#kind of one of my favourite things i drew last year. probably because i just had a really good time with it

[humanmorph]

I step all around the pieces on the floor / Wires and cords, and records, and tapes

#palisade #kalvin brnine #fatt #friends at the table #palisade spoilers #??? vague and also old but still #I did already post this here (in september?) but it was in a reblog... look at it. #more importantly i want to reblog it whenever i feel like going hey.btw(usually when i listen to the song again) #and the other post of this is one of my palisadepostings. & not one where i'm like oh this is rebloggable. #rosa art #kind of one of my favourite things i drew last year. probably because i just had a really good time with it #sometimes its fun to plan a drawing and move things around until they fit & sometimes i have an idea & just do it #like yeah. this has everything i wanted to get across. to me #brnine grief moment 👍 #lyrics from the pal25 episode desc btw. #which i didn't see at the time the episode came out otherwise i think. hm. something wouldve happened for sure

[aziraphales-library]

Heya!

I've read a LOT of GO fics in my time, but I can't remember if I've seen crossovers/AUs of the following movies with Aziraphale/Crowley, can you help please?

So my favourite rom coms of all time are the following, and I'd love GO versions (if they don't exist I may have to write them)!

French Kiss (Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline)

You've Got Mail (Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks)

When Harry Met Sally (Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal)

Runaway Bride (Julia Roberts and Richard Gere)

Never Been Kissed (Drew Barrymore)

I won't bother asking about Pretty Woman because I've read so many versions with either of them in either role lmaooo (and I have loved Every. Single. One.)

Or basically any late 80s/early 90s rom coms with Meg Ryan (except Sleepless in Seattle because I find it incredibly boring) or Julia Roberts!

Thank you so much for everything you do! You've helped me discover so many amazing fics and writers and it is much appreciated!!! 💖💖😇😎

Hello there!

Did you know there is a whole collection from the Good Omens Rom-Com Event that was run a couple years ago? You might find what you're looking for there! (Some of the fics are unfinished so keep that in mind)

We have previously recommended a bunch of You've Got Mail/She Loves Me fics HERE, so check those out.

As for the other ones you've asked about:

French Kiss AU:

A Bit of Crumpet by Fyre [E]

With a handsome, successful fiance and a respectable home in Manhattan, Aziraphale Fell thought his life was more than adequate. He never expected to be jilted in a long-distance telephone call and so he sets out for England to find out exactly what's going on and gets a lot more than he bargained for.

When Harry Met Sally AU:

it had to be you by curtaincall [M]

“What I’m saying,” said Aziraphale, looking fixedly ahead, “and please don’t take this as a personal insult in any way, is that an angel and a demon can’t be friends.”

“Why not?”

“Because,” said Aziraphale, firmly. “It’s against the order of things. You’re supposed to tempt. I’m supposed to thwart. We can’t go being friends.”

*

A canon-divergent AU inspired by When Harry Met Sally.

I don't know of any fics with your two last wishes but there is also:

Notting Hill AU:

Soho by Lurlur [E]

Aziraphale lives a quiet kind of life, running a quiet specialist bookshop in one of the liveliest districts of London. He's content with his lot, happy with his friends, tolerant of his probably-human housemate, living vicariously through the gossip pages.

One day, a chance encounter with Anthony Crowley, lead singer of wildly successful rock band The Demons, threatens to turn his whole world upside down.

Music and Lyrics AU:

pop! goes my heart by attheborder [E], WIP

When has-been musician Anthony Crowley is recruited by pop singer Anathema Device to write a song for her new record, he jumps on the chance to resuscitate his career with a hit. There's only one problem: he can't write lyrics to save his life.

But a chance meeting with a stranger by the name of Aziraphale, with a poetic streak that's a perfect fit for the song, changes everything for Crowley. Together, they'll create something beautiful, fight the forces of the music industry, and perhaps even find a way back into love...

A Music and Lyrics AU for the GO Rom Com Event, complete with all-new original songs written and recorded by the author!

Kate & Leopold AU:

Until by Nadzieja [T]

“I don’t want to go home.” Half-asleep Aziraphale murmurs into his ear and Crowley's heart clenches. His grip tightens reflexively around the warm soft body in his arms, around the smell of old books and sandalwood.

“Then don’t.” He’s trying not to sound like he's pleading, but his throat is tight and his voice hoarse.

*

Crowley lives his average life, working in a high-end advertising company at London that pays just enough to get him a room in a shared accommodation. That's just his luck that he ends up living with a literal witch. One day she brings home an even more eccentric man that has a taste for 19th century fashion, as if Crowley didn't have enough things to worry about. Little he knows that the man will turn his world upside down. Literally. And that's just the beginning of his problems.

~Mod N

#good omens #ineffable husbands #rom com #human au #canon divergent au #adult omens #mod n

[captain-hen]

Tumblr Fandom: A Year in Review 2023

i was tagged by @mistmarauder, thank you!!

Top Five Blorbos:

Eddie Diaz (9-1-1)

Nancy Wheeler (Stranger Things)

Nancy Drew (Nancy Drew)

Alex Claremont-Diaz (Red, White & Royal Blue)

Lucy Preston (Timeless)

Top Five Fandoms:

9-1-1

Red, White & Royal Blue

Stranger Things

The Haunting Anthology

Nancy Drew

Top Five OTPs:

Evan Buckley/Eddie Diaz (9-1-1)

Lucy Chen/Tim Bradford (The Rookie)

Nancy Drew/Ace (Nancy Drew)

Lucy Preston/Garcia Flynn (Timeless)

Dani Clayton/Jamie Taylor (The Haunting of Bly Manor)

Shoutout to Some New Friends:

@eddiediaaz we've been mutuals since last year but i feel like we talked a lot more this year, so i'm very grateful for that ❤ @poughkeepsies is one of my dearest mutuals on here and i love you and all your takes <33 and also @ice-sculptures i've adored following you over this year!

Shoutout to Some Old Friends:

all of my love to the one and only @tawaifeddiediaz, i don't know where i'd be without her to rant and get emotional over our blorbos with and she's just such a wholesome soul!! and of course, @bieddiediaz and @oneawkwardcookie, the besties, i love you guys so so much ❤❤

Favorite Creation You Posted This Year:

i'm very proud of my fic, but i can see all along, love (it was you all the way down) <3

Favorite Creation Posted by Someone Else This Year:

oh gosh this is SUCH a difficult question because there are so many amazing creations from this insanely talented fandom—but i'd have to go with @eddiediaaz's speak now gifset it was so incredible!

People Who Brightened Your Year:

too many people to count—@buck2eddie @lover-of-mine @jeeyuns @diazass @kitkatpancakestack @bieddiediaz @tawaifeddiediaz and so many others i'm probably forgetting!

Anyone Else You'd Like to Mention:

there are just too many people to mention—every single one of my mutuals on here, and all the kind people who've sent me lovely messages (anonymous or not) and all the people who continue to follow me!!

Five of Your Favorite Authors This Year:

elless continues to be an all-time favourite, they have some of the most beautiful fics in the fandom ❤❤

@tawaifeddiediaz is the most talented person ever ily 😘

@letmetellyouaboutmyfeels is another favourite!! your halloween fics were SUCH a treat and i'm sitll working my way through them!!

@cal-daisies-and-briars has fics with some of the most intriguing concept and is honestly a powerhouse—it seems like you're posting fic all the time!

@bvckandeddie i recently discovered your fics and they're just *chefs kiss* so delightful!!

Five of Your Favorite Artists/Gifmakers/Podficcers/Etc. This Year:

no list about gifmakers is complete without @eddiediaaz who is so talented and creative it makes me wanna cry (with joy!)

@padme-amidala while i don't follow most of the media you post gifs for, your work is so stunning and i'm so obsessed!!

@stationoneeighteen i love love all of your gifs especially the ones that focus on the firefam, they're so good ❤❤

@buckleys-diaz alie you haven't been around for a while (and i hope you're doing well!) but you've always been one of the most talented gifmakers in this fandom and i've always looked up to you <3

@roseapothecary your gifs are so so gorgeous and i've adored all of your rwrb sets!! they're so pretty and creative!!

Three Things You're Looking Forward to in 2024:

the new season of 9-1-1 and also the PJO tv series!!

Tagging:

tagging everyone who's already been mentioned in this post <33

#neethu speaks #tag games

[sarahfogg]

2002 vs. 2022

Last year I came across a set of season fairies that I drew when I was still in school. They were the first art I ever posted online and were the best I could do at the time. Since it had been exactly 20 years, I decided to redraw them and see the difference. I tried to retain some elements from the original set; each fairy is facing the same way and has a similar outfit and colour scheme. In 2002 I used coloured pencils because that was my standard medium for colour, so I did the redraw in watercolour because that's become my standard medium over time. (Maybe I'll redraw one in coloured pencil too.) Autumn is first because I drew her first back then! It was my favourite season. Autumnal fairies are still the kind I draw most, so the Autumn fairy was probably the easiest.

Winter is the one I changed most because she had a definite Christmas vibe in the original, which I remember being unintentional. (At the time I just couldn't think of any Winter plants other than evergreens.) I tried to make the new one match what I was aiming for in the past, rather than what I managed to draw.

Spring flowers are all very low-growing, so I moved the Spring fairy down to the ground. I'm really pleased with the mist effect in the background and how closely I was able to match the old colour scheme.

Finally, Summer! This one was interesting, I absolutely hated the season as a child (I had fair skin, light-sensitive eyes and debilitating hayfever) and I have strong memories of just bashing this one out to complete the set, so I had to figure out if there even was a flower that matched those generic 'flower' shapes I drew in the original. I hadn't tried very hard at the time, but in hindsight I thought her pose was more interesting than the others, so I tried to retain things like the bent legs by hooking them round the flower stem. She's also the one whose character design changed the least. I'm still not a huge fan of the season but I think the updated illustration might even be my favourite in the set.

Maybe I'll make some prints of these or some Redbubble products?

#2002 vs 2022 #old art #redraw #old vs new #art #traditional art #fairies #fantasy #seasons #spring #summer #autumn #winter #watercolour #coloured pencils #periwinkle #snowdrop #oak

[eiseryn]

Happy Birthday, Ceres (M)!

It's a little bit late but it was Ceres (M)'s birthday on January 4th! His birthday (01/04) is the opposite of his namesake's birthday (Ceres original) of April 1 (04/01). His birthday is also close to his father's birthday of Jan 1 (01/01).

He's lowkey becoming one of my favourite Lei x Vail child 🥺 He's the babey of the family. Also he just looks really cool? When I drew him he always has such cool vibes TM

His older sisters Mingxuan (in the green text) and Yuelan (blue text) bought him that coat. They also bought him the same coat in green plaid because they love him and spoil him 🥺 Yes Yuelan is being very tsundere about it.

More Notes about Ceres (M)

He's very heavily doted upon by the rest of the fam as he is the youngest child

His fave cake flavour is white chocolate.

Unlike his father he has poor alcohol tolerance, so he does not drink. He is a juice drinker and loves sweet things.

He started dyeing his hair when he was 16 and occasionally needs to return to his nat hair colour if his hair is dying

Has a pretty solid skincare routine taught to him by his sisters and mother

Has some hidden yandere qualities 👀

More versions of the art below -- it's the same art with different hair colours because I wanted to see how he looked. I really like how this lineart turned out~

A version with his natural hair colour! He sometimes needs to resort to this when the bleach is destroying his hair. I think he looks really good with his natural hair colour... he just looks good in general.

This is him with Vail's hair colour. He probably wouldn't dye it this colour because he likely gets compared to his father too often but I think he looks really good with this hair colour. This is the other coat colour his sisters bought for him :3 They spoil him.

Random + fun notes

I realized that in the bday art of Lei's closest friends -- or in the last two and Lei kind of as well, they both have white turtlenecks as apart of their birthday art (Elise + Vail). So I decided to make all the birthday art of Lei's closest friends this year in 2024 to have white turtlenecks incorporated in the art somehow XD. There is Ceres (April), Gigi (Aug), Lei (Sept) and Elise again (Dec) to look forward to... man so many outfit designs to make all somehow with high necked white tops 🤣🤣🤣 Debating on Flash for his bday art if I wanna give him a white top or not 🤔 he's not a close friend but he's a new friend and one of my faves sooooo maybe it will be a white top but not a turtleneck <- compromise

Relatedly for the birthday art of Lei x Vail kids I plan on them to have black turtlenecks + plaid in their theme colour :3 So I did Ceres (M) with a purple plaid jacket (top) so I'm going to do the twins with black turtlenecks and plaid bottoms :3 Yuelan is a skirt girl and Mingxuan a shorts girl. Already lowkey designed their outfits XD hopefully I'll get to draw their bday art come May~ (They are Geminis -- can you guess the date?)

#my oc #my art #ceres (M) #ceres the son #oc #original character #oc children #ceres jr #children of oc #oc birthday #oc birthday art #vailei siblings #I'm really proud of how this one turned out tbh I popped off with the sketch and lineart #oc art #oc artwork #oc illustration

[thavron]

4, 10, 27!!

4. Do you like cooking or baking more?

Baking for sure. Baking is just science and I understand science. I also find it quite therapeutic. I enjoy making a mess (don't enjoy cleaning up the mess mind you) and of course LOVE eating the goodies! Cooking is more subjective I think. I haven't quite got the hang of the different flavour pallets and the variability in ingredients means sometimes things are over cooked or under cooked. Frustrating. However I am getting more practice lately so I guess I'll get better at it!

10. What’s your favorite book?

I should have known this one was coming 😆 I don't really have a favourite book. I have books that make me feel different things and I reach for those when I feel the thing or feel like I need to feel the thing. Kind of like a comfort blanket. Probably the book I read most often is Pride and Prejudice. In fact I am partial to a good romance novel and Austen is the best. I love fantasy and science fiction for the pure escapism. I like books that make me laugh. I am obsessed with Good Omens at the moment, and have a whole heap of Gaiman and Pratchet books to work through next. I love a good crime thriller or murder mystery. I read the Magpie Murders last year, which was outstanding. I enjoy the Thursday Murder Club books, they remind me of the Nancy Drew novels I read as a kid lol.

27. 3 things you love about yourself.

What does this say about me that this feels like the hardest question? Okay lets do this self reflection thing.

My indomitable spirit. Yes I am going to be weird and phrase it like that. But I embrace my weird always. I'm not going to claim to have had a difficult life, I am sure people who have had a lot lot worse. But I would be lying if I said I hadn't hit rock bottom more than once in my life. I get knocked down and I brush myself off and get right back up again. I am Chumbawumba personified. I persevere. I set my mind to something, I grit my teeth and I do it. I am proud of the fact that I can do that. (Am I taking psychic damage every time I repress and compartmentalize to be able to do that? You betcha. But I have a therapy group, it's all good.) Ultimately this is why i am still alive, why I have the career that I have, and why I am extremely reliable, especially in a crisis.

My endless capacity for creativity. This is one of my best qualities, unfortunately my mental health means I can't always do what I want to do with this creativity. My brain is bursting with ideas and I love that. I find it difficult to take these ideas through to completion because I have ADHD brain (which is why I have so many WIPs) but they are alive in my head. I am actively working on overcoming this though. Last year I managed to finish some things and I completed NaNoWriMo so I am proud of that too.

I should say something flippant here like, my hair. Because I do have awesome hair. But I am also incredibly loyal and kind and I think those things are worth mentioning too.

Wow that wasn't so hard.

Really Get To Know Me

#asks answered #lumiereandcogsworth

[the-chosen-half-of-one]

I sent you an ask about BtVS forever ago, and I can't find it again, so I can't respond to more parts, but I agree with what you said about Dawn. Yeah, she was kind of annoying and a little cringey, but she was literally a teenage girl who went through so much loss and trauma in such a short timeframe that it's completely understandable why she would be a bit dramatic and react severely to seemingly minor offenses. I get why people don't like her, but when I was a kid, I thought she was interesting and relatable

Also, I *love* talking about Buffy and have very few people with whom I can fluently nerd out, so I'm always down for Buffyverse ramblings

Btw, have you watched Angel? Who was your favorite character? Personally, I love Fred

Friend! Friend who sent me Buffy ask, yes I remember that ask and I remember dissing Connor over Dawn 😆 Dawn is a delight compared to him, though it’s not Connor’s fault either what happened with him *still grumbles about it*. But yeah exactly, she gets on your nerves sometimes but I mean look at her circumstances, you gotta empathize. The ask is probably searchable on my blog if you type #buffy ask but my internet is being mean right now.

I have watched Angel, *grumbles vaguely about Connor again*, or well most of it, I did the unhinged watching it side by side disc switching episode to episode by air date alongside my Buffy watch, though I drew it out indefinitely so while I finished Buffy in 2018, and started s5 Angel right after..., I uh have yet to finish like the last 5 or so episodes just because I scared myself out of finishing the Buffyverse entirely because what would I do then?? *sobs* 😭 and then I just never had the stars align yet, but it’s gonna get finished, it is! It has its strong suits and its fun and charm and uniqueness from Buffy. Though the fact that that one certain arc of season 4 was quite possibly the worst thing to ever air on television did kind of contribute to the lost steam, I liked the Jasmine storyline minus the whole Cordelia and Connor aspects 😭 s5 meanwhile was certainly looking up but I have bad adhd and I—I left it on, well, A Hole in the World and you know what happens at the end of that one. 😭😭😭 ouch.

Anyway, Angel, my favourite character was Doyle and I will still never forgive them, but seeing as he’s only in the 1st 9 episodes, my favourite for the rest of the series was Lorne, I even had Lorne as my phone wallpaper for a hot minute years upon years ago, I miss him. Calling Angel pastries, making Angel sing Manilow, that fashion sense, and his wisdom, iconic <3 I do like different aspects of each of the characters in Angel though I do grieve how the show handled their storylines or unfortunate endings 😭

And please drop in and talk to me about the buffyverse anytime! Send me a message if you like, too, I love talking about Buffy, though my mind is currently fixated on the one other thing in almost 8 years that has suddenly made me feel the same way Buffy did, like I said before, Buffy’s inscribed on my soul.

#btvs #ask

[stormyoceans]

[VICE VERSA episode 1 part 1]

Brown like a horse shit (: 

I wonder what colour he’d give me

The female friend is the one that helps out at the end right? Looove her <3

Surprised there’s only a handful of fans waiting inside

Love the gate fake-out tho lmao

Can’t believe Jimmy went from playing an absolute turd (Wai) to an idol whose two settings are 1) charismatic and 2) dork

“you have a big head” WHAT KIND OF FLIRTING IS THAT

This whole scene is soooo cute though, holy shit

“the one who drew it is cute too” Puen turning on the flirting before they’ve even swapped, he’s so pathetic (affectionate)

WHOLESOME INTRO TIME

I haven’t seen the episode where the piggybacking in a body of water happens, I wonder what’s happening there

Omg I never noticed but how old is this car???

I guess when you’re a colorist you’re automatically available as a movie extra??

ALSO HOW DOES TALAY NOT KNOW WHO HIS CO-STAR IS

(I get it, it’s for the sake of a big reveal, but c’mon writers)

“MAFIA THE MOVIE”

Puen I don’t think “flirt with the corpse” is in the script

It’s nice to learn right off the bat that Puen’s not an arrogant twat despite his fame, he just smiles @ Talay’s phone call

“you’re this drunk and you can still work” WAIT THAT “OCEAN BLUE” STUFF IS ALCOHOL??? AND TALAY’S TRYING TO WORK WHILE DRUNK??? 

That seems like a terrible decision

“his attitude against pink” Boy you and I are about to throw hands

(pink is my favourite colour)

W-wait what’s that pyramid(?)-looking thing in the water, I’ve never seen that before

The reason Talay got sucked to a different universe is he wasn’t in the same frame as his friends

HOW DO YOU ASSHOLES NOT HEAR HIM

Oh my god I haaaaate Tess’s dad, like yeah I’d probably punch Tess in the face if I knew him irl but I don’t need to guess whose fault it is he turned out like that in the first place

I’m glad his mom’s got his back… in her own way

For a show that starts off with such a focus on colour, it changes drastically between shots during Talay and Tess’s mom’s little act

And not in a way I think was intentional

SFJKSGDKSGKDGSKDGSJ VERA I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO WATCH VICE VERSA AND LEAVE ME COMMENTS AS YOU GO IM SO EXCITED TO HEAR ALL YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT IT

okay but when i tell you talay is just as unhinged as puen is like imagine doing an interview for your dream job and ending up associating the dudes responsible for your destiny with the worst colors you could possibly come up with..... and then you meet a hot famous actor in an airport bathroom and not only you forget to wash your hands before giving him a present but you also tell him he has a big head....... AND YET TALAY SOMEHOW MANAGES TO GET BOTH THE JOB AND THE BOY ALEXA PLAY WHATTA MAN BY SALT-N-PEPA

it's also a testament of how good the writing of the show is that i loved talay since the very beginning despite is deeply incorrect opinion on the color pink aka THE PRETTIEST OF COLORS!!!!!!! however im willing to forgive him for everything since his journey from dislike to love because he comes to associate pink with puen is literally POETIC CINEMA

and not to spoiler you but when you said "It’s nice to learn right off the bat that Puen’s not an arrogant twat despite his fame, he just smiles @ Talay’s phone call" it reminded me of how in episode 7 one of the characters tells puen that "talay's smile is your smile" AND TO KNOW THAT TALAY MADE PUEN SMILE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WAY BEFORE THEY KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT EACH OTHER IS MAKING ME WANT TO GO DROWN MYSELF IN 5 CM OF WATER

i guess it's a good thing im not doing the bad buddy rewatch for the one year anniversary because i already know that this time around i would become the most disgusting wai apologist........... though kudos to jimmy for being able to portray both the biggest asshole in existence and the most endearing sweetheart CAN YOU BELIEVE SOME PEOPLE STILL HAVE THE AUDACITY TO SAY HE CAN'T ACT???????? also i think they should have brought back the suspenders in the last episode and let talay grab them to pull puen in for a kiss IM JUST SAYING

and i suppose this is the moment where i admit i have no positive feelings about tess but you're very right about his dad being awful

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS ONLY PART 1 OF EPISODE 1 IM SFJKSGDFJ AT THIS RATE IM GONNA GET INSTITUTIONALIZED BEFORE PUEN SHOWS UP AGAIN

#i still think we should have gotten a special episode called brown like a horse shit tbh #ALSO I APOLOGIZE TO EVERYONE FOR EVERYTHING #vice versa #vice versa the series #vera9 #m: ask

[blonkk]

i get so emotionally turbulent in the airport. maybe it’s because i’m always going off 2 hours of sleep and it takes me 2 hours to drive to the airport and i always book 6am flights and i always drink the night before. anyways i read this reddit post where this kids stepdad always financially provides fairly for him and his bio kids but excludes the stepson from special trips etc. he told the stepson it’s bc those are his bio kids and he wants to spend time with them and show them they mean more to him by virtue of being blood etc. he raised the stepson since he was one and shows preferential treatment to his bio kids, one of whom is the stepsons half sister. so the stepson responded by calling him by his first name rather than “dad” and stepdad got upset and hurt…anyways that story made me cry. idk i guess maybe it’s “natural” to other a kid who’s not “yours” biologically but jesus christ. you can’t treat a kid that way, exclude them, let them know they are less loved….irresponsible and cruel imo, no matter how you truly feel….

so there’s that. and then i saw this old dude handing presumably his wife a box of timbits and i got all gushy. and this older couple across from me is so cute the lady is just resting on her man’s chest and he’s just sitting there doing his thang. idk man i’m probably pmsing. i also have been reflecting on my loneliness and it’s imminent return LOL all my friends are leaving where i live soon and i’ll be alone..but i guess that’s my lot in life? that’s the way it is. there’s a lot of people i really love and appreciate even if they’re not the ideal friends/what have you. one being my roommate, a 50yo dude who does nothing but drink beer and smoke weed and talks about missing his daughter who he goes to see like once a year. i don’t agree with that aspect of his life (go see your KID instead of buying a new dirt bike !!) but man i have a lot of affection for him. he’s very generous and caring and kind and he channels his misplaced fatherly energy towards myself and the other younger workers on the mountain. i genuinely get along with him, and when he was with his daughter over the weekend i missed him…like i would get home and be like damn drew’s not here :/ and literally all we do is yap after-work style and sometimes watch shows. but idk he’s my favourite roommate this far which is crazy. idk it’s weird you never know who the people who actually make a difference in your life will be; it would have been so easy to write him off had i not bothered getting to know him. he’s a redneck, a sort of absent dad (he pays child support and knows everything ab her and supports her hobbies . he loves his daughter but. he’s gotta try harder to see her despite her living a few hours away) , he smokes cigs like a fiend, drinks beer like water, he passes out on the couch every single night of his life to dirt bike videos/sasquatch stories/random singing shows, is a typical tradesman. like it would be natural for me to judge his character based on those things. he’s actually one of the people who consistently takes my side when feminism comes up and always tells the other dudes “she’s right” etc. idk i just really am thankful to live somewhere where i’m comfortable with someone lol

& the other people i’ve met within the last year of my life have made me a better person and a happier person. somehow i really recovered a lot in the shithole where i live. dead end job, unfamiliar types of people , weird isolation. a lot of the shame i’ve carried my whole life has dissipated. i’ve been more myself than any other time in my life; and i don’t fear people’s rejection if i say what i truly believe or feel. sometimes there’s disagreements and some arguing, but it never ends badly, and weirdly i know i have peoples respect, even if they don’t agree with me or understand me. that’s what the key is i think — all my life with my family i’ve feared their rejection, their scrutiny, and their wrath. i’ve been scared to lose their love and respect because i was constantly threatened with it, and i experienced it countless times. the things the members of my immediate family have said to me, the things they’ve called me, the ways they’ve rejected me and punished me for being who i am has really damaged me and i always lived with it, bringing it into other relationships and friendships, not understanding that it was impacting literally every aspect of my life; how i interact with people being the main thing. it’s impacted my self esteem to such a degree with i could never make genuine friends and connections because i always went along with what other people said so they wouldn’t punish me. i let people treat me like dogshit because it’s what i was used to and what i thought love/acceptance costed. it even affected how i performed at work and what type of work i’ve tried to succeed at as an adult. it’s why i’m so lost and messed up and rootless. it’s why i have no idea what i want, and why for so many years i had no idea who i was.

for the first time in my life i feel accepted , if not loved. it’s enough to make me extremely emotional. it’s enough to make me happy because i could literally never imagine feeling so safe in my life. i love my parents and family but my god. what they’ve done to me can’t be reversed, though some things are beginning to repair

also i’m listening to the divorced dad playlist on spotify and it’s hitting. live laugh love!!!!

#cob time #excuse the dramatic catharthis

[void-botanist]

Character interview: Julian

Second interview for tags from @kahvilahuhut and @autumnalwalker! Open tag for this one too.

Are you named after anyone? Not that I'm aware of.

When was the last time you cried? Last week I decided to reread some classic they made us read in school because a friend of mine was talking about how it doesn't actually suck. Well, it does suck, but not because it's boring like I thought it was in high school. It's just fucking gutwrenching.

Do you have kids? No, but kinda. Anni's my niece and Dez is my….android, so they're like my kids. Probably as close as I'm liable to get.

Do you use sarcasm? Me? No, definitely not. (<- grinning)

What's the first thing you notice about people? The first thing I consciously notice is either their piercings or their hair. Piercings are just cool, but…well, it's kinda embarrassing, but people who are balder than me give me a little ego boost. Unless they're good at being bald. Confident. Then I wonder why I care about being half bald.

What's your eye colour? Brown.

Scary movies or happy endings? Both, if I can swing it. I don't think a happy ending has to be one where no one dies/endures terrible things. It just has to not be terrible itself.

Any special talents? Is this a PG-13 interview? (laughs) Well that probably tells you enough about that. I am actually good at anatomy though, in drawing and painting - that's why I designed most of Dez's infrastructure. I'm also pretty good with drawing machines. I could probably draw Calennec's motorcycle in my sleep… (<- recently drew a significant portion of a hefty Calennec fanzine)

Where were you born? A midwifery in Ermotlift. The same one Anni's mom was born at, actually.

What are your hobbies? Art is my hobby when I'm not getting paid for it. But I also read a lot, and visit museums and churches and other places that have interesting history or architecture. I collect books a little, but only ones I want to read, which I guess is still a good number. And, not sure it's a hobby per se, but I have been teaching Dez how to do different kinds of art.

Do you have any pets? I had a ferret years ago, but no pets since he died. It might be time to think about that again.

What sports do you play / have played? I used to play a mean dodgeball, but for the most part I've never been a sports person. I go bowling sometimes, though.

How tall are you? 5' 7".

Favourite subject in school? It wasn't actually art class, though that was a close second. My favorite was mycology, but honestly, spore printing is also art as far as I'm concerned.

Dream job? I feel like I'm already doing it, though I wouldn't mind getting hired on some more illustrated books. Fiction is a lot of fun to illustrate, but I've been trying to get good enough at botanical and mycological illustration to work on a field guide or something like that.

#writing #tag games #rose brambles #interview/15 q tag game #c: Julian #wip: tfa #wizardly things

[kuroopaisen]

takes one to know one || fushiguro megumi

➵ megumi just wants to buy some flowers from the nice stall attendant he definitely doesn’t have a crush on in peace. gojou has other plans.  

wc: 2.4k

warnings: gn!reader, incoherent chaos

a/n: gracie dearest this one’s for you :( you are so sweet and so lovely to me and i’m so, so glad we met in this hellscape (i would personally like to thank psycho-pass for existing) i hope i did your boy well! 

By the time he arrives at Jujutsu Tech, Megumi knows the flowers are a mistake.

“For me?” Gojou gasps, hands clasped and mouth agape in perhaps his most punchable smile. “Oh, you shouldn’t have.”

Megumi’s fist tightens around the handle of his bouquet. Today, it’s lilacs, irises and white lilies. It’s also much bigger than usual – too big to inconspicuously leave on someone’s fence or place in the school gardens.

“You can have them if you want,” he murmurs. What else is he supposed to do with them?

The delight on Gojou’s face collapses into a precarious mix of genuine confusion and insatiable curiosity. “Hah? They’re not for anyone?”

“No,” Megumi says. And if they were, I wouldn’t tell you. Although he doesn’t say that last part. Gojou would perceive it as a challenge, and the less he knew about Megumi’s private life, the better.

“So…” A grin splits Gojou’s face. “The person you bought them from must be special, then.” 

Megumi freezes for just a second. But he knows a second is enough for Gojou to glean all the information he needs.  

“Ah,” Gojou hums. “I see.”

“No, you don’t,” Megumi mumbles, well-aware of the heat rising in his cheeks.

“But why would you go out of your way to buy a bouquet of flowers, hm?” Gojou grins, shit-eating grin back on his face. “They don’t hand these out for free, you know.”

Megumi’s grip is so firm he’s scared he’ll crush the stems.

Although, he still doesn’t know what he’s going to do with them. It doesn’t feel right to throw them out – not when you’d spent time putting it together – but he wasn’t about to revamp his room with a distinctly floral accent.

Is it against social protocol to give the flowers back to you? Not now, of course, but maybe on his evening walk… or tomorrow morning…

He still doesn’t know why he didn’t just walk past you that first day.

But something about the way you were gazing out into the street, eyes wide and hopeful as you watched people ignore you on their daily commute… something about that drew him in.

And once he’d bought something from you once – just a small flower, one he didn’t know the name of, but seemed appropriate behind a cute girl’s ear – he couldn’t very well start ignoring you.

Not when your smile is so bright, your eyes sparkling with gratitude whenever he takes whatever floral arrangement you’ve lovingly bundled together out of your hands.

But now he’s paying the price – in more ways than one.

✧ ✧ ✧

Your flower stall is just a few feet away from one of the trendiest cafes in this area of Tokyo, and whoever oversees your little operation is obviously trying to capitalise on that. Setting up so early must be an attempt to catch the rush of bleary-eyed corporate workers craving their necessary morning coffee.

What use an office worker has for flowers, Megumi doesn’t know. But he has a feeling that you’d probably say something along the lines of “it’ll help brighten the place up.”

As usual, you’re waiting there patiently, eyes hopefully scanning the streets for any potential customers. Your face positively lights up when you finally catch sight of him – something that still makes Megumi nearly trip over his own feet.

“Good morning!” You call out, waving to him.

Megumi raises a hand in response, shuffling towards you with all the embarrassment of a high schooler on their way to their first date.

“Can I interest you in a floral arrangement on this fine Saturday morning?” You grin, eyes twinkling as you make your marketing pitch.

“Sure,” Megumi sighs, scanning the vast array of flowers currently on display. He’s getting better at picking them out, but he still can’t name any of them on sight.

You wait patiently, hands folded on the counter. If you think he’s an idiot, you keep it to yourself.

“Those ones,” he says, pointing at a group of blue heart-shaped flowers.

“The morning glories?” You ask reflexively, reaching over to pluck a bunch out of their display.

“Yeah,” Megumi shrugs. He has no idea what a morning glory is. The term sounds like something Gojou and Yuji would snicker at.

“They’re gorgeous,” you smile, taking a moment to admire them.

“Yeah,” Megumi says again.

Flowers aren’t really his thing; God help him if he was ever asked what his favourite kind was. But there’s no point in saying any of that – not when he’s already spent an embarrassing amount of money at this one stall.

“You’re keeping the business afloat, you know,” you giggle, as if reading his mind.

Megumi blinks at you. “Really?”

“Mhm,” you nod. “It wouldn’t be amiss to say you’re our most important patron.” You beam at him, same sparkle in your eyes as always.

He’d be furious, if you weren’t so nice.

How is he supposed to focus when you’re looking at him like that? How’s he supposed to ask who ‘we’ is? A business partner? A partner partner?

But you look so young. You can’t possibly be running a business. But you might have a boyfriend. Or a girlfriend. Or both. Or a partner of an otherwise non-binary gender.

Too many questions, no social capacity to ask them.

“So,” Megumi begins, his voice calm and composed as ever. His mind, however, is scrambling around like a fast-food joint at rush hour, trying to string together a sentence that’s not only coherent but also fascinating.

“How old are you?”

Whoops.

It’s the forbidden question. Or, at least, that’s what people always say. People, in this case, is Gojou. It usually is.

You seem unbothered. “I turn seventeen this year.”

Was it only a forbidden question for people who’re older? But in that case, surely knowing someone’s age was pertinent for the whole ‘respect’ thing. Maybe Gojou just didn’t think he should ever ask anyone’s age because then he’s not beholden to honorifics.

But Megumi can’t imagine him using them properly anyway.

That’s not the point. The point is that you’re the same age as him. You weren’t somehow twenty-seven with a baby face.

“Oh,” Megumi nods. “Me too.”

The smile you give him is almost unbearable. How is it even more of a smile than your usual smile? That doesn’t make any sense.

There’s a certain excitement bubbling in his gut that he doesn’t recognise or like.

Wait, if you’re his age, then…

“Do you not go to school on Saturdays?” He asks.

Is this conversation too dry? He’s not sure. He doesn’t usually make an effort at this sort of thing.

“My school doesn’t have classes on Saturday mornings,” you smile, meticulously wrapping brown paper around the stems of a set of particularly bright morning glories. You always do it so delicately; where on earth do you find the patience?

There’s something… graceful, about how you go about it. Sure, it’s your job, but Megumi still enjoys watching you work because—

“Hello there!”

Megumi knows that voice.

Oh no.

“Hello!” You fold your hands in front of you and give your new customer a bow. But your usual smile has been replaced with an expression of middling confusion as you look him up and down.

Megumi doesn’t need to turn around to know who’s standing behind him.

“Who’d’ve thought there’d be so many kinds of flowers in bloom, huh?” Gojou grins, slinging a lanky arm around Megumi’s shoulders.

Megumi glances to the side.

A pair of startingly blue eyes peek at him from behind black shades.

“What are you doing here?” He asks through gritted teeth.

“Oh, I thought I’d just come out for a morning stroll,” Gojou sighs, gesturing to the sky. “Don’t you think it’s gorgeous?”

Megumi’s ready to commit a murder.

“And look at all these flowers!” Gojou exclaims, bending down to peer at some asters closely. “Did you grow them all yourself?”

“Of course not,” you laugh. “I just sell them.”

Jealous maybe isn’t the right word. But there is a twisting in Megumi’s gut upon the realisation that within minutes of meeting you, Gojou had made you laugh. Megumi, on the other hand, was yet to do that.

“Well, either way, my student is a big fan,” Gojou smirks, shaking Megumi’s shoulder. Megumi’s soul is currently leaving his body.

“I was just telling him that he’s our most valued customer,” you smile, tilting your head at the pair of them.

“Ah, is that so?” Gojou grins. It’s amazing, really, how he manages to capture all the terror of the apocalypse in one smile. “I never really took him as a flower guy.”

“Everyone’s a flower guy, sir,” you tsk, shaking your head. “Even you.”

Gojou places an affronted hand on his chest. “So quick to make assumptions!”

“Not at all,” you smile. “You’d be surprised by what our customer base looks like.”

“You don’t say,” Gojou grins, turning to Megumi.

Megumi considers the consequences of punching Gojou right in the nether regions. He doubts he’d be punished for it by the higher ups; if anything, he’ll probably be rewarded. Maybe even pushed up a grade for his invaluable service.

“Fushiguro!”

Oh no.

Megumi’s eyes widen ever so slightly. His head whips round to Gojou. His teacher is already looking straight at him.

“Ah,” Gojou grins. “I told Yuji to meet me here this morning.” The glint in his eyes strikes terror right through Megumi’s departing soul.

Sure enough, Itadori barrels his way towards them, damn near colliding against Megumi with a ‘thump’.

Megumi can do something but stare into the abyss, hoping, wishing, praying this is just a nightmare.

Unfortunately, it’s not.

You give the newest addition to this strange little posse a customary bow. “Good morning!”

Itadori beams at you, his entire face lighting up. “Good morning!”

A strange panic starts to rise from Megumi’s gut. If he thought about it, you and Itadori would get along well. Too well.

Thoughts of you and Itadori walking hand in hand down the street as you laugh, Itadori offering you his coat on a clod morning as you blush, Itadori walking you home, rubbing the back of his neck bashfully as you lean towards him and –

Megumi blinks the thoughts away. What is wrong with him today?

You and Itadori have just met. And what was it to Megumi anyway? It’s not like he—

“Megumi?” Itadori tilts his head at him.

Megumi stares back blankly. “Hm?”

“I wanted to know how you found this place,” Itadori asks, voice bright but with the uncertain quality inherent to repeating oneself.

“Oh,” Megumi murmurs. “Well, I…”

In truth, he doesn’t remember. He just saw you one morning and decided to approach. He still doesn’t know why. But he doesn’t regret it.

“I roped him in with my charm,” you piqued up, picking up the lull in conversation.

Try as he might, Megumi just can’t concentrate. Itadori’s pressed against him, Gojou’s still got his arm slung around his shoulder, and—

“Ah, Nobara’s here!” Gojou beams, waving a hand over his head.

“What are you doing here of all places?” Nobara frowns, raising an eyebrow at Megumi. “I wouldn’t have taken this as your sort of scene.”

If there’s a hell, Megumi’s sure it’s this.

Conversation is bubbling around him but none of it is registering in his mind, he can see Nobara’s dissatisfied look as she takes in the situation at hand but he doesn’t have the energy to retort, Gojou is playing with the petals of one of the display flowers but Megumi knows he’s not going to buy it and—

“Hey, Megumi?”

He snaps back to reality at the sound of your voice, gentle and concerned.

“Are you alright?” You ask, tilting your head to the side. It’s as if you’re completely ignoring the rabble, as if you see him and only him.

Next to him Gojou, Yuji and Nobara watch with rapt attention.

“Yeah,” he lies. “I didn’t sleep well last night.”

You frown at you look at him. Something flashes in your eyes and you suddenly duck beneath your countertop.

Megumi and his gaggle of fools blink in surprise.

In a moment you hop back up, something purple bundled up in your hands. “Here,” you smile, handing it out to him, “this is supposed to help you sleep.”

One whiff and he knows it’s lavender.

“How much?” Megumi asks.

You shake your head. “Oh, no. It’s on me.”

Megumi’s heart flutters as you smile. Despite the chaos going on around him, despite the fact that he knows he’s going to be mocked for this for weeks to come, he’s grateful.

Somehow.

“Sorry about this…” he mumbles, rubbing the back of his neck.

“It’s fine,” you giggle, shaking your head.

Megumi feels Gojou chuckle quietly, his chest rattling. Itadori is unusually quiet and Nobara seems moments away from a laughing fit.

“I should go,” Megumi says quickly and suddenly. He doesn’t give you time to respond, zipping down the street as fast as his feet can carry him. He needs a shower and then a run and then he needs to beat a training dummy up and then—

“Wait, Megumi!”

He freezes in his tracks. That’s… your voice.

And around his wrist is… is…

He turns to look at you over his shoulder, eyes darting for where you hand wraps around his wrist. Why is his heart racing so absurdly fast? Why does it feel like his head’s about to explode? You’re just holding his wrist. You’re not even touching his skin. Not that it matters—

“Will I see you tomorrow?” You ask, not quite able to meet his gaze.

It brings him back to the moment.

“Of course,” Megumi answers reflexively.

You finally lift your eyes up. They seem to be sparkling. “I look forward to it.”

Before he even has time to process it you’ve let him go and trotted back to your stall, tending to your flowers as if nothing’d happened.

This has been too much embarrassment for one day. He’s not entirely sure what’s going on and he’s not sure he wants to know. But man, he needs at least several hours alone to process everything.

As Megumi shuffles away, Gojou bounds after him, still grinning like a fool.

“So, Megumi’s got himself a—”

Megumi elbows him in the stomach before Gojou even has a chance to finish his sentence.

#megumi x reader #fushiguro x reader #fushiguro megumi x reader #jujutsu kaisen x reader #jjk x reader #megumi x you #fushiguro x you #fushiguro megumi x you #I don't know how to TAG #STILL #this is a disaster but now it's everyone else's problem

[captnjacksparrow]

Hi, I love your blog and I read it every day... ❤️

I have a question, do you think that Sakura, Hinata or someone from the village knew or suspected the true feelings of Naruto and Sasuke?👀

That's right, in the manga, when Naruto is talking to Sakura about Sai, Naruto gets nervous or something like that, however the face that he puts in the manga is as if he was putting it to the test.

I don't know maybe I'm just hallucinating but I want to know your opinion. I'm sorry if you don't understand, my language is Spanish.

🍅🍅🍥🍥

Aahhh!!! Insanely interesting ask, Anon. I love this one!!!!

I think no one suspects their feelings between them but they know Naruto and Sasuke feels ‘something’ about each other to the point when something happens to one of them, the other would react in an intense manner. 

I mean, Kishi cannot put a scene , say Sakura, doubting their feelings for each other otherwise it would stir up a lot of trouble, that is, it would confirm something’s really going on between the two. (Which is not ‘typical’ of Shounen. Sigh!!!)

However, Kishi does things in his own way by making it as a joke or a casual thing. And I am going to include everyone from the Narutoverse, not just someone from Konoha.

PEOPLE WHO MILDLY ‘SHIPS’ NARUTO AND SASUKE IN NARUTOVERSE

Alright, people, Here ‘Ship’ means not in a romantical sense. But in a platonic or friendly sense.

HAKU

When I watched this series for the first time, I always wondered ‘What made Haku think that attacking Naruto would make Sasuke fall into the trap?’. 

Then I realized Sasuke was carrying Naruto around to protect him from Haku’s senbon attacks at any cost, which made Sasuke expose his weakness and Haku just fount it and used it against him. 

OROCHIMARU

Some other shippers claim ‘Forest of the Death’ Arc belonged to Ms.Pinky. But Orochimaru and Kabuto’s analysis proves it otherwise. But what did he found there?

Designing a lengthy password which Naruto cannot remember to lure Orochimaru out.

When Naruto came to save Sasuke, he panicked and asked Naruto to ‘Run Away’ and gave up the scroll.

Fought back Orochimaru after seeing Naruto got knocked out.

Kabuto found that Sasuke was overusing Sharingan even to the point of enduring Cursed Seal’s pain to protect Naruto.

KABUTO

“Hardly behaving as a man”... LOL. 

OROCHIMARU AGAIN

This whole battle is to provoke Naruto using Sasuke’s name. And when Orochimaru used the word, ‘My Sasuke-kun’... Naruto just got deranged to the point of sprouting 4 Tails. 

KAKASHI

Sasuke is Naruto’s strength. Kakashi said it. It’s canon, Guys.

KIBA

It’s surprising that Kiba also knows that Naruto gets Hot-Headed when it comes to Sasuke. 

KABUTO AGAIN

Gosh!!!! These Orochimaru and Kabuto duo maybe absolute trash. But they do know something about Naruto and Sasuke.

PAIN

LOL.... How did Nagato know about Naruto chasing Sasuke??? Is this some International news? 

ITACHI

I always wondered as to why Itachi posed this particular question to him? A question which forces Naruto to choose an option. An impossible option which Itachi chose and endured a lot of pain for. Naruto protecting the village is obvious. Why did he ask Naruto about Sasuke? What did he saw?

The answer is in part 1. When Itachi visited the village after Hiruzen’s death, he ‘planned’ to kidnap Naruto. When Sasuke came in between, Itachi just beat the crap out of him. 

But Naruto was so furious to draw Kyuubi Chakra to protect Sasuke. Itachi noticed this very well and hence came to this conclusion. That’s why Itachi didn’t pay any attention to Sasuke. LOL. Which made Sasuke go crazy.

KARIN

This doesn’t need any explanation, does it??? Probably Sasuke might’ve reacted to his name and Karin noticed it. Who knows? Anyways, it’s interesting that a person outside of Konoha could able to connect Sasuke with Naruto, meaning, Karin could able to see something’s going on between them.

KURAMA

ROFL..... There’s no one better in this world to ask Naruto, this particular question, other than Kurama.

KURAMA AGAIN

“What kind of flavour did that Sasuke’s lips have?”.... Gosh!!! This is such an useless scene. Most importantly, Naruto is getting Nose Bleed here. 

ITACHI AGAIN

No doubt, Itachi is the No.1 shipper of SNS. He knew Naruto can change Sasuke.

OBITO

Well, Obito was right about one thing... Naruto’s death can bring powers to Sasuke. But he was wrong about underestimating both of them, that is, they will fight on Obito’s accord. 

OROCHIMARU AGAIN

One of my favorite underrated SNS scene. There is no mention of Pink Trash or anyone else. Well, he lived with him for 3 years. He is the only person who can read Sasuke’s expression perfectly. 

TOBIRAMA

Gosh!!!!! This!!!!! This is just an alien level shipping. Tobirama, a person who rarely compliments, but when he does, it must be damn excellent. Like he was so happy to see Minato was so fast in performing Hiraishin no Jutsu, a jutsu he invented. He openly admitted his admiration 3 times. 

When he complimented the ‘Level of Unison’ achieved by two 16 year old boys, which takes YEARS to achieve is so heartwarming. Because, only we, the audience, knew that Naruto and Sasuke fought together for the last time way back when they were 12 in Land of Waves arc. Even then they could team up together without any direct communication. 

Damn!!!!

OROCHIMARU AGAIN

This is another underrated scene and Orochimaru scores for SNS. We saw Naruto was crying rivers when Obito sucked everyones’s chakra. Sasuke’s face seems to be in a bad mood. 

Orochimaru really is the Mood Finder of Sasuke.

PEOPLE OF KONOHA

Damn!!!! This is my all time favourite!!!!!! 

This is when Ebisu Sensei, fondly remembers how Naruto has grown from a Deadlast (in Episode 1) to an Hero (End of Pain Arc). During one of his memories, People of Konoha appreciates Naruto for stopping Gara from Invading Konoha and Bring Tsunade as Fifth Hokage. When it comes to retrieving Sasuke, this panel appears.

Even people of Konoha themselves knows that Naruto will be depressed if Sasuke is not there in Konoha with him. 

I mean, for every achievements Naruto made, the villagers praised him. When Jiraiya was dead, the villagers felt, ‘Naruto will not lose heart, He’ll keep on going, like always’. But when it comes to Sasuke, the villagers implicitly felt that Naruto will be depressed. 

Kishi is showing us that everyone in Narutoverse understands the feelings between Naruto and Sasuke, but he didn’t drew the extent as to how far it goes. He just left it ambiguous. 

But one thing is sure,

‘Everyone knows that they both are connected somehow and both of them have certain influence on each other which no other person has in Narutoverse and they know that one will suffer without the other.’

#sasunaru #sasunarusasu #sns #itachi #orochimaru #kabuto #tobirama #kurama #karin #haku #nagato #obito

[directdogman]

holy shit-

how long has it been?

one year-?

wow, time flies, it seems like yesterday when I went to ask-

and if I am here it is for the same reason as a year ago, to ask

So, here are some questions:

• Mayor Mingus is still your favorite? If not, who is your favorite now?

• Do you have something to say about Security Breach?

• A friend asks: Why the hell do you like doggos so much? He also asks how many cats you have- (he drew a picture of you too-)

we both appreciate the fact that you exist <3

We hope and you are well

have a nice day, afternoon or night-

Postscript: We are sorry if something is not understood, our English is not the best-

hello hello

Mayor Mingus is still your favorite? If not, who is your favorite now?

You know, I don't know if I said she was my favourite, but like, I might've said she was my favourite chararacter to write. And y'know, that might still be the case. i 100% do not expect DT to get sequels, but if it did, she's on the top 5 characters that I'd be excited to write more for, looking at unused content. So, yeah, she probably still is my favourite (to write) minus a few unrevealed characters.

Do you have something to say about Security Breach?

Nope! I have it on Steam but with DT's release so soon away, I haven't had the chance to touch it. I'm (relatively) spoiler free, so I'd like to give it a go when I have the chance.

• A friend asks: Why the hell do you like doggos so much?

TBH, I love all kinds of animals, spent a lot of time around farm animals for a good chunk of my life. Growing up, my favourite uncle and favourite grunkle lived in remote places with animals, so dogs, cats, horses, farm animals, they all bring me comfort. The smell of fresh pig-shit makes me nostalgic, which is better than the alternative, I s'pose. I tend to represent myself with dogs online, because I spent a lot of my life around dogs and love the optimism dogs represent (as most people do), but I love the vast majority of animals. I almost went into zoology as a career, as a matter of fact, but my mother put her boot down. That was years ago, but to this day, I think about what could've been.

He also asks how many cats you have- (he drew a picture of you too-)

I have one cat. His name is Salvage. I didn't intend to adopt him, but I found him on the side of the road as a kitten in 2018 and not one person came looking for him, nor forward to claim him. He was too young to survive without diligent care and the vet reckoned he was abandoned by a human as his behaviour around the vet/me implied I wasn't the first human to get close to him. I'm sickened that someone could've abandoned such a tiny, vulnerable creature, but I'd be lying if I said that things didn't work out well, since he's been the only constant in my life for the last 3 years. Of everyone I've ever known, human or animal, that cat has shown the most loyalty to me and I intend to return that. Thanks for the ask, been busy these last weeks (gotten about 3 lots of horrible bad news in the last month) and I've just been burying myself in work. I'll have something exciting to show within the next week, promise.

#dialtown

[shmaptainwrites]

𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄𝐃 [𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐌𝐔𝐓 𝐙𝐄𝐌𝐎]

PAIRINGS — Helmut Zemo x childhood best friend!fem!Reader

SUMMARY — Zemo manages to escape from the watchful eyes of Sam and Bucky and he comes to an old friend for refuge.

WARNINGS — swears, angst, some a lot of unrequited love

NOTE — Okay so I'm dumb and don't actually know what Zemo's wife's name was and I was lazy so I made one up, don't judge. [I'm also low key not satisfied with the ending, but idk how to change it :(] also any longer sentences of dialogue that are italicized are 'Sokovian'

It was clear that there were plenty of things running through your brain when you opened the door and saw an all too familiar man placed in front of you.

“What the hell are you doing here?” you hissed, swinging your head out to make sure no one could see him.

“Well I’m a wanted individual you see, I figured this would be the best place to come and get shelter,”

“Helmut my home is not some hotel you can just barge into,” you groaned.

“I know, but I need your help Schatz,” he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, handing it to you along with a bouquet of flowers he held in his other hand. “And I know this isn’t enough after all that happened, but I hope it means even something small,”

You stared at the box in your hand, a small bunch of sweets, your favourite from back when you were a young child in Sokovia. You thought they had been discontinued.

“You say you need my help, but last time I drew the line at international terrorism, how am I supposed to know this won’t go that far,” you expressed.

“I suppose you can’t,” he pressed his lips together.

You sighed deeply, looking now to the flowers, gorgeous peonies and white tulips in full bloom. Peonies for shame you assumed, for having been away in prison all those years and white tulips for forgiveness. Helmut was cheeky, that was for sure.

“Just to lay low right?”

“Correct,” he nodded, a hint of a smile on his face.

“Alright, get in,” you opened the door wider and allowed him to slip into the cover of your home. “Should I ask?” you queried, looking at him curiously while opening the box of sweets and popping one into your mouth, fighting back a sigh of pleasure when the delicious flavour engulfed your taste buds.

“Probably not,” he scrunched his nose and shook his head. “It’s probably safer we stick to talking about you for now,” he nodded. “Life in North America is treating you well?”

“Seems to be,” you nodded. “Started with a few places in the States then found my way up here. Is that why you came? Because no one will think to look for you in Canada?”

“Partially,” he nodded.

“And the other part Hel?” you asked, placing the flowers in a large bouquet while he sat across from you.

“I missed my best friend,” he shrugged. “There, you got it out of me, happy?”

“Almost,” you leaned forward onto the table, “Two things,”

“Oh lord, you’re going to make me regret asking you for help aren’t you?” he chuckled.

“We’ll see about that,” you smirked. “First, over seven years and not even one letter,”

“I just assumed you didn’t wish to hear from me,” he admitted. “After everything that happened I couldn't bring myself to-,”

“You assumed Helmut. I’m the only family you have left. You might just have to try and kill me before I leave you in the mud,” you told him. “Still that obviously doesn’t mean I condone your actions,”

“Of course, I understand,” he nodded. “What is the other thing?” he asked.

“Oh that,” you came up towards him and slapped him upside the head. “That was for Helena, Carl, your father, and myself. What kind of idiot do you have to be to blow up the United Nations in some twisted need to tear apart the Avengers, Helmut you’re better than that,”

He gingerly rubbed where you had hit him and looked down in shame. You knew it wasn’t because he felt guilty for doing what he thought needed to be done, he felt shame that he had done something to make you look at him differently, maybe his father, son, and wife too if they were looking down at him.

“I’m afraid things have changed Schatz as much as you wish me to be a good man I am no longer that,”

“I know you feel bad about the innocent lives lost,” you pressed. “You’re not a cold-blooded killer, not of good people at least,”

“What do you suggest I do? Hand myself back in? That defeats the purpose of coming to stay here with you,”

“Think of the families Hel, maybe you can come to your own conclusion,” you sighed. “Come on, let me get you something to eat, you’re probably starving. What did they feed you at that prison? You look like you lost some weight,”

“I’m fine (Y/N),” he waved you off.

“I know you Hel,” you moved a few strands of hair away from his forehead. “We can put a bit more meat on those bones, let me make you some paprikash,”

His eyes seemed to light up at the mention of his favourite dish, but he tied to keep it under control.

“I saw that,” you chuckled, turning his spinning chair around to face you so you could wrap your arms around his shoulders and pull him in for a hug.

“I missed you (Y/N),” he sighed. “More than I’d like to admit,”

“Stay a few days and you’ll want to leave all over again,” you joked and he only shook his head and held you tighter. Breathing in your scent, taking you all in because he wasn’t sure if it would all go away. He needed to remember you. He wouldn’t let another seven years take away a memory.

“Helmut do you need anything?” you asked carefully. “Want anything?”

“Just to be here with you right now Schatz,” he whispered.

“That’s what best friends are for, right?” you asked, gently rubbing his back and giving him one last squeeze before pulling away.

���Right,” he nodded. “And for stealing my favourite turtle neck,”

“I still have it, don’t worry,” you assured him, walking towards your room and slipping off your shirt only to come out slipping on a new one. Deep purple and the softest material money could buy.

Helmut tilted his head and admired you, a small smile coming over his face while you pulled out your hair from the collar and straightened yourself out.

“See, told you,”

“It looks better on you anyway,” he sighed. “How unfortunate,”

“Don’t worry it’s not your fault we both know I look amazing in anything,” you teased.

And you weren’t wrong. Helmut could distinctly remember a time you had gotten on his nerves and as some sort of allowed revenge, you told him he could pick your outfit for a day. He picked the most boyish-looking lederhosen his father had bought him from Germany along with a button-up shirt with frilly sleeves and he couldn’t forget the hat. A Tyrolean hat that suited his head terribly and he just assumed it would do the same to you. He was very wrong. The next day you strutted into school, proudly wearing your Bavarian get-up and somehow you made it look better than Helmut ever thought it could.

“I’d still like to test that theory further,” he mused, motioning for you to come closer.

“What? Do you have more silly clothing for me Helmut? You shouldn’t have,”

“I do have something for you actually,” he nodded. “Not silly clothing but it was supposed to be a birthday gift the year I was put in prison,”

“Well where is it then?” you asked, curiosity getting the better of you while you sat on the edge of your best friend’s lap.

“Ah no it’ll have to wait, I have a surprise planned,”

“Hel I’ve waited seven years isn’t that enough?” you teased and he only rolled his eyes.

“What about my paprikash?” he tried to change the subject.

“So now you wish to eat, classic Helmut, I only do things when it suits me,”

“Come on (Y/N), when has that ever been the case,”

“Oh, you don’t want me to bring that one up,”

Helmut through a moment to what you could possibly be referring to and his mind only seemed to land on one thing. You were right it was something you normally preferred not to discuss amongst yourselves, having already put it behind you, but still, that didn’t mean it didn’t happen.

“Did I ever apologize for that?” he asked and you shook your head.

“It’s alright, though I’ll take the sweets and flowers as an apology for that too,” you assured him. “We don’t need to talk about it,”

He nodded his head and watched you make your way to the kitchen, grabbing the necessary ingredients to make the food.

The silence between you was comfortable, to say the least, it has always been that way. You supposed that just how it was supposed to be with old friends.

“Is there something you wish to ask of me?” Helmut was the one to break the silence. “Whatever the degree of importance shouldn’t matter,”

“It’s not so much a question as it is a statement,” you explained.

He motioned for you to go on and you took a deep breath, looking down at your hands.

“I have a daughter,” you said. “She’s around seven, eight years old,”

“That’s around-,”

“The same time you went to jail, yes. It was a one-night stand, I was in pain from it all, your imprisonment well, believe it or not, did something of a number on me,” you admitted. “So as a somewhat coincidental turn of events gave me Milena,”

“Milena,” he smiled softly to himself, once you had fought over that name.

It was for a silly reason too, Helmut said if he ever had a daughter he would want to name her that, you liked the name so much you wanted the same so in the end, a deal was made that whoever had a daughter first would have rights to the name.

“You beat me to that one,” he finished and you nodded. “Where is she?” he asked.

“She goes to a semi-boarding school,” you explained. “She’s away during the week and home on weekends, all her friends are there so I thought it only fair to send her off too,”

“I suppose I’ll meet her soon then,”

You nodded again. A part of you wondered if maybe it was a good thing, Helmut finding his way here. Milena had never known her father, never so much as had a male role model or figure in her life and Helmut was such a good father to Carl, recent unfortunate events aside. You really hoped that maybe they could bond. You thought it would be good for her, good for both of them.

“She’s very chatty and inquisitive,” you told him. “So don’t be too surprised when she gets all up in your business,”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he chuckled lightly, standing up from his seat and moving towards the counter. “Tell me what to do, I’m at your service,” he said.

“Helmut helping in the kitchen? It’s a miracle,” you joked knowing full well he cooked more often and better than you.

“You might look good in everything Schatzi but we both know that when it comes to the kitchen you can’t beat me even if you tried,”

“Then why do you like my paprikash so much?” you asked curiously.

Helmut didn’t respond, only smiling to himself while you pulled out the ingredients.

“That’s what I thought Hel,”

“It’s been ages and not a single thing about you has changed, you know that?” he mused and you shrugged. “Sometimes it’s hard to believe we’re not foolish little five-year-olds running around the school grounds,”

“Purposefully making our uniforms dirty,” you added.

“And picking on each other until we became friends,”

You sighed sadly, reminiscing those happier days when things were so simple and you didn’t have to worry about, well, anything.

Making paprikash was always easy, you fell into quite the routine, barely even paying attention to what you were doing. When it was finished you and Helmut shared the warm meal and continued to speak. You told him more about Milena, how she had become your life after everything. She became the thing you lived for, the thing you protected at all costs. It was safe to say he was excited to meet her, after all, any child of yours was probably a hoot he had no doubt about that.

“Here it’s getting late,” you yawned. “Let me go clear up Milena’s room so you can stay there,”

“Oh there’s no need I can just stay on the couch,” he insisted.

“Hel, it’s fine,” you waved him off, clearly exhausted and having pushed your limits. “Lena will just stay with me when she comes back from school,”

“(Y/N), I will admit I was worried about that, but right now you seem too tired to do anything,” he said softly. “Let me stay on the couch tonight, we can deal with the room tomorrow,”

“Hel, I can’t let you do that,” you yawned. “Come on what kind of hostess would that make me?”

“A normal one considering we’re close friends, no?” he raised a brow and you gave up, too tired to fight back.

“Alright,” you sighed, taking a deep breath and pushing yourself up. You leaned back down once more to press a quick kiss to his forehead, mumbling a goodnight before leaving to your room.

—

“Mama I’m home!” the voice of a younger child rang through the house in the early hours of the morning.

With a slight groan, you pushed yourself up, remembering it was a holiday long weekend and that your neighbour had offered to give Milena a ride home along with her own daughter. Then you remembered the sleeping man on your couch who was no doubt awake after that loud wake-up call.

Quickly you exited your room, heading to the living area and seeing Milena, her bag slung across her shoulder, clad in school uniform and staring quizzically at the couch, Helmut staring right back at her.

His eyes trailed up to yours and he gave you a thin-lipped smile while Milena turned around and tugged on your sleeve.

“Mama who’s that?” she whispered rather loudly and pointed to Helmut.

You bent down, stifling a yawn and taking your daughter’s hands in your own.

“Do you remember the stories I would tell you about when I was younger, back in Sokovia?” you asked and she nodded.

“Oh is this Helmut?” she asked, turning back to the Baron.

“Pleasure to meet you,” he smiled softly and Milena marched over and put her hand out for him to shake which he did.

“I know a lot about you,” Milena said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Mama talks about you every day,”

“You talk about me?” Helmut chuckled and glanced up at you again and you crossed your arms over your chest, shrugging and saying,

“Maybe...”

“Why are you here?” Milena asked. “I thought you lived in Germany?”

“I-Uh I just came to visit your mom,” he settled on. “I missed her very much and I haven’t met you yet so I thought I should come here and see you both,”

“Well Mama says you can cook,” she said grabbing his hand and pulling him up off the couch and towards the kitchen. “Let's see if she’s right. Can you make crêpes?”

“Milena!” you scolded slightly and she only gave you a cheeky overbearing smile.

“No, no it’s alright,” Helmut chuckled. “I do know how to make crêpes, but I'm going to need a helper. Do you think you’re up for the task?”

“Always,” she grinned and you sighed a small sigh of relief.

“Okay you two, I’m gonna go get changed, Milena knows where everything is and Hel, please be an adult and make sure you don’t get hurt or burn down my house,”

“Of course Schatzi,” he nodded, while you walked away you could hear your daughter say.

“What does Schatzi mean?”

“It’s like a little nickname,” he explained. “It means treasure,”

Yes, treasure. You remembered that. He always called you his treasure, even when you were barely six.

It started as a bit of a joke, you were both hunting for invisible buried treasure in his large backyard and in the end you ‘backstabbed’ him for it. From that, you became Schatz or Schatzi.

Things got a bit more complicated when you entered high school. It was a term of endearment sure, and could be used among friends (although not often), but when a boy said that to a girl at your age, it normally meant that they were together.

Not that you didn’t wish for such a thing as you grew older. Helmut had always held your heart and there came a time where he knew that, but it was too late, at that point he had Helena. Maybe that’s why he came here. Because he knew even after everything you’d still help him because he had you wrapped around his little finger.

You tried not to think of it too much. It was just nice having him around and that was all you wanted to think of right now. Not any broken promises, no past relationships, things that were left unsaid.

But you always knew you were that girl. The one who cared for the man who didn’t love her back.

After getting changed you made your way back into the kitchen, drowning in your thoughts and hoping for a distraction when you saw Milena sitting on the table, Helmut standing in front of her, hands pressed against the edge of the counter on either side, looking at her curiously.

“So Katerina said that the ball was hers even though it really belonged to Jackson, and she did it to make Céline jealous?” Helmut asked and Milena nodded, popping a strawberry in her mouth then holding one out for Helmut to eat. You tried to control the fast-paced beating of your heart, but everything you ever wanted was right in front of your eyes, it made it hard to control whatever emotions were swirling around your head.

“But Jackson came and took the ball from Katerina and she kept lying about it. Mama told me lying is bad so I don’t do it,” she said proudly.

You wrapped your cardigan around yourself tighter and smiled fondly.

“Really Schatzi?”

“Oh shush, she doesn’t need to hear those things now Helmut,” you said quickly coming up to them and covering Milena’s ears.

“Hypocrite,” he said simply, a cheeky smile on his face and you stuck your tongue out at him before removing your hands.

“Have you guys even made anything so far or are you just eating my fruits?” you asked, taking the bowl of strawberries away from them.

“Come,” Helmut said, taking your hand. “We made whipped cream,”

“With maple syrup,” Milena grinned. “Your favourite,”

Helmut dipped his finger in the whipped dairy concoction and held it out for you to try. After a moment of hesitation, you found yourself trying it anyways, a smile coming to Helmut’s face when he saw your eyes go wide.

“Did you put cardamom oil in this?!” you asked, quickly removing your mouth from his extended finger and looking into the bowl.

“How did you know?!” Milena gasped with a giggle and Helmut looked at the young girl with a knowing glance.

“I told you, she’s got a good set of taste buds,”

Picking up Milena, you sat her back down on the counter and joined her while Helmut continued to prepare the food, sifting various ingredients into the bowl before heating up the pan and pouring the batter onto it and quickly (well as quickly as he could) flipping through the french breakfast food until they were ready to serve.

You all ate together, Milena’s never-ending questions now targeted at someone other than yourself, but it seemed like Helmut didn’t mind.

“What was Mama like when she was my age?” Milena ended up asked, sticking a Nutella-covered strawberry in her mouth.

“Hmm, you’re around eight yes?” he asked and she nodded. “Your mom was always very affectionate,” he said. “Do you know what that means?”

She nodded and he grinned, poking her nose, “Smart cookie,”

She beamed at that and you couldn’t help but smile along, wondering where this was going.

“She loved giving hugs, especially when people were sad. She was very good at cheering people up and taking care of others,”

“She’s still good at that,” Milena added. “When I’m sad she lets me stay in her room with her and hugs me until I feel better,”

“I used to do the same for him,” you motioned to Helmut with your mug.

Milena looked at him and he nodded to confirm.

“When we were eight-years-old I was participating in a competition for playing the cello,” he started to explain. “I was good, but a lot of the other players were older and had more experience,”

“And they put you in the wrong division,”

“But we only found out much later,” he added. “So eventually I got cut and it upset me so much I didn’t want to leave my room. So when your mom found out she ran over all the way from her house to mine and came and gave me a long hug until I felt better, then she forced me to play the Jaws theme, but I’m not surprised by that,”

“What’s Jaws?” Milena asked and you shook your head.

“Just a scary movie about a shark I should not have watched that young,”

“Mama, can we take Helmut to the market?” Milena asked and you looked over at the man who gently shook his head, thinking it was probably best not to leave the house. That would put you both in more danger and he didn’t want that.

“Why don’t we try to find something to do inside, my love,” you said, brushing some hair out of her face.

It had barely even been a few hours and Milena was already glued to Helmut at the hip, she was curious about him, about your history together, she was just so curious she wanted to know everything. And Helmut seemed to want to tell her everything too. It felt as if just as he had you wrapped around his finger your daughter had managed to reverse those roles.

When it was time for her to go to bed she dragged Helmut along with her, asking him to tell her a story.

He did so, sitting on your bed with Milena firmly tucked under the covers and pressed to his side while you watched quietly from the door.

“Do you have a story you’d wish to hear?” he asked, his hand brushing away some hair that had fallen over her eyes.

“Another one about you and mama,” she said.

Helmut seemed to be thinking of an appropriate story to share, knowing that not all of your ‘adventures’ set the best example.

“You could tell her about the festival?” you suggested.

Helmut’s face seemed to light up at the mention of the memory, nodding at you before turning his head down to face Milena.

“When your mother and I were children and all throughout our lives in Sokovia there would be a large festival every year to celebrate the country and culture,” he explained. “We attended the festivals every year but one specific time when we were teenagers we decided to do things a little differently. Originally I tried to get my girlfriend Helena to come and join me, but she refused and I knew your mom was always up for some good fun,”

“I’m too old for that kind of thing now Helmut, don’t go trying it again,”

“Well, you let me stay here didn’t you?”

You rolled your eyes and he gave you a smirk before continuing.

“Each year they would put on a dance competition at the festival. It was meant for traditional or folk dances that your mother and I had both learnt as children, only this time we decided to have a little fun with them. We enrolled in the competition, and when it was our turn we came onto the outdoor stage, and they played the song that we would be dancing to. What they didn’t know is that we switched it with a different CD that cut out right in the middle of the song and started playing the Electric Slide, and we switched to that dance much to the horror of our parents and the judges of the competition,”

“We failed spectacularly, a whopping three, two, and a four as I remember it,” you chuckled. “Still I don’t think I’ve had more fun,”

“Neither have I,” he chuckled.

Helmut looked down at Milena’s eyes had since drooped shut and her grip on him had loosened. He carefully slid off your bed and made his way towards you, extending an arm and wrapping it around your shoulder, leading you to the living room.

“She really likes you,” you said with a small smile. “I’m happy,”

“I like her too, she reminds me of you,”

“Does she?” you hummed.

“Of course, the way she speaks and carries herself, it’s like I’m staring right back at the little girl who hated everything about high society,”

“Besides the money that wasn’t too bad,” you joked and he chuckled with a nod.

“Are you sure it’s not too much trouble, me staying here?” he asked. “I know I came to you for help, but you have a child I don’t want to-,”

“Hel, be quiet,” you rolled your eyes, nudging him with your elbow. “You’re staying, plus you have nowhere else to go, people here don’t care about international news, I can’t think of somewhere you’d be safer. Stay here,”

He shut his mouth and nodded, pressing a grateful kiss to your forehead.

“Thank you, Schatz,”

“Of course, you think I’d leave you to fend for yourself? We both know that honestly without a hand you wouldn’t make it,”

“While you may be right I did think that my privileges with you as your friend may have expired after what I did,”

You didn’t know what prompted you to, but you switched to Sokovian, maybe it was just in case Milena was awake and could hear you, but in the end, it didn’t matter.

“What you did was wrong of course Helmut, but-,”

“But what Schatzi? You forgive so easily, why?” he asked following suit.

Your hand unconsciously went to gently cradle his face, looking into his soft hazel eyes.

“I don’t think you’d understand,” you shook your head. “You’ve been there since the beginning. It’s hard to let go of something like that. Even after everything that’s happened. Trust me when I say it’s a constant battle inside, but… you’re you Hel, that never changed. There’s still good in you no matter how much you’d like to ignore it to make things easier. It’s still there,”

He nodded, pressing a quick kiss to your cheek.

“You treat me better than I deserve Schatzi,” he whispered.

Carefully you pulled away nodding, retreating to the kitchen and pouring yourself a glass of wine. Maybe if you were lucky it would help you get through the night, and if you weren’t? Well, you didn’t want to think about that now did you?

—

“Shh ma belle, on devrait chuchoter,” you could hear a quiet whisper coming from the kitchen. “Elle est encore endormis,” (Shh my dear we should whisper she’s still asleep)

You rubbed your eyes and strained your ears, hoping you were hearing things correctly. Was that French? You stood up from your bed grabbing a housecoat and peeking out of the door.

“But I don’t understand Helmut,” Milena said, her voice strained with emotion and childlike frustration.

“Yes you do,” he nodded, “You’re the smartest person I know, you knew what I was saying right?”

“Yes,” she nodded meekly.

“Voilà je te l’ai dit. Si tu peux comprendre cela, vous pouvez comprendre n’importe quoi,” (See I told you. If you can understand that you can understand anything) he smiled, tucking some hair behind her ear. “Donc, c’est je…,”

“Vais?”

“Yes, see!” he grinned happily. “Go on you can conjugate the rest of them too,”

“Tu vas,” she said, looking up at him with bright curious eyes. He nodded again and motioned for her to continue. “Il va. Nous allons. Vous allez. Ils vont.”

“Incroyable,” he grinned, reaching his arms out for Milena to jump into, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

You chose to walk out of your room then, a small smile on your face looking at the two of them together, it seemed you were right about them. They were good for each other.

“Private school education finally doing you some good Helmut?”

“You say that as if you didn’t have the exact same education,”

“Okay! So what do we want for breakfast,” you said, diverting the topic, much to the amusement of your daughter.

“I want Helmut to come to parent night!” Milena said happily and you laughed nervously.

“I-I don’t think that’s something we can eat my love,”

“But can he? Please?”

She pouted her bottom lip and made her eyes big and sad, the face she would make when you said she couldn’t have more ice cream after dinner and it was, unfortunately, the face you practically always gave in to.

You looked over at Helmut, a soft pleading look in your eyes.

“Schatz I don’t want to put either of you in danger,” he said, switching to Sokovian so your conversation could be held in private.

“I know, but she’s going to keep insisting you come out with us until we do something about it. Her school isn’t that bad, there aren’t too many students and you’d probably go virtually unnoticed,”

Milena was looking up curiously at both of you, namely Helmut for an answer.

“And you’re sure?”

“Absolutely positive,” you nodded.

He took in a quick breath and smiled down at Milena.

“Of course I’ll come,”

“Good cause it’s tonight,” she grinned cheekily.

“Milena! What did I tell you about showing me your agenda,” you scolded and she only laughed.

You rolled your eyes, a little frustrated with her and overall a bit tense about the situation you were going to be put in later in the day.

Helmut came to you, wrapping his arms around your waist from behind and resting his chin in the crook of your neck.

“You still sure?” he asked in a slightly teasing voice.

“Oh go fuck yourself, Hel,” you said, not having the energy to shrug him off you. Plus, even though you would never admit it, you liked the way his body fit with yours, your back pressed against his chest like two toy blocks clicking together. You could feel his warm breath on your neck and he smelled faintly of bergamot and peppermint. Oh, how you wished to just turn around and bury your face in his wine-coloured turtleneck, breathe everything in and never let him go. But nothing with Helmut lasted. You learnt that the hard way. When he married Helena. When he was sent to prison. At every turn life wanted to throw you in opposite directions and it made downright sense for you to dislike, no, even hate him, but when it came to matters of the heart, no one was ever really in control, were they.

Helmut finally let you go with a quick kiss to your cheek, allowing you to make yourself a cup of coffee and made a simple breakfast for the three of you.

“Will you two be alright alone?” you asked. “I need to go out and buy some groceries for dinner tonight,”

“It’s okay mama I can teach Helmut how to play Uno,” Milena assured you.

“Be careful my love, he gets competitive,” you bent down to give her a quick kiss.

“Mama, no one can beat me at Uno, I’ll be fine,”

“Oh he’ll find a way, or he’ll cheat,”

“That was one time Schatz,” he looked at you defensively.

“Yeah, one time that I know of,” you nodded, preparing to turn around to leave when you heard his voice say again,

“Oh, so I don’t get a kiss goodbye?”

Milena giggled and your smile fell.

“Helmut, come on,” you shook your head.

“What,” he shrugged his shoulder, a cheeky smile coming to his face. “It’s just a kiss,”

“Maybe when you deserve it,” you responded quickly, shaking it off and leaving before he could say another word, the boisterous laugh of your daughter being the last thing you heard before you closed the door.

Getting out of the house was nice, the air was fresh and you loved walking over to the store despite having a car. Plus, you only needed a few things, it didn’t need to take you that long.

Unfortunately, it didn’t seem long enough, because the minute you entered the house it felt as if you had walked into a different dimension.

“Helmut!” your voice carried a motherly edge to it and as you walked up the small set of stairs you saw the full extent of it.

The pillows were all misplaced, papers strewed about everywhere, markers, marbles, and crayons littering the floor so that there was barely any place to walk.

In the centre of the living room Helmut was lying on the floor, Milena by his side, using her face paints to draw a flower on his cheek.

It became very clear that this had nothing to do with his lax style of babysitting, this was all the cunning mind of your daughter. You shouldn’t have been surprised, she did, after all, get it from you.

“Milena,’ you sighed, placing the groceries down on the couch. “What did you do?”

“It was my fault,” Helmut said quickly. “I foolishly said if I couldn’t beat her in Uno she could do whatever she wanted. I even cheated Schatzi, I cheated,” he seemed to still be in shock and disbelief from the whole situation. You couldn’t help but laugh.

“Okay Lena, you need to clean this up right now if you want us to go to parent night,” you said. “You know mama doesn’t like to leave a messy house,”

The girl nodded with a small sigh, mumbling, “I know,” before cleaning up her paints and starting to pick things up from the floor.

You helped Helmut up to his feet, dragging him over to the washroom and sitting him down on the edge of the bathtub.

“I have one child Helmut, but yet now it feels like I have three,”

“Three?” he asked curiously while you wet down a towel with warm water.

“Yes, you’re big enough for two,” you confirmed. “Hold still,” you gently used the towel to wipe away the paint on his face, trying to concentrate more on the task instead of his hazel eyes.

“I really am sorry,” he said softly. “I had no idea she was… so… so,”

“Crazy?”

“So much like you,”

That made you smile a little bit, still trying to focus on the task of removing the face paint. You knew you should have gotten her the slightly more expensive one, at least it wouldn’t be a nightmare to get out.

“You’re a good mother (Y/N),” he said, his tone genuine, much unlike his usual teasing and jabs. “A better parent than I could have ever hoped to be,”

“Hel,” you sighed, your hand resting on the side of his face. “You need to stop blaming yourself, please,” you almost begged him. “And you need to stop blaming others too. Sometimes life happens and we can’t control it,” you looked outside at your daughter cleaning up her mess and decided to switch to Sokovian to carry on the delicate conversation. “Yes, what happened to Carl was beyond cruel and unfair. To have a young life taken away, especially one with such promise, but we can’t bring him back Hel, as much as I know you want to, you can’t,” you whispered. “Carl loved you. He loved you more than I’ve ever seen a child love a parent. If you don’t trust my judgement, trust his,”

Helmut bit the inside of his cheek and nodded.

You finished wiping the paint off his cheek and leaned in carefully, pressing a gentle kiss to the area you had just cleaned. Your lips lingered maybe just a second longer than they should have, but you knew he needed it.

“Mama?” you could hear Milena’s voice at the door, so you quickly pulled away. “Can you help me?”

“Of course my love,” you nodded, placing the towel in Helmut’s hands, standing up to go help your daughter with her task of cleaning, trying desperately not to look back.

—

“You seem nervous, is it me?” Helmut asked as you pulled into the parking lot of the school.

“No, it’s just some of the parents are a little pretentious,” you scratched your brow. “I-It makes me wonder if we were ever like this when we were back home,”

“Without a doubt we probably were,” he nodded. “(Y/N) I was royalty,”

“Minor royalty Hel, don’t push it,” you rolled your eyes. “Either way, I’m not like that anymore. People don’t even know I’m from Sokovia,” you told him.

“Mama can we go?” Milena asked and you nodded, unbuckling your seat belt and exiting the car, Milena running ahead to her school while you trailed behind with Helmut, walking side-by-side, arms brushing against each other.

“You don’t want them to know where you’re from?”

“I don’t want their pity,” you shrugged. “I like it here. Yes, I miss home often, but… this is where I live now, this is my daughter’s home. I’ve accepted it. I’ve let go,”

Helmut nodded, appreciating what you had shared as you crossed the threshold of the school. The cafeteria had been repurposed as a place to show the work of various students, much like a gallery and the teachers were scattered across the room, ready to talk to the parents.

“I can’t see anything,” Milena huffed coming back to your side.

“Come here meine Liebe,” Helmut put out his hands for her to come close. He twirled her around and grabbed her by the waist, hoisting her up onto his shoulders so she could have a better view of everything that was going on there.

Milena was a bit small for her age so it made Helmut’s task that much easier. You couldn’t stop yourself from pulling out your phone and snapping a quick picture of the two. At least one memento of them together.

“Oh Milena, are these your parents?” one of the teachers came up to the three of you and your daughter nodded causing you to raise a brow. “Milena is such a wonderful student, a real joy to have in class. Constantly contributing and helping her classmates. You both have a wonderful daughter,” the teacher smiled.

You and Helmut looked at each other, then the teacher and burst into a fit of snickers.

“I-I’m sorry did I say something?” the teacher asked.

“Did she say something? Helmut, please I think I’m going to laugh myself to death!” you doubled over. Like the world would ever be kind enough to give you the life you wanted.

“I’m so so sorry,” Helmut apologized on your behalf, trying to also keep it together. “We,” he pointed to the two of you. “We’re not married,”

“Oh,” the teacher’s eyes widened. “I-I’m so sorry, I just assumed and you both were wearing rings too,” she pointed to your hands and now it was Helmut’s turn to frown and look over at your hand.

“It’s no problem,” you said quickly hiding your hand. “We’re just good friends,”

The teacher gave you both another apology before leaving and Helmut put Milena back on the ground and urged her to go find more of her friends before turning to you and motioning for you to follow him to a more secluded corner.

Once he did, while you weren’t paying attention, he grabbed your left hand and lifted it to his face, looking at the ring on your ring finger.

“I think you know where I’m going with this,” he said, and you couldn’t tell if he was upset or concerned.

“It’s nothing Hel,” you snatched your hand away.

“It’s not nothing. You don’t think I remember that ring?”

“Well you gave it to me almost twenty years ago I thought it was safe to assume you wouldn’t remember it,”

“Why do you wear it? If it’s such a meaningless piece of jewelry why do you wear it on that finger?”

“To stop people from trying to make advances Helmut! Why must I defend myself on this, here of all places?” you quietly exclaimed. “They see the ring and they get scared off. Simple as that,”

“But-,”

“Not all things have to carry meaning Helmut,” you lied. “If it bothers you that much, here,” you took the ring off and placed it in his hand.

You walked away from him, towards the exit so you could take a seat at one of the outdoor picnic tables. A part of you wished that your statement was true, that not everything had to carry meaning, but unfortunately for you, that wasn’t the case. The ring did have meaning, in more ways than one. The day he gave it to you, you could remember it so clearly in your memory it was almost like it didn’t happen twenty years ago.

You had expressed to Helmut as a young and naive teen that you were worried whoever you would marry would buy you some brash overly expensive ring, and not something you actually liked. Simplicity, that was your mark. You were walking in downtown Novi Grad and coincidentally right past and ring shop.

“That one,” you said, “See, I’m worried they’ll think I need some large diamond because my family is wealthy, but that one,” a gold band with one singular small diamond in the centre. “I want someone to ask me to marry them with that ring,”

Without your knowledge, later that day Helmut had gone back into the shop and purchased the ring for you, gifting it and saying that if you knew the person you wanted to marry you could give them the ring to give back to you.

“I-I must admit it sounded better in my head Schatzi, but either way you have the ring you wanted,” he smiled.

And you wore it proudly, right on your middle finger, just waiting for the right man. The right man who never came. Or more like the right man who was always there, who gave you the ring in the first place, but didn’t love you back.

After Helmut was imprisoned, and before you fell pregnant with Milena on occasion you would frequent clubs or bars, somewhere to get out of your head. And one of those nights you had accidentally slipped the ring on the wrong finger and it acted as some sort of talisman. Warding away any unwanted attention. Like Helmut was still there looking after you even though he was locked away in Berlin.

The night seemed to drag on until it was finally time to leave and you drove home in silence, Milena falling fast asleep in the back seat.

You picked her up carefully once you got home, placing her under the covers in your bed, not wanting to wake her up.

When you exited your room and came into the kitchen where a few of the lights were on you saw Helmut standing by the counter near two glasses of wine. He extended one over to you and you took it without much hesitation, drinking its contents in one go before asking for more.

“Wait,” he sighed. “I’m sorry Schatz, I… I’m not sure what came over me. I should have never questioned your intentions let alone where I did,” he pressed his lips together. “I apologize, sincerely,”

You nodded, “Apology accepted,”

“Here, you should take this back,” he said, reaching into his pocket and trying to hand back the ring to you.

“No,” you shook your head, taking in a shaky breath. “You keep it,”

“(Y/N) you said this was something that helped you. What are you doing?” he asked.

You slid back the glass of wine and tilted your head slightly to the side and with a small shrug and a whisper you said,

“I’m letting go,”

—

When you came back inside your home after dropping off Milena at school on Monday the tense feeling in your shoulders wouldn’t go away. You knew what it was from, it was the same thing each week, but that didn’t make it any easier to reconcile with yourself.

You came inside and grabbed an Advil, taking it for your headache and going to rest on the couch.

Helmut had just woken up and come out of the shower, noticing your tense figure sitting in the living room.

“Schatz, are you alright?” he asked and you shrugged.

He came and stood behind you resting his hands on your shoulders, feeling the knots they held.

“May I?” he asked and you nodded, it was really something you could use. His hands were soft against your skin, a small relief amidst your guilt.

“Hel…” you asked quietly.

“Yes Schatz?” he nodded.

“Did you ever feel guilty when you made a choice for Carl?” you asked. “Like deep down, you wondered if you were really doing it for him or for yourself,”

Helmut pursed his lips,

“Not that I can think of… Is something bothering you?”

You nodded your head and he momentarily stopped massaging your shoulders and neck.

“Talk to me (Y/N),” he said softly and you bent your head down forward, pinching the bridge of your nose.

“I feel bad for sending Milena away every week,” you admitted. “I know I say it’s because her friends go to school there, but it’s exhausting being alone and having to look after her. I want to be the best mom I can be when she’s here and… it only feels like I can do that if I send her away. Her teachers can give her the support I couldn’t even imagine being able to give her,” you shook your head. “She doesn’t have a father and I don’t have a husband. We’re alone and only have each other, but I still drive her to that school every single week… Am I a bad mother? Does that make me a bad mother?” your voice faded to a quiet whisper.

“(Y/N),” Helmut spoke softly, coming around to sit with you on the couch. He took your hands in his, causing you to look up at his eyes, filled with sincerity. “You are not a bad mother,” he shook his head. “I can even imagine the struggles you’re facing, doing this alone, but needing extra support isn’t a crime, and if sending her to that school gives you that support so you can be the best person when you’re around her then so be it. Milena loves you,” he said assuredly. “Do you know how I know that?” he asked and you shook your head. “Because she tells me every spare second she gets,”

“Helmut…”

“No, (Y/N), don’t fight me on this one, we both know I’m right,” he pressed. “Just like you’re always in my corner I’m in yours. Don’t forget that,”

You nodded, wrapping your arms around him and holding him tight.

“Thank you, Helmut… I needed to hear that,”

“Of course Schatz, any time,”

—

It wasn’t a special day of any sort, just a usual day, Milena at school and you and Helmut at home, the routine almost having been perfected, even in the short while he was here. But today was different because someone decided to go off-script.

You received a small package in the mail, and so you brought it into your room to open it, curious as to your daughter’s school’s address in the top left corner.

You opened the package, pulling out its contents, first a photo, clearly something Milena had drawn although her art skills were improving quite considerably.

The image was of three people labelled clearly.

Mama, Me, Helmut.

Things were already hard enough, but for your daughter to have to go through the same pain as you? That was almost too unbearable to imagine.

Next was the note, something simple enough and something that had also, quite frankly been repeated to you a lot as of late, but paired with that picture it felt different. It hurt more.

To the dear parents of Milena,

We don’t tend to send mail to parents often, but we thought this situation merited just that. Your daughter has been showing an exemplary attitude in class and we would just like to share something she did this past week. The class had a small competition to see what art the class liked the most. Milena, ever the perfectionist managed to win with the drawing we sent enclosed in the envelope, but as soon as she saw that one of her classmates was upset because they hadn’t managed to win the small competition, she went and sat with them, complimented their work and didn’t leave their side for the rest of the day until they felt better. I think all we wanted to say here is that you and your husband have raised such a beautiful young girl and we can only imagine what wonderful environment you’ve created for her to grow and develop in. Whatever it is you’re doing, don't stop.

Many kind regards,

Miss Neeson

You weren’t sure when the tears had started to fall, but there they were, dripping onto the paper you held shakily in your hands.

It seemed the sounds of your quiet sobs had become loud enough for Helmut to hear because when you looked up you could see his worried expression in the doorway.

“Schatz what happened?” he asked softly.

“See for yourself,” you handed him the papers and he came over to your side, taking the pages from your hands, looking at the art then reading through the note just as you had done seconds before.

“I-I don’t see the problem,” he admitted. “She did a good thing, no?”

“It’s not about her,” you shook your head. “Well it is, a little,” you tried to compose yourself, sniffing and wiping your nose on your sleeve.

“Then explain to me,” he asked, “Please,”

“Don’t you see the drawing? She’s growing attached to you, to something that’s not going to be around forever, Helmut,” you whispered, the tears springing in your eyes again. “She’s going to have to go through all those emotions at such a young age and… she shouldn't have to,”

“Are you saying I should leave?”

“Clearly not,” you shook your head. “Because apparently, you're my husband now,”

“So that’s what this is really about,” he sighed.

“Of course it’s also about that Helmut! Y-You don’t just shove that kind of information in someone’s face like that, especially mine and not expect me to be upset,”

“Why does it upset you so much? It’s just a harmless mistake,”

“To you!” you shook your head. “To me, it’s a curse Helmut. Falling in love with your best friend is the worst curse God could ever bestow on anyone and it happened to me twice. Helmut I fell in love with you twice,” you sobbed, covering your mouth with your hand, trying to stifle the sound.

Helmut carefully laid down the papers, shifting closer to you on the bed. His hand came to caress your cheek and he leaned in closer, his nose grazing the side of your face before you had the sense to pull away.

“No Helmut, don’t fucking tease me like that,” you shook your head. “You didn’t love me back then and you don’t love me now, don’t go doing something that you’re going to regret just to leave me back in the dirt once more,”

“You and I remember that night very differently,” he said softly, his voice almost a soothing balm, especially hearing it in your mother tongue.

“What’s there to remember differently. You picked Helena, you said you didn’t love me,”

“(Y/N) I said no such thing,” he said adamantly. “I never said I didn’t love you,”

“You might as well have!”

“I had just asked Helena to marry me! What did you want me to say?!” he asked, now becoming clearly a bit more agitated.

“Isn’t she the reason you became my friend in the first place? Even all the way back in kindergarten, you saw my friend Helena and decided if she wasn't going to befriend you, you were going to befriend me so you could get close to her. In true Zemo fashion, manipulate those around you to get what you want,”

“Yes fine I will admit that was my first intention-,”

“I knew it-,”

“Let me finish dammit!” he said, pushing himself up off the bed. “That was my first intention, but I fell in love with you instead, I fell in love with you and I was a fool not to say it. I fell in love with you and I still asked Helena to marry me. I fell in love with you and I defied every single bone in my body making the wrong choices,”

You were still pushing back tears, your lips quivering while you watched him in front of you. He was angry. Angry you couldn’t see it. Angry at himself for hiding it.

“Be mad at me for making the wrong choices (Y/N), please I beg of you not to forgive me,” he continued. “Don’t forgive me like every single other time because I don’t deserve it,” he shook his head. “But don’t under any circumstances do not be mad at me for never loving you because that is something that I have always done. Whether it was on the playground, or in the classroom, o-or from behind goddamned fucking bars I still loved you. A-And now, even when I thought it would be so hard for me to love another person after I lost my family… but then came Milena and out went whatever ideas I had. I love both of you with every single fibre of my being,”

He tried to come close again and this time you didn’t move away, allowing him to gently hold your face like before, his nose pressed next to your own and despite your tears, he leaned down, after all these years finally allowing his lips to lay down on yours. Every part of it was slow and thought out, calculated, like he had been dreaming of this moment his entire life. It would be safe to say you had as well. As soon as he broke away from you he didn’t hesitate to move his kisses elsewhere, using them to wipe away your tears, to make up for all the times he was the cause of them.

He was practically shaking and his knees gave out, causing him to kneel at your feet, holding your hands so as to not lose any sort of contact with you. Carefully he reached into his pocket and shakily pulled out the ring you had given back to him a few days back.

“Will you let me give it back to you?” he asked. “As a promise,”

“What promise Hel?” you asked. “I-,” you took a deep breath, “What promise?” you repeated.

“I told you when I got this ring that eventually you could give it to the man you wanted to marry and he could give it back to you. I want to give it back (Y/N), I want to marry you, maybe not now, maybe not in the next few years, but I want to marry you. I want to be that man,”

You ran a hand through his hair, relishing the way he leaned completely into your touch.

“You know this isn’t just a promise to me Hel,” you said. “I need you to tell me you know that because yes, maybe I could handle something happening, but I will not let my daughter go through that,”

“I understand,” he nodded. “I’ll hand myself in to the authorities if you think that’s what’s best, anything Schatz, anything,”

“But I won’t let you go back, not when I just got you,” you shook your head, and bent down once more to press your lips to his.

The kiss was heavily mixed with your salty tears, but you both had such a desire to pull the other closer, to melt into one.

Your foreheads were delicately pressed together, just taking it all in because finally, that never-ending dream had a satisfying conclusion. You could wake up and he would be there by your side, and in the end, that was all you ever really wanted.

#helmut zemo #helmut zemo x reader #helmut zemo x you #helmut zemo x y/n #zemo #zemo x y/n #zemo x you #zemo x reader #baron zemo #baron zemo x reader #daniel bruhl #daniel bruhl x reader #helmut zemo fanfiction #helmut zemo fanfic #helmut zemo fic #helmut zemo one shot #helmut zemo imagine #zemo fanfiction #zemo fic #zemo fanfic #zemo one shot #zemo imagine #helmut zemo fluff #helmut zemo angst #zemo fluff #zemo angst #marvel #mcu #avengers #marvel x reader

[thevibraniumveterans]

Tony Leung: “[Wenwu] isn’t a villain at all!”

On September 6, 2021, Tony Leung sat down with Hong Kong actress Carol “Dodo” Cheng for an interview about life, sports, and of course, his latest Hollywood outing as a widower who grieved the death of his beloved wife and a father who “didn’t know how to love [his children]” in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

=

Interview is originally in Cantonese, and has been translated into English.

FULL TRANSCRIPT BELOW:

-

Today I'm really pleased to interview Tony Leung Chiu-Wai. The last time I really chatted with you in earnest was... Do you remember? In 2013.

I think that time I was with...

We were on a plane together. 

At the mall? On a plane?

We arrived in Hong Kong, and went to some awards ceremony. We were waiting for our luggage, exchanged a few words. That was 2013, and we haven’t met since. Where did we meet up next? I’m sure you won’t remember. It was here in Hong Kong. I was surprised by you. I usually go to the supermarket, very early in the morning. Because there's no-one there. 

Yeah.

I saw you there.

I think that was probably it. Not too crowded in the morning. 

You too. Why so early in the morning?

To... buy food. I usually wake up at 6am. I’d exercise until about 10am-ish, and then I’d…

Go for a walk.

Shower, then shop for food. I usually eat quite simply— it’s either salad, or buckwheat noodles. Salad doesn't stay fresh very well. So I’d get up early in the morning, shop for what I like, and prepare it at home.

Have you been eating healthy all this time?

I’m not doing this particularly for my health. I get an upset stomach easily. I get food poisoning very easily. And it’s miserable having food poisoning! When you’re at work, others don’t know how bad you’re having it. But you can’t tell-- you can’t convey that.

Alright, at this point it’s time for a nostalgia trip. We used to be colleagues, and we’ve shot TV series together. At that time, did you feel that you could eat whenever and not have to sleep… When did you start prioritising your health?

When did it start? I think it would have been… at least 20 years ago. Because it’s miserable being sick while on set. You’ve got to keep working. Even when I had a fever, (producer) Wong Kar-Wai would say, “No, it’s the last day, you’ve got to make it.” So I would work with a fever!

It’s good that everyone's health-conscious now, and wants to avoid falling ill. So when I was preparing for this interview, some friends told me, They’d seen you and me do an interview, from many years ago. I don’t think you’d remember. We’re talking many years ago - decades here! You were really young at the time. At the TV station you were a rising star, a top male lead actor. So I interviewed you. I asked you a question, and I don’t know if you remember how you answered. I asked, “Have you thought about retirement?” You did give me an answer at the time. Do you remember at what age you said you’d retire?

I really don’t remember. I’m sure retirement was always on my mind then.

You were in your 20s then, not quite 30. You told me— “I will definitely retire at 36!”

[laughter]

What changed your mind?

I believe that when I started out as an actor, it was certainly hard work when I was just starting out. But I thought, I wouldn’t get to where I am today without going through tough times. But as I slowly grew as a person, my perspectives and values have changed. I feel more at ease. So I wouldn’t think in extremes like I did before. I think that in the past 10, 20… 10 years? I've become a more relaxed person. I wouldn’t just say, “now I’ll retire.” If I want to keep going, I will.

This is your favourite line of work, isn’t it?

Except sport. 

Could you imagine yourself in any other career? I can’t.

I’d be a sportsperson. 

A sportsperson, playing what?

I play a lot of sports. I like mountain biking, sailing, water skiing, surfing… I’m up for anything. 

You really like water sports, don’t you?

It’s hot in Hong Kong, and summer takes up most of the year. What’s more refreshing than being in the water?

How about in winter?

I’d still be in the water, wearing long sleeves.

You wouldn’t take up running?

I don’t particularly like it… I can’t seem to find much variety in running. I like to interact with nature directly. There’s something new every day. Take sailing, for example. Every day is different, the weather changes.

Your body is in a different condition every day.

You're working with the changing conditions. You end up building up a lot of knowledge. You learn about nature, the weather, changes in conditions. The water, currents, what do you call it... Hot weather warms the ocean and you’ll have gusts of wind. I didn’t know all this. But the more I sailed, the more I thought,“This is great!”

You’ve got a real passion for this.

I do.

What have you been up to during the pandemic? It’s been 1— almost 2 years, hasn't it?

I was filming in 2 movies… And... flying here and there.

Do you need to quarantine? 

Quarantine! Countless times.

We’ve talked for so long, let’s come back to this film, Shang-Chi. I believe Tony has received endless invitations to appear in overseas films. Why did you choose this film?

I didn't really... I believe it’s fate to be involved in certain films. I can’t just want to act in some type of film, then get it. An opportunity comes up, but sometimes the director might not like me, or I might not like the screenplay. Or I might like the director, but I don’t like the character. So you can’t just make this sort of thing happen. I think sometimes the time will be just right and things will happen. The director may like me, and I like the project, or I like the director. Or I might want to try something in particular. It takes a lot, a combination of factors, for something to happen.

It's like a piece of furniture, isn't it? The pieces need to be joined precisely.

Yes.

How were you scouted for this movie? How were you approached?

The director approached me, wanted to have a chat with me. So I...

What's your requirements for taking on a film? Do you need to read through the whole screenplay?

That would be best. It would.

You would've been in many films without a solid screenplay, wouldn't you?

There would still be an idea. 

An overview of sorts.

But this movie... You know Marvel is very secretive. At the beginning, I was in a video conference call with the director. What he could tell me at the time was, "You're going to be the main villain. Your character has many layers." Then I asked, "do I need to fight?" "No, because you have those rings." So I said, "then I'll definitely be fine." That was all.

What about that drew you in? Being the main villain?

That was one of the draws. In the past few years, I wanted to try characters different to those I'd played previously.

Why do all actors who have played male leads want to go off and play villains?

Actually... there's more complexity to them. I feel like there's a different mindset between playing a protagonist and an antagonist. I've acted for 30-something years. It's about time I did something different.

So you're in, you're headed to the shoot, and you're now the main villain! What's the mindset behind this?

Oh, not for this film. I thought I was the villain at first. A month before the shoot, I read the script. I didn't think this character was a villain at all. There was a real human side to this villain. Perhaps Marvel was hoping to portray a villain from a different angle this time around. So I was puzzled. Initially I was expecting, "Ooh, a villain, this will be fun", but when I looked at the script, "no, this isn't a villain at all!"

Very sentimental? 

Yes, and a lot of humanity.

You thought it would be easy playing a villain.

I didn't think it would be easy.

You didn't think there would be so much emotion. 

I didn't think it would be easy. I thought there would be more evil in him. I read the script and thought, "oh no, he's not evil at all", And that's difficult to portray. How would you let the audience... and I thought, "wow it's as if he's a good guy?" I read through the script and couldn't find the evil in this character.

How would you portray this character? Was the director able to help you?

The director...

Or did he put a lot of trust in you? 

I rarely... He put a lot of trust in me, and I don't discuss with the director often. I thought, what's the use of discussing? I could just act it out. You can be really idealistic when you discuss. I would rather do more... When I arrived, Destin would ask me, "Do you want to talk it out?" and I would say no.

Was there a read-through? 

No, no read-through.

You went straight to shooting?

Yes, straight to the shoot.

Then it would be like, "Tony, stand here, in this shot do this and that, and you'd do it?

Yeah. It was kind of like that. We filmed the action scenes first. So there was time to warm up. Then the dramatic parts. I like the drama most. I felt the most excited during these parts. The action scenes were particularly tough, because it was summer in Australia then.

Did you need to train?

I did. At first I was told I didn't need to fight. Then when I got there— wow, there's so many action scenes! So I scrambled and...

But you've got those rings. You can just throw the rings.

Sure, but there's still some action involved. Because I didn't physically prepare beforehand, it was rather tough at first. I got used to it as the shoot went on, but the weather was still hot. And there were period costumes, so it was tough at first.

So there was a sequence, they filmed all the action scenes first, and then scenes with dialogue afterwards, is that right?

I think they deliberately scheduled this so I could warm up a little. So I wouldn't need to dive straight into very intense dialogue.

There are a lot of actors involved, right? Your character has a son, too. Is this the first time you're portraying a dad?

Would it be my first time... 

Or you have, but not for a much older son?

Yes, not for a much older son. I had a child in “The Grandmaster” as well. But not that old, no.

How would you portray the emotions of a father-son relationship? Because your character didn't know his son. 

It was manageable. In this movie, the father-- not that he didn't love his children. He didn't know how to love them. This character doesn't even know how to love himself. The love was from his wife, portrayed by Fala Chen, He found love in this woman. But he doesn't know how to love others. So he was very distant from his children, his sons— his daughters were pretty much ignored. He was a father figure who preferred sons over daughters, a rather... traditional father archetype. Almost the old-fashioned type.

In shooting this movie, what was most difficult for you?

The action scenes. 

Do you do all these scenes yourself?

I try to, but they wouldn't let us do the really dangerous ones. If you're injured, who's going to replace you?

Sure.

But I try to do as much as I'm able.

You'd need to rehearse the scenes with everyone. 

Of course. Once we arrived, they arranged for Fala, my son, played by Simu, and my daughter... like you and I used to, we would all practice in the studio.

How long were the working hours?

It was 10 working hours a day, but we went all the way through that. There was no break in between. 

Really? I thought you would be sitting comfortably in your trailer?

No! We filmed a lot every day! You know how that made me felt? It felt like I was in my TV days again.

Really?

You'll think, "will we get through this much filming today?" And by the end of the day, you would. But it was very intense. Perhaps they didn't want us to have a break, because we'd have to disperse and regroup. So we went all the way through. Once we arrived in the studio, it was full steam ahead. There was no meal break, because there was always...

No meal break?

No.

I've never heard of a Hollywood film shoot without meal breaks.

There's food throughout the day. Catering comes around, and we'd just eat.

But there wouldn't be an hour for a meal break.

No.

How long was shooting in total?

I was involved for about... 4 months.

Was that long or short timeframe, in your experience?

I felt like it was short, because they were very efficient and organised. They planned it really well. So every you'd head in and whoosh,

It flowed well. 

Yes, very professional.

In your opinion, are there particular scenes you're in that the audience should pay attention to?

I think... I wouldn't say particular scenes, but the film as a whole. I don't think you've all seen me in this get-up before.

We could tell from the promos.

Very different to what I've played before.

Did you stay in one place for four months, or did you have to fly around?

We were only in Sydney, because we were in a studio. It was all green screen. There were a lot of special effects, so we only had to construct part of a set, And the rest was green screen, so it was mostly shot in the studio. Only the opening and ending were elsewhere, in a park, and in a village on a set they'd constructed. So I was there for... I was in Sydney the whole time. But because of the pandemic, I left for a few months in the middle, and returned when were were able to shoot again.

How did you feel about your experiences after the shoot? It's a Marvel movie, very different from the dramas and other films you've been in. How would you sum up your experiences?

Very stressed, very frustrated.

Really?

Because I'm the type of person who stays in their comfort zone. I filmed with familiar directors, and familiar crew.

You've really leapt out of your zone there.

I really stepped out of this comfort zone, working with strangers. The only person I could trust in was the director. I didn't know anyone else there. And when I got a copy of the screenplay, like I mentioned, I realised, "Wow, a villain that doesn't feel like a villain, what do I do?" I'd only received the script a month before the shoot. And when I got there, I had to work with the dialect coaches on delivery. I was filming, I was thinking... it was stressful. But we got through in the end.

Where were the costumes done?

In Tokyo. I was there at the time, and our costume designer kindly flew over to dress and fit me. At the time I didn't know what was in the script, I didn't know the story. But the costumes helped me a lot at the time. The movie's costumes were made beautifully. I thought they had good design sense. So when I was dressed for the first time, I was able to feel...

That you were the character.

Yes, roughly. I had an initial feeling for it. And then I would turn up in person, and get a better feel as I played the character.

So the shoot is over, it's about to be released. What plans do you have next, Tony?

Well when I came back to Hong Kong, I took part in a local film. Then I might shoot one in Shanghai, and then a TV series in Vancouver.

So you've done a complete turn-around since I last interviewed you. You were thinking of retiring at 36, do you not plan to retire now?

Not that I haven't thought about it... I'll stop when I feel tired. Then I'll go back to playing sports. If I feel like I've taken too long a break, and go "no, I need to do something," and there's something I'm really interested in, I'll do it. I don't need to come to a complete stop. It's something I like, after all.

So when you film in future, you wouldn't be thinking, "oh, I've been in a Hollywood production, "I will only appear in productions at that tier.” You'll be happy with a good screenplay.

Yes.

You might be asked to shoot drama films again. You would still take that on?

Well, I haven't given myself...

You've already left your comfort zone.

Yes, but I haven't really limited myself to what I think I should film. If there's a good film, I'll shoot in it. If there's something I like, I'll do it.

Well Tony, surely a typical day in Hong Kong for you wouldn't be on the water all day. What's a typical day like for you without shoots?

Well I'd get up, and there would be at least 2 hours of exercise.

Every day?

Yes.

Monday through Sunday?

Maybe one, half day's rest. You've got to let your body recover.

How about when you're shooting in Hollywood?

Not during filming, I'd save up my energy for that. Shooting takes 10 hours a day, but hair and makeup could take 2 hours. That's 12 hours, and it was tiring.

That's true.

I needed the energy for filming. But in Hong Kong, without a shoot, I'd have 2 hours exercise in the morning, make lunch, I might do some sports, like sailing, or water skiing. I'll come home, maybe watch a movie, or read a book. That's it. Maybe I'll have dinner.

I wouldn't exactly call that exciting. [Laughter]

It's pretty exciting!

For you, at least.

If the weather's good and I spend the day out sailing, I'd feel really happy about that. But not every day's a good day. I might capsize, and it would feel wrong. But it's not all that bad.

Why don't you enter competitions?

I have entered competitions.

Have you placed in these competitions?

Well... I have placed before.

What did you place?

I think second.

Oh, that's quite good. If you competed in the Olympics in sailing, there's no age limit there right?

Yes, there's no limit. But you don't necessarily have to compete in the Olympics. I could...

But we would all be happier for it, Tony. Imagine, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai representing Hong Kong and winning a medal! You've seen how happy the medalists have been this year.

It's really hard! It's really hard!

Why is that?

You're not as fit as younger people. It's hard. I play sports purely for enjoyment. I feel like it's an experience.

Fair enough.

It's... I'm not the type to want first place or something.

You're not a competitive person.

Yes. I don't want to experience a sport in that way. I'm there for my own enjoyment, not to win.

Let's say in future... since I last saw you in 2013— that wasn't even an interview, and now I've met you after all this time. Let's say in 5 years. What would you be doing in 5 years' time?

Maybe I...

Back then you said you'd retire at 36. I'll ask you again now, let's not dredge up the past. What do you think you'd be doing?

In 5 years' time, I think I would have more time for sports. [laughter]

Still on the water?

Yeah. Well, not necessarily, but a lot of different sports. I do want to try some—

Try running! I've seen Kar Ling (Carina Lau) run before! 

Yes, she likes running, and hiking too.

Why don't you run with her?

I don't really like running.

Hiking?

Hiking, I'd rather... well when I'm skiing, I'd walk in the back country, in good weather, carrying my skis and wearing my cleats, it's the same thing. I'd hike up and ski down. But not that kind of hiking. Well sometimes... when in summer, in Hokkaido, I can't ski. I would still hike, but I wouldn't really like it. But it would be better with friends.

But you don't like being around too many people. 

I sometimes like being with family. But my family... not everyone can hike. One might cramp up halfway.

Since you like being on the water so much, how many people does it take to do that?

One.

Just you?

Yeah.

Just someone to steer the boat.

Uhh... yeah.

It doesn't matter if there's a boat?

I do a lot of different water sports. I have those... electric boards, the type that shoot up like a magic carpet on the water, I have a stand up paddleboard, I can surf by myself too, that's doable. A lot of the sports I do can be done solo. I don't need a lot of people around.

You've really changed from before. You used to like to... go out at night?

Yeah.

That's all gone?

It has for a while. I haven't been in the nightlife for 20, 30 years. I'd eat out for dinner at most. Then I'd go straight home.

I remember I used to shoot TV dramas with you, you surprised me— We've filmed one or two series together, I would go straight home to bed afterwards, because I've always been a morning person. You could still say, "I'm going to go out for a bit." Yet the next day — our call sheets had us in very early — you were still able to make it in on time. Back then…it was a rite of passage.

Because I was young. Yes, and it was life experience. There are things you should do at that age.

Sure. Well, I hope to see you in another production soon. If this series were really successful, would you continue in any sequels?

[laughter] I really don't know, I can't say.

Why's that?

I feel like... as I've mentioned, there's fate involved in shooting a particular film. We'll see where...

…where fate takes you.

...where fate takes me.

Thank you Tony Leung Chiu-Wai for being with us today.

You're welcome.

#mcu #mcu shang chi #scatlottr #shang chi spoilers #shang chi and the legend of the ten rings #xu wenwu #徐文武 #tony leung #leung chiu wai #tony leung chiu wai #shang chi press tour #尚氣與十環幫傳奇 #尚氣與十環傳奇 #梁朝伟 #scatlottr spoilers

[princecharmingwinks]

i cant believe you said you dont write for fandoms!! these are ending up AMAZING! have another fail date for you to make better: we went four-wheel driving over the dunes out bush, we took my car but he drove because he's done the route before. we were the second car in the convoy and because my car is a little smaller than the others it couldnt make it up the last dune! it nearly made it over before sliding back into the sand and ended up half buried! (1/2)

(2/2) the rest of the group had to drag and push us out with planks and chains etc while we were stuck inside because no way in hell i was opening the door to let the sand in! so three wheels in the sand, waiting on our rescue, irl it was a bit awkward but im hoping you'll rewrite a better ending <3

Awww concussed dragon, you are sooo sweet! Thank you! Your unique failed dates are great to work with. Alrighty, let's get into this one! So the pack got big in this one and while most don't have lines, I liked the idea of everyone being there (or almost for anyone I missed haha). I left some of the couple combos up to interpretation so feel free to ship at your leisure.

---

The pack, after much pestering from a certain human/spark, were finally going on their camping trip. The alpha had finally conceded when Stiles had shot him a pout and hopeful eyes. Derek had reluctantly agreed and ignored the snickering of his betas in the corner of the room.

On the morning of the trip, everyone was pairing up into groups of drivers and passengers so no one drove alone and there were less cars.

Derek and Stiles were the last members out of the rebuilt Hale House. Derek had been locking up and Stiles was finishing off some wards to ensure there were no unwanted visitors while they were away. He was still learning to harness his spark but small wards of protection were easy enough. Defensive magic was easier, offensive was another story.

Stiles threw his bag into the back of the jeep and glanced around.

"So, who's joining Roscoe and me?"

Erica snickered, "Derek."

"What?" Stiles and Derek snapped in unison. Well at least Stiles had a punctuation mark, Derek's not so much.

"I'm with Danny, Lydia and Jacks." Kira spoke up. "Scott, Malia, and Isaac are with Allison."

"I'm obviously with my boy." Erica jumped onto Boyd's back, who was used to his girlfriend's antics and easily caught her. "And Theo is meeting us there after picking up Liam from work. Everyone's paired up so that just leaves you two."

Stiles felt his heart flutter but managed to keep his voice even as he spoke, "Alright Alpha My Alpha, let's get going."

Derek didn't say a word as he slid into the passenger seat of the jeep. Everything would be fine.

Everything was not fine. Stiles was definitely going through a quarter life crisis at the realisation most of the pack were in couples. How did he not realise that? When had it become a prerequisite to start dating a pack member? And now it was just Stiles and the alpha. The alpha he had been in love with for years. Great...

"What's wrong?"

Stiles was pulled out of his internal panic by said alpha's soothing voice. Derek had softened over the years, showing care and concern for each member of the pack. He now bought scent-free nail polish for Erica (so the acid smell didn't upset all the were's noses), stocked Isaac's favourite gummybears and even hugged Kira willingly at her university graduation. Derek Hale was a softie.

"I'm fine, nothing wrong here, no sir." Stiles prattled. Even he heard the blatant lies without supernatural healing. He glanced to his side and was greeted by raised eyebrows.

"Ok, so I may have just realised how paired up everyone in the pack really is."

"Except us."

"Yeah," Stiles sighed. "Except us. Do you ever think about that? Like, why you haven't dated anyone since..." He trailed off. Derek didn't have the best track record for his love interests but he hadn't even been on a date for more than 3 years.

Derek looked out the window at the scenary, they were driving into the sand dune part of the journey, and for a moment Stiles thought he wasn't going to answer.

"I've been waiting."

Stiles blinked. Huh?

"For someone so smart, you're really clueless sometimes." Derek huffed, glancing back at Stiles.

"What have you been waiting for?" Stiles dared to ask. They had paused to allow Allison's four-wheel-drive to roll up the last sand dune, waiting for their turn. Roscoe would be the last time to make the climb.

"I thought it was my imagination at first but then you kept coming around and..."

It was Roscoe's turn now and Stiles slowly prepared for the final climb of the dune. He tried to keep focused on the task at hand, allowing Derek to speak his thoughts. You never rushed the alpha when he was being vulnerable.

"I know you kind of like me?" Derek voiced it as a question but all Stiles heard was sirens in his brain. Derek knew? Stiles' foot slid off the peddle and they immediately started rolling backwards, fast.

"Shit! Shit, shit shit." Stiles acted quickly but it wasn't enough. Roscoe descended the sand dune and sank, refusing to move. Sand on either side of them blocked the bottom of their doors. They were officially stuck.

Stiles rested his head on the steering wheel and slowed his breathing. There were multiple crises going on but most had solutions.

The others would work out they hadn't made the climb soon enough or Theo and Liam would find them on their way through. So either way, Roscoe being stuck wasn't a massive deal. The real dilemma was Stiles' outed feelings for Derek.

The same Derek that was eyeing Stiles with concern as he called Kira to request some assist. Stiles heard him hang up before the sound of a door handle being jiggled. He snapped his head up.

"Whoa there sourwolf, there is to be no sand storm in this car, thankyouverymuch." He reached out and tugged the alpha's hand away from the door.

"I figured me getting out and pushing was the preferred option to sitting here with you in a state of panic at my assumption."

Stiles pulled his hand back. "What?"

"Look, we can just forget I ever said anything, alright? I get I'm not the most desirable crush to have. It's probably just familiarity and your sense of loyalty that's fueled your scent around me anyway. Don't worry about it."

Stiles shook his head, "Oh no you don't. You opened that can of worms and I'm no coward." The spark met Derek's gaze. Had he been planning on ignoring his feelings for the alpha? Sure. But was he going to run away from a moment like this? Nope. Stiles Stilinski was a lot of things but after running with wolves and other supernaturals for most of his life, he knew when he needed to tackle something head on.

"Now, before you go down your rabbit hole of I'm-not-good-enough crazy talk, I've got something to say."

Derek nodded like the soft alpha he was and turned to face Stiles more fully.

"You, Derek Alexander Hale, are amazing. A little on the martyr side but that's because you are so protective of your pack. I'd be crazy to not fall in love with you. That's right, love not like. I've been in love with you for years but how was a kid like me going to catch the alpha's eye? I didn't want to ruin our friendship. This," He gestured between them. "This is important to me. I don't want to ruin it."

Derek released a sigh of relief? Stiles couldn't read his eyebrows which was disappointing when he was the most expert at interpreting the alpha's facial expressions.

Then Derek was darting forward and claiming Stiles' lips in a searing kiss. Stiles went with it, almost unbelieving that any of this was happening.

Derek eventually pulled back and rested his forehead against Stiles'.

"Worth the wait." The alpha whispered, grinning, bunny teeth all on display.

"Two way street here. You could've said something too. How long have you liked me?"

Derek blushed and it was only because they were so close that Stiles saw the pink of his cheeks and ears.

"I've always liked you, even if I didn't always show it. But love? I think I've loved you since you woke me up on an elevator floor by punching me. You could have left without me but you didn't."

Stiles pouted, "Since then?"

Derek raised an eyebrow, "What's wrong?"

Stiles pushed Derek back and clumsily crawled across the gear stick to straddle the alpha's lap.

"We could have been having the best sex of my life for years, Derek! Years! We've got a lot of making up to do." Stiles dove in to kiss Derek this time. The alpha happily drew Stiles in closer, curling his arms around the spark's slim waist.

A knock on the window, interrupted their make-out session. Boyd's face appeared with judging eyebrows to rival Derek's.

"Heard you needed a hand." Boyd spoke loudly with a smirk as Derek's hand moved away from Stiles' ass to rest safely on his back.

"What's Erica doing?" Stiles asked, leaning over Derek to squint at the blonde chatting wildly on the phone. Derek focused his hearing.

"Turns out I'm not the only one who was waiting." Derek grinned, "And everyone apparently owes Lydia money."

They did eventually get Roscoe out of the sand dune thanks to the advantages of going camping with multiple supernatural creatures. By the time everyone was settled in the camp and Erica had informed Theo and Liam on the events of the day, Lydia was a very rich woman.

Stiles couldn't complain though. Not when the alpha was snuggled between his legs as Stiles sat on the log and Derek roasted them marshmallows. Apparently no one trusted Stiles near an open flame following the incident with that vampire clan. Stiles combed his fingers through Derek's hair and looked around at the pack. This camping trip was the best idea ever.

--

Ok so I must confess I do not camp like...ever and have no idea how four-wheel-driving works so please forgive any major errors in that department. I tweaked things a bit from your prompt sorry. I just couldn't imagine Stiles letting anyone else drive Roscoe. Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for popping in!

#sterek #teen wolf #derek hale #stiles stilinski #princecharminganswers #princecharmingwrites