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angellesword · 3 years

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MAGIC SHOP | JJK (13)

Description: You and Jungkook were best friends who were in love with each other. What would happen when Soojin, your half sister who you’re trying to impress, told you she’s in love with Jungkook too?

Alternatively:

“Would you believe me if I said that I was scared of everything too?”

Pairing: Architect!Jungkook x Architect!Reader

Genre: childhood best friends to lovers, family drama, angst, fluff, idiots to lovers, pining, slice of life au.

Warnings: mention of infidelity, leading to insecurity (poor Sin-ae.) manipulation, cursing, unrealistic BOD meeting lmao

Chapter’s OST: Fight Song by Rachel Platten

Word Count: 5.1k

Series: CHAPTER 12 | CHAPTER 14

It goes without saying that one should either stay away or fight those things that destroyed them.

It was long overdue and you knew it. You shouldn't have let the Kims treated you like garbage. You should've fought them the first time they violated your peace.

But no. You did none of these because for the longest time, you felt like you owed them. You felt like you had ruined their perfect family so now you were required to pay for it.

It was like you were your father's souvenir from a long trip of fucking around. A memento that reminded Sin-ae and your siblings that Taemin betrayed them.

All souvenirs had limits too though. Over time, they started to deteriorate. You felt like this was happening to you. You were no longer that pretty little thing that did whatever the Kims wanted.

You had enough; however, it didn't mean it hurt any less.

"Hey, are you okay?" You heard your name being called. You felt his hand on the small of your back before you saw his face. He was keeping you steady in place.

"Huh? Um—" You tilted your head, meeting the gaze of the person who saved you from collapsing. "Architect Jung?"

You blinked at your former co-worker, making sure that you got his name right. You hadn't seen him in years. What if you remembered his face wrong? What if he's not Jung Hoseok, the only architect in this firm who Jungkook adored?

You remembered from years ago when Jungkook pouted all day because Architect Jung announced that he would be quitting his job soon. If you remembered it correctly, your best friend even shed a tear. He really liked this mentioned architect.

Luckily, Hoseok didn't push through the resignation. Until now, he was still working at Castle. All you knew was that he didn't like working on site. He preferred guiding junior architects and working in the office.

This was why it didn't come as a surprise to you to run into him today. You were simply curious if he was really the Hoseok you knew from years ago.

He looked different. His hair was longer and his gaze was dark. The Hoseok you knew always smiled bright. What changed?

"You don't look okay. Maybe we should sit first?" Hoseok guided you towards his office room.

You took a seat on the couch, watching as Hoseok strode towards his mini fridge to get a bottle of water.

"Here..." He handed it to you after opening its cap. "Can I get you anything else?"

Hoseok sounded like a concerned big brother. There's a warm feeling in your chest because of the way he looked at you. It's as if he truly cared about your well-being.

"No. This is fine. Thank you, Architect Jung." You smiled politely at him. Sometimes you forgot that some people could show you kindness without having an ulterior motive. "You already helped me a lot. I'll probably collapsed on the floor if you didn't catch me."

You chuckled lightly. You were confused, guilty, and hurting. These mixed emotions were probably the reason why you felt like you were going to faint. You walked out of Taemin's office right after telling the Kims that you should see one another in court if they had concerns about your father's last will and testament.

You left instantly because you didn't trust yourself. What if you said the wrong things and made the situation so much worse? A part of you knew you deserved to inherit a portion of Taemin's assets despite being an illegitimate child. On the other hand, you felt like you were being unfair to your siblings for thinking this way. You took so much from them already. Wasn't it enough that you succeeded in breaking their family apart?

"Are you eating well?" Hoseok asked with concerned eyes. He was currently sitting on the couch right across you.

Architect Jung's office was spacious. It was bigger and comfier than Jungkook's space here at Castle. You wondered if it was because of his position or if it had something to do with his relationship with your father.

Your father always brought Architect Jung and Jeon with him whenever he had meetings outside Korea. The three of them were pretty close. Years ago, you actually heard Seokjin and Taemin fighting.

Your eldest brother was demanding to know why Taemin preferred the company of Hoseok and Jungkook more than his own sons. Your father was quick to defend himself, saying that Hoseok and Jungkook were architects and one of them could be his successor—the one who could help continue his legacy—unlike him and Namjoon who chose a different path.

Seokjin was wrong to drop the argument after that. He should've dug deeper. He should've questioned his father and exposed his secret.

You were not the only illegitimate child of Taemin. Hoseok was too. You found out about it on a very underwhelming day: today.

"Or are you still sulking because you didn't get to attend our father's funeral?"

You realized that some people could say mean things easily. Hoseok didn't know that his words hurt you, making you feel like you didn't have the right to feel sad about not seeing your father for the last time.

But that's not your concern at the moment. You squinted, like you're trying to see if Hoseok grew two heads.

What did he just say? Our father? Did you hear him right or were you just too emotionally drained to be conversing with other people right now?

"You get overwhelmed easily, my dear sister." Architect Jung observed with a thoughtful gaze.

You were still too stunned to speak.

"Now I'm not so sure if I should tell you all my secrets. You don't look like the person who can help me take down the Kims."

"I—I." You flinched at his words. Take down the Kims? What the fuck was he saying? "I don't understand this. Why would I want to ruin...my family?"

You cringed the second the question left your mouth. Even in your own ears, you sounded pathetic. After all this time, you still thought you're part of that family?

Maybe Hoseok wasn't the confusing one here. It's you and your stupidity.

"They're not your family." Architect Jung corrected you through gritted teeth. "Family helps each other. The Kims destroyed you and our father—"

There it was again.

You cut him off because the more he spoke, the more confused you got. Your temples were aching and suddenly, you weren't so sure if the culprit for your headache was still the Kims.

You thought Hoseok was making you feel perplexed. He seemed to understand the confusion he's bringing because he looked at you with sympathy as he picked up the folder on top of the center table, the same table separating the two of you.

"Maybe this will help you understand better." He handed you the folder.

It was as if your hand had its own life. You were already reaching for the folder before you could process what he said.

Hoseok urged you to open it and read the first page of the file.

You obliged. Lips trembling as you silently read the content. Your temples throbbed more. You had seen this same paper years ago. This was a paternity test result. You knew because Sin-ae demanded a copy of this when Taemin claimed you were his child.

"Y-You're..." Your heart was in your throat. Your face felt hot and it was difficult for you to speak.

Still, you pushed hard and asked; "you're my brother too?"

It's strange. To feel warmth in your chest.

Hoseok was your brother.

He was family.

"I am." Hoseok's jaw ticked. He swallowed before saying "I'm the eldest son of our father..."

Your hands balled into fists upon hearing that, not in annoyance but because of happiness. Finally, you felt like someone would understand what you feel. You asked Hoseok to share his life story to you, but only if he felt comfortable.

The last thing you wanted was to drive him away. Fortunately, your brother didn't mind sharing. It's not like he had a choice. Really.

This was the only way he could think of to convince you to help him make the Kims pay.

Hoseok started by telling you that his parents had a romantic relationship even when Taemin was already married to Sin-ae. Apparently, your father's legal wife had difficulty conceiving.

Taemin even thought that he and his wife would never have children. This was when he decided to be with Jung Jiwoo, Hoseok's mother. Just like your mother, Jiwoo fell into Taemin's trap.

Taemin debated if he should break up with Sin-ae after finding out that Jiwoo was pregnant. He almost did, but fate was cruel because just as when Taemin’s about to divorce his wife, he found out she was pregnant too.

Jiwoo accepted her fate. Unlike your mother, she wasn't demanding. She was content with the fact that Taemin treated Hoseok well. His eldest son was his favorite.

Things only changed when Taemin decided to form a professional corporation with his best friend Jong-in. He rarely visited Hoseok. He started prioritizing the company and his new mistress.

Jiwoo didn't mind. In fact, she even invested in the firm as well. Just like your mother, Jiwoo also saw potential in the business. She knew it would grow and become one of the best architectural firms.

Jiwoo invested for the sake of her son. She wanted him to have a good future, especially because it appeared like Hoseok was into architecture as well.

Hoseok was actually one of the first architects to work at Castle. He helped the company grow. Taemin saw the fruit of Hoseok's labor and even made a promise to make his eldest son his successor.

It was all lies though. Taemin felt guilty when Sin-ae broke down and found out about you. He realized he couldn't break her heart more so he decided not to tell his wife and children about Hoseok.

Taemin died without revealing the truth about his eldest son.

"Is that why you want to take down the Kims?" You winced after he told you the truth. "Because you hate our father? Because he didn't include you in his will?"

Your heart dropped to your stomach. How cruel. You honestly thought Hoseok was like you. You thought he just wanted to belong. To be loved...But it appeared like he was blinded by revenge.

"I don't hate our father." Hoseok scoffed, offended that you thought he was the kind of person who would bring down the people who were important to the person he hated. "He's an ass, but he loved me. I can't say for sure about you though."

Ouch.

You avoided his gaze because what he said hurt. Hoseok seemed to realize the impact of his words because his face turned pale.

"I-I don't mean it like that." He did. "I mean...I don't know." Hoseok conceded since he didn't really know what he was talking about.

He couldn't talk on behalf of his father. He could only talk about his observation.

"I think...father loved you." His voice was barely a whisper, like he was ashamed to say this to you. "Just not in the way you should be loved."

Hoseok pursed his lips. His eyes glistened with dejection.

"Because you deserve so much more, my lovely sister..."

You felt his stare through your soul. It hurt.

It hurt to think that you found someone who was going through the same thing as you. It just hurt that even when you're basically on the same page, you're still so different.

Taemin loved him more than he loved you.

But why? Weren't you deserving of his love?

"If I deserve so much more, then why do people treat me like this?" You choked back a sob.

You didn't mean to break down like this. You were so tired of appearing vulnerable in front of people. Why did it feel like they always have the upper hand?

It's not fair.

"Because you let them." Your heart broke into a thousand pieces after hearing Hoseok's response.

"So it's my fault?" You couldn't help it. Tears trickled down your face. It's like you had been slapped.

"There's no other way to put it." Hoseok was remorseful but not really. "Don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong with you. You're full of love, I get it, but not everyone is like you. You can't expect them to be nice to you just because you're nice to them."

He paused for a second just to stare into your eyes. He looked desperate—desperate to make you understand.

"Some people...They're very entitled, you know? They feel like they can do whatever they want with you since they're conditioned to think you wouldn't mind."

You understood that, but Hoseok wasn't truthful. He was wrong to say there's nothing wrong with you.

There was.

People took advantage of you because you let them. That's your mistake.

He intended to help you correct it.

"But you have to mind it. Their horns will only grow if you don't deter them from hurting you. Before you know it, it's not just you who's getting hurt—"

Hoseok let out a deep breath.

"—it's everyone." He bit his lower lip. "Everyone is suffering because of the Kims and I want to put an end to it."

You watched as his expression hardened.

"You're the only one who can help me."

Despite Hoseok's revelation of the truth, you still didn't understand why he wanted the Kims to suffer.

He figured it's best if he showed you the evidence instead of just talking about it. Hoseok wasn't dumb. He knew you loved the Kims, especially Soojin. You might be tired of their bullshit; however, it didn't mean you would be happy to see them in pain.

Unless he gave you valid reasons.

"You think you can spare me some time? I'd like to tell you more things." Your eldest brother enquired.

You were still inside his office here at Castle. An hour had passed since he shared that he was also Taemin's son.

"Uh...yeah. I think so." Jungkook was supposed to pick you up. He told you to send him a message when you're done meeting the Kims and Taemin's executors.

You appreciated Jungkook's attempt to comfort you. He's always there to help you, but it looked like you wouldn't be able to meet with him today or any time soon. Definitely not when you had to fix so many things.

Hoseok ended up bringing you to his apartment. He showed you things you didn't even know were real.

"Here's the original copy of the documents related to the construction of the building in Myeong-dong."

You weren't sure why Architect Jung was showing you these documents when he should be handing it to the authorities. All of this information was related to the building that collapsed weeks ago. The investigation was still continuous and the management of Castle was going through a rough time.

"I know this is a lot to take in, but I'm not sure how else to convince you that I'm not the bad person here." Hoseok saw the way you looked at him when he claimed he wanted to destroy the Kims.

You didn't believe in revenge. You knew at the end of the day it's not going to be as fulfilling as what you thought it would be. What would you gain if you hurt people who hurt you?

Satisfaction? Yeah, and so? Would it change the fact that you got hurt?

"Take a look in that document. There's the original blueprint of the building. Kim Soojin designed it. She's actually the one leading the construction of the building, not our father."

The words escaping Hoseok's mouth weren't registering in your mind. Your whole attention was focused on the documents in your quivering hand.

Just like what Hoseok wanted you to do, you took a look at the document. Your brows snapped together, lips parting because of shock.

It hadn't struck you yet that the sole reason why the tragic accident happened was because of Soojin.

Accident.

By definition, an accident meant an event that happened unintentionally. Just by looking at your sister's design, you could already tell that an accident would definitely happen. Soojin was a professional. She was a licensed architect. How could she not know this wouldn't lead to death, injuries, and damages?

The building was poorly designed. It's like aesthetics were prioritized rather than safety. It's frustrating to see this. Hoseok also told you Soojin wanted the building to be constructed immediately so she designed it using inferior materials. It was easier to obtain these materials since it could be delivered the same day you ordered it.

This was unlike Soojin. She usually preferred ordering high-quality materials to the point where the budget set for her projects resulted in a deficit. She incurred a lot of cost whenever she accepted a workload.

"She's planning to join this international competition that's why she rushed the construction of the building." Hoseok explained, causing you to shake your head.

This was ridiculous. Soojin wasn't that dumb to compromise the safety of people just to win, right? She's better than that.

"I don't believe this." You practically shoved the documents back to your brother. This was a difficult pill to swallow.

You felt like everything you knew about your sister were all lies. She had a temper, yes. She was a brat, yes. But she was smart. She was a good architect. Or were you just convincing yourself?

"S-Soojin isn't like this." You wheezed, making Hoseok heave a deep sigh.

"Isn't she?"

You thought people only experienced life flashing before their eyes when they're on the brink of death, but as Hoseok asked this question to you, every memory you had with Soojin flashed in your mind, like it was telling you to not just look but see.

"But she's so kind to me." You deflated.

Hoseok looked at you with sympathy. Or was it pity? He pitied you because you were blinded by the idea of wanting to belong.

"She really did a good job manipulating you, huh?" Hoseok grimaced, wondering if he was at fault too.

He knew about you. Taemin talked about you. It's actually one of the reasons why Hoseok chose to stay at Castle. It's not simply because he had interest in becoming the next chairperson. He wanted to look after you too.

Was he too late? Why didn't he reach out to you?

"S-She did not manipulate me." Even in your own ears, you sounded pathetic. Why did you keep denying the truth? Deep down, you were sure Hoseok was right.

"She did." Your brother continued to insist. "A lot of times. You just misunderstood the meaning of manipulation because she did it so kindly."

There were two kinds of manipulation.

One was when a person used intimidation or violence to manipulate another being into doing something.

Most of the time, the people who had been coerced ended up hating the one who manipulated them.

This was the case with your mother. It took you long to admit that you hated her. For the longest time, you told yourself you loved her because at the end of the day, she was still your mother.

But she hurt you and abused you, so you started to hate her.

The other type of manipulation was when a person used kindness to get what they wanted. This was what Soojin did. She made you feel like you belonged, like she loved you—this was why you didn't hate her.

You loved her.

Acting like you’re kind was the easiest way to make people believe you're a good person. However being kind and being good were two different things. You just failed to see that.

"If you still don't believe me, then stay with me for a while. I'll show you everything you need to know."

There's something about the way Hoseok said these words that made you agree. You stayed at his place for days, refusing to go back to Jungkook's apartment no matter how many times he tried to reach you.

You couldn't afford to be distracted right now. Jungkook was a distraction. Every time you saw him, all you wanted to do was drop everything and just be happy with him.

Love shouldn't be your priority at the moment. You had to unveil the truth first.

Fortunately, you did.

Hoseok didn't stop providing evidence. You didn't know how he managed to talk to some employees who apparently knew about the real reason why the building collapsed.

Your heart was divided into two. A big part of you believed that Soojin failed and blamed her mistakes to Taemin, the other part of you still chose to trust her. This seemed to frustrate Hoseok because days after providing you legit evidence, he said he couldn't do it anymore.

"You clearly trust your sister. What if you heard the truth from her?" Hoseok furrowed his brows, irritated.

You gulped, heart beating fast.

"Okay," but you agreed because as stated, you knew deep down that evidence didn't lie.

You got what you wanted and Hoseok felt like he could finally breathe.

"You believe me now?" Your brother folded his hands over his chest. A sigh of relief escaped his lips upon seeing you nod your head at once.

The evidence you were looking for was hearing the truth coming from Soojin. You heard her admit the truth when she and Sin-ae were at the columbarium.

"There's nothing holding you back this time?" He pressed.

You nodded again, this time, you were more determined as you clenched your fist and gritted your teeth.

"Nothing..."

This was the story that unfolded days ago. Right now, you were standing behind Hoseok here at the conference room in Castle.

Everyone anticipated your move. They watched you deliver that shocking news. It was oddly satisfying—to watch the surprise staining their face.

Sin-ae clearly wanted to lash out on everyone, unfortunately she couldn't use the 'this is impossible' card because before she could even breathe, the evidence was provided to every person in the meeting.

Mr. Han and the other shareholders had a smug look on their faces. They weren't bothered that Hoseok wasn't carrying Taemin's last name. What's important to them was that now they had a better option.

Anyone was obviously better than having Soojin as the next chairperson.

"H-How do we know you didn't fabricate the result?" Sin-ae desperately groaned as she glared at Hoseok. This was bad. So fucking bad. "My husband is dead!"

Your father's wife was arguing that Taemin was cremated. She firmly believed that the result had been tampered.

This belief of hers had been shattered when Namjoon interjected the conversation. He stood up, gaze focused on his wailing mother. Sin-ae was hurt. Of course she was. She just found out that her late husband cheated on her more than once.

She couldn't help but wonder if there's something wrong with her. Just like you, she was insecure. Wasn't she enough?

"The result is not fabricated, mother." Namjoon started. Eyes so soft that it broke Sin-ae more. "Architect Jung Hoseok is my father's son too. I helped prove it."

Your eyes widened upon hearing that. Shit. You thought you're the only one who had revelation to make today. Who would have thought that one of your siblings would do something like this?

"Hoseok-hyung and I requested a sibling DNA test. The file in front of you will show you the result."

"If Mr. Jung Hoseok is also entitled to legitime, shouldn't you be discussing this in court?" One of the shareholders raised his concern.

You turned to that shareholder.

"You don't have to worry about that, Mr. Kang. My brother's share in our father's estate has been settled. I transferred my shares in this company to him."

"You did not!" Soojin seethed after a long moment of silence on her part. She was glaring at you like you betrayed her.

It used to crush your soul, but seeing her today didn't make you feel anything. You stared back at your sister impassively.

Her face was crimson, eyes growing big and hands balling into fists. She looked like she could kill you.

"She did." Hoseok interjected, shooting your sister a taunting smile. Hoseok was seated right across Soojin. He could see her nostrils flaring. "I am this firm's major shareholder. Right, Architect Jeon?"

It was made known to everyone in this room that Jungkook sold his share to Hoseok. This only drove Soojin and her mother more vexed.

They were seeing red.

Soojin started throwing things. She angrily pushed all things she saw on the long table, shouting and blaming you for ruining her chance to become the next chairperson.

"Bold of you to assume you still have a chance to run this firm when you're nothing but trash." You surprised yourself when you said this.

Soojin too. Sin-ae, Seokjin, and basically everyone gaped at you. Your blank face was all they saw though. You were getting bolder now. It wasn't easy, but you found courage every time you thought about the bereaved families of the victims of Soojin's incompetence.

"What did you just say to me?" Her face flushed, heartbeat increasing because of hatred and disbelief. She wanted to scratch your face and drag you to hell.

You were a fucking bitch.

"Don't play dumb with me, Kim Soojin. You know what I'm talking about." Your shoulders squared as you lifted your chin. "Or would you rather I show everyone in this room the evidence you thought you already got rid of?"

For a second Soojin looked like she had a smart retort, but her face turned white when she heard your question.

It's the same expression she had when she saw you at the columbarium many days ago. Fear was never a good look on Soojin. Because unlike you, she wasn't used to feeling this way.

She always won, always got what she wanted. But not this time.

Definitely not this time.

"What is this all about?" Mr. Kang puckered his lips, unamused as he stated his opinion. He said he didn't have time for family drama.

"This isn't drama, Mr. Kang. This issue concerned all of you." You didn't waste any more time. "Castle is going through a rough time now because of the accident that occurred in Myeong-dong. I know the investigation is still on-going and we're all tensed as to how this will affect us, especially because you all believe the culprit is my father. But—"

"No!" Soojin and her mother tried to stop you, but the shareholders were done with them. They said they'd kick out Soojin and Sin-ae if they didn't act professionally.

This was a corporate meeting. It didn't take a genius that one should be in their best behavior.

You continued.

"The building collapsed not because of Kim Taemin but because of Architect Kim Soojin. She led the construction of it. I have here all the written evidence." You nodded your head at your father's former secretary, silently asking to flash the evidence on the projector. Some employees proceeded to hand out the same copy of documents Hoseok showed you before, the one that would prove that your claims were real.

"And before you accused us of fabricating the results, well then, it won't be warranted. We have corroborated with the employees who worked with Architect Kim Soojin regarding this construction. They were bribed with money, but through persuasion, we have convinced them to take the moral high ground."

You elucidated that these coerced employees were willing to take the stand during Soojin's trial—yes, after all she had done, you were certain that Castle and the law would hold her accountable.

It's evident by the way the shareholders and the board reacted with the news. They still gave Soojin an option though: either go to the station on her own or the management would be forced to call the authorities right now.

"She'll turn herself in." It wasn't Soojin who decided this. It was Seokjin. Your brother was looking at you as he said this.

His face was void of any emotion. It caused your heart to skip a beat, wondering if Seokjin hated you even more now.

He didn't speak during the meeting. He remained frozen on his spot, just sternly watching the scene unfold in front of him. Another thought popped inside your head: did he know about Hoseok too? Namjoon did.

"What are you saying, oppa!? I'm not—” Soojin protested but Seokjin shook his head, wrapping his arms around your sister's shoulder and pulling her into his chest.

Seokjin whispered something to Soojin. No one heard it except your sister and probably Sin-ae who was standing close to her children.

Whatever Seokjin said to your sister worked because she stopped trembling and protesting. She stayed close to him though, face still buried on Seokjin's chest.

The vice chairperson was talking to Seokjin, probably about the criminal case. You watched as Hoseok and Namjoon joined the conversation. There were other shareholders trying to pry more information out of the Kims.

You were on the far corner of the room, observing them.

The conversation went on for about five minutes before you saw Seokjin walking away, gently holding his sister's hand and taking her with him.

Namjoon and Sin-ae followed them. Your brother spared you a glance.

You shuddered at his stare even though it's not cold. It's the usual way Namjoon looked at you, no emotion but like...he knew something you didn't. It always made you uncomfortable.

Even until now.

Luckily, Jungkook was here to make it all better. You felt his hand wrapping around your shoulder tightly. Just like what Seokjin did to Soojin, your best friend pulled you closer to him.

Your knee jerk reaction was to lean your head against his shoulder.

Jungkook smiled sincerely even though you couldn't see his face. You watched Namjoon walk away as Jungkook whispered "it's going to be okay, Tiger," in your ears.

His voice was so soft and gentle that you were compelled to believe that yes, everything will be okay soon.

this chapter is inspired by the quote I saw somewhere: if you demonized the demons, you’re the demon.

Ah. Two chapters left! How do we feel? I was shocked to see your reactions from the last chapter! The twist there is written on a whim 😭 I hope I didn’t disappoint you with this update! 🥺

I haven’t edited this. Please don’t mind the errors.

#jungkook fluff #jungkook angst #jungkook x reader #jungkook x y/n #jungkook x you #armywriterssupport #jungkook romance #jungkook series #jungkook fic #jjk #bts jeon jungkook #jungkook best friend #best friend jungkook #jungkook best friends to lovers #jungkook friends to lovers

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vibraniumwing · 3 years

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come on, weasley.

a fred weasley x reader bulleted imagine wherein the reader takes the red-head to a muggle nightclub and shows him the way to have fun without any magic involved.

WARNING: mentions of alcohol, a bit of grinding and hinting of smut (no nasty nasty winkwonk)

A/N: i had this idea a few months ago and this has been long overdue but the inspiration kicked in again after listening to a few classic party songs. wrote this song while listening to cobra starship’s you make me feel & rihanna’s s&m

---

okay so let’s be real, being a half-blood meant so much more to you because well,, , you get the best of both worlds.

a muggle mother who’s very fascinated with the wizarding world and a magical father??

darling your childhood was the definition of fun

you had quidditch with your father during saturdays and had the whole sunday to wander around muggle london with your mother (or the other way around)

you have an older sister who sadly didn’t get to inherit any magical powers

but she paid no mind to that and enjoyed the muggle world.

and of course after all that you’ve experienced at hogwarts, your sister wanted to show you what you missed out on.

of course, includes parties.

that comes in handy when your boyfriend is a pure-blooded wizard who didn’t know a smack about how muggles work.

you love fred weasley immensely

yet his innocence when it comes to your own technology makes you laugh everytime.

“what on earth is that?”

“freddie, my sweet little innocent wizard, that there is a playstation.”

“what does it do?”

bless his heart-

ANYWAYS

it was a thursday night when you recieved a phone call from your sister

“hey i’m going to this nightclub tomorrow, would you and your wizard boyfriend want to tag along?”

you stared at your ginger boy who was still trying to figure out how to play mario kart

srsly bless is innocent heart im crying

“see you tomorrow night then.”

you jumped on the couch next to the male which broke him from his focus

which led to him being 5th place once again

he looks at you with furrowed eyebrows

“what?”

“you made me lose, baby!”

“i apologize freddie. *insert apology kiss here* anyways, we’ll be going out tomorrow night”

“i think i deserve more kisses- wait what? what’s going on tomorrow?”

“i’m showing you how we, muggles, have fun during a friday night.”

and that’s how you ended up pulling fred along the pavement towards a nightclub in central london

“how can you run in those high shoes, y/n?’

“it’s a pain honestly but it puts the look together. now are you ready?”

he simply nodded, eyes looking over the neon lights that had the name of the nightclub.

the both of you bumped into your sister and her date

“finally the both of you arrived, let’s have some fun!”

you held on to your boyfriends hand tightly, squeezing it gently.

“ready, fred?”

“ready as i’ll ever be, i reckon.”

with a simple wink, the bouncer let the four of you enter.

fred immediately winced at how loud the music was, not used to the bass jumping though the walls

“is it always this loud in here?!” fred said-wellhonestlyheshouted-into your ear, which you gave him a quick nod.

“are you ready to have some fun?!”

“definitely!”

and that’s your cue to pull him over to the bar and grab a few shots before heading over to the dancefloor

“a tray of vodka for us, please”

you had the honor of teaching fred how to “pre-game” before a night out

so the alcohol was coursing through the both of you.

your drinks soon arrived and you motioned him to take a shot

after taking the swig he looked at you and cringed a bit as he bit on the lime

“definitely stronger than firewhiskey, am i right?”

as lady gaga’s just dance started to fade, cobra starship’s you make me feel good started to play

“oh my god i love this song! c’mon fred, let’s dance!”

fine taste in music, y/n. i applaud you

you tugged at his hand and he slowly gave in

he followed you to the sea of people on the dancefloor

you started moving along the beat, you stared at him with a bright smile

maybe it was the alcohol that gave you this sudden surge of confidence

but as the chorus neared you started to sing along

“...i’m the baddest baby in the atmosphere, tell me what you want so we could do just what you like”

“yOU MAKE ME FEEL THAT”

you sang along with the crowd as they started jumping around, dancing along

and as much as fred would love to join

he was staring at you in awe

at how sexy you are with your cheeks slightly flushed from the alcohol

how you seemed to be in your element with parties

“freddie! dance with me!”

your voice interuppted his thoughts, tugging on him once again as he started to groove with you

admittedly his moves were a bit awkward and lanky

but give the man a break

when did wizards have such loud parties like this

you wrapped your arms around him loosely as you started to sway your hips

causing him to drape his hands over your waist lazily, a woozy grin on his lips as he watched you move along with him

as the break of the song played

the sea of people seemingly calmed down

which surprised the ginger

“look freddie, my love, this is the best part”

and the song started to play again

the people started to jump and dance around again

you turned around and jumped along with them

and like a switch

fred started to dance along and let loose

which delighted you so much

as the song ended, the both of you stared at each other breathless

“that was absolutely mental, y/n”

“is that a good thing?”

“of course.”

as if on cue, rihanna’s s&m played

ah yes, the song i’ve been singing outloud since i was 9

“this is absolute banger, fred!”

not the only thing being banged tonight

eW WHY DID I EVEN INCLUDE THAT AKDJFNJSKF

with that being said, you turned around and started to dance again

your hips swaying side to side

causing fred to hold your waist as he tried to match along with you

which of course you took as a sign to go even closer

like you were c oughs grinding coughs him

“what’s this dancing called?”

“grinding, my love.”

as he also realized the meaning of the song that was being played

“now, are you giving me a sign, baby?”

it was safe to say your night ended quite eventful

or i do say so myself ;)))

#fred weasley x reader #fred weasley imagine #fred weasley #fred weasley x y/n #fred weasley fluff #harry potter #fred weasley imagines #vea writes

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farty-city · 3 years

Text

inside bo burnham review no one asked for

i enjoy other peoples commentary and i was writing down my first thoughts anyway so here it is

inside

first song/intro song

i like the phone screen on him, very reflective of how we have had phone screens on us

“roberts been a little depressed” osnskjdnfs

they were right “daddys made you some content so open wide” hjbfafn

intro

oh my god he looks awful

but like in a cute way

maybe

healing the world with comedy (second song)

the canned and queued laugher no exactly… is it a symbol or is it just funny.. who's to say.

it think its a good first song, establishing he knows what he is doing is kind of useless

“the indescribable power of your comedy”

he looks like marc maron rn

i like the synthed voice and synthesizer

the jesus allusion … yeah

“i'm a special kind of white guy”

this feels like he knows how he is perceived by fans.. Make happy was too much

his fucking dancing fksjdnfksj

i think he did a good job looking manic

the lasers lmao

Side 1

Bo made a huge gamble releasing this like,,, what if you just stumbled upon it and this was ur first introduction to him..

I bet its like when i comment dumb things on instagram comments and get that rush of hehehehe

NO NOT BO DEVELOPING BILLIE EILLISH VOWELS

Also this is exactly what he wanted like,, he just wanted to make his things and not deal with the crowds so..

To think i was like finding scraps of him performing at largo and stuff and now,, so much content

life imitates art

the way he's literally what he wrote hgbkdf

there is no authenticity with cameras

suicide ?

facetime with my mom tonight

the blue light.. Yeah

o hblue like sad

i don't know how i feel about the electric music but i guess its no different than whatever else i listen to

this is sad wow

still catchy etc

side 2

i wonder if here will be any fart jokes

that is how the world works (songs)

the huge mess and then him in a sweater

this is reminiscent of that walmart muppets

he became tim minchin with a sock puppet

the “yes… yes sir” stoppp

jkgdsnfijwkensfosnf

qbejfnjne

nerjgnoejns

bo making a political statement and a metaphor for activism and then making it weirdly kinky

brand consultant (bit)

man bun

i have to believe he filmed it with the beard because quarantine vibes and also bc he was tired of being seen as a child

white womans instagram (song)

i did not like that intro

BO AND GLASSES THANK GOD

the daisies wow just wow

underwear

“white womans instagram” or “bo burnham becomes a girlboss”

i like that he didn't lose his cadence like the way the rhymes are you can still tell its him

i don't get the mom part sorry

is it like how people are very superficial but also very personal on their instagrams

this part was legit sad

side 3

i wonder how he felt with cameras constantly on him

Although this is the point hes trying to make

lol seinfeld moment (bit)

unpaid intern (bit and song)

“barely people somehow legal” was so smooth woW

omg he was scatting

he was a man who would scat

oh my god what great news

the react clip omg

i cant believe he did that oh my god

observation/critisism and response to the “can anyone shut the fuck up”

and as i realized what he was doing he was like “i have this need for everything i make to have a deeper meaning” oh my god

now the question is how long will this go on?

jeffrey bezos (song)

idk its catchy

and then theres him like sleeping and talking which kind of is part of the jeff bezos song

bug eyes salamanders hehe

sexting (song)

i do believe this is just a silly song

the earrings tho omg

sounds like post malone hbkjdsnfskj

idk its still about like intimacy in quarantine and that stuff..

the knife (bit)

i know hes copying like other youtubers but like,,, what

stuck in a room (song)

the intro is very funny and relatable

classic bo i love it

i will say this special has been more reflective but i suppose it has to be

“look whos inside again”

i like the end too, this is all a fabrication

this is the clip where hes staring at the projection of himself from his old youtube videos which is sort of more like an ending to the “stuck in my room” song

sorry (song)

i love the 80’s style music and its like zumba

oh this is like an apology song

“father please forgive me for i did not realise what i did, or that id live to regret it” what a catchy line

i would say this is another more “classic” bo song where its self aware and funny

“my closet it chalk full of stuff that is vaguely shitty”

camera falling

this deserves its own bullet because its silly

i'm turning 30 (bit and song)

i remember him talking about this on a podcast and like,, damn i didn't know this also happened LOL

i really like how he did the lighting

“stupid fucking ugly boring children”

suicide talk (1)

this is interesting i like the use of the projection

this is something that could never have happened onstage

just like with the it being projected on him

i guess it could but it would have to be done differently and probably hed have to make it funnier to make it more engaging

intermission

i just checked this is about the halfway point.. Mh

i don't wanna know (song)

“i thought it’d be over by now”

i wish this was longer but i kind of like how its just a little snippet and then the cut

video game (bit)

“i guess i’ll cry again”

“is the dude big or is the room small” lol

hm depression

feelin like shit (song)

ohh the lighting is fun again

this is the tone shift i suppose

the feels like supalonely and the new kind of music

atl

panic attack

everything all of the time (song)

feels like brandon rogers

i enjoy this

this feels like “welcome to youtube” grew up

“a little bit of everything all of the time”

“apathys a tragedy and boredoms a crime”

ok olivia rodrigo

finishing the special (bit)

these feel like diary entries but as standup

interesting choice

jeffery bezos (2)

Why the seaweed suit

Where did he get that

the digital space (bit)

suit up, gather what is needed, and return to the surface

damn

pirate map anfdkjfnskjd

this was so stupid (affectonate)

that funny feeling (song)

the campfire vibes

kenny loggins

i don't get it..

is it about childhood, is it about the present?

i think its talking about the end of content?

“the end of culture”, to quote make happy

change and not liking it

“we were overdue, but it will be over soon”

if the second half of the special is like a panic attack this song is like a momentary pause before it gets worse

“so ive been working on this special”/breakdown

this was .. uncomfortable and genuine which i'm sure is why he kept it

all eyes on me (song/rant)

another sad thing to watch.. damn

me trying to tell if the audio was from make happy

i think he was trying to make it as if the audio was from make happy

this feels.. familiar

and obviously that is the point

“come on in the waters fine”

the use of autotune during the talking part... yeah

sad that he was gonna make another special… and it would have been totally different than this

i’ve decided i like the homage to make happy

It feels like hes made peace with it

the montage of him waking up and the “i think i'm done”

and then of course the ending where he's watching it over to remind us that its all fabricated

possible ending song/ “i promise to never go outside again”

ngl he looks good in the shirt with the haircut hehe

which i feel like is what he wants up to notice

and then like not think after we saw all his breakdowns

“i want to hear you tell a joke when no ones laughing in the background”

i really like the medley

Final thoughts

I want a blooper reel, but this doesn't seem like the kind of special

I also wonder if the songs will be on like apple music, but again, doesn't seem like the kind of special

I'm happy for him, he got to be honest and open and show us the sort of panicky stuff

this self aware comedy is exactly the stuff that i think will be making a comeback in the next decade. John better be pulling up with more deconstructed comedy.

I hope this has given him peace

#i am so sorry for clogging the feed #bo burnham #inside #inside bo burnham #make happy #what.#words words words #bo fo sho #oh bo

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etoileholland · 4 years

Text

Meet the parents

Could you write a Tom imagine where Tom is introducing his girlfriend y/n for the first time to his family and Harrison and she’s a bit nervous but he tells her not to worry.

Pairing: Tom and female reader

Warnings: none

Word count: 1.3k

A/N: so sorry this request is a tad bit overdue, and kinda short, but nevertheless I hope you enjoyed! I promise I’m trying to be more active with posting but wow have I been busy. Please let me know if you would like to be added to my taglist 💛 Also the gif is not mine, all credit goes to its respective owner.

“Listen Tommy, I know meeting the family is a big deal and all but what if they don’t like me? I mean not that they wouldn’t I guess, but what if they think I’m not smart enough or pretty enough for you or-.”

“I’m going to stop you right there angel.” Tom interrupted. He knew you were extremely nervous about meeting his family, and you had expressed your anxieties many a time, but it pained him to see that he couldn’t really alleviate your fears.

He also knew that he was your first real boyfriend, and that he was the first person to ever ask you on a date, so he was aware that you had a lot of anxiety going into this. With that in mind, he was determined to try to make you feel better about all this.

“Trust me, you are beautiful and intelligent and lovely. My family will absolutely adore you even more than I already do, okay?” He looked over at you, smiling when your eyes met. “I can promise you that.” He grabbed your hand and brought it up to his mouth so he could gently kiss the top of your hand. You visibly relaxed at his gesture, breathing a little bit easier now, knowing that he’s by your side.

You two got out of his car, standing right beside it as you nervously fixed the bottom of your dress. Walking over to you, he grabbed your hand and led you towards the front door. Giving your hand a gentle squeeze, he paused before saying, “It’ll be okay love, let’s do this.”

He placed a small kiss on your cheek, taking a deep breath as he knocked on the door of the Holland residence. His youngest brother Paddy opened the door, jaw agape once he saw you in person.

“Holy-” he stopped as he looked at you, face turning beet red. “You said she was beautiful, but you didn’t tell us she was this beautiful.” He gasped.

Tom looked over at you, your face blushed at how adorable his little brother was.

“And Tom failed to tell me how absolutely handsome you are.” You replied, watching Paddy grin.

“Please come in.” Paddy took a step away from the door, motioning for you to walk into the residence, but as Tom made his way through the door, Paddy attempted to shut the door on him.

“Sorry, she’s ours now.” Paddy smirked.

—

“So love, tell us about yourself.” Nikki asked as she poured a bit of white wine into your glass. She had made a lovely dinner of carbonara, it looking as delicious as it smelled.

“Well I’m a university student, and although it’s really difficult I’m quite liking my classes.” You replied, thanking her for dishing you up some pasta.

Harrison, who was basically a part of the Holland family at this point, was joining the dinner, since he also hadn’t met you yet. Tom really tried to keep the beginning of this relationship well under wraps, not wanting to jinx it too early on by mentioning you. He also knew that this was a lot to take in, especially since your first boyfriend was in the public eye, so he held out on showing you off until he knew that you were more comfortable with the idea of meeting your family.

He had planned to wait a while longer, but when Nikki insisted on meeting the lovely girl that has stolen her eldest son’s heart, well he knew he couldn’t delay it anymore.

“Don’t be shy, tell us everything about yourself.” Dom prodded. Tom, holding your hand under the table, nervously looked over at you, scanning your features to see if you were alright. He was relieved to see that instead of being nervous, your face was glowing and beaming.

“Well, where do I even begin?” You smiled, lightly laughing as the family smiled at you. You told his family of your childhood, how you had always known that you wanted to study at Oxford, and how you loved calling England your new home. You gushed about your favourite books, quotes that resonated with you, and personal experiences that made you feel alive. You grimaced when you told of embarrassing stories, of how you once got lost in the woods when your high school class went camping, and how you stayed up all night before you turned eighteen, just to prove you could.

As you spoke, your face lit up when you reminisced of a happy experience, vividly remembering every minute detail of those wonderful times. When describing your hometown and everything that you missed about it, the corners of your eyes lightly welled up with tears. Tom admired you, gaze never leaving your face as you looked over at him constantly, smiling and reassuring him that you were alright.

The hours quickly passed that night, the conversations turning long and sometimes intimate, speaking in hushed tones and then erupting in laughter. Everyone sat at the table long after dinner was finished, the plates still scattered around. No one dared to get up to even miss a second of the conversation, engrossed in every second of it.

Nobody had cared what time it was until they looked over at Paddy, who had his arm propped on the table, which held his head up. He was dozing off, wanting to still listen and participate in the conversation but beginning to fall asleep. Nikki looked at the wall clock, noticing that it was nearly 10:30pm, and you had arrived at 6pm.

“Would you look at the time.” Nikki stated, everyone’s gaze quickly shifting to the clock on the wall to see what time it was. “It was so lovely having you join us for dinner darling, please let us do this again.” Nikki added as she smiled at you and Tom.

“I will, thank you for everything Mrs. Holland.” You replied. You watched Nikki laugh, Nikki laughing as she said, “Please love, call me Nikki.”

“Okay, will do.” You smiled, watching Nikki gather all the dishes up so they can be taken to be washed. You began to get up, grabbing some of the dishes and making your way to the kitchen with her.

“Oh no love, you’re the guest, you don’t have to help me.” She remarked, but you shook your head no. “I want to help.”

“Thank you angel.” She said, the two of you walking towards the kitchen.

Tom waited until you were out of earshot, then leaned in, motioning at everyone at the table. “Well, what do you think?” He asked, and immediately everyone at the table spoke at the same time.

“I literally love her.” Sam stated, and Harry added, “Me too.”

“I have no idea how much money you paid for her to like you, but wow is she out of your league.” Harrison smirked, but winced when Tom smacked him in the arm.

“I want her to be my big sister.” Paddy spoke up last as he rubbed his eyes and yawned.

“Do you really mean that?” Tom inquired, and Paddy sleepily nodded.

“Mmhmm, she’s lovely.” Which earned a grin from Tom.

——

“Drive safely you two!” Nikki exclaimed as you and Tom waved at her one last time, holding your hand as the two of you walked towards his car.

“Will do, thank you mum.” Tom replied.

“Thank you again for everything Nikki, it was so nice to meet you.” You responded, and Nikki said, “Of course, let’s have dinner again soon.”

“Oh definitely.” You smiled, thanking Tom for holding open the passenger door for you. You waited for him to get into the car, watching as he sat in the drivers seat and stuck the key in the ignition.

“You know,” you said, “I have no idea why I was so nervous before, your family is amazing. Also, thank you for making me feel comfortable about all this, I don’t deserve you.” You added. You watched Tom smile, leaning in to place a soft kiss on your lips.

“You’re welcome darling, I don’t deserve you either.” He whispered against your lips. You felt him smile as you leaned into him, kissing him gently.

——

Mes anges (taglist): @scarletxwidow @sunflowerhollands @fangirlwithasweettooth @lmaotshollandd @musicalkeys @taciturnspidey @graceluvsyouu @yoinkyourheart

#tom holland x you #tom holland x reader #tom holland x y/n #tom holland x female reader #tom holland blurb #tom holland imagine #tom holland imagines #tom holland blurbs #tom holland one shot #tom holland writing #tom holland #tom holland fluff #tom holland fanfic #tom holland fanfics #tom holland and you #tom holland and y/n #tom holland and reader #mine #text

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rufousnmacska · 3 years

Text

I have a lot of thoughts about A Court of Silver Flames, and since it helps me to write them out, I thought I’d share.

It’s behind a cut because SPOILERS and it’s long lol!

Nesta

I had expected we’d learn that Nesta had suffered some type of abuse or trauma as a child that Elain and Feyre were not aware of. I wasn’t expecting it to be so subtle, for lack of a better word. Abuse comes in a lot of forms, which I think SJM is good at showing. Emotionally manipulating your daughter for power, ignoring her in favor of your business and money … those may not be as visible as physical or verbal abuse, but they still cause damage.

I’m not sure how to convey it properly, but I thought it was important to show how the parts of her that were born from the abuse and trauma, while dark or not always healthy, were still useful. The wolf she became to survive her childhood helped her survive the cauldron. Not being able to “turn it off” is what hurt her. My favorite quote:

“So Nesta had become a wolf. Armed herself with invisible teeth and claws, and learned to strike faster, deeper, more lethally. Had relished it. But when the time came to put away the wolf, she’d found it had devoured her too.”

And as Amren said later “That’s the key isn’t it? To know the darkness will always remain, but how you choose to face it, handle it … that’s the important part. To not let it consume. To focus on the good, the things that fill you with wonder.”

I’ve seen a lot of fans upset that Nesta gave up her cauldron powers at the end to save Feyre and the baby. Although I’d initially hoped (post acofas) that her training would be more about her magic than physical training, I’m okay with how it worked out. She never wanted that power and she never liked having it. She stole it as revenge and she fought constantly to suppress it. Was she a badass when she wielded it? Absolutely! But ultimately, her giving it back was the final big step in her healing arc and acceptance of herself. (That doesn’t mean she’s “cured.” This will be an ongoing battle for her. I only mean this in terms of the story in this book.)

She chose to sacrifice it, unlike so many other times in her life when things were forced on her or happened to her. Unlike the future her mother had set out for her. Unlike when they were poor and her father did nothing to get them through. Unlike when she was thrown into the cauldron and then a war. Even unlike when she was forced to move into the House of the Wind, and her apartment – the one place she had chosen for herself no matter how run down it was – got demolished. I’m not going to go into the intervention too much. It was poorly done, but I doubt any of them had experience in doing one. A conversation acknowledging that might have been nice. And I’m not ignoring Feyre and Rhys’s hypocrisy of Nesta being confined to a place where she effectively had no way to leave on her own. The stairway at that point was not an option. But the bottom line is that Nesta needed help and was not in a position to willingly accept it or seek it out.

Regardless, she is still a lethal badass. She still has some of her powers, along with her fighting skills, which will only get better and better. So, the idea that she gave up what made her strong, or ended up as some meek housewife … I don’t agree with that at all. She has the intelligence and potential to become a force in leading armies. Not to mention her skill as an emissary. (Which Cassian finally learned how to imitate lol!)

On a personal note, I’m intimately familiar with the depression and self-loathing Nesta experienced in this book. Although I don’t necessarily react to those feelings in the same ways or exhibit the same coping mechanisms (I tend to turn my anger inward rather than outward), I could still relate to her journey. Her stubbornness and feelings that she didn’t deserve love or anything good or kind were presented accurately in my opinion. Parts were hard for me to read because of that. But I loved that she was able to make her way through the pain and finally begin to accept and love herself. And I especially loved that she was helped not only by Cassian, but by her friendship with Emerie and Gwyn.

And the House! Holy shit. The magic houses in this world piss me off to no end because they are not real and I will forever need to clean my own place LOL! Her relationship with the house was beautiful and funny and I love that she Made it! She needed a friend, someone to understand her, not only what she wanted but what she needed, and boom! The House of the Wind came alive for her.

So, overall, I loved Nesta’s journey. I’m happy she ended in a place that brought her inner peace and the ability to better deal with her problems in the future.

Nessian

I loved them before this book and I love them more after. The smut was a little shocking at first lol but I’ve read the Black Dagger Brotherhood books, which SJM loves, so really, it wasn’t that out there. I loved that Cassian showed that even with the mating bond, he could give Nesta space and freedom. In that respect, their relationship felt more mature to me than feysand. Their banter and the sexual tension was great! (The book is about a book.) They had some not great moments, as they have in past books. But those were realistic. People argue and say things they regret. But they also talk through it and apologize. This is a good time to point out – NOT ALL APOLOGIES INVOLVE EXPLICITLY SAYING I AM SORRY. There are other ways to show remorse and ask for forgiveness.

I don’t know if I had one favorite moment as there were quite a few. I think the most emotional for me was when they reached the lake. I know firsthand how difficult it is to speak aloud the things Nesta said. And I am also lucky to have people in my life who responded the way Cassian did – with love and support and kindness.

The nightmare scene, the prison scene, the dancing, the mating bond, Cassian turning the knife on himself … I loved them all!

The Valkyries

I fucking loved them! Gwyn and Emerie were absolute delights and I’m so glad Nesta made good friends of her own who she could be herself with. Their bonding over books, training, and their pasts was wonderful. Nesta urging them on and defending them from the Illyrians in the Blood Rite was a beautiful step in her healing. Before this book, I was hesitant about the foreshadowing that Nesta would take part in the Rite, fearing it would become some sort of white savior trope to help the female Illyrians. But I enjoyed the way it ended up happening. I know it seemed unrealistic for Nesta, Emerie, and Gwyn to get that far against warriors who’d been training for years. But part of the point was the males were arrogant as fuck. They underestimated the trio, to their detriment. Nesta and her friends used cunning as much as strength and skill to get where they did.

And I loved the image of Emerie and Gwyn just sitting back, sipping tea and admiring the river after going through a week of pure hell and winning the Blood Rite.

I hope we get more of them all together in the next books.

ETA - I can’t believe I forgot! Gwyn writing their story because their stories deserve to be told 🥲💕

The sisters

Overall I liked how things turned out with them.

Elain is still a bit of a non-entity to me. I don’t feel like I really know anything about her. Which, to some extent, is the point I think. There will be a lot to reveal in her story and she has a shitload of healing to do. She may have the appearance of adjusting and fitting in, but I don’t buy it. Nesta telling Elain to fuck off was awesome and long overdue. But Elain was also right in pointing out how others treat her and the trauma she’s experienced. I think there is still more to be dealt with between these two in the next book.

Feyre and Nesta were the more interesting relationship to me. The eldest and the youngest tend to butt heads in my opinion (and personal experience). So I was glad they came to an understanding. And very glad that Feyre did not get angry with Nesta for telling her about the baby. Rhys deserved the wrath for that.

One thing I would have liked to see discussed was the role of their parents in their lives. Nesta holds a lot of guilt for how she reacted to their poverty and I think that is understandable. I think Elain does too. However, I do not think any of the sisters should harbor blame for what happened. Their father was responsible for them. Period. Even if he was physically unable to work or help around the house, he still could have been a father. Yes, Feyre stepped up and fed them. Nesta and Elain didn’t help. It was his role to make them. Not in an abusive way. But step up and tell Nesta and Elain to do something, whether it’s chop wood or gather food from the wild. I don’t know. In my opinion, it is wrong to place blame on young girls who had a parent that did nothing. His actions in acowar were noble, but they don’t erase his failures. That all of this was glossed over disappointed me. I think this was something Nesta needed to be told explicitly by both her sisters. She had things to apologize for and feel guilt for, but she was not the one who should have protected Feyre. All three of them should have been protected by their father.

The Inner Circle

It’s kind of funny to me how blind they all are about each other. I don’t even know what else to say about their dysfunction.

Amren’s sudden desire for Rhys to become High King was weird, and though I should know better, I still really hope the series doesn’t end that way. The IC tends to have good intentions about things, but I don’t think they know how to handle a problem without some kind of force. And controlling all the other courts is not something that would happen easily, especially with perceived allies.

Amren and Mor thinking Nesta belonged or should be sent to the Court of Nightmares was a spectacularly shitty take. The lack of awareness and acknowledgement that Nesta was suffering from multiple traumas was just … unbelievable.

But considering how much this group does not see about each other, I guess it’s not a surprise. I don’t know how much is willful ignorance or just really, really poor people skills. I understand how this all makes for good angst and drama, I really do. But I’m just at the point where it’s grating. They need to sit the fuck down and talk to each other. It’s been five hundred years for fucks sake. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

Rhys

Okay. I liked Rhys in acotar and acomaf. But the sparkly exterior wore off big time for me in acowar and acofas. I honestly could have done without him in this book. But I wasn’t foolish enough to expect him to not be in it. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that SJM has her favorites and Rhys is at the top of the list.

Having said that, he annoyed the shit out of me in this book. Someone really needs to explain to him that a choice between two awful things, one of which might be deadly, is not really a choice. I don’t have the energy for it, but better writers than me could write a thesis on the illusion of choice in these books. Which is, in my opinion, pretty clearly tied to the brand of feminism presented.

Not only is the choice given to Nesta at the beginning not a choice, Rhys doesn’t seem to consider Elain at all in his argument with Az. All other issues with that bonus chapter aside, he saw them. He saw the mutual attraction and consent. What happened to not forcing females to accept the mating bond? What happened to respecting her choice and autonomy? I considered the possibility that maybe since he knows Az, there’s a reason he thinks they wouldn’t work. But then, that pretty much flies out the window by him asking Az about Mor. Sure, Az is still hung up on Mor, but she is pretty fucking clear about her opinion.

The whole thing about not telling Feyre about the risky childbirth was awful. And not that I would expect it to happen, but not even mentioning abortion as an option was frustrating. That plot line was not good in any way. There were plenty of other things that could have gone wrong with the birth to push Nesta to act at the end. To be honest, the feysand dynamic is not great. While I appreciated her standing up to him about Nesta and other things, he very deliberately uses sex as a distraction to get out of arguments. Yet another way he never really seems to suffer consequences of bad behavior.

I will say I was really glad he got the opportunity to experience the full trauma of what Nesta went through. And my petty ass loved him kneeling before her at the end!

Miscellaneous

Where was Illyria?? My one serious expectation for this book was that we’d learn more about Illyria and deal with the revolution that was hyped up in acofas. To be written off in one paragraph was disappointing. It makes me think that if we are to ever get more details about the Illyrians, it might be in Az’s story. It was mentioned a few times that he hates them (with good reason) and would wipe them off the map if it was up to him. So I’m guessing his arc will require him coming to terms with that.

Elriel-Elucien-Gwynriel

I’ve never been super invested in this story line but I admit I’ve leaned more towards Elriel in the past. Partly because I like some of the complementary symbolism associated with them, but mostly because I’d really like to see a story about rejection of the mating bond. Even with the extra chapters, I feel like we still don’t know much of anything about who Elain truly is. And the same can be said of Az. So, those chapters didn’t sway me that much. With the exception of Az interacting with Gwyn. I agree with a lot of others saying Az has a lot of work to do on himself before he can be with anyone. I think Elain and Gwyn also have a lot of healing to do. SJM can take this in so many directions that I just don’t know what to think.

I will say that originally I was expecting the next book to involve a love square of Elain, Az, Lucien, and Vassa, because I did see a connection between the last two. But now … Was Lucien annoyed by Jurian and Vassa because he’s jealous? Just annoyed? I don’t know. I still think Vassa will be in the next books if only because of Koschei. But I’m not so sure about her involvement with Lucien. I think we’ve got enough people in this love polygon lol! Jesus, what a mess. But maximum angst 😂

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chcrrysprite · 3 years

Text

10 fandoms, 10 characters, 10 tags :)

rules: show us your ten favorite characters from ten fandoms and then tag ten people to do the same.

i was tagged by @manonisamelon :) thank you!! i love to do these because it means i get to be extra and slap a filter on some screencaps. and also be opinionated. i was going to do this earlier on mobile, but tumblr started running Super slow and then didn’t save my draft, so here’s take two!

the movies / tv shows aren’t in any particular order, and some of them are kind of random...i evidently don’t watch that many things, so it took me a while to come up with ten LMAO. feel free to give your opinion about my favs in the replies...i’m interested to see if we have any in common or really don’t.

1.) theo raeken - teen wolf i think we all knew this one was going to be first. love u <3 alternate: liam or hayden, probably :)

2.) layla keating - all american i don’t even watch all american anymore because of the way the writers and the fanbase treats her :,( unproblematic but still for whatever reason controversial fav. no one could ever get me to hate her. argue with the wall alternate: asher

3.) jane villanueva - jane the virgin i’ve been re-watching jane the virgin for the third time and i think she’s the only one who i’ve Never had any problems with liking. so sweet and motivated, and even though she’s made some bad decisions (coughcough love triangle coughcough), idc what anybody says, she’s a good mom who does not deserve slander ! alternate: rafael

4.) john murphy - the 100 the 100 was genuinely a terrible show in all honesty, but he + emori made it worth watching through till the end...kind of. he’s the second murdery mf with childhood trauma on this list, but he stopped trying to kill people, so he’s good now :) alternate: emori (let me into ur relationship pls)

5.) alexis rose - schitt’s creek i just think that she was one of the funniest and i love her <3 she literally always had good love interests too. every single relationship was interesting. wish she would’ve gotten her endgame but i like to think she’s doing big things on her own :) alternate: stevie, patrick, david

6.) adam groff - sex education some of you are going to Hate me for this one but like,,, season two was His. love his development and everybody on here knows i’m a slut for redemption arcs so this shouldn’t be a surprise. alternate: eric, maeve, jackson

7.) nick miller - new girl absolute disaster of a man. keeps all of his overdue bills and unfiled paperwork in a shoebox in his closet. in So Much Debt. but he writes books and respects women and i fuckin love him alternate: winston, cece

8.) poe dameron - star wars sequel trilogy hhhhhh. i know that i loved his leadership skills and personality when i was watching the movies, but also i can’t recall anything he actually Did at the moment because i’m too busy looking at him. like. god. not to be horny on main or anything, but.... Whew Sir

9.) lupe - plan b (2021) plan b doesn’t really have a fandom and i’m biased because *victoria moroles* but pls,,, i love her so much. my favorite line of the whole movie came from her - “glad to know you spend your free time thinking about what my pussy looks like, megan” - and i’ve watched the movie twice and cried Both Times at the ending scene with her dad. once again, not to be horny on main, but there is literally No way to deny i like girls too after this movie LMFAOOO alternate: sunny! she and lupe are pretty much equal here, but i’ll take any excuse to talk about victoria, lupe, or hayden hdbfjs

10.) neil perry - dead poets society </3 </3 </3 help me alternate: todd or charlie

okay!! tags!! obviously you don’t have to do the whole thing with the pictures and explanations, i just like to waste my own time </3

@inabottlelikelightning @thecenturiestrickle @frustrateddumbbar @li0nh34rt @curlsinthewind @rosesraeken @idk-ilike5sos @theowhy @edge0fmydesiree @thiamficrecs :)

once again...very much inviting conversation in the notes :)

#tag games #10 fandoms 10 characters 10 tags

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edwardslostalchemy · 4 years

Note

the thing that kills me about bakugou is when the plf go "having a powerful quirk means i'm better than you"and basically advocate for eugenics, it's horrible and corrupt, but when bakugou does it, it's lol funny and 'oh that gremlin.' in a recent chapter he made fun of the past OFA holders for having 'weak' quirks and dying and he said these things in front of Toshi, who has himself given so much. just...what was the point of him knowing about OFA if he was just going to be a disrespectful ass?

I have no idea why it was necessary for him to know, tbh. I think it was a waste of an opportunity to give him growth by NOT telling him. And honestly, I agree that k*tsuki and the plf have similar ideals because they’re elitists. :/ They think they’re better than others. Unironically, the lov wanting k*tsuki on their side would have been like, them all sharing this same thought. Idk, I just don’t like him. The things he says and does are played off as comedic relief now and it’s honestly so annoying. He needs to be brought down from his pedestal.

(I have multiple messages so I am putting them all in one post under a read more, I hope it works, but if somehow it doesn’t, I’m really sorry. My computer says it works, but mobile doesn’t show it. This will be a long post.)

Anonymous said:

You know... I wouldn’t mind Bakugou winning vs Ochako so much if his blast had simply redirected enough rubble for him to make it though the pelting, and the fight had ended with an actual visible inflicted injury on his part, like a cut on his face, that stuck around for the rest of the tournament. Make the close call have more concrete, visible consequences for him then his arms aching a bit.

I agree with this completely. That thing about his arms aching doesn’t show much of the consequences at all. And he gets over it rather quickly. I hate that he has so much plot armor.

Anonymous said:

Ngl i dont ship Todo/deku (dont really ship Izuku with anyone lol) but its such a nice ship like?? People can ship what they want but why ship Baku/deku when Tododeku is RIGHT THERE. I would rather have todo/deku be the twin stars like.. Todoroki having to overcome his fathers legacy and be a better hero then his father ever could be while Izuku perpetuates all mights legacy and carries the legacy of One For All?? Poetic cinema

+ I SENT AN ASK ABOUT PREFERRING TODO/DEKU TO BAKU/DEKU AND I WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING SKSKS. we could totally have an "its your power" moment. Izuku getting Todo to accept his left side and Todo getting Izuku to remember that OFA is his power now.

Todo/deku is really the poetic cinema we need and deserve. Idk why people like b*kud*ku, that’s what they prefer, but the ship itself is not healthy in the slightest and I find it pretty disturbing. I agree with you, nony. Everything you said is correct.

Anonymous said:

If I'm gonna be honest the whole "he was raised in a household of screaming and abuse" isn't a good enough reason as to why Bakugo has no chill. Like we've seen people like Todoroki raised in a household much worst but he didn't come out as a jerk or bully. I'd like to see more of Bakugo's interactions with his parents but for the most part the dad seems like a pushover and his mom is just loud at times. But no where close to Endeavor. So yeah Bakugo shut up challenge

Yeah, idk how their dynamic works, it’s just mitsuki screaming at k*tsuki while his dad tries to intervene, but doesn’t do a good job about it. I don’t like that she smacked his head. But I think people really stretch it to give him a tragic backstory when in reality, he doesn’t have one. He is a spoiled brat. Shouto has proven how to be a better person. He’s just a better character in general.

Anonymous said:

This might be long but I want to get something off my chest and I love your blog so I used to like bk//dk. If you asked me why. It's because I was enamored by the fanon ver of this pair with a better bkg and the whole appeal of childhood 'friends'/reconciliation trope it had going on and some fans have convinced me that their relationship wasn't as bad as it's portrayed before UA and that bkg was only like that because of society and thinking Izuku was "looking down" at him. 1/3

Thinking about it. it's really stupid and the verge of victim blaming but anyways. What stopped me from liking it and instead hating the pair is that after dk vs kc 2 I was expecting the improvement in their relationship, for a moment I thought we got it. But in reality it's just bc we haven't seen them interact much after the overhaul arc and before the joint training arc.Then the joint arc came and the 2nd internship arc came and whoo boy, I feel like I was cheated on. 2/3

Rather than making bkg's behavior improve towards Izuku, He's still as much of an asshole who belittles him, mocks him ,acts like he can't stand him but less threats of killing him combined with Izuku who just takes it because he's a nice person. But the narrative acts like their good friends now and I have been feeling so frustrated with this, I wanted a mutual relationship with mutual respect on both sides and bk//dk hasn't reached that part and it shouldn't take this long for it to be. 3/3

Thank you for sharing this with me, nony!! I appreciate it. It’s really sad that their relationship hasn’t improved at all. It’s so long overdue and now things are played as comedic relief like him hurting Izuku with his spike and also being extremely disrespectful during the ofa meetings. Their relationship isn’t healthy and it isn’t friendly, no matter how canon wants to paint it that way.

Anonymous said:

the only reason bkg gets to know OFA is because he guilted Izu into telling him a half truth in S1 then guilted AM and Izu with his tantrum in S3 He also had the privilege to know Izu since childhood and saw AFO so he had the advantage Izuku would have never told him otherwise. Same time Izuku's friends don't "deserve" to know about OFA, rather, Izuku deciding to tell them himself will make the revelation to them more special since its Izu deciding to tell a piece of himself than being forced to

HOT TAKE

@havocsss said:

i just wanted to say i appreciate your opinion on bnha about bakugo (bc someone finally said it 👀) and you put into words for me how i feel abt that character - and that's partly why i just can't watch it. he's the bully that everyone idolises and gets let away with murder and naaaah mate that's not how it works

Thank you, I’m glad to hear it. I don’t like that he, a literal bully who has suicide baited Izuku and has hurt him with his explosion quirk, is the fandom’s favorite and the most popular character. Literally any other character would have been better to stan than him. He’s everywhere and I can’t enjoy part of the series because of him always being there. It’s so annoying. I will continue to yell about why he is not a good character until horikoshi gives us the development he desperately needs AND an apology to Izuku for being so abusive to him. And yes, bullying is abuse.

Anonymous said:

I know that feeling. I also greatly dislike Bakugou. He almost ruins the manga for me at times. I can't even think of a plot with Izuku where Hori won't try to include him in some way. I tried reading metas abt him, tried to look at him in a different light but I realised that I really hate his personality, combined with his overhyped popularity just makes me can't stand him. I wish I could even just be neutral for him but that's being a challenge.

Yeah, he’s not a good character. Very infuriating and annoying. We do not stan him in this house.

Anonymous said:

I feel like if Aizawa actually knew that Bakugou used to bully Izuku he'd probably whoop Bakugou's ass

OOF I’d like to see him expel him.

Anonymous said:

I like how it's framed like I'm supposed to feel sorry for Bakugou because he feels manpain for not being the strongest in the class. Like the dude went from a regular school to the best of the best and he still expected to be the strongest person there is with no challenge?

Awww, is the spoiled brat sad? Good. He can die mad about it.

Anonymous said:

If Aizawa did the combat training instead of All Might he would've stopped Bakugou the first time he used his gauntlets and automatically failed him and I really wish that would've been the outcome

Tbh he should have been expelled for trying to kill a classmate.

Anonymous said:

Oh yeah I remember that character entrance when he just basically I insults his partner for training. Look I love the kid but if I was a teacher I would've flamed him so hard like there could've been a hostage, that weapon could have went off, his partner could've been captured. That's how you ended up failing the license exam

OOF. When will he learn.

Anonymous said:

Um excuse the ever living fuck out of me but I just saw a fic that was bakugou/consequences where Izuku attempted suicide and you know what the ship was?? My pure green son who deserves the world and his literal bully/abuser are you SHITTING ME???? I try very hard not to hate ships I do really try but I just CAN'T with this ship it disgusts me

It's not a healthy ship. I am disturbed by this fic and I don’t even know what it’s called and I don’t want to know. Eww.

Anonymous said:

I see myself as Izuku cause I relate to him a lot and I just read something where Bakugou does what my abuser did to me to Izuku and now I'm having a very hard time stomaching the thought of him and like I really loved kiri/baku too but now I can't even think about it cause someone who shipped my notp thought it would be a good idea to make Bakugou an abuser and give Izuku Stockholm syndrome ☹

Oh nony…I’m so sorry to hear about that. That really sounds rough and I hope you’re feeling better. That sounds awful. I’m just…I’m appalled. Also giving Izuku Stockholm syndrome with this ship is just. Wow.

#anti bakugou #anti bkdk #iamtypinglike98madmen #havocsss #anonymous #tw abuse #if anyone needs anything tagged let me know

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youngwildandpogue · 4 years

Text

Broke you

Word count: 2525

Pairing: John B x Reader

Warnings: Talk of Cheating.

Author’s note: There will probably be a part two coming.

I think that if you really care about someone, you truly wants what is best for them, you smile when they laugh, celebrate their wins and suffer together though their losses. You adore the moments that you share and give them space to be free but wanting what is best for another person is accepting that your paths are no longer intertwined. It’s not to say the moments you had aren’t real, but rather coming to terms with the inevitable truth that sometimes showing someone how much you love them means letting them go.

-the better man project

4 years prior

“I love you” you whispered as you kissed him for one last time then wiping the tears from his eyes. “Y/n I’ll be here waiting until you get back.” You smile hoping that he’s being honest, but you could never ask him to do that “please don’t, you deserve to find someone” you spoke slowly breaking your own heart. You knew that you could never find anyone that could compare to John B. No one could ever have a space in your heart as big as he did but you both knew you had to do this. It was the last thing you promised your mom before she passed, and John understood that better than anyone. She knew that you’d have to leave the island that you called home for as long as you had known eventually. To kook it up pogue style one day

“I love you more” was the last words that he spoke to you.

Present

The ferry whistled as the salt breeze welcomed you back home one last time. You exited the ferry and walked back to your childhood home a few blocks away. You smiled at everything that had changed since you left. The cut still the same old cut. As you approached the small shack you called home memories began flooding you.

“Hey that’s private property get out of there” a deep voice yelled from the road. You quickly turn around to identify who’s voice it is. “Y/n is that you?” You squinted to get a better look “Pope?” You chuckle and drop your bags and run to your once friend. How he’s aged since the last time you spoke. “How long have you been back?” He asked after a long overdue hug. “I just got in actually” you replied. “The gang is going to flip that you’re back” he laughed “don’t tell them just yet I want to make it a surprise” he nodded in understanding. “We’re going to John B’s later for a little get together If you want to stop by” you bit your lip and nodded. “See you later Pope” you wave and pick up your bags and head into the small home. You look around taking in everything from your past. Things haven’t changed since you left. It was a lot cleaner than you expected since JJ was living here after you moved. You figured that beer bottles would litter every surface. You slowly make your way to the old bedroom that you spent so many hours inhabiting as a child. You drop your bags on the bed and pause taking in everything slowly.

You made you way slowly to the chateau to greet your friends. People sprinkled the yard with solo cups enjoying the presence of each other. You made walked into the house slowly realizing that nothing has changed since you left. A small smile appears on your face remembering the memories that were made in the house. Your fingers traced the surfaces as you walked by. You made your way to the kitchen to get a drink “ope sorry” you muttered as you accident bump into someone. Blonde locks turn quickly before you realize it was Sarah Cameron “oh no you are totally fine” she smiled back. You grab a cup if whatever punch was made and head back outside to find your friends. What is a kook doing at the cut? The chateau of all places?

You spot kie first from the hammocks swinging. Another smile appeared on your face as you walked towards the girl. “Kie?” You say quietly. She looked back to try and identify the new voice. The second that she realized it was you she screamed your name and embraced you in a hug. You were glad to be back home. “How was California? Everything that you imagined?” She asked referencing meeting your dad for the first time and getting to know him. “Eh it was okay” You smiled knowing that you had the time of your life experiencing the west coast for the first time You asked her how school went and if she had landed a job. She shrugged saying that she was still working on her master’s in environmental conservation.

“Have you seen the others?” You asked looking around for the two that you have yet to see. “JJ and John B are around the fire I think” She pointed to the furthest part of the yard where the two boys stood. You said your goodbyes and walked towards the boys. You wrapped your hands around the blonde boys’ eyes “Who is it” You giggled. His hands moved to yours and moved them away and then turning to greet you. “Y/N? God damn” He laughed and then picked you up and spun you around and gently placing you back on the ground. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you” he stated, and you nodded. He was the brother that you never had. “I went home, and you weren’t there” You asked wanting to know what he was up to these days. “Yeah sorry I’ve had to work open to close today” He shot John B a look, but he didn’t notice. He was in his own world talking with another group of people.

“Does he know that you are back?” He asked concerned looking between the pair. “No not yet” You shook your head no. This was it, now or never. “Hello Everyone, can we get your attention” Sarah Camron yelled from the stairs of the Chateau. John B was now to her side. “You guys are all probably wondering why we called you here today” She giggled. You felt your stomach start to churn uncomfortably. “We would like to announce that at the end of the summer I will be Mrs. Routledge” She exclaimed and smiled everyone around you started cheering as the couple kissed. You started clapping to fit in to the crowd. JJ looked over at you to make sure that you were okay. He bumped his shoulder to yours letting you know that he was here for you. After the announcement you decided that it was best for you to leave and pretend that you weren’t here. You slowly walked out of the chateau for the last time and walked back home.

“So where do you work now?” You asked JJ as he was kitchen making something for dinner. “Bird’s fishing and tackle over off of Leer road” You nodded. “Is it new? I don’t think that I’ve heard of it. “Yeah Kinda sorta, it’s been there a few years ago. It replaced Old Man James when he retired” It finally clicked where it was located. “That’s pretty cool! Do you like it?” “Yeah it’s pretty great” he smiled thing about their new adventure.

“Hey pope what are you doing here?” You asked as you walked into bird’s fishing and tackle. “I run the store here” you accept the answer and look around at the small store. It hasn’t changed much since the new owners had taken over. “Is JJ here?” It’s been a month since you’ve been back and you’ve been able to avoid the two love birds luckily. Not that you were mad that he didn’t wait for you, how could you ask someone to wait for you? Especially when one year turned into four? “Yeah he should be coming in soon you can hang out at then dock out back if you want” you nodded and thanked him as you made you way out back.

You saw the HMS pogue docked and you smiled remembering the summer nights on the water.

“We’re closed some back tomorrow” a deep voice called. You stiffened as you realized who’s voice it was. “Okay thanks anyway” you attempted to abort mission and wait until JJ returned home. “Y/n? Is that you?” The brown-haired boy asked jumping off the boat and walking over to you. “John b? What are you doing here?” You asked trying to play it off like you didn’t see him when you walked out here. “This is my shop?” He laughed and walked closer. “You own bird’s?” He nods yes “That makes sense why Pope and JJ work here then” you laugh. “When did you get back in town?” He asked running a hand though his hair. I could tell he was just as uncomfortable as I was. “Uhm I think it was last month or so?” You stumbled across your words. “A month? You’ve been in town for a month and you didn’t stop by to say anything? To see me? To catch up?” Frustration building in his voice. “I stopped by the night you announced your engagement actually.. congratulations by the way” You rock back and forth on your heels. “I would have saw you? Everyone would have saw you if you stopped by?” He questioned. “Yup I saw seen everyone and I’ve been staying at home” you were silently thanking everyone for not telling him you were back. “Uh were about to close up would you want to grab a smoothie heor something?” He griped the back of his neck nervously. He was a lot older than the last time I saw him. 21 doing him Justice. “Rain check maybe?” you asked and he shrugged. “It’s good to see you y/n” you too you muttered back and walk back into the tackle shack and back home.

You got home and switched on the TV for some kind of noise to down out the noise going on inside of your head. You could handle him being happy when you didn’t have to see him. “Tropical Kate is rolling in everyone needs to take precautions and expect winds 70-80 miles per hour. You sighed and turned the television off. You picked up your phone to ring JJ for the fourth time today but it goes straight to voicemail. You make your way to the basement to grab the boards and a hammer to board the windows to avoid more damage.

You settled on the couch and checked your phone again, still no word from JJ. They were probably weatherizing the store. You could hear the heavy wind and rain whip the side of the house. You hear a small knock on the door. You furrow your eyebrows in confusion as to why anyone would be at the door. “Can I come in?” The boy stood in front of the door. “Of course” you opened the storm door and welcomed John B into the house. “Let me grab some towels” You walked to the bathroom and grabbed a towel and to your bedroom to grab a blanket for him. “Here” You hand him both and he thanked you. “What are you doing here?” You asked concerned. “Rain check? Literally” He laughed. “Smooth” you smiled. “Is JJ okay?” You asked about your newfound roommate. “Yeah I sent him to the chateau to check on everything” A moment of silent fell on us, this uncharted territory we were crossing. “Are you going to be in town a while?” He asked. “Yeah, I was thinking about opening that sandwich shop that we always talked about” You smiled realizing that he finally got his dream. “That would be cool” the conversation died down. “A kook huh?” You laughed remembering the rule that the group created. Rule #1 no pogue on pogue and Rule #2 no pogue on kook. “She’s great and she’s a new found pogue actually” He giggled feeling proud of himself. “Is that so John booker? Did you initiate her yourself?” You challenged him. The kettle whistled from the stove. You made you way over to the kitchen and poured it into two cups for you both. “I did actually, some shit went down after you left and she was there, she gave up the kook life” “I’m sorry” You apologized. It was wrong of you to think down upon the one person that repaired all of the damage that you caused. “What about you? Did you bring anyone back with you?” You shook your head no “Nope just me” You took a small sip of tea. “So how was California?” He asked, he’s never been out of the sate of North Carolina. “It was nice but it wasn’t home.” “Did you meet anyone?” He asked again. “Nope, You were the one for me” You immediately regret saying that as soon as it left your mouth. “I’m glad you listened and found someone. You are an amazing guy” You smiled. “I hope the same for you, you deserve the world” The power flickered before finally just going out due to the storm. You yelped at the cracking of thunder outside. “You would think that after living on the coast for 18 years of your life you’d be use to the storms” He nudged you. “Yeah something like that” He felt you quiver from the chill of the storm. “Here get under the blanket He opened up half. You hesitated before finally giving in and feeling the warmth of his skin. His arm wrapped around your shoulder and pulled you closer to his chest. You knew that this wasn’t okay, but you didn’t want to think about it anymore. You guys both just set there enjoying the closeness one last time. “She’s no you, you know” He whispered softly. “Maybe but I’m not that person either anymore” So much time has passed since you two saw each other last, you had secretly wished that things would just pick up where you left off like nothing ever happened. “I know, neither am I but you were still home, you still are my home” He stated rambling. “JB, please do not go down this rabbit hole, it won’t do either of any good and you have Sarah Cameron waiting at home for you” You clenched your eyes shut. “Yeah you’re probably right” he whispered as he planted a kiss on your forehead. Tears brimmed your eyes. “So do I get an invitation to the wedding?” You asked, you didn’t want to go but you wanted his mind back on his fiancé. “If you want one” He stated not wanting to talk about. “I missed you, a lot” He turned to look at you. “ Yeah I missed you too”

“If you asked, I’d leave her and wouldn’t think twice” You hear in the dark room.

“That’s the problem, She fixed you when I broke you, how could we do that to her?” The room fell silence again.

#obx #obx x reader #obx netflix #obx john b #john booker routledge #john b #outerbanks netflix #outer banks #outerbanks #pope obx #kie #jj outer banks

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rosethornewrites · 4 years

Text

Fic: the thread may stretch or tangle but it will never break, ch. 6

Characters: Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī, Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Wēn Qíng, Wēn Níng | Wēn Qiónglín, Granny Wēn, Lán Yuàn | Lán Sīzhuī

Additional Tags: Pre-Slash, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Secrets, Crying, Masks, Soulmates, Truth, Self-Esteem Issues, Regret, It was supposed to be a one-shot, Fix-It, Eventual Relationships, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, wwx needs a hug, Nightmares, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Filial Piety, Handfasting, Phobias, Sleeping Together, Fear, Panic Attacks, Love Confessions, Getting Together, Phobias

Summary: When Wei Ying wakes, they have a long-overdue conversation.

Note: See end.

AO3 link

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5

———

Lan WangJi stirs naturally at mao shi, confused by the feeling of someone against him at first. Wei Ying is still curled in his arms, his face pressed against his chest, one hand fisted in his robes.

When he tries to disentangle himself, it’s more difficult than expected. He finds Wei Ying’s other hand is clinging to a lock of his hair, and both fists tighten at the movement.

Then Wei Ying stirs, jerking back immediately and yelping, “Dog!” as though still trapped in his panic of the night before.

Lan WangJi finds himself pulled part way with him, as Wei Ying neglects to release his hair.

“Eliminated, Wei Ying,” he says softly, watching the bleariness of sleep slowly fade from his eyes.

Thankfully, the remnants of last night’s panic fade with it, and Wei Ying lets go of his hair, wincing in sympathy as he realizes he’s pulled it.

“Sorry,” he murmurs.

“There is no need, between us,” Lan WangJi gently reminds him. “I did not realize you were afraid of dogs.”

Wei Ying flinches, and he realizes the fear is strong enough that he reacts to just the word.

“Wei Ying?”

He keeps his tone soft, a request, but one that can be ignored if he so wishes. Instead Wei Ying sighs, and reaches down to pull up a leg of his trousers, revealing flesh marred by old scars.

“The other one is the same,” he says. “And they go higher. Living on the streets means fighting dogs for food. You learn pretty quick they’re mean.”

“How long?” Lan WangJi asks, trying to keep the horror from his voice.

Wei Ying shrugs, rolling his trousers back down.

“I don’t remember. A few years. I didn’t keep much track of time. Too young when my parents died, and no one really knows exactly when that was.”

He can see Wei Ying shiver, and wraps the blanket around him.

“It’s only mao,” he tells him. “You can sleep longer.”

That gets a grimace. “Not likely to sleep. Even if you got rid of that damn thing. I’m surprised it didn’t give me nightmares.”

“Of your childhood?”

Lan WangJi knew he had cried out about dogs in his fevered sleep, but that was during a fever. Though, perhaps, after trauma…

Wei Ying shakes his head.

“I never told you. In Nightless City, when Wen Chao took me for ‘questioning’...”

He trails off, his mouth a thin line, and draws the blanket around him tighter.

“When I didn’t have information on the missing Yin Iron he put me in qi-suppressing chains and tossed me in the dungeon, in a cell with a very hungry dog. So big its teeth were level with my face.”

Wei Ying smiles, but it’s without mirth.

“Said if I was still alive in the morning, all would be forgiven.”

Given what had happened only hours ago, Lan WangJi doubts Wei Ying, even with his qi, could have fought effectively. Wen Chao wouldn’t have known of his crippling fear, but had not expected him to survive regardless.

He remembers that morning, the blood on Wei Ying’s skin, the rips in his clothing, and his show of flippancy. But he also remembers he had been quieter after that, putting on a mask of carelessness, but also careful to toe the line.

Suddenly Wei Ying’s fear of dogs in the delirium of fever has a new context.

“You survived,” Lan WangJi comments.

Wei Ying laughs shortly.

“Only thanks to Wen Ning. He knocked it out with needles, and gave me energy boosting medicine and herbs to stop the bleeding. I was able to save some of the herbs. That’s why I had them in the cave.”

For a moment, silence stretches between them, and Lan WangJi reflects on the scene Wei Ying had caused at the banquet, his anger and grief at Qiongpi Path. Wen Ning, who had also saved Jiang Cheng from Wen Chao after the fall of Lotus Cove, who had sheltered them.

Wen Ning, who the Jins and many of the other sects would, and had, happily killed. Just as, he suspects, they would Wei Ying, particularly with the prize of the Stygian Tiger Seal. Jin Guangshan’s obsession with it bothers Lan WangJi, with his zhiji now unprotected by a sect, alienated from the cultivation world.

“I would have died in that dungeon,” Wei Ying comments, “a warning to all of you to behave, if he hadn’t stepped in.”

Lan WangJi tries not to imagine it, but he can, all too easily. Instead of Wei Ying joining the line at indoctrination and complaining of hunger and boasting of his glorious scars, his corpse being dragged to be dumped in front of them.

Wei Ying’s death would have crushed him, he thinks. With his brother missing and father and uncle injured, his sect decimated, the promise to Lan Yi broken… to lose Wei Ying at that point would have destroyed what was left of his sanity.

Lan WangJi, too, owes a tremendous debt to Wen Ning.

“But maybe they wouldn’t have attacked Lotus Pier, then.”

It’s barely a whisper, one so filled with grief and guilt Lan WangJi is reaching for his arm, gripping it through the blanket, before he realizes it, imaginings of Wei Ying’s bloody body in various states of brokenness on the steps of Nightless City haunting his mind. He can feel the tension in his body, as though Wei Ying is on the verge of shattering.

“Wei Ying. They would have attacked regardless.”

“They were just going to make it a supervisory office at first. If I was punished.”

Lan WangJi isn’t sure he wants to know what that entailed, but he asks anyway.

“Punished?”

Wei Ying shrugs. “My hand. It would’ve prevented the massacre. I think Madam Yu was going to do it, too. But then they mentioned Lotus Cove becoming the supervisory office.”

He feels a chill at the idea of Wei Ying mutilated like that, of having never heard him play the dizi, of the pain he would have accepted for the sake of others. This image, so quickly on the heels of the previous… He knows Wei Ying would have given his core anyway, even with such an injury.

“Wei Ying, they only would have started with your hand,” he says softly. “They would have come back and wanted more.”

He receives no response, and he knows nothing he says will convince Wei Ying that the fall of Lotus Pier, the deaths of the disciples and Jiang FengMian and Yu ZiYuan, perhaps even the war itself… None of it was his fault. Worse, he knows Wei Ying would feel any loss on his part would be acceptable, that Wei Ying always feels thus.

But he can’t help himself, and can only try anyway.

“You lost enough in the war, Wei Ying. Wen RuoHan was to blame for the fall of Lotus Pier, not you. Likely he was only defeated because of your contribution and sacrifices.”

Wei Ying had been avoiding looking at him, but his gaze lifts to meet his finally. His eyes shine as though he is on the verge of tears, and there’s a tightness in his jaw. He had this look months ago, during the hunt when Jiang YanLi defended him publicly against the ugly accusations of Jin ZiXun. He truly isn’t used to being defended, to being valued.

Lan WangJi takes a moment to collect himself, to find words.

“I wish you had not suffered as much as you did. I wish you did not suffer still. You do not deserve to suffer, Wei Ying.”

Normally he would expect Wei Ying to be flippant, to make light of everything, but for once his zhiji has let himself be open. Lan WangJi can only hope it means he has regained his trust, but it could simply be the early hour and weariness following the panic of the dog spirit.

“‘A candle illuminates others at the cost of burning itself up.’” He tightens his hold on his arm. “You cannot shoulder the burdens of the world yourself. Let me help you.”

Silence stretches between them for a short while.

“Lan Zhan, do you think you can help me?”

A year ago, the question would have been asked in a hard voice, defensive. Now, Wei Ying’s voice is so small, as though he wonders if anyone can help him. It tears at Lan WangJi, reminds him of how very late he is, reminds him of when he asked Wei Ying to let him help before, and failed to see it through.

He can find no words to answer; instead, he decides to let his guqin speak, let the music speak, and hope his zhiyin truly understands. He lets go of Wei Ying’s arm and manifests his guqin, begins the gentle melody of “WangXian.”

Wei Ying relaxes by increments as he plays, easing to lean back against the wall of the cave. Lan WangJi runs through the song twice, then stills the strings, dismisses the instrument, and waits quietly.

“I remember where I heard that now,” Wei Ying says, breaking the silence left in the wake of the music. “The cave. After we fought the XuanWu. You sang for me.”

“Yes. You were ill from your injuries, from infection.”

Wei Ying hums softly, his eyes closed as though remembering.

“I think I asked what it was called, but I don’t remember the answer. I must have passed out.”

So he truly hadn’t heard; his behavior upon his reappearance had been unconnected to what Lan WangJi had thought was his confession.

“You were delirious with fever,” he tells him, hedging. “Do you know the significance of the Lan forehead ribbon?”

Wei Ying frowns at him, clearly confused by what appears to him to be a change of subject, peering at him through the dusky gloom of the cave.

“Something about restraint. No one’s supposed to touch it.”

Lan WangJi sighs softly.

“‘To regulate oneself,’ more precisely. Only family and cultivation partners are permitted to touch it.”

There’s a minute change in Wei Ying’s expression, but he can’t quite see well enough in the dim lighting to tell what it is. He pulls a talisman from his sleeve and activates it, lighting the candles that line the cave on small juts in the stone.

“Do you remember the Cold Spring cave?” he asks, pressing on, watching his face.

Wei Ying is silent, but his brows knot. It takes less than a minute for him to realize, his lips parting in shock.

“We bowed,” Wei Ying whispers, his voice hoarse. “That was a handfasting? I didn’t know. You never said.”

Lan WangJi doesn’t know how to reply, so says nothing.

“Why didn’t you?” Wei Ying looks confused now. “It’s not… We never… You can have it annulled.”

He tries to find the words, anything that would help him convey what he means, but speaking is not his forte, especially with Wei Ying trying to point out the marriage is technically not valid because it was never consummated, which isn’t the path his mind needs to embark on at the moment.

“I did not wish to,” Lan WangJi finally says. “I still do not.”

Wei Ying stares at him, looking frozen, as though the words have paralyzed him. He still looks confused, uncertain. Lan WangJi returns to the music.

“The title of the song is ‘WangXian.’”

Wei Ying’s reaction is a small intake of air, almost a gasp. Emotions flit across his face too fast to decipher, before he hides it in the blanket.

“Lan Zhan.”

His voice is muffled and rough.

“I can’t cultivate to immortality anymore, Lan Zhan. The resentful energy… you were right, when you said it harms the body and mind. I don’t know if I’ll even… if I’ll even have a mediocre lifespan. I’ll leave you.”

Nowhere in what he has said, Lan WangJi realizes, is a rejection. Rather, it’s an attempt to convince him that Wei Ying isn’t good enough, isn’t worthy. To remind him that Wei Ying accepted a shorter lifespan and pain to help his brother. As though his selflessness would ever make him unworthy.

Lan WangJi reaches out, grasps Wei Ying’s arm under the blanket again. It is still painful to be reminded of the fleeting time they’ll have, but at the same time it makes what he has to say more important, makes the idea of wasting any more devastating.

“Then I will find you again in your next life, and every life thereafter if necessary,” he promises.

He recognizes the sound Wei Ying makes in response as a choked sob, and pulls him close, into his arms.

“You deserve better,” Wei Ying mumbles against him, still hiding his face. “I’m not—”

“Wei Ying,” he interrupts, not willing to hear his zhiji put himself down. “I want only you.”

Wei Ying’s breath hitches, and he finally looks up, his face wet, his lips trembling. Lan WangJi abandons decorum, reaching to card one hand in the hair below his ear, curling his fingers at the nape of his neck, and leaning in to kiss him.

This first kiss is clumsy, as he isn’t quite sure what one is supposed to do with one’s lips, and it doesn’t seem Wei Ying is entirely clear on it either—but Wei Ying is reciprocating. He’s reciprocating, and Lan WangJi’s heart sings with the understanding that this is truly not rejection.

When he pulls back, Wei Ying looks startled, flushed, maybe even shy. But he doesn’t seem to be crying anymore, which Lan WangJi counts as a win.

He finds himself relieved when Wei Ying softly teases him, that he’s moved away from the brooding and seriousness that has plagued him since they woke. He’s been pulled out of his melancholy depression, and there’s a kind of power there—Lan WangJi did that.

“You stole my first kiss,” he murmurs, his voice almost coy. “You’ll have to take responsibility.”

“Mm,” he agrees. “I did when we were fifteen.”

Wei Ying’s startled laugh is like music to him, and he pulls him gently down onto the pallet to kiss him more.

All else can wait.

-----------------

AND THEY WERE HUSBANDS. I’ve been thinking about this chapter for a couple weeks now. Glad it’s finally written.

“A candle illuminates others at the cost of burning itself up” is a Chinese proverb I felt fit in this situation.

#my fanfiction #the untamed #untamed fanfiction #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #chen qing ling #cql #mdzs fanfiction #mdzs fanfic #cql fanfic #cql fanfiction #untamed fanfic #lan zhan #wei wuxian

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willsherjohnkhan · 4 years

Text

The Ingenius Locked Room Solution

***

Day 3: Locked in a room / Trapped in a small space

***

The aftermath of Sherrinford, and the fallout from ‘the phone call’ in particular were of grave concern to certain interested parties.

So when the path to true love hit a seemingly insurmountable roadblock, it became clear that an intervention was required.

It was designated OPERATION GRANDCHILDREN and as such was given the highest priority...

***

SOMEWHERE IN KENSINGTON – LONDON

They arrived at the location, finding without too much difficulty the entrance, cleverly concealed by a number of overgrown bushes.

From there they descended with care down a number of steep, rough steps before making their way through a series of labyrinthine twisting, turning tunnels.

“So why am I here?” Molly asked, breaking the companionable silence.

Sherlock shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. “Mycroft was vague on detail. Apparently there’s an archaeological dig working down here to uncover an ancient crypt and they’ve discovered a body.”

Molly snorted. “Crypts are full of bodies. What makes this one so important?”

“It appears to be of a far more recent vintage,” Sherlock responded with a smile.

Their ultimate destination was clearly marked out with the aid of a large tent surrounded by brightly coloured ‘crime scene’ tape.

However not all was as it appeared. Upon entering they discovered that the tent was purely camouflage. The interior revealed a specifically designed wood-panelled circular room that was dominated by one piece of furniture, a four-poster bed placed in the centre of the room.

“What on earth!” Molly exclaimed.

The sound of movement had them both whirling around, just in time to see the door they had entered through sliding shut. It was immediately followed by the ominous sound of not one but several locks being activated.

They were trapped, with no means of escape.

An inspection of the doorframe confirming that there was no way to release either the locks or the door.

Sherlock began pummelling the wall with clenched fists. “Mycroft!” he bellowed. “Let us out of here right now!”

From a hidden PA system a familiar voice advised. “No can do I’m afraid brother dear. I’m under instruction from a higher power.”

An exasperated groan escaped the detective’s lips as he ran his hands through his unruly curls. “Mummy...”

“Yes dear,” the kindly voice acknowledged.

“Excuse me, but what exactly is going on?” Molly asked. But though she sounded confused, her expression showed clearly she knew all too well where this was heading.

“My apologies Miss Hooper,” Mycroft responded. “But this action has been regarded as necessary. If you wish to be released, you must first begin that conversation that you both seem so determined to avoid.”

Molly nodded her head, and then her gaze settled on the one piece of furniture in the room. “And the bed...”

“Obvious surly,” though said with the elder brother’s usual haughtiness, there was no disguising the hint of embarrassment.

That was of some relief to Molly, as she felt her own cheeks become flushed. She knew that John and Mycroft had been witness to the phone call. But despite John’s assurances with regards to Sherlock’s heart, Molly knew she would always only be regarded as no more than a friend.

But before she could come up with a suitable response Sherlock interjected, directing his comments to the instigator of this whole set-up.

“Mummy, this meddling is totally unnecessary.”

“I beg to differ. This situation cannot carry on Sherlock, something had to be done,” she stated firmly.

Sherlock tried to reason with his mother. “We’re both...”

“Absolutely miserable,” she finished for him.

“This is ridiculous! You can’t keep us imprisoned here.”

“Actually I can,” came the unrepentant response. “You will not be released until you tell each other how you really feel.”

Sherlock’s jaw dropped at his mother’s audacity. “That’s blackmail!”

“I prefer to see it as commonsense.” Mrs Holmes replied, before directing her next words to the increasingly bemused pathologist. “What you have to understand Molly, is that my youngest son is very much in love with you, and has been for a very long time.”

“Mother, please! Don’t do this.”

“Molly needs to know the truth, and you deserve to be happy, you both do. And time is pressing.”

“Why?” Molly queried.

“Because I would like to have at least one grandchild produced before I die.”

“Mummy,” Sherlock growled becoming increasingly infuriated.

“Tell her how you feel Sherlock,” his mother encouraged.

“Don’t you think I’ve already tried?” Sherlock raged in anguish. “I went to her flat immediately after to explain. But she made it clear she didn’t want to hear.”

Molly felt tears well up hearing the hurt in his voice and noting the dejected slump of his shoulders.

“Why do you think that was?” Mrs Holmes persisted calmly.

Sherlock made his way towards the bed. “Because she doesn’t believe that I do love her,” he replied before falling back dramatically onto the bed.

A giggle escaped Molly’s lips. The whole situation was ridiculous, but she had to admire the lengths Sherlock’s family were prepared to go to ensure that they had the conversation that was long overdue. A conversation she had halted before it could begin, out of fear for what she thought Sherlock had come to say. And being the gentleman he was he hadn’t pressed her. Instead he had stepped back and allowed their relationship to revert back to a semblance of what it had been before. At the time she believed that was what she wanted.

Too late she’d realised her mistake, but couldn’t find a way to correct it, knowing Sherlock had enough to deal with; the emergence of emotions so long suppressed, the death of his childhood best friend, and his sister.

“I do love you Molly Hooper,” Sherlock’s softly spoken words broke through her thoughts. He was now sitting at the end of the bed.

Without hesitation Molly walked up to him and sat down on his lap, her heart skipping a beat at the look of pure adoration in his eyes, and the warmth of his arms as he wrapped them securely around her.

“I know,” she assured him with a smile.

***

CONTROL ROOM – UNDISCLOSED LOCATION

As Sherlock and Molly’s lips met, Mycroft flipped the switches the cut off the audio and visual feeds, insuring that they had complete privacy.

“That’s all we can do. The rest is up to them,” he stated firmly.

Mrs Holmes had little option but to reluctantly acquiesce.

***

OPERATION GRANDCHILDREN was deemed a resounding and irrefutable success with the arrival a little under nine months later of the next generation of Holmes’...

***

#SherlollyWeek2020 #Day 3 #Locked in a room #Post TFP shenanigans

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monicalorandavis · 4 years

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“Queen & Slim“ is, for the most part, excellent

“Queen & Slim” ends how you expect it to. No, Bonnie and Clyde won’t get away this time. Its soundtrack features no mind-blowing cello renditions of “Bitch Better Have My Money” or other mash-ups of strings in an unexpected way. Which is not to say that the soundtrack is not exactly what you want it to be. It is. (Dev Hynes gifts the world with his rendition of ‘Runnin Away’ that is so good all is forgiven.) Even the performances haunt you with a sense of deja-vu lived-in realness. These are people you might’ve seen across from you at a restaurant and never thought about again.

This is a movie, by and large, that feels like a warm blanket but for whatever reason the metaphoric window was left open, letting the cool air in. An imperfect, near perfect, film. And the more I think about it, the more I wonder if that was intentional. But more on that later.

First, the acting. The lead actors are grounded and complicated in the way that good performances make your heart feel all those wonderful pangs. Daniel Kaluuya perhaps has the most impeccable taste in Hollywood and Jodie Turner-Smith breaks out in the lead role with an aloofness that feels like a defense mechanism and totally justified.

Next, the directing. Melina Matsoukas delivers on her reputation as one of the most aesthetic young directors in the biz. The film is beautiful and balanced, navigating the grit of deep south dive bars and trap houses with the same attention given to stately mansions and wide open fields. “Queen & Slim” is familiar, and original, so why is the film not wholly and entirely excellent? The answer is complicated.

We have a breakdown in the final link of the holy trinity (of film-making, that is), the writing. The writing is where this thing falters ever so slightly. And, believe me, it doesn’t feel awesome to criticize the very talented Lena Waithe. But a perfect script this is not. So here it goes...

The story suffers, as most things do, from editing - or lack thereof. Now, I will say, the first 10 minutes of the film are a master class in pacing. The action kicks off almost immediately and at times I felt like I was somehow watching a hidden camera show. Everything felt natural and right and weighted and awkward in all the right places.

We open on a diner where our protagonists are on a first date. Neither of them are in a rush to speak. You wonder, is this going poorly...or are these people already relaxed enough to lean into those silences? The answer is both. (While we don’t know either protagonist’s name until the final scene, I’ll refer to our leads for now as ‘He’ and ‘She’.) He is overly familiar and she’s judgmental. An attorney, she’s reached out to him after several weeks because her client has been executed. His feelings are hurt and he seems to be acting out on purpose, smacking his lips and chewing loudly, even eating her food off her plate (although invited to this is a very bold move) and, moreover, behaving a little too cavalier. These are two people who are not on the same page. And yet as soon as they leave said diner, their lives are turned upside down, together. A traffic stop turns into a self-defense killing. She’s even shot in the melee (though this is somehow not taken very seriously). In spite of the large wound across her leg, she insists they must flee and they’ve got to do it right now.

They know (and we know) this story doesn’t end well for them. What’s done is done. This is America. So, Instead of turning on each other, these near perfect strangers, band together and run. We watch a love story in reverse. They protect each other first then learn to love each other later. Now that premise alone is entirely delightful. It taps into my romantic notions of emotionally complicated people learning to love the crazy in someone else. Plus, it is so anti-authority and overdue to have some retributive justice paid to the police. Why not watch these gorgeous black people inflict some hurt onto the failed institution that is policing in our country?

And, again, this film starts so strong. This all happens in the first 7-10 minutes. We are on their side right away. Yes, he killed someone but this cop certainly would’ve killed him. You can judge their decision to skip town as harshly as you choose to, but I got it. Inertia would mean certain death. So in place of a firm plan, they go. And on their journey we encounter a cast of characters that doesn’t always push the story forward. In fact, I don’t know if I loved any of the characters they come across. The first person who offers help to our protagonists winds up in the trunk of a car which was too bad because I rather liked what he contributed to the story. After that, a greasy-haired white gas station attendant successfully gets Daniel Kaluuya’s charcter’s gun in his hands and playfully (I guess) points it at his head. It’s an unnecessary tension. We know he won’t kill him (we have another 90 minutes of movie left!). And, it makes Daniel Kaluuya‘s character seem stupid in a way that isn’t supported by any other information we know about him. He’s a little naive, you could argue, but he’s not dumb. And I would be willing to let those things slide if it didn’t seem to be such a pattern with the introduction of characters. That leads us to my largest issue with the whole film, the protest scene.

Now, with all due respect, what in the world was that protest scene about? It is, for whatever reason, spliced together with the first (and only) love scene of the film. We’ve been waiting patiently for some tenderness, more specifically, for something romantic to finally happen for our main characters. We’ve endured their constant running for their lives and it feels only fair that they get to enjoy their lives, and each other, before the cops eventually pay them back for killing their brother in blue. So, it made absolutely no narrative sense nor, if the filmmakers were going for a larger political theme here, thematic sense to put that love making scene together with aforementioned protest scene. Up until then, I was on board with all editing decisions. But this one simply won’t stand! Their sex scene is passionate and a little dirty (read: fun!). And the whole thing goes down in a baby blue Pontiac Catalina that is absolutely stunning (read: even better). The car alone makes the colors in the frame mesmerizing. Plus, these actors are so nice to look at I simply could not complain. Plus, I appreciated that there were no rose petals or champagne. This was not a pretty, or safe, or delicate love scene. These are two people who have been growing closer and closer to each other and have been so afraid to let their guards down. So when they finally get intimate you can feel their longing. Clothes are flying. The kisses are sloppy. Basically, this is a good old-fashioned good time. So, with all of that being said, why, oh why, would you interject the murdering of a cop in this one moment of romantic passion? The film has been building to our leads getting together. They deserved their moment. Uninterrupted.

Now that was a lot of criticism for a movie that I said was nearly excellent. And that’s fair. So allow me to now herald the film’s strengths because they overshadow the weaknesses that, while few, are distracting.

What this film does well, very well in fact, is depict a complicated circumstance compounded by the complicated reality of being black in America. We don’t see these stories often (or ever). We’ve seen stories about the trauma of slavery, the Civil Rights era, shootings. But we don’t see the subtle stories of racial violence and we rarely see the capacity black people have to love in spite of it all. So “Queen & Slim” is the first of its kind. The police brutality love story. That sounds like a crude oversimplification but this is a story worth watching. And because it is such a new storyform, we are bearing witness to a truly original film. So, naturally, as is the case with all new things, there are some wrinkles to iron out (which I’ve already gone on and on about, dont @ me). But the larger message is one to pay attention to. Black people are being allowed the space here to screw up and still fall in love. Perhaps not a revolutionary concept for you. But to me, this marks this movie as an instant classic. There will be copycats. Remember that this was the first.

Black people in film are rarely afforded the same frivolity and silliness as white characters are. There’s no black version of Ross and Rachel getting married in Vegas. There’s no black “What Happens in Vegas”. I realize now that all of my examples happen in Las Vegas... But let’s go with it. Las Vegas, the hotbed of bad decisions and overindulgence, has largely been depicted as the white person’s playground. That’s not true in real life. Vegas, if nothing else, caters to everybody’s bad decisions. So why don’t we see that on screen? I don’t know. White executives are simply out of touch comes to mind. But what also comes to mind is the larger responsibility black people carry from childhood on. Black kids are punished harsher. They’re given less strikes. So, their lives and, thus, their art don’t often get to be as free from the weight of the world. They don’t get the reckless Crazy Beautiful moment. What a delight it was to see the lead characters be free in this film. It struck me that they were totally free in light (and perhaps because) of the murder of that cop. Somewhere in the back of their mind they were unburdened by responsibility because they were already dead. How tragically beautiful.

So, in spite of my criticism of the plot and editing, know that this film already occupies a special place in my heart. I’m a grown-up. I can love something and see its faults. Isn’t love about accepting something (someone) in spite of their faults? Isn’t that what we witness with Kaluuya and Turner-Smith’s characters in the end?

And that leads me to the final reason the film is not entirely excellent and the most controversial reason of all: it doesn’t have to be.

Nope. It doesn’t owe you excellence. Just like black people do not have to be excellent to exist in this country. It is not my own idea. It’s an idea thrown out in the first act of the film. Kaluuya’s character retorts to Turner-Smith, “Why do black people feel the need to be excellent...[why can’t they just] be themselves?” And with that, I rest my case.

This film is not entirely excellent because excellent is just another standard, another loop to jump through. Black art doesn’t have to prove anything. This film just is. It is important and honest and deserves to exist.

#queen & slim #queen and slim #lena waithe #melina matsoukas #daniel kaluuya #jodie turner smith

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kittypryde-bipride · 3 years

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limbo, chapter 2

“I swear to Truth, if you pat touch the top of my head one more time, you’re going to lose a hand!” Ed screeches, panting with rage.

Cat just grins back at him- he doesn’t know how he ever could’ve thought of her as innocent. “Oh my,” she says, sweet as can be. He is not falling for it. “Feel better now?”

He hisses at her and she coos. “Do NOT presume to know me!”

“It’s really quite impressive how much anger can be stored in-”

“-DON’T TEST ME CAT, I SWEAR-”

“-such a small container.”

“WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU CALLING SO SMALL THEY CAN’T DEFEND THEMSELVES!” He rears up, holding up his fists and leaping in front of her, but she just laughs and pushes him down. He lands head-first on the ground, then pops back up, shaking sand out of his hair- there’s no way he’s getting it all without at least one long shower.

He seethes quietly – he’s already learned he can’t beat her in a fight, not hand to hand – while she scans their surroundings. “Alright, Edward Elric, where do you think we are?”

He scoffs up at her and crosses his arms. “How should I know? You’re the one who said we should jump out of the train early because the sun looked pretty.”

“And so it does.” She extends her palm out dreamily, letting it warm her, before turning back to him. “I stand by that. However, I believe you’re significantly more well-traveled than me, as I’ve never quite left Central before now. I was hoping you’d have some level of travel expertise, or at least a way to make us shelter.”

Ed sighs, dropping his bag into the sand surrounding them, then follows it down himself. “Unfortunately, I used my alchemy for all that, and I’m not much of an alchemist these days. All my usefulness was shot the minute I made a trade with Truth.”

She frowns at him. “My brother is an alchemist, and even that was too abstract for me to follow. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him mention Truth in his metaphorical ramblings?”

“Yeah, well, I’m a different class of alchemist than Major Armstrong,” Ed says, not without a sense of pride. It only lasts a second before he deflates again, running his hand through the sand and letting the grains fall through his fingers. “Or was, at least.”

Catherine snorts and yanks him to his feet, then picks up his suitcase and starts walking in a random direction. “My impression was once an alchemist, always an alchemist. Or did that deal scramble your brains?”

“I still know how to be an alchemist,” he retorts. “There’s just not a lot of use for it now. It’s like… It’s like my friend, Winry, you know? She’s a genius with automail and machinery, but if you took away her hands, all of that skill would go to waste. I have all the knowledge and skill, but none of the ability.”

“That’s selling your friend a little short, isn’t it?” She asks thoughtfully.

“How so?”

“There’s a couple of things- first off, I bet she could get new hands with automail.” Ed moves to interject, but Catherine starts moving faster, forcing him to jog to keep pace. “I know automail decreases fine motor control, but if she’s really a genius, I bet she could figure out a solution. And moreover- she doesn’t have to stay a mechanic. She could teach others, she could research better techniques for others- hell, she could find a new passion altogether. Point is? Her life wouldn’t be over. I don’t get why you’re letting this sidetrack you so badly, I expected more-”

Ed finally catches up with her and turns to glare, mouth twisted in an ugly grimace. “I can’t do any of that, okay? I can’t! You shouldn’t expect more from me-”

“Well, why not?” She fires back.

His breath is speeding up and he wants to think it’s because of his slow run, even though he knows he’s still too in shape for it to affect him this bad. “Be- Because you shouldn’t! I- I don’t have another way to practice, there’s no way to make up for the handicap. And I haven’t been interested in research beyond what’s essential to restore Al’s body since, since my mom died! And I don’t have another passion, alright? I tried so hard to move on, after I lost everything, but all I did was burden people- they would’ve all grown to hate me, I know they would’ve, just like my brother-”

He stops when she drops all their bags to pull him into a close hug, so tight he almost can’t breathe- it’s comforting in how secure she feels. His voice cuts off immediately and he’s left with his panicked breathing and something in his eyes feels wet and it’s so, so embarrassing—

“I’m sorry for poking at you, Ed. I know things aren’t always as easy as they seem, and I shouldn’t assume.” She pets his hair while he calms, going mostly limp, leaning on her for support. “Was there ever a time you loved alchemy?”

He looks up at her, shining eyes wide at her soft smile, and his voice wobbles when he speaks. He’s never felt his too-young age more. “When Al and I were kids, we used to stay up late to read my dad’s books. He wasn’t around a lot. I- I remember our mom would come in and be so concerned over how late we were up, but then we’d show her what we made and she would be so, so proud of us.” He sniffles and steps back, smiling a little at the memory- he hasn’t thought about this in ages. “I made her a bird, once, and she put it up in our kitchen.”

Catherine grabs the rest of their bags and starts them walking again, trying to find someplace to stay before the approaching sunset. “That sounds really nice. Do you want to hear about the time I beat my brother in an arm-wrestling match?”

His eyes light up and she bursts out laughing- the rest of their walk is spent reminiscing over a time when their talents weren’t valued as commodities, and they were just kids exploring a hobby. It’s bittersweet, remembering how he once viewed alchemy as more than a battle strategy, but it’s also nice to think back to his childhood focus on being innovative and creative with it.

They’ve been walking for hours and the cold’s set in when they finally see structures on the horizon, signs of life. They both start running towards it, hitting a second wind of energy, but are met with two hulking figures blocking them from entry.

Ed looks up at Scar and Hohenheim and thinks, oh shit.

---

Ed’s honestly not sure what would be more bothersome: having to fight his way through this village or being forced to sit for tea with his father.

As it is, he’s sitting tensely in the corner of a room while Catherine talks happily with his dad- he thinks she could smile less, Hohenheim isn’t that funny, after all. Ed crosses his arms – the room seems to darken as a shadow passes over them, the weak candlelight flickering – and Hohenheim finally glances over at him.

“Ah, Ms. Catherine, could we pick this up later? I believe my son and I need to have a long overdue conversation. I believe you’ve briefly been acquainted with Scar; he could show you around the area?” She looks to Ed for confirmation – not permission, but to make sure he’ll be okay left alone – and he offhandedly nods.

Hohenheim waits for her to leave before leaning towards Ed, smiling faintly. “It’s been a long time, Edward. How have you been?”

Ed sits back in his chair and scowls as intently as he can.

“Any news since the Promised Day? How’s Al?”

Ed doesn’t blink.

“How have things been without alchemy? I spent a lot of time out East, back in the day, there’s ways to apply your knowledge without that direct connection-”

“Could we not do this right now?” Ed finally breaks.

Hohenheim smiles, self-assuredly, and Ed wants to punch him. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”

Ed screeches, lunges towards him, and actually does punch him- to his surprise, Hohenheim takes it without fighting back. “What are you even doing here?”

“Well, that’s a complicated question. After all that went down on the Promised Day, I spent some time trying to figure out what to do next- I thought about just settling down next to your mother’s grave for one thing, letting everything catch up with me. I ended up here, where the remaining Ishvalans have gathered. I’ve been helping them rebuild, with what little I can do. Truth knows I’ve needed a break, but this had to be done.”

Hohenheim sighs heavily and Ed frowns at him, stepping back. “Why didn’t you take the chance to rest?”

He laughs sheepishly and shrugs. “I suppose I didn’t feel like I deserved it. I’ve taken so much from the people of this world – contributed to so much of their hardship, intentionally or not – and I felt that giving up without trying to make at least one thing right would be the most selfish thing I’ve ever done.” Something in Ed’s cold expression seems to falter, just long enough for his father to notice, and Hohenheim looks down. “I suppose it’s not fair to talk to you about my being selfish. I’m sure you were frustrated when I up and disappeared after everything happened?”

Ed studiously avoids even looking at where his father sits. “Al thought you were dead. I couldn’t have cared less, beyond his being upset about it.”

“I guess I deserve that,” Hohenheim offers. Ed doesn’t respond. “Look- after the Promised Day, I was out of power. All those souls got used up fighting Father. I’ve only got my own now, and it’s only got a year left, maybe. Every single one of those souls was selfless in the end, giving up their existence to help me win that fight; it’s the least I can do now to carry on that idea, for the little time I have.”

“Al would be angry if you died without saying goodbye,” Ed mutters petulantly.

Hohenheim laughs loudly and smiles fondly- Ed doesn’t think he used to smile ever, not even when he and Al were kids. “I’m sure he would be. Your companion, Ms. Catherine, seemed to mention you had a falling out. I’d hope you’ll let him know that I left for a reason? Both times?”

Hohenheim is as strong and imposing as ever, but there’s something pleading lying under the surface now. Ed can’t forgive him – he probably never will, all those scars still digging in from when he was a child – but he can respect what he’s doing now.

“I’ll let him know. And- and I don’t have power anymore, but I think I’ll stick around a while, if that’s alright. Help you rebuild, and all that.” Redeem himself for joining the State Alchemists even when he knew how much blood he’d spill, but Ed can’t say that- not when Al so recently condemned him for it and his own demons haven’t faded.

“I think that sounds like a great idea,” Hohenheim answers, and his eyes crinkle when he smiles.

---

Ed’s trained himself to be a fighting machine since he was a child, but he’s not used to hard labor- he’s always had his alchemy to pick up the slack while he focused on close combat techniques. As it is, he’s panting heavily while trying to help hoist a canvas roof over a newly erected home.

It doesn’t help that he’s working with Scar and might be a few feet too short to lift it up, but if anyone comments Ed will show them how hard he can still punch without alchemy.

They finally lift it up, covering the home, then Scar quietly directs him over to the next open patch of land, each of them carrying a bucket of water and mud- there’s not a lot of resources this deep in the desert, and Scar’s had to create what few building tools they have.

Ed silently looks away each time Scar pulls oxygen and hydrogen out of the air to make more water, carefully ignores how Hohenheim almost certainly trained him on something more than just basic creation and destruction. At least they’re building the houses by hand, something that Ed can actually help with.

They start raising the structure, building it muddy brick by brick, and Ed feels content in Scar’s silent presence- he’s not usually this comfortable with this much quiet. It’s peaceful.

They get done building the foundational structure of the walls before Scar gruffly calls it a day, telling Ed that they’ll have to wait for it to harden before continuing. Ed looks at the progress they’ve made – he and Scar put roofs on three houses and built the base of one, Catherine and Hohenheim built the bases of two, and there’s nearly a dozen Ishvalans doing even more – and realizes this is the most he’s done for someone since long before the Promised Day, back when he was called the People’s Alchemist and Amestris’s civilians needed him.

Ed has been hurt and damaged by the loss of his alchemy, but he’s not broken by it. There’s still a future for him to try and find, whether it’s through teaching or research or going East like his dad mentioned. He can keep helping people, the thing that made his alchemic talent feel the most important, and return home better.

Scar invites him into one of the houses for dinner, and Ed laughs along with the children who crowd around him, asking for stories. He tells them some of his favorite accomplishments as an alchemist, all the way back to defeating corruption in Youswell, and finishes by explaining his first feat of creativity: putting together a tiny bird. He walks Scar through the motions and knowledge, and grins as the children cheer at the finished – if not lopsided – product.

He’ll be okay sticking around a while longer, to help the Ishvalans build a new home.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/26252785/chapters/69795654#workskin

#fmab #fullmetal alchemist brotherhood #edward elric #catherine armstrong #ao3

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utterlynotperfect · 4 years

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Anne With An E Season Finale: Thoughts

Warning: here there be spoilers. Also, long.

Just adding that gif because it is sheer poetry.

Winnifred Rose

I felt absolutely awful for her. Obviously Shirbert was endgame but Winnifred has never been shown to be anything but lovely and clever and supportive (and also funny!), and she absolutely did not deserve that.

I’m actually glad that Moira and co didn’t let Gilbert off the hook re: his entanglement with Winnie. He did lead her on, he did give her every reason to think he was going to propose. I’ve read some (perfectly lovely) fanfics where Winnie turns out to be a closeted lesbian and/or she’s the one who tells Gilbert to pursue Anne- while the lesbian angle would have been interesting (although only if they were going to keep Winnie’s character around), Gilbert deserved to be confronted with the knowledge that in his ignorance and haste, he ended up hurting someone who’d done nothing to deserve it. Winnie’s grief and humiliation are so very real issues that a woman of that time would have had to deal with, especially after having been so publicly courted by a suitor- her family was ready to pay for his education, for god’s sake!

I’m not thrilled that Anne’s knowledge of Gilbert’s un-engaged status came from Winnie- it should’ve come from him. But that was clearly a ‘parallels’ writing choice, and we got to see Amybeth in that stunning disheveled hairstyle, so I won’t complain too much.

Diana at Queen’s

I thoroughly enjoyed her parents’ rant- very typical of the time and the characters- but Diana’s passionate eloquence seems to desert her when faced with standing up for herself. She made the beginnings of a case for her higher education- I think it was in the first episode?- but her recent coping/argument strategy seems to be getting angry and running away to cry. It’s not really the kind of development I saw coming for her.

Dalila’s had some wonderful breakout moments this season- the argument with Anne being the highlight- and I’d have liked to see her take everything she’s learned from Anne, Aunt Jo, Cole, and even her mis-handling of Jerry’s feelings, in order to argue as eloquently for herself as she does for Anne.

I also really wanted her to flat-out tell her parents that she’ll ask Aunt Jo to pay for it if they won’t. And Aunt Jo backing her up because of course she would.

Post-Marilla and Mrs Barry’s ‘let them go’ talk, I’d have liked to see the Barrys come around, rather than just have Diana just show up at the boarding house with her dad as jocular as ever. I mean, like ten minutes ago, he was yelling that he wouldn’t let her go to college! Not a great choice there by the writers.

Elijah

It felt a little out of the blue, to be honest, but with so many storylines and such a large cast, that’s to be expected. I really liked the way this one was handled, though, especially the way Gilbert mostly stayed out of it. And that line from Hazel was beautiful. Isn’t Anne’s entire world about the importance of change, and learning?

Couldn’t find that adorable moment where Delly smiles at Elijah, but this is just as good <3 Cutest baby to ever grace our screens.

Matthew and Anne

Hooo boy was this a doozy. I have to say I didn’t see this coming, but I guess we’re way overdue for a Matthew screw-up vis-a-vis Anne’s feelings- Marilla’s had ‘learning moments’ enough!

I literally cried. RH Thompson is just the most perfect Matthew, and he just bleeds love for Anne in every shot. His attempts to be ‘practical’ so as not to give Anne reasons to miss them are so ham-handed, only a sixteen year old girl with serious abandonment issues and a penchant for drama could misunderstand. And she did! The look on her face when she said ‘So you’ll be getting a boy after all’ is everything awful in the world.

As with every Anne/Matthew emotional scene, their make-up was perfect. Honestly, every man should take lessons on how to apologise from Matthew Cuthbert, First ‘I think you’ve heard enough from men on this topic’, and now a proper apology? Perfect man.

Diana Takes No Prisoners, Mr Blythe

The fury of the kindred spirit! Gilbert Blythe had nowhere to hide (or look, or a chance to get a word in edgewise) as Diana Barry gave him the Rant that every one of us has wanted to all season!

Look at the way her face twists. Rewatch, and luxuriate in the way she tears into this clown who has hurt her best friend. I s2g most people might want a Gilbert but I want a Diana. Further proof that you don’t need a horse, a sword, or even goddamn pants to be a knight.

I’m not even going to talk about the ‘note’ reveal. For me, that wasn’t the point.

Lineage

I did wonder what had become of Anne’s quest to know more about her beginnings and her parents- I really hoped it hadn’t just gotten ‘fridged’ amid all the other storylines- and now i see why they’d left it alone. It belongs in this episode- this is the one about the future and family. Be it Elijah’s resolution, or ‘spread our wings and soar’, Diana’s choices for her future, Matthew/Anne/Marilla’s love, and the choice to have her found family with her as she opened the letter (which I adored), family and the future are the two overarching themes of this episode, so Anne’s quest belongs here.

Mrs Thomas was hilarious, particularly because of Marilla’s reactions to her. The reference to ‘Katie’ led them to the book! One of the saddest manifestations of Anne’s orphanhood, leading them to her birth family. Beautiful parallel there.

My mother was a teacher. Juniper. Red hair. I don’t have anything to say. All of that was... sublime. Especially Anne discovering all these things with Matthew and Marilla on either side. So, so, so worth every tear.

All in all, the most heartwarming resolution to the overarching ‘family’ theme.

And now...

SHIRBERT!!!!!

We got the kiss! Oh no, two! Wait, three! Oh man, I don’t normally analyse onscreen kisses, but this one. Gilbert kisses like a boy who knows, he kisses her like he’s saying the word finally. He kisses her like every moment since they met has been leading up to this one, even if at the time, he thought it was leading away. And Anne kisses him like can’t I just... kiss him, like when someone loves you, you’ll be kissed. Like finally.

Started from the bottom...

Now we here

I can’t believe I waited for this, I prepared, I steeled myself...

And I wasn’t ready!!

So, in conclusion:

It was a really good episode, could’ve been great if Diana’s Anne-centric backbone had extended to herself. Shirbert is real, Amybeth can really rock the 1900s fashions, Moira handled the ‘family’ theme exactly as well as we’ve come to expect her to, and now we understand, viscerally, how these two had seven kids.

Seriously, with a first kiss like that, we get it.

I hoped we get a season 4- Ka’kwet’s storyline needs to be properly wrapped up (hasn’t it been two weeks), I want to see Josie Pye and Prissy Andrews’ friendship blossom over beaux and business studies, I want Jane to grow the hell up, I want to know which Paul Tillie’s going to choose, I want to see Ruby and Moody- the loveable idiots. I want Cole to get a boyfriend, to see Delly grow up black in a white village.... I want Anne and Gilbert to navigate the pitfalls of being childhood sweethearts as well as ambitious, clever people (especially an ambitious, clever woman of the time). I want them to have everything (including those seven kids. Lol).

What do you think, kindred spirits?

#tv series: anne with an e #anne of green gables #anne shirley #gilbert blythe #awae season 3 #episode 10 #shirbert #spoilers

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thatfairyfangirl · 5 years

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True Colors Chapter 27

Both you and Bucky were happy to learn his accident in the quinjet didn’t lead to any broken bones, but your wrist was mildly sprained...you would be back on the stage by tomorrow night. You used the time to focus your energies inward, begin attempting to move on.

Bucky wandered into the shop, his third one in the last hour. “Excuse me?” He asked as he looked around at all the beautiful blooms.

The young girl behind the counter looked up from the arrangement she was working on, stars in her eyes when she realized exactly who just walked into her shop. “Oh wow! You're Bucky Barnes!” She was practically squealing with glee as she set down what she was doing. Looking up to her he smiled sheepishly, nodding a confirmation.

“Yeah, I am. Umm maybe you can help me?” He asked hopefully as he scratched at the back of his head. “I'm looking looking for some flowers for my best girl…”

“Well I'd say you've come to the right place. What does she like?” She was beaming with delight at the idea of arranging something for one of the avengers.

“I’m not really sure how to describe it.” He huffed out an almost frustrated sigh. Every floral shop he’s been in thus far hasn’t been able to name the flowers he was looking for. He was beginning to lose hope. “Umm That Disney movie about Rapunzel…” Her face lit up at the mention, very sure she knew exactly where he was going with this.

“Say no more! I know exactly what you’re looking for.” She just about squealed with excitement as Bucky breathed out a sigh of relief.

~ ~ ~ ~

Two days Later

While the rest of the Avengers searched for any signs that The Red Skull was finally ready to step out of the shadows he spent the next few days running all over town. Just because it wasn’t anything serious didn’t mean that he still didn’t feel the need to apologize. You had both put each other through hell over the past few months...and well, you did just save his life. This plan had to happen. His crystal blue eyes scanned the streets as he moved, knowing that tonight was the night, you were finally returning to Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat mutant cast. He had to keep his eyes out for you as

“Mr. Barnes! Welcome back!” The florist behind the counter was beaming with the excitement of feeling like she knew something special, which she probably did. “Is tonight the night?” She asked leaning over the counter filled with wonder. How she wished her boyfriend had half the romance in him Bucky had.

He nodded with a hopeful smile. “Assuming they are ready?”

With a proud smile she produced from the back room a glorious bouquet. As Bucky’s eyes fell on them the hopeful smile he had been wearing vanished, the girl’s along with it. “What’s wrong? It’s an exact replica.” She asked looking over the flowers, sure there wasn’t a single flaw.

“I thought I was ordering a bouquet of the golden flowers…” He wished he could be happier about this, it was obvious she put in a monumental amount of work to recreate this arrangement from something...But he couldn’t place where.

“Oh...Mr. Barnes, I’m so sorry...but those flowers just don’t exist in reality.” She explained a little bit sullenly. “But if she loves the movie I’m sure she’ll love these. Haven’t you seen Tangled Ever After?” He just looked at her, bewildered...he thought you had shown him everything Disney related...was there something YOU didn’t know that now he did? “Trust me,” the girl chuckled holding them out for him.

He just nodded as he checked his watch, he’d just have to trust her, he didn’t have much time now. As he made his way through the tower to his room to change he stopped at the entrance way to the common area, noticing Clint having some Daddy-Daughter time with Lila. “Hey, Clint, Lila, do you think (y/n) would like these?” Clint looked up over the couch as a tiny face with light brown pigtail braids popped up next to him, her eyes lit up the second she saw the arrangement.

“Holy-” Clint cut himself off, censoring himself in front of his daughter. “Dude! It’s like they took it right out of the cartoon! She’ll love it!”

“It’s just like the one Rapunzel had when she got married.” Lila commented with dreamy eyes. At that exact moment he knew what he’d be getting his daughter the next time he went home for a visit.

“I don’t remember these flowers in the movie...Just the gold ones?” Lila climbed off the couch rushing over to him explaining how the wedding was seen in a short but not to worry as it is on netflix and she knows how to work it. He couldn’t help smiling at the girl as she tugged at the metal hand, not once seeing it as a weapon as she lead him to the couch.

“Hey kid I thought this was supposed to be our time?” Clint joked as he made room for the added company.

“But he needs to know dad!” She insisted as she turned on the collection of Disney shorts.

~ ~ ~ ~

All of the team smiled to themselves as they took their seats, front row center. They weren’t entirely sure why today was the day Bucky insisted they come see the performance, but all were glad to come support you. Tony was the first to realize why as he flipped through the playbill, needing to move, nervous for you. He let out a quick triumphant laugh as he showed everyone else the piece of paper that had been shoved into every playbill being handed out that night. “This revival of Joseph was put together as a labor of love to remind mutants everywhere their dreams matter too. After tonight’s performance please stick around to watch the dream of one of our cast members come true as she is reminded to follow her heart.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnPClWznEY4

They cheered and whistled as you took the stage in a white dress, your signature necklace just barely brushing the neck hole. Seeing your friends brought you to nearly glow as you performed the part of the narrator.

After the final curtain call all the audience was still applauding as you shone brightly, taking a few extra bows, hearing your teammates cheering your name. As the curtain hit the floor you let out a huff as you began to catch your breath, pushing your hair back as you began to detach the microphone from your face. “Oh no Rainbow.” Mike said with a smile as he grabbed your hand. “You aren’t done yet.”

You raised a brow as he drug you out in front of the curtain. “Mike what’s going on?” You hissed under your breath, low enough to keep the microphone from picking it up but audible enough for him to hear.

“You’ve made so many people’s dreams come true...time someone does the same for you.” He answered as he held you in place, all the lights going dim, only a spotlight on you. As the light hit the gem on your necklace it shone rainbows down your body, bringing out a sad smile as you recalled that magical Christmas you and Bucky spent together. Though you had been trying to get over him he still haunted your every thought, missing him more than the sun misses the moon. A second spotlight shone on stage left as Bucky walked out, heart in his throat. You’ve heard him sing before...but never for anyone else...you liked his voice, but you also knew he had a real problem with others hearing it. The band down below started to play as he held up in one hand the flowers he’d gotten for you, and a microphone in the other. Your hands flew to your face, holding back tears of joy and amazement as you looked over the bouquet...it was perfect...he was perfect.

He slowly sang True Colors as he walked closer to you, reveling in the moment when you took the flowers, joining in the song. All the theater cheered as you both pulled each other into a longing passionate kiss long overdue.

~~~~

The night air held a soft autumn chill as you both slowly meandered through central park, one hand in his, the other clinging to the flowers for for a princess. Of course you both forgive each other, and it was obvious you both wanted to give this love a second chance… but there were things that needed to be talked about.

“Look Doll, that day in the quinjet…” he still didn't feel like a simple I'm sorry would cut it but was there really Any other way to say it? “I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I'd never dream of it.”

“You said red bitch...I was glowing red...which has never happened before by the way.” Thinking about it sent a chill down your spine, reminding you that you should probably make a call to the professor about that sooner rather than later.

“I didn't know what was going on… Sinthea and her scientists had me drugged pretty bad. But even with the heavy sedation I could still feel her hands on me, hear her talking about creating the ultimate weapon, ruling as one.” He was still trying to piece together what she meant by that. You had a pretty good idea though. The thought of her and him made you sick to your stomach as you squeezed his hand a little tighter, as if you were keeping him from her grasp. Now you knew how he must have felt.

“I want you to know there was never anything going on with me and Colossus...or me and Mike.”

“I know Doll.”

“No,” you stopped, tugging his hand closer to you, “You don't know… When I was a kid, when I first got my power...when mom went from the nicest person in the world to,” you paused trying to come up with the right word, eventually landing on “not.” You let out a deep sigh as you relived childhood memories you had kept locked away for good reason. “Mike was the one who stopped me from doing any more damage to my hair. Every time I ran from the school he was the one who convinced me to go back. He and I have a special bond...and if he's going to be living in New York, if he and I are going to be working together, you need to be ok with that.”

He pulled you in close, wrapping his arm around your shoulders as he planted a loving kiss to your forehead. “I know Doll. Who do you think helped me make all this happen?” You looked up to him wide eyed. He's spent so much time bending over backwards for you, making friends with people He seemed to hate just to make you happy...and what have you done to deserve it? He truly is something special, and you felt so lucky to have him. “I was wrong to get so upset over it. I know. I just don't know what I would do if I ever lost you.” Metal fingers brushed against your cheek. “All the time they tried to reprogram me you know what kept Bucky in control?” You looked up to him questioningly. “This little glimmer of color and light.” He said as he leaned his forehead in to press against yours. “I wasn't willing to let my memories of you go so easily.” He lifted his chin to rest on your rainbow mane. “I remember all of them...every face of every kill...I didn't want your face added to that list.” Your arms flew around him, squeezing him tightly as a tear trickled down your cheek. “Before you I was a monster. I don't want to think about what life will ever be like without you.” He added as he let you go, pulling away from you to bend down on one knee. “And I don't ever want to find out.” He added as he pulled a small box out of his pants pocket. “What do you think?” He pulled the box open to show a silver band with a rainbow colored gem in the middle.

Your heart exploded at the site of it. If the both of you were to be made into a ring you were sure that would be it. You just stood there a moment watching it sparkle in the light of the city. Once the shock wore off you nodded. “I think I'm going to have to move again. Because I'm with you Buck, till the end of the line.” He barely could let you finish your answer as he slid the ring on your finger before springing up, wrapping you in a tight embrace as your lips met again.

You both thought about going back to the tower, but there was one part of your life Bucky hadn't seen yet, your apartment. Plus it was a much shorter walk from where you were.

You woke in your bed wearing nothing more than the necklace and ring given to you by the man you were wrapped around. You smiled down to him as you brushed his long silky hair from his face, watching him stir under your touch. It was amazing how he looked so peaceful as he slept, such a far cry from the man who used to wake screaming in the middle of the night...you soothed the monster in him, gave him strength to be human again, while he gave you strength to not be. You planted a soft kiss on his forehead before slipping out from under his arms. As you made your way into the living room you kidnapped his t-shirt as your own, it hung loose against your body, looking more like a dress on your small frame as you readied some coffee, loving the idea of staying home with him as long as humanly possible today...you had some lost time to catch up on.

His eyes fluttered open as you filled the apartment with the bittersweet smell of coffee and a sullen slow melody. He pulled his boxers back on before emerging from the bedroom to find you on your couch, legs crossed with a guitar on your lap. He loved the way his shirt looked on you as you leaned forward, scribbling notes down on a blank sheet of music. In front of you sat 2 mugs of coffee, one sweetened and light with cream, the other a smooth bitter dark. He pushed tangled hair out of his face as he moved behind you, reaching his arm over to grab the mug that you made for him, taking a sip as he looked over your music, sure he’d never be able to read it as smoothly as you write it. “It sounds beautiful.” He said with a kiss to your cheek bringing out the brightest smile your face could make before he stood to look around the apartment...when you got in last night he was a little preoccupied with you to really get a good look. “So this is where you used to live?” He asked as you put the guitar down.

“Yep. This is my little slice of the world.” His eyes scanned over the pictures of you and your friends scattered among your cluttered shelves, smiling as he watched you age through them. These must have been the ones missing from your mom’s house. He saw a few familiar faces and a few he had yet to meet.

“I love it.” He assured her as he continued to look around at your life before Tony found you. “So….there’s something else we should talk about we never got around to last night…” As much as he hated to ruin such a beautiful moment this was something you needed to know. Curious, you looked up to him as you sipped on your overly sweet coffee. With a deep heavy breath he sat by you, explaining how a few days before you rescued him The Red Skull had left the facility he was being kept at. This meant there was at least one other still active...and it was housing one of the most dangerous men in history. And that he was sure it was HYDRA who tried to grab you.

“So we’ll find it and we’ll bring it to the ground.” You announced with that hope filled confidence he admired so much about you. “And then we’ll find any more active and take them down too.”

“God I love you.” was all he could think to say before cupping your cheek, letting his lips meet yours as he leaned into you. You let yourself fall back onto the sofa as your arms wrapped around his muscular torso, fingertips tracing the lines of his muscles as you held in giggles from his moving the oversize shirt up, the tips just barely brushing up your sides as he straddled you.

#marvel #marvel x reader #Avengers #avengers x reader #bucky #Bucky Barnes #bucky x reader #Winter Soldier #winter soldier x reader

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ywiseul-blog · 5 years

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hey ! you can call me nox ( they/them, 18+, cst, shooter for bts + girl groups ) & this is my quietly broody son, iseul ! i’m really excited to be here. i love stardew valley & harvest moon a lot so this is a basically a rp dream come true for me ! he’s a baking major & assistant librarian who still doesn’t really understand the farming life, despite living in yangwon for five years now. i’ll work on his bio soon, but for now here’s his stats page & acceptance post which gives a little insight about what kind of person he is. under the cut you’ll find both a list of wanted connections ( mayhaps i’ll make a fleshed out plots page one day ... don’t count on it :/ ). if you want to plot feel free to hit the like button & i’ll fly to your ims immediately. or you can ask for either my discord or twitter if that makes things easier ( it definitely does for me ) !

wanted connections:

exes (any gender is fine. i love ex plots so please! it can be friendly or angsty. also i am willing to have iseul be the issue in the relationship because he can be rather ... prickly)

hookups (whether on a regular basis or an one night stand type thing. but the location would have to be on your muse because iseul still lives with his parents JKHGDFLKJGHD)

hey maybe a plot where our muses are trying to smash and they have to find out that iseul still lives at home? just for the laffs x

flirtationships that don’t go anywhere

probably the one person who immediately made iseul feel comfortable when he first moved here, his ride or die, the best buddy (must have live in yangwon for at least five years)

childhood friends and/or childhood crushes (for people who used to live in seoul)

someone break down his walls he needs to OPEN UP

talk to him about fantasy! world of warcraft? elder scrolls? dnd? he’s here for it

same goes for horror/the paranormal. while he’s a sensible, logical kind of guy he’d definitely be up for any ghost hunting shenanigans!

his cooking class guinea pigs (he’s good at cooking but even he can have his mess ups sometimes)

maybe a sibling type relationship? he’s distant but he’ll be soft with anyone younger than himself. or maybe an older muse wants to curve his serious attitude and treat him like the kid he actually is

a bad influence (he’s a lightweight when it comes to alcohol and also just needs to get out so please)

library regulars (give me overdue book fee comedic plots like your muse trying to flirt their way out of paying or things of that sort. also iseul being a nag about your muse being on the computer for longer than the allowed two hours. or just him ignoring your muse because he’s too wrapped up in whatever podcast he’s listening to. maybe your muse wants podcast recs from him!)

one-sided pining (i don’t mind who has the caught feelings)

mutual pining

enemies?!

maybe some bickering about his pro joja stance

someone he can bond with over former city life and how much they miss it (that sweet 4g, fast wifi speeds, the bright lights or anything else)

maybe a bullying/pranking type plot? he is a cushy rich boy nerd so. always down for him being relentlessly teased!

study buddies? maybe he tutors your muse and he gets to brag about just how much better your muse’s grades have gotten

some simple life-esque plot where your muse is determined to teach iseul about the farming lifestyle and he utterly fails at all of it

yangwon book club?!?!?!?!

anything you might be able to think of FDJKDKHGDSLKGJD

info dump:

his parents are well off and a little uptight but they love iseul and he loves them. he’s one of those overachievers who’d do anything for his parents. and they’re those people who nag out of love and maybe don’t give iseul the full praise he deserves. he doesn’t hold it against them but he definitely yearns for their constant approval

because of this iseul wears a constant image of feigned perfection. around them he is proper and upstanding, though on the inside he’s rather pessimistic and definitely still hurt over being hoisted from seoul and put in this middle of nowhere town

his parents would be shocked to learn that he curses let alone has any sort of negative thoughts about the life he’s been given. they grew tired of the hustle and bustle of seoul and wanted to retire somewhere quieter, but iseul merely longs for it years later. yet he refuses to leave because he wishes to be near them (his loyalty is ridiculous)

is he bitter? oh yeah absolutely. will he ever let anyone become aware of this? NOPE

books have always been a comfort for him and he loves being surrounded by them hence his current job position. it’s not something he wants to do forever (his true love is cooking) but it’s definitely better than the other options in yangwon. the thought of doing physical labor makes him shudder

he does more book collecting than actual reading especially in adulthood since he doesn’t really have the time for it anymore. but he loves getting different editions of his favorite books, like a different press or published in another language. this is usually what he gets for his birthday or other holidays

podcasts are his preferred form of entertainment. he listens to them constantly at work though he’s not supposed to. he’s gotten in trouble a few times for not paying attention closely enough / straight up ignoring customers, but he blames it on being an airhead, which he is absolutely not (insert video compilation of jungkook zoning out here)

if he gets less than eight hours of sleep a night he will just be a zombie all of the next day. and he’s an old man in that he gets sleepy around nine pm every night

he enjoys learning about people and their secrets but he refuses to open up to anyone in the same way

he’s absolutely pro jojamart sorry yangwon nation :/ he won’t keep quiet about it either so good luck getting him to shut up about it

he knows absolutely nothing about farming despite having lived here for a good chunk of time now (he thinks cows are really cute though)

his favorite flavor of anything is birthday cake. if it exists he wants it

he hates coffee (strangely enough though he loves cafes and will gladly hang out in one any time) and mostly lives off water and juice. maybe the occasional glass of wine when he’s feeling frisky

while he’s not the most considerate person he loves showering people he considers himself close to in baked goods for any reason possible

his opinions are black and white. he never stands in the middle on an issue. the only thing he’s not 100% sure of is whether he believes in ghosts or not. he definitely wants to but can’t fully get behind the logic of it

nothing gets on his nerves more than people who keep books for longer than they’ve checked them out for or when they hang out on the computers for longer than two hours. expect a glare if you do either of these things

he gets lonely a lot but he’s too stubborn to do anything about it

he’s absolutely afraid of commitment and having to express deep emotions to someone but he does crave affection (cuddling and kissing mostly) constantly

he likes to gossip about the people who come into the library and he loves to make up little fantasy lives for them because it keeps him from going insane at work

he acts very uptight about everything and loves to seem like he’s never had any kind of fun in his life but show him a cat video and he’ll immediately soften up

he’s a chaotic bi and all beautiful people of any gender makes him flustered but he tries not to show it (this usually fails)

he doesn’t have much dating experience and he’s too embarrassed to use things like tinder

he’s probably too much like his parents, old-fashioned ideals and all but he’s doing his best!

#yw:intro #⊰ 𝙁𝙄𝙇𝙀 ╱ OOC ⊱#/ phew this is so long i am Sorry

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