#maybe thats part of why he wants to escape the ocean so bad

[oceanwithouthermoon]

hi i NEED to know more abt your mermaid au (if you dont mind u.u)

HIIIII THANK U FOR ASKINGGHGG

so basically in this au, everything is prettyyy much the same except that aren is a merman..

after his meeting with kusuo, it becomes painfully obvious that kusuo doesnt belong there but aren still thinks hes just a cool foreign mermaid.. but he keeps asking so many questions about where hes from and kusuo is already in so much shock he cant keep up the act anymore and tells him hes from the land.. (he probably couldve just told him to leave him alone, but truth be told he had a hot merman right in front of him and he literally just found out mermaids exist ??? so why would he do that)

so after learning kusuos secret (which wasnt explained in full, he really just said he has powers and aren thinks its some sort of secret human magic) he begs him to give him human legs, and kusuo has to explain that he cant use his shapeshifting ability on other people, and the only similar thing is hypnosis, which wouldnt work.. SO kuboyasu introduces him to mermaid magic !! which isnt all that powerful at all.. they just have certain minor spells, charms, and incantations that can have small effects.. so they work together and find a way to make his shapeshifting ability work on kuboyasu!! maybe its a thing similar to saikis limiters, but its like a pendant or a pair of earrings infused with a combination of magic+kusuos powers+technology

and soooooo he transfers to PK!! (with kusuos genius+mind control, its easy to cook up a fake ID+birth certificate and all) and everything else is pretty much the same, including even how kusuo attempts to ignore him at school at first+then spies on him without his knowledge.. but theyre also secretly romancing each other outside of school hours in the literal ocean..

it definitely took a while for kusuo to trust him enough to take him on land btw so they also spent a lot of time in arens home but i havent put much thought into what/where exactly that is or about his family and mermaid friends and such..

either way, even when he trusts him, aren still messes up and almost spills various secrets a lot lmao.. it shouldn't be that hard because hes been told his whole life that humans were dangerous because they couldnt handle things they didnt understand (like.. magic) but somehow he still manages to slip up many times on BOTH of their secrets (good thing their friends are DUMB)

"so aren, where do you live??" "in the sea-" gets elbowed by kusuo "sea.. outh.. district??" "huh??"

[sirenjose]

So I've been really into your analysis lately and I'm a huge fan now, wanted to ask some questions, feel free to not answer any

1- what was your favourite idv story/event to analyze?

2- your least fav of the latter?

3- are you into anything else besides idv?

4-how do you find the motivation to analyze stuff? I've tried before and it was very draining :')

Thanks for your time, hope you have a lovely day

I'm very happy to hear you're enjoying yourself despite my own low opinion about much of what I put out. I'll do my best to answer!

Hmm I always dislike picking favorites because I'm bad at picking eheh... But the ones I liked most... I honestly enjoy T&I and COA (1-5) even more than the main story. So I think I might pick... Atropos' Ropes for T&I and for COA, thats harder... 3-5 are my faves but I might pick 4 just because of how it felt it had the most story/details given than all the rest. Even the *SONG* had story. I loved it.

Least fave, eh... Orfeo and Zinaida immediately come to mind, though Orfeo I'd say was worse... COA 1 is another primarily because of how DIFFICULT it was for me to figure it out enough to put together an analysis. And I had to rewrite that thing at LEAST 3 times to the point I'm just hoping it's good enough and leaving it alone. Time of Reunion I think is another that comes to mind, mainly because I didn't appreciate how they treated Norton in there, especially in the videos (but at least those aren't canon like the in-game event was). So based on all that, I might say Orfeo if I really had to pick 1. Then rank ToR 2nd and Zinaida/COA1 3rd.

FF14 and Honkai Star Rail especially I'm playing actively these days, but I honestly like a lot of stuff. Like Persona (espeially 4), 999 aka Zero Escape, and Star Ocean Til the End of Time. Least in terms of games.

Hmm... Maybe because the 1st reason I play a game is because of the story, and gameplay is always 2nd to me. If the story and characters are good, that gets me interested. Issue with IDV is we only get bits and pieces. Really need to look deeper to really understand some of the characters. I actually only started analyzing because I challenged myself (partially out of curiosity for the answer) to see if I could prove if Norton wasn't as evil as people thought (based on all the comments I saw when I 1st joined the fandom a long while ago). From there, there was Jose who I wanted to analyze because he honestly had so many plot holes I couldn't (and still can't completely) solve. So I get the most enjoyment analyzing something that doesn't have a clear answer. Which is why I don't always post for every letter. A big part of it is I enjoy history and culture and such, so it's fun for me to learn about different foods, or time periods, or how bad the environment was for miners or sailors back in the day, etc... I dont think I have an easy answer (I can see I'm rambling). Norton I actually only began to like because I was spending so long working on my 1st analysis for him (and my perfectionism made me analyze all of Norton's essences before i could call it finished). Jose was because I love Captain Hook, and then after because of the plot holes that bothered me. Then for others, I think I enjoy making analyses to... try to sometimes change people's opinoions/beliefs. Like with Margaretha or Vera. With Edgar was because I was more interested in his story and him as a character only once I put together all his lore. Sort of goes on from there. I could ramble on but I'm going to get even more guilty. I hope this helps somewhat, but let me know if it doesn't and I'll keep going. Maybe the simple is A) I like history/culture/research, B) I like to convince people that certain characters arent as evil as they think or change beliefs I think aren't quite accurate, C) I like solving puzzles and I love story, D) I already think too hard about literally everything, and combined with my perfectionism, we get analysis

[doughma]

im rabid with jade brain rot

thick fem s/o with jade rambling

slight suggestive/nsfw in some parts maybe?

• Jade who is too used to curling in on himself in coral reefs and sea walls, pushing himself further down to hide and wait for perfect moment to strike or to just simply watch ocean life swim by. Being enclosed is something that brings Jade comfort, the tight pressure all around making him feel safe and secure (a trait that mayhaps encouraged Floyd's love of squeezing). Which is why he can't help but seek your warm full figure out and bring you back to his room for a moment to escape from his busy schedule, even if it sometimes goes on for longer than he intended and gets a ear full from Azul. In his eyes, it's worth it. It started out as a small source of comfort that slowly becomes something more and more to Jade.

•He can't help but push his face further in between your breasts trying to fully block out his view of the room only wanting to see darkness. He tries to pull more of you onto him, wishing to feel more of your weight on top of him. He truly is secretly a greedy eel who wants more and more of you, and you can feel it in his actions. He sometimes wish you would just lie your whole body on top of him, your full weight on him would please him greatly, but he doesn't want to make you uncomfortable so he'll take whatever you feel like giving him that day. When he finally settles down in a comfortable position, you can feel him exhale deeply before he starts kneading at your more softer parts of the body.

•If you asked Jade what his favourite part of your body is, he would give you a smile, a soft kiss on the lips and answer 'I love every inch of your body, Dear.' but you know better. Most of the time he tends to massage wherever his hands are currently at, but with how his hands always find themselves sliding down to your hips and thighs and stay there for the remainder of your time together? You would bet money he has a preference for them even if he denies it.

•During these moments in his room alone, you can't help but feel loved and also self conscious. You never really cared about your looks and weight as you got a little older. Despite the teasing from your family and bullying you had to get over as a kid, you learned to accept and love yourself eventually no matter how you looked. Tho sometimes you can still hear the comments in the back of your head when you're feeling low, and when you get into that bad mindset you can't help but wonder, why you?

•You don't think you could ever admit to Jade your insecurities most of the time since to you they just feel so small and silly, since its just about your looks and not anything you would consider important. Even if this slippery eel has a way to worm sneaky questions in while you try to vaguely vent about whats bothering you, and get you to accidentally confess your worries to him anyways. You can help but sigh at how easy it is to fall for his tricks, but you know its his way of showing that he cares and wants to help. And for that you'll forgive him again and again. A kiss here, and a squeeze or hug there, Jade is always ready to reassure you that you are lovely and perfect just the way you are and wouldn't change anything about you. (thats a lie, if he could he would wash all your doubts away in a flash so you could give him the full WWE bedroom experience and thigh choke holds he keeps wet dreaming of. he knows you need to overcome this yourself with him giving you support on the side but one can dream for the day to come sooner)

•You love having his arms around you and his hands on you, but you can't help but flinch when you feel hands sneaking onto your stomach or eyes staring a bit too long on your body and stretch marks. Normally such a thing wouldn't bother you before, but when you see how handsome he looks when just waking up, or the shimmer of his mer form in the sunlight and lean body, it's just the little things that make you question what does he see in your imperfect body. What does he see in you when he could get any one he wants.

•You remember asking once before you could stop yourself why he seemed so interested in the stretch marks that covered your hips and upper thighs. Him gently caressing the marks on your thighs made you embarrassed and a bit ashamed, you also wonder for a second if merpeople could even get them in the first place. Maybe its a curiosity he has for something he has never seen before, or likes the slight texture they have. You can't help but voice your worries over it and ask him what the deal is. He pauses, and gives a slight chuckle. You didn't expect him to bring his face to them, and rub his cheek over the marks. Jade's reasoning being that they look and remind him of rippling sands, and shore lines is enough to shock for a moment. Even if he looks back up with a teasing smile that makes you want to question him more, but you resist the urge. Such a Jade answer to be something so simple on the outside but you know holds more meaning it you looked further into it. You stopped the questioning, and worrying about his wandering eyes and hands on your body after that. You know if you asked more questions he would find more ways to lovingly tease you over it, and give an answer thats going to keep you up at night.

•Sometimes you still wonder what Jade sees in you and your body, but you slowly learn to just accept the fact that he truly might be interested in you and actually likes how you look. You know that he does have unusual tastes, and a mean part of you wants to chalk up that his love might just be the same as that. Morbid curiosity for someone who isn't thin. But a part if you feels that its cruel to try and say his love isn't true or kind, so you push the negative thoughts away and believe that he truly does love you in a pure way. As pure as a Jade Leech can get. You know your own self love, and the love Jade has for you are two completely different things and you might never fully understand it. But you find yourself not minding the idea of also learning how to love yourself through his eyes and in his own special kind of way.

•Jade doesn't think he has it in him to ever admit it, even if it's not the same as the familiar ocean's embrace he grew up with, there is just something about how you hold him back in your arms that starts to feel like home. Sometimes he ponders if its better than actual home as more time passes by, late nights at the lounge drying a glass as he watches you from across the room.

•The table you are seated at is scattered with drinks and books from the studying your friends dragged you along for, which as typical of them started out as studying and now ended up as another hangout sesh. Feeling eyes on you, you look up and over at the bar where Jade is still rubbing the same been dry glass. He knows he could be doing other things right now, but he doesn't want to you to be out of his line of sight just yet. Meeting your gaze, you give him a soft smile and for a moment he feels like all is still.

•Jade has seen your smile many times before, as most people here at the school. You were never one to shy away to express how you are feeling, and a selfish part of him wishes he could keep your smile to himself. but he is not that possessive. Not enough to force you to only smile for him alone even if he craves it, so he lets the world feel the same deep calmness he feels whenever you grace him with one. The same calmness he can only compare to childhood rests on the ocean floor where every thing is still and asleep, even Floyd is silent for once as they enjoy the tranquility together as if life is frozen in time. Little things from his past that he tucks away into the deepest parts of his heart that keeps getting dug up again and again whenever you remind him of the feeling. He promises that someday he'll let you in, and experience it and all the dark feelings he has for this world and you. When he can confirm for sure that you wont be afraid of how he truly is like and wont run away, when he knows for sure that you'll accept and love him all the same.

•After your shared private moment, a short one to you but it means more to him than you'll ever know, you turn your attention back to the conversation at hand, and Jade returns the glass to the shelf behind him. You may not be the ocean but you certainly have similar traits that he keeps finding out and comparing. It almost feels like a game to him, wanting to see what new things you'll show him and him seeing how he can connect it to something thats an important part of himself and his life. He wonders for a moment if he would someday be able to replace the whole ocean and the thought of home with your body, and Jade finds himself not minding the idea of finding a new home in you someone who is dusted with traces of his sea.

[angloie]

Beach trips and I'm Falling in Love • 2.5/2

When Annabeth meets a strange boy on vacation, she doesn't expect for their relationship to grow much. He's... terribly sarcastic. Cocky. A not-so great match for her witty self. But after learning he visits the same beach every year she does, their strange friendship blooms into something more.

Their realtionship isn't the only thing that blooms over the yearsー that meaning a certain raven-haired boy.

genre ; childhood friends to lovers, fluff, strangers(?) to lovers, exchanging letters au, percabeth mortal au.

warnings ; swearing, suggestive(?) themes.

prev.

That night, Annabeth can't fall asleep.

(Percy can't either, because he can't stop thinking about Annabeth and how he thinks he saw her back there.)

What is Rachel to him?

Annabeth thinks. Her mind is something like a broken recordー stuck playing the question on repeat. 

Not that she could judge, however, if Percy enjoyed her company more than hers, then that would be... Fine. Just fine. Rachel was probably more close to him after all these years unlike the blonde; who has been away for six years.

When Annabeth turns on her side to look at the shell seated stop her bedside table, she grimaces.

"You better make sure to return it!"

"I'll be waiting!"

Why does that make her frown?

The morning comes slow, slower than Annabeth would like, when the birds start chirping and evening comes to dawn after her sleep-deprived thoughts. 

She knows that Percy's curled up inside his bed, (though certainly not the cabin he used to occupyー there's no one next door) snoring like he always does. She knows that Percy doesn't know that she's here, and Annabeth also knows that he'll be asleep until promptly one in the afternoon.

Annabeth thinks she'll meet him around sooner or later.

The lull of waves crashing across the shore gives her chills. Mornings, she now realizes, are the best part of the day.

The rose gold sun comes down in tiny slivers along the sand.

Percy is loyal. He's a great friend, much more than Annabeth deserves, witty and sarcastic.

Percy is not hers. He never was in the first place, really; him with his cocky smile and his big heart. That heart of his can only hold so much, can't it?

She starts to wonder if she's in there.

The shell in her pocket suddenly feels heavy when Annabeth reaches for it, the chipped and cracked coat somehow still intact. She'll give it to him when the time comes of course. Just not now. Annabeth couldn't even muster up the courage if she wanted to. 

So, sandaled feet dug into the sand, she scans her surroundings.

At first glance the beach is beach is deserted, aside from a few lingering beach-goers that occupy the waves on their surfboards and the sand with their umbrellas.

It's quite tranquil on her ownー  under the morning sun and all. She's been to beaches near her house back home,e but nothing can really beat this view.

Her eyes dart towards the ocean, where the surfers ride on the waves, laughing and cackling whenever one of their friends falls face-first into the cold waters. She laughs a bit, too, the scene reminds her of how she always used to fall when she was learning to surf.

Speaking of the surfers... They all look like they're having a blast. You know, Annabeth might start to think that the raven-haired guy looks like Percy, that he has the same smirk as him, but that's just illogical.

Right?

It's only until that they lock eyes is when Annabeth freezes.

Same sea green. Same sparkle.

Same Percy.

And it's only until he freezes, eyes widening and stopping to stare, is when she thinks Oh shit.

Then he's starting to come over, and her legs start moving on their own. 

Away from him.

This can't be happening. It can't be. Not when she's not ready, when she's too nervous to even muster a word, not when Annabeth can't even look at him without her heart racing like never before. 

She starts to walk faster. Not so fast that it looks suspicious, but fast as to escape his gaze and go back to her cabin.

Annabeth can hear him saying he needs to ‘do something' to his friends. Annabeth can also hear his surboard digging into the sand, as well as his footsteps getting closer and closer. So close, that she thinks it'll only be a few steps longer until he reaches her.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, Her thoughts get even more rapid, Can't the universe just wait for a second?

Annabeth completely shuts down when someone grabs her wrist.

"Annabeth?"

It takes so much to not year away, to not run, to not speak. It takes so much to turn her head and look at him, more, though, when his tone is the most heart melting thing she's heard in a long time. (good timing, really, and just when she's been trying to get all the feelings she holds for him.)

"Percy." She breathes out, eyes widening when she finally gets a good look of him.

He's... Grown. 

His shoulders are broader. His hair, once unruly and messy, is exactly like in the previous pictures he's sent: Perfectly perfect and endearing. Annabeth notices that he towers over her figure quite a bitー what happened to the scrawny little Percy? Back then, she could easily look over him; but now? It's quite the opposite.

There’s an air around him, too, one that makes Annabeth gulp and her thoughts race.

Holy fuck.

Before she can let out a single word, she's engulfed into a bone crushing hug.

Thats pretty much when it all hits her.

Sure, he's wet and damp and smelling like saltwater and sweat, but she can't really pay any mind to that. Percy's warm. His touch is soft, gentle, just as Annabeth remembers. 

Why was she avoiding him in the first place?

Just when she thinks that it's fineー that she will not tear up over something like thisー her body betrays her and she starts to sink further, further into the hug.

Is she tearing up right now?

"I missed you," Percy mumbles against her head in a way that makes her heart pound dangerously against her rib cage. “So much.”

So just like that, Annabeth nearly falls for him all over again.

"You dumbass!" She pushes him off, hands fumbling through her pockets. "I m-missed you more." Hands come to wipe at her fresh tears. 

“H-here!” Annabeth sniffs as she hands him the one thing her mind has been lingering on non-stop: the shell.

He, blurry eyed and open mouthed, looks taken aback. For a second she thinks that he might be angry. That is, until he smiles.

“You kept it?” Percy asks. It's almost like he can't really believe it, like he didn't really expect her to keep it. 

"Of course I did, seaweed brain,” She gives a lopsided toothy smile. It doesn't really match her flushed face, but who's paying attention to that? 

When he looks at it fondly in his hands, Percy smiles to himself. “Its been too long, wisegirl." He looks her up and down. “You’ve changed."

She raises a eyebrow. "Like in a bad way?"

“N-no!” He's quick to correct himself. His looks the other way, trying to discreetly hide his blush. "No. Like i-in a... uhm- fuck." Percy covers his face.

"You've changed too.” Annabeth grins. “In a good way."

They smile each other for a second before someone from the shore line calls out Percy's name. He whips around, scowl growing on his face.

"I'll be back soon!" Percy rolls his eyes. He then turns to her.

"We should catch up," he says frantically, thoughts running on overdrive, "Have you been downtown yet? I'm staying at a new cabin a while away from hereー I'll take you there soon. Oh! And have you been to our spot? We can visit there later if you want.”

Annabeth cringes when the words fall from his lips. Our spot. She chews on her bottom lip. She can't really blame him for taking someone up there. Not even if she wanted to.

The rest of the day, and the next day after that, is bittersweet.

"I-Id be happy to.”

The sweetness is seeing Sally again. It's eating her famous blue cookies with Percy wearing bright smiles and her sporting the new sweater Sally crocheted. It's surfing for hours on end, it's playing with their dogs and meeting Mrs. O'Leary.

The sweetness is being with Percy once again; even if she does cringe when they go to their spot again.

The bitter, on the other hand, is meeting her.

Rachel.

Don't get her wrong. Annabeth was never much of a possessive or jealous person; and she still is not. She's level-headed, logical, and observative. Rachel is... Fine. She's crafty, Annabeth can tell by her paint-stained clothing and wry smile. She's pretty cool too. Rachel doesn't seem to have much of a problem getting along with her, so why does she feel so off about her?

"I'm Rachel," Annabeth remembers her smile quite clearly: It didn't quite reach her eyes. Or maybe Annabeth was just over-analyzing things? "It's nice to meet you, Annabeth!"

"Likewise." Annabeth gave a small smile. “Percy’s told me a lot about you."

“Oh, has he?” She giggled, "Well, I hope it's all good things." Rachel gave a teasing look towards Percy. 

Now thinking about it, Annabeth might have been a teeny-bit judgy. 

Percy, munching on a blue cookie, looks at her from his spot in his room. He narrows his eyes at her.

"I couldn't help but notice," He starts, as if reading her mind. "That you were a little on edge about Rachel.”

"Was I now?” She lazily questions, head hanging off his bed. 

“I think so." Percy hums.

"I was not," Annabeth scoffs. “I was just... Cautious."

"What's there to be cautious about?” He asks, spinning three times on the chair near his desk. He pauses to let the dizziness swirl his vision before coming back to look at her. the dog beside him, Mrs. O'Leary wags her tail lazily.

She sighs. "Nothing, I guess? It's just... Y'know what? Nevermind.”

"Spit it out.”

"No!”

"Yes!”

“No!”

“I’ll make you a container of blue cookies for the next three days?"

"...Fine!" Annabeth breathes after a beat.

She stretchesh her arms high above above her head. “What... W-what is she to you?”

Percy freezes, and she instantly goes into a panicky state. “Actually- Ignore that. Thats a stupid question so you don't need to answer, I just really-”

“Aww, is my little Annie jealous?" He unironicaly coos, “Don’t worry about it. Rachel's great."

Annabeth notices that Percy says her name in a intimate way. She notices how heat instantly flushes her face. She also notices that how he never answers her question in a way she'll understand.

Now that she's left hanging, Annabeth really can't stop more questions from flowing in her mind. 

Annabeth thinks that she's really been underreacting about Percy and his air of coolness. or maybe likeability?

Her arms flop down, and Mrs. O'Leary woofs.

Popularity?

Whatever it is, anyone can tell that Percy's much more than the dorky lame kid that used to be.

The group of girls that giggle and twirl their hair as they stare at him from their spot under an umbrella can surely see that, too.

It's not even those girls (who for the fact are pretty, much prettier than Annabeth) that can see that. Her neighbours talk about the 'handsome and nice young man that helped me carry my groceries'. (Guilty as chargedー the one and only Percy) or the 'Attractive boy who surfs early in the morning'.

The grannies at downtown's farmers market even gossip behind his back and treat him like some sort of Greek god with a perfectly structured jawline with a fit build and coy smile.

Oh, and did she mention he's as hot as the fucking sun?

(Which he, Annabeth thinks, owns up to.)

(She's really whipped for him.)

But he's respected her boundaries so far, so she'll keep her M rated thoughts to herself. But it's so fucking hard to not stare when he, clad in nothing but loose swimming shorts, shows up to her room at the crack of dawn.

"Looks like you're the talk of the town," Annabeth says teasingly as they settle into the sand. The umbrella provides the cool shade desperately need, to which Annabeth relishes in. “Is seaweed brain..." She feigns a fake gasp. “Actually likeable now?”

Percy threatens to shove a handful of sand down her throat, and she shuts up.

"Whatever," He mutters under his breath, eyes looking away from hers. For some reason he's avoiding looking at her. Annabeth thinks he's just embarrassed, but the way Percy steals glances at her when she's not looking, says otherwise.

"So where's Rachel?” She absent-mindedly asks. Not that she genuinely cares, or whatever, but theres really nothing else that occupies her mind. 

“Around,” He replies. "She told me she's going shopping in the next town for some swimsuits. Or something.”

"Ah."

A seagull screeches from above.

“Wanna see who gets in the water first?"

Annabeth already jolts upwards into a sprint towards the shoreline. "Hey! No fair!”

So the next while is spent with nothing but firendly smiles and secretive glances from Percy, surfing and swimming and having the most fun they've had together in a while. Annabeth grabs his ankle from under the waves, and she thinks that that might be the loudest scream she's ever heard.

Percy, mind stuck with thoughts on revenge, tried to come up with a scare of his own, until his lame scare comes out as throwing a peice of seaweed on her forehead.

 “Lameass!" She laughs, popping her head above the water.

“Smartass!” He yells back, eye twitching and tone sarcastic.

It isn't until the sun sets and the crabs crawl back into their caves is when they both flop back into the sand. Tired. Exhausted. Muscles sore and skin sunburnt.

For a solid thirty minutes it's just comftorable silence as the waves set the soundtrack. Along with the occasisonal him of the ocean, or even the cries of the cicadas back where the beach grass is.

For a solid thirty minutes, Annabeth thinks that she couldn't be more happier.

For a solid thirty minutes, all is calm, all is well, and nothing could be more perfect.

She closes her eyes for a minute thinking that she can spare one nap. Thinking that Percy will just wake me up, so it's fine if I snooze off, right? 

Annabeth dozes off with thoughts of him.

When she wakes up, Pery isn't beside her.

Nor is he on the beach.

For a hot minute Annabeth freaks out, squinting through the darkness to search for his figure. The lantern her doesn't really provide much light, let alone three feet away from her.

But then she sees that his surfboard isn't wedged into the ground, and his things are still there.

So where is he?

Oh. Annabeth thinks lamely to herself when she spots the figure swaying with the waves atop his surfboard. There he is.

It's illogical, really, for her to go after him.

If you don't go, that Rachel girl's got him forever, her head prods, you'll lose him forever.

It's even more illogical when Annabeth grabs her surfboard with a determined look; sandy hair and all.

The waves are calm tonight. No huge crashing of the chilled water, no raging seas or bitterly cold air. The clouds enclose the pale moon, only tiny beams managing to escape. She thinks it casts a blue hue to everything.

Using her arm to paddle her way over, Annabeth catches a glimpse at the stars.

Gods, the stars.

They're brightー brighter than the city that isー and bigger, too. They shine in a way that leaves Annabeth breathless.

Percy hums when she closes in next to him. His limbs dangle off of the surfboard and into the cool waters, occasionally shifting to keep steady. She hums back in reply.

A small wave laps across the shore.

 “That's Perseus.” Annabeth says lazily. She lays down, too, hair splayed across the board. "The constellation, I mean.”

“Perseus, huh?" Percy follows where she points: diagonal from the pair. “Like my name?"

"Like the Greek hero Perseus.” She murmurs quietly.

“You've told me about him." He recalls, "He slayed Medusa and saved Andromeda, right?"

"Mhm," Annabeth nods. "He also had a happy ending. That is, for most Greek heroes.”

She smiles to herself, and Percy can't really think of anything more beautiful than her.

Believe it or not, Percy is good at hiding things. 

Like when he hides the secret stash of snacks under his bed from his mom, (for three years straight and running) or when he hid Mrs. O'Leary when she was just a pup in his closet.

He likes to think that he's good at hiding his feelings too.

Feelings about Annabeth, of course.

Not that he really has anything for herー it's just that whenever he sees her he gets a fluttery feeling in his stomach, his voice gets all awkward, his mind instantly goes to how fucking gorgeous she looks, and how she practically radiates coolness and calm.

Okay. So what if he's head over heels for her?

Percy thinks it started a while ago.

He thinks it started when Rachel first called him seaweed brain.

“-Seaweed brain,” it falls from her lips on a warm spring day, when they're sitting in his room while it rains. 

Percy freezes to look at her. "What?"

“I said It raining cats and dogs out there,” Rachel repeats, “Seaweed brain."

When she catches the slightly shocked look on his face, she frowns. “Something wrong?”

"No,” He murmurs, looking down. "Actually- kinda. that nickname just threw me off a bit, I guess.” Percy give a lopsided smile.

Annabeth only calls me that, he thinks. It feels weird when you say it.

“Oh." She deadpans. “Should I not call you that then? I saw that Annabeth girl call you that, like, a ton of times in one of her letters.” Her eyebrows raise, and Percy reels.

“You were reading my letters?" He frowns. “...Whatever. The nickname- its kind of a personal thing. You know, between me and, uh... her. It'd be cool if you didn't say it.”

“Oh. Okay.” Rachel huffs.

Somehow, Percy never labeled it as love.

Percy didn't label it as love when Annabeth became the ‘nothing!' that came out of his mouth when Sally asked why he was smiling so much. Not when he couldn't stop staring at her in her swecause fuck, she looks so good. Not when Percy was confused on why his love for her became something more.

But that night, that one single night, when Annabeth came to join him under the stars, is when he thought otherwise.

With sunkissed sunburnt skin, 

lips cracked and dry,

moonlight against her face,

The last day of Annabeth's vacation comes on a sunny humid day with the clouds nowhere to be seen. 

He did label it love.

There isn't an air of despair, however, Annabeth'll be back next year for a solid week in winter. College would be a pain, so she'll have one last vacation with her family before she starts her career.

For some reason Percy isn't sad when the news comes to him on her college. New Rome, a prestigious school in the middle of both their cities. All he gives is a coy grin; she can't wrap her mind around hit quite yet.

 "You got plans tonight?” Percy asks suddenly, his voice echoing through Annabeth's room. 

“No.” She tilts her head. “Why? Got something planned?"

“Yeah, actually.” He grins. “We're going to a party of a friend of mine.”

“What?" Annabeth nearly falls off her bed, eyes widened and mouth agape. A party? Tonight? 

“Yup! You better get ready, 'cuz we're leaving in...” Percy checks the clock on her bed side table. "Two hours. See ya!" Is all he says before he hopes out of her window. 

Annabeth nearly screams, but remembers that he's been climbing and jumping out of her window for years now. she lets out a ragged sigh of relief.

"Fuck you!” She yells out to his figure, already dashing away. He turns around, sly smirk on his face.

“Only if you watch!" 

And then he's gone, leaving Annabeth with a red hot face and a flustered mess.

Fuck.

.

.

The next two hours is- um, well...

Chaotic.

Just plain chaotic.

Her who closet is thrown into her bed in a contemplation what to wear. Light or dark? Whats the occasion? How much people are attending? What's the setting?

You're overthinking things again, Annabeth's mind jolts. Just throw something on!

Along with chaotic, she would also describe the scene as a fever dream. 

She opts to wear a black bodycon dress with stringy ties and a loose and light jacket. Annabeth can't really deceive the rest of her look- her mind is all gushy and mushy.

So here she is, standing in front of the booming house, (Percy didn't even bother to drive here there, the jerk) hands fidgeting like she can't stop.

(She can't.)

Annabeth takes a deep breath. She won't be here for a while, so whats she so afraid about? Sure, there's somone puking in a bush that she wants no part in, and there might be concerning sounds coming from inside the huge building, but who's paying attention to that?

Before she can back out, a voice calls out her name.

"Wisegirl!" Percy beams, “Hey!”

“Seaweed brain.” Annabeth crosses her arms as a her bottom lip juts out. "We're were you?"

“Lets not focus on that." He nervously laughs. “But c'mon inside. I want you to meet a few people.”

"Hm?”

The house is just as bad as she thought.

Red Solo cups everywhere, the smell of alcohol and cigarettes especially strong near the kitchen and couches. Bodies bump into her here and there like some sort of mosh pit. They don't even apologize, instead murmuring something with a tipsy tone.

"Grover!" Percy calls a guy over. "Don't you remember Annabeth?”

"Annabeth?" Grover, what she can assume is his friend, looks over to them. His eyes light up when he meets her gaze.

"It's been a while!" Annabeth smiles. Grover! It's been a minute since she's seen him, back when they were all kids. She fondly remembers beach trips with him back then, eating popsicles on her cabin stairs and all.

“It certainly has,” He sighs happily.

Percy then introduces her to many others: Hazel, a bright girl with a even brighter smile, Frank, a towering guy with a friendly touch, Jasonー a blonde guy with a oddly stapler shaped scar on his lip, Piper, a bubbly girl with a flirtatious smile. 

She'd go on about more of them, but at that point Annabeth would be rambling.

"Have you seen Percy around?" Annabeth asks to Grover when she loses him in the bustling crowd.

He nods his head no, and someone tugs on her arm.

“C'monnnn," A girl she met earlier drunkenly tugs harder, “We’re playing truth or dare downstairs!"

She wants do pull away, say no, but then Annabeth spots him in the crowd with people slung around him.

By the looks of it, they're flirting with him, words forming and lips ruling into flirtatious smiles. They touch him in ways that make her cringe. 

Annabeth hates herself for frowning and continuing to stare. The worst part, thinks, is that he's not trying to pull away. Nor is he denying their actions. In fact, he's indulging in it. 

Shit. She shouldn't be thinking this way. Percy's popular and nice. He's bound to attract a few people, and he's not hers.

Annabeth was never the jealous type, but for now she can let the horriblefeeling in her stomach slide just this once. 

She accepts the girl's prodding with a feignged smile.

[gospelofme]

57 Thoughts I Had While Watching Part 2 of The Bad Batch Season Finale (Spoilers ahead!!)

I do like how Part 2 picks right up where Part 1 left off. I prefer that method since it makes it feel like one connected piece. Like how Rogue One ended where A New Hope kicks off.

Ya know, I wouldn’t mind the thunderstorms.

Okay the explosions are beautifully animated. The blues, the sparks, the orange flames. And I like how they’re realistically placed. So many shows with explosions don’t have them right close to the characters, even if they’re supposed to be all around them.

This episode is kinda darkly lit. Not like Battle of Winterfell in Game of Thrones.

Okay yeah, that clone reporting the destruction…thats some sadness there.

That inner alarm has me thinking “oh shit my flight has changed gates again hasn’t it!!”

Damn, imagine being unconscious and wake up in a flooding compartment with a droid and that one kid who took your place.

Okay how strong is that knife. I kinda expect it to break in half. Wrecker would

probably try to trade with Hunter after that.

The shot of the burning buildings on the water is so beautiful too. The reflections were well done.

About AZ being like “oh hey homie, you survived being blown up but now you’re drowning. And I’m watching while this literal child tries to move metal debris off of you.”

Okay Omega using her bow like that is genius. But please wee baby don’t hit Crosshair by accident. And the way the bolts underwater were animated. 🤌🏻🤌🏻

And Crosshair being all “wtf?!”

Dang Omega is so take charge here.

Okay the sprays of water from the door is so well done. And omg they just pop outta there lmao!!!! About how Omega is caught and they just let Crosshair slide on the floor.

Haha Crosshair being like “Hunter, you fucker did you break something?!”

I really wish it wasn’t so darkly lit, but it does bring a sense of realism. The power is out, so what we’re able to see is what the characters are able to see with flashlights. Plus I’m sure this would look different on my TV than iPad.

The music is so pretty, so emotional. Oh damn poor AZ.

Oh never mind. He’s good.

Crosshair quit being a poop and follow them please.

Echo and that smell lmao.

“Blind allegiance makes you a pawn. A real leader protects his squad.”

Huh. Interesting. But isn’t blind allegiance what the clones had in the Republic? Isn’t that what Clone Force 99 had in the Republic? At least mostly. Some clones didn’t have that obviously, like Cut.

Ooohh Crosshair’s expression when Hunter knocked his shoulder. That seemed like surprise. There is something to that.

Hmmmmmm I’m with Crosshair on that. Going through a glass tunnel with cracks in it hundreds of feet below the surface would be a no from me. Also, what about water pressure? Is that not a thing there? Like wouldn’t you get a massive headache traveling through that? Or maybe not….idk.

Oh fuck Wrecker letting Crosshair know what’s what. I do like that he’s finally expressing how he feels. I’ve always thought there was more of a brotherly relationship between Wrecker and Crosshair than Crosshair had with the others. And Wrecker has a point, Crosshair didn’t even try to come back to them. Of course that really isn’t a fair statement either I guess. Wrecker should remember how he couldn’t control what he did when his chip kicked on.

And Tech jumping in and saying that Crosshair has always been “severe and unyielding” is a good way to let us know a bit more of what’s normal behavior for Crosshair. I like how he’s reminded Wrecker that some things Crosshair can’t help due to just how he is (likely a byproduct of the enhancement experiments).

“Understanding you does not mean I agree with you.” Ugh if only more people had this mindset. Also, the whole “why are you defending me?” sounds like Tech doesn’t usually leap to Crosshair’s defense (even though that’s not what he’s doing here). Which further makes me think that the brotherly relationship that usually exists between team members (like Domino squad eventually, Rex/Echo/Fives/Kix/Jesse/Hardcase/Tup) doesn’t exist here between all the guys. It’s more sporadic. Crosshair seems to get along better with Wrecker (in their own way, teasing and their droid death counts) than he does with Tech.

Also perhaps they should not stop so often…ya know, just in case the tunnel implodes.

Oh nope nope nope. No underwater tubes and sea monsters for Bethany.

AZ is so peppy. Like he sounds so positive when relaying bad news. He sounds like the kinda droid that would be like “good news is you have great cholesterol, bad news is you have cancer. But yay no diabetes!”

Oh yeah I kinda forgot Hunter wasn’t with them they first got to the private lab. And oh damn, Omega is technically older than them. The whole accelerated aging thing is just so unfair.

Well we really couldn’t expect a glass tunnel to fully survive aerial bombardment. Better start swimming fuckers!!

Damn, someone find AZ a charger! I bet Tech has one for his datapad that boy is attached too. He seems like the type to never be without a phone charger. He also seems like the type to not want to share it because no one else in the squad treats their charge cords with respect.

Dad gum Crosshair, I didn’t hear you spouting off any bright ideas. Geez, who peed in your wheaties?!

Hunter takes things too personally?! Weren’t you being all Salty McSourpus over Hunter leaving your ass on Kamino for shooting at him and the others? Were you not taking that too personally? But kudos to Hunter for reminding him the Empire peaced the fuck out and left him to die on Kamino. Although…Crosshair does sound like he’s trying not to care about that. Like it does bother him but he’s acting like he don’t give a fuck.

“The Empire will control the entire Galaxy. And I’m going to be a part of it.” Uhm, sir…you’re currently in a secret lab at the bottom of the ocean with no means of escape right now. How do you plan to be a part of the Empire from down here? Like, are you going to establish the underwater branch of the Empire and assert the Emperor’s control over the sea critters?

Ugh Omega trying so hard to bond with Crosshair. Like the parallel between this scene and the holding cell scene. And her thinking she was wrong about the chip making him behave like a dick. Oh sweet baby, you’re not wrong. He still has that thing. But he has always been a dick per Tech’s words earlier. But she’s trying so hard to show him the similarities between them.

I’ve noticed Crosshair does a lot of pushing people away. Like he’s been doing that with Hunter and Omega this whole season. Speaking harshly to them both (although I think some of the things he says to Hunter, he’s always wanted to say). But I think it’s more that he wants to avoid disappointing them, so he shoves them away to prevent that feeling. Like perhaps he thinks he isn’t worthy to be around them, that they’ll be better off without him around.

Oh fuck, look at you contributing now Mr. I Am Going To Complain About Other People’s Ideas.

Did they have to draw straws to see who got their own pod and who had to team up with who? Like,

Hunter: “Someone has to go with Tech.”

Crosshair, Wrecker: “Not it!”

Echo: “not it, fuck I wasn’t fast enough.”

Oh the wee child is getting her own pod. Okay then.

Of course Hunter and Crosshair get doubled up. I bet they argue the whole time.

Crosshair: “stop breathing all the air!!”

Hunter: “stop standing on my foot!!”

Crosshair: “well it’s not my fault you have Sasquatch feet!”

Oh damn. Well bye Omega. It was nice knowing you. Crosshair probably has your eulogy already written.

Hm, so Tech never shared his datapad charge cord with AZ. Bummer.

Awww poor AZ. He was a good droid. We’ll remember how he OMG OMEGA WHAT THE FUCK?!!???

Again is water pressure not a thing in Star Wars?

Sweetie. He’s metal. You won’t be strong enough to pull him along with you.

Oh fuck Crosshair! Oh damn the look on his face is like “Hunter, get you ugly ass face out of my shot.” Oh damn, boy has got some good eyesight, I want a piece of that.

Bruh, that’s gotta hurt. You just saved the kid they all love and they got you at blaster point. Buuuuuut at the same time you haven’t expressed the most positive attitude towards said kid either. So maybe they have a good reason to think you’d shoot her? Still. Damn. That’s gotta hurt, since if it had been the good ol’ days they’d be like “nice shot buddy!”

Hunter looks more wary than upset honestly. Like he isn’t sure why Crosshair did that, but he’s not sure if Crosshair would want him expressing gratitude either. Hunter doesn’t seem to know how to treat him any more. Crosshair belittles him and speaks harshly to him, but then saves Omega. It’s almost like old Crosshair is still in there, knowing how attached the team is to Omega. Even if he does think she’s not in the safest environment with them.

Oh…omg what is this?! I just noticed, no rain on Kamino….AND SUNSHINE?! Like is that a fucking sunrise??!!?? Oh shit you guys there is symbolism here!!! Like a new start or something impossible has happened. Like there has never been sunshine on Kamino, it’s always stormed. Always. Always and forever it has done that. But after the destruction of Tipoca City, the rains cease and the sunshine comes out. Like….omg guys. It’s pretty!!

Interesting. Omega seems sad that a place she didn’t want to ever return to is gone. But I guess that’s probably the notion that she’s essentially homeless setting in. That the only home she’s had (before Clone Force 99) is gone.

Also, I have this theory that Ghost Fives probably travels with Echo, and he’d likely be like “good! Fuck that place. Killing Tup there and all. Bitches.”

Echo: “stfu Fives, she’s sad okay.”

Honestly I’m not surprised Crosshair refused their offer to come with them. He has his pride and I feel like he doesn’t want to admit aligning with the Empire was a mistake. That he was wrong and Hunter was right. Especially after being all Pro-Empire and talking about how they’re going to be what the Galaxy needs.

“Consider us even.” GIRL he admits it! He was saving YOU!! YOU! Not the dumb droid, YOU!!!!

His face says it all when they pull away. Like he regrets not going with them, but he can’t bring himself to stay with them. He’s really conflicted right now. He has programming in his head telling him one thing and another portion of his mind reminding him that Tech, Wrecker, Hunter, and even Echo care about him. That they’re a team. He even wanted them to join the Empire so they could all get back together. He does want to be with them, but it’s going to take time to get passed the war in his head.

Oh damn, Nala Se and some Commando buddies. Yeah there’s something up with her. She seems to have gained a lot out of this. Making herself more important than Lama Su and likely more important than the other scientists from Kamino. I wonder if this was her plan all along. It’s so hard to tell what Kaminoans are thinking because they don’t express emotions facially or even vocally.

I read a post somewhere about Nala Se doing childish science experiments. Like the baking soda/vinegar volcano. And now I can’t get the image out of my head of her teaching like a high school chemistry class where you get to do those classic science fair experiments. Things exploding, clones accidentally gassing each other at a table. Someone betting someone else 5 credits to drink a solution.

@leias-left-hair-bun @halzore @escapedthesarlacc @eyecandyeoz

[barnesandrogersfanfics]

Ocean Eyes - Part 8

A/N - Finally an update!! Im sorry of this is bad but im trying to get back into the swing of it! 💕💕

My week had been long! Or at least it felt that way. Work had been busier than usual and Mason was being extra clingy. If he wasn't hanging onto me he was throwing a tantrum because he wanted his dad. Chris had been stopping by every day after he got off from work, most days staying for dinner and then leaving once Mason was down for the night. On the few occasions Chris couldn't make it..... i knew Mason was going to act up. It was nice having Chris's help with Mason, but i couldn't help thinking about how much easier life would have been with him around from the start.

Another person who had noticed Chris's increased visits was Brian! My god he was driving me mad!!

He would show up all the time at the coffee shop trying to talk to me about random things. He would always be out the front of his house when i arrived home, it was getting ridiculous and honestly a little creepy! Even to the point of him showing up when i was grocery shopping with Mason.

Friday evening quickly came around and I packed a weekend bag for Mason and I ready for our weekend in Boston visiting Chris's mom Lisa. It had been agreed that we would stay at Chris's house after Mason found out Chris had a dog.

He wouldn't shut up about meeting Dodger!

Chris came by to pick us up, he grabbed our bags and took them out to his car with Mason following him while i double checked the house was locked up and i hadn't forgotten anything. I set the alarm and locked the front door, as i turned Brian was walking over.

"Hey, you going somewhere?" He asked like it was something he should be aware of.

"yeah, just a family thing" i nodded shrugging casually as i continued towards Chris's car.

"How long you gonna be gone for?"

"Only a few days, goodnight Brian"

"You okay?" Chris asked walking over to me while throwing a glare at Brian who wasn't too far behind.

"Yeah lets just go"

Chris put his arm around my waist and led me to the passenger side while standing between me and Brian as if shielding me from my creepy neighbour.

"I know its not my place to say, but i don't like that guy. He freaks me out the way he is with you" Chris said quietly once we were on the road.

"I know, i hate it too. He's gotten worse since he's seen you around more"

"I really think you should think about moving"

"Ive been thinking the same thing actually"

"You have?"

"Yeah, i don't feel safe in my own home anymore. The guy is literally everywhere i go"

"He still coming by the coffee shop?"

"Everyday" i nodded "now he shows up when i'm getting groceries with Mace....."

"Maybe you and Mason should stay with me until you find a new place, or i'll stay with you....."

"Chris...."

"Im not trying to overstep i swear, i just want to know you're both safe"

"I'll think about it".

To say Chris's house was impressive would be a huge understatement. When we walked in we were tackled by the brown and white dog Mason had been dying to meet. Dodger was so happy to see people and so gentle with Mason, the two were hitting it off already. I stood looking around the house and couldnt believe how clean and tidy everything was.... it looked like something out of a magazine....I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped my mouth, that got Chris's attention.

"What?"

"I was just thinking about how tidy it is.... you do realise thats gonna change with a 5 year old running around?"

"Of course i do, i'm not stupid.....Im looking forward to it"

"We'll see if you feel that way later" i shook my head before bending down to fuss Dodger who was now wanting my attention.

"Pizza okay for dinner?" Chris asked after he had shown us to the guest room and got us settled in.

"Thats fine, Mason will be thrilled" i smiled "must get his love of pizza from you".

Chris just smiled proudly as he pulled his cell phone from his pocket to order.

"Your favourite still ham and pineapple?"

"Of course!"

"So gross"

"Christopher don't start that argument with me again.... pineapple is good on pizza!"

"Keep telling yourself that sweetheart" he chuckled shaking his head as we made our way back downstairs. We had argued about pineapple on pizza for years!

"Mason agrees with me" i shrugged with a smug smile as a look of horror spread on his face.

"No!..... say it ain't so....."

"Sorry its true, ask him"

"Hey buddy?.... what pizza do you want?" Chris called over to Mason who was sitting with Dodger in front of the TV.

"Ham and Pineapple please"

"Thats my boy!" I grinned at Chris before going to sit with Mason and Dodger.

I was standing in front of the mirror looking at my outfit choice for the day, maybe i should change..... i had already changed 3 times!! My stomach had been in knots all morning, the nerves getting the better of me, Id barely touched the pancakes Chris had made us all for breakfast.

"You look so pretty mama" I heard Mason say and turned to see him standing in the bedroom doorway smiling at me.

"Thank you baby" i smiled back lovingly at him before taking one last look in mirror and taking a deep breath.

"I guess its time to go meet your nana huh?"

"Yep! Come on lets go! Dad said Dodger can come too" he was so excited!

"He did?? Wow bud thats great! Come on then lets go".

Chris was sat on the sofa waiting for us, he was looking at something on his cell phone that made him frown.... he looked pissed off truth be told.

"Hey, we're ready when you are" i said casually letting him know we were in the room. He looked up instantly, his eyes looking me up and down as a smile spread on his face.

"Wow you look nice.... both of you"

"Thanks, we wont embarrass you then?" I asked only half joking, even though i knew his family this was still nerve racking.

"Why would you ever embarrass me?"

"I...."

"Mama can we go?" Mason interrupted walking over with Dodger on his lead.

"Wow someones eager to meet his nana huh?"

"Sure pal, lets go" Chris beamed grabbing his car keys and slipping his phone in his jeans pocket.

Chris's cell was blowing up in his pocket as we drove to his moms place, 5/6 ignored phone calls followed by a shit ton of text messages. I could see him getting more and more irritated the longer they kept coming through.

"Everything okay?" I finally asked looking over at him.

"Huh?"

"Your phone?...."

"Oh yeah, i'm sure its nothing important"

"The person trying to get your attention seems to think differently"

"It can wait" he quickly looked at me with a tight lipped smile before turning his attention back to the road.

"You sure? You can pull over and check...."

"Im positive"

"Okay if you say so"

"I do say so, now shush i like this song" he said smiling as he turned up the song on the radio drowning out the sound of his phone.

My knee was bouncing and my heart racing from my nerves as we drove up the drive way to Lisa's house.

Chris put the car in park and looked over at me with a smile.

"You know you have nothing to be nervous about? My mom loves you, you were always like another daughter to her"

"I know, but i left..... she's gonna hate me for leaving the way i did.... for not telling her...."

"Hey, she knows this is on me. She always knew it was my fault we didn't work out...." he looked down at his lap "she was so happy to hear you were coming to see her. She can't wait to see you and meet Mason"

"She was?"

"Yeah, now come on you got this"

I nodded and took a deep breath before throwing open my door and climbing out of Chris's car ready to face the music.

Everything taglist: @jesseswartzwelder @dumblani @barnesandrogersworld @patzammit @rynabarnesrogers-reading @rainbowkisses31 @rororo06 @supernaturalwintersoldier @fairlightswiftly @hiddelstannerbarnes

Ocean eyes: @supraveng @michelehansel @melissaglenn5 @denisemarieangelina

@mrsjeffwittek @mery-be @marvelfansworld @cmalass @capstopavenger @fallenoutofrose @kelbabyblue @biebsmylife95 @loser-alert @traceyaudette @w3lissax @jennmurawski13 @ford66steal @saiyanprincessswanie @christocrave @jakiki94 @torntaltos @buchanansebba

[cthomashoodstory]

Best Years but Not in the Same Way (2)

Calum Hood x Saara Palvin

Previous Part

//TW: mention of self harm, cutting.

Well this story is take place around mid June 2017, since the previous story is made in my language so I will explain a summary. Saara and Calum and 5sos also has been friends since 2013 when she help them wrote song She Looks So Perfect. Then they’re become close friends until March 2015, she befriended Justin Bieber, her idol. Calum and Saara were close (romantically) since Desember 2014. Until the JB thing, they were separated. Long short story, JB had issued and dump Saara for SG and Saara dated a guy named Barry Allen. Things were complicated until Saara chose JB and they decided to engaged. Thats when Calum devastated Saara chose JB again. But again, Saara broke up the engagement because of stupidity that JB did early June 2017. At the same time Calum and Nia Lovelis has just separated. Then Saara accept Calum’s offer to work with 5sos’ third album, Youngblood and she became close friends again with Calum and 5sos.

Well thats the summary i hope you understand about my explanation! Enjoy! (Saara is Barbara Palvin)

Masterlist

-

Calum was offered me to pick me up from my apartment and i said yes because... i don’t know. I feel like i want to spend time with him again since the last time we were not friends. I was so fool back then for unfriended him because of Justin. I was so obsessed with Justin so I abandoned my life.

“Let’s just not mention anything about that to both of them, okay?” I could hear Ashton saying that to Michael and Luke when me and Calum arrived at studio i used to came back in 2014.

“Oh hey guys,” Michael greeted us nervously when he looked at us. “We were just... standing.” He explained why him, Ashton and Luke were standing there close together.

Then i smiled. “You don’t have to explain that.” I knew exactly what they were talking about. About the failed relationship i had with Justin. It was hurt for me to through all of this. What Justin did was unacceptable in every angle. “So what’s our gig today?” I asked to one of them while i sat on the sofa.

“Oh we are waiting for Rami Yacoub to come. Today we will recording a song named Empty Wallets.” Said Ashton. Not a second he mention his name, Rami walked in to the studio. We all hugged him.

Then it’s Luke’s turn to recording his voice. And we all sit down on couch. Luke began singing his verse and I’m not really pay attention to him because I’ve been busy with my mind.

“So, how are you?” Calum, the one who sat beside me, asked me randomly. “I mean how you doing since you know....” He didn’t continued. I was really about to snapped him but i didn’t do it. He’s been through similar thing as me right now. And i don’t want him to be sad like i am right now.

You exhaled. “I’ve been betrayed again by him. And it was hurt to break the engagement with the one i love. So I’m not okay. I’m not fine. I’m hurt. I’m not stable right now.” You showed him a cut in your wrist that turned to dry behind your long sleeves. “I tried not to do it but i can’t help it. I don’t have any escape.”

“Hey.” Calum hold my left hand. “Don’t ever do that again. I will be your escape if you want to.” Then he kissed my head.

“What about you? I know you’re separated with your ex.” You tried to changed the subject. “Share it with me.” You gave him a little smile.

He was quiet for a moment. “I don’t really want to talk about it. I was hurt and thats it.” His face was changed from happy to sad. And now i felt so bad for turning his mood in the middle of recording process. Today was supposed to be a happy day for me because i met the boys again and i worked with them again since three years ago.

I pulled out my notebook from my sling purse and showed him lyric that i created last night. “I made it last night while i was eating dinner.” I tried to smile to him but he was still quiet. “You wanna hear what it sounds like to me?”

He nodded and i began to exemplify.

“So this part is going to be like ‘thinking about you lots lately have you been eating dinner alone like me, i thinking bout you lots lately.” You sang it and Calum watch you. “After this part I’m thinking about like... Ash drum solo And then the first verse was like ‘is it bad that I’m hoping that you’re broken, is it bad that I’m wishing you still broken, that you havent found fish in the ocean, is it bad? So bad?”

“Thats pretty cool line.” Calum nodded in impressed. “Let me get my bass.” He got up and took his bass. “Can you repeat the first verse again? I’m trying to match the chord.”

You nodded and began to sing again. Then Calum slowly to play his bass riff matching the sound of me singing.

“Eh what is that? Sound so dope.” Michael joined us right in the middle of singing.

“Saara just showed me her writing and i tried to match the bass riff. It’s really cool I’m not going to lie.” Calum compliment you and you happily on the inside. But then Calum walked in to recording room and now Luke is the one who sit on my left and Michael on my right and I’m between them.

When Calum is already on the recording room, Ashton who stood beside Rami just walk fast towards us. “Saara, how you doing? Girl we’re worried about you.”

“Yeah Saar, we just heard what happened and now you’re here with us.” Luke added.

Then Michael seems pissed of to both of them. “I thought we have an agreement not to say anything about this to her?” “But seriously you just broke up with Bieber at the same time as Calum with Nia.” “That is so fucked up.”

You shrugged. “Maybe it’s a coincidence. I don’t know. I don’t want to think about it anymore. It was all happened in the past, all i wanna do is buried all the memories and move on.”

Ashton cheered you. “That’s my girl, Palvin, I’m so glad you’re back to us, to our palm.” You laughed at his expression alongside with Luke and Mike “Dismissed Calum is coming.” This tiny grouping is dismissed because Calum just walked out from recording room. Ashton back to Rami’s side, Michael run to toilet and Luke still sat beside me.

“What’s going on, mate?” Calum asked Luke. He was just grinned and not answered his questions.

“We... talk about this lyric.” I signed the book that i hold in my hand. “Luke has a great line that I’m about to write but then you came and yeah.” Then my phone is ringing and i saw Justin is calling. I rejected and ignore the call. But he called again and it really bothered me so much.

“Just answer it, Bar.” Calum implied me to answer my call. I think he knew who’s been calling me. Then i walk out from studio room and answer his call.

-

To be continued

This boomerang taken when Saara answer Justin’s phone call.

Next Part

[suf-lives-rent-free]

Fragments

Everything below is just my opinion; I am in no way trying to say that how I feel about this is the one correct take or whatever.

I know a lot of people like this episode and what happens in it, but I don’t.  I totally understand that some people just don’t want to see any negativity, period, but negativity is not inherently bad or wrong.

Negative opinions, even about something you enjoy, can be valid too - regardless of whether you happen to agree with them or not.

Also I get very salty near the end of this, and that might be entertaining to people who stan this episode?

I am aware that a lot of people – the majority, I’m pretty sure – think that the episode is a masterpiece. And on some level, I see where they’re coming from with that assessment.

The episode is boarded beautifully, the backgrounds – especially during the training montage – are stunning as always.  The music is fantastic, and the performances are great too.  In these respects, Fragments is a stand-out episode; I agree.

(Like look at this.  Gorgeous.)

However, something that’s bothered me since I saw the episode is the writers’ decision to write it into the story that Steven shatters Jasper.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: I just don’t get it.  I’m purposefully misinterpreting the story to say it’s bad.  Steven brings her back to life; and it’s not like he meant to do it in the first place.  I just don’t have the capacity to understand the sublime nature of the show’s storytelling.  I’m an SU crit and all I want to do is make the real fans feel about themselves for liking it.

Uhhhh... no.  Nah.  That ain’t it chief.

It’s true; I am not a writer.  I’m just a passive consumer of media.  However, I do not agree with the viewpoint that in order to properly understand or critique a thing you need to have the expertise and/or experience in order to make something similar.

For example, if I were to put something I drew when I was 10 years old next to something I drew yesterday, it shouldn’t take a person who has had an education in fine art to tell you that the latter drawing is better-looking than the former.

That’s how I approach media consumption and criticism; when I criticise a writing decision, I am doing so as a consumer.  I’m not saying I could write it better, or even that my opinion is objectively correct and the writer is wrong or bad.  I’m just saying that I didn’t like a thing.  Which, I would hope, is allowed?

Okay, defensive hedging over, back to the point; I don’t like that they had Steven shatter Jasper.

[I get markedly saltier from this point on, fyi]

Full admission of bias here: one of the things I really cherish about the original show is how they wrote Steven’s character; he’s a boy with interests that don’t rigidly conform to gender stereotypes.  He likes ‘boyish’ things and ‘girly’ things, and that’s okay; thats just him.  In cartoons when I was growing up, characters like Steven would be the butt of jokes about being ‘girly’ or thinly-veiled homophobia.  I find him very relatable, and I want to acknowledge that yes, that is probably a significant part of why I have such an issue with this episode’s twist.

I am not trying to say that he’s a perfect baby angel or whatever; Steven regularly gets frustrated and angry. He does some pretty manipulative and dickish things to people around him (stop trying to make Larsadie happen, Steven. It’s not going to happen).  He is a flawed character who fucks up sometimes. And he’s not 100% peaceful either; he acts violently when he defends himself against corrupted Gems and Homeworld Gems (and Crystal Gems on occasion *cough*Bismuth*cough*).  

However, he has a pacifistic temperament; whenever it’s possible, he prefers that problems be solved without needless violence or hurt.  And I like that; in most media, it’s rare to have a male protagonist who wants to solve their problems without jumping straight to punching things.

When he accidentally frees Centipeedle, he convinces the Gems to step off and allow him to try and rehabilitate her peacefully; he even notices that the Gems’ weapons are a trigger for her, and make them put them away.  He frees Lapis against the Gems’ wishes because he recognizes that keeping her prisoner is wrong, and when she steals the ocean, he talks it out and heals her so she can leave Earth peacefully.

He tries to aid Jasper when she starts corrupting, fixes Eyeball’s gemstone when she’s cracked and tries talking Bismuth down when she attacks him with the breaking point.  In all of these situations, his words and help are ignored or rejected; he’s forced to resort to violence.  And it traumatises him.  

We get an entire episode dedicated to the fact that he’s been struggling with processing these awful things that happened.

Even in Future, Steven shows hesitation about engaging in unncecessary violence; he gives into Jasper’s goading for a fight after what’s implied to be dozens of failed tries at making her come to Little Homeschool, and he spends an entire episode trying to keep Lapis from squashing the two rogue Lapis Lazulis. 

The only time he hops into a fight willingly is after Eyeball and Aquamarine hold Greg hostage, and even then they pose a clear threat to his and Greg’s safety and have made it clear that they want to hurt him emotionally and physically.  Even at that, he stops and switches tactics to talking them down as soon as they lose their focus and start bickering with each other.

(I mean, he fails.  But it’s the thought that counts.)

I personally find it really jarring that the writers found it appropriate to write it into the series that this same character – over the course of three (3) days – goes from disliking mindless violence for mindless violence’s sake to happily engaging in the destruction of plants and animals* and has done a total 180 on his willingness to spar with Jasper, to the point that he instigates their rematch.

*(You best believe plenty of small mammals and birds – y’know, like the nest Steven saved in the first episode – died as he and Jasper felled tree after tree, not to mention all of those displaced by the destruction of their habitats, and the potential loss of food sources from some of those trees.)

You’re telling me that it’s a reasonable character beat for this boy to gleefully laugh like an anime supervillain at his sudden new-found joy in fighting, then pin Jasper in place, taunt her for helping him get so strong, and hit her so hard that she breaks into pieces and dies?

You’re telling me that that’s an in-character thing for Steven Quartz Diamond Cutie-Pie DeMayo Universe do to another character?

(And yes I am purposefully dancing around talking about the mental health stuff because if I did that I’d have to go on a whole other tangent about Growing Pains and fuck I just don’t feel like it right now lmao)

Going back to Mindful Education, another big thing we see Steven struggle with is the idea that his mother shattered Pink Diamond.  This knowledge sits heavily with him; it makes him sympathetic to the Diamonds, even under the circumstances in which he sees them (escaping from the Human Zoo, and being on trial for said murder). 

He sees their grief, and he feels awful.  He questions who Rose Quartz even was.  He knows, based on what Garnet said, that Rose had to do it; there was no other way to free Earth.  But he still feels awful seeing the pain that Pink’s loss has caused Blue and Yellow Diamond.

In Steven Universe, shattering is clearly equated with execution/death multiple times.  When Pearl and Garnet fret over the crack in Amethyst’s gemstone worsening.  When Blue Diamond threatens to break Ruby.  When Bismuth introduces the breaking point, and Steven recoils at the sight of what it does.  If you want to take the fact that Gem shards are sentient and desperate to become whole again into account, you could even argue that it’s a fate worse than death. This particular act of violence is treated very, very seriously.

When we find out that Rose shattered Pink Diamond, there is a season and a half long arc unpacking the implications and consequences of this one action, and how this knowledge forever alters Steven’s mental image of his mother.  And she didn’t even kill anyone.  It was a lie!

In Steven Universe Future, Steven shatters Jasper 4 episodes before the end of the series.  And it’s only brought up twice; once for a big *gasp* moment during his breakdown in Everything’s Fine, and in I Am My Monster by Pearl, when she has to fill-in Bismuth, Lapis and Peridot.  Notably, it is never discussed around or by Jasper.  Y’know.  The person who actually died.

No indication of how (or even if) what Steven did is affecting his own self-image after his initial breakdown, how Jasper feels about what she went through beyond falling back into the Era 1 and 2 mindset.  No inkling of how the knowledge that Steven killed somebody has affected how anyone in his life thinks or feels about him; when Pearl brings it up in I Am My Monster, she seems to not even really believe it’s true.

If there are any consequences or talks about this incident, they’re skipped over between I Am My Monster and The Future, and we’re expected to assume that Steven and his therapist are dealing with it, I guess?

And yes.  It was an accident.  He did bring her back to life.  But it still happened.  If you hit someone over the head and they stop breathing, just because the paramedics are able to resusitate and stabilize them afterwards doesn’t mean you never hit them.

But here, it’s shoved aside because dwelling on it would take far too much time, and risks framing Steven in an unsympathetic way when he’s meant to be on the cusp of a breakdown.

It just feels like careless writing to me.  They really, really wanted their big action scene with Steven and Jasper, but didn’t think (or maybe weren’t interested in thinking) about the seriousness or consequences of what Steven shattering someone would entail.

In my opinion, Steven shattering Jasper is one of the cheapest, laziest things they could have ever done with his character (and hers, for that matter).  To me, the entire thing feels entirely out of character.  It’s pure shock value; nothing more.

So yeah.  That particular writing decision just does not work for me.  And if you disagree... well that’s fine?  It’s fine.  We can agree to disagree?  I’ve read a lot of defense/praise for this episode, and honestly even after processing all of those opinions and all the time my thoughts about this plotline have been stewing in my brain, I still feel the same way.

[wintersxsoul]

The Underworld Is Nothing Without You

Summary: A tragic lover that finally finds his queen.

Pairing: Bucky x Reader 

Word Count: 1.2k

Warnings: It has a sad tone, thats basically it.

A/N: This is my entry for @bvcks 4.2k writing challenge and my prompt was  “I know, but you are the only reason I stayed.”. I am a total an absolute hoe for mythology, so I really loved doing this even tho my brain is fucking fried. Big thank you to Sara @polaroid-idiocity for this beautiful and amazing moodboard, I love you. Check her out because she is an amazing artist doing moodboards, with such a beautiful soul it makes me cry.

"Persephone kisses the snow because she knows even the coldest things need love. She doesn’t know winter. Only that she is the reason for it."

Bucky shivered the first time he heard you read that quote to him. He couldn’t remember who wrote it or the real meaning for the author, but for him, it meant so much it hurt. He saw you as Persephone, the Spring Goddess and Queen of the Underworld. He, of course, saw himself as Hades, cruel and dark, the one that carried a huge burden of violence and sorrow.

The first time you met James Buchanan Barnes, something in you awoke, even though you met him as The Winter Soldier. You couldn’t understand how a person with such angelical features could be so cold and merciless, but maybe that was his biggest weapon, those baby blue eyes could melt even the harsher heart. Steve told you everything about him, the way he had saved him in so many occasions, his warm laugh and the softness that those eyes held every time he looked at his best friend. It was impossible to understand how they could be the same person, coexisting with each other, but HYDRA took care of that side, turning him into a weapon, turning him into Hades.

Bucky spent months in a haze, the turmoil of memories and feelings that once belonged to him surging back. He felt so numb for years, hollow, being just a complying weapon that when Steve, all beaten up because of him , fell into the Potomac something in him, a soft cracked voice, told him to jump. So he did. And that single action, that simple act of selflessness was what drove Steve to look for him, Sam and you following him.

That’s how you ended up, three years later, curled up next to Bucky on your bed. Throughout the trials you were there for him, helping him to escape his nightmares, soothing his fears, taking him to therapy and being everything Bucky had wanted all his life. You were an agent when you first met him but after the fall of SHIELD, Steve took you in, so now you were part of The Avengers.

“You’ve been silent for the past hour. What is going on?” You beamed at him, but he kept staring at the ceiling, like he had been doing the whole afternoon.

“Buck, are the nightmares back?” He shook his head but never looked at you. You sighed, a bit exasperated, and sat on the bed. You were about to speak when he said in a low, soft voice “Why?”

You knew him too well to understand that simple question, but you wanted, needed , him to say it aloud.

“Why what , Bucky?” He looked at you and you almost gasped at the look in his eyes, he had been crying and you hadn’t noticed.

“Why didn’t you join the FBI like Sharon did?” He frowned.

“Because I wanted to be an Avenger, I wanted to be with my family.” You cupped his cheek with your hand and planted a small kiss on his lips. You loved him, you always had, but you knew that telling him might freak him out. He wasn’t ready.

“Tell me about Hades and Persephone again, please.” He smiled at you sweetly, making your insides churn. You leaned in and pressed your forehead to his, your eyes fluttered closed at the sensation of his breath ghosting your lips. He closed the distance, giving you a long sweet kiss, making you both gasp for air. He pulled you close to him, embracing you with his metal arm, cooling you down instantly. You cleared your thought and started to narrate the story you both knew by heart already.

“Persephone, the Goddess of Spring, enamored the God of Death and King of the Underworld, Hades. Overwhelmed by his feelings, he took her from her home to make her his Queen. It took time for Persephone to adjust to her new life, but eventually, she learned to love the Underworld and to love Hades as much as he did. Meanwhile, Persephone's mother, Demeter, the Goddess of Harvest, searched the earth for her daughter, only to find from Zeus that she was is in the Underworld, thus bringing Demeter into mourning and bringing winter upon the earth. Hearing this news from Hermes, Hades traced a plan: if anyone ate anything from the Underworld, they were bound to it, so Hades persuaded Persephone to eat some seeds from a pomegranate, therefore keeping her for four months of the year and the rest on Earth with her mother.”

“Don’t you see the resemblance?”

“No, why would I?” He would be lying if he said that question didn’t hurt him, but why would you see it? You couldn’t know he was in love with you, he never said it, but neither did you. You’d been dating only for a few months, so your feelings might be uncertain. Why would you love him?

“I...I don’t know. I just…I don’t know.” Bucky shook his head, cursing under his breath for being such a moron. You laced your fingers with his metal ones, and looked at his ocean eyes.

“Buck, we are not them. You are not him.” You caressed his face with your fingertips, tracing his strong jaw and placing a strand of hair behind his ear. His gaze was warm, full of adoration and love, and before he could say it, you knew it.

“Y/n, I love you.” Before you could even react or say it back, he pulled you closer, his hands shaking on your skin.

“That’s why you should’ve left when you could.” He said with sorrow making his voice tremble. You stare at him for a few seconds, your gaze softening at the sight of him opening himself, raw and honest.

“ I know, but you are the only reason I stayed .” He stared at you wide eyed, not knowing if that was a good or a bad thing.

“I stayed because I love you more than anything, not because you forced me to do so. We are not them, and we will never be.”

“That means no one is coming to take you away from me?” He smiled fondly at you and squeezed your hand, trying to ground himself after your confession.

You laughed and shook your head in amusement, this man was going to be the death of you.

Persephone fell in love with the soft parts of Hades, the tenderness and love he showed her, the longing gazes and sweet kisses. She ended up understanding why he acted like he did, his past was his own, but not really. He was who he was because that’s how they made him. Hades was made to rule the Underworld, to take care of the lost souls that were stuck there for eternity.

Hades fell in love with Persephone for her ethereal soul, the beauty she had hidden beneath her but what he loved the most about her was her fearless attitude, her strong character. She might’ve been the Goddess of Spring but she was nothing like her flowers, she was meant for more, she was meant to be his queen.

What myths will never know, is that it wasn’t Hades plan, it was hers all along. Persephone wanted to stay with her beloved, so she ate a few seeds of the pomegranate and told Hades what to do. She understood what Hades once told her: “The Underworld is nothing without you.” She understood because life without his love meant nothing to her anymore.

[drsilverfish]

The Riddle of the Sphinx: 14x12 Prophet and Loss

First, thanks to @verobatto-angelxhunter  @gneisscastiel @magnificent-winged-beast @emblue-sparks  @mrsaquaman187  for inviting me to guest this week, as part of their ongoing SPN #Metafest project @metafest  

along with several other guests:  @bluephoenixrises  @poorreputation @agusvedder @amwritingmeta   @savannadarkbaby @prairiedust  and

@norahastuff 

I’m going to guest meta about the Riddle of the Sphinx.

Here is creepy Tony Alvarez drowning his first victim. 

Despite an opening dose of Bucklemming torture-porn (ugh - although tbf there was a narrative point, as the drowned girl was a mirror for Dean, just like the slain first-born son and the dude who almost got barbecued were - more on that later...)... So, yeah, despite that, I was thrilled to see this in the visual narrative architecture - the Sphinx Machine Shop, where Tony does his mangled prophecy induced killing.

The Sphinx, as you know, is a fearsome part-woman, part winged-lion beastie, in Greek mythology, who was famous for guarding the entrance to Thebes and asking travellers to solve the answer to a riddle in order to gain safe passage to the city. If they failed, she devoured them.

She is tied in mythology not just to puzzles and their solutions, but to fate...

Here is the Sphynx of Naxos, from the Temple of Apollo at Delphi (560 BCE)

Image from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphinx_of_Naxos 

The Temple of Delphi was the site of the Oracle of Delphi, who was the High Priestess Pythia (a transferrable role) famous for her prophesies, which came to her in trance-states, supposedly from the God Apollo.

You see the link to SPN’s own Prophet role here.... 

The Sphinx also, famously, appears in Sophocles’ play Oedipus Rex, which became the basis for Freud’s also famous (and relevant a bit later) “Oedipus complex”. Sophocles didn’t invent the myth, but his telling is its most famous rendition. 

Despite his other misfortunes, Oedipus doesn’t get devoured by the Sphinx, because he solves her riddle, a popular rendition of which is: 

“What goes on four legs, on two legs, on three, and the more legs it goes on, the weaker it be?” 

The answer, is - a human (baby, adult, old person with a stick).

Oedipus’ story is a classic story about fate, just like Appointment in Samara (re-worked in an SPN episode, 6x11, but originally an old Mesopotamian tale) which @mittensmorgul  and I were talking about just recently, in relation to themes of fate vs free will in SPN (specifically in relation to the role played by Death - see here for the discussion:

http://drsilverfish.tumblr.com/post/182454009599/mittensmorgul-drsilverfish-mittensmorgul  )

Oedipus’ story is a (f-d up) family drama - rather relevant to our very own Family Winchester [no, NOT because this is all about either of the boys wanting to sleep with Mary Winchester - thanks Dr. Freud - although, come to think of it, Dean did say she was hot in 4x03 In The Beginning :-)]  

14x13 Lebanon promo shot 

When baby Oedipus is born, his father King Laius receives a prophecy that his son will grow up to kill him, and so, he sends a shepherd to expose the baby on the mountainside to die, before that can happen. The shepherd however, not being an asshole, saves the baby, and raises him secretly as his own.  

Oedipus grows up, and he eventually learns from the Oracle at Delphi herself (see above) that he is fated to kill his father and marry his mother. Believing the shepherd and his wife are his true mother and father, whom he loves, he leaves his home in the mountains for the city of Thebes, determined to defy the prophecy.

On the way, he meets a quarrelsome old man on the road, they fight, and Oedipus kills him:

When he gets to Thebes, he finds the King has been slain, by persons unknown, and the town is at the mercy of the Sphinx. Oedipus, by guessing the Sphinx’s riddle, obtains safety for the town and is, in gratitude, appointed King himself and given the widowed Queen, Jocasta’s, hand in marriage.

All is well for a bit, until a plague descends on Thebes, and Oedipus is told that to save the city, he must avenge King Laius’ death. So, he goes sleuthing, with the extremely relucant help of his seer Tiresius, and to his horror, discovers that he is the one who killed the King (that old dude on the road to Thebes all those years ago), that he is the King’s true son, and has, therefore, killed his father and, in marrying Queen Jocasta, married his mother and committed incest, fulfilling the prophecy he set out to escape from. He promptly blinds himself in horror. Poor ancient Greek dude. 

The Chorus laments the power of fate

O heavy hand of fate!          Who now more desolate, Whose tale more sad than thine, whose lot more dire?          O Oedipus, discrowned head,          Thy cradle was thy marriage bed;

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/31/31-h/31-h.htm  - Project Gutenberg translation of Oedipus Rex. 

A reference to the story of Oedipus and the Sphinx is extremely pregnant right now in the SPN narrative, for two reasons:

1) Fate vs Free Will

2) The Ghost of John Winchester

1) Fate vs Free Will

Dean thinks his interpretation of the book Billie handed him in 14x10 Nihilism - apparently the only death of his in which AU!Michael doesn’t take over his meat-suit and burn the world - means he has to sink himself to the bottom of the ocean, in the Ma’lak (angel) box and that’s “fate”. 

Like Oedipus, there is no escape. 

However, 14x12 tells us two things. Firstly, by analogy - the prophecy is wrong. Alvarez thinks he is carrying out the prophetic Word of God TM by recreating a twisted version of the Plagues of Egypt sent by God in Exodus:

1) The slaughter of a first-born son

2) Drowning in the Red Sea

3) Fire out of Heaven

(all of which are mirrors for what Dean thinks is his “fate” right now: death of a first born son; being drowned forever at the bottom of the ocean in the Ma’lak box; being consumed by the AU Archangel Michael’s Heavenly grace/fire).

But it’s a garbled message, received as a result of Prophet Donatello’s comatose scramblings. 

Secondly, screw prophecy - against the odds, Dr. Sexy of the Lord (yeah - you know Dean thought it) is able to revive Donatello, thus preventing further scramblings (aka wrong prophesies). 

CASTIEL: “Dean - if there is a spark, a hope, then I have to try.... you taught me that!” 

I loved that line, with its resonance all the way back, like a skein of blue grace, to the Apocalypse Mark One, when Dean convinced Castiel, in Zacharia’s (also due to return in 14x13 Lebanon) “green room” in 4x22 Lucifer Rising, to disobey Heaven for the sake of humanity (Yes, Dean, an angel did fall for you...). 

In other words, just as the Winchesters beat their “fate” to be “angel condoms” for Michael and Lucifer last time around, by “tearing up the script” and “making it up as they go” (4x22 Lucifer Rising) thanks to the help of rebel angel Castiel, so they can do so again.   

2) The Ghost of John Winchester

In the SPN world’s worst kept spoiler, we know John will return next week in 14x13 Lebanon. We’ve been meta’ing about the ghost of John Winchester haunting the SPN narrative for... forever.  

Here is some meta of mine on the subject from S12:

http://drsilverfish.tumblr.com/post/158388550099/john-winchesters-ghost-and-the-haunting-of-s12 

John is explicitly recalled, during the brothers’ (beautifully rendered) car conversation in 14x12:

DEAN: “You ever think about when we were kids?”

SAM: “Maybe, yeah, sure, sometimes, why?”

DEAN: “I know I wasn’t always the greatest brother to you.”

SAM: “Dean, you were the one who was always there for me. The only one. I mean, you practically raised me.”

DEAN: “I know things got dicey, you know with Dad, the way he was... and I just.... I didn’t always look out for you the way that I should of. I mean, I had my own stuff, y’know, and in order to keep the peace, it probably looked like I took his side quite a bit. Sometimes, when I was away, you know it wasn’t cos I just ran out, right? Dad would, he would send me away, when I really pissed him off. I think you knew that.”

SAM: “Man I left that behind a long time ago, I had to.”  

AU!Michael, I’ve been arguing since the start of the season, is a mirror for Dean’s self-repression and for John Winchester. See:

http://drsilverfish.tumblr.com/post/179463975289/shirtlesssammy-14x03the-scar-meta-writers

John was one of the major causes of Dean’s self-repression, as illustrated in the convo above, where it’s clear Dean had to grow up too fast to become a substitute-parent to Sam, where he was often obedient to their father to “keep the peace”, and where he was also often, unreasonably, punished by his father in the process (such as, as we already know, when he was sent to Sonny’s after stealing food for Sam in 9x07 Bad Boys). 

According to psychoanalysis, we always internalise psychological constructs of our parents - Freud calls them imagos. So the Riddle of the Sphinx, for Dean, is how to kill (or rather, lay to rest) the ghost of his father (whom AU! Michael is a mirror for) and with it, the self-repression which has wounded him so much, psychically, since childhood, without letting it kill him too.  

Nick, of course (general shudder) also serves as a John Winchester mirror in the episode - his obsessive revenge quest for the slaughter of his wife (aka mirror Mary Winchester) by Abraxas, led to something she never wanted - damage to innocents along the way (aka mirror innocents, Sam and Dean). 

To Conclude

The answer to the Sphinx’s riddle, the one that helped Oedipus avoid being devoured by her was.... humanity.

Light Sphinx, 2015-2016, Mixed media (inc. foam, hand stitched fabrics, LEDs, beads, synthetic hair), 74 x 32 x 54 cm by Tarryn Gill

https://tarryngill.com/Light-Sphinx-Shadow-Sphinx-2015-16 

Dean IS the symbolic representation of humanity (which is why Amara was so fascinated by him, and let’s not forget Metatron’s words about Castiel in 9x22 Stairway to Heaven  - “He’s in love with.... humanity”).  

Our first-born Winchester son just has to believe what this episode showed him -  prophecy can be wrong.

His “fate” - to die, to drown forever, to be consumed by holy grace/fire, to remain trapped by the ghost of his father, by his own self-repression, by AU!Michael, by the Ma’lak box (aka, in subtext, the closet) is NOT the “Word of God”.

And killing one’s father doesn’t (as it did for Oedipus) have to mean damnation, if, the way one does it, is symbolically, by laying his ghost to rest in one’s heart and mind (hello upcoming SPN 300 14x13 Lebanon).

Freud believed the resolution of the Oedipus complex (for boys) was identification with the father (and no, we don’t have to concur with Dr. Freud). Dean has actually been on an oppositve journey, to get out from under his father’s shadow.   

The Jungian solution, which the S14 narrative is offering to the metaphorical Riddle of the Sphinx, is, to turn around and embrace the Shadow-self (the parts of oneself one has repressed) and in so doing, to evolve - to become more fully human.

So, a final salute to Jerry Wanek and team, and the ever wonderful SPN set dressing narrative, for The Sphinx Machine shop!

NB:

You can read my Jungian Meta series here, if you’re interested:

http://drsilverfish.tumblr.com/post/180906003584/the-shadow-14x08

http://drsilverfish.tumblr.com/post/181122764984/14x09-the-spear-jungian-decoder-ring-edition

 http://drsilverfish.tumblr.com/post/182299438269/jung-and-deans-journey-towards-self-integration

And if, you want to read more of my SPN meta in general, go visit my blog and look under the “Meta” sidebar tag: http://drsilverfish.tumblr.com/tagged/Meta 

Plus, if you want to read lots of other people’s fabulous SPN meta, go check out the “SPN Meta” sidebar tag: http://drsilverfish.tumblr.com/tagged/SPN%20Meta 

Thanks for having me @metafest !

DrSphinx out.  

[yaksayam-tbd]

brain dumping ideas for s2 of j&h bc someones gotta write it:

despite lord trash’s heart being destroyed, he was raised anyhow and escaped from the world below the earth

the reason why robert and ravi go back to ceylon is because either a, robert wants to look for more clues about his life + parents or b, it has something to do with their mother who, actually, did survive

everyone in the s1 finale is knocked out and drained from the energy that was emitted from destroying the heart

when they start to wake up from it, there’s a mess of a fight with dance being weakened from opening the calyx and their weapons being rendered useless from the energy

lily or bella is injured, considering fedora shot at lily but bella tried to pull her out of the way (they could have been lucky though and none of them were hurt! tbh i may go with that bc it seems likely and i can imagine any of them dying any time soon)

some of tenebraes goons died, fedora and dance get out of there when they realise they can’t win the fight, not to mention Hyde’s speed and power - his ability to destroy the heart so quickly, shocked them

Olalla did say that the heart had the chance to kill if it got strong enough but? obviously a heart just cant just start killing people, i would say the energy could but even then - the power that came from it ONLY affected robert (which would definitely play a part in the season! that little moment wasn’t for nothing). And that wave at the end there was just similar to when dance died, signified the heart being destroyed, and they were only knocked out then. 

So its possible that the heart being ‘strong enough to kill’ could be more metaphorical or symbolic of something that would happen because of it being alive again? like, lord trash being alive, monsters being stronger or possibly, affecting hyde - which, well, we already saw it did something to him from the first beat so the more it did that, to more it could have changed the outcome - making hyde the weapon. 

Though, since robert destroys the heart before it changes much, they get knocked out. but that brute strength and the time that passes, it puts robert close to death and hes either the last to wake from what happens or is even in a coma for a week or so. 

Then when he wakes up, with tenebrae in hiding, weakened - the first half of s2 is him trying to find out more about his past. But as the season goes on, they realise that more and more monsters are around and that they didn’t get away Scot free? (or there aren’t a lot of monsters but theres things out of the ordinary that lead to the reveal of the season big bad, lord ‘trash’). 

Robert tries to find his father, could also be another reason why he goes to Ceylon to track any clues his adoptive father may have accidentally/intentionally left.

Selkies. just. thats it. there was a beach for potential scenery for s2 on higsons twitter and imma just say it was selkies bc COOL AF. They go to ireland or scotland and there’s selkies or some ocean related monsters/beings. 

Robert being stuck in some dream like/coma world thats a nightmare - or even, a thin realm connected to lord trash’s realm where he is taunted by lord trash. 

The reason for why robert is so ‘special’ being revealed instead of being skirted around like crazy. it having to do with pan or, a connection he has that makes him more powerful than the rest, why they couldn’t just use louis (unless it was just that they couldn’t find the calyx until louis rebelled from tenebrae). Hell, maybe it could even be a deal made by louis with the ‘underworld’ and lord trash, selling robert to him. like the whole ‘you can have my first born son’ deal and now robert is connected to him. 

the og. henry jekyll. actually coming back into the show and becoming the big back or even, being the ‘visage’ lord trash chooses to take just to fuck with robert. 

[diverdaddy]

The Great Escape: Free Kanan

Pairing: KanaDia  Word Count: 7 691 Summary: Dia pauses the search for her friend and pulls up the cardboard packaging, taking out a big, purple plastic mess from it. She finds the spout where a pump may go, inhales a deep breath and the blows it out into the inflatable object.  

-Record scratch, freeze frame on Dia as she's about to exhale-  

‘’Yup thats me. You're probably wondering how i ended up in this situation..  Well we gotta go back a couple weeks‘’ 

Author’s Note: Hi, thank you @nozoroomie for my life I dont know how to write but thank you so so much for doing this collab with me and for pretending like I do know what im doing anyways! This is small gift for our friend @chilopawbi because sometimes even your really dumb friends deserve something nice. And this is one of those times.  Also avaliable to read on Roomie’s! [AO3]

One would not expect there to be much activity by the pier of the Kurosawa fishing business late on a Friday night. Normally, after 8pm at the latest, lights are shut off in the factory, boats are safely secured in the docks and everything is as it should be. But tonight, if one looked closely, they would see the form of a young adult sneaking into the boat docks, with a large bundle tucked under one arm and a flashlight in the other.

Said girl walks over to the very end of the docking bay, kneeling down without a care. She places the large cardboard packaging under her arm on the wooden floor next to her and glances around the murky waters of the bay, searching for someone. She frowns a bit when she can’t immediately find who she looks for, but time waits for no one. She opts out of her search for her friend in favour of opening the cardboard packaging and getting to work. She spreads out what looks to be a purple plastic mess that’s meant to be blown up. She takes a deep breath and exhales it before picking it up, finding the little spout where a pump may go and instead putting her mouth around it. One more big inhale and then Dia begins to exhale inside the object.

Why exactly does she find herself here tonight? She thinks back to why she’s done this in the first place and remembers all too well what happened when her father came home that day from work.

The senior Kurosawa with dark red hair that matched his youngest daughter was distraught. He sat in the kitchen, head in his hands as his wife brought him a cup of tea. Dia had been walking past the kitchen but the position her father was in wasn’t normal. She pauses on the other side of the doorway when her mother speaks.

“Are you positive that’s what you saw dear? An actual-”

“Absolutely. I have the proof- she can’t move. She’s hurt and stuck there for her own safety.”

“Wow.. A real life mermaid.”

Dia almost falls over. A what?! There’s no way she can hide herself now.

“Excuse me, what?!” Dia says, stepping into the kitchen with a determined look on her face. The one both her mother and father know means she won’t be leaving them until she’s gotten all the information she needs. Her father prinches the bridge of his nose while her mother sighs.

“Dia,” Her father says in a serious tone, bringing his hand down, “Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?”

Yes.

“No- I was walking past,” She responds curtly, “You found a mermaid at work? Really? You can’t be serious.”

She’s always been skeptical about the local tales- the rumours of mermaids living in the ocean near their little town. She thought it was all a legend- stories from the past that were passed down through generations of families and told to the children to fill their minds with wonder and to respect the ocean more (after all, mermaids and the animals can’t continue to live safely unless they keep the ocean clean.)

But Dia is a firm believer in solid proof. There is little proof that mermaids exist- only theories. She refuses to believe this issue at work is a mermaid and not something more urgent. Her father sighs and he stands up, leaving his full cup of tea.

“Well there’s no point arguing with you. Come along Dia- and not a word of this to your little sister, understand?”

No words are said by the two of them as they head towards the front door. They get their shoes on and Dia’s father leads them towards his work truck. Dia feels a little nervous from the aura of anger and exhaustion radiating off of her father, but he doesn’t seem upset or angry. Frustrated maybe- but not with her. The girl feels maybe she should say sorry, but her pride is a stubborn thing. She’ll wait until apologies are meant to be given.

“Father, are you really serious about this mermaid?” Dia asks him in a soft, concerned voice. He keeps his eyes on the road and lets out a small sigh.

“I know you, Dia. You won’t believe me unless you see it for yourself.” He replies simply. Dia blushes a bit embarrassed but leans back in her seat.

The rest of the ride is short and quiet. Dia steps out of the truck when they’re parked and she follows her father into the warehouse. The walk down the docks is a little eerie. Dia feels a twinge of fear within her but she follows her father regardless.

They approach the final bay in the warehouse where their most expensive fishing boat rests. There’s a long rope going along the front of the boat from one dock to the next and a sign that says “Out of order” right in the middle. Dia takes a once over of the side she can see and notices where the large net motor should be its not there- baron of any sign of a net motor whatsoever. She opens her mouth to ask her father what happened when he peers over the dock and points under the water with his flashlight.

“Right there.” he says, holding the light in place, “See down there? The slight discoloured spots just by the bottom of the boat? The spots throw you off but if you focus on them you’ll see the tail fin.”

Sure enough, Dia squints and the spots she can see move. Her brows furrow and when she tries to locate them her eyes detect movement. She follows it with her gaze and she lets out an audible gasp when she sees not just the spots of a tail fin, but an actual, real life form of a mermaid. It’s dark and Dia swears, if it weren’t for the light from their flashlight, she would not believe it. A real living mermaid.

“What… what are you going to do with her?” Dia asks in an unbelieving voice.

Her father stays silent and Dia finally takes her stare away from the mermaid. He looks like he’s contemplating something and Dia really doesn’t like that gaze he has. The answer should be obvious- help heal the mermaids fin and send her back into the ocean where she belongs. But new net motors aren’t cheap and the equipment to repair their best boat may be pricey- she knows that it might put a financial strain on the company. But nothing they couldn’t handle.

His expression alone says a million things that are far from the answer Dia wants to hear.

“That’s undecided. We’re going to figure it all out tomorrow.” He finally answers. “I’m going to go into the office to make a call since we’re here. Come get me when you’re ready to go home.”

He heads down the dock and into the direction of the office building while Dia stays put. It angers her to know that her father may be planning something more for the mermaid before he even releases her- or if he even releases her. She looks down with a furious gaze.

“Disgusting. I won’t let him do anything like that if I can help it.”

As her sentence is finished there’s a small sploosh noise and Dia perks up immediately, flashing her light towards the sound. All she can see are ripples on the surface of the water between her and the boat, and there’s only one thing that could’ve done it. Dia peers towards the surface closer to her and she almost yells when she finds a piercing, amethyst gaze staring up at her through the water. She hears herself gasp but can’t process anything as she gets a close up look of the mysterious mermaid.

Her hair is long and dark- most likely a deep blue hue. Her gaze is cautious, yet there is a curiosity in it that Dia can recognize quite easily. Her gaze moves and Dia can see that the scales and spot designs aren’t just a part of her tail fin- they go up along her sides and cover parts of her chest, as well as parts of her arms (her big, strong looking arms, and oh so very defined biceps.) and framing her face. She can only assume her back is covered in more of the beautiful patterned scales and it’s only then that Dia realizes just how beautiful this mermaid is. She takes in more details of her face- the way her nose points up ever so slightly in a dainty way, the fullness of her lips (her very kissable lips), the way the scales along the underside of her face make her chin more prominent.

Dia swallows. Hard. Oh no. Oh no this mermaid is cute. No- she’s more than cute. This mermaid is a hottie. A bonafide hottie who Dia wishes was more than just a creature of the sea. She hates this- it’s bad enough having a gay crisis in public with Mari around, but now she’s having a moment alone, in her family’s business, with a mermaid of all things.

Her face is the brightest shade of red and whether it’s from shame or the mermaids beauty, Dia really doesn’t know.

The mermaid has yet to move away and she looks further down to find the injury her father mentioned earlier- as clear as day. Along with what looks like rope burns, the sea creature has a long, painful looking gash going down towards her fin, and it is definitely some kind of swollen. Dia frowns concerned, wondering if anything might be able to help it. Does human medicine work on mermaids? Would the mermaid be willing to try it and find out? Would disinfectant cream even be useful if the mermaid has to be in the water? There’s so many questions running through Dia’s mind, but all she can really think about is how this mermaid needs to be let back into the ocean. They can’t keep her here. It’s too cruel. It’s unfair and unjust and holding her hostage is not the way anyone in the Kurosawa family should handle things.

“I’m not sure if you understand me but if you do, please don’t be afraid,” she says softly, “I’m going to help you out of here and get you back home.”

The mermaid doesn’t seem to react much aside from blinking slowly at her. Does this mean she understood? Dia certainly hopes so. She blushes a bit but clears her throat, deciding she’ll talk with her father now, since she has the opportunity.

She doesn’t leave immediately though- there’s something about the mermaids gaze that keeps her entranced. Are mermaids and sirens the same thing? Is this what it’s like to be caught in the spell of one? (Or is Dia just that gay..) She isn’t sure but she also doesn’t mind. The way the mermaid stares has become more curious and interested than anything else and Dia can only hope it’s because she’s understood her slightly.

With one last look over her shoulder Dia heads for her father’s office.

‘’What do you mean I would have to get a brand new boat!?’’ Her father’s voice echos out of the office as Dia gets closer to the door. Now Dia might be gay, but she wasn’t bad at math, a brand new boat would dent the company’s paychecks more than just a small equipment replacement. She stops outside of the office door, this was worse than she thought it would be.

The mermaids fate was probably sealed now that her father got the bad news. How was he planning on exploiting the mermaid now that their best boat had to be replaced? Was there any laws against exploiting mermaids? did it count as animal cruelty or maybe slavery? The more Dia thought about it the more determined she got. She had to help the mermaid break out, and fast.

By the time Dia is out of breath the purple plastic object is far from looking anything like the picture on the cardboard box it came out of. How could her budget bought inflatable chair be so hard to blow up? The huffing and puffing escaping from her would put the big bad wolf to shame, this was ridiculous!

‘’Hey Dia, do you any need help?’’

Dia almost chokes when the friend she was looking for shows up, of course she would be caught now that she was out of breath and looked like a roasted tomato. Facing the mermaid that was looking up at her Dia can’t help but blush harder before collecting herself.

“There you are Kanan.” She finally says, a bit out of breath. “You’re late.”

Kanan smiles a bit.

“I’ve been here the whole time, you just never thought to look under the dock.” She says with a cheeky grin that catches Dia off guard and god could this mermaid be anymore charming?! Seriously?! Just a single smile and Dia’s stomach is doing flips.

Her attention however quickly zones in on all the things Dia brought with her, especially the cardboard packaging for the purple plastic mess Dia was so desperately trying to blow up. She tilts her head curiously, using her hands to push herself up on the dock and keeping herself held up as she read the letters on the box. There’s familiar characters on the label, but on the picture of the box there are a few english letters spelt out. She focuses her gaze on it to try to read what it says.

“B-Brit-ney Spear-s, What’s a ‘Britney Spears?’’ The mermaid asks out of curiosity as she reads the english text out loud.

“To- to address your question, no- No I’m, I’m fine, I- I can do this.” Dia tries to bluff, but she realizes exactly how close Kanan is at this moment and loses a bit of her confidence, “It’s just a dumb, a really dumb Britney Spears, that’s exactly what a Britney Spears is.’’

She feels too embarrassed to admit that Britney Spears is actually an american pop star but Kanan doesn’t need to know that. She turns back to the task at hand, blowing with all her might into the purple plastic as to prove a point, but her moment only lasts for so long before she gives in to her already dead lungs again.

“Feels like you’ve been doing that forever huh? Think we’ll be able to pull this off without your dad finding out?” Kanan asks, leaning onto her elbows and resting her head on her hands as she watches the other girl.

Dia takes a couple deep breaths of air and shakes her head, preparing herself to blow into the inflatable object once again. If she didn’t have powerful lungs before, she certainly would after today. She tries to blow more air into the object but she runs out of breath fast. Maybe she should take a longer break.

“What exactly is stopping your dad from interrupting us?” Kanan asks, a curious smile dancing on her lips.

“One word.” Dia breathes out, digging into her pocket and bringing out her phone. She scrolls through it a little bit before she turns the screen to face Kanan, “Mari.”

“Oookay.. so, how is this ‘Mari’ stopping your dad?” Kanan pries for more information with that smile still on her face. Dia’s face heats up a little more. Gross. She’s super cute when she wants to learn more.

“Mari is the director of my high school.” Dia explains with a bit of reluctance. “She arranged a parent teacher interview with my father. I don’t know the reason why but I do have a bad feeling about it.”

“Why’s that?”

“I have a feeling whatever reason she’s called my father to the school is because she made it seem very urgent. She never told me what she was going to say, but I have a feeling I’ll be scolding her later.”

As this is said, somewhere, across the city at Uranohoshi Girls academy, Mari feels a chill run up her spin as she looks at Mr. Kurosawa across from her. In front of her are three pictures of what seems to be his youngest daughter vandalising school property with various doodles of sweets, small animals and the most alarming thing of all- an english phrase of some sort that reads “send nudes.”

[The truth of the matter is they were all photos taken for the year book that were edited by her and a comrade in arms (Yohane, they called her) to make it look like the little Kurosawa was destroying school property. Mari assumes Dia will be furious with her, but she’s confident she’ll be able to convince Dia it was the only option. ]

Kanan laughs a melodious sound and Dia feels like she could melt into a pile of liquid. Her laugh sounded like velvet and gold, a weird way to describe a laugh but it’s the only way it makes sense to Dia. Dia’s heartbeat echoes and she hopes, prays that mermaids don’t have super hearing. It would be embarrassing for Kanan to hear how loud it is right now.

“Wonder what she made him go all the way there for.” the mermaid muses, lifting her tail fin above the water slightly to splash the surface in an amused manor. Almost like an excited dog wagging its tail.

Dia almost falls over and clutches her chest at the image of the mermaid with puppy ears. (Like the snapchat filter, tongue out and all.)

“So, what is it you’re trying to blow up there?” Kanan asks, still as curious as ever, “Is it going to help you move me to the ocean?”

“Not quite.” Dia replies as she pulls the plastic apart to see just how much more air it needs. “It’s what I’m going to use to follow you far enough into the ocean so I can assure you’ll be safe and on your way home.”

Kanan snorts and Dia glares at her slightly.

“The plan is we blow this up here, you hoist yourself out and I guide you into the wheelbarrow half full of water, then we throw on the hat and chair and other various things to disguise you and make it look like I’m just moving a bunch of junk towards the beach so nobody stares for too long. Once we get to the ocean, I’ll help you into the water then follow you with the floating chair and we go out to the ocean and you go home.” Dia feels like that was a bit of a mouthful but Kanan laughs lightly.

“You know you could just swim in the ocean if you wanna follow me, right?” She suggests to Dia but Dia shakes her head.

“No you see, how will I be able to protect you or me from anything coming our way? I’d be too distracted swimming to keep up with you. So I brought this paddle to smack away anything that tries to harm us.”

Kanan stares at her a little bewildered before she slowly smirks.

“Okay, sure. So we’ve got you sitting on this… not inflated Britney Spears, with the paddle, and then I’m going to hold those while you wheel me to the ocean in the.. Wheelbarrow?” Kanan says, going through the gist of what Dia’s plan is and confirming if she got it right.

Well. When she says it like that it sounds a little far fetched.

“Just let me stick to blowing up this thing so we can get you home. The sooner I do, the sooner we won’t have to worry about my father.” Dia says then she grabs the chair near its spout again.

God she does not want to continue trying to blow this thing up.

Kanan looks around through the things she has there and frowns.

“Can’t you use a tool or something to make it inflate faster? What was it you guys call it.. a pimp? pimple?”

“A pump!” Dia immediately corrects, and the idea hits her like a paddle and illuminates the lightbulb above her head. “A pump! My father probably has one around here!”

It doesn’t take Dia a lot of searching- there’s a locker at the end of the dock bay filled with assorted supplies and tools. She finds the pump almost instantly and runs back to the spot where Kanan waits with the Britney Spears chair. Her face lights up as she sees the pump in Dia’s hands.

“You did have one!” She exclaims.

“Of course! What real fishing business would have a ship dock without an air pump?”

Well, Dia isn’t really sure if it’s necessary to have an air pump for fishing boats, but she’s certainly glad her father and his coworkers thought it was good to keep around.

She gets back to work, finding the little spout where a pump may go, and this time she has one. She connects the pump to the spout before she realises that this is in fact.. a manual pump. Dia almost wants to cry, but she holds it in as she steps onto the small plastic sides, bends over slightly (a lot) to reach the handle and starts pumping with all her strength. And sure enough the pump is more effective than the previous method.

Kanan is watching, the amusement evident in her face as Dia struggles with both balance and rhythm on the manual pump. Human inventions sure was something. But the speed the Britney Spears was inflating at slowed down significantly as Dia’s arms gave in faster than a moth to light.

Why was I a fool in school for cutting gym?! Dia can’t believe it, but she almost feels more out of breath using the pump than she was using her lungs as her arms burns with every movement she makes.

‘’Can I give it a try?’’ Kanan asks a little cheekily as she splashes some more water around with her tail fin.

Dia wants to say no, like the prideful stubborn adult that she is, but the mental image in her brain tells her yes, the mermaid’s arms are strong, with big and defined biceps and getting to see those arms work it...  if Dia was a roasted tomato in the past, she’s a marshmallow on fire about to get charred to death right now.

‘’Y-you may,’’ is all Dia can manage as she steps off the pump and moves it closer to the edge for Kanan to reach.

Kanan pulls herself up onto the wooden floor as best as she can, her upper body now out of the water. She bends her tail fin and rests carefully on the dock, the tips of her fin slightly covered by the waters below them. Kanan grabs the handle of the pump and lifts it up, pulling it with ease. She looks a bit surprised at how easy it was and she can’t help but smirk when she pushes her arms forward with just as much ease. She repeats these motions and Dia watches, helplessly and with a bit of envy at how easy it is for the mermaid to pump up this chair. Something that should be absolutely no problem for a slightly athletic human such as herself.

But Dia can’t stop staring. She watches as the mermaid’s flexes her very defined and strong muscle in her upper arms, and how her biceps look even bigger and stronger than they did in the water the first time Dia saw them. If Dia was just any undignified barbaric creature she might’ve been drooling right about now, but Dia had some self control, after all she was a Kurosawa, she had some dignity still left in her as she wipes the corner of her mouth real quick just in case. (When Kanan can’t’ see.)

Good thing It isn’t long before the inflatable object begins to form into the shape its meant to be and in no time at all it’s finished. Dia stops Kanan from pushing a last pump of air into it. She takes out the pump, closes up the spout and then she begins to admire their handy work.

“What.. is it?” Kanan asks, leaning towards it and poking it tentatively, a bit shocked from how sturdy the plastic is.

“A chair.” Dia answers simply.

“A chair.” Kanan repeats, staring at the words “Britney Spears” that are along the back of its purple and glittery design with lots of flowers. “It certainly is. Something.”

She turns herself towards Dia, almost directly beside her on the dock. Dia’s eyes gaze down just the slightest bit and she notices her hand is just one small slip away from touching Kanan’s. She wonders if Kanan is cold all the time, considering where she lives. Or maybe her hands would be warm from the work she did pumping up the chair. Would they be slimey, or just wet? Would they feel perfect with her fingers intertwined between hers, or maybe even better with them holding her around the waist in the tightest embra-

Dia shakes her head and smacks her cheeks and it startles Kanan ever so slightly. She tilts her head and looks bewildered at Dia and the eldest Kurosawa daughter decides they need to move out now before her mind travels to more dangerous thoughts and imaginations.

“I’ll be right back.” she says, preparing to stand, “It’s time we get you out of here and back to the ocean.”

Once Dia is on her feet again she leaves to go find the wheelbarrow where she parked it. It doesn’t take her long to find it and wheel it back over to Kanan, her own arms really getting a workout tonight, but the wheels on the wheelbarrow sure made it possible even for Dia.

Thankfully Dia had prepared enough by already filling the wheelbarrow with water with the help of a friend, the water hose that the workers would wash the different equipment with. Now all they would have to do was get Kanan into it.

When Dia comes into view again Kanan’s curiosity is sparked, this wheelbarrow looked so heavy, yet Dia seemed to be able to push it around just fine. Human inventions didn’t seem all that bad, they were quite amazing.

‘’So that is a wheelbarrow? It’s amazing, it makes it possible even for you to move really heavy things!’’ Kanan beams with that smile plastering her face whenever she learns something new and exciting, and Dia, Dia is insulted, and gay, and its unfair because Kanan was so dang cute even when she was being so blunt.

‘’Yes, now we just need to get you into it. Do you think you can lift yourself into it?’’ Dia asks, pushing the wheelbarrow as close to Kanan as she can.

‘’Maybe,’’ Kanan grabs onto the edge of the side of the wheelbarrow, slowly lifting her upper body off the wooden dock and into the wheelbarrow. When it starts to wiggle slightly Dia throws herself over the opposite site, and with some teamwork and spilled water Kanan finally makes it into the wheelbarrow.

Now with her her ‘butt’ submerged in what water was still left in the wheelbarrow Kanan lets out small giggle that turns into a full on laugh as she wiggles her tail that’s hanging off the edge in a small celebration. ‘’Dia we did it!’’

Doki doki, Dia’s heart almost stops there and then, how can this mermaid keep amazing her like this, this was bad for Dia’s health in more ways than one as she forgets how to breath when the mermaids laugh plays in her head and she soaks up the picture perfect 4K HD smile worthy of an Oscar to go along with it. Keep it together Dia, you still have a mission to complete!

But god did it take all of her not to clutch her chest at the sight. She needed to cover this girl up! Without warning she bends down to pick up a folded up beach towel and throws it over the part of Kanan’s fin that drapes on the outside the wheelbarrow. Then she throws a hat on top of her head and before Kanan can register anything else, sunglasses are shoved perfectly in place on her face.

She then turns to the blown up chair and furrows her brow. It might be a bit inconvenient transporting it this way now that Dia looks at it, but what’s done is done. She turns to Kanan for a moment, blushing in slight embarrassment as she speaks.

“H-hold onto this.” she says, grabbing the inflated chair and resting the practically weightless object onto the mermaids lap. The amount of times she's stuttered tonight is preposterous and the sooner Kanan is back at home in the ocean, the sooner she won't be suffering from being too gay to function.

Dia soon moves to the back of the wheelbarrow and with a little bit of effort, she lifts up the handles and pushes forward. The additional weight proves to be a bit of a surprise and she lurches forward, Kanan almost dropping the chair and more water spilling in the process. Kanan laughs lightheartedly while Dia tries not to trip over herself and onto the mermaid. She’s already been embarrassing enough.

After a couple trials and errors Dia finally grasps how to control the wheelbarrow with a mermaid and inflatable chair inside it. After a couple nasty sharp turns she’s out of the ships docking bay and into the evening light, the sun a deep orange and reflecting a beautiful array of colours into the sky. A perfect time for a mermaid send off if she’s honest.

She maneuvers carefully towards the beach, having a bit more difficulty the moment the wheelbarrows tire goes from solid ground to sand. Dia huffs and puts a bit more effort into it, lifting Kanan up higher and using more force from her legs to push forward. She notices Kanan’s sideways glance to look at her but she forces her gaze to stay away from that deep purple gaze. In the light of the setting sun they’re almost a wineish red colour and it’s such a distracting gaze it’s taking all of Dia not to make direct eye contact with her.

With a bit of success (Kanan caught her gaze three times and with each time she did, her eyes crinkled upward) she finally reaches the water. She drops the wheelbarrow and moves to the side of it, grabbing the chair off of Kanan’s lap. She then removes the hat, sunglasses and towel, leaving them all in a small neat pile not to far away. She can hear Kanan shifting by the sloshing sounds of the water beneath her butt in the wheelbarrow. She’s eager to get back into the ocean and back home.

Her heart aches a bit, knowing this is it. This may very well be the last time Dia will ever see Kanan again. She knows it’s a little to early to think about this but knowing there’s only a bit more time left with the cryptid does hurt. Dia would have loved to see her again and again, to learn about Kanan’s world under the sea and in turn tell Kanan tales about her life on land. There’s so many more things Dia wants to experience with this mermaid. She wishes with all her heart that they had more time together.

She takes a deep breath and taps her cheeks lightly. The angsty sadness can wait until later- right now the mission was almost at it’s end. Kanan needs to be back in the ocean where she’s safe and Dia won’t let her wait any longer. She turns back to the mermaid and hopes that she can’t see the sadness in her eyes.

“Alright Kanan, are you ready?”

Kanan’s smile becomes a toothy grin and she nods.

“Let’s do this Dia!”

‘’Here goes!!’’

Dia lifts the handles of the wheelbarrow again, there was only a whole three or four meters of sand left separating Kanan from the ocean. One big breath and Dia pushes forward with what’s left of her strength. Was the wheelbarrow always this heavy? Was it Dia’s fatigue? Was it just the sadness weighing down on her in the last moment? She can’t think about that—  she’s almost there!

The front wheel, the only wheel, on the wheelbarrow touches the water.

That’s when it happens. The wave crashes into the front of the wheelbarrow and Dia’s life is flashing before her eyes as she loses her balance, her feet slip on the sand, the wheelbarrow falls over like humpty dumpty toppling off his brick wall. They were so close.. yet Kanan goes crashing down into the wet sand and that is the last thing Dia sees before she gets a mouthful of wet sand herself.

Dia’s head hurts, but the splashing sound she hears as she opens her eyes again, could it be? Did Kanan make it into the ocean after all? She rolls over and pushes herself into a sitting position, focusing her eyes on the last spot she saw Kanan in and, she is still there, splashing at the edge of the water where waves meet sand, like the most majestic Magikarp Dia’s ever seen.

‘’Kanan are you okay!?’’ The distress in Dia’s voice was strong.

When all Dia can hear is coughing, almost like someone dying she gets even more worried and scrambles on her arms and knees over to the mermaid.

Kanan stops splashing around, calming down slowly as she looks at Dia’s face. She inches closer slowly.

‘’I’m fine Dia,” she insists with a giggle, ”I couldn’t stop laughing my fins off when we both fell.”

Just the thought of it makes her laugh again and Dia almost swoons. A smile grows on her face and she shakes her head. Kanan seems okay and that relieves her, but the grainy texture and taste of salt and sea water still coats a bit of the inside of her mouth and she turns away from the mermaid to spit what remains back onto the ground where it belongs.

There’s a bigger splash and it causes Dia to turn around. She notices Kanan has pulled herself deeper into the water, not quite fully submerged. The dorsal fin and parts of the back of her tail rise from the wave as it settles over Kanan and she keeps herself upright with her forearms. It looks as if she’s pushing herself into the wave and she lets out a content sigh when she sees another coming her way. She’s distracted if only for a moment and then realizes she should probably get ready to set out to sea with her. She swallows a bit nervously.

“W-wait! Kanan don’t go too far yet!” She calls, pushing herself onto her feet and rushing back to the sand. She grabs the inflatable chair (or attempts, it takes her a solid two times to get a good hold of it thanks to the fall) and the paddle and heads back towards the waves. She silently prays they pumped the chair up with enough air to keep it afloat while she accompanies Kanan deeper into the waters.

Once Dia has everything in a solid grip she sprints as fast as her legs can take her towards the ocean in a Baywatch run, except less graceful as the chair almost slips from her grip and every step is a battle against gravity, and how Dia wishes she could just defy it like a green Idina Menzel. The struggle was real, yet she manages to reach the edge of the water with both the Britney Spears chair and the paddle without any more accidents.

Kanan swims freely in the shallow parts of the water close to the beach, keeping a close eye on her human friend and her Britney Spears chair. When Dia had made it somewhat properly into the water, sitting unsteady on her inflatable chair Kanan swims up to her, circling her like prey. Not that Kanan has any plans on eating Dia, but it isn’t too far off from looking like a Jaws parody.

It’s when Kanan bumps the chair playfully enough that Dia gets really unsteady, her paddling uncoordinated and more of a wild splashing with her arms as she wants to cry again. The mermaid’s like a playful sea puppy and Dia’s fearing for her life, yet she can’t stop the way her heart beats out of her chest at how cute Kanan is, even if said very heckin cute mermaid is about to commit involuntary manslaughter.

“Kanan! Stop- that’s unsafe!” Dia says as she slowly realizes the two of them are drifting into the ocean more and more. The dread sets in as all of Dia’s easy escapes from the waves are virtually gone. Soon she’s going to be all the way out in the middle of the ocean with nothing but a paddle and an inflatable chair to keep her company and then the chair will deflate and before she knows it she’ll be swimming for three days before she finally-

“AAH!” Dia screams as a large wave is splashed onto her and the cold shocks her to her core.

“Sorry! It was the only way to bring you back to me.” Kanan says, though the expression on her face is more like ‘you weren’t paying attention and I wanted to punish you for that.’ The expression is lost when she notices Dia looks a little.. pale.

“Dia? Are you okay?” she asks, lifting her hands up onto the plastic and holding onto the arm of the chair, “Did my splash scare you that much?”

The concern in Kanan’s voice is surprised and she look very apologetic. Her eyes give it all away— those beautiful eyes. Fuck, the setting sun just has to make them even prettier than they were before. Dia takes a deep breath before speaking.

“The truth is I didn’t bring all of this as a..protection thing.”

“Well, that was a little obvious.”

“What?!”

“I mean,” Kanan smiles lightheartedly and gestures to the tiny paddle, “A paddle like that will get you nowhere. Literally.”

Dia’s tempted to throw it at Kanan’s stupidly gorgeous face but opts not to, instead lifting her hands up to cover her face so Kanan can’t see the extremely ripe tomato she’s about to become. Would Kanan possibly believe she got sunburnt fast?

“Seriously though,” Kanan begins again and Dia peers through her fingers to look down at her. That piercing wine coloured gaze stares at her with worry, “What’s wrong Dia? Are you okay?”

And for some reason, the embarrassment floods away. Dia doesn’t feel as nervous about admitting the truth to her. She lowers her hands and diverts her gaze to the waves that reflect the light of the lowering sun.

“I… am not the best swimmer. That is to say I, Dia Kurosawa, cannot swim. I never really learnt how and I never thought I would really need to. A little silly, when you see what kind of business my family owns and runs and-”

“Is that all?!” Kanan asks a little bewildered, cutting the brunette off from her rambling.

“Wha-” Dia narrows her gaze, perplexed. “What do you mean ‘is that it’?! This is a big deal! We’re getting deeper and deeper and soon I won’t be able to-”

“Dia. Stay with me, okay?” Kanan puts a reassuring hand onto her wrist, smiling up at the nervous girl. “You just happen to be in the middle of the ocean with one of the worlds cryptic wonders who happens to be a very talented swimmer.”

Dia wants to scoff at Kanan’s attempt of a joke but instead she just frowns at the mermaid.

“I don’t see how that’s supposed to be reassuring. You’re the good swimmer here, not me.”

“What I mean is I can show you the basics. I’ve never taught a human how to swim before but I’ve seen them swimming numerous times. If you could slide into the water, I’ll show you what I mean.”

Kanan holds out her hand and looks at Dia with a gentle, inviting smile. She doesn’t remove her gaze from the nervous girl and there’s a calming aura about her— one completely different from the playful sea puppy like vibe she gave earlier. Dia doesn’t need to linger on the thought as she reaches her hand towards Kanan’s and slips it together with hers, trusting the mermaid and her words and shifting.

With a warm, excited smile Kanan holds out her other hand, gesturing for Dia to take that one as well. She does slowly, eyeing Kanan carefully. The mermaid pushes herself back a little, having to outstretch her arms alongside Dia just a bit. “I’ve got you, Dia. Slide off of the Britney Spears and into the water with me.”

Dia makes a sound of objection at Kanan’s statement but it’s nothing more than an offended sounding gasp as Kanan gives her a tiny tug forward and Dia slides into the cold water. She inhales sharply and just as the fear is setting in, Kanan squeezes her hands, bringing her back to the present and back to their current time.

“It’s okay Dia! You’re staying afloat and I’ve got you! I won’t let you drown!”

Dia’s fingers grip onto Kanan tightly and the mermaid continues to reassure her that she will be okay. She can’t think about much as Kanan instructs and guides her to kick her legs ever so slightly. when she does her body lifts and Kanan swims backwards just a bit, still holding onto her hands.

“I won’t let go- keep kicking! This is how humans do it to move forward!”

“I-I understood that!” Dia retorts flustered, but doing as told. She kicks her feet and proceeds to move forward, but not on her own. Kanan swims backward with each movement Dia makes forward. It’s nice and it’s good and Dia hates to admit how this one on one lesson with the mermaid has made swimming much easier for her.

They swim like this for a bit, Kanan guiding Dia and moving them around the water. The more Dia gets used to holding Kanan’s hands, the less she wants to let go. She’s completely content to stay here if it meant holding onto the hand of the most beautiful being in the world. Kanan’s smile is soft and Dia can’t help but return it.

It’s then Kanan pulls Dia close, letting go of her hands very briefly and instead wrapping her arms around the form of the other girl, pulling her close and hugging her tight. Dia blinks in surprise but doesn’t object to the motion, only taking in the fact that she can feel the contrast of soft skin and scales against her. They feel just like a sharks, they’re rough one way, yet smooth when she brushes her hand the other way. She blushes slightly, holding onto Kanan in return.

“Dia, I wanted to thank you. For everything you’ve done.” Kanan begins in a soft voice, her arms wrapped around Dia. “You risked a lot to help me get back home and without you I really couldn’t have done it.”

Dia pulls away enough to meet Kanan’s gaze and she feels like she could melt. The silence is prolonged and Dia decides to speak.

“It’s nothing Kanan. It really isn’t.” She replies in an equally soft tone. “When I saw you I couldn’t just… let you stay there. You needed to be back here- back where it’s safest for you. As much as I would love to see you all the time, it wouldn’t be right for anyone to keep you locked away in some kind of aquarium tank or boat bay or.. or anything where you’re not free.”

Kanan’s gaze softens a bit and she smiles. There’s a playful glint in her eye and she lifts one of her hands up, brushing some wet strands of hair behind Dia’s ear. Dia almost leans into the touch of her hand but resists.

“Did you know that humans have interesting tales about the magical properties of a mermaid’s tear?” Kanan asks, keeping her eyes on Dia.

Dia blinks and shakes her head.

“No- not at all.” She admits honestly.

“Well- it’s a myth. Mermaid’s tears have no more magic than the tears of a human.” She explains, but leans her face a bit closer to her. “However they aren’t too far off. Mermaids do have something magical about them, but it’s not our tears.”

Dia is a bit perplexed and before she can ask Kanan what it is, Kanan’s arm falls and she pulls Dia close and without warning, she pulls the girl underwater. Dia’s scream is muffled, but not by water rushing into her lungs. Her eyes are screwed shut and she’s very much aware of something soft pressing to her lips.

She opens her eyes once the presence leaves and without thinking about it she inhales the sea water. Her hands shoot up to her mouth out of reflex but it’s only then she realizes that she isn’t choking. She looks to Kanan -who stays only inches away from her- and notices the tiny blush on her cheeks and the crooked grin on her face.

“A mermaid’s kiss can do many things, like giving a human the ability to breathe underwater for a small period of time.” She says, lifting her hands up to Dia’s cheeks and holding her face gently in the palms of her hands. “And this will be my gift to you, so we can enjoy our swim together for just a little bit longer. ”

Dia’s heart flips and she smiles as she moves her hand to find Kanan’s, intertwining their fingers together and letting the mermaid pull her along underneath the water’s surface.

[4yutaeil]

prince johnny & the mermaid

(its u. ur the mermaid) 

ft. some other nct princes & mermen 

basically takes place in the same au as mermaid taeyong which if u havent read is here! 

so ... ur a mermaid princess from a different kingdom 2 taeyong n the rest of the nct mermaid gang.

& you’re visiting because the Ruler of Ur Kingdom (ur dad) has 2 go for the annual Mermaid Council Meeting and is like “listen you’re the next in line to rule you have to come.. You need to learn what your responsibilities are gonna be” 

n you dont rlly wanna go but you’re like FINE whatever. 

so you tag along & u dont rlly bother meeting the citizens of the nct kingdom bc you’re gonna be there for like a week tops before u gotta leave again so whats??? the Point. 

u basically plan to spend the week in ur Luxurious Clam Shell sleeping.

but you get bored so u decide to swim off towards the castle bc u overheard someone saying how pretty it is so u wanna see for yourself!!! 

bc ur kingdom is in the middle of the Ocean so you’ve never actually seen a castle. or Humans rlly. 

But you’ve heard about them! 

so you’re swimming 2 the castle when u hear someone singing ... and you’re like okay well im the only mermaid here so!! thats gotta be a HUMAN 

so u poke ur head out of the water but u dont .... see anyone? 

but u recognise the song they’re singing so once they’ve stopped u sing the next part of the song back 2 them ... hiding behind a rock so they dont see u O F C ! 

you’re not about 2 get urself caught pffff ! 

& u see a head poke out of one of the windows and ur like TIME TO GO! 

but not without gettin a glance of tht incredibly ,,, ,handsome face ,,, 

anyways this continues for like ! 3 days. u go to the same spot, hear the same beautiful boy singing & sing back 2 him when he stops . 

n he looks out of the window Every! Time! but you’re 2 quick for him 2 see you lol

but then u go back the 4th day ,,, n u hear music but no??? singing?? 

so u go a little closer n perch yourself on a rock tryin 2 get a closer listen, n u hear the most beautiful melody coming from the same room. 

and before u know it you’re humming along.

its not until a little while later tht u realise the music has stopped and ur just going along on ur own and u look up 2 see The Boy(tm)... 

in a white shirt with his sleeves rolled up n these dorky glasses (Y’all know the look im on abt  ..... That Look).

n you’re like .... GOTTA BLAST!!!!!!!! 🐠💨💨💨

n here’s the thing .... prince johnny cannOT stop thinking about u.... nd it was all a ruse ! 

obviously not in a Bad Way he just wanted 2 find out who was fINISHING HIS SONGS BEFORE HE GOT THE CHANCE 

n he didnt.... think you’d be tht beautiful ..... 

& he spots ur tail as ur escaping and he’s like ... HOLD ON A COTTON PICKIN MINUTE ! 

lucky for him ... it was Cupcake Collection Day(tm) for his good Mermaid Pal Taeyong 

so while taeyong is eating his cupcake .... johnny brings up The Topic 

“so uh,,, taeyong,,,  u know pretty much everyone in ur kingdom right???”

taeyong with a mouth full of cupcake: i guess 

“so uh there’s this.... person .... a merperson, if u will, and u Gotta help me find them” 

taeyong: “whats in it for me???”

johnny: “an extra cupcake” 

“make it 12″ 

“6.” 

“ok deal” 

so johnny tells taeyong abt this mermaid ,,,, a Beautiful mermaid with the most Beautiful voice 

“are u sure ur not talking about taeil?” 

“shut up im sure” 

so taeyong is like kk ill help u lol 

“taeyong u cant help him. they have 2 leave in like 2 days” - doyoung

“bUT HE LOVES THEM!!!!” - yuta 

“he hasn’t even met them!!!” 

“IT'S CALLED LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!” 

“that isnt a thing!” 

yuta pulls out a rose & hands it to taeyong “tell them it’s from johnny” 

“where did you even get that from?” - taeyong

“he just carries them around. it’s better not to ask” - johnny 

MEANWHILE you’re at a Boring Mermaid Council Meeting 

“ok listen ,,, we get that ur helping the humans by sabotaging the sirens but ... its gotta stop they’re goin 2 other kingdoms who have Enough Problems” 

and that subject peaks ur interest.

these ... mermaids are sabotaging sirens?? Lmao serves them RIGHT ! 

so after the meeting ,

like, later at night, u hear this off-key singing and you’re like ok what the F

and ofc u gotta check it out because what MerMoron is disgracing ur Entire people like that.

n there u see Merman Moon Taeil, a couple meters behind sirens, hangin out by boats tryin 2 Do Their Thing.

but they can’t because Merman Moon Taeil is singing ,, horribly out of tune and off-key and it Clicks. 

this is how they’re saving sailors lol. singing loudly and off-key to drown out the sirens song . its pretty smart. 

n this guy looks like he’s havin the Time of his Life, so u swim up behind him n join in. 

u 2 are havin a WHALE of a time , singing out of key n just absolutely ruining the sirens favourite pastime 

but then u spot one wander off n you’re like ..... well that’s not suspicious AT ALL 

so u Follow. and then you see this Lone Guy in a tiny boat and you’re like what kinda DUMBASS 

and u poke ur head up to get a look at the idiot that’s on his own & JUST UR LUCK its Cute Castle Guy. 

literally ur only thought is “is this boy actually 100% For Real what is he Doing” 

and u dont! Have time to start singing off key because he’s pretty much already Hooked on this sirens song so .... 

u straight up tackle the thing away from him. No1 is hurting ur Cute Castle Boy with the nice voice. Not on UR Watch .

n ur fightin with this thing for a Good Couple Minutes until it just hisses @ u and goes back 2 its own gang. 

“YEAH THATS RIGHT U RUN AWAY !!! n dONT COME BACK!!” - you until u realise u should Probably check to make sure the boat hasnt crashed or something.

He’s a bit dazed n confused and has No Idea what the Heck just happened

and johnny is so pretty u just kinda stare for a while until ur like Right i should probably ,,, like ,, make sure he doesnt Die.

so with all ur Mighty Mermaid Power u push his boat back 2 shore 

by which time he’s completely Mostly recovered 2 the point he can recognise u and he’s like 

“ITS U!” 

to which you, once again, gotta blast 🐠💨💨💨

but he , being Cute Clumsy Castle Idiot tries 2 be all dramatic and grabs ur arm , 

proceeding 2  FALL Out of his boat face first into wet sand with the occasional wave just .... rolling over him .

and you’re like .... really ??? Really now. Really .

*ur longest deepest sigh ever* 

“are you ok?” 

he holds 1 hand up and does the a-okay sign.

u cover ur mouth so he doesnt hear u LAUGH

he hears it. looks up. gives u that dUMB EMBARRASSED JOHNNY SMILE. (U know the one). 

 n you BLUSH because he’s so gosh Darn CUTE. even if he is an IDIOT. 

“i just wanted 2 make sure u were okay ...” he says in the Sweetest most Caring voice Ever and it makes ur heart melt BEcause .... .

“I COULD HAVE SWAM TO ANOTHER COUNTRY N UR JUST GONNA GRAB MY ARM LIKE THAT U COULD HAVE D I E D!!! I did Not just save u for you to DIE” 

that stupid dumb embarrassed johnny smile is STILL THERE and you’re trying to Convince yourself he is Not Cute Enough for ur poor heart 2 be Racing like This. 

“whatever ,,,,,,,,, im fine thank you” 

but he spots that nasty scratch on ur cheek courtesy of that stupid poor excuse for a sea witch n he .... puts his hand on ur cheek . 

and ur brain is Screaming at u GOTTA GO MY OWN WAY but u cant ... bring urself... to leave bc he’s LOOKING at u ,,,,  

OH Boy ,,,, 

he’s Really ,, Looking at u with those big concerned eyes and ur Poor Heart literally cannot cope like ... his hand is so ,, ,warm and 

even though all he’s done is move a piece of ur hair  ,,, and tucked it behind ur ear ,, 

you’re already feeling a lil bit better.

so instead ur like “pff whatever its just a Scratch” Because You! are One Tough Cookie 

adn u dont need this Beefy arm Boy lookin @ u like That.

“it looks really painful!! Wait here we have a first aid kit in the lifeguard hut!” 

you go 2 stop him but he’s already up and running so all u can do is like ,, roll ur eyes n Sigh & wait for him to come back

n he does and you’re like “Listen u really don’t need to do this im a mermaid we don’t feel pain.” 

he proceeds 2 dab a cotton pad 2 ur cheek & u hiss at him because 

“THAT HURTS !!!” 

“ok 1. i should have warned u its going to sting and 2. ur a LIAR one of the kennel dogs got overhyped & scratched doyoung by accident. he cried like a baby” 

you laugh n johnny thinks ,, its the most beautiful sound in the entire world. 

like he’s got 1 hand by ur cheek trying to clean ur battle wound but he’s just sO ,,, entranced by your laugh that he just , forgets what it was he was doing. 

“hey bud are you ok?” 

“YES! Yes , ,i am sorry i was just ,, where was I.” 

he’s LOOKING at u again and like , you’re honestly Just as lost as he is because ,, 

up close u can finally see his eyes and they are just. so pretty are humans Supposed ??? To be This Pretty?

& suddenly u realise Why humans make statues & paintings of Other Humans because like, wow they’re So Beautiful. 

is there a statue of this breathtaking boy sat in front of you out there somewhere? There should be. 

he clears his throat eventually and runs his hand thru his hair n does a little embarrassed laugh , 

“by the way um ,, did you get that rose ? From taeyong?”

and you’re like “uhhh,, the what from who now?” 

n he hits himself mentally bc DUH Doyoung said u were from another kingdom so like , maybe u never met them he doesn’t know so he’s just like “nevermind!!” 

and that’s when it hits u... You don’t even know Cute Castle Boy’s NAME.

BUT youre leaving soon so u figure it doesnt matter anyways :(

so you’re like uhhh i should ,,, go. thank u for ,,, this.

n he’s like !! wait idk ur name!!!!!

so you tell him,, n he repeats it & like

youve had Literal Ocean Royalty sing ur name to get ur attention but.

it doesnt even COMPARE to the way he says it.

and u tell urself that it doesnt matter. u need to Stop bc you are leaving there is Nothing u can do about it

and he’s about to tell you his name but. it’s just Better for u that you Dont know it and he stays as Cute Castle Guy

so before u can even hear him say his own name You Are Outta There bc!

no! attachments!

esp not to humans!

and johnny ,,, 

poor sweet johnny is just.dumbfounded and lost bc?

what. Just happened. 

the next day ,, Johnny plays his piano hoping that you’ll pop up and sing along to his playing, and when he realises that like,, you’re not gonna show up he just . his hands slump against the keys n he’s just ?

what did he do Wrong? 

eventually he has to meet taeyong 2 give him the cupcakes even though taeyong was No Help at All 

and johnny ends up eating most of them himself and taeyong is like ok buddy spill the beans whats wrong 

so johnny tells him abt you ,,, and that he Finally met u and you Saved Him! but u left before he could tell you his name n you didn’t show up to sing today and 

taeyong feels a lil guilty but He knows there’s not much he can do because like , you’re from a different kingdom ? Ur literally the future ruler ,, so he can’t try 2 convince u to stay. 

BUT You’re not actually Leaving until tomorrow so Maybe. he can convince u to see johnny before u go. 

so he’s like “leave it to me!!!” and finishes his cupcake before zooming off to find you.

but he has 2 find doyoung & taeil first because they need to come up with a Plan

& they find u sitting pretty in ur  little Clam Shell just ... looking Very? Confused and

suddenly the big Plan is out of the window because doyoung swims straight up to you, looks you in the eye and says, “our human friend is a Mess.” 

and you’re like ?? Who even Are you but then u recognise taeil behind him who’s waving at you and you’re like oh ok one of his weird friends.

and you’re like “anyways idk who you’re talking about” 

“our FRIEND. u saved him last night ! His name is-”

“DONT SAY IT I dont need 2 know his name!!!” 

and doyoung is getting a liiiiiittle annoyed because like, despite everything johnny is his FRIEND and he wants him 2 be happy!! so he just backs off and taeyong takes his place like ,

“listen. we’ve known him for a while now & he’s never talked about any1 like this before. n we know you’re leaving but he would rlly love to get the chance to talk 2 u.” 

and now you’re more confused than ever!! Because you’re leaving Really Soon and you don’t! need this! 

but he’s so cute ,,, and seeing that dumb smile of his one last time wouldn’t hurt, , right?

“ok fine tell him. i’ll be sittin on the rock by his window tomorrow at dawn, before i leave.” 

the 3 boys high five n taeyong secretly wonders if he’ll get more cupcakes for this.

The Next Morning at like ? 6am. you’re nervous as Hell. 

you really shouldn’t be doing this because its just going to make things worse for you And for him. 

but you’ll probably never see him again ? So, just 2 yknow, say it was nice to meet him and goodbye, u show up.

Also maybe get a cupcake ? because taeyong literally would not shut up about them and now you really want to try one. 

you show up. and johnny is already there , holding a rose 

(a nice one. not a fake one like the ones yuta carries around)

and he looks Super nervous and you’re also Really nervous but. 

you swim up to him anyway and poke his arm. 

which makes him jump 

and that embarrassed smile comes out again and you can literally feel your heart melting because god he is Adorable. 

and you’re starting to think this was a Really Bad Idea. 

but he looks at you and he hands you the rose, and you’re about to speak when he stops you, 

“I just. Wanted to say thank you for saving me. And the guys told me you’re leaving and that really sucks but I’m really happy you decided to see me again.”

and you just. for once in your life you’re speechless and you just stare at the rose he gave you and. eventually you just manage to stutter out a “you’re welcome” and 

you two are just staring at each other for what feels like Hours. and you’re pretty sure you could do it for a lot longer because he’s just so nice to look at. 

but before you know it, doyoung & taeil are behind you, and they’re like, “you gotta go, your dad is waiting for you.” 

and it feels like your heart is breaking because ! you dont wanna go! you wanna stay and you want to get to know Cute Castle Boy.

but you have a kingdom to rule over in the future. 

so you try not to look too sad as u look at johnny and give him a smile, 

and he cups ur cheek the same way he did the night before ,and he’s pulling you closer and before you know it his lips are on your cheek

and you’re Blushing like Crazy! !!!! because oh my god he just kissed you. 

he finally moves his hand from your cheek 2 your hands,

“my name is Johnny, by the way” 

Fuck.

you cant really do or say anything because you gotta leave Now. 

so you look back one last time before joining the boys and give him a little wave, and he waves back before watching you swim away. 

So, here’s the thing.

When you were a baby, a tiny little adventurous mermaid swimming along dolphins three times your size, 

you had accidentally gotten a little carried away and wandered outside of your kingdom barriers, 

lost and confused, you found a light which you followed into a cave, 

and there you met ur friendly neighbourhood sea witch. 

she hadn’t really been banished from your kingdom, mostly because she knew she wasn’t welcome so she just kept to herself. 

but she thought, hey! if i help the ruler’s kid get back to the kingdom, maybe they’ll realise im Not So Bad and accept me. 

so she takes you in, makes sure you’re safe, and helps you find your way back .

UR FATHER, however, freaks the hell out and starts going off about how,

“This wicked sea witch tried to KIDNAP my child! How dare you! You are Banished” 

so , the sea witch does what literally Every Other Disney Villain would do. 

she puts a curse on you before the king tosses her out on her ass.

This curse,  however. 

when you fall in love, you’ll turn into a human so you can’t Be with them. (because yknow everyone thought you’d fall in love with some Beautiful Mermaid Royalty) 

so while you’re swimming home,

taeil, doyoung and taeyong volunteering to be your escorts, making sure u get home safe and sound.

(you didnt really need them but those boys are Stubborn and also wanted 2 see what your kingdom looks like) 

but because they’re there you don’t really need to stay with ur dad; you’re old enough & ugly enough 2 take care of yourself and show your friends your favourite parts of the journey back

but suddenly you’re finding it really hard to breathe and swimming is Really difficult

and something is Horribly, horribly wrong. 

so you grab whatever you can which happens to be doyoung’s tail 

and he turns around like what the Hell. 

Oh, shit. 

he’s yelling for the other boys 2 help you and ur dad is too far ahead to hear whatever is going on.

so the boys take it upon themselves 2 save U. 

and they’re swimming back to the beach as fast as they can and they get to shore and luckily! 

Johnny is sitting there, looking out at the ocean wondering if he’ll ever see you again. 

and doyoung is just Yelling at him

“DO U HAVE TOWELS GET SOME TOWELS DO U KNOW CPR!!!!!!!!!!” 

so johnny has no idea what the Heck is going on but he runs to get towels, helps the boys wrap you up and take you to the lifeguard hut 

where johnny puts u on the sofa and he’s like , desperately trying 2 get u to wake up. doing cpr and whatever else he can .

like he has no idea whats going on but you’re here and you’re not breathing and he’s panicking because like, he can’t lose you??? He can’t. He Wont. 

and its been what seems like fOREVER but you’re finally! coughing up water and you can breathe again and you’re feeling Very lightheaded and dizzy but all you can really think about is. 

that Johnny’s face is hovering over yours and he looks like he’s about to throw up but then he sees your eyes open and he has Never 

felt this much relief in his Life! 

and before you can even Process what the hell is going on, he’s leaning in closer and you’re kind of trying to figure out what’s going on but! 

he already has his arms wrapped around you so tight, never ever wanting to let go because 

he could live with himself knowing you were out there, alive with the slightest chance of coming back to visit him 

but he would never be able to bear it if you were gone forever .

so he just keeps you in his arms for a Very Long time, whispering in ur ear how scared he was, that he thought he’d lost you. 

the other boys have left u alone, yuta and doyoung arguing outside

“i TOLD U love at first sight was real!”

“shut up yuta they almost DIED” 

“he saved them! he saved them with true loves first kiss” 

“he literally gave them cpr” 

but ignoring those 2 bickering.

u and Johnny are just. holding each other and. you can’t explain it but it feels Right that you’re with him

and he is just so happy that you’re alive and okay. 

and everything just feels like it’s falling into place. 

and before anything else happens you’re just . kissing him .

and he’s kissing you back.

and it all just feels so Perfect. 

[comicteaparty]

October 5th, 2017 CTP Archive

The archive for the Comic Tea Party chat that occurred on October 5th, 2017, from 5PM - 7PM PDT.  The chat focused on Galebound by Respheal.

Featured Comment:

Chat:

RebelVampire

Good day everyone~! This week’s Comic Tea Party is now officially beginning. Today we are discussing Galebound by Respheal~! (http://www.galebound.com/) For those new to CTP, discussions about the comic are freeform, so please feel free to bring up whatever you wish. However, every 30 minutes I will be dropping in a discussion question to help those who would like a prompt. These questions are totally OPTIONAL to answer so pay them no mind if you wish~! Remember, constructive criticism is allowed, but the primary focus here is to have fun and appreciate the amazing comics that the community makes~! Each chat a top comment will be picked and featured on an ad for this chat, so let’s have a great discussion~!

With that said, let us begin with this first question~!

QUESTION 1. What is your favorite scene in the comic so far and why?

Kabocha

Oooh, favorite scene so far. Hrrrrrm.

Lyall

I really like din parting the waters

making the bridge

Amarok

oh these are questions for us?

Respheal

Yeh

Amarok

easy, the scene where Din jumps out the bed and charges his laser

Respheal

To prompt discussion

Lyall

i liked the fight in the hotel room too

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

I'm definitely laughing at this.

no escape bruh

Kabocha

I really like Page 54 -- the end of the Dark Hour. http://www.galebound.com/comics/2415667/054/ I sat there for a while and was like... "What is this?" "Why is he smiling?" I've been really torn between Pascal thinking "You're so dead" and actually being relieved -- because who knows what could have happened? I've kinda stuck to the idea that Pascal REALLY wants to see killing Conan through though.(edited)

Amarok

well theres always Parkers house hears Conan choking in background

Lyall

Res' two page spreads are gorgeous btw

RebelVampire

not really a scene but one of my fave pages is definitely that one where pascal is looking out at the ocean realizing wtf just happened

Kabocha

yes.

I laughed super hard at that one

Respheal

Hahahah so many people said they relate to Pascal on that page xD

Amarok

yeah but few know about his fish friend

Respheal

"I sincerely love this page, my inner self relates to Pascal on a higher level"

Lyall

loooooooool

Kabocha

If it's not in comic, it's not confirmed, Amarok

Lyall

i feel that i personally have not bonded with pascal for some reason

perhaps my heart too sold on din

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

I like this scene too. So glowy

Kabocha

We know very little about Pascal tbh. Din's been very quiet about him except "dude is gonna try to kill you."

Lyall

hurrrrhurrrrhurrrr

Kabocha

:3

Amarok

yes my favorite page

Lyall

love that spread

Kabocha

Wait, wait

Respheal

I was itching to get to that page so bad xD

Kabocha

How many words has Pascal said in comic so far?

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

uhhh

did he?

Respheal

Three

Kabocha

and what % of them has been a profanity

Amarok

2

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

oh

Respheal

2/3 were curses

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

yeah

Amarok

that third one wasnt a word

Lyall

loooooool

Amarok

it was garble

Respheal

Yeah it was just "ugh...."

Kabocha

............. New name added to the nickname. I'mma stick it in the middle: "Foulmouth"

Respheal

xDDDD

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

creative censorship, my friend

Lyall

PottyMouthPascal

RebelVampire

hey pascal was told to kill, not talk no talking needed

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

fartmouth Pascal

oops this is gonna be archived lel

Respheal

LOL

Kabocha

How many bad words DOES Pascal know, and are you going to invent new swears for him to use?

Respheal

Well I mean

He hangs out in bars so

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

so he swears like a sailor

Kabocha

When he finally does get more than a one-word line, he's probably just gonna be like "You ------ --------- -------- you and your ----------- horse"

Lyall

omg XD

i hope so

Respheal

--and the horse you rode in on

RebelVampire

the way this is worded makes me think pascal is gonna invent his own swears. gonna wind up using Din's name in one of them.

Kabocha

And then he whips out a knife and whoops, he really does have Murderpants now

Din will be so blown away

Respheal

.........

Wind puns

so many gale-blasted wind puns

Kabocha

has been kicked from the chat

lololol

Lyall

naaaaaah

Respheal

.....can...can I answer the questions too? xDDD

RebelVampire

if ppl got kicked for puns math would not be welcome here

rip math

Kabocha

Yes

Respheal

lololol

RebelVampire

you can answer the questions yes

Respheal

YAS

Lyall

math the punniest

Kabocha

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE SCENE RES

RebelVampire

i wont stop you

Respheal

THE SNAKE CHARMERS MONOLOGUE

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

kinda found it funny how they argued over a change of clothes

Respheal

That scene stayed pretty much the same in every draft

This page: http://www.galebound.com/comics/2437904/061/

Kabocha

Conan objects to being called a hick

Respheal

Nah he owns it xD

Amarok

ah the first attempt to explain magic

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

LOL

Lyall

OOoooooh i liked that scene too

RebelVampire

i liked din was nice in that scene and stopped magicking when he saw conan was sad

Kabocha

I'm not sure I trust this face sometimes

Lyall

no, trust that face most of all

RebelVampire

whats not to trust

O_O

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

Respheal

Hmmm....

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

what he's friendly

RebelVampire

thats the face of honesty

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

or maybe not

Respheal

Oh I mean re: "i liked din was nice in that scene and stopped magicking when he saw conan was sad"(edited)

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

Artemis trust him so it's good enough

Lyall

didn't he stop cause conan commanded it tho, lol

suuure he's just so nice tho

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

yeah that's what I thought too

Kabocha

I feel like Conan was creeped out tbh

RebelVampire

shhh let me think din is nice O_O

Lyall

din is nice in my heart

keltyzoid!

so what is this tea party

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

din is nice I think

Kabocha

Din is nice to Conan.

Lyall

i don't feel like din is evil at least

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

so uh we discuss a comic every week

Kabocha

Din wants to overthrow a kingdom, though.

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

@keltyzoid!

Kabocha

Sooooooooooooo not really all that nice?

Lyall

i wouldn't say i think he's good tho either

i feel like he's someone's pawn

Kabocha

Din is nice in a very limited context

Lyall

cause din very much has an agenda

mariah (rainy day dreams)

He's got too much big shit to do to be soft and fluffy

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

he's nice

Kabocha

But sometimes you gotta feel like he's blowing smoke up someone's butt

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

I'd like to believe

Lyall

wondered if he was conan's dad's servant or something

Respheal

@keltyzoid! https://comicteaparty.tumblr.com/about

Lyall

and he's bound to their family that's why he has to take orders from them

keltyzoid!

THANKS RES

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

like a book club only with comics

RebelVampire

to be fair to din's not so niceness moments, he did just meet conan and is fulfilling some obligation. those are not factors where someone is going to be nice.

mariah (rainy day dreams)

Hmmmmmmm I like that theory!

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

why does Din want to overthrow a kingdom tho?

Lyall

so in that regard din is neither nice or not nice, he's just doing his obligatory duty

RebelVampire

@keltyzoid! https://comicteaparty.tumblr.com/faq you can also check out the faq which has more info ;3;

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

is the king that bad?

I mean kinda if he sents pascal to kill conan

keltyzoid!

ty ty

RebelVampire

well it may not be that the king is bad even. its hard to say when we havent seen the king.

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

@keltyzoid! you can read and catch up http://galebound.com/

it's a short read(edited)

keltyzoid!

Din and Pascal are some hard boys to draw, so shout outs to Res for drawing them over and over again

Respheal

Thanks! :'D

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

I like Din's floofy hair

keltyzoid!

GOD YOUR ART HAS GOTTEN SO GOOOODD

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

so floofy

Respheal

THANK YOU

That means a lot ;w;

RebelVampire

din has the best hair ;3;

Lyall

love din's floofy hair too

Respheal

Very floof

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

yeah

keltyzoid!

curly boy

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

all the floof

Lyall

they say curly haired boys are pervs tho

keltyzoid!

who says that

Lyall

people

Respheal

pffft

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies Lyall is not curly haiir tho

Kabocha

How would Din feel about being called a floofy guy though lol

Lyall

lyall you need a perm

Kabocha

having someone sit there and ruffle his hair

admittedly, I thought, at first, that the line by his eye was just an age line XD

Lyall

strange imagery of conan ruffling din's hair

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

he'll shoot lasers at everyone

LOL

Respheal

@Lyall and that's how Conan dies

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

well conan can do that

Lyall

LOL

but what if he does it and commands don't kill me before hand

Kabocha

Conan's gonna end up shoved in the sea or something

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

what he can command Din to be a nice doggy and let Conan pet him

Mahotou

i'm late but i'm here!

Respheal

Well that might help xD

Maho! o/

Mahotou

o/!

RebelVampire

welcome!

welcome all new ppl

Mahotou

is it ok to ask for a summary of what's transpired so far at the tea party?

RebelVampire

i think the bigger question is is din's hair naturally that floof or does he spend hours getting it to floof O_O

keltyzoid!

pet DIn's hair but be careful not to dislodge the 8 to 10 random items he has hidden in there at all times

Lyall

secret dagger stash

keltyzoid!

he doesn't know what's in there right now but he knows it would be a pity to lose them

Respheal

LOL

Lyall

it's more like wild untammed floof

Mahotou

Din's hair is a portal

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

I'd like to think it's natural floof

Respheal

@Mahotou The question is favorite scenes, but it devolved into discussing the floofiness of Din's hair

Lyall

rather than picture din with curlers in at night

RebelVampire

@Mahotou weve talked about fave scenes and aboout pascal's swearing

keltyzoid!

his floof is powered by the universe itself

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

I mean can he summon hair sprays?(edited)

Respheal

Oh yes and that 66.7% of Pascal's dialogue thus far has been cursing(edited)

Mahotou

XD

keltyzoid!

curse him and his poofy shirt

Mahotou

pasc cant catch a break

Lyall

oh i love din's jacket too

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

LOL

Mahotou

speaking of, a fav scene is pasc's smiling

keltyzoid!

belts

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

I like the scarf

Lyall

best jacket

Respheal

:D

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

likes all the scarf

Lyall

din the best dressed man

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

yis

powerful and fashionable

Lyall

probably someone's tool

keltyzoid!

but Pascal is so fancy

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

fancy murderpants

Lyall

pascal is a snappy dresser too

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

both of them are

Respheal

Magicians, they like to dress well

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

that red scarf is cool

Lyall

they must work for rich people

who care how they dress

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

yeah

keltyzoid!

or maybe he just knows of a really good antique store

Amarok

im back

what i miss

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

and Din forced Conan to dress up too

Respheal

o/

RebelVampire

or they just like to look really cool while they performing their magic. how else you gonna impress da ladies

Amarok

oooh we talking dress up

Lyall

maybe it increases your magic powers to dress nice

the secret of fashion magic

Respheal

Sure let's go with that

Kabocha

Din dropped that giant bag of cash at first

Amarok

oh thats the one thing that tells us that "Lucie" isnt Lucie

Kabocha

so I mean

keltyzoid!

the fancier you are the more magic you can do

Kabocha

dude's got access

Amarok

she hasnt complimented on his new outfit

Respheal

She's a lil busy freaking out over his well-being

keltyzoid!

one time i saw a guy on Penn and Teller and he was dressed like a homeless man and his magic was sub par

Respheal

LOL

keltyzoid!

whAT

Amarok

uh huh sure

Lyall

is she really her

i feel like it's a mirage to manipulate conan

Amarok

ill take shes a fake for 800 bob

keltyzoid!

it's a mirage to sink ships >:/

Lyall

yeah

Kabocha

What is Pascal in a glamor?

Lyall

like i find it more believable that she's fake than real just randomly there

Amarok

unless Pascal got his fish freind for a ride

Kabocha

(sorry, going with the jeopardy style answer lol)

Amarok

hes still trudging the shore

Respheal

Oh xD

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

XD

RebelVampire

pascal busy building sand castles

keltyzoid!

hell yeah

Respheal

LOL he would too

Lyall

fffffft

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

LOL

does he like sand castles?

he might murder the sand castle

Lyall

who doesn't like sand castles

Kabocha

No, no, he'd only stab people who crushed his castle

Pascal has principles.

Lyall

he'd curse and cry

keltyzoid!

Conan's gonna break his sandcastle like the bully in Cool Cat Saves the Kids

RebelVampire

is that why pascal out to murder conan and his dad O_O conan's dad crushed pascal and the king's sand castle?

Respheal

......Sure

Lyall

nah pascal is being controlled by someone else too

Respheal

xD

Kabocha

Cool Din Saves the Kids

Lyall

feel like pascal and din are just both being used

RebelVampire

oh theyre for sure just being used

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

awww

poor pascal

Lyall

really din and pascal are BFFs that grew up together and dated

RebelVampire

i mean the opening kind of set the tone for that XD

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

omg

def ship

Lyall

then they're like well it's a job

sorry bae

Kabocha

OMG ;'D

keltyzoid!

Din and Pascal?

Lyall

yus

Kabocha

Din has a boyfriend that is not Pascal, I'm pretty sure

Lyall

I hope

he's super good looking

Kabocha

I think Din's type is blonde? :3

Mahotou

that's a truth

Kabocha

Where's that pic, Res?!

Respheal

wuh?

Oh

Of Din's BF?

keltyzoid!

yeah it's Conan shut up

Mahotou

they want the boyfriend Res

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

LOL

Mahotou

xD

Kabocha

omg

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

Conan can just be a chaperone

Lyall

i don't wanna push spoilers out of res tho

Respheal

https://respheal.tumblr.com/post/161779575831/drew-a-thing-for-fun-i-have-no-idea-why-theyre

Mahotou

OH WAIT

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

huh

Mahotou

THERE IT IS

Lyall

awww he's not my type

but if he makes you happy din i support

Mahotou

he's for Din anyways lol

RebelVampire

QUESTION 2. In the most recent updates, it’s revealed that Din may have purposely let the assassin, Pascal, get away. It also opens up an important question: can Din be trusted? Why would Din let Pascal get away if that’s true? Why is Din so secretive instead of just telling Conan the truth? Is Din really just out to hurt Conan too?

Mahotou

xD

Respheal

Oh hoh hohohohoh

Kabocha

Din did say the less Conan knows, teh better.

Lyall

surprisingly doesn't like long hair on male characters that much

RebelVampire

thats what all secretive ppl say when they just want someone to shut up

keltyzoid!

maybe it was just a prank

Kabocha

I feel like Din doesn't want blood on his hands? Or at least on Conan's hands, to be honest.

Amarok

well Din doesnt really know Conan

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

He's concerned for Pascal in a way

Amarok

but he knows Felix

allegedly

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

who's felix?

Lyall

maybe din has been ordered not to tell conan things

Amarok

Conans father

RebelVampire

felix is conan's dad

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

oh carp I forgot

Kabocha

He knows Conan enough to know that he was some guy in a stable who had a life and was going to help with an assassination plot

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

see my memory fails me already

Mahotou

*patpat

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

XD

Lyall

it's okay mharz i forgot too

Amarok

But the question and answer is Does Din trust Conan

Kabocha

So, Conan's plausible deniability in this is key if Conan's not gonna get the axe.

Amarok

enough to allow himself to be potentially controlled by him against his will

Lyall

i doubt din trusts conan

i mean he just met him

conan is more like luggage to din probably

Kabocha

tbh I think there's some serious gaslighting going on right now though

Mahotou

same

Kabocha

Stuff's going to explode as soon as Checker-- erm, Artemis manages to get Din to wake up.

RebelVampire

i dont think he's been ordered to not say anything. honestly i get the sense din is just being nice in this regard and feels the less conan knows the less conan's life is disrupted and the quicker they can get stuff done

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

Somehow I just feel like it's his duty to protect Conan

Lyall

same

RebelVampire

i agree it seems he might be bound to conan's family

Lyall

i don't feel like their relationship is that deep atm

cause din is doing a duty

and conan is basically the cargo

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

yeah

RebelVampire

hahaha conan as cargo

Superjustin of Time and Space

Lol

Respheal

Early on, he was even thrown over Artemis like luggage

Lyall

yuuuuus

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

yep definitely luggage

Superjustin of Time and Space

(and yeah just peeking in to see what's up)

Respheal

o/

Superjustin of Time and Space

\o

Lyall

hi super~!!

Superjustin of Time and Space

Keep up the good work Respheal, your stuff's awesome

Respheal

Thanks :'D

Superjustin of Time and Space

and hey Draco!

You're welcome~

Respheal

PFFFFFFFFFFT

Lyall

loooool

Respheal

-dies-

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

LOL

Amarok

as for the why would Din let Conan escape

Superjustin of Time and Space

OMG that pic

Amarok

obviously commands are verbal

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

Din let Conan escape?

Respheal

Why Din would let Pascal escape you mean?

Amarok

Pascal yes

derp

Respheal

LOL

Lyall

ah that makes more sense

Respheal

Maho xD

Lyall

my memory is fuzzy but i was like when did conan escape

Amarok

anyway

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

if Din let Conan escape, the story is over

Lyall

you had one job Din

Amarok

COmmand are verbal so to override them u must have percise language or else a technical loophole could proceed

Kabocha

now I want to draw some stuff like galebound was a totally different comic

Superjustin of Time and Space

Alternate Ending

RebelVampire

well its not over weve established din knows where conan is O_O

Tenor

@Respheal I didn't get to read but i wanted to drop in and saw I love the art at least! <33 KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

say*

Respheal

Thanks <3(edited)

Amarok

as Din may not know the wording of the contract, he must improvise

Lyall

i hope din has this huge secret ulterior motive that really goes against everything that's been said and done so far and he was playing both sides in order to free himself or something, lol

cause he seems that type

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

I hope you don't go too far. I've only read the main pages

RebelVampire

i assume din just has past history with pascal

since i mean

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

I feel that too

RebelVampire

din knew who he was

wasnt like "oh rando assassin"

unless theres a magician association

Respheal

omg

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

and not just I just know he's an assassin

there's a connection

Superjustin of Time and Space

I love these images @Kabocha

mariah (rainy day dreams)

They went to baby murder magic school together

Lyall

looool

Kabocha

You know, in Ink Drop Cafe, I've been talking about how Pascal is secretly out to kill Conan, because Conan's clearly the evil little brother

Lyall

they do look a like

i have a hard time telling them apart tbh

Respheal

rip

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

LMAO

Superjustin of Time and Space

Wait

there's sucha thing

Respheal

I gotta admit that's more me sucking at drawing :'D I WILL GET BETTER(edited)

Superjustin of Time and Space

as babby murder time hour?

Lyall

i think that's why i haven't bonded with pascal, he reminds me of conan mostly

but like better dressed

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

you did improve a lot Res

Respheal

Thanks <3(edited)

Superjustin of Time and Space

Indeed

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

:3

Mahotou

same face syndrome is a butt

Respheal

Pascal needs to show up moar so I can get more practice drawing him xD

Lyall

hahah oh dear

Superjustin of Time and Space

XD(edited)

Lyall

i was thinking they were secret twins or something

RebelVampire

while were on these subjects. let us theorize

http://www.galebound.com/comics/2289959/001/

who that other kid in that page

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

Lucie?(edited)

Respheal

pbbt

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

A childhood friend?

Lyall

maybe one of them is din as a kid(edited)

cause of the black hair

Mahotou

OMG YES WHAT DO OTHERS THINK ABOUT DA OTHER KID?

Kabocha

my initial thought was it's conan

Lyall

same

i thought it was conan the first time but the hair looks black

RebelVampire

what if the other kid is pascal

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

that might be pascal lel

Lyall

pascal and din

mariah (rainy day dreams)

mind blown

Kabocha

http://www.galebound.com/comics/2460520/067/ Conan has forgotten something though

Amarok

i subscribe to that was Conan and Din in the first few

Mahotou

i thought it was conan at one point and pascal at another point. and now i just dont know

Amarok

and he has memory loss

Lyall

it's just some random kiddos, gosh

Amarok

and has a history in Evenheim

Lyall

for establishing shot

Amarok

else why would the City Daemon help him

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

The woman is Conan's mom shot

Superjustin of Time and Space

Dang Kabo I love these too much

RebelVampire

well one of the kids is din. unless theres another green eyed floof person

Amarok

im guessing said scene was shortly after Conan's mom died and deadbeat dad left

Superjustin of Time and Space

your sketches

Lyall

oh wait there's more to the kiddos

wow i completely forgot about this part, LOL

okay yeah that's def Din

no doubt

i remember i knew that when i read it

cause it's pretty obvious

unless he has a twin

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

that was 17 years before the start of the story

Kabocha

gotta be Din. 'cause dem green eyes

Lyall

and the hair

RebelVampire

i lean towards its pascal just cause it being conan is too obvious imo.

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

he has floofy hair

Lyall

yeah

and he's better dressed than conan cause he's wearing blue

blue always the best

Respheal

xD

Kabocha

but we've also seen Conan's dad

and conan's dad is kinda fancy.

Lyall

well it's not din's boyfriend

can cross that off

RebelVampire

conan is their half brother O_O and his mom was a princess so he got a less shitty life

problem solved

Respheal

I mean, I haven't introduced that many characters yet xD So it's either one of them or someone tht hasn't been introduced yet~~~~

Lyall

that's very magi rebel, hahah

Superjustin of Time and Space

introduce more

Respheal

ikr

soooooooooon

ish

Lyall

conan is alibaba

Respheal

Soon in webcomic time

RebelVampire

LOL

it could be someone new tho, i dont discount that.

its not lucie

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

webcomic time = 10 years

RebelVampire

she is also crossed off the list

Lyall

i thought she was related to din cause of her black hair

mother or sister

RebelVampire

who are you talking about draco?

Respheal

The woman from the prologue I presume(edited)

Lyall

yus

Superjustin of Time and Space

k I'm gonna listen to some music, you guys enjoy the rest of the chat

Respheal

Alrighty, have fun!

Lyall

kay, laterz Super~!

Superjustin of Time and Space

Thanks~ And laterz!

RebelVampire

thank for coming super~!

Superjustin of Time and Space

You're welcome. ^_^

Kabocha

http://www.galebound.com/comics/2294666/003/ The last line on this page

The hate between Din and Conan is not quite strong enough

Lyall

oh

Kabocha

you know how some comics have power of friendship? These guys gotta be powered by hate. :'3

Lyall

this

Respheal

LOL

Amarok

right now its mutual distrust and distaste

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

rip

Lyall

doesn't this imply that din is borrowing power from people he hates to change the world to his own ideals so he is a two faced snake that's going to betray his master at some point, lol

Amarok

especially wiht that accent and old outfit

Kabocha

Right now Conan is basically the one in charge...

Well.

Lyall

sorta

he's not really

Kabocha

Yeah.

Of Pascal.

Respheal

xD

Lyall

din is borrowing power from whoever told him to get conan

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

yep

he was looking for Conan's dad too I think

Respheal

Correct

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

which is something strange

Respheal

Wondering where the heck he is, anyway

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

cus Din and Conan gave different years on how long he was missing

Lyall

check the brothels

Amarok

imagines din with a "wheres felix" book(edited)

RebelVampire

what sort of power are we talking about tho? like do you have to be bound to someone to access more magic? are we talking about political power? etc.

Respheal

xD

Lyall

i think it's more a position of power

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

mind power?

Lyall

like a rank of some sort

RebelVampire

cause if were talking about rank

Lyall

well not official rank

RebelVampire

what if that lady was a court magician and she took the boys in and trained them

Lyall

but more access to stuff

maybe but she was dressed pretty poor too

Respheal

How many doodles did you make??? xDDDD

lmao

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

Does the king have the same powers as conan does?

Kabocha

I'm doing these as I go

RebelVampire

her dress was pretty nice imo. plain but nice

Mahotou

rank is involved with the command ability right?

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

it does?

Lyall

her hair made me think she's poor tho

Mahotou

and i think she's a mage from implying they (herself and kid din) are stray dogs

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

again only reading the actual pages

RebelVampire

its possible the king has the same powers cause in res' world info city daemons are generally heard by high ranking officials

Amarok

if it does how does teh rank pass?

Kabocha

I think rank was only mentioned in the comments

Amarok

the old king is dead. long live teh king.. but whos the king?

Kabocha

so it's wild mass guessing at the moment

Lyall

iamking

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

LOL

that means conan is in a high position if he can command pascal

Lyall

well if he's the king's son he'd be a prince of some sort maybe(edited)

Mahotou

which i guess bring's his lineage into question (looks at felix)(edited)

Lyall

fuzzy memory tho will not benefit me here

RebelVampire

to be fair some tidbits of info are more a question of did you read the supplemental world info

cause theres some juicy hints in there if you connect some dots

Respheal

This is true

There's a lot of stuff I just plain can't fit in the comic xD But it's usually not 100% necessary info

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

was thinking what if Felix is somehow related to the king

wild guess

Kabocha

Felix is a rival for the throne?

That's a good theory....

Lyall

oh reminds me i was thinking you should put the dusk appendix in the main menu bar if you can

cause i didn't think to look for world information in the about page

only when rebel pointed it out did i know it existed

Kabocha

I'mma subscribe to that one mharz

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

why does the king want Felix and his heir Conan dead?

Mahotou

is felix an illegal baby of royalty? is conan?(edited)

Respheal

Hmm, I can see about making it fit in there

Making Conan a bastard lol

rip

RebelVampire

QUESTION 3. Conan himself is rather strange with having a rare ability to hear city daemons. He also has suggested there are important things he may have forgotten. Why or what is Conan that makes him as much a target as his father? Is there are a reason he seems to have hidden abilities? Has he forgotten something that will later be pivotal to the story?

drops question early since were on the topic anyway

Amarok

hes a target cause his father is a target, making him a source of leverage

Kabocha

Someone wants to flush Felix out. :3

Lyall

i just assumed he had his memories hidden to protect him and hide him from others

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

I wonder if it's becos Conan's memory was rigged which is why he says his father went missing 14 years instead of 25

RebelVampire

leverage only works if you intend to keep someone alive tho. so i mean hes leverage for din maybe, but not for pascal

or the king

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

Like I feel Din's statement is more legit

Amarok

Conan has the ability to hear THAT specific Daemon cause the City Daemon of Evenheim will protect its own people

meaning Conan has history in Evenheim

Kabocha

Could conan be older than people think?

Mahotou

Din's the kidnapper and Pasc is trying to kill Conan. he's targeted not to be ransom but to be killed. why's he a threat?(edited)

Amarok

reinforced by the mark on Dins back, the same mark on Conan's Watch, and the same mark hanging above Evenheim's gate

Lyall

maybe conan isn't a real person

Respheal

Suddenly we've got a D.Gray-Man situation if he's older than people think xD

RebelVampire

yeah i think conan has some sort of high station in evenheim at least

Kabocha

'cause Conan was born in Evenheim, or so we think... There's gotta be some record of it -- so Felix being missing mysteriously for 25 years would be a little odd, eh?

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

rip

Kabocha

unless Evenheim doesn't keep records

Amarok

im thinking Felix or at least the Renaud family used to be in control of Evenheim

Kabocha

OOPS OUR PUBLIC RECORDS GOT BURNT DOWN

Respheal

LOL

Lyall

well if he's assumed dead and had a different name it's easy

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

brb gonna food.

:3

Mahotou

my guess is that while felix went missing, he had conan. so conan knew he was around cuz he was living with his dad

RebelVampire

yeah

thats how i interpreted the 14 vs 25 thing

is that din didnt know where he was

but conan did

Kabocha

oh god, conan's dad was one of those sovereign citizen guys wasn't he

Respheal

oh lord

Kabocha

that's the REAL reason Conan has missing memories

RebelVampire

it couldve been conan's mom who was from the affluential family. felix is just some bum

Kabocha

his mom was dying of stress of his dad saying "you can't put me on trial here because that flag is wrong"

Lyall

i hope

his dad is incredibly good looking(edited)

RebelVampire

http://www.galebound.com/cast/

hes the bottom right guy

Lyall

oh geezus

Mahotou

that cast page is a good resource

Lyall

he is

i don't care if he's an asshole he's my new second fave

Respheal

xD

Lyall

looks like you got a bro conan

pascal

Respheal

I had fun with some of these descriptions lololol

Mahotou

Too good for this cruel world

Lyall

like

pascal looks more like felix's son than conan does

maybe pascal was given conan's real appearance to protect conan

since pascal can protect himself

and is loved less

Amarok

Pascal isnt smart enough to be a decoy

Respheal

His murderin' pants

Amarok

xD

Lyall

maybe pascal is a clone

a magic clone

Feather, Duke of Hot Leaf Juice

I am finally home, so I ahve to say this

RebelVampire

pascal is too good for this world and wait a second pascal has green eyes

Amarok

he gets back to the king after completing the task

Feather, Duke of Hot Leaf Juice

So that horse might be a person

Lyall

maybe the horse is felix

Feather, Duke of Hot Leaf Juice

That was my crack theory for the longest time

Respheal

wat

Lyall

felix is an animagus

Kabocha

he's a cat.

Amarok

"congratulations captain murderpants on a job well done" "but im only a lieutenant" "I just promoted you"

Lyall

felix the cat

har har har

Feather, Duke of Hot Leaf Juice

Alright now I got that here I'm gonna poof, I feel like dying sorry qwq

Lyall

kay~! laterz Feather~!

Feather, Duke of Hot Leaf Juice

But yes, my crack theory was the mare was a person who happens to be the true heir and all the jazz

Respheal

Hahahaha drop in to post that crack theory and then poof out xDD

Alrighty see ya o/

Lyall

don't you mean

Respheal

Get feelin better

Lyall

true mare

Kabocha

during the dark hour, Artemis was a ... night mare

I'll see myself out thank you

Respheal

But yes, that's where Pascal got the cinnabon part of his nickname

RebelVampire

i wonder if its telling that felix and conan have middle names but the others dont. is this an indication of their fancy O_O

Lyall

mark of royalty

or pretentious namers

Respheal

Bit of a family tradition

Conan's grandpa's name is Matthias, and his great-grandpa would've been a Lucas

And on it goes

Lyall

ooooooooh

i drank way too much caffeine today

Kabocha

If Conan isn't ejected from the gene pool

Respheal

lol

Kabocha

his kid should probably have the name "felix" at some point(edited)

BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S A SECOND CHILD

Lyall

conan's real name is Felix Jr.

RebelVampire

then the second child is banished

there can only be one

Respheal

xDDD

Kabocha

this is why pascal wants to kill conan

Lyall

how spartan

but conan is younger

Kabocha

Conan was the favorite.

:3

Lyall

but he doesn't dress as well

Kabocha

Clearly not.

Lyall

fashion too important

Kabocha

his dad was a hobo. Lyall

no he's wearing an ascot

Mahotou

that's why conan was hidden away as a stable boi

Lyall

hobos don't wear ascots

Kabocha

Din's sleeping on the ground right now

and he was in an alley with a blanket and probably a hobo then :'3

Din is King Hobo.

Lyall

no he was poor then

and sleeping on the ground is necessity

Kabocha

So you mean Din had a whirlwind of success?

Mahotou

he travels on foot and by caravan. sounds like a bumkin

Lyall

no din sold his soul to the devil of the story

Respheal

To be fair, Maho, they haven't gotten around to trains yet xD

Kabocha

Really, that part of things had to be a breeze.

Mahotou

so Res, how's din's soul looking on that pedistal?

Respheal

owo

Kabocha

Wait, if Din sold his soul to a devil...

Where is Rex.

Lyall

everywhere always

Mahotou

lol

Kabocha

it all comes back to freaking Rex.

Respheal

I'm gonna start responding to theory questions with a kyubey expression

Mahotou

yey!

Kabocha

"Wanna make a contract?"

Lyall

rex is a terrible bad guy, i hope res did better than that, hahah

RebelVampire

on a more serious note din said that theyre after "felix or his heir" so does that mean they knew felix only had one kid or that there can only be one heir so if felix had more kids it doesnt matter?

Lyall

gawd I hope Felix had a whole bunch of kids

Respheal

Good question!

Lyall

his kitten litter

Respheal

Din:

Lyall

Felix: Find them all Din, now find me

Respheal

THIS ISN'T POKEMON LOL

THERE IS NO CATCH 'EM ALL

xD

RebelVampire

this is why felix left. he has to go around the world having kids

Lyall

Felix: Sorry Din, my duty in life is to make babies with every one i meet

Kabocha

oh god

Respheal

omg xD

Lyall

Felix: I must share the beauty that is I

Kabocha

Felix's theme song is now Vanilla.

(by Gackt)

Lyall

rather Booty Call

Respheal

-dies-

Amarok

welp gotta go for now

Respheal

Awww, see ya! o/

Amarok

i may be back

Lyall

Bye Amarok~! Thank you for coming~!

Respheal

Thanks for joining :D

Ah heck

You guys are asking good questions though >:3

RebelVampire

thanks for coming Amarok~!

Lyall

i know nothing about Felix but he is now a full time player in my mind

Respheal

And have grazed a fair number of truths(edited)

Lyall

the horse was conan's mother all along

RebelVampire

i think we could also ask why now? like theyve not cared for 25 years about felix but now theyre like "welp better go assassinate him"

Mahotou

maybe they were looking for him for 25 years tho maybe the question is, who let slip that felix has a boy in the horse land(edited)

Lyall

his gambling debt got too high

RebelVampire

thats true it mightve just take 25 years

yeah thats an equally valid question

why do they suddenly know about conan

Lyall

omg he looks like Loki from Matantei Loki Ragnarok there

RebelVampire

did felix send them a letter and was like "hey guys just want to tell you i definitely dont have a secret son in this location."

Lyall

http://www.absoluteanime.com/mythical_detective_loki_ragnarok/loki.jpg

cause it's obscure

Respheal

Definitely don't go to the ranch in Norin that has a sign saying "Renaud Ranch". No one of interest there.

Kabocha

:'3

RebelVampire

His name is definitely not conan either.

Kabocha

Felix goofed up there

Lyall

good going felix

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

what I miss?

Lyall

felix not smart, just lucky

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

huh?

RebelVampire

were talking about why everyone came to get conan now instead of earlier

Respheal

I think we were talking about why people are after Felix and Conan

Yeah

Lyall

yus

Respheal

3. Conan himself is rather strange with having a rare ability to hear city daemons. He also has suggested there are important things he may have forgotten. Why or what is Conan that makes him as much a target as his father? Is there are a reason he seems to have hidden abilities? Has he forgotten something that will later be pivotal to the story?

-copy-pastes the question-(edited)

-cuz I kinda forgot what the question was too-

xD

Kabocha

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Lyall

Icanfinallydotext OTL

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

oh

RebelVampire

throws confetti for draco

Kabocha

Answering this question is hard

Lyall

i always assumed conan was a prince

RebelVampire

i definitely think whatever conan forgot is important

Lyall

or something to that effect

RebelVampire

cause of the amulet

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

he's an outsider prince

Kabocha

Conan forgot his mom.

Lyall

prince of demons

prince of pizza

Respheal

wat

Kabocha

Like, seriously, that lady in the flashback

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

they have pizza?

RebelVampire

Din: Conan what do you remember about your mother? Conan: ....I have a mother?

Lyall

do they have pizza?

i've no idea

Kabocha

LOL

Respheal

Probably something LIKE pizza

Lyall

omg conan that's sad

Respheal

Aww

Lyall

Conan: Wait, what's a mother

Respheal

OH NO

Kabocha

CONAN WAS BORN IN A TEST TUBE

Lyall

Din: I am your mother

Respheal

Suddenly Lost Boy

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

omg

Respheal

WAT

Mahotou

he was just talking about how he was upset that his dad didn't come to her funeral too. (edited)

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

Din is not a Damon, Draco

Lyall

it's a dark hole i can paint you

Kabocha

http://www.galebound.com/comics/2460520/067/ But no, seriously, I feel like this was really really heavily implied

RebelVampire

no i definitely think thats his mom too

Kabocha

either that or conan has an older sister

RebelVampire

in the flashback

Lyall

it's

his first wife

Kabocha

conan had a wife

Mahotou

i thought he may have forgotten what her last words were

Lyall

yus

Kabocha

omg

so he really IS older

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

LOL

Lyall

conan is really a lot older than he looks

but when he was hidden he was made younger

Kabocha

add another 11 years onto that

Lyall

because he too is a magician

Respheal

Ha, add 11 years and he'd be Din's age

Lyall

shot

maybe

conan is felix

and pascal is his son

RebelVampire

i dont think were going that far into the twilight zone

Lyall

hey it can work

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

LMAO

Lyall

you can connect the bridges to make it work

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

Draco it's not reincarnation

Mahotou

Kabo is SO PREPARED with these images xD(edited)

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

stahp applying Zenchav logic here

Lyall

Conan: Why do you look so much worse than with your age lines

Respheal

And then suddenly Din and Conan are fraternal twins

Lyall

i can connect anything

do not take theories from me

Kabocha

@Mahotou -- no, I'm actually literally drawing this as I go

I know I said I'd prepare stuff, but I can't make this up

RebelVampire

so one thing conan definitely forgot in that flashback is the amulet cause clearly hed seen it before

Lyall

kabo super good at drawing fast(edited)

yus

and his first horse

that someone stole

:<

Respheal

Probably Parker lol

(jk)

Lyall

gdi parker

Respheal

xD

Kabocha

we need to see Parker in comic

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

Kabo is like a cali

Respheal

Someday!

Lyall

yus

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

is parker cute?

Lyall

always the important question

Kabocha

parker's drunk all the time XD

Respheal

^

Lyall

:<

Respheal

He's uh.....

Lyall

that's not cute

maybe

Respheal

He's made an appearance in a lil derp comic I did for TWC

Lyall

is his first name peter

Respheal

https://respheal.tumblr.com/post/156311533421/twc-challenge-2-featuring-conan-and-his

Lyall

awww kiss him parker

when he's awake

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

aww he's a cute tubby guy RebelVampire

QUESTION 4. Din tells Conan that the reason Conan is being hunted is because of Conan’s father, Felix. What exactly did Felix do to make so many enemies? Where do you think he went? Is he dead or is he out wandering the world somewhere? Do you think Conan will run into him or is Felix’s role inconsequential?

Lyall

my eyes are tired so i read hunted as haunted

Kabocha

Felix stole a horse.

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

the king's horse

Artemis is the king's horse

Mahotou

i think conan will meet with felix somewhere down the line.

Kabocha

Also, probably slept with someone's sister that he shouldnta

Lyall

well felix slept with a lot of people's significant others

Respheal

And that's when Conan punches the hell outta Felix (jk lol.....or am I?)(edited)

Lyall

UnU

RebelVampire

conan should punch felix anyway

say thanks for leaving to get milk and not coming back, dad

Lyall

Felix: Come son, let us embrace

Kabocha

So, who did Conan inherit his ahoge from?

His ma or his pa

Lyall

the pressing questions

Respheal

That's actually a good question

That I don't remember the answer to

Lyall

D:

Respheal

-looks up refs-

Mahotou

its the grandpa

Lyall

from the horse

UvU

Kabocha

OH WAIT

I know

neither. XD

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

Felix: You shall do my bidding

takes over the underworld

Lyall

no felix that's bad

Respheal

If rank is determined by ahoge, Pascal is probably higher ranked

Lyall

lolol

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

oh wait that's a different story

Lyall

Felix: Conan let me show you my magic bag

I hope Conan's real name is Katz

Kabocha

Yeah, Pascal would have the larger of the two ahoge

Respheal

Katz?

Mahotou

Pasc has windmill sweeping hair

Kabocha

...Those two I DID draw yesterday

Lyall

like Cat

so it's Felix and Katz

Respheal

omg

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

LOL

Lyall

and a magic bag

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

Felix the Katz

Lyall

do not let me name things, i'm sorry

Kabocha

How much DOES conan know about his dad

Lyall

nothing probably

how much does conan know about himself even

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

Felix is probably a threat to overthrow the king which is why they want he and Conan dead

RebelVampire

well he knows hes missing

Lyall

how can you know your dad if you don't know yourself

Kabocha

that's deep.

Respheal

Well, Conan has hinted a bit as to how much he knows about his dad

Which is to say: not much

Lyall

Conan: I had a dad?

Respheal

OH NO XDDDD

Lyall

Conan: I thought I was born from these horses and Parker

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

might be fabricated

definitely fabricated memory

Lyall

yeah that's true

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

poor guy

Lyall

even if he had a memory it could be false

Kabocha

have we seen conan's belly button yet

Lyall

conan is an unreliable source for info atm

Kabocha

DOES HE HAVE A BELLY BUTTON

Respheal

........wat

xDDD

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

yep

Kabocha

if he's not got parents

like, if he was some sort of magical being

would he actually have one?

Respheal

Alright Conan, lift yer shirt

Lyall

does conan have abs,

the important questions

Respheal

hell yeah

Boy works on a farm all day

Lyall

10/10

RebelVampire

>v>

Lyall

work it farm boy

Mahotou

he had a nice back

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

he's ripped

Kabocha

Din also has a nice back.

and a nice tattoo

Mahotou

that page where he took off his shirt

#hesstrippingagain

Lyall

The tattoo is proof he sold his soul

for powah

RebelVampire

it looks more like a brand than a tattoo to me. like someone took a hot poker and put it to his back. and it went sizzle sizzle

Lyall

my first thought was what he's advertising

Mahotou

being branded gave him powerzz

Lyall

someone used din as a billboard

Mahotou

powerful slave?

Lyall

that's really a company

RebelVampire

or being branded is him being marked as magician cattle O_O

Lyall

ooooooh

Mahotou

that

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

Din Works for Conan's clan

Lyall

that's what i think

Kabocha

I feel like I've seen din's tattoo somewhere in comic tho

Lyall

slave to conan's family

RebelVampire

the watch

Lyall

yus

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

Pascal works for the King

Lyall

but maybe it's not the real king

RebelVampire

its the same emblem on conan's watch or looks supsiciously similar

Lyall

maybe felix was the real king, but went into hiding

that's why he's missing

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

yep

maybe it was invaded

Lyall

yis

Mahotou

sht someone help me compare the watch to din's sholder

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

then King whoeverhisname is

Lyall

we shall call him Gink

King Gink

Mahotou

Gink-king?

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

is scared that Conan's clan will go revenge

RebelVampire

draco you cant always just make new names by spelling backwards

Respheal

Watch: http://www.galebound.com/comics/2362830/035/ Shoulder: http://www.galebound.com/comics/2369956/040/

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

which is why he wants Felix and his heir dead

Lyall

yes I can

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

LOL draco

Respheal

@Mahotou ^

Lyall

Conan's real name is Nanoc

maybe Felix is a robin hood type

pushed into hiding but doing good for the poor

but he looks like an ass

so i doubt it

RebelVampire

but i cant say for sure about the similarities. theyre just suspiciously similar.

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

draco

Conan's mind is fabricated as to protech him

well that was kinda obvious(edited)

Lyall

yis

Kabocha

I feel like I remember seeing a comment once about some of the scenery in Evenheim and I'm like what are some of these comments talking about

cameos?

Kabocha

and other stuff

Respheal

Hahaha if it makes it easier to refer to the king Din's looking to overthrow, King Cymaria works (they go by their city-state name sometimes)

Ah yeah there were a few pages with cameos from other comics

Lyall

maybe the king is a woman

cause their name ends in A

i'm sorry i really drank too much caffeine

RebelVampire

if this is a matter of felix is the true king i still dont get why theyd wait so long to deal with him. not to mention even if he changed his name i think hed be found out cause a king being dethroned is kind of a big deal

Lyall

yeah that's true rebel

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

probably because Conan is more powerful

and they were waiting him to grow up

lel

Lyall

but maybe he's a different kind of royalty

i'm not fully theorized in the construct of the world

RebelVampire

im not talking about conan im talking about felix

Lyall

so the hierarchy of such could be different than the assumed

RebelVampire

conan wouldnt of been born yet

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

but it's related

Respheal

Conan's 22, for reference

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

wait

he's 22?

Lyall

like maybe there's a different kind of royalty amongst the magician

than with the lands

Mahotou

its in the cast page too right?

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

again, I didn't read anything aside the main pages

Respheal

It's fine ^^

It's all optional supplementary stuff hiding back there lol

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

it's more fun to speculate that way

RebelVampire

yeah conan is 22 so he was born 3 years after din and his cohorts think felix went missing.

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

Felix ran away

Lyall

i want to read it all again, and the supplemental stuff :<

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

met the magician girl

lived with them for 11 years

Lyall

looks at pile of pages to draw

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

then ran away again

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

rip my theory

Lyall

would felix be din's father then

Respheal

:3

Lyall

wha

RebelVampire

so i guess felix left when conan was 8?

Respheal

Oh nah I'm just trolling with my reactions mostly xD

All of the theories have been good!

Correct

22-14=8

Wait

Lyall

bad parenting felix

Respheal

Yeah

Lyall

abandoning your son

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

psh who does that

Lyall

for the greater good

of brothels

no not you rex

get back in your hole

Kabocha

We need an icon for Felix now

Respheal

That would be the grumpiest icon

Lyall

felix joins dad of the year club

Respheal

xD

RebelVampire

you can never have enough grumpy icons

Mahotou

i think Din's grin would be more appropriate for Res.

xD

Respheal

That's like the criteria for being a Magician: have a blood-curdling evil grin

RebelVampire

i really love the pattern on pascal's shirt random

Lyall

lolololol

yus

Respheal

Pascal likes dressin up

Lyall

he wears it well

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

he and din are

Mahotou

Pasc "i'm an assasin so i'm in all black but i wanna stand out and be fancy soooo RED CRAVAT"

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

yiss

Respheal

LOL

Lyall

lolol

Respheal

Hahaha Pascal wears the red cravat solely cuz it matches his magic's color

He's like IT MATCHES YES

Kabocha

and his eyes!

Lyall

omg XD that dork

Kabocha

also the blood of his enemies!

Respheal

Well yeah the ring around the eyes matches their magic too

Kabocha

res, where's that stupid pic of pascal I drew

Respheal

(Din's is kinda hard to see sometimes--I gotta fix that)

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

I like red so I approve

Lyall

blueisbest

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

red

Lyall

blue

Respheal

>w>

Respheal

Gonna quote @Mahotou here

"WHO'S BLUE?????"

Lyall

felix?

RebelVampire

the entire comic

Respheal

Now it is! xD

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

draco

Lyall

mharz

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

no

Lyall

yes

ironically mharz's name is blue and mine is red

RebelVampire

with 6 minutes left to go does anyone have any closing thoughts?

Lyall

ummm

tell us all the secrets

Respheal

Since we're getting close to it, I was gonna mention what the next chapter's gonna be called

#speculation

Mahotou

OOOOOOOOOO

Kabocha

:3

Respheal

Chapter 4: Hear, Obey, Defy

:3

Mahotou

*looks at Din

RebelVampire

rip conan

Lyall

din gonna disobey

tsks

it's okay din

i support you

kill him if necessary

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

be free Din, be free

Lyall

yus

free your genie bond

Respheal

Hahaha funny you should mention that

Din -> djinn

Lyall

oh i noticed

Respheal

xD

Lyall

and then i forgot

Respheal

LOL

Lyall

but now i remember

Kabocha

When's Din gonna have another slasher smile?

RebelVampire

but were all assuming it means din gonna betray conan i think. it could be that they cross the bridge, someone is like "din you take that boy to the king gosh" and then din is like no go jump off a bridge

Lyall

look at din

of course he's going to betray him

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

I trust Din

with my pennies

Respheal

:3

RebelVampire

i trust artemis

Lyall

I trust din to do what's right for the story

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

Artemis is best

Lyall

i trust din to do what's right for din too

unless

he forms a really really strong bond with conan

which could happen

but he does not have that atm

Respheal

Hahaha I will say, a lot of you were SERIOUSLY on the right track

I was screaming

xD

Lyall

it was the horse theory wasn't it

Respheal

Yes

You caught me

Lyall

felix is a horse

Respheal

Conan's mom never died, she's been the horse all along

Lyall

just horsing around

RebelVampire

to be fair tho if din wants to overthrow the king its not to his advantage yet to betray conan if conan is some necessary component

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

Din wants to be king

RebelVampire

i approve of King Din

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

overthrows the king first then makes conan the king

Lyall

i feel like a lot of the story pieces are still missing for me to make a real judgement on who's right and wrong

Lyall

I support king Din 100%

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

then overthrow conan

Lyall

i want a picture of king Din

Kabocha

Res was totally blown away by the theories.

Respheal

Yeah, that's the thing--there is a LOT of missing info right now

Lyall

i feel he'd be very lelouch

Respheal

More info will come of course.....but then that might just spawn MORE QUESTIONS

-evil laugh-

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

gonna wait until chapter 10

Lyall

d'aaaaw

Mharz of Angels & Punchy Ladies

Likes to pile up things

Respheal

Oh heck chapter ten's gonna be nuts

Lyall

res so good at keeping spoilers

Respheal

.....so is every chapter up to that but y'know

RebelVampire

Unfortunately, the scheduled Comic Tea Party is now complete~! Thank you everyone so much for joining this week’s chat~! That being said, if you would like to continue discussing the comic, we encourage you to do so~! We want to give a big thank you to Respheal, as well, for volunteering Galebound for our reading queue. If you liked the comic, please be sure to support Respheal’s efforts. If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions about CTP, please feel free to PM me, or e-mail me at rebelvampire@startfaire.com.

With that said, next week’s Comic Tea Party will focus on Voidchild by David Lindholm. Please use this week to read as much of the comic as you would like. Hope to see you next Thursday (October 12th) from 5PM to 7PM PDT~! Until then~! Comic: https://tapas.io/series/voidchild/

[barnesandrogersfanfics]

Ocean Eyes - Part 3

A/N - Just a small update, im sorry if its bad but it was written after 2hrs sleep! 😂💕💕

It was finally Friday! I had finished my shift at the coffee shop and collected Mason from preschool. He was telling me all about his day happily chatting away as i drove us home, It was only a ten minute drive from the preschool so we were soon parking up out front.

"So what do you want for dinner tonight bud?" I asked as we walked from the car to the front door.

"Pizza!!"

"Pizza? Really?"

"Pleaseeee mom?"

"Fine!" I chuckled shaking my head at how happy he looked, the boy loved his pizza, and how could i say no to that face!

"Hey neighbours!"

I rolled my eyes and internally cursed at the voice of my next door neighbour Brian. The guy honestly creeped me out, Hannah was convinced he had a thing for me, the thought alone made my stomach turn!

"Hey Brian" i gave him tight lipped smile to be polite but carried on toward the house, i just wanted to get me and Mason inside.

"How are my favourite neighbours?"

"We're fine, thank you"

"So um...Y/N, a few of us are getting together tomorrow for a BBQ.... you and Mason should come"

"Sorry Brian, we have plans with some friends tomorrow" i lied, there was no way in hell i'd accept an invitation from him.

"Oh ok, no problem. Maybe some other time...?"

"I gotta get inside and sort out dinner, Mason's hungry. Have a nice time at your BBQ" i said quickly as i unlocked the door getting Mason inside first, i rushed in behind him huffing out a sigh of relief that i was away from Brian.

Mason was sitting down on the sofa watching a show about space and eating some fruit while i cleaned up a little in the living room and kitchen, i was running late this morning so didn't have time to do it until now. I had decided i'd order the pizza around 5pm being as Mason tended to stay up later on a Friday night. Just as i was finishing up in the kitchen my cell started ringing, i already knew it would be Hannah she called around this time most days.

"Hey"

"Hey, so im thinking we need to go out"

"Okayyyy random" i chuckled wiping down the counter and tossing the dishcloth on the side "why?"

"Because we both need to find a man!

Y/N we deserve some fun!"

"Things with Damien didnt work out i take it?"

"No, his a jackass! Come on please? Next week?? My mom already said she'd watch the boys"

"I don't know Han, you know i don't really date....i definitely don't hook up"

"But maybe you'll meet someone nice who you can get to know and eventually it could lead to something.... you dont have to hook up with anyone. We just need a girls night out, a night where we're just Y/N and Hannah and not mom"

"Can i think about it?"

"Sure! As long as your answer is YES!"

She said loudly making us both laugh.

"Fine! I'll go out if it makes you happy"

"Oh my god we're gonna have so much fun!!"

"I don't know about that! The last time we went out drinking together we were in a bar fight because you made out with some girls boyfriend!"

"Haha good times! How was i to know he had a girlfriend?"

"Your trouble Han" i shook my head thinking back at how wild she was before becoming a mom. We soon said our goodbyes and i went to join Mason on the sofa while i ordered our pizza.

Just as i was about to lock my phone once i was done i noticed the little notification on my messages indicating that i had a new message.

Unknown: Hey Y/N, its Chris.

Can we talk?

Y/N: About what??

Chris: I was hoping maybe we could talk in person....

Y/N: I don't think thats a good idea Chris.

Chris: oh.... well this is kinda awkward.... im outside

Are you fucking kidding me?!!

I said loudly in my head as i got up and went over to the window. There he was sitting in his car parked behind mine on the drive looking down at the phone in his hands, probably waiting for my reply.

"Mace? Im just going out to the car bud i wont be long okay?"

"Uh huh" he replied without even looking away from the TV.

As soon as i opened the front door Chris's car door opened and he got out quickly giving me a nervous smile.

"Thank you for coming to talk to me"

"What are you doing here Chris?" I asked as i looked through the front window making sure i could keep an eye on Mason.

"I wanted to apologise, for how i treated you, how i ended what we had.... i know i was a huge asshole. I just want you to know that im nothing like that guy anymore...."

"Thats great Chris, really. Because that guy was a careless, selfish son of a bitch"

"I know" he nodded sadly "i wish i could go back and make better choices. Take back the things i said to you.... Y/N the biggest regret of my life is that i lost you. You were my best friend.... my wife...." he shook his head "i didn't know what i had until you were gone"

"You couldn't have missed me that much" i scoffed "its taken you almost 6 years to come see me, i haven't heard from you once in all that time"

"I was ashamed of myself"

"Ok" i nodded "well thanks for coming by to clear that up but i have to go..."

"Scott told me" Chris called from behind me as i headed back inside "about Mason" he added, i froze on the spot feeling my heart start to race at hearing those words.

"He what??!" I spun around to face him with wide eyes, i was internally cursing Scott to hell!

He told Chris about Mason???

"He told me he came to see you, found out you have a son...."

"what is it with you two just showing up at my house unannounced and uninvited??"

"I knew if i asked to come see you you'd say no"

"You're right i would. It doesn't change anything just because you know about Mason"

"I know i just...." he shook his head as he searched for the right thing to say.

"You don't need to feel guilty, like you have to be here now you know, we've managed fine without you for this long"

"What?.... what do you mean by that?"

He asked taking a few steps towards me, it was at that moment i realised he didn't know Mason was his son.... shit!

"Y/N.... is Mason my son??" Chris asked as his chest heaved from how heavy he was suddenly breathing as he processed this new information.

"I thought... you... you said Scott told you all about Mason...."

As if on cue the front door opened and Mason appeared holding my ringing cell phone. I heard a gasp escape Chris's mouth as he looked down at Mason, at the little boy who was a spitting image of him.

"Mom your phone keeps ringing" he said holding my cell phone out to me.

"Thank you baby" i quickly looked to see it was my mom calling and sent it to voicemail, i'd call her later.

"You wanna come inside? I guess we need to talk" i said looking back at Chris who was stood with tears in his eyes, he nodded quickly not taking his eyes off of Mason and followed us inside.

Everything taglist: @jesseswartzwelder @dumblani @barnesandrogersworld @patzammit @rynabarnesrogers-reading

Ocean eyes: @supraveng @michelehansel @katiew1973 @denisemarieangelina @mrsjeffwittek @mery-be @marvelfansworld @cmalass @capstopavenger @fallenoutofrose @kelbabyblue @biebsmylife95 @loser-alert @traceyaudette @w3lissax (if your name is crossed out it wouldnt let me tag you 😞).

[wintersxsoul]

We are stardust (10)

Summary: Your favorite place on New York is a small coffee shop, what happens when one day you bump into a mysterious goth god and he keeps coming just to see you?

Pairing: Bucky Barnes X Reader

Word Count: 1780

Warnings: Language and all that shit. I cried writing this, so thats a warning.

A/N: This is really the end. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the support and love this fic is having. I am very self-conscious with my art and in general, and you liking this as you are is really helping me, a lot. I hope you stick around for the next works I have in mind and thank you for coping with my angst. Please, the songs that I mention are kind of important to understand what they are feeling, so I’ll link you. 

From Bucky’s POV: Come back when you can (first song mentioned)

From Y/N’s POV: Ocean (last song mentioned)

The cab drove through the streets of New York, while you were fighting with yourself. Head over heart. Staying or leaving. You did believe him, you knew he was sincere and it was Dot’s doing, but you were tired of the situation, of her. You loved her with all your heart and soul, you gave her everything you could offer and she just hurt you at the end. You couldn’t stop thinking about her all the way to the airport, and you were actually glad you did, because thinking about your friends and Bucky was way too more painful. A part of you wished to really forget about everything and just go back to his arms, but you needed time and space. You knew you loved him, with a pure and raw love, with no flaws, no regrets, but sometimes love wasn’t enough. You needed to let go of your past and forgive yourself for what you did, you needed to move on from Dolores. You had at least half hour more to arrive, so you plugged in your sound cancelling headphones and pushed the shuffle option. When the first seconds of the song played, you couldn’t believe your atrocious luck, but then you understood why it wasn’t that bad. You and Bucky made a collaborative playlist on Spotify, it seemed to be a really long time ago, and the last song was added right after your meeting at the coffee shop. His audacity made you giggle, but tears were streaming down your face when the lyrics hit you.

Please take your time

But you've got to know that

I am taking sight

Oh, you look good

With your patient face and wandering eye

Don't hold this war inside.

He really was the person you wanted to be with the rest of your life, and maybe it was too fast to think that way, but you couldn’t control that. Maybe if you left, you wouldn’t see him anymore, maybe he would forget about you. Maybe, after all, you were not meant to be together.

You left your home

You're so far from

Everything you know

Your big dream is

Crashing down and out your door

Wake up and dream once more.

You looked out the window, feeling like a complete mess, and honestly, you felt like the protagonist of a sad indie music video. It was raining outside, the teardrops fighting against each other, the ones who arrived first won, the others were just banished as they merged into one single drop. You pressed your warm hand to the window, feeling the coldness of your home, saying goodbye for a while to everything you’d built here.

Come back when you can

Let go, you'll understand

You've done nothing at all to make me love you less

So come back when you can

Come back, I'll help you stand

Let go and hold my hand

If all you wanted was me, I'd give you nothing less

So come back when you can.

When the song ended, you were a crying mess. You leaned into the window, and drift off into a dreamless sleep.  

“Excuse me, ma’am. We’re here.” A female voice woke you up. You blinked and smiled at her, embarrassed because you had fallen asleep.

“I’m so sorry. I’m sure I’ve been the worst client of the day.” You said, laughing softly. She shot you a huge smile and clicked her tongue jokingly.

“Hey girl, you’ve actually been the best. An hour without mansplaining about my own job and harassment? Sign me the fuck up.” You laughed and for a second, she made you forget why you were at the airport.

“Actually, can I get your number? I’ll be coming back possibly on a month, and it would be an honor to be your break time hour.” She laughed again, and gave you her number. You paid her and got off the car, and before you could turn around and leave, she grabbed you by the wrist and pulled you into a hug. At first, you were confused, but you realized your whole body was screaming for a comforting touch.

“Whatever it is you’re going through, I’m sure you’ll overcome it. Give yourself time and self care, and everything will make sense again.”

“Thank you so much, I really needed this. By the way, I’m Y/n.”

“I’m Megara, but you can call me Meg or whenever you want to.” She winked at you, got in the taxi, and left.

You sighed and entered the building, ready to leave everything behind for a while. You can do this. After checking in and passing the security checkpoint, you sat in a starbucks to have a coffee while you waited to board. You were scrolling through your twitter timeline when someone called you. It was an unknown number, so you took the call.

“Hello?” Someone gulped at the other side, and a shiver ran down your spine. Please, don’t be you.

“I know you don’t want to talk to me, so just listen to what I have to say.” You fixed your glasses and pinched the bridge of your nose.

“Go on, Dot.” You said, actually relieved that it was her and not Bucky or the girls.

“I want to apologize. For everything. For all the lies, the broken promises, for Bucky...I know you may not believe this, but I did what I did for love. I still love you Y/n, and I know I will for a long time. But this is not about me, not anymore. I just wanted James and you to break up, but after seeing how miserable you both were and how you looked at each other…” She sniffed and cleared her throat. You knew Dot very well, and she was not the type of person to open up out of the blue, so she really must have felt bad. “I really don’t expect you to forgive me nor I’m asking you to. I saw James after you left, and he told me you were leaving somewhere. He is so heartbroken and it’s all my fault.” Her voice trembled and she started crying, soft sobs escaping her lips. “I’m so sorry I brought so much pain to the two of you. Have a good life and be happy, Y/n.” A single tear fell from your eyes after she ended the call, and you wiped it off before it fell to the table. You’ve cried enough. You stood up and made your way towards the boarding gate.

You took your phone, opened the spotify app and added a song to Bucky’s playlist, then you opened your contact list and texted him.

Y/n: I believe you, sorry I ever doubted you. But I have to do this. I have to get away from the toxicity that poisoned me these past three weeks. I hope you understand and please, take care of yourself. I hope we can fix this in the future or at least be friends. I’ll block and delete your number after sending this text. I will miss you and remember that I will always adore you.

FIVE MONTHS LATER

“Girls, I’m going to work a little bit. I’ll be at the coffee shop! Love you.” You shouted to the apartment before closing the door behind you. It was good to be back. You made your way towards your still special place on earth, your bag full of your drawing materials and your laptop. You were wearing your favorite mom jeans, with high top converse and Bucky’s NASA sweatshirt, stolen a long time ago. You missed him everyday, but you couldn’t find the courage to tell him you were back.

You spent a couple of weeks at your brother’s house, but you were slowly killing yourself. You hated your hometown and its people, you weren’t on speaking terms with your family and you had no friends left there. So after those weeks, you booked the cheapest flight you found and ended up living for five months in between Vienna and Bucharest, with just the bare minimum. You worked as a waitress and also had time to draw and write. You had always wanted to do travel journals, so that’s what you did. Every weekend, you visited new cities and countries. You wrote almost three journals. You missed New York with all your heart, and the worst days always were after you skyped with the girls, you really missed them. Marie was a Literature professor in the NYU, Wanda left her shitty job and opened her own library and Nat became the CEO of the New York Times. Meg and you hit it off quite fast, she even came to visit you for a couple of days, and after a goodbye kiss and a promise to still be friends, you realized you were still in love with Bucky.

You ordered your regular Earl Grey tea and sat at your spot, feeling happy and content with your life. After a few hours, the small bell from the door rang, making people gasp, cough, clear their throats or fall into complete silence. You frowned, unaware of what was going on and then you turned around, your whole world falling into your feets. There he was, standing in the middle of the shop, staring at you like you were a ghost. 

You stood up and made your way towards him, his eyes widening at the sight of you. You looked beautiful, as always, but there was something different in you. Your hair was shorter, and you gained the weight you’d lost all those months ago, your cheeks had their pinkish color and your eyes were full of joy. Is she real? He thought, not quite believing he finally was seeing you after all this time. You were now mere inches away, your chests almost pressing together, and before you could open your mouth, you were pulled into his arms. Your body responded immediately, screaming at you that you were finally home. You pushed away, placing your hands carefully on his strong chest and looked at him straight into his eyes.

“I’ve been waiting to tell you since the first day I saw you, that I love you, James Buchanan Barnes.” He smiled, his cheeks reddening and his eyes tearing up.

“I love you so much, Y/n, words could never make justice to all these feelings.”

He pulled you closer once more, tilting his head and kissing you. All the shop burst into claps and cries of joy, even from Susan.

You started laughing and so did Bucky, you held his hands in yours and went to sit on your spot. Like nothing ever changed.

You both were finally home.