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luverofralts · 5 months

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"Still? When's this going to be over?" Adrienne shouted at the cards on the floor. It was nearly Winterfest, which meant that it was time for the Helios family birthday party. Noelle, Adrienne, and Luciana all had the same birthday and their grandparents wanted to celebrate it the most economical way possible. By combining the three birthdays into one party, Elaine saved time and money. It also usually meant that her children wouldn't feel obligated to show up at her house on Winterfest itself. The less time she had to spend with Nathan and whoever he was bringing home that day, the better.

Theo had absolutely no interest in answering Roman. Instead, he and Adam were texting, since Theo had been unable to ditch the family event. They'd been texting non-stop about all the interesting things Adam was going to do with his own family on the school break. Adam was going snowboarding, and shopping in the high-end magical stores while Theo watched his little sisters blow out candles and his father argue with his siblings for an entire afternoon. They wouldn't get to see each other until after Winterfest, which felt like an eternity. How was he supposed to manage without Adam for so long?

"Theo? Can you help your father set up the living room? He needs a second pair of hands."

"Theo! Now. Go help your father. When you're done, you can come help me make dinner in the kitchen."

"I don't get it!" Adrienne shrieked, shouting at the unresponsive deck of tarot cards on the floor. "They can't just show up here, I told them that! Victoriana is supposed to know and then they come. They'll mess up everything!"

"Rien, put your cards away. Just because it's your birthday doesn’t mean that you can shut yourself away with them. Go celebrate with your sister and cousin. Make a friend, I don't care who. Please, Rien, please."

"Yes, Dad," Adrienne sighed. "But-but it's important that I see what's coming. There are huge plans in motion that-"

"Give me the cards," Roman snapped, cutting his daughter off before she could mumble strange prophecies again. "You're not getting these back for at least a week. No one can accurately predict the future, and even if you could, what's the point if you're not living it? Let whatever happens happen and we'll deal with it then."

"But Dad-"

"Now it's two weeks," Roman declared, glowering in the direction of his son. "Theo! Get off your ass now and help your father or Adam won't be allowed to come over for three months. Now mister, go."

Theo grudgingly stood, no doubt telling Adam how cruel his parents were via text. Roman didn't care what the teenagers thought of him, so long as it got Theo off the couch and helping his family set up.

Elaine passed her youngest son in the hall, deliberately avoiding him as best she could. The last thing she needed was to deal with Nathan's drama while the Bellamys undoubtedly brought enough of their own drama for the day.

"Ugh, Kaeileen is obsessed with me," Nathan grumbled, scrolling through his messages. "'Your child support didn't come in this month, why haven't you signed the form for Naethan's school trip?' Doesn't she have anything better to do with her time than bother me?"

"Happy birthday!" Luciana exclaimed, hugging her grumpy cousin. "What's wrong? We're getting presents and cake today."

"I don't want to talk about it," Noelle replied. "You wouldn't understand. Your parents care about you."

"Oh, what did Aunt Lucy do now?" Luciana asked. "Dad hasn't yelled about her for a long time. Did she get an important case? Is she suing the school so we get a longer break?"

"No, none of that. I found out who my other mom is and...and I can't talk about it."

"Okay!" Luciana chirped, ignoring her cousin's moodiness. Today was still going to be awesome even if Noelle was grumpy. Cake and presents always made things better. "Have you seen the presents on the present table? There's so many of them!"

"I don't care," Noelle sighed dramatically. "It's our birthday and I'll never see my other mother here. I've been abandoned. No one wants me."

"I can get you some pretzels," Luciana offered. She didn't have the focus today to put up with her stepcousin's drama. "Dad hasn't got the desserts out yet, but there are pretzels."

"Hard or soft pretzels?" Noelle asked. "I love the soft ones that just came out of the oven."

"Both," Luciana replied cheerfully. "You know my dad doesn't skimp on anything. Let's go find some before dinner. It'll be fun."

Noelle paused for a moment and considered her options. Her absent mother wasn't a priority to anyone else, and the one mother she did have in her life was completely distracted with her attention seeking behavior. No one wanted to listen to Noelle, so she might as well join her friend for a birthday pretzel.

"Hey, how are things going? Busy? I'm pretty busy. I don't get back to Arkhelios as often as i should," Nicholas said.

His old friend and stepbrother, Nathan, had been erratic their entire lives and didn't often call Nicholas to hang out, so this was probably the only time they'd see each other for a while. From what Nicholas understood, Nathan spent his life jumping from job to job, country to country. He spent days with royalty in Crystal Cove and then weeks hanging out with a vampire coven in Strangetown. Anything to avoid the typical life his mother wanted for him. Anything to avoid paying child support to Kaeileen, not that he held a steady enough job for her to collect from. He had Gareth and his boys for the length of the party, after which, Naethan would be returned to his mother and Gareth and Garth would return with him home, until Nathan had another impulse to disappear again. It wasn't exactly parent or partner of the year behaviour, but no one fought Nathan on it. He always came back, didn't he?

"Yeah, things are busy," Nathan replied dismissively. "I travel a lot, do a little work here and there. I can't complain. You're still where? Strangetown, right? You fled one desert for another. At least they have good clubs there."

Nicholas shrugged.

"I guess so. I wouldn't know, we're expecting our first child soon. All I've been doing is fixing the nursery and reading book after book. It's the greatest thing to ever happen to us. We're so excited."

"Eh, I guess," Nathan replied, rolling his eyes. "They're expensive and whiny too. Don't have too many."

"I can see why Gareth keeps you around," Nicholas remarked. "You're such a romantic."

"Oh, Gareth! Good to see you."

Abe waved to his ex and Nathan's fiancé as he walked down the hall.

"Hey Abe! How's the birthday girls? Excited for their party?"

Abe paused to consider his answer. Noelle had been sulking all day while glaring daggers at her mother and Rien was busy crying on the stairs because Roman took her tarot cards. Luciana at least was running around, shoving food in her mouth and laughing. At least one of the kids seemed to be enjoying the party.

"You know those three, always off doing something," he settled on. "God only knows what Theo's up to too. He's spent the whole morning texting and now I can't find him. He's supposed to be in the kitchen helping, but I can guess what he's actually doing. Just wait until your boys are teenagers; everything you ask of them will suddenly be the end of the world."

Gareth smiled politely.

"I can imagine. Is...uh, is Roman here too? He'd not like, running errands or anything?"

Abe cringed, remembering the first time Nathan had brought Gareth to the family house and how Roman had lost his mind threatening him for having slept with Abe a few times in college. Roman had been better with prolonged exposure to the man and the fact that Gareth was now engaged to Nathan. There was still hostility when Roman went anywhere near Gareth, but Gareth believed that there would be large consequences if Roman threatened him again. He'd lost Elaine's automatic support from his affair with Ulyssa, and Lucy tried not to indulge in petty pranks when her high profile wife was nearby. With all that protecting him, Gareth had downgraded the threat Roman posed enough to just be nervous of the man.

"Roman's in the kitchen, or he will be once he hunts down our son," Abe assured him. I doubt that you'll see him until dinner."

"Gareth? Gareth! Did you send Kaeileen money yesterday? My account is mysteriously missing the amount she wanted. I told you, Mom's going to draft something to get her off our backs."

"Sorry, I should talk with him," Gareth apologized. "He doesn't understand that child support is not optional, and that his mother can't just make his responsibilities go away."

"Yeah, of course," Abe said, watching Gareth storm off to yell at his partner.

He had no idea how Gareth tolerated Nathan. He was Abe's little brother and Abe couldn't stand to be in a room with him for more than ten minutes.

Naethan and Garth were well behaved, unlike their father. They were only half siblings, but they seemed to be inseparable and weren't too impacted by their shared father's inability to be a functioning adult. Abe didn't see them often, as he didn't willingly spend any time near his brother, but it looked like Gareth and Kaeileen's parenting was making up for Nathan's.

Elaine scoured the living room for her missing grandson. Roman was getting pissed off in the kitchen with Ironman, which made Elaine pissed off that her first grandson, with at least some of her DNA in him, was being a lazy slacker. For all the money she helped his parents pay to his fancy school, Theo certainly hadn't been taught manners or responsibility.

"Theodosius Bellamy, you come here this instant. You have been summoned to help with dinner, and if you don't get in there in the next three minutes, there will be consequences. Ironman knows how to block cell reception and take down the wifi network. It'd be a shame if you couldn't call anyone, wouldn't it?"

"God, I have to go, Adam, my bitch grandma is yelling at me for some reason. Yeah, I know. I miss you too. I'll try calling you later."

On his way to the kitchen, Theo's eyes spotted his grandmother's new karaoke machine in the living room. He loved to sing and play guitar, and it was there for the party guests to use, right? One little song wo wuldn't be the end of the world before he was trapped, cutting onions and peppers with his father.

He scanned a few songs in the catalog, while Noelle was already prematurely booing his future performance.

"Boooo! No one wants to hear you sing, leave the machine for the people with talent!" Noelle called out. Teasing Theo was almost too easy, but it helped ease the hurt she felt when she thought of her mothers.

Theo glared back at her, completely unshaken. It would take a lot more than heckling to rattle him. He could be just as petty as her.

"Her name is Noelle, I have a dream about her," Theo sang, making sure that his voice was extra obnoxious for his cousin. "Something something, I've got gym class in half an hour."

"Shut up already!" Noelle shouted, stamping her feet. "It's my birthday, and I'm sick of that stupid song everyone thinks is funny. There are other songs with Noelle in them! You're stupid! This whole party is stupid! Don't make me break your stuff. I'm still a kid, no one will blame me."

"THEODOSIUS ULYSSES BELLAMY. Get in the kitchen now, or I swear to god-"

"Coming," Theo groaned, putting the microphone away angrily. "This whole party sucks. I wish I were with Adam. His parents would never make me help with dinner."

#sims 2 #arkhelios #roman bellamy #abe chun #sim: theo bellamy #lucy chun #elaine helios #noelle helios #sim: noelle helios #luciana bellamy #Adrienne Bellamy #nathan chun #nickolas fontana #theo bellamy #arkhelios adventures

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omgkalyppso · 4 months

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sylvix 8 14 and 16 bc the ship meme popped up on my dash again :)

\(￣︶￣*\) I appreciate you! Thank you for the ask.

8. Do they have any children? If so, do these children predate the relationship or are they a result of the relationship (whether through birth or adoption or otherwise)? Does any partner excel in their child-rearing? If so, is this because of education, experience or instinct?

Picrew 1. Picrew 2. Picrew 3.

I never really explored a lot of my oc Fae's post-canon world publicly, but Sylvix are together there and it was my headcanon that trans Felix would not be comfortable carrying a child to term, and so they adopt Elspeth. There were already so many Faerghan redheads, that I didn't feel bad about going that route with her design.

I've seen a few people headcanon Miklan a child that they adopt, and have sometimes played with the idea that she's that, but otherwise her origin isn't angsty. Happily chosen by her parents in an orphanage because she was scrappy and because her hair reminded Felix of Sylvain's. A brighter, quieter swordsman than Felix was in his youth, who still manages to remind people of him somehow. A Fraldarius in every way.

She's adopted between five and seven, so they miss some of the younger years and milestones, but are around for her to be young enough that she still mimics some of Sylvain's exaggerated / flirtatious smiles, that she still requires a basic education besides one that would be specifically required for people of their rank, that other discoveries and heartbreaks and illnesses are still a new and delicate thing.

Felix is better with making Elspeth feel better after an injury, or handling colds and impatience and distraction. Sylvain is more approachable with emotional conversations, but I don't think he's the best at them or that he'd want to have them without Felix present so Elspeth has to deal with both of her parents talking about her insecurities and desires almost like strategy. Ultimately it works because Felix and Sylvain are mature and kind-hearted and attentive to their daughter, but it's definitely unconventional.

They're always trying to pull each other closer. A whole family with a concern of living up to deserving one another.

Picrews 4&5. Other ot5 kids here.

I also want to add that she's at the Officer's Academy at the same time as two of my ot5 kids: (Hilda and Lorenz's youngest) Baldovin or Vinnie, and (Fae and Claude's only daughter) Sadaf. Vinnie and Sadaf, despite having different birth parents, near consider each other twins. Born only a few months apart and raised together by parents who were involved with one another, they're very familial at least, and the best of friends.

I wouldn't say I ship any of my next gen (with the specific exception of a merciedue fankid and an ot5 child), because I've not really invested in them as teens / adults the way that I've invested in them being children, but I like Elspeth developing a crush on Vinnie, and friends with both of them.

Baldovin is nothing like very little like Lorenz in temperament, unlike his elder siblings. He's loud. He's boistrous. He's short as a Goneril. Here's another paragraph about him from this post:

Baldovin (minor Crest of Goneril: Sometimes allows combat arts to prevent enemy counterattacks.) is a fortress knight. A slow, sturdy wall of armor. Lives to defend, and tries to incapacitate. Sympathy for his enemies. Feels like attacking marching units while mounted on either wyvern or horseback is unfair to man and animal, and thus only uses mounts to get from point A to point B. Crest nonsense: WILL wrestle your wyvern for fun, and enjoys the shock in how their necks rear back when his Crest allows him to pin their chin down while their wings struggle (squish that cat).

I also feel obligated to mention that in Fae's canon / post-canon, Sylvain joined the Golden Deer, and Dimitri survived Gronder but did not end up ruling as king. I have a few dimimari fics about where that left him, but they aren't fully transparent that Felix also remains his best friend.

14. How often does each partner cry? How do their partners engage or react to the differences in emotion between themselves and their partner(s)?

I think that while Felix did grow out of crying as often as he did as a child, that Sylvain cries a lot and unfortunately for Felix, it becomes more and more likely that seeing Sylvain in tears makes him cry also. Felix puts in so much effort post-canon in his relationship to Sylvain (among his platonic relationships to others), so that they can have harder conversations and feel better — and not simply awkward, after vulnerabilities are shared. It surprises Sylvain how bad he, himself, is at communicating, but it becomes more obvious through Felix's growth and efforts. They still have time to be young men together, and Sylvain also improves at giving tears their space, whether from sadness or otherwise.

16. If prompted to describe what love and / or acceptance feels like in their relationship, what sort of answer would each partner give? If this is not their honest answer, what would be the true answer for them?

Felix would say it feels like coming home. Like having a place to rest and not have to worry about being anything but you are.

Sylvain would say it feels like a warm fire after ages in the cold, like something you want to throw yourself into to recover from the chill, but that you have to wait for and tend and appreciate for it to steadily warm you.

#long post #sylvix #fire emblem #fire emblem three houses #ask to tag #oc tag: elspeth

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absentlyabbie · 1 year

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i feel like we have given good, healthy air time to the relationship variations between parents and children (close, distant, abusive, complicated) and how it is okay to not feel about that dynamic the way everyone seems to suggest You Are Supposed To, but like...

kinda think we could stand to do that a little more for sibling relationships tbh. you see a lot of very broadly applied sentiments about how no one will be there for you like your siblings and no one will want to kill you like your siblings, or siblings having secret languages and having your back against others only to gleefully stab it at home.

but sometimes you are just Not Like That with your siblings. sometimes you're not very close, or don't understand each other, you don't share interests, or you had wildly disparate experiences growing up in the same house in a way that is difficult to impossible to bridge.

sometimes your siblings are horrible and you don't have to like them, and you don't have to keep letting them come back and try again. sometimes siblings are abusive to one another, hurtful to the point of scarring instead of healing.

it's okay to not feel about them the way it always seems You're Supposed To.

when we push back against the too-often damaging nonsense that is "but family is family", i think we could do better to remember and make room for that not just being relationships between parents and children, but between siblings and other family relationships too.

there's nothing wrong with you, if you don't feel close to your siblings, if you can't relate to the fond posts with tongue-in-cheek threats and teasing aggravation. you're not obligated to manufacture or even pretend that sort of bond if it doesn't exist or has been broken.

you are not the only one on the outside of a warmer world that everyone but you inherently understands. and the ones inside that world could sometimes stand to remember that those doors are closed (or barricaded shut) for others, and that it's no personal flaw, failing, or grotesque strangeness that you've not had the same experiences they have.

#i have two siblings #a sister who is older by 2.5 years who couldn't stand me from my literal birth #and to whom i no longer speak after years of trying to build a relationship with her when having a sister suddenly sounded nice to her #and a brother almost 6 years younger with whom i was close when younger #but became more distant from from his late teens to very recently when he went further right than i could reason with or weather #(he's learned a lot as an adult and we've had several good conversations and i have hope)#but with neither one of them have i ever had much of that dynamic you so often see talked about #as if it's universally understood by all siblings #and it took some time and work to stop feeling guilty or alone or broken somehow that i couldn't relate despite having 2

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liptonsbabe · 3 years

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Chains of a family [B.W]

Bill Weasley x Grant! Reader

Chapter 1, Chapter 2

Summary: Molly knows about the reader’s relatives and she’s not so sure to put her trust in a girl that had just betrayed her own family

Word count: 1.9K

Warnings: Swearing

A/N: Hi! i’m so happy that you guys liked this thing! thank you so much for your support and, again, if you want to keep reading this let me know. Same note as ever, english not my mother language, so tell me if something’s is wrong.

Chapter 2: Not your family

The next morning turned out to be quieter than you imagined.

You slowly got out of bed and looked at everything around you noticing how quaint Bill's old room was. The ceiling was lined with grainy wallpaper with stacks of photographs of Quidditch players hanging from the reeds that moved from side to side, simulating the playing field; the right side of the room had a huge hole behind the small stool that tried to hide it, and from that hole a small garden gnome was sleeping peacefully with a small piece of cloth on top of his head. You stood up, walking towards the huge window that gave you a beautiful view of the Weasley's garden that at that moment was covered by a thin layer of drizzle that had fallen during the night.

Molly's fruit trees gleamed under the faint rays of the sun and you saw how a doxy from between the leaves poisoned Mrs. Weasley's apples, causing them to fall from the tree branches in a thick black mass with a foul smell coming out of it. You shook your head, excited to witness a very different way to wake up.

Even though several minutes have passed since you woke up, the house continued to remain in a strange silence that made you think that the family had decided to leave the burrow with the intention of buying more supplies or something like that. You knew that Bill wasn’t at home precisely for his obligations within the Order, so you didn’t worry about looking for him around the room, so you decided that a better option was going down to the dining room and know what was happening.

As you went down the spiral staircase, you cursed in a whisper when you forgot to put on your slippers before leaving the bedroom cause the floor was so cold that you slipped a couple of times. Back in the days, when you were still welcome in your parents' house, you had many servants who did all the things for you - putting on your shoes as soon as you woke up was one of those things - but now that your life had changed so much, you assumed that you would have to adapt and start taking care of your own needs.

Your curious eyes roamed the walls covered in family photos that caused a big warmth in your chest. In each of those photographs, all of Molly's children appeared along with their father, smiling for the camera and sending effusive greetings. A pic was hanging at the fireplace were Molly and Arthur were carrying a small white bundle crying his lungs out. You assumed it was Bill as his parents seemed too young back then and even as a small baby, you could recognize those tantrum features anywhere.

A giggle escaped your lips when you noticed a funny sequence from that same photo in which, even with Bill crying in his mother's arms, his father tried to carry him for a moment to calm him down, however the baby's cries didn’t stop. The baby was so annoyed that he ended throwing up the milk ration that he must have had before the photo session on his father's neat shirt.

You laughed because you knew that William's impertinence was something he had carried with him for several years now.

"Bill hates those photos." You jumped in your place scared to see Molly standing behind you. Your cheeks turned red “He says that it’s embarassing but i think that’s nonsense. He was an adorable baby”

"he was," you answered, looking anywhere but into Molly's shrewd eyes. "but I guess displaying them in the fireplace isn’t the right thing to do."

“Is it not?

"No, they should be at the front door where everyone can see them”

Molly giggled as you watched the sequence of photos over and over again. A silence settled between you, but surprisingly it was not an awkward silence, but one that was allowing you to create a bond that neither of you expected. Mrs. Weaslsey brought up a rag, wiping it around the corners of the photo from the dust.

"Arthur and I had to save up for months to take those pictures," she mentioned wistfully, "we just had Bill and it seemed like a good idea to welcome him into our family with a gesture like that. Arthur was new in the ministry and wasn't earning too much, but we had that quirk and decided we could afford to skip certain things to pay for the pictures. It cost us ten galleons and it still took us four months to gather them”

“Oh” You didn't know what to say, but you just kept looking at the photograph feeling a bit uncomfortable. You never had those problems at home because your family was insanelly rich thanks to the inheritance in life that your grandfather Tim had left to his son and later to his grandchildren. Even the descendants of your grandfather's servants came to work in your house, reason enough for you and your siblings to grow up with no sense of responsibility other than your own wishes. Molly sighed remembering those times when life seemed to be easier.

"So when Bill asked me to remove it from the fireplace, I refused. He doesn't know how hard it was to raise that money, but I think he has nothing to be ashamed of, he was too adorable!

"I don't doubt it for a second, Mrs. Weasley."

"You can call me Molly," she said, walking back to the kitchen where you continued watching the way the pans moved back and forth preparing breakfast. You were not very good at cooking - in fact, you had never cooked before- however, that didn’t stop you from offering your help. So you took a pan, placed it on the stove, and decided that you would find a way to make a good mountain of strawberry-filled pancakes just like your dear nanny did. Molly observed you carefully. "I think that now that you are living with us it is appropriate to have a more cordial treatment.My son told me a lot about you”

“Just the good things, i hope”

“Kind of” You stopped mixing ingredients to look at her carefully” He told us a bunch of marvelous things about you and how you two met. Actually, what worries me the most is what he didn’t tell us”

And there was the recrimination you were waiting for. You were aware that it had to arrive sooner or later, however, you would have been grateful that it did it when Bill were by your side to give you the opportunity to defend yourself properly. You cleared your throat uncomfortably, knowing that what Molly needed to hear from your own lips was which family you came from. You continued your task with the pancakes, turning out as bad as you expected.

"I'm sorry it turned out this way, Mrs. Weasley."

"Molly," he corrected.

"Molly" you smiled slowly "But believe me when I tell you that it was me who asked William not to mention anything about my last name or where I come from. I know that in this case, with the war above our heads, it is necessary to be certain of the people who enter your family and I apologize for that, it's just ... Bill is very important to me” Molly's eyes narrowed “Since we met ... I have found a home in him and well, all that feels when someone is in love. "Mrs. Weasley shook her head, understanding the feeling." I have experienced the rejection before. When people know that Tom Riddle is my family ... they run away in fear, curse my family and even walk away from us, as if sharing a blood bond makes us as evil as he is.

“And it’s not like that?” Molly asked with a hand on her neck. She didn’t want to be like the others and judge you without knowing the full story, just as she had promised Bill the night before that she would, but it was so difficult not to remember the death of his brothers by Voldemort’s hands and to pretend nothing had happened in the past. You sighed because the eggs you cracked on the bowl got mixed with their own shell “ I've heard of the Grants before, they're all Death Eaters, including your siblings!”

“It is difficult to have to choose a side when you don’t have your own convictions”

"And you have it?"

You looked at Molly in pain. Of course you expected those reactions from Bill's mother, she was within her right to be upset that her oldest son never told her that he was in a relationship with a girl who seemed to have the most fucking powerful and evil wizard in the world as a great-uncle. No, Molly wasn't mad, she was deadly angry, she felt like she was bursting!

Her hands became fists and without knowing how, you found yourself between the wall and Molly's big arms from one second to the other. The pancake batter was forgotten, as was the woman's promise to treat her son's girlfriend in a good way.

"How is it possible ..." Molly questioned in an agitated voice, pressing your arms against the wall, "... that a single deer leaves the nature of its own herd?" How can you ensure that one rotten apple even in a gold container doesn’t rot the others?”Your breath caught at the questions of the woman in front of you. Once again, you were aware that your presence wouldn’t be good news to them, but at least you hoped they understood your motives before judging you “Explain to me, (Y/ N) Grant, when have you seen a pig away from his equals?”

Your words caught in your throat at Molly's fierce question. Bill had talked a lot about the temper of his mother. Even if she could be really grumpy at times, she was in general a very sweet, pleasant and maternal woman with everyone; however, you didn’t fit into that generality because it seemed that the woman was determined to kill you with her own hands.

"If my presence bothers you so much, then you shouldn't have let Bill and I to stay here."

“He's my son! All I want for him is to be happy, and that's why I don't understand what he managed to see in you”

"Maybe the same thing you saw in your husband." Molly's lips twitched in anger, but you didn't stop. You hoped that she would at least understand what your words meant, because that would make it easier for both of you to try at least get along better, even if Molly seemed not to want to do it under any circumstances. How is it that this haughty little girl dared to compare herself with her dear and wonderful husband? "I'm sorry, but I don't think this conversation is going to take us anywhere."

"If someone betrays his own family ..." Molly stopped you before you walked out the front door. The others got down the stairs, seeing the scandal formed in the kitchen “The rest of us can't expect too much, can we?

Your eyes blured.

#bill weasley #bill weasley imagines #bill weasley x reader #harry potter imagine #domhnall gleeson imagine #domhnall gleeson #harry potter #fred weasley imagines #weasley

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angellesword · 3 years

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MAGIC SHOP | JJK (13)

Description: You and Jungkook were best friends who were in love with each other. What would happen when Soojin, your half sister who you’re trying to impress, told you she’s in love with Jungkook too?

Alternatively:

“Would you believe me if I said that I was scared of everything too?”

Pairing: Architect!Jungkook x Architect!Reader

Genre: childhood best friends to lovers, family drama, angst, fluff, idiots to lovers, pining, slice of life au.

Warnings: mention of infidelity, leading to insecurity (poor Sin-ae.) manipulation, cursing, unrealistic BOD meeting lmao

Chapter’s OST: Fight Song by Rachel Platten

Word Count: 5.1k

Series: CHAPTER 12 | CHAPTER 14

It goes without saying that one should either stay away or fight those things that destroyed them.

It was long overdue and you knew it. You shouldn't have let the Kims treated you like garbage. You should've fought them the first time they violated your peace.

But no. You did none of these because for the longest time, you felt like you owed them. You felt like you had ruined their perfect family so now you were required to pay for it.

It was like you were your father's souvenir from a long trip of fucking around. A memento that reminded Sin-ae and your siblings that Taemin betrayed them.

All souvenirs had limits too though. Over time, they started to deteriorate. You felt like this was happening to you. You were no longer that pretty little thing that did whatever the Kims wanted.

You had enough; however, it didn't mean it hurt any less.

"Hey, are you okay?" You heard your name being called. You felt his hand on the small of your back before you saw his face. He was keeping you steady in place.

"Huh? Um—" You tilted your head, meeting the gaze of the person who saved you from collapsing. "Architect Jung?"

You blinked at your former co-worker, making sure that you got his name right. You hadn't seen him in years. What if you remembered his face wrong? What if he's not Jung Hoseok, the only architect in this firm who Jungkook adored?

You remembered from years ago when Jungkook pouted all day because Architect Jung announced that he would be quitting his job soon. If you remembered it correctly, your best friend even shed a tear. He really liked this mentioned architect.

Luckily, Hoseok didn't push through the resignation. Until now, he was still working at Castle. All you knew was that he didn't like working on site. He preferred guiding junior architects and working in the office.

This was why it didn't come as a surprise to you to run into him today. You were simply curious if he was really the Hoseok you knew from years ago.

He looked different. His hair was longer and his gaze was dark. The Hoseok you knew always smiled bright. What changed?

"You don't look okay. Maybe we should sit first?" Hoseok guided you towards his office room.

You took a seat on the couch, watching as Hoseok strode towards his mini fridge to get a bottle of water.

"Here..." He handed it to you after opening its cap. "Can I get you anything else?"

Hoseok sounded like a concerned big brother. There's a warm feeling in your chest because of the way he looked at you. It's as if he truly cared about your well-being.

"No. This is fine. Thank you, Architect Jung." You smiled politely at him. Sometimes you forgot that some people could show you kindness without having an ulterior motive. "You already helped me a lot. I'll probably collapsed on the floor if you didn't catch me."

You chuckled lightly. You were confused, guilty, and hurting. These mixed emotions were probably the reason why you felt like you were going to faint. You walked out of Taemin's office right after telling the Kims that you should see one another in court if they had concerns about your father's last will and testament.

You left instantly because you didn't trust yourself. What if you said the wrong things and made the situation so much worse? A part of you knew you deserved to inherit a portion of Taemin's assets despite being an illegitimate child. On the other hand, you felt like you were being unfair to your siblings for thinking this way. You took so much from them already. Wasn't it enough that you succeeded in breaking their family apart?

"Are you eating well?" Hoseok asked with concerned eyes. He was currently sitting on the couch right across you.

Architect Jung's office was spacious. It was bigger and comfier than Jungkook's space here at Castle. You wondered if it was because of his position or if it had something to do with his relationship with your father.

Your father always brought Architect Jung and Jeon with him whenever he had meetings outside Korea. The three of them were pretty close. Years ago, you actually heard Seokjin and Taemin fighting.

Your eldest brother was demanding to know why Taemin preferred the company of Hoseok and Jungkook more than his own sons. Your father was quick to defend himself, saying that Hoseok and Jungkook were architects and one of them could be his successor—the one who could help continue his legacy—unlike him and Namjoon who chose a different path.

Seokjin was wrong to drop the argument after that. He should've dug deeper. He should've questioned his father and exposed his secret.

You were not the only illegitimate child of Taemin. Hoseok was too. You found out about it on a very underwhelming day: today.

"Or are you still sulking because you didn't get to attend our father's funeral?"

You realized that some people could say mean things easily. Hoseok didn't know that his words hurt you, making you feel like you didn't have the right to feel sad about not seeing your father for the last time.

But that's not your concern at the moment. You squinted, like you're trying to see if Hoseok grew two heads.

What did he just say? Our father? Did you hear him right or were you just too emotionally drained to be conversing with other people right now?

"You get overwhelmed easily, my dear sister." Architect Jung observed with a thoughtful gaze.

You were still too stunned to speak.

"Now I'm not so sure if I should tell you all my secrets. You don't look like the person who can help me take down the Kims."

"I—I." You flinched at his words. Take down the Kims? What the fuck was he saying? "I don't understand this. Why would I want to ruin...my family?"

You cringed the second the question left your mouth. Even in your own ears, you sounded pathetic. After all this time, you still thought you're part of that family?

Maybe Hoseok wasn't the confusing one here. It's you and your stupidity.

"They're not your family." Architect Jung corrected you through gritted teeth. "Family helps each other. The Kims destroyed you and our father—"

There it was again.

You cut him off because the more he spoke, the more confused you got. Your temples were aching and suddenly, you weren't so sure if the culprit for your headache was still the Kims.

You thought Hoseok was making you feel perplexed. He seemed to understand the confusion he's bringing because he looked at you with sympathy as he picked up the folder on top of the center table, the same table separating the two of you.

"Maybe this will help you understand better." He handed you the folder.

It was as if your hand had its own life. You were already reaching for the folder before you could process what he said.

Hoseok urged you to open it and read the first page of the file.

You obliged. Lips trembling as you silently read the content. Your temples throbbed more. You had seen this same paper years ago. This was a paternity test result. You knew because Sin-ae demanded a copy of this when Taemin claimed you were his child.

"Y-You're..." Your heart was in your throat. Your face felt hot and it was difficult for you to speak.

Still, you pushed hard and asked; "you're my brother too?"

It's strange. To feel warmth in your chest.

Hoseok was your brother.

He was family.

"I am." Hoseok's jaw ticked. He swallowed before saying "I'm the eldest son of our father..."

Your hands balled into fists upon hearing that, not in annoyance but because of happiness. Finally, you felt like someone would understand what you feel. You asked Hoseok to share his life story to you, but only if he felt comfortable.

The last thing you wanted was to drive him away. Fortunately, your brother didn't mind sharing. It's not like he had a choice. Really.

This was the only way he could think of to convince you to help him make the Kims pay.

Hoseok started by telling you that his parents had a romantic relationship even when Taemin was already married to Sin-ae. Apparently, your father's legal wife had difficulty conceiving.

Taemin even thought that he and his wife would never have children. This was when he decided to be with Jung Jiwoo, Hoseok's mother. Just like your mother, Jiwoo fell into Taemin's trap.

Taemin debated if he should break up with Sin-ae after finding out that Jiwoo was pregnant. He almost did, but fate was cruel because just as when Taemin’s about to divorce his wife, he found out she was pregnant too.

Jiwoo accepted her fate. Unlike your mother, she wasn't demanding. She was content with the fact that Taemin treated Hoseok well. His eldest son was his favorite.

Things only changed when Taemin decided to form a professional corporation with his best friend Jong-in. He rarely visited Hoseok. He started prioritizing the company and his new mistress.

Jiwoo didn't mind. In fact, she even invested in the firm as well. Just like your mother, Jiwoo also saw potential in the business. She knew it would grow and become one of the best architectural firms.

Jiwoo invested for the sake of her son. She wanted him to have a good future, especially because it appeared like Hoseok was into architecture as well.

Hoseok was actually one of the first architects to work at Castle. He helped the company grow. Taemin saw the fruit of Hoseok's labor and even made a promise to make his eldest son his successor.

It was all lies though. Taemin felt guilty when Sin-ae broke down and found out about you. He realized he couldn't break her heart more so he decided not to tell his wife and children about Hoseok.

Taemin died without revealing the truth about his eldest son.

"Is that why you want to take down the Kims?" You winced after he told you the truth. "Because you hate our father? Because he didn't include you in his will?"

Your heart dropped to your stomach. How cruel. You honestly thought Hoseok was like you. You thought he just wanted to belong. To be loved...But it appeared like he was blinded by revenge.

"I don't hate our father." Hoseok scoffed, offended that you thought he was the kind of person who would bring down the people who were important to the person he hated. "He's an ass, but he loved me. I can't say for sure about you though."

Ouch.

You avoided his gaze because what he said hurt. Hoseok seemed to realize the impact of his words because his face turned pale.

"I-I don't mean it like that." He did. "I mean...I don't know." Hoseok conceded since he didn't really know what he was talking about.

He couldn't talk on behalf of his father. He could only talk about his observation.

"I think...father loved you." His voice was barely a whisper, like he was ashamed to say this to you. "Just not in the way you should be loved."

Hoseok pursed his lips. His eyes glistened with dejection.

"Because you deserve so much more, my lovely sister..."

You felt his stare through your soul. It hurt.

It hurt to think that you found someone who was going through the same thing as you. It just hurt that even when you're basically on the same page, you're still so different.

Taemin loved him more than he loved you.

But why? Weren't you deserving of his love?

"If I deserve so much more, then why do people treat me like this?" You choked back a sob.

You didn't mean to break down like this. You were so tired of appearing vulnerable in front of people. Why did it feel like they always have the upper hand?

It's not fair.

"Because you let them." Your heart broke into a thousand pieces after hearing Hoseok's response.

"So it's my fault?" You couldn't help it. Tears trickled down your face. It's like you had been slapped.

"There's no other way to put it." Hoseok was remorseful but not really. "Don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong with you. You're full of love, I get it, but not everyone is like you. You can't expect them to be nice to you just because you're nice to them."

He paused for a second just to stare into your eyes. He looked desperate—desperate to make you understand.

"Some people...They're very entitled, you know? They feel like they can do whatever they want with you since they're conditioned to think you wouldn't mind."

You understood that, but Hoseok wasn't truthful. He was wrong to say there's nothing wrong with you.

There was.

People took advantage of you because you let them. That's your mistake.

He intended to help you correct it.

"But you have to mind it. Their horns will only grow if you don't deter them from hurting you. Before you know it, it's not just you who's getting hurt—"

Hoseok let out a deep breath.

"—it's everyone." He bit his lower lip. "Everyone is suffering because of the Kims and I want to put an end to it."

You watched as his expression hardened.

"You're the only one who can help me."

Despite Hoseok's revelation of the truth, you still didn't understand why he wanted the Kims to suffer.

He figured it's best if he showed you the evidence instead of just talking about it. Hoseok wasn't dumb. He knew you loved the Kims, especially Soojin. You might be tired of their bullshit; however, it didn't mean you would be happy to see them in pain.

Unless he gave you valid reasons.

"You think you can spare me some time? I'd like to tell you more things." Your eldest brother enquired.

You were still inside his office here at Castle. An hour had passed since he shared that he was also Taemin's son.

"Uh...yeah. I think so." Jungkook was supposed to pick you up. He told you to send him a message when you're done meeting the Kims and Taemin's executors.

You appreciated Jungkook's attempt to comfort you. He's always there to help you, but it looked like you wouldn't be able to meet with him today or any time soon. Definitely not when you had to fix so many things.

Hoseok ended up bringing you to his apartment. He showed you things you didn't even know were real.

"Here's the original copy of the documents related to the construction of the building in Myeong-dong."

You weren't sure why Architect Jung was showing you these documents when he should be handing it to the authorities. All of this information was related to the building that collapsed weeks ago. The investigation was still continuous and the management of Castle was going through a rough time.

"I know this is a lot to take in, but I'm not sure how else to convince you that I'm not the bad person here." Hoseok saw the way you looked at him when he claimed he wanted to destroy the Kims.

You didn't believe in revenge. You knew at the end of the day it's not going to be as fulfilling as what you thought it would be. What would you gain if you hurt people who hurt you?

Satisfaction? Yeah, and so? Would it change the fact that you got hurt?

"Take a look in that document. There's the original blueprint of the building. Kim Soojin designed it. She's actually the one leading the construction of the building, not our father."

The words escaping Hoseok's mouth weren't registering in your mind. Your whole attention was focused on the documents in your quivering hand.

Just like what Hoseok wanted you to do, you took a look at the document. Your brows snapped together, lips parting because of shock.

It hadn't struck you yet that the sole reason why the tragic accident happened was because of Soojin.

Accident.

By definition, an accident meant an event that happened unintentionally. Just by looking at your sister's design, you could already tell that an accident would definitely happen. Soojin was a professional. She was a licensed architect. How could she not know this wouldn't lead to death, injuries, and damages?

The building was poorly designed. It's like aesthetics were prioritized rather than safety. It's frustrating to see this. Hoseok also told you Soojin wanted the building to be constructed immediately so she designed it using inferior materials. It was easier to obtain these materials since it could be delivered the same day you ordered it.

This was unlike Soojin. She usually preferred ordering high-quality materials to the point where the budget set for her projects resulted in a deficit. She incurred a lot of cost whenever she accepted a workload.

"She's planning to join this international competition that's why she rushed the construction of the building." Hoseok explained, causing you to shake your head.

This was ridiculous. Soojin wasn't that dumb to compromise the safety of people just to win, right? She's better than that.

"I don't believe this." You practically shoved the documents back to your brother. This was a difficult pill to swallow.

You felt like everything you knew about your sister were all lies. She had a temper, yes. She was a brat, yes. But she was smart. She was a good architect. Or were you just convincing yourself?

"S-Soojin isn't like this." You wheezed, making Hoseok heave a deep sigh.

"Isn't she?"

You thought people only experienced life flashing before their eyes when they're on the brink of death, but as Hoseok asked this question to you, every memory you had with Soojin flashed in your mind, like it was telling you to not just look but see.

"But she's so kind to me." You deflated.

Hoseok looked at you with sympathy. Or was it pity? He pitied you because you were blinded by the idea of wanting to belong.

"She really did a good job manipulating you, huh?" Hoseok grimaced, wondering if he was at fault too.

He knew about you. Taemin talked about you. It's actually one of the reasons why Hoseok chose to stay at Castle. It's not simply because he had interest in becoming the next chairperson. He wanted to look after you too.

Was he too late? Why didn't he reach out to you?

"S-She did not manipulate me." Even in your own ears, you sounded pathetic. Why did you keep denying the truth? Deep down, you were sure Hoseok was right.

"She did." Your brother continued to insist. "A lot of times. You just misunderstood the meaning of manipulation because she did it so kindly."

There were two kinds of manipulation.

One was when a person used intimidation or violence to manipulate another being into doing something.

Most of the time, the people who had been coerced ended up hating the one who manipulated them.

This was the case with your mother. It took you long to admit that you hated her. For the longest time, you told yourself you loved her because at the end of the day, she was still your mother.

But she hurt you and abused you, so you started to hate her.

The other type of manipulation was when a person used kindness to get what they wanted. This was what Soojin did. She made you feel like you belonged, like she loved you—this was why you didn't hate her.

You loved her.

Acting like you’re kind was the easiest way to make people believe you're a good person. However being kind and being good were two different things. You just failed to see that.

"If you still don't believe me, then stay with me for a while. I'll show you everything you need to know."

There's something about the way Hoseok said these words that made you agree. You stayed at his place for days, refusing to go back to Jungkook's apartment no matter how many times he tried to reach you.

You couldn't afford to be distracted right now. Jungkook was a distraction. Every time you saw him, all you wanted to do was drop everything and just be happy with him.

Love shouldn't be your priority at the moment. You had to unveil the truth first.

Fortunately, you did.

Hoseok didn't stop providing evidence. You didn't know how he managed to talk to some employees who apparently knew about the real reason why the building collapsed.

Your heart was divided into two. A big part of you believed that Soojin failed and blamed her mistakes to Taemin, the other part of you still chose to trust her. This seemed to frustrate Hoseok because days after providing you legit evidence, he said he couldn't do it anymore.

"You clearly trust your sister. What if you heard the truth from her?" Hoseok furrowed his brows, irritated.

You gulped, heart beating fast.

"Okay," but you agreed because as stated, you knew deep down that evidence didn't lie.

You got what you wanted and Hoseok felt like he could finally breathe.

"You believe me now?" Your brother folded his hands over his chest. A sigh of relief escaped his lips upon seeing you nod your head at once.

The evidence you were looking for was hearing the truth coming from Soojin. You heard her admit the truth when she and Sin-ae were at the columbarium.

"There's nothing holding you back this time?" He pressed.

You nodded again, this time, you were more determined as you clenched your fist and gritted your teeth.

"Nothing..."

This was the story that unfolded days ago. Right now, you were standing behind Hoseok here at the conference room in Castle.

Everyone anticipated your move. They watched you deliver that shocking news. It was oddly satisfying—to watch the surprise staining their face.

Sin-ae clearly wanted to lash out on everyone, unfortunately she couldn't use the 'this is impossible' card because before she could even breathe, the evidence was provided to every person in the meeting.

Mr. Han and the other shareholders had a smug look on their faces. They weren't bothered that Hoseok wasn't carrying Taemin's last name. What's important to them was that now they had a better option.

Anyone was obviously better than having Soojin as the next chairperson.

"H-How do we know you didn't fabricate the result?" Sin-ae desperately groaned as she glared at Hoseok. This was bad. So fucking bad. "My husband is dead!"

Your father's wife was arguing that Taemin was cremated. She firmly believed that the result had been tampered.

This belief of hers had been shattered when Namjoon interjected the conversation. He stood up, gaze focused on his wailing mother. Sin-ae was hurt. Of course she was. She just found out that her late husband cheated on her more than once.

She couldn't help but wonder if there's something wrong with her. Just like you, she was insecure. Wasn't she enough?

"The result is not fabricated, mother." Namjoon started. Eyes so soft that it broke Sin-ae more. "Architect Jung Hoseok is my father's son too. I helped prove it."

Your eyes widened upon hearing that. Shit. You thought you're the only one who had revelation to make today. Who would have thought that one of your siblings would do something like this?

"Hoseok-hyung and I requested a sibling DNA test. The file in front of you will show you the result."

"If Mr. Jung Hoseok is also entitled to legitime, shouldn't you be discussing this in court?" One of the shareholders raised his concern.

You turned to that shareholder.

"You don't have to worry about that, Mr. Kang. My brother's share in our father's estate has been settled. I transferred my shares in this company to him."

"You did not!" Soojin seethed after a long moment of silence on her part. She was glaring at you like you betrayed her.

It used to crush your soul, but seeing her today didn't make you feel anything. You stared back at your sister impassively.

Her face was crimson, eyes growing big and hands balling into fists. She looked like she could kill you.

"She did." Hoseok interjected, shooting your sister a taunting smile. Hoseok was seated right across Soojin. He could see her nostrils flaring. "I am this firm's major shareholder. Right, Architect Jeon?"

It was made known to everyone in this room that Jungkook sold his share to Hoseok. This only drove Soojin and her mother more vexed.

They were seeing red.

Soojin started throwing things. She angrily pushed all things she saw on the long table, shouting and blaming you for ruining her chance to become the next chairperson.

"Bold of you to assume you still have a chance to run this firm when you're nothing but trash." You surprised yourself when you said this.

Soojin too. Sin-ae, Seokjin, and basically everyone gaped at you. Your blank face was all they saw though. You were getting bolder now. It wasn't easy, but you found courage every time you thought about the bereaved families of the victims of Soojin's incompetence.

"What did you just say to me?" Her face flushed, heartbeat increasing because of hatred and disbelief. She wanted to scratch your face and drag you to hell.

You were a fucking bitch.

"Don't play dumb with me, Kim Soojin. You know what I'm talking about." Your shoulders squared as you lifted your chin. "Or would you rather I show everyone in this room the evidence you thought you already got rid of?"

For a second Soojin looked like she had a smart retort, but her face turned white when she heard your question.

It's the same expression she had when she saw you at the columbarium many days ago. Fear was never a good look on Soojin. Because unlike you, she wasn't used to feeling this way.

She always won, always got what she wanted. But not this time.

Definitely not this time.

"What is this all about?" Mr. Kang puckered his lips, unamused as he stated his opinion. He said he didn't have time for family drama.

"This isn't drama, Mr. Kang. This issue concerned all of you." You didn't waste any more time. "Castle is going through a rough time now because of the accident that occurred in Myeong-dong. I know the investigation is still on-going and we're all tensed as to how this will affect us, especially because you all believe the culprit is my father. But—"

"No!" Soojin and her mother tried to stop you, but the shareholders were done with them. They said they'd kick out Soojin and Sin-ae if they didn't act professionally.

This was a corporate meeting. It didn't take a genius that one should be in their best behavior.

You continued.

"The building collapsed not because of Kim Taemin but because of Architect Kim Soojin. She led the construction of it. I have here all the written evidence." You nodded your head at your father's former secretary, silently asking to flash the evidence on the projector. Some employees proceeded to hand out the same copy of documents Hoseok showed you before, the one that would prove that your claims were real.

"And before you accused us of fabricating the results, well then, it won't be warranted. We have corroborated with the employees who worked with Architect Kim Soojin regarding this construction. They were bribed with money, but through persuasion, we have convinced them to take the moral high ground."

You elucidated that these coerced employees were willing to take the stand during Soojin's trial—yes, after all she had done, you were certain that Castle and the law would hold her accountable.

It's evident by the way the shareholders and the board reacted with the news. They still gave Soojin an option though: either go to the station on her own or the management would be forced to call the authorities right now.

"She'll turn herself in." It wasn't Soojin who decided this. It was Seokjin. Your brother was looking at you as he said this.

His face was void of any emotion. It caused your heart to skip a beat, wondering if Seokjin hated you even more now.

He didn't speak during the meeting. He remained frozen on his spot, just sternly watching the scene unfold in front of him. Another thought popped inside your head: did he know about Hoseok too? Namjoon did.

"What are you saying, oppa!? I'm not—” Soojin protested but Seokjin shook his head, wrapping his arms around your sister's shoulder and pulling her into his chest.

Seokjin whispered something to Soojin. No one heard it except your sister and probably Sin-ae who was standing close to her children.

Whatever Seokjin said to your sister worked because she stopped trembling and protesting. She stayed close to him though, face still buried on Seokjin's chest.

The vice chairperson was talking to Seokjin, probably about the criminal case. You watched as Hoseok and Namjoon joined the conversation. There were other shareholders trying to pry more information out of the Kims.

You were on the far corner of the room, observing them.

The conversation went on for about five minutes before you saw Seokjin walking away, gently holding his sister's hand and taking her with him.

Namjoon and Sin-ae followed them. Your brother spared you a glance.

You shuddered at his stare even though it's not cold. It's the usual way Namjoon looked at you, no emotion but like...he knew something you didn't. It always made you uncomfortable.

Even until now.

Luckily, Jungkook was here to make it all better. You felt his hand wrapping around your shoulder tightly. Just like what Seokjin did to Soojin, your best friend pulled you closer to him.

Your knee jerk reaction was to lean your head against his shoulder.

Jungkook smiled sincerely even though you couldn't see his face. You watched Namjoon walk away as Jungkook whispered "it's going to be okay, Tiger," in your ears.

His voice was so soft and gentle that you were compelled to believe that yes, everything will be okay soon.

this chapter is inspired by the quote I saw somewhere: if you demonized the demons, you’re the demon.

Ah. Two chapters left! How do we feel? I was shocked to see your reactions from the last chapter! The twist there is written on a whim 😭 I hope I didn’t disappoint you with this update! 🥺

I haven’t edited this. Please don’t mind the errors.

#jungkook fluff #jungkook angst #jungkook x reader #jungkook x y/n #jungkook x you #armywriterssupport #jungkook romance #jungkook series #jungkook fic #jjk #bts jeon jungkook #jungkook best friend #best friend jungkook #jungkook best friends to lovers #jungkook friends to lovers

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hot-wiings · 3 years

Text

The One Where [Y/N] [L/N] Can't Show Up To Her Toxic Family Dinner Alone, So She Turns To Her College Peer For Help.

Edited: 12-4-2020

Once your college professor dismissed the class as over you were quick to open your phone and check your messages. Once unmuted, it vibrated and chimed a dozen times bombarding you. Messages from your mother overflowed your notification bar. You just didn't have the energy to deal with it right now. With a scowl, you set your phone back to mute mode and harshly shoved it into your backpack.

"Everything all right?"

Your chemistry partner was pilling books back into his backpack when he asked you the imposing question. He zipped the bag close, stood up, and turned to you, giving you a concerned look as he slung his backpack on his shoulder.

"I'm fine."

"We've been partners for nearly a year, I think I know you enough to know when you're not fine."

Your eyes glanced up at the white-haired man before glancing back at your lap. Your chemistry partner, Natsuo Todoroki, was a nice young man. Natsuo was funny and kind, he noticed when you were having a bad day, and he'd try to ease your troubles. Maybe that was why you often found yourself studying your partner more than your notes. Normally you'd relish under the gaze and attention of your charming, pretty partner, but today wasn't just one of those days.

"It's stupid. Like, really stupid, and unimportant."

"If it's bothering you then it's not stupid. C'mon, I'll buy you lunch and you can tell me all about your problem."

You huffed as you stood up and pulled your bag over your shoulder. You followed Natsuo to the cafeteria, while he walked off to get and pay for your lunches, you found some empty seats. Your leg bounced as you waited for him to come back. The idea of opening up about something so personal made you anxious.

"It's Soba Saturday."

"Thanks."

Natsuo took a seat across from you and smiled as you took a bite out of the food. Happy that you were happy with your food, Natsou digs into his own.

"So partner' what's up?"

"As I said, it's really, really, stupid."

"You're obviously worked up over it, it can't be that stupid."

You let out a ragged sigh as you took a delicate bite out of your food. Embarrassed, your eyes avoided him once you swallowed and set the fork down. Natsuo had shared so much with you as a friend and confidant, you knew about his family, every nitty-gritty detail, but you opened so little in return.

"My mom texted me asking if I was bringing a date home for Christmas. My parents... They're pretentious and rich, you know? Marrying, and settling down, becoming a house mouse while my husband takes over the family business. That's the future they want for me."

You clenched your fists just getting aggravated thinking about it. The toxicity was hard and you were trying your best to escape it, but you could only flee so much when you were poor without your parents. Natsuo reached across the table and grabbed your hands, pulling them into his cold ones.

"I know if I show up alone my mom's gonna get in my business, then she'll try setting me up with rich men she thinks are suitable. I just- I can't do another family Christmas alone."

"I understand what you mean. I told you how my dad's a bastard, he's tried setting me and my sister up with suitable people before, never works out, just makes us hate him. I don't even wanna go home for Christmas this year, so... I have a proposition."

"I'd love to hear it."

"I'll go with you."

His voice came out quick and fast, almost making him sound nervous, but Natsuo didn't get nervous, it wasn't a Todoroki trait. You look up from your lap to his eyes. A small smile formed on your face as he proposed the statement. You let out a chuckle as a light blush brushed your face.

"You wanna be my date?"

"We don't have to go like that, we can fake date. Think about it, you need a rich, suitable guy to show up with you. You need me. Someone to convince your pretentious parents you're ready to settle down, and, I, can get out of my own family Christmas and obligations to see the bastard man."

"Fake dating... Fake dating and convincing my parents that we're in love. That's a lot to deal with, you're sure your up for it?"

"Yeah, you might say... We already have some chemistry together."

You laughed as that feeling bubbled up in your chest. That feeling you got whenever you were around your partner, your lab partner. It was stupid, so stupid. The idea of fake dating him bubbled you, even if it was fake, the idea that he got to be your boyfriend for an evening or two excited you.

"Okay, you dork, it's settled. You're my fake boyfriend."

Your leg bounced rigorously as the car drove on the road. You watched the road signs, anxiously noting how far away from your home you were each time a new one appeared. You lived a couple of hours out from the city you and Natsuo attended college in. Coming from a rich family, you and Natsuo probably would've attended the same social circles and school had you not grew up so far away.

Your thumb tapped away at your leg as Christmas music blared through the radio. Your whole body screamed anxious and distressed. Now that you've had time to brew and process the deal you and Natsuo made you regretted it. What were you thinking, taking your lab partner, who was also your crush, on an overnight trip as your fake boyfriend? It was just going to cause you trouble.

You had feelings for him and your family was toxic. The idea of letting him in was disturbing. It was your home where you grew up, the place you learned to hate yourself, the place that taught you to be closed off, and mean. He'll meet your mom, your dad, and your godawful siblings. He'll see how horrible your family is, and the idea of letting him see the environment you grew up in was so daunting.

What if he decided you were awful too? What if he changes lab partners?

"We're here."

"Great."

Your voice came out placid and tight. Your nervousness and exhaustion could be heard in your voice. Emotions brought out every time you saw your family, he mistook it as nerves brought on by the fear of fake dating.

"We should probably lie down some rules."

"Yeah, I've never fake dated before. I don’t know what you're uncomfortable with, but no kissing on the lips."

Natsuo pulled his keys out of the engine ignition and pocketed them while he lightly laughed at your proposed rule. Heat rose to your cheeks as his voice met your ears.

"We're supposed to convince them we're in love, but I can't kiss your lips?"

"I know it's silly, but to me it's romantic and I’d like to keep this professional. Besides, you still have my cheek, hand, nose, and forehead."

“I see your points, if it makes you feel more comfortable then lips are off-limits.”

You let out a relieved sigh. You weren't sure you'd handle kissing Natsuo. It was too personal, too romantic. The more you progressed on this endeavor the more you worried. Your parents were gonna know, they were gonna know.

"No kissing your lips, what about hand-holding?"

"We can hold hands, hug, anything a couple would do, just no sex or kissing."

"Two days, as a handholding loving boyfriend. Let's do this."

Natsuo got out of the car and while you zipped up your coat and fixed your scarf he rushed to the other side of the car and opened your door before you got the chance. His cold hand was on your hand pulling you out of the car, he smiled softly at you as he helped you out.

“Thanks, you didn't have to do that.”

“I wanted to, I'm your boyfriend after all.”

You pushed a piece of hair behind your ear as a light blush spread across your skin. Never had you been more thankful for the cold air for you had been able to play your pink cheeks off as an effect of the cold weather and not his words.

“You go in, I’ll get our bag.”

“You sure?”

You nibbled on your lip as Natsuo walked away from you. He turned to you with an ever-growing smile present as he winked.

“Yeah, I'm a good boyfriend aren't I?”

“The sweetest ever. See you inside.”

You made your way to the door and gave the heavy wooden door a hard knock. It wasn't long until one of the servants opened the door. The head butler, Godwin, opened the door and threw you a gracious smile before pulling you into a hug.

“Welcome back, [Y/N].”

In your time living here as a child, Godwin spent a lot of time with you. It was his job to watch over you and your siblings along with the other staff members when your parents were gone, which was often. He was the one who taught you to be kinder and nicer, more humble than your other siblings. He was the one who encouraged you to go to college despite your parents raising you to live in a world with their racist, sexist ideals.

“It’s good to see you, Godwin.”

Your mother came down the stairs with her overly expensive Christmas dress flowing with her. She looked like the average rich person trying to show off her money. Pearls, diamonds, and obvious plastic surgery. Your father followed behind her, adorning an expensive tailored suit and a matching tie, no doubt your mother's idea to make it seem like they had a perfect marriage to their guests when it, in fact, was not.

“Oh, [F/N], you're here!”

She walked up to you and awkwardly wrapped her arms around your body. It was weird and awkward. Your mother didn't like giving affection out to her children, or really anyone. Now that you were older, you didn't crave the attention from her. Your father didn't even attempt to greet you.

“I thought you said you were bringing a guest, Oh I knew you were lying. Lucky for you I thought ahead and arranged for one of your father's friends to come over as your date for the evening.”

“Mother, anyone friends with father is going to be way too old to be a date for me, besides that fact, I did bring a date.”

“Oh, don’t be embarrassed to ask your mother for help, I did give birth to you after all.”

She sneered her words at you. This was a classical move of your mothers because she gave birth to you then that must mean she knows you better than anyone else, she also used it in the stance that you owed it to her to do what she wanted.

“You’ll love him. He's the owner of a multimillion-dollar company, he's rich, and his wife just died! You’ve been single for so long, you need a man to take care of you”-

Your mother is cut off by the sound of Natsuo walking in with your bag and slamming the door shut, trying to keep the cold out. Considering it was an overnight trip, you thought sharing a bag might make you look more intimate and close.

“Sorry I took so long babe, I didn't zip the bag all the way closed and it opened on the ride here, I had to put everything back in it.”

“Mother, father, this is my boyfriend.”

Natsuo dropped your bag on the floor and shook your parent's hands starting with your father, and then your mother next, respectfully the way you shook hands with the rich. You supposed growing up as a Todoroki he had to learn these tricks and rules the same way you did.

“Natsuo Todoroki, nice to meet you, sir, ma’am.”

“Oh wow, Todoroki? Like the hero family Todoroki?”

“Yes, ma’am... Endeavor is my father.”

You could tell by Natsuo's stance that he was uncomfortable with the way your mother was asking about his social status and checking him out with a tight fake smile on her face.

“Yes, I remember now, I saw your family on the news. How did you snag this one [Y/N]? A Todoroki, I'm impressed, then again... He is the brother who chose not to follow the life of a hero.”

You both ignored your mother's catty comment as Natsuo grabbed your hand and pulled you against his side. He kissed your cheek, eliciting a light blush for the second time that day, however, your mother's focus was on your 'boyfriend', and his focus was on your mother.

“Feels more like I'm the one who snagged her.”

“Well, you must tell us how you met. Goodwin! Take their bag up to [Y/N]'s room!”

You rolled your eyes as she yells at the butler. You'd think after years of working for her she would've remembered his name, but she didn't.

“Godwin, we can take our bag up, we need to change into our dress clothes anyway. Mother, you really should remember the names of your staff.”

“They're just the help, details like their names don't matter. Ever since you went off to that school it's put silly ideas in your head. Natsuo don't be afraid to remind her who's boss, she might try to force those ridiculous relationship norms on you.”

The comment comes from your father who had been mostly silent throughout the whole conversation. The comment comes from your father and it didn't sit well with Natsuo. As your father laughs at what he said, Natsuo picks your bag up and chuckles at him.

“Oh, [Y/N] and I both know who the boss of this relationship is. [Y/N] attends more classes than me, so I always make sure the apartment is clean, and food is ready on the table for her. It's only fair, I wouldn't want her to think these ridiculous relationship norms where the woman cooks and cleans and the man provides is right.”

Before your father gets another word in edgewise, Natsuo pulls you along with him to the staircase, letting you guide him to your bedroom with appeased smiles on your faces. You pushed the door open and let Natsuo in before closing it and locking it. You flopped over on the bed, and he followed suit before taking a look at your room. It was the same as always, the way you left it after high school, never changing except for when little things got moved around for dusting and vacuuming by Godwin.

“So... What'd you think of my parents?”

“They’re... interesting?”

There were a wide variety of choice words Natsuo wanted to use. He did not like your parents, and it bothered him knowing that you grew up being raised with such ideals. Natsuo might have had a bastard for a father, his father might have hurt his mom, and his family in more ways than one, but his father never once told Fuyumi that she couldn't pursue her dreams. He never once told Fuyumi that she had to follow old gender norms, never once was Fuyumi taught to layover for a man.

"It's okay, you can say it. They're good awful."

"I didn't want to upset you or offend, but my father literally drove my mom insane, he gave her a mental illness and he's nice compared to them."

"Just wait until you meet my siblings."

You let out a laugh as your fingers played with the blanket on the bed. Your hands were so close. It was sweet to him, the sound of your voice. He'd never admit out loud, but he was so in love with you. Ever since he first laid eyes on you in chemistry class. Ever since you sat down next to him and introduced yourself, ever since you accidentally blew up your first experiment. Ever since you kept apologising for catching him on fire, you hadn't a clue who he was, or who his father was. You were normal with him. Every little thing you did lead up to his feelings for you. Every little thing you did added to the strong feelings had had, like a brick house.

To the naked eye, Natsuo was a desirable man. He was rich, filthy rich, and he had that Todoroki charm. Everyone wanted him for his status or his looks. They didn't know him, the real him, him with an abusive father and fucked up family. For all those reasons, Natsuo always thought that you wouldn't want to be with a boy like him. Someone who came from such a broken background, someone so weak, unable to stand up to his father. Guys like him never got the girl, at least not the girl that he wanted but Natsuo also never imagined that you came from a background similar to his. It was so ethereal and special to be here with you, to be the one you were opening up to, even if it was a fake relationship, Natsuo was trying desperately to shoot his shot.

"You're so strong, you know that? Your parents raised you with these unrealistic standards on how you should act, but you're in college, you're pursuing your dreams. You're amazing."

Natsuo's hand reached out and grabbed yours, his cold one in yours soliciting goosebumps and a little shiver. You quickly tried to pull your and out of his and stood up to make it look like you weren't trying to avoid skin contact with him.

"Thanks, Natsuo... You're amazing too, I mean hello, they way you subtly told my father to shove his marriage ideals? It was hilarious, he was not expecting that."

You looked away from Natsou to hide the blush in your cheeks, you were thankful for the way he stood up to your father for you. You could never have done that in a million years.

"Anyway, we should probably get dressed, and go down before my mother thinks we've started having sex. You can get dressed in here and I'll go to the bathroom, just knock when it's safe for me to come out."

You grabbed your dress out of the bag and scurried into the bathroom. You started with makeup, then you reapplied your deodorant. You were so nervous that your family would see right through your lie. After taking a few deep breaths you heard Natsuo's knock so you quickly unzipped your silk, baby blue dress and pulled it up to your body. Nervously, you popped your head out the door and bit your lip.

"Can you... Can you zip me up?"

"Sure!"

You let the door open more and pulled the front of your dress tight against your body, worried and nervous to be partially naked in front of him. Natsuo sauntered into the bathroom and zipped the back of your dress up. His cold hands glide up your back and then fell down on your hips. It made you shiver again before throwing him a grateful smile.

"Thanks."

"No problem, you look beautiful."

You looked in the mirror at the two of you together. This time as the blush rose to your cheeks you didn't have the cold to blame or the ability to turn around and hide your face.

"Ready to meet the rest of the snake nest?"

"I survived your parents, I think I can handle your siblings."

Arm in arm looped together you made your way downstairs and into the entertainment room with Natsuo. Your siblings were sitting on the couch, but once you walked in their eyes struck you. They heard you brought a date and they wanted to check him out. Their eyes glazed over him some of them in interest, some in disinterest. All judging.

"I heard you brought a boy, didn't believe it."

The comment comes from your older sister. Her voice was full of disdain and disinterest, undoubtedly ready to leave.

"Yeah, mother said you brought a boy, didn't think he'd be so hot."

Natsou coughs uncomfortably as you showed a tight, fake smile to your sister. You couldn't lie, it hurt that your younger sister would so blatantly flirt with your boyfriend upon meeting him, whether he be fake or not.

"Don't be such a slut, [Sisters Name]. That's your sister's boyfriend."

Your older brother scolded his youngest sister for her lustful behavior and she rolls her eyes before she crosses her arms in a pout. Your brother was the nicest out of all your siblings. He was nice to you and your siblings in his own way, protective of his younger siblings, constantly scolding and trying to keep you all in place. That didn't mean he couldn't be a snake, he could just tolerate you and your siblings more.

"Besides, he's not all that hot."

"Oh he totally is, it's seriously a wonder how [Y/N] got him."

You brought Natsuo over to the couch and sat down next to him. You even made sure to sit close to him, close enough so you could lean into each other like a cute couple.

"I think I prefer your parents."

His words whispered in your ear earning a light chuckle from you. Your sister, the younger one, evidently didn't like how close you both were. With a harsh glare, she rolled her eyes again.

"How did you even meet? Seriously, I wanna know why he would downgrade to someone like you."

Natsuo scratched the back of his head awkwardly and nervously He didn't understand why your siblings were so mean to you. His father was a bastard, that closed you off, that he could get. Despite that, he and his siblings never put each other down like they were doing.

"More like she downgraded to me. We met in school, lab partners. She had all the boys chasing for her in school, but somehow she chose me."

Your sister scoffed and this time you rolled your eyes. She always gave you such shit over the littlest things. You didn't have the energy for this, at least not sober. You whispered into Natsuo's ear softly.

"I need a drink, you want one? We'll need it to get through the evening."

"If your alcohol mixing skills are anything like your chemistry mixing skills, then no."

"Meanie, I'm a great chemist, I practically carry our grade."

Natsuo chuckled against your cheek, before pulling back and kissing it. Again, a blush adorned your cheek with no way to hide it. It was brief and quick, but his cold lips ghosted against your cheek. All you could do was abruptly stand up with a smile on your face.

"I'm gonna go find an alcoholic beverage. I'll be right back, play nice with him."

Natsuo watched helplessly as you walked off into the distance. He sat there quietly, patiently waiting for you to come back. Natsuo was such a cool, calm collected guy, but alone with your siblings, he felt nervous. Seeing the way they acted with you gave him a bad impression of them, but he has to play nice because he was your boyfriend.

"You know, an alcoholic drink does sound great."

Your older sister stood up from the couch and walked off in the same direction as you did, the kitchen presumably, to make herself a drink as well. Soon, your brother left the room as well, your little sister bit her lip as she watched your brother walk off in the direction of the bathroom. She was quick to stand and in the place you once held occupied.

"My sister said play nice, but I'd rather play rough."

She slid her hand over his thigh and inched it closer to his crotch while she smiled up at him, nibbling on her lip.

"What are you doing? I'm here with your sister, I'm her boyfriend."

"Ugh, what do you even see in her? She's not even pretty."

Before Natsou could reply, before he could defend you, your sister climbed across his lip and planted her lips against his. He wasn't kissing her back, but with her on top of him, her pressing her face against his, and her fingers deeply gripping his clothes it was difficult to get her off of him. He wasn't kissing back, he was trying to push her off but as you walked up with two margaritas in hand all you saw was your fake boyfriend kissing your sister.

It hurt. It shouldn't have, but it hurt. He wasn't yours, not really. He was just your lap partner, your friend. He wasn't your boyfriend, you were just fake dating. He wasn't yours. He wasn't yours, but it hurt to see your sister all over him. He wasn't yours, but for the night he was supposed to be. He wasn't yours but for the sake of your lie you did what any girl would do after finding her boyfriend cheating on her: You dumped your margarita down the skank.

"[Brothers Name] is right, you are a slut! And you- you-"

As your sister pulled herself off of Natsuo she looked up at you shocked with alcohol dripping down her body, you ignored her and turned your attention to Natsou. Your eyes were blurry but you had to will yourself not to cry.

"I don't need you here. You can just leave."

You didn't wait for Natsou to get up and leaves nor did you want for him to talk and explain anything to you. You simply took off in the direction of your bedroom, slamming the door behind you. Natsuo quickly jumped up on his feet and took off in the direction of your bedroom. He didn't knock, he didn't wait for permission, he just busted in and ran over to you.

"If you want to make out with my sister, that's fine. I get it, she's pretty, she's hot, she's better than me. She's everything you'd want, but you were supposed to be here with me! You were supposed to be here as my boyfriend! My parents were supposed to think we're in love. You were supposed to be mine, I don't care if it's fake, you cheated with my sister!"

The tears were leaking down your cheeks as you yelled at him. No words could pass Natsuo's lips, no matter how hard he tried. They couldn't. Seeing your tears, a product of him hurt. It hurt. He hurt you. He was trying his best to shoot his shot, he was trying to subtly woo you.

"Your sister came on to me, I tried pushing her away. She's really is a snake, you said it yourself!"

You still sniffled as you nodded at him. He was right, you had said that. He was right, she is a snake and this is exactly what she would do just to screw with your life.

"I'm sorry, your right. I shouldn't have acted like that, you're not actually mine. Natsuo, I do need you, I need you here."

"What if I wanted you to really be mine?"

You sniffling stopped as Natsuo took closer steps to you. He placed his hands on your cheeks and pulled your lips against his. This was different from earlier. The kiss wasn't quick, it was long. It was long and passionate, yet cold. Despite your shivers, you found yourself leaning into him, into the kiss.

"You- You can't do that, it's against the rules."

"Screw the rules. I just- I wish you needed me every night of the year, not just Christmas."

Natsuo ran his hands through his hair nervously. He thought speaking against your father and defending you against your sister was enough to get his point across. This idea of verbally speaking it, it scared him. This was uncharted territory for him.

"I want you [Y/N]. I want you every day of the year. I want to kiss you on the lips, I want to hold hands, I want dates and hugs. I want more than chemistry class and Christmas gatherings."

"Then you can have me! Have me every day of the year. Be mine, every day of the year. Take me on a date, hold my hand, kiss my lips!"

Natsuo pulled you against him and your face collided with his chest. You buried your face in his chest as your arms wrapped around his body and a smile formed.

"Let's not fake date, be my actual girlfriend."

You leaned up and left a quick chaste kiss on Natsuo's lips with a smile.

"I don't want anyone else to be my actual boyfriend, I suppose you might say we chemistry."

208 notes · View notes

theangrypokemaniac · 4 years

Text

Ooooooooooooh...TITS!!!

Gimme gimme gimme TITS!!!

Tits! Tits! Tits! Tits! TITS!!!

Can't live without tits, and really wide apart tits are the best.

Eh?

Well then there's room for yer face between the TITS!!!

If you say so.

There used to be a poor Anti-Ship argument along the lines of Rocketshipping being an impossibility because James didn't like fanny, the 'proof' being he wasn't as red-blooded about it as Brock.

Bloody idiotic.

They're not the same person, so why judge one by the other's behaviour?

Chasing the poon is Brock's 'thing'. If James did it too, their characters would be almost identical, so why would we need both?

Imagine if every episode featuring a pretty girl had each of them fawning over her: would it not start to become somewhat repetitive?

We'd never get anything done!

By that argument, I could dismiss Brock as an adulterous scumbag, for there's James, so faithful and true he never looks at another woman, whereas you can't trust Brock out of your sight.

I don't do this, because it's unfair to jump to conclusions based not on evidence of his personality, but someone else's.

I know I'm meant to add a very worthy clause here about how I 'respect their opinion', but am I obliged to respect a stupid one, that can't justify itself through reason?

It's like background doesn't matter:

• James was brought up as a gentleman. He'd never boldly approach a woman. It's indecent. He's been taught you don't so much as hold hands with one until after three years.

• Brock missed that teaching, lacking the social pressure to suppress his desire. On the contrary, his experiences encourage yer to get stuck in.

• James is an only child. He has no older sibling to follow. There's Pa showing how a man behaves, and he's got Ma already, i.e. he sticks to his wife.

• Brock has nine or ten younger brothers and sisters. Seeing his mother pregnant again and again leads you to suspect he learnt of the birds and the bees quite early. His home life feels animalistic.

• James is refined and delicate. His upbringing is intended to control the baser human urges. He'll have been protected from anything deemed unsavoury.

• Brock fends for himself. Even before his family fell apart, his parents would always have another baby to worry over.

Older children are expected to help out in big families, curtailing their own youth. He'd be left to his own devices, and with that example before him, mating all the time is normal.

• James is effeminate and shy. He appreciates sophistication and beauty.

• Brock is macho. He looks, sounds and acts more masculine and confident. He rages with testosterone and his father's unrestrained lust.

• James can't survive on his own. He needs Jessie to look after him.

• Brock is an expert at caring for others, and actively seeks it out, that's why he was enamoured of Professor's Ivy slovenly housekeeping.

• James's first contact with the opposite sex was Jessibelle. Some might suspect this put him off, or at least tempered his interest, but I would say it fixed his tastes, considering he found another domineering redhead to replace her.

This rather narrows his options. If that's his type, he'd have to visit Jessie Land, where they all come from, to really lose his mind.

It's out there somewhere.

• As far as we know, Brock has local female neighbours, who neither repulsed or settled his ideas. Apart from Pewter Joy, maybe they're all dogs, so at the first opportunity he set off on the road to get himself some premium poontang.

Poontang? They were rappers weren't they? The Poon-Tang Clan?

That is correct, yes.

• James is a romantic. It ain't all about clunge you know.

• Brock is too, but punani is his primal motivation. When he dreams of becoming a Breeder he means it to the letter. He hopes to recreate his family but do it right.

• James would court, which takes years and is thus impossible given his peripatetic circumstances. Snatch is off the cards until the ring's on her finger. No point getting his hopes up any time soon.

I almost wrote that snatch was 'off the menu' then.

Too much.

• Brock wants to 'date', which has an implied difference. If it goes well for him, the poom-poom is within reach.

I nearly said poom was 'within sniffing distance'.

I'll burn for this one.

• James is already in a relationship! Hell, he's in two! Of course he ain't in the market for more minge. What kind of fella would that make him?

• Brock is free. The world is his oyster, though he'd prefer a clam.

Filth. All filth. I shall have to do penance.

...

Giselle aside, all the objects of Brock's affection are older than him, which explains his failure. Why should they take him when they can pull a man with a job, house and car?

If he approached girls from his peer group, maybe he'd be luckier in the flange department, yet he persists nevertheless.

Traditionally, it's the mother providing the nurture and healing, who a child runs to for comfort, and the father sets the rules, dishes out discipline and defends the home.

Who are Brock's main targets?

Nurse Joy, who tends to ill Pokémon.

Officer Jenny, the law-enforcer.

Maybe subconsciously he's searching for replacement parents, to fill the aching void their absence caused, and that's why girls his age hold no attraction.

It seemed to me that his pursuit of Joy was played upon more. It is a better fit, given Brock is the cook and medicine man, but also, Flint is still alive, so although not always present, he does have some paternal figure.

His mother's dead, and perhaps that's why another maternal female is so appealing.

In the end, he's desperate to be the man Flint wasn't, and not force the life he's had on his children.

Also: he wouldn't turn down the foof.

#pokémon #team rocket #brock #james #nurse joy #officer jenny

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mevekagvain · 5 years

Text

Nobles and how they work (4/?)

10. Dolor

-His main emotion is fear. Fear of himself, fear of others and how they will treat him, fear of the world. So yeah he is very scared of everything.

-Will seek comfort from his gaju if they make it clear to him that they don't mind. They need to be the one interacting with him as he doesn't do so. However he will be extremely quiet and try to be invisible to the gaju who are very obviously not good. He doesn't want to do bad things.

-Only uses the bare minimum energy when summoned and does not like fighting at all. Will still do as his gaju wants, whether it's because it's out of duty, or simply fear of them.

11. Garant

-Only one personality despite having two physical parts when summoned. She's a wild lady based off of the desire for freedom. This shows in how she's constantly pestering her gaju to let her out. The Ru oblige as long as they are in a secluded spot and they don't need to conserve their energy.

-Doesn't care too much for some gaju while for others she adores them. It's pretty random and the energy she siphons from them depends on how much she likes them. If less she'll take less so that they won't stop taking her out even as she's indifferent to them.

-Enjoys fighting but can be overeager and carefree at times so she may use too much or too little power. As such the gaju must carefully let her take only as much is needed or prevent her from taking more.

12. Lantheart

-His emotion is longing. Longing for the sea, for your family, friends, anything. Also very much for people to stop giggling and going 'kinky'. And for his gaju to stop licking blood off of him.

-The gaju can feel his longing even as he rests and it affects them too. This makes the Kravei gaju more likely to have stronger emotions or well, to become depressed because some of them long for things in a negative manner. This makes Lantheart guilty because his longing is pretty positive.

13. Lontrick

-Lady Lontrick is an absolute queen who thirsts for knowledge. Unlike Blood Witch she only wants it for the sake of having it, and knows better than to be a pest. As such she's more like a dignified companion who is always by your side.

-Even when she isn't summoned she's always observing. She knows how to calm her gaju down and does her best to guide them on the right path. Sure she wants to know what horrible things one could do but she also knows that she'll learn more if her wielder doesn't get herself killed. So she's like an elder sister who takes care of you.

-Enjoys fighting and suggests new techniques and strategies to her gaju. Has a perfect mix for hands on and letting them do their thing for each one.

14. Dragus

-His main emotion is hunger which is somewhat sad because of the fact that it's due to the countless dead children. Add in the powerful and twisted emotion of the broodmothers and well, disaster. His hunger is twisted into something dark and he wants to consume everything even his own gaju, but it's almost impossible to hate him because his personality is so childlike. He also has to be 'fed' which translates over to fighting and killing. The higher the challenge the longer the period of time when he isn't crying about being hungry.

-The 'insane' Agvains aren't affected at all by Dragus and can keep him in control pretty well since he sees them as a parental figure or an elder sibling. The normal gaju however... get driven to insanity, and not the same kind as the broodmothers. This is more like having your personality and morals twisted or maybe becoming an apathetic/numb husk.

-Dragus is extremely volatile and when he's out the gaju has to spend a lot of energy to satisfy him and must have a lot of control over him. As such for the gaju, even if they are twisted by him, are able to do this due to duty to their clan.

15. Others

-Dark Spear is an obvious example and as such soul weapons can be created artificially.

-It is possible to extract the powerful emotions from a soul weapon and imbue it into a soul to make it into a soul weapon. The only prerequisite is that the original soul weapon be extremely developed in personality and have an excess of emotions. Some clans have done this before several times, such as the Elenors, the Blersters, and the Agvains, to prevent their soul weapons from overpowering them. Anybody can use these extracted soul weapons as long as they can handle it.

Territory

-Nobles may be a small species in comparison to humans but each clan has enough members to pretty much be a village/town (there are villages with more people than towns and I'm crying. It has something to do with the amenities available to you? Which I guess makes sense).

-Clans are more like varied population. They aren't related, except extremely distantly like all members of a species are.

-Each clan has their own territory on Lukedonia. It's quite large and the actual living space only takes up a very small portion of it. The rest is either just wilderness (it may not make sense to have different climates on an island surrounded by smaller islands but I do not care), facilities, etc.

-There are areas that don't belong to any clan. These include labs, wherever the Central Knights gather, etc.

-You're free to go to anywhere in Lukedonia and to go to anyone's territory but there are places that are restricted by the clans.

-Each clan has their own official library, etc. Whether this is in the gaju's residence (if so anyone can come and go from there) or is a separate building depends. Furthermore, every library has stuff from those in their clans that have gone into eternal sleep. This ranges from diaries and journals to drawings. Each library has a range of books but also have much more on specific topics.

1. The Lords and their lineage

- Gothic architecture (I really don't care that nobles existed before it was a thing okay). Their territory is just smack dab in the middle of Lukedonia and so is the castle.

-Everyone in the lineage just lives in the castle because there is so much damn space. There are sime who move to other territories though, this is usually because they are with their lover. Most of the castle is also restricted to anyone except maybe family and those with permission. The library, some paths, ballrooms, and the throne room aren't restricted.

-Has a library within the castle and it's super fancy. The second largest library but it's so far behind the largest that it doesn't deserve the title. Mostly has books on the laws of Lukedonia so nobody really ever reads them. Also has a giant scripture in the middle of the room with all the current laws but once again, nobody reads it because nobody goes there.

-Ballrooms. Just. Yeah.

2. The Mergas

- Ancient Greek and Roman architecture (yes both). They have a very communal system where there is a very large building in which the clan lives. It's organised very neatly and even has maps at points to prevent people from getting lost.

-No restricted areas. Anyone is allowed to come and go.

-Very few facilities aside from living space, the library (which is pretty normal) some small gardens, and cooking/dining areas (kitchens, barbeque spots though they don't call it that, several very large dining rooms bith inside and outside that can fit all Mergas clan members, etc) because they don't spend too much time at their own territory except to relax. As such the majority of it is just wilderness. Mediterranean temperate forests (search em up on google images if you don't know).

-Nobles that aren't affiliated with any clan are usually taken in by the Mergas. This doesn't officially make them Mergas clan members but they practically are.

3. The Kertia

-Traditional Chinese architecture (took me a while to decide but it made more sense since the whole black outfit thing wasn't even an actual attire for the japanese ninja. or any assassin when it comes down to it) and Dragestil architecture. They have a town and the majority of buildings there are large. They're all extremely similar with the gaju's home being no different. As such the Kertia territory is considered a maze by all others and most get lost there. If you need to go there then it's best to have one of their members as a guide. More wilderness than other clans and the forests (evergreen tropical forests. Aka tropical rainforests) here tend to be darker plus taller.

-The library (a separate building) there is on different training techniques, strategies, and other similar things for their clan members. Not useful for others unless they want to train like the Kertia do or to know how they work so they can beat them.

-It is restricted for anyone that isn't a Kertia to enter rooms in a building that are locked/barred off. Most nobles don't try to either. Some things are better left alone.

-Most clan members live alone or with family members.

4. The Landegre

-Baroque and Rococo architecture. A large manor surrounded by a town. The manor has majority of the facilities and the gaju's lineage lives there. The town consists of living quarters. Despite not being interested in food there is a large crop garden (though calling it a farm may be more accurate) in their territory so they know how to grow plants and raise animals. They have many farms in general and a large variety of them including terraced fields on hills and mountains since they provide most of the food needs required by Lukedonia. The wilderness (temperate forest) also seems to be more abundant in fruits, nuts, animals, etc, than other areas.

-The library (a separate building) has stuff on flora and fauna like how to raise them, what is poisonous and not, etc. Also used to store documents of the gaju (of all clans) but that part of the library is restricted to everyone except them and the lord.

-Like the Mergas they take in unaffiliated nobles pretty often.

-They live together in large family groups.

5. The Elenors

-Indonesian Jengki architecture mixed with extremely frilly dollhouses and colour schemes that remind you of space. The houses blend in well with the forest (bamboo forest!!! how do they blend in? not my problem) except for the the clan leader's mansion, and other large facilities. There aren't any restricted areas.

-The library (which is in the gaju's mansion) contains all things magic. This includes every sub branch, things that may aid you in magic, relaxation techniques, some good yoga manuals, etc.

-Their territory has many labs because of their interest in science. Also due to them practicing some kinds of magic in those labs. Potion-making in particular is treated similarly to science (chemistry) and has many precautions.

-Most clan members live alone after becoming fully mature. The exception is the clan leader and their children. Though a previous clan leader will move out if they pass on their position without going into eternal sleep.

6. The Drosia

-Isabelline gothic architecture. Their territory is a desert. Their clan has two or three buildings scattered in places all over their territory though there is a larger 'town' in the area with the worst survivability rate for humans but it's actually just the Lukedonian prison complex. Sandstorms are pretty common so please don't walk into a plain of cacti. There is no large fancy house for the gaju and they are treated just like any other Drosia clan member. Where they live depends on what that gaju wants.

-They don't really have a library. Rather every member just has whatever books they're interested in (aka every house you enter will probably have a room filled with books). So they're like normal people. If anything they're the only ones who frequent the library of the lords' and therefore the only ones who know all the laws. Basically they visit the other clans' often.

-There's really no average for the way they live.

7. The Blersters

-Adamesque architecture and 'elven' architecture. Their territory is quite mountainous. The forest itself is a boreal forest. Their town is built into the side of a mountain quite high up and the gaju's mansions is the one highest up on a completely vertical cliff. Part of the buildings are inside the mountain. Many have balcony gardens as well as some inside the house.

-Their library (a separate building) is pretty good in that it has many books expanding over all sorts of topics. On the other hand there seem to be a tad too many about torture though not as much as romance. It's not that bad though since the torture info is under the restricted section and you need explicit permission from the lord and at least three gaju to go there.

-Families tend to live together.

8. The ???

-Islamic architecture (!!! It definitely fits for a clan that is predominantly female I think, not the religion if any of you make that mistake, but the complexity of it compared to how nobles and pretty much everyone just views them as brawlers. Plus large beautiful spaces for training 'inside'.) Their territory is more like the plains than a desert. They also have large communal homes rather than countless individual ones. Anywhere from 5-30 families (lmao noble families aren't exactly large and a good number of those families consist of just one noble) will live in one of these communal homes. This goes even for the gaju. They have their wilderness restricted aside from a few areas where anyone enter and leave from due to the animals there being extreme dangerous for careless nobles. Also due to them having the highest number of flora and fauna that is naturally toxic to nobles.

-Their library is extremely gorgeous (fourrh largest!) and has quite a few texts on the dynamics in Lukedonia, how noble bodies are structured, and diseases that inflict nobles.

9. The Loyards

-Victorian architecture. They live in individual homes per family, however, the gaju's home is a large manor in the center of the village. The landscape is just a typical temperate forest anybody can imagine. They do seem to have less fauna though but their flora flourish (haha).

-Their library (in the gaju's manor) has quite a few fictional books which is pretty surprising. Also many books on tending to plants, specially roses.

-As in canon the have a rose garden in the land of the gaju's manor. This is tended to by those in the lineage of the gaju only. Ordinary Loyard clan members also have their own gardens but on a much smaller scale, and though they have roses, they usually grow all sorts of plants such as trees, vegetables, cacti, etc.

10. The Tradio

-It's impossible to separate the architecture from the flora because their buildings are built into and around plants. Treehouses, caves, etc, are all there, aka they're like elves. The whole territory is the Tradio Gardens and there is no 'wilderness' regardless of what others say. It can be considered to be closest to a montane forest but only because it's always misty/foggy there. Every building is unique because of this. Like the Drosia there's no average of how they live. Sometimes even the gaju and their children don't live together. There aren't any restrictions but nobody visits them anyway because the Tradio Gardens scare them

-Their library (separate from the gaju's home) is filled with information on flora, fauna, and all sorts of medicines, poisons, etc.

-The Tradio Gardens are called as such because the vast area is all taken care of by them. It's also filled with strange flora and fauna that can't be found anywhere else in Lukedonia, much less the world. Examples include glowing trees (and animals. and rocks. and water. you get the drill), a single insect consuming animals much larger than them in a few seconds, literally anything, etc. That doesn't mean your generic sparrow doesn't live there too. They do. Also if you haven't grown up there or at least been there a lot you'll get lost in two seconds flat. Trees that move are a mess.

11. The Ru

-They have a large underground dwelling system which is all interconnected. The entrances to this place are small buildings that are built in the style of Tudor architecture. Since they live underground it's a communal system. The landscape outside is that of a temperate rainforest but like, they have a lot of hot springs and it is the LIFE. Some of the hot springs are restricted because they're too hot and would burn you.

-Their library has some stuff on mythology as well as religious stuff. Both by the humans of course but it is there.

12. The Kravei

-The majority of their buildings are partly or fully underwater (since they're built on the beach and inside the ocean) with only the gaju's mansion, the library within it, and some homes, being on land since nobody else can breathe underwater. I don't have much to say about the architecture either except that it's probably as nature friendly as the Tradio and covered with plants, coral, and therefore animals, and that it'ssuper fancy with the gaju's home probably being a castle. The gaju lives on land to ensure that those who visit can find him. The homes are for the Kravei who take lovers or have children not from the clan but don't want to move away. Their territory is a thriving rainforest. Nothing is restricted but it's not like anything can be accessed...

-They have two libraries. One underwater, which is filled with knowledge about the oceans, and one in the gaju's home which has a lot of historical records.

13. The Siriana

-Indian architecture. Very fancy (the most so out of the dragon clans) and a lot of precious materials can be seen everywhere. Due to the mountainous area they have many small homes (one family in one home) that seem like nests. The same goes for the gaju.

-They have a gigantic library on the plateau of the biggest mountain. Also, when I say gigantic I mean that it's much larger than the single building that the Mergas have in their territory. It's also extremely beautiful with it's black and gold colour scheme. The library has all the information you could want about anything and everything, and more. They even have all the history of the nobles, humans, werewolves, and other species. Basically it's got so much information (fictional books are available in an extremely wide selection as well) that it'd make any human jealous. There are guards pretty much everywhere (they are all at their designated stations and never move or react to anything unless you're breaking the rules or they're patrolling) and you cannot take a book out of the library without permission of the clan elders and with an explicit agreement to bring it back by a certain date. Also, this library is restricted to everyone except the Siriana, the Agvains, and the Kravei (perks of being close lol) in emergency scenarios. If you want to go inside than you need to get the permission from the gaju of the Siriana clan, otherwise it's impossible to do so due to their advanced lock system even if there are no guards.

14. The Agvains

-Their architecture is naturalistic and homely. But they also have some like super fancy modernist/art deco architecture. There is a large mansion surrounded by a rose garden in the middle of a town. They live in an active volcanic area so it is warm and there is lava everywhere. It also flows to the ocean so you'll see some of it cooled down. The gaju lives out in a house at the border of the town and the forest. They live together in communal homes of 2-4 families.

-The mansion is a restricted area where Agvain families with children who haven't reached 20 years of age live. There are those who don't follow that criteria that also live there. Only Agvains are allowed in. Exceptions to this rule are nobles who have an Agvain in their direct family. The mansions is quite large (no duh) and has three stories, not including the attic and basement. The basement is surrounded by lava and you can see it flowing against the glass, while the first floor has rivers of lava flowing on the floor. The second and third floors, as well as the attic, are free of it. There is a library on the third floor but it's mostly for the children's entertainment or learning.

-The Agvain Rose Garden consists not of modern roses but those that are grown from their blood. Furthermore they are grown so tall that they block the view of the mansion unless you look over them (nobles and their jumping skills) but that isn't allowed. The garden is looked after daily to prevent things from growing out of their place but otherwise left as is and you'll see many 'weeds' since they only get rid of parasitic plants. Due to this if they aren't taken care of it'll grow wild and prevent access to the mansion. There are two parts of the garden. The inner garden which is the ring closer to the mansion. This inner garden is restricted just like the mansion is. The outer garden is the outer ring and open to everyone. There is no difference between the two rings. The plants in the gardens eat things.

-The town has many facilities for both leisure and work. There is also a library.

15. The Noblesse

-Gothic architecture. The manor houses only the Noblesse and their children if they have any. Sometimes they may take in others for company, as a lover, etc, but most just visit rather than stay. The manor has what any fancy house does with a library, a large dining room, two kitchens, a pantry, etc. The wilderness is that of a temperate forest and some of the Noblesse tended to gardens so there is either an overrun, or a neat, garden depending on the Noblesse.

#noblesse #hcs #nahtw

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ganymedesclock · 6 years

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Is it possible Lotor wanted to get the purest quintessence through the rift in order to revive someone (some Altean that cared for him in the past)? I don't think he wanted to have quintessence just for his own power or to destroy others (as Zarkon instead does) - it doesn't suit VLD Lotor imo. Do you have any ideas?

Actually have a very specific theory about this, right here.

In other news, I’ve been really wondering about Lotor’s childhood.

For a long time, I’ve assumed that Lotor’s very Altean presentation was sort of something done consciously to spite Zarkon, but, honestly, thinking about it more, that doesn’t entirely explain things.

Lotor has a (fairly thick) Altean accent (something that isn’t AJ’s natural accent and thus affected for in-universe reasons) that doesn’t slip when he’s alone or distracted or anything like that. Besides that, a lot of his perceptions and cultural sensibilities are, frankly, Altean.

In s4e3 it’s stated that Zarkon never trained Lotor, but Lotor was clearly trained by someone- he knows how to fight and quite well. Furthermore, his weapon of choice is a straight-bladed longsword, when every galra sword with the sole exception of one of Zarkon’s bayard forms (the whip sword) has an obvious curve to the blade.

Lotor is proficient in an Altean style of weapon, speaks with an Altean accent, presents himself- the shape of his armor, the length and style of his hair- as would be expected of an Altean. His perceptions and values are stereotypically Altean- he values diplomacy, negotiation, solidarity.

These aren’t things you can just adopt, even over a period of time, in rebellion to one’s father. Cultural attitudes, accents- these things are either changed very slowly by prolonged exposure to people with similar accents and attitudes, or they’re sown from the cradle.

The implication of s3e7 is that Zarkon and Honerva spent very little time with their child. After all, the entire span of time that would logically be Lotor’s life was the same span of time they were fixated on the rift- Zarkon and Honerva met each other for the first time when she came to Daibazaal to study it.

And s3e7 made a point that their research on the rift took precedence over everything else in their lives, and, even fairly early on, Zarkon and Alfor stopped being able to see eye to eye over it. Seemingly, while they remained paladins together, Alfor stopped visiting Daibazaal.

That timeline wouldn’t suggest Lotor would have a lot of Altean exposure if Zarkon shut out Alfor that early.

Unless, y’know... Lotor wasn’t on the side of that divide that we expected.

Here’s what we see in s3e7: Alfor was a family man, thrilled to be a parent, and took opportunities in unrelated discussions to show everyone his baby daughter. Conversely, Zarkon’s overtures of acknowledging Allura are stilted and awkward, and Honerva doesn’t even make the effort, dismissively saying that the present they gave Allura was just a customary gesture.

The feeling here isn’t really that Zarkon and Honerva would be parents, if not for presumably Zarkon feeling a moral obligation to have an heir. They were quite taken with each other, but as newlyweds their focus is going right back to work, not on a family, and I can’t see Honerva compromising her work to raise a child. Babies are, by necessity, really needy, and if you work nonstop that’s going to be a lot of interruptions because baby Lotor is hungry or cold or scared or lonely and the only real way babies can express anything is screaming.

That ignoring that pretty logically if Honerva intended to keep a personal eye on Lotor, she’d have him living at the rift observatory with her, like she did with Kova, when rift exposure isn’t good for your health and Lotor as an infant would not have much of an immune system.

So what if the implication here isn’t just Lotor might’ve been raised on Daibazaal but by an Altean governess, but that some subtext to the arguments we saw Alfor and Zarkon did have onscreen was that Alfor basically took Lotor in?

Because back before s3, when asked if Lotor would be pursuing Allura romantically as he had in prior continuities, one of the writers actively said “What if they were siblings?” which I found very unusual because that’s never been remotely a thing in prior continuities. It’s pretty clearly not a thing biologically in this continuity since Lotor’s divided heritage means he needs to be related to at least Zarkon, and somehow I’m really skeptical there was a torrid offscreen affair between Zarkon and the Altean queen, especially one that, with that setup, would be very obvious and Lotor would not be calling Honerva his mother.

But honestly... if Lotor had been raised by Alfor, that. makes a lot of sense. Not only is that I can see something Alfor doing, easily- just taking Lotor and leaving at some point, losing his patience with Zarkon and Honerva focusing more on the rift than on their own child- but it would slot a lot of things into place.

Frankly, the way Lotor talks about Alfor would imply Lotor was close to him. Closer than he is to Zarkon, who he seems to have no positive feelings left towards- our only vestige they were even there is Lotor acting out the perceived role of begging Zarkon to pay any attention to him at all.

As I mentioned before, Lotor wasn’t trained by Zarkon, this is canon, but, clearly someone had to have- and what a coincidence that Lotor’s weapon is...

The exact same length and shape as Alfor’s.

In s3e2, Allura reacts very oddly to Lotor, averting her eyes and stating it’s “deeply disturbing” without clarifying what about it disturbs her- that Zarkon has a son at all? She knew he was a married man and at that point could probably guess the Altean witch accompanying him was Honerva revived. If Zarkon’s still around and so is his wife, it’s pretty straightforwards that they could have as many children as they wanted to. Nothing disturbing about that, and her reaction doesn’t imply that she’s imagining in full technicolor detail a couple of ancient space zombies doing the do.

People have also pointed out that when Alfor’s AI is fired up for the first time, he has a somewhat awkward-sounding line emphasizing Allura is his only child.

Which people have pointed out is a really suspicious thing to say, unless, y’know, that might be relevant somehow, or something might call that into question.

(Or if it’s factually correct, but, in practice, Alfor was raising another child pretty much as his own)

So was an unsung part of the developing enmity between Alfor and Zarkon that, from Zarkon’s perspective, Alfor practically stole his child, while from Alfor’s, Zarkon and Honerva neglected their son to the point that he had to personally intervene?

As a theory, this is something we should be able to test pretty rapidly going into s5... because if this theory is true, then the castleship was Lotor’s childhood home. Logically, since very little of it has been touched since its ten thousand year struggle, outside of the rooms the paladins have taken over, if Lotor lived there... he should have his own room still. One pretty much exactly where he left it. And even if Allura and Coran don’t make the decision to give him that room immediately... I’d still expect Lotor is going to react very suspiciously to being back onboard the castle, if there’s anything to this theory.

#voltron legendary defender #vld #Lotor #Alfor #readmore #the-not-so-dark-age

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sardonicnihilism · 4 years

Text

A Biography of the Woman Who Never Was

Part 1: The Girl

Chapter 1

Shannon sat, rocking herself on the living room floor of her grandparent's house as they and her mother yelled and cursed at each other. Her family was white trash. She knew it, even though it would still be a few years before she'd actually hear the phrase; the moment she did, she would instantly know that was what her family was.

The house was a hovel. Half-assed built by a poor man, sold and resold to successive generations of other poor people. Some who tried to do half-assed repair jobs on it, some who just said fuck it and left it rot while in their possession. It was a house that over the years had become a mish-mash of various architectural details that had been envouge at the time (or at least their cheapest approximations). It was well passed whatever could have passed for its prime and should have been torn down years ago but was left to stand because the economy always produced people who were poor enough not to be able to afford anything else.

The furniture, likewise, was an eclectic lot of side of the road finds, junk sales, and hand outs from family members who had been fortunate enough to claw their way up to middle class. Nothing matched, nothing congealed into anything even remotely close to a sense of style, it was furniture stripped to its bare basics - chairs for sitting and tables for holding things.

Her mother's home was even worse though. An an apartment carved out of a building that was barely big enough to count as house. The plumbing leaked, it smelled of mold and garbage, the electrical was constantly going out, it was a vomit inducing, hell hole.

Shannon had been brought here tonight because her mother thought she needed a break from parenting. Of course she seemed to be on parental break more than she was actually parenting, something her grandfather was quick to point out.

"YOU DON'T KNOW HOW HARD IT IS BEING A SINGLE MOTHER!" she screamed at them.

"If you're weren't ready for the responsibility of raising a kid, you should have stuck to sucking dick," her grandfather fummed back at her.

Shannon's grandfather was a drunk who thought his obligation to his family began and ended with his paycheck. He paid the bills, gave his wife some cash for groceries, the rest was his to get shit faced with. On the nights he wasn't too blasted, he'd stumble his way up the stairs to the bedroom he shared with his wife and paw at her, trying to get a "little lovin'" as he put it. Most times she fought him off, sometimes she didn't, sometimes she just couldn't work up enough of a damn to bother and just laid there as he drunkenly flopped on top of her.

Her grandmother was an extremely religious woman. She read the Bible daily and would preach to Shannon every time she came over about how she needed Jesus in her life. She took to heart the Biblical admonition to be subservient to her husband, although she did come close to almost killing him a couple times.

Her mother was every bit her father's daughter, a loud mouthed, pissed off drunk. And, like her father, whenever she got drunk, her brains immediately sank to her genitals. Shannon was all but certain she had been conceived during one of those drunken escapades, much like her sibling who was now taking up occupancy in her womb.

"What the fuck are you planning on fucking doing when that other little bastard drops? Huh? Ya gonna try and drop that one on us too?" her grandfather barked.

"YOU NEVER LOVED ME! YOU NEVER GAVE A FUCK ABOUT ME! I'M YOUR FUCKING DAUGHTER AND YOU NEED TO HELP ME!" her mother screamed back.

Shannon covered her ears with her tiny hands. She wanted to disappear, she wanted to die, she wanted them to die. It was then, the door to the living room opened up and Shannon looked up. Suddenly her face lit up with joy. "Aunt Mary," she began to say but her aunt just raised her index finger to her lips and motioned for Shannon to come over.

Her Aunt Mary was the only one of her family that she could say she truly loved. Mary had wanted to be a nurse growing up. She dreamed of helping others. Unfortunately, as the second born girl, it was expected that she would help take care of the house and her younger siblings. Her parents made her drop out in the tenth grade, destroying her dream. The next two decades were spent being a second mother to first her younger brothers and sisters and then to their children. She never dated, never allowed to, so her nieces and nephews became her surrogate children, Shannon the most though.

Shannon gave a quick look down the hall to the kitchen to see that her mother and grandparents were more occupied with screaming at each other than paying attention to her. She got up and ran to her aunt who quickly shewed her outside, onto the porch. There she gave her a big hug.

"Come on," Mary whispered and took Shannon's hand. The two went down the steps to the sidewalk and started walking.

"Here, I have something for you." Mary handed her a small paper bag.

Shannon took the bag and gasped as she saw what was inside. Slowly, with trembling hands, she removed the treasure from within. "It's the Mego Wonder Woman," she gasped in almost divine reverence.

Mary smiled warmly as she took her four year old niece's hand. "I thought you you might like her."

Shannon hugged her aunt with all her little strength. "I love her!" she exclaimed. Wonder Woman was Shannon's favorite character. Too young to read the comics, she loved watching the TV show. She thought Linda Carter was so beautiful and brave and strong. She hoped to one day be like her.

Shannon let go of her aunt, looked at the doll, then back to her aunt. "Where are we going Aunt Mary? " she asked confused but happy.

"To Misses Fry's house. It'll be quiet there, and you can play with your new toy."

Her aunt's face looked to be a mixture of anger, sadness, and joy, all at the same time. It confused Shannon but she never questioned it. She was happy to be away from the yelling, to being with her aunt, and to have her new toy.

She took Mary's hand again, looked up and smiled. "Ok," she said sweetly, and off they walked, down the street, under the cover of the night and stars.

#fiction #slice of life #drama #sad #dark

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followingthered · 7 years

Note

i'm feeling manipulated and lied to by my girlfriend but i don't know how to end things...help?

Oh boy. I’m very sorry to hear this, friend. It’s never a good place to be. I will definitely give you my opinion on this, but please keep in mind that I am not a professional, and my opinion is not the end-all, be-all for you.

First of all, if you’re the praying type, I would heavily suggest praying. Heck, even if you don’t believe in God, why not say a prayer anyway? It can’t hurt. Praying allows God into your circumstances and might bring you peace as well as wisdom beyond what I could ever offer you.

Secondly, I would ask if you’ve communicated your concerns with your girlfriend. It seems, from your language, that you’ve accepted separation as inevitable, but for others who might read this, I would highly suggest communicating any concerns with your partner before allowing it to devolve into this point. It’s not fun, and many issues can be remedied by honest and open communication.

Of course you’ve indicated you believe she is being manipulative and dishonest, so communication then will fail. That’s the problem with relationships - if one side drops their commitments, the other will try to take 100% of the responsibility, but it just won’t work long-term. So now we move on to how to end things.

There are several considerations to address here: are you two living together? Have you been sexually intimate? Do you have any children or pets together? Are there financial obligations between you two? Let’s look at each part separately.

Are you two living together?

This is probably the single biggest argument against cohabitation with couples, because it complicates things so, so much if/when you separate. If you share the rent somewhere, it can be fiscally impossible to drop a relationship the healthy way. That being said, I do believe in abusive/manipulative circumstances, you should do your best to get out of the situation and away from this person. If that means moving in with your parents, a friend, a sibling, or couch surfing for a while, then so be it. I guarantee it’ll be safer and healthier to be away from this person. Don’t worry so much about them, but take care of yourself.

Have you been sexually intimate?

Any form of intimacy is going to bring risk into a break-up, but sex tends to make that separation the hardest. Not only have you shared the most vulnerable part of yourself with this person, but you have bound your soul to theirs as well. This often leads people to second guess their concerns of a negative relationship, and is a primary argument against premarital sex. You need to accept the fact that this person may use what they know against you when you leave. But again, this is going to be the healthiest thing for you, to get away from them despite any threats to do so.

Do you have any children or pets together?

Obviously children take precedence in the hierarchy, but you need to approach the break-up in a different fashion here. If you two have a child together, I personally believe you both have an obligation to be a good parent. That doesn’t mean you can’t still leave this person - it just means you must discuss the raising of the child with your partner and come to an agreement on custody. The same idea goes for animals, though to a lesser degree. One of you could take the dog or cat and not need to share that relationship any further. Also, don’t mistake what I’m saying that you two need to be friends if you have a child - you simply need to be the best parents you can be apart from each other.

Are there any financial obligations between you two?

This goes along with the cohabitation thing, but some couples develop a financial dependency one way or the other. Maybe your girlfriend pays your car payment or you pay for their phone on your plan. These accounts must be settled so as to fully separate from this person and not have any further financial ties. Money has a way of coming back and being mean to couples that split up, so avoid any financial ties once you take that step.

Okay, so now we get to what you probably wanted from me anyway, and that is bringing up the issue and actually leaving this person. And honestly, there’s no easy answer. It is my opinion that you should find a time to sit them down at a time both of you have nowhere to be or aren’t already stressed out, and tell them how you feel. Explain why you feel this way, and tell them you’re ready to leave. Do your best to not get emotional about it (as impossible as that sounds), but be as polite and respectful as possible. I advise you do it in a place where you can “escape” easily - if you have your own vehicle, this could virtually be done anywhere, but having somewhere to go is the best idea.

Maybe tell some friends beforehand what you’re going to do so you have a safety net to fall back on. Having friends who support you in this is going to be of vital importance, and will really smooth the transition. Once you tell your girlfriend how you feel, give them a chance to speak. If she blasts off on you, then walk out. Let her calm down. This could take a few days to finalize the situation, and it’s going to hurt the whole time, but again, you’re going to be better off in the long run.

Once this is said and done, and you’ve physically gone elsewhere, resist the urge to text or call them for awhile. If you drink or smoke, turn off your phone so as to avoid possibly creating confrontation. Give both of you a week or two to calm down and if anything was left that needs to be discussed, you can re-engage the conversation at that time.

I know it’s probably not what you want to hear, but being firm and open and telling them in person is really the best way to go about this, I think. The only exception to this would be in the possibility of physical abuse - if you think your girlfriend could get violent, by all means tell them these things from afar over the phone. But please, please do not text. It’s a horrible medium for serious conversations like this.

Honestly I’m not sure if this helps you at all, but I sincerely hope it does, and I am praying for you. Please let me know if you would like me to explain further on something, or you just want to talk about stuff. I’m always here for you!

Remember that you deserve honesty and a fulfilling relationship, and no matter the history, your life will be better without that negativity in it. You are strong. You can do this. You are loved. Fight for your joy, friend. You deserve it.

#relationships #dating #girlfriend #boyfriend #breakup #separation #breaking up #lying #lies #manipulation #abuse #advice #Anonymous

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