#what were they doing to brad behind the scenes?

[incorrectsibunaquotes]

Why did Fabian always look like he was on the verge of tears?

[slickricklj]

Jill Valentine + Chris Redfield - When you know, you know.

Bonus:

[inkofthebrain]

Hey I was wondering if you still take requests for lee from bones and all. If you do can you do one where reader is a non eater but travels with Lee and Maren (maybe they're in a relationship with Lee Maren as well if you're comfortable) and when they meet brad and jake , Jake says something ( maybe insinuating that he wants to eat her) and they get protective especially lee. If you don't want to write or don't feel comfortable it's ok. Thank you! Have a good day/night!

FOUNDERS’ BLUES

[Lee x Reader oneshot] 623 words

Tags: No y/n, non-eater Reader, lee being protective, no Maren (sorry bae ily)

Warnings: Bones and all typical shit. Mentions of abuse and parental addiction.

A/n: I made this a song fic and idk how I feel about it. Anyway song if from a deleted scene with those mf hillbillies. Enjoy <3

———

———

Beat and bloody, walking along the steaming asphalt of the highway in the peak of summer. Your feet were walked bare and you could feel your pulse behind every cut and bruise.

That was when Lee found you; “all bloody and beautiful.” You had taken enough beatings from your addict parents and when they brought you close to death, you knew it was either that or life on the road.

He took you to a nearby diner to fill your stomach before he started pressing you with questions. You couldn’t hold it in, you told him everything.

He had gotten you a motel for a few nights so you could recover. At first you thought his actions were due to his sincere concern, but when he had snuck into the motel room he booked for you covered in blood; you soon learnt the truth.

I run the roads 'cause I know best.

Leave the highway for to get my rest.

Sleeping o'er the meeting house and dream of who tastes best.

Your parents were declared missing by none other than their drug dealer a few days later. Lee thought you would have hated him, he had only snuck in to take advantage of the shower, but when he said,

“They’re gone.” you just hugged him.

I come to town and I know best.

I greet the day on my two legs.

More months than you could count on your hands had passed and you and Lee had gotten extremely close; physically, emotionally, on every level.

Slide my arms inside these red and grey tails.

Push the window open, find the reverend up and dressed.

I fear the Lord, but I know best.

You and him had ran into another duo, two hillbillies in the woods; Brad, the eater, and Jake, a wanna-be eater. What a gruesome pair.

I clean the floor and stay a day.

Slip in your room, lay my hands on your frame Daughter come and die for me, protesting less and less.

Close your eyes, I'll do the rest.

“You’ve got a sweet one there, dontcha’ Lee?” Brad’s cadence on sweet made chills run down your spine. You, as calmly as you could, gave Lee’s arm a squeeze and he gave you a knowing look.

Midnight comes and it's the best.

Stare the stars at me, the moon to ingest,

“What do you mean by that man?” Lee barked.

“Oh come on, don’t tell me you’ve never thought of it!” Lee sat up and scooted a little in front of you, ready to jump at the creep at any second.

“You are crossing a line man” Lee threatened.

The smile he had on his face when he noticed was sickening, you wondered if he was always this off-putting.

You leaned in and asked Lee if it was time to go and he gave you a subtle nod.

Leave the untold buried in a sack where no one guessed,

and take the ride that runs the best.

You got up and quickly walked to the car until you heard Lee yell, “RUN!”

Your head snapped back and you saw Lee running right behind you, the hillbillies on his tail.

You threw open the truck door and slid to the driver's seat, leaving the door open for Lee.

“KEYS!” You yelled, Lee was one step ahead of you and threw the keys in the bay of the truck.

As you threw your arm down to grab them, Lee jumped in the truck and you started it. You drove off and watched the two men run behind the truck.

I'll take the ride that runs the best

I'll take the ride that runs the best

I take the ride that runs the best.

[ellie-r2]

Crystal and Edwin's sibling dynamic means so much to me and I NEED to see more of it in season 2. Personally he's the younger brother even though he's technically older and she's the older sister to me.

They make fun of each other but also defend the other without hesitation. For example these are some of my favourite scenes of theirs.

The scene where he doesn't know what the internet is and while she laughs she also says she'll explain it to him later (need to see that scene or a fic about this) (episode 1)

When he has the speech of him and Charles not mattering so the cases have to matter and she grabs his hand to assure him that they do (and we know how he is about touch so this is important to me) (episode 1)

When Esther throws Crystal he immediately runs to go and help her (episode 1)

Both of them being frustrated about the vase (episode 2)

Him hiding behind her when he hears that monster from hell in the Devlin house (and she knows he was in hell before) (episode 3)

Him reassuring her that she's good when she's worried she's not because of what David tells her in the episode and saying that demons lie (episode 3)

Her also being protective of him from the Cat King even if it's subtle like her asking what he wanted when Niko said Edwin talked to him (episode 4)

When Richie makes the gay suicide pact comment about Brad and Hunter and Edwin says what and looks worried Crystal briefly looks at him then shuts Richie down after for making a gay joke (episode 5)

Crystal and Edwin giving each other a look and then agreeing to help Monty (episode 6)

When she tells them she lost her abilities and Edwin is worried about her then she mocks his accent but also brings up he's having difficulties with Monty and they leave both Charles and Monty out. Peak sibling behaviour (episode 6)

Small little detail but when she runs up to them after teeth face is gone she leans more to Edwin and touches his back (episode 6)

Another peak sibling behaviour scene is when he apologises but tells her not to get used to it (episode 6)

Her not hesitating also wanting to go to hell to get Edwin out despite the danger because he's her friend (episode 7)

Also the fact that she goes to David for help even though he's abusive just for the slim chance she might save Edwin. Yes, it led to nothing for Edwin but she was still willing to try plus she got her memories back (episode 7)

She didn't hug him after they were back because Niko was hugging him but she did reach out to touch his hand (episode 7)

Him calling her foolish for going after David without them and she tells him it was for him (episode 7)

After the call with her parents he tries to assure her saying there might be an explanation for it (episode 8)

The handshake (episode 8)

When she dresses similarly to him too (think this was kassius and the costume designers idea) (episode 8)

When Esther is choking her yet she still calls out to Edwin to tell him and she's going for him (episode 8)

The hug is also peak sibling behaviour (episode 8)

[to-eat-laugh-love-in-peace]

You know what drives me absolutely insane about Tristamp, something that is specifically emphasized in ep 8, it’s the existence of different accounts about someone or something surviving even in the wake of the most devastating of disasters, this being the Big Fall, as seen with Brad having brought back to Ship 3 the black box, and Rem’s belongings, which include a few photos of her, Vash, and Nai, and A JOURNAL, something I desperately wish that we get to see the contents of in S2, maybe in a flashback by Luida and/or Brad, or maybe in present day by Meryl, like I wonder if she wrote in code or in a different language to make it a little harder to decipher if anyone else got their hands on it, if the accounts in her journal start before she joined the SEEDS Projects and boarded Ship 5, like when her boyfriend Alex was still alive, or if they start after she boarded Ship 5 to chronicle her journey alongside what remains of humanity across the stars in search of a new planet to inhabit, or maybe if they even started when she discovered Tesla and Conrad and the rest of his group of Plant specialists began to tear her body apart in the name of science not long after that, since she was one of, or maybe the only one in Tristamp, the few who protested against the group’s treatment of Tesla only for her to be ignored, so it could have been a way for her to express and process her thoughts, feelings, and experiences throughout the whole ordeal.

(I STILL like to think that this recording pad she used to film Vash and Nai's first birthday somehow survived the Big Fall even if it wasn't shown along with the rest of her belongings that Brad recovered from Ship 5, if only because there's quite a bit of emphasis put into it with the framing of the scene and all, though who knows maybe it was just a way for Studio Orange to make a smooth and believable transition between a flashback and present day but I still have hope.) And then there’s Vash who’s also shown writing on a journal of his own, another thing that I also desperately wish to see the contents of in S2, in his room prior to Luida coming in to give him his red coat. With Luida going off to bring Vash back to Ship 3, leaving Brad to do some much needed self-reflection on the choices he’s made and the actions he’s taken, I wonder if, since he was looking through his things in hopes of finding some sort of clue he left behind about the other Independent, he actually took a look at it, and on the off chance that Vash hadn’t written his accounts in code or in another language, maybe he would have been able to read Vash’s own thoughts, feelings, and experiences throughout his time on Ship 3, the Big Fall, his time with Rem and Nai on Ship 5, maybe even his discovery of Tesla, and everything that had gone down with Rem right after that.

Back on the topic Ship 5’s black box Brad had recovered from the ruins, and repaired 5 years after the Big Fall, I noticed that when he and Luida were listening to the audio recording, HE MUTES THE RECORDING RIGHT AFTER NAI SAYS THAT VASH WAS HIS ACCOMPLICE SINCE HE WAS THE ONE WHO GAVE HIM THE ACCESS CODES. With how people have pointed out how Studio Orange likes to play with unreliable narrators like Vash omitting the fact that he was the one who gave Nai the access code which made Nai’s claim that he was his accomplice in the Big Fall in episode 1 more plausible for example, this has to imply that there was more to be said in that audio recording and if Brad hadn’t muted it to fixate on the fact that Vash lied to them about the other Independent being alive and come to the conclusion that he had been lying to them this entire time, that he was never on the side of humanity to begin with, then things might have gone as badly as they did, maybe Vash wouldn’t have ran away from Ship 3 to find Nai on his own, maybe he wouldn’t have had to lose his arm to keep him and the everyone else in the scene from being swallowed by his gate. @tristampparty

[silentcrowsilentravens]

Stars alpha reacting to their partner pulling a Richard and sacrificing themselves for them?

"Pulling a Richard" lol.

I'd like to apologize in advance to Lisa Trevor for this.

Joseph Frost, Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, Brad Vickers, Barry Burton, and Albert Wesker reacting to their s/o sacrificing themselves to save them.

(Gender ambiguous).

Warnings: death, blood, gore.

Masterlists here!

Joseph Frost

Arklay Mountains. It’s the evening of July 24, 1998. Led by Captain Wesker, you and four other members of the S.T.A.R.S. Alpha team are searching for signs of Bravo team and pilot Kevin Dooley, with whom contact was lost the day prior. 

You trudge through the tall grass, gun unholstered and flashlight scanning over every dark shape in your path.

A persistent sense of unease hangs in the air. You’d be hard-pressed to think of another time you’ve felt so on edge while on the job. 

There's shifting behind you. You whip your head around.

Joseph is standing there with his gun. "Jumpy?" he teases half-heartedly. You roll your eyes at him and resume what you were doing.

"Hey... wait a sec..." He motions for you to come over.

"What is it?" You point your light down as you approach. It catches a metal object laying in the grass between you. It's a gun. A standard-issue Beretta.

Joseph bends down to pick it up, which is when you realize that it's attached to something.

It's...

It's a hand.

A human hand with no human attached to it.

Joseph drops the severed part in shock. Both of you jolt away from it with a yelp.

Upon further inspection, realize that you know who it used to belong to. You recognize the fingerless glove and the wristwatch. They're part of a S.T.A.R.S. uniform. More specifically, the uniform of Edward Dewey from Bravo team.

For a moment, the only thing you can hear is the wind and your heart pounding in your ears. You can do nothing but stare in disbelief. 

There have been a lot of deaths lately. Gruesome ones. 

You’ve seen the crime scene photos.

You’ve seen the crime scenes.

They’re difficult to stomach.

But the feeling that washes over you here and now is particularly visceral. Every last drop of blood in your body has run cold. You feel dangerously close to hurling.

Edward is someone you see almost every day. He...

He’s a great man. A friend of yours.

He can’t be...

You finally manage to tear your gaze away and look at Joseph. 

“...Eddie can still be kicking,” he says blankly. “Guy doesn’t need both hands to live.”

Yeah. 

Yeah, Edward can still be out there. Alive. Hopefully. He's tough...

...

Is that...

...growling you're hearing?

Out of the corner of your eye, you realize something—multiple somethings are rapidly approaching. Joseph notices just a beat later than you do.

“Joey, watch out!” With all of your might, you shove your partner out of harm’s way.

He hits the ground. 

A bloody creature collides with you, its sharp teeth sinking into the exposed skin of your forearm. You cry out, wrenching your arm to the side in a desperate attempt to make it release you. It does, tearing a chunk of flesh away in the process, and quickly latches back on.

A second beast joins in, causing you to lose your balance and fall.

Followed by another one.

And another.

And another.

There are so many. They look like dogs and smell like rotting corpses, but you aren't paying much attention to that. You're in so much pain, it's difficult to think. They're quite literally eating you alive and all you can manage to do is flail about, weakly attempting to get them off.

Joseph shouts your name in alarm, scrambling to pick up his gun. His weapon-mounted light illuminates the mass of creatures pinning you down. Blood and viscera glisten.

He fires round after round, trying to kill them.

Jill, Barry, Chris, and Wesker rush over to help.

Your screams abruptly stop, cut off by an awful, strangled, gurgling noise as a set of teeth manage to rip your throat out.

"No!" Joseph keeps firing, unable to process it all. Just because you've gone quiet doesn't mean you're dead, right? Right? There's a chance you're still alive. There has to be! "Get off! Get off!"

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

"Joseph, it's too late!" Chris grabs Joseph's shoulder, trying to make him stop. Joseph won't. "We have to go!"

This can't be happening. This can't be real. You're not gone. You're not!

The remaining beasts turn their attention toward the rest of the team.

Finally, Chris and Barry seize Joseph by the back of his tactical vest and physically drag him along as they start running. He doesn't stop calling your name, doesn't stop reaching for you even as your body becomes further and further away from them.

"Brad!" Chris shouts as their helicopter abandons them. "Brad! Where's he going?!"

This night can't get any worse. They end up seeking refuge in a mansion. The moment Jill slams the doors shut and locks them, Joseph plops down on the floor, breathing hard and cradling his head in his hands.

He can't believe it. You're gone just like that. It all happened so fast... And if you hadn't done what you did, it would've been him instead.

He wishes it were him instead. His eyes begin to burn.

Jill Valentine

It's the dead of night in the summer of 2005. You and Jill are stranded in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea on the Queen Zenobia, which just narrowly avoided being completely obliterated by the Regia SOLIS.

Unfortunately, the ship still ended up getting caught in the shockwave of the blast, leaving you to deal with even more water pouring into the ship.

It's time to clear out and fast.

Both of you are swimming through the flooded corridors in search of an exit when eventually, you make your way into a room that has yet to fill completely. The surface of the water is in view. You speed up, sparing a glance over your shoulder to where Jill ought to be.

She isn't there.

You come to an immediate stop, a jolt of panic passing through you as you spin around in an attempt to locate her.

You find her a little ways back, having fallen behind because she's busy grappling with a sea creeper that's caught up to her. Damn things!

It's gotten ahold of her legs and she's fighting to keep its wide maw away. Despite their spindly limbs, earlier encounters have let you know that they're rather strong.

There's already been quite a stretch between this and the last opportunity you got to get some air. In the time it would take you to pop your head out and swim back to help Jill, it could already be too late.

With that thought at the forefront of your mind, you ignore your body's desperate pleas to breathe and make your way over.

You unsheathe your Bowie knife. Using all of your might, you drive it straight into the B.O.W.'s soft shell.

Blood turns the water red. The creature reels back with a high-pitched cry and you take the opportunity to seize your partner.

With a tight grip on the equipment harness strapped to her back, you begin to swim upward, pushing yourself to go as fast as you can.

You're so close. Fresh oxygen is just within reach when something grabs hold of your ankle and sharply tries to yank you back.

Looking down, you find the same sea creeper giving things another go.

'Get offa me, dammit!' You slam the heel of your boot down on its covered head until it releases you, then kick away.

You lift Jill and force her above the surface, managing to get her arms hooked onto a ladder leading up to a catwalk.

There's yet another tug on your leg, far harsher than the last.

You release Jill, not wanting to risk pulling her down with you.

Bubbles begin to stream past your parted lips and water floods your lungs. The burning in your chest is beginning to worsen exponentially as you're dragged away, simply unable to hold your breath any longer than you already have. You're certain this is it for you.

Jill coughs and sputters. As the darkness begins to fade back to the edges of her vision and she's able to form a thought other than 'I need air or I'm gonna die down here', she processes that you haven't resurfaced along with her.

Her still-pounding heart leaps into her throat and she curses, diving back down without a moment's hesitation.

Her eyes instantly lock onto a red cloud in the water, which both you and the sea creeper are in. It has you in its grasp and you aren't struggling. You aren't moving at all.

As Jill closes the rest of the distance, she continues to hope against all hope that she can save you.

The handle of your blade is sticking out of the creature's back. She yanks it out and plunges it into a new spot, tugging you free and kicking the thing as hard as she can, sending it into a wall.

With you in tow, Jill makes her way above the water and back to the ladder.

You aren't breathing anymore when she successfully gets you onto the catwalk. She hastily begins to perform CPR, determined to fix that. She has to.

Unfortunately, she can't. It's already too late for you.

Finally, resignation begins to set in and she lets her hands still on your chest.

Jill is no stranger to losing people, and there's a persistent nagging fear in the back of her mind about losing more. You've often been at the forefront of it.

She's always tried to push it aside, though, always hoped that it wouldn't come to pass.

Her fingers tremble slightly as they curl into fists. She lets her head hang.

If only she hadn't let that damn B.O.W. catch up to her...

There's a lump forming in her throat that she tries to swallow as she stands, sending you a silent apology for letting you down.

...

Even if she wants to stay here with you, she knows this ship isn't going to last much longer. Cursing under her breath and blinking away the tears beginning to form in her eyes, Jill keeps moving. She has to...

Chris Redfield

"We're picking up a large bogey on radar. It's heading right for you!"

Just when you thought shit had already hit the fan, that message came through on comms and not even a minute later, a tandem rotor helicopter appeared, dropping off another absolutely massive—probably a good thirty feet tall—B.O.W. onto the team's already full plate.

Echo needs three anti-aircraft guns taken out before further help can be given, so everyone tries to provide cover for Finn as he sets the charges needed to blow them up.

The wrecked buildings around you provide little cover from the ogroman, which is intent on crushing the lot of you.

Chris points out a weakness that can be exploited: Soft, exposed red flesh around where a big metal connector is sticking out of its back.

You and a few others distract the beast with bullets. Chris manages to leap onto its back while you do so, ripping out a bit of protruding bone and driving it straight into the weak point. The process is rinsed and repeated a few times before the ogroman dies, dissolving into a foul-smelling, steaming goop that leaves you coughing.

Two anti-aircraft guns down, one more to go.

Everyone's comms crackle. "There's another giant B.O.W. closing in on your location!"

A loud roar rings out.

A massive hand grabs onto a rooftop, sending shingles raining down onto a few j'avo.

"It's the one we lost at the Two of Hearts," Piers points out.

Chris orders the team to prepare to engage. You follow Finn to the last gun, making use of an underground passage that leads you into another building. When you're standing on the top floor, the target of the objective comes into view, sitting on the ground below beside a barricade.

"Let's try to make this quick."

The ogroman has other plans.

Finn and Piers, a little ways ahead of you, head down the ladder.

You and Chris are stepping out from behind a partially destroyed wall when it turns and spots you there.

The two of you begin to unload your clips into it, not getting too many hits on that weak spot thanks to the way it's positioned itself.

Click.

Click.

Click.

"I'm out!" you announce.

"Me too," Chris says. "Look out!"

A massive hand shoots out toward you.

You both dive out of the way in time. You land back behind the wall, and Chris is still out in the open stretch. Another hole is smashed into the building.

The ogroman draws its arm back, then raises it up and prepares to sweep it across.

"Chris!" You don't even think, you just act, launching yourself back onto your feet and sprinting toward him. It'll hit him if you're not quick enough!

The arm grows closer.

With mere seconds to spare, you shove Chris back to the floor.

All the wind is knocked out of you as the ogroman makes contact, sending you sailing straight over the edge.

You make a graceful arc before colliding harshly with the pavement down below.

"Shit!" Chris shouts your name in alarm.

He needs to get to you.

"Cover me!"

He slides down the ladder while other members of the team show up to keep the ogroman busy.

A red puddle has begun to form beneath you. By some miracle, you're still responsive, but only barely.

"You're gonna be alright. You're gonna make it. Just hold on, okay?" Chris begins to drag you over to cover. You let out a groan, unable to process any of what you're hearing. "I need you here." Speaking into his comm, he calls for urgent first aid.

Before long, your feeble movements begin to peter out. Chris feels his stomach drop.

"No... No, come on. You have to stay with me. You have to!" You mean so much to him. He can't lose you. He can't. Not like this.

One last raspy, rattling breath leaves your lips before you're gone.

The grief, the devastation is like an instant weight settling upon Chris' shoulders. He slams his fists against the ground and cries out, leaning down to rest his head against your chest.

This is his fault... He'll never forgive himself.

Brad Vickers

"Pizza's here," you announce, shutting the apartment door with your foot. It's late in the evening, and you and Brad decided to call in and order one for dinner.

(Both of you also went ahead and ordered one for Brad's friend, Jill, who has scarcely left her home since being suspended. Brad would've been as well, had he joined in on the shouting match she and three other S.T.A.R.S. members got into with Chief Irons over the mansion incident. You know Brad still feels guilty about it).

"Brad. Pizza." You pop open the box and waft it in front of his face before placing it on the coffee table. He snaps out of it and sends you a small smile.

"You pick out something for us to watch already?"

"Uh-huh." He places the TV Guide down and picks up the remote. "They're showing one of our favorite flicks tonight, actually."

"Yeah? Which one?" You plop down beside him on the couch with a few paper plates in hand.

...

Hours have passed, and you've fallen asleep living room. The movie has long since ended, the remaining half of dinner is sitting abandoned, and Brad is snoring lightly beside you. You might've remained that way until morning...

...if not for a loud noise from somewhere on the street below waking you up.

You slowly straighten up, removing your head from your partner's shoulder.

Then, you begin to process the not-so-distant sounds of chaos. There are sirens and people screaming.

'What is going on...?'

An orange glow is bleeding from around the edges of the drawn curtains. You get up and pull them open. Multiple fires are burning.

You hurriedly wake Brad. "Hey. Something is wrong," you tell him as you drag him over to the window. "Very, very wrong. Look."

"Holy shit." He blanches. "We need to go."

You throw on a coat and shoes while Brad puts on his S.T.A.R.S. getup. He grabs his Beretta. All you have is a pocket knife.

The two of you make your way out of the apartment, hurriedly heading down the corridor and into the stairwell.

When you reach the emergency exit at the bottom of the stairs, you encounter a problem. Before Brad even gets the chance to push the door open, something rips it off the hinges. It's a huge figure clad head to toe in a black outfit, which is dotted with small yellow hazard symbols and staples.

"S.T.A.R.S...." it growls.

After a moment's hesitation, Brad seizes you by your sleeve and begins to high-tail it toward the front of the building. Time to try the front doors instead.

The thing gives chase. It's fast. Surprisingly so.

Brad aims his gun over his shoulder and opens fire. The bullets appear to have no effect. Not good.

It lifts its hand. A thin tentacle shoots out quick as lightning, wrapping around one of Brad's ankles and tripping him up. He lands harshly on the floor, his weapon slipping from his grasp. It begins to drag him.

"Help!"

You stagger to a stop, whipping around and grabbing hold of him. All that accomplishes is making the pursuer pull you along as well.

"Let go of him!" You take your blade and slice the appendage in two. The half still attached to it retreats. You help Brad up.

"S.T.A.R.S.!"

A new tentacle pops out of its sleeves. The moment you catch a glimpse of it, you put yourself directly behind Brad.

Rougher than before, the pursuer swings its arm back, yanking you over to it.

"Brad, run!"

Brad doesn't. He freezes in place.

It picks you up by your face, squeezing so tightly that it feels as though your skull might shatter. You struggle. "Run! Before it gets y—"

Your sentence is cut off by the tentacle going straight through your mouth and out the back of your head.

You're tossed aside, dead as dead can be.

You land facing Brad, your face stained red and your eyes wide open. He feels himself begin to shake.

Then, he runs.

This can't be happening. This seriously can't be happening!

He should have stepped in to help you. Doubly so after you had done that for him.

He should have done something. Anything but just stand there! What the hell is wrong with him?!

'Oh, god...'

When it seems that he's finally lost the pursuer, Brad slumps against the wall and slides down it until he's sitting. Alone in a random building, he cries harder than he has in a long time. He's so incredibly angry with himself for practically letting that happen.

There's a hole in his heart where you used to be that can simply never be filled again. You're gone. Gone. He can't believe it...

Barry Burton

As the Starlight slowly sinks into the waters below, explosions rattle it, illuminating the pitch-black night sky with bright oranges and yellows.

You, Barry, Leon, and Lucia stand safely aboard the deck of the Umbrella submarine Barry hijacked. Admittedly, you're still a little mad that he scared you again. A few years back, when you were both part of S.T.A.R.S., he pretended to betray you and the others the same way Wesker had.

He did it to protect your daughters and kept the ruse up long enough for Wesker to let his guard down. Tonight, he pulled a similar stunt. He made a fake deal with Umbrella and acted as though he was going to hand Lucia over to them, abandoning you and Leon on the ocean liner in the process.

"Sorry, honey," Barry says, noticing the sour look on your face. "I couldn't risk them finding out."

You sigh. "No, I get it. I just can't believe I fell for it again, even if only briefly."

"I guess I must be that good of an actor, huh?"

"I wouldn't go that far," you tease lightly. "It was just the panic of it all..."

"Ouch." Barry puts on a hurt expression.

Somewhere behind you, you hear the crackle of a radio. "Hey, I'm finally getting through to headquarters," Leon announces.

Barry places a hand on Lucia's shoulder. "I'm sure Polly and Moira will be excited to meet their new sister."

Lucia's eyes widen. "You guys were being serious?"

"Of course!" Your hand lands on her free shoulder. "Welcome to the family."

She grins. A genuine, happy-as-can-be grin.

"HQ, this is Leon. Mission accomplished. We're heading home."

You glance behind you in an attempt to see Leon, but he's standing closer to Barry. Your gaze only finds his shadow. You look away.

Over the sound of the rain and explosions, your ears manage to pick on a subtle gurgling noise.

Once again, you turn your head. The shadow is beginning to change. It's distorting and growing.

With dawning horror, you realize that all of the B.O.W.s haven't been eradicated, that it isn't actually Leon standing with you guys, that he's probably still aboard the Starlight.

"We aren't out of the woods yet!" is all you can manage in warning before the Tyrant finishes turning into its true form, red, intestine-like tentacles shooting out of the wide cavity in its stomach.

Barry doesn't even get the chance to fully pull his magnum from its holster before you throw yourself into the path of danger.

Rather than your husband, the appendages end up grabbing you instead. With how your arms end up pinned to your sides, you can't grab your pistol or knife to try and free yourself.

Panic instantly tightens itself around Barry's lungs. "Good god! Lucia, get inside!" He opens fire on the monster, desperate to make it release you.

It swings you all around, making it difficult for him to get a clean shot. It slowly but surely begins to squeeze you.

A big gray forearm collides with Barry, sending both him and his weapon flying across the deck.

The monster leaps off the sub and into the cold ocean, slowly sinking.

"No, no, no!" Barry practically throws himself over the railing, grasping it with one hand and desperately grabbing for you with the other. Just barely, he manages to take hold of your webbing.

The monster tightens its grip and there's an audible crack. You stop struggling.

...

Barry stills, his fingers going slack. He can't breathe, can't believe it. The devastation hits like a sucker punch to the gut.

Your body fully disappears into the dark waters. This is one of his worst nightmares.

He curses, banging his fist against the sub. It should have been him, not you! Why did you do that?

...He knows the answer. It's because he means as much to you as you do to him.

He knows he would've risked himself like that too if the roles were swapped.

He wishes that they were. What is he meant to do without you?

Albert Wesker

By all accounts, Albert Wesker should be dead. Instead, he's woken up as something else. Something more than human.

And now, he needs to leave this place before it turns into a pile of burning rubble. It isn't clear how much time is left before the self-destruct sequence goes off, but it ought to be enough for him to make it back out the doors.

Most of the bioweapons are easy enough to take out and get past.

There is, however, one problem—one nuisance that is refusing to leave him alone: Lisa Trevor. She's followed him all the way back up to the mansion proper. Since she doesn't have the good sense to give up, he's had to take a different route in an attempt to lose her.

Finally, he thinks he might have. The exit is close. Just down the stairs, in fact. He can see it.

A door behind him flies open. He turns, tightening his finger on the trigger of his Samurai Edge.

"Captain Wesker!"

Oh. It's only you.

Albert is pleased to see that you've made it this far. Not that there was much doubt in his mind that you would. You're one of the best S.T.A.R.S. has to offer when it comes to your combat abilities.

"Where'd—" Your eyes widen before your features twist in concern. "What the hell happened to you?"

It's evident that you haven't run into Jill, Chris, Barry, or Rebecca since everything that happened down in the basement labs. This could work to his advantage. He was hoping to have you join him.

Sparing a glance at the absurd amount of red staining the front of his tactical vest, Albert tells you, "It's nothing serious."

You head closer and stare at him incredulously. It's a lot of blood. As in, more than should be outside of anyone's body if they're still alive. Maybe not all of is his? He isn't acting like he's injured.

"...Alright, if you say so," you reply, unable to shake your worry completely.

"Come with me. We're leaving." Without waiting for another second, Albert starts heading down the stairs.

"But what about the others?"

"There's no point in going after them now,'" he answers vaguely. "I'll explain everything once we get outside."

You hesitate for a moment before beginning to follow him...

...Only to be stopped moments later by an awful, raspy moan and a hunched figure hobbling into the entrance hall with surprising speed.

'What is that?!'

It's clad in a raggedy blue medical gown, wearing a mask that appears to be made of stitched-together human faces, and making a beeline for Albert.

He moves to pull out the gun he just reholstered.

The monster hunches further. A load of worm-like tendrils shoot out of its back.

Everything seems to be happening in slow motion. Wordlessly, you throw yourself between the two of them in order to save your captain from further injury,

As though they were sharp knives, two of the tendrils pierce straight through you. One through your stomach, and another through your chest. You land in a limp pile on the marble floor, blood pouring from your wounds and past your lips.

...

No...

No, this won't do at all.

White-hot anger slowly begins to crawl through Albert's veins.

"You have no idea how grave of a mistake you've just made."

Yet again, he deals with her, this time ensuring that it will be the last time. You watch through half-lidded eyes, unable to truly process any of it. You're teetering dangerously on the edge of nothingness and it's far too late for you to be saved.

Albert just about unloads the rest of his ammunition into Lisa, saving his last bullet so that he can send the chandelier crashing upon her.

"Be a good girl and stay dead." He sneers, then turns to you.

You're already dead. He picks you up.

"Don't worry, my dear. I'll fix this. I will help you rise from the ashes as I did. I will make you something more."

[cts-ryu-writing-desk]

Unsatisfied Evening

I kinda had a particular scene in my head when I wrote this and well it kinda sat on the back burner till I could imagine what could go with it. This was pretty fun to work on! Hope you guys enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~

It was a Saturday night. Over at Alpha Rho Sigma house, they were up to their usual antics. Dubbed one of the horniest frats at the college their frat house was usually a den of wild unrestrained sex. While not a den of sexually transmitted diseases there was a problem of male pregnancies. The men would be the house’s “Seahorses”.

Essentially anyone and everyone in the Alpha Rho Sigma house would be allowed to fuck the house's Seahorse. It was the belief and philosophy that “they’re gonna get pregnant anyways so might as well just fuck,”

Through every photo since the house's founding fifty years ago, there was always a handful of their Seahorses front and space tear and already very pregnant. This year's batch had a few of their seahorses who had trouble conceiving. A few of them had a large crowd around them gangbanging them in their usual breeding pit, the basement. That however wasn’t true for Mitch.  After a few sessions, he got pregnant, making him the only pregnant seahorse this year. 

This was his first pregnancy, and his fluctuating hormones were leaving him very very horny tonight. Heavily pregnant Mitch just wanted one good hard dicking to take the edge off his pent-up lust. Even though he’d pop any day now, he was feeling a large amount of discomfort throughout the day. Like they always did during these housewife breeding sessions, they had locked the basement door. Mitch had to make do with the ones left upstairs in the house.

Like with Brent, who had Mitch bent over the couch. Brent wasn’t being aggressive enough. Mitch wanted it hard, he wanted to feel used again. Dripping cum, losing count of his orgasms. But Brent came too quickly and into a condom ruining the mood for Mitch. The discomfort didn't settle. It felt like a bit of a cramp around his entire waist and stomach.

“You’re turn bud,” Brent said.

Mitch looked behind him, spotting Brad. Someone Mitch knew was a good lay. He was always aggressive when they’d fuck before his pregnancy. Brad came over quickly, fully erect and eager to get his Derick wet. Mitch of course could tell this, and he wanted this 

Brad could feel his cock throbbing as he stared at Mitch presenting his ass to his short Dom. That round jock ass the bright and alluring pinkies of Mitch's puckered hole.  Brad's hands were shaking as he grabbed into his tall bottom’s waist. 

"Come on, " Mitch's alluring voice drew Brad in.

Brad lined his cock up with Mitch's puckered hole. Pressing the tip of his cock against that tight jock ass swallowing the tip of Brad's cock whole. Mitch's ass felt warm and tight fitting Brad like a glove. Brad's cock pulsed and flared as he slid balls deep into Mitch's round ass.

"Fuck," Mitch moaned arching his back more. "I..."

Brad moaned "Come on," 

Mitchell started "Let's empty those balls one more time for me."

Brad moaned "You're so fucking tight." 

"Let's hope it stays that way" Mitch moaned backing his hips on Dolon's hard cock. 

With one hand Mitch tried to hold his hanging baby belly in place. Trying to ignore the small discomforting pain. Brad groaned as bucking his hips. He wanted to fuck Mitch harder and faster. Brad could feel he was right on the edge. One good buck and Brad thrust as deep as he could, his balls slapping against the underside of Mitch's ass.

"Come on Daddy, you know I can take it," Mitch kept backing his hips to the rhythm of Brad's thrusts.

The rhythmic rocking swaying of his baby belly each bounce and thrust against Brad's cock. Mitch wanted more. Pushing his bass back onto Brad’s throbbing cock, he could feel Brad flaring up. Brad was going to blow at any moment.

"I'm going to cum, Mitch." Brad couldn't hold back anymore  "Donit Brad. Fill my  ass." Brad went aggressive and wild at the end. Mitch could feel Brad's cock erupt into his ass mid-thrust. Brad moaned as his balls tightened ejecting every last drop into his huge sub. Mitch hadn't felt Brad cum like that in months. The pleasure was so intense Brad was seeing stars in his ecstasy. Mitch threw back his hip one more time, making Brad groan as a few more good spurts left his cock.

Mitch felt Brad pull his half-flaccid cock out all the cum dripping out of Mitch's well fucked hole. Mitch's cock was throbbing. He was crying a good climax in his state. Brad fell to the floor, cock flaccid and dripping a small strand of cum left in him.

Mitch stood up from the couch. One hand holding his baby bump in place. All that bouncing around from the sex made the baby stir inside of him. He could feel Brad's load leading out and sliding down his thighs. This only added to his sexual frustration. Brad might be pretty good at fucking. So Mitch left Brad there and headed down the hall to his room.

Mitch walked through the hallway naked and dripping cum. The other brothers of his fraternity didn’t so much as bat an eye at this. Showing it was a regular occurrence even before his sudden gravid state.

Mitch was already pent up, and the consultant influx of hormones from his pregnancy wasn't helping. He stayed semi-hard the entire walk down the hall. There had to be someone in this house who could get him off.

Mitch came by Trevor and Corey, in a room watching porn. They were jerking buddies, always seen jerking off together or jerking the other off. If nothing else, maybe they'll be willing to jerk him off. Being pregnant had its disadvantages, like not being able to reach it.

They were in the room across from Mitch's dorm room. It was Corey who caught sight of a very horny and very pregnant Mitch. 

“Whoa hey there Mitch, got a minute?” Corey called out

Mitch caught sight of the two of them. Cocks out. It had been a while since he’d seen them like that Trevor was pretty big, while Corey had a bigger head. Mitch could feel his cock twitching. 

“What do you want guys?” Mitch asked

“Maybe we can have some fun?”Corey asked Mitch

“Yeah,” Trevor let out, “your belly is super hot,” Trevor commented

Mitch stood in the doorframe. “Think you two can handle me?”

The two grinned. Corey scooted over. He was patting the bed inviting Mitch in. 

Mitch went over and sat there at the edge of the bed. Trevor stood up rubbing his hand and cock against Mitch’s huge pregnant belly. Corey was jerking off feeling up Mitch’s swollen pecs. Though tender, Mitch always liked having his pecs and nipples played with. Neither could avoid looking at his huge belly. Mitch got a glacé of Trevor's huge cock while he furiously beat his meat.

Trevor was grunting as he jerked himself off his cock brushing up against Mitch's baby belly. Corey got to his feet, leaning over and jerking off while he quickly flicked his tongue over Mitch’s nipple. Mitch could feel his cock twitching heavily. Mitch was so pent up and he desperately needed a good dicking. the way they were going at it he wanted them to go ahead and do it “Oh yeah, fuck my pregnant ass,” he begged in a sensual whisper

Trevor groaned his cock pulses and flared. "Fuck!" He let out as he fired a fat load onto Mitch's belly.  

Mitch tried to keep a stoic face. Trying to hide his disappointment. “Fucking shit!” He raged in his mind

Trevor backed up and Corey came over ready to blow his load on Mitch's pregnant belly. “Fuck that was hot,” Trevor let out coming down from his orgasmic high.

Mitch felt it again the pain was a bit more intense and getting harder to ignore. Corey threw a towel on Mitch's belly, the shafting scent of cum was driving him insane.

“Thanks, I've been edging for hours,” Corey let out

 Mitch whipped away quickly, got up, and left. Ignoring those two. “Fucking hell!” He whined low and angrily leaving their room. 

He’d been through a few guys already. And not a single one of them got him off. There weren't any sex toys in the house. Mitch was getting frustrated. Mitch was ready to give up, he stormed into his room. “God fucking dammit,” groaning and mumbling about the disappointing sex

“There you are,” a voice rang out

Mitch looked, seeing it was Joe. A friend from his pre-pregnancy gym days. “Not now Joe,” Mitch said angrily

“What can I stop by and see my buddy?” Joe asked

“I'm not in the mood,” Mitch relented

“I'm just here to talk bud, I haven't seen you in a while,”

Mitch was standing there, and the pain came again. Mitch just closed his eyes tensed his lips and clenched his fist.

Joe's attitude changed quickly. “What's wrong?”

“It's nothing! God I'm not fragile I'm just fucking knocked up!”

“No one's saying you’re fragile but you're obviously in some kind of pain,”

Mitch stomped his foot down, shouting at Joe, “I AM NOT IN PAIN!!”

Suddenly, splat. He felt it fall out of his ass suddenly and quickly. The pressure waned and the moments after felt like hours. Everything moved in slow motion. Joe was quick to get to his phone.

Mitch looked down as best he could at the floor where his feet might be. He could feel something wet and see a slight puddle. What was this? He wondered in that lengthened moment.

“His water broke!” He could hear Joe say into his phone

“My,” Mitch started to say

He was stopped and the pain came by quickly. It was strong and came far faster than before. He couldn't keep a straight face, his knees wanting to buckle. Joe went to catch him.

Mitch didn't hear a word anyone around him was saying. It all felt dragged out.

It was twenty minutes before an ambulance was there barging through the door. One of the EMTs asked Mitch something. “Huh?”

“How far apart are the contractions?”

“The, con- I dunno, maybe fifteen I dunno,” he felt it surge through him again

“Thirty minutes?” The EMT asked

Joe responded “Umm,”

“Rrrgggh,” Mitch let out

“Less than ten,” Joe replied

“These must've been happening all day,” the EMT commented

Mitch hadn't yet felt the baby drop into his birth canal. The EMT driving radioed in a possibly five to six centimeters dilation. Joe got left behind as Mitch was rushed to hospital. Whatever he needed to say to Mitch would need to wait.

Mitch did his best to endure the pain. Getting to the hospital he was informed of the bad news. He wasn't fully dilated, so they'd need to wait. 

“You're only five centimeters dilated. We need you at ten,” his doctor told him

“How long will that be?” Mitch asked concerned

“It could be hours, we'll just have to wait and see,”

“Hours?” Mitch let out a groan feeling another contraction

The doctor simply acknowledged he was in pain and instructed the nurses to offer him some pain relief as best they could. And try some activities to help him speed up the process along.

Mitch tried waddling around but feeling the contractions he wanted to fall to the floor. They were getting stronger and faster. A sure sign the baby would be here soon. They were still several minutes apart. 

He tried to rest by closing his eyes but it didn't last for very long as the contractions got closer and closer with the hours passing. It was already six hours since Mitch arrived at the hospital. It didn't look to be resolving anytime soon.

Hours later l, He called in the nurse complaining about pressure and an urge to push down in his lower stomach.

“That sounds like baby is ready,” she checked him real quick, “yup little ones starting to come out,”

It was almost over. He just had to push out the baby. He kept trying to remember those lessons from his Lamaze classes. His breathing would be important. His doctor was finally here and ready, it was time to begin.

“Remember to breathe,” the nurse told him demonstrating a quick in and out several times

“Alright everybody, let's deliver a baby,” the doctor told his three assistants

Mitch followed the instructions the doctor gave him. Mitch laid at an angle almost like a squat. His balls were nested in a partial jock to keep them out of the way of the doctor's view of his anus. 

“Alright.” His doctor began to instruct. Give us a nice big push on three, two, one, and push”

Mitch tried to push and he could feel the baby slowly coming out. He stopped to catch his breath. Once he felt good enough to continue he gave them the okay. Again the doctor called out, “Three, two, one, and push!”

Mitch tried to push again. It didn't feel like he was making any progress. Stopping to catch his breath he could hear the nurses say, “Good job, good job,”

Mitch felt like he was struggling. 

This continued for some time. Mitch would push until he caught his breath. After each push, he could feel the baby creeping further and further along. It didn't feel like the baby had gone far at all, but his doctor kept insisting he was going well. It had been over eight hours since his water broke. He couldn't feel his legs anymore. He was seeing stars and was exhausted. 

“You're doing very well young man,” his doctor said

The nurses encouraged him to keep going. With barely any strength left, he tried to push again, the baby was almost there a few more inches. They counted aloud, “Big push in three, two, one, and push!”

Mitch tried to push again. He could feel the baby going the weight pressing against everything as they inched out. Mutch could feel the baby's head getting closer, the weight already pressing on his prostate. Once he stopped pushing he felt the baby slide into place. The head was already crowning, when suddenly he felt the shift as the baby moved forward. The head was now completely out and the weight of his soon-to-be-born baby was crushing his prostate. 

Mitch yelped suddenly. The pressure made his eyes cross and his muscles tense. His limp cock suddenly became half-chub. As it started firing off jets of cum into the air, landing against part of his belly and thigh. The nurses were unphased, one whipped him off with a rag. The doctor so much as proclaimed “he popped, were in the home stretch,”

Mitch had learned this was a possibility. But it didn't make it any less embarrassing. The urge to push and the sudden relaxing euphoria of finally releasing a long pent-up orgasm was a conflicting sensation. His whole lower half was going numb as he continued to try and push.

Getting the shoulders free was the tough part. Mitch had run out of steam and each attempt made him feel weaker. Despite that he finally did manage to free the baby, giving his doctor enough to pull the baby out the rest of the way. Mitch could only tell the feeling of emptiness. His eyes were heavy, closing slowly as the numbness took over. 

He felt something small on him, his arm on his chest. Lazily he cradled one arm around it. Opening his eyes to see a full head of hair on his newborn's head. Mitch wrapped his other arm cradling the baby with a gentle tightness. With delivery over they were here. MItch’s little girl had arrived.

Recovering from delivery Mitch was visited by some of his fraternity brothers. A few of them were arguing over who the father was before they entered the room. Getting in and seeing Mitch lay there exhausted and a cleaned newborn sleeping near him tufts of red hair spilling out from under her pink cap they all knew. 

“BRONSON!” shouted loudly 

His frat brothers had to quickly remind him to be quiet. It was true. Bronson was the father, him being the only redhead in the frat easily narrowed that down. It was almost a day before Mitch could walk again. Getting to hold his fussy daughter. Thinking to himself that, “This is the only kid I'm having,” he thought to himself

Getting back to Alpha Rho Sigma house his brothers threw him a welcome home party. He was going to move next door to the ‘den’ as they called it. It was the house the guys would move into after having their baby. Quite and not as much sex. “We'll miss you Mitch,”

“I'm just going next door,” was his response

Many of his frat brothers would say the same thing during that little party they threw for him. Mitch would just respond the same way to each of them. 

“Wow you look cute with the kid,” Bronson had told him at the party “Definitely DILF material,”

Mitch hid his enjoyment of that compliment and thanked him stoically.

After the party, Mitch moved and a few other guys walked his personal things over to the den. A house literally next door to them. Not a fence being the only degree of separation. 

An enthusiastic pudgy young man welcomed Mitch there. A toddler strapped to his hip and obviously carrying another one. He showed him around real quick, the nursery, sitting room, kitchen, the bathroom - everything was child-proofed so he'd “need to get used to that.”

Mitch saw a room with a little heart on it, when he asked what it was his guide seemed to blush, “That's the hanky panky room. Us daddies need to get the edge off too,”

“Oh,” Mitch responded with nervousness

His guide explained how a few of them were on their second pregnancy already. Mitch didn't quite catch it, looking down at his sleeping daughter. Nervously his thoughts began to lean towards something naughty. Something hard and passionate. If he gave into it, he'd most certainly get pregnant again. Thankfully his lower body was far too tender still to even humor the idea.

[loki-is-my-kink-awakening]

WIP Wednesday

Brad x Lokius. After the interrogation scene, these three need to work things out. Also, glitter will be involved later. 🤭

Brad had been having a bad day. First, his favourite sandwich was sold out in the cafeteria. Then, he’d bumped into someone carrying printer ink and it had spilled all over his clothes. And now, he found himself being pulled into a room by none other than Loki Laufeyson. “What do you want?” he growled, ready to push the trickster away and leave when he saw Mobius step inside, eyebrows raised and that look in his eye Brad had seen plenty of times before. The heavy door shut behind them with a clunk. “Hmm, what do I want?” Loki chuckled, walking over and twisting Brad around, shoving him towards the large double bed, the only other thing in this small room. Quite how it had gotten here, Brad didn’t really want to know. His only curiosity was why here and why now. He sat down, turning around and shuffling up the bed, his eyes flickering between the two of them. “So, you couldn’t resist. Well, I’m not surprised.” Mobius stepped forward, hands twitching by his side. “The last time we were all together in a room there was a great deal of…tension.” “That there was,” Brad said, his smirk deepening. He turned his attention to Loki. “Did you ever manage to see a therapist?” If he expected his words to wipe the grin off of Loki’s face, he had miscalculated. Loki’s eyes sparkled and he took off his large brown coat, dropping it dramatically on the floor. “Oh, I think this will be all the therapy I need.” “Hmm, brave words. You haven’t had a taste of me yet.” Brad wasn’t sure what he expected, but if Loki was up for a fuck, he wasn’t going to say no. “I have not.” Loki licked his lips. “Let’s rectify that.”

I can't express how much glitter will be involved later. Those who know know.

Tags below the cut

Tagged by @kcscribbler @lokimobius and @cha-melodius

Passing onto my fellow creatives to see what you're working on @starport-seven-five @dewdropreader @lgwilt @dreamycloud

@insert-witty-user-name-here @mirilyawrites @chaos-monkeyy

@elodiah @thosegayoldmen @mystic-voyager @impulsemuppet @peppermintkamz

@in-my-loki-feels @stillwanderingflame @kusakichan15 @boredintjqueen @silentxsymphony

@rins-love-wins @doomed-spectacles @devilbearingtrouble @andthekitchensinkao3

@loki-tree-of-life @sparrow-the-tired-lesbian @starrose17 @blackbirdofasgard @illiasha

@primewritessmut @ceeceetv @voulezvulcan @lettingtimepass @typewriterwolf  

@fibvlaa @lumintsu @raynecreates @wolfpup026 @mobius-m-mobius

@asoeiki @natendo-art

And if you've read to this point and aren't tagged but want to show off your WIPs, please consider yourself tagged (and please tag me so I can see).

[anxiety-elemental-kay]

On Plants, Selfhood, and Seeking a Collective

[Image ID: Crop of several panels from TriMax volume 11 chapter 8. In this scene Chronica is interfacing with the used entity that consumed Domina. Chronica observes the mass and says "We as a species naturally do not have a concept of self, and therefor instead have a deep shared consciousness. That is why these plants are able to use without major difficulties." Then we see Chronica reach her hand toward one of the plants within and appear to gain information from her. End ID]

I told myself I was going to hold onto my Trigun thoughts until book club finished the series because I keep falling behind. Then I saw these panels and started chewing on a thought and since it's not really meta and more speculation I figured I'd write a quick little thing about Independent plants and selfhood.

Here we see Chronica interacting with the fused entity Knives made that was left behind/still attached to Domina. Chronica's comment about "We as a species naturally do not have a concept of self, and therefor instead have a deep shared consciousness." has really stuck with me and I've been trying to suss out possible implications for this, because she doesn't seem to be talking just about the dependent plants here. It's 'WE as a species', no distinction is made between different kinds of plants. Maybe it's nothing but the thought won't leave me alone SO:

I've been trying to look back at Vash and Knives through this lens to see if there's anything to glean there. Independents clearly do have a sense of self, and understand themselves to be unique individuals. They don't seem attached to any kind of hive mind the way dependent plants are, though they do have some minor telepathic powers and can communicate with dependent plants.

Mostly I was wondering if Independent plants have some instinct/predispositions toward certain needs or behaviors they cannot meet or fulfill as Independents?

(Subtopic: Does this mean there are therapists that specialize in Independent mental health, if they have specific needs/pressures that are different enough from humans?)

Knives and Vash suffered similar trauma when they discovered Tesla, and both felt sudden and violent isolation from everyone else on that ship, albeit in different ways. As adults they both isolate themselves in different ways: Knives keeps others at arms length so as to not disrupt his worldview, where as Vash's wandering lifestyle and danger-magnet-ness generally keeps him from forming lasting relationships.

Humans are social creatures and we'll generally pack-bond with anything, and it's hard to tell if it's similar for plants. Do they feel the same need to socialize/form bonds, or are Independents seeking out a collective/hivemind they instinctively seek but can never find? They clearly can feel lonely and isolated, but does it feel different for them? Does that pain come from a different place for a plant than a human?

Then there's this spread in the same chapter as the above panels:

[Image ID: A two page spread from TriMax volume 11 chapter 8. It's a closeup of Vash, bleeding from every hole in his head, his eyes wide. He lays near the edge of a huge drop-off, and far below him is pitch darkness lit with lights like a city at night as seen from above. It is unclear if the lights below are the plants, from the human city, or something else. End ID]

Since this is in the same chapter which opens with Chronica saying the line above, I was wondering if these two moments were connected somehow. Does the reminder that there are people who depend on him, a collective who needs him? He seems surprised when Brad, Meryl, and Milly made their diversion to stop the military. He generally seems to struggle with the idea that other people want to help him. Something something Vash both is and isn't part of the human society he lives in???

To what degree does Vash see himself as a person versus something that belongs to a collective, whether that collective is humans, plants, or both? Does an inborn need/desire to serve a collective predispose him to self-destructive behavior? Same with Knives, did the trauma of losing a perceived collective (discovering Tesla and losing the sense of belonging with humans) fuel his future hate and fear of humans in a way that he wouldn't have felt if he weren't an Independent?

Maybe there's something in the next volumes I don't remember that address this somehow. Part of what's fun about this reread is rediscovering things or connections I missed the first time, and all the meta people write pointing out things I might have missed entirely on my own! (Blows a kiss to everyone who posts meta on Tumblr ya'll are great and smart and thank you for sharing!)

Like I said, there's no real conclusion I'm making here, just kicking around an idea to see if it fits. Not sure it does, but putting it out there to get it out of my head and see what other people think.

[lol-jackles]

How much of a hand do you think Brad Schwartz had in the Walker cancellation? He seemed pretty insulting and arrogant in some of the interviews he gave, saying that they didn’t feel a rush to make a decision by an “arbitrary” deadline (the Upfronts), essentially leaving the cast and crew hanging in the balance (though I know there’s so much we don’t know that happened behind the scenes). And from him initially saying that “as long as it performs” and that it wasn’t a question of finances but then whining over the economics and license fee (please forgive me for not providing citations but it’s been common knowledge this he said this and I’m too mad to look anything up right now). Why would he be so disrespectful and duplicitous toward the production and the general public? I would think that wouldn’t bode well for his long-term credibility but what do I know? I know that all the moguls are hatchet men but as far as I know, even THEY don’t seem to blatantly lie so obviously to the public. Thanks, and sorry for the rant. I just hate it when people are treated so poorly. I love your blog.

I was about to yell at this Anon below for not including the sources...

And then I saw your Ask/rant, and no problem, rant rant away!

Seems that these...well, I hesitate to call them "friends" per se... felt that they, er, I mean Jared and the cast and crew were bring strung along while the PR fight between CW and CBS was being played out in the media.

I admit, it felt a little disrespectful. But it's the business side of show business. Jared knows this and professional has to display grace. But his .....how should I put it nicely..... ~acquaintances ...... don't have to and may think they're $tanding up for Jared.

As for Brad, he'll be remember in the long line of CEO with very questionable actions: former CW president Dawn Ostroff tried to kill Supernatural in its 6th season, former CBS CEO Les Moonves hated Star Trek and killed Enterprise, Angel had an infamous series finale because it was cancelled due to "power play" between Fox and WB.

[cleabellanov]

Jet-Skiing through Identity: a deep dive into Mobius M. Mobius (part 5)🚤

The analyst is now going on missions, and he is doing such a great job. Plus, he's looking damn good doing it.

I think that in episode 2, "Breaking Brad" (one of my favs, like i really really love this one) , we get to see both extremes of Mobius as a character, which is great! We begin with his steady personality, looking for trouble to resolve it, not to cause it.

This is when we can see Mobius and Loki use that trust that they previously built, and working together. The comfort emanated in the scene where they're trying to fix that TemPad, for example, feels so good and natural specifically because it has background. (...and they're very, very good together. And Tom and Owen always knew what they were doing. Anyway, you get the point.)

Brad/ X-5 is a complicated person, and the others knew that when trying to get information out of him. Does that stop Mobius from trying to ease the atmosphere with one of his jokes? No: he's still running to the beat of a good heart, he can't help it. His way of being, this approach, is part of him, and we've seen that in season 1 as well.

The trigger is, however, pulled in him when Brad tells him he's a nowhere man. He usually endures things well, so what made him snap this time?

I think that hearing it out loud, AND put like that (f u brad), Mobius finally got hurt by the emotions he was trying so hard to suppress.

Distancing from that, and all the past he knows nothing about, he alienated from himself too, because they are essentialy part of him.

Saying "You're a nowhere man" to Mobius is similar to saying "What, like you did with your mother?" to Loki. It's a half truth that hurts especially because it was left in the darkness. Like someone flashing a lantern in your eyes after you've been wandering though a cavern.

We can see he uses denial too as a coping mechanism, in our most beloved scene: the pie room one. He doesn't admit it at first, but with Loki being Loki (and the person he cares the most about as well), he admits he's wrong: "Listen, that wasn't tactical. I lost it".

So it's not pride when he doesn't want to see his mistakes! it's a need to make everything perfect, for others more than for himself.

It's also no secret that Mobius finds comfort in food, especially pie. So having a sweet with Loki certainly calms him down.

Next, he tells Loki:

"The TVA is the only life I've ever known. I like it!"

and

"Something bad I can handle. What if it's something good?"

Does he really like his life there, or only the meaning of it?

I interpret him not wanting to look, not even now, for avoiding feeling guilty about leaving that behind. Maybe he even draws a parallel, and realizing that he has a life on the timeline it hits harder that so did all the people from the timelines he pruned

But also, he can't leave his mission! He can't leave Loki! Remember how in season 1 he told Ravonna that if he could go anywhere, anytime, he'd go to his place on the timeline? This changes now, when it's actually possible. A life he never known doesn't have a purpose for him. This one, though? This one definitely does.

One last thing thing I want to mention *for today* is how sweet Mobius is telling Loki that he's the God of Mischief. After years of this title being used negatively, Mobius says it as a compliment. He not only knows the comfort of touch (s2e1), but of words of affirmation too:

see you for the next part!! I underestimated how long this series of analysis would be :)), but only 2 more parts to go 💙

[umlewis]

At the Invitation of Rimowa, Lewis Hamilton Makes A Pit Stop With ELLE

One of the most influential drivers in Formula 1 and protagonist of Rimowa's new campaign, Lewis Hamilton talks about traveling the world, his motivation after seven world titles, and his passion for fashion.

Lewis Hamilton started traveling at the age of thirteen because of motorsport. At 22 he joined Formula 1, which meant visiting around twenty countries for nine months, each year of the championship, and he has contested eighteen seasons so far. "Getting to know different places, and especially different cultures, really helped expand my mind and my understanding of the world," says the pilot. Naturally, then, the Englishman is one of the protagonists of the new campaign by Rimowa, a German brand that is a reference in luxury luggage. Named Never Still (or "always on the move"), it brings together personalities who have travel as the engine of their personal journey and evolution. And Hamilton never stopped surpassing himself. Born into a working-class English family, he has won seven world titles, a feat he shares only with Michael Schumacher. He also has the highest number of victories, pole positions and podiums in the most important category in world motorsport. After 945 days without a win, he took the top spot on his home podium at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone last month in one of the most thrilling achievements of his career. "There were times when I thought this would never happen again. (…) I had never cried when crossing the finish line," he said in the interview after the race. "That's what happens when you keep going. We stand up," he wrote on his Instagram profile, thanking his team, Mercedes. In the following race in Hungary he achieved the 200th podium of his career. After twelve years at the German team, the Englishman will start racing for Ferrari in 2025, in one of the most talked about moves in the sport in recent times.

The first (and still only) black driver in F1, he became a voice against racism and in defense of diversity in the sport, taking a firm stand in the midst of Black Lives Matter. Hamilton was not afraid to contrast the homogeneous look of his circuit colleagues, with his dreadlocks, tattoos and jewelry. His passion for fashion is clear-he has walked the Met Gala red carpet a few times, collaborates with major brands, is a constant presence in the front rows-and his willingness to dare. The driver shows a lot of his choices behind the scenes on the circuit, reinforcing his connection with fashion under the spotlight of F1. "I don't always get it right, but I think it's a matter of personal expression," he says. The Englishman also expressed several times his admiration for Ayrton Senna, who he chose as an idol when he was still a child. In 2022 Hamilton gained the title of honorary Brazilian citizen, and at the beginning of this year he went to Bahia to spend his rare days of dolce far niente. Away from the track he opened his own film production company, with which he is preparing a feature film about F1 with Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem, in which he will also act. Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick), the production had scenes filmed at the British Grand Prix last year. At a pit stop in Seoul, where he posed for the photos that accompany this article, the driver spoke about his connection with Brazil, his admiration for Senna, travel, and fashion.

You will turn forty in 2025. What has age brought you? How different do you see yourself, compared to your twenties and thirties? "Deep down I'm still the boy I always was, but much more sure of myself, of what I want and where I want to go. I'm more comfortable with myself, in my own skin, enjoying my creativity, whether in music (Hamilton composes), or in fashion and sport. This brings me a lot of joy. At twenty everyone is a little lost, trying to figure out what they are and what to do. I feel like I have a north star. I think the forties will be the best. I will make them the best."

You've won seven world titles, broken a series of records, founded your own charity organization, and star in Rimowa's campaign. What motivates you? What are you looking for in the coming years? "You need to remember that life is short, to be present and find a balance between work and family. I am extremely motivated and I want to use the time I have here well. One of the things I'm most proud of is Mission 44 (an institution founded by the pilot with a focus on creating a more inclusive future for young people) and the work we are doing. Last year in São Paulo I managed to take sixty children from the city to the Autódromo de Interlagos, showing them the circuit, the pits and everything. I spent some time with them, who had ideas on how to solve some of the problems they face in Brazilian education and society. These are things I want to continue developing. I want to find out how I can use this initiative to impact people, especially children, who are the future. We need to encourage and create platforms for the next generation; the new innovators, the new designers, the new artists."

You've spent much of the last few years traveling the world. How did this influence you as a human being and as a pilot? "I started traveling when I was thirteen years old. I'm very lucky to be able to see the world. It's very different when you start traveling at a young age. Everything is the first time; the first time in Brazil, the first time in Italy. This news is so special. It's sad that you don't have the first time again, because it's very difficult to have the same feeling. Getting to know different places and especially different cultures really helped expand my mind and my understanding of the world, how vast it is and how different people interact. At the same time, we are all human beings and have a lot in common. I feel like it helped me understand humanity better, to have compassion, and I think you can be a better person when you have that understanding, unlike being in one city or country for many years."

What's never missing from your suitcase? "Face mask, a book or two, my laptop and headphones. These are the things I can't travel without."

You always seem very comfortable in Brazil. What attracts you to the country? "The thing I love most about Brazil is the people, the energy. When I was younger, growing up in England, it was the colors-the green and yellow of football shirts-that attracted me. I watched many Brazilian team games. And, of course, there was Senna. When I saw advertisements and documentaries about him, I could hear Brazilian music and drums in the background. I saw Carnival and how people celebrated. Every time I met Brazilians in England, they said, "I love it, I love the country." I don't think I've ever met anyone of another nationality who was so passionate about their country. So when I finally went to Brazil, I felt the energy. It's a very diverse country, which I love. I feel at home."

You are an honorary Brazilian citizen. "Yes. I need to learn Portuguese. [laughs]"

Your admiration for Senna is well known. Among so many F1 idols, how did your connection with the Brazilian come about? You were only nine years old when he died. "I started watching races when I spent the weekends with my father. I remember starting to watch them when I was around four years old. I was a very active boy and getting me to sit down was not easy, but for some reason I stopped with him for the grand prix. Ayrton's toy car models were what I wanted for Christmas. When I watched his videos, I felt like I understood the things he represented, how honest he was. I wanted to drive his way. I felt a connection. I remember I was racing (in a kart) the day he died and my father came to deliver the news. It knocked me down. At nine years old I had not yet had this experience. I remember crying for weeks. It was difficult and strange because I didn't know him, he wasn't from my country, but he meant so much to me. Over these years, I learned to love the person he was."

You really like fashion; you have a defined style. How would you describe it and what do you enjoy using it most? "I would say it is urban chic, quite sophisticated. I like taking risks. I love fashion, and when you enter this world you see how diverse and creative it is. I love being in that space, because I absorb a lot of inspiration. In everyday life, I love being comfortable. For example, I flew here in this sweater. Right now I'm creating amazing tailoring, something similar to suits but more comfortable than regular suits. I'm constantly learning from people and the fashion world. I don't always get it right, but I think it's a matter of personal expression."

[thegettingbyp2]

I have a feeling that Austin is very protective so how about a request where you grew up in the spotlight, your dad is like Brad Pitt or something and you are out with his friends and they are bringing up the Brangelina divorce and all the allegations and stuff and are like calling you a nepo baby and are joking that Austin is only with you to get close to your dad when Austin went to the bathroom or something it upsets you but you don’t want to make a scene but then Austin notices you are sad and you can take it from there.

I'm With You for You

You were sitting in a bar surrounded by your boyfriend and some of his best friends. It was the first time in God knows how long that you’d been able to see Austin for a period of longer than a couple of hours so you weren’t going to miss the opportunity to spend time with him, even if that meant spending time with all of his friends as well. You’d managed to find a seat in the back of the bar so that you were able to hide from any paparazzi that were trying to catch a glimpse of you; being the daughter of someone like Brad Pitt sounded great on paper, but you never got a moment of privacy because of it. At the moment, the paparazzi were trying extra hard to get pictures/interviews with you, trying to get your opinion on the divorce that your dad was currently going through.

Matt, one of Austin’s friend, was joking around about an article that had recently been released about you, listing more facts that were untrue than true. While you smiled and quietly laughed along with the comments, Austin could tell that they were beginning to get under your skin slightly as he wrapped his arm around your shoulder and pulled you in to press a gentle kiss to your temple.

‘You okay? Want me to tell them to stop?’ he asked quietly so only you could hear.

‘I’m fine,’ you reassured him, pressing your forehead against his briefly, kissing his cheek. ‘They’re just having a laugh.’

Austin looked at you with a dubious expression, not fully believing you but he turned his attention back to his friends, his fingers tracing comforting circles around your shoulder, letting you know that he was there. The evening continued, with Austin’s friends ramping up the jokes at your expense the more alcohol that they consumed. Even though they were making you slightly uncomfortable, you were fine until they made a comment that had your entire body running cold.

Austin had excused himself to go to the bathroom so you were left to fend for yourself for a couple of minutes, which was absolutely fine, until Matt spoke up once again.

‘We kid, (Y/N), we know none of that’s true. But the rumours about Austin only being with you so he can get an in with your dad…not too sure about that. I mean, how do you think he got in Once Upon A Time in Hollywood?’ You could tell by his tone of voice that he was joking, there was no way anyone could ever think Austin was with you for any other reason other than that he loved you, but that was a rumour you’d now heard one too many times. Laughing lightly along with the rest of the guys, you quietly excused yourself to go to the bathroom, hoping they didn’t see the tears that were gathering in your eyes.

Not looking where you were going, you crashed into a familiar feeling body and you were instantly surrounded by the comforting scent of Austin. His hands came out to your waist, steadying you as he saw the tears that had begun to fall from your eyes and his eyes filled with concern straight away.

‘Baby, what’s wrong?’

‘Nothing,’ you said quickly, brushing the tears away, refusing to meet his gaze. ‘I’m just on my way to the bathroom.’ Austin didn’t give you a chance to walk away, instead, wrapping his arm around your waist and steering you back in the direction he had just come. ‘Austin, what are you doing?! This is the men’s room,’ you protested as he pulled you into a cubicle and locked it behind him before turning to look at you.

‘(Y/N), what happened while I was gone?’ Austin pressed and you knew that he wasn’t going to let up until you told him; it was something that you loved about him, even when it annoyed you sometimes.

‘Just Matt and some of the guys were still making jokes about those articles and then he started talking about the rumour about you only being with me because of who my dad is and - ’

‘Tell me you didn’t believe them.’ You stayed quiet after he spoke and kept your head down, not wanting to admit that the thought had crossed your mind. You heard Austin sigh sadly above you and he crouched down until you were forced to look into his eyes. ‘You believed them, didn’t you?’

‘I’m sorry,’ you said quietly, a small sob escaping your lips as Austin was quick to pull you into his arms, running his hand up and down your back soothingly. He stayed silent, aside from the small whispers of love and adoration he gave you, whilst you cried. When you pulled your head out of his neck, you gave him a sad smile and he brought his thumb up to brush the tears from under your eyes.

‘Baby, don’t listen to them,’ he said, clutching your hands in his. ‘I’m not with you for any reason other than that I’m crazy about you. I don’t care who your family is, we could have both had normal, everyday jobs and I still believe that I would have found you.’

‘You really think so?’ you asked hopefully, making Austin grin and press a gentle kiss to your lips.

‘I really do, because I’m with you for you, and no other reason despite what everyone else says. They don’t know us.’

‘I love you so much,’ you said, pulling him in for a deeper kiss, clutching at his white t-shirt, trying to keep him as close as possible.

‘I love you too, how about we get out of here and head home, curl up in bed with a movie?’

‘That sounds amazing! What about your friends?’

‘I’ll deal with them tomorrow. They made my girl cry and I’m not going to stand for that. They can figure out that we left for themselves.’

[natashasbitxh]

Finally got to see Peter Pan Goes Wrong in West End with Charlie Russell, Matthew Cavendish, Greg Tannahill, Matthew Howell, Harry Kershaw, Clark Devlin, Jamie Birkett, Chris Leask, Ellie Morris, and Jean-Luke Worrell! They were all amazing, I thought I'd share some of my fav bits! (Warning: There's a lot)

• Firstly, programme stuff: the note from the director basically just being Chris and Trevor arguing like a married couple. Chris being too scientific and Trevor having to remind him it's supposed to be festive.

● Them leaving a note asking if anybody was a flying operator as they didn't currently have one😭

• Robert leaving the children of the Cornley Youth Theatre abandoned in a forest with limited food and knives,to prepare for their performance of Lord of the Flies. NSPCC and police had to intervene, 2 of the children are still missing today (Ben McIntyre and Sarah Cordell)

• Jonathon's interview where's he's practically begging the interviewer to take note he was 'fashionably late', when he was actually waiting for 6 hours.

• Jonathon saying (in the interview), he's been focusing on humanitarian work, such as adopting a child from Ethiopia and a child from Vietnam. And then the interviewer just replied with "That is Brad Pitt. Everything you have just said is about Brad Pitt and not yourself."

• In the cast section, Chris Bean writing "I would like to remind my father that there is a spare ticket at the box office for him if he chooses to show up." That's so sad😭

• Trevor's section ended with "trevorzbeatz/YouTube.co.uk" 😭

• Pip (assistant stage manager) just says: "They call me Big Pip up north. Trevor's cousin. Out and about and that. Nice one." Like okay yh me too Big Pip

• They tried to feed the crocodile an alarm clock😭 (RIP Nadia tho😔)

• Annie left a little note saying she's "looking for a man" and then there's some description of what she's (not) looking for

• A page saying welcome to the theatre, but it is still very much in character😭 "Director Chris Bean always fulfils his promise of giving us a show we will remember for a very long time."

•Pre-show antics: one of the assistant stage managers (I'm gonna guess Pip? Not too sure tho) was walking around looking for a hammer. I noticed that he'd act like he was looking around and then when he spotted a child he'd go and ask them. I thought that was cute🥹

• I couldn't see the wires going through the audience cause I had seats up high, but I did see Robert pulling the end of the wire whilst on stage with the help of an audience member

• Dennis was late I think, ran across the stage from the audience with a bag on

• Lucy suddenly ran off stage, Robert not far behind shouting things like "You have to do it!" (And then later on she ran back on stage,but it seemed Robert got caught up in a convo)

• Now onto the actual show, I thought Dennis singing les mis due to his headgear was pretty funny seeing as les mis was about a door or 2 down

• At one point we were clapping for something (can't remember what, but it was during the beginning Darling Family scene), and Max joined in with the clapping. Sandra had to tell him to stop with a pointed glare and a lil hand gesture

• Every appearance with Robert as the shadow was amazing, I know it's simple but I'm always impressed with the rug pull and the way he lands

• During the bit where there's too much smoke and it engulfs the pirates, Trevor comes to the rescue but does hit Chris in the arse by accident, christrev anybody?

• I will forever love Robert trying to get Dennis to pick up the sword, Dennis picking up the boat paddle and Robert going on a rant about how he's been moving his arms for the past 5 mins why would he need the paddle

• During the interval the lights would still go out occasionally, fun touch

• As Jonathan flew up before crashing down, a banner fell down with Robert holding a bean, a reference of his show Jack and the bean

• Before this, I'd only seen the BBC recorded version of Peter Pan Goes Wrong, so I rlly enjoyed the changes. Such as the mermaids, but I RLLY laughed at Robert being the Mr Bumble in Oliver that killed a child. Especially when he went to be Peter Pan before starting to sing 'Food, Glorious Food"

• The whole poison bit was incredible, Harry's improv was on FIRE. We obvs did the traditional pantomime business which made Chris mad, he very much gave teacher vibes as he sat down on the set and said it was our own time we were wasting. He also complained that this was only the matinée and they still had an evening performance to get to. Then he pointed out how somebody in the audience was hissing, "Nobody goes to a show and says 'Yeah it was good but the person in the fourth row wouldn't stop hissing'" (this resulted in a lot of children hissing whenever he appeared on stage). Then when it got to the poison bit, a child was yelling at him to hurry up, causing Chris to go on a rant about how he didn't even want children there, sitting there on their booster seats. After the child yelled at him multiple times, Chris gave up and told the child to open it for him, which they did. Then as he was leaving, we were booing again and he was like "NO NO DONT BOO ME, IT WAS THE CHILD THAT POISIONED HIM." Then as he exited, he said something along the lines of "blame the child murderer." It was insane.

• Then, when Peter asked who would try to poison him, Tink/Annie pointed at the child that opened the bottle. I think Chris Leask actually had to turn his head downwards and to the side to hide his laughing.

• I've pointed this out before, but I'm so endeared with how worried Chris was when Annie was unconscious. HE KNEELED THERE HOVERING OVER HER BODY JUST LIKE TOUCHING HER FACE, NOT SPEAKING FOR AWHILE. Adorable. Every characters reaction was adorable...sorry Annie

• I just have to say Francis' Cabaret performance to distract us from Annie was amazing. Loved the audience clapping along as well and the rest of the cast looking absolutely shocked and confused

• I loved that we heard a whole marriage fall apart through Dennis' headgear. I want to know more abt them, the husband that took over to help Dennis sounded sweet

• When Lucy slid down the ship in her wheelchair she was flung out and then caught by Trevor in a sort of bear hug, Lucy's legs wrapped around his torso. Trevor was SEVERELY judging the cast HE WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THEM. They're besties ur honour, I thought it was so cute

• Loved Francis' Cabaret performance again during the big fight scene with the set moving.

• Trevor saying something like "You've got to be joking" when Lucy picked up the book 😭

• I wanted to scream laugh at Chris lying in the bed like an ill victorian child as Lucy closed up the story, and then Dennis choosing to lie on the squished bottom bunk

• As Lucy continued to read, Chris, Sandra, Trevor, Dennis, and Max were all checking up on one another in the background. Hugs, shoulder grabs. Guys, I love Sandra and Chris' dynamic so much, Sandra was making sure he got off the bed alright and then gave him a hug

• Of course the whole end song, Max as the crocodile encouraging us to clap

It was so amazing, everybody was fantastic!! My jaw still aches from laughing so hard! Hope ppl found this interesting cause I always love when other ppl share what happened during their show😭

[roy-dcm2]

Solving DC's Identity Crisis (2004)

Back in 2004, DC Comics teamed up with novelist Brad Meltzer to deliver one of the most controversial comic stories ever printed. Identity Crisis has many criticisms, but one of them is despite Meltzer's pedigree as a mystery writer, they say you CANNOT solve the mystery at the center of Identity Crisis.

Who killed Sue Dibny?

I am here to present the evidence that you COULD possibly put together the twist ending before it's revealed in the final part of the story.

Let's star by looking at the crime scenes:

The Four Incidents

The first detail that should be pointed out is how startlingly different each "attack" was: Sue was burned. Jean was strangled. Jack took a boomerang in the chest, and Lois did not actually get attacked.

Despite the fact that Lois received a note threatening "You're next," she was not the next victim, it was Jack Drake. Why wasn't Lois attacked? Let set that aside.

Dependencies in the Modus Operandi

Speaking of notes - there were four incidents, but only two notes. Why did Lois and Jack Drake get a warning when the others did not?

Maybe, because by then people were looking for the killer. They were set to terrorize the hero community, and by sending notes, they could make a name for themselves. Make sure people know all the attacks are connected.

But, consider the contents of the notes - Lois's letter was clearly threatening, while the note Jack Drake received a gun and a note that said "Protect yourself." What sense does that make? I thought, this person was a killer?

Remember, Lois was never attacked, and the note to Jack seems to imply they didn't want Jack Drake to die.

Consider the Victims

Let's look at the "victims" together.

Nothing happened to Lois

Jack Drake possibly died by accident.

Sue did die.

Jean survived her attack.

Two survived and two died. But, if Jack was not supposed to die, that would make it three living victims, and one dead. Why did Sue have to die?

This leads me to consider that what we have here is ONE real crime, and three follow up incidents to confuse things.

Look again at the Death of Sue Dibny

Sue was killed inside her own house. The killer managed to get inside without triggering the advanced security system. Then the body was burned

If we consider the preliminary findings of the autopsy, we know that Sue was dead before her body was burned. So, her exact cause of death can be called "unknown."

The body was burned after Sue died, why? Maybe, to obscure the cause of death. Could Sue Dibny's death also have been an accident?

Then, why? If you accidentally kill someone, why create three more crimes to muddle things up? What is the real motive?

Who benefits?

They say if you want to solve a crime, you have to ask yourself, "Who benefits?" Who benefited from these attacks?

Nothing happened to Lois.

Jack was probably an accident, there were no benefits.

Jean survived. She and the Atom are getting back together, despite their messy divorce.

Sue was quite wealthy, and left behind a massive inheritance to her husband.

So, it could be either Ralph or Ray.

But, which of those two is capable of sneaking past of the JLA security systems? Ray Palmer has both the means and the motive to being the attacker.

The last detail...

However, there is one flaw in that conclusion. Are we supposed to believe The Atom accidentally killed someone? Ray has been a hero for a long time, he's got complete mastery of his powers. He would never make such a critical mistake.

Then who could have done it? Someone who could get in and out like the Atom, and also stands to benefit from all the fear in the hero community.

It could be Jean Loring.

As established, she directly benefited from her attack. She could have staged it.

It is easy to predict that Ray would call her when she returned from work to check in on her. (Especially if he's been doing that every day since Sue's attack.) She could have timed it so that Ray rescue her before it was too late.

That would help bring them together, if that was her goal. Also, by making herself a victim, most people would discount her as a suspect.

How did she have access to the Atom's tech?

Everybody in the world knows, Jean and Ray had a big, public, divorce. Jean, being a lawyer, managed to keep their old house as well as half of Dr. Palmer's patents.

It is easy to believe somewhere in the couple's house there is a size changing belt that's been unaccounted for. That's how she did it.

Here's what happened...

Jean and Ray had just finished their messy divorce, however Jean has been unlucky in love recently.

So, she starts wishing things would go back to the way they were, but after a public divorce, Jean cannot simply tell Ray her feelings. That's likely when she finds a spare Atom suit, and a scheme starts to form.

If she could fake an attack on one of the JLA's loved ones, then the Hero community would come together, and she could use the hysteria to draw closer to Ray.

Sue makes the easiest target because Ralph's secret identity has been known for years.

She would use the Atom suit to sneak past the houses' security system, then Jean could knock out Sue, and start a fire. The fire would trigger the security system. Ralph or the JLA would rush over, with just enough time for Jean to disappear into the phone lines again.

But, what Jean could not count on is that size changing can be disorienting. (The Atom would not make this crucial mistake)

Jean accidentally killed Sue, and burned the body to throw off the investigation, and then had to set up the other attacks.

She set up a fake attack on herself to throw off suspicion, but it also make logical sense since she and Ray's identities were publicly known just like Ralph and Sue.

That might have been enough, but to try ensnare Ray back, the attacks had to continue a bit longer. So, Jean created the other two incidents.

She sent a threatening letter to Lois, never intending to follow through. Then she set up the attack on Jack Drake. Being a lawyer, she was able to set up a fake ID, and untraceable Bank Accounts, to hire Captain Boomerang and essentially pin it all on him.

The biggest tell was the last attack. If the attacker was trying to kill hero's loved ones, why did Jack Drake receive a warning note as well as a gun?

Jean's plan must have been for Jack to shoot Boomerang, the threats would stop, and the whole incident would be considered wrapped up. The heroes would be drawn closer to their loved ones in the aftermath, and she could get back together with Ray.

Jean Loring killed Sue Dibny, and then tried to cover it up. She had the means and the motive, and she almost got away with it.

(With some extra investigations, you could find who hired Boomerang, and you'd find it coincides with similar activity in Jean Bank Account. Even if she created fake accounts, there has to be a paper trail somewhere. It'll be easier to find, once you know where to start.)

With the evidence laid out before you, I hope you now understand that the mystery of Identity Crisis can be solved. Let's call this case closed.

[marauders-slytherin-whore]

Hes gone

Summary- yn potters boyfriend (cedric diggory)dies and she dosent handle it well.

♡♤♡♤♡

Yn Potter was, of course, just as famous as her brother, maybe even a little more. It was no secret that everyone fancied the beautiful girl.

But everyone knew that her heart was already claimed by the one and only cedric diggory. The two of them had been together since the 2nd year and still going strong even tho they thought it wouldn't be anything important as they were both young.

Even tho they were two years apart it didn't stop them from falling more and more in love with each other everyday.

Even snape couldn't bring himself to hate the relationship between them, the relationship didn't just bring happiness to themselves but to everyone around them they were simply made for eachother nothing could ever come between the two.

The two would always be seen walking in the halls with each other as yn happily spoke about anything and everything on her mind, and Cedric simply let her, smiling as he looked at her with adoration and love.

They would hold each other tightly when they were scared of what the future held in front of them.

In the free time, they'd play in the yard playfully, tackling each other and laughing as they put fruit in each other's mouth.

Cedric had even memorised every Taylor swift song just so he could impress yn and sing her, her favourite songs.

When they argued, it never lasted longer than a day before they apologised and were back to how they were like, nothing had happened.

Their relationship was perfect. You couldn't describe it as anything over than perfect.

It was now the last stage of the triwizard tournament, and yn was wearing a gryffindor jumper and a hufflepuff scarf to support her twin brother and boyfriend.

"Who are you hoping to win, your twin or your boyfriend?" A girl spoke From next to where yn stood with hermiome and Ron.

"I don't really mind who wins as long as they are both ok im happy." Yn spoke with a kind smile waving at Cedric as he blew her a kiss.

She laughed a little, taking a photo of him and Harry on her polariod as he smiled at her happiness.

Cedric ran up to the stands and kissed yn whispering how he loved her before going back to stand in line waiting for the tournament to start.

-----harrys pov------------

I looked down at Cedric lifeless body crying ad I remembered they events that had just happened.

Voldemort had killed cedric and attempted to do the same to me, except my parents and cedrics spirit had helped me win against him.

I remember the last words out of Cedric mouth crystal clear.

"Bring my body back to my father and yn, please keep her safe for me and tell her I love her more than word could ever tell her"

I grabbed his body and the port key and was taken back where everyone was waiting.

------------

Harry had arrived, and everyone cheered for him, but something wasn't right.

Cedric wasn't moving and Harry was clinging to his body with tears streaming down his face as he met my eyes mouthing that he was sorry.

Thats when I noticed how cold his body looked I stood up and ran over to where he was dropping to my knees screaming in distraught as his father joined crying in just as much pain as I was, we both cried while hugging his lifeless body.

His father stood up as dumbledore helped him up and escorted him away from the scene trying to do the same to me.

"No, please baby, please don't leave me, please don't leave me," I whispered over and over again into his shoulder.

Harry came over and hugged me from behind as I refused to let him go, not wanting to believe he was actually gone.

"I couldn't save him yn im sorry voldemort killed him to get to me im sorry I couldn't help I tried". Harry cried, trying his best to comfort me while telling me what had happened.

The news had only made me cry more, My boyfriend was murdered the same exact way my parents were murdered.

The grounds were cleared with only mcgonagall, snape, dumbledore, and Harry trying to coax me away from him gently.

Snape leaned down to my level, sympathy in his eyes. I had never seen any emotion except hate in his eyes when looking at me.

"Come on, yn, it's time to let him go," he whispered gently as he would break me if he spoke any louder.

Mcgonagall had pulled snape away and knelt down in front of me gently, grabbing me, pulling me away from the body sitting on the ground with me holding me tightly as the others covered cedrics body.

I grabbed her robes tightly, crying into them as she stroked my hair gently.

"His gone, Minnie, he's really gone, I can't live without him. I just can't please tell me it's not real"

"Im sorry, sweetheart, I'm so sorry," she spoke, cradling me gently.

"Come on dear lets go back to the common room and get warm" she spoke standing up and leading me to the gryffindor common room as I curled up into my bed clinging to a photo of Cedric, breaking down as she left the room to give me my space.

-------------

Mcgonagall made her way to dumbledores office where snape and dumbledore himself were waiting for an update on the girl.

"How is she?" Snape asked eagerly, voice filled with concern as soon as mcgonagall had entered the room.

"Broken, she's absolutely shattered," she spoke quietly, trying not to cry as she remembered the look on the girls face when she climbed into bed and saw a picture of the two.

They all looked to the ground, not knowing what to say about the events of the night before leaving and going back to their houses.

The day after his funeral, it was classes, and yn hadn't shown up to any classes. The teachers had noticed but left her to herself to grieve.

Instead, the girl spent her time in her room drinking till she passed out and smoked till she couldn't walk. It was the only way she knew how to numb the pain.

She had also begun cutting herself, blaming herself for every little thing that had ever happened.

She was slowly killing herself and wasn't making an effort to stop.

-----------

Mcgonagall and snape had decided that they should go and check up on the girl as she hadn't left the rooms since the incident.

When they entered the room, they hadn't expected what they saw.

The room was trashed cupboards were smashed and things were thrown on the floor, the floor was littered in empty alcohol bottles, empty pipe bottles, and burnt out cigarettes.

But there was no sign of yn.

But the bathroom door was slightly cracked open, making the professors think that's where she was.

Before they could walk to the door, Harry entered the room, witnessing the state it was in with the same shocked expression that mcgonagall and snape previously had shown before it changed into sorrow.

Harry walked to the door before knocking and not gaining any reply. He cautiously opened the door a little before gasping and running in.

Mcgonagall and snape followed his steps before laying their eyes on what harry had opened the door on.

They ran to the girls' side, trying to wake her, but it was pointless.

She was already gone.

-------------

Today was the day that the pain would finally end, I had decided it was time to finally let go and go somewhere peaceful.

Somewhere where I would meet my parents and finally be reunited with Cedric.

It had taken a lot of thought about not wanting to leave Harry behind, but I knew he'd be ok with his friends, and I'd still be with him just ad a spirit, though.

I grabbed my blade and pills, sitting down against the bathroom wall, writing a letter to whoever found me so that they had some sort of goodbye from me.

"Dear everyone,

Let's start with the most important person, harry, please dont dwell on it too much I know that this isn't the best way to go but I have no choice, we all know that staying here I would just continue destroying myself more and more everyday, so I want you to know that I am now in a better place with our parents and Cedric, and until the day that you die by old age I'll promise to watch after you everyday, im not saying don't be sad I mean of course you'll be sad im not they're to annoy you with my Taylor swift karaoke anymore, more along dont take this as a tragic suicide, take this as me finally meeting peace that we both know I needed, im not really gone I'll still show up randomly as a ghost and help you kill voldemort and embarrass you with karaoke in the great hall with nearly headless nick, so this isn't goodbye it's a I'll see you in heaven when you're old and wrinkly and I'll see ya around hogwarts when I randomly visit i love you hazza, and Minnie same goes for you I'll still continue to show up and gossip about all the people in the afterlife, and thank you, thank you for being my parental figure when I had no one else I love you minnie, snape and dumbledore I may not be your biggest fan nor are you mine but I'm still gonna say a partial goodbye even though you'll both soon be up here with me since your both extremely old anyways moving on again, to all the other professors that have taught me, thank you that's all ive gotta say is thank you and see ya soon, now for my friends I love all of you dearly and don't think you've finally escaped me, and Ron and hermione if you two don't hurry up and admit you love eachother I'll haunt you while you sleep, and to every other student in hogwarts heres a piece of advice just do what your scared of because if you don't you'll end up living with what ifs instead of im happy I did that, anyways thats all I've got for all of you just one more thing make sure you play the most out of pocket songs at my funeral, that's all so bye for now".

Love yn."

I placed the paper beside me before opening the bottle and taking a handful.

And finally, the darkness overtook me, and I smiled, feeling a sense of peace wash over me.

-----------------‐--

It was my sisters funeral today as I read out the letter she left a few laughs were shared along with some cries from the people who really knew her as I finished the letter I looked up at the sky saying a goodbye to her even though i knew it wasn't really goodbye.

We planted her beside Cedric, decorating the graves with photos with both of them and special things that belonged to the two.

I silently cried with Ron and hermiome but also smiling, knowing that she was finally at peace.

----------------

As I entered the white gates of heaven I couldn't help but laugh at how cliche it all was but that's when I noticed them standing there waiting for me.

My parents, they ran over to me, embracing me in a hug filled with tears and laughter.

We pulled away as my father grabbed my face and kissed my forehead.

"Hey sweetheart, welcome home," he said as Mum smiled, pushing the hair out of my face to look at me properly.

"Mum, dad, God, I've missed you," I spoke, and they smiled, holding my hand.

"We missed you two, sweetie, but first look behind you," they smiled as i turned around confused only to see him standing there.

"Couldn't stay away could you love" Cedric laughed smiling as I ran over to him jumping into his arms embracing him tightly, he held me laughing a little while slowly lowering me back down to the ground.

I wrapped my hands around his neck, and he wrapped his around waist, pulling me in and kissing me softly.

"I love you," we both whispered in sync, hugging each other tightly.

My parents joined the hug after a while as we all smiled happily.

I was finally at peace.