#other things we can do to keep you entertained in the intervening time include:

[rainworldbloodsport]

Submissions are now CLOSED! Two slots were left, which we've filled with our own OCs, giving a final cast number of 36! Now, all that's left to do is finish off portraits for the cast, then run the sim! Updates to come, but in all liklihood you'll just be seeing us posting miscellanous scugs to our art blog 'til we're done. Call it the preparation time - you know who the tributes are, now it's time to get familiar with them before their horrific and untimely deaths!

If you want to see our current log of finished portraits, we'll reblog them to here - or you can check character profiles if you want to see them early, though that may require using desktop or a browser app, since mobile Tumblr still doesn't support custom pages, despite desktop Tumblr having supported them for more than ten years. You will want to look at the tributes list, and then click on the name of the character whose profile you wish to view.

Alternatively, you will want to go to https://rainworldbloodsport.tumblr.com/1 and swap out the number until you find your desired tribute, since we're drawing characters by numerical order on when they were added. Sliver of Straw and Saint should turn up later today, if all goes well, and we'll try and keep a pace of at least two per day. May be more or less - there will also be dead portraits done, you just won't get to see 'em until actual death occurs.

[aihoshiino]

chapter 142 thoughts!

HEADS UP: In this review I discuss fictional depictions of sibling incest as well as a brief reference to both fictional and a real life suicide. As usual, feel free to skip if you're not in the right zone and I'll see you next time.

thank you for the kind words from everyone when i was still in the Slime Era of feeling sick lol. i'm like 80% back to full power now!

I'm gonna be totally up front and say I really think this is one of the worst chapters we've gotten in a while but here's the twist: it's not for the reasons you probably think!

We're following up basically right off the back of last chapter and immediately I am kind of mad at how shitty the series is continuing to do Miyako with regards to the movie arc. She was a total non-factor in the RBKN conflict and now that Aqua and Ruby are being pressured into doing something they have both verbalized that they don't want to do she's just like well gosh i feel complicated but what can i do :(. Having the setup almost 20 full chapters ago of Miyako expressing that she wants to step up and do more for Aqua and Ruby as their mother and then having her completely failing to intervene on their behalf here is just wild.

In general, the way everything is being set up to force this kiss feels so… well, forced. Even if Kaburagi (as the story says) insisted there be a kiss scene, there are a million ways to fake a kiss that doesn't involve actors actually kissing. Body doubles! Camera angles! Putting your thumbs in the way! Unless Kaburagi said "I want 20 full seconds of Kamiki sticking his tongue down Ai's throat center frame", there is absolutely no reason "a kiss scene" needs to mean "these two blood related twin sibling actors actually kiss". The whole thing is just so incredibly contrived.

And honestly? The fact that both Ruby and Aqua have expressed a 'no' and are being forced to do this anyway is the part of this chapter making me the most actively insane. It is absolutely mind boggling to have spent half of last chapter on a Miyako monologue about how immoral and unethical it is when people's ability to give informed and sincere consent is compromised by the entertainment industry and to then follow it with a whole chapter of basically every character we're supposed to like flaunting a total lack of respect for Aqua's comfort and consent in this regard, up to and including the completely insane scene of two adult women lecturing Aqua about how he isn't allowed to have boundaries. What the fuck is going on here!!!

This is especially frustrating because I actually really like a lot of things about the scene with Yoriko and Abiko… even if there's some stuff that really kind of broke me lol. Like uh, wasn't it a really huge plot point in Tokyo Blade that a mangaka couldn't be expected to turn out an entertaining theater script because those are two entirely different kinds of storytelling…??? But whatever.

Off the bat, I have really mixed-leaning-negative feelings about the reveal that the KamiAi romance scenes we'd gotten were entirely fictional. On the one hand, I actually feel pretty validated - I had guessed that the full-immersion-flashback presentation was a hint that we were being presented with a falsehood and it implicitly confirms something I've been saying from the start that 15 Year Lie's version of events has to be taken with a grain of salt, both because it contradicts known events and facts and because so many other people have interfered with it. Having that made textual and being able to confidently say it helps a lot in discussing what this means for the story.

But like… that means we wasted a whole bunch of time on shit that was made up and didn't matter! Like, thematically speaking, I think this is potentially interesting but I just keep getting stuck on the fact that we were given a super interesting scene finally fleshing out and giving us info about both a character and a relationship we've been absolutely starved for details about, only for the story to turn around not two chapters later and go "and my source? i made it the fuck up". It just totally dashes all the enthusiasm I was feeling and it also makes it way less rewarding to try and dig into what 15YL is doing when at any time, all of this potentially interesting character work could be revealed to be total piss in the wind.

Stepping back from that… in total isolation from everything else, I do think this talk with Abiko and Yoriko about what it means to write stories is interesting from a lot of angles. While I don't think these two are the 1-to-1 author avatars for Aka and Mengo fandom treats them as, they nevertheless clearly serve as reflections of the two's experiences and viewpoints about the manga industry and specific and the art of storytelling in general, allowing the story to play around in the quasi-metafictional space it does sometimes, where it uses in-universe fiction as a method of commenting on itself.

In that sense, I think Yoriko can be understood as speaking for Akasaka here and discussing some of his feelings as a storyteller of Oshi no Ko specifically. OnK has never made a secret of the fact that it's drawing on Akasaka's real experiences in the entertainment industry but perhaps less obvious to overseas fans is the inspiration it takes from real life issues in contemporary Japanese pop culture, too. Infamously, Akane's arc very transparent drew inspiration - if it wasn't reconstructed entirely - from the suicide of Hana Kimura, not even six full months after Kimura's death. When the anime aired, Kimura's surviving mother (imo, rightfully and deservedly) lambasted the series for using her daughter's death as the fodder for entertainment without consulting her surviving family. It wasn't even that she disagreed with what the series was saying - she just wanted someone to have some consideration.

This is what Yoriko means when she talks about the responsibility a writer has to their stories. When you write a piece of fiction as highly visible as Oshi no Ko currently is, it is your responsibility to consider the impact your words will have on the world. No, fiction does not directly impact the real world in a physical, tangible way but if we are careless with our stories, we can regurgitate and perpetuate dominant cultural narratives that very much do cause real, tangible harm to marginalized people. Hikaru Kamiki isn't a real person, but there are undoubtedly people in OnK's readerbase who see their experiences mirrored in him. Airi Himekawa isn't real, but people like her exist. Akane Kurokawa isn't real but Hana Kimura was.

This discussion also serves as an interesting warning to Aqua himself, though maybe not quite in the sense Yoriko intended. Aqua's revenge has always been something treated, in-universe, as a sort of fiction in of itself; Aqua calls it his 'revenge play' and his primary method of pursuing it is to become an actor. It's a retribution narrative about real people and Aqua is its author. But as Yoriko reminds him… stories can kill. Especially ones featuring real people. Aqua has been telling himself a comfortable lie for years that only he will be hurt by his own inevitable self destruction but Yoriko reminds him that he isn't the only person involved here and that he is inevitably going to cause great pain to the people he loves if her continues down this path.

That's why this chapter is so frustrating. This is all good, meaty character work with some great thematic overtones… and it's all in service of contriving this scenario where Aqua has no choice but to tongue his sister on camera and for some reason, nobody is pointing out the million and one alternatives to this deranged scenario.

But anyway. Enough beating around the bush: let's talk about That Scene. And despite what everything I've said this post might lead you to believe… I actually really like it.

I don't know exactly what activated to make her go sicko mode but Mengo has been really on fucking fire with her art on the series lately. It really jumped out to me in 137 but she's honestly been cooking since the very start of the movie arc. It stands out especially strongly in Aqua and Ruby's talk on the balcony in ways I really vibed with. The whole scene feels like Ruby's shoujo brainrot and the cold reality of what she's tiptoeing around suggesting to Aqua are battling out for dominance over the framing. Ruby's stubbornness is such a force to be reckoned with that it almost wins entirely but there are moments where the lens cracks and we see things as they are. Aqua's discomfort practically radiates off the page this entire conversation.

Not only that but… jesus christ, Ruby. Just look at how she's framed when she first enters the scene.

That oppressive silhouette, her shaded eyes and that sinister smile… I probably don't need to tell you that's NOT how you typically frame a romantic heroine. She honestly almost looks more like a villain.

But Ruby quickly reasserts control over the framing. Or rather, what she's suggesting is such a sugary shoujo fantasy, the framing has no other option but to comply. At last, Ruby steps out of the shallow channel of plausible deniability and puts into concrete words what she has been thinking and longing for these last twenty chapters: for her to retake her role as Sarina Tendoji and for Aqua, in turn, to play Gorou for her once again. More than that - she pushes him for a concrete response to her love at last, not as Ruby but as Sarina; not only does the paneling repeatedly cover the eye with her star but in the final panel where she unambiguously propositions Aqua, the star is completely gone. This is what Ruby is offering: to completely sever her connection to Ai and the new life she has built on that foundation and to return to being Sarina, if that is what the doctor she loves wants.

This is SUCH an incredibly effective scene. It's excellently done and the art is fantastic. It finally draws out and makes explicit the underlying disconcerting subtext that has been swimming under the twins' relationship since 123. It works fantastically well… in isolation. But when taken into the context of the rest of the story it just feels so… unearned.

For the last 20 chapters, we have had absolutely no serious insight into Ruby's feelings re: the reveal of Gorou's new identity as Aqua. We didn't see her grapple with it or have to adjust to it at all. It was like a switch flipped in her brain and she was suddenly a 2010s fanservice imouto splooging about her oniichan. Her interiority in this regard is completely absent. Whenever the subject is addressed at all, it is made into a joke with Ruby as the punchline. There has been no serious build up to this moment or any meaningful time spent on Ruby's feelings about Aqua and as such, being asked to take it seriously now feels so incredibly jarring.

I've said this over and over in other places but I'll make this clear here: the handling of Ruby's feelings is not bad because Incest Is Morally Bad or whatever. At the end of the day, OnK is fiction and fiction is a space that allows us to explore ideas and scenarios that would be unpleasant, dangerous or even downright immoral to try and interrogate in real life with real people. Not only that, but AQRB's situation is so far removed from anything any real person could experience there's very little risk of it acting as a harmful reflection of a real person's life. But because OnK had the space to do just about anything with this idea, I'm so incredibly baffled that it chose to do all of nothing. This is a plot point that has been cooking since the literal first chapter of the entire series and now, just under four years and over 140 chapters past our starting point… and this is the best Akasaka can do? Dated brocon humor that reduces Ruby to a shallow gag character, denying her the opportunity to have deeper, more complex and ugly feelings and denying her the respect of examining those feelings with honesty?

It sucks. This whole thing really sucks. As someone who loves Ruby so, so much… this really just feels like an insulting way to have handled what should have been one of the most interesting and engaging parts of her series long arc.

I do think this chapter is the beginning of the end of AquRuby's time in the endgame couple race, if it was ever seriously in the running to begin with. Ruby embracing Aqua with a proposition in those final two panels echoes Akane doing the same in chapter 72 and the fact that this cliffhanger ends on the proposition and not a kiss implies to me, structurally speaking, that we are heading for a rejection. On top of that, we're pretty far away from the manga's ending still and Kana's romantic resolution with Aqua hasn't gotten its time to shine. All those factors together makes me feel pretty certain that this is the final nail in the coffin and we're just waiting to see how Aka sticks the landing.

After all - Ruby is asking for his response as Sarina. And if this is Sarina asking for his love one last time… we already know how Gorou's going to respond.

[zeciex]

A Vow of Blood

Warnings: This fic includes noncon, dubcon, manipulation, violence and inc3st. Tags will be added as the fic goes on.

This is a dark!fic. 18+ only. Read at your own discretion. Please read the warnings before continuing.

Summary: “You will be trapped by the obligations of love and duty, unable to escape the web of expectations others have woven around you," the witch said....

Daenera Velaryon returns to King's Landing with the intention of bolstering her mother's position and reminding both the Greens and nobility that Rhaenyra is the rightful heir to the throne. She has a specific goal in mind: to be a constant source of annoyance to the Greens and is willing to play the political game without hesitation.

However, what catches her off guard is the way Aemond gazes at her and seems to relish in her suffering. He openly expresses his desire to bring about her downfall, her ruination.

This situation leads to a tense game of cat and mouse, with each move escalating the already high stakes. Will their precarious situation crumble as the dragons soar above, or will fate intervene?

After all, love often demands the sacrifice of duty, just as duty can sometimes lead to the demise of love.

Characters: Aemond Targaryen X OC, HOTD characters.

Chapter 2: Fireflies and Funerals

AO3 - Masterlist

Daenera was standing alongside the King and Lord Lyonel Strong on the parapet, watching her brothers train. She should be having lessons in embroidery at the moment, but she had snuck off to entertain herself with something less… boring. What use was embroidery to a princess when she had servants and dressmakers to do that for her? Some of the things she was taught didn’t make much sense to her. 

She was standing on her tiptoes, resting her forearms on the wall to look out beneath them to the tiltyard, the straw men getting a good and proper beating with wooden swords. Ser Criston Cole was walking back and forth, keeping an eye on their form and giving corrections. 

Aemond had been in a foul mood since the pink dread incident and it was clear that he wouldn’t be getting over it any time soon. Every time he could get in the way, he did, often knocking into her brother's shoulder or knocking the sword out of his hand. 

“This is the stuff, Lyonel,” Viserys chuckled, Daenera glanced back at her grandsire with a confused scowl on her face. “The lads that learn together, train together… knock each other down, pick each other up. They would certainly form a lifelong bond, wouldn’t you agree?”

“That is the hope, your grace,” Lyonel answered amiably.   

“Doesn’t seem like there’s a lot of ‘picking each other up’,” Daenera noted, eyes going back to the training in front of her. Aemond knocked the sword out of Jace’s hand, glowering at him. She was of half mind to pick it up herself and smack him over the head with it. 

“Brotherly squabbles,” Viserys dismissed with a wave of his hand. “Daemon and I had plenty of them growing up.”

“Did you not exile him multiple times?” Daenera asked innocently. She was aware of Daemon’s reputation, and had heard stories about him and the trouble he had brought to court. Not many people had good things to say about him. Lord Lyonel masked his chuckle with a cough, Viserys did not. He patted the girl on the back, laughing at her quick tongue. 

“That I did,” Viserys said. “And we always made up in the end.”

“Is it not odd that, Ser Crison seems to favor Aegon and Aemond?” Daenera asked, having noted the clear divide. Aegon and Aemond got more directions, more patience and corrections, while he ignored Jace and Luke, letting their bad habits flourish. 

Aemond and Aegon stood alone against Ser Criston. Aegon was an impatient fighter and rushed into things, while Aemond hesitated, not ready to stand up to a real knight. Ser Criston took the two in strides, easily avoiding their advances and the wooden swords, with his hand behind his back. For once she rooted for Ser Criston, finding great amusement in his dismissive way of handling Aegon. 

Out of the corner of her eye, Daenera caught a glimpse of Ser Harwin approaching her brothers, voice a low guidance. Ser Ciston was less than happy with the interference, glaring at the Commander of the City Watch. 

“It seems the younger boys could do better with a bit of your attention, Ser Criston,” Ser Harwin stated. If looks could kill, Ser Harwin would drop dead on the spot. 

“You question my method of instruction, Ser?” Ser Criston responded. 

Daenera narrowed her eyes at him. 

“Oh, I merely suggest that method should be applied to all your pupils.” Ser Criston didn’t take the criticism lightly, bothered by more than just his words it would seem. The boys had all lined up, and Aegon pushed Luke away from him, Luke grinning. 

“Very well,” Ser Criston agreed coldly. His sharp, dark eyes fell on Jace and Daenera felt her heart sink. “Jacaerys, come here.”

Ser Crison walked forward gripping Jace’s breastplate roughly, tugging him with enough force to snap the young prince's head back. Jace could barely keep up, moved around like a ragdoll. “You spar with Aegon.”

Aegon and Aemond laughed wickedly.

“That is not fair,” Daenera whispered to herself. 

“Eldest son against eldest son.” 

Jace looked scared. Daenera looked back at her grandsire and the Lord Hand. They both looked apprehensive. She turned her eyes back on the tiltyard, pushing herself up a bit more on the stone railing, hands gripping the edge. 

“It’s hardly a fair match.”

“I know you’ve never seen true battle, Ser, but when steel is drawn a fair match isn’t something anyone should expect,” Ser Christon cut Ser Harwin off. Aegon patted Jace on the back as he passed, his much taller form a weapon on its own. Jace gripped the wooden sword anxiously. 

“Blades up.” 

Both hitched up their blades. Jace looked nervously at his teacher, a plea in his eyes, not at all ready to engage with someone bigger, stronger and more experienced than himself. Aegon reveled in it. Loved to humiliate and hurt. The moment Ser Criston gave the go ahead, Aegon sneered and attacked. Jace tried his best to protect himself, not even bothering to try and attack. He was pressed back, fearing the blow and sting of the wood. Aegon pushed Jace over, the boy landing roughly on his shoulder. By then Daenera’s feet were no longer on the ground, but scraping against the wall she was hitching herself up on.

Aegon laughed and turned his back on Jace. ‘Never turn your back on your opponent’ Daenera could almost hear Ser Harwins voice in her head and it would seem that Jace heard it too, for he got up and ran towards Aegon, swinging his sword. Aegon was surprised by the sudden attack and narrowly avoided the wood. When the strawman was used as a shield and tossed towards Jace, Ser Harwin called foul play and the match was over, each prince meeting their respective teachers. Daenera couldn’t hear what was said, but she automatically assumed that Ser Crison would advocate for Jace’s humiliation.  

Whatever was said it seemed to anger Aegon. “YOU!”

Aegon pressed the attack and though Jace put up a good fight, he was no match for Aegon’s strength or speed. He was pressed back. And with each blow Ser Criston yelled out an order of attack. ‘Close with him’, ‘press him backwards’, ‘stay on the attack’, ‘use your feet’.

Aegon kicked Jace in the chest, sending the boy sprawling, with little chance to defend himself. Ser Harwin looked on in anger and disbelief that a Kingsguard would pitch children against one another like that, let alone teach them dishonor. 

“Get up, Jace!” Daenera yelled at her brother. 

“Don’t let him get up!” Ser Criston ordered, forcing Aegon to press on. It would end in blood. It didn’t seem Ser Criston would want any less. Jace was totally open now, the sword beaten out of his hand, defenseless. Aegon raised his mock sword above his head, ready to beat it down on Jace when Ser Harwin interfered, gripping the sword and prince both, prying them away from the princeling on his ass. 

“You dare put hands on me?!” Aegon roared in anger. 

“Aegon!” Viserys chided from the parapet, appalled by his son's outburst. Daenera pushed off the wall and back onto solid ground, picking up her dress as she ran down the steps and into the dirt, towards the spectacle. She stopped by Jace, helping him to his feet, though both of their attentions were on Ser Criston and Ser Harwin. 

“You forget yourself, Strong. That is the prince.” 

“This is what you teach, Cole?” Ser Harwin didn’t back down, but he did bend down to pick up the wooden swords that littered the cold ground. “Cruelty? To the weaker opponent.” 

As if to mock Harwin, Cole threw down his own wooden sword right in front of him. It was an insult. Ser Harwin kicked at the sword, not deining to pick it up. Instead he picked up all other swords, the wood seeming like tiny woodpicks to his giant form. 

“Your interest in the princeling’s training is quite unusual, Commander,” Cole taunted. “Most men would only have that kind of devotion toward a cousin… or a brother… or a son.”

What came next no one had expected, least of all Daenera, who yelped surprised when Ser Harwin punched Ser Criston in the face. It was a mistake. A giant, life altering mistake, a split second of weakness, and it wrecked havoc in the tiltyard. One punch came after another. Ser Criston was beaten back, his head snapping, falling over his own feet to the ground the same way Jace had done under his direct advance. Not only had Ser Criston insulted him, he had insulted the princes and the princess, as well as their mother. 

Ser Harwin didn’t let up even as Cole was on the ground defenseless. Blood began to run from the split skin. It took four Kingsguards to pull Harwin off and even then, Ser Harwin tried to press on, fighting against his restraints, yelling at Cole, daring him to speak it again. 

Cole merely laughed through the pain, having lost the battle but won the war. 

Daenera walked over to him and gave him a good kick to the ribs.

 “You insult us and my mother?” She kicked again and Criston groaned, batting her away with a hand, smacking it into her stomach.

 The wind was knocked out of her and she stumbled back, ready to rip his hair out, but was stopped by one of the Kingsguard. Everything after that went in a hurry. Ser Criston Cole was led to the infirmary, while Ser Harwin was released by the Kingsguard only on the pretense that he calmed down. Lord Lyonel motioned to his son with furious eyes and The Hand disappeared towards his tower, his son following after, sending the princess and princes an apologetic look. 

Aegon took the opportunity of being unsupervised to stride over to Daeenra. “How unbecoming of a Commander. One would think he’d have learned restraint. But it seems that in his eyes, honor is something you can pick and choose.”

Daenera was not in the mood for Aegon’s jeering. She just turned to him, brought a fist into his stomach and walked away as Aegon doubled over wheezing. 

Morning had come with such dreary news. Ser Harwin was to leave the City Watch as well as the city. He was going back to Harrenhal. They were still all in their night clothes. Daenera shifted on the settee, pushing herself to her feet, while Ser Harwin knelt down to say goodbye to Luke, the boy oblivious to the blood shared between them. He only knew him as a guardian, a friend. 

“Be good to your mother, lads,” Ser Harwin spoke, his voice not revealing his emotions, though his eyes did. They were sad, heartbroken but firm. He understood his mistake and accepted the consequences. “I’ll visit when I can… But that may be some time.”

Ser Harwin was about to kneel down before Jace, but he spun around and hurried to his mother. Ser Harwin followed. 

“I will return,” Harwin vowed. “I promise.”

Jace nodded. 

Daenera couldn’t hear what he said next, but he leaned down and kissed little Joffrey on his head and then shared a look with Rhaenyra. Anger and confusion bubbled inside of her. Why was he sent away? Because of Ser Criston? Ser Criston deserved what befell him. He deserved every punch. He had insulted Rhaenyra, the Heir to the throne. Why should Ser Harwin be punished for it? 

Harwin had bid his goodbyes and hurried from the room, too afraid to linger, should the longing he felt built until he were unable to move. Daenera and Jace hurried after him, Jace stopping just outside Rhaenyra’s chambers, while the princess continued to follow him all the way out to the stables, her feet meeting stone and then cold, wet ground. 

“You mustn't leave.” Daenera finally found her voice, low and quivering.

“Princess,” Harwin sighed, turning around. There were eyes everywhere, including his father who was already waiting on top of his horse. 

“I fear that if you’ll leave you shall never return,” Daenera spoke. “Remember what the witch said? The fireflies will take your life. If you leave King’s Landing you shall not return.”

Ser Harwin knelt down right in front of her, gripping her by her shoulders. “And remember what I told you about the witch?”

Daenera sniffed, wiped her nose. Tears stung in her eyes, burned in her throat. It felt like she had swallowed a huge marble ball and it had lodged there, hurting her. “Knowing the future is like tying a noose and hanging yourself with it.”

“ We make our futures. We choose our paths. No one can know it all.” His voice was soft and gentle. His eyes were the same. “I do not intend to leave forever, I will return to you.”

“But the fireflies-,”

“Cannot set fires,” Harwin assured her. “They’re insects. Nothing more.” 

“I do not wish for you to go.”

“You must not be afraid. I will come back. I give you my word. So be strong, be proud and protect your mother and brothers with that fierce heart of yours.” 

Blinking through her tears, Daenera nodded, giving a vow of her own. If he were not there to protect them, then she would have to. And she would not let the whispers affect her. She was a Tagaryen, a Velaryon… and a Strong. “I will hold you to it.”

Ser Harwin smiled. “You do that.”

He got up, wishing he could hug his daughter, but instead he climbed onto the horse, feeling his fathers concerned and judgemental eyes on him. They whisked the horses forward, beginning the long ride towards Harrenhal and its shadowy towers. None of them looked back at the girl, who stood as mighty as a small girl could, staring after them until they were out of sight. 

Daenera turned back towards the castle. 

Not long after their arrival at Driftmark, they found themselves standing among the rocks and cliffs, the brisk wind swirling around them. They were all dressed in black, staring at the coffin that had been carved to resemble Laena Velaryon. Word had been sent out about her unfortunate death, arrived on black wings and called them all to the home of the Valeryons. 

Though Daenera didn’t remember much of her fathers sister, she knew that she had been kind and strong, and the loss of her had wrecked her father. It was not that she didn’t understand loss, she did. Ser Harwin had died not a few days prior to the raven's arrival with word from Daemon. But was losing a father, the same as losing a sister? 

She was now standing with her mother and brothers,.Her hand clutched Laenors, trying to give him some comfort. With a glance at her grandparents, Rhaenys and Corlys, she could see the same soul crushing loss she saw in her father. Daenera had missed them dearly and had hoped they’d see each other again under better circumstances, but the gods could be cruel, and the Stranger the cruelest of them all.

No one would speak of what had happened. All she knew was that Laena had been pregnant and now she was dead. 

And then there was Baela and Rhaena, the twin girls, who looked so much like their mother had, standing by their grandparents with a sadness no one could ever make up for. Daenera decided then that she didn’t like funerals but she still envied them, for their ability to mourn publically.  

Vaemond Valeryon gave a sermon in high Valyrian, a rock against the waves of loss. “ We join today at the Seat of the Sea to commit the lady Laena of House Velaryon to the eternal waters, the dominion of the Merling King. Here He will guard her for all the days to come. As she sets to sea for her final voyage, the lady leaves two trueborn daughters on the shore. Though their mother will not return from her voyage. Salt courses through the Valeryon blood .” 

Vaemond turned his eyes on Daenera and her brothers, his gaze hard and unrelenting, with a cold disdain as cutting as a knife. Daenera shifted under his eyes, looking from Vaemond to her mother.

“ Ours runs thick ,” Vaemond continued, his eyes turned on Rhaenyra. “ Ours runs true .”

Daenera felt the cold, clammy grip of panic grab onto her insides, stirring them up into nausea. He was calling them bastards in all but direct words, and it seemed few caught onto it. 

Jace seemed to be one of them, he looked up at his mother as well, shifting. Laenor’s head remained turned to the ground, too caught up in his grief to know of the reverberations Vaemonds words had on the crowd, and the unspoken accusation towards his children and their mother. Even the King turned to them. Daenera wanted to cry, but she bit her tears back.

“ Ours must never thin .”

A chuckle cut through the tension, bringing all eyes onto Daemon, his lips turned up in a humorous smile as if Vaemond had told a funny joke. But it was no joke. And the eyes that had turned to him, were cold and hard and unforgiving. Daemon seemed to be laughing in the face of their grief.

Whatever the reason for his laughter, it had managed to throw Vaemond, and he continued his sermon. “ My gentle niece. May the winds be as strong as your back ,” he threw a handful of salt on the coffin, “ Your seas as calm as your spirit ,” another handful of salt was thrown, “ And your nets as full as your heart .” 

Laenor began to sway and Daenera held onto him a little harder. 

“From the sea we came. To the sea we shall return.”

The coffin slipped beneath the waves, sinking as fast. A small stream of bubbles rose from the lid until there was no air left. They all stood for a moment, watching the waves crash against the rocks in an endless cycle, a battle neither rock nor sea would ever win. And slowly, people began to filter away, filling up the stairs towards one of the balconies where the memorial would be held. 

“Come,” Rhaenyra guided her children, letting the brothers walk in front of her and up the stairs. In the shuffle Daenera lost her grip on Laenor and the moment she turned back to find him, he was gone. Rhaenyra took her daughter's hand and pulled her with her. “Give him some time.” 

“Should he be alone?”

“Sometimes we all need to be alone with our grief,” Rhaenyra told her daughter. 

The funeral and the given memorial was a dreadful affair. No one dared speak too loud, all wrapped in their own cloak of grief, some more taken than others. While Jace comforted their cousins, Daenera headed towards the Lord and Lady of the Hightide. Daenera bowed in respect and looked up at the two, feeling sad on their behalf. 

“I’m sorry for your loss, grandmother and grandfather, truly. I can’t imagine what you’re going through,” Daenera shifted uncomfortably. 

“We thank you, Daenera,” Rhaenys spoke, cupping her supposed granddaughter's cheek, thumb brushing the pale skin. She looked nothing like her father, and yet, both Corlys and Rhaenys adored and loved her as if she was their own blood. It was a thing they didn’t speak about, something not acknowledged, a shame that would stain all involved. So they overlooked the glaring difference. Laenor had raised them as his own after all. 

“Will you excuse me,” Lord Corlys said, his eye caught on Lucerys standing alone, fiddling with an iron horse. 

“Have you seen your father?” Rhaenys asked Daenera, eyes darting around to find her son's face. 

“I think he needed a moment to himself.”

Rhaenys gave her granddaughter a sad smile, patting her on the cheek before heading towards the table with wine and then to her other two granddaughters. Daenera didn’t know what to do with herself. She didn’t feel like she had a claim to the grief as they did, the only grief she had any sort of claim to was that of her true fathers. And that was enough. 

They had gotten word that Ser Harwin and his father had burned to death at Harrenhal, an unfortunate accident that didn’t feel like an accident to Daenera. The witch had warned him that fireflies would end his life, that he’d burn. But there were no fireflies, were there? There was only the fire.

He had been her true father and yet she could not mourn him, she could not sit at his vigil, she could not speak of it, all she could do was light a candle in the sept for him. 

Daenera had had to bury her grief and loss, lock it away inside along with all the things the witch had said. Ser Harwin’s death had been the first, and not long after they heard about Laena. She hoped and prayed it would be the only deaths she’d suffer. 

The question of whether to use her final question haunted her at night, laying in bed, turning the coin from one side to another. Who else will die? How many? How could she prevent it? So many possible questions to ask, none of them able to fully encapsulate the whole future. So she bit her tongue. 

Her eyes caught his, the cool blue of a winter sky. Aemond stared at her and she in turn stared at him. He looked like he wanted to say something, but the words would not form, would not cooperate, and in the end he closed his mouth and averted his gaze. 

She wished anyone would say they were sorry for her loss as well. To acknowledge that she too was suffering, she too was mourning. But no one dared because that would reveal the truth, the wrong doings, the blood.

[vishal6x]

Why Social Media Needs Parental Spy-Eyes More Than Ever?

Have you ever thought about what your child is doing on their phone when they are completely on their own, not letting you be involved in anything? We are sure that feeling must be terrible where you hesitate to confront your child about how you feel. But should this feeling take over and let your parenting take a backseat? Certainly not. 

While you still might be confused as to what is the right thing to do, we suggest that you use a spy app to understand the behavior of your child. We know how social media has become the center of attraction for the young kids today and if nothing else, we still know that most of their time on their phone is spent using social media. 

Using social media initially can be out of curiosity but when this can turn into addiction, nobody can say. That’s why being able to keep an eye on your child’s online activity is required now more than ever. Technology has potential benefits but we cannot ignore the drawbacks that come along with it and especially when it is about the young children and cyberbullying is one of the most highlighted issues that tags along with technology.

Cyberbullying & technology

As per a study by the National Center for Education Statistics, approximately 21% of children aged between 12-18 reported being bullied online in 2019 and with the pandemic forcing many children to rely on social media for communication and entertainment, this number has only risen. 

One of the main problems in acknowledging cyberbullying is that parental supervision is lacking and compromised. While traditional forms of bullying can take time to reach masses and sometimes don’t even reach anywhere, cyberbullying can happen at any time of the day and has the ability to reach masses at the same time. All this makes it challenging for parents to monitor their children and their online activities and this is another reason why parents cannot protect their children from potential harm. 

There are enough examples of how some websites attract children ending up in clicking on their link and that is where the actual story begins. Once the kids are on the link, they are exposed to inappropriate content and they make the move of doing an activity that enables ways for cyberbullies to finally target these children. As parents, you should be able to assess that and to do so, you need to understand and make full use of technology in the form of spy apps. 

Using spy apps to monitor children

Spy apps are the monitoring tools that allow parents to keep track of their children’s online activity including how they are using the social media platforms. This includes the posts, messages and other modes of interaction of your child with others. These mobile spy apps are a crucial tool in ensuring the safety of your child in the digital age. 

It is debatable whether using a parental control app should be an option to keep track of what children are doing online but it is also important to remember that social media plays a vital role in a child’s behavior and overall well-being. The platform is so influential that children are not always aware of the potential risks that are associated with social media. By spying on your child’s social media, you can know whether they are sharing anything that could go against them and their safety which will also affect the whole family. 

It is important that parents talk and educate their children about the dangers of social media and how they should be using the internet responsibly and if required parents should definitely intervene.

Your child may not tell even if they feel bullied online and that’s why by using Android spy apps, parents can identify early signs of cyberbullying. Parents can start using a parental control spy app if they suspect any change in their child’s behavior and if their children show any visible signs of distress. A spy app can help parents spot any unusual behavior and address the issue before it’s too late. 

With the high rise of fake accounts and online scams, spy apps ensure that parents are able to ensure their children’s safety. The features of a spy app are sufficient to protect anybody from such online threats. 

Features of child monitoring apps

The features of a spy app include social media monitoring, call recording, location tracking, and more. It is essential that you know that there are two types of spy apps available, one is free of cost and the other is paid. The free apps give users very limited features whereas the paid spy apps offer multiple features and better services. One of the best phone spy apps is Onemonitar that offers 60+ features and great user experience. Let’s talk about the features it offers.

Call Recording: You can listen to the recordings of a call once the call is completed. The recording also provides the information of the caller which includes the name, phone number of the caller and time and duration of the call.

Social Media Monitoring: You can monitor your child’s social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and WhatsApp. WhatsApp spy lets you read the real time chats of your children and you can access their multimedia that they exchange through the platform. 

GPS Tracker: The GPS tracker is one of the most required features of a spy application as it lets parents know the whereabouts of their children, giving them accurate and real-time updates.

Website Blocking: Another most searched feature is the website blocking as we are well aware that children can view inappropriate content intentionally as well as unintentionally. That’s why Onemonitar lets you review and block the websites remotely that you don’t want your child to visit. 

Conclusion

Some people may think that child monitoring applications take away the freedom of children but it is important to know that children are not fully reliable and equipped to handle the potential dangers of social media on their own. They definitely need support and guidance and we believe that parents are the best fit for taking charge of it. 

These spy apps are a valuable tool in ensuring that children are safe in today’s digital world because in the end a child’s safety and well-being are any parent’s top priority.

[organicgardeningeek]

20 Tips On How To Keep Cats Out Of Plants Or Pots

Do you have a cat that loves to eat your plants? If so, you're not alone. One in three cat owners has had their plants destroyed by their cat. Cats are attracted to plants for a variety of reasons, including their smell, taste, and texture. There are a number of things you can do to keep your cat out of your plants, including: - Place plants in areas that are difficult for your cat to reach. This could include putting them on high shelves, tables, or countertops. You could also try placing them in a room that your cat doesn't have access to, such as a bedroom or bathroom. - Use deterrents. There are a number of things you can use to deter your cat from eating your plants. Some popular options include citrus peels, double-sided tape, and ultrasonic devices. - Provide your cat with alternative activities. Make sure your cat has plenty of other things to do, such as scratching posts, toys, and catnip. This will help to keep them entertained and less likely to bother your plants. Additional tips for keeping cats out of plants: - Supervise your cat when they are near plants. If you see them starting to nibble on a plant, immediately remove them from the area. - Teach your cat a "no" command. When your cat starts to approach a plant, say "no" in a firm voice. If they continue to approach the plant, you can use a deterrent, such as a spray bottle filled with water. - Be patient. Training your cat to stay away from your plants may take some time. Don't give up! With a little patience and effort, you can keep your plants safe from your cat. We will cover all these tips and more in this article. If you are sharing your home with some cuties or have some neighbor cats hanging around in your garden, keep reading to find out the best solutions to keep the cats away from the garden keep reading…

How to keep cats out of flower pots?

You Are Not Alone With Cats Damaging Garden And Lawns

Dealing with cats damaging gardens and lawns is a common predicament faced by many home gardeners and pet owners. While each cat possesses its own unique personality and traits, there is no definitive answer provided by experts or veterinarians to resolve this issue fully. In our quest for a solution, it has become crucial to explore strategies that capitalize on understanding what cats dislike and which plants they have an aversion to, subsequently implementing measures that consistently deter them when they approach our cherished plants. Despite our best efforts, such as placing plants in elevated and inconspicuous locations, we discovered that our cats still managed to reach them, leaving us perplexed about how to keep cats out of plants effectively. This predicament caused frustration as our plants suffered and withered. We contemplated isolating the plants in a room inaccessible to our feline companions, desperately seeking a viable solution. You might also like this: How gardening helps you lose weight

Not only Indoors, But It’s Also A Problem In The Home Gardens

If you have a garden outside of your home with containers or pots filled with thriving bushes or flourishing vegetables, the presence of stray cats in your neighborhood can pose a significant challenge. These curious feline visitors can become a source of distress as they engage in destructive behaviors such as digging and playing around your plants when you are not present to intervene. To safeguard your cherished plants from these mischievous intruders, it becomes imperative to explore effective preventive measures. You Need To Understand The Animals The general characteristics of cats are often digging and urinating in container plants or pots. Besides that, other favorite things they like to do are chewing the colorful flower leaves and plant stems that affect the plants’ health. Just like my own cats, they don’t like to touch other plants around but want to enjoy my wife’s lovely flowers. Obviously, we can find a solution by moving them to an unreachable point in the room, so cats can’t reach them at all… either we can. What I mean here is that’s not way for us to go around the issue as we don’t want to enjoy our flowers except in the place we love. So you need to learn how to stop cats pooping in your garden or doing other undesired stuff. So how to keep cats out of potted plants or the entire garden? How can you create a ‘military zone,’ keep off!’ signboard that they can understand? You might want to read this: How To Identify Cobweb Mold And Get Rid Of It Quickly & Safely? 

How to keep cats out of plants and pots?

Here is a compilation of smart ways which we can call every single of them ‘cat repellents’ to give a try, some of which I’ve tried at home to keep the cats away, as well. Those practices will make your cats just ‘uncomfortable’ and will work to keep them out, so your plants will survive. It’s all a win-win situation. 1) Spraying Cayenne Pepper to keep the cats away

Mix up 1 teaspoon of cayenne in 1/2 cup of water, put it in a spray bottle, and spray it on your plants. Because the solution has a dark color, it may change the tone of light-colored flowers a bit, but it works. Here are your spicy flowers! Your car will come around the plant, take a sniff, and leave it there as soon as possible as he is not interested in it at all. So spraying cayenne is a good way of keeping them away. 2) Placing A Tin Foil

Tin foil As cats don’t like walking on slippery and shiny surfaces, placing tin foils around the bottom of your plants will be a good way of keeping them away. After he learns not to go there anymore, you can remove the foils. 3) Create a Sticky Surface

It’s similar to the tin foil process. Creating a temporary sticky surface around your plants with materials like double-sided tapes (in some situations, it might not be practical) will be enough to keep your cats away as they hate touching sticky things. Again, you can remove them after they realized the situation. 4) Citrus or Orange Peels

Cats hate this smell too! So placing the peels around your plants and in the containers or pots is a temporary but good way of keeping them away. You might want to read this: Lasagna Gardening 101: Advanced Guide To Building No-till, No-Dig, Immediate Planting Method

5) Decorative Rocks Or Gravel

Preventing cats from digging in the soil of your pots or containers can be easily achieved by employing a straightforward technique. By placing a layer of stones over the soil and covering it, you create an effective barrier against feline intrusions. This approach is particularly useful if your main concern is cats using plant dirt as a litter box. To implement this method, you have the option to gather stones of various shapes, colors, or sizes from the seaside, or alternatively, you can conveniently purchase them from local stores. If desired, you can click on the provided links in the pictures to directly access and purchase suitable stones. By incorporating this simple yet effective solution, you maintain the integrity of your plants while dissuading cats from engaging in unwanted digging behaviors. 6) Buy And Plant Cat Grass

If you find your own kitten occasionally nibbling on your plants or flowers, it could be an indication that your feline friend craves some greenery to satisfy their natural instincts. Providing a suitable solution, it would be wise to consider planting some cat-friendly greens for them to chew on whenever the desire strikes. Alternatively, you can readily find cat grass available at local pet shops, conveniently packaged in small containers. By nurturing these cat grasses and ensuring they receive adequate watering, you address your cat's need for vegetation. It's important to remember that cats also benefit from having plants in their environment, especially if they spend the majority of their time indoors. Additionally, obtaining some catnip can be an additional treat, as many cats enjoy it. If interested, you can click on the provided pictures to purchase these items conveniently. By catering to your cat's instinctual cravings and providing them with appropriate greens, you create a harmonious environment that satisfies their needs while safeguarding your other plants. 7) Vegetable Net Bags to keep the cats out of plants and pots

An additional method to deter cats, particularly those with a penchant for digging and leaving disturbances behind, involves the utilization of fruit and vegetable net bags. If you opt for this approach, simply take a bag and cut it into a circular shape that matches the diameter of your container or pot. Proceed by making a cut down the middle of the circle. With the plant at the center, affix each side of the netting to the rim using clear packaging tape, ensuring that the netting extends up to the base of the plant. This clever arrangement allows for hassle-free watering and fertilizing while maintaining a deterring effect on cats who find the netting unappealing. By implementing this method, you can strike a balance between nurturing your plants and creating an environment that felines will instinctively avoid. You might want to read this: 7 Health Benefits of Moringa Tea You Never Imagined 8) Use ‘Featured’ Cat Food

Buy on Amazon When it comes to catering to our feline companions, opting for "featured" cat food can be a prudent choice. By selecting cat food that is specifically highlighted as being of exceptional quality or containing premium ingredients, we prioritize the nutritional needs and overall well-being of our beloved cats. These featured cat food options are often formulated to provide a balanced and complete diet, ensuring that our feline friends receive the essential nutrients they require for optimal health and vitality. Making the conscious decision to incorporate "featured" cat food into our pets' diets reflects our commitment to providing them with the best possible nourishment and contributing to their long-term happiness and welfare. 9) Prepare An Uncomfortable Surface

Cats are often drawn to gardens due to the presence of sandy surfaces and dry soil, which appeal to their natural instincts. To discourage their visits to your home garden, a simple yet effective measure involves strategically placing mildly blunt, pointy objects like plant stakes or chopsticks throughout the garden, particularly between bushes or plants. The aim here is not to cause harm to the cats but rather to eliminate the spaces where they can easily dig or find a comfortable resting spot. By implementing this technique, you can create an environment that dissuades feline activities and encourages them to seek alternative locations for their digging and relaxation needs. 10) Non-Toxic Scents to repel the cats

Buy on Amazon In line with our earlier discussion on cayenne pepper, it is worth noting that non-toxic scents can be employed both outdoors in your garden and indoors to effectively deter animals. Animals possess a keen sensitivity to smells they find displeasing, prompting them to vacate the area swiftly. Utilizing this knowledge, you can employ various substances as repellents. Consider the application of cayenne pepper, orange peels, coffee grounds, or black pepper, either by sprinkling them strategically throughout your garden or focusing on specific areas where cats tend to frequent or enter. Furthermore, diluting lemon juice or orange oil and directly spraying it onto leaves can also prove effective in deterring cats from those specific locations. By harnessing the power of these natural scents, you can create an environment that discourages feline intrusion. 11) Planting Plants That Cats Won’t Chew

Rosemary flowers Certain plants possess a distinctive scent that cats strongly dislike, making them unappealing for chewing or approaching. If you don't mind having these plants in your home, you can consider cultivating them as a means to deter feline interference. Examples of such plants include Rosemary, which not only emits a potent aroma detested by cats but also serves as a versatile herb for your culinary endeavors. Another option is the scaredy-cat plant, known for its similar olfactory effect on our feline friends. Additionally, plants like roses and cacti can also contribute to creating an environment that cats find unfavorable due to their particular fragrances. 12) Rewarding Them For Staying Away From The Plants

Instead of relying solely on negative reinforcement, a more constructive approach involves incorporating positive reinforcement when your cat exhibits desirable behavior, such as refraining from approaching or leaving your plants untouched. By actively observing and acknowledging these instances, you can reward your cat for its appropriate conduct. For instance, praising and acknowledging your feline companion when they simply pass by a plant without showing interest or choose not to disturb the soil serves as a prime illustration of utilizing positive reinforcement to encourage favorable behavior. 13) Create An Isolated Room

If you're struggling to find a better solution, one option is to create a room specifically for your plants and keep it off-limits to cats by keeping the door closed. A sunroom can be a great choice for this purpose, as it offers plenty of natural light and a pleasant environment for your plants while keeping them safe from curious feline explorations. 14) Using motion-detecting Sprinklers

Motion Detecting Sprinkler It’s evident that if we list the things cats hate, water will be at the top. While there are many reasons why they hate it, one of them is they have permeable fur that is sensitive to water. If you like to keep the cats away from plants, you can use motion-detecting sprinklers, which can effectively repel the cats in your garden. After you obtain these sprinkles, it may take a few days or weeks to detect or decide the best installation spots, but you will totally get rid of this problem once you determine those places. Personally, I would recommend detection sprinklers like the Contech Scarecrow Motion-Activated Animal Deterrent, Orbit Yard Enforcer, or the Hoont Jet Blaster, as I use those brands because of their highly positive reviews, and they are the leaders in the industry. Read the full article

[thiscrimsonsoul]

If Wanda was being honest with herself, the company wasn't unwanted. There were plenty of times when she preferred to be left alone, but... not being able to sleep and having her thoughts assault her senses left and right with all manner of grief, regret, sadness, and anger got exhausting after a while. The only thing that could always stop it, was someone else intervening. For that reason, she was more than happy to entertain the man for a while. Besides, he seemed genuinely nice.

Wanda smiled at the man as he mentioned the technology. Even for her, someone native to this time period, it was all still a big much for her. She hadn't been living with all the technology here in the compound on the streets of Sokovia, after all, or in the Hydra lab. Boiling water, though, was easy enough to do, technology or no. "Believe me, I am getting used to everything in this building myself, including the technology. Not everyone in this time is used to living with such things at their disposal all the time."

"I usually reach for the chamomile tea myself, especially if I am trying to calm down to sleep. Do you like chamomile?" Does he... even know what chamomile is? She didn't want to ask that particular question, though, for it seemed pretty rude to do so. She grabbed a bag of it for herself and waited to hear if he wanted the same thing or not before she reached for a second.

"It's nice to meet you, Rohir. I'm Wanda," she said as she set up the tea bags in a couple of mugs. But then he said his name was also Eclipsis, and Wanda's head canted a bit. "You have two names?" she asked, very curious as to why. Was it something common in his native time period to have two names, or was there some other underlying reason for it?

"Ashe? Oh, Ashelia," Wanda then said with a nod. "I've met her a few times, but we haven't spoken all that much. She's your sister? Are you royalty too, then?" Wanda had barely interacted with her. Basch made Wanda nervous, and he was almost always with Ashe. It wasn't how he looked or what he said or anything like that, it was... his mind. Wanda felt so chaotic around him. So anxious and antsy. She usually felt that way around people whose minds were in crisis in some way, usually from unresolved or unprocessed traumas. Wanda was barely processing her own loss and trauma right now, so she was hesitant to take on that of others. Because of that, she found herself avoiding Basch, and therefore Ashe too. She supposed she ought to try and help the man, since he was clearly dealing with a lot and locking it all up in his mind, but she just didn't feel up to it.

Wanda shook her head at his offer. "Thank you, but... no, there's nothing you can do to help me. I just have to work through it myself." Alone, since she didn't have anyone else and wasn't yet able to reach out to anyone who might help her. Not even a therapist, though she knew the medical staff wanted her to see one. "You are kind to offer, though," she managed with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. It wasn't that it was insincere, it was only that Wanda just didn't have it in her to smile in a truly happy manner anymore. Not since losing Pietro.

And Pietro was the reason she was up late, unable to sleep, and the answer to Rohir's question. Wanda sighed, wrapped her arms around herself. "I um... I couldn't stop thinking about my brother. He was killed recently, and I'm not used to being without him. We were very close. Twins. So it feels like I've lost half of myself along with him." Was that... too much to say to someone she just met? Probably. But he'd asked, and for some reason it just came out, falling from her lips like blood from her wounded heart. A flow she couldn't stop. "I just... It's hard to just keep going without him. It almost doesn't seem real sometimes. But late at night, I can't help thinking about him, and then I can't sleep without him there." Did she just make things really weird for him? "Sorry. I bet that's not the answer you were expecting. I don't mean to overshare."

@thiscrimsonsoul - continued from here

While the small kitchen in his quarters was perfectly functional, the lack of tea - his own fault, really - drove him to venture out into the main kitchen to see what he could find. Rohir was simply going to grab a bag or two and head back to his quarters, but when he saw her sitting alone, he... couldn't help but offer his company.

He was pleasantly surprised she accepted his offer, though quickly realized he... actually didn't know her name. She was new - that much he knew - but... he hadn't quite had the chance to be introduced properly to everyone at the compound. A shame, really, but it would happen in time. For now, he was content trying to... trying to reconnect with his sister and former mentor.

Gods, he wished he could remember more about them.

But Eclipsis shoved those thoughts aside as he offered a kind smile - the corners of his eyes crinkling. "'Tis quite alright, miss," he assured. "I can understand your technology well enough to boil some water." Amusement danced in his eyes, though who was he to refuse her help? He could hear the guilt in her hoarse voice, and his heart went out to her. It would be nice to have the company, if he were being honest, and he simply kept his smile as he limped into the kitchen. "But I will gladly take your help on deciding on what tea to make."

"Ah, a few things," he admitted. "The usual aches and pains, 'm afraid, and the unfamiliarity of it all. Still a strange place, this compound, thougn not... terrible." Sterile, perhaps. Void of personality and warmth in some areas. His quarters were... one of those areas. The bed was comfortable and he had what he needed (aside from tea, that is), but it made him nervous. It was far too quiet for his liking. It gave him too much time with his own thoughts and broken mind to make him feel even a tad bit at ease. But those were things he needn't bother her with - not when it was clear she was struggling with her own issues as it was.

Rohir glanced back to her as she mentioned Ivalice, and he nodded. "Aye, I am. Name's Rohir." He paused - a twinge in his chest that caused his brow to crease slightly. "Or Eclipsis. Both are all the same, really, but I am Ashe's brother." Was he still her brother even if it didn't feel right to call himself that anymore? Gods, in his heart he knew Ashelia as kin, yet... she almost felt more of a known stranger than his own sister.

His mind was distracted as his companion mentioned her own homeland, and sympathy filled Eclipsis' expression. Sokovia was yet another place he didn't recognize, but he knew better than to ask. It was clear she didn't want to talk about it, and he was not one to pry into painful matters. She was displaced just as he was - she deserved the same kindness he wished to receive. "I am sorry," Rohir said softly. "If... if there is anything I can do, you are welcome to tell me." Was that too much to offer to someone he barely just met? He wasn't certain, but... it felt right to offer, at least, and it would be something he wouldn't push, either.

"If I may, what keeps you up?" he asked as filled the kettle before he returned it to the stovetop. He eyed it hesitantly as he set it down, and cautiously turned on one of the burners - looking rather pleased with himself as the one he hoped was right lit aglow. "And, my apologies, but 'm afriand I haven't caught your name yet."

[vashsgirl]

Russian Rage

Fluff

Summary: Viktor rants in Russian and everyone is so confused while reader is in awe of her boyfriend.

Warnings: swearing, establish relationship, Jayce being an idiot.

A/n: okay so I had this idea yesterday. Almost all of you that liked or reblogged wanted me to do it so here it is. Hope y’all enjoy!

Proofread.

(Gif not mine)

Watching Viktor work on anything was entertaining to you.

Your classmates didn’t understand on why or how it was. It’s just some guy inventing but to you, it’s watching your favorite person in the world work on something he has been dying to do.

“Beloved can you hand me that tool over on the table where Jayce is at?” He asks and you did just that.

Viktor and Jayce have been working on Hextech for as long as you have known Jayce.

Apparently it was forbidden but watching Viktor talk about it and how it can help other people, including people in the under city, you just had to support it.

You grew up in the under city like Viktor but in two different places. Watching your loved ones having to fight in rings or just doing odd jobs that could get them killed, hurt you. So if Hextech is the answer then you will help all you can.

“Thank you.” He smiles as you hand him the tool he needs while kissing his temple.

You hum your response as you sit next to him.

You could tell he starting to grow frustrated by the way his eyebrows furrowed.

When Viktor starts to get frustrated, you know better to just let it happen then to get involved. It turns ugly when someone intervenes.

Jayce doesn’t know this. Well he does, you told him but he brushed it off and went on about his day. That’s the thing you hate about Jayce. He doesn’t give a single care if he makes someone blow up.

“Ебать <<fuck>>” he says and you look at him confused.

“What?” You question him. He looks at you embarrassed.

“Sorry. I said fuck. I got it wrong.” He whispers and you smile softly at him. He goes back to work for a few minutes.

“Oh okay. I got class. I gotta go. See you two later.” You say as you ruffle Viktors hair and wave bye to Jayce.

Jayce waves back at you and watches you leave.

“Your girl is one of a kind.” Jayce whispers and Viktor glares at him.

“You have Mel. Besides, she doesn’t like players like you. Why do you think she glares at you every time you two have a conversation?” Viktor asks teasingly with a smirk on his pale face.

“I thought she had a squinting problem.” Jayce deadpans.

“No my friend. That is pure hate.” The inventor says chuckling while moving away from what he was working on.

“How could she hate me?”

“Easy. You flirt with her and she hates most people that isn’t in her group.” Viktor explains as they leave the lab.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“ТЫ ИДИОТ! КАК ЭТО МОГЛО ИСПОРТИТЬ!? <<YOU IDIOT! HOW COULD YOU MESS THAT UP?!>>” You hear Viktor yell and you lean into the classroom with your friend Luna behind you.

“What?!” Jayce asks and you snicker.

“You can understand him?” Luna asks

“All I got was Idiot because that’s what he calls Jayce when he rants to me about him.” You say as you two walk in the classroom.

“Oh thank god! Y/n save me!” Jayce pleas and you sigh.

“Love. What’s going on?” You ask Viktor and he looks at you. His face is twisted in anger but his eyes soften when they find you.

“Джейс пропустил место, которое нам нужно. Он дал мне не тот, и он взорвался. Этот идиот разрушил то, над чем я работал с прошлой недели! Профессор Хемьердингер хочет, чтобы это было сделано к завтрашнему дню! <<Jayce missed place a part we need. He gave me the wrong one and it blew up. That idiot ruined what I have been working on since last week! Professor Hemierdinger wants this done by tomorrow!>>” he rants and you sit there confused yet so in awe. Russian hits different when it comes from Viktor but you wouldn’t admit that in front of everyone.

“What?” You and Luna question and Viktors face goes red since he didn’t realize he was speaking in Russian.

“I am so sorry. I keep forgetting that you guys don’t know what I am saying when I switch languages.” He whispers while pouting and you smile as you cupped his face.

“It’s fine. It’s adorable to hear it. But from what I could tell from your body language, Jayce screwed up.” You say as Viktor hugs your waist and nods.

“Good job Jayce. You got one of the most calm people to blow up in Russian. Congrats.” Luna says mocking as you and Viktor snicker.

“Now I am being attacked!” Jayce yells in disbelief.

“You missed placed a part causing it to blow up. You deserve this attack.” Viktor said as he snuggles into your neck.

“How about we come back to this later and explain to whoever this is supposed to go to what happened and ask for more time.” You suggest and Viktor smile.

“How do you know what to say?” Viktor asks and shrug.

“Practice.” You say.

[awhitehead17]

Batfam Alphabet: I - Injuries

Summary: When an offhand comment gets made about who receives the most injuries a big debate takes place to discuss this. Unable to agree on anything, the Bats decide to keep score of who gets the most injuries over the next 12 months. The results may surprise you. 

Enjoy! :D

The blissful silence within his apartment is rudely interrupted by the shrill of his phone suddenly ringing inside his pocket. Jason groans. Five minutes. Why couldn’t he just get five minutes of peace? Was that so much to ask for?

Cursing every god imaginable, Jason digs through his pocket until he finds and receives the device before scowling upon seeing the caller ID. Answering the call, he brings it up to his ear and doesn’t hesitate to snap a greeting, making it clear he isn’t pleased about being disturbed. “What do you want?”

“So there’s been a situation…” a hesitant voice speaks up on the other side of the phone.

Jason reaches up and pinches the bridge of his nose. That sentence alone is enough to start giving him a headache.

“How the fuck is there a situation? I left you guys not even fifteen minutes ago! I thought you were heading back to the cave?”

“Yeah, we were, but on the way back we heard gun shots and we found a gang fight happening. We intervened but while fighting Nightwing unfortunately got stabbed.”

Being told his brother has been stabbed makes Jason pause. There’s a remark on the end of his tongue that desperately wants to slip out but he doesn’t know if this is the right time for it. The tone of voice on the other side of the line makes it difficult to determine how serious the situation is.

“How bad is it?”

“Oh not that bad!” Tim chirps, Jason could now hear the amusement lacing his tone. “It’s just a stab wound on the thigh, more of a scratch than anything. Won’t need stitches or nothing. I figured I’d ring you to let you know because this now changes the board.”

Jason breathes out a long sigh and feels the tension leave his body. At least it’s not life threatening. This fucking family, he swears to God, if he hadn’t already been sent to an early grave he certainly would be now.

“So it’s enough to warrant a mark on the board?” Jason questions eagerly, already knowing what impact the answer will have. Now he knows it’s not serious he can think about other things.

“Oh yeah definitely.” Tim claims and Jason could easily hear the smile in his voice. “Even when it happened he muttered a curse and mentioned how it’s unfair because that now puts you ahead of him.”

At that Jason cackles. He bids his brother a goodbye before hanging up. Still laughing Jason moves through his apartment to his kitchen, digging through one of the draws he pulls out a large whiteboard and makes the needed changes to it.

This is something they all came up with at the start of the year from an offhand comment about who gets the most/least injuries out of their family. The comment triggered off a big debate and the result of it was to keep score of who gets the most injuries in the next 12 months.

They do not count life threatening injuries, because believe it or not they are not assholes and it wouldn’t be fair or even funny. Any minor injury can count (or at least minor for them). Any injuries done outside of the costume also count.

There are only a couple months left of the year but it’s currently pretty tight between most of them. Surprisingly Steph is winning with the least number of injuries so far. Following her, again surprisingly, is Damian. After him is Harper, Duke, Tim and then Jason. With his new injury today that puts Dick in last place, officially making Jason second to last. They hadn’t included Cass because firstly she didn’t want to be involved and secondly anytime she does get injured, which is extremely rare, it’s usually serious, so they collectively decided to not have Cass participate. Babs wasn’t interested and made it very clear on what her opinions of the competition was.

Before the new injury, Jason and Dick were in joint last place. His older brother now sustaining a new non-life-threatening injury changes the board. Jason couldn’t be happier, now he just has to make sure to not get injured at all in the next couple of months.

That in itself will be a challenge, but one not to be beaten easily Jason is up for it. He doesn’t care where he comes on the board, just as long as he beats Dick that’s all that matters.

---------

Like most of the year, the last few months fly by and before Jason knows it, it’s New Year’s Eve and he’s attending a party with all of his friends and family.

While the party is being hosted at Wayne Manor, so somewhere familiar, there’s tension in the air which can be felt no matter where you go. To most it’s probably the anticipation of midnight approaching, that excitement that comes along with the clock striking twelve and the supposedly start of something new.

To Jason, however, it’s a count down until the results are revealed.

Jason has a vague idea of what the final results are going to be, after all he kept track of everything himself. Then again, it’s vague because he’s been away on a mission for the last three weeks only having gotten back two days ago. He hasn’t yet had a chance to catch up with everything that may have happened in those weeks he had been gone. For all he knows the board may have changed significantly and he wouldn’t have a clue.

Not long before midnight, Jason soon finds himself in the library with his siblings and friends. They’re scattered around the room sitting on the sofas and the floor with the news on in the background.

Cass stands front and center with a white board in hand ready to announce the results of who has sustained the least and the greatest number of injuries in the past year. They asked Cass to announce it as she hadn’t taken part, that way it’s fair and not biased.

Looking around the room Jason could see a variety of facial expression on his siblings faces. Some wearing smirks, like they know exactly what the results are, while other’s wear an expression of anticipation, clearly unsure on where they’ve come on the board.

Cass announces the names in ascending order, starting with last place first. To Jason’s absolute delight, Dick is in last place. He’s so happy to hear that he had beaten his brother in getting less injuries than him in a year. Dick simply sends Cass a tight smile and nod, obviously knowing he had lost before anything was declared.

After Dick is Jason. If he’s being honest, Jason is actually happier about that than the principle of being second to last, he beat Dick and that’s all that mattered. He certainly made sure Dick was aware of his delight.

After Jason is Duke, followed by Steph which was a surprise considering she had been in first for a really long time. Apparently she had a bad couple of months, reckless behaviour and stupid mistakes eventually added to her total therefore dropping her down the leader board.

Taking third place is Damian. Jason looks over at where he’s sat and he finds the kid fuming, clearly unhappy with his final position. In second place is Tim, which seems to surprise almost everyone, including Tim himself. The teenager sits on the sofa looking completely baffled but thrilled at the news. That finally leaves Harper taking first place as the person to have the least number of injuries in the past year. She jumps up to her feet yelling with joy and dancing around the room excitedly.

After the scores are announced Cass gives out little awards just as something extra which makes it all the more entertaining.

The most out-of-costume injuries award goes to Tim, who instantly claims that most of his injuries are because his best friends are meta’s and because he skateboards. No one believes the excuses however they don’t call him out on it.

The most ridiculous injury goes to Dick, who then explains how he got said injury. Apparently he miscalculated a jump when chasing someone and ended up scraping his side on a metal bin. Everyone stares at him after that story, wondering how such an experienced vigilante and acrobat even does that.

The most badass injury goes to Steph. She had gotten into a fist fight in the middle of the mall after some guys started shouting out vulgar language. Not taking any of their shit Steph beat them all to a pulp but not without taking some collateral damage herself. That award felt well deserved though it could have gone to someone else.

After wrapping up their competition they all decide to stay in the library and chill. They cheer for the new year when the clock strikes twelve and all exchange “happy new year’s.” They don’t go adventuring out to the party again which inevitably leads to Bruce hunting for them, out of worry or suspicion Jason’s not sure but when his adoptive father eventually walks into the library he’s met with a loud chorus of greetings

Bruce studies the group with narrowed eyes in suspicion. He meets each of their gazes before straightening up and leveling them all a glare.

“What’s going on? I haven’t seen any of you in a few hours only to find you all gathered in here, not fighting may I add. What have you done?”

Dick’s the first to respond. Being the oldest of the group he probably feels inclined to, especially when no one else offers up an explanation. “Wow Bruce, give us a benefit of the doubt would you, we’re simply enjoying being with one another for a change. New year and all that. Who knows, this may the start of something new.”

Bruce’s disbelieving expression conveys perfectly what he thinks of that explanation.

The room falls silent as they all stare at one another. Gestures and nods are shared between them as they try to get someone else to speak up but everyone stays silent, no one saying a peep. They never told Bruce about the competition; they really don’t know how the man would take the news but they’re all certain it wouldn’t be taken well. He definitely wouldn’t see the funny side of the whole thing, even if they explain the rules to it and how they’re not actually assholes and wouldn’t include life threatening wounds to the count.

In the end it doesn’t matter because eventually Bruce puts his hands up and shakes his head. “You know what, I don’t want to know. Whatever it is just keep it to yourselves and if you make a mess, clean it up. The less I know the better.”

With no more words Bruce turns around and leaves the room. For several moments after the man’s sudden departure they each exchange baffled looks, silently questioning what just happened. It stays like that for a while until several members of the family simultaneously shrug. The action causes an eruption of laughter and all of them end up cackling until they couldn’t breathe and had tears running down their faces.

[asterroidd]

sho the todorki

↬ pairing: shouto todoroki x reader

↬ synopsis: you like him, he likes you. the problem? sho's in the friend zone and so it's up to mina, the resident match maker, and company to give you guys a lil push.

alternatively: sho being a dork, hence the title

↬ warning/s: profanity lol, a lot of second hand embarrassment, two insufferable idiots, idk if this is too ooc of shouto but just take this dorky version of him

↬ note: a fic dedicated to @puredivinity​ that serves as a welcome gift for joining the sho simp club. luv u mara despite all the cursed images i send

    Class 3-A has four unspoken rules:

    Number one: never play music out loud beyond 8 pm (tried and tested by Denki himself, got blown up by Bakugo)

    Number two: don't leave your room at 2 am or a certain grape pervert would harass you

    Number three: refrain from mentioning crocs to Kirishima. Just don’t.

    And number four: never tell you or Shouto that both of you like each other (just for the sake of entertainment)

    It had become customary to not break these four rules or those who dare break it is rumored to have a thousand year duration of bad luck to be passed down generation after generation.

    That said, Mina was fed up with the mutual pining you and Shouto clearly exhibit. For two years she watched both of you shy and fluster with one another. His face beet red while you a fumbling mess. Truly a sight to behold. It was like watching a romance movie in real time, but without the stupid opening track. 

    At first she thought it was cute, it all started one morning during her first year in U.A. You forgot your jacket that day after waking up late and thus have to rush to get on time. Aizawa would have your head if you weren't there in homeroom. So in your idiocy and frantic state, you forgot most of the essential stuff and that includes, of course, a warm jacket.

    Mina watched as Shouto stared at you from across the room.  With tense shoulders as his gaze constantly drift from your form to his jacket. Her mouth curled upwards, interested with the current situation. It was not every day one could see the infamous Todoroki Shouto so nervous.

    She eagerly kept her attention on him, watching as Shouto got up from his seat and slowly made his way to you with shaky legs. Shouto, barely uttering a word, shoved his jacket to you and rushed back to his seat. At that moment, Mina already knew something was blossoming between you and him.

    And so it basically became her life mission to make sure you and Shouto end up with one another. She made the promise two years ago, and yet here you both were, two dorks that has a crush on each other but couldn't confess even if the world ends that very moment.

    Was it difficult to watch? Yes.

   It took all of Mina's entire being to not push his head into yours. She knows the consequences if one breaks the fourth rule. Two years had already pass and graduation is around the corner, she refuses to accept that both of you aren't a couple. As Class 3-A's resident cupid and match maker, she is more than determined to make sure you and him both end up together. Mina would not be inherently breaking rule number four, just gonna give you guys a lil' push with the help of a friend. And that friend is one that possesses an electrification quirk.

    "Okay, what do we tell (____) tomorrow?" Denki asked.

    Shouto looked over his written notes one last time before nodding and giving his answer, "I'll ask them if they want to have coffee."

    "Good! Make sure to?"

    "I'll make sure to keep eye contact and. . ." he halted, going over his notes once more. "And make sure that I'm smiling."

    Denki flashed him a grin. Clasping a hand around his shoulder and lightly patting it afterwards. "Now, don't forget the lesson I've taught you today. It is important that your date goes smoothly with (____)."

    Shouto eagerly nodded, stars dancing in his eyes. His heart clamored inside his chest, beating in a quick tempo comparable to that of allegro. Sweat accumulated on his palm, in which Shouto then hastily wiped it on his shirt. Despite nervousness bubbling inside his stomach, Shouto admits that he is excited to ask you out.  "Do you really think (____) and I would be a great couple?"

    "Of course, dude! Right, Mina?" Denki turned to his friend. She gave him two thumbs-up, giving fuel to Shouto's confidence for tomorrow's event.

    Now that Denki is done giving him an hour-long lesson about asking you out and things to do in a date, Mina was sure everything would go smooth as butter. Like, what could go wrong? Despite Shouto being a dork and foreign to the concept of love, he still has that natural charm that had some swooning for him.

    Though, she spoke all too soon.

    Mina facepalmed, dragging her palm across her face as Shouto stood frozen before you. She and Denki should've seen this coming.

    "(____)," he started, his voice cracking at the end. Suddenly the discoloration and grime in between the cracks of the wall looks interesting. He kept looking everywhere but you.

    You tilted your head to the side, "What's up, Sho?"

    Heavens above, Shouto loves that nickname.

    The male fiddles with the ends of his shirt, his tongue twisting and throat closing which makes it hard to speak. After class had ended, Shouto came up to you asking if he could talk to you somewhere private. He led you to the area behind the gym where no students are on sight. Well, that is except for Mina and Denki who closely followed behind to make sure Shouto wouldn't mess up his chance. The two stayed low, making sure they are well hidden behind the bush nearby.

   This was now the moment; the perfect chance for Shouto to ask you out after practicing his lines over and over again. It was a simple question: ‘Do you want to have coffee with me this weekend if you are free?”

   Should be easy enough right?

    "I- well- uhh. . ." he scratched the area behind his ear. "D-do you maybe want to free?"

    Shouto paled, he'd done messed up.

    "Wait that's wrong—" he took a deep breath. "Are you coffee this weekend?"

    Really? Really Shouto?

    "Shit— wait! Coffee this free??"

    Can someone take this lost child away?

    Denki bit his inner cheek, hands tugging his hair from second hand embarrassment. He had fate on him; had fate that Shouto had rehearsed enough the night before in asking you out. Guess he was wrong.

    "What do you mean by that?" you voiced out. You were beyond puzzled, unsure what to make of the situation. First he asks to speak with you in private, now he's a stuttering mess. Could it be that he's confessing? Asking you out?

    Your heart quickened at the thought. You were ready to say 'yes'.

    "What I mean is uhh. . ." Shouto wished he has his written notes. "Are you weekend for this coffee?"

    "YES!!" you shout without thinking.

    Wait, what? Hold up.

    "Aight, I'm forcing these two to kiss each other." Mina announced. That’s it. She lost hope for the both of you. You and Shouto need professional help. She adjusted her position, ready to get up and intervene. That is until Denki lay a heavy hand on her shoulder.

    "Wait," he motioned his head to you. Mina huffed, sitting down once more.

    "Sho. . ." you start, a soft smile on your face.

    "Y-yes?" damn, Shouto is such a stuttering mess.

    "Do you want to grab a coffee this weekend? I mean, if you are free?"

    He blinked, your words slowly being registered in his brain. There was a buffer, like an old computer processing 10 kilobyte worth of data. His brain was stuck on 78% in the progress bar. Then, it dawned on him; the cogs and gears turning. It took a full minute for Shouto to understand. "I-. . .I’d love to!" he managed to stutter out.

    Welp, at least that did the job. Denki and Mina released a sigh of relief. High-fiving each other despite the obvious fact that Shouto failed his task.

    But hey, beggars can't be choosers. All's well, ends well.

    You can't believe it.

    You have a date with Shouto. THE Todoroki Shouto. The guy you've had a crush on since your first year in UA. The one that swept you right off your feet the moment you laid your eyes on him. The friend that always had your back. With him struggling to ask you earlier, could it mean that he likes you more than a friend?

    You let out a squeal, pressing the pillow flush against your chest. In total, you've replayed the scene from memory for over fifty times already. You couldn't even concentrate in doing your homework. So you thought instead of doing your responsibilities, you opted to celebrate by screaming and running around your room in glee.

   It wasn't everyday you'd get a douse of serotonin.

   You’ve waited for this day since forever. Day dreaming about Shouto being your significant other; holding hands with him, wrapping your arms around his torso, and kissing his lips.

   The thought brought forth another pterodactyl squeal from you.

   Oh gods, what would you wear? Should it be casual? Semi-formal? Formal?

   A wedding dress??

   No one told you a date was this stressful. You groaned, prying opening your wardrobe cabinet to quickly plan out an outfit. You can’t afford to look stupid and, dare you say, cheap when you’re on a date with the most sought after male in UA.

   Meanwhile, Shouto is also panicking.

   “Look man, you messed up once but that’s okay!” Denki cheered him up. “Experience is the best teacher.”

   “I know but. . .” Shouto took one deep breath, burying his face in his hands. “I-. . .I just froze up the moment I was in front of them.”

   “And that’s normal!”

   The moment you and Shouto parted ways, the male immediately went to Denki for some follow up consultation. Sure, he can fight villains face-to-face without batting an eye. Could freeze half of his enemies without a drop of sweat. Unleash an inferno of fire to defeat his oponent. Tolerate a bunch of fans shoving cameras up his face to get a close-up picture.

   But Todoroki Shouto, for the love of god, couldn’t ask you out without freezing in place and become a stuttering mess.

   “Lighten up man!” Denki nudged his shoulder. “Unleash the tiger inside you.”

   “But I don’t have a tiger inside me. That would be anatomically incorrect.”

   “Look—that’s not the—. . .what I mean is—uhh. . .nevermind. . .” the blond struggled with his words. He had to be careful with what advice he throw at Shouto. That man takes things way too literately. “What I mean is, toughen up. Have confidence on yourself. You’ll have (____) falling for you before you knew it.”

   Which will be easy since (____) is a simp for him, Denki thought.

   Shouto raised his fist then clenched it, determination washing over him. He gave one brief nod to his mentor (that is the personification of Pikachu).

   He can do it. Todoroki Shouto could do it.

   He’d go over his lines a thousand times before the date. He’d make sure he is 110% prepared before the weekend. Denki had made a dent in his schedule just to tutor him how to make you fall in love with him. Shouto wouldn’t let this go to waste.

   Yes, this man is prepared and is on a mission he couldn't possibly fail.

   Scratch that, Shouto’s a mess.

   He pulled the end of his sleeves, his legs bouncing up and down. The male bit the inside of his cheeks, was the weather hot or was it just his insides burning up. Shouto couldn’t sleep the night before, his mind kept him up. It was like 17 browser tabs are open, with three of them frozen, and he doesn’t know where the music is coming from.

   Due to the jitters getting the best of him, Shouto arrived at the agreed destination. . .two hours earlier than what was expected.

   Which wasn’t a problem anyway, since you did the same.

   You huffed, doubling over and placing your hands on your knees. You had ran from your house all the way to the cafe just to make sure you weren't late this time. In attempts to catch your breath, you’ve failed to notice your date standing just a few feet away from you. The minute Shouto laid his eyes on you, fire sparked deep within his heart. Someone pinch him and tell this wasn’t a dream.

   “(____),” he walked close to which startled you.

   “Sho! You-. . . you’re early!”

   “So are you. . .”

   Then silence fell between both of you. Talk about awkward. Who’s idea was it to get these two idiots in a date? If anything, both of you should’ve just left it on mutual pining and save it as a story for the grandchildren.

   Shouto cleared his throat, hands scratching the back of his neck. “Well, since we’re both early. Why won’t we enter the café?”

   You nodded, your voice box failing you. Inwardly, you were screaming your heart out. The embarrassment was just too much for you to handle. You doubt that Shouto would want a second date at this point.

   And so you lagged behind him, keeping a feet distance away from the male. You have a hard time looking at him without making a mess for yourself. Blood rushing your cheeks, it was hard to ignore the butterflies fluttering inside your stomach.

   The café was quite small. A handful of potted plants hung outside, the store’s name written in calligraphy, and a few customers visible from the window. The establishment was newly built, Ochako introduced it to you about a week ago. The cheesecake they sell is to die for—it was definitely worth the hefty price.

   A small chime went off as Shouto opened the door. Then it hit you; the strong smell of coffee. You were not a big fan of the beverage, but you’ve got to admit that the scent was pleasant. Without prior warning, Shouto lightly held your hand in his. His thumb gliding over the back of your hand a few times. You took in a sharp inhale, eyes widening at his gesture.

   This is what they do in dates right? Shouto recalled his notes.

   So this is like a DATE date?? Not a friendly date? Somebody pinch me right now, you thought.

   “We should find a table,” he spoke, eyes refusing to make contact with yours. You’ve managed to stutter out an agreement, too occupied with the feeling of his hands. It was so warm—just the way you imagined it throughout the years.

   You could finally die now in peace. Goodbye cruel world.

   Soon enough, you and he are situated on a table near the window. Neither of you dare start a conversation, because god forbid another awkward interaction. Years worth of watching romance series could have never prepared you for such an instance. You wished you should’ve consulted some of your classmates—especially those who have experience in the topic of dating—before coming here yourself. You could try and message them, but you wondered if it would be rude to pull out your phone and ignore Shouto. No, you wouldn’t take the chance.

   “Uh- So how are you, (____)?” he asked, pulling you out of your thoughts.

   “Oh, uhhh—. . .” how does one even speak again? “I’m doing well, I guess. . .?”

   That was lame, (____). Lame.

   “How about you?”

   Shouto was silent, you figured he didn’t hear you so you repeated yourself once again. All the while not looking at his direction. It would be better if you don’t see his face or you’ll turn into a puddle of mess.

   But seconds seem to drag to minutes, and that got you concerned.

   “Sho—“ you cut yourself short, realizing that he was staring at you with a lovestruck expression. He looks at you rather softly, like how one would look at a small pet one happens to cross by while walking. The way Shouto kept his gaze at you made you insecure. Was there something on your face? Hair? Shirt? Oh gods, did you smell?

   You wished that, right then and there, the earth would swallow you whole.

   “Sorry I was just. . .” he faltered in his sentence, gulping down his saliva. Shouto then turned his head to the side, a blush ever so present on his cheeks as well as the tips of his ears.

   "Sorry, you're just—just so cute in that outfit that I can’t help but stare."

   His voice was quiet, barely a whisper but you heard it, ironically, loud and clear. Your hand found its way on your mouth, blood rushing to your cheeks as a result of his compliment.

   “Tha-thank you. . .” you’ve managed to croak out, looking down and fiddling with your nails.

   Just. WOW. You can’t believe it. Never once did Shouto commented on your appearance throughout the duration of your friendship with him. What he did was just. . .just so unexpected from him. You find it hard to believe yourself.

   All these years, you’ve hidden your feelings for him. Trapped it inside a chest and swallowed the key yourself. Him falling for you is comparable to that of pigs flying; it was impossible to happen. Yet both of you sat there, like two dorks, a blushing mess while refusing to make eye contact with one another. For once, maybe this time, you could tell him how you feel.

   “I like you. . .” you voiced out your thoughts. It took you a minute to realize what you've done. You let out a small gasp and directed your attention to Shouto. He was also looking at you, baffled. He went silent, his jaw went slack, and eyes wide open, trying to find the words to reply.

   Oh boi, did you made a mistake?

   “(__—“

   “BECAUSE YOU’RE MY FRIEND!” Your jaw tightened, declaring it all too loudly just in case he rejects you. “I like you because you’ve been a good friend to me.”

   You hope you were doing this right.

   Unbeknownst to you, Shouto felt his heart break into two after hearing your added comment. His shoulders slumped down, sadness clouded his features.

   “I. . .I see. . .” he muttered. “I like you too,” he said after a pregnant pause.

   Your whole face lit up. Now it was your turn to look at him with a baffled expression. There was a twinkle in your eye, is this it? The moment of your life?

   “Because you’re my precious friend.” Shouto plastered a smile on his face.

   Oh. Welp, Mina and Denki tried.

   RIP to both of you, forever pushing the other in the friend zone.

ya’ll want a bakugo version of this? (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.) ✧

[chibsytelford]

The Bet

** GIF CREDIT TO CREATOR **

Anon requested // I won’t complain about stories about being lovers with EZ because he is honestly a babe! I don’t have too much, I’ve just seen lots of dialogue prompts and this caught my eye. “Apparently all our friends have a bet going that we end up together.” & “i really want to kiss you right now” “do it then” and it is just so cute !!!

Authors note - I'm back after a small break and reallynwanted to write again. I chose my second love EZ and I hope you all enjoy! Thanks for the request anon ❤

@everyhowlmarksthedead @rebel-without-cause-x @angelreyesgirl @lady-pswrld @minnicelli @starrynite7114 @sadeyesgf @thewarriorprincessxo @trulysuccubus @destynelseclipsa @aquamento @peaches007 @thisishowdynastiesareborn @xx--day-dreamer--xx @i-love-scott-mccall @deeandbobbymcgee @angelxshiba @blessedboo @scuzmunkie @sheeshgivemeabreak @elcococruz @talicat713 @jadesamhart @fangirlingaesthetics @gemini0410 @multiyfandomgirl40 @mayans-sauce

Sitting on the barstool, drink in your hand, you can't help but feel a little jealous of the croweater who is currently inches away from EZ, hanging on his every word, playing with her hair - hair you wouldn't mind ripping off her head right about now - and occasionally reaching out to brush his arm. You didn't think EZ was that type of person but what you didn't know was that he was doing it for a reaction from you, and judging by your face, it was working.

EZ and Angel were your bestfriends. You grew up with the Reyes brothers and when they joined the MC you were immediately part of the crew aswell. It broke your heart that you were only friends with one Reyes brother specifically. Ezekiel. And every single party you had to sit and watch him entertain the croweaters all night. You would never tell him though, you definitely valued your friendship and the risk of that ending over EZ not feeling the same way was something you didn't want to happen.

"What's with the face?" Angel came over and pinched your cheeks causing you to stop scowling and start to smile instead.

"There is no face Angel" you swatted his hand away and pivoted your body so you could no longer see EZ and the croweater. You weren't sure if it was obvious you had feelings for EZ, you did try and hide them and you definitely hadn't told anyone, but you were sure you heard some of the other men had some sort of bet that the two of you would end up together. A bet that would never happen but you definitely have some sort of hope that one day that might change.

Angel spun you around again on the stool until he had you facing the entrance to the clubhouse. "See him" Angel pointed and you followed his finger to a man of medium height, some tattoos, short brown hair and a cute smile. It wasn't an EZ Reyes smile, but you couldn't lie and say he wasn't good looking.

"Mhmmm" you said knowing fine well Angel was trying to set you up with him, for a relationship or just the night. You thought he definitely didn't know of your feelings towards his little brother.

"He's single and ready to mingle" Angel smirked waggling his eyebrows suggestively "why don't you go talk to him?" It wasn't a question that Angel was waiting for you to answer because he had already lifted you off the stool and pushed you in the direction of the unknown man.

"Hi" you awkwardly said as you stood in front of him "I hope you don't mind me coming over to introduce myself, I'm Y/N" you said extending your hand for him to shake.

"I'm Andreas" he replied offering you his hand and you took it in your much smaller one, giving it a small shake.

"What is someone like you doing here?" Andreas asked pulling you a bit closer to him so you could hear him. He left his hand on the small of your back.

"I'm friends with Angel and EZ" you answered turning around so you could point to them.

You didn't have to look very hard for EZ because he was standing right behind you. Like right behind you.

"There you are Y/N, it's time to go" was all EZ said before he took you by the hand and lead you away from Andreas. You weren't even annoyed, you were to busy admiring your hand in EZs. It felt nice, right, perfect.

He stopped when you were standing off to the side of the bar and he turned around. "Who was that?" He questioned dropping your hand and you instantly missed the warmth.

"Andreas. I don't know him. Angel said I should talk to him" you answered dropping your hands to the side of your body.

"Of course Angel did" EZ mumbled scratching his head.

"I could ask you the same thing with the croweater?" You shot back with a bit more venom than you meant.

Your comment caused EZ to smile and he gave the thumbs up to someone behind you both. Turning round you noticed it was pretty much the whole MC, Angel included. He was standing front and centre with the biggest smirk on his face. He looked like he belonged back in secondary school.

"What is that?" You asked gesturing to his thumbs up and the crew behind. You had no clue what was going on right now and you were hoping EZ was about to explain.

"Angel told me you liked me, ya know? More than a friend. And he knows I like you. So he apparently came up with this plan of you speaking to Andreas, to get me to intervene because he knew I'd be jealous" EZ explained. You stopped listening after EZ admitted he liked you.

"Angel is wrong" you stated "I don't like you" you noticed the smile drop from EZs face swiftly and you instantly felt bad for leaving him hanging and worried. "I don't like you, because I love you" you finished the sentence.

It took EZ a couple of seconds to register what you had said. "Shit, he didn't think it was that strong" EZ said more to himself before walking away leaving you standing there.

You couldn't actually believe you had just told your bestfriend you were in love with him, and the asshole left you standing there like it was nothing. You knew he didn't love you back, he even said so himself that he only liked you, but he could have at least said something else before walking away.

You left the clubhouse and the cool of the night on your face felt so good. You didn't feel claustrophobic anymore. Hurt? Yes. Embarrassed? Yes. But that was it.

"Y/N!!" You recognised the voice as EZs and the last thing you wanted was to speak to him but you found yourself stopping anyway, letting him catch up with you. "Where are you going?"

"Home, you left me standing like an idiot Ezekiel, after I told you I loved you, where do you expect me to be going?" You snapped back and you noticed the guilt on his face.

"Shit sorry, I was just giving Coco the money I owed him. He swore you were in love with me, Angel didn't think it was that deep. Apparently all our friends have a bet going that we end up together".

"You left me standing there to give Coco money?" You laughed shaking your head. Any other time you'd be pissed but you just wanted to keep this conversation going with EZ.

"Yeah I know I'm stupid" he admitted.

"That's one word for you Ezekiel Reyes" you teased.

"I can make it up to you?" He offered once again scratching the back of his head, a thing you noticed he did when he was nervous.

"Oh yeah how?" You answered back.

"Well, I really wanna kiss you right now" he admitted and he took the breath out of you with his confession, that's the last thing you expected to hear coming from your bestfriends mouth.

"Do it then" you replied and that was all the confirmation EZ needed. He put one hand on your cheek and the other behind your neck and he pressed his firm but soft lips against yours and you swore there were fireworks going of behind you, the kiss was that magical.

He pulled away first leaning his forehead against yours. "God I've been waiting forever for you do that" you said stroking the back of EZs head.

"Well, I'll be kissing you forever and ever now" he replied pressing his lips against yours once more.

The sound of cheering and laughing pulled you both out of the kiss and you looked behind EZ to find Angel, Coco and Gilly whooping and hollering like teenagers.

"Go on boyscout!" Coco shouted as Angel shouted "get some bro!" And Gilly just stood there smiling like a goofball.

"Fucking finally" Angel said pulling you both in for a hug and patting your backs. "The sexual tension was killing me" he laughed shaking his head.

[miracle-sham]

Amidst the Howls of Death, Your Divinity Gives Me Breath.

| {Jasonette July 2021, Week 1, Day 2: Protection} |

| [Ao3 Link] | | [Masterlist Link] | | [Spotify Playlist Link] |

| Marinette, Jason, Bruce, Dick, Tim, and Damian are all unfortunately familiar with how danger lurks around every corner in places like these. But perhaps their instincts can be ignored for just one evening of rest? |

| Or a Priestess, a Gunslinger, and his family, walk into a creepy inn. |

| Word Count: 2,789. |

| Warnings/Tags: Swearing/Explicit Language, Mild Gothic Horror, Implied/Referenced Background/Minor Character Death, Pretend Character Death, Fantasy & Magic Au, Romantic Fluff, Sharing a Room/Bed, Cuddling & Snuggling, Kissing. |

———

| A/N: Another fic with a playlist, so check it out if you're curious to the songs I listened to when writing this! And have look in the end notes if you want to read a short descrip of what inspired this piece! |

| If you want to be tagged in future oneshots/fics or a specific Au, then feel free to send me a dm and or ask! |

| Also side note, Don’t Like? Don’t Read. Also also, please do not criticise any of my writing. This was written for fun and receiving criticism, even in a compliment/criticism sandwich, is the exact opposite of fun. |

———

As soon as Marinette, Jason, and his family had entered the ramshackle hamlet, they all could tell without a doubt that there was something not quite... right about the place.

Even in the dying light of the day, it was obvious that every window and door were boarded up. A few even had stone or iron bars nailed or soldered across any and all potential points of entry—chimneys included. Some buildings were half-collapsed beneath the weight of their own rotting timbers, others looked unnaturally clean and newly constructed, most however were somewhere between the two extremes. But regardless of how new or decrepit the buildings appeared, each and every single one had at least some form of large scratching or claw marks gouged into the wood and stonework.

The first thing the Wayne family and Marinette had all agreed upon, was acquiring rooms for the night from the only inn in the hamlet. One of the nicer buildings albeit, but just as foreboding in its own sense due to the deeper and more extensive scratch and claw marks along the exterior.

Inside, the innkeeper was undoubtedly strange, eyeing them each with an odd look in his eyes, and an empty grin. Giving him an off-putting appearance that certainly wasn't helped by his slow and methodical cleaning of kitchen knives, from just behind the bar.

Wheezing, the innkeeper tilted his head to one side, staring the family of six down. Voice like gravel, he rasped. “Tread carefully 'round these parts, travellers. There's been tales of your kind vanishing in the dark, followed by the howls.”

“Our kind? What do you mean by our kind?” Dick questioned sharply, narrowing his eyes and subtly curling his hands into fists by his sides—hidden by his deep blue cloak.

“The howls? What howls?” Tim asked curiously, a few seconds after Dick, eyes twinkling with the thrill of a mystery to unravel.

The innkeeper chuckled. “Curious lot, aren't you. I'm afraid that won't do you any good 'ere.”

“Is that a threat?” Bruce rumbled, adjusting his pose ever so slightly to put himself between his four sons plus pseudo-daughter in law, and the innkeeper. So that should anything happen, he would be first in the line of fire instead.

“Not if you pay for rooms tonight, stay quiet, and watch yourselves from straying in the dark.” The innkeeper replied, still grinning emptily as his chuckled subsided.

Tim ducked around Bruce's side to stare at the innkeeper. “You didn't answer our other questions! What do you mean by our kind and why did the previous travellers disappear followed by howls! How did you know that the howls follow disappearances?”

The innkeeper pulled out a whetstone and began sharpening the knives without looking, as his gaze snapped to Tim. “I only answer questions from paying customers, boy.”

“Father! I do not wish to stay somewhere as suspicious as this contemptible establishment.” Damian hissed, keeping his voice low as to avoid the hearing of the innkeeper, and tugged on the edge of Bruce's black cloak.

Jason edged a hand towards the hilt of one of his flintlocks. He leaned closer to Marinette to whisper in her ear. “For once, sweet priestess, I'm with the demon spawn, I don't want to stay here any longer than strictly necessary. This wretched fucking place reeks of ancient necrotic magic.” He wrinkled his nose before adding, “and not your goddess' other half's kind of ancient necrotic magic.”

Marinette frowned, glancing around the inn with ill ease. “I can feel what you mean, my dear knight. Whatever is causing the necrotic magic is definitely not holy by any means. But as far as I can tell, the magic was stronger outside, it's almost muted somewhat in here.”

“Forgive me, sweet priestess, but that doesn't ease my nerves at all.” Jason scoffed.

She rolled her eyes with a quiet snort of laughter, “I wasn't trying to, my dear red hooded knight.” She steeled herself slightly, mirth fading, “though what I am suggesting, is that we purchase rooms for the night. Whatever the source of the magic, we're most likely safer in here than out there. There are no claw marks on the inside after all.”

“For the record, I hate when you're right about these things, my holiness.” He growled, glancing around to confirm her statement.

“You say that as if I hate it any less than you.” Marinette countered, “now let's go intervene before another impending scuffle gets us kicked out of what is possibly our only safe shelter for the eve.”

“And miss out on free entertainment? I cannot believe you.” Jason snickered.

She shoved him good-naturedly before striding past Bruce and up to the counter, imposing in her own right even in comparison to the rest of the family. She cleared her throat to draw attention to herself and stared down the innkeeper with all the sharpness of a storming sea upon rocks. “You will answer all our questions if we purchase rooms, correct?”

The innkeeper squinted at Marinette. “Aye, girl.”

She pursed her lips then nodded. “How much for lodgings then?”

“We've got a room with a double bed, three with a single, and two twin rooms.” The innkeeper responded, empty grin curling into something more twisted, “The singles are a gold each per night, the rest are two gold each per night.”

“That pricing is outrageous!” Damian scowled.

Narrowing her eyes, she ignored Damian and hummed. “I see,” she glanced back at Jason and raised an eyebrow.

He nodded in return.

“Then I will purchase the room with the double bed.” She stated, plucking two gold coins from her purse and placing them upon the bar counter.

The innkeeper nodded, sliding two keys over to her. “Excellent choice, my lady, your room is on the left at the very end of the corridor upstairs.”

Jason prickled at the addressing title given to her, gripping the hilt of the gun he had reached for with whitening knuckles.

Marinette picked up the keys and stared coolly at the innkeeper before taking a few deliberate steps back until she was once more beside Jason. There, she handed him one of the keys.

Silence permeated the room for a minute as the rest of the family communicated through glances and facial movements alone.

Bruce sighed, breaking the stalemate, and placed four gold coins on the counter as well. “We'll take two singles and a twin as well.”

The innkeeper chuckled, passing four more keys over. “Wise decisions, Traveller. The twin room is the last door on the right along the corridor upstairs, and the two singles are the first two doors on both sides.”

“Now answer our questions,” Dick demanded.

The innkeeper glowered at Dick. “What I meant by your kind, was that you're the kind of folk who trouble follows. The travellers that poke their noses where they don't belong. And as for the howls, I wouldn't know. I've never seen what makes it because I stay inside where it is safe. Those who don't stay inside... well their screams, remaining bloody streaks, and disappearances are evidence enough for me.”

Marinette grimaced. “I am going to retire to the room now.”

Jason startled at her words and stared at her concern. “I'll, uh, join you. If you don't mind.”

“You don't have to for my sake.” She responded.

“It would ease my conscience if you weren't to go up alone.” He grit out.

She bowed her head for a second, “then your company would be most appreciated.” She began to make her way towards the stairs up to the rooms.

Before she reached the first step, the innkeeper called out. “My apologies, my holy lady, I did not intend to discuss such gruesome conversations before you that would offend your delicate holy constitution.”

“I appreciate your concern, however, I think you will find it was not my delicate holy constitution that was offended, as much as it was the wish for some privacy after a long and tedious journey. Thank you very much.” She spat in response, voice as acetic as an alchemist's corrosive acid.

The innkeeper raised his hands in a placating manner. “My sincerest apologies then, my lady.”

Marinette took that as a cue to continue upstairs, with Jason on her heels.

Once they reached the door, Jason snarled. “How dare that fucking bastard call you his lady, I'm going to put a bullet through his fucking skull.”

She sighed and went up onto her tiptoes so that she could place a kiss on his lips. “Perhaps wait until after we sort out the cause of the ancient necrotic magic plaguing this place. Though I'd like to rip his tongue out his mouth before you get to have your fun.”

Jason unwound marginally beneath the kiss, his fury was still palpable, however. “Hmm, I would like to watch you do that, my love.”

“Of course you would. Now, let's enjoy some much-needed privacy together. As much as I adore your family, there is only so much time spent travelling I can spend with them without wanting some peace and quiet to cherish you, my knight.” She remarked, opening the door with the key in the meantime.

———

Lounging upon the double bed, Marinette hummed as she gently carded her fingers through Jason's hair—his head resting on her lap and a soft smile gracing his face as he gazed up at her.

She paused her humming, face creases in mild displeasure, as a loose lock of her hair fell across her face. After a few half-hearted attempts to blow it out of the way, she closed her eyes and sighed—fingers twitching to a stop.

Jason raised an eyebrow and reached a hand up to her face, cupping her cheek for a few moments before tucking the loose lock of her hair back behind her ear. “Something on your mind, sweet priestess?”

“Ah. No, not really, no. I was just…” She sighs, lips twisting with faint distress, her earlier mask of determination faltering in the privacy of their room. “I'm worried about you. About this place. It's not safe and I'm worried if we fight anything here, whether it be the cause of the howls, a godforsaken Akuma, or even those creepy fanatics again, you're not going to make it—survive another close call.” She inhaled sharply. “I dread to think that should it come to it, the resurrection rituals won't work for you any longer.” Tears springing to her eyes as she voiced her doubts.

Jason frowned, “Oh,” He fumbled for words, shifting himself up into a sitting position so he could properly cup both sides of her face, and pull her into a gentle kiss on the lips. Pulling back, he took a deep breath, “oh, my holiness. Oh, my love. As long as I've been by your side, you've never let me fall, and your goddess and her pantheon don't seem like they'll let me die anytime before you. Not after the deal we struck, and I promise you, my priestess, that I don't intend on ever breaking that deal.”

“I know my knight, I know.” Marinette mumbled, tugging Jason into a tight hug as soon as he pulled away from the kiss, “but will there be a choice? Have you not forgotten your revival sickness we've yet to find or create a cure for? And not to mention the rumours about what has happened to the others who were also brought back by that awful Lich!”

Grimacing, he idly rubbed the back of his neck. “How could I fucking forget, I've hurt everyone I care about, especially you, thanks to that…”

She hummed once more. “And yet, none of us blame you for that, my love.”

“You should.” He argued weakly.

“I will never!” She retorted.

Their conversation lulled as they relished in the other's embrace.

Minutes passed before Marinette pulled away from the hug. She huffed, fingers twitching and nose scrunching up. “Jason, my red hooded knight, and love of my life.”

Jason squinted at her, “Yes…?”

“Wou— Can— What if I—.” She frowned, searching for her words, before settling on words she knew by ritual. “It would ease my mind if you were to be bestowed with some form of protection magic. Would you accept such a blessing from me?”

He remained silent for a few moments. “Of course I would, sweet priestess. I trust you, and I trust your goddess and her pantheon.” He closed his eyes and glanced away. “But shouldn't you save that magic for yourself, or when we're out in the fucking fray.”

“My powers will replenish come dawn, and the protection will last until then. I'd rather be certain in knowing you'll be safe whilst we sleep here.” Marinette answered, leaning forwards to cup his face in her hands.

Jason opened his eyes and looked back over at Marinette. “Alright,” he reluctantly conceded, “but only if it can also be applied to you.”

She stared at him then rolled her eyes, the corners of her lips twitching upwards in amusement. “I shouldn't have expected any answer but that from you. Luckily I've still got enough divine power to cast those two protection wards on the both of us.”

“Good!” He grinned cheekily.

Rolling her shoulders, Marinette mentally went over the incantations that would be used in this specific warding. She locked eyes with Jason and tilted her head to the side, “you first my knight.”

Squinting at her suspiciously for a few seconds, he eventually relented and shrugged. “As long as you've got enough divinity to protect yourself after, my holiness.”

“I will, trust me.” She responded, closing her eyes for a brief second before muttering the ancient celestial words of the language of the guardians. Her eyes filled with holy light, glowing like two sparkling suns. Whilst her hair began to shimmer and float as though underwater in sun-dappled waves. Swiftly she made an elegant hand gesture as continued to murmur the incantations. The shimmer in her hair and glow of her eyes flared for a split second as her words and hand gestures crescendoed, before flickering out like a snuffed candle.

As the golden radiance faded from Marinette, a similar golden glow began to settle around Jason. That too faded but a split second after appearing.

“Your powers never cease to amaze me, my holiness,” Jason murmured, staring at where the soft golden glow had radiated around him. Carefully he moved to hold her hands in his own so that he could press gentle kisses to them.

She giggled, blushing profusely. Although a smirk formed on her lips at his words. “Oh? Then where was this adoration of yours, my knight, when I magically mended those noble finery clothes of yours that were so unfortunately ripped just the night before we were to attend a masquerade, hmm?”

“Hey! Fucking–! Argh!” Jason sputtered for a second and then twisted around to grab a pillow from the bed, throwing it at Marinette. “Just cast the fucking protection ward on yourself!”

Marinette cackled as she fell back against the bedding from the impact of the pillow. She dramatically threw an arm over her face and cried out in mock distress, “oh no, oh dear! It would seem I have been most verily betrayed by mine own knight who was sworn to protect me, and yet! Here I lay, bloodied and betrayed! The world is fading from my grasp, I see the light of my goddess and her pantheon beckoning! Oh, whatever shall I do?”

“It would seem my last assassination attempt failed, sweetest priestess. Fear not! I shan't fail you again.” He declared equally as theatrically, grabbing the other pillow and throwing it at her as well.

“Ah! I have perished. What a shame, I am unable to cast that protection ward on myself now. Oh no!” Marinette continued, flopping onto her side and sticking out her tongue in mock death.

Jason snorted, “My assassination may have succeeded, but I cannot live with myself in this world without my love any longer. With this knife,” He stole back one of the pillows, “I shall perish besides the light of my life! Bleh.”

He flopped against the bedding beside her, a few seconds passed before the two of them burst into more laughter.

A few more moments passed before he elbowed her lightly. “Come on, your turn!”

Marinette wheezed and waved a hand, muttering the incantations between breaths. The radiance glowed around her, eyes and hair glimmering as they did before. Then as she reached the end of the incantations once more, it all faded away again. “Happy?”

“Indubitably, my love.” He responded.

She pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “Good!”

———

| Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this little fic! Comments, likes, and reblogs are much appreciated! |

| Fun fact: this was supposed to be longer but I wasn't happy with how the last part was going and so I cut it. So if people enjoy this one, well I'll just have to finish the follow-up piece to this fic, won't I. Ironically the part that was cut got more into the gothic horror and the main reason behind the title but I decided to focus on the romantic fluff as the end point instead. Flowed a little bit better. |

| This piece was inspired by a d&d campaign i joined for a few sessions. It was set in a creepy little hamlet with an incredibly creepy innkeeper who forced our party into signing a contract before we could spend outrageous amounts on gold just for a single night's stay. And uh turned out the dude was a demon we just sold our souls to, and then all but one of the party ended up leaving the inn to try our chances against the horrifying plague-like monsters outside, aka the whole reason we brought rooms in the first place! |

| Also feel free to send me any asks or comments with any questions you have regarding this fic, I’ll be more than happy to answer! |

| @jasonette-july-event |

[mostlycompetentwriter]

“School Life:” A Hoodie Season AU Prequel

F/M Pairing: Y/N x Hwang Hyunjin (SKZ)

Genre: Married Life AU (Hoodie Season Prequel)

Word Count: 3K

Warnings: Mild Language

Summary: When Y/N is hired as the librarian at her former high school, she isn’t exactly thrilled to return. Of course, there’s also the issue of the persistent dance teacher who seems determined to win her affections.

Here’s a funny story: imagine promising yourself that you’d attend college, nail an awesome degree, and then find a job making six figures on an annual basis, only to return home with a teaching license to work at the same school that you attended when you were 16 while making less than acceptable.

Yeah, life had a funny way of making a joke out of itself, and the punch line is never really that good. 

But there wasn’t time for me to complain about my prospects since I had been unemployed for six months with a lousy degree in literature that led to absolutely nothing. In desperate times, we’re often forced to do things that we hate, and I was certainly disenchanted with the idea of working in a high school library surrounded by horny and immature devils all the time. 

“Good morning, Y/N!”

Oh, and I also had to deal with one of the most annoyingly persistent men on a regular basis. “What do you want, Hyunjin?”

Despite my dismissive tone, Hyunjin still leaned in across the check-out counter, and I could feel his eyes staring at my ass. “It’s my free period.”

“And?”

“And...you should come have coffee with me,” Hyunjin said, and I finally turned around to endure his flirtatious smile. It had only been two months since the start of the semester, and a grand total of two weeks since Hyunjin had first started trying his luck with me. But I was beginning to think that he didn’t know how to take a hint. 

“I’m busy with paperwork,” I said, ignoring his crestfallen expression. However, in my defense, I wasn’t looking for a relationship, and I was far too preoccupied with my own self-loathing to entertain his advances.

“Again?” he pouted, giving me a look that I’m sure won the heart of any girl that he had the chance to impress.

It was too bad that they didn’t work on me. 

“Bye, Hyunjin,” I said, giving him a cheeky smile before disappearing into my office.

The next morning, I noticed that Bang Chan, one of the upperclassman teachers, had arranged to pick up some books for his students. It required some set-up on my end with the computer system, and I was completing the necessary paperwork when Chan walked into the library. “Good morning, Y/N,” he said with a pleasant smile.

“Mr. Bang,” I greeted him in return. “I brought an empty cart for your request.”

“Perfect!” Chan smiled, walking around the counter to pull the cart towards the surrounding bookshelves.

I watched him from the corner of my eye while inputting the final codes for my spreadsheet. “Is this for a class project?”

Chan lifted his head from where he was examining a nearby book display. “Oh! Yeah, the kids like it when we do this kind of stuff. Well, I mean, they don’t like reading so much, but it’s better than tests.”

I nodded my head because I could certainly appreciate that considering some of the more stringent high school examinations that I recalled from my teenage years. “The school wants me to read you this long and boring list of protocols after you check-out something.”

“Yeah...” Chan trailed off with a chuckle. “Do you want to do it now...or?”

I grinned, closing out one of the tabs on my computer screen before joining Chan by the bookshelves. This close, I could appreciate the subtle scent of his cologne and his easygoing smile. “I think we can just skip it,” I said, raising a brow. “I’m sure you’ve heard it before.”

“You’ll let me off easy, Y/N?” Chan asked, turning around with a knowing look and I reveled in our simple flirtation. 

“Since you’ve been so nice,” I said, breaking off when I heard the door to the library open again.

“There you are!” Hyunjin announced his presence, waltzing over to the two of us without a single care in the entire world. “How can I last all day without seeing this smile?”

I sighed when said smile disappeared. “What did you do before I came here?”

“It was a lonely workplace,” Hyunjin said, and I noticed the way that he had positioned himself between me and Chan.

“Anyway,” Chan continued, attempting to speak over Hyunjin despite his unexpected presence. “As a thank you, Y/N, would you like to come to the school’s basketball game this Friday? I coach the men’s team, and we’re undefeated this year.”

“Really?” I asked.

“Oh, it’s basically a tradition,” Hyunjin intervened, sending Chan a look. “The boys love the support from their teachers.”

“But Hyunjin, you don’t even-”

“You’ll come, right?” Hyunjin asked, interrupting Chan’s train of thought. In return, the older man merely shrugged before occupying himself with the task of stacking the books that he required onto the cart. 

I studied Hyunjin’s beaming expression because, in all honesty, it was one of the very last things that I wanted to do, but it seemed unusually important - which meant that a small part of me was quite curious. “I guess I can try and clear some time,” I said with a shrug.

Hyunjin’s smile was impossibly large, and he leaned against Chan’s cart like he wanted to look as cool and laid-back as possible. “You know, Y/N,” he started. “I think you and I share a lot in common.”

“I doubt that,” I said with a tense smile.

“We both care a lot about our students,” Hyunjin said, and I tried not to laugh because Hyunjin couldn’t begin to imagine just how much I didn’t want this particular job on my resume. “We’re also good-looking people.”

The comment was shallow, and I didn’t feel that impressed by his attempt to compliment me. Meanwhile, Chan snorted around a laugh as he pushed his cart back, nearly sending Hyunjin sprawling into the floor. “I have things to do,” Chan said, excusing himself politely while a flustered Hyunjin tried to play off his decidedly uncool moment.

“If only your students were around to see this...” I trailed off with a distracted sigh, leaving Hyunjin behind spluttering out nonsensical words while I returned to the sanctity of my private office.

On Friday night, I parked my car near the back of the school before entering the loud and unusually crowded gymnasium where, for just a split second, I almost considered walking back out the door. It smelled like sweat and dirty laundry, and the bleachers looked uncomfortable, especially since everyone was forced to sit shoulder-to-shoulder. “What fresh hell is this?” I grumbled, shouldering off my jacket since I definitely wouldn’t need it.

I proceeded to walk around the proximity of the gym, searching for familiar faces. I spotted Chan standing on the sidelines with another teacher (Changbin, maybe?) before I realized that someone was calling my name from behind me. I turned around to greet Han Jisung, one of the Freshman English teachers, and he pointed to a section where I recognized several other staff members. “You can join us if you want,” Jisung said and I nodded my agreement.

He led us through the crowd of eager fans, keeping an eye on me as I teetered precariously on the old bleachers wearing high heels that I definitely regretted. But at the very top, I could see some familiar faces, including one that appeared far more eager than the rest. “Oh, Y/N,” Hyunjin said. “I’m glad to see you. It’s nice to have the teachers support our teams.”

“You never come to the basketball games,” Felix said, and Hyunjin shot him a silencing glare.

“What are you talking about, Felix?” Hyunjin asked with wide eyes. “I always support the school.”

“Sure,” Seungmin snorted as if he was simply placating Hyunjin’s obvious fabrication.

“Yeah, I heard it was something else,” I said, taking a seat next to Han before turning my attention to the game.

I wasn’t a big sports fan by any means, and I struggled to make sense of the chaos that included a bunch of teenage boys running up and down the court wearing their brightly-colored uniforms. Sometimes a whistle blew or the shot clock made a truly horrible sound when the buzzer went off to conclude the end of game-time. Otherwise, I felt utterly confused as I sat back and nodded when one of the other teachers surrounding me made a comment that I certainly didn’t understand.

When the game reached halftime, Hyunjin immediately stood up from his seat, starting down the staircase as he chanced a look back over his shoulder. “They have refreshments outside,” he said to me. “My treat?”

I placated him with a nod, following him into the slowly forming crowd attempting to migrate outside of the gymnasium where the smell of pizza and nachos was especially prominent. Hyunjin and I stood at the back of the line, and I swallowed down a feeling of claustrophobia. Meanwhile, I hadn’t noticed that Hyunjin was looking at me until he finally made his voice audible over the white noise of the surrounding crowd. 

“I think we got off on the wrong foot,” Hyunjin said, giving me, what I assumed, was his best attempt at a humble expression. “I’m sorry if I’ve done something to offend you...”

“It’s not so much that,” I said. “But it’s tiresome to see you put so much effort into flirting with me.”

“Oh...” Hyunjin said, clearing his throat awkwardly, but he also seemed hurt by my admission. “I’m not, like, some kind of serial dater or something. I genuinely thought you were interesting when we met at the teacher’s conference for the first time.”

“You did?” I asked, studying this vulnerable version of Hyunjin with close scrutiny.

“Yeah.” He nodded, adjusting the beanie hugging the crown of his hairline. “I’m kinda bad at this type of thing, but you’re different from the others. I think you and I both know that’s not always a bad thing, and I was hoping that you might at least give me one tiny little chance at a date.”

I gave him my full attention then, and I found myself taken aback by the look of earnest interest reflecting back at me in warm swirls of brown. “Okay,” I said, deciding that it couldn’t possible hurt to give him an opportunity. “But do me a favor and at least have a better excuse the next time you come into the library,”

Hyunjin had the decency to blush, and I couldn’t help but smile as we took another step forward.

It was Saturday evening when Hyunjin picked me up in front of my small apartment complex. I settled next to him in the front seat, smiling in his direction when he extended a tentative greeting. “How are you, Y/N?” he asked, and I was surprised to hear a hint of nervousness in his tone.

“I’m good,” I said. “But what’s this surprise all about, Hyunjin?”

“No spoilers,” Hyunjin said, and he seemed to regain some semblance of his former confidence as we drove down the crowded city streets in the direction of the main interstate.

“Well, I expect something classy since you made such a big deal about dressing up for the occasion,” I said, reaching down to smooth my hands along the hemline of my skirt.

“I don’t know much about you,” Hyunjin admitted. “But I had a friend give me some advice.”

“Dating advice?” I questioned, smirking in his direction. “You must not go on very many dates.”

“Not really,” Hyunjin remarked. “Despite what you might be thinking, it’s never been a big thing for me.”

I contemplated his words, watching as he drug his bottom lip between his teeth to worry the skin. “Why?”

“I don’t know,” Hyunjin said. “I guess I’m not very good at making connections with people. I’ve been told that I can come on too strong.”

I laughed at the honest assessment. “Maybe you just need more practice.”

“Yeah,” Hyunjin agreed. “But is that okay with you? I mean, now that you know that I don’t have any idea about what I’m doing.”

“I think it’s more exciting,” I told him. “It also explains why you’re flirting was so over the top at the beginning of the semester.”

Hyunjin groaned as if embarrassed by the reminder. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” I said, reaching across the console to take his willing hand. “If you were quiet, then we wouldn’t be here right now.”

Hyunjin let out a shaky exhale, studying me for a moment from the corner of his eye. “I want to make a better impression on you, Y/N.”

“Trust me,” I said with a smile. “The impression I already have of you is quite persuasive.”

Hyunjin nodded, and a comfortable silence proceeded before he fumbled with the buttons on the radio to allow some music to accompany the remainder of our drive together. It was something techno and upbeat - the kind of thing that just made sense to me because I knew that he was a dance teacher. But in any case, I only really started to pay attention when I noticed that we had somehow entered the more upscale part of the city. 

Maybe Hyunjin was really doing his best to impress me.

“Here we are,” Hyunjin said, pulling into a parking spot lining the side of a very familiar building.

I realized immediately that it was the opera house which meant that the Hwang Hyunjin had brought me to a pretentious affair that certainly held no appeal to someone like myself. But I tried to keep my smile, nodding at him while he handed our tickets over to the attendant. Meanwhile, at the back of my head, all I could think about was the fact that Hyunjin might’ve been trying too hard with our first date. Especially as I observed the expensive theater.

“I heard it’s a classic,” Hyunjin whispered to me after we found our seats in the middle of the enormous crowd.

“Great,” I murmured back, trying not to feel so out of place.

Instead, I focused on the show in front of me, clapping along with everyone else because I had no idea when it was actually appropriate to do so. In fact, I was forced to laugh even though I couldn’t figure out what was funny, and I shifted uncomfortably when the older gentleman next to me started crying during one of the scenes. Apparently, the gathered crowd of patrons had rehearsed all of this before attending the show, and I was left pretending to understand the social cues that the others had already memorized.

It was actually rather draining, and I forced a smile at Hyunjin when he looked down at me. “You’re not having fun,” Hyunjin finally said during intermission.

“What do you mean?” I asked, but I wasn’t nearly as convincing of an actress as the people on stage.

Hyunjin sighed. “Honestly, Y/N, do you even like this?”

I swallowed hard, struggling under the scrutiny of his gaze. “It’s...alright?”

Hyunjin grinned, but it didn’t seem genuine. “Come on,” he said, rising from his seat. “I don’t think we’ll be missing out by leaving early.”

I reluctantly took Hyunjin’s outstretched hand, allowing him to pull me down the aisle before we trudged through the crowded lobby and into the refreshing night air. The parking lot was still full of cars, and Hyunjin had parked us somewhere near the back since we weren’t aware of the necessity of arriving to these shows several hours before start time. But I didn’t mind the walk because I was trying to think of something to say to a downtrodden Hyunjin who paused next to his car.

“Look,” I finally said with an endeared smile. “You don’t have to try so hard to impress me.”

“I screwed everything up,” Hyunjin said, and I was sad to see that he was genuinely upset as he leaned against the side of his car.

“No, you didn’t, Hyunjin,” I tried to tell him, but he wasn’t having any of it.

“I really like you,” Hyunjin said. “And this felt like my one opportunity to get something right, but I fucked up again.”

I took a deep breath, tilting my head to catch Hyunjin off-guard as I brushed a soft kiss across his lips. “I can tell you have a good heart, and that’s all I care about, okay?”

Hyunjin seemed completely taken aback, and I was worried that I had sent him into some kind of shock, but he allowed one hand to wrap around my waist as he brought us closer. “Thank you, Y/N,” he said, and our second kiss was reciprocated by both sides - a tender exchange of out deepest feelings. “Does this mean that I might get a chance at another date?” he asked, looking at me with sincere brown eyes.

“I think you’re worth it,” I told him despite how cheesy it sounded inside my head.

“This makes us official, right?” Hyunjin asked, and I should’ve known better than to expect something normal with him. Doing things by the book with all the cliches involved didn’t really seem like Hyunjin’s kind of thing - and I liked him even more because of it.

“Yeah, if you want labels or whatever,” I grumbled, but his teasing laugh was the best kind of medicine. Needless to say, our first night together was perfect in every way.

[doexoeyes]

Of Finches and Firsts

Alright, alright now we’re getting to the fun parts. Thank you again to those that are continuing along with the story. I hope you enjoy this chapter ♡

(Already uploaded chapter 5 on these sites)

Archive Of Our own link:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/26707513

Wattpad link:

https://my.w.tt/ZoUHpu1e59

Summary: “A Hufflepuff? Crushing on a Slytherin? Sounds like the start of a terrible joke to me, but ok.” You’ve harbored feelings for Draco Malfoy since your first year at Hogwarts. Secretly, of course, and very much from afar. But when you’re finally taken out of your role of being a background character in his life, will it be what you always wanted, or what you wish you never knew?

            Chapters

Chapter 1 ♡ Chapter 2 ♡ Chapter 3 ♡ Chapter 4

Chapter 3: A Forced Confession

A few days later, on the way to classes, you passed by your friends at the courtyard who you caught laughing and hollering together, clearly looking very amused.

“What’s got you all so entertained?” you asked, a single brow raised in questioning.

Mauve turned to look at you, trying her best to stifle her laughter.

“Oh, you completely missed it! Malfoy was starting up trouble with Potter once again and Professor Moody intervened and turned Malfoy into a ferret!” she informed you, bursting into a fit with the others.

“He was even white, just like his hair! It was bloody hilarious,” Milton chimed in, letting out a very unflattering snort.

Your eyes widened, and although you tried to, you were unable to keep your face straight. The thought of Draco as a ferret was too funny to act like it wasn’t.

“No way! Isn’t that like, against the rules? I’m pretty sure a professor can’t use transfiguration on a student, especially as a punishment,” you noted, putting a hand over your mouth as you tried to control your giggling.

“Oh yeah, McGonagall was furious, but it was too good. He even forced him to go into Crabbe’s pants!” Mauve answered and you just about lost it then and there, clutching at your side with the rest of the giggling Hufflepuffs.

“He’s gonna be scrubbing himself till Christmas. I can’t even imagine what that must have felt like,” Augustus said with a shudder.

“He made a very cute ferret though, didn’t he? For the first time he looked rather sweet and harmless,” Mauve added.

“I say he should spend the rest of the year as a rodent. See if maybe that humbles him,” Milton teased as the rest chorused in favor.

You shook your head at this, finally able to regain your composure.

“Come on guys. He’s not that bad...” you said and immediately regretted it once they all directed their attention towards you.

“Not that bad? Y/n, do you not remember the countless of times that boy has terrorized the students here? Not including the barbaric way he treats Harry and his friends, mind you,” Mauve said, looking at you as if you grew another head.

“Yeah, remember how last year he casted that dreadful Bat-Boogey Hex on me? I had bats flying out of my nose for an entire night! Our bed chambers turned into a bat sanctuary and never mind the fact that I had my exams the following morning,” Augustus complained, clearly still upset about it.

You grimaced, imagining the scenario in your head.

“And how he talks back to the professors and flaunts his status in front of everyone. Do you know how tired I am of hearing him say ‘my father will hear about this’? I’ve started hearing it in my sleep!” Milton adds in frustration.

You recoil at their gazes and could feel the judgement radiating off of them. You weren’t a fan of this kind of attention.

“I’m aware that he’s done terrible things, but...”

“But what?” Mauve interrupts. “He’s different on the inside? Seriously Y/n, it’s almost as if you’re in love with him,” she says with a roll of her eyes before turning back to face the rest of the group.

You remained there, focused on keeping your face blank when you felt Mauve’s eyes back on you again. You noticed your friend’s eyes widen and her mouth part, looking as if she caught on to a secret she wasn’t supposed to know.

“Will you excuse us for a second,” Mauve announced to the others, grabbing hold of your hand as she pulled you away from the group.

“You’re in love with him!” Mauve stated in shock, trying to keep her tone hushed.

“What?! No, I’m not! I am not in love with him,” you quickly assured her, shaking your head rapidly.

“But you definitely like him! You can’t lie to me, we both know you’re terrible at it. You seriously have feelings for Draco Malfoy!” she spat out in exasperation, looking as if she were going to be sick.

You could feel the heat rising on your face, completely embarrassed. This was exactly the reason why you kept your feelings to yourself.

“Mauve, please...”

“Listen,” she said, cutting you off, “I honestly think that it’s a terrible choice on your end, but it’s your choice nonetheless. If you have feelings for Malfoy, then there’s nothing I can do but respect that. But please, Y/n, do keep in mind who he really is. Don’t let your feelings romanticize him for your benefit, because in the end there’s a pretty high chance you’ll only get hurt and disappointed,” she warned, eyes softening in concern.

You silently processed her words, instinctively biting your lower lip.

The words Mauve had said weighed heavy on your chest.  You were grateful your friend cared enough to say what she did, but you didn’t understand why it was even necessary in the first place. You weren’t in love with the boy, and even if you were, nothing was ever going to happen with him. You were just pining from afar, as pitiful as that sounded, but you were quite content with that.

You just wish your friend understood.

Mauve’s words continued to replay in your head for the entirety of the day, even after classes were finished. As your friends ate and conversed during dinner, you remained quiet, lost in the ghosts of the words Mauve had recited back in the courtyard.

“Don’t let your feelings romanticize him for your benefit, because in the end there’s a pretty high chance you’ll only get hurt and disappointed.”

That was the line that haunted you the most.

————————————————————————

The day of the first challenge for the Triwizard Tournament had started with giddy excitement from the entire school. You had been dressed from head to toe in Hufflepuff pride as you and the other girls in your dormitory, Mauve included, got ready together, enthusiastically adding yellow glitter to your faces and yellow ribbons in your hair.

Walking out of the castle building to where your section would be located, you felt someone tap you from behind. Turning around to see who had done it but finding no one in sight, you furrowed your brows in confusion before turning forward once again and coming face to face with Draco Malfoy.

“Hello, Finch,” he stated, a mischievous smirk taunting you from his lips.

You instinctively swallowed.

“Hello, Malfoy,” you responded back, eyes looking up at him, unsure.

He tilted his head, silver-gray eyes scanning you.

“I see you’re dressed for the occasion. Rooting for Diggory, I see. Although, if you really were loyal, you would wear those ‘Potter Stinks’ buttons he had his lackeys pass around,” he said with a dark chuckle.

You nervously adjusted the yellow ribbon tied to your ponytail, clearing your throat before responding.

“Actually, Cedric wasn’t a fan of those in the first place. He told everyone to stop wearing them, which I think was the right decision. We want to see him win without the need to put any of his competitors down,” you answered, quite confident in your statement despite the nervousness you felt around him.

He raised a brow at this.

“Is that so? You really believe that he’ll win this?”

Despite the smirk disappearing from his face, you still felt like he was taunting you.

You nodded. “He’s been working really hard for this. He’s determined to win and he can do anything he sets his mind to. I think anyone can,” you answered sincerely.

He remained quiet after that, gaze still transfixed on you. Nervously, you played with your ribbon once more and caught his eyes following your hand movements.

“That’s a pretty ribbon you got there,” he commented.

Your eyes widened slightly, surprised at his choice of words and the sudden subject change. “Oh, t-thank you.”

He stepped up closer to you, a little too close, and your breath immediately hitched in your throat.

“Mind if I...” he trailed off as he raised one hand, purposefully grazing it against your cheek as he reached for the ribbon, causing you to nearly sputter out a strange sound of surprise at the sudden feel of his skin on yours.

Even though it was just for second, you could feel how cold his skin was against your cheeks and a shiver ran down your spine. He was so close to you at that point that you could breathe in his scent; old wood, green apple, and some very strong cologne. You could feel his hand toying with your ribbon as his eyes stayed locked on yours.

“...keep it?” he finished, and in one swift movement, you felt him pull at it, smoothly untying it from your hair as he dangled it in front of your face, nearly brushing your nose with it.

You were frozen then, unable to process what had just happened.

With a wink, he walked away, but you couldn’t figure out a way to get your legs to work just yet. Instead, you stayed standing in place, eyes fixed on the yellow ribbon hanging from his hand.

♡

Tag list: @sadgirlnumber92899​

[dog-day-morning]

YOU OWE THEM NOTHING

People can be self-righteous when it comes to what they think God is supposed to do if, and when they call on Him. God is not a genie in a bottle that you rub, and a jinn pops out granting you 3 or 300 wishes. The saying faith without works is dead can be applied here. Have you ever heard of or read the book Daniel Webster and the devil? This tall tale or folklore legend was about a man who made a deal with old Slew Foot, and when it was time to pay up he had 2nd thoughts. Satan never plays fair. He's forever putting us in positions where we find ourselves desperate for a quick solution to a temporary problem that only leads to a difficult end. The Latin term for buyer beware is caveat emptor, and Satan knows how to spell. The power of a wicken comes from their basic weapon of spelling or casting spells by word of mouth. Even the Bible tells us that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Tell that to a Nicolaitan. Those who make deals with the most unclean should expect to suffer in the end. Never trust the father of lies who deals in treachery, and deceit. I look back at my mother's life and wonder if God had ever intervened for her, and fought her battles that surely He and only He would be able to deliver her from, and He has. Life is hard, for many it’s a nightmare that’s ongoing. Satan comes to you when you're at your weakest or most vulnerable in the hopes of snaring your soul into eternal suffering. Jesus comes to deliver us from death, sin, and temptations that confuse us in our trek towards His truth. If you have any aspirations of entertaining people with your gifted voice or your talent for playing lead guitar, don’t sign a contract that promises you the world only to find out you owe them your sweet ass which a man of honor wouldn't consider let alone make you cosign your body for their horn dog appeasement.

Revelation 2:9

9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

You're abundantly rich in spirit Yacob. Now’s the time to claim your position. These bastards have taken everything from you leaving your ancestors nothing but dust. If they could remove us off the face of the Earth they would. They're plotting to do so as you and I breathe, that's why the Father never sleeps. They are demon spawns who say they worship, and believe in God, but whose god, and what righteous god tells you to destroy a people with his blessing knowing what the children of Japheth have done to them historically? The spawns of Satan want your penuche, mouth, titties, and a-hole for their pleasure along with your talent that Justin Timberlake does not have. The new faces of R&B do not look like the people I grew up listening to or the race of people whose songs left an everlasting impression on my bleeding heart that helped me through my ill-fated, miserable existence. Robin Thicke, Christina Aguilera, K-Pop, the BackStreet Boys, and New Kids on the Block. Some of these groups are defunct, but they’re cranking out as many as they possibly can like Justin Bieber, and Demi Lovato. I just saw on YouTube where people were considering if Elvis Presley was Black, WTF?!! He was the biggest culture thief that Dr. Frankenstein, AKA Colonel Parker ever created. Man is cruel; Satan is a whole other type of bastard you shouldn’t entertain. I'm retarded. Some call me an idiot savant. YO MOMMA!!! People are blessed by the Father who has blessed many of us with gifts. There are many of you whom God has endowed with multiple talents that people would sell their soul in order to possess just one. If you're anointed by God to sing like Aretha Franklin may He lead you to sign with a label like Brother Carl Crawford's who won't make the same mistake he did with a very popular artist at this moment. More than likely you'll sign a contract entrusting your talent, blessing, and soul to the most unclean ones. Ain’t a reason in hell you should bow down or bend over for a leach like Mr. Friedman so he can butt bone your a-hole while enriching himself off your God given talents. God blesses those who seek him out, and those that don’t. I don’t know if Eddie Murphy went to Church, and sowed an offering every Sunday to God praying that the Father would make him the highest paid comedic actor in his prime. Richard Pryor was anointed in the womb to be the most blessed comedic talent, and influential comedian to ever walk this Earth bar none yet he and Mr. Murphy pursued their dreams in different ways with both of them becoming world renown. I'm inclined to ask, was it worth it?

Mark 8:36

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

The synagogue of Satan isn’t a trending pop culture manifestation that’s to be esteemed, cherished, or envied. These cults are trying to maintain a stranglehold on a world that’s not meant for them or their sort. People who play with Ouija boards or childhood games like Bloody Mary, and light as a feather are ushering dark spirits into their homes leaving their loved ones exposed to something sinister. Get the hell away from me and mine unless you're my sister, AKA Ms. Skunk Funk, who needs to get the crust burnt off her musty, dusty drawers. The whore of Don Juan has a death wish. Explain to me how running with the devil beats walking with God?

Isaiah 59:7

7 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.

This Nation was built on our ancestor’s blood, sweat, and relentless faith. Believe me when I say there's strength in every tear. I pray to God that I don’t shed anymore of them. Their wealth is not. It's a stolen Promise that the Father shall reward His children with. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. The most glaring, and frustrating example that is also bitter and disheartening I can give you is our Promised Inheritance called Yisrael that the gentiles are squatting on. When a person or in this case a tribe or race of people believe in their own lies they've become reprobate; they're lost.

Revelation 3:9

9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

This is what all of Esau's children fear. It's why the bland, colored people of the world are flipping over the Earth's axis, and killing us without any probable cause. They are a lawless people who've displayed their lack of empathy, and humanity for anyone save their own breed, they behave like blood hounds. I've become content with this planet being void of water (Holy Spirit.) Black people suffer from a social disorder called the crab bucket mentality. We hate to see anyone rise up, and we’ll do whatever it takes to keep them down or discourage them. That person may possess something that can benefit the collective, who cares. He who possesses that blessing needs to haul tail ASAP before the winter comes knowing the Father will bless him, and a downtrodden people beyond their wildest dreams. This is why Yeshua, and His Father call us children. It's why I pray, and bemoan to the Father daily that He slays me, putting the fear of the Lord in the heathen and His Son Christ Jesus uses us for His purpose. God doesn't need us, we need Him. He's given us so much power, and authority. When you acquire it, use it for something other than satisfying your sinful, carnal, flesh minded desires. Men, don't behave like horn dogs, and women do not behave as Aholah, and Aholibah, 2 whores.

Numbers 32:24

24 Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.

Out of thine own mouth you have power to tread over snakes and scorpions. You can exorcise demons and devils out of your present life braking generational curses which is what I' want for a family that's disowned me. To God be the glory. God is telling us to declare a thing, and claim it. What a mighty, just God we serve. Your tongue will become a weapon to use against the lawless ones who use theirs recklessly in their attempts to get us arrested or murdered by local, and federal authorities. You can call it giving them a taste of their own medicine, it isn't. You're reclaiming what they've taken, stolen, including those of us they've murdered.

Isaiah 54:17

17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Speak positive prayers out loud if you can. If you live with your family or have a roommate pray in the closet. You'll have favor with God that many people won't. They rebuked the Lord, and their anger did tear perpetually, and they kept their wrath forever. When they use their privilege, which is what we call it more often than they, comprehending they’re fully aware knowing they use it with a Demonic, driven hatred. They persecute Black men, women, and children for reasons that are not godly, and the Father does not condone. They, and all the Earth will have to answer for our individual sins against the Father in the end.

Luke 10:19

19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

We don’t worship the same god as they do. They're praying to a god to erase us off the face of the Earth. Why hasn't he?.

Exodus 1:12

12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.

Their birth rate is dropping steadily. For the first time in the history of the census they decreased in population globally while indigenous, and other races of people stayed steady or in our case increased. This is the reasoning behind these draconian abortion laws. They're trying to preserve themselves while God is eliminating the Earth of their bloody dominion. God is sending the wicked a message before the storm comes, but no one's listening. Their violence towards us is documented, and more often it's unprovoked. They continue with the guilty until proven worthy of their mercy dogmatic mantra which is racist BS. The Earth will be lulled back to sleep. When they're confident that their world isn't in danger of being challenged by anyone, especially us. That's when God will do things that will scare them right back to the caucasus mountains bringing destruction to those who've touched, bruised, and abused the Apple of His eye. Speak life into your angel spirit, don’t entertain the demon seed that's trying to kill you, and the rest of Earth's indigenous people. You have much authority, use it. Elohim. 9/23/2021

[hopevalley]

Season 8, Episode 3: From the Ashes

Intro -

Scene 1: Freedom-Alls

Well, folks, we start out with Rosemary and Elizabeth discussing the latest and greatest trend of the western world (or attempt at a trend): Freedom-Alls! Patented in April 1918 by Levi Strauss & Co., Freedom-Alls were a women’s one-piece suit intended to appeal specifically toward ladies who lived out west and wanted to take advantage of the areas and work they did for a living (ranchwork, farming, hiking, et cetera). It was introduced alongside Kover-Ups (a one-piece suit for men) and Koveralls (a one piece denim suit for children). 

You can read a little more about them here.

Unfortunately Freedom-Alls didn’t really catch on; they were, perhaps, a little too ahead of their time. But guess what? It means this season of When Calls the Heart takes place in 1918! 

Rosemary says she’s trying to support Clara’s ideas by trying to sell the Freedom-Alls and that she “can’t run the dress shop forever.” When Elizabeth tries to talk to Rosemary about it, she changes the direction of the conversation to Nathan and Lucas. Elizabeth admits she feels bad for having ridden off on Nathan, and Rosemary gets a weird line: “But who knows what might have happened between you two if you hadn’t?” I’m not sure what to make of this... With modern viewers it almost sounds like they might have had sex or something if left alone, but really I think they want to hint that they might have said regrettable things. I think that line could have used a bit of a tweak.

Elizabeth goes on to say it was right to choose not to be with Nathan but she hasn’t chosen Lucas either, and in fact does not want to even speak to Lucas until his mother tells him the truth about his father. One thing I really appreciate about this scene, and in fact this whole plot, is that Rosemary knows the hot gossip but she doesn’t repeat it to anyone else. In fact, she makes sure Elizabeth knows immediately that Lucas is standing behind her before he can hear her say anything, and when given a very obvious opportunity to intervene (when Lucas says he’s going to call his father) she elects to stay out of it.

I’ve been a little worried about Rosemary’s character writing in the past; they tend to bounce between wholesome and entertaining to cringey and embarrassing without...really meaning to, or without thinking about what kind of person that creates on-screen. This episode, and in particular this first scene, really makes up for a lot of past problems with her writing.

Also, Lucas was just really cute and wholesome at the end of the scene and I liked that.

--

Scene 2: Bill’s Land & The Inquiry

Bill stops Nathan and lets him know that he’s still working on Allie’s official adoption but it’ll still be a few weeks, and Nathan is understanding about this. Bill then brings up his land that Nathan seemed interested in buying. He says he has another potential buyer that’s been asking about it, and Nathan says he changed his mind about it.

Before they can really get into any sort of conversation about it, another Mountie approaches. Bill refers to him by his first name (Andrew) and then his title to congratulate him on a promotion (Superintendent Hargraves). He tells Bill that he learned from the best.

When Bill tries to introduce Nathan to Andrew, Nathan says they already know one another. When Bill asks what Andrew is doing in Hope Valley, he says he has a matter to discuss with Nathan and Bill says he hopes they can find the time to catch up before he leaves town again.

Bill leaves, and Andrew tells Nathan that due to the fact that a Mountie lost his life last year during the shooting, they’re opening up another internal inquiry (which means they already did one) and that Nathan is the focus of it.

“to determine your possible culpability as to whether or not you were at fault.”

Apparently this also means his career as a Mountie is at stake.

There’s not a lot to discuss this early in the episode about this plotline, but I do wonder if Bill actually has a potential different buyer for his land or not. I don’t think Bill is above pretending he has another buyer to push Nathan into making a decision either way, but if he actually does have someone else interested, that could be interesting.

As to Nathan, it’s pretty clear Andrew Hargraves doesn’t care for Nathan.

--

Scene 3: The Introduction of The Chair

Molly and Florence talk about a crate that is sitting outside and Molly asks Florence if it might be the beehive that Florence ordered for Ned for his birthday. Florence shushes her (worried Ned will hear, as this is clearly meant to be a surprise) and says no it isn’t; her order has been delayed.

Molly goes on to say that she’s thinking of taking a cue from Florence and wants to buy Bill something for his birthday. Molly asks for Florence’s advice on what to get and Florence can’t help her:

Florence stares at her with...honestly kind of a sad expression after this? I don’t know what to make of that. Molly tries to say she’s kidding but Florence isn’t stupid enough to believe it. 

I’m not exactly thrilled with this storyline (nobody is surprised yet again lol), but one thing I really hope they bother taking the time to do is...you know...show why Molly might be interested in Bill. They don’t really have a particular chemistry I think, so...right now it just feels like Pair the Spares because nobody else in town is of the right age and available (except Henry and I can’t see that working well). If they’re going to bother with it, I really hope it’s either “Molly’s just lonely, actually” or “She likes him because XYZ” and not that weird middle thing where it’s hard to understand why either person would like the other...which has been a problem in this show’s writing since about Season 4.

The camera pans out to the mysterious crate. Ned wants to guess what’s in the crate but doesn’t get the chance before Jesse announces what it is to everyone (and Ned is sad about this haha). Cute little bit, honestly; you can tell the dialogue in this season has gotten a glow-up.

Jesse is disgruntled about the chair’s existence (why would you ship a chair halfway across the world?) and tries to sit in it to see if it’s a good chair but Lee tells him it’s bad luck to do that. The person for whom the chair was made has to be the first one to sit in it! He asks Jesse to take the chair to his house and move his motorcycle to the mill.

This is overall a nice scene. People feel...like people. And they carried over Lee’s back injury because now he’s wearing a back brace. This follow-through, this continuation from episode to episode, makes a big difference in the quality of writing, IMO.

--

Scene 4: Nichols & Dimes

Fiona is just getting done trimming Lucas’s beard and makes a comment about how if he wants it all shaved off she’ll be happy to do it because she’s curious to see what is hiding underneath it. Faith walks in and when Lucas asks her opinion, she has the same answer: “I’d be curious to see!”

Lucas considers this a moment and asks to think about it. She dusts off Lucas’s shoulders with her brush and asks Faith if she has time to chat and Faith says for a moment. Lucas gets up and pays Fiona, but it’s too much money so she tries to get him to take it back but he insists she keep it. 

“Besides, after I meet Lee about a lumber order, I might need a free haircut.” Fiona only can say after he leaves, “He is so nice.”

Do we have a Fiona/Lucas hint? Or is this to show up how generous a person Lucas is? Or perhaps...how kind the people in this town are that they know to help out where and how they can?

--

Scene 5: Boy Meets Bike

Jesse drops off the chair at Rosemary and Lee’s house and goes out back to uncover the MOTORCYCLE. This is a man in love with a machine right here.

--

Scene 6: The Oil Rig

Lee promises Lucas a lumber order by the end of the week and Hickam stops Lucas to talk about the fact that the men think they should drill further (another 50 feet). Lucas seems to be having some...regrets about having gotten into the oil business (it is lucrative but it’s also a lot of work and with a very serious uh...potential for failure). 

Lucas says (to Lee) that 50 feet becomes 100 feet becomes 300 feet (increasing costs of course, with no guaranteed payout), and jokingly (sort of) asks Lee if he wants to buy an oil well. Lee just laughs and says he doesn’t think so.

--

Scene 7: The Motorcycle No-Nos

Hope Valley really isn’t ready for Freedom-Alls after all. On the plus side, Dottie gets a mention! She sent over a beautiful dress (I think this is the one we see Molly wearing in the promo images for a later episode) from Union City. Clara laments having to replace the Freedom-Alls in the window just as Jesse pulls up on the motorcycle he’s moving for Lee.

Rosemary scolds her and tells him not to make Clara a widow (very insensitive choice, not sure they thought this through before they included that... She already IS a widow...and through no real fault of her husband). Rosemary said the danger is why she wanted Lee to sell the motorcycle and Jesse says, “You know, Lee always said you loved riding on the back of the motorcycle” which seems to upset Rosemary a bit. She tells him that was a long time ago and they’re married now and she wants Lee to sell it to the first person to make a good/fair offer.

--

Scene 8: Editing Woes

Helen is trying to go over Elizabeth’s manuscript with her but Elizabeth is completely zoning out and Helen is kind of sick of it.

She asks Elizabeth what the problem is and they talk about Lucas’s lack of knowledge about his father. Helen doesn’t want to talk about this and suggests they get back to work. Elizabeth asks to open the window (probably hoping some fresh air will clear her head). When she goes to open it, though, she sees Nathan and Bill talking animatedly by the blacksmith/farrier.

Helen confronts her about her feelings for Nathan and for Lucas, and Elizabeth asks if they can get back to work.

This is probably one of the weaker scenes. Helen pries too much and doesn’t seem the type to do so without good reason. I’m not sure how I would word it instead but the audience already knows Elizabeth has feelings for both men, and the scene with Rosemary sufficed at explaining Elizabeth’s stance on things.

I feel like this mostly made Helen look prickly and nosy...and it wasn’t doing either character any real favors.

--

Scene 9: Henry’s Flowers

Henry walks into the mercantile with some flowers and I definitely thought he was going to give them to Ned! (Let the shipping BEGIN...)

He apologizes very thoughtfully to Ned and I can honestly say this is one of the best scenes both men have gotten on this show and I really appreciate it. It was wholesome and kind, and I definitely think with the way Ned brushed things off that he at least read that first letter.

Florence kind of stands up as Henry starts talking (probably thinking she’ll have to yell at him again lmao), but Henry walks up to her and gives her the flowers, saying she was right to be angry with him and he hopes they can move past it.

Henry leaves and Ned’s like heyyy I was the one he yelled at and Florence tells him that’s true, but...she defended him and Ned seems a little...touched by that and says, “Yes...you did.”

Wholesome...good. Nice scene.

--

Scene 10: Motorcycle Absolutely Nots

Jesse brings the motorcycle to Clara again and tries to appeal to her using logic that my own husband would use if it meant he could possess yet another motored vehicle.

Same Clara!!!

I’m a little amused by this and also kind of like...meh about it. These characters had a long time to get to know one another and court before they got married and now Jesse’s just...Like This? It’s not that I’m against the plotline, but...I  don’t know exactly how I feel about it right now. It’s funny but something still feels tonally off about it to me...

--

Scene 11: Inquiry Part II

Bill reads the inquiry notice that was given to Nathan and says it doesn’t seem right to him. Nathan says he tried to explain that earlier (must have been the conversation by the blacksmith). Bill goes on to say the Mounties can of course do this as it’s well within their rights and that...it’s possible it’s just...a formality? Andrew’s a good Mountie and a stickler for detail so--

Nathan seems annoyed at this and says “That’s one way of putting it” which of course prompts Bill to ask why they don’t get along. Nathan will only tell him that they’ve crossed paths before but refuses to elaborate.

It’s pretty clear that in whatever capacity they crossed paths before, it wasn’t exactly...friendly.

I also wonder if this man has been in a previous episode? He seems familiar but I couldn’t find anything with a quick Google search.

--

Scene 12: OIL! And uh, fire. Yeah.

Lucas and Mike Hickam talk about the oil business and Lucas admits that if they don’t see oil soon he’s going to just shut the entire thing down. Mike wants to react to this but there’s a ruckus at the well that isn’t normal so he runs over to the men and insists they get out of there right away.

They get oil! And then a spark catches. If you were confused about what supposedly caused the spark, it was this:

The metal of the wire rubbing against the metal of the pipe, causing friction. To be clear...the wire would be so coated in oil it wouldn’t be likely to catch fire in this scenario, but eh, we can ignore that. It was at least an attempt, and considering some of their past attempts this one was pretty good, actually.

For some reason the town has a real siren (more accurate would probably be a fire bell) and everyone freaks out. 

Bill tells everyone to stay where they are and Fiona says “We can help!” and Bill says if they need more help they’ll call for more men. Fiona’s like:

I kind of missed that line my first watchthrough but I’m belatedly annoyed with that “Let’s make this look kind of misogynistic and make Fiona a Feminist Icon™ (as if she isn’t already good enough like??? what). It’s literally an OIL WELL FIRE. It might burn for WEEKS. It’s INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS and if you get too close you’ll be lucky if you’re not covered in burns. 

They’ll get men because they’re more likely to be wearing the proper clothing and have the proper knowledge. Also, there are plenty of men on sight already. Why risk more casualties (or any if there aren’t already some, which of course Bill doesn’t know about). 

It’s not that I don’t appreciate some good women-getting-involved writing, but this reads very much like it was written by a man.

That said, Henry’s determined face when he saw the fire was GOOD. He’s blurry but he’s MOVING FAST.

--

Scene 13: The Fire

Mike Hickam has burns on his face, Lucas has been knocked down, and everyone is in a panic. NATHAN IS ON THE SCENE.

IDK........I’d ship it.

Nathan asks Lucas how to put the fire out, and Lucas...doesn’t know. How could he know? He’s involved and he’s the owner of the operation, but he has absolutely (or nearly) no practical experience. BOOM HENRY IS ON THE SCENE.

He suggests they get some dynamite. A LOT OF IT.

They gather enough dynamite to blow an entire quarry sky-high. (My husband and I work in construction and this is more dynamite than we use to do blasting in the quarries. A few years ago we did our biggest blasting job ever in our largest quarry and we didn’t even use that many explosives lol...)

I would imagine your average person wouldn’t know that, though, so...I’ll give it a pass. Ned comes to help, and Jesse, and then Fiona shows up just in time to ask if the one more person to help they need needs to be a man. She then proceeds to stand at the back of the group. She’s also the first person to drop the cart lol... -_-

I can’t imagine being in town for all of this. It would probably be terrifying. Imagine being Florence or Molly who lived through the mine explosion. PTSD right there fellas.

And it’s over like...in two seconds.

People hugging all over the place. 

Even though I was a little shocked the drama didn’t last longer, it was probably for the best. As much as I like drama, this isn’t the kind of drama that makes sense to be dragged out. If you don’t act fast there’s no chance to act at all, and you’re either successful with the dynamite attempt or you’re not. Either way, the town would be lost if the fire burned for too long, so it was worth a shot. Just...not with THAT much dynamite.

Also, using dynamite to snuff out oil fires was the first proven accurate method of putting out oil well fires! It basically uses the dynamite explosion to “blow out” the fire by forcing the furning fuel and oxygen away from the fuel source. It’s still used, and its first successful use (that we have record of) was in 1913. You can read more about oil well fires here.

--

Scene 14: Kindness

Lucas and Henry run into one another outside of Abigail’s Café and agree to meet outside the mercantile when Lucas is done chatting with her. Inside Abigail’s, Mike Hickam is dabbing (antiseptic?) on his burned face while Bill and Helen are chatting.

Helen is a bit upset that Lucas helped with the fire because it frightened her—the thought of losing him. He responds by saying he had to help and that she is being dramatic, but then apologizes and says, “I love you, too.” I think this is a sign he understands his mother more than we realize.

They agree to have lunch together at the saloon and Lucas says he couldn’t reach his father. Helen says she doesn’t know where he is but she’ll try to reach him.

Lucas tries to say something to Mike but Mike insists he won’t take a vacation; he was only doing his job.

Then Bill stops by with another plate of food for Mike and insists that it’s free just like the first plate. 

I’m pretty sure this scene + the barbershop one earlier were just showing us how good and wholesome the people in Hope Valley are. They support each other and SHOW THEY CARE. I like it. :)

--

Scene 15: The Letter

At the mercantile Henry finally gets a letter!

It’s from “Christopher Hughes” in Cape Fullerton.

Henry stares at the letter for a long moment but says nothing is wrong. 

Ned limps away as Henry leaves the mercantile to wait for Lucas and Florence scolds him for being stubborn.

There is a Romantic Sort of Moment...

And Florence talks about how gallant Ned was during the fire... A little spice is in the air methinks!!

--

Scene 16: THE LETTER PART TWO

Lucas stops by Henry’s car to say thanks for yesterday (the fire advice) and then tells him that even though he doesn’t agree with all of Henry’s terms/methods he does want him to come back to work.

Henry’s response? “I’ll think about it.”

This man is RATTLED by that letter! Lucas is shocked that Henry isn’t as on board as he was just the other day...

Scene 17: Chair Adjustment

Lee moves the chair around the house trying to find the perfect spot, and he refuses to sit in the chair until he gets his back brace off. It’s a pretty wholesome and fun scene; it manages to be lightly funny without trying too hard, and the best part about it is actually that they take the time to weave other characters into the dialogue more. “Carson wants me to walk; he says it’s good for my back.”

This is the stuff dreams are made of, folks!

Jesse drives up on the bike as Lee comes out of the house and he tells Lee that he wants to buy it off of him. When asked what Clara thinks of it, Jesse says:

This is going to be a big problem later. Lee says Jesse can buy it for $5.00 less than asking and Jesse rides off excited.

--

Scene 18: Trouble at the Infirmary

Florence apparently was successful in her attempt to drag Ned to the infirmary because he’s getting his foot looked at. When asked how he got the injury, he says he must have stepped in a hole or something, and Florence adds her heroic spin on things:

Faith tells Ned there’s some swelling with indicates a mild lateral sprain, and that the best thing for him to do will be to stay off of his foot for a week. She turns to Molly to suggest getting some crutches and Carson steps in to ask what Ned did to himself and begins his own exam, asking Ned which way his foot turned in/which way causes pain.

He then turns to Faith and explains that with a lateral sprain the foot turns inward, but with a high ankle sprain it turns outward (which is Ned’s problem).

Faith tries to explain that if you feel the tendon--

But Carson cuts her off and says that Faith will wrap it up nice and tight for him and he can go back to his regularly scheduled heroics immediately.

This angers Faith and makes Molly uncomfortable.

--

Scene 19: Goodbye Sweet Chair (I Hardly Knew Ye)

Rosemary approaches Elizabeth and they talk about how Elizabeth and Jack want to start a garden in the backyard, but first she has to go to town and speak with Bill. Rosemary offers to babysit and do the planting with Jack herself, and Elizabeth agrees to it.

They go over to Rosemary’s and Jack sees the NEW CHAIR and makes a beeline for it. Rosemary stops him from sitting in the chair but...overcome by curiosity she herself sits in it...

...and it breaks.

--

Scene 20: Elizabeth’s No Good, Horrible, Very Bad Day

Elizabeth presumably asked Bill what was going on with Nathan, and Bill explains that one of the superintendents, “an old friend” of his, gave Nathan some bad news. The Mounties are investigating last autumn’s prisoner transfer shooting. She asks why, when it was already completed, and he tries to calm her down by saying it’s an inside investigation and the Mounties always try to better perform their duties (the suggestion here is that they do this by reviewing recent cases).

After Elizabeth pesters Bill about it a little more, he folds and admits that it’s all very unusual and he has no clue why they’d have an inquiry about that case. He promises Elizabeth he’ll keep digging until he finds out.

Just as Elizabeth is reeling from this, Lucas approaches her and asks her why she didn’t tell him about his father leaving his mother. Elizabeth tries to say that she was told that in confidence and couldn’t/didn’t feel comfortable breaking it. She then says, “This isn’t my fault” and Lucas kind of just walks off annoyed/frustrated.

--

Scene 21: No-Work Advice

Clara comes into the barber shop asking Fiona for advice. Jesse asked for the day off to ride the motorcycle to Albert Falls (even though she asked him not to buy it). Fiona’s like “Uhhh...”

Then Faith walks in upset and says to Fiona, “Maybe you can help!” She goes on to say it’s like she’s back in Chicago being ignored like all the other interns!! And Fiona’s like, “Uhhhh...”

Faith realizes Clara is there and apologizes for interrupting. She asks Clara what’s wrong and Clara tells her about Jesse. Faith is like, OHhhhh My GOoDnESS I feel the SAMe wAY about the way Carson is treating mE!!!

And Clara says, “I have some chocolate cake at the cafe.”

And aWAY THEY GO.

Leaving Fiona cakeless (unless she’s gettin’ some of Mike Hickam later; that man is CAKED UP).

--

Scene 22: 

Lee sadly contemplates his broken chair.

And then has a midlife crisis.

The chair reminded him of a chair he built with his grandfather, and he’s getting older and thinking about how he can’t do any of that stuff himself, and he doesn’t remember how to build things anymore. “I don’t make anything, Rosie.”

--

Scene 23: Judge Avery’s Office

Bill walks into his office to see that Andrew Hargraves has let himself in while he was out. Andrew asks Bill if the Mounties can use the judge’s office for the inquiry.

Bill says that, given they have a history, could he maybe tell him what’s going on? The inquiry isn’t adding up.

He goes on to say he was close by and that he stated on the record what happened that day, as well as the fact that everything regarding that event was done by the book.

Andrew says, “A Mountie died. I think that warrants a review.”

Bill says he noticed that Nathan and Andrew aren’t close and Andrew says the same thing Nathan did earlier: that they’ve “crossed paths.”

Andrew says he wouldn’t have achieved his rank if not for Bill; he also says that Bill was a good mentor. (I would argue this means that Bill taught him at the Academy like he did Jack and many others.)

And he suggests that Bill with see that his council wasn’t wasted. Bill replies back, “What appears to be holding a grudge.”

I mean, it’s not as if Bill didn’t have grudges (COUGH HENRY COUGH COUGH) but he never let those impact his work overmuch and he always did the right thing when the truth was uncovered. That’s one thing I have always enjoyed about Bill’s character. He’s suspicious of like, basically everyone but when someone he has reason to actively dislike (Henry Gowen) is innocent he’s the first person to insist the right thing be done.

Andrew doesn’t respond to that; he simply asks if the Mounties can count on use of Bill’s office and Bill agrees. Andrew then tells Bill that he’ll be called on as a witness.

--

Scene 24: Heart to Heart

Helen comes to Elizabeth’s house to visit and almost sits on a block (#parentlyfe).

She notices Jack playing with a little Mountie and a horse and asks about it. Elizabeth says a friend made that for Jack. 

“Hm. A Mountie. Constable Grant?”

“A Mountie. My late husband.”

They’re clearly talking about the figure and not who made it, here. I’m not sure who the friend would be in this case, but it could be literally anyone in town.

Helen admits to Elizabeth that the most difficult thing she’s ever done in life is try to be a mother. She “never discovered what seems to come so naturally to others” (in particular Elizabeth)—the joy of it.

Elizabeth admits that sometimes she can’t recognize the joy in anything, but in moments like that she surrounds herself by people who love her. She asks why Helen has come, and Helen says she regrets having put Elizabeth in a position where she had to keep a secret from Lucas.

Elizabeth thanks her for her honest and Helen admits tearfully she should have said it earlier, in a more forthright manner, but that she doesn’t really know how to be any other way than how she is.

Elizabeth comes to sit with her on the couch and says that it’s understandable to be afraid because being yourself can make you vulnerable. She tells Helen that she is thoughtful and intelligent and asks if she shows that side of herself to her husband. Helen admits she hasn’t for a long time. 

Elizabeth tells her that if her husband doesn’t love her for exactly who she is, then it isn’t love and he doesn’t deserve her...but if she’s not sure if they’ve shown each other their true hearts (i.e., their true selves) then it might be worth considering trying again.

She suggests Helen reach out first. Jack plops on Helen a bit, Helen hugs him, and Helen thanks Elizabeth for being her friend. 

This isn’t a bad scene by any means, but I think I liked it better on a second watching. Still, the dialogue was a bit stiff and hard to follow. I really think it should have been put past someone specifically to see how easy it was to understand/if it hit the correct emotional beats. Rewatching it slowly and making sense of the complicated wording is what made it better. I’m not sure if I was the only one who thought that, though...

--

Scene 25: Faith vs. Carson

Faith approaches Carson and tells him they need to talk. She tries to insist that Molly stay because they all work together...but when Faith says that Carson ordered her to wrap Ned’s ankle without listening to what she had to say about it, Carson tells Molly to leave.

Faith expresses her concerns and he says she’s reading too much into it.

He says he wants to hear about it and then doesn’t want to actually hear about it because he is treating her exactly the same way she was being treated there. I think they’re being pretty lighthearted about that, too; you know she got talked over and overlooked over the male students for sure.

Carson tells her that he doesn’t know what she went through but that they aren’t in any shape to discuss it right now.

She just wants to make an effort, they need to get through this, but he claims he doesn’t know what “this” is and wants to know what she wants.

“You say that you value me as a doctor. You say that I’m gifted. But I don’t just want to hear it. I want to be treated like you mean it.”

Honestly this entire scene I just wanted them to break up. I make no secret of how I feel about them as a couple and this scene, this season’s drama for them, is maybe going to resolve my biggest annoyance about Faith and Carson as a couple. She was SO good on the show, you guys, and then he came on and as soon as he picked up the role of doctor again he completely outdid her at everything and overshadowed her character to the point where she may as well not have even been there.

He’s never seemed to be as into her as he seemed to be into the idea of her. I never got the impression that he viewed her as an equal. I’m pretty interested to see where they go with things this season; I have a feeling it could actually be really good.

--

Scene 26: Lee’s Workshop

Lee comes home and finds Rosemary in the backyard setting up a little workshop space for him.

He confesses that he doesn’t remember how to build anything and she encourages him fully. This scene was really good. It’s sappy and silly but it’s super cute and fun. I always do enjoy these two. I hope they get other good things this season. They deserve it.

--

Scene 27: Axes

Nathan and Bill are talking about the inquiry and Nathan says maybe he is responsible for the Mountie’s death. Bill insists that is not the case.

Nathan continues on to say maybe he should have listened to the demand and let the prisoner go.

Bill cautions him against talking in hindsight and asks if he’s sure Hargraves doesn’t have an axe to grind with him. Nathan says “Yeah” but doesn’t look at Bill when he says it, so of course Bill knows it’s not the truth.

--

Scene 28: Helen’s Goodbye & The Cruel Reality

Helen leaves on the stage with hardly a goodbye, and Elizabeth runs over to ask about it. Lucas tells her that she was determined to catch the last stage (probably for the week or month) and tells her that she’ll be in touch about the manuscript soon.

Lucas is a little uncharacteristically emotional and Elizabeth tries to stop him from leaving in a hurry. He tells her that what upset him about the whole thing isn’t just that she didn’t tell him the truth, but that he thought his parents loved one another.

Elizabeth says maybe they did love each other, though. Maybe they still do. 

And Lucas replies with, “How do you lose that?”

Elizabeth says that she can only tell him what she told his mother: love has to be fought for.

“What would you know about it?” he asks.

Elizabeth stares at him a moment and can only say, “...That was cruel.”

Lucas walks away, and we see Nathan on the other side of the street.

Elizabeth doesn’t go to either of them.

And that’s the end of the episode.

--

Something I think needs to be mentioned is...the audacity of the writing this season. It feels bolder. Definitely better. The writers are taking their time and writing things that feel...mostly interesting or relateable. I never expected Lucas’s parents’ splitting up to be such a big deal to Lucas but adding that touch in there is just SO good. It makes me want to go back and watch the “date” scene where he explained how long it took his father to convince his mother to marry him. Any kind of story can be told in a way that it might sound romantic, or funny, or silly...when that isn’t the reality. 

It’s actually a bit of clever storytelling to take Romantic Lucas and turn the idea almost upside-down. Whether his parents were actually in love or not doesn’t matter (yet); he feels that something he believed in his whole life, something he’s wanted his whole life for himself...isn’t even real. Worse, I think, he had that long conversation with Elizabeth about his parents and how lovely things were there, and...she finds out first that it might have just been...something he made of the situation. 

And then... Elizabeth tells Lucas that love needs to be fought for. First of all, she told Helen it needed TO BE NURTURED and an a language nerd I’m a little annoyed that she used a different word with Lucas because...they aren’t the same thing. Nurturing is a tender sort of care, encouragement, growth. Fighting for love is a different beast.

But I still appreciated Lucas’s cool, irritated (frustrated?) response back. “What do you know about it?”

It’s a fair question. Who is she to give advice like that to Helen? I mean, objectively it’s good advice, but she hasn’t lifted a finger to fight for Lucas OR Nathan, and both men know it. She hasn’t worked to nurture her relationship with either of them. 

The only thing cruel about his response is the time and place of saying it, but like...it’s honest.

If she doesn’t love either man, she needs to say so. She needs to be honest. If she loves Lucas she needs to tell him. She needs to reach out first. If she loves Nathan she needs to tell him. She needs to reach out.

She’s making both of these men do all the work. They both have to be the ones to reach out. Over and over and over while she does the bare minimum to encourage them enough to keep trying. 

And the thing is, they’ve both been incredibly patient, certainly due to her situation. But their patience means she needs to be the one to reach out.

And she hasn’t. She won’t.

Fight for love? Nurture love? Please. What do you know about it, Elizabeth? 

--

I’m really curious to see where they’re going to go with this. I hope they give Elizabeth and someone else a good talk about it. Maybe Clara would be a good choice... Or she could ask Rosemary for her HONEST opinion so that Rosie can give it.

Very much looking forward to the next episode!

[ohmy7hearts]

i don't need protection but you have to know everyone lies

when the sky kisses the earth: 3

"I don't get why you're so attached to him."

"I'm-"

"The way I see it he's a suicidal bastard who doesn't know shit about the world."

"Jean-"

"I mean, okay boy, go ahead and join the survey corps but stop going around and preaching about you wanting to kill all titans. It's so presumptuous."

You sigh, forehead planted on the palm of your hand, as you stared at the bread in your hand. No thoughts, head empty. 

"Huh? At least I have a goal in my life. What the hell are you even living for?" Eren growled from behind you. You sat up straight, glancing behind at him - teeth gritting and fists clenched. "And as far as I'm concerned, she can hang around anyone she wants. Or is your insecurity talking and you're so afraid that the people you call friends will leave you for your shitty attitude."

Eyes widening to saucers, you leaped up from your seat, a direct and literal intervention between the two before Jean retorts and it spiralled again. "Enough."

Eren's eyes rolled to you, taking in the annoyance etched onto your features, and he huffed. You pulled Eren out of the cafeteria by his arm and he followed albeit reluctantly. 

"Oi!" The scrapping of chairs and his foot stomping after you two halted when Marco tried to placate him. 

You slammed the door shut. In the dim light of the oil lantern, his eyes shine like that of a predator with fire reflected off the green panes of his eyes, watching your every move and unmoving, unblinking. 

"You have to stop doing that." He raised an eyebrow at that and you could see, predicted down to the letters, of the words on the tip of his tongue propelled by the anger coursing through his veins. "I know. He started it but you don't always have to entertain him."

Eyebrows scrunching, he muttered, "Huh?" He took a step back, did a deliberate analysis from your head to your toe and back up across your folded arms and into your eyes, glaring daggers at him. "How can you stand him? He called me presumptuous but he's worse! And-and he talks as if you're some kind of inanimate object that belongs to him! So what if you hang around me? What is his problem?"

You grabbed his arm, ceasing his pacing away and back to you with arms gesturing wildly to shake off the energy bubbling underneath his skin, and forced his attention to you. "I can handle Jean. You don't have to get angry on my behalf over something you don't understand."

He squinted at you, eyes blazing with unbridled anger, "Whatever is going on between the two of you doesn't give him the rights to talk about you like that."

"He doesn't talk about me like in any way you think he is." Exasperated, you raised your voice in tandem to the racing heart lodged in your ear and all you could hear is the blood rushing as fast as the memories flashed past your mind. You jumped before he could say a thing. "Stop finding reasons to fuel the ego war you and Jean are having. I'm fine with the way things are." You let go of his arms, taking one last glance at him - features softening to one teetering between confusion and defensiveness - and stormed back to the girls' quarters. 

In the company of the night, your memories and thoughts consumed you. Heart brimming with emotions that you couldn't pinpoint. Most of them lie in the realm of melancholy and you grunted in annoyance when the sound of falling footsteps sounded in crescendo after you. 

"Please, just leave me be."

"I just want to apologise." Jean replied. 

You swung back. Air caught in your throat when his passive face stared back at you. You blinked. "For what?"

He sighed, eyes flitting sideways as if his thoughts were painted in the shadows. "The way I try to intervene between you and Eren."

Your eyebrows shot up before furrowing then you shut your eyes and faced the sky, hands rubbing at your lids. "Jean-"

"No listen, please." Releasing a deep sigh, you looked back at him, eyes gleaming in an otherworldly fashion because that is not the Jean you know especially when his lips flattened to a frown in the manner he was doing at the moment. You pursed your lips. "You don't have to stick by me just because my mother saved you or that we took you in. You're not obliged to do anything for me or with me just because you feel like you owe my family something." He fidgeted. "And I'm sorry if I ever step out of my boundaries as a br-friend."

You frowned. He broke the eye contact and he left before you could fully comprehend what he said, mind set on drawing that boundary line and setting the distance. You groaned. Boys.

You chased him and with a calculated timing and location, you swung one leg around and hit the jackpot. 

"WHAT THE HELL?" Jean whirled to face you, ire curling around him like a snake as he spat out at you. 

"You're being an idiot."

His eye twitched at your blase reply. "I told you to stop doing that!"

"Then stop being an idiot." You rolled your eyes, pivoting on your feet and walking to the destination in mind. "Come on idiot, let's go."

He released a disgruntled scream, rubbing his ass, but followed you nonetheless, stomping after you to show his displeasure. 

"You're such an idiot you know?" You huffed, arms clutching the basket with the breads, and stubbornly facing forward instead of him. 

"Huh? You're the idiot. How can you just let someone talk to you like that." He clicked his tongue, hands shoved into his pants and eyes glaring at any lingering eyes, trudging after you. "You can't even protect yourself."

You swiveled back to him, eyes hardening and lips curled into a snarl. "I'm not some girl you have to protect Jean-boy. And even of I do need protecting, it won't be you because you're the biggest dumb dumb I know who always get in trouble and are always always always the one who needs protecting." You stomped your foot as the gavel to your conversation and huffed one last time as confirmation. 

You continued your trek home. Your supposed 10 minute errand has stretched to include a stupid 20 minute waste of time thanks to Jean. Why did he insist so much on coming along anyways? He never helped to carry things nor did he make your life easier in any way. You huffed in irritation. 

"You'll see."

You peered over your shoulder. Jean was pouting that's for certain - that usual sideway glance along with his clenched fist and rigid form as a defense mechanism in literal form. 

"I'll be part of the military police and I'll be able to protect anyone."

You blinked once, then twice, and you nodded, humming in agreement. "Good luck with that."

He recoiled, eyes blinking rapidly to assure himself it's reality. He ran after your disappearing form, "is that all you have to say? I thought you wanted to join the army too!"

You looked at his inquisitive face by your side, "yeah, but I don't know which regiment to join."

He blanched, "don't tell me the scouting regiment."

"My brother's in that!" You countered, eyes squinting at him; face blanking and eyes hollow, muttering, "right."

Your heartstring tugged, did you say something wrong? "Jean?"

He shook his head, legs stretching out further and the next thing you knew you were trying to keep up with him. Through the huffs and puffs you're exhaling and the thundering beating of your heart in your ears, you called out to him. 

"If you want to be part of the scouting regiment, you should keep up or you'll be titans' food." Your blood froze and your heart fell to your stomach, he never spoke to me like that and you felt like you've committed a great sin. 

"We're going to get in trouble." He spoke, breaking the silence, eyes squinted at you through the darkness. 

"So you're coming or not?" You tilted your head at him, more of a challenge than a question. He gave you a face before passing you and walking into the watchtower. 

"What's your fascination with Eren anyways?" He leaned on the railings and you following suit - arms touching in an attempt to mess with him - but he didn't say anything, merely looking out at the mess of cadets migrating back to their quarters. 

You mulled over your thoughts, "it's not fascination. More like admiration."

A second passed. He swiveled his head to you, features morphing into an ugly scowl. "You get to pine over Mikasa and I can't even have an eye candy? My, my Jean-boy, how selfish."

There were a myriad of thoughts which pass through his head, reflected by his ever-changing features, but he spoke none into existence and choosing to huff in indignation. 

"Imagine that Jean! You and Mikasa, me and Eren. An unstoppable quartet. How sweet." You teased, looping an arm around his and poking his cheek with the other.

He grimaced before it fell. "We're already enough as it is."

Heart leaping, you ducked your head forward, itching to get a closer look at his face. "Yeah, of course. We're the stronger duo together."

He raised an eyebrow, eyes shifting to find yours and his gaze burnt into your mind; you prayed that your face is not as transparent as his. Heart squeezing and your mind filled with voices screaming over one another, you muttered, "realistically speaking, I can't beat Mikasa though. And I have to get to the top 10 to get into military police."

"Don't get any ideas." His voice has been the softest it has been throughout the night but his conviction peaked and you faltered, but gained your strength a second later - hopefully fast enough that he can't prod at it. 

You laughed, voice carried over by the wind away from you two and hopefully your hidden promise along with it, "who'll take care of you if I'm not there?"