#still got that sense of humor going on from the grave

[ringosmistress]

[unreliablesnake]

Dirty little secrets (Simon "Ghost" Riley x reader)

Summary: Ghost finds out you are fuck buddies with Graves, and now he wants a piece of you too.

Note: Mare is the code name of the reader.

Warnings: None, which is surprising considering the amount of smut I wrote lately. Afab!reader.

Graves pulled you into a big hug when you met again. By then you were a member of the 141, but he always said, "once a Shadow, always a Shadow." You had worked for him for about four years, by the end as the lead interrogator. Shadows had their own rules, being brutal was something Shadow Company usually appreciated. And you could be brutal when needed.

"Are they treating you right? You know you can come back to us anytime," he said with a smirk, his hands moving down to your lower back.

With a polite smile you pried him off of you, stepping back to build some distance. "Everything's great," you replied shortly.

He tilted his head to the side as he examined your face, probably trying to find out why you were so cold all of a sudden. You couldn't blame him, but you couldn't let the others know that back in the day the two of you were fuck buddies. You loved his arrogance and sense of humor, and his boyish charm was the cherry on top.

Soap appeared before Graves could say anything, greeting him like an old friend. The two engaged in a conversation, while behind you Ghost began to move around, his size making it impossible for him to stay undetected in this situation.

"Mare, come on, we have things to do," he told you as he passed by.

You nodded and followed him, out of the corner of your eye noticing how Graves wanted to object when he saw you leave. Once you were out of earshot, you turned to the lieutenant. "What exactly do we have to do?"

He let out a questioning hum, but immediately realized what you were asking him. "Oh, nothing. I just saw how uncomfortable you were when Graves became all touchy during that hug. Thought you might want to be away from him," he explained. "Is he like this with every female employee?"

"No," you replied immediately, maybe sounding a little offended by the idea.

"Just asking. I guess there's a story then." Letting out a long sigh, you nodded. Ghost looked down at you, studying your face with an intrigued expression. "You were together?" You remained silent and his eyes grew a little wider. "You're still together?"

For a moment you wondered how much you should tell him, after all you've been trying to keep it a secret from them. But strangely enough, he made you feel safe, probably because this man seemed to be good at keeping secrets. "We're not. We're just… friends with benefits," you admitted.

"He looks like the type of guy who's into that, but I didn't think you would like it," he noted as you walked into the hangar.

"We're having fun without the commitment of a relationship."

He watched as you hopped on a table, eyes glued to you the whole time. You could tell he was still thinking about the idea of you and Graves occasionally having sex, probably judging you for being this open-minded. But you didn't mind. He could think whatever he wanted.

"And how does it work now that you don't work together?" he suddenly asked, his arms now folded over his chest.

With a smile, you replied, "A few weeks ago he got on his plane and flew over to visit me."

"He took his private jet for a trip to have sex with you?" When you nodded, he whistled. "If I needed it that badly I'd just go to the nearest pub and pick up some bimbo," he said.

"You're into bimbos?"

Ghost shrugged. "They're easier to impress. Much less effort than impressing girls like you."

"Was it a compliment?" you asked with a playful smile.

"Maybe."

He was watching you, eyes intense and dark as he thought about something. You knew that while he was silent, his mind was probably insanely loud at the moment. "What?" you spoke up, getting bored of his silence.

"Nothing," he brushed you off.

"Come on, Ghost, I can see the wheels turning in your head."

Taking a deep breath, he clearly considered answering your question. Then he nodded, letting you know he was ready to give you a glimpse into his mind. "Why did you leave Shadow Company if you were having fun with Graves?"

"Price said some things that made me come here."

"Like what?"

You smiled and let out a small laugh. "I know you recommended me," you informed him.

Ghost gulped, but he quickly recovered and soon stepped between your legs, using his knee to push them wider apart so he could fit in there. You nervously looked around to see how many people were staring at you, but there was no one near. He put his hands on your knees, gently stroking your skin through your pants to get your attention.

"Why did you recommend me? Something tells me there was a personal reason," you told him, hoping he would finally say something.

"I think I saw you and Graves once." With a frown, you let out a questioning hum. "We were working together on something and I needed you for an interrogation. Someone told me you went to get something from the plane, and sure enough, you were there," he began before leaning really close to you so his deep voice dropped to a whisper, "being eaten out by someone."

That smug bastard was smiling, you could see that in his eyes. But you couldn't be mad when you were embarrassed, wishing you could crawl into a hole and die. "I don't even want to know what you think about me after that," you said.

But Ghost only tilted his head to the side as he studied your face. Your skin was burning under his gaze so you looked away, but he grabbed your jaw and made you look at him forcefully. "I've been thinking about what it would feel like to be the reason why you make those sounds," he finally told you.

You felt the heat building up in your core, every cell now yearning for more; his touch, his kiss, any kind of physical contact, really. Ever since you had joined the 141, you'd been on good terms with Ghost, the two of you often drinking together at night, and he even told you some personal details. You knew he had nightmares. You knew he had a traumatic childhood. You knew--

"Mare, are you in here?"

Graves. Fuck. You instinctively pushed Ghost away, who only moved because your actions took him by surprise. "Damn it," you muttered as you jumped off the table and gave him an almost worried look. "Nothing happened," you told him before walking away.

You met the commander halfway, flashing a nervous smile at him the moment you stopped in front of him. "Is everything okay?" he asked, putting a hand on your flushed cheek.

No. Nothing was okay. You wanted to find out what Ghost really wanted from you. Was it just sex? Did he get the courage to act on his dirty fantasies because he knew you were fuck buddies with Graves? There were too many questions for your liking.

"I'm good," you managed to say in the end. "Let's talk somewhere else. Do you have booze?" you asked with a laugh.

As you walked away, you turned back for a short moment, not missing the way Ghost stood there with his hands stuffed into his pockets, watching you leave without saying a word.

[frvnkcastles]

YOUR HEAD’S ONLY MEDICINE ➵ F. CASTLE

Summary: You and Frank bond over tattoos.

Warnings: Mentions of injuries, reader lost a friend to suicide, past self-harm, implied bad relationship with parents, fluff!!!!

Word count: 2k

Author’s note: My god this is SO self-indulgent!! I just really love tattoos and I have one of Frank and I often wonder how he’d react to it so this came to life. Maybe someone else can relate :) Also I know I’ve been very slow at writing your requests but rest assured I have seen them and I am trying my best <33

Only a year ago, a knock on your door near midnight would have sent you to an early grave, but now, with Frank in your life, you had come to expect it. On yet another night when you had already changed into your coziest shorts and fluffiest socks in preparation for bed, the familiar sound alerted you from the kitchen, and with quiet movements, you shuffled to the peephole only to confirm what you already suspected — a bloody Frank Castle awaited on your doorstep.

”Hey, sweetheart.” You were met with his raspy voice once you parted the door just enough for him to slip inside, like a secret in the shadows of the night that you wanted to hold from your neighbors. How scandalous would it be if they found out that New York’s most wanted was your nightly visitor?

”Is it bad?” you asked, well-aware that he wouldn’t be coming to you at this hour if he didn’t need your help. The groan that rose from his throat as he moved to the couch was your answer, and with a struggle, he fought his jacket off of his broad shoulders and revealed the gash on his bicep, his shirt torn where the blood trickled down.

”Could be worse”, he grunted, ”just happened to be nearby and figured you’d do a prettier job than me.” You sensed the deadpan humor in his voice, and it got a grin from you as you trailed to the bathroom where you had hidden your first aid kit. Once you were armed with the supplies, you made your way back to Frank and sat down next to him, curious but concerned eyes inspecting the wound on his arm.

As you lifted your own arm to pull at the loose threads of his shirt and reveal the wound better, Frank’s eyes caught the protective wrap around yours, concealing the new ink on your skin that had turned into an irritated red at the very beginning of its healing journey.

”That a new one?” he acknowledged the tattoo with a curt nod, and for a second, you wondered what he was referring to, but once you found his stare locked on your arm, you nodded.

”Got it a few days ago. Pretty cool, huh?” you smiled while getting back to work, and humming, Frank continued to study the intricate art all over your arm. He forgot all about the pain on his own body as he scanned every piece, the way he had done before, as well. He often got lost in it, and his curiosity about the stories behind them. You had shared a few, but some of them still remained a mystery to them. Sometimes he remembered the thigh tattoo you had mentioned but never shown, and his mouth would go dry at the mere thought.

”Yeah”, he finally replied, ”pretty cool.”

Somehow, it became a habit. Every time he’d visit you, bloodied and bruised, he’d focus on your tattoos, trailing your arms and hands as well as your legs, and on a few special occasions he got a glimpse of the one on your back and just an inch of the one on your thigh. He couldn’t explain the strange attraction he felt to them, but he couldn’t deny that as beautiful as you were without them, they made you… well, you. They completed you, in a way that he hadn’t realized tattoos could do, but seeing you with them was a confusing mixture of adoration and a massive turn-on.

”Another one?” Frank noted the new ink on your shoulder on yet another routine night, and although you knew he was truly intrigued by your tattoos, you couldn’t help but chuckle at the words that sounded almost disapproving.

”Starting to sound like my dad, Frank”, you sang teasingly, and with a grimace, the man mustered a chuckle out, as well.

”Shit, we definitely don’t want that”, he remembered your strained relationship with your parents, before adding, ”I like it. Suits you.”

Smiling, you finished cleaning the gash on his back before offering him his shirt and giving his bare skin a lingering look. ”You ever think about getting tattoos? I think they’d suit you”, you pointed out, unable to resist tracing your fingers down the blank canvas of his body, from his shoulder blades over to his biceps. Frank shivered, and you noticed — although you were both used to you touching him by now, there was a line between medical and intimate that you were currently dancing on.

”Thought about it”, Frank shrugged, licking his lips as he considered whether or not he should continue. ”Thought I’d get one for… uh, y’know. My family. But I dunno, what’s the point?” he elaborated, and looking up from his muscled back, you gave him a sympathetic look.

”I think that’s a sweet idea. It can be very cathartic, you know”, you noted before extending your arm to him and pointing out the small but significant tattoo in the crook of your elbow. ”I got this for my friend after she passed. It helped me process and come to terms with what happened. I managed to let go of a lot of guilt, too”, you explained in a quiet voice. Tenderly, Frank brushed a thumb across the semicolon needled into your skin, and when he met your gaze, he saw the sadness in your eyes despite the smile you flashed him.

”Also… I know you like to punish others but also yourself. And there’s something about the pain, you know? It feels good, in some weird way”, you added before gesturing at the flowers that you had gotten a year ago to cover your self-inflicted scars. ”Helped me stop hurting myself in other ways, at least.”

Nodding in understanding, Frank continued to trace your skin with gentle fingers. ”You did good”, he whispered, before swallowing thickly. ”’M glad you found somethin’ to help you. For what it’s worth, I dunno that you’d be you without all of ’em”, he gestured at you, and with a new, sincere smile, you patted him on the back.

”Well, if you ever decide to get one, I’d happily come and hold your hand through it”, you beamed, and with a chuckle, Frank nodded.

”I’mma keep that in mind.”

After that night, his visits became more scarce. You were friends, sure, but he didn’t owe you anything — so why did him being away for so long hurt so much? It felt sick and twisted, but you missed stitching him up, missed him being a bloody mess on your couch. You found yourself waiting and expecting every night, but eventually, the knocks stopped coming. And soon enough, he didn’t come back at all.

It hurt, and you wondered if he was okay — if he was even alive. You had his number, but you knew it was only for emergencies and you didn’t want to risk embarrassing yourself. It wasn’t fair of you to assume his world revolved around you, but how had yours started to revolve around him?

A month went by without any sign of him, and then, one day, you came home to a letter on your doorstep. With bated breath, you broke the envelope and unfolded the letter within, and at the sight of Frank’s handwriting and a quickly scribbled ”Hey, sweetheart”, your heart flipped and your lips twitched into an involuntary smile. It was brief but sweet, detailing how he had go into hiding and keep low contact, but with promises to be back as soon as he could. He even told you he missed you, and you couldn’t help but feel yourself fill with giddiness at the thought.

And at the very bottom of the page was a haphazardly drawn skull to sign for the letter, and you instantly knew what you had to do.

Two weeks later, there was a knock on your door at midnight, and you leaped in the knowledge it could only be one person. When you did, in fact, find Frank waiting in the hallway, you let your instincts drive you and without hesitation, you threw yourself in a tight hug. You wrapped your inked arms around him and squeezed, fearing he would slip away from you yet again. Frank relaxed into the hug slowly but surely, his arms coming to rest around your waist to hold you against his chest, his lips colliding with the top of your head as you embraced.

”Missed you too.”

Exhaling heavily, you pulled back and gave him a concerned look. ”Sorry, are you okay? I didn’t mean to hurt—”, you began, but Frank cut you off with a shake of his head.

”Hey, ’m okay. Just wanted to see ya”, he admitted bashfully, his dark eyes glancing at his feet and then back to you, ”woulda brought you flowers if the shop downstairs had still been open.”

Heat crawled up your cheeks, and you dodged his gaze as you stepped aside to let him inside your apartment. Without another word, he stepped across the threshold and began shrugging off his jacket, and in an instant, your heart jumped — he planned on staying, then?

”Can I get you anything?” you asked, unexplainably nervous as you closed the door and left yourself in a private space with Frank, the tension high in the room.

”Nah, ’m good”, Frank grunted before giving you a shy look. ”Did you, uh, get my letter?” he questioned, seeming just as awkward as you, and it made you smile. Surely most people didn’t know the Punisher could be so endearing.

”I got it. It was really sweet”, you reassured before stepping closer to him. ”Actually… I kind of… did a thing”, you added, and with a cocked eyebrow, Frank studied your face but for once, he couldn’t read your expression.

”Somethin’ good?” he wondered, and with a chuckle, you shrugged.

”You tell me”, you stated simply before rolling up your sleeve and revealing your newest tattoo — the skull he had drawn for you, identical from the letter, now forever on your wrist, always there to remind you of him and the things he made you feel.

Stunned and speechless, Frank stared at your wrist before looking up at you in disbelief. Softly, he caressed the healing picture with his thumb, sending a chill down your spine as his rough fingertip drew a pattern across your skin. He took his sweet time, and you couldn’t tell if he liked it or not, driving you crazy.

”It’s permanent?” he spoke up eventually, his dark eyes meeting yours, and with a swallow, you nodded.

”It’s permanent”, you confirmed before letting your courage guide your tongue, ”I hope you’re permanent, too.”

Frank looked at you, quiet and contemplative, but eventually, he inched closer to you and reached for your jaw. His thumb rubbed your chin and he deliberately gave you the chance to pull away — but you didn’t. And so, he closed the distance between you, his lips meeting yours for the very first time, in the softest and most tender kiss imaginable. He was careful, as if worried he’d hurt you, and you wanted him to let go of that idea, so you pressed into him harder and kissed him more feverishly, hoping he’d get the hint.

His hand fell from your jaw to your neck, and he craned his head while deepening the kiss, his tongue grazing your lip as he sealed his body against yours. He kissed you hard and with every pent-up feeling he had been holding out on you, and you met him with equal fervor until your lips were swollen and your breath difficult to catch.

”Love it”, Frank breathed out when he pulled away, his stare falling to your tattoo again. ”Love all of ’em. But this one especially. Shit, I’m… I’m real flattered, y’know?” he struggled to find the right words, and with a smile on your pink lips, you nodded.

”I like to immortalize everything that’s special to me”, you pointed out, and with half a smile, Frank cast a shy look downwards.

”About, uh, me being permanent…”, he began, and anxiously, you waited for him to continue. Eventually, he did.

”I’d like that, sweetheart.”

[im-a-writer-sometimes]

Thank You, Doctor (Miguel O’Hara - Epilogue)

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Epilogue

Pairing: Miguel O’Hara x fem!reader

Word Count: 800

Warnings: deceased family member, pure fluff, implied smut (sorry horndogs, you’ll have to use your imagination)

🕷

The first thing you noticed was the tightness of the air. It felt like you were being compressed as you stepped back onto the streets that used to be your whole world. You’d become so calibrated to the world you’d known the last months, this place now seemed foreign to you.

Not so foreign that you couldn’t find your way to the little church your mother used to drag you to as a kid, dolling you up in the best dress she could afford, letting you smother on lipstick once you’d turned ten to try and incentivize you. You smiled at the memory, walking past the tall oak doors and through the low iron gates that led to the cemetery out back.

You were ashamed at how long it took you to find your mother’s grave, but you did, sitting down in the grass and pulling your knees to your chest. 

“You were all I had,” you said, your words swallowed up by the gloomy, overcast sky. “My only place in the world.” You dropped your cheek to your knee, smiling sadly. “Once you were gone, I tried to carve out my own place, but I didn’t fit. I know why now. It wasn’t your fault, or my fault. But now—”

You lifted your head, scooting closer so you could rest your hand on the top of the grave. 

“I’ve found a place. Somewhere to belong, Mom. You wouldn’t believe where if I told you,” you laughed. “You always told me love isn’t about passion and fire and adventure. Those are nice, but you said love is about feeling safe. Feeling seen and heard. All those things you never got.” You ran a finger over her name—Captain Mary Y/l/n. “Well, Mom, I think I’ve found that too. Too soon to say, but I’m saying it anyway.”

You touched the flowers on either side of the gravestone, finding them both still fresh. It made sense; as chief of police, your mother had been a beloved pillar of the community. Your world hadn’t been the only one shattered when she passed.

“I just wanted you to know,” you said, standing up and brushing the dirt off your pants. “You only wanted me to be happy. I think I’m getting there, Mom.” You started walking and then paused, turning back over your shoulder. “Also, Dad’s a multiversal criminal from another dimension. Was a multiversal criminal from another dimension, I should say.”

You thought you could hear her laughter in the sudden burst of wind, ruffling the leaves of the few trees poking up through the graveyard.

You were walking away when you felt a sudden stab of pain on your lower back, brushing a spider off of the sliver of skin showing between your shirt and pants. You watched it as it hit the ground, legs twitching. You narrowed your eyes, looked back at the grave.

“You’ve got a sick sense of humor, Mom.”

When you used your new bracelet to portal back to base, it was the dead of night. You didn’t have to think where to go; you’d arrived at the cafeteria before you even knew where you were going.

Miguel stood from his seat at the sight of you, and you smiled. 

“I didn’t think—”

“I’d come back so soon?” you said, crossing the room. “I know. But you let me go anyway.”

He simply watched you, still standing as you sat down in the seat across from him.

“I had some goodbyes to give,” you said. “Just one really.”

He slowly sat, eyes scanning over you as if he still didn’t believe you were here. In front of him. “No te merezco,⁸” he said, tilting his head as he watched you. “You still owe me nothing.”

“Then I guess that means we can start over,” you said, reaching out your hand before you. “My name is Doctor Y/n Y/l/n. Pleasure to meet you.”

He grabbed your hand and used the leverage to pull your forwards until your noses were nearly brushing. “Miguel,” he said. “The pleasure’s all mine.” When he kissed you, it was soft. No trace of that half-feral man who’d defended you against your father. He was unremarkably soft, tracing a finger along your jaw as you pulled apart.

“I wouldn’t mind continuing this introduction in your room,” you said, and, finally, his smile sharped into something more wild.

“Whatever you want, mujer implacable.”

When you woke the next morning, you had to slowly untangle yourself from Miguel’s arms, smiling at the way he instinctively reached out, mumbling something incoherent in Spanish. You picked up his t-shirt from the floor and tossed it over yourself, flicking your hair from beneath the collar. That was when you saw yourself in the mirror.

You squinted, stepping closer. 

You were bigger, that was for sure. There was muscle definition where there hadn’t been, and you simply stood there, staring. You reached out to touch the mirror, and to your horror, your fingertips stuck to the surface. Your other hand immediately reached for the small bump on your back where the spider had bitten you. You almost laughed.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” you said.

🕷

(8) “I don’t deserve you.”

Thanks for reading, folks!

[callofdudes]

He's been on my mind ❤️ just some little ideas for Rodolfo (Alejandro gets thrown in too let's be honest.)

I love the headcanon I have for Rodolfo (other people also might think this I'm not sure.) But he's small and quiet and doesn't do a lot to make himself known. Personally, Alejandro and him are a fucking UNIT on the field. In any sense.

But my all time headcanon for Rodolfo is when he gets pissed, he gets downright demonic. Like this little man is so calm but if you hurt Alejandro or someone very close to him everyone is going to be questioning what possessed him.

I think if would be funny if instead of going into hiding, when Rudy heard Alejandro was kidnapped he just went off. Screaming Graves out in Spanish from the safehouse. He'd throw things and get absolutely pissed off.

And I know he's more passive aggressive too. Like of they're in a bar and someone is hitting on Alejandro he'd just casually lean over like, "I know you think you're doing good. But you should probably stop." And said other person is all chill because who the fuck is this tiny little thing? "It's ok, I'm not afraid of him."

Alejandro's just chuckling like, "I'm not the one threatening you hermano." (Saw the dialogue on another post and thought it fit them.)

Rodolfo is a family man 100%. He cooks for guests and although Alejandro can also cook he'd much rather kick him out to hang with his friends.

Being a family man, like I said, if you touch, threaten or do anything in-between to his family (close friends, Alejandro etc.) He'll rip your spine out before you know what's happening.

As the smallest of their group he can 100% sneak up on you. Alejandro is much bigger so when they go on covert missions Rodolfo is the ideal man for the job. And just because he's small and a bit shy doesn't me he can't rip you a new one. (Look at König, he's got more height but is also very shy and just as brutal.)

I wouldn't call if social anxiety, but he's very shy and when Alejandro teases him in public, Spanish or not, he gets flustered. He won't admit that sometimes he likes it though. Getting pushed against the wall and whispered things whole their friends are right there on the other side. It scares him right into submission which excites both him and Alejandro.

Can dance.

If you manage to see him dance or he opens up and dances around you he will refuse to elaborate why he can dance.

Designated driver most of the time. But there was one time Price offered to drive to let Rodolfo get shit-faced drunk. At this point he just started throwing it down on the dancefloor with Alejandro. He will dance anything I'd he's drunk.

I just want to see art or writing about Alejandro and Rudy dancing. (Slow, fast, sex- I don't care)

Anyway.

I think that after Rodolfo gets to know Ghost they actually become friends. Ghost is stoic and a bit scary even still to Rodolfo, but he's seen the man under the mask and gotten to know him enough to not shiver in his boots. And I think Ghost finds Rudy's soft-spoken personality a nice break from Johnny.

Alejandro is a simp.

This isn't about him but I can see Rodolfo coming back from an undercover mission with blood all over him and callouses from crawling in the dirt of something. Alejandro wants to make sure he's ok but he also thinks it's SO HOT.

Unlike probably some of the recruits back at the main base for 141 Los Vaqueros don't try to piss the colonel or his sergeant off. They have a very high respect for both and I can only see a few newbies trying anything beyond typical Mexican humor.

If you've played the game, there is this one move where if a person from the opposing team is laying down, you can get behind them and sneak your hands around their throat. You then proceed to jerk your knife back into the jugular. Yeah.

Rodolfo is more about stealth I feel. Although he can go loud, it's much easier for him to focus taking out targets one by one rather than frantically shooting bullets everywhere.

Rodolfo observes everything, therefore has more intel on Alejandro, his team and everyone else combined. He will use this to his advantage in small ways. If he notices Alejandro gets "excited" about a certain thing he does he will make a point to do it more often. Subtly though.

Absolutely will not big spoon. You either hold him close like he's you're whole world or you get the couch. Alejandro thankfully has not had the displeasure of having this interaction.

Both Rudy and Alejandro run warm so they often end up sleeping with whatever little clothing they can. In the winter they bundle up like two peas of the same pod.

Alejandro can handle more alcohol than could kill a man. Rudy gets maybe seven drinks in before he can't figure out what's the ceiling and the floor.

Dutch blitz. He will win.

Unlike with Ghost, Rodolfo gets used to being around Johnny easily. He's like a happier version of Alejandro. So Johnny is a bit more tolerant.

I don't know if he was an only child or not but I'd like to think he was in charge of a lot of stuff in his house, (fucked up or not) so stuff like piling paperwork barely bothers him.

Can sit still for hours. Might need something like a pen to bounce between his fingers though. If it's a meeting he will not move until if is over.

Well, that's all I have for now. But this was me feeding myself more Rodolfo. He's been on my mind and while I like shy Rodolfo I can't help but want more badassery out of this boy. If Alejandro got kidnapped and Rudy lost his cool and started out on a killing spree of Graves' men I would have taken that too.

[octopiys]

Please please elaborate on the 141 x OldGuardau!reader

Oh my God hello OK I got u

The Old Guard is a Netflix movie about a group of people who are essentially born in different parts of time, and can die but get resurrected and stuff like that like the original post said, except the movie has more than one person. All of these people are born around historical events (dawn of time, witch trials, reign of terror) and are drawn to find each other and work as a team to not get caught by scientists or governments or anything like that, all while doing what they believe is best to protect the world.

Now for Reader, it's no small feat. If it's only themselves as an Immortal on this team (there's so much red tape around these operations including them) then it's okay. Reader is an asset to the military, and a powerful one at that.

Or maybe the reader is a newer immortal. Maybe they don't know they're immortal until an op goes bad, and they've been shot, bleeding out into an alleyway, their blood mingling with the water. Maybe their Lieutenant is aside them, doing everything within his power to keep them from bleeding out, but the wound is too bad. And in the rain, maybe they even die.

But with a gasp, they're awake again, and the young Lieutenant John Price is shocked. Baffled. No, there's not even a word for how he feels. His sergeant's wounds are knitting together after they died, and he knew they died because he witnessed it himself. He felt their pulse give out.

Now both Reader and Price are terrified. If Reader can't die, what'll happen then? He wants to radio it in to their captain, or the general, but Reader begs him not to.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, a war is brewing. Most top governments have heard whispers about a man called Kingfish, one who was so battle worn, so ruthless, so victorious, that he could topple governments by just stepping foot into their building. Rumors spread of no bullet able to pierce his flesh, like he was the Roman God of War himself.

Now, the United States doesn't believe in rumors until they've witnessed it firsthand. Little do they know, they already have.

Kate Laswell may only be a Station Chief, but she's damn good at her job. She knows her kind when she hears it, and recently there's been a shift. Like a sixth sense, she calls John.

And just like that, she knows. The next immortal is here, and with them, comes war.

Years pass, and tensions are rising between the East and the West. Price has even become captain, and scored himself a team and an odd one at that.

Of course, there's Reader. They've always been there first. A little more frazzled as time goes on, but still good. Yeah, still good.

Then joins Simon Riley. They call him the Ghost. This is reader's best bet for another immortal. Laswell has a few arguments against it, but has never outright denied the claim. But how metal is it that he clawed his way out of his own grave? That's immortal material if I've ever heard of it.

Then Kyle Garrick. They call him Gaz. Don't ask why. He's a bright thing, and a wicked sense of humor. He used to be on another force, but after an event, Price handpicked him to be on the task force. He's one of Reader's best friends. They wish he was immortal too.

Finally, came John MacTavish. He was younger than Gaz by at least a few months, making him the youngest on the 141, and Reader always held it over him. He had a fancy for pyrotechnics too, and a hell of a swear to him.

Maybe a few missions go by. Maybe more than that. They still can't get used to seeing Reader lifeless with a bullet in between their eyes, or a knife to the gut, or a grenade blown too close. Wounds heal quicker, but not if they're lethal. Yet the scars never show on their skin by the time the boys are able to pull them out of there. Reckless, maybe, but Reader's saved their asses more times than they could count.

The war rages on.

Kingfish's power grows in the East, and the task force grows wary. Even with Laswell's advice, there was still a guarantee that they'd be sent out to the front when it got bad enough, take out the threat. But the rumors have grown.

Kingfish cannot die.

And Laswell knows.

Kingfish has gone by many names throughout the centuries. His first, Emperor Nero, causing the fall of the entire Roman empire. After he faked his death, he worked from the sidelines. He slayed the last Byzantinian Emperor, he broke through the walls of Constaninople. The Reign of Terror: an advisor, and a trusted one at that. Now, the urge had resurfaced, and he took on a new name once more.

Vladimir Makarov. Kingfish.

Or, the entire team is immortal. Laswell knows about all of them. Ghost knows enough. Reader knows... Somewhat. But nobody else does. Frankly, nobody's given a thought to dying to find out. And until that tunnel, no one had even tried.

The scream is tearing out of reader's throat before Soap even hits the ground, Price still incapacitated, concussed. Reader does not care about the bomb. Ghost doesn't either. They're both there, checking for vitals as they panic, blood spilling out of his wound, as Gaz hoists Price to his feet and they go to disarm the bomb.

They find nothing within Soap. Absolutely nothing. Reader feels cold washing over the room, like they can't breathe. Like a numbness that consumed everything. Soap- If Soap went now... then it could be Gaz, or Price next. Ghost, Reader couldn't even think about. It seemed impossible. And it occurred to Reader that they didn't sign up for this. No dying, compared to anyone and everyone around you perishing in the blink of an eye. They used to be okay with it. And Soap was gone in an instant.

They're dragging him out in a hurry, and the faintest sound is pulled from his lips. It seems Laswell knew more about them all than she let on.

They get caught up in other enemies as Soap peels himself off the floor. They weren't gonna just let Makarov escape, they couldn't. They knew what he could do.

Price told Reader not to go after him. Not alone.

But Reader can't risk losing any more friends. Even if Soap did end up being okay. If something happened to Price or Gaz, they wouldn't be able to live with it.

But they would have to.

So Reader runs. They tear after him like a bat out of hell, taking bullet after bullet, felling each person who fired one. They reach the top of the stairs and launch themself at him, before a gun goes off.

Reader felt it go straight through their side in a searing hot blaze, knowing that this time, something was different. Something was wrong.

The comm was yanked out of their ear and smashed beneath a boot.

The wound they sustained wasn't that bad, in the grand scheme of things. Their vision darkens at the edges, like it does when these things happen, and before reader can close their eyes, a face fills their vision.

"Not as strong now, are you, little one?" The thick curl of Makarov's Russian lilt finds its way into their ears, as the sharp pounding fire in their side grows worse. Despite the woozy fight they put up, Reader is restrained, unable to call for help. The van comes into view as Price bursts out of a window behind them, barreling towards the group, Ghost in high pursuit.

They disappear behind the van's doors as they close, and as Reader's vision dampens more, they wonder why their bullet wound hasn't healed yet.

im so down to completely info dump on this, whether it be more details towards the story, or individual characters like reader or ghost or laswell or anything like that I fucking love the old guard

[slitheringghost]

What is your favorite headcanon about Voldemort?

Ooh I have many!

- At some point he murdered Caractacus Burke in revenge for his mother.

- He buried his mother’s bones at Hogwarts, because he wanted to give Merope a proper burial, being enraged by her burial in a pauper’s grave and by her family never claiming her body, and because she never got to attend Hogwarts and he thinks of it as her birthright too (more on that here).

- He used to make jokes at the orphanage, a la his hand jokes in GoF or joking about his background with his gang in the HBP memory, but all the other kids were so terrified of him that they never laughed or appreciated his sense of humor. Tom was very sad about this.

- Like Sirius, Tom really loves crosswords.

- His appearance being Like That is intentional (at least, until 1981), mainly because he had babyface, and was tired of having the kind of face that made everyone flirt with him and made old ladies want to pinch his cheeks.

I’m in two minds whether not wanting to look like his Muggle father was an additional reason or not; on one hand he badly wants to shed the Muggle part of himself, on the other he still remains deeply obsessed with his father and in a warped way craves any connection to his family that he can get, including his looks.

Either way, it’s implausible that it’s just an inherent part of practicing Dark Arts (which I see as a very varied and extensive categorization of magic with entire fields under it anyway and definitely not all inherently Evil). Tom is hardly the only one to go far in Dark Arts, and yet we don’t see anyone else’s appearance changed by it (like Bellatrix, Grindelwald, Snape, etc). We also know horcruxes don’t inherently have that effect, because his face is unchanged by the time of the Hepzibah Smith memory, at which point he’s likely made 1-2 horcruxes (?).

- One of his least favorite subjects and the one he’s least skilled at is Transfiguration, for obvious reasons.

- He doesn’t believe in blood purity, and continues to think of himself as Muggleborn long after he finds out he isn’t (I think there’s some evidence of that here), in part because that highly specific Muggleborn culture shock and feeling of coming into magical society with no prior knowledge of it and going “wow these people are completely batshit crazy” has never left him and drives about 60% of his actions (see also, my post on his perception of pureblood family culture).

- He looked his father in the eyes as he killed him, and Riddle Sr.'s eyes were just a tiny shade off of the exact shade of blue that Dumbledore's eyes are.

- He gave the diary to Abraxas Malfoy, which is a fairly popular headcanon, but the alternative interpretation of him entrusting it to Lucius honestly bothers me because it doesn’t really make sense and it just goes against all the sentimentality inherent in how he deals with his horcruxes imo. (More on this here and here).

Not my headcanons but ones I've adopted:

- The Dark Mark as inspired by the northern lights from this post

- The part in this lovely Bellamort fic where Tom muses on how he actually considered marrying up when he was young because he wanted belonging and permanence in the wizarding world, but didn't for several reasons including the powerlessness of being a poor half-blood under the control of pureblood families:

There was a time when he had considered that very concept. He had known others of questionable background and some talent who had found places for themselves in magical society by virtue of marrying up. They tended to live their whole lives at the service and disposal of their in-laws, always aware of the potential to be cut off from the family purse strings or for a quick, mandated divorce. This did not appeal for a number of reasons.

- My HC inspired by Tom doing it in this fic - despite Dumbledore's "Voldemort understands nothing of children's tales and love" blah blah, Tom did pay attention to Muggle fairy tales as a kid, and drew a connection between The Little Match Girl fairytale and the story of Merope's death.

[untaemedqueen]

At Your Service

Escort!Jeongguk x CEO!Reader

Genre: Strangers to Lovers!AU, Angst, Fluff, Smut

Chapter 14.

Series Warnings (Will Be Updated): Angst, Fluff, Cold Heartedness, Emotional Trauma, Healing, Smut, Dark Humor

Your sickness came and went with the wind, almost as if Jeongguk's soup was some sort of magical brew that could save the universe in one fell swoop.

The days after that were simply transcendent. You were slowly coming to the realization that Guk will probably be the first and last great love of your life.

Until you got sick again.

It didn't make any sense, it came out of nowhere and it was more fierce than the first bout of illness you had almost two weeks before that.

You were bedridden for a day, violently ill two days after that and even now it's difficult for you to function.

Namjoon had to buy and set up a computer for you in the empty office that had sat alone in your mansion for years now.

Jeongguk has been ever patient and kind, loving like you cannot believe and incredibly accommodating.

It's really strange for you to feel so well taken care of especially when you're retching over the toilet making ungodly noises at the crack of dawn.

The past couple of days your boyfriend has been begging you to go to the doctor and finally you've heeded it.

You never enjoyed going to doctors, it's as if they got their licenses just to give out bad news. Nevermind the fact that the offices always smell weird and the air within them is practically palpable.

You don't know why all doctors need to give bad news but even today you've heard something grave.

So now as you sit alone in the garden maze of your mansion, you can only stare straight ahead.

You're dumb.

It's that simple.

You're impulsive.

You're fucked.

You've been a shell since the doctor spoke to you. Your heart had been beating so fast and so hard that you can still feel how your chest thuds painfully.

But now, you're simply a shell, void of any emotion.

There's an evening haze that lingers over the bushes of roses before you, it's thick and heavy like you'd lose the sight of your hand inside of it.

You simply stare at the sight before you, allowing your skin to become damp by the small droplets of dew that swirl within the thick layer of fog.

How did this happen? How did your life become the way it is now? What did you do to deserve this?

Once again, the walls Jeongguk fought to break down are immediately patched up and even thicker than before. It's a tragedy, really.

Or maybe the tragedy is finding love in your heart for him.

When your phone rings, it tears you from your mind numbing thoughts.

With lazy eyes and the tilt of your head, you look down to the ringing device beside you.

You have no feelings, no emotion. You want nothing more than to crawl into your bed and just wither away.

"Yes?" you answer, picking up the phone and lifting your hand into the thick haze before you.

"Madam, there's a Jeon Jeongguk here at the gate for you."

He'll never know why you're breaking it off. He'll never understand.

You, yourself, will never understand.

But the mistakes you've made with him are far too many to count.

To let yourself become lost and loving under his spell… It's unforgivable. To let yourself make such a mistake with him is… earth shatteringly impressive.

"He's not welcome here anymore. Please take him off the list. Jimin Park and Taehyung Kim too," you chirp, ending the call without another word.

The world around you is quiet for a moment, it's peaceful and lulling you into its clutches of madness before your phone begins to ring once more with a confused Jeongguk who could only want an explanation.

Silencing your phone, you stand. Your long black silk robe meets the soft, dewy grass underfoot and solemnly you make your way back to your mansion.

You can hear Jeongguk shouting your name in the distance, you can hear the horn of Taehyung's car blaring to no avail.

Once you're back in your sterile house and you close the back doors, the world is silent once again.

Jeongguk sits on his couch, arms folded as he stares at the screen of his phone.

It's almost as if he's trying to will it to give him a phone call with your name on it.

He doesn't know what went wrong.

What did he do? What did you find out at the doctor?

Hawking jumps up beside him, obviously missing the body who has been coddling him the past month. Guk can find no easy way to move, he feels sluggish and torn.

The Great Dane has to forcibly worm his strong head onto the escort's lap to even get some sort of attention.

"What'd I do?" Jeongguk asks his pet sullenly, burying his face into the top of his dog's head.

He was gone from your sight for all of four hours and now he's single and alone.

"Fuck!" he seethes through his teeth sharply, earning a weary puppy before him who he apologizes to for scaring.

He fucking loves you, he's all in in this relationship but to have no way of even contacting you? It's tearing him apart.

He knows you blocked his number, he knows you took away his privilege to get into your gated community, he knows it all.

But he doesn't know why!

Even Jimin and Taehyung can't even see you. What did he do wrong?

This feeling, this is different than when he was with Chloe. By the end of his time with her, he was a ball of angry and violent energy. Now, he's just an emotional mess who's scared and confused, heartbroken even.

"Let's go to bed," he breathes to Hawking, shaking his head.

You're going to work from home from now on.

You decided this almost immediately when you woke up the next day.

You weren't sick, you didn't feel any illness but you're not ready to face the world. Once you're outside of the gates of your community… anything could happen.

Grabbing your glass of orange juice, you sit down at the large desk within your home office. It's quiet in here with memories of Guk helping move stuff floating around the room like spiritual shadows.

Even when you woke up this morning the regret that lingered through your limbs was monumental. Jeongguk must be losing his fucking mind over you.

To have no explanation given, to rip yourself away from him so fast… you're causing him so much pain.

Chloe hurt him and betrayed him, that relationship made him into nothing. It brought him to lengths you wouldn't wish on anyone. And you're doing something almost as evil to him now…

He fucking loves you and you're… gone.

You can feel bile wanting to retch from you like you're a possessed demon and you can only think that this is what you deserve.

Turning on your computer, you stare straight ahead at the little teddy bear that sits atop the new couch by your desk.

Guk bought it and left it for you, a sweet secret present you very much adored.

"I thought you could use a friend while you work. Every time you look at the bear, it'll remind you of me and I'll always be with you."

With a whimper, you bury your face into your hands.

You hate this.

But most of all, you hate yourself.

Jeongguk bursts through your office doors with tired eyes that hold venom and fire within the pupils. The security couldn't stop him even though he had his access restricted and with a heaving breath he fixes his leather jacket.

"Dude," Namjoon guffaws, stepping out of your office.

"Where is she?" Guk inquires, waltzing with quick, angry steps towards your office.

"She's not with you? She didn't come in to work today, I dunno," Joon replies flippantly, folding his arms and leaning against the doorjamb.

When security arrives, your co-worker seems to grasp the situation just a tad bit better. He holds out his finger, telling them to wait as he takes in your disheveled boyfriend. "What happened?"

"She went to the doctors and then she fucking blocked me from everything and took away my access to see her! I don't even… I don't know what I did! I didn't do anything for her to act like this towards me!"

The blonde haired man before him fixes his glasses and he thinks carefully for a moment to weigh his options.

When you were with Guk, you were better. It's just that simple. Anyone could see it. You had a soul, you had emotions, it was really nice to see you in a comfortable light for once.

But you are casting him away… there's something wrong.

Namjoon has known you for years now and he knows that you're impulsive, he knows you're almost too ready to let things go at the drop of a hat but not with Guk.

You're invested -- were invested.

He can see just how broken and lost the escort is and even though he disliked him not too long ago… he can't help but feel bad for him.

"I'll pay Y/N a visit, see if she's okay and get some answers," your co-worker promises.

"Really?!" Guk gasps, widening his eyes.

"Yeah, I'll see what's up," Joon assures him, putting his glasses back on.

"Thank you!" the escort cries, coursing his fingers through his long black hair.

Namjoon hasn't been to your mansion since that fateful day, the day he realized he had absolutely no chance with you.

It was a cold slap in the face when he walked in on you. He finally understood in that minute that all the hoping he'd done for years now meant absolutely nothing.

You weren't his to have and it was that simple. And although it hurt him deeply to come face to face with reality, he's still your friend, he's still an adult. He still cares for you.

When he pulled up to the gates of your community, he was immediately let in.

Joon is confused with how to feel, if he's being honest. Should he be happy that he's still on the guest list or should he be offended that you don't care nearly as much for him as you do for two other people you only met a month ago to take away their visiting rights? It's hard for him to process.

On the other hand, he's incredibly worried about you. You were fine just two simple days ago and now you're locking yourself away in the black, sterile mansion once more.

Your co-worker can only think the news from the doctor is grave. He hopes you don't have a month to live or something like that because he won't handle it well at all.

He still fucking loves you, for God's sake.

All of this weighs heavily on his mind and shoulders as he steps up the stairs to the large glass doorway of your house.

Joon thinks about ringing the bell before he simply opens the door with the spare key that you haven't moved since he last let himself in.

If he rings the bell, you might simply decide not to answer at all.

Letting himself in, he calls your name which is drowned out by the loud opera that screeches throughout the house.

This is bad. Opera is a coping mechanism for you.

Namjoon creeps through your house quietly, hoping to not scare you if he sees you. He's almost positive that you're not in the mood for visitors.

Stepping up to the speakers that forcibly shake the floor around it with how loud the bass is, he lowers it.

That should get you to come out of whenever you're hiding.

He waits patiently for a moment before you appear in the hallway with curious eyes.

Joon in all his time has never seen you like this, you're wearing Jeongguk's hoodie and a pair of leggings that seem like they just came right out of the package.

When your eyes meet, you deflate visibly and trudge back into your office.

Joon follows after you, sketching your appearance into his mind like a quick artist.

You have bags under your eyes and yet they're puffy like you've been crying oceans and oceans of tears.

When he steps into your office, he watches you sullenly lay back down on the couch, clutching a random stuffed teddy bear.

"Y/N," Namjoon whispers softly, almost as if he's talking to a wounded fierce animal.

"What?" you breathe, your voice is hoarse and monotone.

"What's going on?" he inquires, sitting down on the Persian carpet beside you and unbuttoning his suit jacket.

"Nothing," you mumble stubbornly, letting your eyes flutter shut.

You're not yourself, obviously.

You bring your knees to your chest, hugging the teddy bear tighter and Joon can't help but feel his heart thud painfully at the sight.

"What'd the doctor tell you?" he inquires softly, pushing stray hairs off your wet cheeks.

He won't ask about Jeongguk just yet, he can see the emotional turmoil you're stewing in and bringing up the man might just break you.

"Nothing," you repeat monotonously.

"I'm here to help, sweetheart. Talk to me," the blonde man practically begs, leaning back against the couch to give you your privacy.

He stares at the intricate paintings along the wall as his temple connects with the top of your head sweetly.

You find some sort of ease with the touch and you sigh softly.

You sit in silence for a bit, listening to the now soft opera screeching into your ears. Once you say the words it'll mean that it's true. Are you ready to speak them?

Taking a deep breath, you just decide to say it.

You tell Joon the doctor's orders and he turns his head towards you with wide eyes.

"Are you serious?" he gasps, looking down at you.

You simply look up at him with broken eyes that scream that this is the truth.

"Y/N… you have to tell him," Namjoon whispers, coursing his warm thumbs over your cheeks.

"No!" you gasp, sitting up sharply.

Joon breathes a heavy sigh, standing up only to sit down beside you and pull you into his chest.

"You can't hide this. It's wrong," he coos softly.

The feeling of his suit fabric against yours is oddly comforting and your eyes snap shut.

The weight of telling someone else feels relieving but now that it's out there in the open… it makes an Earth sized hole in your soul.

"He'll hate me," you announce after a moment.

"He hates that you've cast him away," Joon replies simply.

"You saw him?"

"He came by the office earlier. He's a mess without you," your co-worker murmurs.

"I'm a mess without him," you say honestly.

"So what are you going to do?"

In all actuality, you don't know what the fuck you're doing. You don't know how the fuck to proceed with your life. You wish you could just stay in your mansion everyday for years to come. But it can't be that simple.

With a sigh you bury your face farther into Joon's chest and sob softly.

"I don't know," you cry out, wrapping your arms around his strong torso.

<---------- Last Chapter         Next Chapter ------>

[tiramegtoons]

Okay so last night i finished watching the entirety of Okage Shadow King and-

.... I dont even know where to start. this is unlike any game ive watched or played before. It felt so weird yet so enticing and half of the time i couldn't tell if my brain was rotting or there was just some real deep lore or hidden meaning in here Maybe both??? and it left a strange, creepy, yet longing and nostalgic feeling in the back of my head too.

Let me explain.

spoilers ahead!!!

okay so First of all, the visual style of the game looks awesome I loved the characters and the dynamics going on between the NPC's and especially the main characters. I loved enjoying the witty banter and arguing between Stan and Rosalyn the most. But also, why is Stan insulting and body shaming her so much SHE AINT EVEN FAT??? i LOOK AT HER MODEL AND IM LIKE BRUH

for some odd reason i still found it funny though. Some of the humor might've even been exaggerated to a degree as well(not sure if that was intentional). Even if the writing and dialogue was a bit lost in translation, maybe perhaps, it was still pretty good as a whole and it caught me by surprise.

As for the world and NPC's... something definitely felt off at the beginning and i guess thats what gave me the initial unsettling feeling. Everyone just seemed so bent on doing their own part like dude i couldn't even explain to you Our main protagonist, Ari, is just a wet pathetic little boy who lets everyone step on him/lh Damn, even his own family doesn't seem to care much for him as an individual person and doesn't consider that he has his own ambitions and it rubbed me in a weird way. and yet for some reason i was still hooked. and then came STANLEY HIHAT TRINIDAD THE FOURTEENTH(the 3d challenged flappy shadow)to sweep our poor little boy off his feet and make him his "slave"(adoptive son/j) so he can conquer the world bfhdgsdvhgdfbgdhjg which btw how could anyone take any "evil king" that seriously with a name like that? I LOVE IT. i really enjoyed him getting his ghostly ass handed to him by the NPC's it was hilarious. He was-without a shadow of a doubt(hehehehehe)- the best character. Also it's so funny how he claims to be an evil king but intentionally and unintentionally does good things? I love that trope with villians. Anywho getting off track a little, Another thing that struck out to me was the soundtrack. It's pretty unique, but at times can get pretty repetitive. The ones i enjoy a lot are -Forest of willkur(just really encompasses the feel of the entire game) -Evil King Battle and my favorite- -Addashi Desert(got me in a shimmy FR)

YEAAAAAAAAAA

anywho going back to repetitive things... Eeeeeee... the fighting mechanics are sure something(GOD WHY ARENT THE COMMANDS BEING CARRIED OUT ON TIME WH- IS THE GAME POSSESSED??? DID STAN POSSESS THE GAME???) Also why are there ghosts in broad daylight?? WHY ARE THERE SO MANY GHOSTSSSS) i get it, you do need to grind for items and XP in this game but it looks pretty tedious, especially deep grave pit... oh lordy dude there are literally eight floors in the cave its not a cave its the 7 circles of hell(plus front desk)/j I don't wanna dunk on this game but the fighting could use improvements. Back to the story... i like the melancholy turn it takes when princess Marlene was revealed to be a doll which made total sense when Stan found she had no soul, the reveal of Beiloune's true identity, and when Ari becomes totally ignored and forgotten by just about everyone and from that point going forward the game took a more serious turn... also why does Triste(which means sad in spanish and i see what they did there-)

... why does that remind me of the wasteland from Epic Mickey where other people who've been forgotten reside there... also the dark, odd vibe of both games kinda match too. Another thing, I'm not sure if anyone else had the same thoughts but did anyone else expect a twist where Ari would become the evil king??? i mean, if this was a supposed journey of our main character who is always reminded about how much of a pushover he is would've lead me to think that the buildup would lead to something like Beiloune making him all powerful and force him to fight against his friends. But the last chapter also surprised me with its own twist and im digging that too. but yeah just about everything was coming back together about why the world was and felt as it is. its always the butler isnt it? Also Stan's final form:

I CANT-

im sorry i can't take this seriously when he's just letting them hang out like that(his moobs)

... anywho that happened. As for any hidden meanings and morals I'll have to talk about that later cause my smooth brain still cannot grasp. And its just

SO MUCH

[igotanidea]

Pep talk : Aaron Hotchner x reader (platonic)

„Whoa! What’s with the long face, sunshine?”

“Go away, Morgan.”

“Well I can only go as far in this plane….”

“Just leave me be, all right?!”

“Hey, easy there. Someone’s in the mood today. We’ve just cracked a case that should make you feel good.”

“Just drop it, all right!?”

“All right, fine” Derek raised his hands in surrender and walked away from Y/N who was acting erratic. “Don’t bite. But you know…. if something’s bothering you……”

“Ah!” she groaned in frustration and threw her pillow at him. Grave mistake since he swiftly caught It and took it with him. On top of all her feelings and discomfort now she was also forced to lean on the cold window without it. “Freaking profilers!”

“Last time I checked you were one of us!”

The BAU team was flying back to Quantico. Another day, another mystery solved, another lives saved. Yay, hurray.

Yay hurray, right?

So how come Y/n was feeling so under the weather and was stuck inside her own head, consumed by all the bad thoughts? Her mind was going hazy and she was on the highway to a panic attack.

“Hey.” a deep calming voice reverberated from somewhere above her and she raised her head to properly asses who was bold enough to approach her in such mood “May I?” the person pointed towards the seat opposite of her.

“Sure, Hotch.” She muttered, turning her gaze away, watching the clouds outside the plane. If he was here to interrogate her, she was not going to make it easy on him. What she forgot about was that Hotch was far too experienced and patient to get intimidated by her poor technique. Instead of asking her any questions, he was just sitting beside her in complete silence, testing her temper and restraints. And damn it, he was good at pushing the limits.

“All right, fine! I surrender.”

“Really?” Hotch raised an eyebrow

“Who told you? I swear I’m gonna kill Morgan.”

“He did not tell me anything. In fact, he did not tell anyone anything. You seem to be the only person who can actually make him self-conscious.”

“Self-conscious? Morgan? And people say you have no sense of humor, Hotch.” She scoffed, looking anywhere but on his face.

“Y/N.”

“What?’

“Tell me what is going on?”

“Nothing.”

“You do realize you can’t fool me, right? So stop wasting time and just talk.”

“But…..”

“Talk to me.”

“What is wrong with me, Hotch? Why can’t I be like anyone else on the team?” her saddened eyes finally focused on his face. At first glance he showed no emotions, but if someone was looking close enough it was easy to notice so many of them reflecting in his orbs. “I’ve spent half of my life trying to prove that I’m good enough and qualified for the job. And yet, so many people still takes me for granted thinking I just got lucky. I worked my ass off during studying, finishing all those extracurricular, seminars, lectures and yet, I’m still being seen as a little girl who would not last long. Why? Why Hotch?”

“People talk.” He stated simply “And I don’t really know why you care about it so much.”

“You don’t understand it, do you?” she shook her head angrily “You are the Aaron Hotchner, FBI’s very best and on top of that, a lawyer.”

“And you are in my team. You are in my team, because I wanted you to be here. Because I chose you.”

“And I still feel like I’m not enough.  Look at all the girls in the department. Former and present. Elle, Emily, Jennifer. God! I wish had their power and energy. Real girbosses.”

“Now you’re giving away your comparison skills. So sad you’re using it in the wrong purpose.”

“What?”

“Ever since you joined us, you were a mystery. Still are. I cannot fully figure you out, you’re so full of contradictions and inconsistencies.  And believe me, it’s not easy for me to admit it.”

“Oh, I believe that.” She smirked

“Why do you focus on the gossip’s about you?”

“Ugh! Hotch, are we talking about feelings now?”

“Understanding your own emotions is a valid part of this job. You cannot do it well if you cannot contain what’s inside you. You need to be in control of your own mind to try getting into unsub head. So again, why do you care?”

“Cause it hurts.”

“And why is that?”

“Stop being my psychologist here!”

“We’re getting to the bottom of the problem, I’m not letting go. Why?”

“Cause I worry it’s true, all right!”

“Is it?” he eyed her carefully

“I don’t know. You’re the boss here, you assess me so why don’t give away your opinion?”

“Nice try. But you did this again, the same mistake over and over.”

“What mistake?”

“Searching for an external validation. Why?”

“Ok, I’ve had enough of this” she stood up from her seat ready to find more peaceful place, but he grabbed her arm and made her sit back down. “Please, don’t make me say it.”

“I’m not making you do anything, do I?” his calmness was infuriating.

“Not with words.” She squirmed, her seat getting more and more uncomfortable by the second.

“Just say it.”

“I worry that no one needs me here. That I’m no help. But an obstacle. I worry that I’m stupid and useless.”

“We do need you.”

“Right. As if. You know what Morgan told me earlier? He said that we cracked the case, you know. We. Then why the hell do I feel like I was of no help?”

“Are you even hearing yourself?”

“Pretty good.”

“Focus on facts, Y/n. What are the facts? Cause from my point of view, because of your fast thinking, ability to keep cold blood and insight we were able to save two woman from certain death.”

“No. No. No.” she shook her head “that was Reid.”

“Reid connected the dots, but you were the one to find them in the first place.”

“But…..” she tried to oppose

“Yes?” he leaned forward slightly. Damn he was good at what he was doing.

“I rest my case, your honor.” she sighed “I give up.”

“No. We’re not done until we get your self-confidence straight.”

“I’m tired Hotch.” she tried to plead with him but it was futile.  

“As you should be. Now, you claim to be weak, but when I look at you I see the person who’s capable of moving mountains when someone’s in danger.  You say you feel stupid, but from my point of view your knowledge is more than the one coming from a textbook. You believe people who say you will not last long, but I’ve seen young agents quit after two or three bloody cases they could not handle. You are nothing of it. And those are the facts.”

“Is it your official opinion as my supervisor?“ she mumbled

“This is my opinion as your mentor. As someone who cares about you and who can see all the potential you are holding back and need to learn how to unlock.”

“Really? You mean it?”

“Like you said, I’m not known for my sense of humor.”

“Maybe we can work on that?” she joked looking at him, but that stone cold expression made her back out immediately “No? all right, let’s leave it here just like that.”

“Get some rest” he stood up and handed her the pillow she lost to Morgan before.

“How did you….?”

“Artifice is something to learn as well. Sleep kid, you’ll have a day full of work tomorrow.”

“You’ll be tormenting me now, won’t you?”

“Obviously. ”

“Hey, Hotch?”

“Hm?”

“Thanks for the pep talk, boss.” she smiled and much to her surprise he reciprocared by lifting corners of his mouth in the slightest, almost invicible curve.

@somest1

[pluckysidekick]

Nancy Drew Season 4 Trailer Part 1

There’s a lot to unpack in this 30 second whirlwind so I’m planning to do a series of posts. I will do my best to tie every scene back to BTS content, but everything is still speculation and unconfirmed. It’s going to get spoilery so bow out if you want to remain blissfully ignorant - which absolutely has its advantages: Riley’s a fan.

We start with Birdie and Jesse holding hands and calling Nancy for help from the woods! Kennedy confirmed they are a couple (the cutest!). I love that for them (and us).

Birdie (from the 2x13 Moonstone Island episode) is in Eps 3 and 12, so it’s one of those two. Geraldine Chiu (Jesse) posted from on-set during each of those episode’s filming, so she is in the same two episodes. Ep. 3 is shaping up to be epic (more in a later post), and 12 is set in spring (with a beach scene they had to film in the snow). If Birdie & Jessie’s relationship is established in Ep. 3 maybe this is 12, but we’ll have to wait and see!

Next we have Nancy with her trusty flashlight even when she’s dressed fancy - classic Nancy Drew!

What is she spying? ZOMBIES OF COURSE!

They’re in old timey clothes, and presumably they’re the corpses from the graves that were dug up (or they rose on their own!). The big season long mystery is dealing with the sins of the town’s past - just love the mix of humor and horror.

Our first glimpse of the crew! Now what episode is this? I think it’s Episode 1. Nick, Nancy, and Bess are dressed up - we saw BTS photos of Maddison with that purple dress in her trailer, and Tunji in the pink shirt, both from mid-July when they were most likely filming Ep. 1.

(First photo courtesy of @nancydrewfashionblog on IG)

We also saw Maddison’s story during the filming of episode 1 heading into the creepy woods in a cart with Tunji, Alex, and a blond woman that we now know is Megan Munro. She’s only listed in episode 1 on IMDB. She’s credited as “Young Actress” so not clear what her part is - I think this could be her. As she’s not recurring I don’t think she’s the new police chief (I’d love a woman in that role though), or a serious love interest for Ace or Nick. She may be a short term LI for Ace or Nick, or maybe she’s an as yet uncredited actress. Still a mystery!

Ace’s hair is LONG - this is how he looked when he showed up to set. They trimmed it later - it’s noticeably shorter by Episode 3 (keeping in the tradition of Ace’s ever changing hair). Also he’s not dressed up, which makes sense as he wasn’t in that BTS photo, and Nancy’s probably keeping her distance. Still manifesting Ace in a suit in S4…

If you are wondering why George is absent, Leah didn’t arrive to set for the first part of filming of Episode 1 - she was still filming another project. So George must be working or studying or otherwise occupied.

Ending here for now, look for my next post with an in-depth look at the next part of the trailer. Would love to hear your thoughts, predictions, stuff I missed or got wrong, etc. in the tags or comments!

[connectionterminated13]

Can I ask a bit about your Mrs Emily and Mrs Afton? Are they friends and what happens with them in general

I'm assuming you're talking about William's wife Clarice she's Evan and Elizabeth's mother. Michael has a different mother named Tina and trust me she's important.

I'll start with Mrs. Emily who I've named Emily (because I thought it was funny (Very silly sense of humor)) This is going to be very long

Emily was born to a mormon family in hurricane Utah. The plan was for when Emily turned 20 to take over the diner owned by her parents but when at 19 she met The crystal loving palm reading Tina the plans changed... Emily hopped in Tina's old camper van, to her parents complete and utter dismay. It was the late 60s early 70s the 2 of them were very free love and peace types. but Emily still retained mormon sensibilities And never took it as far as Tina who seemed to come back home with a new man every single night, But she did love the idea of being free and choosing what she'd do with her life she had so many ideas of where she wanted to go. Her biggest dream was to 1 day the an actress with Tina

Unlucky for both of them Tina got invited to a local college party and Emily tagged along. They're Emily met Henry and they immediately hit it off scheduling a date for next week. Tina also met William and made the grave mistake of going home with him.

Emily and Tina kind of drifted apart after that since Emily was so smitten with Henry. She loved listening to him ramble on about robots and his plans for the diner. Emily also grew to like William the man was kind and gentlemanly. So Emily ditch her dreams of being an actress to help Henry's dream of opening the family diner, ditching Tina in the process.

Only about 4 months into knowing each other Henry proposed. Emily said yes. All of those infinite possibilities that she had felt when traveling with Tina seemed to all lead to Henry, he was going to be the most wonderful experience of her life she just knew it!

Their wedding was quick and small and that night they shared a bed. and a couple months later they had 2 beautiful twins. (Tina also had a child that she had named Michael and promptly dumped on William before riding away on another man's motorcycle)

For a long time everything was great Emily was able to get the diner from her parents by asking very politely and promising that she'd never ever wear the flower crown again. As the business grew. So did Charlie and Sammy her children, The 2 of them were wonderful Emily loved being a mother and loved helping out at the restaurant (she was the cook!) Yes a part of her wish she was still on the road with Tina experiencing the world but small town hurricane with her loving husband seemed fine right? But she didn't always like how much time Henry would spend with William and on his machines. but it wasn't a big deal since he had given her 2 beautiful children

Then Charlie died... It broke Emily's heart. She sobbed for days refusing to even come out of her room for the funeral. Her little girl was gone... She blamed Henry for it, it was his machine found wrapped around her stained with her blood. If he hadn't been galvanting around with that stupid British man or working on one of his stupid robots maybe he could have saved her. Emily felt like garbage why had she settled down with this man who had given her 2 wonderful children just to take one away through carelessness.

In 1982 Henry's depression and general uselessness got too much for Emily so she took Sammy and got a divorce. After that she left hurricane with Sammy. Emily felt like she had wasted her life in that stupid diner stupid kitchen. Basically Emily was not in a good mental state to take care of anyone let alone herself

She did eventually start going to therapy in 1984. Where she met a woman named Joyce, Joyce brought the light back into Emily's life she started taking better care of Sammy and the house and be a more productive. Joyce made her feel like there was something after Henry and Charlie. Like she still had life left to live

She does eventually "remarry" in 1988 To a Joyce. Sammy hated this but tolerated Joyce the best he could. Emily and Joyce remained happily together for basically the rest of their lives. Not going back to hurricane once. The few times they would talk over the phone usually about Sammy it would be bad. Henry had completely fallen apart and Emily knew that It wasn't her responsibility to put him back together. She still loved him just as much as she loved Joyce and a part of Emily wished she could be with Henry but he was too far gone at that point...

She died happily in 2023 from old age having lived a good life with Joyce.

Now I guess it's time for Mrs. Afton or Clarice

Clarice was originally born in Brazil but because her father was quite wealthy she was moved to the United States when her health issue started appearing. Ever since she was little Clarice has almost always had some kind of sickness.

She spent most of her childhood in and out of the hospital but started getting better the older she got. She also took up ballet and it turned out she was incredibly good at it, Though it was hard to get work at first being a Non-american but soon her talent would speak for itself. She do ballet tours and dance in Plays and shows. but her sickness came back with a force at around 27

Clarice was hospitalized and put in the room next to William who was recovering from his Spring lock failure in one of this Spring lock suit prototypes. Clarice and William would spend hours talking since there was nothing else to do and quickly fell in love. (This would be around 1972).

Once William was mostly healed and Clarice felt better the 2 started going on dates. Really the only problem with William was his son Michael. He was a constant reminder that William had loved other women Despite how much he told her that she was his favorite and the only one he really loved that was impossible to believe with Michael around. So most of the time she just pretended he didn't exist

Not even a year later Clarice had their first child Elizabeth. And then the next year their second Evan. Clarice loved her children with all of her heart officially giving up dancing and becoming a good mom, to everyone but Michael who she still tried to ignore. Which caused him to lash out since no one seemed to care about him..

It only took a little bit on Williams insistence for Clarice to agree to marry him. Their wedding was large and beautiful.

Despite her attempts to be a good mother Clarice would often cave to Williams demands even if they would inconvenience or scare The kids. She just loved him so much how could she say no? It went like that for a while with being the perfect mother in the perfect family Until charlie's death when it started to fall apart slightly...

After charlie's death was when Michael began to bully Evan more and Evan started to show the first signs of mental illness (He got his dad's crazy) Clarious didn't know what to do but William just said to let the boys be boys.

And then the bite of 83 happened... Clarice was a wreck she could barely get out of bed. All of the sickness from her youth came back even worse than last time brought on by the stress (Definitely just stress) After a year of battling the illness she was close to death in 1984.

On the day that she was supposed to die according to the doctors William went into her room and carried her down to the basement where the half-built ballora sat. She was too weak to fight against the ax that came down on her and chopped her up. William was hoping she would possess ballora but she didn't.

Clarissa's spirit or more her agony stayed, It followed William around. She still loves him after everything staying with him even after he met his final fate

This was really long but thank you for listening! By the way they weren't really friends but they did interact with each other a bit!

[void-botanist]

Marcus's spouses

I'm still working out a lot of worldbuilding here but I have enough to share @kk7-rbs and also @vacantgodling since you've been talking about Celestial Weddings harems lol

A little background

Historically, tensions in Iecunem (not the whole planet probably but I don't have a name for the kingdom) have most often risen along species lines. Putting a larger variety of species in the monarch's cabinet didn't have as much of an effect as people had hoped, so a new plan was hatched: require the monarch to marry at least one member of each species. This actually begins with the heir, who generally marries long before they ever ascend the throne. By the time Marcus begins marrying, this has been the status quo for hundreds of years, and the system is fairly refined: the species coalitions nominate potential matches who can both advocate for species interests and will at least be good friends with the heir. The heir can reject them, because having a marriage among despiseds kind of defeats the point, but the heir can only get away with that so many times.

Marcus is required by law to have four spouses. He has five, currently. In order of marriage:

Yera

Picrew: https://picrew.me/en/image_maker/1706331

Yera was an easy first choice. She was already a friend of his through being a noblewoman, and she was easy to put on a courtship with. She was supposed to be his paired mate - the one who would produce a bovan heir for the throne - but they had an alternate plan behind the scenes. Yera already had a thing going with her courier, so Marcus would just marry him too and they could have kids if they wanted, because Marcus never wanted to carry on his mother's bloodline, and he and Yera had never been into each other.

Yera's life philosophy is to enjoy the hell out of it, as long as she's not preventing anyone else from doing so. In public she's known for her sparkling wit and constantly changing hairstyle. In private she's known for making sure everyone can be included in the good shit (watching sunsets, drinking hot chocolate, lounging in the pool, &c.) if they want to (if not, their loss) and also being draped over Hossan or her buddy Gren. She's not as close with Pali or Umedes, but she still very much considers them family. Lately a good chunk of her time has been spent with her and Hossan's baby.

Umedes

Picrew: uh the BG3 character creator lol

It's bad form to marry two people of your same species back to back, so after marrying Yera Marcus followed up on the request from the ferasca coalition, who had unanimously decided to present him with a single candidate: a silver ferasca named Umedes. He went into their courtship period with an open mind, but neither he nor Yera was sure about having such a grave spouse. Yera decided pretty quickly that they were fine and she didn't really care. As Marcus got past their mutual nerves, he uncovered Umedes' soft side and sense of humor, which, uh, did things to him and they spent the latter half of their courtship banging it out.

Umedes seems like a downer on the outside, and that's how they tend to be perceived by the public. They're fine with that - no one wants to bother the serious, boring spouse. While they're still quiet in private, they're much warmer, and Gren also says they're very warm to cuddle with. Especially since Marcus left, they're closest to Pali, and are rarely seen without her in matters of official business - or, for that matter, of unofficial pleasure. The two of them and Marcus's sister Minaya, who he intends to abdicate to, have been talking about getting Marcus to marry another ferasca to get Umedes pregnant and provide another potential heir.

Hossan

Picrew: https://picrew.me/en/image_maker/1706331

Despite the fact that everyone knew Marcus was marrying Hossan for Yera's benefit, tradition dictated that their wedding was centered around the two of them. They'd gotten to know each other decently well over their courtship, and while Hossan was much more interesting than his quiet "just some guy" demeanor would suggest, Marcus also couldn't help being distracted by just how handsome he is. Yera of course already adored him, and Umedes was just hoping to find him a pleasant acquaintance but got very wrapped up in hearing his daring stories of couriership, none of which were made up, but some of which sounded extremely fantastical.

Hossan was surprised when Yera first pitched her and Marcus's plan to him, before Marcus and Yera had even started their courtship. He thought that he and Yera were just having a fling - he would certainly be interested in a longer-term arrangement, but he didn't think she was. It took him a while to summon the courage to say yes, because he wasn't sure he'd be cut out for palace life, or for being part of a mild plot. The slowly deepening twists of the plot still make him nervous, but he's settled in as the "just some guy" of the spouses. His time ends up divided relatively evenly between them, and he knows them all more deeply than any one of the others, save Marcus, who never truly opened up to him. He doesn't suspect that Pali has any more than a little crush on him, though, and that in itself is pretty flattering. He's almost as obsessed with Yera as she is with him, but he's absolutely over the moon about being a dad.

Pali

Picrew: https://picrew.me/en/image_maker/1342558 (she should have darker skin but I couldn't say no to that perfect hair and expression)

The shifter coalition presented Marcus with four potential matches, and as he essentially speed-dated them on the first day, Pali was one of two that he felt comfortable with. The thing that ultimately set her the most apart was that when he warned her about the constantly worsening situation with his mother, she metaphorically cracked her knuckles and said, "I've managed worse," and he believed her. His crush on her has always been a little bit informed by how she's the only person he's ever met who genuinely doesn't seem to give a shit about his mom's whole deal. Yera extra liked her upon realizing that she would be a willing shield against the queen, Hossan liked her easy laugh, and Umedes was concerned that she'd drag them into conflicts with the queen until she actually laid out her thinking.

Pali is serious and straightforward like Umedes and is always thinking two steps ahead, but is also lighthearted and mostly unguarded around the spouses. She is their de-facto leader and typically the one making announcements about them in Marcus's absence. She trusts Umedes and Marcus most closely, but she is also hopelessly in love with Hossan, something she never intends to tell him (while Yera is not actively jealous of him, Pali can't imagine her ever accepting someone else having an ongoing romantic interest in him, even if Hossan himself did). As for Gren, she loves him as a friend, but has the least patience for him out of any of them.

Gren

Picrew: https://picrew.me/en/image_maker/1473879 (edited a bit to make his shoulders wider)

Of the human coalition's three suitors, one was excruciatingly stiff, one seemed to only care about their own agenda, and one was Grenadine "please, call me Gren", the definition of himbo. The political play was that no reasonable person would refuse anything to such a kind, hardworking man, whether that be royal luxury or aid for human-specific issues. And that play was spot on, because nothing about Gren is anything but genuine sweetness. Marcus mostly noted that he was nice to be around and a good listener, Pali liked him well enough, and Umedes and Hossan thought he was cute and fun to play games with, but Yera wanted to reject him on the basis that he would usurp her position as the generous, fun-loving spouse. She locked herself in a room with him for five hours and when she emerged, she approved of him. To this day no one else knows what happened in that room, and they've stopped asking.

Gren is the muscle and the support of the spouses. He's thick as thieves with Yera, but also spends plenty of time with Hossan and Umedes, and is usually found cuddled up with someone while they talk to him. Pali scares him a little, and he tries very hard to know when to stay out of her way. When Marcus was still around Gren eventually took too much advantage of Marcus's soft spot for him and had to be gently asked to "please stop following me around like a puppy". He decided unilaterally after he arrived at the palace that he would be the slut spouse. He's not seductive or provocative normally, but if one of the spouses says "jump", he says "like, here? or in my dungeon?". He remains the only spouse who has had sex with all the others.

[handfulofmuses]

Some kast stuff that I think @aureumbulum is gonne appreciate:

Question: Out of the idw cast is the biggest Bathroom Hog?

Flynn: Maybe Clutch by default because he does not have to share. He can take his time and you know, read a book and freshen up as long as he wants. Because who is going to tell him to move? Who is gonna tell him to move and survive afterwards?

—

Question: When Mimic still worked with the Cutters, how did he pass himself off as a good guy (or at least semi-decent)? Was he the oddball with the off-color sense of humor or did he just come off as having a hidden heart of gold?

Flynn: It was… um, the mix of the diamond cutters, they were all efficient. They all got the job done and they all, you know, did what they were supposed to do. And Mimic’s particular role as the infiltrator and the kind of guy on the side meant he was never really put into a position where his loyalty to the team was put in question. They needed him to get in, unlock the door, do some skullduggery so that they can go in and tear stuff up and then they all get out.

Flynn: That worked. You know he did what everyone expected him to do. He did not raise a fuss over it. And he is an infiltrator by nature so he knows how to get along with people if he needs to if he has to.

Flynn: So yeah, he just kind of - I don’t wanna say he played the group because I don’t think it was a conscious effort to deceive them this entire time. He did not plot on destroying the team from within it’s just when he was caught by Eggman and he was given the opportunity to save his own skin, he went for it because that was the most pragmatic thing to do.

—

Question: Time for a question from the self-proclaimed president of the Claire Voyance Fan Club -- Given Claire's ESP abilities (and her being influenced by a certain member of FOXHOUND), could she potentially use her abilities to haunt Mimic from beyond the grave? And if so, how would she go about messing with the man who betrayed her and her teammates?

Flynn: Canon answer no but in the fun answer on how she would do that… She would just always wait until Mimic is asleep and make some small noise to put him on edge. You know, leave the cabinet open that he is sure that he closed. Untie hs boot laces. He is just about to go to sleep and JUMP SCARE! Like nothing overt, nothing that he can pin on. Nothing that he can say “oh i am being haunted by a ghost” juuuust enough to make him think he is going crazy.

—-

Question: If Mimic would redeem himself, how would it go?

Flynn: Maybe it’s him coming to a realization that, for all of his effort to protect himself, it has not worked. He is no safer, he is no more secure in life and it has cost him every comfort, every alliance, every friendship that he may have had. And whatever possibly had in the future because he is poisoned that well thoroughly. So it would be him coming to the realization that he can’t escape his fate, that he must reap what he has sown. And in an effort to make amends he makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Whisper. You know, he says: “I know you are never gonna believe me if I say I am sorry, so… here I go!”

Flynn: And then maybe have him reveal it’s a death cheat at the very last minute. He is fine, everyone thinks he is death. And he got to be a martyr, win-win.

Kyle: Oh he is still a trickster after all.

Flynn: Yeah. But maybe he is a trickster for the right reasons.

Kyle: Finally. This time. For once in his miserable life.

Flynn: If we did that… it needs the time to set up. I am not one hundred percent satisfied with that but I also did it on top of my head, so…

—- Mimic and Clutch have to get an apartment together, and get regular jobs to make ends meet. What do they each do for a living, and how is it living together? Who leaves their towel on the floor? Who left the empty milk carton in the fridge? Who broke the sacred roommate code and ate the pint of ice cream that was CLEARLY MINE! I wrote my name on it, and was saving it! It was on the FAR side of MY HALF OF THE FREEZER!

Kyle: These all sound like Mimic.

Flynn: Really? I feel like these sound all like Clutch projecting because Mimic doesn’t leave his room if he does not have to.

Flynn: Clutch does the whole paint divider line down the middle of the couch and everything. “This half is mine, this half is yours” and Mimic is like “whatever” and just closes the door in his room and starts playing fortnite.

Kyle: Maybe the security camera says it’s Clutch but we know Mimic is a shapeshifter

Flynn: If we are going to do this sitcom running gag Clutch keeps finding managerial positions and he keeps hiring Mimic as the poor lowly clerk or or fry cook or receptionist or whatever.

Flynn: And somehow all the abuse pushed onto Mimic ends up blowin back and getting Clutch fired. Roll credits.

— Question: How would Mimic react to being haunted by the ghosts of the Diamond Cutters? No matter where he goes or what form he takes, they'll always find him.

Flynn: Annoyance until he figures out how to kill a ghost.

—-

Question: Are wisps okay with killing if their target is an evil person? Whisper got pretty close to offing Eggman and Mimic but her wisps did not seem to try and stop her.

Flynn: In general I would say no. But I think Whisper’s crew has seen some stuff, they might have a different opinion.

—-

Question: So, you're in the Wal-Wart bathroom, when suddenly, Mimic crawls into your stall, and is like, "PHEW! That STINKS! Anyway, what have I been doing since the end of Bad Guys?" How do you respond?

Flynn:

Kyle:

Kyle: -laughs- Alright, this is an interesting way to frame this question.

Flynn:

Flynn: Yeah. Yeah it is.

Kyle: -laughing- You could just ask normally but no I guess-

Flynn: No clearly they wanted to stall for time.

Kyle: OOOOOH.

Flynn: I mean they are already flushed with questions, clearly.

Flynn: And we are an hour half in and I am kinda drained. But let’s see.

Flynn: I already thrown out puns, I lost the thread. What was the question?

Kyle: What has Mimic been doing since the end of bad guys?

Flynn: He has been hiding and biding his time.

Kyle: Alright - are you sure? Is that all he has been doing?

Flynn: He is not some reckless hotshot like Sonic who goes out and is like HEY LOOK AT ME I AM OUT OF JAIL, making rhymes and immediately getting thrown back into the slammer Kyle: But he can literally look like anybody why would he just hang around nowhere?

Flynn: Who said that he was doing? I said he was hiding. He can hide in plain sight.

Kyle: Oh. I guess that’s true. He is just hiding in bathrooms. He is hiding in Walmart bathrooms.

—-

Question: I know you can’t answer this in any kind of detail Ian but in your mind or even possibly notes do you have a general idea of how the inevitable confrontation between Whisper and Mimic will play out?

Flynn: I was actually talking with Evan about this a while back. Kind of brainstorming. That’s a tough nut to crack because this is an all ages book. This is family reading and revenge killing …. not so much. I haven’t settled on anything myself. Maybe she or Danny or somebody else can figure that out and how to properly address it.

Flynn: Right now it is a lingering concern.

Kyle: Just do the same thing like you did with Starline.

Flynn: Well, the thing is, Starline’s destruction was his own hubris. You know, he thought himself so grand and he literally brought the city down on himself. Mimic and Whisper? It’s extremely personal. And if she does not get the kill, it feels like she is being robbed. But if you find a way for her to walk away from it, you are also robbing her of it. Like if she outgrows the vendetta it’s like … what was all the fighting and angst for? So … it will take some figuring out.

—-

Question: In the fourth and final issue of Tangle and Whisper’s miniseries, right after Tangle plays the holo-video of the other Diamond Cutters for Mimic, there’s a panel where the octopus is holding up his hands and just staring at them, silently. Fans have interpreted this as Mimic regretting his actions; with common head-canons for his continued evil being him realizing that he’s past the point of no return or that he had been captured by an enemy of the team during a previous mission and turned into a sleeper agent via brainwashing and this was his original, less despicable (not good, NEVER good) self breaking through for a brief moment. If possible, could you tell us what that pause really was about?

Flynn: It was intentionally left vague. Because I wanted folks to wonder and that specifically for Mimic. Like, did he have a moment of regret? Did he have a moment of realiization of just what he had lost, was he just kinda thinking about ‘well, had to be done. no regrets.’

Flynn: I wanted it to be unclear so that folks would still feel uneasy around him. Because if and when he showed up again, there would be that lingering question of “well, is he still going to be a murderous jerk? Or is there a chance he could turn around?” Flynn: I want that lingering misgiving because that’s what Mimic is supposed to be. He is supposed to be that kinda boogie man. But he is always kinda in the back of your mind making you go “well… what is he gonna do now? what’s his next move?” You don’t know, he a trickster octopus. And he is meant to be unnerving. So I will not validate or invalidate any interpretation of that scene because you are meant to be left guessing.

—-

Question: Is Mimic still wearing his old Diamond Cutter uniform or is it just a very similar outfit? If it is, is there a reason he continues to wear it?

Flynn: I imagine it’s because he feels like it is his. In his mind, he never did anything wrong with the Diamond Cutters. He just had to do what he needs to survive so it’s not like the uniform is a memory of betrayal or anything wrong. It’s his and it works for him. So there you go.

Kyle: Well there you go i guess. What a jerk.

Flynn: Oh yeah, he is awful.

—

Question: Let’s have fun with a hypothetical: Tangle, Whisper, and Mimic are forced to team up for whatever reason. How quickly do things go south? Who snaps first?

Flynn: If anyone is going to snap, it’s Whisper.

Flynn: Tangle is twitchy but she is not a snapper. And Mimic is a professional. He is not gonna snap.

Flynn: Whisper is the one who is going to be… on hair trigger the whole time. And it is gonna be Tangle who kinda wrangles her into not straight up murdering Mimic for whatever adventure they are on.

Flynn: I imagine that they would be very effective together. I mean, Mimic and Whisper would kinda fall into the old patterns of what they had as the Diamond Cutters. Kind of coming back to old times but there would always, ALWAYS be that lingering tension because the minute that they are done or out of danger it’s going to be a question of who strikes first.

Kyle: Tangle is no fun. Let Whisper have a little murder. Come on. Mimic deserves it.

—

Question: If Mimic were to actually succeed in killing Whisper, what would be next on his agenda? Would he relax and take a vacation or hunt down his next target, possibly going after Eggman or Starline?

Flynn: Mimic would not go after Eggman. He is terrified of him. Starline, I don’t think he would make it a point but if he happened to see him across the street he would be like “yeah, why not”.

Flynn: As for Whisper, I think he would be more affected than he would want to admit that it was finally done. And he would just focus on the next job and try to not admit to himself that he is actually upset over this a little.

Kyle: Hm. So you are not killing Whisper off, right? We are making this extra crystal clear this is a theoretical scenario?

Flynn: I mean it could happen.

Kyle: No.

Flynn: It may not. You will just have to read and find out.

Kyle: I will whack you with a newspaper.

—-

Question: So in Tangle & Whisper #4, what exactly was the plan for dealing with Mimic? Tangle just shows Mimic holograms of his teamates, expecting him to have remorse, which is sorta dumb because she knew Mimic by that point. Or was the plan for Whisper to come in with the sneak attack?

Flynn: It was more to see his reaction. He was with the Diamond Cutters for a while, they were his comrades. And the thinking was that to confront him, with what he had done might shake him. Might delay him. Because he was not there for the killing blow. He set up the ambush but he did not actually have to witness what happened to the team. And when he was going after Whisper he was pretty quick to say “oh he must have run off, my job is done!” so the thinking which I guess could have been better explained was to see if confronting him with all the evil he had done would actually shake him.

Flynn: And you know, make him surrounder. Make him repent something. And Mimic does have that moment of ‘yeah… I did that. Oh well. Business is business.”

Flynn: It was also supposed to highlight the fact that Tangle is not the hardened embittered mercenary Whisper and Mimic are. She still believes in happy endings and the goodness of people. She is still the bright eyed and enthusiastic optimist.

[clonerightsagenda]

Ok let's put this to bed. Or more appropriately in the grave. Nice stuff first:

The show was well paced and didn't drag! After my increasing frustration with the second half of HDM, I appreciate that. While it veered further away from the books in the second half which annoyed me on principle, I don't think there was anything wrong with the changes from a structural or storytelling perspective. Adding hints toward later plot twists helped provide an overarching plot to propel the season since they squashed two books with separate story arcs together.

One of my favorite things about the books is the thought put into little details of how society would respond to this situation, and the show added some new ones - the salt sprinklers, places of business having countdown clocks to sunset, those all made sense and were great touches. The ghost lamps also looked super cool.

All the kids in this situation are victims, but Lucy doesn't see herself that way and is comparatively privileged as an unsupervised agent/not night watch, so her narration skates over a lot of the horror lurking in the background. The show gets outside her head and into the darkness a bit more, which I don't object to on principle, though I do think they weakened themselves by having almost all the agents be older. At least have some younger extras besides the canaries at the auction. DEPRAC being more active worked well both from a logical standpoint and as an additional source of tension. The biggest issue here is that the books are also really funny - a major hallmark of Stroud's work is dealing with heavy shit while being hilarious - and while the show got darker it did not have much of a sense of humor.

As I said, George came off the best of the trio, and Flo also benefited from being given additional depth and not getting subjected to Lucy's uncharitable narration. The others though... I appreciated they did not cast someone stick thin as Lucy, and I liked her relationship with Norrie (helps beat the internalized misogyny allegations, helps confirm the bisexuality allegations, if they'd had any sense in future seasons the Belle Dame would've looked like her) but as I complained about at length I feel like they saw 'female character with empathy powers' and slammed the 'hysterical woman' button too hard. Lockwood... also as I said you can tell non-Lucy observers think he's obnoxious in the books but he's endearingly childish enough that you forgive him, whereas his show version was just annoying and it felt like we kept rehashing the same beats. Finally the skull's character does shift noticeably between book 2/3-5 but they cut his backstory and most of his lines, so IDK where they were going to take him for the rest of the series. Sorry if you don't find Lucy's toxic codependent frenemy hostage situation compelling, showrunners, but it was a highlight for me. He was another casualty of the show not having a sense of humor imo. Without the first person pov that's where most of the jokes come from.

Overall, while it would have been neat to see if they did anything visually interesting with the Other Side sequences, I am not bummed that this got cancelled. I would've still watched it but I would've made an 'annoying adaptation choices' bingo card and filled it out while eating M&Ms. I'd bet $10 they would've murdered Kipps for the fucking love triangle.

[fictionadventurer]

Rapid-fire thoughts about Book IV of The Two Towers:

Frodo is extremely lucky that Gollum showed up, because how on Middle Earth did he plan on getting to Mount Doom without him? He had no clue what kind of terrain he was going into. No map. No guide. Going it alone is noble and all, but he really did not have a viable plan for making it work.

There's something to explore in the fact that Sam and Gollum both call Frodo "Master." They butt heads at least partly because they're in similar roles. Sam is the faithful servant and Gollum the treacherous one.

I really appreciate that after three extremely bleak chapters in hellish landscapes, Tolkien gives us an entire chapter of "They went to a slightly wrecked but mostly lovely landscape, and Sam looked at all the flowers and cooked a nice meal."

Forever mad that the movies left out Ithilien. That is a great setting. There is a hideaway behind a waterfall looking out to the sunset! So much cinematic potential wasted.

It's interesting to me that Faramir is reliably described as "grave", while also being shown smiling and joking a lot. It's kind of an odd sense of humor, too. ("The ring has come to me with a host of Gondor at my command" is grimly funny from his POV, but saying all that to Sam and Frodo is still pretty mean.)

There's also something interesting in Sam and Faramir's dynamic. Faramir's the character who most often treats Sam as a servant, making a big deal about calling Frodo his master. He scolds him and kind of pokes fun at him. But there's also a lot of respect. ("The Shire must be a peaceful place where gardeners are held in high esteem.") Maybe it's to do with the fact that they're both servants who are happy to serve and have no ambitions to attain higher rank.

I can see why Tolkien struggled with the ideas of portraying orcs as totally evil. On a conceptual level it can work, but portraying them as characters in a narrative gives them humanity. You can believe that something like Shelob is totally evil and needs slaying. But orcs are just guys. They're capable of rational speech. They hold conversations and make plans for the future. Listening to them talk among themselves is kind of like listening to workers stuck under a tough boss. Yeah, they're okay with horrible things, but they're also just trying to get by. It's hard to see them as completely evil when there's a possibility that they're being misled by a greater evil the way that plenty of other races are.

Both Fellowship and Two Towers end with a betrayal that splinters the group. Gollum and Boromir as parallels as people who both covet the ring?

I really fell in love with Frodo as a character in this book. Right from the beginning, the way he treats Gollum has a lot of parallels with how Gandalf treated Saruman and Pippin in the last book. He's patient and wise and commanding but still very fallible.

Catholic Tolkien experience is getting to the scene where Sam and Frodo call upon Galadriel, and it's absolutely impossible not to see parallels to calling for the Blessed Virgin's intercession.

And there's a ton of Christ imagery. The ring as the cross. His apparent death leaving his follower unsure of what to do next. Sam's sort of the loyal disciple who follows him to his death, and sort of the unfaithful one who leaves him (though in this case he's just trying to do his best when he truly believes Frodo is dead and he's got to carry on the quest.)

This book ends upon a cliffhanger. Is this where the "ending book 2 of the trilogy on a cliffhanger" trend started?