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kykyonthemoon · 2 months

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Limerence (noun) — a mental state of profound romantic infatuation, deep obsession, and fantastical longing.

⋆˚✿˖° This chapter is a part of a mini-series of dark fairy tales and romance sets in another universe. It consists of three chapters, each with a Male Lead and is separated from one another.

⋆˚✿˖° Character x Reader/MC, from another (OC's) point of view. Reader/MC's pronounce is "she/her/hers".

⋆˚✿˖° Warnings & tags: 16+, MDNI, angst, hurt, thriller, emotional and mind control, manipulation, love spell, obsession, unrequited love, major character death, dark fantasy, dark fairy tale, m.urder, s.uicide attempt.

⋆˚✿˖° Leonard is my OC.

⋆˚✿˖° Read more chapters:

✦ Xavier's ✦ Zayne's

⋆˚✿˖° Masterlist

⋆˚✿˖° My friend Cery made an art for this fic here: x

Chapter: The Muse — in which he brings the world his most significant work of art.

⋆˚✿˖° Word count: 3k1

These days, the artist community was vibrant, with some even competing for acceptance to the exhibition at Mo Art Studio.

So did Leonard. He had to rush around and ask for help everywhere in order to be given a chance. Money was not an issue, but the host of this exhibition was certainly not an ordinary person. He wasn't offering tickets to the highest bidder, but rather to those who possessed an artistic vision and passed his evaluation.

“The ticket will be sent to you within the next three days. Please keep in touch.” The other end of the line cut the discussion off, but Leonard's mind remained lightheaded, unable to believe the gift he had just received.

“Wait…” He spoke before the other person hung up. “Excuse me… May I do an interview with that artist in the exhibition?”

There was no response. Leonard believed they were reviewing his proposal. He held his breath and wait for a while, then the manager named Thomas spoke:

“We do not accept interviews. But a few individual queries could suffice. Of course, if you are able to leave a good impression.”

"I got it. Thank you."

Putting the phone aside, Leonard leaned back in his office chair. How to impress Linkon's most talented painter, or should he say - the world's best artist? Despite his young age, there was no one in this city who had never heard of his work.

The artist's name was Rafayel. He became well-known for his landscape paintings, which brought admirers to a dreamlike state when they stood in front of them. He seldom appeared in public, despite having organized hundreds of major and minor exhibitions. Who he truly was remained a question, and the most mysterious part was probably his disappearance a year ago.

For a whole year there were no new paintings or art activities. No one saw him in Linkon during that time. His manager and studio kept it silent, as if everything had evaporated overnight. Then, last weekend, he unexpectedly reappeared and made an important announcement, which was an exhibition called The Muse.

In contrast to his previous events, guests had no idea what they were about to witness. According to the majority of internet comments, Rafayel returned with a work of a lifetime, a painting that exceeded anything he had ever created. That was the final result of a year-long hunt for inspiration. Of course, there were those who believed he was steadily degrading since he hadn't been able to draw anything decent in a long time and had simply planned this event to earn some money.

For Leonard, either truth was fair. He must uncover all of the details and secrets surrounding Rafayel's reappearance. Since that was what he did for a living.

Leonard was a journalist who specialized in arts. Despite his greatest efforts over several years, he still had little hope of succeeding. He had been without a single decent piece for a long time. Then the opportunity to visit the Mo Art studio presented itself before his eyes. He was not going to miss the chance to see a place that had never been accessible to the public before.

The day of the exhibition approached. Leonard had purposefully showed up early, but as he reached the gate, he noticed that about fifty formally dressed guests were already present. They were enjoying wine and food as they walked in groups into the main hall, where the primary event was held. Leonard also entered with nervousness. All of the windows and doors were wide open, allowing the sea air to convey a salty fragrance into the hallway. Rafayel's famous works are framed, and hung or placed in the center of a floral garden that the host tenderly arranged himself, giving guests the impression that they had just lost themselves in the Garden of Eden.

However, that was not the primary attention of the event. Something massive and cylindrical appeared in the center of the hall. It spanned from the ground to an exceedingly high glass ceiling. It had a diameter of up to ten meters, and was covered in a crimson velvet fabric, protecting it from inquisitive eyes of guests. Even the personnel had not an idea of what was inside.

"Rafayel did all of this himself." Thomas, the manager, spoke up. "I can't answer your questions because I'm not sure what's there. But whatever it is, it will undoubtedly live up to the name of his Muse."

The flock of intrigued guests around Thomas nodded, then split out to stroll around and admire the pillar, as if its very presence was already an art. To them, the less they comprehended something, the more valuable it became.

Leonard found a seat close to the window but not too far from the center of the hall. He was afraid of missing the opportunity to witness Rafayel's Muse. Late in the afternoon, the sun glided across the horizon, casting golden rays into the place. The guests began to get tipsy, wondering if Rafayel would show up or if this was all a hoax, when, down the stairs, the host of the party appeared.

He donned a lavish dark blue suit with sculpted sleeves and shoulders that looked to be encrusted with spectrum fish scales. His presence was as magnificent as his name, causing the entire hall to fall silent. Guests held their breath as they watched the young artist stroll down the steps, the heels of his shoes reverberating on the marble floor as if a piece of music had just been executed.

“Welcome to the exhibition.” Rafayel spoke in a solemn voice. "It appears that all of the guests here are wondering; what exactly has he been doing during the past year? Why didn't he present any of his new work? What's the point of this exhibition?"

Rafayel halted for a moment, his dark eyes behind a few purple curls scrutinizing each guest individually, as if reading them all. The corner of his mouth twisted up in delight as he effectively piqued everyone's interest. He resumed his speech:

“It all began with a muse. My muse. That's a story perhaps a lucky visitor would unveil in this exhibition. But for now…” Rafayel lifted a hand. “Let me introduce you to my one and only, Muse.”

The scorched cloth transformed into crimson tiny particles that flew all about, blending into the fiery sunset outside. The crimson sun halted in the center of the room's largest window, and emerged as an illusion was Rafayel's Muse.

Leonard blinked. In front of him stood a tank of water with a thick glass cylinder. The inside was ornamented with flowers, coral, and white pillars of broken plaster encircling an oval of the glass tank, offering him the sense that he was staring at a lost city under the depths of the ocean. There were schools of brilliant small fish swimming around, weaving between the crevices of the broken world. In the midst of the tableau, there was a woman floating in the water in an upright stance, a few meters above the tank's bottom, conveying an illusion that she was flying. Her head was adorned with pearl jewelry, eyes were closed, as if she was in deep slumber. Her hands opened, allowing the orange-red fish to whirl around her wrists. Then they invited each other to swim along her tiny unclothed arms, to her exquisite neck covered in shimmering pearls, and down to the thin white garment that was floating in the water like her own body. Her bare feet lingered above the seaweed, as if to tease them with the fact that they were unable to grasp her no matter how hard they tried.

A beauty out of this world. That was what Leonard's mind could think of. When he came here, he was full of determination to discover Rafayel's secret, but now, when he witnessed its beauty with his own eyes, he was speechless. His brain felt empty, as if that beauty had filled it and he no longer needed anything else. A melodic rhythm could be heard somewhere, distant seemingly from another universe, but apparently emanating from the tank itself.

All guests were drawn to the center. Rafayel vanished among the crowd that was cheering him. Nobody suspected that Rafayel's Muse was not a painting but an entirely distinct thing. Whatever it was, she was the size of an adult in her mid-twenties. A statue or a doll that resembled a real person?

Leonard brushed past a few astonished others to get closer to the tank. Rafayel's exhibit could easily shock the entire art field. Leonard had already begun pondering concepts for his next piece. Unlike the other guests, who were merely engaged in the beauty in front of them, he was more enthralled by the narrative behind The Muse.

Who was she? Where did her story begin? Leonard sought around for Rafayel's silhouette but could not find him. However, near the stairs, he encountered Thomas with a look of panic and utter shock on his face.

“It can't be… No… It can't be her…” Those were the words Leonard could hear before Thomas bolted out of the hall.

There were just a few people invited to the show, and after approximately an hour, they had presumably spent all of their admiration and hypothesis on the tank. They met again in groups to tour Rafayel's studio. Who knows when they would be able to return here again, in ten, twenty, or even fifty years?

Leonard took advantage of the reality that people had left the area to approach closer and examine more, now that he was the only one standing nearby. The Muse was still inside, a smile on her lips, but why did Leonard feel a suffering coming from her? He strolled around the tank to better view her. It was hard to discern whether this was in fact a sculpture by Rafayel or a real person. That was also what the guests spoke about all day.

The Muse was so genuine. To the point that Leonard expected her to open her eyes and climb out of the tank. But she remained still, absorbed in her own undersea world. He stayed frozen, unable to move his gaze away from the tank, for Rafayel had previously stated that within this, his secrets hidden.

Yet Leonard, with his mundane eyes, might never discover it. The only thing he found was possibly a tiny coating of pinkish red water coming from The Muse's breast. That ruby hue seeped through the attire that enveloped her, and it looked nothing like the color that Rafayel often used in his paintings. There was something rather odd about it. It resembled blood, from The Muse herself.

The exhibition came to an end. Guests departed on their own after being notified. Rafayel returned to the lobby. Leonard took the opportunity to ask in an instance:

“Mr. Rafayel. May I ask you a few questions regarding the exhibition?

Rafayel gazed at him. To increase his reputation, he identified himself as a journalist who specialized in writing about art.

"Ah. "I remember you." Rafayel responded. "Among the guests, you were the only one who gave an impressive answer to my question."

Leonard tried to recall the survey he was required to complete before Thomas reached him to inform he had an invitation. These questions were all about Rafayel's career, and the answers were readily accessible online. There was just one question, the last one, that sparked a lot of consideration in Leonard, while having nothing to do with Rafayel's works at all.

"If you were given a magical spell that made the person you love love you forever, would you use it?" Rafayel reiterated his query. "You're the only one who chose not to."

Leonard nodded. It was truly what he had said.

"May I know, why?" Rafayel glanced at him with curiosity. Leonard was taken aback, as he had come here expecting to be an interviewer. Who would have guessed it was the other way around?

"A spell is just an illusion." Leonard responded honestly. "That is not love." "Love must come from a true heart."

"A true heart…" Rafayel repeated each word. His eyes were as sorrowful and deep as the tranquil water, yet it was terrifying since he had no idea when the storm would arrive. "Perhaps, she would choose the same answer as you."

"Pardon?…" Leonard interrupted Rafayel's thoughts. "Who are you talking about?"

Rafayel smiled but remained silent. Fearing that the young artist might leave without answering, Leonard impatiently said:

“Aren't you talking about your Muse? Can you tell me who she is?”

Rafayel gazed at the girl in the aquarium. He smiled. Just a small movement of the lips conveyed devotion, anguish, and regret.

"She is my true heart." Rafayel's voice resembled a song. But he said nothing more, and Leonard was asked to leave right away.

The Muse's story was forever a mystery. The mystery that Leonard had yet to come very close.

That story began a year ago. Or perhaps, it had originated a long, long time ago.

When a Lemurian gives their heart to someone, it will die if not reciprocated.

Rafayel had given his to a human girl.

He met her when she was a child. She was his savior when he was expecting such a painful death on land, and she helped him return to the sea.

She could not remember who he was, nor did she know that all those years, he had been watching her from afar. Amid the waves, behind the rocks, he watched her grow up.

He met her again as a painter many years later. She happily accepted his company. But it was not all he wanted. He longed for her. He craved her touch to make her become his, in the way he had determined his heart belonged to her.

But, her heart belonged to someone else.

A year ago, she told him that she was getting married.

Rafayel could not recall how frightening his emotions were. No matter how powerful the storms were at sea, they could never match his rage at the time. And, with a dreadful calamity brewing in his head, he did what he did to her.

He bound her with an ancient Lemurian enchantment. He made her fall desperately in love with him. She did everything for him, even abandoning her engagement and following him to a far away place. A secluded island only for them. Glorious summer nights lingered forever on the beach, when she and he were entangled, merging in the waves of never-ending love. He had her how he wished.

However, like an illusion, that spell did not persist forever. It drove her to insanity. She wandered alone on the shore, tears streaming and her mouth constantly crying out the name of the person she truthfully loved with each sob. She begged of him.

“Rafayel… Please… Let me go… Please… set me free… Set me free!”

Her screams were drowned in the ocean waves. Little did she realize that seeing her in this way made his heart bleed as well.

"Please…" She sobbed. Rafayel's dagger was in her grasp, and she pressed it to her throat. "If you won't let me leave... I must free myself..."

"Hush now, my dearest…" Rafayel quietly stretched out to her. This was not her first time in this state. He approached her, placed a hand on her forehead, and brushed away her wind-blown hair. Her fingers on the dagger tightened, urging him to back away. However, Rafayel seized the blade that was cutting into her neck, forcing his hand to bleed.

"You don't want to cut yourself, dear."

She trembled and stared at Rafayel. He hummed a very familiar melody, which made her thoughts muddled once more. The dagger slipped from her hand as she collapsed to her knees on the damp beach. Screaming.

“Be still, dearest love.” Rafayel gently lowered down. His knees were next to hers, as if he, too, was begging her to stay. “I can ease all our suffering… If you listen to me now…”

She covered her ears and shook her head with ferocity as if she never wanted to hear another word from him. Rafayel smiled in bitter. She had been like this lately, forgetting who she was and how profoundly she was in love with him. But that was alright. He would help her rekindle her love. She would obey at once as soon as he began singing.

He sang their song. He sang it the first time they met, and he still sang it day by day with her by his side.

She wept tremendously. She clutched her head and pleaded with him to stop. But Rafayel could never. Just like he could not stop the waves from crashing against the shore, who could ever stop his love for her?

After a while, she became quiet. No more yelling and pleading. She gave him an empty stare and a smile.

"Rafayel." She called his name. Her hand found his body, as though she had desired to be close to him since forever. Rafayel embraced her. He stroked and kissed the top of her head. His tears sank, condensing into pearls and nestling on her hair.

“I'm sorry… I'm sorry for turning you into someone like this…” Rafayel whispered in her ear. “But I've found a way to fix everything. You shall not suffer any longer... And neither shall I..."

Rafayel held her with one hand as the other sought the dagger's hilt in the moist sand.

“Will you do this for me?”

He gazed into the eyes of hers which were dreamy under the spell of love. She nodded.

"I vow to do everything for my dearest beloved."

"Very good." Rafayel smiled as he kissed her lips. "You will always be my Muse… Mine, forever..."

The dagger swung across the fiery sunset. The water chanted its melody in an ancient ritual. Then everything fell silent.

Rafayel watched her passionately as she slept within the water tank he had specifically built for her. That was her home, now and forever.

His hand stroked across the beautiful design. Her body was adorned with jewelry crafted from his teardrops. She was a masterpiece of his lifetime, which extended to no end. His Muse. His lips found hers on the other side of the glass, and he pressed a kiss.

From now on, she would weep no more. She would feel no pain.

A crimson light emanated from inside the pocket near Rafayel's chest. He pulled out a blazing red protocore.

This entire world will soon know that, her true heart shall forever belong to him and him alone.

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transmascutena · 4 months

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I think it's interesting how one of the healthiest relationships in the show is Wakaba and Utena's friendship. Obviously, it has its flaws and tensions. But those tensions arise directly from the concept of being "special," from Wakaba dealing with their sense of inferiority towards Utena, who actively puts their sense of self-worth in winning these duels to keep Anthy at their side (a noble Prince...) People talk about Tatsuya being rejected as a Black Rose duelist a lot, but it's so notable that he's rejected because he's just...a more emotionally mature, less toxic person. Yeah, his heart is broken, but there is something decidedly human and mundane about how he approaches the conflict by asking, "What's wrong with me?" He sees him and Wakaba as two equals, he doesn't put their love conflicts on a pedestal, and he wants genuine solutions and hopes to confront his own flaws to understand why Wakaba rejected him.

Literally no one else is doing it like him.

A key theme in this show is critique of the nuclear family, but an extension of that theme is how said family unit breeds deep dysfunction into the characters' lives. The lack of communal infrastructure means characters are constantly putting their eggs in one basket. Everyone wants to return to their past because Ohtori and the patriarchal system doesn't offer chances to form new connections outside of the ones born of your trauma/childhood. Their lives are defined by their suffering. I view Wakaba and Utena's relationship as so important BECAUSE of how mundane it is, these 2 people met and they became friends and they eat bentos together and Wakaba views herself as non-special, but she doesn't realize how severely fucked up and lonely all the special people are.

I could go on. I want to write essays about this anime, for real. But it's something that struck me as I watch the show for the first time.

one of the reasons i find utena and wakaba's friendship so interesting and appealing is the fact that it and its issues are so mundane in the middle of all melodrama of the duels and the student council relationships and all of those things. their flaws feel very real for a teenage friendship, and they're all things i can personally relate to on some level. they obviously genuinely care about each other, but their friendships suffers from them not truly understanding each other, mostly because of their own lacking communication (utena doesn't tell wakaba any of the weird things going on in her life, probably out of some desire to protect her from it, and wakaba doesn't tell utena how upset that makes her, and ends up resenting her.) and it's completely accurate what you said about the tragedy of wakaba wanting to be special like utena is, but not realizing that said "specialness" comes at the cost of abuse and trauma. ohtori (akio) purposefully obfuscates that abuse to make it seem like something you should want. trying to disguise grooming as romance, etc. etc. the beauty of the rose hides its thorns and all that.

i'm not sure i'd call it the healthiest relationship in the show (although the bar is so low that it probably is by default) but it's important that the ways in which it is harmful are so normal. who hasn't ever been bad at communicating their feelings to people they care about? who hasn't kept secrets that they probably shouldn't? who hasn't grown apart from a middle school friend once new things started happening in their life? i'd argue that the flaws in the show's other relationships are also pretty normal when you strip away the layers of metaphor and symbolism from them (in the sense that abuse is exceedingly common.) but utena and wakaba's friendship exists almost entirely outside of that, which makes it stand out.

#i will say that i do not personally think tatsuya is really more mature than the other black rose duelists.#just that the ways in which he blames himself/wakaba aren't very useful for manipulating him. but i didn't really want to get into that her #thank you for the ask i really appreciate it :)#revolutionary girl utena #analysis #utena and wakaba #asks #m

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lets-try-some-writing · 1 year

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TFP bots if humans could also have outliers and the kids each have a power though none of them want to talk about it because the popular human opinion on these individuals is that they’re dangerous and worry the bots might share the opinion if they find out.

*deranged laugh* This is was so much fun to write about. I hope you like what I came up with!

Human Outliers

Due to a random series of mutations within human DNA, occasionally there are children born with abilities that defy usual biology. These children are almost always feared by the general population and put into programs specially made to help them control their abilities. Jack, Miko, and Rafael happen to be outliers, and each of them have kept their abilities secret from those not required to know for their own reasons.

Jack

Jack's outlier ability is somewhat of a classic and not too out of the ordinary when it comes to powers. He has superhuman strength, and at the cost of needing to consume copious amounts of food, can even match the bots in power if he pushes himself. However growing up with his outlier ability was not an easy experience for him.

His father walked out on him and his mother as soon as his power manifested. And all throughout his younger years he suffered from anger issues, breaking things and even harming his mother on occasion before he learned to control himself. Since he was very little he has feared his power and has purposefully avoided taking in any serious calories for fear of hurting others. Due to his hesitance to take in any more energy than necessary, he is a rather weak teen, with no significant muscle mass and painfully thin by normal standards.

He desperately wants to be normal and not to be "cursed" with his abnormal ability. He fears touching others and prefers to keep several feet between him and anyone else even though he is limiting his intake. Meeting Miko and Rafael have helped him feel a little less out of place, but if given the option he would still gladly give up his outlier ability.

Rafael

Rafael's outlier ability has caused him much distress due to how taxing it is for him to use and how dangerous it can be if he isn't careful. He is capable of infiltrating the minds of others and implementing thoughts, desires, and commands. It is a form of mind control, but one which is not the easiest to use as he is forced to fight the mind he is attempting to influence.

Due to the fact that his outlier ability was active from birth, he was kept in solitude for most of his infancy, only ever associating with his parents. Specialists came and taught him how to control his power all throughout his toddler years alongside teaching him normal school subjects for his age group. However there were still accidents, and unfortunately he broke the mind of another during a temper tantrum. Since then he has refused to use his power seriously, only ever suggesting things to the minds of others and never trying to take full control.

He does not hate his outlier ability, he has had it since birth and views it as another, albeit far more dangerous, limb. However his gift has led him to fall further into his studies instead of developing actual human connections. Jack and Miko are his only human friends as their outlier abilities make it rather difficult to invade their minds by accident.

Miko

MIko's outlier ability is highly sought after but also rather inconvenient for her. She is capable of short range teleportation, being able to teleport to any location in her field of vision. This ability has not been easy to learn how to use though. Not only does it exhaust her mentally, but far too often she ends up overshooting if she is unfamiliar with the area.

Her ability came in late by outlier standards. She was around eight when her power finally showed itself, as such she is still learning how to use it properly. She has gotten stuck in tight spaces, almost fallen off several high ledges, and involuntarily ended up teleporting, nearly getting her killed via incoming cars and other hazards. To combat this, she is required to wear special glasses that adjust her vision in such a way that she can't teleport without first taking them off. Even with them on, she still randomly can find herself teleporting if she is familiar with the area and a little too excited to get from point A to point B.

Miko loves her outlier ability and thinks it is the best thing ever. However she also is not fond of showing it off because of the stigma surrounding outliers. She has lost one too many friends after finally feeling comfortable enough to show them her gift. As such she likes hanging around Rafael and Jack more than anyone else. They don't judge and she gets to help them be more comfortable with themselves. It's a win win situation in her book.

The Bots Reactions to Outliers

The Autobots find the concept of outliers among an organic species to be downright fascinating. Optimus sees the outlier powers as a gift from the human creator god, whoever that might be. The gifts, in his mind, being intended to help protect the rather fragile race of humans from other, stronger entities such as Cybertronians. Ratchet thinks it is the strangest mutation of all time, he can't figure out how human biology does what it does regularly and he most certainly doesn't feel like touching outlier biology with a ten foot pole.

Bulkhead and Wheeljack both agree that human outliers are neat. They don't have any deep reasoning behind it, they just like watching an itty bitty organic do incredible physics defying things with no real explanation. Arcee was of the common belief on Cybertron that outliers were dangerous and should be contained. Her belief has translated over to the human outliers, and honestly she thinks it would be best for all parties if outliers were separated from the general population.

Ultra Magnus is in a similar boat to Arcee, he is not fond of outliers, human or Cybertronian, but he does see their use. If he could have his way he would make a separate division in the human government just for the outliers, training them from the moment they got their powers to benefit the people. Smokescreen agrees with Ultra Magnus in that outliers should be kept separate in some way, shape, or form from the public. But he also firmly believes that outliers have as much of a right to autonomy as any other being, as such he finds human outliers fascinating, but ultimately creatures with very specific, predetermined functions.

Bumblebee does not care where outlier abilities come from or what they do. All that matters to him is that the person with the powers, human or Cybertronian, takes care to use their abilities for good. So long as that happens he could care less about what the outliers do with themselves.

The (partial) Reveal

The kids have tried to keep their abilities a secret from the bots since day one. And for the most part, they have succeeded. However there have been instances where their powers were almost revealed by accident.

In one outrageous example of this, Jack literally threw a Vehicon in a desperate attempt to keep Miko and Raf from being hurt. He played it off as a instance of hysterical strength, and for the most part, no bot questioned him. They knew far too little about humans in general to tell weather or not Jack was lying about his biology. Ratchet was the only one who gave Jack a side eyed look, but ultimately he brushed it off as a strange human quirk.

Rafael had a similar close call when he, out of sheer curiosity, decided to try and poke at Bumblebee's mind just to see if it was possible for his powers to apply to an alien lifeform. The scout noticed the intrusion immediately and flipped out, his harsh mental rejection causing Rafael to have a nasty migraine. Bumblebee noticed Rafael's sudden pain and was left wondering what the cause could be. After brushing his mental encounter aside, Bumblebee focused on helping Rafael and didn't think too hard on the possibility of Rafael being entity attempting to mess with his processors.

Miko's instance of almost being caught using her abilities came when she was having a very erratic day, causing her outlier powers to go on the fritz. All throughout her time at base she would appear randomly and without a sound, always looking a little surprised with herself and very much guilty of something. The bots questioned her, but eventually just let it be as anything connected to Miko likely involves no small amount of chaos.

After several more of these close calls getting ignored or brushed off by the bots, the kids started getting more bold when it came to use of their abilities.

Jack casually started lifting furniture and handing Ratchet one of his larger tools when the opportunity presented itself. The medic and most of the base would look at him with wide optics before muttering something along the lines of "humans are terrifying" before leaving the matter alone. Sometimes just for the kick of it Jack will, without even breaking a sweat, bend metal as though he were fiddling with playdough just to watch Ratchet look at him in mixed awe and horror. He even started leaping down from the "human platform" whenever he needed to get to Arcee, once again startling all those present. By now the bots know or at least are very nearly certain that Jack is an outlier, but none of them, not even Arcee, dare say anything, not when Jack is comfortable and finally eating a healthy amount of food.

Rafael, eventually not caring all that much if he was discovered and only wanting to cause as much chaos as possible before getting caught, began sending the bots random probing mental touches throughout the day. Some, like Arcee, Ultra Magnus, and Smokescreen, completely shut him out and scurried off looking rather unsettled every time he tried to touch their minds (Rafael thinks this is hilarious and messes with them whenever he can). Ratchet and Bumblebee stopped giving visible reactions after a while, and as such quickly lost Rafael's interest. As for Optimus, he welcomed Rafael into his mind whenever Rafael attempted to touch his processors. At this point Rafael knows Optimus knows, but neither say anything and Rafael is allowed to send his thoughts to Optimus whenever he desires.

Miko uses her abilities super casually, not even bothering to hide her powers very well but still managing to come up with the most insane excuses for her quick and silent movement. Miko suddenly turns up on Ratchet's work station? What on earth are you talking about Ratchet? She has been there for the last 10 minutes, haven't you noticed? Miko finds her way into the rafters with no visible method of transportation? Don't the bots know she is an excellent climber? Miko find her way onto Optimus shoulder without so much as a peep to alert the Prime? You put her there Optimus, did you forget?

The bots all know at this point, but none say anything. They have learned of how human outliers are treated and have no desire to make the children uncomfortable. Maybe one day they will discuss it outright, but not yet. Let the children play a little longer.

#maccadam #transformers #transformers prime #optimus prime #team prime #ratchet #tfp kids #miko nakadai #rafael esquivel #jack darby #this spiraled really fast #gosh I fell down a rabbit hole with this request #i hope I still met the actual request requirments #well whatever #the kids are gremlins and that is that #gosh my grammer is really bad #this is what i get for writing late at night

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pxeachfuzz · 8 months

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now my boy tell us about aurelio

okay gather around but you have to buckle in cuz he’s weird ok

the logistics of this are hard to explain in my universe but he’s a zombie basically! he doesn’t really remember his past life much at all. the coffin in the mausoleum he woke up in was unmarked, so whenever he “awoke” he was just this guy wandering the streets who freaked out several people passing by LOL

he eventually wandered into “the queen’s dollhouse” which is my universe’s most famous circus, and the owner of the place just sorta took him in and hired him. she did it without any sort of interview process or anything, so everybody including himself was super confused as to why he’s there. he’s just this directionless guy though with nowhere to go and nothing to do, so he just lives and works here

he has this sort of purposefully oblivious and laid back attitude that can grate on certain people’s nerves… he also causes a few issues around the workplace since they’re trying to keep the zombie thing a secret and he’s terrible at keeping secrets. he has made a few friends but they’re very ermm lovingly hostile relationships. he is very good at his job though, he’s an acrobat among other things

the circus he works at has some magical properties to it that make the layout of the rooms and hallways change each night. his friend vendetta is his guide throughout the place but he asks a lot of stupid questions on purpose. he does have genuine curiosity about who and where he is, he just chooses not to show it, since his coworkers are in a similar boat to him and they’re all sort of directionless like he is

#magecirque #questions4gup

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shitty-fallout-art · 2 years

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rather short description but shes pretty cut and dry in terms of characterization

-Formerly known as Cait, Betsy Ross is a ghoul residing as the current mayor of Goodneighbor.

-Initially born into a mundane and sheltered life, Betsy was given a fairly average, if not overly strict, upbringing by her parents. Though oppressing, Betsy had loved her family.

-Though they had purposefully kept in the dark about the nature of their “business.” When Betsy turned 18 her family finally decided she was old enough to be brought into the world and indoctrinated into the family business: Slavery.

-Betsy was of course horrified and disgusted upon learning what her parents had done, and a huge argument broke out between them as she begged her parents to free the people they had captured, though they of course did not listen to her.

-Realizing she was outmatched, Betsy resolved to work in secret, tracking down the buyers that had done business with her parents and free the slaves during the night: though this was met with many hardships and failures. Many of the people did not trust her, were psychologically damaged, or even dead upon arrival, and the inability to save them turned Betsy to chem usage as both a respite and a resolve.

-Previously using goodneighbor as a safe haven to bring the few people she managed to free, Betsy begin to take up permanent residence there. The settlement was initially under control of a gangster named Tommy Lonegan, who frequently allowed raiders, gunners, and other undesirables to do business and cause havoc within his town. Betsy tried to use this to her advantage, making shady deals and alliances in order to observe, track, overpower, and trick people, all in an effort to undo what her parents had done.

-Succumbing to severe depression and hopelessness, Betsy had initially planned suicide via overdose, not realizing she was in close proximity to a large amount of radiation which would turn her into a ghoul and prevent her death. When she came too she was lying beneath a painting of Betsy Ross sewing the first American Flag and came to the conclusion that she could not give up just yet.

-Recreating a costume from old clothing salvaged from the Museum of History, “Cait” had taken on the persona of Betsy Ross and lead an uprising against Tommy Lonegan, quickly taking the position of mayor with her infamous “be free while you are free” announcement.

-After resolving to kill her parents and the rest of the slaver they did business with, Betsy’s family went into hiding. She is still hunting them down, though her responsibilities in goodneighbor often keep her too busy to travel. She is not above sending people to track them down and bring them to her, but nobody she has sent has come close to finding them.

-Addicted to both psycho and mentats, Betsy enjoys the intensive physical and mental over-stimulation it provides, though this, combined with her depression and trauma, often lead to severe nightmares and mood swings.

-A bit more optimistic than the canon hancock, but still a realist that is comfortable making questionable or difficult decisions.

-Initially presents herself as energetic and accepting, eager to learn and experience. Deep down she has a lot of trust issues and doubts the authenticity of the people around her. Tends to keep people close to as to better learn about them, hoping to appear trustworthy and accepting enough to be told outright whatever it is they’re hiding.

#swapout au #swapout Betsy Ross #cait #fallout #fallout 4 #fallout au character profile #shittys fallout aus #shittys art

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mermaidsirennikita · 11 months

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Can you rec some books with marriage of convenience/grumpy hero? those are my weaknesses and I do love reading about the love forming slowly, gets me every time

Definitely, dude!

I would for sure recommend several of Stacy Reid's books--she does marriage of convenience really well, and a lot of her heroes are grumpy.

Accidentally Compromising the Duke--heroine intends to "compromise" a friend into marrying her to avoid a planned marriage to a lecherous asshole... But she ends up compromising this intimidating widower duke, who needs a stepmother for his daughters anyway. He's more stern than grumpy, but she interprets his distance as coldness; he doesn't want to consummate marriage because he lost his first wife to childbirth. (He folds like a lawn chair.)

Wicked in His Arms--SUPER grumpy hero here, and he also writes SECRET MYSTERY NOVELS LOL. He dislikes the heroine immediately because she's vibrant and makes him horny, but she's visiting his estate as she looks for a husband. They end up fucking in a closet, and she like, runs out of the closet because that was her whole virginity he just took, and he runs after her, and they basically crash into HIS MOM. The story unfolds from there, he has to totally defrost.

When the Earl Met His Match--maybe my favorite Stacy Reid, but the hero really isn't grumpy for most of the book. The heroine is a society girl pregnant by another man who didn't stand by her, hero is a Scottish viscount whose family is super scandalous and hasn't been in society for years. They'd been exchanging letters as strangers for a while, and she basically shows up proposing a shotgun marriage to keep her baby safe from her horrid parents. He claims the baby as his own, and it's this delicious slow burn. He's mute, and there's some communication issues to get over--she does learn sign, and it's reeeeeally lovely. Picks up angst in the last 1/3.

Magnate by Joanna Shupe. Hero is a cold self made man, business... allies...? with the heroine's brother; heroine is from a more blue-blooded family. She asks him to mentor her in the stock market or whatever, her brother ends up catching them making out and forces the hero to marry her, and a lot of "he wants me but he doesn't love me" stuff follows. Really hot and well-done, and I love the way the marriage unfolds.

The Chief by Monica McCarty. Medieval romance, big stern hero paired with lovely virginal heroine. Issue is that her father wanted them to marry and the hero refused... so the father coerces the heroine into sliding into bed with the hero. He's sleepy and her back is turned and he though his dudes were sending a sex worker anyway, so he kinda.... goes for it, which she didn't expect because she thought her dad would come in before sex is had. Dad purposefully rushes in MID-COITUS and demands a marriage. The hero is cold and doesn't want to love and shit, so while they have really good sex, he withholds emotionally. Also: there's this amazing moment where she tries to give him doggy style sex for the first time, and even though it's normally his favorite position, he gets mad because he didn't get to look into her eyes while she came. I'm trash for it.

The Recruit by Monica McCarty. Another medieval, Robert the Bruce wants the hero and widowed heroine to marry, but she has sex with him knowing who he is while he thinks she's a random maid. He basically implies he'll fuck around, not realizing he's talking to the woman he's supposed to marry, so after he realizes who she is, she refuses to marry him. Then they reunite a few months later, and oops, she's pregnant, and he DEMANDS! TO MARRY HER! The whole situation makes him grumpy and distant at first, but they slowly bond while planning for the baby and stuff. Also, he gets to be a Father That Stepped Up for her firstborn child.

When a Girl Loves an Earl by Elisa Braden. Heroine becomes obsessed with the big, cold Scottish hero who can't love, and basically frames a compromising thing in order to force a marriage. He's real mad about that at first, but like. Partly he's just afraid of marring her with his GIANT SCOTTISH COCK. With good reason, because it does sound kinda massive. I love how batshit this heroine is.

The Truth About Cads and Dukes by Elisa Braden. Classic example. Heroine is actually ruined by the cold hero's stupid brother (not in a sexy way) so the hero steps up and marries her. He's got some issues and is very chilly to her at first, but he's really sexually obsessed with her from the jump. She just doesn't get that because she sees herself as ugly, etc. Great love confession in this one.

The Viscount and the Vixen by Lorraine Heath. Hero's old, wacky father brings in this random woman--he answered her ad for a husband and has signed a contract wherein if she doesn't get a husband with a title, she'll receive a huge payout. Hero is like, "oh fuck no, not my senile dad" and marries her himself, which may have in fact been his (not) senile dad's point lol. He sees the heroine as a fortune hunter, but is obviously super into her from the jump and hides it.

When A Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare. Hero is a grump, PTSD-ridden Scot. The heroine has actually been sending fake letters to an imaginary dude with his name for years in order to avoid suitors, lol, and he received the letters the whole time. She's inherited a castle, so he shows up outta nowhere like "MMMM I THINK IT'S TIME WE MARRY". He's grumpy and it's emotional but light, the way of Tessa Dare.

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare. Grumpy scarred hero needs a wife for heir purposes, and his fiancee ditched him due to his scars. The heroine made the wedding dress and shows up wearing it to demand payment, and he's like "fab, let's marry and I'll fuck you with the lights off until we have a baby". He's grumpy, but it's mostly insecurity because, you know, scars.

This Scot of Mine by Sophie Jordan. Hero's family has this apparent curse wherein the men always die before their heirs are born. The heroine faked a pregnancy in order to avoid a bad marriage, so when he meets her he's like oh sick I'll marry her and claim her baby as my heir and I'll never have to worry about the curse because the baby won't actually be mine. She's unaware of this, and they fuck on the wedding night--he realizes she's a virgin and flips. She then gets pregnant lmao, and he's very grumpy because he thinks she BASICALLY KILLED HIM LMAO.

The Duke I Tempted by Scarlett Peckham. Hero and heroine end up getting married for like, practical reasons, and they got along at first... But he's actually sexually submissive, and he's afraid of her finding out, which puts up this wall between them. Super good and kink positive.

The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne. Hero is a criminal mastermind and kidnaps the heroine in order to basically convince her to marry him in order to "get this inheritance" she has (there are... other reasons, lol). She's like, fine, but I want a baby and you have to fuck me for that. Problem is, he's incredibly traumatized by his misdeeds (and the childhood SA he suffered, TW) so he doesn't like skin to skin contact... at all. Which means. He fucks her with his clothes on. Wearing leather gloves. A LOT of angst, super good.

Non-historical:

Lush Money by Angelina M. Lopez. Billionaire ice queen CEO heroine proposes a marriage of convenience to the genius prince of this tiny principality. She'll bail out his nation, and he'll give her a baby. He haaaates her at first. Wild, hot, great.

#romance novel blogging #book recs

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coyote-nebula · 2 years

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ooh, I’m curious about 6 and 16

from this wip ask game

Oh these are both angst, lol...

6- home fires Selina & the Batfamily-- Bruce and Selina get married, and are satisfied to keep this little secret to themselves for the foreseeable future... and then Bruce dies, leaving everything to her. It's a heck of a wedding announcement. I reread @audreycritter 's What Happens in Vegas and started thinking about that era when Bruce is lost in the timestream and presumed dead... What if Bruce was only partway through accounting for Selina in his will and whatnot when he died? Or what if he was purposefully obscure about it so that Selina is forced to hang around Gotham (and the family) until they get it figured out? Or what if there is an addendum to his "in the event of" Batman instructions requesting that she stay and help with Damian? The point is that he doesn't want her to run off and seclude herself if something happens to him. As unexpected as the news is for everyone, it's a good thing-- Dick gets extra help with Damian, Damian gets attention from a badass mom that's a little more aligned with his new ideals, Alfred gets a surprise daughter, and Selina, after the overwhelm and complicated frustration with Bruce (rip) starts wearing off, gets more family than she knows what to do with. (I'm really intrigued with the idea of a relationship between Alfred and Selina, 'cause when's the last time she had a dad?) When Bruce gets back, it's hopefully to a somewhat less traumatized crew than in canon. 16- absentia (a flash-forward of several years) This one kind of started as Bruce Guilt-- he inadvertently declines to be Jason's backup, leading to Jason doing a mission alone, and when it goes wrong it's a solid twenty-four hours before anyone realizes and finds him. By that time, a major injury is a probable career-ending one. The thought's gone on to include Jason's recovery, dealing with related MH issues, and reassessment of what he wants to do now; that seems to be taking the form of rehabbing rescue horses because that injects a lot of amusement and joy into a really depressing premise to me lmao ↓ a clip with Cassandra's kid (long story) and Jason ↓ (cw limb loss mention)

Sleep bled away blink by sandy blink, until the blur resolved into huge dark eyes looming so close Jason could feel the owner’s cereal breath puffing across his cheek.

“...Hey,” he rasped, vaguely meaning to throw a kid or squirt in but losing the energy halfway. He sounded half-drowned, voice too deep and unsteady like his chest was full of loose rocks. Felt like it too.

She sniffed, eyes still shiny and red from a recent cry, mouth pursed into a small pout. Her bangs were stringy and wild, like they’d escaped an adult’s attention for a solid half hour or so.

A sluggish glance around his room revealed no adults, which unfortunately left him as a crappy substitute. He forced a few more cobwebs away and gently circled her narrow wrist with his fingers, the one with the titanium bracelet. Having pity on whoever was probably chasing this moving target on a tracker screen, he fumbled for the OK switches.

On the topic of parental tracking, Jason had always landed somewhere between militant opposition and disgruntled criticism. Then this one learned to walk, and run, and turned out to be just as gifted as her mom in giving everyone the slip (including her mom). His opinion did a complete one-eighty the day she’d turned up by the lake, getting ready to ‘learn to swim.’

An hour later, Jason was in the fab shop hammering out the bracelet and entering heated debates about features with everyone else whose heart rate hadn’t quite normalized.

Alfred’s single caution was, as usual, probably the most critical: it wasn’t to come off.

On Cassandra’s wry suggestion months ago, he’d engraved tiny happy faces on both switches just to watch Bruce roll his eyes when it was presented for testing.

Jason himself put the last link in, while Dick kept the kid entertained and Bruce kept her arm still.

That was a couple links ago, but the buttons hadn’t changed. He depressed them at the same time; somewhere, a red dot turned to green.

Mission complete, Jason let his hand flop back to the sheets. “W’s wrong?”

She sat back on her folded legs, stare dropping to the corner of his pillowcase as she twisted it in her hands.

He tapped her once with the backs of two fingers that were already right by her little leg.

Her lips pudged out stubbornly.

He waited, letting his eyes fall shut. If she wanted it dragged out of her, she’d have to find somebody with the energy to nag or tease. Alfred, probably. Dick or Tim, if they were around. Before, Jason could have been counted on for both. Right now it wasn’t in him. Maybe it’d never be again, even though it put a guilty weight in his chest to think of disappointing her.

“B-Pa is mad,” she said finally.

Jason slitted his eyes, feeling newly exhausted even though it wasn’t anything he hadn’t heard before. “Mm,” was all he said.

Now he was replying in monosyllabic non-words, too. Man, he needed to get out of the Manor for a while.

“He said don’t run in the driveway,” she mumbled.

A brief spark of anxiety pushed the fatigue back a little, and he shifted his head on the pillow to see her better. “You hurt?”

She looked down, hair waving around her face as she shook her head vigorously. “The car stopped.”

Jason’s spark turned to a glacial chill.

His leg, or what was left of it, volunteered a timely throb to interrupt all the unfinished thoughts budding in his brain like hives.

He breathed out, too tired to be riled up or even hang on to them. “Y’gonna stay out of the driveway now?”

Her face pinched as if a gentle push away from tears, and she nodded weightily.

A little energy came to him, enough to curl an arm behind her and pull gently. “Good. C’mere.”

That was apparently what she’d come in for in the first place. She fell deliberately into his chest, drawing a startled grunt out of him before curling up against his old Gotham Knights tee. The smell of fruity kid shampoo and torn grass made him remember the texture of his sheets, the late afternoon light glowing on his open door and warming his back, distance himself from the phantom scrape of asphalt and hot, choking motor oil, endure the background ache coursing from his hip down to an absent foot.

She rubbed her forehead against the bony center of his chest. He draped his arm over her, caging her safely in.

This, at least, he was still good at.

#thanks that was fun #selina and bruce #batcat #selina kyle #jason todd #batfic #wips #ask

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bemused-writer · 3 years

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Qifrey & Olruggio Skirting the Issue

Noticed a little something while I was skimming through volume 4 that I thought I’d share.

Qifrey and Olruggio are talking about Richeh here, which is straightforward enough in that first panel, but the bottom two are interesting. Qifrey is very carefully not looking at Olruggio as he says “It’s hard to know how closely to approach” while Olruggio remarks “People aren’t quite as straightforward as spells, are they?” I get the distinct impression neither of them are talking about Richeh anymore, but have instead decided to air their problems with each other under the guise of talking about Richeh instead.

The problems listed fit in pretty well with their continued issues later on in the series as well. Qifrey doesn’t know how close he can get to Olruggio and, in fact, keeps him at a distance. Whether it’s because Olruggio is always busy or because he’s trying to protect him (or just himself) is hard to say, but I do believe Qifrey doesn’t really “get” Olruggio. After all, he asks him later on “Why would you go so far to me” when I have a feeling this is supposed to be something obvious from Olruggio’s perspective.

Meanwhile, Olruggio is very correct in saying Qifrey isn’t straightforward. Qifrey is purposefully keeping all manner of secrets from him, after all, and isn’t letting him in. Not too long ago he brought in a new student (Coco) without even consulting him, which is something that bothers Olruggio up to the very latest chapter.

Interestingly, not too shortly after this, Olruggio gives Qifrey a gift for him and the girls and Qifrey comments his “spells are more eloquent than his words.” So, sort of a quiet way of not-quite-resolving the previous complaint.

There’s also the symbolism of scalewolves, which is brought up for the entirety of this arc. Several characters get tied to them loosely, such as Richeh, Coco, Agott, Qifrey, etc. That idea of protecting oneself with armor, letting that armor go to form a pair, basically letting your guard down in some way. This was very heavily applied to Richeh and her possible budding relationship with Euini, but it could also be applied to Agott and Qifrey as well, so that’s some food for thought. Agott of course is opening up more thanks to Coco and letting some of that armor go while Qifrey is going in the exact opposite direction and rejecting Olruggio’s help and turning ever more inwards.

The one other thing I have to say about this section is that there’s another scene later that makes me feel like something about it just... doesn’t quite add up? Qifrey is explaining Richeh’s situation to Olruggio as if he has no idea what her background is, but later on we see this:

Olruggio was there with Qifrey when he took her in! XD I mean, that makes more sense actually. Olruggio’s main issue with Qifrey taking Coco in was that he wasn’t consulted, so it would make sense that he was consulted about the other three. I guess Qifrey could be reminding Olruggio of something he already knows in a vaguely snarky way, but I have to wonder if maybe this is a little detail that changed in the series over time.

Anyway, some food for thought.

#witch hat atelier #wha meta #bemused's post

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true-blue-megamind · 3 years

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MEGAMIND (FAN THEORY) MONDAY: Why Was Megamind Raised in Prison?

Are you ready? Wait for it… Waaait for it… SPOILER WARNINGS!

Yes. Alright. This “Fan Theory Thursday” post is happening on Monday. I have a good excuse. I promise.

I have finally returned from my (extremely necessary) travels—sometimes adulting has to take precedence—and I’m here to provide another deep delve into the murky world of Megamind fan theories! (Better late than never, I suppose.) I’ve been astounded by the amazing amount of interest my small contributions to this fandom have gained, and I’m truly grateful, so I’ll not keep you all waiting any longer.

We all know our favorite blue alien has, to say the least, an unusual past, perhaps the strangest part of which—besides his extraterrestrial heritage—is where he was raised. But the question remains: why? Why was Megamind brought up in a jail of all places? Was it merely, as it appears on the surface, a purposefully absurd plot point poking fun at the sometimes-extreme backstories found in comic books? Or is there something more going on? While the first impulse might be to assume the former, don’t be so sure. Despite being an animated family film, Megamind tackles some fairly poignant and serious questions, so it’s not too far-fetched to consider that the creators may have given Metro City some of its own social issues as well. That may sound like a bit of a stretch, but bear with me. The evidence might surprise you.

The first question we have to examine, naturally, is what circumstances would permit a child being brought up in a prison in the first place. Of course, as I’ve mentioned before, there are some who suggest that this is simply not questioned in Megamind’s society, which at times seems to follow completely different rules of logic. (The same quirky rationale that, apparently, dictates any supervillain managing to kill a hero can simply take over a city without interference from the federal government.) However, that is far from the only possible explanation, (and would make for an extremely boring post,) so we’re going to move on to some more interesting—and equally viable—ideas.

Megamind Was Raised in Prison for His Own Good

One popular fan theory concerning Megamind’s childhood incarceration is that he was, in fact, under protective custody. With things like Area 51 and shadowy “men in black” featured so prominently in UFO hypotheses throughout the United States, it’s difficult—in this country, at least—to mention extraterrestrials without mysterious government agencies springing to mind. (It may be the same in other nations as well, though I don’t claim to be any sort of expert.) As the film Megamind is set in the U.S., it makes sense that such an organization could be lurking in the background. That has led many fans to suggest that the Warden may have actually kept young Megamind behind bars for his own safety. Due to laws forbidding experimentation on prisoners, supposedly the blue boy would have been safe from becoming an unwilling test subject for some secretive government agency so long as he was serving a jail sentence. (Indeed, several fan fictions feature Megamind having scars from a live autopsy that was performed when he was captured after one of his adolescent jail-breaks, thus possibly explaining why he keeps almost his entire body covered in multiple layers of clothing.)

There are three major problems with this supposition—two of which I’ve discussed before in the fan theory post concerning the Warden—however, they both bear mentioning again here. The first issue, which does not appear in the aforementioned blog article, is that, quite simply, that Megamind’s legal status—and thus protection—would have likely been dubious at best. A federal organization could probably have found grounds to demand a space alien was turned over to their custody regardless of his imprisonment, especially if, in the beginning, he hadn’t been formally charged with anything and therefore couldn’t lawfully be held in prison.

The next objection to this idea is that the Warden seems to harbor a great dislike for Megamind. According to an impressively thorough blog post by Demishock, the news article shown at the start of the film’s title sequence makes this abundantly clear. The Warden calls young Megamind “a bad seed” and a “little criminal,” as well as describing the blue boy’s physical appearance in scathingly derogatory terms. The last problem with this concept is that, in one scene, we can see several screens on which a guard seems to be monitoring things like Megamind’s brain activity. That smacks of experimentation. So why would the Warden save Megamind from a shadowy organization only to make him a test subject in the prison itself?

Undaunted and creative as always, the Megamind fandom has offered potential explanations for all three of these objections. I’m drawing from multiple discussions and fan fictions here—too many to name them all—by authors like Darkonesroses and DaniKin among numerous others. The first solution is that the Warden may have registered Megamind as his ward, maybe even as his son, before the federal government heard about him, thus making it harder to legally demand the blue alien was handed over. The second is that the Warden may have been putting on a public facade of disliking Megamind in order to avoid suspicion or even to preclude any possible accusations that his “special treatment” of the child constituted corruption or failure in his duties. The final explanation is that the apparent experiments being done on Megamind in the jail may have been a sort of “deal with the devil”: allow some limited, non-invasive tests under the Warden’s watchful eye so that more would not be demanded. So, there may be reasonable grounds to suggest that the Warden could still have been protecting the alien child.

Megamind Was Raised in Prison Because People Were Scared of Him

Megamind and Metro Man are both aliens, but the latter looks human and therefor integrated into society with far more ease. Another “Prison Upbringing” fan theory suggests that, because of this, people may have assumed that Metro Man was more human—or even that his wealthy adopted parents hid his origins until he was in elementary school and well-established as their son—while Megamind may have been viewed as a potential danger. After all, no one seeing a baby with peaches-and-cream skin, brown hair, and blue eyes would have thought twice about him, but a blue baby with an astonishingly fast development rate and a sharp-toothed fishy companion would have been another story. Unlike Wayne Smith, Megamind’s heritage could never be overlooked or forgotten.

There is actually some fairly compelling evidence to support this theory. Firstly, keep in mind that Metro City appears to exist in a reality much like our own, where many people neither know nor believe space aliens exist: an assumption that is supported by a line in another DreamWorks film. (If you’ve read Megamind’s Connections Beyond the Film, you already know where this is going.) In Rise of the Guardians, Jamie tells his cynical friends about “aliens in Michigan.” Given both Metro City’s location in Michigan and DreamWorks’ fondness for slipping in little allusions to their other movies, many fans agree that Jamie’s statement refers to Megamind and Minion. Working from that hypothesis, we can assume with relative confidence that the fact Jamie’s friends don’t believe him indicates that people outside Metro City don’t know about Megamind, or at least don’t know he’s extraterrestrial origins. (All I can say is that that must have required the queen mother of all cover-ups! Then again, how many people didn’t know about things like Los Alamos or Project MKUltra before they were declassified? But I digress...)

Secondly, take a good look at the scene taking place in the Metro Man Museum, paying special attention to the background. While we can see some things related to Metro Man’s special abilities—explanations of his laser eyes and super-hearing, and even a large model of DNA—one thing is conspicuous in its absence: there is nothing about outer space. Nothing. If everyone knew about Wayne’s origins, you’d expect there to be something,but there isn’t. This has prompted some fans to ask: is it possible that Metro Man’s powers were being presented as some sort of strange genetic mutation or new evolutionary adaption? Could it be that the fact their long-time hero was as much an alien as his former nemesis was one of Metro City’s best-kept secrets?

The combination of these suppositions could lend credence to the idea that Megamind and Minion may have been viewed as dangerous while Wayne was not. Imagine if, today, a modern society was suddenly faced by real extraterrestrials, who were very obviously “other.” Think about the questions that might arise. Are they predators? Are they carrying alien microbes that, while harmless to them, could be deadly and fast-spreading among humans? According to this particular fan theory, such concerns could account for Megamind and Minion being raised not only in incarceration, but largely in solitary confinement, as we see them alone in a cell when they are both still young. However, it should be noted that the fact they were allowed to attend a school makes this seem more unlikely.

Megamind Was Raised in Prison to Make Him a Villain

This is a big one, as well as, honestly, my favorite theory in this post. There is an astounding amount of evidence suggesting that there may have been a much darker purpose behind Megamind’s harsh upbringing: to mold him into a nemesis for Metro Man. I know, I know, that seems a little unbelievable, but, once again, I have to ask that you hear me out. In two videos titled A City of Deception and Why the Plot Holes in Megamind are a Conspiracy, YouTuber The Theorizer lays out some very compelling evidence that this may have actually been the case.

Think about it: two orphans are raised in jail among criminals, allowed to learn a skewed moral code from infancy. They are then sent to a school built suspiciously close to the prison itself, where, in a class of maybe ten or twelve children, they just happen to be joined by the only other alien around. This occurs despite the fact that the two child-inmates are being raised in very different circumstances from the third non-human. Oh, and did I mention that that third young extraterrestrial’s adopted parents hold abundant wealth as well as, presumably, social power? You know, the sort of money and influence that might enable them to, perhaps, fund and control a small private school?

Does anyone else see something extremely odd about this entire situation?

But it doesn’t end there. This is more than mere supposition because there are actually details in the movie itself supporting this idea. Firstly, we know that the school truly is close to the jail—not simply shown as such in the interest of time or artistic portrayal—because, when Megamind builds an energy shield helmet to deflect dodge balls, one of the balls flies over the prison wall and strikes the Warden in the head.

Secondly, there is the apparent involvement of the Warden himself to consider. In Demishock’s aforementioned blog article, the news paper clipping, dating from Megamind’s youth, states that “child services have been able to secure furloughs for the child's education.” So we know that Megamind’s brief school career was being funded by a third party. Next, in the background of the class room, we see a student’s crayon drawing of the school bus in which are seated the children and, in the back, an adult man who looks exactly like the Warden before he went gray. (There is more about that in the fan theory post entitled The Warden.) Why, if, as has been said before, the Warden obviously disliked Megamind, did he allow or even instigate the funding of the blue boy’s education? And why does he appear in childish art clearly associated with the school itself?

We don’t have to look far for an answer. Metro Man, as a baby, could already fly, indicating that his powers developed early. However, we see in the school scenes that, far from acting like a hero, young Metro Man was prone to showing off as well as ostracizing and even hurting Megamind. You’d expect that sort of behavior to be punished in a class room, but instead we see it not only tolerated but seemingly encouraged. In fact, he’s applauded and awarded gold stars every time he uses his special abilities to thwart his blue classmate.

This is, indeed, supported by the fact that, as one Reddit post asserts, Metro Man's uniform features gold buttons on the chest reminiscent of his school rewards. And don't forget about the stars edging his old cape, which Megamind steals. All in all it appears Metro Man was being groomed to seek the praise of others by fighting the other alien. Megamind, on the other hand, seems to have been reprimanded for everything he did, even if he was attempting to do something positive or only defend himself.

What does all this mean? It’s simple. As a boy, Metro Man wasn’t merely a bully, he was a bully with super-strength, super-speed, and lasers in his eyes. I think we can all agree that sounds like a terribly dangerous combination. However, his adopted parents probably held sufficient influence to keep him from simply being locked away like Megamind was.

It is very possible that the adults involved decided that the best alternative solution was to prompt Metro Man into using his powers to become a superhero instead. But a superhero needs a supervillain, and it seems Megamind was chosen for the role. By raising him among criminals before putting him in a situation where his talents were ignored or even punished, where he was constantly made to feel like an unwanted outsider, and where he was bullied by everyone, they ensured that Megamind would reach the conclusion that he did, indeed, come to: “I am naturally bad and the only place society has for me is that of a villain.”

This may have been done simply because Megamind was both an alien and unprotected, or it may have been because everyone (rightly) assumed he’d survive the ordeal. After all, even as a child, he possessed not only an enormous intellect but also unexpected strength and resilience. (You can read more about that in the post How Strong is Megamind.) Most likely, the rationale was a combination of all of the above.

And there you have it: three compelling fan theories concerning why Megamind was raised in prison. No matter which one you prefer, the fact these concepts have developed at all speaks to the incredible detail hidden in the film. More than that, however, it also illustrates a powerful message about character and choice: Megamind himself had every possible reason to become callous and hateful toward society, yet, as his rise to heroism shows, he retained a good heart despite it all. As usual, there are more reasons why this sadly underrated movie is something truly special.

#Megamind #Megamind movie #dreamworks #dreamworks animation #Megamind fan theory #megamind fan theory #fan theory thursday #fan theory #fan theories #jail #prison #childhood #Minion #Megamind fan theories

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haircoveredwriter · 3 years

Note

Do you think Lynn is still filming or do you think she was done by ep 10? Curious your thoughts, and I would love to hear your spec on what’s to come for 11b if you would be so inclined.

I think it’s pretty clear her story arc wasn’t meant to - and doesn’t - go past the MSP/episode 10 when they will have wrapped up everything Reaper. Leah is meant to bolster Daryl’s realization he can’t save everyone and show us a clear and concise conclusion to his hero complex which Carol brought up in Find Me. Furthermore, the only brief glimpses we have seen of LyCol on set in 11b have been while she’s wearing her full Reaper attire - complete with unnecessarily long and combat counter intuitive duster jacket - signifying to me she was probably doing reshoots because I HIGHLY doubt the Commonwealth would let her 1) inside their gates as well as 2) walk the streets in paramilitary gear.

And yes I have seen all her social media posts trying to insinuate Leah is still around and kicking, but that being said, we shouldn’t forget how well LyCol plays the self promotion game. Choosing these moments to accidentally drop images or “hints” about a storyline that’s been universally fandom wise disliked as well as when most of the GA wants Daryl to kill her after the msf, possibly continuing screams outright trolling IMO. I won’t get into the nitpicky details of each of her posts but I’ll point out she purposefully said several things in her live which have been proven to be untrue. Plus many of the show’s past characters went to great lengths post show death to not let the audience know they were no longer filming … Michael Cudlitz and Samantha Morton come to mind.

In regards to 11b, I think we are going to see a lot of parallels to when the group first arrived in ASZ and didn’t trust anything; especially with how secretive and just plain weird the commonwealth has been shown thus far. I can’t for a second see Carol believing anything Lance Hornsby is serving up and I’m dying to see scenes between the two if for nothing else than more secret agent Carol 😁. Yes please. My dream head-canon would be for Caryl to employ the fake marriage troupe yet sadly I don’t think tptb will give in to my deepest desires; more that we’ll see them skirting their own personal issues for a few eps until they feel they’ve figured things out for team family (whether they be at CW or ASZ) and then finally have that heart to heart. Maybe a little awkward moment brought on by everyone’s favourite observationalist, Princess, or we do know there are a bunch of creature comforts they haven’t had for a while in the Commonwealth so potentially our two adorable misfits can do some talking after drinks? Or someone says something after the first long hot shower in months? I’m not beyond seeing either Zeke or Connie come back and play a role by saying something to either Carol or Daryl since Kang wrote them in for the exact same uses in Caryl’s development.

Other things I think we could see, and it’ll be in point for because at this point I’ve rambled long enough:

- Maggie staying back in ASZ along with Aaron to not make the originals push to CW

- Princess, Carol, and Daryl sharing scenes because this is just all the yes 🙌

- I don’t think Zeke is making it to the end of the show…sorry

- One or both Carol & Daryl fitting against the class system they have in place. We know they aren’t going to be given the glamorous life so I think we’re in for an uprising (see amc, THIS would be the perfect excuse to have Caryl pretend to be married so they can keep up appearances with the grimes kids while they look in the CW’s bedside table for dirty secrets … just saying 😊)

- lol yeah I said this was going to be point form but I guess I failed at that again too

- Jerry finds a pasta maker and opens his own place which he calls Fusili Jerry (anyone get that Seinfeld reference?)🤣

- Not going to say who but I don’t think all the kiddos are making it to the end of the show. Don’t hate me okay. And by kiddos I mean not old enough to drive age.

- Mercer is going to get sucked into helping TF fight the CW system because who can resist the ways of Princess

- Please let them give us a scene of Caryl talking after they’ve both showered and someone mentions how good the other one smells. You guys already had Carol talking to Dog about the Dixon aroma; don’t drop the ball. We know Daryl would notice what kind of soap she used before she says anything and get the deepest shade of red once she teases him about it.

- If you want the outline, amc…hit me up.

- Connie’s story will revolve mostly around doing investigative reporting like before the ZA as she tries to figure out what’s wrong with the CW

- Oh and someone is going to pop that Sebastian twat again and I will stand on my chair and cheer.

#caryl #caryl positivity #carol peletier #daryl dixon #carol and daryl #twd speculation #twd 11b #ask me #some thoughts on stuff and thangs

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thenovelartist · 3 years

Text

Burned Beginnings, Chapter 4

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10. Tutoring

When Marinette entered the bakery to help Adrien complete the handfuls upon handfuls of special orders, he could tell she was on a mission. He really liked the strong set of her posture and determined glint in her eye whenever she got that way, which meant he’d have trouble ignoring that distraction and keeping on top of the schedule.

“So,” she began, turning her fiery look towards him. “I think I’ve made a decision.”

Adrien raised a brow. “What?”

“About the fashion world.”

“You have my attention.” After all, she’d been researching non-stop for over a month, now. He’d seen how much it was wearing on her. At the moment, she looked revitalized.

“I need you to be my own private tutor for a moment.”

Adrien couldn’t help but grin like a cat that got the cream. He sauntered up to her, striking his best pose. “Oh? Just what am I gonna be teaching you, milady? And is this really the place for it?”

Marinette’s expression fell flatter than a crepe. “Adrien.”

“Hint taken,” he said, straightening himself up. “What am I teaching you?”

“I want every story you have to tell,” she said. “You may not have been a designer, but you first hand witnessed your father’s fashion empire and were involved in several different sides of it. I want to know your own personal experience with everything. Good, bad, ugly, right, wrong; I want to know.”

His mouth set in a hard line. “I… I wouldn’t mind it,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “But fair warning: I’m biased.”

“That’s what I want to know, too,” she said. “The fashion industry is extremely competitive. And from the data I’ve seen, there’s plenty of people who go in with high hopes, only to get chewed up and spit out. What are your dark secrets? What am I actually looking forward to if I go in?”

Adrien frowned. He had plenty of stories to tell, that wasn’t the issue. What was the problem was the likelihood they’d discourage her from pursuing fashion any further. And if she did end up wanting to go into fashion, he didn’t want to crush any hope she currently held.

But looking at her now, he realized he wouldn’t be able to tell her no. She had a determination in her eyes that was both sexy and frightening. That look warned that she was on the verge of a decision, and whatever she chose would be ultimate and final.

Part of him loved that fire in her, and part of him wished he had half the gumption she did.

“Okay,” he relented. “But before I do, can you promise me that you’re not basing everything off what I say? That it will only add to all the other research you’ve done.”

She nodded resolutely. “Promise.”

He sighed. “Well,” he said, giving her a sheepish smile. “Guess the question now is where do I even begin?”

11. Truth or Dare

Marinette had come to her decision, and no one would sway her from it.

The tales Adrien had told her were mostly along the lines of what she expected, while there were others that more strongly leaned towards “that’s pretty good,” and still others that crossed into “that’s really bad” territory.

So, after that evening, the question she had faced herself with was not “could I handle this?” but rather “do I want to do this?” and “do all the potential benefits out way all the negative?”

But really, that brought her back to “what do I even want out of life?” because her answer changed everything…

Which make her realize that maybe she wasn’t so resolute in her decision after all.

She was almost nineteen. By now, most of her classmates had plans for the future they were all pursuing. She had thought she’d had plans, but when they all crumbled beneath her feet, she found herself lost, wondering around the Land of What-Do-I-Do-Now?

“Marinette!”

With a squeak, she practically leapt five feet into the air at the sudden voice right beside her. When she realized it was Adrien, she leaned against the bakery table with a heavy sigh. “You nearly gave me a heart attack!”

“Someone was lost in thought.”

“Yeah! And the last thing you do when someone is lost in thought is purposefully surprise them by suddenly appearing right beside them. Jerk!” With a hint of a smile, she took some of the flour on the table and flicked it at him, knowing that if she did, he’d wipe that apologetic look of his face and loosen up a bit.

“Hey!” He turned away, but not quick enough. Flour dusted his perfect jawbone and perfect collar bone and perfectly fitted t-shirt. But it was the perfect smile that he wore that made the rest of the heaviness she felt on her shoulders disappear, even if only for a moment.

“Don’t do that again,” she warned, her voice not really holding any bite in it.

“No promises,” he said with a chuckle, dusting the flour off him. “That was a pretty cute squeak, princess.”

She just sighed. There was no getting him off the name by now so she’d just learned to roll with it. “I am not cute! I am fierce.”

“Yeah, like a little fluffy Papillion.”

She gasped, flicking even more flour at him. He laughed again.

“Is the bread in the oven yet, Marinette?” her father called out, bringing her back to reality.

“Almost!” she cried, quickly hurrying to score the tops of the loaves on the last pan before hurriedly sticking all the pans she’d made in the oven. “Done!”

“Thank you.” That was when her papa reappeared. “The fridge is clean now, so I’m off.”

“And I’m on,” Adrien said with a grin. “There’s only a couple special orders to handle tonight, right?”

“Yup. You’ll finish those in a flash.”

Adrien beamed. “Perfect. Got to love when my days are easy.”

Her papa chuckled. “Can’t disagree with you there. Being a baker is more fun when you don’t have too large an order burden.”

“Exactly,” Adrien agreed, already tying on his apron.

After Marinette saw her papa off, leaving just her and Adrien in the kitchen, he sidled up to her. “Let’s play a game.”

She quirked a brow at him. He looked way too mischievous at the moment. “You just got on shift, and you want to play a game?”

He was positively beaming. “Yup.”

Although she shook her head, she didn’t mind it. She enjoyed running shifts with Adrien or just hanging out with him in general. But she knew that if they started up, she was the one who’d have to keep them on track for the night. “Start in on something first. Unless you wanna be here all night.”

“Point taken.” Immediately, Adrien set to work weighing ingredients and then mixing up a dough.

“So,” he said as he worked. “Truth or dare.”

Marinette dropped the bench scraper in her hand, less out of shock and more out of annoyance, as she shot him an incredulous look. “Are you kidding me?”

“No.”

“You want to play truth or dare? Now?”

“Yup. Just for a couple rounds.”

Little red flags went up in Marinette’s mind as she studied the overly happy blond. “Why?”

“Because I want to. Now! Truth or dare?”

She should shut this down before they got into trouble, but she had the feeling he’d tease her for it if she did. And she was not going to give him the chance. “Which one do you want me to pick?”

Adrien turned to study her a moment. “Dare.”

“Truth, then,” she countered with a grin.

“Yes!” He pumped his fist in the air. “I was banking on that.”

This time, she almost did drop the bench scraper out of shock. “What?”

“I know you,” he twittered, grinning like the idiot he was. “I know you. You weren’t going to give me the satisfaction of picking what I wanted; you never do. So, I just played you like the cheap fiddle you are.”

Marinette tried to look offended. She really did. But it was hard when her cute, idiot coworker was doing a happy dance. That, and she rather enjoyed this banter they always had. “Excuse you, who are you calling a cheap fiddle?”

“You, princess.”

“Oh really? The kazoo is calling me a cheap fiddle.”

“Kazoo?”

“Kazoo.”

He pantomimed being stabbed through the heart, and while he tried to keep the smile off his face, she could tell he was struggling. “Ahh, the ice princess is so cold. The light is fading. Limbs. Growing. Cold.”

She failed suppressing a laugh, turning and hiding her growing grin behind her hand. He was such a dork.

Adrien seemed to pull himself together, laughing along with her as he went back to measuring more ingredients. “Okay, okay. Back to the topic at hand.”

Marinette calmed herself, but her smile refused to budge. “Okay, you were asking me truth.”

Adrien came to stand right across from her. He reached across the table, grabbing her hands and pulling them closer. Her smile was gone now, and so was Adrien’s, as their combined hands rested in the middle of the table. “Scale of one to ten, how much do you trust me?”

Her cheeks and neck and chest flushed red as she stared into his green eyes. “W… what brought that on?”

His grasp on her hands tightened. “I just want to know.”

That was a lie. Or, at least only a half truth. He had a different reason for asking that specific question. She knew it. She could tell. Eight months of working together, and she’d come to be able to read this man like a book.

When had they gotten so close?

She took a breath to clear her mind. She’d probe him later, or maybe their little game would give her the answer she was looking for in that regard. But for now, she quietly responded, “A solid 8.5.”

Adrien paused, taking in those words before slowly nodding. “8.5,” he murmured. “I’ll take it.”

With that, he pulled his hands away. Marinette felt the loss immediately, but there wasn’t anything she was willing to do to make them come back. Not yet, anyway.

And would her heart calm down already? The way it was racing made it hard to think.

“Truth or dare?” she asked, voice quiet.

“Truth,” he answered.

“How many secrets would you say you’re hiding from me right now?”

A loaded question, Marinette knew. But she just had a feeling, an inkling, that she knew the exact number. One for what he was hiding now, and one… if he had feelings for her.

It wasn’t the first time that thought had popped into her mind. She’d had her suspicions for a while now that his flirty banter wasn’t just out of good, playful fun. And maybe she was reading into it too much, but she felt like he’d been more… touchy with her lately. A fist pound here, a pat on the shoulder here, a playfully light punch to the arm in the heat of their teasing; things like that. And if not touching, then he seemed to like being close. And and and…

And was she wrong, or did when he ask her ‘truth’, he purposefully make it that intimate?

Do you like me, Adrien? Or am I jumping to a conclusion?

And to I like you in return? Or am I mistaking our friendship for something more?

Because I don’t want to hurt you. And I don’t want to get hurt by you.

But…

It might be too late for that.

“Like…” Adrien began after a moment’s pause. “Define secret.”

“Something that you do not, in the near future, intend to tell me or would be comfortable in telling me.”

Adrien pursed his lips. “How will you know I’m being honest about the number?”

“I trust you 8.5 out of ten, right?” she softly reminded. “A number that can go up or down at any time.”

That got Adrien to wince. “Yeah,” he murmured.

There was a long pause, one Marinette wasn’t sure he was going to break.

“How far is ‘near future’?” he finally asked.

“Does it matter?”

“Yeah, it does.”

She paused. “Then answer how many secrets are on the line here.”

“Only one.”

“Only one?”

“Something I am not comfortable telling you or don’t intend to tell you in the near future, per your words, yes. Only one.”

Her brows knit together. Only one? Which meant… either the thing he was hiding now or the feelings. It was one or the other, but not both. “So…” she said, trying to hide her disappointment. “Are you saying that you intend to tell me this sometime in the future? But don’t know when in the future that will be?”

His brow knit together nervously, before he played it off with a warbly smile. “I’m pretty sure I answered my truth, already, princess.”

She frowned. Technically, he did, in an odd, roundabout way that somehow left her with more questions than answers. “Fine. How about we just drop this already?”

Part of her didn’t want to drop it. Part of her wanted to be able to pull another truth out of him. She wanted… needed to know which secret he was hiding. But she wasn’t sure her heart could handle it if it wasn’t the secret she wanted it to be.

“One more round,” he quickly begged.

Marinette quirked a brow but surrendered without fuss. “Fine. Dare. What are you gonna make me do now?”

He grinned. “I was hoping for that.”

“Why?”

He stopped the mixer, then came over to her and once again leaned in close. “I dare you… to come to New York with me.”

Marinette was frozen. She blinked her eyes several times, and her tongue felt glued to the roof of her mouth.

Eventually, she found the words to say. “I’m sorry, repeat that?”

12. Seatmates

It had been a month since Adrien had gotten the pleasure of surprising Marinette with a trip to New York.

After Marinette had asked him for his stories of the fashion world, Adrien had been so worried that she’d walked away with the determination to surrender her former dreams, and that made him feel too guilty to handle. So, breaking the unspoken vote of confidence she’d placed in him, he’d talked to her parents.

He hadn’t divulged everything, just the bare essentials necessary to get them to understand. Mr. Dupain had seemed surprised, but the information didn’t seem to have caught Mrs. Cheng off guard. It made more sense when she admitted she’d been suspecting something was up for a while, and this had confirmed it.

So Adrien had told them what he wanted to do: give Marinette’s dreams one last encouraging push by taking her to fashion week. His original plan had been for it to be Paris’ fashion week, but he’d been keeping tabs on Chloe and her whereabouts as well as taking into account that Marinette had been barred from several Parisian schools. If she wanted school to be a reality, she wouldn’t be in Paris, meaning it might be beneficial to take her outside the country. It would give her the chance her to explore and stretch her wings in a way staying inside France would not allow.

With her parents’ blessings on the idea, Adrien had started planning. And then had come the fun part of surprising her with it.

The roller-coaster of emotions she’d gone on after his dare had been a joy to watch. Disbelief to doubt to shock to excitement. She’d been so expressive that Adrien had found himself falling even harder. And when she’d agreed to let him take her to New York—which took no small amount of convincing—he’d been over the moon.

However, there was one thing about that day he couldn’t forget. Mostly because it hung of his head. Marinette had only remembered by the end of her shift that she still had one last round of truth or dare.

“Dare,” he’d answered. It was only fair.

She’d seemed relieved almost at that. And with her words, he understood why. “I dare you to let me save my dare for another time.”

After recalling the way she’d tortured him by cashing in her last favor by making him clean out the deep, dark crannies of the freezer and storage room, he had been hesitant about this one. Even if she had repaid him for that torture with the best dinner he’d eaten in months, he still couldn’t forget the devious sparkles in her eyes as she cashed in that favor. It made him worried for just what kind of dare she would make him do.

Hopefully it wouldn’t be too bad. After all, he was taking her to New York. She wouldn’t be cruel, would she?

Quietly, he scoffed. No, this was Marinette. She could be downright devious if she wanted to and make him think he was okay with it.

A weight on his shoulder called him out of his reverie. They’d been watching a new anime he’d downloaded on his computer for the plane ride. When they started, Marinette had seemed intent on watching it, but at the moment, it seemed his seatmate was too tired to keep it up.

“Hey,” he whispered, gently shaking his shoulder.

She took an earbud out but didn’t look up. “Hmm?”

“Do you want to just watch this later and sleep now?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Okay.” He paused the anime, then shut his computer screen.

Marinette shifted just enough to take out her earbuds, but then she was back to leaning against his shoulder. “This okay?” she asked, her groggy voice barely above a whisper.

“It’s fine,” he assured even though his heart protested. It was a little too okay with him. “Get some sleep.”

With one last hum, Marinette fully settled against his side, and within a little while, she was out.

Adrien sighed, leaning his head against Marinette’s.

“Truth or dare?” she asked, voice quiet.

“Truth,” he answered, going back to the mixer to turn it off.

“How many secrets would you say you’re hiding from me right now?”

He let his eyes drift closed at the memory. If only he had the courage to go for it. But this was the girl he considered to be his closest friend, and he wasn’t ready to take that plunge quite yet.

I really like you.

If she didn’t feel the same, he was sure they could go back to almost normal in time, but there would always be that rift.

A small, bitter smile suddenly crossed his lips. Here he was, trying to encourage her to follow her dreams or at least press forward to take a chance, and he was too much a coward to take his own advice.

What a hypocrite.

#miraculous ladybug #fanfiction #adrienette #AdrinetteApril2021 #Fluff #Fluff and angst #Yeah I make you hurty #Just a little #I'll fix it soon #i promise

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antebunny · 3 years

Text

Intervention Gone Wrong

^^despite the vaguely crack title this swings wildly between crack and angst because those are my two midnight moods^^

When Wei Wuxian hears that the sects are all gathering to form an alliance to kill him, it’s depressing how quickly he believes it. His initial reaction is disbelief, rejection, denial, but all too soon reality sets in. Even after all Wei Wuxian has lived through, apparently he’s still managed to be naive. It’s not like he’s done anything. He’s been holed up with the Wens in the Burial Mounds, trying to turn the resentment-soaked ground into something farmable. He even missed his sister’s wedding, and staged a fight between himself and Jiang Cheng just to fully sever ties with the cultivation world. All he wants is to be left alone.

“They say even Sect Leader Jiang is going,” the people of Yiling are whispering when Wei Wuxian descends from the Burial Mounds.

Wei Wuxian is glad that none of them recognize him as the Yiling Patriarch, because he strolls up to one of the vendors he heard whispering, and prods him for more information.

“All the cultivation sects are gathering in Nightless City to kill our Patriarch,” the man says. “Someone must’ve let it slip, but it was supposed to be a secret–he’s not supposed to know.”

Well. The Yiling Patriarch knows.

He abandons the quest for potatoes and returns to their settlement in the Burial Mounds. When he tells the Wen siblings, their faces turn white.

“I’m s–” Wen Ning begins.

“Don’t apologize,” Wei Wuxian cuts him off. “It’s not your fault.”

“If you hadn’t protected us–” Wen Qing begins.

“It’s not your fault,” Wei Wuxian says again. “It’s.” He presses his lips together, and when he opens them, he means to say why couldn’t they just leave us alone? But what spills out is a plaintive: “Even Jiang Cheng?”

They’re looking at him with pity now, and Wei Wuxian hates that, but he can’t take the words back. He can imagine how it happened: if the rest of the great sects all agreed–so he supposes Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen must have changed their minds about him, though he doesn’t know why–then Jiang Cheng would’ve been pressured into agreeing as well.

“We have to evacuate,” Wen Qing says.

“Maybe they’re just rumors,” Wen Ning suggests at the same time.

Wei Wuxian can’t help but spare a fond thought for his endlessly optimistic friend, but it’s optimism he no longer shares. “We still have to evacuate,” he says. “If you take everyone to the forest island between Yunmeng and Qishan, I can join you there. And then we can find a plot of land somewhere, I suppose, to hide.”

He’s already turned his back on the cultivation world, but hiding from it entirely–completely leaving it behind, without any chance of seeing his family ever again–is a worse kind of goodbye.

“And where are you going?” Wen Qing asks suspiciously.

Wei Wuxian manages a bone-weary smile for her. “Isn’t it obvious?” He says tiredly. “Nightless City.”

Contrary to popular belief, Nie Huaisang actually does care about people, not just his birds and his fans. And he doesn’t just care about his brother, although his brother is of course his first priority. Nie Huaisang cares about his friends, Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng, and he cares about the Nie disciples under his brother’s care, and he cares about his brother’s sworn brothers. Nie Huaisang empathizes with people, he just usually chooses not to act on it.

The thing is, Nie Huaisang likes Wei Wuxian. They’re not the sworn brother type of friends; Nie Huaisang’s not exactly dying for him. He likes Wei Wuxian’s easy-going friendliness, likes his willingness to help, and admires his unwillingness to bend his core principles. It reminds him a lot of Nie Mingjue. This is all to say that Nie Huaisang thinks that the world is a better place with Wei Wuxian, and unfortunately the world seems to disagree.

Nie Huaisang just wishes that the job of keeping Wei Wuxian alive fell to anyone but him. He’d kept his head down and assumed that they’d figure it out eventually, but he’s not stupid, he sees where this is going. His first thought is that Jiang Cheng will figure it out, but then he remembers his friend is pricklier than a pear, and with more parental issues than Jin Guangyao. Jiang Yanli, he thinks, could help in theory. Nie Huaisang briefly muses on encouraging Jiang Yanli to fix things, before deciding that getting her to overcome a lifetime of being told that she’s no help is much harder than just doing it himself.

And since there’s no one else who cares about Wei Wuxian, that means that if Nie Huaisang wants to visit Lotus Pier at any point in the future and trade gossip with his friends, he’s going to have to stage an intervention for Wei Wuxian.

Honestly. The things he does for his friends.

Nie Huaisang also hopes that an intervention can get Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng out of the dark mood they’ve been in ever since the end of the Sunshot Campaign. It’s understandable, truly, but Nie Huaisang isn’t touching that with a ten-foot saber.

The first sect Nie Huaisang goes to is the Lan sect. Lan Xichen is bound to hear him out, now that he’s Nie Huaisang’s brother’s sworn brother, and Nie Huaisang wants to know where they stand on the whole Yiling Patriarch business.

Lan Wangji is the most difficult person Nie Huaisang has ever tried to understand, and he didn’t try all that much. All he’s really sure of is that Hanguang-jun could not get away from Wei Wuxian fast enough back during their guest disciple year, and hates demonic cultivation. This he knows second-hand, from countless tales of arguments between the two during the war. It’s a bad combination for Wei Wuxian, but luckily for him, Lan Wangji also has an unmatched reputation for righteousness. Considering that he chose to argue with Wei Wuxian over demonic cultivation instead of just letting the man rest and win the war for them, Nie Huaisang figures this is more or less accurate. All in all, Nie Huaisang is pretty sure that Lan Wangji will support Wei Wuxian, if he realizes that the Jins are purposefully trying to get him killed.

Lan Xichen, it turns out, is fully aware that Jin Guangshan is up to something, but he’s pretending that he doesn’t.

“Sect Leader Jin’s business is Sect Leader Jin’s business,” Lan Xichen says firmly, when Nie Huaisang prods a little too much. “You know we don’t gossip.”

Ah well. It’s not like Nie Huaisang was expecting support on his one-man intervention quest. He does a little more snooping before he leaves the Cloud Recesses, which is how he discovers a stunning secret.

“Wangji,” he overhears Lan Xichen saying. “I know you…care for Young Master Wei–”

That’s as good as a declaration of love from either Lan brother. Which is to say: Lan Wangji is in love with Wei Wuxian. Now that’s a match that even Nie Huaisang, matchmaker extraordinaire, didn’t see coming.

Once Lan Xichen has accidentally confessed his brother’s love for Wei Wuxian to Nie Huaisang, suddenly Nie Huaisang has a great advantage. He hasn’t the faintest clue how their relationship will work out in the future, between Wei Wuxian’s demonic cultivation and Lan Wangji’s sect rules, but that is another issue that Nie Huaisang isn’t touching with a ten-foot saber. For now, it’s enough to know that there’s someone else, someone with power, that Nie Huaisang can rely on to keep Wei Wuxian alive.

So the next place Nie Huaisang goes to is the Jin sect. He drags Jin Guangyao away from his duties for a night of drinking, and then proceeds to get blackout drunk. Or at least, he pretends to get blackout drunk.

“Did you know,” Nie Huaisang says, through hiccups, “That Lan Wangji has a th…” His mouth works, trying to form the word. “A thing!” He fumbles for his glass again.

“Perhaps you should have water now, Young Master Nie,” Jin Guangyao suggests.

“Ah ah ahhhh,” Nie Huaisang corrects, slurring the sounds together. “What did I say about this young master business?”

Jin Guangyao smiles indulgently at him. “Not to?”

“Uh-huh.” Nie Huaisang thinks for a moment. “A thing!” He repeats. “For Wei Wuxian!”

“What sort of thing?” Jin Guangyao asks.

“Oh, you know,” Nie Huaisang fumbles for his fan and waves it around airily. “That sort of thing.”

He can see Jin Guangyao pale, and knows he’s working through the logical thought process. If Lan Wangji will be sad when Wei Wuxian dies, then Lan Xichen will be sad, and Jin Guangyao doesn’t want that. But even as Nie Huaisang sees this, he knows that it won’t be enough. Jin Guangyao will still do it, on the off-chance that he finally wins his father’s approval.

Nie Huaisang wants to shake him by the shoulders and tell him that he deserves better, but he doesn’t. Instead, he tries to imagine that he’s Jin Guangshan (ew), and his plan to stir the sects into killing the Yiling Patriarch isn’t working, because Wei Wuxian just isn’t doing anything. If he were Jin Guangshan, he would either find a way to lure Wei Wuxian out of the Burial Mounds, or find a way to frame him for something and rally the sects to kill him before Wei Wuxian can protest his innocence.

So Nie Huaisang just has to move first.

“Da-ge,” Nie Huaisang begins sweetly, and he is offended by the very visible flash of fear in his brother’s eyes. “I’m your favorite brother, right?”

“What’s wrong?” Nie Mingjue says, a bead of sweat forming on his upper lip. “I haven’t even made you practice saber recently.”

“Nothing’s wrong,” Nie Huaisang says, throwing in a pout for good measure. “But things could be better.”

“What is it?” Nie Mingjue asks warily.

Nie Huaisang blinks innocently. “I was just thinking how much happier I would be if you did me this one small, small favor.” He stops to estimate how much Wei Wuxian is worth to him. “I’d even do two consecutive weeks of saber practice,” he wheedles.

Nie Mingjue eyes him like Nie Huaisang is the one twice his size. “Depends on the favor?” He settles on finally.

Nie Huaisang tells him.

“You want me to what.”

“No,” Jiang Cheng says.

“Hear me out,” Nie Huaisang wheedles.

Lotus Pier is the last of the great sects on Nie Huaisang’s list, just because he feels like Jiang Cheng will be a lot easier to convince once there’s nothing he can do about it anyway.

Jiang Cheng merely glares at him, looking about one second from kicking him out of the Jiang sect leader’s private meeting rooms. “I know you’re behind this, Huaisang,” he says flatly.

Now Nie Huaisang has to admit that in his haste to act before Jin Guangshan, he’s been more obvious than he would’ve liked, but he’s truly been transparent if even Jiang Cheng knew he was up to something.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Nie Huaisang wails, fanning himself aggressively.

“I know you’re the reason your brother decided to join Jin Guangshan’s crusade!” Jiang Cheng explodes. “I don’t know why, but–”

“Sect Leader Jin was going to do it sooner or later,” Nie Huaisang interrupts, eyes innocently wide. “I only thought that if we joined in we’d have more control over it.”

Jiang Cheng’s eyes narrow into slits. “Let me get this straight,” he says. “You think Jin Guangshan wants my brother dead, for the Seal.” He doesn’t even bother waiting for confirmation, which is how Nie Huaisang knows that Jiang Cheng already believes that. “So your solution is to get the sects to make a pact to kill my brother–just so that you do it before Jin Guangshan does.”

Well, when he puts it that way…

“Okay, look,” Nie Huaisang says, snapping his fan shut. “Jin Guangshan goes to Nightless City thinking he’s heading an alliance to kill Wei Wuxian. Then my brother suggests destroying the Seal, and you support him. The Lans are bound to support that, so then either Jin Guangshan is forced to reveal his hand or he’s forced to back down.”

And hopefully whatever’s going on between you and Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian gets sorted out as well, Nie Huaisang thinks. He doesn’t have a plan for that, exactly, so much as the hope that if he pours the chaos of the entire cultivation world into Wei Wuxian’s lap, something’s bound to come loose.

“Alright,” Jiang Cheng relents, albeit begrudgingly. “Who’s going to tell Wei Wuxian?”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Nie Huaisang says, snapping his fan open again and hiding his smile. “I have a plan for that.”

“I d-don’t know why da-ge changed his mind!” Nie Huaisang sobs into Lan Xichen’s arms. “B-but now everyone is going to kill Wei Wuxian, and he hasn’t even done anything!”

Lan Xichen pats Nie Huaisang on the back, his face pale. “I’m sure we can talk this out,” he says weakly. “But, Huaisang, my brother–”

“He hates Wei Wuxian, I know,” Nie Huaisang interrupts, sobbing even louder.

He pauses, breath hitching just in time to hear the sound of a spiritual sword being unsheathed–and then, presumably, mounted. Lan Xichen had probably been about to say something like “my brother is coming.” It’s really too bad Nie Huaisang interrupted him.

“It’s so sad, because Wuxian really likes him!”

Lan Xichen blinks several times, and his face does something funny. “R-really?”

Nie Huaisang sniffs loudly. “But that’s not the point,” he cries. He tugs on Lan Xichen’s robes. “You have to go stop them!”

“The Lan sect will surely have a presence,” Lan Xichen says. “But Huaisang–”

Nie Huaisang bursts into tears again, successfully distracting him from escaping Nie Huaisang’s clutches. He doesn’t stop crying, or let Lan Xichen leave, for another ten minutes, until Lan Wangji has had plenty of time to leave the Cloud Recesses.

Doubtless he’ll fly to Yiling, where he’ll tell Wei Wuxian a less than comprehensive overview of their plan. It’s not exactly the informant Jiang Cheng had been picturing, but Nie Huaisang will make do, so long as it’s Lan Wangji. Perhaps he’ll vow to protect Wei Wuxian, and then declare his undying love to Wei Wuxian–so Nie Huaisang’s a romantic, sue him–so by the time the two of them actually make it to Nightless City, another piece of the puzzle will be in place.

Wei Ying.

Lan Wangji lands at the base of the Burial Mounds running. He tears up the path, worn into the mountain’s face by Wei Ying and the Wens. When he reaches the top, the place where the little Wen settlement once stood is completely empty. The cave where Wei Ying once slept is empty. Little Wen Yuan is nowhere to be found, nor are the elderly Wens. There’s no sign of life, anywhere, save for the abandoned plot of land, ready for farming.

Lan Wangji falls to his knees, sullying his white robes with dirt. Wei Ying, he thinks desperately. Where are you?

The last time Nightless City had this many people, they were leading the final attack of Wen Ruohan.

The memory randomly occurs to Wei Wuxian as he alights on the massive outer wall of the Sun Palace, before the great pavilion where all the sect cultivators have gathered. Last time, they were charging up these steps, while Wen Ruohan stood in the entrance. Now, Wei Wuxian stands on top of it, one hand on Chenqing, and the other on the Seal.

Down below, he sees the bright yellow robes of the Jins. Jin Guangshan has placed himself at the head of the alliance, because of course he has. But Jin Guangyao is there, his father’s silent shadow, and so is Jin Zixuan, looking distinctly uncomfortable. Nie Mingjue is stone-faced at the head of the Nie contingent. Lan Xichen is blank-faced at the head of the Lans, almost like his brother.

In vain, Wei Wuxian looks for Lan Zhan. He doesn’t care what he sees reflected back at him, he only wants to see Lan Zhan. But he isn’t there. Finally, Wei Wuxian looks over the Jiangs. Jiang Cheng is scowling, to Wei Wuxian’s utter lack of surprise.

“How rude,” Wei Wuxian calls, interrupting whatever Jin Guangshan’s going on about. “A party for me and I wasn’t invited?”

Jin Guangshan startles when he hears Wei Wuxian, though he hides it well. Jiang Cheng doesn’t seem surprised, merely directs his scowl directly at Wei Wuxian. Which is rather unfair, Wei Wuxian feels. It’s not like he’s done anything wrong.

“Get off the roof,” Jiang Cheng snaps. “Get down here.”

Wei Wuxian stares down at him, eyes fizzling with red light. He can’t be serious. Just because Jiang Cheng didn’t tell him doesn’t mean Wei Wuxian doesn’t know what this is about.

“You can’t be serious,” he sneers.

“It might induce a better conversation,” Lan Xichen says, solemnly.

That’s certainly no lie. The Lans never lie. Though Wei Wuxian would make a case for misleading–his sentence implies that the reason they want Wei Wuxian to come down is just so that they don’t have to shout at each other from so far away, and not–

“Won’t you come down and join us?” Jin Guangshan says, sickly sweet. “We were discussing some concerns that people have raised about your behavior.”

–So that they can kill him easier.

Why is he here again? Oh, that’s right. Wei Wuxian was hoping this was an overblown rumor.

Wei Wuxian laughs harshly. The sound is swallowed by the endless night. “Sect Leader Jin must think I’m stupid,” he says, with thinly veiled anger.

“Wei Wuxian,” Jiang Cheng fumes. “Stop playing around and get down here.”

“Who’s playing around?” Wei Wuxian demands, Chenqing twirling around and around in his hand. He stalks up and down the roof, just an inky smudge against the vast black sky. Torches flicker all around the pavilion, lighting the cultivators up in all their colors.

Usually Jiang Cheng is a terrible liar, but there’s not a hint of deception in his demeanor right now. If Jiang Cheng wants to settle a score with him, then Wei Wuxian is happy to do so. But as far as Wei Wuxian is concerned, he doesn’t owe the rest of the world anything.

“I heard Sect Leader Jin’s moving speech,” Wei Wuxian continues, full to the brim with anger. He stops pacing, and stands facing the cultivators. His hand trembles on Chenqing. He didn’t come here for a fight, but now his blood is singing for one.

From the back of the mass of cultivators, a moving white blur comes in at full speed. Soon, the blur reveals itself to be Lan Wangji, late for clearly the first time in his life, if his expression is any indication. Every line in his typically stoic face is drawn taut with tension. Wei Wuxian’s hunger for a fight drains away.

He’s still angry, but he has to protect the Wens. They’re waiting for him, on the forest island halfway between the Burial Mounds and Nightless City. He has to return to them, or Wen Ning is probably going to come wandering into Nightless City looking for him. He can’t afford a fight.

“Good for you,” Jiang Cheng gripes. “Now will you get off the roof?”

Wei Wuxian is still angry, but beneath that, beneath all the bravado and the sneers and the self-righteousness are the white-knuckled, shaking hands that he draws in front of him to clutch Chenqing protectively by his chest. Beneath it all is the shaking voice that Wei Wuxian forces down until his tone sounds acceptable. Beneath it all is the part of Wei Wuxian that he doesn’t want to admit: the part that’s terrified.

Lan Zhan stops next to his brother, joining the ranks of Lan cultivators, and whatever hope Wei Wuxian had sinks like a stone to the soles of his boots. Dread pools like acid in his stomach, hissing and churning his emotions into knots.

Wei Wuxian looks across 3,000 cultivators, and swallows, laughter and sneers fading away at last. His voice is small and shaking when he finally speaks. “I’m not coming down, Jiang Cheng,” Wei Wuxian says.

#so this doesn't make sense #but in my defense #uh it's 1 am?#what can you expect?#mdzs #mo dao zu shi #the untamed #wei wuxian #nie huaisang #lan xichen #jiang cheng #my writing #writeblr #lan wangji #nie mingjue #antebunny's ficlets

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sysba · 4 years

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ᴅᴇᴛᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴇᴅɪᴛʜ ʙʟᴀᴋᴇ • 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒔

art by @somewillwin

some info (which i will gradually update) on Edith under the cut ❤

general

faceclaim: Laura James (jameslaura on ig)

name origin: ‘prosperous in war’; from the Old English name Eadgyð, derived from the elements ead “wealth, fortune” and gyð “war”

pronouns: she/her

sexuality: bisexual

affiliations: Wayhaven PD; Agency (Unit Bravo)

date of birth: November 13th

zodiac: Scorpio sun, Capricorn moon, Aries rising

alignment: chaotic neutral; leaning towards chaotic good

MBTI: ISTJ-A

temperament: choleric-melancholic

enneagram: type 5 - ‘the investigator’

appearance

height: 5ft11 / 1.80m

hair: dark brown; wavy; shoulder length

eyes: dark green/hazel

frame: lean but muscular; not curvy nor soft

style: practical/casual; lots of t-shirts, lots of leather jackets; dark cargo pants or jeans; grunge & biker vibes; no makeup except a bit of kajal to look more intimidating; short nails; practical shoes, often combat boots; nose ring (right side) and earrings (from lobe to upper shell); she has a ring that she wears on a necklace chain together with a cross pendant, she never takes it off.

visible marks: sleeve tattoo on her left arm of a Medusa surrounded by peonies; eventually she’ll get more tattoos (in particular a murder of crows in honour of UB); several scars, the biggest ones being on her stomach and back.

voice: deep; not high-pitched; usually quiet and purposefully flat, unless she gets mad; very lightly hoarse, almost smoky when it drops.

stats

traits: sarcastic; stoic; stubborn; logical; pessimist; impulsive; independent; intimidating

skills: deduction; combat; great language knowledge

weaknesses: people; science

authority: instinctive aversion to any kind of authority (especially when she considers such authority not to be deserved, which is why there’s mutual dislike between her and the Mayor); joined the force to avoid jail time; her skills earned her Captain Sung’s respect and her promotion to detective, but her aversion to following rules made him distrust her- they have a tense professional relationship and he suspects she is more loyal to the Agency; given that the Agency is a governative organization, Edith is naturally suspicious of them; part of the reason is her strained relationship with Agent Blake, although she would never admit to letting her feelings sway her opinions; until now, the Agency’s course of action has positively surprised her, but their tendency to keep secrets even from their own agents keeps her guarded. She agrees on lying to civilians, though, because she knows people couldn’t handle it and mass hysteria sounds annoying to deal with.

personality/behaviour: antisocial jerk, there’s no way around it; not a team player; loathes herself but still thinks she’s always the smartest/more capable in the room, giving Adam a run for his money; queen of trust issues, but once you earn her loyalty she’s ride or die; even her sarcasm has sarcasm; don’t need no man one; telling her what to do is a good way to get murdered; scared of feelings but a master in ignoring them so it’s fine; stoic and unwavering, on the job and in life- she rarely loses control, and when it happens it’s worrying and heartbreaking; people crying or showing emotions in general make her uncomfortable, as does physical affection from anyone she’s not closed to; a very logical person, but she thinks she way colder than she actually is- deep down she cares for people and wants to help to keep them safe, but it’s easier to just do her job without emotions involved. Everything goes out the window when Adam or UB are involved, of course. She could never bear to lose one of them. A pessimist who thinks she’s a realist. Doesn’t care about what people think unless she actually likes those people.

supernatural: she was accepting of the revelation; despite her logical and sceptical nature, she likes to keep an open mind, and what was going on with the murders and UB didn’t make sense unless she considered more ‘unorthodox’ solutions; she feels curiosity towards the supernatural world, and anger towards those who would harm innocents only because they’re not human; safe to say she likes supernatural beings more than humans, mostly because in this world the majority of them are the underdogs, the hunted.

body language/habits

right-handed but ambidextrous to a certain degree

fighting style: fights dirty; prefer close-quarters; chats during (sarcasm, teasing and trash-talking); high pain tolerance; attacks steadily; bait an opponent’s first strike; provokes her opponent; uses strategy; focuses on their battle; tries to read their opponent before/during the fight; fights with anger; fights with excitement (if sparring); fights without regard to wounds; hides wounds; takes a blow to protect another; prefers brawling; her greatest weakness is emotional; uses everything she has; hides her full potential; high stamina; avoids civilians; damages surroundings; refuses defeat; compliments their opponent (not always genuinely); moves efficiently; prefers to block (dodging is good but blocking can lead to immediate counter attack); defends her blindside; uses all available advantages; plays around; shows mercy; strikes when opponent isn’t ready; has PTSD; has lost a fight; has won a fight; wants to die standing

sitting: the very definition of ‘gays can’t sit straight’; never sits properly, not even at work; leans back in the chair as if she’s lying down, with her legs wide or crossed; often puts feet on tables/desks (it drives Adam crazy and unsettles Nate); legs draped over armchairs; rocking on a chair

sleeping: face down, freefaller style with one arm under the pillow; keeps a weapon hidden nearby (after being kidnapped she became a bit paranoid, she doesn’t like feeling helpless); light sleeper; no more than 5 hours of sleep; rarely dreams; finds it hard to fall asleep.

relaxed/happy: not sure she has body language for that; she’s almost always tense and guarded, careful not to let people in; often keeps arms crossed or hands in her pockets; but she does control her facial expressions less when she’s at ease; a lot of smirks and feral grins; rare genuine smiles that makes her look softer and gentler.

worried/nervous: pacing nonstop; leg bouncing; chewing the inside of her cheek a lot; pursed lips; mentally counting breaths to calm herself; scratching arms or the back of her neck; runs a hand through hair when uncomfortable or tired.

sad/hurt: arms wrapped around herself; nails digging in flesh; tense body; frown and narrowed eyes, but otherwise keeps a blank face; won’t break down until she’s alone.

angry: power-posing; narrowed eyes; clenched jaw; the very definition of seething until she explodes; literally hisses like a snake and bares her teeth; Farah says Edith is one of the scariest humans she’s ever met; almost never the first to storm away; doesn’t avoid confrontation, although she’s trying to become more diplomatic (it’s a work in progress); slamming doors and kicking stuff. If she’s angry at herself or she feels guilty, she avoids others and usually tries to channel her destructive tendencies into something productive, like training; throwing punches until she’s at her limit.

annoyed: arms crossed; raised brows; huffs; rolls eyes a lot; make a show of her disgusted expression.

flustered: glower as soon as she feels her cheeks burning; avoids eye contact (and physical closeness); deep calming breath to steady herself.

affection: doesn’t show affection openly, but one can see it in small gestures; very protective of her loved ones; UB members are all supernatural and yet she finds herself standing in front of them during a fight as if to shield them; she also occasionally ignores her pride and apologises- if she does, it means she definitely cares for the person; the closest it gets to showing physical affection is a friendly punch in the shoulder, or a slap on the back, or a hesitant arm squeeze for when she’s feeling soft.

PDA/contact: nope, no, stay back; she has to be truly vulnerable before she lets herself seek physical comfort; if someone else initiates, it can go two ways depending on how close she is to the person (for example, anyone in UB could hug her after knowing her for a few months and she wouldn’t pull away- she would still be awkward most of the time, but would hesitantly reciprocate); doesn’t even shake hands if she can avoid it (not for germs reasons, she just hates strangers touching her); unexpected physical contact makes her wince; her aversion to physical contact is more than a simple ‘I don’t like hugs if she’s pushed to the limit and she’s absolutely devastated, she holds on to someone dear to her as if her life depends on it. Being close to someone during fighting/training doesn’t bother her because she’s focused and it’s a different situation. Adam is the exception to all this: without realizing, she seeks his proximity and wants to be close; she will gradually begin to appreciate physical affection more (but not blatant and in public)

love language: acts of service + physical touch (later in the relationship)

taste/style

decor: dark walls and heavy wood furniture; a lot of black, purple and burgundy; not too stuffed but not bare; metallic decorations; there’s a sleek elegance of sort despite the simplicity.

music: classic rock and rap; no pop, no country; tolerates metal if it’s not too ‘noisy’; yes to classical music but not slow and romantic stuff, more epic and imposing melodies (a lot of Wagner and Beethoven); hums and dance when she’s alone but refuses otherwise unless she’s drunk.

food: eats a lot and at the weirdest times; sometimes she forgets to eat dinner or lunch but she eats a lot of snacks; the spicier, the better; favours North-Indian dishes; still appreciates a good burger; not a fan of pasta or rice as a main dish, prefers meat; yes to raw fish; secretly has a sweet tooth and is weak when it comes to fresh pastries (croissants and pain au chocolat are the way to her heart); is a decent cook but rarely does it because she’s always busy or tired, lots of takeaway meals.

drinks: addicted to energy drinks; unsweetened black coffee kind of person; green tea is fine too, as long as there’s no sugar in it; no to sparkling water if she can choose but doesn’t really mind; no champagne, no wine; beer is fine, but liquors are preferred (on the rocks, no fruity/sweet cocktails); although she does like the taste of alcohol, she rarely drinks in public because she likes to stay in control; if she drinks it means she’s very comfortable with the people around her.

hobbies: despite her not being book-smart and disliking studying in school, she occasionally enjoys reading and is naturally curious (especially about the supernatural, now that she knows it’s real); genuinely enjoys a good sparring match and has practised martial arts and different kinds of combat growing up (but is always eager to learn more); likes fixing stuff, cars in particular.

relationships: family

Rebecca Blake: quite a bad relationship; Edith calls her Rebecca or Agent Blake and acts cold and detached in her presence; while Rebecca hoped that knowing about the supernatural would help mend the rift between her and her daughter, that wasn’t necessarily true; Edith respects her mother from a professional point of view, and the rational part of her understands the need of secrecy; but all the same, she remembers how absent Rebecca was during her childhood, and she’s grown into considering her more like an acquaintance rather than her mother. Rebecca’s absence during Edith youth was the reason why Edith became rebellious in the first place, to the point of breaking the law. She only avoided jail time because of Rebecca’s intervention, although they both pretend not to know. Although Edith isn’t purposedly cruel to Rebecca, and whenever it happens it’s more because of her abrasive personality rather than an actual desire to hurt anyone, everything she does and says is aimed to remind Rebecca that she has no part in Edith’s personal life, that her help and affection are not needed. Her feelings towards her mother, however, will begin to grow more confused and conflicting as they work together (although Edith’s tendency to push those feelings deeper instead of acknowledging them won’t make it easy for them to get closer)

‘Rook’: unlike with Rebecca, Edith’s feelings towards her father are of complete and utter indifference. The curiosity she might show in his regards is mostly due to her inquisitive nature, rather than a heartfelt interest in knowing about him. She wants to know what happened to him because she’s curious about the Agency and is naturally suspicious, but she won’t go out of her way to find out about her father’s personality and history. It may seem cold, but he wasn’t in her life so she has no reason to wanting to know him. When Adam and UB asked about him and she shrugged before giving very practical answers, she wasn’t playing tough; she’s not happy about his death, of course, but she doesn’t feel grief for someone she considers a stranger. At least, that’s how she’d describe it. Deep down, part of her is curious about what kind of person he is, but since she’s unable to identify those feelings she rationalizes them with logic.

relationships: Unit Bravo

Adam du Mortain: a pain in her ass, and most likely the first person she’s ever truly loved. Their relationship was difficult at first since neither of them is a people person and they’re both stubborn pricks. It took them a while to reach a place of trust, and when that happened it was too late, they were already in love. The intensity of what she feels for Adam scares Edith almost as much as it does him. Feelings, positive feelings in particular, don’t come easy to her (and she can’t deal with them anyway), and she’s so used to rationalize everything without getting distracted that whatever she has with him throws her off balance, so to speak. Of course, being in love with Adam doesn’t mean she’ll make his life ‘easier’ by following his every order... on the contrary, Edith challenges him constantly, makes him question things, and he’s grown so used to her stubbornness and sarcastic remarks that they don’t bother him anymore (well, most of the time). They’re always looking at each other as if they wanna fight and kiss at the same time. Grumpy, married energy. If they agree with each other everyone loses their shit.

Morgan: the member of UB Edith shares the strongest affinity with. Morgan gets her quite well, given that they are pretty similar in some regards. They don’t need (or like) many words, but they’re developing this sort of silent communication that’s enough for them to know when one of them is upset or worried. With time they’ll develop a very strong kinship, a friendship that’s both deep and unbreakable. Given that Edith is attractive Morgan has fun playfully flirting with her and making lewd jokes; Edith just snorts most of the time or retorts, all in good fun.

Nate Sewell: it took the longest for Edith and Nate to bond. He’s always so nice and caring, so genuine, at first she thought he was condescending, or that his friendliness was an act to obtain something (because in Edith’s experience, that’s the most likely scenario). She was a bit nasty to him in some occasion, mostly when he tried to advise her about Rebecca (which Edith didn’t take kindly- family is a personal business and Nate was just a coworker at the time) but she regrets it, now. She even tried to apologize once, which she struggled with a lot and made Nate laugh. Now they’re good friends, she trusts him and has his back just as much as he has hers. He also knows Adam the best, which makes him the perfect confidante- not that Edith would ever willingly talk about her feelings, but Nate’s offer still stands and he often offers unsolicited advice to her and Adam because he desperately wants them to be happy. Edith often calls him ‘mom’.

Farah Hauville: it would be impossible not to like Farah. Despite trying to uphold her hostile reputation, the detective soon realized that there’s something delightfully irresistible in Farah’s energy. And once Farah’s found out that behind the detective’s stoic exterior there was someone who actually liked to have fun, it was done: they soon became mates. Farah’s occasional naivety and her lack of knowledge about this world made Edith instinctively fall into the role of a protector of a sort. She sees Farah as a little sister she has to protect, and it’s something that surprises her since she’s never wanted to look out for anyone but herself.

in general: while she might not be loyal to the Agency (yet or ever), Edith soon realized she is loyal to Unit Bravo. Professionally and personally. She’s risked her life for them and she was happy to fight by their side. In such a short time, they did the impossible and earned her absolute trust. The feelings of camaraderie and family she’s never had, she first experienced within UB. Once she realizes she considers them family, she will be willing to die for them. They also bring out an unexpected softness in her.

relationships: others

Solomon Verda: lowkey work dad; well, maybe more of an uncle? they get along well, he doesn’t mind her sarcasm and definitely respects her and sees her as a skilled detective. He wishes she’d open up more and show more sympathy, at times, instead of hiding behind logic and sterile detachment, but he also feels protective of her and sometimes looks at her like she’s a scared baby deer lost in the forest (she does not like it, of course).

Bobby Marks: don’t know, don’t care; he’s a mild annoyance, but it’s fun to irk him. Edith thinks he has a punchable face.

Douglas Friedman: he’s a bit pathetic and Edith wants to strangle him at times, but his puppy eyes, combined with his family problems, are weirdly effective. She wants him to be safe, even though she acts grumpy. His crush on her was met with indifference at first, then it became exasperated amusement.

Tina Poname: a friendly acquaintance/work friend. Edith likes her enough to go out with her for drinks. She’s not bothered by the detective’s bad attitude and seems to like and respect her. It’s not a close or deep relationship, but a decent one.

Elidor: like Farah, he’s impossible to dislike. Not a close friend but a good mate.

past choices (WIP)

joined the force to avoid jail time - it wasn’t her choice but Rebecca insisted; Edith would’ve chosen jail just to spite her mother, not to mention it’s important for her to face the consequences of her actions.

Captain Sung forced the promotion on her - although she deems herself capable and knows she deserves to be a detective, she didn’t want to be responsible for others (not to mention she’s always oppositional, especially when facing authority figures); but being a detective gave her more freedom so she’s happy with the position, now.

trusted instincts over rules while searching out the warehouse

shot Adam - Edith first instinct is always to attack and fight, but normally she wouldn't shoot someone (nor pepper them) blindly; she kind of lost her nerve that night, mostly due to the fact that someone said she wasn’t gonna shoot and she’s not keen on letting others dictate her actions.

didn’t stay at the scene

talked to the witness and learned about the chanting

took Adam to see Kate Hayes

went to the bar with Tina - Edith isn’t the ‘going out’ kind of woman, but she wanted to get a sense of the general mood in town and was tired of being in the office (plus the mayor can shove it)

chose not to do the tests - it’ll take her longer to trust the Agency

escaped from Murphy

took him down by joining the fight

#the wayhaven chronicles #twc art #twc detective #commissioned #myposts #edith blake

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natromanxoff · 4 years

Text

Queen live at Colston Hall in Bristol, UK - November 18, 1975

The photos could be from either night.

This article from the November 29 issue of Sounds chronicles the second night in Bristol.

Queen triumphant

QUEEN ARE the type of group that make a man want to abandon rock writing. They pose questions and never provide answers. They exist in their own space-time continuum, visible and audible but keeping their secrets to themselves.

On the surface they couldn't be a nicer bunch of people, but they carry English reticence to an epitome. It isn't, as Geoff Barton said two weeks ago, that they're boring, it's just that they're reserved. Or in writer parlance, they don't automatically provide colourful copy. All my instincts as a writer tell me that there is a great story in that band, but after two nights with them I'm hardly any the wiser.

Skin tight

That their insularity has a lot to do with them being one of the most amazing heavy-metal and/or rock bands in Britain - with all the signs that they'll end up monsters on the order of Zep - is fairly obvious, but just how much bearing it has on the matter is hard to say. The enigmas they might pose mightn't even have answers.

Is there any logical reason why they present an image and persona straight out of the Beatles school of interlocking chemistry?

John is reserved, almost nonchalant on stage, as if it's all in a small, personal joke. When asked how he saw himself within the framework of the band he replied, with a small smile, "I'm the bassist".

Roger is his opposite, the cheeky sidekick in a Clint Eastwood movie, and attracting a lot of cheesecake attention in America and Japan.

Freddie is an original - one of the most dynamic singers to tread the boards in quite a few years. His attraction is obvious.

Brian is perhaps the biggest enigma of all. What is this seemingly frail, gaunt astronomer doing on that stage, striding purposefully and blasting diamond-hard rock? They're all equally strong personalities - like the Beatles there's no one major focal point. Ask four fans who their dream Queen is and you'll get four different answers.

Queen have been busy lads these past few months. Having disassociated themselves from their former management and joined with John Reid, the fourth album was seen to. Reid decided that a tight schedule wouldn't cause them undue harm, and figured on two months to record before embarking on this current tour.

Only Queen are driven to better each previous album - which at this stage of the game is obviously producing some excellent results - and 'A Night At The Opera' turned into a saga - culminating in 36-hour mixing sessions in an effort to allow at least a few days for rehearsal. In the end they managed three and a half days at Elstree with four hours off to videotape the promotional film for 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.

Their first few dates had not been without errors and the quartet were still not feeling totally comfortable their second night in Bristol, fourth night of the tour. You'd never know it, though.

Like all other aspects of the group, the stage is sophisticated. A black scrim provides a backdrop bounded by a proscenium of lights both front and rear. At each side the p.a. rises like a mutant marriage of Mammon and Robby the Robot. Amp power is readily evident but the most extraordinary is Brian May's subtle set up: nine Vox boxes stepping back in rows of three. The only packing crate visible is holding a tray of drinks, and you may rest assured that no roadie will rush, crawl or lurk across the stage while the show is in progress unless it's to rescue Freddie's mike from the clawing crowd.

As the auditorium darkens the sound of an orchestra tuning up is heard over the p.a. The conductor taps his baton on the music stand and a slightly effete voice welcomes the audience to A Night At The Opera. The Gilbert & Sullivan portion of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' follows, a brief glimpse of Freddie is allowed, and then in a blast of flares and white smoke the blitzkrieg begins.

Roger is barely visible behind his kit, just his eyes and tousled locks. John is wearing a white suit and playing the-man-who-must-stand-still-or-it-will-all-blow-away. Brian is slightly medieval in his green and white Zandra Rhodes top, while Freddie is...

Around his ankles his satin white pants flare like wings - fleet footed Hermes. Everything north of the knee is skin tight - tighter than skin tight - with a zip-up front open to AA rating. But further south, definitely in X territory, lurks a bulge not unlike the Sunday Telegraph.

There have been sex objects and sex bombs, superstar potency and the arrogant presentation of this all-important area, but never has a man's weaponry been so flagrantly showcased. Fred could jump up on the drum stand and shake his cute arse, leap about and perform all manner of amazing acrobatics, but there it was, this rope in repose, barely leashed tumescence, the Queen's sceptre. Oh to be that hot costume, writhing across the mighty Fred!

Phallic

Freddie is not pretty in the conventional sense of the word; like Mick Jagger of '64, he is his own convention. Also like the Jagger of the time, his stage persona and action is unlike anything else. Although it borrows - like most of the group's plagiarisms - slightly from Zeppelin, in tandem with Freddie's supreme assurance and belief in himself - he always refers to himself as a star - it explodes into something that is a constant delight to watch.

He reacts to his audience almost like an over-emotional actress - Gloria Swanson, say, or perhaps Holly Woodlawn playing Bette Davis. At the climax of the second night in Bristol he paused at the top of the drum stand, looked back over the crowd and with complete, heartfelt emotion placed his delicate fingers to lips and blew a kiss. Any person who can consume themselves so completely in such a clichéd showbiz contrivance deserves to be called a star.

Freddie's real talent, though, is with his mike stand. No Rod Stewart mike stand callisthenics here, just a shortee stick that doubles as a cock, machine gun, ambiguous phallic symbol, and for a fleeting moment an imaginary guitar. He has a neat trick of standing quite still in particularly frantic moments and holding the stand vertically from his crotch up, draw a fragile finger along its length, ever closer to the taunting eyes that survey his audience.

Their show contains lots of bombs and smoke, lots of lights, lots of noise. They fulfil the function of supremely good heavy metal - i.e. you don't get a second to think about what's going on. When they do let up for a few minutes, it's only so you can focus in on the bright blue electric charge crackling between your ears.

Bulldozer

Dominating the sound is Roger's drumming, a bulldozer echo that bounces like an elastic membrane, meshing with your solar plexus so that your body pulses in synch with the thunder. Tuned into that, everything else is just supremely nice icing.

For three days rehearsal, after eight months off the road Bristol was extremely impressive. In speculative mood I quizzed people on how long they thought it would take to headline Madison Square Garden. I was thought a radical at a year and a half. John Reid smilingly assured me it would take a year.

That Queen should end up with John Reid is an entirely logical proceeding. Everything about Queen demands that the world eventually kowtows at their feet in complete acquiescence - so big that bodyguards have to accompany them at every step. Well, no - they found that an annoyance in Japan, but, you know, huge.

Such status demands a Reid or a Peter Grant, and whatever the causes for their leaving Jack Nelson and Trident, an elegant group like Queen is going to look for a man with class. Reid found the idea of managing a group interesting, and having to deal with four strong personalities a challenge. He only concerns himself with their business and ensuring that the year ahead is mapped out. In January they begin a jaunt through the Orient, Australia and America, by which time it's March and they begin preparations for the next album.

Reid's prediction of a year was proven highly credible the next evening in Cardiff. The band had still not paused from the rush up to the tour and spent most of the day relaxing and sleeping - no doubt a factor in their near recumbent profile. Also, unlike most groups, they were keeping their dissatisfaction with the show to themselves.

They stopped off at Harlech TV on the way to see a cassette of the video for 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. The general consensus was quite good for four hours, with much laughter during the operetta. Brian finds film of the group educational - the first time he saw himself was a Mike Mansfield opus for 'Keep Yourself Alive' - "It was 'All right fellows, give it everything you've got but don't move off that spot.' It was terrible." You don't like Mansfield, eh? "Oh, I hate him - we all do... I was horrified when I saw it - I couldn't believe we looked that bad. I looked very static - seeing myself has taught me a lot about stage movement. Some of the things I do are planned for effect, but it's mostly just feeling the audience and communicating that back to them."

Arriving at the motel - several miles out of town - Freddie immediately fell asleep, John held court of a sort, joined later by Brian, while Roger went jogging, a daily event when touring. Tuning in to rock via Bill Haley and Tommy Steele, he became a drummer because he was better at it than guitar. All through school he was in bands; he only went to dental school out of "middle class conditioning, and it was a good way to stay in London without having to work". His mother thought it a bit strange when he opted for a career as a rock star, but she doesn't worry too much now.

The concert starts in much the same manner as the previous night, but there are signs that tonight is work, with posing an afterthought. The endings to most of their songs are magnificent and majestic, especially 'Flick Of The Wrist' and the rapid harmonies of 'Bad Boy Leroy Brown'.

Maniacal

The audience, seeing their faces in town for the first time, are vociferous in their appreciation. Guys know all the words to every song, yelling enthusiastically at every effect and solo. The band picks up, Freddie receiving the crowd beneficently, telling them they’re beautiful.

As the show builds it is obvious that things are gelling more. The previous night Brian had seemed totally out of place, not moving too much, taking solos with the weirdest half blank half possessed stare, talking to himself; cocking ear towards guitar. He was the proverbial stranger in a strange land, one step removed from the plane inhabited by you and me.

Tonight he moves fluidly, the gonzo lead guitarist of a gonzo band. His expressions are just as maniacal, but it only makes him look more demonic. His solo in 'Brighton Rock', an exposition in riffing and echo, is a treat because of his physical response to both music and audience, complete with ham acting. Freddie gets into the same game on 'The Prophet's Song', where he conducts an acapella madrigal with himself. It's a pretty commanding moment.

It’s soon after this that Madison Square seems reasonable. About a minute into 'Stone Cold Crazy' it becomes very obvious that Queen have suddenly Plugged In. Found the metal music machine and Connected. Freddie's movements explode in perfect unison with the music, the lights and surroundings go crazy, and the audience goes berserk.

Freddie asks for requests and receives a roar out of which one can vaguely make 'Liar'. Fred walks along the stage, nodding, agreeing he will do this one and that one while the kids roar on. "I'll tell you what - we'll do them all!"

'Doing Alright' opens slow and portentously. Queen's variation of light and shade is one of the major factors in their popularity, but even so the quiet sections frequently find the audience's mind wandering. One kid starts getting a joint together, totally forgetting it when everything blasts off again; guys talk among themselves, only to instantly leap to their feet, fists flying to the beat.

'Doing Alright' changes into a cha-cha beat, Freddie snapping his fingers, the coolest hipster in town, and then instantly drops into faster-than-light drive - the whole row next to me leaps to their feet as a man, rocking back and forth as Brian roars into a blinding solo.

Two songs later, in 'Seven Seas of Rye', the kids break - very fast - and in five seconds half the audience is a seething mass in front of the stage, climbing on each other in pyramids, sudden openings appearing as a splintering seat sends a few bodies to the floor.

The rest of the show is equally intense, especially for a couple of minutes during 'Liar; where Fred and Brian merge into a tight little triangle with Roger while John stands in front of the bass drum, staring out with his small smile.

Freddie has treated his encores - 'Big Spender' and 'Jailhouse Rock' - differently on successive nights, once appearing in a kimono and in Bristol with rather rude tight white shorts, giving the song title new emphasis. In Cardiff, though, he doesn't bother to change at all. Later it transpired that Brian had twisted his ankle during 'Liar'. While he’s attended to, kids out front pick up chair slivers to keep as mementos.

On the bus back to the hotel Brian sits quietly at the back, chatting with two girls. John sits at the front, as always. Freddie stares out of the window, lost in his own world. Roger bounces around, starts a pillow fight with Brian - which stops as soon as Brian scores a direct hit to the face - then discovers an eight track of 'Sheer Heart Attack', punching it through the channels as he conducts the group. The two hours towards which they have channelled the day's energies are spent.

Ambition

That Queen have become a top attraction through a fair degree of plagiarism is amusing. Stealing is nothing new in rock (or any art for that matter) and mostly Queen use the borrowed material better than the originals. That they would be big I don't think anybody really doubted. All four have immense desire to be successful, and that kind of ambition will keep them slogging until they achieve it.

But there are popular heavy metal bands and there are popular h-m bands. From watching Queen's audience it is apparent that Queen speak for them in a way that bands such as the Who and the Stones and the Beatles spoke (and continue to speak) to their audience. Uriah Heep may be great at what they do, but five years after their demise who'll remember them? Creedence Clearwater Revival demonstrate the same thing - who remembers them? And yet five years ago they were the largest band in the world.

Queen will probably always be remembered, because as their tour is beginning to demonstrate, they have the ability to actualise and encompass the outer limits of their sense of self-importance. Queen and their music, presentation, production - everything about them says that they are more important than any other band you've every heard, and who has there been, so far, who has objected? Certainly not the 150,000 people (plus 20,000 a day) who bought 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in the first 20 days of its release. Certainly not me.

See you at Madison Square Garden.

~ You can see the photos which was mentioned on the article, from the link on the title. ~

#queen #queen band #roger taylor #freddie mercury #brian may #john deacon #queen concerts

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