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lipsyncforyourlife · 2 years

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DeJa Skye Says We Should Talk About Bruno + "Save A Queen" Recap (Issue #5)

The RuPaul's Drag Race Official Newsletter

In this week’s newsletter, we savor the best moments of “Save A Queen,” mourn an untimely departure, and share an exclusive interview with DeJa Skye. Don’t forget to subscribe so you can stay tuned for all of the latest Drag Race updates!

What a gut punch! The latest Drag Race episode, “Save A Queen,” kicked things off with one of the show’s most unexpected departures in recent memory, a reminder to the queens and us fans that the competition can change in an instant. Luckily, spring arrived on the runway, plus a ridiculous Maxi Challenge brought the laughs, both of which helped lighten the mood. My name’s Cameron Scheetz and I’m here to be your guide to the latest in the world of Drag Race, original recipe (now with less Kornbread ☹️).

The morning’s Werk Room “hootenanny” was swiftly derailed by the realization that Kornbread had not clocked in for the day. Before the theories could fly, RuPaul entered with some sad news and a video message from J.Lo Kornbread herself. As the queen tells it, she rolled her ankle while filming the “Super Tease” challenge, leaving her swollen and in excruciating pain. And just like that… Kornbread’s out of the competition. You basically watch the queens’ stomachs drop in real time, seeing the shock and heartbreak on their faces (and, yes, some were relieved to have a clear frontrunner out of their path to the crown). Kornbread’s sweet farewell included some love for fellow auntie Kerri Colby, a funny acknowledgment that there’s no beef between her and Jasmine Kennedie, and powerful words of encouragement for Willow Pill, no doubt hurting over the loss of her closest sister. Personally, I’m still not over it—how devastating!

The Set-Up

But the tears have to dry fast as Ru brings The Pit Crew into the Werk Room, along with 11 black balloons. What initially seemed like a Mini Challenge was actually just a clever rouse to divvy the girls up into three groups: Grind the balloon up on Bryce and Bruno to pop them, the colorful confetti determining your team. The queens have a blast with it, and Kerri gave us the episode’s funniest confessional while watching Jorgeous struggle: “That little bitch ain’t topped nothing in her life!” Oh. My. God.

With the queens all flustered, Ru then welcomed some special guests to the Werk Room: season 7’s Tempest DuJour (in Daya’s confessional shirt), a puppet-less Jaymes Mansfield from season 9, and season 13’s Kahmora “The Mackie Doll” Hall. They all received the porckhop in their respective seasons, so they were brought in to support the girls in the creation of a campy PSA to “raise awareness of first-eliminated queens.” Each team was assigned a queen and must tell their story through—the catch—rhyming commercial parodies. Tempest guided Angeria, DeJa, Jorgeous, and Kerri in poking fun at her age, Jaymes lead Jasmine, Maddy, Orion, and Willow through her tumbles and stumbles, and Kahmora rooted for Bosco, Daya, and Lady Camden as they riffed on her time management skills. Through brainstorming and filming, I loved watching the returning queens advise their teams, especially because they had no stake in the game so they weren’t afraid to throw some shade. (“Start packing now!”)

The Looks

On the runway, spring had the girls feeling sprung, showcasing some truly creative approaches to the category. Sure, florals may not be the most groundbreaking, but the first three to walk put their spin on it—Jorgeous and Angeria gave polished pageantry, while Kerri surprised with a bouquet creature from beyond. DeJa donned her signature pastels to give her Easter Bunny a glam makeover, while Orion stripped down to show off one raunchy rabbit. Jasmine served Poison Ivy showgirl, Daya was the tallest fairy I’ve ever seen, pinkies were out for Lady Camden’s playful spot of tea, and Willow brought it as a literal house-wife with a “wittle” touch of darkness. Both Maddy and Bosco looked to the skies for inspiration, the former wowing in a theatrical storm-cloud piece, and the latter going from S.A.D. to glad with a thrilling catwalk reveal. Finally, our first-eliminated queens were invited to walk the runway—though apparently not with the same spring theme—and Kahmora just about stole the whole damn show, stunning in a (you guessed it) vintage Bob Mackie dress.

The Challenge

Then it was time to get the wallets out and those tear ducts flowing as we watched the “Save A Queen” PSA. First of all, the song? Iconic. The vocals were spot on and the lyrics a gag (“Her Onlyfans ain’t poppin’ / And all her pads are rotten”). As the footage rolled, it was clear the queens that excelled were the ones who tapped into the faux emotion of the PSA (Lady Camden can act!), or who brought their own rhythm to the voiceover (Bosco’s a beat poet!). Poor Jorgeous had the unenviable position of going first, making her inability to get the flow down stand out even more, and Orion couldn’t break out of the “high off her ass housewife” mold. The whole sketch ended with the perfect button: Sarah Thee McLachlan, queen of tear-jerking PSAs, acknowledging “this is wrong on so many levels.”

The Critiques

When it came time for critiques, Bosco, Lady Camden, and Angeria were praised, with Bosco claiming the win for her spirited line readings, finally putting “a point up on the board” for the Demon Queen of Seattle. Jasmine was deemed safe (although she better be on the lookout for Alyssa Edwards!), leaving Jorgeous and Orion to duke it out in the Lip Sync For Your Life to the tune of Ava Max’s A Touch Of Class-sampling “My Head & My Heart.” In her second LSFYL, Orion clearly still had the fight in her, though she made the fatal error of kicking off her heels, which the queens should know by now never goes over well with Ru. But, from the second Jorgeous untied her dress, she unleashed pure fire on the stage and it was impossible to take your eyes off of her—good luck to any queen facing off with her in future lip syncs!

And, thus, it’s the end of this chapter for Orion Story, no gold bar to save the day. I’m so glad she was brought back to showcase more of her drag; she’s a queen with a vision and I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of it as she continues to come out of her shell. Sashaying away for the second time, Orion joked, “Y’all got it the first time!”

Burning Questions

When Will The Bakery Re-Open?

It’s worth noting that, in Kornbread’s video message, she says, “unfortunately this is the end for me and season 14.” With a 6-8 week recovery, there’s just no way she can return to this competition—but next year, perhaps? You might remember that, in season 9, Eureka was similarly forced to leave the competition after an injury (also in the fifth episode), only to be asked back the following year, during which she was a major player, taking it all the way to the final lip sync smackdown. One can see a similar path forward for Kornbread. Or, hell, given her stellar premiere, hilarious screen presence, and early frontrunner status, Ms. The Snack has basically already made her case for All Stars. I’d imagine she’d rather go for a fair shot at a regular season crown, but, either way, I’m sure this is not the last we’ll be seeing of Kornbread on Drag Race. For now, we’ll see you at the reunion, girl!

The Voice Of An Angel

At first I thought Ava Max went the extra mile for the show and laid down the vocals for the “Save A Queen” PSA song, but I can confirm it was singer Sydney Cubit. The track—written and produced by amazing frequent Drag Race collaborators Leland and Freddy Scott—really is a brilliantly produced piece of parody, like Sarah McLachlan’s “The Arms Of An Angel” in drag. And, speaking of Sarah: Babe, it was so good to see you, even for a brief second. Will you please come back to Drag Race in the future as a guest judge? We want to hear you read the queens for filth in that melodious voice of yours.

Next Week: Out Of The Box

One gal’s Glamazon return is another gal’s treasure! Boxes of Michelle Visage’s online orders are wheeled into the Werk Room, giving the queens a strange array of odds and ends to create a look for a proper design challenge. Will the group’s seamstresses once again provide a helping hand to their so-so sewing sisters? Plus, we are blessed by the presence of the incredible Taraji P. Henson at the Judge’s Table (her guest stint on Legendary was pure joy, so this has me excited!), and it seems drama could be brewing after this week’s elimination, with DeJa warning: “Yell at me again and I’m going to beat your ass.” Damn, indeed!

The Other Half Of The Story

You know the drill: If you’re not watching Untucked, well, you’re missing out, babe! Let’s shout out a few of the most notable moments form this week’s episode.

I didn’t expect to see Kornbread in Untucked, but I’m so glad we did! It was great to hear her perspective on the surprising turn of events as she packed her bags, booted and hobbling through the Werk Room. Of course there’s some sadness—especially to leave her newfound sisters behind—but she seemed at peace with it, eager to heal and move on to the surely big things ahead. And leave it to Kornbread to drop an iconic exit line, a hilarious nod to Vanessa Vanjie Mateo: “Ouch! My ankle… My ankle… My… Aaaankle.”

Daya was not thrilled to be safe yet again, and she was left pondering whether her Team Kahmora partners scored high or low. When Bosco and Lady Camden arrived with news of positive critiques, Daya was even more miffed, which the other queens swiftly rebuked. But I do feel for Daya—she nailed the heightened delivery in her PSA, so I, too, was wondering why the judges saw her as the weakest of her team. Hopefully she can channel the frustration here and really turn it out in the coming weeks.

Jaymes, Kahmora, and Tempest showed up to kiki with the safe girls, offering some words of wisdom and (delightfully) more shade: “I think that the camera was kind to a lot of people.”

After the queens lifted their undisclosed beverages for a toast to Kornbread, they reflected on the major impact she had on the competition in such a short time. Kerri, especially, got emotional sharing how the presence of her LA sister helped her immediately feel at home in the Werk Room.

As Orion gathered her things and said goodbye, she expressed how much confidence she’s gained from Drag Race, walking away as a winner in her own right. Plus, I’m sure that little crush confession from Jorgeous was a nice confidence boost too! 👀

The Serve-ey w/ DeJa Skye

Each week, we’ll get to learn more about one of the queens of season 14 when they take our brief questionnaire, a.k.a. The Serve-ey. They’ll all get the same six questions, and then we’ll throw in one final “wildcard” question just for fun. This week: The Skye’s the limit as we talk to Fresno’s pastel princess, DeJa Skye!

1. In keeping with the season promo’s board game theme: What was your favorite game growing up and why?

This is a video game that I think started on, like, Sega or something? I don’t even know, XBox? It’s called Dead Or Alive, it’s a fighting game and it’s sickening. The female characters are so fierce; they are literal drag queens, which I live for. There’s actually one of them that has purple hair, and I was like—Oh my god! Did I subconsciously develop my character [based on] her? Wow. Okay, I see you, DeJa, okay! [Laughs.]

But, yeah, the female characters were always sickening. And then they had this spin-off about volleyball [Dead Or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball], and it was just those female characters shaking their boobs. [Laughs.] Yeah, we were poor, but we my dad was able to get us a—oh, a Dreamcast! That’s what it was. So my dad was able to get us a Dreamcast and Dead Or Alive is the game I would play constantly.

2. How would you say the city you’re from helped define your drag?

I think when I first came out, I was young, 20 years old, vocal—I thought I was the most amazing kid that walked into that club, even though you could see my mustache. Not padded, bare legs—I thought I was the one. You know, I coined the phrase “new girl-itis,” which is just when you get a couple compliments and think you’re Beyonce even though you look—you don’t even look like Michelle, honestly! [Laughs.]

But I think that, once I started honing in on my craft, it really humbled me. Obviously I started off as a performer, but I think once I got a microphone, that’s when I started to really come into my own and gained actual confidence—not that false confidence that I thought I had walking in as a 21-year old. So I gained confidence, and then I gained weight, and then I gained more confidence. I was like, “You know what, I don’t give a fuck!“ It’s funny because I don’t think a lot of people understand that when I tell them, but I say, like, gaining weight actually gave me confidence. I know it sounds like it should be the opposite way, but I felt like whenever I gained weight, I just kind of had an “I don’t give a fuck what you think about my drag” mentality, and that stuck with me as a person, like, “I don’t give a fuck what you think about me in general.” There’s a lot of opinions, and that’s definitely what made me strong.

If I had a struggle, it was never with queens, it was always with promoters and owners of clubs that wanted you a certain way. I would always try to fight it. I was like, “I’m my own character. I don’t care what you did back in the day”—because one of the club owners used to be a drag queen back in the day, like 1904 or something around those times. Pre-Great Depression! But I think what made me the person that I am and the whole [mentality of] “I do drag for me, I put on makeup for me, I dress the way I dress for me,” is because I’ve had people try to tell me what to do my entire career, and I never listened! I truly never listened. I was like, “Okay, well, that’s great. And moving on!”

You have said previously that you don’t necessarily see DeJa as your alter ego, or another personality or anything—this is you!

I feel like a lot of people do do drag to find confidence, and that’s one of the key [reasons] for it. But I think that a lot of people will only have confidence in drag—but, like, once you take that wig off, you should still be confident. You know, maybe some people may not say the same things they would say in drag while out of drag. But I think: Don’t do drag to gain confidence in drag—do drag because you want to do it, and then you’ll gain confidence as a person. Also, it obviously will come with age, as well. I think age is a huge deal with it because you really do come into your own, you start picking up on everything that you used to do. I’ll watch old videos of myself and I’m like, “Who is that? Who are you? Explain!” [Laughs.]

You can watch these old videos and be like, “Oh, that girl had ‘new girl-itis’.”

Literally! And people were like, “Oh my god, mama, slay! You are the most amazing—” Like, what?

Well, it’s also good to have supportive people in your life, right?

Supportive, delusional people, right! [Laughs.]

3. With this season’s candy bar twist, I’m curious: If you were a piece of candy, what kind would you be?

I’ll say Laffy Taffy because I’m colorful and I can be chewy—no, no, no, no, no! [Laughs.] Not chewy. No, but I will stick with Laffy Taffy. They’re colorful, they’re sweet, they’re bendy—I mean, I’m not bendy, but—and then, yeah, I love to laugh!

Yes! That’s perfect. I was always a big fan of those big ones with the colorful sprinkles in them.

Yes! And it was that good crunch. Oh, yes. My go-to flavor was banana, I loved the banana Laffy Taffy. But it was hard to find! I think, for a time, you could only find the little ones. But banana Laffy Taffy is my favorite.

That’s kind of a surprising pick! In my experience, if a bowl of Laffy Taffy is out, banana is always the one that’s left over!

Well then I’m just going to go around to people—I’m going to search the grocery aisles, see someone with a bag of Laffy Taffy, and be like, “Hey, if you don’t want the bananas, give them here.” [Laughs.] Honey, they will have a good home with me!

4. What can you tell us about your “confessional” interview look? How did you decide what to wear? What do you think it says about your style out of drag?

Well, I’m a hat person—I love berets, I love bucket hats. And I love color-blocking. I think it does say a lot about me. I mean, I do wish it was pastel. But I’m a colorful person—it doesn’t mean I’m only pastels, like, I just love color. So, I’ve learned to make a bold statement, especially with your confessional looks because you see [them] a lot, every single episode, so I think it should make an impact. And I felt like that made an impact! I think mine is probably the most colorful [of the confessional looks].

And I love the red-and-white polkadot frames you’re wearing with it. Do you keep a bunch of different color glasses handy for different outfits?

Yes! I don’t have brows, so I wear glasses if I’m lazy and don’t want to wear brows. Also, this is kind of—oh my god, I’m so weird—when I was younger, I think I was like in fifth or sixth grade, I wanted glasses so bad. Because my friend lent me her glasses, and I I loved the way I looked in glasses. [Laughs.] I’m such an idiot. And this was before the time of, like, fake glasses—this was before the time where you could just buy frames, right? So I literally was like, “Mom, I need glasses. I can’t see!” My mom took me to the eye doctor and I tried to lie—I’m just not a good liar! So, the [eye test] would be up, right? And I would just go, “Umm….” The doctor was literally like, “Your eyes are fine. Stop it.’ [Laughs.] And so my mom took me to some store and was like, “Here, take out the frames.” So it’s just always stuck with me, I love the way I look in glasses.

What’s funny is that, on set, especially in confessionals with close-ups, you can’t wear lenses because they flare. So, I literally took all of the lenses out of every single pair I had—actually, some of the glasses I brought to set are sunglasses. I just took out the lenses because I feel like sunglasses have a thicker frame, and I like the thicker [look.] And then those red ones were so big, and I was like “Ah, so good!”

5. What’s a fun fact you can share about one of your season 14 sisters that might surprise the fans?

[Laughs.] A fun fact about Jorgeous is she’s like the horniest person on set. I mean, I think I’m pretty horny as well, but Jorgeous—she’s the youngest, so she’s obviously, like, “give it to me now! Give it to me, slay me fierce.” She’s literally the most vulgar little petite jalapeño that you’ll ever meet in your life. I literally love her to death, but she is just the horniest little thing. I was like, “Dang, you better work.”

But she didn’t like The Pit Crew—I like The Pit Crew. You know Bruno on The Pit Crew? “We don’t talk about Bruno,” but we have to talk about Bruno. Bruno is so fucking fine, he is the biggest, just a massive man. And it makes me feel so dainty, I’m like, “Oh my god!” [Laughs.] No, but Jorgeous was just—obviously she couldn’t put her hands on anybody, but anything and everything, if she could, she would. She’s just a little horny little thing. I live for it.

6. Here’s a chance to shout out another drag performer, designer, hair & makeup artist, etc… who really helped inspire you or prepare you for your journey on Drag Race.

Yes, I would like to shout out one of my best friends, Miss Gigi—it’s Just Gigi. She did all my hair for the show, except for like maybe two or three. But she really did help me. She did not charge me an arm and a leg. She was just like, “Okay, this is such a huge experience for you, so I’m definitely down to help you.”

And then shout out to another drag queen, her name is Emma Fèmme Brûlée. She helped me with—I did the majority of the things to come on the show, but she helped me with stuff that I didn’t know how to make. So, shout out to her!

And then I want to shout out to my best friend, Miss Cara Coronado. She didn’t help me with anything, but she’s my best friend. [Laughs.] I would love to see her on a future season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. She’s sickening, she’s hilarious, I think that they would definitely like her, she would go far.

And, of course, you create a lot of your own looks—do you design for her?

Here’s the thing: I don’t have to make designs for her, I just give her my hand-me-downs! [Laughs.] Her entire wardrobe is DeJa 2.0—like entire wardrobe. I’m like, “I’m not really using this anymore,” and she’s like, “I’ll take it!” It’s hilarious.

7. Wildcard: I’ve noticed the bulk of your social media posts are in all caps—what’s the significance for you? Is there a reason behind it?

Right! So, I started doing it years ago, just because I wanted people to know that I was being serious about things. And I was truly like, “you better pay attention!” [Laughs.] Now it’s just a habit. This is what I tell people: I’m being serious when I don’t all-caps stuff, so you should really pay attention. Like, if I’m in my feelings, or I have something to say—Jasmine Masters—it’ll be in all lowercase. Then you know I’m being serious. But it’s just a habit that I’ve done for years now. At first it was for like, “pay attention,” now it’s just signature me. Kornbread tells me that I like tweet like Cher, like some older person. I was like, “I guess I’ll take it. I’ll be the elderly woman of the cast!”

But the all-caps reads to me as a super bubbly, positive thing—like, you’re always excited and supportive online, which really speaks to who you are. Is that an intentional part of your approach to social media?

I think that, when it comes to social media, there’s so many opinions and there’s so much hate out there, that I feel like I could be that one radiating-positivity person. And I think that, when it comes to Drag Race and being on TV and being a quasi-celebrity, I just feel like everyone has something to say. There’s always someone that’s going to try to tear you down. So I figured that—well, it’s just me in general, just part of my personality—I would rather be that positive person, or at least that uplifting person. I always try to engage with my fans, I always try to engage with my sisters, because that’s really what it’s all about.

I went on Drag Race to have a sisterhood. I know a lot of people went on there for a crown—that crown is going to be lovely, sure—however, I did go on for sisterhood, because I think it’s lost in translation a lot. People think it’s just drama, drama, drama, drama, drama, where everyone fends for themselves. You can win a competition and still be a lovely person, and still have sisterhood, and still hold on to your integrity without being so negative. I always tell the girls: The world is gonna be against us, the least we can do is be supportive of each other, you know? And I think that that is something very big to me because these girls are stuck with me for the rest of our lives, so get ready.

And they do call me the mom on set because I am the voice of reason a lot, so I feel like I kind of translate that into social media. [Laughs.] But I just think that some advice that I would give the world is: This is hard enough, let us have our moment. Just because you have an opinion, it doesn’t mean you need to tag us. [Laughs.] You know what I mean? Like, have your darn opinion on your page, post a video—I don’t know. You don’t need to tag us in something negative, you don’t need to take it to that level. Like, I think that fans take Drag Race more seriously than Drag Race contestants.

But, for my social media, there’s no point in clapping back because it’s here. No point. I’d rather just be positive and keep pushing and make sure that everyone understands that, if nobody is there for you, I’m there for you. I’m really not a person that posts every few seconds and I’m also not a person that just spews obscenities, so I guess I’ll just be the mom and be the encouraging one. [Laughs.]

The Looks You Didn't See

It’s practically tradition that eliminated queens will take to social media to show off the stunning looks they didn’t use on the runway. Every week, we’ll reserve this space to shout out our favorite “unseen looks.“

Alyssa “MoneyGun” Hunter💸

@TheAlyssaHunter

“SPRING HAS SPRUNG” 🌿🌺🐸🇵🇷 Inspired by the Culture of my beautiful island Puerto Rico, I present to you all our beautiful Native flower “Flor Maga”. This National Costume Represented Puerto Rico at @MissUniverse Pageant in 2019. 🪡: @JOSHUANAPONTE https://t.co/HfOmevr9XZ

12:57 PM - 5 Feb 2022

Boi-oi-oing! Feeling sprung for Alyssa Hunter‘s jaw-dropping spring look! We got a peek at the coquí frog piece in her Watcha Packin’ interview, but that’s just one component of this stunner from frequent Drag Race designer Joshua Aponte, a brilliant showgirl tribute to Puerto Rico’s native Flor Maga flower. She may be eliminated, but you can expect Alyssa to drop fire looks all season long. Also don’t miss: June Jambalaya is bustin’ out all over in an eye-catching floral outfit from designer Tony Iniguez.

Gagatrondra! It's The Tweets Of The Week

We wrap up every newsletter with a rundown of some of our favorite reaction tweets of the week, so use #DragRace and you may find yourself here!

Joey Nolfi

@joeynolfi

My heart every week for the rest of season 14 🥲🥲🥲 #DragRace https://t.co/N6DZB7WT4e

8:14 PM - 4 Feb 2022

hay ♡

@HAY4HOSO

maddy learning what the mini challenge is for this week #dragrace https://t.co/Pm6IAFFobr

8:18 PM - 4 Feb 2022

Roo

@empress_doom

Loved @jasminekennedie's side hustle as The Count #DragRace https://t.co/TujB4Iy35e

6:56 AM - 5 Feb 2022

nik 🌈 #teambosco #teamwillow

@janvelour

she's the literal definition of stunning #DragRace https://t.co/N0p5A8LK6C

9:14 PM - 4 Feb 2022

Want More?

Hieeee! It’s a double-dose of All Star when the one-and-only Alaska guests on this week’s The Pit Stop with Monét X Change. Watch below:

The Pit Stop S14 E05 | Monét X Change & Alaska Save Us All | RuPaul’s Drag Race

And, lucky us! We’re gifted with a Whatcha Packin’ two-fer this week, as Michelle Visage sits down with both Orion Story and Kornbread “The Snack” Jeté to debrief after a very eventful episode.

Whatcha Packin’ #1 | S14 E05 | RuPaul’s Drag Race

Whatcha Packin’ #2 | S14 E05 | RuPaul’s Drag Race

#RuPaul's Drag Race #Newsletter #Save A Queen #DeJa Skye #SEGA #Sega Dreamcast #Dead or Alive #Bruno Alcantara

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boytouya · 3 years

Text

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘖𝘧 𝘈 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦

words:2.3k

WARNING: graphic depictions of violence, blood, angst, open ended/ambiguous ending, descriptions of death.

request: “Can i request sukuna x male reader. Where reader keeps reincarnating with each lifetime for a curse and every time he remembers sukuna, he dies after gaining memories back. You can choose if theres a good ending or angst. Thank you king! I fell in love with him especially after reading that one shot i had to watch jjk and hes hot! Thank you for turning me into a sukuna simp! Much love”

a/n: i went,,,overboard with this request 🗿 BUT IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITESSIJEHSHE i’m honored to have introduced you to such a foine man

When you were five, only then had you understood the curse deemed ‘Ryoumen Sukuna.’ A rather tall man with two heads, one of which had splattered blood onto your sneakers. You understood the concept of death, of course, but could never truly comprehend the feeling of nothingness after watching your life flash before your eyes until nineteen. But there you stood, clutching the loop of your shorts when you witnessed the murder of your entire village. You didn’t know evil could have a moral compass, but the tall curse seemed to exclude half of the women and children. After the widening of youthful eyes and curdling screams you learned the monster took likings to things too. Women, with shaking forms and broken spirits. He’d stop before them, stare at them with eyes that could- in fact- kill, if they truly wanted to. But then he stopped in front of you.

“Close your eyes, Brat.” Death's hands were just as large as your family painted them out to be, if not larger. Calloused and riddled with blood as they are placed over your ears. You do as he- it says, squeezing your eyes shut and enclosing your eyes behind the meat of your palms just to be extra careful. You can see stars behind your eyelids, just as you can feel the sickening twang of death lingering in the air. You were aware it would happen at some point, Death would find its place for you over and over and over again, you’d been told since the day you were born.

There’s another sound, only muted under large palms. You don’t need your sense of sight or hearing to know what it was, the warm chunks splattering onto your skin was enough. Immediately, you flinched. When you opened your eyes, there were piercing eyes staring straight into your own. It looked so human, but something was off. Uncanny, as if it took years to manipulate its flesh and bone to emulate humans to a T. But there was nothing human behind those eyes, instead a void of nothingness. Death itself. If Death could express interest, you’d have thought that was the expression it was imitating. It offers a hand, one of four. Larger than your face, with sharp claws that could almost be described as talons. Darkened by dirt and remains of your loved ones, if it truly wanted to kill you, it could. It could tear you limb from limb with the wave of a finger. And it knew that.

So you took the hand, and he became your second home.

When you were ten, you learned about the red string of fate. It could never be broken, and those connected by it would always reunite, no matter the circumstances. You often had nightmares, those of which filled with blurred faces and sharp pain that reached you in your lucid state. Dreams of talons, piercing eyes, and double headed monsters. You dreamt under the stars, tasted metal on your tongue, and choked on smoke that wasn’t actually there. You dreamt of facial markings, details that you couldn’t exactly place, a name that you couldn’t quite remember. It left your tongue feeling thick in your mouth, racked tremors through your body, and caused premature dark circles to accumulate under your eyes.

When you were nineteen, you experienced your last breath. The air was stolen from your lungs, crushed under years of heartbreak and terror, and snatched from you in the dead of night. Your eyes glazed over, and nothingness overtook you. It left you for someone else to find, cold and lifeless. A void, similar to the eyes you had finally placed. But that didn’t matter much then, you had already drifted away from your body.

And that was that.

Thus, the cycle repeated. Under different names, different ages, different genders. There was always something gnawing away at your conscience, you felt as though you were forgetting something. But when you finally remembered, it was too late. And there was nothing you could do about it.

It was almost like deja vu, stepping outside your home to find blood splattered on the concrete floor. It made your blood run cold, sent a tremor through your body and made you feel like you were five again. Small and defenseless. You take it as your best interest to go back inside before you pass out, but the second you whip your body around you meet something- someone?- large and sturdy.

“Sukuna.” That was it, the sour taste at the tip of your tongue, the lingering sensation at the back of your brain. Him. He didn’t look the same, no, much smaller with tufts of pink hair. There’s something behind his eyes this time, something almost irrevocably human. For some reason that’s much scarier than what you remember. What you think you remember. He’s much more human, but the way he looks at you is everything but humane. He looks frustrated, angry at something, as if he’ll implode any second and go on a rampage. Dread bubbles up in your stomach, nearly erupting through your mouth as bile. It felt as though something should be happening, like something usually happened when the itch went away. He chuckles, low in his throat as he cranes his neck to put his face uncomfortably close to your own. His hands, still large, find their way to your wrist, gripping your right hand uncomfortably tight. For a moment, you consider how long a trip to the hospital would be if he shattered the bone beneath his fingers. But instead there’s a jolt of electricity that would’ve had you yanking your hand back if he weren’t holding it.

“What? You look different.” He all but purrs, inspecting your palm with long nails. Not long enough to be talons, but longer than those of a claw. It was true, you did look different. He wondered if you spent your lifetimes looking exactly the same. That couldn’t have been possible, he would’ve found you much easier, then. Still quite boyish, as if the body you were in didn’t originally belong to you. Clearly grown out of cargo shorts and polos, much taller than you were before. There was no way he could have forgotten you, the way you jumped when the remains of your loved one splattered across your legs. The way you stared back at him with a look of acceptance, the way you grabbed his hand and allowed him to lead you out of the village. It explained the body memories perfectly, the feeling of large palms on your head and remnants of a brain splattering onto your knees.

“Last time I saw you,” He let’s go of your wrist with a bored expression, then replaces its spot with the top of your head. He shoves you down, and you make an effort to ignore the crack your knees make when they smack against the concrete. Then, he crouches down to stare you directly in the eye, just like he had the first time you met. His eyes were no longer dark, instead a deep shade of red that caught light from the moon. They reminded you of vials of blood. “You were this tall. Much cuter in this century.”

“And you were bigger.” Sukuna laughs as if hearing that was the funniest thing in the world. He leans his weight into you and uses you as a support beam, laughing until his ribs burn and beg for a break. But how could he laugh at a time like this? He didn’t think it was weird? He’s existed for centuries, murdered for millennias and only now has he seen you. That wasn’t how it worked, when you died, you died. But Sukuna was a walking oxymoron to that statement. When he died, if he died, he would return. He’d return through you, the last fragments of his soul would stay bound to yours until the end of time. Perhaps that’s how he knew, how he remembered. Perhaps that’s why he still took the time to find you, even after countless years of failure. It was peculiar, but not as much as being bound to Death himself. It was a sick game of turning the phrase ‘Til’ death do you part,’ because in your case it was literal.

“You’re still a brat.” His voice is closest to something fond, as if he’s reminiscing sweet memories. It was much different on your account, and part of you wondered if Sukuna understood that. He makes no effort to help you up (he explains that you’re “a big boy now”) as he invites himself into your apartment. Nothing special, he doesn’t care much for family photos or if you have them, but the stacks of letters and books on your table peak his interest. He tears apart envelopes as if he owns them, reads through the contents and discards them to the floor if he deems them useless. The way he sits nearly breaks your chair, and, honestly, you weren’t sure what to do with yourself.

So you sit beside him.

“You were so scared,” He says, almost as if he were bragging. But he was known to be arrogant and cocky, that was just his nature. He didn’t truly mean it like that, in fact, he looked quite reverent after letting the thought drift into the air. It was kind of funny, such a powerful thing fawning over past memories. But that wasn’t how this should go, you had your memory back, so why hasn’t anything happened? “When you grabbed my hand you stopped shaking.”

“...”

“It’s a shame I couldn’t keep you long,” He visibly frowns, the skin around his lips worry, but you can't tell if it’s genuine or not. He looks at you with something knowing the second the thought enters your head. “I looked for you, at first. You died young, for a human.”

Ninteen. ‘I should have been there,” he wants to add.

“Why aren’t I dying now?” You interrupt and let the panic sink in, the thought of impending doom sits on your shoulders because, really, it could happen at any moment. But this time, you don’t want it to. You remember accepting death when it came to your door at the young age of five, nineteen, countless times over and over. You had only ever gotten this far, you weren’t ready yet. You couldn’t start over, not now. “Sukuna?”

The question sours his mood in the blink of an eye, and instead of looking through your things, he raises himself from his seat to rest his palms on the table. It seemed he had a thing for staring down at people, making them cower under his stone cold gaze. You note the way his jaw clenches. You open your mouth to speak again, but he seems to have other plans. He squeezes your cheeks, making your lips purse together under the pressure of his large fingers. The movement feels familiar, like he’s done it before. The five years you spent with him were still a bit of a blur, but you remembered holding his hand quite often. He’d tell you to close your eyes if there was something he didn’t want you to see, he’d ruffle your hair a bit too hard, let you sleep on his back if he was out in the town. But that was all you remembered. He remembered it all.

“Respect your elders,” He lets go and sits back down as if he hadn’t just thrown a tantrum over you interrupting him. Sukuna was centuries old, but even then, he’d exhibit immature behavior sometimes. Living for so long had to get boring (and lonely) at some point, perhaps that was why he looked for you. He did consider you something close to family, after all. In truth, there were some lifetimes where you met. Some when you were friends, something more than that, and something inseparable. And that’s why you hadn’t died yet, you didn’t remember it all. “It’s rude to interrupt someone when they’re talking.”

“You’re much more handsome in this life.” His smile is much more intimidating than sweet, the sinister curl to his lips would only ever be associated with bloodshed in your eyes. But it was much more than that. Nights of sleeping together, days of laughter and flirtatious comments, soft moments that only you had seen. And it was bittersweet, because he knew the second he’d jog your memory you’d be gone. It wasn’t just a curse for you, but for him. Maybe it was his punishment for hurting so many people, dragging an innocent soul down with him and hanging them by the red string of fate. The comment makes your skin prickle with heat. Sukuna was quite the charmer when he wanted to be, easily picking at your weak spots with whatever you wanted to hear. But the comment was much more for the sake of his own, instead of yours.

Sukuna stands, hot on his heels as he holds out his hand one last time. If something were to happen to you tonight he’d make the most out of it, just as he did countless times over and over. So many years of starting over, getting to know you in various different bodies, realizing that being trapped away was the only way you’d get to live a full life, it was always on his mind. You were always on his mind.

So you take his hand. And for the millionth time, he’d become your second home.

taglist:

@ryoukuna @indigowren21 @cannedfoodisbestfood @junkwhoore @kissesdenji @sanderssidesangsttrash @i-d0g @kaito-asmr @jream-23 @princejasno @mel-bigia04 @mhasimp666 @onehellofasimp @corporeal-terrestrial @angelaturservice @shadows-of-nightmares @rinkindaugly

#💕.sukuna #sukuna x male reader #sukuna x y/n #sukuna x you #sukuna x reader #anime x you #anime x reader #anime x male reader #jjk x y/n #jjk x you #jjk x male reader #jjk x reader #sukuna imagine #sukuna angst #sukuna au #sukuna oneshot

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twopoppies · 3 years

Note

i think my ask got deleted but can you recommend som fics that feel like a hug after coming home from a hard day? can be anything really i’m just feeling a bit lonely atm

Hi sweetheart. I think your ask did get deleted. I don’t remember it. But thank you for sending it in again. So, what I’m thinking is you need comfort fics? Maybe something without too much angst? Let me see what I might have.

Literally Making Love by Brooklyn_Babylon / @twopoppies (E, 30K) this one is mine, but I’ve actually read it multiple times after I posted it, as if it was someone else’s fic. I just really enjoy the pining, the humor, the compassion, the sexiness, and yes, the humanity.

Pull Me Under by zarah5 (E, 140K) One of the very first fics I read when I came into this fandom…and I’ve read it multiple times since. Zarah’s fics hold up every time. This one has it all, great pacing, ot5 friendship, banter, super sexy smut, etc etc. Plus, Louis being super jealous of Harry’s best friend. Link is to a download.

As You Are by zarah5 (E, 139K) Again, great author who always delivers. This time it’s Louis as a Radio1 DJ and XFactor judge and Harry as (an adult) contestant. It also has some super sexy flirting and smut as well as a great Narry bros friendship side story. Link is to a download.

Sing When You're Winning by hazmesentir (NR, 91K) another one I read ages ago, but I always like this author’s writing and the premise of newly out footballer Louis and journalist intern Harry who somehow snags the interview, is such a fun one. And I don’t know why it has an NR rating, there’s plenty of smut.

Singing To Tiny Dancer by BriaMaria / @briannamarguerite (E, 23K) I feel like I keep saying the same things but this author always gets my heart. Famous Louis this time, escaping his super star life and returning to the (home town, not famous) boy he used to know. *clutches heart and swoons*

The Section by bananaheathen (M, 11K) Listen... I discovered this author recently and I LOVE them. If you liked These Inconvenient Fireworks, read this now! It’s got all of the OT5 friendship, humor, and banter, without the heartbreaking angst. I loved this one.

Fine Line by bananaheathen (T, 5K) Have I mentioned I love this author? The dialogue and banter in this is top notch. Just a delightful fic that feels perfect at 5K, and at the same time I wish there was 100K more.

smell the sea, feel the sky by @lightwoodsmagic (E, 16K) This is the perfect summer pining fic. I love that they’re adults and still the same horny, pining fools for each other and it still works. It’s just very sexy, light, and fun.

Our Lives, Non-Fiction by @indiaalphawhiskey (E, 114K) this is, quite literally, the best fic I’ve read in years. It’s so well written, clever, funny, emotional, and sexy. Its draw you in immediately and you’ll end up falling in love with these characters before you know it. Don’t miss this one.

led by your beating heart by missandrogyny (E, 29K) This time it’s a game of Call and Delete that reunite Harry and Louis. This author always writes fun and sexy fics. Give this one a shot.

Gimme Some Sugar by nonsensedarling / @absoloutenonsense (M, 14K) This one takes place almost entirely inside a bakery where Harry and Louis are coworkers. It’s sweet and funny and I love awkward, flustered Louis trying to tame his massive crush for Harry.

The light to guide me home by Star_Henderson / @tommosgun (E, 65K) I don’t know what it is about this fic but I’ve read it so many times and I just really love the instant chemistry, the smut is stupid hot and fuels the character growth, and even with the angst, the whole thing is just lighthearted and sexy.

we can take the long road home by @pinkcords (E, 46K) This was absolutely gorgeous. And it made me cry, damn it. Seriously though, the writing is so beautiful. I loved the characterizations and the way they both showed their vulnerability. I loved the slow pace and the hot smut. I loved this fic

If You're Hoping for a Harbour by LadyLondonderry / @londonfoginacup (GA, 3K) This was so sweet and lovely. Perfect world building, quirky characters, and a charming twist on soulmates.

All I See Is You, Lately by runaway_train / @runaway-train-works (GA, 2K) Such a sweet meet cute. I loved the way Harry learns about who Louis is purely by observing him on the tube.

A Slow and Steady Rush by godots (E, 12K) I really enjoyed how this one was almost all internal monologue and how the slow build up led to a sweet and awkward first time for them. Just really nicely written.

Thought The Song Was Sung by 100percentsassy (E, 13K) This is both a famous/not famous and a dating app AU. Plus, older Larry. Plus an author who writes great fic. And this one is just sweet and charming and I really like this one.

Just Tell Me the Song and I'll Sing It by myownspark / @myownsparknow (NR, 40K) This author is really something special. This is one of their longest fics and it’s just slow burn flirting and falling in love. Their relationship is gentle and romantic, plus Harry in a baseball uniform is a wonderful bonus.

Barefoot in Blue Jeans by @indiaalphawhiskey (E, 24K) Pro football player Louis. I love the single parent/nanny trope and it works so well here, plus….football player!louis. Can’t go wrong with that! And this writer is always a favorite. I’ve actually read this one twice and loved it both times.

Lambing Season by @helloamhere (E, 26K) This is beautiful little emotional fic and it’s one of my favorites. If you’ve ever wanted to leave your shitty work environment, escape to an idyllic countryside, and find love along the way, read this one.

where your lips land by BriaMaria / @briannamarguerite (E, 12K) Ok, I’ve recommended this one a few times and I really do love it. Anyway, I love fics where the two of them are both artists of some sort (Louis is a poet in this one, Harry is a photographer) because it allows for another layer of understanding and connection and support. I particularly love the way Louis’ tattoos are woven into this story with layered meaning. And, as always, just beautiful writing.

Walk That Mile by purpledaisy (E, 150K) I’ve read this one multiple times and still love it. Their bickering is so realistic, their resistance to their attraction to each other is perfect, the way the author portrays all of their weird quirks and differences but still makes it believable that they’d fall fo reach other is such fun to read….I love this fic.

Caught By the Sun by metal_eye / @metal-eye (M, 19K) Sometimes you just stumble on a fic that moves you deeply and makes you feel a lot and sits with you after you’ve finished it. This was one of those fics for me. It’s beautifully written in a quiet, poetic way. It’s thoughtful, and intimate, and full of memories that are both melancholy and beautiful in all the right ways and at all the right times. And it’s a fic that’s not been read nearly enough.

Anonymous Said by @alivingfire (T, 21K) I read this one ages ago and don’t have great notes on it, but this author always delivers. I do remember it being a beautifully written coming of age story full of self-discovery and online friendships.

domestic monsters by g_uttertrash (9-part series, 234K, mixed ratings) No rec for witches would be complete without this wonderful series of fics. It’s just full of magic and banter and great writing and complex characterizations.

Your Name Is Tattooed On My Heart by mcpofife (E, 87K) I reread this one recently and it's truly delightful. The characterizations are so well done. Harry is so endearing (I cried over his heartbreak). And the smut is both hot and really emotional. Love this one.

let me make a thing of cream and stars by missandrogyny (E, 25K) Louis is a radio DJ, Harry is a famous pop star. And the flirting and sexual tension is top notch leading up to some excellent smut (I would expect nothing less from this author) and a happy ending.

In Dreams by dolce_piccante (M, 24K) This actually might be my favorite of this author’s fics, although I know it’s definitely not the most popular. It’s just soft and romantic and sweet and I’m a sucker for tattoo artist Louis winning over slightly uptight Harry.

six feet beneath the moon by starseas (NR, 25K) I wish I could remember more of this besides that I loved it. My notes simply say “Beautiful. Dreamy” (thanks old me, super helpful). But I love this author, so I can at least promise it’s a very well written fic!

a million roses (bathed in rock n' roll) by deLILAh (E, 30K) Honestly so lovely. I love how the author jumps through time, highlighting moments. I love how their relationship grows and matures. It’s just a really satisfying read.

Escapade by doce_piccante (M, 146K) I know, I know. This fic really doesn’t need more recs –– everyone knows this one. But it is a pretty perfect fake relationship AU. In particular, the hate to love chemistry of the main characters is done really, really well, the smut is super sexy, and it’s a really fun read.

my heart is breathing for this moment in time by usedtothebeach (E, 160K) Probably my absolute favorite time travel fic. I’ve read it more times than I’d like to admit, and every time I love it more. One of the things I like most is how organically the author weaves in canon events…every little moment is an easter egg without it being so obvious that it pulls you out of the fic. Anyway, this one is so moving and so absorbing, I hope you like it if you give it a try! There’s an 18K companion piece to it as well, but you’ll see the link when you’re reading the main fic.

#comfort fics #my fic rec #larry fic rec #Anonymous #long post

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princessamericachavez · 3 years

Text

YES HELLO CAN WE TALK ABOUT THAT FJORESTER HEART TO HEART?

THE WAY IT PARALLELED THE JELLYFISH TALK??

Fjord following Jester into trouble and momentarily doubting but eventually being like “I don’t care” because he would follow her anywhere even against his best sense

Both of them sitting there, looking out at the night ocean... like they did on a ship so long ago when Jester first opened up about her sadness.

And now she’s volunteering some of it again:

“Look, you have to see the moon from up here [...] This is where I used to come when, you know, I lived here and I didn’t really any friends. And I would dream about leaving the city and look out in the ocean and think about all the places I could go.”

Sigh

*breathes in*

SCREAMS

guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuys

omg remember

“And then I don't know what. I want to explore the world. I want to see the lands we haven't seen. I want to find the things that people are scared of and solve them or do whatever anyone else needs to do. But-- I hope she's a part of that.”

I AM STILL SCREAMING I SWEAR

Anyway, we are just getting started but look at Fjord’s faces through this bit

Because that’s when he realizes that maybe... just maybe... Jester might want the same thing he does... maybe

And then, what does he do?

He diverts attention to something funny: her drawing dicks on the tower. Why? Because Jester is talking about something sad and Fjord wants nothing more than to cheer her up.

And then, wishfully, Jester brings up one thing that I’ve been thinking about ever since we found out these two coast kids had been in Nicodranas for years without knowing each other.

“I wonder if I was ever sitting up here and saw your ship go by even knowing”

“I bet”

Invisible String_Taylor Swift.mp3

okay but also

PLEASE GUYS

if any of you have any art skills and wants to give me that poetic image of younger Fjord and Jester, each looking up wishfully... she’s lonely and young and on top of that tall tower looking at the life she craves to live and Fjord is looking at the city full of homes like he’s never had and they are unaware that they are looking at each other’s future??

GUYS PLEASE C’MON

ok ok ok moving on so Fjord....

he brings up Vandran... awkwardly... nervous... stuttering about the whoel thing...

and his voice suggests that his optimism in Eisselcross was a front put to keep the others calm.

And then he says the magic words:

“Would you come with me?”

“Of course!”

Like he has to ask, please. Like she hasn’t followed him everywhere since the very first day they met. Like she wouldn’t follow him to the ends of the earth just like he has followed him through plunging falls and vertiginous heights above volcanos.

Still Fjord, deep down still that insecure kid who faked a whole personality for months, tries to give her an out.

“I don’t know if being on the sea is of any interest to you or if you want to stay in Nicodranas because you can now and I would totally understand.”

BOI HE JUST TOLD YOU THIS IS HER LIFE LONG DREAM

LITERALLY

STOP FREAKING OUT

“There’s... That is my favorite place to be. I love it out there.”

THE WAY SHE LOOKS OUT WITH JUST AS MUCH LONGING

“And I feel like there’s so much that we could see and share... Besides fucking Darktow is out there and we spent less that one day on it... That can’t stand”

LOOK AT THEM

THEY ARE SUCH A MESS AND SO CHAOTIC AND THEY ARE BOTH SO CURIOUS AND EXCITED FOR NEW ADVENTURES

Also, does his tone talking about that remind anyone else to the way he talked about the possibility of finding treasure to make Marion even fancier before she meets Jester’s father again???

Because I really feel like that’s the same mood.

The same longing for more while trying to make her laugh.

“I would love to go out there with you. I would love to meet Vandran.”

“We could make this our port.”

“We could make this our port”

“WE COULD MAKE THIS OUR PORT”

(sidenote this line alone could’ve sent me spiraling before they were canon... and still kinda does)

excuse me while i scream for the next ten minutes

And then Fjord drops the hint that he wants to still deal with some stuff in Port Damali

ONE SHOT WHEN TRAVIS

GIMME THAT ONE SHOT

YOU WANT IT

I WANT IT

WE ALL WANT IT

UKOTOA WANTS IT

I WANNA MEET SABIAN AND GO TO DARKTOW AND GO TO PORT DAMALI

PLEASE

“But... this city really is beautiful”

YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO SAY IT LOOKING AT HER LIKE THAT

AND YOU REALLY DIDN’T HAVE TO SAY IT LOOKING AT HER LIKE THAT JUST LIKE YOU DID WHEN YOU SAID THE JELLYFISH WERE BEAUTIFUL TRAVIS

AND YET HE DID

“There’s always a home for us here”

hey hey hey hey remember that Tarot reading and Fjord’s future card being “home/the traveler”??????

BECAUSE i do

IF I MADE A DRINKING GAME WITH SHOTS EVERY TIME THIS CONVERSATION had a throw back for the campaign I WOULD END UP LIKE VETH

“Or... maybe we could... you know... get our- our own place”

THE LOOK OF A WOMAN WHO JUST REALIZED THIS MAN WANTS TO MARRY HER (in paper graph again)

im sorry but the rest of the cast’s faces are too good to let out

And then Jester gets SO EXCITED THAT SHE CAN’T EVEN SPEAK

because this boy

this man

this man she loves

he wants to spend his life with her

this isn’t just a “come have adventures and fun with me” proposition

this is a “spend your life with me proposition”

and while she can’t talk of course Fjord panics

much like she did after the “i love you”

because these idiots are really made for eachother and still stumbling through their own confusing feelings for each other even after so long as friends and they are so afraid of screwing it up

But when finally she speaks, when Jester says “yes”... her tone isn’t just a “yes”... THAT YES SOUNDS LIKE AN “I DO”

And they are both so nervous and happy okay?

And then

OKAY LISTEN STRAIGHT OUR OF A ROMCOM

He looks at her

and she meets his gaze

and they both look down blushing

and then she looks at him first

and he meets her gaze

and they don’t look down this time, this time is steady... because they both know they love each other

“I’m really glad that everything happened the way it did”

“Yeah, me too.”

Good and bad. Tumbles and crushes and heartbreaks and deaths and tears and fights and laughter and adventures and doubts and confusion and longing and pining and protecting each other and fighting together and falling and rising and catching each other and healing each other and looking out for each other because it all lead to this... to this moment where they are together and so sure that they are loved and cherished and that this is where they want to be and there’s so much more in their future to look forward to

And Jester snuggles up to him and Travis does the tiniest move to show how he leans against her that just DESTROYS me

and of course Fjord needs to make a joke then, to lighten the mood, because these two disasters are friends first and foremost and is in their chaos that they understand each other

and they have so many adventures ahead

i love them so much you guys

im going to miss them so bad

i love them

oh god

#fjorester #fjord #jester lavorre #critical role #cr spoilers #ONE LAST OF THESE FOR OLD TIMES' SAKE?

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choicesenthusiast · 2 years

Text

Queen B 2, Ch. 15 AKA Bitch-Off

What happened this week:

The time has come for us to match wits with the only two other brainless bitches on campus at Apoidea’s Oculus Ball. Now this is especially funny because the narrative itself pointedly mentions twice in the beginning of the chapter that the winner of the competition would only have the throne for a short period of time. Two days. Three months. All this ‘hard work’ culminates into literal fifteen minutes of fame.

After walking the red carpet, you find your way into the bathroom only to find Sloppy Min-Sinclair waiting for your arrival like the lavatory loser she is. Persepholene ends up in the bathroom with you too, and you can finally deliver your farmgirl beating to these hogs. Hags. Eh, same difference. But like, none of you are pulling any punches. Shit is violent. Full-blown Bitch-Off in the Bathroom.

Anyways, even though you’ve ruined their outfits, you’re still set on ruining their lives, and the next step in doing so is dancing with your date, Zoey. Or K*ngsley, who has become so irrelevant in this convoluted plot that they had to literally be smuggled in. So what’s the point of smuggling them in if they’re going to partake in this very public dance? Oh, what the fuck, I don’t care. Sloppy Poppy’s date is Marcus Sharpe from Laws of Attraction, paid to be here. This is the biggest fucking mess.

Persepholene, the dense bitch that she is, her downfall is her giant-ass mouth, which blabs and blabs and gloats about her victory, all the while, unbeknownst to her, she was mic’d up like a horny reality TV beach villa. What remains of her followers (seriously, how are they still here?) turn on her, her tirade is broadcasted on the speakers, and she is deftly kicked out of the competition…

Which leaves only you and Sloppy left for the top spot. We’ve come full circle. Oval. This is a whole-ass polygon at this point.

Thoughts:

“[Marcus’] last girlfriend got pruned” Oh my god??!??!!?! Fucking uncalled for. He was literally accused of being the murderer complete with racial implications. God, does anybody at PB have the sense to see how fucked this some of their shit is before greenlighting it? No need to respond. The answer is no.

Thinking about how Book 1 Persephone Dalton was a victim, ran out of this elitist school by some elitist scum, bullied and drugged, something that was boasted around like some sick fucking victory. Enter Book 2 Persepholene Dalmarte, who is every bit the scheming manipulator by whom she was once wronged, and instead of creating opportunities to sympathize with her, makes her out to be some cartoonish ‘villain’ so desperate for revenge because of heartbreak over her fucking frat boy fling.

Not to be That Person™ and get too virtuous about fucking Choices again, but this book is so frustrating because Book 1 was all about usurping a tyrant, being a better ‘ruler’, change the social game, et cetera, et cetera. MC being an underdog herself, having to outwit everyone all while remaining genuine and somewhat humble (for Belvoire)... all tossed out in Book 2. All the back-and-forth of promising the so-called nerds a better life and then doing a complete one-eighty and crushing them under a stiletto and a smile. Again, cartoonishly tearing people apart, and for what? A throne with a three-month expiry date? It’s exactly like that line: You’ve become the very thing you swore to destroy.

Not saying that I could’ve written this better, but I totally could’ve. There were a million different ways to change this story and all of them would’ve made it better. Tragic, truly.

#this week on choices #playchoices #choices stories you play #queen b

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morganas-pendragons · 2 years

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My Thoughts On Halo Infinite

So before I write the mother of opinions on this game, just a couple of things to note. I've been playing Halo since 2005-2006. I've always been someone who gets rather invested into stories, and this one was absolutely no exception considering the fact that: It mentions my favorite Halo game multiple times, and incorporates a character we technically have never seen in canon who is extremely crucial to John's character development as a young Spartan to this legend who has outlived virtually everyone he has ever loved.

Without further ado... my thoughts on Halo Infinite! spoilers for the campaign below.

EDIT: I’m finishing this in the midst of my second playthrough, so I’ve added more!

First off, let me tell you I was really skeptical about this at first. My brother and father didn't bother playing Halo 5 because I told them almost immediately how terrible the gameplay was and the story as well, and I played it twice before never going back to play it again. It was awful and the fans knew it was awful but after those Believe tv spots for Infinite were released I was like... okay. Okay, you've got my attention. Maybe I can give this a try and pray it's better then the previous.

If you're a veteran, this game was either one of your favorites or one of your least favorites. It's in my top 3. Halo 3, Infinite, and then Reach. And to be candid... the sole reason for it is because this is the only Halo game that takes the time to write an intricate and heartbreaking story about John's character and how Cortana and he are wound around each other.

There has not been one Halo game solely focusing on John. That's my biggest praise of Infinite in particular, the amount of effort and time they spent into doing something they'd never done before for a widely beloved character who grew leaps and bounds in this game.

Before I get into the thick of it, let me give my immediate likes and dislikes. The graphics are gorgeous. The NPC dialogue is so funny that I found myself in tears over it multiple times. The open world was a wonderful idea and prolongs the game for more enjoyment. The campaign story was extremely well written and bitter sweet by the end, but beautiful all the same. The music is new in its own right but incorporates music from the previous soundtracks.

Cons: No coop, no Arbiter OR The Swords of Sanghelios, you get no indication where Blue Team is unless you find the Audio Logs (which is stupid and the whole reason why they shouldn't have introduced them if they were just going to go away again) and that's literally it because I loved every aspect of this game LOL

Now, to the story.

We all know that John was indoctrinated from the age of six years old by Catherine Halsey who had chosen him and 70 some other children to, putting it candidly, be the saviors of humanity. He and a few others were the sole survivors of the Spartan 2’s. This also includes Blue Team. He, however, was deemed as one from the start who would outshine the others and serve a far greater purpose past being just a Spartan.

People are constantly talking about him. He has the highest rank in the miltary and exceeds the expectations placed upon him. But sometimes those expectations get to be too much, you know?

That’s made obvious when we see his first real defeat - where the bad guy wins - when Atriox beats the absolute crap out of John and everything goes to hell in a matter of months.

John goes MIA for six months and is pronounced dead. His world drastically shifts under his feet when he wakes up to the elated Pilot who believes the return of the Master Chief is the ticket he needs to be able to go home. The UNSC doesn’t exist anymore, and Cortana is dead.

The relationship between John and Fernando is stellar for so, so many reasons. It’s one of the only relationships I can think of in game besides maybe Miranda and Johnson and Lasky where John is treated less like a soldier and more like a person.

I’ve said this multiple times about the Halo show, and it applies here too. The whole purpose of Cortana for the Master Chief was initially to be advising with logistical and tactical advice on the battlefield. What she ended up teaching him in addition to that was how to be human.

Something he would’ve never learned to do - and attempted to exercise in Infinite - had they not met.

Removing the armor in the show is meant to show you, the viewer, that John is getting to the point where he’s trying desperately to grasp onto the little humanity he’s been permitted to experience.

In the game, this is shown mostly through his interactions with The Weapon and the scene in the UNSC graveyard with The Pilot.

Case in point...

“I don’t know how you keep doing this.”

“I don’t have a choice. Maybe it’s my programming.” - John to The Weapon, Halo Infinite

“Let me know when you figure out which one of us is the machine.” Cortana to John, Halo 4

He’s being forced to face something he’s never been allowed to face before: Grief. He’s grieving Cortana, as he says many times through the countless mentions of If I had been able to do this, this could’ve been prevented and confessing to the Weapon that so much could’ve been prevented if he had just done more to protect Cortana.

Because that’s what his mission was from the start when she chose him. They were meant to take care of each other, and they did.

He was essentially betrayed by the person who became the one constant in his life, and there is this tiny human part of him that is desperate for relationships enough to the point where he wants to trust The Weapon. He can’t yet.

The whole purpose of John keeping The Weapon at arms length is to protect himself from being hurt again.

And doesn’t that sound familiar?

I love what you as the player have to work through with John in this game. Arguably the best part is at the end where he has the flashbacks of Keyes, meeting Cortana, and their final goodbye in Halo 4. The whole point of that sequence is for you to understand John’s motivations over the last 7 years of canon and the depths of the loss he has experienced.

Samuel. Cortana. Lasky. Halsey (probably, hopefully) both Jacob and Miranda Keyes, Avery Johnson... could LITERALLY keep going.

No one should have to go through that much tragedy in less then 10 years. Literally everyone - outside of Blue Team, because it’s never confirmed if they’re actually dead or not, but i highly doubt it - is gone or deceased. That crap hurts.

There are multiple sequences I could talk about here but the biggest thing I want to mention for people who have never read the novels is that you need to know about Samuel. The first loss, the worst loss, and one John carries with him for decades after the fact.

In the scene where John nearly deletes The Weapon, he's asked to give three confirming phrases to the interface in his armor for confirmation.

What You Need To Know About Red Flag

034 - Samuel's Spartan Number.

Samuel - The final member of Blue Team who sacrificed himself to save them when John was barely sixteen years old, just in the first months of humanity's struggle with the covenant.

I didn't have a clue that Fall of Reach existed until I came across it on Youtube last year. Turns out most of Cortana's lines from Halo 3 before you find her on High Charity are things that John has heard over the course of his life! And let me tell you... the way I screamed when I heard all of these again after 14 years.... they just hold so much weight.

To put it shortly if you don't want to watch the movie: Samuel was John's first loss and one part of many reasons of why he does what he does. The movie itself is a fantastic service to John's character and I highly recommend watching it.

This game is fantastic. Say what you want, love whichever Halo you desire, but the depth of the emotional journey that goes into the main storyline for this game is the best out of all of them besides maybe Reach. Reach is the only other Halo game where you just.. lose. And there’s not anything you can do about it.

John lost. He can’t do anything about it. He can try to rebuild the little that is left of the UNSC.. and he can hope it’s enough.

At least he has people now. Because that will make it enough.

#Halo Infinite #Halo meta #Halo #halo: infinite

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chuckaf · 3 years

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Chuck Fic Rec List: Updated

So my fic rec post was in my notifs again the other day, and I noticed a while back that the formatting on the post has gotten all messed up and it’s also had like three reblog additions to it anyway meaning there are three versions out there lol. so, I wanted to do another list of chuck fic recs! I’ll keep the other one up still, so I’m not gonna repeat every fic here, just some I really recommend. I’m also adding the fic summaries, which I didn’t on the old post, and some more of my own opinions so, buckle up for a long post!

Chuck Versus the Steampunk Chronicles | Steampunk.Chuckster

1896. A world powered by steam, where humans and machines coexist, and airships are the fashionable mode of transport. The US Empire's deepest and darkest secrets arrive at Chuck Bartowski's doorstep. Have they fallen into the wrong hands? Or will the inventor prove his mettle, even while he's forced to hide from the very people he's protecting? AU, ongoing chronicle, Charah.

A genuinely incredible AU story, with an entire crafted world and universe, so detailed it frequently blows my mind. There is heart and family and infuriatingly brilliant slow-burn, plus a buttload of danger and super fun historical/steampunk action. Oh how I LOVE it.

Chuck vs the Charade | somedeepmystery

When computer nerd Chuck Bartowski returns home to an empty apartment and a dead girlfriend he finds himself embroiled in a deadly game of espionage and deceit. Everyone around him is playing a part to get what they want and when he starts falling for the new woman in his life, he can't help but wonder if he can trust her or if she's the one he should fear the most.

An action and twist-filled AU based on the movie Charade, which is just such a brilliant fic concept I absolutely adored it from the start.

Two Sides of the Same Coin | dettiot

When you're a spy, there's all kinds of occupational hazards when you work with another spy. For Sarah Walker, though, one mission becomes a life-changing experience. Because working with Charles Carmichael leads to protecting Chuck Bartowski.

The first time I read this fic my mind was just blown to its genius. Such a brilliant interpretation of what the Intersect and its concepts set up in the show could be, and ooooof the Chuck/Sarah interactions, my HEART. Related to it, its companion piece:

A Flip of the Coin | dettiot

What made Charles Carmichael agree to become Chuck Bartowski? Well, to start, it wasn't as much of a change as you'd think. A companion to the early chapters of Two Sides of the Same Coin from Carmichael's perspective.

Chuck vs The Butterfly Effect | n7agentbartowski

Chuck Bartowski is a normal guy who just hit rock bottom. No girlfriend, no career and no super computer stuck inside his head. It isn't until Chuck meets a gorgeous stranger on the beach that he begins to think his life is about to change for the better. An AU Chuck fic without the Intersect. "Change one thing and it changes everything."

I said it on the OG post, but this story has one of my top 5 Chuck/Sarah fic meetings. So funny, so... very Chuck. The story is a little angsty overall, but a great read.

Chuck vs the Rogue Spy | Crumby

When a rogue spy from Chuck Bartowski's past shows up to help him during his first solo mission, Chuck hopes that he'll finally find out what happened to Sarah Walker. Post-S2 AU.

There’s a lot of Season 3 fix-it fics out there, which I don’t usually read bc I actually love season 3 lol, but this one’s a good one! A twisty deviation from canon, but still feels really true to character.

Chuck Versus the Nerds Rewrite | Steampunk.Chuckster and David Carner

What happens when two nerds talk endless hours about their favorite TV show? A new take on the show you know, but with the flair, twists, and turns you've come to expect from Steampunk . Chuckster and david . carner. Somewhat canon. Charah.

As the summary says, a different take on the show, which honestly makes a couple changes I would too, but also adds a bunch of fun twists and plots that make it totally new and fresh. Seeing Chuck and Sarah’s thoughts in the more canon sections is just delicious, too.

The Trapped Assassin | SarahsSupplyCloset

After a mission goes awry, the CIA's most lethal assassin is ordered to take vacation while her superiors figure out what to do with her. But when she meets a disarming tourist, their immediate connection only adds to her disillusionment with the agency and her career. Will he be enough for her to finally take the plunge and leave the only life she's ever known? Charah AU

A warning for the very justified M rating if you don’t like that sort of thing, but this is definitely a plot-heavy fic, too. A really neat Sarah-heavy AU, with a whole lotta Chuck/Sarah fancy French vacationy goodness.

Chuck vs the Second Chance | malamoo

AU from mid-season 2 and onwards. Chuck and Sarah part ways only to be reunited years later. COMPLETE.

Literal, crying-at-my-screen angst. Not even a super happy ending. But a brilliantly written, part-reflective/flashback fic, exploring what would’ve happened if Chuck and Sarah’s relationship really was an assignment all along-- and the aftermath. It’s heartbreaking. But if you want a little heartbreak, this is your fic.

Ready at Your Hand | dettiot

In the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, a Catholic plot against the queen comes to the attention of spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham. To protect Elizabeth, he develops an unusual plan: hide the passing of intelligence between two agents by a false romance. When Lady Sarah Walker and Chuck Carmichael meet, though, their pretend flirtation becomes much more.

I love Chuck fic for the very reason that it’s inspired such adventurous and totally unique AUs. Here’s some Elizabethan fake-dating Chuck and Sarah! They have to be so Proper, it’s like that hand moment from Pride and Prejudice but Elizabethan and times a billion. The pining!!

Sarah Versus Getting Married | Steampunk.Chuckster

Sarah Walker is getting married. Canon. Charah.

I’d recommend all of SC’s fics if I had the room, and I’m already recommending a ton sksks but most of my fic recs are AUs, and this one isn’t! It’s canon, and covers some of in the gap in 4x24, with Sarah just before the wedding itself. Super sweet, heart-tugging, brilliant.

A Chuckmas Carol | Mikki13

A new twist to Dickens' beloved "A Christmas Carol". When Sarah begins to shut out the world around her, three spirits come to show her the error of her ways. Season 3 AU.

Another Season 3 AU, this one written pre-series so it definitely doesn’t fit to canon, but it’s still wonderfully rich in character depth and angst and it also made me cry. Plus, festive!

Chuck Versus Thin Ice | Steampunk.Chuckster

On the doorstep of the Olympics, top American curler Sarah Walker has lost her mixed doubles partner and her boyfriend in one fell swoop. Her coaches throw newbie Team U.S.A. curler Chuck Bartowski onto her team and thrust them into the Olympics, hanging America's curling hopes on two people who only have a short amount of time to learn to trust one another. Charah AU.

Do you like curling? Or the Winter Olympics? It doesn’t really matter because somehow this fic made me extremely invested in both of those things, as well as Chuck and Sarah and them being INSUFFERABLE. Catch me now knowing a ton about curling thanks to this fic.

Walker’s Eleven | Moonlight Pilot

Not the same plot as the movie. Sarah Walker never got out of the con game or became a spy, and now she's on her final con. What happens when true love and betrayal get added to the mix? Twists, turns, and Jeffster!

Con!Sarah always interests me, and this fic is full of her. Lotta con plot, lotta Chuck and Sarah.

The Detective and the Tech Guy | thecharleses

Sarah Walker is a Pinkerton detective. Chuck Bartowski is an electronics genius. They wouldn't have met except for a case of mistaken identity and murder. Will the detective and the tech guy solve the mystery, distracted by the riddle in their own hearts? An homage to The Thin Man film series. Formerly co-written by Steampunk . Chuckster and dettiot, now ONLY Steampunk . Chuckster.

Everyone in this fic is so damn cool. There are so many martinis. But also great heart and family and like, standing up for who you love, and later also Chuck with Baby Clara content which frankly the show robbed us of. Also, PI!Sarah!!!

Gravity | Poetic4U

AU. Sarah makes a decision that altered her life forever.

This is just a one-shot, which many of these stories are not, so a good one if you don’t fancy a big read! Just because it’s short, though, doesn’t mean it’s lacking; a really awesome what-if AU, and heavy on the Chuck and Sarah.

A Yuletie Tale | Steampunk.Chuckster

Sarah Walker was dumped the day before Christmas Eve, and her Plus One at her work’s annual Christmas Eve Soiree is now officially a Plus Zero. Her best friend Ellie Bartowski has a solution to her problem, and Sarah finds she isn’t quite as sure about it as Ellie is. AU Christmas Charah.

I’m particularly in love with this fic because, instead of beginning with a meet-cute, it involves Chuck and Sarah already two years into a friendship-- Sarah is Ellie’s best friend. And she’s been crushing harrrd on Ellie’s brother. Also Chuck is in a tux. It’s pretty.

Set, Spike, Dive! | Frea O’Scanlin

Chuck never expected to even make it to the Olympics. Everything is working against him: he's too tall for a diver, too inexperienced for a medal, too much of a wildcard to really make his mark. But an unexpected meeting at the airport, some intriguing new friends, and a whirlwind romance on the sand just might set up London 2012 as the time of Chuck Bartowski's life.

A London 2012 AU, because why not. This is just a fun Olympic-y ride!

OTP (One True Pairing) Prompts | David Carner

A series of Prompts I found online about different times and places in Chuck and Sarah's life. Mostly AU, mostly one-shots. I assume mostly fluff, but I might get deep. I doubt it, it's me. Charah...ALWAYS (It says complete, but if an idea strikes me...)

If you’re not so into long stories, this fic is perfect. Individual set-ups and stories, all Chuck and Sarah, and all super cute. You could dip in and out and just pick a scenario you enjoy.

Chuck vs The Frontier | ninjaVanish

AU: Chuck was enjoying a simple life as a 19th century watchmaker until an encounter with a beautiful Secret Service agent thrust him into a world of intrigue and adventure he never wanted. But then, with Agent Walker around, it can't be all bad, can it?

This fic gets props for being historically-set but still including the Intersect. Again, a historical AU, so the pining!! the need to be Proper!!! But besides all that, there’s a lot of action fun as well.

Chuck Versus The Crosswalk: Remastered | WvonB

Will a last minute mission help our two favorite characters finally get together? This is the remastered version of my first story.

The original version of this fic is on my first list; this is the updated version! It’s not a complete AU, instead a story that diverges from canon, so if you’re more into canon characters and setting than a new AU scenario, this is a great fic for that.

Little Girls, Paper Wreaths, and Choc Chip Cookies | DanaPAH

Very AU: Sarah Walker is a single mother whose Christmas spirit needs a boost after a tough divorce. She isn't quite ready to go looking for romance, but her little daughter's affection for their new neighbor may lure it right to her doorstep, anyway.

An incredibly sweet AU one-shot where Chuck and Sarah are new neighbours, and Sarah has a super cute little girl. So much sweetness and love and hope. I love this fic so much it literally led me to write my own neighbour-kid-AU, so, not to toot my own horn but I’ll link it here anyway.

May Your Walls Know Joy | halfachance

Looking for a fresh start after some tough times, Sarah and her three-year-old daughter move to LA. When they meet a sweet curly-haired nerd who lives next door, though, Sarah realizes they might just find more happiness than they'd ever imagined, if only her past doesn't catch up to her first. AU.

It’s what the summary says; if you wanna read, feel free!

Chuck vs the Sound of Music | quistie64

AU. Chuck, nerd extraordinaire, is a man with seven children and Sarah must protect them all from Fulcrum's evil designs. Warning: there will be singing.

I mean. Not much mystery as to the concept with that title and summary lol, but this is a super fun, soft ride with a lotta sweetness, and yes, singing.

Just Two People | David Carner

Meet Sarah Walker PhD, Psychologist, specializing in personality traits. Meet Chuck Bartowski, man who has left THE electronic company of 2020. When Burton Consultants tries to figure out what is wrong with the morale of Orion Industries, what happens when a guy named Chuck meets a woman named Sarah. I'll give you a hint, it's me writing.

David’s done something pretty special with this fic. It’s Chuck and Sarah centric, but very much an ensemble piece, too, with a lot of Team Bartowski and other familiar faces throughout.

Chuck Versus the Con Game | Steampunk.Chuckster

AU. Chuck and Sarah are partners in the con game. It's an existence wrought with danger and violence. Every day could be their last. Every mission could be the end of the line.

This is where I freak out SC and declare this fic the reason I ever got hooked on Chuck fic and then wrote Chuck fic, and the reason I still love it today but. that is true lol. Just so. so good. It’s also written with the chapters out of chronological order, which is super fun from a reading perspective. But con!Sarah AND con!Chuck?? Best. The kind of fic you will be thinking about for days (if not, y’know, years).

As you can tell by the repeats, I highly recommend just about anything by Steampunk.Chuckster, dettiot, or David Carner, but there are a TON of amazing Chuck fics and authors out there. I’ve never known a writing community so wildly creative-- there are so many unique AUs and canon explorations and story concepts that this show has manifested, and it’s all so much fun.

Most of the Chuck fic community is still over on FFN rather than AO3, so if any of these whet your appetite, feel free to have a browse there for more stories. I’m sure you’ll find something great. Personally, all the incredible writing there has also led me to write a buttload; I’m at halfachance on FFN, so if you see any of my stuff or wanna chat fic, feel free to message me there or here.

Happy reading, folks!

#chuck #fic rec #chuck fic #nbcchuck #praying if i edit this to add to it or i reblog it to add to it all the links stay and the line breaks don't disappear sksks #the old one still looks okay on desktop but it's messed up on the app and on mobile and it's just all generally messy #so i've been wanting to make this for aaages lol yay to finally doing something! woo!

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izzyfandoms · 4 years

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Like Lipstick Stains On His Skin

SHIPS: Remile

CHARACTERS: Emile Picani, Remy Sanders

WARNING: Anxiety, references to heartbreak

GENERAL TAGLIST: @quillfics42 @aj-draws @phantomofthesanderssides @phlying-squirrel @sly-is-my-name-loving-is-my-game @because-were-fam-ily @imtryingthisout @a-creepycookie @emo-disaster @littlestr @spooky-scary-virgil @fuyel @mimsidoodles @soupgremlin @aroaceagenderfluid @birdsbookshiddeninrealbirdsskin @quirkalurk @gingers-trashy-stuff @iinyxtello @justaqueercactus @melodiread @mrbubbajones @glassferns @pun-master-logan @gayturtlez @k1ngtok1

Masterpost

A Series Of Soulmate AUs Masterpost

Emile Picani had been in love with his best friend for as long as he could remember.

The moment he had first laid eyes on Remy Sanders, his initial thought had been that that was the most attractive person he’d ever seen. And, after getting to know him better, Emile’s thoughts only solidified; Remy was funny and sarcastic, smarter than anyone gave him credit for, and casually flirty in a way that made Emile’s heart stop and pound and ache all at once.

And Emile’s feelings had only strengthened as they grew up together.

From awkward teenagers still figuring out their sexualities to adults with their own homes and jobs and independent lives, Remy and Emile had stayed friends through it all, sticking together like glue since they’d first met in middle school. They knew almost everything about each other, and they were best friends.

But that was just it – they were friends. Nothing more.

And Emile was... fine with that. He was fine.

He loved Remy. Loved, loved, loved Remy.

And, sure, it hurt when he was with Remy, but not really with Remy, not in the way Emile always wanted to be. It hurt to be around him and know that it would only ever be platonic, that his best friend would never love him back in quite the same he loved him.

But time spent with Remy was better than time spent with anyone or anything else. And Emile knew that Remy cared deeply for him, too.

Emile could take the heartache if it meant he never lost his best friend.

When Emile heard the knock on his front door, he immediately recognised it as Remy’s. He jumped up – perhaps a little too enthusiastically and excitedly, but the only person that could see him right now was himself, so there was nobody around to judge. He rushed over to the door and pulled it open. Remy’s eyes lit up when he saw Emile, and he grinned.

Emile would never admit aloud to the tremble of his heart in his chest at the expression on his best friend’s face, but he did immediately squish down the traitorous hope that emerged every time Remy looked at him like that. Which happened almost every time they saw each other.

“Hey, Remy! You’re here early,” Emile said.

“Hope that’s chill, babe. I was not watching the time.”

(Emile did his best to ignore the feelings that the use of the nickname ‘babe’ stirred up.)

Remy’s sunglasses were propped up on his head, as they often were, and his warm brown eyes were on display. He was wearing his signature black leather jacket, too, as he usually was, with a white crop-top – with the word ‘bitch’ across the front in block capitals – underneath, exposing his midriff.

It took effort for Emile to keep his eyes from drifting downwards.

“It’s fine, Remy,” Emile smiled, keeping his gaze firmly fixed on his best friend’s face. “You’re always welcome here, you know that.”

Remy laughed. “If you keep saying that, I’ll end up showing up here at 4am when I’m drunk.”

“Well, I would rather you came here than go somewhere else and get yourself hurt.”

“Even if that means I wake you up from whatever candy-coloured, cartoon-filled dreams you’re having?”

“Mhm!”

“Damn, gurl, you really are sweeter than sugar, huh? How the hell did someone like you end up being besties with someone like me?”

“Aww, Remy, I think you give yourself too little credit.”

Remy laughed again. “Nah, babes, I love myself. I’m just kinda an asshole sometimes.”

“Isn’t everyone sometimes?” Emile said.

“Not you, apparently. Come on, you’re basically an angel, like, 24/7 and I have legit no idea how you do it. You’ve got the patience of a saint and a smile that literally gives me toothache just looking at it. You’re downright adorable.”

Elation bubbled up in Emile’s heart, and those bubbles filled his chest and spilled over in the forms of happy giggles. He covered his smile with his hand, and practically melted on the spot at the soft, fond look that crossed Remy’s face for just a moment – almost unnoticeable, but Emile paid enough attention that he saw it – before being replaced with Remy’s usual grin.

“Do you want to come in?” Emile asked, still smiling.

“Sure.”

Emile stepped to the side, and Remy’s arm brushed against his own as he walked past him. He hoped the stuttered breath at the contact wasn’t obvious.

“I like the new tie,” Remy commented as Emile shut the door and turned to face him.

Emile perked up. “Oh, you noticed!”

“Course I did,” Remy said. “I’ve seen every tie you’ve got like a million times. I could tell that one was new basically as soon as you opened the door.”

“Aww, Remy... you’re great. The best friend a guy could have!”

Emile’s smile was soft, fond, and so, so caring, and – for just a moment – he could have sworn that Remy looked flustered to be the recipient of it: wide-eyed and as still as a statue. But then, the moment passed, and Remy’s expression smoothed over and returned to normal, and Emile was sure that he’d only imagined it.

“It’s nothing, babe,” Remy said, waving his hand dismissively. “You noticed when I got that new skirt last week, even though it’s identical to my old one-”

“Your old one had a big hole in it! The new one didn’t.”

“Yeah, so I had to get a new one ‘cos it made my ass look great and I wasn’t ‘bout to give that shit up, you know? Ooh, and I especially love it paired with those heels that get everyone looking at my legs, ‘cos that combo makes me look fab AF.” Remy paused. “You know what, I think that’s kinda beside the point. Any-gay, you noticed ‘cos you’re cool like that, so me noticing your tie is, like, nothing.”

“Aww, Remy,” Emile reached forward, and poked Remy’s arm. “It’s not nothing, most people wouldn’t even be able to tell! You’re my best friend, and it makes me really, really happy that you notice these kinds of things.”

Remy’s expression softened. “Well, then I guess it makes it pretty special then, huh?”

Emile felt like screaming. Or kissing Remy. Or kissing Remy and then screaming.

(Though, really, if Emile ever got the chance to kiss Remy, he’d be too busy savouring it to even think of doing anything else. Too busy savouring the feeling of warm lips against his own, of Remy’s gentle hand against his cheek, of a chest pressed against his own, of being so close to the one person he wanted to be close to more than anything else in the world. But he never thought he’d ever get the chance.)

Emile stumbled over his words, awkwardly shifting from one foot to the other as he fiddled with his hands. He had no idea how he was supposed to respond to that, and wasn’t sure if he even could without losing control of his mouth and accidentally confessing his undying love for his best friend.

“Um...” he trailed off.

Remy laughed awkwardly, running his fingers through his hair and glancing away.

“So, uh... what did- what did your patients think of your new tie?”

“Oh!” Emile perked up again, at once both disappointed and relieved by the return to the original topic of conversation. “Yeah, two of them complimented it. And someone said the red was a nice change from the usual pastels, so I think it was a big hit!”

He smiled, and Remy immediately smiled back.

“Nice.”

“I think the pink tie’s still my favourite, though.”

“Mine, too. It’s a classic Emile colour.”

Emile laughed. “There are classic Emile colours?”

“Sure, there are! You’ve got your baby pink, baby blue and, you know,” Remy reached out, tugging gently on Emile’s cardigan sleeve. “You’ve got your cardigan-colour. I’ve, like, barely ever seen you without this thing. How many of these do you have? Like, a hundred?”

Emile giggled again, covering his mouth with his hand. “I have two. And they’re both a little different!”

“Right, right,” Remy nodded. “One’s, like, a little bigger.”

“Mhm! And this one’s a bit softer.”

Remy nodded again, slowly and with an amused tint to his smile. “So, are we gonna, like, move, or are we gonna stand in your hallway forever?”

“Oh, right!” Emile said, like he’d only just remembered that they were still stood at his front door.

He moved past Remy, gesturing for his friend to follow as he went into the next room and sat down on the couch. Remy immediately flopped onto it beside him, getting comfortable on the soft, squishy cushions. He leant back lazily and stretched.

“Ooh,” Remy finally said, straightening up. “I bought a new lipstick yesterday!”

“Ooh, what colour?”

“It’s, like, pink. It matches the shoes I bought last week, and it makes me look killer. I’m gonna get all the guys’ eyes on me, so it sucks that I can’t wear it when I’m, like, actually looking to kiss strangers, you know?”

Emile ignored the pang of pain in his heart, and did his best to smile encouragingly.

“Yeah, you’ve mentioned,” he said. “I- I bet you look great in it. And it- it's a shame you can’t wear it when you want to.”

“Yeah, I’m kinda tempted to, you know, but, like, if I’m wearing lipstick, then I won’t know if any marks my lips make are ‘cos of my lipstick or ‘cos of soulmate shit, right?” Remy continued, gesturing vaguely with his hand. “And, like, what’s the pointing of making out with people if I can’t also know if they’re my soulmate?”

“Right.”

“So, I can only wear lipstick when I’m not looking for people to kiss. Sucks, but it’s gotta be done.”

Emile nodded slowly. Then, he paused, and his brow creased in thought.

“You don’t usually wear lipstick when you’re with me,” he said. “Even when we’re going out and it’s just us, no- no kissing strangers involved. How come?”

Remy froze in place.

“Uh...”

Emile blinked at him. He tilted his head questioningly. “Hmm?”

He could practically see the cogs turning in Remy’s head, while he searched for an answer that he obviously did not have or did not want to share. He looked... flustered, in a way that Emile had almost never seen him before – opening and closing his mouth a few times – and Emile just couldn’t seem to figure out why.

Remy and Emile just stared at each other, neither knowing quite what to say to the other. Emile was confused, not wanting to speak up at the risk of interrupting whatever Remy wanted to say. He also absolutely would not let his mind wander to the any possibilities that would fill him with hope.

A crushed hope was definitely not something Emile wanted to deal with, not right now.

Remy cleared his throat. He swallowed.

“Um- there’s...” he then huffed, looking down at his lap and running his fingers through his hair. He let out an awkward laugh, and then looked back up at Emile. “I... okay,” he sighed. “There’s something I think I should probs tell you.”

Emile stared at him, blinking. “What is it?” He asked.

“It, uh...” Remy sighed again. “I have no idea how you’d react to this. The thing I want to tell you... it could probs mess up our friendship.”

“Remy...” Emile said softly. “You’re my best friend. You can tell me anything, and I promise you this won’t mess anything up, okay?”

“You don’t even know what I’m about to say.”

“I don’t need to. I know you.” Emile leant forward slightly, giving Remy his best attempt at a soft, reassuring smile.

Remy stared at Emile for a second. Then he laughed again, a strange mix of awkwardness and nervousness and with a hint of slight joy, too – with a confusing, even a little alarming, effect. His eyes never left Emile’s smile.

“Jeez, babe. How are you making this so much harder but so much easier at, like, the same time?”

Emile blinked. “Um... is that good?”

“Dunno. But...” Remy took a deep breath. He clenched his hands into fists, looking up at the ceiling for a moment before he turned back to Emile. “Okay... wow, I’ve wanted to tell you this for forever, but, like, fuck, this is terrifying.”

Emile’s expression creased with concern. He reached forward, looking him over worriedly, and rested his hand on his best friend’s shoulder, squeezing reassuringly.

“Remy, are you okay? You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to,” he frowned slightly.

“No, I- I want to tell you. God, you have no idea how many times I’ve thought about telling you about my feelings.”

Feelings. Feelings, feelings, feelings.

Did that mean what Emile thought it meant?

The hope rose up, though he tried so hard to squash it down, but it was like trying to fit something large in a container too small and he could hardly keep it from filling up and overwhelming him. His breath stuttered, and he was sure he tensed up and froze in place for a moment, before he finally regained his composure and physically relaxed.

“Feelings?” He asked, in a voice slightly more strangled than before. “What feelings?”

Remy let out a bark of laughter. “Yeah, that’s- that’s what I’ve gotta talk to you about. My- my feelings... for you.” He took another deep breath. “I... I love you, Em.”

“I love you, too,” Emile answered back immediately. “Haven’t we said this before?”

They had. The two best friends had been friends for so long: exchanging ‘I love you’s was practically part of their routine, by now.

But it had always been platonic, at least from Remy’s side.

Right?

“We- we have...” Remy said slowly. “But that’s not what I meant. I love you. Like, love love. Like the head over heels in love kind. The- the I can never stop thinking ‘bout you kind. The, fuck, you’re so gorgeous kind. The kind that means I’m, like, basically always thinking about you and about kissing you and about how, wow, you’re- you’re just amazing. I mean, damn, I know last week when I told you that you’re my favourite person, I kinda said it like a joke, but I meant it. I like really, really meant it.”

When Remy realised that he was rambling, he clamped his hand over his mouth, like it was the only way to get the words – the pretty, pretty words that had set Emile’s heart aflutter – to stop tumbling out.

Emile was frozen.

He stared, wide-eyed at his best friend.

“Oh,” was the only thing he could say, in a strangled voice.

He was sure that his face was already bright red.

“Great.” Remy sighed, removing his palm from his mouth and burying his face in his hands. “I’ve really fucked this up, haven’t I?” He mumbled just loud enough to be audible. “I- I know you don’t feel the same way, babe, and it’s fine. It’s totally, totally fine. I’m happy just being friends with you, ‘kay? You- you don’t have to return anything. It’s- it’s whatever. It’s chill.”

Emile’s brain had broken. He could hardly think anything other than the words ‘Remy’ and ‘love’ just over and over on repeat.

Instead of saying anything in response to that – as he wasn’t even sure if he could – he just suddenly burst into nervous, delighted laugher. Emile was sure he sounded like he was crazy, especially when Remy turned to him with a bewildered expression.

“Did- did you really mean that?” Emile asked when he could finally collect his thoughts enough to speak, which took slightly longer than he would have liked it to.

Remy blinked. Then, his expression softened.

“Of course, I did,” he said. “I’d never lie to you about something like this, Em.”

“So, you... you really mean it?” Emile asked hopefully.

“Yeah. Yeah, I did,” Remy said. He hesitated for a moment, before nervously adding: “Do you- I mean, is it-”

“I love you, too.”

There was a beat.

Remy stared back at him, wide-eyed. The moment of silence was somehow simultaneously nerve-racking and also soft and so, so exciting, because, oh my gosh, Remy loved him. Remy loved him, he loved him, he loved him!

Love! Love! Love!

And, oh, heavens above, Emile was about to start wiggling excitedly because, gosh, he really, really just had to kiss Remy, right now. And maybe – maybe, maybe, maybe – Remy would say yes if he asked.

Emile let out another giggle, covering his mouth with his hand.

“You... you do?” Remy asked, eyes wide and hopeful, and Emile was suddenly glad that the sunglasses were propped up on his head, as his expression was always much easier to read that way.

“Yeah,” Emile responded, equally soft. “I really, really do.”

“Wow. Just- just wow.”

Emile reached forward, impulsively cupping Remy’s cheek with his hand, and Remy froze. His eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.

“Oh, gosh- sorry,” Emile apologised. “I should’ve asked-”

He moved to take his hand away, but was stopped by Remy covering Emile’s hand with his own.

“You’re good- you're- yes. Yes.”

And, well, that was exactly the answer that Emile had wanted to hear.

He leant forward, and finally – finally! – did the thing he’d most wanted to do for years. Years. Since the moment he’d first laid eyes on Remy, he’d thought about it.

He kissed Remy.

Softly. Carefully. Holding Remy’s face so delicately like he was holding something precious.

And the way Remy was kissing him back...

Emile had seen Remy kiss people before – strangers, friends – and he’d always kissed them like he was doing it for fun, not love. He’d never seen Remy kiss anyone as gently as Remy was kissing him, right now.

Bubbles of delight and fireworks of excitement were going off in Emile’s heart and his mind.

He sighed happily into the kiss, and he could suddenly feel Remy smile against his lips.

Emile broke the kiss with another delighted giggle and Remy couldn’t help but just start laughing with him, too. And, of course, that just made Emile’s giggles louder and more enthusiastic.

He was so focused on the laughing and the delighted feeling in his chest from the fact that he had just kissed Remy, that Emile didn’t immediately notice that Remy’s lips were suddenly pink – a light, pastel pink that certainly hadn’t been there before.

And, in fact, it was Remy who halted the laughter first, by freezing in place and staring – yet again wide-eyed – at Emile’s own lips.

Emile paused, and tilted his head in confusion.

“Remy?”

Remy opened and closed his mouth a few times, never taking his eyes off of Emile’s lips.

“Em... your- your lips.”

Emile blinked. He reached a hand up to his own lips, and swiped a finger across them. He then looked back down at his hand, and found nothing – no blood, no anything.

He paused, and then turned his head to look at the mirror that hung on an opposite wall.

His eyes landed on his reflection, and he finally noticed that there was a smear of shiny silver across his lips that definitely, definitely hadn’t been there before.

Emile sucked in a breath as Remy turned his head to look into the mirror, and he realised that Remy’s lips were now a lipstick-like pink, when he certainly hadn’t been wearing any just before the pair had kissed.

“We’re-” Remy started.

“Oh,” Emile breathed.

“Oh,” Remy echoed.

They turned their heads to stare at each other, equally wide-eyed and shocked and excited.

Soulmates.

They were soulmates.

And then Remy surged forward, and kissed Emile again.

#me #writing #remile #sanders shorts #cartoon therapy #emile picani #remy sanders #sleep sanders #fluff #human au #soulmate au #first kiss

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stop-breaking-my-heart-telltale · 3 years

Text

Top 5 Reasons Javier Garcia’s Pretty Great

Of all the games in TWDG, A New Frontier seems to get the most shit. Stick around this fandom long enough and that’ll become apparently pretty quick, especially on other platforms such as reddit and instagram... and y’know, I get it. ANF is far from perfect, parts of the storyline go no where and characters don’t get the development they should have, a lot of people were upset that Clementine wasn’t the main playable protagonist, and certain character models look like... well, they look like potatoes.

Hell, I’ve talked to some people who flat out say they don’t even consider ANF as part of the canon and skip it when they replay the series, which.... harsh, but you do you. However, if you do skip over ANF for whatever personal reasons you have, you are missing out on what I would consider the best part of that game: Javier Garcia.

I love Javi, and I will stand by the fact that he’s a pretty damn good playable protagonist. I just wish more love and time was put into developing ANF to give him an even better story but y’know... Telltale was goin’ through shit, so we got this...

But, I still wanna talk about how great I think Javi is so c’mon, let’s take a walk.

5. Javi’s relationship with David

Now this might come off as a weird one, especially if your Javi has a more hostile relationship with David. Even so, I find the dynamic between Javi and David to be one of the more compelling aspects of ANF and I wish it was more front and center than it is but y’know.

So we got Javi, who is the younger, more irresponsible brother who became this hotshot baseball star only to lose it all by gambling. Then you got older brother David who is a military man with a couple kids and a second wife, and he’s always felt a little overshadowed by Javi. This creates this dynamic of brothers who do love each other, but don’t always know how to communicate and confide in one another and it can lead to a lot of tension or hostility.

The route I usually take with a Javier who tries his best with David, who wants this connection despite everything, who made the promise to their father to look out for David and be there for him, to stand with him when he needs it, y’know?

Some stand out moments for me is during the baseball flashback when David’s trying to open up about something, but struggles because Javi isn’t taking a hint about the serious nature, when they stand together on the roof, and the last conversation we see between them if David survives.

Oh, and ya can’t forget the “I love you”’s when David is two seconds away from murdering Javi... that’s the good shit.

And y’know, on the flip side where Javi is against David every step of the way, you can still argue that acts as a more tragic yet compelling story of two brothers who never saw eye to eye, never tried to, and it ended in tragedy... I personally don’t prefer this route, but to each their own.

Again, this is at #5 because it’s not handled the greatest and it’s a bit of an unpopular choice.... but I don’t care, Javi and his relationship with David is one of my favorites.

4. He’s pretty charming, isn’t he?

I’m sorry, I can’t help it.... if a charming character can make me laugh, then I almost always end up loving them. Javier Garcia is so damn funny and I love him for it.

Yeah, ANF is a mess but this dude makes it so much better with his dialogue, a great performance by Jeff Schine, great facial expressions, and just an overall charismatic air around him.

He’s just super likable, okay? Even when you play him as a total bastard, I have a hard time not enjoying his presence. I’ll be honest, if Javi wasn’t the playable protagonist or if he was this bland, watered down version of himself... I might be one of those people who skip over ANF.

He’s easily one of my favorite parts of this game and one of the few redeeming things about it.

3. His growth as a character

Like I mentioned in #5, when we first meet Javi he’s this irresponsible ex-professional baseball player who wasn’t around, even though his father was dying from cancer. After his father dies and he runs to try and make it home in time... he’s too late and David and their mother are pretty upset with him.

And then his father turns into a walker, and the apocalypse happens. Javi is now trying to survive with Kate, Gabe, and Mariana while everything goes to hell around them. But for someone known to not be around or to skip out when things get a little tough, Javi doesn’t abandon them. Nope, he stays with them for years, traveling around and surviving, making sure they have what they need.

By the end of the game? Javi’s proved to be a leader, proved that he’s better than he once was. Again, this is ANF so this growth isn’t super smooth or the greatest, but damn it, Javi makes it work.

He and his family, no matter the combo you got, are staying in Richmond and they’re going to try to start over and rebuild it, make it better than it was.... which I can only assume they succeeded because after that they were never heard from again.

Also, Javi is constantly having shit thrown his way and somehow he manages to pull through.

So good job, Javi, you did it.

2. Javi’s got a lot of force

Listen... Javi is so fun to play as. Like okay, I know that Telltale games don’t have the most complex combat system... you literally just push the buttons as they appear on screen. But I don’t care because Javi makes that fun.

Javi really puts all of his weight into each hit and you feel it. I don’t know how to explain it, but there’s something satisfying about the way Javi fights with a melee weapon, and it’s not something you feel when you play as Lee or Clementine. You do get it a few times when you place as Michonne in the mini-series, but even then, I would argue that Javi did it better.

It’s especially prominent towards the end of ep5 if you go after David and Gabe, and Javi’s on this motorcycle with his damn bat knocking over walker after walker until he finds them... then you get all this intense force when Javi is just gunning and beating down walker after walker to get to the vehicle Gabe and David are trapped in. I love it so much, it’s easily one of my favorite moments in ANF.

Don’t get me wrong, I have fun playing as Lee and Clementine, but Javier Garcia hits different, y’know?

1. He’s really trying his best to care for everyone, okay?

When we think of Lee as a playable protagonist, we tend to think about how wise he was, how he always seemed to know what he was doing and how much he was willing to sacrifice for Clementine... and when we think of Clem as a playable protagonist in S2, we’ve got this sad little girl who gets punished no matter what she does, she’s smart and often underestimated, but she makes plenty of mistakes which she learns from.

And then we have Javi who has a bit of both in him. He’s older and can have his moments of wisdom [like with Gabe and Clem] but he also has plenty of mistakes he’s gotta learn from and sometimes no matter what he does, everything goes to hell... but Javi does manage to stand out on his own among these two.

Javi does what he can, he tries his hardest to look after these kids even though he never planned to be a father figure, he works with Kate to make sure they’re safe. When he fucks up, he tries to make things right... even though it doesn’t always work out. He loves Gabe and Mariana, and you can see and feel his heartbreak when he’s the one to bury Mari after she’s killed.... and now he has Gabe, who’s hurting, and he does what he can to make sure he doesn’t meet the same fate which.... sometimes doesn’t work out depending on your ending.

I just-- he’s trying, okay? Javi is trying his best and I love him for it.

---

Honorable Mentions

-Javi has some of the best deaths/fails moments... seriously, I could watch him confidently run right into those metal stairs and fall to his doom a hundred times. -He’s a literal disaster bi. -He fucking loves pudding and I mean, who doesn’t? Y’know? -His bromance with Tripp is pretty good until Tripp dies for death quota reasons.

---

So what are your thoughts on Javier Garcia? Do you agree with these reasons, or do you have any to add? Lemme know, it’s always fun to have character discussions.

Have any suggestions for future T5F’s? Feel free to send ‘em in! :D

Next week’s T5F

#twdg t5f #twdg javi #twdg david #twdg gabe #twdg mariana #twdg kate #twdg clementine

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