my sleeves and pants!”

Chanyeol and Mirae exchanged looks. Hyuk stifled a laugh. “Kind of reminds you how much we bickered back then, huh? I bet those guys would’ve loved to see a repeat of this,” He chuckled. 

“Nothing seems to have changed after all,” Mirae laughed, their reactions making the group stop in their tracks. “We just had dinner,” She explained. “I see training’s been going well?” 

“Not so much when the rest of them bicker more than San and I do,” out of the group came Yunho, who immediately swept her up in a hug then exchanged high fives with Hyuk and Chanyeol as he pulled away. 

The taller form of Junhong appeared from the crowd as well, with scorch marks on his lab coat and a hole in his clipboard. Ino had materialized again as well. “So, the Danger Room, Junhong?” Hyuk asked. 

“Yes, yes, the Danger Room,” Junhong led them to the pair of doors on the other side of the space. He pushed the button, the doors opening up to reveal a dark room covered in what looked like steel tiles. There was a panel of buttons near the doors from the inside and on one side of the room, was a booth. “Ta-da!” He announced, looking over at the three of them, while the rest looked amazed. 

“A little shift in elements here and there, I was able to expand this entire space of ours, make it a little more familiar, don’t you think?” Ino smiled. 

Mirae approached the panel of buttons near the side. “Ice fortress, dystopia, post-apocalypse, zombie invasion, alien invasion, gladiator arena,” She read out. Mirae turned to the next set of buttons and looked over at Junhong. “Why is my name at the top of this panel? Am I a level of difficulty?” She asked, looking puzzled. 

“The highest,” Ino spoke. “But that level’s reserved for the three of you, not that these guys can’t do it, but the three of you are more experienced.” 

“San and Yunho are just as experienced, if you ask me,” Mirae pointed out with a shrug, choosing not to argue any more. 

“Yes, but they’ve never been through the same missions as you and Chanyeol did back at the Center, remember?” Ino reminded her. “The creatures at the museum, the goblin warriors at the train station, and their throne room, and the jewelry store at night?” 

“I remember the jewelry store one,” Hyuk said, glancing at her. “We were coming from dinner when the store exploded. It was the time I found out Mirae was a mutant.” 

Mirae smiled at her friend’s recollection. “Yeah, you came from that singing competition too.” 

Chanyeol grinned. “The train station, I remember that well. Everyone hated us when they saw what was happening in broad daylight. Junmyeon got hot coffee thrown at him...” He looked down the more he remembered. 

Ino noticed Wooyoung squinting at him, the rest of them looking fascinated by their brief trip down memory lane. “Well, I thought I’d show the rest of them how the three of you would do things in these simulations. Hyuk, I know you joined us late at the time, but you still know a thing or two on how to handle non-human entities, right?” He said. 

“Oh yeah, I was with you all at the Esteholm,” Hyuk smiled. Sensing everyone else’s confused expressions, he chuckled. “It’s a hidden marketplace for non-humans, goblins, witches, warlocks, ogres…” 

“You mean those things were actually here all this time?! On this planet?!” Mingi gaped at him and they nodded. 

“Okay, okay, we’ll have a lot of time to talk about that later, but let’s have the three of you take this new Danger Room for a test run?” Ino suggested. “The rest of you follow Junhong into the booth, we’ll all watch from there.” 

“What are we taking on?” Mirae asked. 

Hyuk approached the panels. “What about…” He stopped when he read the mode at the bottom. “Evil villain mansion? What kind of mode is that?” He laughed. 

Chanyeol and Mirae laughed as well. Mirae glanced at the booth, giving a thumbs up to Yunho and San, who looked excited as did the rest of them. “It’s exactly what it is. The mansion of the bad guy,” Junhong said from the booth. 

“Alright then, put up the difficulty rate to my name, I guess,” Mirae said. 

“That’s what I had in mind. Initializing evil villain mansion, Lee Mirae difficulty,” Junhong announced. 

Hyuk backed away, until he was back to back with Chanyeol and Mirae. They heard tiles shifting and a swirling of colors all around them, bringing in a strong gust of wind. Mirae took out her staff from her jacket pocket and extended it. After a few moments, the swirling was disappearing, and they found themselves in what was the ballroom of a large, abandoned house that had some bits of modern technology on the locks of the doors and the windows. 

“Okay, so this is the evil villain mansion,” Chanyeol mumbled as they took in their surroundings. “Where’s the evil villain, then?” 

Mirae took a step forward, seeing two metal circles near the large fireplace. There was a seven-pointed star engraved on one circle, a hexagon that had the shape of a keyhole in the middle engraved on the other. The circles began to turn, until it slowly went up to reveal coffin-shaped tubes. 

“This is oddly specific,” She muttered. 

Hyuk and Chanyeol stared at the tubes as well. The closer they looked, they saw bodies, blackened and as if they had been mummified. “This is very specific,” Chanyeol nodded, feeling a chill down his spine as they approached the tubes. 

Back at the booth, the rest of them stared at what was happening. “Can they see us?” Jongho asked curiously. 

“I don’t think they can, can they?” Hongjoong glanced at Junhong, who was looking at the panels of controls. “But the surroundings look so real.” 

“I know I should be used to this, but this is something I’ve never seen before…” San was staring at the tubes that were opening up in front of the three. 

“Me neither, and I thought I’ve seen everything,” Yunho nodded. 

From the side of the room, Wooyoung could suddenly see flashes of scenes in his head. He looked back at what was happening, seeing Hyuk, Mirae, and Chanyeol nearly destroy the surroundings they were in as humanoid demons with large talons began to attack them. The flashes kept coming. He could see people he hadn’t seen before having been inside the very booth they were in. Yet, Wooyoung wasn’t sure if this had already happened or it was about to happen. He stayed watching the simulation that Mirae, Hyuk, and Chanyeol were in. 

~ 

“Kind of familiar, isn’t it? The train station,” Mirae’s eyes and fingertips were glowing as she sent shockwaves towards the two demons, but to no avail. Instead, the demons clapped their hands, sending similar shockwaves towards her. “They’re parrots.” 

“What do you mean parrots?” Chanyeol had transformed into his fire form, dodging the attacks that were coming towards him. 

“They’re copying everything we do,” Mirae spun her staff a few times before hitting the demon, only to be sent back by the other, who had turned into a fiery figure as well. 

“Can they copy this?” Hyuk waved his hand, sending the two demons in mid-air. His eyes widened when the figure also raised their claws at him, lifting him up and off the floor. “This is impossible-” He crashed into the wall, moving away when some of the decor fell down. 

“Looks like Junhong had his work cut out for him,” Chanyeol tried to burn down the doors of the room until the surroundings changed into what looked like a massive dock full of zeppelins and tables full of volatile chemicals in test tubes and beakers. “Yeah, now I can see why Mirae turned into a level of difficulty.” 

“Let’s try not to touch anything, or interact with anything on those tables,” Mirae looked around on alert. 

They heard a blast from all the way on the other side of the room. “Looks like they found us,” Hyuk said, trying to move the zeppelins as carefully as possible towards the source of the blasts. 

“Those might explode if you let them get blasted,” Chanyeol called out at the telekinetic. 

“Would you rather we get out of here with those? We don’t even know what to use these for” Hyuk pointed out, still trying to move the airships as the blasts grew louder, the impact exploding the tables closest to it. “At least they get blasted and we don’t-” 

Boom. 

There was a blast on their side of the dock, sending the three of them to the floor, as bits of shrapnel and the chemicals on the tables exploded. A large cloud of smoke enveloped them, soon revealing that they were no longer at the dock. They were back in the Danger Room, or at least what was left of the Danger Room.

Mirae opened her eyes, feeling considerably beaten as she looked around, surprised at what she was seeing. Her clothes were scorched, her staff was gone, and from the gust of wind that hit her, she realized what happened. 

The safehouse seemed to have exploded. 

Mirae looked around for a sign of Chanyeol and Hyuk. Was she still in the simulation? “Mirae! Mirae! Mirae! Are you alright?” She turned around, seeing Junhong, Yunho, and Hongjoong run up to her. “The machines overloaded when I was about to take you three out of there,” The tech guy explained. 

She nodded, a feeling of dread suddenly overcoming her as she looked around the area. “Chanyeol? Hyuk?” She called out, kicking away a few bits and pieces of the rubble that surrounded them. “Chanyeol-” She stopped, feeling her heart sink. 

Chanyeol was lying on the floor, a puddle of blood near his head, and bits of shrapnel having hit his sides. Mirae looked around for a sign of the telekinetic, only to realize that he was also lying on the floor, eyes glazed over. A piece of shrapnel hit his head.

“Chanyeol, Hyuk,” Mirae bent down, moving the rubble away from her best friends. She refused to believe it, refused to think that what happened really happened. “Chanyeol, Hyuk,” She took one of the sharp rocks and cut open her wrist, pouring some of the blood into where Chanyeol was hit. “Come on, both of you, this isn’t funny,” She saw that they weren’t moving while her wrist had already healed. 

Junhong bent down to check Hyuk’s pulse, only for his expression to fall when he realized there was none. “Mirae,” He tried to say. 

“No, I know what you’re going to say, and I don’t believe you,” Mirae shook her head profusely, crawling up to Hyuk. Tears were already falling from her eyes as the reality was hitting her bit by bit. “No, no, this can’t happen, not here, not now, no,” She patted his face, but no response. “No, Hyuk, no, don’t, please-” A sob escaped her as she held his body. “Hyuk, no, no, no, no, no,” She sobbed, reaching out to hold Chanyeol’s hand that was going cold. “No, please no, Chanyeol, Hyuk, you two can stop it now, please…” 

“Mirae,” Junhong said again. 

Hongjoong and Yunho exchanged looks, hearing the rest of their colleagues including San appear, all of them had traces of the smoke from the explosion on them. 

“No!” Mirae shook her head again, until she broke down. They were gone. Her best friends. Gone.

[kamilah-is-queen]

Great ! but i have to warn you it’s gonna be a LONG one as i have written all the ideas but i can’t write the scenario without it being VERY cheesy. plus I’d appreciate it if you didn’t include smut in my request which i’ll post after this one but maybe just some fluff and “indicators” of following smut but not actually writing any 😂 (ps. you don’t have to reply to this ask neither the following ask in which i’ll put the whole fic idea)

I was informed that @rocketscientist07 had written a similar piece on AO3, so just to clarify I don’t mean to copy their work and ideas. Credit for this idea goes to the anon that requested this. The beginning of the story is changed slightly from the end scene from Bloodbound, due to an easier plot style.

Link to The Darker Side

Tagging: @wisebananapatrol, @kamilahtopme, @vonda-b-real, @iamsimpforpoppy, @millasayeed, @clan-sayeed-fic, @queenkamilah



Rheya outstretched a blood soaked hand towards the Bloodkeeper, an evil smirk rising to her face. “Come with me, Amy. Learn what true power feels like..” A glow of orange light blossoming out of her hand as she guided it towards the Bloodkeeper. “..These puny creatures living in my shadow can’t give you the power, the strength, the potential to rule the world and have you as it’s Queen Amy.”

The young vampire in an attempt to satisfy her curiosity, reached her fingers towards the bright glow from Rheya’s hand. A bolt of energy burst through her body, the pain replaced by strength, her insecurities replaced with a new found confidence.

She lifted off the stage, the same beam of light emitting from her eyes as Rheya’s voice echoed inside the Bloodkeeper’s head. “These mortals don’t deserve to live Amy,” she said, gesturing to the dumbfounded group of humans in their seats, “kill every last one of them.” The First commanded.

Amy closed her eyes as the power grew, Jax, Lily and Adrian watched in horror before Kamilah sprang to the place beneath Amy. “Amy, wait!” The youngest vampire bowed her head to meet Kamilah’s eyes, her voice deeper than a crack of thunder. “It’s too late, Kamilah.

The Egyptian didn’t attempt to stop the tears that slid from her eyes, her heart breaking into a thousand pieces all over again. “No, Amy no, it isn’t too late. You can fight this, I know you can, my love.” Her voice cracked, fear and anxiousness rising in her voice.

“You're stronger than anyone I’ve ever known, even stronger than I thought...than I thought you could’ve been Amy. We’ve been through so much, all of us,  don’t give up now..”

“We defeated Gauis together, traveled to Japan and worked with the Five. Crashed down on that island where Demetrieus’s tree was living. If you weren’t strong or powerful, none of us would be here today Amy. None of us.”

Amy watched intently, before turning her head away. “I’m not who you think I am, not anymore.” She raised her hands toward the sky and closed her fists, the mortal crowd screaming in agony before one by one, the blood pooled out of their bodies and towards Amy.

The tears fell furiously as Kamilah sunk to her knees, sobbing into her hands. “My my, what a pity.” Rheya cackled into the night sky, extending her hand to Amy once more. With a final look towards her friends, towards everything she ever knew, she met Kamilah’s gaze.

Amy saw fear. She saw the memories of them flash through Kamilah’s eyes. Memories of them sharing the warmest of cuddles and the softest of kisses. Memories of the two laughing into the night sky, and some of when the night was more passionate like in the Cabin. The moment when Kamilah confessed her love as Amy slipped away from the world, all of them meaning nothing in that split second.

Amy relived the moments where she broke down Kamilah’s steel walls, especially the walls of her heart. She had to make a decision. Would she stay with Kamilah and enjoy the safety and security of the Egyptian? Or, would she choose Rheya and her promise of power and control over the world. To rule as a true queen, with no boundaries to constrict here.

The voice in Amy’s head screamed at her to choose Kamilah, but if she did, one of her friends wouldn’t make it. She knew that one of them wouldn’t, and she couldn’t risk it. After everything she’d been through, they were family. And it was wrong to turn your back on family, but it was for the greater good. Only, the gang didn’t see it as that.

“I’m sorry..” Amy’s voice barely a whisper, before she took Rheya’s hand and they disappeared into the night sky.

“No! No, no, no, no!” Kamilah slammed her fist into the stage of the opera house, her vision blurred with the tears streaming down her cheeks. She punched the stage again, and again, and again until her hands were completely soaked in blood and the skin on her knuckles ripped as Adrian attempted to calm her.

He wrapped his arms around her, a strong grip holding Kamilah in place as she shrieked with the heartache. Kamilah eventually tired out, the events of the past few weeks catching up to her. The plane crash with Gauis, the trip to Japan, all the moments with Amy, they all came crashing and burning in her heart.

“It’s okay Kamilah, she’s made her decision. It’s okay, we’ll find a way to get her back.” He slowly rocked the older vampire in his arms, his heartbeat a comforting rhythm as Kamilah relaxed.

“What if she doesn’t..want to come back Adrian?” Kamilah’s voice thick with grief, feeling a sense of instability for the first time in her life. Adrian took a deep breath, steeling himself, “I promise, she will. She can’t leave you, leave us like this without reason sister. Love will bring her back to you”

“She betrayed us.” With enough agony for the day, Kamilah passed out into Adrain’s arms. Her heart weighing in her chest like an anvil, an anvil broken into thousands of heavy little pieces.

5 years later…

The roaring noise of the thunder and lightning filled the night sky as Amy walked through the streets of Japan. She gripped the fabric of her clothes, the material drenched in the rain but that didn’t stop her from continuing forward.

The lasting words of her previous conversation rang through Amy’s head…

“Demetrius, if we wish to obtain the type of power we seek, then we mustn’t stand idle. What are we waiting for? One move and the superpowers of the world will be beneath us, begging for mercy.”

Rheya clenched her fist and raised it to the sky, her eyes glimmering with hope yet dark with longing. The four were placed at the dinner table, Rheya at the head and Demetrius, Lola, Gauis and Amy positioned nearby.

When Amy had agreed to join Rheya in her hungry quest for power, she had also unknowingly agreed to be an anchor to the other side. With a lack of support, Rheya brought both Lola and Demetrius back to life. Not only for emotional support, but for advice in their conquest.

Unfortunately, this only worsened Amy’s condition. As if being away from anyone she’s ever known was difficult enough, the burden of being the link between the living and the dead was also placed upon her shoulders.

As Amy listened on to the conversation, rage filled in her chest. All the innocent lives of mortals to be lost, at the cost of one of her friends was unbearable to think about. The anger consumed her, filling her body and she didn’t attempt to cease it.

“While you may be right, Rheya...we’re still lacking the resources to pull something like this off. I think we should wait, hold off as long as possible and strike when least expected.” Amy stood from the table, excusing herself as she prayed her tactics had worked.

“Amy wait…” Gauis stood and immediately rushed after her. “I know something’s off, you’ve never acted like this before.” He gently cupped Amy’s face with a hand, Amy leaning into the touch before pulling away slowly. “I’ve just got a lot on my mind, that’s all.” She replied with a small smile.

Gauis had been there through it all. From the very first night she spent with the First and her crew up until that point. In some ways, they had grown close. When Amy needed security and a sense of tranquility, Gauis was the first to be at her side. Through all his hardened and almost non existent emotions, he felt sorry for the girl. She was a mere child, thrown into a whirlpool of danger and excitement and he felt it was his place to keep her safe.

They’d spent many nights together, Gauis not knowing whether Amy truly felt for him the way he did for her, or if it was an escape to a land of peace and calm.

With a small sigh, Gauis pulled his hand back. “Perhaps a stroll will clear your mind. Allow me to join you, my Queen?”

“I think it’ll be best if I took this one alone.” Amy encouragingly squeezing his hand before strolling out through the castle’s gates.

Now, as she walked aimlessly through the brightly lit streets, there was only one person on her mind...Kamilah. She’d overheard conversations about the gang relocating to Japan, to strengthen their base and form a stronger alliance with the Five. Of course that was Rheya’s first plan, to wipe them out but with quick thinking, Amy was able to hold her off.

But it wouldn’t last for long, and that’s why Amy was going to take Rheya, Demetrius and Lola out. But only with the help of her family.

Amy strode in through the doors of the famous club, the club where Amy had first seen Aiko. As she looked around, the familiar faces brought a warm sensation to heart. They were safe, her family was alive.

Small murmurs pulled Amy out of her thoughts, her gaze falling to each and every person in the room. Adrian was seated on a bar stool beside Lily, the pair speaking in hushed whispers as they gazed at Amy. Jax was sipping a glass of whiskey, Akeyo, Henry, Kano and The Evolved beside him.

Then, there was Kamilah. Seated comfortably in one of the cream sofas, Aiko nestled on her lap with a glass of wine in hand.

Amy felt a lump rise in her throat, her eyes threatening to give way to tears as she looked on. Kamilah hadn’t noticed Amy’s presence for she was too indulged in covering Aiko in gentle kisses. Kisses that only Amy was allowed to have, touches that Kamilah swore would only be placed upon Amy, now onto a new partner.

“Hello love, did you miss me?” Amy said with a smug smirk across her face, her gaze directed at Kamilah. The vampires looked up from their previous conversation, Kamilah’s eyes widening in disbelief. “I know I’m the last person you want to be speaking to, but I don’t care. I need your help and you guys are family, I know you wouldn’t give up on me.” She said, her head bowed slightly.

When Amy lifted her head, Kamilah was standing before her. The Egyptian’s features hadn’t differed from their usual breathtaking appearance. Her eyes never wavering from Amy’s as the two fell into a trance.

“It’s you...it’s really you Amy.” Kamilah hesitantly took a step forward before her arm was snatched back by Aiko.

“Why would we help you, traitor?” Aiko practically spitting out the words with a scowl across her face. Amy took in the remarks before replying, “I don’t think a useless mutt like you could have the brain capacity to help anyways.” She said while checking her fingernails.

Kamilah held Aiko back as the vampire lunged towards Amy, “You little bitch I swear I’ll get you one day!”

“Enough Aiko!” Kamilah’s eyes flashed a threatening maroon colour, forcing Aiko to back down and regain her composure.

“Fine, but this rotten piece of shit…” Aiko whispered harshly with her finger pointed at Amy’s face, “should’ve never shown her face here.”

As the Five assisted in dragging Aiko away, Kamilah refocused her attention back on Amy. “Let’s talk somewhere more private, shall we?” Lily led the four towards the back room, everyone standing at a distance from each other as an awkward silence filled the room.

Adrian was the first to speak as he set his glass down on the table…”Amy, you know we’d never turn our back on you but you have to understand, what you did 5 years ago isn’t something to be taken lightly.” His face was oddly calm and nonchalant, something that didn’t happen often with the CEO.

“You...you betrayed us…” Lily bowed her head as her voice cracked. Tears filled the vampire’s eyes as they slid down her cheeks.

“No, that’s what I’m trying to say. All this time, I’ve been with Rheya for the gang’s protection. It seems crazy, and twisted but..it’s not I swear.” Amy’s eyes pleaded innocently as she looked around the room.

“Everything you’ve ever known, all the memories you had and every single moment of tranquility, safety and warmth was left behind the second you agreed to join her Amy.” Kamilah spoke through gritted teeth. She swirled the wine in her glass, staring at the deep red liquid sloshing from side to side.

“Kamilah…” Amy felt the coldness in her heart melt away the moment she saw the pained expression on her lovers face. Kamilah’s deep, brown eyes glossed over as their memories washed over her, clear signs of pain reaking from the older CEO.

With a flick of her gaze, Kamilah stood and turned her attention to Amy. “If you’ll excuse us.” Jax, Adrian and Lily bowed their heads respectfully, leaving the two alone in silence.

“You’re not the same Amy I knew, not the Amy I fell in love with those years ago.” Kamilah took Amy’s hands into her own, holding them gently. “But, I can’t see you in this state. Not when Rheya’s controlling you like this, no. I’ll do everything in my power to help you Amy, whether you want me to or not.”

Kamilah searched Amy’s eyes looking for something, anything. Amy simply stood frozen like a statue, her gaze flicking between her lover’s deep brown orbs. With a sigh, the CEO withdrew her hands and tucked them away in her pockets. “The truth is...I still love you. All this time, I’ve still loved you. And perhaps you don’t feel the same Amy but, I’m willing to wait for you. Be it years, or centuries...I’ll always be there to support you.”

And with that, Kamilah left without another word leaving Amy to her thoughts.

“I don’t see why you have to help her.” Aiko speaking through a tense jaw, her arms folded as she paced around their bedroom. “Because she was once mine, Aiko. I can’t sit by and watch her deteriorate like this.” Kamilah said as she gazed through the window up at the bright moon in the sky.

Aiko huffed, gripping Kamilah’s collar as her gaze fell to the CEO’s lips. “I think I need to remind you of who you’re with now, no?” Her voice dropped an octave, Aiko’s tongue licking a path across Kamilah’s lower lip.

“No, not tonight Aiko.” Kamilah gently, but firmly pushed Aiko off with a sigh. “You still love her, don’t you?” Aiko’s eyes flashed with hurt as Kamilah nodded quietly.

“How could I not love her? I know that we were together before but...this can’t go on. Not anymore.” Kamilah offered a small smile, kissing Aiko’s knuckles ever so softly.

“Ugh, fine. Whatever.” Aiko scoffed before storming out of the room, mumbling curses under her breath. “I’ll get that little weasel, she’s gone.” Aiko harshly whispered before rushing out of the club.

Four weeks later….

Amy, Jax, Adrian and Kamilah all gathered round in the club, a stage brightly lit in the front with a microphone on a stand.

Amy jumped up the stage, excitedly gripping the mic and tapping the tip. “Testing, testing.” Her voice rang through the room, the other three gazing up at the woman on stage.

Without warning, music started blaring through the speakers, the floor pounding with the bass. Amy gripped the mic tighter and closed her eyes. A smooth, deep voice rang through the speakers and set the gang into a trance.

“What a badass.” Lily chuckled as she sipped the beer in her hand.

“You’re saying that to a woman whose come from a small town in Massachusetts, making it big in NYC and successfully taking down the biggest threat the shadow world has ever faced. I’d say that’s quite badass.” Kamilah smirked behind her glass, watching Amy with rapt attention.

Adrian laughed and fixed the liquor behind it’s replacing place on the shelf, “Nothing less than remarkable, if you ask me. She’s made such a big difference to so many people. To us, especially.”

They all nodded in agreement before Jax spoke up. “She’s sacrificed everything for us. Love, her family, her friends...let alone the only humanity inside her. All because that psycho Rheya can’t give up her lust for power.”

Just as Amy had started the song, she closed it on a high note as the bass from the speakers started to cease. She opened her eyes to see the gang gazing intensely at her, studying her as if she was a display in a museum.

“Well, this has been fun but...I’m ready to hit the hay.” Lily yawned and outstretched her arms, Jax laughing and slinging an arm around her shoulders. “Right behind ya.”

With Adrian and Kamilah not far on their heels, Amy felt her voice rising from her throat again. She had nothing on her mind but the lyrics spinning through her head, Kamilah the source behind them.

“My head's under water, but I'm breathing fine.

You're crazy and I'm out of my mind…”

Kamilah lingered at the threshold of the door, her ears peeking up as she listened to Amy’s strong voice.

“Cause all of me,

Loves all of you,

Love your curves and all your edges,

All your perfect imperfections.”

Amy poured her heart out into the words as her chest pounded with desire and longing for her lover and partner. She imagined Kamilah standing before her, her graceful smile and endless chestnut eyes staring right back into hers.

Kamilah flicked her gaze back to Amy once before walking away, a small smile spreading across her face as she hummed the lyrics. “Perhaps, she does still love me…” She whispered to herself quietly.

A few days later, Amy found herself in the terrace pool, her arms leaning back on the glass as she gazed at Kamilah in front of her. Those deep eyes gazed right through Amy, Amy so lost in them that she didn’t realize when Kamilah had gotten closer.

Kamilah’s breath tickled her neck, before the CEO lifted her head, purposely brushing her lips to Amy’s. “Will...you allow me to kiss you, Amy?” A hopeful look shone in her eyes, the same way the moonlight reflected off the pool and into her orbs.

Amy didn’t bother to respond, because she cupped Kamilah’s face...kissing her with every ounce of longing inside her body. Their lips crashed, Kamilah’s hands exploring Amy’s body as their tongues swirled around one another’s. They found a familiar rhythm, the moment feeling as if it was meant to be.

Not long after, Kamilah lifted the younger vampire out of the pool, wrapping Amy’s legs around her hips before she carried them inside for a well needed night full of passion, and desire.

—————————————-—

“It’s time.” Amy strapped her weapons to her hips before looking around at the rest of the group. “We either destroy Rheya and her crew now, or we live forever under her reign.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, finalizing the last of their plans and securing their weapons. Kamilah took Amy’s hands, resting her forehead to her own. “No matter what happens, I love you Amy.”

They both knew what happened last time those words were spoken, when everyone mourned Amy after her ‘death’. “I love you too Kamilah, I’ll always love you.” With a soft smile, Amy pecked Kamilah’s lips and turned to lead the way to Rheya’s mansion.

“Amy, you’ve retur-“ Rheya was thrown back against the wall, the plaster beneath her breaking and crumbling. Rheya cackled into the night before lifting herself into the air.

“Do you really think you and your pathetic crew can defeat me? The First?” As if on command, Gauis led a small army of ferals towards the four. “They’re not just my crew, they’re my family!” Amy lunged for Rheya, honing her senses and channeling her energy into the First’s mind.

Kamilah was one of the first to spring into action, instinctively toward Gaius. Their daggers clashed together, their faces inches apart as Kamilah wore a harsh frown, whereas Gaius had a smirk. “So we meet again, my Queen.” The sound of metal on metal filled the room as the battle continued, before Kamilah swept out his feet from underneath him. “I’m not your Queen, Gaius.” Her daggers hovered over his throat, “But, I will be the death of you.” Without hesitation, she slashed her daggers across his neck, beheading him instantly.

After that, the battle seemed to cease except for Amy and Rheya. “You took everything from me! My friends, my emotions, my humanity!”

Amy plunged her hand deep into Rheya’s chest, Rheya gasping through unable to move because of Amy’s control. She yanked the beating heart out of the vampires chest, blood dripping down her wrist. “And now I’ll take everything from you.”

Rheya lay lifeless, before crumbling to ash the same way Gaius had. Ferals ash covered the floors of the manor as the group reeled back from the attacks.

“Amy, you're alright…” The younger vampire collided with Kamilah, latching on for dear life. Kamilah tightened her hold and exhaled the breath she didn’t realize she was holding.

“I love you Kamilah…”

“I love you too, My Queen.”

[chrysalizzm]

i uh. realized people follow me now because of uh. you’re human tonight on ao3 asdjgfs

i have content!! behind the scenes content as promised. i do outlines for my fics as a general rule of thumb just because i personally can’t write things to a satisfying finish if i don’t Do That, and so - here are my chapter/plot outlines for you’re human tonight ^^ (i have no idea if this is interesting content or not i thought i’d put it out there because i think outlines are kinda fun hhhh)

chap 1 fundy

subtitle: an inkling

fundy makes an iron golem gone wrong, dream makes it go boom

chap 2 purpled

subtitle: uh oh social interaction

purpled shelters a fugitive, gets his house explosion-proofed as thanks

this is probably gonna be the only chapter with a funny title hh oh well

update: it’s not and i’m pleased with myself for branching out with my dry humor

chap 3 sapnap

subtitle: dust to dust

sapnap’s dying via wither effect, and he knows respawn’s around the corner but goddamn if it doesn’t hurt til then. dream skids in around the nether fortress corner, drops all his weapons cradles sapnap’s head in his hands, has always taken death much harder than anyone sapnap’s ever met. at the last few seconds, when death creeps up like a shroud, dream starts to hum to him hoarsely, pressing his forehead to sapnap’s, and in the final moments sapnap doesn’t hurt at all. the last thing he hears is dream whimpering. he visits dream’s bunker the next day, knocks on the door over and over, but there’s no sign of life there. sapnap shrugs, bites his lip out of guilt for forcing dream to sit there watching him die (if temporarily), and moves on.

the chapter that introduces dream’s primary ability of soothing hurts. put a lot of emphasis on the fact that sapnap ached up until the moment dream started humming, because for dream to do that is pretty frivolous considering once sapnap died he’d respawn and the hurt would just disappear but dream wanted sapnap to have a peaceful last few seconds. emphasize how abnormal it is that withering stops hurting. 

chap 4 ponk

subtitle: beaches dry of sugarcane

dream visits ponk after george burns down the first tree. when ponk arrives to the second tree to move in, he realized dream made the tree flourish, grow healthier and bigger. 

chap 5 sam

subtitle: fuck this shit i’m out (edit: the official subtitle is “oh god oh fuck”, i changed it last-minute)

dream picks sam’s brain for manhunt strategies while the latter is mining for redstone. sam stumbles upon a spawner and reels back, trips, nearly misses the moment dream sweeps him behind him and his eyes flash beneath the mask and when sam gets back up, dazed, there’s nothing but the splay of cobwebs all over the walls. 

chap 6 punz

subtitle: lines drawn

in an unrelated skirmish, punz drives his sword up to the hilt in dream’s chest, relying on respawn for dream to not feel any pain and for punz to get paid. dream doesn’t die. this is understandably alarming. 

can we get some funnies in chap? just a few laughs?? a lil funny for mr luke punz man?

can we get some panicky dry humor for real tho because punz strikes me as someone who copes with morbid humor and dream spluttering up blood is def a situation that punz would not know how to deal with

chap 7 wilbur

subtitle: so about that date

wilbur makes platonic moves on dream while dream fake texts his fiance under the table. wilbur also accidentally vents to dream about his little brother tommy and how afraid he is that tommy will get himself hurt for how reckless he is. dream siphons some of his anxiety from him, smiles as they depart from one another. wilbur notes that dream is shaking when they leave. 

chap 8 skeppy

subtitle: get wrecked noob

dream walks skeppy through some pvp. when skeppy demands a rematch w tommy and gets a lil stage fright kinda sorta thing, dream siphons his anxiety and his nerves and goes full soccer mom with bad and skeppy loses 5-2 but like!! he won!! against tommyinnit!! HH

is there any mental image nearly as powerful as dream wastaken, the soccer mom

chap 9 jack

subtitle: mandatory volunteering

after tommy goes on another one of his destructive rampages lmao, dream enlists jack, newest-comer, to help him rebuild stuff bc underclassmen have to do whatever upperclassmen tell them to do thems just the rules. after rebuilding a statue near the community house, dream pats it fondly, and when tommy sneaks back to set in on fire for shits and giggles, he finds that it’s fuckin fireproofed AGAIN

rebuild efforts, i promised monuments rebuilt so thats what theyre gonna fuckin Get

chap 10 antfrost

subtitle: twist the knife

ant on what ends up being an unpublicized manhunt: dream stops the manhunt because he’s triggered a raid and by the time the hunters get there, alarmed by the screaming and the fire and dream’s unresponsiveness, the villagers are all dead and there are raider corpses everywhere and dream is lying near the bell on his side, whimpering. (what the hunters don’t know - dream tried to fight off the raid but was overwhelmed and witnessed the village get slaughtered, he took the pain of the villagers that weren’t dead but were dying.)

segment: There’s a reason they do the manhunts, and it’s not just for them to horse around and try to kill one another for a few days. Antfrost is the newcomer but he’s always been good at reading people and from the outset he knew that Dream was someone filled to the brim with the restlessness that characterizes humans, that never-settling wanderlust, and his brain works too fast for the rest of his body sometimes, and he just needs an outlet. It’s part of why he eggs Tommy on in their little war games, why he holds onto those discs even though he doesn’t need them, why he gets that delighted look on his face when someone tells him that Tommy’s griefed them or stolen from them or otherwise ruined their morning. Antfrost thinks the only times he’s ever really seen Dream silent, Dream waiting, Dream unmoving, are when Dream is 

chap 11 karl

subtitle: head in the shallows

karl, sapnap, george, and dream have a sleepover after mcc 11. karl, nearest to dream, wakes up when dream starts tossing and turning from a nightmare. when he tries to shake dream awake, dream’s eyes fly open and he slams his fist into the wall behind him and the earth, the literal earth, the entire slab of it, shudders like an earthquake. sapnap and george sleep like the dead, so it’s just karl and dream staring at one another. finally karl asks, concerned, “do you want some tea or water or anything?”

chap 12 hbomb

subtitle: a maid’s burden

“i want to dress up as a maid for fundy,” says hbomb with false bravado. fundy’s fiance levels a very impassive look at him for an awkward minute or two and just when hbomb thinks he’s misread dream and fundy’s relationship dream says “i’ll get you a wig” and the entire chapter is just dream idly twisting the fabric of reality to get hbomb the items he needs to put the outfit together

pranks, i promised pranks, theyre gonna get pranks

chap 13 alyssa

subtitle: message in a bottle (edit: official subtitle is “ship in a bottle”)

alyssa’s leaving, at least temporarily. 

alyssa tells dream it’s getting dangerous on his server, doesn’t relish the expression that brings to his face, but he holds her hands and nods and bids her safe journey. when alyssa returns, running for something (later we’ll learn she had heard that dream was bad, that he might be dying), she finds that her house is completely inaccessible by everyone save her, placed in complete stasis by someone. 

start of the chapters leading up to festival arc. build unresolved tension in this one. 

chap 14 niki

subtitle: life doesn’t discriminate

wilbur and tommy are relentless, they waste no time; niki is willing to wait for it. 

the night before the duel, she goes to dream and holds a sword to his throat and demands he call it off, even though she knows it’ll mean little because of respawn, tells him she won’t stop hunting him down until he gives up l’manberg. dream smiles a little sadly and pats her hand and her fright, her rage, it simmers back down, and the anger that had swarmed her and made dream out to be the devil dies down until it’s just her friend, who was playing along with tommy til it got serious and he got cocky, who’s just as in over his head as she is, and maybe niki’s soft but she likes that about herself, that she’s always the first to forgive. niki is looking at the healing cut on dream’s neck, uncovered by any bandages, when dream shoots tommy, a clean shot that causes no suffering.

a long chapter, probably. i think at some point in this i want to mention niki’s respect for dream for apologizing during the first pet war, for not letting things get any bigger until fundy came back. some parallels can be drawn here - that dream let the fire die down in the initial stages of the pet war, that dream won’t let go of the l’manberg war now, and it occurs to niki that she doesn’t know dream nearly as well as she thinks she does if she expected him to act exactly the way he did during the pet war. she’s got what she’s wanted - dream’s remorse, proof of dream’s humanity - even though it’s not in the form niki wanted it. 

chap 15 eret

subtitle: crown of thorns

the king in name only consults with the true leader. 

they’re both upset about pogtopia’s exile, eret arguably more so because they think their early betrayal of l’manberg somehow butterfly-effected into the current dumpster fire, and as they talk eret works themself into a full panic attack reflecting on things that were, things that could’ve been - and the tide washes out all of a sudden, and eret’s left with the same looming hollowness they’d been feeling before, no dregs of the panic, they’ve never had a panic attack that left them feeling normal after - but dream is now wheezing like he’s about to die and eret immediately walks him through the panic attack, levelheaded even as they’re confused out of their mind. 

chap 16 quackity

subtitle: water to blood

quackity is a snake in the grass. 

quackity at schlatt’s side during the few weeks of his presidency. he knows schlatt from before, has been his friend, so he knows when his friend is acting off. the cynical, straight-faced humor is still there, his completely bland delivery and brazen showmanship, but it’s twisted to the left somehow, to make it so that those qualities that make up his friend have rotted, hurt people. quackity eventually goes to dream after schlatt first overdoses with a lot of questions, maybe even to confess that his allegiance has begun to shift because he can’t go to pogtopia and he can’t go to schlatt - and dream just gives him a long, sad look before lightly patting quackity’s shoulder and says “i can’t guarantee anything - just that you’ll be safe” and shooing him off and as quackity heads back to manberg he realises all the hostile mobs are avoiding him like the fucking plague. 

it’s big q!!!! fattest ass in the cabinet!!!!! pog!!!

fun fact this chapter’s subtitle was almost “chekhov’s gun” until november fucking 16th of 2020

chap 17 tommy

subtitle: most disputes die and no one shoots

tommy learns how a legacy dies.

a compendium of tommy watching the madness consume wilbur. it needs to be emphasized in this chapter that wilbur becomes an entirely different person when they’re ejected from manberg, that he becomes obsessed with the legacy he’s created and watching it crumble is what twists him; when dream gives tommy his crossbow, tommy, out of desperation and a need to have an older sibling again, asks what’s wrong with wilbur; dream’s face hardens and he asks tommy to take dream to wilbur. it’s a terse meeting, the only one they have before techno and before wilbur completely loses it and demands the tnt; wilbur says a lot of things tommy doesn’t understand (it’s complex mythological jargon hinting at dream’s status as a god but could be misconstrued to refer to dream’s status as simply the world owner) and at one point wilbur sneers, “are you trying to play god, dream?” and dream lurches forward and grabs wilbur by the wrist, and there’s a completely silent moment where tommy feels the air suck out of his lungs and there’s an off buzzing in his ears and he fancies he hears something that sounds, just a bit, like dream, whispering desperately wilbur wilbur wilbur it’s me it’s me listen listen listen then a shrieking, acrid wave of no and tommy reels back and when he looks up dream has staggered back, his hand to his mouth, blood dripping from somewhere beneath his mask, sounding like he’s gagging or maybe he’s sobbing, as wilbur shrieks in a voice that is entirely not his “get out get out if i can’t have l’manberg...” and tommy understands, finally, as dream sprints out. that’s not wilbur.

a distinction needs to be made perfectly clear in this chapter, as with schlatt’s chapter: it’s not them. they’ve been twisted out of control by something bigger than them, something that wants to toy with the young god running an oasis of peace for his people. it doesn’t need to be outright said in this fic; in another we can delve into the madness and who did it and why. for now, just make it clear it’s not explicitly anyone’s fault.

chap 18 techno

subtitle: colosseum

dream had to let techno in first, you know. 

techno and dream have interacted often - the duel, the championships, they’re friends more than acquaintances now. but techno was called in by someone wearing his brother’s face that he honestly doesn’t recognize from his voice and when he arrives at spawn, before tommy fetches him, he sees dream sitting cross legged waiting for him and they talk about the situation, dream giving techno a quick brief. when tommy comes, crying “techno, this way, this way to pogtopia”, and crossbow bolts are being fired at techno, dream gives him a lil wave goodbye (or what techno thinks is a lil wave goodbye but what actually turns out to be putting a swiftness effect on him).

“that’s not my brother, dream,” says techno, and dream’s mouth wobbles and he says, hoarse, “i know.”

techno Suspects, but only knows that dream has world-manipulating powers and thus standard minor god powers. he doesn’t let dream know he suspects. 

chap 19 bad

subtitle: run devil run

bad trusts dream, perhaps against his better judgement. 

dream comes to visit bad and skeppy on neutral grounds in the interim leading up to the festival that everyone on the server is side-eyeing and side-stepping. bad considers his friend and the owner of the world as he gives dream an impromptu tour through the escape route he and skeppy have dug out, wonders with a little reproach how dream could let things get to this point, then, soft, gentle as always, acknowledges that dream is only human kindly. when he says that, though, dream’s face crumples, as though those words hurt him more than any criticism bad’s given him in the time he’s known him, as though bad had driven a blade into his heart, and bad doesn’t understand but he lets dream run away from that. when a small flock of creepers explode over the tunnel the night before the festival and bad grumbles that he has to fix it, he learns dream left him with a fortified escape tunnel.

a/n: i’m sure the irony isn’t lost on you.

chap 20 tubbo

subtitle: cadmean victory

what say the sacrificial lamb?

tubbo is coming to terms with the fact that he might not make it out of office in one piece and it’s not his first time respawning but the older members of the server always, always did their best to shield the younger ones from death. he runs into dream by complete coincidence while he’s avoiding pogtopia (mostly wilbur) and manberg (mostly schlatt), caught between two strangers wearing his friends’ faces. he looks at dream, who looks back at him impassively, and tubbo starts to cry, because it finally hits him that even with his death and respawn nothing will be fixed, nothing can change, the poison’s run too deep into the veins of dream’s beautiful little world and now nothing can be right anymore and it feels like he’s shattering into tiny, aching shards - and then dream kneels before him, takes his hands, presses his forehead to them, sighs like his heart’s breaking, and tubbo feels a small calm thread back into him as dream stands abruptly, jittery. dream, with hands that shake, grips tubbo’s shoulder, hovers for a second, then his head jerks up and he bolts into the forest, clambering up a tree with admirable ease and disappearing away into the leaves as schlatt suddenly emerges from the bushes nearby with a joyous, plastic “hey! tubbo!”

chap 21 george

subtitle: lantern burns low

a moment in the night; george is visited by a specter. 

dream comes, pale, and asks george if there is anything wrong, is everything okay with you? takes george’s caught-off-guard face in his hands and says george george george, are you - and george catches a glimpse of dream’s powers (is he safe safe does he hurt no but fear but anxiety there are dregs hush now quiet now he is safe all quiet quiet quiet he’s safe) and he says, stricken even as the constant thrum of nervous energy he’d kept with him fades out, “dream what was that,” and dream presses his hands to his mask where his eyes are and says, despairingly, “they don’t get to have you too,” and staggers back out. 

george is the first person dream overtly “comes out” to. this is also why george doesn’t see dream til the festival. 

chap 22 schlatt

subtitle: the empty throne

dream visits schlatt in his office. 

schlatt, possessed by madness, has no idea what he’s saying but it feels right, it’s exactly right, everything is in his hands, and when dream approaches, his hands facing up, is he there is he there yes yes yes tainted polluted this is twisted this is madness madness madness dream reels back, shaking, and schlatt leans in and leers, not even knowing what he’s saying, “you can’t even fix it, young god,” and relishes the way all the color drains from dream’s face.

=)

chap 23 dream (edit: this monster ended up being split into three for pacing purposes and also if i left it together it was gonna be. h. 14K WORDS. also the drama of a cliffhanger at what most people thought was going to be the last chapter was too good to pass up don’t @ me

subtitle: do you feel like a young god?

running, running, running again

finale!! dream takes everyone’s old hurts into himself, takes the madness from schlatt and wilbur, promptly passes the hell out because no one should be doing that, wakes up, gets the shit hugged out of him, and explains a little, and gets told that he’s loved over and over. 

i uh! take questions! i like talking about this story, there’s a lot i still want to show, and even apart from that i just really love mcyt haha

[shirtlesssammy]

9x01: I Think I’m Gonna Like it Here

Errm, we forgot a season opener episode...so here’s 9x01 for your enjoyment :)

Then:

Heaven’s doors closed, kinda

Now:

Sam and Dean are on the road discussing the fallen angels, and how they’re going to tackle this new situation. Well, Sam is. Dean keeps driving until he tells Sam they have a far more pressing matter than that, or Metatron, or Cas. “You’re dying, Sam.” 

Indeed he is. They’re not in the Impala. They’re in a hospital and Sam’s attached to a bunch of wires and machines. 

The doctor gives Dean the bad news that Sam has severe internal injuries and his recovery is “in God’s hands.” Lol, it REALLY is. And ol’ Chuck isn’t going to let one of his favorite characters die! He does like to see them tortured though. Dean loses his shit, because, at this stage in the game, God isn’t playing. 

He goes to the chapel AND PRAYS TO CAS. 

He tells Cas that whatever happened, they’ll work it out. “Please man, I need you here.” Dean looks up and is shocked that Cas isn’t there. AND I’M EMOTIONAL. He has so far to go. But also, I feel so bad for him right now. Anyway, he gives it about 5 seconds before he puts out an open call to any angel willing to help.   

Business angel, Tractor angel, and Helo all take the call. 

Memory Lane Alert:

Sam continues to have a mental conversation with Dean in the Impala. Dean has a plan, and Sam just needs to hang on. Sam thinks he’s lying (and LIKE, is this his brain trying to rationalize death? Bobby shows up to argue yes.)

In Longmont, Colorado, on a lonely stretch of road, we find Cas. He’s walking and is overwhelmed with angel radio whitenoise. 

For Cas Looks So Fucking Good In This Episode Science:

Also, a crazy driver that nearly kills him. The guy offers to give him a lift to a phone. Cas agrees, adding, “I would fly but I have no wings, not anymore.” 

I need a  moment.

Sam continues to deteriorate. I enjoy the snark in Sam’s mind that he saved Bobby from Hell. Anyway, Bobby and Dean continue to argue about whether Sam should or shouldn’t live. Bobby pulls Sam from the car and they land in a forest. 

Cas’s ride drops him off at a filling station and gives him some money. Cas accepts it reluctantly, insisting he does eat. Meanwhile, a woman watches Cas from a car.

Cas reaches the pay phone, currently in use.

He doesn’t want to hurt the guy, but this is an emergency. The guy is very polite when he tells Cas to try and hurt him. Cas tries the old fingers to the forehead trick. Nothing happens. He tries the old whole hand to the forehead trick (isn’t that usually a smiting move? <nervous side-eye emoji>) The guy brushes Cas’s hand away and tells him that he’s going to finish his call, and then stab Cas. Cas walks away in a daze. 

The woman from the car approaches him. She knows Castiel. She’s an angel named Hael. 

A grief counselor comes to talk to Dean, but he’s not done fighting. 

He realizes that he has the King of Hell in his trunk (not yet you don't ...I think I’ve used that joke before, but it never gets old.) Before he can get Crowley out of the Impala’s trunk, Business angel attacks. He’s looking for Castiel. Dean isn’t talking. Helo pops up and gets into fisticuffs with Business angel. He distracts him enough for Dean to stab Business angel in the back. Helo assures Dean that he’s here to help him, and then passes out. 

Hael and Cas talk about the angels falling and life in Heaven. So many angels are afraid of this unknown new order. 

Cas assures her there is nothing to be afraid of, and there is something better on Earth. Oh, you poor Humanity loving fool, Cas. He makes a case for Free Will. 

Dean puts Helo in a ring of fire to interrogate him. His name is Ezekiel. And he is not here to hurt Dean or Cas. He’s here to help. 

Sam and Bobby take a nature walk while Bobby chips away and Sam’s uncertainty of dying. 

Dean brings Ezekiel to Sam. 

Dean’s phone rings while Gadreel examines Sam. It’s CAS! Insert EXTREME HEART EYES HERE. 

Cas briefly explains that Metatron tricked him, but Dean overrides Cas’s discussion of the angel apocalypse for a more pressing matter: Sam’s dying. Cas explains that he can’t heal him without his grace, but that also doesn’t matter! Ezekiel is a “good soldier,” according to Cas, so Sam’s in good hands. Dean warns Cas that angels are after him and he needs to get to the bunker, do not pass GO, do not trust anybody else. 

The hospital shakes as another angel circles a vessel. Dean grabs a dry erase marker and starts scrawling angel warding all over Sam’s hospital room. He leaves Ezekiel there to heal Sam while he races through the hospital trying to clear it out. 

Cas tries to extricate himself from Hael’s company. “This is your chance to help people. Help yourself.” Cas, you altruistic sunflower! Hael rewards this by whacking him across the head with a plank.

When he wakes up, Hael explains that she couldn’t let Cas go. She blames Cas for the fall but she can use Cas…

Dean confronts angels in the hospital, including the now-possessed grief counselor. 

In Sam’s head, he arrives outside a cabin. Bobby tells him that the cabin will end his life and wishes him well when suddenly he is STABBED! Sam’s projection of Dean killed him. “Bobby was the part of you that wants to die,” Dean explains...uh...reasonably? He starts to punch Sam in rage, trying to get him to fight for his life. “I can’t help you if you ain’t willing to fight for yourself!” Sam...knows that. And...he’s not willing to fight anymore. 

Sam heads for the cabin.

Real Dean is in his own pickle. Grief counselor angel hauls him around, demanding to know where Cas is or Sam’s gonna die bloody. Dean refuses to give up Cas. He’s bloody and exhausted, but blasts the angels out with a banishing sigil. He heads in to check on Sam. Ezekiel sits slumped in a chair. Between the banishing sigil and the warding, he’s incredibly weak and can’t heal Sam. There are “no good ways” to save Sam so Dean, being Dean, asks about the bad ones. 

Ezekiel thinks he can save Sam by possessing him, but Dean knows that Sam would rather die than be possessed. Ezekiel brings Dean into Sam’s head so he can see how bad it is. 

Dean witnesses Death talking to Sam. Death tells Sam that he played a good game! Sam asks for a boon from Death: he doesn’t want to come back. At. All. He doesn’t want anybody else to get hurt because they tried to save him. SAM BBY!

Dean “There’s Another Way” Winchester is appalled. 

Cas is still trapped with an angel Heaven-bent on possessing him. He looks around at the tools at hand. An angel blade. An angel new to cars and driving. He puts on his seat belt. (Side bar: is this the first time any of our heroes has EVER put on a seat belt???) Cas hauls at the wheel, steering the car towards concrete barriers. 

At the hospital, Dean unpacks the proposal. Ezekiel possesses Sam and they both heal together. When Sam’s better, Ezekiel leaves. 

In a wrecked car, Cas wakes up from his second head injury in an hour or so. He unbuckles his seatbelt and stumbles out. Sprawled ahead of the car is Hael. She’s looking...really bad with her body snapped in some really unfortunate ways. Cas swears to help her - and all the angels. It’ll be his life’s work! “I’m one of you. I will never stop being one of you!” She tells him all the angels despise him. BRB weeping!

He tries to walk away, but she vows to reveal him to the rest of the angels if he leaves her. Cas kills her to save himself. So…...first day as a human? Not going super great. 

Sam prepares to die. Dean stops him from leaving the cabin! (Dean apologizes to Death for not bringing cronuts. I forgot those were a thing!) Sam wants to know why Dean is even there. “You gotta let me in, man. You gotta let me help! There ain’t no me if there ain’t no you.” 

Sam says….yes to being saved. Dean transforms into Ezekiel and light fills Sam’s head.

Outside the hospital, Dean and Ezekiel walk and talk. Ezekiel reports that Sam’s in super rough shape. He also suggests that Sam not be told he’s possessing him. If Sam knows he’s possessed, he’ll expel Ezekiel and then die. Dean’s not happy with that plan, but he agrees to hide the truth from Sam. Adding icing to the cupcake of betrayal, Ezekiel promises to erase Sam’s memories of almost dying in the hospital. Oh dear. 

Cas winds up at a laundromat. He’s bloodied and injured, and I guess these are just...normal laundromat experiences? It’s really sad! Unlucky Cas!

But I’m getting ahead of myself because the laundromat experience is also THIS. Lucky us!

Cas loads his clothing into the washer, but he has very little money. He steals clothing and uses his change to buy something to eat and drink instead. 

In the car, Sam wakes up slowly. Dean asks him how he feels. Sam gets the dollar recap of the angels falling and NOTHING ELSE PERTINENT. Sam’s ready to jump back into the fight and Dean feels G R E A T about it.

Shirtless Quotey:

This one goes out to any angel with their ears on. This is Dean Winchester and I need your help

I would fly, but I have no wings

Let's go see the Grand Canyon, then

Anybody ever tell you you hit like an angel?

There ain't no me if there ain't no you

Want to read more? Check out our Recap Archive! 

[catatonicengineers]

A Defense of Cait Sith

Plushie Princess Saga:

A Hundred Ways to Put the WRO Back Together

A Hundred Ways to Wreck Shinra HQ

Reeve’s Adventures in Babysitting and World Saving:

And Take a Stand at Shinra

While There’s Still Time

On Plushies and Oppenheimer:

A Defense of Cait Sith

~

“We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried. Most people were silent.” - J. Robert Oppenheimer

I was eight-years-old when I played Final Fantasy VII for the first time, exactly one year after its release. Like many 90’s gamers, FFVII was a turning point into the world of RPG’s from which I’ve yet to recover. Kids today will never understand the coming of age that occurred somewhere between Yoshi’s Island and grappling with the ethos of Avalanche blowing Sector 1’s reactor sky high. It’s no surprise that my 3rdgrade brain found an essence of familiarity to cling to amid the existential dread and ecoterrorism that was the greatest game ever made.

Cait Sith was the cute, cuddly party member that validated my love of cats and ignited my adoration for moogles. I would relentlessly make room for him in my party, despite his terrible combat stats, and hurl endless Phoenix Downs every time he fell.

He was quirky, he fought with a megaphone, his limit breaks were oddly sparse compared to the rest of the cast, and his home base of Gold Saucer looked like a unicorn threw up all over a casino. What’s not to love?

According to recent Reddit threads, Youtube comments, and rage bloggers, apparently a lot.

The advent of the long awaited FFVII remake rightfully caused a massive revival of the excitement first felt by long time fans of the franchise. The release date has been confirmed for March 3, 2020 – two days before my 30thbirthday. Not gonna lie; feels like the universe aligned to bless the official passing of my youth with this nostalgia bomb.

It’s with this love of all things FFVII in mind that I’d like to formally pose a defense of the game’s most hated character.

Cait Sith/Reeve, this one’s for you.

The Laughter

We first meet the lively, dancing robo-moogle and cat combo in Gold Saucer and we’re not quite sure if this strange entity should count as one party member or two. Either way, he joins your crew as the quintessential comic relief with nary a backstory in sight. That’s right; you are now the proud owner of Cait Sith. A “fortune teller” by trade, Cait Sith’s motivations remain as murky as your party’s future.

At first glance, it’s easy to pass Cait Sith off as a filler character, the cute one added for giggles. The one the writers never bothered to flesh out because, let’s face it, that moogle is mostly fluff anyway. The “most useless character” title isn’t entirely unjustified.

If this was where Cait Sith’s story ended.

I still remember the day my older brother announced that he’d read ahead in the player’s guide (this used to be a thing, kids) and discovered Cait Sith was a Shinra spy. I’m pretty sure I went through all the stages of grief before settling on denial and assuming he was playing a joke on me. Surely, my favorite slot machine loving companion couldn’t be a traitor.

Enter Reeve Tuesti, the man behind the moogle. He’s the head of Urban Development at Shinra Electric Power Company. He wears a signature blue suit to work everyday. He hates board meetings. He’s not fond of his coworkers. Like Tifa, he’s an introvert. And he’s the guy who engineered the Mako reactors.

If Hojo is Dr. Frankenstein, Reeve is Oppenheimer. The tragedy of the monsters we create is always greater when it’s a monster we loved. Where the other Shinra execs are motivated by greed, power, and a desire to play God, Reeve is the only Shinra higher up we encounter with genuine empathy and a sense of advocacy for the people. It’s easy to assume that Mako reactors would improve lives, but as Marlene so eloquently asks, “isn’t that because we were taking away from the planet’s life?”

When faced with the guilt of a design gone horribly wrong, those in authority have two choices; own the guilt or double down. And Reeve doubles down.

I’ve never been a fan of the way modern RPG’s have everything clearly spelled out and spoon fed to the gamer. The reason we don’t need further backstory for Reeve is because his character arc is already apparent if we do a bit of digging. I was surprised to learn that the common conjecture behind the exact mechanics of Cait Sith involved him being a remote controlled, autonomous but non-sentient robot. Given that assumption, it’s fair to say that Cait Sith is a worthless character who lacks emotion or consequence.

One opinion I’ve seen trending is why not simply make Reeve join the party, sans the giant stuffed animal? After all, we’d get to see how he grapples with his role in Shinra and eventual betrayal of Avalanche.

Two words; cognitive dissonance. You have to question what kind of 35-year-old executive creates a plushie cat proxy to begin with. See I’ve never thought of Reeve and Cait Sith as separate. The gritty psychological mechanics that are Reeve have always been there, plush or human. Reeve has developed an alter that’s effectively a form of escape. The assertion that Cait Sith lacks consequence isn’t false – a robot carries out its duty, incapable of harboring guilt, blame, or moral repercussion. That’s a pretty darn good way to remain detached enough to stab your party members in the back!

Cait Sith is also an outlet for everything Reeve’s repressed executive life lacks. As Cait Sith, he’s silly and carefree, though not completely unfamiliar. Glimpses of Cait Sith’s witty quips are echoed in Reeve’s mock nicknames for his colleagues – “Kyahaha” and “Gyahaha” respectively. When life is tough to take, we laugh so we don’t scream.

Plus, the idea of Reeve controlling Cait Sith in real time, much like an MMORPG avatar, is just plain hilarious. I’ve always imagined him as the kind of guy who rolls up to his 9-5 office job, pops open a spreadsheet to look busy, and boots up Cait Sith in the other tab. He’s the OG Aggretsuko, the guy making Jim Halpert faces at the camera every Shinra board meeting.

And I get you, Reeve. Really, I do.

The Tears

Cait Sith’s sacrifice was a cop out for killing off a real character. Why didn’t Reeve just die instead of the plushie?

First of all, how dare you.

Second, not all deaths need be literal.

A pervading theme throughout FFVII is the concept of identity. Are we born into an existence we have no control over or can we choose who we are day by day? It’s easy to want to be someone else, the First Class Soldier who sweeps in, keeps his promise, and saves the girl. Our reality is often less of a fairy tale and riddled with our own failures.

By the time the party reaches The Temple of the Ancients, the line where Cait Sith ends and Reeve begins is blurring. Reeve speaks more often as “himself” through the plushie and the nuances in their speech and mannerism are blending. It’s no accident that this shift happens as Reeve becomes more at ease around Avalanche, ultimately switching sides.

I’ve heard a lot of criticism on the seeming lack of motivation to Reeve’s redemption. If we examine the cognitive dissonance theory that governs his character, the switch is far less sudden.

Cait Sith’s death is necessitated by Reeve’s accountability. The innocent plushie alter isn’t working anymore. It’s not enough to keep him from recognizing the horrors he’s been complicit to. Sacrificing this part of himself is the ultimate acknowledgment of culpability. It’s arguably a more important death than if Reeve actually martyred himself. Like Cloud, he no longer needs to be “someone else” and has started down the path of doing what only he, and not Cait Sith, can; stopping Shinra.

There will be more wonderful, fluffy moogle-cat plushies, but the need to disassociate completely is gone. He’ll confront whatever comes without a crutch – or in this case a teddy bear. Reeve reminisces that the original doll was “special” and we end with Cait Sith reminding him(self) not to forget this.

The Silence

In 1953, J. Robert Oppenheimer was denied all security clearance and effectively blacklisted by the McCarthy administration for his strong opposition to nuclear warfare.

Sometimes we find ourselves in a place we never hoped or expected to be in, surrounded by people we despise, and convinced the world is going straight to heck. We can either get out of dodge or stay.

If Reeve had indeed sacrificed himself rather than Cait Sith, this would simply have been yet another escape. He stays. He works. He gets Marlene and Elmyra out of Midgar. He spies on Shinra. He finally tells Gyahaha to stick it. He goes on to head the WRO and never stops advocating for the people.

Reeve’s not a fighter. He can barely get by with a handgun in Dirge of Cerberus and Cait Sith’s megaphone is no Masamune. Despite this, he takes a big risk by being the only insider on the team. We’re pretty sure Shinra doesn’t share Reeve’s opposition to capital punishment either.

Maybe this is why I’ve always loved Cait Sith/Reeve. I’m intrigued to see if Square Enix will add any further insight into our favorite plush moogle-cat-spy, but if they don’t, that’s alright too. Cait Sith is still a pretty solid character. After my brother spoiled one of the game’s major plot twists for me, I ended up reading the player’s guide for myself. And he was right. But he was also wrong. I recall marching proudly into the living room to declare that while yes, Cait Sith was a traitor, he was also a hero.

So fight your fight. Fail and fall. Hurl some Phoenix Downs and get right back up again.

[fadedtoblue]

My thoughts on The Punisher

Surprise, surprise -- I have (extremely scattershot) thoughts about The Punisher! 

The husband and I binged this over the past 3 days (2 episodes Thursday @ midnight, 5 episodes Friday night, and 6 episodes over Saturday) and given its unrelenting intensity I’m pretty sure there are a lot of details I’m not going to fully grasp until I watch this again, but overall impression -- super solid. I would still personally rank it under Daredevil (sorry, he’s always gonna be my number 1!!), but I think it jockeys for second position with Jessica Jones? This particular show did some things amazingly well that the others haven’t, I think largely due to the fact that it was a standalone series, separate from the Defenders, and didn’t need to mess around with rationalizing any superheroics or powers -- at its core, it’s an intense and violent 13-hour examination of Frank Castle, who incidentally exists in a world with superheroes. But anyway, let’s dive in -- it should go without saying that spoilers absolutely abound after the cut...

Let’s start with the good stuff:

Jon Bernthal as Frank. Listen, whether you loved or hated the show, it can’t be denied that Jon absolutely kills it as Frank. This show lives and dies on those fine as hell shoulders and he brings it in every stage of Frank we see on screen. I liked that they never shied away from all of the messy parts of him -- geez, when he’s holding a freaking knife to Zack’s neck...worst parental pep talk ever? Or when he’s genuinely encouraging Lewis to blow himself up. And the unflinching way he goes about his kills. But as you can imagine, it’s those moments when he loses his grip on his steely control, when he can’t rely on his rage to hold him together...those were my favorite ones. When he has those aching moments with Karen by the waterfront and in the elevator. When he realizes that Russo knew about the mission that would kill Maria and the kids. We know Frank does rage well but I’m glad we didn’t fully leave behind broken, grieving Frank either. 

Well-drawn side characters, especially those that had a direct relationship with Frank. As far as main character relationships go, Frank and Micro pretty much made it for me? They balanced each other so well and were such assholes...yet caring assholes lol. I don’t even think I could keep track of how many times I just burst out laughing during their scenes. Frank explicitly trying to fuck with him by visiting Sarah, Frank tying Micro naked to the chair (of course he would), Micro pushing Frank around in the chair (hee), any exchanges that had to do with food (lol the sandwich bit), the drunk shit-talking...I loved it all. Part of me hopes that David can just live a happy, quiet life with his family and not get pulled into this shit anymore but I’m sure that’s not happening...which makes me feel torn haha.

Frank and Karen were a highlight as well. It was definitely very measured amounts of interaction, but I felt like they didn’t waste a second of it. And the way it culminated was quite emotional, but earned. Like that amazing scene in the elevator with Karen, absolutely beat up and exhausted and nearly broken and the only thing keeping them standing in that moment is that unspoken thing between the two of them -- they want so much to lean into each other and just stop but they know they can’t. She knows he can’t. And her implicit support and encouragement for him to continue on was a really strong character beat. There’s no way they don’t see each other again in DDS3 as far as I’m concerned. 

After that, I did like what they did with his connections to Curtis and Billy, I definitely bought all of them as members of the same unit and connected by this unspoken code / brotherhood. I had issues with some of the background motivations which I’ll bring up later but...yeah, I was just like DAMN Frank actually has some really good friends! I’ll call out Billy briefly here, because shit, he was SO MESSED UP but I think they did a really good job evolving his position as Frank’s grieving brother in arms in the beginning of the series to someone who has gone crazy from losing everything he’s worked for and I’m already shivering a little to imagine the pain he’s going to lay at the feet of Frank Castle and characters like Dinah...ugh ugh ugh! But anyway, well done by Ben Barnes!

Considerate approach to examining grief, PTSD and veteran’s issues. Okay, I’m really not super knowledgeable about PTSD and veteran’s issues in general so I’m only speaking from my own limited opinion, but the way it was approached on this show felt...fresh? It was handled with respect -- mainly in showing how different people process and deal with that trauma differently...you could see that in Frank, Curtis, Billy, and Lewis -- but at the same time worked as an unflinching examination of how the system fails...so that part was really solid. At first I wasn’t entirely sure why we were spending so much time with Curtis and the support group and these slightly caricatured individuals but I think it paid off in the end. Lewis was a struggle for me at first but I ultimately think he was an extremely necessary story to tell because he does encapsulate all of the failures the show was trying to examine and I think Frank needed to confront someone like him over the course of this show. 

And the examination of grief. I’ll touch upon what they did with Sarah in this section because I think that’s basically the purpose she was meant to serve with Frank. I’m sure some people weren’t super thrilled with how much it got drawn out, but I don’t know, it really kind of worked for me? Obviously Frank makes first contact simply to freak Micro the fuck out (and it works), but at a certain point, it’s essentially forced into continued contact with Sarah and the kids and despite his best efforts, I think he starts to confront his own issues and demons regarding Maria and the kids through this connection with a woman who actually has a unique and powerful understanding of exactly what he’s going through. And these meetings are almost like therapy for him? I can’t imagine he’s ever had a safe space to process all of the ways he feels like he’s let his family down. And I think he is able to work through some of this by talking to Sarah, by connecting with the kids. This is really something Frank the character needed. As far as the romantic overtones? Undertones? I found it quite realistic actually. I liked that the show towed a grey area with it for a while, and if you think a single mother of two kids who is still intensely grieving the loss of her husband and her children’s father wouldn’t respond romantically to this man who keeps showing up and essentially fixing her life? I was super opposed to the idea of Frank kissing Sarah but I think the way they did it worked. They were very clear that it was a response borne out of her own struggles, and Frank makes it very clear to her and to Micro that this doesn’t mean anything to him. If you see how Sarah reacts to Micro in the last couple of episodes (damn it was a gutpunch) then you wouldn’t worry about what she thinks about Frank Castle! 

Episodic pacing + interesting storytelling devices. People usually gripe and grouse that Netflix shows have pacing issues but I felt like Punisher (even with my minor issues with plot and stuff) really kept me engaged through the entire run. None of the episodes felt like filler or stopped the story in its tracks (which has definitely happened on all of the other Marvel Netflix series). They also took some fun risks with storytelling structure, particularly in 1x05 (with the ambush on Gunnar’s property being mainly told via body cam) and 1x10 (with the time jumps / intercutting between various POV, both reliable and not) -- it was things like that which kept the show chugging along at an exciting pace.

The not so good?

Lackluster conspiracy plot / overall antagonist. So listen, I want to be clear that I liked Dinah Midani, so I hate that I’m talking about her in the context of the not so good stuff -- she injected a dynamic the show needed, which was a strong ass female character that doesn’t really need men for anything, and more specifically, doesn’t really need the “hero” of the show for anything either (except you know, a witness statement lol)! I loved the moments we had with her and Billy (even though, UGH BILLY!!! That washing her off in the tub scene gave me legit shivers and rage) and even the briefer moments we had between her and other characters, like Karen, her mom, even her boss Rafi. But she was also the driver of a conspiracy plot that to me, kind of missed the mark. I liked that they took those threads from DDS2 and tried to build them into a larger, more wide reaching governmental conspiracy in TPS1 but...I don’t know, it just never felt like it was realized enough, and the characters more prominent in that plot never felt more than just one-dimensional means to an end (also it didn’t feel realistic that it was basically just two people doing shit in Homeland Security on any case at given time). Her motivation worked but every time they showed her smarts and intelligence and dedication to her job, they would undercut it a bit by making her less than capable in the field, always making questionable decisions and getting her people killed. Overall, it was one of those, works on paper, doesn’t work in execution kind of storylines. 

And tying this conspiracy plot that never quite worked to the lack of a strong, overall antagonist -- I don’t think it’s something a regular show would have needed, but as a comic book adaptation (particularly a Marvel Netflix one), I was expecting a bit more. Rawlins was literally never a convincing antagonist -- his inclusion felt like a necessity on the conspiracy side, but he didn’t play off Frank in any convincing way. He was a blowhard and an asshole, not really a bad guy. That misogynist asshole Wolfe had more convincing presence to me in the small number of episodes he featured in than Rawlins tbh. As for Russo, he was obviously a much stronger foil to Frank (and a compelling secondary foil to Dinah as the female lead) but since the story was actively building him up to become the villain next season, he didn’t really tick the right antagonist boxes for me this time around either. I also didn’t like how his motivations felt really muddled a lot of the time, I liked that we kept switching back and forth from oh wait Billy is a good guy, oh no, Billy is an epic piece of shit, but I would have appreciated more clarity on why he made the choices he made and why that would justify such an epic betrayal of his brother.  

Heavyhanded approach to certain side issues. As well done as the grief and PTSD storylines were, most of the gun control related side plots just didn’t really work for me. I understood why they included it -- you can’t make a show like the Punisher in this current day and age without addressing the elephant in the room -- but it just felt really clunky. I guess at the very least they made the characters symbolizing both sides of the debate equally clunky? Hypocrite senator was about as annoying as NRA blowhard guy (though he certainly didn’t deserve to meet that end, RIP NRA blowhard guy). I guess I just feel torn because I have a very strong stance on this IRL but I almost feel as if I would have rather they not included it in this show if it wasn’t going to be handled with care. I’ve accepted that the Punisher and really any sort of violence driven show created for entertainment (which is...so much of our programming nowadays) can’t always be a grand statement regarding societal ills. Sometimes they just are what they are. But at least in the case of the Punisher, it didn’t feel like the violence was meant to be glorified or cheered on (I didn’t anyway) or viewed as some sort of heightened violence fantasy. It was brutal and unsettling. Anyway, all of this to say that I clearly don’t quite know about I feel about it since this was such a damn rambly paragraph lol. 

Storytelling issues + plot holes. So while I’ve said that the biggest positive the show had to offer was the lack of reliance on an expected superhero formula, I think this made me struggle a bit more than usual with being able to suspend my disbelief about certain goings-ons in-show...like, the moment Frank shaves off his hobo hipster beard, how does NO ONE RECOGNIZE THE DUDE FROM LAST YEAR’S TRIAL OF THE CENTURY?? (Though I legit enjoyed the hilariously awkward silence of the Lieberman family watching the TV and being like WTF) And how does Frank literally get shot / stabbed / tortured in every other episode but manage to bounce back in a day so he could do more Punishing. Even Matt couldn’t recover that quickly if he tried! Like I don’t know, I would have liked to see Frank wearing more body armor or protecting his head or SOMETHING. And as delightfully fanservice-y the Turk cameo was, no way Frank Castle wouldn’t end him without a second thought. Of course, these are such nitpicks but they did take me out of it every so often. 

So as you can see, for me there were more positives than negatives. Everything that I saw makes me extremely excited to see Frank’s Punisher in the Marvel Netflix universe again. I thought they told a very self contained story here and hit nearly all of the beats that you could want in this particular adaptation. I wouldn’t have expected them to leave it so open ended at the end but in retrospect it was a bold choice and I think one that is very considerate of this version of Frank Castle that we know. As someone who doesn’t have the emotional attachment to him via comics, I’m somewhat glad we didn’t just end this show with him as full on Punisher. I think there are more stories to explore before we get there. I also 100% expect him to reappear in DDS3 at this point and I’m super curious about where he goes in TPS2. I feel by that point, they’ll need to lean into the more comic book-y elements and it’ll be interesting to see how they handle that tonal shift. 

[hilswriting-blog]

Any Minute Now

Short fiction by Hilary J. MacDonald

The clock is ticking away with waves of clicks and tapping coming from fingers hitting keyboards. You could almost cut the tension in the air with a knife as everyone in the room scrambles to finish their work for the day. When the clock nears 5pm, the clicks and tapping start turning into shuffling of papers on desks and muffled footsteps on the carpet floor. As they start to leave one by one, sometimes in groups, I wish them a good evening from my desk and that I’ll see them again in the morning.

Those were the days. Back when I worked as a secretary for an advertising company in New York during the 60s and 70s. It was the simple 9-5 life. There was nothing special about it, but it was all I needed. My husband and I have four children so he also worked to make ends meet. It was tough at times, but by the grace of God we were able to get through it.

Roger and I are still happily married. In fact, he should be back any minute. He goes to the store every few days to pick up basic things like the milk. Sometimes it feels like he’s gone forever. Don Draper keeps me company while I wait though. He’s on the television everyday being an example of how not to live my life like mad men. But even he has some good qualities about himself.  

One of our daughters comes to visit us regularly which is very nice of her. She doesn’t have to do that. She helps me be more active and do things around the house like puzzles! She also brings the extra groceries that Roger doesn’t get. Every once in a while she brings my favorite pie: lemon meringue. It’s been a few days since she’s visited though, or anyone even. It’s starting to get lonely, but Roger should be back any minute now.

 ___

The burning lights fade out and a thunderous applause roars from the audience. “That’s a wrap!” echoing throughout the room. Everyone is feeling the same sense of accomplishment as we wrap up the last scene for the day. Cameramen are collecting their cables while the models and host exit the stage. The audience is starting to clear out one by one, sometimes in groups. I see if I can assist the members on set before we all go home for the evening.

Those were the days. In the heat of the Los Angeles sun, in the midst of the 1960s. The hustle and bustle of the Hollywood life was an everyday norm for me. I met my husband, Rich, on the set of our jobs at one of the Hollywood studios. He was impossible to resist with looks like his. We got married and shortly after had a daughter; the rest is history.

Rich should be back any minute. He’s gone to get milk. However, the lovely Bob Barker is keeping me company, telling me to “come on down!” for a chance to win my dream vacation. Though, I would never be able to go because I’m pretty much stuck in this lazy boy recliner. I live vicariously through the contestants on the screen and can only imagine the amazing time they will have on their awarded vacations. My dream vacation would be going to Greece. The food, the salty breezes blowing through my hair, the crystal blue water. An old fart like me can dream.

Our daughter, Samantha, hasn’t visited for a few weeks now. I don’t know what happened because she used to visit Rich and I all the time. She has a busy life that she needs to focus on – I don’t blame her for not wanting to just watch the television with me. Samantha never liked me being glued to that darned thing anyways. Mmmm, she always brings the best pies when she visits though.

I hear a rustling coming from the hallway outside of the family room.

“Hey honey,” I call out because Rich should be back any minute now.

___

ER nurses burst through the door rolling a stretcher with them. All I hear is multiple people yelling for doctors as they steer the victim into the emergency operating room. With the clipboard attached to the stretcher in my hand I try to record the jumbled details about this patient. Running to my desk I let the clipboard go, swinging wildly, as I go to page for a doctor to come immediately. I record the patient’s information and wait behind the desk to get out of the way. Almost instantly one doctor comes flying down the hall and stops at my desk. Our eyes lock for what feels like an eternity. I can’t focus on the words he’s saying so I just point to the operating room where the nurses took the patient. He gives a flirty grin and runs off. That was the day I met Alex. So gentle and graceful in his job as an ER doctor, always with such passion. This I saw when our eyes locked that very day. I worked as an ER receptionist during the 60s-70s at a hospital in Seattle, alongside Alex. Within a year of seeing each other we got married, settled down, and had twins. We both took less shifts at work so we could put more of our time and effort into raising our children.

           But those were the days. Our children are now grown up and it’s just Alex and I. Alex is still such a great man and tries to take care of me the best that he can by running little errands like getting the milk. Actually, he should be back from the store any minute. I’m happy here in my lazy boy recliner watching Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd woo the ladies of Grey’s Anatomy. I have definitely found my McDreamy. Mine is loyal and dear to me. My daughter is also very loyal and dear to me. She does the favor of visiting us every once in a while, but it’s been a long time since I last saw her. To make life seem a bit more exciting she gets me doing things like trying to knit or helping bake my all-time favorite, lemon meringue pie. The recipe we follow uses milk, but Alex should be back any minute now.

           I hear a rustling coming from the hallway outside of the living room.

To my surprise, a woman pokes her head in. I thought it would be Alex who should be back from getting the milk, but it’s this strange woman. Scared, my immediate response is to tell her to get out. A concerned look spreads across her face as she still stands there holding crumpled up newspaper. I become confused when she doesn’t leave.

           “Vivian, it happened again, didn’t it?” she spoke softly while she was occupied with that newspaper. Even more confused I stare at her with a blank expression. A discerning sigh comes out of her.

           She comes over, places the newspaper on the table, and sits down on the footrest in front of me. We make deliberate eye contact.  

           “Vivian, I’m Sherry, your–“

           “You’re my daughter. Yeah, yeah, I know, Sherry.” I snap at her out of embarrassment that she thinks I don’t even know who my own daughter is.

           “No, I’m your caretaker, Vivian.” I sit there, still, with that blank expression. “I come here, to your house, every day to care for and assist you. I understand that this is probably going to be hard for you, but your memory has been declining over the years, and lately it has gotten worse. Your therapists say you’re suffering from short-term and now long-term memory loss; symptoms of dementia. This started around five years ago after the accident.” She takes another sigh and she places her smooth hands over mine. “I’m sorry that you have to go through this again, Vivian. Your husband was involved in a hit-and-run accident while he was out getting milk… and he passed away.”

           Feelings of rage, grief, and disarray boil up inside me, and I can’t hold them back. “Where is– my daughter?! I need her. Where?! I need to– talk to her right– now!” I managed to get out gasping for breath between words. Tears rolling down my face.

           “You don’t have any children, you miscarried when you were 21. I try to keep you away from that TV because the therapists say that with your recollection issues you start confusing what your actual memories are with what you’re watching on TV.”

           After the silence of me being stunned, Susan gets up, takes the newspaper and starts wrapping the glass candle holder that was on the table.

           “Don’t touch my stuff! What are you doing?” This imposter is getting on my nerves.

           “Your memory has gotten so bad that you can’t take care of yourself anymore. I’m helping you pack your belongings so you can move to a 24-hour care home. I know you’ll love it there, Vivian. There’s gonna’ be different caretakers so I won’t be able to make you your lemon meringue pies anymore, but they have dessert after every meal, every single day. You’ll love that.” She has such sincerity in her voice. This calms me a bit. Sandra takes the ball of newspaper she’s holding into the other room.

           “Lemon meringue pie. Yeah, that would be nice,” I think as I struggle to get out of my recliner and walk over to the window.

           I draw back the walnut-coloured curtains of the living room window. Before me is the drizzling rain falling from an ominously clouded sky. Children are running down the street with their toys headed for cover. A cat jumps off of our fence scrambling underneath a shed; a young man opens an umbrella and holds it above his lady as they lock hands and continue strolling along.

           My left hand wipes tears away and I feel the cold metal of my wedding band graze my face. Delightful thoughts scatter through my mind. My hands rest on the window pane as I stare down the street, searching for the familiar. A smile cracks through my lips.

           Leonard will be back any minute now.

 The End.

[illuminating-dragons]

Dreams and Visions (21/51): Oh

Time Period: BBC

Chapter Summary:  The plan goes off well...until it doesn't. pt.2 of the Reichenbach Arc

Read it on AO3

          Running handcuffed through the street wasn't nearly as comical as it sounded, especially when the entirety of NSY was after you (with the exception of one devoted DI who John still thought should be let in on the entire plan)and the person you were handcuffed to was several inches taller, mostly in the legs.

           John had plenty of reasons to curse Moriarty—kidnapped children, really? If he had to blame them for something, that was truly the worst he could do—but he was too winded from running to lay out proper damnations. They were running roughly in the direction of Kitty Riley's flat: there, Sherlock assured him, Moriarty would be hiding under a fake name. John knew they had to get there as quickly as possible, that Sherlock's life depended on him keeping one step ahead of Moriarty, but he needed a rest.

           “Sherlock,” he panted.

           Without a word Sherlock slowed, grabbing hold of John and tucking them into a doorway. John leaned against the detective, his heart rate refusing to slow.

           “We can spare a few moments,” Sherlock whispered, his free hand reaching up to stroke John's hair. “Miss Riley won't be home for another half an hour, and we need her...assistance.”

           “You mean we need her to act like the gullible, greedy bitch that she is.”

           “Precisely.” The dim light from the street lamps still showed the fond expression on Sherlock's face. “You've always had a way with words, Doctor.”

           “Not like you don't, Detective.” John tucked his head against Sherlock, listening to the steady beat of his heart. It wouldn't be much longer until he would have to pretend that this precious, wonderful heart had ceased to beat. He shuddered. Mycroft meant well with his acting classes, but he didn't understand that the horror John felt at the mere idea of Sherlock being dead would be enough to convince the casual observer of his pain.

           “John?”

           “Nothing.” John wished his hands were free, but they couldn't spare the lock-picking time. “I'm just...I want this over.”

           “So do I. Don't worry, it will be.”

           John nearly shot Moriarty on sight. He didn't have his gun, which would have made that difficult, but that was merely a detail.

           The plan was perfect, of course. Mycroft's people were going to have a difficult job proving that 'Richard Brook'—Rich Brook, Reichenbach, aren't you so clever Jim—wasn't real, but the damage done to Sherlock's reputation was going to be harder still. Even though this was Sherlock and Mycroft's plan (though Moriarty didn't know it yet), John could see the pain in Sherlock's face as Kitty gloated.

           Still, this meant they were one step closer to the end of all this. And the beginning of...well, what was coming next?

John thought about it: fake names, new identities, spending ages undercover to destroy Moriarty. It sounded sort of fun, but John wished he'd been in on the plan from the beginning, that saving Sherlock's life didn't mean destroying their own, perhaps forever if they didn't manage to completely wipe out the Web.

           It's done now. Let it be. We'll get through this.

           Sherlock had left to find Molly. Molly, with Mike's help (now that was a couple John hadn't seen coming) were going to smuggle a body nearly perfectly Sherlock's match out of Bart's and into an abandoned house not far from the Study in Pink house. Sherlock was going to call Moriarty there, Moriarty would take the bait and tell Sherlock to commit suicide for the price of restoring his name, and Sherlock would set the house on fire, disappearing through a trapdoor into a cellar Mike had built on a weekend off.

           It was melodramatic and messy, so of course that part of the plan was Sherlock's.

           John hated the idea deeply, but he wasn't supposed to pass judgement. His job was to appear just too late at the house, and in a grief-stricken rage try to force his way in. Greg would be on the scene as a first responder, and he would pull John back from the flames and drag him back to Baker Street. There, John would tell them him and Mrs. Hudson that Sherlock wasn't dead, Mrs. Hudson would go stay with her brother-in-law (who was not a murderer, a lovely man with five children in Florida) and Greg would resign (temporarily) and go about his days with his income quietly supplied by Mycroft, though ostensibly gotten through music.

           John stood on the street where Sherlock had left him, waiting five minutes before dialling for a cab. He nearly jumped out of his skin when his phone rang. A familiar number, though he couldn't quite place whose. He answered hesitantly.

           “Hello?”

           “John?”

           John grit his teeth hard. “I'm not interested in talking with you, Donovan.”

           “Hear me out, please! Something's wrong, I've been looking through the evidence for the case—”

           “And Sherlock didn't do it? What a surprise. Don't bother with apologies, we're going to prove it if it's the last thing I do.”

           “John, there's some kind of plan here.”

           John froze. Sally being smart wasn't part of the plan. She was meant to be the police officer who hated Sherlock enough to set things in motion. That was all.

           “I don't like this. Can I see you?”

           “Seeing as I'm currently a fugitive, I don't think that's a good idea.”

           “Please, John. If I'm wrong, we can stop this for Sherlock. Come to my place, it's on Alder Road. We can talk it out.”

           John should have hesitated. He should go to the Diogenes Club to stage his confrontation with Mycroft, then on to Bart's with Sherlock. But if Sally had caught on, she had to be dealt with.      

           “Alright.”

           “Thank you.” The relief in Sally's voice was immense. “I'll see you soon.”

           John hung up and started to dial for a cab again. Distracted by the bright screen and his worries about Donovan—they hadn't thought about her, what were they going to do?—he didn't hear the near-silent footsteps behind him.

           He certainly didn't hear the quiet swish of a baton coming down on his head.

           Sherlock paced around the lab, Molly watching him and twisting her hands. The body was ready to be moved, Mike was waiting outside with his car. John should be here by now.

           Where the hell was he?

           Sherlock called John again—twenty seven times, but who was counting—and listened to it ring, his heart pounding in his chest. Nothing. Still nothing.

           “Have you heard from Mycroft?” Molly asked hesitantly. “Maybe something came up?”

           “I haven't heard from him,” Sherlock said curtly. “My phone hasn't rung in the last two hours. Not since I left John.” He steepled his fingers. This part of the plan wasn't totally necessary—he'd just wanted to say goodbye to John. In order to make the ruse look likely, John had to stay behind for the funeral and burial—at least a week. It wasn't that long, but it would be the longest he'd been apart from John in their entire time of knowing each other, and seven times as long as they'd been apart since they'd gotten together.

           Perhaps Mycroft wanted to make a point; that this way of doing the plan was still going to hurt, and it was much more dangerous. John must be with Mycroft, and not being allowed to contact him. That was all.

           “Sherlock?” Molly's eyes were worried. “What do you want to do?”

           Sherlock looked back at her; the one person he'd ever counted on absolutely, the one that Moriarty had managed to overlook. Molly would follow him no matter what; there was something humbling about that, considering he'd never given her anything in return. He made a mental note to do better in future—perhaps making sure that Mike's investments paid off would be a start. She'd always wanted a nice house with a garden.

           “We've got to go.”

           The three of them, plus a dead body in one of Sherlock's old coats, left St. Bart's.

           John stayed there, though as he was still unconscious, he didn't know it yet.

           With Molly's help, Sherlock positioned the dead body near the window and draped the dusty curtains over it. Moriarty wouldn't come into this room, but it would be the first place Sherlock would run to, if this building were really on fire. Finding the body here, burned beyond recognition and identified tearfully by John, would raise little suspicion.

           Mike was in the cellar, checking the trap door, raising it and lowering it to make sure that it would be easy to lift no matter how tired or injured Sherlock might be. He didn't expect Moriarty to become physical, of course, but there was always that possibility. There could be some damage from the fire, as well.

           Sherlock's phone went off in the darkness, startling them all. Sherlock answered without looking at the Caller ID.

           “John?”

           “No, Sherlock.” Mycroft's voice was sharp with alarm. “I was calling to inquire why the good doctor abandoned the plan of joining me here. I thought he went with you.”

           Sherlock's whole body went cold. He raised his arm and checked the time listlessly. 5 AM. 0500 hours, as John put it, or oh-Christ-hundred-hours when they were up too late.

           John was supposed to have gone to the Diogenes Club at midnight.

           Four hours overdue.

           “Sherlock?”

           “Find him.” Sherlock didn't recognize his own voice; pleading and soft. “Brother, please...”

           “I'll look straight away. Damn him, why didn't he take the tracker when I offered?”

           Sherlock's phone buzzed in his hand. “Mycroft, someone else is calling—I don't recognize the number.”

           “Answer it. Call me when there's news.”

           Molly was texting frantically—trying to reach John, obviously.

           Sherlock hung up on Mycroft and answered the call.

           “Hello?”

           “Sherlock, you have to hurry—I've done something terrible!”

           “Donovan?” Sherlock was shocked by the detective's tone. She was clearly crying.

           “This is all my fault, John's in danger.”

           “What have you done, Sally?” Sherlock sounded psychopathically calm, even to himself. “Sally, what have you done?”

           The story came out in broken phrases, combined with apologies and sobs. Sherlock barely heard half of it; he was too busy berating himself. Of course Moriarty would have chosen a case with children involved as his final touch—Donovan came from an abusive family, and she'd always had a soft spot for children. Of course Sally would have jumped at the chance to destroy him—she'd hated him from the first time they'd met, when he'd flirted with her for a chance to get into a crime scene, then cut her cold once Lestrade saw his talents and allowed him to consult. Of course Sally would believe 'Richard Brook', who hated Sherlock just as much and wanted to bring him down.

           “I n-never meant to hurt John!” Sally sobbed. “Never, I just wanted to show you for what you were, and why not have people think you were a fraud in the bargain?”

           “Sally,” Sherlock said, and he didn't know how he was still so calm, how he could sound so cold. “Sally, where is John?”

           “I don't know, but I know that Rich—that M-Moriarty is going to hurt him. The little boy woke up, and he told us about the man in the suit who showed them pictures of you and told them to scream. He identified him as Brook.”

           “And how do you know John's in danger?” Iceman, Moriarty had called Mycroft. Perhaps that ran in families.

           “Because I just called Brook, to tell him that I knew what he was doing and—” Sally choked. “He thanked me, he said that I'd helped him to get right to the heart of the matter, and that he'd take care of John. And I know that means—”

           “Yes.” I'll burn the heart out of you; how could he have been so stupid? “Where is John, Sally?”

           “I don't know!”

           Sherlock's phone buzzed again, and he pulled the phone away from his ear, and looked at the text message.

           Rooftop. St. Bart's. Come and play.—A.

           A.

           Anonymous. Moriarty.

           John.

           John woke with a groan. He sat up gingerly, putting a hand to his head. It was sore, dried blood coming away onto his fingers. He was cold, his whole body stiff, though whether that part was from temperature or from lying on the concrete he couldn't tell.

           The wind was coming up, and the roofs of the neighbouring buildings were coming clearer in the early dawn light.

           Wait.

           Roofs?

           John got to his feet shakily, looking around with growing dread. He was on the roof of an all-too familiar building. He and Mike had come up here to smoke sometimes, in brash defiance of their teachers, their own memento mori.

           What on earth was he doing on the roof of St. Bart's hospital?

           “Hello, Johnny boy.”

           John whirled. Moriarty stood there, John’s gun in his hand and a lazy, satisfied smirk on his smug face.

           “Nice of you to join me at the end of the book.”

[jeongyunhoed]

Past-Present-Future Black Dahlia

Two major tragedies bring Lee Mirae closer to the edge as she goes through the stages of grief in a more violent manner that would affect not only her relationships with her boyfriend Jeong Yunho and her half-brother Choi San, but also has her becoming closer with the immortal mutant Kang Yeosang. Fueled by rage, grief, and pain, along with a very rude awakening that has Mirae spiraling out of control and questioning everything she holds dear.

Group: ATEEZ Member: Yunho Pairing: Jeong Yunho / OC Genre: Action, adventure, angst, fantasy

Watch Out! : Violence, blood, death, grief and loss, major character deaths, use of weapons, some jealousy (but no cheating ofc), implied smut (not sure if there is any but i’m putting it out there nonetheless), mental illness (probably?), gambling and alcohol

Anything else? : Mentions of other idols of course as well as other characters. SuperM, Dean, Chanyeol, Zelo, soloist Park Jihoon to name a few.

Author’s Note: Ten plays devil’s advocate, more anger and rage from our main character. This chapter was originally supposed to go according to the plot I made, but considering what I typed out, I ended up ripping up the paper where I plotted chapters 5 and 6. 

Listen to: Gimme Gimme - NCT 127

Masterlist

Chapter 5

It took Mirae seconds to process everything that Baekhyun was now saying. Baekhyun looked so satisfied, so pleased that his plans had succeeded. “I took everyone you love away, just as you took everyone that mattered to me away, in a way,” He said with a chuckle. “If you were wondering about Yeosang in there, it���s not like he would genuinely be there for you either. You’re really all alone.” 

Her hands felt like clenching into fists. “Now you’ve succeeded. I am all alone. What else do you want to happen?” Mirae asked. 

Baekhyun smiled and with a snap of his fingers, all the lanterns in the garden lit up, illuminating the otherwise dimly lit grounds. “You are right about that, Mirae. I have succeeded in making sure you lose everyone you love while making you feel guilty for not being able to save them. If there’s one thing I know about you, it’s that you were and still are the monster you are trying so hard not to be.” 

“What the fuck do you want with me? Am I supposed to get down on my knees and grovel?” Mirae said through gritted teeth, anger rushing through her and she was trying her hardest not to snap this time.

It only made the male laugh. “No, of course not. But, seeing as I’ve made you suffer enough, I thought I’d give you a proposal. Ino knows about this of course. Project Apocalypse is more than just a think tank. It’s about time mutants embraced our superiority over everyone else. If living peacefully among them doesn’t cut it, taking control certainly does. If you join me, you not only give this venture added credibility, but you also give it the necessary firepower it needs in case of dissent.” 

Mirae just stared at him, anger still boiling and bubbling inside her the more she listened to him. “Of course, if you don’t, it’s going to be very concerning what happens with Junhong, and possibly even the loved ones of Chanyeol and Hyuk, and maybe even your… brother? Choi San, isn’t that his name?” Baekhyun grinned. “I am aware that San heals, but that won’t stop me from trying. Besides, your immortal soulmate could still be killed, and it wouldn’t take me to do it.” 

Baekhyun glanced at her, waiting for her to speak. “Don’t think I don’t know who else you are around, Mirae-” 

Mirae had her hand on his throat, her eyes glowing red. Baekhyun coughed and gagged, his hands on her wrist. He noticed that her fingertips were glowing red as well. “You really dare to do that, don’t you? After all we’ve been through?” He coughed. 

Mirae didn’t say anything and only squeezed his neck tighter and kicked him far into the deep end of the swimming pool. She turned around and walked back inside, seeing Taeyong and Mark already standing, while Yeosang remained seated along with Jongin. The glow in her eyes faded as she met their gazes. “Baekhyun’s in the pool,” Taeyong eyed Mark, both of them rushing out onto the garden. 

“What happened? What did you do?” Yeosang turned to her. “Did you kill him?” He asked, Jongin looking horrified. 

Mirae turned to the teleporter. “You helped Baekhyun in killing Hyuk and Chanyeol. Tell me why I shouldn’t return the favor? I remember you telling me before that you have sisters, and you have parents, and your nephew and niece…” She recalled, approaching Jongin, who was looking even more horrified. 

Jongin stood up and disappeared in his place, appearing in another part of the room. Mirae’s eyes began to glow, making Yeosang get up from his seat. “Mirae, do you really want to do this?” He asked, glancing at Jongin, who kept teleporting in random spots in the room, while glancing out the window from time to time. 

The dining table exploded, making Yeosang jump out of the way. The shelf containing porcelain dinnerware also exploded, some of the shards hitting Jongin before he could teleport again. The decor that hung on the walls were also charged and exploded, destroying almost the entire room. 

“Mirae, I-” Jongin sputtered, his teleporting ability fluctuating when a shard of glass cut his leg and made him limp. “You have every right to hate me-” He choked when Mirae had her hand on his throat and kicked the shard in his leg further into him, making him yelp. 

“I think I’ll track them down, after I’m done with you,” Mirae squeezed his throat tighter. “By your reaction, I think they know you’re alive and you’ve been seeing them often since that time.” 

“Mirae, come on- You w-wouldn’t,” Jongin gagged, seeing Yeosang lock and close the doors. He tried to teleport again, but his energy was wavering.

Mirae looked down at the shard that was still exposed and it exploded, causing a big gaping wound into his leg. Jongin groaned in pain, eyes widening when he saw that her eyes no longer had the red glow, but were of a pitch black. Yeosang stared at her. “My dear, keep going.” 

“Y-Yeosang, what are you-” Jongin looked over at the immortal incredulously, seeing Mark appear.  

“I am impressed by how this is turning out, strangely,” Yeosang said, standing behind Mirae. He looked at her. “My dear Mirae, I must confess that this is a side of you that I frankly find so attractive.” 

Baekhyun coughed and took out a pistol, only for it to explode in his hands when Mirae’s eyes glowed red again. She let go of Jongin, who collapsed to the floor, coughing and holding his leg that had a gaping wound. A beam of light came from Baekhyun’s hand, aiming towards her face only for her to duck. Baekhyun kicked through what was left of the dining table and tried to charge at her, only for her to kick him away. Mirae glanced at Taeyong and Mark, who looked especially alarmed, then looked up at the ceiling. 

Yeosang, sensing what she was about to do, ran out of the mansion. Taeyong was quick to follow suit, trying to outrun Yeosang to the front doors. Mark pulled Baekhyun and ran towards Jongin, the three of them disappearing as the ceiling began to crumble down. 

Boom. 

~ 

San arrived at the floor where Junhong’s apartment was, seeing the rest of them including Yunho, sitting around and looking concerned and holding an ice pack over his head. He was concentrating, trying to hear Mirae’s thoughts to get an idea of where she might be. He was growing even more worried, while sending dagger looks towards the room that they knew was Ino’s. 

“I know we’re all worried and wondering where Mirae might be right now, but the rest of you need to eat something,” Junhong broke the silence as he took out a large plate from the microwave that had a large burger with fries and a tall drink. “I’m testing out these bars I made that turn into meals. Perfect for missions.” 

“Where’s Ino?” San asked, looking over at the meal on the plate and taking a fry. “Left again?” 

“What else would he be doing? He’s not even bothering to duplicate himself right now,” Yunho grumbled. 

“Who could it be, though? If Mirae is not the only one who survived the Seoul attack after all, there may be one or two of them,” Junhong pondered on the thought, taking out a plate of spaghetti that came from another bar he was testing with the microwave. 

“Could those one or two people be the ones that were in here?” Hongjoong questioned. “If they were, then they must have been mad at you, at Mirae, at Chanyeol, at Hyuk or something.” 

“Possibly. There goes the training room I spent months on building,” Junhong sighed. 

Yunho got up and took the ice pack off his head. “I’m going to look for her.” 

“Do you know where she is?” San asked. 

“Yes and no,” Yunho sighed. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate. If Mirae was alive, or conscious at the very least, he’d still be able to hear her, or at least read her memories. He opened his eyes, his expression turning into a crestfallen one. “Baekhyun and Jongin. I keep hearing those names from her. Baekhyun and Jongin.”

Junhong stared at him. “...Baekhyun and Jongin. The two of them survived.” 

“There are others too, not just them, not just Yeosang,” Yunho closed his eyes again to concentrate. “Psychics, immortals, but she’s angry at those two because they were here.” He could see her memories of being taunted by Baekhyun when he revealed that he was behind the explosion. “Baekhyun and Jongin messed with the Danger Room.” 

“...That’s impossible. They wouldn’t know how to tamper with the controls-” Junhong looked over at the door of Ino’s room. “Ino told them about it?”

“No, but Ino knew they were here. It’s all I could get from her now, it’s like she’s so far away-” Yunho opened his eyes again. 

“Where could she be?” Hongjoong asked. 

“I don’t know, it’s like she’s somewhere by a body of water or something.” 

They heard the doorbell ring and all of them looked at each other. “Except for Mirae, all of us are here,” San looked back at the door. 

Hongjoong sped past them, the blade from his sleeve already unsheathed as he looked into the monitor. “There’s no one outside,” He said. The doorbell rang again. 

“...Yeosang?” Yunho and San exchanged looks as they stood up and Hongjoong opened the door. 

In came the mutant himself, looking frazzled. “Thank heavens I looked in the right one, I went up to see if any one of you were there and I had the sense to be here,” He said. 

Yunho’s expression fell and he immediately grabbed Yeosang by the collar. “Where did you take her?” 

“Would you prefer me to answer or are you just going to kill me?” Yeosang replied, and Yunho could sense that he seemed just as concerned. When Yunho let go, he dusted himself off. “Well, I can see that the cadre of assassins is here.” 

“Explain. Where is Mirae and what happened to her?” San asked. 

Yeosang glanced at the rest of them, including Junhong. “Oh my, you have all been sitting around and waiting, aren’t you?” 

“Well we don’t even know where she is and what we’re going to do so unless you can help us out by telling us where she is and what happened to her, we’ll take it from there,” Yunho replied. 

“I took her to where she would find the answer to her question of who killed her two friends. There, she found the answer and there she unleashed her rage. It’s the first time I’ve seen her like this but I reckon it must be all the grief she is feeling,” Yeosang said quietly. 

Wooyoung got up from the floor and a glance at Yeosang brought in flashes of visions of what happened. “She crumbled down a mansion, didn’t she?” He asked. 

“Yes, yes she did. Two of them, her old colleagues in that center she used to work in, took the most beating,” Yeosang replied. 

“You’re afraid of Mirae,” Wooyoung pointed out. “Your face might not show it, but I saw it. You ran out of that mansion while she was in there blowing it up.” 

“Anyone with half a mind should be afraid, especially of someone like her,” Yeosang said. 

“Well, we witnessed that when she lashed out at Ino the other day,” San said. “And fought Yunho and I off while she was out there in the streets wandering.” 

“Where was the mansion?” Junhong asked. 

“It’s a long drive north. You’ll know you’re near the boundary when you see burned down cars. Those were likely their bodyguards who were trying to keep us from going,” Yeosang explained.

“Then we go there,” Hongjoong nodded, making the rest of them stand up. “I’m not going to be surprised if we don’t see her there, but Wooyoung will be able to see where she will be next.” 

“At the end of the burned down cars, there’s a thick fog ahead. Just move past it, you’ll get there,” Yeosang advised. 

“Where are you going?” San raised a brow. 

“I was informed by the two other mutants that were with us, Mark and Taeyong, about Project Apocalypse, a business venture that they were planning, while Mirae and Baekhyun were dueling in the garden of the house, I found out what that venture was all about,” Yeosang explained. 

“Which is?” Junhong asked. 

“Project Apocalypse is a think-tank, and they plan on exerting influence over political matters through that think-tank, to push their agenda,” Yeosang explained.

“Which is?” Yunho asked. 

“Mutant supremacy. I must admit they drive a very hard bargain on that idea. Our mutant race taking over the country, governing non-mutants, all of the power and control goes to us of that persuasion,” Yeosang said. 

“Nothing good will come from that,” San shook his head, realizing what it meant.

“It is what I was thinking as well. I will always stand for our kind over the rest, but if there is anything I have learned over the centuries, it’s that the ruling race may not always bring peace, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” Yeosang nodded in agreement. “However, Mark thinks the opposite even if he’s lived as long as I have,” He muttered.

“Mirae would be looking for Baekhyun and Jongin, right?” Hongjoong chimed in. “And we’re looking for Mirae. We might have to change who we’re looking for. If we find those two, we’re bound to see her.” 

The rest of them nodded. “Where could they be? Would you know where they’d go to next?” Seonghwa suddenly asked. 

Yeosang nodded. “Unfortunately I do. The mansion Mirae blew up is owned by Taeyong and his brother Taemin, they will likely be at Baekhyun’s penthouse, in a metropolis not far from where the mansion is.” 

“In that case, I’ll prepare the van with everything we’ll need,” Junhong took away the rest of the bars he was testing and went inside his room.

The rest of them did the same in their places. Hongjoong pushed back the blades hidden in his sleeves while Seonghwa filled his quiver with arrows and folded his bow. San unfolded his harpoon gun and loaded it with an arrow while Yunho picked up his holsters that had his sai. Mingi fitted the shurikens and axes he had on his belt while Wooyoung sheathed his katanas and Jongho fitted his pair of nunchaku in his holster belt. 

~ 

A giant pile of rubble crumbled into dust as Mirae crawled out of the debris that came from the mansion. Her eyes were still glowing red as she dusted herself off upon getting to her feet. A lot of the debris and rubble landed on the lake below and she heard a hissing sound come from the waters. 

They had disappeared. There was no sign of any of them. Of Taeyong, of Mark, of Baekhyun or Jongin, or even Yeosang. The white streak in her hair seemed to become more prominent, as if taking over another section of her hair. She kept replaying what Baekhyun told her. It was all him. He was responsible for the deaths of Jihoon, of Chanyeol, of Hyuk. The red glow in her eyes remained as Mirae felt nothing but anger. She wanted to know where they went, blinking a few times when she kept hearing someone’s thoughts. Yunho’s thoughts, wondering where she was. “Stop it, stop it, stop it!” She yelled, the nearby vehicles and sheds exploding. 

She saw several people arrive at the scene, looking horrified at the sight of her in the midst of the ruins of the mansion. Mirae stared at them, the ground exploding in front of them, keeping them away. An armored van pulled up and out came a team of law enforcement all wearing tactical outfits. “Hands in the air!” One of them shouted. 

Mirae stared at them and then at the armored car behind them, making it explode. “Hands in the air now! Freeze!” Another one yelled. 

She stared at their weapons, making them explode one by one, the rest of the guards taking out their other weapons as backup. Mirae reached into her pocket and took out the deck of cards she had with her. 

“You probably shouldn’t do that,” A suited young man suddenly appeared from a portal close to the road. The portal closed behind him.

“Why not?” The cards were charging in her hand. 

“Because-” The male ran up to her. “Because these people are not worthy to see you showing the true extent of your powers.” 

“Are you with them? The guys who owned this house?” Mirae asked him. 

“I created this little world they lived in. This reality was created by me,” He said. “Call me Ten. You must be the soul-taker.” 

The glow in her eyes faded and he saw tears fall down her eyes. Mirae fell to her knees, breaking into sobs as the cards she was holding crumbled into ashes. “They killed people I love. They killed them.” 

Ten bent down to stroke her hair. “They did, didn’t they? And now you want revenge, your anger is driving you to kill them aren’t you?” He said calmly. “The people that betrayed you, the people you thought you trusted the most, who would never do anything, hurt you in the worst way possible, didn’t they?” 

A portal appeared behind her, showing an abandoned boarding school, its grounds almost barren and bathed in gray, black and white, almost devoid of any color. Ten gently helped Mirae up to her feet. “Come, let me take you to my place, it’s not much to look at, but you will find a way for your revenge in there. I will help you,” he said. 

Mirae looked over at the portal behind them, seeing a few glints of light in the distance. She reluctantly followed him inside, the portal closing behind them as they found themselves in the place where the boarding school was. “Where is this?” She asked quietly, wiping her soot and tear-stained cheeks with the sleeve of her jacket. 

“This is in the same world I created. You can stay here if you want, no one can harm you and they will think twice before they think of doing it,” Ten muttered near her ear. 

“Will I find Baekhyun and Jongin inside?” She glanced at him. 

“Anyone you want to find is in there. Give them a piece of your mind, show them how much of a mistake it is to cross you,” A smirk crept up on his features as he led her towards the dark entrances. 

~ 

With Junhong at the wheel and Yunho in the passenger’s seat, the rest of them seated themselves at the back inside the van, driving down the highway that Yeosang told them about. “It’s been a while since I was on a mission like this,” Junhong muttered as he drove. 

Yunho’s expression fell. “Those two people also killed Jihoon. I can hear her thoughts. They killed Jihoon too.” 

Junhong sighed. “Basically everyone who was there for her from the beginning.” 

“Honestly, I don’t even know what to do, how to calm her down,” Yunho said quietly. “I mean, I know they hurt her, I know how hurt she is, losing people she loves, and to think before she ran away, we fought,” He looked down. 

“The way I see it, we have to understand that none of us, no matter how long we’ve lived, has seen everything she has. I know you know that, Mirae probably told you that the first thing you two started arguing, and I’m no psychic,” Junhong said, sensing the teleporter nod. “I know they always tend to include us whenever the Seoul attack is brought up, but the thing is, she was there. She fought those goblins back into oblivion. Ino gave her the directive to blow up the Center.” 

“The guys said that was how she looked when I died in her arms,” Yunho looked out the window. 

“Perhaps. It’s another thing we have to understand. Mirae has lost a lot of things in her life. Her biological parents didn’t want her, so she was interned in that sanitarium. She thought she lost you during that mission you all told me about. When she had to fight her adoptive parents because of that cult, she had to kill them and witness Jihoon dying too. And now, she lost Chanyeol and Hyuk,” Junhong said quietly. “She’s probably losing hope. She’s probably afraid she might lose you again and San too in the midst of her rage.” 

The rest of them overheard Junhong’s words. “Thinking about it, she brought us together again,” Hongjoong said, looking down. “Quite a few times too.” 

“This is all Ino’s fault, really,” Jongho crossed his arms. “But what happens if we fail?” 

“We’re not going to fail. It’s not an option,” Seonghwa shook his head profusely. “We can’t fail. We’ve got powers, we’re good enough.” 

“As cliche as that might sound, I must agree with him,” Yeosang chimed in. “But are you all strong enough to go against the people that may have her right now in one way or another?” 

“What kind of mutants are we dealing with?” San asked. 

“Quite a few psychics. Jongin is a teleporter, Baekhyun controls light. Mark is immortal like me and only Yunho and I can kill him,” Yeosang revealed. “However, out of all of them, Taemin is the one you might want to watch out for. He can mimic your powers, you know. Ten too. He can send you into another dimension completely.” 

“So we’re up against psychics, they can read our minds, that’s great,” Wooyoung grumbled, the katanas behind him hitting the wall of the van. 

“They’ll know what we’re up to before we even do anything,” Mingi sighed. “We’re definitely screwed.” 

“I may have the advantage on that. They won’t be able to read my mind,” San shook his head, looking determined. “But as for the rest of us, I don’t know.” 

“Mirae seems to be the key to end this whole mess. She has exposed the faction of our race that is bent on power,” Yeosang mumbled as he sat back. “They have kept themselves hidden in the shadows long enough and they plan on making quite an entrance to the world.” 

“You make it sound like they’re bringing on the apocalypse in their Project Apocalypse,” Hongjoong glanced at him. 

“They can pull it off whichever way, it would be best not to underestimate them,” Yeosang pointed out. 

Junhong slowed down when he saw the piles of burned down cars and piles of ash on the road. The asphalt was also littered with scorch marks. Yunho sat up upon seeing the damage that was done. The thick fog Yeosang mentioned was close by. Junhong and Yunho exchanged looks and nodded, the elder slowly pressing the gas to drive towards the fog. The fog seemed endless as he drove on. Yunho closed his eyes in the hopes of reaching out to Mirae again. All she seemed to think was that she was getting tired, and that she was bent on looking for Baekhyun and Jongin. 

The fog was beginning to clear up, and they found themselves at the lakeside village. “We’re here,” Yeosang said, making all of them look out the window. “Junhong, drive towards the smoke coming from the cliff. That’s where the mansion is, or was.” 

“I was going to do that,” Junhong muttered, side-eyeing the vampiric mutant as he drove on. 

“This isn’t the north, is it? Please tell me we didn’t reach North Korea,” Mingi said. 

“This is nowhere in North Korea. This is the place created by one of the people I just told you about,” Yeosang pointed out. 

As Junhong pulled up in front of the burned down ruins of the mansion, Wooyoung transformed into his shadow form and slipped out of the van, slinking towards the ruins. Yunho tried to concentrate again to reach out to Mirae. After a moment, Wooyoung’s shadow form slipped back inside the van and he transformed back to normal. Yeosang cringed at the transformation. “Well? Any luck?” Hongjoong asked. 

“Someone took her into this portal,” Wooyoung said. “That guy you were probably talking about. He brought her somewhere, like a building, a big building, almost like a private school.” 

The rest of them glanced at Yeosang. “Where is that?” 

“Ten has taken her to their headquarters. Possibly where they intend to carry out Project Apocalypse. He can be very...manipulative,” Yeosang said. 

“So that’s where you go to sometimes? Hang out with those kinds of people?” Yunho raised a brow. 

“They are like me, and they were already there before the rest of you got your powers,” Yeosang replied. “However, I must reveal that this is where your so-called wise figure has probably been going.” 

“Ino,” San mumbled. “So there’s a chance we might fight Ino hyung too, huh.” 

“We’re definitely screwed,” Wooyoung frowned.

[russellthornton]

The 7 Stages of Heartbreak When You Become Someone’s Ex

Heartbreak’s here to stay for at least seven stages. Here are the common stages of heartbreak you experience when you go from sex to ex.

Unless you end up spending the rest of your life with your first love, odds are you’re going to experience one of life’s greatest woes: debilitating post-breakup loneliness and the seven stages of heartbreak that go along with it.

Breakups are totally worth it as long as you learn something, right? You may come out a stronger, wiser person on the other end of a breakup, but the process of getting there has to be some kind of cosmic joke.

The stages of heartbreak

It doesn’t seem to matter whether you were in a relationship or simply lusting after your crush from afar, heartbreak gets the best of everyone. From crying rage to hermit-like tendencies, we all seem to follow a vague pattern of heartbreak that charts our course through a breakup.

Feeling lost about where you rank on the heartbreak-o-meter? We’re giving you a chart of the 7 stages of heartbreak.

#1 Possible first: anticipation. When it comes to the stages of heartbreak, your first round can go one of two ways. Your possible first stage may just be anticipation.

Your lover was playing the long con, and you were wise to their game. You caught their subtle eye rolls, felt them backing away from you, and took note every time they told you they were hanging out with friends when they were really out at the club. This breakup may not have been a surprise to you, but it sure did hurt all the same. [Read: 20 signs your relationship is -oh-so-over already]

(or)

#1 Possible first: shock. Breakups bring us unbelievable heartache. Some feel that mourning a breakup is psychologically similar to mourning a death. The loss is so overpowering sometimes the mind can’t comprehend the difference. This can be particularly hard to bear when we don’t see the end of a relationship coming.

If this breakup came out of left field, your first stage of heartbreak is probably going to be shock. Big, slap-you-in-the-face shock. You were just living life, happy as a clam, thinking everything between the two of you was hunky dory. There was no anticipation, no telltale signs. You had no opportunity to slowly back away or to try and remedy the situation. Instead, the person you care for more than anyone just told you they no longer love you.

This is one of the hardest things to endure. [Read: Suddenly single?! 11 things you HAVE to avoid doing]

#2 Denial or it’s not over… It still isn’t over! Denial of a breakup isn’t as bonkers as you flat out deny that you’re no longer a couple. Rather, it’s more like you’re in denial that you’ll stay broken up. You have hopes of getting back together and picking up where you left off. I mean, you have to reconcile at some point, right? You were the perfect couple!

You may shelve your hurt feelings during the denial stage and try to psychologically convince yourself that this breakup is just a phase and you’ll be back together soon.

PS: This is really harmful to your psychological state. You ignore your grief when what you really should do is drowning your sorrows in a pint of mint chip ice cream and binge-watching Netflix with your friends. [Read: The pain of loving someone who doesn’t love you back]

#3 Bargaining or friends with benefits and other endeavors to win them back. Bargaining is all about doing whatever it takes to get your ex back and ridding your heart of the pain you currently feel. You swear that you’ll be a better mate, more understanding, more available, more attentive in the sack. You’ll even do that thing they like with the vibrating and the tongue and the…

The list goes on and on. Whatever you can do or say to get them to entertain the thought of getting back together, you’ll try it. This stage is rife with social media stalking. If you hope to reconcile then you need to make sure he’s not out with other girls, or that she’s just as upset as you are and… Whoa, did they really change their status to single? Ouch.

Becoming your ex’s “friend with benefits” is often a bargaining chip that women like to use. Do yourself a giant favor: unless your ex was the best lay you’ll ever have, skip this mistake waiting to happen. If you thought your heart was shattered during the breakup, becoming a friend with benefits explodes in your face so hard those shattered shards turn back into sand! [Read: 12 reasons why the no contact rule always works]

#4 Anger or the rant stage. Best friends unite—it’s the ranting stage! During this phase, you’ll move across the border from sad, wallowing heartbreak into pure pissed hell. You’re angry. You’re tired. You’re ready to rant.  How could your ex do this? Don’t they see what a catch you are? How could they not appreciate everything you’ve done for them? They’ll never get head as good as you gave ever again!

Opposite of the example above where you find out who your true friends are and cling to them for life as your new source of happiness, you may end up hating the world and everything in it—including your friends. You may become so angry that you lash out at those who love you the most. You may start acting out in self-destructive behavior.

This stage isn’t pretty, but it’s all a part of the process. Becoming angry means that you’ve taken off the rose colored glasses. It means you’re concerned about you now. [Read: How to let go of anger: Release the rage and resentment]

#5 Sadness or wallowing. Howard Hughes has nothin’ on you. You are deep into the sorrow stage. Right now your life consists of non-stop crying and reclusive behavior. You’re sad about everything: your breakup, the way you look, where your life is headed, the squirrel who keeps digging in your backyard.

This is one of those stages of heartbreak that is incredibly hard, but it’s also one of the most therapeutic once it’s over. Which, just warning you, could take a while.

Don’t let yourself be a hermit for too long. Engage your friends and allow yourself the chance to laugh, smile, and get fun drunk again. *You probably haven’t experienced that in a while!* Restart your social calendar so you start to feel like a real human being again. [Read: Self-discovery after a breakup – How to happily move on]

#6 Rebounding or looking for love at the wrong time. Somewhere between wallowing and acceptance comes the rebound relationship. A relationship is generally considered a rebound if you jump into it soon after a breakup from a serious relationship, or while you are sad, distressed, angry, or generally emotionally unavailable.

Rebounds are generally messy and involve a lot of hurt, but that doesn’t mean they’re worthless or wrong. For example, remember the days when you thought you could never love again? That it wasn’t worth putting time and effort into getting to know someone else’s little quirks and sex habits?

If rebounding to a nobody taught you anything, it’s that you really do have the potential to have a connection with someone new. The best part? It feels amazing. [Read: Rebound relationship rules to follow for a slam dunk]

#7 Acceptance… Sort of? If acceptance means ignoring your ex and staring daggers into their soul when you have the displeasure of sharing the same social scene with them, then yeah, you’re totally over it.

But seriously, acceptance usually happens when you least expect it. Suddenly a day goes by where you don’t even think about your ex. Every location, food, song, or movie you see doesn’t automatically remind you of some awesome time you had together. Instead, you’ve accepted and begun to move on. You understand why it didn’t work out and why you’re better off apart. You focus back on yourself and learn to live a life that is “me” instead of “we.”

[Read: How to be single after a long relationship: 16 ways to start over]

The 7 stages of heartbreak are unforgettably painful, but they also teach you something. You’re worth more than begging for someone’s time and affection. You are strong. And after this trauma? You can take a bullet without even flinching.

The post The 7 Stages of Heartbreak When You Become Someone’s Ex is the original content of LovePanky - Your Guide to Better Love and Relationships.