#this season is a wreck i'm only here for him <3

[spnhits-blog]

Abandoned Mansion

Pairing: JJ Maybank x kook!reader

Warnings: fem!reader, slight mentions of abuse, "kidnapping", readers dad was pouge turned kook like kiaras, readers dad is an asshole, snarky jj, slight john b x reader, italics are flashbacks, 7.4k words

A/N: (spoilers-ish) i got the inso from season 3, where JJ saves Kie from Kitty Hawk but with a slight enemies to lovers feel. this is set before s1 even happens. hope you like it, and I'm posting a prompts list so you guys can request!

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JJ and John B were out of Figure 8, working their asses off for some cash. John B luckily was able to score working for the Cameron's doing boat maintenance, while JJ got stuck doing yard work for the Y/L/N's.

JJ hated most kooks out on this island, but he particularly didn't want to be here. Especially when the Y/L/N's daughter would come around. She was Kie's only kook friend, and Kie would always try to convince the pouges to letting her come around sometime but JJ's always been hellbent against it.

He wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand and continued mowing the lawn for the last stretch of grass.

"Hey, Maybank!" He heard your dad's voice call out to him. JJ sighed, turning off the motor before looking up to find him on the upper part of big fancy two story house.

"What can I do for ya, sir?"

The man didn't laugh at JJ's obviously fake greeting. "After you get done with the lawn, you're free to go. I gotta take Y/N to the Wreck."

JJ eagerly nodded, quickly turning the motor back on so he could get done as quickly as possible.

Once he had finished, the only thing left to do was put the lawn mower back into the Y/L/N's garage then head out. He thought, why would they even own a lawn mower if they'd never even think about touching it? God, he hated kooks - 

"JJ, right?"

He swirled around, seeing Y/n stand in the doorway that connected the garage and the rest of the house. With a slight frown he answered, but turned back to his task of wrapping the cord together in a semi-neat fashion. "Uh, yeah."

Y/n pursed her lips, and rocked to the back of her heels. Her friend Kie always told her how much she loved the pouges, and how they'd all get along if they became friends. But she also knew how much pouges and kooks hated each other, not that she did at all. She thought the entire 'war' on the island was pointless and stupid.

"I'm Y/n." You continued to try to entice him in a conversation. "Kie's told me a lot about you and your friends."

He huffed and threw the cords next to the lawn mower. "Yeah well I haven't heard much about you. Now if you don't mind, I gotta get out of this hell."

She crossed her arms and didn't know what took over her as she followed him out of the garage and towards his bike he quickly hopped on. "I'm just trying to be nice, you can't even have a conversation with me?"

"I'm sorry this is the first time you're not getting your way, princess." He grinned, revving his engine once.

"Y/N! Come here now." Her dad yelled out, standing by their newest car a few feet away from them, narrowing his eyes at the scene of the pouge talking to his daughter.

Y/n looked to her dad and opened her mouth to give an excuse but was cut off by JJ revving his engine again. He wasted no time in staying on figure 8 any longer, and quickly drove out of their driveway and headed back to the cut.

"What were you doing with that pouge, Y/n?"

She scoffed under her breath, watching after the beautiful blonde boy who was almost out of her sight by now. She tucked her hair behind her ears, smacking her lips together and finally pulled herself to get into her dad's car. "Nothing.."

---

"I'm telling you Kie, I think you're wrong."

Kiara ignored her friend as she wiped down the counter at the front of the Wreck. Y/n just finished telling her about the interaction she just had with Kiara's quote on quote, "always a fun time best friend."

"He doesn't like kooks. It'll take some getting used to." She shrugged. Suddenly her head snapped up to look at her girl friend with wide eyes.

"What?" Y/n froze holding the chip she was about to eat close to her mouth but got completely freaked out by Kaira's spaz antics.

"Come to the chateau with me tonight."

"What?!" She practically screeched. Hanging out with the pouges seemed like the worst idea after how JJ and her so nicely got along earlier today. "I'm not doing that."

Kie smiled wide, not taking no for an answer. "You have to, come on. It'll be fun were going out on the HMS, and I know John B and Pope have been wanting to meet you forever." She saw Y/n still not budging. "JJ will be fine, I promise. If not, just ignore him that's what I do."

The two girls laughed, and Y/n squinted her eyes at her pretty best friend. "Okay, okay. I'll come."

"Great, John B is picking us up in 10 minutes."

"You knew I'd cave didn't you?"

"I knew no such thing."

-

The two girls walked onto the dock, seeing the HMS Pouge pull up to the side of the dock.

"You've got to be kidding me." JJ groaned, throwing his head back, looking at his two best friends with a hateful look. "Why is she coming?"

"Be nice, JJ." Pope spoke up, standing up as the boat got nearer to picking the two girls up.

"Hey, ladies." John B smiled, slowing the boat down next to them. 

"Hi, boys." Kie called out, holding up a cooler no doubt filled with drinks and some of their favorite snacks.

Y/n smiled at the boys, "Hey, I'm Y/n."

Pope helped Kie in, while John B held his hand out for Y/n to take and come aboard. JJ sneered at the sight of it, because that's exactly what they needed. Another kook.

John B smiled, taking in all of Y/n's beauty. "So I've heard. I'm John B, this is Pope." He gestured to Pope who gave a small wave. "And that's JJ. Don't mind him."

Y/n chuckled seeing JJ's clear distaste of her being there. She took a seat next to Kie, who sat beside Pope now with JJ on the other side of him. John B got behind the wheel once again and took off towards the marsh where they all liked to hang out.

The four out of five got into some small talk while JJ pouted, lighting up a joint to take the edge off.

John B finally found a spot he deemed good enough and him and Pope lowered the anchor. "JJ, don't hog that." Kie reached out her hand with a pointed look, waiting for him to pass it to her.

He cocked his head to the side, looking at her before landing on the other girl with a glare. "Well, wouldn't want goody two shoes to get secondhand high, she might freak out and ruin the night."

Y/n sent a glare right back at him. "I've smoked before."

He gave her an unimpressed, "hmm." But reached over and passed it to Kie before he had both of them hating him for the rest of the night. 

"Okay," John B clapped his hand, plopping down to sit close to Y/n. "What'd you girls bring?"

Y/n grabbed the cooler, opening the lid to show all the beer they packed. She took a couple out, handing one to John B and the other she extended out to JJ. Like a peace offering.

He stared at it, leaning forward with a hand outstretched. A smile started to form on her face, that is until he quickly reached into the cooler and got a different bottle for himself and left the one she held ignored. She moved her jaw to the side, trying to boil down the irritation he kept filling her with.

She sighed and leaned back into her seat next to John B, and twisted the cap open before taking a swig.

"Ignore him," John B whispered to her in her ear causing Y/n to smile. "He just needs some warming up to."

JJ swallowed the beer and thought it must've been the bitter alcohol that caused the sick feeling in his stomach as he saw you and John B practically all cuddled up together. So you think you can just come here and steal all his friends, no way was he letting that happen.

And unfortunately for him, you came around practically everyday that they all got together and became close to everyone but him. Unfortunately for you, his comments and attitude seemed to only worsen the longer you stuck around.

It's nearing towards the end of summer, and the pouges have brought you on so many different crazy adventures you've never experienced before. Like sneaking into private property, stealing alcohol, and just finally being free. It wasn't like your old, fake kook friends who only cared about where they were seen, what they were wearing and how much money they could spend. And that just wasn't you, and that's why once you met Kiara it was like having a first actual friend. 

The two of you girls got closer, now that she wasn't having to separate her time with the pouges and you. She was the only one you confided in your attraction and crush on JJ.

"Do you think JJ hates me?" Y/n asked, brushing her hair and looking into her vanity mirror. Kie sat up from your bed, looking at the girl through the mirror.

"No. I just think it takes a long time to get through the walls he puts up. There's only three people JJ cares about, so just give it some time and he'll be your best friend."

Y/n only hummed, not impressed by the girl's answer. She kept looking at her hair in the mirror, and didn't see Kiara's interest peak and scoot closer.

"Why?" She asked Y/n, who only shrugged at the question. "Do you like JJ?"

"What?!" She snapped her head around to look at Kie, dropping her hairbrush on the ground. Kie smacked a hand over her mouth, trying to not let the gasp escape her mouth.

"No way! You so like him."

"No, nu-uh. I don't like JJ." She waved Kie off and turned back towards the mirror. She looked at her reflection with a frown, picking out any flaw she could in her mind. "I mean.. how could I like someone who doesn't even want me around?"

"Oh, girl.." Kie stood up and wrapped her arms around the girl who's sadness was coming off her in waves. "Trust me, he's lucky to even be near you."

You and Pope got along too, since you both were always focused in school and enjoyed reading. John B was your new best friend, you never had a bad time with him and he always made you feel welcomed. 

You'd even have them come to some of your 'kook activities,' as JJ would say. But all it really was is that they got to hang out in your gigantic pool and hot tub when your parents weren't around, got to go to the country club without being immediately kicked out, and being gifted gifts.

That in it's entirety irked JJ, he didn't need your handouts and you weren't going to buy his friendship like you did the others.

But everyone else knew that you weren't doing that, just that you'd show your appreciation in small gifts like a book you and Pope had been talking about, or groceries for John B or even a matching bracelet with Kie.

Y/n parked beside the twinkie and began to grab the bags of groceries she had in her car from her trip to the store. She held 3 bags in one hand and a case of beer in the other. Y/n knocked on the from door, since she had no ways of opening it herself.

JJ ignored the knock and continued smoking on the couch. John B smacked the side of his head as he walked towards the front door. He opened it with a wide smile, "Y/n, hey!"

She giggled as he gave her big hug and took the three bags she was holding. "Hey, John B. I picked up some groceries on my way here since we've been eating everything here."

The two walked towards the kitchen to set everything down. JJ watched with a frown as John B threw an arm around her shoulder and gave a kiss to the side of her head. "Thank you, Y/n. I really appreciate it."

-

"Pope!" JJ heard your voice and the fast footsteps as you ran up to the pair of them who were in Pope's boat. They were making grocery runs out on figure 8. "Here, I forgot to give you this last night."

"Oh my god, thank you! Where'd you even find this, it wasn't even in Charleston." Pope wrapped his arms around the middle of her back and gave tight squeeze. 

She laughed, "I'm not giving up my tricks."

"What were you guys doing last night?" JJ asked, crossing his arms as he watched Y/n's face change from happy to slightly worried. 

"Oh, well I had Pope, John B and Kie come over last night. I figured you wouldn't want to come, plus they said you had a family thing - "

​​​​​​​"Yeah." JJ huffed, feeling the bruises on his ribs. He went home and to just his luck his dad was awake and angry like usual. "Well, we have a job to do, so."

"Right." Y/n nodded and slowly backed away from their boat. "I'll see you guys later, then."

-

"Where'd you get that bracelet, Kie?" JJ asked as they were cleaning up around the chateau. This obviously wasn't anything JJ wanted to do, but it had been getting bad and Kie already scolded all of the guys for not doing anything for so long. John B and Pope were cleaning in other areas of the house, while they tackled the living room.

Kie smiled, "Y/n got me it. She has a matching blue one." She twisted it gently around her wrist, the turtle charm dangling and the green yarn designs effortlessly beautiful.

"Oh.. it's nice." He murmured, tossing an old red solo cup in the bag of trash they were filling up. 

"I think she got you something too." Kie mentioned, trying to pry into how JJ was feeling. She knew you had a crush on him, but she knew how well JJ was at hiding how he felt. And that usually came out with him either making jokes or being rude.

"Really?" He asked without a beat. Kie's lips curved upwards, gotcha. On the counter he saw a photo of the five you that you took on your polaroid a few weeks ago, you all wore big smiles after a day on the boat. You and Kie posed next to each other, the three guys making goofy peace signs or sticking their tongues out behind them.

"Yeah, I think she mentioned some type of pocket knife or tool you needed for your bike."

He softly smiled, his eyes not leaving the picture just yet. He remembered telling everyone about how his bike broke down and that he lost his favorite pocket knife after a run in with some kooks in the twinkie about a week before that polaroid was taken. "I didn't think she'd remember that."

JJ snapped out of his thoughts when he heard the four of you bust out laughing. How could they be so okay with you coming in and ruining the dynamic of the group? He also hated how well you got along with just about anyone, he wanted to make sure that he'd be the exception if no one else was going to.

"What's so funny?" He grumbled, kicking an empty beer can before resting against the outside of the chateau where everyone was lounging at. 

Their laughter quieted down and Y/n just kept her gaze on her feet once JJ entered their conversation. John B nudged her with his shoulder, still laughing as he looked at her shyness. "Little miss Y/L/N here took Topper down earlier on the beach."

His eyebrows raised, "What are you talking about?"

Pope excitedly began to tell the story, "Okay, so I headed over to figure 8 to pick Y/n up, right? And so when we were heading back to the HMS when Topper started yelling at me for being over there. A-and then he started coming at Y/n saying how she's a turned pouge and then - "

"Well, that's dumb." JJ started to laugh, thinking that's the reason why they'd be laughing. "Y/n's not a pouge."

Silence.

Y/n frowned, subconsciously slumping more in her seat from the awkwardness. "Dude," Pope sighed.

Kie looked at him pissed off, "What's your issue, JJ?" John B shook his head as he looked off into his backyard adding, "Don't you think she's earned that after what she's gone through and done with us?"

"No." JJ bluntly said not even sparing at the girl who sat in the chair. "She's a kook, she'll always be a kook."

Y/n rolled her eyes, looking down at her phone. It showed a few text messages from her parents that were sent to her hours ago, her mom saying, 'please come home soon,' and her dad's saying 'you know what we talked about. home now, last chance.'

"You know what, since I'm such a kook why don't I just leave?" She hopped out of her chair and faced JJ with a sour face. He didn't show his surprise of her stepping up to him, and just smiled.

"Great, I'll show you the door."

She scoffed, "God, JJ. You've made it so hard to be your friend, I give up you win. You won't have to deal with me crashing your fun anymore," she turned to the other three who wore worried expressions. "I'm sorry guys, but I have to go home. I'll call you." She turned away, giving JJ one more look before rushing off to hear car to head home in order to spare herself another fight with her father for being friends with pouges.

The last time she got into a fight with her parents, JJ was with her. It was weird for JJ to be there, because if anyone was going to represent who her friends were, Y/n would much rather have had Kie and Pope or John B be there. But JJ was the only one available, and didn't say no.

"You said I'd listen to you, and then you'd listen to me." Y/n reminded her dad as the two teenagers stepped inside and sat in the living room. She saw his pissed off face when she didn't come alone.

JJ gave him a head nod. This already wasn't going well. Y/n's dad had wanted to have a sit down about what she was doing wither her life, but they all knew it was going to be him telling her she couldn't hang around pouges so she brought back up to change his mind.

They'd been going back in forth until her dad had enough. "Listen, I think you've been led stray away, Y/n. And you JJ," He looked towards JJ, remember months ago when he first saw Y/n and JJ. 

"Y/D/N.." Your mom warned, never really speaking until now which caused Y/n to roll her eyes. Her mom always let her dad take the reigns on anything and never thought for herself.

"No, no, no. Lets get this all out in the open." He walked towards JJ who had made his way into the open kitchen whereas the girls of the house still sat in the living room. "You need to understand that I do get it."

JJ faked a laugh, "Sure you do."

"You hear me? I do. I like you JJ, and I bet you're fucking fun to hang out with and go down to the break with because I was once just like you, bro. I didn't think that anything mattered, and that I could make any bullshit story and these stupid kooks would believe it. But then I learned about hard work, about what really mattered."

JJ kept his sights on the glossy, fancy marble table as her dad talked down to him.

"All I care about - all I care about.. is my daughter. That's it. And all I know, is that she was a lot better off before she met you and your friends."

"Dad, I was never better off." Y/n cried, getting up from the couch and walking over to the two of them. 

"Yes you were." He interrupted his daughter. Y/n's mom walked over, scared to see what else would happen.

"I was never better off!" Y/n repeated with a stern voice. "I was miserable."

"Miserable? Look at your life now." He laughed at her. "No, no. NO!" He snapped at his wife who was trying to get him to stop. "These pouges, have ruined my daughters life." He spat out the word pouge as he looked at JJ like he was dirt.

JJ rolled his shoulders back, shifting his gaze to see Y/n's distraught form, and decided to take the heat. "Didn't mean any disrespect, Mr. Y/L/N. Y'all have a good day."

JJ walked backwards away from Y/n's dad, and made his way to his bike outside.

"What are you doing?" Y/n pleaded her father to stop, she knew JJ barely liked her as is and after this she knew he never would. 

"I'm protecting my daughter! Everybody says it, he's just life his father. He's a liar and a thief."

"No, he's not!" Y/n yelled throwing her hands up in frustration. JJ, not yet outside, stopped to listen to what else the kooks had to say about him. "He's nothing like his dad. You don't know him, they're nothing alike."

JJ heard your footsteps come closer and quickly stepped out of the front door before you did. "Where are you going?" Your father yelled after you.

"I listened to you, y'all were supposed to listen to me.. it's not fair." Y/n kept walking away, leaving her parents yelling at her while she ran after JJ.

"JJ, I'm sorry." She breathed out, watching him only stare in front of him and not look at her. "I-I didn't know he was going to react like that. You didn't deserve that."

JJ already started his bike but still waited for Y/n. "It's whatever. I already know what they think of me." He waited until Y/n hopped on behind him, and wrapped her arms around him.

He looked behind her with a soft gaze, "You ready?"

Y/n's cheeks reddened by how close they were, and nodded with a shy smile. "Yeah."

"JJ!" "Dude, go talk to her!" "You're an idiot."

JJ waved them off and just took a seat in the chair you were just in. His mind was heavy with memories and thoughts swirling around. "What? You're telling me she understands what it's like to be a pouge? As if she has had to deal with the same things as us in her life?!"

John B picked up a random wadded up shirt he found near him and threw it at JJ's face. "Dude, do you know much shit she's had to deal with her parents over this summer because of us?"

"Yeah, her parents and mine were talking about wilderness camps. It took mine years in order to get there, but it took her's only a couple of months." Kie glared at the sun, hating how much their parents despised their friends. 

JJ hesitated to speak, he did know how you were being affected by spending all her time on the cut with them. But still, a disappointed parent in exchange for being rich? He knew her parents were looking down on them anyways, and whose to say that Y/n wouldn't do the same eventually?

"And why do you hate Y/n so much anyways? She's just like Kie, she was a kook before too." Pope pointed out causing JJ's leg to start bouncing.

"It's not like that, god." He jumped from the chair and faced all of them. "Y'all don't see it like I do, okay? I see how she really is - "

"What, a good person? She's nothing like a kook, JJ and deep down you know that. She's always been there when any of us need anything, and stood up for us with Rafe and all of them so many times." Kie defended you, she's watched this go on for too long and she couldn't risk your guys' friendship over it.

JJ just shook his head, unable to wrap his head around what she was getting at. "Nah, you heard it for yourself she's going back to figure 8 while we stay here, because we have each other! She's not apart of that."

The three pouges looked at each other, it seemed more like he was trying to convince himself that he was right and to ignore anything they might've said. So they dropped it, I mean you did say that you'd call them later.

---

Y/n parked her car in the drive way with a huff. She's so exhausted over JJ. Throughout the four months she'd been hanging out with the pouges, she hoped that he'd give her a chance and they'd become at least cordial with each other. But she couldn't keep dealing with him, no matter how much she did like him or being friends with the pouges.

She wasn't necessarily thinking about stop being friends with everyone, but.. JJ was their friend first, and she wasn't going to make them choose between them that wouldn't be fair.

She stepped out of her car, and shut the door behind her. She noticed another van park on the other side of the street with the logo, 'Kitty Hawk' and a rainbow. A man stepped out of the car, keeping his trained eye on her.

"Hey, Y/n." She started walking towards the house and the strange man kept following her. "Hey, come back. I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to talk to you."

"Uh, no I'm okay." She said back to him. She hurried up the stairs to get to the front door, whispering to herself, "What the fuck."

She finally got to the top of the stairs and twisted the doorknob. Only it was locked. Y/n's heart dropped, looking back to see the creepy man still walking towards her. She yanked on the doorknob, pounding on the door. "Mom! Dad!"

The door opened, but it was another strange man wearing a shirt with the same logo from the car.

Y/n gasped taking a step back. "Who are you?"

"Look, this can go one of two ways." The man said, taking a couple steps toward her.

"No, no, no, no." Her heart was racing. She never thought her parents would really send her away. She couldn't believe this was happening to her.

"Y/n, I'm sorry." Her mom stepped into view, her dad behind her. "We're sending you away for a while. They say Kitty Hawk is the best."

Y/n took another step and knocked into the first man she saw. He held his arms out so she couldn't run away. "Wait, wai - "

"Okay?" Her mom asked, but it wasn't like Y/n was given a choice. "We just need to try this, okay? We're just trying to help you."

The two men started to grab her arms and lead her to the van. Y/n's breathing was ragged and looked at her parents with crazy wide eyes. She just kept repeating, "no, no, no." Hoping this wasn't actually happening. "Mom, no. Dad!"

She tried yanking her arms away from the men, even trying to hit them to get off her but they were much stronger. "No, I can't do this!"

"We are trying to help you." Her mom tried to reason with her, but even she knew this was insane. "This isn't forever."

"You can't send me to camp wilderness, kookoo's nest!" The men kept dragging her, even down the stairs as her parents followed. 

"They're not gonna hurt you. They're good people. They're going to help you out, don't fight it." Her dad warned her, stopping his wife from going further down the stairs.

As the three went down the stairs, Y/n whipped her head around to look at her parents. Tears started streaming down her face, "But I said - I said I didn't want to go!" She reached out grabbing ahold of the fence in from of their house. The two men tried yanking her off but she wasn't going without a fight. "I don't want to! You can't do this!" 

They finally pried her off the fence and continued carrying her out to the back of the van. "No!" She sobbed, as they kept leading her further away from her house. "Dad! Mom!" She screamed watching as they stood at the top of the stairs doing nothing from her being taken away.

The men threw her in the van and immediately shut the door so she couldn't try to escape. There was no door handle from the inside so she began to bang her fists on the window. Still screaming and crying for her mom and dad.

---

That "I'll call you later," never happened. The whole night it was complete radio silent on your end, no matter how many calls or texts they left you. They all just kinda figured you wanted your space.

It wasn't until the next day of not hearing anything that they were all starting to be concerned. Especially since they had all agreed to go surfing in the morning and then fishing and drinking.

It was about 10 in the morning and the four of them were all packed in the twinkie for the day ahead of them, the only thing missing was you.

"Has she said anything?" Pope asked the group, a small frown on his face.

John B and Kie shook their heads. "I wonder why." Kie snapped looking at JJ who had been more quiet than usual since you left.

He's been trapped in his thoughts, and the pouges had a point. He really was hating on you for no reason. Well, not no reason but not one he wanted to admit to anyone. At first, yeah strictly because you were a kook. And that was valid. Until it wasn't and you were actually a genuine person to be around. You were funny, smart, and beautiful. And JJ hated that.

"She's seriously coming again?"

"Yes, JJ. We all like her so she's invited."

"Does she even know how to surf? Or are you gonna teach her as an excuse to get near her?" JJ grimaced at the thought, if John B and Y/n were to get together then surely Pope will find the balls to ask out Kie and he'd be left out for sure. 

"Yes, that's exactly my plan." John B pushed JJ out the doorway and headed out to the twinkie, he was only humoring him. Every other time JJ has hinted at John B liking Y/n he's denied it, but that hasn't changed anything so he might as well have fun with it.

Once the guys made it to the beach they met Pope, Kie and Y/n already there. Y/n laid on a towel soaking in the sun while Kie and Pope sat together talking and laughing. 

"You guys ready?" John B called out, both him and JJ holding their boards. The other three jumped to their feet with excited "yeahs". "Oh and Y/n?" He called out with a sly grin, waiting till she got her attention to slap JJ on the back. "JJ here volunteered to help you out today, how nice is that?"

"Really?" Y/n's eyes widen in hopes he finally wanted to spend time with her. While JJ's mouth was dropped open as he looked at John B with killer eyes.

​​​​​​​John B only smiled smug and gestured to answer Y/n. He knew JJ wasn't going to be that much of a dick to just say no now. JJ cleared his throat, scrunching his face as he scratched the back of his head. "Uh - uh yeah. I did tell John B that, didn't I?" He grumbled the last part ignoring Kie and Popes weird gazes at how he was acting.

They all headed out to the ocean with their boards, JJ and Y/n hanging back so he can try to teach her some basics. They paddled out a bit and off away from where the other three pouges were riding waves. Y/n sat straddling her board, as JJ sat on his next to her. "Okay so, you probably won't want to take on big waves right now. But if you're getting lessons from me, you'll be one of the best surfers out here in no time."

Y/n let out a belly laugh causing JJ to have a smile of his own. "Don't get too cocky now."

"Oh trust me, pretty girl. I got a reason to be cocky."

Y/n's breath got caught in her throat after hearing what JJ just called her, but he didn't seem to register what he even called her. She swallowed and wiped the whispy hair that escaped her braid out of her face. "I'm sure you do." She tried to tease him back, and it got a chuckle out of him before he stopped himself. What are you doing, he thought to himself, you're supposed to hate her. Even if she really is pretty.

He paddled a little closer and began with the teaching lesson. "Alright so all you need to do…"

"Give me the keys."

All of the pouges looked at JJ with shock. But JJ didn't falter just had his hand gesturing to John B for the keys. "JJ we should wait for- "

"Look, give me the keys right now. Her parents already hate me, and I kind of owe her."

John B's lips formed an 'O' and the other two looked at each other with small smiles. "Stop making that face." JJ shook his head, not even wanting to see the 'I knew it' looks Kie and Pope had on. 

"Oh, you owe her, huh?" John B snickered, but dropped the car keys in JJ's awaiting hand. 

JJ only jumped in the front seat and waisted no time in speeding to your house leaving the other three pouges at the chateau. 

"I knew it!" Kie squealed, the other two boys nodding along. "That idiot so liked her all along."

JJ sped in the twinkie as fast as it could go to your house. On arrival he already noticed that your car was parked in the driveway so you had to be home. Just ignoring him for being the asshole he is. He also noticed your parents were sitting on the steps, like they were expecting someone.

He hopped out of the van and slammed the door behind him. He turned around to face your parents, your dad looking at him like he hated him. Granted, he did. "Howdy, y'all."

"JJ," Your father called out. "Don't even step on my property."

"Yeah, right." JJ sighed, looking around before back at them. "Well, you know why I'm here. To see Y/n, and well we were supposed to hear from her but we haven't yet. So I - "

"JJ, she's not here." Your mom said.

He looked over at your car still in the driveway. "Like I'm supposed to believe that. Okay, um, well then where is she?"

"Let's just say you're not going to see her for a long time, alright?"

JJ's heart dropped. No, they couldn't have. 

"We sent her someplace where she can rebuild what you are your friends are ruining."

JJ's nostrils flared and his lips formed into a thin line. "You sent her to that wilderness camp?"

Y/n's dad nodded, with a proud look on his face. "Yes."

He let out a deep breath, his hands becoming a fist as he turned towards the van. "Y'know.." he snickered, shaking his head while he kicked at the ground. "Y'all are some real kooks."

Y/n's dad shot up from his seat, starting to run down the stairs. He wanted to pummel JJ for causing the tear in his relationship with his daughter. Y/n's mom stopped him from actually reaching the teenage boy though. "No, Y/M/N. These pouges are destroying my daughter's life!"

JJ yanked the driver door open, "Nah.. You gooned her. You gooned your own daughter."

"You gave us no choice, JJ! And I don't want to see you around my family again."

JJ stuck his head out the window already putting the car in reverse. "Don't worry, Y/D/N. You won't."

He floored it out of the driveway, creating tire marks in his wake. He then put the car in drive and headed towards Kitty Hawk to save you.

--

Your 24 hours at Kitty Hawk were horrible. When you arrived all the girls looked at you like you were the weird outcast, but you couldn't even care. All you could think about was getting the hell out of here.

They took your phone and you doubted anyone knew where you were, especially how you left the pouges. You just hoped that they'd figure out that this wasn't your choice and figure out some scheme to help break you out. If they still wanted to be your friend that is.

It was dark when JJ finally reached the cabin they placed you in. He went through the front office and hiding from security to get to you, but he finally did it. 

He grabbed a credit card from his wallet to unlock the door, heavy breathing as the bandana he tied around his face covered his mouth and nose. He quietly opened the door, slipped in and closed it behind him. 

There were about 20 bunk beds lined up on both sides on the cabin, so he crouched down and started trying to look for her. "Y/n," he whisper shouted trying to not wake up any other girls other than you. "Y/n.. Y/n."

A girl sat up and turned on her light, gasping when she saw a random man with a bandanna in their cabin. "What are you doing in here?"

His eyes were wide and instinctively raised his hands in surrender. "Hi, uh.. evening miss. Sorry, sorry uh." He slowly stood up as practically all the other girls woke up and focused their attention on him. "Shit."

He looked all around but still didn't see you, it was still dark in some areas of the cabin. "I know this looks bad - I come in peace. I-I'm just looking for someone.. I'm looking for - "

"Me?" Y/n was now sat on the edge of her bunk as she looked at JJ.

He slowly turned to where he heard your voice and froze when he saw you. You weren't hurt, thank god. "Y/n.."

She fought the tears that started to form in her eyes, and climbed down the bunk. She ran over to him and threw her arms around his neck and he tightly held her close to him. They both were breathing heavy in relief. He finally saved her, and she was finally saved.

She pulled away for a moment and looked from his left to right eye frantically. "But how did - how?"

He gave her a small laugh, "I know.. it's a long story. No time to explain though." He paused hearing her angelic laugh and allowing himself not to force himself to ignore it. "There's one thing though.. Y/n I just.. I just want to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything."

Y/n's eyes softened and nodded her head. She knew how JJ is with his emotions, and this was the biggest gesture he's ever made to show that he cares about her as a friend. But with what she's experience in the last two days; her fight with the pouges and her parents shipping her away.. She couldn't afford not to be honest with her feelings, it would kill her more.

"I like you." She said softly, emotion thick in her throat. She had a sad,  but genuine smile on her lips. 

He sucked in a deep breath of air, not blinking as he registered what she told him. His heart started beating fast, and the urge to run away scratching at him faster.

"I like you too."

They both let out a breath looking at each other like they couldn't believe what the other was telling them. They both made themselves believe that there was no way the other could've liked them back for so long it was shocking to see that they were wrong.

Y/n took a step forward, his hand coming up to cradle her face. The two both looking at each other's eyes to make sure they really wanted to do this. Y/n's eyes fluttered close and JJ leaned in all the way to finally be able to kiss her.

The two of them held each other so gently but firm, to show all the tender and protection they could offer the other.

All the girls in the cabin started cheering loudly. After a second the couple parted with smiles, until they realized they were about to get caught if all the girls kept being loud. Without a word Y/n turned back to grab her bag of clothes while JJ shushed everyone in the cabin.

The two then ran for the cabin door, and headed to the forest where JJ had stashed the twinkie so he wouldn't get caught. They laughed once they successfully made it out of the Kitty Hawk property. 

They stopped and caught their breath for a second, and Y/n took this time to turn and admire the boy. "Thank you."

He looked at her with a genuine smile and offered a shrug, reaching out to touch her fingers. "I'll always help my pouge when she's in distress."

[bosbas]

Chapter 3: best believe I'm still bejeweled

series masterlist previous part || next part

pairing: benedict bridgerton x best friend!fem!reader WC: 3.7k words

Warnings: period-typical gender roles, idiots in love being idiots in love

Summary: You and Benedict have been best friends since childhood, but things change dramatically once you come out in society. You're struggling to find someone you're as compatible with and who knows you as well as Benedict, all while trying to quell your ever-growing feelings for him. Shenanigans ensue.

May 19, 1814 - Today marks not only the birthday of our illustrious Queen Charlotte but also the grand event eagerly awaited by all of London's high society: the splendid Queen Charlotte's Ball.

The air is thick with excitement as the ton awaits the debut of our beautiful new bachelorettes for the season. Rest assured, dear readers, this author shall be your eyes and ears throughout the evening, ensuring you are privy to every scandal, dance, and whispered secret that unfolds at this momentous celebration.

The air was, as Lady Whistledown had said, thick with something, although you weren't quite sure it was excitement. Your stomach was tied in a complete tangle of knots, and said knots were doing cartwheels all over the dressing room you were currently in. Looking over at Cass and Eloise eating biscuits and giggling together on the other side of the room, you desperately wished you could stay with them rather than go to the ball.

Until this morning, you had been cautiously optimistic about the whole affair, excited about being courted despite your strong reservations about marriage, knowing it would most likely be a significant loss of your freedom. But at least in the beginning, when you didn't have to immediately think about the greater implications of courting, you could pretend that getting to know people and dancing and receiving flowers could be just fun. But now, with your mother and Lady Violet excitedly chattering around you as your lady's maids rushed to and fro, grabbing your makeup and jewelry, you were less than ecstatic.

Just as the claustrophobia was getting to be a bit much and you were quite ready to jump out of the window into the garden and take off running, Daphne entered the dressing room. Shooing the lady's maids away momentarily, Daphne offered a sympathetic look and sat beside you. You shot her a grateful smile, immediately letting out a breath, slumping your shoulders, and resting your chin on your gloved hand.

"Oh dear, I know that look very well," Daphne laughed. "It's not all bad, I promise."

Rubbing your temples, you confessed, "I know. I was excited until this morning. It's all rather overwhelming now that I'm actually experiencing it, though. What do you even talk about when you're dancing? What if no one wants to speak to me at all?"

Upon hearing the distress in your voice, Daphne quickly interjected. "Honestly, I was much more of a wreck than you were and I am frankly impressed by how well you're holding it together. My best advice would be to not think about it too much. It's harder to do in your position, I know, but you are so brilliant in every way, and everyone is dying to get to know you. It's a wonderful advantage to have. You get to be selective. So just be yourself the best way you know how and try to seek out the ones who make you feel the most comfortable."

You responded with a small laugh, "I guess it's a good thing Ben isn't here then; otherwise, I'd be spending the whole evening with him."

An indecipherable look took over Daphne's features. "It truly is beyond me why he would miss such an important day. Men being men, I suppose. But it's alright. You have the entire Bridgerton clan in his stead, not to mention your family. And speaking of Benedict, he did leave a note with me he wanted me to give you today." Daphne handed you a small rectangular envelope with your name in Benedict's scrawl across the front. Daphne reached over and put a reassuring hand on your shoulder, "you look absolutely stunning. You have nothing to worry about."

Giving her friend a final kiss on the cheek, Daphne stood up and joined the excited mothers on the other side of the room, allowing you a moment to carefully open the envelope in your hands.

Y/I (your initial), 

Hopefully, Daphne will manage to deliver this on time. I'm dreadfully sad I can't be there with you today, but I know you will impress absolutely everyone in attendance. Send Lady Danbury my regards. Or perhaps don't. Whichever makes it less likely I have to dance with her at the next ball I attend!

Yours, B

Smiling to yourself, you felt just a tad more prepared to face the queen in a short time, Ben's note filling you with confidence and Daphne's reassuring words soothing your anxieties.

---

An earlier conversation with Hyacinth had left you terrified of falling flat on your face tonight, so you were intently focused on completing each step as smoothly as possible. As the last debutante to be presented to the queen, your goal was to draw as little attention to yourself as possible, but you found the opposite. The room hushed as you entered, which you were worried about until you saw everyone's warm smiles and eager gazes. Newly filled with confidence, you gracefully completed your journey to the throne, where you curtseyed before Queen Charlotte.

Upon receiving the queen's enthusiastic approval, you heaved a sigh of relief. Now, you could enjoy the ball and take in all the new experiences of being out in society. The ballroom was a dazzling display of candlelight, silk gowns, and a polished dance floor as the orchestra played a lively tune. However, the moment of peace was quickly interrupted by many people rushing to talk to you at once. Gracefully moving from one conversation to another, you were enjoying the whirlwind of your debut. Invigorated by your earlier conversation with Daphne, you embraced the attention, excitedly introducing yourself and exchanging pleasantries as you attempted to move toward your mother a few yards away.

After talking to quite a few eligible bachelors and a not-insignificant amount of their mothers, you reached Countess Beaumont and the dowager Viscountess Bridgerton. "Oh, Y/N, your dance card seems to be full! Not even five minutes after you've been presented, no less! That's quite wonderful. I was worried I'd have to send Colin and Anthony to dance with you," your mother exclaimed, cheekily winking at you.

Violet laughed and shook her head. "They should be so lucky! All everyone is talking about is how beautiful you look, dear. Not news to us, obviously, but it's nice to see other people recognizing it."

Truthfully, you were over the moon. You loved to dance, after all, and looking out toward the ballroom, you could see all three of your brothers, your father, Anthony, Colin, and Daphne, scattered throughout. You felt oddly comfortable being in such a new environment, and perhaps Daphne was correct: you could be selective. You had even turned away a few gentlemen who asked you to dance before your card was full, opting to wait for the ones with kind smiles and kinder words.

Just then, Lord Marcus Thornfield approached you, having already been one of the people on your dance card, and you were once again taken aback by his piercing blue eyes. He bowed elegantly and offered a boyish smile and his gloved hand. "It's lovely to see you again, Miss Beaumont, still looking completely stunning. Would you do me the honor of sharing this dance with me?"

You could feel your face getting a tad hot, overwhelmed by the flattery, but at the same time soaking it in thoroughly. You curtsied slightly and placed your gloved hand in his. "Mr. Thornfield, I would be delighted," you replied.

Then, addressing the other two women in the trio, Lord Thornfield said, "If you don't mind, I'd love to borrow Lady Beaumont for a dance."

Thrilled about your first dance at a ball, your mother and Lady Bridgerton enthusiastically assented, clasping their hands together and waving at the pair of you as you approached the dance floor. Sporting a broad smile, you allowed Marcus to escort you away.

As you glided through the dance floor with Marcus, making soft and sometimes flirtatious conversation, you found that you much preferred him before speaking to him in depth. Although he was a complete gentleman, you often found his conversation topics tedious at best and boring at worst. Of course, it was unreasonable for you to expect in-depth and completely captivating conversations like the ones you had with Benedict, but you felt like the chat with Marcus could have at least been engaging. You could not recall a single question he had asked you throughout your interaction, opting instead to talk about himself and occasionally compliment your appearance that night. Surely, there was more to life than hearing a man drone on endlessly about his own life. Toward the end of the dance, you were glad to reach your mother once again, practically begging for an excuse to slip away from Marcus.

Your next dance was better but by a slim margin. The man, Earl Ashton, was nice enough, but you didn't quite feel a connection with him as strong as you would have liked. The following two dances and three conversations that did not involve dancing were mostly the same. The most common question you received, which often was the only one you were asked in the entire interaction, was the reasoning behind your delay in coming out. You took this opportunity to talk about literature, sometimes delving into your latest read. However, save for two or three of them, most of the bachelors you spoke with were not interested in further discussing your studies. After yet another boy refused to engage in real conversation, opting to talk about his upcoming hunting trip, you saw your mother raising her eyebrows at Violet and casting an inconspicuous disapproving look toward the man you were speaking with.

A tad frustrated by your experience, but not enough to dim the glow you were feeling, you decided to take respite at the refreshment table. You were sipping on lemonade and attempting to decipher what was missing from your previous interactions. Partially, you recognized that you were to blame for having set such high standards with Benedict. You knew meeting someone and getting to know them was not the same as speaking with your best friend since childhood, but it seemed instinctual to compare the two. Most of the men you talked to were leagues better than Marcus Thornfield, though, who, you noticed amusedly, was speaking with another debutante who looked positively disinterested.

You were brought out of your musings by the familiar voices of Colin and Anthony. "Well, hello, Miss Y/N Beaumont, diamond of the season and center of the ton's attention who is looking absolutely radiant tonight, according to possibly every single person I have spoken to tonight," called Anthony, reaching your side in a few strides.

Laughing into your cup, you smiled up at the boys. "Well, if it isn't the two most eligible bachelors here tonight, according to every eager mama. How has the ball been for you?"

Colin feigned offense, putting his hand to his chest, "For us? Who cares about us? How has the night been for you?!"

As soon as you opened your mouth to respond, Lord Reginald Harrington bounded over to your group and bowed. Very courteous, Lord Harrington asked you for a dance. Still, unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately, after seeing Harrington very pointedly staring at another debutante's bosom instead of her eyes while having a conversation), you did not have any space left on your dance card. Anthony barely had time to throw out a good-natured joke about the ton's demand for you before another young man approached the trio. Quite unfortunately, Mr Geoffrey Huntington was on your dance card, so you let yourself be guided to the dance floor. As you spun and twirled with Mr Huntington, you once again yearned for something more. You did not know what, exactly. But a pleasant conversation (he asked questions about you and even made you laugh a few times!) still did not completely satisfy you.

Off to the side, Colin and Anthony were intently observing the dance between you and Geoffrey. "She doesn't quite look like that when she's talking to Ben, though, does she?" Anthony observed.

"Well, clearly not, but I do rather think she's having an alright time of it with Geoff, nevertheless. I've heard he's one of the better ones, actually showing interest in the girls." Colin responded, recounting gossip he had heard through Cass and Pen, though heavens knew where the girls had gotten that information.

Anthony looked on thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. "I suppose that's alright, then. I'm still going to make fun of her when she returns," he grinned. "As much as I love poking fun at her, though, I wonder how Ben would feel about Y/N getting this much attention. I still can't believe he missed her debut. I can't believe Mother let him!"

"Oh, I can. I really can believe it. Surely you see it, too? The way he looks at her? I've no doubt he'd be fuming in the corner right about now. Seeing his best friend talk to someone else would send him spiraling," Colin responded, sending a pointed look his brother's way.

Before Anthony could respond, you had returned to them, looking slightly winded. "Well, that was quite the dance," you laughed.

Immediately upon seeing you free to talk, or at least free from anyone that wasn't your immediate family or the Bridgertons, another young man approached you at the refreshments table, handing you a glass of lemonade. Slightly annoyed but able to keep your composure, you gracefully took the glass. "Oh, Mr. Howard, you are too kind. Unfortunately, my dance card is full for tonight, but I would love the opportunity to dance with you at a later ball if that's a possibility."

Mr. Howard, for his part, was left with his mouth agape. "Oh. Yes. Yes, of course, Miss Beaumont. Thank you very much, and I look forward to speaking to you then," he responded, swiftly turning away in search of another young woman who had space left on her dance card, or at least the desire to speak to him at all, really.

Colin and Anthony could barely contain their laughter, leaving you slightly embarrassed by how forward you had been but happy to have some time without speaking to potential future husbands, nonetheless. At that moment, you would have taken Colin and Anthony's teasing ten times over talking to another man hoping to woo you.

---

In the early morning quietude of your room, you took up your quill and parchment, eager to recount the whirlwind of the previous night for Hyacinth. Of course, you could only accept when the young girl earnestly asked for a detailed recounting of every ball you attended, so you were putting in as much detail as you could remember, including but not limited to your mind-numbing dance with Marcus, as well as Bastian's comical near-fall when trying to escape a potential dance with Lady Danbury.

A knock on your door interrupted your writing, and you saw your father and Cass poke their heads in. "Good morning, darling. You've got a congregation of callers downstairs, quite the assembly. Shall I send them away?" your father inquired with a hint of exasperation. "I'd prefer not to entertain a throng of young men with no discernible connection to the Beaumont or Bridgerton names this early in the day."

You interjected swiftly, "No, Father. Just give me a few minutes, and I'll go downstairs to meet them."

With a nod, Earl Beaumont withdrew, muttering under his breath, while Cassandra, bubbling with excitement, seized your hands. "You have callers! A whole bunch of them! Y/n, this is so wonderful! Who do you expect to see downstairs?"

A tad flustered, you were scrambling to put away your half-written account of the night and making sure you had no ink stains on your hands. "Truthfully, I was not expecting this so early on. Oh, Cass, I'm dreadfully unprepared. I really didn't think I had that good of a connection with anyone last night, let alone as many people as Father said!"

Cass rolled her eyes and responded, "Obviously you didn't think you had a good connection with anyone. But if you were to forget that Ben existed for about three seconds, would that alter your perception?"

Groaning, you replied, "Cass, I don't need this from you today. Yes, maybe I compared these gentlemen to my best friend initially, but I promise I moved beyond that. Most men, like us, have ambitious mamas keen on securing advantageous matches, which might explain their early-morning presence."

"Well, perhaps. But you are in high demand either way," your sister declared, gently ushering you out of your room and toward the grand staircase. "Y/N Beaumont, if you do not hurry up and get downstairs, I swear I will start to talk to these gentlemen myself," Cass threatened, earning a laugh from you as you made your way to confront the eager line of callers awaiting your presence.

---

Amid the afternoon light filtering through the drawing room curtains, you found yourself the center of attention. The room was adorned with fresh flowers, their sweet fragrance lingering. Seated gracefully on a chaise, your vibrant eyes sparkled with curiosity and trepidation as you faced the seemingly endless line of suitors vying for your favor. You were enjoying seeing suitors more than you had enjoyed the previous night, even though you had loved dancing at the ball. Today's tête-à-têtes seemed to unfold more leisurely, offering you the luxury of time and a touch more intimacy, save for Lady Primrose and Cass' discreet presence. You discovered a certain joy in these extended conversations, different from the hurried introductions of the ball, giving you the tiniest glimmer of hope once again.

Currently, you were listening to Mr. Archibald Roxbury recite a poem he had written that had been, in his own words, inspired by your radiance at the ball, and he couldn't resist putting his sentiments into verse. The poem was sweet and not half bad, but you had been seeing suitors for several hours and were now quite exhausted.

Your brothers had been out for most of the day, but you could hear their loud voices echoing through the halls past the open door of the drawing room, questioning the queue of suitors inside their home. You almost breathed an audible sigh of relief when Alex stepped into the room, directing his attention toward you. "Y/N, a word?"

Offering a brief apology to Mr. Roxbury, you eagerly followed Alex's lead. Leaning down, Alex spoke lowly, "Quite popular this afternoon, aren't you?"

"I guess so. It's been hours! I can't believe there are people still here. I'm so tired, Alex; I need a cup of tea or something! I can't keep doing this right now," came your exasperated response.

"Y/N, these men are here for you, not the other way around. I can make them leave whenever you would like," he responded with a hand on your shoulder, surveying the amount of people in the Beaumont home.

You followed his gaze, remembering the vast number of people you would still have to speak with if you were to talk to every single young man in your home that day. "You're right. I suppose it would be nice to have a bit of a break from it all," you said, uncertain.

Wasting no time, Alex left the room, and you returned to your previous spot, where Archibald continued his recital. You wondered when your afternoon would be over. Thankfully, you did not have to wait long. A few minutes later, all three of your brothers and your father entered the drawing room. Clearing his throat, Earl Beaumont addressed the crowd of young men in their home, "Thank you all very much for coming today, but Miss Beaumont will no longer be seeing any suitors today. You are welcome to come back another time."

Amidst the disappointed faces of your suitors, you saw Theo wink at you. You played your part, gracefully feigning disappointment, thanking the remaining suitors for their gifts, and bidding them adieu. Truthfully, you just wanted to leave the drawing room and have a few moments to yourself, but etiquette called for you to wait until all the guests had left your home.

You skipped over to your father once the last suit-clad man had exited. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I thought it would never end," you said gratefully. The earl chuckled at your theatrics but agreed, "I had been waiting the whole day to send them away. Far too many people in my house!"

Ever the comedian, Theo suggested, "Perhaps try being a tad more unpleasant next time, Y/N." Chiming in, Bastian added, "Or maybe don't put as much effort into your appearance at the next ball; that way, we won't have to deal with this again."

"Great suggestions, as ever, boys," you responded sarcastically. "Now, if I may be excused, I need to not see anyone for the next three years."

---

A candle lit your room softly as you leaned against your door, relishing the memories of the lively afternoon. Your fingers traced the edges of the letters, flowers, and tokens scattered across your dressing table—a testament to the whirlwind of introductions and pleasant conversations you had the first day after your debut.

Yet, a shadow flickered in your eyes as you settled into a more contemplative mood. A silent ache enveloped you as you remembered Benedict, whose absence cast a subtle but palpable pall over the festivities. Amid all the excitement, you found yourself yearning for the comfort of his presence, the familiar cadence of his voice, and the reassuring touch of his hand. You were lost between the allure of newfound admirers and the unspoken yearning for someone who already knew you like the back of his hand.

Confusion crept in as you internalized your feelings. Even if Ben had not gone to the countryside at the same time as you were due to make your debut, he wouldn't have been present when you saw suitors, only the night before at the ball. So why did you miss him when he wouldn't have been there logistically? Lost in contemplation, you gazed out the window, the night sky adorned with stars that had no answer to your question.

---

previous part || next part || buy me a ko-fi!

[gentlebeardsbarngrill]

03/05/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Samba Schutte BTS; Extended Battle Jacket Scene; Alex Sherman and his Butt; Rhys Darby; UK Crew Billboard Meetup; Watch Party Reminders; Fan Spotlight/Podcasts; Love Notes; Daily Darby/Tonight's Taika;

= Samba BTS Explosion =

Most of you have probably seen it by now, but Samba posted the longer version of the Battle Jacket scene that Ruibo mentioned yesterday in the WJW interview.

= Alex Sherman =

Samba also gave us some more BTS Videos, but tumblr won't let me upload more than one video at a time per post, so here they are on separate posts:

Alex Sherman BTS Part 1: Buttox Guy

Alex Sherman BTS Part 2: Buttox Guy and Arm Guy

BTS OFMD Extras

== Rhys Darby ==

Well with no context, my only thought is maybe Rhys is going to be playing Dungeons of Eternity next on his youtube channel! I guess we'll see.

== Taika Waititi Kudoboard!==

Several lovely crew-mates have been putting together a Kudosboard for our dear Taika Waititi!

Please add your kind words, well wishes, thanks, or other positive thoughts for Taika! We will share the link with him on Wednesday, March 13.

Please note that this board is moderated and inappropriate comments will be removed immediately.

https://ofmdlove.kudoboard.com/boards/Mi5DxyBL#view

== UK Crew ==

The UK Billboard has been scheduled for 11 Mar!

Tumblr / Instagram / Twitter

== Watch Party Reminders ==

= A League Of Their Own =

Tomorrow the 6th is ALOTO Episodes 4-5, and then OFMD 4-5 Time: 1-4PM EST/6-9PM GMT Where: You can watch ALOTO on Amazon Prime

Watch Party Hashtags:

OurFlagMeansBaseball, 

SaveOFMD 

SaveALOTO to join the event!

= Mar 4 - Mar 8: Wrecked Season 1 =

Don't have access? DM @iamadequate1 on Twitter or Tumblr

Season 1 watch from March 4th to March 8th. 

Season 2 watch from March 11th to March 15th. 

Season 3 watch from March 18th to March 22nd.

Times will be 10pm GMT / 5pm EST / 4pm CST / 2pm PST. Watch two episodes per day. Episodes are 21-22 minutes each. Use the following Saturday for the tags/watch if interested but not able to make this time.

Hashtags: 

#WreckedPirates

#SaveOFMD

#RhysDarbyFaction

== Fan Spotlight ==

= Never Left Podcast =

Never Left Artwork by Amy Gleason

Episode 007 Beautiful Princess Disorder (Part 1)

Our lovely crew-mates over at the Never Left Podcast are delving into BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder or Beautiful Princess Disorder) and how it relates to Edward Teach. Very interesting and kind discussion of BPD and it's coming in multiple parts. I'm so happy that we have a safe-space-ship to discuss this.

Never Left Podcast Linktr.ee

= Cast Cards =

Today's new Trading Card is Will Arnett! Thank you @melvisik for giving us more and more to collect!

== WB is removing stuff from Etsy ==

FYI to all you sellers out there on Etsy. Thanks @ofmdfanpage for this info.

== Love Notes ==

Hey Lovelies. It's that time again to take a moment for yourself, and do a quick self-care check.

First: Have you had any water lately? Anything to eat?

Whatever you're doing, take a minute to get yourself a glass of water, maybe a small snack, the rest will be there when you get back. I know it feels like you absolutely CANNOT stop what you're doing, or you won't get back to it, but I promise you, unless what you're doing is literally life-saving (like open-heart surgery) or you're in the middle of driving a bus full of people, it can wait a couple minutes.

I know you're strong enough to push through and keep going, but you deserve a break. You deserve a minute or two to yourself.

Second: Time to take a deep breath.

Remember to hold it just for a second or two and take your time breathing it out.

In through the nose, out through the mouth.

Great job :)

Today I was reminded of a short meditation poem by Thich Nhat Hanh on breathing that used to help me get through rough days and I wanted to share it with you-- with each line, breathe in and out slowly. Here's more on it if you're interested: Meditation Poem

In, Out Deep, Slow Calm, Ease Smile, Release Present Moment, Wonderful Moment

Right now, you're the wonderful, present being. You're alive, you're breathing, and you're kicking ass. It's fucking tough out there sometimes, and it's okay to struggle, just don't ever forget how incredibly unique and wonderful you are.

Infinite numbers of events, random meetings, and stars colliding led up to the imperfect, glorious you, and you're still here, shining with us (whether dim or bright tonight).

Love you crew. Whatever challenges you're facing, know we're here for you. Reach out if you need us <3

== Daily Darby / Tonight's Taika ==

Tonight's theme is THAT STASH.

Taika Src: @skux-life Rhys Srs: @fandomsmeantheworldtome

[1-imaginary-girl]

A Mischievous Love Story - Part 8

Loki x Reader, Thor x Reader (platonic)

Summary: The reader and Loki were madly in love until you found out that he died. Deciding to follow Thor on his adventures, you soon find out the truth about what happened to your boyfriend. This series is a re-telling of Thor: Ragnarök with the reader inserted into the story. Reader uses she/her pronouns.

Warnings: Descriptive violence.

Word Count: 5.2k

Prologue Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7

I've finally returned to this series and yes it was because of season 2 of Loki and yes I'm still completely wrecked over it. There isn't much interaction between Loki and the reader this part, apologies for that, but after this it will be mainly just them as I stray from the plot of the movie to focus on their romance!

She’s my wife. The words echo in your mind over and over again as you stare at Loki. You heard him say those words, you know you did, and yet there’s no way that could have happened. There’s no way that he just called you his wife. Right?

Your mouth is hanging open and you want to close it or say something but you're in shock. Loki shoots a glance your way and grimaces. There’s no way.

“Your wife?” the Grandmaster asks, equally as confused as you. For some reason, you also hear disappointment in his voice. But you don’t have time to dissect that. The Grandmaster looks at you and then down at your hand. The jig is up, you think. “I never noticed that.”

Wait what? You look down at your left hand and again appear utterly shocked. There, on your ring finger, sits a wedding ring. It’s absolutely gorgeous. A gold band with emerald leaves wrapping around it. For a moment, it all feels real. The ring is perfect and you're married to the man you love. But reality settles in all too quickly.

The ring has been conjured up by Loki’s magic. You look at his hand and see a matching band. You remember that you're not married to the man you love. You're pretending to be married to a man who broke your heart. And the pieces plummet into your stomach, sinking like stone.

You want to glare at Loki but the Grandmaster is still looking your way. If you don’t play along, he’ll probably punish Loki for trying to lie to him. So you send a smile his way and nod. You can’t get yourself to speak.

“Please, let her go. She can stay here with me. I promise she’ll fit right in,” Loki says, using his most persuasive tone of voice. The Grandmaster seems to consider it.

“Alright,” he says. You toss aside your anger for now and rejoice in the fact that you don’t have to fight anyone. Although you will not be thanking Loki for getting you out. Not like this. “If your wife prevails in her fight, she will be free to accompany you in your place among the higher-ups.”

“Wait what?” Loki says and you slump a little in defeat. But you don’t let it keep you down. All you have to do is win one fight and you're free to enjoy a luxurious vacation until you can find a way to escape this planet.

“It’s a deal,” you say, looking at the Grandmaster. He smiles as if you've just sealed your fate. But you're used to people underestimating you and you've come to enjoy it. It only makes it that much more satisfying when you win.

“Wait, can’t we just—” Loki tries to say something but the Grandmaster’s mind is set. He extends a hand towards one of your restrained hands. You shake it to the best of your abilities despite your hand being tied down.

“I look forward to seeing how this plays out,” he says with a giddy smile on his face. 

“As do I,” you say.

“Y/N—”

“See you on the battlefield,” the Grandmaster says before he hits a button on some remote and your chair is moving. You're caught off guard but determined not to show any fear. Instead, you'll focus on anger. 

"Y/N!" Loki calls after you again but the wheels have already been set in motion. There’s no going back. 

†††

Your surroundings pass by you in a blur, and you find it hard to focus on anything you pass. You allow the chair to take you where it’s programmed to go without resistance. Next thing you know, you're being hauled into a circular, white room and you land roughly on the ground, snapping you from your thoughts. You turn just in time to see the big cell door being slammed shut. You contemplate taking your anger out on the door, but you feel so drained of energy that you just let your head fall back with a sigh.

“Are you alright?” You hear a voice say, causing you to jump as you hadn’t taken note of anyone else in here. You push yourself onto your elbows and turn your head. “Over here! Big pile of rocks waving at you.”

As the voice said, you see an alien made of rocks casually sitting against the cell wall with his hand raised to wave. You've seen aliens like him, but not this species specifically. Beside him is another alien with purple skin that reminds you of an insect, with four black beady eyes and mandibles for a mouth. The creature is also in a full suit of armour with two blades where its arms should be.

“Yeah, I’m actually a thing, I’m a being,” the rock alien says. “Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Korg. I’m kind of like the leader in here. I’m made of rocks, as you can see, but don’t let that intimidate you. You don’t need to be afraid unless you’re made of scissors.” The alien, Korg, giggles to himself as he and the other alien stand up. “Just a little rock-paper-scissors joke for you. This is my very good friend over here, Miek. He’s an insect and has knives for hands.”

Miek moves his arm/blades around in what looks like a karate move, but you think it’s meant to be a gesture for hello. That was a hell of an introduction, you think to yourself. As this isn’t the strangest interaction you've had today, you slowly stand up to properly greet them.

“Hi,” you say with a little wave, which feels awkward but they seem to respond well to it. “My name is Y/N.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Y/N,” Korg says and Miek does another karate-like gesture. Your brain is pounding from your previous conversation but you figure you should be polite. Especially if you are going to be stuck in here for who knows how long with them.

“So,” you say, wondering what to ask. “What are you guys in for?”

“Well I tried to start a revolution but didn’t print enough pamphlets, so hardly anyone turned up,” Korg says. “Except for my mum and her boyfriend, who I hate. As punishment, I was forced to be in here and become a gladiator. Bit of a promotional disaster.” Then he leans in and starts to whisper. “Actually, I’m trying to organize another revolution right now. It’s a bit underdeveloped at the moment, but don’t let that deter you. Do you reckon you’d be interested in something like that?”

“No, actually I’m a bit busy at the moment.” You look past Korg and down the hall of this weird prison. If you can find an exit, maybe you can escape before the fight. From there, you can try to commandeer a ship and go back to Asgard. Simple. A quick breath, and you take off running down the circle. You're only running for a few seconds before Korg reappears in front of you.

You widen your eyes and look back before facing the alien again. “Did you—”

“Ah, yeah, no, this whole thing is a circle. But not a real circle, more like a freaky circle,” he says, and you just scrunch your face, trying to wrap your head around the whole thing. When’s the last time you've had a proper rest? You know, without being knocked out. Feels like a lifetime ago. “It doesn’t make much sense, but nothing around here makes sense. That’s the only thing that makes sense.”

You slump down against the wall as Korg talks. “So, I’m really stuck in here?” 

“I’m afraid so. But it isn’t all bad. Miek and I have made up a few games to pass the time. For example, there’s this one called—”

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t think I’m up for any games at the moment.” You sigh and let your head hit the wall. “It’s been a long day.”

Korg gives you a sympathetic look before nodding. “I get that. Feel free to have a rest, Miek and I will look over you if you’d like,” he says. Despite everything that’s happened, you smile at them.

“Thank you.” Korg gives a nod while Miek does another expression you can’t quite figure out. With that, you settle against the wall. It’s not the most comfortable, but you've slept in worse. You sigh and sleep quickly takes over.

You're not sure how long you've slept for, but you're abruptly woken up by the sounds of shouting.

“Stay away from her, you freaky ghost!” you hear Korg yell. Groggily, you pull your eyes open to see Miek in a fighting stance and Korg throwing fallen bits of himself at—

“I just need to talk to her, I’m not going to hurt her!” Loki says. He’s standing a few feet away from you. You're confused as you watch Korg’s rocks pass through him before you fully wake up and understand it’s an illusion. Part of you is hurt, another isn’t so surprised anymore. Another one of his tricks.

“Like I’m going to trust the word of a freakin’ ghost!” Korg yells back. You realize that they really did watch over you as you slept, which makes you smile. As much as you love seeing Korg try to hit Loki with rocks, the two of you need to talk.

“It’s okay guys,” you speak up, clearing your throat. They all turn to look at you and Loki looks relieved. “I know him.”

Korg looks him over and Miek doesn’t stand down until Korg gives the go ahead. “You’re safe for now ghost,” Korg says threateningly. Korg looks at you once again and when you nod your head to say that you're okay, him and Miek walk a little way down the circle to give you two privacy.

“Making new friends already?” Loki jokes, trying to lighten the mood. You don’t respond. Instead, you look down at the ring still on your finger. Loki sighs. “I understand you’re upset—” You glare at him and he sighs again. “Look I’m sorry, but it was the only thing I could think of to protect you!” 

You bristle at that. “So tell him that I’m your friend or a cousin, not your freaking wife!” you say. You don’t have the energy to yell at him right now.

“You don’t understand, the Grandmaster…he’s very particular about who he allows up there. It wouldn’t have been enough,” he says calmly. You shake your head.

“Then maybe you should have just let me compete normally,” you say, your anger growing the longer he’s here. “I could have made a deal to get out of here not prolong my stay.”

“Annabel, you haven’t seen the competitions,” he insists, stepping closer. “I have. They’re brutal, and I haven’t even seen his beloved Champion.”

“I told you, I can handle myself,” you spit out. 

“Maybe, but I can’t just stand by and watch you get hurt.” Those words cracked something in you. You snap your eyes up to meet his and from the fury in them, he knows he said the wrong thing.

“You didn’t want me to get hurt? You don’t think this hurts?!” You stand up and shove the ring in his face. “You don’t think having to pretend to be your wife after you broke my heart is going to hurt me?” He looks down in shame, pain on his face. Good. “I’d rather face his Champion right now then have to endure that kind of pain.”

“Y/N, I’m sorry—”

“You keep apologizing but nothing changes with you! You keep making selfish moves and tricking people—”

“Hey, that was not selfish.” He defends himself but you don’t want to hear it.

“You tricked me, Loki. Again,” you say with tears in your eyes. His sudden defensiveness is crushed. “You tricked me into pretending to be your wife. Do you know how messed up that is?”

“Love—”

“Do not call me that!” you yell, getting into his face. You try to poke him in his chest but your finger passes right through him. You laugh humorlessly as a tear slips down your cheek. “God, you’re using a trick right now!” He looks hurt. “You couldn’t even come to see me yourself, you had to hide behind an illusion.”

“This place isn’t easy to get into,” he argues quietly, but you shake your head.

“I can’t fight with you again right now.” You turn away, moving back to the wall. This move seems to hurt him more. You slide down back to where you were. “Just go back to whatever party I’m sure the Grandmaster is hosting.”

“Y/N, please, let’s talk about this—” he begs, coming closer but you don’t move a muscle.

“I don’t have anything else to say to you,” you say, defeated. His eyebrows draw close together and if you didn’t know better, you’d say his eyes are welling. 

“Please,” he whispers, and if he were really here, maybe you would have sought comfort from him. Maybe you would’ve kept talking. But he’s not.

“Go,” you say, keeping your eyes trained to the floor.

After a moment of hesitation, where it seemed like he wanted to reach out, but he couldn’t, he drew back. He takes a step backward. “Just…” He seems at a loss for words. “Please be careful.” When you don’t respond, his image shimmers and disappears. You put your head between youry legs and let a few more tears fall.

†††

You soon find yourself escorted into some sort of training rooms. Species of all kinds can be seen preparing for a fight. For the first time, you really start second-guessing your decision to fight. But you won’t give up, not yet.

The training area is next to the stadium and you can hear the distance sounds of cheering which makes you cringe. How could people actually watch this and enjoy it? You're running your fingers along the weapons, trying to decide which would suit you best, when you glance over at the divide in the area. On the other side of a wall of lasers is a bar of sorts. It looks rough, not the kind of bar you would want to find yourself in. But then your eyes widen.

Drinking at the counter, is the woman who got you thrown into this hellscape. Your blood boils as you try to find Korg. When you do, you point towards her and say, “Korg, that’s the woman who put me in here! Who the hell is she?”

“Ah, that’s scrapper 142,” he says, recognizing her. Interesting that she doesn’t seem to have a real name. “She’s a toughie, put the best of the best in here. Those Asgardians, man.”

Your burning gaze at the scrapper snaps back to Korg. “Wait, she’s Asgardian?” you ask. 

“Yup,” he says. This changes everything. If you can talk to her, you can tell her what’s happening at Asgard and she can help you escape. And you won’t need to be anybody’s fake wife.

You hurriedly make your way over to the laser wall. “Hey! Hey, you!” you yell at her, not the most polite way to start the conversation but she did toss me to the wolves, possibly literally. She cocks her head and notices you. She smirks.

“If it isn’t the interesting human,” she says while taking a sip from her burning beer. You flinch. “I’m excited to see what you’ve got.”

“I need to talk to you,” you say, ignoring her statement. You won’t let her rattle you up again, not when you need her help. She looks at yo, waiting. “You’re Asgardian, right?”

She doesn’t reply but rather scoffs and goes in for another swig. As she does, you see an interesting tattoo on her left arm. You squint at it, and although you don’t remember what it means, you recognize it as an Asgardian symbol. Perfect, proof. “Okay, well, I’ve just come from there,” you say, and she looks at you in confusion. “I’m best friends with the prince, Thor Odinson? God of thunder?” You don’t mention Loki for obvious reasons.

“Good for you. Tell his Majesty I say hi if you ever see him again,” she says, walking away. Your eyes widen.

“No wait! That’s not the point,” you say, following her as she walks. She sighs and waits for you to continue. “Asgard is in danger. I need your help to escape this place and return to help or else the whole realm is doomed.”

“Pass,” she says, not looking at you. Your eyes blow open.

“Wait what?”

“Y/N the human, you’re up!” you hear someone yell from across the room. You sigh. Of course that’s the name they’ve given you. 

“Good luck!” she says, as two guards come to take you. You're desperate, trying to convince her and stall your fight.

“A lot of people are going to die, and you’re just okay with that? Your own people?” you say enraged. “Then you’re a traitor to the crown and a coward.”

This catches her attention and it seems you've hit a sore spot. “First of all, my people are with Sakaar now,” she seethes. “And second, I’ve given enough to the crown. It’s no longer my problem.”

Two guards grasp you by your arms as you contemplate her words. Yo struggle against them out of frustration, but you don’t forget the chip in your neck. “Good luck,” the ex-Asgardian says as you're dragged away from her.

You're taken into a room and sat in another chair with handcuffs. “You guys sure do love locking people up,” you say to no one in particular. The workers don’t even give you a second glance. You're taken through a series of experiments in which they change your look completely. Considering you've been stuck in your regular earthly clothes for quite a while now, you welcome the change.

First, they do your hair. A really old man comes in with an intricate device that you feared would ruin your hair completely. But all he did was tie it into an intricate braid and made a crown on your head.

Next, they painted your face, and you didn’t feel like much of a fighter as they applied blush and lipstick. You couldn’t help but wonder who that is for. They paint three lines of purple down the middle of your face and you try to ask what it means but no one gives you an answer.

To finish off your debut look, they fit you into proper fighter attire. A chest plate the same colour as the lines on your place is fitted with blue, metal shoulder pads. The pants are black with blue knees pads to match the shoulders. The boots are black and so is your utility belt. The finishing touch, however, is the purple cape that they pin to your left shoulder and your waist. 

They hand you a helmet that you're to put on after your entrance. You roll your eyes at the dramatics, although you do admire the helmet. It’s gold and with a wing on each side flowing upwards. There are also two pieces that move down to protect the sides of your face.

You are given the weapons you have chosen: a strong but simple sword and a powerful and small shield. You're hoping you can rely on your powers, but if all else fails, you have two daggers strapped to your sides so you can go down swinging. But as you walk towards the arena, you can feel the water around you: the pipes in the building, the drinks from the crowd…you can even use human or alien liquid if you have to.

You're told to stand in front of the gate until it opens and then you're left alone. You can hear the crowds much clearer from where you are now and they sound bloodthirsty. You grit your teeth as you listen to the Grandmaster go on and on about the battles, celebrating the deaths of contestants before you which makes your stomach turn. But it also fuels your energy: you will not be one of those names. All you have to do is win one fight and you're free from this madness…and thrust into another sort of madness.

You’ve fought plenty of aliens before with Thor but never in an arena in front of a crowd. A part of you is excited by this opportunity, a chance to feel what it was like to be a gladiator back on Earth. You hold onto that as you hear the Grandmaster announce you.

“Tonight, we are pleased to have a new contestant,” he says and the crowd goes wild. You bounce on the balls of your feet and focus on your breathing. “I can guarantee you’ve never seen anything like her. You’re in for quite a treat.” You swallow as the gates slowly start to rise but you set your features to stone. You’ve got this. “We’ll see what you think. Without further ado, ladies and gentlemen I give you…” You walk onto the sands of the arena. “Y/N the Human!”

As you enter the arena, a wave of boos greets you. You assume they don’t like newcomers here, especially not of the human variety. And although the sound floods your senses and threatens your confidence, you set your eyes across the plain to the other gate. The crowd doesn’t matter. You need to see who you're facing.

The Grandmaster is projected on a hologram overlooking the entire stadium. That makes sense for a man with his ego. But as you scan the crowds, your eyes catch on one box in particular. It stands out from the crowd and you can’t see in it but you do see the colour yellow painting the inside. Without a doubt, you know it’s the Grandmaster’s box. And without a doubt, you know Loki’s in there. It’s like you can feel him. You wonder what he’s thinking as you stand transformed in a giant arena. You wonder if he doubts your skills, despite his words. A new type of anger sparks at that thought and you set your gaze straight ahead. This is a chance for you to show him how you've grown without him.

“Isn’t she something?” the Grandmaster laughs as the crowd continues to boo you. You let the taunts roll past you, harbouring your energy. “Alright, now it’s time to welcome back a previous competitor.” A rumble rolls through the crowd as the boos quiet down. “She’s a warrior who has made quite the name for herself.” Red puffs of smoke burst over the audience and you place the helmet over your head and secure it. “What she lacks in looks she makes up for in brute strength.”

Across the arena, the other door begin to open. “You love her, I love her…” the Grandmaster builds the tension and you tighten the grip on your sword. “Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for…Hindaa the Ruiner!” 

The doors open to reveal a tall alien woman, donned in red armour. The crowd goes wild, and you try not to let it sway you as you try to size up your opponent. It’s hard to see from where you are, but she looks to have gray skin with a dark-haired ponytail. She waves her arms for the crowd, holding a mace in one hand and a club in the other. So much for your gladiator’s battle.

You wait for her to approach you, grabbing hold of the water beneath the arena with your powers. Your eyes are laser-focused on Hindaa. The woman finishes showing off to the crowd and immediately starts racing towards you. That’s when you truly see how big and muscular she is, standing at least six and a half feet tall. 

You don’t move. You drown out the noises from the stands and wait until she hits the center of the arena. When she does, you tighten your hold on the water and summon it forth, bursting through the floors of the arena at a speed that catches Hindaa in its waves and throws her into the air. You watch as she’s tossed back to the other side and lands heavily, a cloud of dust spreading around her.

The crowd is silent as you let the water wash onto the arena floor, wetting the sands. Then all at once, an eruption of applause and cheers emerge from the crowd. But your focus isn’t to entertain them. You move across the arena as Hindaa picks herself up off the ground, staggering to her feet and dripping wet. The closer you get to her, the angrier you can see she is. You smile and then see her launching towards you.

She runs and jumps to tackle you, but you take hold of the water again and quickly freeze it, entrapping Hindaa in an iceberg. She struggles and growls as her head remains unfrozen. You walk until you stand a few feet away from her.

“Hindaa was it?” you ask. She growls again. Up close, you can see that her skin is, in fact, gray. But more than that, there are red dotted stripes covering her body. Your eyes widen as you recognize what species she is. “You’re a Kylosian.” She stops her movements to glare at you. “How did you end up here?”

“That’s none of your business,” she hisses, continuing her struggle.

“Ah, so you can speak English. Good,” you say. “Because I wanted to have a quick chat.” The audience has settled down and you can hear whispers of confusion. You internally smile at how the Grandmaster must be reacting. “I don’t want to hurt you, I’m sure you’re a lovely person.” She snarls again. You keep smiling. “Anyway, I just need to win this battle and then I’ll be out of your hair.”

She’s staring you down, and you foolishly think that she’s considering your offer. “You don’t want to hurt me?” she asks and you nod in agreement. Yes, this plan might work after all. “That’s a shame.” You catch the cracking sound too late. “Because I want to hurt you.”

Before you can react, Hindaa’s right hand bursts through the ice and with it, her mace. The weapon swings and catches you in the side, sending you flying several feet away. You swallow a scream before you hit the ground. You groan. Begrudgingly, you look down at your side to see three large scratches ripping through your uniform. You take a deep breath and then fire yourself up, ignoring the pain.

"Have it your way then," you say as you pick yourself off the ground. Just as you're on your feet, Hindaa is crashing down on you with her club but this time you react quicker. You bring up your shield and the club smashes down onto it. You wince at your arm, but then you swing your sword up and catch her in the hand, causing her to drop her club. You quickly summon the water from the ice and trap the club in a bubble, casting it far, far away from the arena. Hindaa looks down and glares back up at you. “That wasn’t very nice.”

“I wasn’t trying to be nice,” she growls and you look at her in confusion as your sarcasm misses her completely. Her mace quickly comes swinging at you and you defend yourself with the shield again, but the force of her swing causes you to stumble back. Caught off guard, the mace comes back around, this time aiming at your legs. It swipes across your skin and you hiss as your knees buckle and you're on the ground again. 

Hindaa continues her attack, kicking her leg up and catching you in the chin, throwing your head to the ground. You groan as your head swirls in pain. You can feel your nose pulsing in pain and feel blood begin to drip down. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. Your spirit is wavering, and that’s when you feel something on your hand. You look down to see Loki’s ring pulsing. It’s never done that before. You risk a glance over at the Grandmaster’s box, but you still can’t see him. But he’s still here with you. Conflicting emotions rise within you, but it gives you the strength you need to get back up. 

When you're on your feet, Hindaa swings at you but the mace is too slow this time, as you tuck and roll over to her side. You catch her side with your sword and she cries out. Her mace comes back but your shield is there, and with your other hand you swipe at her legs. She cries out again. Before her mace can take another swing, you jump and slice your sword along her hand, causing her to drop the mace. You did the same trick as you did with the club. 

With no weapons, she charges at you. You use your shield but she still tackles you. She crushes your body under hers and rips the shield away from you, wrenching your arm to the side causing you to cry out. With fury, you slice your sword across her back, and when she bends in pain, you slip out from under her. 

You're both dripping blood and your bodies are swaying, but you're determined. You toss your sword away, your power brimming to the surface. Before she can stand again, you take a few steps back before running and jumping towards her. As you're midair, you summon the water to freeze over your fist. You fall and crash your frozen fist down onto her head. You land on your feet, just barely. You're panting, but when you look back, Hindaa is unconscious. You take a few moments to catch your breath, and as you do that, the sounds of the crowd rush back in and you hear a loud, thundering cheer. 

Holding onto your side, every inch of you either sore or bleeding, you look to the stands to see the crowd cheering for you. You're not sure if the adrenaline caused it or if you were delirious, but in that moment, you smiled. You raise one of your hands in triumph and the cheers get louder somehow. You laugh, not sure what it is exactly that you're laughing at.

Suddenly, the Grandmaster’s hologram reappears. “What a show! What a show!” he says, laughing and clapping his hands together. The efforts of the battle begin to weigh on you and you just need to keep standing. “Everyone give it up for our new champion, Y/N the Human!”

You noticed your name didn’t change. “I told you she’d be something to see!”

You look back at the door you came from to see it lifting and you start to walk that way, not much caring for what the Grandmaster has to say. You notice a few workers bring a hovering stretcher for Hindaa. One of them must have noticed your limping, because they come to your side and help take some of the weight off of your leg. You're not sure if you thanked them. All you were looking forward to was a nice, long nap.

You momentarily forgot whose bed it is you'll be sleeping on.

* * * * *

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[phantom-of-the-501st]

And we're back!

Initial thoughts on TBB S3 Eps 1-3

SPOILERS BELOW THE CUT

3x1 Confined

Final season premiere let's go!!!

Storms are never a good sign

There's creepy shit on Tantiss (crocodile thing from the trailer maybe?)

Although Hemlock counts as creepy enough

He's the creepiest thing on the whole planet 😬

Tbf there's a stunning view, it's just a shame about the prison window blocking it

CROSS IS BACK!!!

Omega blood sample? That's gotta come back later in the season!

Are these blood samples labelled? How tf does anyone know which is which??? That's just bad lab practice 🙄

Oh the weird machine knows. Nvm

"Replicate the genetic M count" and they want Omega's blood???

Nala Se is protecting Megs. Slenderbitch may actually be of some use

Force senstive Megs?

This feels like this is linking with the cloning plot in The Mandalorian

The animal welfare standards here are abysmal 😠

BATCHER?! Oh that's adorable 😍

And I thought Omegas's room was bad holy shit 😭

The grid across Cross' room is casting a crosshair on Omega's face. I love little details like that

21 tallies on wall = 21 rotations? That doesn't seem like very long

STRAW LULA?! 😭❤️

Why are there blood drips going into each sample? This seems like a contamination issue

At least 150 tallies now 😭

Subject will be terminated if they don't heal. Feels very much like the clones when they were on Kamino, which just shows how much the clones were treated like animals

"I belong here" *sobs*

Cross don't make me cry istg. I can't do this at 8am on a Wednesday 😭

Okay but the droid kind of had a point about Batcher struggling in the wild because of Omega domesticating her. One thing you learn about working in a zoo environment is that hand-reared animals have no idea how to behave like their wild counterparts and basically turn into little psychos (like you can't actually be in the same room as some of them levels of bad). That or they rely on people too much and have no idea how to fend for themselves. Either way, the droid wasn't entirely wrong

Hemlock is a bastard 😒

Omega's theme!!!

Season premiere and only two Batcher (neither of whom are Hunt or Wreck). Interesting!

1x2 Paths Unknown

Fucking Roland Durand?!

Did not expect that in episode 2 omg!

Hunter and Wrecker being mercenaries for the Durands?

Ah okay it seems to be a one off

THE GOGGLES IN THE SHIP! 😭😭😭😭

Hunt and Wreck be looking a bit scuffed

Echo and Rex mention!

They won't be available for 2 rotations? Well we're not seeing them this episode then...

Hunter's emotions are making him impulsive and that's not really a good thing

Wrecker is actually the one holding back, which is an interesting dynamic. Wrecker can see how bad Hunter is coping and is probably having to keep him in line as much as he can so that they don't lose another brother

CLONE CADETS! CLONE CADETS!

These ones actually have New Zealand accents as well

The slither vines were genetically made and got out of hand? This is what we mean by invasive species, people. Very much not good

Okay so we have one called Box and one called Stak

Are the cadets not affected by the chips? Do they only active in fully trained soldiers?

We need to get these kids to Echo and Rex

GONKY BACKPACK!!! 😆

Poor Gonky is stuck upside down.

These vines are making vocalisations somehow and it's confusing me. Plant voice boxes?

OKAY WTF ARE THOSE THINGS???

They look like weird green versions of the slogs from Abe's Oddysee

Why are you breaking into the Marauder???

You better not be stealing it. That's already happened and we can't do it again

Okay clone cadet 3 is Deke

Ayyyy rescue time!

Okay, I'll let them off for getting on the ship

Because we totally needed a swampy sarlacc thing rn 😭

PABU!!!

*Remembers invasion of Pabu in trailer* FUCK

1x3 Shadows of Tantiss

I'm going to throw hands if Echo isn't in this episode 😤

Ooh mystery clone(?) who everyone thinks is Tech!

Nala Se is helping again 👀

The special guest is probs Palpatine

Le Palps is back

Project Necromancer - bringing back the dead?

So is this to do with the cloning stuff or something to do with Tech?

Probs the cloning thing tbf

*Angry mouse droid squeaks*

FUCK YEAH CROSS!

Missed watching this guy fight

Cross and Omega team up let's go!!!

Cross doesn't question why Omega only mentioned Wrecker and Hunter. Has Omega told him about Tech or did he just not question why she only brought two up?

And in that case has she told him that Echo is with Rex?

I HAVE QUESTIONS!

Cross went for the stun not the kill. Very different from 2x3

Do you think Hemlock has a scar or does he just choose to shave a slit in his eyebrow? 🤨

Oh great a big green monkey cat. Just what we need!

"Of course he did". CROSSHAIR BEING SOFT ABOUT TECH HELP

Cross is missing shots because of his shaky hands :(

OMEGA M COUNT???

Oooooooh they're adding blood with midichlorians in to the samples to see if they would take. That explains the blood being added to the samples

Overall I love these episodes! It's nice going back and forth between Cross and Omega, and Hunter and Wrecker. We're going to get some interesting dynamics

This is a very sad day for Echo stans though. I feel like we're going to be suffering a lot this season 🥲

And here's the bingo card as of rn!

[fabuloustrash05]

Some of My TMNT Hot Takes (PART 2) 🔥

Warning: More Opinions

Part 1 Here

I don’t like that in Mutant Mayhem Donnie is not a “science guy” but instead is more of an anime and pop culture geek. I’m not against him being an anime fan (I love anime too) but I wish we saw more of his science and being a tech genius side instead of him just liking stereotypical “nerdy stuff”. If that makes sense.

I don’t like the Punk Frogs (any version).

The 87 crossover episodes in the 2012 series (as much as I did enjoy them & are great episodes) should not have happened. They leave no real impact or development to 2012’s overarching story and just waste time. These episodes could’ve covered more important things that 202 was desperately lacking like like character exploration and character dynamic development. It was just nostalgic fanservice. The arc in S5 specifically would’ve work better as a movie instead of a 3-4 episode arc in the (most likely non canon) final season.

Shinigami being Mikey’s second love interests ruins her character a bit (for me personally). That was a pointless decision that did NOT need to happen. She would’ve been our first recurring female character to not be a love interest, but nope!

People are allowed to like/ship Donnie x April in ROTTMNT (this is coming from someone who’s not crazy about April being shipped with the Turtles).

I ship Yuichi with 2012 Leo more than Rise Leo (still ship Rise Leoichi, but I just think 2012 Leoichi is way more interesting, plus 2012 Leo deserves a good love interest).

The humans in Mutant Mayhem look ugly af (I know that was probably an intentional design choice but still. It looks bad.)

I hate Raph x Casey (any ver). I’ve stated in part one that I don’t like Raph (any version) being in a romantic relationship with human characters and yes, that meant him with Casey. Not only that but Raph and Casey being a couple ruins their whole dynamic and iconic friendship I love so much. I’m all for friends to lovers but they are a line that should not be crossed. Not every friendship needs to turn romantic.

2012 Karai’s hair looks bad.

Fans often over exaggerate Rise Donnie’s character and badly mischaracterize him in fanfics and fan comics to the point it makes him feel like he’s an entirely different character.

Shinigami should have been revealed to be a villain.

Rise Donnie was just as mean to his brother as fans claim 2012 Raph was to his. Yes, they both do love their families and I’m NOT saying either of them are abus!ce (they’re not), but fans praising Rise Donnie for doing similar things fans criticize/hate 2012 Raph for doing just makes them hypocrites.

Venus does NOT need to be in every iteration of TMNT. It gets kind of annoying when fans keep on saying that she should be in all the other iterations when in truth her presence would not make sense based on the already established canon story. The only (recent) version of TMNT where I think her being included would’ve fit the best and deserved to make her comeback in is ROTTMNT.

The side plot of 2012 Karai being mutated and later getting brainwashed by Shredder was a waste of time and the most boring arc in the series.

2012 April, Donnie and Casey being in a poly relationship does not fix anything with their problematic dynamic and massive flaws with one another. I'm not saying you can't ship all three of them together, you do you! Idc But in reality their relationship would be a train wreck, that's why I personally don't ship 2012 Capriltello.

Renet is probably one of the most powerful allies the Turtles have in the 2012 series.

Rise Donnie would NOT hate 2012 April. He’d go crazy over her psychic powers and want to study them to help her explore them more.

From what I've seen so far, Leo x Usagi seems like the only GOOD ship in the 2003 series (this hot take might change tho).

Raph had the best character arc and development in the 2012 series and changed the most out of the four brothers. Next would be Leo. With Mikey and Donnie have little development (or none at all sadly).

[canonicallyobserving911]

Buck & Eddie: Buddie Endgame!

Before 7x5 aired, I decided to take a break from 911blr and Buddieblr since the BTS pics and the "supposed leaks" for 7x5 showed they were about to do another wash, rinse and repeat with both Buck and Eddie. Their storylines have been seen before and at this point, they've become predictable. Anyway, I'm glad I took several days off because I figured most of the people who watched it would see Buck on a date with T*mmy and it would prompt them to start "Jumping ship" (Eddie’s words from 7x4) even though the whole situation was rushed and there's no substance there. If people did jump ship, they have every right to do so but just in case they're new here and they haven't watched all of Buck's train wreck relationships starting in season 1, the facts are Buck is making the same mistakes he's made in the past even though in 6x1, he said he didn't want to do that anymore.

Here's the thing... I'm not trying to convince anyone about who they should and shouldn't ship because everyone has their own preferences. However, I do think it's interesting how some are choosing to forget or just don't want to acknowledge/admit the fact that T*mmy did the same thing to Buck that both Taylor and Natalia did but it didn't take him multiple episodes to do it either.

Here are the cycles...

WASH: He showed up to the loft UNANNOUNCED.

RINSE: He kissed him.

REPEAT: And then he left him standing there dazed just like they did.

BONUS SPIN CYCLE: He told Buck to "Take care of yourself" (he just said it before he showed up unannounced and he said it while they were at Air Rescue when he was trying to date Eddie 👀).

Therefore, it appears the only difference between T*mmy and Taylor and Natalia is, T*mmy's a man which seems to be the only reason why some are willing to look past his bad character traits (discussed here) based solely on that fact. He's just like Buck's previous relationships where it starts off with Buck being kissed like he's in some kind of fairy tale or some BS and then it follows the same pattern as before (as indicated above).

I'm not going to go into the Buck and T*mmy of it all or lack thereof any further because this post is about Buddie and only Buddie!

I've witnessed the REAL LOVE Buck and Eddie share and it's the reason why I have and always will ONLY ship them with each other. They've built a family together and the fact is they know each other inside and out. They don't have to pretend and they know how to take care of the other one. They agreed to have each other's backs years ago and they've continued to do it. Chris views Buck as his second dad and he was doing it way before Eddie updated his will and named Buck to be Chris' legal guardian. Chris called Buck when Eddie was having a mental breakdown and it's obvious he could have called 9-1-1 but he didn't. Reminder, Buck and Eddie are both first responders so he could have called emergency services but he called his other dad, the man who told him months before Eddie was shot that he's not going anywhere 👀.

Buck has cried, screamed and clawed at the ground while trying to dig through 50 feet of wet earth to get to Eddie. He's also crawled underneath a ladder truck (one of the things that tried to take his leg) to save Eddie after Eddie was shot by a sniper in front of him. Eddie’s blood splattered all over Buck’s face and he was in a CATATONIC state of shock until Capitan Mehta tackled him to the ground.

Eddie was the one bleeding out but he was conscious enough to ask Buck "Are you hurt?" before he went unconscious for the last time from the pain of being shot with a large caliber bullet. Eddie climbed up a 70 foot ladder while it was extended in the air without being harnessed in to get to Buck after he was STRUCK BY THE SAME BOLT OF LIGHTNING AND WAS CATAPULTED OFF THE BASE OF THE LADDER to get to him. He was the one who restarted Buck’s heart after Chimney had been doing chest compressions on him for 3 minutes. Trust, that last 17 seconds was ALL EDDIE DIAZ! Eddie took Buck to play poker to help him keep his mind off the fact that he died so he could relax and have a good time.

THAT'S LOVE!

Buck’s own definition of love describes EDDIE DIAZ and only Eddie Diaz! Therefore, it's ridiculous that people are literally trying to dismiss Eddie’s love for Buck just because some dude with a sorted past (with Buck’s found family. Hello Taylor Kelly anyone?) put his lips on Buck and kissed him the same way all the women Buck’s been with did.

Buck and Eddie are IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER and they're each other's ENDGAME!

The point of this post is people can ship whoever they want but I HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL SHIP BUDDIE because they share a once in a lifetime, love of their lives, soulmate type of love that transcends space and time.

I'LL NEVER SETTLE FOR A KNOCKOFF VERSION OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP. WHY? BECAUSE FOR ME ANY ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS they've had or will have with others resembles a cheap piece of costume jewelry that looks ok from far away until you get up close and realize it's a cheap imitation of the real thing.

Why would I settle for Buck to end up with a KNOCKOFF version of Eddie?

I won't!

And why would I settle for Eddie to end up with some babysitter who's more in love with her brother when Buck’s already been shown to be another one of Chris' parents?

I won't!

Buck and Eddie DESERVE THE REAL EPIC LOVE STORY that 9-1-1 has been showing and telling the audience about them for the last 6 years and no other love interests have or ever will compare to what they mean to each other.

Ship whoever you want but I only ship BUDDIE and I always will.

[math-is-math]

Heather is THE aleheather song (or at least one of lol) and here's why

♬ - "Heather" by Conan Gray; def listen to it if you haven't

Okay let's get the obvious out of the way:

1. The song's name is Heather!! And her name is literally Heather!!!

2. Heather day is known as December 3rd; the lyric, "I still remember the 3rd of December". The episode they became a canon couple in, "The Final Wreck-ening," was literally aired December 3, 2013 in the U.S.

Now this is the part I'm excited to delve into:

3. In the song, Heather is the "it girl." She's the person the narrator wants to be, in order to get the same type of affection from their love interest (as they're in love with Heather).

Now, we're all expecting miss Heather over here to be the "Heather" of the story. She's hot shit, she presents herself as hot shit, there are many guys who are visibly attracted to her (including Alejandro). However, I present you this.

In its full irony, Heather doesn't believe she's the "Heather" of her story.

Everyone fell weak in the knees for Alejandro, even Heather herself. They couldn't stop themselves from falling for his charm; they all wanted to be his "Heather". Throughout the season, he was seen leading on some of the girls. His thing with Bridgette and Leshawna didn't really faze Heather though.

However, she was seen doubting things when Alejandro moved onto Courtney.

In her confessional, after denying anything could possibly happen between them, a look of worry is seen on her face. Throughout those few episodes, she's pretty wary of their relationship, although she covers it up and further focuses on winning the challenges instead. But Alejandro's seen giving Courtney cookies, flirting with her, helping her with her emu and the wedding challenge, etc.

Courtney is starting to become the "Heather" of their story. And frankly, who wouldn't be worried? Because in Heather's eyes, Courtney's a way better person than she could ever be - they all are! Heather is cold and calloused and cruel. The rest of them are humane, they actually have the ability to be kind and show emotion. What would someone as warm and charming as him want to do with her?

Their confrontation/confession in "Sweden Sour" I feel is kind of the peak for this song association, especially his final line:

"Believe me, Heather, the only woman I want to look at is you."

You have this charming young man - who's swooned all the ladies and led them on then broke their hearts and took them to their downfall - confess his devotion to someone the world and their mother hates.

Heather, as someone who:

can't allow herself to trust

can't allow herself to love and become vulnerable

doesn't think she as a person is lovable

cannot believe his confession.

All she's wanted is him, this confession is practically a dream come true. Here he is giving her the title of "Heather" in their story.

But she doesn't know if he's telling the truth. If she allows herself to fall into that trap, she could simply become another pawn on his board. He could twist things and lead Heather to her downfall as well. She could become the narrator once more, just like everyone else, wishing he'd reconsider them as a "Heather" for his story.

Alejandro couldn't possibly mean it, she can't fathom being the "Heather" of their story. She can't fully trust his word. Yes, she doesn't know who his potential "Heather" could be (Courtney lol or maybe someone else he meets after the show is done) but she can't believe it could genuinely be her.

Also in All Stars, in her confessional when she's like:

"It's almost as if he's lost interest in me. No one has ever lost interest in me!"

I feel like that last bit was just her trying to cover up her genuine fear and instead coat it with an ego-boosted comment, to show she really doesn't care, it's his loss after all!

But she's afraid of losing the title of "Heather" in their story once more. It's not like there's any potential competition for her to lose the title to, but there's still a chance of losing it in general.

However, Alejandro always comes through, showing Heather that she truly is her namesake in their story. Taking the dive after she gets beat up, digging her out of the hole, beating the crap out of José for insulting her, literally confessing his feelings to her instead of chucking his doll in to win the million because clearly that was priority.

She'll always be his "Heather". Nothing could change that. <3

[nephilimeq]

Hey, I was just wondering what age you thought Derek was in season one? Cause it’s a heavily debated and unknown piece of information. Me personally I always thought he was 19 in the pilot, and this was before I had read anything about the writers wanting him to be that age in the pilot. It was just the way he acted, to me, it doesn’t seem like a mid-20s man. Also stiles says the fire happened “ like ten years ago” but then a few episodes later Peter says he’s been in a coma for 6 years. So I was just curious what you thought. Also stiles saying that is always made out to be taken as it literally happened exactly ten years ago, and people always bring it up but they never talk about how long Peter said it had been.

Sorry if this is long I just enjoy your blog and your thoughts. I wanted to share mine while also hearing it from your perspective. Hope you have a wonderful day, you deserve it!

This is a very tricky subject to handle, because the writers made mistakes in their own timeline so they switched things around.

But in the very first episode Stiles says that Derek is only a few years older than them. I always figured that Derek was around 19 in Season 1, while Stiles was 16.

The reason why they messed everything up so horribly is because they hadn't actually created a timeline for all the events when they started writing, and to me, it made the show feel like a fan fiction writer who was just making it up as they went and then all the reviewers were saying, "Hey, you have a few continuity errors," and instead of trying to make it work, they just made something up and didn't really try to go back and adjust anything.

There's a scene that happens when Stiles is asking Peter and Cora about Derek's past (Season 3, Episode 8 "Visionary"), and he is trying to find out how old they are, and this train wreck section of dialogue occurs:

Stiles: Okay, if Derek was a sophomore back then, how old was he? How old were you? ...How old are you now? Peter: Not as young as we could have been, but not as old as you might think. Stiles: Okay, that was frustratingly vague. How old are you? Cora: I'm seventeen. Stiles: See, that's an answer. That's how we answer people. Cora: Well, seventeen how you'd measure in years. Stiles: Alright, I'm just gonna drop it.

This dialogue made me so pissy when I heard it the first time because I knew that this was the writers' response to the viewers and fans. The fans are Stiles in this conversation, and the writers are Peter and Cora being purposely "frustratingly vague" in the hopes that we'll just "drop it", which a lot of us did because they wouldn't give us any straight answers.

They messed up and they know it.

In my head canon -- because it makes the most sense to me -- Derek is three years older than them. Canonically, Derek is actually only ten days older than me, as seen in this enhanced screencap right here (from Season 1, Episode 11, where Kate has him kidnapped and held up in chains):

So according to this he would have been around 22, about to turn 23 in the first season...but here's something to take into consideration. This driver's license isn't for California -- it's for New York. I have a theory that he got a professional fake I.D. so that he could do more jobs (such as bartending) while he was out of state.

Now, when Stiles mentions the fire was "like, ten years ago," I genuinely think that he was just generalizing. Derek was sixteen when Kate took advantage of him raped him, which means that the fire happened when Stiles was around twelve/thirteen (as he has a canonically April 8th birthday, so it all depends on the months).

Regarding anything Peter might have said...please remember that it has been firmly established in the show that Peter is an unreliable narrator. Stiles openly admits that to Cora in the previously mentioned Season 3, Episode 8, "Visionary".

A lot of these issues are because of the lack of consistency from the writers.

I think the biggest problem was when they cast a younger Peter and totally threw the timelines off, trying to make him only a few years older than Derek -- which he wasn't. Peter is Derek's uncle, for crying out loud! The man would have been in his late twenties, early thirties when Derek was a teen, barely looking any different than he does in the show...and yet the writers and producers thought that making him look almost like a teenager was the right call.

I do think it was a last ditch attempt to try and make Derek waaay older than Stiles because they didn't like the shipping -- but they had already established too much of their timeline at that point and simply messed up and didn't have the guts to admit it.

Simply put, I genuinely think Derek was nineteen and turned twenty during season one.

Hope that answers your questions, anon!

[saltygilmores]

Thoughts While Watching Gilmore Girls, Season 3, Episode 8, Part 4: "Let The Games Begin", the part where Lorelai says that if Jess was trapped inside her burning house she would save her shoes first

Lorelai Gilmore, you are no Jack Pearson. I won't complete that thought, even though I'm feeling nice and mean and I totally should.

Scene: Lorelai and Rory are discussing the upcoming road trip to New Haven with the Gilmore Grands. Rory forgot to pack. Lorelai goes into panic mode. Rory questions why she needs to pack her entire closet for a short road trip. Lorelai recounts a family vacation story from her childhood that would be best unpacked in a lengthy therapy session, frets that her mother will lecture them for under-packing, starts rummaging through Rory's dresser. Rory catches Lorelai making a double entendre about a meaty taco and declares it was dirty. The show makes another dig at New Haven after Lorelai brings home a pamphlet about Exciting Things to Do In New Haven but it's only a few pages long.

You sound surprised, as if ya'll aren't wearing heavy coats and long sleeves in the spring and summer. I swear there's something in the drinking water affecting everyone's thyroids in this town, they can't regulate their body temperatures.

Could anyone tell I'm stalling here? Classic Salty.

Rory: Mom, stop rummaging through my shit. Awwwe. Even Evil Villains like Lorelai Gilmore get the blues. I'm surprised she decided to go on this road trip to Yale instead of sending Rory off alone with the Grands, that way she'd have the house and Dean Forrester to herself the entire day. Since Dean's sexual stamina only extends to 1-2 minutes, they could have had sex hundreds of times in a day.

Two quips that sprang to mind (couldn't decided which one was better): The only words Lorelai is thinking about right now are "Dean" and "Shower". Lorelai thinks Jess removed Rory's bracelet while they're in the shower together? Jess could only hope.

Excuse me for a moment... *deep inhale*

I went into the Tumblr gifs library and looked up "peaceful". Here is a nice, presumably not-evil, Peaceful Bunny.

So not only does Jess commit attempted vehicular homicide, and steal Quarters on a String, he steals said QOAS by forcibly ripping them directly off the wrists of poor unsuspsecting delicate young ladies.

Nice try. You think you're so slick, but you're not, Slick Gilly.

You all don't understand the effort it takes for me to break down a scene like this without taking the cowards way out and simply rage quitting (which I have done before). I have to come up with multiple lines of witty, cutting commentary about what is unfolding before me, when all I want to do is KEYBORD SMASH. SO, YOU KNOW WHAT I WILL!! ITS A FREE COUNTRY ISNT IT! BALD EAGLE BASEBALL APPLE PIE! (Deep inhale) sagfshafgahfgasvxzcywtryqwuhajlkansjbkfagsfyafvabsfvsdgr2347527q2y4q#&$T%#^%^#*U@(%)&@tGSHFBSHFSVAGFSFS FUCKYOULORELAIGILMORE#^&#^%&#^WGHFSHGAS@$%@^@

Thank for reminding the audience the reason why Lorelai thinks Jess should, ya know, die painfully and slowly. He was mouthy once. (the Netflix captions borked the line; Rory also said "and wrecked my car", but as if that makes Lorelai's treatment of Future Nephew any more justifable).

I am told that in a later season, Lorelai bemoans the fact that unlike Dean, Jess never offered to change her water bottle for her. NOW WHY WOULD HE DO THAT? YOU'RE ABOUT TO WISH HIM A FIREY DEATH. AND WHEN HE WAS (FORCIBLY) APPOINTED TO CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS YOU DIDN'T WANT HIS HELP..

Lorelai practically moans this, lol. We know "Change the water bottle" can mean two very different things. You ain't so slick, Slick Gilly.

Welcome to Gaslighting and Emotional Manipulation Theater! See, here's the thing Slick Gilly, I watched an entire frigging episode about you accusing Jess of being a thief, it was called Lost and Found and it took me four frigging centuries to finish, I'm quite sure I have concrete evidence that you have accused him of stealing things. I am Jess Mariano's defense attorney and I will see you in court. Bring Rory too, she should also start getting used to what a court room looks like.

Rory, honey. Sweetie. Sugar bear. It's best you don't wish for a crystal ball. Just strap in to the rollercoaster that is dating Jess Mariano while living with your mother, and pray.

See, here's the thing Slick Gilly, I watched an entire frigging episode about you not letting Jess enter your house, it was called Swan Song and it will take me four frigging centuries to rewatch it.

This "Jess talks in grunts" shtick is getting old and moldy.

So not only does Jess commit attempted vehicular homicide, steal Quarters on a String, and steal said QOAS by forcibly ripipng them directly off the wrists of poor unsuspsecting delicate young ladies, but he's also an arsonist, and not only is he an arsonist, he's such a bad one that he'll apparently be killed by his handiwork? (he also can't be trusted to clean gutters). He was probably trying to off himself instead of live in Stars Hollow for another minute. Can we recall another time Rory tried to play this same grim hypothetical with her mom? Does Rory, like Jess, also have some kind of firey death wish? I mean, who can blame either of them. *twinkly flashback music to early season 2*

I notice Pigtails didn't say "my daughter" this time, either. Sorry Rory. Maybe try playing a third time until she answers with "Some form of human life." Lorelai lies to Rory's face that she "promised you before and am promising you again that I will cut "this kid" some slack." Alright, I ran through my 30 screen shots, let's stuff this scene in a sack and throw it into the lake with Shane and her swan family.

Rory: "You're just waiting for the day I break up with Jess." Lorelai The Villain: "Did I like Dean? Yes. Did I worry less when you were with dean? Yes! I never expected you to be with Dean forever. I don't expect you to be with Jess forever." What a pile of rancid baloney. Maybe he won't be with Rory forever, but 13 years later Jess becomes her nephew and will be a part of her family forever and I will never, ever, ever stop loving that. What JUSTICE.

When I hit my lowest of low valleys listening to this wretched woman spew her many lies and Gilly-Nonsense, It's often the only thing that makes me smile.

[chiyuki-hiro]

Thoughts on the First Four Episodes of Hazbin

I only just got to watch the first four episodes & gotta say, my favorite episode is episode 4 so far. Aside from the pilot, it's the best in terms of writing & songs in my opinion. Even though I liked You're A Loser Baby, I'm not the biggest Husk X Angel shipper, (though I'm not against the ship) I think I perfer Poison. I don't have many complaints about the show so far, just nit picks. I think my biggest issue (besides some of the writing of the first 3 episodes) is the pacing. I do remember that the pilot was fast paced but....I think these episodes feel more so?

I'm just worried that the pacing might wreck things as the series continues, since we've only got 10 episodes this season. Hopefully, the fact that I saw improvement with episode 4, is that it's a sign that the show has found it's footing & it'll be smoothe sailing from here. I don't really know what else to say about the show so far, I'm trying to keep my hopes up & not let the internet ruin this show for me. Mostly, I'm just tryig to vibe & enjoy seeing my favorite character (Alastor) again. Which, I'm also interested in finding about more on what exaclty is up with him. He's got so many layers & I think we're just barley scratching the surface on what his deal is.

[butterflydm]

wot rewatch 1x8: the eye of the world

I made it before the new season started! <3

spoilers for the first season of WoT and for most of the s2 teasers that we've gotten. For the books... um... honestly mostly stuff from Eye of the World that didn't end up in the show, lol. Oh, and for New Spring, I guess.

@apocalypticavolition mentioned that Perrin's original plot was probably helping Lan track Moiraine - that makes a lot of sense! It would have given Perrin a chance to flex his heightened senses and it might have even given Lan a chance to name-drop Elyas.

Okay, wow, yay! Our Completely Old Tongue scene from Age of Legends. When this first opened and they were just... talking in the Old Tongue... I was so blown away. I was not expecting it. I think they've hinted that we might get more Old Tongue scenes in s2 as well, which would be fantastic.

I'm glad that I read The Strike on Shayol Ghul short story -- they really did pull a lot of the info from that story for this scene, so that was very cool to see.

There is definitely a lot more focus on "Dragon as father" here than in the books (and I wonder if the tragedy of him murdering his family is going to focus more on killing his kids and not solely about killing his wife, once we get into that)

And the reveal at the end that '3000 years ago' was actually futuristic and we're living in a post-apocalyptic landscape, which is a great reframing for anyone who didn't already know.

Love all our Moiraine & Rand ~bonding time~ here (for various values of bonding time, lol). Definitely curious about where that relationship is going to go over the course of s2.

Egwene and Perrin checking in with each other is a sweet moment. Yeah, things Got Weird last episode due to stress and Nynaeve accidentally telling a secret that wasn't hers, but it hasn't wrecked their friendship.

And if Perrin is the one helping Lan here (supernaturally), then Lan and Nynaeve's scene would have just been the romantic goodbye.

Ishamael notes here that he didn't think that Rand was the Dragon Reborn. It sounds like he was expecting Rand to look more like LTT did. I really do love him calling Rand "Lews Therin", poor Rand. The identity issues are only going to get worse, bb. Love that Rand starts their conversation with an arrow to the face.

"Ever since the day I channeled, I hear nothing [from the wind]" is our first allusion to Nynaeve's block, I believe.

Moiraine tapdancing around the truth as hard as possible so that she doesn't have to admit that she physically can't teach Rand channeling. She's even willing to share one of her traumas with Rand in order to avoid admitting it! Also, I do think that Elaida's willingness to turn to violence is going to stand out a lot more in a world where teaching isn't always accompanied by brutality, as it is in the books.

haha, I totally forgot about this scene with Min and the others. Maybe because it doesn't really tell us anything we aren't going to learn immediately even without her (a nod to how pointless Min's viewings mostly are in the books? lol) but it does prompt Min to get out of the city on the wagons, I'm guessing.

Apologies to all the people who worked hard on the battle scenes but I don't ever have much to say about things like that.

Rand already getting memories (and Moiraine seeing him remember) plus Rand trying to protect people from getting hurt because they're standing next to him. (and Rand trying to give an order that Moiraine immediately ignores lol)

yeah if Lan had a companion (like Perrin) then his scenes here would have actually had some dialogue - they may have even given Rand the line about Malkier because they wanted to get the info out but it was originally supposed to come out in dialogue between Lan and Perrin.

Aww, family moment between the Agelmars. It's sweet. I honestly barely remember the Agelmars from the books, so this was an improvement. "Buy enough time to stand a chance" is going to be a big theme, too.

We also kinda get confirmation here that Darkfriends have been more effective in the show-verse than they were in the books-verse (it seems like more knowledge has been destroyed).

18. So, given what we've seen in the teasers of Ishy getting Lanfear from a seal, it seems like this specific spot is where LTT sealed Ishamael in particular (half-sealed?) and he released Ishamael fully when he cracked the seal. Before this, we only see Ishy working in people's dreams and then, in s2, he gets to actually exist in the waking world.

19. While I do see the effects of the covid shutdown and new rules in the battle scenes (and am looking forward to seeing them pop off without those setbacks in s2!); the scenes with Rand in the dream and Rand against Ishamael are perfect and I will hear no arguments against them. Rand is, ultimately, a philosophical hero and not a battle hero. He gets that wrong a lot in the books! But things tend to backfire on him when he tries to force himself into the battle hero position.

20. And we have ~the temptation~ here, with Egwene and little Joiya (and the mention of Mat, which was fascinating at the time and remains utterly fascinating; that fake!Egwene makes a point of mentioning Mat in Rand's temptation dreamworld).

21. The imagery for what Ishamael does to Moiraine is pretty much exactly like the shielding on Logain and not anything like when Logain was severed later in the episode, so I will (one last time before the new season lol) put my bet in that she was shielded. Ishamael is just able to do a lot faster than the Aes Sedai. Also when Moiraine is right behind Rand like this, you can really see how similar their shirts really are in color.

22. Min is jetting out of Fal Dara as fast as she can -- show!Min actually seems aware that she's not a fighter. #goodforher

23. But they did use needing to have Perrin in Fal Dara to give him a nice little scene with Loial that fed into the violence vs peace conflict.

24. Ishy really put in the work here (I'm assuming that it must have all been drawn from Rand's memories which, again, makes Egwene mentioning that Mat is saying he's going to make Joiya a lantern just incredibly fascinating). Ishamael waits until Rand falls for the trap to reveal to Rand what's going on (sorta). And both Ishy and Rand are working the angles here -- Ishy pretends that he wants Rand to pick the dream world and... you know, that would be useful but... he still wins if Rand fights him because that surge of Power will break his seal. And Rand pretends that he's falling for the temptation but actually is looking for Ishy to give him some clues on how to access the Power on purpose.

25. Ah, s2 setup is happening: Perrin learns that the Dragon needs the Horn at the Last Battle; and Fain was given the password to get into the fortress, which means there's a Darkfriend who knows the passwords.

26. I 100% approve of the show making joining a circle dangerous. In the books, circles are so completely underused and it feels silly because they are very low risk. People should be in circles all the time; especially when things get dangerous.

27. Lots of emphasis on fatherhood this season -- Rand's struggle about Tam being his father; Rand's desire to be a father (expressed both in ep1 and here with Joiya). We also had Siuan's relationship with her father being a key element of her character.

28. Rand loves Egwene enough to know that their paths have diverged and it would be wrong to try to force her onto the same path as him just because he loves her.

29. Very cute that Rand thinks he just defeated the Dark One. I want to give him a pet on his fluffy (currently sweaty lol) head).

30. Perrin gets the infodump from Fain instead of it being Mat. It's a good infodump, from someone who definitely, obviously has an agenda.

31. Rand thinks he's succeeded, so he leaves on his own so that he won't hurt the ones he loved. Baby. Off he goes, into the big world of Making Bad Life Choices, bless him.

32. And the poor little girl who, at least, probably died quickly? The show did such a good job with the Seanchan. Both here and in what we've seen so far in the teasers for s2. They are gonna be extremely creepy and heartbreaking and scary. You can definitely see tear-tracks on the face of one of the damane here.

[kotamagic]

This week's Lore Olympus is PACKED, so strap yourself in, cuz shit's getting wild!

Starting off with Hebe, who ran to the Mortal Realm at Apollo's horrible suggestion. Immediately, she notices that something is very, VERY wrong there. It's not Spring, Summer, or Winter, but something in-between.

Today, we would call it Fall or Autumn, but given her reaction, that wasn't a thing in those days. Additionally, the scale of seasons is way off by her count. If the four seasons are split evenly across the span of the year, they'd be 90 days/3 months apiece.

Winter? Only five days? Pfft, I wish!

On another important note, the mortals are dying of plague. Starvation could absolutely be part of it. This is big trouble for the Olympians...

I had made a comparison in one of my previous LO posts to @neil-gaiman 's American Gods. In that narrative, the Gods wither away and die if there us no one to worship them. It seems not too different with what Hermes is saying here. No believers, no powers, no existence.

Apollo REALLY wants to get murdered at this meeting, doesn't he? Where's Psyche so that she can shoot his ass again?

(Fuck, she's in Leto's prison right now, damn it.)

Apollo's got a lot of nerve pointing fingers when he hasn't done jack-diddly-squat-shit to help. Hell, a big portion of this fuck-fest is his fault to begin with!

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HELP WITH THE KRONOS PROBLEM, APOLLO? OH, THAT'S RIGHT! NO SUN GODS ALLOWED IN THE UNDERWORLD.

Even if he could go to the Underworld, he'd just be a train wreck there as well. Honestly, before Ouranos was revealed to be the one helping Apollo, I would've suspected Kronos to be the culprit. Not sure which is worse.

Let me be clear. I have had A LOT of complaints about Demeter in Lore Olympus. The toxic, controlling behavior made me hate her because I have experience with someone much like her. And to be fair, Demeter still sits on my shit list.

But...

She has finally taken some difficult steps. She went to therapy with Persephone to try fixing their unhealthy relationship. She is struggling hard to be better, and it isn't a TOTAL loss.

This moment here, where she gets in Apollo's face, gives me another crumb of hope for her. First, she attacks his blatant disrespect of Persephone. (True, she has done plenty of her own, but I feel her putting a stop to it here is an important step forward.) Second, she voices how much she is against Apollo being anywhere near Persephone. I'm still not sure if she knows Apollo SA'd Persephone; I think that if she did, she'd be doing much worse than pulling his cape over his head.

Oh, hi Eris! It's been a hot minute since the last time that we saw you! Is this a mental conversation just between you and Apollo? The arrow through the chest bit brings back memories.

Part of me is confused as to why she appears to be beside Persephone in the Underworld in the 3rd shot. Maybe it's a visual in Apollo's head as well? The line "That sounds like something you would do." comes across as her saying it to Apollo, but for Persephone to hear.

Artemis already knows about what happened to Persephone. Her finding out that Apollo poisoned Zeus would NOT come off as farfetched to her at this point.

The blatant, unfiltered disrespect to Hera here is horrific. Hera has NEVER rested on her laurels for what she did to bring down Kronos. She has been mentally and emotionally suffering in silence for millenia. Persephone and... Hestia, I think? have worked to support her and lift her out of her depression. It has helped, but Hera still has a long way to go.

This fucknugget has BEYOND the FUCKING AUDACITY to not only put down the Queen of Olympus, but stab her where it hurts the most.

I hope that when everything falls apart for Apollo, he suffers HORRIBLY and for an extremely long time. I want him to suffer so badly that he begs for mortality and is DENIED so that he KEEPS suffering, just as his victims have suffered. ARGH!

Anyway, thanks for coming to my LO post!

[eriexplosion]

Vibrating excitedly because it's time for Battle Scars and I am READY.

Obsessed with this opening honestly. Everything is happening at once. Everyone is yelling. Echo is just trying to get the hyperdrive back online. Omega has named the lizard. (Interesting that it IS Ruby and she picked the name... but when we see it with Roland, the name is in fact Ruby. So either she DIVINED THE NAME or Roland hadn't named her yet and somehow the Ruby name got passed to him and he's like. Yeah this is a Ruby. Great instincts kid I will surely never meet!)

Also crawling onto Wrecker's face, he is ALREADY HAVING A BAD TIME. IT'S GONNA GET WORSE.

Successful Cid job tally: 1 failed, 2 successes

Hunter's very doubtful UH-HUH... THE KID. is so cute.... I miss him, season 2 Hunter is SO FUCKING DEPRESSED. LIKE LITERALLY ABOUT TO LAY DOWN AND SLEEP FOR 200 YEARS DEPRESSED.

Cornered introduced them to Money and Bribes, Battle Scars introduces them to CREDIT CARD DEBT.

TWENTY CARTONS OF MANTELL MIX. JUST BEEN PUTTING IT ON CID'S TAB THE WHOLE TIME.

Bolo and Ketch trying to fight Rex is SO fucking funny. Boys you won't win that one. Go sit down.

I'M SORRY I AM NEVER OVER TECH PIPING UP WITH "THAT'S NOT HER UGLY SIDE?" DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF CID. ABSOLUTE LACK OF SHITS TO GIVE. LOOK AT HIS FIELD OF FUCKS AND NOTE THAT IT IS BARREN.

We do love Rex's poncho disguise. Nothing says stealth like having your EXTREMELY DISTINCTIVE ARMS ON DISPLAY.

"Being dead in the Empire's eyes has its advantages" sounds like another line that could come back with Tech.

CUTE SMILES <3

Rex immediately kneeling down to talk to Omega is adorable but when she gets way into his personal space he looks SO NERVOUS AND ANXIOUS. AND THEN SHE TELLS HIM HE HAS WRINKLES.

Tech very casually like OUR INHIBITOR CHIPS DON'T WORK EXCEPT IN CROSSHAIR like yes Wrecker is having migraines, etc, but it's probably fine. Genius that cannot conceive of his family continuing to dwindle so he just assumes Wrecker will be okay probably. He has to be right?

Still seeing Rex go for his blaster for them hurts me.

HUNTER STANDING IN FRONT OF TECH THOUGH WHEN THINGS GET TENSE. HE PROTECT.

I don't want to bury anymore of our brothers.

Listen I do still think it's funny that Rex unlike Cut has Zero Reaction to Crosshair being missing and apparently has not asked, but I do think that it would be interesting to get him talking about the chips with Crosshair. Rex has no reason to lie to make him feel better. You can't resist the chips and Crosshair isn't special in that regard.

Wrecker thinks he's nervous about the surgery now but soon he gets to see that the surgery suite is also a complete wreck!

Obsessed with this shot WHY does Tech looks like he belongs in blurry bigfoot footage?

Rex not mentioning Ahsoka makes so much sense actually he has no idea what might make their chips suddenly activate so best not to mention the help he got from a former Jedi

So Wrecker starts out getting attacked by a lizard, has a horrifying migraine, has to go across a terrifying pit on a cord which immediately breaks, smacks him into a wall, and dangles him upside down by one leg to fish for some sort of horrid creature. AND IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE FOR HIM FROM HERE.

Tech complaining about the cleanliness again like he didn't live in some sort of biohazard train wreck in a bed that looks like this

God the way Omega is already worried about being left all alone in Battle Scars. Baby, I want you to have your whole family back so bad more than I've wanted anything ever. Also Hunter's response here is "You're stuck with us for the long run" and I just feel like it would be exceptionally mean spirited to have that and then have Omega alone at the end like a lot of theories predict.

God the moment that Wrecker grabs Tech is still the most fucking chilling thing. And obviously the chip was already activating but I wonder if it's what Hunter was talking about, saying 'at least we helped the Padawan escape' that finally pushed it over the edge.

THE MUSIC CUTTING OUT WHEN WE ZOOM IN ON WRECKER'S PUPIL EXPANDING.

Someone pointed out ONE TIME that when Wrecker is pinning him to the wall Hunter tries to tap out by tapping his wrists twice and I can never again NOT notice that. Trying to get through to Wrecker but Wrecker's not in right now. It's just the fucking chip.

HE WAS JUST GOING TO MURDER THE FUCKING CHILD.

Chipped Wrecker is terrifying and honestly vital to see before we get to Reunion. The viewer NEEDS to understand just how unbeatable the chips are in order to understand Crosshair's character arc, we need to see it in someone that we know is completely trustworthy and good in order to see how much it Does Not Matter how good you are.

The thing with this show is that I've always felt like it REALLY understands where it's going with its narrative. Whatever else people might think about it, it does understand how to lay the groundwork to support the themes and family dynamics and it does feel completely sketched out.

Omega honey shaking him will not make Wrecker wake up faster please give him some breathing room.

EVERYONE FALLING ASLEEP AROUND WRECKER. MY HEART.

The way Tech pops straight up from being completely conked out in a chair KILLS ME.

They went so far as to shave like a quarter of Tech's head for the surgery but they didn't touch Hunter's at all. He allowed exactly one (1) square inch to be shaved off and he immediately hid it under his fucking bandana.

The animation is so detailed though, they left hair stubble behind even.

Here Wrecker eat Omega's pocket mix that she has been carrying for who knows how long.

Hunter saying he's still figuring out what's best for his squad. End of season two he still doesn't have it yet.

Rex mysteriously fucking vanishing into the fog is so funny, that is exactly how to exit the screen. Just fade into the fog like a mysterious unicorn.

And of course the Doom Ending to lead into Reunion.

[bylerspookie]

Certain lyrics that stand out to me in Mike’s Spotify playlist (Part 3)

When Love Breaks Down

Okay, so, here’s one where I think the album cover definitely was intentional when they chose to put this song on his playlist. The same with “A Real Hero”.

In “A Real Hero”s cover, it looks very similar to the scene where Mike and El hold hands while like skipping away from that field (I hope you know what I'm talking about lol)

And in this cover it’s VERY similar to the scene where Mike lets El ride on the back of his bike??? and there’s 4 people on the cover (probably representing Mike, El, Lucas and Dustin while they were looking for Will)

There’s a guy on a motorcycle and a woman is sitting on the same bike behind him with her arms around him and her face squished against his back. She’s wearing a similar outfit to Eleven in Season 1 (the pink dress with a blonde wig, the woman in this wears a pink jacket and she has blonde hair)

This leads to us thinking that maybe the song is from Mike’s point of view (because it’s his playlist duh) and about El. (some parts might still be aimed at Will though)

And guess what…it’s a break up song!! supriseeee!!

“My love and I, we work well together

But often we're apart”

they were apart for 6 months (as were Mike and Will)

“Absence makes the heart lose weight, yeah,”

Mike “the heart” Wheeler… (you are NOT slick we know what you are)

“Oh my, oh my, have you seen the weather

The sweet september rain

Rain on me like no other

Until I drown, until I drown”

ISTFG THE AMOUNT OF WATER IMAGRY AND MENTIONS OF WATER ON THEIR PLAYLISTS AND THE ACTUAL ST SOUNDTRACK KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT CAUSE WHAT DOES IT MEAN. HERE IF YOU WANNA SEE MORE ON THAT.

AND THIS ODDLY REMINDS ME OF THE BYLER FIGHT IN S3 IDK WHY

“When love breaks down

The things you do

To stop the truth from hurting you”

“The lies we tell,

They only serve to fool ourselves,”

I’M LOSING MY MIND. “cause what if they don’t like the truth?”

“She'll never crowd me out

Fall be free as old confetti”

and the use of the word free? again, more on that here. (same post as earlier lol)

(if you’re not comfortable with discussions about sex you should skip to the next song <3)

“You join the wrecks

Who leave their hearts for easy sex”

see, I’m not 100% sure about this part but I’m trying to analyse everything okay

firstly, let’s talk about labyrinth and Romeo and Juliet.

Labyrinth is a movie in which the main character is paralleled to Mike SO much that it’s scary. He even has a poster of it in his room. Go to @connect-dots7 to see more on this. In short, connecting to this particular lyric, Sarah, the main character in labyrinth and she has a big scene where she discovers herself and her sexuality and they’re not even slightly subtle about it with the sexual imagry. The exact same sexual imagery is used with Mike (and some other characters).

Romeo and Juliet is a couple that is paralleled to Mike and El in the way that they were doomed at the start. For example, they fell in love at first sight. Shakespeare used this trope as a joke because he didn’t believe in love at first sight and it’s the same with the Duffers. They also mistook lust for love. Also I’m pretty sure Romeo was sort of using Juliet to get over someone that he actually loved but correct me if I’m wrong.

All I’m saying is, I think this lyric is very important, especially with the mention of “heart”. He’s not following his heart, basically.

(I know discussion of sex is very taboo in the byler community and I don’t understand why? Obviously, sexualising them is different, but just discussing the sexual imagry isn’t bad because it IS there and the Duffers aren’t scared of it. @henrysglock explains it here in a better way than I ever could lol. It’s the double standards between heterosexual couples and homosexual couples. )

anyway

Love Is a Stranger

the album cover is a man holding a heart in his palm? do with that as you will

“Love is a stranger

In an open car

To tempt you in

And drive you far away”

VAN SCENE VAN SCENE VAN SCENE VAN SCENE VAN SCENE

“Love is a danger

Of a different kind”

being different…

“And love love love

Is a dangerous drug

You have to receive it

And you still can't

Get enough of the stuff”

The way “White Rabbit” (the first song to play in st) is about Mike because he’s literally the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland (again, you can read more about it on @connect-dots7 s page) and the song is about drugs????

“Comes in like the flood

And it seems like religion”

MORE MENTIONS IF WATER??

And Mike has too much religious imagery around him it’s insane…

“And you're left like a zombie”

There’s a lot of zombie imagery in st too? Wtf is going on help

“It's guilt edged”

Who’s going to be the one to tell him that he doesn’t have to feel guilty for feeling the way he feels about Will?

“You know it's jealous by nature”

Airport scene I’m looking at you…

“False and unkind”

“And I want you

And I want you

And I want you so

It's an obsession”

Mike it’s okay we’re all obsessed with Will Byers

Beta Girl Lost in Forever

Literally couldn’t find anything about this song lol it’s suspicious...

please tell me if you guys know anything about this song!!

[bitter-sweet-coffee]

no like. think about it. eclipse was created because his people were defeated and a dying species already, and they came to earth to hopefully restore the black arms SO THEY DONT FUCKING DIE LMAO??? and he doesn't instantly go apeshit like even though he was created to destroy shadow and is plagued by being made in his image aka not his own person (cough shadow cough metal sonic) but he asks shadow to join him. against his orders btw. and then tries to mind control shadow to cooperate instead of just like, y'know, killing him. basically begging for an ally.

then later on eclipse gets thrown to earth with the eggs as he literally begs to help back home (because unlike literally other black/dark arm antagonist he ACTUALLY fucking cares about his species' survival). oh then black death fucking dies and so does the eye so eclipse is furious and also hurt (very reasonable that's his dad basically?!?)

to make matters worse, in the crash landing only 4 of the hatchlings survived. 4. yeah that's a real strong generation guys like ??? he's distraught he's so relieved when he finds survivors just look:

like??? look how pure he is i'm so mad about it:

he's literally just this young dude thrown into existence to save his dying people, and then disobeys orders to try and make sure everyone he knows is safe and happy BUT THEN ALSO BEFRIENDS THE GUY HE'S SUPPOSED TO KILL NOT ONCE BUT TWICE BC HE DOES IT AGAIN LATER AND WANTS A DAMN FAMILY MEMBER??? EVEN AFTER SHADOW & CO KILLED HIS DAD???

like. some people might argue "well he still wants to harvest the earth" uh yeah because food? He'll do anything to protect his people that's not inherently wrong just help the dude by giving him a different source because using earth is all he knows? sure he's the only black arms with free will (lmao in your face shadow) but he tried to ask for shadow's help numerous times and that fucker denied him. like. SHADOW. MY DUDE. YOU ARE MAKING AN ENEMY HERE. HELP ECLIPSE RESTORE HIS (ACTUALLY BOTH OF YOUR) ENDANGERED SPECIES/ALIEN RACE WITHOUT IT HURTING ANYONE SO EVERYONE WINS???

i think shadow should have said yes but worked with eclipse to find sustainable food for the black arms that wouldn't hurt others so they could get an ally and a family member out of it. imagine eclipse ruling the black arms which restores them to full power??? AND THEN THEYRE REALLY STRONG ALLIES IN CASE OTHER THREATS COME ALONG LIKE IMAGINE SEASON 3 OF SONIC X BUT SORTA LIKE 06 WITH A VIBE OF SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG 2 WHERE AT ONE POINTS HE CALLS ON ECLIPSE (revealing the now prosperous colony) TO HELP ASSIST SONIC & CO??? AND IT WORKS???

oh my god. since they're potentially not forced to stick around earth for food they could explore the galaxies. why couldn't the black arms eventually SOS shadow because these extremely advanced aliens are wrecking their shit and stealing everything and draining them because these dudes are basically gods and shadow is like "okay i'll get help" because these godly aliens will eventually find earth. oh turns out these are the babylonians! yeah! like they found the REAL babylon (planet) not just the measly scavenger ship that crashed to earth and caused all that riders crap + gave us the babylon rogues.

why. why couldn't we have this. SEGA i'm so disappointed this is why i used to never bring up archie because while i admit i haven't reread the comics in years and thus the nostalgia and bias might have warped my memory of events... eclipse deserved better. we could have had really cool allies but instead they went with a second black arms genocide. grrrrrr