#(okay maybe i wouldn't do that but still i would've been pissed off)

[void-thevoid]

okay i like sonic origins so far, but what really makes me upset is that the cheat codes are either different or not there at all

also the replaced music in S3&K makes me so mad it sounds horrible

#(might delete) #also am i the only one who thinks that the sonic 1 special stages are easier now that the camera is smooth? #like i usually never go for the chaos emeralds in sonic 1 #(or in any of the classic games in general) #but in origins i was able to get the first two emeralds with almost no problems #i dunno. personal preference i guess? #also thank god they only replaced a few of the soundtracks in S3&K and not the whole soundtrack #if they did that i would probably uninstall and ask for a refund #(okay maybe i wouldn't do that but still i would've been pissed off) #like imagine replacing the music for sandopolis #you can't #you literally can't #it's impossible #anyways uhh sorry for rambling #sonic the hedgehog #sonic origins #sth

[oneawkwardwriter]

Bedtime Tales

pairing: Wonka!Willy Wonka x literary nerd!gn!reader warnings/tags: Wonka spoilers!, just a lighthearted story, reader being a huge nerd totally not inspired by myself no... summary: reader finds out that not only has Willy never learned how to read, he was also never read to as a child, so they make a deal a/n: I'm lowkey obsessed with the new Wonka film, I can't even learn for major tests without seeing connections wc: 942

"What do you mean you can't read?" You asked in astonishment as you stare at the chocolatier in front of you.

"I just can't..." Willy said rather matter-of-factly, shrugging his shoulders as he took in the shocked expression on your face. "I never needed to, so I never learned it."

"Would've come in handy at zoo," Noodle muttered under her breath, "We nearly got eaten by a tiger."

"Keyword: nearly," Willy emphasised, "I've nearly been eaten by a lot of things, and they only got as much as a nibble."

"Okay, yeah, that's... that's not really comforting," You replied, shaking your head as if to process the thought, "So, you don't how to read... but at least you've been read to when you were a child, right? Right...?"

But Willy only shook his head, making your eyes widen more. "You've never been... right, okay, uhm... right, yes..." You're stumbling over your words, trying to form a coherent sentence and failing miserably. "Right, well... I'm sorry, but how has someone with so much imagination never been read to? Where do your ideas come from if not from stories?"

"I don't know, they just... form in my mind?" Willy answered, not sure how to respond to your questions. "I think you're making this a bigger deal than it has to be."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. the Chocolatier," You reply sarcastically as you look him dead in the eye, "I didn't realise that you were capable of such great things. Why would you even need to read? You already traveled around the world, so there's no need for you to immerge yourself into another."

"Are you sure she's still talking about my non-ability to read?" Willy asked Noodle, still confused but also slightly intrigued by your apparent affinity for reading.

"Hey, you pissed off the literature nerd, not me," Noodle simply answered before going back to her chores.

"Okay, you're exaggerating, I'm not pissed off," You clarify as you shake your head, "I'm just... baffled by the fact that you've never bothered with anything related to reading."

Truth be told, they could've gone around in circles like that forever if it hadn't been for Mrs. Scrubbit checking everyone's attendance and sending them to their separate rooms.

You leaned against the door and sighed, tired from yet another exhausting day at the bleachers. You sat down on your bed and let your head rest in your hands. Having been at the laundromat and bleachers for a few years now and still having several years ahead of you, you had given up on dwelling over your miserable predicament.

So instead, you got out a book from your suitcase, one of your very few possessions. Seeing as the lightbulb above your head kept on flickering and wouldn't provide much light, you moved over to the window, where the moon casted a dim glow over the pages.

After a while, you heard a soft psst coming from the window of the room across from yours. You looked up, only for your eyes to catch the gaze of the brilliant, illiterate young man.

"So, I had a talk with Noodle, and she offered to learn me how to read," Willy said, "She said it would be necessary if this whole chocolate selling operation works through."

"Well, that's a nice offer," You reply, "And I agree with her. You won't always be able to depend on others to do the reading for you."

"Now that you mention it, maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing," He comments, "I mean, you seemed to be a advocate for being read to, right?"

You can't help but lightly chuckle. "There's a massive difference between having someone read for you and someone read to you, Mr. Wonka," You say, "One creates a depency, the other provides an escape."

"Well, if that's the case, let's hope that prisoners aren't being read to," Willy joked, lightly grinning when he saw a faint smile creep up your lips. "See, who needs to read when a clever choice of words can make even the most stubborn of people crack a smile?"

"Who are you calling stubborn, Mr 'My near-death experience doesn't mean I should learn how to read'?" You ask rethorically as you raise and eyebrow at him, "Besides, it's often a clever choice of words that makes reading so worthwhile."

"Well, I suppose you'll have to prove that to me in order for me to believe it," He argued, secretly hoping you'd concede.

"Oh, is that how it has to be?" In your mind, you were somewhat thrilled to indulge and with that, be able to share something you were passionate about. But what's the fun in simply saying okay? "Well, I suppose if you asked kindly enough I would think about it..."

"Alright, alright..." Willy said as he stifled a smirk while rolling his eyes. "Would you, please, read to me so I may realise at last what I've been missing out on?"

"Because you asked so politely and totally weren't forced to do so, I will indulge you, Mr. Wonka," You say, fighting back a smile of your own.

And so, you start to read, occasionally looking up only to find fim listening attentively. Right before the story reaches its climax, you shut the book.

Being surprised by the sudden halt, Willy snaps out of his hazy state of drifting off into the story and looks confused.

"Hey, why did you stop?" He asks in astonishment, "How am I supposed to know how the story ends?"

"I guess we'll find out another time," You say, a slight smirk forming on your lips. "Good night, Willy."

© This work belongs to @oneawkwardwriter, please do not copy this work to any other site or claim it as your own. Reblogs are allowed and appreciated!

#writing prompt #writeblr #writing prompts #willy wonka x reader #willy wonka fic #wonka 2023 #x reader fic #noodle wonka movie #willy wonka is illiterate #just a nerd who loves to read #this doesn't make any sense at all #divider by saradika #oneawkwardwriter fics

[jellyluvr]

Hii! Could u do a smut where Tate Langdon Is a virgin and begs for me to take his virginity ?

A special present

- Tate langdon x fem reader ⋆ ˚

Okay thought that gif of him was hot af!! Omg he's so cute but anyway I kinda need some more info on this one. Like gender and what type of tate but I'm gonna do that myself. Also, sorry for the wait anon. This has been sitting in my drafts far too long. Tate is 18 too btw (I made him 18 4 this)

Present isn't a present either that's sarcasm

Tw: loss of virginity, tate whining like a baby, wasted orgasm, slow burn I think too, and a mommy kink!! 🥳 (u guys r contagious)

S: tate had been jerking off way too long and he still couldn't finish, so he needed a little help.

☆…━━━━━·:*☆…━━━━━·:*☆…━━━━━·:*☆

Tate was of course in your room like one be.. jerking off. You weren't home yet. He knew you wouldn't be home for a few minutes, and he had been beating it for like 20. He couldn't find the right way.. the right spot.

It frustrated him. He just wanted to cum and he couldn't even do that? Jesus christ. He was such a loser it was unbelievable. Jerking off in your girlfriends room..

He would've asked you but you would never touch him. Even if it was a hug, you refused. And it was simply because you were not ready. He was ready! He had been ready. And just thinking about it was making him soft. He didn't want to just leave it though.. he wanted to cum. He wanted that feeling.. the feeling of straight bliss run through his body. He craved that.

He leaned back against the wall, looking at his dick sighing. His pants were unzipped, his flap completely open along with the button. His dick was completely out, one hand holding his shirt up as he looked down. He had never been able to use any toys. He couldn't, really. He was 18. That would've been really weird to ask for. It was legal but I mean he couldn't even leave the house. And he wasn't going to ask you for a sex toy.

Tate began to think about you. Mostly your hands while his went back to his dick. A satisfied breath came out of his mouth, his body feeling a little more loose as he continued to touch himself. Just as he was, you walked in, and tate looked up, a smirk going over his lips as he continued. You looked, rolling your eyes before setting your things on your bed.

You acted like you didn't care, but seeing that made your mouth slowly salivate.

"What are you doing?" You said with an annoyed tone, trying to give him a hint for him to leave. Asap. "Thinkin' about you." He smiled, his hand moving a little faster. You looked, your head turning as you bit on your lip, moving to sit on your bed. "Can you not? Go jerk off away from me, please." You complained, and tate was honestly surprised.

He had thought you'd immediately come over and touch his needy dick some.. but you didn't? He stopped, annoyed as well. Maybe this was why he was a virgin.

"Can you please just touch me a little?" You heard him walk over, also kicking his jeans off in the process. You really wanted to, but you couldn't. "No." Tate sighed, plopping back on the bed, your head turning behind you to see his erect dick, standing attention. "Please, momma?"

Tate had seemed to think of the perfect thing. You felt your slick grow a bit, your eyes closing as you turned back forward shaking your head. "No, tate." You said sternly, your voice cracking a bit. Tate licked his lips, smiling as his own hand moved to touch himself. He moved way too quick, little moans and whimpers escaping his mouth. You couldn't help but listen, taking your time to hear his little curses.

"Mm.. fuck." He moaned, bucking his hips, causing the bed to move a little. This was just his little plan. He had a few others if this didn't work, but it didn't seem to work anyway. You reached into your bookbag, grabbing a book before flipping to some page. Tate was seriously pissed now.

"Just a lil' bit? Please.. please mommy. Oh, please. I just need something.." he whimpered some, adding exaggeration as he touched his tip. It felt good, but not good enough. You felt nice too. Your pussy was getting wetter and with dick right behind you, you felt sort of bad. But who would that make you if you touched him? "Or sit on me. Ride me like the bad boy I am, momma."

You bit down on your lip harder, drawing some blood as you threw the book to the side, standing up and turning around to look at him. "Y'know what? I'll fucking touch you. But you're not getting what you want I'll promise you that."

You moved over to the other side of the bed where he was laying before slipping your shorts off and panties, your shirt coming next. You crawled up on the bed, sitting on his stomach as he looked at your tits in awe. His hands moved up to touch them, but you slapped them back immediately. Shaking your head. "Bad boys don't get treats." You pulled his shirt over his head, leaving him naked before moving down on his body, your pussy grazing over his dick perfectly. A small moan escaped his lips, desperate for any attention as he bit down on his lip.

You moved to where you sat on his thighs, his dick infront of you before you spit on it. His hips bucked up, his mouth opening slightly as he whimpered. He craved the stimulation, and he loved the tiniest amount you gave him. You could even feel how hot he was.. how warm his thighs were and his tip a cute pink color. He was lucky he had a nice size. And a pretty face.

Your fist wrapped around his shaft tight, going up and down with no preparation. He choke out a moan, his head darting back against the pillow as his back stiffened. "Fuck, momma.." he growled under his breath, his eyes closed as he became stiff. He was so pathetic. So easy to use. But, you'd be lying if your folds weren't coated in your own arousal.

You pumped him for another few seconds, then ripped your hand off, his dick twitching from the sudden movement. He whimpered more, looking down at his dick before looking at the ceiling with droopy eyes. His mouth became dry as he kept his mouth open slightly, smacking it when it got too deserted.

You moved up a little, guiding his cock in your folds as you rubbed him there for a moment, drawing many.. many moans out of him. "Please... please.." he begged. He wanted you to make him feel better than whatever he had done before, and you moved down on him, your skin plopping down on his as he looked down, feeling how tight you were.

"Fuck fuck fuck.." He said quickly. His chest moved up and down faster, and you moved up a little, then down as you rode him slowly. "Ngh.." his hands moved up to your hips, holding you tight as he grasped for anything to help him. It was a lot. And you were so tight.. so nice to move in. You liked it too. You loved it, and thar was why you got faster. You moved quicker, tates hands going up to your chest while he squeezed your moving tits with a groan.

Your hands cupped his, your body moving much faster as you looked him in the eyes his rolling back with pleasure. "You like that, baby?" You laughed lightly, moaning some yourself. Your hair was beginning to bounce, and tates hands clutched your tits hard, pushing a moan out of you.

Tate looked up at your eyes, at your glimmering face and his breath hitched, watching as the bed began to move with a creak. It continued, and tate was closer and closer to his release. So close.. "I'm gonna cum.. oh god... I'm gonna cum.." he panted, watching as you rode him faster, his mouth making a perfect o as you slipped off of him quickly, right before he came.

But, streams of white painted his chest, his eyes closing as he looked at the mess he made on himself. He didn't even get what we wanted, and he looked up at you, clearly annoying and frustrated. "Why-" he started, "because you were bad. Bad boys don't get their way." You got off of him, your hand traveling down to your throbbing clit as you began to touch yourself, forcing tate to watch.

He couldn't even play with you either.. this hadn't been his plan. Not at all.

｡.｡:+* ﾟ ゜ﾟ *+:｡.｡:+* ﾟ ゜ﾟ *+:｡.｡.｡:+*ﾟ ゜ﾟ *+:｡.｡:+*ﾟ

Don't think this is the best but idk? Mommy shit is leaving a mark on me tho. Yall got me fucked up omg. Also this is based off this one porno I watched. Haha, anyway hope u like it!! I did try but idk if it's really a relatable thing yknow? Also I went way off the request but I hope you enjoy, anon! 🩷

Taglist: @kaismanwich @tatelangdonsgirll @daylas-life @hyperharlz @kaiju-superstar @howtobesasha @luttic @ima0nahlol

And hella short. Sry for that too. And I apologize for the shitty plot ig? I couldn't find anything to make the reader h8 tate.

#evan peters #evan peters characters #evan peters fanfic #evan peters x y/n #evan peters smut #evan peters x reader #evan peters x female reader #tate x reader #tate langdon smut #tate langdon x y/n #tate langdon x you #tate langdon x reader #tate langdon #tate ahs #ahs #american horror murder house #american horror story

[bedsyandco]

April 11

"Dude you just played your first NHL game, and you crushed it too, why do you look like someone just ran over your dog?" 

"It's nothing," Luke mumbles and Jack sighs, taking a seat on the other end of the couch, his body turned towards his younger brother. 

"Luke…come on, tell me. Don't make me call Quinn, or mom" he threatens 

"Vi isn't talking to me." 

"Why, what did you do?" Jack asks and holds his hands up when Luke glares at him.

"Okay, sorry I asked. She didn't text you at all, not even to say good luck or anything?" Jack asks 

"She texted me to say good luck and she texted me after the game to say she was proud of me but I haven't gotten a response since. I thought she would've called at least."

"Maybe she's just busy. She's still got classes and stuff going on." Jack suggests 

"Or maybe she just forgot about me the second I left and now she's too caught up with Noah to even text me back." Luke says bitterly

"So that's what this is about…Noah?" 

"No…maybe." Luke says and Jack smiles a bit.

"It really bothers you seeing her with him doesn't it?" 

"Wouldn't it bother you to see the girl that you love with another guy?" 

"You love her?" Jack asks, not shocked that Luke loved you. Just shocked that he was able to admit out loud. 

"Of course I love her."

"See that's what I don't get. If you love her, and you know she has feelings for you, don't even try to deny it, we both know she does, why aren't you doing something about it? You guys honestly piss me off. I've always been a little jealous of the connection you two had, I've never felt that with anyone before. And you've had years to make her yours, we both know she'd say yes the moment you asked, so what's holding you back?" Jack asks.

“I’m scared. What if it doesn’t work? What if I mess up and she hates me..and our friendship is never the same.  Jack I-” Luke says and stops when his voice cracks, swallowing the lump in his throat. This is stupid, he’s not about to cry in front of his older brother about some girl. It’s not just some girl though…it’s Violet. His Violet.

He takes a shuddering breath before continuing. “The idea of not having Violet in my life, makes me physically sick. And seeing her with someone else, seeing her with him, my heart feels like it’s gonna stop beating at any moment."

"That's a bit dramatic don't you think?" Jack asks and Luke glares at him. 

"I'm just kidding. Look the way I see it, you don't tell her you love her, she ends up marrying Noah, moving away, having his kids and you lose her anyway. And if it's not this Noah, it's gonna be another one. You tell her and it goes badly…at least you tried and you don't have to sit with all these what ifs. Or you tell her and it goes better than you can even imagine and there's a few little Luke and Violet's running around in a few years. What do you have to lose that you don't already risk losing by doing nothing?" 

When Luke doesn't respond, Jack takes that as his cue to leave and goes to his room, pulling up your contact and texting you.

"I already booked your flight, you're coming to Jersey." 

#⋆ ˚｡⋆୨ violet + luke ୧⋆ ˚｡⋆

[itsjaywalkers]

can I have regulus holding a little lamb 🐑 please

i don't know if this is what you had in mind nonnie but . here u go:

"Regulus?"

He startles a little, his jump making the tiny body between his arms shift slightly, a weak bleat that almost sounds like a protest dragging a frown out of him as he turns around. Regulus shushes the animal gently, rocking it against his chest before he finally looks at the person in front of him.

It isn't who he had been waiting for, considering he had called his brother, but taking into account Sirius' worrying levels of codependency when it comes to his friends, he supposes he should've seen it coming.

"Potter," he greets him, eyebrow arched. "Is my brother gonna make an appearance at some point or is he using you to elude his responsibilities? Again."

Potter starts shaking his head effusively even before Regulus has finished talking, the desperation in the gesture nearly making him roll his eyes. Always so quick to defend Sirius' honour.

"Oh, no, he's coming, I swear he's coming," James reassures him, offering him an apologetic smile. "He got held off at work, so he called me and told me you had an emergency and asked me to keep you company until he arrived."

"And couldn't he had called me to tell me that?" Regulus inquires.

James looks away, rubbing at the back of his neck. "He didn't think you would've reacted well. He said it'd be... easier to just. Send me here without a heads up, to make sure you wouldn't refuse."

He cringes at the end, and even though it's the bare minimum, Regulus finds some satisfaction in Potter's obvious discomfort. It's nice to know that he isn't the only one who finds some of his brother's methods despicable, despite the usual good intentions behind them.

"So Sirius' reaction to me asking for his help is to bring his best friend to deal with the issue without consulting me about it first," he states blankly, disappointed at the fact that he isn't even that upset about the whole ordeal. Really, it's classic Sirius behaviour. They're okay now, usually at least, but part of him is always waiting for him to fuck up one way or another. "Nice to know."

"C'mon, Reg, you know that's not it—"

"Don't call me that."

Potter has the audacity to roll his eyes. "Okay, Regulus. But really, he wanted to be here, and he will be, as soon as he's done with work. This was out of his control. And he asked me to come because he didn't want you to wait for god knows how long on your own."

"Whatever," Regulus huffs, refusing to admit that hearing about Sirius' concern is enough to soften him a little. Just a tiny bit.

There's a beat of silence after that. Regulus isn't going to entertain a conversation with James Potter of all people, and besides, he's busy trying to calm the animal he's holding between his arms, which is still quite restless. Regulus doesn't blame it. He's pretty unnerved by Potter's presence himself.

Of course, and considering who he's with, it doesn't last.

"Potter," he calls him, making him snap his head up, one of his hands coming up to readjust his glasses. "Spit it out."

"What?"

Regulus represses the urge to scoff. "It's obvious there's something you wanna say. I can almost hear you thinking, and it's pissing me off, so just—fucking say it."

"Um," Potter starts, blinking a couple of times, eyes alternating between Regulus' face and his chest. "That's—a lamb. You're holding a lamb."

"Astute observation."

Potter snorts. "You gonna elaborate on that, or...?"

"I'd rather not," Regulus sniffs, raising his chin slightly.

Potter opens his mouth, more than ready to whine, maybe even push, but in the end, he simply lets out a deep sigh before closing it. The sound is resigned, which pleases Regulus, but also a little fond, which only manages to confuse him.

Although, if he's being honest, most of Potter's actions do. In ways he does his best not to think about.

"Can I at least touch it?" Potter questions, tilting his head to the right as he watches the lamb intently.

Regulus' first instinct is to refuse. But he doesn't know how long he's going to have to be alone with Potter, and antagonising the other man will probably just make this whole thing even more awkward. Tenser. Not to mention, the lamb is quite adorable, and if nothing else, he understands Potter's want to get close to it.

He nods, and Potter looks so taken aback for a second that Regulus is almost offended. But then, and before he has the chance to change his mind, Potter is moving, closing the distance in fast strides.

He's less than a breath away barely a second later, and Regulus feels dizzy all of a sudden, a woodsy scent filling his senses and a lovely warmth surrounding his limbs. He has to bite the inside of his cheek to keep himself from letting out an embarrassing noise.

"Careful," he warns when Potter simply goes for it, eager and clumsy, the rushed movement dragging another weak bleat from the lamb.

"Sorry," Potter says in a whisper, so near his breath hits the side of Regulus' face. It sends a shiver down his spine.

He tries again, gentler this time, making a show of putting his hand in front of the animal. Potter waits a few seconds, and then goes to caress its head, slow and patient, watching out for any discomfort and stopping every time the lamb squirms.

As soon as the lamb looks relaxed in Potter's presence, he finally reaches out properly, touching softly and with care. The lamb barely reacts, apart from a tiny shift of his head, pressing against the contact. It makes him laugh delightedly, and Regulus hates that he can't look away.

Potter raises his head right after, a bright grin curving his lips. But they're so close that their noses graze each other with the movement, breaths intermingling, and his smile falls the moment he realises, hand stilling on top of the lamb's head.

Regulus feels his traitorous heart stutter in his chest. He wants to step back, needing to put some distance between them, but his body refuses to respond, no matter how many times he gives the command.

He's barely breathing when he licks his lips, throat dry and full of knots. And he definitely stops when Potter's gaze falls to his mouth, eyes darkening dangerously and body leaning forward, intentions more than clear.

Regulus doesn't think Potter is aware of what he's doing, and yet, this knowledge isn't enough for him to put an end to it. To pull Potter out of his daze. Push him away.

No, instead, Regulus also leans in, fingers twitching against the body between his arms. He gulps, heart beating wildly in his chest, and then he starts to close his eyes, the first contact of Potter's lips against his making him tremble. It's tentative, and so soft it can't even be called a kiss. But it still leaves him aching for more.

A needy sound crawls out of Potter's mouth, and when Regulus is about to press closer, crash their mouths together, a loud bleat makes them both jump apart.

Tending to the little lamb in his arms comes as a reflex, and Regulus is more than grateful for the distraction, even though it isn't enough to keep colour from rushing to his cheeks. He tries to focus on shushing the animal, on caressing it until it calms down, doing his best to make it feel safe. But his mind is somewhere else, on someone else, and before he can stop it, he's sneaking a glance at the other man.

Regulus' heart almost stops when he sees Potter's expression. Eyes dark and still fixed on him. Lips parted and shiny. Glasses askew. Breathing uneven.

When Regulus notices his closed fists resting at his side, knuckles almost white from how hard he seems to be holding back, he has to tear his gaze away, face burning.

Fuck.

#this is so silly and messy and it barely makes any sense but . there u go nonnie #hope u enjoyed <3 #or that it at least fulfilled ur wishes #asks #anons #jegulus my beloveds

[befuddled-calico-whump]

Total$hit$how: Hail Mary

in which Benji tries to make a friend

cw: referenced torture/interrogation, death mention, adult language

previous /// masterlist /// next

×~×~×

They were summoned to the briefing room instead of the training bay that morning, and Benji stumbled through the door sleepy and uneasy, stuck with a pit in his stomach that had formed the second Vic pushed play on the video. It hadn’t exactly gotten worse since, but he had a feeling it wasn’t going away anytime soon.

He was happy Sahota was safe and not-currently-being-tortured, he was, but he didn't know how to respond to the whole situation. What did you say to someone who'd just escaped a brutal interrogation session? Literally hours ago? It wasn't the kind of event they made greeting cards for.

After last night, he could kinda get why their trainer was so intense all the time. What kind of sane person went through that and then, as Kaius said, just walked it off? Vic was right. None of them were used to he and Sahota's brutal lifestyle, least of all Benji. Even after Sahota had made it back, he'd still had nightmares about that stupid video. And as much as he felt bad for the guy, he was still every bit as scary as he'd always been. Maybe scarier.

Benji hoped their trainer wouldn't be in the meeting at all, that he'd take the day off, but he knew neither of them were that lucky. And sure enough, when he stepped into the briefing room to take a seat beside Kaius, their trainer was standing at the head of the table, looking over the contents of the Important Folder, face impassive as ever despite the bruises that covered it. 

Shit, how was he standing? It wasn't even like he had to stand; there were plenty of seats. Did he just like standing that much? Or was this some kind of posturing? A ‘yeah I'm tougher than you, so what?’ type of intimidation tactic. If it was, it was working.

Still, it only seemed polite to congratulate him on the whole not-being-captured thing.

Benji cleared his throat.

“How are you feeling on this fine morning?” he asked, trying to keep his tone lighthearted. He had the feeling Sahota wouldn't appreciate something as pitiful as concern.

“Fine,” he replied flatly, and that seemed to be the end of it.

“If I were you, I would've stayed in bed,” Benji tried, and didn't know why. The guy clearly wasn't in the mood to discuss it. Maybe this really was as common an occurrence as Vic had implied. Just another Tuesday morning.

“You're not me,” Sahota replied, his eyes glued to the folder in his hands.

Okay, he'd take the hint and shut up now. If there was one person he didn't want to see pissed off, it was Sahota. Well… Sahota and Vic. As friendly as he normally was, Vic had shown he could be pretty scary when he wanted, and every threat he made was backed up by the cold hard fact that their lives actually were in his hands.

Kaius was silent beside him, and Benji wondered if he'd been similarly shut down by their trainer. Probably not. Kaius had probably read the room a little better and been quiet from the start.

Joy and Jericho were the next to enter, and he heard one of them wince in sympathy.

“Sahota…”

“Shit, dude.”

If Sahota recognized their less-than-nuanced reactions at all, he didn't address it. “Take your seats. Once Harbor arrives, we'll go over the new findings.”

Joy sat beside Benji, and when he saw her start to open her mouth, he tried to nudge her under the table in warning, but she ignored him.

“You're not looking so hot,” she said. “Maybe you should sit down.”

“I'm fine,” Sahota replied.

“Like fuck you are,” Joy said. “Isn't there a medic or something on this base? You should—”

“I'm fine,” Sahota spat. “It's not your place to tell me what I should or shouldn't do, Cavan. If I hear any more insistent comments, I'll meet you all on the sparring mats after this.”

Jericho’s face turned a shade more worried. “Now?”

“You think I can't?” When no one answered, he snapped the folder shut and tucked it under his arm. “I'll thank you all to remain on track.”

His touchiness about the subject seemed like more than just annoyance. Was he embarrassed?

Benji got that. A feeling like scraping your knee as a kid and wanting to hide your tears from your friends. Only Sahota wasn't crying. Benji wasn't even entirely sure he was capable of such a feat.

The door swung open and Vic strolled inside, Harbor on his heels. They'd been spending a decent chunk of time together. Private tutoring, or whatever. Maybe more than just that, judging by the way Harbor looked at Vic like he was made of gold. Not really his business either way. If Harbor was happy cozying up to the scary spy man, Benji wasn't gonna judge him for it.

“Good morning, everyone. Glad you could make it.”

“Wouldn't miss it for the world,” Benji said. What would happen if he did miss it? Would Sahota get in his face and threaten him again? Drag him out of bed? Would Vic coolly remind him that the alternative was prison?

“We've recently acquired new intel.” Vic crossed the room, taking the folder from Sahota and laying it in the center of the table. “Sahota will brief you, and then we'll be requiring some of your skills in order to refine it. Questions?”

A heavy silence answered him. Not even Joy raised her hand.

“Wonderful. I’ll leave you in his capable hands.” Vic clapped Sahota on the back, in a gesture that might’ve been friendly if it weren’t for the wounds Benji knew were hiding under his shirt. Their trainer stifled a yelp, his expression flickering from stony to pained, then back to stony in the blink of an eye.

“Ah, my apologies,” Vic said, though something in his voice had Benji wondering if he'd done it on purpose. Like some kind of inside joke. A little ‘gotcha’. Vic threw a smile at Sahota on his way out, closing the door behind him. Their trainer didn't acknowledge it.

Sahota moved to the table, opening the folder and fanning out its contents. It was only then that Benji saw the bandages on his right hand, carefully hidden in his jacket sleeve before now, binding three of his fingers together in a stiff white mass. When he glanced down, he saw a flash of white on his other hand, too.

Jeez.

“I’ve narrowed down our target to a single spot,” Sahota said, tapping one of the papers. “Rotorworx’s northwestern location. The Elysium Building.”

Benji swallowed down the unhelpful pang of sympathy that was attempting to shake him like a tambourine. Elysium. He knew of the place, vaguely. He wasn’t a city native, hadn’t even set foot in San Arbos before getting this bizarre excuse of a job offer, but when you’d been staging high-end robberies for over a decade, you tended to notice the shinier buildings when you wound up somewhere new.

Sahota slid a second paper from the pile. “They use a custom security program, but I managed to work out a few of the specs. Aside from that…” He pushed forward a third page. “I also compiled a list of names. Individuals who may be connected to the development of the Reality Cage.” He slid one page over to Jericho. “Davis, Cavan, I want you on security. See Vic about getting computer access.”

Jericho took the page, and Joy leaned over in her chair to peer at it over his shoulder.

Sahota passed the other paper to Kaius. “Manak, sift through the names and see if anyone listed is particularly relevant. Cross-reference with our database to find any knowns. We may be able to bribe an insider.”

Kaius’s expression darkened when Sahota added,

“Take Harbor with you.”

It was almost enough to make Benji chuckle, but not quite.

“Find out what you can,” Sahota finished. “We’ll reconvene at 1600.”

Each pair scurried off, assignments in hand, like elementary schoolers who’d just been tasked with a group project. Which left only Benji, shifting awkwardly in his chair as Sahota took the seat opposite him.

Shhhit, was he in trouble? He pored over any recent maybe-offenses, his stellar anti-confrontational brain at the ready to create an excuse or explanation or outright lie that would put him in the clear.

But… he hadn’t actually done anything, had he? Unless this was about how useless he’d been in the maze yesterday. Would Sahota even know about that?

“Um,” he began.

“Ruebin,” Sahota said at the same time, and Benji quickly shut his mouth.

“I need your skills for another task.” His hand dipped under the table, coming back with a little metal box, roughly the size of a zippo lighter. Its seam was so fine it was nearly invisible, a teeny-tiny lock on one end. A tubular cam in miniature.

“I’m guessing you want me to pop that open?” Benji said, holding out his hand. Sahota made no move to give him the box.

“Inside is a micro-USB with Elysium’s full floorplans on it. The box is titanium. Unable to be opened without the key or application of powertools. Brute force could destroy the intel within. The wrong key will destroy the lock and render it inoperable.”

Benji let out a low whistle. “That’s some real spy shit, huh?”

“I don’t currently have the finesse required to pick the lock,” Sahota continued, ignoring his comment in a way that Benji would normally consider rude, but since this was Sahota, it was pretty par for the course.

“What happened to the key?” he asked, deciding it was better to question that than Sahota’s lack of finesse. He already knew the explanation there.

“I had to destroy it.”

Benji raised an eyebrow. “And you don’t have, like, an extra one laying around here somewhere..?”

“Defeats the purpose of the real spy shit, doesn’t it?” Sahota muttered. “I need you to get it open.” At long last, he placed the box on the table and nudged it towards Benji. He picked it up, smooth metal still warm from Sahota’s palm.

“Hand tools are available for your use. Take all the time you need.” He laid a small leather booklet on the table, lockpicks the size of needles nestled within. “If you screw it up, chances are high that we lose the information inside.” His eyes met Benji’s, looking darker than usual against his bruised skin. “Don’t screw it up.”

Benji swallowed, closing the thing in his fist. “Roger that.”

It was bad enough being tasked with something that was both so critical and so easy to fuck up. It became a million times worse when Sahota made no move to leave, instead settling back in the chair across from him and sifting through the folder. 

Benji cleared his throat. “Um…”

“What?”

Benji shrugged. “I, ah, don’t usually do this for an audience,” he said. Not entirely true, but he wasn’t about to tell Sahota that he made him nervous. “My best work has always come out of solo acts, so if you wouldn’t mind…?”

“I do mind.” A paper rustled in his hand as he turned it over. “For the purpose of the mission, the contents of that box are top secret. I’m not letting it out of my sight.”

Benji let out a heavy sigh before he could stop himself, but if Sahota noticed, he didn’t seem to care. He set the box on the table and pulled the lockpicks closer. A half-diamond pick would probably be a good place to start, at least for probing. Benji twirled the tiny thing between two fingers, trying to plant his gaze on the lock itself, and not on the man across from him.

Fuck, Sahota’s presence just made him more anxious about this. Stupid or not, his brain found solace in distance, reasoning that if he did fuck up, at least he had a head start on running away. As it was, he was sitting closer to an arm’s length. Within punching distance. Hair-grabbing distance. Sahota had already done that once, and that had been for the crime of fake-surrendering. What would he do if Benji messed up some actually-critical shit?

He was almost too nervous to hold the pick right. 

Really, this was perfect. What was better than being stuck in a room with someone you were slightly terrified of? Being stuck in a room with someone you were terrified of but also kinda felt bad for, of course. If he hadn’t just watched Sahota get tortured, he might be able to sit quiet and pick the lock in an anxiety-fueled haze. If it were anyone else in his trainer’s position, he could just talk to them and make sure they were okay. But those two concepts just didn’t mix right, and the longer he sat in silence, the more the bizarre cocktail of worry and care and fear shook up inside him.

He had to say something. So far, none of them had really been conversational with their trainer, only interacting with him during the training itself. Maybe that was the root issue. Maybe a little chit-chat would make them both feel better, and kickstart Sahota’s defrost cycle.

“Crazy weather we’ve been having, huh?” Benji said, easing in the lockpick. A darting glance up told him Sahota was choosing to ignore the remark. Benji chose to ignore his ignorance.

“That was a joke,” he said. “Y’know, because I haven’t been outside in a week.”

Again, no response, but he didn’t look particularly pissed off, so Benji continued.

“Is this what your normal routine is like? 90-10, indoor-outdoor—?”

“Are you not capable of doing this quietly?”

Benji paused in his lockpicking endeavors. “Well no, not really. If I do have an audience, it’s polite to engage in conversation.” And for a lot of his sleight-of-hand tricks, it was necessary, a subtle distraction. It wasn’t like he was capable of fooling Sahota in this particular instance, but it sure made him feel more comfortable. If only he could say the same for his trainer.

“If you insist on talking, at least talk about something useful.”

“Like what?”

“Walk me through your steps. Recite fun facts. I don’t fucking know.”

“Or,” Benji said, swapping out picks, “we could get to know each other. Do you have a favorite food? Mine’s pad thai.”

He didn’t know how it was even possible, but Sahota’s glare got even more glare-y. “No.”

“No favorite food?” Were spies just quakers with guns?

“No, I don’t want to get to know you.”

Okay, ouch. “Not even a little bit? I mean I’m 20% of your prize team—”

“You’re a criminal we chose at random for your skillset and proximity,” Sahota said evenly. “You aren’t special.”

Wow. This was going so great. “And I suppose you are?”

“I’ve been doing this job for twelve years.”

Benji huffed. “Well I’ve been stealing and shit for like, ten. Can’t we agree that we’re both special in wholly unique ways?”

Sahota didn’t reply. Benji let out a heavy, exaggerated sigh, and set his attention back on the lockbox. He was almost tempted to try on the silence; the icy friend-rejecting attitude the other man wore so easily. But… in for a penny, in for a pound.

“How’d you get started on the job anyway?” he asked. “I doubt there’s many ‘help wanted’ signs out there for this gig.”

“I was recruited in the field,” Sahota answered after a pause.

“Recruited in the field,” Benji repeated. “Is that like, spy code for ‘recommended by a family member’, or..?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Were you recruited by Vic?”

“Yes.”

“So what, he just saw you in the field and was like, ‘I like the cut of your jib, kid’?”

“Yes.” 

Benji slumped forward on the table, careful not to jostle the lockpicks. “Okay. Cool.” The conversation piece was way harder to traverse than he would’ve thought. Sahota seemed hellishly determined to remain as frigid and distant as possible, but Benji had one final hail mary.

“Is the job like this a lot?”

Sahota didn’t look up. “Like what?”

He gestured vaguely at the other man. “That. Y’know, violent. Sending you home with bruises.”

The trainer’s eyes closed, the corner of his mouth tightening. “What did I say about—?”

“I’m not insisting on anything,” Benji said quickly. “Obviously you can handle it and obviously you’re fine, but… I don’t know. You’re our teacher. Part of the team, technically. Aren’t we allowed to worry a little bit?”

When Sahota didn’t answer, Benji sighed, taking up the lock again. He’d tried. So much for his supposed ‘get along with everyone’ superpower. The two of them sat in silence for a good several minutes, nothing but the tiny click of lockpicks at work and the faint, occasional rustle of a paper being turned over or tucked away.

“Chana dal,” Sahota said, and Benji looked up from his work, squinting at him in confusion.

“Huh?”

“You asked for my favorite food. Chana dal.”

“Oh.” He nodded. “Yeah, that’s a good one, that’s… the one with the lentils, right?”

“Have you never tried it?” To his surprise, Sahota actually glanced up at him with the question.

“I probably have,” Benji said. “I just don’t fully remember.” He put on as harmless an expression as he could. “Have you ever made it here? Not to shit on Vic’s cooking, but it’s kinda… bland.”

He swore that almost got a smile out of Sahota. Almost. 

“Vic does what’s necessary,” he said. “I’ve made it before. Usually comes out decent, but nowhere near as good as…” He paused, dropping his eyes back to the papers, the muscle in his jaw tensing. “I’ve had better.”

“I probably haven’t,” Benji said, carefully breezing past whatever Sahota was trying to keep down. What had he been about to say? A name? A restaurant? Something he missed, probably, maybe a family member. Benji knew that ache well enough, but Sahota’s own wasn’t his business. Not yet. 

“Maybe you could make it for the team one of these days?” he said, readjusting the lockpick. “For luck.”

“Maybe.”

Click. The tiny metallic sound rang out from the box in his palm, and Benji looked down at it in surprise. 

“Shoot. I… I think I got it.”

Sahota leaned forward. “Really?”

Benji pressed his thumb into the top half of the little box, gently pushing it open. Inside, in a felt-lined compartment that looked like it was molded to be an exact fit, a micro-USB was nestled like a sleeping puppy.

“Quicker than I'd expected.” Sahota opened his palm, and Benji set the USB in it, box and all, freely wearing a proud smile.

Look at him go, using his skills for critical work and shit. “I told you I was special, didn't I?”

Sahota's expression shifted oh-so slightly, reflecting something that Benji could almost read as impressed if he squinted.

“I guess you did.”

~~

The others filed back inside eventually; Joy and Jericho with what he described as an ‘outline of an outline’ of a plan to hack the system, and Kaius with new notes written in the margins of the list he’d been given. Harbor trudged in after him, just as quiet as he’d been the last few days. Benji could’ve sworn the guy had been louder at the start, almost like he was trying to impress the rest of them with a wannabe-punk attitude. Maybe it had just been first-day nerves.

Kaius stepped forward to lay his paper flat on the table. 

“Our findings indicate every name on this list has some level of involvement with the Reality Cage,” he began. “Interns, security, research assistants, and the like. Of this group, one individual sticks out. Rebecca Finley.”

“What's so special about her?” Benji asked.

“From what we can tell, she's the only one who overtly operates outside the law. She's a supplier for rare metals, synthetic gasses, and other materials that may have been used to craft the Reality Cage. Of the listed individuals, she'd likely have the best idea of how to destroy it, and may well be familiar with the comings and goings of the Elysium Building.”

Benji shrugged. “You got me there.”

“Do you have a plan?”

“Locate Finley. See if she'll cooperate.”

“If she doesn't?”

Kaius pressed his lips together. “We'll explore other options.”

On the far side of the room, Vic pushed himself up from the wall he was leaning on. “Finley doesn’t seem like the sort who’s willing to take a bribe.”

“She’s a direct line to Rotorworx's under-the-table technologies,” Kaius replied. “If we can’t bribe her, perhaps we can convince her in other ways.”

Vic rubbed his chin. “You could also kill her and steal whatever data she has on her person.”

Benji's mouth was suddenly dry. “Kill her? Like, kill her kill her?”

“I wasn't aware there was more than one variant,” Vic said, raising an eyebrow.

“Is… is that really necessary?”

“That method will get you answers far quicker than talking.”

Benji swallowed. “Okay, so maybe we should go after someone else?”

“Who else would you suggest, Ruebin?” Kaius asked, his eyes a level glare.

“Well, maybe no one. We've got the security info and the floorplans and the building. Isn't that enough?”

“You want to run in blind?”

“I want to not kill people.”

Kaius glanced at Vic briefly. “If that's our best option, it may be necessary. How do you plan on destroying it without insider intelligence? Hit it with a hammer?”

Something along those lines. “That usually works.”

“And just how many world-bending machines have you destroyed, Ruebin?”

“None, obviously, but I seriously don't think we need to—”

“Hey.” Joy held her hands in a time-out motion. “We can try and play it smart. Talk to Finley and figure out if she knows anything without revealing who we are”

Vic clicked his tongue. “And if she doesn't reveal anything herself, don't you think that's a waste of time?”

“I think it's worth a shot,” offered Benji, who really didn't want to have anything to do with the casual murder of someone.

Joy fixed her eyes on Kaius. “So? What's the plan? Do you have her address or something?”

“Or something,” Kaius murmured, tapping a line scrawled in pen on the paper. “A drop site. Supposedly where Finley picks up material requests from hopeful customers.”

And how exactly had Kaius figured that out? Seemed like a weird detail to find. Benji would've assumed a place of residence, or relatives, or even an officially listed job, especially if they'd had access to whatever database Sahota had promised.

“Material requests, hm?” Vic tapped at his chin. “Chances are you'd get more information from those than you'd ever be able to squeeze out of Finley.”

Kaius frowned. “I don't believe it's a literal drop site, just a meeting place.”

“Great,” Benji said through an exhale. “So let’s meet her there and talk.”

“We're on a tight schedule,” Vic said. “A fruitful interrogation is a drawn-out affair.”

“Whoa, I'm not even saying interrogate her," Benji said. "Why not just… y'know, have a conversation? Maybe she'll cooperate.”

“I can promise you, she won't,” Vic said. 

“You don't know that for sure—”

“I do. She makes a living off of dangerous deals with dangerous people.” He slid the sheet of paper away from Kaius, glancing it over. “She won't give anything up.”

“But—”

“Kill her,” Vic cut him off. “Or move on. We don't have time to waste.” He set the paper back on the table and turned his back, leaving behind a roomful of uncomfortable silence.

Benji glanced around, looking for someone to make eye contact with, someone he could pin with a silent, this is crazy, right? Kaius was looking at the paper, Harbor was looking at his hands, and Jericho and Joy seemed to have their eyes fixed on the floor, expressions undecipherable. Finally, his gaze landed on Sahota.

“We're… we aren't actually going to kill her, are we?”

“Pursuing her as a lead isn't necessary,” Sahota replied. “At the end of the day, it's up to you to decide what intel you'll need for the mission. You can disregard the list completely if it suits you.”

Kaius frowned. “You bled for it.”

“I've bled for less. There are other options.”

Joy let out a heavy sigh. “It sounds like we'd get the most from Finley. Why can't we just talk? She doesn't need to know why we want to know anything. We can just make something up. Pretend to be customers or some shit.”

“You heard Vic.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I'm not killing anyone.”

Jericho was already nodding. “What Vic doesn't know won't kill him, right?”

“You're underestimating what Vic is able to figure out,” Sahota said.

“At the end of the day, it's up to us to decide what we want, right?” Benji ventured. “You just said—”

“That doesn't mean going against orders,” Sahota shot back, moving to the table to collect the papers.

“Just let us talk to her,” Joy said.

“You think she'll listen? She'll see right through you.”

“Fine then.” Joy threw her hands up. “Maybe we will interrogate her.”

“It won't work.”

“Well you won't know that for sure if we don't try—”

“I do know for sure.” Sahota dropped the folder onto the table, looking like he was about to follow Vic out the door. “Like Vic said. You can kill her, or—”

“How do you know?” Joy stood. “You might be smart, and a ruthless operator, and all that shit, but you don't know all there is to know about us.”

Sahota stopped. “You want me to prove it?”

“Yes.”

He turned around, sweeping the room with a cool gaze. Benji wasn't sure he liked where this was going. Sometimes he wished Joy wouldn't push the envelope. They'd probably be fine if they listened to Vic and just left it alone, they didn't need need Finley, did they?

“Show me what you've got,” Sahota said. “If you can prove me wrong, I'll let you try it. If you can't, I'll kill Finley myself.”

Joy frowned. “So, what? You want me to have a conversation with you?”

“No.” He rolled his shoulders like he was warming up for something, and Benji couldn’t help but cringe at the next words that left his mouth.

 “I want you to interrogate me.”

×~×~×

tag list:

@theonewithallthefixations , @violets-whumperflies , @whump-me , @pirefyrelight , @soheavyaburden , @snakebites-and-ink , @whumpsday

#total$hit$how #aftermath of whump #angst #he's trying okay #writing #this is the first narrative chapter since the sahota drama blew up so hhhhhhh

[callsignmist]

A Dreamy Moment.

FIRST JACOB FANFIC IM PISSING MYSELF😭- (that was an attempt at a pun, i hate myself rn lmaooo)

ALSO G/N READER CUZ EVERYONE LOVES HIM

(Based on that one dream I had ;D )

( Btw if this is bad I'm so sorry I'll try better next time lmao)

It was quiet. Well, as quiet as it could be with two people in a room. You were laying on Jacob's chest. You could hear his heartbeat. It was fast, but calming. You also felt the way his chest rose when he breathed in, and fell when he exhaled.

All of the sudden, Jacob hums lightly.

"You asleep?" He lightly chuckles, and kisses your forehead.

"No, I'm just listening to your heart." You reply, smiling to him.

A few minutes of silence pass by, as finally Jacob speaks up.

"Top or Bottom?" He asked. Maybe as a joke, or maybe he was just curious, I wouldn't know that's going on in his head.

"Me? Oh, I'm a switch. But I've more often been Top. But I kind of wanna try to be taken care of once." You giggled, mostly to yourself.

Jacob whispers something, however it wasn't audible. And in the blink of an eye you were flipped on your back, Jacob hovering on top of you.

he looks down at you, and smirks.

"How about we switch it up a little? I could make you feel so good~"

You were surprised and flustered. He pinned you to the bed and you couldn't escape his hold. Not that you wanted too.

You nodded, feeling hot, but still shocked from the sudden placement.

"Hmm, you look so pretty darlin', but somethings missing.."

He starts to kiss your neck, leaving hickeys and love bites. You start to hum lightly. He made you feel good. You were really enjoying this.

His kisses trailed down from your neck, on your collar bone and reached your chest. He stops here, looking up at you again. "C-can I?" He starts stuttering. You nod again, biting your lip and blushing.

He continues to kiss down your chest, all the way down to your lower stomach. He lightly touches you and slowly pulls down your undergarments, making you whimper. He had been teasing you all this time, praising you for your whining and moaning. But you needed more. You felt wet and you wanted him to take care of it.

All of the sudden, he stops.

"Maybe I shouldn't get you all aroused now." He teases you. " we still need to make dinner and you have work to do and-"

You cut him off.

"Fuck Jacob! Don'tstart something you cant finish! Please- fuck I BEG you. i-i, i need you right here, please Jacob."

He just smirks. "You need me that badly, huh? You want me inside you sooo much hun?"

"Don't worry darlin'. We've only just started~" The last sentence was deeper and harsher, but you loved it.

He pulled your underwear and kissed your pelvic. Then he started to rub in between your legs. It felt so good, yet you wanted more. You moaned while his hands did the magic. A little more, and you felt your climax point. Fuck- you were gonna-

Jacob kissed you passionately, and went faster. You were almost there, and-

Jacob Wakes up with a jolt.

No. No, no, no, no, NO!

IT WAS A DREAM! FUCK.

Fuck…

He wipes the sleepy from his eyes. His sheets were wet and sticky, And his newly taken photos of you were too.

Damn, he had forgotten that he fell asleep looking at them.

It's okay, i'ts okay. He has a lot more of them. He looks around his room. Every single wall in his room was filled with Polaroids (the dates written in red ink). He also had a big corkboard, with probably all information about you. You would've never known about this. Heh, it's okay, though. It's only a matter of time before you two get together. He smirks.

*bu-Ding*

Oh, a message? Jacob stood up and checked his computer.

*YourName has accepted your friend request!*

They accepted! Perfect.

Oh my darlin'.

you and me, are really meant to be….

A/N: OMG I'm dying. Bro I'm OBSESSED over this man ;-;

I'm gonna try to post more and all that, and I might do some fanart :D

Hope you enjoyed!

(Jacob belongs to @carnivorekitty)

<333

#lfl dating sim #carnivorekitty #jacob alden #lfl game #murdersim #lurking for love #visual novel

[analogwriting]

It Comes in Waves

Chapter 5: Surging Waves

Trafalgar Law x gn!reader word count: 3.2k first|prev|next

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Time passed by both fast and slow. Not too much talking happened between the two of you - mostly because it always ended up in some kind of argument about needing a plan. You always said there wasn’t enough to form one and Law counter argued that a small plan was better than no plan. It was a vicious cycle.

Finally, the day came where you both heard other cells opening and voices traveling down the halls. It was incredibly quiet after that. Before, you’d occasionally hear the prisoners getting rowdy and a dull hum of conversations. Now, it was stagnant silence. Another argument broke out, but you didn’t even try to argue this time, so it fizzled out.

Then the day came where it was your turn to head to the workshop. The both of you were waiting for your escort and Law struck an argument once more.

“We still don't even have a plan,” he said, folding his arms. You groaned, rolling your eyes and glaring at him. “Again?” He returned the glare. He obviously wasn’t going to budge.

“Can't really have a plan when we don't have any pieces. We don't have any of the tools to prepare.” You mirrored him, folding your arms. You might have been acting a little childish, mocking him the way you were.

“Well, if you wouldn't have opened your big mouth, we wouldn't exactly be in this situation.”

“I wasn't fair from the beginning and you know it.”

Law was quiet. You were right, but he also knew there was no point in arguing. That's all you both did the past few days. The arguments lasted shorter and shorter each time, but it especially so today since you were to leave anyway.

“Arguing isn't going to get us anywhere,” he finally said with a sigh as he unfolded his arms. You looked at him, astonished. “No shit? I never would've guessed.”

“Okay, that's enough.” He was grumbling, clearly upset. 

“Then stop bringing up the same argument over and over! It goes nowhere!”

“But we still don't have a plan!”

“And we still can't make one!”

You both fall silent again, just glaring at each other. You thought things had smoother themselves over whenever he seemed to forgive you for leaving. Then you ended up pissing him off again when you, as he put it, opened your big mouth. You just hoped he’d forgive you once you unveiled everything.

Then something occurred to you. “You know…he’s probably going to pull a fast one on us.”

“How so?” Law looked at you, eyebrows furrowed.

“He's probably going to make us choose. If we win.” You gave a hollow laugh, looking at Law's confused face. “They took something dear from me. And they took something dear from you. There's no way he's going to let us both walk out of here with everything.”

“Our chances of winning are slim to none anyway,” Law said, rolling his eyes. He really had no hope. He seemed resigned. You didn’t like that look on his face. You didn’t like to see people give up.

“You really need to stop being such a downer.” You had to give him something. You supposed.

“Alright. Listen.” He looked at you as you spoke. “You said it yourself, I’m not one to lose my cool like that. You ever think that maybe I did that for a reason?” Law seemed to stiffen. It seemed that he didn’t, in fact, think that. Not once. Your voice lowered and you beckoned him closer. “I do have a plan, but I can’t tell you.”

“And why not?”

“Oh, but that would ruin the fun. I kind of like seeing your feathers all ruffled.” You stood back up, smirking at him and putting your hands on your hips. He scoffed, rolling his eyes.

“Now you're just making fun of me.” He almost seemed to be pouting. 

You felt a familiar pull at the back of your mind once more, but you ignored it. 

You were about to tease him again when you heard the door open. In came a marine. “C'mon. Time is ticking.”

Now was your time to shine. You couldn't wait to see the look on that stupid commander's face when you won. You almost had a skip in your step. The ace up your sleeve was a good one. A skill you had developed while you had been enslaved.

The marine moved closer, slapping cuffs on your wrist and you winced. Not because it hurt, but because it always threw you back to all those years ago. You didn’t even enjoy wearing bracelets and it took you a while to even get used to having your jacket around them. 

It didn’t last too long as they uncuffed you once you arrived at the workstation, but they kept Law's on - for obvious reasons. The door was locked behind you and a timer on the wall started. You looked to Law, nodding before heading to the table to glance over the documents. Your eyes scanned the pages quickly. You were taking in the information and memorizing it but to anyone else it looked like you were barely glancing at them before just tossing it to the side.

“Alright. What's the plan?” You couldn't help but laugh as soon as the words left the doctor's mouth. “Oh, you never stop, do you?” He sputtered for a moment, speechless. 

“The plan is follow my lead, alright?” He gave you an unamused expression, but you didn’t falter. “I’m serious. That’s the only way we’re getting through this. You’re going to have to trust me, Trafalgar Law.” You headed over to the car, popping the hood open to see what you were working with. 

You could feel the doctor’s eyes following your movements. “Trust you? You mean the person who royally fucked us on this?” He scoffed, rolling his eyes.

“Hopefully you don't hate me too much cause we're going to be close.” You spoke aloud, but not really directing it at Law - more of thinking verbally.

“What do you mean?” He stepped around the hood and into your sight. 

“Alright, Mr. Needs A Plan.” You looked at him and put your hands on your hips. “This island is full of prisoners, right?” 

Law nodded. 

“More than likely a bunch of lug headed men, right?”

Another nod. 

“So, they're probably going to think the bigger and badder their car, the more they're likely to win.”

He seemed to catch on. “If we have a smaller and more nimble car, we'd be able to weave and dodge, no problem.” 

You smirked, folding your arms. “Well, there's that brain. Finally decided to work, huh?” 

Law rolled his eyes. “But that still leaves us with the fact that neither of us know anything about cars.” 

“And he's stupid again.” You placed your hands back on your hips. “What did I tell you about assuming things? Just because I sail the sea doesn't mean I don't know a damn thing about cars.” You sighed. 

“I've been on the run since I was a teen. I've picked up a skill or two along the way.” You winked at him as you pulled out a tool bag from a shelf. “When I was with Luffy and Ace in Alabasta, there were a few times we had to operate cars. After they had left, I had stuck around to help out a bit more and I ended up being a mechanic for a while.” You’re still not exactly sure how that all happened.

He stared at you, somewhat in awe. “I…didn’t know that.”

“Of course you didn’t. We hardly know the first thing about each other.” You sighed, pulling out tools. “Now, hold this flashlight and just look pretty. I got the rest.”

Law huffed. “I can do more,you know.” 

“Well, who is the one that's cuffed? And who is the one that knows what you're doing?” 

Silence. 

“That's what I thought, now give me a socket wrench.”

After about an hour and a half later, you were done. You worked fast. Many things were removed and modified, but you had worked with enough machinery on various islands so you had knowledge of different ways to hook up different parts to make them faster. You knew what metals were the lightest. You removed all the extra seating and other parts that you just…didn't need. Law actually did come in handy, pitching in his own ideas. After all, he had a submarine, so he knew a thing or two about machinery at least.

Then you were left with about half the car. You had also welded and molded the car for a more aerodynamic shape as well. 

“I still don't know how the hell you accomplished that in such a short time and I was even here watching you.” Law stared at the car in disbelief, walking around it.

He looked at you with amazement. You laughed. “I know, I know. I'm a genius,” you mused, joining his side.

You both stared at each other for a moment before he cleared his throat, looking away. “We should look at these documents.”

“You can. I did my part.”

“I can't possibly memorize all of this information in ten minutes.”

“No one is telling you to.”

“We need to be prepared for whatever they have to throw at us. He said there's a map and traps and the other contestants and rules.”

You shook your head. “Fast car.”

He groaned. “Impossible,” he mumbled, looking at the papers. He couldn't even focus. He tossed them, giving up on it entirely. Again, you didn’t like seeing him give up.

Time came and you were cuffed once more, a look of discomfort distorted your face. You squirmed a little before you felt a hand on your shoulder. You looked back at Law, blinking. You couldn’t decipher the look on his face but you felt oddly…at ease.

“Let’s go.” The two of you turned your attention back to the marine, following silently.

Just as you predicted, everyone built up their cars. Some of the cars were fucking huge. It seems that just because you lost, that didn't mean you had to start your car over. Seems repeat offenders got to keep working on their cars. Some of them showed signs of age, some were built up in a way that there was so fucking way it was built that much in two days. You were deconstructing your car, which was way easier and quicker than making it larger.

Yours was in the middle. Tiny compared to the monstrosities around you. You snorted at the sight. “Looks like a mouse.”

“Wow, is that really your car?” “You're going to get squashed like a bug!” “The wind will carry you away in that!” You paid them no mind, keeping your head forward as you ignored the calls around you. You needed to focus. Some of them have been doing this for years, so you had to assume that they had become pretty good drivers. While you were in Alabasta, you had even joined a few street races across the desert. You and Ace had even raced each other, but he never quite got a hold of driving in the same way that you did.

You felt your heart sink as you thought about him. Fuck, you missed him.

You were pulled out of your thoughts as you felt a hand once more on your shoulder. “Are you alright?” You blinked, clearing your throat and nodding. “Yeah, just planning.” You could tell he didn’t believe you but he didn’t press the issue further.

You were uncuffed once more as you reached the car. You climbed in, Law on the other side. Just as you predicted, you were shoulder to shoulder. “Good thing you don’t hate me,” you mused. “At least I hope.” You snorted.

He scoffed and rolled his eyes. He folded his arms and looked out the window. Him and his attitude. 

The countdown began and suddenly you felt like being a shithead. Maybe a little cocky. “Hey, Law?”

“Hm?” He looked at you. 

“Do you trust me?” 

“What?”

“Do you trust me?” You looked at him and he looked at the countdown. “You never confirmed if you trusted me when we were in the work station.”

“This isn't funny. We have three seconds.” 

“I'm not moving until you say yes.” 

“Y/n, please.” 

The light turned green and everyone took off but you stayed put. 

Panic rose in his eyes. “Okay! Fine! You win. Yes. I trust you. Now go!” 

You snorted. “I know you're lying.”

But you took off anyway, the car immediately zipping across the track. Law gasped at the sudden speed of the car, his body being shot back at the sheer force. You couldn’t help but laugh. There was a rush that you enjoyed in moments like this. Your life on the line, more or less. So much at stake.

Your prediction was right. The nimbleness and speed shot you forward, catching up to the other’s with ease. Your eyes darted across the scene in front of you, taking in the other cars and contestants. You already saw your own plan of attack but you also knew there were some traps up ahead.

“It would've still helped if we knew what traps lay ahead.” 

“Oh, you mean like how at this turn up here, they're going to release some barrels to try and throw us off and make us crash?” You sped up. Four cars gathered around you, trying to box you in, probably to make sure you got hit by the barrels. “Hold on to something.”

You stomped on the breaks, causing the car behind you to suddenly jerk to the side to avoid being hit, only to end up crashing into the wall and spinning out. The other three shot forward. You turned the wheel, heading to the inner part of the track, zipping past them just in time for the barrels to hit. However, since they came from the outer side, it hit the car that had been boxing you in on that side. Another car down.

“Or do you mean about the false exit and if you don't take a sharp left, you'll pop a tire?” You whipped left, heading down another road, avoiding the road spikes. A couple of cars didn’t heed the warning and headed straight for the spikes, popping their tires and flipping.

Law looked at you in disbelief. “You didn't look at their papers longer than thirty seconds. How the fuck-?”

“I also know the shortcut that's right about…here.” You turned right, down a tunnel. 

“There's no way you memorized all that. How did you get the information? How long have you been here? Have you done this before?”

You shook your head. “I was here nine days before you showed up. But I had the same amount of knowledge and time as you. I just have a really good memory.”

“There’s still no way-”

“When you're enslaved, you don't exactly have time to look at things you're not supposed to be looking at.” That was all the answer Law needed to shut him up.

During that time, you realized you were really good at memorizing things. Mostly maps and key points. Your brain was able to filter out useless information and keep the important things and you became lightening fast at reading. You also couldn’t be caught looking at the things you did, so short bursts were all you had sometimes.

“You're incredible,” he mumbled, still staring at you and pulling you from your thoughts. You glanced at him before going back to the road.

“Keep saying things like that, you'll make me fall for you, doc,” you teased as you focused on the task at hand. You couldn’t let yourself think too much about his comment.

Law was quiet the rest of the race, gripping onto the handles of the car. He was not having a good time. “I swear to the ocean, if you throw up in here, I will not hesitate to kill you.”

That earned you a signature glare. 

You eventually made it to the front of the race. There were only a handful of people left and one person in front of you. The car in front of you slammed on its breaks. You gasped, swerving to the right side of them before speeding back up. They did too. “Look out!” 

You looked over, noticing spikes coming straight for the car. Next thing you knew, it pierced the car, one coming through the window. You leaned back just in time for it to go right in front of you. You felt it knick your cheek and the bridge of your nose and you hissed, but you could handle it. Another one came through but you steered the car further away, the spike slowly moving out and the other one not able to enter the car too far, but it was enough to pierce your side. You swore, but eventually unimpaled the car. Then you floored it, shooting past the car next to you and in the front.

“Y/n, are you okay?” Law asked, looking over your injuries. You nodded. “Just a couple of scratches, I’m fine.” You weren’t fucking losing this. You were going to win his crew back. The end was so close and you were going to win. Even if it killed you. He’d done so much for you and Luffy. You had to win. 

The wound on your side was starting to hurt a bit more. It seems to have cut into you more than you thought. “You’re turning pale.” Your eyes flickered to Law then back to the road.

“It’s okay. We can try again if-” His voice was soft. But no, that wasn’t an option. Not for you.

“Law, please. Just don’t say anything right now.” You needed to focus on the road.

You noticed something in your review. The car from earlier was gaining on you. You looked back to the road before you. “Well, this is as good of a time as any.” The end was so close and if you calculated it just right, this would ensure your win. 

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.” You pressed a button on the dash and glanced at the review. The oil from your car began to spill everywhere. It was a one time use as it just opened your oil tank. And if your car was pushed too much without oil, it could easily burn up the engine, so you just needed to be able to make it to the finish line. 

You noticed the car that was gaining on you start to spin out and crash into another one. And also took note of where the oil stopped. You were now on fumes, but the finish line was within reach.

Then you passed it. You won. You let out a sigh of relief as you pulled the car to a stop. You felt light headed from all the adrenaline…or because of the bloodloss. You weren’t sure. 

“We won. We actually fucking won…” Amazement and disbelief was in Law’s voice and you felt the same way. You let out a breathless chuckle, nodding. “That we did.”

#one piece #trafalgar d water law #trafalgar law x reader #trafalgar d law #trafalgar law #law x reader #one piece x you #one piece x reader #iciw #am fics

[palestporn]

Gamzee: Attempt the complex advanced maneuver known as "get hugged, idiot"

It's only being as how you got "be cool, dumbass" slapped into your thick nugbone so hard so many times, that you don't go "huh?" and freeze up--but whatever shit your face does get up to must read plenty clear enough anyhow, because Karkat goes "...Hm" at you.

"Everybody's always rubbing all kinds of disgusting body parts talking about how the consorts must just be committing the most decadent possible acts of debauchery to each other all night, every night," he says. "I guess I'll use my fucking, lightning wit and wildly functional gazebulbs to deduce that's just a rumor."

You nod your head, and then shake your head, and then shrug at him.

"I know how shit gets done--"

"For me," says Karkat, laying it out clear, still frowning. "By you."

Motherfucking relief to hear he gets it. But when you nod grateful at him, he frowns some more. "Well, as far as I'm concerned that falls under the heading of ass-kissing," he says. "Which we've already figured out, you're not going to be doing. So. Well. Maybe, just--"

He marches up to you, and hugs you hard.

Startles you to freezing up for a second--but he's gripping hard, and he's so warm, and when you put your arms down around him he makes a low little satisfied chirr and squeezes you harder.

Your body gives way on you in pieces and parts; he tries holding you up a second or two and then stops fighting it and lets you down on the ground, lets you curl closer around him and grip onto him hard. For a second, he twists and wiggles loose--but before you can try to get yourself to let him go he just hugs you again, over your shoulders this time, so he can put your face in his shoulder and grip a hot, strong hand on the back of your neck.

"Okay," he says, over your head, and pets at your hair, like he's not sure he's allowed. "Yeah? Good. That's enough bullshit for today, you uh. You did good, we're done. Fuck, I thought you were going to kick Kankri's ass. He would've deserved it."

Hits you first that Kankri must mean the emperor; second, flinching fear like you gotta not be allowed to know that. Third, boiling-up anger you can't even blame on your ancestor's whispering this time.

"...Wanted me safe," you say, thin over the growl you're choking on. "He said--"

"Yeah, well, maybe if he ever bothered explaining his fucking high-horned for your own good plans to people, he wouldn't be so fucking insufferable," says Karkat. "Maybe he did keep you safer in here! But holy shit. If I was you I would've hunted him down a long time ago and blown up right in his fucking face." His claws knead prickling at your back, protective at you. "...You can get pissed off. That's uh. What I'm here to help with. If you want."

You haven't gone and wound yourself up like that since you were new, when you didn't get how everything was all set to go and no point arguing--but you remember how ugly shit got when you let it, and how much trouble you got in. The growl that pushes out of you is ugly enough already, even if he doesn't flinch back from it.

"Yeah," he says. Low and half-relieved and holding you even tighter like the ugly's just exactly what the fuck he was looking for. "Come on. Say it."

Gamzee: Rage

==> Your body's been changed ==> You lost your name and your sign ==> They came back with a hundred sweeps of curse on them ==> All for your own motherfucking good

[START OVER]

#CYOA: Imperial Favor #I am thinking...... about Kankri's personality as seen as a dancestor combined with his history as the Sufferer #and then adding several hundred sweeps of being an emperor and taking hard lessons on practicality on top of that

[lostusagis]

@whimsiicalmuses asked:

“I didn’t mean to fucking care about you okay? I took that bullet for you because I fucking care and I shouldn’t because you’re selfish, pig-headed, egotistical and a royal pain in my ass and most times I hate you, but I do. And I would love to not give a damn, but I can’t. So fucking yell at me all you want. I would do it again in a god damn heartbeat.”

(Maybe this is when she is in the hospital and they are talking again about what happened?

Kamui had been relieved he managed to even get Kouleia to a hospital after she got shot. The whole time he had been sitting beside her bed though, wanting to know everything about her condition and to make sure she was going to stay alive. He was still dealing with the anxiety over the whole situation.

When they got around to actually discussing what happened again, he'd look at Kouleia, pretty shocked when she dropped the bomb that she cared for him to such an extent despite how much they clash with each other.

He doesn't immediately answer, gaze prying away from her as he stares down at his hands. The memory of them being covered in her blood was still really vivid.

Kamui was battling with his own thoughts, wondering why HE cared himself. Him, the bastard who can multiple people and feel nothing. Yet, he had panicked to such a degree when Kouleia got shot. He could've just left her there, he could've just forgotten about her.

But that meant, he wouldn't see her face anymore. The face of someone he constantly argued with, the face of someone he mostly used as a means of having someone to kiss given his lack of knowledge when it came to that.

''I was yelling because I didn't want anything to happen to you...... it should be common sense to know I'm not someone who normally even yells in the first place.'' He could usually always keep a level head, but in that situation it was difficult.

''A lot of the time I hate you too, you're really annoying and definitely think a lot of yourself which pisses me off. A lot. But...'' He looks over at her, before getting up and walking closer to her bed.

''I'd prefer being able to hate you than not have you at all.'' Kamui leans in and presses his lips against hers. Lingering for a few moments.

''I also like having someone to kiss.'' There was a slight smirk when saying that.

''So, don't ever do that again. Ever. Or I'll kill you myself.'' That was obviously an empty threat.

''I'm not even human, I can handle one or two bullets from a stupid gun from this planet. Don't think so lowly of me. That's not going to kill me. Hell, I've had worse than a measly bullet wound.'' As much as he was trying to smile despite what happened, the smile ended up fading.

''....Worry more about your own life instead of mine. Please.'' There was a hint of a plea, desperate for her to listen. Kamui honestly didn't want to lose another person, because he unfortunately started caring for her as much as she ended up caring for him.

Had the roles been reversed, he would've taken the bullet for her without question too.

#IC. Kamui #whimsiicalmuses #( ah sweet angst lol )

[hinatastinygiant]

9 | A Second Thought with the Explosion Hero

Pairing: Various MHA x Fem!Reader

Dear Departure

"I'll find him, it's not a big deal," Bakugou waves off Ojiro and Koda as they try to reassure him.

"Bakugou, please, let us help," Ojiro pleads, but Bakugou ignores him. This isn't even that big of a room, how is it possible that he keeps missing the only bright-red-haired student in here?

Just then, Bakugou's eyes catch onto a moving target. Mina, who is running as if she is escaping from prison, rushes right past him. Bakugou quickly follows, not quite sure why but something tells him that he needs to.

He doesn't quite catch up with her until he sees her standing before Kirishima. Bakugou gulps, not wanting to witness his confession. But, despite himself, he stays hidden in the crowd.

"Kirishima, can we talk?"

"Sure, Mina," he smiles, though he looks more concerned than happy.

As the two of them walk a bit further away from Bakugou, he loses the ability to hear what they're saying. He does try to move closer, but the annoying sea of people prevents him from doing so. Instead, he decides it might be better not to hear them.

Time seems to pass slowly as he watches the two of them talk. Part of his brain comes up with a conversation that he thinks he can hear based on reading Kirishima's lips, but it's not easy. Kaminari pissed him off so much before that he feels like his brain is fuzzy. That idiot must've shocked him or something.

Finally, Mina wraps her arms around Kirishima. Bakugou's heart sinks as Kirishima allows her to kiss him squarely on the lips. The two of them laugh, and Kirishima takes her hand, leading her out of the room.

"Fucking great," Bakugou grumbles as he finally decides to leave this stupid party.

As soon as he steps outside, the cool night air hits his face and he breathes a sigh of relief. He had forgotten how hot it was in there. But, the peace and quiet of the outside makes him feel a lot more comfortable.

He decides to walk around a bit. His eyes drift up towards the sky, which is a dark navy blue. He can see the stars sparkling faintly. As he admires them, a thought enters his mind.

"Isn't it incredible, Katsuki?" Y/N's soft voice resonates in his mind. It wasn't real, but he feels drawn back to a time when they were in love. "Look at all those stars, each one a shimmering piece of the universe. And yet, here we are, under the same night sky, together."

Bakugou always hated how her words sounded like poetry. She could soothe him out of anything so easily, and he hated it. Or rather, he hated that he loved it.

He continues walking, his shoes crunching the gravel beneath his feet. He can still hear her voice whispering sweet nothings in his ear. He can still remember her touch, her kiss, her warmth. She had such a strange way of making him feel safe, and he had been too stubborn to let it continue.

"I hate you," he had told her once.

"That's okay," she had replied with a smile, putting her hand on his cheek. "I love you."

"Ugh," Bakugou growls as he kicks a rock and it goes flying. Why can't he just get her out of his head? It's over, isn't it?

Sick of thinking of her, he decides to sit on a nearby bench and wallow in self-pity instead. He shouldn't've ended things with her. Especially not the way he did. He was so mean for no reason. He had no reason to say all of those things. He knew how much they hurt her. But he had to, didn't he?

But then there was Kirishima, the person he'd trusted most from his first day at U.A. whether he'd like to admit it or not. If he hadn't been so dense, if he'd only realized what was going on, he wouldn't have broken up with her. But then again, maybe he would've.

It wasn't worth thinking about anymore. Kirishima's off somewhere with Mina right now while Bakugou's stuck outside alone. He had pushed everyone away, just like his friends told him he would do if he didn't let them help.

It wasn't worth thinking about anymore. Kirishima's off somewhere with Mina right now while Bakugou's stuck outside alone. He had pushed everyone away, just like his friends told him he would do if he didn't let them help.

"Katsuki," she had hummed one morning after the two of them had spent the night together in Bakugou's dorm, "You know how much you mean to me, right?"

"What are you-"

"And you know that I'll always love you, no matter what happens," she had continued, pressing a kiss to his lips.

"Stop, it's too early for this," he had complained, burying his head in the crook of her neck and holding her tighter.

"But I'm being serious," she giggles at the sensation of his skin rubbing against hers.

"So am I," he mutters.

"Katsuki, if something happened to you, I would-"

"I know," he says, rolling his eyes and sitting up to look down at her. "I'd do the same. But nothing's going to happen, so just shut up and kiss me."

She laughs and pulls him back down on top of her. He kisses her and the rest of the world seems to fade away. She was his. He was hers. Nothing could ever change that.

But then, a few months later, they were nothing. Just a memory, and Bakugou didn't know how to handle that.

"I wouldn't be able to live if something happened to you," he suddenly whispers to himself, looking down at his hands in his lap. Well, at least this is the last night he'll ever have to see any one of these people ever again.

"You're so fucking stupid," he sighs as he stands up and stretches his arms. It's been a long night and he's ready to go to bed. 

Dear Departure

#katsuki bakugou x you #katsuki bakugou x reader #katsuki bakugou x y/n #shoto todoroki x reader #todoroki x you #todoroki x y/n #sero x reader #sero x y/n #sero x you #mina x kirishima #iida x uraraka #midoriya x uraraka #jirou x kaminari #bakugou x kirishima #fanfiction series #fanfiction #x fem!reader #x reader #fanfic #ao3 #mha x female reader #mha x reader #mha self insert #my hero academia #dear departure

[mydarllinglover]

Alone || Better Than Revenge

Previous

When they had gotten back, Daryl went right back to dragging her around.

"What are we doing?" She asked.

"Finding Tara." He said.

"Why?"

"She wants what we want." He stated.

Natalia knocked on her door, going to stand with Daryl by a post on Tara's porch.

She lifted his hand, checking his knuckles.

They were already scarred from years before, but she still felt the need to check for new damage.

"You mad at me?" He rasped, looking at the street.

She scoffed.

"No, I was the one agreeing with you. Though, if you got yourself blown up, I'd have been real mad."

"That's fair." Daryl snorted. "You do want this, right?"

"Yes. I need it. What they did... it has to happen, he just doesn't get that, not like us, not like Rosita, or Maggie or Tara... or Sasha. I'm gonna feel bad if innocent people get hurt because of it, but it's not gonna keep me up at night. He took too much from us, that I'm done giving a shit about anyone but in these gates, or the Hilltop and the Kingdom, sorta."

"It's gonna happen, with him on board or not, we're gonna end it, I promised yer that."

The door opened and Tara walked out.

"Hey. You guys just get back?"

"Yeah." Daryl leaned off the post. "We were looking for you."

"I was looking for you guys, too." She admitted. "I wanted to tell you that you were right when you didn't kill Dwight." She spoke to Daryl. "We wouldn't have gotten this far without him."

Natalia doubted that, she still believed he should of done it, they would of figured it out.

"The thing is, I know what you said. But after this, I'm gonna kill him. I want it to be me."

"Maybe it could be you and me both." Daryl offered. "And maybe we don't got to wait so long."

"Have you seen Mich and Rosita around?" Natalia asked looking around the streets. "I haven't seen them yet, would've at least thought they'd say hi. Or Carl."

"Uh, I don't know, I think I saw Carl earlier, not since." Tara told her, when they were getting ready to leave. "But no, I haven't seen Michonne or Rosita all day."

"Oh, okay..."

"Come on, let's go." Daryl told them, getting in one of the garbage trucks the Scavengers left, it was big enough to get the job done.

They got to one outpost in particular, a truck full of speakers playing loud music was driving out.

"Found them." Tara said, spotting Michonne and Rosita running after the truck.

"Hang on." Daryl grunted, putting his foot down, crashing into the truck, knocking the speakers off and breaking them.

Tara jumped out and so had Natalia, shooting the people driving.

"Truck full of speakers, huh?" Daryl stated the obvious as the two woman walked over to them. "That was a Saviour."

"Yeah, it was." Michonne confirmed. "They were scavenging when you guys attacked the Sanctuary. They saw all the walkers around it. It's a cache. They were gonna try and drive the walkers away. That's why they were out here." Michonne looked exhausted.

"Okay, so why are you guys out here? You look like shit, both of you." Natalia told them, slightly pissed off that they went out when they were supposed to be resting, but also didn't bother to wait for her.

"I need to see the Sanctuary." Michonne said.

"We both do." Rosita agreed. "Why are you out here?"

"We got a lot more work to do." Daryl answered. "All of us."

It was a tight fit for all five of them to fit in the cab, but they managed.

Daryl parked, giving a view of the Sanctuary, though it was still far away.

"Here you go. You wanted to see it." Daryl handed Michonne the scope of a rifle, using it as a binocular.

"So what do you need us for?" Rosita asked.

"We're gonna end it. Right now." Natalia told them.

Daryl started the truck again.

"Our people are gonna be at the Sanctuary soon, asking for their surrender." Tara reminded. They were all out the truck, Daryl was still assessing the place.

"We're almost there." Rosita told her.

"That's why we do it. We make it happen." Daryl said.

"So we cover you with crossfire from the upper windows, you crash the truck into the walkers and through to the building." Michonne clarified.

After hearing the plan, Natalia was very much against it.

"Yep, crack it open, Saviour buffet." Tara said.

"You know the workers will make it away, up the stairs?" Rosita asked.

"They're on the other side of the building. They should make it." Daryl told her, the same thing he told Rick.

"You sure?"

"After we do this, their only choice is to give up."

"It's risky. They could see the truck comin'."

"There weren't any more weapons at the Saviours' warehouse, right?" Tara asked. "No more rockets for the RPGs. We work with what we got."

"You got me." Morgan walked over to them, coming out of nowhere. "Other snipers, too. Saviours see you comin', we got you covered, whatever it takes. I want it done. I want them done."

"Good. So we doing this or not?" Daryl asked.

"Why don't we just wait it out, like we planned?" Rosita said. "Nat, what do you think?"

She looked up from chewing her nail, all eyes on her.

"Bad play." She said, shaking her head. "It's not thought through."

"Like hell it ain't." Daryl told her.

"I don't like it, and I don't want you to go through with it either, something bad is going to happen, I'm not gonna let it."

"The truck with the speakers almost took all those walkers away." Tara said. "It almost did go bad. Something else could."

"Even if it don't, we don't got the Kingdom fighters no more. I mean, if the Saviours want to put up a fight, we don't got the numbers to make 'em surrender."

"That's why Ricks talking to the Scavengers." Rosita told Daryl.

"You got shot. They lied to us. You believe 'em now?" Tara instigated.

"I believe in Rick Grimes." Rosita stated.

"I could've done something... sooner, to end this. I knew about those weapons at Oceanside, and I waited. I didn't do shit about it." Tara stepped forward. "With or without you, I'm not letting that happen again."

"Then its without me." Rosita opted out. "I'm out."

"We got some cars parked near the east-side lookout. You can take one and go home." Morgan told her.

She looked to Michonne.

"You staying?" She asked. "You good with all this?"

"I helped get this started. Got to see it through."

"You think it's easier to come out here and risk than to stay back there and wait. And I get it, I used to believe that too. Thing is, sometimes you just have to wait. Sometimes you don't get to know. I just wish it didn't take seeing Sasha walk out of that coffin to realise it." Rosita then walked away.

"Come on. Let's go." Daryl said.

"No." Natalia told him, shutting the door when he opened it. "Don't do this."

"Nat, you can either come with us, or you can leave with her, without me, we both want this, I'm making that happen." Daryl said.

"You're going to get yourself killed. I'm not allowing that."

"Then walk away." He gestured to where Rosita left.

"How could you say that?" She looked at him with offense. "Why would you even say that?"

"Told ya, doing this with or without ya, so either get in the cab or leave, we're wasting time."

"Daryl." She tried.

"I ain't giving up on this. I want you here with me. I ain't dying neither, this is gonna work." He told her, his harsh tone dropping only slightly. "It will."

Natalia thought on it for a second.

The last time they had split up, Dwight happened, and they vowed to never leave each others side after being separated for a week, one of the worst weeks in both their lives, since then, they hadn't been apart, not since the day before, when they started this war.

"Okay," She nodded. "Okay, yeah, fine."

Daryl sighed a breath of relief.

"It's gonna work, Swear it." He reassured her, cupping his wife's face, kissing her hairline. "Alright, come on."

He opened the cab door again, helping her up before getting in himself.

Tara and Michonne were seated, giving the couple space to discuss in private.

Daryl started the truck, driving forward.

"Hey, cut that engine." Morgans voice rang through the radio after a while, Natalia was holding it, beside Daryl. "Any closer, you'll draw walkers from the yard.

Daryl listened, shutting the large truck off.

"Here." He said, passing the scope over so that they could take a look, Tara accepted it, Michonne and Natalia still doubted the plan, both not wanting to be there, but having their own reasons.

"You take fire from the windows, we fire back." Morgan's voice came through, again.

"Come on." Tara coaxed them. "There's a spot for cover by the chutes."

"You up for this?" Daryl asked, when Michonne hadn't moved.

"I came here 'cause I wanted to see things for myself. I wanted to know that things were gonna work. But you know what? I don't get to know that. None of us do. What I do know is that things are working now. So maybe... we just need to trust that things are gonna keep working. Because this... what we're about to do... It's not worth risking us."

"It is for me." Daryl said. "Just is."

Natalia felt her heart shatter all over again, he was willing to die for this, even if it didn't even work out, he was willing to leave her alone, when they could do it another way.

Natalia couldn't watch that happen, not for a second time.

"I'm going." Natalia said, climbing over the seats so she could leave the truck. "I hope this is worth it, I really do. I'm done. I- I can't." She shook her head, leaving, walking away from the truck.

She hadn't even heard him try to stop her, or say goodbye, nothing.

She heard footsteps following her, Michonne's.

She wiped at her cheeks, brushing away the tears she hadn't meant to let fall.

"I believe they can do it. I think so. I just can't go through with it." Michonne said.

Natalia didn't answer.

"Hey." Michonne grabbed her shoulder, stopping her from walking. "He's gonna pull this off, and get back. He will, he always does."

"You heard him." Natalia said. "I can't. I set myself up."

"What do you mean?" Michonne asked.

"When I was working things out, realising some stuff. Basically doing a pros and cons list. Well, my very first con was this, throwing himself into danger because for some reason he doesn't value his life... no matter the people who care about him." She sighed. "And I did it anyway, I fell in love with him, because I don't learn from my lessons."

"Nat. He's gonna do it, and he's gonna come home, okay, this is Daryl we're talking about, this is the least scariest thing he's done. He's not gonna die."

"You don't know that. I thought that about other people too. They survive until they don't. I just- I can't watch that, I can't put myself through it, I tried to stop him and he refused, because he doesn't care about what happens to him. He's the most selfish selfless person ever, and I hate it, but its always a reason why I love him, 'cause I'm an idiot."

"You're not an idiot." Michonne sighed.

"No, I am. Because it doesn't matter how many times he does this, I'm still going to love him, and wait for him to get back, just so I can try and fail to stop him the next time."

"No, that just makes you normal. If you're an idiot, then I guess I am too, because I did the same exact thing, our advantage though, is that they don't die, no matter how hard they seem to try." Michonne told her.

Eventually the five had all managed to get back, Daryl and Tara had completed their mission, though Natalia was avoiding the man, instead, sat with Evie, Judith and Michonne as the two children painted, whilst everyone else prepared for the next stage of war.

"We'll be back soon. I'll bring your daddy, too, okay?" Michonne told Judith. "Can you say bye-bye?"

"Bye-bye." Judith copied.

Causing a giggle out of the two women.

"I'll look after her." Evie said. "We're making tigers, right Jude?" Evie cooed.

"Great..." Natalia said through her teeth.

"Well, thank you Evie, she's gonna learn from the best." Michonne told the little girl, brushing Judith's hair.

"Yeah, we can put one in a picture frame, and Daryl can hang it up, right mom?"

Michonne stifled a laugh at Natalia's uncomfortableness.

"Y'know what, I'm sure Ezekiel would just love a picture of Shiva, maybe you could give it to him, as a thank you for his help?" Natalia told her.

"Oh! Okay, yeah, we're gonna make thank you cards, for Maggie and Jesus as well, huh, Judy, you wanna do that?"

"Yeh." She answered, though they wondered if she knew what she just signed herself up for.

"That's very kind, thank you, girls." Michonne kissed Evie's hair, whilst Natalia did the same to Judith.

"Bye, Eves, I love you." Natalia told her, brushing her blonde hair away from her face.

"Love you, mom." Evie kissed her cheek. "Can you tell Daryl as well, that I love him, too?"

"If I see him, babe, but you can tell him yourself, if you see him. I know he's really busy at the moment."

"Okay, I will."

After their conversation when Daryl and Natalia had got back, they had established that they were a family now, but she had yet to call Daryl the d word, he was fine with that, but if she wanted to call him it, he wasn't going to stop her, they'd made it clear to Evie that everything was on her terms, and they'd both go along with what she wanted.

"He's walking towards us." Michonne muttered as they climbed up the bank from the wide pond.

"Have I got time to run?"

"Nope, he's looking right at us."

"Hey." Daryl greeted them.

"Hi." Michonne replied, nudging Natalia. "I'm glad you came back, it's better if we go out there together."

"It worked." He said, glancing between the two, Natalia was looking everywhere but at him. "We'll roll in, tell them to give up. They're gonna give up."

"I'm sorry." Michonne told him. "I couldn't."

"Don't be. It worked." He said, pointedly, watching Natalia now.

"Alright then." Michonne nodded, walking away.

Natalia was going to follow her, but Daryl grabbed her arm, stopping her from leaving.

"Hey."

She looked up at him.

"What?"

"You're not gonna say hi to me?" He asked.

"I'm talking to you, aren't I?"

"What's wrong? Somethin' happen?" He assessed her, checking for injuries, holding her face in his hand.

"No, nothing's wrong." She sighed. "I'm glad you came home."

"I always do." He told her. "Y'know that, don't get why you'd be worried."

"In case you don't." She looked back at him, holding his wrist, his thumb was rubbing circles against her cheek. "Wish you'd value your life a little bit more, least for the people who love you, for me."

"Nat, I'm gonna always come back to you, no matter what's holding me back, I'm doing this for you, for Evie, to make this a better place to live in, I knew what I was doing, an' it worked."

"I know." She whispered. "Just, if I lost you... I don't think I'd ever be able to get back from that, I can't lose you, I- I can't." Her voice broke.

"Hey, hey, hey." He soothed, bringing her into his arms, hugging the woman. "I ain't going nowhere, I ain't leaving you anytime soon, I just got ya, I ain't giving you up for anything, I'd kill the grim reaper if it means being with you forever."

Natalia's arms tightened around him.

"Ain't nothing gonna happen to me, to you, Evie, any of us, ain't gonna ever let that happen." He told her.

Natalia pulled away, brushing his hair away from his face, from the cut above his brow.

"I love you." She said, "With every part of me, I love you so much, I'd live through a thousand walker outbreaks, as long as it meant I got to be with you every time."

Daryl kissed her, hard, as if it were their last.

"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, in ma whole life." He leaned his head against hers. "Greatest thing that's ever happened. I love you."

Natalia kissed him, at his confession. For someone who claimed to be bad with his words, he always had the right things to say.

"I'm gonna go see if anything else needs prepping, Evie was looking for you." She said, looking at him, in his beautiful blue eyes. "She's down there with Jude, they're making thank you cards for all the leaders."

"Who's idea was that?" He asked, raising his brows.

"Hers, after I told her she could give her tiger painting to Ezekiel, so we didn't have to frame it in our house..." She looked away, wincing, scratching her brow.

Daryl let out a chuckle, kissing her head.

"I'll go talk to her." He said, walking away from his wife, their fingers entwined until they were too far away from each other.

When it was dark, Michonne and Natalia went in search of Carl, neither of them had seen him for the whole day, apart from when they got back and he was planting a tree, they were missing their other best friend.

They had found him lifting a manhole, leading to the sewers.

"Carl?" Natalia called.

He looked up at them, a bag was beside his feet.

"We've been looking for you." Michonne said. "We're about ready to head out."

"What are you doing?" Natalia asked.

"I'm helping someone." He confessed. "A traveller."

"In the sewer?" Michonne raised a brow at him.

"Are they some type of crocodile person, or something?" Natalia asked, wondering who the hell would be in a sewer willingly.

A clanging sound came from the gates.

"You may be wondering why the hell your lookouts didn't sound the alarm." The voice of Negan came through a speaker.

He was alive, and at Alexandria, how was that possible?

"See, we are polite. I mean, I don't know when they're gonna wake up from that kind of shock, but they should wake up. So lets just cut through the cow shit... You lose. It's over. So you're gonna line up in front of your little houses and you're gonna work up some apologies, and then the person with the lamest one is gonna get killed. Then I kill Rick in front of everybody, and we move on. You have three... count 'em... three minutes to open this gate, or we start bombing the shit out of you!"

Natalia looked behind her, everyone was gathering around, Daryl was carrying Evie in his arms as he met her gaze.

"They got out." Michonne whispered.

"How?" Natalia hissed.

"Come on." Carl walked to the entrance of the sewer as the two women stared in horror.

"Nat." Carl called. "Michonne. Come on!"

They followed him as they ran to evacuate.

"You need to make it look like we're escaping out back. Get to the woods, halfway to the quarry, and cut the lights." Carl ordered as he handed bagged up supplies. "Get enough of a lead on them, hit them, and get away on foot. You know where we'll be. Just have to get guns, get everyone else here, and we'll meet you there."

"Two minutes, people!" Negan called. "Dig deep. I want these apologies to be memorable. Bonus points for creativity. Work up a poem, sing a song. I love that shit. Natalia, honey, hope you're gonna set an example, we've all seen how you can beg, I wanna see that."

"Get going. There's gonna be people in the infirmary." Carl told a few Alexandrians as they ran.

"Look, we got guns. We can fight them." Tara said.

"We will, but not now." Rosita told her.

"There's children and sick people, they're our priority." Natalia said, walking past Daryl, Evie was hiding her face in the crook of his neck, she stroked the girls head.

"Carl, we can't just let them have this place." Michonne said, she was angry.

"We can." He told her. "All we need to do is survive tonight. This is my show. You said it."

"He's right, we're gonna do Carls plan." Natalia backed him up.

"Let's go!" He ordered.

"One minute! One minute!" Negan called.

They didn't have a lot of time so they had to move fast.

"Okeydokey!" Negan's voice boomed, when time was up. "Brought this on yourself, Rick. See, I was willing to work with you. All you had to do was follow a few very simple rules. Now. Well, I see that you got to go! Scorched earth, you dick!"

Carl climbed on top of the perch as everyone else continued with the plan.

"He's not home." He told Negan, the guns trained on his presence.

"Oh-ho-holy shit! Everybody hold your fire. It's Carl. Look at you. Answering the door like a big boy." His voice was still coming through the speakers. "I am so proud. Daddy's not home, huh? Well, I guess he's gonna get back to a big old smoky surprise."

"There's families in here." Carl said. "Kids. My little sister. My friends daughter."

"Well, that shit just breaks my heart." Negan replied. "There's kids at the Sanctuary. You must've seen 'em. Even had a little baby at one of the outposts. I wonder what happened to her. None of this shit's fair, kid. Hell, you know that. You had to kill your own mom. That is screwed up. Ergo, we need someone in charge who's willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that shit doesn't happen. Oh. Wait. That's me"

"Bad stuff does happen, but we can figure this out." Carl said. "We can stop this."

"Oh, now you want to talk?" Negan asked. "See, your dad had it that I died, no matter what. He gave my people a choice. Not me. Now we're gonna need a new understanding. Apologies, punishm..."

"Kill me." Carl cut him off.

"What did you say?" Negan asked.

"If you have to kill someone... if there has to be punishment, then kill me. I'm serious."

"You want to die?"

"No, I don't. But I will. It's gonna happen. And if... if me dying could stop this... If it can make things different... for us, for you, for all those other kids... it'd be worth it. I mean, was this the plan? Was it supposed to be this way? Is this who you wanted to be?"

All the cars were ready, Evie was with Judith, they were being taken care of, whilst Natalia and Daryl sat in the large truck, the others following.

"Ready?" He asked her, as he had his hand out the window, to signal when to go.

"As ever." She sighed.

Daryl started the engine, putting his arm down then drove forward, taking out the gate, driving straight through two cars that had been parked in front, an attempt to block them.

They had reached their destination, where Carl had told them to go, ready to take down any Saviours they saw.

Alexandria was being destroyed, everything was up in flames, their home was gone.

"They didn't get out because of what we did with the truck." Tara told Daryl as they crouched in the low grass.

"Even if they did, it was just a mistake." Rosita said. "And I made one too. If I hadn't gone to the Sanctuary to kill Negan, maybe Sasha would still be alive. Maybe she would've gone herself. Maybe everything would've ended up exactly the same way. I didn't want you guys to do it, but maybe you needed to. Maybe you needed to play things out to figure shit out."

"We've all made mistakes, there's stuff I could've done, and there's stuff I shouldn't of done, either way, maybe more people would've died, or there'd be people still alive. Nothing we can do about it now." Natalia sighed.

"Where the hell are they?" Michonne asked.

A car appeared, catching their attention.

Daryl pulled the tab of an bomb, chucking it into the road.

"That's Laura and Dwight" Natalia squinted, seeing the two people in the car. "The pricks who were in charge of us at the Sanctuary. How perfect."

All the vehicles had appeared.

"Now!" Daryl ordered.

Everyone fired their guns, as the cars slowed to a stop.

Bodies dropped, and soon enough, none of the Saviours were left standing.

"It's over." The voice of Dwight shouted.

They ran out, finding him hiding behind a car, Tara kicked away his gun. "I made sure you guys could get out the back. I drove the convoy right up to the roadblock. I knew what it was."

Daryl lowered his gun.

"I can't go back. One of 'em got away. She's gonna tell them."

"Who?" Natalia asked.

He shook his head not answering.

Natalia reached for him, pressing on the gunshot wound, causing him to hiss in pain.

"Who was it?" She demanded.

"Laura." He admitted in defeat. "She ran."

"Which direction?" Natalia looked up past the car. "Tell me!"

"I- I don't know."

"Nat." Rosita reached for her.

"No" She shrugged her off.

"Nat, come on, we'll find her, not now." Rosita pulled her up, away from him.

"How'd they get out?" Daryl continued to interrogate. "Was it what I did?"

"Eugene." Dwight replied. "I can still help you. I know how they work, how Negan thinks. I want you to win. I want Negan to die. And we can settle up after."

Daryl grabbed a hold of him, ripping his beloved vest off the man, walking away.

"We need to get back... now." Michonne appeared, from gathering all the guns from the dead Saviours.

Rosita took care of Dwight.

"I'm gonna go find her." Natalia said, checking her bullet count.

"No." Michonne told her, "We need to go to the others."

"And I'm going to kill her, you guys can go without me."

"Nah." Daryl said. "You ain't."

"What?"

"Nat, we need to leave." Tara tried.

"No. I need to do this."

"You're coming with us, no debating about it." Daryl said, taking her gun out of her hands.

"You don't get to tell me that, after what you've done, and you" She pointed at Tara. "You have your guy, as soon as he drains himself of anything useful, you guys get what you want. She's out there, alone, that's my chance to end it, I want this."

"You ain't!" He snapped. "You ain't running off on your own, I'll help you find her, after we get back and make sure everyone's okay, but you're coming with us, so drop it."

"Natalia, I know you're angry, okay, everyone understands that, after what she did to you, but now isn't the time." Michonne tried. "We all want that for you, but not right now, just come with us."

"I'll even go with you." Rosita offered. "If you just leave with us."

Next

#daryl dixon #daryl dixon smut #the walking dead daryl #twd daryl #carl grimes #carol peletier #daryl fanfiction #glenn rhee #michonne #rick grimes #daryl dixion imagine #daryl dixion x reader #darylxnatalia #daryldixonalonetwd #thewalkingdeadalone

[anxious-ghost-000]

I'd love to hear your Bryony Shoots Things rant!

Thank you for asking!

I've taken some points straight from the rant itself, hope you don't mind

There's quite a lot of text ('cause I can't shut up when I'm excited), so I'll hide it under the keep-reading line for convenience

Bryony is an extremely practical person. She is cold in her calculations, her every word and action serve a specific purpose. She always plans ahead before she does anything, and she sure as hell had a lot of time to think on what to do once the helicopter landed in Red Valley.

Bryony wanted revenge. She wanted to hurt Gordon. She knew how she would do it, it wasn't a rushed hit-and-run-like situation. She was unnervingly calm about it up until Aubrey ran into her. Because Bryony had most likely planned it all out.

Think about the specifics of where she shoots Gordon. If all she wanted to do was to kill him, she would've just killed him. She murdered before and wouldn't hesitate to do it again. She could've shot Gordon straight in the head, killing him instantly. But no. She shot him in the stomach.

Bryony left him lethally wounded, yes, but with a chance to survive. Not because of any kind of remorse. She just wanted to buy more time for herself. If everyone was preoccupied with trying to save Gordon's life, no one would follow her or try to stop her when she made her escape.

And, what's even more fucked up, it might've also been Bryony saying her last 'fuck-you' to Warren. I mean, if Bryony wanted both Gordon and Warren dead, she, again, could've just shot them, but she didn't. She knew Warren was in a lot of emotional shock at that point. Maybe she suspected that seeing his only friend getting shot and watching him bleed to death would make Warren go into physical shock, and thus he would die himself, which would've made his death much more fucked up and prolonged. Or maybe Bryony didn't think that far and didn't care what would happen to Warren. Maybe she just wanted to traumatize him one last time out of revenge, to make a crescendo in the chain of all the suffering he'd been through at the valley.

(Could I also ramble some more about Aubrey and Clive? I hope it's okay?)

When Bryony saw Aubrey, she realised it was her ex-colleague who actualy ratted her out to the higher-ups. Plus, she knew Aubrey was leaking information out of Red Valley and Bryony wanted her dead even before that night at the pub. It's a miracle Bryony didn't manage to shoot her - maybe there was too much distance between them and Bryony was in too much rush to aim properly. Plus, she was now losing time and couldn't just hang around and wait for Aubrey to come out of hiding. She didn't need to worry about Aubrey following her, so she ran off. I mean, Aubrey repeatedly asked her where Gordon was, so Bryony knew that when she saw what happened to him, Aubrey would be focused on saving Gordon rather than going after her.

As for Clive, well... I think Bryony just didn't have as much hatred for him. They had been working together for a long time at that point, and even though they didn't always see eye to eye, they were more or less on the same page. Clive getting a sort of promotion on Bryony's behalf and joking about it isn't the same as Gordon destroying her entire career and stopping her painstakingly made research just when she finally started getting some meaningful results. Clive's stupid behavior and unfair promotion definitely pissed her off, but not to the point of wanting him dead. So Bryony maimed him - both out of revenge and practicality (again, Clive being still alive and in need of medical assistance means whoever provides that assistance won't try to chase after her. Besides, Clive himself wouldn't care to try and stop her if he was injured)

#sorry about that big wall of text lmao #rambling about things that could be said in 2 sentences is my passion

[manofmanymons]

I know this sounds somewhat hypocritical as someone who loves Survive and Hollow Knight very very very much, one of the biggest things that puts me off from series is when there's too much death and/or general carnage. And it's not even that I'm sensitive to gore or can't handle some death.

It's that once everyone starts dying, I stop having fun! I'm not enjoying cool action scenes because everyone I liked is dead, but I'm not even properly sad about any of the deaths anymore because goddamn everyone else is fuckin dead am I supposed to be surprised now? You can only cram so many emotional scenes into a short period of story before I completely stop feeling anything at all.

The reason I like Survive anyways is because there's a truthful route where everyone lives, and even if there wasn't, there's still the moral route where most of them live. If it was JUST the wrathful route or JUST the harmony route I'd fuckin hate it! The fact that that would be a dreadfully short game notwithstanding, I'd be pretty pissed if I spent so much time gaining affinity with these characters and watching them bond with each other and the mc just for the game to end with half of them dead and the other half living in a post apocalyptic hellhole. As full games those routes are ass! But existing as they are as just extreme hypotheticals of what could have happened to these characters if just a few more things went wrong and they weren't as strong of a team, and we get to learn more about them by seeing how they act when pushed to the brink...yeah that is fun. It's like "well I know that this character is okay but it's cool seeing what COULD have but did not happen to them." And you know what despite Ryo literally being one of my favorite characters, I still would've loved Survive just fine without the truthful route because the moral route is a very good stand alone story of a bunch of kids who were met with tragedy but only became closer because of it and still managed to find a happy ending for themselves.

And Hollow Knight, well. For one it's largely helped by the fact that it is a video game and not a show, therefore the fact that it is just INCREDIBLY fun to play goes a long way in making me mentally insane about it. But it's not just that! From the very start of the game you KNOW you're playing through something sad. The sad doesn't sneak up on you, it's always there. Rather than playing through the downfall of a kingdom, you're exploring the ruins of a once-beautiful kingdom, learning what happened to it, meeting the inhabitants, befriending the last little glimmers of hope in this dying world, and fighting to save them. And yeah depending on the player's actions you lose a few of them along the way, but a) as I said some of them only die depending on what the player does, and b) I feel like enough of them have satisfying endings that I'm not too fixated on the ones that die. Ofc Quirrel being probably dead bums me out, and it sucks that you can't do anything for Myla, but hey, your homie Elderbug is fine, Cornifer is fine, you can save Cloth and even Zote if you'd like. Your Mantis buddies are still around. Brumm can be having a silly good time OR you might have a son now. Idk to me HK is finding hope and happiness amid despair rather than losing hope and falling into despair.

Unlike series that are like whee we're a fun action adventure--just kidding everyone is dead.

Oh well we started sad but if everyone works together then maybe there's hope that--psych they are all in fact still dead.

What a silly goofy show about kids having a fun--lmao you fell for that? Nah they're dead too.

Obviously other people are into that otherwise there wouldn't be so many popular series that do that but my god do I hate it literally every single time I have never once gone "you know what this story IS better now that none of my favs are in it and whoever's left has been doing nothing but fighting nonstop without an ounce of the playfulness or humor that originally drew me into this series."

#killing a few characters #even major ones #for the sake of setting the tone and upping the stakes is perfectly fine #even if the show did start out more lighthearted and this is the authors ways of indicating that A Shift is occurring that's fine #but idk the second a series turns into a blood bath and they're just killin fuckin anyone #im not even sad anymore im just bored #it's so boooooooooooriiiiiiiing

[bugdogg]

💬🏳️‍🌈 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 💖🍳 ryu and blanch maybe ?😭srry i rly wanna know more abt them

IS FINE, I GOTTA TALK ABOUT THEM MORE ANYWAY! ^W^

💬 - What are some filler/buffer words they use? (Like, um, etc.)

For Blanch, she uses "alright" and "whatever" in her speech a lot, but more often she adds unnecessary cursing to her sentences (she often isn't even angry, it's just a habit). She has a very brash or harsh way of speaking and often times the words she uses implies she's pissed off about something.

For Ryu, they use a lot of "uh"s and "um"s in their sentences and also has a habit of going "eh..." when they finish talking. He speaks in a very slow, laid back way and despite how long it takes him to talk he still tends to not be certain in what he's saying.

🏳️‍🌈 - What do they identify as? What are their pronouns?

(mentioning now: all three my ocs are based on me in some way. For me, identity and labels are very confusing, so all of their identities are kinda undefined as I'm still trying to figure it out myself)

I don't really want to label them right now but Blanch's pronouns are she/her and Ryu's pronouns are he/them.

I'd say for like a basic idea of how I view them is Blanch doesn't like labels really and could be agender but she wouldn't call herself that, and Ryu is transmasc!

(actually a good summary, at least for me, is Mizuki: doesn't know, Blanch: doesn't care, Ryu: does know and does care!)

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 - Do they have any siblings?

Blanch probably had a younger sister she used to care for, I think she'd take the older sister role seriously but would have also been a bully, simultaneously. She lost touch w that sibling after moving out, I don't think she and her family get along at all but I'm sure she'd still stalk her sister's socials to make sure she's okay.

Ryu would've been the middle child I think, they keep in touch w their family and I think have a good relationship w their older sibling but a hint of resentment for the younger one. I think if Ryu introduced Ichimatsu to his family they'd all just go "Oh good, you found someone to connect with." and Ryu would just look so tired.

💖 - How and how often do they try to impress their partner(s)? How and how often do their partner(s) impress them?

Blanch doesn't care for other's opinions on her and never sets out to impress anyone, but I think Choromatsu at least is impressed by her ability to be both insanely hostile and still smart and successful. He'd probably see her as a cartoonish-brute at first but is surprised to see she's actually pretty smart and grows to respect her more, as she also does w him (somewhat).

Choro would often try to impress her I think by trying to one up her in arguments or anything. At first it'd be to try to feed his own ego or feel better about himself, then he'd fail and would actually start trying to impress her. Unintentionally, I think Choro would impress Blanch by being very resilient, something every matsu sorta has but she'd still admire his stupid persistence at trying to win a constantly losing battle.

Ryu tries to impress people by spewing worthless facts... (not really) they don't have any interest in a partner, and, w Ichi and Oso, doesn't feel the need to impress them. Ryu is used to being considered mediocre and has sorta accepted it, he doesn't care to impress people who he doesn't think will ever care so he just talks about things he likes and see's who sticks around to listen.

Ichi and Oso wouldn't care to impress him, I'm pretty sure. All three's dynamic is mostly based around being very chill and just existing together. Maybe occasionally, Ichi would try to do something to get some kind of approval from them but that's about it.

🍳 - How well can they cook?

Blanch is a good cook, she isn't the kind to make some new recipe on the spot or anything but she's memorized how to make some things and is very good at being precise w it. She mostly learned the skills as she started traveling w her bandmates. She already had some skills from making things for her sister back home so she volunteered to make meals when they couldn't afford to eat somewhere and got better as they went.

Ryu can't cook, at all, he can cook things in the microwave, and somewhat follow the directions on the back of the pizza box. But besides that, he doesn't know how to do a lot, and I think they would somehow burn a salad.

#oc #ask tag #sorry i took so long to answeerrrr #thank you for asking about them tho i like thinking about themmmmmm<3<3<3 #i shake them around lovingly

[lakesbian]

alec ask game (to be honest many of these have a canon answer but i do kinda wanna hear analysis anyway):

12 (more like: do you think he does anything for his birthdays after he left the heartbreaker household)

19

25

to be fair i am literally always explaining canonical things about alec to people. that is also fun. even the headcanons (true facts that came to me in a vision) are extrapolated from canon details i list off anyway

12. how long have they been around? do you know their birthday? is their birthday the day you made them or another day? what do they think of celebrating birthdays?

he's 15 (more on the younger side) as of worm start and does not make it to his next birthday lmao. i don't know his birthday because he doesn't know his birthday--it's pointed out in his interlude that it was easy to lose track of time because he lived entirely in the cult (no going to school, no calendars, no holidays, etc), and the only indicator he would've had that it was his birthday was his father trying to force a trigger event. he triggered when he was 10 and ran away from home when he was 13, so he had 3 years w/ no way of knowing it was his birthday. it also presumably did not help his sense of time that he was constantly on drugs and severely dissociated. this is why he has to do Year Guesstimation Math when he's telling the undersiders abt his backstory in 7.1--he genuinely doesn't even know exactly how old he is.

so no, he doesn't celebrate his birthdays after he leaves. he knows he Had One, but there's no way of knowing what it was. just one more thing his father took from him forever. maybe a different person in his shoes would've picked a favorite date to celebrate as their new birthday, but alec just tells himself he doesn't care all that much. (and he doesn't, because in the grand scheme of bad things that have happened to him, not having a birthday isn't even in the first 100 worst ones). he just mentally adds a year to each end of his estimated age range for himself every time new years happens.

also, expressing outright desire to reclaim his birthday would be Admitting He Cares, and we all know how much alec does not want to do things that would involve admitting he cares.

19. are they quick to anger? what sets them off?

alec represses his emotions for two primary reasons: - because he's been taught for his entire life that if he shows he's feeling something negative people will use the information to make him feel more negative, and if he shows he's feeling something positive people will use the information to take whatever made him feel that way away from him - because if he had experienced the depths of his own feelings as a child still living in the cult he wouldn't have been able to keep himself together long enough to survive, and now he has no way to approach unpacking them without crumbling under the weight. fuck he doesn't even realize there Is a suitcase to unpack. or 50 suitcases rather.

anger is an interesting one w/ him, because unlike most emotions it's not something he's learned is always dangerous to show, and subsequently, it's one of the only emotions he doesn't near-entirely repress. in fact, utilizing it can actually be useful for survival, and so some of his ability to feel and express anger remains intact. not all or even most but like. Some.

letting someone trying to upset him see they've gotten a rise is something he would unconsciously interpret as dangerous (giving them an excuse to hurt him, showing them they've 'won,' can be dangerously close to admitting he cares, etc). but at other times, depending on the situational context, expressing anger can be a way to place himself in control, a way to unconsciously vent emotion w/o making himself vulnerable, or a way to motivate himself to push through something.

so he's okay with demonstrating that he's visibly pissed at taylor in the hospital--she's the vulnerable one in the interaction--but when cherie is trying to upset him, he shuts down and acts blasé.

as for how quick he is to anger & what sets him off w/ that framework for his behavior in mind: he's fairly quick to be annoyed, but not necessarily quick to be angry. he has poor emotional literacy for himself, so he can't really understand why he's mad beyond a surface level, and at times he doesn't even realize that he was angry until after the fact. (e.g him only realizing that he was jealous of & angry at sophia for not appreciating her normal family days after he had already acted on the emotion.) much of his anger is quick to fade because it's difficult for him to sustain any intense emotion, especially when he doesn't have the self-awareness to determine why he should keep caring so much. he's got a lot of unexamined rage towards Normal Society--for how it failed to help him as a child, for how everyone in it is unaware of how good they have it from his point of view, and for how it rejects him even now--so anything touching on those notes is liable to get him reaaaally seething. (again. with 0 idea that that he's even mad let alone Why he's mad.) Betrayal, Abandonment, His Stuff Being Fucked With, and Him Being Prodded To Provide Any Particular Response Or Action are all also liable to make him varying amounts of ticked. presumably for obvious reasons.

25. how good/bad is their hearing? what about their eyesight?

huh i've never thought abt this one before. he's probably fine in both departments bc lisa would've told him if he had smth going on that could interfere with his awareness during a job but he's certainly tied w/ rachel for undersider voted most likely to mildly need glasses and never notice.

quick everyone give me a chance to say even more things about alec vasil

#ask #worm spoilers #yaaaay :) thank you for questions #scarf don't look