#like they always had more important friends that would always take precedence

[helloimtired]

never being anyone’s best friend or the most important person in anyone’s life, ever, can really fuck you up emotionally

[subbmissivesuccubus]

Bully- Part 1

Summary: Your bully's, Gojo and Geto, find out an embarrassing secret of yours and will never let you live it down. But maybe, you don't want them to.

Disclaimer: 18+ fic. Gojo X Fem reader X Geto. Humiliation kink. Free use kink. Gojo and Geto being mean. Bully Geto and Gojo. Dub-con warning. It is subtly implied that reader wants and enjoys what's happening to her, but the boys don't care to ask for consent.

a/n: Sorry it took so long wah but here's part one to the series. I plan to write many more cause damn it is so fun haha. I promise, the next part will have all the gratuitous smut and ruthless fucking this premise deserves. Consider this an appetizer <3

Taglist: @bisexuawolfsalt @candycandy00 @nekonanamii @sirimiripetrichor @collectionofdolls @dreamsxmerci

You sighed as you walked towards your classroom, dragging your feet, knowing full well what was waiting for you. It was the end of the day and it was your turn to clean up the classroom and just your luck- you were paired up with the two people you couldn't stand.

Gojo and Geto. The two 'strongest' sorcerers of your school. Their reputation preceded them. One of them was the prodigal son of a famous family with a deadly technique while the other had an incredibly useful and powerful skill as well. Everyone disliked them to some extent, but nobody could deny that the Jujutsu world would be worse without them.

Which is why it always confused you as to why these two powerful men seemed to love bullying you.

They were never malicious but damn if they weren't annoying. They loved to tease and prank you, joking about how weak you were and how you couldn't do anything by yourself. Forget the fact that you were actually quite strong and capable- but compared to them- everyone was weak.

But they seemed to enjoy bullying you especially even if there were classmates who were of lower grade than you. Stealing your drink right before you were going to take it from the vending machine, taking unflattering pictures of you and distributing it, embarrassing you in front of strangers by treating you like a dumb baby in front of them, making loud sex noises if you were on the phone with someone, tossing away your books and stealing your money-

Gojo spanking your ass casually a few times, Geto licking off some chocolate that was smeared next to your lips like it was a normal thing to do and even that one time when they cornered you in the hallway and convinced you to let them grope your boobs:

"If you let us squeeze your tits, we'll leave you alone for a week~" Gojo had said, wangling his fingers comically as they both stared at your chest like perverts. The offer was too good to give up which led to them squeezing your clothed tits for ten second each before they left, laughing at how easy it was to use you. And of course, they continued to bother you anyway.

You could have made a complaint to the higher ups about their behavior, something your friends have told you to do but you refused. You didn't want to be the wuss who was running to the elders over something so childish when everyone has an important job to do. Dealing with some bullying was easy compared to fighting to the death with some curses.

Besides, if you reported on them...

You steeled yourself before opening to the door to the classroom, met with the sight you expected: Gojo and Geto, lounging around, not doing any work as they waited for you to do it for them because, in their words: 'the weaklings need to put in more effort'.

But what you were not expecting to see was your phone in Gojo's hand using earplugs that he had connected to the device. You knew you left your phone in the locker assigned to you in the hallways which meant these two managed to pick the lock and take it. But the anger over that was dwarfed by your sudden realization:

The way they were looking at you as you closed the door, giving you a shocked look but you could tell there was an underlying hint of pure glee.

Uh oh.

"Give me back my-"

You yelped as Geto suddenly grabbed your wrist and pulled you towards him, barely giving you a second to collect yourself before he wrapped his arms around your neck, catching you in a choke-hold. Before you could even react, he pulled your back against him and manhandled you as he sat on a classroom bench and forced you to sit between his legs, wrapping said legs around you. You were completely caught, your nails doing nothing even as you dug it into his arms.

"Holy fuck!" Gojo explained, eyes wide and a huge grin on his face as he continued to listen to the audio on your phone, looking over at you and Geto opposite of the table he was sitting on, "You're a perverted freak, aren't you?"

"Give it back!" you snapped, grunting in annoyance as you tried to break out of Geto's hold but the man simply laughed as he held you tighter, his legs not budging.

"This is some nasty stuff!" Gojo continued, "Who knew a weakling like you would be such a masochistic slut~" he removed the earbuds from the socket and increased the volume as he confirmed what you had feared:

"Yeah? you like that don't you? Little slut~" a man's voice echoed throughout the room from your phone speakers, "Everybody looking at you as I fuck this sloppy little pussy~ Oh this cunt is dripping for me- did you like being spanked in front of them so much?"

It was an erotic audio you had saved on your phone, one of many that you enjoyed in private. You had even saved it under non-suspicious names which meant that the boys were digging through your files to find something- and they did.

"This isn't even the only one we heard, you know." Gojo explained as he dangled the phone in front of you mockingly, "What was it again? A girl getting humiliated by her teacher in front of her classmates-"

"A girl getting groped by her boyfriend on a crowded train." Geto recollected, his lips so close to your ear you could feel his hot breath dance against your skin.

"Being used as a free-use toy by a group of guys~" Gojo said, a giant shit eating grin on his face, "Seems like this one has a humiliation kink~"

"I'm not surprised." Geto said, leaning into your ear and blowing into it, making you gasp and jump, "No wonder she never reported us to the principle for all the times we preyed on her. She was probably enjoying it."

"Oh!" Gojo said like he just realized it, "Was that why? Was your pussy growing wet every time we bullied you, little slut?"

"Fuck you." you spat out, both of the men laughing in response.

"Yeah, I bet you wanted us to fuck you." Geto growled into your ear, your shiver not going unnoticed by him, "You're fucking loving this~"

"Why don't we check?" Gojo suggested, cutting off anything you might have said, his hands inching towards your belt, a dangerous gleam in his eyes, "Let's see for ourselves if we made your pussy wet~"

"Gojo-"

"That's a great plan!" Geto interrupted, laughing as he tightened his hold your your neck, making you gasp, "Take those pants off. So baggy and loose- what a waste of a nice ass."

"I agree." Gojo said, finger now running over the metal of your belt, "it hides so much. With what I felt everytime I've spanked you- your pants do you no favors."

"Don't you- fucking dare!" You choked out, face turning slightly red from the lack of air and from Gojo slowly starting to fiddle with your belt.

"Oh, what are you gonna do about it, little slut?" Gojo teased, licking his lips as his long, lithe fingers started to tug at the leather of your belt, "Look at your fucking face- that look in your eyes? You're loving this."

"No- I'm not- fuck-" you sputtered out, failing to convey your frustrations. You couldn't stand these two assholes. Constantly picking on you and thinking they were so high and mighty- treating you like a bug on their path. So smug and narcissistic and not caring about anyone but themselves-

But as much as you'd hate to admit it, you couldn't deny that your body was throbbing. Everytime they bullied you, you felt that heat. Your heart-rate quickened and your pussy would grow wet, leaving you a confused mess every-time you got bullied. When it first happened, you didn't understand what was happening. Through some internet searching, you found those audios and realized you weren't the only one out there.

A masochist with a humiliation kink.

And without them knowing, the two guys you hate were fulfilling those fantasies for you.

Well now, they were more than aware.

"Come on, little bitch~" Geto cooed into your ear, his silky voice making you shudder, "Why settle with these audios when you can experience the real thing?"

"I...I..." you panted, heat rushing to your face and your heart pounding in your chest. You could feel your pussy dampen and had no doubt that if Gojo actually took your pants off, they'd see you be wet and needy.

"Too slow~" Gojo suddenly said, unbuckling your belt in a matter of seconds before ripping it off of you just as fast, throwing it aside. You yelped as you instinctively struggled, Geto laughing behind you as he tightened his hold on you even more, rendering you helpless. Gojo laughed as well, his bright blue eyes peeking from behind his glasses as you could see the gleam of excitement in them.

"You excited, little bitch?" Gojo cooed, licking his lips as his hands started trailing up your leg, running over the fabric of your pants as he inched up higher and higher. Everywhere he touched felt like it was on fire, a rush of heat coursing through you.

"He asked you a question." Geto said, clicking his tongue as you refused to say anything, "Weren't you taught any manners?"

"Fucking- i'll kill you-" you gasped out, face growing redder as you heard Geto's growl of annoyance, feeling the vibration of his chest against your back. "Don't worry about it, Suguru." Gojo said, smirking as he started undoing the buttons of your pants, "We can punish her later for her disrespect. For now, I just want to get at this pussy~"

With a big grin, Gojo ripped your pants off of you in one fell swoop, making you squeal as he tossed it away. You shivered as your bare legs were exposed to the evening air as well as their lecherous stares. You could see Gojo's eyes trail up your legs before zoning in on your clothed pussy, the man letting out a snort as he took in your panties.

"Pink with a bow on? Really?" he joked, "how plain and not sexy."

"I think they're cute." Geto chimed in, also shamelessly staring down at your clothed cunt, "But it doesn't matter. It's not going to be on her for long, anyway."

"True." Gojo said with a nod as he hooked his finger into the waistband of your panties and pulled it out before letting go, allowing the elastic to slap back against you, "but next time, wear something sexier."

"I hate you- so much!" you snarled, face bright red, biting your lower lip as the white haired man looped his fingers back into the waistband of your panties, this time, very obviously wanting to get it off of you. You gasped, unable to stop your shivers as Gojo leaned forward and placed a kiss on your tummy, his tongue peeking out to lick at your skin as he slowly starting pulling your panties down. He laughed as you tried to squiggle out but your movements only made the slide of your panties all the more easier for him.

"Look at that~" Gojo gasped as your cunt got exposed, practically drooling as he stared like a pervert, a twinkle behind his blue eyes, "You might be a weakling but atleast you have a pretty pussy."

"Atleast she's good for something~" Geto teased, shuffling behind you and in that moment, you felt it. Something long, hard and thick pressed up against your back and it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what that was. You gulped as you felt the imprint of Geto's cock against you, unable to help yourself as your eyes darted towards the front of Gojo's pants and sure enough: His erection was straining against it.

They were too focused on your cunt to notice where you were looking and you were too focused on their dicks to notice that your panties were now completely off and that Gojo had tossed the fabric aside. Geto immediately hooked his legs over your own before forcefully spreading them apart, leaving you wide and exposed to their perverted gazes. Gojo let out a whistle as he dragged a chair over before sitting on it, his face now right across your bare cunt.

"Fuck- fuck you- fuck you!" you gasped out and cursed, feeling lightheaded from the situation. "How does she look?" Geto asked, both of them ignoring you and you could hear the hunger in his voice and the sensation of his cock twitching against you. "Oh, she's perfect~" Gojo responded and you knew they were referring to your pussy as its own person- somehow giving it more praise and respect than they've ever given you, "And oh so wet~"

"I want to see." Geto demanded, not having the same view as Gojo, "Can't let you have all the fun."

"Sure thing, pal." Gojo said, not taking his eyes off of your pussy as he continued to stare, hand reaching into his pocket to pull out his phone. "Gojo- don't you dare-" You barked out, understanding what he was going to do- but what you hoped sounded aggressive came out soft and subservient. The man simply snorted in response, ignoring your pleas as he opened up his phone camera and started taking pictures of your pussy. You shut your eyes and squealed everytime you heard the shutter of the camera, trembling body still held tightly in Geto's arms.

"Her hole clenches every-time I take a picture~" Gojo cooed, bringing a hand up to thumb at your pussy lips before spreading them apart even more, making your back arch against Geto, "And look at this little clit! So fucking cute!"

"Just show it to me already!" Geto snarled, impatient. "Alright, alright." Gojo responded with a roll of his eyes, standing up before turning the phone towards the two of you, a shot of your spread pussy on screen. You turned your head away and closed your eyes, ears ringing at how humiliated you felt-

and pussy dripping at how good it was.

"Oh, she does look delicious!" Geto praised, gripping your chin as he forced you to turn your head back towards the phone, making you look at the picture, "You have such a pretty cunt and you hid it from us for so long?"

You whined cutely as you looked at the picture- a closeup shot of your spread cunt with a clear view of your clit and hole, your cunt glistening with slick.

"Seriously!" Gojo barked as he started swiping, showing off the various photos of your pussy that were now in his possession, "If we knew all you wanted was some fucking, we'd have pounded this pussy ages ago! I've always wanted a sex toy."

"Don't you have like a dozen already?"

"Yeah, but I'm sure this bitch's cunt will feel way better than some silicone~"

"I hate you-" you gasped out, any and all fight leaving your bones (not that there was much to begin with) as you leaned your head against Geto's shoulder, "I hate you both- so much-"

"Yeah?" Geto asked, the tone in his voice clearly indicating that he wasn't taking you seriously, "Well, this pussy says otherwise."

He let go of your chin and snaked his hand down quickly to cup your pussy, making you yelp. You didn't know if what you felt was shame or relief that there was finally a hand on your cunt- finally some friction against your dripping womanhood. You tossed your head back, eyebrows furrowed and lip trapped under your teeth as Geto's long fingers started gliding through your pussy lips. The slick sound of him rubbing circles over your hole and collecting your wetness echoed through the room, the sound making your ears burn and your chest feel like it was on fire.

This is was so...so...

so fucking fun...

"She's loving this~" Gojo predicted accurately, eyes darting between your blissful expression and Geto's fingers toying with your body, "Fucking whore- slutty bitch- oh, we are going to have fun with you~"

"Her pussy is growing wetter by the second." Geto noted, cock fully erect and throbbing against you, his other arm slowly letting go of the hold around your neck, confident that you were going to stay right there like a good little girl. You gasped as the head spinning pressure was finally off of you, taking in a few deep breaths but choking on it just as quickly as the man started using his slick covered fingers to run circles over your clit.

"You're dripping all over the table, little bitch~" Gojo teased, taking a couple more pictures before pocketing it, "Fuck- let me feel too- or- actually-"

He sat back on the chair, pulling it closer before gripping your thighs, an eager grin on his face:

"I'm gonna eat~"

"Get used to this, little bitch." Geto growled into your ear, pulling his hand away from your cunt and snickering at your whine of disappointment, "You're our toy now and we are going to do whatever we want to you, understand?"

His hands came upto your chest, lithe fingers starting to undo the buttons of your shirt one by one, revealing a patch of skin before the peeks of your bra. Gojo licked his lips and moved forward, his hot breath fanning against your slick cunt.

"Whatever. We. Want."

[ultralightpoe]

Mistaken Hatred - Aemond Targaryen

Authors Note: This was a request, but I might have accidentally deleted it! If this was something you requested sorry for the lateness! Idk what happened 

Word Count: 4748

Warnings: angst, aemond is a loud-mouthed asshole 

Description: Aemond is sure that you are enemies and stuck in a marriage of convenience 

Aemond could remember the days when you hadn’t hated him. 

You had both been young, far too young to understand the war brewing between your mothers or recognize any of the vile things that had been said. He could still smell the oils in your hair from all the times your would wrap your arms around him, still taste the strawberries he would steal from you as you both lazed under the weirwood tree together. 

He remembers his heart beating faster at every smile you would give him. 

But something had changed in the both of you somewhere along the way, and though he could not pinpoint a certain moment you became enemies he knew for a fact that he hated you just as much as you hated him.  

“Tell me, bastard, how does it feel knowing you will never live up to anything?” He sneered, watching as your eyes narrowed in on him. 

“Are you sure you even know who you are speaking to? Can you see out of that rock?” You snap back, giving a false cringe to his eye that makes him blush. “Aemond…… It’s me, it’s Y/n. You are speaking to Lady Y/n.”

  His jaw tenses in anger as you continue to tease him, rolling his eye. “I do still believe that you and your brothers owe me an eye….”

“An eye for an eye? What’s next? You take your mothers balls?” You laugh, walking past him in your riding leathers, making sure to hit him with your hair as you throw it over your shoulder. “Tell me how that goes will you? Always enjoyed watching you cry.” 

The day his father broke the news of the peace treaty Aemond could feel nothing but relief. A tension released as he had the greens and the blacks forge the peace treaty. His half sister, Rhaenyra, would get the throne and after her it would pass to her son. 

But there were things needed to ensure the alliance lasted past his fathers dying wish, a marriage for example. 

His brother had already been married of to his poor older sister, Aemond only feeling pity for his closest friend as she struggled to survive. His nephews had been arranged to marry the Velayron girls to ensure that peace, and his baby brother Daeron would still be in Olde Town until the end of summer. That left him…….and you. 

When Viserys made the announcement Aemond had already been looking to you, waiting with baited breath for you to argue. A wave of embarrassment already clinging to his being at the thought of you outright denying him. 

Not that he cared, you were a constant thorn in his side. 

“Tell me, do people ever make eye contact when they speak to you?” You snipe, sitting across from him at the septas library, smirking. “Would you feel better if I went cross eyed?”

“I would feel better if you left. Or if you and your siblings were finally taken from the world. ” He sighs, refusing to look up from the book he had grabbed for the day. “You have a terrible habit of absorbing all the energy and patience of a room.”

“Good to know I have such a large effect on you.” You laugh, snatching the book before he could process what you were doing. “Thank you.”

“I was reading that you bastard-”

“Oh here we go with the bastard- Aemond, darling, I look exactly like my mother. You have no evidence.” You stick out your tongue before moving to stand.

“Give the book back!” He sneers, launching for it until you hit his forehead with it lightly.

“I need it, you ghost. Go find a romance somewhere.” 

“I was reading it-” “I take precedence-”

“No you absolutely do not-”

“I do indeed, my matter is more important than yours.” You say it bluntly, with such a straight face that Aemond finds himself intrigued.

“What do you need it for?”

“I need it to impress a boy.” You smile, moving to leave. 

Aemond clenches his fist as an unknown feeling settles in his gut, watching you leave with his book. 

You hadn’t looked at him that day, but you hadn’t argued either. You merely stared at the floor in quiet surrender that had his jaw clenching. 

You were acting sad when it was him that was being thrown up like a fucking pawn? Would it really be so bad to be married to him?

Rhaenrya and his mother met in the middle of the throne room, hugging softly as all the children watched, you refusing to look up while you held your youngest brothers hand tightly. 

Jace and Luke stood on either side of you while Joffrey stood right by Daemon, who was holding young Aegon to his chest. 

“May our families join as one, once more.” Viserys smiles, the cue taken soon enough as everyone began to mingle. 

“Let us see the future lovers closer together!” The elder Aegon slurs, snatching your shoulder to drag you closer to Aemond. 

He takes a moment to slap his brothers hand away from your shoulder, shoving him back and mumbling “Don’t ruin this peace treaty Aegon.”

When he turned to speak with you it seemed you already disappeared, spotting you in the hallway with your stepfather Daemon arguing. 

The blistering heat seeped into his skin as his riding leathers seemed heavier with each step he took, hair beginning to mat to his neck. 

Aegons 18th name day was to be celebrated by a tourney, every knight lord and noble of the realm having traveled to compete or attend, including all the beautiful females.

Not that the last fact would ever matter to Aemond, who had been completely ignored by every female since he had his eye carved out as a boy. All except one, one constant pain in his side. 

“Lord Baratheon, this is my-.....this is Prince Aemond.” You correct yourself, a sweet smile laced on your features as you keep a hand rested in the lords elbow. 

“Prince Aemond! A pleasure to meet you!” The lord smiles, bowing slightly, giving Aemond the chance of making quick eye contact with you before the lord stands to his full height once more. 

“We’ve met…. My 13th name day, 3 years ago.” He says tightly, hands crossed behind his back as he turns to look away from the both of you.

“Right… the um…. The year that you….”

“The year my nephews tore out my nephew and you and your charming followers through dirt in it on my own name day?” He reminds, turning just in time to see a look of shock cross your features. You obviously hadn’t know, having been dragged back home to Dragonstone for your parents to marry in secret. 

“I…. must have been far too into the ale My Prince.” The lord lies, trying not to look irritated or embarrassed. “Lady Y/n was allowing me to escort her to the-”

“Princess Y/n.” Aemond reminds, finally looking to the lord. “Bastard or not her mother is the heir.”

“Aemond-” You snap, turning to the boy in a panic as Aemond laughs. “My lord, I do apologize-”

“So it’s true? You’re a bastard?” The boy snaps, eyes narrowed as he looks down at you. For a second Aemond gets a rush of irritation looking at how the lord was using his height as a weapon against you, taking a second to step between you two.

“I- Lord Baratheon, the words my uncle speaks come from anger and not truth- you must believe me.” You try to ease the situation and the lord gives you a skeptical look. “Let us get back to our walk, you were just telling me about the difference between dear and elk?” 

“Is that why you picked the book up the other day? To try and hide your half title from any suitor?” Aemond snaps, finally scaring off the other male as you whip to look at him. 

“That was not funny-”

“Shouldn’t you be sitting with the rest of your fucking bastard family?”

“What is wrong with you today?” You snap, turning to walk away but he follows.

“You are my problem, walking around just like your mother had.”

“What does that mean?” You whip around to glare, a smirk crossing his features as he finally pinpoints how to irritate you.

“It means you and your mother are whore-” A hand snaps across his face making his head whip back, a shocked look taking over. “Wha-”

“I suggest you fix your tone and implications the next time I see you. Prince.” You snap, storming off. 

You don’t make any eye contact at the wedding. 

Not when you slice your hand open as well as his, not when he rubs his bloody thumb over your forehead and you do the same to him. 

Aemond can’t do anything but stare. 

You had worn one of the finest gowns in westeros, hand stitched by 4 people to fully celebrate the union between blacks and greens. Your hair had been done into one of the most intricate braids he had ever seen, pearls and diamonds braided in. 

He mutters the respective words of the Targaryen wedding tradition before you do the same, leaning to touch your nose against his as told, finally looking at him. His heart stops in his chest as he attempts an easy smile. You ignore it. 

You sit by him at the feast, smiling at all the guests that had come to congratulate you both on the union and peace treaty. 

Though when once a particular lord comes up he feels your entire being tense as a faint recognition travels through him. 

“I congratulate the two on a blessed union, and I hope them well in the children department.” He mutters, head bowing as Aemond nods, trying to remember where he had seen the man. “Let us hope that Y/n carries the bastard blood to save her from the Targaryen curses with pregnancy.”

The room silenced almost instantly, everyone holding their breath as Aemond finally recognized the man in front of him. It was the lord from a couple years back, the one he had mocked your legitimacy to. 

“Hold your tongue Lord Baratheon-” His father snaps, casting a look to Rhaenyra who was holding her own stomach. 

Targaryen pregnancies were a curse indeed, for his fathers first wife had gone through multiple and the only one to come was Rhaenyra herself. 

“I wouldn’t worry about any future heirs , Lord Baratheon, it’s not my style.” Aemonds entire tone is tart, casting a side look to see you clenching your fist and biting your lip. 

You must have been embarrassed from the bastard comment the lord made, and for the very thought of being bred like a horse. Aemond hated the thought himself, he would not be providing an heir unless you yourself asked for one.

The lord is dismissed with a group of guards under the pretense of them taking him home, but Aemond knew that Daemon had already ordered he wasn’t to leave the grounds alive. The second the group disappears through the doors the festivities begin again and Aemond finds himself standing up when you do.

“Did you want to dance-” He doesn’t get to finish his sentence as you slap his outstretched hand away. 

“I’m not feeling well. I shall be going to my chambers.” You reply, moving to walk past him but he stops you with a hand on your elbow. 

“People will talk-”

“Oh please. They have been fed enough gossip to last them months. Lord Baratheon implying that I am a bastard in front of the court and my new husband stating I was not to his taste? I’ve been made a laughing stock tonig-”

“I did not say you were not to my taste. I meant forcing an heir was not to my taste.” He rushes out, getting extremely defensive without meaning to. “When did you become so weak? I can remember multiple times where your tongue was as silver as a snake.”

“Or maybe I just finally realized that you were being serious all those times.” You seethe, hitting his shoulder. 

“And you weren’t?” He is absolutely dumbfounded. You two had been enemies for years? What could you mean you weren’t serious?

“I was a fool who thought we were jesting. And I soon realized that you were just a monster.” You reply cooly, finally making your escape and leaving Aemond at your wedding. 

“Don’t tell me, little princling, you don’t have any friends?” You giggle, coming around the thick tree to see Aemond hiding and reading. 

His eyebrows knot together as a scowl takes over, turning to you. “I hadn’t realized the brothel would be moving into the keep….. Please tell me they put your rooms far away from mine. Only the gods know what I could catch within dragon space of you.” 

“Mmmm. Thinking of ways to catch something are you? Want to ride-”

“What do you need, bastard?” He snaps, a heat traveling his skin as he watches something twinge in your features. 

“I was hoping we could discuss the other day,” You say, tone sounding all too serious. “When I slappe-”

“I remember quite well.” He interrupts, slamming the book shut. The same book you had stolen him a mere 2 weeks before. 

“It was a terrible reaction, I am aware. I just- well you see…. I was trying to impress Lord Baratheon for my moth-”

“Is there a reason I should care?”

“I’m trying to explain why I am upset, Aemond. So that I may apologize correctly” You sigh, looking completely puzzled. “I feel we crossed a line the other day and I had no idea-”

“Crossed a line? How so? It is well within my right to call a whore when I see one.” He snaps, standing so he wasn’t looking up at you. The sunlight perfectly framed your figure as he moved closer, waiting for your retaliation that never came. “What? Don’t you want to make a comment? Something humorous to go and laugh at with your lowlife wasteful siblings.”

“Watch your tongue-”

“Or what?” He snaps, stepping closer. You instantly shove him back with a hurt look. 

“You……this entire time you meant everything….” You looked absolutely torn, some of your hair falling out of your braid as you watch him. “I… oh how foolish I have been.”

You are storming off then, hands clenched as you march past Aegon and go to where your eldest brother waits for you. 

“RUN AND CRY TO YOUR FAMILY THEN! MAYBE YOU CAN TELL YOUR REAL FATHER ALL ABOUT IT SOON!” 

Jace whips around to charge at him and Aegon but you catch your brothers arm, pulling him harshly and muttering something under your breath before you both disappear from sight.

Before Aegon can make a snappy comment Aemond storms off, leaving the book under the tree.

Aemond doesn’t see you for three days after the wedding, but he doesn’t mind that, his brain is still trying to wrap around the confusion of your words. 

What had you mean that you thought it was all a jest, had you been mocking him for a reaction all those years? Had you not been trying to fight him? 

“Prince Aemond, Princess Y/n has sent a-” He snatches the note from the pageboy instantly, unraveling it to read the contents inside. 

‘Heading to Dragonstone to help with the rest of my mothers pregnancy. I will send word before I return.’

“Has she left already?” He asks, standing to get to the door and find your chambers, needing to talk to you before you left. Just to sort some of his thoughts out. 

“She took flight this morn, with her brothers, to follow their Princess Rhaenrya back home.” The page explains. “Left that in the room, maids brought it to me.”

A sigh escapes Aemond as he nods, heading out of the room to find one of his own siblings. He would send a raven asking for a word later, right now he needed to finalize some of the peace treaties issues. 

He was ashamed to admit he sat in the library and waited for you to come in just as you always did and bother him. He waited to start a fight with you, already thinking of insults that would keep up with your own. 

He pretended to read the history book he had snatched that morning as he listened for the door, trying not to seem too excited when he heard it groan. 

It had been a week since the day under the weirwood tree, and neither of you had gone this long without mocking the other. He was beginning to get an anxious feeling. 

“Prince Aemond-” His head snaps up when he realizes it’s not you, angry that it wasn’t your smug voice about to mock him. “Your mother has requested your presence-”

“Tell her I am busy.” He says quickly, turning to the door to make sure you don;t enter without him noticing. 

“She says that she will not let you hide in here all day. She says I must take you to her or the trai-”

“Fine.” He sighs, grabbing his sword and storming out. 

He sees a dash of y/h/c and straightens as he leaves, disappointment filling him when it was just a trick of light. 

Your mother had lost the babe, naming the child Aemma in honor of her own mother, and you had sent word that you would be staying to care for your mother in her time of need. 

That hadn’t annoyed Aemond, what had annoyed him was that you sent word to his mother and not he. 

“Page?” He calls the young boy as his mother stares. “Are you sure I haven’t received any news from dragonsto-”

“Just the one raven My lord. I accepted it myself.” The page says, bowing. Aemond feels a wave of dread and embarrassment fill him as he turns back to his mother. 

“Are my ravens not reaching there?” 

“As far as I am aware they are, dearest.” Alicent sighs, standing to rub his cheek.

“Please let my lady wife know I am patiently waiting to hear from her.” He sighs, teeth rubbing together as he leaves the room. 

“Is there any word on Lady Y/n?” Aemond asks one of the guards, trying to seem casual. “I have not seen her around the keep in a couple days.”

“Lady Y/n has traveled with her father to grab a dragon egg for her future sibling,” The guard explains. Aemond feels a wave of relief at the fact that you had been gone and not avoiding him. That is until, “They left this morning, Prince.”

“Why did she go at all?” 

“Princess Rhaenrya is due to labor soon and they were hoping her dragon would help find the eggs.” 

Rhaenrya was about to have her first child with Daemon, and as Targaryen tradition held the babe would get an egg, the only issue was the lack of eggs. 

There had been a dragon on the island eating all the unhatched eggs, the people beginning to call him Cannibal. 

“Will you notify me when they return? I believe she has a book of mine-”

“It is to my understanding Prince, that Lady Y/n will be staying at Dragonstone with the rest of her family.”

Aemond is at a loss for words, storming off. 

Another week had passed and Aemond had debated flying out to Dragonstone himself and demanding answers, but he quickly remembers that this is a marriage of convenience to you and he does not wish to look like a fool. 

King Viserys dies, and although he is minorly upset, Aemond is delighted that you will have to come back to Kings Landing. 

He waits for your dragon to land, watching you closely as you dismount the dragon and climb down the ladder you had, eyes meeting his instantly. 

He is ashamed to admit that his heart beat wildly as you made your way closer, wearing black for mourning. 

“I am sorry for your loss, Husband.” You say lowly, moving to walk by him but he turns to keep walking with you. 

“As I am yours, Wife.” He mumbles, trying to keep up with your quick pace. “I have not heard from you, I had assumed you to be dead.”

“I do know you wish me to see my father, how very thoughtful you have always been.” You mutter, words sounding venomous as you trail along the courtyard. 

“I was hoping we could discuss-” He could not understand why he was so nervous. What was freaking him out so much? “I must go and attend to my ladies at court, much to do before my mother's coronation.” You interrupt, strutting off and leaving him behind. 

He barely sees you at your mothers coronation, for you were standing with the rest of your siblings to watch closer than the rest. 

While you were watching your mother with wide eyes, Aemond could not drag his eyes away from you. 

His chest ached as he prayed for a chance to talk to you, just for a moment. 

You’re gone by daylight, Aemond asking for you and your father telling him you were caring for an issue left on Dragonstone. 

He is agitated at the news but doesn’t have time to think before Rhaenyra is asking him to fly to Winterfell. “Lord Stark is the final signature needed to back my coronation, I need a good rider to get there and back.”

“After that may I have your permission to head to Dragonstone.” He snaps, trying to keep his cool as Daemons head whips to look at him. “I wish to see my wife and I am aware that Dragonstone is not-”

“You are permitted.” Rhaenyra smiles, patting his shoulder before moving to where his mother stood. 

He does as told, heading to Winterfell on Vhagar to receive the final signature. He stays there for a week as they go over all the final details before a messenger races in, running straight for Aemond.

He doesn’t say anything as he tears it open, reading the contents inside over and over before apologizing to Lord Cregon and rushing for Vhagar. 

It takes nearly 2 days of flying before he gets to you at dragonstone. Landing Vhagar and jumping down from the saddle while racing behind a guard to get to you. 

He doesn’t waste time thanking the guard or waiting to be announced as he burst into the room, making you jump from where you are sat in a bed. 

“Aemond? You should be in Winter-”You begin to yell, moving to sit up. He crosses the room in three strides, softly pushing you back down as you look at him skeptically. 

“I received word that you and your dragon had been hurt.” He states, stepping back to check all the injuries while keeping his hands on your shoulders. “There had been a wild dragon?”

“I was merely trying to protect a batch of eggs.” You explain, trying to remove his hand. “It was fine, you should not have been called-”

“I should not have been summoned after my wife was nearly killed?” He snaps, confusion littering his face as he spots a familiar book on the nightstand. “I knew you stole it.”

“Did you honestly fly out here to accuse me of stealing a book?” You snipe, reaching for it before he can grab it. But you were slow from the injuries and he was already lunging for it. 

“I flew out here because I was terrified you would die-”

“And you were afraid you wouldn’t be able to celebrate it properly?”

“I was afraid that you would die. No snide comments were going to follow that sentence.” He states bluntly, sitting on the edge of the bed to peer into the book. “It’s still so odd to me that you picked this book to impress Lord Baratheon-”

“You think I took that book to impress that trout-faced ass?” You laugh incredusly, still looking nervous at his presence. “I took it to impress you.”

His head snaps up with a blush, smiling softly. “You took the book to impress me?”

“A terrible thought out plan considering I hadn’t quite realized you actually hated me. Did you ever consider that I had been talking you up to Lord Baratheon that day?” You mumble, looking away and messing with the cover of the bed. 

He lets silence consume you both as he flips through the book, stopping when he comes across sketches of himself, all extremely detailed. “D-did you draw these?”

“Awhile ago, yes.” You whisper. “The septa found the book and returned it to me that day-”

“You had been joking all those years, and I had been an ass.” He speaks, voice tight at the truth, watching your face.

“I never meant to offend you-”

“But I had. I had always meant to offend you while you were merely thinking of me as a friend. A friend that you thought was pretty enough to draw.” He states, fingers tracing over one of the sketches. “That entire time I had been a monster.”

“Aemond-”

“That’s why you avoid me now? Because I had acted that way?”

“I figured you’d still hate me.” You sigh, wincing in pain as you try to sit up. Within moments he has one arm wrapped around you torso for support, the other sitting in between your neck and shoulder. 

“How foolish and terrified I have been….”

“You should be in Winter-” You don’t get to finish your words, his lips coming to meet yours soft and slowly. 

You hesitate for a moment before kissing back, hands moving to his hair. 

“I’m sorry…. I’m so sorry.” He whispers in short moments when you both try to catch your breath before lunging back in for another kiss. “I’ve wasted so much time.”

“Aemond…” You breathe out as he pulls you closer, kissing you like a man possessed. He moves you gently so that he his kneeling between your legs and you are resting on the pillows, kissing your jaw with content. 

“I’m sorry..”

“So am I.” You mumble but he shakes his head. 

“I’m a fool. All this time I have wasted trying to hate you and you were merely reaching a playful hand out.” He sighs, kissing down your neck. “Forgive me, please princess, forgive your foolish husband.”

“Forgiven.” You whisper, pulling him back up softly. “It is all forgiven.”

“I do not wish for this to be a marriage of convenience. I wish for you, it’s all I have ever wished for whether I realized it or not. Please- Give me a chance-”

“Accepted.” You smile, pulling him closer and tugging him to kiss you. “You have been granted one more chance.”

He smiles, leaning down and dragging his own lips against yours in a possessive kiss, eye glinting in the soft light. 

Once you are healed he prepares Vhagar, watching you mount your own dragon carefully.

“You feel even the slightest twinge of pain and we head back-”

“Instantly. I know. You worry wart.” You laugh, hair blowing in the wind as he looks at you with a raised brow. “Gonna keep AN EYE on me, Lover boy?”

“Keep taunting all you want…..” He smiles, “You’ll pay for it all tonight, you old maid.”

“Old maid?!” You laugh. “That makes you a corpse!”

You take flight, leaving him to curse and push Vhagar to go, racing through the skies as you begin to track the wild dragon Cannibal. 

It wouldn’t be long before he would need to find a dragon egg for his child, and he needed to make sure there was an egg to procure.

“Come on grandpa! You’re slowing down!” You laugh, looking back to stick your tongue out at him. 

It takes him a moment to catch his breath as he smiles at you, and to think that he missed all of this by being a twit. But he doesn’t apologize again, knowing how you’ve come to hate it, instead he pushed Vhagar faster and calls “Loser won’t be allowed to finish tonight!”

You looked shocked for a moment before he has his dragon sweeping under yours and taking lead. “But considering how much I love you, dearest wife, I will consider giving you at least one orgasm.” 

He laughs and flies off, leaving you desperate to catch up.

(REQUESTS ARE OPEN AND WILL BEGIN BEING POSTED ON MONDAYS)

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

AEMOND TAGLIST 

@Schniiipsel

@Sluttyaemond

@Lovelynerdytraveler

@Rosaryos

@Bbyhangman

@Winxschester

@Neenieweenie

@anthonys-viscountess

@Ggglitch-exe

@Shnadaidas

@Gaisse-blog

@Dudfahsn

@Afro-hispwriter

@Ghosstbb

@Nerdy4itall

@Gawabby

@Abrielleholland

@Chevyharvelle

@Gloryekaterina

@Immyowndefender

@Ichanelvxgue

@Dangerousbluebirdpoetry

@Destroyingdestiny

@Minaxcarter

@Lawlerek

@Tivedetek4869

@Shawin02

@Maplumebleue-blog-blog

@Applepyesworld

@Solacestyles

@Xinsonyax

@Crazylokonugget

@Mrswhitethornbelikov

@Yu3kkii

@Mell-bell

@Justsumtuffstuff

@Icarusignite

@Nellanottevedote

@Princessmiaelicia

@Ciaraguy9

@m1ndbrand

@bregarc

@justsumtuffstuff

@lilbug139

@Valhallavalkyrie9

@Disturbing-love666

@Kittykylax

@Padfooteyes

@ultralightpoe

[hexbees]

Draco notices you

pairing:: oblivious!nice!draco x slytherin!reader

summary:: you had shared potions with draco since first year but he doesnt notice you until sixth word count:: 731 a/n:: no voldemort so no oncoming war! dracos just a dumb dumb and oblivious. no use of y/n!

Stress burrowed its way into your brows as you stepped into Slughorns NEWT potions class. You scored an O on your OWLs and only feared the amount of work you'll have to put into the next exams. Ranking high in your year has always been important, not only to you but your parents as well. The thought alone is enough to settle a hunch on your shoulders. 

You at least felt good about being able to pick the table directly in the middle row, as not all the students had arrived yet. Slughorn was drowning on his greetings from his podium as the room filled. By the time your advanced potions book was situated perfectly center in front of you most spots had been taken besides the one left empty at your table.

When you felt the stool move back as the professor started his introduction it didn't even interest you to see who you’d be stuck with. It had never mattered in the past, you'd even lucked out with lab partners, most people adjoining themselves to their friends. It wasn't until Slughorn finished his speech that you'd taken the time to check what other sixth years had made it into the course. Only a few you could place names on; Harry potter (of course) and his red-haired friend. While most Slytherins had a vendetta against the young wizard he’d only ever been kind to you, so you sent him a smile that he returned with an awkward wave.

“Are you friends with Potter?” The voice came from your side, held a curious tone and sent pinpricks across your skin.

“No, actually. Just being kind.” You didn't take the time to look, you barely recognized the voice and it's not like you had real friends. Especially none that would be in this class with you.

“You're a Slytherin?”

That caught your attention. Six years at Hogwarts and it still surprised people that you could be naturally nice, it was almost aggravating. While most Slytherins dove straight into the stereotypes and embraced them, you never found the time. It took effort to be rude and even more effort to be a typical Slytherin bully.

“Mm” You hummed, finally turning to face the person. “As are you, Malfoy.”

His head tilted the slightest and his lips tugged loosely at the ends. He thought it was cute you’d still be kind while also being a little condescending.

“Are you new?” His pale eyebrows furrowed a little. He genuinely has never seen you before, at least he didn't think he had.

“Nope.” You let it fall from your mouth in the same tone as before, “I sat behind you in potions the last five years, actually.” It wasn't unusual for most students to be unaware of your presence. You'd flown under the radar most years, avoiding drama and parties. You'd spent time studying and reading for fun more than you did conversing amongst everyone else.

His brows only furrowed deeper, “Surely I'd remember that.” You could practically hear the gears screeching as they spun in his head, “Wait,” he snapped his fingers and smiled. If you looked close enough you could see the small dimple that adorned his cheek cutely. “You beat out Granger for, like, every potion assignment. Snape loved you.”

His statement brought your mood up just a bit as you smiled at him, bringing your hands together in your lap.

“Good to know my intelligence precedes me.”

His smile never faltered as he chuckled. “I can't believe we’ve never interacted before” His hair fell to the sides as he shook his head, almost in disbelief. 

Slughorn gained attention of the class again and before you knew it you had your first homework assignment at the top of your mental list while packing up your bag.

Draco tapped two fingers on the table in front of you, smiling when you looked up at him with a hum.

“I’ll see you at lunch?” He questioned, “I sit at the end closest to the professors table.” He made it sound like an invitation and you nodded your head quicker than you'd ever admit. His smile only grew at your response as he nodded back.

As you rose to your feet and followed the last of the students through the threshold of the class you couldn't help the giddy smile breaking out across your face.

[joelletwo]

summary of natsuyuu chapter 128 - start of The Sealed-Off Storehouse arc

new arc (sort of) new post! my previous summaries for the preceding related arcs here. we continue increasing the cast of exorcist-related characters... and we see some familiar ones :)

Ms. Iwami comes to visit Takuma, saying her grandfather always told her if there was a problem she didn’t understand, she could rely on Takuma. She wants him to take a look at something, but he tells her he’s lost his youkai sight and wouldn’t be any help if there really was danger. He’s happy to hear her out, though, since her grandfather helped him as an young unknown exorcist. But she suddenly gets flustered over coming to him over something as silly as a joke her grandfather had played on her, saying she’ll enter her storehouse after all. She leaves, crossing paths with Natori and Natsume at the door.

(natsume: natori-san you can't just burst in 😰)

(natori: were you visiting? iwami: it's not important. pay no attention to the opening scene)

(takuma: what's all this about, shuuichi-kun? natori: *prompts his little buddy to take charge*)

Takuma asks why they’ve come, and Natsume explains that he wants help looking into the painting he found at the exorcist auction.

(takuma: why were you at an exorcist auction!!! natori, already been thru this: that's what i'm saying. natsume's actual next response: well... there were various circumstances...)

Natori thinks Takuma will know more than he does, although the auction was highly anonymous, since he has more industry connections. Takuma’s happy to since Natsume helped him with his shiki before. First, they ask who was visiting before their arrival, and Takuma explains she's the granddaughter of a close friend of his mentor’s, and he’s worried about not being able to help with her situation.

Natori and Natsume go to meet with her to put him at ease. Natori says Natsume didn’t have to come (which Nyanko agrees with), but Natsume wants to hear from as many people as possible while he’s looking into the painting. Natori asks him what kind of person Reiko was. From the yokai, you only hear that she was "violent," from humans, she was "weird," but in that painting Natsume saw a different Reiko he’s unfamiliar with. If he could hear about the Reiko that painter knew…

They’re interrupted by fangirls recognizing Natori, irritating Nyanko, who asks why they had to take the bus instead of Natori’s car. He laughs and says it’s a habit from his student days, daydreaming that if he went out to places with lots of people, someone would eventually recognize his gecko and call out to him.

(natori, about to say something really heartbreaking: it's because i'm a romantic ^_^)

(iwami: no one's gone in that storehouse for decades. natori: you're saying...? iwami: there's "something that will curse you if you look at it" in there.)

Ms. Iwami welcomes them as Takuma’s representatives and fusses over a “if you look at it, you’ll be cursed” story her grandfather always told her about something in the storehouse on the property, which might’ve just been a story to keep the kids out, and which she can’t decide if she believes or not while wanting to reorganize it after her father’s passing. Nyanko calls the Iwami house creepy, as it’s filled with lots of strange things, like a weird wall hanging Natsume is startled by.

Natori and Natsume go to check out the storehouse at her urging. Natori’s shiki go in to investigate first, but Natsume stops Hiiragi, checking if she’ll be okay in a place that might remind her of bad memories. She assures him she’s used to storehouses after helping with Natori’s work for so long, and that she doesn’t regret those memories anyways, as they led to her meeting Natsume and Natori.

Natori’s shiki report nothing strange. Natori goes in to make sure, and Natsume asks to come with, saying he doesn’t want to miss finding any more hidden connections to Reiko. Natori makes them both paper dolls that will absorb a single curse in their place as a precaution.

(natori telling natsume the same thing natsume's been telling tanuma when he tags along in recent arcs: and you prooooomise to leave if anything goes wrong, right? ^_^)

He lights incense that will be attracted to any curse if there’s one to be found, but it takes time to accumulate. In the meantime, they look around the place: Natori for clues, Nyanko for treasures, and Natsume for anything about Reiko. Natori finds the texts of a famous exorcist.

(natori: huh? natsume: ! don't tell me you found the curse... natori: no, it's a book of Mr. Shirakouji... it really is a treasure 0_0;;)

Nyanko spots a wall of photos, all featuring prominent exorcists (including a younger Takuma, and Takuma’s mentor) with the same man accompanying them. While they’re looking at him, Ms. Iwami calls them back for a break.

She says the man is probably her grandfather, who had connections to and sponsored all sorts of exorcists through her (non-Sighted) family’s commitment to the traditions, which meant she gets sent all sorts of thank-you gifts for him, including the wall hanging Natsume saw earlier. Natsume startles to look and see it’s moved, though Iwami denies that and says its just a picture of the great youkai protecting her house. She suddenly gets confused about who told her the “curse you if you look at it” story, remembering a ghostly figure, but shakes it off.

(iwami: don't worry about it! me: okay yay ^_^ 💕)

Natori asks about Takuma. She says he was a wonderfully skilled disciple her grandfather’s friend took under his wing who her grandfather sponsored after seeing his talent. Natori is happy to hear him praised.

They go back out to the storehouse, relieved nothing’s happened so far although Natori and Nyanko agree something feels strange, wondering if there’s a barrier. They notice Natori’s incense has gathered around a ceiling tile.

(natori: hey, watch it =_=;)

Natori pushes it up and finds a second floor to the storehouse with ofuda talismans on the rafters hiding it from being discovered, possibly what the incense reacted to, but Natori cautions them to stay guarded. He spots a mirror with ink writing on it - Natori tells them not to look at their reflections, as it’s enchanted, saying it’s probably the “something that curses you if you look at it.”

(chapter end)

[possibleplatypus]

I was thinking about the parallels between the two times in CATWS where Steve takes off his helmet when facing an opponent, and I found them interesting.

First he feels like he needs to prove something to Batroc, the pirate he's been ordered to apprehend. At his goading, he puts away his shield and takes his helmet off 🤦

I feel like he does this out of a misplaced sense of pride, or fairness, or cockiness? Dude took a bunch of SHIELD personnel hostage and Steve agrees to play his game/indulge him. "I thought you were more than just a shield," Batroc says, so Steve puts away his shield and helmet to face him not as Captain America, but as Steve Rogers. To prove him right-- that Steve was more than a symbol, a lackey of his masters, and he didn’t need the shield to win. Which was, in my humble opinion, unnecessary in regards to finishing the mission, and also put him in danger.

Or maybe he did it partly to stick a middle finger up at SHIELD itself? The organization he joined to help people but didn’t tell him anything important and treated him like an asset instead of a person? On the books, he’s Captain America, but ultimately he will do things Steve Rogers’ way. And Batroc literally asked to meet Steve Rogers, so here he is!

And then... he does the same thing with Bucky. He takes his helmet off and flings his shield away without a second thought-- but without Bucky having to ask. Kind of like the opposite of when he faced Batroc, who asked to meet the man behind the symbol, Steve takes his mask off without prompting because he desperately needs Bucky to see his real self.

He wore his old Captain America uniform in the hopes that it would jog Bucky's memory. But it was only after he tossed the symbols aside-- the helmet and the shield-- and faced (or rather, surrendered to) Bucky with open arms as Steve Rogers, that Bucky truly recognized him, Steve won, and Hydra lost.

It was Steve Rogers who was bloody and beaten all to hell with multiple bullet wounds and still repeating Bucky's words of devotion back to him. It was Steve Rogers who Bucky swore to follow into the jaws of death, not Captain America. And it was Steve Rogers who Bucky dove after and saved from the river, even when the Winter Soldier barely remembered him.

Both times Steve took off his helmet and put away his shield to fight an opponent, he won. The first time was unnecessary-- he could have beaten Batroc as Captain America-- but it was important to him personally that he faced him as Steve.

With the Winter Soldier though, I don't think Steve would have won and gotten through to Bucky had he not thrown the trappings of Captain America aside. Sure, maybe he could have captured or knocked Bucky out had he been willing to hurt him, but he wasn't. As soon as his main mission was over (saving 750k people), his personal quest to get Bucky to remember him took precedence. It was a goal Steve Rogers would have died for, and he nearly did. (A good thing that his best friend was still there, and that Bucky waded in and pulled Steve out of trouble like he always did.)

I guess what I found interesting was, the first time Steve took his helmet off and put aside his shield, it was for pride. The second time, it was for love.

[sidebaxolotl]

By request, rebloggable version of my thoughts on whether sometimes God will afflict non-believers to get them to repent and turn to Him:

A couple caveats before I explain this:

1. I do not believe every instance of a nonbeliever suffering is inherently a direct punishment from God and i would strongly caution people from using this logic 99% of the time--we live in a fallen world and the consequence of that is pain and brokenness for everyone regardless of faith or lack there of 2. However, as believers we do have assurance from God that whatever pain or brokenness we do go through is 100% not a punishment from God. We will absolutely incur pain and brokenness in our lives but God has promised to use it for our good and His glory (Romans 8:1, Romans 8:32, Romans 8:28). 3. The original question was in reference to a specific situation in which i am privy to a lot of information on a very personal and long term-level. In this particular situation I absolutely believe this is what is happening but would normally not come to this conclusion (in fact it took me a long time to come to this conclusion and even now I am hesitant to declare it) and again would caution people to pray and meditate on things VERY CAREFULLY before coming to this conclusion in yours/others' lives let alone sharing it with them/others

I would say there is biblical precedent for this though, like Saul of Tarsus pre-conversion. God had to physically blind him and knock him off of his horse before he was humbled enough to stop his persecution and give his life to Christ. Or even figures like Pharaoh who let his people suffer through terrible plagues before he was humbled enough by his own suffering to let the Jewish people flee Egypt. This last part is really hard to understand if you haven't fully internalized the character of God and His sovereignty but I'm going to try and explain this too because this is the most important part and the crux of this explanation:

God is good. Like He is everything good and just and holy and kind and perfect. We need him more than anything else in this world. He is the highest good that can ever be achieved. He is not like human beings with flawed and selfish motives. If you told me that any human being in your life: parent, sibling, friend, spouse etc. deliberately let you suffer so that you would have to rely on them totally i would call them crazy and abusive--these are flawed, and sinful human beings. To do something like that would require a large amount of pride and delusion on an unreal level. They aren't perfect, they dont have all the answers, they are biased, no human being could ever be the highest good in someone elses life like that.

But that isn't God. He is good and perfect. He does know all the answers, He is not biased, He always makes the right decisions. He is without flaw. He is your creator and sustainer and is thus the only thing even remotely qualified to be the highest good in your life. Doing whatever it takes to get you to see Him directly is a net benefit TO YOU. You can take some comfort in suffering and affliction particularly as a believer because God cares enough to use it to help you get closer to Him and His perfect love and care rather than let you continue in ignorance unafflicted.

[elipheleh]

Stonewall

Continuing my series of learning about things referenced in the book, I'm looking at things Alex references when he talks about engaging with queer history. These are all tagged #a series of learning about things that are referenced in the book, if you want to block the tag.

Stonewall is one of the more well known events, but that doesn't mean that everyone knows what happened, so it's still important - I think - to cover it.

‘Stonewall’ is used by Alex to refer to the Stonewall Riots, which began on the 28th of June, 1969. Patrons of the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, New York City, fought back after a regular police raid, triggering subsequent nights of riots. The police were targeting gay bars, and had been for years. They would raid gay establishments and arrest anyone who wasn’t wearing three items of clothing that complied with their gender, in accordance with New York State law. Unfortunately, the catalyst for why the patrons fought back that night is heavily disputed, even from people present, and there is no clear answer why. Some say that a lesbian began the riot by fighting back against a policeman who was 'mauling' her, others say a trans person hit a policeman - some think that was Tammy Novak, who fought back when a cop tried to push her into a police van. What is known is that patrons refused to provide identification, and others refused to go with police. Those who weren't arrested didn't disperse as usual, but rather gathered outside the Inn watching their peers being arrested. At some point, as mentioned above, the riot began and violence broke out. The police, in trying to restrain some of the crowd, knocked people down - which only increased the anger of the crowd.

Michael Fader talks about the mood:

We all had a collective feeling like we'd had enough of this kind of shit. It wasn't anything tangible anybody said to anyone else, it was just kind of like everything over the years had come to a head on that one particular night in the one particular place and it was not an organized demonstration ... Everyone in the crowd felt that we were never going to go back. It was like the last straw. It was time to reclaim something that had always been taken from us ... All kinds of people, all different reasons, but mostly it was total outrage, anger, sorrow, everything combined, and everything just kind of ran its course.

The riots continued into the early hours of the morning, thirteen people had been arrested and some of the crowd were hospitalised. Rioting continued the following nights, but so too did the desire to organise and take action to secure gay liberation. By 1974, five years later, there were more than 800 gay organisations - compared to the 50 that pre-dated the riots.

The above image is the only known photo taken during the first night of the riots. It shows the homeless gay youth who stayed nearby the Stonewall Inn fighting with police.

-----

There is an ongoing debate over the importance of Stonewall within queer history. It has become synonymous with the "origin" of the gay rights movement, something which many of those involved with early activism disagree with. In the years preceding Stonewall, activists were working towards gay liberation through various different methods.

The Mattachine Society, founded in 1950 in Los Angeles by Harry Hay (and other, unnamed, friends), but spread nationally, had been carrying out "Sip-in's" in New York in an attempt to legalise gay bars. The State Liquor Authority had been denying licenses to bars which served gay people in an attempt to rid the streets of queer people & others who were seen by politicians as "undesirables". They planned that members of The Mattachine Society would enter the bar, announce their homosexuality, and wait to see if they were served. If they were not, they then would file a complaint against the bar and - more importantly - the State Liquor Authority for violating their constitutional right to free assembly & equal accommodation. Bars had been using the State Liquor Authority's requirements of "orderly conduct" to refuse service. Queer encounters between two men were classed as "disorderly", enabling the bars to discriminate against gay people. In 1966, the highest court in New York ruled in their favour, saying that the SLA could not revoke a license on the basis of homosexual solicitation.

There were many other ways queer activism was being carried out, many successful, but it would make this post much too long if I were to list it all. It’s all reasonably easy to find online, the Library of Congress link below has some useful information.

The work carried out by gay activists, especially since the 1950s, had created a point where all that was needed to ignite the gay liberation movement was one event that empowered gay men and women to band together and fight for their rights. Scholars tend to argue that the Stonewall Riots were that catalyst, especially as the media coverage meant queer Americans saw clearly that there were others fighting for their rights, and there were others who were like them.

Sources: Stonewall Origins, Time SLA Sip In's - Stonewall. Carter 2005, page 50 The Gay ‘Sip-In’ that Drew from the Civil Rights Movement to Fight Discrimination - History Wider information - Stonewall. Carter. Fader Quote - Stonewall. Carter - from wikipedia Additional Reading: JSTOR - The Stonewall Riots didn't start the Gay Rights Movement Time - 'The Beginning of a Conversation': What It Was Like to Be an LGBTQ Activist Before Stonewall Library of Congress - LGBTQIA+ Studies: A Resource Guide

[baby-xemnas]

Considering LawBepo, who do you think made the actual first move that lead to the having their first time? I really have a hard time figuring out since Bepo is rather shy and insecure but I don't think Law would be pushy about it. I see him more at the type of guy who will patiently wait.

I KNOW RIGHT they are troublesome. okay imma ramble

i hope it makes sense i dont proofread my word vomit

neither is overtly sexual but they are so openly physically affectionate as friends - which is initiated equally by both - i almost said that bepo is the one that initiates it most of the time but its not true - law leaning on bepo has to happen with bepo already seating/lying somewhere and law coming around and being like yep this is my place excuse me /uses him as a cushion/ (i cant picture bepo being like /pats his own lap/ sit down captain :) - thats too forward!!!/

all this really helps in answering this question because we can imagine they habitually keep close to each other (i like the headcanon i saw that bepo as a kid had to tone down his mink-typical garchu-affection that he was too clingy when law first found him - i cant imagine baby law being too welcoming of it - he is a tiny brat full of hurt and he doesnt know bepo that well yet - that took some getting used to for sure.

But i dont think it took that long because as they literally met by law protecting bepo that pretty much established what their roles are for each other - law cant protect bepo by pushing him away now can he? - i picture law getting more used to bepo as a person, hugs included - he would grow to appreciate them even more in time.

NOW TO THE POINT IM SO SORRY I TAKE AGES

Them being all over each other being Just How They ARE (accepted by both each other and the crew) is so great and in my head as we see them in the story they already have an established couple relationship, basically married for years so their first time ideally happened when they were teens. I think law wasnt a virgin by that point, scary as he is he mustve let sm1 jump him even just to satisfy his curiosity - and he Was a horny teen so kudos, bepo was because he:

1) just assumed he needs to find a female bear and there werent any minks in their travels so he just settled to never fucking and accepted it (not that i dont think he wouldnt be able to find sm1, he would, he is a handsome charming boy, i think it was his choice/assumption of what he SHOULD do, he didnt consider humans)

2) he has law in his life! his head is full of law and his other friends who give him all the attention he needs. for the physical part of it he can get by its fine its not a pressing issue

anyway there is always a precedent right, a random boner or a boys talk - something that puts a thought in their head - and its a realization that Yes this is my most important person, and this is not such a bad idea....but it has to be law, i agree that he is the type to test the waters and wait, and for bepo he would wait forever - but he also has to help bepo with this and be the one to take the fall and brave the embarassment and possible rejection. They both had to marinate on whether or not that line should be crossed - for a long time - it is always thinking about the other - if you are willing, it doesnt guarantee the other person is.

Law had to go through some hell having to come up with how to approach bepo and be as clear as he can be (because it cant be just their usual! - which is a lot - they are such special deeply friends and family to each other) but do it in a way that wouldnt push bepo to accept him, law who is aware of bepo's loyalty and willingness to do anything for him. It has to be bepo's (oh god) genuine desire to have law be a lover to him as well.

BUT THING IS - his question is met with bepo's insecurity and thats easy. thats a familiar ground. Bepo is not insecure as a person but he is insecure when it comes to law (especially when he was younger) because he wants to be the best for law. So of course he would want to be more than friends with law..but is he good enough? what about law's reputation if the crew finds out? bepo doesnt want to cause trouble for him!

law: holy shit thats the least of my problems i love you

getting to the point part 2 ramble tendency

why i love them having their first as teens is that because they mustve been dumb and cute and awkward and too excited and bepo wanted to run away multiple times cuz its TOO MUCH that he gets to be with law in this capacity and aaaaaaa

but its good because they care abt each other so much and are willing to tolerate awkwardness and fight their own self consciousness for the sake of THIS thing that they have between each other. the thing that they had for years and this layer of physicality being simply a pretty logical continuation of it

[dailyanarchistposts]

Chapter 3. Economy

What about education?

Education has long been a priority of anarchist and other revolutionary movements around the world. But even if people completely neglected the organization of education after the revolution, that would still be an improvement over the patriotic, degrading, manipulative, and mind-numbing forms of education sponsored by the nation-state. Like everyone else, children are capable of educating themselves, and are motivated to do so in the proper setting. But public schools rarely offer that setting, nor do they educate the students on topics of immediate usefulness, like surviving childhood, expressing emotions healthily, developing their unique creative potentials, taking charge of their own health or caring for sick people, dealing with gender violence, domestic abuse, or alcoholism, standing up to bullies, communicating with parents, exploring their sexuality in a respectful way, finding a job and apartment or making do without money, or other skills young people need to live. In the few classes that teach useful hands-on skills — nearly always electives — students are “tracked.” Girls learn how to cook and sew in Home Ec, boys likely to go on to blue collar jobs learn wood-working in Shop. It is safe to say that most boys finish high school ignorant of how to cook or patch up their clothes, and most girls and future white collar workers graduate not knowing how to fix a toilet, mount an electrical installation, repair a bicycle or a car engine, plaster a wall, or work with wood. And in the computer and technology classes, the fact that the students often know more than the teachers is a clear indication that something is wrong with this form of education. Schools do not even teach kids the skills they need for the crappy jobs they will end up working. Most of this, people teach themselves, or learn among friends and peers — that is to say, the school of life is already anarchistic.

The most important lessons consistently taught by schools under the state are to obey arbitrary authority, to accept the imposition of other people’s priorities on our lives, and to stop daydreaming. When children start school, they are self-guided, curious about the world they live in, and believe everything is possible. When they finish, they are cynical, self-absorbed, and used to dedicating forty hours of their week to an activity they never chose. They are also likely to be miseducated about a number of things, perhaps unaware that a majority of human societies throughout history have been egalitarian and stateless, that the police have only recently become an important and supposedly necessary institution, that their government has a track record of torture, genocide, and repression, that their lifestyles are destroying the environment, that their food and water are poisoned, or that there is a history of resistance waiting to be uncovered in their very own town.

This systematic miseducation is hardly surprising, given the history of public schools. Though public schools developed gradually from an array of precedents, the regime of Otto von Bismarck is widely credited with first establishing a national public school system. The purpose was to prepare youth for careers in the bureaucracy or military, discipline them, instill them with patriotism, and indoctrinate them in the culture and history of a German nation that had not previously existed. The school system was one of the modernizations that allowed a collection of bickering provinces, some of them practically feudal, to form a state that could threaten the rest of the continent — and large parts of Africa — within a generation.

In response, a number of anarchist theorists set out to design non-hierarchical schools in which teachers would serve as aides helping the students learn and explore their chosen subjects. Some of these anarchist experiments in education in the US were called Modern Schools, on the model of Spanish anarchist Francisco Ferrer’s Escuela Moderna. These schools helped educate thousands of students, and played important roles in the anarchist and labor movements. In 1911, shortly after Ferrer’s execution in Spain, the first Modern School in the US was founded in New York City by Emma Goldman, Alexander Berkman, Voltairine de Cleyre, and other anarchists. A number of famous artists and writers helped teach there, and pupils included the artist Man Ray. It lasted for several decades, eventually moving out of New York City during a period of intense political repression, and became the center of a rural commune.

More recently, anarchists and other activists in the US have organized “free schools.” Some of these are temporary, ad hoc classes, while some are fully organized schools. One, the Albany Free School, has existed for over 32 years in inner-city Albany. This anti-authoritarian school is committed to social justice as well as education — it offers sliding scale tuition and turns no one away for financial reasons. Most experimental schools are only accessible to the elite, but the student body of the Albany Free School is diverse, including many inner-city kids from poor families. The school has no curriculum or compulsory classes, operating according to the philosophy “‘Trust children and they will learn.’ Because when you entrust kids with their own so-called “education” — which is not a thing after all, but rather an ever-present action — they will learn continually, each in their own way and rhythm.” The Free School teaches children up to 8th grade, and has recently opened a high school, the Harriet Tubman Free School. The school organizes a small organic farm in the city which provides another important learning opportunity for students. Students also work with community service projects such as soup kitchens and daycare centers. Despite financial and other limitations, they have succeeded admirably.

Our reputation with students that are struggling academically and/or behaviorally, and whose needs the system has failed to meet, is such that an increasing number of kids are coming to us having previously been tagged with labels like ADHD and placed on Ritalin and other biopsychiatric medications. Their parents seek us out because they’re concerned about the side effects of the drugs and because they’ve heard that we work effectively with these children without drugs of any kind. Our active, flexible, individually structured environment renders the drugs entirely unnecessary.[42]

The MST, the Landless Workers’ Movement in Brazil, has focused ardently on education in the settlements they have created on occupied land. Between 2002 and 2005, the MST claims to have taught over 50,000 landless workers how to read; 150,000 children are enrolled in 1,200 different schools they have built on their settlements, and they have also trained over one thousand educators. The MST schools are free from state control, so communities have the power to decide what their children are taught and can develop alternative methods of education as well as curricula free of the racist, patriotic, and capitalist values that are part and parcel of public education. The Brazilian government complains that children in the settlements are taught that genetically modified crops pose a risk to human health and the environment, which suggests that they get a much more relevant and accurate education than their peers in the state run schools. MST schools in the settlements focus on literacy and use the methods of Paulo Freire, who developed the “pedagogy of the oppressed.” In São Paulo the MST has built itself an autonomous university which trains farmers nominated by the individual settlements. Rather than teaching, for example, agribusiness, as a capitalist university would, they teach family agriculture with a critique of the exploitative and environmentally destructive techniques prevalent in contemporary agriculture. For other technical courses the MST also helps people get educations in public universities, though they often win the collaboration of leftwing professors to offer more critical lessons of a higher caliber, even enabling them to design their own courses. They emphasize in all these forms of education that it is the responsibility of the students to use what they learn for their community and not for individual profit.

The Movimiento Campesino de Santiago de Estero, MOCASE, is a group of farmers, many of them Quechua, with similarities and connections to the MST. Beginning as a group of farmers fighting for land in the face of expansion by forestry companies from the Global North, they now number 8,000 families in 58 communities active in a broad range of struggles. Working together with the Universidad Transhumante, they set up a Farmers School that helps farmers learn the skills necessary for self-management. The students also learn to teach, so they can help train other farmers. The Universidad Transhumante is interesting in its own right. It is a popular education university, also inspired by Freire, that organized a year-long caravan to 80 cities around Argentina, to present popular education workshops and learn about the problems people face.[43] Outside of the control of the state, education need not be a static, fixed thing. It can be a tool of empowerment, as people are taught how to teach, so they can pass on the lessons they learn rather than being permanently dependent on a class of professional educators. It can be a tool of liberation, as people learn about authority and resistance, and study how to take control over their own lives. It can be a caravan, a circus, as people travel across a country and instead of bringing caged spectacles they bring new ideas and techniques. And it can be a tool for survival, as oppressed peoples learn about their histories and prepare for their futures.

In 1969, Native American activists, organizing under the name “Indians of All Nations,” occupied the abandoned Alcatraz island, citing an ignored US law guaranteeing that indigenous people had a right to occupy any land the settler nation abandoned. For six months, the occupation numbered in the hundreds, and though most left because of a government blockade, the occupation ultimately lasted for 19 months, revitalizing indigenous culture and rejecting colonial control. During the early period, the Indian occupiers organized a school that taught indigenous history and culture from their own perspective, without the racist propaganda that filled the textbooks of the government’s schools. For the duration of their occupation, they used education as a means of cultural renewal, whereas it had previously been used against them to destroy their identity and conscript the survivors of the genocide into the civilization that had colonized them.

[marierg]

Of Light and Darkness: The Rising Darkness Pt.3

Pairing: Obi Wan Kenobi X Reader

WARNINGS!: IF YOU ARE EASILY TRIGGERED DO NOT READ THIS ONE!!!!! ANGST! Death, Rage, self doubt, betrayal, portrayals of a psychotic episode! NOT LIGHT READING!!! Also Jango being a lil bit of a tease at the end, stolen kiss but not much more. (@pickleprickle come get yo juice)

A/N: Ok my friends so if you know this story then you know what part we're at. Yes I'm putting Anakin's part on Tattoine in here because it is important, but also I felt that the movie didn't really do enough for that part. I ADORE Hayden and his portrayal, so much body and facial expression to cover the things not said! And yes I also wanted to do just a bit more with Jango because we don't get much of him here to reflect all the lore that comes later. This splits back and forth a lot so I apologize now.

PS- as always if Italic that means telepathic communication.

Picture Credit: Lucasfilm, Pinterest, and Gifs from Tumblr

Song Credit: I won't back down by: Tom Petty (Link)

Words: 6400 ish.... Thick with 2 C's

Masterlist Next

Anakin stood on the balcony overlooking the lake. Listening to the waives crash on the rocks, the birds that flew over head, even the current below the surface of the water seeking the calm of nature. Padme was moving towards him, but even her presence could not quell the pit in his stomach. Horrible visions haunted his mind of his mother sobbing, bloodied and in pain... begging for help that would not come. He knew what must be done, in so doing he would be abandoning both Padme and the mandates of the Order.

But for his mother it was the only thing to do.

Padme's mind and heart were in conflict, they always were where Anakin was concerned. Staring out at him she observed the man and again tried to deny that he had found a place within her heart. Padme's mind constantly clamored against this feeling over and over, begging her to come to reason. Yet when Ani smiled or laughed or even laid the lightest of touches on her... all protest flew out the window. She had hoped that after dinner last night that both of them could move forward as friends, yet even as he stood there she felt that all too familiar pull and who could fight the stars.

Anakin could smell Padme's floral perfume on the air, hear the scrape of her slippers against the marble with every step she took toward him. He knew that he had to be professional, especially after their discussion. She had made clear that the two of them could not be together, that what he longed for was impossible. Anakin had taken his shot, he had been honest and now he knew how she felt. What his Master had failed to tell him was what to do afterward.

“Don't go...” It was a soft request, pain underlying his need for her presence. Anakin opened his eyes to take in the beautiful sunrise... made all the more so by the woman who would forever hold his affections even if it was unrequited.

“I didn't want to disturb you.” Padme was preparing to walk away, but couldn't leave him now.

“Your presence is soothing.”

“You had another nightmare” She sighed as Anakin began to bristle, “I heard you yelling, would you like to talk about it?”

Why did he trust her so readily even though she had shredded his heart not hours before? Anakin sighed in resignation, telling Padme of his awful vision. “She's in pain... I have to help her.”

Padme folded her hands in contemplation. There was no doubt that Anakin had already made a decision, she simply needed to allow him to voice it. Nodding to show she was listening he continued.

“I know that I am disobeying my mandate to protect you Senator...”

Padme winced a little at the use of her title, but reflected that she had set that precedent.

“... and that I will be punished and likely thrown out of the Order. But she's my mother.” Anakin finally raised his eyes to the angel of the stars. She wasn't like the other women he knew, no sarcastic eyebrow or disapproval to mar her beauty, simply serene. “I'm sorry Padme truly, but I must go.”

Padme moved forward taking Anakin's hand. “Ani I told you that I wouldn't let you throwaway your future because of me. I will go with you so that you will not be breaking your mandate.”

“What about Master Obi Wan and Master Y/n?”

Padme squeezed his hand, “I guess we won't tell them will we.”

_____________

“Stargazer to Harbor... Stargazer to Harbor... Come in Harbor?”

Mace acknowledged the transmission, a small holo projection of you and Kenobi appearing before the gathered Jedi Council members. “We read you stargazer, report?”

“Masters we have tracked the Bounty Hunter Jango Fett to the planet Geonosis. More disturbing is that there is a large gathering of Starships from the Trade Federation.” Obi Wan was glancing from port to starboard on the craft.

You piped in while your fellow knight navigated, “Yeah and gave us a good run for our money too.”

“Are you both alright?” Mace could feel the tension rising in his chest. It would never matter how old his apprentice became, you would always be under his protection.

“A few shots across the bow, but Obi Wan got us through.”

Obi Wan tuned, “Masters I fear that our investigation has become all the more complicated. With your permission we would like route out the connection the Trade Federation has to Fett and the clones of Kamino.”

He hated the exhausted edge that laced the voices of both knights. Looking to his colleagues he felt concern and perhaps even a touch of fear. The Republic that had been hard fought and won over a millennia ago was upon the brink disaster. Mace would rather call you both back and regroup, he would rather send out a group of the Council themselves to finish this investigation. At the end of the day though he was the head of the Council and must do what was necessary, his personal feelings be damned. “Proceed with caution, may the Force be with you.”

________________

“She's been gone a month... There's little hope that she's lasted this long.”

The words rang in Anakin's ears as he practically flew the borrowed speeder past breaking point. He'd gotten a lead on the Tusken raiders and the closer he got the more he could feel his mother in the Force. “I'm coming mom, just hold on.”

He would rescue her.

He would not leave her behind again.

_______________

The winding catacombs and tall spires allowed every small noise to echo without fail. Every footstep, every swish of a cloak seemed like the clanging of pans in a library. Your nerves were strung tight, hands reflexively holding your saber hilt. As the two of you wound deeper and deeper into the structure you saw more than enough evidence of why the Trade Federation was here. Line upon assembly line of droids filled the lower levels. Up ahead voices reverberated in the corridor, Obi Boy pulled you back to the safety of the shadows. “Obi what are they saying I can't hear it?”

“It would appear that Nute Gunray and whoever is contracting with the Geonosians is the one who put out the contract on our friend the Senator.” Obi Wan glanced down at the scaring around your right ear, yet another mission souvenir along with the associated hearing loss normally you were able to compensate, the fact that you weren't went to show your level of exhaustion. “I think we'd best go up top.”

“Did you see who?”

“Not yet, but I could hear them.”

Obi Wan could feel the blood lust radiating from Nute Gunray as he spoke about where he would like best to display Senator Amidala's head in his office. As the two Knights crept to an overhanging ledge the conversation became clearer. Representatives of the Banking Clan and Techno Union were sat at a large table and at the head sat none other than Master Dooku. While Obi Wan was shocked he could feel disgust and anger from you, pebbles were clattering from the ripples you sent through the Force, “Wee one we need to remain calm. Focus.”

“That karking traitor!”

Dooku watched with mild amusement as the various beings at the table squabbled and bantered, all pawns on his game board. Long ago he learned that a bit of theater and patience make the negotiation. Dooku also knew that most of the beings gathered here did so for the benefit of their own pockets and not some true disillusionment with the government. Behind him Fett was standing alert if not somewhat perturbed, a deep sigh passing the vocorder of his helmet. Waiving a hand Dooku cut into the bickering, “AS I said earlier gentlemen, I am convinced that 10,000 more systems will rally to our cause with your support.”

“We need to report in.”

Obi Wan raised a finger, begging you be patient, “Not yet, there's more to be heard I believe, we will be patient.”

“Not my strong suit.”

“...The Banking Clan will sign your treaty.”

Dooku smiled, nodding a show of appreciation. “When the battle droids of our friends with the Trade Federation are combined with yours we shall have an army greater than any in the galaxy. The Jedi will be overwhelmed.”

As the meeting came to a close Dooku turned to the hunter behind him. “I believe some acquaintances of yours have arrived. Please see our new guests to more... suitable accommodations.”

“I doubt that they'll accept your hospitality.”

He smiled at the man's dry humor. Fett was good, very good in fact, with more than a few Jedi kills under his belt in addition to his lengthy reputation. These two knights were quite the wily pair, but he had little doubt that the hunter could handle the task. The information that he had brought back alone was worth observing the two further. All was playing out as he had foreseen and soon the trap would be baited, “Wait until they have transmitted their report to Coruscant then bring them to me, alive please.”

Fett tilted his helmet, annoyance rippled around him. He was an intelligent being though and knew better than to disobey. After all, Fett would never want his precious son to come to harm. Turning on his heel the hunter paused before stalking into the catacombs.

“As you wish.”

________________

Anakin moved through the hole into the Tusken shelter and his heart stopped beating. His mother hung limply from the poles that had been used to secure her for the night. Bruising, lacerations... far too many injuries to count as he angrily tore at the bindings, she was still alive though. Carefully he lowered her frail, pained body to the ground.

Anakin wanted to cry, choking on his words, “Mom... Mom it's me.”

“Ani?” Shmi tried to blink, as if searching in the dead of space for something familiar. Her trembling hand finally landing on a warm cheek, smile spreading as her son pressed his own hand to hers. “Ani is it you?”

He longed to crush her to him, but Anakin could feel the pain radiating from her. He could barely breath from being so overwhelmed, lips trembling as he pressed a tender kiss to her palm. “I'm here mom, I'm here. Everything will be alright now.”

“My son... my grown up son.” Wistful smile tugging weakly at her lips, how Shmi wished this had happened differently. Oh but he had grown up so well, the Jedi had done as promised and taken such good care of him.

“Hold on a little longer mom,” Anakin shifted to begin standing but froze as his mother gasped in pain, “Please... please mom, just stay with me.”

“So handsome...My boy is grown, now I am complete.”

Anakin could feel the flickering in her signature, like a candle caught in a storm. No no no, he had to save her! What good was being a Jedi if he couldn't save his mother. He tried to calm himself, readying again to get up and take his mom away from this place. “Just stay with me a little longer mom, I'm going to make you well again. Padme's here, we'll take you to Naboo, it's so beautiful mom. I'll call Master y/n and she'll make everything better.”

“Ah, my son... I'm so... proud of you...tell me more,” Shmi knew she was dying, but at last she felt peace. She knew her passing would pain her son greatly, but maybe she could distract him for just a bit and slip away quietly.

Anakin cursed that he couldn't simply heal his mother like his Master could. Why hadn't he pushed himself harder to learn, why hadn't you?! Why did his Masters hold him back?! He wanted to scream, to rage but his mom needed him, he had to give her something to fight for. “It's so beautiful mom, green and full of lakes and streams. There's so many things I want to show you... we can all go mom.”

“Ani... I love... I love... you.” Shmi Skywalker slipped away peacefully in her son's arms, the wisp of a lake and Anakin's smile her final vision of comfort.

“Mom don't go, please.... please....” He felt the minute that her signature rejoined the greater Force itself. Like a genie in a bottle that could not be put back, Anakin clutched the mortal remains of his mother to him.

Cold despair washed over Anakin and into his heart. He had failed her... he had failed his mother, the one who had brought him into the world and protected him for nine long years. How often had she gone without to provide for him, shielded him. All that he ever knew of love was from this one woman and he had let her slip right through his fingers. How could she be gone? How could the galaxy allow her to die?

Then the cold was replaced by something so seductively warm and comforting. It's treacherous feeling taking the place of the emptiness that filled him. It whispered falsehood disguised as words of solace, at least he felt something in the gaping bleeding hole in his chest. No, it wasn't his fault. Anakin had done his best, it was the Tuskens that had killed his mother. The Tuskins had captured her, beaten her, starved and worked her to death.

They were animals

They weren't even humanoid

They were mindless monsters like his step father had said

AND HE WOULD MAKE THEM PAY FOR WHAT THEY HAD DONE!

Anakin placed his mother's body down on the floor gently, removing his cloak to cover her. He may not have been able to save her, but he could avenge her memory and see that these beasts harmed no one else. Rising with his fury to keep him warm, Anakin clutched at the handle of his saber. He felt the Force surge through him and it felt so good in the midst of his despair. He no longer felt powerless, he felt in control. Walking out of the hut he sliced down the guards quickly without a flinch. Hearing the other warriors coming to fight Anakin welcomed it.

Today... today his mother would have justice for all of her suffering.

In the words of his dear friend, for the ones he loved he would to do terrible things.

And just as Glitch had also said, he would never forgive himself.

____________

You were trying to keep up with Obi Wan as he ran ahead of you. This intel needed to get back to the Council and the Senate quickly to avert disaster, damn your short legs. As the two of you approached the starfighter a scream was ripped from your chest, crumpling your body to the ground.

“Y/N!” Obi Wan turned on a pin sprinting back to your collapsed convulsing form. He held you to his chest to try to muffle your cries of agony, reaching for you through your bond. “Y/n, what is it wee one? Talk to me please?”

Obi Boy's voice sounded distant even in your mind, his normally soothing presence could not ease this jagged pain in your heart. Nor could it silence the voice crying out from beyond the grave. You must be going mad, finally snapped from too much stress and stims. But there was no denying who that voice belonged to....

“Y/n what is it?” Obi Wan took a sharp inhale as your eyes flew wild and wide, panicked breaths finally starting to slow. He tried to brush the tears forming at the corners of your eyes. “Y/n it's alright, I have you.”

“P-p-pain... Anakin...He's in pain.”

“Y/n you need to breath with me, calm yourself. We'll go to him straight away, but first I need you with me.” He saw as your pained face nodded, breathing starting to even. You were scared and that frightened him knowing it took a lot to shake you. But he also knew you well enough to redirect your racing thoughts, “We know that the transmitter won't get out of the canyon, can you climb with the booster to that cliff ledge so I can relay?”

“I can do that. Yeah, I can climb.” Scrambling up you could still feel the recoil and pain in the Force, but Obi Boy was right. As badly as you wanted to get in the fighter and get to your Padawan there were more pressing matters at hand. The needs of the many verses the needs of the few and in the end you knew your obligation was to the greater number. It was the simple and terrible math of triage, there were always more whom needed your help. Sweet merciful Maker forgive you... Anakin forgive you... but it had to be done. Checking the horizon you steadied the booster.

“R-4 relay this message to Coruscant, top priority and continue relay until acknowledged,” Obi Wan watched as you gave the thumbs up. R-4 however still was unable to boost the signal enough due to the damage. “Try to reach Anakin on Naboo...What do you mean he's not there?”

On the ledge above, you could only partly make out what was being shouted at the poor little astromech, but then you heard the word Tattoine clearly enough. “Obi what's happened?”

“The boy has decided to go for a joy ride it would appear... we'll deal with this later.” Instructing the droid to start Obi Wan began his message, “Anakin if you can hear me re transmit this message to the Council....”

_______________

Mace had been uneasy since Yoda had come out of seclusion, stating that one of their fallen had somehow reached out through the Force and that Skywalker was in anguish. He could feel a shift, something turning in the lines of fate... a shaterpoint was about to be crossed. The garbled transition from Kenobi gave no clue to your fate but he could only assume that you were taken prisoner alongside your fellow Jedi. Already there were members of the Order rallying and ready to leave, along with some old friends.

Listening to the Senate finally approve the use of the clone army, however suspect their origins, Mace turned to his Senior Council member. “It is done but the army will need time to assemble. I will take what knights we have here and lead the mission to Geonosis.”

“To Kamino will I go, bring this new army to meet you I will. Trust in our knights, trust in the Force. proof of these troops metal, we shall see.” Yoda studied the eyes of the man before him, stormy and hard as a mountain in winter. While many found Master Windu to be hard and unyielding, few realized the reason for it. It was not that he did not care... no, it was that he cared deeply. Always standing tall between the Order and what storms may come, but even a mountain would weep if it's larks were no longer there to sing their songs. “Master Windu save our captured knights, we will.”

Mace clenched his jaw, knowing that the future was uncertain for all. Nodding and with a sweep of his cloak he made his way down to the speeder where two old friends waited. On a mission like this the Jedi could use all the help they could get. Turning to the old pilot and the pink haired hell fighter, Mace took a steadying breath and prayed the Force that you still breathed.

“We're going to get them back."

______________

“They'll never make it in time, they have to come halfway across the galaxy. We're only a parsec away...”

“If they're still alive,” Anakin sat heavily in the co pilot's chair, folding his arms if only to hold himself together. First his mother now his Masters, what did the universe wish of him? Would it not be happy till every one of the people he cared for was dead. In that moment Anakin was glad that Padme did not love him, maybe she would be spared.

“Ani are you just going to sit there and let them die? They're your Masters, your mentors...”

“They're my family!” Anakin's anger snapped. He closed his eyes trying to find a level of calm like the two of you had taught him. If Master Obi Wan were here he would remind Anakin that the Senator's safety was his primary mission and you would want both he and Padme to be safe. If his Masters were here they would both tell him that the mission came first, as much as he wanted to fly there and save you both. “But you heard Master Windu. He gave us strict orders to stay put.”

“He gave you orders to protect me and I'm going to save Obi Wan and Y/n.” She started flipping toggles and switches, set in her decision. “So if you plan to protect me, you'll just have to tag along.”

Anakin couldn't help the relief that washed over him, nor the smile of admiration. Padme always found a way, no matter the odds his Angel always found a way. Turning in his seat he began the launch sequence, “Yes Ma'am”

“That's more like it.” Padme tilted her head to check that C-3PO and R2 were safely aboard. It was good to hear Ani sounding like himself and not the despaired broken person of a few hours before. At least it was a sign that he may yet recover from the death of his mother, even if the actions he had confessed to would haunt him. Padme knew Anakin must have fought his way in and out of that camp, collateral damage was bound to happen. Because that was what it must have been...

it had to be.

________________

The electric currents shot painfully through your body again as your captors questions remained unanswered. You had been able to escape initial capture, but were caught by the Geonosians after trying to retrieve Obi Wan.

You would both pay for the error.

Admittedly the odds were not in your favor, you managed to disable a majority with a gas explosion, sliced the wings off many others. In the end though you had been taken kicking, biting, cursing, and screaming and placed in the interrogators beam.

Master, no Count Dooku was standing before you calmly asking again why you and Obi Wan were there. The tone was the same that he had used when students disappointed him in training. But this was not the same Master whom had tutored you, no this was a different man and no longer a Jedi. Gritting your teeth you started to mumble the words to a song that was a favorite of Master Melri, one that all to well fit the situation.

“Well, I won't back down

no, I won't back down

you can stand me up at the gates of hell

but I wont back down”

“Y/n this can all be over if you would only tell me the reason for your presence here.” Dooku could hear the off key singing, noting the lyrics as your reply. Interrogation rarely resulted in the desired information and it wasted time. Not that he wanted nor needed to perform this exercise, least of all with Obi Wan. His Grand Padawan may yet be of use to his plans and harming him would be counter productive. You on the other hand were a complication and a wild card in his deck. Waiving a hand the current turned off, the only sounds filling the small space was your ragged breathing.

“We both know that you won't let me walk out of here.” Glaring at the dark figure in your peripheral vision you heard the Count hum in agreement. The only hope that you and Obi Wan had was if your wayward apprentice received the distress call. Your own temper was flaring from all that had been brought to the light. Dooku's betrayal to the Jedi, the assassination plot, war...

You spat at the viper's feet, “Nutricula seditiosorum omnium.”

“I see you still favor the old tomes in the archives,” Dooku considered something for a moment, something he had not weighed before. Troublesome though you were quite clever, nor was there anyone else with a keener insight to the workings of the Jedi Council. If he managed to acquire one Knight the other would follow, two for the price of one. Coming to stand alongside your suspended body he removed a handkerchief to blot at your cut lip. Your sharp gaze never left his, challenging and dare he say angered. He had almost forgotten that you were of mixed lineage, the temper of the former being legendary... How very interesting. “Tell me did you ever study the old scrolls regarding Darth Malgus? Always two, no more or less... How many Sith were destroyed that day on Naboo?”

You turned away focusing on a spot on the wall, ignoring whatever game this seditionist wanted to play.

“I see in your eyes that you know the truth, that the other Sith remains.” The girls gaze shifted back to him. She had been there, had seen his predecessor. “What if I told you I am on the trail of the Sith who escaped? That even now this Darth Sidious is exerting his power to weaken the Republic one senator and system at a time.”

“You're lying.”

Dooku hummed, “You and I both know that I am not. Your intellect would be invaluable. You, Obi Wan and I, together we could finally bring this monster to justice for what he did to Qui Gon and the Republic.”

“The Council would have sensed this danger if it was so close,” Anger and denial raged in your veins, but somewhere in the back of your mind the words took hold. Like a challenge it dared you to follow, to seek, to investigate. Looking at the Count, at the smug upturn of his lips you shook the thought away. “Obi Wan would never join you and neither will I.”

“Even if it meant that you could finally have what you've always wanted? To keep that which you so covetously guard?” Dooku watched your face drain of color. While you were very good at hiding your thoughts and feelings, Obi Wan was not. It hadn't taken much including the information that Fett had provided to come to a conclusion. These two had a bond that would not easily break and perhaps that was their undoing. “To no longer fear losing the one that you loved?”

“I cannot fear that which I cannot lose,” Leveling a harsh look at the man you narrowed your eyes, "Love is of the soul. A soul cannot be destroyed, only these mortal vessels.”

Clever girl, much like her Masters before, “But what of now? Have you not longed for a family, a normal life with the one you cherish? Don't you deserve a reward after all you have done and sacrificed? After all that you have already lost?”

Yes you had dreamed such a thing, still did on your worst days. A small cottage somewhere peaceful with not a worry more than your patients and perhaps a small garden for your Obi Boy to tend to. To fall asleep to the sounds of the wind and sea or the trees and small creatures that would surround your home. But in a way you already had your family, you and Obi Boy and Anakin. You three were happy in your own little way and that was more than you could have asked for. No, the Devil himself would not turn you today. “Amabo eum in vita vel morti...”

“Then there's really nothing more I can do for you my dear. Such a pity,”

“Why not just kill me now,” you challenged.

“Would that I had the ability to grant such mercy, but I'm afraid our friends in the Trade Federation have taken quite the interest and our hosts have prepared something in their honor.” Dooku turned just as he made the doorway. “The Haako family patriarch in particular, the one whose namesake you killed.”

The door closed behind him, the sound deafening and final. You couldn't help the tears that fell as the old memories of the fight for Naboo dug into your heart, still you kept singing. If it was the last thing in this galaxy that you did it would be to wipe the smug look from that man's face. Besides, you had long known one simple truth... Death was such an old acquaintance that he would come for you last.

And only after all of your loved ones had been taken from you.

“No, I'll stand my ground

won't be turned around

and I keep this world from draggin' me down,

gonna stand my ground

And I won't back down.”

Jango Fett considered himself a fair man. When he was hired for a job he did the job, he never enjoyed the killing though. Some hunters got into the business for their own blood lust, Bosk was like that, but Jango enjoyed the challenge a hunt brought. The cat and mouse, the strategy, the soreness after a good fight, never the killing. He had a code that he followed, loose as it was, including that his targets did not suffer needlessly.

The Count, as his boss preferred to be called, had asked him to transfer the female Jetii to the holding cell where her counterpart was. That Tyranus had tortured the woman for the sick joy of it, well that didn't set well with him. She was a strong little thing though, hadn't given the man the pleasure of her tears nor given into his tactics. Something far worse had done greater harm to her in the past because she hadn't crumbled, simply sang her little song in defiance. For that the Jeti'ika impressed him all the more.

Entering the room he bound your wrists and began escorting you through the winding catacombs of the lower levels. “Don't try anything funny Jetii.”

“My name is Y/n if you'll recall,” You moved with a bit of a limp given the rough capture. Glancing at that shiny bucket you remembered the terror in the Changling's eyes. This was the Hunter that was so feared, but beneath that helmet was a man and not a monster. You may be resigned to your fate, but as a Jedi it was your duty to protect and to hope. There was yet one innocent here that could be saved and perhaps another soul that could yet turn back to the light. As tired as you were, as cynical as you felt, you had to try. “You should take your son away from this place.”

Jango tilted his head, “And why is that Y/n?”

“I know your boss. Master Dooku will only let you live as long as you're useful, then who will protect Boba?” He had called you by your name, it was something at least. You kept an even tone as you continued, “He was my teacher once long ago, but matters little to him. Friends, family, loyalty none of that matters, nothing can stop what he has planed. Once he has a goal Master Dooku does everything to achieve that end... He doesn't like loose ends.”

“And I don't like tricks little girl,” Jango roughly pulled his prisoner into small hallway alcove, pressing her into the rough stone. He watched your face for the usual disappointing displays; the big eyes and tears, begging, bargaining, seduction. All he saw though was bone deep weariness and a jaded smirk of one who could see their own end. He couldn't place why this bothered him, but for some reason Jango didn't want to see the fight leave you. He also knew what the Bugs had in store for the two knights and if he hated anything it was a rigged fight. Still the question remained what was the woman playing at?

“I'm not trying to trick you Jango. Frankly if there wasn't a child involved...” Stars and the Force help you to get through the man's thick skull. You leaned back more firmly into the stone as he lifted his helmet to look you in the eye. The man had done bad things made bad bargains, but Boba was just a kid. “Your son deserves to keep his Dad.”

His gaze narrowed at you, eyes cold. “Why would you give a kark about my boy?”

Closing your eyes on a heavy sigh you told the truth, “Because I know what it is to lose a parent and I'd spare any child that same pain. Please just take him and fly far away from here, live a happy life and grow old. If you stay here you will not see him become a man... and that would be a shame.”

You were being sincere, even past the exhaustion and pain that tainted the rest of your body language Jango could see it. You didn't beg for your life nor were you trying to escape. He again weighed his course of action just as he had earlier, the decision falling even more firmly into place now. Pulling his helmet down Jango crouched, lifted you onto his shoulder, and started walking down the corridor again. He knew this wasn't a smart idea, but it was the fair one. “Don't struggle.”

You startled when the hunter lifted you, but that was replaced with the bitter taste of failure. Why even try anymore, every time you tried to help it blew up in your face so why even try! The whirlwind of your mind was going so fast that when Jango placed you to sit on a high surface it took a full minute to realize that you were in a room of some type. Your eyebrow raised as he locked the door, “What are you...”

“Quiet.” His tone was sharper than intended and he watched as you flinched. Jango needed to get this done before sense returned to him. Removing two ration balls from his belt he pulled the front of your tunic aside and tucked one into a pocket, the other he held up to your mouth. “Eat, you'll need your strength.”

Unsure of his intentions you shook your head, making the hunter's temper flare. He grabbed your face holding open your mouth and forced you to take the food. It tasted like the rations that you were issued from the Temple, but there was no way to be certain. You held the food in your mouth, wanting to spit it out.

“Don't be stupid, swallow it.” Jango was not about to waste much time on this, he'd plug your nose if he had too, but you did as he said. Lifting a water pouch to your lips he growled in his throat before you could refuse to drink. Satisfied that was done he patted your thigh, “Good girl, now leg up.”

“Why?”

“Stubborn thing,” He raised your cuffed hands overhead to canter your body. Pulling the injector out, he showed you the label, then jammed it into your leg. Chucking it aside he tried to soothe the spot of the injection, stroking his thumb back and forth on the muscle. Jango shook his head again at the stupidity of doing this. Knowing that he and Boba would be on the run from both the Republic and Tyranus after his actions were discovered. Perhaps this one good deed would tip the scales in his favor when judgment came, perhaps it was just wishful thinking. “That should take care of the worst of it.”

He had released your hands to find something else in his belt, the Bacta had begun working through your body as well. You felt his anger and regret as tears of gratitude leaked down your face. Jango didn't have to do this, he owed you nothing, but he had been kind. Bringing your bound hands down you traced the Beskar Heart of his armor. Jango ceased his task to lightly clasp your fingers. Glancing up you saw his face soften, lips pursed with words he could not say, instead he bent forward to touch his forehead to your own.

“Thank you Jango.”

“You shouldn't be here," he used the same tone that he would have when Boba was little, not wanting to upset you more. Jango shook his head with a subtle huff, "you don't deserve to be here.”

Closing your eyes a sad little chuckle escaped you, “We rarely get what we deserve.”

“Isn't that the truth. From what I've seen though, I don't think this will be your last day.” Jango smiled sadly. In another lifetime maybe they could have even been friends, but that could be true of so many things. He pressed the last item into your hand, watched as you secured it in your robes. Time was short and he needed to get you to the holding cell, but then soft fingertips touched his cheeks. He was used to pain, but this gentleness was so very different. Glancing at your battered face Jango knew that he had made the right decision.

Leaning in you placed a soft kiss to his cheek, “When the fight comes, I won't look for you Jango. Fly swift and straight.”

As you pulled away Jango couldn't help indulging in temptation just a little. Your face could have fit entirely in the palm of his hand, his hold firm but careful of the bruising. Dipping his head down Jango collected his fee, after all one good deed deserves another. He kept the kiss light, tongue only just tracing the outside seam of your lips including the small cut on the tender bottom one before he pulled away. He had to smirk at the little sigh and the flush that crept up your cheeks.

Your mind had gone blank, not expecting him to do that! You were just trying to be nice and say thank you, but damn the man for being so cheeky. Then he gave a roguish, self satisfied smirk at you and that tore it. Narrowing your eyes you kicked him square in the ass plate, “Oh you...”

“Quid Pro Quo cyar'ika,” Jango couldn't help but smile at the fire in your eyes. He carried you down to the cell to be with your riduur, not that he thought the prick deserved you. He hoped that his actions would be enough that you would survive. Now he had to prepare and plan his own escape, and contingencies for Boba. If what you said was true then his own chances of survival weren't much better than your own. Glancing back from the door Jango watched as the two knights embraced, fretting over one another. What would it be like to have someone worry over him like that? Not that he had the time to ruminate on such things, he was being summoned for more intruders on the droid floor.

“Ret'urcye mhi Y/n, jate'kara.”

Translations:

Nutricula seditiosorum omnium (latin)- dry nurse of all seditious men

Amabo eum in vita vel morti (latin)- I will love him in life or death

cyar'ika- sweetheart

Riduur- spouse

Jeti'ika- little Jedi

Ret'urcye mhi- Good bye, but more literally maybe we'll meet again.

jate'kara- luck, destiny; more literally good stars to steer by.

Tags: @meshlasolus @a-rose-of-amber @aquaamethyst96 @rain-on-kamino @stanny-uwu @just-dreaming-marvel @nurseytypechick @in-a-mellow-tone @acatalystrising @pickleprickle @iambored24601 @songoficecreamandfireworks @misscamptl @purplepandora666 @obiknights @moostresskenobi @the-going-merry @ginger-swag-rapunzel @iabrokengirl @lovelyxlily @annasun13 @foxperifoto @supernaturallover2002

[bilbobuttkins]

New TS4 Legacy Challenge

Unlike my base game legacy (found here), this legacy challenge goes through a whole bunch of packs. It is obviously pizza themed, and I had a lot of fun putting it together.

This challenge really requires you to start off as a teen, because your first step is getting accepted into one of the prestigious degree programs. You can cheat the skills needed to obtain this if you must, but it's more fun starting as a teen anyway. It's also meant to be played in order, as the generations are heavily influenced by the generation preceding it.

If you'd like a pdf version of this for tracking rules/requirements, you can find it here. Otherwise, check out the details below!

Generation 1: Margherita - The Traveler

You’ve always wanted to explore the world and learn everything you can about, well, everything. You attend university and get all the awards, and then spend your life traveling to exotic locales and soaking up as much as you can. Some say your wandering spirit is exhausting, but you wouldn’t live your life any other way.

Tasks:

Get accepted into a prestigious degree program

Graduate with honors

Unlock all hidden locations in Selvadorada

Go to Batuu

Go hiking in Mt. Komorebi & take pictures at the shrine

Max Selvadoradian Culture skill

Learn all the recipes from the San Myshuno food stalls

World: San Myshuno – start off in a cheap apartment, but you can upgrade when you make more money. Bonus points if you decorate with collectibles from your travels!

Career: Freelancer (your choice of specialty)

Aspiration: City Native & Archaeology Scholar

Children: 1 biological (parent is from Selvadorada – up to you if you marry them or not), and 1 adopted

Traits: Adventurous, Foodie, Genius

Skills: Archaeology, Photography, Selvadoradian Culture, Research & Debate

Generation 2: Pepperoni - Total Traditionalist

You lived your life bouncing around from place to place, and you’re ready for some stability. You’re grateful for the experiences you’ve had, but hate that you never really had lifelong friends or a hometown. Once you have kids, you’re constantly bickering with your parents about the best way to raise them – they believe that you need to show them the world, and you think the value of a steady lifestyle is just as important. You’re not really a fan of spontaneity, but sometimes old habits just die hard.

Tasks:

Have 3 children (doesn’t matter if biological or adopted)

Have a routine and stick to it (example: you always meet with your bowling club on Thursdays, go to the gym every Tuesday, and have dinner as a family at 6 pm every night)

Have a family tradition (tip – use the Seasons calendar for this)

Have an affair in adulthood

Have a low relationship with your parent(s) after the birth of your first child

Reach at least level 8 in parenting

Optional: go to university

World: Willow Creek, Oasis Springs, or Newcrest

Career: Business or Salaryperson

Aspiration: Big Happy Family

Children: 3

Traits: Gloomy, Neat, Snob

Skills: Parenting, Bowling, Piano

Generation 3: Hawaiian - Funky & a little fresh

Growing up, you were always closest to your grandparent. Your parents weren’t really interested in travel and exploration, but you’ve always been fascinated by your grandparent’s stories. In fact, you think those stories really need to be told, and you want to be the one to do it. Hearing them talk about their life inspires you to have a little adventure of your own.

Tasks:

Get to know all the locals & marry a townie.

Write books to supplement your income. Once you unlock the autobiography, write one about your grandparent.

Visit your grandparent at least once a week (or have them visit you).

Clean up Sulani and see the turtles hatch at least once

Attend all the Sulani festivals you can

Snorkel & befriend a dolphin

Lead at least one yoga class on the beach

World: Sulani

Career: Conservationist (as much as you love writing, you think having it as a job would kill your passion. That being said, you wouldn’t mind if one of your books got super famous and let you retire…).

Aspiration: Bestselling Author

Children: at least one child

Traits: Child of the Islands, Creative, Outgoing

Skills: Writing, Fishing, Wellness

Generation 4: Veggie Lover's - Going Green

You loved growing up in Sulani and always felt so connected to nature. You prefer plants to people most days, and love spending time in your extensive garden. You’ve always wanted to experience actual seasons, however, so you bid a bittersweet farewell to your hometown and move to a small cottage by the sea.

Tasks:

Have a large garden

Marry a townie

Go all out for the major holidays (Harvestfest, Spooky Day, Winterfest)

Take at least 2 vacations in Granite Falls

Grow a cowplant or a death flower

Optional: build a community garden in your world and name it after yourself or your family

World: Brindleton Bay – must be by the water

Career: Floral Arrangement

Aspiration: Freelance Botanist

Children: at least 2 children

Traits: Loves the Outdoors, Bookworm, Socially Awkward

Skills: Gardening, Baking

Generation 5: Meat Lover's - All about the Protein

You’ve always been a very active sim, mostly because playing outside and running around was such a large part of your youth. You love your hometown, but when an opportunity arises to play professionally somewhere else, you can’t pass it up. You have fun and enjoy being such a big success, but as you get older you start missing home more and more. You decide to say goodbye to the high life and move back home to open a gym.

Tasks:

Have a best friend in childhood and throughout teen years. Drift apart when you move.

Reach at least fame level 3

Build a gym in your hometown when you move back

Have at least 1 dog

Have at least 1 child out of wedlock

Marry as YA, but must divorce. Get married to the love of your life when you move back home in adulthood (childhood friend) and have another child.

World: Move to Del Sol Valley as YA and live there until adulthood. Then move back to Brindleton Bay.

Career: Professional Athlete

Aspiration: Bodybuilder

Children: At least 2 children

Traits: Active, Bro, Dog Lover

Skills: Fitness, Mixology, Pet Training

Generation 6: Supreme - Jack of all Trades, Master of None

Inspired by stories of your ancestors, you decide you want to experience all life has to offer. But instead of feeling like an inspirational globe-trotter, you feel more like a lost soul. Nothing you try really ever agrees with you, and you’ve never been fully able to decide what you want to do with your life. Settling down terrifies you, because you always feel like you’ll miss out on the next best thing. You finally find your niche in adulthood, but the road was definitely not easy.

Tasks:

Try out 3 wildly different styles in high school (example: nerdy phase, preppy phase, skater phase)

Have an after-school job in high school

Travel to Selvadorada but don’t buy any preparation gear (you’re always woefully unprepared). End up cutting the vacation short and going back home.

Have 2 failed serious relationships before marriage

Don’t marry until adulthood

Have enough satisfaction points to buy the re-traiting potion in adulthood

World: You start off in 1 of the 3 worlds that you didn’t pick for Generation 2, but end up moving to StrangerVille after hearing some interesting stories.

Career: you can pick the first 2, but you end up in the military career.

Aspiration: Renaissance Sim, then StrangerVille Mystery

Children: at least 1 child

Traits: Noncommittal, Squeamish, Lazy. Take re-traiting potion in adulthood and remove noncommittal and lazy. You can replace them with whatever you want. Leave squeamish (you’ve finally accepted that a life of jungle-trekking is not for you).

Skills: Fitness, Logic

Generation 7: Buffalo Chicken - A Slightly Spicy Life

Watching your parent take so long to figure out their life made you certain that you would never make the same mistakes. You’ve always known what you wanted, and will do whatever it takes to get there. Life has a funny way of throwing surprises at you, though, and sometimes it ends up being for the best.

Tasks:

Be involved in an after-school activity or club related to your future career

Go to university in a degree related to the field that you want to work in

While in university, either you or your SO gets pregnant

Drop out of university when you realize you can’t manage parenthood on top of your full schedule

Work part-time until your baby becomes a child, then go back to school

Graduate with honors and join the career you’ve always wanted

After a few promotions, you realize that you hate it and miss being a parent and a spouse. Quit your job and spend the rest of your time making money by skill (you can choose, but it must be a money-making skill, not an actual job)

When your kid becomes a teen, surprise them with a vacation to Mt. Komorebi

Stay with the parent of your child(ren) for your whole life (they’re your soulmate, even if they did completely derail your career plans)

World: Choose from – 1 of the 3 you didn’t choose in Gen. 2 or 5, Britechester, Copperdale, Tartosa, Henford-on-Bagley, Windenburg

Career: Your choice, but must strive for this starting at childhood (i.e. actor takes drama classes, scientist takes STEM or chess)

Aspiration: Academic (DO NOT FINISH, put on hold when you drop out) > Soulmate > Academic

Children: At least 1 child

Traits: Ambitious, Overachiever, Family-Oriented

Skills: Charisma, Research & Debate

Generation 8: BBQ Chicken Bacon - A Little Experimental

You’ve always appreciated how your parents sacrificed so much to give you a good upbringing, even putting their own dreams on hold so that you could have a happy childhood. They’ve given you freedom to explore your own dreams, and once you find some success you want to pay them back somehow. A trip to Mt. Komorebi on your teen birthday made you fall in love with the town and the food scene, and you decide to move there as a young adult.

Tasks:

Gain at least 1 level of fame

Spend at least $20,000 of your own money to renovate your parents house or move them to a nicer house (you can use money cheats to decrease your funds)

Get to at least level 8 of skiing, snowboarding, or rock-climbing

Finish an expedition to the top of the mountain

Woohoo in the cave on the mountain

Optional: open a restaurant

World: Mt. Komorebi

Career: Chef

Aspiration: Mt. Komorebi Sightseer

Children: At least 2 children

Traits: Good, Art Lover (if your parent was a painter, have some of their works hanging in your house. Otherwise, have some of your own), Self-Assured

Skills: Skiing, Snowboarding or Rock-climbing; Cooking; Painting (if your parent was not a painter)

Generation 9: Cheese - No Room for Mistakes

Growing up with a semi-famous parent taught you the value of networking and people skills. In the real world, it’s not what you know, but who you know, and you mean to take every advantage of the connections you already have. Using those connections as leverage, you want to become an influential politician and devote your life to bettering your community. You’re not very humble, and you can be tad materialistic, but your real friends know that you have everyone’s best interests at heart… deep down, at least.

Tasks:

Live in a suburban house with a white picket fence

Steal from your own campaign fund at least once

Graduate from university

Have a party at least once a week

Have a dog (bonus points if it’s a golden retriever)

Your spouse has an affair and you find out. Stay with them to avoid the scandal.

Do not have a close relationship with your children.

World: Any world not used in Gen. 6

Career: Politician

Aspiration: Party Animal

Children: 2 biological children (any more must be adopted. Obviously you’ll broadcast the adoption for good PR)

Traits: Materialistic, Self-Absorbed, Insider

Generation 10: Calzone - Different, but still Great

The black sheep. You’ve always been expected to be great, and do great things, but that’s never really interested you. Your parents’ constant need to keep up with the Jones’es was exhausting, and you hate the façade. You get into some trouble as a kid, but ultimately turn it around and mend fences.

Tasks:

Have a major goth or emo phase in high school

Reach at least level 7 in handiness & mischief

In adulthood, successfully make your neighborhood green

Cheat on your high school SO and your young adult SO. Either you or your SO gets pregnant as a young adult, but you abandon the child.

Make amends with your child in adulthood (your ex isn’t so forgiving, but maybe in elder-hood you can be friends)

If you marry, marry in adulthood. It cannot be one of your exes.

Have a negative relationship with your parents as a teen and throughout your YA years. Up to you if you want to mend the relationship in adulthood.

Turn at least one of your enemies into your best friend in adulthood.

World: Evergreen Harbor

Career: Criminal as YA, then Civil Design in adulthood

Children: at least 1 child

Traits: Mean, Vegetarian, Maker

Skills: Handiness, Mischief, Charisma

[nerdyrevelries]

Little Women (2017)

In some ways, I am very biased because this version chooses to focus on fighting bosom enemies and striving for castles in the air, which are two of the themes that I find most important in Little Women and like to see highlighted in an adaptation. So, this version was always going to get high marks from me, but I think it does a lot of other things right as well. It takes time to place Little Women temporally. The book doesn’t really talk all that much about the civil war because the people it was written for would have had intimate knowledge of it since they had lived through it. Because of this, Little Women adaptations can sometimes feel a little displaced. Not this one. It starts with the girls sending locks of hair to their father who is away at war before showing us Mr. March in a tent with dying soldiers writing the letter that Marmee will read to the girls as they prepare for Christmas.

This series continues to give us shots to establish the passage of time as each season is preceded by some appropriate and beautiful shots of nature. This is a pretty series in general, and I feel it has a very decided style that makes the sisters feel like people you could actually know. 

Some of the best parts of this series are its handling of Meg and John Brooke. So many adaptations either forget these two after their marriage or show only the fabric scene, which is my least favorite of Meg’s adult scenes. In this, Meg is given a full arc. My only complaint is that we don’t get to see more of Meg and John because they are perfectly casted and played, and I love every scene with them. The Land o’ the Leal sequence is so perfectly done that it makes me cry pretty much every time and is permanently cemented in my mind. 

There are two areas where I feel this series falls short of its potential. The first is the way it plays Amy. All of her bad traits have been heightened. I have argued with at least one friend about this, but to me it feels as if they purposefully heightened her faults during childhood in order to make her arc more dramatic as this version chooses to focus on the journey of personal growth. However, even if her faults were heightened for this reason rather than to villainize her, it can be argued that the follow-through of that arc is weak as we don’t get enough of her improved self as an adult.

Which brings me to the second major fault of this series. I can’t confirm whether or not this was the case, but the only way I can really explain this adaptation’s pacing is if the series was originally planned to have four episodes and the final episode got cut only after most of episodes one and two had already been finished. The first two episodes cover part 1 of the book, but part 2 is only given a single episode, meaning that the whole conclusion of the book feels rushed, which is very unfortunate because in general, I like this adaptation a lot, and I would have loved to see what it could do with part 2 if it had had more time for it.

[alltheoutsinfreeeee]

Koisenu Futari Ep 8 Thoughts

I finally, finally watched episode 8. I was so scared of... I don’t even know what. Of the writers somehow still messing up? Of the emotions? Of it ending? Of the ‘family (subject to change)’ coming to an end? And that fear had me procrastinate and avoid the final episode.

And now that I’ve watched it? Well...

Maybe it’s just the fact that I watched it at like 1am but I’m an emotional mess. But in a good way! I don’t regret watching it! Gonna go into detail (and some ranting) here, so I’ll put the spoilers under the cut.

First things first, do I think Sakuko’s mom and her boss changed their tune a bit too fast to be believable? The boss, absolutely. The mom, not as much. She had since episode 2 to think her opinions over. And I actually appreciate the fact that she was honest with Sakuko and told her that she still thinks she should get married and all that. Humans are complicated after all and opinions don’t change all that easily. But other things may take precedence to those opinions, and I’m glad her mother realised that Sakuko’s happiness is more important than her conservative worldview in the long run.

I like how Sakuko and Kazu stayed friends, and how Kazu didn’t try to make her thanking him into another try to win her over. And how Kazu wanted to correct the misunderstanding before their boss cut in! Kazu is a good ally to have.

The scene where Sakuko and Takahashi finally properly talk it over is so good. They are both open with their opinions and I love how they both have come to appreciate what they’ve built -- Takahashi even to the point of being scared to lose that! But that wasn’t all that held him back in the end. In his own words, he wanted to ‘protect [his grandmother’s] house’ and that’s a noble thing to want to do. To protect something that a lost loved one cherished, to protect the vessel of the good memories you’ve shared with that person.

But in a way that kept him chained to that home. In the end, he still looked for excuses to not follow his dream, to stay. And when Sakuko shot all of them down, he still needed to ask permission, as if the want to put the past behind you was a bad thing, as if his grandmother wouldn’t want him to try to pursue his happiness. The tearing up, the expressions, Takahashi’s frailty in that moment hit me like a truck. I really just wanted to hug him (not that I would, gotta stay respectful to boundaries!)

And the fact that he hadn’t even thought of moving out while Sakuko stayed? Hunny, sweetie... 😭

Another thing I like about the resolution scene was how this time it was Sakuko who helped Takahashi. Of course she already helped him multiple times throughout the show, but this was a BIG thing with lasting changes attached to it. Usually it was Takahashi who taught her some life wisdom, but this was her turn. And she pushed him to what he really wants to do, gently and quietly. And most of all, respectfully. She doesn’t make fun of his fears, of how he hadn’t even thought about the, to her, obvious solution.

And what she said in the end... It’s true. Moving out or otherwise parting with someone important to you doesn’t mean your relationship has to change. If things don’t work out you can always discuss it then. And if in the end you do find yourselves growing apart, then that happens and you shouldn’t try to force it to last. But those things are hypotheticals for the future, they shouldn’t hold you back in the present or stop you from doing what you want to.

This show was really good, y’all. I’m still feeling a bit bittersweet about it ending. It was only 8 episodes and also in my life for less than a few months but it feels like a show that’s been with me for decades now. It feels like parting with a good friend, but it’s not all bad. After all, I can always come and visit.

How Sakuko said: The only one who decides your happiness is you. And how Chai sang in the title song: Find your happiness. Be kind to yourself.

[fortunescaling]

@burdenedreverance

"It never improved really."

The man mutters as he tilts his head to the side, resting his head in his palm. He takes a deep breath and let's out a sigh of frustration. He seems tense despite the fact this is a relaxed setting. Try as he might his efforts in the world have always turned to nothing but coal in his mouth. It was the nature of his work, there was no end goal in sight. At least he had another century to try.

"The situation remains untenable; I refuse to return to the Gotei. They label me a traitor. They try to capture me, I resist. Common causes bring us together, only for me to depart when it is done." He'd explain half-heartedly before offering a chuckle. "It's quite amusing, but infinitely frustrating when other more important things exist. How have you been, my friend? Found a wife yet? You should get on that, it isn't right you don't have one yet."

Hayden begins to ramble, like the old man he is.

‘Of course they’d label you a traitor. Surely, you didn’t expect them to receive acts of rebellion and dissidence with cheers of approval?’ He raised a disapproving eyebrow. ‘And that your Captain Commander would found himself equally thrilled to know you here, sharing jokes and fraternising with the enemy.’

 ‘I’ve personally decided to show mercy to traitors of our own, but to be fair, it’s brought more trouble than anything. Traitors are a liability, a threat to cohesion and set a dangerous precedence. But surely, I’m teaching you nothing you don’t know already.’ He said. Whether or not he agreed with the Gotei’s legal basis of qualifications and punishment for the deed, the point remained. Treason was a crime. Under any martial law, in any world. 

‘Just as I’m sure you know a man must know to take responsibilities for his actions, lest he'd be a coward.’ He continued, not fooled by the seemingly light tone of the conversation. He knew his friend cared much more than he let on. His words echoed with sourness. Whether he realised it or not. 

‘Yes, as I have already been told about ten times this week by my peers and advisors.’ He said, his face deadpan and with unfortunate honesty. The question ranging his ears with a much unpleasant strident sting every time. ‘But don’t try to change the subject here.’

[ellscarb]

The hierarchy of pockets

There is a hierarchy of pockets. Women know this. Men will begrudgingly acknowledge it. (What author was it who said that girlhood is a begging to be believed? Seems apropos.)

The first commandment, a universal truth: men’s pockets are better than women’s pockets. This is fact. Men’s clothing has long been built for function over visual appeal. Women’s clothing is built for visual appeal only. That’s why you like to borrow your boyfriend’s jeans, or his jacket – not because of the boy smell – it’s because just the cut of the clothes makes you feel the way you thought adulthood would be. Assumed competence.

~~~

You always thought people who “blacked out” when they were drunk were lying. You were 15 and had barely tasted alcohol prior to your first belly full of peach schnapps. You knew everything and remembered all.

Later, you were 18 or 19. Screwdrivers. You woke up the next morning with crispy vomit hair and no memory of a list of things people said you did. You didn’t believe the first person who said you’d kissed everyone at the party and given a flailing, unsexy lapdance. Or the second person, or the third. The fourth person was a woman who told you you’d kissed her husband. 

That’s when you learned that blacking out is real, and different from – though related to – passing out.

A blackout is a period of missing memories. Your body is conscious, but your mind has unpressed the record button. 

The passout is a complete lack of consciousness - body and mind. The blackout precedes the passout by an unknown number of minutes. Enlist a friend with a stopwatch to get an exact time. 

~~~

Beneath the first commandment of pockets, in the subset of women’s pockets, there is still a taxonomy, a Ladder of Desirability.

Dress pockets are premium, top of the food chain, none better. Women know this. Men would know this if they would just wear a dress once in their lives. What greater joy can a human know than twirling in a pool of fabric, and your hands in your pockets all the while?

Jean pockets are the next best, because there are so many of them. Then jacket pockets, because sometimes they’re really big, and you might find a surprise $20 you left there last winter. Then all other pockets, which can be further organized by personal preference.

~~~

If you find that you are a person who blacks out regularly – (please consult a doctor) – you can develop some coping strategies. 

First, establish a safe environment with safe people. You want to be surrounded by friends who won’t leave you alone with the creepy drunk guy. This advice is for women, of course. Men, just make sure you don’t have anything in your wallet that you aren’t willing to lose. 

Aftercare is important with blackouts. Have a standing date with your friends to see what you missed while you were out. Take inventory of your pockets to see if you’ve lost or gained any belongings. Return them or retrieve them as needed.

~~~

At the bottom of the Ladder of Desirability, the lowest of the food chain, the disgusting film of dirty mop water that lies between the foot of a school lunch table and the floor – these are the fake pockets. 

Found in your typical business casual fare, they’re usually stitched up to preserve the “line of the garment” (thanks, H&M). But sometimes they come undone in the wash, creating what science calls a pseudo-pocket, big enough to fit a tube of chapstick or a small baggy containing a personal-use amount of pills, powder, or plant. 

Fake pockets are the most mundane and hurtful insult to women that the fashion industry has ever spewed forth. Which is saying something. 

Women know this. Men aren’t reading this anyway.

~~~

To prevent a blackout, you should first and foremost eat more than one meal a day, preferably something with carbs. But make sure you eat a good two hours prior to your first drink, otherwise you’ll blackout and vomit, in random order.

You may think that you can prevent a blackout by drinking less. Hubris! This is a dangerous game for a number of reasons. 

One, the blackout is sneaky. She waits until your guard is down. It could be 4 in the morning or 8pm, you’ll never know when she’s coming. 

Two, this strategy is predicated on the assumption that alcohol is the only variable in your body. You know from experience that this is unlikely.

~~~

If I may backtrack a moment to discuss jean pockets. There is a hierarchy here as well, though it comes down to user-preference. I’m right-handed, so my jean pockets are, from best to worst, right front > right back > left back > watch pocket. The left front pocket has always been useless to me. It might as well be fake - I never use it. It’s not even on the list. If I find something in my left front pocket, it’s because someone else put it there.

Your packing list is thus:

Right front - chapstick and anything else non-flat you need to carry. 

Right back for cash, left back for ID and credit card (or vice versa). You never mix the cash and the cards if you’re prone to blackouts. Cards are easy to fumble in a wad of cash. Something will fall out and you’ll never know where you dropped it. 

The watch pocket is for the tiny things that need securing or concealing. The errant earring back, the wedding ring, the pills, powders and plants. You get it.

Left front pocket should be empty, as discussed.

~~~

For advanced users, you can develop a technique to ~court~, to ~coax~, to ~commence~ the blackout. As a standard practice this is not recommended, even for experienced blacker-outers, and is typically not necessary if you’ve established a safe environment beforehand. 

Instructions below:

First, you’ll need to be good and drunk, or good and high, or good and both (preferred). Methods vary by user.

Next, clearly identify that you would no longer like to be present in your body. (Remember! Blacking out is different from passing out. More on this below.) 

A good rule of thumb - if you don’t want the memories that are being created, and are not currently capable of preventing them, proceed with the black out. 

The final (well, only) step is the easiest to do and the hardest to explain. 

You just close your eyes and stop existing. It will be scary, but trust the process.

A caveat: with this method of self-blackout you may have some residual flashes of memory, which may be troubling. Remember: blacking out is different from passing out. Your body is conscious but your mind is not, so it’s important to keep your eyes closed at all times. If your eyes are closed, it will be over faster. 

A blackout precedes a passout by an unknown number of minutes, even when you do it yourself. 

~~~

When you wake up, take inventory of your pockets. In the absence of a morning-after brunch with friends, you’ll use your pockets to reconstruct your night. This is where the hierarchy comes in handy.

Right front - chapstick (still there). Right back - cash (still there, though less). Left back - ID (no card, might have left it at the bar). Watch pocket - empty. No baggies, earrings, condom wrappers, or rings.

Left front pocket should be empty. But if you find last night’s underwear in it, don’t panic. Just close your eyes. It could be a mistake. If your flashes of memory don’t paint a clear picture, it’s best to assume nothing happened.

Trust the process.