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in-ky · 3 years

Note

Hi! I’d love a story about Negan being a serial killer who only kills “bad people” (like in Dexter) and maybe he saves the reader from her ex who’s about to kill her and Negan can save her and takes her in because she’s a mess but she’s actually a killer herself (who kills rapists etc/ only the bad ones) and Negan and the reader start fighting and then get caught up in steamy hot sex 🥵 thank you!

Savior - Negan Killer AU

Warnings: Warnings: GORE + violence, smut, domestic abuse, swearing, dirty talk ig? idk how to tag this lol

A/N: hey! i struggled over this one for a while lol. ive only seen like. 3? episodes of dexter so. i really hope this meets your expectations! also forgive any mistakes its late, im tired, and i wanna get this up lol. also, is negan batman? maybe. 3.7k words

"Will, stop you're hurting me!" I hissed, grabbing at his wrist. He tugged me out of the bustling restaurant and into the dark street.

"I don't really give a shit," He snarled, throwing me into a secluded alleyway a few buildings down from the restaurant. Will had taken me out to a business dinner with his boss in hopes of showing me off and making a good impression. But things didn't quite go according to plan. "You embarrassed me in front of everyone!" He pushed me against the brick wall of the closed department store.

"What was I supposed to do?" I sneered, trying to wiggle away from him "He kept commenting on my body, saying how he wished he could take me home at the end of the night and do all kinds of 'unspeakable things to me'."

"You were just supposed to shut up and take it!" Will said, voice filled with rage "But no, you and your untamable fucking complex just couldn't handle a compliment. You threw your drink in his face! You're lucky he didn't fire me right then and there. You made me look like some pussy who can't control his whore."

"You're an asshole." I shouted, tears welling at the edges of my eyes. Will's face contorted further into a look of pure, unadulterated hatred.

"What the fuck did you just call me?" He seethed, clasping his hand tightly around my throat and constricting his fingers around my airway.

"I said you're an asshole who cares more about his dead-end career than his fucking girlfriend." I croaked. I hated him. I hated him so much. My vision clouded with the combination of disgust, loathing, and lack of oxygen, so I hit him where I knew it hurt. "There's a reason you needed me for arm candy tonight. It's 'cause you're a boring, piece-of-shit, lowlife who has no skill whatsoever. How does it feel knowing you need me to make something of yourself?" With that, he threw me to the ground by my throat. He wasted no time and pinned me to the cold concrete. His knees dug into my shoulders and his hand flew to his back pocket, whipping out the switchblade he carried as a precaution against mugging. My eyes widened as they caught a glint of the moonlight off the sharp knife. He brought the blade up to my throat and slapped me over the cheek harshly with his free hand.

"You better take back those words, bitch," He hissed, pressing the blade into the soft skin of my jugular "or they might just be your last." A dribble of blood ran down my neck with the pressure. Realization flashed through my mind. I could die right then. That could have been my last moment. Was I scared? No. Why wasn't I scared? Maybe it had to do with the shadowy figure that was slowly approaching us from the ally entrance.

There was plenty of time for me to warn Will that someone was coming. But I didn't. Instead, I stayed quiet and watched as the shadow figure pulled Will from my body with ease and tossed him to the side. Everything was kind of a blur. I was still oxygen starved and filled with a whirl-wind of emotion. I heard Will cry out in surprise and indignance. The shadow figure said nothing. It saw the switchblade with a steady line of my blood. It kicked Will in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Then it lifted up a baseball bat over its head and cracked it down over Will's skull. He continued to beat Will until he stopped squirming. The shadow figure paused and swung the bat over his shoulder. I had regained my breath and pushed myself to my elbows. The shadow noticed me moving and took a few heavy steps in my direction. I squirmed away slightly, instincts telling me to get away from the thing that had just pulverized my boyfriend. The shadow entered a stream of moonlight. It was a man. He had peppered hair and a blood-speckled face. He had dark brown eyes and a small smile perched on his lips.

"You okay, sweetheart?" He said. His voice was deep. I was partially surprised. He wasn't a bulky man. He was tall and had a broad frame, but his limbs were long and his body was lithe. He wore a leather jacket and his boots were slick with what I could only assume were Will's brains. I didn't want to look at his bat.

"W-Why did you do that?" I whispered. It was all I could muster.

"He was going to kill you." The man sounded confused, like I was supposed to know who he was and why he saved me.

"You don't know that." My voice was quiet. My eyes were glued to a spot behind the man, unblinking. He let out a throaty chuckle and dropped to a squat, leveling with me.

"Doll, he had a knife pressed to your throat," His words were gentle "Looked like he was gonna fuckin' kill you." He hesitantly reached out two fingers in the direction of my face. I didn't move. He was wearing leather gloves. The ridged fabric ran along my injuries. "Seems like he did some damage before I could step in. Damn. Sorry about that. Listen, I live a few streets down. If you want, I can get you cleaned up."

"Okay," I said softly. I let him help me up to my feet. He guided me along with one arm while holding his bat with the other. As we walked out of the alley I couldn't help but look down at Will, or what remained of him at least. His forehead was split in half, a pool of chunky blood bubbling on the ground. I clenched my jaw and forced myself to swallow the bile that had risen in my throat. And yet, I didn't feel sad. I didn't mourn him. Maybe it was shock, maybe it wasn't. "Thank you?" I murmured, though it was more of a question. The man and I stepped out onto the street and I was grateful there was no one around to see us leaving the scene of a very heinous-looking crime.

"No problem, doll," The man hummed, setting a brisk pace down the sidewalk. "The name's Negan, by the way." Cool. Negan: my Savior.

~~~

"So you're like Batman?" I asked Negan as he dabbed the blood away from my neck. He gave a short chuckle and tore away the sticky part of the band-aid.

"I guess you can say that," he mused, splaying the bandage over the cut the knife had left "but I specifically go for people that I know have hurt others. The baddies, if you will."

"Is that legal?" I tilted my head, crossing my ankles as they dangled over the bathroom counter. My palms were flat on the surface of Negan's marble sink top, fiddling with the wrappers of the medical supplies he had used to clean and bandage my small cuts and bruises.

"I haven't been caught," Negan shrugged "besides, it's less work for the police. They don't have to do any interrogation bullshit or anything. I usually catch people in the act, like tonight. Then I do my thing."

"Do you kill everyone?"

"Only the bad people," He reminded, tossing away a bloody tissue "only people who have hurt others. But, yes, usually the offender ends up on the business end of Lucille over there." He pointed out the door into the living room, where the still-bloody bat rested against a chair. I furrowed my brow.

"Well, doesn't that make you a bad guy?" I pressed. He tapped my knee and I dropped down to the tile floor, tucking my hair behind my ear and gathering some of the scraps.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you still kill people, right? Even if they're bad? So doesn't that still make you a killer?" Negan was quiet for a minute. "Let's put it this way," I continued "What would you do if you came across someone who was like you; someone who hurt the bad people. Would you still kill them. They're hurting people." Negan took a deep breath and let it out with a contemplative sigh, itching his bearded chin.

"I'm not sure," He mused "I've never really thought about it before. See, I don't consider myself a bad person per say. Yea, what I'm doing might be considered fucked up. But I'm doing it for the right reason. I'm protecting people by attacking their attackers. In the end, someone's saved." He brushed off his hands and led me out of the bathroom, flicking the light off. "Would you rather me not have saved you tonight?"

"No," I said immediately "thank you. Really, thank you. You saved my life. Will is...was...always a dick, but I never thought he'd actually hurt me. I guess that proves people can have a whole bunch of layers." Negan nodded and moved to the kitchen. He raised a bottle of whiskey as an offering. I shook my head but he poured himself a glass.

"I was just doing my job," Negan grinned sympathetically "I'm sorry your boyfriend was an asshole who tried to murder you." I shrugged, amusement in my eyes.

"Eh, it happens to everyone." I smiled as he let out another laugh. I felt as if I shouldn't be laughing, but at the same time, everyone has their own responses to almost getting stabbed to death in an alley. So I let myself have this moment. Besides, Negan was a good guy to be around. He made me feel safe, comfortable, secure. Everything I needed right now. "So, Negan, what do you do? Surely vigilante-ing can't pay well, and this apartment is really nice."

"I'm a retired baseball player," Negan said, sipping his whiskey and settling into one of the armchairs in the living room "Hence the bat."

"Were you any good?" I asked. He let out a loud scoff.

"Was I any good?" He mocked "Sweetheart, I have a whole damn trophy room. I was fucking amazing. I just got old."

"So you're rich with no real job, you kill bad guys, and you have a massive ego," I listed "You really are like Batman, aren't you?"

~~~

Negan let me stay on his couch that night. It was leather, like everything else that man seemed to own, but it was comfortable. I woke up to the smell of bacon filling the air. I groaned and rubbed my fists against my eyes, clearing them of sleep. I stretched my arms above my head in a yawn and rolled off the couch, stumbling into the kitchen. Negan was hunched over the bubbling pan, dodging pellets of grease as they shot up at him.

"Smells good!" I purred, closing my eyes and taking a deep inhale.

"Good," He grumbled "You better fucking enjoy it because I've gotten burned at least three times." I laughed and walked up to him examining the small red patches that dotted his arms.

"You didn't have to make me breakfast you know."

"Yea, but I wanted to make sure you were comfortable," He sighed, turning off the stove and scooping the cooked bacon onto a paper towel. "Besides, I was craving some bacon when I woke up. I haven't had someone to share a meal with in a while."

"Well, if you want, you can come by my house for dinner." I offered, crunching down on a piece of bacon "I've been meaning to whip out the family alfredo recipe for a while, maybe a hot date would give me that incentive." I gave him a playful wink and he chuckled.

"Sure thing, doll," He hummed, putting the pan in the sink "I love me some fucking spaghetti. I'll see you around seven?"

"Sounds good."

~~~

I ran down the sidewalk, chest heaving. There was enough darkness to cover me, but I still kept my head down to prevent recognition. I held my hands close to my stomach, praying that the blood on my fingers wouldn't drip on the pavement and leave a trail. I had been on my way home from the store when I heard some commotion coming from an alley. My first instinct was to run, but then I heard the girl crying for help. Negan came to mind, what he did, how he helped people. I couldn't turn away. I marched down the alley and saw a greasy man pinning a woman to the wall of a building. Flashbacks of the night before hit me like a train. I looked on top of the alley dumpster and saw a crowbar perched on one of the lids. I grabbed it and stormed up to the man, whacking him upside the head with the weapon. I kicked him to the side and brought the crowbar over my head before swinging it down. It connected with his face in a sickening 'thwack.' I thought of Will. I thought of what might of happened if Negan had never stopped him. I thought of all the times that bastard had gotten drunk and told me I was nothing. I let the rage bubble up and fuel my beating. By the time I was pulled back into the moment, my muscles were screaming, the woman was gone, and the man's face was unrecognizable. I tossed the crowbar into the dumpster and ran back home.

Dried blood is extremely hard to wash off. It sticks to your skin in flakes, creating a pattern of red veins crawling over your hands. Fuck. I scrubbed as hard as I could under the rushing water of the sink, pumping more and more soap into my hand. It was under my fingernails. It was stuck in my palm prints. Shit, did I leave fingerprints at the scene? Would they be coming for me? With a hiss, I rubbed even harder at my skin, small flecks of blood turning the sink water red.

Suddenly, my door opened.

"I'm ready for my s'getties!" Negan boomed with a wide smile. My head whipped around, looking at him with wide eyes. His grin faded and he crossed the room in record time, grabbing my wrists and turning the sink off. "Is this fucking blood?" He snarled, bringing my hands up to my face. I clenched my jaw and dropped my eyes to my feet. "Jesus, who's is it? Answer me!"

"I-I heard someone screaming on the way home," I said quietly, eyes still downcast "I thought I would help..." His jaw went slack and he let go of my hands, running his fingers through his hair.

"Jesus fuck, you can't just go around killing people!"

"Why not?" I snapped, eyes meeting his "You do it all the time? What's the difference? Why can't I help people?"

"Because it...Because you just can't!" Negan growled, shaking his head.

"Why are you so special?" I hissed back, drying my hands off on a towel before tossing it at him "It's not like you can get a permit for fucking murder. Why do you do it, anyways? Is it some perverted thing? Do you get off on saving people from attackers?"

"Watch yourself." Negan warned, eyes darkening.

"Pfft, or what?" I laughed, tossing my head back "What are you gonna do, kill me? I'm not afraid of you, Negan." As soon as the words left my mouth, he charged me. His hand flew to my throat, squeezing my airway lightly. His hips pressed me against the counter. I let out a small gasp when he shoved his face next to mine.

"Oh, but doll, you really fucking should be." He spat, curling his lip "I could snap your neck right here, right now." He gave a small squeeze to emphasize his words. I let out a strangled moan. We both froze. "Are you turned on right now?" He muttered, furrowing his brow. I licked my lips and squirmed in his grip, pressing my thighs together slightly in an effort to alleviate the warm pressure growing in my belly.

"No," I lied, voice weak. A sinister grin curled over the bottom half of his face and he licked his tongue over his teeth.

"And I'm the perv, huh?" He sucked on my earlobe and peppered kisses down my jawline "Sweetheart, tell me, do you want me to fuck that pretty little pussy of yours? Do you want me to make you cum harder than you ever have?" I whimpered at his dirty mouth. "Use your words, doll, or I'll leave right fucking now."

"Y-Yes!" I breathed as Negan's lips sucked on the sweet spot right beneath my ear.

"Yes, what, princess?"

"Yes, I want you to fuck me, please!" I groaned, clawing at his shirt. He let out a short chuckle, muttering something about how needy I was, but I didn't care. Right now, the only thought running through my head was that I needed Negan. I needed all of him. And damn me if I wasn't going to get it.

We clawed at each other's clothes like rabid animals. Once we were completely bare, Negan moved his kisses down my body. His large, calloused hands kneaded my breasts, twisting my nipples between his thumbs. My arms flew around his neck and I dragged my fingernails up his back. He shivered against my touch and slid his hands further down my body. They settled firmly on my hips as he captured my lips in a fervent kiss.

"Fuck, sweetheart," he grunted, pulling back for air. I looked at him. His tawny eyes were now black, pupils far beyond dilated with lust. Both of our lips were swollen and red from the intensity of our kisses. Negan's chest inflated and deflated quickly as his eyes roamed over my body. "You're so damn perfect." I smiled sheepishly and pulled my bottom lip between my teeth, looking up at him through lidded eyes.

"You're not so bad yourself," I reached out my hand and used my pointer finger to draw a line from his collar bone down the center of his chest and through his navel, finally ending right over his pulsing cock. He sucked in a breath as my fingers closed around him. My thumb swept over the hot tip, gathering precum on the pad of my finger and rubbing it around.

"Shit," He hissed as I slowly pumped him "I'm not gonna fucking last if you keep doing that." He gently pried my hand away and took a step closer to me. I could feel his hardened length resting against the inside of my thigh. The thought of him being so close made a burst of heat rush down between my thighs. Negan took a long finger and ran it through my folds, collecting my wetness. I moaned as he teasingly dipped the first knuckle into me. He pulled back and let out a low whistle. "Damn, girl," he chuckled, raising his finger to my face "You're fucking dripping. Who's that for?" His slick-coated fingers glistened in the light of my apartment. I let out a deep groan as he slid them between his lips and sucked.

"You, Negan!" I whimpered, wrapping my legs around his waist "It's all for you." A wolfish grin spread over his features as he tugged me off him and pulled me down off the counter. He spun me around and pressed gently between my shoulder blades until my chest was flat against the cold surface.

"Then if you don't mind," Negan cooed, lining himself up with my entrance "I'm going to take what belongs to me." With that, he slowly pushed into me. I gasped at the stretch, balling my hands into fists as he continued to split me open.

"Fucking shit," he groaned once he bottomed out "you're tight as hell. I bet you've never had a dick as big as mine." He pulled out slightly and I let out a moan at the growing emptiness inside. The moan soon turned to a yelp when he brought down his hand against my ass. The smack was loud and he rubbed the red spot tenderly. "Have you?"

"N-No!" I gasped when he thrusted into me for the first time "Never. Fuck, you feel so good." Negan's thrusts sped up, his hips snapping against my ass in an obscene rhythm. Grunts and moans of pleasure slipped from both of our lips as he plowed unapologetically into me. I could feel every inch of him. He was hitting every spot, dragging against my walls in a sinfully perfect way.

"You're doing so good," He purred, kissing and biting my shoulder "So good for me. You're so perfect." I tossed my head back and he grabbed my chin, tilting my face towards him so he could give me another bruising kiss. I could only keep up for so long, though, and the white bliss of pleasure he was giving me soon became overwhelming. My jaw went slack and my head dropped against the cool tile of the counter in an attempt to ground myself in the moment. "I want you to cum, doll, cum around me. Wanna feel those walls squeeze me." His thrusts were starting to become sloppy and I could tell he was getting to his end. One of his fingers danced down my spine and found its way to my clit. He circled it with just enough pressure to get me to the edge that I was so willing to jump off. "Now." Negan growled. I obeyed, feeling the band in my lower abdomen snapping violently. We reached our releases simultaneously. My walls clenched around him, milking him of every drop. I screwed my eyes shut and screamed his name, holding in a large breath as the world around me spun. Negan eventually pulled himself out and collapsed on top of me. We both were breathing heavily, sweaty bodies entangled as well as we could over a counter. I swallowed, my throat dry from panting through my orgasm. When my eyes fluttered open, I could see Negan's thumb tracing circles over the love bites that were starting to darken on my shoulders.

"Are you going to kill me?" I rasped, running a hand through my wild hair "I guess I'm a bad person now." Negan chuckled, still out of breath.

"I think I'll make an exception," He mused, pressing a sweet kiss to the shell of my ear "I don't think I'm ready to let you go just yet."

#negan x reader #negan x y/n #negan smut #negan x you #negan smith #au!negan #the walking dead #twd smut #twd negan

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demonsandmischief · 3 years

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Sleepy

Ghost Adventures - Zak Bagans Imagine

Zak Bagans x Female Reader, 1200 words

-Sleepy-

Imagine Zak is very grouchy when traveling and filming. He learns that you are his best remedy.

----

You had just arrived at the filming location which was a pretty isolated mining town. You worked for Travel Channel doing photography, and some setting up and taking down, but you never got up close and personal with the Ghost Adventures crew - Billy, Aaron, Jay nor Zak. You got along great when working, but that was as far as the interaction went.

Because the ghost town was in the middle of nowhere, staff was limited for the episode. Those that you worked with regularly would only be around for today before flying home tonight. You, however, were needed the whole time. This meant you would be staying in an RV with the crew. Three days and two nights.

You were extremely apprehensive about the whole thing. The mobile home was huge and luxurious, easily sleeping up to 8 people and there were only 5 including you, but you didn't really know any of them that well. They were like that group in high school who only hung out with each other, and you were the outsider.

"It's a slumber party," Aaron grinned, taking the bags that you were clutching nervously in your hands as you took in the beast of an RV.

You followed him up the steps. Billy was sitting at the dinette, working on his laptop. He greeted you kindly.

Jay had followed you in with multiple bags of his own, and you quickly moved out of his way so he could dump them onto the plush couch.

"All of those are cameras for set-up later," Jay said, seeing your perplexed look.

"Has anyone seen Zak?" asked Aaron. "The first person we're interviewing should be here within an hour."

"Y/N," Billy started, catching your attention. "Zak sleeps in the room with the queen sized bed. The rest of us will crash in the other room which has four bunks. I'm assuming you won't want to be in there. The couch folds out into a bed."

You laughed softly, imagining the tall men sleeping in beds meant for children. "I'm good with that, thanks. Who exactly will be sleeping on that top bunk?"

The three guys exchanged looks before Jay spoke, "Bill is the shortest."

"There's no way I am, dude," Aaron chuckled.

"I'm shortest by like an inch," Billy argued, shutting his laptop.

"That inch matters," Aaron retorted.

"Y/N can pick then," Jay said, and they a turned expectantly towards you.

"No way," you shook your head. You didn't want to get in the middle of it. "Draw names or something."

"If Zak chose, he definitely would pick Aaron," Billy said teasingly.

"Whatever," Aaron rolled his eyes.

Speaking of the devil, Zak climbed into the RV right into where you and the guys were talking. You've always had a small crush on him. Zak was very good looking and very intelligent, but you had never really had a conversation with him. Today, he had a deep frown on his face, his eyes also dark. He was disturbed by something.

"Come on. There's lots of things to get done. We don't have all day, guys," Zak said, before leaving. They could all feel the tension.

Billy blew out some air before standing up with his laptop and leaving. Aaron and Jay followed.

You dug through your bag to pull out your favorite camera along with the right lens. Your job was to take promotional pictures for the website, social media and whatever else. It had to be one of the best jobs you have ever had.

You were startled when Zak came back in the RV.

"Hello," he greeted, not even looking at you. He had a small bag, carrying it with him into the bedroom.

You fiddled with your camera, checking the settings and battery. You decided it would be a good idea to start walking around and taking some pictures. The place was huge.

You stood up, nearly knocking into Zak who had left the room so quietly you didn't even notice.

"Watch it," he said, clearly irritated. You didn't know if it was because of your presence or what you noticed earlier, but it still bothered you.

"I'm sorry," you whispered, but he was gone once more. You frowned, a million thoughts running through your head.

You kept to yourself the rest of day, until night came and everyone headed in early. Tomorrow was set-up and it started as soon as the sun was up for you, Billy and Jay. You were lucky you didn't have to stay up all night like they did.

----

You were startled from your sleep by someone making a lot of noise in the fridge right by the couch.

You sat up with squinty eyes, trying to clear and focus them.

"Shit, sorry Y/N. I was just getting some water," Zak whispered. He was in sweatpants and a t-shirt, the black was illuminated by the light of the fridge. His hair was ruffled, and he had deep bags under his eyes.

"It's fine," you mumbled. It looked like he hadn't slept at all, yet he was dragging on his feet. "Are you alright, Zak?"

"I'm fine," he said dismissively, shutting the refrigerator harshly.

"You're going to wake up the whole RV," you said, becoming more awake by the minute.

Zak released a breath, cursing something under this breath. He was agitated by something.

"I can listen, Zak. I promise I won't say anything," you patted the bed beside you.

He hesitated, before sitting with his back against the wall. It was silent between the two of you.

"I might fall asleep if you don't start talking," you yawned, leaning your head on his shoulder. Your eyes were becoming heavy.

"I've been irritated since that last investigation a few weeks ago. I can't shake it," he whispered. His low voice vibrated your whole body and it was quite soothing.

"Have you slept?" you murmured.

You could feel him shake his head no, and you sighed. "Zak, you're going to get sick. It's been weeks."

"I can't sleep undisturbed anyway."

"You should try. Just close your eyes," you were struggling to stay awake. Zak had started running his fingers through your hair, and combined with his voice, you were comforted like nothing else.

Zak smiled down at you, but you couldn't see. He was beginning to like you. He had noticed you before, but had never taken the chance to get to know you. That clearly was a mistake. His head was surprisingly quiet in this moment, and he felt like he could truly fall asleep if he wanted to.

----

The more he thought of it, the more it threatened to take over. He could feel your soft breathing even out. You had fallen asleep, and he wasn't too far behind. He rested his head on yours and sleep found him.

Here's Part 2

A/N: I love this one. So soft and simple 🥺. I think it deserves a part 2. What do you think?

#zak bagans x reader #zak bagans imagine #ghost adventures #zak bagans #ghost adventures crew #aaron goodwin #billy tolley #jay wasley #gac #paranormal #travel channel #imagine #quick read

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magicalgirlsandcerulean · 3 years

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Ep. 10's blog post

This blog post, with Hori's second entrance, is dated 15th June 2021. Spoilers below, as always!

Notes before we begin:

For those of you who didn't check out ep. 9's blog post, see tweet 2 on that for more info about one of the characters of the day.

Due to the unintended delay on this post, I've tried to translate more completely than usual and that caused the release of this post to be postponed by another day...Sorry. Even still, consult the actual post for proper placement of emojis, coloured text etc.

This time, just for efficiency's sake, I skipped a lot of the honorifics because Hori refers to Takara, Tina and Tsumahara as -san. I've only left it in for "Balle-san" (a one-off) and when other people refer to Hori as "Hori-san" (as opposed to when Hori calls himself "Hori" with no honorific).

Also, an advance note that you'll probably want to cry when Hori pulls out the crying kaomoji. (I wanted to cry at two points when he did, at least.)

CR translations were used where I could chase them up.

Post title: バリバリのバリの禁忌其の拾！

The Very Vigorous Taboo No. Ten! [T/N: バリバリのバリ (baribari no bari) has some obvious repetition in Japanese, so I had to try convey that in English as well, even though small!Takara is more "working hard" than "vigorous". The final "bari" is a Hakata dialect thing - we already know Hori is from Fukuoka, so that fits. I had to translate the title because this phrase appears later on.]

皆様、お世話になっております。

Everyone, thank you for taking care of me. Fairy蘭丸〜あなたの心お助けします〜で雅楽代寶を演じております、堀曜宏と申します。

I am called Akihiro Hori, who voices Takara Utashiro in Fairy Ranmaru ~We Will Help Your Heart~. 又の名をジャガイモ堀堀です、本日は何卒よろしくお願いします。

Also known as "Potato Digging Hori", please kindly take care of me today. [T/N: "Potato digging" = jagaimo hori, so "potato digging Hori" = jagaimo hori Hori. It also makes reference to the ep. where the kids dug up potatoes.] 禁忌其の拾『快楽』熱かったですね！！！

Episode 10, "Hedonism", was passionate, wasn't it?!!! 今回は寶さんの二回目のお当番回ということで、本編を見返しながら楽しめるような感想を主観ですが、勢いと共に書かせて頂きたいと思います。

This time was Takara's second focus episode. Although we see [elements] that recur from the original story [ep. 5], the impressions we are able to enjoy are subjective and so I will write with fervour. 開幕は女王チームとの密談からSTART!!

We START by opening the curtain on the queen team's private talk!! [T/N: "Queen team" = Queen + Houjou (+ sloth).] シリウスについて女王からせっつかれている寶さん。

The Queen is pestering Takara about Sirius. 座長…誰の台詞が麩菓子じゃい！！！！

Leader...whose lines are fugashi!!!! [T/N: Fugashi are a type of Japanese sweet. There are sweet potato fugashi, so I assume this is either a typo or a pun on a similar word. If it's a pun, the word is likely to be おかしい (strange, suspicious, unbecoming).] [T/N 2: The line below suggests "leader" (zachou) = Ranmaru, so this sentence would be referring to Sakata.] でも生配信で話している時の堀からは想像できないと思いますが…実は普段の堀は、どうやら寶さんの女王様に対する話し方くらいのらりくらりでみんなと通話しているらしく、このシーンをみんなで見てる時、ざちょ「堀さんだ」草「堀さんだねぇ」なんて言われながらみんなに笑われておりました。

However, while the stream was happening, I couldn't imagine this, but...to tell the truth, the way I usually speak to everyone is like Takara's non-committal way of speaking to the Queen, so when everyone saw this scene, the leader [Sakata] went, "That's Hori-san," and Kusano went, "That's Hori-san, isn't it?" without saying anything and so everyone laughed. 電話が切れた後の豊穣さんと女王の会話から、寶さんのお父上が夭聖界にとって如何に大事な存在だったかがわかります。

After the call was cut, we learn how important Takara's father is in the fairy world from Houjou and the Queen's conversation. そんな豊穣さんからの厚い信頼に応えるように、どこかのお姉さんへお誘いをかける寶さん…

While proving worthy of Houjou's kind confidence, Takara is asking a girl out somewhere... お相手の名前、ayakoさんって面白い名前だなぁと思ってたら、堀気づいちゃいました。[T/N: The source text, as you can see when you pause the ep. at the right time, is meant to say "[at sign]yako", but the at sign was tripping the "mention a user" function in Tumblr, so I had to swap it out with a lowercase A where it appears in this post.]

His partner's name is "ayako", which I thought was an amusing name. これ、あやこって読むんですね！！！（アハ体験）

This is read "Ayako", isn't it?!!! (a-ha moment) そしてはい、きました、バリバリのバリのショタカラさん！！！！（人間体）

Also, we got to see him, the very vigorous sho-Takara!!!! (human form) [T/N: Literally "we got to see him" was "[he] came", LOL.] [T/N 2: Sho-Takara = shota (prepubescent boy) + Takara.] あまりの可愛さにコメントも騒然としましたね。

There was an uproar in the comments that he's excessively cute. 回想シーンでは以前も登場した、弁護士さんと寶さんの関係も明らかになりました。

The relationship between the lawyer, who's appeared before this flashback scene, and Takara is also made clear. 弁護士さんも元夭聖、しかも寶さんのお父上とただならぬ関係だったみたいです。

The lawyer was also from the fairy world and had a strong relationship with Takara's father. 幼い寶さんは弁護士さんからどんな風に人間界の生き方を仕込まれたんでしょうか…

What sort of way of living in the human world did the very young Takara learn from the lawyer...? 半裸シーツで肌に傷をおった姿のショタカラさんが、窓の外を見上げながら「いつかきっと… 」と呟く様子にその壮絶さを感じます。

The half-naked and wounded sho-Takara, looking out the window and whispering, "Someday, surely..." [gives off a] heroic feeling. [T/N: I couldn't use the CR quote for this because that's translated more in context, as just "someday".] 寶さんのエセ関西弁は、この弁護士さんに仕込まれた影響だったんですね。

Takara's fake Kansai accent is acquired from the lawyer's. そして現代に戻ったと思ったら、飛んで火にいる子猫ちゅわん！

Also, when we think we've returned to the present, a kitten jumps into the flame! [T/N: This translation builds off the CR version of the line, "Like a kitten to the flame!"] 今回の依頼人、ティナさんの登場です！！

This time's client, Tina, appears!! 「ちょっと何言ってるかわからないんだけど！」

"Oh, please! That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" 寶さんこの時のっけから飛ばしまくっていたので、堀はこの台詞がツボに入って笑いを堪えるのが大変でした。

Takara, at that time, couldn't help but send her flying from the beginning and it was difficult for me because I was trying not to laugh - there was "tsubo" in my lines. あいも変わらずスマートに名刺を渡すも、「世界で一番惚れてる男のところに連れてって！」とピシャリ。

Even after [Takara was] as smooth as ever and [handed] over the business card, she refused with "Take me to the man I love most!" [T/N: The word for "smooth" here is literally "smart", but "smart" doesn't seem to have the right connotations.] …どうやら今回の依頼人も、一筋縄ではいかないみたいです。

...apparently, this time's client seems very straightforward. 『快楽』ﾁﾘﾘﾘﾝ

"Hedonism" *ring ring ring* 寶さんはティナさんをお子さんのお迎えに連れて行き、そのまま2人を仕事場へと送り届けます。

Takara brought Tina to her child and, without a pause, brought those two to [Tina's] workplace. 仕事場ではみんなでティナさんのお子さんをあやしていたり、同僚の方のティナさんのダンスへの信頼に、思わずいい職場だなぁと感心する堀でしたが。。。

At the workplace, everyone comforted Tina's child and Tina's colleagues had confidence in her dance, so I admired, without thinking, how good of a workplace it was... そこに現れる父親、妻原さんですよ！！！！！（ﾌﾝﾇｰ‼︎）

Then the husband, Tsumahara, appeared!!!!! (Barbarian!!) [T/N: There is no confirmed reading of this name, so it might be "Tsumabara".] 前回のうるう回の久二さんも相当でしたが…勝るとも劣らない圧倒的なそれ…っ！！

He's equivalent to last time's (Uruu's episode's) Kyuji...but [Kyuji] overwhelmingly compares favourably to that guy...!! お子さんの顔も見ずにお金をせびるのみならず、ティナさんの一張羅のコートまで…！！

Not only does he demand money without seeing his child's face, but he also goes as far as taking Tina's one good coat...!! ちょっと申し訳なさそうにして受け取るのがまた、なんかもう…っ！！

The fact he looks a little apologetic as he receives it is just...!! だのにティナさんは、頑張って稼がなきゃって…″家族″のためにって(′つω；｀)

Despite this, Tina must try her hardest to make money...for her "family". (′つω；｀) その言葉は、お子さんに対してだけじゃなくて…うわぁああああ！！！

Those word aren't just for her family...uwaaaaa!!! 次のカットで妻原さんは貰ったそのお金をギャンブルに突っ込んでました（遠い目）

In the next cut, Tsumahara pushes the money he received into gambling. (distant eyes) この時の寶さんのモテポイント、「姉さん、そろそろ出番でっせ」は何も見なかったように落ち着いて投げてあげて、それでも見られたくない所を見られちゃった、というニュアンスが返ってきたら「こういうことする俺、格好ええやろ？」と冗談まじりに茶化しながら優しさを渡す。

This is the time Takara is popular. He says, "Dearie? I think you're on." He calms down and gives up as if he never saw anything, but even still, after he returned [from seeing her exchange with Tsumahara] with a nuance of "he saw what he did not want to see", he would joke gently, "Aren't I cool for doing this sort of thing?" and poke fun at himself. この機微がモテる大人のテクニックなんですよ…！！

This subtlety is a technique popular with adults...!! 見てくださってる男性の皆さんにも是非取り入れていただきたい…なぁみんな！！？

Any men watching should certainly take in this [advice]...yeah, everyone?!! 堀は後十年は修行させてください(′・ω・｀)

Please train me [in the art of love] for another 10 years. (′・ω・｀) はい、一方BAR Fは今日もカレーです。

Yes, at the same time, there's curry at Bar F today too. 前回のラストが熱い…！展開だっただけに、皆さんあれからどうなったのか、眠れない夜を過ごされていたと思います。

The conclusion last time was intense...! I'm sure everyone had a sleepless night wondering what happened after that development. 何気なく水をうるうくんに渡す焔くん、何気なく焔くんを気遣ううるうくん、照れながらも返事をする焔くん、嬉しそうな蘭丸樹果バックン。

Homura, who's casually giving water to Uruu,

Uruu, who worries about Homura,

Homura, who blushes while responding,

Ranmaru, Juka and Bakkun, who seem happy. てぇてぇが過ぎてぇ堀は平身低頭（てぇとう）ですありがてぇ…ありがてぇてぇ！！！！

They're excessively precious and I was prostrating myself, thanking them...thanks, precious!!!! [T/N: Hori slurs several of his words in this sentence, typically てぇてぇ = toutoi (precious/noble), 平身低頭 = heishin teitou (prostrating oneself) and ありがてぇ = arigatou (thank you). He then combines てぇてぇ and ありがてぇ, hence "precious".] それから所変わってお出掛け中の寶さん、いつも通りキスのおねだりを茶化しながら交わしていきます。

Then, in the meantime, Takara was out, as always, begging for kisses and teasing a woman. 聞こえないくらいの声で憂うように、「わいが欲しいのは、なんやろなぁ」とポツリ。

In a voice that can barely be heard, he mumbles, "I don't know what I want..." この台詞は後の展開にも効いてくる凄く大事な台詞なんですが…。

This line is very important in terms of later developments... コメントで「（カレーには）ナンやろなぁ…」って書いた人怒らないから正直に言いなさい（ﾋﾟｷﾋﾟｷ）

In the comments, there was a person who wrote, "I don't know what (curry) I want..." - please say who you are, I won't be mad *veins snap* Aパートおしまい！

That's the end of the A part! ブログでもCM入ります！情報いっぱいだよ！

This is a blog, but I'll still insert ads! There's a lot of info! ・山野ホールでライブします！（9/18だよ！）

- The live show at Noyama Hall! (On the 18th of September!) ・特典盛り沢山のBD、DVD発売します！（第1巻は６/16発売！）

- The BD/DVD is being sold, with lots of bonuses! (1st BD/DVD sold on the 16th of June!) ・キャラソンアルバムHEAVENS DOOR発売します！（同じく6/16、遂に艶歌が全部聞けるよ！）

- The character song album HEAVEN'S DOOR is being sold! (On the same day [as the BD/DVD], the 16th of June, so you can finally hear the whole enka!) てつえーさん「Nice Pole Dance…ﾀﾞﾝｽﾀﾞﾝｽ」（ええ声エコー）

Tetsuei [Sumiya]: "Nice pole dance...(dance dance)" (nice voice echo) Bパートいきます！！

To the B part!! 開幕ティナさんのキラキラポールダンスからスタート！！

The curtain opens on Tina, who starts with a sparkling pole dance!! お子さんを膝に乗せて馴染んでいる寶さん。

The child, who's on the lap of and [now] accustomed to Takara. お子さんのママ～！の声、可愛いですねぇ(´,,･Д･,,`)

The child's cry of "Mama~!" was cute, wasn't it? (´,,･Д･,,`) やはり彼のためにも、家族の為にも頑張るというティナさん。

Of course, Tina will try hard for his sake, for the family's sake. 自身の生い立ちから、家族という存在をいかに大事にしているかが伺えます。

From his own background, we can see how much he values the existence of his family. 5話の寶回の時の依頼人の恵夢さんもやはり家族のために身を粉にして働いていましたし、今回のティナさんも…。

From episode 5's Takara episode, the client, Emu, also worked assiduously for her family, so this time's Tina also... 寶さんにも金鋼族の復興のため、寶さんのため、痩せ細った体で自分の食べるものすら譲ってくれたお母さんという存在がいたからこそ、家族のために自分を犠牲にして頑張る方に複雑な思いを抱いてしまうのでは無いでしょうか。

In order for Takara to revive the Metallum Clan, for Takara's sake, Takara's mother even gave over her own food and it is precisely because of that that she became a victim of trying hard for the sake of her family and that's why Takara has such complicated emotions, is it not? しかも今回はその″家族″が不義を行っているなんて…。

Moreover, this time, this time's "family" is unjust... そしてそして！！！！！

Also, also!!!!! お待たせしました！銭湯ノルマ達成ですありがとうございます！！

Thanks for waiting! Thanks for fulfilling the bath quota!! この時流れてきた「みんなストローは持ったかァ！！」ってコメント、爆笑しました。

At this time, the comment that came about was "Everyone's holding straws!!" and so there was uproarious laughter. [T/N: It's not clear if there's just one person laughing or many, hence the intentional vagueness.] ですが今回の銭湯の中身はすっごくシリウス…じゃなかったシリアス。

However, this time's bath [scene] is amazingly serious...not (Sirius). [T/N: Hori inserts Sirius's name at the end of the sentence as a pun on "serious", so if it seemed like the translation said "serious, not serious", I did my job.] みんなの顔を眺めながら、豊穣さんと交わした特命の話を回想していきます。

After we gaze at everyone's faces, we go to a flashback scene where [Takara is] given his directive from Houjou. その中には女王に内密の話まで…そんな重たいものを背負いながら、寶さんはみんなに毎日カレーを作っていたんですね。

In that it's to the point it's kept a secret from the Queen...Takara makes curry for everyone everyday while burdened with those heavy things, huh? でも、これまで毎日みんなでカレーを食べて、銭湯に入って、愛著を集めて、日々を過ごして。

However, until now, every day everyone's eaten their curry, gone to the bath, gathered attachment and spent their days [together].

家族として一緒に過ごしてきたみんなの顔を見回した時の寶さんの顔は、優しさに満ち溢れた顔でした。

As family, when spending time together and looking around at everyone's faces, Takara's face is full of affection. この時の「楽しい時間は長く続きまへんな」という台詞。

At this time, there is the line: "The fun times never last, do they?" 寶さんのみならず、堀自身もF蘭の最終回の近さを意識しておりましたので、言葉にした時に込み上げるものがありました。

Not only Takara, but I personally realised F-Ran's final episode is near and so, while I'm bad at putting this into words, [emotions] welled up inside me. そして明らかになる妻原さんの別の家族の存在。

Then, it becomes clear Tsumahara has a different family. ティナさんと妻原さんの会話が始まります。

Tina starts a conversation with Tsumahara. もうここの妻原さんのクズっぷりが真骨頂！！！

Already, the Tsumahara from this [point in] time's true worth is basically scum!!! ティナさんがあまりにもあまりにも可哀想で…

Tina is really, really unfortunate... 「お前も俺を見捨てるんだな！！」

"So, you're abandoning me too!!" あんた、別のところでも同じようなことしとったんか…？

Aren't you the same, even though it's from a different perspective...? 絶望のあまり、倒されたゴミ袋の上で笑うしかなくなってしまうティナさん。

Without much remorse, Tina has no choice as she's left collapsed on the rubbish bags and Tsumahara laughs. そこに夭聖は現れるんです…！！

Then, the fairies appear...!! 「美人さん、お持ち帰りしてええか？」

"Lovely lady, might I walk you home?" ほんと、全人類言ってみたい台詞トップ5にランクインする台詞です…！！

Really, that's going to rank in the top 5 lines that all of humanity wants to be said to them...!! チャイルドシートを携えたいつもの車でティナさんの話を聞く寶さん。

Takara listens to the story of Tina, who's always carrying a child seat around with her. 「わかってた、利用されてるだけって」

"I knew...some part of me knew he was just using me." 「なのに、あいつがポケットに手を入れた時にさ、指輪かなって思ったんだよね」

"But when he reached into his pocket, I honestly thought it might be a ring." 「笑顔で溢れるあったかい家庭、作りたかったの」

"I wanted to create a happy family, full of smiles..." この台詞が悲痛過ぎて…。

These lines are too sorrowful... 堀は最初、思わず拳を握りしめて返す台詞をかけてしまいました。

I, at first, clenched my fists without thinking at these lines. ですがこの時、製作陣から、何より真摯に優しさを向けてあげて。

However, this time, I felt sincerely affectionate for this cobbled-together group. 頑張っている人は報われるんだよ。ってティナに伝えて欲しい、というディレクションを頂いて。

I received the direction that I should convey to Tina, "Hard work will be rewarded!" このシーンの台詞は寶さん自身の言葉で、その思いが乗らなきゃダメなんだと何度もトライさせていただきました。

This scene's dialogue is in Takara's own words and I had to try repeatedly to convey his thoughts on it. 「あなたの心、頂けますか？」から大自然の流れでジャ…変身の時間だぁーーー！！！！！

After "Could I take your heart?", the scene changes and...it's transformation time---!!!!! 思わずナイスバルク！と声をかけたくなる惚れ惚れする筋肉。

Without thinking, I was charmed by [Takara's] muscles and wanted to call out, "Nice bulk!" 画面いっぱいに広がる肉体美と拳、地面をぶっ壊しながらあげる名乗り。

The physical beauty of his body and fists filled the screen, he broke the ground and called out his name. 格好よさが臨界点突破して美しいに昇華しとるんですよ！！！！！！！

His coolness has broken through the critical point and sublimated itself into beauty!!!!!!! 妻原さんはティナさんとあんな会話をした後だというのに、魂が昂りながら「夢も愛もどうでもいい」なんて曰いながらギャンブルに興じていらっしゃいますねぇ…。

Tsumahara, even after he had that conversation with Tina, happily spends his days gambling, arousing his spirit as he says, "What do dreams and love matter?" バレさん、技を借りるぜ…！！

Balle-san, I'll borrow a technique of yours...!! ふざけんにょ！！！！！

Stop screwing around!!!!! [T/N: reference to Balle-san's ep. 9 post] そして始まる艶歌、五話もそうでしたが、歌詞が今回の話とのリンクして、絵の美しさも合間って没入してしまいます。

Then the enka begins - it was in ep. 5 as well but the lyrics are linked to this episode and I was immersed in the beauty of the visuals for a moment. 早くフルで聴いてほしい！！！皆様、是非HEAVENS DOORを！「愛の勘定」も勿論ですが、みんなの艶歌をフルで聴けばストーリーとのリンクが増して、よりグッと来るはずです！！！

I want you to hurry and listen to the full version!!!! Everyone, please listen to HEAVEN'S DOOR! There's "Payment of Love" of course, but if you listen to everyone's full enka, you'll [be able to make] links with the story and it will hit you in the feels!!! 艶歌が終わり、ドアが開けば今回のヘブンズ空間はまるで屏風の中に入ったかのような和風の世界。

After the enka ends, the door opens to this time's Heaven's Room, which is a Japanese-style world quite like that on a folding screen. そこに雷神と雷神を模したかのような敵が現れます。

Then, enemies that look like the well-known thunder god and a thunder god's imitation appear. [T/N: referring to Raijin] 毎回のことですが、ヘブンズ空間も本当に趣向を凝らしてあって…ど緊張のバトルシーンのはずなのに、思わず堀の魂も昂ってしまいます…！！！

It happens every time, but these Heaven's Rooms are really ingenious...there should've been a hugely nerve-wracking battle scene, but without thinking, my spirit was unintentionally aroused...!!! なんと今回の鍵穴にはティナさんとお子さんの2人が！

What? This time Tina and her child are both behind the keyhole! なぜわかったノルマに愛らしい声が混ざる日が来るとは。

I never thought I'd see the day where a charming voice would be mixed in with the "What? I got it!" quota. そしてもう一方の鍵穴からは妻原さんの極悪な声が…

Also, in the other keyhole is Tsumahara's heinous voice... 「人はなあ！快楽には勝てねぇんだよ！」「酒！タバコ！セッッッ！！薬物！！特にギャンブルはなぁ！！」

"A person can't conquer their hedonistic tendencies! The pleasures of drinking! Smoking! Sex! Drugs! And gambling especially!!" [T/N: Hori censors the word "sex" by "stuttering" over the final syllable but CR doesn't, so I've sided with the latter.] 座長が現場でハッキリ言ったぁーーー！！！ってツッコんでたのを覚えていますw

"The leader put it clearly at the time--!!!" I remember joking. ですが、言葉のパワーはもうネタの領域を超えた、狂気の世界のそれです。

However, that is a mad world where the power of words is beyond the realm of stories. その言葉に促されるように敵から酒の玉攻撃が、そしてもう一方の敵からはヤニの煙の攻撃が。

With those urging words, the enemies send bubbles of alcohol and then from the other side comes a tobacco smoke attack. この時のうめき声のディレクションは、堀くん今○○kgの重りが乗ってるよ！！と言われながら、体にそれに合わせた負荷をかけるように声を出していました。次の日筋肉痛になりました。

At this time, when the direction, "Groan and pretend you have a __ kg weight on you!!" was given, as I shouted, it was like a corresponding load was being added. The next day my muscles hurt. なんとか持ち堪えた寶さんですが、「なら、これならどうかしら…」その言葉と共に現れる寶さんのお母さんの幻想。

Takara's able to hold out somehow, but then an illusion of Takara's mother appears with the words, "Well, what will you do?" 前回もうるうくんのお母さんと焔くんのお父さんが現れましたが、まさか今回は寶さんのお母さんが…。

Last time, Uruu's mother and Homura's father appeared, so surely this time Takara's mother... しかもこんな形で痩せ細っていないお母さんの姿を見ることになるなんて…！

Furthermore, to see his not-so-skinny mother in this form...! あの優しかった声で、こちらに攻撃をかけてきます。

This is the attack that's given with that gentle voice. 押し倒されて首をしめられる寶さん。

Takara is being held down and strangled [by his mother's illusion]. この時の台詞の色気も相まって、まるで2人が繋がっているような…

Coupled with the sexiness of the dialogue at this point, it's as if the two are connected... 更に畳み掛けるようにチェリーの入ったグラスから液体を口に含み、そのマッマ寶さんの口に流し込みます。

Furthermore, as if pressing for answers, Takara's mother uses her mouth to pour liquid into Takara's mouth, from a glass with a cherry in it. 苦しさのあまり悶絶絶叫する寶さん、これは先の妻原さんの「酒、タバコ、セッッッッ、そして薬物」それらの快楽を暗喩しているのでしょうか。

Is Takara, who's about to scream and faint in agony, [being subjected to] metaphors for hedonism Tsumahara was mentioning earlier? そしてシリウスの登場です。

Also, Sirius appears. す○ざんまいのポーズって言うのやめーや！！！

Stop doing the Su___zanmai pose!!! [T/N: referring to the dude who stands with his hands outstretched from Sushizanmai] しかし今回の句には堀は思わず確かに…と頷いてしまいました。

However, this time I couldn't help but nod and say, "Indeed..." 人は何故ほんの刹那の快楽のために沢山のものを犠牲にしてしまうのか…

Why do we sacrifice so much for a fleeting moment of pleasure? むしろ刹那だからこそ、それを追い求めてしまうのかもしれませんね（哲学）

Rather, it's because it's momentary that we chase it and seek it out? (philosophising) 苦しみながらも、「俺が欲しいものはこんなんじゃない」と懸命に耐える寶。

Even in agony, Takara eagerly bears it [and says], "This isn't what I want." しかしそれも、「あなたが欲しいのは、母親からの豊満な愛情でしょう？」と、肥大化した幻想に押しつぶされる寶さん。

However, in addition to that, the illusion becomes fat [with the words], "What you want is the full-bodied love of your mother!" ニコニコのタグにもありましたが、確かに快楽要素全部乗せプレスは重い、重すぎます。

As the tag on Nico Nico said, it is true that all the hedonistic elements being pressed are heavy, far too heavy, イきかける寶さんですがなんとか力を振り絞り、幻想を押しのけます。

Takara is about to have the life choked out of him, but he comes to his senses and pushes the illusion away. しかしそれが最後の力だったのか、体が動かず追撃をかわせそうにありません…！

However, that was the last of his strength and so he's not able to move...! これで終わりか…と思ったその瞬間ですよ！！！！！

This was the moment...I thought it was the end!!!!! 最高に勇ましい掛け声と共に焔が敵の攻撃から寶を守ります！！

With a shout, Homura, who's the best and heroic, comes and protects Takara from attack!! そのまま蘭丸とうるうが雷神と風神を倒し、樹果が「オン・アユス・ヴァルタ！」の掛け声とともにペロキャンを振って寶さんを回復してくれます。

Similarly, Ranmaru and Uruu bring down the thunder gods and, with his tongue stuck out and his lollipop, Juka yells, "On ayus valta!" to heal Takara. ここ、さいっっっっっこうに熱かったです！！！！！

This was the most intensssssssssssssse [moment]!!!!! 寶のピンチに駆けつけるファミリー達、初めての全員集合、初めての共闘！！！

This is the first time they've [run to Takara's aid and] fought as a family when Takara was in a pinch!!! 台本を読ませてもらった時は、遂にきたか…！くらいの興奮だったんですが、現場でこのシーンを録った時、こーすけの「はぁあああああ！！」って勇ましい声が聞こえてきた瞬間、鳥肌がブワァーって！体がカァーッて！熱くなったことを強く覚えています。

When reading the script, I was exhilarated to the point of going, "Finally, they came!" and now that this scene is recorded, I strongly remember the moment Kohsuke [Tanabe] valiantly can be heard going, "Haaaaaaaaaaa!!" I got goosebumps from the passion. 蘭丸とうるうの声も頼もしくて、樹果のたからぁ～！って呼び声に癒されて。

Trustworthy Ranmaru and Uruu, and Juka healing Takara by calling out his name. こんなに頼もしい仲間達が揃って、負けるわけがないですよ！！！！

With trustworthy friends like these, you won't lose!!!! この後の飛び上がるシーンも、月を殴りつけるシーンも、高まったボルテージを思いっきりぶつけさせて頂きました！

After this is the flying scene, the moon-breaking scene and I was able to use my heightened [emotions] to the fullest! [T/N: Hori calls his heightened emotions "voltage".] そしてGO TO HEAVEN!!!!!

Then, GO TO HEAVEN!!!!! 「またすっからかんかよぉ～！」なんて言いながら、トドメを刺された時の勢いで手持ちをオールインしてしまう妻原さん。

Tsumahara, for some reason, said, "I'm broke again?!" as he's finished off while playing everything he has with an all-in due to his leftover momentum. [T/N: the all-in in poker] ティナさんの「寶さん、あなたと結ばれたかった…」

Tina: "Takara...I wish we could've been together." 依頼人からこんなに純粋に好意を向けられるなんて…寶さんも罪な人ね。

The client has this kind of pure affection [for him]...Takara's also a wrongdoer, isn't he? ですがそれは叶わない、ティナさんもわかっているからこその過去形なのでしょうか…。

However, that can't be granted, since Tina understanding him is now past tense, isn't it...? こんなにも切ないワンシーンなのに、もう1人の堀が「あなたと結バレッタ裕…」って囁いてきてもうダメです（現在朝4時）

In this one heartrending scene, too, another Hori whispers to me, "You and Yutaka Balletta ..." but it's already no good (currently 4 in the morning)

全てが片付き、夭聖体のみんなが寶さんに声をかけてきます。

Everything's wrapped up so everyone calls out to Takara. なんだよお前ら、ちくしょー、まじで、お前ら…(′つω；｀)

What the hell, everyone, damn, really, you guys... (′つω；｀) しかもうるうくん、「僕たちは、ファミリーなのだから」それってさ、焔くんのことも、みんなのことも引っくるめて″ファミリー″なんだよね…？

Yet, Uruu goes, "We're family, in case you've forgotten." That means Homura and everyone are 'family', huh...? 万感の思いを込めて「サンキュ」と一言だけ返す寶さん。

Takara returns that with a single word full of emotions: "Thank you." 寶さん、あなたの欲しかったものって、きっと…

Takara, what you really want is certainly... そして後方家族面の蘭丸、その視線の先には様子を見ていたチルカが…。

Then, from behind Ranmaru, Chilka, who was watching him out of the corner of his eye... かつて愛していると言っていた蘭丸に対して、「Go to Hell!!地獄に落としてやる！」と言い残してその場を去ります。

As opposed to [when] he said he loved Ranmaru in the past, he leaves as he [yells], "Go to hell!!" …何故和訳してくれたんだ…。そこに不穏な空気が残ります。

Why did this Japanese translation come up? This left a disquieting atmosphere. [T/N: Hori translates "Go to hell!" (ENG) as "Fall into hell!" (JPN).] 豊穣さんの「いいファミリーになりましたな」

Houjou: "They've become a fine family indeed." この一言、嬉しかったなぁ。

I was happy with this one brief comment.

第一話の時、「君たちは今からファミリーだ」なんて言われて戸惑っていた5人ですが、今では声を大にしてファミリー蘭丸って叫べます。

In episode 1, he says, "From now on, you are family," leaving the 5 of them bewildered, but now they can yell about how they're "family Ranmaru". いや、ファミリー蘭丸ではないけどね！？山本さんのプリティミス（伏線）だけどね！？笑

No, not "family Ranmaru"?! Is this a pretty mistake from Yamamoto (foreshadowing)?! (LOL) [T/N: This is referring to Bakkun's VA Kazutomi Yamamoto. Also, yes, it does say "pretty mistake", but it's likely to be "printing mistake".] そんな中改めて十訓を厳守させよと戒める女王。

In that [part], the Queen once again demands rigid adherence of the 10 Laws. あのような過ちとは…過去の因縁はまだ根が深そうです。

A mistake like that... it seems that past fates are still deep-rooted. そしてここからが怒涛の展開ですよ皆さん。

Then, everyone, the surge in developments [happens] from here. なんとあのシルク・ドゥ・マーズから合格通知が届いたティナさん！

Tina's somehow received a notification of acceptance into Cirque de Mars! 相当頑張ってきた努力が遂に実って、ニューヨークから熱いラブコールをかけられています。

The hard work she put in has finally pulled off and she's receiving passionate calls from New York. 喜んでいたのも束の間、そこに現れたのはなんと妻原さん！！？

It was a short moment that she could be happy, and then, who would arrive but Tsumahara?!! あんたって人は、懲りずにまだティナさんに…と持ったらなんと勝ちすぎちまったから命を狙われている！？

He's still trying to teach Tina a lesson, but...he won too much and they're gonna kill him?!

それもしかして、GO TO HEAVENされた時のオールインで…！？

On top of that, what about the all-in from the GO TO HEAVEN...?! すっからかんかよォー！！じゃなかったのかよォー！！

He's not broke anymore?!! 費用も全て持つから連れて行ってくれ、なんて、うーん、ティナさんとしては助かるけど…。

He'll come along, pay for everything and, yeah, sorta help Tina out...? まぁ、イケメンだからいっか……よくないわい！！！！

Well, he's handsome...but no!!!! [T/N: reference to ep. 5] 改心して今度こそ家族になるのか、それともニューヨークでまた悶着を起こすのかはわかりませんが、なんにせよティナさんとお子さんの先行きが明るくて良かったです。

I don't know if the family has reformed properly or if they're going to New York to quarrel again, but Tina and her child's future is bright. その様子を微笑ましく見ていた寶さんの元に、一本の電話が。

After seeing the smiling child's face, he receives a call. シリウスの事を伝えていた弁護士さんから、大変なことがわかったぞ、と。

The lawyer uncovered some [information] about Sirius and it's something unbelievable. 女王の過去や！と言いながら見せた一枚の写真には…、あ、あ、あ、あ、あアイドルユニットぉ！！？

"...the Queen's past!" he says as we're shown a photo of an...i-i-i-i-i-idol unit?!! かつて一大ブームを巻き起こした、ウィンタートライアングル。

Winter Tri-angels, who created a sensational big boom in the past. シリウス！？ベテルギウス！！？プロキオン…？

Sirius?! Betelgeuse?!! Procyon...? シリウスとベテルギウスは恐らく…でも姿が…！？

Sirius and Betelgeuse are probably...but that form is...?! そして女王の過去というのは、この写真とどう関係してくるのでしょうか…。

Also, what does the Queen's past have to do with this picture...? 女王の過去や、チルカと蘭丸の確執、夭聖界のことや、寶さんの言っていたもう一山、更にここに来てまた新しい謎が…！！！

The Queen's past, Chilka and Ranmaru's antagonism, the fairy world, all the stuff Takara said - on top of that, another mystery...!!! 本編もいよいよクライマックスに向けて、盛り上がりが止まるところを知りません。

At last, we're approaching the climax of the main story and I don't know if [the tension] will stop rising.

いよいよあと二話ですが、最後までみんなで大騒ぎしていきましょう！

Finally, there's two episodes to go, so let's get really excited until the end! Fairy蘭丸～あなたの心お助けします～次回『憎悪』もお見逃しなく！！というわけで、禁忌其の拾『快楽』堀の感想ここまでとなります。

Don't miss the next episode of Fairy Ranmaru ~We Will Help Your Heart~, "Hatred"!! That's it for my impressions on Taboo No. 10, "Hedonism". ここまで長い文章に付き合って頂き、ありがとうございました！！

Thanks for keeping me company [as I write] these long sentences!! 余談なんですが、大体メインキャストは一緒に録るんですが、この回の収録は実は堀が1人ブースに籠って先に録られた皆様の声を聴きながら台詞を当てておりました。

As a side note, usually the main cast would record together, but this time, I was alone in the booth, listening to the voices of those who recorded before as I added my lines. 収録が終わってからブースのドアを開けて、誰もいないだろうなぁ、と思ってフッと休憩スペースを見たら、なんと5 to HEAVENのみんなが残ってくれてて、映像が流れるディスプレイをずっと見守ってくれてて、こっちを向いて堀さんお疲れ！とか、メッチャ汗だくじゃん！とか笑いながら言ってくれて。

When I finished recording and opened the booth, I looked at the rest area, thinking no one was there. Surprisingly, everyone from 5 to HEAVEN was there, watching over a video display. They turned to me and said things like, "Good work, Hori-san!" and "You're so sweaty!" so I laughed while I talked. その瞬間、堀の頭の中に寶さんのサンキュ。のシーンがリフレインして、なんかしどろもどろになるくらい嬉しかったです。きっとあの瞬間は忘れられないです。

In that moment, the scene where Takara says, "Thank you," played again in my head and although I was [in a state of] confusion, I was happy. I will surely not forget that moment. はい、余談終わり！笑

Yes, I'm done with my side note! (LOL) 話が進むにつれて、SNSで#F蘭丸であげてくださってる実況や感想、ファンアートや、写真など、盛り上がっているのを実感しております。

To continue the conversation, use #F蘭丸 on your real-time impressions, fanart, photos etc., which will give a real feeling to your excitement. そしてそれを見ている時、堀はスマホを握りしめるくらい嬉しくなります。

Also, when I see those, I become so happy, I grasp my phone tightly. いつもF蘭を応援して下さり本当にありがとうございます。皆さんの声が僕らの力になります！

As always, really, thank you for supporting F-Ran. Everyone's voices will be my strength! 引き続きFairy蘭丸を応援の程、何卒よろしくお願いいたします！！！

Please kindly take care of me as you continue to support Fairy Ranmaru!!! このブログ書くの頑張ったからな！

I tried my best with this blog [post]! 読んでくれてメチャクチャ嬉しかったからな！

Thanks a lot for reading! 雅楽代た～から！役の堀曜宏でした！

This has been Akihiro Hori! who plays the role of Ta~kara Utashiro! スネークバァーイ！🐍

Snake-bye!🐍 [T/N: "Snakebite Hori" joke.] ワイの魅力、皆にも伝わったかな～？

Takara: Did I convey my appeal to everyone~?

Update: Fixed the note regarding "Yamamoto". Thanks, @blankie-greenie-anon.

Update 2: Missed a sentence, improved a sentence and fixed some pronouns and other minor things.

Update 3: Improved a sentence.

#Fairy Ranmaru #Fairy Ranmaru spoilers #Akihiro Hori #Takara Utashiro

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aflyingcontradiction · 3 years

Text

The Magnus Archives Relisten: Episode 88 - Dig

Basira: Yeah, well, your boss is busy and I tried talking to Tim, but… (...) And he said Sasha’s gone, so I thought I’d talk to you.

Oh god, I can just imagine that conversation. Tim depressed, still grieving but not really knowing for whom, barely able to force out the words 'Sasha's gone' and Basira just taking it as 'she's been fired or something' and going 'Ah, okay, I'll talk to Martin then." all business-like. Ouch.

Basira: I actually thought I misjudged him. Hell, I liked the guy. Martin: Wait, you mean… like you… Basira: Oh, what? Urgh, no! Why does everyone think that? Martin: Right, yeah, ‘cause I don’t actually… I don’t actually think he…

Martin, dear, you're not being subtle.

Basira: I just, I mean he was good company. Y’know, when he wasn’t being a paranoia machine. He was funny, you know? Martin: What, Jon? (...) I don't think I've ever heard him tell a joke. Basira: Maybe you weren’t listening.

I mean, Basira is right, Jon can be fucking hilarious, but I suppose from Martin's perspective that wouldn't really shine through because 99 % of Jon's humour consists of undiluted snark and a SIGNIFICANT amount of that snark is aimed at Martin specifically! And given how relatable Martin is to me in many ways I'm just going to blithely assume that he, like me, finds it difficult to appreciate someone's snark when he's the person being snarked at.

Basira: No, no. Did she use the phrase “operational discretion”? Martin: Yeah. She said she had “full operational discretion”. Is everything alright? Basira: I need to find him. (...) Martin: Fine. Now please, we’re really busy.

How does Martin not realise how serious this is? Just the way Basira turns on a dime from relatively-unhurriedly attempting to find Daisy to "Oh shit, I need to find JON. Now." on its own should tip him off. But, like, I'm not even caught up in a mess of murder and supernatural horrors and if I got threatened by some black ops-ish cop with zero accountability who told me they have 'full operational discretion' I'd be wondering if someone was about to get tortured or killed, so... what gives, Martin?

Not a bad little find, I remember thinking, as I started to clean the sand from around it. ... And uncovered the wrist it was still attached to. - Statement of Enrique MacMillan

Oh, the timing of that little "And..." makes this scene look practically cinematic in my head!

I’ve dreamed of it, of course. Safe and happy below, wrapped on all sides by uncounted miles of crushing, loving, earth and stone. I see it, and watch the passing of history build upon it, layer after layer. To travel down into the ground is to travel through time, that’s what I always used to say, before I found my book. And I still believe it, but time is the least of the things that waits for us down there, things I can barely think of without collapsing in fear. A thousand terrible things, trapped and alone, out of air and out of light, all contained within those three hideous letters: DIG.

Welcome to Avatardom, Enrique. (Seriously, this combination of fear and awe is so common in the avatars).

There’s something here, you see. Something to be dug up, rooted out, buried within. A hollow space that all eyes point towards.

Wait, is Enrique talking about the panopticon?

My impression of this episode

So I've seen this episode in a list of "Things that are actually hilarious about TMA", specifically the "DIG!" thing, but actually I found that kind of unsettling. Not even the concept of the statement giver succumbing to the Buried. Just the increasingly aggressive way Martin reads the word "DIG!" tbh. It reminds me of those nightmares I sometimes get where a loved one screams something at me really aggressively and I wake up and it's super-scary despite the fact that I have no idea what they were even yelling. And then there's that introduction, that conversation of Basira and Martin, that "OH SHIT!" moment when it gets rubbed in once again just how much danger Jon is in... And then, of course, the ending, Melanie trying to look for Jude Perry and the confirmation that yeah, what Jon heard was very likely THE calliope 'cause it sure ain't in artefact storage anymore. There's rather a lot going on in this episode, actually!

#tma relisten #the magnus archives

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tacitwhisky · 5 years

Video

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[the first half of this video is based on a post I made awhile back about all the dumb things in the Battle of Winterfell. The following is the transcript of the second half of the video]

Is the Battle of Winterfell an inherently doomed idea? One that was inevitably going to make no sense?

I don’t think so, though personally, I would’ve preferred to see the long night last the whole season instead of a single episode. It’s hard to feel like the White Walkers were the existential threat the show has been hinting they were for seven seasons if they’re defeated in a single battle. I mean, they’re one half of the title of the whole book series, the ice of A Song of Ice and Fire, and they’re swatted away in a single episode. It’s just bad storytelling to spend so much time building up something that doesn’t have any real effect on the narrative after it’s done.

Season eight could’ve shown the true devastation the show has been hinting the White Walkers breaking through the Wall would unleash, a brutal winter without end. It could’ve shown the true breath of the war for the dawn in different theatres: Sansa and Arya holding Winterfell in a real siege that stretched for weeks or months, Jon and Dany scouring the north to burn through swathes of wights wherever they find them in and endless guerilla war of attrition, Jaime and Brienne leading starving refugees to the coast while being hounded at every step by white walkers, desperate pitched battles on the open field between Unsullied and wights.

You know. A real war. The kind the story called for, and HBO and Martin wanted. Not the abbreviated one episode battle the showrunners gave us because they’re talentless hacks who were bored with Game of Thrones and just wanted it to be over so they could move unto Star Wars movies and Netflix deals.

But, if the war against the dead does have to be one battle, it’s actually not that hard to fix a lot of the dumb things the defenders do, patch up the logical inconsistencies, and add a more engaging ebb and flow.

To make things less complicated, let's break the siege into multiple phases.

Phase 1: Shaping

First, we clean up all the dumb decisions the defenders make that we’ve already talked about. That means the Dothraki no longer head on charge the wights. Horses are largely useless in a siege, so Dany forces some of them to unmount and man the walls as archers. They’ll whine about it, but the defenders need the volume of arrows they can fill the sky with. The job of most of the Dothraki though is to lead off as many wights as possible again and again on a wild goose chase where they can be isolated and cut down with arrows and lightning swift raids.

The Unsullied are also pulled back to man Winterfell’s walls, and at the base of the wall is where the fire trench is dug. It’s filled with logs and drowned with oil and pine tar, enough so that once it’s lit it can continue to blaze long after it’s become piled with dead bodies and won’t be suffocated by them.

It’s not really clear from either Hardhome or this battle whether what the Night King is doing is animating both the newly dead and the un-animated wights, or just the former, but let’s assume Jon isn’t sure either, and he decides to err on the side of caution and prepare for the Night King to reanimate un-animated wights. If that’s what’s he worried about, then corpse destruction becomes the name of the game.

To that end the field catapults the defenders have access to are mounted on the inner towers of Winterfell, and are stocked with an actually reasonable amount of ammunition instead of the tiny pile they’re given in the show. Combined with flights of dragonglass tipped arrows they’ll attempt to thin the ranks of wights before they climb the walls and can simply crush the defenders under the weight of dead bodies.

This really should be the key dynamic and push and pull of the battle: the wights are most effective clumped up where they can crush the defenders with their mass, but that’s also when they’re most vulnerable to fire.

And speaking of, Jon and Dany should be in the air as soon as the dothraki have lead the wights they can off, swooping down to incinerate anywhere the dead have clumped up. It’s canonical that dragon flame can burn hot enough to melt stone, and that’s no small thing when the defenders are trying to put the wights down for good and destroy their corpses, each blast of dragonflame reducing any wights caught in it to ash. Jon and Dany should stay in close formation as they burn the dead, taking turns for each of their dragons to swoop down while the other stays high to watch out for the Night’s King and undead Viserion.

Phase 2: Contact

No matter how many wights the Dothraki are able to lead off or are thinned out by projectiles and dragonflame, the wights are going to inevitably reach the walls of Winterfell and start to climb them. At this point the trench should be lit, and as the wights scramble up the walls of Winterfell it becomes the job of the Unsullied and northmen to push them down into the trench. Honestly, this shouldn’t be all that hard: it’s pretty easy to knock someone of a wall with a spear, and every once in awhile pots of oil can be heaved over the walls in sheets to set alight any wights that aren’t burning.

The defenders can only knock down the wights so fast though, and unlike in the show, the wights are going to slowly envelope Winterfell until it’s in the middle of a seething sea of dead bodies. And the wights aren’t going to stop. That’s the challenge in this second phase of battle: the living tire while the dead don’t. Unlike a real army that might rout or retreat or panic, the dead are relentless, climbing endlessly over each other to reach the defenders completely heedless of their own losses.

Something people don’t realize about medieval, or really any, warfare is just how exhausting it can be. The body can only keep up non-stop physical strain for so long. And unlike the hour the supposedly long night lasts in the show, this kind of a battle could last far longer than any battle between two living armies ever would, and you would have people literally collapsing from exhaustion.

To counter the exhaustion problem, what the defenders should do is swap soldiers on and off the walls in shifts so that they have a chance to breath and recover, treat the wounded and get food and water to those that need it. Coordinating the effort would actually be a good role for Sansa and Tyrion, and give them something to do besides cower in the crypts.

But as the hours drag on, the strain on the defenders is only going to increase, physically, but also mentally. Try to imagine for a moment just how claustrophobic and horrifying it would be: in the dark, cut off from all the rest of the world, everyone around you unrecognizable and so exhausted they’re barely standing, the sky above roiling with black and red clouds in an unearthly tableau.

And the dead. Always the dead. Less individual bodies than a ceaseless, heaving mass of flesh and limbs and scrambling fingers, the sound of them pressing against your ears, the scritch of chipped and broken nails against stone as they scrabble at the walls around you.

And it’s at this point, when the defenders are exhausted and flagging, that the Night King shows up and uses his ace card: a blizzard.

Phase 3: Storm

One thing the show doesn’t accurately portray is exactly how horrifically debilitating a blizzard is to an army. You get a taste for it when the blizzard first rolls in early in the battle, but the showrunners then seem to quickly forget about it and it doesn’t affect the battle after that.

In a real blizzard, Jon and Dany and the dragons are going to be immediately grounded by the winds, and even if they could fly wouldn’t be able to see the ground. The wind and sleet are also going to ruin all your missile weapons, so no more burning pots or dragonglass arrows.

And don’t forget that in the real world blizzards kill people that aren’t in the middle of a zombie battle: they burn your skin with cold, freeze you to the bone, and hit you with wind hard enough that you can barely stand. But most debilitating of all, you lose communication and any sense of the battlefield. In a blizzard you can’t see more than a foot ahead of you, if that, and you’re deaf from the roar of the wind. You are, in a very real sense, completely and utterly isolated and alone. The entirety of Winterfell could be lost and you’d never know it.

And the dead aren’t affected by this. They don’t have to see, don’t have to communicate, don’t care about the cold. So with the defenders blinded and crippled by the blizzard, some of the wights will make it over the and as soon as there’s one breach there’ll be a second, and then it’ll be like water breaking over a dam, dead bodies spilling onto the walls and into Winterfell.

The only choice the defenders have is to fall back to the inner keep, but it’s going to be utterly impossible to coordinate that in the blizzard, so instead they’re just going to have to fight and die where they stand as the Night King walks through the ever shrinking pockets of them towards the godswood and Bran.

Phase 4: Sacrifice

Unfortunately this is about as much as we can fix before we start running up against the idiocy and limitations of the show. The Night King's stated goal is to kill bran (dumb), killing the Night King stops all the wights and other white walkers (dumber), and the siege can only last an episode (dumbest).

Still, there’s a few things we can do to make the defenders seem less like idiots and tell a more engaging story here at the end of the battle. We could keep the Night King entering the godswood, but this time the defenders doused all the trees beforehand with oil and pine tar, and as soon as the Night’s King is in the center of it facing off against Bran, the defenders try and light it. But the cold is too intense for the trees to light, so Bran uses a raven to tell Jon to light the heart tree he’s under with dragonflame, revealing that he knew he would have to sacrifice himself all along.

This isn’t a perfect ending, but it’s more effective than what we got on screen in a few key ways. It makes the defenders look smart instead of just depending on some rando stabbing the Night King at the last minute; it has an emotional toll both in Bran’s sacrifice and Jon’s complicity in his death; and it unites the themes of the entire series of ice and fire. Ice and fire not just pitted against each other in the dragonflame burning the Night King, but also working Jon who has both Targaryen fire and Stark ice.

Oh right. Themes are for eighth-grade book reports. I forgot.

#anti-got #got #battle of winterfell #my meta #video essay #my video #asoiaf #asoiaf meta #got met #anti-got meta

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jewels2876 · 5 years

Text

The Hardest Thing

A/N: @suz-123 hit 1.5K (congrats girl! you deserve so many more!) and let me join her amazing writing extravaganza! Originally I had tried another character and I wasn’t loving it - so I switched to Sam and boy did the words flow!

The setup is similar to an episode of Charmed, hence the several changes in POV

My prompt is: “Why are you even here?” “I came to tell you I love you, but I guess it doesn’t matter anymore.” and is in bold

Word Count: 1062

Warnings: angst

“Where do I start?”

“Wherever you’d like. We’re all here to get at the root of your issues. The beginning perhaps?”

“Do you have that long?”

When Sam flew through the open portal Stephen Strange had opened, you dropped to the ground and cried. It was miracle to see your boyfriend back and emotions ran through you just as they had when you and Steve had watch Sam and Bucky both fade away. You let out a strangled cry; Sam heard you as his head whipped in your direction. He jogged straight for you, wrapping you in a fierce hug, then a short, breathless kiss. “I missed you,” he whispered against your ear.

Five months after getting Sam back, things were… awkward. You had spent five YEARS without him and a part of you had moved on. Sam, being stuck somewhere beyond your space and time, had not; instead he was doing everything he could think of to prove he still cared for you. He was trying TOO hard. It started with several enormous bouquets of your favorite flowers, then you started getting large hearts filled with chocolates or candies, sometimes both. Then one day a stuffed monkey as tall as the ceiling stood by your fireplace; you assumed it had been part of Tony’s old collection. Each gift made you feel more awkward, more guilty, and less affectionate, which was never a good combination.

“Babe, before we leave for Wakanda and fight this idiot,” Sam dug into his front pocket then knelt down, “will you be mine?”

Your heart stopped. You loved Sam but you could NOT go into battle and still worry about him too. Not with everything on the line, not now.

“Ask me again when we win.” You pressed a hard kiss to his lips; Sam kissed you back and you gave him the lead. You knew he need this. You pulled back from the kiss and pleaded. “Promise me you’ll ask again, okay?”

“I promise.”

The therapist watched as the two of you alternated your stories. She took notes but said nothing.

San stomped back to your rooms as you followed. Sam opened the door, turning to you yelling “It wasn’t supposed to be like this!”

You rushed in and let the door slam hard behind you both to emphasize your next words. “Sam I’m sorry but it’s been five YEARS! Was I supposed to assume I’d get you back?” Tears prickled in your eyes as you allowed all of your buried emotions to finally surface. “Do you think I’ve been HOPEFUL I’d get to see you? Hold you? Make love…” Your voice cracked and the tears broke through. Sam took a hold of your upper arms but you twisted away.

“NO! You don’t get to do that! You don’t get to comfort me when… you haven’t… couldn’t… you weren’t here… “ You collapsed pulling your knees tightly to your chest as you choked on the tears that wouldn’t stop.

Rhodey heard the commotion and ran into your rooms. You felt arms encircle you and you wrenched away.

“At least it’s not just me,” Sam muttered.

The therapist finally spoke up. “You’re both addressing the stages of grief and loss, which is good. Now tell me what led you here.”

After your last breakdown, Sam tried hard to give you some space. In turn, you were trying to open up to him more. You decided today would be a good day to do some baking and had asked Sam to help. Everything had been going well; no fights, no passive-aggressive comments. You were starting to get comfortable in each other’s company.

“Damn y/n, I missed your cookies,” Bucky sighed dramatically as he swept three cookies from the table, stuffing one into his mouth.

You couldn’t hold back your laugh while Sam glowered. “Beat it Tin Can.”

“Is that any way for Captain America to talk to his friend?” Bucky teased.

“It is if he wants to keep both arms.”

“FINE, Mr. Grumpy. Y/n,” Bucky mocked saluted you both and left.

You turned, frowning at Sam. “He was just teasing you know?”

“Does it always have to be with you though?”

“He does it with everyone! Maria, 13… Sharon, still getting used to that… Clint, you, Wanda, shall I continue?”

Sam remained silent. You dropped it and went back to icing your cookies.

Thirty minutes later you were finishing up the last couple of cookies. Sam had left a few minutes before, saying he needed some air. You decided now would be a good time for one of your own cookies and some coffee; you made your way over to the coffee machine and started a new pot. Clint quickly entered the kitchen, knowing you could probably use a distraction while you both mainlined your caffeine. “How are you doing?”

Sam was just coming in from the same direction when he heard Clint and stayed hidden as you answered. “Ok, I guess? This is so much harder than I thought it would be. I don’t know what to do anymore since I made peace with… Have any advice there, married guy?”

Sam chose that moment to come back in. “Yeah, what she asked.”

Clint swung his gaze between the two of you. “Maybe I should…”

“No. Clint, please stay,” you said. “Sam and I don’t need to make this weird for everyone else. But Sam, I am curious about your timing. You said you needed air, so why are you even here, now?”

Sam’s face stayed calm, but he felt his blood go up in flames. “I came to tell you that I still love you, but I guess that doesn’t matter any more to you, does it?”

The therapist close her notes and looked at you squarely in the eyes, then at Sam. “I know I can help you both, but I need to know what results you’re expecting from this? Sam?”

“I just need to know where I stand. I feel like when it’s just the two of us, we don’t communicate well or at all.”

“Y/n?”

You sighed and looked down at your hands in your lap. “I need… I want,” you drew a breath, “a clean break. A safe place to talk. And a safer place to land.” You looked up, finally, at Sam. “We deserve better than this. Both of us.”

FIN

I would love any feedback/reblogs/love in general

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#suz hit 1k #suz's eighties extravaganza #sam wilson #angst #sam wilson x reader #sam wilson x you #sam wilson x y/n

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91whiskeygirl · 5 years

Text

Apple Pie

Inspired by Season 1 Episode 11| Scarecrow

Warnings| Smut, Angst, 18+ Violence

Story is altered from episode because I wanted to fit y/n/ in!

Words|5226

You couldn’t remember the last time you enjoyed the crisp air biting my face. You’ve lived in your hometown too long where you enjoyed the cold autumn weather.Your Y/H/C flowing out the car window as we passed the forest of trees that were like flames dancing in the wind.The colors were beautiful, you appreciated this time of year. You applied a liberal amount of chapstick, the menthol plumping your lips. You knew he was side staring once you started to smoothen it and pucker to get better coverage. A small bratty smirk lined your lips as you looked out the passenger window.

“ Burkittsville?” Dean said,his brows furrowed, his one arm on the wheel and the other leaning out the car. “Yeah, a few times this time of year, it’s always a couple, they go missing in this town. Never seen again.”, You replied. “Doesn’t sound like our deal, but I am curious about the couple part…”Dean didn’t give you a side glance, this time, it was a full on intense stare with those green olive eyes of his. Those damn gems always made your heart skip a few beats. I looked to him and then straight ahead, nervous as fuck. You were never one to back down at a flirty staring contest; but when it was with Dean you knew you’d never win on the first round.”The couples…Y/N?” he continued, “Anything specific? Race, sexual preference?”. Oh, he didn’t mean it LIKE THAT.Clearing my throat, I replied looking down at my phone,”Oh,no, but it’s always this time of year, the Fall equinox.”.You bit your lip and looked in the passenger mirror, remembering that Sam wasn’t sitting behind giving you that teasing smirk he always gives. He knew you had feelings for Dean, but never told Dean because it was too much fun seeing you melt over him and his older brother had no clue.

You turned slightly to face Dean.“….Are we gonna talk about how we just let Sammy take a trip down the yellow brick road?” I asked quietly.I hate confrontation, but it was gonna be a longer, awkward road trip to Indiana without mentioning Sam. “He made his choice.”, he said gruffly. He pressed the gas a bit more and revved Baby’s engine, looks like no matter what, it wasn’t gonna be an enjoyable ride. The silence was deafening. A bit of short talk about the case and some disagreements on what was making these couples disappear didn’t help the drawl of not having Sammy here. Baby just felt too light, too empty without him.

Finally making it to the town, your eyes immediately widened at the apple orchard. Miles of them upon arriving. Beautiful apples, plump and ready for the picking. You licked your lips, thinking it’d be nice to have some crispy, homemade apple pie, or warm pastries glazed with sugar frosting. Upon thinking anything else that’d have to do with eating; your stomach growled something fierce, “Someone’s hungry, heh.” Dean smiled looking at you as you tried to hide your stomach with your already layered military jacket. “The orchard….I’ve never seen anything like it, full of ‘em” you replied nervously. Nodding he touched your shoulder that made you shiver more than the autumn breeze. “Well luckily we’re not too far from a gas station, just a few more miles.”.

A gas station up ahead with a little diner,you haven’t seen one of these combinations since you left your hometown, every gas station you stopped at on hunts had a small supermarket, all packaged and premade pies. It just wasn’t the same. But this made you feel all giddy, you were tired of the convenience store meals for the past few weeks, finding a case every now and then there just wasn’t time to have a home cooked meal. You immediately jumped out of the car before Dean shifted it in park at a pump, heading to the diner. “I’m gonna get us a table, talk to the local folk, see if they’ve seen anything strange.” You called out while already halfway to the diner. The cowbell rang while you opened the door, the air was warm, filled with many scents, but the most prominent one, cinnamon and apple. “YESSS!” You thought, trying to keep your composure. “Hi! What can I get for ya’?” a young girl with her blonde hair up, a pencil in her bun asked you. “Yeah, uh I smell something delicious, any famous desserts you sell?” “Our famous Apple Crumble Pie!” she brightly smiled . “I’ll get right on it,just for you?” “No, for my…” Your throat started to get dry after you said it. But it was the only way you’d both solve this case. “Boyfriend.”.

Dean parked the Impala and headed inside, “No, for my boyfriend too.”, when he saw and heard you say it his eyebrows raised,surprised. He never thought of you like that once, sure you were a pretty girl, but a bit too young considering he was going on late twenties and you were just at the legal drinking age. The blonde waitress walked into the entrance of the kitchen and you sat at a round table with a checkered table cover and sighed deeply. “So, boyfriend?” He half smirked, his eyes smiling as well. Chuck, you loved those dimples every time he smiled. It was always a rare sight. “Well, I mean… the victims are always…couples….and, I just thought…” You hated try to explain, but Dean beat you to it. “It’s alright Y/n, I get it. We should come up with cute nicknames and hold hands like those chick flicks you make us watch once a week.” You giggled lightly and slumped forward in your chair, “yeah, maybe we should take our slices of pie to go.” Oh my chuck, you actually said that out loud. He was taken aback, but being Dean Winchester he scooted his chair nearer to you, knees touching, elbow on the table, slowly bending forward and whispered in your ear, “I think I’m gonna need more than a slice after I’m done with you.” His breath gave your neck goosebumps as he tucked the stray hairs on the side of your face. You face hot, eyes glazed over.

“Here ya are! Two slices of our famous apple crumble pie!” The waitress served you, then Dean,still with that smile of his, leaning back into his chair, knees still touching, and he dug into that pie while still staring at you. “Yup, he’s gonna be the death of me. “ You thought.

“Oh geez that was some damn good pie”, you said rubbing your stomach. Holding the box that encased a fuller version of that heavenly slice you just had. You sat back into Baby sighing. Halfway to sleepville and you heard Dean get in the car a few minutes later. Remembering what he said back in the diner immediately made you straighten up. “Talked to a friendly guy, says he doesn’t know anything about the couples missing, even though he’s worked here over 20 years.” “Great.”rolling your eyes. Seems the town had a deeper, darker secret other than the recipe that you tried to get from the waitress, but she gently declined since it was a family recipe. “I’m gonna check out the last place the latest couple went missing, you wanna go to the college?” He asked, starting Baby, turning out of the parking lot.

“I’m surprised a young woman like you would be interested in our folklore.” A senior professor wrinkled his forehead,”Indiana doesn’t have that many stories.” With a friendly smile you replied “I’m just trying to get to know about the town more, and I’ve always loved to hear the ol’ times, I think your help would definitely make my term paper a staple example to the rest in my class.”.He looked through his eyeglasses at you standing there between his desk and him, he stood up and took a thick book from his shelf and placed it neatly while turning pages, a picture caught your eye, a scarecrow.

Dean made it to the orchard where the missing couple was last seen. A faint mist blanketing the area. He takes out his EMF meter and starts sweeping. “Why’d I say that so easily to Y/n?” He thought. He chuckled that he made your face red, that those pretty y/e/c of yours were wide eyed and shining at him as he touched you y/c hair, he would’ve loved to egg you on had it been an actual date and not a snack break from the hunt. The meter started to spike like crazy once he was a few hundred meters into the orchard, and there, he saw the scarecrow. Looking at it from all angles he stopped once he saw that one of its arms had a “nice tat” he said out loud, memorizing the tribal to see who went missing recently,the skin looked dry but still fresh at the same time. He was about to text Sam but quickly deleted his name from the messenger. The fight they had back there was different.They just got back into hunting together, and with all that happened, he didn’t think his brother would’ve just walked out on him, on them like that. He knew what to do to track who had the tattoo that went missing, but his muscle memory just made his gut heavy realizing he was abut to call Sam for help.

“y/n, got an idea on what might be making those couples go missing, call me back.” Shutting his phone and throwing it on the passenger side, he was on his way to the college to get you when he saw the sheriff’s car behind him “aw crap”.

“That, the scarecrow, what’s his deal?” you asked the professor and pointing at the image.His eyes squinted but went back to the book. “Ah, Vanir, it’s a fertility god, the settlers here believed that their town would thrive one they’ve sacrificed a man and woman, our town has a sacred tree, hundreds of years old.” “Where’s the tree at?”, you asked, closing the book and getting ready to head out,”Just a few miles from here, if you’ve passed the scarecrow you’ve gone too far.” “Thanks professor, thought I’ll get a couple of snap shots for my paper.” You swiftly turned to head out the door when you were butted in the back of your head with something hard, blacking out.

“Something the matter officer?” Dean asked, looking up at the tall sheriff. “I hear around town that you’re asking all kinds of questions that shouldn’t be asked. I’m assuming you’re not a tourist and would suggest you head on outta town, you shouldn’t meddle into things you don’t know the full story of.”He peered down into the car window, glaring at Dean. “Now if I’d known better I’d say your going to escort me out.” “That’s right.” Dean smile turned into a faint grimace and he started up Baby, the sheriff already on his tail, once he was a couple miles out the cop car finally bleeped its siren and made a u turn, looking into the rearview mirror he did the same once he knew he wouldn’t be in the sheriff’s vision. “y/n, hope you got what we need to get rid of whatever this is.”he thought.

“Ugh, what the….?” blinking rapidly trying to focus, your head pounded badly and your eye sight still hadn’t adjusted, you were in the orchard. Your jeans cold from the wet ground, you tried to stand and felt your wrists tightly bound over your head. “Son of a monkey’s ass!”.You couldn’t reach any of your knives, you scoffed thinking you should have modded your jacket so there would be an accessible pocket knife next time something else happens. Looking left then right you realized you were the only one tied. Recalling what the professor said,“A man and a woman.” Dean. You felt sick to your stomach. What happened to him after dropping you off at the college? You knew he was a warrior, but hunts are always unpredictable. The sun was about to set, you could tell even though the lush,tall apple trees blinded the sunlight. Fog started to blanket the ground and you shivered down your spine, you weren’t going to go down like this, helpless, tied to a friggin’ “sacred tree?” You saw markings you recognized from the book. The scarecrow was just a pawn, the tree is what held the dark power this town was built upon.

Dean made his way to the college, y/n wasn’t on the stairs out front like she said she was going to be when she finished, it’d been a couple hours, more than enough time to get all you needed to know. He tried to call y/n’s cell and it went to voicemail after a few rings. “Her phone’s on, why the hell aren’t you answering dammit!” “Didn’t I tell you to skip town?” Sighing Dean looked over to the sheriff. “Small world, huh officer?” “Step out of the car.” SLAM, right on the hood of the cop car, cuffed, he shoved Dean into the backseat.”What the hell is your problem son? Couldn’t let bygones be bygone?” The sheriff said while driving a few miles out. Dean looked out the window, scanning everywhere to see if you were out there, but the fog was starting to get heavy, and soon darkness would fall. Trying to get the pick out of his back pocket once the car stopped, the officer got out to open the trunk. Any sudden movement would give way that he was trying to escape, the crappy leather seats weren’t helping, gripping every inch of him making it difficult to keep quiet and swiftly picking the lock at the same time. He got free til he tried to open the door,WHAP, right on the side of his temple.

“Dean? Dean! Dean hey!” a slurred voice turning clearer as he shook his head, realizing he was tied up; his eyes opened wide as he came to see y/n by his side, “Oh y/n. I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner. I should’ve known, this town is full of crazies.”.”It’s okay, Dee, you’re here, I’m just glad you’re here now.” Your small smile comforted him until he saw a tear run down your cheek. His jaw tightened and he started to try to free himself.

“We have no choice, our crops are starting to die.She’s our last hope for the town.””Like heck it is!” a distant voice from behind argued with the sheriff, “It’s the last day of the solstice, we have to do this.”, a woman replied. “Please! I don’t understand! Why are you doing this?” Y/n saw the blonde girl from the diner show up with her hands cuffed, followed by the sheriff behind her. “Uncle? Auntie? What’s going on?!” Her wet face showed her heart breaking as her uncle turned away and started walking “I’m sorry sweetheart, this is the only way.” They tied her next to Dean, whimpering and trying to break free once she was already tied to the tree.

The group scattered, and there was a silence in the area that just made it eerie. The lovely orchard you fell in love with in the afternoon drive soon turned into a forest with twitching branches and the moonlight shining on them made them look like the horrors that made you stay up at night. A shuffle made you and Dean start to get into gear try to get free, you both looked at each other and started to try to reach for his backpocket when he shook his head, no way we were going to get out of this, flexibility was one of your best qualities as a hunter but you wouldn’t be able to get out of this with your hands up in the air.

The shuffles grew louder, whimpers from the blonde waitress didn’t deafen it, you clearly recognized those steps. “Sam!” Oh chuck, you were all saved. “Sam?” Dean yelled out. “Hey”, he started to untie the girl first, then Dean.”How the hell did y-” “I, kinda stole a car.” A chuckle came out of Dean “That’s ma boy!” Untying your first hand, you grabbed your karambit that was hidden in your boot, and started to tear through the ropes around your feet. “I guess they knew to tie you up good…you’re a kicker hehe” Dean joked as you grinned at him. Standing up with the rest you heard screams coming from in front not far from where you all were standing.

A dark figure appeared walking through the trees and slicing, gushing of blood misting the brisk air through the moonlight. “Go GO GO!” Sam yelled grabbing the girl’s hand, Dean yours, starting to run. There was a line of sunlight rising from the hills and the eerie atmosphere started to dissipate. “Guys? I think it’s over”you said, catching you breath. Turning back around you went back to the tree and reached out for your lighter Dean got you for your 21’st. The silver flashing as the sun finally welcomed itself. Sam came back with Dean and a gallon of gas. “ What’re you gonna do? “ The girl asked softly as she followed behind Sam. “Burn it.”you replied, glaring at the markings on the tree. Looking up at it “I hope your apple pies were worth it”, you said as you set it on fire. Screeching burnt barks and green and yellow flames engulfed it, burning it into a crisp.

“Sam, I’m glad you’re back.”You told him, hugging his humungous torso, gently tightening your grip. You know, for a shorty you have a bear grip” He chuckled petting your head. Smiling up at him you replied , ” Well my lovely qualities has to balance out with your brother’s cockiness” you glanced at Dean, his lips puckered and his eyebrows raised like those times you have a good comeback but he couldn’t think of anything to counter it. You let go of Sam and walked the waitress back to the diner. “You gonna be okay?” you asked her, a hand on her shoulder blade. “Yeah hun, I’m okay, just, I don’t know what to do. My aunt, my uncle” she softly sobbed. “It’s going to be okay. You still have the diner…” “No, there’s too many memories, I think I’ll just escrow it since it was going to be mine anyways. Thanks, for everything.” Once she went back into the diner y/n walked back to the impala where Sam was in the passenger side, “Hey sasquatch, mind if I sit in the back?” He grinned and nodded, you climbing into the back, you forgot all about the pie sitting, still closed in it’s box. You settled in your seat and saw Dean glance in the rear view mirror, giving you a smirk. It was gonna be a long ways back to the motel.

Sam reserved two rooms, you called the boys for the day and stepped into the cozy motel room. Starting the bubble bath you promised yourself, you opened up a bottle of body wash that smelled of pumpkin pie. You always loved autumn and it’s aesthetic, hell even the pumpkin spice latte you’d have once in a while once Fall started, you admit, you were a basic Fall bitch. After lighting your pumpkin spice candle and placing it on the sink a knock came at your door. Quizzically wondering why the boys needed something after a hunt from you, you opened the door after checking the viewer.”Dean?”

“Hey.”you said smiling, looking at him up and down, he was already in gray sweatpants and a black shirt with that favorite red flannel that you got him at a fall sale, and secretly wanted to wear.Your eyes moved up to his wide chest, your breath hitching when you saw his wet hair that made him look like a hedgehog. His pearly teeth showed a mischievous grin “So, how about that pie?” He raised his hand with the box from the diner. “Oh!” you perked up, opening the door for him, you went to get a couple glasses and the whiskey you had stored for emergencies. You suddenly felt heat from your core start to spread as you turned around and saw Dean right behind you looking down at you. The light from your nightstand lamp complimented every feature of him, from his jawline, the twinkle in his olive green eyes that you adored so much, and damn his chest for looking so toned under that thin shirt. “y/n? You know what you said at the diner?” “Look Dee, if this is just a one night thing I understand, I’m hardly the type of girl you’d go home with let alone our lives as hunters, it gets gritty….” you tried to look anywhere else other than his chest, his broad shoulders, his damn razor sharp jawline. But you’re e/c orbs looked up at his parted lips, instinctively licking your lips. He interrupted your objection with his warm lips on yours, his hands on the sides of your neck, you moaned helplessly into his mouth. Inviting his tongue after teasing your bottom lip you feel his lips turn into a smile “Baby girl, I don’t where this is going, but I don’t mind going with it.I need to hear it.” he whispered while softly teasing your neck with soft short kisses. “What?” Confused at what he was saying, you were just trying not to melt into a puddle as his hands traveled down holding your hips, his index fingers tracing the inner part of your jeans, waiting for consent. “Yes or no y/n? We’re friends, hell you’re younger than me, I don’t want to ruin what we-”You break his speech with a hard kiss, biting his bottom lip “Fuck Dee, please, yes.” You wrapped your arms around his neck and he carried you to the bed, smiling and admiring your curves as he put you down on the edge.

He held your face kissing you softly and then eagerly, your tongues dancing together. You made your way touching underneath his shirt, you were so giddy you let out a giggle, feeling his abs. “Like what you feel Baby girl?” He asks as he stands taller and takes off his flannel then his shirt, eyes still on you. You had gone quiet and just nodded shyly biting your lip. He started to take off his sweatpants when you said “Sam”, he laughed and continued to undress to nothing, “Sweetheart, I think you got bopped in the head too hard today” You laughed back “No, I mean, he’s not leaving again is he? I mean are we gonna tell him whats going on between us too? If there’s going to be more of…this?” You placed your hands in the back of you leaning back into the bed. No, we’re good, and as for us, if you don’t feel comfortable we don’t have to tell him, but you are probably gonna have to find excuses as to why you keep asking for a separate room” He grinned back at you, leaning closer to you face to face, making your back arch, his lips close to yours again. “I guess we can have a bit of fun after tonight” you smiled, and grabbed him by the shoulders making you pin himself down on you, feeling his hardness twitching against your inner thighs.

You gasped softly when he made is way down to pull your jeans and underwear down, pausing for just a second then ripping your black lace underwear off in one motion. “DEAN, that’s one of my favorites!” you scolded him, he just laughed starting to give you kisses on your thighs, “Baby, I’m sure I can help you in finding more favorites”.

Having Dean on top of you made you want more, the heat form his body radiating on you, making your breasts peak. He kept kissing your thighs, working his way up to your stomach, then licking and nipping feverishly on to one of your nipples making your head go back, almost hitting the headboard. For chuck’s sake, his mouth was what you imagined and more. You grabbed the back of his head motioning him to lift his face and you softly smiled at him and kissed his dimples, then devouring his lips. “Dean, please, enough teasing” you whined. A growl came out from his chest and he started nipping at your neck and collarbone as he parted your legs, your hands on his hips to further guide him. A squeal leaked from your mouth as you felt his hot hand enter you slowly, the burn insatiable. “Mmmm feels like someone’s ready for Daddy” you giggled “Daddy? You got a kink Winchester?” “Well when you say it, hell yeah” he replied, licking his fingers. He kissed you deeply, tasting yourself on his tongue. He sat up on his knees a bit to guide his tip at your entrance, teasing your clit with it a few times till he went into you, you huffed out a deep exhale, wanting more of him, you looked at him, lying down on your back, lifting your right leg up to his shoulder, “Dean, fucks sake please move, I’m so wet” you told him, gripping his hips harder. He growled deeply as he slowly placed himself all the way in, you groaned in pleasure and your hands flew up to the sides of the bed, gripping the sheets. You and him fit perfectly snug, he waited a few seconds until you were adjusted, the heat from it all making you both breathe harder. “Shit y/n, you’re so tight” he whispered, gripping your leg on his shoulder, giving small kisses to your calf. You wiggled your ass begging for him to move and he did just that. Hungry to feel him at your spot. “Yea, yea Dean right there, I’m so close, fuck”, you whined. You didn’t care that you were a bit loud, this feeling in your core was about to burst. He started to rhythmically ride you, teasing your spot till you started stuttering his name.”I got you baby,come for me.”

He gripped your leg tighter and started to buck harder, hitting your spot every time. Your eyes rolled back and your hips lifted as your orgasm ran through you, clinging on him harder he grunted, not stopping “Yeah baby, such a good girl for daddy” He told you. The sweat on his chest trickled down on to your breasts and you let go of your leg to lift the both up to his hips, driving in deeper making you wetter. The sounds that came from both of you were pornographic, you were sure you’d have a complaint when you checked out the next day. “Dee, please, I want you to fill me up Daddy” You smiled crookedly, looking up at him, taking his hands and placing them on your breasts. “oh ho, you’re gonna be the death of me y/n/” He smiled, and grabbed your breasts, slapping them a couple times before he closed his eyes and started to ride you roughly and unevenly.You could see his chest tensing and you knew he was near to his end, holding your legs on his hips tighter he thrust in a few more times and a loud growl came out as he filled you up, a heavenly feeling of his hot come in you, you started to hug him once he came down from his orgasm and placed a kiss on his forehead as he laid it on yours. “So,” you said to him, dew of sweat all over both of your bodies, still intertwined, his length softening in you ” how about that pie?” you smiled.

The end! Happy Halloween everyone! I’m surprised I actually finished this in time for the holiday, whew! Any requests are appreciated! I’m slowly making the playlist on Spotify,but I’ll definitely let you know when it’s fully up!

#spn #spnfanfic #fanficfirday #fanfiction #spnfam

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artificialqueens · 5 years

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You Don’t Own Me (Raja x Aquaria)

A/N:This is HEAVILY inspired by the song and this prompt I found. This is basically my first time writing fanfiction and PUBLISHING it, but I’m gonna try to make this work. Don’t come for my wig, please!

They sat in the same stools they usually did, that day. Scrolling through photos of queens and judging based on appearance. Raja was a lot gentler on the queens that day, deciding her sarcastic attitude could be put on hold for one episode. Aquaria dug deep, not missing any detail on any outfit. By the time they were on the last look, Raja was impressed that such a small queen could really come for someone so quick. And just based off of the detail!

“I give this a toot.” Raja said.

“How? I find the belt a little lazy and the fact that she has no corset strange. If you walk down that runway with no corset, Michelle will give you harsh critiques. If she just got rid of the belt and borrowed a corset or something, maybe I would give this a toot. This is a strong boot.” Aquaria practically yelled.

Aquaria searched for the producers, and then turned to Raja.

“What’s the thingy called when you hate it so much it’s not even a boot anymore?” She asked.

“Well- scoot, right?” She continued.

“Y-yeah, I think.” Raja replied. She couldn’t help but bust out laughing.

“What?” Aquaria asked, looking at her.

“You’re never like this!” Raja said through fits of giggles.

“Well, I give it a scoot. Get a corset, bitch.” Aquaria said sharply with a smile.

That sent Raja over the edge, causing her to almost fall out of the chair and onto the floor.

Aquaria started to giggle aswell. “Don’t let the reaper take you now, Raj.”

“Oh shut up!” Raja said. “Hoe.”

————————

Raja sat on the sidelines, watching Aquaria fix her makeup in a mirror. Raja had always had a small crush on Aquaria, just based off of her bubbly attitude and taste of fashion. Aquaria probably wouldn’t feel the same. Raja thought that Aquaria would think of her as more of a mother than a partner. Suddenly, Aquaria turned around to face Raja.

“Hey, Raj, can you help me with my dress? The zipper is like- undoing itself? I guess?” She asked.

“Yeah.” Raja replied, walking slowly towards Aquarius small mess of a vanity.

When Raja got there, Aquaria turned around and flipped her wig to one side of her body, giving Raja access to the rogue zipper.

“Aquaria did you maybe think about buttoning this at the top and then zipping it up? Maybe that’s why it’s coming undone.” Raja said while fumbling with the button at the top of her dress.

“No, I didn’t notice that…” Aquaria said, with a hint of confusion, like she didn’t understand what Raja was saying.

Raja appreciated the contact with Aquaria, her hand brushing the blades of her shoulders and the warm skin between. Now that Raja noticed, Aquaria smelled faintly of coconuts and vanilla. Raja decided it was her new favorite combination. Raja finally got the button to cooperate, and zipped up Aquaria.

“Thanks so much.” Aquaria said. “Hey, do you want to get dinner tonight? I don’t feel like spending the next couple of hours alone at my house.”

Raja was speechless. Finally! What she always had desired was being offered to her. “That sounds nice.” She weakly said.

————————

Aquaria drove them to a small restaurant on the other side of town, which clearly was a drag diner. Raja remembered it fairly well. Manila and Carmen both worked here, with a selection of some of Rajas other friends. She cringed when she thought about herself and her short-lived time here. She used to work at this diner, but was fired for… various reasons. Hopefully Aquaria didn’t know that. The car pulled to a stop in the close to empty parking lot.

“Hey, we’re here.” Aquaria said, shaking Raja from her stuper.

“Oh, yeah! Eating in drag?” Raja asked.

“I mean, why not?” Aquaria smiled with her pearly, white, perfect teeth. Raja wished her smile was that perfect. Raja rarely smiled, but when she did it wasn’t a bright, flashy one, like Aquarias.

They walked into the diner, clearly coming in at closing time. Manila gave Raja a smirk as she walked over to them, handing out menus.

“You’re lucky were friends, or I would’ve kicked you out.” Manila said.

Carmen and Jujubee whispered quietly behind the counter, but when Raja turned to glare at them, they were smiling.

Aquaria slid into a booth in the corner, and flipped open the menu. She studied it heavily, Raja noticed. Raja sat down and didn’t touch the menu. She just stared at how stunning Aquaria was. Partly because she already knew what she wanted, and because Aquaria was quite the distraction.

“Hey, lovebirds. Time to order.” Manila appeared at their side, prepared with a small notepad.

Aquaria ordered first. “I would like a water with a house salad.” She spoke, handing Manila her menu. “Don’t poison it, please.”

Manila let out a chuckle. “Oh honey.” She replied.

“I want the same, thank you.” Raja said with a glare at Manila.

“Okay give me 5 minutes, and I should be back!” Manila spoke quick. She scampered off to Carmen and Juju just to giggle and whisper quietly.

“God she’s annoying.” Raja said under her breath.

“Hm?” Aquaria asked.

“Nothing.” Raja mumbled.

————————

When their food arrived, Raja hungrily shoved lettuce down her throat. Aquaria giggled at the way Raja ate, finding it adorable. She had never seen her eat before.

“Enjoying?” Aquaria asked.

All Raja could do was nod. Aquarias blue eyes dug into Rajas brown ones, reading her emotions. Raja couldn’t help but return the look and read Aquaria too. Aquarias face looked like she was nervous, about something. Raja got her answer pretty quick.

“Raja, you know how we have a sort of mother-daughter relationship?” She asked after she took a bite of her salad.

Raja sipped her water “Mhm.” She said.

“Have you ever thought of me in a sort of… more way?” Aquaria awkwardly said behind her straw.

“No.” Rajas heart sank.

“No, me neither.” Aquaria said. Her heart dropped too. She always thought Raja was a gorgeous human, and yes she looked up to her, but she wouldn’t mind something… different.

“So…” Raja tried to make small talk.

“Are you ladies ready to pay?” Manila interrupted them. Thank god.

“Yeah. I’ll pay for both of us.” Aquaria said, giving Manila a small card.

“Aquaria!” Raja tried to reason with the stubborn girl.

“No.” Aquaria gave her a look that quickly silenced Raja.

“Okay then.” Manila took the card from Aquaria with a grin. She walked back to the cash register.

“Raja, you need to stop being so…” Aquaria led.

“You shouldn’t have done that.” Raja said sharply.

They both got up and walked towards the register. Manila swiped the card and charged them 20 dollars.

When they walked out of the diner there was some tension in the air. Raja assumed it was just because she was pissed at Aquaria, but Aquaria knew it was sexual tension.

————————

They got in the car and sat there for a few small minutes. Just staring at each other. Aquaria started the car.

“Aquaria-“ Raja was going to apologize about yelling at her, before Aquaria moved towards her and touched her leg.

“Raja.” Aquaria said quietly.

Raja took that as consent. She had always wanted this, and was happily prepared to do so. She leaned in and placed her lips on Aquarias.

The kiss was deepened until Aquaria was a mess of whimpers and small, soft moans. Raja kissed at her jaw and neck, causing Aquaria to sigh heavily.

“You-“ Aquaria started before she was cut off by Rajas lips again.

“Shhh…” Raja whispered.

“You d-don’t o-own me.” Aquaria tried to breathily say before a high pitched squeal escaped her throat when Raja bit her neck. Hard.

“Oh, I think I do.” Raja whispered back before she kissed Aquaria hard.

A/N part 2: I hoped you enjoy this! I tried really hard to make this seem good. Maybe you got the reference to a Manila x Raja fic with the diner. Oh and also, sorry if this seemed fast-paced. Okay let me shutup now.

#raja gemini #aquaria #fluff #manila luzon #carmen carrera #jujubee #rpdr fanfiction #submission #aquaria x raja #canon compliant #rare pair

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winonalakefossils · 5 years

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Winona Lake, Not Winona

It was a known fact, and it had been for the last several years, that most of the mail Postmaster Cary D. Chapman received at the tiny Winona Post Office at Bass Lake in Starke County was not really intended for anyone who lived there. He spent a great deal of time returning bag after bag of letters to their senders or forwarding them disdainfully to the Dead Letter Office. Not once did he complain about the extra work. Rather, he received a great deal of pleasure from it. “That’s what those carpetbaggers get for running off with our name,” he grumbled. No one, least of all the irascible Mr. Chapman, could have foreseen the chain of events he set in motion to create unwittingly, some forty miles away, a new town that would claim for itself the proud name of Winona Lake.

Somewhere in Indiana in March of 1895, a distinguished man in his mid-30s walked briskly toward a train station. He carried a leather, gold-trimmed portfolio and wore a dark gray overcoat and a homburg hat with the signature dent down the middle of the crown. Upon entering the station, he approached the counter. With an engaging smile, he told the stationmaster his destination. Having received his ticket, he stepped aside. He reached inside of his coat and glanced down at a fine gold pocket watch. He returned the timepiece to its place and became pensive. The burdened traveler let out an involuntary sigh, and in a low whisper that no one could hear, he muttered, “How quickly our fortunes can change!” His thoughts took him back to the previous January on that glorious Sunday when he stood in the new Presbyterian church—formerly, the local dance hall—and announced to a delirious crowd his plans for the establishment of an Indiana Chautauqua.

A sizable crowd of shivering Presbyterians tramped in from the cold, knocking the snow from their boots and chattering with excitement as each shared what little he or she had heard about Rev. Dickey’s special service. The minister had made the trip from Indianapolis to light a fire under the locals that would burn hot all winter long and into spring.

“Bass Lake has been chosen by the Presbyterians of Indiana to be the home of Indiana’s own Chautauqua!”

Everyone in the room knew what that meant and offered up enthusiastic applause. The proclamation even generated a few whoops and whistles. The Chautauqua movement had sprung up in New York ten years before and had spilled over into the Midwest and other parts of the country. At Chautauqua Lake, the Methodists offered summer vacations comprised of cultural entertainment and education. Programs featured teachers, musicians, preachers, showmen, popular speakers and thinkers. What Rev. Dickey described that morning was considered a Chautauqua much improved, for it departed from the liberal Methodist ways to one in keeping with the beliefs represented among those gathered.

“The Winona Assembly, our Chautauqua name here at Bass Lake, will feature a Bible conference in addition to a program of the highest quality inspired by Mother Chautauqua, our predecessor in New York.”

A roar of applause shook the rafters, and the reverend felt close to dancing.

“Imagine this humble structure transformed into a beautiful Presbyterian church. Picture a music hall, college buildings, and a gymnasium surrounding us.” His sonorous voice, engaging smile and natural charm combined to persuade and exhilarate the people.

“Can you see a few thousand visitors milling about breathtaking flower gardens and luxuriating in the sweet, refreshing lake breeze?” He gestured toward a window. The grounds may have been snow-covered and the lake frozen, but the people saw vividly what he painted with words.

“Can you picture a few thousand guests rushing about to attend a concert? They will pour in this summer from all over Indiana to hear none other than former President Benjamin Harrison!”

His listeners gasped at the idea of such a spectacle. They jumped to their feet as one and clapped their hands in a deafening declaration of support. At the end of the service, the cheerful congregants stopped to affirm the support of this honorable visionary. They beamed. They prophesied a grand success. They thanked the reverend for choosing Bass Lake to launch a new kind of Chautauqua.

It was March, now, and though the ground had begun to thaw, negotiations with county officials had frozen over. Icy relations jeopardized the grand opening of the Winona Assembly.

Such were the thoughts of the preoccupied gentleman in the train station when he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. He turned around and looked in the eyes of a man close to him in age and of considerably distinguished deportment. His black, double-breasted coat had fabric-covered buttons. A silk ribbon set off his elegant, black top hat. His left hand held a highly polished wooden walking stick with an ornate ivory carving at its head.

The stranger extended his hand. The man reciprocated.

“Have I the honor of meeting Rev. Dickey?” He said with a pleasant, mellow German accent, and added, “I am J.E. Beyer.”

That name rang a bell.

“Mr. Beyer, it’s my pleasure,” Rev Dickey replied with all the dignity of a man of his stature.

J. E. Beyer was one of a trio of brothers who had emigrated from Germany and settled in Indiana as wholesalers in dairy and poultry. They owned and operated Spring Fountain Park. In recent years, they had traded the word “resort” for “assembly” when they decided to bring a small version of Chautauqua to Indiana.

The two men entered the train together, led by Mr. Beyer who spotted a vacant bench seat and invited Rev. Dickey to join him. Mr. Beyer wasted little time in getting to the point.

“I’ve been following your effort to open a Presbyterian Chautauqua at Bass Lake.”

“Then, you are aware that certain county and railroad officials are toying with us,” the reverend replied. “We are expecting thousands of visitors. A train line must come all the way to the Assembly grounds, or else the travelers will be stranded several miles away. Yet, officials refuse to act on this non-negotiable condition.”

He half expected Mr. Beyer to quiz him on the details and propose a solution. Instead, the determined businessman caught the reverend off guard with an offer.“

I am sure, Rev. Dickey, that you aware of our own facilities. We have everything you need at Spring Fountain Park to open your Chautauqua on time, and we are willing to sell.”

Rev. Dickey sat stunned for a moment. Mr. Beyer let his momentous words sink in as he traced the delicate ivory grooves on his cane.

When he spoke again, Mr. Beyer described a first class hotel conveniently located across from the train depot. He boasted an auditorium that could seat two thousand, meticulously groomed flower gardens, several natural springs, and a government post office. The list went on, for the brothers had spent ten years and $125,000 developing the park.

The other passengers could not hear what passed between the two, neither could they look away. The animated exchange provided them welcome entertainment. The men went from episodes of hearty laughter to extended stretches of intense dialogue as if they were formulating a grand idea that would change the world. “It may very well be that we are witnessing history,” one passenger was heard to say.

At the train stop, Rev. Dickey embraced Mr. Beyer and departed with a cheerful countenance and jubilant gait.

The Winona Assembly opened on July 1, 1895. A multitude of press releases told of a wonderful Chautauqua and Bible Conference at Eagle Lake two miles from Warsaw, Indiana. Rev. Dickey’s unwavering leadership had seen the board and stockholders through a storm of crises; summer brought forth the harvest borne of recent struggles. However, a problem surfaced, a pesky detail from the failed attempt to establish at Bass Lake.

The name Winona that the Presbyterians had legally assumed for their Chautauqua had come from a village at Bass Lake and was also the name of the post office located there. When the Assembly pulled out and settled instead at Eagle Lake, residents of Winona at Bass Lake were indignant. And when the problem of the mail arose, they dug in and refused to give an inch, their faithful postmaster leading the way.

While Rev. Dickey advertised that correspondence be addressed to Eagle Lake, people presumed the Winona Assembly was located at a place called Winona, which had been the original plan. The mix-up resulted in hundreds and hundreds of letters—not just to Rev. Dickey, but guest speakers, musicians, teachers, and those spending the summer at the grounds—going to Postmaster Chapman at Winona on Bass Lake who ensured they did not reach their intended recipients.

The problem became critical in the spring of 1897 after the fledgling Chautauqua won the right to host the prestigious Annual Presbyterian General Assembly. The opportunity was both an honor and an enormous undertaking, but the mail debacle seriously hampered preparations. John Studebaker, a stockholder of the Winona Assembly and founder of the Studebaker Automobile Corporation, wrote a letter to President McKinley insisting something be done. Many presumed that the matter would be settled in a matter of days.

It wasn’t.

In January 1898, the Eagle Lake Post Office legally changed its name to Winona Lake Post Office. Despite this attempt to clear up the confusion, people continued to address mail to Winona, Indiana, supplying a steady stream of undeliverable mail to the post office on Bass Lake. Rev. Dickey went so far as placing an ad in the papers with the directive to address correspondence to “Winona Lake, not Winona.”

The problem persisted.

According to postal regulations, no two post offices in the same state could share the same name, and the only person with the authority to sort out the mess was the President of the United States. In the meantime, innumerable letters intended for the Winona Lake Post Office wound up in the hands of the obdurate postmaster of the Winona Post Office at Bass Lake.

On August 10, 1903, the Logansport Daily broke the story of the two Winonas: “There are millions in the name for which a religious corporation is fighting against the postmaster at Winona in Starke County,” the article began. It went on to tell how Winona’s postmaster, Cary D. Chapman, characterized as a patriot and a hero of the Civil, Indian and Mexican wars, was defending the right of his post office to retain its name.

According to the Daily, ninety percent of the people who addressed mail intended for the Winona Lake Post Office left off the word “lake.” As a result, their correspondence went to Winona in Starke County, “the only office in the state,” the paper argued, “lawfully claiming that name.”

President Theodore Roosevelt, who believed Chautauqua was “the most American thing about America,” sent a letter to the Postmaster General. He, in turn, dispatched postal investigators to the warring post offices. The investigators’ report identified the Winona Lake Post Office as serving far more citizens than the other Winona and punished its postmaster for his part in foiling the delivery of U. S. mail on a technicality. In April 1905, Mr. Chapman lost his fight for the name and his job. The post office in Winona at Bass Lake was renamed Cobbler Station after its new postmaster.

It was an established fact, despite what the newspapers reported, that Rev. Dickey intended to open the Chautauqua on the outskirts of bucolic Winona at Bass Lake in Starke County. That is why the Winona Assembly was legally incorporated by that name in February 1895. When certain officials threw up obstacles, J.E. Beyer stepped in with an offer no one else could match. The result was the perennial problem of rerouted mail at the hands of Mr. Chapman that forced a confrontation requiring the intervention of a sitting President. Rev. Dickey’s fight to bring a Chautauqua to Indiana found him embroiled in a conflict with a rival post office, and it was Winona Lake, not Winona, that emerged the victor.

Special thanks to: Al Disbro, Winona Lake, IN; Schricker Main Library, Knox, IN; Winona History Center at Grace College, Winona Lake,IN

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ngame989 · 6 years

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(1/2) I've had a thought. It has to do with people's lack of interpretation of the episode Booth Buddies, and the failure of people who don't want Starco to happen to understand why Star and Marco can't go back to being platonic. And I think it in large part had to do with the leak of the kiss. When that image leaked, people from all sides backflipped into knee-jerk reactions. So much so that when the episode actually aired, nobody focused on it.

(2/2) Everyone was just waiting for that kiss, to either praise it or rant about it. Everyone had already chosen their reactions before we even saw the whole context, leaving only a handful of us to actually listen to what the characters where saying and deducing through their words and context clues what was actually going on: That Star and Marco have realized that their relationship has forever changed and that they can’t go back. I dunno, what do you think?

I almost fell out of my chair laughing when I saw this because of how ridiculously relevant your exact phrasing of the message is to my experience of the episode. I’ll get to my actual thoughts in a moment (tl;dr: BIG MOOD), but first;

Story time.

The Friday before the episode’s release (3 AM officially for me, but the rip from a particular cable company’s on-demand was available usually by 12:30-1 AM) was an incredibly busy day for me, which was fine since it let me keep my mind off the anxiety gnawing at me and my eyes off the internet, avoiding all leaks. News of the leaks existing came via Discord, but I carefully avoided all contents or reactions to them… until a close friend of mine came to me.

He had been spoiled by the thumbnail of the kiss on YouTube’s sidebar while watching totally unrelated things - of course this shocked him, so he grabbed just the transcript (not any other images) to sate his curiosity. He’s as gud a Starco boi as they come, but has a heavily cynical streak and trends towards seeing the worst in some things in the show. He didn’t spoil me, but I could tell that the leak was eating him alive - not in the expected “something big happened” way, but in that it was actually horribly depressing him, so I relented and asked for a bit more information so I could understand the situation more. His initial take was that Marco kissed Star, and her words after (”you’re my squire, I have a boyfriend” etc) were her legitimately turning him down and that this was “closure” to Starco, or at the very least a very negative sign of things to come. I didn’t (and still don’t) pass judgment on him having that reaction - it had been a rough season on us, to say the least, and everyone has their moments of weakness - but I simply couldn’t believe that was what was actually happening.

With that, I grabbed the leaks myself and dug into it a bit more to figure some things out. I did, miraculously, manage to glean the general idea just from the transcript (it was a panicked reaction by Star, not a rejection) and talked it over with him and it… at least did a good enough job to hold him (and me) over until the cable rip. Still one of the most stressful 5 hour blocks of my life though.

Cue the first release of the episode itself, on a fairly low res rip from cable. I knew what was coming,so I was trying to focus entirely on the why/how and not the what. Even knowing the words that were about to be spoken, I still wasn’t prepared for that entire scene once “What’s Different” kicked in, and I was crying a full minute before the kiss even happened. He hadn’t been watching the rip with me, but was in voice chat, and apparently my reactions were enough to get him out of that funk so hooray for that.

End story time.

The point in me saying all of this is that I have always attributed my understanding of the episode (as easily as it came to me, anyway) to the fact that I tuned my perceptions specifically towards sorting out the context of the kiss, without being affected by the shock of it in the moment. Maybe watching the episode leakless would’ve been a better experience, idk, but it ended up working out well enough for me.

The point about everyone latching on to their preconceived knee-jerk reactions is true, but it’s a (particularly explosive) microcosm of how people have always viewed this show, on all sides. It’s human nature to have knee-jerk reactions, but it’s an all-too-common tendency to stick with that even when the facts dispute it rather than re-evaluating your feelings when presented with new information. I wasn’t here myself, but I’ve seen old reactions from stuff as early as Sleepover where people refused to believe or accept what happened at the end - OK, sure, maybe a handful of people had a cable outage in the last 20 seconds of the ep and legitimately missed the moment proving Star was crushing on Marco, but in 95% of cases it was clear as day that people were twisting what they saw to fit their own ideas.

This happened again going into Season 3, when fans had been twiddling their thumbs throughout the spring and early summer with endless art and fics of Star crushing hard on Marco, and then Battle for Mewni highlighting that even more, only for the SDCC clip a few days later to throw a wrench in the works. Clearly that itself lacked a ton of context, and I don’t hide the fact that I myself was on the “it’s a flashback” train for a while. After the Calarts thing and the episode title leaks confirming its legitimacy, I accepted that something Tomstar was coming, but I was still kinda hung up on my preconception there and didn’t “get” what the point of it was for quite a while. Even with my failings there, I can say with confidence that most of the Starco fans were way worse about it, and still don’t see the point of any of it even to this day - same underlying failing of twisting what actually happens to fit the knee-jerk feeling.

And Tomstar fans in Season 3 repeated this pattern by completely ignoring the fact that Star wasn’t really in love with Tom at all, or that she was still growing closer to Marco, and their views of her actions were warped to fit their narrative of “Star chose to date Tom and he is changing to improve himself, so therefore Tomstar is getting better” without considering the underlying arc of where Star’s heart truly lies.

Even now, even among people who do claim to “get” the message of Booth Buddies, there’s another deeper underlying presumption many people have that the show is just a soap opera now. OK, sure, this season has lacked a lot of the lightheartedness of the past (specifically within Star and Marco’s relationship). I can even say that, with some exceptions, I had less fun watching Season 3 than Seasons 1 or 2 because of this, and it’s a sucky feeling I want to go away - I’m sympathetic to the plights of Starco fans, I truly am, BUT that doesn’t change the fact that my primary goal is to understand the messages the show is trying to convey, and the execution therein, when analyzing it. This extrapolation of the presence of (completely justified, and directly addressed as an unwanted thing in-universe) awkwardness and tension between Star and Marco for the last 1.5 seasons leads fans to assume there will just be more of the same for the sole intent of stringing the fandom along, and that’s a nearly superstitious level of false pattern recognition.

The Booth Buddies leak, then, was the perfect storm of this bullshit. An incredibly controversial (both in and out of universe) action, not only lacking context, but presented to the fandom in most cases by other fans with their OWN preconceived notions via YouTube video titles and whatnot, and with an entire season’s worth of anxieties fueling those reactions. The fallout still would’ve been bad without the leaks, but this particular combination of issues was a Weapon of Mass Obstruction launched at the fandom’s collective desire or ability to figure it out.

#answered #lawchan89

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sleepymarmot · 6 years

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A couple of months ago, after finishing COUNTER/Weight, I spent about a week in a total hangover, relistening to scenes and having feelings. I took some notes, but procrastinated posting them, and then finally got distracted. But, a) I hate leaving things I intended for tumblr unposted, even if they have value only for me, and b) I also hate posting things out of order, and there's a big TM liveblog incoming. So, here's a bunch of really random thoughts about C/w from past me.

The gnosis virus did go nowhere huh. I was hopeful for a minute when one of the finale intros mentioned it, but that was it. What was the purpose of that arc even. [Note from present me: Lol. At least I feel better about this one!]

Oh, and the patch AuDy left never reappeared either. And the idea from the faction game that Aria's images owned by EarthHome/Petrichor transmit Rigour code… That's the flip side of the coin. On the one hand, it's really cool to see the creative process – on the other, it sometimes feels like you're listening to people write a script for the tv show, but only get to see a half of the finished product. It's fascinating to see the universe grow organically and the players to come up with new ideas and get excited about them – but that means numerous retcons, some of them not even presented as such, because the creators forgot what the previous revision was or didn't thought it was important. It's a unique feature of the medium that player choice directs the narrative and it's not bound by railroading – but that means some roads lead nowhere, and some branches dry and fall off.

It's a bit harder to make peace with something that could have easily been developed more within the existing plot of the show. How come there's a player character whose consciousness consists of three different people in various combinations, but nobody seems to be curious how that works? No PC or NPC ever asked “Which one of you is speaking right now?” or something. The final episodes made a lot of things clearer, but it still felt too little, too late. Hard not to be reminded of that gripe about certain two characters sharing one character sheet one of whom was left underdeveloped and half-forgotten… Both are very ambitious concepts that require a double amount of work from the player, so I feel bad complaining they weren't realized to full potential, but…

Speaking of L&D… I still want to know how the hell did that one engineer all by herself design 4 gods, one of which became a basis for technology that was advanced even for the civilizations 80,000 years later? This woman singlehandedly surpassed any technological achievement of humanity before and after. Who Is She

I saw a “Wake me up: before you go go / when september ends / wake me up inside” meme and thought “heh, this sounds relevant, which member of the Chime is which?” and it already made me sad, but then I realized that I'd never actually heard the september song and looked it up and. The lyrics fit so well. What the fuck. It's an old song everyone keeps joking about. Why is it appropriate for a legitimate fanmix. What. I guess the word “September” will never be the same again for me.

I looked up the rules for Firebrands, the game used for the finale. Oh my, challenges for the dance minigame are so overtly romantic when you see them in a list together! Imagine this cast of characters having to answer to “do you place your hand upon my elbow, shoulder, waist, or hip?” lmao. Also I didn't realize “May I?” was part of the rules for “stealing time together”. (And I found out there's a party version of that minigame with bug-themed challenges. I might have dug too deep…) "Tactical skirmish" is a really fascinating concept, I've never seen such a masochistic combat system! Really faces the player with the violence they're inflicting: sure, you can always fight on, but are you ready to live with what you'll have to do? But for it to work fully, you need a lot of non-expendable NPCs on both sides. The one with the most likeable team wins! (Like Mako did.)

I'm relistening to Three Conversations and it's pretty interesting that Ibex has a bunch perfectly lifelike android bodies, right? There is no such technology seen anywhere else. Did Righteousness develop and privatize that? Are they so complex that only a Divine would have enough computing power to successfully mimic organic life? Can Aria convince Righteousness to help her perform on stage without leaving her duties? Also, like with AuDy, I wonder how Ibex & Righteousness' consciousness works. Is it a single mind, spread across every body he has, or even anything Righteousness is running on, having a bunch of different conversations at once if he needs to? Or is the original Ibex just gone, and what's left is a personality imprint hanging on to the connection to his still living body, imitating his former self like the automated recording Cass saw wore his face? In other words, has Ibex completely fused with Righteousness, or assimilated and destroyed by it? Does he not exist anymore as an independent singular being, or does he not exist at all? Most info indicates the former, but there was also “You’re not in there anymore” “No”.

If Orth and Jace are anime fans with their Kingdom Come and Panther, then Ibex is the guy who's way too into dinosaurs or paleontology. It's as if the heads of various confessions were called Triceratops, Stegosaurus etc. and only one of them knows wtf that means, and also he compares his Divine to… Were there scavenging dinosaurs? I'm looking at an article that suggests T. Rex might have been a scavenger, so yeah he would compare Righteousness to a goddamn T. Rex.

Hey what do you think is the most thematically aproppriate part of the Hieron anime for Orth to watch alone at night during the Kingdom game. What's the best thematic parallel for when he turns off the episode and thinks he made a mistake. Do you think that he once, after a long day and a long month and maybe a long year of feeling helpless and doomed, sits down for a distraction but ends up sobbing “How could they let this happen to Mother Glory”

On Joypark, there are definitely statues of Eidolons, ancient and holy, that were repainted and repurposed as Hieron deities. Imagine a giant Greek or Roman style marble statue of Apote – and it’s painted over as Samot, with an anime face and in really bright plain colors like these “reconstructions of original coloring” that actually only use base colors so they look like cheap action figures.

I was reading Austin's top ten games of 2016 list on Waypoint and he gave first place to The Sprawl! Aww!

The Downloads folder in my phone gallery is funny bc it mostly consists of every freely available f@tt map and also that one photo of Tristan Walker (because I tried to redraw it, very unsuccessfully). I go check a map and every time am met by Ibex just. staring at me. It's unsettling

Some of the many options for how Apostolosian gender could have been presented:

Apostolosians prefer to be addressed by the most neutral available human pronoun, represented as "they" in English, because the human languages don't have anything close enough

Apostolosian pronouns are represented in English by a set of real-life common pronouns and neopronouns

There's a list of Apostolosian pronouns and they're just used in English verbatim (Really impractical because the players need a cheat sheet, but the most fair)

Humans apply human genders to Apostolosians. Apostolosians may be offended, may find it convenient, or something else

As Austin said in the post-mortem, the Eidolon system is not gender. It's represented in English by titles/honorifics/etc

Any of the above, and the creators are aware of the difference between personal pronouns, grammatical gender, and social gender

And that’s not even touching the core problem of what the concept of gender in a futuristic, techonologically advanced society would look like. Yes, I'm complaining about this for the third time but I'm just. So tired of native English speakers' takes on gendered language. They could have made Apostolosian gender look like anything and they made it look like that fucking mess... God, I really hope TM is good enough to make me forget and forgive the experience of listening to “he... sorry, they” for 100 hours. [Note from present me: Well… mostly]

Here’s my take on this: eidolons in Apostolosian language are absurdly broad noun classes with associated classifiers (which fits both the idea that they’re gender but not actually, and that each of them is a patron to several unrelated aspects of life) Apostolosian: the word “(Apo)thesa” is used to refer to people who follow the corresponding eidolon, as well as for counting buildings, heavy machinery, military units, specific strategies and tactics, log entries, historical documents and chronicles, history textbooks and monographs, and eras :) Human: what the fuck

Very critical, imaginative worldbuilding in which 80,000+ years into the future humanity somehow has 21st century gender and 21st century capitalism! TBH, I find any sci-fi set in the far future inherently silly – we can’t really imagine the future technogy and its effect on society. But it feels like C/w barely even tried, and to hear it boast about “critical worldbuilding” is kinda strange. I assumed that meant they build the world critically, not that they recreate modern society or some aspect of it and criticize that! It’s just another Star Trek then! And it was already clear right during the setup when they said “We don’t want Star Trek aliens” and immediately created Apostolosians.

I haven't seen a single piece of fanart with Taako and Mako. Come on, does nobody want to see these two next to each other! Especially considering the outfits artists like to put Taako in!

I really don't understand how and why people do fandom activities on Twitter and Discord where the creators also have accounts. It gives me so much secondhand embarrassment. I can barely peek at Twitter posts before running away. Old-fashioned opinion apparently but I strongly believe the main fandom space and the interaction-with-original-creators space should be separate. I need a space where I can voice my opinions, especially negative ones, with complete freedom. I need to be able to say exactly what's on my mind. But I wouldn't want any of the people on the podcast to read something unfiltered like my complaints above. Being in the same space as the source content creators obliges any decent person to be diplomatic and constructive. And the creators, in turn, need a space where they don't come across complete randos yelling at them about something they said in a podcast three years ago. I'm already feeling uncomfortable because hearing to strangers pour their hearts out for hundreds of hours gives me way too much insight on who they are as people. Of course, nothing’s stopping them from lurking on Tumblr or AO3 and even reading this very post, but a platform where they have official accounts is still a different thing! I even feel uncomfortable talking about the podcast creators using their first names so much. To my ear, referring to a total stranger by first name, especially if it's a shortened form, sounds so rude! I'm not their friend, I don't have that right! But, of course, writing something like “Mr Walker” in my liveblogs would have been even weirder, nobody does that...

Is it a common experience to not even think about fanfiction after listening to Hieron, but going straight to AO3 after C/w? I feel like since Hieron is still a work in progress, writing/reading about it is stepping on the GM&players' toes, and C/w is finished so it's like they gave us the keys to the playground, it's the fandom's turn now. This story has so much blanks and they must be filled! In one of the early episodes they joked that something cute they said would encourage people to ship Mako/Cass and I was like "Bold of you to assume they aren't already" and, indeed, I was right and it's the most popular C/w ship on AO3. Too bad I’m so indifferent to it…

It’s a shame we never had a full scene with Ariadne or even learned what they were up to during the finale.

I still don't understand how Ibex went from “evil CEO” to “leader of a proletarian revolution”, these sound like completely opposite concepts to me

I probably have talked about this too much and have pretty much given up on ever getting a clear picture due to all of these reimaginings but… Righteousness and Voice… Ibex takes Righteousness out of Mako but he still has Voice, that was pretty much openly stated, correct? So how does that work? I’m guessing Righteousness is hidden somewhere in Voice’s code. But if so:

Did Maryland know? On the one hand, she’s too competent not to. On the other, why would she ever allow or accept that?

How did Righteousness not get corrupted by Rigour too? Maybe it did, but broke off the connection with the rest of itself to contain the damage? Or maybe, on the contrary, it kept in contact and was sending intel to Ibex the whole time? But in that case he would have provided more help in the finale.

#friends at the table #blah blah blah

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