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verxsyon · 2 years

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·:*¨༺ ❝ 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐒 [𝐈] ❞

a royal soldier raised by mercenaries, you’re wary of the visitors entering the kingdom and your fellow staff despite knowing them for so long. who’s your ally, who’s your enemy, or who will be the one to capture your heart?

✧ 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠. albedo + arataki itto + childe + diluc + eula + gorou + jean + kaedehara kazuha + kaeya + kamisato ayato + sangonomiya kokomi + thoma + xiao + zhongli x gn!reader

✧ 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭. headcanon (written) ; 1.4k

✧ 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞. royal au ; fluff, suggestive (kokomi)

✧ 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬. allusions to seduction (kokomi)

✧ 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚. uh, hi. i’m here, which means i lied (again) about not posting any more fics during my hiatus lol. anyways, i brought you guys a royal au hc! thanks to fe3h, i became obsessed with them. because i reached 2k, i was thinking of writing 2k words of fics based on this headcanon. what do you guys think?

𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐨. a noble descended from a lineage of alchemists. he prefers to stay at home to avoid social interactions, believing that forming and maintaining relationships is bothersome. and yet, he seems to be only interested in you. to attempt exercising this friendship, he leaves you flowers and food at your door. becoming self-conscious that his efforts may not be sufficient, on the contrary, he sees you so happy when you thank him and compliment his creations. in a split second, you swear you caught an awkward smile gracing upon his lips.

𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢 𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐨. a mercenary from afar descended from a race of oni. infamous in his hometown for causing trouble with the authorities with his gang, he became famous overnight among the royal staff for his dashing looks and abrasive personality. that’s what you don’t like about him; he’s overly confident. you’ve never met a mercenary as unbearable as him. he keeps disturbing your sparring sessions by challenging you to a duel. he’s a determined and chronic loser, but maybe you’ll indulge him just once, just to see what happens if he finally wins.

𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞. a diplomat from a neighboring kingdom, or so he claims to be. there is something about him that sets him apart from the other diplomats who visited the royal family, and it’s not pleasant. it’s a mutual distrust between the two of you, and yet the space you both share is… tense. one night with crazed eyes and a knife at your neck, he reveals that he’s assigned to assassinate the king and queen, but you’re in the way, and oddly enough he doesn’t want to hurt you. it seems like he’s doing this against his will, and no, it’s the tense air talking.

𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐜. head of house ragnvindr. a noble descended from a lineage of wine industry tycoons, everyone is crazy over him, for instance, one of the girls at the flower shop. controversially speaking, there isn’t anything special about him to fawn over. politics is the least of his worries, but it’s a whole different story when the royal guard is in the picture, strongly opposing their operations. it’s very suspicious that his comments align with a vigilante called the darknight hero. you should be upset, but you admire him for wearing a ridiculous costume every night.

𝐞𝐮𝐥𝐚. exiled member of house lawrence. despite being born into a clan with a tarnished reputation, the king and queen are gracious enough to instigate her into the royal guard, upsetting the majority of the townspeople. you admire her strength of denying her clan’s principles. you wish everyone would see her past her history; she doesn’t deserve hate for something that is beyond her control. you want to befriend her, but her sense of humor is unique in a way that it kind of gives you chills down your spine. if it makes you feel any better, she likes you for seeing her as herself.

𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮. retainer of sangonomiya kokomi. a descendant of beast-like warriors, fighting is in his blood. nicknamed top dog, he’s the army general of the house and its strongest bowman, being able to take down seven men at once at one point. however, most people don’t believe this at first because of his adorable dog-like appearance, a feature he grew self-conscious of. you’re one of the few people who sees him as a fighter and acknowledges his strength, though you’re tempted to pet him like you do when you come across dogs in town — scratching his ears and grooming his tail.

𝐣𝐞𝐚𝐧. head of house gunnhildr. known as the dandelion knight, she dedicates her life to serve the kingdom, though to the point where she tends to overwork herself. she’s more worried about the state of the kingdom, she doesn’t know how to reconnect with her younger sister and doesn’t know what romance feels like out of the romance novels she reads. as someone who spends most of their time inside the kingdom, you sympathize with her, thus helping her to resolve them. after all, the both of you deserve a break. she’s confused as to why she feels warm when you’re around.

𝐤𝐚𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐤𝐚𝐳𝐮𝐡𝐚. a former refugee from a neighboring kingdom. upon entering your kingdom a few years ago, he became dependent on stealing which he got arrested for, but was pardoned by the king and queen by giving him the option to live here and serve them. in the present he’s patrolling the seas on the crux fleet to fend off any intruders. at the end of his shift, he’ll disappear from his group just to find you. the captain knows him too well; he’s smitten with you, the soldier with a spirit of a mercenary. the poems he recites at sea are basically his love letters in hopes to make you his one day.

𝐤𝐚𝐞𝐲𝐚. a fellow royal soldier adopted into house ragnvindr. he may appear to be the grandson that all the elderly people in town want, but he’s suspiciously sly, purposefully misleading some soldiers to another direction of the crime scenes and dodging your questions regarding his whereabouts. the townspeople seem to be involved in his antics, avoiding eye contact with you when you mentioned him. apparently, you’re dense, failing to notice the signs of him trying to make a move on you. he’s been doing those things to make you pay attention to him and have you all to himself in private.

𝐤𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐭𝐨. head of house kamisato. responsible for managing political affairs, he’s required to travel, which means he has to visit other kingdoms to establish alliances with them. although he’s said to go on business trips most of the time, his appearance is a top mystery. rumored to be tall, with short, white hair and a mole near his mouth, everyone joins in the hunt to find him at the royal party. your dance partner happens to fit the description perfectly. when the guests find out that you were dancing with the kamisato ayato, he kisses your hand and whisks away into the night.

𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐲𝐚 𝐤𝐨𝐤𝐨𝐦𝐢. head of house sangonomiya. known as the divine priestess, she’s the military strategist of the house. having the ability to foresee another army’s tactics and the outcomes, she’s a force to be reckoned with and a valuable ally to the kingdom. you had the pleasure of being invited to the guest room, where she was waiting for you with an extremely thin nightgown. it’s strange to see her so amused, and she beckons you to come inside. not only is she well-versed in the art of war, she’s surprisingly an expert in the art of seduction as well.

𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚. retainer of house kamisato. he became very popular among the royal staff and even the royal family by being the exact servant they needed. if you have to be honest, you don’t like him. but at the same time you don’t dislike him; he’s just too perfect for your taste. it’s annoying to hear him profusely apologize for things he isn’t at fault for and saying yes to every request from the servants along the way. as he serves a clan full of swordsmen, he should know how to fight. when you unleashed a surprise attack on him, he’s afraid — afraid of another person like he did in the past.

𝐱𝐢𝐚𝐨. a deity sworn to protect the kingdom centuries ago. he finds humans strange, but you’re even stranger because you captured his attention from the moment he first saw you as a young mercenary fighting against a wild animal by yourself in the forest. although he despises crowds with a passion, he decides to pose as a soldier of the royal guard just to meet you. when you encounter a dangerous creature during your patrol, he comes to your rescue and whispers into your ear to call his name in times like this before disappearing into thin air.

𝐳𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢. a knowledgeable man who works as an historian inside the castle. he’s friendly and likes having casual conversations over tea and games. there isn’t anyone from the castle who he hasn’t invited into his corner of the library. you’ve been there so many times that you already lost count. from your meetings, you can’t help but take note of his amber eyes. sure, they’re mesmerizing indeed. but you swear that you’ve seen those eyes in some history books you read — on a draconic deity that once presided over this kingdom. what nonsense, you may say, but the glint in his eyes says otherwise.

✧ 𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐬. if your url is in bold, that means i can’t tag you!

@aibiito ; @aqualesha ; @blissmal ; @bluexiao ; @bokutosworld ; @dreamiehrs ; @fadedjae ; @help-wtf-am-i-even-doing ; @lilikags ; @pastelsicheng ; @philosopher-of-fandoms ; @shxnosuke ; @sleepyyangyang ; @sucrosia ; @sunfloweritea ; @xriin ; @yeetmeoffjueyunkarst

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peejsocks · 2 years

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https://peejsocks.tumblr.com/post/683976257499693056/starting-an-argument-with-your-fave-just-to-end-up

Can I also request this with Ryan yes pls if u do smut

87. not being able to focus on anything during a conversation, you're too busy staring at your lover's lips

a/n: i hope it’s ok i combined the two, they just fit well together. thank you for requesting <3

disclaimers/tags: nsfw. pretty much pwop. borderline rough sex.

ryan dunn x f!reader

"I am not kissing Ryan."

Leaning on the wall, your body jolts up, exclamation directed towards the boys in the couch.

It's hard to hear them over the loud music and chatter of the crowd, clueless as to why you're discussing this at a party.

"C'mon, it's just one skit." Pontius pipes up. Knowing he doesn't even care about the confusing 'skit' Bam just came up with, more interested in instigating, you snicker at him. "You're supposed to be an actress, aren't you?"

That's actually offensive, not appreciative of condescending talk regarding your career.

Breathing in, remembering this is classic Chris pushing people over the edge, you put your foot down. "I'm not doing it. Why can't it be anyone else?"

"Because it's funnier if he has to kiss someone he hates."

Well, that does make sense. Bam's laugh is still irritating.

"I don't hate her." Ryan shrugs, sitting on the back of the couch, holding a beer in between his legs and not looking at you. He knows how to irk you, using the third person as if it is not worth it to waste words in your direction. "She's pretentious and I'm bored when she talks, but hate is too much."

His bluntness is not unfamiliar. Arguments between you were a constant whenever you joined the Jackass guys, either at a party or a guest-star appearance in an episode. Essentially, you think he's dumb and aggravating, disagreeing with his general attitude; and he finds you to be a tightass who takes herself too seriously and acts above everyone for being 'real' hollywood.

Anything was a reason to bicker. If anybody asked you, however, Ryan is the one who starts all of your fights, provoking you until a sarcastic comeback sets off a proper half hour argument.

"Ok, see, no chemistry." Hands moving between you and the blonde man, you try to end this ridiculous conversation. "It won't be fun for anyone. Not the role for me, sorry."

Stuffing your hands in the pockets of your denim jacket, which covered a little black dress, you shrug away into an escape but Ryan prevents it. Quickly, he's standing up and pointing fingers.

"Because you don't think I'm good enough. Again, that's just proof you have a superiority complex. Not the 'role' for you, that's ridiculous! It's just a skit, not one of your indie projects."

"Okay, leave my job out of this. It wasn't serious, I was joking." You put an enphasis on the last word.

A legitimate laugh comes out when he responds with 'your joke sucks'. He's clearly not as good at controlling his emotions as you.

Stepping closer, you can feel his breath on your face. For a second, you swear his eyes glance at your lips. "Are you gonna throw a tantrum over it?"

Remembering Chris and Bam are watching everything, you decide to take the rude route and leave the room wordlessly.

It's hot inside the house, cringing when your hand feels the sweat in the back of your neck. Looking around, you figure no one's gonna notice you sneaking out into the backyard, so you push through the many bodies to the chipped white door.

There's a clear sky, providing the comfort of having a lot of space to breathe and feeling very small in the vast of night. People tend to be unnerved by thoughts like that, but it calmed your mind.

A full moon is responsible for the only lighting in the 'forbidden' section of this house party.

Ryan bursting through the door and loudly going down the three steps, wood creaking, ruins your peaceful moment.

"Yes, I am." You're confused and he rolls his eyes, impatient. "Throwing a tantrum. I'm doing it."

Running a hand down your face, you sigh and take your jacket off, feeling the humid air creeping up. The metal of the buttons scratch against the picnic table you throw it onto. "Can't it wait? I really wanted to enjoy some fresh air and silence."

"Why are you so against it?" Of course there's a cigarrette in between his lips. It gives him even more of an unhinged look than he usually has.

"It would not help our situation at all." Direct was the way to go, hoping an answer would suffice and the subject would be dropped. Unfortunately, he asks what exactly is your 'situation'. "You know. Insuffurable."

"That's your fault!" He is so convinced of this, yelling it, that your shocked expression meets his intensity. "C'mon, you walk around with your nose up, untouchable. What's so special about you, huh?"

Ryan is wildly gesturing with both hands, the cigarrette moving up and down in his lips as he talks, tiny puffs coming out.

Eyes focus on one thing at a time. Shaggy hair. Scratchy beard. Tight black shirt and those stupid heavy boots. Something twisted is going on, because why is Ryan raining insults over you turning your cheeks red?

Carelessly bunching up your hair so it's not sticking to your neck, you think of ways to force the stranger in front of you to leave. Maybe when he's out of sight you'll calm down.

"You know what, asshole? So much. And you'll never know. I am too good for you." His cigarrette is out on the grass, eyes squinting, probably suspicious of the unnatural answer he always tried to extract out of you but never got. "I don't need you tarnishing my record."

"Isn't that part of your job, though? Are you gonna refuse a role everytime you disagree with a co-star?" Laughing, his shoes are an inch away from the tip of your knee-high boots. "No one will take you seriously if you act like a middle-school girl. Didn't you call me unprofessional?"

His tone is teasing enough to give away he's intentionally trying to drive you mad. Sick of having your dedication to acting questioned you step up to Ryan, biting the bait, face to face once more.

"I don't think you got it. I can take a prick at work any day. The problem is you, Dunn. I don't want anything to do with a scumbag like you." It's harsh, and he gives no reaction. Instead, he does it again, definitely looking down at your lips. Feeling your plan backfiring, you try to get his attention back to your words. "Are you even listening? Your head is so far up-"

Big hands envelop the back of your head, Ryan's nose grazing yours during the kiss.

When you move away, ready to ask what the fuck, the same hands pull you back in.

"Shut up."

Dry lips kiss you again, a taste of cigarrettes and cold beer, exactly what you would've expected. All that the mixture does is add onto your confusion, you want more.

The very reason this fight started is what's happening right now, and it feels so good. You can't believe you nearly passed on it.

Guiding you backwards, his hands are now sliding down your back. Cold fingers grab your ass, lifting your dress just enough to feel the skin.

"Ryan?" A whisper, not really intentional, you're just so lost your brain is demanding outside help.

Instead of an answer, Ryan slips his tongue in your mouth. You hum and it wakes you up, pushing on the heaving chest.

He can't even look you in the eyes, still focused on your red lips. "What?"

Attempting to choke out a sentence, a strange noise is what comes out, clearly still out of your body.

Ignoring you completely, the kiss is so rough this time it hurts your jaw and a string of saliva runs down your mouth.

As quick as it happened, it ended.

"Do you want me to stop?" Ryan cuts off all physical touch but doesn't move otherwise, few inches away.

Your knees buckle at his raspier tone, desesperate to get out of this skin-tight dress. The answer is obvious, but saying 'no' was too real, so you opt for implying it.

Grabbing a handful of his shirt, you pull him close and clarify through gritted teeth, "If you ever tell anyone about this…"

"Wouldn't dream of it." He's all over you again, holding your hips until they hit the same piece of garden furniture you abandoned your jacket on.

Before you can complain about the pain in your back from the table, Ryan's palm is brushing up your thigh, eventually reaching the thin underwear. A shudder runs through your body and he chuckles, self-satisfied.

If this is how it's going to be, you might as well try to enjoy it. Taking advantage of your position, you rub yourself against his hand and pull on his blonde hair, fully intending to hurt him.

You end up biting his lip and having to apologize when he mouths off. "Sorry, princess, I didn't know you wanted me to be gentle."

"By all means, let's switch it up." Ryan's other hand goes under the dress to rip your underwear, making you gasp. It was expensive. "Hey, your words."

"I can't fucking believe y-" Words are caught in your throat when he uses his knee to spread your legs further apart. Luckily, he catches on to how soaked you already are and inserts two fingers right away.

Your grunt is vulgar, a primal reaction to being treated with such little hesitation. It gets the intended chain of reactions, Ryan's fingers start moving and his lips are on yours again, slowly but expertly using his tongue.

It's the first time the two of you are mostly quiet in each other's presence.

To change that, gripping his shoulders, you do your best to rub his crotch with your leg, and successfully pull out a moan from his lips.

Unfortunately, it's still not enough action, the awkward position not allowing much room for real stimulation. "This isn't working."

"What's wrong?" Taken aback by the sincere concern, you feel more confident when his hands move back to your ass by default.

"I need you deeper." The words are so casual that Ryan is now the one temporarily thrown off. You point your head to the left. "Think you can take me against the wall?"

No thought is given to the question, benefiting from the hand placement and lifting you up. You're glad to be carried to the spot - which meant you were now hidden from the door's view - unable to count on your wobbly legs.

Ryan puts you down dramatically slow, hands feeling your body as he does.

It's uncharacteristically sensual. Presumably trying to step it up, he bites your neck.

His tongue starts licking down to your breast, and before you can stop it, he's pulling the shoulder strap of your dress down and uncovering one of your breasts. It's equally revolting and pleasurable when he takes your nipple in, still using his teeth.

Fingers snake up to pull on golden locks subconsciously, begging him to continue. But the familiar feel of being given a hickey stops you. "What the fuck, dude?"

"Relax, the dress is gonna cover it."

Realizing who you're letting get away with all this, a defensive posture starts replacing your vulnerable state. Ryan notices, trying to salvage the moment. "No, no, c'mon. You're gonna give up that easily?"

"I think this is a fucking mistake."

"Well, yeah. Of course it is. So what?" His hands press you back against the wall, fingers pushing your dress up carefully. What you really want to do is slap him and ask for more, but you refrain for now. "We're already here. What's the point of not finishing it?"

Whether it's because he's right or because of the way he licked his lips is not important. What matters is your hand curling around his belt, tongue searching for its perfect match again.

Moving forward before you can change your mind, Ryan waits for you to unbuckle him and take his dick out, stroking it just a few times. That gets him to turn the tables and bite your lip, but there are no complaints this time around.

Panting, he takes a second to breathe before picking you up again and slamming into you. Overwhelmed with how unceremonious this whole thing is a moan escapes you.

Angry at how rushed he's making this and internally asking for him to go faster, this might be the most at a loss you've ever been.

Reading your mind and thrusting quicker, he decides to toy with you. "I had no problem unwinding you, huh? Do other guys even get you this thight around them?"

That should be disgusting, but things are upside-down tonight and you moan again when the tip of his head hits so close to where you need it. "Fuck you. Keep talking."

He laughs, spurring on the knot in your stomach.

Everything is backwards. If you ever told yourself in the past that Ryan could get you close to orgasming simply by doing his best and being a dick you'd never believe it.

"Seriously? This is how you get off?" He slows down to talk shit. "Perfect doll, in line for America's next sweetheart, and I bet you got wet everytime we got in a fight. Sneaking out to bathrooms on set to touch yourself. Fuck, no one will ever believe it."

"Jesus, Ryan, please. Please fuck me faster, I need you to."

Really hitting your limit, resorting to begging, this isn't your proudest moment. Especially when the blonde is having his way with you.

"You need me?"

"I do."

That does it, and Ryan quickly caters to your pleading, concentrating on fucking you hard and quick. Your thighs are already sore, the leather of his belt scratching the skin, beard burning against your collarbone.

It's not long before you finish, climax proportionate to the power of the guy who you had called a scumbag hips burying into you.

Gifted with the opportunity to see him like this, you grab the sides of his face and whisper in his ear, still out of breath. "I know you want to fill me inside, because you're fucking filthy. Now or never."

You watch his face as he cums, hands grabbing your ass for stability.

That's a new feeling. Satisfied and appaled at the amount of white fluid running down your legs, probably staining your leather boots.

His teeth dig into your shoulder with one last shudder.

Your feet are on the ground again, but Ryan doesn't move away yet. His forehead is touching yours, hand gripping onto your hair hard enough to pull on your scalp and eyes closed, trying to steady his breathing.

You take all of it in before he can step back.

When he does, the night air feels colder and you realize the state you're in, adjusting your dress and covering your breast, which was still shamelessly out. The hickey is indeed hidden under the dress.

It's akward to see him sacrifice the red bandana he carried around to clean you, silent.

Walking towards the picnic table to collect and put on your jacket, your ripped underwear comes into view, wind moving it around in the grass. You pick it up.

Ryan has his back turned to you, finishing putting himself together, when you walk around him and shove the useless panties into the front pocket of his blue jeans.

Avoiding his eyes, you point out something, "There's a cum stain in your jeans."

"It's old."

Huffing out a laugh and rolling your eyes, "Of course."

You start heading back inside when he speaks. "So, this never happened, right?"

Turning on your heels, you shrug and smile casually, gesturing with hands inside the pockets of your jacket. "It never happened."

Running up the few steps on the porch, you stride into the closest bathroom to clean up better. Looking into the mirror, make up smudged and swollen lips, it's impossible to not laugh at the absurdity of what happened.

You make your way back into the party more mindful of closing your legs when you sit down. Then again, sitting down right now might be painful.

#ryan dunn x reader #ryan dunn #jackass #jackass fanfic

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ecoamerica · 1 month

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youtube

Watch the 2024 American Climate Leadership Awards for High School Students now: https://youtu.be/5C-bb9PoRLc

The recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by student climate leaders! Join Aishah-Nyeta Brown & Jerome Foster II and be inspired by student climate leaders as we recognize the High School Student finalists. Watch now to find out which student received the $25,000 grand prize and top recognition!

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fallout-drabbles-n-stuff · 3 years

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Not sure if this has been done but if not I believe it’s time for a beach ask-isode (sorry thatwasreallybad)

Anyways! What does everyone (Maxson and gang leaders included) do while at the beach? What kind of suits do they wear?

(Ah yes, only a wedding post would top this masterpiece. Also this is going to be more on the Pre-War! Or Modern! Au spectrum since yknow..radioactivity)

Cait:

•Abosuletly HATES the beach.

•Bitches about literally everything. Sand? Fucking despises it. Getting wet? No thanks. THE SMELL?? Sis, no.

•Gets burnt AF as well. Miss Ma'am ends up looking like a boiled crab after maybe a couple minutes out in the sun.

•The only thing she enjoys is checking people out.

•either way, she goes and wears something comfortable. A bandeau and some shorts are her go to.

Curie:

•Rather likes the beach.

•She loves collecting seashells and seeing if she can capture hermit crabs (which she promptly returns to their home after taking a picture)

•She would wear one of those one pieces complete with a cute skirt and an oversized sun hat.

•SUNSCREEN ENFORCER

Danse:

•Has one helluva time running. As a matter of fact, he loves nothing more than to run on the beach at sunrise....however this is more of a social event we're talking about-

•Passive aggressively admonishes his "friends" to wear sunscreen.

•Will actually partake in alcohol is it's presented. Make sure he doesn't overdue it- Hancock is patiently waiting for him to get lit and do something stupid so he can have blackmail material. DRUNK DANSE WILL PROVIDE PLENTY OF IT.

•wears tragically boring red and orange swim trunks and that's it. Doesn't understand why Cait keeps whistling at him when he takes his shirt off.

Deacon:

•He's the type to go sun tanning and end up forgetting his sunglasses are still on. Oh well, just an excuse to keep wearing them.

•Definitely instigates water fights.

•Wears the most outlandish, neon green speedo. Scars the masses.

Gage:

•Loves the beach but will bitch about it being too hot nonstop.

•Mainly just floats out into the open water on a lounge float and sips lemonade. No one is stupid enough to try to play a prank on him anyways- they already know he isn't above drowning someone over being thrown into the water unexpectedly.

•wears a horrendous green muscle shirt and yellow swim trunks.

Hancock:

•Life of the party, as always.

•Blasts music, indulges in whatever drugs he can and has an overall wonderful day filled with debauchery.

•Provided the beach is okay with it, he'd prefer to go nude. However if that isn't an option, he'll rock an American flag speedo.

Macready:

•I know it's soft, but he prefers to bring Duncan along. So no terrible parties for Mac, unfortunately.

•He makes sandcastles and plays "soldiers" with his little boy before going with Curie to collect seashells for Duncan to add to his collection.

•For once ditches the hat and rocks a Grognak themed ensemble. Duncan hates it and often pretends he doesn't know him.

Mags:

•As a woman who enjoys the finer things, she spends a little extra money to "party up" her beach time in an expensive cabana.

•Prefers to sit out and relax, getting some sun as she smokes as many cigarettes as humanely possible and knocks back bottles of wine.

•Wears a pair of those really nice, oversized sunglasses and a simple black bikini...and probably those ridiculous platforms.

Mason:

•Despite his wealth, he "roughs" it and spends his beach time like a normal person...well..as normal as Mason can get.

•He spends the majority of his time in the water like a damn idiot, swimming until he gets sick from accidentally ingesting too much salt water.

•Very, VERY tempted to flip Gage's float over.

•Wears flamboyant flamingo themed swim trunks.

Maxson:

•Another one of the pathetically rich, buuut he doesn't overdo it. Sure, he may also rent out a nice cabana but he spends the most of his time underneath an umbrella reading whatever novel he's invested in at the moment.

•Will sit there and read for as long as possible, maybe only breaking to play a game of volleyball with Danse and Preston. Even then, his top priority is to get back to either reading or jotting down the next key points for a future meeting.

•Wears some stupid designer like burberry. It's hideous but he doesn't care.

•uhhhh, don't entice him with alcohol either, it's not a good idea.

Nick:

•Loves going to the beach right as the sun is setting. He gets a small window of time to read before being able to fully appreciate how beautiful the scenery is as the moon rises.

•Keeps an eye on Hancock so the dude doesn't do anything too stupid, but pretends to "party" so Hancock doesn't catch wind that he's being supervised.

•He's the perpetual "parent" of the group and he accepts it.

•Wears a matching shirt and trunk set, usually in black.

Nisha:

•Surfs and proceeds to beat the shit out of Mason with her board when she's finished.

•Will actually go smoke and drink with Mags and have a decent time until they inevitably hit a snag and decide to not talk to each other for weeks again.

•Tries to instigate fights with Gage fueled by her hatred for him.

•Wears an expensive wetsuit.

Piper:

•Enjoys taking nice pictures of her friends and herself at the beach.

•Also joins in the volleyball game whenever she is done with said pictures.

•Gets bored easily and decides to go back to working on her next article...until she gets bored of that and decides to go swim.

•Wears a nice red and white polka dot two piece and some red sunshades.

Preston:

•Is the unofficial life Gaurd. Like no shit, he is on a damn mission. He'll fight a shark if he has to.

•Plays fetch with Dogmeat whenever he finally calms down.

•May even go scuba diving, just depends. He loves seeing the fish and different things in the water.

•Wears a cute pair of sunflower swim shorts.

X6-88:

•Doesn't show up. He hates the beach.

•Okay fine, if you force him into it...

•He'll more or less just sit where the waves crash onto shore.

•If shaun is there though, it's a whole new story. Oh yeah. If his best buddy Shaun is there, you bet your ass he will happily do whatever the kid wants him to. Piggy back ride? Right away. Go prank Maxson? In a heartbeat.

•Wears a grey and black striped pair of shorts.

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amyisherenowitsokay · 3 years

Note

You know what just to SPICE it up a bit imma say zadr too bitch

This bitch tryna give me arthritis smdh. Making me out myself for my dual-ship on main, can't even believe a bitch.

PRE-RELATIONSHIP

1. How did they first meet?

School. We must never forget the infamous handcuffs scene.

2. What was their first impression of each other?

Pure, unrivaled loathing.

3. Did any of their friends or family want them to get together?

Gaz said "kiss already" and throws things at them when they're getting too far away from "I want you dead" territory and well into "you want to fuck me so bad and it makes you look stupid" territory. Professor Membrane thinks they're adorable.

4. Who felt romantic feelings first?

Dib. Hormones get the best of us all. You can only be obsessed with someone so long before motivations get blurry.

5. Did either of them try to resist their feelings?

Zim would nearly break his PAK and commit accidental die trying to delete the emotions or install an emotional inhibitor. Dib would have a full mental breakdown trying to sort through it, which would manifest poorly in his behavior and negatively impact his ability to engage in their usual altercations. Pro tip: if you are painfully attracted to someone, being in a position where they pin you to the asphalt or lean over your desk to hiss insults at you is a bad idea.

6. If you had told one of them that the other would be their soulmate, what would they think?

I stand by what I said on my ZAGR post in that Zim doesn't know what a soulmate is, or the concept of a soul, but given this is in regards to his arch-nemesis instead of a creature he's mostly indifferent too, he'd be pissed at the insinuation he was in any way bound to Dib. Dib's fragile psyche would not survive the revelation.

7. What would their lives be like if they had never met?

Really empty. Their rivalry and parallel situations regarding neglectful authority figures is what keeps them going for so many years.

GENERAL

1. Who initiated the relationship, and how did it go?

As someone who thinks Zim doesn't understand even the concept of not being a possessive jackass, I think Zim just sort of concludes after awhile that, regardless of Dib's feelings, or even Zim's own feelings, whatever they have makes them wholly and entirely each other's. Just completely and hilariously misunderstanding the concept of a relationship, but still being incredibly presumptive in assuming they already have one. He also doesn't let Dib know of this revelation either, so eventually Dib explodes about his crush, and Zim's like "we are already together???? moron???" Dib could argue, and he kind of wants to, but he also never expected Zim to reciprocate, so he just sort of nods and is like "you know what, sure" and that's the end of it. They do not have an anniversary, but Dib's not really like that, and Zim doesn't know anniversaries are a thing anyways.

2. Did they have an official first date? If so, what was it like?

Again, stealing from my own ZAGR post, but I don't think Zim's really a 'date' person who would plan out that sort of thing. Dib is an awkward moron with arguably worse social skills than even Zim, and mentally comes to the conclusion that dragging Zim on investigations is basically like a date, and Zim doesn't bitch about it anymore than expected, therefore he is a master of romance, so it's fine.

3. What was their first kiss like?

Awkward, and quick. Dib is not a great communicator, nor is he great at explaining things like human demonstrations of affection, especially not when Zim's scowling impatiently at him through is fumbling and stuttering. He just goes for it, and it's quick and he misses his mouth almost. Zim is extremely surprised, especially when Dib makes terrible excuses about needing to be elsewhere and flees. Zim does his own research, and their second kiss is predated by a lecture about being better than Dib at everything/Dib being bad at everything. It is much more successful, even if afterwards Dib instigates a fight about Zim's tongue being weird.

4. Were they each other’s first anything (kiss, relationship, etc.)?

First everything, except kiss. Gretchen kissed Dib in high school as a dare. Zim will never forgive her for it.

5. What’s their height difference? Age difference?

I'd die to make them the same height, but I think the image of Zim being average height while Dib is a gangly big boi is just too funny. Zim would be pissed, and Dib would be so smug but so uncoordinated.

6. What’s their relationship with each other’s families?

Gaz interacts with them as minimally as possible, because they are loud and gross and annoying, but she's okay with Zim overall. They have a mutual understanding that Dib is stupid, completely reckless, and requires constant supervision to keep him from getting eaten by a ghoul or something. Gaz does genuinely trust him to skewer anything that tries to kill her brother, but she also knows that Dib isn't the only one with 0 sense of self-preservation. Dib was initially wary of Professor Membrane's reaction, because his dad is sort of unpredictable when it comes to his only son, but the Professor's only commentary is that he is glad his son finally made it official with his 'little green friend.' Dib then realizes that the implication in that perpetual comment about Zim had air quotes around that "friend" part all along.

Dib thinks Gir's gross and loud and doesn't get him, but he likes to team up with him and/or use him as a means to annoy Zim. The Base hates him, because now there's two morons with no sense of self-preservation that it needs to keep track of. Minimoose and Dib are bros.

7. Who takes the lead in social situations?

Zim, if only because he is arguably more 'charming' than Dib's fumbling attempts at communication with non-paranormal parties.

8. Who gets jealous easier?

Zim. Dib I think would have his 'HTTYD Hiccup moment' as he gets older, but still has that ingrained low self-esteem from years of ridicule and abuse. He is completely oblivious to the new attention he gets. Zim, however, is not. Dib never really notices the cause of his weird snarling and clinginess, but he shrugs it off as Zim just being weird and continues with whatever he was doing.

9. Who whispers inappropriate things in the other’s ear?

Zim is a slut, I will die on this hill.

LOVE

1. Who said “I love you” first?

Dib. He says it casually, in the dark, when they're on a stake-out to find some wood goblin or something. He says it like he's talking about something plane and unremarkable.

I think a ZADR relationship would need Zim to be a lot more independent in terms of researching how romantic relationships 'work,' since Dib's not a great communicator, and there's an ingrained rivalry that will never dissolve between them, no matter how many times they kiss, so Zim would be a lot more motivated to figure things out on his own. He would, in this circumstance, know the weight of Dib's way-too-casual admittance, and it would be a huge shock to him. He'd be pretty shaken about it for awhile, and Dib's not bothered when he doesn't reply. Dib would be pretty sure Zim would never admit it, but he does, eventually, because he refuses to be a coward about it.

2. What are their primary love languages?

Verbal affirmations. With their self-esteems firmly in the toilet in Zim's kitchen, being able to have someone validate them who they respect would mean a lot to them.

3. Who uses cheesy pick-up lines?

Dib. He uses it to start fights with Zim about linguistics and metaphors. Also, he's 99.9% positive Zim secretly is flattered by it, but hates that he is.

4. How often do they cuddle/engage in PDA?

Zim is very clingy, but Dib's too on the move to really pin down for a good cuddle frequently. He's twitchy and his minds always racing, but every once in a while when Zim's completely fed up, or Dib's running on fumes but still forcing himself on, Zim will all but pin him to a cushioned surface and force him to sleep. Neither of them are PDA people.

5. Who initiates kisses?

Zim. Dib's really shy about it, and also normally too distracted to pay Zim the attention he so obviously deserves, and often misses Zim's 'signals.'

6. Who’s the big and little spoon?

PAK not comfy against sternum. It's also easier to force Dib to sleep if he's the big spoon, because he can pin his limbs.

7. What are their favorite things to do together?

Paranormal investigations, and morally ambiguous and/or largely dangerous experiments.

8. Who’s better at comforting the other?

Dib, which is hilarious, because he's about as smooth as a cheese grater, but he is very attuned to the person he's been obsessed with for years, and he can also relate to a lot of his issues. While Zim usually shrugs off the sentimentality and the empathy, dismissing it as 'pity,' the affirmation means a lot to him.

9. Who’s more protective?

Zim. He has to anticipate his lover's stupidity to make sure he stays alive to hunt ghosts another day.

10. Do they prefer verbal or physical affection?

Verbal. Hormones are real, but there's something that eases the sting of years of abusive in a crooning praise or a sincere compliment.

11. What are some songs that apply to their relationship, in-universe or otherwise?

https://open.spotify.com/track/3IvUhEVbbA81QnEVhsFHiH?si=b3c5787c9ff14105

12. What kind of nicknames do they call each other?

It is primarily age-old insults that lack the bite and sincerity they once had.

13. Who remembers the little things?

Dib. Zim isn't inattentive by any means, cataloguing all of Dib's weird habits and nuances and what not, but for all the compensating Zim does to keep Dib safe and healthy, Dib reciprocates in meaningful gestures. He remembers to pack Zim-friendly snacks on their road trips and ways to keep Gir entertained, if they have to bring him. He always checks the weather and has an extra coat, just in case. Never makes Zim feel bad about needing to check, just one more time, to see if he got any incoming messages from home.

DOMESTIC LIFE

1. If they get married, who proposes?

Dib.

2. What’s the wedding like? Who attends?

It's just Gaz, Minimoose, and Gir. Membrane is too far away to attend, but that was deliberate. Dib didn't want his tendency to make things about 'the Membrane line' effect the intimacy and importance of the ceremony. Also, Zim insists on incorporating some Irken rituals into it, so it'd be hard to make excuses and explanations to why Zim wants Dib to fuck with his weird pink backpack during their wedding.

3. How many kids do they have, if any? What are they like?

No kiddos. Neither of them would be interested, even if it was biologically possible.

4. Do they have any pets?

Seriously, Gir counts, right?

5. Who’s the stricter parent?

Dib. Zim refuses to parent Gir when Dib is more inclined to do it, since he's more irritated by it.

6. Who worries the most?

Dib has perpetual anxiety. So does Zim, but he masks it better.

7. Who kills the bugs in the house?

Dib, to prevent the gooey grossness that is Gir's bug-breath.

8. How do they celebrate holidays?

Just with Gaz.

9. Who’s more likely to convince the other to come back to sleep in the morning?

Zim will strap Dib to a bed himself to get him to go the fuck to sleep, because it's been over 48 hours you insufferable human, and--!

10. Who’s the better cook?

Dib's idea of cooking is a microwave, salt, and pepper. Zim is forced to learn the wonders of human food to keep his idiot from dying of malnutrition.

11. Who likes to dance?

Gir.

#my hand #is deceased #invader zim #ZADR #asks #Zim #Dib #amyisherenowansweringyou

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forget-me-not-s · 3 years

Note

Your opinion becomes worthless the moment you started shipping Elriel. You’re so stupid for this and should leave this platform your reasonings are a piece of shit! Gwyn is already more important that poor lame Elain and will be endgame for Azriel who only wants to fuck Elain. The signs are all there and your just that dumb you don’t see it! SHIP GWYNRIEL OR SCREW YOU!

So this are a few of the anons I’ve received since I posted this.

I wasn’t going to answer to any of them (I deleted most of them), but seeing what happened today I thought I should and this one just came in. I sincerely believe that we shouldn’t fight hate with hate but I won’t be bullied on my own page.

Everyone should be able to ship whatever they want as long as they are respectful. People shouldn’t be attacking the people who ship, rather than the ship itself, this behavior is just wrong. No one should target another person’s opinions. There is a line that both sides have crossed. No side is innocent.

What I didn’t like is that a person with a big platform instead of using her space to put off fires has used it to add more fuel to the fire and only acknowledge one side of the problem. Provoking more hate towards Elriel shippers and even name-calling them. I need to add that there are bad apples in all fandoms and that generalization will always do more harm than good.

We shouldn’t forget that artist that have made Elriel art also have been bullied, the people who made the elriel essays and ppt where ridiculized, the anon hate we receive daily for the simple fact that we don’t ship whatever they want, the death threats all over TikTok. I’m not defending what some shippers did, what they did was wrong and I believe some of them even apologized. Sometimes the bad parts of the fandom are the loudest but they don’t represent all of us. I’m just so tired with people who hate Elain and Elriel harassing others and then victimizing themselves.

We should be able to feel safe in our pages and not feel guilty of what we post. And if all this hate is making you more anxious just take a step back, pick up one of your comfortable reads and when you feel ready come back. This characters will always be here, reading shouldn’t be an anxiety triggering experience. Another thing I’ve seen with this fandom is how other opinions affect the reading experience so just focus on what you’re feeling and don’t mind what other people are saying! Also don’t be afraid to curate your fandom experience, block whoever you need to make your space feel safe.

I just say this because I’ve been in war ships before that lasted years and even received death threats for shipping something one part of the fandom didn’t like. So in my personal experience it’s better for all parts involved if we don’t instigate hate, stay in our tags and ignore them. Block anything if it makes it easier for you to have the experience you want.

I’m sorry if this post is a bit messy but I simply have a lot of thoughts. I’m tagging all ships because this hate has to stop!

✨JUST TREAT PEOPLE WITH KINDNESS PEOPLE✨

#Elriel #pro Elriel #acosf #acotar #acomaf #acofas #acowar #sarah j maas #elain archeron #Azriel #Elucien #gwynriel #pro elain #elriel discussion #Feysand #Nessian #a court of thorns and roses #sjmaas #treat people with kindness

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lastsonlost · 4 years

Text

Seriously, what does this bitch have to do before people Stop defending her.

Amber Heard ridicules Johnny Depp for claiming he is a victim of domestic violence in an explosive tape recording, exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com

She says: 'Tell the world Johnny, tell them... I Johnny Depp, a man, I'm a victim too of domestic violence... and see how many people believe or side with you'

Heard adds: 'You're bigger and you're stronger... I was a 115lb woman... You're going to get up on the stand, Johnny, and say, ''she started it''? Really?'

'I have never been able to overpower you... there's a jury and there's a judge will see that there's a very big difference between me and you'

The divorcing couple spoke over the phone in June and July of 2016, with Heard ultimately yielding to Depp's plea to settle out of court for $7m

Their truce crumbled in December 2018 when Heard wrote an op-ed saying she was a domestic violence victim, although not naming anyone

Depp hit her with a $50m defamation suit, saying she implied he was the abuser, which caused him to lose his prized role of Captain Jack Sparrow

In their legal battle, both accused the other of domestic violence and DailyMail.com published a recording in which Heard confessed to 'hitting' Depp

Amber Heard ridicules Johnny Depp for claiming he is a victim of domestic violence in an explosive tape recording obtained by DailyMail.com - telling the Pirates of the Caribbean actor: 'See how many people believe you.'

The estranged couple were barred from talking to one another in May 2016 when Heard filed for divorce and sought a restraining order to escape her 'abusive' A-lister husband.

But the pair continued to clash over the phone, arguing bitterly about who was responsible for the blood-curdling violence that marred their toxic 15-month marriage and accusing one another of leaking to the press, DailyMail.com can reveal.

It's unclear if Heard realizes she is being taped during the expletive-flecked, 30-minute recording, the second bombshell audio released exclusively by DailyMail.com in the space of a week.

You are f**king killing me. Your f**king people are trying to kill me,' complains father-of-two Depp, as he begs Heard to go through private mediation rather than thrashing things out in open court.

'You've turned me into a... my boy goes to school and has kids go, so your f**king dad's a wife beater?'

Tearful Heard denies pushing Depp, 56, 'under a bus' and accuses the actor's associates of circulating details to the press of her arrest record and lurid rumors she was a stripper.

The 33-year-old actress also rejects accusations that she instigated the wild, physical violence that she pinned on Depp in divorce papers,

suggesting a court would be unlikely to take the side of a man over a slender female.

The full list of audio clips can be found in the Daily Mail article.....

Part 2

Do you know I'm a 115, well not anymore, but I was a 115lb, almost 115lb woman,' Heard protests. Adopting a jeering tone, she says: 'You're going to get up on the stand, Johnny, and say, she started it? Really?'

The former lovebirds spoke several times on the phone throughout June and July of 2016, skirting the restraining order by having a family member initiate the calls, according to a well-placed source.

Heard would ultimately yield to Depp's plea to settle out of court, retracting her allegations the following month as the pair announced a $7 million divorce settlement.

Their marriage was 'intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love,' according to a joint statement issued on August 16, 2016.

'There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm.'

The truce crumbled in December 2018, however, when Heard penned an op-ed for the Washington Post lamenting her experiences as an alleged domestic violence victim, though never naming anyone.

Heard is currently dating her new girlfriend Bianca Butti and was seen arriving at the 4th Annual Women's March in Downtown Los Angeles last month.

The actress has said she is bisexual and previously dated women, including photographer Tasya van Ree from 2008 to 2011.

Depp responded to Heard's op-ed last year with a $50 million defamation suit, saying the 'hoax' account implied he was the unnamed abuser and caused him to lose his prized role of Captain Jack Sparrow.

'Ms. Heard is not a victim of domestic abuse; she is a perpetrator,' his suit alleges, accusing his ex-wife of manufacturing evidence and faking injury photos.

Heard doubled down with a 300-page filing of her own, cataloging the years of abuse she suffered at the hands of 'the monster', whom she met on the set of The Rum Diary in 2011 and married in February 2015.

The actress stood by those claims last week when DailyMail.com published a separate recording from October 2015 in which she confessed to 'hitting' Depp as well as throwing pots, pans and vases at him.

"I'm sorry that I didn't, uh, uh, hit you across the face in a proper slap, but I was hitting you, it was not punching you. Babe, you're not punched,' Heard says on the tape, recalling an incident the previous night.

It's understood that she and Depp routinely recorded conversations consensually during the breakdown of their marriage, paving the way for yet more bombshell recordings to emerge.

The latest audio clip published by DailyMail.com begins with Depp imploring Heard to reach an out of court settlement rather than waging war in public.

It appears to have been taped at Depp's end of things and the conversation has already begun when the audio supplied to DailyMail.com begins.

'I've been through the f**king hurt. You've been through the f**king hurt. I love you more than anything in life,' he tells his soon-to-be ex-wife.

'I do not want to go into a f**king court with you. I do not want to f**king tarnish your name... I want this to be done peacefully, between us.

'And if you don't like the way that mediation is going, take me back to court kid. Cause I can't. 'This is the last f**king chance Amber. This is it. Once I file those papers we don't turn around man.'

Heard insists, however, that it's Depp's team who are refusing to mediate, refusing to sign a gag order and leaking damaging stories about her to the gossip site TMZ.

'Everything has been a defensive move because I'm being called a liar and a gold-digger,' she says.

'And I am not lying about any of this s**t, and I am not after a dime of your money.'

Depp suggests the pair should write a 'mutual letter' declaring that the divorce will be settled privately.

'Listen to me,' he warns the Hollywood beauty. 'Defending yourself by throwing someone under the bus is not going to look good.'

Heard fires back: 'It's not about that. It would not be about me throwing you under the bus.

'You know what it would be? It would be released through documented people, coming on the record, and, having the protection to do so, that haven't had yet.

'It would be eyewitness statements. It would be evidence. Tons of it. And it would be through years.'

Heard goes on to ridicule Depp's doubts over the facial injuries she turned up with at court when she applied for the restraining order on May 27, 2016.

She also claims to have a trove of incriminating texts, paraphrasing a message to her publicist Jodi Gottlieb ahead of an appearance on The Late Late Show with James Cordon: 'I think, I've had accident, um, I think I may have, I busted my nose and two black eyes tomorrow'.

She tells Depp: 'No one is going to believe that one of the two alternatives, that I'm in a fight club or I've been getting, going through hair and makeup. . .through all these years where I have corroborating text messages between people that match those dates of those time stamped validated photos.'

Heard warns Depp that her lawyers are urging her to make a formal police statement, saying that a criminal prosecutor told her it was 'most solid evidence, case of domestic violence case we've ever seen'.

She declined to do so, however, because she did not want to hurt Depp further,

Heard says, complaining that their public spat has already led to her receiving death threats.

The blonde actress also denies that it was her who rang the cops during the May 21, 2016 dust-up that took place the day before she filed for divorce.

Depp was accused of hurling a cellphone in Heard's face at their downtown Los Angeles loft but two LAPD officers later said in a deposition that they found nothing to suggest a crime took place.

The actor-musician reminds Heard about an incident in which his building manager, Travis, had 'to come up and f**king pull me away from you' though it's not clear which incident Depp is referring to.

Heard also refers to Depp's security guards, 'who by the way,' she says 'have said to me multiple times that I am going to get killed.'

She adds: 'I'm sorry because the last time it got crazy between us I really did think I was gonna lose my life. And I thought you would do it on accident.

'And I told you that. I said oh my god, I thought the first time.'

Depp replies: 'Amber, I lost a f**king finger man, c'mon. I had a f**king, I had a f**king mineral can, a jar, a can of mineral spirits thrown at my nose. '

Their exchange seems to refer to a violent incident that took place in Australia one month into their marriage in which Depp suffered a severed finger.

He claimed his then-wife 'went berserk' when he asked her to sign a 'postnup' agreement, hurling a Vodka bottle at him which shattered on a marble counter-top and ripped off the tip of his finger.

Heard maintains in court filings, however, that Depp cut the digit off himself during an argument while he was 'drunk and high on ecstasy.'

'You can please tell people that it was a fair fight, and see what the jury and judge thinks. Tell the world Johnny, tell them Johnny Depp, I Johnny Depp, a man, I'm a victim too of domestic violence,' she says on the tape.

'And I, you know, it's a fair fight. And see how many people believe or side with you.' Depp cuts in: 'It doesn't matter; fair fight my a**.'

Heard replies: 'Because you're big, you're bigger and you're stronger. And so when I say that I thought that you could kill me, that doesn't mean you counter with you also lost your own finger.

'I, I'm not trying to attack you here, I'm just trying to point out the fact of why I said call 911. Because I was, you had your hands on me after you threw a phone at my face.

'And it's got crazy in the past, and I truly thought I need to stop this madness before I get hurt.'

Seemingly stunned by his former flame's version of events, Depp can simply reply: 'Oh my god.'

He reminds his ex-wife that she will have to repeat her allegations under oath in court.

'Do you believe all this Amber? Do you believe all this,' Depp asks.

'Yes, the f**k, yes, yes,' Heard replies.

'Do you believe you're an abuser? he asks. 'Do you believe you abused me physically?'

Heard replies: 'Do you know I'm a 115, well not anymore, but I was a 115lb almost 115lb woman. . .have I ever been able to knock you off of your feet? Or knock you off balance?

'You're going to get up on the stand, Johnny, and say, ''she started it''? Really? I have never been able to overpower you that's the difference between me and you. . .and that's a difference, that's a whole world, and there's a jury and there's a judge will see that there's a very big difference between me and you.'

Depp finally seems to lose his cool when his ex-wife accuses him of spreading rumors she was a stripper, snapping: 'I will f**king see you in court.'

He adds: 'You don't want to make f**king nice nice? I'm trying. I'm trying.

'But you know what? I loved you for so many f**king years but you know what? You didn't exist. You don't exist. You're not there. You're not there.

'You are a f**king made up thing in my head. And I can't believe you are doing this to me.'

The 31-minute recording ends with Depp saying he needs a moment to himself before a door can be heard slamming in the background.

Heard has thus far failed to have her ex-husband's defamation case thrown out or moved from Virginia, where the Washington Post is based, to California. However she did succeed in having it pushed back from last December to August of this year.

Depp's attorney Adam Waldman confirmed the recorded conversation took place while Depp was subject to a restraining order but said Heard initiated the call.

'Ms Heard delivers a chilling message to Johnny Depp any real abuse survivor will instantly recognize: Nobody will believe you. So you better do what I want,' Waldman told DailyMail.com.

'Ms Heard may continue to masquerade as a 'survivor' but the audio tape speaks for itself.'

Heard legal team offered a radically different perspective when provided with a transcript of the tape recording by DailyMail.com, complaining the recording was taken without Heard's consent and was also 'doctored'.

DailyMail.com has decided to publish the audio in its entirety so readers can form their own opinions.

'The latest recording provided to the Daily Mail continues Mr. Depp's ongoing efforts to abuse Ms. Heard,' her spokeswoman said.

'On the transcript of this recording (which notes that it is only a portion of a longer conversation), Ms. Heard repeatedly makes it clear to Mr. Depp that he was physically violent and abusive, that she feared for her life, and that even Mr. Depp's own security guards told her that if she stayed in the relationship, 'she was going to get killed'.

'What is most important on the tape, however, is not what Mr. Depp says, but what he does not say - not once on the tape does he deny Ms. Heard's statements about his violent attacks and the damage they caused, including her broken nose and black eyes.

'In fact, Ms. Heard specifically recalls that during a portion of the conversation not provided to the Daily Mail, Mr. Depp asked Ms. Heard whether she was recording the call and when she answered that she was not, admitted that she was not lying about the fact that he had abused her. As a result, Mr. Depp's use of this doctored recording at this time is not only a fraud and a crime, but an act of desperation.'

Amber Heard's spokeswoman provided the following statement from Dr. Laura Brown, a trauma expert and former president of Society for the Psychology of Women:

'Abuse is attempting to control a victim by any means necessary, including pushing this kind of news story. It is not unusual for victims of physical and emotional abuse to respond by acting to defend themselves.

'But because intimate partner violence is about coercion and control every bit as much as it is about acts of violence, abusers often respond to these acts of self-defense with attempts to reassert control.

'They do so through attempts at coercion, which often include projecting accusations of abuse at their victims for having had the audacity to attempt to defend themselves.

'It is not unusual for the perpetrator of intimate partner violence to try to use the self-defense responses of their targets to claim the mantle of victimhood for themselves.

'This is classic DARVO- Defend, Avoid, Reverse Victim and Offender – the construct developed by Dr. Jennifer Freyd.

'When society and the media buy into these false abuser narratives, they are enabling the perpetrator to re-abuse the victim. We should not be fooled by a DARVO narrative.'

From the audio conversation..

'You're going to get up on the stand, Johnny, and say, ''she started it''?' Amber Heard and Johnny Depp clash over the phone during divorce

JOHNNY DEPP: But I'm telling you now, if I file, if they file the f**king papers tomorrow, which means the s**t I've got to file before we go to court on Friday, if they file those papers, first of all, it's very bad for both of us.

AMBER HEARD: Well, your people are not going to file anything that's bad for you, trust me.

JD: No, no what you're saying, you've got to do something to protect yourself which means throwing me under the bus for the, some video about me beating you?

AH: Not me. I have to respond. I mean I'll have to go and pursue, no I'll pursue the whole course of action, because here's what you don't understand. If, if we do this, and basically will know. I called my lawyers and I said why aren't we negotiating now, what's going on, where are we, and they're like everything's under court.

JD: No, they won't settle. Your agents won't settle. Your lawyers won't settle baby. I'm telling you.

AH: We want to mediate. We even have a mediator, found a mediator and everything. But that was all worked out. But the thing that Laura [Wasser, Depp's attorney] wouldn't agree to, she did not want to agree to a mutual gag order. That's the problem, she doesn't want the gag order, why Johnny? Why? Why wouldn't she? Why wouldn't she want both parties not to talk about this in the press?

AH: I just want you to know. I'm not doing anything and have not been doing any move. Look it up, the timeline. Nothing was on the offense. Everything has been a defensive move because I'm being called a liar and a gold-digger. And I am not lying about any of this s**t, and I am not after a dime of your money.

JD: It's hurting You. It's hurting You. And it's hurting me. But the worst f**king thing is (unintelligible). Do you want to go to court Amber? Seriously? Do you want to go to court with this? I'm offering you an opportunity for us to make this finish in peace. Peaceful, man. We walk away. You go do what you gotta do, I go do what I gotta do. I, I, I've been through the f**ing hurt. You've been through the f**king hurt. I love you more than anything in life. I do not want to go into a f**king court with you. I do not want to f**king tarnish your name. I do not want to f**king tarnish. I don't want nothing. I want this to be done peacefully, between us. And if you don't like the way that mediation is going, take me back to court kid. Cause I can't. This is the last f**king chance Amber. This is it. Once I file those papers we don't turn around man. I know you hate me, and I know you whatever, I'm telling you now, there's no call, it doesn't need to happen like this. Please, for f**ks sake trust me man.

JD: Continuing through court is going to end up nothing but bad for you, and for me. It's just going to be bad. In any case, no matter whether we ruin each other or not, it's going to be f**king heartbreaking, it's terrible. Let's write a mutual letter that says look, in lieu of what's transpiring out there in the world with all this f**king crazy s**t, we have decided to take this private. We're not going to go to court, right now, over this. We are going to try to work something out, together. And then at least, at the very f**king least. I know you want to respond, and I know you want to defend yourself. Listen to me. Defending yourself by throwing someone under the bus is not going to look good.

AH: I'm not. It's not about that. It would not be about me throwing you under the bus. You know what it would be? It would be released through documented people, coming on the record, and, having the protection to do so, that haven't had yet. It would be eyewitness statements. It would be evidence. Tons of it. And it would be through years. And it would be unbelievable. Unbelievable, um, to imagine that either I'm (a) in a secret fight club, or (b) I've had um...

JD: A secret what?

AH: A secret fight club. Or that I have been plotting to do this for three years, and, while taking pictures of it, and documenting it, just saving it up for the right time when I'm not asking for any money and have nothing financial to gain from it. But no one is going to believe that. No one is going to believe that one of the two alternatives, that I'm in a fight club or I've been getting, going through hair and makeup or going through makeup through all these years where I have corroborating text messages between people that match those dates of those time stamped validated photos of either corroboration between people hearing us.

AH: All of that won't be me throwing you under the bus, that will be evidence, in the case. Which I will have to, it will be criminal as well, because I cannot go on Friday and file without filing a police statement first. And the only reason I haven't filed a police statement, which has been used against me by the way, every day, and the only reason I won't do it, haven't done it, is because I don't want to hurt you and that means it goes out of my hands and every, we had a third party guy, a third party prosecutor come and a criminal lawyer come, and they went, the problem is hearing from you like your biggest struggle, this is just, is that it is the most solid evidence, case of domestic violence case we've ever seen. And if you get this over to them or any part of it they will prosecute him. And I felt like, I would never want that. For you. Because I don't even, it's hard for me, I don't even call myself, like, in my head it's hard for me to even accept any sort of victimdom, ever. And I don't want to hurt you.

JD: I understand. I understand. And I don't want to hurt you either. I'm only going to say this. I love you. I love you. I've always loved you. And I know that, look, you do whatever you feel you have to do. I'm telling you now it's a mistake to go to court. If you want to go to court, we'll go to court. I would rather take care of it in a different way, I think it would be very good for you, and it would be very good for me. But you know what?

AH: I've been called a liar.

JD: Baby, you know what?

AH: And I've been called a golddigger.

JD: Baby. Baby. Amber, I didn't call you those things. I didn't call you those things.

JD: It's been going on too long Amber and we've got to stop this. It's got to stop it.

AH: I don't know how to get my reputation back.

JD: We write a letter together. Saying that we are going to take this out of the public eye. Saying that we are going to try and work this out on our own. Saying that the media has created such a f**king hateful storm that it's sickening. That we love each other. And that we want to make sure each other's OK. Have we had fights in the past, have we had this or whatever, f**k it, whatever, they already know all that s**t, it don't matter. Here's the deal.

AH: Oh, it matters. I have been, I have been, you have no idea, every ounce of my credibility has been taken from. And done so in a dishonest way. You know.

JD: Amber, the abuse, the abuse thing is, is we've got to deal with that, yeah. We've got to deal with that Amber.

AH: We don't have any way of, my credit, It's my credibility.

JD: Then why did you put that out there?

AH: I did not. You forced me, your team, forced me to by going on the offense.

AH: Well I'm sorry. I'm sorry because the last time it got crazy between us I really did think I was gonna lose my life. And I thought you would do it on accident. And I told you that. I said oh my god, I thought the first time.

JD: Amber, I lost a f**king finger man, c'mon. I had a f**king, I had a f**king mineral can, a jar, a can of mineral spirits thrown at my nose.

AH: You can please tell people that it was a fair fight, and see what the jury and judge thinks.

Tell the world Johnny, tell them Johnny Depp, I JOHNNY DEPP, A MAN, I'M A VICTIM TOO OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

JD: Yes.

AH: And I, you know, it's a fair fight. And see how many people believe or side with you.

JD: It doesn't matter, fair fight my a**.

AH: That's exactly. Because your big, you're bigger and you're stronger. And so when I say that I thought that you could kill me, that doesn't mean you counter with you also lost your own finger. I, I'm not trying to attack you here, I'm just trying to point out the fact of why I said call 911. Because I was, you had your hands on me after you threw a phone at my face. And it's got crazy in the past, and I truly thought I need to stop this madness before I get hurt.

JD: Oh my god.

AH: And I never think about myself that way. I never defend myself that way. I never see myself as a victim.

JD: There's also Travis coming to get me, there's Travis having to come up and f**king pull me away from you.

JD: You're going to have to do this under oath too you know.

AH: I will because the unfortunate part is I can talk about all of this.

JD: Do you believe all this Amber? Do you believe all this?

AH: Yes, the f**k, yes, yes.

JD: You believe I'm an abuser?

AH Yes.

JD: You believe I'm an abuser?

AH: In May, In December, in, in April

JD: Do you believe you're an abuser?

AH: No.

JD: Do you believe you abused me physically?

AH: Do I physically believe, I mean do I believe I physically abused you?

JD: Yes?

AH: Do you know I'm a 115, well not anymore, but I was a 115lb almost 115lb woman and you have the capacity...

JD: That's not the question. That's not the question.

AH: Have I ever been able to knock you off of your feet? Or knock you off balance?

JD: You started. You started these things.

AH: You're going to get up on the stand, Johnny, and say, 'she started it'? Really? I have never been able to overpower you that's the difference between me and you.

JD: Why did you try?

AH: And that's a difference, that's a whole world, and there's a jury and there's a judge will see that there's a very big difference between me and you.

JD: You cannot automatically, you cannot think that it's just my side. You are f**king killing me. Your f**king people are trying to kill me. You've turned me into a, my boy has to go to school, my boy goes to school and has kids go 'so your f**king dad's a wifebeater'? You don't think about that Amber.

AH: You don't think also my family, and all the death threats? Me and every single person in my immediate circle of friends and family is getting also matters? And you don't think I, you don't think I?

JD: Death threats?!!

AH: Your people put this out. Why, why, why, why did your security go on the record and lie? Why, that's a proactive measure. Why did your divorce attorney get to file for divorce period? At all? Second, why did she have to go and leak to TMZ? Why if you wanted it private, is TMZ being fed information literally by Laura Wasser and Marty Singer every step of the way? My, my my my arrest records. Who put that in the media? The rumors that I was a stripper? Or, of course I can expect that. I've known every step of the way, every single step of the way everything you give 'em.

JD: I give 'em? I give 'em? That's it. I give 'em? I'll see you in court. No. I'll f**king see you in court. I will f**king see you in court. I never f**king said that. I never told anyone that. You f**king trusted me with that and I never f**king told anyone that. And you know what, Amber?

AH: Thank you.

JD: This is not, no, this is me. This is me saying I tried. And thank you. And I will see you in f**king court. You don't want to make f**king nice nice? I'm trying. I'm trying. But you know what? You, I loved you for so many f**king years but you know what? You didn't exist. You don't exist. You're not there. You're not there. You are a f**king made up thing in my head. And I can't believe you are doing this to me.

401 notes · View notes

maybeebeee · 4 years

Text

The Instance of the Curry Cup

Hi! I haven’t written and posted something in quite a while, but Pokemon SWSH has absolutely consumed my life so here’s a little thing while I’m writing a much bigger thing!

A group chat leads to a party that leads to a curry cooking competition. Piers relentlessly teases Gloria for having a crush on Hop. Hop has a crisis. Just another day in the life of some of Galar's most prominent figures.

As a note for the group chat section of this fic, here are the nicknames to note which characters are who!

Hippity Hop = Hop Eat Sand = Raihan Champion Time Snr = Leon Croon Toondra = Gloria Mermaid = Nessa Big Tiddy Goth GF = Piers Flame Dad(dy) = Kabu Wooloolooloo = Milo Kung Fu Fighting = Bea Rocky Horror = Gordie Baby Goth = Marnie

Rated G, some mild language use | Hop, Gloria, and the other rivals are around 15/16 | Read on AO3 or under the cut!

It had all started with a group chat.

Not long after becoming Champion, Gloria had been added to the gym leader group chat. Leon, Piers, and Opal were still in it and she had learned quickly that Piers, Gordie, and Raihan were the instigators of most of the chaos in that chat. Marnie seemed to encourage her brother a little too much on that front, but overall it was fairly controlled chaos.

Then the second group chat came about.

Raihan had started it, mainly to avoid Melony’s constant reminders to be aware of the language being used with Allister around on the other chat. Subsequently, neither Melony nor Allister were on the new chat.

Nearly everyone else was, though, besides Opal. Even Hop and Sonia had been added, given that it was more of an open chat than the “official” gym leader one. Given that combination, however, it was far more of an ordeal to try and deal with that group, and with Piers and Raihan apparently never sleeping at all, it felt like Gloria’s Rotomphone was constantly buzzing with notifications at even the most insane hours of the night.

It had been just over a year since she’d won the Champion Cup, and Gloria now found herself standing in the kitchen of Leon’s sizable flat in Wyndon, surrounded by the physical embodiment of the most ridiculous parts of that second group chat.

Raihan had suggested the party-but-not a few weeks back, and after a fair bit of negotiating schedules, it had been decided that tonight was the best night to do it, so here they all were. Gloria was glad for the reprieve from her neverending Champion duties, and she’d been absolutely over the moon to see Hop again after what seemed like forever.

And now here she was, knocking elbows with her rival-slash-best friend as they and a bunch of their partially tipsy adult friends battled it out in what had been dubbed the Curry Cup by whoever had suggested the stupid idea in the first place. Probably Raihan.

“Two minutes left!” Slurred Sonia from across the bench. She was just about completely relying on Nessa to stay on her feet at this point, yet somehow still had it in her to decide how much longer those of them competing could cook for. Coming to these gatherings had certainly been an eye-opening experience for Gloria, seeing so many of the most well-known figures in Galar coming together and getting completely sauced for the hell of it.

“You said ten minutes literally thirty seconds ago!” Hop whined, haphazardly throwing in some extra ingredients to finish off his curry when Sonia simply waved him off. Gloria wondered how much of Sonia’s hangover her friend would have to deal with at the lab in the morning, or if the young professor simply wouldn’t show up at all.

It certainly wasn’t two minutes before all of the participants were ushered away from their curries, but Hop still seemed quite confident with his final product. Gloria couldn’t say the same for her own, especially being so used to taking her time with cooking when she camped out with her Pokemon. Not that she had much time to do that anymore, really.

“Sorry to say, but I’m definitely crushing you in this competition, mate, I can just feel it!” Hop said as he slung a friendly arm around Gloria’s shoulders, watching intently as Sonia, Nessa, and Bea walked along the row of curries on the bench to judge them all. Gloria tried to ignore how warm her face was suddenly feeling, but the look she got from Piers told her she wasn’t doing a great job at hiding it.

Damn her own big mouth for blabbing to him about her crush on Hop, the one time she couldn’t sleep and happened to be awake at three in the morning, with Piers being the only one she could think to message at that hour. It had been a good conversation, actually, but still.

Every time she’d seen him since then, it seemed like he was teasing her about Hop. Even directly in front of Hop. It was constant, but Piers claimed it was because Marnie didn’t get crushes on people, so he was using her as a stand-in when it came to teasing about that kind of thing.

Ignoring the ex-gym leader’s very obvious silent mocking, Gloria turned her attention back to Hop and lightly elbowed him in the side before wrapping her own arm around him in return. “As if,” She laughed, “Who’s the undefeated champion in this room? I’ve got this in the bag.”

As it turned out, neither of them were destined to be crowned the Curry Cup Champion, and the competition ultimately went to Leon. Hop decided that it was all rigged because the judges weren’t sober, and had wandered back into the living room with a dramatic huff as most of the other guests went to congratulate his brother.

Piers seemed to take the opportunity to suddenly appear next to Gloria with a ridiculously smug look on his face. “Seems you’re ‘aving fun. Said anything to ‘im yet?”

She folded her arms and pouted crossly. “No. Cannae say anythin’ with you nearby anyway, you’re such a pest.”

Piers scoffed. “Please. I’m doing the both of you a favour, bruv, since ‘e won’t say it and neither will you. The two’ve you are gonna go crazy if this keeps up. I’m gonna go crazy if I ‘ave to watch you idiots keep dancin’ around each other for the rest of time!”

“Shut up, he’s obviously not got anythin’ to say on the topic. Do ye know how much he talks? Surely he’d have said something by now if there was somethin’ to say.”

“Do you ‘ave any idea how much he talks to me? ‘E always messages me at times kids your age shouldn’t be up, sayin’ how he doesn’t want to bother you but can’t sleep and keeps thinkin’ about you so ‘e decided to message me and blah blah blah. Please just tell ‘im so that he actually messages you when he’s thinkin’ about you, there’s only so much more of his sappy shit I can take.” Piers practically begged, seeming like he was mere seconds away from pulling out his phone to show her the evidence. Gloria didn’t doubt that Hop had messaged him plenty, but she still wasn’t convinced that he reciprocated her feelings, even though she knew she had no reason not to believe Piers.

Still, she pulled up the collar of her cardigan to try and hide the bright blush on her face at the thought of Hop being all sappy about her. The question still remained, though, “Why doesn’t he just tell me that himself? Not like he hasn’t messaged me at four AM before sayin’ he misses me or whatever. Gotta say I’ve done the same, prob’ly more sappy than him too.”

Piers gave a dramatic sigh and turned back towards the kitchen. “I need another drink. You’re ‘opeless, the both of you.”

Gloria let out a huff of her own, but decided now would be a good time to retreat after her rival, hoping that maybe now they could actually catch up a bit more now that she’d gotten Piers off her back and everyone else was still preoccupied in the kitchen. Only, she got to the living room and found Marnie and Bede, with no Hop in sight. The other two weren’t sure where he’d gone, only giving a vague direction to “outside.”

With that clue in mind, Gloria headed for the balcony, recalling how Hop had mentioned once that he liked to stand out there and see if he could spot Postwick in the distance, past all of Wyndon’s bright lights and vast expanse of the Wild Area even further past that. It seemed like a good place to start.

True to her assumption, Hop was leaning against the railing and squinting out into the night, so she casually sidled up next to him and prodded his shoulder. “Thinkin’ about something, Hopscotch?” She questioned, a gentle teasing note in her voice.

Hop shrugged. “Nothing to worry about, mate. Just the usual.” His tone was flatter than Gloria had been expecting, so she raised an unconvinced eyebrow at him despite the fact that he wasn’t looking at her yet.

“The good usual or the anxiety usual?” The teasing was gone now, replaced with concern as she let her hand rest on Hop’s shoulder. Many late-night phone calls over the past year had made Gloria well aware of the fact that her best friend still suffered greatly from the many untruths and insecurities that his mind threw at him, even though he seemed to be doing better than he ever had before on the outside, and it was always heartbreaking to watch when he got like this.

“Stop calling me out like that.” Hop joked halfheartedly, his weak smile quickly falling back into a frown, “But really, don’t worry. Just me getting all upset over something stupid again, which is the usual.”

Gloria squeezed his shoulder. “I’ll bet my hat it’s not stupid. Is it the competition?”

He nodded sheepishly following a moment of silence, as if he knew he wasn’t getting out of this now. “It is stupid. Who gets worked up about losing some stupid curry contest that Raihan came up with anyway? It was supposed to just be some fun thing and I ruined it for myself by...by doing what I always bloody do, you know? Losing, and then getting upset about losing, and then getting upset because I know I’m never going to be number one at anything, and then beating myself up for being so stupid, and--”

“Hey.” Gloria interjected, “You’re not stupid, you hear me? Losing doesn’t make ye stupid. Being upset about things doesn’t make you stupid, and your brain lying to you about your worth doesn’t make ye stupid. You are not stupid, alright? You’re strong.” She encouraged, shifting to settle her arm properly across Hop’s shoulders and pull him closer to her side. Their height difference was making it a little harder now that he’d suddenly sprouted almost half a head taller than her since the last time they’d seen each other, but Gloria didn’t care.

Hop didn’t say anything, but leaned into her a little more, so she continued. “You wanna know a secret? You’re my number one. Always have been. So don’t go sayin’ you’re not the best at anything, because you’re the best to me.”

There was nothing but the sound of Wyndon's bustling streets below for a long moment, but suddenly Gloria was being pulled into a tight hug, with Hop's head resting atop hers. "Thanks. Really." He breathed into her hair, "For the record, you're my number one, too. Undefeated champ or not." The soft laugh he let out that time was genuine, and Gloria couldn't help the smile that came to her face in response. Never would there be another sound as sweet as Hop's laughter, she thought.

When she finally leaned back just enough to look at Hop properly, Gloria had to take a breath to compose herself, suddenly noticing the lack of space between their faces. She hadn't intended on that happening, so she tried to ignore it, like she always tried to ignore her feelings for him. "Say, I was thinkin' about going camping in the Wild Area tonight, wanna tag along? We could make some curry together with our Pokemon, no competition allowed." That wasn't exactly the usual way one went about ignoring their feelings, but at this point she figured it didn't matter. How many times had they camped out together anyway? No big deal.

Hop beamed. "Sounds brilliant! Shall we go now?"

Gloria laughed, but was already reaching into her bag to find Flygon’s pokeball. Since becoming Champion she’d realised she needed to be extra careful about keeping her Pokemon as close to her as possible, especially given that she now had Zamazenta as a trusted member of her team. She didn’t want anything to happen to any of her dear Pokemon friends, which was why these days she always kept her bag on her, or at least within arm’s reach no matter where she was. Just in case.

Flygon let out a happy trill as it burst from its pokeball, setting down expectantly on the balcony behind Hop and Gloria as if it already knew their plan. The two young trainers quickly climbed aboard the eager Pokemon's back, and Gloria's heart began to race when Hop settled in behind her and curled his arms around her waist. We're about to take off, you daft bastard, of course he's gotta hold onto something, she reminded herself.

“Alright, Flygon, let’s get goin’. To the Wild Area!” Gloria announced. The Pokemon didn’t hesitate to take to the sky once again, both of its passengers whooping with delight once the initial jolts and jerks had passed. Maybe a Flying Taxi would’ve been a smoother ride, but there was something so much better about trusting your own Pokemon enough to transport you safely to where you wanted to go, and it was certainly cheaper than paying to get all the way to the Motostoke side of the Wild Area from Wyndon in a Flying Taxi.

It had already been reasonably dark when they’d left Wyndon, being a little while after dinner time by then, but by the time they made it to North Lake Miloch it was well and truly night time outside. Gloria had actually started to doze off at some point when there had been a pause in conversation, and she awoke with a start as Flygon landed back on the ground. Thank goodness for Hop being able to direct Flygon as effectively as she could herself.

Still, the heat rushed back to her cheeks when she realised that she’d been leaning almost entirely back into Hop’s chest as she’d fallen asleep, but by that point she could only hope that he hadn’t taken too much notice of it. They’d fallen asleep on each other plenty of times, anyway, why should it matter now? Catching feelings was annoying.

If Hop had thought anything of it, he didn’t mention it, and the two of them went about setting up camp with as much friendly banter as usual. Gloria had a handful of berries and half a bag of mushrooms in her supplies, while Hop had some other berries to contribute as well as a few potatoes. They figured it would all mix well enough together, so they let out all of their Pokemon and set to work.

“Maybe letting twelve Pokemon have free reign of the camp wasn’t the best idea.” Hop commented when Gloria’s Flareon came up for the third time to try and taste some of the curry before it was ready.

“I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about,” The Champion said coyly, gently shooing away her meddlesome Pokemon, “They’re all such angels, they’re not doing anything wrong at all.”

Hop laughed. “You’re right, it’s just Flareon. And also our Dubwools chasing each other around everywhere. And Zacian and Zamazenta looking like they’re about to murder anyone that dares get too close to the camp.”

Gloria shrugged as she fished around for a few plates to get ready for serving up. “At least they’re looking out for us. I feel better having them ‘round, just in case.”

“Fair call.”

Not long after that, the curry was served and most of the Pokemon had been settled down by the offer of some food. Hop and Gloria sat close together by the fire that Flareon and Hop’s Cinderace were keeping an eye on, and chatted idly about this and that, all sorts of things that they’d missed in each other’s lives since the last time they were able to meet up, or even have a long conversation on the phone.

There were neverending topics to cover. Hop being able to do research on some of his own projects now, Gloria’s latest exhibition matches, silly things they’d caught their Pokemon doing...it always felt as though they’d never missed a beat when they saw each other, like no matter where they left off they could always pick it right back up again.

“You know,” Hop said after a while, once they’d both truly lost track of time and could only guess that it was some time in the middle of the night by now. Gloria was leaning against his shoulder, with his arm casually draped around her in return as they both lay up against their Dubwools. “I really wish we got to do this more. I mean I know we’re both really busy and all now, but…” He sheepishly glanced away, “I dunno. I just miss you, mate. A lot.”

Gloria gave a gentle smile and leaned into Hop a little more. “I know the feeling. Seems like we went from seeing each other every day when we were growin’ up, to once or twice a week during our Gym Challenge, to now...what, once a month if we’re lucky? It’s stupid, I just wanna see my best friend all the time.” She sighed.

How long would it be after this time that they’d be able to spend an extended period of time together like this again? Sure, Gloria had tomorrow as well, but after that she had to head to Kalos for Arceus knew how long for all manner of exhibition matches and photoshoots and advertising campaigns. It was unfair how little time she got to spend at home anymore, she still didn’t know how Leon managed to do it for ten years straight, and from an even younger age than her, for that matter!

Hop’s next quiet comment cut her out of her spiralling thoughts. She could’ve sworn there was a slight blush tingeing his cheeks, but it could’ve just been the firelight. “Best friend, huh?”

She quirked up a brow in surprise and sat up slightly. “Aye? Always have been, always will be, you know that. Is...something wrong?” Surely this wasn’t going where her lovestruck teenage brain was hoping it would. There was no way Hop liked her like that as well. Piers could not be right about this whole thing.

The boy in question kept his gaze trained on his lap, but Gloria felt his fingers tapping a nervous pattern on her shoulder, where he still had his arm around her. “I, um.” Hop started, rather eloquently, “I...like you. As in, like like you. And I think I have for a really long time but I just never wanted to say anything because I figured you wouldn’t like me back since we were always just best friends, but...sorry. You don’t have to like me back, I just wanted to let you know. Just in case, I guess. I’m sorry. Shouldn’t have opened my big mouth.”

Gloria could’ve sworn her heart stopped in that moment. She felt like she was acting on autopilot when she reached over to grab Hop’s free hand, only hesitating for a fraction of a second before pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek as well. His skin was soft and warm under her lips, and she felt so giddy as she drew back to look at Hop’s adorably surprised expression, his wide golden eyes and slightly parted lips. An irrational part of her mind wanted to lean in and kiss him properly, but now certainly wasn’t the right time for that.

“Of course I like you back, Hopscotch. Honestly cannae believe you didn’t notice how unsubtle Piers was being about teasin’ me literally every single opportunity he got, he’s an idiot.” Gloria laughed, giving his hand a squeeze as he seemed to still be processing what had just happened.

Hop managed to sputter out a laugh of his own a second later, pulling Gloria closer to his side and planting a little kiss of his own to her head. “Are you kidding me? I thought Piers was teasing me about it constantly. I had a three AM crisis to him months ago about it, I can’t believe it.”

Gloria snorted in her laughter, causing a few of their nearby Pokemon to look at her with concern. “I did the exact same thing. Arceus above, I really thought he was havin’ a laff when he said you were messaging him about me!”

“Serious? With the way he said it I was sure he was kidding when he said you were doing the same thing as me! Maybe he was right, we really are dumb.”

Somehow they ended up in a bit of a tangle as they laughed, unapologetically clinging to each other now that they were both apparently on the same page with what it all meant. Maybe nothing had really changed that much with their admissions at all, maybe - much to both of their dismay - Piers had been right, and they’d just been subconsciously waiting for someone to say something this whole time.

Either way, once they had finally composed themselves enough to focus, Gloria leaned in to press her cheek up against Hop’s. “So...Hop, my dearest best friend and favourite rival.” She teased, “You wanna...be my boyfriend as well?”

Hop grinned, his eyes crinkling up with glee. “Gloria, mate, my number one and favourite champ, obviously yes.”

Gloria beamed. “Great. Brilliant.” She whispered giddily.

The following morning, a photo of the two of them in close quarters surrounded by several of their Pokemon was sent to the group chat, accompanied by a short message.

Hippity Hop [7:48AM] :

sorry we disappeared last night lads, spontaneous camping trip! also we’re dating now. have a great day :)

Eat Sand [7:49AM] :

wait...you weren’t already dating???

bloody hell my life is a lie

leon why’ve you been lying to me

Champion Time Snr [7:53AM] :

this is news to me mate i thought they’d been dating since they started the gym challenge

Croon Toondra [7:54AM] :

WHAT?!?

....you’re havin a laff right

Eat Sand [7:54AM] :

no lee really said he thought hop was your boyf

Croon Toondra [7:55AM] :

canny believe ye lee

thought we were friends

Champion Time Snr [7:55AM] :

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Mermaid [7:58AM] :

honestly i agree w/ the boys i thought you were bf + gf for ages

sonia said you were

she can’t defend herself rn she’s still passed out hungover so

Big Tiddy Goth GF [8:00AM] :

bout time innit

felt like reality tv at this point

congrats tho took you ages

Flame Dad(dy) [8:03AM] :

Congratulations, although I have to say I was also under the impression you had been together since the Gym Challenge.

Wooloolooloo [8:04AM] :

Same here! You two are right cute though so congrats :)

Kung Fu Fighting [8:07AM] :

yeah rai told most of us that lee told him ages ago so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ good job anyway you cute

Rocky Horror [8:10AM] :

think we can all just agree someone was wrong and we’ll leave it there

that someone was lee but we’ll ignore that

reckon he’s just tryin to get us off his back about him and rai ;)

Champion Time Snr [8:11AM] :

thanks everyone appreciate it

also gordie please shut up

Hippity Hop [8:12AM] :

I forgive you lee!

at least for the sake of this group chat >:)

Big Tiddy Goth GF [8:14AM] :

get him hop it’ll be funny

lee watch out bruv

also you’re literally as bad as the kids with your feelings it’s disgusting

Baby Goth [8:15AM] :

Ignoring piers i’m happy for you two :D

Also thought it was a thing but that’s coz it just seemed like you were

No one actual said anythin to me

Croon Toondra [8:17AM] :

love ye all but i’m also fookin over ye dkjafhf

lee just go sulk and cuddle your boyf

Eat Sand [8:18AM] :

who’s lee’s boyf???? >:(

oh wait i see

fml

#postwickshipping #hpyu #raileon #truerivalshipping #pokemon hop #pokemon gloria #pokemon piers #pokemon leon #pokemon raihan #pokemon swsh #pokemon #may writes

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spaceskam · 4 years

Text

prompt from anon: I noticed this posted on another blog, not sure if you’re taking requests. But Vlamis posting a picture packing a blunt also made me think of sleepy and lazy Malex sex after smoking together. Even Forrest and Alex? Feel like Forrest would be all aboard the pot train. Just makes me feel like a lazy early summer evening when it’s still kinda cool out and smoking just feels that much better.

ao3

Michael Guerin had spent a lot of time reminding himself of Alex Manes’ beauty. And, yet, nothing he could picture in his mind compared to the real thing.

Alex had turned up at his door, still in his fatigues and his eyes quietly pleading for assistance in getting out of them. Every time he showed up, he was always itching to shed them and, with his hair buzzed all short, Michael always had to assume he wanted a moment to be himself. Who was Michael if not a master at giving him what he wanted?

Like any other time, Michael pulled the 24-year-old into his trailer, silently undoing his uniform jacket. The first time he’d done this had required a lot of assistance--these things were ridiculously complicated and layered--but now he’d gotten it to a science. As an act of sheer defiance, he threw it on the ground and threw his hat right after it. Alex looked at it for a moment, conflicted on whether he should let it go on or if he should fold it nice and neat. Michael stole his attention by pressing a kiss to his lips and undoing his belt.

Michael stripped him bare, including his underwear and socks, and it should’ve been weird. If it were him and he was standing naked in front of someone that wasn’t Alex who was fully clothed, he’d probably feel so vulnerable that it’d hurt. But Alex was just leaning into him for comfort, not giving a damn what he looked like because he knew Michael didn’t mind. Which, in itself, was an understatement.

“Not sure if I believe in a big man upstairs, but, if he's here, he took a lot of time makin' you perfect," Michael told him, smiling as Alex huffed a tired laugh against his neck.

Michael let his fingertips slide over the ridges of Alex's military-primed body and over his slim waist waist and his hips and the curve of his ass, a silent praise of every inch that made up Alex Manes. He shivered slightly in his grasp and Michael pressed an open-mouthed kiss to his shoulder before peeling off him.

He moved to his makeshift closet and pulled out a shirt, boxers, sweats, and socks for Alex. They were what Alex always wore whenever he came down. Michael redressed him slowly, pressing kisses wherever he could because he knew Alex liked it. He'd learned quick that he would do whatever Alex liked.

Once he was fully dressed, Alex fell heavily on him and Michael wrapped him up in his arms. He breathed him in and kissed his jaw before just nuzzling close, swaying slighty. He could never get enough.

"You're tense," Michael murmured as he rubbed over his shoulders, "When's your next drug test, Private?"

"Guerin," Alex sighed lightly. They fell silent for a moment, nothing but their breathing. Michael didn't prod, but he also knew him. Anything that put him in a position that he couldnt escape quickly made him antsy. Getting high meant he was stuck with Michael until that wore off.

But, as much as his military brain told him not to put himself in a compromising position with another man, Alex Manes wanted nothing more than to be in compromising positions with him.

"I just took mine for the year last month and I'm home for a month," Alex told him, leaning back a little. He put a hand on Michael's cheek, his thumb grazing over his bottom lip. His eyes focused in on his mouth for a few moments before he sleepily dragged himself out of it. "What'd you have in mind?"

A few minutes later, they were in the front seat of Michael's truck and heading out into their spot in the desert. Alex, softened from a long plane ride and months of "special training, can't talk about it", cuddled up into his side. He always only did that on his first night back, always giving himself that little window of being young and attached again. Michael savored it.

He put his truck in park as he got to their spot and cut the engine. Alex didn't give him a chance to move before he grabbed his chin, bringing his face his direction before giving him a soft kiss. One kiss dragged to the next dragged to the next, every movement slow and lethargic and sucking Michael of every last fucking brain cell. He didn't know how to explain how much he'd missed him.

Alex's hand wandered lower as his tongue teased against lips, distracting Michael just enough to steal the joint from his pocket before sliding out of the passenger door. He left Michael hanging mid-kiss which instigated a soft laugh. Michael licked his lips, still tasting Alex on them before he slid out of the driver's side and followed Alex into the bed. He'd already undone a sleeping bag, making himself comfortable inside. Michael eyed him as he sat beside him, grabbing a blanket to drape over him.

"Lighter?" Alex asked. Michael slid closer, grabbing a lighter out of his pocket. Alex leaned close and let him light the joint for him. Michael watched in sort of a trance as Alex breathed in, his eyes closing and he leaned back.

He slowly pulled it out of his mouth and blew out a puff of smoke. Michael leaned in, inhaling it secondhand. Alex peeked his eyes open and smiled. God, he was gorgeous, what the fuck.

Alex took another drag, this time holding it and reaching out with his bare hand to grab the back of Michael's head. He pulled him close and breathed the smoke directly into his mouth, lips so close to touching and all. Michael shut his eyes as he breathed in. They sat there close for a moment before they slightly shifted their position into kiss. It was just as slow as Michael’s mind felt and only ended when Alex nudged him back slightly and held out the joint.

They passed it back and forth, still staying close. There was something so undeniably sexy about him dressed head to toe in Michael’s clothes and cuddling into them. Part of him wanted to rip them off him so he could feel his skin, but another part wanted him to stay just like that forever.

Slowly, as they came to a stopping point, they let the high slowly sink into their system. Alex seemed a little more effected, a little more smiley, a little more amused by the sky, a little more willing to curl tug on Michael’s curls just to watch them spring back into place.

“Hmm, you were right,” Alex said, “I think I needed this.”

“Yeah, I think you did too,” Michael chuckled. He was still as close as he could get, that stupid sleeping bag the main thing separating them. He raked his hand through Alex’s short hair and got lost in the way he almost giggled.

“I like you so much,” he said. Michael grinned, his hand sliding to cup the side of his neck. Alex sighed heavily, leaning into it. “Why are you so far away?”

“Me far away? You’re the one traveling to fight wars in the Middle East,” Michael pointed out. Alex laughed a little more and shrugged.

“Yeah, but you are so far when I’m there,” Alex pointed out.

“But I’m always here when you come home, that’s gotta count for somethin’,” Michael laughed right back. Alex smiled all wide.

“Yeah,” he said, looking at him through half-lidded eyes, “Yeah, it counts.”

They stared at each other for a little before meeting in another kiss. There had to be something poetic about kissing under the stars in the desert. Michael hadn’t quite found the poem yet, but he knew it had to exist. Maybe he needed to write himself. But even he couldn’t find the words to do Alex justice, so maybe not.

Maybe this moment alone could stand as their poem. Would his 10th grade English teacher accept that?

“Why are you laughing while you’re kissing me? What’s funny about kissing me?” Alex asked. Michael scrunched up his nose, noticing that he was laughing before he tilted to kiss his cheek.

“Just thinkin’ about something funny,” Michael said. Alex gave an over exaggerated pout that.

“Think about me,” Alex demanded. Michael wanted to get him high more.

“Well, that’s the world’s easiest request.”

“Can I give a harder request?” Alex asked. Michael raised an amused eyebrow, already ready to laugh before Alex asked. “Get in here with me.”

“It’s a one person sleeping bag.”

“Oh, what a shame it’ll be to be pressed so close to you that you’re all I can feel, I’m so--”

They were both silenced by laughter as Michael started trying to climb into sleeping bag. It took a little maneuvering, a lot of laughing, and the perfect amount of pressing together. Alex wrapped his arms around his neck and interlocked their legs. Eventually, they settled in comfortably and laughter subsided.

“Hi,” Alex whispered. Michael smiled again and bumped his nose into Alex’s.

“Hi.”

Alex pulled him into a kiss easily, everything just as slow as it’d been all night. Michael would never admit it, perhaps because he could never find the words, but he liked when Alex went all slow. It made it feel like they weren’t racing against the clock to be with each other, there was no rush. It was just them, both in Michael’s secondhand, soft clothes. There was no reason to pretend the had a time limit. Michael knew they didn’t. Yes, Alex would leave, but he would come back. One day, he would stay. It was okay. No time limit on them, just a time limit on him being gone.

“Sometimes... Sometimes when I’m out in the desert, the other desert,” Alex said against his lips suddenly, voice soft like he was telling a secret, “I can only think of you. And sometimes, when we get high, I’m so scared that when it wears off, it’s all gonna be gone. You’re gonna be gone. I’m in the wrong desert.”

Michael swallowed harshly, the giggly mood gone for good. He slid his hand up Alex’s side, hoping to make him realize that he was real. He was here. He was going nowhere.

“I’m not gonna be gone,” Michael promised him.

“I know,” Alex whispered, “But...”

“No. You’re in the right desert. I can prove it to you,” Michael insisted.

“How?” Alex asked.

Michael thought about it. How could he prove it? Part of him considered digging behind the seat in his truck to see if he could find his microscope, but he figured Alex wouldn’t know what a slide of the Middle Eastern desert looked like in comparison. Instead, he rolled slightly so Alex was on his back and Michael hung over him.

“We’ll wait it out,” he said, “And it’ll all be real.”

“Okay,” Alex agreed, pulling him into another kiss.

They just kissed for awhile, the sleeping bag too tight to really allow them to do anything more than half-assed dry humping and groping. Honestly, neither of them seemed to mind. It brought back memories from back during the summer after high school where they had Alex’s 15 minute break to hook up in the bathroom of the UFO Emporium but were too scared to risk anything more.

But tonight it was just easy. He was at peace and Alex seemed to be more sure that Michael was indeed right there with every passing second. He didn’t want to leave.

Eventually though, as it stared getting closer to 3 in the morning, they slowly decided they should go back to the airstream. It took them longer than they’d ever repeat to get out of that damn sleeping bag.

On the ride back, Alex was curled against him again, this time humming along to the radio and telling him impulsive stories about that super classified shit he was doing that he really shouldn’t be sharing. Michael knew he’d kept bigger secrets, so it wasn’t too big a deal.

“So, you’re gonna become, like, an officer?” Michael asked as they pulled up to the airstream. Alex nodded.

“Yeah, the plan is to eventually outrank my dad and then laugh at him,” Alex said. Michael snorted.

“I believe in you.”

They fell into bed and Alex felt right beside him. He seemed to snuggle up so close that there was no chance of him picking up and leaving before the morning came. Of course, Michael had thought that before.

Still, he smiled as he wrapped Alex up in his arms and he gave that sweet little pleased hum. Alex pressed his face against his neck, huddling close.

“I like being so close to you,” Alex said. Michael smiled.

“I like being close to you too.”

Michael couldn’t wait until the future when he never had to be far away.

(ps if you enjoyed any of this at all, go read @prouvaireafterdark ‘s slightly sillier, slight smuttier fic with a similar premise)

#malex #malex fic #michael guerin #alex manes #roswell new mexico #my fic

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makiema · 4 years

Note

I feel, sometimes, like you’re one of the few Eren-positive blogs left. Back in 2013, people related to him and loved him. Like, does no one remember how much this character used to inspire us in the fandom? That’s what I hold on to, what a character meant to me long before ‘shock factor’ and ‘no more heroes’ bull steps in. I love your blog, I love your positivity in the face of both the gradually disintegrating canon and the bitterness of the fanbase. I hope this doesn’t come off as aggressive.

Hi, anon! Thank you for sending this and no dw it didn’t come off aggressive at all! Tho I’m a little surprised bc I don’t post about Snk at all anymore, unless I’m griping about Yams’ erratic writing. but I’m so glad to know you’re still Eren positive! There’s only so many of us. Personally, I just feel so sorry for him and what he’s gone thru that it’s impossible for me to hate him. The only thing I hate is the fact that the narrative is set up in such a way that we’re always pitted against Eren. It’s like Eren is always made to go against the flow (which is why he’s the only one with some agency, but that does him little good) and as such is undeserving of the kind of sympathy others get. I mean, even back in 2013, when he was the kindest baby boy™️ people were like bUT hEs iNcoNsiDeraTE oF hIs fRiEnDs aNd rUns OfF oN hIs oWn and then in season 2 or s3p1 the issue was either he’s whiny or he can’t do anything on his own and then when he starts taking matters in his own hand, he’s once again in antagonism against the other characters. It’s like no matter what he does, the narrative is crafted in a way so that it’s always in conflict with him/instigating against him and I just hate that. Because it overlooks everything he personally went through, his own suffering, and the obvious negligence of his friends. Not to mention, the utter irresponsibility on part of some of the older characters. And the whole idea of making Eren roll with genocide bc he can’t accept the fact that there are other people outside, who have an issue with the Eldians makes no sense like hello, he is the one who’s always spoken up about the right to live??? And is literally the reason, Mikasa and Armin and in fact the entire main crew is alive??? Plus, he’s matured enough to understand that humanity will keep fighting till the end of time, matured enough to realize euthanasia isn’t the way, but it doesn’t occur to him that rendering enough military and consequently, economic damage is enough to change the political scenario of the world!!??? Make it make sense Yams. I’ll be honest it never felt like Snk had a hero or needed a hero (the only hero like character was Levi and he was done dirty by Yams too) but, at this point Snk is just tragedy for the sake of it and that’s why it feels ridiculous on all levels. Not to say, the #1 requirement for this “tragedy” to unfold itself is for Eren to be the big bad unfortunate villain who needs talking down from his friends, who ironically enough never talked to him when he was spiraling downwards owing to his PTSD :’) anyways, it is what it is I guess. If Yams wants Eren to be hated that badly we can’t do anything about it. I just hope people realized that despite everything, despite all the ridiculous “I was upset when I learned humanity existed” or the “this is freedom” shit, Eren’s truly remorseful and regrets everything. And he did desperately try to go against fate and left no stoned unturned to come up with a different way but literally nothing worked so he was like, the future is set in stone then. Hange said they couldn’t come up w anything and neither did Armin so I suppose Eren just had to be the scapegoat villain who does smth terrible that serves as the final push for the “good” characters to take action. so Eren is basically just fodder for some rushed up Armin development rn. At the end of the day, Yams arbitrarily deciding to put Eren out there as an arrogant, sort of baby-minded, villain who can’t stand the concept of difference and who is entirely resigned to the future he saw, is really not a consistent character trait as far as Eren is concerned. (ffs he’s always been all about fighting. he even saved Ymir by delivering that powerful speech but now it’s suddenly “genocide bc that’s what I saw” whaa—??😭😭) It’s just a choice convenient for the plot Yams has in mind and for Armin, that’s all. The only thing that I’m bitter at is the characterization tbh. and the way Eren is sacrificed for a bs plot. He deserved so much better than this mess. But then again, Snk itself deserved better!

#asks #anon #snk spoilers #i ranted sm ffkshbdk #yams b like yes ill deliberately f up my legacy #what about it #i dont get him like even a hiatus would have been better than this #like he could have set up his sauna and then resumed writing #that way the manga wouldnt have to end this horribly

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rpbetter · 3 years

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Today I learned a popular vent blog is repressing submissions about the drama with the now defunct resource blog. They probably have a relationship to the resource blog admin, or they are the admin. I know two people who sent submissions that were not published, but new submissions they made after were. The admin is silent after inquiries about it. They are ignoring everyone who tries to talk about it. It is so hard to find a place in the rpc that is transparent right now, a place that does not censor people who need to get things off their chest. Of all places that should keep their bias in check. It should not be a vent blog. That is one of the last places people go when they can not confide in their rp partners, or people in real life. Sometimes just having a vent post published can be everything. It is more silencing than people think.

Okay, I do know what you're talking about. I've said in the past that I specifically look around the RPC to gauge a rounder set of experiences, problems, etc. That blog is such a place that I have visited in the past to do so, and I have both noticed and been told what you're telling me now. I will admit, because I do believe in honesty here as a part of transparency one should strive to uphold off of their RP and personal blogs, that I have held exactly these suspicions since the blog choose to "handle" recent events the way they did. That is why I was paying attention to the disparity in both original submissions published and the responses to them.

What I have seen is a little uncomfortable feeling. It isn't just The Topic itself, it's also anything relating too closely to that mun's repeatedly expressed positions on things as well. Well, you know, a frightening number of people do feel the same way, do engage in those behaviors, so I am willing to believe that I am merely seeing shit where it doesn't exist. I am, after all, just a person, doing what people do, being fallible. I'm not acting on any information that anyone else out there isn't privy to, I also want t be clear about that. It's the opposite of my interest to withhold information, make it up, or inflame the situation.

Like everyone else in the RPC right now, it's incredibly difficult to not be suspicious. So many really ugly things were revealed and transpired, it was like every three hours there was something horrifying and new going on. And the way that it was left off, with the meme blog mun and with that vent blog just served to chafe those feelings for many.

So, again, while I am not trying to give this all a spritzer of gasoline, and neither am I acting on any knowledge none of you have, I've had suspicions since the time that vent blog decided that it was fully appropriate to refuse action for what went on that there was a bit of a personal connection going on. When your blog has established that it will mass-block people for far less, but suddenly, over this, it's a useless effort not going to help anyone? I'm sorry, that's suspicious to me. If nothing else, it was incredibly shitty to tell muns who were targetted because of interactions on their blog to just get over it and be adults when the adult thing is to approach the mods (hello, it does stand for moderator) with concerns, and this is a serious concern.

One that has done exactly as you say - effectively shut down venting and communication on that blog. I love that the direction is constantly to take things to the comments lmao gee, I wonder why no one is willing to openly comment anymore? Total mystery! Could it be that even you feel you can handle potential harassment, you don't want to endanger anyone else who might not be able to? Possibly.

Venting has a negative connotation here anyway, that doesn't help. Months before this all happened, I was seeing an increasing number of people equating such blogs to burnbooks, or at best, "childish echo chambers."

However, venting on one's own blog is not alright either. We're not supposed to have a visible problem with anyone or anything they're doing, ever. It's supposed to work out every time like this: you approach the person(s) causing you this problem and discuss it maturely with them in private, the issue is resolved, and everyone goes off into the sunset crapping rainbows. Double ones, even.

The problem is...it doesn't work out like that very often. That isn't to say it shouldn't be your first action, it should. Sometimes, especially if you've been both lucky and extremely careful about your writing partners, you'll be wonderfully surprised and it'll be a great conversation that helps both muns. So much of the time though, it instigates a fight because everyone is automatically defensive as hell, or one or both muns are so afraid of that happening that they'll refuse to have a meaningful confrontation (confrontation is not always negative, we need to stop viewing it that way). One or both say whatever is necessary to smooth over the problem, while they change nothing at all, making the feelings of anger so much worse.

And maybe, this problem isn't that big of a deal, one needs to work themselves up into addressing it, or they've cause to actually fear the other mun's response to them.

So, they have three options, and none of them is alright with the RPC:

vent to a friend - this is unacceptable because it is always seen as talking shit behind another mun's back, bringing drama to others, and trying to force people to take sides, no matter how much none of these may be the case and hold a lot of variables depending on the type of venting and the relationship of the muns involved

vent/vague on the dash - not always the same thing, not always occurring at the same time, and not always invalid either, but always viewed as incredibly malicious and wrong. Even if the result was either getting the friend who wouldn't stop refusing to engage to have a meaningful conversation with you or finding a new partner because someone else has been experiencing it too, you know you're not going to do this to each other, and a mutual you've been ignoring is now a valued partner

vent on a vent blog - seen as even worse than venting on one's blog in some corners because it's a more open to visit place, it's just stirring up drama and fights, this makes everyone feel vagued about and suspicions and accusations of being mentioned/mentioning someone run wild. Everyone wants a drama-free dash, no one wants to allow anyone a better place to do it

Venting is important. I think it is necessary to maintaining a less explosive environment. It's called "venting" for a reason!

Maybe it is the most ridiculous complaint in history, but those things do build. And build. And build. Until they blow up all over in someone's face, it might even be someone totally innocent who happened to be in the right place at the wrong time with exactly the worst coincidental words spoken to you. These places allow for people to get it out without hurting anyone's feelings or starting a massive argument when it wasn't even anything that serious. They offer, or used to, different perspectives that let muns feel seen while helping them to decide whether they are just blowing things out of proportion, misunderstanding/potentially unaware of another aspect, or even in a worse situation than they were allowing themselves to be aware of with a harmful relationship.

It goes beyond just venting when there are conversations going on about the topics! Sometimes, people just need to feel like they're not so isolated. Sometimes, they legitimately lack the tools and perspectives to approach a problem more directly or successfully. And yes, sometimes, they even need to see that this is kind of shitty of them and they should reevaluate.

Vent blogs are difficult to manage.

We all have biases, and when it comes to more personal situations we can recognize or see ourselves within, that is never more likely to become a point of extra difficulty to keep in check. This is actually why I left that vent blog the first time around, there was way too much bias being expressed with a mod taking it upon themselves to opine on submissions, fight with people about them, and refuse to post them while vaguing about them. Among other, increasingly perturbing behaviors I had no desire to keep seeing daily on my dash.

When you decide to create or accept a position moderating such a blog, you have to know that you will be thus challenged. Someone is going to vent about someone you'll recognize, a situation you feel passionately about, or say something in a vent that upsets you. You have got to remain visibly impartial. Go on and vent about it yourself to friends, write a post on your personal, do whatever the hell you need to in order to not be visibly biased and acting upon that bias.

I see blogs like this, as well as other places of moderation, often becoming incensed and offering the angry justification that "mods are people." Yes, I should hope you are! No one is saying you must be an impossibly perfect person without opinions, biases, or mistakes. We are holding you to a higher standard of you deal with these things out in the open where you hold this position, yes. That's literally what your job is, my friends. Go off about it, feel your feelings, even cultivate a block list from that blog! But you don't show it, you don't ever make people feel worse when the point of your blog is to allow them a voice.

The only time you need to give a personal opinion is when it is requested or you need to express that a submission was declined/comment had to be moderated due to you exercising your judgment that it violated the rules.

This is supposed to be a safe place for muns to anonymously let it out of their systems and discuss these topics. Not a place where they'll feel exposed, judged by the mods themselves, and denied a voice because of a mod's biases being exercised.

And I'm extremely sorry that people are being made to feel this way, all over again in some cases, because someone cannot handle the position they took up. I'm sorry for the whole community who has lost an important outlet. I wish that I could recommend another place for people to go that might provide a better experience, but as yet, I do not. Hopefully, that'll be changing in the near-enough future, but for right now...all of the vent blogs I was familiar with have long since closed down.

If anyone has any currently running vent blog suggestions, I'd love to know about them and share them! Please, they do have to be legitimate vent blogs. I'm not going to recommend here that might be too close to actually being burnbook-like, deals in publishing URLs, and so on. If you want to engage with that, it's absolutely your choice, but it's not something I want to give certified approval to on this blog, and I hope you understand why. If they're legitimately anonymous, safer places serving as vent blogs, let me know so I can check them out for a few days and publish your ask!

It wasn't my intention with this blog, though I did offer that a couple of times just to get people talking about problems important to them in the past, but if you want to vent here, I'll do my best to publish them (unless you request otherwise) in a relatively timely fashion.

I'm just not a proper vent blog, and people should be aware of that! I do offer opinions on those matters. It's more in line with the point of this blog to do so - I want to be able to give some point of assistance in publishing them. I cannot promise, therefore, to be impartial, but I can promise to not judge you or ignore what you send because I don't agree, am tired of it, etc.

I'd just ask that, once again, everyone realize that sending hateful messages to me isn't going to result in me being nice to you in return. If you've a complaint to lodge, lodge it respectfully if you desire to be treated that way yourself. This blog will publish anon hate, that doesn't mean I'm going to be nice when you send it. Anything else, however, I will genuinely try to offer you the opportunity to be seen and heard, some advice, experiences I might have had with a similar issue, and to approach it fairly.

Sorry that everyone is going through a hard time, that it just doesn't seem to stop, and probably will not for some time now. Thank you for sending this, I hope it made you feel a little better! That has been, and will continue to be, my objective in publishing asks relating to this matter - I just want everyone to feel like they have some agency and respect somewhere, that they're being seen, and that they have the support of others in the community.

#answered #anonymous #vent blogs #tumblr rpc #drama cw

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tepot · 4 years

Text

Originally posted on 4chan, on the limits of Harry Potter and the worldview of JK Rowling. [Source]

“It very neatly describes the way liberals see the world and political struggle.

Lots of people complain about the anticlimactic ending, but really I don’t think it could be any other way. I’d like to imagine that there’s some alternate universe where Rowling actually believed in something and Harry was actually built up as the anti-Voldemort he was only hinted as being in the beginning of the books. Where he’s opposed to all the many injustices of the Wizarding World and determines to change their frequently backwards, insular, contradictory society for the better, and forms his own faction antithetical to the Death Eaters and when he finally has his showdown with Voldy, Harry surpasses by adopting new methods, breaking the rules and embracing change and the progression of history. While Voldemort clings to an idyllic imaging of the past and the greatest extent of his dreams is to become the self-appointed god of an eternally stagnant Neverland, Harry has embraced the possibility of a shining future and so can overcome the self-imposed limits Voldemort could never cross, and Voldemort is ultimately defeated by this.

But that would require a Harry that believed in something, and since Rowling is a liberal centrist Blairite that doesn’t really believe in anything, Harry can’t believe in anything. Harry lives in a world drought with conflict and injustice, a stratified class society, slavery of sentient magical creatures, the absurd charade the Wizarding World puts up to enforce their own self-segregation, a corrupt and bureaucracy-choked government, rampant racism, so on and so forth. But Harry is little more than a passive observer for most of it, only the racism really bothers him (and then, really only racism against half-bloods). In fact, when Hermione stands up against the slavery of elves, she’s treated as some kind of ridiculous Soapbox Sadie. For opposing chattel slavery. In the end, the biggest force for change is Voldemort while Harry and friends only ever fight for the preservation and reproduction of the status quo. The very height of Harry’s dreams is to join the Aurors, a sort of wizard FBI and the ultimate defenders of the wizarding status quo. Voldemort and the Death Eaters are the big instigators of change and Harry never quite gets to Voldy’s level. Harry doesn’t even beat Voldemort, Voldemort accidentally kills himself because he violated some obscure technicality that causes one of his spells to bounce back at him.

And this is really the struggle of liberals, they live in a world fraught with conflict, but aren’t particularly bothered by any of it except those that threaten multicultural pluralism. They see change, and the force behind that change, as a wholly negative phenomenon. Even then, they can only act within the legal and ideological framework of their society. So, for instance, instead of organizing insurrectionary and disruptive activity against Trump and the far-right, all they can do is bang their drum about what a racist bigot he is and hope they can catch him violating some technicality that will allow them to have him impeached or at least destroy his political clout. It won’t work, it will never work, but that’s the limit of liberalism just as it was the limit of Harry Potter.”

#harry potter #liberalism #ideology #jk rowling

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sapphirestarxx · 4 years

Text

Through the Night

Chapter 12

Also posted on my AO3!

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Let me know if you would like to be added to the tags for future updates!

~☆~

Inuyasha stared at the phone in his hand with utter distaste. It wasn’t the phone’s fault; he understood the necessity and convenience of them in this modern world. It wasn’t even because he disliked phones in general, although Kagome had been working on warming him up to the idea of getting his own. She claimed he needed one in the event she had to get a hold of him and he argued that that was ridiculous because he was always near her side anyway.

“That won’t always be the case.” She had replied. “I love you, but I do have a life outside of you. Once Tsubaki is taken care of things will go back to normal, and there will be times when we each have our own separate responsibilities to take care of. If we’re going to be together and make a life together, you have to make yourself a part of this modern world, because I am a part of it, too.”

He didn’t like it but there wasn’t much he could say to refute that, because she was right. And he would do anything for her if it meant he got to keep her in his life--to be able to call her his. He had agreed to get one, and make other necessary steps, once everything with Tsubaki was done.

No, Inuyasha’s aversion to the phone was not the phone itself. It was because of who he was about to call. At Kagome’s urging, he had grudgingly agreed to call his bastard of a brother to ask him about any attacks against youkai that were similar to those of the attacks on spiritualists and to see if he knew anything else of note. After what Kaede had told them about Tsubaki needing massive amounts of both reiki and youki for her dark spell...well, if anyone would know about something happening to demons it would be the Lord of the West. Inuyasha dialed the number and waited as it rang. Fuck, he hated talking to his brother.

“Hello?” A low feminine voice answered. His brother’s mate had picked up the phone.

“Hey, Kagura.” Inuyasha returned and he heard her take a breath of surprise on the other end of the line then let out a soft chuckle.

“Inuyasha? Well, well, well. Haven’t heard from you in a long time. It’s been-- what? Twenty years?”

“It would be even longer if I had any say in the matter but unfortunately I need to speak to that dick you call your mate.”

“Right.” Kagura drawled. “You two and your bickering. Doesn’t it ever get old?”

“He’s the one who talks down to me and insults me every fucking chance he gets.” Inuyasha snapped.

“And you rise to the bait every time.” Kagura responded dryly. Inuyasha could practically hear her eye-roll through the phone. “What is it about you brothers that makes you seem to bring out the worst in each other? Still, I’ll admit Sesshomaru is the instigator at least half the time. He isn’t always easy to deal with.”

“I don’t know how you deal with him at all.”

“He’s my mate. While he does have a tendency to act like a condescending ass at times, I’m always quick to remind him of who he’s dealing with, and I know he can find me just as maddening. Of course, he’s never been as unreasonable with me as he is with you.” Kagura answered, amused. “But you didn’t call to ask about my mateship with your brother.”

“No offense, but I’d rather puke blood than hear about you being all lovey-dovey with that jackass.”

Kagura laughed. “I always did like you, Inuyasha. You know I’ve never had anything against you personally.”

“I know. Anyways, I need to speak to him. Is he around?”

“He just got off a conference call; I’ll hand you off.”

“Thanks.” Inuyasha grunted.

“To what do I owe the honor of this call, little brother?” Sesshomaru’s deep, stoic voice asked. It was obvious from his tone that he considered it anything but an honor.

“Hey. I got a couple questions to ask ya.”

“And what might they be?” Sesshomaru sounded bored and Inuyasha resisted the urge to snarl.

“Have there been any attacks against demons lately, with a rune left behind at the scene? And I’m not talkin’ about evil demons. I mean those with powerful auras, who mind their own business around humans, being left in comas with their youki sucked dry.”

There was a long pause and Inuyasha almost began to wonder if his asshat of a brother had simply hung up on him when Sesshomaru spoke again. This time there was no boredom in his voice. His tones were urgent, almost hushed; Inuyasha had gotten his attention.

“How did you come upon this information?”

“Is that a yes?”

“Is it not obvious from my reaction to your words? Tell me what you know.” Sesshomaru ordered imperiously. Suppressing the impulse to tell his brother to go fuck himself, Inuyasha recounted everything they had discovered to him. Everything from the runes, the stolen book of black magic, all their battles, Tsubaki’s involvement behind it all, and their recent discoveries regarding her master plan. Sesshomaru listened without interruption and when he was done the daiyoukai was silent for a long moment.

“This is not good.”

“No, it’s not.” Inuyasha said, agreeing with his brother for one of the first times in both their lives.

“Hn.”

“Alright, I told you what I know; now it’s your turn.”

“Very well.” Sesshomaru’s voice sounded put upon. “About two months ago reports began surfacing of attacks on demons and they were as you described-- drained of their youki and left in comas. There was a mark left behind at each one. If what you say is true, then their souls have also been taken.”

“It’s true.”

“Hn.” Sesshomaru acknowledged. “I remember this Naraku of which you speak.”

“You gonna elaborate on that?” Inuyasha prodded when he fell silent again. His brother had never been the talkative type. Getting anything out of him was like pulling teeth, and this was probably the most forthcoming he had ever been with Inuyasha.

“He thought himself far above his station and was overly ambitious, although he was indeed very powerful for a half breed.” Sesshomaru’s voice dripped contempt at the insulting term and Inuyasha gritted his teeth. “After joining with that dark priestess he became a menace, causing countless problems and gaining influence among those demons who were not content with their place in life. He attempted to form a rebellion against my rule over the youkai of Japan. Many of my allies were attacked.”

“They why the fuck didn’t you do anything?” Inuyasha demanded. “You’re the fucking Lord of the West. Or did you just not care??”

“Mind your tone, little brother.” Sesshomaru clipped out. “Do not think to cast judgement on what you know nothing about. Your ignorance is showing.”

“Keh, whatever. So while you were sittin’ on your ass some priestess took him down instead.”

Sesshomaru growled a warning through the phone and Inuyasha gave a smug grin. It was petty but he felt a little victorious at having gotten a rise out of him.

“This one had been carefully taking steps to end Naraku. It was fifty years ago, not the feudal era where demons fought with abandon, giving no thought as to the consequences of their battles or of human discovery. This one realizes subtly is not your strength, but surely even you have to realize what a terrible idea it would have been for us to fight to the death in the middle of Tokyo.”

“Demonkind would have been exposed.” Inuyasha grudgingly admitted his brother was right. If they had gone all out there would have been no covering that up. Still, that smug sense of satisfaction only increased; Sesshomaru only fell back into his old habit of referring to himself in the third person when he was truly irate.

“Exactly so.”

“I’m guessing you didn’t know about all the attacks against spiritualists before now. Did you know about Tsubaki’s involvement in all of this?” Inuyasha asked.

“There have been rumors regarding the spiritualists, but this one knew nothing for certain. Regarding Tsubaki-- no. This one was not aware of the connection between her and the attacks until your call.” Sesshomaru paused, and his next words were strained, as if he had to force himself to speak them. “This one owes you thanks. Your information has been surprisingly useful.”

It was a backhanded compliment but it was still a great concession for the daiyoukai. Inuyasha was surprised to say the least.

“Don’t mention it.”

“Tsubaki must not be allowed to succeed with her plan. Take care of it.”

Inuyasha bristled at the way his brother had just basically ordered him to do what he was already doing anyways.

“You don’t get to fucking order me around.” Inuyasha snapped back. “And besides what’s stoppin’ you, huh? Maybe you should get off your ass for a change and do something.”

“Don’t be foolish. She is a dark priestess, not a demon, and therefore not of my concern.”

“And what about all those demons on her side, helping her? Or are they not your problem either?”

“Inuyasha, were you and your companions not already pursuing her?” Sesshomaru’s voice betrayed his impatience.

“Yeah, but--”

“Then this one fails to see the issue.”

“Some help you were.” Inuyasha all but snarled.

“Surely even a half breed like you can handle this task. She is one woman.”

“One woman with an arsenal of black magic who probably has a fucking army to send after us!” Inuyasha returned. “What do you think happened to all those evil demons and spirits on their side after Naraku was purified? You think they just went away? She’s been sending these fuckers after us since day one. At first it was just the small fry but now she’s been upping her game and having the stronger ones attack us.”

“If she indeed has an army, Kagura and I will lend our assistance at that battle. But until that is the case this fight is left to you and your companions. We will not accompany you on some wild goose chase across the city while you pick off her allies one by one.”

“Fine!” Inuyasha growled, hanging up the phone. He had learned basically nothing from that whole exchange, only confirmation of what they had already suspected. The only good news (if you could call it that) was that if things got really bad they could rely on Sesshomaru and Kagura’s help. And “really bad” meant facing an actual army they had to fight through to get to Tsubaki and stop her. But barring that they were on their own.

Placing the phone back on its cradle and making a conscious effort not to slam it down, Inuyasha made his way back up the stairs to Kagome’s room. There wasn’t much to tell, but he had promised to let her know how it went and what his brother had said.

~☆~

While Inuyasha had been calling his brother Kagome had been on the phone having her own conversation with Sango. She had called to demand that Sango give her all the details of having sex with Miroku, and Sango had hissed at her to lower her voice. That was probably because Miroku had been sitting right next to her when she had answered the phone if the masculine laughter Kagome heard in the background following her words was any indication. Telling Miroku she was going to have a private conversation with her best friend and to shut the hell up, Kagome heard Sango excuse herself to the bedroom and shut the door. Then, in a hushed voice, Sango had told her all about it. It all sounded like such a romantic yet incredibly erotic and pleasurable experience. When she was done Kagome had sighed almost dreamily.

“Wow. That sounds...amazing. I’m kind of jealous. Inuyasha refuses to mate with me until after we take down Tsubaki.” She told Sango, her tone wistful.

“It must be hard having to wait when you love him so much.” Sango sympathized. Then a thought occurred to her. “Is it just intercourse he refuses to do, or anything at all?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, if it’s just the actual sex itself that he’s putting off because it triggers the mating instinct...Kagome, you know there are other things you can do without going all the way, right?”

Kagome froze at that revelation and wondered why she hadn’t thought of that. It seemed so...obvious.

“You...you’re absolutely right.”

“While demons typically don’t do anything sexual unless they are reproducing or reaffirming a mate bond...Inuyasha is half human, too.”

“I don’t want to put pressure on the demonic part of him if that’s the case, though…” Kagome hedged.

“Then talk to him about it...if your heart can handle it.”

“You’re so evil sometimes. Now that you’ve brought it up it’s all I can think about!”

Sango laughed and wished her luck then hung up the phone. A few minutes later Inuyasha walked in through her bedroom door and Kagome jumped up from her bed, slightly startled. He stopped at her abrupt reaction to his entrance.

“Uh, you okay?”

“Y-yeah. How did the call with your brother go?”

His face darkened a bit as he related the gist of the conversation to her. Closing the door behind him, he walked across the room to lean against the window as he talked and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Hmm. It doesn’t sound like he knows too much more than we do. What you said about Tsubaki having an army, though...that didn’t even occur to me before but it makes sense. She’s always sending others to fight her battles for her. Assuming we manage to corner her I can’t see her taking us on all by herself. No matter how powerful she is.” Kagome mused.

“My thoughts exactly.”

“Well, at least if we really are facing an army we can count on his help.”

“I wouldn’t hold my breath for that.” Inuyasha said, then his golden eyes turned shrewd as he stared at her. “You wanna explain why you were smelling of arousal when I walked in?”

Kagome blushed and she sputtered for a moment, mumbling something about how unfair it was he could seem to smell everything about her.

“Can’t help it. Dog demon, remember? Now what’s goin’ on?”

“Uhm, I-- I was thinking and-- uhm, well…” Kagome stuttered out, suddenly shy for some reason. “You said you won’t mate with me until Tsubaki is defeated. Does-- does that mean we can’t do anything or just, well, just the-- the sex itself?”

“What are you tryin’ to say?” Inuyasha asked, a corner of his mouth kicking up and exposing the tip of a fang.

“If it’s just actual s-sex that activates the mating instinct, well...there’s other things we could do without going all the way. If-- if it’s not too hard on your demonic half...since you’re half human I thought...” Kagome answered in a barely audible voice, her face red.

“Oh, yeah? What kind of things?” Inuyasha drew the question out. He was full on smirking now and Kagome’s pulse raced. He had to know what she was talking about; why was he teasing her like this? Saying she wanted to mate with him was one thing, but talking about the particulars of sexual favors was too much for her virgin heart to take.

“Well, Kagome? Aren’t ya gonna tell me?” Inuyasha slowly uncrossed his arms and straightened, taking a step towards her, his amber eyes glowing. Heat shot straight through her and her body felt flushed.

“Uhm...y-you know what…I mean...”

“I wanna hear you say it.”

“N-never mind! Forget it!!” Kagome yelled, too embarrassed. Why had she said anything?? She whirled blindly towards the door, needing to escape the situation she had created, but suddenly Inuyasha was there in front of her. He grasped her around the waist, holding her to him and looking down into her eyes.

“You can’t bring somethin’ like that up then just tell me to forget it.” Inuyasha told her, his voice rough with desire. Kagome shivered at the sound and swallowed.

“I...I can’t say it. It’s too embarrassing.” She mumbled, blushing madly and staring resolutely at his chest, unable to maintain the intense eye contact.

“I know what you mean. I didn’t mean to tease ya, but I just couldn’t resist. And to be honest, I’m dying to, but I’m still worried I’ll get too carried away once I start touchin’ you.” Inuyasha admitted.

“If you do I’ll tell you to stop. I know you won’t do anything to me without my consent.”

Inuyasha had no idea why she seemed to have so much faith in him. Every time he touched her, every time she let out that breathy sigh of pleasure from his kisses, every time he smelled the siren call of her arousal...it was all he could do not to rip off all her clothes and take her right then and there. To sink his fangs into the place her shoulder met her neck and mark her as his forever. Still, he considered her words and realized she was probably right. Not even his demonic half-- the baser part of him-- would force anything on her, not if she was telling him no. No matter how strongly it demanded he give in to his instincts, she was his mate and that meant his demonic half would listen to her wants; it desired her acceptance of him, to make her happy. Taking her by force would go against all of that.

Still, despite her insistence, he didn’t think she was entirely aware of everything she was asking for him to do. Imagining things and building them up in her head like she had clearly been doing was totally different from actually experiencing it. The kinds of things she was asking for were on a completely different level from the kissing and touching they had been doing since admitting their feelings for each other. She was so pure and earnest that of course she would want to dive in headfirst, but this was all so new to her. Hell, it was new to him too, but he had a lot more years on his side. Knowledge he’d acquired by chance, and not necessarily voluntarily.

“So you’re saying you want me to touch you like this?” He asked in a low voice as he trailed a hand up her thigh, slipping under her skirt until he reached the juncture of her thighs. She stiffened as her breathing quickened. He stopped the motion of his hand and after a moment withdrew it, giving her forehead a kiss.

“You’re way too tense to be ready for somethin’ like this.”

Kagome cringed at her involuntary reaction, trying to will herself to relax. She wanted so badly to feel him touch her intimately, wanted to solidify their bond. Of course they wouldn’t go all the way, waiting to make their mateship official until after Tsubaki had been taken down, but being intimate in other ways would go hand in hand for when they finally did. However, up until a week ago she had never really even kissed a guy, let alone felt one touch her in the ways she was asking for. When Inuyasha kissed her it was unlike anything she had imagined, and when he ran his hands over her body she wanted to melt, but that was child’s play compared to the way he had been about to touch her. She craved it but a small part of her was still trying to adjust to the reality of it.

“I-I’m sorry, I really do want this, I promise. I’m just...nervous.” Kagome insisted, biting her lip.

“Exactly. You’re way too nervous. And there aint anything wrong with that. We don’t have to rush anything here.”

“But I want it! I...I want to deepen our relationship. I know we can’t mate, not yet, but I want that feeling of closeness and intimacy. I just...I’m just not used to it. I’ve never been with anyone before so I...I just…”

“Kagome, I’m not going to demand anything of you. I know you want this, but I also know what your body is telling me, and it’s saying you’re not ready for anything more just yet. Maybe tomorrow, maybe two weeks from now. But it aint today. Let’s be clear; this is all kinda new to me too. Demons don’t just go around fucking everything in sight. Not usually anyway. I’m not trying to rush this. This is it; you’re it.”

He was right, of course. Right now she was definitely too tense. It wasn’t the right moment. She brought her arms up and wrapped them around him while burying her face in his chest as he gently nuzzled the top of her head with his cheek.

“And by the way, I aint sayin’ no to what you were askin’ for. Now just isn’t the right time.”

“Good. And now that you’ve said it, I’m not letting you back out of it.”

He pulled away from her enough to cup her cheek and raise her face to his before lowering his lips to hers. They kissed, lips moving against each other and it was sweet and tender and full of everything they felt for each other.

~☆~

Sango spent the day with Miroku, and wondered if it was wrong to feel such happiness when things were so dire. The situation they were in, all the things they still didn’t know, the consequences should they fail...it was sobering but it didn’t diminish the peace in her heart that being with Miroku had given her. She wondered if Kagome was having a similar internal struggle, and then was curious if Kagome had taken her advice on pursuing...other ways of being physical with Inuyasha.

When Sango had told her best friend all about being intimate with Miroku she could tell how badly Kagome wanted the same experience with Inuyasha. She had to give him credit for thinking about the possible consequences to Kagome first, knowing that the demonic instinct to mate was all but overwhelming. The pull might not be as uncontrollable for him because he was only a half demon but it had to be difficult to suppress, regardless.

After getting off the phone with Kagome her body was flushed from the memories that she had just relived. Exiting the bedroom, she silently walked back to the living room where Miroku was and he gave her a knowing, heated look. He was fully aware of what she had just been talking about. She blushed, wanting to tell him to stop smirking at her, to get his mind out of the gutter. The problem was that's exactly where her mind had gone too. Sitting close, she reached for him and he kissed her as she pressed herself into him. He gave her what she was wordlessly asking for and ended up taking her right there on the couch. Afterwards he gave her a very satisfied smile before flipping their positions, holding her against his chest. As they laid there together Sango’s mind drifted and Miroku gently stroked her hair.

“Pretty sure you were loud enough that every neighbor on this floor heard you.” He remarked in a teasing voice after a few moments.

“Shut up.” Sango smacked his chest hard, and he grunted but otherwise didn’t seem to care. In fact he even chuckled a bit at her reaction, no doubt finding it cute.

“I would have figured you were the quiet type, but it seems you’re actually quite vocal.”

“I-I’m not! Well, that is, I mean to say, I wasn’t ever loud, not before when it was just m-me...But for some reason w-when you touch me I can’t seem to hold back.” Sango confessed, blushing and refusing to look at him to see his reaction. He had to be feeling rather proud at that admission.

“Hmm. Is that so? That does make me feel rather accomplished. But I have a confession to make, too.” He said, and although there was a hint of smug satisfaction in his voice there was something a little more serious, too.

“What?”

“You’re the only woman who’s ever been able to drive me as wild as you do. Make me make the sounds that I do.”

Sango raised her head from his chest to look at him and he met her eyes steadily, giving her a soft smile.

“Really?”

“Yes, really. Of course, you’re also the only woman I’ve ever been in love with, so I’m sure that plays a role.” He continued and warmth bloomed in her chest as her heart pounded.

“You’ve really never loved anyone else?”

“Only you, Sango.”

She knew she should just accept those beautiful, heartfelt words and cherish the moment but something compelled her to keep pressing.

“If you’ve never been in love before then how do you know you love me?”

“Because it’s the only word that could possibly describe what I feel for you.”

Sango wasn’t really the emotional type but she found herself getting misty-eyed at his honest and rather romantic words. Oh God, was she really going to start crying like some high school girl? No, no, no. With an effort she tried to compose herself.

“Why are you so perfect?” She hadn’t realized she said the words until they had left her mouth.

“So that I could be worthy of a goddess such as yourself.” Miroku replied easily, still giving her that soft smile.

Sango managed to not cry and returned his smile as she rolled her eyes at the cheesy line before leaning in to kiss him. He readily welcomed her lips upon his and kissed her long and slow, and she nibbled his lip between her teeth gently before they pulled apart. She stared at him for a moment then spoke.

“I love you, too.”

~☆~

A few hours later they both prepared to make their way to the Higurashi Shrine for the location ritual Miroku was going to help Kagome perform. Sango was dressed in her slayer gear and Miroku packed a white kosode to change into for when it came time. It had been a long time since he had practiced any kind of ceremonial rites but as a monk he had done plenty before. It would be his first time performing one with a priestess and combining the power between the two of them, however.

Kagome had already gone over the particulars with him yesterday on the drive from the Shikon Shrine back to Tokyo but they both felt it was a good idea to review it once more before actually performing it. There were other preparations to be made too, such as cleansing baths, individual prayers, and the drawing of a rune upon both of their chests, over the heart. The rune was not a black mark like the ones Tsubaki had been using to absorb the souls and powers of her victims, nor was it to amplify dark feelings to fuel darker magics. This one was pure, and would serve to guard against Tsubaki getting a read on their magical signatures, masking it and rendering them effectively invisible to her mind’s eye. In the event that failed it would change their presence to something different than what it truly was so that she couldn’t latch onto it and trace it back to them.

That was the hope, anyways. In the event Tsubaki made it past all their protections again Kagome had Miroku with her this time and between her power and his, she felt confident they could handle anything the dark priestess threw at them. Not to mention they had Inuyasha and Sango to watch over them. It would be fine.

Once it was time and all the preparations had been made all four of them walked to the building with the purification pool they would use for the ritual. Kagome and Miroku had already changed, each dressed in their white kosode, with heavier robes draped over their shoulders to protect them from the bite of cold in the air. The rune they had both drawn upon themselves with a special ink was hidden beneath all the layers, resting over their hearts.

Entering the small building Inuyasha and Sango took up positions against the wall while Kagome and Miroku lit the incense braziers and removed their outer robes, setting them aside. The both stepped into the water and stood facing each other before looking into each other’s eyes and taking hold of each other’s hands. Power flowed between them and Miroku shielded their minds while Kagome worked on reforming the tenuous connection they both possessed with Tsubaki that had been left behind by her telepathic presence. Once that had been established they could perform the ritual itself and this time would be different; Kagome would not make the same mistakes she had last time.

Inuyasha watched, feeling the immense amount of reiki accumulating between the two of them. There was nothing romantic about what they were doing; logically he knew that. Still, the sight of his mate standing in front of another man in nothing but a thin robe, holding his hands and looking into his eyes...his inner demon was snarling. Especially at the memory of the last time they had been in here, her kosode soaked and transparent, baring everything to his eyes. He hadn’t realized he was beginning to growl out loud until Kagome spoke.

“Inuyasha, it’s hard to focus with you growling.” Kagome said, her voice a quiet admonishment.

“The demon part of me isn’t exactly thrilled at the sight of you holding hands with that pervert, wearing practically nothing.” He groused. He knew Miroku wasn’t interested in Kagome in that way but it didn’t seem to matter to his demon half. After the moment he and Kagome had shared earlier, her confessions of intimacy, combined with the mate bond still waiting to be established and his claim made...his instincts wouldn’t subside. They were still screaming that she was his and to mark her, and screw anyone else who tried to touch her.

Sango gave him a sidelong glance, keeping her comments to herself. If she wasn’t so sure about Miroku’s feelings for her, if she still thought he was just a flirt trying to hit on any attractive woman, then maybe she might have been a little worried. But that wasn’t the case. It was clear it was strictly platonic and all about the ritual. She almost rolled her eyes at Inuyasha’s reaction. Talk about possessive.

“Inuyasha…” Miroku sighed. “Trust me, I would much rather be in here with Sango, holding her hands and looking deeply into her beautiful eyes instead. As lovely as Kagome is, I have absolutely zero interest in her as a woman. No offense.”

“None taken.” Kagome smiled.

“Yeah, I fucking know. I never said it was rational.” Inuyasha snapped, but he made a conscious effort to keep himself under control.

Once his snarling had stopped they resumed their efforts, until their powers had risen, awaiting direction. The air was charged with the sheer amount they had built up between the two of them. Dropping each other’s hands they quietly chanted the necessary incantations while performing the accompanying movements that helped to center and focus their minds and powers. Keeping their objective of finding Tsubaki at the forefront of their thoughts as they moved and holding onto that dark connection she had left behind in their minds, the power they had called forth responded. It swirled before grabbing hold of their intentions, now knowing what to search for.

Finishing the ritual they each closed their eyes and breathed deep, the lotus and sandalwood incense burning in the braziers working to calm and settle their minds. They ran their hands through the water, performing more ceremonial movements before grabbing hold of each other’s hands again, eyes still closed. Slowly, they reached a meditative state where they drifted, their physical contact helping to anchor their spirits to each other as, finally, a connection was made.

Images came to them-- a large estate; a patch of woods; an ornate marble fountain in front of the mansion-like house filled with dead leaves, water no longer flowing from the sculpture stretching high at the center; tall blood-red doors; a front gate overgrown with Japanese ivy; and finally, a placard with the address. The visions continued, taking them inside the house. A large entryway overlooked by a balcony with a split staircase leading up to the second story; a chandelier hanging from the ceiling dripping with crystals; a room with a mahogany desk, heavy black velvet curtains preventing any light from finding its way in; a close up of the pages of a book detailing a forbidden ritual to resurrect a half demon, the edges yellowed with age.

Abruptly the images cut off, and Kagome reeled for a moment, fearing the connection had been severed. But that wasn’t the case as she felt their power still linked to...something. Or someone as it turned out. When it refocused they could see the image of a woman. Her face was beautiful, with a youthfulness that belied the gray of her long hair. There was a sharpness to her features that was softened slightly by her large green eyes. Eyes that seemed to be staring directly at them.

“You again.” Tsubaki spat the words into both of their minds, contempt dripping from every one. “And it looks like you brought a friend. Didn’t you learn your lesson last time?”

The rune should have protected them from discovery and Kagome spared a thought to wonder how she had found her way around it. Their presence should have been nonexistent to her, allowing them to slip in and out undetected. Was she so powerful now, so glutted with the darkness the runes had been feeding into her, that it was useless against her?

They both felt Tsubaki attempt to flip the spell back onto them, as she had the first time Kagome had performed this ritual, but Miroku’s shielding held strong against her attack and it failed.

“It appears you’ve learned something at least.” Tsubaki huffed in annoyance and Kagome felt a small thrill of victory.

“How did you detect our presence?” Miroku asked, responding telepathically.

“You’re not as clever as you think you are.” Tsubaki replied. “Did you try to use a rune to mask yourself? It doesn't work if you’ve already performed the spell on the person you’re seeking to hide yourself from. Especially not when you had that spell flipped back onto you. Still incompetent, I see.”

“Be that as it may, you still weren’t able to reverse it this time.” Miroku returned evenly.

“You I can’t truly sense, but I knew there was too much power at work for that little priestess to be doing this all on her own. I can only assume you’re the monk.”

“Guilty.”

“So you found me. Congratulations. This changes nothing.”

“Don’t be so sure. We know your plan now.” Kagome shot back. “All those souls you’ve been collecting, all that youki and reiki...we know you plan to bring Naraku back.”

Tsubaki let out a laugh and it echoed inside their heads, girlish and loud.

“Oh, is that all? You’re still as clueless as ever if you think that’s everything.”

“What does that mean?” Kagome demanded.

“As if I would tell you.” Tsubaki scoffed, then her tones turned unforgiving. “In the meantime, I have a gift for you. Consider it recompense for the murder of my apprentice.”

Feeling the power in the air shift around them, they both snapped their eyes open, trying to locate the source of the disturbance.

“Shielding only protects you from a psychic attack. And if you know enough spells there’s always a way to get around even the strongest of wards. Being good only gets you so far.”

Tsubaki murmured a dark incantation and Kagome felt the pull through their telepathic connection; she felt something opening up. Then the link between the two of them and Tsubaki was severed and there was movement in the water.

Miroku and Kagome instantly dropped their hands and sprang back, causing Inuyasha and Sango to become alert, ready to defend them. What looked like snakes swam around their legs, and they both immediately erected barriers against the threat. It was at that moment Kagome and Miroku recognized the two serpents as shikigami. But rather than attack the two spiritualists they shot out of the water and went after Inuyasha and Sango instead, quick as lightning.

One of them wound its way up Sango’s leg then torso faster than she could blink and wrapped the top of its body around her right arm. She triggered the hidden blade at her wrist and sliced the head clean off, but not before it sank its fangs through the leather of her slayer suit and deep into her wrist. Giving a small cry at the sudden pain, she stared as it disintegrated and breathed hard as adrenaline raced through her veins. Checking her wrist over, she noticed there were no holes in her gear left behind from the fangs; there was no blood. But still the ache lingered.

At the same time the other shikigami had raced its way towards Inuyasha, striking out at him with uncanny speed. He dodged its first attempt but it doubled back with a ferocity, set on its target and this time it succeeded. Fangs buried themselves in his ankle and he snarled, reaching down with his claws to shred the shikigami to shreds. With its body destroyed it broke apart into dust and Inuyasha shook his foot, glaring. Whatever it had been it hadn’t actually bitten him, not physically anyways.

“What the fuck?!”

“Sango!” Miroku called out her name, gaining her attention and she realized he and Kagome had gotten out of the pool, him racing to her side and Kagome rushing over to Inuyasha.

“Miroku, what the hell was that?” She asked, slightly bewildered and a bit concerned. Returning her wrist blade to its sheath she looked at him. Even though her skin was unblemished she still felt uneasy. Miroku took her wrist in his hands and frowned as he spoke.

“That was a shikigami sent by Tsubaki. We got a lot of information but apparently she was still able to break through our defenses enough to send them after us.” He answered, his heart beating fast. The shikigami had bitten her; he had seen it, watched it all as it unfolded. Everything had happened too fast for him to react, to do anything at all, and now he was afraid its bite had left something behind inside her. Pushing her sleeve down he saw her skin was whole and there were no marks that he could see, no blood indicating any actual fangs had pierced through.

“It bit me, but there’s no wound. I don’t understand.” Sango said. She could see the concern on Miroku’s face and watched as he inspected her. After a moment he raised his eyes to her own and she swallowed.

“I don’t think it was meant to be a physical attack. Shikigami are constructs made of spiritual power and Tsubaki went to the trouble of sending these after us which leads me to believe there’s something more going on here. I want to check you over with my own power to make sure it didn’t leave anything behind.” Miroku told her and Sango nodded her consent.

Carefully, Miroku cast his reiki over and into her and she suppressed a shiver at the feel of it. Starting from her wrist and working his way across the whole of her body, Miroku was thorough in his search and he found nothing that didn’t belong. He even closed his eyes for a moment and, slipping into his meditative state again, peered into the shining light that was her soul and there was nothing but Sango there. Opening his eyes he met her darkened gaze and gave a slight shake of his head indicating he had found nothing amiss.

“There’s nothing that I could detect.” He confirmed. Despite his words, neither of them felt better.

Kagome had dropped to her knees in front of Inuyasha, grabbing at his ankle and attempted her own inspection of him despite his protests that he was fine. Like Sango, there was no mark, no indication that anything had happened left behind on his skin. But she had seen it, and she knew it was likely something deeper that went into the soul. Because he was half demon she couldn't run her reiki through him like Miroku had done with Sango. So instead she had closed her eyes and inspected him with her mind’s eye, able to slip easily into her meditative trance again to look him over. There were no specks of darkness in the light of his soul and so she had no choice but to accept that there was nothing wrong with him.

“I can’t find anything wrong.” She admitted, rising to her feet and looking at him.

“I told ya I was fine.”

“I don’t have a good feeling about this.” She said anxiously. Still, she couldn’t actually prove anything was off about him.

Overhearing their conversation Sango silently agreed but said nothing. She could tell Miroku had his own reservations too, but that he didn’t want to worry her when there was nothing he could find, and therefore nothing he could do about it. Her wrist pulsed with another ache and she held back a grimace, telling herself it was all in her head. If neither he nor Kagome could find anything then that meant there was nothing to be nervous about. She just wished she truly believed that.

Once they had checked Sango and Inuyasha over and found nothing, Miroku and Kagome then told them everything they had learned. They described all the images in their visions in as much detail as they could, images that finally revealed Tsubaki’s location. Taking turns they recounted the telepathic conversation they had had with the dark priestess while Sango and Inuyasha listened intently until they were done.

“‘If you think that’s everything?’” Inuyasha repeated Tsubaki’s words, scowling. “What else is that bitch scheming? Fuck.”

“I have no idea. Maybe it has to do with the ritual she plans for Naraku’s resurrection. Or maybe it’s something else.” Kagome shrugged unhappily, her face pensive.

“You said you saw the pages of a book in one of the images of your vision. Do you remember what was on it?” Sango asked.

“Now that I think about it-- yes. It was a spell for the resurrection of a half demon, and if I took some time I could probably recall all the details of the page.” Miroku replied after a moment.

“I think I could too. I would guess it's a page from that book of black magic she stole.” Kagome added.

“So we know her location now. We gonna go hunt this bitch down?” Inuyasha spoke what they had all been wondering.

“I mean, what else are we going to do? We can’t really form a plan without knowing exactly what we’re walking into but at the same time we can’t afford to wait around in hopes of her tipping her hand. Who knows when she intends to enact her plan and cast that spell.” Kagome pointed out.

“True, but she knows we found out where she is now. Who’s to say we won’t be walking into a trap?” Miroku returned. Once again he felt there was something they were missing about the shikigami that had attacked them. It seemed too simple coming from a woman who had the most evil of spells at her fingertips.

“Even if that’s the case we have no choice but to go. I don’t like being so unprepared when walking into enemy territory; not when we’re facing off against someone so powerful and evil. But our options are limited. All we can do is be careful.” Sango argued. “If necessary we’ll retreat but we have to at least try.”

“We should at least wait until tomorrow and try to get some rest. I would also like to take some time to write down what I can remember from that page we saw in the visions. I’m sure there was a reason we were given a glimpse at it; it has to be important.” Miroku replied.

“Fine, but we head out first thing tomorrow.” Inuyasha grumbled.

“Alright, it’s decided. We’ll get some rest then meet tomorrow and see what’s waiting for us at that address.” Kagome said. At her words they all left the building and made their way to the main residence. She wished them a good night and Sango waited for Miroku to change back into his regular clothes before they headed home themselves. On the drive back to her apartment they were silent for a bit, each considering all the many possibilities that tomorrow could bring. The shikigami's bite was an unspoken worry between them, hovering in the back of both of their minds.

“What do you think we’ll find tomorrow?” Sango finally asked him to take her mind off of it.

“I honestly have no idea. There’s so many possibilities that speculation is almost pointless.” Miroku shrugged as they pulled into her apartment complex.

“That’s true.” She sighed.

Once inside her apartment he grabbed a pen and a piece of paper and began to write down everything he could remember about the book page he had seen in the vision. When he was finished he looked up and saw Sango hadn't really moved, her face worried and lost in thought.

“Sango? What's wrong?”

She seemed to start at that and gave a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“It’s nothing.”

“The look on your face tells me it’s not nothing. What is it?”

She stared at her wrist for a long moment before answering.

“I know you didn’t find anything wrong, that you examined me very carefully-- but for some reason I can’t shake this feeling. I feel so uneasy; that something has been done to me and I just don’t know what it is yet.” She admitted after a slight hesitation.

“I know it goes against your nature to let yourself be protected but I want you to know this-- if anything happens, if that shikigami really did leave something behind that none of us could detect and it emerges...I’ll take care of it. I’ll save you. I won’t let you be swallowed up by some dark curse.” Miroku told her, moving to stand in front of her. He meant every word and hoped hearing them would help to soothe her fears.

Sango breathed deeply and exhaled, most of her tension disappearing. The sincerity and conviction in his voice was a balm to her soul and she relaxed. Somehow, when he said it like that, she believed him.

“Thank you, Miroku. For what it’s worth, I’ll always save you, too.”

“It’s worth everything.”

He pulled her to him and placed his mouth upon hers. Kissing her gently, he cupped her cheek and used his other arm to cradle her to him. Sango rested her hands on his shoulders, leaning into it and kissing him back. This wasn’t a kiss that grew more passionate, leading to heated touches; this was a kiss of reassurance and a reminder that whatever awaited them tomorrow, they had each other and they would figure it out.

#Inuyasha fanfiction #MirSan #Miroku x Sango #InuKag #Inuyasha x Kagome #Through the Night #shit gets real next chapterrrrr

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