#you guys have no idea how insane i get over all the “can a puppet and a human truly be in love” storylines and beats because aHHH | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

kiefbowl · 2 years

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I know this isn't a "real problem" according to radblr but I feel so insane when I read a lot of feminist literature about sex. It's always about how penetration is evil and centers male sexuality and I get that, I truly agree that men feel entitled to penetrate women. But there's always that implicit message that you cannot enjoy penetration, or that women only really enjoy clitoral stimultation. I had no idea my case was so rare before feminism: I have never orgasmed from clitoral stimulation by another person, unless you count rubbing my vuvlva over someone else's genitals. With another person I have only ever orgasmed from penetration by a penis, or fingers one time. When I have penetrative sex I pretty much orgasm every time, sometimes multiple times. On my own I can orgasm very easily from clitoral stimulation but never with someone else, and it's not like the guy I'm with doesn't try, he knows where the clitoris is, he actively and enthusiastically goes down on me. And I know this sounds like a non-issue, a sort of "good for you, nobody else is like that" kind of thing. But I find it difficult to connect with a lot of sentiments about sex on here. A lot of it makes me feel like I can't talk about the way I experience sex and desire, because I sound like I'm sucking up to the patriarchy or to men. Centering male sexuality, even if I'm really not. Sorry to rant

There's a couple things I want to address here, and you might not like them all, but please keep in mind I'm writing this in good faith and not to lecture. I'll just take it one bit at a time:

"I know this isn't a "real problem" according to radblr but I feel so insane when I read a lot of feminist literature about sex."

First of all, radblr is a tenuous concept at best. It's not that it isn't real, or that it isn't important, or we should flippantly dismiss what happens on radblr, but you have to understand that what you specifically are experiencing as "radblr" is extremely unique to you. You have the only dashboard you experience. You get to follow who you want, you get to block who you want, there are settings you can toggle, you can block tags, and most importantly, you get to publish whatever content you want. So whatever it is you’re experiencing as “radblr” is not going to be everyone’s experience. So when you say “I know this isn’t a ‘real problem’ according to radblr”, it comes off as myopic and self-indulgent. You don’t know what everyone’s “problems” are, and frankly a lot of women come on tumblr to specifically not have “problems.” They’re here to have a good time, which leads to my second of all:

You caring about something or feeling uncomfortable about something and finding that most others don’t care or are dismissive or are even critical or even mean doesn’t really say anything about feminism or radblr, but says more about what you’re spending your time on tumblr doing. You’re allowed to quit tumblr. You’re allowed to have 20 sock puppet accounts. Stop expecting other women on here to be endless supplies of validation. In fact, expect them to be not even a fraction of their “true, irl” self here. Every single person on tumblr has a real life that is is more interesting than anything happening on tumblr and just literally has nothing to do with you. If you really can’t handle how a woman is using tumblr to blog about her life, just block her. She won’t even notice.

I guess the rest of my response is going to address the “insane” part...

(the rest under a cut for length and descriptions of het sex, not too graphic):

“It's always about how penetration is evil...”

I think if you’re reading feminist literature about PIV and your take-away is that it’s calling it “evil”, you don’t really give much respect to the validity of feminist literature as social, or political, or even philosophical theory. You see women as play-acting male intellectualism. Evil is a moral concept, and more often than not a religious concept. Maybe you’re throwing this word around unthinkingly, you mean it in some colloquial way and you didn’t really intend it’s full (and varied) meaning, but if you want to engage with female literature as intellectually relevant, and you want to be critical of it, you need to choose your words carefully. Does feminist literature critical of PIV claim penetration is evil, or are you just uncomfortable reading critical theory about PIV sex?

Evil in general is a pretty broad concept, so what is intended to respond to PIV critical theory with such a broad response? It means you don’t really want to engage, because you haven’t brought much to the table. You’ve brought your feelings, which aren’t unimportant, but have you really explored beyond that? What is your theory, your hypothesis, your maxims? What’s your thesis? Are you doing the heavy lifting, or do you just want to “not feel insane.” That’s fair to an extent, but if that’s the case, stop reading things that make you “feel insane” and go about your business. Engage or don’t engage, commit or don’t commit.

“...and centers male sexuality and I get that, I truly agree that men feel entitled to penetrate women. But there's always that implicit message that you cannot enjoy penetration, or that women only really enjoy clitoral stimultation.”

Many different women are coming to the table to discuss feminism, and even the most intelligent and well resourced women has the limitation we all have, which is at the end of the day we can really only speak to our own experiences. No woman can tell you what it is you like sexually, you are the only person who is experiencing your sexual history. If a woman says “women can’t enjoy penetration”, and you think she’s wrong, that’s your answer. What do you want from her? She will never ever validate your sexual experience and frankly she doesn’t have to. Validate your own sexuality.

Personally, I understand that there’s two nuances here: (1) the human body is both measurable and yet varied and diverse, and (2) sexual satisfaction can’t be divorced from socialization and mentality, which PIV critical theory attempts to explore. I’m already getting into more intense and complicated discourse than the average tumblr post, because if I really wanted to explain my feelings on both those points and then connect it to what I’ve already discussed above, we’re talking pages. Pages and pages, words and words, work I don’t want to do. I’m not getting paid, neither is your random tumblrina.

Which leads me to another point...are you reading feminist literature, or are you just kinda sorta hanging out on tumblr? No shade, I think just hanging out on tumblr is fine, and I think there are a ton of intelligent and smart women hanging out here too making some great content. The last time I read a feminist essay I honestly can’t tell you. I haven’t been doing my own heavy-lifting in awhile, I haven’t been doing my due diligence. I also trust, as a grown woman, I’ve done enough of my own studying to rest on my laurels a bit. I’m not convince of that for everyone I see on tumblr, but I’m also not their mom and I’m not going to lecture women to read or what to read. I encourage it, though! But at the end of the day, if the extent of your feminism is hanging out on tumblr reading what cool women are saying on their personal blogs when the mood strikes them, I’m not saying that’s bad or not enough, but you have to temper your responses to what you read accordingly. I think it’s awesome the internet allows women to congregate, and the anonymity of it allows women to speak more freely than they probably do in real life. It totally makes sense that internet communities are a big entry point to explore feminism for lots of young women, especially if they’re missing that community in real life. Love love love it.

But it does blur the lines of what is (in my estimation) the three “pillars” of any social movement’s text: theory, action, and personal account. To expand on that...

“I had no idea my case was so rare before feminism: I have never orgasmed from clitoral stimulation by another person,”

Were you actually “called to action” to only enjoy clitoral stimulation, or is it more likely many women have personal accounts of not enjoying penetration, enjoying clitoral stimulation, and having their needs disregarded by male partners? If we have so many personal accounts, what can we theorize? What you personally act on with that information is not that important in the grand scheme of feminism because you’re just one individual. The call to action is better suited to the group: how can we make women more comfortable standing up for their boundaries and their pleasure? How can we protect women from sexual violence? How can we educate them? When it comes to you, no one can stop you from making the choices you want to make, and that’ll be true for everyone. But the more we talk about these things, the more we can help women in general.

“... unless you count rubbing my vuvlva over someone else's genitals.”

Why wouldn’t we? No honestly, this strikes me. I think this speaks to the issue a lot of women have where they’re primed to view their own sexuality in 3rd person, downplay what they experience as “real” or “correct”, and view sex from a male POV.

YOU orgasmed, that’s reality. Every orgasm you have counts. Every orgasm you have is real. Who cares how rare it is? Who cares if it fits the idea, the “social script” about sex?

Many, many, many people discuss het sex as if the only way to have genital sex is penetration, even so much so that when discussing other sex besides penetration, people point to oral and manual, and seem to be unable to envision genital sex without penetration. But genital sex without penetration is sex. You had sex and you orgasmed without penetration at least once from what I’m reading.

So yes, I count it. I count you. Now imagine a woman in your experience deciding for herself that’s how she wants to pursue orgasm, and standing her ground that she’ll never have PIV sex again. I see that as brave, and wonderful. It doesn’t matter what I do in my sex life, which includes PIV. I’m not a factor in her sex life. But I applaud her, I support her. You could do the same while changing nothing else in your life, so why wouldn’t you?

“With another person I have only ever orgasmed from penetration by a penis, or fingers one time. When I have penetrative sex I pretty much orgasm every time, sometimes multiple times.”

I’m very glad you’re having orgasms. Lots of women don’t, so it’s exciting to hear that’s a big part of your sex life.

“On my own I can orgasm very easily from clitoral stimulation but never with someone else, and it's not like the guy I'm with doesn't try, he knows where the clitoris is, he actively and enthusiastically goes down on me.”

Another way to have sex is mutual masturbation, which you’re claiming doesn’t lead you to orgasm, which I’ll admit sounds strange to me. Why would stimulating your clit work with masturbation but not with a male partner? Are you so positive social conditioning isn’t playing a role here? In any case...

Another way to have sex, though some might disagree with me (I don’t care), is to masturbate together. As in separately. If you were to masturbate with him there doing idk whatever he’s doing (maybe he’s not even touching himself maybe he’s rubbing your feet or brushing your hair who knows), I call that sex and you have again successfully orgasm without penetration and by clitoral stimulation. So again, are you that different from other women?

Maybe, hopefully, this might give you some pause just to think about it. You don’t have to do anything different, but maybe you should think about it. What is so different about you? You don’t sound different or rare to me. You sound typical. Is there nothing to glean from PIV critical theory if you push past feeling uncomfortable, if you don’t treat it as a call to action, if you just sit with it an think about it? Maybe there is something scary on the otherside, but maybe with the new scary thought comes something exhilarating. Maybe there’s even more pleasure than you could even imagine. You will have to discover that for yourself.

“And I know this sounds like a non-issue,”

To circle this back to the first point, don’t speak for me :) Kindly meant, I will tell you what sounds like a non-issue to me.

“...a sort of "good for you, nobody else is like that" kind of thing. But I find it difficult to connect with a lot of sentiments about sex on here. A lot of it makes me feel like I can't talk about the way I experience sex and desire,”

Get over those feelings. You have a personal narrative, you can bring to the table your personal account. One of those pillars I mentioned above. But make sure you’re aware...your personal narrative is not enough to “call to action”, and is not a significant sample size to theorize.

Not to mention, this is tumblr. Like it’s a personal blog. Say whatever the fuck you want. If you’re not using tumblr for fun, I can’t imagine how you’re using tumblr. Like if it isn’t fun, go do something fun instead it’s better for you.

“because I sound like I'm sucking up to the patriarchy or to men. Centering male sexuality, even if I'm really not.”

Part of putting your feelings out in the world is that they might be met with criticisms. But it sounds like you want to do it, so get tough. Harden that skin. Get in there get messy, make mistakes. People are going to come at you with legitimate counters, and that should be so exciting and titillating. Don’t you want to learn? Don’t you want to grow? I’m getting so pumped thinking about it, women’s minds coming together to make an unique and interesting place on the internet, be still my heart.

And sometimes people say stuff that’s bullshit. Okay, so trust your own mind and judgement? Respond back. Tell them they’re wrong, present your argument, present your logic.

You have to make the value here, and if you’re not getting any value, again...maybe tumblr isn’t for you.

“Sorry to rant.”

I manifest for all women everywhere to stop apologizing to me for saying things from the heart. I could say sorry for writing 1000 words (I didn’t count) but I’m not going to fucking do that because I get to write whatever I want when I want. I don’t have to be sorry for existing and neither do you.

Cheers! :)

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phoenixkaptain · 2 years

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FNAF is so intriguing because it has the duality I crave in all media I consume…

It has murder. Horror. Large beasts with rows and rows of sharp teeth and claws. A fundamentally tragic story underlining everything, a story about loss and vengeance and trying and failing. There are legitimately horrifying ideas and scenes. There are scenes that send shivers down your spine and there are images that are brutal and the entire experience is set up to unnerve you, to make you uneasy. It does this so well. From the ambient noises to the music, the whole thing is primed to maks you uncomfortable, even if you never get jumpscared once. It’s fear of the unknown, fear of what you can imagine, fear of what your mind chooses to fill in the gaps with…

But also! Freddy has a cute lil tophat! Foxy as he’s trying to sneak out of Pirate’s Cove is so funny! Shadow Bonnie appears in Ultimate Custom Night just to turn off the lights and smile at you for ten seconds! Over half the known characters (who are not animatronics) are British people living in Utah (of all the places)! Helpy exists! Mr. Hippo rambles! Happy Frog!!! The literal trash! The jar of pickles!! Old man consequences, just a weird-lookin guy (is he an alligator? What’s up with he face?) fishin in the depths.

And that’s just stuff that happened before even the VR game came out! This game series is insane, man, it’s nuts, it’s absolutely wild, it always has been, the murderer is literally a yellow bunny, like, come on, that’s objectively hilarious, he’s killed by his own hubris and stuck in a rabbit costume for the rest of his life and his afterlife. He has to deal with DeeDee singing “How un-for-tu-nate~!” for the rest of eternity, that’s so fucking funny, dude.

It also has the added benefit of making people so upset because people decide to spend time debating the gender of robots. Like??? It’s so funny. “Bonnie’s a girl! Mangle’s a boy! Mangle’s a girl! Funtime Foxy is a girl!” My darling, none of them have genders, they are robots. We only perceive them as gendered because of a long history of contributing certain physical traits to an outdated binary system of gender. Why must the robots have gender? They don’t have to. They are robots. But by God, the discourse is funny.

The series is funny. The Nightmare Animatronics are comically terrifying. Bonnie doesn’t abide by the laws of physics. The Puppet’s walk-cycle in VR is a thing that really exists. FNAF World is adorable and I want to give all of the cutesy animatronics a hug. Mangle is absurdly huggable for a mess of wires. Michael literally became a flesh suit, regurgitated the endo-skeleton living inside of his body (one of the ghosts within being his own fucking sister), then just gets back up. “Father, I should be dead. Pretty sure that should have killed me. Convinced that most people would have died from this experience. Really, it’s a feat of scientific marvel that I’m still alive, if you think about it.”

William Afton, stuck in a bunny suit behind a wall, listening as the perfect test subject for research on remnant is just standing there, talking about how weird it is that he’s alive (“and purple, Father, I didn’t know- I kind of look like a blueberry”): “This is why I kill children.”

FNAF is so fucking funny and terrifying and tragic and funny, again, all at once, and the time-traveling ballpit is only a small part of that hilarity.

#five nights at freddy's #fnaf #michael afton #william afton #my fave animatronic is bonnie #i like bonnie a lot #i like withered bonnie a lot #he’s very huggable #i just wanna butt my head against his belly #it looks squishy #tired of fnaf being seen as cringe #are there cringey parts? yes #there are also cringey parts of star wars #there are cringey parts of everything #so i will enjoy what i will as i please #and i will daydream about how squishy withered bonnie looks #just… so… squish…#the inane ramblings of a madman

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thesungod · 1 year

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Do you have any Hera meta you would like to expand on , maybe in relation to what a relationship with Apollo would look like

anon… do u share my brand of insanity or are u just indulging me.

as far as Hera meta goes, my main point is that she’s not a villain in the true sense of the word: i think she’s tolerant of humans and the consideration she generally has for demigods is the consideration she’d have for ants. and honestly, she’s truly one of the few gods who’s entitled to feel that way, considering that she’s not responsible for siring them and would rather the others didn’t. obviously she has exceptions (demigods/humans she really likes and demigods/humans she really hates) and she’s wrong for taking revenge on Zeus’ mistresses but overall she’s just not that bad. ya feel me?

she’s also shown to feel genuine love for Jason which brings the count of people who have actually felt genuine love for Jason in canon up to three lmao (Piper-Leo-Hera). Nico exists in a grey area and you got to have some respect for that.

so anyways, she was actually pretty smart to swap Percy and Jason and she managed to keep it under the rug for longer than what would be expected. obviously it was wrong of her to use them as puppets for her strings but she’s not nearly alone in that. Apollo confirms in ToA that it is simply the way gods treat demigods. In my view, she sucks but she doesn’t Especially Sucks.

i also have endless sympathy for Hera having to tolerate her husband’s infidelity and (so clearly implied they might as well say it) abuse. she’s just. an unhappy woman, dare i say the unhappiest olympian god, and i think she has been so for so long that she has forgotten what anything else feels like. does she have friends? she certainly doesn’t have lovers, and while that may have initially been a commitment of love, it must have gotten pretty lonely over the years. she’s portrayed as icy and dignified and distant, the godliest of the gods, the one who most clearly represents the divide between mortals and immortals, and i ask myself how much of that is her real personality, and how much is the result of bitterness and isolation.

imagine: Hera regretting the fact that she’s made so many enemies once, when she felt untouchable and at her peak, because she’s just alone now, but what’s done is done so what can she do?

Hera never quite fitting in with other deities and really, who can blame them.

Hera having spent such a long time not even considering the idea of romantic love for herself and being so stunted that when she starts falling for Apollo, she doesn’t even notice. she simply cannot believe it. doesn’t even dare to think it.

she feels that feeling. the one where you a crush on someone after a really long time and you are all giddy and excited, not because you think it may be reciprocated, but because it’s new and thrilling to desire someone. she’s a high school girl wanting to be asked to prom.

now, let’s suppose it all happens because her and Apollo start sleeping together to spite Zeus as per my headcanon, and she inexplicably begins to want him for more than just revenge: she would would be so angry because she cares more, she’s far more into it, she’s utterly taken by him. at the end of the day, what they do is nothing particularly new for him (except for the “if he catches us i’m dead” part ig lmao) but it’s all brand new never heard before for her!! and her pride would be hurt!! but what are you gonna do about it!!

and now let’s suppose that at one point he starts caring back, and he treats her well and she hasn’t been treated well in centuries. so she gets carefree, and she gets reckless and she catches herself fixing her hair before the Olympian Council so that he sees her at her best!! imagine how humiliating that is for her!! she’s the Queen of Olympus she’s the Queen of the gods she’s the Ruler of the world and he’s literally just a guy!! she should hit him with her car!!

instead, she finds herself in his car, having been convinced to take a ride with the sun chariot for the first time ever while he’s babbling about… she doesn’t even know, talking horses trying to kill him? because that’s something that happened? apparently? and he has his stupid shades on and she feels like a high school girl actually getting asked to prom.

and for the unhappiest goddess of the Council, that’s a really magnificent feeling.

#herapollo tag #as always i apologize to normal people that will see this #ask #there is a gideon the ninth reference in this answer

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anachronistic-falsehood · 10 months

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AO3 wrapped asks

5,17,18,29,30

5. What work of yours got more feedback than you expected?

Animal Impulses for sure!!! was NOT expecting the insane amount of comments, kudos, and hits. It's literally my second most viewed fic, the only one beating it being a Sanders Sides crime AU I wrote years ago that has like 55 chapters. It was absolutely bonkers and fucking yonkers

17. Your favorite character to write this year?

Security from my Flores Facets series!!!! literally the funnest guy in the world to write, his insane wacky vibes are unmatched and writing his interactions with others and his dialogue was honestly like the best thing ever. I can't wait to write more of him :3

18. The character that gave you the most trouble writing this year?

hmmmmm good question!!!! I think I'd say my c!Aimsey from Dreamstuck. Their personality was super hard to pin down and I remember getting stuck on multiple scenes with her in it. Once I figured it out, his dialogue came easy, but while I was still figuring out how I wanted to write her, it was kind of difficult!!! could be because I just don't watch cc!Aimsey much

29. Favorite line/passage you wrote this year?

AAAAAAAGH it has to be something from Dreamstuck. ik you might not be a dsmp fan but this dsmp/homestuck au i've been writing consumes like half of my waking thoughts <3 here's a scene from it from a chapter i haven't yet published :3

QUACKITY: I’M TIRED OF THIS! I’M TIRED OF SITTING HERE WHILE HE TRIES TO CONTROL EVERYTHING LIKE SOME FUCKED UP SORT OF PUPPET M8STER! QUACKITY: YOU’VE BEEN 8WFUL TO 8LL OF US! THIS IS— BAD: IT’S IN MY HEAD! He cuts off your words before you can finish them, but he doesn’t give you a chance to continue. Blue tears gather in the corners of his eyes. His hands are still shaking. BAD: I don’t know why I listened to that 9uy either, 6ut I did, and it’s a mistake I can’t take 6ack! BAD: He told me—He told me I could fix thin9s, and 6e with Skeppy, and 9et my life 6ack. BAD: He was toyin9 with me, I know that! I think I even knew it then! 6ut he was so convincin9, and after I ascended, I... BAD: I don’t feel like myself! BAD: This thin9 has 6een in my head for five FUCKIN9 weeks! NIKKIE: }:0 JACK: (holy shit) PUFFY: Bad... BAD: I just... BAD: I just want my friends 6ack. He sprints for the transportalizer, shoving you aside and clipping Puffy’s shoulder as he passes. He’s gone in a flash.

30. Biggest surprise while writing this year?

WELL i wrote smut for the first time and SOMEHOW i did a good job?? wild. seriously i was not expecting to have like over 8k hits on Animal Impulses, i have no idea where all of these degenerates (affectionate) came from but i am pleasantly surprised. Apparently my writing niche is mcrp cannibalism sex. who knew!!!!

#whiskey yelling into the void #dreamstuck

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nayrael · 1 year

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Phantom of Inferno - Dusty Desert Trail (Cal’s Ending)

Sometimes when you delay something, you end up delaying it for five years. Ups. Five years. I messed up big time, didn’t I?!

Ok sorry guys, I will stop lazing around and post the best girl’s rote now...

Bad Endings: Check here!

Claudia’s Route: Check here!

Mio’s ending: Check here!

Ending Type: True Ending (ReijixCal)

How to Acquire: Finish all the stuff you need for Elen’s True ending in Part 1, do all the pro-Cal choices in Part 2. In Part 3, don’t fulfill the conditions for the Mio’s route and later when Elen leaves Reiji in order to search for Cal, choose the “Look for Cal” option (the other option will put you on Elen’s route)

First some differences between the Visual Novel and the Anime!

Anime changed some important stuff concerning Cal, which I think was a bad idea because it make Cal’s transformation in Part 3 look out of place.

Long story short, Cal was not a normal little girl as the Anime shows her to be. When Reiji first meets her, he claims to be a drug dealer, and Cal’s reaction to that is “Woah, so cool!”. Not because she does not know how bad drug dealers are, but because of how she grew up. After eloping from her abusive father (more on that later), she has spent all of her life living among the prostitutes and gangsters and IIRC never went to school. As such, her morals are very different from a normal person.

Another thing of note is how she (and many others in the poor parts of the society) perceive the Phantom. To her, the Phantom is not a murderer but a hero who kills evil people. This results in her idealization of Reiji and assassins.

Keep these two things in mind for when we describe the ending, as it explains why her and Elen’s idea of a happy ending is vastly different.

So without further ado, let’s go to the Par 3 summary and what happens after Elen leaves Reiji to look for Cal (and Reiji goes to look for Cal)!

After Elen leave Reiji to look for Cal, Reiji has to make a choice: look for Elen, or look for Cal. In this route, he decides to try and find Cal before Elen does and save Mio himself. To do so, he needs to get Cal out of hiding so he conceives a plan. A scheme even!

Camera moves to Cal who, after the beating up Mio scene, sits at window thinking about what just happened.

Mio’s screams and cries for mercy still lingered in Cal’s ears. “I just wanted to scare her… that was all…” “So… why… why did I go so far?” She knew the answer, but she just didn't want to admit it: it felt good. Mio in fear… Mio’s screams… those were unbearably blissful for Cal. “The way she feels about Reiji and the way she talks about Reiji… in comparison, I…” She envied Mio. She wanted to destroy her purity. She wanted to break her completely. But Cal herself understood… to act like that was to be a loser.

For example, there was her father, whose face Cal no longer remembered. He only felt happy when losing to life, seeking solace in drinking and hurting his children. “When did things turn out this way?” It was like an uncontrollable beast lived inside her and she was controlled by its every whim like a puppet. It was not that Cal hated, but that she was driven to hate. It was like her hate for Reiji has taken over and hijacked Cal. It was not that she despised anyone. It was just that bliss of hating, hurting and destroying drove her. It was not important if her opponent was Reiji or Ein… or even Scythe or Lizzie. “What… SHIT! Lizzie… why didn't you stop me at that time? If you killed me, then all would have been the end, wouldn't it?”

Cal starts to cry. She was alone, isolated as always. As always, she could not stand herself and tears flowed. She was scared of the beast within. She was scared of herself that went insane and destroyed. Mio opened her eyes and saw Cal crying. “Her crying… it seems so painful… but I can't understand why…” There was no way to understand another's pain. The words of Cal were true after all. “I can find the words to reach out… to console her. No matter how I try, I am just an outsider to her… in that case… Reiji too… If he is the same as this girl… if he has a chance to cry like her… then does that mean that I can't understand him either?”

Mio falls asleep while thinking about all of that.

(Unlike “Road to Cerulean Sky” and “Cherry Blossoms Avenue” routes, here Cal does not call Elen in order to solve things with her. I guess that in this version, Reiji and Cal were closer thus she loved him more… and the stronger her love in past was, that is how strong her hatred now is thus this realization isn’t enough for Cal to start resisting the beast within).

Next morning, Mio wakes up and notices that Cal is gone. She remembers that Cal cried last night and can’t believe that she is the same person as the girl that told her, in cold voice, that she wants to kill Reiji. As she is thinking about that, she feels someone’s eyes on her backs. The guy behind her was Azuma Reiji.

Reiji is saddened to see that Mio was held in this lonely and cold place and is even more saddened when he notices that her clothes were torn apart.

“It is my fault. I promised to protect Mio and I failed…”

Not knowing what to say to Mio, he decides to stay silent.

He then notices that there is a handcuff on Mio’s leg. First, he thought of taking his gun and free her by shooting at handcuff, but since he didn't want to show a gun to Mio, he decides to use a different method. He asks her to give him a hairpin and decides to unlock the handcuff. He takes more time than he actually needs as he doesn't want to show her that he is used on doing this.

After freeing her, he asks her if she has clothes in school (her clothes got a bit ripped off during Cal’s earlier outrage). She confirms and he decides to go there with her in order to give her some clothes. He knows that they might meet Cal at their way there, but he decides to risk. If it happens, it happens.

They don't tell a word to one another as they walk towards the school. Reiji concludes that Cal told everything to Mio. However, when they finally come to school, Mio says few words and tells him that she would want to know more about that person called Cal and mentions that she saw her crying last night. Then she enters the room to put on her gym clothes and Reiji says in monologue:

Thank you Mio. Even though it didn’t concern you, you said something very important for me.

When Mio enters the taxi, Reiji tells her to not worry about Cal. As the taxi leaves, Reiji prepares for the second stage of his master plan.

In meantime, Cal drives around looking for Reiji. She didn’t concern herself with movements of Ein, but when Reiji disappeared, she became concerned. “That rat ran away and abandoned Mio…”

As that thought crosses her mind, she notices the mistake in her judgment and returns to her hideout and finds out that her hostage is gone. She is angry and in despair believing that Reiji must have saved her. Desperate, she takes out Mio’s cell phone and calls Reiji, even though she believes that he must be gone already. On her surprise, Reiji answers.

“Reiji! You are aware of what you have done!” “It is too late Cal. I let Mio go a while ago. There is no reason for you to get worked up...” (“He is laughing at me… he is poking fun at me…”) “Farewell again, Cal…” “I will follow you… I will follow you to depths of hell if needed…” “Give up Cal… you can’t really believe that you can beat me?” “What?” “Don’t make me laugh. An army of you wouldn’t stand a chance against me. I see that value of position of Phantom has gone down the drain since you became Phantom… not to mention the value of Inferno.” “WHAT?! You are the one to talk! Always running away like a coward!” “You are dull, Cal. Shall I give you a chance?” “A chance?” “Now that I think about it, it will be a pain if you follow me forever. We can duel and settle it once and for all… if you have the courage that is.” “It sounds interesting.” (“As I hoped, I won’t show him any mercy. I will murder you Azuma Reiji. I will murder you!”) “I'll give you an hour. Come to the church near Shinokura Gauken by then.” (“SHIT, SHIT, SHIT, SHIT, SHIT, SHIT … he he he he… yes, that’s right… this hateful feeling is all I have left… I am not going to worry any more. I am going to free the beast… the beast within me! I will give you all of me… and then I will push till the end!”)

The scene then changes to Reiji so now we listen to his monologue while he is walking towards the church:

(“This is it. This is my last duty for her. What Cal now needs is an opponent… someone at whom she can throw two years of pent up emotions. If she is full and overflowing with hate, then I should purge her of it. I will take on all of her anger and then I will die. If it will compensate for the havoc I created from her life, then it will be a cheap price to pay… this life of mine. I don't know if she will be able to start over… to start a new life again. But to do so, this nightmare of hers has to end. This nightmare that has lasted till today. That is all I can do. Then I will watch over her and pray for her… until the day she can acquire true happiness. She shouldn't have to suffer any more because of me.”)

Reiji entered the church and started remembering the old days and asked himself why didn't he check if she was alive on the day of explosion.

(“If she had not met me… if she had not loved me… Cal would have had a different life. I don’t know if she still can, but I have to believe that. I need to return her life back.”)

As he intends to say a prayer he learnt from Elen, he feels angry eyes watching his back.

Cal taunts him, but Reiji stays silent (“I can’t say hateful things in front of her…”). When she asked him how he wants to settle this, he told her to make the choice herself. So she takes out her pocket-watch and says that once the music stops, they shoot.

Reiji remembers the day he bought her that watch and the joy Cal felt because of that. Reiji notices that distance is 10 meters and that there is no chance that either of them will miss. It is all about the speed. However, Reiji does not intend to fire a bullet. He will take out his gone and aim it at her, but he won’t pull the trigger.

As he listens to music, he remembers the past days again. He loved her and she loved him, but now they must end as enemies. Even though he knew why he needed to die, he still regretted it. Is it selfish for him to die this way?

The melody was nearing its end.

(“The sound of Cal’s music box will be the last thing I hear… no… the sound of bullet will be the last thing I will hear. At least an image of her face will be burned into my memory… then I will die. Even the eyes of a killer… the eyes filled with hatred… they will do…. Because those are Cal’s eyes.”)

Then the silence came… and with it, Reiji’s supposed death.

Cal took out her gun, but then she suddenly jumped back and a shower of bullets hit the place where she was standing. Reiji turns around and looks at the source of those bullets.

Impatient Elen starts the cat-fight! (the fight is very similar to the one from Cherry Blossoms Avenue, but with a different ending)

Cal declares Reiji a cheater and takes the gun she brought with her and the cat-fight starts.

Cal doesn't waste time and she starts firing bullets… and destroying the church. It takes some time for Reiji to see where Elen is

Professor Elen shows us her great skills of evading bullets by running around

Elen jumps near Cal and fires some bullets at her opponent, but Cal uses the gun as a shield by throwing it away and jumping somewhere else. While in air, she takes out her S&W pistols

Cal returns fire and Elen is forced to hide behind the altar

Left without bullets, Elen throws away her Scorpion and takes out the Python and shoots at Cal. Cal hides behind one of the pillars and waits till Elen is forced to reload

After hearing the seventh shoot, Cal goes out and starts shooting back so Elen hides again Reiji notices something very weird in Elen’s behavior: she is fighting without her usual care… she fights at Cal’s pace.

When Cal is forced to reload, Elen goes out and starts shooting at Cal again Finally, Reiji realizes that Elen is trying to create her own pace. He noticed that Elen is controlling Cal like a puppet by making her believe that, because Elen has less firepower, victory is guaranteed for Cal. Because of that, Cal abandoned all of her strategies and fights by using same moves over and over again.

He notices that Elen took out a survival knife and hides it behind her back. Elen’s plan becomes obvious to Reiji.

Cal who is hiding behind a pillar, however, does not notice what Elen is intending to do A thought of dead Cal crosses Reiji’s mind and he starts becoming desperate.

Elen fires the bullets from her pistol in random directions. As the seventh bullet is shoot, Elen makes a spin and throws the eight missile

If you read the summary of Mio’s route, you know that Reiji can make the smart move of firign his own bullet and thus disrupting the fight.

Here however he is kinda in love with Cal so he does a very classic yet dumn anime move instead.

He throws himself in front of the knife.

“Why… What happened?! Why did you save me?!” “I am sorry Cal… I am afraid that I am no good at lying after all…” (Reiji falls unconscious) “Why, at the end of the end, did you protect me? I don’t understand anything… I don’t understand anything at all…”

While Cal is confused, Elen comes and removes Reiji from her. Without any fuss or hesitation, she carefully removes knife from Reiji’s shoulder (which was supposed to hit Cal’s throat) in order to not hurt an artery. She tells Cal that he is alright and that he just fainted.

Cal asks why Reiji saved her and Elen replies that it is what he wanted all along. Cal wanted to ask something else, but Elen gives her a sign to stay silent. Cal looks around and notices that there are people watching them from the windows. She counts and concludes that they are surrounded by around 20 enemies.

Elen starts walking towards the altar and tells Cal to hide Reiji there. Elen also picks up the scorpion she threw away and changes its magazine. Cal started to ask a question, but was interrupted when those gangsters started firing bullets at them. She concludes that these are gangsters from the Godoh Group who must have noticed that Mio has been freed. Not wanting to waste time, she and Elen put Reiji behind the altar.

Cal notices that those gangsters are just amateurs, but their great numbers still make her pessimistic about their chances. As Cal thinks about how to handle them, Elen tells her that there is a back entrance in priest’s room so she should take Reiji and flee with him. Cal asks her what she will do and Elen replies that she will hold them back. Cal does not believe that she can handle these many enemies.

Cal: “Why do so much?” “There is something important between me and Reiji and I need to protect it.” “You… this is not a game! I look like a fool!” “If you are bothered by it… come back another day and try to kill me :) But for now… take care of Reiji.”

Cal looks at Reiji who lies in her arms and concludes that his wound is not deep, but needs to be treated quickly.

"This idiot... why did he need to... SHIT! Don't hit the bucket while we are in here!"

She accepts Elen’s request and starts running without looking back. She didn’t want Elen to see her tears.

Later that night, Scythe and the Zchalen Schwestern appear at the church. Scyhte notices a sea of corpses but no Phantom dead and concludes that Drei must have made peace. While a bit disappointing development, it is still interesting. He concludes that they must have ran to the school so he and the Schwestern go in that direction.

He thought that this is what happens when you rely on numbers against three former Phantoms… he had no idea that Ein took care of all these guys alone. He guesses that Cal and Reiji are at school, so he and his new Phantoms go there.

Reiji wakes up and notices that he is in a classroom. He is confused that he is alive, that he is in school and that certain someone is sleeping on him, with a softened face.

It is Cal and he notices remains of tears on her face. He laughs a bit at her crying while sleeping. He calls her name and she wakes up.

She is relieved to see that he is alright but isn't able to say a word.

Tears start flowing from her eyes.

(“Now just cry Cal… words won't heal the heart. Nobody is to blame. Our relationship was filled with misunderstandings, but now we are together again.”) “So Cal... we meet again.”

"...yes." She says and smiles.

Reiji is glad that, after two years, they managed to reconcile.

As he tries to get up, pain goes through his wound so Cal tells him to stay calm. He asks her why they are here and she explains that after he fainted, the Godoh Group attacked. Ein stayed to fight alone and they escaped. Reiji wonders why Elen would go through trouble of helping Cal. She shouldered it all alone and continued to sacrifice. Reiji asks himself how he can ever repay her.

Cal: “Don't worry, that is Ein. She is so strong that it is almost frightening. Her enemies are just a bunch of amateurs. She will get out somehow.”

Reiji notices that Cal also realized how much she owes to Elen.

Then Cal is hit by regret again:

Cal: “I was such an idiot towards everyone… I shoot Lizzie… I treated Mio horribly... even though she had nothing to do with all this…”

In order to stop her from crying, Reiji hugs her and tells her that it is his fault for mixing Mio into all this. Before Cal can continue, he changes the topic:

“What about Inferno and Scyhte? If Godoh Group is moving, Inferno can’t be far behind. This isn’t a safe place to stay.” “I know, but…” (“Yes… she couldn’t run away with an injured me. If I told her to leave me behind, she probably would not listen. Actually, asking her to run and leave me behind would just make her sad.”) “I guess that this is the end of line for us…”

Reiji agrees. However, even if they die here, they will not be separated again. The fate that brought them to this conclusion is certainly cruel. So they decide to wait the end there rather than madly trying to survive.

After some time… Cal gets horny and asks him to have sex. Reiji goes: “What?! Here?” His resistance is futile tough and Cal manages to persuade him to spend their last moments like that.

Well… I don't think that either of them, when the day started, expected to do this...

Depending on the game version, either while kissing or during sex, Cal says: “Yes… we will be together… forever!” And one of the Numba Sis jumps through the window.

Unfortunately for the Numba Sis, Cal is either too satisfied (R18 versions) or too horny to die (versions without R-18 content).

(In R-18 versions, she is naked here)

However, before she even touched the floor, Cal showered her with bullets and the victim fell dead.

Around the same time, another Sister enters through the door and the third through another door. Cal gives them the same treatment.

One of them is killed immediately but the other one falls wounded to the floor. She tries to take her weapon back into her hands, but Cal comes to her and hits her.

(In R-18 versions, she is naked here)

“Heaven or Hell, make your pick! I am not giving you mind or Reiji’s life!” And so in matter of few seconds, the Zchalen Schwestern lost half of their members…

Like the player, Reiji goes WTF?! “Did she just kill those three in matter of few seconds?”

He also comments on how Cal looks like a goddess of hunt.

"Sorry Reiji for surprising you like this." "Did you give up on dying?" "Well, you see... I don't really think that we spent enough time together. So I think I'd like to survive for now." "And what will we do if we manage to get out? Where will we go? After all, Inferno is after us!" "Well... we will think about details once we killed our way out." "You..." "But don't you worry, I'll take care of them. You just rest here and wait for my return. Now quickly, put your clothes on. Quick, quick..." “Few moments ago, she was weeping bitterly. And now she is fearless again and ready to jump into a fight again. Can she really be this ferocious, gracious and… frightening?”

The remaining assassins, seeing that they underestimated Drei and lost half of their manpower, started devising another plan. Seeing that Drei is running to another side of the building, they conclude that she must be acting as a decoy. Thus, Vier and Acht will go after Drei while Neun goes to take care of Zwei and then joins her comrades in fight against Drei.

Later, Reiji notices that one of assassins didn't go after Cal to the other side of the school but is still in his side of the building, turning floor after floor into a beehive. Thus, he goes to take care of that assassin by setting up a trap.

On the other side of building Cal is fighting against Vier and Acht.

She notices that her enemies are the Zchalen Schwestern. With three of them dead, two are fighting against her. That means that the sixth assassin is probably searching for Reiji. Concerned about him, Cal becomes nervous and starts to think about how she could get rid of these two opponents in one single strike and join up with Reiji.

Back at Reiji’s side of the building, Neun was filling third floor with bullets, like she did first and second. When she enters men’s bathroom, she notices that stalls are locked as if someone was using all of them. Without hesitation, she starts filling stalls with bullets and she is surprised to see that water started pouring out. Too late does she notice an electric cord falling into water thus filling Neun with electricity.

When Neun died, Reiji got out from women’s bathroom and looks at her corpse. He thought about how this girl was of Mio’s age and could have been leading a happier life if fate wasn’t so cruel.

He then decides to find Cal and tell her that he is OK. However, a bullet hits him and he falls unconscious.

On other side of the building, Cal is still desperately looking for a way to get rid of her opponents. As she is running through school, she notices a classroom that looks different than others. Because she watched a lot of movies, she quickly recognizes the classroom as a chemistry lab and comes up with a plan and thanks the gods of motorcycles and Levi's for giving her this opportunity.

She enters the lab and starts breaking stuff around in order to fill the room with explosive gas. However, knowing that her opponents aren't some amateurs but professionals, she understands that Vier and Acht won't blow themselves into air by shooting in the lab. Thus, she breaks into a locked room where tools and takes out an electric stove. She thinks about how this looks like it is taken from the movies, but her daydreaming end when Vier and Acht enter the lab with knives in their hands.

Knowing that she can’t afford to waste time, Cal sneaks to one of the tables and connects the stove to electricity. Because she has no time, she decides to flee by jumping through the window. So she yells “Farewell, scumbags!” and jumps out, leaving those two to feel the wonders of being caught in an explosion.

Cal falls into a flower bed and survives the Leap of Fate. Even tough she feels pain all over her body, all the muscles and bones seem to be fine. So she gives a thumb up to Heavens… and to gods of boxing and Vietnam while she is at it (yep, Cal is back to her old self).

As she rises up in order to find Reiji, someone fires a bullet that hits the soil beneath her. She aims her gun at the darkness where her opponent is supposed to stand. A laughter is heard and she recognizes it as Scythe's laughter.

(ignore the roof in this image)

He congratulates her on managing to beat all the assassins from Vier to Acht, something he certainly didn't except. He tells her that she might really deserve to be called Phantom.

Cal asks him if he really intends to challenge the Phantom and he replies by telling her that she must be kidding. He himself isn't so trustable in his own abilities.

Thus, he throws unconscious Reiji to the ground where she could see him. Cal is shocked and Scythe tells her that he is still alive… tough it depends on her if he will stay like that.

She calls him a bastard and Scythe fires a bullet into Reiji’s leg and tells her to be careful when choosing what words she will say. He orders her to disarm. Desperate, Cal throws both of her S&W's on the ground. He tells her to throw ALL weapons to the ground and she has no choice but to throw an ATM that she hid in her sleeve to the ground.

“This must be an illusion, Drei! Disarming yourself for a half dead man… that is so disappointing. Dubing you Phantom is laughable! At the end, you are nothing more then a little girl in love.”

In order to hurt her, he fires another bullet into Reiji.

“YOU BASTARD!” “Yes Drei… you are wonderful with those hate filled eyes of yours!” He aims the gun at her. “This is such a shame, Drei. Such a shame. You were my best…”

Before he is able to even complete his sentence, he is hit by a bullet from behind. He doesn't even have time to be surprised when another bullet hits him right into the head.

Seeing that Scythe is dead, Cal runs to Reiji in order to check up his wounds. She is relieved to see that he is still alive and that bullets have gone through. If she can stop the bleeding, he should be alright. Thus, she takes his belt and uses it to take care of his wound.

When she takes care of his wound, she looks at the person who killed Scythe. She saw a pale and hollow girl in school uniform.

It was Ein.

Elen asks her how is Reiji and Cal tells her that he is alright. Elen is relieved to hear that. Cal looks at Ein’s wounds and is left speechless. The wounds are fatal and too much time has passed. Elen is living on borrowed time.

“Please, take care of Reiji. You are able to protect him.” “But…” (Cal remembers their duel in the church and thinks about what would have happened if Reiji didn't interfere) “But I am not as strong as…” “It is alright, you will get stronger.” “…” “I hated you Drei… I never thought that I would hate another person. And finally I understand why: I loved him. Like Mio. Like you.” “That's because you are a woman.” “Ha ha. Are you making fun at me? Or is that a compliment?“ “What do you think?” “It is alright. Either is fine. I am glad that I finally understood it at the end.”

As Ein says those words, Cal felt that her body lightened up (I don’t think that’s how it works, writers) and she was gone.

(“This girl is certainly… I am sorry… Elen… that's how Reiji called her, I heard… the least I could do is say that name loud in these last moments of hers.”) *** A certain amount of time passes.

At Mexican city of Santa Madelia, armed men are waiting for someone who is intending to kill Sanchez, the gang leader in the town. From the gossip that is spread, we find out that Sanchez’s rival Chavez has hired Phantom, a couple of assassins, to assassinate his rival. The men are a bit frightened that these dangerous people are coming, but they are still very optimistic as the entire town is protecting Sanchez.

Meanwhile, Reiji is complaining on how the truck that is transporting them is old thus making the travel annoying. While he is annoyed, Cal is sleeping despite ride. He wakes her up as they are just few dozen minutes away from their goal, Santa Madelia. He is confused on how she can sleep so peacefully before the mission. She must have nerves of steel.

“Are you ready, Cal?” “Yes, I am. How many enemies are there again?” “Everyone we see. There will be no ignorant citizens taking a walk in streets today.” (that explains why the town knew they were coming: they announced their arrival in order to take care that citizens are not involved) “Will the police show up?” “They will be Sancchez’s men.” “Well, well… I am not sure I'll have enough bullets.” “Just take it easy. First aim then shoot.” “But I can shoot three times while you are still aiming.” “One shoot at a time is fine. One shoot at a time.” “If I shoot three bullets, two of them will hit the home.” “I don't care. Never miss. Aim at that them, damn it!” “Look, let me just use one of your spare guns.” “No.” “You have five guns. You are so stingy!” “You have seven. What, are you going to hold eight? You have only two hands, you know. Don't spray your bullets around. Don't just throw your gun away! No imitating that stupid move stuff either! Back me up for once, damn it!”

(Cal seems to have ignored Professor Reiji's lesson)

“Reiji, we are getting quite a lot of money for this job, right?” “Well, yes. Nobody else would take up this dangerous job so I made them spit a lot of money.” “Don't you think we deserve a break?” “You are probably right. Should we spend it... garishly? All at once? Where do you want to go? To Caribbean? Or to Europe?” “Well, that sounds good. But I want to go somewhere where we would never go on a job. Somewhere where nobody is around and we would be alone… like North Pole!" “North Pole? That's impossible. What about Greenland?” “We would be able to watch the aurora at night… That would be nice. We could even live there!” “We would eat seal every day…” “No need to worry about food! I am good at devising new dishes so you will never get sick of eating them.” (“Once it hits her pace, the story just gets bigger and bigger. Now I don't even know if she is joking or is serious. At times like this, she can be unexpectedly serious, but that is just like her so it is fine.”) “So, we will one day go to North Pole?” “OK, we will after this job.”

If they survive that is. Reiji is thinking about how this might be their last mission. But maybe the fact that their enemies are just amateurs, the police is cowardly and the weaponry is old aged will save them.

However, he is still optimistic. No matter how dangerous the situation is, they always get out of it alive and it will probably be like that this time as well. They will be together forever…

***

And that’s it fellows! Not the happiest ending for Elen, but she died an absolute badass and having redeemed herself (which is very important to her, as can be seen by her hanging around churches throughout Part 3). So at least it’s happier than Cal’s death in Elen’s route (which is just tragic).

The contrast between Elen’s and Cal’s perception of how to live a better life: where Elen wants to completely escape the life of an assassin (even if it means killing good people), Cal believes that it’s fine being an assassin as long as you do your best to be the best person you can (here, Reiji and Cal endanger their own lives by announcing their attack thud making sure no civilians will be on the streets). Hopefully, you remember what I mentioned about differences between the Visual Novel’s and Anime’s depiction of Cal during Part 2 as it shows that not only does Cal thinks assassins are not evil, but also thinks they can be cool and heroic.

Unlike Elen, her tragedy was not that she was an assassin, but that (thanks to Scythe’s manipulations) she was driven crazy by her hatred thus losing her true self.

Also, this feels like the only True Ending where Reiji is not depressed and moody, but seems comfortable with his lot in life... when Cal is not driving him insane with her erratic behavior that is XP Another proof that Cal is the best girl.

Well, that′s it folks. Will I do the “Road to the Cerulean Sky“ route (the Elen x Reiji True Ending)? No. Not only due to the Anime having animated it... there’s actually several key differences that would justify doing a summary (Elen saved Mio, and basically everything after Cal’s death)... but also because I barely remember much of it... it was kinda my least favorite route so not much of it stayed in my memory. I could theoretically replay the game but the only EN version is still that awful DVD version which is self-torture to play (I have no idea how my younger self could stand it... not that I have anything to play DVDs on anymore).

#Phantom of Inferno #phantom: requiem for the phantom #requiem for the phantom #Phantom

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anxiouspotatorants · 3 years

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It is time. It is finally time for the new Suicide Squad rant (and spoilers will be plentiful):

As someone who was into DC Comics and comics in the mid to late 2010s and had so much hype for the first Suicide Squad movie only to be let down, I was so nervous for this one. I knew it was going to be a roller coaster, but whether I would come out happy or disappointed was up in the air. Having just seen it I will say this: I have no idea if this was a good movie-movie. It was insane. The comedy. The violence. The high emotion. I’m still trying to take it all in. But one thing I do know is that this is an amazing Suicide Squad movie. Gunn and co took the best parts of the comic concept and went batshit with it and that is how this property should be handled (in my opinion). Screw edgelordisms, we need full on insanity free of aiming for shock-value or sexy brutality we want chaos baby.

Starting the whole movie as they did, with Savant as the POV for a mission (or part of the mission) that just goes to hell immediately and kills off so many before the title arrives is the perfect way to start this movie. Like the second I realized this was how they were doing it I was just smiling from ear to ear, this is the spirit of the property.

Part of me wishes we got more Amanda Waller, but what we had was impeccable. Then again, this is Viola Davis we’re talking about, and if she was born to play any character in a superhero story, it is Amanda Waller.

And points to her tech team, introducing them with the death bets was just a lovely way to show how regular this is and how awful everyone is in this movie.

I’m not going to pretend like Deadshot and Bloodsport didn’t have the exact same character- and plot premises… but I will say that Bloodsport felt better executed.

I love that they kept some of the past members and not just Harley. Rick Flag got to have a full personality and interactions with his team members and to be a true leader and it made me so happy for someone who initially did not give a single shit about his character. The Harley friendship? The Dubois friendship? The friendship with that guerilla leader? Amazing. The one American soldier in fictional media I genuinely like. You go Mr Flag.

The new members were… they were insane in the best way. Gone are the shitty stereotypes and present are some of the wackiest creations to ever grace the mainstream movie-sphere (aka the slightly less normal comic creations): A man who has to shoot out polka dots two times a day so as not to die from a space virus. A giant child murdering weasel. A guy who detaches his limbs and slaps people with said detached limbs. King Shark. The second person to command rats with a fancy gadget. They are all crazy and all weird and all more or less morally repulsive people and I love them.

The amount of times I did a double take over the soundtrack I swear. Jessie Reyez? The Pixies? It was so much fun to pick up on once I did.

Was the depiction of a vague Latin American country stereotypical? Yes. Was the secret American involvement predictable and felt mildly patronizing from a non-American, part Latina point of view? Yep. But damn it if I didn’t have a good time with those stereotypes and laugh my ass off at how well executed some were. I don’t know if it was meant as parody, but that one secretary has me thinking so — and if so I am pleased.

Speaking of Latino dictators Harley’s one day romance with one of the villains was something I never knew I needed. Like it was so perfect for Harley that when it happened I almost hit myself for not realizing that this kind of plot should be a normal thing for Harley. And the end of it? Perfect not only in this standalone movie, but also in conjunction with the first and with BoP.

The Taika Waititi cameo??? Oh my god??? I did not expect that and I love it?? Sir, What We Do in the Shadows is impeccable.

Rick Flag’s death actually surprised me. It shouldn’t as this is Suicide Squad, but I kind of expected him to be on Harley’s level of unkillable (because let’s face it, no one kills Harley). What I will say is that his death was good and his final words and actions made me love him all the more. I hope this spawns more Rick Flag content, or at least inspires me to look at what already exists, if he already is as this movie made him (it’s been ages since I read one of the Suicide Squad reboot comics okay).

Starro. How can a villain be so wacky and so terrifying at the same time? I did not expect a literal alien starfish to have more terrifying powers and a more tragic plot execution than Enchantress. But here we are. And that damn star just wanted to be floating in space, and instead it was stuck getting revenge by killing and puppeteering human corpses. Wow that thing was creepier the more you think about it.

I don’t know what I think about Polka Dot Man. I loved watching him on screen but also damn those mommy-issues were on a new level. Not just in his backstory but how he literally sees her in every person around him that was insane. Very funny but like also the kind that makes you laugh just because you’re uncomfortable and don’t know how else to releive the tension.

When Waller got knocked out by a staff member I immediately thought «oh my god Amanda Waller is going to kill half the staff for this», so I’m mildly surprised and disappointed that I didn’t get to see that happen. But also I should maybe expect something like this in a potential future Suicide Squad movie. We can’t have everything in a movie as packed as this.

Peacemaker was very horrible and worked really well. Don’t really have much to say about him, not because I didn’t enjoy him but because I already feel like the film itself has said it for me. But the planting and payoff for his death? Chef’s. Kiss.

Harley’s wardrobe was beautiful. Ratcatcher 2’s combat outfit felt like a steampunk plague dream. Bloodsport’s mask was supercool. Rick Flag’s t-shirt was amazing. But the best little outfit was the Mafalda-keychain and her red dress, hands down. Oh and King Shark’s fake moustache finger moment.

King Shark is shaped like a friend I don’t care how many people he ate alive on screen he looks so huggable. It feels like wanting to pet a bear. You know it will kill you but damn it look at those paws and those cute eyes!

I really need to give it to not just James Gunn but the entire production team for this movie. The aesthetic was perfect. The story was the right blend of whimsical and violent. The finished product was a literal rollercoaster and I mean that in a good way. If superhero movies have to be like amusement parks, I hope they’re more like this one and BoP.

I’ll finish on the note that while I think this movie was great and hopefully a step in the right direction for the DCU/DCEU (as in stop trying to play Marvel’s game and just do your own thing/ let your creative teams run wild and free), it is not the first step. Cathy Yan, Birds of Prey and the production team for it took a step first, and they deserve due credit and attention. If you loved this Suicide Squad movie and haven’t watched BoP yet, do so. Because they really are in the same ballpark while doing things in slightly different ways. And any good DCEU movie deserves more attention so the studios know that creativity and risks should be rewarded. I want more DC movies like this, not necessarily in genre but in creative risks. I want a Black Canary rock movie. I want Alfred in a reverse heist movie alone in the batcave against Gotham villains. I want Gotham Academy on screen play by play from the comics. I want a fully animated psychedelic-like Khalid Nassour as Dr. Fate movie. I want elevated horror movie Constantine. I want weird ass Lois Lane journalist movies with a heavy side of Superman. And I want DC movies I didn’t even know I wanted.

Support creativity in mainstream comic movies. Help me become a DC fan and happy about it again.

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wdwmarveldisney · 3 years

Note

Can I bother u for a part 2 to void stiles and stiles mate haha

In His Head

Void/Stiles x werewolf!reader

Summary: When the pack caught you and tied you up with Void in the McCall living room, you weren't surprised. Fed up? Yeah. Scared? Absolutely. But not surprised.

Masterlist

A/N: I’m so so so sorry for how long this took. I’m kinda didn’t plan this and just wrote it so I’m not sure if the ending is really that great but I kinda like it.

Part one is here.

GIF isn’t mine

You huffed quietly to yourself. This could not be happening, how could this be happening? Your mate was the bad guy, of course he was the bad guy. Nothing ever went right in your life, did it? You just had to have the soulmate that loved to create chaos and fear and literally feed on it. It did not make for good dates, let me tell you. Going out and destroying the lives of Stiles' friends wasn't exactly an ideal first date. Actually it wasn't even an ideal hang out by any means, more of a thing for two psychotic friends or something. And yet you were caught tagging along because Void was supposedly your mate and you were destined for each other.

So when the pack caught you and tied you up with Void in the McCall living room, you weren't surprised. Fed up? Yeah. Scared? Absolutely. But not surprised. He had caused a lot of trouble for them and he had got you to as well. Not necessarily intentionally on your part. See, when you were a part of a pack, the alpha wasn't exactly all for control. She had this deluded idea that the pack should be wild and raging, making you all more dangerous then any other pack. So instead of teaching you control, she threw you off the rails. It's how you almost killed your dad, it's why everyone you meet becomes terrified of you and it's why Void loves having you around. Every time there's a fight, he knows exactly how to pull the strings so you shift. You can always feel the ropes get just that bit tighter as you slowly become more of a puppet to him, your mate.

They'd found you next to him, a cut from your shoulder to your diaphragm and completely unconscious. He'd told you the plan to be taken to them and then sliced you saying that it would only be helping. He was so insane and you could feel yourself slowly breaking down every second with him. You didn't get much choice and so it happened and now you're here, with them. They'd given him kanima venom and put duck tape over his mouth whilst they only had to do the former to you. You weren't talking, just numbly staring off as the guilt and pain and regret swallowed you whole. Melissa was working on patching the two of you up, going to start with you until you flinched at her touch and she decided it'd be best to start with Void.

Tears streamed down Void's cheeks but you knew better then to believe that he was Stiles again. You could tell, you'd already memorised everything about Void and you could tell he was putting on a show, at least you knew your mate. Unlike him, despite your hesitation to the fact, you'd began to treat him how you should. You knew his mannerisms and took the time to memorise scent and emotions for him. You could tell in a heartbeat that he wasn't Stiles again; Melissa, however, couldn't.

"Stiles?" She tore away the tape quickly at his frantic nod as you just shook your head lightly. It went completely unnoticed by the mother as she seemed to fuss over the boy, who's heartbroken expression slowly morphed to a smug smirk, "Really, Melissa? I shed one tear? That's all it takes?" Her face fell to a more frustrated and raged look as he hollowly laughed, "Come on- you can't crumble that easily. How are you going to hold up when Scott knows the truth?" You glance between the two, managing to suppress your curiosity as they spoke. But naturally, your eyebrows scrunched together and your head tilted to the side. Void glanced at you for a second before turning back to Melissa, making you just that bit more confused. But the nurse didn't care about that, more about what the nogistune had said, "What?"

"When he finds out why his dad really left? You know he overheard it, right?" The smirk only grew at her clueless expression whilst you just bit your lip and tried to concentrate on anything else. This wasn't your business. "You had no idea. You called Stilinski right after it happened. You didn't tell Scott, but you told the the Sheriff! But Stiles heard it, like he hears everything. But, you want to know why he never told Scott? Because he knew that Scott would never forgive you. He knew how much he would hate you," he spat and you sharply glared at him. That didn't sound right to you but you guessed Void knew Stiles better than you did. "This isn't you, Stiles," Melissa argued as her eyes flickered over to you for a second, noticing how uncomfortable you seemed to be sitting next to him. How unsure and hesitant you were. But Void didn't care. All he cared about was getting under her skin, "It is now," you held back a snort of amusement when the tape was put back over his mouth.

It was a little while longer of the two of you in silence and every time he looked at you, you could feel the shivers run down your spine. Another wolf walked in, making you more alert since his scent seemingly familiar to you. Void's chuckle was muffled but still rang in your ears as you stared at the guy. Once the situation was explained to him, he walked over and inspected Void, one little glance to you before so though. He laughed, tilting his head side to side as he stared down the smirking spirit, "He doesn't look like he would survive a slap across the face, much less the bite of a werewolf," you watched Scott's face fall as did the rest, all of them watching the scene play out before them. Scott's disappointed voice made you look down, "You don't think it would work?"

What you would give for it to work. But you couldn't because Void was your mate and as much as that fucking sucks, you knew it was something you'd have to live with. But you guessed what would suck more is no mate and no matter how sadistic and horrible he is, you didn't want to be alone again. You always ended up alone. You probably deserved this anyways. It was like you deserved everything came your way, like the bite. If you weren't stupid enough to sneak out to pretend for an evening that your parents weren't the most pressuring and uncaring people known to man, you wouldn't have been in the alpha's path as the perfect release and new soldier. If you weren't stupid enough to trust your alpha, you wouldn't have been torn apart again and again, mentally and physically. If you weren't stupid enough to avoid getting help with your control and simply pushing down your feelings once more, you wouldn't of wolfed out on your dad and shove him through a window when he told you how disappointed they were that your grades were slipping. If you weren't stupid enough to simply give up when your parents dumped you at Eichen filled with guilt for your actions, you wouldn't have spent days in dark rooms or screaming in absolute agony at the feeling of the secret experiments they continued to run. And if you weren't stupid enough to have given into the idea of having someone who cared about you, you wouldn't have told Void all of this and given the perfect ways to manipulate.

But you were stupid enough to tell him and then you saw that smirk on his lips every time he uttered a word about any kind of pain you had suffered. You didn't understand how you had done anything that could equate to this kind of punishment. The fact that you just wanted to scream and shout and sob and just let everything, let every bit of pain free was enough for you to realise just how fucked up your life was. But as you tell yourself again and again, more and more meaning behind it every time, you probably deserved it.

"This is more a war of the mind than the body. There are better methods to winning this battle," Eyes wide, you realised where he was going with this and you could feel the venom wearing off as you began to struggle to break free and that made the new wolf quirk a brow. Everyone seemed confused except you, the wolf and Void, the latter of which was smirking in your direction, given your reaction. "What kind of methods?" Deaton asked and the wolf looked away from you with a cocky smile as you carried on but your strength wasn't back just yet. "We're going to get into his head," an almost inaudible growl left your lips at that as your eyes flashed your werewolf colour and Void threw his head back laughing.

Scott and Peter could smell the fear, the pain and the paralysing anxiety mix with the regret and shame that was there from before. Neither understood what was happening but Peter could clearly tell one thing. Stiles was important to you, there was no other reason why you would have stuck around. So he knew, despite whatever you felt against it, you had to go too. Peter stared you down for a second or two as you fought and Scott had to go over and physically hold you down as Deaton gave you a drop more of kanima venom. As they did so, Peter dragged Lydia to the side, talking in hushed whispers. That is until Deaton called over to them, "So, do we have a plan?"

Peter glanced between all of you, shrugging as he walked over whilst looking completely unbothered, "Scott is going to try and dig through pale and sickly Evil-Stiles' mind to unearth pale and sickly Real-Stiles. Then, guide him back from the depths of his own subconscious. But, he's not going to do it alone," you could feel his eyes on you without having to look. Shivers ran across your skin as you wished you could frantically shake your head to just try and convey how bad of an idea it is. "What do you mean?" You could feel the sick rising as Peter sent a small forced smile to Scott, head almost rolling as it fell to the side to stare at you again, everyone getting the idea, "Somebody needs to go in with you," you growled again though much louder as you eyes flashed their supernatural colour and your claws began to grow. Void was staring at you, probably feeding off the pain and fear you felt consume you in that moment.

Scott, though hesitantly, took a step behind you and got his claws out. He didn't feel so good doing this to you despite what you had done to them but Peter had his look in his eyes that meant it was essential, no questions asked. "So, what do we do if we find him?" Everyone tried their best to ignored the growl that sounded slightly like a whimper, like an animal in pain. "You're going to have to guide him out somehow. Try to give him back control of his mind, his body," Lydia quirked a brow, arms crossing over her chest as a sarcastic smile lit up her features, "Could you elaborate on the 'somehow?' It's not feeling very specific at the moment," Peter shrugged as he stood in front of you and stared down at your terrified state. What the hell was up with you? You were trembling, the small whimpers filling the room. Ignoring the fear, Peter looked round at everyone else before suggesting, "Improvise?" Scott huffed, hands leaning against the sofa as he tried to tune out you. It was killing him, he could hear the panic attack was in full force and he knew he had to calm you first. So he reached into a drawer behind him and pulled out an old inhaler, remembering when it helped him. He held it out to you, somehow it being able to calm you as you took the deep necessary breaths whilst incoherent mumbles left your lips.

Once you'd calmed, to everyone's relief save Void, Scott spoke up again, "What if this is just another trick?" Peter huffed, hand running down his face. He looked to Scott with an almost exhausted expression, "When are you people going to start trusting me?" There was an awkward pause as Scott looked round at everyone else before he faced Peter again, a nervous look in his eyes, "I meant him," Void gave a smirk to Peter at the mention of him before his head lolled to the side to stare at you again. The Hale wolf's lips formed a small 'o' shape before he gave a nod. Deaton stood, interrupting the three as he looked to the young alpha with a worried look etched into his features, "Scott, we're running out of time," You, now taking deep breaths and seemingly more calm, glanced over to Scott to see him nod and nervously look to you. A huff fell from your lips as you screwed your eyes shut, tensing slightly.

A light breeze chilled you, bones feeling like they were coated in ice as you struggled to even think about moving them. Struggling, you realised that restraints held you down and you felt the panic bubble away from the fact it was clearly the five point restraint system and you were obviously in an Eichen room. Scott lay in the bed across the room, struggling like you were and after a couple of seconds of silence from you, he decided to look your way only to see you take a few deep breaths whilst staring at the restraints. Before he can try comfort you, he watches you completely rip the restraints around your wrist from where they were bolted to the bed. As you rubbed at your wrists, you looked over to a shocked Scott and gave him a shrug. When he just continued to stay there, completely dazed, you scoffed and grabbed his attention once more, "Do you actually need me to remind you that you're a werewolf?" He spluttered for an answer as your left leg swung down and you began to work on freeing your right. "We're in Stiles' head-"

"And you're a supernatural creature with supernatural strength! Break free!" Your look reminded him of when he got told off by his mum after he did something stupid with Stiles, a scold that had a hint of confusion of how he could that stupid. With that, he gave a small shrug and lifted his arms to tear them from the leather bounds and he quickly reached to free his legs as you swung yours back an forth, now sitting at the end of the bed and waiting. "What now?" Your head snapped round to face him and when you saw he was standing, you stood too. Looking round, your eyes finally met Scott's as you gave a small grimace that you had intended to be a smile, "I don't know. This is my first time in someone else's head," He ignored the way the comment seemed to mean that you had actually been in your head this way and instead moved to the door. Hesitating slightly, he sent you a quick look over his shoulder, "Just stay behind me," You gave a quick nod, letting him know you were intending to do that anyway. With a little sigh, he finally opened the door and took a few steps with you following. But before you could make it out, the door had slammed shut. You rushed over and pulled helplessly at the handle, screaming at the top of your lungs, "Scott? Scott!"

"Come on, what are you doing?" Everything in you freezes at the voice and you slowly turn to face the boy laying in the bed with a dopey smile on his face. It wasn't a room you recognised and you ran a hand over your head and tried to figure out where you were. But then suddenly it clicked, you were in his room and you were staying the night and you were- well you're not exactly sure what you were just doing. A small, embarrassed and breathy laugh leaves you as you rubbed the back of your neck, "Um, I don't know," He gave a laugh too, arms moving as he made grabby hands to you, making you grin with his soft mumbled, "C'mere," You practically run over, collapsing into his arms and he placed a kiss to your forehead then another to your lips. He pulled you so impossibly close and nuzzled his face into the crook of your neck and a content sigh left you. "Love ya bubs," He mumbled again and a slight giggle involuntarily slipped past your lips at the feeling of his breath tickle your skin. So, as to not give him the advantage, You turn so your elbows are either side of his head and your staring down at him. There's a silence, a few beats of eye contact and love sick smiles, before you frowned. This wasn't right.

"Stiles?" He hummed, hand reaching up and wipe something away from your cheek. Jumping up, you stumbled back and shook your head at his confused expression. "Are you okay?" Stiles stood up too and you hit into the wall. Hands raising to cover your ears and eyes shutting tightly, you repeatedly mumbled "No," trying your hardest to block it out. This wasn't right, this wasn't right, this wasn't real. Your mate was Void, Void, not Stiles. It's what made sense and you, and you were here to save Stiles. Yeah, you were with Scott and you were in Stiles' head. Two hands pried yours hands your ears and the heavy breathing was the first thing to hit you and then the fact the hands were wrapped in bandages. Slowly opening your eyes, you were met with the nogistune and you could feel yourself lose your breath. He was going to kill you. Oh god, you were going to die, you were going to die. From somewhere, an echoed, "Concentrate!" filled the air. Tearing your wrists from his grip, you feel the adrenaline kick in and you bolting to the door, tripping slightly on your way. Hearing him following, you scramble at the door and slam it behind you. Carefully turning around, you scanned the room you were in now. Completely white and spotless, silent and eerie with a hint of disaster hanging in the air. Helplessly running towards what looked like the middle of the room, you spot Scott and pick up the pace. You send a shaky smile to the boy, you notice something in the corner of your eye and spin round to check it out.

There he was. There they both were. Sitting in the centre of some old tree stump and playing some game you couldn't make out was Stiles and the nogistune. Sharing a look with Scott, you both begin to run towards them, screaming for him at the top of your lungs, "Stiles!" It was room was extending, Stiles moving further away with every step. When you realised, you halted and reached out for Scott's arm to stop him too. Standing there for a second or two, you had your bottom lip between your teeth until something came to you. "Stiles is part of your pack," Scott looked to you, clearly befuddled by your sudden burst. He shifted his weight from foot to foot as he questioned, "What? What do you mean?" You looked up to him, pausing as you thought over how to phrase it. With a click of your tongue, you tilted your head and let your eyebrows scrunch together, "He's human but he's still part of your pack, right?" Scott was silent for a couple of moments, frozen in shock and confusion. Then he blinked and everything seemed to function again as he managed a rather rushed, "Yeah. Yeah, of course!"

You thought he would get your point by now but, clearly, he needed a little more to go off. Your arms crossed over your chest and you leaned forward the slightest bit, "So, how do wolves signal their location to the rest of the pack?" He frowned as you stood silent and prayed to god he knew what you meant. What true alpha doesn't know things like this? Realisations lit up his face, words falling from his lips in a quiet mumble, "They howl," you gave a nod to the nervous boy and watched him shift his weight yet again and fiddle with his fingers before he took a deep breath and stood like he was prepping to fight. Then his eyes became their scarlet shade and he roared so loud the place shook. You saw Stiles pause in his movements before he slowly looked towards you two and when he saw you, his jaw dropped. You gave an awkward half wave, glancing between him and Scott who was watching with a raised eyebrow. Stiles turned back to the nogistune and swiped his arm across the board and scattering the pieces around the tree stump and white tiles.

Awaking with a gasp, you were shocked to see Lydia there in front of you and wiping at the blood on under your nose as Melissa went to check Scott. Peter and Deaton stood off to the side, the vet looking like he was going to check on Void whilst Peter just seemed impatient. When Lydia realised you had tensed under her touch, she pulled her hands back but she didn't move from her place crouched before you and Scott held his mother's hand tightly as he quickly pushed it away as he rounded the sofa, "Did it work? Did it work?" Everyone looked to an unconscious Void and you felt your heart drop. What were you thinking? Of course it didn't work. And why you were so desperately trying to rid yourself of the one person that was meant to mean everything? But still, every time you hear the name Stiles or think about those few hours you had spent with him, something just felt right. Everything fell into place for a few blissful seconds and there was no fear, no manipulation, no lies and evil plans. in short, no pain. You knew realistically that there would be bumps because no relationship will ever be perfect but sometimes, all you can think about is how you'll overcome those fights and troubles and there'd be so much good stuff there too.

Lydia stood up from where she was and spun to face Peter with an accusing look and tone, "What happened? Why didn't it work?" The guy scoffed, gritting his teeth as he took the few steps towards the girl, snapping back with a harsh edge to his voice, "Because it's not science, Lydia. It's supernatural," He grabbed at her arm, trying to pull her somewhere to talk more privately, "I did my part. Now, give me the name," Scott looked confused as he stared at a nervous Lydia and irritable Peter. He gave you a quick glance to which you shrugged, you were as clueless as he was. "What name? What are you talking about?" You saw Lydia's worried look, one that showed she been caught out she was hoping keep a secret. "Lydia, a deal's a deal. Even with me," Peter hurried her and you fought the urge to punch the guy after telling how nervous and panicked she was. Safe to say, you were as shocked as everyone else when you were able to stand up, something that seemed to be an instinct when you were ready to fight. Lydia faced Peter again, the name falling from her lips in a shaky whisper, "Malia,"

A sudden gasp brought everyone's gaze to Void, who clawed at the tape on his mouth, collapsing forward. His hands flew to his mouth and you gagged as he began to pull a never ending string of bandages. Not exactly comfortable with watching that, you turned to bury your face in Scott’s chest and he surprisingly let you. The only time you looked was when you heard the small gasps at the black smoke coming from the bandages. You had wanted to rush over to him but Scott held you back as a figure climbed the pile. That’s right, climb. Eyes scanning over the nogistune, something didn’t feel right as you glanced to the terrified Stiles. Because he wasn’t only one terrified, the nogistune clawing at his face. But that completely left you when he launched himself at you guys and Scott and Peter got a hold of him. That didn’t stop the struggle. “Hold him!”

“I'm trying!”

Scott paused for a moment, shouting, “Wait, wait, wait!” before he reached to unwind the bandages around the nogistune’s head to relive a terrified Stiles. There’s was a beat of silence and then his trembling voice all but echoed in your ears, his eyes filled with tears, “Scott?” It was like you could breath again, like things weren’t slowly surrounding and trapping into a fate of unhappy endings. But that feeling lasted just a split second before Deaton spoke up, “Scott,” It didn’t take long to realise why the man was so worried, Void had managed to slip away with Lydia, door wide open and both long gone. “Where are they?” Silence followed so Scott got up and began to make his way towards the door, “Where are they? Lydia!” You went to follow him, leave probably, but a hesitant hand gripped your wrist and tugged you back. A practically paralysed Stiles stared up at you and it made you fight the need to check him over. As his hand slid down to hold yours, Scott’s shouts for the banshee faded away and you took a gentle step back towards him. Subconsciously, your eyebrows knitted together in confusion and your head fell to the side and Stiles breathy laugh made a heat rise to your cheeks.

Why exactly wasn’t he pushing you away?

#void stiles x reader #void stiles #stiles stilinksi x reader #stiles x reader #stiles stilinksi imagine #stiles stilinski #teen wolf x y/n #teen wolf x reader #teen wolf imagine #teen wolf

486 notes · View notes

robininthelabyrinth · 3 years

Note

🍊🍋Wen Chao and/or wen xu is a good guy and actually wants to end wen ruo jan's reign of terror (cloud recesses, lotus pier, xuanwu cave or all are elaborate ruses)

ao3

Untamed

“A-Chao,” Wen Xu said. “I think our father is insane.”

Wen Chao’s eye twitched visibly, his shoulders rising up to his ears. “You can’t say that! That’s treason!”

“I’ve already made sure there’s no one anywhere around us right now, not even people I trust.”

Down went the shoulders.

“Of course he’s insane,” Wen Chao said. “Some of his orders recently…”

He shook his head.

“Not much of an empire to rule if they’re all ghost puppets, is there?” he concluded. “I think the Yin Metal is poisoning his brain.”

“I agree,” Wen Xu said. “Now what do we do about it? He’s just ordered me to raze the Cloud Recesses.”

“…when you say raze –”

“To the ground.”

“What happened to just dominating the rest of the cultivation world?” Wen Chao complained. “I liked that plan. I was going to have a really great life. A palace. Servants. Good food. Even better wine. Enough clothing to keep Jiaojiao from complaining.”

“I…don’t know if that’s possible,” Wen Xu said. “Haven’t you given her three closets’ worth already?”

“I have no idea, and I’m too attached to my balls to ask.”

“Anyway,” Wen Xu said. “What do we do about it?”

“You’re asking me?” Wen Chao said.

“Well I’m certainly not going up against him by myself! He’ll kill me!”

“You think he would hesitate to kill both of us?”

“Ugh. Is there anyone we can ask for help? Anyone we haven’t pissed off?”

They both paused, thinking.

“…no,” Wen Chao said. “But in our defense, we never thought we’d need any of them, did we?”

“I don’t think anyone is going to buy that as an excuse,” Wen Xu said, scowling. “Fuck. Isn’t there anyone?”

“Well,” Wen Chao said. He did not continue.

“No,” Wen Xu said. “No. He literally wants to cut off our heads.”

“So does everyone else in the cultivation world,” Wen Chao said. “At least we know Sect Leader Nie hates Dad more than he hates us, which isn’t something that can be said about the rest of them.”

“Fuck,” Wen Xu said. “What’s our alternative plan?”

“…become ghost puppets?”

“Fuck.”

“You do remember that I want to kill you both?” Nie Mingjue said, scowling at them.

“We were betting on you wanting to kill our father more,” Wen Chao said.

“I’m not sure,” Nie Mingjue said. “You’re very obnoxious.”

Wen Chao scowled.

“He has a point, A-Chao,” Wen Xu said.

“Shut up.”

“Respect your elders!”

“If you two are going to start fighting, I’m leaving,” Nie Mingjue said.

They both squinted at him. “Does that mean you might not leave if we stop?” Wen Xu asked.

Nie Mingjue’s scowl got even worse, but eventually he begrudgingly said “…well, I really hate your father.”

They both exhaled in relief.

“What’s your plan?” Nie Mingjue asked.

“This was about as far as it went,” Wen Xu admitted, and Nie Mingjue gaped at him. “What? If we had planning skills, we’d be ruling the world.”

“Jiaojiao wants jewelry now,” Wen Chao agreed. “Lots of it. Keeping a mistress is expensive.”

“I’ll…take your word for that,” Nie Mingjue said, looking mildly uncomfortable.

“You’re always plotting against our father, right?” Wen Xu asked.

“No,” Nie Mingjue said. “If I could plot, your father would already be dead.”

“Good point,” Wen Chao said, but he wasn’t the sort of person to let little details like that discourage him. “But surely you know someone who can?”

“Just keep in mind that I’m on a deadline here,” Wen Xu said. “I have to leave to go raze the Cloud Recesses by the end of the week.”

“You want me to come up with a plan to defeat your father before the end of the week?!”

“Uh, yeah,” Wen Xu said. “That’s what I said, wasn’t it?”

“It was,” Wen Chao agreed.

“I’m going to go get Meng Yao,” Nie Mingjue decided. “And Huaisang, too, why not, somehow he always gets his way no matter what I do. Maybe he can come up with something for this.”

“I think we’re going to need expert assistance,” Nie Huaisang declared. “I’m thinking this is Wei Wuxian levels of plotting.”

“He can plot?” Wen Chao said dubiously. “Are you sure? He took nearly a week to fight a mildly ominous bird.”

“…is that so?” Nie Huaisang said, and sighed. “Okay, fine. Meng Yao, guess it’s up to you and me.”

Meng Yao was blinking his eyes very rapidly.

“What?” Wen Chao said. “You have an awful father too, don’t look so shocked about us wanting to get rid of ours.”

“That’s just how his brain works when he’s thinking,” Nie Huaisang assured him. “He’s kicking it like it’s a sleeping donkey that doesn’t want to get to work; give him a minute and he’ll be coming up with all sorts of ideas.”

“Good ideas?”

“All sorts of ideas.”

“…any good ideas? Mediocre ideas, even?”

“Listen, we have until the end of the week,” Nie Mingjue said irritably. “You’ll take whatever ideas we give you and you’ll like it, you hear me?”

“Is it too late to get Wen Zhuliu in on this?” Wen Xu asked Wen Chao.

“He has that weird thing for Dad,” Wen Chao reminded him.

“Fuck,” Wen Xu said. “I’d wiped that from my memory through the application of a great deal of alcohol, but yes, you’re right. Okay. Hit me with your worst plan.”

“That’s worse than I thought it was going to be.”

“Shut up and just do it.”

“I will now, in the name of the Wen sect, attack –” Wen Xu grimaced. “– this cave.”

“It’s a very important cave, actually,” one of the Lan disciples muttered.

“Be quiet,” Lan Wangji said.

They were all pretending not to notice the main force of Lan sect disciples, led by Lan Xichen, carting their precious books and treasures out of the Cloud Recesses right behind him.

“I am attacking this very important cave,” Wen Xu clarified. “Of extreme importance to the Lan sect. So important, in fact, that it is clearly the correct target for an invasion.”

They stood around a while longer.

Someone cleared their throat. “Should we fight?”

“I can have my men beat you up if you really want,” Wen Xu said.

“…no thanks.”

“Then be quiet.”

There was a bit more standing around. Eventually Lan Qiren coughed.

“Would you like a chair or something?” Wen Xu asked, then frowned. “Never mind, I probably can’t justify that.”

“Probably not,” Lan Qiren agreed. He looked pained. Probably by the whole situation, but who knew, maybe he just had a bad back and the standing around was getting to him. “You will be taking Wangji hostage after this?”

“Along with most of the heirs of the Great Sects,” Wen Xu said. “As agreed, we’ll keep them out of the way.”

“Sometimes the most dangerous place is the safest place.”

“…yeah, that. Either way, they’ll be kept out of trouble.”

“This is not out of trouble!” Wei Wuxian shouted as they ran away from the Xuanwu.

“This stretch of river has never caused anyone any problems!” Wen Chao shouted back. “Ever! You’re the one who found the fucking cave!”

“Shut up and keep running!” Jiang Cheng howled.

“I really like your hair,” Wang Lingjiao told Madame Yu. “Also, that dress.”

Wen Chao sighed.

“Expensive tastes?” Wei Wuxian asked, pouring him some wine.

“You have no idea,” Wen Chao said glumly. “My allowance can’t cover it, so I ended up putting her as a line item in the military budget.”

“You did?” Jiang Cheng said. “Did your father, uh, object?”

“He’d have to notice.”

“I wonder how many other things he wouldn’t notice,” Wei Wuxian muttered to himself.

“You’re a young master of Yunmeng Jiang,” Jiang Cheng said, rolling his eyes. “What could you possibly want to fund that we won’t pay for?”

“I don’t know,” Wei Wuxian said. “Mad science experiments?”

“Can you pay him to stop?” Wen Xu asked. “I don’t even like flute music.”

“Shut up,” Wen Chao said. “You’ve been decapitated, remember?”

“Oh yeah, ‘decapitated’. And now I’m being force-fed lots of Qinghe barbeque,” Wen Xu said. “My life is really hard.”

“Why you…!”

Wen Xu sniggered. “How’s it going with Wen Zhuliu?”

“Fine, I think?” Wen Chao said. “He hasn’t actually noticed that the ‘demons’ we’re being hunted by aren’t really demons, but that’s because he’s been mostly drinking away his weird crush on our dad. I think Wen Ning is spiking his drink with something.”

They both turned to look at Wen Ning, who shrugged.

“Couldn’t have happened to a nicer person,” Wen Xu decided. “Are they attacking the Nightless City soon?”

“I think so.”

“What happens then?”

“Dunno.”

“Going to be kind of awkward when we ‘come back from the dead’ to take over.”

“I’m going to blame it on Wei Wuxian and his new weirdo cultivation,” Wen Chao decided. “We’re all sentient corpses he’s resurrected and using to puppet the Wen sect. Wen Ning, you in on this?”

“…sure,” Wen Ning said. “But only if I get first rights on ‘Ghost General’ as a nickname.”

“Oh, that’s a good one.”

“Thanks for the patricide,” Wen Xu said.

“Think nothing of it,” Nie Mingjue said. “Also, say nothing of it. Ever. In fact, let’s never talk again.”

“Can’t do that,” Wen Chao said. “Madame Yu told Jiaojiao that she got that fancy headpiece from Qinghe, so she wants to go there on a shopping trip.”

“Our economy could use the boost, da-ge,” Nie Huaisang said, and Nie Mingjue sighed. “It’s going to be a really big boost. Especially if she convinces Madame Jin from Lanling to come with her.”

“I still can’t believe they made friends,” Wei Wuxian marveled. “It must come from having more money than brains.”

“Brains aren’t exactly what I look for in a partner,” Wen Chao said. “Luckily for you, neither does your boyfriend.”

“Hey, I have brains!”

“You’re certainly intelligent,” Meng Yao – now named Jin Guangyao – told him.

“See?”

“That was an insult,” Nie Mingjue said.

“…hey!”

“When are you coming back to Qinghe?” Nie Huaisang asked Jin Guangyao, who blinked. “I mean, unless you want to spend all your time slaving away for a guy who thought Wen Ruohan was neat.”

“He’s right,” Wen Xu said. “Father or not, don’t do it. It’s not worth it. You’ll end up having to rebel and ask your worst enemies for help and it’s awkward.”

“I appreciate the offer,” Jin Guangyao said. “But I really can’t accept.”

“Why not?” Nie Huaisang asked.

Wen Chao pointed at him. “Seconded.”

Jin Guangyao grimaced at them both. Possibly it was meant to be a smile.

“You don’t have to go to the Unclean Realm, A-Yao,” Lan Xichen said.

“Thank you, er-ge.”

“You can come to the Cloud Recesses instead.”

“Er-ge…”

“Did anyone ever tell the Jin sect that we were working with the Wen heirs?” Nie Mingjue wondered out loud, and everyone frowned. “Because if they don’t know, and Jin Guangshan thinks he’s being subtle with the whole trying to hire Xue Yang thing, things are going to get really awkward.”

“…well, shit,” Jiang Cheng said. “I call not being the one to tell him.”

“Seconded!”

“Cloud Recesses, you said?” Jin Guangyao asked Lan Xichen, who looked pleased.

“I’m leaving,” Wen Xu decided. “I want nothing to do with this disaster. You all have fun now, I’m fucking off back to the Nightless City to live the rest of my life as a very rich man with no life goals.”

“I want to do that,” Nie Huaisang said.

“No,” Nie Mingjue said.

“But –”

“No.”

“Hey,” Wei Wuxian said. “Unrelatedly, anyone have any ideas on what should I do with the whole resentful energy seal thing now?”

“I don’t know,” Wen Chao said. “Play a giant game of keep away with it and then fake your own death?”

#mdzs #wen xu #wen chao #nie mingjue #nie huaisang #jin guangyao #wei wuxian #lan qiren #my fic #my fics #mutiny at the wen sect #Anonymous

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makeste · 4 years

Text

BnHA Chapter 305: Worst Intervention Ever

Previously on BnHA: Shinomori, whose name took me an entire week to memorize, was all, “nice to meet you Deku, I’m ten feet tall, do you want to know how I died?” and without waiting for an answer explained that he kicked it from old age at forty thanks to good ol’ OFA. Deku was all “wait a minute, then how come All Might, who’s fifty-five and is definitely dyeing his gray hair, is still alive?” First and Shino were all, “we really have no fucking clue but we think it’s cuz he’s quirkless, JUST LIKE YOU!” So basically, since quirkless people don’t exactly grow on trees these days, Deku is probably going to be the last user of OFA. The chapter ended with Nana being all, “psst, Deku, about my grandson. Uh, can you kill him?” which is sure to lead to a very interesting conversation this week.

Today on BnHA: Nana And The Gang are all “so, Deku, how can we put this delicately. The thing is, we’re pretty sure that AFO really fucked my grandson up, so on the off chance you can’t save him, how would you feel about, you know... [throat slitting gesture].” Deku is all “idk you guys, I kinda feel like he’s really just a traumatized child at heart and he’s in a lot of pain and stuff and so I should try to help him.” The Vestiges are all “BUT WHAT IF YOU CAN’T” and Deku is all “BUT I WANT TO TRY, DAMMIT” and the Vestiges are all “well when you put it that way, we, uh, were just testing you, so congrats, you passed!” The chapter ends with First being all, “ANYWAY SO WHY DON’T YOU TWO SHY BOYS STANDING OVER THERE IN THE SHADOWS COME SAY HELLO” before we CUT AWAY FOR ANOTHER WEEK, goddammit.

seriously, Nana

just... have you met Deku?? look, if you really want Tomura dead, just sic him on the U.A. first years and tell Shouto and Honenuki that it’s a training exercise

oh my god lmao

we’re too far away to see Nana’s face here so I will just assume that she turned and is staring DIRECTLY INTO THE CAMERA for this one line lmao. “I just wanted to clarify in case anyone felt inclined to take my dialogue out of context and spend an entire week complaining about it”

oh my god?! are you all purposely trying to make me sad??

someone stop me before I launch into an impromptu rant about all my Tomura feels. WHY IS NOBODY STOPPING ME. oh my god but yes, exactly. he’s just in pain all the time. this is exactly why I think Tomura has such high redemption potential even though so far he seems to lack so many of the redemption arc essentials such as feeling remorse, wanting to change, and taking responsibility for his actions. the reason why I’m willing to overlook all that in his case is because Tomura has essentially had zero agency his entire life. AFO molded him into a killer by making sure he was in constant mental agony, and making it so that the only thing that even slightly relieved that agony was killing peeps. like, please don’t think I’m making excuses for him or anything, but if you take a child and manipulate their existence to make it virtually impossible for that child to grow up as anything other than a killer, and basically never give him the chance to be anything else, then no shit he’s gonna be a killer?? he’s basically never had the choice not to be. it’s never been an option for him. anyways I feel like I am EXPLAINING MYSELF SO BADLY but nonetheless I am prepared to die on this hill

anyway so now Nana is all “that’s a rhetorical question btw because Our Hearts And Minds Are One so we can feel everything you feel bro.” so yeah, that’s interesting

now Banjou is getting started on the “let’s try and talk Deku out of wanting to save Tomura because it’s insane” part of their OFA Mystical Space Void Reunion agenda

look, Banjou, I feel you, I really do. you guys don’t think it’s realistic that Deku can defeat Tomura without killing him. so if it’s a choice between killing Tomura vs letting Deku and everyone else in the entire world die, then duh, you think Deku should kill him. I get it! and if this were a real life mass murderer I’d totally agree with you. but the problem is that this isn’t real life, this is a sympathetic shounen villain with a tragic past who might as well have FUTURE REDEMPTION ARC RECEIPIENT stamped on his forehead at this point

so First is all “look, there’s absolutely no doubt my brother has fucked this kid up good and proper by now”, which, again, fair

though, that’s kind of exactly my point though. everything that Tomura is, everything he’s done, he’s done because of AFO. AFO has so effectively shaped his personality and his worldview by this point that it’s all but impossible to penetrate that. he’s AFO’s puppet. but the problem is that rather than treating him like a victim, you all are treating him like a casualty. like he’s already a lost cause. but good luck trying to convince Deku of that

WHOA WHAT, RANDOM SUPER-IMPORTANT AND BIZARRELY UNRELATED EXPOSITION DROPPED IN JUST LIKE THAT??

way to still not reveal Sixth’s name, btw. THE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW, DAMMIT. but also so this confirms something we basically already knew already, which is that not even AFO can steal OFA. it literally can’t be taken away by anyone unless the owner wills it. SO SUCK ON THAT AFO YOU EGG

(ETA: so I have no idea why this was omitted from this translation, but apparently the Sixth’s name was revealed as “En”, which is obviously not his full name but at least it’s something. also he most likely has a fire or smoke-related quirk based on the kanji used, 煙.)

so Banjou is saying that Deku’s “lack of an iron will” could be a disadvantage against AFO. hahaha what?? Midoriya “I’ll break all of my bones without blinking an eye just to protect someone” Izuku lacks an iron will? do tell

he says this is going to be a test of Deku’s determination. well yeah, no shit. but just not in the way you guys think

OH HELLO AGAIN

darker hair again here! but I don’t trust the contrast in these scans at all after last week. his coveralls are way darker than they looked before too, and you can clearly see he’s standing in the shadows now

(ETA: yep, once again the raw shows that his hair is considerably lighter than what’s shown in these scans here. although there’s no mistaking now that his hair is consistently being colored in this slightly darker shade, and it’s not just the lighting.)

anyways lol First was saying something about how AFO can’t steal OFA, and they’ve spent all this time cultivating it as the ultimate weapon against AFO, and blah blah blah. go on then, keep lecturing

NANA GODDAMMIT NONE OF THIS IS YOUR FAULT

girl what?? you did everything in your power to protect your family, and AFO, fucked up man that he is, targeted them anyway. there is one person and one person only to blame for what’s happened to Tomura, and that potato-faced asshole needs a good kick in the balls

NANA GODDAMMIT DON’T MAKE ME COME OVER THERE

SO HELP ME GOD!! I WILL GIVE YOU THE BIGGEST HUG YOU’VE EVER HAD!! THAT IS A THREAT

so now Nana is all “I’m just going to call my grandson a Thing to ensure that fandom has only the freshest, grass-fed no-hormones-added discourse this week”

I don’t even need to drop into the tags to know exactly which specific people are going to respond to this, and what kind of posts they are going to write lmao. everyone’s all caught up in the “that thing”, and meanwhile I’m over here completely hung up on this “nay” that’s appeared out of NOWHERE you guys. look at that. she really said “NAY”

Nana, my love, my dearest, I feel you girl I really do. but he’s not an unforgivable manifestation of pure evil, Deku is exactly right actually, he’s a boy in pain. you guys need to stop questioning Deku’s shounen protagonist instincts here and just let him work his sparkly magic. “let’s try and convince Midoriya Fucking Izuku that he can’t save someone” is a plan that is NEVER going to turn out well you guys

“DEKU GODDAMMIT WHAT IF WE CAN’T SAVE HIM” lmao it’s like an intervention

“DAMMIT DEKU JUST ADMIT YOU HAVE A SAVING PEOPLE PROBLEM!”

RED ALERT IT’S ANOTHER CLOSE-UP OF THE BACK OF MISTER TWO BON CLAY’S HEAD OMG

(ETA: I was too distracted with freaking out about Two and Three to really appreciate how ridiculously handsome First looks in this panel. but on my second readthrough it stood out so much that I had to go back and add an extra bullet point just to talk about how hot he is. look at him. wtf.)

THAT IS DEFINITELY AN UNDERCUT. THE PLOT THICKENSSSS. also those are fucking exhaust vents on Mister Three’s neck. MISTER THREE COULD YOU POSSIBLY BE RELATED TO THE IIDAS, PLEASE TELL ME YOUR SECRETS I’M DYING OVER HERE

so now Deku is launching into what will undoubtedly be a “saving people problems require SAVING PEOPLE SOLUTIONS” heroic counter-speech!

I mean, they can already feel the “lol nah I’m gonna try and save him” feelings running through him lol. ~OuR hEaRtS aNd MiNdS aRe CoNnEcTeD~ and all that. this is just a formality, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love a good shounen protag speech

oh wait hold up, do you mean to tell me that the whole “hearts and minds are connected” thing I was just mocking just a paragraph ago actually allowed Deku to feel what Tomura was feeling?? like literally feel it??

YET AGAIN these Tomura feels are pounding on my front door you guys?? they just will not quit?? people my house is already full of feels, does it look like I need you to sell me any more of them?? -- what do you mean, they’re free??

AW YISS THAT’S IT DEKU. THAT’S SOME GOOD SPEECH RIGHT THERE

I appreciate the contrast here between the Douchebag Triumvirate of Overhaul, Muscular, and Stain versus the Misguided Twosome of Gentle and La Brava. never let it be said that Deku doesn’t know the difference between a redeemable villain and an unredeemable one

OH NO -- OH MY GOD

someone please help me I need directions to the OFA Spooky Galactic Nebula Realm in this fictional Japanese manga land. it’s not on google maps. I need to give these two babies a big hug and wrap them up in a blanket and treat them to some McDonalds Happy Meals please help

other things: (1) ENDEAVOR CHILLING OUT IN DEKU’S “PEOPLE I HOLD DEAR” PANEL LMAO NEON DISCOURSE EXTRAVAGANZA, (2) “ONE FOR ALL IS A POWER TO SAVE, NOT TO KILL” I’M ABOUT TO CRY DEKU I LOVE YOU SO MUCH HOW IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE TO FEEL ALL THIS LOVE, (3) [SLAMS HANDS ON TABLE] THERE’S YOUR MOTHERFUCKING IRON WILL!!!!!!!! -- I’m sorry, please don’t call security, I’ll be good

I just randomly remembered that Deku is still saying all of this in his muffled “FMMPHHMMPHMM” voice and I’m somehow cracking up lol. so actually it’s a very good thing Their Hearts And Minds Are Connected, otherwise they’d no doubt be all, “...what?”

(ETA: so I completely missed this on account of it literally not being visible in the scan at all, but in the raw you can clearly see Baby Kacchan and Baby Shouto fanboying over All Might in two of these panels, and excuse me, ma’am??

thank you very much Deku for including them in your montage, particularly since you’ve never seen Baby Shouto before lol. amazingly accurate image you managed to conjure up, all things considered.)

SDKFJLSKHG -- AS IF ON CUE???

HE’S SO ADORABLE HELP?? Trippy Space All Might looks like he’s about to cry, and First is all “don’t crack a smile... you have to be Firm and Serious here... dammit, don’t smile” omg

anyways! YOU GO DEKU. “MY QUIRK MY RULES, BITCHES” damn, son

KLJLKKHLG TRIPPY SPACE ALL MIGHT LITERALLY ACTUALLY IS CRYING ALL MIGHT HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME

“I JUST... [CLENCHES FIST] REALLY LOVE SAVING PEOPLE” FUCKING HELL LMAO THIS IS THE WORST INTERVENTION OF ALL TIME

Deku is literally all “sure, maybe I’ll have to kill him, but have you guys also considered, MAYBE NOT??” it’s no use Nana he’s too powerful

LMAO FIRST

“like I’ve been saying this whole time, you should definitely try saving Shigaraki Tomura.” “but, uh... First, didn’t you just -- ” “shut up”

(ETA: clearly it’s not just his brother who inherited those smooth-talking genes.)

so now Deku has turned back into a sixteen year old and his clothes have gone missing again. just OFA things

dskljdlsklgk

yes... sure... “testing” you...

HEY

FIRST OF ALL, DAMN YOU HORIKOSHI YOU MADE NANA CRY. even if I’m pretty sure they’re actually tears of happiness/relief. and SECOND OF ALL, “TELL MY BOYFRIEND I SAID HI” DJSKDLKJJL ANYWAY MAYBE GRAN, NANA, AND MR. SHIMURA WERE IN A THROUPLE

[SCREAMS]

WHY WOULD YOU END IT THERE?? WHY WOULD YOU END IT THERE!!!!!

(ETA: and two-to-one odds that we cut away to some other scene once they finally start to turn around next week. I’M CALLING IT NOW. giving myself a week to brace myself for the rage.)

fucking hell. well if anyone needs me I will be adding Horikoshi fucking Kouhei to the list of irredeemable villains, peace

#bnha 305 #midoriya izuku #shigaraki tomura #shimura tenko #shimura nana #ofa the first #banjou daigorou #bnha #boku no hero academia #bnha spoilers #mha spoilers #bnha manga spoilers #makeste reads bnha #'deku. sweetheart. your other vestiges and I just want what's best for you'#'have you tried... *not* saving people?'#only to backpedal SPECTACULARLY when he was all 'WHAT DO YOU MEAN NOT SAVING THEM'#yeah okay guys #you're not fooling anyone #but it's okay I still love you

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fandomscraziness22 · 3 years

Note

“We’re gonna be fine.” “How do you know?” for Willex!

as soon as the idea came to mind i got excited

As soon as Caleb lets him go, Willie runs for the door and bursts into the room. The three boys jump to their feet, looking ready for a fight. Only Alex seems to relax at the sight of Willie. All three are wearing nice clothes that Willie immediately recognizes as Caleb’s handiwork, which just makes his stomach do an uneasy flip.

“What are you doing here?” Luke moves in front of the others protectively. Willie’s heart drops to his toes. Had Luke so quickly forgotten how Willie offered to help them cross over? It was only this morning that he was driving a random tour bus into the desert to give the boys a fighting chance at doing their unfinished business. But now, Luke’s looking at him with the same readiness that Willie’s sure he reserves for Caleb.

“I came as soon as I could.” It’s a poor excuse, but it’s the truth. Willie had stayed away from the Hollywood Ghost Club as long as possible, but the leash on his soul pulled tight, and Willie poofed back to his room to get ready for their normal show. At least, until he felt Caleb appear at his doorway with a scowl on his face.

One locked door and missed show later led Willie here, standing in front of three miserable ghosts.

“Did you know?” Alex steps forward next to Luke, still keeping Reggie behind him.

“Of course not,” Willie says, voice breaking. “I would have done anything to get you out.”

Luke gives an angry laugh. “Too late for that now.” He lifts his sleeve and Willie’s hand goes to his mouth.

The purple stamp is gone, replaced simply with the letters HGC. The mark blazes gold on their skin, the same way it had on Willie’s the first week in the club. Caleb’s special way of showing his ownership to any other ghosts out there.

“We belong to him now.” Luke shoulders past Willie, rage and despair flying off him. Reggie follows silently, giving Willie a soft “sorry about him” before leaving the drummer and skater alone.

Willie looks at Alex, scared he’s going to find the same judgment or disdain pointed at him. But while his eyes are sad, there’s also a sense of…relief?

Alex steps forward again, and then without a word launches himself into Willie’s arms. His chin hooks perfectly into Willie’s neck, and his strong arms grip Willie tight. “It’s good to see you,” he murmurs.

Willie’s arms come around Alex’s back quickly, reveling in the closeness of the boy he’s fallen for. His eyes close of their own accord as he whispers back, “I don’t think your friends agree.”

“Well they’re idiots,” Alex replies, and Willie can feel his smile against his skin. It’s insane to Willie how Alex can settle his racing thoughts with one hug, but he wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Though now, he supposes he won’t have to. Willie pulls away and asks, “What happened? Why didn’t you guys play the Orpheum?”

Alex sighs, a hand coming up to rub over his face. “Caleb found us in the garage, right before we were supposed to meet Julie. He blew this purple smoke at us and brought us here, all dressed and everything.”

Willie cuts in with a small smile. “Pink really is your color.”

Alex rolls his eyes fondly, then continues. “He tried to get us to join him again, but we said no. Then Caleb started singing this song, and…” He trails off. Willie can guess exactly what happened; it’s what happens to everyone who joins the club on their first night of performances, before learning any of the music themselves.

But he can tell Alex needs to be the one to say it, so Willie waits as Alex moves a few feet back and forth, pacing around the small space. Finally he stops in front of Willie and says forcefully, “He took control over us, made us play our own solos and then together with the rest of the song. I could feel my arms moving, but I couldn’t stop.”

Willie nods once. “It makes you feel gross, like someone strung you as a puppet.”

Alex blinks. “Wait, he’s done that to you?” At Willie’s shrug Alex’s hands tighten into fists. “What kind of evil wizard does Caleb think he is?”

The sentence is so true, it startles a laugh from Willie. “You’re not wrong,” he says. The pair are silent for a long moment, until Willie reaches forward and takes one of Alex’s hands, uncurling the tense fist softly. “We’re gonna be fine.”

“How do you know? Now we’re all stuck under Caleb’s thumb, and Julie’s probably worried sick about us, and we’ll never get to see her again, and–”

“Because,” Willie cuts off Alex’s spiral. “You three are the strongest ghosts I’ve seen in decades, and Julie is a force to be reckoned with. If anyone can figure out a way to break Caleb’s hold and beat him, it’s you four.

Alex smiles softly, and the warmth in his eyes brings Willie’s heart back up to its rightful place. “You’re a part of it too, you know. We need your help.” He pauses, and then firmly says, “I need you.”

And Willie hasn’t been needed like that in years. The light that Alex brings to his dull life spills over and Willie throws himself back at Alex, pulling him into another bruising hug, only pulling back enough to plant a chaste kiss to Alex’s lips.

They face seemingly impossible odds, but together, Willie is certain they can defeat Caleb once and for all.

#julie and the phantoms #jatp #willex #willie #alex garfin #luke patterson #reggie peters #caleb covington #julie molina #hurt/comfort #prompt fill

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egyptsblackrose · 3 years

Text

Dancing with Strangers

This is by far the longest chapter, hopefully I’ve tied all the loose ends and come to a decent conclusion. Stay tuned fro more fics.

Part 1 - https://egyptsblackrose.tumblr.com/post/648370506842701824/a-rose-by-any-other-name

Part 5 -https://egyptsblackrose.tumblr.com/post/654891313044635648/dancing-with-strangers-there-will-be-one-more-part

Part 6- The end, enjoy!

It had been eight months since your first meeting with Gojo Satoru and Kakashi Hatake. This had been the longest relationship either men had ever had, both as a three or on their own. It was also painfully clear how absolutely in love both men were with you, and you with them. The change in the three of you was as clear as day, never had anyone seen each of you so happy - is what you constantly heard from everyone you knew, and when you ran into a friend or relative of theirs… with a few exceptions.

The truth had come out about a month in that Gojo was the one with all the money. A ‘representative of his household’ had come to the apartment to visit and go over ‘matters concerning the family’. Satoru had been so laid back through the whole thing, smirking mockingly at the clearly uncomfortable (stuck up) old butler. He’d grabbed your waist as you were walking towards the door to leave, pulling you down and into his lap. It became clear that he wanted to mess with the man opposite him, even Kakashi seemed in on it because he kissed you sweetly as he walked passed.

Gojo wasn’t able to hide his bitterness when the man finally left though, burying his head into your neck and hugging you tightly. His father had been a politician and his mother a CEO of a successful company, he still had connections because of them and shares that were doing incredibly well. Not to mention their life insurance had been enough to set anyone for life.

“It’s not like I was close to them to begin with.” He’d muttered in a bored manner when you’d teared up at the mention of a Satoru toddler being left alone, surrounded by people who wanted to use him for money, power and influence. The butler was a man hired by his fathers old political party and the other share holders at his mothers company. They apparently weren’t best pleased with him settling for being a small time policeman, had hoped to mould him into their puppet to keep both their money making schemes going.

To cheer the three of you up, Gojo had taken the three of you on a spontaneous trip to an Onsen that one of his friends owns, up in the middle of no where. The beautiful, traditional building with modern interior was nestled on the side of a frigging mountain that could only be reached through a thick, ancient forest.

You were the only three guests, and the workers were even excused for the evening, so it felt like you were the only three in the world with the next person been miles away. Which you were insanely grateful for. Because Kakashi and Gojo had made it a completion between them on who could make you scream the loudest.

Three months later, Kakashi had appeared out of no where behind you while you were cooking dinner, wrapping his arms round you gently and kissing your neck soothingly. “Would you join me for a day out tomorrow?”

“Of course I will,” You giggled, shivering as his lips ghosted over the marks on your neck and shoulders, drawing invisible lines like he was drawing constellations. “Where are we going?”

Hatake was silent for a moment before he squeezed you tighter. “I’m going to introduce you to my father.”

To say you were nervous was an understatement, you had agonised over the right outfit for hours the night before, asking both Miku and Sakura for their help. You should have known better, they had spent the majority of the time gushing over your boyfriends and how serious it was getting between you. After all, no one had ever heard of the two most wanted bachelors introducing their conquests to their family and friends, or even going on trips with their lovers, let alone keeping their interest this long.

Finally settling on one of your favourite outfits; something simple, comfortable and trendy, you kept your make-up light and as natural as possible and called yourself ready. Meeting at their apartment, you were surprised to see Kakashi in his policeman formal uniform. God the man looked dashing. Wearing white gloves, black dress shoes, a smart navy suit, light blue tie, hat tucked under his arm and a smirk on his handsome face.

“Enjoying the view baby?” He teased.

You nodded dumbly, bitting your lip to try hide your smirk. “Just when I thought you couldn’t get any more handsome, you have to go devastate my heart like that.”

“Maybe me and Sato should wear these tonight then.” The suggestion had your thighs clenching, suddenly it was hard to swallow. Hatake chuckled lazily having seen your reaction. “Later baby girl, for now, we have somewhere to go.”

The cemetery was the LAST place you were expecting this day to take you. Kakashi stopped at his fathers tome stone and saluted. It was at least two decades since his fathers death. Kakashi Sakumo, Hatake’s father, had been a respected police detective, and his whole inspirational drive to become a policeman. When Hatake was young, his father had led a team in a drug bust against some of the biggest names in the Yakuza, but had chosen to save his men’s lives rather than capture the villains when things had gone wrong.

The ‘failure’ was a black mark against his name, and soon his was shunned by the media, his fellow detectives and the whole police force. The abuse became so bad, that he took his own life. From then on, Hatake had lived and grown up with Gojo who he was already inseparable with.

“For the longest time…I blamed him too.” Kakashi admitted quietly, holding onto your hand like a life line. “He had a duty to take those dangerous men off the streets, to make the city a safer place for the public, for kids who were in danger of either being hooked onto drugs or joining gangs. Instead he chose to save the lives of his team.” You were silent, what could you possibly say to ease his pain? “But now…” Hatake raised his head with a proud smile. “My views have changed. He didn’t want to chase glory, he just wanted to do the right thing and save lives. In that moment, they needed him, he saw that and did his best. He was willing to die for his men, he didn’t want to see all those family’s mourning for lives he could have spared. I can only hope that one day, I will be as brave as him.”

You are not ashamed to say you cried, standing there looking at the grave of the man who had made Hatake into the man he was. Into the man you loved. You bowed deeply and gave your thanks, promising out loud to take care of his son for as long as you were allowed. Kakashi’s own eyes watered at this as he pulled you close. You don’t know how long you stood there holding each other for, but it didn’t feel like long enough. Part of you thought it would never be enough when it came to the two amazing men who looked at you like you were their whole world.

After the visit, Kakashi had taken you to the old, more traditional part of town so you could go to his favourite restaurant. The two of you were the first to arrive and the last to leave, laughing so much to the point where you were both in tears. It was so light and care free, and you could see the weight just lift off of Hatake’s shoulders.

And when you both finally made it back to their apartment, Gojo was sat on the sofa waiting. Smirking. Also in uniform. That night, not one of you slept.

With your hands locked together in cuffs and blindfold around your eyes, you shook like a leaf in the wind as Kakashi took you from behind, Gojo at your front. If it had been anyone else trying to blindfold you and tie you up, you would have absolutely said no. As it was, Kakashi loved seeing you so vulnerable. So much so that he had stretched your arse as he’d enthusiastically eaten you out, and was now taking advantage of his VERY thorough prep work. He held a vibrator to your clit as he fucked your arse, Gojo keeping your mouth open and busy as he kissed you hungrily so they could hear your moans, squeezing and playing with your tits as he took your front just as roughly.

Not only did you squirt first time, your pretty sure you blacked out for a second. Not that the boys were deterred, they knew you’d tell them if it became too much. Besides, the sounds you were making; the moans, the wet squelching from how wet you were, it was the best yet. You couldn’t walk the next day though and had to ask Miku to record your lecture.

By the fifth month, Gojo and Kakashi had broached the idea of you moving in with them. It was a casual comment made in light conversation one Sunday morning, when they FIRST brought it up. Then it was Kakashi suggesting you keep more of your things with them, mostly because you would ask them to take you back to your apartment with the girls so you could get ready for the day, meaning you would leave earlier than they would like. Eventually Gojo decided they were being too subtle and would cling to you in the mornings, begging you to not leave and to stay with them.

“You guys remember that I’m living with two roommates already right? I can’t just up and leave them like that, they won’t be able to afford rent!”

“But beautifu~l! We want you here with us!”

“What our idiot means to say baby-”

“Hey!”

“Is that, you already spend so much time here, and we love having you with us. Our apartment is even closer to your Uni building! It makes sense surely, for you to move in with us. Or for us even to find a place together-”

“Wow, ok slow down there!” You butt in quickly, cheeks turning pink. Finally the boys had had enough of dancing around the subject and had sat you down to talk about it properly. Talking about moving into their lush apartment was one thing, but talking about a place together, was something else entirely!

Gojo pouted at you in annoyance. “What, you don’t want to live with us?”

“I’m not saying that!” You defended instantly, frowning at him. “I’m saying it’s a BIG step, and I get that you guys feel ready for it, but I don’t ok? For one, five months isn’t that much time dating someone, second, I don’t even have a job yet! And don’t tell me money isn’t an issue and I don’t have to pay rent cause God help me Satoru, I will get up and leave right now.” You threatened.

“Ok you two, lets take a deep breath and talk about this calmly ok?” Hatake soothed, squeezing both your hands. “Baby, if you don’t feel ready then that’s fine, we will not force you. But please know that when you ARE ready, we WANT you here. Ok?” Nodding in understanding, you started to relax. Gojo huffed and crossed his arms, but nodded in agreement. “And about you looking for a job and paying rent. We are not trying to baby you or the like, we just want to take care of you. We know you can take care of yourself but that wont stop us from WANTING to take care of you because you are YOURS. Understand? We love and cherish you, and if we can help you, we want to. If it was us in a difficult situation and you could help us, you would, wouldn’t you?”

“Of course, in a heartbeat.” You muttered with a slight pout.

Kakashi beamed. “It’s the same in our eyes.” And that had been the end of that…for the time being that is.

Just short of the six month mark, you had agreed to go out again with the girls for a night out. Kakashi and Gojo had encouraged you to go, promising that when they were done with their shift, they would come pick you up. They had even bought you a gift voucher for your birthday to buy a new outfit. You had been sure to send the boys a flattering pic of yourself all dolled up before you had left for the night, receiving such thirsty replies that no one would guess that you had spent the night before with them.

The night had been going perfectly, once again you were the most sober of the group, which you were now used to. You had a nice buzz going, there had already been so many laughs and the girls were excitedly giggling about the stories you shared on your boyfriends. (Of course the intimate, personal things you kept to yourself.) You had been to a few bars and your group agreed to end the night at the club you had met your boys in, ‘The Ninja Shrine’. Texting the two policemen still on shift, you let them know that you and your friends had arrived safely, were going to order your drinks and you would be eagerly waiting for them for a dance.

Gojo replied with multiple winky, smirky, and red with sweat drop faces. Kakashi was the only one to give you a verbal reply, promising to be there as soon as they could, and ‘ordering’ you to behave until they arrived. It made you smile, biting your lip. ‘No promises’ was your reply with a winky face, locking your phone and ignoring the bings that followed, knowing that would rile them up more than a reply.

Despite the clear teasing, you stayed against the bar, talking and laughing with your friends as you sipped at your drink. The girls did try convince you to dance with them at one point, but you were waiting a certain pair to join you. After all, dancing with the girls was fun, but it was even better when you had certain pairs of eyes on your body.

“Oh shit,” Miku cursed, suddenly grabbing your arm and turning you away from the door.

“What the hell-?”

“Don’t turn around!” Miku earned, holding onto your shoulders. “One of your boys’s old flings is here, and trust me you don’t want anything to do with her.” Looking subtly out of the corner of your eyes, you saw a pretty strawberry blonde with soft brown eyes and a confident smirk. You could clearly see her figure through her flashy outfit, her expensive designer shoes and handbag on show like she was on the Paris run way. “She was with them for four months, her names Claire Aoki, and she’s a psycho if you ask me.” Miku continued carefully.

Before you could react, the door opened once more and in came your two boyfriends, looking like sex on legs. Gojo wore a flashy designer get up with black jeans and dress shoes, a blue shirt and a leather jacket that you knew for a fact cost more than your joint rent with the girls. Kakashi was also in black dress shoes, black dress pants, a dark grey shirt and a lighter grey silk vest. Their eyes landed on you immediately and began smiling. You smiled back, beaming when they started heading your way.

They hadn’t made it two steps before they were stopped by Claire, her red manicured-nailed hands resting on their chests as she leaned in towards them, pressing her chest into their arms. Kakashi looked panicked, eyes widening as his eyes darted up towards you, then down to her and back. Gojo’s smile shrunk, it was still there, but it looked much more forced now as his blue eyes narrowed at the other woman.

Curious, and not worried at all, you leaned back against the bar. You turned to make yourself look as relaxed as possible, replicating the same look you had the night they had pulled you away from your friends to charm the pants off of you. Your head tilted and your smile grew as their eyes kept on drifting to you. Whatever Claire was saying clearly wasn’t keeping their attention.

Your smile turned to a smirk as Beast by Mia Martina started playing, slowly pushing off the bar as you headed to the dance floor, your friends following. Closing your eyes, you let the music take you away, body rolls moving slow, deliberate. You caught their eyes by dancing for yourself, but now you knew their weaknesses, the parts of you that they loved to tease and squeeze, you knew their bodies like you knew your own. And you fully intended to use that to your advantage.

“Keep your eyes on me,” You sang, looking both men dead in the eyes, smirking as their gazes struggled to meet yours, roaming your form hungrily like they hadn’t seen you in months. “Come here right now,” You continued, your hands reaching out to them, beckoning them to you. “Cause when the sun goes down the beast comes out,” Dropping to the floor, you straightened your legs so you were bent in half, slowly coming up and curving your back as you flipped your hair back gracefully.

“Take you down, down can you keep it up all night,” Smirking, you spun slowly as you exaggerated your hip swaying, making sure they got an eye full of your behind. “You all over my skin, I’m anxious, paint my body boy’s I’ll be your canvas.” Your head snapped back, showcasing all their bruises that they left from the night before.

Next thing you knew, two sets of hands were gripping you tight, one set on your hips and another on your upper thighs. “Da~nm Beautiful!” Gojo growled lowly into your ear, your grin stretching as you giggled, Kakashi ducking his head to bite your neck. “First you ignore us, then you go and put on a show like that for anyone to see. What are you trying to do, hu? You just want us to bend you over our knees don’t you?”

“Maybe I do,” You teased. “Or maybe I’m trying to prove a point to someone who was getting too handsy with what wasn’t theirs.”

“Oh? Someone was getting jealous? As sexy as you are ‘staking your claim’, doesn’t change the fact that your going to get your punishment when we get home, beautifu~l!” Satoru teased, his hand dragging up your body till his hand was at your neck, then he squeezed.

Kakashi let out a ragged breath at your moan. “I think we should get out of here.” Pressing himself harder into you, you could feel his impatience clearly through his pants.

You dared to look around you, eyes meeting with soft brown eyes glaring daggers at you with so much hatred. You would have been scared six months ago, you would have shrunk and shied away. But how could you now when Gojo and Kakashi were stood with you, hands all over you, demanding your love and attention, making you feel so treasured and powerful.

“Kiss me first.” You demanded. Satoru didn’t even hesitate for a second, pulling you into a searing kiss full of passion and desire. You faintly heard Miku and your friends cat call and wolf whistle somewhere near the bar, causing Gojo to pull away and chuckle. The opening was all Kakashi needed. His kiss was equally breathtaking, his movements slower and more controlled, but clearly as desperate to lay claim.

When Hatake pulled away, Gojo effortlessly picked you up and threw you over his shoulder, smacking your arse when you struggled. So you smacked his right back. Again, you couldn’t walk the next day.

By the end of the eight first months, you had finally landed a job interview and was offered the job on the spot, starting small but promised promotions if your work was up to standard. Around the same time your lease on the shared apartment with your friends was up, and you had finally given into your boyfriends hints and agreed to look for a place you could all afford together. What’s more, your graduation was less than a month away. Things were finally falling into place.

You had yet to broach the subject of your relationship status with your parents, though you were pretty sure they had figured out that you were at least dating someone by this point. Admitting that you hadn’t mentioned anything to your parents, you were nervous how the boys would react. But they had simply shrugged, nodded in understanding and reminding you that if you needed their help they were here for you.

Most importantly, you had a job you were doing well in, you were moving into a beautiful home, your friends were happy and doing well in their own fields, and you had two men who loved you unconditionally. You were sure everything was going to work out just right. And with Gojo and Satoru by your side, you could over come anything.

#y/n #you #my own work #gojo #satoru #gojo x you #gojo satoru #gojo satoru x reader #reader #Kakashi #hatake #kakashi hatake #kakashi x reader #Kakashi Hatake x reader #smut #love story #final chapter

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pretoriafics · 4 years

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Therapy sessions with the devil

I'd did this request yesterday on my Portuguese blog, and I thought that you guys would love it!

Anonymous asks: Y/N is a therapist who works for Vought and is doing a few evaluations on the Super.

Word count: 1.806 Contain: Therapist!Reader x Homelander Warnings: Mention of sexual violence, mention of serial killers, mention of cases of children with psychopathy, mental disorders. +16 only Versão em português aqui PART 2 THE BOYS MASTERLIST

Your profession was gratifying.

You loved the idea of helping people, getting to know each other better, and getting them to learn to deal with life's challenges. For you, being a kind of "confidant", where people could talk about their lives without any judgments, was an honor and your purpose. You believed that it would make the world a better place.

However, it also had its burdens. Some things were difficult to hear, even for you with all your knowledge and professional background. Patients who suffered from sexual violence, for example, demanded of you a stomach that you were not always able to have. It was something you talked to your therapist about, and you kept a mantra in mind: After all, you were still human, and it was okay to feel that way.

And when Vought invited you to work as a therapist for The Seven, you went nuts. It was the chance of a lifetime!

Or, at least, this was what you thought at the beginning.

It was not uncommon for you to hear things that made your stomach a little sick, just like when The Deep told you about the way he “welcomed” Starlight. You felt nauseous but, on the outside, remained impassive, just watching him as a silent request to continue to talk.

All of them were, simply, not only media products but also puppets of the advertising world. You already had some political patients, and in fact, you thought The Seven was a similar case: Both went to that market with the intention, many times, to help people. However, they ended up corrupted in the middle of the road, forgetting their whole purpose in helping others.

You saw a point in common between The Seven: Everyone, with perhaps the exception of Starlight, was too worried about their own egos to be real heroes. They were all too narcissistic.

But Homelander was the worst of them.

The childhood phase was the most important part of a person's life. A traumatic childhood could lead to a troubled adult, as in the case of Mary Bell and Beth Thomas. Homelander's case was no different: his non-affectionate childhood, being raised as a laboratory rat, was the bigger reason to make him that kind of man.

Although at the same time you were fascinated about to study a mind like that - since one of the reasons why you did psychology would be to unveil the secrets of the human mind - each therapy session was daunting and made you rethink your job at Vought.

In short, you were interviewing a serial killer. Easily one of the most cruel and unhealthy.

"Good morning, Homelander." Your voice was soft, just like the smile you gave to the super who just sat on the couch.

"Good morning, Doctor." He returned the smile to you, but the smile on his own way: The corners of your mouth pulled to the side in a smile that you recognized as fake.

"So..." You put your hands on your knee, looking at him with the best receptive look you could pretend. There, in that office, your sessions with Homelander made you feel you deserved an Oscar "How was your week?"

“Well…” He lay down on the couch, his blue eyes staring at the ceiling, and his hands joined in front of his stomach “Nothing new. In fact, he had a little incident with Maeve. Sometimes she is so… pathetic. ”

"What happened?"

It took a while for Homelander to actually get some confidence in you. In fact, he only started telling you things in detail when he realized he could get something out of the sessions. They were productive to him, they made him think. You didn't know if you were thanking God for getting something out of him, or if you should cursing yourself because of the horrors he tells you.

"Maybe you saw something about the 37 Flight on the news."

"The one who had been captured by the terrorists?"

"Exactly! Maeve and I had to rescue the plane. We managed to take down the terrorists, but when I killed the last one, in the Pilot's cabin, I hit the plane's controls with the lasers. And then, the flight was doomed. I told Maeve that our job was done and we should leave, but she was reluctant. He wanted me to save the passengers! ” He laughed, but a natural one. "Can you believe that?"

Oh, it was going to be a long therapy session...

"And what happened next?"

“What did she want me to do? That I fly 137 times from the plane to land? Ah, pathetic, pathetic! ” He shook his head, clearly humorous. "Now, just imagine: You are on a flight with 137 people shouting 'Help, Homelander!', While your stupid partner insists that you should do something to save everyone. I was losing patience so I threatened everyone with my eyes, and they finally settled down. I don't blame them, I mean, they are so vulnerable. They are bugs! ” He looked at you, the corners of his mouth pulled in a fake smile. "No offense."

Homelander was a cold-blooded killer. Not only, but like Ted Bundy, he was a narcissist. He liked the feeling of power that invaded his body when he saw that people feared him, and when he felt that he had the power to decide whether that person would live or not. He didn't mind if killing people just for fun was against the law. Homelander didn't care about the law or any kind of rules. Furthermore, just as Bundy believed he was fully capable of defending himself in his court's judgment and did not need lawyers, Homelander thought he was an incarnate God walking among the 'bugs', simply because he had powers.

"And how do you feel about Maeve?"

“She bothered me a little with the drama on the plane, but that's okay. I am sure that after I spoke to the journalists, near the wreckage of the flight, she understood. This is all going to be an excellent opportunity to make our presence in the army happen. ”

A sociopath.

Empathetic behaviors aren't part of him. He was unable to have that feeling. Self-centered, Homelander was unable to love. The relationship he had with Stiwell, for example, was far from loving. He didn't feel it, quite the opposite: Homelander had a feeling of possession with her. She was his, and nobody else's.

A doubt hammered in your head: Homelander was intending to drop the plane? Your stomach was upset, you felt bad about that therapy session. How could Vought leave someone like him in The Seven?

The answer was simple: They didn't care. Homelander was profitable, and that was all that mattered.

That was one of the times when you thanked God that Homelander was self-centered enough to lie on the couch and just think about your own life, instead of analyzing you and realizing that you were completely terrified. It was as if a misstep, a wrong word, was going to cost his life.

And you would end that today.

You conducted the therapy session normally. In the end, you shook hands with Homelander as you always did and closed the door. Tears invaded your face as you thought of each life that was lost in vain on that flight, and, worse, you were sure that Maeve would tell you about the flight at her therapy session, early next week. In an attempt to calm down, you took some coffee and sat down in front of your MacBook. There, sipping coffee, you wrote your resignation letter.

Alright. You were free.

Or at least this was what you thought.

* * *

Another week has started, and the fact that you worked at Vought made you get a more comfortable office, in addition to increasing your service price. You were ending your day. Your last patient had left the office, and you were about to go home when you heard a familiar voice from your couch.

"I miss you in the tower."

Homelander looked at you with his pairs of sick blue eyes, his fake smile, and his murderous hands behind his body. He was standing next to the couch, and you felt your whole body freeze. A lump formed in your throat, and your hands vibrated in pure dread.

So he would kill you there? In your office?

Trying to take control of the situation, you faked a slight smile.

“Sorry, Homelander. I didn't saw you here. Need something?"

"Actually, I do." He started walking towards you slowly. "I didn't want to end our sessions, so I came to ask you what our new schedule is going to be."

You narrowed your eyes.

"I thought Vought was going to hire someone else to work with The Seven in my place."

“In fact, they put an incompetent in your place. I really prefer that we continue where we left off. ” He stopped in front of you with his smile, his eyes emanating pure insanity "I like our therapy sessions."

“I'm glad that you like my job and that you appreciate our results, Homelander” You gave him a smile, but inside you were still in pure dread “But I don't have appointments available. My schedule filled up easily after I came to this new office. ”

“Oh, but I'm sure you can fit me in your schedule. I can pay you well. ”

How to say no to Homelander without putting your life at risk?

You walked over to your tablet, on your desk. You took it in hand and slid your finger on the screen, analyzing awhile. You didn't need him to tell you that you would be paid well. In fact, you were fully aware of that. The point was that you could exchange all the money in the world to be at peace, without having to deal with Homelander. Without much choice, you concluded that you would reserve a single day for your therapy sessions with him. That way, your head wouldn't get so tired when you still had to deal with other patients.

“Are you available on Friday morning? At nine."

He nodded, giving the same smile he did when he achieved something. One of pure contentment.

"Of course!"

"Great so." You typed 'Homelander' in the space corresponding to the hour. You put the tablet down on the table, next to your MacBook “There, it's done. Friday, at nine in the morning. ”

“Ah, perfect! Thank you. Have a good night."

"Good night, Homelander."

He walked over to your balcony. With a jump, he flew through the sky. You lay on your couch, terrified. Would you never get rid of him?

All that was left for you now was to be the therapist of the incarnate Devil.

#the boys imagines #the boys imagine #the boys fics #the boys fanfics #the boys fanfic #the boys fanfiction #homelander x you #homelander x reader #homelander x y/n #homelander imagine #homelander imagines #homelander fics #homelander fanfics #homelander fanfic

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miserabull · 4 years

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A very long meta-analysis on P2 Bad Grief

So, I've gone over every dialogue with this guy a few times, and there is some stuff I've never seen addressed before. This is a mix of analyzing and theory that have been in my head for a while, and I’d love to know if it all also makes sense to other people

The thing about Classic and P2 Grief, is that they are very different characters playing the same role. Who is Bad Grief? A thief, a kingpin of the town's criminal underbelly, and a smuggler working for Big Vlad. In P1, he's also a dangerous murderer who kills people for fun, but denies it, even claims that he kicks people out of his gang for daring to take up knives. Dude lies a lot. In fact, he maintains the lie up until the last route, the Changeling's, and then tries that on her too but ends up confessing. This is my very wordy way of saying that while I kinda agree with people who are like "he's not a violent murderer like P1 Grief", P1 Grief also claimed to not be one up to the last minute. I don't think they are making him a sadistic killer this time, yeah, but I'm pretty sure he's a liar, and that there's a darker secret. The game implies Grief keeps his cards close to his chest and there is more to him several times, like here, when you talk with Lara's reflection

Lara's Reflection: You see, she puts her stock in deeds and not in words. So Stakh was always close to her; for he would hear his heart, and act. A trait you share, Burakh.

Haruspex: And the most taciturn of us all, Bad Grief.

Lara's Reflection: He speaks so much yet does so much more.

or when Artemy confronts him at Aspity's Hospice:

Bad Grief: You heard about Rubin? Know why the Kin wants him dead? He's walkin' around all downcast, doesn't sleep. Says not to ask. Says it's safer like that. What's he done, I wonder? I wanted to ask Sahba, but maybe you know?

Haruspex: You're lying. That's not what you wanted to ask. I can tell.

Bad Grief: If I did lie, I wouldn't tell you the truth now anyway, would I? So back off.

I'm not gonna go over the blowing-the-train tracks quest now, though I have some thoughts on it/what I think might be his plan there. For now it suffices to say that that whole thing is very odd, that his plan doesn't make sense(yeah, blowing up the tracks is a bad idea for his business. kinda meaningless though if the alternative is being hanged). That is to say, I'm pretty sure there's a hidden agenda there that we're probably only finding out in Changeling route.

So, what I mean is, if you think P2 Grief is harmless, or just a clown, or became a gang leader by accident, then, well. I think honey, you got a big storm comin'

A few more notes on Grief's character, and what I think of what we got so far:

-I believe the reflection(I have some thoughts about the nature of those too, actually lmao) is telling the truth, mostly. He is terrified, he doesn't want Artemy to think badly of him, he never wanted violence. P2 Grief is younger, more sympathetic, and very obviously more scared than his P1 counterpart. I don't think he's out there killing for fun. Still, I think he has a lot of blood on his hands anyway.

-I think his loyalty to his friends is sincere. He's kind of really big on companionship and loyalty, which fits, as a gang member. I really think that he wants to belong, to a gang, to a friend group, somewhere. Artemy mentions he's "always been weird" a couple of times, or stuff like "I knew you'd end up like this." and that thing with Lara's reflection... I think Grief was always a little bit on the margins, even in his own friend group, and that's why he made a place for himself as the leader of the misfits, of the people who don't fit what the town considers to be good society. I gotta get on with this because this is gonna be long enough without me rambling about every single thought and feeling I have about this bastard though

-He doesn't give away Stakh's hideout accidentally because he's goofy and dumb. He mentions more or less where it is like, three times. I think it's obvious that he's practically asking Artemy to go check on him, but he doesn't want to be a snitch, so he plays the fool like "Oooh no I gave you a hint, I sure hope you don't go looking for him now, don't ask me because I’d never tell!!". He's playing the clown, he's not that stupid

Okay, now we're getting to the heart of things. In P1, along with the reveal that he's actually a violent murderer who played another violent murderer(Barley) into taking the fall for his crimes, we get something else: he's working under the patronage and protection of Vlad Olgimsky. In P2, they put a lot more emphasis on that, Grief will tell you about it in the first AND second conversation you have. There is even a certain imagery associated with it... actually, allow me a quick digression here, I wanna go over some motifs around Grief.

Grief is pretty into clockwork and gears, going by his choice of decoration for his Lair. The town itself is compared to a machine several times, by himself, by Big Vlad, and regarding how the Kains view it. I risk to say that the way Grief sees it is rather different from the Kains, at least at first. For him it seems to be more of a blunt factory machine, while to the Kains...it means something else, more complex. Grief seems to have glimpsed what that is inside the Cathedral, near the end. That reminds me of something else, in the Diurnal End when Grief talks about how he used to be a clocksmith before, and now he's going to be "another kind of clocksmith", I don't think he's necessarily being literal in either case. Curiously, there's also a Clocksmith inside the Cathedral in Marble Nest...but I'm going off topic again

Bad Grief: Not a keeper of stores, but stories. This town, this great machine, the gears don't turn on their own, no, not till they're slick with secrets.

But so, webs and puppets. We return to Vlad Olgimsky(old), who uses the metaphor of his “web”. There's also an important character in Grief's journey that is strongly associated with (spider)webs and strings, and that's Aglaya. The most notable time Grief himself refers to it though, I think, it's in the Theatre of Death, if you let him die:

“My path was not called 'The Spider'. No, think wider. It was 'The Silkworm'! The end of a railroad, I pulled strings firm; unaware someone more cunning pulled mine upstairs.”

So about that. He’s referring to the PTB right? Probably, but not only. A theme in Patho is like...these layers of manipulation. I’m gonna pass the mic to P1 Clara and Saburov for a second:

Alexander Saburov: Begin with the Olgimskys. That is the most important sin for me, and the least for him, for it is not his fault. So did Olgimsky protect his illicit trade? Did he benefit from it?

Changeling: He didn't just benefit; he presided over it. Grief was his stooge.

Alexander Saburov: Now then, we shall skip the issue of the barber gang, since it's clear now who their true mastermind was... thanks to your courage, my brave girl.

Changeling: Don't skip it just yet. Barley was as much of a puppet in Grief's hands as Grief himself was for Olgimsky. Everyone has their toys.”

Grief is a puppet in Vlad’s hands both in P1 and P2, as there he says he’s Vlads “eyes and ears” in the warehouses. In the Cathedral, he seems to more or less realize the extent of it, and how it goes against what he always wanted in the first place: to not be trapped by anything.

Bad Grief: I used to be a thief, yet they made me a storekeeper. And what a perfect fit I made! I got my Warehouse kingdom, and with it, the insides of the Town's great machine. I kept Vlad's riches while havin' all I could dream of. Can't imagine a sweeter life.

Funnily enough, by that time he’s trapped in someone else’s web: Aglaya’s. That seems to be his thing, he thought he was in control and playing everyone, knowing all the secrets and pulling strings. In the end, he’s a Silkworm in the web of bigger fish. I mean, spiders.

Bad Grief: ...Yet they, too, are controlled by someone. Insane to think what kind of teeth you need for that.

But okay. Back to the start, I believe Grief has a lot of blood in his hands even before shit breaks loose. The things he seems to be most afraid of are also… interesting. This ties to his connection to Big Vlad, and the Kin.

Grief’s role in the payroll seems to be as a stool pigeon. He knows where everyone goes, what people are talking about, what they don’t want to become public. And he responds to Big Vlad. What I think is, hm, you know, even after Victoria passed it seems like the Kin and the Bull Enterprise never really defied Olgimsky, or had a leader in any way. Grief, too, seems to enjoy a pretty comfortable life for a gang leader. As an important piece to Vlad, he really doesn’t have that much to fear, since the guy “owns everything” and is very explicit to Artemy about how he can destroy anyone who doesn’t obey him. And probably has done that before. My guess is, Grief kept the machine working right by tattling, so no leadership or enemy to Vlad’s Enterprise could rise. I’d speculate that Vlad possibly paid the favor not only financially, but by maintaining Grief in that position. Basically, I think with Grief’s info, Vlad could eliminate any potential problem. That would mean that maybe without even having to shed blood himself there might be a lot of deaths Grief is responsible for, not to speak of the maintenance of that horrible system in the town. I think the route they are going for here is that Grief is a class traitor.

Why do I say that? Well, first let’s look at Grief’s relationship with the Kin: he’s remarkably close to them for a townie. Geographically, obviously, and also in the sense of living on the margins of society, but he also shares many of their superstitions, and seems to hold Aspity’s opinion in high regard(even calls her Sahba). I find it easy to believe that many of his men are part of the community as well, due to not being welcome in the town. At that time we see him in the Hospice though, and talking with the Kin people there, it’s pretty clear that they are planning some sort of uprising. That it’s imminent. Grief seems to know it. Seems to be absolutely terrified of that too, and to feel betrayed by Vlad.

Bad Grief: It's too late for me, Cub. I've only got one road ahead of me now. Perhaps the outbreak is for the best... Plagues are like fires, people forget old scores. And all hell will break loose here soon.

Haruspex: Any dark prophecies to share? You're the criminal mastermind here, after all.

Bad Grief: No need to prophesize. People fear hunger. Even honest workers will turn their hatchets and hammers to crime. Burglin' houses, lootin' corpses, guttin' each other. They will. Oh, they will.

Haruspex: Not all of them, Grief. Not all.

Bad Grief: The turf's so dry, you don't even need a match-a glare would start a fire. And when the Kin bares its teeth, that's when we'll all dance! They're slow on the start, but oh so fast on the draw! The Master likes them mute and obedient, but apathy makes them that way, not stupidity. They're only obedient till the time comes. And here it comes.

And the people who lose their jobs? They won't be too fond of staying home. They'll find new hobbies, like looking for food, or venting their anger. ...And Fat Vlad shut his facilities down the day before yesterday, didn't he? Crafty... Didn't whisper so much as a single word to me. Do you think he knew?

At the same time he seems to think that he deserves this, and it’s inevitable. “We reap what we sow”, paraphrasing him. He talks a few times about how there’s a vile beast inside each person in the town, about how they are all wretched and everything, including him, which I think might just be a way of coping like “yeah, I sold out, but anyone would do the same if they were in my place”.

So, yeah. What I think is that Grief was a guy that had no power and money, with absolutely no perspective, who due to his very particular skills had an opportunity to climb up and took it(all while still getting to pretend he’s an outlaw, free from the chains of society!). And it’s...very bad. And he knows it’s very bad, and he’s not evil or sadistic, but he’s immature, cowardly, and desperately wants to be in control of his own destiny, and to not be alone, and all that. He’s still Artemy’s childhood buddy, a loyal friend, and someone who never really wanted to cause that much damage. He also knows that what he did is unjustifiable, and that no matter what he truly feels, the damage is done and he’s guilty of horrible shit.

#pathologic #pathologic 2 #bad grief #pathologic meta #I forgot to talk about the shotgun. but oh well #full of spoilers both P1 and P2

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willidleaway · 3 years

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OK, let’s talk about Deltarune Chapter 2. Right off the bat two things:

Toby Fox could have been charging 20 USD for this or asked people to pre-purchase the remaining chapters to play Chapter 2, and I’m frankly very surprised (if delighted) that he didn’t.

Soundtrack’s bopping. If you don’t feel like playing two free chapters of a game, which by themselves will give you nine hours of a brilliant time in an absolutely insane world filled with mad characters that all still manages to hold together somehow, I can still recommend giving the OST a listen and then a buy if you are so inclined.

And with that and the spoiler-free lead image out of the way, let’s actually (largely incoherently) talk about Deltarune Chapter 2 below the Read More line. Spoilers galore, including for a bonus enemy ...

OK, so this guy is still a card:

But some non-positive observations to begin with: the Castle Town is nice to look at but maybe a bit uninteresting for the moment, since it’s a completely separate Dark World from the main underworld of Chapter 2. It seems perhaps like a decent hub world for people who haven’t replayed the previous chapter and need some refreshers, especially with the dojo challenges. But some of the other mechanics associated with the Castle Town like recruiting, fusing items, and so forth are as yet unclear. But perhaps it hints at more interaction between chapters through the Castle Town.

And that’s all the non-positive observations I have about Deltarune Chapter 2. It’s not even a negative observation, just taking note of potential seeds being planted for the remainder of the game.

Now. Now now now now now.

I don’t know how Toby Fox manages to continue coming up with such a diverse array of antagonists all so ridiculous and insane in their own special way, but he continues to outdo himself. And not only is Queen insane but so is literally everything that happens in Cyber City and then in Queen’s Mansion, like the layers of truces across Queen and her quasi-willing peons:

and indeed, ye Triumphant Returne of Rouxls Kaard, absolute card:

But the madcap side of things doesn’t mean there isn’t real attention to fleshing out everything introduced in Chapter 1, in tandem on both the narrative side and the gameplay side. As far as the latter, we can (finally) get party members other than Kris to undertake at least basic standard non-magical actions on their own that don’t cost Tension Points, which is very much welcome. But at the same time managing TP well is even more important than before. A lot of careful grazing makes certain fights a great deal easier, in a way that I didn’t really notice for most of Chapter 1 (with the possible exception of Jevil, who I still haven’t successfully pacified). The attacks are correspondingly far denser and often don’t leave too much margin for error, but as someone with minimal hand-eye coordination I still had a reasonable time completing Chapter 2.

Well, except for one particular enemy.

oh god this fight used up every single recovery item I had

Spamton NEO is an interesting enemy, arguably more so than Jevil, and I’m not just saying that because I managed to spare Spamton but still haven’t had any success with Jevil. For one, finding the pieces of the key for Jevil’s cell is straightforward, whereas finding the Empty Disk for Spamton is itself a nightmarish dodge-fest. But more importantly, you actively have to seek Jevil out in Chapter 1, whereas your first encounter with Spamton is actually mandatory as part of the main story and then you optionally follow up on Spamton’s lead later to be able to face off against his NEO form.

Perhaps relevant to the forced nature of Spamton’s introduction is his relevance to Deltarune as a whole despite his bonus boss status. Compared to Jevil’s dialogue, Spamton’s babblings seem far more directly tied to the central themes of Deltarune around choice or agency, or rather a lack thereof (in stark contrast to Undertale’s general ethos). Jevil mostly just wants to wreak mischief and chaos; Spamton is fuelled by a need for freedom, to no longer be a puppet of ... something. And facing him in this way obviously clearly affects Kris, whose own free will is in real question ...

Oh yes, it seems now we’re really getting into the real core of Deltarune’s story, with all of the lore about the Roaring and more talk of the Knight leading up to this ending. But are Kris and the Knight one and the same? Or is Kris a puppet of the Knight? Or ... is it even the other way around? (No idea if that makes any sense but it sounds like a cool thing to throw out there.)

And another thing: this staticky smile ...

I would guess that’s Chapter 3′s boss once we actually go through this new Dark World, but why does this static remind me of the static you see behind Spamton’s glasses in some of his creepier shop dialogue? Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but there’s certainly an embarrassment of riches to over-analyse, even around Chapter 2′s bonus boss.

And I haven’t even talked about every other character being amazing. Susie of course continues to undergo really positive development, but Noelle seems to get the bulk of the attention honestly—we not only get her to finally interact with Susie, but we also learn more about her past as well her family, both about her lost sister (strongly implied to be named December) and her mother. The latter we get not only through more dialogue with her father Rudy but also in an implicit sense through her interactions with Queen, which may well mirror her fractious relationship with an overbearing mother.

Ralsei’s characterisation doesn’t try to expand as much, instead continuing to detail what’s already been planted throughout Chapter 1—his rule of the Castle Town, his awareness of the danger posed by the potential dark/light imbalance, and so forth—but nothing quite as revelatory as with Noelle. It doesn’t mean I can’t try my best to ship Kris with Ralsei though ...

Anyway, fluffy boys and mean girls aside, it’s also nice to see characters like Berdly—who seemed like a completely incidental one-note gag character in Chapter 1—get fleshed out with reasonably compelling (although obviously insane) motivation and backstory, and one wonders which other characters may get this sort of treatment in future.

Speaking of other characters as well, how cute and/or cool are all of the new enemies and enemy-adjacent characters???

Part of me suspects Tasque Manager in particular is actually carefully engineered to break the Internet. But my favourite is Swatch, who gives off weirdly Tuxedo Mask-esque vibes to me:

And an additional bit of speculation: I strongly suspect we’ll see some persistent things across the chapters that aren’t necessarily linear in progression. When I brought Spamton’s shadow crystal to Seam, they basically chided me for not having Jevil’s crystal (for god’s sake Seam it’s not for lack of trying), but then said this:

Is it possible that the game’s keeping track of certain global things outside of any of your individual saves, and some of these certain global things might not just have to do with optional bonuses ... ? Is it possible that some of these certain global things may enable cross-chapter nonlinear gameplay to accompany all of the other Castle Town mechanics introduced in Chapter 2?

Or do I just not want to replay all of Chapter 2 if I manage to pacify Jevil?

Time will tell. How much time?

Only time will tell on that front too, I guess.

Overall: Chapter 2 of Deltarune is another spectacular episode in Toby Fox fleshing out this unbelievable yet somehow credible world in his madcap way, and you can bet I will be watching for future chapters with great interest.

PS: I finished Chapter 2 of Deltarune to have a good time and I’m honestly feeling so attacked right now—

look expiration dates are important okay

#undertale #deltarune

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