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prettylittlels · 4 months

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Special Night

summary: while performing your latest song, Houdini, at the Golden Globes, your performance drives people crazy.

(tom blyth x singer!reader)

a/n: this song has been stuck in my head for the past few weeks and i needed to make a scenario w it. hope you like it!

ps: i'm akso running out of ideas so please send requests!!!

🪻🪩🌃🔮🎶

Tonight, I'm going to perform at the golden globes gala. My latest song, Houdini, has captured everyone's attention and soared thorugh the billboard Top 100. The problem isn't performing the song: I know every lyric and practised every detail of the choreography to the brim. The problem is who I'm performing it to. Hundreds of celebrities I admire and thousands and thousands of people around the world are going to be watching me sing.

-Y/n!- my manager interrupts my thoughts -You're on in two-

-Thanks, Diane - I say back, and start my vocal exercises.

In the middle of my preparation, I listen the host of the night announce my appearance. I smoothen out my little black dress and, slowly, I make my way to the stage. The lights are low and I still can't see anything farther than the edge of the stage. My earbud informs me the song will start in 3, 2, 1...

I come and I go

Tell me all the ways you need me

I'm not here for long

Catch me or I go Houdini

The crowd immediately starts roaring as the song plays for the first time. My choreography is catching everyone's eye. I feel the confidence soaring inside of me. This wasn't so bad as I thought it would be, huh?

I come and I go

Prove you got the right to please me

Everybody knows

Catch me or I go Houdini

The celebrities in front of me stand up one by one and dance to the rythm of the music. Since I was well known for interacting a lot with fans during concerts, why not do the same thing now?

Time is passin' like a solar eclipse

I descend the stairs in one of the stage's corners and the crowd screams even more. Searching for someone to dance with, I find first Anya Taylor Joy, dressed in a beautiful pale blue gown, singing along with me.

See you watchin' and you blow me a kiss

It's your moment, baby, don't let it slip

Come in closer, are you readin' my lips?

I make eye contact with her and blow her a kiss, following the lyrics. Her cheeks go red and laughs with me. I go closer to her and keep on singing along, until I signal to her to look at the camera and strike a pose with me.

They say I come and I go

Tell me all the ways you need me

I'm not here for long

Catch me or I go Houdini

I come and I go

Prove you got the right to please me

Everybody knows

Catch me or I go Houdini

Moving on from Anya, I walk up a couple tables more. Next, I set my eyes on Pedro Pascal, dancing to the rythm with his eyes closed. I look surprised and the camera points towards where I'm looking. The crowd laughs as we dance together.

If you're good enough, you'll find a way

Maybe you could cause a girl to change her ways

Do you think about it night and day?

Maybe you could be the one to make me stay

Pedro spins me around sloppily and I sing and I give him a kiss on the cheek and continue walking down the carpeted hall. The choreography makes an appearance again, with a sexy twist: I drop to my knees suddenly and sing the bridge. I get up again and the most beautiful man fills my vision.

Everything you say is soundin' so sweet (ah)

But do you practice everything that you preach? (Ah)

I stare and get closer to him while singing. He sends a big gummy smile towards me and I try to keep my composure. I notice he's sitting next to Hunter Schafer, my good friend. I make a mental reminder to ask her about it later.

I need something that'll make me believe (ah)

If you got it, baby, give it to me

I walk a little more until I'm looking down at his face and bend down while still singing. Out of impulse, I grab his chin gently and bring him in closer so it looks likr we're kissing. Our lips graze each other's and I feel like an electric discharge electrocuted my entire body. I pull away at the last second and continue walking and dancing, trying not to come back to him.

They say I come and I go

Tell me all the ways you need me

I'm not here for long

Catch me or I go Houdini

I come and I go (I come and I go)

Prove you got the right to please me

Everybody knows (I'm not here for long)

Catch me or I go Houdini

Everyone's mouths are open after my little stunt. I smirk to myself and I decide that's it for today.

If you're good enough, you'll find a way

Maybe you could cause a girl to change her ways

Do you think about it night and day?

Maybe you could be the one to make me stay

I go up the stairs one last time to finish off the performance. The people are cheering for me again. But right now, I only care about one of them now. I search for the mystery man with my eyes all over the place, he's nowhere to be found.

I come and I go

Tell me all the ways you need me

I'm not here for long

Catch me or I go Houdini

I come and I go (I come and I go)

Prove you got the right to please me

Everybody knows (I'm not here for long)

Catch me or I go Houdini

Screams and shouts fill the space when I finish the song. The camera focuses on the people who I've danced with and projects it onto the screens. First, Anya appears smiling and waves to the cameraman. Later, Pedro is still giddy from dancing and whoops loudly. Finally, Tom Blyth, as it says on the bottom of the screen, is clapping like everyone else. There are rests of a blush in his cheeks, but when he looks at the camera, he winks at it and lifts his hand with his pinky and thumb up, signaling a phone, mouthing the words "call me".

The camera switches back to me. I blow the last kiss to the audience and, before leaving, I make a "T" with my hands, and after a second I create a heart.

#Spotify #book recommendations #bookworm #tom blyth x reader #tom blyth x you #x reader #tom blyth #singer!reader

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owl127 · 9 months

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Clexa World Cup one-shot

Read on Ao3

0000

The crowd erupted in uninhibited joy, an energy that gained momentum as it spread like wildfire through tears, hugs, and the raw volume of primal elation.

After 16 years, a new generation brought the national team to a World Cup semi-final.

Lexa’s laughter was loud and unfamiliar, a childish joy taking over her body. Her teammates carried her over their shoulders, an ovation to the hero that found an impossible shot outside the box at 115 minutes. So Lexa smiled, and laughed, and bathed in sticky gatorade until Anya whispered in her ear, “They’re in.”

The speed that Lexa’s expression closed into its usual stoic stare of the “Commander” was so fast that Anya did a double take.

They were in, as expected.

But now Lexa was in, and Anya, and an entire team behind them after a historical comeback against a European powerhouse.

That meant Lexa would play the game of her life against the love of her life.

0000

“Griffin! Griffin!”

Clarke redid her ponytail as she waited for the reporter to catch up with her at the side of the field. The deafening crowd had slowed after their hard won victory and celebrations of once more being classified for the world cup semi-finals. The reporter, a beautiful redhead that didn’t reach Clarke’s shoulders even on heels, spoke hurriedly into the microphone, “Clarke Griffin, congrats on the victory and classification! You had to work hard today to achieve this!”

“Thank you, and as always, it was a team effort.” Clarke rolled her shoulder, a little stiff after the dive at the end of the second half. “We’re all excited that we’re one step closer to our goal.”

“And how are you feeling about facing Lexa next week?”

Clarke blinked hard, focusing on the little dip of the reporter’s lips as she processed the words. “I, I mean I—”

“Their game went to extra time, and Lexa scored in the second half.” The reporter smelled blood in the water and smirked, the camera missing the glint in her eyes as she said, “You’ll be facing your wife in the semifinal. How do you feel about that?”

Clarke’s shoulder ached.

“My goal remains the same,” she said in a neutral tone. “We always knew that was a possibility, and I will give 100% to my team. Thank you.” She ignored the follow-up questions and headed straight to the tunnel, following the chant of “the champion is back” echoing in their locker room. She distributed high fives with her good arm and looked around until she found dark, worried eyes. Behind the wall of red, white and blue celebration, Clarke whispered to Raven, “Are they in?”

“Yeah,” the physical preparator responded. Raven looked happy, but there was an apprehension in her tone. Her wife had assisted Lexa’s goal, after all. “Lexa. Anya’s assist.” They both chuckled dryly.

“Fuck,” Clarke whispered. “Okay. I got this. We got this. Right?”

Raven touched Clarke’s sensitive shoulder, frowning when the 6’1” keeper hissed. “Yeah, it’s just our marriages on the line. They will get over the defeat, eventually. How’s the shoulder?”

“Coach won’t let us see them until the game, will he?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Clarke.”

Someone jumped on Clarke’s back, their bubble of privacy bursted with a sharp “whoop!” yelled at her year.

“Clarke Griffin, our savior!” Octavia hugged her keeper again before jumping down her back. “I thought we were done with that penalty kick!”

“Never.” Today was a day to celebrate. She would worry about her marriage and their game tomorrow.

And Lexa would be fine. She could handle Lexa.

“Never,” Clarke repeated and shared one last look with a worried Raven.

0000

The press coverage had doubled over Clarke. Avoiding questions was getting hard, so at the press conference after their last practice, Clarke sat down in front of the flashes and microphones.

“Is the fact that Lexa is your wife going to affect your game?” The first question came from the back of the room. Clarke gritted her jaw.

“No. I’m a professional, and so is Lexa, and we will act like it.”

“You and Lexa play different positions, but these past few days, your stories have been compared. How do you feel about that?”

Clarke took a deep breath before answering. “We have unique backgrounds, as a lot of other players from her country and mine do. I acknowledge our privileges, but I don’t discount my team’s talent. This is the World Cup. Nothing else matters.”

“You play on the same team back home and you haven’t played against Lexa since before you were married.” The journalist who asked was the same redhead from after the game, sitting a couple of rows in front of Clarke. “Do you think this time playing against her will weigh on your performance?”

Clarke saw the opportunity and took it. “Nothing weighs on my performance.” She stood up, a clear signal the interview was over. “You can ask Lexa about that.”

The room broke into laughter, and Clarke walked to the back exit. Her hands prickled with sweat.

0000

“Amanda, what a game! No goals on regular time and a thrilling one-on-one in extra time. Now we’re heading for penalties to decide who will move forward to the final. And do you see that line of players there?”

“Oh, I see it, and everyone should know that this goes beyond a historical comeback for the South American team, but involves some of the player’s personal lives too!”

“Tell the fans!”

“You see, Clarke Griffin, the celebrated newcomer goalkeeper, is actually married to Lexa Woods, who won the Ballon d’Or last year, and we’re seeing Lexa lining up to take the last shot.”

“That means that, if it comes to it, Lexa will decide the classification shooting a penalty against her wife?”

“Yes, Peter, that’s exactly what that means! Seems like someone will sleep on the couch tonight!”

“Any bets on who wins this penalty shoot-out?”

“Ontari is a great goalkeeper, but Griffin has solidified her spot as the starter keeper in the team with the best defense in the championship. So my money is on Griffin.”

“Even against her wife?”

“Griffin is a stable player, and she has played against Lexa in their home league before, so yeah, even then.”

“But everything is different in a world cup. My bet is on the latinas. Lexa and Anya have what it takes to bring this new generation to another final. The referee is calling the teams to the center, so it’s about to start! Good luck to both teams!”

0000

Blood pumped loudly in Clarke’s ears. The fans behind her goal yelled all kinds of profanities and slurs, the side strategically chosen when Anya won the coin flip. She ignored the yelling and name calling, her focus on the game, defending two shots, taking both teams to another round of shoot-outs.

She had to admit that Ontari was having the match of her life, and she could also catch two shots, equalizing their numbers. Clarke bit her lip as Harper missed her shot well above the post. The crowd yelled, that unlawful volume powered by revenge.

Clarke knew they were the team to be beaten, and now it was in her hands to prove that. The referee approached her and said something. She didn’t understand a single word, but assumed it was the usual line warning and nodded, walking to her spot. She opened her arms, glanced forward, saw Octavie cheering her own, the classic “you got this” on her lips.

And then she saw green.

Lexa walked from the middle of the field, looking straight at her, her pace calm and calculated.

The woman walking down the field was not Lexa Woods, her best friend, wife, lover, mother of their girls.

That was The Commander, the ruthless striker that made her name as the best player in the world after a hard childhood in a country that didn’t care about women’s sports. Lexa had carved her name playing barefoot against boys twice her size while Clarke was being driven to practices in a new, clean SUV. The Commander was forged under fire and criticism against the super-performing men’s team, and each defeat meant a torrent of critics that Clarke herself had never faced. But Clarke had taken the opportunities given her. She had made her name and proven herself. She deserved to be here just as much as Lexa did.

She had defended five of Lexa’s shots throughout the game, and now she was ready to defend one more.

Lexa kissed the ball before adjusting it at the penalty mark, an oddity for the striker. The sound behind the goal died as Lexa took one, two, three steps back, grass staining her cheeks, her brightly colored shirt speckled with mud and sweat.

Clarke grit her teeth and saw the minute shift of Lexa’s hips.

Left.

The referee blew the whistle. Lexa ran for the call with a furious, deadly expression. Clarke jumped. Left, left, left.

Air left Clarke’s lungs as she fell on the grass, the heavy scent of earth filling her nose as she skidded to a stop.

For one moment, there was silence.

Then the crowd behind her exploded, the vibrations of the entire stadium shaking her to her core.

She looked up and looked back.

When she turned her face to the field, Lexa was already back with her teammates, being received with open arms and tears.

Her own teammates had tears in their eyes, too.

She looked back at the ball, now innocently immobile, nested securely inside the net.

“Fuck,” she whispered, her gloved hands clawing the grass, leaving blunt marks.

“Hey.” Octavia had jogged her way to her. “You okay?”

No. She wasn’t okay. Her shoulder burned, her career would be in check as “the woman who crumbled in front of her wife”, her eyes stung, and fuck, she needed a hug from the one person she couldn’t have one right now.

“Yeah.” She lied, stood up. “Sorry.”

“Fuck that. You did great. Next time.”

“Next time.”

0000

The clicking sound of cleats against the hard floor echoed in the hallway.

A security guard made his way to Lexa, but seeing who she was, he let her go through the back door.

Lexa sighed in relief at the sight of the bus still parked, running and ready to go, but women clad in white suits still boarding it. It was hard to miss Clarke, the tall, strong woman like a pristine marble statue, as she waited at the end of the boarding line.

Lexa, in her muddy uniform, stopped as every single player looked at her. The personal security from the national team made his way to her, but the coach waved him off. No other player made a comment as Clarke stepped away from the line and met Lexa, who remained on the other side of the separating ropes. The media was not there yet; no cameras, no prying eyes besides Clarke’s team.

“Hi,” Lexa said, and she really wanted to wipe away the smile from her face, but it was impossible. They had been celebrating their spot at the final with the crowd, and by the time she could slip away, Clarke was ready to go back to her hotel.

“Hi.” There was a small smile on Clarke’s lips, a little sad and defeated, and Lexa wanted to kiss it away.

“I—”

“Congratulations,” Clarke forced out, shrugging her shoulders. “That was a great shot.”

“Babe, I—”

“I love you,” Clarke cut her. “But… just give me tonight, okay? Tomorrow morning is my last day with the team and I’ll join my mom and the kids at their hotel.”

Lexa swallowed and nodded. There was so much joy within her, but that broken expression in Clarke’s eyes was making it hard to remember why she should be happy at all.

“I love you too.” Lexa extended her hand, a peace offering. Clarke took it, and Lexa pulled her a little closer, kissed her fingers. They were red, taped, and the pinkie was swollen. A goalkeeper’s hand. “Please don’t be mad.”

Clarke barked a laugh and pulled her wife into a hug. Lexa breathed, relieved, burying her face in her wife’s chest. “I’m not mad at you,” Clarke said, but her voice shook. “But I’m a sore loser, you know that.”

Lexa took a deep breath of Clarke’s perfume and grimaced at seeing the mess she made in her wife’s immaculate white suit. “You were always my greatest challenge.”

“We’ll talk again in four years.”

“Griff.” A voice called from behind them, and they turned to see Octavia calling her teammate from the bus, and every single player in the bus watching them from the windows. While Raven waved at Lexa, Octavia flipped her off with a smile. “We gotta go. And you better crush those stupid Germans in the final, Lexa.”

“You bet,” Lexa said and stopped back on her side of the rope. “Family brunch tomorrow? With the girls?”

Clarke nodded, picked up the duffel bag she had left at her feet and leaned to whisper next to Lexa’s ear, “I won’t be gentle next time.”

Lexa’s cheek warmed with a blush, because she knew exactly what those dark eyes were promising, and it had nothing to do with soccer. Lexa blinked as Clarke pecked her lips and walked back to the bus. It was driving off when she heard cleats behind her. She turned to find Anya cursing at seeing the bus drive away.

“Did you talk to her?”

“Yes,” Lexa answered her captain. “We’re good.”

“So get your head together. We have a title to win.”

“Aren’t you mad you missed Raven?”

Anya shook her head. “Not really. She sent me nudes after the game.”

Laxe chucked, walking back to their locker room. “I can’t believe you too.”

“I bet Griffin already made this whole thing sexual between you two.”

Lexa’s ear burned with heat.

“Called it!” Anya placed her arm around Lexa’s shoulder. “C’mon, Commander. After conquering the world, you can fuck your wife as much as you want.”

There was no ending to Lexa’s blazing cheeks.

“Oh.” Anya’s eyes sparkled with mirth. “I see. The fearless commander is secretly a bottom.”

“Oh, shut up.”

“Is that what she tells you?”

“Anya, I swear to god.”

“I promise not to tell your fans.”

#clexa #clexa fanfiction #soccer #world cup #hug the gays #some drama #you know the countries if you're into it and if you're not that's ok too #lexa took it all after this hmmmm....#fanfiction #sport fanfiction #I just love this game #who else has their sleep schedule ruined by this world cup #drabble

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jochoi · 3 months

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　　 ✤　 100 𝐅𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐒!!　﹐

hii! anya here. i forgot to post this after i posted the loona event so kinda late celebration post but oh well!! i just wanna say, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 100 FOLLOWERS!! these past 2-3 weeks have been really frustrating, from getting my followers back, to posting my old moodboards, etc etc and with almost all my followers back, ive finally started posting other content now!

i just want to say, thank you so much sylvie (aka @7hyein) for helping me during my first few days on a new account. without you, i probably wouldn't have gotten to where i am today with all the support ive gained from her <3

over the last couple of days, ive gotten such nice and lovely comments from you guys (especially on my face reveal 🫣) i had felt really down when i lost my account but thanks to you guys, you've helped me so much in this journey with me, making me feel happier every day and i just want to say, thank you. really, thank you.

this may sound cheesy but i mean hey you guys really helped support me, trying to help me get back my follows. i really appreciate what you guys have done for me :( i wish i could just hug you guys in person, but here's a virtual hug 🤗🤗

I LOVE ALL OF MY MOOTIES ALOT, THANK YOU TO EVERY SINGLE ONE FOR FOLLOWING ME!! :3

#✤　 anya talks　﹐ （⁰∽⁰）#100 followers

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marchsage · 1 year

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thank you ALL so much for helping me reach 100+ followers here!! i appreciate everyone’s support a lot!

here’s an anya (+ loid and yor) to celebrate!

#anya forger #spy x family #my art #now to tagdump.... i hope u know. every like every rb every comment and every follow!! i see them and i appreciate them!!#it makes my day to see all of those interactions fr #i've had this account for around 7 years maybe? 7+? so like. hehe im really genuinely happy #thank you for your support always <3 i appreciate it a ton #also... to every fic writer that was like im writing content similar to this or smth like that. i eagerly await reading those fics <:3 #i have nothing else to say that isn't gushy but really. thank u for the support :) it means so much to me

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bllsbailey · 5 months

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Taylor Swift Attends Pro-Palestine Comedy Show In NYC

Popular pop singer and songwriter Taylor Swift attended Ramy Youssef’s Brooklyn, New York, comedy show, which was held to help raise funds for Gaza and Palestinians.

On Friday night, Taylor Swift and her high-profile friends, which included model Cara Delevingne, and actresses Selena Gomez, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Zoë Kravitz, attended the comedy show in order to show their support.

Ramy Youssef, an American-Egyptian comedian, announced on his Instagram page that all funds from ticket sales and merchandise raised by the show would be donated to American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA.)

Youssef, the host of the comedy show, declared that “100% of the proceeds” from the rest of his standup comedy tour will be donated to ANERA and will help “provide humanitarian relief to the people of Gaza.”

However, Swift has not yet made any public comments regarding the war and there was no indication that she or any of the other celebrities attending the event with her donated additional funds.

ANERA aims to provide necessary emergency aid to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and Jordan. The organization also shares news updates and reported information on the current war in Palestine.

ANERA, which was founded in 1968, has described itself as having “no political or religious affiliation,” even though the group provides aid to majority-Muslim areas. The organization has also claimed to “mobilize resources for immediate emergency relief and for sustainable, long-term health, education, and economic development.”

However, the press has characterized the charity as being highly political, despite their claims to allegedly have no affiliations to any political party or religion.

“ANERA’s reports and newsletters present a highly biased view of the conflict, ignoring any Palestinian responsibility for hardship and contributing to the demonization of Israel consistent with the 2001 Durban strategy,” according to ngo-monitor.org.

Additionally, Peter Gubser, ANERA’s president, has not acknowledged Palestinian initiated attacks against Israel and typically only focuses on Israeli military retaliations.

On October 7th, the terrorist group, Hamas, launched an unexpected deadly attack on Israel. Shortly after, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the Jewish state was “at war,” and over the following few weeks, the United States has persisted in assisting Israel in its endeavors.

“The President emphasized the critical need to protect civilians and to separate the civilian population from Hamas including through corridors that allow people to move safely from defined areas of hostilities,” the White House announced in a recent readout of President Joe Biden’s call with Netanyahu.

Pro-Palestinian advocates have urged celebrities to use their platforms to raise awareness of the war and to demand a cease-fire.

Several of Swift’s fans have also criticized her for not speaking up about the current conflict.

“I’m a massive Taylor Swift fan, and you can make the argument that pop stars shouldn’t need to speak out about war/conflict/genocide (I disagree but you can argue this). But Taylor has defined herself as someone who now speaks out on issues, even if it costs her,” one X (Twitter) user wrote. “Taylor must feel something about the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Her silence is an active choice and it betrays the image of herself that she created.”

In addition, Selena Gomez has faced ongoing scrutiny for not speaking out about the war as well.

Gomez, with over 429 million Instagram followers, expressed that she was taking a break from social media, saying that she wished she “could change the world. But a post won’t.”

Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts

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ao3feed-the100 · 1 year

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A Future Together

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/cOj7dwa

by pleaseactsurprisedxx

Famous actress Lexa Woods meets Clarke working at a coffee shop and is instantly smitten. Follow their journey as they start dating and Lexa decides to come out publicly.

Words: 1729, Chapters: 1/10, Language: English

Fandoms: The 100 (TV)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/F

Characters: Clarke Griffin, Lexa (The 100), Raven Reyes (The 100), Anya (The 100)

Relationships: Clarke Griffin/Lexa

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Celebrity, Meet-Cute

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/cOj7dwa

#IFTTT #ao3feed #fanfic #the 100 #the 100 fic

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246bce · 3 years

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Favourite episodes — The King George Job (3x12)

#leverage #leverageedit #nate ford #sophie devereaux #parker #alec hardison #eliot spencer #the king george job #okay this was me celebrating 100 followers #by trying anya-chalotra's tutorials! they rock!#we steal it back for you

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greivous-bodily-harm · 5 years

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y’all. i am fif-fucking-teen followers away from 100!

i’m-

i love yall so much!! thank u for enjoying my incoherent rambling and crying abt bellarke and other ships!!

i wanna do a follower celebration obviously, so lmk what yall would like??? i can do fics? or ask games? im not a gif-maker (i wish tho, those bitches r srsly talented) and im a shite artist but if yall have any ideas hmu!

#anya’s 100 follower celebration #the 100 #bellarke #klaroline #hosie #cheleanor #teleanor #clexa #heathers #tvd #to #tmi #tda #tid #handon #posie #fics #the society #grizzam #hallie

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stopiwanttotalkaboutcheese · 3 years

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Look. I know The 100 has been over for a while now. But I just finished it, and I desperately want to rant. Specifically, I wanted to rant about Clarke and how she was treated.

Here goes:

I didn’t recognize Clarke Griffin in season 7. Not even a little bit. She was like a totally different character, and if I’m being honest, I absolutely hated her. Which sucked, because her seasons 1-6 self is probably one of my favorite characters of all time.

But I do not understand why so many people chose to live with Clarke at the end. Actually, I don’t understand why any of them chose to live with Clarke. Not a single person. I just don’t.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the relationships Clarke has in fanon, but it just feels like the actual canon of the show went out of its way, over and over and over again, to isolate Clarke, and force the other characters to leave her that way. Which made the final scene seem cheap and completely unearned. I just couldn’t believe that all those characters would give up immortality for Clarke. I wanted to believe it. I just couldn’t.

If the show had done a better job of building those relationships with Clarke, and hadn’t completely assassinated her character in season 7, maybe I wouldn’t feel this way. But the Clarke Griffin of season 7 was selfish, short-sighted, and nothing at all like the Clarke Griffin that I was rooting for for the first six seasons. The Clarke I loved was smart, wily, and a bit manipulative, yes, but willing to put others before herself to the point where she nearly died several times over. I would follow seasons 1-6 Clarke to the ends of the earth. But I absolutely wouldn’t for the season seven version of Clarke, and I don’t blame Madi for not wanting to give up immortality for her pseudo-mother/abuser (especially after Clarke was so willing to murder her (!!)).

They emphasized all of Clarke’s worst traits, most notably those from season 5, when she resorted to literal child abuse to “save” Madi. I thought that had been addressed in season 6. I guess it wasn't, because Clarke is once again smashing helmets and making decisions for Madi without her consent in season 7. Worst of all, this character regression is more or less for no reason other than to point at Clarke and say “see! you’re an idiot for investing yourself in this character! she was the bad guy all along!! pLoT TwiSt!”

But, for me, it goes beyond badly-handled character arcs and unbelievable developments.

First off, after spending six seasons framing more or less every choice Clarke makes as “the right choice”, the “only choice”, or at least “justified”, suddenly... that’s all wrong? Hasn’t Clarke spent enough time torturing herself over Mt. Weather/Jasper/Lexa/Finn? Why does some judge that we never get any real information on get to say that everything Clarke did was for nothing?

So, Clarke gets exiled from immortality? Fine. But they should have at least celebrated her, as well. She’s the main character of a long-running TV show, and this is the finale. People are invested in her. They don’t want to hear what a terrible person she is, and how she failed in each and every way (even if she sort of did). They want to hear that she was good, brave, strong, or at least that her actions mattered. But, apparently, they didn’t, because not only is humanity extinct (which... completely misses the point of the entire show, but that’s another rant), but so is everyone Clarke loves. Yippee.

Second: if The 100 wanted it’s happy, found family, everybody-is-forgiven-and-there-are-no-consequences, beach scene so badly, here’s what I think they should have done: brought back Abby, Kane, Finn, Wells, Lexa (for real this time), Lincoln, Jasper, Monty, Anya, Harper, Bellamy, and heck, even Jake for the final scene. I know I’m forgetting others, but this would have a) brought a new meaning to “may we meet again”, and b) would have let Clarke and everyone else live out the rest of her life with people she actually bonded with. But, if I’m being honest, I thought the entire plot and “ascension” was stupid in the first place, especially because they already did that in season three.

I’m just so mad about what they did to Clarke, and to the entire show. If I had known it would end this way, I wouldn’t have bothered. What a waste of time.

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amathslutsguidetofandom · 1 month

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100 followers celebration!!!

Lovelies!!

I am being a bit childish about this ngl, but I have not expected to reach this far this quickly.

100 FOLLOWERS!! YAY!!

Thanks so much to all the babes, who thought "She looks like she knows how to write shit" and stayed.

Y'all are so real, really.

So, for this, I will be holding a five-day (ends on 1st April at 00:00 AEDT) Q&A celebration session where you lovelies can ask me anything about myself (personal questions that make me uncomfortable are not allowed, pls remember to be kind🤗🤗🤗) or about my blog, even future works/ideas, or even if I'm planning to write for a certain man or just wanna ask me which ones I currently am writing for(lmao).

But yeah ask away!

Once again, thank you girlies.

As a first-time Tumblr girlie, this is very VERY exciting *squeals*

I do my best to stay on top of things and provide you the relief y'all need.😌😌😌

Okie Bye!

Till' then

Stay Coquette-Y,

Anya 🫶🏽🕊️🎀

#anya’s psa #bucky barnes x reader #simon ghost riley x reader #steve rogers x reader #andy barber x reader #tom riddle x reader #george weasly x reader #ari levinson x reader #more to come

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star-kovs · 4 years

Photo

Hi!!!! I am soooooo excited! I recently saw that I had reached 2k followers (wtf???) and to celebrate, I thought I could do a follow forever to shoutout some of my favorite blogs and maybe give back to my followers with some gif requests and answer some questions so y’all can get to know me better as well! For any mutuals who want to participate, I can do an extra aesthetic/themed edit!

Also, please feel free to tag me in any creations! I want to do more to support the great content creations on Tumblr and I’ll be sure to share!! I’m tracking #userkaterina :)

Just ask a me a question and be sure to include what scene/character/ship you want me to make an edit of! All I ask is that for edits, you please choose from one of the following fandoms:

cloak and dagger

runaways

the 100

tatbilb/psisly

stranger things

the witcher

tgp

b99

caos

awae

qots

lucifer

teotfw

ouat

teen wolf

pll

tvd

If you want to blacklist any of my celebration, I’ll be tagging it as #kats2kcelebration!

Follow forever under the cut!

faves bolded • mutuals starred

A-C

@alisonbrie • @allanpoe • @allisonaergents* • @allsonargent • @amesantiagos • @amez-santiago • @amyscascadingtabs • @anadearmas • @anadeaarmas • @andthwip* • @anissagraces • @annastorvs* • @archiesbetty* • @argentsallison* • @arianagrandre • @arielabarers* • @astoriamalfoys • @atlasperaltiago • @avengerdaisy* • @awstark* • @babybellblake* • @baellamy* • @barnes-107th* • @bb-8* • @bellamyblakesass* • @bellamys11thfreckle* • @bellamys-clarkes* • @bellamyswan* • @bellark* • @bellarkes-hope* • @bellblake* • @bellesolo • @benkylo • @bennskywalker • @benslie • @biblarke* • @bichaelmanes* • @bigirlclarke* • @bitchevans • @bithor • @blakescaptain • @bobmorlee • @bowendagger* • @brolinjosh • @buckeybarns* • @buckybarnees* • @buckleyrobin • @cages-boxes-hunters-foxes • @captainevans • @captainheroism • @captainmarvehl • @captainmorningstar* • @captainmrvels • @captainpoe • @captainrogurs* • @captainsamerica* • @captainamericas • @captass • @carla-roson* • @caroldanverts • @caroldanvxers* • @carolthor • @carricfisher* • @cassianandior • @cath-avery • @chants-de-lune* • @charmainediyoza* • @charmanderdiyoza* • @chase-steins* • @cheddarholt* • @cheryl-blossom • @chidianagonye • @chloe-decker • @chloedeckr • @chloesdeckcr • @chloesdecker • @chloexdecker • @chloexhalles • @ciri • @clakregriffin • @clarkegriffinblake* • @clarkegriffins • @clarkegriffintitties* • @clarkegroffin • @clarke-the-ferrari* • @clarketoearth* • @clarkgriffon* • @cllarkegriffin* • @clxrke* • @commander-anya • @coveyjeanlara • @crispsevans

D-G

@daemerons • @daenerya • @daeneryskairipa • @daenerys-targaryen • @daenerystargaryes* • @daeneys-targaryen • @daisyjohvson* • @daisyridleys • @dameronn • @dameronss • @damn-salvatore* • @damnsarge • @danslevys* • @danvercarols • @danvers-carols • @dawngranger • @deanorus • @deemacs • @dianahprince • @dianaofsthemyscira• @diana-prince • @dianasprince • @diazsbuckley* • @divinepairing* • @divinespairings* • @djjarindin • @downey-junior* • @downeyjuniors • @dynjarren • @eddiebuckly* • @edithfriday* • @eleanorguthrie • @elhoppers • @elizadusku • @emiliachrstine • @emperorbensolo* • @ethansheart* • @evanbucklley* • @falsegod • @feliciahardy • @fen-ha-fuck-you • @finnskywalkerr • @flawlessbellamy* • @florenepugh* • @florencespugh • @fnnpoe • @frankcastle • @frecklessbellamy • @gabriellabolton • @galacticidiots • @galaxydanvers* • @gcrtschase* • @gilbertblithe • @gilbertsannes • @ginervaweasley • @goodqueenalys* • @grammaticallyincoherent • @grumpybell • @guznadia*

H-M

@harleen-quinzels • @harpermacintyre • @hasanminajs* • @hemmswrth • @hermionegrangers* • @holdsontoyous • @hostagetakerandhisgirlfriend • @hostagetakerandhistraitor* • @howaboutbucky* • @hvitstark* • @ilysansa • @inthaf • @irisanwestallen • @itsthatunique • @izzyllewis • @jackmanhugh* • @jadeskywalker • @jakeperallta • @jakeperalta* • @janemaxine* • @jason-todds • @jasperjoordan • @jazon-todd* • @jedirey • @jemmablossom • @jenniferjareau • @jimmyhopper • @jlaw* • @joanna-lannister • @johnboyega* • @johnmurphysass* • @johnny-and-dora • @jokes-peralta* • @jonahsimms • @jonas-brothers* • @jonathan-byers • @juliastiles • @jynerso • @karadanvers • @karolinadean • @karollinadean* • @kathmcnamara* • @katsbakers • @keirahknightley* • @kenobi-jinn* • @killians • @killingseve • @kylloben • @kyloren • @kylo-rey • @kyloreys • @kylos • @lameblake • @laracovinskys* • @larajeancoveys • @laurens-german • @lea-michele* • @leons-kennedys* • @lesbellamy • @lilsreinhart • @lilyscollins* • @littlemermaiids* • @llaracroft • @logan-solo • @louleblancs* • @ltfrankcastle • @luke-skywalker • @lvrsonbrie • @lydiamartinn • @lyricaokano • @madalainepetsch* • @maevewiley • @maeve-wiley* • @maggierogers • @margeaery • @mayyahawke • @melodrqmas • @michaelcorderoes • @mikejane • @mikeshanlon • @mikewheeler • @mileystewart* • @minooru* • @miss-marvells* • @monicarambeau • @montygreen* • @moonaves • @morganstarks • @morningstr

N-S

@nadiasguzman* • @natasharomonoff • @nessa007 • @nicoskarrie • @nochillsteve* • @nowyourdaisies • @nvermindiseeyou* • @odairannies • @odonoghues • @ohbellamy* • @onastyamiga • @ororos • @oscaarisaacs • @parkerpete • @pascvl • @peachy-brooklyn* • @pendragaryen* @peraltasames • @peraltas-jacob* • @perfectopposite • @peter-parkours* • @peter-stank • @peterstarkss* • @petesparkers • @phastos • @pnnzzlr • @podriickpayne* • @poedamaron* • @poedamerun • @princesswan* • @quantumarvel • @queens-clarke • @rainbowkarolina* • @rainbowkarolinas • @rcnfri • @rebeccasjack* • @rectoresstissaia • @reyslight • @richarrdmadden* • @ricky-bowens • @robertdowneys • @robertpattisons* • @romanoffsvalkyrie • @royalswan* • @sabrinaspellman • @salazarsmaria* • @samwillson* • @scodelariokaya • @scullys • @selflessbellamy* • @sergeant-santiago • @severidekelly* • @shaeheda* • @sharons-carters • @shialablunt* • @shining-rey-of-sunshine* • @solanaberrie • @solo-han • @spdys • @spellman • @spidyswebs* • @stanbarber • @starcourtreylo* • @stardustly* • @starkrobb* • @starksparker • @stephensking* • @steveharrigntons • @steverogsrs* • @stevesharington* • @still-watching • @stydiaislove • @stydiea* • @stydixa • @summercohen • @supernovablake* • @swainlake* • @swanaf*

T-Z

@tayloralison • @tayorswift • @the-most-beautiful-broom* • @the-suns-also-rise* • @thoresque • @thorsdiana* • @thwip • @tinanewt • @tmhollandss • @tomhollande • @tomhollands • @tonitopaz • @tonxstark • @tonystarks • @tonystarkys* • @torisvega • @towalkinyourlight* • @trueloveistreacherous • @tshifty • @tyrondys* • @underbellamy* • @van-dyne • @vanessacarlysle • @varchies • @veronicaslodges • @veronica-lodge • @visionmcu* • @viviansternwood* • @wandmaximoff • @watsons* • @waverly-earp • @wespers • @wheelermikes • @wicksjohns • @widonotts* • @wintersfalcon* • @wintersoeldiers • @winterswake • @wizarding • @wolfsansastark* • @wonderwomans • @wynonna-earp • @yennefer-s • @youleftme-clarke* • @youngsamberg • @yourereallyhere* • @zavens

I think that’s everyone! Sorry if I forgot you!! 🥺

#kats2kcelebration #IT'S FINALLY HERE #i'm sorry it took me so long #i put it off because it took forever to find everyone to tag and i didn't want to leave people out #well more like 2056 followers now but WHATEVER #ANYWAYSSS #YAY #🥺🥺🥺

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aaronmaurer · 3 years

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TV I Liked in 2020

Every year I reflect on the pop culture I enjoyed and put it in some sort of order.

Was there ever a year more unpredictably tailor-made for peak TV than 2020? Lockdowns/quarantines/stay-at-home orders meant a lot more time at home and the occasion to check out new and old favorites. (I recognize that if you’re lucky enough to have kids or roommates or a S.O., your amount of actual downtime may have been wildly different). While the pandemic resulted in production delays and truncated seasons for many shows, the continued streaming-era trends of limited series and 8-13 episode seasons mean that a lot of great and satisfying storytelling still made its way to the screen. As always, I in no way lay any claims to “best-ness” or completeness – this is just a list of the shows that brought me the most joy and escapism in a tough year and therefore might be worth putting on your radar.

10 Favorites

10. The Right Stuff: Season 1 (Disney+)

As a space program enthusiast, even I had to wonder, does the world really need another retelling of NASA’s early days? Especially since Tom Wolfe’s book has already been adapted as the riveting and iconoclastic Philip Kaufman film of the same name? While some may disagree, I find that this Disney+ series does justify its existence by focusing more on the relationships of the astronauts and their personal lives than the technical science (which may be partially attributable to budget limitations?). The series is kind of like Mad Men but with NASA instead of advertising (and real people, of course), so if that sounds intriguing, I encourage you to give it a whirl.

9. Fargo: Season 4 (FX)

As a big fan of Noah Hawley’s Coen Brothers pastiche/crime anthology series, I was somewhat let down by this latest season. Drawing its influence primarily from the likes of gangster drama Miller’s Crossing – one of the Coens’ least comedic/idiosyncratic efforts – this season is more straightforward than its predecessors and includes a lot of characters and plot-threads that never quite cohere. That said, it is still amongst the year’s most ambitious television with another stacked cast, and the (more-or-less) standalone episode “East/West” is enough to make the season worthwhile.

8. The Last Dance (ESPN)

Ostensibly a 10-episode documentary about the 1990s Chicago Bulls’ sixth and final NBA Championship run, The Last Dance actually broadens that scope to survey the entire history of Michael Jordan and coach Phil Jackson’s careers with the team. Cleverly structured with twin narratives that chart that final season as well as an earlier timeframe, each episode also shifts the spotlight to a different person, which provides focus and variety throughout the series. And frankly, it’s also just an incredible ride to relive the Jordan era and bask in his immeasurable talent and charisma – while also getting a snapshot of his outsized ego and vices (though he had sign-off on everything, so it’s not exactly a warts-and-all telling).

7. The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)

This miniseries adaptation of the Walter Tevis coming-of-age novel about a chess prodigy and her various addictions is compulsively watchable and avoids the bloat of many other streaming series (both in running time and number of episodes). The 1960s production design is stunning and the performances, including Anya Taylor-Joy in the lead role, are convincing and compelling.

6. The Great: Season 1 (hulu)

Much like his screenplay for The Favourite, Tony McNamara’s series about Catherine the Great rewrites history with a thoroughly modern and irreverent sensibility (see also: Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette). Elle Fanning brings a winning charm and strength to the title role and Nicholas Hoult is riotously entertaining as her absurdly clueless and ribald husband, Emperor Peter III. Its 10-episodes occasionally tilt into repetitiveness, but when the ride is this fun, why complain? Huzzah!

5. Dispatches From Elsewhere (AMC)

A limited (but possibly anthology-to-be?) series from creator/writer/director/actor Jason Segal, Dispatches From Elsewhere is a beautiful and creative affirmation of life and celebration of humanity. The first 9 episodes form a fulfilling and complete arc, while the tenth branches into fourth wall-breaking meta territory, which may be a bridge too far for some (but is certainly ambitious if nothing else). Either way, it’s a movingly realized portrait of honesty, vulnerability and empathy, and I highly recommend visiting whenever it inevitably makes its way to Netflix, or elsewhere…

4. What We Do in the Shadows: Season 2 (FX)

The second season of WWDITS is more self-assured and expansive than the first, extending a premise I loved from its antecedent film – but was skeptical could be sustained – to new and reinvigorated (after)life. Each episode packs plenty of laughs, but for my money, there is no better encapsulation of the series’ potential and Matt Berry’s comic genius than “On The Run,” which guest-stars Mark Hamill and features Laszlo’s alter ego Jackie Daytona, regular human bartender.

3. Ted Lasso: Season 1 (AppleTV+)

Much more than your average fish-out-of-water comedy, Jason Sudeikis’ Ted Lasso is a brilliant tribute to humaneness, decency, emotional intelligence and good coaching – not just on the field. The fact that its backdrop is English Premier League Soccer is just gravy (even if that’s not necessarily represented 100% proficiently). A true surprise and gem of the year.

2. Mrs. America (hulu)

This FX miniseries explores the women’s liberation movement and fight for the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s and its opposition by conservative women including Phyllis Schlafly. One of the most ingenious aspects of the series is centering each episode on a different character, which rotates the point of view and helps things from getting same-y. With a slate of directors including Ryan Bowden and Anna Fleck (Half-Nelson, Sugar, Captain Marvel) and an A-List cast including Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba, Sarah Paulson, Margo Martindale, Tracey Ulman and Elizabeth Banks, its quality is right up there with anything on the big screen. And its message remains (sadly) relevant as ever in our current era.

1. The Good Place: Season 4 (NBC)

It was tempting to omit The Good Place this year or shunt it to a side category since only the final 4 episodes aired in 2020, but that would have been disingenuous. This show is one of my all-time favorites and it ended perfectly. The series finale is a representative mix of absurdist humor and tear-jerking emotion, built on themes of morality, self-improvement, community and humanity. (And this last run of eps also includes a pretty fantastic Timothy Olyphant/Justified quasi-crossover.) Now that the entire series is available to stream on Netflix (or purchase in a nice Blu-ray set), it’s a perfect time to revisit the Good Place, or check it out for the first time if you’ve never had the pleasure.

5 of the Best Things I Caught Up With

Anne With An E (Netflix/CBC)

Another example of classic literature I had no prior knowledge of (see also Little Women and Emma), this Netflix/CBC adaptation of Anne of Green Gables was strongly recommended by several friends so I finally gave it a shot. While this is apparently slightly more grown-up than the source material, it’s not overly grimdark or self-serious but rather humane and heartfelt, expanding the story’s scope to include Black and First Nations peoples in early 1800s Canada, among other identities and themes. It has sadly been canceled, but the three seasons that exist are heart-warming and life-affirming storytelling. Fingers crossed that someday we’ll be gifted with a follow-up movie or two to tie up some of the dangling threads.

Better Call Saul (AMC)

I liked Breaking Bad, but I didn’t have much interest in an extended “Breaking Bad Universe,” as much as I appreciate star Bob Odenkirk’s multitalents. Multiple recommendations and lockdown finally provided me the opportunity to catch up on this prequel series and I’m glad I did. Just as expertly plotted and acted as its predecessor, the series follows Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman on his own journey to disrepute but really makes it hard not to root for his redemption (even as you know that’s not where this story ends).

Joe Pera Talks With You (Adult Swim)

It’s hard to really describe the deadpan and oddly soothing humor of comedian Joe Pera whose persona, in the series at least, combines something like the earnestness of Mr. Rogers with the calm enthusiasm of Bob Ross. Sharing his knowledge on the likes of how to get the best bite out of your breakfast combo, growing a bean arch and this amazing song “Baba O’Reilly” by the Who – have you heard it?!? – Pera provides arch comfort that remains solidly on the side of sincerity. The surprise special he released during lockdown, “Relaxing Old Footage with Joe Pera,” was a true gift in the middle of a strange and isolated year.

The Mandalorian (Disney+)

One of the few recent Star Wars properties that lives up to its potential, the adventures of Mando and Grogu is a real thrill-ride of a series with outstanding production values (you definitely want to check out the behind-the-scenes documentary series if you haven’t). I personally prefer the first season, appreciating its Western-influenced vibes and somewhat-more-siloed story. The back half of the second season veers a little too much into fan service and video game-y plotting IMHO but still has several excellent episodes on offer, especially the Timothy Olyphant-infused energy of premiere “The Marshall” and stunning cinematography of “The Jedi.” And, you know, Grogu.

The Tick (Amazon Prime)

I’ve been a fan of the Tick since the character’s Fox cartoon and indie comic book days and also loved the short-lived Patrick Warburton series from 2001. I was skeptical about this Amazon Prime reboot, especially upon seeing the pilot episode’s off-putting costumes. Finally gaining access to Prime this year, I decided to catch up and it gets quite good!, especially in Season 2. First, the costumes are upgraded; second, Peter Serafinowicz’s initially shaky characterization improves; and third, it begins to come into its own identity. The only real issue is yet another premature cancellation for the property, meaning Season 2’s tease of interdimensional alien Thrakkorzog will never be fulfilled. 😢

Bonus! 5 More Honorable Mentions:

City So Real (National Geographic)

The Good Lord Bird (Showtime)

How To with John Wilson: Season 1 (HBO)

Kidding: Season 2 (Showtime)

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy Vs The Reverend (Netflix)

#tv #television

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the-two-headed-deer-survived · 4 years

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The 12 Clans vs Ark Station: Nuance

I’m honestly not fond of grounders as a whole or their society, and basically this is to explain where a lot of that stems from.

So, basically this “essay” is going to compare the society of the 12 Clans (grounders)* to that of the Ark Station. The worldbuilding around the ark station is complex; everything surrounding the grounder’s culture boils down to violence or revenge.

The Citizens of the Ark:

The society and government of the Ark were deeply flawed: its one child policy, classism, “all crimes are capital crimes”, teenaged criminals are basically kept on death row for months or years until they can be executed, its willingness to sacrifice the few for the sake of the many. But we see aspects of their culture beyond that; I’m not even arguing that they’re redeeming characteristics, just that the worldbuilding is nuanced and the society doesn’t seem completely awful.

Democracy

The Ark has a functioning democracy. Former Chancellor Sidney was voted out of power, so Chancellor is not a position held for life and the Ark’s democracy is functional enough that Chancellors can be voted out by the people

The fact that theoretically the people of the Ark could vote in a Chancellor whose campaign centered on say, repealing the one child policy (or at the very least, pardoning anyone who breaks it); idk it just adds nuance to me that the people have power and that at least many of them support the Ark’s draconian policies- it’s not all the government being tyrannical

They have very limited resources and thus everyone’s use of resources is limited- even the Chancellors

As we see from early season 1 after Jaha is shot, everyone- including the Chancellor, the most powerful person on the Ark- has a “legal limit” on the amount of blood and other medical resources that doctors are allowed to give them. The fact that there’s at least some equality in their harsh system

Religion

We see some of a religious service held by Vera Kane, and we see how their religion centers around the small tree they have, which followers water with drops of their own water

(And we see Nygel dismiss this as “a waste of water”; like in real life, not everyone is religious)

The Traveller’s Blessing, which we see used as funeral rites

I think it’s interesting the insights you can take from it- “until our final journey to the ground” echoes Clarke’s “man can go home, back to the ground. The ground, that's the dream”; I get a sense they as a society long to go “home” to the ground, viewing the Ark as almost a liminal place

Unity Day

We see one of their holidays- Unity Day, as well how they celebrate it- we see both a Unity Day pageant and a Unity Day masquerade dance

Unity Day celebrates the founding of the Ark, and their Unity Day story told in the pageant gives some insight into their values (”they realized life would be better together“) and thus their culture

Chess

In a flashback, we see Clarke and Wells playing chess in a rec room surrounded by other people playing chess. So, we get at least a small glimse at what the people of the Ark do for fun

The black market

This one isn’t necessarily a positive, but through Nygel (and Raven trying to buy a pressure regulator from her) we see some of the common people subverting the laws of the Council; the people aren’t powerless. (And it makes it feel more like a real society).

Plus, Abby states that “Kane’s been trying to get [Nygel] for years”, indicating that their justice system requires at least some proof

Education

Obviously, the people of the Ark have an education system/have been educated, but I feel like it’s important to note that they’re passing down information beyond what’s necessary for survival- Bellamy’s numerous references to the greeks/romans, Monty knew Korean, Bellamy and Clarke know about Oppenheimer, Clarke was probably taught by someone how to draw, etc.

Yes, the Ark has a class problem, but everyone gets an education

Well’s quote: “ It's called cutting sign. Fourth-year earth skills”; we get a glimpse into their education system

There’s probably more, but you can see how the Ark feels like a real society with a flesh-out culture; with both good and bad elements.

The 12 Clans:

Really, my main issue with grounder culture is how everything stems back to violence and revenge, and how highly violence and revenge is held. There are the obvious, of course: Jasper the unarmed teenager is speared for crossing a river, Anya reacts to the flare killing Trikru villagers by attacking barely armed teenagers in the woods and then deciding to wipe out all 100 of the teenagers, “death by a 1000 cuts”, the fact that Finn’s execution was supposed to start with fire, Lexa reacts to Skaikru killing army of Trikru soliders (so from the same people that only months ago tried to wipe out the 100) by declaring that she’ll wipe out Skaikru (despite the fact that she knows that had lost that challenge/duel only days ago, that same army would’ve been used by Ontari to wipe out Skaikru). There’s more (so much more) but I’ll stop there.

And like, this would be one thing if the grounders had a culture outside of violence and revenge. Or valued other things besides how good people at fighting. But we don’t see that at all. Every worldbuilding element stems back to violence.

“Your fight is over”

Even their funeral rites tie back to violence; peoples’ lives are defined by fighting and wars, and the only way to escape is to die

The Commander

The Commander is a tyrant who can murder ambassadors- and thus, presumably anyone- without consequence (see Lexa and that guy she kicked off the tower for questioning her)

Religion

So mid season 3, we start learning about grounder’s beliefs (Becca, the inifity sign as the sacred symbol, praimfaya), but surprise! it’s all about violence after all

Who gets the Flame (which is basically the be all and end all of their religion) is decided by a conclave aka children fighting to the death

That’s the cornerstone of their religion (and also their political system- fun); children fighting each other to the death

Fleimkepas- the priests basically- go around kidnapping nightblood children from their parents and then the head fleimkepa raises them to kill each other when the time comes

(Yes, I’m sure some parents voluntarily gave their nightblood children up, but Madi’s parents felt the need to hide her from fleimkepas, meaning they take nightblood children with or without their parents’ consent)

“Love is weakness”

This really tells you a lot about their values, doesn’t it

“A warrior does not mourn until the fight is over”

War > love/family/personal connections

Children train from a young age to be warriors, and are sent into battle as young teenagers

Infants with mutations are left out to die as “a stain on the bloodline”

Wanheda

You gain power from your kills

Kill marks

Language

Even the language, trigedasleng, (per word of god) was supposed to have started out as a code language used by the warriors (which makes no sense, as it’s also the universal language of the 12 clans now, but I digress) (sidenote: this might now longer be true now that we know the language was created by Callie)

Only the warriors speak English (which also makes no sense because trigedasleng is the universal grounder language why do the warriors need to know English at all, but that’s canon, Lincoln said it early season 2), which might indicate the warriors get better education (or more likely is just bad worldbuilding)

All the leaders are warriors

The tattoos/facial scarring

They’re used to distinguish the clans, but as we recently learned in season 7, that the meaning behind them (for Azgeda, at least) is that they’re ready to go to war

And like, even if it was just to signify membership in your clan, given how the clans seem to be constantly at war, it almost seems like just a way to identify “us vs. them” (see: Echo, as an Azgeda spy, didn’t have any facial scars or tattoos)

Medicine

Most of what we know about their knowledge of medicine/biology is from how they use ‘medicine’ for war: Lincoln’s poisons and antidotes, trikru’s use of biological warfare in season 1

The clothing

You cannot convince me that the Grounder Look (all the black leather that they wear) is not just for the Badass Warrior Aesthetic TM

To be fair they do burn their dead, occasionally name people after local pre-apocalpyse landmarks, and have clan symbols. But really isn’t enough worldbuilding-wise.

So, violence surrounds almost every aspect of their culture and thus it does not seem real or anything but irredeemably awful.

And yeah, it’s really the fault writers’ and I applaud fanfic writers who try to create some sort of actual culture for the grounders but like this is what we canonically have and thus, grounder society annoys me.

*I’m excluding Luna and her people from this; they were explicitly described as trying to get away from the 12 Clans/the Commander’s Coalition and its wars and culture of violence

#the 100 #the 100 meta #anti grounders #the ark station #mine #my thoughts

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margoshansons · 4 years

Text

Desperate Measures: 9/?

Masterlist : Bellamy Blake x Reader

Summary: Finn schedules a meeting with the grounders, Y/N’s secret is revealed, and another tragedy strikes her and Clarke. But at least they have alcohol and party games

Warnings: slight angst, violence, swearing, references to sex, alcohol, teenagers being teenagers

Notes: I loved writing this and I wish there were more instances of parties in the 100 because they’re super fun to write and imagine. Based on 1x09 ‘Unity Day’

She had missed alcohol, especially the moonshine back on Agro station that she and Miller used to steal for each other's birthdays. As Jaha's speech continued to ramble on behind her, she was the first one to celebrate as Jasper and Monty brought out the still of moonshine.

"We call this batch Unity Juice!" Jasper called, dishing it out in the metal cups they came down with.

She and Miller clinked cups as they downed the burning concoction, their throats on fire as it rerouted to her brain, waking her up and sending a spike of adrenaline through her body. It felt so good to let loose once again, to just forget about saving the camp, forget about the grounders, and forget about her dumb feelings.

"Having fun yet Sparky?" Bellamy asked, stepping beside her.

She nodded, tension falling from her shoulders as the moonshine swished around in her stomach, "The most fun."

A laugh escaped his mouth at the sight of Y/N going for another drink, gulping down this one just as fast as the last.

"Whoaaa" Jasper called from his buzzed state, "Looks like we may have someone who can give me a run for their money."

She flashed a smirk at the floppy-haired delinquent before grasping her gun and taking a post at the wall, her eyes scanning the forest for any sign of grounders.

"Hey, hey" Bellamy stopped her, grasping the weapon, "Uh, what are you doing?"

Her eyes narrowed and she tilted her head, "Taking watch, someone has to."

"And that someone is me" He announced to her, holding another cup of unity juice in his hands, "You go have fun, you deserve it."

Y/N smiled cautiously as she traded the rifle for the alcohol, warmth filling her chest from the small contact that had passed between them. She sat down next to the fire, joining Jasper and Monty in the middle of a drinking game.

"Y/N!" The latter called, his friend too drunk to respond, "Thank goodness you're here. We're playing never have I ever and Miller's crushing us all."

A sneaky smile crossed her face as she joined for a round. "Don't worry, I know exactly how to take him down."

Miller leaned forward, an eyebrow raised in a challenge as it reached him once again. "Never have I ever had sex during the engineering test."

She drank, drawing the attention of the crowd toward her. She shrugged, "What? I was bored so I left for a bathroom break" The rest of the group burst into laughter, "I still got a perfect score though,"

"Bullshit" Raven called out, a crooked smile on her face.

She wiggled her eyebrows teasingly, making sure to leave the answer ambiguous.

"Alright Y/N," Monty replied, "it's your turn."

She smirked, recalling a fond memory from her and Miller's time aboard Alpha station. "Never have I ever stolen from the Chief of the Guard and the Chancellor in one day."

Miller shook his head in annoyance, "You asshole," He muttered taking a gulp from his cup as the crowd burst into oohs and ahhs. She shrugged, giggles escaping as her chest continued to fill with laughter. She was having fun, for the first time in a long time.

By the time it reached Raven, she could feel the buzzing in her stomach, her tolerance beginning to waver.

"Never have I ever…" The mechanic's eyes searched the camp, her question lingering before she came up with a proper one, "wanted to have sex with anyone in this camp."

Y/N knew the question was pointed at her, but she still refused to drink.

"Oh, whatever!" Raven called her out as everyone drank, "We all know there's someone you want to bang against the wall of the dropship, and we all know it’s Bellamy."

Y/N scoffed, a fit of laughter escaping her in order to conceal her true thoughts. "First of all, having sex in the dropship is impractical and filthy, and second, Bellamy and I are just friends."

Raven rolled her eyes, "Whatever, we all know you want to tap that." She smirked as she took another sip from her cup.

"It's not like they haven't gotten close" Monroe joined in the teasing.

"I always wonder what happens when you two go on hunting missions together" Miller piped up, a wide smile on his face as he watched his best friend squirm under the attention.

"Go on Y/N" Raven baited, "It's okay to admit you're human and want to have sex with him, just like the rest of us."

"Want to have sex with who?" Bellamy's voice rang out behind her and she froze, eyes watching as playful expressions tightened across the delinquent's faces before Raven spoke up again.

"I'm gonna go get some more drinks, anyone else want some?" Her eyes teased the poor girl before Monroe and Miller stood up to follow, leaving Y/N and Bellamy sitting by the fire alone.

He joined her on the log as he asked his previous question, "So, who do you want to have sex with?"

She rolled her eyes, "I thought you were above petty games."

"I am" He smirked, "But you're avoiding the question, so I thought I'd ask."

She took another drink to calm her rising nerves, "And so the asshole makes another reappearance."

Bellamy laughed at the comeback, Y/N's gaze flickering over his profile, examining the freckles on his face, his olive skin glowing in the orange embers of the fire.

"Here" he spoke, pulling out a group of berries from the inside of his jacket, "I thought you'd like some."

A gentle smile crossed her face as she reached into his palm, grasping at the red fruit before popping it into her mouth, "You're just trying to get me to sober up."

"Maybe" His lips tugged upward, "Or maybe I just wanted to share my findings with the smartest girl on earth."

She paused at the compliment, meeting his heated gaze. The gaze that kept flickering to her chewing mouth. She licked her lips, swallowing the berries, along with the nerves she had been hiding for the past few days.

***

She grinned in satisfaction as the washer she threw bounced off the table into the cup on Fox's side. She let out a cheer of victory as Drew and her clapped their hands together.

"You gotta drink that!" She yelled at Sterling, who rolled his eyes. She felt the weight of an arm on her shoulder and turned to face Drew, whose hand was now dangling close to her chest.

They watched in baited silence as Sterling lined up the next shot, landing perfectly in the tin.

"Oh come on" she complained, a bright smile on her face. She grasped the cup and plugged her nose, Drew shooting a wink at her before she downed the contents of the cup. "That all you got?"

"You're amazing at this Y/N" Drew complimented, a twinkle in his eye as he moved closer. "We make a great team."

Her response was cut off by a deep voice cutting through the trees. "Y/N!"

She whipped around, a wide smile growing on her face as she caught the movement of Bellamy Blake coming toward her.

"Bellamy!" She ran forward, his anger dissipating as she left the washer pong table. "I'm so happy you're here, we need a referee on our side, Monroe's too biased."

She barely caught the glare Bellamy sent Drew's way, eyeing the delinquent up and down before pulling her to the side.

"I need to talk to you" He glanced around, "alone."

Y/N looked around her, "We are alone." She gasped in realization, bringing her hands to Bellamy's face before pushing his face back and forth.

"What are you doing?" He asked as her hands smushed the area around his mouth.

"I just realized your freckles have the same pattern as the star charts we used to read from the Ark" She spoke frantically, "This is revolutionary, maybe there's a correlation between being born in space and genetic anomalies." She took her hands off his face, Bellamy breaking into a toothy smile involuntarily.

"Maybe that's why my blood is the color it is." She spoke aloud, "Maybe that's why we can metabolize the radiation so well." A wide smile crossed her face as her breathing grew faster, and she moved to pull out her book, "I have to write this down--"

He grasped her wrist, drawing her attention back to him. "The scientific discovery can wait, right now we need to go."

He pulled her forward, resistance meeting him. "It’s science!" She called out in protest, "What's more important than that?"

She felt her body tugged closer to his, brown eyes boring into her own, the air turning serious. They were inches from each other, both scanning the other as she licked her lips again, refusing to tear her gaze from the bottom half of his face. Bellamy’s hitching breaths ceased with a cough and he dropped the big news.

"Finn's set up a meeting with the grounders."

"So?" She asked, crossing her arms, "Take Clarke, she's more important anyway."

Bellamy rolled his eyes in annoyance at her stubbornness, "Lincoln said the leader won't talk unless you’re there."

She gulped.

***

Y/N shared a tense glance with Clarke as they stood atop the bridge, Lincoln, Octavia, and Finn behind them. She continued to stare down the stone structure, waiting for the treeline to reveal the people who have been killing them.

The sound of hooves drew the two leaders out of their fearful stupor, watching in awe as several horses clopped across the bridge, carrying several grounders decked out in masks and warpaint. A woman rode between them, her eyes shadowed by the black paint commonly worn by the grounders.

Clarke and Y/N moved forward, waiting in the middle of the bridge as the woman dismounted, her intense gaze locking on both of them.

"Your name is Clarke?" She asked, arms crossed.

"Yes"

The woman turned toward her next. "And your name is Y/N?"

She swallowed, holding her head high. "Yes."

"I’m Anya" The grounder replied, refusing to say anything further.

"I think we got off to a rough start," Clarke's voice cut through the tension, "But we want to find a way to live in peace. All of us."

Anya tilted her head, "I understand, you started a war you don't know how to end."

Disbelief coursed through Y/N, her expression incredulous.

"No" Clarke protested, "You attacked us for no reason!"

"No reason?" Anya's glare kept flitting to Y/N, "The missiles you launched burnt a village to the ground!"

"The flares? That was a signal meant for our families, we didn't mean to harm anyone."

Anya's dark eyes stared her down. "You're invaders," She announced, fists clenching, "Your ship landed in our territory." The two grounders moved forward, spears at the ready.

Y/N spoke up, "We didn't know anyone was here."

She saw a glint of respect cross Anya's eyes before the grounder turned back on Clarke. "You knew we were here when you sent a raiding party to capture one of our own and torture him"

Y/N closed her eyes in frustration before continuing, "That's because he kidnapped one of our people and held her captive." She stepped forward, the grounders following suit. "You were the one who fired the first shot, spearing Jasper and stringing him up as live bait."

Anya grasped the knife from her belt, her hand latching onto Y/N's wrist as she pricked the tip of the knife against her palm, drawing the black blood forward.

Clarke's eyes widened as Anya pulled away.

A reverent whisper shuffled through the grounders as they watched the liquid drip onto the stone below.

"You killed one of my warriors Y/N of the Sky People," Anya hissed.

Y/N refused to let her gaze drop, "He shouldn't have killed my friends."

***

Bellamy watched with bated breath through the scope of his rifle, the interaction not going unnoticed by the rest of the group.

"Grounder princess looks pissed," Raven muttered. The three of them stayed quiet as they watched Y/N and the grounder leader invade each other's personal space, both with crossed arms.

Bellamy bobbed his head slightly, "Yeah, well Sparky has that effect."

He sent up a prayer to whatever entity remained, please let them get out of this alive.

***

Becca's words rang in her head over and over.

How you get to the goal matters.

There's always another choice.

Clearly, she hadn't met these people.

"Your commander is bold" Anya spoke to Clarke, sending a wary look at Y/N before facing the blonde again. "Is it true more of your warriors are coming down?"

"Yes," Clarke breathed, ignoring the previous statement, "but also doctors, engineers, farmers. People that can give you medicine and technology. People that will want to help you. But Ark Guards are also coming, and if they think you're a threat, they will wipe you out."

Anya mulled over Clarke's words sending another glance at Y/N before responding.

"Can you promise that your people will agree to the terms you and I set once they arrive?"

Clarke spared another look toward Y/N, who nodded, knowing it was better for Anya to know the truth than give them false hope.

"I-I can't." Clarke admitted, "I'm sorry."

Anya's eyebrows creased, eyes narrowing, "Why would I agree to an alliance that your people can break the moment they get here?"

"Because it's the only choice." Y/N piped up, holding her head up high, "We can help each other. With your knowledge of the land and our technology, we can both find a way to live peacefully."

Anya shot a wary look at the girl, and it almost seemed like she was considering her words until a gunshot rang out.

"You set us up!" Anya yelled, brandishing the dagger from earlier as she moved to lunge at Y/N.

A bullet ripped through the grounder's arm instead, and Clarke and Y/N used the distraction to run back into the forest, their feet pounding against the grass as they followed their path back to camp.

Her side split in pain from the run back, and she grasped her ribcage as she panted, hoping to catch her breath again.

"I told you, no guns!" Finn yelled.

"And I told you we couldn't trust the grounders, I was right," Clarke yelled back, and Y/N had to agree with her. "They cut Y/N open to see her blood, who else were they going to kill?"

"They what?" Bellamy asked, his tone turning dark.

"Why didn't you tell me what you were up to Finn?" Raven's voice joined the conversation.

The longer-haired kid's face grew red in frustration, "I did, but you were too busy making bullets for your guns!"

Bellamy moved forward, "You're lucky she brought that! They were there to kill you, Finn."

"You don't know that! Jasper fired the first shot!"

Octavia threw a sneer at Jasper, "You ruined everything."

"I saved you!" He yelled back in protest.

Y/N watched as Finn invaded Bellamy's personal space again, "Well if we weren't at war already, we sure as hell are now." He then turned to Clarke, hurt in his eyes, "You didn't have to trust the grounders, you just had to trust me."

He stormed back into camp and Y/N finally had enough strength to pull herself up from her crouched stance.

"Best unity day ever" She spoke sarcastically, a sonic boom cutting off any remaining responses.

The three leaders stared into the sky, watching as an object hurtled itself down to the ground at an unnaturally high speed.

"The Exodus ship?" Bellamy asked confused, "Your parents are a day early."

Clarke's face broke out into a wide smile while Y/N examined the ship itself.

"Something's wrong," She muttered, "Too fast. No parachute?"

She watched in horror as the ship disappeared behind the ridge of a mountain, the only remains of the people inhabiting it a mushroom cloud of smoke. She and Clarke collapsed into each other, pain setting their bodies aflame as they came to the realization that both of their parents were gone.

For good.

Just like Wells and Charlotte.

Never coming back.

***

Bellamy sat on the edge of Y/N's bed, watching as she sucked the remainder of the black blood from her skin, allowing the prick to scab over.

"Well, now you know my big secret." She joked, a fearful look in her eyes as she met his gaze. Bellamy exhaled, grasping her hand in his.

"If black blood is your worst secret, I think we're okay." He teased, a smile on his face. She returned with a small smile of her own.

"My mom told me to keep it hidden" She spoke, a wave of nostalgia washing over her, "Said it was incredibly valuable. Said it was how we survived."

Y/N gazed off into space at the thought, "Marcus never saw it as a problem, always said that my blood didn’t make me special. He was always saying inspirational shit like that." She wiped the tears from her face at the thought of her adoptive father dying in a cloud of flame and smoke. Even as he arrested her, she hadn't wanted him dead.

She’d never wanted him dead.

"Hey," Bellamy resisted the urge to pull her into his arms, "Hey it's gonna be okay. You don't have to be strong around me remember?"

Y/N sent him a grateful smile before playing with her fingers nervously. "He floated her." She spoke through her thick voice, "My uh, mom. Marcus floated her. For trading morphine of all things."

She tried to laugh it off unsuccessfully. "A friend of mine needed school supplies, so my mom traded morphine from the clinic to get it. She was caught and …well you can guess the rest."

Bellamy's chest panged in sympathy, eyes scanning the vulnerable look on Y/N's face as he recalled his mother's own floating.

It's why he hated Jaha, why he refused to acknowledge any of the authority figures of the Ark. No wonder Y/N didn't want to talk to her dad.

“And then he- uh, arrested me.” Y/N continued, trying to swallow the lump that had formed in the back of her throat. “Sent me off to the skybox without so much as a goodbye.”

"I'm sorry," He offered his condolences, wrapping his fingers in her own, thumbing the back of her hand.

"I've been losing people for as long as I can remember," She whispered, breath hitching, "I don't want to lose anyone else."

"You won't" Bellamy's chest thumped as he found himself wanting to fulfill that wish, "I promise,"

Y/N sent him a small smile, the two enjoying the comfortable silence they found themselves in.

We getting some quality time with these two, but this is probably the last bit of happy times we’re getting for a bit, so enjoy it!

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incorrectly-quoted-queers · 4 years

Text

Drunk Punch Love: INTERMISSION ARCHANGEL

Pairing: FemShep and Garrus Vakarian (Shakarian)

Rating: PG-13 (with some tossed F-bombs)

Summary: Their awkward, badass journey through saving the galaxy and accidentally falling in love

INTERMISSION ARCHANGEL: 100 Days

Their team was growing faster than Garrus or Sidonis could keep up. Their first base was Garrus' shitty apartment in Zakera Wards, where he and Sidonis stayed. It only took a free drink for Garrus to get Lantar's story. Sidonis wanted to bite back because the Blue Suns used to use Ward kids to run errands, get info, sneak in where they couldn't. Like Citadel Rats, but much more dangerous. He was a homeless kid and they gave him persk and safehouses; he grew up in their systems and never questioned it. That is, until they upgraded Sidonis to be a handler and then willingly sent all of his kids at a target to get killed. "Had to test their guns", they said. Most of his life, Sidonis just thought the danger was normal, that none of it was a big deal. But after none of his kids came back, he realized he was just one of the lucky ones.

He wanted to help make more lucky ones.

Worked for Garrus, and having a remorseful ex-informant gave them a lot more options on Omega. Garrus' name caught a little too much attention from the mercs who'd run into him and Shepard before, so they leaned on Sidonis' contacts to build up a team and get leads. And after a few duo missions to get the point across that they were serious, the locals started calling Garrus "Archangel".

It was a good enough code name.

In only a few months, they picked up infamy and six other guys. Apparently, word of trying to strike back against the mercs travelled fast.

The first to join up were locals, like Ryel Eros, Jawth, and Nikolai Butler. Ryel used to work for Aria as a guard, but went underground when he found some of her practices unsavory. Jawth used to help the rich stay safe on Omega, but he got sick of how many cameras refused to look out. Reminded him a little too much of his fracture homeworld. And Nikolai spent all his life on Omega, even was a member of Eclipse for a long time. But then he fell in love with his wife, Nalah, and he couldn't make excuses for himself anymore. Especially not when Eclipse sacrificed her merc sister, Ezzi, in favor of some payday.

Oddball outcasts like Gibbon Allus, Ro'Wytte Vas Omega, and Danit Zol followed. Without their own homes anymore, they wanted to do some good in one of the worst places in the galaxy. Garrus could hardly say no to a Salarian explosives expert, a Quarian trap technician, or a Batarian tech genius. Especially since he was pretty sure Gibbon had been in the STG at one point and the guy applied to the team by blowing up a whole lading dock.

Everything they did started small; protecting a few local businesses, stealing some drop offs to get in the gangs' way. They called themselves a merc group, but their money didn't come from people paying them for protection. That would make what they were doing pointless, a new band of thugs taking over. No, they stole from those drop offs and worked with that.

Back in the day, Shepard called that "Robin Hood style", when they took from bad guys. He finally bothered to look up the Earth story. He kinda liked the idea of it. It was just his style, too; breaking the rules to do the right thing.

Over time, Ryel and Sidonis' old connections started to net them serious jobs, and get them serious infamy along with it.

By the time they succeeded in their first big operation, breaking a nearby blackmailed mining colony out of the Blood Pack's grips, Garrus couldn't even take his guys out for drinks anymore. His gear was too recognizable. Instead, Butler's wife picked up the booze and they celebrated back in the dingy apartment.

It wasn't much space, but it was enough to fit eight guys and all their gear, so for one night it would do. And Garrus was finally feeling like a real person again, like the things he did mattered, so he was more than happy to drown himself in that, no matter how crowded it was.

Maybe he wouldn't have to drown himself if he still didn't think of Shepard each time Nikolai ordered vodka.

Even when things were going good, though, it was hard not to think about her sometimes. She would've loved this. At first she'd just find it hilariously absurd, this sheer variety of misfits banding together to try to fight merc presence on Omega of all places. But then Shepard would've admired it. Hell, she would've put everything she had into it. Maybe that's why he found himself so dedicated to pulling these guys together.

Yeah, he couldn't think about that too long or he'd be lost in a glass of ryncol again. And he avoided doing that nowadays.

Garrus just tried to enjoy what he had at the moment. Some good fighters, a good team, and they were doing some damn good.

And thank fucking spirits, they never asked him to make speeches.

Butler did like to get real talkative when he started drinking, though. Between his name and attitude, he was like the bizarre love child of Joker and Shepard, something both of them would find disgusting. Garrus had to admit, it made him like the guy more.

Standing on the damned table, Butler said, "To the asshole turian that brought us all together. I'd let you snipe me anyday, Garrus."

"Sounds like a pick-up line, but I'll take it."

Butler wasn't done. "I shot my first guy when he was trying to mug my friend, and Eclipse took me in. I thought they were saving me. But this? This is what's saving me."

Garrus wasn't sure what Nalah put in their drinks, but soon all of them were getting nostalgic. Across the room, Danit was fiddling with this handheld puzzle he always had with him. He didn't look up, but he added his own comments. "People don't expect Batarians to be much more than gun-toting mercs. I like proving them wrong, in every category."

Ro'Wytte started chuckling. "Hell, I enjoy being a good guy Quarian rebel. The Flotilla doesn't get to tell me how to make the galaxy a better place."

"I feel that way about STG."

Jawth chuckled from across the room. "It's the only reason why I like you, Salarian."

The constant troublemaker, Ryel, was the one sitting in the corner with his arms crossed. "Yeah, we all know each other's reasons for being here real well. Comes up in a cramped apartment. But what about you, Garrus? You've been pretty tight lipped about what got you here."

Moments like these cut a little too close to the woman he was failing to run from. Luckily, Alliance military wasn't too keen on sharing Shepard's team dossiers and Sidonis was the only one with an obsession for battle vids. As far as they knew, he was just a skilled turian sniper who wanted to bite back.

Before he could open his mouth, though, Sidonis started talking. "Garrus has the best story, guys, he-"

Garrus cut the well-meaning loud-mouth off. "I'm no one. Just an ex-C-sec who got tired of the red tape. After the Battle of the Citadel, I... lost myself. Ended up here. Couldn't help but try to do some good."

Everyone else wasn't really paying attention or didn't really care that much, but Ryel smirked at him like he knew a secret. "Okay, Vakarian, keep your secrets."

Growing uncomfortable with the spotlight, Garrus was about ready to spin some bullshit about his childhood or a lost girlfriend. But Gibbon and Danit bored easily, so the second conversation lulled, they lured most everyone into some sort of card game. Only three people weren't playing: Butler ditched to go home to his wife, and he and Sidonis stuck to the sidelines. He could already feel the questions burning in Lantar's mouth before he said anything.

It only took all of thirty seconds for Sidonis to ask, "Why are you keeping your past a secret from them?"

"They don't need to know."

"I dunno, if I knew my squad leader helped take down a rogue Spectre I'd find that pretty inspiring."

He was trying not to get annoyed, he really was, but Sidonis just didn't get it. Everything about that time in his life was choked out by Shepard. He could share stories, ideas with them. But having them know he was close buddies with the now dead Savior of the Citadel? He didn't want to go down that road with all their questions. His heart used to hemorrhage so much blood he could feel it every second of every day. Now, it just got weak sometimes. Garrus couldn't go back just because his team got curious.

Them falling in love with his "old hero days" with her would not help.

And he didn't want his team talking about her the way the vids did; it would be fucking unbearable.

Garrus just tried to keep his answer simple, though. "I don't want to make what we're doing about who I was then."

"Oh, I get it. You want them to see you as their leader, not Commander Shepard's lackey?"

The question was so self-centered, it stunned him. But did he really want to keep this line of conversation going, the kind that tiptoed around the awful truths of Anya Shepard and her long-gone ballet shoes? Yeah, thinking about that much longer felt much fucking worse than Sidonis not understanding him. With a wave, Garrus said, "Sure. That."

"Okay, so not that." Sidonis leaned against the wall next to him and said, "You know, you're not going to be able to keep it from them forever."

"Says who?"

"You really like leaning into this whole mysterious, masked vigilante thing, huh?" Sidonis laughed at him, but the more Garrus glared at him, he only seemed to find it funnier. "You're a regular turian Batman, scowl and all."

"Who the hell is Batman?"

Even though his mood was pretty soured, Sidonis had this nostalgic grin on his face that was kinda infectious. If Garrus wasn't so annoyed, he wouldn't hate it. "When I was a kid, one of the other Omega Rats had these old Earth comic books. They were filled with superheroes and we idolized them. One was a cranky guy named Batman, who was just a normal human, but with lots of tech, training, and dark hero-type convictions. You kinda remind me of him."

Garrus just stared at the guy, because everything that came out of his mouth sounded crazy. But he also didn't want to admit it sounded like some of the crazy human stories Shep used to share with him. He'd bought a couple James Bond vids on impulse, down at the shops. He didn't want to tell Sidnois that. Instead, he focused on the absurd hero part. "Why would anyone take a guy named Batman seriously."

"Coming from a guy code-named Archangel." Garrus growled, but Sidonis just kept on smirking. "You can glare and growl all you want, but you're a hero, backstory or not. Get used to the fact these guys just want to know you because they believe in you." Then, he bumped shoulders with him and added, "But if you want to remain a man of mystery, I got your back."

This time, Garrus stayed quiet, no growling or glaring. Because he didn't want to remember the same words coming out of his mouth only a few months ago, and where that got him. Or the woman he said them to.

Across the room, Danit and Ro started to argue about who was cheating, because of course one of them couldn't just lose. It was starting some chaos, and Sidonis went over to break it up. However dumb it was, it was nice to be apart of something again; something that brought good, weird people together.

He hated to admit how much it reminded him of the Normandy.

Looking at his guys, maybe where he ended up after Shepard wasn't so bad, after all. If it didn't take losing her to get here, he didn't want to change anything, honestly.

But losing her was still going to be the hardest part of all this, no matter what.

The best he could do was enjoy what he had left. Walking over to the table, he asked, "Deal me in?"

Jawth tossed a hand of cards to him, ready to go. "Never thought you'd ask. We need another guy with the proper quads in on this."

No one took that very well, but Garrus was happy to play the game to the sweet sound of their bickering. He was really starting to love hearing it.

I like Garrus' team more than I probably should, and it definitely made me a little over-indulgent and distracted while writing it.

BUT I did name some of these characters after my friends so I'm a little biased.

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#Drunk Punch Love #Shakarian #femshep x garrus #Garrus Vakarian #Anya Shepard #Lantar Sidonis #Mass effect fanfiction #mass effect #bioware romances #Omega

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