#i won't lie i'm still not sure what is truly going on with the failing rock

[cienie-isengardu]

There's some people who simply think Bi-Han never really loved Kuai in either timeline. Some people say Kuai adored Bi-Han but Bi-Han simply didn't feel the same way and that their relationship was one-sided, where Kuai loved Bi-Han where Bi-Han...simply didn't.

I don't believe that but I think the writing could use a bit of work here because in story mode Bi-Han's interactions with his siblings are pretty much him telling Tomas he's not one of them and then saying 'btw I let Dad die' to Kuai in some deluded hope that his brother would see his point of view. The only noticable moment he shows concern is when Nitara ambushes Smoke from above when they are scaling the walls and most say that doesn't count because he seems to have kicked that rock at Smoke whilst he was scaling the wall.

The falling rock while someone is hanging over the abyss is so popular I can’t even remember a similar scene not using this motif to present the sense of tension/danger. So I guess there is no point in blaming MK1 for going with that visual storytelling choice - though if it was intentional choice of creators to cast a doubt on whether Bi-Han on purpose kicked the rock or not, it is impossible to say. Definitely that moment could be better presented to avoid the confusion, especially since Bi-Han’s foot is clearly placed on the ground before the rock is even shown,

so it is rather impossible for him to kick it on purpose? I mean, the rock would need to start failing before Bi-Han stopped in his tracks, as kicking requires movement of the whole leg and as can be seen,  Bi-Han’s boot was firmly touching the ground while the rock itself appears a few seconds later, like out of nowhere (and in later scene, there is no rocks only snow around Bi-Han's feet, especially compared to where Kuai Liang was standing?) I assume, when Sub-Zero was leaning out, his weight must have caused the loose element to slide, especially since he was the one standing the closest to the edge and once rock slid, he took a step back.

(Yes, I’m that dedicated to do the slow motion rewatch to make sense of what really happened.)

But you know what is more surprising than the rock failing scene? The whole fact that a man who mastered magic and was capable of using his powers to literally fly didn’t use the same powers to save himself, instead panicked and relied on his hands (failed attempt) and knive - and the game subtitles literally describes Tomas' struggle as “panicked screaming”.

So if Bi-Han (and Kuai Liang) rushed over the edge and may accidentally cause a rock to fall, I think him being concerned for a brother who could die is enough good reason to give Bi-Han the benefit of doubt he did not do that on purpose. If he didn’t care, he would not bother to come there in the first place, especially since the enemy was already out there to get them all. Frankly, there is a lot to say about Bi-Han’s claims about Tomas (your blood will never be Lin Kuei), Tomas actually panicking to the point he was unable to use his magic and the fact that Sub-Zero still took him on this top priority mission when he quite likely had more warriors with real battle experience and skills than untested Tomas. On one hand, we could argue Tomas joined because Liu Kang said so, but the Fire God literally not even once acknowledged Tomas in any specific way and as the meeting scene proved, Bi-Han had a say in who is allowed to accompanying him for the mission, as he refused take Kung Lao and Raiden while Liu Kang did not try to force them on him. So I tend to assume that whatever Sub-Zero said about Tomas in regard to his Lin Kuei status did not stop him from including the adoptive brother in his duties. And the falling scene proved he had a point about Tomas’ training and battle experiences (or lack thereof) - even if voiced in a brutally straight up way. 

Generally speaking I think what (and the way) Bi-Han speaks should always be compared to his actions. Tomas not having a true Lin Kuei blood =/= taking him on top priority mission commissioned personally by worried Fire Lord.

That said, yes I agree that story mode should handle better both Bi-Han as character and the whole brothers dynamic but for that the story would need to give them more focus and screen time to establish well written balance between their flaws and virtues instead of the more or less one-dimensional characterization game started with (Bi-Han the angry & ambitious/power-hungry brother, Kuai Liang the honorable “never did anything wrong”, Tomas the loyal sidekick, basically). As the Lin Kuei subplot seems to exist solely to set up the conflict between Sub-Zero’s clan and Scorpion’s Shirai Ryu, I assume that was the authors' goal to achieve, but with such approach to klassic characters can’t say I’m surprised by fandom negative opinions about Bi-Han. 

I can understand the never-ending fan dispute about how much Bi-Han truly loved Kuai Liang, as Mortal Kombat lore is more than three decades old already and we still only got glimpses of their relationship from Bi-Han’s perspective. Considering how many games, books, comics, movies, animations and cards the series spawned in such a long time - and how different media present different “timelines”, it is both impossible and unfair to demand from new fans (or any fans in fact) to be familiar with all possible nuance, details and stories almost forgotten before they will speak their mind. Not everyone has the opportunity, time, energy or interest to expand their knowledge about characters and that is fine, even if we don’t agree with said opinions. I know it is hard to be Bi-Han’s fan, as the man, both as Sub-Zero and Noob Saibot barely gets the proper recognition, be it from fans or source material and this has been happening for many years now - even though he is the first Sub-Zero on whose popularity Kuai Liang grew to be character in his own right. 

I do not have a doubt that Bi-Han and Kuai Liang shared true brotherhood and I’m right now truly tempted to write an essay on why elder Sub-Zero is not - and in fact has never been - inherently evil character and why we should not doubt that Kuai Liang’s love to him is not grounded in some delusioned idolization but for now I wish point out to all doubters this: original Bi-Han and cryomancer Kuai Liang were first and foremost survivors above any simplified fan idea of good or evil nature. The only person that tried to give them a normal (safe) life was a mother and the woman was presumably killed alongside their youngest sister by their own father. Ice brothers were just kids when that happened - and even if the mother somehow managed to save herself and the daughter and hid from Lin Kuei, she was still removed for good from her sons’ lives. They were abducted by their father, brought from America (their place of birth) to China, a totally different land and culture, to be raised in secrecy and isolation from the world they knew. None of them choose to be raised as assassins and as their respective stories showed, Lin Kuei would easily turn against them at any moment if any stepped out of line. In Mythologies, Bi-Han was called the most cunning assassin of Lin Kuei, but in the same game Sub-Zero outright said if he did not fulfill the task, he would be killed for failure. This comes from a man who was openly praised  by the Grandmaster personally and yet his life was the constant fight for survival, the “perform perfectly any impossible task” or “be killed”. If to survive Bi-Han needed to be a cold-blooded person he became one. If because of that he won’t fit into the cozy fan ideas and the silly labeling either “good" or "evil” without taking into account what shaped said character in the first place, then frankly, that is the problem of fans, not Bi-Han.

[villainousauthor]

hi! i love your writing!!!! would you like to write about a hero who went undercover at the villain’s base and they fell in love? maybe they’re afraid that the villain will torture them for information after finding out their identity, but in reality the villain is still in love and possessive of them?

Hero's hands twitch at their sides, a sweat starting to bead on their face. They try swallowing, anxiety making their mouth dry. Villain has been quiet for several minutes now, brow pinched together.

Staring at the evidence that exposes Hero's betrayal, the proof of their undercover mission, their face is unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, they speak.

"You've been working against me this whole time." Villain's voice is tight, like a cord ready to snap.

Hero's heart lurches, pulse drumming in their ears and fear making their knees wobble. What would come next, now that their secret was revealed? Torture? Imagining all the ways Villain could inflict pain upon them, making them spill their secrets made Hero shake even more. Death is certainty. Villain would not forgive this.

"I- this isn't- I wasn't..." Hero fails to find the right words, floundering now as they try and steady their voice.

Villain looks them directly on now, and Hero finds the pain in their face, the anger, to be more cutting than they ever imagined.

"Was the...was the way you looked at me fake too? The way you spoke with me, the way you'd let your touch, your gaze linger." Villain speaks with a fire in their voice now, eyes steel, "Was that all fake? Apart of your mission? To make me think you felt something for me."

Flushing hot at the accusation, Hero is quick to defend themselves, throwing their hands up as they try to reason.

"No! Of course not! That...that wasn't part of my mission." Hero speaks now with less fear, emboldened as they speak only the truth.

"I wasn't supposed to develop feelings...but I did." They find Villain's eyes watching them with an indiscernible emotion as they continue. "I won't lie and pretend I wasn't undercover, but how I felt about you wasn't fake."

Hero's cheeks feel warm, as they realize they're admitting their feelings now. To a villain who's likely to torture them any minute now, no less.

Stepping closer now, backing them up against the wall, Villain is silent for several moments. They reach up, grabbing Hero's wrists as they exam their face for any falsehoods.

"You truly have feelings towards me?" Villain finally asks. Hero nods mutely, not breaking eye contact. They feel their heart racing as Villain steps closer.

Villain pulls them by the wrists, reaching for their own belt and quickly binding their arms with a pair of cuffs. Hero has no time to react, and immediately feels their panic rising. Oh no, this must be where the torture starts. The roaring of their own heart is so loud in their ears they almost miss what Villain says next.

"You obviously can't be trusted around secret information anymore, or the weapons room, for that matter. I'll have to keep you in one of my rooms." Villain muses, as they pull Hero along now, not letting them drag their feet.

"...What?" They don't understand what they mean by this. Villain snorts, rolling their eyes.

"Well I'm not letting you go, obviously. Even if wasn't worried about you taking secret info back to the enemy side, I want to keep you here." Villain's voice is lighter now than from when they first discovered their betrayal.

Hero gulps, looking back up at them. "You're not going to torture me?" They ask hesitantly.

Villain barks out a laugh. It's a rough and warm sound, and it makes Hero feel even more weak.

"Of course not. I'm going to keep you here, I'll make sure you're comfortable, but I'll be damned if I'll let you leave me now."

"I don't understand...why?"

Villain pulls them closer by their bound wrists, their chests nearly pressed together now. Hero can feel their breath across their cheek, lips inches away.

"I'll let you in on another secret, my lovely little spy," Villain begins, voice barely above a whisper now. "I've come to love you, too."

[crownmemes]

Spy Sentences, Vol. 18

(Sentences from various sources for spies and/or secretive muses. Adjust phrasing where needed)

"I understand you think I betrayed you, but I'm no longer the man you knew."

"You should probably be thinking about who hates you enough to want you dead."

"Surely it's worth sacrificing a little privacy to feel safe?"

"I sure wish I knew whose side you're on!"

"So, what do you do with a spy once he retires?"

"The fact that you won't explain explains everything."

"You have barely looked me in the eye. What are you concealing?"

"The government is hunting us! You are not appreciating the threat!"

"This is a closely guarded government secret. Only nine people in the world know about it."

"Don't tell me anything. The less I know, the safer I'll be."

"I don't know who you are or who you work for, but I don't care. I'm leaving."

"I fail to see what you hope to achieve with this approach."

"Is this some kind of interrogation?"

"The information in your head is priceless. I don't think you realise what a valuable property you've become. A man like you is worth a great deal on the open market."

"Just when you think you're too paranoid, you realise you're not paranoid enough."

"What am I supposed to call you?"

"I wonder if you even know you're lying."

"I miss when 'don't get killed' was the only thing on my to-do list."

"It's not time to die! Keep going!"

"You are still the most intriguing spy I have ever met!"

"If I told you, you would have just tried to talk me out of it!"

"I like you. You see everything and say nothing."

"I have limited tolerance for being ambushed."

"A lot of people want to know the reason behind your resignation. You had a brilliant career. Your record is impeccable. They want to know why you suddenly left."

"You don't lie to me. You're much too clever for that. You just hide."

"Of course, you have been checked, but when a man knows as much as you do, a double-check does no harm."

"We're all pawns."

"No, you're not doing this! You're going to kill yourself!"

"Why would I want to spy on him for you?"

"There are people in the woods. People who are watching me."

"Do you want to save your family? Come with me."

"I cannot afford spare time."

"Can a spy ever truly love?"

"Why didn't you say anything about this before?"

[dragonridernoobie]

How Optimus, Ratchet, and Megatron act when they meet someone that is forgetful but good with swords

Request open still!!!

I'm not gonna lie. I never watched Demon Slayer, but I appreciate you telling the characteristics for S/O!

Optimus

When he first met you, you where practicing you're sword attacks in the forest.

He watched you and was impressed by the sword skills.

But like all good/cool things had to come to an end.

The decepticons found optimus (somehow) and attacked him.

He wasted no time picking you up and calling for a ground bridge.

There, he interduced you to everyone and told you the story why he was here, just he did with miko, Jack, and Raph.

He decided that he will be you're gurdien and this is where you're friendship bloomed.

It came clear very FUCKING quickly to optimus that you where forgetful.

Most times he had to remind you to go grab you're backpack, lunch, homework, and even you're sword.

It never bothers him. He enjoys it since it's always different, and it always keeps him on his toes.

He confess his feelings for you and you guys became a thing.

He was 100000% more protective of you.

He understands you are great with a sword but it'd a sword.

Oh boy, did you prove him wrong.

Miko pulled, well, a miko, and dragged you into the portal with her.

You where attacked by decepticons and optimus was fearing the worse when he went thru the portal to get you.

Expect to find you missing but just finds you beating the living SHIT out of the drones.

He is amazed that you where able to fight somone almost 200x you're size but saw that you truly can hold you're own

You forgot about the fight 2 hours later.

Ratchet

Ratchet was asked to open a ground bridge for Optimus.

When he did, he wasn't so happy to see ANOTHER human.

Tho, he did notice the sword you had.

He was assigned to be you're guardian as much as he protested.

He learns really quickly how forgetful you are and it annoys him.

Always reminding you to get you're bag, eat something, drink some water, To FUCKING BREATH!

(Yes there was a time you forgot to breath)

He gets more and more annoyed with you but somehow you manged to get into this old bots spark.

As much as he hated the fact that he fell for you, you always made him laugh when you forget what you are doing or anything really.

The sword tho, he wasn't so sure about.

He was worried that you would hurt yourself because of how forgetful you are.

Tho, you proved him wrong when the tables have turned and you where the one protecting him.

He was driving you home from (work/school) and he was attacked by Knockout.

He was thrown to the ground, hurt.

He told you to run but you did no such thing, you stood you're ground and held out you're sword.

He saw how you took on knockout and won.

You definitely got a ear full about safety and how reckless you where but he also made sure to tell you how proud he is of you.

That night he confess his feelings and you returned them.

If you don't return his feelings, you are a monster

Megatron

He met you when you where taken from the forest by one of his vicons and brought to you.

He noticed that you had a sword, but he still let you keep it when he thru you into a little cage.

Thinking you won't be able to do anything with that dinky little thing.

Even tho you where assigned to Soundwave he still came by to ask you for information about the autobots.

You kept telling him you don't know who they are.

He notices very quickly that you forget alot.

He tries to use this in his advantage but fails.

After weeks being kept in that cage, he took you out and he shrunk down to you're size.

Or at lest you're size, since he was still a whole 4 ft. Taller then you.

He was impressed by you're sword skills, to the point he actually had fun fighting you.

You reminded him of his old days.

He watched how you fought and actually gave you tips on how to fight.

(No the lord scary megatron ain't being soft.)

Eventually you gained his friendship that he let's you sit on his shoulder alot.

He loves your poor memory, just like optimus. It's always exciting to see what you forget next.

He confessed his love to you when you invited you to the roof of the warship.

You return you're feelings.

Hope you enjoyed! Please remember to request any character on my list! I'm always open!!!

[masonmiamor]

love to hate - - mason mount x reader.

Summary: from innocent glances, to the necklace, from the honeymoon stage to the reconciliation stage, how will it all play out once you find out the real truth…

WC: 7k words… 🌚

a/n: HIIII… don’t hate me fr just struggled to get back into writing 🥲🙏🏻 i really hope you enjoy this piece, please do give some feedback if you can 💕💕

“Does everything look okay? Anything missing? Could I bring you anything else?” your kind waiter asked as he approached you and Sophia. “Everything looks great! Thank you!” you replied, thanking him watching as he walked away. You were at your traditional brunch date with the German girl enjoying her company as always, having your waffles and a side of fruit with your choice of coffee.

“So how are you and Mason going?” Sophia asked taking a sip of her Mimosa and then grabbing a bite of her food. “Well if I'm being honest there's a change in our relationship I'm not going to lie,’ you sighed.

About nine months ago, Mason asked you to be his girlfriend… It was a beautiful dinner on a rooftop overlooking London. The cheeky glances and shy smiles he offered, the hand holding across the table, the conversations that flew left and right that finally ended you and him watching the stars by an open field.

“Close your eyes Y/n, I want to give you something,” Mason whispered after having kissed you for the millionth time that night. Sure it was a dangerous move from both of you, having acted like a couple but with no label. But you loved Mason too much to care. You closed your eyes hearing as he shuffled around behind you, Mason gently moved your hair to the side, then leaned over to place and clasp the necklace on you.

Your fingers traced the gold letter M, “I’m confused..” you admitted. Mason crept his hand around your waist pulling you towards him. “First get rid of that cute frown on your face,” Mason began, tucking your hair behind your ear. “Second, it's a necklace because you’re mine, and I’m yours.” There’s still a glint of confusion on your face still, “Third, I want you to be my girlfriend Y/n.”

The words failed to come out of your mouth. You felt your throat close up and become dry, your pulse raising at an ultimate rate. “Your girlfriend? Ar-are you sure? I can be really annoying and impatient-” You began to ramble, but Mason cuts you off with a laugh and a sealed kiss. “Yes, my girlfriend. I'm more than sure, and I want this with you. I want everything you're willing to give me. Annoying or not,” he joked.

“Ok ill be your girlfriend I guess…” you said wrapping your hands around his upper shoulders, kissing the corners of his mouth, the tip of his nose, and then his soft lips.

“What are you implying? Is everything okay?” Sophia narrows her eyes at you. “At first we were in the honeymoon stage. It was a shy yet innocent love, then the arguing came in and it got ugly for a while, but the reconciliation came on and we fixed things… at least I think so… But now I'm just keeping up with his constant mood swings. One day he’s happy, then he’s upset and he won't talk to me, he gets frustrated and leaves, but then always manages to make me feel like the luckiest girl in the world?” you felt relief at saying it, the burden and weight carried off your shoulder.

Sophia would always be there no matter what, she would never judge or ever give a negative comment at all, she was humbled and honest, something you truly love about her. You could trust her with anything even if it wasn't easy for you to open up at times, but her kindness and assurance made you feel safe and wanted. The best friend you wished you had and longed for.

“I just don’t know what to do and it kills me at times when I can’t help him. I never want to invade his space but it hurts me too. I may sound needy or selfish, but I feel helpless… He hasn't even told me if he’s going this weekend. We’re lacking communication and we hide our real feelings from each other?”

“You’re not needy or selfish for wanting that love, if anything you're strong for still being able to keep it all together. I get what you're feeling believe me been there and done that. But you have to stop going to him first and let him realize the damage that’s occurring… As much as it may sting and hurt realization needs to be made first,” Sophia says, interlocking her hands and placing them beneath her chin.

“You're there for everyone, always placing a good smile and joking around and only I and him know what you go through… You deserve to put yourself first… Don’t wait for him if he can't see that, because the most hurtful thing in life is not valuing yourself and letting yourself crumble apart, not knowing where to start and rebuilding yourself…”

“And if it's too late?” you whisper avoiding the sting in your heart that begins to spread coldly through your chest. What if it is too late? What if Mason doesn't realize and leaves you? What if you give up and leave him?

“It’s never too late to realize…”

~~~

“Y/n, you home?” Mason yells out. You sigh and take a seat by the doorway where you remove your coat and boots. “Yes, I'm here!” you answer back before glancing in the mirror and putting your hair up in a messy claw clip. You notice just how drained you look after the past few weeks. The eyebags visible through your concealer, droopy eyes, the paleness around your cheeks and forehead, you looked like hell.

You walk into the kitchen to prepare a cup of tea in hopes of it relaxing you before you begin to pack. The pile of clothes haunting your head that you’ve let to fix. Mason walks into the kitchen and follows to where you were seated eating a small granola bar. “How was your day, love?” he asks kissing your head. There he goes again… not even a kiss on your lips.

“It was okay. Had brunch with Sophia, went shopping and bought my dress for this weekend, and then just drove around to clear my head…” you say resting your head on your propped hand on the table. Mason could sense your tired and distracted figure becoming a bit worried, “What color is the dress? Can I see it?” he asked wanting to hear your voice again. “Yes you can but later, it’s a dark red silky gown,” you said smiling remembering how Sophia kept complimenting you. The dress looked absolutely breathtaking, hugging your figure in all the right places, opened back, and a slight view of your cleavage.

You walked back to the kitchen and prepped your tea in your white mug, Mason watching your every move. You seemed distant and off, and he wondered what had happened. You weren't asking about his day or even looking at him at all when you talked with him, had he done something? He took out the trash and did his laundry as you had asked. So what was it?

“Hey… talk to me… What’s up?” you looked at him surprised, your mug stopping midway from touching your lips. “Me? I’m fine! Just tired and need to finish packing that's all,” you partly lie, taking a sip of your warm drink and face him. Mason furrows his brows and crosses his arms, leaning against the opposite marble counter. “You're lying to me… What’s truly going on?” Mason remarks, “You're avoiding me and fidgeting with your rings, I know you Y/n..”

“It's nothing Mason, I promise. I just don’t think I'm prepared to see everyone this weekend, the last reunion wasn’t the best…” you say finally looking at his brown orbs. “I had planned on riding with my close cousin from here but she ended up getting sick and won’t be attending-”

“I thought we would be going together? Wasn’t that the plan?” he cuts you off.

Oh? “Yes, it was but you haven't said anything to me if you’d attend or not. I didn’t want it to be a distraction from football and recovery,” you set your mug down and sit on the white counter. “I will be going with you, I bought my tux not too long ago, I just kept forgetting to remind you,” Mason said uncrossing his arms and walking towards you. You become shy, feeling your cheeks heat up. “You did?”

“Yep, even had help from my mum,” he chuckles and takes his phone out showing you a picture of him. It was a black tux with a white button-up, and his broad shoulder and arms fit the suit like a glove, “I was just waiting on you to see if I should buy a tie, bow, or leave it as is,” he said tucking a loose string of hair behind your ear. “I say as is,” you offer, giving him a sly smile and enjoying his warm touch against your skin. How long until he’d pull away?

Your heart began to pace quicker, looking at his freckles distracting you from the cold feeling that began to invade your spine to your arms. The urge to look away and clench your jaw to avoid any tears threatening to pour out. You just wanted him to realize how he’s making you feel but you refused to allow yourself to give in. This was harder, it wasn’t going to do any good if you didn't communicate with him.

“Can I be honest with you?” you whisper seeing how he nodded confused, “I'm afraid of you pulling away and going back upstairs to whatever you were doing,” you state. “I'm afraid of the cold air that will replace your warm palm once you go back. I'm afraid of thinking of losing you knowing so much can be done to prevent it…” you whisper the last part, not knowing how he’d react. Would he stay or go? Would he be upset or concerned? Would he pull away or hold you close?

“Losing me? Why would you lose me, baby?” Mason began to get scared at your shaky voice and sad tone. He moved between your legs, his other free hand coming to rest between your waist. He was holding you, finally, your hands continued to grip the counter, knuckles becoming sore from how hard you were gripping it.

“Because you haven't held me like this. Because you haven't kissed me. Because either you're mad at me or someone else and close me out of your life. Because when I try to help even if you may not want it you pull away… Because I'm afraid I'm not being the girlfriend you deserve,” you sigh and sniffle focusing on Mason’s hoodie strings, and how his thumb was soothing your cheek.

“Look at me.”

You hesitantly do so, “You're more than what I deserve. When I asked you to be my girlfriend I saw a future with you. You’ve treated me way better than how I have been treating you. I get it, my random mood swings and attitude aren't the best but you're always there, haven't given up on me… I'm just afraid of it being too much for you. The last thing I’d want is for my problems to distract you or make you leave as the others have…” Mason whispers.

“I won’t leave you, Mason. Not unless you give me a good reason too. I just want you to know that I love you so so so much. Trust me, you won’t be distracting me or putting too much on me. I know what I got myself into when I began dating you. I want it all, everything with you. You make me happy you know?” you grab the back of his head and then bring your hand to his jaw where you rub his cheek.

“Just happy?” he laughs and leans in, tracing your jaw with his nose, snuggling impossibly closer than he was before. He peppers kisses along the areas he just traced, his soft lips driving you insane along with how he was holding you made your head feel cloudy. “I can tell you how you make me feel? Hmm, how about that?” all you could do was nod still distracted by the way he was slowly kissing down your neck to behind your ear.

“I love these hands, how they bring comfort when I need them. I love your smile that never fails to make me feel all nervous all over again, especially when your small dimple comes out, like right now!” he kisses over it making you draw out a giggle. “God that laugh, knowing that I can make you laugh, knowing that you feel safe and sound with me, knowing that you love me no matter what? Makes me the happiest man on earth, and I couldn't ask for more.”

Mason kisses you, at first, it takes you a while to kiss back stunned by the harsh pull. But when your lips mold with his, tasting his minty and musky scent has you wanting more. His tongue teases your bottom lip, and you allow him to explore your mouth, not a fully heavy makeout session, but enough to have you panting after pulling away. “I love you, Mason,” you murmur, he carries you to the long grey couch, your legs tightly around his waist.

When he lays you down, he lays on top of your chest, his hands dragging up and down your sides in a soothing manner, your hand playing with his hair till he slowly drifts away. “I love holding you know? But right now I'm so wishing I could go and finish that tea I made,” you jest, you hear him snort, slowly lifting himself up and walking back into the kitchen. You sit up and extend your legs, looking at what he was doing. Or so tried to see.

“Here you go,” he places the mug on the side table giving you a small peck on your cheek, Mason grabs a pillow and lays it on your lap, laying back down while holding your legs. “I was thinking for dinner if you wanted to make your delicious teriyaki chicken? I'll help make the rice and veggies?” you heard him say, “Sounds delicious, but after this nap, because you deserve some sleep mister.” “After we can go get some ice cream, and come back home to finish packing?” he proposes.

“As long as we enjoy a late-night drive.”

“How about this outfit?” he turns to you, you look up and see him holding a white polo shirt with either a pair of black or slightly blue pants. “I like it! Perfect if we go out to eat together or to wear around,” you praise, he thanks you folding the clothes and setting them inside the small suitcase. You had just finished packing, you were now just setting up your makeup and skincare to carry in your main bag.

“Is this the dress?” you look up confused but then catch Mason staring at the red for the evening. “That’s the one,” you let out, walking over to him and tiptoeing enough to rest your chin on his shoulder. “It's beautiful Y/n…” he compliments, running his hand over the revealed parts of the dress, but also smoothing out the fabric. “Can you try it on now? Or will I have to wait to see it in person?” he questions with a small smirk on his face while he turns around.

“I’d rather you wait. I promise it will be worth the wait,” you laugh, “It's not that I don't want to show you but it's kinda delicate to take on and off you know?”

“I can wait, you're going to look absolutely sexy. I'm sure of it.”

Mason whines for you to get on the bed, but ends up helping you finish packing the other items you have to have ready. He is constantly asking questions about what the different products do, and if you could test them on him one day, which you found to be completely adorable. After assuring him you’d plan a night in and self-care, you fall almost fast asleep once you hit your pillow.

~~~

Mason currently sat on the bed, fixing his watch and rings. He had just fixed his hair, and steamed his suit jacket, waiting on you to finish so he could put it on. He felt nervous, there was a small pit feeling that made him feel off for some reason as if something bad were to go down but he pushed it away, focusing on the fact he could have some time to himself.

On the other hand, you were just finishing curling the last piece of your hair, applying some hairspray before finishing the bombshell curls with a small comb. You applied your lip liner, a darker shade of your red lipstick that you then applied. After spraying some setting spray, perfume, and deodorant you were ready. You slipped on your gown but had trouble with the zipper in the back. You managed to close it, making a mental note to ask Mason to clip the butterfly clasp in the back.

You put on your heels and opened the door, stepping carefully to meet Mason standing up. His eyes roamed your body, his mouth slightly open, and taking a gulp. Just like he had pictured, you look drop-dead gorgeous, the red on you was sexy. He walked over and walked around you in a circle feeling lucky, “Jesus Christ you look so good Y/n,” he said making you blush against his gaze.

His hands came around you, setting them dangerously close to your bum. “I don’t know if I might resist myself tonight,” he joked but he was being serious. This dress was taunting his head with dirty images of you, especially a picture of your lips smudged. “You look handsome, Mason. Can I fix something really quick though?” he nodded and watched as you unbutton two buttons from his shirt. “Leave it like this, looks way better than the turtle neck appearance,” you laughed.

He took one last glance at you, feeling grateful. He took a picture of you looking in the mirror placing your earrings, making it his wallpaper. He came up behind you and kept you close to his chest. “Are you ready to go?” he whispered near your ear, “I'm ready.”

You walked together down to the lift, Mason finding every chance to touch you which you kept laughing and pointing out. You had to make a line at the venue, but luck was on your side and you got there to be seated inside before the rain started to pour. You had seen some familiar faces and said hello to known relatives before going back with Mason. He poured you a glass of champagne, keeping his hand behind your seat showing his protectiveness on you.

“Y/n is that you?” you turned confused, Mason following your movements, where he felt his blood go cold. “Sue…” You stood up and saw your cousin. You and her always never got along, it was a long family feud that started years ago. She took every chance she could to embarrass and harass you. She wore a blue heavy dress and curls that weren't brushed out making you cringe. But next to her was John.

“John?” now it was Mason's turn to speak, John smirked and gave a sloppy kiss to Sue. You side-eyed Mason, becoming uncomfortable. “Just greet her out of respect for your family,” he whispered to where you could only hear, you nodded agreeing with him. “Guess it's a small circle, eh?” Sue snickered. “You still put up with her Mount, shame…”

“It was nice seeing you,” he ignored her grabbing your waist and dragging you outside to cool off. The outside area had almost a twilight theme to it, with big and small white flowers, and so many green trees. “I know him… I used to work with him, but I never saw them dating each other,” you said.

“Yeah me neither, but hey if the shoe fits?”

“Just forget about them okay? It's just us now. Let's grab a drink and sit back down to enjoy the ceremony and we can go back early to celebrate. How does that sound?” Mason suggests, “You mean the world to me you know? I love you so much Mason,” you hug his torso, appreciating the world for bringing a man like him to you.

You feel a gentle kiss on the corner of your mouth, “I’d give you the biggest kiss right now, but I don’t want to smudge this pretty lipstick,” Mason says along your lips, giving you butterflies. He settles with the kiss on your cheek, holding you by the waist as you walked back inside. After ordering drinks and sitting at the bar, you enjoy the presentations.

The evening is filled with waves of laughter and shared tears. You joked with the table mates around you, feeling comfortable for once when meeting new people. Mason kept kissing your head and shoulder, overall just holding you close, showing his affection which you couldn't complain about.

Once the lights turned off, the DJ began to play music, which made you and Mason get up and dance from time to time. He pulled out his phone and took pictures and videos of you, even posting some on his story to appreciate and show you off. A slow song played after midnight, and his hands were securely around you, while you rested on his chest, leaning your head into each other.

Your bodies swayed side to side, often time where he’d slowly spun you. “I’ll be right back I need a drink of water. Do you want a glass of water too?” you offered, Mason nodded and thanked you. After touching up your hair and makeup you were walking back to the table, a glass for Mason in your hold. Your heels clicked against the marble tiling, walking gently so your ankle wouldn't give up on you.

“Y/n, I want to talk to you,” you turned swiftly to be faced with your cousin, more so the one who has always tried to sabotage you for no reason since you started to date Mason. “Listen, I've had a day, and I don't want to speak with you at all,” you sighed and said sincerely, and it was true, you had no intention of getting along with her anymore. She smiled as you turned around and continued walking to the stairs.

“Are you sure you don't want to talk? It's important, has to do with Mason,” her words angered you, you turned around again and walked over to her calmly, but only god knew how you felt at that exact moment.

To say you were fuming was one word, but the picture of dragging her to make her feel what you felt was on another level. What could she possibly want now? Has she not had enough? You trusted yourself enough with the next words you said, but she had different plans that would forever taunt you. “Leave Mason and me alone, whatever you have to say save it, I'm sure it doesn't mean anything-”

“Not even if it's because Mason got with you for revenge?”

Revenge? What? She chuckled when she noticed the reaction on your face. The glass of water that you were carrying suddenly felt heavier, “What are you talking about?” you sound shaky. “You just never can pay attention Y/n? Can’t you? Mason is only with you because he believed you and John had something serious going on…”

John? John the one Mason grew up with? It didn’t make any sense why would he want revenge on you? What had you done for that to happen? The glass you had was now shattered due to you throwing it angrily. You let out a frustrated breath as your cousin continued with what she was saying.

“It’s true. Mason has never loved you, it was all calculated and planned from the start, he’s only with you for revenge. John slept with his ex-girlfriend, and since you and John had something going on… Well, you can picture the rest yourself…” She crossed her arms back and cocked her head to the said, smirking at your now broken and distraught look.

John had slept with his ex? Revenge? Has it all been fake?

“I'm sorry you had to find out this way my dearest cousin, but, not everything seems sincere and real once you find out in the end,” she walks off, leaving you now resting on the floor holding back the loud sobs. Your shoulders shake, attempting to take deep breaths but you fail, silently crying and holding your palms behind your neck.

The sound in the room all becomes quiet, just you processing what was revealed to you. How long was he waiting to drag it out? He knew John was nothing, an old friend and absolutely nothing more. Why did it have to be you? Was he pretending, was that why he was so quiet and distant during those times?

{ “What do you this is more important when meeting someone? Respect or honesty?” you ask, taking a sip of your red wine. There wasn't anyone else besides you and another couple enjoying their Saturday night out. For once you were grateful for the peaceful setting. Mason thinks about his answers, dragging his fingers along his chin before answering, “Weakness. It shows a lot of a person, and how they handle their surroundings…” }

{ Your dad sits back on his chair staring at you and Mason, who were lost in your own world. “Mason. What are your true intentions with my daughter?” it had caught both of you off guard, you sent a glare to your dad, not finding the timing perfect as others were around you. Mason grabs you and kisses your temple, “Only the best intentions to make her happy, sir.”

“Those are just words,” your dad scoffs, lifting the glass of whiskey and downing it in one gulp.

“I’d marry her right now if she said yes.” }

{ “How do you know John?” you question the brunette you had just met. His name was Mason. He had gorgeous locks of brown hair, his cheeks tainted with freckles and slightly red from being out in the sun. A perfect smile that was sure to make you feel nervous when being around him. He wore a simple baby blue button-up with some tan shorts.

John and you had met through a shared friend, and after some working together in the same town together you enjoyed his presence, but something about him always felt off. Always looking for trouble in the wrong places. You made it clear from the start you weren't looking for anything when he attempted to hit on you, and he respected that. You hadn't spoken since then. But he had just come up to you and Mason, catching up and asking you how you had been.

There was some tension, you looked between the two guys, who either gave each other fake smiles or glares. It wasn't your place to ask but you were curious, only accepting the answers he would give you. Mason opened your beer bottle and handed it to you gently before responding back.

“Let's just say we were like brothers at one point.” }

{ Your first holiday together started off by almost missing your flight, and once arriving at your destination the heat and exhaustion began to kick in. You sat near the luggage claim after passing customs, looking around and holding yours and Mason’s carry-ons tightly, knowing some people were desperate and would take the chance to steal. Or maybe it’s just an irrational fear of pickpockets after your incident in France.

“You okay?” Mason asked, taking the water you had just bought when you offered him some. Small hairs stuck to his forehead due to the light sweat, “I’m doing okay, tired but I'm here with you.” Mason smiles and kisses your lips sweetly. “I love you,” you say.

“Me more.” }

{ “I know I’m being annoying but I’m just asking you to help me really quick with something,” Mason rolled his eyes but listened anyway, you twisted your head at the attitude and wondered if you pissed him off. After struggling to set up the network in your new apartment, you finally caved in and asked him, but you regret it after his reaction.

“You need to start learning how to do things on your own.” }

You slowly found the courage and stood up, the room feeling smaller, or was that your head playing tricks with you? With a trembling hand, you managed to clean the broken glass, you grabbed a blanket and layed on the small antique couch that faced the double doors leading to a balcony. The urge to take off your gown was high, but you didn't have the energy to move from where you were.

You had stopped crying but the pain you felt was still so present. A stinging heart, the feeling of your stomach dropping every time, suddenly becoming cold and chill running up your arms, despite the cozy blanket. You fidgeted with your rings, tracing over the delicate designs, and jewels. What was the point of crying? It wasn't going to bring back the old you and him. The loud chatter and music began again, becoming aware of how long you were missing.

“Y/n? I was looking for you,” Mason said relief running to you. Mason saw your broken state, the dry tear streaks, and your lips were slightly swollen, but yet you looked still so stunning. “What the hell? What’s happened here? What's wrong?” he asked, taking a seat next to you and attempting to comfort you by rubbing his hand along your thigh. “Don’t touch me.”

You stand up and pick up your heels, “Woah, woah, hold on. You have been crying, just please talk to me,” Mason begged, walking around the couch and facing you again. His eyes roamed at your clenched jaw and fists, you were fuming, the pain is replaced with fury, just desperate for answers. “I can’t help you if you don't tell me what's going on-”

“I don’t need your help,” you spit out walking away back to your hotel room. It was clear it wasn't the time or place to discuss this but Mason wasn’t going to let go. He’d never seen you look this damaged and destroyed, your body language was off. “Is there anything you want me to do, I can’t look at you like this not knowing what’s troubling you. I'll give you space if it's what you need,” he said sincerely to you. You laughed loudly turning around and walking to where he was standing in the room, you pushed his chest with your index finger, seeing how he tumbled back.

“You know what I want? I want you to tell me how long you were going to continue this revenge you have on.” Mason looked at you with wide eyes, realizing that someone had told you about everything. His face went pale, shifting his weight from one foot to another, “You bastard! You lied to me, Mason! You only got with me to get revenge on John? I had nothing to do with him!” you yelped out loud, tugging your hair trying to contain other profanities that wanted to be shouted. “I'm so sorry,” he began to apologize and walk over to you, but you took steps back, creating a barrier.

“What do mean I'm sorry?” you couldn't believe him. “There is no excuse for what you did. You lied to me from the start, you made me suffer all those times you wanted to. I had nothing to do with him, or anyone else, was that not enough for you to believe or to at least tell me the truth from the start?” it became too much for you, you promised you wouldn't leave him unless he gave you a reason to, but he’d driven you to the point of betrayal.

“You have to believe me when I say I'm sorry! I regret everything. I was always told from the start it was you who had come into John’s life, who turned him into a better person, and that he had found happiness despite what he did to me. I hated him, for finding someone who valued him and probably didn't know what he’d done. He and others told me you would sneak around and do know gods what-”

“But we didn't Mason. We never did anything besides work that summer. I never liked him like that, he wasn’t the type of person I wanted to waste my time with even if I wanted to. The only thing I believe is that you're a coward who failed to tell me from the start. You should've told me long ago, would've saved us this,” you motion with your hand the distance between you and him.

“Im begging you to believe me I'm hurting too, it was slowly killing me, I wanted to tell you but I was so afraid of losing you. You're the first real person who has treated me better than I treat myself. It hurt me when I hurt you. Y/n I love you, everything we’ve done together, from the first glance, our first date, when I confessed to you that night, all of it was real! And you're right I was a coward for not telling you, but I couldn't bare seeing you like that.”

“How can you say that? How do you expect me to believe you after finding out that my boyfriend did what he did? What you did is unforgivable, and I want nothing to do with you ever again,” you express seriously. You wanted to be left alone, to forget this night ever happened, you wanted to so badly take this dress off and sleep through the pain that has been caused.

“I love you, Y/n” Mason cried out reaching over and grabbing hold of your hands but you pushed him away, seeing his now tears falling down his freckled cheeks, In another moment, where the situation would be different, you'd console him, hold him in your arms, assure him you were there for him, make him feel loved and wanted, but now, you never wanted to see him ever again. To forget everything you had to relive for the past few years and months. All the lies and promises.

“You never loved me, Mason. You bluntly dedicated yourself to humiliate me, to hurt me, to make me feel like the most hated and despised woman to exist? If that's love to you, then wow! I sure as hell put up with you, no? I hate you, Mason.” You had said it. The words that you’d promised yourself you would never say because of the worth they hold. Words even he knew how they'd make you feel.

Mason's eyes narrowed and presented a small frown on his lips not believing you. “You don’t hate me… You’ll learn to forgive-” he said approaching you, scared you’d slip away so quickly without thinking about the situation rationally. “Forgive? Forgive you? Did you learn to forgive, Mason?” your voice is laced with pure honesty and anger. You laughed and tug at your hair, desperate to leave and never come back.

“You condemned me from the start, and I never knew what you were accusing me of. I sacrificed everything, everything for you. I left my family for you, I followed you Mason, but for what? For you to mistreat and despise me? All I ever wanted and asked from you was love, for you to love me as I loved you. Do you not know what it means to a woman to feel ignored and rejected by the man she loves? It's humiliating and humbling Mason…” you whimpered tears staining your face. You could sense your makeup falling out of place, the beautiful lashes that once adorned your eyes were now stained by your mascara and eyeshadow.

Hate. Love. Those were the only things that ran through Mason’s mind, he was frantic now holding you by your waist as you struggled to get out of his hold. “It's all finished now. Forgive me baby-” he began to let out, if he needed to get on his knees and apologize, confess the love he feels for you he will, anything to not make you leave.

“I’d be more than stupid to forgive you…”

“All the lies and betrayal end here. Im giving myself to you, whatever it takes for you to believe me. I love you y/n, and I know you love me. We can work this out, it's not too late. Don’t give up on me just yet, please,” Mason holds you against him, just afraid you’d pull away and actually mean the words you let out. You softly push him away, resting your forehead against him, “I can’t trust what you say anymore. How do I know what you're saying is true?”

“Because as you said, I’m afraid of you pulling away and it being cold everywhere I go,” he refers to what you had said a couple of days ago. “You managed to make me fall for you deep and deeper every day, and I don’t want to lose you. You're mine y/n. It's my fault I get that but all those lies and John end today, they have ended. It was childish, and so stupid for me to do,” Mason says, he reaches over to hold your hand.

“Im going to make it up to you. I’ll prove to you just how much you are worth and mean to me because I see us growing old like we discussed that night long ago. I won't give up on us yet even if you claim to hate me. Be angry at me but don’t hate me.”

~~~

Things didn’t get easier. The distance and silence were killing you and Mason for about a month. You had set up a routine where you'd work and quickly come back home. Your night either ended up being tucked inside your sheets or going out with your girlfriends. You weren't technically broken up, but there was a break.

During that period Mason had finished his season at Chelsea. It was a long and excruciating period, the wins, the losses, the setbacks, and the injuries, he deserved more. He had also set a routine, always needing something to distract him from his thoughts, from you. He had texted you, sometimes gifted with a text back, but when you didn't he didn't push it. He was miserable. Everyone around him could see it.

He enjoyed morning runs, coming back to shower, and then napping. He’d go out with his teammates and or go to Portsmouth to visit his family. Although his family asked for you all the time, he couldn't bare telling them yet. “She’s busy at her architecture firm…”

Currently, he was sitting in the club with his phone in his hand scrolling through Instagram where you had posted you were alone, a book in your hand, and a glass of wine in the back. He liked the story and hid his phone away, humming at the current rap song playing in the back. “You good?” asked Kai, who took a seat next to Mason. “Nah man, I’m quite bored here,” Mason laughed and took a sip of his beer.

“She’s with Sophia right now,” he randomly said. “Sophia was telling me she preferred to stay home nowadays. Working or just hanging out with friends. She’s more reserved and quiet now but always asks how you're doing. Don’t tell Sophia I told you though…” he looked at the blue-eyed German, looking for a sign of lying but he wasn’t. “Don’t lose her now, you may want to give her space but the longer you distance yourself from her, the more of a chance you get of her never appearing again in your life is possible.”

You had been thinking of him? Asking about him? “Sophia is going home early because she's going to Germany. Y/n is free for the rest of the weekend, and I know she has been wanting to see you,” Kai says, opening a bottle of beer and taking a gulp of it. “Thank you, Kai,” Mason smiles at him, “I just don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything then. Prove to her you're still the Mason she still fell in love with.”

When Mason had parked by the side of the road facing your apartment he noticed your living room light on. He was debating whether or not to go up and knock on your door or just go home and lose the opportunity he had waiting for him. His thumb kept brushing over your contact, the urge to call you to hear your voice. “Oh fuck it.”

He didn't look back, just quickly ran up the stairs and stood infront of your front door. He knocked on the door three times, hearing your footsteps coming closer to him. Mason stuck his hands in his pockets when he heard the door unlock. He saw you still wearing your clothes from the day and not your usual comic pj’s and a long sleeve or one of his shirts.

Mason was stunned, just as you were. You weren’t expecting to see him, but he also did not expect you to open the door this late at night. “Mason,” his breath hitched when hearing your voice again, desperately wanting to reach out and kiss you deeply. Hold you against him as he had been dreaming. To have you near him at all times as he desired. He just needed you. You felt the same way. You were willing to give him a chance to explain himself, or at least attempt to try and restart all over again.

“Can I come in?”

[threefolddefencespeech]

WorldCon!

So - WorldCon's over. I'm safely back home, very tired, only mildly ill, definitely getting the con drop or at least experiencing far too many post con emotions (what do you mean there won't be another one nearby for five years?). So perfect time to write a bit about it. I'm not going to get everything in here, but let's ramble incoherently about some highlights.

The Hugos

My spouse (and the rest of their team) won a Hugo! I am so proud and happy for them - it is, I say with incredible bias and no objectivity, very very well deserved. How could getting to celebrate that not be a highlight?

So. Let's move on to some book opinions. This year, I managed to read almost all of the best novel finalists (bar Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, which I'm still a few chapters into and ping ponging off. Let's say I'm pretty sure where my opinion was going to lie). So I get to have some more detailed opinions than most years, which is fun/regrettable for anyone who got an earful from me about Starter Villain!

It's always interesting to see what makes the Hugo shortlist. This year, a truly massive gulf emerged between my two favourites, the middle-of-the-roads, and one real "no, really, why was this here?" option.

Out in front were Saint of Bright Doors (Vajra Chandrasekera) and Some Desperate Glory (Emily Tesh). I can already see this post getting enormous, so I'll try and be quick (this is a lie).

Saint of Bright Doors is wonderful - the first chapter introduces us to a clear chosen one narrative, with Fetter raised with a destiny: to kill his cult leader father. The second rejects it utterly. Fetter ignores his destiny and his mother's calls, and immigrates to a city - one that has elements of socialist ideal, but gradually reveals more and more of itself to be a fascist police state, and in every case is wonderfully strange. He joins a group of fellow religious "unchosen ones". He drifts. His father's cult grows in influence, and threatens to pull him once more into orbit - but this is not so conventional a story as to fully let it. And he becomes fascinated with the city's bright doors, which lead nowhere, and are unopenable. In a less talented writer's hands, this would feel disjointed. Instead it's wonderful - a dreamy-but-grounded, mythic-but-real story of aimless reality pitted against religious destiny, of cults and pogroms and the structures that lie beneath the world. I have my problems with the ending. But had I liked it more, I suspect it would have been a worse book.

Some Desperate Glory tells a story of a militarised future human society, living to avenge the Earth. It is also, in many ways, a cult. Where Some Desperate Glory particularly succeeds is that its protagonist isn't an outlier. How many dystopias have you read in which the lead is an outcast, or always felt subtly wrong in the society, never quite fit in? But Kyr is in so many ways this future society's model citizen. Which makes her growth - her experimentation in the wider world - and the ways in which this society still abuses her, and still fails her because she can't live up to its ideals, far more powerful. She's not a comfortable head to make a home in, at least to start with, but it's a far better novel for that. While what the novel's doing is far clearer than Saint, it does go to some interesting places - and explores these cultish power structures on various scales. I have quibbles and gripes. Do I wish more page space had been devoted to developing the novel's visions of alternative versions of Kyr, rather than slamming in character development in fast forward? Yes, and I would have happily sacrificed a few big action setpieces (which is where I suspect that space went) to get there. But it's still a powerful book.

Saint definitely my preference there, but both worthy winners.

Then we had the middle of the pack.

Leckie's Translation State was... fine? I expected more, though. We had some alien weirdness, but it was wrapped around a story which had the exact same plot arc as a typical YA arranged marriage novel, with the characters ending up in exactly the same places you'd expect. Aside from one, who simply gets forgotten about. It was perfectly pleasant, but revolutionising the genre this is not.

Martha Wells' Witch King is a secondary world fantasy, told with a flashback-interweaving-with-present-events structure, in a way that's far more evenly balanced between the two narratives than most, with the past narrative holding most of the explanation of characters and relationships highly relevant to the present. However, it fails to really make it work - it sacrifices a lot of character development and foreshadowing for the actual plot to get this structure working, which means the actual key revelations fall a little flat when they come. It's not a bad book! There's some fun magic system stuff, some mildly interesting possession-of-different-gendered body stuff... but it's not life changing, just a fun attempted structural twist on an otherwise pretty classic secondary world fantasy.

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi - well, it's a middle eastern pirate fantasy. The historical inspiration is great here - rich and vibrant. But the prose is clunky - it's doing Historical Feminism but in a really obvious, unsubtle way that's clearly just 2024 views projected backwards, or at least that's how it seems from the "ah, we mens often think x about a powerful lady, don't we?" narrator chapter. I like engaging with these topics, but can I wish for a bit more nuance and some better writing? Mind you, I'm only a few chapters into this one, and keep bouncing off. It might get better when I push through. From what others have said, I doubt it - but I can't really say. I'm maybe being harsh from initial impressions here.

So most of this middle group are small twists or weirdnesses upon otherwise pretty familiar genre novels.

Then there's Starter Villain, which is the only "really, why is this here?" novel of the list. I suspect just because Scalzi's a big name in SFF, and name recognition gets you a long way at the nomination stage. While I might quibble with the middle group - probably there was more interesting SFF published last year? - this was a novel-length shaggy dog story. It's not funny enough to be farce or satire - but it's not doing anything else. The protagonist's main defining traits are "very divorced", "likes cats", and I suppose "vaguely nice". Everyone speaks in the same way. And this goes nowhere - other than a few jokes about dolphins and venture capitalists along the way. Maybe if this hadn't been up for the Hugo, I wouldn't have hated this so much. But I expected something. This was my first Scalzi, and I probably won't choose to repeat the experience.

So, how'd the voting turn out? Some Desperate Glory won, which I vaguely suspected - felt like it had broader appeal as a slightly more traditional novel than Saint of Bright Doors anyway. But Hugo votership, why did you do Saint quite so dirty? It's so far down the list. On the other hand - faith marginally restored by Starter Villain ending up in a clear last place.

Which is to say: probably good job overall, Hugo votership, but you're on some shaky ground. :P

The Panels

Panels! I went to lots of them. I was terribly sabotaged by my very first panel, Revolutions in Speculative Fiction, setting the bar far too high. I was largely picking panels based on people + a vaguely interesting topic, with a few exceptions. Ada Palmer's and Arkady Martine's definitely proved that method of panel picking works well.

...after Dublin, the other thing I learned (alongside picking based on people) was that I really shouldn't plan my con too inflexibly or intensively. So despite wanting to go to 4 things in every slot, I paced myself - I missed out on an interesting panel and went to hang out with people or Do Food occasionally, especially when emotion + tiredness demanded it, and I probably had a better con for it.

There were worse panels too. Several on interestingly nuanced topics had a tendency to regress into more basic topics - particularly into cultural appropriation 101. Cultural Appropriation 101 is not a bad panel topic! It's an incredibly necessary one. But it's also a panel I have been to several times now, and while I think other panels should certainly touch on it where relevant, I wanted a bit more than Different Topic 101 from "Ancient Cultures and Context" and the discussion of religion in fantasy, for instance.

Overall though, I had a good time with the panels - even when frustrating (cough, Scalzi showboating and talking over other panelists in "Systems as Villains" when he didn't actually have anything to say, cough), they were fuel for conversation with interesting people, and there were some truly interesting ideas in there too. Maybe I'll manage to incorporate a few into my own writing. I hope so.

Self-Indulgent Gender Stuff

I'll try not to ramble about this too much, but it was pretty significant to my con experience. This was my first con since coming out as a trans woman (it also coincided with my 1 year anniversary of starting HRT). Honestly, coming up to it, I was pretty stressed - despite knowing on paper that a substantial part of WorldCon is queer nerds, it didn't quite make it through to my brain, or at least I suppose endocrine system (I worry about my appearance anyway, and was just coming off a bit of a doomspiral about my features at the 12 month mark, which may not have helped!).

But everyone was genuinely very nice about it - including everyone I already knew, but who hadn't seen me since pre-transition. And you know, it did feel really good to be able to present the way I actually wanted to at other cons (pre transition, I can't deny a certain - large - amount of envy at fem con + cosplay outfits, and I actually get to do some of that now). I even got some compliments on my outfits, which was very flattering (plus one person inexplicably wanting to draw me at the Hugo afterparty).

Did that stop me from worrying? Silly question. I still spent a lot of the con convinced I looked terrible in so, so many ways, and had to frequently borrow some reassurance from spouse and friend (I'm so sorry). There were a few low points. But I'm so glad I did it. Hopefully the start of many more cons presenting more comfortably.

Plus, I have discovered a great secret. My terrible dancing is drastically improved by the addition of a swooshy skirt. (Well, maybe some other stuff helped too, but I'll go with that)

People

I've talked a lot about official, organised things where I was there as a spectator: panels, the Hugos. But really, so much of WorldCon is just spending time with lovely people.

I got to do lots of the con with spouse and a soon-to-be-ex-Oxford friend, who I have really fond memories of doing other cons with. Lots of silly late night dancing. Lots of in depth discussions, from the deeply absurd to the (maybe) absurdly deep (or maybe just the former all over again). I got to see other Oxford friends in the magic con zone! @frith-in-tombs between track stuff and @vivelabagatelle occasionally too.

I got to catch up with other friends, especially the ex-Oxford folks! It was lovely to spend more time with @howlsmovinglibrary again (who also ran some excellent panels, and has definitely sold me on this villainess book), as well as Entourage, @cardboardmoose, and others (if I haven't named you explicitly it's probably because I thought the only way I've got of naming you might be too identifiable, and I don't know your name on here).

I got to meet new people, which honestly is one of the best things at a con. I spent a lovely night chatting to @canmom about all sorts of diversely interesting things, from opera to game design - completely unexpectedly after inexplicably working up the courage to venture a "hey, you're not [tumblr name] on tumblr, are you?" (at least I didn't comment on anybody's shoelaces, is all I can say in my defence). I met a distant friend from Discord and compared very different con plans - and a truly excellent crocheted Mr Pages. I chatted with a few more in panels. I finally got to hang out with Roseanna more than in passing (typically we've wound up communicating only through a mutual friend, Entourage since we've never really overlapped properly - I remember back when she asked me about reviewing, and look how the tables have tabled!) and had a great time dissecting the Hugos. (Another very well deserved Hugo win btw). I also learned that apparently I was referred to frequently as DAF by her and said friend, and she's completely forgotten what it stood for? I have a pressing need to solve this mystery.

And of course, there are some friends I dearly miss being able to con with too. Perhaps one day we'll be able to do so again.

What Next?

As I mentioned, so many post-con emotions! Five years really is too long between travellable worldcons for my liking.

Which means resolution 1 is: maybe I should do more cons? While flying transatlantic for WorldCon feels like a Lot, I've never made it to an Eastercon before, and I think I'd like to.

I've also reached out to plan a few meetups with nearby-ish worldcon people like Roseanna - I miss the con energy, and I think I'd like to get some more chats about books and such in my life. (Alas, distance remains a barrier for yet others!)

I also want to engage with more SFF writing - I read a fair few novels, but I feel like I miss out on a lot of reviews and criticism these days, and I miss that.

And as always, I come away wanting to put more energy into my own creative work - I've been planning a bigger IF-ish game (than my small silly/gift games I've made) for a long time, and maybe this is the time I'll manage the sustained effort to make it happen (and feel like I have My Own Stuff next WorldCon!). Hehe. Well, I can dream, anyway.

I should probably also catch up on sleep at some point.

It was a wonderful, exhausting, fascinating con - thank you to everyone who made it happen, whether more generally, or for me specifically. :)

[yellowymellon]

If we’re talking about the in-character path that he walks… to be real I think Sunday does not fw Aeons. He wanted to create an Aeonless World where humans can create and build with their own hands without the Gods tampering with people’s existences according to his own words.

In-character I think Sunday respects literally none of Those guys so you’re right when he says the notion of the path but not the Aeon Themselves. You can respect the concept of happiness but think Aha is kind of a jerk I think. Ena the Order resonated to his own world-view more so than Harmony because he is the wettest, soggiest cat, who could not see a world where everyone purposefully held hands and made a better world but he could see a world where someone could an extend a hand, stay at the top of the totem pole, and *then make everyone* work together. That’s how I read it. If anyone else has any takes or you do please feel free because I am character-studying as we speak…..

As for where Sunday goes from here… the letter is so bad I’m not going to lie I read it and I was that one image with the eyes and mouth open. Elio morally greyness is strong here. I’m half-hoping they’re both “end justifies the means”… personally and they join teams and they both have the most awkward silences ever together… because I like to think this means Elio could have stopped him. Tried harder to. Implied it more or used different phases to stop Sunday from going on this path. The “eternal separation” of siblings perchance because I know that if he knew it was bound to fail, if he knew what it’d do it stop… but just told him they were here at the end of the road because this was the way for the trailblazer to be seen by *Xipe.*

It kills me. It signifies how in control of things Elio is. I hate it. I think Sunday will hate it too if I’m not making unseen connections… this is just how I read it. 💀

Oooh I agree! Sunday doesn't believe in any aeon's capabilities to help humans as their needs were never a priority to them, so even tho he did sound like an ena fan boy he was still aware of the destruction they caused to civilizations and that ultimately this aeon won't save them either. That's why he follows the order but not ena, is what I concluded. So I thought, was he creating his own path as he ascends to aeonhood? And would his path be broader than harmony and order or will it clash ? I still can't figure it out....

But that analogy of wet cat? *Chef kisses* I think he unintentionally played God, he said that's not his objective but it was more so of a "fine, I'll do it myself" moment. I just realized that Xipe is being treated as the more righteous even tho they have their fair share of bizarre happenings, meanwhile no one can doubt Ena's contributions to the world, even if they were bad, the order isn't bad. It's just like how robin doesn't represent the messed up side of Harmony, she'll never be the extreme and I don't think Sunday understands what moderation means since he's desperate, and would rather do it all himself so as to suffer alone.

Tbh I didn't read the letter yet since I'm busy T_T but I adored elio's character for it. I'm sure elio is an anti-hero as he's doing this to save the universe, his methods are wicked and he doesn't mind the necessary sacrifice, truly everything happens for a reason. He's playing 5d chess . I'd blab about him forever but I'm making that post some other day lolol

[ananiel]

Hi dear! How are you? I wanted to say thank you again for taking my requests. Like thank you so much🥹. And if you don't mind I want to share my headcanons for twins with you.

1. I always imagining how Louis and Witch! Reader showing the babies the pictures of their parents and just imagine when their first word was “Mama” while they looked at the Reader’s photos. I think it would be so adorable 😻🥰

2. To me Louise would be a little more oblivious and naive girl than Hugo. I am pretty sure Louis and other gang members tried to hide the "dark side" of the society from them. But failed because Hugo is too smart for his own good (Yep, totally got that from William).

3. And now, let's talk about Hugo. Like I said he is too smart for his own age like how William was. And I am pretty sure he was asking questions to his uncles along side with Louise like: "Where are their parents?", "And why they are not with them?". I'm sure they made up a story about their mother being kidnapped after giving birth, and their Fathers going on a journey to find her and bring her back.

Louise found it romantic how their fathers were like knights in shining armors and how loyal they are to their mama. But Hugo found it hard to believe.

4. Hugo is a little protective towards his twin sister. He knows she can protect herself (thanks to Grandpa Jack) but still doesn't allow a lot of guys to be around her.

5. Hugo and Louise have a double surname. Moriarty-Holmes. (Louis actually wanted to be them only Moriarty but Mycroft shows up and like "Nope. Not happening.")

6. I always imagining Louise having long blonde wawy hair with her yellow and red eyes and round face. And because of her innocent looks she had many suitors.

7. And let's imagine that William and Sherlock were able to bring the Reader back. Hugo and Louise won't be yanderes, they'll just be overprotective. Especially next to William and Sherlock, because Hugo noticed that they acted somehow "inappropriately" around their mother.

And again. Thank you for taking my requests. When I saw your yandere Moriarty the patriot with witch! reader scenario, I was like "Genius! Why I never thought about that?* And then I subscribed and so it continued. You writing is amazing!! And if someone telling you opposite just know they are wrong and envy you!!!

Thank You! Thank You a lot! This means a lot to me and i am Glad You took the time to tell me your headcanons. I am good, and i hope that You are good too

Thank You for The compliments, and also, i love to write, and your ideas are amazing, so there's no need to thank me!

I also thought about the name, but i didn't put too much though in it because i was thinking of the posibility of an ultimatum from Mycroft to sherlock, like, i thought of a small confruntation between them, in which Mycroft tries to snap sherlock out of it by telling him

"You're no longer a holmes of you do that" but i do not think that obsesive sherly would listen either way.

As for The questions, i imagine a scared Louis to answear, one that bites his lip and takes a deep breath, because if they can talk and have questions like that, they are probably a few years old, which shows just how much their parents left for, and at this Point , even if Louis still believes William Will return one day... Louis Will take the parent role, especially with w(witch)! Reader by his side

Louie might accept it, but Hugo would be more hard to convince, but i think that the more he finds out about what happend, the more is he on his mother's side, and wouldn't want her to return.

Maybe W! Reader Will take him as her "aprentice" just to guide him on a path to find out the truth, thinking of it.

But Yes, if Sherliam truly returns with their darling, i can imagine the horror on W! Reader's face, for she might be caught in a lie too...

But for me, i think that W! Reader hid o! Reader good, and that they wouldn't think of finding her there.

Anyways, your headcanons were amazing, thank You very much for telling me, i hope to use them in the future 😍

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

It takes a village to raise a family part 9

Part 8 , part 10

This amazing au is yet again made by the amazing @angelpuns

We are getting into the fun part! In the next few parts we are going to have new writing styles and new characters to follow along keep in mind my work is a fan work of their au nothing in my work is canon! So I highly suggest going and looking at their stuff about the au! It's really really great!

Possible cw/tw for child being hungry?

I raised the boys with the help of others in the village, but I mainly left them to the yuichi boy and his Aunt. My health dwindled and taking care of my own home was becoming a burden. Splinter was gone and so was my husband in the blink of an eye.

Of course I still went to see them when I could manage it, they also came to the stall sometimes. Other times I could see Leo hanging around that yuichi boy with a light inside his eyes that I know all too well.

The boys started growing food at their houses, I offered to help get them a stall to sell some of it once it got going. With their food I was able to make them new recipes, apple pie, stews.

By the time the first anniversary of the two leaving the sky had turned greyish, like something was wrong with it. Sometimes there was tremors in the ground. I was fortunate enough to always see the blue sky, as now my eye sight has decided to fail me.

Of course though, as I sit at my stall I recognized the boys. Or well, specifically Leo shouting my name as he ran up. I couldn't see his face anymore but I could tell he was smiling through his voice.

"check it out! Raph and I found this in the garden!" He placed a tomato in my hand, hefty and barely able to fit in two of my hands. My hands were smaller than a few but it was still exciting non the less.

"it's huge, what will you make with it Leonardo?" I smiled at him.

"uhh..I don't know, I think maybe you should have it?...for your tomato soup! And then we can all eat together tonight? With yuichi too! Of- of course-"

I smiled and nodded to him. "Go and fetch yuichi, I'll start cooking and bring over the pot around an hour to sundown. I don't want you kids in the dark."

"yes grandpa!" I could hear the smile in his voice again before he ran off.

I put the tomato to the side and sighed, it would have made Splinter proud to see how much his boys had grown in less than two years. They have grown into something truly special.

After a sale I heard the sound a parent is all too knowing of. "Are you hungry?"

"I'm fine, old man" a girl's voice sounds out, her voice filled with exhaustion.

I couldn't see more than a blur but I could tell she wore tattered clothes and dawned dirt on her face.

"dear, you don't have to lie." I grabbed the tomato and held it out. "Here, you need it more than I do"

"...are-..are you sure?" She slowly took it before I could hear the pop of the tomato being bit into, and the satisfied relief huff from her nose, her body slacked a little.

"you really did need it didn't you dear, when was the last time you ate?" I tried to get a better look of her, but of course I couldn't see any better.

"...I don't have any coin to give you-" she started before I cut her off. "I wasn't asking how much you had, I asked when you last ate."

"...i-..hm...a-... it's not important" she shook her head. "My family will make coins soon so it won't matter too long" her voice was sorrowful.

"if you ever need food or help, you can come to me.."

"you have a few kids to worry about yourself-" oh so she knew me? I didn't recognize her at all. I still don't.

"...thank you for the tomato.." she held her hand to her mouth but I couldn't tell what she was doing before she walked away.

I sat back and sighed, I could technically add another kid to the roster... A daughter, two sons, a Splinter, Yuichi and his sister, 6 grandsons and 3 grand daughters...what's another kid to that?

After all, that's what I do best.

That night we did in fact enjoy tomato soup and bread, however the boys were rather distraught about the legendary tomato ending up on squished by a passer-by.

We would however, the following week enjoy a soup made of several legendary tomato's.

[ourladyoflight]

LAYER ONE: THE OUTSIDE

name: [_ _ _ _ _ _ _] , but known more commonly as "Angel"

eye color: Blue- a shade that seems too deep to be natural.

hair style/color: Blonde and silky- will form locks if it's down, but most commonly worn in an ornate bun.

height: Most often 5'11"

clothing style: A simple sort of ethereal- her usual robes are white, and flowy enough to keep her comfortable without limiting her movement. If she's wearing human clothes, she'll tend to drift towards light/neutral colors, and "academia" type clothing- but she's been known to enjoy a sundress from time to time, and won't mind experimenting with new trends or items she hasn't encountered before.

best physical feature: If you ask her, her wings!! She also has a positive view of her own scars. (But if you ask the mun, her face- her resting expression is what makes her seem approachable and warm!!)

LAYER TWO: THE INSIDE.

your fears: " I don't know if I truly fear much of anything anymore, aside from failing those dear to me here. I'd go through anything to keep that from happening. "

your guilty pleasure: " ... I didn't understand how to use a microwave for a short time, and would laser food instead to heat it up ... I still do it sometimes ... "

your ambitions for the future: “ It used to be saving Kazuya's soul, and that alone- nowadays, I'm a little less sure ... I think that, should any other conflict of supernatural proportions arise, my aim is to prevent or limit any damage to Earth that they'd cause. "

LAYER THREE: THOUGHTS.

your first thoughts waking up: " Although I do not truly sleep, I'm usually very excited for new things I will learn about! For instance, there was this interesting recipe for cake rolls, and ... "

what you think about most: " An equal split between things I can no longer change, and the things I can make better today. ”

what you think about before bed: " I still don't tend to sleep, dear asker! But I usually think about my family come nighttime, and the humans come morning. "

what you think your best quality is: " My dedication, I think. I love strongly, and I'm not one to give up easily- though it can be just as much of a curse as it is a blessing. ”

WHAT’S BETTER?

single or group dates: “ Hm ... I suppose either would be alright for me, though single sounds lovely. I'd just be content to be around the person who'd asked me on one. ”

to be loved or respected: “ Respected. I can't ask or expect everyone to love me as I love them, but I can only hope they would respect me enough to allow me to try. ”

beauty or brains: “ Heart. ”

dogs or cats:  “ Yes !”

LAYER FIVE: DO YOU…

lie:  “ By a literal definition, no- but if you'd consider a lie to be an omission of the truth, then .. Rarely. ”

believe in yourself: “ More now than I used to. ”

believe in love: “ Always .”

want someone: “ ... ”

LAYER SIX: EVER BEEN…

been on stage: “ I suppose the type of stage would be important.. Perhaps, a few times, though I wasn't the main focus. ”

done drugs: “ ... From the drugstore? I did try an antihistamine once ! ”

changed who you were to fit in: “ Yes, and I'd like to think I've gotten plenty of practice. I can't just walk around Earth with wings on full display. ”

LAYER SEVEN: FAVORITES.

favorite color: “ Off whites and blues. Maybe gold, too .. ”

favorite animal: “ I enjoy all of them, but rabbits and avian creatures have a special place in my heart .”

favorite movie: “ I've very recently finished Kiki's Delivery Service! "

favorite game: “ Animal Crossing! I enjoy speaking to the villagers. "

LAYER EIGHT: AGE.

day your next birthday will be: “ I don't think I've ever celebrated a birthday of mine- and it would be rather difficult to translate it to a human calendar ... ”

how old will you be: “ To angels, or to humans? ”

age you lost your virginity: “ ...? What do you mean lost ? I didn't set it down somewhere, did I ? "

does age matter: “ I suppose so ..? I think I'm usually perceived as being around my late twenties or early thirties by most humans, and I would generally apply that sort of age range to anyone else. ”

LAYER NINE: IN A PERSON.

best personality: " I don't think I would have much of a preference, but I'm usually drawn to people who are considerate. "

best eye color: “ No preference. ”

best hair color: “ No preference. ”

best thing to do with a partner: " Goodness, I don't usually think about this .. I would be happy doing anything they'd enjoy, really. I enjoy getting to learn about what others enjoy. It makes me feel more complete, if that makes sense ? ”

LAYER TEN: FINISH THE SENTENCE.

i love: “ Earth.”

i feel: “ Grounded.”

i hide: “ Pain. ”

i miss: “ The way things were before. ”

i wish: “ I could have done more. ”

TAGGED BY: @demonsfate !! Thank you for the tag, this was so much fun!! 💜

TAGGING: You, and anyone else who sees this!! 💜

[queenharumiura]

ship bias x2

SEND ‘SHIP BIAS’ AND I WILL SHARE UP TO 5 SHIPS I HAVE A BIAS FOR FOR MY MUSE! [x] ||Accepting- if you ask about my other muses in other fandoms or what||

Wait--- x2? Oh----- oh okay, let's see if I can do with without any repeat answers. Under readmore bc it's gonna be 10. (No particular order)

Kyoko x Haru (okay look, I'm not gonna say that I want Haru to be ms. Steal your girl, but SHE CAN ABSOLUTELY BE MISS STEAL YOUR GIRL. I won't sit here and lie. I think they have a great dynamic together and they're just two girls who historically have been bashed so much by the fandom. They can be happy together and Kyoko can hold Haru back every time anyone says anything mean.)

Spanner x Haru (Idk I just think it'd be fun. Haru is a smart cookie and can probably hold a conversation fine. Try out the different lollipop flavors, suggest her own. He wanted to see a Yamato Nadeshiko and Haru aspires to be one but her personality disallows it. I just think it would be kinda funny cute that she'd keep trying to prove herself as one but keep failing at it. idk don't question my tastes.)

Shouichi x Haru (... look, maybe-- it could work. idk. Don't ask me. By vibes I feel like maybe it could work. He gets stressed a lot and his stomach hurts a lot. Haru is that kinda gal who is very supportive and is good at caring for people. It might work.)

Chrome x Haru ( ^^ In this meme I am truly going: Do I honestly think Haru could fall for girls too? Absolutely, literally fite me. Be the best supportive girlfriend ever. Help build up that confidence! Make sure she eats well! They can build each other up. THE DYNAMIC)

Squalo x Haru (Okay look, okay look- only in this meme am I willing to out myself for this. I will preface by saying I do prefer him with other people, but i'm running out of peeps okay? Will I say that I think they'd be funny on the premise of loud and louder? The annoying lil one who will constantly be a nuisance as she gets into fights with Xanxus? Who will sneak in and embroider lil sharks on towels and such because it's cute? I think it's hilarious to think about.)

... Xanxus x Haru (LOL again, i'm running out of people and i'm not gonna lie, I am verily amused by the idea that Haru is extremely stubborn and will fight back. Still, if she takes notice that someone is troubled and may need help (regardless of if they admit it or not), she would try to help them. If someone out there just needs someone who can show actual care for them and be patient while doing so, she can be that girl. They may lash out or what, but if they don't truly mean it in an antagonistic way- she can turn the other way. Everyone takes their time to heal through things. Haru just wants to be helpful and be supportive. SOBS)

Dino x Haru (Sorry Dino-san, I forgot you existed for a hot sec;;;;;;; I mean- I guess it could work? He's a lady-killer so I can see how this could probably work. I'm not entirely sold on it ngl, but welp- what are options)

Mukuro x Haru (First of all, honorary mentions don't count, right? RIGHT? I'm not repeating. ANYWAYS, I mention this based off the fact that AUs are useful in many ways. It was gonna be a childhood friends who met while she was on vacation and when they meet again as they're older, he's quite different and she continues to reach out, trying to understand what happened. Try to help him process through what had happened to him. Slowly become friends again and then see where things went from there. Good times.)

... 3p counts... right? Taurus trio (Hibari x Haru x Yamamoto as they are all taurus AHAHAHAHHHHAHHAHA I won't say much more on this i'm guilty as charged)

... yes another 3p bc yes. Bermuda triangle (Belphegor x Haru x Gokudera bc idk eye of the storm, the Bermuda triangle supposedly just wrecks things and whatever bc I forget. Was it magnetic wave disruption? ANYWAYS. That's why I coined the term for the pair. I like it bc it's chaotic, don't come at me. I'm already ashamed)

WHEEZE Please no one judge me. I tried my darnedest to keep to the meme prompt. OTL I still cheated a bit but I HAD TO. I WAS RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS.

[abishekmuses]

I didn't feel like writing today - but here goes

I didn't feel like writing today - like there was this distinctly discernible sense of resistance and childish petulance - something inside was afraid of turning up at writing something.

Ahh or maybe it was just the opposite - I was going through my journal where there was a lot of stuff - stuff that I'd written some time in the last month and a half or so.

One of the entries said something along the lines of "I don't have to go looking for ideas - my life stories are enough" - well something to that end.

I read that instantly started feeling some sort of panic - like "fuck I'm meant to have an endless reservoir of ideas to draw from; I'm MEANT TO! It's me that's fucking saying it - of course i'm MEANT TO! "

there was this palpable pressure to do this thing and do it well and i guess it manifests with such negative connotations that it feels like a signal not to do that thing.

I am pretty sure I can't be the only one that goes through this kind of a loop.

There's also this feeling of inadequacy from reading other people on the internet - especially ones that do stream of consciousness style writing. Like "fuck me - this is so good - how am I ever going to compare" .

That voice is very quickly replaced with another voice that says "dude you're just as good - remember that piece you wrote when you were 20? it was so good - if only you had stuck with it and continued to read and write all these years- But alas, you never did! and now here you are - a rotting 30 year old who might as well not live"

Wow - rough eh? Well, that's how it is inside me sometimes. Today is one of those days - I'm not going to lie. I woke up fucking late - like well past afternoon and my day never really got going.

This has been THE antagonist of my life so far - I'm seeing it very clearly now - why is basic regulation so difficult for me to achieve? how are other people able to do such a seemingly effortless job of achieving this?

On days like these, getting myself into the shower feels impsossible sometimes. Having said that, I sound fucking spoiled to myself and I probably will step into the shower shortly.

I feel some distaste for the kind of writing I'm doing. Writing for the sake of writing.

Believe it or not, I'm capable of producing pieces of beauty and insight - rarely if not frequently. But I am. And what I'm doing now is literally doing the bare minimum that I can do to fulfil the conditions of the challenge I set for myself last month - to write every day. 750 words if personal, 2 pages if handwritten and 500 words if i'm doing it for work - God that sounds like words that come out of bored clerks working in government offices!

What could I do to make a meal out of this challenge? To have it be more than just a perfunctory "ticking-off-the-list" activity?

Again and again and again, the answer seems to be - waking up in the middle of the day is problem!

OK maybe it is.

I have melatonin now.

Maybe I can use it to get my shit back in spec.

Apparently, unfiltered content is where it's at these days. Apparently readers want to feel like they're having a personal hang out session with the writer - I resonate with the idea somewhat - but I think it's failing to mention something.

I think what they're talking about is stuff that "simulates" the feeling of being unfiltered while still being super polished and aesthetically refined.

maybe these are truly higher-order beings comapred to me - in that even their unfiltered thoughts have a certain level of polish that muck-savages like me can't aspire to?

Or maybe they are possessed of a sense of dutifulness/industriousness/scrupulousness that won't let them hit the "post now" button without polishing things up at least a little bit?

Maybe they can never truly become unconscious of the fact that what they're writing is going to be read? Maybe I just really don't have that sense of goodwill that would make me want to write things that are just a little bit more digestible / palatable/ READABLE to the. ermm reader?

But here's the thing - however pointless this exercise seems , I don't think it's actually pointless. why you ask?

because i"m starting to feel better already.

I feel like my juices are flowing much better and I'm ready to attack my ---- night! It's close to fucking 9 PM. God the crisis is real!

I want to be diurnal again! If there are any angels floating about - please make it happen for me. I long to wake up at 6.00 and go to bed at 11.00. Please make it happen!

And on that note, I am going to leave and take a shower.

If anyone is reading this, I'm really sorry - I really hope you find more meaningful things to do in your life soon - I mean it sincerely! - go ahead and write a meandering and nonsensical post like this - it's therapeutic apparently. I can vouch for that to some extent - but i've only been doing it for a short while now.

Adieus

[inuhiime]

╭┈┈┈┈ ₊˚ෆ 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 ! ╰ ♡⸝⸝ 𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 ; 𝐩𝐭. 𝐢𝐯

' you think it's only a matter of time before this lie gets exposed, but the truth is, i don't need to gain anyone's trust. '

' i know the cold, dark path under your feet. i've traveled along that same path. '

' don't drift with the current. don't let fate push you around. '

' through birth, we meet death ; through parting, we encounter. '

' those who stand alone... are they wild creatures or divine beings? '

' nobody gave us justice, so we can only seek justice ourselves. '

' there must be some fairness in the world, right? '

' revenge is about giving your all. you know that best, don't you? '

' even if i'm the only one on that dark and lonesome path, i'll keep going till i die. '

' how can you, who have nothing, win against me? '

' when you're ready to die for your justice, let me know in advance. '

' you're an abandoned dog that does nothing but bark blindly. '

' without a heart, can a machine truly come to life? '

' even on the darkest night, there are stars. i've found mine. one day, you'll find yours too. '

' you died for nothing. they've taken away the meaning of your death. '

' you've forgotten who you are. i'll tell you who you are. '

' in the end, you've avenged no one and achieved nothing. '

' i'm not dying anytime soon. rest assured. '

' whatever happens, keep moving and don't look back. '

' thank you for keeping your promise. i won't let you down. '

' we all fail from time to time. all we have to do is try again. '

' the soil, the air, the sun, and the rain... they'll all love you. this time, please thrive. '

' how lucky you are, to know what you want. i should be the envious one. '

' who are you? a human being? a guide? or a lost soul? '

' this is your last chance. leave or stay? '

' you haven't quite seemed yourself lately. is everything okay? '

' you can't see the light, nor can you fall into the darkness. you've been struggling alone all these years. '

' challenge me with your true self, then i might be able to expect something from you. '

' your heart has been trapped in the dark all along. '

' because the world is so dark, justice doesn't exist, so it's okay for us to cross the line. '

' don't gloss over the bad things you've done. you're just as immoral. '

' i've told you before, stop caring about others so much. '

' you don't have the ability to take revenge on this world on your own, so you cling to the most hollow things as a lifeline. '

' people like you are the easiest to deceive, the dumbest, and the weakest. '

' everything that demands submission in the name of love and nobility is a filthy lie. '

' run, don't die on the way. '

' the show's not over yet, i'm waiting for you to help raise the curtain. '

' if justice exists, where is it now? why doesn't it show itself? '

' if i was killed one day, would you kill for me? '

' everything's fine now. you're still by my side. '

' fate can break you, but it can never destroy you. '

' what's taken away from me, i must take back. even if it turns into ruins, it must return to me. '

' do you think you can easily toy with people's lives? '

' this time, even vengeance can't save you. '

' your ruins can't be reborn. you know this better than i do. '

' i won't sacrifice for anyone. i won't serve anyone. every minute, every second, i will live freely. '

' i'll take pleasure in my revenge. '

' no matter what happens, i refuse to accept that the world is inherently bad. '

' stop it before it destroys you. don't give it the chance to trample on you. don't let it take away what's important to you. '

' dare to lie to me, and i'll make sure the entire world goes down with you. '

[lindajenni]

oct 9

we're almost home

"these all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. for those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland." heb 11:13-14

frankly, i'm a little surprised we are still here. we always knew to keep our eyes om israel as God's dealing with them is an indicator of his time clock and proceedings. the turmoil that has gripped the nation in recent days has the world on edge. right now it is being condemned, and as i heard someone says, "just wait and see how it is turned around on israel." i'm sure things will be happening so fast that even as i write this it may be obsolete or old news. it's changing so fast.

have you ever looked at a map and seen this tiny sliver of land totally encompassed by vast areas covered by abraham's other children seeking the demise of their brethren. "and it shall happen in that day that I will make jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples." zech 12:3 i personally cannot see how anyone could look at israel and the jew and not see God's hand in it all. happenings foretold centuries ago are now coming to fruition. "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. has He said, and will He not do? or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" num 23:19

it is so nearing the time to fulfill these words He spoke: "and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." john 14:3 yes, our blessed hope is closer than it has ever been and i am beside myself. for those of you unfamiliar with that term it means: if you are beside yourself with a particular feeling or emotion, it is so strong that it makes you almost out of control.

years ago my mentor and i used to take trips together, mostly down to galveston. as we would be nearing home, i can recall her singing a little phrase; "we're almost home" over and over. i suppose it was from when she took her children on trips and they kept asking how long in boredom.

friends, now we are the ones asking how long. we have watched through likely times and as our hope slowly escaped, we looked towards the next likely time. we have not and we will not fail to continue obeying our Lord's command: "and what I say to you, I say to all: watch!" mark 13:37

i truly believe our watch is almost over. the turmoil in israel just solidifies it in my heart. we're almost home. i can't promise for sure it will be this year but i can promise it won't be much longer. i can promise because He has promised.

what if it should be one more year? when i see things progressing so fast i can't believe it really will be, but what if? does it seem so long a time to seal a two thousand year longing? to bring to a conclusion "the time of the gentiles?" it may feel like forever in my anxious heart but my logic realizes how brief it is. what would you do with that final time and how would you spend it?

some have said there will be a final great revival and ingathering. personally i don't see it as much as i do the great apostasy and falling away. can God do it? most certainly. i hope He does because i know so many are believing for lost loved ones.

but the wrath of God, the great tribulation, is just a breath away. "for the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" 1 pet 4:17 just make sure His wrath is spent on none of you.

if you have fallen away from your first love i urge you to heed the warning He gave. "nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love." rev 2:4 i don't know what all "against you" entails, but i don't want to know.

i remember my first love in the flesh and i remember my first love in the Spirit. only one has endured through the years. not only endured, but grown and matured to the extent it is deeper and more precious now than when i first believed. if you have ventured off the way, go back to where you loved Jesus most. He never left. yes, we're almost home!

[laughingsour]

OPLA scene analysis: Noland's story (Spoilers up to the Skypiea arc)

I need to talk about this scene in the live action because it makes me emotinal and I simply think it's briliant for a number of reasons.

First let's do a little recap. It's after Zoro loses to Mihawk and he's on the verge of death. To make sure Zoro hangs on to life, Zeff tells the Straw hats to talk to him or tell him stories.

It just so happens that Nami tells him the story of Noland the Liar from the storybook

As she tells the story you can tell she's struggling to keep herself from breaking down because her friend is right there close to death. And imagine how it must be for her: she's not allowed herself to be vulnerable around others since she was a child, much less have friends. But then; in a matter of days and despite her efforts; four people worm their way into her heart (Luffy, Zoro, Usopp and Kaya) around whom she feels safe enough to laugh.

But as soon as she's allowing herself to get attached, one of those people get hurt and for all she knows is about to die. So of course she's trying her best to follow Zeff's instructions to have a hope at saving him, but I think she couldn't have chosen a worse tale for the ocassion.

Because, what was it that happened to Belle-Mere? She was killed after admiting to being her and Nojiko's mother when she could have easily lied to save all three of thier lives. But she couldn't bring herself to say she had no daughters.

That of course had an effect on Nami and she went on to survive by trickery. And it's worked for her so far, but then this tale comes along and, the way I see it, it presents her the idea that maybe lying won't save her after all.

(And it really wouldn’t, Arlong’s lied to her from the start about buying her and the village’s freedom)

That's bad enough, but then Luffy comes along and he presents a more optimistic but even harsher take on the tale for both the Noland character and for her: that Noland was actually killed for telling the truth.

As soon as Luffy says this, Nami realizes that he is there and that's she's been seen being vulnerable. That coupled with Luffy's interpretation makes her double down on her old habits and try to keep her emotions in check, she however fails miserably and you can tell she's getting angry as she tries to correct Luffy on the point of the story.

But Luffy remains unmoved on his stance and also acurately says that even if Noland did lie, his king didn't have to kill him. (Another parallel for Belle-Mere's death. Regardless of what she could have said, Arlong is still the one to blame for his own cruelty).

It gets Nami even more riled up until she finally can't take anymore and vents out to Luffy that all of that could have been avoided if he simply tried to disaude Zoro from his dream.

She can't understand why anyone would be so foolish as to throw thier lifes away for sentimentality. How could anyone value their heart's desire and emotions above their own well-being? How could it be worth that pain when all you could do is let go?

Untill Luffy counters with "Isn't there something you want? More than anything in the world?"

That's when she starts to realize: "Oh shit, I do undertand! I do have a dream same as them! I'm fighting for something too! I'm not so different from them, aren't I?" And it so subtlety written on her face full of fear and heartbreak.

Both Iñaki and Emily make such great performances and you can feel every emotion that Luffy and Nami are feeling as they try to deal with Zoro's condition in their own ways.

But what is truly brilliant here in this scene is that everything Luffy says is right on the money.

As we find out on the Skypiea arc, Noland WASN'T a liar, there WAS a city of gold and the king DID unfairly kill Noland!

And Luffy wasn't even trying to prove a point or anything, it wasn't even an important subject at the moment. But because of his optimism and refusal to take any shit from abusers, he was able to get to the truth by sheer instinct.

And to further prove Luffy's stance on this, in the last episode there's something of a call-back to this scene as they give a complete reversal of the storybook's scenario. Usopp gets caught telling lies about his heroic deeds and his king cheers him on.

"Three cheers for Captain Usopp!! We couldn't have done it without him!!"

[boxofbadaddiction]

A Likely Story

Fred Weasley x Reader

Warnings: Swearing.

This story is inspired from a request of my F.R.I.E.N.D.S Themed Prompt List.

Prompts: 9, 16 & 18

"They don't know that we know they know"

"DANGER!"

"What a small world./Yet I never run into Beyoncè"

"What'd you tell George?"

"Told him I had detention with Snape for setting off Dungbombs in his Second Years class."

"Hmm, very believable."

"That's because it's true."

"Why am I not surprised?"

"What'd you tell your mates?"

"Just said I was going for a walk."

"Guess that'll do. Remind me to give you some pointers on how to lie when we get back."

"Very funny."

Every word spoken echoed off the damp walls of the One Eyed Witch Passage as Fred and Y/n made their way through the dark tunnel. The only source of light being the soft glow emitting from the tips of their wands, allowing only enough visibility to see just infront of them as they walked.

The pair were currently sneaking from the Castle on a day which were not allocated for any Hogsmead Visitations. It were a school day. However, rather than sitting about the Castle grounds for the two free periods in their schedules, Fred had the brilliant idea of escaping the unbearable reign of Umbridge - even if only for a few hours, by taking a trip into town.

"You know they know, right?"

"Ahh, but they don't know that we know they know. Now do they?" Fred grinned as he shoved y/ns shoulder with his own playfully, before intertwining their cold fingers. "I fail to see how that matters" "makes it all the more fun." "Whatever makes you happy, Big Guy." "You mean, aside from you?"

Y/n rolled her eyes at his cheesiness, but smiled nonetheless. Stopping abruptly from a harsh tug at her hand, one that had her being pulled flush against Fred - chest to chest.

Threading his wand between his fingers, he brought his other hand to the back of y/ns neck and kissed her deeply.

The kiss left her flushed, biting her lip to suppress a giddy smile which naturally only caused a smug grin to appear on the face of her partner.

Sensing how inflated his ego was becoming y/n stepped back, shoving his chest, "Hurry up and get me out of here, loverboy, I'm freezing."

This wasn't the first time the two had been in a situation such as this. They had been in a relationship for quite a few months now but were keeping it secret - for the most part anyway, but they knew the others were suspicious.

There were several reasons why they felt their relationship needed to remain secret. One being for the fact Y/n were a Slytherin. Whom for as long as anyone could remember had despised the Weasleys, and vice versa. The second, and most crucial reason was due to y/ns family. She was a Y/l/n. A family who, like the Malfoys and LeStrange, were blood purists and for that matter hated Muggles, Muggleborns and Blood Traitors alike. A trait not inherited by that of the y/l/ns only daughter. Y/n.

After overcoming the years of conditioning by her parents; painting the Weasleys, anyone alike and Muggleborns as the enemy or lessers, she'd surrounded herself with friends of all houses and blood-status.

She even discovered there to be a remarkable amount of similarities between herself and that of the Redheaded family. Soon enough finding herself regularly in comfortable conversation with the Twins during their shared classes, after years of the ridiculous feud between them buried itself in the past. It then naturally didn't take long for her to start falling for the older, louder, Twin.

Though people acknowledged she were different to her family the pair were still hesitant about the reaction they'd receive being together in public, so they thought it best to keep to themselves. Which lead to a lot of sneaking around. Hence todays secret date in Hogsmead.

A few moments later Fred and Y/n reached the trap door of Honeydukes Cellar. Fred was the one to check the coast were clear. Smiling as he watched the owners feet retreating up the basements staircase to the store above. Piece of Cauldron Cake he thought. They silently slipped through the shop, completely unnoticed.

Glad to finally have the freedom to be with one another openly the two let out relieved breaths upon being met with the chilly fresh air of Hogsmead.

They happily strolled throughout the streets hand-in-hand going about their usual routine. A quick stop to The Three Broomsticks for a couple Butterbeers then off to what they'd deemed as "their spot", a clearing by the forest over looking the Shrieking Shack where they regularly met of a weekend for lunch and much needed time together.

Fred was spinning his girlfriend as if dancing as they walked, smiling, laughing and unashamedly flirting loudly as they did so.

The two were in a world of their own as they rough housed in the soft snow, throwing handfuls at one another. Unfortunately, blissfully unaware of the approaching complication in their secret rendezvous.

"Well, well, well." Came a cold voice from behind them, one which sent chills down y/ns spine - she would know that voice anywhere. Lucius Malfoy.

The teenagers turned with identical deadpan expressions to the man before them. "What a small world." "And yet I never run into Beyoncè" y/n countered sarcastically, her tone bitter and harsh.

"Whatever would one make of this, Hmm? A y/l/n fraternising with a Weasley..." Luicus eyed Fred with distaste, as if it were unsettling to simply be in his presence.

Fred stood tall and firm in place; a murderous glare thrown towards the arrogant man as he grit his teeth.

"One?" Y/ns brow raised in question, her voice drawing Malfoys attention back to her. He simply nodded in response, causing the girl to scoff as realisation struck. An exasperated smile tugging at her lips whilst she spoke, "Right. Going to rat me out to Daddy for having a friend, Lucius?" "But of course not." He took a step closer to the couple, "for being outside the grounds of Hogwarts, accompanied by an irresponsible and perpetually reckless boy however..." y/n swallowed harshly, a wave of fear coursing through her veins as her confidence faltered.

"Well, one might say it were my responsibility to report your little...adventure today. My, I can't begin to imagine the misfortune one might be subjected to less the High Inquisitor learn of such a blatant disregard for school protocols. Those for the offenders...or the Headmaster for that matter."

Y/n was silently panicking at these words. Dumbledore has already been on thin ice with the Ministry recently. If anyone finds out, well...that'd be the end of him.

"Of course however, y/n, you would be forgiven on account of your-" "Father." "-innocence, clearly under the manipulation of this one, whom would naturally be expelled." Lucius lazily waved his hand towards Fred. "You don't even know which Weasley 'this one' is." Y/n snapped. "Unimportant. I imagine Delores will be thrilled at the opportunity of finally ridding both from the school. And as for Dumbledore-"

"You're getting ahead of yourself, Malfoy." Fred finally spoke. Stepping forward to stand slightly infront of y/n protectively. His jaw and fists were clenched in rage, knuckles turning ghostly white under the strain in his grip. "Am I?" "Yes. To snitch on us you'd first need proof we were here in the first place." "You Weasleys truly are daft. I believe I have all the 'proof' I'll be needing. Given the fact you are stood right here before me, far from the saftey of the school grounds." "Are we?" Fred subtly reached for y/ns hand as he spoke, holding her palm tight behind his back, eyes staring directly into Malfoys challenging his dominance.

"Because I'm sure if you were to go to the Castle right now; I could be found with my brother and y/n here...undoubtedly studying in the Library." "Is that so?" Lucius had a rather done and ugly expression on his face at Freds antics, whom began smiling wickedly. Uttering a simple "yep." In response.

Their stare-off was broken as Fred glanced over Malfoys shoulder, raising his free arm to wave he greeted loudly, "Hello, Hagrid!" This causing the blonde man to turn in his direction. That was Fred's cue. Taking advantage of the moment and apparating the pair to the passage of the Shrieking Shack.

They took off running, hand-in-hand as they manoeuvred the winding tunnel to the school. Sprinting so quickly that even the Whomping Willow were too slow to react to their sudden appearance as they breached the grounds.

As they reached the, thankfully empty, courtyard they finally allowed themselves the opportunity to breathe and dropped the hold of one anothers hand. Fred swallowed thickly to ease the burning in his throat, "you have to-" "yeah. And you need to-" "yeah."

Exhausted and amused chuckles fell from their lips at the understanding shared between them. Placing one final, frantic, kiss to one anothers lips as goodbye they held each other close not wanting to let go. One of y/ns hands gripped Freds hair tightly whilst the other bunched in the fabric of his shirts collar. Both his hands placed securely on her waist. Y/n whines, knowing he won't be able to break the kiss himself, focusing all her strength she pushed from his chest, "Go" she whispered. Sighing frustratedly from the loss of his lips on hers he nods in agreement before both begin running in opposite directions.

Now thankful he had such a large family Fred was quickly successful in finding a family member to cling himself to. Barrelling down the corridor to where Ron and Harry were walking and conversing over whatever, with their backs to him. Overestimating the force of his current momentum he collided forcefully with the boys shoulders in attempt to steady himself, nearly toppling all three.

"What's your problem!?" Ron snapped angrily. "DANGER!" Fred whisper yelled, very out of breath. The scene brought a rather wide smile to Harrys face, watching as the Twin clutched his side painfully and tried to speak. "If-If anyone asks. I've been here the whole-WHOLE time. Okay!?" He was gesturing wildly between the three of them as he spoke, appearing desperate.

"Oh yeah? And what's in it for us?" Ron asked cockily. "For you, little Brother..." "anything?" He smiled smugly, earning a clap on the shoulder from his flustered older brother. "Not quite, Ronniekins."

Fred's eyes turned dark as he straightened himself, grip tightening on Rons shoulder like a vice. "Cover for me this time and you get to live another day." Ron was wincing at the pain being inflicted by the hold on his shoulder, "You-you can't do anything to me." Harry looked sceptical at this, it was Fred Weasley afterall.

"Can't I? It's a big Castle, Ronnie. Accidents happen." Fred's stare hadn't left Ron's eyes the whole time he spoke. A smirk forming on his face as if taking joy in the countless possibilities he had playing on his mind.

Noticing the poorly restrained fear spreading through his brother as Ron gulped thickly he lightened his grip knowing he's won.

"F-fine. Doesn't bother me anyway. Not like it's a huge inconvenience is it, Harry?" Ron tried to play the moment off cooly, though the panic was evident on his voice. "Not at all" Harry laughed but suddenly his expression soured. Looking forward to the entrance of the hall.

"Is that...Lucius?" The Weasleys heads turned to see the pale face of Malfoy striding towards them accompanied by Delores and...oh God. Freds blood ran cold.

"It is, and Titus Y/l/n! What are they doing here?" Ron growled.

"Danger. Danger. Danger." Fred mumbled from the side of his mouth, avoiding eye contact and looking quite nervous, though he played it off much better than his brother had. The boys looked up to him "You didn't..." they spat. Fred cleared his throat as a warning, and it worked just as well as a confession in Harry and Rons opinion, as the three adults approached.

"Potter." "Malfoy."

"Weasley." "Y/l/n."

"Eh-hem" the teens rolled their eyes. "Professor?"

"Tell me, Mr Weasley" she began, looking straight to Fred, "can you account for your whereabouts this afternoon?" "With these two."

"Where's your Twin?" Lucius rudely interrupted. "Haven't the foggiest. Since, ya know...I'm not with him." "It is strange" Umbridge began, "that you are without your Twin, seeing as how you are rarely to find one without the other." She giggled sickly. "Yeah, rarely. But not never."

At his words Lucius' expression became proud and more confident, turning to Delores now to speak. "He's the one. I'm sure of it." "The one what?"

"Enough of this. My daughter, where is she?" Titus interjects. "What...y/n? Stuffed if I know. Don't fancy myself much a snake charmer. What's with the interrogation?"

"Well it would seem, Mr Malfoy here has a rather interesting story to share on the topic of two seventh years strolling about Hogsmead not even an hour ago. A Weasley and-"

"My daughter. Where is she!?"

"I've already told you. I don't know!" Titus began advancing on Fred, rage burning clear in his eyes, "I'm warning you, Weasley. If you've in anyway involved yourself with y/n I will-"

"Dad?" A soft voice called from the end of the corridor. "Y/n." The girl looked around at the gathered group confusedly before stepping between Fred, Harry and Ron to embrace her Father in a quick greeting. "What are you doing here?" "Where have you been?" "Where-what? I've been-" "the Library perhaps?" Lucius raised a mocking brow. "What? No I-I was taking a walk by the Lake." "A likely story."

"Lucius here, tells me you were in Hogsmead with this boy." Titus gestures to Fred a venom held behind his voice.

Y/n looks over Fred with visible disgust, whilst he smiles coldly back. "Why on Earth would I ever surround myself with the likes of them?" She spits. Looking back to her Father as if highly insulted by his accusation.

Titus observes the interaction carefully as if watching for any weakness in their story. But he finds none. His expression softens as he turns back to his daughter completely. "I apologise, y/n/n. Lucius was obviously mistaken." He glares back over his shoulder to the blonde man who scoffs in response. "I would nev-" "Save it, Lucius." Titus growls. "But, Titus if I may, why would Mr Malfoy report this if it were not-" "you may not." The girls father puts an end to Umbridges interruption as she'd attempted to defend the other man. "I trust my daughter to know of the correct company to keep. Lucius was obviously mistaken and has by extension wasted my time."

Thankfully the adults were too busy bickering for anyone to notice the small smiles that threaten to break onto the faces of the gathered teenagers.

"I'm sorry, dear. I must be leaving now and I hope your studies are going well." "They are Dad, I'll write you and Mum tonight to fill you in on everything. Just as I always do." Y/n smiled. Titus pulled his daughter in for a final hug, placing a soft kiss to her forehead before turning to leave, with a last menacing glare to Delores and Lucius he walked away.

"Well. That will be all, the four of you off to your Common rooms immediately to prepare for dinner. Mr Malfoy if you'd follow me I'll escort you from the Castle." Umbridge spoke.

Harry and Ron couldn't contain their giggles at the insulted reaction shown by Malfoy as he turned to leave.

Lucius took one final look over his shoulder to the teens, who had not moved, being met with the taunting smile and small wave of y/n with Fred now standing confidently beside her.

Once finally out of sight the couple fell into hysterics, Fred wrapping an arm around y/ns shoulder as they laughed.

"What the bloody hell did you two do!?" Ron asked through a wide grin. "Just took a quick trip into town that's all..." "Safe to say our secrets out, Freddie." Y/n whispered to him as she noted all the students watching the group, paying particular attention to Freds arm around her. "Secret? You kidding! You two are the most obvious people on the planet!" Harry quipped. "George has been taking bets on how long it'll take for you two to just come out and admit it." "I know." Spoke Fred, "I had Colin Creevey place 7 Sickles on it for me." "You bet on us!?" "The odds were on my side! But thanks to Malfoy date-crashing I'm out of it now."

"About that, how did you two get back here so fast?" Ron questions.

"We apparated to The Shack then hauled ass." Y/n answered. "The pros of being 17" Fred winked, pulling y/n back into his chest, resting his chin atop her head. As his arms wrapped around her she nestled herself comfortably within his embrace with a lovestruck smile.

"Right well, as amusing as that was, this-" Ron guestured to the couple, "is gonna turn my stomach. And I'm starving so, Harry, coming to get ready for dinner?" the bluntness causing his best friend to roll his eyes with a chuckle. "Yeah alright. And I'll be sure to tell George all about this if we run into him along the way." Harry joked, waving to the couple as they walked towards the Gryffindor common room.

They stood there for a moment, contently basking in each others warmth before y/n turned in place to face her boyfriend with a cheekily grin. "So, still think I need tips on how to lie?" Fred clicks his jaw as he pretends to be deep in thought. Nodding slowly as he answers, "yeah, yep. Absolutely." "I just successfully dooped not only my Father but Delores fucking Umbridge! Okay? I deserve a frickin' gold star."

Fred can't help but laugh at her comment. "Alright, first of all. 'Dooped'? That is the least cool thing you've ever said. Secondly, you're so cute when you get all sassy. And unfortunately for you, I'm fresh out of gold stars...but I'll happily reward you for that semi-decent performance." Y/ns mouth falls open at the last words, "semi-decent!?" Fred nods innocently, "You sir, are a twat!" She states firmly as she pushes out of his arms making the redhead laugh loudly.

Taking a strong grip to her wrist as she begins to walk away he pulls her back to him, wrapping an arm around her waist as the other fists the hair at the nape of her neck pulling her lips into his.

The kiss is hard and passionate, as if he's trying to make up for their spoiled date in this one moment. And it's working, fireworks erupt within y/ns chest as goosebumps spread over her skin and she can't help the soft moans that sound from her throat. It's perfect.

Fred smiles as he rests his forehead against hers, feeling like he's drunk an entire Cauldron of love potion. "You were brilliant today, love." He whispers. "Fred, that kiss was...wow." he hums in response. "I still want the star though." she goads making him roll his eyes and throw his head back in exasperation. She can feel the silent laughter radiate through his body as she holds him close bringing her head to rest against his chest.

Freds arms hold y/n tighter as he lets out a comfortable sigh, placing his head atop of hers. Eyes softly closing in complete bliss. As fun as all the sneaking around was he could get used to this. Holding her when, where and for as long as he wants? To Fred, that sounds exactly like Heaven.