#I have contemplated it at least once per person
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GILBERT VON OBSIDIAN EVENT STORY....
PREMIUM.
I just love you.
translations are not 100% accurate. expect mistakes.
special thanks to @otomehoneyybearr for proofreading! ♡
minors and ageless blogs dni.
Gilbert: Good evening, little rabbit. I never expected you to come here so late at night.
Upon entering Gilbert’s room, a man wearing a robe with his face hidden was leaving in passing.
(I hope I haven't interrupted something.)
However, Gilbert, who was sitting at his office desk, greeted me with a smile, and there didn't seem to be any deception in his appearance.
Gilbert: A night visit?
Emma: No, not quite!
Gilbert: Sharing a bed?
Emma: Not exactly…
Gilbert: Then, did you want to go back home?
Emma: …No.
Gilbert: Hmm, then what is it?
Emma: It’s something else.
The answer seemed unexpected, and his red eye widened in surprise.
Gilbert: ….Really? What did you come here for?
(After much thought and contemplation, I suddenly realized something.)
(What I want to know now is not about myself.)
Emma: A surprise interview.
Gilbert: Huh?
Emma: I am here to request an interview with you, Gilbert.
Gilbert: ….
(I would like to know more about Gilbert.)
(….There’s a strange emotion swirling within me, seeking to understand its true nature, more than the desire to return to my hometown.)
Gilbert froze in shock for a few seconds, and eventually lowered his gaze.
Gilbert: Ha….Haha.
Emma: I-I didn't mean to say anything that funny….
Gilbert: It's quite interesting. Even though you’ve lost your memories, you still think of others before yourself, huh….?
It was not an accusing tone but a gentle voice, full of compassion.
(….You’re a big villain, but because of that, I think it’s why I can't go back to the land of roses.)
Gilbert: Okay. I'll tell you everything you need to know about me.
Emma: Thank you!
Gilbert: Of course, but I expect something in return.
Emma: ….
Gilbert: Ahaha, I won’t do anything for free, after all, I’m a bad person.
Emma: What do you want?
Gilbert: Hmm, let’s see….
Gilbert taps his lips with his finger.
Gilbert: How about once per piece of information?
(….Is he suggesting a kiss in exchange?)
Without my memories, Gilbert, despite being my fiancé, is practically a stranger.
There's no way I would have no reservations about kissing a stranger.
(What's more, a member of Obsidian's royal family? There’s not just embarrassment, but also fear beyond shame.)
(However, if I give up now, I won't be able to learn anything about Gilbert….)
Emma: All right.
Gilbert: That was surprisingly quick decision, wasn’t it?
Emma: I just need to endure a bit to get what I want. There’s no need to hesitate… or at least I hope so..
(….Probably.)
Gilbert: "Endure", huh?...I see.
Gilbert: Since it seems bearable for you, shall I receive payment upfront for what you can endure?
Emma: Huh?
Gilbert: Don't worry, I don't lie.
Gilbert stood up, enveloping my field of vision in darkness.
Gilbert: Go on, hurry up.
(….)
━━FLASHBACK━━
Gilbert: Hehe, you're full of opening..
Emma: You villain! This is outrageous! That was my first kiss, you know!
Gilbert: Was it? But I did it once before.
Emma: That was part of your evil plan so it doesn’t count!
Gilbert: So this one counts then.
Emma: What— no! It was an accident!
Gilbert: Oh, was it? Then what’s the problem?
━━FLASHBACK ENDS━━
(What...what was that just now?)
(I've done this before…)
This time, my lips were tapped by his finger, snapping me back to reality..
(No... I have to overcome this predicament now.)
I made up my mind and held Gilbert’s cold cheeks between my hands——
Telling myself it’s just a momentary thing,
I swiftly kissed him, unsure if it was felt or not.
Gilbert: ….
Emma: I-I did, didn't I?
Gilbert: Yes, in the little rabbit’s world, that’s called a kiss.
Emma: Is that not right?
As I tried to play dumb and divert the conversation, Gilbert sealed my lips.
(!?)
Not only did he touch me, but he bit my lower lip, and my heartbeat suddenly accelerated.
Gilbert: Next time, do it properly, will you?
Emma: ….Under…stood….
(My face ..feels hot…)
Gilbert: So, what's the first question?
Despite resenting Gilbert, who was smiling so refreshingly as if nothing had happened, I composed myself.
Emma: First of all...what are your favorite and least favorite foods?
Gilbert: I don’t have a least favorite. We can’t afford such luxuries in Obsidian with chronic food shortages..
Gilbert: But, as for my favorite food…
——
(Wow...there’s so many ingredients!)
The kitchen I was led to was filled with a sweet aroma.
The source seems to be in the oven.
Gilbert: You often made the things I liked here, Little Rabbit.
Emma: Me…?
(This aroma…)
━━FLASHBACK━━
Gilbert: You certainly have quite some nerve, offering me a gift and then trying to take it away again.
Emma: Does that mean you’ll accept it?
Gilbert: Of course. I was just starting to feel hungry.
━━FLASHBACK ENDS━━
Emma: …Cookies, right?
Gilbert: No, it’s not.
(Huh...I was feeling confident about that one.)
Gilbert: A ‘massive amount’ of cookies made by Little Rabbit working herself to exhaustion.
Emma: …..
(…So your stomach is a bottomless pit…)
(He seeks quantity over quality, so I can only make simple sweets.)
Gilbert: What's your next question? Oh, but first…
Gilbert, bending down in front of me, prompted me to steel myself and kiss him again.
This time, I pressed more firmly than the first,
Gilbert seemed satisfied, and there was no request for a redo.
Emma: Please tell me your favorite place.
Gilbert: …Right, in that case——
——
(The stars are beautiful….!)
In a spacious area at the back of the castle, covered entirely with glass, we were enveloped by the beautifully gentle start.
Standing in the center, where the Obsidian crest was engraved, I gaze up at the sky.
Emma: This is an understandable choice of place.
Gilbert: I didn't pick this place because I like the scenery, you know?
Emma: Was there something else?
Gilbert: Yeah. There's a deeper reason.
Emma: ….Am I part of the reason?
Gilbert: Of course.
(I wonder what it is...I definitely feel like something happened in this place.)
(It hurt, it hurt, it just hurt... something like that——)
━━FLASHBACK━━
Gilbert: I'm sure there will be plenty of people who are kind to you in the future….
Gilbert: A terrible man like me who leaves nothing but pain will never appear.
Gilbert: Hehe...I don't think you can forget even if you want to.
Emma: ….You’re right.
Emma: …It's not fair….
Gilbert: Because I’m a big villain.
━━FLASHBACK ENDS━━
(….)
Not just once, not twice, but thrice— with each press of the warm lips, inexplicably, tears welled up.
Emma: ….Why do you love me so much, Gilbert?
When I voice the question I wanted to know the most, he bites my lip.
The pain was strangely endearing.
Gilbert: I could go on and on about what I love about you, but I think the best thing is this.
——
When Gilbert came to my room, he opened the desk drawer without hesitation.
Gilbert: Ah, I knew it was here.
Gilbert: I always tell you to carry it with you, but you never did….
The moment I saw "it," my heart froze.
Gilbert: It can't be helped, so I'll put it on for you.
Emma: I-… I’m fine, really!
Gilbert: Don't be shy.
Before I could run away, Gilbert grabbed me and forcibly sat me down on a chair.
My skirt was lifted, revealing my thighs, where a leather belt was wrapped.
(Ever since I lost my memory, I've been wondering what this was.)
(But somehow I felt like I had to wear it, even though I didn’t know why….)
Gilbert knelt down and inserted a silver lump he held into the belt.
With delicate rose decorations on the metal part and a bright red rose charm attached to the handle,
“it” was undoubtedly a weapon called a “gun” to kill people.
Emma: ….Does this have anything to do with why you love me?
Gilbert: Yes. You promised to kill me.
Emma: ….
Gilbert: For you, who doesn’t hurt anyone, to say that… I was happy.
Despite the ominous words, the voice that reached my ears was sweet.
The sound of my heartbeat was threatening to stay etched in the mind.
Gilbert: You said you would take responsibility and kill me, so I chose to live.
Emma: …..
Gilbert: Hehe, you look pale.
Emma: ….Of course, I do.
Gilbert: Don't you want me to die? I'm practically a stranger to you now.
Gilbert: Furthermore, I’m a big villain who can shake the whole continent.
Gilbert: If you kill me, the world may be at peace.
Emma: Still…! I absolutely refuse to…let you die.
(It hurts…)
(…It’s painful.)
━━FLASHBACK━━
Emma: What even is love?
Gilbert: That’s easy.
Gilbert: Its wanting someone to live. I wanted them to live.
━━FLASHBACK ENDS━━
(….I——)
Gilbert: That’s what it is.
Emma: ….Huh?
Gilbert smiled and rested his hand on my cheek.
Gilbert: Your heart is always beautiful.
(Ah…)
(…So that’s what’s going on…)
His red eye that is filled with sincere emotion.
Despite having trampled over countless people and built up a dark legacy upon many corpses,
He is not a good person, and has committed so many crimes that he didn’t deserve redemption.
Even just loving someone was a crime, and he could be punished at any time.
(But I still strongly wished for him to live.)
(My heart is so tainted that I can’t even face my homeland.)
(And yet, Gilbert is always…)
━━FLASHBACK━━
Gilbert: Even if you’re dyed black…you’re….
Gilbert: The most beautiful person I've ever seen.
Gilbert: That's why I wanted you.
Gilbert: No matter how dirty one may think, you remain untarnished.
━━FLASHBACK ENDS━━
(….)
It wasn't until I met Gilbert that I realized the feeling of being unable to let go even though it is full of pain and suffering.
Pushed by the feelings reviving in sync with the heartbeat, I kiss him again.
When I opened my lips, our tongues intertwined with each other as usual, and heat began to spread throughout my body.
(You’re a big, troublesome, bad guy, but I've grown to love you.)
(…That's why I'm in Obsidian.)
After our long exchange of kisses, when we finally parted our faces, Gilbert traced my wet lips with his finger.
Gilbert: Do you still have questions for me?
Emma: …Yes.
(There’s just one final thing I want to ask you——)
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#ikemen prince#ikepri#ikemen prince spoilers#ikepri jp#ikepri translations#ikemen series#cybird#gilbert von obsidian#ikepri gilbert
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Check Me Out
Steven Grant x fem!Reader (Marc and Jake featured)
Rated R for librarian by day stripper by night, marc and jake are steven’s wingmen and biggest fans, nudity, i’m very long winded, steven’s never been to a strip club before and neither have i and doesn’t know how it works
3,369 words
A/N: big thank yous to @aellynera for beta-ing and coming up with a title that’s the perfect stripper/librarian double entendre (i’m still cackling), and to @dameronology and @foxilayde for answering questions my quick google searches couldn’t 😂 this was supposed to be a quick drabble so idk how it’s over 3k words now but i hope you all enjoy 🥺
You should really ask her out. She's practically begging you to.
It's moments like this that Steven really wishes Marc would shut the hell up.
"There's no way she's interested, mate," Steven whispers shyly to the man in the mirror; or rather, the man in the computer screen. Where Marc's expressions are typically stern and calculating, he actually seems amused right now. His brown eyes are lighter than usual and there's actually something of a smile tilting his lips upward.
Are you kidding? She practically got hearts in her eyes.
Steven chances a glance over to the counter-you're staring at him and when you notice his gaze you jump and quickly hurry about making yourself look busy by scanning in the precariously stacked pile of returned books on your desk.
See what I mean?
"Just a coincidence, I'm sure," Steven mumbles. He's gotten his hopes up before, only for the object of his affections to be looking at the person behind him. Especially with someone as beautiful and charming as you, he really doesn't want to set himself up for disappointment.
You're one of the smartest guys I know, Steven. Steven can't help being a little flustered by the compliment; at least, until Marc adds, but sometimes, you're a really stupid genius.
"You don't have to be mean about it." Steven logs out of the computer and contemplates going over to you, then thinks better of it. Instead, he turns towards the familiar open mouth of the nonfiction section and remains blissfully unaware of the fact that you're watching him run away like the lovesick puppy you are.
It's hard, having a crush on a man who (to you) is so clearly not interested in you. He runs away every time he notices your attention, and you feel bad that you can't keep your eyes off him when you're so sure you're making him uncomfortable.
If only you knew.
C'mon, pack it up, Marc urges him. We've only got an hour until I need to meet my contact and I don't want to wear your clothes.
Steven almost sounds offended when he asks, "what's wrong with my clothes?"
Nothing's wrong with them, per se. But I don't want to be dressed like a youth pastor at a strip club.
"Strip club?!" It comes out way louder than Steven anticipated, and for once he's glad for the solitude of his history corner.
He set the terms. It'll be a quick in and out. Who knows, maybe you'll want to stay and enjoy the show.
Steven really doesn't think so. Not only because he's being dragged to a strip club as part of some mission of his alter's that he really doesn't want to condone, but because he's never believed in looking at a woman or man or anyone disrespectfully. And he's not so sure he'll be able to help it if he lets himself relax to enough to watch.
"Thanks bruv, but I'll pass," Steven grumbles as he absentmindedly drags his fingers over the hard cover spines of books that haven't been checked out in ages.
He doesn't have to look at his reflection to know that Marc's smiling.
Your loss, man.
Steven fumbles around asking you about your day and if you have any plans for the weekend as you scan the pile of books he's taking home, and he hears more than one exasperated sigh from Marc; especially when Steven leaves your domain yet again without asking for your number.
Once the books have been safely organized on the desk, Steven yields the body to Marc. He watches with interest from the mirror as Marc takes a frankly ridiculous amount of time rummaging through the closet to pick out an outfit.
There's another voice coming from the mirror while Marc goes about his task.
Just pick something. It's not rocket science, no one's gonna be judging you for what you wear.
Marc glares over his shoulder at the reflection that spoke. "If I don't dress the part, I'll stand out like a sore thumb."
Let me dress us, then.
Marc almost snorts at that. "You're well-versed in strip club attire, are you?”
Jake responds with a snarky smirk. I'm better at looking human than you.
Sorry, I hate to interrupt, but we're going to be late if you take much longer, Marc.
Marc takes a deep breath and scrubs a hand over his face at Steven's comment.
"Okay. Fine."
And just like that, Jake's in.
It takes him all of five minutes to select the perfect garments that blend into a sense of casual nonchalantness; the perfect look for an unsuspecting afternoon strip club goer.
Marc begrudgingly thanks Jake for how quickly he managed to throw together such perfect street clothes when he fronts again.
So what exactly are we doing, lads?
“We’re retrieving an ushabti,” Marc explains simply as he goes about slicking his dark curls back. He doesn’t know how Steven can stand parting his hair—it drives him insane to get the soft strands in his face when he’s working.
An ushabti? The excitement is quite evident in Steven’s voice, even without Marc looking over to see the way his alter’s entire face has lit up. Whose ushabti, pray tell?
“Set.”
The gasp Steven emits is almost comical. Set? The Set? As in, god of chaos Set?
Marc looks over and gives him a simple nod before grabbing his jacket and double-checking that the apartment keys are tucked safely in his pocket. “Yeah. That’s the one.”
Oh my days.
Typical Steven. More interested in the ancient action figure than the strippers.
It’s said with the fondness of an older brother cuffing the younger on the shoulder, but Steven lets out a disgruntled hum anyway.
Marc ignores the conversation between his alters as he starts down the street, eyes focused on his feet and hands tucked in the pockets of his jacket.
It’s not an action figure, bruv. It’s… I suppose maybe you could use figurine, if you wanted to be archaic.
What’s the difference between a figurine and an action figure?
Steven almost scoffs at his alter’s ignorance. An action figure is a child’s plaything, innit? And a figurine—
Is something you find on the shelf at your grandma’s house. There’s a smirk in Jake’s voice as he says it—not as ignorant as he’d lead Steven to believe, but instead making a friendly game of toying with his alter.
You’re absolutely impossible, Steven groans, frustrated. You’d be hard pressed to find an ushabti at a grandmother’s house—
What, your grandma didn’t put her dolls on display?
Steven’s starting to catch on to Jake’s teasing, but he doesn’t mind continuing the argument. Well, that’s not quite right, is it? Considering that ushabtis aren’t “dolls”…
Barbies, G.I. Joes, whatever, Jake chuckles. I never could tell the difference.
Well typically—
“Will you two quit?” Marc growls under his breath as his steps come to a halt outside of the club. “We’re here.”
The stench of cigarette smoke and alcohol is almost enough to gag him as he pushes the door open and lets his eyes adjust to the dramatically different amount of light.
He takes a long look around the room—marks each exit and entry, notes how tall the catwalk is and how far the bar is to the bathroom. He could close his eyes and draw blueprints of the building in just a few seconds.
Probably one of the last places on the continent that allows smoking indoors, Steven chokes out. Smells bloody awful, doesn’t it?
I used to really like the smell, Jake interjects. Reminds me of grandpa’s house.
I don’t know if I could ever get used to this. Already feel like I need a good wash.
Marc can see Steven’s visage in the shiny silver of one of the large poles spanning from the ceiling to the catwalk stage—sees the way his alter shudders in contempt as if his skin is crawling.
And then he diverts his attention from the poles to the people attached to them.
There’s three poles along the long catwalk and the two outer poles are inhabited by dancers—clearly talented, seamlessly blending the art of dance with the skill of shedding their clothes without using their hands.
My, my. Jake lets out a low whistle—his silhouette shines in the uninhabited middle pole. We should go on more field trips like this, boys.
“This isn’t a pleasure trip,” Marc whispers. “Remember what we’re here for.”
Jake hums his assent. Body’s all yours. If you need me, I’ll be over here enjoying the show.
“You’re unusually quiet, Steven.”
I-I’m looking for this friend of yours.
He sounds unusually bashful, which Marc finds odd. There’s not a lot that gets Steven speechless.
“I already found him.”
The contact is a burly, middle-aged man nearly twice Marc’s size. He’s got a full graying beard and he’s lounged in a plush armchair like he’s never felt more at home.
Marc slides easily into the seat next to him—smiles and thanks the leather-clad waiter that offers him a drink. Just water; he doesn’t dare drink on the job.
He’s cute, Jake notes with a hint of amusement in his tone.
“They all are,” Marc replies under his breath.
Would you look at that. She’s got an Oxford tattoo, Steven hums with interest about one of the dancers on the catwalk. I wonder what her major is.
Jake snorts in good humor. You’re one of a kind, Steven.
Thank you, I think?
Marc tunes out his alters as the man beside him shifts—leans forward and carefully sets a small stone statue on the table between the two men.
Coast is clear, Jake tells him after a moment of observation. Marc gives the room a cursory glance, then smoothly swipes the ushabti from the table and slips it into his jacket.
By the time he’s done, the contact is already gone. But Marc knows it’s not the last time he’ll see the man—he’s a good guy who keeps a tight watch on the black market when it comes to things that Khonshu and the other gods don’t want falling into the wrong hands. Marc’s never actually talked to him—their interactions have always been these inconspicuous drops. But he’s got a suspicion that the man was an avatar at one point, although he’s not sure whom his contact might’ve served.
Don’t tell me we’re leaving already. There’s a hint of disdain in Jake’s voice when Marc shifts in his chair, about to stand up.
“Why not?”
We just got here! C’mon, we’ve at least got to stay for the headliner. It’s rude to leave without dropping some cash.
Marc doesn’t know why he’s even considering staying. It would be smart to leave as soon as possible and get Set’s ushabti into safekeeping.
Instead, he leans back in his chair and takes a sip of water.
It’s been a long, long time since he let himself relax and enjoy something like this, even just for a moment. He can’t remember the last time he felt so inconsequential, and it’s soothing in a way he didn’t know it could be.
I’d much rather go home, if that’s alright with you lads, Steven pipes in. I was hoping to get some extra reading time tonight.
Just sit back and enjoy it, Stevie. The smirk on Jake’s face almost makes Marc smile. Who knows, maybe you’ll see someone you like. I’ll ask her out for you, if you want.
Steven nearly chokes on his own tongue. I don’t think that’ll be necessary, but thank you.
The waiter comes back around and offers a refill as the two dancers vacate the catwalk, so Marc isn’t paying attention as the song changes and the announcer’s booming voice proclaims the stage name of the woman who comes on and takes her place at the center pole.
But when he focuses back on the dancer, he’s completely intrigued.
She moves fluidly and skillfully, like it comes to her as easily as breathing. It’s awe-inspiring, really—watching the way you spin and twirl around the pole and make it look like the easiest thing you’ve ever done.
Oh. My. God.
Steven’s never fronted so forcefully, and he mutters a string of profuse apology to Marc as he darts to his feet.
“It’s her.”
Did I miss something? Jake asks with an appraising hum as his eyes trail over you, and Steven has to fight the urge to scold him for looking at you like that.
Holy shit. Marc says it with a disbelieving chuckle—rubs his eyes like he doesn’t quite believe what he’s seeing. It’s the librarian.
Wait, that’s a librarian? Jake almost sounds offended. Damn, if I knew she was why Steven was always going to that place, I wouldn’t space out so much.
“She’s not why I go,” Steven argues indignantly. “My god, she’s… she’s incredible, isn’t she?”
Why aren’t you hitting that?
Steven nearly gasps at the question. “I’d never hit her.”
I didn’t mean—
Never mind, Jake, Marc chuckles. I’ve been trying to convince him to ask her out for months. He won’t do it.
Steven can’t drag his eyes away from you, even though he feels unworthy to watch your talent. He’s nearly writing sonnets in his head, putting to words the way you sway like a flower in the breeze and light his heart on fire.
“She’s so beautiful.” Steven’s voice is filled with quiet reverence—the kind used around sleeping babies and fragile relics. He doesn’t want to risk shattering this moment.
You sure you don’t want me to ask her out for you?
Steven feels his face flush with heat and has to consciously keep himself from twiddling his thumbs. “She’s not interested. Not in me.”
Jake groans at Steven’s pessimism. Marc, talk some sense into him.
Trust me, I’ve tried. There’s a fond smile on Marc’s face as he speaks. He can’t be reasoned with.
Give me the body, Steven. I’ll take care of it for you.
“No!” It’s louder than he means for it to be, and he looks around bashfully to make sure no one’s looking. Thankfully, the music’s loud enough to cover for him. “Jake, really. You’ll just make an embarrassment of me.”
Now, when have I ever let you down, buddy?
Steven’s hard pressed to find an example, and it’s slightly irritating. He doesn’t have a good reason not to let Jake take the reigns—not a good reason that he wants to share, anyway.
In all honesty, Steven wants you to himself. He wants to ask you out and date you and do it without Jake holding his hand, but he’s just so damn nervous. He can’t handle the possibility that you might turn him down, that you won’t want anything to do with him. Not having you at all and pining from afar, to him, is a much more desirable outcome than having his heart broken.
Jake’s more perceptive than Steven gives him credit for, though. If there’s one thing he’s well-versed in, it’s interpersonal relationships.
Dude, you’ve gotta shoot your shot, Jake tells him firmly. She’s not gonna completely shaft you, even if she’s not interested.
Steven’s about to reply but he stops short because all of a sudden your eyes are on him. He almost feels like he’s been set on fire because your eyes are dark with concentration on your craft and your gaze lingers on him for way longer than it should, even as you spin around the pole and fling yourself upside down.
It’s so intensely intimate, keeping this eye contact with you while your tits are on display for him to see.
Go over to the ATM, Jake instructs. Get some ones.
Steven’s too shellshocked not to obey. He’s never done this, doesn’t know how much cash he should have. He’s not really even paying attention as he puts his card in the machine and pulls out a hefty stack of bills; his eyes are attached firmly to your increasingly less clothed form.
I’ve gotta hand it to her, she’s really good, Marc hums appraisingly.
“Oh god, I’m a bloody pervert, aren’t I?” Steven whimpers. He’s so ashamed that he’s looking at you like this, and yet he can’t will himself to stop.
You’re supposed to be watching, Steven, Jake hums with interest. That’s why she’s here.
He feels a tinge of jealousy that he’s not the only one watching. There’s so many sets of eyes on you, all seeing your gorgeous body and the way you move so sensually to the rhythm of the song.
And yet he’s the only one who has your gaze. He has your focus as you spin and twirl and awe the crowd.
Suddenly, he can’t help thinking that maybe Marc’s right. Maybe you are interested.
Get closer, Jake urges. Throw some ones, see if she’ll let you tuck some into her panties.
Steven nearly chokes at the implication. “Stars above. I… I think I’m in over my head here, mates.”
Offer’s still on the table, Jake shrugs. I’ll get her for you if you want, bud.
“No.” It’s firm, decisive. Steven’s made up his mind: he’s never going to do anything with his life if he can’t be brave right now. If he can’t do this, he can’t do anything. Later, he’ll realize that’s not true; but for right now, it gives him the push he needs to walk right up the edge of the catwalk.
You transition effortlessly from the center pole to the one at the lip of the stage, as if you’re magnetically drawn to Steven’s presence.
Up close, it’s even harder not to make a bumbling mess of himself. There’s miles and miles of smooth, beautiful skin on display for him and it makes his head spin. Like this, it’s easy to block out all the background. It’s just you on your podium and him white-knuckling the edge of the stage, trying to keep his breathing under control as the song starts to crescendo towards its end and your movements become faster, more complex and skillful.
As the song ends, you strut easily to the edge and kneel down in front of him, torso twisting in time with the final notes of the beat.
Go on, Steven, Marc urges. It’s okay.
Marc somehow always knows exactly what his alter needs to hear.
The words give Steven the courage to reach up and tuck a few folded bills into the waistband of your panties—his face is so heated he’s almost worried he might pass out.
“Hey handsome,” you whisper. This confidence of yours is so different from your typically mild-mannered demeanor at the library, and it sends Steven into a tailspin. “Don’t think I’ve seen you here before.”
“F-first time,” he says with a nod. “You’re a brilliant dancer.”
“Thank you,” you tell him with a smile that nearly makes his knees buckle. “I’m done for the night, want to grab a drink?”
Oh god. Oh god, red alert. It’s happening. He didn’t even have to take the initiative.
Suddenly, he feels so stupid for waiting so long to make a move. So much wasted time spent wondering if you might return his affections when you could’ve already been his for months now.
Marc’s voice is firm. Speak, Steven. Don’t leave her hanging.
“Right,” Steven breathes. “Y-yeah, that would be swell.”
You smile grows impossibly brighter as you stand up—Steven’s eyes are level with your legs, and he gulps thickly as his eyes trail slowly up your body to your face.
“Let me go get dressed and I’ll meet you at the bar.”
Holy shit, Jake hums with an amused chuckle as the three of them watch you strut off backstage. Look at you, Steven. Didn’t even need my help.
“Don’t say that yet,” Steven whispers back. He falls back into a thickly padded chair with a heavy sigh, suddenly sweaty and shaky with the adrenaline of it all. “I feel rather light-headed. It’ll be a miracle if I’m still conscious when she gets back.”
THE END
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#steven grant x reader#marc spector x reader#jake lockley x reader#moon knight x reader#steven grant fanfiction#marc spector fanfiction#jake lockley fanfiction#moon knight fanfiction#cece writes
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succession s4 e1 recap: bridget random-fuck and the logan roy selfie fiasco
happy return of succession, everyone! and with that, my completely unhinged and ridiculously time consuming recaps. i was honestly not sure i wanted to go down this rabbit hole for another season, but given that it is our last, i think i'll have to.
my coping mechanism currently is complete and utter denial. let's see how long that lasts.
we start off the episode at the most depressing birthday party there ever was. did you think the season one birthday party was bad? at least there was baseball and logan nearly dying. in season four it's all greg calling himself an honorary kid and fingering a girl called bridget in the guest room.
something tells me logan is regretting teaming up with tom and greg right about now.
in california, the siblings are pitching investors on a new media venture. as per usual, there's a lot of bullshitting involved and i can't tell if kendall is high or not during all of it, but it's nice to see the sibs be a team - at least for now.
back in new york, kerry is not happy with greg bringing bridget random-fuck to logan's party. couldn't agree more.
as for shiv, she is totally fine with the idea of tom getting a drink with naomi pierce.
this is definitely the face of someone who is fine:
if this was any other show, i'd launch the theory that shiv is pregnant right here. but this is succession, so that seems unlikely.
also, maybe i'm just projecting, knowing that snooks is pregnant.
either way, we've got a fantastic shiv episode on our hands. can't wait for sarah to win all the awards.
connor is polling at one percent, but is getting squeezed. as willa says, it's all super greedy, since his opponents already have all the other percents.
frankly rude to do my guy con and the conheads dirty this way. what would an election be without an unhinged billionaire, i mean, i can't remember. it's the american way.
anyway, this is the look of someone who has just been reassured he will still be part of the business, even if he gets a divorce:
super reassured.
bridget random-fuck keeps causing problems. first, she posts about a pierce family member being at the birthday party on social media, then she asks logan for a selfie saying, and i kid you not, kar-ching.
all the unhinged gerri kellman lesbians immediately notice her in the background, judging.
bridget is like an unhinged version of greg in the first episode of season one. good for her.
meanwhile the birthday boy is having a great time without his kids. nothing screams birthday like contemplating your own mortality.
i've also seen some posts that are like "wow so much has happened in ONE year", indicating that this is logan's 81st birthday, but i'm not sure. they don't mention his age specifically, so i think we can just live with the ambiguity of whatever timeline we are comfortable with.
i personally think it's been a few years at least. if not, shiv and tom's marriage would have lasted what, six, seven months? rude.
after shiv's phone call with tom, the kids start realizing that logan is planning to buy PGM (again), and they immediately back out of the business venture they have been planning for the last few months.
and the award for most delusional goes to kendall for this comment:
roman is the only one that's not into buying up a dying media conglomerate because he is a girlboss. he's really the only one who wants to build up a new company from scratch and i'm so proud of him.
what a journey we roman fans have been on. truly.
logan takes his best pal, colin, on a date, and we realize, once again, that logan respects the people who work for him more than he ever will his children, because his children have been given everything all their lives.
logan does a whole "is there anything after death" shakespearean monologue and the odds that he will die by the end of this season are forever in our favor. this pleases me:)
connor wants to use his wedding as a political stunt, which makes me think the timeline of this season will be super short. will all the episodes take place during the ten days leading up to the election?
seems strange, given that they travel to norway, but it's an interesting thought.
greg has sex in the guest room and logan has CCTV. or at least tom wants greg to believe he does. anyway, i don't really want to get into it. poor bridget.
gerri, it seems, is still out in the cold after the dickpick ordeal. truly destabilizing to see our queen on shaky ground, but also good for her that she gives less of a fuck, leaving karl to look like this:
perfection. he is and will always be a true foodie.
anyway, logan doesn't take the news that his kids also want to buy pierce well.
on the west coast (in napa?), nan is truly weaponizing her liberal image and the whole "i'm just an old lady who doesn't understand capitalism"-vibe.
it's a sight to be seen.
roman, of course, sees right through her.
but it doesn't really matter, because the roy kids are too occupied with waging war on their father to notice they are getting played.
and to think i'm lowkey rooting for this idiots...
greg doesn't want to see what happens in guantanamo and leaves dealing with random-fuck to colin, the one true hero of this show.
gerri is straight up not having a good time.
we need to save her.
the kids offer up 10 bill for PGM. it feels extremely rushed and stupid and driven by revenge, but i'm glad to know roman knows how many zeros there are in a billion.
someone get him to new york asap so he can show gerri.
the kids win the bid and logan is not happy:
this is the look of a girl who needed a win. bless her heart.
because eventually, shiv goes back to new york and has to face tom, the traitor, disguisting boy from st. paul who wants her to talk....
... and if you know anything about being emotionally repressed, you'd know that is absolutely not an option.
so they lie there for a bit and hold hands and all of a sudden i realize that this stupid show has done it again. they made me care about a bunch of terrible, rich people. AGAIN.
i hate you, jesse armstrong, i really do.
during the last scene, we get one of the best lines of the episode:
logan is at home, alone, watching ATN and calling cyd to complain. i honestly can't tolerate cyd slander. that being said, i do hope we get a war of the networks between ATN and PGM moving forward.
if you stayed with me for this entire recap, congrats. you're just as demented as i am.
for next weeks episode, i need more gerri. i bet you are all surprised to hear that.
#succession#succession hbo#brian cox#logan roy#kendall roy#jeremy strong#zoe winters#shiv roy#sarah snook#roman roy#kieran culkin#j. smith-cameron#gerri kellman#connor roy#alan ruck#willa ferreyra#justine lupe#tom wambsgans#matthew macfadyen#bridget random-fuck#greg hirsch#nicholas braun#nan pierce#succession spoilers
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now that ABOM issue 1 is published, i can post my contribution :] please do not repost unless you clearly credit me!!
here’s an obnoxious explanation of all my choices that is probably way too much information :
I find the most interesting aspect of the monkees to be their era of deconstructing the image that TV & studio execs had so carefully crafted. in the process of preserving this image, these execs had created somewhat palatable characters, caricatur-izing (sorry.) elements of the casts’ real personalities. the artists themselves were given an illusion of control over their brand, rarely getting the opportunity to publish the art that they made themselves.
ANYWAY.. tying this all into my piece .. i wanted to make something dedicated to frustrations felt by all members of the monkees. Peter is in the front, making strides toward the edge of the chessboard; the monkeemobile flooring it to stand in his way. I wanted the image of a monkee crushing something that was a major symbol in the show itself. what’s more iconic than the monkee mobile itself ?! my hope is that this shows autonomy on peters part, his true self contradicting this false image created by execs-- no longer a pawn for them! of course peter was the first to quit, which is why he is taking the lead. Mike was next, buying himself out of his contract in order to publish his own music and take control of his artistic career. even throughout the brainstorming process for this, i knew i wanted to put mike in his flashy (but fabulous) nudie suit. to me its such a foreshadowing of what he would go on to do in his solo career and with the first national band. i had to CONTAIN MYSELF because i didnt want mike to have a whole bunch of detail and not fit in with the rest of the subjects.. Mike is looking straight toward the audience, realizing he would like to pursue creative projects that would not be possible working with the monkees™ and everything that they symbolize. Davy looks for the edge of the chessboard, contemplating whether or not he should leave. Micky, wearing his outfit from Head (1968), holds a remote control. This is all in reference to the imagery seen in the film; he finally has the option to change the channels for himself. I actually used a screenshot from the movie to get his face & hair right. I think in the 2 years filming the show micky started embracing his curls, but the only references from a upward angle were when he was straightening his hair !!!! I ended up using the scene where he blows up the Coke machine, a satisfied smirk on his face. what an appropriate scene. finally the chessboard, white rabbits & wind up toys. I don’t think I really need to explain that aside from mentioning that the image of the wind-ups is from 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee (1969). I think this was the last official monkees thing Peter was in (outside of future reunion tours). The television special echos the themes already present in Head, so i felt like it would be a nice addition. And it shows the monkees as pawns versus having full autonomy. WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY LAST POINT ONE MORE THING ITS QUICK I PROMMY okay perpective ! I wanted to do an upward shot because First of all its fun but more importantly . it shows the cast themselves have outgrown their characters :] now who knows if ive succeeded in any of the things i attempted but at least i had fun :] and feeling like charlie iasip pepe silvia is healthy every once in a while...
#OKAY THATS ALL IM SORRY...#ive been putting off posting this because i know id get way too into putting an explanation Sigh im off a coffee.#listen i draw pictures because im too wordy and i overexplain#i could talk about color too but well. i need to stop talking.#also had to size this down do that i could post on here so sorry if its blurry. blame tumblr#a barrel of monkees#barrel of monkees#ABOM#the monkees#head 1968#33 1/3 revolutions per monkee#michael nesmith#my art#peter tork#davy jones#micky dolenz#fanart#ok to rb
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A bouquet of red spider lillies, forget-me-nots, purple hyacinth, deadly nightshades and white lillies
Why these flowers were chosen and their meaning: Spider lillies: Death, final goodbyes etc. Often used in funerals and grown around cemeteries.
Forget-me-nots: self-explanatory, but also a symbol of true love. Which in this case is subverted.
Purple hyacinth: deep sorrow, regret and a desire for forgiveness. I think this one's particularly interesting because it doesn't symbolize her directly but is, rather, very strongly tied to the impact her death had.
Deadly nightshade: also self-explanatory. Symbolises betrayal. In addition -- a plant that's (both in her universe and ours) historically been used for its poisonous properties.
White lillies: purity of the departed, when talking about death. Also for white of snow.
Four out of five flowers here are a popular choice for funerals/are associated with death. She died really young, betrayed, at the hands of the person she loved and trusted a lot, so I thought it would be fitting. Also in terms of color -- all of these together in a boquet would look like a splatter of blood on snowy and rocky terrain, which is fitting to the circumstances of her death as well.
Description:
This character died more than three thousand years the story she is from takes place. She is related to the protagonists in two ways: first is that she's probably their great-...-great grandparent's sister. Second is that they (2 twins) look very similar to her in terms of facial features.
This is significant because the guy who killed her ends up surviving and meeting them.
He's a changed man at that point. But at that singular moment when he sees one of the twin's faces for the first time, he has to Contemplate and battle a bajillion flashbacks. Which is a good thing because otherwise he would've probably ended up killing said twin. So, indirectly, she also saved her great-..-nephew's life at least once.
She lives on, very strongly, in her killer's (former lover's) memory. It's not a "haunting" or even "regret or sorrow" sort of thing, per se, but it is there. What matters the most is that he denies himself the thoughts of her because he can't admit to making a (ginormous) mistake and also because even if he wanted forgiveness, there's no one left to give it. So he just represses it further.
So that guy could become what he wanted to become above all else, one had to give up what they treasured most -- could be a thing, a person, or an action. So her killer had to trick her and then carve out her heart and eat it in order to prove his loyalty to his overlords and gain what he desired. Problem is -- he ended up detesting that as well (for other reasons). So not only was her death tragic, it was also essentially for nothing.
Her actual personality has been erased through time (fancy for "she's defined more by the impact she's made rather than by her actual self") but she did have an affinity for magic and was also very fond of crows.
TLDR: woman killed, influences the rest of the story in many unforseen ways, gives killer ptsd which he denies having for the rest of his extremely long life until he doesn't.
(The pictures were taken from these sites: red spider lilies, forget me nots, purple hyacinth, deadly nightshade and white lilies!)
#mysterious character flowers#mysterious character: bouquet of red spider lilies - forget-me-nots - purple hyacinth - deadly nightshade - white lilies
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I'm a data nerd, so this will probably not be interesting to anyone else, but I've been tracking some stats on What It All Could Be and doing analyses because I'm a loser with nothing else to do with my time.
*This is data analysis for my own pleasure. It's not in any way meant to boast, induce guilt, etc. I like doing this stuff because I find it interesting (and it's the part of my big girl job that makes me want to tear my hair out the least).
Chaptered fics are a long game. I think every fanfic writer knows, anecdotally, that with each chapter posted, hits go up a lot and kudos go up a little.
Here's something less anecdotal:
I captured current hits and kudos each time I updated What It All Could Be. As one can see, both increased chapter-over-chapter, but the hits rise at a far greater magnitude than kudos. This is understandable; as a logged-in user on AO3, you can only leave one kudo per fic. I'll touch on kudos more in a bit.
As far as hits per chapter, there's been a relatively steady-ish increase over time. Personally (and this is me pulling it out of my ass), I feel like readers may not click on a chaptered fic if they don't have evidence it will be updated regularly, or even at all. I get that. That's understandable. But you can see here that the "ball gets rolling", and the trendline for hits per chapter goes up, even though hits may not always be even/consistent.
*I've been updating on a six-day schedule, and Chapter 5 was a few days delayed because I posted Love, Comma, Ronan, so I chalk up the increased hits on Chapter 5 to the additional days between updates. Taking it as an outlier, the trendline still goes up.
Now for kudos.
Kudos, kudos, kudos...
It's almost the inverse of hits per chapter. The friendly trendline goes down, and this is expected. If they're logged in, a reader hits the kudos button once on Chapter 1, and then AO3 gives them a friendly reminder that they've already left kudos on every subsequent chapter.
And then there's guest kudos! Guest kudos always make me wonder how many "unique" kudos are present, not someone logging out to leave a kudo, or a reader without an AO3 account hitting kudos multiple times. (Don't get me wrong, I appreciate every single kudo I receive. I just find it interesting to contemplate how many kudos have the same individual behind them.)
As of the writing of this post, What It All Could Be has 267 kudos. 115 of those kudos are guest kudos, the other 152 are from users with AO3 accounts. This is actually a higher guest-to-user kudos ratio than I expected. Based on (anecdotal) review of stats on my other fics, I thought guest kudos would be closer to a third of the total kudos, but what do I know? 🤷♀️
Anyway, I had fun doing this, and I'll keep tracking this nonsense for the rest of the fic. I've got some other analyses in mind too, but figured I'd get a jump on doing nerdy stuff since I'm halfway through posting. 😌
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Bruno's Dating Life After the Movie
Ok, so obviously this is eventually (hopefully) going to be disproven if/when we get more canon, but then it just becomes an AU. This one is a bit shorter than my usual lists of headcanons, mostly because I like to think Bruno's life starts mellowing out after the movie. The worst of his life is all behind him and now things are steadily improving for him.
Mountains open up and new people arrive in Encanto
One of them is a youngish woman who quickly becomes fascinated by Bruno's gift.
She starts visiting him regularly to conduct experiments, asking him to look a minute into the future, or find specific events. She is very scientific about it, and will occasionally get frustrated when there is no hard and fast rule to be derived from these experiments.
Bruno enjoys giving her visions because he's also fairly curious about how all this magic stuff actually works, and it's always nice when people come to him for something other than "Will I have wrinkles when I'm 80?"
They get along well, bond over similar likes and dislikes, and ultimately develop feelings.
She asks him on a date, and he agrees. It goes really well, they both have a great time, but ultimately there's something nagging in the back of Bruno's head.
It clicks when he sees her interact with his family, she has nothing in common with them. She isn't rude to them per say, but she's too old to really bond with any of his nieces, and just isn't vibing with his sisters or brother in laws. She likes kids, but he figures you can't invite a ten year old out for drinks when you need advice about your neurotic husband. If they were to get married and she moved in, he would be the only person in the house whose company she really enjoyed.
After another two dates he brings this up with her, asks if she could see herself feeling at home with his family. For her credit she is honest with herself and realizes, no, Bruno is the only Madrigal she really clicks with.
They part ways amicably. It's the most peaceful break-up Bruno has ever had, and he comes away from it feeling a bit more confident in his dating abilities.
Their feelings settle into friendship and it eventually occurs to Bruno that she would probably get along well with his favorite baker, so he introduces them and ends up giving a stuttered speech at their wedding. This furthers his impression that dating him isn't a horrid curse.
When he's in his sixties a man comes to town with his two grandchildren and sets up a bookstore.
The younger grandchild starts attending Bruno's weekly story time and reports it back to her Abuelo. He decides to invite Bruno to the bookstore to read to kids once a week.
They bond over literature and a love of kids.
It takes two years for the guy to figure out Bruno leans his way, and once he does, he immediately asks Bruno out. Bruno spend a few seconds in shock, he hadn't realized his friend was a part of the queer community.
They date, it turns into a very sweet relationship.
They discuss becoming something serious, but at this point in their lives, neither of them really wants to spend the time to build the relationship into a lifelong partnership. They are both content being the unwed tio or widowed abuelo respectively.
The fact that neither of them needs more than the other can give works in their favor, and although the relationship never becomes a full partnership, they fall in love and stay committed to each other for the rest of the abuelo's life.
I headcanon that the Madrigals live a bit longer than most due to all the magic healing food they eat, so Bruno out lives his boyfriend by a few decades. He debates putting himself back out there, but he never really stops being in love with his boyfriend. In his last few years he contemplates if he regrets not exchanging vows, or at least moving in together, but ultimately decides that although the romance was a bit nontraditional, it was what he needed. They were happy, that was enough.
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Down The Rabbit Hole, Chapter 12
Word Count: 1.2k
Warnings: slight angst, a little bit of manipulation and guilt, mentions of homicidal behavior.
“Are you sure that they’re okay with this?” you asked, looking at your boyfriend.
“Tawney, you said that Britta even invited you…” Jeff replied, shrugging his shoulders, “all we have to do is make a polite appearance there, then two more other ones, and we can come back home and relax all night…”
“I’m saying this because I love you, but you sounded like such an old man right there,” you pointed out, poking him in the side as he pulled out his new phone, “we should be fun and hang out at the parties…”
“Since when are you a partier, Miss. Michaels?”
“When I got you to agree to three parties!” you smiled, looking at him. He grinned and kissed your temple. Sliding his phone back into his jeans he wrapped an arm around your waist.
“Alright, alright…what do you have in mind?” he asked, “and I’m only asking because I love you too!”
You felt the butterflies wiggling around in your stomach at his words. He caught on to your smile and pulled you a little closer to his side.
“At least midnight.”
He sighed and stopped walking through the library, “by midnight I’m going to turn back into a pumpkin…nine thirty.”
“Eleven.”
“Ten…”
“Eleven thirty!”
His eyes went wide and his jaw parted ever so slightly as he gasped, “you can’t go back up. That’s not how negotiating works.”
“Eleven thirty and you get to see what’s beyond this costume…”
“We can play fast an furious?” he asked, wiggling his brows at you.
“More like fierce and passionate…”
He looked like he was contemplating your offer before he began walking once more, this time without you. You watched as he pulled out his phone, making his way to the study room once again.
“Who are you texting?” you teased, “we’re literally going to the study group’s party!”
“Oh I’m setting my alarms!” he smirked, “Miss. Fierce and Passionate. Eleven thirty it is!"
A blush rose to your cheeks as he entered the study group. You found yourself stopping at the door when you saw Abed standing with Troy in his Inspector Spacetime costume. His eyes stayed locked on yours until Britta came running up to Jeff’s side.
“Jeff can I have a quick conversation with you?” she asked, holding a folder close to herself. That’s when she looked to you, “Tawney, you made it too! Hey, wait! Are you two doing a couple’s costume?”
You looked guiltily at your boyfriend.
The two of you were wearing similar jackets, and you looked very much like you were wearing couple’s costumes.
And honestly, it was just because you were wearing matching jackets, and shorts that were the same shade as his jeans.
Jeff mumbled something towards Britta and she turned towards you. Her and Jeff walked to the entrance to the study room, and Britta pulled you along with her.
“Wh-what’s up?”
“I need you to be the unbiased party, Tawney,” she said solemnly, “Jeff…remember last week when I had you guys fill out those anonymous personality tests for my psych class?”
Jeff sighed, “listen, if you dropped them in another puddle-“
“No, I processed the results as per my assignment,” she said quickly, cutting him off, “and Jeff…one of our friends is deeply disturbed!”
Thunder crashed outside, making the lights in the library flicker.
“Trick or dean!” Dean Pelton said from beside you, making you jump and lean into Jeff.
“Jesus…Craig-“
“Don’t forget to come by our Halloween Scare-tacular Dance, starting in the cafeteria at 9:30. Also I had the lights rigged to flicker because it’s Halloween.”
“It’s been happening for a week!” Jeff pointed out.
“Halloween Week!”
“So the lights will work on November 1?”
“All Saints Day…month!” Dean Pelton trailed off as he disappeared to remind more students about the dance.
The thunder rumbled once again and you found yourself unable not to jump and cling to your boyfriend once more. Britta raised a brow, and you instantly stepped away from Jeff.
“So uh, what does this have to do with me, Britta?” you asked, hoping to change the subject, “I didn’t take the test!”
“I’m sorry you were about to get ridiculous!” Jeff pointed out.
“Look!” Britta said quickly, opening her folder to show the two of you the test, “one of the tests came back with 70 of 75 red flags for an extreme personality disorder. Extreme, Jeff!”
“Ahh, like a dorito?” he teased.
You elbowed your boyfriend, “Jeff that’s not funny…Britta it sounds serious…what can I do though?”
“They’re like a sociopathic dorito!” Britta agreed, “a cool ranch lunatic. Only instead of zest, one member of our study group has homicidal tendencies…and I need Tawney to help me figure out who it is.”
“I think one member of our study group is an overzealous psych major!” he declared, “you probably Britta’d the test results somehow.
“No! No. I double checked them,” she said quickly, looking at the tests. Then her head shot up and she looked at Jeff, and you, “wait…are people using my name to mean ‘a small mistake?’ “
“Yes…” Jeff answered after a pregnant pause.
She looked to you, and you shrugged your shoulders, “I’m out of the loop…”
“Will you help Tawney?”
“I-I’ll do what I can…” you said softly, looking to the library, where you could spot Abed glancing at you while he danced.
“Maybe he’s a remorseless madman with no empathy who eludes detection by manipulating others!” Britta growled, pointing her scissors at Jeff
“I’d believe that!” Abed grumbled under his breath as he shot you and Jeff a glare.
“Abed!”
“Yeah Jeff, maybe we should go through your answers one by one!”
“It doesn’t matter!” Jeff shrugged, “I filled out mine randomly…”
Shirley lowered her weapon ever so slightly and shook her head.
“WHAT?” Britta hissed.
“Oh, come on!” Troy scoffed.
“You idiot that was probably the test that yielded the psychotic result!”
“Maybe.”
“What kind of sociopath doesn’t offer that information up an hour ago?”
“The kind that is waiting out the clock!” he muttered giving you a glance.
“What?”
“You sociopath!” Annie rebutted.
“No, no. I’m no sociopath!” Jeff said quick in his own defense. “I always know what I’m doing is wrong. I’m just a guy that doesn’t like taking tests, doing work, or getting yelled at. SO if any of you think about it, that makes me sanest person here!”
The group started booing at him in response, while Britta shoved the test at him, “is this your test or not?’
“How should I know?” he asked, “it’s just a bunch of bubbles.”
You eyeballed the tests, and that’s when you recognized something. Your eyes went wide as you and Annie stepped forward, taking them from Britta, “Britta…you fed these in upside down. Look at the arrows.”
Everyone looked at Britta.
“Great, she Britta’d the results!”
“Abed.”
“What?” he growled, giving you another glare, “she did!”
“Abed, come on!” Jeff said firmly.
“Why are you taking her side?” Abed hissed, “you always take her side.”
“I’m not taking anyone’s side, Abed. I just-“
“I guess you would take your girlfriend’s side,” Abed grumbled, “you know, after you stole her from me.”
Your eyes widened; shock hit you like a freight train as you heard the girls gasp.
“Abed…”
“Tawney…are you and Jeff dating?”
“Is that why you left the group?”
Chapter 13
Tag List: @lohnes16, @mckeeee-1
#down the rabbit hole#abed community#community show#troy community#greendale community college#community#jeff winger#troy and abed#troy barnes#abed nadir#abed#pierce hawthorne#craig pelton#dean pelton#annie edison#britta perry#shirley bennett
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i love putting deltarune characters in the most mundane Situations. toby fox gives us a brand new vibrant imaginative fantasy world every chapter and im like that rules but also holy shit the light world is a recognizable modern earth society? humans and monsters live together on the surface without significant political strife or prejudice? hell yeah im having characters take a bullet train to some unnamed hybrid of seattle and portland and dicking around Uwajimaya. i’m giving grillby a bun and on-trend mixology pop-ups. im pondering the potential frustrations of being the only person with blood in a tiny town full of magic-dust fucks and needing to buy goddamned tampons. im toiling deep in the dark shitpost mines contemplating crucial worldbuilding questions like "how often does rudy take his daughter(s) camping?" (at least once per season before dess disappeared, once or twice a year after that until… well, you know. gotta take it easy while the doctors run all those tests.) and "where do they go camping?" (varies, but the consistent annual spot is in the berry fields in the mountains two hours out of town. they usually go just before or after the peak of the season, when the crowds are thinner but there are just enough mountain blueberries ripe for the picking that they can harvest a ground coffee can’s worth over the week, griddling them into pancakes and snacking on them fresh while dipping their feet into the clear, cool lake at the center of the campsite. the picking isn’t quite as good in late summer, and the sun burns a little hotter, but the water is warmer and the mountain flies are too lazy to bite. go early, and the lake swarms with frisky damselflies and youth camp kids on canoes and, more than anything else, wriggling black clouds of tadpoles suckling at the shoreline for tiny flies and detritus and bumping indiscriminately into whatever young girl’s hooves happen to get in their way. when noelle was still fairly small, in her first early season, she screamed upon seeing them, sobbing profusely and refusing to join her sister and dad in the crawling water. it took them half the trip to coax her past them, dess bringing her palmfuls of the little things in various stages, rudy pointing out their tiny developing legs and eyes and saying, see, sweetheart? they’re just like little baby froggits. don’t tell me you’re afraid of froggit now, too! how am i s’posed to explain that to them at the next sunday service? and he tipped his head back and laughed as the girls giggled along in suit, sincere in their ease but secretly exchanging glances, aware of how noelle used to shiver and hide behind her parents’ legs upon seeing froggit at the socials after church, recognizing how she still to that day would startle at every sudden jolt from their otherwise friendly, bobbing calm, put off by their too-high hops, the too-fast snap of their tongue as they grabbed another donut from the box. in truth, maybe the tadpoles were easier to tolerate, moving predictably in linear swim, paddling little leggy fins, blowing kisses at the surface of the water and tickling her ankles with their… thin… wagging tails… she let any thoughts of resemblance to horrible, slippery mice scatter away like the frightened proto-froggits around her legs as she finally waded into the water, into her sister’s ecstatic embrace and the clatter of whoops and cheers bouncing across the surface of the lake from their dad, paddling in toward them, his voice betraying a slight break, maybe a choke, before he wrapped his arms around them both and held them close.) and most importantly "does the tv show jackass exist unchanged in this universe?" (yes)
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I use my blog to talk about my blorbos because it isn't socially acceptable to dm your friends essays about your blorbos but man. Civrun Godgraves huh? Man.
I am once again contemplating the complexities of his relationship with Madomian and how Caevara is a narrative foil to Madomian.
The consequence of playing Civrun is I at some point got curious about what it would be like to play the older sibling and moreover, what is it like to play the older sibling and the sibling isn't loved by all, and that sibling isn't the paragon they were meant to be, and they don't have that same sense of duty and obligation to stay.
Madomian would fucking hate Caevara and I think about that a lot. But he can't hate her too much because they're the same, in a way. Caevara at least let Aejor know how much she loved him before she left, Madomian didn't do that much with Civrun. Their terms weren't good for a while and Madomian ignored how much Civrun was struggling. Not maliciously but like. That is very much a thing that he did. Madomian wasn't complicit in Civrun's abuse per se because Ridare never showed him how bad it was on purpose, but Madomian knew Civrun was struggling and was kind of like chin up you've got this about it.
Whereas Caevara actively sympathizes with Aejor and acknowledges that being the next Omen is really mentally difficult. But in some ways, you can argue it's crueler she acknowledged it and comforted him but left anyways.
Aejor is way more confident than Civrun though and fundamentally different. He's very gifted and knows it and socializes well. He got all the good graces and social manners and composure (despite crumbling in private with his concerns with Caevara) whereas Caevara was always better at magic than him, but it didn't matter because she didn't practice the right kind of magic.
Aejor and Caevara didn't leave on bad terms which I am nigh certain will come back to bite me in the ass. Caevara is just a bitch but she does love and care for her brother more than anything. Enough to do some really awful shit and even betray people which again haha. Heehee.
Caevara isn't a good person. She isn't noble. She's very much this mentality of she'll take care of her own but she isn't beholden to this greater sense of social duty nor obligation. That kind of vibe. Okay I lost the plot of what I wad discussing
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right before i started generation 3 of my family dynamics legacy, i realized i wanted to make some changes to the original challenge !!
so i divided my changes into two sections; partial reworks (4-7) and full reworks (8-10). some of these updates are to take advantage of new packs we've gotten since, or to play with aspects i've personally never touched.
— all edits to the OG challenge in partial reworks will be in red
— there's a repeated trait in gen9 (outgoing trait from gen1) so there's an option to use an alternative trait but it will make the challenge harder
— reworks with a ⭐ next to them mean they're liable to change either because i'm not fully satisfied with them or because i want to see how the legacy plays out as i get to that point !
if anyone else wants to play with these reworks, go ahead ! but please tag me so i can see if you do !!
Partial Reworks
Generation Four: “Laugh away the pain”
Let’s be honest: you had a pretty good upbringing. Even though there were some rough patches, you know that your parent did the best they could to raise you alone. But, deep down, being alone is the very thing you fear more than anything. So, you cover it up with laughter,…both the laughter which bubbles from inside you and that which you try to create in others. You marry young in a desperate attempt to fill the emptiness that drives you, only to find later that your spouse has chosen another. Eventually, you have to face the fact that your family and the laughter are enough to hold you up.
Traits: Goofball, Loyal, Active
Aspiration: Joke Star
Career: Entertainer (Comedian branch)
Rules:
Master Music Production, Comedy and one instrument skill of your choice
Meet with a group of gym buddies once a week
Marry first significant other as a YA
Become a five star celebrity
Turn blind eye to spouse’s cheating
Eventually divorce spouse; never remarry
Generation Five: “Struggling in the city”
You come from a broken home. Growing up, you witnessed first-hand the havoc that infidelity can bring on a family. You determine from a young age that you will pour your soul into forging close relationships with your spouse and children. The city draws you, and it is there that you decide to make your home. However, despite your best efforts as a doctor later in life, tragedy claims one of your children long before their time. You wear a shroud of sadness from then on, but find that the love of your remaining child(ren) and your ability to express yourself through song might just pull you through in the end.
Traits: Gloomy, Genius, Music Lover
Aspiration: Super Parent
Career: Doctor
Rules:
Master singing and parenting skills
Reach level 5 of the logic skill
Have more than one child
Win at karaoke night at least once
Lose one child to death
Visit child’s grave at least once per week; leave their bedroom untouched
Generation Six: “Living with a broken heart”
You lost a sibling at a very young age and witnessed your parents’ grief while still trying to process it yourself. Rather than trying to pick up the pieces, you let the sadness consume you. You give into your darkest thoughts. Theft and criminal activity appeal to you, and eventually you give yourself over to that lifestyle. Even though you’re more at home in your contemplative solitude, you take comfort once in a one-night-stand. But there’s a surprising side to you; the raging in your heart is only calmed by the time you spend making things with your own hands.
Traits: Kleptomaniac, Loner, Maker
Aspiration: Public Enemy
Career: Criminal
Rules:
Run away from home as a teen & never speak to parents again
Do not “inherit” any money from parents
Make candles and juices as a coping method
Master mischief, fabrication, and juice fizzing skills
Steal at least 10 items over the course of generation
Have a one-night-stand with a coworker that results in pregnancy
⭐Generation Seven: “Here to make a difference”
There is only one word to describe your childhood: lonely. You knew from a young age that the parent you lived with took no pleasure in your company, and you’ve always felt that you were the “mistake” that resulted from a careless decision. As a result, you pour effort into building relationships with those who truly care about you, and even attempt to mend relationships with those who don’t. You have a core group of people who mean the world to you, and you spend as much time with them as you can. Becoming a teacher was an obvious choice, as it provides you with the tools you need to reach others. And while you’re a social creature by nature, you never turn down the opportunity to curl up with a good book.
Traits: Good, Insider, Bookworm
Aspiration: Friend of the World
Career: Education career (Professor branch)
Rules:
Attempt to mend relationships with estranged grandparents and parent
Maintain a club of 2-3 close friends from YA onwards
Move in with your club and live with them until death
Master the charisma, wellness, and writing skills
Marry a club member
Have at least two biological children and adopt at least one child
Volunteer with family once a week
Full Reworks
⭐Generation Eight: "Safe in my bubble"
You were born and raised in a really close-knit environment, always having someone to turn to when things got rough. Unfortunately, because of this you struggle to connect with people outside of your family. But that’s okay! You’re more interested in your job anyways. Wait, what do you mean you have to talk to people to work?
Traits: Socially Awkward, Ambitious, Creative
Aspiration: Painter Extraordinaire
Career: Painter (either branch) OR Freelance (Artist)
Rules:
Have only one (non-familial) close friend
Visit and paint from reference in 5 different worlds
Master the painting and logic skills
Gain the Workaholic lifestyle
Marry and have one child as an Adult
Generation Nine: "Lonely doesn't mean alone"
You wouldn’t necessarily consider yourself an orphan, but with your parents dying sooner than anyone else’s that you know, it feels a lot like you’ve been thrown into open waters to drown. But you have decided to take it in a stride and build your own bridges, and burn them as you see fit. Life is fleeting! It’s time to have some fun.
Traits: Non-committal, Outgoing OR Mean, Party Animal
Aspiration: Villainous Valentine
Career: Style influencer career (Stylist branch)
Rules:
Throw three gold house parties
Have a pristine reputation
Make over 10 sims
Have 5 million followers on social media
Have five children each with a different sim
Get married and divorced twice
Generation Ten: "Break the world for you"
Despite your unstable upbringing, you’re surprisingly well-adjusted! You dream of true love and, fortunately for you, you find it! But life is cruel and it's stolen away from you too soon. So, what else can you do besides find someone willing to teach you the ancient and unholy art of necromancy to bring them back! And if they come back wrong, that's okay with you. Because true love never stays dead.
Traits: Hot-Headed, Erratic, Romantic
Aspiration: Soulmate AND Spellcraft & Sorcery
Career: Unemployed
Rules:
Find true love at a young age, significant other dies prematurely
Befriend each Magic Sage, a werewolf, a vampire, and a ghost
Complete the spellcaster spellbook and make every potion
Successfully resurrect significant other and live together in immortality forever
#family dynamics legacy challenge#ts4 challenge#ts4 legacy challenge#family dynamics legacy#ts4 legacy#mayzie-speaks
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1. what is your favorite word? “brillig! about four o’clock in the afternoon when one begins to broil things for dinner! also fairfarren. may you travel far under fair skies. i’m not certain they’re real words but i like the sound of it, and their meanings, made up or not!”
2. what is your least favorite word? “guddler! it’s what i– we call a thief… at least in my world. who likes thieves? especially those who steal hearts are the most awful. when someone takes a heart out forcefully, the skies release drops of what i call frumious. it’s filthy, with a very, very, veeeeery foul smell. if you get it in your skin, it stays for days and makes your skin turn green!”
3. what turns you on? “if by turn on, you mean a switch, or a sort of relay through a circuit, then i’m not sure i have the answer for it. i haven’t quite imagined myself as an electrical machine or even a component of one. though if i’m mistaking this for another question, which i presume relates to… standards? i don’t particularly condone setting that for people, but… to simply answer your question, i’d prefer if a person had good manners. being passionate about something is a huge plus!”
4. what turns you off? “i believe we’ve gone over this, or i’ve contemplated enough to figure out what it is that’s really being asked here, then i must say it’s bad manners and a lack of determination.”
5. what does love sound like? “i’m afraid i’ve got a shortfall in this department. my knowledge of it, or experience per se, isn’t sufficient enough to give a satisfactory answer but maybe i’d say it sounds like the whinnying of a horse that’s chained to a carousel or a sloth in its first battle against a hundred day old panda. it’s hard to explain but i think that's the point. it is a feeling so universal yet unique to everyone experiencing, isn't it?”
6. what sound do you hate? “i don’t hate any sound. i’d dread the day that i would be unable to hear even the most annoying of sounds, but i'm not the most fond of the sound of silverware scoring against another metal. just a bit. sometimes it brings my jaws an odd pang of pain.”
7. what is your favorite curse word? “the most i’ve said was ‘screw you’ but i must admit i’ve felt a guilty pleasure in doing so.”
8. what profession other than yours would you like to attempt? “i think it would be ideal to be a captain of a ship, or the head pilot of a flight. it would be such an experience but neither are professions i’d dedicate myself into doing for the rest of my life.”
9. what profession would you not like to do? “anything that would turn leisure out of reach and something of a luxury instead.”
10. if heaven exists, what would you like to hear god say when you arrive at the pearly gates? "i don’t ask for much. maybe a simple recognition of the efforts i’ve made or just reassurance that i have done something significant throughout my life. but it’d be nice if god somehow ended up sounding and looking like morgan freeman. that would explain a lot of questions i’ve had in life.”
11. something that others do not know about you? “i had an imaginary friend named polydeuces and he/she didn’t leave my side until i was at least 13.”
12. sexual preference? “it hasn’t crossed my mind yet but i wouldn’t subjugate myself to something this specific.”
13. what position do you sleep in? "just on my back, i suppose? i wake up every morning in a different position, though.”
14. what if someone told you…you had to lose, just this one time? "i wouldn’t mind losing just once, or twice! maybe not thrice… but i’d have to be in the situation to know. i’m sure it’ll contribute to my growth as a person in some way.”
15. greatest fear? "losing the people i treasure the most because of the rash decisions i keep making that harms them along the way or to become the person i didn’t want to be.”
16. if you could leave one thing to be remembered by, what would it be? "a story of a great adventure.”
17. middle name? "pleasant as pleasance!”
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so part of this hit a relatable chord.
the cozzy lives is big, but actually i have more availabile spending money now than i did before with my ex and so i kinda relate to the guy. ot because i know the situation,i dont, but i can project myself there and contemplate it in a sympathetic way ig?
so with ex, he was always late paying bills, paying back, paying anything tbh. he's a leech but he doesn't have the awareness to know he is. he just gets shit free bc people give him things bc he cant afford it, but he cant afford it cos he's shit with money lmao
like he would spend, no exaggeration, £100 a WEEK at this burger van near a place he worked once. 400 ish a month. he earnt more than me, i was on about 900pcm and he got about 1.3 or 1.4 at the time. rent was 900ish split in half. somehow, i always had to cover the rent fully, wait for him to pay me which he'd do in like 2 or 3 payments bc he cant afford it. but he can buy 100 per week of burgers smh
when it came to takeout or nice ingredients, i was VERY strict. because it was ultimately my money being spent since he hadn't paid rent and always owed me back. i was always no brands, no unnecessary shit, buy loads of spices and cheap pasta noodles rice etc and make the cheap things elevated with spices and flavour and cooking methods. i didn't want to waste anything on more than 10p noodles bc i knew it wasn't in budget
and therefore HATED takeout because it was a ln expensive chore. tbh i still see it as an expensive chore
takeout is lazy and stressful. it costs loads for substandard food, it smells extreme. it drops crumbs or grease. you STILL have to wash up cos you use a bowl maybe or glasses or cutlery, so it doesn't save that effort. and then you have to perform fridge tetris to fit the containers in for leftovers.... like the thing men don't understand about takeout is it's the same thing as normal dinner for them, cos they just eat it. it's also the same thing as normal dinnef for me, bc i still prepare for it, lay it out, wash up and tidy after. all it does itls cost 500% more than a normal dinner. i then have the guilt of calorie overload, and my stomach hates grease (ive cut out all greasy things, dont use oil if i can avoid it, etc) so the next day im ALWAYS ILL. and my mood is low too, cos i eat veggies and healthy things normally, so i have energy, but takeout is often not healthy so i wake up with no energy. which. like. bad for depression yknow.
so yeh takeout stresses me out massively
HOWEVER
if my othrr half is getting it anyway, with their money, their time, i would appreciate a small thing? like i want less than £5, a kids burger, some nachos, a thing of chips (one thing, not all of those lmao). BC it's just so hard to smell takeout and not have it lol. like i cook for us always. if youre getting takeout, i dont want takeout, but if you're getting it then that's you providing, and so id like something small and token so i can participate without the burden. like you just spent £30 on pizza, sides, and delivery, can i have some £3.50 curly fries to nibble on the side of my healthier dinner.
i never want to initiate or agree to takeout cos it's WORK and it's throwing away money, but if you're decided on getting it can i have a snack at least.
which reads back really selfish haha
idk i just do 99% the cooking and chores, if im being overruled on takeout and have to tidy it away anyway and deal with the bad smell... i want a small payment of 3.50 chips. ig that reads better maybe
so yeh ig it comes down to, looping back tothe post i linked, the feelings. she's more comfy spending more money, he's not. he wants to spend less. but since she spent loads on takeout, she might as well get something small for him. but they dont split the food bill so 🤷 i jus know it would make me sad if the person i loved got takeout and didn't think of me, which happens and it's upsetting even if i dont want anything lmao, i like to be asked and thought of. like. "i got you some chips,if you dont have them I'll eat them, but they're therd anyway". 99p init. or 1.29. idk. cozzy lives. and i feel leftout always bc im always leftout so i react harder to being leftout and the IDEA of being leftout
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his first feat: part ii.
tw: mentions of murder/death.
MAY 2010.
"a 13 year old girl has been missing for a week now. she was last seen last friday morning - her mother says she had breakfast and took her younger siblings to school like any other day. nothing out of the ordinary. i checked with the preschool that her siblings go to and her own school, and they confirmed that she was there as usual. she was even at her afterschool club but then-"
"vanished." a fellow detective cut in, his voice purposely airy to exaggerate the entire mystery. baek gunwoo not only did not appreciate the tone, but couldn't understand everyone's refusal to take the situation seriously. everyone that had heard that story assumed the missing girl was simply a runaway case. 'open & shut' as they say: she was the eldest of four other younger siblings, all under the age of seven, and judging from her schedule and family accounts, her parents relied on her to raise them and provide extra funds to pay the bills. everyone suspected she was frustrated at the cards she was dealt with and thus left.
he had to admit, it was not uncommon for young teens to run away from home. but the difference was, was that they came back within the week at least, and would come back to school. on top of that, this girl - park hyo - was just... different from typical runaways.
unlike many past cases which involved troublesome teens who stuck out from their peers like a sore thumb, park hyo, according to her classmates, teachers and family, had never once complained about her responsibilities and worked as per normal. in fact, no one apart from her immediate family knew much of the extra burden she had been carrying because above all, she was a character that was easily lost in the background. she was perfectly average, detective baek gunwoo had gathered.
his colleage forced a nervous chuckle when he realised his joking remark was not well met with gunwoo. his expression soon fell to a frown as he playfully punched his shoulder. "don't beat yourself up over this case. teenage girls are so tempermental. i bet she'll show up soon."
and he would be correct. she did show up later that week.
she was found at the shipyard, dead & disposed of.
NOV 2021.
just over a decade had passed since that case. it was one of the first big cases baek had worked on as a detective, and it was one he could never shake. park hyo's death remained unsolved, the case file collecting dust in the department's cold cases cabinet. but now, after all this time, baek gunwoo was pulling it out from the cold, determined to shed light on the devastating disappearance of a beloved daughter, sister and friend.
as soon as he suspected a connection between kim jieun and park hyo, the first person he went to was fellow senior detective, cho chungcha. they had been in the force together for almost a decade now, and while similarly hard-headed, he could count on her to support him in his deep dive investigations. she was there when baek was the lead detective for the MAY case of 2010, and she was the only one who believed him from the start. so he was relieved to see that she once again confirmed his suspicions even if any connections were circumstantial.
detective cho had witnessed the whole ordeal with jieun's mother that morning, so she was no stranger to the current case. but when baek passed her the MAY 2010 case file later that afternoon, she flicked through his notes, set it down on her desk and took a moment to gather her thoughts. she was in deep contemplation, clear in how her eyes stared off into space, piercing whatever they laid on, and the way her arms folded tightly across her chest, somehow never creasing her perfectly ironed blouse.
and after a long pause for deliberation, she finally spoke. "i think i know where you're trying to go with this, but you have to be clearer. what are you suspecting exactly?"
the space between them fell to a silence once more as gunwoo mulled over his notes a bit more.
"i don't know." his tone was tired, but failed to match his words. he knew. he just didn't want to speak his mind.
the man had to be careful with what he said now - even to detective cho. he was a known hothead in the department, rash in his decisions, almost always charging with his gut. that was his downfall though, because while his instincts had never failed him, decisions based on 'gut feeling' alone don't sit well in juries when cases go to court - especially when they involved high profile bussinessmen who, apparently, were large funders for certain politicians.
so after making accusations against the wrong men, it had made work a nightmare.
this meant that his every move, everything he said, was under scrutiny & surveillance. if this was any other case, perhaps he'd be less careful with his loose tongue, but this was different. it wasn't like an argument gone awry on a drunken saturday night. this mattered. he couldn't let another girl go missing. not again.
the two detectives shared a firm look between them, their eyes confirming their thoughts.
"you need evidence to confirm your theory though." a quick utter passed through her lips as they were both forced to break their gaze with the sudden interruption of a uniformed officer.
it took him a while & a lot of work, but he finally did it. it should have felt more satisfying; he should have felt more numb, but he didn't. instead, when he pinned another photo of a young girl onto the drawing board, he felt at a loss.
ten young, innocent girls stared at him from across the room, sitting for their annual school photos, smiling, wondering what kind of year they'd have probably. but they had been swept away without anyone even realising.
kim jieun would be the last. baek gunwoo would make sure of it. even if he would have to make a deal with the devil.
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Round 3; A bouquet of red spider lillies, forget-me-nots, purple hyacinth, deadly nightshades and white lillies Vs Orange Blossom
First, let's talk about the bouquet of red spider lillies, forget-me-nots, purple hyacinth, deadly nightshades and white lillies
Why these flowers were chosen and their meaning:
Spider lillies: Death, final goodbyes etc. Often used in funerals and grown around cemeteries.
Forget-me-nots: self-explanatory, but also a symbol of true love. Which in this case is subverted.
Purple hyacinth: deep sorrow, regret and a desire for forgiveness. I think this one's particularly interesting because it doesn't symbolize her directly but is, rather, very strongly tied to the impact her death had.
Deadly nightshade: also self-explanatory. Symbolises betrayal. In addition -- a plant that's (both in her universe and ours) historically been used for its poisonous properties.
White lillies: purity of the departed, when talking about death. Also for white of snow.
Four out of five flowers here are a popular choice for funerals/are associated with death. She died really young, betrayed, at the hands of the person she loved and trusted a lot, so I thought it would be fitting. Also in terms of color -- all of these together in a boquet would look like a splatter of blood on snowy and rocky terrain, which is fitting to the circumstances of her death as well.
Description:
This character died more than three thousand years the story she is from takes place. She is related to the protagonists in two ways: first is that she's probably their great-...-great grandparent's sister. Second is that they (2 twins) look very similar to her in terms of facial features.
This is significant because the guy who killed her ends up surviving and meeting them.
He's a changed man at that point. But at that singular moment when he sees one of the twin's faces for the first time, he has to Contemplate and battle a bajillion flashbacks. Which is a good thing because otherwise he would've probably ended up killing said twin. So, indirectly, she also saved her great-..-nephew's life at least once.
She lives on, very strongly, in her killer's (former lover's) memory. It's not a "haunting" or even "regret or sorrow" sort of thing, per se, but it is there. What matters the most is that he denies himself the thoughts of her because he can't admit to making a (ginormous) mistake and also because even if he wanted forgiveness, there's no one left to give it. So he just represses it further.
So that guy could become what he wanted to become above all else, one had to give up what they treasured most -- could be a thing, a person, or an action. So her killer had to trick her and then carve out her heart and eat it in order to prove his loyalty to his overlords and gain what he desired. Problem is -- he ended up detesting that as well (for other reasons). So not only was her death tragic, it was also essentially for nothing. Her actual personality has been erased through time (fancy for "she's defined more by the impact she's made rather than by her actual self") but she did have an affinity for magic and was also very fond of crows.
TLDR: woman killed, influences the rest of the story in many unforseen ways, gives killer ptsd which he denies having for the rest of his extremely long life until he doesn't.
Check her post here
Now, let's talk about the Orange Blossom
Meaning and why this flower was chosen:
It's a tree resilient to the heat, and the flowers are strongly scented. It symbolizes health and good luck in marriage; yet the flower is mostly valued only for the fruit it will become. Also, this character is an athlete who drinks a lot of orange juice when in training; she wears white, and her favorite ice cream flavor is orange.
Description:
She has been trained her whole life for an arranged marriage with a boy, constantly being told she is not good enough yet to deserve him. When they finally meet she tries very hard to impress him; they become friends, yet she realizes that she doesn't actually want to date him. He's clearly in love with another girl, so she arranges for the two of them to start dating in secret; but soon starts falling for the girl herself, and has to balance her complicated feelings of jealousy, inadequacy, and love towards both of them.
Check her post here
#mysterious character: orange blossom#round 3#mysterious character: bouquet of red spider lilies - forget-me-nots - purple hyacinth - deadly nightshade - white lilies
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Media and Information Literacy: A film review
1. What made the film interesting?
-What makes the film "The Book Thief" grab the interest of its watchers is simply because of its central theme: War. Specifically, a movie moving along the story of the Second World War, where known identities exist, such as Anne Frank and Adolf Hitler.
As an article once stated, cinematically speaking, it is a war that never ends, though historically, it did. Movies do provide various pathways to another story. As such, any movie that follows the complexity and addresses the effects of such big an event as the war is a movie that is bound to strike as interesting.
2. Which part of the film did you like best? Explain why?
-Unfortunate as it may, what I find the "best" part of the film isn't its plot. Unfortunate, primarily because most of the time, it is.
That's not to say that what I consider the "best" is unfavorable. Just different from usual.
So while the plot is something to appreciate, I would give today's spotlight to the hero of the house, our main character: Liesel. Well, specifically, the portrayal of her character. She is gentle in showing how the girl is characterized and shows authentic changes as time passes by. It is striking to watch! I wouldn't think I would give this much praise and appreciation towards the role had the representation felt at least one bit wrong.
3. Who is your favorite character; what makes their character unique?
-Be that as it may, my favorite character isn't Liesel. I find that in stories like these- harsh, honest, and raw- the presence of a person who learns to be the first to understand is the character I favor the most. As such, my appreciation leads to the father, Alex Steiner.
I would suffice that it's a result of the book having its central theme. A character that puts that effort to help those in reach is a breath of fresh air, given that the subject is a grotesque, brutal truth of war. I find it easy to be appreciative of such characters.
4. Do you think the actors portrayed the characters well?
-Yes! Not just the main character but everyone else. The contemplated innocence of Liesel's lemon-haired friend, the gentle air from Liesel's parents, and even the distinctive supporting characters.
The best example of their exceptional portrayal is when Liesel's mother calls on her at school to deliver the news about Max. There was such a quick change of vibe that even I too, was fooled to believe that what she was going to say would end up being the good news it ended up being.
5. If you also read the book, can you tell whether the film remained faithful to the novel's plot? Did it meet your expectation as a reader?
-Some books do well in their adaptation from written thoughts to portrayed events. Unfortunately, this is not the kind of book.
The story is good per se; there wasn't anything unsatisfying about the plot and how the directors paced it. But its accuracy compared to the book it took its story from is a different notion.
For one, every context relating to the plot is crucial, least something would mean less or nothing at all. For example, the book emphasized the importance of languages, which evidently, isn't in the film. And the big elephant in the room: the switch from the role of the narrator to being Death.
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