#also it’s so short they could have added something in the chorus | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

hyuckiefluff · 8 months

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may i request a jaemin x femreader where he’s just fucking her dumb and she’s trying to say that her family is downstairs or in the living room? if you’re comfortable with it ofc !!

a/n: first of all THANK YOU SO MUCH for requesting! i would’ve probably disappeared for another two months if it weren’t for this lol! i didn’t know if you wanted something short and sweet or for me to go all out but hopefully you like this! i had fun writing it and it made me revisit my jaemin brain rot so yeaa

for a bit of context, i decided to write this as if jaem and fem!reader are already in a relationship and jaem is the picture of charm and good manners and he could never do anything wrong in his in-laws' eyes but he’s secretly a freak lol (also didn’t wanna make it too long so things move a bit fast)

wc: 1.7k ish

content: just pure smut tbh

warnings: cursing, oral sex and fingering (fem receiving), creampie, loud sex, marking, usage of pet names like princess and pretty girl, boob grabbing

m list

When Jaemin walked into your place your parents welcomed him grinning like they hit the jackpot with their son in law. Your mom invited him to stay for dinner, and your dad gave him a solid friendly pat on the back. But his mind was upstairs, where you remained clueless about his arrival, thinking he was off to visit some relatives.

When he walks into your room, you’re lying on your stomach with your headphones on and wearing nothing but your panties and one of his oversized shirts. The whole scene feels like the start of one of his wet dreams, and he's seriously struggling not to pounce on you. Instead, he sneaks up from behind and gently slips the headphones off. You're not the jumpy type, so you casually turn your head, half-expecting it was your mom barging in. But when you see Jaemin smiling at you, your whole demeanor changes. You don't waste a second, practically wrapping yourself around your boyfriend. He lets out a deep, rumbling laugh that vibrates through you.

“Missed me, princess?” you responded by kissing his lips, you only meant to give him a soft peck, but he couldn’t contain himself any longer so in no time he had you flush against the mattress and his warm body.

His hands immediately found their way inside your shirt, a delicious moan coming out of him when he felt you weren’t wearing a bra. He would go crazy if he didn’t have you right now, but he also wanted to make you feel good. He pulled away from you slowly, biting your lower lip in the process. Then he started crawling down your body, not missing the way you tensed up as he positioned his face right in front of your sensitive area.

You knew where this was going but you had to remind yourself that you two weren’t alone.

“Jaem… my parents are-…” your words were interrupted as his mouth attached to your core over your panties. The smell and taste of you was driving him feral and he couldn’t bother to even remove the thin piece of clothing. All you could do was gasp and pull his hair.

“Be good for your boyfriend that missed you so much…” he coaxed, his nose nuzzling against you. Your thighs instinctively closed around his head “Don’t hold back, let me hear how pretty you sound” his warm breath sent shivers racing across your skin. He continued sucking and kitten-licking your pussy, the insistent way in which his tongue was pushing against your entrance in a teasing manner threatening to push you over the edge. He groaned when he felt you weakly push his head away.

In one fluid motion, he discarded your panties, a low whistle escaping him as he saw how they clung to your slickness. His dick twitched uncomfortably in his sweatpants. "Fucking mine," he growled softly before diving between your folds. His tongue and lips latched on your clit like a magnet, producing a chorus of wet sounds that were nothing short of vulgar.

Despite your efforts to restrain yourself and keep quiet, as soon as he added a finger you were reduced to a whimpering mess. You brought a hand to your mouth, teeth sinking in to stifle the noises, but Jaemin didn’t like that. He pulled away and the sight of his glistening lips coated with your essence caused you to involuntarily tighten around nothing.

"I said..." His voice dipped several tones and his pupils dilated, darkening his eyes in an almost eerie manner "Let me hear you," he demanded.

"Please… Jaem, my parents are downstairs," you gasped, breathless. He looked unamused by your pleas but still seemed to be contemplating something.

Then suddenly, he withdrew from you entirely. You thought he would listen to you, so it took you by surprise when instead he discarded his sweatpants and boxers. His erection sprung free in a somewhat comical way. The tip was flushed with urgency, the veins and girth caused you to whimper. Your mouth watered with the desire to take him into your mouth, but Jaemin had different intentions.

"Then let's give 'em a show, princess," he grinned, planting a kiss on your inner thigh before pulling your legs up and positioning himself between them.

He entered you slowly and you couldn't help but whimper at the stretch. His lips curled up at the sounds you were making, knowing it took this little to make you lose all restraint was amusing him more than he cared to admit. He bottomed out right away, giving you no time to adjust. Though he was trying to keep it together, he couldn’t help but let out a string of guttural moans whenever you clenched around his dick. Desperation drove his hips to meet yours with sharp, urgent movements.

"So good for me," he murmured, gaze fixed on the way your pussy took him so well. Biting his lip, he looked up at your face contorted with pleasure. Your flushed appearance, eyes nearly shut, and lips subject to the mercy of your teeth. This is how you looked prettiest to him.

He hiked up your shirt, granting himself an unobstructed view of your boobs. He reached his hand to your right breast and caressed the soft skin there, his fingers toying with your hardened nipple. He relished your reactions to his every touch, loving the way you tried so hard not to be loud.

“Jaem-…fuck-… me," you moaned, his name coming out as a blur amidst a string of curses and cries.

"I am, baby," he quipped, though the strain in his voice betrayed the struggle to keep his composure. The way your walls clenched around him was driving him wild. The grip of his other hand tightened on your hips, urgency escalating as he thrust into you with an almost feral rhythm.

The sound of your skins slapping was obscene and it resonated throughout your room. If your parents walked by your door they would definitely hear and know what you two were up to. You wondered what would happen if they did, would they stop allowing Jaemin to come into your room. Would their trust for him vanish? Those questions made you anxious but the boy didn’t seem to care. And you were soon to follow him, because the way he was fucking you right now was too good.

He lifted your leg higher, adjusting his hips to hit that sweet spot he knew you liked. Your eyes involuntarily rolled back as he plunged deeper into you like this. He was so familiar with your body, knowing exactly where to touch to unravel you. A smirk played on his lips as he tenderly caressed your hips, a stark contrast to the rough way he was thrusting into you.

"You drive me so fucking crazy," he groaned, his rhythm faltering slightly as he leaned in for a messy kiss. Your mouths met in a fervent dance, his tongue swirling around yours, teeth grazing against each other's lips. He devoured every sound that escaped your lips.

Just as you were catching your breath, he abruptly increased his pace, catching you off guard and causing a loud moan to erupt from you, the sudden change overwhelming your senses.

“There we go, that’s my pretty girl” he murmured against your jaw, leaving a wet trail from there to your neck where he started sucking and marking you. Only in places that he knew you would be able to cover. After all, he knew you had to keep up the innocent facade with your parents.

Oh, if only they knew you let your boyfriend fuck you every day under their roof.

“Jaemin! Fuck!” He sneaked a hand down to where your bodies were connected and focused on your neglected clit. His fingers and the insistent thrusts of his hips obliterated any caution you had, leaving you too overstimulated to care about your parents overhearing.

But then a call from downstairs brought reality crashing back in “Dinner’s ready, kids! Come down!”

Jaemin's movements halted mid thrust, his eyes flashing with a mixture of surprise and panic, mirroring the same emotions that played across your face. You gave his arm a quick slap, the unspoken message in your eyes was clear: pull out, now. Yet, your body had other plans, clenching involuntarily around him as if begging for more, and he shut his eyes tight. You felt way too good to stop now.

“We’ll be right down!” He yelled, and instead of pulling out he picked you up, and switched positions. He knew riding him would make you come fast.

From his seated position, he looked up at you through his long lashes, a silent plea in his gaze. It didn't take much for your resolve to crumble. Your hands settled on his shoulders, grasping onto the firm sinews of his muscles as he wrapped his arms around you. As soon as you started moving, you saw him slowly lose his composure. This angle made each thrust reach deeper within you, “How the fuck do you… feel so good, hm-.... every time,” your eyes fluttered open and you caught a glimpse of the tension etching his brow and the way his teeth clamped onto his lower lip. He was getting closer to his limit, just as much as you were.

“You’re gonna be the end of me,” you breathe out, fingers tracing along his cheek. All he can manage is a throaty moan, too lost in the sensation of being this deep inside you to form coherent words.

“I’m-…I’m close”” he whimpered, half lidded eyes locking onto yours. Your rhythm starts to stumble a bit, your pace getting uneven as you get close to your orgasm too. He caught onto this quickly grabbing your hips to guide your moves, and every time your hips met, the sounds resonated through the whole room.

A couple more thrusts, and you're there– caught in the riptide of an orgasm that slams into you so hard that tears gather at the corners of your eyes. Jaemin's not far behind, a few more sloppy thrusts and he's right there with you. The feeling of his cum filling you and your walls clenching around as he emptied himself inside you, it was a sticky mess, but he fucking loved it.

“C’mon, let’s not make your mom wait.” He said after catching his breath, giving your hips a slight pat.

“Jaemin… I swear if they heard…”

“Yeah, yeah… You know they love me too much to think I would ever soil their pretty daughter like that.” He winked and kissed you one more time.

ps: feel free to request more!

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natsukishinomiyaswife · 20 days

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Had to come to your inbox to show you this because in my head this seems very cathie coded, mostly the chorus 😭🤧

Like oblivious, maybe in denial Cater singing this to her??👀👀 Also a bit cringe I know but hey Austin and Ally was a very dear show to me when I was younger sksjskskk

Hello Mah! ☆

AHHHHHH!! THIS IS SO CATHIE CODED OH MY GOSH!!! ♡

I've never seen Austin and Ally before, so I didn't know about this song!

All I can think about is Cater writing this song for Ruthie back when he was in denial of his feelings, and he presents it to the Pop Music Club so they can perform it at their next show. He would be staring at Ruthie (who's at the front of the crowd) as he sings it ♡

So, here's a Cathie fic about it! Enjoy! ♡

(It ended up WAY longer than I thought it would be lol)

⋆ 𝓒𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓮: 𝓝𝓸𝓽 𝓐 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓢𝓸𝓷𝓰 ⋆

⋆ The Pop Music Club was sitting in their club room, eating snacks as they talked. They had a show coming up in a few weeks, and were debating on what to perform. There were certain songs they would always play, but this time they wanted to do something different, to really make the show stand out. Lilia suggested they try a new genre, while Kalim suggested they incorporate a new instrument. Cater didn't really have any suggestions, scrolling through Magicam for inspiration. While scrolling he comes across a new post from Ruthie, a picture of her pet hamster Raisin with his cheeks stuffed, a sunflower seed in his hands. In the post Ruthie coos about how cute he is, a smile coming to Cater's face as he likes it.

⋆ As he continues scrolling he comes across fan edits, dancing videos, comedy skits, memes. He was about to switch apps when he comes across a post, a girl gushing about how her partner wrote a song for her, as a surprise for her birthday. The post includes a short clip of them singing to her, the girl standing there in shock for a moment before looking like she could cry. In the comments everyone talked about how romantic it was, some saying how they wished they had a partner like that.

⋆ A sudden thought occurs to him, looking up from his phone and turning towards the others as he suggests, "Why don't we try writing our own songs?" Kalim and Lilia look to each other for a moment before agreeing, the two of them excited at the idea of writing their own song. After eating a few more snacks and talking for a little bit longer, they go their separate ways, each of them needing to have a song written for their next club meeting.

⋆ Cater stretched in his desk chair, sighing. He had been staring at his computer for a few hours now, a blank word document in front of him. He kept thinking and trying yet a song just wouldn't come to him, getting up from his chair. He grabs his phone and earbuds before moving to lay on his bed, needing a break. He scrolls through Magicam as he listens to music, liking and sharing certain posts. He sees a post from the bakery in the village near Night Raven, announcing new items they would be adding to their menu soon. One of the items is a dessert that seems to be trending right now, everyone talking about how good it is.

⋆ He smiles as his mind immediately goes to Ruthie, knowing how much she loves sweets. Without thinking he shares the post with her, sending another message right after that asking if she'd like to go with him when the bakery debuts their new desserts. It takes a few minutes before she responds, but her reaction was what he expected, telling him she would love to go with him and how excited she was to try the desserts. Her message had a mix of heart emojis throughout it, something she always did. Their was one particular heart emoji she seemed to use more than the others, Cater putting it next to her name in his phone. He did it because the heart emoji reminded him of her, that's all. There was no other reason. (At least, that's what he keeps telling himself)

⋆ It's a few days later when the bakery debuts their new desserts, Cater waking up early knowing how busy they will be. Ruthie was waiting for him outside campus, standing at the entrance gates. She was dressed more casually than usual, wearing a black long sleeved shirt tucked into a pink knee length skirt. She paired the outfit with the stockings and black Mary Janes she usually wore, her favorite headband on her head to match. Cater couldn't help but stare, thinking how good she looked. When she noticed him she ran over to him, thanking him again for inviting her. Cater wasn't paying attention as she continued to talk, eyes focused on her mouth. There was just something about that pink lip gloss she always wore that he was drawn to, tempting him. It makes him want to...

⋆ He shakes his head, stopping himself from continuing that thought. They make their way to the bakery, talking and laughing along the way. As they pass by a house Cater catches a glimpse of their reflection in the window, the sight almost making him stop. He never thought about how Ruthie holds onto his arm whenever they go somewhere, enjoying having her close. But seeing their reflection, how she holds onto his arm, looking up at him as they talk, he couldn't help but think...

We look like a couple

⋆ It doesn't help that others would mistake them as such, strangers calling Ruthie his girlfriend or his dorm mates telling him to enjoy his "date". Trey had even complimented his appearance that morning, asking him what he was dressed up for. They're wrong, Cater thinks. We're just friends. Yet, the idea of them being "just friends" hurt, Cater choosing not to linger on it.

⋆ There was already a line when they got to the bakery, having to wait around fifteen minutes before they could enter. Cater's attention was drawn to the dessert that was trending, ordering it to take a picture for his Magicam. Ruthie went to order one as well before Cater stopped her, reminding her that she could just eat his. She laughed, saying she forgot and thanking him. Once they got their dessert they went to sit outside, not wanting to stay in with how packed it was.

⋆ It was a nice day out, the table they chose giving them a nice view. Cater took the dessert out of it's container, setting it up so that it looked good. He used the natural lighting to help take his photo, immediately uploading it to Magicam. When he looked up from his phone he noticed Ruthie sitting across from him, eyeing the dessert eagerly. His heart raced as he told her he just needed to take one more photo before she could dig in, focusing on her rather than the dessert as he took it. As soon as he said she could eat it, she started digging in, making happy noises due to how good it was.

⋆ They stayed there for a while, Cater scrolling through his phone as Ruthie ate, talking and laughing in between. Whenever Cater saw a video or a meme he knew she would like, he would hold his phone out to her, watching as she tried not to choke on the dessert while laughing. Before they went their separate ways Cater gave her a hug, thanking her for coming with him. She hugged him back, telling him that she should be the one thanking him, considering he paid for the dessert. She promises him she'll treat him next time as they wave goodbye, Cater watching her go before heading back to Night Raven.

⋆ As soon as he got back to Heartslabyul Ace was there, a teasing grin on his face as he asked how his "date" went. Cater gave him a look, used to his behavior as he tells him it wasn't a date. After a moment he goes on, letting him know he had a good time, and that the dessert seems to be worth the hype. He heads to his room, running into Deuce along the way. He too asks how his "date" went, though his question seemed more genuine, Cater not having the heart to correct him. He breathes a sigh of relief once he's inside, immediately laying in his bed.

⋆ He did his best to relax, mind racing as he pulled up the picture he took of Ruthie earlier. It had turned out better than he thought, her eyes lit up as she looked at the dessert on the table. She looked almost like she was glowing with how the sun hit her face, her hands clapped together in excitement. She looked so happy, so cute. He had to resist the urge to make it his phone background, shaking his head. He sat his phone on his chest, holding his arm over his eyes. He just needed to calm down, everything would be alright. He and Ruthie were friends, they were only hanging out. They weren't dating, she wasn't his girlfriend, he wasn't...

He wasn't...

"I'm not in love with her" he mutters to himself, though his racing heart wants to prove him wrong.

⋆ It's in this moment that he realizes what he wants his song to be about, slowly getting up and moving to his desk. He writes what he's thinking, what he's feeling, using it as inspiration. After having to edit and rewrite it a few times he was finally happy with it, realizing how late it was when he checked his phone.

⋆ At their next club meeting Cater bursts into the club room, presenting the song he had written. Lilia gave him a knowing look as he read the lyrics, Kalim complimenting him on how good it was. After talking some more and discussing the songs Lilia and Kalim had written, they decided to perform the song Cater wrote, with him singing the lead vocals. As it got closer to their show date they began advertising it, posting on their socials and putting up flyers around campus. Ruthie even made a post on her Magicam about it, encouraging anyone would could to attend. She texted Cater the night before the show, telling him how excited she was, wishing them good luck. He tried not to think about how it made his heart skip a beat.

⋆ The night of their show the Pop Music Club was buzzing with excitement, a fairly large crowd coming to see them. As they went on stage Cater's eyes were drawn towards the front, right where Ruthie stood in the crowd. She waved at him, mouthing good luck as he gave her a small wave back. They did their usual introduction, playing some of the songs they were known for before playing the one Cater wrote near the end. He did his best to focus on different parts of the crowd as he sang, but he couldn't help how he would always go back to Ruthie, locking eyes with her more than once.

You're always on my mind I think about you all the time Um, no Let's not talk about it Drama, we can live without it Catch a wave if we're bored There's a clock we'll ignore Find a way around it Hey girl, I can tell there's something Even when you say it's nothing When you're playing with your hair Like you just don't care It's a tell you're bluffing Now please don't take this the wrong way I love the things you do It's how you do the things you love Well it's not a love song, not a love song I love the way you get me But correct me If I'm wrong This is not a love song, not a love song I love the things you do It's how you do the things you love The way you sing it, Put me through it I guess I always knew it (I always knew) I love the way you get me But correct me If I'm wrong This is not a love song (not a love song) Not a love song (I know it's not a love song)

Bonus scene:

⋆ After their show the boys headed backstage, ecstatic by how well their performance had gone. Lilia turns to Cater, a knowing smile on his face as he informs him, "You do realize that was a love song you wrote, don't you Cater?"

Cater stumbles for a moment, laughing awkwardly as he shakes his head. "It totally wasn't! I don't know where you got that idea from, Lilia!"

Lilia eyes shine with amusement at his response, asking, "Oh, really? Can I ask what the inspiration was for the song, then? Perhaps, you had someone in mind...?"

Cater was quiet after that, knowing his response wouldn't help his case. He couldn't say that he wrote the song thinking of Ruthie, after all. ♡

𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾! ♡

#♡.sheep answers #♡.sheep writes #♡.twst oc #♡.ruthie #♡.cathie #twisted wonderland oc #twst oc #cater diamond #oc x canon

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ma3-author2 · 1 year

Text

✧Visionary

GIF by Ma3

MASTERLIST

Part 5 of Visionary.

Pairing: Lo’ak/Neteyam x Omatikaya Reader

Summary: Two months have passed since the Sully family arrived, and you decided to go and escape this "war" they called to start a "new beginning." To seek nothing but peacefulness. With this time, your legs have gotten stronger, you're better at holding your breath longer than before, and you've even gotten closer to the Metkayina Na’vi. Except the two Omatikaya boys don’t like your closeness to one specific Metkayina boy.

Theme: Angst, confusion, lost of focus, a new discovery, riding an ilu, Teacher Tsireya!

Extra: Adviser Ao'nung (He upgraded ya'll!)

Word count: 3k

Warning: Expect some English errors, as English is not my first language.

Part 1 of: ✧Visionary / Part 2 of: ✧Visionary / Part 3 of: ✧Visionary / Part 4 of: ✧Visionary

✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧

The first month of staying at Awa’atlu the clan of Metkayina, you learned many things thanks to the two children of the chiefs and their friends. They taught you their culture, how things work, and the differences between your own kind. But that doesn’t mean that you are different from them because you are now one of them.

Due to your legs, you didn’t get to learn half of what makes the Matkayina clan different among the forest Na’vi. You're not a late bloomer per se. But the only thing you didn’t get to learn is how to ride an Ilu. You did get to explore every corner of the sea and the island because of Ao’nung, as he insisted on showing you.

You let him because he did teach you, and this is your payment, as he suggested. Furthermore, you also want to explore this new place. At first, Lo’ak and Neteyam are against the idea of leaving you alone with this boy, but you insisted that if Ao’nung did something, you could handle him even if your legs aren’t healed yet.

You’re a trained warrior, for fuck's sake, even if you lost one arm. You could still move.

Today will be a very different and special experience for you. Why? Well, to answer that, as soon as your legs begin to move without any support and the throb, numbness almost makes it seem like it wasn’t there, unlike before when it still hurt. You can finally ride an Ilu. Just watching them ride one made you a little bit jealous, but now you can finally ride one.

However, you still need Jake and Neytiri's approval before they let you. You don’t have anything against that; instead, it made you feel the need for their acknowledgment and let you think that you were still there with them, kicking and alive.

"How are your legs?" Neytiri asks after giving you your daily medicine.

"I feel like I could ride an Ilu now," you replied, chuckling as you swallowed the tablet.

Neytiri laughed at your remarks. She knew how much you really wanted to ride an Ilu; she could see it in your eyes. It’s already obvious as she and her mate (Jake) watch your eyes gazing from afar inside the Marui. Neytiri was glad that you were there to help any chorus, but it saddened her to see you like that.

So she promises herself that once you're healed, she won’t hesitate to let you do as you please.

You've got to thank Norm and Max for the medicine they gave you, even if it tasted bad. It helps you heal faster. To Ao’nung and Tsireya, as well, as they showed you a method to make your legs stronger and go back to their original strength. Of course you didn’t forget about Sully’s children, as they helped you walk again in a steady manner.

like a baby taking their first steps.

"Is there any numbness or throbbing?" Jake asks checking if your legs are stable enough to go and ride an Ilu or even take a short swim without support.

"Aren’t you two babying Y/N too much? She’s fine. She even got to walk on her own yesterday," Kiri snorted as they eyed her in a disapproving way.

"They’re just making sure that she could ride an Ilu. But for real, you can wait. I don’t know, maybe a week or so." Lo’ak added, eyeing you while shrugging his shoulders.

You rolled your eyes at him, shaking your head before saying, "Thank you for supporting me, Kiri. Lo’ak." eyeing him as you pursed your lips.

"What I’m just looking out for you," He said he was mumbling something that you couldn’t hear, but Neteyam and Kiri heard him. That made the two of them glance at one another, giving one another knowing eyes.

Only for Neteyam to clear his throat as Kiri eyed him, she know he had the same thoughts as Lo’ak.

"So.. can I ride an Ilu?"

"Well, seeing that your legs are steady, yes, you can." You were about to celebrate when Jake stopped you.

"But it’s not completely healed yet. There are still some limitations that you need to look out for"

"Don’t worry, I will take it easy. Thank you!" You were about to hug him when you halted. Now, you don’t usually hug Jake or Neytiri; most of the time it will be Tuk, Kiri, or the two Na’vi boys.

So when he opened his arms for you, you accepted his invitation. Then to Neytiri, who almost tear down. How long has it been since they've seen you smile like that? As for the two boys watching, they couldn’t help but subconsciously smile at your big smile.

They find it beautiful, just like you. Oh, how they want to be with you... but can't, as only one could have you. They made an agreement even before they left the forest. Whoever your choice is, they will need to respect the Na’vi. However, there wasn’t any agreement that another party could join the stage. It was only for the two of them.

"This is exciting! You can now join us! There’s a lot of things I want to show!" Tuk exclaimed, tagging you along with her, excitement visible in her face.

"I know! But Tuk, can you slow down a little bit—" Your words caught up inside your lungs as you lost your balance because of her constant pulling. Your legs may be healed, but they're not completely healed yet. You didn’t blame her, as she was just as excited as you.

before any of them could catch you.

"Woah, easy~ If you do that, you might have to wait another month to ride an Ilu." If you could have seen Neteyam and Loak with laser eyes at Ao’nung, you could have scolded them again.

"Thanks for catching me. And you're right. But good thing you're there" Now your relationship with him is labeled as enemy to frenemies. Sometimes you two can be seen debating if one is incorrect or insulting one another while hanging at the seaside having a normal conversation, leading to the first sentence again.

"I’m sorry, Y/N," Tuk said with a frown on her lips.

"Tuk, it’s okay. And you're just as excited as me... Thanks to him, I could still join you."

"Yeah, thanks to him." Lo’ak and Neteyam mumble, earning a smirk from Ao’nung. Oh, how they wanted to wipe that off. Kiri, who could only give them an exhausted sigh,

"Let’s go before it gets dark." Neteyam, who quickly went to your side, removed Ao'nung's grasp from you. giving him a glare and continuing to guide you.

The first thing you know is that you are now in front of Ao’nung, calling for an Ilu. You find it amusing how they called an Ilu. Maybe you could ask Ao’nung or Tsireya to teach you. While you're waiting for an Ilu to show up, just behind you are two forest Na’vi boys watching every movement of Ao’nung.

Now they already have their own. Lo’ak and Neteyam just wanted to make sure that Ao’nung wouldn’t try to do something like last time. The last thing they knew before they called you home was when they thought Ao’nung was kissing you.

Oh, how it made them feel very dreadful inside. But in reality, it’s just the angle, as he was just checking if your breathing was right. Because your breath was quiet. For a second, he thought you were dead, though you can’t blame him as you taught yourself to be quiet, even your breathing. He leaned forward to hear it only for you to push his face away from you.

"Sorry, your just so quiet that I need to lean in to hear it. Why is that?"

"So an enemy can’t spot me easily. That’s how we hunt for prey as well."

"Huh. Hey… if ever we visit your hometown. Could you teach me?"

"I could teach you now if you want."

"Nah~ I will feel motivated if I am there. Like how you’re here now."

"You've got a point."

"See~ so, can you explain to them that we’re only discussing this and not doing any sort of stuff?"

Until now, you've found it funny and cute how they thought Ao’nung did something to you; you almost use the crutches to shield Ao’nung from them.

"You already know what an Ilu is, right?"

You deadass drop your eyes because of his remark. He almost replaced your excitement with an annoyed one.

"Yes." You replied thriftily.

Ao’nung chuckled at your reaction and then raised his hand. "I’m just making sure."

The Ilu had made its way to where you were. It was a very beautiful creature, and hearing its happy chirp made you squeal at how cute they are. Before you could ride one, or Ao’nung helped you get on.

Lo'ak moved forward, gently raising Tsireya's hand. "Hey, Y/N! Tsireya said she wants to teach you!" before she could deny it and tell you that she didn’t say it but would gladly teach you if you let her.

"Sure." You interfered, giving her a smile, but your eyes rested on their hands, and you quickly averted your gaze to look at her. This wasn’t unnoticed by Kiri.

Ao’nung couldn’t help but roll his eyes; he already knows this will happen, which made him snort at how these two Na’vi are so obvious. We know that he just wants to annoy the brothers, but he will be lying if he says that he has no affection for you. You’re the first Na’vi girl to ever be brave enough to face him, while the others quiver away from him.

Just because he is the son of the chief, are they scared of him? Or is it because they find him annoying and rude because he always pulls these pranks? But why didn’t you?

"Make the bond gently. Feel her breath, feel her strength." Tsireya genlty said teaching you how to mount one. Once you felt the Ilu bonding with you, you couldn't help but crack a smile. It reminds you of how you got I/N.

"Hold here"

The handle has the same similarity to how you ride. I/N only the difference of the two. One is surfing the sky while the other is flying in the ocean.

"Now, Y/N don’t feel pressure. Just take a deep breath." Lo’ak exclaimed, "You can do this, Y/N!" followed by Neteyam as well as Tuk and Kiri.

It made you nervous all of a sudden, having the thought that you would mess things up, so when a second passed by and you didn’t move, this made them confused, only to be replaced by cheering once you took off. What made you go forward? Who made you feel assured? Who took that nervousness away from you?

Oh, right. They should have known already. Just what did he do that they couldn’t?

"Way to go, Y/N!" Ao’nung cheered watching your success riding an Ilu. You moved forward because you had a glance at him, and when he gave you a nod, that was like the biggest hint for Neteyam and Lo’ak. They knew that they had already lost.

Kiri was eying Neteyam and Lo’ak and seeing their defeated looks; she couldn’t help but get sad because of it. She needs to talk to you after you're done, or rather, after the breathing lesson with Tsireya and Rotxo.

Even if the two Na’vi boys are happy that Ao’nung wasn’t present, their feelings of loss are still within them. This wasn’t unnoticed by you. You quickly felt the heavy atmosphere. Or maybe it was just Tsireya teaching Lo’ak to breathe.

"Imagine flickering a flame. You must slow down your heartbeat." Tsireya shared how it would be supposed to feel. For some reason, your eyes twitched when she touched Lo'ak's chest.

"Lo’ak, your heartbeat is fast. Try to focus."

"Sorry, okay."

As Rotxo and Neteyam eyed one another with knowing eyes, his eyes then landed on you, hoping to get the same reaction that you two always displayed when Lo’ak was talking to his crush. But why do you have that expression? That longing gaze and huffing sigh?

Kiri also saw this, and being the Na’vi close to you, she whispered, "Are you okay?"

Snapping yourself out of it, you finally realize that everyone is now looking at you, and without letting them ask you again, you stand up with Kiri supporting you. "I’ll go first. Riding an Ilu tired me. Haha," you lied, and as you laugh it out, you stretch your arms to cover your ears.

They will know that you lied if they see your ears twitching. It's sort of a mechanism to know if you're lying or not. Neteyam and Lo’ak were about to volunteer to bring you home, but you already sensed them from the fact that you spoke first.

"I need to stretch my legs, and this is a good way to do that."

"Are you sure? You might stumble or fall again." Neteyam said, followed by Loak, who nodded.

"Relax, If that happens, then I’ll just stand up again. It’s time for me to learn. I’ll see you back at home."

That was weird and unsettling for them. Did something bother you? That you look tired as you walk away? Maybe it was just riding an Ilu, as it was your first time riding one, but for the forest Navi, they knew something was up.

Instead of following you, they let you be. They respect you, and it is better to ask if the right time has come or if they have gotten the chance. Just like back then, after your father died, they feared that if they quickly made a move, it would trigger something.

The only good part was that it wasn’t the same thoughts, and they hope that the thoughts you have now aren’t worse than before. All they really want is to help you, and one day you will no longer hide in your past.

✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧

You did plan to go home and rest for the day, but you encountered Ao’nung who invited you to go to the seaside.

"For a first timer, you did good riding an Ilu~" He complimented you, but rather than receiving a rolling eye or any sort of remark, you only gave him a big sigh.

"Everything okay?"

"Maybe? I don’t know... I’m confuse"

"Riding an Ilu? Or walking?" He joked only to cough it away as you weren't playing with his games.

"Can you be serious at least once?" you commented.

"Sorry… So what are you confused about?"

"...Maybe you are right about the walking part... It’s been a long time since I really walked without support." You joked around by throwing some pebbles at the water.

Ao’nung began to talk after the peddle made its last bounce, "I feel like you're confused about something else. I’m being serious now."

"How did you know if it was something else?"

"Your ears twitch; you avoid eye contact; you laugh?"

"Really?" You deadpan ask thinking if you really did that. Maybe he was right, as you did that multiple times, but on another occasion.

"And I presume that this confusion is something close to Sully's."

You thought first... Maybe it is; maybe it was just you you were confused about? All this thinking made your head hurt, so you decided to sit on the sand. "Maybe… I don’t know. I’m really confused."

For a warrior and competitive what more fast mind of a girl as you. You don’t know the answer to it. This made Ao’nung sigh while rolling his eyes. How did he admire you again? Oh, right.

"You have much time to think about that... Take it slowly and when you think about it. Then write it down so you don’t forget it. To start with, when or where did this confusion happen?" He asks, twirling his hand and figuring out the correct terms to use.

joining you on the sand.

You almost widen your eyes and are surprised that he could also be serious if he wanted to. "Are you really Ao’nung?" you ask, covering your gaping mouth. Then, eyeing you in return, he sighs, shaking his head.

You snort "Sorry, I was trying to think, but you suddenly got serious... I didn’t know you had that in you. Who would have thought?"

"Ha. Ha… so? What made you confused?" How many times did he ask that question? What really made you confuse and act like this?

It wasn’t only for today.. no, it already happened before. But you're so good at hiding things that they didn’t notice it.

It happened way back in the third week when Neteyam suddenly left early before the lesson began. You thought he was just excited and wanted to explore, but one day you saw him talking to a Metkayina girl.

It wasn’t Tsireya, as this Na’vi has a small waist line, and her hair was wrapped in a ponytail. You saw how he helped this Na'vi, and you should be smiling as he is a very kind Na'vi.

Like he is, but when she rested her arms on his forearm and then laughed at each other, it made your chest heavy. It happened again when you saw Lo’ak holding Tsireya's hand and her resting her hand on his chest.

There wasn’t wrong to that. She’s just doing what she needs to do, but after she commented on those phrases and his eyes started shaking,... That was like the final blow, or was it when Neteyam and Rotxo gave each other knowing eyes? A hint per se.

It made you curse yourself. Why do you even feel that way when, in the first place, you didn’t even acknowledge them when Kiri already told you about them and the only missing part was you noticing them and when they’re attention might now have been captured by others?

You just noticed them? How fuck up are you?

"Hello, I’m still here..."

"Can I ask you something? Hypothetically?"

"It depends~"

You simply ignore him, saying, "What would you do if you already knew that this Na’vi has feelings for you... but you didn’t acknowledge them because you were busy thinking about other stuff and this stuff is like it can’t just be thrown away?"

Ao’nung let out a huge breath as he didn’t expect that kind of hypothetical question, but he tried to think of an answer. "Whew, that’s a long question... Well, if that happens to me, wait. That’s so complicated... Give me a minute."

"Take your time, as I’m still thinking about it--" You quickly coughed as your tongue slipped, just seeing his side eye give you this, ‘Oh, so it’s you? And not any hypothetical question?’

"Just answer it."

"Well~ to start it off. It’s best if this Na’vi will help them with that stuff. Isn’t it better to have a helping hand? Rather than doing it alone?"

"But what if these Na’vi aren’t used to having any sort of helping hand? As they did it fine... until now, that is."

"Then she’s an idiot. Okay, sorry. Haha, why are you glaring at me? This is just a hypothetical." Ao’nung raised his arms, preparing himself in case you suddenly attacked him.

He then continued once he saw you sigh.

"Maybe because they are already tired and need to let this stuff out... or rather giving it away... They’re already at their limit, and the only thing that will make them feel at ease is for someone to take it away from their hands. They could give it back, but with less weight, you know?"

You couldn’t help but smile at him. He may be a jerk sometimes, but when it comes to this sort of stuff, he becomes normal. "Thanks… You just answered my question."

"So I was right; it’s not just hypothetical?" Ao’nung chuckled, raising his eyebrows at you.

"Now you've lost my momentum... and here I thought that you will be a great Omatikaya someday." You snort and roll your eyes, deciding that it’s best to go home.

As you stood up, or as he stood up first, then assisted you, and before you two returned to the village.

"Nah~ I can’t even think about myself as one. But if you think of it that way, why not give it a try? Thats if you become a Tsahik" Ao’nung jokingly said only to widen his eyes when you stared at him for a moment, titling your head.

It looks like you're giving it some thought; not only that, when you squeezed his hand, which is still holding yours,

"Sure, why not?" You took a long pause, wanting to admire his shocked look, and as you took your hand back, you quickly patted his shoulder, saying, "And that’s how you make a joke. Did I get you?"

Only for him to grunt as your joke went too far but quickly laugh.

"Yeah, you got me."

He already knew that it wasn’t him who this Na’vi girl has in mind, nor was it someone else who made her this confused. He didn’t even have to say a word to who you will throw this stuff to... He could only laugh at this throbbing in his chest and watch you walk away to go to them.

Maybe he too will need to throw some stuff for "them" to know what really happened before "they" scramble away.

‘Maybe she is right. I will be a great leader one day...'

✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧

Ps: Don't forgot to re-blog and heart! thankeee~!!

Yey! I updated hahaha!

Oh no! What a triangle! not!! There would be like parts for Neteyam or Lo'ak when MC chooses which one is which.

Ao'nung in serious mode is very a leadership!

Other One-shot's

✧ Encounter /// ✧Sightseeing /// "Over the summer"

Do check this out if you have some spare time: Some books of mine

57 notes · View notes

insanelyadd · 9 months

Note

If the song fits it fits, regardless of possible embarrassment. Anyway, lets hear what songs you put together, and what your reasons are!

Oh ho ho, you just gave me a chance to talk about music, hee hee hoo hoo.

Okay so I'll start with the playlist I made for the Collector, as a heads up note about all of these playlists, I am far from done, so while they're all short right now, I will be getting around to adding more.

Through Glass by Stone Sour -

'Cause I'm looking at you through the glass Don't know how much time has passed All I know is that it feels like forever When no one ever tells you that forever feels like home Sitting all alone inside your head How do you feel? That is the question But I forget you don't expect an easy answer When something like a soul becomes initialized And folded up like paper dolls and little notes You can't expect a bit of hope So while you're outside looking in Describing what you see Remember what you're staring at is me (...) How much is real? So much to question An epidemic of the mannequins Contaminating everything We thought came from the heart It never did right from the start Just listen to the noises (Null and void instead of voices) Before you tell yourself It's just a different scene Remember it's just different from what you've seen (...) And it's the stars The stars that shine for you And it's the stars The stars that lie to you, yeah-ah And it's the stars The stars that shine for you And it's the stars The stars that lie to you, yeah-ah

I cannot stress enough that these are the actual lyrics and I did not move them around or anything, all I did was remove the repeating verses/choruses. This song came out in 2006. An absolute shoe-in to be used in AMVs for this little guy except it's a rock song from 2006 and not an indie-pop song from the last five years and it's also not popular.

I was doing my usual thing like a week or two ago where I go through a bunch of songs I heard on the radio when I was in elementary school and as I was relistening to this song I felt like I had lost my mind. I remember relating to this song a lot when I was little kid because the song is about being lonely, and I think the Collector would relate to it too. More kids should listen to rock music from the 2000s because I am deluded* and think a lot of it is good. Music critics tremble before me when they try to say nu metal is bad and I just say "Nah".

(*Yes I do have psychosis and have delusions for realsies, I can use this word)

After this it's all under the cut because this post will end up being long because I fucking love talking about lyrics and the fun little picture shows my brain makes when I hear a song that fits a character. if you don't feel like reading the Archivists playlist discussion be happy knowing I summed all of them up in one picture:

No Lullaby by Siames -

What's the meaning when you have a broken home, home, home? Where's the love when you were left on your own? So alone

The most relevant lyrics in the song are the chorus because the verses on this song are super abstract, like more than their other songs that I've heard. Final lines of the song are the above lines but instead of "so alone" it says "Who says you're on your own?" which feels like how their arc concludes in the show.

All the Best by Siames -

Let's play pretend now Don't be afraid, no Stop being worried this could be the way We are what we made up Ready for a new start Follow your dreams no other way will be that great And I'll keep searching for all the best Picture yourself in a rocket and believe you can be anything you want The meaning of our actions feeds the power of attraction, let it flow Just let it flow It's right under our noses Going through our minds With passion and devotion (with passion and devotion) Your light can be our sun

I feel the lyrics here are pretty self-explanatory. Since the band is Argentinian I'm going to forgive any wonkyness in the lyrics.

Steal My Sunshine by LEN -

Genuinely the lyrics for this song are very abstract but apparently it was written when the brother and sister of the group were having a fight. Though I think the lines "And of course you can't become if you only say what you would have done, So I missed a million miles of fun" are pretty good. Also it sort of just sounds like a song he would like.

Island In The Sun by Wheezer -

On an island in the sun We'll be playing and having fun And it makes me feel so fine I can't control my brain We'll run away together We'll spend some time forever We'll never feel bad anymore

Escapism, sun motif, easy pick for the Collector. Plus the song itself has this sort of fun, laid back up-beatness to it.

Kids by MGMT -

You were a child, crawling on your knees toward it Making momma so proud But your voice is too loud We like to watch you laughing You pick the insects off plants No time to think of consequences Control yourself Take only what you need from it A family of trees wanting To be haunted (...) The memories fade like looking through a fogged mirror Decision to decisions are made and not bought But I thought this wouldn't hurt a lot, I guess not

I made a whole AMV for the Collector and King set to this song, it's a perfect fit, if I were to post all the relevant lyrics I would probably end up posting the whole song. Actually fuck it I'll post them anyways for everyone who's never heard this song.

Fine by Lemon Demon - (the sped up version)

Light is on the way, we'll be having a fun time It's such a lovely day, we should pocket the sunshine And never give it back, even if there's a heat wave We're stalling on the track, it will just be a close shave I know (I know) That in a snap, all the birds will sing I know (I know) I'm full of crap, but still Everything works out nice in the end The sun will marry the moon It'll be fine Why don't we sit back, mellow again And have a nice afternoon? It'll be fine

I feel like this is a fun song for them. Once again sun and moon imagery in the song, outwardly cheerful and bouncy in that way, but menacing at the same time.

GRRRLS by Aviva - (specifically the version that's a Collector animatic)

I can't explain it better than the video explains itself, so here's a link

Best of You by Foo Fighters -

I've got another confession to make I'm your fool Everyone's got their chains to break Holding you Were you born to resist or be abused? Is someone getting the best, the best, the best The best of you?

I think it fits thematically with the Collector breaking free from the cycle of abuse he was subjected to.

When I'm Gone by 3 Doors Down -

So hold me when I'm here, right me when I'm wrong Hold me when I'm scared and love me when I'm gone Everything I am and everything in me Wants to be the one you wanted me to be I'll never let you down even if I could I'd give up everything if only for your good So hold me when I'm here, right me when I'm wrong You can hold me when I'm scared, you won't always be there So love me when I'm gone Love me when I'm gone But when your education x-ray cannot see under my skin I won't tell you a damn thing that I could not tell my friends Been roaming through this darkness, I'm alive but I'm alone And part of me is fighting this but part of me is gone

Most annoying thing on the face of the earth when you're making playlists for child characters or siblings with terrible relationships is probably that every goddamn song you find where the lyrics are vague enough to be interpreted as a familial relationship and not romantic was probably still originally written to be romantic *strangles amatonormativity with my bare fucking hands for an hour straight*

So anyways in this context the song is about the Collector trying to reconcile their feelings about their family being shitty with their want to connect and love people and be comforted by the familiar.

Now for the playlists for the Archivists. I encourage you to look at the scroll bar on your screen. I will not judge you for looking at it and deciding you've read enough, especially since my Archivists (anyone's Archivists really) are totally made up and are basically OCs inhabiting a hole left by canon. I still have fun with them tho.

Penumbra first because she has the shortest playlist (Sorry Penny it's hard to find songs about being stressed by raising your younger siblings and being emotionally and mentally drained by stress)

Help! by The Beatles -

So much younger than today (I never need) I never needed anybody's help in any way (Now) but now these days are gone (these days are gone) I'm not so self assured (And now I find) now I find I've changed my mind And opened up the doors (...) In oh so many ways (My independ-) my independence seems to vanish in the haze (But) but every now and then (now and then) I feel so insecure

Once again on closer inspection of the lyrics I think this is AGAIN about romance. I choose to ignore it. I Do Not See It. I'm taking the implications out back and shooting them. Mainly I chose this song because it was kind of funny for everyone's playlists to be songs from the last 30 years mostly and Penny is out here like "I relate to this Beatles song which is a literal cry for help" someone save this woman (nonbinary).

Stressed Out by twenty one pilots -

Sometimes a certain smell will take me back to when I was young How come I'm never able to identify where it's coming from? I'd make a candle out of it if I ever found it Try to sell it, never sell out of it, I'd probably only sell one

*putting on a very serious face* She's stressed, she yearns for the nostalgia of when she wasn't responsible for so many things. The part about making money means nothing because I don't think Collectors participate in any economy because it's implied they don't need to eat and they could probably just magic up whatever they want/need.

Dog Days Are Over by Florence and the Machine -

Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father Run for your children, for your sisters and brothers Leave all your love and your longing behind You can't carry it with you if you want to survive And I never wanted anything from you Except everything you had and what was left after that too, oh Happiness hit her like a bullet in the back Struck from a great height by someone who should know better than that

She wants to stop being so stressed out all the time but I think if she suddenly stopped experiencing it she would probably explode. Girl needs a therapist so badly. And a vacation. I like this song because when I looked up the meaning it was like "Bad days will end and things will get better one day" and the lyrics describe the incoming happiness as graphically fatal and terrifying in its approach like being hit by a fucking train in the first two lines of the song.

D.A.N.C.E. by Justice -

No need to analyze the lyrics here, I think she would just genuinely like this song and dance to it, though I think part of it is that there's a little bit of desperation in the way it's sung, like "please dance you have to dance or you will die" which is probably how she would feel if she was given time to relax like "oh wow this has never happened before, am I supposed to be afraid?"

Next I'll do Crescent because why not. "Birth" order, sure. Also Crescent's songs should be fairly easy to explain

The Pretender by Foo Fighters -

Keep you in the dark You know they all pretend Keep you in the dark And so it all began Send in your skeletons Sing as their bones go marching in again They need you buried deep The secrets that you keep are ever ready Are you ready? (...) What if I say I'm not like the others? What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays? You're the pretender What if I say I will never surrender? I'm the voice inside your head You refuse to hear I'm the face that you have to face Mirroring your stare I'm what's left, I'm what's right I'm the enemy I'm the hand that'll take you down Bring you to your knees So, who are you? Yeah, who are you? Yeah, who are you? Yeah, who are you? Keep you in the dark You know they all pretend

I mean. She's a liar, a pretender, she's keeping a secret (having their parent taken away) from her siblings. He's an evil bastard. This explanation will be the standard response to most songs in this playlist but maybe from different angles.

Dangerous by Big Data ft Joywave -

Nobody's listening when we're alone Nobody's listening, there's nobody listening, No one can hear us when we're alone No one can hear us, no, no one can hear us And I've gotta get out of here Sink down, into the dark Keep on running I've gotta get out of here (Keep on running) Sink down, into the dark You understand, they got a plan for us I bet you didn't know that I was dangerous It must be fate, I found a place for us I bet you didn't know someone could love you this much

A little bit uncharacteristically paranoid for Crescent tbh, but the song is fucking awesome and even though the most fitting part of the song is only one line "I bet you didn't know that I was dangerous" it is sung in this sort of taunting way that really has enough threatening intent to be perfect for him.

Miss Murder by AFI -

With just a look, they shook And heavens bowed before him Simply a look can break your heart The stars that pierce the sky He left them all behind We're left to wonder why He left us all behind

After reading the lyrics I have a suspicion they aren't what 10 year old me interpreted them to be about. That's alright. I can imagine the verses are about all the times Crescent has made cults to worship her (I have a HC that Collectors primarily do this as a means of acquiring samples from all the planets they visit because it's easier to convince the most advanced life on the planet that you are a god who demands tribute and getting them to mobilize for you VS going around finding all the animals and plants and whatever else yourself).

I Can't Decide by Scissor Sisters -

I've got to hand it to you You've played by all the same rules It takes the truth to fool me And now you've made me angry I can't decide Whether you should live or die Oh, you'll probably go to heaven Please don't hang your head and cry No wonder why My heart feels dead inside It's cold and hard and petrified Lock the doors and close the blinds We're going for a ride

Did I tell you guys??? Did I mention??? Crescent likes to kill people???? Most interesting part of this choice is how the truth will fool him, which is true. If she believes something that isn't true about you and makes the wrong assumptions based on that it's better for you in the long run, though continued exposure to her increases the chances that he'll eventually realize he made the wrong guess and then he'll get Very Mad about it.

Breezeblocks by alt-J -

No lyrical analysis because yeah they don't really fit but I like the song for the vibe, mainly the ending, though that sort of repetitive mania isn't really in line with how I characterize Crescent. I personally love it, this song triggers my mania sometimes and it's great.

Lone Digger by Caravan Palace -

Another one where it's less about how I write the character and more about what I think she'd like to listen or dance to. I think she would enjoy the frantic energy of the song.

You're Gonna Go Far Kid by Offspring -

Show me how to lie, you're getting better all the time And turning all against the one is an art that's hard to teach Another clever word sets off an unsuspecting herd And as you step back into line, a mob jumps to their feet (...) With a thousand lies and a good disguise Hit 'em right between the eyes Hit 'em right between the eyes When you walk away, nothing more to say See the lightning in your eyes See 'em running for their lives Slowly out of line, and drifting closer in your sight So play it out, I'm wide awake, it's a scene about me There's something in your way and now someone is gonna pay And if you can't get what you want, well, it's all because of me

I feel like the picture here is clear, liar, manipulative, doesn't show her true face so she's always in disguise (metaphorically), the implication of murder/fighting. *slaps the hood of this song* This baby can fit so many of Crescent's worst qualities in it.

I Get It by CheVelle -

So you say you're ignored, as it is Well, give us your sad, sad trip You're right, I get it It all makes sense, you're the perfect person So bright, so wrong Let's all live in your imaginary life Assumed it's whether We're right, or wrong We're doomed and there's plenty for all How dare you catch me counting? How dare you call at all? How dare you call this suffering? How dare you call at all?

Crescent's inner monologue if either of the Twins voice their concerns about anything. Someone needs to hit him with a car.

Annihilation by A Perfect Circle -

It's your choice, your choice, your choice, your choice, Peace or annihilation

This song I think is originally about the American military industrial complex and nuclear war. So anyways for my dumb little OC's playlist this is basically the choice they give the people of the planets they visit if they start to get hostile. "Hey, I know things are tense but have you considered that I will boil your oceans and burn your world to ash if you don't choose to be nice?" Obviously it's also another instance of the song only really having one or two lines that strongly fit the vibe but you see the vision?

You're Going Down by Sick Puppies -

Define your meaning of war To me, it's what we do when we're bored I feel the heat comin' off of the blacktop And it makes me want it more Because I'm hyped up, out of control If it's a fight, I'm ready to go I wouldn't put my money on the other guy If you know what I know that I know (...) This is hardly worth fighting for But it's the little petty shit that I can't ignore When my fist hits your face and your face hits the floor It'll be a long time comin' Bet you got the message now 'Cause I was never goin' Yeah, you're the one that's going down

Oh hey one thing I haven't said about Crescent yet is she sometimes beats the shit out of her siblings (mainly Solari who instigates it on purpose even though she knows she'll lose because it's worth it to them to get under his skin). Well when I say "beats the shit out of them" I mean it more like Crescent can get a single good solid hit in and it knocks Solari down and the fight is over. Solari has never actually been mad enough to push their luck into a full-on brawl with Crescent. If Solari actually, for real, wants to fight him then she duels him with magic instead because it's an even match-up.

Next up I'll do Solari

She also has You're Going Down, but intended from the opposite perspective, while Crescent is the singer, Solari is the listener.

The Red by CheVelle -

The red Well, it filters through So lay down The threat is real When his sight Goes red again Seeing red again Seeing red again

You might be wondering, is this another song from Solari's perspective about Crescent? No. Solari gets so mad she basically loses all control of herself, hence the destruction of property she does. If they ever got actually mad enough to actually fight Crescent for real with their hands, she would be a very dirty fighter. She sees Crescent on her missions visiting the worlds of mortals. She's watched him fight for thousands of years. Crescent has never seen Solari fight with their hands. She might not be as physically strong as he is but she would be able to have the advantage of Crescent not knowing what to expect. Plus if Satellite is there and something has made their twin THAT mad then they would join in too.

Headstrong by Trapt -

Conclusions manifest Your first impressions got to be your very best I see you're full of shit and that's alright That's how you play, I guess you get through every night Well, now that's over I see your fantasy You wanna make it a reality paved in gold See inside, inside of our heads, yeah Well, now that's over I see your motives inside Decisions to hide Back off, I'll take you on Headstrong to take on any one I know that you are wrong Headstrong, we're headstrong

Solari's mind when they're about to start shit with Crescent again. Unrelated I saw the band was marked red on my screen earlier and I was like "???" for a half second before remembering the lead singer is a dipshit loser who whines on twitter and facebook because I guess he has nothing better to do. May the miserable cretin never chart again.

Oh No! by Marina -

I just wanna change I just wanna change I just wanna change I just wanna change I just wanna change I know exactly what I want and who I want to be I know exactly why I walk and talk like a machine I'm now becoming my own self-fulfilled prophecy Oh! Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no, oh! One track mind, one track heart If I fail, I'll fall apart Maybe it is all a test 'Cause, I feel like I'm the worst So I always act like I'm the best

We've come to the portion of the playlist where Solari is consumed by guilt and regret. It's actually not separated like that, I'm just saying these lines speak to how she wants to change who she is as a person because she realizes she doesn't like who she currently is. Not that Penumbra or Crescent would know she's trying to get better, because Solari doesn't respect either of them and does not put in effort into improving herself for them, she's doing it for her little brother, the Collector. Even if she never gets to see them again.

Bother by Stone Sour -

Wish I was too dead to cry My self-affliction fades Stones to throw at my creator Masochists to which I cater You don't need to bother I don't need to be I'll keep slipping farther But once I hold on I won't let go 'til it bleeds Wish I was too dead to care If indeed I cared at all Never had a voice to protest So you fed me shit to digest I wish I had a reason My flaws are open season For this, I gave up trying One good turn deserves my dying

I did mention they are being eaten alive by guilt and regrets right? This is for when Solari is having a bad time in her head.

Riot by Three Days Grace -

If you feel so empty So used up, so let down If you feel so angry So ripped off, so stepped on You're not the only one refusing to back down You're not the only one, so get up Let's start a riot A riot Let's start a riot

Solari is ready and back to being angry. They totally would incite a riot if they felt like they had a good enough reason to start one.

Fine Again by Seether -

And I am aware now Of how everything's gonna be fine One day, too late, I'm in Hell I am prepared now Seems everyone's gonna be fine One day, too late, just as well I feel a dream in me expire And there's no one left to blame it on I hear you label me a liar 'Cause I can't seem to get this through

Just kidding it's Solari Emo Hours again. The only line in the song that doesn't really apply are the lines about staying sober because I HC that there isn't really any chemical that has any effect on Collectors like that. Anyways this is Solari being like "Wow the two older siblings were able to just go back to pretending everything is fine after getting rid of our baby sibling what the fuck."

These next three songs Solari shares with Satellite so I'll talk about why I chose them for both.

Send the Pain Below by CheVelle -

I liked having hurt So send the pain below Where I need it You used to beg me to take care of things And smile at the thought of me failing But long before having hurt I'd send the pain below I'd send the pain below Much like suffocating Much like suffocating (...) You used to run me away all while laughing Then cry about the fact 'til I returned But long before having hurt I'd send the pain below I'd send the pain below

This is a bit messy but whenever the lines say "You did this" that's a perspective shift for the line from the twins' perspective to The Collector. Basically another song about the twins regretting being shitheads to their baby brother.

Breaking The Habit by Linkin Park -

Memories consume Like opening the wound I'm picking me apart again You all assume I'm safe here in my room Unless I try to start again I don't want to be the one The battles always choose 'Cause inside I realize That I'm the one confused I don't know what's worth fighting for Or why I have to scream I don't know why I instigate And say what I don't mean I don't know how I got this way I know it's not alright So, I'm breaking the habit I'm breaking the habit tonight

I'm going to assume some of this song is about some type of addiction. I'm disregarding that. Anyways the part about behavioral issues and not knowing why you act the way you do does align with the twins, and I mentioned it previously with Solari, about her trying to get better for the Collector, if he ever returns, but the same applies to Satellite. Though Satellite is at least attempting to practice this with Penumbra and Crescent. It's kind of difficult because they're so afraid of both of them, and Crescent avoids talking to them whenever he's actually around.

Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men -

I don't like walking around this old and empty house So hold my hand, I'll walk with you my dear The stairs creak as you sleep It's keeping me awake It's the house telling you to close your eyes And some days I can't even dress myself It's killing me to see you this way 'Cause though the truth may vary This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore There's an old voice in my head That's holding me back Well, tell her that I miss our little talks Soon it will be over and buried with our past We used to play outside when we were young And full of life and full of love Some days I don't know if I am wrong or right Your mind is playing tricks on you, my dear 'Cause though the truth may vary This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore Don't listen to a word I say (Hey) The screams all sound the same (Hey) And though the truth may vary This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore You're gone, gone, gone away I watched you disappear All that's left is a ghost of you Now we're torn, torn, torn apart There's nothing we can do Just let me go, we'll meet again soon Now wait, wait, wait for me, please hang around I'll see you when I fall asleep

Yeah it's basically the full song. Once again the lyrics were vague and I had to dig around to find out it was written with romance in mind but I am sending my fucking mind beams out and blowing that up. Anyways tell me this couldn't be about Satellite and Solari's guilt for how they treated their little sibling and the last verse here where they "watched you disappear" is about when the Collector was imprisoned, and the torn apart bit is how they feel about their family. I might not identify as asexual anymore (further testing necessary I'll get back to you all on this if it turns out to be true) but I am still going to be fucking grabbing songwriters in my mouth and violently shaking them. Please can you just write complex interesting relationships into songs without being "OH YEAH IT'S ROMANCE" man there's other types of love. Please. I am on my fucking hands and knees.

*double checks playlist* Oh shit Fine Again by Seether is also on Satellite's playlist. Same explanation applies. Don't feel like moving shit around and adding accommodations in the existing text, I've been working on this for four hours because I have severe ADHD and I am dogshit at prioritizing anything.

If you get this far comment on the post about my brave stance that if a candle smells good enough I would eat it. It hasn't happened yet but my toasted coconut s'more candle tempts me every fucking time I smell it.

Anyways now it's Just Satellite

Unwell by Matchbox Twenty -

Hold on, feelin' like I'm headed for a breakdown And I don't know why But I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell I know, right now you can't tell But stay a while and maybe then you'll see A different side of me I'm not crazy, I'm just a little impaired I know, right now you don't care But soon enough you're gonna think of me And how I used to be, me

Fun fact I actually listen to this song when I feel like I might be about to have a bout of existential terror or some other flavor of mental breakdown and singing along to it calms me down. Obviously, Satellite would be able to relate about feeling gripped by a nebulous madness that Changes You when it hits. I actually have an idea for what I might have unintentionally gave them. Like. This is buried deep enough no one will hit it.

Anyways like a few days after I wrote my fucking long ass post about the Archivists and Collector's relationships and related HC and shit I began wondering. "Am I Autistic??" Asked a friend who is autistic and has ADHD at the same time (like what I would have if the answer to this wonder is yes) and she gave me some things to read about it and I was like "oh my fucking god this is literally all me." and then, because I'm some type of menace freak and I reread my posts that I like frequently, I reread my post about the Archivists and shit and I was like "Ah fuck are they all autistic??? I knew I couldn't write neurotypical people because I have literally never been one but seriously??????"

Point is: I might be autistic. Mentioning it here and now because it seems like getting an actual diagnosis is going to be a huge fucking pain in the ass and won't happen for months. And I might have made the Archivists all autistic or probably other slivers of my various other mental illnesses because I am physically incapable writing a neurotypical person. Circling around to what started this tangent: Satellite absolutely has autistic meltdowns. I don't know if ADHD people get meltdowns like how I imagine Satellite gets them, but they are modeled after My Own experiences with having meltdowns. So anyways back to music analysis in relation to my dumbass little OCs.

Bound For The Floor by Local H -

Born to be down I've learned all my lessons before now Born to be down I think you'll get used to it And you just don't get it, you keep it copacetic And you learn to accept it, you know you're so pathetic (...) Born to be down I think that I've said this before now Born to be down What good is confidence?

I've actually always related this song to mental illness, ever since I was a kid, I always associated the song with the struggles of growing up neurodivergent and how it beats you down and you learn to accept it and live with it.

Words As Weapons by Seether -

All I really want is something beautiful to say Keep me locked up in your broken mind I keep searchin', never been able to find a Light behind your dead eyes Not anything at all You keep living in your own lie, ever-deceitful and ever-unfaithful Keep me guessin', keep me terrified Take everything from my world (...) Keep me dumb, keep me paralyzed Why try swimming? I'm drowning in fables You're not that saint that you externalize You're not anything at all It's oh-so playful when you demonize To spit out the hateful, you're willing and able Words are weapons I'd be terrified You're nothing in my world

Now a song for how Satellite feels about Crescent. Once again, about a person who lies and projects a self that isn't true to who they really are, and the singer is terrified of them, which fits because that's how Satellite feels about their older brother. Crescent is physically strong and gifted with weapons but her best weapon is her charisma and charm and how she uses it to manipulate people.

Keep Talking by Pink Floyd -

There's a silence surrounding me I can't seem to think straight I sit in the corner And no one can bother me I think I should speak now (why won't you talk to me?) I can't seem to speak now (you never talk to me) My words won't come out right (what are you thinking?) I feel like I'm drowning (what are you feeling?) I'm feeling weak now (why won't you talk to me?) But I can't show my weakness (you never talk to me) I sometimes wonder (what are you thinking?) Where do we go from here (what are you feeling?) I feel like I'm drowning (You never talk to me) you know I can't breathe now (What are you thinking?) We're going nowhere (What are you feeling?) We're going nowhere (Why won't you talk to me?) (You never talk to me) (What are you thinking?) (Where do we go from here?)

Now I saved this one for last even though it was literally the first song I ever started associating with Satellite because I think it really fits them. I think this is what it's like from their perspective when they have a meltdown. I don't really know how else to describe it so I guess I'll break this down line by line because sunk cost fallacy at this point why not.

"There's a silence surrounding me" in my own experience with meltdowns, which is what Satellite's are based off of, I find that all the blood rushes to my ears and I sort of lose the ability to recognize sound?

"I can't seem to think straight" probably self-explanatory but in my experience I stop having coherent thought and kind of only think in impulses.

"I sit in the corner, and no one can bother me," though this wasn't always the case (like when you're a child experiencing this you don't really understand what is even happening, and you develop this later in like when it's more like "ah this shit again") you will typically try to remove yourself from the situation that is causing you the distress that makes you have a meltdown in the first place.

"I think I should speak now, I can't seem to speak now, My words won't come out right" this could either be interpreted as a meltdown where you just shut down and stop talking or a meltdown where you fucking scream, I tended to have ones where I would just scream, but that might be because when I get the other way I end up crying silently instead so I might have filed those moments away as just normal "I am sad" moments?

"I feel like I'm drowning" meltdowns can be overwhelming, and when I'm overwhelmed I tend to stop my feet and flail my arms and sort of contort myself because?? I don't know. It feels like I'm trying to escape my own body honestly. Drowning in myself.

"I'm feeling weak now, but I can't show my weakness" this shit is fucking humiliating to have happen in public and around other people man, it sucks ass.

So anyways that is my ridiculously long ass post about music and my little bastards (and baby, the Collector is only baby) that I spent FIVE HOURS writing. I am going to go wash my hands because Bad Texture, drink some water, and then get floor time which is time where I lie face down on my floor and pretend to be a dead body.

#toh the collector #the collector #toh the archivists #the archivists #I am not going to fucking tag all these bands do you want me to be here for six hours???#musical discussion #if you want to skip to the end I did a great analysis of Keep Talking by Pink Floyd #and how you could interpret it as a song about having a meltdown #answears #long post under the cut #I am not fucking kidding if you open this post Prepare Yourself #toh spoilers

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why-so-serious-lucifer · 5 months

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K-pop Discography Deep Dives: WJSN

A Disclaimer: I was planning, when I first started Tumblr, to be a lurker, but then I began an office job and needed something to listen to to keep myself occupied. And then, I started going through entire K-pop groups’ repertoires, album by album, and jotting down my thoughts. And then, I stumbled into K-pop tumblr and decided, you know what, there’s at least four people on this hell site who would read in depth rants about these discographies and at least five who wouldn’t read it and then get mad because it’s kind of our job as K-pop fans. My lukewarm takes should be taken with an entire silo of salt and the knowledge that this is completely for fun and occupying my very bored, very neurodivergent brain. All this to say, for the love of god, I’m a sleep-deprived student and I don’t have time for internet hate, so don’t kill me. With that being said, enjoy!

Here are my credentials: unusually, for a girl group, I have very few. I’ve listened to WJSN before, and I know a decent amount of title tracks and a couple b-sides. I would say I know them best from my half-watch of Queendom 2 (I’m a fan of Loona and Gfriend, so I was more focused on them), which WJSN did win. I was impressed with them there, and I decided that I wanted to learn more about them.

WJSN was formed in late 2015 as a Korean-Chinese collaborative between Starship Entertainment and Yuehua Entertainment. The members are divided into four units, one for each letter. First is Wonder, with Cheng Xiao, Bona, and Dayoung. Second is Joy, with Xuanyi, Eunseo, and Yeoreum. Third is Sweet, with Seola, Exy, and Soobin. And fourth is Natural, with Meiqi, Luda, and Dawon. After these units were formed, a 13th member, Yeonjung, was added as well. After being on hiatus since 2018, the three Chinese members, Xuanyi, Cheng Xiao, and Meiqi officially left the group in early 2023. Sorry, that was a lot of names, so deep breaths and let’s do this.

They officially debuted in 2016 with MoMoMo, which is one of the most bubblegum-y bubblegum songs I’ve seen in a while. It’s basically a k-pop stereotype at this point: lots of aegyo, completely coordinated school girl clothes, short skirts, childish love, and very poppy beats. I associate WJSN with more ethereal pop, so this was a (somewhat unwelcome) surprise for me. As often happens to me in k-pop, while I did appreciate its comic book style animation and humor, the excessive aegyo made me uncomfortable (see my review of TXT’s Cat and Dog or LOONA’s Hi High). This isn’t the song’s fault; it’s exactly what it’s supposed to be, but it does mean I won’t be listening to it again.

I’m unsure if Catch Me is also a single or just an opportunity for a dance practice, but it embraces the other side of k-pop stereotypes: a sort-of anti-drop, girl-crush, uncomfortably-sexualized…thing? that tries a bit too hard to be cool. WJSN’s talent elevates it, but even they can only do so much with a song that doesn’t have any character.

The 1st EP, Would You Like?, starts with an intro, Space Cowgirl, that I actually liked more than MoMoMo, and I wish more of its self-assured, smooth synths carried into the song. I liked parts of some of the songs, like the twinkling piano and extended bridge in Tick Tock, but most of them sounded very similar to other songs I’ve heard, and so didn’t stick out to me all that much. I could name at least five exactly like Take My Breath.

Secret begins the sound that I know from WJSN, still drawing on the poppiness, cutesiness, and high vocals of MoMoMo, but pairing it with more toned-on synths, more pointed voices, and more poised dancing, a combination that would become their staple in the next few years. It’s quite interesting to see it here feeling a little less polished. I totally get why they gained the nickname “Cosmic Girls” now, with all the space inspiration here, and while the song itself is nothing groundbreaking, I really liked that lead-in to the last chorus.

The Secret, the EP, has a couple songs I liked. BeBe leans a bit too far into aegyo for me personally, but I enjoy its boundless energy and catchiness. Also, that harmonizing in the last chorus? Sign me up. I also enjoyed the frizzy electronic background of Robot, which reminded me a bit of an f(x) song, although it felt more restrained than one of theirs.

I Wish has a slightly more funk-inspired opening than Secret, and while it still has the roots of aegyo, I’d say it follows the pattern of their songs slowly getting more mature. Still got the schoolgirl outfits, though. The chorus and its “tell me why” is pretty catchy, I will say, and I appreciated a lot of the MV’s visuals in the social media posts, floating lanterns, and emojis.

From. WJSN’s Say Yes caught my attention with its finger-snapping background and slightly Latin-pop-esque warm acoustic guitar. I thought it provided a good contrast to their very electronic synth-heavy music, and made me appreciate their vocals a lot more, especially Yeonjung and Dayoung. The “juseyo, juseyo” is stuck in my head now, and I’m not mad about it. It makes a great addition to my sleep playlist.

Kiss Me’s intro had me intrigued right off the bat, with its fun surf guitar background, and its continuing through the song made this one stand out. I also liked the harsher hand-clapping percussion mixed with the pop, and that the chorus felt like a much more natural progression of the verses and pre-chorus. Still not a fan of the rapping, which comes out of nowhere, but overall this was a great summer track and it got stuck in my head.

Happy is a return to the bubbly, kind-of sporty concept of MoMoMo that was so popular in mid-3rd gen (Red Velvet’s Happiness, TWICE’s Cheer Up, or Fromis_9’s FUN, for example), and I’d be lying if I said I was as happy to see it as the song wants me to be. I definitely liked the humor and the ultra-saturation of the music video, and ended up laughing a good few times. But overall, I’m not a fan of this concept or this type of song, and this song does nothing to change my mind. Also, I feel like the chorus, though it’s pretty good, doesn’t fit in with the rest of the song. I think it’s the sudden tempo change.

Happy Moment is a full album, so there’s a lot to talk about. I liked the bubbly distortion in Miracle, (honestly I wonder why it wasn’t a single, because it really feels like one), the vocalizing in Mr. BadBoy’s choruses, the minimalistic background of Babyface’s verses, the roller skating rush of Geeminy, and especially the lovely musical catharsis of Closer To You (damn, Yeonjung, what a note to end on!). Again, though, what I really liked were parts and besides Closer To You, I didn’t like any song enough to consider it a hidden gem. I know that Happy leans very much into aegyo, but the names of a lot of these songs felt a bit too babyish even for that, and I don’t think that the album needed to be so long, because so many of its tracks felt like filler. I would rather have a five or six track, great-all-the-way-through EP like, say Sunmi’s Warning or SEVENTEEN’s Haeng-Geurae, than a half-as-good album twice that long.

Dreams Come True, I’m happy to say, builds on the good that both Kiss Me and I Wish started, working in more interesting percussion and more ethereal synths. Funnily enough, it goes so far into understated that I didn’t realize the chorus had started until it was almost over, and while it’s got a good base, I think that it needs a stronger, more obvious hook to turn into a classic. I did really like that delicate bridge, though.

Dream Your Dream, the EP, starts strong with Love O’Clock, which doesn’t bother with a drawn out build-up, instead rushing forward right from the first moment. I liked the harmonizing, the strong drumbeat, and the catchiness. I also enjoyed Renaissance’s swirling and soaring vocals (another b-side that could’ve been a single) and Thawing, despite its odder sound effects, charmed me with its earnestness.

Save Me, Save You was the first WJSN song I heard, and is probably the one that best sums up their style. It starts soft, almost not there in the first verse, then tiptoes its way through the pre-chorus, and with a couple drum beats, that magical chorus takes over and suddenly you’re floating. As mentioned, their songs are often a bit too bubbly or understated for me, but I can acknowledge when a song does its style well, and this one absolutely does. I didn’t even mind the rap! I like the setting of the magic school and the incredibly fast shifting in the eyes between the bridge and the last chorus, but I wish it drew itself out more, to make the best use of that excellent vocalizing.

From WJ Please?, the EP, I really had a good time nodding my head to You, You, You, especially during its bridge and last chorus and I added it to my roller skating playlist. I also enjoyed the hints of flamenco and layered strings in the background of I-Yah, a surprisingly lovely sound for the title. It really reminded me of I Knew It by Sonamoo, one of my favorite Latin-pop inspired K-pop tracks. Masquerade also has a great use of strings, this time combined with a gentle piano, and Hurry Up uses a brightly jazzy beat to add some contrast. These four together absolutely make this my favorite EP so far, which is pretty funny, as all these songs are better than the title.

La La Love’s Carnival setting is interesting, and is the decision to have a pre-chorus that leans into sing-talk. The choice mostly works and doesn’t interrupt the good flow that the song has, and I like the high vocalizing that twinkles around the chorus. On the whole, the song is pretty enjoyable and gentle, but, like I usually do, I wish it had more of a hook that would make it stick in my head. Completely different from the last EP, I didn’t have a hidden gem for this one, though I thought 12 O’Clock was nice.

With how much I liked their last summer comeback, I was excited for Boogie Up. The song is pretty upbeat and on the whole, reminds me of a much more bubbly version of Red Flavor by Red Velvet. It’s catchy, but it has a bit too empty of a chorus for me, and doesn’t innovate on a pretty tried-and-true pop formula enough to stand out. I do like the fun instrumental and the bridge, though. Their bridges are almost always pretty great.

From the EP For The Summer, I honestly really liked the song For The Summer with its bright and flouncy energy (though as I often do, I thought the rap was unnecessary), and the horns were a nice touch. Let’s Dance follows in the stead of WJ Please’s great, Latin-pop inspired b-sides, though I don’t think it’s quite as unique as those.

As You Wish has a very bouncy beat from the beginning, and its excellent electronic sound draws from disco. Its pre-chorus build is great as well, and the chorus delivers, making it both one of my favorite titles so far and what I’m sure will become a fixture on my roller-skating playlists. Its last chorus is delightfully bright, but my favorite part is absolutely that outro, which brings together the vocals and the instrumentals perfectly and should’ve been so much longer. From the EP, also titled As You Wish, I liked the vocal showcase and twinkling piano in Lights Up, and the drumline beat of Don’t Touch.

Butterfly is another song I already knew by WJSN, and its bubbly energy works surprisingly well for me. I think this is the first of their title tracks that has a deeper meaning than an average love song, and I’m very happy to see it. There’s never enough songs about freedom and being yourself, in my opinion. The last chorus’ vocalizations, as often in WJSN’s singles, elevates the song greatly, and its fizzy instrumental brings everything together. The visuals of flowing white dresses and puffy clouds are a great addition too.

From Neverland, while I enjoyed the back and forth, rushing energy of Hola and the string-led instrumentation of Where You Are, my hidden gem was absolutely Pantomime. I first heard it while watching Queendom, and though I do definitely prefer the more 20’s jazz-inspired, more theatrical version from their stage there, there’s still a lot to love here. I especially enjoy how clipped and off-beat it is, setting it apart from WJSN other’s b-sides.

Unnatural is a bit of a darker counterpart to Butterfly, also about not quite fitting into normalcy (hence the title). I really liked the rap in this one, and how well it fit into the tempo. Also, the way the pre-chorus pulls back and then rushes forward is great. I like the more minimalistic instrumentals and how they let the vocals flow and speak for themselves. Overall, I think it’s one of their strongest outings. From Unnatural, the EP, I really liked the mix between WJSN’s high voices and the self-assured tone and beat in Last Dance, though I wish the instrumental was more distinctive.

Last Sequence is, at time of writing, WJSN’s most recent comeback, from a year ago. It also falls into the more minimalistic electro-pop synth style of their last few singles, which of course I’m in favor of. I do feel like the chorus needed more of a lead-in than it has, but besides that, I do really like this one. As always, its bridge is great and so is the lead-in to the last chorus (the yeongwohni, yeongwohni, yeongwohni is stuck in my head now). I didn’t have a hidden gem for this comeback, as it’s only a 3-song single.

I’m glad I did this! Like I said, I didn’t know much about WJSN before this review. But, I’ve learned that they were an important part in making what I now consider a very classic 3rd generation K-pop sound, and their music became the blueprint for many groups afterward. I’ve watched some interviews and had some good laughs, and even seen a couple compilations of their best performances on Queendom. I definitely liked their later music more than their earlier, though, and after hearing their work, I’m sad that they don’t come back nearly as often as they used to.

My Top 5 songs are Butterfly, Last Sequence, Kiss Me, I-Yah, and Hurry Up, with Pantomime as an honorable mention . WJSN gets an 8.25 out of 10 from me. I think that on the whole, their songs are pretty good and there were very few I actively disliked. The biggest issue I face is that I listen to and analyze So. Much. K-pop. (probably thousands of songs by now) and because of that, only the groups that do something unique or innovative, have incredible voices, self-produce, or consistently discuss important subjects in their work really stick with me. WJSN is very talented, but while they have a niche, they don’t really add anything new to what’s been done time and time again.

Next time, I have a very special soloist review coming up, that’s going to come out on December 18th (a day late). If you know your k-pop and my blog, you can probably guess what it is. It’ll be a bit different from a usual review, but I felt like it was time. Tschüss!

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daidonzo · 1 year

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Don't go wasting your emotion

A/N: This is a oneshot of Aguni x Reader/OC. She doesn't have a name, but after seeing this gif of Camila Morrone in Daisy Jones and the Six I couldn't imagine her looking any other way, so I added a description of the character. Feel free to ignore it or substitute her features for whatever you like. •ᴗ•

I based this oneshot on a post by @glooomreach ♡

It's also my first time writing Aguni (definitely not the last), so I hope it's not too bad or too out of character.

Takeru had dragged him to the bar.

'Come on, come on. Just a couple of drinks, it will be fun!'

He had refused, at first, but eventually conceded. Just as his friend knew he would.

The only thing was that on Thursday night, only four types of people went out: the rich and famous, university students, groups of young girls who thought for real that Thursday was the new Friday and the older men wanting to flirt with them.

Where did that leave them?

Aguni sighed, with a beer already in his hand, while Takeru went through the book listing the songs one could choose to sing in the karaoke.

'This one!' He exclaimed, triumphant, his index finger pointing to an ABBA song.

Aguni couldn't help but smile faintly, nodding. The bar would be empty by the time they had finished. They were that good. 'Sure.'

He looked around him while his friend wrote down both of their names and the song title on a piece of paper and gave it to the person in charge of playing the songs of the karaoke.

Just as he had thought, there was almost nobody - just a group of businessmen who were staring, like a starving wild animal, at a table of young girls, sitting close to where the stage was. Four of them. The one further right had short hair and an athletic figure, another had dreadlocks and a blue crop top and the third one looked like she had just left work, a briefcase on the floor by her side. He couldn't see the fourth girl very well, only the back of the white blouse she was wearing and her long dark hair.

'Oh! The next one is going to be great!' Takeru said, clapping his hands together excitedly. Whoever was next would sing Believe, by Cher.

And it was the girl with the long hair and white blouse, who stood up and walked to the stage, her friends cheering her on all the way. Apart from the top, she was wearing flared jeans and brown high-heeled boots.

Aguni couldn't help but think she was beautiful, her eyes big, dark and slanted. Her lips full, a shy smile present in them, while she tried the microphone to check that it worked and adjusted it to her height.

'No matter how hard I try, you keep pushing me aside…' She started, not moving much at first, seemingly nervous, but by the time she sang the chorus, she was jumping and dancing, having gained confidence while she sang. 'Do you believe in life after love!? I can feel something inside me say, I really don't think you're strong enough, no!'

'Yeah, fuck him!' Her friend with the dreadlocks said, loud enough anyone could hear.

'She's quite good.' Takeru nodded towards her, looking impressed. Aguni agreed.

She was not the best singer, but she knew how to pull the audience in. The businessmen were in a frenzy by that time.

She finished her song, and Takeru joined her friends when they started clapping and cheering. Aguni did as well.

She noticed, and flashed a bright, charming smile towards them, mouthing 'Thank you.' before pretending to bow.

'It's our turn! Go, go, go!' Takeru was already standing up.

Both of them grabbed their microphones, making an awful rendition of Lay All Your Love On Me. It may have sounded bad, but both of them gave it their all, singing with a lot more feeling than a cheap karaoke bar on a Thursday night deserved.

The businessmen had turned silent, gone back to their drinks, but the group of girls were cheering them on, clapping and moving their bodies to the rhythm of the music.

The girl with dark hair kept looking at them. No, actually, her eyes were focused on Aguni, her lips curved upwards.

He knew the song from memory (it was their go-to in Karaoke) but almost forgot the lyrics once or twice.

At one point, during the last chorus, she leaned over to her friend in dreadlocks and whispered something in her ear, her eyes still not leaving Aguni. Her friend started going through the book of available songs and apparently found what she was looking for, because she gestured and said something he couldn't hear, clearly thrilled, to the other two.

When the song ended, Takeru and Aguni hugged and patted each other in the back in celebration, laughing. His friend used that moment to whisper to him. 'That brunette couldn't keep her eyes off of you.'

As if summoned, the dark-haired woman lifted her glass at them, still smiling playfully over the rim of it, and took a sip of her drink.

Takeru elbowed him, raising both his eyebrows. He even tried to push Aguni in the direction of the girls, but he was a lot stronger and much more muscular, and didn't even budge.

'She clearly likes you, Aguni.' He said once they were seated again on their table.

'I don't think so. She's just being nice.'

'She is being nice, but she also looks nice and she likes you.'

'Takeru…'

The conversation went on for a few minutes, in which one of the men at another table sang a truly vile cover of Take on me by A-ha that, truth be told, didn't get the same reaction from the young girls. The brunette, especially, used the song as a bathroom break, leaving almost as soon as it started and returning after he was done.

It was her turn again, but this time the whole group went up to the stage.

And the first notes of Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight), also by ABBA, started playing.

'Half-past twelve and I'm watching the late show in my flat all alone. How I hate to spend the evening on my own…' The girl sang, her dark eyes on Aguni's.

Takeru just looked at him, dead in the eye.

'Case closed.'

'Well, maybe…'

'Gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight! Won't somebody help me chase the shadows away?' They all danced out of sync something they had clearly choreographed but not practiced enough. It was still kind of impressive.

The song ended and they went back to their table, all of them laughing.

'If you don't go, I will, and…'

'Okay, fine. I will.'

Aguni shook his head and stood up, Takeru smiling widely and giving him a double thumbs up.

'Go, tiger!'

She was, clearly, very beautiful but she probably was just having a drink with her friends and didn't want a random guy approaching them. Maybe that was just her personality: flirty, playful, confident. He still went to their table, because if not Takeru would have and he preferred to deal with this kind of things his own way.

'Hello…' He started, not really knowing how to approach this. He wasn't used to that kind of stuff. He was struggling to find an amusing way of introducing himself, so he just opened his mouth and trusted his luck. 'Can I invite you to a drink?'

Could have been worse.

The dark-haired woman smiled. She had her arms crossed over her chest, and was rocking her chair onto its back legs. She nodded. 'Of course. Was wondering when you would ask.'

She stood up, and turned around to bid farewell to her friends.

'Don't take too long, some of us have to work tomorrow.' Said the one with the briefcase.

'All of us have to work tomorrow.' The one with the dreadlocks rolled her eyes until only white was visible. 'But some of us…'

Aguni felt the arms of the girl surrounding one of his. 'Let's get out of here, quick, before this ends badly.' She muttered, but she was giggling.

She led him to the bar area, where she ordered some kind of fruity cocktail without alcohol. Aguni just asked for another beer.

She had yet to let go of his arm, which she was still holding.

Aguni was used to fighting. It was part of his training as a SDF officer. But he was not used to receive so many blows conversationally-speaking. She was witty, she was smart, she was clever. He was struggling to get more than a couple of words in without stuttering.

He was extremely disappointed when her friends stood up and gestured at the woman to end the conversation and get ready to leave.

She looked at Aguni, apologetically.

'I'm the designated driver.' She shrugged.

'Ah, no. Don't worry.' He didn't know what else to say.

'Would you like to do this another time?' She asked. She finally let go of his arm (he wished she hadn't) and started looking around in her bag, getting a pen out of it after searching for a few seconds.

She grabbed a napkin and wrote her number, along with the drawing of a heart.

'If you do…' She slid the paper towards him. He realized he had yet to give an answer.

'Yes, yes I would. Like to do this another time.' He added that last part, in case it wasn't clear already.

'Great. I'll… Wait for your call, then?'

She waved goodbye and went back to the other girls.

Takeru suddenly appeared at his side. He pursed his lips in approval.

'Not bad. I told you she liked you. What's her name?'

'I… Didn't get it.'

His friend burst into laughter, but Aguni's eyes were focused on the napkin he was now holding with his right hand.

He might not know her name, but he was determined to find out.

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volterran-wine · 1 year

Text

𝗦𝗡𝗢𝗪𝗙𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝐈𝐕: An Angel of Death || Caius

“Now I am become Death.” ― The Bhagavad Gita

Summary: Caius' hunt for the children of the moon has begun, Felix is tasked with shadowing his every move though he comes to regret it.

Wordcount: 2597 words

!Warnings! This is the goriest thing I have written to date. If you are squeamish I would not recommend reading this. If you have a sensitivity towards animal abuse I would also steer clear seeing as though the werewolves are designed with quite wolfish features; it is easy to imagine a poor wolf.

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Also Available on AO3

𝐄𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲

SOUTHERN GERMANIA, 24 AD

“Listen,”

Hushed yet excited whispers quieted the second he spoke, his fellow hunters gathering around him, eagerly awaiting their orders. Their sixth hunt was soon at hand, over the last weeks he had assembled a hunting party worthy enough to aid in his mission. The excitement of it all glittered in their eyes, wide and bright as if the king were about to quench their thirsts after a hundred day sabbatical. Yes, he had trained them very well, as loyal and vicious as Caius wanted them to be.

Like dogs.

But then there was also Felix, tall and strong; always to his left.

The howls cut through the air as the moon climbed to its highest peak, and though the night was clouded it bathed the forested valley in a sheer glow. Claws gently scraped at the back of his nape, threatening to tear into the flesh at display there. For now the wind worked in their favour, for Caius could smell the rotting fur from their perch. The claws tore at his scalp, yanking his hair, but he resisted. Teeth ground together as he let the anticipation wash over him, shadows swirling at the corner of his eyes.

“Children of the moon,—”

A ridiculous name, but his brother had always had a fondness for theatrics. Had anyone consulted him he would have informed them the beasts did not deserve a name, too mindless for even such a distinction. Now as he listened to their calls he let himself imagine what they possibly could be communicating to one another. The world shifted, and with it the winds changed their direction. He frowned, their scents would carry far. In the distance the howls soured, the pitch reaching an excruciating high as frantic heartbeats joined the symphony. Panic had set in among the pack situated at the bottom of the valley.

“Like they are singing.” he breathed out, shoulders relaxing.

The bliss was short lived however, for another set of wolves joined in the chorus, the beasts foolishly thought sheer numbers would alter the course of fate. From the corner of his eyes he glimpsed a swirling pool of darkness among the trees, waiting for the right moment to strike.

“Kill them.”

—

The sharp yelp always made something twist inside of him.

Felix felt the wolf relax in his grip, life slowly fading away as he lowered the body down to the forest floor; its eyes still trained on the moon that hung above. As he went to stand up he clutched his forearm with a hiss, the animal had left a deep gash that would certainly take the rest of the night to fully heal. A sigh raked his body as he looked beyond the trees.

It had been on Sulpicia’s orders that he had asked to be a member of the hunting party.

Her eyes had swam with fresh tears of rage that night, all on behalf of her dearest sister Athenodora. Caius could no longer be left to his own devices, and either Felix would join every hunt henceforth, or Aro’s wife would find a way to end this once and for all. It was not in his nature to betray his superior, but they all remembered the cracks that had littered Athenodora’s upper arms and ribs. So for the time being he would consider himself the champion of his very own Athena.

After all, killing had always been his talent.

His fellow comrades revelled in the hunt, and Felix saw how they unceremoniously tore the animals limb for limb; there would be nothing left to burn.

Closing his eyes he focused on his surroundings instead, seeking out Caius’ footsteps and quiet muttering through the roaring fires and terrified shrieks. Just beyond his eyesight his comrades were laughing. The group had cornered one of the youngest wolves, toying with it before going in for the kill. With a sneer he listened beyond the ruckus, and there, to the east he could hear the low song his leader had come to hum when he hunted. The sight that met him was the kind he had not even managed to conjure up in the nightmare he experienced as a human.

While Felix had taken down two wolves on his own, his superior had littered the small clearing with the bodies of his enemies. However, there had been no mercy shown to any animal who had crossed the generals path, children of the moon, wolves, deer, rabbits… they all lay in neatly piled heaps. In the midst of it all sat Caius, meticulously skinning the animals. Some of them Felix could even hear draw breath albeit painfully so. As the cheerful humming ended he finally looked at Caius, truly looked at him, and the sight would be one he would never forget in his immortal life.

Hair that had once been pure as snow was now caked with blood, parts dried into lumps beginning to fade into a dark brown. The eyes that stared back at him were devoid of the admirable authority Felix had come to associate with Caius, what was left was a white mask marred by dirt and blood. No words could properly convey what he felt in that moment, but in a split second he let himself mourn the man he had come to know as a mentor. What remained was a violent husk that removed one tooth from every wolf he worked on, only to thread them onto a carefully woven string at his waist. Caius wanted his men and enemies alike to understand what he was capable of.

Felix had to look away from it all as the sound of bones breaking filled the clearing, eyes downcast to a doe who lay mangled at his feet.

Their eyes, what had Caius done to their eyes?

Felix’s cloak had been brand new, but no longer did he remember if the brilliant hue of crimson was due to excellent craftsmanship, or the blood that tainted it when he fell to his knees.

—

“We are on the precipice of greatness.” Caius began, all eyes on him once more. He had brought them to the clearing that now proudly presented the spoils they could bring home to mate and family alike. Every vampire would shoulder a new wolf pelt before winter set in. The stench of death and cinders excited him, a smile playing at his lips when he continued his address;

“We have hunted and starved these beasts to near extinction near our borders. They flee north and east, and we shall hunt them there too, until no diseased creature of the moon exists in our world. For no vampire can be safe as long as they live. These beasts feast on human flesh with gluttonous abandon, no better than the Dacian scum we seek to eradicate. We shall break their jaws, hack off their furs and orphan their young so they may face starvation. And all will know who it was who purged the world of this plight.”

He made a brief pause before he continued, looking to the starry skies, eyes alight with joy

“ Tonight we,—”

A silence fell upon the clearing, for Caius’ throat had closed up. His ferocity dwindled as he took in the scene before him. On the cliff they had occupied earlier in the night stood a great black beast, eyes blood red as it stared at him, presenting its teeth and showing a maw filled with yellow rot. Once more Caius felt those claws dig into his shoulders, jagged edges sawing into his crystallised flesh until it reached his very bones. Once more he saw those images of hearth and home consumed in darkness.

One remained.

The hunting party followed his line of sight, turning back to Caius with confusion in their eyes, looking to him for guidance on how to proceed with the great wolf. How pathetic, he had trained them himself and now they stood before him, the stench of fear spoiling their scents. Just as Caius was about to chastise them for their lack of reaction the beast turned and ran.

No rest,

No hesitation,

Caius pounced.

Two guards were thrown to the wayside as he barreled through his men, both crying out before howling in pain at broken limbs and torn muscles. Their general paid them little mind as his eyes focused on the horizon that now bled crimson, into those murky depths the wolf had disappeared and he would find it .Though Felix shouted for him to return, he did not listen.

For how far he ran he did not know, the trees blurring as he clumsily made his way down the valley. The wolf was just ahead, fumbling through the darkness and leading him farther down the hill. In a moment of weakness his prey fell, awarding him enough time to latch on to the fur, a victorious roar ringing out through the forest as Caius dug his fingers into the thick coat of the beast.

In that moment his ears began ringing, a terrible rumble that pulsated throughout his head. The earth beneath his feet crumbled, until there was no solid ground for Caius to stand on. Above him the trees caved, free falling and forcing both him and his prey to the ground. A choked shout tore its way from his lungs, but that was when the darkness descended upon the two of them. Due to sheer instinct Caius clutched the beast in his arms, face hidden away in the damp fur that smelled of copper and something else. The world was closing in, hell bent on burying him in this tomb of earth and darkness. Still, all Caius could truly focus on was the beast, unmoving as it tumbled with him until they both came to a halt.

It was finally quiet.

Even with his superior eyesight Caius could see nothing but darkness and one red eye, the other half of the beast’s head had split open, its insides bared for him to stare at for an eternity. It did not take long for the maggots and worms to crawl into the cadaver.. He felt a sense of grief wash over him, this would not be considered his kill. Dirt filled his lungs as Caius hacked and coughed, fingernails desperately cutting through the stone and earth without moving an inch. The beast was still scorching hot, and judging by the wetness on his fingers, it had been torn open by either him or the elements that had buried them.

The scream he let out would only be for Gaia to hear.

—

It was Felix who found the two of them.

He had split open the very earth itself in order to dig him out from what surely could have been his end. And as Caius rose he still clutched the rotting beast to his chest, fingers digging into the fur so firmly he pierced its skin. There must have been no way to discern where Caius began and the beast ended, for his guards eyes could not focus. Darting from his legs to his head in a bewildered manner.

Besides them Felix had put down a torch, its harsh light not illuminating much of their surroundings. But Caius could see well enough that the area had been drastically changed, for great rocks and mud clung to the side of the valley along with broken trees. In the distance he could see how his men had begun creating pyres, an observation that made him drop the broken creature that was nestled in his arms.

“ Caius,—”

“Not a word of this to anyone Felix.”

“Why are you,—”

The question died on his executioner's lips, for Caius wrenched the torch from its place and threw it at the corpse that lay beneath him. Fire quickly engulfed the beast, its fur searing as it curled in on itself, releasing a pungent smell into the air.

“We wait until it is gone.”

Felix’s silence spoke louder than words, he would stay with his general until the very last trace of the beast was gone from this world. And though his expression was one of disgust and confusion, Caius could not bring himself to care for the other vampire in that moment. The two of them watched until the fire was but an ember in the night, fog rolling into the valley as Caius finally felt like he could breathe properly. They stood there for what felt like an eternity, until the general finally felt his body bend to his will.

—

Their return was met with little fanfare, Caius noted how some of his men had even escaped into the night, there would be no mercy shown to deserters. The two of them came to a halt atop the cliff he had seen the beast on in the first place, the very thought of those red eyes sent a shiver down his spine. Snow no longer tumbled down around them, instead the sky had taken on a sickly red hue that made it difficult to assess the aftermath of what had taken place. Some of his trophies had been carried away by the slide, honouring the beasts with a burial they did not deserve. His expression soured as he took a deep breath to calm his nerves, once more he felt sharpened claws dig into his neck.

Nothing of this night would be brought back to Volaterrea.

“Hack their limbs off, count them and set it all ablaze.”

“Sir—”

“ Felix. ”

Though his back was turned to the guard Caius could sense on the soft breeze that Felix had straightened up, shoulders square and tense. The man had followed Caius as a loyal hound since he whisked him away from the fighting pits, and he would not tolerate insubordination — not tonight. A firm nod was all the king needed as confirmation, his second would make sure that every single one of the mangled bodies would go up in smoke. Another shift in the air and Felix was gone, joining his fellow guards below as Caius looked out across what remained of the forest.

Caius peered over the edge of the cliff, though a fog had enveloped the forest in a mournful shroud he could make out how his guards prepared to perform their duties. Flint and Iron struck, sparks dancing as his guards kept a safe distance; torches prepared. Just as the fire took hold the fog finally parted and the full moon now hung low in the sky. Its eerie red hue made every scar of his itch and burn, how Caius had grown to detest the moon. Soon enough the sound of flesh and bone being torn apart filled the air, what remained of the beasts seared on the open fires as their existence was reduced to nothing.

The pyres multiplied, spreading through the forest as guiding lights for the forlorn and dispossessed.

But here they would only find death.

—

Caius hunted the werewolves for decades, a man obsessed with his thirst for violence, torture and death; one he was unable to quench no matter how much blood stained his hands. Perhaps it had been the moirai who had spun their threads and guided him to a new purpose in death, but the brutal king would never dwell on it for long ― for the high of victory clouded his senses until the world was stained with the blood of the moon's children.

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞; Thank you so much for your patience.

#Caius Volturi #Caius Volturi Imagine #Twilight #Snowfall Saga #TW Blood #TW Body Horror #TW Gore #TW Violence #Dead Dove Do Not Eat

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obb-z-scene · 9 months

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RIProducer's "Pyrite Girl" reminds me of Rick!!

TW mental health and suicide discussion

NOT PROOFREAD IF SOMETHING DOESNT MAKE SENSE IM SORRY

Analysis below. I'm working from the end to the beginning because I said so.

This is the end..chorus? Christ I'm in choir I should know this. Anyways, something about this just screams his mental state. Not all of it, but a lot of it. It showcases how he's both a huge ass egoist and extremely self loathing. Him just knowing he's destroying himself and that he's going bonkers, but also fully deluding himself into thinking that he IS God and is untouchable when in reality he will break any moment now. It also ties into the irony of the title Pyrite girl, which is also known as "fools gold" due to being mistaken as gold for its colour. His "shield of gold" is really a fake protector.

Him putting up protective emotional walls so he does not get attatched again. Probably after Diane's death, and possibly also from being betrayed by Prime in their partnership/relationship? I'm unsure where their relation to eachother will actually lead canonically but I've read some interesting theory posts and it's got me convinced a lil bit so I'm adding this.

He oh so badly wants to be understood and comforted but he doesn't have anyone anymore because they all either left or betrayed him. (Let's push Squanchy and BP aside for the sake of convenience I'm tired) and this will soon turn into a need to hide the vulnerable parts of himself away.

Ricks response to Prime's betrayl, "you left me covered in gold" implying that Rick is the reason he is the way he is today. His anger is new but so is his grief, and it hits so very hard. ("don't you try me! Don't take it lightly!" And "I'm broken, yet somehow, still alive.")

"I've been pulverized for the past five thousand five hundred days." References his endless hunt for Prime. It's exhausting and killing him so badly, example "you shattered my mind one thousand times.", but he's counting every single day to torture himself because he can't keep failing his family. This can also be backed by how the AI in his old house taunts him so horribly, and he even fucked with the time in that dimension just so he could suffer and continue to look with a constant agonizing reminder.

This mainly just reminds me of all the enemies and allies he's made but there's also an actual point here. The people in his life that love him want to try and fix him in their own way. People like Birdperson and Morty. Probably even short term partners, not-seen-in-canon-friends, and probably Unity too when it broke things off. It realized it could not fix someone that wants to stay broken. And Rick does need support, he needs his big support system because he's been so lonely for so long. But without him putting the work in himself, not much can be done. I actually read a fanfiction where Unity had used some sort of mind control to make Rick pass out before he killed himself, and I think that was really smart but also sad. It knows it can't jeopardize it's own health to be around him, he is toxic and infectious like the plague. He seeps into every person around him to survive, but it sees the humanity in him.

In conclusion, the song can be seen as Ricks fall into...himself. or a fake self, someone he shouldn't have been. You can also just think all of this is bullshit and that's okay too. This song is really good and it's story is both a thinker and easy to place at the same time! I hope I made sense and that my tired almost-4-AM brain didn't make you want to retake kindergarten. Feel free to pm me or comment whether you just wanna tell me how your day was or you want to discuss this more. :)

-Ozzy

#riproducer #pyrite girl #rick and morty #r&m #song analysis #character analysis #correlating two things that don't fit #like me and social skills #mental health #rick sanchez #rick sanchez analysis #morty smith #birdperson #squanchy #Spotify

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adleryoung · 1 year

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"This here plan is gettin too dang convoluted!" Burnside protested, brandishing her machete. "Just send me out to stab somebody. It'll be simple. I can just go out, gut everyone who gets in my way, save the dumb baker femme that you ain't never even laid eyes on nor spoken to so it's a wonder you care about her at all, an drag Didelphis back here for judgement. I'll get it all done in one night. There ain't a lowfolk born that can get the drop on me. The Ixies can bet on it."

"I don't like it," I objected.

"If you're so doggone worried about bein' Seelie, just remember it ain't Unseelie to stab somebody if he deserves it."

"No stabbing!" I insisted.

"Fine, I can slash instead."

"That's a bad idea," I persisted, "for the same reason that nailing headless torsos to trees is a bad idea. It may inspire fear but it also draws attention and will cause mass outrage that will spread and bring all the lowfolk on this island right to these woods, with torches and pitchforks. If it turns out this situation requires assassination, and I really hope it doesn't, it would have to be done cleanly, precisely, and secretly so it cannot be traced back to me or my coven. I do not want my organization associated with sloppy and wasteful mass murder!"

"You sounded almost like Ash for a second there," Burnside grinned as she lowered her machete. "All right, I can wait."

I scowled at Burnside for a moment, then directed my attention to the witches.

"All right, all right," I called. "If everyone could please focus and answer my question: Is Didelphis worth saving?"

"Um, no way," Gretchen declared. "She's trying to get us all killed. She's proven herself to be a mean and selfish old hag that doesn't care about any of us. Throw her under the ant-coach, I say."

"She was a pretty crappy coven leader," Petunia added. "She promised us dark power beyond our wildest dreams, but every meeting we would spend a few minutes looking at the same grimoire, and the rest of the night listening to her rant about baking and how much she hated Oonagh. Letting her get burned by an angry mob is probably karma or something. Nothing of value would be lost."

"I don't really like the idea of anyone being killed," Chloe shrugged, "but saving her would only give her another chance to betray us again."

"I'm disappointed with all of you," Rebecca scowled. "Didelphis must be saved."

"What? Why?" the other witches asked in chorus.

"Didelphis represents what all of us could end up being," Rebecca explained. "Especially me. She was a social outcast who spent so much time wallowing in her darker aspects that she eventually believed that was all there was to her. Think about it! She's actually proud of the fact that she's a hideous, mad crone. If I hadn't met Lord Randall, that's exactly what I would have become. I was on that path, but now I'm on a different one and I can hardly wait to share with you what I've learned. If we all get a chance at a happier life, then Didelphis should too. I volunteer to pose as Didelphis like our lord said. I know her better than the rest of you, because I always arrived for coven meetings early, and stayed late to help her around the house and maybe get more pointers on being a witch. I think I can imitate her mannerisms convincingly enough."

That wasn't good. I didn't want to risk my organization's most valuable member (next to Vernier of course) but it would be a mistake to blurt that out in front of the other witches. Plus, I was 99 percent sure Rebecca was an elf, so telling untruths would be a problem for her. It could damage her emerging magickal ability.

I was just about to say something, when an Ixie buzzed up to me and gave a salute.

"Sire, I have more information. There is in fact a ring-leader whipping the rabbit mob into a frenzy. They call him Parson. As best we can tell, he careth not if Didelphis's story is true. He seemeth to be doing this merely to strengthen his influence in the rabbit village. We have also learned that there will be a jury for the trial. Oonagh is popular enough in the town, they were willing to give her that much. If the rest of the coven cannot be found in two days time, then the trial commenceth without them."

Pretty suspenseful, eh? This seems like a good place to pause. I need to take a short break to moisten my throat. In the meantime, why not be like the Ixies and place bets on the coming sequence of events. How do you think I handled this situation? Did Didelphis survive? Did Oonagh?

Discuss among yourselves while I hunt down a decent bottle of wine.

#furry #adventure #elves #story #plot #cartoon #witches #tboay

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ultimate-msleading-simp · 1 year

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Maniac Ramblings of an Antimai Enjoyer

Hi hihHhii okay so. I (one of the ops of this account) did a sin called going on Twitter and doom scrolled for around 3 hours because I didn’t want to do my essay in like December last year. I have been seething for a month now with the Twitter’s cruelness to Antimai so I am now going to crucify myself in the name of Antimai. Or… here is my opinion/review of Antimai. BY NO MEANS IS THIS AN OFFICAL REVIEW!! (it's also barely peer read, it really is ramblings)

Basic rankings:

C - LoTown.

B - Poverty, Industry, Luxury and Nature.

A - Middle Class and Patrol.

S- Tower.

The whole album opinion

Love this album. I’m one of the newbies to The Dear Hunter, so this was the first full album I listened to (maybe Act V first? I don’t remember). I thought it was incredibly groovy and I love the concert/brass instruments when done correctly - which it definitely was here! I love a mixture of genres, pace and themes in music too, Antimai hitting all of those boxes very nicely. One of my favourite things to think about for this album is the pronoun usage, but that is because I’m incredibly excited for Sunya and like to look to see what narrative could be transferred over to the next album. My overall rating? Like 9/10, I would never do my dishes without Antimai. It only loses one point because I can never escape Patrol.

Ring 8 - Poverty

Preface for all the other songs, Imma say they all SLAP me real good, love them, 10/10. Poverty, while I don’t find any absolute melting love for the lyrics alone, the way they are set up is honestly brain melting. I highly enjoy how the song flows, especially the chorus with the instrumental, some gnarly music mixin’ there and I tip the hat to the funny dear men for that one. The music alone however, is something to appreciate fully. I always thought the tone of the music did not match the tone of the lyrics and that was odd to me - am I mad about it? No :). I love how jazzy and involuntarily dancy the music is and I can’t help but do a lil boogie… even if I’m on the edge of a mental breakdown from having to read my fourth short story in 3 days!

Ring 7 - Industry

Pretty whacky boy here. It gives a good idea of how important technology is to Antimai though - since there is a whole ring dedicated to industrial business. I am incredibly neutral on the actual sound of this song? I can say I do enjoy it when I listen to it, but I don’t always pull an experience from it like I do with some of the other tracks on this album. One thing I always remember is how much I love the delivery of the line “you were up in the pantheon,” it brings me joy and I don’t know why, let me live in brain rot I beg. This song lore wise is very important for setting up the rest of the album. Middle class, Patrol and Luxury wouldn’t have the same level of understanding if we lacked Industry. In conclusion on this one since my thoughts on it is clearly a disorganised mess, I think it has a very nice sound to it, still down to get funky with the sound and it’s a doormat for the rest of the album to welcome you in.

Ring 6 - LoTown

My least favourite out of the whole album. Doesn’t mean I hate it, just kinda?? Wow?? Farm people?? Epic?? Slammin trumpets though and the held note at the end is executed immaculately. I am obviously a biassed person and I’ll admit I have a slight bias against slower songs - that could be why it is marked so low in my mind. One kudo I will give to this song is the build-up and release between verses-chorus, always makes a song so much more enjoyable when some dynamic spice is added.

Ring 5 - Middle Class

I love this song to death, I have one gripe with it. It scares the ever living shit out of me whenever it randomly comes on when I have shuffle on. This song is a fresh ass gold mine when it comes to analysing lyrics. Almost all of the lyrics in this song have double meanings and important shards of lore that we need to put together to truly uncover what Antimai is. For literal, in world meanings, the Middle Class lets us see into the culture of Antimai directly; we get insight on how the religion functions in practice, the exploitation of it and the labour of all the people below Ring 5. For the double meaning and reflection on the real world, it can apply to a lot of the middle class people who are living in some form of comfortable privilege. The music to the song is also just a full jam session so it’s always a funky little time when that part comes around, love the grooves!!

Ring 4 - Patrol

If I could meet God face to face, full eye contact I would ask one thing only. To be freed of the beginning riff of this accursed song. I could be in full meltdown sobbing time and this stupid song comes on and I feel the scraps of amusement I can muster taking over my body in the form of the happiest disappointment. Most people feel it is a very “slap you in the face” type of song. The lyrical meanings are literally thrown at your feet, and it’s not much of a analytical exercise in regards to theme, but I forgive it because I feel as though I’m in a 80s-90s mall and the damn mall cop is following me around because I have the audacity to wear a backpack into Winners or something. The song does however finally introduce one of the biggest themes of Antimai - which is p o w e r !!!! and subsequently, the power of power (in regards to corruption). I think using an officer going down this path as the literary tool to display this is a smart move - especially in the language switch between choruses. While this individual has gained power, they also lost their identity, only referring to themself as “we” towards the end. Great song, love that stupid melody even if it does haunt me when I’m trying to focus in my grown up college classes.

Ring 3 - Luxury

The absolute unit of this song. The power it holds in single handedly parting this fandom like its the red sea. I am on the side of … it’s alright? I can slightly agree with a lot of the people not enjoying the first part of luxury (Hall of the Guides?? I guess?). I however, think a fast paced, word vomiting verse is very fitting for the people Casey is trying to show us. These people (more like… gross “not snails or robots” things)... are horrible, they have no regard for the safety of the people below them. A rap is perfect for a type of meeting between people who plan to dilute themselves further into a greedy madness - any other type of genre would feel too slow or soft. To me the chorus of the first part also slaps hard and I wanna boogie to it. The second part is where things look up in my opinion. I love the smoothness that contrasts the first part - while still egotistical and straight discriminatory towards the lower classes, it presents itself differently; The way the lyrics are sung almost remind me of how the lyrics in Tower seem to flow into each other. Personally I have not analysed The Cream of the Crop too much lyrically, I just really love that one small part just before the outro cha-cha slide like imposter… I can’t help but feel like I have my head out of a window, moving at rapid speeds and going somewhere!! Where?? IDK!! The lyrics tell me not to!! (Add-on, also interesting at the use of very aggressive cussing?? The dear boys don’t use that language too often in the music, so it’s a little important to show how these not snail or robot things just really suck ass.)

Ring 2 - Nature

oooOOoohoh talking treeesssss,,.,. I do love this song though. It is short and sweet compared to the unit of the last song, but it tells the story it needs to tell. This one I’m focusing more on the tone of music and the thematic importance of this song. Nature definitely really fits the theme it laid down for itself. The music feels like I’m in a forest or some prairie type setting and a feeling of belonging and harmony (especially at the beginning), it’s just a cozy song! The theme is the key importance to this song however, explaining the nature of humans and how we exploit resources for unjustified reasons. I argue this song is very peaceful for the most part, but I swear this song hosts the most menacing line to ever exist. The outro is very well done, but the lyrics and how they are sung feels definitely like there is a horrible, ominous presence above them - and it will hurt you. IT IS NOT NO WORRIES AND THERE IS NO LAUGHTER. Considering what bitch we’re about to be introduced to, I say it’s a good vibe to end it on.

Ring 1 - Tower

So when I first listened to Tower on July like… fourth, I have been consumed. My immediate impression was that this lil rich kid singing to me right now was trying to be a Regina George wannabe and writing his unchecked power high in his dream diary with a pink gel pen with a fuzzy pom-pom on the end of the pen, probably owns some rare monster high collectable dolls or something. I am incredibly biassed when it comes to loving this song - I am weak in the knees to queer coded villains and this man was oozing and dripping LGBTQIA+ vibes - while simultaneously seeming like the biggest homophobe ever - I beg of you to relisten to Tower with the lens of queer, no one says power like that who isn’t into BDSM. Moving on past bashing the emperor of Antimai viciously, the song itself is important thematically - as well as the way the song sounds. Tower is already a song built off of an important motif from The Indigo Child - which already makes me think we have an argument behind the abuse of religion and the abandoning (?? in some places ??) of religion (in some people) back to either this current Emperor or others before him (I am referencing verse 3 mostly). I also see this song as a slight foil to other songs, as mentioned in a review done by another person (James Fenny) It has a very different sound than the rest of them. The other songs use brass and concert instruments as the main sound, while Tower is almost solely based in synths - excluding the outro. It could not be important to any overall story, but I do think that fact is quite neat and it makes me love Tower a little more… it stands out musically and literally.

#the dear hunter #tdh #I am very crinkly after writing this #I need more fanta now #or dinner #I haven't made myself dinner

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rubykgrant · 1 year

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(part of my Wash story again; this is going to fit as information that fills-in previously unseen events, and also as backstory for parts of the interviews. I’ve adjusted this a bit, so some of the info will go with Wash talking to Andrews, but right here is the process of Wash getting stuck with the Reds and Blues, and ending with finding themselves on Chorus...)

Wash was incapable of sleeping-in, to a certain point. Maybe if he felt like he could actually relax, he’d just stay in bed for a while… but he’s a weird kind of frustrated while still feeling burnt-out. He doesn’t really have anything to do around here, but he can’t sleep, and if he waits too long, everybody else will be up and about.

He doesn’t really want to deal with that.

So, at 5-something in the morning (he doesn’t have a clock, he just knows it sure isn’t 6 yet), Wash snuck out of his room and into what had become the “kitchen”. Really, it was some kind of infirmary, but since it was fairly clean with lots of storage space, a couple of tables, and a large cooler, they were using it as a kitchen. The Reds had some other deal going on in their “base”, and from all the over-heard shouting, Wash had to assume Grif built some kind of fort around their food supply (and wouldn’t share the password), while Sarge was still trying to grow “turbo-potatoes”.

It was quieter over here, with the Blues… well maybe that was because there was only two of them. Or three, if you counted Wash. Crap, he doesn’t want to think about all that this early (why somebody was gone, what that meant, how he could possible fit in), he just wants some cereal.

Wash got himself some cereal.

He had to limp a little, still tender and hurt after everything that happened (nope, too early to think about all that, too. Getting run-over by the reds, being betrayed by the Meta… or maybe betrayed by Maine… and if that was the case, had Wash betrayed Maine first, or had it all begun during Project Freelancer? Never mind. He was hurt and hungry). He found a bowl, poured in the little cereal bits (he took some from the plain box, because Caboose had written “DON’T TOUCH!!!” on the sugar-frosted box. Caboose had also stuck lots of colorful stickers on it, but that just seemed to be for fun). Wash added some milk, then put it back the cooler. When he turned around, there was Tucker. Wash just about SCREAMED, but somehow managed to simply let out a choked gasp in surprise.

They both had their full armor on. Normal for Wash, but Tucker evidently liked sleeping naked, and sometimes came out of his room with nothing but underwear on. Sometimes not even that. Also, unless something prompted him, Tucker mostly slept in until 8 or 9. So… Tucker had maybe heard Wash get up, put on his suit, and walked out as well? Except, it took a minute or two when it came to getting everything together. It seemed more likely that Tucker had been up FIRST, fully dressed, and waiting for Wash. That was… a little unnerving.

Wash shook off that feeling. He wasn’t afraid of Tucker. Big deal, he was up early with his armor on, and managed to sneak-up on a former Freelancer. It wasn’t like Tucker was a “threat”. Wash walked over and sat down on a stool by the table. His bowl of cereal was a short distance away, but easily within arm’s reach.

“Well, you’re up early…” Wash made a mild attempt at small-talk. “Any reason, or-”

“Just had a powerful urge,” Tucker answered. “And I’m not talking about morning wood. Bow-chicka-”

“Gross,” Wash was getting sick and tired of hearing bow-chika-this and bow-wow-that. “If you’ve got enough energy to wake up and make comments like that, why don’t you go run laps or something…”

“Oh, I’m sorry, was that an order? Because last time I checked, we’re not really in the military, and you aren’t really our leader,” Tucker had his hands on his hips, all cocky and sarcastic. Damn it, Wash just wanted some cereal, not this weird a soap opera! Also, what the heck? Tucker had been specifically leaving him ALONE for days.

“FINE, you don’t need to take orders from me, but can you just-” Wash tried again, only to be cut off.

“That’s right I don’t,” Tucker said dismissively.

“But can you just!” Wash pressed on. “Find something productive to do? This place is a mess, maybe you could clear out some of the storage rooms so we have more space…”

“Aw, poor Washy! Are the accommodations not to your liking? Does this not meet your high standards? Maybe you’d feel more at home in PRISON. Y’know, with the all the OTHER people locked-up for murder…”

Wash was stunned.

“I-I didn’t- Donut didn’t die, I didn’t kill any of you, I didn’t-” Wash wasn’t sure how much Tucker knew about him, about his past, what he’s done before… before…

“What, you just wearing that armor because light-blue is the new black?”

Oh. Church. Alpha. Epsilon as well.

Had Caboose told him? Or Epsilon, at some point? Maybe the Reds? Well, it didn’t matter who or how. The end result was; Tucker hated him. Suddenly, Wash remembered that Tucker had held his own in the desert, out-numbered and in a constant struggle to stay alive. Tucker had survived a fight with the Meta, and Tucker also had his laser sword. Tucker… was potentially a threat. Not only that, but a threat with a very justified vendetta.

Wash wasn’t sure how to respond; while he was better trained for combat, he was still injured and didn’t really like the idea of having a brawl with Tucker first thing in the morning. Part of his brain tried to conjure up an outrageous lie, something that would deflect blame, deny his guilt, excuse his actions…

Before Wash could speak, Tucker slowly reach out his left hand, touching one finger to Wash’s cereal bowl. Without turning his helmet or saying a word, Tucker began to walk toward the door that lead out of the kitchen/infirmary, sliding the bowl along the length of the table as he did so. It was impossible to see the other man’s face behind the visor, but Wash could imagine a very intense look in Tucker’s eyes. With absolutely no hesitation, Tucker pushed the cereal over the edge. The plastic bowl clattered on the floor, milk and cereal spilling and splattering everywhere. Tucker just kept walking.

Wash sighed, and sat there looking at his breakfast on the floor for maybe 20 minutes. He could just leave it. Let the milk turn and grow mold right there on the floor, wait for Tucker to step in it and feel the YUCK. That would serve him right. Except…

Except for what Wash had done before; the way he had let things slip by during Project Freelancer, the way he had been so ruthless with South, the way he had lead the Alpha AI to his doom, and most recently, the way he had tried to tear apart all the Reds and Blues. Wash has ignored things before, either because he felt like he had to follow orders, or because he felt like he was backed into a corner and with a right to lash out. Conditioned to be less compassionate, and tricking himself into thinking he was justified to show no mercy. This mess of food on the floor was nothing compared to all the other problems in Wash’s life, but it somehow seemed like yet another domino falling down. A few of those dominos weren’t his fault, but he couldn’t deflect all the blame, deny all the guilt, or excuse all his actions.

Wash has been here with the Reds and Blues for a while now, but except for Caboose, he’s been trying to keep to himself, and nobody else has really been too enthusiastic about spending time with him. If Wash just went on ignoring everybody, he’d also ignore those upsetting thoughts about what he’s done, and what it all means. Part of him didn’t want to feel any remorse or regret, because that just made everything more difficult, he couldn’t even eat a stupid bowl of cereal without having an ethical dilemma, he just wants to ignore it, ignore it, ignore it, ignore it...

Wash cleaned up the mess, got himself a new bowl of cereal, then took a nap, and went to see what the Reds were yelling about today (Sarge had demolished Grif’s fort, and in response, Grif had put a bunch of Bengay in Sarge’s helmet). It wasn’t until later in the day, Wash realized what he could have said to Tucker in the kitchen- “I’m sorry”.

He felt stupid. No way an apology would fix what happened, but hell… if you do something wrong, you apologize. If you really mean it, you try to do better. That was going to be a lot more difficult than cleaning up cereal and milk. It would be easier to just leave, go on the run, and hide. If he just turned himself in to the authorities, then he’d get what he deserved and be locked up forever. Both of those seem like the most extreme responses he’d make in the past, acting like he had no choice, being either selfish or apathetic. Maybe what Wash really needs to do is stay here, because in a VERY odd way… being around these absurd people seemed to help him think clearly.

A few weeks go by, Wash heals, and he keeps expecting another confrontation with Tucker.

Nothing happens.

Well, actually, Tucker becomes slightly less standoffish, but still not entirely friendly. Which was fair, all things considered. Wash thinks about trying to bring up the topic himself, but he doesn’t know how. “Hey, remember your dead best friend? The first Church you knew? Yeah, I’m sorry about getting him killed”. That would go over GREAT. On top of that, Wash was still very aware of the fact that Tucker could just… kick him out. Would anybody argue to let Wash stay? Hell no. Wash was lucky Tucker hadn’t stabbed him with the laser sword in his sleep.

“Hello Agent George Washington!” Caboose greeted him outside the base one afternoon.

“Hi, Caboose. It’s, uh- just Wash, remember?” Wash gave him a small wave. Caboose was another strange situation; he spoke to Wash cheerfully, but also had a habit of just… looming behind Wash somewhere, staring at him. Wash knew it was partly because he was in the pale-blue armor, and Caboose missed both Alpha and Epsilon. Wash also suspected Caboose had some sore feelings of his own.

“I remember lots of things,” Caboose said, which sounded OMINOUS AS SHIT, but Wash decided not to call attention to that. Instead, he kept working on his current task. “But I don’t remember what you’re up to?”

“Oh, um, I found a storage crate that had supplies for surviving in the field… basically, camping gear. There’s an electric skillet in here I thought we could use in our kitchen, then we won’t have to cook everything outside in that fire-pit Sarge made,” Wash explained. “I’m just gathering up all the other stuff we could use inside,”

“Ooh, then we can have an indoor campout! We can set up a tent, and make s’mores, and tell stupid Tucker he’s not invited, but then he’ll get all jealous and want to join the fun, so I guess I’ll let him, and THEN-”

“Woah, Caboose! Uh, I don’t think- that’s probably not a good idea. Just do the camping thing with Tucker, and I’ll- I’ll leave you both alone…” Wash tried to settle him down before he got too carried away.

“How come?” Caboose asked.

“I just think it would be better… I mean, he already doesn’t like me, I don’t need to piss him off. He’ll finally just call the cops on me or something,” Wash answered, looking down at the crate. For a moment, both men were quiet. Wash figured the conversation was over, but evidently Caboose was just thinking something through.

“HEY TUCKER!” Caboose suddenly yelled.

“YEAH?” came the reply from somewhere inside the base.

“IF WASH PISSES YOU OFF, ARE YOU GOING TO CALL THE COPS ON HIM?”

“NAH! FUCK THE POLICE!”

“See?” Caboose happily turned back to Wash.

Seriously? Just like that? Wash couldn’t understand the train of thought EITHER of them had.

“Fine, but… he still hates me, and I don’t blame him. I’m not going antagonize on purpose,” Wash insisted.

“Tucker just doesn’t know how to not hate you yet. See, before I met them and became Church’s BEST friend, it was just Alpha and Tucker in Blood Gulch. Even though they didn’t like it there, they still had fun talking and yelling and stuff. When we all had to leave, Tucker missed Church a LOT, like- almost as much as I missed him. And Tucker didn’t get to see Alpha again before you took him away. Now Alpha can’t come back anymore, like he used to. You’re here, but Alpha’s gone,” Caboose spoke in a pleasant tone, but Wash had the same feeling as that morning with Tucker. Caboose could be very… intimidating.

“When Tucker met Epsilon, he didn’t want to like another Church, but then he did, because every Church is always very cool. So now that Epsilon is gone, Tucker feels bad about not being nicer to him. Tucker doesn’t want to like you, either… but I think YOU also feel bad… you should have been nicer to Alpha. And Epsilon. And ALL of us. I think Tucker knows if you had been nicer, he probably wouldn’t hate you… and he’s mad at Church for being gone, but since Church isn’t here, Tucker can’t yell at him about it. So he just keeps feeling bad…” Caboose took a small container from Wash, which held several items Wash had collected, and began walking back into the base. Wash grabbed a second container and followed, utterly in awe of everything Caboose was telling him.

“That’s why I’m gonna tell him he’s not invited to go camping inside. He’ll be mad at first, but then he’ll have fun. I have to trick him into talking and yelling again, like we used to do in Blood Gulch. Otherwise, Tucker will keep acting like he’s all alone, under the sand… when you’re unhappy all the time, you start being mean to other people, and you’ll also be mean to yourself. I’m going to remind Tucker that he can still be nice. Even if he IS a stupid jerk,” Caboose put the box down on the same table where Tucker had ruined Wash’s breakfast, dug around for one of the tent tarps, and then triumphantly took it into the “living room” (it was really an office meant for somebody high-ranking, but since it had a couch, it was used as a shared space to relax).

Wash slowly started putting other things away in the kitchen. What just happened? That had been very unnerving, sensing Caboose’s disdain for what Wash had done, but it had also been… rather profound. Still, Wash couldn’t help but wonder why Caboose even bothered to be vaguely sympathetic toward him. Wash had done the guy no favors in the past. Caboose should hate his guts. Tucker should go ahead and call somebody to come and arrest Wash. The Reds should come over here and just shoot him, as pay-back for Donut. He should be dead, not Alpha. He should just… leave.

Wash doesn’t leave. He does try to give Caboose and Tucker plenty of space, so he stays in his room while they camp inside, like a couple of kids having a slumber-party. Tucker keeps loudly reminding Wash that he is NOT invited, and at first Wash doesn’t respond, then yells back that he doesn’t CARE, and finally it is after midnight, Tucker and Caboose are having a violent “pillow fight” with the couch cushions, it sounds like they just broke something, Wash storms out of his room and tells them to SHUT UP, and they both immediately gang-up on him, he winds up on the floor buried under a pile of cushions and pillows with Caboose sitting on top while Tucker laughs.

The next day, Grif found his way into Caboose and Tucker’s tent, claiming it as a new nap spot. Simmons evidently tagged along to hide from Sarge, who was trying to get Simmons to permanently change the tint on all their image displays so everything would be RED, and also get red paper with red ink for their printers (“Sir, we won’t be able to read anything!”). When they wouldn’t leave, Wash went and told on them to Sarge, which caused a whole new cushion-pillow fight, but this time Wash had an unlikely ally with the leader of Red Team backing him up.

It happened without him trying, it happened without him really wanting it to, but Wash settled into this group. He didn’t expect any of it… just like he didn’t expect Carolina to show up out of nowhere, hellbent on a mission for revenge, he didn’t expect Epsilon to come back, he didn’t expect to see the pattern of his personal bad choices so clearly as he watched the people around him struggle with their own rage, he didn’t expect Caboose to plainly state that he was officially their friend, he REALLY didn’t expect to pull a gun on his former leader to defend his new companions, he didn’t expect they would all somehow come back and unite together, he didn’t expect they would crash-land on a planet, and he didn’t expect that after all the turmoil they shared with the group… Carolina and Epsilon would leave.

It was in the wake of losing them, losing another Church yet again, that Wash finally told Tucker something he should have said a long time ago.

They were sitting in one of the “rooms” made out of the ship wreckage, late in the evening. Caboose snored loudly from his bunk, and as Wash looked out the “window” across the crash-site, he could see Simmons and Grif at the small campfire that had been built for night-watch duties (it seemed that Grif had finally convinced Simmons to just sit down on a rock instead of LITERALLY standing guard. No matter where they were or what was happening, it seemed like those two could always find their routine again). Wash knew that eventually, they would have to really get more organized. Either they had to contact people off the planet for help, or somehow rescue themselves. Both seemed daunting at this point… which made Wash uncertain about what would be the best option.

However, he was certain about this. Tucker deserved an apology… so did Alpha, but Wash couldn’t talk to him. Which was, again, his own fault.

“I’m sorry. I’m not sure why Epsilon and Carolina aren’t here, but losing Alpha was my fault. I know it doesn’t make things right, but I really wanted you to know- I wish I had done something else, tried any other option, and… I’m sorry, Tucker,”

Wash stopped, before he made it too complicated, trying to over-explain himself. He was sorry, he felt regret and remorse, he wished he could change things, but he can’t, which was the worst part. He had a lot of other emotions and thoughts wrapped up in what happened, but the main thing was this; apologizing to Tucker. Wash also didn’t want to just keep the sore subject open, thus hurting Tucker more… unless, Tucker wanted an actual conversation, but that didn’t seem-

“Why’d you do it, then?” Tucker asked, sounding tired (like he’s forcing himself to talk through this, but he also didn’t seem angry or horribly upset. Just… tired).

“I don’t have a good explanation. All I could think about was… trying to end everything with Project Freelancer, and I didn’t think I’d have another chance to do something, it felt like a now-or-never situation. So, I was hoping to somehow stop the Meta, expose what the Director had been doing by saving Epsilon and all the memories, and basically… burn everything else. Myself included,” Wash answered, trying to speak carefully.

“Also including the other AI?”

“That was also a mistake. The plan wasn’t to literally DESTROY them. There was a chance that, maybe, bringing them all back together with the Alpha and using an Electro-Magnetic-Pulse would re-set them. There was this concept I learned about in Project Freelancer, called AI Rampancy, we thought maybe that was part of the problem, and maybe we could stop it from getting worse. We gambled, and we lost…”

“You keep saying ‘WE’,” Tucker noticed.

“Yeah… me and Church. When he agreed to come with me, the two of us shared some thoughts in my head. He knew about the potential re-set, and he still didn’t totally accept the fact that he was the Alpha, but he wanted to try and help the other AI. If it worked, the re-set wouldn’t wipe them out, just give them a chance to start over, but still keep all the information they accumulated. But the AI just went dark. They faded from- from Maine’s armor equipment, their units wouldn’t reactivate, they were gone...” this was a lot more than Wash thought he would say. This was turning into a whole speech. Not that he expected Tucker to forgive him after the initial apology, and leave it at that. He’s not really sure WHAT he expected. More shouting, mostly.

“Caboose told me Church didn’t want to go with you at first,” Tucker said after a moment. “Why’d he change his mind?”

“I’m still not sure. He wouldn’t tell me. When I asked, he only said- ‘I don’t need to explain myself to you, so stop being a nosy bitch about this or I’ll get an annoying-ass song stuck in your head’. I’m sorry Tucker. I know, I just I keep saying that, but I mean it. I wasn’t trying to lead him to his death, but that’s what happened. I was wrong. I’m sorry I took Church away, and I’m sorry I couldn’t save him… I couldn’t save anybody,” Wash stopped, waiting for what Tucker might say or do. For a while, nothing happened, Tucker just let out a soft sigh, and Wash thought maybe that was it. They would be done now…

“He was totally going to blast that stupid Warthog Polka in your brain,” Tucker finally said, and Wash realized that sigh he heard was actually a small hum of laughter.

“Huh?”

“The annoying song. Church would’ve picked this God-awful music the Reds play on their radio. It would’ve served you right, too…” Tucker chuckled again, and although Wash couldn’t see Tucker’s face, he could imagine the expression; a smile and misty eyes, reluctant to be so tender, but unable to fight it.

“Yeah, that’s probably true. Tucker, I know I can’t make everything better, but I’ve been acting like an asshole for way too long. I want to actually be- be somebody that can help. I especially want to help you and Caboose,” Wash faltered at using the word “friend”. Caboose had called him that, which more-or-less made it inevitably true, but Tucker might still have mixed feelings. Wash didn’t want to force a bond like that.

“Well… just don’t let us die, and we’ll call that good,” Tucker replied, without even a trace of malice.

“That’s all?” Wash was stunned.

“What, do you want me to start crying?” Tucker laughed just a little. “Dude, I know the Reds say we’re the dramatic bunch, but come on- this is already more emotional than I usually get,” he paused one more time before leaving Wash, still sounding tired, but a touch thoughtful as well. “Thanks, though. For what you said,”

That seemed to be it. Wash was now aware that he had more he wanted to say; so much about how it had felt, all the way back in the beginning when he had first been implanted with an AI. It was like he wanted to apologize for EVERYTHING, what happened with South and Maine, things that had nothing to do with the Reds and Blues… but it wasn’t fair to just vent all that on Tucker. This was supposed to be about saying sorry for what happened to Alpha, Wash had finally done that, and Tucker had even been… well, sort of nice.

It wasn’t “forgiveness” entirely, but that was fine. Wash wasn’t looking for that. He only hoped that Tucker understood. Hearing Tucker’s voice made Wash what to thank him, just for listening. Now, maybe Wash could make progress on changing for the better…

Later, after Tucker fell asleep in his own bunk, Wash stayed awake for the late-watch. Just before dawn, he traded with Lopez, almost immediately falling asleep as soon as he hit his pile of blankets (not enough proper bed-rolls survived the crash). He was tired, yes… but he also felt strangely at ease. Maybe apologizing to Tucker finally unlocked something in Wash’s head that had been internally crushing him. He felt like he could finally relax… just a little bit…

The next morning, Wash was JOLTED AWAKE.

Very LOUD and OBNOXIOUS music started playing, directly behind the wall his bunk was against. Loud and obnoxious POLKA MUSIC.

It seemed that Tucker had woke up before him yet again, this time also rousing Caboose, and then the two of them quietly snuck off to get the Reds. After ignoring death threats from Sarge, Tucker shared his idea of a special “alarm clock” for Wash, which immediately made Sarge change his tune. Grif and Simmons joined in with wicked glee, helping Tucker and Caboose quietly set up a radio, and then BLAST the most annoying-ass song Wash had ever heard.

He shouted at them to shut it off, and they innocently acted like they didn’t know what he wanted, because gosh! They just couldn’t hear him for some reason! Wash somehow restrained himself from shooting the radio, because who knows- they might need it later, but he finally found the right cord to unplug (Simmons had attached a bunch of “false cords” that connected to the radio, but didn’t actually do anything. Just to trick him).

After that, everybody scattered and pretended to be busy with survival-prep to avoid an angry Wash (even Grif suddenly found a very important task that he absolutely needed to work on right that minute), but Caboose and Tucker were not able to escape in time; after Tucker made lots of little blah-blah-blah hand gestures through Wash’s lecture about why this-was-bad and no-fun-allowed (his words, not Wash’s), the grumpy Freelancer suggested that if Tucker had this much energy to pull pranks in the morning, maybe he could do something more productive. Like run laps.

Tucker griped, and groaned, and flipped Wash off, and slowly started to jog around the crash site.

Once again, it happened without him trying or really wanting it to, but as the days went by, Wash found he was no longer simply “pretending” to be part of Blue Team. He had turned into a leader. Not a leader out of reluctant obligation, either; he cared about Caboose and Tucker. It was still sort of awkward with them, but he also cared about the Reds. They had all helped him in some way, literally saving his life even after he had failed Alpha and attacked them. Now it was his turn. He was going to help them, and would do whatever he possibly could to keep them safe.

It was still hard for him talk about his mistakes… being disgusted by your own actions was both embarrassing and an odd motivator. It was also hard for him to notice when he was being to harsh; not with the others, but with himself (that extreme inclination, to sacrifice himself, was still there. It was easier to avoid the other extreme of being heartless with others, but he was still not able to understand how easily it looped back around to self-loathing… or how quickly you can burn yourself out with misery).

Wash would never understand just WHY Tucker and Caboose seemed to have slowly accepted him, just like he'd never know why Alpha changed his mind, or what made Carolina and Epsilon leave. All Wash could do was focus on what he WAS sure about; they were currently stuck here on a strange planet. They needed to work on making better shelters, keeping track of their supplies, and contacting somebody for rescue. He would also eventually work-up the courage to tell the Reds he was sorry, too. Maybe when they got somewhere safe, he’d be able to speak with Donut and Doc (he REALLY owed them an apology, what with the whole… shot-and-left-for-dead thing and the captured-and-dragged-through-the-desert incident. Damn, he had been SUCH an asshole). For now, maybe everything would be OK… if they were lucky, they could get off this planet without any life-threatening problems. Just in case, though- Wash wanted to keep encouraging Tucker to train. The guy really had a lot of potential.

#red vs blue #rvb

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britishchick09 · 6 months

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A Tricky Treat: A Wadlow Sibling Fic

spooky season is here!! i had a different story in mind for today, but a newspaper clipping inspired me to come up with this one. it took just a day to write (october 30th to the 31st) and it's an exciting one. enjoy! ;D

it's the wadlows' first halloween in sanford avenue and the first trick or treat event in alton! harold jr. is excited to get candy... until it's stolen! will he, betty and senpai be able to catch the thief?

A cold wind swept through Sanford Avenue as Robert pushed aside leaves from the walkway. He shivered at the chill and looked up at the darkening sky. Not too long from now, kids would be walking down the now empty streets. They were taking part in something called trick-or-treating.

The tradition had been around in Scotland and Ireland for centuries, but it didn’t appear in the United States until five years ago. It had spread across the country since then, and now it had arrived in Alton.

“Robert!” he heard a voice call.

It was Helen. Her short hair waved in the breeze as she poked her head out. “Yeah?” Robert asked her.

“Junior needs some help with his costume.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Helen went inside and Robert finished raking. He smiled as he imagined Harold Jr. romping in the leaves. He was so excited for Halloween! Robert put the rake away and ducked inside the house.

“Big Brother!” Harold Jr. exclaimed. “Is my mask sticking up?” Harold Jr. was going as The Phantom of the Opera. Addie had made a robe from a piece of black cloth and Helen had helped Junior create a mask from some spare fabric. Robert thought he looked quite spooky!

“Let’s see…” Robert looked at the top of Harold Jr’s head. “It looks like it.” “But The Phantom’s mask isn’t supposed to do that!”

Robert tried to flatten the top, but it stuck right back up again. “Hmm… Why don’t we just trim it?” Harold Jr. stepped back. “No! Then part of my face would show. That’s why I have the mask on.”

“Doesn’t he wear a hat at one point?” Helen asked. “You could do that.”

Harold Jr. grinned. “That’s a great idea! I’ll go look for one.”

He was about to run off when Betty said, “I’ll get it for you. Dad’s hat is hard to reach in the closet.”

Harold Jr. smiled gratefully at his big sister and she ran upstairs, nearly bumping into Eugene. “Hey!” he exclaimed. “What’s the rush?”

“She’s getting a hat for my mask.” Harold Jr. said.

“It already looks spooky enough!”

Chatter could be heard outside. Kids could be seen through the window. They walked up to the house across the street and gave a chorus of something that couldn’t quite be heard through the glass.

They’re probably saying ‘trick or treat’! Robert guessed with a smile. The kids held out bags and the homeowner gave them candy. Then they went onto the next house.

“This ‘tricking treats’ thing was a great idea,” Addie remarked. “It’ll be a great way to get to know the neighbors!”

“It’s ‘trick or treat’,” Harold Jr. corrected her. “And it’ll also be a great way to get some sugar!” “I can’t believe people are going to just hand you free candy,” Eugene said. “I wish we had that when I was a kid. Back in my day, all we did was throw eggs and toilet paper on people’s houses.”

“They still do,” Addie said. “Yesterday, I heard Mrs. Whittaker talking about cleaning eggs off her window last year,” She gave Eugene a look. “I sure hope you won’t get tangled up in any tricks.” Eugene shook his head. “Nah, I’m going to Eddie’s house for a party.”

“The girls and I are having a party, too,” Helen added. “Marilyn’s hosting it.”

“Ooh! Marilyn!” Betty exclaimed in a sing-songy voice as she skipped down the stairs.

Robert felt his face turn hot. “I, uh, I hope you have fun.”

“Oh, we sure will.” Helen replied with a smile.

“I heard Kathleen Fahrig is having a party.” Betty said.

“Are you going?” “No, I don’t know her very well since she’s a year younger than me. I’d rather spend time here!” Betty replied with a smile before giving Harold Jr. one of their dad’s hats. “Here you go.”

Harold Jr. set the hat on his head. It slipped down towards his eyes!

“Whoops!” Betty exclaimed. “I guess it’s too big.”

“No, it’s perfect!” Harold Jr. said. “Now I’m even more of a mystery.”

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Harold Jr. ran up to it and yelled, “BOO!” as he opened it. That made the kids scream!

Harold Jr. giggled. “Happy Halloween!” he said as he gave the kids candy from a bowl.

Once the kids left, he ran to the kitchen to fetch a paper bag. “Is it time to get going?” Robert inquired as his baby brother returned to the living room.

“Yep, it’s time!” Harold Jr. replied excitedly.

Addie gave her eldest and youngest kids a kiss. “Have fun, you two!”

“We sure will, Mother.” Robert said with a chuckle.

He followed Harold Jr. to the door. Before they could leave, Betty exclaimed, “Wait! I want to go.”

“Are you sure? It seems like just kids are doing this.”

“Fourteen is never too old to get free candy!” Betty replied with a wink.

The calls of “Trick or treat!” could be heard as she stepped outside, Robert and Harold Jr. right behind her. They went to the house next door and waited before going up to the door.

“Trick or treat!” Harold Jr. called.

“I think you need to knock first.” Robert whispered. Harold Jr. gave three firm knocks. That caused a lady to open the door.

“Trick or treat!” Harold Jr. said.

“Oh my!” the lady exclaimed. “Aren’t you a little fright? Here you go, dear.” She gave Harold Jr. a couple candies. He thanked her before leaving with Betty and Robert.

“What did you get?” Betty asked. “I don’t know,” Harold Jr. unwrapped one of the candies and popped it in his mouth. “Mmm, it’s butterscotch!”

The neighbor across the street also had butterscotch. The one next door had Hershey Kisses, another had Violet Mints and a third had juicy apples! By the time they reached the end of the neighborhood, Harold Jr’s bag was bulging with candy.

Betty fished through the bag, finding a Milky Way bar. “Can I split this?”

“Sure!” Harold Jr. replied. “I got another one in here somewhere.” Betty broke the bar in two and set the other half in the bag.

Right before the road turned, there stood a gray house with many steps. Robert trudged up alongside Harold Jr. and Betty. He didn’t see candles or a jack o’ lantern in the window or Halloween decorations in the yard. The barren house made him feel a bit uneasy. Harold Jr., however, was unperturbed. He skipped up the steps and knocked on the door.

No one answered.

He gave another knock. The door didn’t open.

“Try ringing.” Robert suggested softly.

Harold Jr. rang the doorbell. A few seconds later, the door swung open!

“What do you want?” an old lady demanded.

The siblings stared at her in shock.

“T- Trick or treat?” Harold Jr. said nervously.

The woman groaned. “Oh, not this again. I’ve had it up to here with those tricks! Those eggs took days to clean up!”

This must be Mrs. Whittaker. Robert guessed.

“We won’t put eggs on your house,” Harold Jr. reassured her. “We just want some candy.”

“Oh, that’s just blackmail, I tell you!” Mrs. Whittaker said.

Robert frowned. “Blackmail? That seems to be taking things a bit too far, don’t you think?” “Yeah, it jus’ kids n’ candy.” Betty agreed with her mouth full of a Milky Way.

“What’s blackmail?” Harold Jr. asked.

“It’s when no good kids like you act like gangsters and demand to be paid!” Mrs. Whittaker explained angrily. “If we don’t give you one of those candy bars, why, you’ll break our windows and pelt our houses with tomatoes.”

“But we won’t do that! We’ll just walk away sadly.” “Then do it! I’m not giving any sort of candy to anybody!”

Mrs. Whittaker slammed the door, which almost seemed to rattle. Shaken, Harold Jr. ran down the steps. Betty quickly caught up to him and Robert sauntered right behind her. He crouched down to touch Harold Jr.’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry about that, Junior,” he said. “She was awful.” “Yeah… But it’s okay,” Harold Jr. replied, his voice a bit reluctant. “I have a lot of candy, anyways.” The trees across the street rustled as the siblings went to a house that stood right on the curve. The man who lived there was much friendlier than Mrs. Whittaker. He gave a big 3 Musketeers bar to Harold Jr. and Betty and Robert!

“Should we go farther?” Harold Jr. asked once the trio returned to the sidewalk.

Robert looked down the road. Past a cluster of bare trees and a slight incline were more houses.

“I don’t know… Maybe we should head towards home.” he suggested.

“Yeah, we should tackle the houses across the street.” Betty agreed.

The two walked down the sidewalk. But before Harold Jr. could join them, the trees rustled once more. A lanky teenager ran out from behind them and took his bag!

“My candy!” Harold Jr. exclaimed.

“Hey!” Robert called to the teen. “Get back here!”

The thief laughed. “It’s mine now, sucker!”

“After him!” Betty declared.

She and Harold Jr. ran after the teen. Robert quickly walked behind them. A strong wind almost caused him to stumble. It threw the teen off balance as well. The bag partially slipped from his hands, but he regained his grip. Little candies rolled down the street’s incline. Betty caught them and set them in Harold Jr’s bag.

“He’s going down there!” Harold Jr. exclaimed once they reached the end of the road.

The thief had turned onto Washington Avenue. The street was more crowded than Sanford! He easily slipped into the crowd of kids and their parents.

“We’ll never find him now!” Harold Jr. exclaimed. “We have to,” Betty said. “Or else all you’ll have is this mostly gone Milky Way.”

Robert could barely see the teen weaving through the crowd. That gave him an idea. He picked up Harold Jr., who giggled as he was set on his big brother’s shoulders. Now he could see past the crowd better than Robert could!

“Do you see him?” Robert asked.

“I do!” Harold Jr. exclaimed. “He’s going past that big tree.” The trio went to a towering tree a few houses down. They saw the teen climbing over a fence leading to the backyard.

“I’ll get him!” Betty exclaimed.

Just as she reached the top of the pickets, the teen hopped into the yard across the street.

“He’s going back to Sanford!” she reported.

The siblings rushed down the street.

“I’m glad we’re going back,” Robert said. “The kids back there were beginning to stare!”

They reached Sanford Avenue just as the teen crossed a front lawn. Betty ran at him as Robert called, “HEY!”

His loud, deep voice startled the teen and he stopped right in his tracks. Before Betty could lunge at him, someone else did. The candy thief was tackled to the ground.

“Oof!” he exclaimed in defeat.

“Thank you!” Harold Jr. said to the tackler. “Whoever you are.” The person turned to look at him.

Robert gasped. “It’s Mrs. Whittaker!”

The old lady rose from the ground and wiped street dust from her dress. Then she took the paper bag and gave it to Harold Jr.

“Here you- Don’t move!” she ordered upon spotting the teen getting up. “Here you go, dear.”

Harold Jr. grinned. “Thanks so much, Miss Lady!”

He hungrily ate a Hershey Kiss.

“You saved our candy!” Betty marveled. “I thought you thought we were gangsters.” “Oh, I did at first,” Mrs. Whittaker smiled. “But now I see that you three are quite alright. Maybe this whole ‘trick or treat’ business isn’t as bad as it seems. I too enjoy some sweets every once in a while.”

The teen groaned.

“So does he,” Robert said. “Why would you take someone’s candy instead of getting your own?” “‘Cause that stuff’s for kids!” the teen exclaimed as he rose from the ground. “People would laugh if they saw a fourteen year old asking for candy.” “I’m thirteen,” Betty said, looking at Mrs. Whittaker as she added, “You’re never too old for candy.”

“I guess you’re right. I’m sorry for taking your candy, kid,” The teen extended a hand. “No hard feelings?” Harold Jr. shook his hand. “No hard feelings, I guess. I forgive you…” “Chester. I live down the road over by Main Street.” “We have new friends on each side of Sanford!” Betty remarked.

Everyone chuckled. After saying goodbye to Mrs. Whittaker, the siblings and Chester returned to the Wadlow house. Harold Jr. distributed his candy. “Mmm, Red Hots,” Chester popped some of the spicy cinnamon balls in his mouth. “My favorite.” “I’d say this was the happiest Halloween ever.” Harold Jr.remarked.

Robert smiled as he unwrapped a Rousseau’s chocolate. “Yes, it’s been a happy Halloween indeed!”

#robert wadlow #robert wadlow trash #senpai fic #fan fic #an unexpected story! :o #and a very exciting one! ;)#funny how the 30th one was started on the 30th! ;D

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