#┊❛starter call​❜┊ - the beginning is the most important part of the work

[cybersvoid]

❥ Your Highness

♡ Pairings: Shigaraki x Reader

✏ Summary: Prince Shigaraki was born with a curse. Anything he touches with his bare hands turns into dust. Everything except you, the new maid working in the castle.

!!Warnings!!: [18+ NSFW] Manipulation, Cursing, Abuse of Power, Dubcon, Blowjob, Threats, Stalking, Thigh Fucking, Masturbation, Somnophilia  etc.

≺Part Two≻

“Make sure the sheets are always in pristine condition in the guestrooms of the east wing,” the head maid explained, “that’s where some of our more important guests are put, by his Highness. Each week you’ll be getting a new set of chores, so everyone will get a turn doing a little bit of everything. Since it’s only your first day, we’re going to give you an easier list.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” you bowed. You were eager to get to work and desperate for cash. Your last place of work was less than ideal and your boss was always cruel in how he treated his employees. But nevertheless, you stuck it out because you needed the money, your family not being the most financially stable, and you were trying to help in whatever way you could. But as soon as you saw the advertisement in the papers that new help was needed at the castle, it felt like life was finally giving you a lucky break. Not only did this job offer housing, and good pay, but they even had meals for their staff. Yes, you had to work as a maid for your empire’s ‘cursed prince’ as he was often called by the people of the town, but you heard he rarely ever showed himself to begin with. You weren’t even sure where the nickname stemmed from, and whenever you would ask, no one had a clear answer.

“This week you’ll be working in the garden. Normally, that would be something that falls onto the landscapers and outside help, but one of them had recently passed, and they’re understaffed as is, so just offer assistance where you can.” 

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And I know this is probably your first time ever working for a royal, and His Highness Shigaraki is not a good starter, he has one of the shortest tempers out of all of His Majesties kids, one mistake and it very well could be your life, so I’m going to give you some advice. Keep your head down and do your job. The last thing you want to do is draw his attention. Although I doubt you’ll ever run into each other, his hallway is often cared for by the more experienced workers, if you could, it would be best to avoid all northern halls. That’s where his room and main office are.” You swallowed hard nodding your head in understanding. He must really be as bad as everyone says if she felt the need to warn you to stay away ahead of time. 

---

After giving you a small tour of the area you’d be working, she lead you to the garden where she introduced you to the head landscaper, a kind, gentle-looking girl. “Shiozaki, please take good care of Y/N. Now I must check on the other workers. Please do your best, Y/N, and remember what I said.”

You nodded, giving her one last thanks before bringing your focus on Shiozaki, who directed you to a garden of wilting flowers. 

“I’m embarrassed that the flowers aren’t doing so well, we’ve just been so understaffed that unfortunately, we haven’t had the resources or time to care for them properly. If you could please just go around giving them a bit of water here and there. You’ll need this,” she stated, handing you a full watering can. “If you run out of water, you can fill up at the well over there. Sometimes it gets jammed though so just be careful, and let me know if you need help.”

“Thank you, Miss Shiozaki.”

“Just Shiozaki is more than fine, and it’s me who should be thank you, Y/N! Most people are afraid to work here because of His Highness, but I’m so happy you’re here to help. I’ll be just around the corner trimming the hedges, again, if you need help don’t be afraid to ask.” She smiled gently, before disappearing leaving you to work.

You had been working hard, admiring the beautiful flowers, not even realizing that there were eyes peering at you from far away. Watching your form lean from bush to bush, humming quietly to yourself as you watered the already wilting flowers. You were by far the most lively thing in the garden. But just who were you? Shigaraki definitely would have noticed you sooner if you had been working here long. Even if he wasn’t known as being the most sociable, especially when it comes to his staff, you were someone hard to miss.

His ungloved hands dangled at his side, as he just finished disintegrating a couple of members of his staff that he overheard talking about his ‘curse’ when your light humming drew his attention. He killed the two maids before they even had a chance to scream, so you never even noticed he was there. But he noticed you.

Shigaraki continued to watch silently as you began bringing the now empty watering can over to the well, setting it aside so you can crank the handle and bring the water bucket up, but as you were cranking it, the handle got stuck. It wasn’t too far from the top, so you leaned over, fingers barely grazing it. You leaned over a bit more, feet coming off the ground as you did. 

Shigaraki was over in an instant his ungloved hands grabbing your hips and steadying you so you didn’t tip over. He didn’t even realize he had done it until you turned around with your bucket in hand, to meet his red eyes and equally perplexed face. Yours with confusion as to who he was, and his with confusion as to why you’re still standing here alive when you should be dust.

“Oh, um... thank you, but I didn’t need help, I still had my grip on the well. I just needed to get a little lower.”

Shigaraki didn’t respond. Still in shock from how you’re okay after he touched you, but also in the casual manner that you were speaking to him. Did you really not know who he was? And why weren’t you affected by his curse? Just who were you?

“Do you work here?” You asked casually. Yeah, you definitely didn’t know who he was.

“Not exactly.” He mumbled, “What’s your name? I haven’t seen you here before.”

“Oh, um, I’m Y/N. Today’s my first day.” You grinned. 

Cute. He kept repeating your name in his head, as he looked at you. It definitely fit you. But a name wasn’t enough. He wanted to know everything about you. Everything about, Y/N. He would have to assign Kurogiri to that later. But for now, he needed to make some staff changes.

“It was nice to meet you, Y/N. But I have to go take care of something. We’ll meet again soon.”

“Ahh, I hope so!” You beamed, excited at the possibility of possibly making a new friend. Little did you know that there would be no need for hope. Shigaraki was about to make it so the two of you would be spending a lot more time together.

---

You worked hard for the rest of the day, tending to the garden, helping in the kitchen, cleaning the guest rooms, until finally, it was laundry time, your last chore of the day. You were incredibly tired, folding away as the other maids were gossiping and chatting around you. At first, they asked you around a million questions about yourself, but after an hour, their curiosity died down and simmered into casual small talk and rumors about the prince, but nothing you haven’t heard before. You just wanted to get your work done so you could crawl into bed and get some rest.

As you were all working, the head maid from earlier entered the laundry room grabbing everyone’s attention. “I’m sorry to interrupt, Y/N, but His Highness has decided to take on a personal maid. This is quite unusual, a personal maid is something he denied for quite some time, and whenever he did get one… they never lasted long. Usually, this position would go to someone with more experience, but he specifically requested a new maid, and since you’re the newest we have, naturally the position is yours.” 

You sat there frozen. As the other girls began mumbling amongst themselves, some with excitement, some sympathy, and some of them even looked almost jealous. You just couldn’t believe it. He wanted someone new as a personal maid? What did that even mean? What would you have to do? You didn’t know what you were doing as a regular maid, let alone a personal one. Nothing was making sense.

“I know this must be a shock, Y/N. But His Highness is far from a patient man, so I must ask you to hurry along.”

“Oh, yes ma’am!” You exclaimed, standing up quickly, causing your chair to scrape against the wooden floor as you hurried to follow her. She brought you back into the main castle, and hastily lead you through a maze of hallways. The exact ones she had warned you to avoid that very morning. You were so nervous when you finally arrived, that you swore your heartbeat could be heard by anyone who was close enough. The feeling of anxiety only growing as she knocked, an ‘enter’ following, before she guided you inside.

As soon as the doors opened, you were met with a familiar set of red eyes. The man from the garden

“Greetings to our sun, His Highness Shigaraki.” The head maid bowed, your jaw almost dropping to the floor. You didn’t have much time to be in shock, quickly following her lead before you could be scolded for not properly addressing a royal. Did he even remember you? He wasn’t acting as if you were someone he recognized and you were sure he probably sees hundreds of servants a day.

“This is, Y/N. She’s the newest maid we have.” She spoke, motioning to you. You bowed once again and Shigaraki just nodded.

“She’s fine. Leave us.” Reluctantly, the head maid left, giving you one final glance before closing the door behind her. Your eyes were glued to the ground, wishing it would swallow you whole, and your stomach was in knots until he finally spoke.

“My bed is always cold before bed, warm it for me.”  

Oh... was that it? That actually seemed easy enough. “Yes, Your Highness. Shall I start you a fire?”

“No, that’s too much smoke. Just lay in my bed until it’s warm enough for me to get in.” 

Ah, that was a little weirder. Lay in his bed? It was a strange request for sure, but maybe it was a normal thing for a personal maid to do. You didn’t want to risk questioning him and making him mad. You needed the money and benefits and you were sure you’re on thin ice already considering this morning. 

“Yes, Your Highness.” You awkwardly made your way over to the bed, just about to climb on when he cut in.

“What do you think you’re doing? Your outfit is probably filthy from tending to the garden, and who knows what other kind of filth you were cleaning up after that.”

He did recognize you then. And he wasn’t going to punish you for the informal way you had spoken to him? Was this really the ‘cursed prince’ everyone had talked about?

“Of course. I shall change my clothes and return.”

“I don’t have time for that. I want my bed warmed by the time I’m done with my bath. My water has already been heated, and if you were to leave, change, and return, my water will already be cold and I’ll be ready for bed. Just take off your uniform and use your body heat to warm up the sheets. I’ll be out in twenty minutes max. I want it warm by then.” He commanded, making his way through the bathroom doors leaving you by yourself.

At least he was giving you some privacy. This whole situation was embarrassing, but you felt cornered. What more could you do? He was your Prince and he gave you an order. Plus he was kind enough to leave the room so maybe you could just be quick with it. You took a deep breath before stripping into your underwear as fast as you could and jumping under the covers. 

He was right, the bed was pretty cold, but after working a long day, and sweating bullets from nerves earlier, it didn’t feel so bad on your warm skin. It actually felt...relaxing? It was a comfy mattress, you sunk right in, but it almost made your body feel heavy. Then again, that could just be the exhaustion finally hitting you.

You felt your body and slipping further and further into peace before you slipped away completely. Asleep before you could even realize what was happening.

---

You felt a warm tugging on your chest, causing you to stir slightly. Your tired brain, slowly starting to fully regain consciousness. You must’ve fallen asleep. Was His Highness done yet?

“Mmm, fuck.” You heard a familiar voice moan out next to you, followed by shaky breathing and a loud frantic shuffling.

“Your Highness?” You called out, forcing your tired eyes open. The room was dark, all the lights turned off but the moonlight shining through the windows provided just enough light to see. You followed the sound of his voice to the spot next to you on the bed. The second your eyes landed on him, your entire body felt hot. He held his cock in his palm, his hand frantically pumping with a hungry look in his eyes as he stared down at you. In his other hand, he was groping your breast that was now popped out from your bra. You began to panic, trying to sit up only to have him on top of you in a second, the hand that was once on your breast now holding both of your hands above your head as he straddled your waist.

“Shh” he hushed as you began struggling underneath him using all your strength in an attempt to get him off but he was much stronger than you, “Where do you think you’re going?”

“P-Please, You’re Highness. I won’t tell a soul, s-so please just-”

“I don’t give a shit.” You froze, eyes widening as he grinned down at you as if you were nothing more than prey he was toying with. Like a cat with a mouse, he wasn’t hungry for just yet. “I own this kingdom. Everything and everyone in it belongs to me. So tell whoever you want, it’s not like anyone would be dumb enough to do anything, and if they were, I can very easily have them killed for treason. For chrissake I kill staff every day when I’m in a bad mood alone, and no one gives two shits, so who’s gonna care that I fondled a cute little maid while she was sleeping so soundly in my bed. Everyone in their right mind fears me, and those who don’t… well they’ll learn to.”

He was right. As much as you hated to admit it when you were so desperate for hope, there’s no one who would be willing to help you when their lives would be on the line. You were completely alone. So this was him. The ‘cursed prince’ was finally showing his true colors.

“Shh, don’t cry,” He soothed, taking his hand and wiping away tears you had yet to realize were falling, “I’m not going hurt you too bad tonight. You’re something more important than you realize, so I want to savor you as long as possible, so just behave. Can you do that?”

You nodded.

“Good. Now, do as your Master says and take his cock in your mouth like a good little servant.”

He rolled off of you so he was at your side, yanking you over so you were between his legs at eye level with his cock while he sat spread out, back against the headboard. Even in the dimly lit room, you could still make out the outline of it. You weren’t sure how he thought you could fit this in your mouth, however you really didn’t want him shoving it anywhere more intimate so you were going to have to do your best to satisfy him. But at the same time, you had no idea what you were doing. 

You’ve dated a boy from town in the past, but the two of you never did anything like this. Your mother made sure to engrave it in you early that your virginity was something sacred, only to be given to your future husband. So the most you two did was kiss under the oak tree on a hill, a little ways down the road from your house, for fear of your father seeing and scolding you. When it comes to anything past kissing, you were completely oblivious. 

You weren’t sure if Shigaraki picked up on your naivety, or maybe he just got impatient, but he let out a sigh, you couldn’t tell if it was out of annoyance or not since you couldn’t see his face.

“You don’t have to take it in all at once, try to lick it first. Top to bottom like a popsicle.”

A popsicle? You could do that. You slowly stuck out your tongue, ever so gently placing it against the skin of his cock and dragging it up. 

“Mmm, again. Firmer though.” You obeyed, pushing your tongue more firmly against him this time as you dragged it up.

He let out a groan in response, one hand finding its place at the back of your head as the other adjusted his cock smacking it against your lips as if asking… no, telling you to open your mouth. You parted your lips just enough for him to put his tip in, your tongue automatically swirling around the unfamiliar object taking up space in your mouth, causing Shigaraki to let out another groan.

Now  unable to hold back, he firmly gripped the back of your head, shoving his entire length down your throat. He was so far in your mouth your nose was pushed against his pubic area as you began smacking him, panic sinking in as you tried to break free and pull your head up, unable to control yourself from choking and gagging on his cock, but he wasn’t letting you go.

“Your nose. Breath through your nose.” He groaned, and you eagerly took his advice, breathing through your nose and trying to calm your panting, “Mmm good girl, now keep sucking. The better you do, the sooner this will be over. I promise not to put it in your cute little cunt today if you do a good job for me.” He grazed one of his long fingers over your clothed core for good measure, causing you to squeal, the vibrations of your throat hitting his cock. 

“Ugh, fuck. Just keep breathing through your nose and sucking me off like the good servant you are.” He commanded before he started thrusting his hips, his cock slamming into the back of your throat as you did your best not to gag and continue sucking, so you could get this over with. Your eyes were watering warm tears streaming down your face.

“Damn, I’m so fucking close. You better swallow every goddamn drop. You hear me?” He muttered, picking up the pace that he was ramming into your mouth, face fucking you so roughly drool started sliding out of your mouth and coating his dick. You could feel it twitching on your tongue, every time it entered your mouth until he let out one final grunt, releasing his load into the back of your throat. You did your best to gulp down stream, after stream, the hot liquid sliding down your throat and filling your stomach. Even after he finished, he kept his dick in your mouth just a bit longer before finally pulling out.

You let out a few coughs, wiping the tears and spit from your face before Shigaraki roughly grabbed you between his hand, pinching your cheeks and forcing your mouth open. “Say, Ahh, Princess.”

You followed his command, parting your lips as he slipped his thumb in, opening you a bit wider and looking inside. “Good girl. You swallowed everything just like I said, so I’ll keep my end of the deal. Letting out a sigh of relief you rolled over, facing away from him as you tried to give yourself a second to collect your thoughts and catch your breath after how rough he was. 

“Don’t get too comfortable.” He whispered, pushing his chest against your back, his once again, erect dick poking you from behind. “You didn’t actually think I would be satisfied after just that right?”

“B-but you said...”

“I’m not going to! So just shut the fuck up.” He took his dick, pushing it between your thighs and up against your heat. He had one hand gripping your torso while the other was wrapped around your breasts as he began humping your thighs, the friction of his dick rubbing against your bud was causing your cunt to become slick, your juices soak his cock. Every time he pushed in and pulled out, you felt an electric feeling building up inside the pit of your stomach.

“Y-your H-”

“Tomura,” he corrected.

“T-Tomura, I can’t… I feel-”

“I’m almost done.” He panted, pumping faster, the friction bringing your orgasm even closer. He buried his face in your neck his wild hair tickling the skin as you arched your back, a moan slipping past your lips. 

Shigaraki was so turned on he almost didn’t want to wait anymore. He just wanted to ram his dick into you and hear you cry out for him, but there would be plenty of time for that later. Once you were officially his, he could have you every day, whenever he wanted. He’d fuck you on the table in the middle of meetings with the leaders of other kingdoms, he’d fuck you on the ballroom floor of those parties that those arrogant aristocrats beneath him throw. He’s never usually made an appearance, but an opportunity to show you off like that in front of everyone was too good to pass up. He’s never thought of kids before, but fuck the idea of you pregnant with his baby, a part of him, inside of you, well he might just give it another thought. A future king does need an heir, and if the kid comes out looking like you, he might even learn to tolerate its presence.

“Tomura,” You moaned out, as your body began trembling. Pleasure shooting through you. You unconsciously began grinding yourself onto his dick, trying to ride your high for as long as possible, causing Shigaraki to release a groan as he finished between your legs. Wave after wave of cum flowing out of him onto your skin and the mattress. God, you had no idea what you were doing to him.

As the realization of everything that happened began sinking in, you started feeling ashamed and sick. You just wanted to clean yourself off and forget anything happened, but Tomura wasn’t about to let that happen. When he felt you shift to get out of bed, his grip tightened to keep you in place. Mumbling something into your neck.

“I-I’m sorry, Your Highness?”

“Tomura. When were alone like this I want you to call me Tomura. And you’re staying.” He repeated, with obvious annoyance.

“But the head maid will notice and I have work tomorro-”

“You’re really starting to annoy me,” he hissed, “Do you really need a lesson on not talking back? The last guy I gave this lesson to got his tongue disintegrated, but for you, I might have to do something different. I can cut it out… no... then I won’t be able to hear you call out my name when I fuck you, but I’m sure I can think of something else.” He pondered, “What about your mother?”

Your mother? What did he know about your mother? Why was he bringing her into this?

“I looked into your file. Every employee has one. All I needed was her name, and I had people who could figure out the rest. She works pretty hard. Two jobs was it? No, three. She must need the money considering your father doesn’t work at all. I heard all he does is spend the money your mom would earn at gambling bars. It would be a shame if your mom lost her job, then she wouldn’t be able to keep your home. You guys are already months behind on rent. All it would take is one letter.”

“No, please.” You begged, “I’ll stay. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“I’m sorry…”

“I’m sorry, Tomura.” You answered, tears pooling in your eyes. What you would give to just get away from him. What kind of monster would put you in this situation, to begin with. He was sick.

You laid in the bed together. The only sound filling the room was your quiet sniffling. If he heard it then he pretended not to, leaving you to cry with his arms still around you and cum still hot on your skin. He hadn’t even removed his dick from between your thighs, and the soft breathing on your neck signaling that he was already asleep told you that he probably wasn’t going to. 

You spent what felt like hours staring out the window up at the moon, wishing you could be anywhere else. Maybe this job was a mistake. If it continued like this who knows when it would escalate. Maybe it wasn’t too late to go back you wondered, before your heavy thoughts pushed you into a deep sleep you thought might never come.

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[doctorofmagic]

My thoughts on What If... Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?

The very title of the episode sends a shiver down my spine. And this is where we’re going to start.

~ long post under the cut ~

A year ago, I wrote this post as an attemp to dive into one of the most important traits in Doctor Strange’s personality: love. Stephen is a being made of love, made to love, no matter which interpretation you have when you watch Infinity War. If you don’t read comic books, you’ll understand the moment you meet Donna. You’ll begin to understand how her death reshaped his entire subjectivity out of fear of failing, being powerless and unable to control everything around him (especially death), thus the arrogant and yet a disaster of a man we all know.

Where do I even start? Stephen loved her sister deeply and felt responsible for her death. And then, slowly, he also lost his parents and his brother. He fell in love with Clea but he also pushed her away. He loved Zelma platonically and lied to her, which was enough for them to break their bond. He felt attracted to Kanna but screwed things up, even though they remain friends. He was forced to kill the Ancient One, the only father figure he had ever since his father died. And lastly, the only person who would never leave his side... also left. Yes, even Wong. Stephen has SO much love to give but he’s also afraid because he’s cursed. He truly believes his love in poison. And would you look at that? What If really delivered a story where this is actually true.

What If Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?

The level of understanding when it comes to the character is... inconceivable. What could possibly reshape Stephen into following a dark path but love? The very premise of the whole episode. This is so much more than a love letter. This is literally too much, in all senses.

Fine, let’s begin.

What if the best of intentions has very strange consequences?

No. You used the word “strange” for the pun but this is not the word. Nah-ah. I’d go with ATROCIOUS, for starters. Things are gonna escalate so quickly, my friends.

Seriously, tho? Christine is SO SO SO SO beautiful, they’re so cute together. I have this feeling that MCU!Stephen was quite toxic because of his arrogance and this is why they didn’t work out. But WhatIf!Stephen???????? He’s always praising her, teasing her in a healthy way, respecting her and listening to her. HE TRULY LOVES HER, I’M GONNA CRY ALL OVER AGAIN, PLEASE, NOT THE CRÈME BRÛLÉE, PLEASE

I’m going to leave this shot here because we need to go back to it later. Hold that thought.

And bonus points to “Yeah, well, I would call that quite remarkable.” / “Well, I would say the same about you.”

GODS. THE PAIN. STOP THE PAIN.

So in this reality, Stephen didn’t caused the car accident because he was checking his phone while driving. Also it was not the reckless attempt to pass the truck. Well, maybe it was the consequence of this act? The fact is, the car behind them loses control, which makes them crash. Does it matter? We’ll learn later that no, it doesn’t.

And yep... Christine dies. Have you noticed the shattered heart? Ah, the pain only gets better and better.

Again, Stephen blames himself. More than anything, this is so important because Stephen is all about guilt. We still need to meet Donna so we can add yet another layer of guilt. But the feeling exists. This is what corrupts Stephen’s heart and soul in all his iterations. This is what makes him the character I love so much. I love this SO. MUCH. In addition, his stubbornness to accept his condition. Man won’t take a no. This, this is Doctor Strange in character. Stop complaining about NWH Stephen, it’s pathetic.

Okay, “grief-stricken”, Stephen found the Mystic Arts and became a sorcerer. That’s when he learned about the Time Stone, the Eye of Agamotto and Dormammu. Nothing changes, he saves the universe. But time does not heal his deepest wound.

I love Wong so much. Every time Wong does something, the world is healed. Really. We’re going back to him as well but for now I’ll just leave this shot.

BUT STEPHEN, DOING SOMETHING RECKLESS? HE’D NEVAH

Aaaaaaaannnnnnd then he did.

He goes back in time. It’s been two years since he lost Christine. I think he reacted pretty nicely, despite the circumstances. Now let’s go back to that shot I said I was saving for later.

Stephen is so light-hearted here. Also, during the first time he lost Christine, he had no idea what “The Price is Right” was. He knows now, which means he probably tried to learn more about the show because of her, because of grief. HAHAHA MORE PAIN

AND THEN HE

AND THEN SHE DIES AGAIN

AND THEN HE KEEPS GOING BACK IN TIME

AND SHE KEEPS DYING

AND THE MUSIC

AND HIS VOICE

AND HE TRIES TO CHANGE FATE BUT IT CAN’T BE AVERTED

HE EVEN TRIES TO STAY AWAY FROM HER LIFE BUT SHE DIES ALL THE SAME, WHY

AND EVERY TIME THEY CRASH, HE FEELS THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL PAIN AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN, WHY

I’M-- *ugly sobbing noises*

Apparently, not.

And this scene when he simply... closes his eyes before she dies again...?

This is where this episode had me in endless tears. It got me the four times I watched it. I’m dead serious.

Okay, so, next the Ancient One appears to Stephen, explaining that Christine’s death is an Absolute Point in time. It cannot be changed. Stephen needs the accident to become the Sorcerer Supreme and defeat Dormammu.

And this is where Stephen starts his journey into darkness. “Nothing is impossible, you taught me that. I only require more power.” Disobeying the Ancient One, Stephen then travels in time, seeking the Library of Cagliostro. Now, if you’re not aware of that, Cagliostro was a sorcerer who studied time in comics, and later became Sise-Neg (there’s a recent post on this because of the new Defenders run). It’s funny to think that Sise-Neg also destroyed the world when he became a god, however he grew past his pettiness and remade reality. Stephen did not possess such power, as we’re about to see.

PS: “Stop torturing yourself, Stephen.” Naur but he should use this line like a mantra. Especially comics!Stephen.

Not gonna lie, tho. This place reminds me of the Temple of the Vishanti from T&T (of course I was going to insert T&T somewhere, it’s me).

And of course they’d go for a pun with his name haha. I don’t know how to feel about this, tho. I feel like the episode is too heavy and dark for comedy. But it is what it is.

Okay but why some books are in cages??????????? And wow, it seems Cagliostro also gathered knowledge about several fields of magic.

And then Stephen learns that, in order to break an Absolute Point, he needs to absorb more power. This is when I went “oh-oh, here we go”.

And for real, is this Shuma-Gorath? Why are they keeping his name a secret? Is this the same creature from the first episode with Captain Carter, right? RIGHT? It has to be Shuma-Gorath.

Of course he tries to be polite and ends up all hurt haha. O’Bengh warns him about love but he will not listen. “Love can break more than your heart. It can shatter your mind.”/ “Is she worth the pain?”. Please, this is Stephen. He eats pain for breakfast.

Also, also, let’s take a break. We’re finally going to get monsterf0cker tentacle-lover Stephen Strange. It will cost us everything but here we goooooooooooo (yes, I went frame by frame for your more obscure fanservice needs)

Gods, I love this sequence so much it hurts. Okay, here we go.

Shmebulock???????????

AND HE STOLE THE CAPE??????????? AND DREW THE LINE ON BUGS??????

The grasp this man is holding on me right now...

Some of you will understand. I’m with you.

And here are the grostesque ones. These are hard to take SS but I had to.

Animation, sound effects, OST? CHEF’S KISS TO ALL

And lastly... the tentacles. Yeah, if you’re new... this is a thing.

Fanservice. Fanservice everywhere. (low-key the reason I also waited to write this review, I wanted to enjoy this part so badly but I was too sad for that lmao)

Okay so. O’Bengh is suddenly OLD and DYING, until we realize that Stephen spent CENTURIES absorbing mystic beings. CENTURIES. WTF STEPHEN. He had nothing in mind but the goal to save Christine. And people wonder why he went insane???? I’m sorry, O’Bengh, but I can’t take you serious when you still call Stephen Sorcerer Armani. Oh, and also because you watched him absorb beings for centuries in silence lmao. But I guess I have to because you said that Stephen is split in two since the Ancient One cast a spell on him, splitting the timelines and making them exist in the same reality before he could travel back in time. I know, it’s complex. Anything for the plot.

And now good!Stephen has an evil!twin who wants to absorb him back in order to become whole and break the Absolute Point. Cool.

I said I wanted to talk more about Wong because I think people are not talking about him enough. Wong is so important in this episode. He’s the one who’s trying to heal Stephen after Christine. He’s Stephen’s anchor.

Also, THEY FINALLY USED A SPELL WITH THE NAME OF THE VISHANTI. HOORAAAAY

So, for the sake of our understanding, I’m addressing the characters as evil and good!Stephen. Let’s go. Evil!Stephen summons good!Stephen and gods, he still holds such a strong grasp on me... unbelievable. THE DEEPER VOICE BENEDICT USES???? PLEASE, DIDN’T WE HAVE ENOUGH?

Imagine his strength to hold so many beings inside him, fighting to control him. BRO, THIS IS TOO TOO MUCH

Fine, I’ll not post SS about the fight because I’d be here all night long but I WILL say this: NOT CLOAKIE!!!!! NAAAAAAAAAAUR

Also if you ask me if I recognize any of the spells? Maaaaybe the Flames of Faltine, the not-so-crimson Bands of Cyttorak and a little trick Magik does with her portals. That’s how far I go.

I’ll not comment on the “seducing yourself to stay in the trap”. I will not. I’ll just say that the first person Stephen thought of when “Christine” was talking about the crème brûlée was Wong. That’s it.

And finally evil!Stephen absorbs good!Stephen and releases... UNLIMITED POWER (I love when the stone goes red as if it was bleeding aaaaaaa)

I can fix him...

This scene here? Poetic cinema. (I love his wings so much)

And when Stephen says her name and the other monsters’ voices echo “Christine”, AAAAAACKKKK

AND OF COURSE CHRISTINE WOULD FREAK OUT, BRO. LOOK AT WHAT YOU’VE BECOME BECAUSE OF YOUR TWISTED LOVE. I’M NOT DOING FINE.

Oh, but it’s too late anyways because Stephen broke reality haha. This scene is interesting because Stephen is the only one who sensed and/or talked to the Watcher until now. I read an interview that the Watcher kinda showed up but it’s also about Stephen’s keen senses. Bit of both, let’s say. Still, man, 616-Watcher is not that cold. 616-Watcher would watch this and say “how about I intervene anyway?”. WhatIf!Watcher is brutal.

The way Christine looks at Stephen one last time also KILLS ME, DESTROYS ME, BREAK ME INTO A MILLION PIECES.

And this is where my soul left my body.

This is how they end the episode. This is how you leave me speechless and with teary eyes. This is how you give me a whole existential crisis.

This... this was brutal to watch. Really.

What can I say after this? I’m used to reading painful things when it comes to Stephen. Aaron’s and Cates’ runs are heartbreaking on so many levels. Hickman’s New Avengers is not easier. Coincidentally, What If? Magik Became Sorcerer Supreme and The End. And now Death of Doctor Strange. And yet, after everything I’ve been through, I’d never expect to watch something so brilliant, so tragic, so heartbreaking and unexpected in the MCU. Never. This is top tier content and this is my favorite character with SO MANY LAYERS and SO MUCH UNDERSTANDING. I can’t put into words how meaningful this whole episode is to me, or how deep it touched my heart and soul.

I’ve been struggling to find the proper words since then, I still can’t. All I can add is, I cried for the 4th time now. This is too, too much, even for Stephen stans. Even for the ones who are used to pain, regardless of which media you’re into: comic books, live actions or animated movies. This is literally more than I can take and yet I’m so, so grateful. The voice acting, gods, how did Benedict manage to create a better Stephen than the one he’s literally playing in real life???????????? HOW

This episode really took the max potential Stephen had to offer as a character, added tons and tons of layers based on his grief, depression, arrogance and need to control everything and created a tragic masterpiece. In 7 years of being a Doctor Strange fan, I've never read or watch something that could go this deep into the character. The closest I can think of is Mr. Misery and the metaphor of Stephen's depression. This is a whole new level of respect and understanding. This is more than a love letter. This is peak maestry. It’s perfect, it’s heartbreaking, it’s... gods, I can’t.

Sorry for dragging you until this far. Before I wrap up this review, I just wanted to remind you all that Stephen will appear again, he will smile again, he will be surrounded by people again. So this is not the end. It was painful but be brave. We still have a few more steps to take.

#what if...? #doctor strange #stephen strange #what if doctor strange lost his heart instead of his hands? #wong #christine palmer #the ancient one #long post #review #he did nothing wrong #so what? he destroyed a whole universe #/j #benedict cumberbatch

[rachelbethhines]

Tangled Salt Marathon - “Rapunzel Knows Best!” ( A first half of S3 Recap)

So I decided to place the recap after Be Very Afraid for several reasons. For starters it’s where the season three hiatus took place. It’s also framed like a cliffhanger episode the same as The Great Tree and Queen for a Day; so while Cassandra’s Revenge is technically the midseason finale, Be Very Afraid functionally servers this narrative purpose better. Finally I want to keep the Cassandra heavy stuff contained in it’s own recap later same as I did for Varian’s arc in season one. 

Also keep in mind, everything I discussed in previous recaps still apply here. Nothings changed and you could argue that the issues I bring up now could have also apply to past seasons; they just happen to be at their worst here. 

Here are the past recaps 

To Filler or Not to Filler

Hey, What Ever Happened to That Varitas, Guy?

What Is the Point?

‘Whatta Twist’

And here are the episodes that’s covered in this recap

Rapunzel’s Return Part 1

Rapunzel’s Return Part 2

Return of the King 

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf

The Lost Treasure of Herz Der Sonne

No Time Like the Past

Beginnings 

The King and Queen of Hearts

Day of the Animals 

Be Very Afraid 

Poorly Defined Conflicts 

I’m not just talking about Cassandra’s lack of goals here either, though that is a part of it. I mean in several episodes the central conflict isn’t laid out clearly enough before being resolved.  We flip from one set up to the next without ever resolving the first; like in Rapunzel’s Return when Cass and Varian fight for screen time or whenever Rapunzel is suppose to learn one lesson only for someone else to learn a completely different lesson in every other episode. And to this day I don’t know what Rapunzel and Feldspar’s subplot in Lost Treasure was suppose to be about. 

There’s also of course the ill-defined overall conflict; which at this point has become convoluted and nonsensical to the extreme, and will only grow more aggravatingly stupid as the season progresses. The main villains lack clear goals, their motivations don’t align with previously stated facts, and the actual interesting conflict involving the threat of the rocks and their destruction of people’s lives and homes is just shoved under the rug and forgotten about.  

There is no story without conflict. Having the conflict be all over the place is not only confusing but makes it harder for the audience to invest in what’s going on. 

Failed Narrative Promises 

Tying in with the above statement regarding conflicts, we have failed narrative promises. Rapunzel is repeatedly told to that she needs to learn something in several episodes only for her not to learn it at all. She either learns some unrelated ‘lesson’ that wasn’t established, (like in Rapunzel’s Return with her pervious goal about ‘opening up to others’ being switched out for a generic ‘responsibility’ lesson that at the last minute, where she doesn’t even do anything responsible,) or she winds up ‘teaching’ the opposite lesson to a different character thereby rewarding her for her bad behavior.   

And that’s just within the induvial episodes themselves; there’s also broken narrative promises through out the overall story arc; like...

no justice/redemption for Lady Caine, 

no acknowledgment that the Saporians are the victims of colonization

no conclusion regarding Corona’s murky past

no satisfying ending to Varian’s plot that sees everyone in involve grow

a poor copout of an explanation for Cassandra’s face/heel turn

The Dark Prince reveal going nowhere 

The Brotherhood being put on a bus 

King Frederic, or any royal, not being held accountable for their past actions 

Lance’s new found responsibilities just being thrown away for the tenth time 

The Disciples plot being being dropped 

next to nothing in season two winds up being relevant 

And Rapunzel, the protagonist of a coming of age story, fails to learn anything at all 

I could probably go on but you get the gist. Tangled is incredibly frustrating show to watch because doesn’t deliver what it promises. You’re not being clever by ‘subverting audiences expectations’ unless you can justify your narrative decisions with previous set up. Tangled is too lazy to build proper set ups so it’s ‘twists’ leave you wanting to punch things rather then impressing you. 

Character Assassinations 

Every single character in Tangled the Series gets thrown under a bus, driven off a cliff, and then allowed to drown in the ocean of their completely unaware self-congratulatory smugness.  

Rapunzel is turned into a bully

Cassandra is given the idiot ball to hold permanently 

The King and Queen are lobotomized

Quinin gets replaced by a robot  

The rest of the Brotherhood are pale shadows of what they could have been 

Edmund is transformed from tragic complex figure into a dumb jerkoff who abuses his kid for a laugh 

Zhan Tiri, once an ancient demon warlock, is reduced to a floating impotent ghost girl 

The Saporians become poor hipster parodies

Cap is put on a bus

Any villain who isn’t Cass is gets ignored

Lance is infantilized to the point of absurdity

Eugene becomes a doormat 

and poor Varian is forced to become a complacent victim to his abusers as oppose to being allowed to keeping his dignity 

I think the only person who escapes this mass murder of characterization is freaking Calliope, and she’s hasn’t even appeared yet! (Well okay her and Trevor, maybe) 

This all ties back into the poorly defined conflict and failed narrative promises. Rather than let the characters drive the story, they’ve become puppets to the plot, and plot is really stupid and forced, and circles back in on itself and is full of contradictions. 

Manipulating the Audience’s Empathy to Do the Work for the Writers  

The reason why the creators believe they can get away with such poor characterization and lazy writing is because they expect the audience to do all the heavy lifting for them.  

Cass isn’t given an on screen reason for what she does because they’re hoping her fans will just automatically excuse her because they like her/relate to her and not, you know, get mad at the writers for dumbing her down. And after all who doesn’t love the creator’s pet? Meanies! That’s who! 

No one calls out Rapunzel’s bullshit on screen, because if everyone likes her, then you, viewing audience, should too. Because if you have any sort of independent critical thinking abilities and a sense of right and wrong then clearly you’re ‘just a hater’. 

Everyone should just shut up and be satisfied that Varian is even on screen now and be grateful for the scraps that they get cause he’s not the real point of the show and according to Chris ‘Varian fans aren’t real fans’. Even though they make up most of his viewing audience. 

I could go on, but it’s just variations of the above. The writing in this series is very fond of gaslighting the audience and trying to trick them into justifying the absolute worst behaviors while desperately hoping they doesn’t noticed the continued downgrading and dismissal of characters they do like or once liked.  

And the sad thing is, it’s worked. There are people to this day that still try to justify this show’s shitty morals and bend over backwards to excuse the likes of Rapunzel, Frederic, Cassandra, and Edmund.  Worst, there are loud sections of the fandom, (usually on twitter) who think bullying is okay and follow in Chris and his characters footsteps. Most of them young impressionable girls who are now ripe for TREFS to indoctrinate because they use the same bullying tactics and excuses for authoritarianism. 

Media does effect reality, but not in the way purists and antis would have you believe. No one is going to become a violent manic from playing a video game nor a sex offender because they read a smut fic. But they very much will conform to toxic beliefs if it’s repeated enough at them by authorities they ‘trust’; like say the world wide leading company known for family entertainment and children’s media, and the ‘friends’ they find within the fandom for said company... 

I’m not saying you can’t enjoy Tangled the series or that you’re some how wrong for liking it’s characters, nor do you have to engage with every or any criticism thrown it’s way. But yes you need to think about the media you consume on some level and valid criticism is very much important to the fandom experience for precisely the above reasons. 

Conclusion    

This isn’t even the tip of the iceberg of what’s wrong with this show, but it is most of its biggest problems laid bare. Anything that haven’t covered here or in the past recaps will be explored in the final recap. Cause this is it folks; the last leg of the journey for this retrospective. When come back, hopefully next week, we’ll tackle Pascal’s Dragon.  

#tangled #anti-tangled #tangled the series #rapunzel's tangled adventure #tts #rta

[a-secret-bolton-vampire]

Daenerys Stormborn, Part 2: Wake the Dragon

Oh hey, I have part 2 already! Guess my brain is really focused on Dany now. In part 1, I talked about Dany's arcs from AGOT to ASOS, exploring the narrative and thematic purpose of her journey. However, the most important part of her journey occurs in ADWD, and sets the stage for some incredibly exciting developments to come in TWOW. For part 2, I'll be talking about the gradual transformation of Daenerys into a slightly different, darker character for the future.

Breaker of Chains & Mhysa

Slavery has been an important background element throughout Dany's time in Essos, even in AGOT, but it becomes front and centre in ASOS. She accepted the Dothraki, a society that uses slaves for many things, and wasn't too perturbed at the use of slaves in Qarth. However, it is in Astapor where she finally realizes just how bad the institution is, as she tells Xaro:

"Whence came this madness? Should I count myself fortunate that you did not free my own slaves when you were my guest in Qarth?" I was a beggar queen and you were Xaro of the Thirteen, Dany thought, and all you wanted were my dragons. "Your slaves seemed well treated and content. It was not till Astapor that my eyes were opened."

As mentioned last time, ASOS is when she begins to take control of her destiny, and she does so by beginning a revolution to free the slaves of Slaver's Bay. She believe she has a greater destiny lying ahead of her, that there is a reason for her dragons, the red comet. She also has great empathy for people and sees this disturbing injustice being played out with nobody to stop it. But she has the power to do so, and thus she begins by going fire and blood at Astapor, killing the Good Masters and freeing all the slaves. Afterwards, she leaves the city with a ruling council of a priest, a scholar, and a healer and moves to Yunkai.

She does a different approach with Yunkai, negotiating with the Wise Masters to surrender their slaves and to leave them in peace. And then when she arrives at Meereen, she decides to stay and rule as its queen. This is where things begin to get difficult for Daenerys. The ruling council of Astapor is overthrown by a butcher named Cleon, who said the council was conspiring to bring back slavery, who declares himself King of Astapor, enslaves the children of the former Good Masters to make new Unsullied, and tries to ally with Daenerys against Yunkai, who has resumed slavery.

Daenerys is not interested in any war with Yunkai. The reason she stays in Meereen is exactly because she learned what happened when she left Astapor. The fire and blood approach didn't work. You can't just dismantle such a deeply engrained system so easily. So instead she opts to rule, and protect the people she can. While a lot of readers view Dany's actions in Meereen as pointless, the whims of a naive girl, and poor leadership, I actually think it's the opposite.

For starters, Dany realized that she can't simply burn the slavers to end slavery, but she needs to stay and instill changes. While King Cleon repeatedly begs for Daenerys to join the war against Yunkai, she refuses, and warns Cleon to not do such a thing. She turns out to be horribly right, as Cleon is killed, Astapor is sieged, before being slaughtered, burned, and sacked, to be reinstated as a slave city once more. Likewise, the Yunkish siege Meereen, first by creating a blockade in the bay with ships, and then by having armies amassed outside the city walls.

In addition, refugees from Astapor begin to pile up outside the city, and a deadly plague called the pale mare (for the horse from Astapor that arrives at Meereen) begins to sweep the starving Astapori freedmen, who begin to resort to cannibalism to survive. Dany blames herself for leaving Astapor a mess, but does not wish to have the same thing happen in Meereen. She wants to protect the people she's freed, not just from the Yunkish, but herself as well.

When a sheepherder brings the burned bones of his daughter, Hazzea, who was killed by her dragons, Dany has Rhaegal and Viserion chained in the dungeons below the Great Pyramid to prevent them from causing any more harm. However, Drogon is still loose, unable to be found. In addition, when the sons of the harpy, a terrorist group opposed to the emancipation of Meereen, begin massacring freedmen, Dany decides to raise a tax on the Great Masters and have all families of suspect loyalty send a child to serve as a hostage and cupbearers. Yet, as the killings continue, she has grown close to the children and decides not to have them killed.

Now, some of you may notice that I am taking a lot from the Meereenese Blot essays written by Adam Feldman. That's not only because they are really well written essays, but ones that GRRM himself has approved of.

"I read those when someone pointed them out to me, and I was really pleased with them, because at least one guy got it. He got it completely, he knew exactly what I was trying to do there, and evidently I did it well enough for people who were paying attention."

So I am retreading some of the ground Feldman has laid, but it's important to do so if I am to build up to what I think is going to happen in the future of Dany's story.

As Feldman notes, Dany's own actions (or in the case of the cupbearers, inaction) actually made a peace possible, because the Yunkish saw that she was someone who is capable of mercy and not a (in their eye) violent mass murderer. Knowing what happened with Astapor, and seeing what happens when her dragons are unleashed with Hazzea, Dany decides to make peace with the Yunkish and marry Hizdahr.

Under the peace, Meereen itself would remain a free city, but the Yunkish would continue to sell slaves. They even sell them in markets outside the walls of Meereen, which displeases Daenerys extremely. In addition, slaveowners could bring their slaves into Meereen without fear of them being freed, and the Yunkish promised to respect the rights of the freedmen in Meereen. Yet, despite the peace and the progress made, she feels as though this is a defeat.

This is peace, she told herself. This is what I wanted, what I worked for, this is why I married Hizdahr. So why does it taste so much like defeat?

The thing is, Daenerys has had to sacrifice so much of herself and her morals to get to this point. Yes there is peace, even if it is tentative, Meereen would not be sacked by the Yunkish, but slavery is still going on, and she thinks that she has let herself and other people down by agreeing to peace and allowing the Yunkish to continue slavery. She has agreed to peace to people she loathes and thinks are despicable, she has married a man she does not love and does not love her, she has chained her dragons in the pit below, she has allowed the fighting pits to reopen. This comes to ahead at Daznak's Pit when she is at the height of her discomfort.

The boar buried his snout in Barsena's belly and began rooting out her entrails. The smell was more than the queen could stand. The heat, the flies, the shouts from the crowd … I cannot breathe. She lifted her veil and let it flutter away. She took her tokar off as well. The pearls rattled softly against one another as she unwound the silk.

And then Drogon arrives, and in the chaos of him attacking the boar and being attacked by the soldiers in the pit, Dany tries to calm him, but he spits fire at her, and she tries to tame him by whipping him into submission. Here, Dany is quite literally fighting herself. She herself in this moment represents the Queen of Meereen, someone who desires for peace. Meanwhile, Drogon represents the dragon inside her, who wants to unleash blood and fire on her enemies. In the end, Dany climbs onto Drogon and they fly away together, which foreshadows and symbolizes Dany's later decision to choose being the dragon.

Despite her frustrations in Meereen, the peace was a good first step. Not to say that it solved every issue, it didn't, but that doesn't need to be the end of it. Daenerys could forge new peaces, new agreements, and if she stayed in Meereen, she could implement great changes throughout Slaver's Bay. But what is done is done, and cannot be undone. The peace that was forged is now gone. Next comes war.

The House with the Red Door

Before we move on to Dany's final chapter and what that means for the future, we must take a look at a very important part of her backstory which is one of the main elements of her own story. Sure, destiny, greatness, prophecy, power, and identity are themes with Daenerys, but at the center of it all is the desire for home. Dany was born on Dragonstone, but was whisked away to Braavos, and there she lived in the house with the red door, with Viserys, Ser Willem Darry, and their servants.

To Dany, the house with the red door was the only place in her life she called home, and she has very fond memories of it, of Willem, or the lemon tree. But after Willem died, they were kicked out and forced to become beggars on the streets, selling off their possessions and travelling the Free Cities. The red door was closed and gone forever after, but the dream of having a home hasn't.

Daenerys has a desire for home, for love, for family. Throughout her childhood, Viserys would tell Dany all about Westeros, how they need to take back the Iron Throne, that the Seven Kingdoms were the most beautiful lands in the world. And sure enough, soon, Westeros represents the idea for home and belonging to Dany.

"I pray for home too," she told him, believing it. Ser Jorah laughed. "Look around you then, Khaleesi." But it was not the plains Dany saw then. It was King's Landing and the great Red Keep that Aegon the Conqueror had built. It was Dragonstone where she had been born. In her mind's eye they burned with a thousand lights, a fire blazing in every window. In her mind's eye, all the doors were red.

Although she takes on the mantle as the new head of House Targaryen and carries on Viserys's dream of taking back the Iron Throne out of a sense of duty, she also does so for desire to belong in a place she can call home. It's a nostalgic feeling she gets of the old days, that she wants to relive again.

But then other ambitions get in her way. She frees the slaves of Slaver's Bay, and decides to stay in Meereen to try to ensure that her revolution succeeds. Thus, her quest for home is put on hold. Throughout ADWD, she gives up parts of herself, to try to become one with the Meereenese; marrying Hizdahr, reopening the fighting pits, chaining her dragons, dressing in the Ghiscari fashion, and making peace. But in the Dothraki sea, hundreds of miles outside Meereen, she finds that she wasn't being her true self, that she can never be the Queen of Meereen, or become a true Meereenese.

I must keep walking. Water flows downhill. The stream will take me to the river, and the river will take me home. Except it wouldn't, not truly. Meereen was not her home, and never would be. It was a city of strange men with strange gods and stranger hair, of slavers wrapped in fringed tokars, where grace was earned through whoring, butchery was art, and dog was a delicacy. Meereen would always be the Harpy's city, and Daenerys could not be a harpy.

The series is all about the human heart in conflict with itself, and Daenerys in ADWD is one of the best examples of that. She was struggling with her two competing titles of Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons, but in the end she was not comfortable with being the Breaker of Chains. This final transformation she undergoes in the Dothraki sea really sets the tone for what she will do in the future, and how she will change as a person and character.

Mother of Dragons

Daenerys X is one of the more bizarre chapters in the series, since it follows only one character alone with her thoughts, but it works extremely well as a character study, and the development over the course of the chapter is one of my favourites in the whole series. Through all the hallucinations and visions and dreams Daenerys has during this chapter, it's important to remember that they all (apart from possibly Quaithe) are her, so the discussions she has are with her own internal thoughts directly.

The topic of Targaryen madness reoccurs throughout the series, but it's ADWD where it is brought up the most. Now, the topic of Targaryen madness will be another post i will do in the far future and won't discuss in depth today, but the matter is that Dany is aware of some of it, even if she hasn't fully accepted the truth of her father. She fears that she is succumbing to the madness at points.

"Your Grace?" Missandei stood in the door of the queen's bedchamber, a lantern in her hand. "Who are you talking to?" Dany glanced back toward the persimmon tree. There was no woman there. No hooded robe, no lacquer mask, no Quaithe. A shadow. A memory. No one. She was the blood of the dragon, but Ser Barristan had warned her that in that blood there was a taint. Could I be going mad? They had called her father mad, once.

Later, she implies this fear again to Barristan.

I lived in fear for fourteen years, my lord. I woke afraid each morning and went to sleep afraid each night … but my fears were burned away the day I came forth from the fire. Only one thing frightens me now." "And what is it that you fear, sweet queen?" "I am only a foolish young girl." Dany rose on her toes and kissed his cheek. "But not so foolish as to tell you that. My men shall look at these ships. Then you shall have my answer."

But in an early version of Daenerys III, the answer Daenerys gave was "myself". She fears what would happen if she "woke the dragon", as Viserys put it. She's afraid of succumbing to the madness that consumed her father and probably was consuming Viserys. She's afraid of what would happen if she unleashed her dragons, how many innocents they would kill. But in the Dothraki sea, she begins to question her decisions, starting when she woke up after finding blood between her thighs:

"I am the blood of the dragon," she told the grass, aloud. Once, the grass whispered back, until you chained your dragons in the dark. "Drogon killed a little girl. Her name was … her name …" Dany could not recall the child's name. That made her so sad that she would have cried if all her tears had not been burned away. "I will never have a little girl. I was the Mother of Dragons." Aye, the grass said, but you turned against your children.

The importance of this quote cannot go unnoticed. She thinks about Hazzea all the time throughout the book, feeling deeply guilty about what Drogon did to her. But here, at the end, she cannot remember her name. The in world explanation is that, of course, she is delirious from being in the wilderness eating berries and being sick, but thematically this is her slowly turning away from the people she freed. Next comes a dream with Viserys (long quote incoming):

She dreamt of her dead brother. Viserys looked just as he had the last time she'd seen him. His mouth was twisted in anguish, his hair was burnt, and his face was black and smoking where the molten gold had run down across his brow and cheeks and into his eyes. "You are dead," Dany said. Murdered. Though his lips never moved, somehow she could hear his voice, whispering in her ear. You never mourned me, sister. It is hard to die unmourned. "I loved you once." Once, he said, so bitterly it made her shudder. You were supposed to be my wife, to bear me children with silver hair and purple eyes, to keep the blood of the dragon pure. I took care of you. I taught you who you were. I fed you. I sold our mother's crown to keep you fed. "You hurt me. You frightened me." Only when you woke the dragon. I loved you. "You sold me. You betrayed me." No. You were the betrayer. You turned against me, against your own blood. They cheated me. Your horsey husband and his stinking savages. They were cheats and liars. They promised me a golden crown and gave me this. He touched the molten gold that was creeping down his face, and smoke rose from his finger. "You could have had your crown," Dany told him. "My sun-and-stars would have won it for you if only you had waited." I waited long enough. I waited my whole life. I was their king, their rightful king. They laughed at me. "You should have stayed in Pentos with Magister Illyrio. Khal Drogo had to present me to the dosh khaleen, but you did not have to ride with us. That was your choice. Your mistake." Do you want to wake the dragon, you stupid little whore? Drogo's khalasar was mine. I bought them from him, a hundred thousand screamers. I paid for them with your maidenhead. "You never understood. Dothraki do not buy and sell. They give gifts and receive them. If you had waited …" I did wait. For my crown, for my throne, for you. All those years, and all I ever got was a pot of molten gold. Why did they give the dragon's eggs to you? They should have been mine. If I'd had a dragon, I would have taught the world the meaning of our words. Viserys began to laugh, until his jaw fell away from his face, smoking, and blood and molten gold ran from his mouth.

The dream terrifies Daenerys, but once again, Viserys (really herself here) is telling her she is stalling in a place she doesn't belong, that she needs to go home, that she should embrace being a dragon. The climax of this comes right after she realizes Meereen would never be her home, where she argues with Jorah (again, herself):

Meereen would always be the Harpy's city, and Daenerys could not be a harpy. Never, said the grass, in the gruff tones of Jorah Mormont. You were warned, Your Grace. Let this city be, I said. Your war is in Westeros, I told you. The voice was no more than a whisper, yet somehow Dany felt that he was walking just behind her. My bear, she thought, my old sweet bear, who loved me and betrayed me. She had missed him so. She wanted to see his ugly face, to wrap her arms around him and press herself against his chest, but she knew that if she turned around Ser Jorah would be gone. "I am dreaming," she said. "A waking dream, a walking dream. I am alone and lost." Lost, because you lingered, in a place that you were never meant to be, murmured Ser Jorah, as softly as the wind. Alone, because you sent me from your side. "You betrayed me. You informed on me, for gold." For home. Home was all I ever wanted. "And me. You wanted me." Dany had seen it in his eyes. I did, the grass whispered, sadly. "You kissed me. I never said you could, but you did. You sold me to my enemies, but you meant it when you kissed me." I gave you good counsel. Save your spears and swords for the Seven Kingdoms, I told you. Leave Meereen to the Meereenese and go west, I said. You would not listen. "I had to take Meereen or see my children starve along the march." Dany could still see the trail of corpses she had left behind her crossing the Red Waste. It was not a sight she wished to see again. "I had to take Meereen to feed my people." You took Meereen, he told her, yet still you lingered. "To be a queen." You are a queen, her bear said. In Westeros. "It is such a long way," she complained. "I was tired, Jorah. I was weary of war. I wanted to rest, to laugh, to plant trees and see them grow. I am only a young girl." No. You are the blood of the dragon. The whispering was growing fainter, as if Ser Jorah were falling farther behind. Dragons plant no trees. Remember that. Remember who you are, what you were made to be. Remember your words. "Fire and Blood," Daenerys told the swaying grass.

And here is where everything changes. She has spent time trying to protect innocent lives, to make peace, not war, to be loved and accepted by Meereen. But here, she decides that it is time to do away with that. Meereen is not her home, Westeros is, and it's time to wake the dragon and burn Yunkai. No longer will she be burdened by the idea of a cost of innocent lives, no longer will she fear herself, and no longer will she linger. When the time comes, she will burn her enemies and leave for Westeros.

I need to make a few things clear here, however. For one, I don't think she's mad now, this is just her resolving her internal conflict. For another, I don't care what she does to the slavers. They deserve what's coming for them. She will still care about the innocent, but she's now going to go full-blooded Targaryen and burn cities to the ground, and this will mean massive collateral damage she will try to rationalize away.

Daenerys has now transformed into a different, much darker character, which I feel will continue to define her for the rest of the series. She is now the Mother of Dragons, in her entirety, and Essos is about to bleed and burn. I really appreciate how GRRM put this together, and that she didn't stay fire and blood after Astapor. His character development is realistic, and sometimes the development is not linear. In part 3, I will be discussing predictions about Daenerys's arc and story in TWOW, more specifically what she will do in Essos.

#asoiaf #asoiaf meta #asoiaf character arcs #daenerys targaryen #daenerys stormborn #mother of dragons #adwd #meereen

[teddyaltman-cardiogoddess]

Misconceptions and First Impressions

Starter for @sxtanshepherd

Teddy had finished grading some papers for the professor a little early and decided to join in on a pick up game of soccer. She loved the pick up games, but missed her days playing for Texas University. Coaching was fun but nothing beat playing. The sweating blonde stopped for a quick sip of water and practically spit it out when she realized the time. “Hey! I gotta run, Dr. Montgomery is out of class.” She called out to her friends while swiping her things and running to the science building.

Teddy was in her second year of medical school and it was quite the adjustment. She ended up with a scholarship which led her to choose this school over Texas. She worked as a TA for Dr. Montgomery, one of the toughest and most well respected professors in the medical school. During what little free time she had, she coached soccer and tutored to get a little more cash. Sure, her parents helped as much as they could, but it was a different tune up north in “prep country” as she called it. 

Teddy ran into the building and headed straight to Dr. Montgomery’s hall just as he was walking in with the hottest red head she’d ever seen. It wasn’t uncommon for him to be in the company of other students. Teddy found it disturbing but never said anything. She set her boundaries with him whenever he made advances and that was that. There was no way she was losing this opportunity. Teddy straightened out her sweaty tank top as she approached her mentor. She could feel eyes on her bare, toned legs that were barely covered by her nike shorts. She didn’t typically dress this way in front of him for this exact reason, but given the circumstances she had no choice. “Um, Dr. Montgomery, I have your papers graded. I also had a quick question about the lab I’m teaching tomorrow if you have a moment.” She was quick and to the point. Just how she always was with him. The established man nodded and gestured to his office, “Of course, let’s meet in my office.” Teddy groaned on the inside, she wasn’t too keen on being alone with him. But as long as she set her boundaries he, for the most part, respected them until the next encounter where he would hit on her. “Sorry, this will only be a second.” She apologized to the young women she took the man from. This was important and she needed to make sure she was prepared. 

She didn’t meet with him long; she always avoided that. She took care of what she needed, had her questions addressed, and headed straight into the lab to begin preparing for the next day. As she made her way inside, she was met with the same red haired woman from earlier. “Oh, hey. Sorry about that again. I needed to meet with him before he left for the day. Also, if you don’t mind I need to set up for the lab I’m teaching. Feel free to stay though, I won’t be long.” She told the younger woman, her flushed, pink cheeks finally starting to fade as she cooled down.

#sxtanshepherd #t: misconceptions and first impressions #v: don't say you love me if you're going to leave me #NEW TEDDISON VERSE Y'ALL

[dawntrailing]

PART ONE —

Sentence starters inspired by the Gridania Main Scenario Quests. Lines have been altered slightly for roleplaying purposes.

Let us begin at the beginning, shall we?

I have three tasks I wish you to perform.

All you need do is touch its surface.

You can be... uncooperative at times

Like so many people, you are much more charitable when your stomach is full.

Should you happen to come across anyone in need, don't be afraid to proffer a helping hand.

I am certain they will be pleased to meet you in whom they can confide their woes.

The work you offer is unlikely to be of realm-shattering importance.

Prove your worth and build a reputation.

In time, folk will be more inclined to entrust you with matters of moment.

I see you are faithfully following my instructions.

Allow me to offer you a bit of instruction myself.

Truly, few things in this world are so useful to an intrepid explorer.

You need not locate them all at once.

By what right does a fledgling person presume to address me?

You think you can stroll in here, bold as you please, and demand my hard-earned knowledge?

If you had something to curry my favor, then I might reconsider your request.

Come now, this whole encounter reeks of your handiwork.

Don't look so surprised. I smelled you from a malm away.

The conquering hero returns.

You have completed my little tasks, I trust?

It is best you grow familiar with them as soon as possible.

And you took the time to listen to their woes?

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to lend your talents to one and all.

I am thankful that you are an obliging sort.

It is people like you who will win the hearts of others and pave the way for those who follow.

I pray I can rely on your aid in struggles to come.

Should you need help with anything, please don't hesitate to ask.

What will you ask?

What do you do here?

I spend most of my time serving or welcoming.

I have lost my family, my livelihood, and the will to carry on.

There were times when my grief was so crippling, I could barely speak.

You gave me a purpose and a place to heal, and here I've stayed.

Why is it called that?

I once asked you the very same question.

You told me you simply liked the flower.

The look in your eyes when I said it.

Well, I suppose we all have our secrets.

You never listen to me!

I've told you countless times not to venture outside without my permission, yet you never bother to ask.

You always treats me like a child. It fair drives me up the wall!

Come to join us on the front line? Or perhaps you've questions to ask?

Your food is as bland as it gets. I had heard the rumors, but gods, the water had more flavor!

There's coin to be had hunting bandits, I'll grant you that.

There're times when I long to do something more worthy of song.

I don't give two shites about how the food tastes. All I needs is drink.

<crunch> <crunch> <crunch> <crunch>

You'd do well to take my advice to heart.

There's some as say you're overbearing, but without you, we wouldn't be able to get by.

I myself owe you much and more.

I heard that you show yourself when enraged.

Call me reckless, but I'd love to see one in the flesh... or whatever the hells it is they're made of.

I don't understand you.

You make a great show of doubting me, yet place your trust in beings you can't even see.

Where is the reason in that, I ask you?

Yer one o' them, ain't ye?

This place fair swarms with outsiders o' late. Can't walk ten bloody yalms without bumpin' into one o' ye.

Don't be takin' this the wrong way.

We appreciate the hard work ye do.

'tis hard to be at ease when scores o' strangers walk through yer home every day.

See to it that you do naught which brings me to grief.

The wood... It's watching, you know!

One day, all this'll be mine!

Where in the seven hells were you?

I need to be back there by sundown!

Allow me to assist you.

#final fantasy xiv #final fantasy xiv: a realm reborn #rp meme #rp starters #sentence starters

[camslightstories]

Tolerate It - Part 7

Lena Luthor x reader, Kara Danvers x reader, Alex Danvers x reader. Baby Danvers.

Notes: Part 7 is finally out! after rewriting and doubting so much I finally came with this part. Not gonna lie, not the finest part of this story but its okay I guess. Sorry again for my bad writing :/

I’m receiving any request, comment, feedback, opining gladly. I hope you guys like it! Thank you so much for the support, I hope I can update tomorrow too but lets wait. Have a great day!

Taglist: @multi-images @captain-josslett

Russian Translations: 

Принцесса - Princess

Не сейчас - Not now

Мы получили встречу с возможным партнером организации в мероприятии в Старлинг-Сити - We got a meeting with a possible partner of the organization in an event in Starling City   

Хорошо - Okay

You looked up to see the now in her late 20s woman, staring at you with surprise and worries. Slowly her eyes ranked to your chest, where notorious scars could be seen. Some of them are larger and older and others newer and smaller, and on top of your right chest, the tattoo of the Bratva stood proudly, big enough for her to notice it but not recognizing the interpretation.

“How can I help you?” You offered, cutting out of her trance. Walking inside the apartment, grabbing the nearest shirt. The brunette walked inside and glanced at it, clearing her throat, when she sensed the change in you.

“My car has a weird noise, and it broke in front of a bar. And the security guy told me the directions to the mechanic” She commented, her voice was worried and confused. The Arias woman looked at you, trying to find any resemblance to the old you.  

“Okay, I will look at it” You responded with the same tone, uninterested, giving her a nod, as you walked outside on your way to the car crane.

The ride was short and silent. The brown-eyed woman in a thinking mode, as she glanced at you. In those 3 years, you let a lot of things, one of them begin how to read people. And the dumbly staring at you like you were a broken charity project did not help your case.

Sam stared at you as you worked on her car, focusing only on it. With her phone in hand, and different feelings coming to the surface as she tried to figure out the situation, and what was the right thing to do. She just came to Texas to leave Ruby in college and now after years of not knowing anything about you, she didn't know if she could even lie to your oldest sister, her girlfriend, or her best friend, Lena, your ex, about your appearance.

Two years of relationship with Alex, seeing her sometimes cry herself to sleep, or have nightmares because you are not there anymore. Sam held her close to her chest, as she did. Everyone had lost a piece of themselves when you left. Some of them have a bigger void to fill than others.

Trying to avoid the tension as you checked the engine in calmness, she spoke up softly scared of what you would say. “How are you?”

“I’m fine” You responded almost immediately, as a monotone. Not taking your focus out of your job. 

Furrowing her eyebrows in confusion as she noticed your attitude, taken back by it. Thoughts and various events came into her head but were interrupted by her phone ringing. The nickname of her girlfriend, your sister appearing on the top of her screen.

With trembling hands and lips, she answered after glancing where you stood, too preoccupied with working. “Hey babe”

“Sammy! I was getting worried, I haven't heard from you and it's almost 8, are you okay? ” Alex said through the phone in one breath. The Arias woman could feel the woman's worries through her voice. Also hearing the scandal of the game night in the background.

“I’m fine, I had to get a mechanic. She is checking the car” She responded as she walked outside watching the night hitting the streets of the small town.

“She? That's great, Woman Power!” Your oldest sister said with a chuckle, Sam sensing her drunkenness', she smiled. Kara and Barry could be heard in the background fighting because of a game and challenging each other to a race. Oliver being the voice of reason stopping them.

She responded spinning back to look at you, where she heard you clearing your throat. Opening and closing her lips to say something about your presence, but preferred to talk to you before about it. “Yeah, Babe… I will call you in a minute, the mechanic is back from checking”

“Of course, don't sweat it. I love you” The redhead slurred to the phone, and Sam could hear the charming, darling smile.

Sam whispered, ending the call. “I love you too, Alex”

Thinking now how to handle a situation, where she knew where you were and how you were and your sisters didn't. How could she lie to them in their face, how can she see them breaking down because you are not there, knowing where you are. She just didn't know what to do.

“Your car broke because it has an overworking engine, and the sound of the car is because the brakes are about to break. It would take 30 min for the engine to cool down and change the brakes, 45” You interrupted her thoughts speaking, cleaning your hands with a towel.

She nodded vigorously as she spoke “Yeah, okay just tell me when you are done”

The time passed, silence overwhelmed the brunette while it calmed you. You had closed the garage the moment the coldness of the night increased. She sat straight trying to make the best conversation starter, but not finding the right words since your answers were not longer than a general sentence long.

You waited for the engine to cool down, before changing the water, putting coolant, and changing the oil. The breaks of the frontrunner were changed for the first time as you could tell. Giving Sam only small answers to her questions, your patience burning out as she kept pushing your buttons.

“Sam, I'm trying to do my job, so will you please?” You said after sliding from under the car, to look at her eye. All of your walls were up, and now with an important person from your past, you wouldn’t let it down.

Trying to keep your emotions under control, as the thoughts came in to sabotage your bottle of feelings. Memories coming back to you. Happiness and sadness overloaded your chest for the first time in a while.

Clenching your hands, as blood dripped from them. Closing your eyes as everything began to fade away. The memories, the pain, the thoughts, everything. Minutes passed and everything went back to its place. Your feelings, your thoughts, and your memories.

Sliding out as you finish, you notice the frown on the brunette's face, and most importantly the pain in her eyes. It didn't matter to you, all you saw was black and white and you made sure of that.

Sam looked up to you, as you closed the car bonnet. The silence made the air thicker than it was, the Kryptonian trying to relieve the tension. She asked the long wanted question, after pulling different theories as you worked “What happened to you?”

The air became heavier, the coldness of the night became the only thing you could feel, the sound of the car running evaded your ears, the blood falling from your hands made you feel like you were under the rain, the taste of beer on your tongue became toxic. All of your senses were going into overwork.

The Russian voice of the man pulled you out of your thoughts. Sam watched attentively from her seat, with complete anxiety. “Good evening, Принцесса”

“Не сейчас, Anatoly” You responded, grabbing the white towel at the side of your tools before removing the blood from your hands. Only to wince of pain, when you felt the cut touch the towel, noticing the damage you had done.

Ignoring your pain, you looked over to Sam seeing her eyeing you and the Russian man confused. Before deeply sighing, making Anatoly walk over the brunette extending his hand with a smile, making you roll your eyes “My apologizes, I didn't know my friend...”

“Work partner” You interrupted holding out your finger threadedly, making the suited man chuckled, while Sam became more worried and confused by the second.

Anatoly claimed as he pulled his hand away, with a smile. Before looking over at you with a questionable glance. “Had any visitors over, Anatoly Knyazev at your service”

“Samantha Arias, nice to meet you” The Arias woman nodded in gratitude before speaking.

Sam turned to face you as she noticed your blood on the now stained white towel, and your hand flinching every moment the towel made contact with the wounds. Worries came crashing to her, as she came closer to you, only to make you back away.

The Russian man seemed to notice and to diffuse the tension between the two of you, he grabbed his suit sleeves before speaking in a work mannerly. “Принцесса, may I talk to you for a moment?”

“Yeah, I will be back in a minute, Ms. Arias” You claimed and didn't even wait for an answer walking over to Anatoly who was on the phone, waiting for you with his hand crossed over the chest.

The Russian man said, looking at you. Furrowing his eyebrows in a questionable glance as he glanced at the brown-eyed woman and you multiple times, making you shook your head and sigh in annoyance “Мы получили встречу с возможным партнером организации в мероприятии в Старлинг-Сити”

Massaging your temple with doubt you responded, pointing at the door with a serious look as he looked at you with a small smirk. “Хорошо”

Waiting for the old man to exit the garage, as he walked over to the brunette giving her a goodbye. In irritation you sighed before walking over to the brunette giving her the keys of the car, mentioning. “Everything is done”

“Okay, thanks,” Sam responded nodding immediately, taking out her card from her purse to pay, only to be stopped by you.

You claimed, and before she could protest you pulled the car out of the garage. “I only receive cash, if you don't have then it doesn't matter”

The Arias woman smiled quietly, as she felt a part of you from the past come out, but frowned immediately as she saw closely your palms, with the recent cuts of your digging nails. And moving up your handsome scars are more visible than others on your wrist.

The moment you notice her stared in your cuts and scars you cleared your throat in annoyance, Sam noticed your tension and got into the car without any other word, starting the engine before looking back at you with a worried face. So many things had changed now, and she had no idea how she was gonna deal with that.

The night was young. The lights of the city were on as the people. The sound of the music coming from each club invaded your ears. The soft smell of alcohol and cigarettes overwhelmed the streets.

Bars and restaurants open in the streets, which only could be lightened up by the brighten by the open places. Couples and Groups walking down the streets finding a place to spend their Saturday night.

Watching from the window of the black car, you were seated waiting for the arrival to the event. Guns and knives under your dress, prepared for any occasion. Not a single feeling coming out of your chest or mind, the blank and void expression on your face as the journey came to an end.

Anatoly was seated beside you, looking outside in silence. The Russian man, checking with the line of security inside the car. With a smile on his face, and a joking tone he turned to you “So what are your plans for the evening, Принцесса?”

You furrowed your eyes, before rolling them in irritation. Giving him a fake smile and a threatened index finger as a response. He chuckled before getting out of the car, making you sighed and abruptly say “Let’s get over with this”

Getting out of the car, you were met with a dark alley and Anatoly waiting for you with a hand in his pocket. You examined your surroundings, seeing various bars and restaurants close, and warehouses on each side. The street was dark and there weren't any people walking around it. You turned around to see the Star city water tower.

Entering the bright and elegant warehouse, you furrowed your eyes at the preparation of the place. Tall tables in the crowds of people, and a close fighting arena in the middle of the warehouse. Some bodyguards followed their bosses and others standing near them. No more than sixty people discussing bets. At the other side of the entrance a small stage was situated, where a woman and 5 bodyguards waited for someone.

You moved through the crowd slowly, walking with Anatoly at your side getting looks from people. Women and men glanced at you as you did. Your hair was down with some waves, a black long sleeve dress that fits you perfectly and a few inches long heels clicked as you walked to the stage, where the possible business partner stood. Your abs could be seen if you looked closely, and you biceps were showing even though you weren't flexing.

Your gut clenched when you felt a familiar started but you couldn't say how familiar it was. Your mind went into an auto mode as you kept walking. Something told you the night wasn't going to be so pleasant. And the moment you stepped onto the stage and recognized the woman made your assumptions true.

Veronica Sinclair, or best known as Roulette stood in a red dress that showed her tattoos, with a smirk as she eyed you and Anatoly. Clenching your jaw in her presence as self-restraint, the woman notice and spoke up with a sarcastic smile. "Weren't you the Danvers girl who dated Lena, but she chooses your sister over you”

“And weren’t you the girl, who didn't fuck Lena good enough, so she had to leave for a man, a British man” Anger moving through your system, and your mind clouded of the irritation you had. You clenched your jaw and your fits, before claiming as you walked closer to her with a sarcastic smile only to be stopped by a hand on your shoulder.

“We are going to get a drink, Roulette and then we can discuss what we came for,” Anatoly said, before dragging you out of the conversation. As he saw the both of you getting threatening close, your hand on top of your gun and her hand up, waiting to sign her bodyguards.

You grabbed a cup of the champagne the waiters were giving and took it all in less than a minute before putting it back giving the waiter draggers as you spoke “Bring me wine”

The young guy nodded vigorously before walking away almost running. You rolled your eyes before tapping on the table. Making Anatoly look up to you with a frown as you spoke. “Anatoly, let me do my job, while you do yours”

“You can't Принцесса, to grow as a business, we need her” He spoke softly looking around the crowd.

You scoffed before beginning to walk away, getting your gun from your thigh. Looking around searching for the bitch, only to not find her. "Great, then I kill her and you take over, capiche?”

Before you could walk back into the stage, people started to whistle as two people came into the ring. You looked over to the table you stood and Anatoly gathered another drink with a smirk as you frowned abruptly walking to the booth. Before commenting “Seems like time is not in your favor, Принцесса”

The sweat smell of the men fighting irritated you. The time the fight had taken, annoyed you. The lights of the place started to not function properly. People kept yelling bets, whistles, and more and it overwhelmed you.

The feeling of irradiance started to take over you, creating a headache. Taking your and Anatoly's drink as a remedy only made it worse. Your annoyance increased when the Russian man wandered off to an associate leaving behind. Grabbing three waiters as you threaten them into giving you their drinks tray.

Now with a clouded mind and a bad gut feeling, you walked to the stage where Roulette stood only to be stopped by the lights going off, and way too many familiar voices speaking.

“You have failed this city!” Oliver iconic, now tiring line

Kara said as she flew over all of the criminals “Why do you guys do this, knowing we are going to stop you?”

You felt the lights hit you stronger than ever when they were turned on again. Taking out both of your guns as quickly as you could, walking over to the tattooed woman standing with a smirk looking at your sister.

Before you started to shoot in hopes of taking down her bodyguard, but when it only took 4 of them leaving one. You started to fight him, mostly defending and waiting for him to make a mistake, at the third punch he tried to give, you grabbed his arm and flipping him to the floor before shooting him without hesitation.

Looking up to see Sinclair smirking at you with a gun in her hand, you tried to cover in one of the tables as she kept firing at you. When both of your sisters called her name and you thought you had your chance. Rushing out of it holding both of the guns in your hand, trying to locate her. You felt a pinch in your back.

The tranquilizer began to put your head more out of place than it already was. Losing consciousness as you tried to get the small arrow out of your back, you looked up to see Roulette smirking at you.

The sound of the firing gun invaded your ears. And the pain began to flow in when the bullet opened your skin in your stomach. Putting your hand over the now open scar and the bullet you felt as the pain began to flow in and blood to flow out, as it wetted your hands. Losing consciousness, when you felt the coughing began and the red fluid came out of your mouth.

Pain invaded your system and began to take over. Your hearing began to buzz. The smell of alcohol and fire began to overwhelm your nose. You tried to put pressure over the wound only to not feel a wound at all. Your vision began to blurry and everything began to fade away slowly, the only thing that remained was the pain.

The pain was eternal, the pain was there to stay. And the universe has taught you that. It was never going to stop for you and knowing that you lost yourself in the darkness once more.

#lena luthor #lena luthor x reader #alex danvers x reader #kara danvers x reader #supergirl imagine #baby danvers

[belphies-cuhm-sluht]

Hi henlo 🥺👉🏻👈🏻💕 May I request a Lucifer and MC angst where Lucifer makes a decision for both of them to put an end to their relationship because hell is no place for a human. Maybe a starter or a prompt would be "Everything is fleeting, what we had was the same." Crush my heart with angst and pining. Bdjdbdhbdhd

Time To Go (Lucifer x GN!Reader Angst)

Everything is fleeting, what we had was the same… 

He sat in his office, his head hung low over the desk as his mind raced. His heart was torn over the decision that he knew from the beginning that he would have to make. This place, it was no place for you to be. Hell shouldn’t be your home, yet you pretended every day that it was, and you seemed happy with it. It made him sick. Seeing you walk around the house, a house full of demons, pretending that there was nothing wrong with it, and maybe, just maybe you truly thought that it was okay, but that just made it even worse for him. 

Most people were terrified of damnation, doing their best all their lives to make sure that they wouldn’t be sent to Hell when their final day came. You… you loved it here. It confused him. In the beginning, when everything had first started he was selfish, he would feel a sense of pride when you told him that you wanted to stay down there with him. He told you that he would find a way to keep you to himself, and he had actually found that way long ago, but now, now that he actually cared about you, actually… loved you… he wouldn’t do that to you. He couldn’t do that to you, no matter how much you thought you wanted it. 

The text was sent, telling you to meet him in his office. He didn’t want to do it, but he had to. In a few short seconds you would be running through the door, excited to see him, beaming with happiness that he had made time for you in his busy schedule. Yes, he would take in that look of happiness, remember it forever, knowing that after everything was over he would never see you look that way at him again. It was worth it though, you deserved happiness, and he knew that you wouldn’t obtain full happiness there, not with him, not in Hell. 

“Hey! Did you need something?” There is was, that beautiful smile that he had come to adore. A smile that would soon drop, and he would be the cause of it. He nodded to the chair that sat across from his desk, motioning for you to sit down. He didn’t need to speak yet, you knew what he meant and you quickly obliged, taking your seat, your eyes sparkling as you looked up at him. He hated it. How could you look at him like that? Like you loved him, knowing what he was, who he was. You should be scared of him, you should be running from him, yet you run straight to him at his beck and call. 

If he hadn’t cared, he would allow you to continue down the path of corruption, let you destroy yourself and become more and more impure, ensuring that you stay there with him. But he did care, and that was the strangest part to him. He cared enough to want you to leave, even if it hurt him. Letting go of you would be the hardest thing for him to do, you had become such an important part of his life, and he knew it would be hard on you too, which is why it pained him so much to do what he was about to do. 

“Y/N, I’m ending your stay here. It’s time for you to return home.” The words felt like acid in his mouth, burning his tongue before they escaped his lips. He didn’t want to go any further in depth, he didn’t want to hurt you more than was necessary. He hoped that you would just take what he said and leave with that, but you wouldn’t give up that easily. He knew you too well. 

“What? No it’s not. I just got back, why would you send me back up?” Of course you would ask questions. You wouldn’t make this easy on either of you. He watched your lips struggle to stay up turned, as if looking like you were happy would guarantee the feeling as well. That wasn’t how it worked, you both knew that. That’s why he didn’t pretend, there was no joy, no pleasure in what he was doing right now. 

“This isn’t your home, Y/N. You need to understand that. You’re becoming too complacent, it’s not good for you. It’s time for you to go back.” He tried to sound stern, but it was so hard for him. Watching your smile falter until it broke, watching your face as you replayed his words, trying to make sense of them as your eyes glossed over. It took every ounce of control to stay in his seat, to keep from walking over to you and pulling you up into his arms to tell you it would all be okay. It wouldn’t be okay, of course it wouldn’t. Not for a long time at least. 

“No. I don’t want to go back. This… this may not be my home… but you are. I feel at home when I’m with you. You can’t…” He could, he could place his hand on your shoulder and zap you back onto earth where you belonged. It would be easy for him honestly. He couldn’t though, he couldn’t do that to you. That wouldn’t be fair to you, he knew that you weren’t done, that you hadn’t gotten the explanation that you wanted, and he at least owed you that. “Please, Lucifer… I thought… we had something. I thought you loved me.” 

The ice cold heart that you had dethawed was now breaking, hearing your words, it pained him, knowing he could do nothing about it. This was for your own good though, this was the right thing to do. “We did, but it has to end. It can’t go on any longer. It’s not good for you. Try to understand that I’m not doing this to hurt you, I’m doing this because I love you.” He didn’t just want you to understand, he needed you to understand. The light that had been burning so brightly inside of you when you first came was slowly dimming, you had been there for too long already. He didn’t want you to lose that brightness, the beam of light that had drawn him to you in the first place. He was selfish, he was a demon, but he was also a man. A man that loved you so much that he allowed you to break down his walls, to see a side of him that no one else had ever seen before, to open himself up to you. He loved you enough to protect you from the darkness that was slowly but surely devouring you. 

“You’re good for me! I don’t want to go back, Lucifer. I want to stay here with you. Please. I won’t bother you anymore while you’re working. I’ll do whatever you say. Just don’t send me back…” Your pleading, begging, the tears that were now streaming down your cheeks as it finally hit you that he wouldn’t take no as an answer. It was all too much for him. He had promised that he would never hurt you, yet here he was, hurting you in the worst way possible. He couldn’t take it anymore, pushing himself out of his chair to pull you up and into his arms, rubbing over your back soothingly as he kissed the top of your head. 

“It’s not that, it’s nothing like that, Y/N. You’ve done nothing wrong.” He pulled back, just enough to look at you, kissing away the tears that had streaked your cheeks, leaving them glistening in the low lighting of his office. This was his fault, no matter which way he looked at it. If you had stayed and lost that beautiful light, it would have been his fault for making you want to stay. The tears that were now falling endlessly, those were his fault as well. It was better than the first option though, you would inevitably stop crying at some point, you would find someone else to call home, someone else that made you want to stay. 

You nodded slowly, taking a shaky breath before pulling away from him. His arms had never felt so empty before now, but he couldn’t do anything, he couldn’t pull you back to him, give you a false sense of hope that he was going back on his decision. “If that’s what you truly want…” It wasn’t what he wanted, you had to have known that. It wasn’t what he wanted at all, but it was what you needed, as much as you denied that. Your needs were far more important than his wants, that’s why he was willing to break his own heart. He had already been cast into eternal damnation, he didn’t want the same fate for you. 

He watched as you walked out the door to his office, sure that it would be the last time he’d watch you come and go. He bit his cheek, trying to feel pain anywhere but in his chest as he sat back down at his desk. Everything he did was for your own sake. He took one last glance up at the door, half hoping that you’d walk back through, knowing in his heart though that you never would, not anymore. “Goodbye, Darling…”

#obey me #obey me! #obey me shall we date #obey me! shall we date? #om! shall we date #om! shall we date? #obey me x reader #obey me x mc #om! x reader #om! x mc #obey me headcanons #obey me scenarios #obey me imagines #obey me requests #obey me Lucifer #obey me Lucifer x reader #obey me Lucifer x mc #om! Lucifer #om! Lucifer x reader #om! Lucifer x mc #Lucifer x reader #Lucifer x mc

[goldstarsappho]

I want the Deep Space Nine abridged introductory episode list

Okay amazing. So, first I want to say that this isn't intended as a best of list. The goal of this list is to find episodes that tell a very solid story and give you a good introduction to the characters, even if you don't know anything about Star Trek. Personally, I don't think the pilot of DS9 sells the show all that well to newcomers.

One of the good parts of DS9 having aired in the nineties is that every episode is intended to be basically watchable even without any background on the series. I think starting with a few actual episodes gives you a much better impression of the show. That said, especially as things become increasingly serialized as the series goes on, a lot of episodes need background knowledge, and a lot of episodes contain revelations that don't hit the same without a decent background on the character. An episode like In the Pale Moonlight, while incredibly good, is essentially meaningless without the seasons of character work Sisko had had up to that point. So this is meant to be a list of good starter episodes that balance out being interesting with being approachable to newcomers.

Cardassians (S02E06) - One of the best starter episodes, imo. Bajor was recently liberated from decades of genocidal rule by the Cardassians. When the Cardassians withdrew from Bajor, they left behind many orphaned Cardassian children, who in Cardassian society had no status. One of these children has been adopted by a Bajoran family, and a legal struggle ensues when both the Cardassian government claims he is their citizen and requests his return. The station head, Commander Sisko, litigates, while Starfleet officer Julian Bashir and his Cardassian exile friend Garak investigate some mysterious things in this Cardassian-or-Bajoran child's background.

Necessary Evil (S02E08) - A flashback-heavy film noire story exploring Constable Odo, the station's Chief of Security, how he became an investigator during the Cardassian occupation of Bajor, and how he developed his close friendship with Bajoran Kira Nerys. Explores collaboration and what justice actually means in the context of a genocide the characters are helpless to stop.

...Nor the Battle to the Strong (S05E04) - Jake Sisko accompanies the station's doctor on a conference while working on a profile of him, but things go off track when Bashir receives a distress call from a besieged Federation world under attack. Jake learns about himself and about the reality of war.

And a few episodes that are good, perhaps not as a very first episode, but if you've seen even a couple other episodes:

Bar Association (S04E16) - The downtrodden employees of a Ferengi company, a culture that values ruthless capitalism and views amassing profit as a sacred duty, violate Ferengi law and social norms to form a union. Best if you've seen Rom getting pushed around by Quark before, but really good.

The Wire (S02E22) - You really need to have seen at least one episode with Garak to appreciate this episode, but this was only his third appearance. When Garak, an extremely secretive Cardassian exile on the station, takes suddenly ill, his close friend Dr. Julian Bashir begins to unravel a few hints of his past while treating him.

Crossover (S02E23) - You need to have seen at least a bit of Kira and of Dukat to appreciate this, but basically in this episode Kira and Bashir are accidentally transported to a universe where the power dynamics have been shifted. Bajorans, rather than extremely oppressed, are the extremely privileged rulers of their part of space. Interesting character work for Kira, born a slave in a society of slaves, as she meets Mirror Universe Kira, born a king in a society of kings.

Explorers (S3E22) - Commander Sisko and his son take a meandering trip through space in a reproduction of ancient Bajoran spaceships. Really lovely messages about postcolonial reconciliation.

Inquisition (S06E18) - Based, in part, on anti-Augment prejudice (Bashir spent several years hiding his status as an Augment, a despised minority within the Federation), Bashir is accused of having been turned by the Dominion, enemies of the Federation, during the weeks he was imprisoned by them, and of having become a double agent and spy. Best if you've seen at least one Bashir episode before.

I think these episodes give a really good taste of some of Deep Space 9's most important ideas and themes, whetting one's appetite for more of its fascinating universe.

#star trek #ds9 #star trek meta #deep space 9 #deep space nine #asked and answered

[popculturebuffet]

Ducktales Comics: Spies Like Us and Dime after Dime or Weblena: The Preschool Days (Lena Retrospective) (Comissioned by WeirdKev27)

Hello all you happy people and welcome back to Shadow Into Light, My Lena Retrospective, which fittingly has now come to Women’s History Month! I sadly do not have anything besides this arc prepared for the month. This month is pretty packed for me with two shows a week to cover, as while there’s only two weeks of Ducktales left final space starts up right after to take it’s spot, two arcs to cover, and two time specific movie reviews: animal crossing the movie and the 1990 TMNT film. I will try to get more than the currently planned top 12 superheroines list out there... but this month is very tight as is, so if I do not I deeply apologize.

Now that’s out of the way, it’s appropriate we start Women’s history month on some likely lesser known parts of Lena’s history, with some comics stories focusing on our faviorite emo lesbian duck and her 87 counterpart. Before I get started on that though Kev my patreon pointed out something intresting a few weeks back i’ve been forgetting to get to and since we’re looking into Minima, I felt this was the perfect time to do so: Lena’s Concept art. 

There’s quite a few things to gleam from this. For starters as pointed out in the reddit thread I got the image as a whole from this was made in 2015, meaning Lena was one of the first new characters designed for the series and was part of it from the VERY early stages, as evidenced by the fact that despite clearly having their new personalities established, Beakly and Webby still had the old designs. 

The other notable change is that her first design was way more like both Magica nad Minima, a bit more modern, but clearly far more obvious who she was related to. She also had all black feathers making the shadow twist a bit more obvious and was likely done away with both to avoid giving that twist away, the same reason for the fake lestrange name, and to avoid accidently black coding her, as while Lena being black would’ve been intersting, it also would’ve invited a firestorm of controversy given that their one black character in season 1.. woul’dve started off as a homeless, manipulative antagonist, and none of that would play well nor was it something the progressive crew of this show couldn’t spot from a mile away.  And even this early on they have an almost final design ready, simply changing the shirt to fit her personality more, and her hair to be pink because it honestly looked better She also had green eyes throughout, but for whatever reason they phased them out. That part I don’t quite get as they look nice but probably they were hard to translate to the reboot style once they settled on their own. Her purple eyeshadow and haircut though have stuck since and were good calls. 

One last VERY obvious note.. Webby was gay for Lena from minute one. While Dana helped it is now VERY obvious they gay coded this relationship from the design phase, and the crew was entirely aware the whole time and I gave them less credit than I should have. They clearly had this in mind, and it’s very likely ONLY subtext because Disney, while making more and more progress, is very reluctant to have queer characters as Owl House was a struggle and since they have a tighter leash on properites based on the sensational 6, that means Frank knew they had the same odds of making Webby or Della queer in anything but subtext that a pig has of suviving in a slaughterhouse. I bring this up because I fear the series getting accused of queerbaiting somewhere down the road instead of doing what they could with a bad hand and hoping they could make the show as gay as they could. Penny is as out as they posisbly could get her, and Violet and Lena’s dad’s got a full apperance, if no speaking role that made it obvious beyond a shadow of a doubt their gay and did it in a plot important episode. So they did their best and I want them to get credit for that. 

But while this is all intresting stuff, join me under the cut for the meat of today’s review as I dig into Lena’s only apperance in the tie-in comic that was never punished here, and the only apperance of her protoype Minima.

Spies Like Us:  As I mentioned this comic was never published here which is doubly weird to me because of how I knew this story existed. Since I follow comics weekly and buy trades reguarly, I read the solicits companies put out eveyr month to see what new series are coming, what the ones i’m currently reading are doing, and what trades are coming out. That sort of thing, and it’s something I love. I know their basically adds.. but their well put together adds that really pull you into the books you like. The big two and the indies are all very good at it and sometimes i’ts the only way to know a comic is coming if the company dosen’t make a press release for it ahead of time. 

So naturally given there are several comics I follow at idw, paticuarlly the TMNT comics, I read those solicits and found they were going to do an issue with Webby and Lena becoming spies, and was excited about it. I ended up forgetting about it and never really followed the Ducktales comic as it came out, and upon reading an issue or two recently, one for another comission by kev as one story, happy happy valley, was particularly terrible. For those who haven’t read the story or my review, it involved the family getting stranded on an island where their forced to partake in activites and smile..that somehow turned into an aseop about Louie wanting to be rich. It ended with this

Yes.. really. That actually happened. But even with this, I fully planned to cover the issue when I covered Lena, and brought it up to Kev when he commissioned the retrospective. He gave me the discord equilvent of a blank stare and had never heard of it. I soon found out why: the story was replaced as, and fair play to disney, it spoiled Beakly’s past from the agent 23 episode which wasn’t going to air in time.  What dosen’t work is they never reprinted the story in The US.. didn’t put it in a future issue and just swap it’s place didn’t put it in the nothing. And the story was fully complete as we’ll see, with a cover and everything so they had no excuse whatsoever to NEVER use it, even with what happened to Lena in the season finale, this clearly took place before that and it was weird to just shelve it because of that. But thankfully when a bunch of the stories were reprinted overseas, this and another one, also webby centric got published overseas. But not in english.

Lucky for me, I was able to find an english translation of an english story which you can read RIGHT HERE. It was translated by @neopuff and I thank them for it as without them this review would not be possible and want to give them all the credit. So was it worth all their hard work translating it? Well let’s take a look. 

We begin at the Manor where Lena is skulking around suspiciously.. though it turns out she and Webby are just playing hide and seek. Though Lena accuses cheating. The dialouge here is pretty flat though that’s not Neopuff’s fault at all. As I can attest from reading other stories a lot of the early IDW comics are just this flat in dialoguge no matter the writer as they were likely given character descriptions and basic info about the show they likely had written up for merchandising and Frank and Co were given no involvement and likely weren’t made avaliable to consult on the comics to help them be a bit more fleshed out. It’s very obvious to me Disney just tried to get these pumped out so they’d have a series in stores to tie in without carring about qualities and given Scrooge debuted in comics, their lack of care toward that side of things in general, but especially in the first american published original duck comics in a while, bothers me a lot. It’s inexcusable. 

That being said the story isn’t half bad nor is the setup as the two hear a beeping and find it’s Beakly’s phone going off with a mysterious message from Q, Webby thinks she’s been reactivated, and is encouraged by Lena to go look after her while she stays along. While Webby says in response

It just feels grossly out of character for both. Lena is far more subtle about manipulation as shown five minutes ago and Webby blindly trusts her. Because she has a massive crush on her and is naïve about how the world works. It just seems very odd of her to get suspicious as she never does on screen, and again it comes off as Disney having barely given the writers any materials on them when i’m sure Frank or Matt would’ve been happy to write up a thing for them to help outside of the usual press materials they were given. 

Though hte last line isn’t all that out of character and has an obvious answer as within a jumpcut Launchpad’s taking them to London and is told to blend in.. which he does with an australian flag and accent.. good gag. 

So our heroines do some heroic breaking and entering and look for the package, but soon find while hiding it’s already in transit.. and had obvious bows on int. Whoops. Our heroes trie the old follow tha tcar bit and refreshingly, it dosen’t pan out as the guy stops and tells them to get out. A nice twist. Unable to follow, our heroes instead find launchpad lost, as his map is upside down

So Lena dares him if he can follow that plane, a nice bit of character for both. I will give Joe credit. While the dialouge’s a bit flat and there was that out of character moment.. for the most part he does nail the actual character down and does use it decently enough. He’s just not given enough page room or actual details to work  with is all. 

So while our heroes follow they end up having to crash as they run out of fuel.. lucky their with the expert but end up near home where the package is delivered to. Turns out this wasn’t a spy thing, this was just a thing with her aunt. That’s fine and a nice gag.. it’s just ruined by just sorta.. ending. Lena leaves disapointed and Beakly scolds webby for “playing spy” and she’s sad. That’s it that’s how it ends. Which dosen’t fit the characters, as while Beakly would defintely scold her, it just dosen’t FIT that she’d be that tearse or not appricate the effort or give her an actual lecture and it feels like Joe had no idea how to end this after the gag and just.. ended it. 

Final Thoughts for Spies Likes Us: This was okay.  It is a bit of a disappointment as for the only story not available.. i’ts just okay and not really above an average Ducktales comics story, with some nice character bits but feeling a bit weak overall, as do at least the first half of the idw comics. I haven’t read the later stuff to see if it got better. It’s worth a read if you like Webby and Lena as characters and it’s not BAD, it’s just not anything impressive and is a simple hyjinks filled misunderstanding story. 

Dime After Dime:

So now  we go back a bit to the original. I didn’t do these in chronological order because frankly, Dime after Dime is the better story of the two and the bigger one at that, so I have more to work with here. But the original also had comics and honestly from the few i’ve read much BETTER comics. I chalk this up to two things: The Ducktales 87 comics seem to have come out AFTER the series was already a hit, and since Ducktales is pretty close to the original uncle scrooge comics minus it’s own tweaks here and there, it’s easy enough to just write the stories like you would a regular uncle scrooge story, just with Webby and Launchpad added, whereas the idw writers were staffed with writing for all new versions of the characters with noticable differences without much to go on.  It’s why to me with tie in comics you have two options: Wait long enough so you can put your story inbtween the episodes like the Steven Universe and Regular Show comics did or just make your own continuity entirely like the Adventure Time Comics and the Archie TMNT Adventures series did. The ONLY time i’ve seen a comic work like this is the Bravest Warriors comic, which had a talented writer and fit well enough in the margins until it sadly ended.. and honestly is BETTER in some cases than the series. I might get to it someday. The point is this comic shows why you need to have a deft hand adapting something instead of just falling your arms about and hoping it’ll work. 

So today’s comic was part of some Disney Series called cartoon tales, which clearly repackaged comic stories from wherever, and put them together. I don’t know much about it and the only other issue avaliable collects the disney adventures adaptation of “Just Us Justice Ducks”, which I might cover at some point. This book does have two other stories which i’d be happy to do on comission or on my own at some point, one involving gladstone the other gizmoduck, but for now, i’m just sticking to the title story and the reason you all came here. 

So we open with Magica gazing into her crystal ball from her Mt. Vesuvies base saying that Scrooge will never know what hit him I know exactly what and who wiil hit him thank you very much. 

Scrooge is seeing Webby off to her first day of day camp, getting all teary eyed which is touching. Beakly apparently goes with her as the story never SAYS Sshe does but she’s not also not around when the story moves on, as Launchpad says it looks like rain. Scrooge dismisses him, though Launchpad turns out to be right. Scrooge had good reason for once though, instead of just being a dick good on you comic for making me not want to punch him in the face, trust me that is a high bar to clear with the scrooge comics, as the weather was fine just a minute ago. Naturally it was Magica All Along! Nothing scrooge can do now that eveyrthing has gone wrong! Her entrance though is sadly not a catchy earwormy tune, but .. this confusing line

I think your thinking of Gladstone. And he’s still single so.. have at that but no Scrooge is the one who values hard work over anything else and brags about THAT or being rich. I .. I don’t get this line and frankly I don’t want to. Even in stories where the dime is supernaturally lucky and the source of his wealth he dosen’t boast about it because he’s not stupid and dosen’t want everyone knowing how to bankrupt him instantly. This line will baffle me until I die, presumably, given my life’s tragetctory, after reviewing an episode of mighty ducks and slipping on some a jerky wrapper. 

Scrooge asks what she wants... 

No this isn’t that kind of story sadly. Her plan is to.. zap the bin with lightning and take the dime. Really just went with your first draft didn’t you magica? But as stupid as this plan is Scrooge has prepared for it. He installed a lightning rod on the bin to save on power, and to power his new super soaker traps. So all Magica did was save him money. She flies off and nothing is acomplished. 

So we get back to Webby at the Teenie Weenie Day Camp.. and just so you don’t think that was a terrible joke on my part...

My theory for how this name got approved at all is the editor KNEW how that sounded and just wanted to see if Disney would actually print a comic with the phrase Teenie Weenie without getting what it means in slang or how hilariously inapproriate it is to namme a children’s camp after it. 

Your probably wondering who that grown woman calling Webby a dweeb is. Well story wise, she’s SUPPOSED to be another kid at the camp around Webby’s age. In practice, she looks like THIS in closeup

So it looks and plays like a 30 year old woman snuck into the day camp and no one’s noticed she’s not actually a children. Or their just humoring her because she had a week to live. I don’t know. I do know she doesn’t get to judge on names. 

Snippy Von Glitz, proof rich people really do hate their kids and this this comic is trying personally to give me material. Snippy is your average alpha bitch, taking a chair from Minma and being obnoxious and classist and all that jazz. Minima gets hers back by making the chair bouncy then returning it to normal so Snippy gets in trouble when she makes up things about the chair, with the lady in charge getting ready to call her Dad. You cannot convince me that her “Dad” is just what she calls her husband, this is how they both get off, and that the lady at the preschool only tolerates it because they pay her a lot and so far the kids haven’t noticed Snippy is 30. Webby likes minima finding her name pretty, proving that the ho yay is alive no matter the webby and magica relative, and Minma returns the favor by saving her from a block. 

Minma is reluctant to make an actual friend, finding they aren’t worth anything and given most of the kids here apparently pick on her and her aunt is well.. Magica, it’s understandable why she’d be so cold. But Webby presses on and says something from Scrooge about friends. Which given Ducktales scrooge has none goes weird but it gets Minma to find out she knows and lives with Scrooge, so she cons webby into taking the dime for show and tell, showing that she can manipulate them with her powers, and that he won’t notice it’s missing, getting her with “I thought you wanted to be friends” 

So let’s pause for a second and compare and contrast the two: Both are the niece, or at least sorta in Lena’s case, of Magica, both manipulate webby, and both are her first real friend: The 87 boys are little monsters and I don’t consider them friends or even brothers, while the 2017 ones are just that: brothers. Their her siblings in all but blood, not friends and have hteir own long complicated history. 

But otherwise the two are vastly different. Lena is a far more complex character as she’s been abused her whole life, is a rebel because Magica hardly gave her agency, and while she starts wooing webby out of self interest it’s clear even as far as the first episode she cares. Lena would gladly be part of the world if she could and this whole scheme is to gain that choice. 

Minma is still sympathetic but very different: She walls herself off because the other kids laugh and mock her for being herself and lashes out at them.. not unreasonably mind , but still feeling she needs no one else.. but as we’ll learn later she’s only helping Magica to finally feel accepted, to get all the fancy clothes and stuff that will make her popular instead of that grown woman masquerading as a kid for disturbing reasons. Minma is at her heart just a hurt kid desperate to fit in. And while Lena shares the desire for a place to belong.. it’s at it’s core much sadder. Lena.. wants a family. Someone to love her and to care about her and actually look after her. Minma has that she just wants to be loved. it’s similar but very diffrent and I can see why Lena evolved into what she did, as Frank and Matt ended up going in a far darker but ultimately more interesting direction. Minima is not a bad character at all though and without her I don’t think we would’ve had Lena, but at the end of the day the 87verse is just not that complicated, so the reboot needed something more and that more evolved into who we have now. 

Both kids excitedly talk about their new friends, with their respective guardians being distracted. Scrooge is distracted by the fact his car is a bit bumpy and Launchpad offers to fix it up for free with some parts from a buddy, which given the sentence “This won’t cost you anything” makes him erect, Scrooge agrees. Magica meanwhile, whose watching Minima while her mom is away which raises a LOT of questions we don’t have time for like who she is, is she’s poes wife or does Magica have other siblings... it’s a lot of questions we’re never going to get answers to. 

The next day Webby got the dime easy as Scrooge was distracted. so Minima swaps them while she’s distracted. But while swiping it was easy, which to be fair Webby is likely approved in his security so it woudln’t match her.. or the story just needed to progress. You make the call. 

Magica does the logical thing and goes and get sthe dime and the story ends there.. and i’m shitting you, she of course brags to scrooge, reveals minima as her spy, and offers to RACE him for it shortly after he realizes he has a fake.

The only major flaw in this story is Magica’s overconfdience, which isn’t BAD persay, but here has gotten to dumbass proportions. She just can’t plan for anything and a CHILD has a better plan than her that only dosen’t work for reasons we’ll get to. And that plan is almost ruined by Magica taunting scrooge!

So a race is on but Launchpad has transformed Scrooge’s old Model T into this

Damn that’s cool. Scrooge of course dosen’t like it, but honestly you get what you paid for. Oh that’s right you paid nothing for something you NEED to use every day for transportation. 

At  the rickity thickity bridge, Steve Buschemi’s worst roll and her minion ask Webby to roll with them and Minima mistakes this for betrayal planning to soak them all.. only for Webby to DEFEND HER, pointing out minma’s her friend, how she dresses is fine and she loves her no matter what.. the last part’s implied. The 30-year old asshole and her minon leave Webby and Minma is genuinely touched, as no one’s done that for her before. She put up so many walls... she didn’t realize someone could ACTUALLY care about her, so obessed with thinking she had to be like that soccer mom in preschoolers clothing, she just had to be herself: kinda werid but in that fun adams family way. Webby says she knows Minma would do the same.. so while she prepares to let’s get back to the race. Magica realizes Launchpad’s roadster is actually gaining and spreads some tacks, but Scrooge counters with some money.. because of course he has a lot of money in the trunk. But Magica takes out the bridge and while scrooge awesomely JUMPS IT... he’s still too late. 

As you probably guess though, Minima had a change of heart, and gave Webby the real dime back, and Scrooge confirms it. Minima TRIES to tell Magica, and Magica is horrified her niece is a goody goody “I”ll never hear the end of it at my astral aerobics class”.. I.. I want to see that. Let’s raise those spirit ladies and kick kick that soul, doge that shadow king punch them in the soul. Yes! Now eat it eat it and absorb it’s power!

We end on a button joke as Webby apologizes for taking the dime., Scrooge accepts it and Webby tells them magica learned to carpet and they gulp for some reason. 

Final Thoughts on Dime after Dime: This story was decent. It has problems, some jokes don’t land and Magica is made horribly incompetent, but minima’s character arc is endearing, and Webby herself is precious as always and her winning Minima over feels genuine. And Scrooge is in prime adoring uncle mode with her and i’ts just so cute. And the roadster race is pretty awesome to watch honestly. It’s an exceptional and enjoyable tie in story.. and not the last ducktales 87 story we’ll be covering here. Wink wonk. 

Next Time: Things get DARK as Lena and Webby head into the depths of Scrooge’s hidden bin and Lena heads into the depths of her own soul. 

Tommorow: Woo-Ooo mofos as we go back to the very beginning of the reboot! A family restored, a lost city to explore, and a glomgold rises! Be here or be square. 

#ducktales #ducktales 1987 #webbigail vanderquack #lena saberwing #weblena #minima de spell #magica de spell #bentina beakly #launchpad mcquack #scrooge mcduck #dime after dime #spies like us #idw #comics #animation #shadow into light

[smilingperformer]

Discussing the good and bad of Pokémon Journeys: Part “Goh”

Oh boi... this part is gonna be a doozy. Because I have a lot to talk about Goh, or as I tend to call him, Gou.

TLDR; I like Gou as a character but I very, very much have issues with the way he's currently written in the show. And that frustrates me deeply as I'd love to feel more positively about him. More under the cut, with Journeys abverted as JN.

Where do I even begin... Maybe by how I first became a fan of Gou's character, by after some time started to go back to neutral ground.

Like, ever since the very first episode, we've got a very clear picture of what kind of character Gou is: a bookworm, loves Pokémon, loves to show his knowledge and isn't exactly good at making friends. His only friend before Satoshi (and before learning about Tokio/Horace's reasonings for not showing up to their meeting place) was Chloe/Koharu, and we still don't know how the two met. Thou my guess is that their childhood friendship bonded over their parents meeting during some job or by Koharu feeling the need to be Gou's friend. Who knows, it's something I want to learn about. But that's besides the point, cough.

But like, from the very first episode on, it became clear that this show wants to focus on Gou, and telling his journey on becoming a Pokémon Trainer who wants to catch all of the Pokémon in the World, in order to get closer to catching Mew, the mythical Pokémon who's said to contain DNA of all existing Pokémon. He had a very strong introduction arc, with showing his dynamic with Koharu, having him meet Satoshi on top of Lugia, first getting to know Satoshi (and Rockets) and then catching his first partner Pokémon in Hibunny. However, as time went on and episodes started piling up, I started feeling like something about him was... off.

I feel like the first time I had an issue with the writing involving him was in JN006, where he went on his first catching spree. Where he kept catching Pokémon with ease. Small struggle at the start when trying to work together his dynamic with Hibunny, but the rest of the ep felt way too easy. Then again, Gou IS flat out Pokémon GO promotion. No one can deny that. His purpose is to promote GO's capture mechanic. It is the most successful Pokémon Mobile game of all time.

Anyway, the easy captures piled up on and on til JN010 when he finally had to use dozens of pokeballs to catch one. single. Dewgong. I loved this so much. It made me feel more at ease with his goal mechanic and I felt like I'd be fine with him from there on out. And I was. Til I started having new issues with him. All thanks to Satoshi's new goal in PWC finally having been established.

As time went on, it became clearer and clearer, that Gou was more focused on when it came to his goal progression, development in character level, and in what kind of quality his episodes would be.

Everyone knows how much I love JN032. Everyone does. It's one of my absolute fav episodes in the series. However, it also kinda is what first prompted me starting my worry that hasn't gone away since then: That Gou feels more like the protagonist than Satoshi does in this series, and not really an equal dual protag he was advertised to be.

Before the pitchforks are getting aimed at me, hear me out. I know, that based on some statistics, the focus is equal, with sliiiightly more inclinded towards Gou. However, that's where the issue is: Gou has, so far for me, had way better focus and way better episodes in this series, than Satoshi has, while also getting progress on his goal on other character's focus episodes. When Satoshi's episodes have been about PWC and training his Pokémon, Gou's had the kind of episodes that are more character exploring, developing him, evolving him in some way. And it, frustrates me. Because despite my better judgement, it gives me this feeling that Gou is stealing Satoshi's thunder, even when some type of statistics would suggest otherwise. It gives me this feeling that Gou is here to write Satoshi out. I do not like that I feel this way, I don't know how to get rid of this feeling and I hate it here.

Again, I like Gou's character, he's sweet, well developed, and I do enjoy seeing him in his own episodes. But I have come to noticed, than whenever he gets goal progression in an episode that's supposed to focus on Koharu or Satoshi, I feel so.... angry? And I've never, ever felt like this while watching other characters progress. And I know it's irrational.

Like, his main partner's already fully evolved, his secondary partner Sobble is already evolving soon despite only having one focus episode for itself before it, and he's caught all three of the Galar starters now, with some of his other not-that-important Pokémon making appearances every now and then with possible evolution showcases. And it's all done so fast. Same issue was with Satoshi's poketeam evolving in fast arcs, but I forgot to mention about it? But then again, I am somewhat fine with it as I get the writing style is to focus on one 'mon and then move on to another. Which is not to my taste completely but I digress. ANYWAY, back to Gou.

After seeing discussions and joining in on some on tumblr and twitter and elsewhere, it does appear that Gou's development speed and progression speed is incredibly fast. Like, seriously fast. He's caught a lot of Pokémon by now, and the show's already shown about 50% percent of all existing Pokémon in a bit over a year. About 30% being caught by Gou. (Statistics borrowed from EntityMays' Living Dex trackers, links in posts will disrupt showing in tag search so, google EntityMays's Living Dex, and you'll find the statistics there).

This is also very apparent when you think about how fast Gou suddenly became a good battler, when at the beginning he sucked. A lot. I get Satoshi could be a great example on learning how to battle with good strategy in mind, but we barely saw Gou struggle. We Satoshi struggle in OS, so I would have prefered more struggling by Gou. His first battle against a legendary ended up in Zapdos almost getting caught and uuuuuggh, while it's a pretty good episode it really should have been at later point, same with Suicune episode. Thou with the latter I have WAY more issues than just the placement but, I'm not gonna rant about that today.

And what should I say about his dynamics with other characters... They're good, I am a huge fan of how the dynamic between Koharu and Gou works, as their childhood friend dynamic is shown so, so well, and you can just tell the two have mutual respect as Gou gives Koharu the space she needed when she wasn't into Pokémon for a while, and when she then became partners with Eevee, Gou was so so SO darn supportive just, AGH. Love how these two work.

And everyone knows I fell for Gou x Tokio dynamic straight away. Like they had a friendship built up right away when they first met as little kids and Tokio missing out on their promised meeting due to being sick and not having any means of contacting him yes still considered Gou his friend after these years when Gou considered him a traitor of trust and Gou then forgives him for it and just aaaaaahhh-. KRHM. Excuse me.

Then there's Gou and Satoshi's dynamic and I already said in my post about Satoshi how I feel intimidated by the fans of their shipping and how it makes me feel.... kinda sad about not being able to like their dynamic for what it is. I LOVE it a ton. I have said it a countless times, they're a broTP to me. They're dynamic was very enjoyable for me to watch, and even Gou was. But like, on TOP of these issues I mentioned before this part, I also have another issue with Gou: his fanbase, or the crazier part of it.

Often times I feel like I'm unable to enjoy Gou's character without being reminded of the fans who constantly think of him as shipping fuel, or think he's flawless and anyone disagreering is in some form a negative trait filled human being, etc etc etc. In a way, I feel like I'd enjoy Gou and his dynamic with Satoshi way, way more, if I had never learned about this side of the fandom. Let people like their dynamic the way they want. Be it romantic or platonic. Neither is wrong, but pushing one side to push their own headcanon to other people's head is just, bad act. Having this feeling in me has actually made me wonder, whether I would have liked other characters I am such a huge fan of, if I had been watching their shows during their airing times (for example Serena).

Now what would I have done differently with Gou? Firstly, slow the fuck down. I would have prefered to see Hibunny way more. I would have prefered to have one Galar Starter, namely Grookey, go to Satoshi, as it would help me feel less like Gou's stealing his thunder. I would have prefered if Gou and Satoshi's goals were established around same time. I would have very much liked it, if Gou wouldn't be catching Pokémon each episode.

Now what COULD help me like him better from what we have by now? Well. Slow it down. Have him interact with Koharu more. Give him a rival to further make him shine on his own instead of seemingly relying on Satoshi to shine through. Hell, maybe make Tokio his friendly rival. And on top of that, please let him not catch Pokémon almost every single episode. I'd love an episode where he captures some Pokémon that prefers to be free, and he then would let it go. I think that would make his character be good on his own, and make me feel better about him once again.

Cough. I think I've got my point clear. As said, I like Gou, but very much dislike the way he's written in such fast pacing and in a way that, despite statistics stating otherwise, making him feel like he's the sole protag and not sharing spotlight as dual protag. And I hope to god I can get rid of this feeling as the series goes on. Because right now, I don't have high hopes :(

If you've read this far, thank you for reading, and I am so, so sorry this became a long long rant about the issues I have with Gou, but I hope I managed to bring out what I like about him as well. Hopefully next time's gonna be a more positive post, as I'll try writing about my full on feelings about the handling of Koharu, or as dub audience knows her, Chloe.

Once again, thanks for reading, have a good evening or morning or whatever time it is by the time you've read this, and I hope you'll have a fantastic time ♥ And as a reminder, these are just my opinions, and if you disagree, you are totally valid.

Til next time! This was Smiling Performer aka Aleira, signing out!

#pokemon #pokeani #anipoke #pokemon jn #pokemon journeys #discussions #goh #gou #character discussions

[scuttling]

Bully

Fandom: Criminal Minds Pairing: Aaron Hotchner/Latina OFC Sophie Cortes Word Count: 2,249 Tags: SFW, Pre-relationship, Supportive Aaron Summary: A case in Chicago means the team is introduced to someone from Sophie's past. Collection: Sophie Cortes timeline, 0-6 Months at the BAU (See Masterlist for reading order) Link to AO3 or read below! “Alright, we’ve got a case in Chicago,” JJ says as they gather in the briefing room on a Wednesday morning. “The detective there is… how do I put this? He’s a real asshole, but they need our help, so just prepare yourselves for one of those.” She passes out the case file, and Cortes tenses beside Hotch, a shift in demeanor he can almost feel, though they are sitting a foot apart.

“Please tell me, just to ease my mind, JJ—it’s not the 54th precinct, right?” She looks up with a grimace, and JJ nods.

“Sounds like you know the guy. Detective Jeffrey?”

“Fuck. Yes, I know him.” She puts an elbow on the table, leans her forehead into her hand, sighs. “He’s like the anti-Hotch: cruel, impulsive, hotheaded, blames his failures on his coworkers. This guy is going to give us grief the whole way, especially if I’m there.”

“Is there a reason for him to be aggressive toward you? Did you pass him up for promotions, accolades?” he asks, and she looks up at him, frowns.

“He’s a misogynist, and a racist, for starters. Wanted a spot on the tactical response team and didn’t get it because he can’t take orders, which had nothing to do with me, but you know how narcissists project.”

“Nothing is actually ever their fault,” Reid says, filling in the blanks.

“Exactly. I was the most convenient target for his anger. So, of course I want to do my part, I’m just letting you know there’s a lot of hostility there so you aren’t blindsided.” The team seems collectively a little more tense—no one messes with one of their own—and Hotch nods thoughtfully.

“You’re with me while we’re there, then. If he wants to give you a hard time, we won’t make it easy.”

“Okay. Thanks.” She exhales, turns back to the case file, and JJ continues with the briefing.

He takes her aside once they’re on the jet.

“Can we talk for a moment?” he asks, standing by the open seat next to hers, and she gestures to it.

“Sure. Is it about what I said earlier, about Jeffrey?”

“Yes and no. I trust your judgement; if this guy is going to be a pain in our ass, I want to have a game plan going in so things move as smoothly as possible.” She closes the folder in her lap, nods, gives him her full attention. “First and foremost, you can not let him get to you.” She leans back against the window, sighs.

“I know. It’s just hard, like going back to high school and facing your old bully.”

“I get it. From what you’ve told me, this guy is going to have all of us on edge, but you know the precinct, the area, some of the officers; the team is going to look to you a lot while we’re here. You need to be firm, authoritative, but not antagonistic. Most importantly, you need to be confident. Don’t second guess yourself because of this jerk we’re dealing with.”

“I know that giving in and getting mad is what he wants, so I’m going to try my damndest not to give it to him.” She laughs a little, like it’s easier said than done, and he maintains eye contact, wills her to see how much he really does trust her with this. “I really appreciate this, Hotch.”

“It’s what I’m here for.”

“I know. But you show your faith when it really matters, and not everyone in your position does that. You should know how much it means to us.” Her words warm his heart, and not just because it’s her who’s saying them. He knows he comes off like a drill sergeant sometimes, but it’s all for good reason. He just wants to take care of his team, keep them safe.

“Thank you. The job is tough; I try to support you guys anyway I can.”

“It shows. Thanks for having my back,” she says softly, tilting her head, and then she sighs and smiles, sits up in her seat. He’s known her long enough to be able to tell when things are getting a little too heavy for her, knows she’s looking for lightness, now. “If we have time for drinks after this case, we have to go to Tito’s, just putting it out there.” Morgan hears her, leans over from his seat across the aisle.

“Tito’s! I haven’t been there in years.”

“Neither have I. They have the best portobello tacos in Chicago. Drowning in chimichurri,” she says to Hotch, and he smiles a little at her excitement. “Give me a Corona and lime and a plate of tacos and I’ll forget all about Douglas fucking Jeffrey.”

“We’ll see what we can do,” he says, and he spends the rest of the trip sitting between the two of them as they reminisce about their favorite things about Chicago.

He actually really enjoys it.

When they arrive at the precinct, she is decidedly less jovial, and Hotch immediately understands why, when he introduces himself to Detective Jeffrey.

“Cortes, good to see you again,” he greets, while his expression tells a different story entirely. “Are you his... assistant?” He pretends to be confused, and JJ bristles beside them at the implication, but Sophie remains impassive, doesn’t even look tense. It’s possible his pep talk had more impact than he thought.

“She is no one’s assistant, she’s a supervisory special agent with the FBI just like me, and she will be taking point on this case. I expect you to defer to her expertise,” Hotch informs him with no room for misunderstanding in his tone. Again, if she’s surprised, she doesn’t show it, just continues reading over the case file provided.

“No offense, but this is a serial killer we’re talking about. It’s worlds away from chatting up a meth addict CI in a McDonald's parking lot.” She does close the file at that, and it appears to him that she can handle personal insults just fine, but that jabs at her work are where she gets defensive.

“You wouldn’t have closed half of your cases if it weren’t for my CIs, and you know it. But I’m not in Intelligence anymore, I’m a profiler, and I’m good at what I do.” She crosses her arms, exhales, and turns away from him, a clear dismissal. “Hotch, Prentiss, and I will go to the crime scene. Reid and Gideon will meet with the second victim’s wife, Morgan and JJ will work victimology, and we’ll reconvene here.”

“You got it, boss,” Morgan says, taking a seat, and in times like these he is really proud of his team. He knows as well as Sophie what it means to show Jeffrey that an alpha male like Morgan will take her orders, and Morgan took them and ran. He hides a smile.

They are unfortunately stuck with the detective when they are rerouted to a new crime scene as another body is found, but Hotch isn't worried. It will be a great place for her to show him what she can do.

“What do we know about the victim so far?” Sophie asks Jeffrey, her posture open.

“Sheila Lapinski, 27, hooker.” Prentiss rolls her eyes behind his back. “No one has reported her missing, no next of kin anywhere we can find. Coroner puts her time of death between 3 and 5 AM.”

“Does she have a record?”

“Osele’s pulling it now,” he says with a sigh, and she stops scanning the scene, looks to him with a cocked brow.

“Then how do you know she’s a prostitute?” He chuckles, puts out his hands like the answer is obvious.

“You know where we are. They’re like fleas around here, infesting, multiplying.” Cortes crouches down and lifts the sheet covering the victim, who is wearing a cardigan, pencil skirt, and flat shoes.

“She dressed like a prostitute to either of you?” she asks, looking up at Hotch and Prentiss, and he shakes his head, though he’s not sure why he’s surprised; the detective may actually be worse than she described him. Prentiss bends down, looks like she’s trying not to smile.

“No. She looks more like a school teacher, actually.”

“I’m telling you, they call this—pardon my French—” Sophie stands, crossing her arms, and cuts Jeffrey off.

“Pussy Alley. I know what guys like you call it. But you have no evidence this woman is a sex worker, and if she’s not, it’s extremely important that we find out how and why she was dumped here.” An older, bearded detective walks up to them, notebook open, and he smiles at her.

“Hey, Cortes. Nice to see you again, though not under the circumstances.”

“You too, Osele; these are Agents Hotchner and Prentiss. I worked with Osele in Intelligence way back when.” They all shake hands, and she nods to his notebook. “You have her record?"

“Yep, she’s squeaky clean. Not so much as a parking ticket.” Sophie shares a look with the both of them, and Jeffrey splutters.

“That’s—that’s not possible.”

“I think you’ll find that plenty is possible when you open your eyes, Detective,” Hotch can’t resist replying. Cortes crouches down again.

“There are no signs of a struggle. The bottoms of her shoes aren’t worn. Her clothes are clean, not cheap; hair done recently, not cheap.” Jeffrey puts his hands on his hips, all but rolls his eyes.

“Ah, there’s some hard hitting detective work.”

“You’re not even attempting to prove your theory that she’s a prostitute, so we’re disproving it for you,” Prentiss explains, pulling out her phone. “Easily. Garcia,” she begins, and she steps away from them to talk to the tech.

“What else do you see?” Hotch asks softly, meeting her on her level. “Anything that indicates occupation?” Her eyes are focused as she scans the victim, lifts her hand to examine her nails, her lip to examine her teeth.

“She has ink smudges on her hands, so she could be a teacher, but she could also be a receptionist, writer, accountant, secretary, bank teller… any type of administrative professional. She’s got a fresh manicure, teeth are in good health, so I’d bet she’s got insurance or has had it recently. No wedding ring, she’s too old to be on her parents’, so all signs point to a steady job.”

“Okay, there is no god damn way you can tell if she’s got health insurance just by looking at her.” She stands, and Hotch follows, covering the body with the sheet.

“No, you’re right, I can’t. It’s an educated guess based on analysis and not snap judgement. Do you have any insight into this case, aside from the fact that you think she’s a sex worker because of where she was found?”

“There’s not much to go on. Sometimes these cases go unsolved.” It’s then that Prentiss returns to them, and this time she is smiling.

“I had Garcia run our victim’s info, and it doesn’t look like she’s currently employed—no recent bank deposits, appears to be living off of her savings.”

“So not a teacher after all,” Jeffrey states, looking smug, and Hotch waits patiently, because he knows there’s more.

“Not right now, but she just moved to the area from a suburb called Evanston, and she was a third grade teacher there for two years. Private school, really nice place. Great insurance.” Sophie looks at her like something she said clicked, and she pulls out her phone.

“The ink on the heel of her hand could be from a newspaper; maybe she’s job hunting.”

“Wasn’t our first guy unemployed?” Prentiss recalls. “We should have Gideon and Reid ask his wife if he’s been job hunting. Could be a connection.”

“I’ll call Reid.” The fact that the victims were job hunting is what breaks the case. They work late into the evening, but they’re actually able to find the unsub—a man posing as a prospective employer only to people who are new to the area—relatively quickly once they put it all together.

The officers who remember Sophie from her time in Chicago are all clearly impressed with her and the team, and it makes him very, very proud.

Jeffrey clearly hates how quickly they solved the case, and he enjoys that, too.

That night, they do make it to Tito’s for drinks and Mexican food, and the team goes around the table and talks about their ‘Jeffreys’ in honor of Sophie showing up hers.

Morgan buys them all a round of Coronas in her honor as well, and later, Sophie offers to buy another; Hotch heads up the bar to help her carry.

“Since we’re here another night, is there anyone you’re going to try to see? Catch up with?” he asks while they wait for a few of the drinks. She smiles softly, tucks a hand under her chin thoughtfully.

“No, there’s nothing for me here anymore. Coming back, facing Jeffrey, was my last battle to fight, and you made that possible, so thank you.”

“It was my pleasure to see him knocked down a peg… and to watch you shine.” She reaches out, covers his hand with her own, which he did not expect, and nods back to the table with the rest of their coworkers, their friends.

“Come on. We’re going to have to rein them in soon. I could use a little back up.”

“Any time."

#aaron hotchner/original female character #aaron hotchner fanfic #aaron hotchner #criminal minds fanfic #criminal minds #latina original female character

[baekhypnotized]

CH2 [M] | Nothing Without You

Baekhyun is a CEO and you are his secretary. But there’s a catch, because outside both of your office lives, you’re his full time prostitute. Your relationship is forbidden and it shouldn’t even exist in the first place because you are nothing alike. How far will your relationship go?

genre(s): angst, fluff, romance, smut

pairing(s): you/reader & baekhyun

warning(s): cursing, sex scenes, mention a little bit of alcohol

word count(s): 6255

author’s note: Sorry for the really late update since I was struggling in finishing my semester and I finally have my semester break now. This scene is a little bit steamy (or many) but I hope you guys enjoy reading it since it has been awhile since I last wrote stories. Enjoy and always stay safe!! 

tag list: @hyuniebaby @you-n-mee @lovetothefullestx3 @christiandosworld @bbh192 @totallynerdstuff @conversesarelife @lucidbaekhyun @sunbyun21 @dreamingofdreamydream @thegreatandi @milky-baek @bockhyun @xoxoerigom @mawmiaw @in3vitably3v3 @sebootyforlife @itsbaekhyunsbutt @kyoongielegend @baekklove @keenoperaherozine @gangsta-dragon @dong-hyuc @bbhmystar @byunsbobobu @baekmack @byunsugar @echodawn22626 @akasakura12 @buttercupbbh @you-n-me-e-e​ @endzii23​ @insta1010​ @strawbaeri-s​ @lucymheng​ @xlxbaekhyuneex​ @realllllrica​

Do tell me if you guys want me to tag for every update!! I can tag some of you guys and maybe some of you need to check the settings!! :( 

The future...

People would say living under the same roof with Baekhyun is a privilege as you can be called as the luckiest person in the person. A fancy and spacious penthouse with such a marvelous interior design and you would bet that he spent millions to build this house and you believe that the designers that accepted his offer must be rich right now. As his house is at the most top of the building, it makes sense that he owns this place because you heard from your colleagues that he practically owns the whole building. 

So, do consider yourself the lucky one to be living with him? You have no answer to the question. 

But, living with him obviously, there are rules that you need to obey. Apart from having sex with him by saying yes, you get to have a whole room just for your private space and you get to do anything in the house except entering his room. Baekhyun warns you the first day you moved in about the rules that he provided.

“You’re not allowed to enter my room. Do you understand, kitten?” Baekhyun warned you on the first day at his house. You have your head’s setting low, slowly nodding your head as a sign that you understand. Then, he harshly cupped your jaw, almost choking you as he made you look into his furious gaze. “I hate it when people don't reply to me. Use your words.” 

Every syllable that he spoke with his low tone made your stomach turn into a big coil inside.  “Y-yes, daddy,” You replied as you stuttered. Once Baekhyun is satisfied, he lets you go from his hold and you begin to breathe in a lot of air after having slight suffocation. You felt that your heart stopped the whole moment and you can’t imagine how’s your life with him.

And there’s you right now, still alive and also under his full care plus money. 

As you are preparing to go to work, you kinda speed up since you don’t want him waiting for you. A plain blue blouse with a pencil skirt, your hair tied into a ponytail and you add on a simple makeup to make you look fresh for today. Once you’re done, a few sprays of perfume are added as the finishing touch, the perfume that Baekhyun personally bought back from his business trip in New York. 

The moment you stride out from your room, the very exact moment he exits from his too. He manages to exude the hotness although he only wears such a simple outfit, a pair of blue-black suit with his hair parted in the middle. Baekhyun doesn’t realise your presence at first but once he’s walking down the hallway, his eyes meet yours. 

“Good morning, kitten,” He flashes a subtle smile, taking a step closer to you. His arm wraps around your small frame and when he leans for a peck on your cheek, you can feel your heart beating rapidly, hoping he wouldn’t hear it. Right after he lands a kiss, Baekhyun leaves you behind in a confused state, walking downstairs as he is ready to go to work. But when he just found out you didn’t follow him, he turns around to look at me who’s standing blankly on the upper level. 

“Kitten, what are you waiting for? We’re going to be late for my morning monthly meeting with the others. You don’t want to ruin it, right?” He speaks with his low tone, keeping his hands into the pocket of his pants. You rush downstairs like a gullible child to catch up on him but as Baekhyun leaves the house, the sight of him chuckling makes your heart skip a beat. 

Even though Baekhyun can hire people to be his driver, he prefers to drive his car, black Audi Rs7, everywhere that he wants. He dislikes people to invade his comfort zone and moment, that’s what makes you assume that he’s an interesting guy despite his dominance aura. The two of you go straight to his car after leaving the lift and without wasting any time, you get into the passenger seat after his warnings in the house linger in your head. You do know what will happen if you disobey him and you don’t have the guts to do so.

It has been a few years you’ve been having this confidential relationship with Baekhyun and despite that, he already acknowledges you as a friend, there are a few times (most of them) you still feel that you’re literally just a slut in his life. Nothing more than that. Right from the start, you were never a friend to him and catching feelings should not have existed too.

But who would stop you from having feelings with Baekhyun when nowadays, he has been treating you differently? Different means, treating you nicely, talking politely and he always smiles at you that somehow makes you feel things. It’s weird seeing him behaving this way but truthfully, you never feel this happy and alive. 

The journey to the office is in silence and you are busy admiring the nice weather through the window, wondering how good it is to have a walk at this perfect moment. “Kitten,” Baekhyun calls for you and as you turn to look at him, he slowly slides his right hand to hold onto yours, entwining around your fingers. “Today is such nice weather. Don’t you think so?” He steals a glance at you before his eyes are back on the road. 

You silently nod, your whole body is still hard as a rock with your hand still in his grips but you loosen up after seeing a sight of him smiling so bright. “Yeah, I was thinking the same thing too,” You reply, mesmerizing and appreciating the moment that you’re having right now. Maybe it’s pure coincidence that Baekhyun thinks the same thing as you did. The most important thing is the two of you acknowledge the day that would be a nice starter for the mood today. 

“Do I have any schedule this evening?” He throws a question that makes you pull your hand from his hold, taking out your tablet in the bag as you check his schedule. He waits for your reply with a few glances and when you say, “No,” he continues, “Postpone all my schedules and appointments to tomorrow because we’re going to leave work early for today. Do I make it clear?” Baekhyun faces you and you simply nod. 

He extends his hand to caress your hair softly before he murmurs, “That’s my girl.” 

— — — —

When you thought that this morning would be a good starter of the day for you and Baekhyun, it abruptly turned gloomy when one of the members that attended the meeting spoiled the presentation. You were sitting right next to him like a stone with your lips tightly shut as followed by the others. Once all of you guys in the room sense that the boss is in a tension mode, none of you guys dare to say anything. Baekhyun is literally eyeing— glaring at Jaehyun who’s definitely shaking as he’s the only one that stands on his feet. 

Baekhyun unbuttons his blazer, changing his sitting position from crossing his legs and places his hands on the desk. He connects his fingers together as they form a ball of clench. You construe that he’s fuming in anger with the way he’s behaving right now. None of the members in the hall have their heads facing the front, setting them low as they stare on the desk anxiously. 

He then begins to vociferously speak, “Jaehyun, do you know that we have an important meeting today?” Jaehyun nods his head as a reply to his question. “Then? How can you freakingly forget to complete the presentation when you’re supposed to explain it to us? Care to explain, Mr Jaehyun?” Baekhyun taps his fingers on the table and the thuds can be heard clearly since the room is in complete silence.

“Mr Byun, I-I c-can ex-explain…” As Jaehyun is about to speak, Baekhyun snaps him off with his hand raised in the air. He gets off from his seat, signalling at you before he storms away leaving the meeting room together with the members in awed. You quickly gather your stuff and shortly bow to them as you’re afraid that he will look for you if you’re not following him. Once you step out from the room, you can hear everyone’s sighing, not knowing whether they are relieved or frustrated. Rushing to Baekhyun’s office room, you can see him standing close to the window, probably admiring the serene view of the city. 

“S-sir-”

“Lock the door, kitten.”

You gulp nervously, knowing what will happen next. Turning to follow his order, a rustling sound comes from behind and when you turn around, Baekhyun is left with his dress shirt, blazer hangs at the rack coat as he begins to unbutton his sleeve. He has his eyes set on you from afar, having this gaze that you couldn’t elucidate. 

He walks to take a seat on his chair, his legs already spreading to invite your presence when he loosens the tie around his collar and also unbuttons it. Gulping a large lump on your throat, you walk past the coffee table that was at the centre of the room as you place all your things there. Nervously, you rub your sweaty palms against your pencil skirt but eventually paces slowly towards him. 

Baekhyun keeps his furious gaze locked on you as you can feel it piercing through your skin. As when you arrive at his spot, a swift of him pulling you by your waist makes you gasp in surprise. You plop yourself on his lap, hands right on top of his chest with your face a few inches away from him. Your heartbeat begins to race so fast, worrying he might hear it.

He moves his lips closer to your lips, slightly brushing when he murmurs against it, “On the scale, 1-10, can you give it a guess on how mad I am right now, kitten?”. The question makes you start to perspire on the forehead and when you’re about to think seriously without avoiding to say the wrong thing, he decides to distract you as he’s palming your ass. 

“I-I…” You couldn’t find the answer but he keeps on teasing you, lifting your pencil skirt and begins to poke his fingers against the fabric of your panties. It makes you jolt, gripping his shoulders for support because right now, he’s making you crazy. For sure, your wetness is already pooling on your panties, begging for him to wreck you right away. 

“Time’s ticking, baby. You know how I hate wasting my time,” Baekhyun reminds. 

“8?? 8 and a half?...” You try to guess as you are flustered. He gives you a surprising look before a lopsided smile appears. “Baby, you’re so fucking cute but I just want to fuck you right now. On my table.” You don’t get to construe everything when he pounds his lips harshly on yours, causing you to follow his rhythm. Teeth clashing, he playfully bites your lower lip to make you give him space to enter your wet cavern. 

He lifts you up without breaking the kiss, placing you on the table but you were too desperate for his kiss. You let out a soft moan as Baekhyun groans into your lips. His rough voice makes you feel tingles in between your legs and as you need for more, he pulls away, staring at you with a fierce gaze. 

Baekhyun stands up from his seat, starting to unbuckle his pants as you can see him harden just from the steamy kiss. “We don’t have much time. Hold onto what you can because I’m going to blow your mind away.” He makes you lost in words after hearing what he said and also by seeing his thick cock standing proudly. A glistened pre-cum decorated at the tip of his dick, ready to torture you inside. “Spread your legs, baby and lie on your back.” 

You did what he said, waiting for his next move. Baekhyun positions himself in between your legs, smirking after he sees such a sight of your drenched panties. He takes it off from you, revealing your dripping sex awaiting for him to ruin it. He licks and bites his bottom lip lusciously. “You’re so wet,” He compliments. 

He pokes your dripping pussy with his fingers that causes you to gasp softly and then, he slides his digits into your hole to loosen you up. He stretches you first to make sure you’re ready with his big cock and when he speeds up, you can feel a coil tightens in your stomach. You’re so close to coming but when you’re at the edge, you don’t get to release yet when Baekhyun pulls out his fingers from you. But your liquids are already gushing out from your snatch where he scoffs amusingly as he witnesses it dripping. 

Baekhyun doesn’t warn you when he shoves his length into your tight little snatch, causing you to gasp inaudibly, stifling your soft moan by biting your lip. He chuckles but he doesn’t give you time to adjust with his length, in fact, he begins to thrust his hips, gliding in and out from your pussy. Your breathing is uneven, trying to control your breath when he continues to move without stopping. He doesn’t move with a moderate but instead, every second that flies, he speeds his thrusts.

Your insides are clenching around his thick dick but with the amount of force he exerted, he can push his tip through your tight walls. Hands trying to find grips around his arms but instead, you accidentally grip at the paper works on his desk before you find the edge of the table. 

“Oh, God… Aaahhh…” You whimper as you clamp your walls around his big hard length. Your eyes are half-lidded, your back arch upwards and at the same time, you try to move your hips to meet with his thrusts. After finding his tempo, it stimulates you to drown in your high and pleasure. 

“Fuck…” Baekhyun curses with his low voice as follows with him softly growls. The coil that starts to build up in your stomach causes you to feel blissful pleasure, especially when his tip finally found your sensitive spot. And when he hits only for a few times, you instantly gasp loudly, eyes flutter by the sudden intensification. Every syllable of moan that escapes from you abruptly makes Baekhyun hardens more as he rams into your pussy much faster. 

“B-Baekhyun- I-I…” You didn’t get to continue when he smacks the side of your thigh that possibly leaves a sting. 

“What did you call me, kitten?” Baekhyun questions with his husky voice but he sounds unsatisfied with it. 

“D-daddy… I-I’m going to come…” You correct it, feeling your core about to wreck and burst with the continuous hit from his dick at your prime spot. He scoffs clearly, gripping his hand around your neck to slightly suffocate you, causing you to gasp in short air. 

“Then, you need to beg for it then daddy will reward you,” He says. 

“D-daddy… please let the kitten come and fill me up…” You try to beg but since you haven’t got used to begging for him, you hope he’ll at least accept it. Baekhyun then pulls you to sit up, cupping your chin to force you to look into his piercing gaze as he gives you a smirk face. 

“You’re still shy for daddy, huh?” Baekhyun asks and you nod your head slowly. He brings his lips closer to yours as he murmurs, “Thank God that you’re cute, baby. Daddy gonna grant your wish now.” Baekhyun then pounds his cock mercilessly into your dripping core as you wrap your arms around his neck while trying to control your moans. You can feel that in any second, you’re gonna explode plus you can sense that he’s almost close too. 

Later, you finally come hardly with a loud groan and at the same time, Baekhyun shoots his strings of warm cum into your womb. Both of you are breathing hard, trying to calm down from the quick sex. His dick twitches in your pussy when he tries to release everything, making you bite your bottom lip to stifle your whimper. After a few minutes, he draws away from you and leaves your snatch as he witnesses the mixed cums dripping slowly from your hole.

You couldn’t hide your blushes from him especially after having a good fuck. Baekhyun offers you the tissue box to clean yourself up before he cleans himself off. You wipe the cums at your vagina and also some on his desk. He zips up his pants back, repairing his hair to look decent with his fingers. As when you’re done settling yourself, you hop off from the desk, realising that you crumple a few of his documents. 

“B-Baek- No, I mean, sir… I’m sorry for ruining your paper works… Do you want me to photocopy new ones?” You turn to face him but he blocks yourself, your back hits the edge of his table as Baekhyun brings his face closer to you. Instantly, your face begins to heat up, rosy cheeks appear. 

Baekhyun stares into your eyes before they land on your red plump lips. He dips for a peck, then later, a smile stretches across his face. “Yes please, baby,” He requests with a wink. Baekhyun leaves you there, standing like a statue while you try to decipher the situation. As you see him wear his tie and his coat back, you quickly escape from the awkward yet steamy moment after grabbing your stuff on the coffee table. Once you’ve closed his door, you lean your back on it, heaving a questionable sigh.

You don’t know whether you should be scared of him or not because right now, your heart couldn’t stop racing after what happened back in his office room. The moment when he turns rough during the sex but also the time when he gives you a sudden peck and treats you nicely. He’s messing up with your feelings but you keep your mindset straight back, knowing that you’re doing everything just for the exchange of him helping you out with most of the things. Especially back then when you required money for your mom’s operation.

It hurts to finally say that you’re doing anything for your family although it means that you need to sell your body to Baekhyun. In hope, you will never catch feelings for him and one day when you finally can afford to pay all of his debt, you can finally fly away with your wings spread wide.

If only it will happen one day. 

— — — —

As instructed by Baekhyun, the two of you leave the office quite early today. Why? Because he hasn’t told you anything about it. Maybe, he’s just feeling a bit off the weather but who are you to question him when he’s the boss? When it is the time for you guys to leave, you could see that your colleagues are talking silently with each other while witnessing you leaving the office with Baekhyun. 

You don’t even know if they assume you as Baekhyun’s sugar baby or a lover because the rumours shouldn’t be circulated in the building and if it does, he definitely will find the one who spreads false rumour and won’t let them go easily. With his power, everyone is afraid of him, as you too. 

After settling down on your seat beside the driver, you just realised that Baekhyun’s been eyeing you for quite a long and when your eyes are locked with his, an immediate heat rushes to your cheeks. Looking away quickly, you find yourself fidgeting your fingers together as you can feel his gaze burning your skin. 

“Are we going home now?..” You softly ask him and he finally eases, shaking his head to deny my question. “Then, are we heading somewhere? Are you sick?” Probably, it’s just my reflex by having the back of my hand placed on top of his forehead to check whether he’s getting a fever. Baekhyun was stunned at first, eliciting low chuckles as he brings your hand to hold onto it.

“I’m fine, sweetheart. Are you?” Now, it’s his turn to place his palm on your forehead. You couldn’t hold yourself from blushing when he’s being a lot more comfortable with you nowadays. You’re not sick, and that’s for sure but he would think you do because you’re heating up so bad just by his small action. Without saying anything, you slowly nod your head, as a result of him giving you a sweet smile. 

Baekhyun cups your cheek, brushing your cheekbone adoringly with his thumb where his smile doesn’t leave, “Since you’re behaving a good girl so far, I’ll grant you a wish. Name a place that you want to go and I’ll bring you there.” You are surprised upon hearing his words but none of it matters because you’re happy that you’re able to make him in a good mood. 

He waits for you to answer, thumb still caressing your cheek. “Can we go to the Han River park? I haven’t been there for quite long and I miss going there!” You say happily, however, Baekhyun’s eyebrows furrow that makes you panic worrying that he may dislike it. “N-No… We don’t h-have to go if you don’t want to, d-daddy… Let’s just go hom-”

A sudden peck lands on your lips that abruptly makes you stop talking a single word. “Baby, I didn’t say that I don’t want to, right? Are you worried that it might make me feel uneasy with it?” Baekhyun questions you but you keep your lips shut. He chuckles lightly as he says, “Hey, you don’t have to worry about me. I offer to grant you a wish and you know how I always keep my promises, right?” 

You slowly nod your head and he caresses your hair softly. “You don’t have to be scared of me, little one. I know that I can be scary when I’m mad,” He states the word ‘scary’ that causes you to flinch a bit but then, he calms you down by brushing his knuckles on your cheek. “-but you don’t need to be scared if you don’t do anything that can make me mad.”

“I want you to trust me completely but most importantly,” Baekhyun stops for a second, cupping both of your cheeks and invites you to look into his dark orbs. “-don’t let anything make you feel small and weak, baby. You’re worth more than everything in this world so you yourself are more important than others. Always look for yourself first, okay?” He utters, his voice is soft that makes you feel a tug at your heart. 

You’ve never heard anyone saying this sincerely because you know you aren’t worthy of everything. But, Baekhyun makes you feel… special. You are completely astonished listening to him saying those beautiful words and you’re happy for it. 

“Understand, baby?” He asks and you nod your head. Baekhyun is unsatisfied with your answer, “Only a nod? Where’s your voice, kitten?” He mocks playfully that makes you giggle softly. 

“Yes, daddy.”

“That’s my girl,” Baekhyun lands a kiss on your lips before he buckles himself with the seatbelt. He steals a glance of you with a smile spreads across his face as he joyfully says, “So, Han River park, then?” 

— — — —

Baekhyun drives the two of you straight to the park to grant you wish right away. You don’t know what the heck happened because you’ve never seen him so… ecstatic. Throughout the journey, ‘Mirrors’ by Justin Timberlake was played on the radio and somehow, both of us found the spark when you guys spontaneously sang along cheerfully. The way his smile etched on his face as he sings, the way he steals glances at you as he tries to look at you singing. 

You don’t find it weird when your heart keeps on pacing at a faster rate but maybe, it’s a part of the adrenaline because you have so much fun being with him. 

“It’s not too hot, right?” Baekhyun turns to look at you as he initiates the talk. He’s walking together right beside you, strolling down the pathway along the river. You subtly smile at his question. Indeed, today is such a nice day when everything that happened on this day just feels different. With him having a very good mood, you’re happy as well.

“You know what? Thank God I get rid of my coat and tie or I’ll be sweating as hell now,” He informs, sounding grateful enough that makes you chuckle softly. 

“You’re already sweating? Woah, that’s pretty quick, dad- Baekhyun,” Quickly, you call his name instead of the usual ones since you guys are in public. You don’t want people to find out although it’s our matter and thankfully, you talked about it before with Baekhyun and he was fine with it. 

Baekhyun stops by, hands on his hips as the wind keeps on messing with his hair. You turn around to check on him, your heart skips a beat seeing him looking… hot. His messy hair, sleeves folded up until his elbows that can make his veins visible and with him panting a bit because he’s starting to sweat heavily. You’re trying to believe that he’s a human because he’s just too perfect to be one. Yet, you’re one of the lucky people to be able to see the handsomeness of Byun Baekhyun. 

“We just walk for like 10 minutes,” You scoff lightly as you continue, “Do you want to take a rest first? We can still breathe in fresh air though.” He instantly beams brightly and right away takes a seat to the nearest bench. You follow him from behind, plopping yourself right next to him. Since you’re wearing a pencil skirt, you struggle to sit properly to avoid people eyeing weirdly at you. 

“You’re okay there, kitten?” Baekhyun asks you and you nod your head. “Are you really sure? I can’t run to the car to take my coat if you want,” He tries to offer but you convince him that it’s fine with a subtle smile. “Alright then. If you say so,” Baekhyun settles comfortably and the two of you are basking in the silence yet a calmful moment. It’s been a while to be able to be outside, breathing the fresh air especially when your life was hard in the first place.

You just need a spare of time for yourself, although it’s hard to escape from your reality and responsibilities, especially towards your family. It was your destiny and you can’t easily run from it. 

“How’s your mother? Is everything going well with her treatment?” Baekhyun decides to break the silence and talks about your mother. You nod your head, staring at the ground blankly. It was hard to sacrifice yourself over everything just for the sake of your loved ones. “Hey, if you need any help, you can tell me, okay? I can wire you money anytime,” He adds, bringing his hand to hold onto yours as he puts a little pressure.

You don’t even know meeting Baekhyun is a blessing or just another nightmare for you. You were or might still be a prostitute that gets paid but being with him… it’s totally different. He did a lot of things for you but a sudden realisation hits you because it was stated in the agreement. Baekhyun provides you everything including financial when you just simply give away yourself to fulfil his pleasure. No strings attached. You clearly remember that.

“It’s getting hotter, you know. How about I treat you an ice cream? Are you up for it?” The moment Baekhyun offers it, it manages to distract yourself from your thoughts as you beam. 

You specially request with an innocent giggle, “Make it double scoops of chocolate ice cream, sir.” Baekhyun is surprised with it, but then later, he has his hand to ruffle your hair harshly before he mutters, “I’ll be right back.”

The time of being alone is definitely golden. You keep on questioning what will happen in your future because you couldn’t see a glimpse of the light of it. Will you be able to pay all the debt? Will you have a stable job without getting attached to someone? Will you have a family on your own?

Seeing those people playing basketball together, some of them spending their time with their family and kids makes you feel jealous. Because you aren’t sure if you'll be able to find the love of your life when he knows how filthy you are. Love should be pure but yours is impossible. You still think that true love doesn’t exist in this cruel world and yet, you’re still seeking for one. 

Will the right one come into your life to dote and love you unconditionally? 

Not until you’re free from Baekhyun’s hold. Baekhyun, he’s just— complicated. After years knowing him, you still couldn’t understand him fully. He prefers to be discreet about his personal life and as for the agreement, he was so strict during the early years but right now, he changed. No men have touched you as soft as him. Maybe only once, you feel appreciated and loved by him (only as his ‘sugar baby’). He treats you like a woman and you’re too grateful to experience it in your life. 

“Double scoops of chocolate ice cream is here!” Ice cream pops in front of your eyes as he passes it to you. You take it from him, softly thank him while Baekhyun sits back at his usual spot. He’s anticipatingly waiting for your review and when he sees you begin to lick as a smile instantly appears, he’s grateful. Both of you are busy finishing the ice creams without saying anything while watching people around the park and sometimes exchanging gazes. 

“It’s really nice to be outside today. Are you having a good time?” Baekhyun tilts his head to look at you who are still trying to finish your ice cream. “Yeah,” You mutter softly but then, he suddenly leaves low chuckles. You’re clueless, tilting your head sideways as you look at him. “Hold on. Don’t move,” He instructs and you obey.  

Baekhyun moves closer and extends his hand to wipe off an ice cream stain at the edge of your lips with his thumb. “Such a messy girl you are, huh? Just like a little girl,” He mutters softly but you can hear it clearly. You didn’t get to calm yourself down from his mere action when he continues to say, “My girl.”

You can feel your cheeks begin to burn. Looking away from him, you finish up the cone and wipe your mouth with the tissue. “The Sun is almost setting. Do you want to go home?” You ask him and wait for his replies. 

“Let’s have dinner straightaway since I think I would be too lazy to go out right after we get home. Let’s go.”

— — — —

And when you thought going back home after dinner will make you have the time to rest, you couldn’t. Instead, Baekhyun’s in the mood for sex especially when both of you have alcohol kick into the system. He brings you straight to the bed, strips you right away and stops for a while to admire your naked body. Your face heats up so bad, only want him to ruin you already. 

Baekhyun was soft during the day but he is hard during the night.

He takes and throws off every piece that he wears randomly on the floor as he hovers you. Baekhyun has his eyes focus on yours when you’re already breathing heavily and waiting anxiously. There’s something in his gaze that tries to tell you something but he keeps it to himself. He dips to capture your lips with his supple ones. The kiss is an addiction. It’s a rough one with a hint of softness. 

By biting your bottom lip, he travels his tongue into your wet cavern in order to kiss you deeper. Your tongue finds with his, fighting over the dominance but Baekhyun has the full control on you. With his palms begin to massage your mounds, soft moans start to escape from you. He draws himself away from your lips, marking your chin, down to your collarbone before he attaches his mouth onto one of your nipples. 

In a way to make you crazy, he licks around your nipple in circles, knowing that you’re sensitive with it while he pinches your other nipple a few times that causes you to arch your back. After Baekhyun leaves visible marks on your breasts, he sucks your nipple hardly that makes you accidentally call him, “D-daddy!..” You squeal as you gather, gripping his hair to make him stop as he peeks at your already sweaty face. A lopsided smile appears on his face before he continues to travel down to your south. 

“Will you let daddy take care of you little one?” Baekhyun lifts his face to look at you as you nod your head slowly, although you couldn’t wait any longer. He folds and spreads your leg apart as he can see your pussy drenches just by the sloppy kisses and markings. “Seems like someone is too excited just from the kisses, huh?” He mocks and you try to hide your face with your hand. 

Baekhyun moves his face closer as he devours your pussy like there’s no tomorrow. Tongue toying with your already sensitive clit and he also adds on two digits into your hole. When he finger fucking you and abusing your small bud, you couldn’t hold yourself from moaning, gasping while gripping his hair hardly. “D-Daddy…” You stutter, trying to continue your words. “-it f-feels so…”

“What, kitten?” He mutters against your pussy. You gasp heavily, “-good.” Your eyes are tightly shut, mouth parted to breathe in more and when you’re getting closer to your orgasm, your toes curl. Baekhyun’s stroking your insides gives you tingles in your stomach. Adrenaline rushes throughout your body and the blissfulness of him eating you is too much. As he senses you’re close to coming, he pulls away from your core that makes you gasp quite loud. 

Baekhyun kneels in between your legs, wiping off his mouth from your liquid. You prop your elbows to support your upper body, surprised that he’s already hard. He positions his tip right in front of your hole and when he pushes it into your heating core, you bite your lower lip to hide your muffles with your hands gripping the bedsheet. 

“Fuck…” He curses, throwing his head to the back as he keeps on pushing his cock deeper into your pussy. Your walls are stretching apart, clenching and unclenching around his member as you try to accommodate to his size. Even though you’ve had sex with him numerous time, his dick is always massive. 

Before Baekhyun starts to thrust in you, he hovers back on top of you. “Let me make you call my name tonight and I’ll judge,” He says, abruptly captures your lips for a kiss. He pounds his cock easily into your dripping hole endlessly. The bed creaks, wet and sloppy noises from the sex with the two of you kissing are the only things that echo in his bedroom. 

He breaks the kiss to focus on your blissful face, scanning your expression while trying to find the spot and when he does, your eyes suddenly dilate as you whimper. Baekhyun finds your hands, entwined with them and places them right beside your head. He continues to ram the g-spot continuously as he groans in a low tone. 

“B-Baek- I-I” Your voice is choked by the endless attack of his tip on your sweet spot. He grunts, speeding up his thrust because he senses the two of you almost reaching the orgasms. You continue to moan and whimper as he continues to slide his cock in and out from your core. “Baekhyun, fuck… I cannot hold onto it any longer-” You confess. 

His cock twitches hearing your confession and he rams mercilessly onto your spot. “Baekhyun!! Baekhyun… Nggh.. Baekhyun, I-I’m-” You arch your back upwards, exploding your cum as you start seeing stars. Baekhyun grunts and squirts his warm cum inside your pussy. Both of you are breathing heavily while trying to catch up with fresh air. As he pulls out his cock from your snatch, you can feel the emptiness with the mixed cums leaking out. 

You still have your hands locked with him and as you try to get back to your senses, Baekhyun’s admiring your face with a smirk smile. “Have I told you how pretty you are when I fuck you, baby girl?” 

He dips in for a peck on your lips followed by another one. “I love hearing my name leave your mouth because it’s coming from you,” Baekhyun adds. Your heart beats against your chest hard and when he brings his lips closer to your ear, you know you’re not gonna calm down.

“And I want to hear you calling my name after this because I just like it.” 

Like & Reblog if you like this chapter!! Please leave your thoughts about it because I love to read people’s reviews!! :)

See you guys next time in the next chapter!! Stay safe always! 

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you guys can find me here too!  ( twitter / asianfanfics / curiouscat )

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[queenmuzz]

A Seed of Truth

A Fluffy Vergil x Reader One Shot

Life went on as usual in the peaceful island city of Fortuna.  Lord Sparda ruled with a benevolent hand over the people with his wife, Lady Eva, nurturing the arts and culture of the populace.  They were the perfect couple, each combining their strengths and abilities, to lead the island into a golden age.

And then there were their sons, the twins Vergil and Dante.  While the Lord and Lady were quite too busy to make regular appearances to the common folk, the Princes were not that restrained.  Prince Dante was regularly seen chatting at the market, buying up lots of strawberries, while slipping the kids little chocolates and candies when he thought their parents weren’t looking, before racing off on his custom built bike.

Prince Vergil, on the other hand, was a bit more reserved.  You’d seen him at your place of work, the library, deep in a book, or in the Fortuna Gardens, admiring the flowers, giving off an aura  that he didn’t want to be disturbed.  But when someone mustered up the courage to talk to him, he was kind and courteous, especially when the subject turned to his interests, such as literature, or gardening.  He was a man of few words, unlike his brother, but he never minced words, always preferring to speak the truth over flattering speech.

What both men had in common though, was they were both devilishly handsome.  With their father’s bone white hair, and their mother’s elegant facial features, the two men could look good in anything, whether it was formal outfits, as well their casual clothes (Usually a red leather motorcycle jacket for Dante, and a dark blue turtleneck for Vergil).  And with both of them single and available, there was a large part of the city gossiping on who they might choose to settle down with.

So it happened you were in the market with your friend, Sarah, one beautiful spring day when you heard the sound of trumpets, and the clanging of the City Herald’s bell, signaling an announcement.  The crowds began to converge to the centre of the piazzo.  Ripples of excitement fluttered rapidly as everyone realized that the herald was not alone.  There, standing behind the man were the twin Princes, both in their formal royal attire. Dante beamed like the cat that caught the canary, while Vergil...looked more like the canary that had been caught.  You almost felt bad at how uncomfortable he looked, surrounded by so many people, but if he was here despite how much he disliked crowds, this meant whatever was about to be announced was very important.

“HEAR YE! HEAR YE!” the herald announced, clanging his bell one last time, and the crowd was silenced.  Satisfied that he would not be interrupted, the herald continued.

“A ROYAL ANNOUNCEMENT!  PRINCE VERGIL HAS DECIDED IT IS TIME FOR HIM TO MARRY!” A gasp came from the crowd, then cheers, which Vergil did his best to ignore.  The herald rang his bell again.

“HE HAS DECIDED TO CHOOSE A LADY FROM AMONG THE YOUNG WOMEN OF THIS FAIR CITY!”  Another sharp gasp, but everyone was so flabbergasted, the herald didn’t have to settle them down.  “IN ORDER TO HELP HIM DECIDE, ANY YOUNG LADY WISHING TO PROVE HERSELF IS TO TAKE A TEST!”  Two servants carried a sheet covered wicker basket, placing it in front of the herald, and then they carefully removed the linen  “IN THIS BASKET, ARE SEEDS OF THE WHITE  CHRYTHANSEUM  FLOWER!  ALL…” the herald attempted to form a word that didn’t sound so awkward, but failed, “APPLICANTS ARE INSTRUCTED TO TAKE AND PLANT ONE PINCH OF SEEDS.  WHEN THE FALL MARKET FAIR ARRIVES, ALL LADIES ARE TO BRING THEIR PLANTS TO BE JUDGED, AND PRINCE VERGIL WILL PICK THE ONE WHO HAS GROWN THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ONE!  A WOMAN WHO CAN GROW SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY, WILL PROVE THAT SHE HAS THE QUALITIES THE PRINCE LOOKS FOR!”

“That seems rather...shallow,” Sarah muttered as already, every young eligible woman pushed aside the crowds to make a beeline to the basket, “but who am I to judge?  Besides…” she grinned, “he’s pretty good looking.” “Yes, Prince Vergil is rather handsome,” you admitted.  

Sarah did a double-take, “Nah, I meant prince Dante, I wouldn’t mind if he bent me over his motorcycle and-”

“They’re twins! They’re virtually identical!”

“In looks, yeah...but personality, they’re night and day… and I prefer the day.” She looked at you expectedly, “Well, what are you waiting for?  Go get in line!” “I couldn’t…” you protested.

“Oh come on...it’ll be fiiine, you’re a pretty good gardener, I’ve seen the plants you keep in your rooftop garden, you’ll grow the best fricken’ chryth-  chrythan…”

“Chrysthanthemums,” you clarified…”You can call them ‘mums’, that’s what a lot of people do. And…” you stared at the ever growing line of women.  “Well, I suppose, worst case scenario, I’ll have a pretty flower for the autumn season”, and so, you went to the end of the line, ready to get your chance to spend your life with the handsome, aloof, but intelligent prince.  As you took your place, you heard Sarah murmur, “I hope Prince Dante has a motorcycle race as a contest….”

Eventually, you got to the front of the line, and were given a pinch of seeds.  You tried to keep your eyes averted from the two princes, as you wrapped them in a handkerchief, but you couldn’t help but glance up, to see the younger prince, still beaming, while his older brother stood stiffly, his brows furrowed, his arms crossed.

“This is a terrible idea, brother.”  You heard Vergil mutter.

“Nah, this,” Dante spread his arm out, “this is the perfect way to find the lady of your dreams.” “None of these women seem to possess the qualities I desire…” “Well, leave your pessimism until the fall...you can beat my ass if you don’t find what you’re looking for.”

*******

You got home, and quickly brought out a shallow glazed blue pot out from your shed. It would be the perfect starter pot for it to sprout, before you could transplant into a flower pot proper.  And then, you carefully poured a layer of sandy soil, before gently unwrapping the handkerchief and sprinkling the seeds onto the moist dirt.  There was something...off about the seeds...like they were too clean, but you paid it no mind.  These were most likely from the Fortuna Castle Gardens, so they were top quality, so even if you didn’t pay attention to the plant, you would most likely grow better than the average flower.  But you weren’t just going to neglect this chance of a lifetime.  

Measuring out precise amounts of fertilizer, and a bit of water, not too much, not too little, you were going to put your life and soul into this plant.  So much so, that the Prince would feel your love and care radiating out of each and every petal.

******* Ten days passed, with you constantly making sure that the soil wasn’t too moist, to discourage mildew, and keeping it under a fluorescent light, and yet no bright green sprouts poked out.  That was alright, the flower had a variable growing period, you had a nearly two week span for it to begin to sprout.  Every Morning, you had a routine.  You’d wake up, and while your breakfast toast browned, you’d check on the pot, giving it a sprinkle of water, and when needed, a dusting of fertilizer, before setting it back up to face the light.  And each night, you’d give it a final check, occasionally singing it a lullaby.  Yes, it was silly, but you couldn’t help but do everything to help it grow

But nearly a month later, still nothing.  You bit your knuckle as you paced your rooftop garden, the pot now being placed in the sunshine during the day, some netting to protect it from birds and rodents, trying to figure out why there hadn’t been any sprouts.  Perhaps the breed was a slow growing one, saving up energy for a robust bloom in the fall.  Yes, that would be the reason.  But, to ease your mind, you decided to check out with some of your acquaintances that had participated in the competition.  Nothing too intrusive, not spying, just to see how everything was going for them.

Your downstairs neighbor, a young woman who worked at the corner cafe, smiled when you asked how progress was going.  “It’s going wonderful!” she exclaimed, and quickly showed off her pot.  To your dismay, the healthy shoots spiked out two inches out of the soil, a good week and half of growth. “Yours must be twice this size!” your neighbor gushed, “you’re such a good person with all types of plants!  Do you mind showing me?” “I uh..” you scrambled to find an excuse, “I don’t want to disturb the growing plants more than necessary at this stage,” which was true, if your plant had a chance of growing healthy at this point, it couldn’t be put under any stress.

“Ah, understandable...well,” she looked back at her plant like a loving mother looking proudly at her baby, “May the best gardener win!” 

The door shut in your face, as you glumly went up the stairs to your apartment…

Yes, may the best gardener win…

*********

Summer came with a flash of heat, and even though your flowers hadn’t even so much peeked out of the soil, you continually did your routine of watering, fertilizing, and caring for the apparently lifeless pot.  You still had hope...you HAD to keep up hope.  One of those seeds had to be viable, just waiting to burst out like one of those prank snakes in a can….but nothing.

It didn’t help that everywhere you went, from your work at the library, to the market, all you could hear was women bragging about how healthy, how large, and how vibrant their budding plants were.  In fact, some of the ladies would go in public, either carrying their plants to show them off, with glossy green leaves, or if they were upper class, have a servant follow behind them, lugging the pot around, like a governess watching over their child.

Unfortunately, a new law had to be passed, after a half dozen women got into a full out brawl in the piazza, each fighting for the right to having the ‘best’ chrysanthemum, to ban the carrying of plants in the marketplace, except for the purposes of sale.  Thankfully, the only casualties of the savage fight was several pots and their unfortunate occupants….and the hopes and dreams of their owners.

And yet, seeing all these plants, hearing the boasts about how well they grew, just depressed you.  You had worked so, so hard… and nothing.  How could you show up with a pot of dirt, while surrounded by such wonderful specimens?  You might as well drop out of the contest, and save yourself the humiliation.

Two weeks before the Fall market fair was set to begin, Sarah came over to your house.  You hadn’t let anyone in, ashamed at your failure, terrified you’d be laughed out of town for not being able to raise a plant as hardy and simple to grow as a Chrysanthemum.  But...Sarah was different, she didn’t have a stake in the whole contest.

“How’s the Chryth- I mean the Mum growing business?” She innocently asked, unaware of your summer of troubles “it’s gotta be, like six feet tall, with your skills.  Prince Vergil’s gonna be knocked out of his royal pants when he sees yours, eh?”

It was time to break the truth, both to your friend… and yourself.  “I’m… I’m not going to the fair.”

It took Sarah a moment, while she blinked, once, twice...three times.  

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU’RE NOT GOING?!”

You led her up to the rooftop, the sun of a late afternoon warming the nape of your neck, to show her the shallow blue pot, without a hint of green. “Nothing grew...I did everything I was supposed to, I watered, I fertilized, I made sure it wasn’t too cold or too hot...and still...nothing”  Even now, you tried to make sure the tears that dribbled down your cheeks didn’t splash into the soil, salt water would be bad for the seeds.  “I can’t go...can’t show everyone what a failure I was.  Everyone else will have beautiful flowers, and all I’ll have...is this.”

Sarah rubbed your shoulder in support, but her voice was firm.  “You should still bring it.  I know you, I know you put a heart and soul into raising those seeds, I can feel it.  Bring it to the fair, and if Prince Vergil can’t sense about how much love you shoved into every seed, then fuck him, he ain’t worth your time.”  She wiped your tears with a tissue, helping you calm down.  Perhaps she had a point. You had done everything you could, you couldn’t be blamed for neglect.  “Honestly, your mum is personally my favourite all this year.”

Perplexed, you looked at your friend.

“Everyone is growing these damn things. I think I’m gonna puke if I get another whiff of a mum.   Yours smells the nicest.”

At least, Sarah’s sense of humour lightened your spirits, if only a little.

*******

Sarah wasn’t wrong.  The overpowering smell of hundreds of white blooms blotted over the traditional scents of the autumn fair, such as apple pie or roast pork.  And instead of the the mooing and baaing of prizewinning cows and sheep, all you could hear were the titterings and gossip of the young women of the city, each bragging about how hard they worked to grow their flowers, how much love and care they’d placed into each glossy leaf, on how it was a certainty that they’d catch the Prince’s eye.

You tried to stay as inconspicuous as possible, and mostly you succeeded, as everyone was more focused on their own plant, or giving out disapproving looks at their nearby rival’s.  But every so often, a lady would look down confused at your pot, before giving a small pitying smile.  You could even tell your otherwise perfectly nice downstairs neighbor was secretly relieved that she didn’t have any competition from you.

The only one who paid attention to you, without judgement, was Sarah, who gave you an encouraging smile.

“After this, let’s go to the bar and get so plastered you forget this entire summer, my treat!” she chirped, and you couldn’t help but smile.  In truth, you really wanted to wipe this whole debacle out of your memory for the rest of your life.  Just a few more minutes to go….

The sound of the herald’s bell silenced the crowd, and all the contestants stood up a bit straighter, some checking both their dresses and plants one last time, ready to present their best.  Even you couldn’t help doing the same.

“HEAR YE! HEAR YE!”  The stiff man called out, ringing his bell one last time.  “THE JUDGMENT WILL NOW BEGIN,”  a group of finely dressed people, apparently the judges, stood up, but the Herald continued, “WITH BOTH PRINCE DANTE AND PRINCE VERGIL AS THE FINAL ARBITRATORS.”  Everyone, including yourself, did a collective gulp as the familiar colours of Crimson and Azure appeared on the platform.  Both men were dressed to perfection, their gold tasseled lapels shining in the fall sunlight, their black pants perfectly pressed.  But their looks on their faces seemed cold...almost upset.  Even the usually jovial smile on the younger twin was gone, replaced by a worried frown.  But that was nothing in comparison with Vergil’s face.  He looked...disgusted.  Surrounded by some of the most gorgeous flowers you had ever seen, and he yet, seemed to be repulsed by them all as his eyes scanned the crowd.  If these plants weren’t up to his high standards, your pot didn’t have a chance.

“I told you this was a terrible idea…” you heard him mutter, presumably to his brother, “Not a single woman has what I am looking for...the dishonesty of it all. When we get home, I don’t care how much mother protests, you will regret ever suggestin-” he stopped.  His eyes were fixed at one point, and everyone followed his line of sight…

that led to you and your little barren pot. 

Without warning, Prince Vergil quickly stepped down the wooden stairs, his footsteps steady but his frantic pace betraying something more.  Even now, as he approached, you thought that maybe he was looking at the lady beside you, a smaller than average plant, but one with many, many healthy white blooms.  That MUST be who he was interested in.  His face wasn’t as upset as before, but you couldn’t tell what his exact feelings were.  But as he got closer, now a few paces away, his eyes never left you, and you couldn’t help it, you averted your eyes, partially out of deference, partially out of fear.  Was he offended that you had dared bring this failure to be judged?  Your heart pounded so loud, you could barely make out the sound of his footsteps stopping before you, the only reason you could tell he was there, was his shiny black leather shoes halting in front of you.

“Your name?” he demanded, but not as harshly as you had feared.  You gave it out, your voice trembling.

“And this…” his long, elegant fingers grazed against the edge of the blue glaze, “is your attempt at growing a White Chrysanthemum?”  Strange, you’d expected him to be dismissive, but there was a sense of earnestness in the questition. You nodded, trying to get the words out.  “Y-yes, My Lord.  I did...I did everything I could...I watered, I fertilized, I gave the seeds all the sunlight it could ever need, but…” You couldn’t keep back the sob that burst from your throat, and tears dribbled down your cheeks.  You were so ashamed at your failure.

Unexpectedly, you felt warm fingers on your chin, gently lifting your face up, to finally look up at him.  You’d never been so close to the Prince before, and he was even more handsome up close.  And that hard expression that once there, was gone, replaced by something that confused you.  It looked like...admiration?  But for what?

“You were the only one, out of everyone here,” he spoke softly, for your ears alone, “who didn’t hide behind lies...you did all you could, and didn’t hide your supposed ‘failure.’” The way he emphasised that last word puzzled you and you gave him a quizzical look.  He smiled softly and pulled out a silk blue handkerchief to wipe your tears away.  

“Ladies and Gentleman!”  Dante strode up to front of the platform, temporarily ripping everyone’s attention from you and the Prince.  He had a grin that looked like he had been keeping it in for weeks, or even months. “I’d like to make a VERY IMPORTANT announcement.”  He took a breath, obviously savouring the moment.  “You see, when we gave out those seeds...well, before we brought them out...we boiled them, the entire batch.  Therefore…” he trailed off allowing the quicker members assembled to place the pieces together. “None of the seeds should be growing anything, you might as well used them for bug spray”  

Panicked gasps came from the women, each rapidly looking at each other, and then down at the pots they held.  A sound of shattering clay as several pots smashed from being dropped by some of the shocked ladies, who quickly ran for the exit of the fair, the crowds parting away for them.

Dante yanked the bell out of the Herald’s hand, and rang it, signalling everyone to settle down.  “See, what my dear brother wanted in a woman wasn’t a good gardener, although there’s nothing wrong with that.  Verg’s pretty handy at growing stuff…” his grin softened to genuine pride, “No, what he wanted was a woman who could be truthful to him, not try to flatter him with lies to soothe his pride and ego… And trust me, his ego is as big as it is....”

Vergil swung his head over to his younger brother, scowling momentarily, cutting the speech off.  But, slowly, he turned back to you, his fingers stroking the rapidly dry tear tracks on your cheeks.  “I..know this… whole turn of events is rather sudden and unexpected...but...will,” he struggled with the words, the first time you had ever seen him this nervous, “will you take me?”

Your eyes watered up with tears, but not out of grief, but of happiness.  You smiled, and nodded, not trusting your voice to say anything.  He almost seemed surprised at your assent, standing stock still  momentarily, before his smile blossomed fully as he took your hand and led you through the quickly parting crowds, as a large amount of cheers erupted in congratulations, celebrating Fortuna’s newest Princess.  

You felt a brush against your shoulder, and heard the voice of Sarah’s at your ear.  “I knew you could do it!” She was barely audible above the crowd, “Now...would Your Royal Highness mind putting a good word for me with Prince Dante?...”

Tagging    mandyvc  (won’t let me tag you for some reason)

#Devil May Cry #Vergil x Reader #Fluff #Fairytale AU #Thank you to the discord chat for suggesting suitable flowers!

[dessarious]

What Makes a Family? Pt11

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Marinette woke up on the floor sandwiched between Luka and Kagami. She was about to just go back to sleep when she noticed it was dark outside. That was a problem… why was that a problem? Chat. She bolted upright.

“It’s only nine sweetheart.” Her Papa’s voice came from the kitchen and when she looked over he, her Maman, and Alfred were sitting around the counter. All of them looked worried and tense. Marinette got up slowly so as not to wake her partners and as soon as she was out from between them they scooted together. She just smiled fondly at them before going over to the adults.

“Everything will be fine. Where’s Chloe?” Her Maman glared at her while her Papa let out a frustrated sigh.

“Miss Chloe went back to the hotel to see about rooms for everyone. Also, Master Bruce’s finance wishes to come meet you as well if that is acceptable.”

“Of course, but I may not be able to spend much time with them at first. I have a feeling that things are going to progress rapidly once my true Black Cat has the Miraculous.” They were all frowning at her now.

“And how exactly are you planning on taking it from Chat Noir in the first place?” Her Maman’s tone had an edge to it and she was speaking through clenched teeth. Her parents hated her doing anything dangerous and it was times like this she was honestly sorry they knew who she was.

“I told him to meet me somewhere there will be cover. I’m bringing Chloe so she can stun him. I also wanted to ask if you would be willing to come Grandpa Alfie. It will mean you’ll have to use a Miraculous but it would help misdirect Chat as to who is actually in charge.” Her parents exploded immediately while Alfred just frowned at her in thought. This was exactly why she couldn’t let them take part in things like this. “Please don’t yell, you’ll wake the others.”

“And why does he get to go rather than one of us?” The fury in her Maman’s tone sent a chill down her spine but she didn’t let them see it.

“For starters, he’s not attached to me yet. You two are too close to me, not to mention that as my parents it’s completely against your nature to follow orders from me. I can’t risk you moving too soon. Also Grandpa Alfie doesn't know me well enough to give away my identity unless he calls me by name. I love you both, but you have no filter when it comes to protecting me. He also has military experience that could be useful and given Master Fu’s age before he died, Chat will be far more likely to assume he is the Guardian. That misdirection could be vital in keeping everyone safe.” They didn’t look happy, but they did stop arguing.

“How did you know I was in the military?” She blinked at Alfred in confusion for a moment before letting out a yawn. She really hoped there wasn’t another Akuma in the next few days.

“You didn’t tell me?” He shook his head and she shrugged. “Must be the way you carry yourself then.”

“I also didn’t tell you that Miss Cassandra goes by Cass but when you asked me to contact them that’s what you called her.” Marinette rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she considered that.

“I suppose I made the logical leap. I mean what else would she go by? That or I was just too tired to get the full name out.” Alfred just gave a thoughtful hum but she could tell he thought it was more than that. And maybe it was. Things like this had happened before but she’d never paid much attention to them. It simply made sense to her and she really didn’t understand why it didn’t to everyone else.

“I would like to know a bit more about these Miraculous before I agree to using one.” Oh right. She hadn’t been able to explain had she?

“Tikki will probably be able to explain it better at the moment. I tend to over simplify and forget important things when I’m tired.” Her parents were fighting back grins and Alfred just looked confused.

“Who’s Tikki?” She metally facepalmed but before she could apologize the Kwami in question flew out to introduce themselves.

“I’m Tikki, Kwami of Creation. I give Marinette her powers as Ladybug. It’s very nice to meet you.” The poor man just blinked at them, obviously unsure how to proceed. Tikki was studying him and gave an approving hum. “You’re right Mari, he and Wayzz will suit each other and it will help Chat make the Guardian connection you want as well.”

“So I assume each Miraculous is powered by a Kwami?” Tikki just beamed at him. They liked talking to people who could grasp things quickly.

“Yes. Each grants the powers of their aspect. Mari is planning on having you use the Turtle Miraculous which houses Wayzz, Kwami of Protection. His most notable power is the ability to create shields.” Alfred seemed to be debating his next question. She wasn’t certain if he was trying to decide what was more important, or trying to find a way to word it so it didn’t sound offensive.

“Exactly how much control do your users have?” He sounded cautious and she could understand why if that was something he was worried about.

“The Kwami have to obey their holders. When transformed you’re in complete control. Depending on how attuned a person is with the Miraculous your Kwami may be able to subconsciously communicate with you but they can’t control you. Tikki and I are a perfect match so they can actually talk to me while I’m transformed.” That had come in handy too many times to count, but it also meant Marinette got to hear the Kwami giggle anytime a particularly random Lucky Charm showed up. They absolutely refused to help with those.

“So they’re basically slaves.” Alfred’s tone was oddly flat and Marinette could only sigh.

“In a way yes, which is why Hawkmoth even exists. It’s not ideal, but the Kwami themselves don’t mind for the most part and any time I’ve suggested destroying the Miraculous or coming up with a way to give them more autonomy they all act horrified.” Tikki just gave her a stern look.

“Because we agreed to this existence for a reason. Balance must be maintained and this is the best way to do that overall.” This was one of those agree to disagree problems. She would defer to Tikki’s judgement though, given that they were a god older than the universe as they knew it.

“I would still like a more detailed explanation, but given the current time restraint I believe it will have to wait. If you feel you need me there I will go.” Marinette gave him a tired smile.

“Thank you. If everything goes to plan you won’t even have to do anything except make sure Chat sees you after Chloe stuns him. He should jump to all the wrong conclusions on his own.” He frowned at her.

“And if things don’t go to plan?” She tilted her head in thought. It wasn’t a question she was used to simply because her team had learned to just deal with problems.

“Then we improvise. My luck works better without detailed planning so I try not to overthink things in advance.” Now he was just looking at her like she’d lost her mind. This was going to be interesting.

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Ko-Fi

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[twh-news]

‘Loki’: Behind the Scenes of the Crumbling Time Variance Authority

Find out what Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Wunmi Mosaku, Owen Wilson, and Tara Strong all have to say about the TVA.

by Rachel Paige

[spoilers to Loki S01E04]

The Time Variance Authority sure seems like a cool and fun place to work! That is...until you start peeling back the layers of the previously unseen and unheard-of organization, and realize that they’ve been lying to everyone this entire time. Welcome to the TVA, y’all!

In Episode 4 of Marvel Studios’ Loki, “The Nexus Event," the truth starts to come out, and when it rains at the TVA, it pours. Where to even begin?

For starters, the Time Keepers did not create everyone working at the TVA, and it turns out the employees walking the halls and filing paperwork are all variants — with their memories scrubbed, of course. And if that’s not enough to swallow, the Time Keepers are actually robots and completely useless figureheads. Oh, and Mobius and Loki find themselves pruned at the hands of Judge Renslayer. That’s still just scratching the tip of the TVA iceberg!

So what’s it like when everything you thought you knew about your job turns out to be a lie? Marvel.com chatted with Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Judge Ravonna Renslayer), Wunmi Mosaku (Hunter B-15), Owen Wilson (Agent Mobius), and Tara Strong (the voice of Miss Minutes) about bringing the TVA to life, and what happens next in the series.

JUDGE RAVONNA RENSLAYER

Renslayer wasn’t always sitting behind a big desk in a big office at the TVA. “She has worked her way up to the top. She wasn't born into power. She started as a Hunter,” Mbatha-Raw tells Marvel.com. As viewers see at the start of Episode 4, Renslayer was the Hunter tasked with grabbing the Loki variant — aka Sylvie — from her timeline to stand trial.

Now that she’s in a higher position, she’s not going to veer off her straight and narrow path.

"She's really worked hard to get where she is, so she's not going to be reckless with the power that has been hard-earned for her,” Mbatha-Raw continues. “She, in some ways, is deeply indoctrinated with the ways of the TVA. She's completely conditioned by their thinking and the idea of the Sacred Timeline, and the concept of free will is quite alien to her. She's a believer. She believes in law and order, and it's done quite well for her so far in terms of getting her to where she is. She's not going to abandon her philosophy lightly.”

We see this in action when Renslayer realizes that Mobius has gone behind her back trying to get to the bottom of what happened to Hunter C-20. After a meeting with Renslayer, Mobius swipes her TemPad and discovers that the young Hunter was questioned, and in the process confessed that she knew they were all variants. And the person interviewing her? None other than Renslayer herself, who ends the interview abruptly. This is the sort of information Renslayer does not want to get out.

“It was fun to start off with everything being sort of very orderly and black-and-white for Renslayer. As her reality begins to crumble, we discover that alongside her. She has put everything into this. This is her whole world. Her career is her life.”

Renslayer isn’t going to let anything and anyone stand in the way of what she’s worked hard to accomplish, and that includes Mobius. Mobius tries to confront his superior about Hunter C-20, the variants, and the TVA, and in a shocking twist, Renslayer orders the agent pruned for being compromised!

“Her only friend, really, is Mobius, and she kind of betrays him,” Mbatha-Raw says. “Or she sees it as he betrayed her, and they have this massive schism. And you sort of think, gosh, where is she going to go now? Who's going to be in her corner? Who's she going to have a drink with at the end of the day. It's a lot of stress!”

HUNTER B-15

Someone else who has led their entire life believing in the TVA and what it stands for is Hunter B-15. The part of no-nonsense Hunter, originally written as a male character, ultimately went to Mosaku after her audition.

While reading the dummy sides (fake scenes for the audition), Mosaku and director Kate Herron determined the gender didn’t alter who Hunter B-15 is at the root of the character. “Despite being written a man, Hunter B-15 is a Hunter and works for the TVA. It didn’t change the scripts. I have free reign because she's new. B-15 doesn't exist in the MCU, so I really got to start from scratch and explore different ideas and themes, and take her wherever Kate and I wanted to.”

But, one thing the character couldn’t do? Be swayed by Loki’s charms. Mosaku was excited to step into this role, and not take any nonsense from Loki.

“It's very rare to have a [character], especially as a woman, [who doesn’t want to be] sweeter, nicer, or make people like you. She's not interested in that at all. And therefore, she's not interested in [Loki] — and Loki is very interested in that. He's charming and all that stuff, and it's all about luring you in. She just doesn't take any of it. It's not attractive to her. It's not intriguing to her. She's just, ‘Let's get the job done, please.’”

While Hunter B-15 starts off all commanding and tough, slowly she, too, begins to realize that not everything is what it seems at the TVA. After she’s enchanted by Sylvie at Roxxcart, Hunter B-15 has memories come rushing back to her — but what are they, and what did she see? That’s still a mystery for Mosaku, too, who explains, “I'm as intrigued as you are to find out what that backstory is.”

Whatever she saw, it propels her to take a stand against the TVA. This meant Mosaku went through training — in more ways than one, “They drilled us on the physical vocabulary of the TVA and the fight sequences that we had.”

At the end of Episode 4, Hunter B-15 comes to Loki and Sylvie’s aid when they come face to face with the Time Keepers, throwing the latter her machete (which she’s clearly stolen from Renslayer’s office). What follows next is a battle for power in front of the Time Keepers, one in which not everyone survives.

“We did have a trainer to make sure that we were physically capable of doing it all and not injuring ourselves,” states Mosaku. “I really loved that, because I love to box. I felt really strong and able to use my physical power in a way that I hadn't been able to before.”

MOBIUS

Agent Mobius is having a day. Not only is he watching his whole life and career crumble around him, but he then winds up on the wrong end of a pruning stick by the end of the episode. While he might have started off as a through and through company man when we first meet him, after Loki tells him they’re all variants, Mobius starts to think about where his true allegiance lies. (And if he ever had a jet ski??)

The biggest revelation in the episode for Mobius is not necessarily that he’s a variant, but rather that his closest friend, Renslayer, has been concealing the truth from him this whole time.

“The relationship between Mobius and Renslayer, it's the way you might have with your boss. Or when you're back in school with the principal or someone in a position of authority and having to sort of try to charm them so you're able to pursue your projects,” Wilson tells Marvel.com. “That's the dynamic between Mobius and Renslayer. She sort of loses patience with Mobius and with another one of his schemes. But, I think, she also sort of enjoys that he's a little bit of a rascal.”

That certainly might have been true at one point in time, but after Mobius swipes Renslayer’s TemPad, as Wilson continues, “by the end of that relationship, it has become something very different”

Mobius might have caught Renslayer in a lie, but it’s Renslayer who orders him pruned — and Loki witnesses the whole thing.

"The betrayal of Mobius by Renslayer is pretty shocking. And it's a little bit of a hall of mirrors within the whole series, that people aren't quite who they seem to be. In the same way that Loki, when he lands in this bizarre place called the TVA, Mobius will have sort of the same struggles. What is this organization? And is it something that is worthy of his devotion?”

MISS MINUTES

There’s one other very important person at the TVA: Miss Minutes! She’s not really a recording, and she’s not really alive, she’s sorta both! So what’s going to happen to the organization’s spokesperson as the TVA starts to fall apart?

Coy with her response, Tara Strong, who voices the perky clock, explains, “It's safe to say that Miss Minutes knows absolutely everything, and it's also safe to say I wouldn't mess with her too much.”

Recording for the character, Strong actually watched episodes (over video chat), and synched up her dialogue with the action in each scene.

“The show was already done before I stepped in, which was such a great gift,” she explains. “Had I gone first and watched a placeholder, it wouldn't have been as magical. But getting to sit there and witness the animation, and how cute it is and how stylized it was, and of course, to play off Tom Hiddleston, who's so brilliant, it was really a gift to have it all come together in front of me.”

For every scene, Strong recorded dozens of different versions of dialogue “to play with for the production crew to see what would fit in the best and what would make the most sense.” As the show was coming together, Strong knew she had the difficult task of giving Miss Minutes life and unloading “exposition while still making it fun and playful.”

“Everything she says is important and funny and interesting. I also love that even in the very beginning, when she's like, [Miss Minutes’ voice] ‘Don't hesitate to let us know how we're doing. We could explode you in a minute, but drop a line to let us know how you feel about it!’ It's like the perfect mix of who she is that she can be giving you such dire information with a smile on her face, and you still want to sit down and have a cupcake with her.”

Considering what she knows, and how many times she’s now dumped information, how else might she be able to step in and help Loki?

“She knows so much about the TVA, and it’s her job to relay this information to Loki,” says Strong. “[She needs] him to get past some of the things he's done [in order] to improve himself as a member of this universe, and how to grow and help. I [navigate] these moments with him, careful to not give away how much I actually know in the world.”

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