#like hey people can desire things More than romance/sex while still being capable of feeling that kind of attraction

[ambrosiagourmet]

Take this with a grain of salt but I don’t think Izutsumi necessarily MUST be be viewed as canonically aroace. I do not have a problem with that reading at all, to be clear, but I’ve been mulling this over for a while and with how much self-loathing and neglect informs her character it just doesn’t seem to entirely fair in insist on taking the “I don’t have a type” line at face value.

She’s a traumatized 17-year-old girl who thinks she’s unlovable and has never had the freedom to chose what to do with her life. Of course she doesn’t have a type and longs for a mom to love her unconditionally.

[gagmebucky]

hiiii i wrote this awhile ago but took it down because i was 👉🏼👈🏼 embarrassed about it (because i do not have the skill to pull off peter parker) and sorta still am but everyone’s been so nice to me about it i thought the best way to repay the kindness by posting it for those who did like it 😅 (originally inspired by spider man 2 with andrew garfield but loosely set in the 2018 issue of the amazing spider-man.)

in which the guys are making fun of peter and accidentally see a video of him fucking you. (includes avenger!peter x girlfriend!you, peter’s pov, voyeur!steve and voyeur!bucky, a sex tape featuring d/s dynamics, bondage, praise kink, exhibitionism, unprotected sex.) 

do not repost.

—

Despite being twenty-one years old; a proper adult who lives with his high school sweetheart, a photographer doubling as a seven-year veteran vigilante in the dangers of New York, Peter Parker is still considered as a super-powered amateur to his seasoned peers. 

Nonetheless, given his success in countless battles in the state, country, world and even galaxy-wide, he more than qualifies to hold the title of Avenger; it’s official now. A laid-back induction ceremony and his very own identity card: a sturdy rectangle, shiny with full clearance and all. Yet, as an official member, his teammates still treat him like he’s that same goofy, out-of-his-depths sixteen year old.

To be fair, yes, his style of heroism isn’t the most serious. He favors levity in the face of danger, a cheeky flare with smart quips and an infuriating grin. Even after taking a beating from the worst of foes, his demeanor never wavers because in the end, he wins. The villains are slayed and the people are saved, even comforted by the boyishly confident way he works. 

But beyond that persona, he has grown into a skilled warrior. On that note, he wants to be regarded as such—at least, to a certain extent. The jokes and teasing, poking fun at his age or the shenanigans he gets himself into, don’t bother him. No, his playful wit handles it with relative ease, and he’s a good sport about it. The only thing that he’d want to see change is some recognition that he isn’t a naïve kid anymore and is fully capable of taking charge when needed.

With his recent acceptance into the gifted pantheon, he’s intent on making that known. The jesting can continue but he wants it to be with an understanding of his capabilities. Luckily, a perfect opportunity has presented itself to showcase his abilities: a training session. 

He’s late. And yes, he knows that’s probably not a good impression to make.

In his own defense, it isn’t technically his fault. He forgot that you, his personal alarm clock (amongst other things), left early this morning because you volunteered to help his aunt move. Four years of mornings and nights, he’s gotten used to—and prefers—your languorous wake-up call.

Without your reminder, he regains consciousness fifteen minutes after the scheduled time and ends up scrambling to the compound. In a flurry, he throws on his suit—unknowingly backwards, he realizes later—trips at least three times over his own footing before he finally springs out of the balcony with webbed bursts.

When he reaches his destination, Captain America and the Winter Soldier are unimpressed; mid-simulation, it powers down. Both super-soldiers whirl around to face him, fixing raised eyebrows at his disheveled arrival.

He adjusts his now front-facing suit and shuffles forward into the space with as much confidence as an interrupter can have. “H - hey, guys,” Peter greets sheepishly and manages what he hopes is a charming smile, absentmindedly fidgeting with his phone. “Lookin’ good for a couple of geezers.” 

Unfortunately, Steve Rogers is not charmed or disillusioned from the tardiness. “You’re late, Parker.” His arms fold, and he shakes his head when punctuating his disapproval with an echoing, “Again.” 

Thankfully, to his right, more relaxed and cool, Bucky Barnes steps up. “C’mon, Stevie. Y’can’t be that surprised,” he chimes in matter of factly, contrasting against his friend with amusement sparkling in his blue eyes. “What’d you expect with Parker?” He gestures at the younger superhero. “Kid’s gonna be late to his own wedding.”

(Beside the point, but worth noting, he will not be late to meeting you at the altar. That is, of course, if you accept when he pops the question. Which is going to happen relatively soon, considering he has the ring in his nightstand drawer.)

The consult seems to relax him. “Yeah, I guess you’re right and—Peter, you—seriously, man?!” Steve sputters the last bit when he glanced over to see him blatantly check the notification that’s vibrated in his hand (on the device that is ruled to be stowed away during training). “Now the phone?!” 

Even though he shouldn’t, being on thin ice with Cap and all (pun not intended), Peter’s gaze flickers down to see your contact name appear on the screen, and he can’t resist. While Bucky guffaws a laugh at his audacity, he’s swiping up to pull up your text thread. 

> you 😛❤️🥰, 10:37AM: spider boyyyyy you’ll never guess what i found in a box labeled ‘peter’s junk’ ;;;)

peter, 10:37AM: those magazines are NOT mine and i don’t know how they got there.

> you 😛❤️🥰, 10:38AM: not quite but close, naughty boy

> you 😛❤️🥰, 10:38AM: for a man who depends on keeping secrets and a penchant for home movies, you might ought to keep a lock on your phone unless you want someone to see me like this...

> you 😛❤️🥰, 10:38AM: (video attached)

Immediately, he recognizes the pornographic thumbnail. One glance, and he’s remembering the first couple of times you guys explored the exhibitionism side of things. It was at the end of his freshman year of college and taped on a phone he thought he had lost. But he must've forgotten it at his aunt’s house, and she tossed it in the box until you came along. 

Although there’s been plenty more made, he recalls that one being a shared favorite, his especially. When long-distance duty calls, it was his go-to media. The angles, your face and body beneath the lights, the sounds it caught, you once asked if he considered switching to cinematography instead of photographer

Subconsciously, his teeth run over his bottom lip, feeling that blazing spark of desire igniting in the pit of his gut, partially at the memory and partially at what’ll happen once you guys can re-watch it together; his thumbs start typing away with that message.

“Peter!” Steve’s exasperated voice snaps, but to no avail—the real gall of the youngster, or the effect of you. His weight shifts toward his best friend, and he nudges him with his elbow. “Kids these days!” The hundred-something year old’s gaze cocks a brow back over. “Is that why you were late? Blowing off training to text your girlfriend?”

The text delivers with an audible bloop. Finally, his concentration gives, and he can look up, though his expression is clueless from the last minute. “Huh?” His brain registers what he missed, and he winces. “Sorry, Cap. My bad.”

Bucky chuckles. “Give him a break, Steve,” he faux comes to his defense, a teasing quality underlying his tone. “He’s young and in love. It’s not his fault he’s pussy-whipped.” He cracks him an antagonizing grin as Peter rolls his eyes. “He can’t go an hour without sending those little weird pictures with heart eyes, or she might not know he’s thinking about her.”

“As if you know anything about romance, old man,” he fires back and presses past them with squared shoulders, correcting him quite seriously: “And they’re called emojis, by the way. But that’s not what I was doing, if you want to know so bad.”

The brunette tilts his head thoughtfully, and small hackles arise for reasons he doesn’t understand, or pay attention to. “You know, I do want to know really badly,” Bucky decides and poses a question to his left, “Wouldn’t you, too, Steve? Aren’t you curious what his girlfriend sent that was so much more important than training?”

The blond mimics his actions and clicks his tongue. “Yeah, I am.” 

Peter’s eyebrows pinch while his skin tingles and the hair on the back of his neck stands straight up. “What—” Before his senses process it, one of the super-soldiers plucks his phone out of his hands and darts back beside his best friend. His jaw drops as he tries to follow after him. “Bucky, you asshole—”

“Some spidey senses, huh?” The Winter Soldier lifts it high over his head, utilizing his six-foot stature against his five-ten like elementary school bullies do and older siblings to their juniors. “Haven’t ‘cha heard about sharing with the class?” He laughs and practically stiff-arms him to squint up at the screen. “Aw, he can’t wait to see her. What’s it been, more than two hours since you two saw each other last?” 

Conceding to the height difference, Peter stops his physical efforts and diverts it to someone reasonable. “Cap, you gonna help me out here?” he addresses the entertained onlooker in the most friendly voice he can manage. 

“The kid’s got separate anxiety not just from his girlfriend but phone too, Buck,” Steve drawls with a lopsided curve of his lips. He side-steps Peter to stand next to Bucky, and for a second, he thinks he’s on his side despite the tease, but he simply adds a stern, “So be careful. You don’t want to break it, or Parker will have a fit.”

Peter crosses his arms and scowls. “Ha, ha,” he retorts dryly, only somewhat amused by their banter. He tilts his head up at them, and the duo look thoroughly pleased with themselves. “You know, you guys are kind of dicks.”

“No, we’re your mentors, kid,” Steve corrects with a wink and rests his arm on his friend’s shoulder. “This is a lesson. No phones—” He jabs his thumb back in reference to the device’s unlocked screen: “—when you’re supposed to be training.” 

“Yeah,” Bucky chimes in upon glancing up from his phone. “And a little advice, women don’t like clinginess. Try being a little more stern and see how that works for you. If you’re able to manage that. But I won’t hold it against ya if you can’t.”

“Uh-huh,” Peter patronizes with a bob of his head, biting back a response pointing out the hundred-something year old’s inexperience. Instead, he focuses on the electronic readily loaded up with some private content. With that, he decides to do the rational and mature thing and ask nicely. “Noted. So, uh, can I have my phone back now?” 

To his shock, Bucky merely flashes a smirk and his thumb scrolls half-heartedly over the thread. Thereafter, he leans toward Steve and raises his cell for him to see. “Oh, look, it’s a video,” he teases. “What could Y/N send that would take priority of training?” 

There’s an unspoken let’s see then a metal finger taps the play button. Before Peter can think, much less react, Captain American and the Winter Soldier are watching how he effortlessly renders his pretty little girlfriend into a cute nonsensical yet eager mess— 

In his point-of-view shot, the ratio holds in portrait view in a bid to capture every bit of you. Above you, the camera focuses on you and your beautifully debauched state beneath warm lighting where it’s unalienable that the camera was made for you. 

Your eyes are dilated brightly, desperate with desire as your lashes flutter up at him. A sheen coats your features and glistens like glitter at the highest points of your face while the shape of your face is framed by your stretched arms. 

Your wrists are bound over your head, splotched with expertly sprayed strong, white webs. The mesh sticks them together in a criss-cross, comfortable but nearly impossible to break out of, fixed in place atop his headboard. The tautness tugs a mild strain on your figure so your breasts are jutting out like an offering, and it’s obvious he’s taken advantage of it. Darkened marks adorn your glowing complexion, peppered across your décolletage with imprints of his teeth; including your nipples, sucked swollen and tender. 

The angle trails down until it reveals the sight of him mercilessly pounding inside of you. His better-than-average girth is sliding in and out of your tight channel; slicked in shared translucent essence, creaming around the base, your inner walls visibly clinging to his cock with every backward stroke. His hand splays on your mound, using his thumb to abuse your engorged clit. He easily keeps the sensitive nub pinned under his control despite your wildly twisting hips. 

Like the display, the soundtrack is equally obscene. Loud, your stuffed depths gush and squelch as skin slaps rhythmically. Your breathy, wanton moans overshadow both, drawn out whimpers, almost nonsensical other than the syllable of his name. A melody of neediness, you sound so fucking pretty, (depraved, like a whore, you once told him during your little film marathon with a sly smile), and for him specifically.

The frame pans upward and confirms you look just as good. A perfect mess, unhinged by the skilled ministrations of your boyfriend. Passion beads on your forehead like reflections off of a diamond. Panting, your lips are plumped from kissing parted with mewls of pleasure. 

“P - please—I need to—can I - I please—” You’re begging like the sweet little thing you are, incoherent babbling the result of his excessive edging. Of course, you know better than to give into the sensations ravaging you; instead you ignore your visceral desire and ask him for your release. “Peter, please!” 

A deep chuckle vibrates behind the camera as his big hand slides into view, trailing over your jiggling tits to the slope of your throat. “Maybe,” he says breathily and grasps the line of your jaw between his fingers. “Open your mouth first, babe.” 

No more preamble necessary, you follow his direction, your pink tongue flat over your Cupid’s bow. Immediately, a long string of his saliva drips into view and onto your taste buds; the vulgar act is accepted with a swallow and a quivering moan of, “T - thank you.” 

“Good girl,” he praises huskily, and the voiced approval has you visibly shivering. “Alright, then, pretty girl. Make it good for me, and c’mon—”

Before your otherworldly reckoning washes over you and his teammates can watch your bliss immortalized in film, Peter snatches his property back. 

Not much force is necessary as Bucky’s grip has been stunned loose. A dark expression permeates on young hero’s face but not because of embarrassment; if he was still nineteen or eighteen, he would’ve been mortified that his titular superiors caught a depraved glimpse of his sex life, on both his and your behalf. Rather than, there’s just a flit of annoyance when he folds his arms.

“Shit,” Bucky is the first to speak, exhaling the swear raggedly. His blue pupils have widened in obvious attraction, dilated dark, blinking rapidly as if it’ll help calm him down from the clip of you, his innocent seeming girlfriend, all ruined and begging. “Parker, fuck, I - I didn’t know you got down like that.” 

There’s a swell in his chest, pride beating steadily while he remains reticent-faced. He prefers you keep your bedroom activities secluded there. Yeah, he likes to be in control and you like to be controlled but it’s only in a sexual nature. Yet, their reactions—stunned, embarrassed and viscerally affected—surges smug satisfaction he’s never known before through his veins. 

Even the prestigious Captain America is bothered, though he may try to hide it. He clears his throat, a flustered pink coloring his cheeks. “Peter, uh,” he says, barely maintaining the confidence to look him in the eye after witnessing his girlfriend like that. “We - we shouldn’t have invaded your privacy like that.” 

“Uh-huh,” is Peter’s response, a hint of a smirk curling on one side of his lips. “Why don’t you guys call me after you’re finished with your cold showers, and we can actually train. Until then, I’m gonna go to my girl who’s more than eager to handle mine.” He pauses. “Maybe if you guys ask nice enough, I might let her show you how well I’ve trained her.”

[emma-nation]

Within You - Bloodbound AU - Chapter 4

Summary: One year after defeating Gaius, the gang has finally found peace… Until a tragic incident awakens the ultimate and most dangerous threat they ever faced.

Genre: Angst/Adventure/Romance

Rating: T - Warning for violence and language

Notes:

- Sequel to the fics For You, In The Daylight and Without You. You can read all of them here.

-FINALLY! 😂 My apologies for taking longer than expected to update. I blame my screwed up love life and all the people who contributed for this mess.

- NSFW alert!

Tag List: @supersphynxsworld​​​​, @lightning-fury​​​​, @spacecarrousel​​​​, @tigerbryn11, @gavryllo​​​​, @annabellewerecorgi​​​​, @whoinvitedalx​​​​, @sheyah​​​​, @imnotdonewiththeelementalists​​​​, @scaryqueenbee, @bigmemesplz, @la-guerra-69, @kamilahsayeed-owns-me​​​​, @morvengarde​​​​, @tephy24​​​​, @iam-the-fuckin-queen​​​​​​, @voltos9, @scorpistraub​​​​​​, @leavemeandmyshipsalone​​​​​​, @jen825​​​​​​, @andreear17​​​​​​, @justejuste727​​​​​​, @aureliaxj, @graceschoices​​​​​​, @sleeping-with-her06, @mrskamilxh​​​​​, @msuhailey, @zoe6111​​​​​, @noodledragon22​​​​​​, @tigerbryn11, @shanuuh​​​​​, @ilovetaylor13m​​​​​, @ilovekamilahsayeed​​​​​, @allaboutchoices​​​​​, @fal-carrington​​​​​, @scarlet-letter-a0114

Amy

Life as a vampire was even better than Amy expected. In only three days she was adjusting perfectly. She no longer had problems to feed from volunteers and she was getting really good at controlling her senses.

The best part was that she and Kamilah were closer than ever. Kamilah was planning to introduce her to the other members of Clan Sayeed during a party. She was also a rigid, but patient teacher, who loved to reward Amy greatly for her accomplishments.

The rewards. They made all the effort worthy. Like in that exact moment in the shower, where Amy was being rewarded for controlling her super strength so well.

Kamilah was on her knees, pleasing her with her mouth. Amy opened her eyes, appreciating the view for a moment, before reaching climax.

"Oh my god," she screamed, "Kamilah!"

"Shhhh," Kamilah silenced her with a kiss, her tongue gliding over hers, giving Amy a taste of her own pleasure. "The neighbors must be tired of hearing my name. It's all they have listened coming from this penthouse for the last three days."

Amy laughed, blushing a little bit in embarrassment. 

Kamilah turned around, letting water pour over her smooth brown hair and her perfect skin, which drove Amy wild. She embraced her from behind, letting her hands travel all over her wet body. 

"Amy..." Kamilah moaned.

As her hands reached her she wanted her the most, Amy used her psychic powers to connect her mind to Kamilah's. She absolutely enjoyed doing that trick. It felt like she and her wife were only one. She could feel everything she was feeling, sense all her bliss and hear part of her thoughts.

Right now she desired one particular thing. Amy let her fangs descend, biting Kamilah's neck in a sensual and soft manner. Thought she was the one touching Kamilah and tasting her blood, Amy also reached ecstasy when her wife did, due to the link between their minds.

"Okay," Kamilah placed one last kiss on her lips, "I'll get dressed now. Serafine will be here at any moment."

Amy huffed and rolled her eyes. Bringing that woman from France was completely unnecessary. If only Lysimachus agreed to debrief Katherine himself. Her presence would only ruin the moment they were living.

Deep down, she knew there were second intentions behind her visit. Her friends thought Serafine could assist her with her new powers, but she had everything under control. Sometimes she'd accidentally access random memories, but nothing she couldn't handle. And since her accident, she had never seen that mysterious vampire woman again.

Amy closed her eyes, letting the water fall on her shoulders. There was no reason to worry. She was Kamilah's wife. Serafine was only a past affair. She opened her eyes again, noticing blood was dripping from somewhere, getting mixed with the water pooled on the floor.

"What..."

She searched all over hear body, unable to find where she was bleeding from. Then she looked at her hands, they were completely covered in blood. She rubbed them harder and harder with a sponge, but they wouldn't get cleaned. The blood only intensified.

Amy turned off the shower and went to the sink, while she uselessly tried to wash her hands, the view on the mirror scared her more than anything...

Her eyes were red and her fangs exposed, even thought she couldn't feel them at the moment. Her body was completely covered in blood. And in her hands she had Kamilah's dagger. 

Although she couldn't see it, she knew. She knew she had just killed her. Her own wife.

"No!" She cried. "I didn't do it. I didn't..."

The sound of the bell ringing pulled her back to reality. There wasn't a single trait of blood on the floor or over her body.

"Amy," Kamilah shouted from the bedroom. "Serafine is here."

Amy took one relieved breath, knowing it was only another scary vision.

----------

Kamilah

Even after living for over two millennia, traveling to so many different places and knowing the most diverse cultures, Kamilah couldn't help feeling strange when Serafine greeted her with a kiss on each cheek. Maybe because she knew how Amy was jealous of her past lover, or because she had gotten too used with the American lifestyle.

"So ma chérie, where's Amy?" She asked, while Kamilah served her a glass of wine.

"She's getting dressed," Kamilah started wondering why was it taking so long though. "She will be joining us in a minute."

"What about her visions? Are they under control?"

"Apparently, yes. Now she's a vampire she has more abilities to explore and this is what I want you to help her with."

"It'll be a honor."

Amy arrived in the living room only a couple of minutes later. For some reason, Kamilah noticed a hint of distress in her behavior. 

"Serafine, hi," Amy kissed both of the French vampires cheeks back. "I'm sorry, I was taking a shower and kinda lost track of time."

"No worries, ma chérie," Serafine smiled. "Sit down here, Kamilah told me you're a vampire now. With psychic powers?"

They engaged in a conversation. Amy seemed to be more relaxed and comfortable in her presence. There was no jealousy in the tone of her voice. 

Suddenly, they stopped. Only exchanging looks and giggling. Kamilah furrowed her brows confused.

"What are you two doing?" She asked.

"Having a mind to mind conversation," Amy told, still laughing. "Serafine was telling some stories about your past."

"Great, I'm in trouble. Am I not?"

"Don't worry, Kamilah," Serafine assured. "I'm only telling her about your bravery acts. Like the night you helped a group of newly-Turned vampires to escape from the Order."

Kamilah gave her a small smile. For some particular reasons, she liked to avoid some memories from her past. Not even Amy knew much about her past. Kamilah feared it'd cause her fear or disgust. That was the main motive she brought Serafine from France, she didn't want her wife going in and out of her mind whenever they had an intimate moment.

"Let's see what you can do," Serafine grabbed Amy's hands. "Get in my mind, I'll get in yours."

"Okay."

For a second, Kamilah noticed as Amy's eyes went wide in fear and she showed signs of discomfort.

"I-I can't..." she released Serafine's hands. "I'm not being able to get in your mind right now, I'm sorry."

"Oh, ma chérie. Come here, let's try again. It takes some practice."

"Actually," Amy stood up from the couch, "my cell phone is ringing. It must be Lily, I'll answer in the bedroom."

"Weird," Kamilah thought. Until before Serafine's arrival, Amy was using her psychic powers to increase pleasure while they were having sex. What she had done multiple times since she discovered what she was capable of.

"Serafine, did you see anything inside Amy's mind? Like you did, the other time?"

"No, but know what is strange? It was all dark, as if she was protecting her thoughts."

She asked Serafine to speak to her brother. She had to check on Amy, they still had some time before the Council meeting Lysimachus requested started.

Amy was lying on their bed, with her phone in hands and an upset look on her face. 

"Hey," Kamilah sat right beside her. "Are you okay? Did you see anything bad in Serafine's mind?"

"No," Amy shook her head. "I... I only noticed how uncomfortable you were to know she was sharing stories about your past. You don't like talking about it."

The girl sat down and wrapped her arms tightly around Kamilah's neck. She could swear she was about to cry.

"I promise I'll never see any parts of your past without your permission. I love you, okay? I'd never do anything to hurt you."

"I know. I love you too."

There was something wrong about her wife again. And the same bad feeling Kamilah had before their accident started to bother her again.

----------

Lysimachus

In front of a mirror, Lysimachus touched the exact place where he had been injured in the previous night. He had never been so close to death before.

Erik Balthazar. Or Xenocrates. That man was not only the head of the Order Of Dawn, but the First Son. He lived with the First Vampire. He was close to her. He knew where her body could be and possibly a way to stop her.

Yet, he had no time to obtain those information. That man was completely blinded with hate. Hate for his own kind. The only moment where the hate disappeared from his eyes was when he was staring at his cell phone screen. In that moment he seemed to be consumed by fear.

"You've woken the beast. Now you'll deal with the consequences."

Those words, full of desperation, wouldn't stop echoing inside his mind. He needed to share it with someone or it'd drive him crazy. 

He was getting dressed for the Council meeting he requested when somebody rang the bell. Opening the door, he was face to face with Serafine Dupont. He told her to wait. Katherine was an issue for another day. She was no longer staying in his apartment. He could barely remember in which hotel she was staying.

At Raines Corporation, Kamilah was the first one to notice he was unwell. 

"What happened?" She asked, in the same motherly manner she always treated him. "You look pale, brother."

"I'll tell when everyone is here," he told.

And there was Amy, who seemed to have strong psychic abilities. Stronger than his, or Serafine's, or Jameson's. He greeted his sister-in-law with a nod. She was still new at this. She could easily end up in his thoughts by accident.

When the rest of the members arrived, Kamilah opened the meeting as usual and passed him the word.

"The reason why I requested this meeting is," he started. "I've discovered who was behind Katherine, interested in the results Adrian obtained about the Tree's blood."

He first told them about Erik Balthazar, the head of the Order Of Dawn.

"I should've imagined," Adrian said. "The Tree was inside one of their buildings."

"It's not only that," Lysimachus told. "We knew nothing about who he truly was. He was Xenocrates, the First Son."

Everybody stared at him in silence, stunned by the revelation.

"Well," Kamilah angered, "you said 'was', so I assume he won't be causing us any more trouble."

"Yes, he's gone."

"You've killed him?" Jax asked. "Was he so strong as Gaius?"

"Though he was weakened by the lack of blood he consumed, he was almost as strong as Gaius."

He looked at Priya, who was frowning at him, as if she expected recognition for what she did.

"As for killing him," Lysimachus continued. "You should thank Priya. She saved my life. Our lives."

A victorious grin appeared on the fashion designer's face. After the second most shocking revelation of the night, he proceeded:

"Before dying, Xenocrates started acting weirdly. He stared at his cell phone screen and screamed something about how we've woken a beast and the consequences it would bring us. He was very disturbed. In panic, I'd say."

Everyone was so confused as he was. They had no idea what the First Son could be talking about. Kamilah told them to stay alert. Adrian suspected he could have sent his troops to attack them. Amy was the only one who seemed to understand his feelings, for some reason.

"Hey, Amy," he spoke to her outside. "I saw your face inside the room. Kamilah told me about your intense psychic powers, have you had any visions or anything?'

"Uhhh no," she took some time to answer. "It was just the tension of the moment. No big deal."

Lysimachus could swear she was hiding something behind that forced smile. He was about to walk back home when a hand touched his shoulder.

"Not that I care," Priya shrugged, "but are you okay? I mean, you almost kissed the death's ass last night."

"I'll be," he answered.

She was following the opposite direction when a thought occurred him. How much of his conversation with Xenocrates she had listened? Could she have seen anything on the man's cell phone screen?

"Priya, wait. Are you up for a drink?"

----------

Amy

The day Amy had been waiting anxiously had finally arrived. Her first combat training session with Kamilah. She woke up very early in the morning, showered and picked a special gym outfit. Then she went to the kitchen to prepare a special breakfast for them.

All those fears and insecurities about her visions had disappeared. After she refrained herself from using her psychic powers for a few days, no more creepy visions happened. Maybe the overuse, especially for certain purposes, had caused that terrifying episode in the bathroom.

"What is that all about?" Kamilah asked when she appeared in the kitchen and kissed her forehead. "Any special occasion?"

"Come on," Amy smiled. She knew her wife was teasing her. "Don't say you've forgotten! It's my first combat training session with you."

"How could I? It's all you've been talking about since you woke up as a vampire."

"Of course, I can't wait to be so awesome and skilled as you."

"You'll have a long way there, my love."

When they arrived at Ahmanet Financial, Kamilah guided her to her personal elevator and then to the basement. Amy knew she had training gyms in all her offices around the world, but she was never allowed to visit them before. Kamilah always trained all by herself.

"Whoa," Amy observed her surroundings, "this is awesome."

Kamilah had many different weapons and objects used to exercising. 

"I know," a proud smirk appeared on her wife's face. "Before we start, I'd like to give you something."

She handed Amy a small box, containing a pair of daggers very similar to hers. The girl took them in her hands and examined, admired.

"I've been wanting to give you these for a long time, but I decided to wait until you were Turned."

"I loved it, Kamilah. Will we be training with them?"

"Not yet," Kamilah sighed and went back to her teacher attitude. "You've got a lot to learn before that. We'll start with the basics."

They started small, Kamilah corrected her posture and taught her the right manners of successfully landing punches and kicks to the opponent. She also taught her how to deflect blows, disarm the enemy and use her vampire speed in advantage.

"Very well, Amy," she told, noticing how exhausted Amy seemed. "I think we've had a good start."

"No," Amy insisted. "I'm ready for more."

"If you insist, why don't you try to hit me then? One blow and we're done for today."

One blow. Kamilah said that because it was an impossible task to achieve. She'd deflect each one of Amy's attempts, when she didn't disappear around the room, making it impossible to even spot her.

"I can't..." Amy complained between pants. "You're too skilled for me..."

"I can't take easy on you," Kamilah stopped in front of her. Amy was surprised how she didn't look any tired. "Your enemies won't make it easy."

"Maybe I should find someone of my level for a start. Lily or Jax maybe."

"If you want to, but you should look for someone who is committed to your training. Those two could easily turn this into a game or a joke."

Amy let out a laugh.

"What?" Kamilah asked.

"Nothing. It's just you look sexy when you act this serious."

Kamilah rolled her eyes. The moment was interrupted by the elevator doors opening and revealing an unexpected guest.

"What are you doing here?" Kamilah frowned.

"I had nothing to do at Raines' company," Katherine answered, "so I came here to check on baby vamp here."

She walked in Amy's direction, with that challenging look she always carried around. That gave Amy an idea.

"Hi Katherine," she said. "Baby vamp here is okay. I was just wondering, Lysimachus told me you have some mad fighting skills."

"Trust me, you don't wanna see what these sai can do."

"Trust me, I do. I'm looking for a training partner, someone of my level."

"Wait," Katherine broke into a laugh. "Do you think I'm your level?"

"Then," Amy's eyes went red and she placed herself in a fight position. "Why don't you show me?"

"Amy, no," Kamilah interrupted. "This is a stupid idea. I don't trust her at all."

Katherine sighed and handed her the pair of sai.

"No more weapons?"

"No, except for myself."

Katherine joined Amy in the fight position, but waited for her to attack first. Though she was a mortal, she was handling the combat very well. Amy was also able to deflect her blows and test her new abilities.

"I have an idea," she thought.

Using Kamilah's previous lessons, she was able to almost disappear in the room, becoming almost undetectable, especially for a human. Katherine looked around, confused, trying to spot her. Amy landed right on her chest, pinning her to the mat.

"Ha! Gotcha!" 

As the Nighthunter struggled to set herself free, Amy noticed the rune on her ring started to glow. Katherine gazed into her eyes for a moment, before letting a terrified scream.

"Get off me!" She yelled, repeatedly. "Get off me, demon!"

Using a hidden blade she carried on her sleeve, she stabbed Amy right in the stomach. She fell on the floor, squirming in pain.

"Hey!" Kamilah's eyes went red in anger. "What have you done?! I said no weapons!"

Katherine wouldn't listen. Disturbed as she was, she disappeared in the elevator.

The wound on Amy's stomach slowly stared to heal, but it hurt really badly. Now she was a vampire every pain was amplified.

"Amy, are you okay?" Kamilah approached to examine her.

"I'll be," the girl told. 

"What the hell was that?"

"I have no idea."

A strange feeling appeared on Amy's mind. A sensation that, somehow, Katherine was able to dive in her deepest secrets.

----------

Lysimachus

That was the first time they were alone together, since Kamilah's wedding. The first time they could be talking like two civilized people. Lysimachus took Priya to the same club they used to meet when he first arrived in New York, as a vampire hunter. One of her favorite clubs.

"This place is decadent," Priya complained. "Like you."

She grinned. Lysimachus sighed, ignoring the attempt of an insult. He was still disturbed by the latest events. He ordered drinks for them both. Some alcohol could help him to enlighten his thoughts.

"So, how have you been?" He politely asked.

"Drop dead gorgeous, my new lines are always trending and my face has been everywhere."

Same old Priya. He wondered what would be the best manner to bring up the subject.

"Priya, the other night at the restaurant. How much of my conversation with Balthazar did you listen?"

Priya was thoughtful for a moment, trying to remember.

"Like I said, I predicted you'd do something stupid. I followed you to the restaurant, paid for the VIP room next to yours... I saw as you kicked the guards asses and everything. So pretty much the whole thing."

Lysimachus swallowed his whole drink in one sip. It burned down his throat, but he needed that. He needed to be prepared to repeat those words.

"You've woken the beast. Now you'll deal with the consequences," he said. "What do you think he could be talking about?"

"Oh come on, Hunter," Priya whined. "The old rag was babbling a bunch of non-sense! Don't tell me you're scared?"

"Not scared, concerned about our future. Did you happen to see anything on his cell phone screen before he destroyed it?"

"Not much. I got a glimpse, it looked like... a tree?"

Lysimachus showed her a picture of the Tree Of Eternal Life. Priya confirmed, it was the same one from Balthazar's phone. Yet, it made no sense. He couldn't connect the dots to discover what could be a potential harm.

In the morning, he woke up sweaty and shaking. Nightmares about Gaius, Xenocrates, the Tree and... something else. Something that was foggy on his memories. He checked his phone and Katherine had texted.

"I need to talk to you urgently. It's about Amy."

"You're all in danger."

"What the..." 

Lysimachus quickly showered and left for the address she left written in a piece of paper. As he arrived at her hotel room, somebody else was there. Serafine Dupont.

"Serafine, where's Katherine?" He asked. "I need to speak to her."

"Unfortunately you're late, mon chérie," she told. "Kamilah asked me to follow her. She was too disturbed. I caught her by surprise and debriefed her. She's on her way back to New Orleans."

"Fuck!"

Now he'd no longer know what she had to tell him. He couldn't even say goodbye.

"What happened?"

"She had something important to tell me. About Amy."

"Well," Serafine took a deep breath, "I believe she has seen the same thing I did. The darkness."

Lysimachus looked at her in a mix of confusion and shock.

"What?!"

----------

Kamilah

Kamilah sighed deeply and glanced at her wife, who was now sharing the office with her. Amy was far from happy. Her expression suggested annoyance and boredom at the same time.

"It's so unfair!" She complained, playing with a pen in her hands. "I just want my position back."

"Patience," Kamilah told. "It's temporary."

The incident with Katherine, a few days earlier, let Amy's emotions out of control. Kamilah shouldn't have trusted her word when she guaranteed she was completely fine. It was almost at the end of the shift when Amy and another member of the marketing department were taken to her office.

"You did what?!" Kamilah asked, raising her voice.

"I punched him in the face," Amy told, as if her action was absolutely natural. "Come on, he suggested you only gave me my position because I'm your wife!"

"They said you also broke the conference table. And threw somebody's phone out of the window."

"I did, I'm sorry. Wait, you're not firing me, are you?"

Kamilah had no other choice but keeping her away from her job for a while. Until she was completely settled with her new life.

"It has been a week and I managed my anger very well," Amy attempted to convince her. As usual she was doing the puppy dog eyes. This time the trick wouldn't work though.

"You broke your video game controller," Kamilah remembered. "And expressed your wishes to stab Serafine."

"Kamilah, I lost that match in the very last second! And Serafine was obviously hitting on you when she sent that text with so many heart emojis. Can't you see that?"

"Honestly? No," Kamilah knew what she had to do. She approached Amy and massaged her shoulders. "In truth, I only have eyes for one woman."

"I know that," Amy relaxed and smiled. "I trust you. I don't trust her."

"Silly girl."

Her assistant interrupted their moment to tell the candidates for Amy's position were ready to be interviewed. One by one they entered the office answering questions and showing their resumes and skills. Nobody seemed to be qualified enough.

"It's a sign," Amy said. "You should just return it to me."

Kamilah was ready to throw the towel and admit she was right. The door opened again and her assistant returned.

"Mrs. Sayeed? There's one more candidate. She got a little bit late."

"Let her in. I've wasted a lot of time, a few more minutes won't make any difference."

Only a few seconds later, another woman entered the room. She had dark brown hair, brown eyes and a tanned skin. Looking at her, Kamilah feel a sensation she had never felt before. She was drawn to her. Completely.

She quickly stood up and smiled, offering her hand to be shaken.

"It's a pleasure to have you here, Ms..."

"Rheya," the woman shook her hand and smiled back. "Rheya Apostolous."

[neshabeingchildish]

11. Chef's Kiss

This chapter is dedicated to my lil’ sis @chenoahchantel, without whom, I might not have even started Determined, BUT she be there to egg my ass on and gas me up when my ideas don’t even be formed or sensible. That girl done had to put up with so many messages that didn’t make a lick of sense to her while I’m brainstorming and she just be here for the ride.

Chef’s Kiss

Jasper planned on going to college, but wasn’t really sure what he wanted to do. He thought about psychology a lot, but his stepdad promised him a portion of his company if he got a business degree. He didn’t know what he wanted to do, but he knew that he didn’t want to be in his stepdad’s debt.

He could start another podcast, this time about something more people cared about than those who were bucketeers. ExJasperation really was a hot title! But, he didn’t know what it would even be about. He thought about putting all of his silly “records” on the Internet for the world to see. Because, he did kinda live for applause, but he knew that he wouldn’t receive Charlotte’s, so it’d be besides the point. What the heck could he do, for his future that could be for their future. Because, honestly - she seemed like she had one foot out of the door, like all of the time.

They were super lovey dovey in private. She’d never admit it, but she loved that romance stuff and being delicate and vulnerable, and he loved being able to give her that. He loved having someone to care about and feel protective of. And while Charlotte could sometimes hurt his feelings with a single look or tone of disapproval, she mostly made him feel affirmed.

Plus, she never truly seemed like he had won her completely over, which gave him the opportunity to feel like he was still on a mission to do so. Jasper loved a good challenge and being close to Charlotte was nothing else, if not that. She was full of mysteries that he wanted to uncover. She was proficient in erecting walls that he wanted to be the man who was good enough and strong enough to either breakthrough, or be granted passage over. Plus, they were friends, so he wanted to do it the right way. He wasn’t perfect and not necessarily always even good or kind when it came to girls. He’d been known to use a few tricks to get what he wanted. Charlotte knew that much about him, so he in turn knew that he’d have to really prove himself and come correct to gain and keep her trust and respect. He had his boyfriend title, but Jasper wanted to go for broke with her. He wanted everything. All of it, all of her, all of it with her. He didn’t know just yet what the hell she wanted, though.

However, if he had to guess - a real man, smart, capable, strong, etc… also as aforementioned by her, herself… rich. He didn’t feel like any of those things, but had always believed that what he didn’t have, he made up for it with charm and dedication. That might work for non-Charlottes… but.. he was stressed out, way more than he’d let on about being her guy. And also… what the heck could he do with his life that would make him money? He was 18. This was the age that he spent most of his life saying he’d figure out what to do by then. He hadn’t figured out anything. To make matters worse, he told his parents that he and Charlotte were together, and there was not a shred of support given. If anything, there was a sea of doubt explored.

.

Charlotte wasn’t sure what was going on with Jasper lately. He barely touched her, he wasn’t coming over so much and he was playing it super cool whenever she was the one to try to initiate affection or make plans. Was he mad at her? Was he just going through something? She wasn’t gonna press him, but it was messing with her. She’d watched Jasper make everybody around him crazy while trying to knab some girl, then get bored and move on like a switch had been flipped. She promised herself that nobody would ever do her like that… so just imagine how she might feel if Jasper tried it?

“Hey. You okay?” She asked. He went on a face journey, which she interrupted to say, “Because if you aren’t and it’s me, then I expect the same respect you expect from me to communicate it.”

“It’s me,” he said, kissed her on the forehead and walked off. That was kind of more frustrating than if he had said it was her!

“Baby…” she said, then widened her eyes. He turned sharply, smiling and she shook her head, “That was weird. I don’t know why I said it.” He just smiled and nodded. “But… are you gonna tell me what’s wrong?”

He sighed and came back to stand in front of her. “My mom.” She almost said ‘Say no more,’ but, she was concerned. “She thinks that I’m gonna get hurt by you, especially if we…” he shrugged his shoulders, “She thinks I’m the virgin and you’re having a fun little trist with me.”

“Okay. But you and I both know that none of that is true, so why let her bother you?”

“Because, what if it’s reversed and I mess you up. You don’t even like… well… stuff. So, I’ve been trying not to engage, so I don’t feel like I’m putting any pressure on you.”

She squinted her eyes and asked, “Are… we speaking about sex right now?”

“We’re talking about not sexing.”

She had a look of realization. “Okay.” She laughed and nodded. “I see. You think that because I came out as ace a few years ago and have never had a relationship or sex that means that I won’t do it or don’t eventually want to try it.”

“I mean… isn’t that part of that.. identity or orientation.. or whatever?”

“I mean, for some, I’m sure. But, Jasper you’ve got to communicate with your partner about her specific desires and needs. Because, first off, I don’t think it would ruin anything, least of all ME and just because I’m not sexually motivated doesn’t mean I pyshically can’t or that I’m repulsed by it. Besides, I’m still ace, but lately, I think I may be a demi.”

“A demigoddess?” He asked, and she knew he was asking in all seriousness.

“Wow. Yeah. Let’s go with that too.” She laughed and pulled him closer to her, looked him dead in the eyes and said, “Don’t be afraid, Jasper. I’m not fragile or defenseless… and I’m open to try things. Wouldn’t know what the heck I’m doing, but I’ll let you know when you need to be careful with me.” She kissed him on the lips and shoved him playfully, chuckling to herself. “Demigoddess. You are such an idiot.”

“You only think that because I’m merely human,” he joked. But secretly, he was gonna have to look up what “a demi” actually meant. Because, he hated asking her to explain things to him so much. It made him aware of how much smarter she was and he didn’t want to remind her of that, ever. It was hard enough just keeping up with the living legend of her.

.

Whenever he read: a demisexual is a person who does not experience sexual attraction unless they form a strong emotional connection with someone… a few things happened.

He noted to himself that Charlotte declaring herself this also meant that she was sexually attracted to him.

Charlotte was also admitting to having a strong emotional connection to him.

He could pursue his girlfriend without guilt of pressure!

So, three months into dating his best friend, Jasper was alone with Charlotte, in her bedroom, with her parents gone and the mood simply felt right.

Jasper nibbled on her bottom lip for a while as she watched, confused, wide eyes, bushy tailed. She could tell something had shifted in him, with them. Was this about to happen? Realizing that it most definitely was, she tried to kiss him back, but he gently pressed his forehead against hers and pushed against her with it. She furrowed her eyebrows and stared at his opening eyes as he made eye contact and shook his head a little.

Now, she laid there, even more perplexed and wondering why she didn’t expect some weirdness from him. Of course, he’d pull something that she never read about in her studies. He didn’t do that the other times that they kissed. “Just memorizing your taste tonight,” he said, and finished with one defined hard peck against her lips. “Now, you can kiss me,” he said with a playful smile.

Any other circumstances and she might have given him a piece of her mind. But though he was being a little demanding, it was more controlled and confident, (which she read as hot) so she followed his instructions, because apparently one of them knew what they wanted and what they wanted to do. He did this on a path down her body, until he got where he was going, where she sensed was his endpoint of the taste memorization journey.

Charlotte didn’t know what she expected, but it hadn’t been to have a life changing event. She read enough clinical information and compared it to enough publicized personal accounts to prepare for disappointment, especially grading on the curve that this was Jasper, whom she only recently even became attracted to and despite her attraction, he was still in fact, Jasper.

When he came up for air, she was both speechless and unable to move. He was fine, with the exception of looking slightly love drunk as he cuddled her to himself, kissed her behind the ear and whispered to her. “You taste better than I’ve even been imagining. Ineffable, really.”

First off, double sploosh for bringing good vocab, to what she gathered now was a fight instead of a delight - a fight she was most definitely losing, having showed up unarmed unless she counted overconfidence as a weapon, and even then; he’d disarmed her. “You’re like.. what’s the gesture when they put their fingertips to their lips and,” he completed the gesture for her.

“I believe it’s called the chef’s kiss,” she managed to say, breathily.

“Chef’s Kiss. That’s you.” He said and did the gesture again. She just laid there, blushing and knowing he obviously didn’t care if she recovered from the previous battle. He gently helped remove the rest of her clothes, then his own shirt before looking at her, wondering what she was thinking or more importantly if she wanted what he wanted. She reached for his pants and he smiled, but shifted aside to remove them himself before climbing next to her and collecting her again.

‘Good,’ she thought, ‘Maybe I’ll have a chance to get him back somehow, right?’ Nope. She wasn’t thinking about the fact that this wasn’t Jasper’s first rodeo, just hers. He wasn’t the type to kiss and tell (at least not her, and before now she wouldn’t have asked or even been curious to know what kind of girl wanted JASPER). But… bih… the me kind. Every girl that she casually knew Jasper to have engaged with, in her opinion was a little (or lot) out of his league… but as he changed Charlotte’s entire life, in this moment, she realized that she had grossly misjudged whatever Jasper’s league WAS. “Oh shit,” she whispered to herself. He checked on her and she simply got out of her own mind and held him closer.

“I’m never going to hurt you, take advantage of you, or take you for granted,” he promised her at just the right time to make her cry and silently pledge the same. Silently, because once again, speechless, and if she could think straight, she’d probably add useless. Either the stats were lies, or Jasper was an extraordinary man! Oh. God. Jasper was an extraordinary man. She smiled as she held him tightly. And he was hers.

“Did you really just make me yours forever?” She asked, quietly rubbing his chest gently, feeling dainty, vulnerable, and honestly more like herself than ever before.

He made eye contact with her, said, “I can’t tell you that, but I sure hope so,” and winked at her.

.

Charlotte nervously walked up to meet with Jasper and Henry… Jasper and Henry? Even how she identified them changed. It was always “Henry and Jasper.” Now, somehow someway Jasper was first. She obsessed over the things that she didn’t know about for hours leading here. What was he gonna tell Hen? WAS he gonna? She remembered overheating him low-key brag about his first time, a couple of years ago and being so grossed out by even the suggestion of that; she’d decried, “Never tell me about, or speak of you and anyone doing any of that, in my presence, for as long as I live.” Jasper generally always respected her wishes. So, she didn’t know just how he and Henry spoke of his conquests. Because whenever he talked to her about them, he never mentioned the physical engagement. Just romance and practicalities of plans, etc.

In her estimation, from overhearing, or Henry casually name-dropping the girls, she figured that Jasper had at least kissed perhaps 9 girls that she knew of, made out or done more with perhaps 7 of them, if her murky memory of details she avoided served her anything, and as far as she knew, she was the 3rd or 4th of that number that he’d gone this far with.

Then again, for all she knew, he’d done this very thing to all nine of them and just played it off well, pretended to be cool to not show her what she told him not to, or literally didn’t really think much of those events. For all she knew, he didn’t think much of what they shared, either! The idea of that was somehow terrifying, whether or not she would admit or show it.

She had no idea what he would treat her like today. He promised not to treat her poorly, but given the position they were in at the time, that could have been an ambitious declaration. She heard Henry say, “Third time’s a charm!” And suddenly felt extremely exposed, wondering what he was talking about. Was it her? Had Jasper told? Had they made high pitched tongue noises and wiggled their fingertips together?? Did Henry ask for details out of morbid curiosity???

“What are you two talking about?” She asked more high pitched than she intended.

“Speaking of charms,” Jasper said, immediately making her melt. “A kiss for good luck?” He lifted his hand to her like a movie socialite and she leaned to kiss it, laughing a little, though still unclear of what she walked up on. “It’s on, now.” Jasper said turning to Henry.

Henry observed, “I’m suddenly feeling unlucky.”

“Yeah!” Jasper said and they went for a third round of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Charlotte sighed as Jasper celebrated and Henry grunted in defeat. She needed to pull herself together. Those two were FINE. SHE was the one tripping. “I knew you’d tip the scales, Chef’s Kiss!” Jasper collected her by her side and pulled her in to plant his lips on the temple of her head. Her face warmed at the combination of that public claim to her, the nickname that she knew where she got it, and just his manly touch, in general. She couldn’t believe that she was feeling this way about and seeing Jasper this way. He gently ran his thumb up and down the center of the back of her neck and she let out a whimper that his eyes confessed he both noticed and probably expected. She looked at Henry to see if he noticed. He definitely noticed something, but he wasn’t sure what.

“You okay, Char?” Jasper asked. Now, that motherfather knew she wasn’t okay!

“Yep.” She lied and shoved him his breakfast bag and cup. For Jasper, this morning, she had told him don’t eat breakfast. Presently, she said, “I made you something.” Henry just noticed that she had an entire other bag. It was a tote bag with a fashionable girl with an afro on it, but inside, was apparently a little meal. “I know you’ve been super into the maple bacon donuts from that bakery near my house, but I made the mistake of asking about the nutrition stats and long story short, I hope you like the maple bacon breakfast pie recipe I found online and prepared instead.”

“Wait, what?” Henry asked.

“You cooked me breakfast?” Jasper asked, gushing.

“I didn’t take away your morning milkshake, but I changed it up a bit for less sugar content and more vitamins. Still tastes pretty good and hopefully better with the love content of me using scientific formulas on a freakin’ breakfast milkshake.”

He smiled cheesily and clutched her to himself as he bragged to Henry, “Know what I call this? Wifey material. You oughtta get you a girl that cares about great taste and good nutritional content.” Before Henry could think of a witty retort, Jasper was pulling Char in for another uncomfortable to Henry kiss. She ended it and continued walking ahead of them with confidence and certainty.

“Umm, Jasper, what’d you do to Char?” Henry asked.

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve seen you wrap girls around your finger before, but this is Char and it’s quite unnerving.”

Jasper blushed and waved a hand at Henry. “She’s not wrapped around my finger. She’s just thoughtful and nurturing…” Henry cackled to the clouds at that assessment and Jasper shook his head and kept walking. Charlotte turned around to confront Henry. Jasper still continued walking, reaching into his breakfast bag.

“What’s funny, Henry? You don’t think I’m thoughtful and nurturing?”

“No! I don’t think so, because it’s not the truth!” Henry said, “Obviously.”

“I literally have brought you breakfast every single day, JUST BECAUSE you whined once about being left out!”

“Well, that’s just honest math. You get paid more than me.”

“That’s because you either always forget to ask for raises, or you always ask at the wrong time, against my STRONG advice!”

“It’d be thoughtful if you included me with those raise asks whenever you ask for you, Jasper, and Schwoz!”

“I explained to you that the one time that I DID do that, it made Ray THINK about the question and I had to backtrack and remind him that you were in a different department and probably not my business. It’s too risky for my raises to bring you up whenever I request them!” Jasper let their bickering be background noise to his exquisite breakfast. She’d made 4 mini pies and they were SO GOOD, but he knew she probably wouldn’t be making these every morning, so hopefully, he could convince her to plug the recipe into the auto snacker, because this was gonna be his new breakfast of choice for a few reasons. One - his babygirl had made them for him specifically. Two - they were so delish… Charlotte interrupted his thoughts whenever she pulled him into the argument with Henry, “Jasper! Tell the truth - am I thoughtful, and Henry’s wrong… or is Henry right to suggest that I don’t think about others?”

Jasper took a big swallow and dusted his mouth and shirt off while Henry observed out loud, “Jasper ALWAYS agrees with me. You think that a few kisses and some pie can buy a lifelong friendship of unity and agreement?” Henry asked.

“I think that Jasper is an individual, and whether or not I am his co-bestfriend slash girlfriend, aka Chef’s Kiss, he can make decisions without you, unless he actually agrees that I’m not thoughtful.”

Jasper knew what this was. Charlotte had just instructed him to publicly agree with her, instead of Henry. She’d put emphasis on words to help guide his decision making process. She’d brought up his new nickname for her to get him to consider what was at stake if he sided with Henry. But… He agreed with both of them. So, he might as well have a double win with his lady. “You’re extremely thoughtful,” he said and kissed her on the forehead. “Breakfast was delicious and you still included Henry, even though he isn’t your child or man.” Henry shook his head and Jasper shrugged his shoulders. “I can be bought with pie, I guess.” That Chef’s Kiss pie.

As Charlotte continued, victorious, Jasper whispered to Henry, “But, I agree with you in spirit - thoughtfulness definitely isn’t one of her strongest points.” He patted him on the shoulder and they continued walking, Henry with his mouth wide open that Jasper would side against him just for a little lovin’!

[blankrslate07]

🔘K(G)A(I)I(N)T(G)O(KA)🔘 BIO:

🔹NAME🔹:

Kaito (New)

Gingka Hagane (Actual Name)

🔹AGE🔹:

Currently 14

🔹Gender/Sex🔹:

Male

🔹DATE OF BIRTH🔹:

June 12th

🔹 SEXUALITY 🔹:

Bisexual

🔹 OCCUPATIONS🔹

. A blader working under Dark Nebula

. Ryuga's "Servant"

🔹 RELATIONSHIP STATUS🔹:

In a relationship with Ryuga

~~~💠~~~

🔹 BIOGRAPHY 🔹:

Originally known as Gingka Hagane when he was in Koma Village at the age of eight. He encountered Ryuga by accident and brought him back to his home to get the older boy's injuries treated by his father.

Ryuga stayed with them for nearly half the year. During the time, he and Gingka became great friends. Though, the older boy tended to stay indoors and preferred not to play with others even if Gingka is there. Regardless they still had fun together.

But it didn't remain happy when the two decided to go out exploring on their own. They soon strayed to far from the village and encountered Doji, who has been looking for Ryuga ever since he ran away.

The confrontation desolves into a chase through the more rocky areas. Things turn for the worse when Doji accidentally hit one of the rocks above, causing them to come crashing down on the two children.

Gingka lost both of his legs when he pushed his friend out of the way. Later, he was taken into the Dark Nebula HQ to be treated. When he woke up, it was revealed that he had also lost his memories from the crash.

Currently, he now lives in the Dark Nebula HQ and being trained in martial arts, hand-to-hand combat, fighting with a bladed staff, butler stuff (Like cooking and serving drinks, etc) and of course beyblade.

🔹 PERSONALITY 🔹:

He seems like a calm and relaxed individual. Friendly to those he meets and willing to help those in slight need like carrying their bags for them. Loves to beyblade and would jump at the chance to do it. Another thing he loves more than beyblade is to watch beyblade fights happen, especially Ryuga's fights.

However, due to the training he received and being in close proximity with Ryuga nearly all the time, Gingka can also be rather ruthless and vicious as well especially when it comes to beyblade fights. He is willing to use dirty tactics to win during actual physical fights that involve weapons to win, especially if it's for the mission.

Gingka also hates being locked up in the HQ during his leisure hours. He yearns for the day he can go outside and enjoy the world without the fear of repercussions for it.

During his 'Work' times, he'll wear a mask and act cold and mechanical towards people. The only ones who have seen his true self so far are Ryuga, Doji and other workers in Dark Nebula.

~~~💠~~~

🔹 APPEARANCE🔹:

Has light orange hair with red on the left side, brown-gold eyes and pale skin. Usually wears a black long sleeved shirt with gold cuffs and hems underneath a dark blue high collared vest with a golden colored zipper along with a head band. Also wears white & gold shorts and a pair of light blue and gray gloves. Mechanical attachments were placed where his legs got amputated and used to attach and detach his prosthetics.

For his "Work" Clothes, he would wear black and blue form fitting armour beneath dark blue clothes. Wears a metal mask that has infrared vision and disguises his voice. His prosthetics are gray and glowing purple circuits and wires in them.

~~~💠~~~

🔹SKILLS/ABILITIES 🔹:

Hand-to-hand Combat/Martial Arts: Has well developed & strong muscles. He can take on opponents much bigger than himself and has some knowledge in pressure points and aiming for them.

Spear/Staff Combat: Is well versed with this type of weapons. While looking graceful in his movements, Gingka is also fast and unmerciful as he strikes his opponents. Preventing them from making a counter attack while he's at it.

Leg Prosthetics: His prosthetics are one of Dark Nebula's greatest creations. 5x stronger than an average human leg, capable of breaking through steel with a single kick, and gives him greater endurance and speed. Of course, he can adjust his legs so that he won't accidentally send any new recruits to the hospital

Acting: Gingka is a well talented actor most of the time. Having been able to make most of Dark Nebula's wokers to trust him and let their guard around him. With him being without legs, it only adds more to the act by making others feel sympathetic to him.

🔹BEYBLADE🔹:

🔹NAME OF BEYBLADE🔹:

Kelpie Oblitus

🔹TYPE🔹:

Destabilizer

🔹MOVESETS🔹:

.Chiming Streams: This moves will cause the bey to emit an incredibly loud chiming sound that can disrupts the opponent bey's balance along with causing pain to the actual opponent's ears and scramble their thoughts. Leaving them vulnerable to attacks. The sound become even louder if the opponent's beyblade hits it.

. Depth's Embrace: Kelpie would start to spin at the edge of the arena and starts to manipulate the moisture in the air into creating streams of water that could nearly engulf the entire arena. Kelpie would then emerge in the water then fade back into it, leaving the bey nearly invisible and making it difficult for their opponent to find them. It would start to attack in all sorts of directions and fading back into the water until it can deal with the finishing blow, which could smash the opponent's bey into pieces.

. Alluring Depth: This move will result with the bey going into the center and create a powerful illusion to entrap the opponent in. There are two types, one that would show the opponent's greatest desire to entice them and one that shows the opponent's worst fear to freeze them with fright.

(Will add more later on)

Is considered one of Dark Nebula's best beyblade fighters. Being able to go toe to toe with Ryuga up until he received L-Drago. However, he is not given the title as being the second best since he doesn't fight beyblade battles often with other Dark Nebula bladers and is most often training with Ryuga instead.

~~~💠~~~

🔹 RELATIONSHIPS🔹:

♠️~~~DOJI~~~♠️

Gingka absolutely DESPISES the man. To him, Doji is the one taking his freedom away from him. However, Gingka is also terrified of Doji since he can electrocute him through the mechanical attachments on his legs and has done so when he goes "out of line" or didn't give satisfactory results. He doesn't show this and acts friendly and respectful towards Doji. But in certain days, he Really wants to strangle to man.

💜~~~RYUGA~~~💜

Ryuga and him are very close with one another. With Gingka being the only one that Ryuga actually cares about and treats him as another human being while Ryuga is the one that stuck by him always. He is deeply loyal to the older teen, willing to even endanger the lives of others or his own for him. They shared many things and are nearly inseparable.

Gingka likes to tease Ryuga often since he finds the other's reactions to be funny, while Ryuga mellows slightly with the younger teen and shows his softer side to him only. They even treated each others injuries that they got from their training.

Eventually, their friendship turned into romance. They started dating when Gingka was 12 and Ryuga was 14. So far, they have only hugged, held hands and kissed each other on the cheeks, they decided to take things slowly and keep it a tight locked secret from Doji.

Though, Ryuga is rather possessive of Gingka and dislikes it when people get too friendly with him or if he is training with somebody else, especially in beyblade battles. Often keeps a close distance with him (like keeping a hand on his shoulder) and glares at people too close even. Gingka doesn't mind this too much and kind be rather submissive towards the other and his wishes.

♦️~~~OTHERS~~~♦️

He treats his fellow workers and beybladers that work under Dark Nebula like a friend and helps them out in small problems. This attitude had led him to have a positive reputation in the HQ.

~~~💠~~~

🔹Quotes🔹:

"Hey there! The names Kaito, you're the new recruit right?"

"Just so you know, I'm not gonna hold back. So be prepared to fight and break bones."

"I wish I can just get out there...Explore places with my own two legs and see things, experience things that others wouldn't believe. To be anywhere, anywhere but here...But I can't, not as long as Doji has me on a leash. It's not all that bad though, as long as you're here, Ryuga."

"....Who the hell is "Gingka" ?"

[fairytail-whathesays]

What are your thoughts on how sex (or lack there of) is presented in Fairy Tail? Because for a series who's main theme are the importance of closeness and companionship and is brimming with sexual imagery. The series never really uses it to any meaningful extent. Which could be contributed to how Fairy Tail is a Shonen manga aimed at teenagers.

You would have to actually try in order to achieve a worse presentation of sex in a manga.

Sex is almost always used as a means of humiliation with regards to women or, if you’re Juvia, harassing a man. It is never allowed to be dignified; women must be stripped against their will for “comedy ha ha” or worse yet, for torture scenes. Nudity during torture is supposed to display vulnerability–and that vulnerability is not supposed to be sexy or titillating, something which Mashima apparently never got the memo about.

Of course, this is coming from the author who literally made sex into a weapon against women. Starbiter Satsuki, anyone? Oh wait, we don’t need to go there–we have Larcade. I feel like people need to be reminded that Sorano Aguria’s only purpose in the war was to show up in a bikini and be orgasm’d halfway to death by rape magic.

In another author, I’d feel the need to remind them that women being embarassed by being sexually harassed, stripped, or otherwise nude is not “comedy”–naked people are funny when done carefully and subtlely–you can’t just show tits and go “hey it’s okay! It’s funny”. It’s not funny, it’s just uncomfortable. But with Mashima, I don’t need to do that–because I know he doesn’t think it’s funny. Mashima clearly wants us to think it’s there to be funny, but it’s there to get his rocks off and both he and everyone else knows it. The comedy is a paper-thin excuse.

As far as sex is approached with men, it’s….eh. Fanservice is done semi-competently, at the very least because Mashima knows how to show a man looking hot and badass while not feeling the need to humiliate him sexually. Gray Fullbuster (who every dickhead likes to use to say that Fairy Tail isn’t sexist because, after all, he’s constantly getting naked right?) is quite clearly given a nonsensical habit in order to increase viewership, primarily among women. If Mashima didn’t think it would increase his audience, Gray wouldn’t have the habit at all. It’s not a believable habit in the first place–behaviors that lead to public humiliation and shaming are generally cut off pretty quickly. 

Even if you do take into account that men do lose their shirts often enough, you have to notice the vast difference in how male sex appeal versus female sex appeal is treated. Look at Tartaros, the guild full of demons. 7/9 of the Gates of Hell are male–and are ugly, cartooonish monsters. Torafuzar, Tempester, Ezel, Keyes, and Franmalth are all inhuman, beastly caricatures of demons with no sex appeal whatsoever, at least until Tempester is put through the Hell’s Core at Lamy’s whim. Jackal fares better, but is still not given the same overt, blatant sex appeal of his female peers–anyone who finds Jackal hot probably does so because he’s simply their type. 

Even Silver, a gorgeous DILF, is covered in thick, heavy armor at all times that leaves his body completely to the imagination. Contrast that with Kyoka and Seilah, the female demons. They are dressed in completely inappropriate clothing, with Seilah’s only hint towards being demonic being the horns on her head. Kyoka’s wearing some sort of spandex underwear that is clearly cutting into her ass cheeks, for no other purpose that I can tell other than getting Mashima’s rocks off.

If a man is given fanservice, it’s to show off how badass he is. Someone with huge muscles like that is going to impress the dudes in the audience and make them want to be like him! If a woman is given fanservice, it’s to show how vulnerable and funny she is when she’s vulnerable. Expect men to lose their shirts if hit by a powerful attack. Expect women to lose basically their entire goddamn outfits and be left with some shreds of cloth over the course of a twenty-page chapter or twenty-minute episode.

Sex is essentially what started the ruination of Juvia’s character. What started out as a gloomy, serious, but capable water mage looked at Gray, got blushy heart eyes, and it was all downhill from there. Sex, specifically her sexual attraction to Gray, began to absorb almost all of her other character traits until her “love” for Gray was the only thing left, and was based mostly on his hot body and the fantasies she’d constructed in her head without ever really getting to know Gray. 

While men think about sex in this manga, it’s fairly down-low in comparison to the women. Juvia has already been mentioned, while Lucy is constantly teased for her failures to seduce anything out of anyone, and Erza is hailed as a seductress who even has a goddamn “Seduction Armor” she thought about using on Azuma, not to mention the bunnygirl armor. Wendy gets jabbed at for having small boobs (despite being, you know, 12/13) and is always wishing she would grow into a more womanly body. Levy, too, is constantly the butt of jokes about her small breasts. Mirajane is a goddamn model, and she and Cana both have no objections to showing off the goods for the audience. Evergreen alone seems to have escaped overt sexualization, although she didn’t escape being jammed into a flat love interest role for Elfman.

By contrast, Gray might think about how cute Erza or Lucy are from time to time, or Elfman might blush when looking at Evergreen. Being overtly interested in sex if you’re a guy is reserved for A) older characters, who are portrayed as undesirable perverts (Makarov, Macao, Wakaba, Ichiya, or heaven forbid–Master Bob), or villainous characters (Laxus pre-Fantasia; Kain Hikaru, a fat undesirable stupid slob; Larcade with his rape magic.) Because showing sexual interest is for women, not men. There are a few exceptions–the Trimen pursue attention from women, though are usually not taken seriously. Bacchus Groh is clearly sexually active and promiscuous, though his perversion is never punished or acknowledged as wrong, which is perhaps a tad scary considering what he’s like. Bixlow, who is interested in sex, is portrayed as creepy for it, while Freed is far more reserved and professional and is portrayed as desirable. Levy, Juvia, and Erza are all the ones more interested in romance or sex and prone to humor centered around sex, while their male love interests all have much less sex on their minds.

Considering this is a shonen manga aimed at teens, potentially younger ones, it’s no surprise that actual pursuit of sex is limited to comedic harassment and not any actual serious encounters. But one wonders how Mashima can jam sex into so damn much of his series and break the tension of his arcs over his knee by forcing in a bunch of irrelevant fanservice, and still call it a PG-13 affair. There is a LOT of sex in this manga, just no actual intercourse, if that makes sense.

It makes its way into so much of the manga that it begins to become clear when the author is drawing with one hand in his pants. Need to show a torture scene? Make sure it’s a naked woman. Need to get the audience laughing? Yank some of those clothes off of Lucy or put her in embarrassing fetish costumes. Let’s donate one of the 7 super serious deadly dragons attacking in the Future Rogue arc to sex and preying on women! Want to design a scary demon or Satan Soul? Pack some boobs and skin-tight, body-hugging clothing in there. Carla wants to become more effective in combat! So obviously, she’s going to turn into a catgirl. That last one is especially notable  because even if you countered that Panther Lily’s got it goin’ on in the body department himself, that is due to the above mentioned attempt to make Panther Lily look badass and capable, while Carla’s is solely to make her look fuckable. 

I could be reading a fantastically-written story (I’m not) and the amount of sex jammed into it and used in all the wrong ways would still turn me off of reading any more of Mashima’s work.

[crustaceans-and-fankids]

Kekarian Romance, Sex, Orientation, Marriage, etc

I wanted to write this down because I feel it’s kind of important to my species even if it is never something that is referenced in something like a fanadventure format, and I know some people are interested in stuff like this. I do want to note that none of these views of my species is a personal view of mine, it is simply a lifestyle of a fictional group of people.

I will keep this up but if any information canonically has to be altered, I will alter this post as I have to try to with the original Species introduction page.

....

Brief warning: while I discuss some of this stuff, depending on how easily you are affected, some things may upset you. The last section on adoption/abandonment and the section on sex may be the only major offenders, so please be wary before reading.

Kekara are not bound to the same orientations that we have by name. Someone of the Kekarian and Jhingan species will not see a couple and label them as straight or gay. Females of the species are capable of producing life, laying eggs, etc. Thus, a traditional male/female relationship is more common since the aspirations of reproduction are common. That is not to say it is the societal norm, or that any deviation of the norm is repulsive—it is biologically more favorable and so it is more of an occurrence.

That being said, old-world royals and some other old-world classes are accustomed to this family life and so they are more inclined to believe that a pairing that is biologically likely to produce offspring is more favorable. They are unrepulsed by deviation from that kind of relation, but they are likely to say “hey, wouldn’t you rather have a nice boy/girl to have children with?” and try to push their children and family members to a relationship that is likely to produce offspring.

It is unlikely that everyone is passive to this idea, and yes there may be situations where a pairing is highly forced. Arranged marriages are still a thing in this society, mostly amongst the Royals who have the power to genuinely enforce this with money and/or threats, and very often those are marriages we would perceive as heterosexual.

In the new-world timeline, things are changing, people have more chance to communicate with one another, and young Kekara are apt to have their own decisions to make and go against the old-world grain. Arranged marriages are not scarce, but they become less abundant over time and even the present monarch figurehead King Harit does not expect anything of his kin other than to make smart choices, so long as they are still their own. He is aware of people attempting to court their kids with his daughter, such as with Kanad’s mother introducing the pair solely with the hopes that they could be together. To this, his attitude of “make your own choice” is still solid. Offerings and kiss-ups do not change his mind. This attitude is not uncommon in the new-world timeline, but not everyone is inclined to agree. People may find Harit’s ideas repulsive or uncanny and may stick to what they are accustomed to. Some may want their kids to marry into a particular family, but that other family does not agree with the idea of forcing their grown kin into a marriage.

Marriage at a young age is not considered. Certainly there may be shady people in this society as with any society who might be disgustingly intrigued by such an idea, but it is not accepted socially to marry so young. Typically they wait until a sort of mental and physical maturity is reached before a marriage is permitted.  Previous monarchs would have made it unlawful to wed children.

That all being said, a typical Kekarian sense of love is one based over time. A genuine connection must be made between two people before they can engage in any sort of romance, sex, or marriage. Sex before marriage is not socially condemned by all in this new-world timeline, but it may be by some, especially any people who might also be supporters of arranged marriages and any who are highly supportive of old-world views. It is a huge bit of hypocrisy, because someone may say they want their children to marry a certain person of a certain class or of a certain sex even if their children do not like this person and never will, yet they condemn anyone who physically bonds with someone before they are married. Sometimes people are just assholes.

Sexuality/Bonding

For many Kekara who do aspire to marry or who aspire to engage in a relationship with another person, it is still on a bonded basis—heart, spirit and mind must intertwine before such a thing is possible. Someone who they can openly talk to, consider their closest friend, someone who understands their needs and wants. It is not totally unlike our concept of love. A trust has to be developed over time for most Kekara—it is very unusual for someone to be able to throw themselves into a relationship all of a sudden, and people who do are usually perceived as people who are not genuinely in love.

Many may assume it’s because you are a prostitute, or a leech out for money and belongings, but in some cases some Kekara may not feel romantic love or may not be capable of forming such a deep relationship with people. Their capacity to trust may have been damaged, or their sense of romantic love is simply nonexistent. They may enter many relationships because they are unsure whether this is true of themselves, or because they care enough about a person that they at least want to try for them even if they themselves are not interested in a relationship. Some may even be afraid of being looked down upon for not engaging in a relationship, so they do it for status. They are capable of maintaining decent friendships, or in some cases maybe they are not, but regardless these people may not be interested in deep romantic relationships, sex, or marriage,  or may even be repulsed by these things. It may be what we see as remnants of asexuality or aromanticism, and it is very jarring for those who are accustomed to a traditional sense of love/sex/marriage to see people who simply do not care for it. Some may even be repulsed by it, and maybe some might be highly judgmental and assume that just because a Kekarian person has no interest in a physical or soulfully intimate relationship, that they are simply selfish or want something from that person but don’t want to “commit to what it takes to get it”. A stigma against these people exists because prostitution and selfish leeching is also a thing that exists, so those who are unused to seeing these people just lump them all together without considering that people like this are simply just around but mean no ill will. There is not always some tragic backstory or selfish desire that drives people who don’t care for relationships or intimacy as some Kekara unfamiliar with this may assume—they sometimes just realize they do not care for it. Again, not all Kekara are repulsed or confused by this. There are simply just some that do, and typically they are very fond of old-world practices.

As far as same-sex romance or even stuff we’d call pansexuality or bisexuality is concerned, this is a thing that exists. As mentioned previously, though a biologically productive relationship in which offspring is produced is more favored, it is not as though there are no such things as men and women marrying with or entering relationships with the same biological sex or adopted gender. In our new-world timeline, this is much more commonplace than in old-world timelines where people favored a m-f relationship. Female Kekara get together with each other, Male Kekara get together with each other, maybe they engage in relationships with all or multiple genders, etc. Marriage amongst these people is not forbidden, although it becomes difficult in the event that a couple desires a child because they do not have the same technology we do in our society to initiate a surrogate pregnancy. If a child is desired by a couple who cannot genuinely produce one, adoption is possible, but some Kekara may even go as far as to bring in another person to assist with their needs.

Polyamory is also possible, although this is when it becomes a bit unruly for some Kekara much in the same way as those who do not have a sexual or romantic interest in people are. Much of this stigma stems from it being perceived as “complicated” or “selfish”, but again, there are many Kekara who have also supported the relationships of those who genuinely love one another and find something like a relationship amongst multiple people to be okay. It is less common for polyamorous relationships to be seen in classes closer to or in the palace due to the control some adults try to have over their children’s relations, but it does exist.

Courting, Wedding

If a person wants to court someone, typically it will involve dance. It is very commonplace for a couple to share a dance together before they are either bonded in a relationship sense or in marriage. A wedded couple will typically share a dance together at their “wedding” ceremony. A couple may have their own dance that is unique to them, and likewise an individual may have their own dance that is unique to them that they share with whomever they intend to court. There is a difference between the dance of an individual and a dance between lovers. Some times each individual’s courtship dance may be blended into a routine at a ceremony to sort of symbolize an intertwining of spirits, but again this Is usually during marriage (that is not to say it cannot be done for fun, though. Nahua and Kanad did this once to make fun of the expectancy of their relationship by Kanad’s mother but the both knew they weren’t really having a genuine romantic dance).

However, because dancing is seen as more of a spiritual connection to their “religious” figureheads, and not everyone is religious, not everyone adheres to a dance to court or uses dancing in any relationship sense. This can of course cause a religious divide in people, but that is not the focus of this post.

Some people are accepting of a refusal to dance, others think it is necessary. All Royals are raised with dance and song in their education and as a part of their ceremonies and parties, so hardly any Royal will not adhere to this practice. Not all Kekara are inherently good at dancing, but some people find the goofiness of a bad dancer kind of charming and silly. Others might find it embarrassing that someone might not know how to dance, however. Spoiled Royals and Upper Commoners are more prone to a negative outlook on bad dancers, but again, this is not always the case and not all Royals are inherent jerks.

A Kekarian wedding is only ever lavish for the upper-commoner Kekara and Royals who can afford them—fancy garbs, expensive jewelry or makeup, gifts, novelty displays, grand halls. They will usually host weddings in the temple if spiritually driven, or in a Royal palace hall designated for weddings and wedding parties. Any elite Royal ceremonies will always be held by the throne, such as marriages amongst monarchs or friends of monarchs. White, gold, and silver will be prominent at all weddings as they are royal-associated colors. The bride actually wears a shade of or very close to Royal or Navy blue given it is the color of their blood and it is symbolic to them of bond and blood-ties and whatnot. Dresses are either long and flowy or short and show leg depending on the time period. Newer wedding dresses and other garments have acquired a sleeker more modern design in comparison to any traditional garb that involved hoods, veils, puffed and broad sleeves. Black has been incorporated into wedding garb in newer time periods as a result of Royals adopting the color as their own. There is no real limit to these outfits otherwise and every wedding is inherently different [Non royals/Upper-Commoners often cannot afford weddings or clothing for weddings and have to settle for very simple garbs or small gatherings of close friends and family]. Marriage is not regulated by mandate or by any bureaucratic system, so a wedding does not even have to occur. A couple can literally just decide “we are married” and present each other with gifts, vows, or dances.

Vows are exchanged at ceremonies, although there are no wedding rings. Jewelry may be presented to the spouse[if it is between nonroyals it is usually cheaper jewelry unless someone managed to get their hands on gold or silver], but this is optional. A song may also be sung to the spouse instead of them being given a physical gift. If it a spiritual/religious ceremony the couple will perform a routine together in addition to their vows.

 Sex, Prostitution

[Skip if you don’t care for or are repulsed by sex stuff, please]

Okay, I guess it’s time for me to get into the nitty gritty of sex and sexual relationships in Kekarian society! Usually Kekara don’t have sex for pleasure when they are very genuinely romantically bonded with someone, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. After all, people hire prostitutes, and even in the old-world they had slaves. So, yes, Kekara can get horny. Maybe people fool around in the relationships they do engage in, and no, relationships don’t always last forever. It is more accepted to have sex with people you genuinely romantically love, whether or not you are actually going to marry. As said previously, sex before marriage is less looked down upon now but still can be unusual and unappealing for some. It’s sex outside of a bond of any kind that is pretty off-putting for many, and it can get you lumped in with the naughty prostitutes even if you’re just pretty sexually active but romantically inactive and crave the stuff. This can also get pretty fucked up when a person is made to feel worthless and they turn to a sexually active lifestyle not because they are incapable of romantic love or don’t like romantic love, but because they want to feel wanted or have some sort of gratification. Why is this?

Kekarian sex is not like human sex. It isn’t them pumping wildly into each other for kicks if it’s a genuine sexual relationship based on love and trust. In a bonded relationship, sex is often the pair being intimate with one another. They enter each other and will stay held together for quite a while. Words and embraces are typically exchanged, and if they are biologically compatible, fertilization can happen and pregnancy will begin a while after the act has been done. If a pair is biologically incompatible, they may still embrace and touch each other to one another.

In relationships that are not romantic, or are purely sexual or for sexual gratification, it is typically then that sexual acts start to mirror human sex. There is less intimacy and more movement. Pace is quickened, the act takes far less time, and alternating positions are more common. It is less a bond of sexual love and more of pleasure. Some people who do have a genuine romantic relationship and depth of love may try this—there are always exceptions. But it is more common for them to embrace than it is for them to move their bodies around. It is very unusual to discuss sexual bonding in a manner that discusses positions and sexual acts rather than intimate embracing, unless you are a very specific type of person or are perceived as having “no shame”. Prostitutes and debauchery-engaging socialites often brag about this sort of thing and like to consider their approaches to sex individual and new. It is as taboo as certain fetishes and acts are to us.

As far as prostitution, it is abundant in the city but is not something that is above Royality. Royals are often known to sneak into the city to have a fling with someone, or may even illegally keep a slave in their home to have relations with—usually someone who willingly goes with them because living lavishly but under someone’s thumb is much better than living on streets and making scrap. Prostitution and slavery in the palace with Royals was more commonplace in old-world times, but in the current timeline it is not acceptable. Again, people still may like to be sneaky and do things against their Queen/King’s  wishes.

People may even go to Jhingan territory to engage in sexual acts with the Jhinga, and sadly there is less regulation there because that territory is mostly seen as a place for food to be farmed and nothing more. Although Jhingan people are no longer slaves, they are still not wholly treated well. That is all I will say on this.

Romantic Labels/Systems

As far as a system of romance or a label for their orientations or relationships, there is not really any. Nothing like “straight, gay, bisexual” and their vast spectrums, or even anything like Trollian quadrants. They do not call a type of attraction to someone anything by name, but do refer to the bond between people. The only type of relationship they single out is a M-f relationship that they refer to as a “commonplace bond” since they are accustomed to seeing it, regardless of whether they themselves think it’s a norm.

A genuine romantic relationship with someone, they call a “Spiritual bond” or something along those lines. Depending on the context of the conversation this may mean a genuine loving relationship, or a sexual relationship. They are not stupid enough to confuse the two and won’t get flustered if someone mentions a “spiritual bond” when they know it is referring to one or the other. [The concept of sex to someone young may fluster them a bit, but that is entirely separate from being childishly flustered at a miscommunication that isn’t even there. An example of this would be someone making a joke about trolls being embarrassed at the sight of a bucket when that seems kind of unnecessary and probably wouldn’t happen, or at least hardly. Likewise, a Kekara would know you mean a relationship when you say “Soul/spiritual bond” and even if you mean it in a sexual connotation, they aren’t going to be childish about it unless their personality is genuinely childish.]

If someone is a prostitute or has absolutely zero sense of romantic love, it is considered  a “spiritless” bond. This unfortunately also has multiple meanings that again, they are mostly smart enough to differentiate.  A hurtful person may bitterly call it a “spiritless” bond and basically mean “this person is disgusting and has no soul and is immoral”, but a person who uses this term can also simply be saying “this person is not interested in romantic intimacy and this pair’s spirits/souls are not romantically intertwined”. A more light term would be a “platonic bond”, though “spiritless” is more common.

They will refer often to dance, spirit, or intertwining when they discuss stuff like this. They will say the term “love” as well, but that can mean many many things and they don’t associate the term love purely with a romantic or intimate relationship—it can also be applied to close friendships. An “asexual” Kekara may say they love someone but it does not mean what we would assume it does. It simply means they genuinely care about a person and maybe even trust them, not that they want to engage in a romantic relationship.

There is not a name for things like close friendships or heated, hateful rivalries. It is simply a face-value title. Friendship is friendship, hatred or rivalry is hatred or rivalry. Only the bond between two people in a sexual or romantic sense is what has a title.

 Adoption, Abandoned Children

Adoption is tricky because orphanages are not in abundancy here, in fact they are scarce and not mandated by any institution and usually run by people who want to better secure a future for homeless Kekarian young. People have abandoned their children before and some give them to other families (such as with Cecil leaving his daughter, Delilah’s mother, to another family) but others may outright dump a child somewhere and leave them. A Kekarian child is not so simple as to sit there and cry all the time (though some do) and some children may wander until they find someone who wants them or a place that is willing to house them until someone decides to take them [akin to an orphanage, but not outright called an orphanage], or they may try to build a life of their own. An abandoned child may enter an abandoned house or hidden space and claim it, or they may go out of their way to try to build their own. This is much more commonplace within the city—royals who do not want their children will often dump them at the temple, as the temple will never turn them away. Many city classes will do this as well, but there are genuinely going to be people who do not care and will leave their child in the city. There are also plenty of Kekara who go to give birth without wanting their child or children, and never return to claim them from the mercury sea when they’ve grown into toddlers. A child may die in the sea, or wander around until something happens to them, such as another malicious person hurting them or harm from any animals in the area. They are not stupid, but they are fragile.

Children may also be picked up by people wishing to raise them to make them money, so sometimes people even roam the coast or the city in search of any abandoned children they can “foster”.

Children who grow in the temple are not bound to the temple—many find they are not cut out for such a lifestyle as they grow older and opt to leave, which is something Sages and other temple residents do not look down upon. They also welcome those who leave back with open arms in the case they decide to come back. Though there are absolutely some bad people who manage to get into the temple, some selfish, some crude and stubborn in certain ideas, a majority of those who live there are very kind and understanding, forgiving and loving.

This situation is very different for Jhingan children—if they are abandoned they cannot simply go across the sea to the temple or in the city. They often are left to fend for themselves and have a sense of individuality. They are smaller and perceived as weaker, but they are highly perseverant and strong-willed people who are capable of living on their own from even very young ages. Some children lose their parents at young ages or are simply abandoned at sea, so they are more evolved than those in the city to be more independent and it is more likely they can build their own shelter and live off the land better than anyone else. Despite the social perception of Jhinga to be weak and simple given that they are shorter and frailer, they are anything but.

Children in Kekarian society are not expected to have to do everything on their own, but in the case that they are left to their own devices they have absolutely no choice, and given the danger of animal maulings (and Mutant maulings in the new-world timeline where mutants drop down from the exterior), acid rain leaking from the “sky”, and dangerous people in the city, they have to be pretty tough and handle things on their own. They have common sense and an ingrained sense of survival, but they are still curious creatures and sometimes things go wrong.

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

There’s that then. If you have any questions or additional things to help me consider, please feel free to shoot me an ask!

[greenappleeyes]

Undisclosed Desires (part 1)

Words: 1.5k

Summary: You have a secret history with angels that you’d rather not discuss with the Winchesters. Then you meet Castiel.

Warnings: Slight smut (very brief), language

A/N: I didn’t realize how perfectly “Undisclosed Desires” by Muse fits this series until it was mostly written. Just an FYI, the whole story is more than it seems. Master tag list is at the end. Let me know if you’d like to be added.

—————–

Every girl is entitled to her own secrets, right? Your life was full of them. Hunting didn’t exactly allow for telling the truth to everyone.

Even as you got closer to the Winchesters, you never felt you could be entirely honest with them about your past; you didn’t think they’d understand. It wasn’t a problem until they informed you of their relationship with an angel.

“Angels, Dean?! Really?!” you shouted angrily as you shot up from your chair.

“Calm down, Y/N, not all angels are dicks. Cas is one of the good guys.” Dean tried, but failed to settle your anger.

Grabbing your coat, you headed to the door. “Nope! No way, Dean. I’m not getting involved with one of those feathered motherfuckers.”

Before you were able to get to the door, you heard the light flutter of wings and a deep voice. “What do you have against angels?”

You spun around quickly to face him and quickly ignored the instant physical attraction you had for him. “Oh nothing. Just that you’re all a bunch of self righteous pricks with massive, unresolved daddy issues. Yeah, so you can fuck right off, Feathers.

He scowled at you, showing that you clearly hit a nerve. “You foul-mouthed little girl, you’d do well to show me some respect.”

You laughed as you turned back toward the door. “Like I said, you can go fuck your self.”

You left the motel room, leaving an annoyed angel facing two very confused hunters. “You’re friends with that… girl?! She is highly unpleasant.”

“Hey, she isn’t that bad.” Sam defended. “She just doesn’t trust angels for some reason. You can’t say you guys haven’t ever done bad things to people.”

Castiel gritted his teeth. He knew Sam was right. “Yes, well, she didn’t need to be so vulgar and rude. There’s also something… off about her; I’m not able to read her like most humans. Why do you choose to hunt with her anyways?”

Dean defended you. “Well for one, she can see the true faces of angels and demons; which comes in pretty handy. And two, she’s a damn good hunter. So quit being such a baby. She’ll grow on you, trust me. She’s actually a sweet kid once you get passed her trust issues.”

“That is a rare gift for humans. I suppose it is worth keeping her around.” Castiel huffed as he looked out the motel window.

Sam and Dean continued to go over the plan for their current hunt, but he was barely listening. He was too distracted by how his vessels heart rate had increased upon seeing such an infuriating girl and wondering why he’d react in such a way. There was something different about her, more than her unique gift, but he couldn’t seem to figure out what it was.

“Cas!” Dean yelled, pulling him from his thoughts. “What’s going on with you man? Y/N really ruffled your feathers didn’t she?”

Castiel only grumbled, earning chuckles from the hunters. He was now even more determined to push you from his thoughts.

—————

Interacting with you eventually became slightly easier for Castiel. You still refused to use his name and spoke disrespectfully to him, but you both had fallen into a “working relationship” that you could live with.

You were rude to him when he was looking. When he turned away, your gaze would linger longer than it should have. He would do the same, although you’d usually catch him staring and ask snidely “The fuck are you staring at, Fly Boy?!”

He’d growl at you every time. “That’s not my name.” The low timbre of his voice always made your stomach do flips; which was why you loved to get him riled up.

Sam was the first to complain about the fighting this time. “You think you two could go 5 damn minutes without arguing?! Jesus, it’s getting old.”

In typical fashion, Castiel just brooded while staring off at nothing while you chuckled about how easy it was to get under his skin. He was different from other angels you had met; more human. You liked that, but he was still an angel; so you weren’t about to let him close enough to trust him.

Dean had also finally had enough, but was a little less tactful than his younger brother. “Seriously, you two need to just fuck this sexual tension away already. Then you might be able to be civil.”

Castiel stood frozen and slightly terrified at the idea. He, of course, had lustful thoughts toward you from time to time. But he’d never act upon them and had hoped no one else knew about how he felt.

You just laughed. “Sexual tension?! Can angels even feel sexual tension? It doesn’t matter anyways. Junkless here could never handle me.”

Castiel let out a low growl that he thought no one heard, but you did; making you shiver slightly. You hadn’t yet let your thoughts drift into a lustful territory until that moment. You wondered what those low growls would sound like right next to your ear or muffled by your skin.

When you realized that he was about to catch you staring at him, you shook your head and tried to calm your heart rate. “Well, boys. I think it’s time for a break. Bar?”

The Winchesters nodded while Castiel still held a scowl on his face. He had decided not to accompany you three to the bar, as he wanted to clear his own mind.

—————

You were no prude and no stranger to sex with, well, strangers. You were more than capable of defending yourself and your lifestyle didn’t leave much room for romance; by a girl has needs!

You found and chatted up a few guys until your eyes landed on the perfect looking man to ease your ‘tension’ from earlier. He was tall, with dark hair and blue-enough eyes. Not as blue as the ones you’d rather be staring into, but they’d do.

You wasted little time telling the boys not to come back to the motel room too early and dragging this man, whom you never bothered to learn the name of, back to it.

—————

Castiel had let himself cool down after spending a few hours alone. He had assumed everyone would be back from the bar, but not quite asleep yet.

He popped back into the room, only to find it dark and full of the sounds of moaning and grunting. He had assumed one of the boys had brought someone back with them until he saw the of silhouette of your naked back with large hands gripping your bare ass.

His curiosity got the better of him as he continued to linger in a dark corner and hidden from view. He had seen countless humans have sex while watching over humanity, but somehow this was different. He felt angry that this random human was beneath you instead of him.

When you cried out as an orgasm washed over you, he shuddered, wishing it was him making you scream instead. The envy was starting to get to be too much for him and he debated leaving. That thought quickly dissipated as you climbed off the man and backed up so you could finish him with your mouth.

This gave Castiel the perfect view of your ass and glistening pussy. He wanted nothing more than to reach out the few feet to touch you, but resisted.

Only a moment after the man had grunted and you worked him through his release; you were already out of the bed, getting dressed, and informing him that it was fun but he has to leave.

Castiel glared at this human that somewhat resembled his vessel. He didn’t think this man was good enough to have her for an evening. All he could think was,“If that was me, she wouldn’t even be able to stand yet.”

You thought you heard the flutter of wings as Castiel left, but didn’t see anything. You were suspicious, but ultimately figured you were hearing things.

—————

Castiel returned the next morning, late enough to make sure everyone would be awake. Dean greeted him first. “Hey Cas. What did you get up to last night?”

His eyes flitted to you for a moment before answering. “I went for a walk. It was peaceful outside last night.

You were in a good mood and felt it was perfect timing to get in a good jab. “So, basically you just spent all night alone and feeling sorry for yourself. Cool story, bro.”

He glared at you with a tense jaw, “I happen to be perfectly comfortable spending an evening to myself without the need for constant attention to make me feel better.”

“Listen up, cocksucker!” you snapped.

You weren’t able to continue your though because Castiel interrupted you. “Cocksucker? Clever nickname, Y/N.” He chuckled and smiled darkly. “But I think it’s a more fitting name for you, based on last nights… activities.”

Anger shot through you as you stood to face him. Before you started yelling, the bulb in the cheap lamp exploded. You internally panicked until Sam yelled “Dammit Cas! You two really need to calm the hell down before he gets pissed enough to blow the whole blocks circuits.”

Castiel didn’t say anything, he just stared at you. His face was a mix of anger, confusion and… curiosity? You thought it best to try to smooth things over before he started asking too many questions that you didn’t want to answer.

“Look, I think you and I need to have a chat.” You turned your attention to the brothers. “Alone.”

————— Tag list: @splendidcas @Seasalticecream0131 @grunge-crybabies @love-charmer-sketch @hamartiamacguffin @heavenlyrainyparis @crowleysminion @mysteriouslyme81 @bitchasaurus @smoothdogsgirl @aly-birleanu @djs-lacrimose @ourloveisforthelovely @docharleythegeekqueen @pastapizzacheesedragon @castiel-savvy18 @Lllydg @alangel1895 @gill-ons @sassy-losechester @mysweetcookie99 @casbabydontgoineedyou @i-littlemissillusions

[pandoraxharlow]

I Am the One // self para

“Hey, Harlow, where the hell have you been?” Pandora quit trying to light the tip of the cigarette hanging between her lips to turn around, the sight of Jason making her stomach plummet harshly. Jason, ex-boyfriend, all around douchebag she popped her cherry to, Jason. The very same one who couldn’t seem to leave well enough alone. He started out as one of those high school friends Pan either got high or drunk with on the weekends before those weekends turned daily and the partying turned into more than just simply sharing the joint. Jason may have thought they were serious and, okay, she might have given him the impression, but the relationship fell apart once she realized how undedicated to commitment she was. Not to mention, how toxic he became. “What’s it to you, asshole?”

“Ouch. You didn’t answer my question.” Jason breathed a chuckle and shoved both hands in his pockets as he approached the blonde, eyeing her with immense appreciation. That was another thing about Jason Pan could not stand, he couldn’t seem to resist staring at her like she was a piece of meat. “The fuck you disappear to? Me and Beca both tried calling you.” It’s how he and Pandora met. Through his younger sister. “I mean, you’re not even in Newford anymore.”

“That’s none of your business, okay?” Pan gave up on her smokes and stuck the unlit stick in her bag, “Since that bullshit with Vincent, my parents were up my ass more than usual. If I had to deal with another fucking boring lecture, I swore to all that is holy I wasn’t sticking around.” Liar, dirty, dirty, liar, thought Pandora, you know the real reason you stayed away from the faction and it had nothing to do with the folks. She didn’t want to keep her and Benji between her and Benji. She wasn’t ashamed or embarrassed even if she didn’t know what they were. All she really knew is how she felt, how she felt about him. All Pandora really wanted was something she could call her own. 

“You were never good at poker face, sweetpea.” Jason’s mouth turned in a curious frown, masquerading what he already knew with a faux pondering. “Is this the part where you pretend you weren’t in greenpoint? Or are you going to straight up lie about spending all of your free time hanging with Davenport’s ex golden boy?” Shit, he knew. Pan hadn’t made it that obvious, honestly, she was careful to cover her tracks and practice discretion. Maybe she didn’t try hard enough. “You realize what kind of company he keeps now, right, the band of psychos we all know do terrible shit for the dough.”

Pan couldn’t place her trust denying the truth would work in her favor, but it hadn’t stopped her nonchalant shoulder shrug, “Who I’m seeing or giving my attention to no longer became your concern the very second we broke up, Jason. We all do terrible things and we’re all terrible people, sweetpea, so how about you worry less on whose bed I’m warming and more on keeping your pecker away from my general vicinity.”

“So, you’re not even going to pretend that science freak hogs your efforts at normal romance. Come on, Pandora, you were never slow and steady.” Jason inched closer, too close for the young woman’s comfort, but she couldn’t stop him as she felt the small of her back gently press into the side wall of a brick building. His voice had always been silky smooth, seductive, demanding enough to make her do as he pleased. Some called it wrapped around his finger, she now saw it for what it truly was. Control. “You were always hot and heavy. Always in the moment. Impulsive. You lost your fun, Pandora, but you’re not going to find it with Evans.”

Pan breathed a shaky sigh and ran a tongue along her lower lip cautiously. “You want my confession, fine, here it is. I’m seeing Benji. We watch movies, we cuddle, he talks all adorable and nerdy and I’ll listen or I talk and he listens. He doesn’t pressure me. He doesn’t use sex to pull me under, in fact, we’re taking it slow. And I like it.” She pressed her head against the brick, almost hoping she could sink into the wall and disappear from this conversation as she shoved him backwards. “And he especially doesn’t treat me like his toy.”

“Look who turned into their sister.” Pandora watched the disbelief mar Jason’s expression. She couldn’t predict correctly what was going through his head, but she could guess he was in complete denial that is the way he treated her. A toy he could sweet-talk and reel in anytime he so desired. “That’s not who you are, Panny. Does he know who you really are? The drugs? Every nasty fantasy I fulfilled in that little head of yours?” Jason reached out a hand, gliding his fingers along her cheek delicately, the action sending shivers down her spine, “He doesn’t fuck you like I can and we both know it.”

Pan reacted to the touch almost instantly, instinct coming before thought as she pulled back an arm and sent her fist flying straight into his nose. She heard something snap satisfyingly, a small groan, and if the appearance of blood is any indication, Jason’s response told the blonde she broke it. “What’d you think was going to happen? You’d remind me of the good old days, dangle the many times I faked every orgasm in front of my face, and I’d come crawling back on my hands and knees? You were a piece of shit before, J, and you’re still a piece of shit now. You never deserved me, you self-righteous fucker.”

Jason’s already short fuse came to a sizzle since the first Benji mention, yet, the temper halted to a head as he shot out a hand and wrapped his fingers around Pandora’s throat. He ignored the gasp and even ignored as her hands moved to clutch his wrist tightly, and, while Pan may have tried, she didn’t possess the strength to pry him away. “Remember who was there when Mommy and Daddy thought you were the invisible girl? Remember who cared about you more than your own sibling? Who gave you the jacket, Pan, hm? You can tie your hair in a ponytail, ditch the heavy makeup, and lose the leather, but that doesn’t hide the fact, babe.” Jason tightened his grip exponentially, “I made you, Pandora, don’t you ever forget that.” He pressed a harsh kiss to her lips and released his hold altogether before taking one step back.

Pandora sputtered a significant gulp of air, the oxygen soothing relief as it filled her scorching lungs the second he let go. A hand lifted to wipe her lips, a hope to scrub the kiss away quickly fading. This is why she left. This is the reason why she avoided Newford at all costs. It may have been her family or the growing complications with Rosie, but with that relationship on the possible mends, it was Jason she was running from. “Fuck you.” She spat the words venomously, “If you ever touch me again...”

You’ll what? Rat on me to Benji?” He might take the risk, though, it never slipped his mind the rumors surrounding the kid’s new place of residence. Assassins capable to make it look like an accident? No one cared for Benji enough to grant his little lady friend a favor. “Oh, no, wait, you’ve been hanging around Cabello princess a lot too. You could spill the beans to your new bestie Eleanor and she’d pay to make me disappear. That’s how it goes, right? Doubt you’d want blood on your hands.” He scoffed, “Better yet, I’ll let slip to Savitri what a whore you’ve become, Pan. What certain disgraced scientist you’ve spread your legs for this time. Especially his personal connection to the same asshat who attacked your very faction. Naughty girl.” The man tsked, “What a conspiracy.”

“Of course, you could stop all of this if you just came and stayed home.” Jason continued, “You don’t need him or Cabello, Pan. I’m the one who’s here, I’m the one who knows you, and you know deep down I’m the only person who has ever cared about you.”

“Go ahead, tell that bitch what everyone probably already knows with their two damn eyes.” Pan’s eyebrows lifted as her voice barely made it past her lips, “I don’t hide who I’m friends with in this city unlike the entirety of St. Cascadia. I’m an open book. Oh, no, wait,” Her croaking tone turned mocking, “I’ll tell them myself because you know what? Even a disgraced ex scientist who never deserved banishment and a fucking hot ass Cabello doesn’t evoke half the vomit-inducing embarrassment being seen in public with you does, Jason.” 

“You’ve always hid the doubt and self-loathing pretty good, Harlow, I’ll give you that. You know where you belong.” He hissed through gritted teeth, blanching at the iron metal taste of the blood dripping into his mouth, “You’ll never be his, gorgeous.”

“And I’ll never in a million years be yours.” Even the attempt to swallow sent her throat screaming, “Jason, just get out of here and leave me the fuck alone.” He looked absolutely grotesque standing there, nose bent in several places, the scarlet red streaks causing a horror movie effect that pinched her nerves in real life than it did with a television screen.

“We’ll see about that, Pandora.” Jason began taking the slow steps backward, pointing his index finger to his nose as he did so. She tried ignoring the charming twisted smile he plastered on which hardly seemed to match the crooked state of the shattered body part he called a nose. “Fat chance you’d ever kiss this and make it better, right? I’ll forgive you when you get back.”

Pandora watched Jason’s figure grow smaller and smaller as he walked away, feeling herself fully breath a sigh of relief for the first time since he showed up. She was better than this, she was far from falling for his manipulative charisma. What if he was right? The leather jacket Pan was infamous for came from Jason’s collection and she didn’t truly don the black until he came crashing into her life. She did act in rebellion, but he pushed it further. Pandora slowly lifted a hand to her neck gingerly, knowing very well the physical attack would leave bruises. It was a strange thought considering how Rosie would respond or Benji or, hell, even Eleanor if she ever truly cared, but the first person to pop in her head she needed to tell, to ask for help, was Derek.

This, all of this...wasn’t over.

[cinephiled-com]

New Post has been published on Cinephiled

New Post has been published on http://www.cinephiled.com/interview-unconventional-romance-blossoms-heartwarming-sundance-winner-dina/

Interview: An Unconventional Romance Blossoms in Heartwarming Sundance Winner ‘Dina’

Dina’s getting married in a few weeks and there’s still so much to do. She has to move her boyfriend, Scott, from his parents’ house to her apartment, and settle him in to only the second home he’s ever had, all while juggling his schedule as an early morning Wal-Mart door greeter. She has to get her dress, confirm arrangements with the venue, and make peace with her family, who remain nervous for their beloved Dina after the death of her first husband and the string of troubled relationships that followed. Throughout it all, in the face of obstacles large and small, Dina remains indomitable. She’s overcome tragedy and found the man she wants and, at age 48, is bent on building the life for herself that she believes she deserves. Dina is unstoppable, a force of nature, and as the star of her own life story, she’s an unconventional neuro-divergent movie protagonist the likes of which hasn’t been seen before.

I spoke with directors Antonio Santini and Dan Sickles about their moving, unusual, and terrifically entertaining film Dina which won the Grand Jury Prize for documentaries at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Danny Miller: It’s so great to get to spend time with someone like Dina in a film like this since neurologically diverse people are so rarely seen in films just living their regular lives. And they need more exposure, just like, for example, more depictions of LGTBQ people has helped change public perspectives about them.

Dan Sickles: I completely agree. When you do see depictions of people who are neuro-diverse, nine times out of ten they’re pretty flat — they’re almost used as props.

And often way worse than “flat” — they’re depicted as adorable mascots, innocent little chidren, or crazy sociopaths. What I love about your approach to Dina’s story is that we feel we really get to know her and can relate to her joys and struggles. Still, with any film that showcases people dealing with such issues, I’m sure you knew you’d be open to criticism that you’re somehow “exploiting” your subects. How do you grapple with that?

Antonio Santini: In one of our first visits with Dina when we were thinking about doing this film, the first thing she showed us was a manuscript for a memoir she was writing about her life called I Was Born on the Wrong Planet. And in that memoir she told the story of how unwelcoming many people have been to her since she was born, how she came to an understanding of herself from the all the things she lacked or was doing wrong according to other people. Year after year as she grew up, she began to understand that she was different based on those reactions. Dan and I were knew that most of the documentaries about people who are neuro-diverse usually have other people speaking on their behalf — their parents will talk for them, they’ll have their doctors explaining their condition, while the actual individuals are almost used as B-roll in the background as other people are speaking for them. We had no interest in making a film like that. Dina was our true collaborator and she was bursting at the seams to speak up for herself. She was approaching 50 and she spent a long period of her life wanting to prove to her community and to herself that she was capable of doing things that she was always told she couldn’t do such as being in love, getting married, having a job, having kids, being social, having sexual desire — all these things that were important to her.

Boy, I hope a publisher grabs up I Was Born on the Wrong Planet. After seeing this film, I’d love to hear more about her childhood experiences.

Dan: I hope so, too, she’s been writing a lot. The film focuses on a certain part of her life and a specific part of her history but Dina has plenty of other stories, too. She’s someone who has really persevered through so much more than is discussed in the film and those are things she still wants to talk about.

She seems like a documentarian’s dream subject. Were there any topics that were off-limits?

The way we approached shooting was more like a conversation, it’s not like we would open the front door to her apartment and start recording without speaking to one another. The film is very collaborative. You don’t hear Antonio or my voice in the film or see our faces but we were very much in the room talking about what was going on and what she wanted to do that day.

I can only imagine the ratio of film you shot to how much ended up in the film, but it’s so masterfully edited and cinematic. Going through all that material, did you ever leave anything out because you worried it would give audiences the wrong impression of Dina?

We had around 550 hours of footage, so it was a lot to condense down into 100 minutes! You know, I’ve known Dina for my entire life, my Dad was one of her high school teachers and our families remained very close. So it’s always been part of my life to be concerned with Dina’s well being. And that’s very reciprocated — she calls me all the time to ask how I’m doing. So we’ve been in this relationship together for about 29 years now which started long before I ever picked up a camera and that relationship will continue until I die — because Dina will probably live to be 120. So it was always a conversation. We discussed each scene. And there was a lot of talk in our editing room about what to include and not to include and how to frame certain things.

Of course, Dina’s boyfriend, Scott, is very, very different from Dina, much less transparent emotionally. As filmmakers, did you worry about how the camera present during fairly intimate conversations might be affecting him?

Antonio: Well, with Scott, it started when we were filming Dina and he would just naturally be in the background of the shots, he would just walk in. We’d say, “Hey, Scott, you know you’re in the frame right now, right? Do you feel comfortable with that? “ And little by little, he became an important a part of the movie. Dina had always wanted a movie made about her, so we started to see Dina as the protagonist, she has really good comedic timing, but what was cool about Scott was that he was so vulnerable and showed his affection in such a refreshing way that you don’t typically see depicted in the male partner in romantic stories. So it was really sweet to see Scott be the vulnerable one and have Dina be the teacher who’s kind of showing him all the stuff that she’s learned.

Have both of them been involved in promoting the film and going to screenings?

Dan: Dina has always been very proud of the film and she’s an amazing promoter. Scott has seen what it’s become and it’s definitely something he’s proud of as well. Both of them are going to be running around with us for our premieres and Scott is really excited to show it to everyone from his Wal-Mart in Philadelphia — they’re going to be at our Philadelphia premiere. He sees this film as a way of communicating what’s going on with him internally much better than he’d ever be able to articulate using words. He’s really happy about that.

One of the most poignant parts of the film is the way you show how Dina and Scott deal with their very different sex drives. Again, as you said earlier, it’s refreshing to see someone like Dina talking so unabashedly about her sex drive but I think it’s also great that we don’t see a compete resolution to this issue during the course of the film.

Antonio: What’s really cool is that when we premiered at Sundance, we knew, of course, that we were telling this specific real-life story but I guess we hadn’t thought that a lot of people would see the film as a kind of romantic comedy. A lot of people who came up to us after the screenings were around Dina’s age and would say things like “Oh, that’s just like me and my husband,” or, “God, I still don’t know how to say that to my partner.” Dina is really speaking to a certain demographic and she represents a lot of desires that many people have .

I found her inspiring on so many levels — someone who is not afraid to bring up something in the moment even if its socially uncomfortable to do so; someone who has survived a horribly traumatic incident and has resumed living her life. These are things many of us can all relate to and learn from.

Dan: Something that I hope comes across in the film is how we can all aspire to be more like Dina and Scott. So often in this world, people are not appreciated for their eccentricities, but everyone has special skills and insights. Sometimes people say “Oh, wow, they’re just like us,” and that’s great, I want to say, “Yeah, absolutely!” But I also want to point out that they have some very special qualities that we don’t have. Did you notice how at one point Scott rattled off the names of three operatic tenors in a kind of offhand way? He could have gone on and on, his knowledge of that world is incredible. But unfortunately he is rarely appreciated for possessing that knowledge and having that specific kind of intelligence.

Dina is currently playing in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and other select theaters and will be opening in many more cities in the coming weeks.